Category: Sports

The Boston Celtics put a halt to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s impressive 12-game winning streak Wednesday night, defeating the visiting Thunder 119-109 in a clash between the league’s two most recent championship teams.

Jaylen Brown powered Boston’s victory with 31 points while also contributing eight rebounds and eight assists. The Celtics overcame an early 13-point deficit in the opening quarter to secure the win.

Jayson Tatum provided solid support for Boston, recording 19 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. Coming off the bench, Payton Pritchard delivered 14 points and connected on four of his six three-point attempts.

Oklahoma City, last season’s NBA champion, was led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s outstanding performance of 33 points and eight assists. Gilgeous-Alexander shot exceptionally well, making 10 of 12 field goal attempts and 10 of 12 free throws. Lu Dort contributed 14 points by knocking down four three-pointers.

The Thunder kept the game competitive until the final moments, cutting Boston’s lead to just six points with 1:30 remaining. However, Brown’s jumper with 47.3 seconds left extended the Celtics’ advantage to 117-109, effectively sealing the victory. Boston struggled early, shooting only 29.2% from the field in the first quarter and falling behind 31-20 after twelve minutes.

Timberwolves 110, Rockets 108 (OT)

Jaden McDaniels led Minnesota’s comeback with 25 points on efficient 10-for-17 shooting as the Timberwolves stunned Houston with an overtime victory in Minneapolis.

Julius Randle contributed 24 points for Minnesota (45-28), which has now won four of its last five contests. Rudy Gobert posted a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds, while Naz Reid added 14 points and 13 rebounds coming off the bench.

Houston (43-29) received 30 points each from Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun, but couldn’t avoid their fourth loss in six games. Jabari Smith Jr. recorded 16 points and 12 rebounds. Despite Houston rallying from a 10-point deficit with 5:15 left in regulation to force overtime — with Durant scoring their final seven points of the fourth quarter — Minnesota closed the game with a decisive 15-0 run.

Nuggets 142, Mavericks 135

Jamal Murray exploded for a season-high 53 points, including 33 in the first half, while Nikola Jokic nearly achieved a triple-double with 23 points, 21 rebounds and 19 assists as Denver held off Dallas at home.

Jokic made NBA history during the victory, becoming the first center ever to reach 6,000 career assists when he set up Murray’s layup in the second quarter. The achievement came during Jokic’s third consecutive triple-double performance. Peyton Watson added 21 points and Cam Johnson scored 12 for Denver, which has won four straight games.

Dallas received 26 points from Cooper Flagg, 22 from Naji Marshall, and 19 points with 15 rebounds from P.J. Washington. Brandon Williams and Khris Middleton each contributed 11 points for the Mavericks, who have now lost five consecutive games and 24 of their last 28.

Lakers 137, Pacers 130

Luka Doncic dominated the first half with 28 of his 43 points as Los Angeles defeated Indiana on the road in Indianapolis.

Doncic also recorded seven assists and six rebounds for the Lakers, while Austin Reaves added 25 points and eight assists. LeBron James came close to a triple-double with 23 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, and Jaxson Hayes achieved season-high totals of 21 points and 10 rebounds.

Indiana got 20 points from Pascal Siakam and 18 from Jay Huff, with eight different Pacers scoring in double figures. T.J. McConnell added 17 points, and Andrew Nembhard’s 14 points came alongside a career-best 19 assists as the Pacers mounted a late rally, turning a 29-point third-quarter deficit into a close two-possession game.

76ers 157, Bulls 137

Joel Embiid returned from injury to score 35 points while Paul George added 28 in his comeback as Philadelphia dominated visiting Chicago.

Philadelphia welcomed back both Embiid, who had missed 13 games with an oblique injury, and George, who sat out 25 games due to suspension. Despite Tyrese Maxey remaining sidelined with a finger injury, the Sixers (40-33) posted their eighth-highest point total in franchise history and won their fifth game in seven attempts.

Chicago (29-43) allowed 51 third-quarter points — the most they’ve ever given up in a single quarter and the most Philadelphia had scored in any quarter since the 1960s. Josh Giddey led the Bulls with 23 points and 12 assists, while Matas Buzelis contributed 18 points.

Hawks 130, Pistons 129 (OT)

Jalen Johnson recorded 27 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds as red-hot Atlanta continued their winning ways, edging Detroit in overtime for the Hawks’ 14th victory in their last 15 games.

CJ McCollum matched Johnson with 27 points while Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 21. Dyson Daniels contributed 16 points and 13 rebounds for Atlanta (41-32), which prevented Detroit from completing a season sweep.

Detroit (52-20) saw their four-game winning streak end despite 26 points and 14 rebounds from Jalen Duren. Tobias Harris scored 22 points and Daniss Jenkins provided 19 points and 10 assists.

Spurs 123, Grizzlies 98

Victor Wembanyama recorded 19 points, 15 rebounds and seven blocks as visiting San Antonio controlled the game from start to finish against injury-depleted Memphis.

Devin Vassell contributed 19 points and seven rebounds for the Spurs, while Keldon Johnson and Stephon Castle each scored 15 points. San Antonio, winners of 12 of their last 13 games, moved within two games of Oklahoma City for the Western Conference’s top position.

Memphis (24-48) was led by GG Jackson’s 20 points and seven rebounds, extending their struggles with a 12th loss in 13 games. Olivier-Maxence Prosper scored 17 points and DeJon Jarreau added 15 for the Grizzlies, who were missing Ty Jerome and Jaylen Wells in addition to several season-ending injuries.

Heat 120, Cavaliers 103

Norman Powell scored 19 points and Bam Adebayo collected 17 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as visiting Miami recovered from blowing a 21-point lead to defeat Cleveland.

Tyler Herro added 18 points, while Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Pelle Larsson each scored 14 points for Miami (39-34), which ended a five-game losing streak and claimed sole possession of eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

Donovan Mitchell scored 28 points in 33 minutes before fouling out for the first time in his professional career for the fourth-place Cavaliers (45-28). Sam Merrill and James Harden each had 18 points, while Keon Ellis scored 17.

Wizards 133, Jazz 110

Julian Reese dominated with 26 points and 17 rebounds as Washington finally broke through, ending a 16-game losing streak with a convincing victory over Utah in Salt Lake City.

Will Riley added 19 points, 10 rebounds and five assists while Jaden Hardy chipped in 21 points with five three-pointers for the Wizards, who never trailed and led by as much as 37 points. Washington shot an impressive 55.3% from the field and connected on 13 three-pointers.

Utah was paced by Cody Williams’ 24 points, with Blake Hinson adding 21 points off the bench and Kennedy Chandler contributing 14 points and eight assists. The Jazz suffered their third straight loss and seventh in eight games.

Trail Blazers 130, Bucks 99

Scoot Henderson provided 23 points off the bench as Portland controlled the entire game in a dominant victory over visiting Milwaukee.

Deni Avdija recorded 18 points and seven assists while Jerami Grant also scored 18 points as Portland (37-37) won their sixth game in eight attempts, staying within a half-game of the Western Conference’s eighth playoff position.

Ryan Rollins exploded for a career-high 36 points and made six three-pointers for the Bucks, who played without star Giannis Antetokounmpo (left knee) for the fifth consecutive game and lost their 12th game in the last 15.

Warriors 109, Nets 106

Gui Santos erupted for a career-high 31 points and Brandin Podziemski added 22 as Golden State rallied to defeat Brooklyn in San Francisco.

The Warriors won their third game in 11 attempts, while Brooklyn extended their losing streak to nine games. Kristaps Porzingis had 17 points and 10 rebounds, De’Anthony Melton added 14 points and Gary Payton II scored 10 for Golden State, which overcame a season-high 26 turnovers.

Brooklyn was led by Ziaire Williams with 19 points and Jalen Wilson with 15. Ben Saraf scored 14 points with seven assists, Malachi Smith added 12 points, Chaney Johnson contributed 11 and Drake Powell finished with 10.

Clippers 119, Raptors 94

Kawhi Leonard, Darius Garland and Bennedict Mathurin combined for 74 points as Los Angeles dominated visiting Toronto in Inglewood, California, behind a commanding first quarter performance.

The Clippers controlled the game from the opening tip for their third consecutive victory, building a 14-point advantage after the first quarter thanks to Brook Lopez’s hot start. The veteran center scored 11 of his 14 points in the opening period, while LA’s bench contributed 52 points overall.

Toronto, finishing a 2-3 road trip, never managed to cut the deficit to single digits while shooting just 40 of 96 from the field. Brandon Ingram led the Raptors with 18 points and Jakob Poeltl added 10 points, as they were the only Toronto starters to shoot better than 33%.

LOS ANGELES — For the first time since opening in 1962, the playing field at Dodger Stadium now carries a corporate sponsor’s name, marking a historic change for Major League Baseball’s third-oldest venue.

The field was officially renamed “Uniqlo Field” during Wednesday’s unveiling ceremony, just one day before the Los Angeles Dodgers kick off their quest for a third consecutive World Series title. The team opens their season Thursday against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first game of a three-game homestand.

World Series Game 7 hero Yoshinobu Yamamoto will take the mound as the starting pitcher for Los Angeles. Yamamoto joins fellow Japanese superstars Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki on the Dodgers roster.

“Every one of us has become fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers because of the outstanding performances of Japanese players,” said company founder Tadashi Lanai through a translator.

The Japan-based clothing company operates more than 2,400 retail locations worldwide, with significant market presence across Asia, Europe and Canada. In the United States, Uniqlo maintains nearly 80 stores, mostly located in shopping centers, as part of an ambitious growth strategy.

This marks Uniqlo’s debut major sports partnership in America, following negotiations that lasted almost 12 months, according to Koji Lanai, senior executive officer for parent company Fast Retailing. Koji Lanai is the son of founder Tadashi Lanai, who holds the distinction of being Japan’s wealthiest individual with assets valued at approximately $62 billion.

The sponsorship agreement includes prominent red-and-white Uniqlo branding throughout the stadium, featuring displays at the center field batter’s eye, beneath the press box facade, and along the baseline grass areas.

“I hope in the near future fans will like it and love it,” Koji Lanai said.

During the announcement, a Japanese journalist inquired about potential rewards for batters who might hit the center field signage. This question referenced the famous Brooklyn Dodgers tradition at Ebbets Field from 1931-57, where a sign beneath the scoreboard promised “Hit sign, win suit” – an advertisement placed by clothing store owner Abe Stark, who later served as Brooklyn Borough President.

“It’s a very good idea I was just given,” Koji Lanai said through a translator.

Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten responded, “We like that idea, too.”

When asked about providing team apparel to players, Tadashi Lanai explained that existing sponsorship agreements create complications. “But probably we can provide them with everyday clothing,” he said through a translator.

Kasten jokingly added, “We pay them enough to shop at Uniqlo stores.”

The stadium’s outfield already features signage from several Japanese companies including Tokyo Electron, All Nippon Airways and Yakult, reflecting the organization’s focus on Asian fan engagement that intensified with Ohtani’s arrival before the 2024 season.

“I’ve been thrilled with the reaction I got from fans,” Kasten said.

The team presented Tadashi Lanai with a home plate autographed by the players, which Kasten described as representing the retailer’s new stadium home.

Uniqlo’s stadium plans include creating a dedicated section within team merchandise stores and hosting a June 21 promotional event where attendees will receive LifeWear clothing items. The company will also launch a community outreach initiative in late May.

Arizona basketball coach Tommy Lloyd addressed speculation Wednesday connecting him to the vacant North Carolina coaching position, emphasizing his dedication to his current team ahead of their upcoming tournament game.

Speaking to reporters in San Jose, California, the day before his top-seeded Wildcats face fourth-seeded Arkansas in the Sweet 16, Lloyd emphasized the value of his current position.

“I already have one of the best jobs in the country,” Lloyd stated during the press conference. “And one thing we talk about in our program all the time — and I think I’ve gotten better at it, and I think our team’s been crushing it this year — is just the ability to have full focus and be present in the moment.”

The 51-year-old coach has emerged as a leading candidate for the North Carolina position following Hubert Davis’s dismissal, which came after the Tar Heels’ first-round NCAA Tournament elimination by VCU.

Lloyd stopped short of making any definitive statements about remaining at Arizona, though coaching search situations frequently result in contract improvements for coaches linked to openings.

Currently in his second year of a five-year deal earning $5.1 million annually, Lloyd would face an $11 million buyout if he departed before April 15. His team’s 34-2 record this season falls just one victory short of the program’s best mark established during the 1987-88 season.

“I think we have a chance to advance in this tournament game by game, but I’m not delusional,” Lloyd explained. “I know we could lose tomorrow, but this team deserves my full focus. So, there’s not one thing that is going to knock me off my path. I’m 100% focused on Arizona basketball and this program, and I can’t wait till the ball gets thrown up tomorrow and then can’t wait to try to figure out a way to come out on top.”

Lloyd brings a 146-35 record into the matchup against Arkansas. During his Arizona coaching career, he has experienced three Sweet 16 exits and one first-round loss to Princeton in 2023.

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Fever basketball star Caitlin Clark swapped her usual role on the court for one behind the lens Wednesday evening, serving as an official photographer during the Indiana Pacers’ game against the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James.

Wearing professional photography gear and an official vest, Clark received media credentials from the Pacers organization to capture images from courtside. The team honored her with a customized folding chair featuring her personal branding prior to tipoff.

“Got some good stuff coming,” Clark shared on her social media accounts.

The basketball standout is gearing up for her third campaign with the Indiana Fever. Following a season largely sidelined by injuries, Clark made her comeback this month during the FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament. She topped the U.S. team’s scoring charts with an average of 11.6 points per contest, helping lead the Americans to a perfect 5-0 record in the competition.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Baseball history was made Wednesday night when New York Yankees infielder José Caballero became the first player to challenge an umpire’s call using Major League Baseball’s new Automated Ball-Strike System, though his appeal was unsuccessful during the season opener against the San Francisco Giants.

The historic moment occurred in the fourth inning when Giants pitcher Logan Webb delivered a 90.7 mph sinker to the upper inside corner of the plate. Home plate umpire Bill Miller, who has officiated MLB games since 1997, called it a strike. Caballero responded by tapping his helmet to signal a challenge, prompting the system’s 12 Hawk-Eye cameras to review the pitch. The automated technology confirmed Miller’s original call, with the decision displayed on Oracle Park’s scoreboard.

At that point in the game, New York held a commanding 5-0 lead. Earlier, Caballero had contributed to his team’s offense with an RBI double during a five-run rally in the second inning against Webb, who reached a career milestone by recording his 1,000th strikeout in the fourth frame.

The robotic strike zone technology underwent extensive testing in minor league baseball beginning in 2019 and was implemented during major league spring training in both 2025 and 2026. Despite the automation, some managers have indicated they will continue finding opportunities to dispute calls and risk ejection.

Prior to Wednesday’s contest, Yankees skipper Aaron Boone expressed enthusiasm for the new technology and emphasized the significance of preparing his players for challenge situations.

“I hope so,” Boone responded when questioned about his excitement for the system. “We’ve had a lot of dialogue at it, it’s something that we’ve poured a lot into, I’ve certainly. It’s become one of the things I’ve kind of tried to lead the charge on a little bit. Another kind of end-of-spring meeting with all the position players and catchers at the end just kind of running through different ones that came up and give my feedback on it. I’ve been very direct with them during spring as far as after the fact if I thought one was really good or conversely if one was terrible.”

Boone acknowledged that adapting to the system would require patience and experience from everyone involved.

“I’ve tried to be real direct with them and why,” he explained. “I feel like we’re going to be good at it, that’s the expectation. I’m sure we’ll continue to evolve with it.”

Giants manager Tony Vitello, who transitioned to San Francisco from the University of Tennessee without any professional playing or coaching background, admitted he needed to remind himself earlier Wednesday about the automated system’s role.

“I’ve got to be honest with you, one thing I was looking at is who are the umpires tonight?” he said. “You get on google the first thing you see is there’s going to be a robot umpire. And it was only for a millisecond but I kind of freaked out.”

Iowa State’s standout forward Joshua Jefferson will be a last-minute decision for Friday evening’s Sweet 16 clash with Tennessee in Chicago, according to Cyclones head coach T.J. Otzelberger, who addressed reporters Wednesday.

The All-American player injured his left ankle during a drive to the basket in Iowa State’s opening tournament victory over Tennessee State last Friday. He was unable to play in the team’s second-round matchup against Kentucky two days following the injury.

Coach Otzelberger indicated that Jefferson continues to show improvement in his recovery process.

“He’s working tirelessly every day,” Otzelberger said during a press conference at the team’s hotel. “Countless sessions in the training room. Doing everything he can. His ankle is getting better every single day. It will go right up to game time.”

“There’s not any percentages, predictions, unlikely, likely. It is literally, he is working tirelessly to compete to do everything he can to be on the court for our team. …. We’ll see where we’re at game time Friday night.”

Jefferson serves as a crucial player for the Cyclones, averaging 16.4 points per contest while ranking second on the team in assists with 4.8 per game. He also tops the squad in rebounds, pulling down 7.4 per game.

Basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger of Iowa State firmly denied Wednesday any rumors connecting him to other coaching positions, calling such speculation “not true” amid ongoing whispers about him being considered for the North Carolina job.

The coach made his statement from the team’s Chicago hotel after the second-seeded Cyclones (29-7) arrived for their Friday Sweet 16 matchup against sixth-seeded Tennessee.

“Any speculation with me and any other jobs or opportunities is not true,” Otzelberger said to the media. “I’m the coach of the Cyclones, thrilled to be the coach of the Cyclones. And what I can say to you even more, as we move forward together, is the alignment on our campus – with (university president) Dr. (David) Cook, (athletic director) Jamie Pollard – is amazing. We’re thrilled and excited about our future together.”

He continued his emphatic denial: “Really appreciative and grateful for Jamie Pollard and David Cook and the conversations we’ve had. Just excited about our future. That’s topic No. 1. There’s no questions about it, there’s nothing to talk about, there’s nothing else to answer. That’s the truth.”

The 48-year-old coach is currently in his fifth year leading Iowa State with a 124-52 record going into Friday’s contest. Under his leadership, the Cyclones have reached the Sweet 16 three times.

His current contract runs through the 2031-32 season with an annual salary of $4 million and includes a $4 million penalty if he departs for another position.

Athletic director Pollard quickly supported his coach on social media following the statement.

“Excited for Cyclone Nation that TJ is not going anywhere — he will be our basketball coach for a long time!” Pollard posted.

Star point guard Tamin Lipsey said the recurring speculation doesn’t catch him off guard.

“There’s rumors every year when there’s a head coaching job, his name is brought up. That’s a credit to him and what he’s done with this program,” Lipsey said in Chicago. “This is where he wants to be. To see him come out and say that right away should mean a lot to us players and the fans in general.”

Throughout his decade as a head coach, Otzelberger has compiled a 223-115 overall record, including previous positions at South Dakota State from 2016-19 and UNLV from 2020-21.

Seattle will begin their season without starting shortstop J.P. Crawford after the team placed him on the 10-day injured list due to inflammation in his right shoulder.

The 31-year-old Crawford appeared in seven spring training contests, recording a .125 batting average along with one stolen base and three RBIs. Team officials don’t consider the shoulder issue to be a major concern, and Leo Rivas is expected to fill in at shortstop while Crawford recovers.

Seattle kicks off their season Thursday evening at home against the Cleveland Guardians.

During the 2024 campaign, Crawford appeared in 157 contests and posted a .265 batting average with 12 home runs and 58 RBIs. He continued his strong performance in the postseason, contributing one homer and four RBIs across 12 playoff games as Seattle advanced to Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.

Throughout his nine-year major league career split between Philadelphia (2017-18) and Seattle (2019-25), Crawford maintains a .248 career batting average with 67 homers and 344 RBIs. He earned Gold Glove recognition in 2020 for his defensive excellence.

Seattle made additional roster moves Wednesday, placing infielder Miles Mastrobuoni on IL with a calf strain and right-handed pitcher Bryce Miller on IL due to an oblique injury. The team brought up catcher Mitch Garver by selecting his contract, while catcher Andrew Knizner cleared waivers and chose free agency.

The 35-year-old Garver spent the previous two seasons with Seattle and carries a .233 career batting average across 651 games over nine major league seasons.

NFL executives and coaching staffs descended upon Columbus Wednesday as Ohio State hosted its annual pro day, with more than a dozen general managers and head coaches present to evaluate Buckeye talent.

The impressive turnout highlights the recruiting pipeline that head coach Ryan Day and his coaching staff have built. The Buckeyes are positioned to potentially match their record of 14 players selected in the 2025 draft, with a minimum of four prospects expected to hear their names called in the opening round.

New York teams made a strong showing, with both the Jets and Giants sending their top decision-makers. Jets general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn attended, as the team holds the second overall selection. Giants head coach John Harbaugh and general manager Joe Schoen were also present, with their team picking fifth.

Harbaugh spent considerable time speaking with linebacker Sonny Styles and reconnected with Arvell Reese, a multi-position linebacker who worked out with defensive linemen during the session. The Giants also met with safety Caleb Downs and may have eyes on wide receiver Carnell Tate.

Looking for quarterback help, the Jets dispatched staff members to Alabama’s pro day in Tuscaloosa to evaluate Ty Simpson. The quarterback revealed he has a private session scheduled with New York on Friday. The Jets also possess the 16th overall selection.

While Cleveland didn’t send representatives to Alabama’s campus workout, they’ve already brought Simpson in for a top-30 visit, joining Pittsburgh and Arizona in hosting the quarterback.

At Alabama, offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor commanded attention during his short shuttle run and positional drills with linemen and tight ends. The anticipated top-20 pick brings impressive measurables – squatting over 800 pounds with a maximum bench press of 535 pounds and an 81 5/8-inch wingspan. Standing 6-foot-6 5/8 and weighing 352 pounds from the NFL Combine, Proctor displayed remarkable mobility and power during Wednesday’s showcase.

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles was the sole confirmed GM present at Alabama’s workout.

Simpson enters the draft ranked as the second-best quarterback prospect behind Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, whose team conducts their pro day April 1. He threw passes to receivers Rico Scott, Ryan Coleman-Williams, Germie Bernard and Noah Rogers. Coleman-Williams had one drop on a deep route requiring a late adjustment in what was otherwise a polished and well-prepared performance. Bernard ranks among the top 10 receivers in the loaded 2026 class and could be chosen within the first 50 selections overall.

After one season as Alabama’s starting quarterback, replacing Jalen Milroe in 2025, Simpson chose to forgo his remaining eligibility for the professional ranks.

“I’m tough, I’m resilient, I love football and I want to make people better,” Simpson explained when asked what message he’s delivering to interested teams. “When I come into your program, I’m a program-changer. I don’t just make myself better, I make other people better.”

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA is committed to solving its tanking problem, and the controversial 65-game requirement for awards may stay in place.

Commissioner Adam Silver announced Wednesday that the league will modify its draft system and tackle the tanking controversy before the upcoming season begins. He referenced the success of the player participation policy in reducing load management as evidence that the NBA can implement meaningful reforms.

During the two-day board of governors meeting that concluded Wednesday, team owners discussed tanking — when franchises intentionally lose games to improve their chances of securing top draft selections. Silver noted that no formal votes occurred and no particular teams were singled out for criticism.

“We are going to fix it,” Silver declared. “Full stop.”

According to Silver, the league has been analyzing recent tanking concerns for several months and has previously tackled this challenge multiple times through various modifications to the draft and lottery systems.

“I would say it seemed unanimous in the room that we needed to make a change, and we need to make a change for next season,” Silver explained during his press conference following the ownership meetings. “Exactly what that change is, we’re continuing to work on. … I think there’s also unanimous agreement that we need to make this change in advance of the draft and free agency this year, so all the teams understand the rules of the road going into next year.”

Silver indicated that a special board meeting in May will likely be scheduled to finalize the solution. League general managers have held multiple discussions on the topic, and various teams have submitted proposals for addressing the problem.

Regarding other topics discussed Wednesday:

Silver addressed the National Basketball Players Association’s Tuesday statement requesting modifications to the 65-game requirement for major individual honors.

The NBPA agreed to this rule through collective bargaining as part of their current contract with the league. The union highlighted Detroit’s Cade Cunningham as an example — he would likely earn All-NBA recognition this season but may not qualify due to the 65-game minimum.

“We always knew when there’s a line you draw that somebody’s going to fall on the other side of that line and it may feel unfair in that particular instance,” Silver stated. “Let’s see what happens at the end of this year. By the way, Cade Cunningham, he’s an incredible player. I’m sorry that he’s injured and can’t wait to see him back on the floor.

“But having said that, we also have to remember that to the extent that one player is no longer eligible, some other player will then be All-NBA and will slot into that spot. I’m not ready to stand here saying, I don’t think it’s working. I think it is working.”

The NBPA contends the rule should target “excessive load management” while ensuring players don’t lose deserved recognition or feel pressured to compete while injured to reach the games-played requirement.

Silver mentioned that NBA owners — many of whom also have investments in the WNBA — reviewed the new collective bargaining agreement between that league and its players.

“People were extremely happy about the fact that the collective bargaining situation was resolved in time to save training camp and free agency and the season,” Silver commented.

When asked about WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert’s future beyond 2026, Silver responded cautiously.

“We haven’t had those discussions yet with the WNBA board,” Silver said. “I would obviously say Cathy’s done a fantastic job since she’s come to the WNBA. … I would say the results speak for themselves. I’m very happy, and I know the ownership is very happy with where things stand.”

NEW YORK — Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, a Portland native who cheered for the Trail Blazers growing up, admits he could never support their division rival Seattle SuperSonics back in the day.

However, the prospect of professional basketball returning to Seattle — nearly twenty years after the SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City — definitely has the veteran coach’s endorsement.

Wednesday’s announcement that the NBA will officially begin studying expansion opportunities, focusing on Seattle and Las Vegas as potential host cities, generated positive responses from Spoelstra and numerous other league personnel.

His stance is clear: he supports the move.

“It would be fun,” Spoelstra commented Wednesday. “I think all the Pacific Northwest people were sad when it left. I loved the games there. I grew up disliking the Sonics very much because I was a Trail Blazer fan, but it was an awesome environment. It’s a city that can really rally around their team.”

Expansion isn’t guaranteed to occur, and any new franchise would likely begin play no earlier than the 2028-29 season.

Nevertheless, reaching this milestone represents major progress and immediately sparked reactions from Las Vegas, Seattle, and throughout the basketball community.

MGM Resorts CEO & President Bill Hornbuckle expressed gratitude to league ownership for their decision regarding Las Vegas.

“It’s only the first step, but it’s a big step,” Hornbuckle stated. “A new team would be great for both locals and visitors, while creating jobs and providing a boost to the economy. … We would welcome the opportunity to work with the NBA on creating an unforgettable fan experience.”

Seattle’s Tod Leiweke — who serves as CEO of the NHL’s Kraken and will lead One Roof Sports and Entertainment as they pursue majority ownership of Climate Pledge Arena — believes “the hardest part of this is now done.”

“We will put together a bid that has it all,” Leiweke declared. “And I would say the most important thing in our bid is the ability to do it and do it well. And that’s going to be very important for the NBA if ultimately they push ahead and want to expand, they’re going to want to make sure that it’s done well, that there’s no drama, that there’s no slips, there’s no mistakes.”

Heat center Bam Adebayo, who dates Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson — the four-time WNBA MVP — has witnessed firsthand the basketball enthusiasm in Las Vegas while attending her games. He believes an NBA franchise wouldn’t diminish the strong support for the Aces.

“Aces fans are really true to the Aces,” Adebayo observed.

Initial feedback indicates widespread support among current NBA players and coaches for league expansion.

“I think we’re adding two good teams, two good markets,” Spoelstra concluded. “It’ll be a big positive for the league.”

NEW YORK — The National Basketball Association has taken its first official step toward potentially adding new franchises, with Seattle and Las Vegas identified as the primary markets under consideration.

During Wednesday’s board of governors meeting in New York, league officials authorized the beginning of formal discussions with prospective ownership groups in both cities. This decision opens the door for serious negotiations that could begin in the near future.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has established a timeline requiring the league to determine whether expansion will move forward by the conclusion of 2026.

To assist with the evaluation process, the NBA has enlisted investment banking firm PJT Partners to serve as a strategic consultant. The firm will assess potential markets, ownership candidates, venue capabilities, and the overall financial impact of adding franchises.

PJT Partners’ chairman and CEO Paul Taubman brings extensive NBA experience to the role, having collaborated with the league on various projects over the years. Notably, when former Commissioner David Stern transitioned out of his role to make way for Silver’s leadership more than ten years ago, Taubman brought Stern aboard as an advisor to his firm.

Silver emphasized that no agreements have been finalized, leaving the competition completely open at this stage.

“If you are interested, and I’ll say that now to people who may be listening or watching this, if you’re interested, call the league office, call PJT Partners directly in New York,” Silver stated during Wednesday’s press conference. “I just want to make sure everybody understands there’s been no handshakes on the side. There’s been no commitments. There’s no promises to anyone. This is a completely transparent process.”

The league and PJT Partners will now evaluate potential candidates and their proposals before beginning actual deal negotiations. With expansion fees anticipated to reach $6 billion or higher, the process is expected to be lengthy.

The NBA could ultimately choose to add both cities, select just one, or decide against expansion entirely. There are no guarantees that new franchises will be added to the current 30-team structure.

While having 31 teams would create scheduling challenges, the league has previously operated with uneven conference alignments.

New teams would not debut next season or likely the season following. Industry experts believe establishing a new franchise requires a minimum of 18 months, suggesting the 2028-29 season as the earliest possible launch date.

“Our goal was in 2026 to resolve this issue one way or the other,” Silver explained. “So, my timeline — we weren’t so specific with the board — is that we need to know by the end of this calendar year what it is we’re doing. It may not be that every ‘I’ is dotted, but that would be our goal, this year.”

Should expansion proceed, the league would essentially be selling ownership stakes in its current operations during a period of unprecedented growth. NBA franchise valuations have skyrocketed recently, with the Boston Celtics selling for slightly over $6 billion and the Los Angeles Lakers valued at $10 billion.

“The only discussion in the room was understanding the math around dilution in terms of projections and what’s the direct reduction in existing revenues to teams if we were expanding beginning in ’28-29,” Silver noted. “We did not discuss franchise value per se in these meetings. Of course, certainly with our bankers, we have a sense of where we think that value exists, but at the end of the day, the marketplace will determine that.”

For just the second time in NFL history, the league will kick off its season on a Wednesday evening, with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks serving as the host team for the 2026 season opener.

League officials made the announcement Wednesday, revealing that Seattle will take the field for the traditional championship opener on September 9, moving the game up one day from its typical Thursday night slot. The scheduling change accommodates the league’s plans for a Week 1 matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams to be played in Australia.

NBC will broadcast the Seahawks’ home opener, though the visiting team has yet to be announced.

The last time the NFL launched a season on Wednesday occurred in 2012, when the Dallas Cowboys traveled to face the New York Giants. That game was shifted from its regular Thursday evening time slot due to President Barack Obama’s scheduled address at the Democratic National Convention.

The 49ers and Rams will face off September 11 in Melbourne for their season opener. Australian fans can expect kickoff around 10:35 a.m. local time on Friday, which translates to 8:35 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday evening for American viewers. The network that will air this international contest remains undecided.

Over the previous two seasons, the NFL scheduled Week 1 games in Brazil on the opening Friday night of September. However, with Labor Day falling later in 2026, the first Friday of the season lands on the second Friday in September, preventing the league from broadcasting games that evening due to restrictions in the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961.

Although Wednesday games occurred more frequently during the NFL’s early decades, this marks only the fifth such game since 1950. The other instances include two Christmas Day games in 2024 when the holiday fell on Wednesday, one COVID-19 postponed game in 2022, and the 2012 season opener.

A former Major League Baseball umpire is expressing concerns about how new automated technology will affect the officials currently working behind home plate.

MLB launched its Automated Ball-Strike System during regular season games this year, beginning with the Yankees’ season opener against San Francisco on Wednesday evening. The system allows teams to challenge strike zone calls using data from 12 Hawk-Eye cameras.

“I think it’s embarrassing, embarrassing to the umpires that are calling the game. Nobody likes to be humiliated in front of 30,000, 40,000 people,” Garcia stated. The veteran official worked MLB games from 1975 through 1999. “What Major League Baseball is saying is: I don’t trust the umpire’s strike zone, so I’m going to use something that’s going to be operated by some computer geek that knows nothing about baseball, and he’s the one that’s going to measure this and measure that because he’s got a Ph.D. in physics or whatever the hell he’s got a degree in.”

Garcia faced scrutiny during the 1998 World Series opener when he didn’t call a strike on a 2-2 delivery from San Diego’s Mark Langston to Yankees batter Tino Martinez. Martinez subsequently connected for a game-changing grand slam that helped propel New York to a series sweep.

Despite ongoing discussions about questionable calls, umpires achieved record-breaking precision last season, though still falling short of technological standards.

MLB umpires made calls on 368,898 pitches during the regular season, averaging 152 decisions per contest. Their 92.83% accuracy represented the best performance on record, with an average of 10.88 incorrect calls per game. This marked significant improvement from 2016, when officials averaged 16.58 missed calls per game with 89.31% accuracy.

“I’m 60 and it seems to me like the younger generation really wants this technology and they want the certainty of a pitch being a ball or a strike,” commented Ted Barrett, who officiated major league games from 1994 through 2022.

The ABS system provides each team two challenges per game, with successful challenges preserved. Teams receive an additional challenge during each extra inning after exhausting their allotment.

“As an umpire, you never want to miss anything. You want to be absolutely 100% correct, but we’re all human and that’s just not possible,” explained Sam Holbrook, who served as an MLB umpire from 1996 to 2022. “Social media and the media have really been hammering the umpires for pitches that are just minutely off the zone or in the zone or whatever, and it’s just too hard to be perfect with all of this. I think it’s going to be good to correct any egregious pitches. I think it’s going to show how good the umpires actually are.”

Baseball first introduced electronic monitoring with Questec’s Umpire Information System at select venues in 2001, then expanded to league-wide Zone Evaluation in 2009 through PITCHf/x technology. TrackMan’s doppler radar replaced the previous system in 2017 as part of MLB Statcast.

Umpires have received Z-E performance evaluations for every plate appearance since 2009. Starting in 2014, they also began experiencing call reversals through expanded video replay.

“It’s tough mentally on an umpire because you failed at your job and there’s that instant feedback of failure,” Barrett noted. “Nobody wants to fail at your job, but then there’s also the, hey, thank God I didn’t cost that team a game or a run or a pennant. No one wants to live with that. And so we take the positive of that. The negative is sometimes it’s like: What am I doing over there? I got overturned twice at first base.”

The ABS defines strikes as pitches crossing the plate at its midpoint within a zone measuring 53.5% of the batter’s height at the top and 27% at the bottom. This differs from the official rulebook strike zone, which creates a rectangular area from the midpoint between shoulder tops and uniform pants down to the hollow below the kneecap.

“They’re going to change to what the ABS calls, whether it’s a challenge or not because, remember, they are getting evaluated on their performance based on that ABS,” Barrett observed.

During spring training, Philadelphia led all teams in successful batting challenges at 61%, followed by Chicago Cubs at 60%, with Boston and Seattle each at 54%. Texas and Arizona both struggled at 33%, while Kansas City managed just 34%.

For defensive challenges, St. Louis topped the rankings at 75%, with Cincinnati at 71% and Cleveland at 70%. The Los Angeles Dodgers lagged at 43%, while Baltimore achieved 45%.

Batters succeeded on 46% of their 887 challenges, while defensive teams won 60% of 1,020 attempts. The Yankees recorded the most overall challenge victories with 54, while Arizona, the Dodgers, and New York Mets each tied for fewest wins at 20.

Boston’s Willson Contreras led all batters in challenges and succeeded on six of seven attempts. Philadelphia’s Christian Cairo maintained perfect success, winning all four of his batter challenges.

Among catchers, St. Louis’s Pedro Pagés went 8-for-8, Cincinnati’s P.J. Higgins finished 7-for-7, and Milwaukee’s Jeferson Quero achieved 6-for-6.

Chicago White Sox catcher Edgar Quero struggled at 2-for-11, New York Yankees’ Payton Henry went 1-for-9, and Oakland’s Austin Wynns failed on all seven attempts.

BENGALURU, India — Two record-shattering transactions completed on the same day have marked a watershed moment for American investment in Indian cricket, as US-backed groups purchased teams in India’s premier sports league for unprecedented amounts exceeding $1 billion each.

The Indian Premier League, which ranks among Asia’s most-watched sporting spectacles, witnessed its first-ever billion-dollar team sale when a group supported by US entrepreneurs Kal Somani and Rob Walton — Walmart’s former chairman — completed their purchase of the Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday. Indian media reports placed the transaction’s value at $1.63 billion.

However, this milestone was quickly surpassed within hours when an even larger acquisition was revealed the same day involving defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The franchise changed hands for $1.78 billion to a partnership that features US billionaire David Blitzer’s Bolt Ventures alongside American investment firm Blackstone.

These massive transactions underscore the growing appeal of India’s beloved national sport among global investors eager to participate in the world’s most populous nation’s favorite athletic competition.

“It’s mind-boggling numbers,” Indian cricketing great Sourav Ganguly told local reporters. “But great news for Indian cricket and the way forward. I think it’s already as big as the NBA.”

The astronomical prices represent a dramatic increase from the teams’ initial 2008 purchases, when spirits magnate Vijay Mallya acquired RCB for $111.6 million while Rajasthan sold for just $67 million.

Operating only three months annually, the IPL showcases cricket’s fastest format — known as Twenty20 — and has evolved into the sport’s most coveted property. Broadcasting rights for the 2023-27 period commanded $6.4 billion from Disney Star and Reliance Viacom18 in 2022. Following Disney’s departure from its India operations, the two companies merged to create JioStar in 2025.

Blitzer characterized the IPL as “one of the great growth stories in global sport” in his official statement.

The league grew from eight to 10 teams in 2021, with newcomers Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants selling for $670 million and $940 million respectively.

For perspective, the London Spirit franchise in Britain’s The Hundred cricket competition reached a peak valuation of $370 million in 2025 — the tournament’s highest — when a partial ownership stake was offered for sale.

“Over the past two decades, the IPL has morphed to become a global sporting powerhouse that has changed the face of Indian cricket, creating enormous value for India,” said Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman Aditya Birla Group, which is part of the consortium that includes Blitzer. “RCB, as one of the most compelling franchises in modern sport, offers us a distinctive platform to extend our legacy into the arena of global sport.”

RCB claimed their inaugural championship in 2025, though the victory celebrations were marred by tragedy when a crowd crush at the team’s stadium resulted in at least 11 fatalities.

The incoming ownership group plans to install new leadership for RCB, with Aditya Birla director Aryaman Vikram Birla assuming the chairman position and Satyan Gajwani from the Times of India Group becoming vice chairman.

Blitzer’s sports portfolio already encompasses ownership interests in the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, NHL’s New Jersey Devils, and Premier League’s Crystal Palace, among numerous other franchises.

Regarding the Rajasthan acquisition, Somani previously held shares in the team and moved to secure complete ownership through a transaction requiring approval from India’s Board of Control for Cricket, according to Indian media outlets. The Arizona-based technology executive also co-founded Motor City Golf Club in the TGL league established by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

Walton, age 81, is the oldest child of Walmart founder Sam Walton and currently owns the NFL’s Denver Broncos.

Although current IPL team valuations remain below top-tier global sports franchises like the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys or soccer’s Real Madrid, significant growth potential exists.

Cricket expanded into American markets during the 2024 T20 World Cup — which India won — and the sport will feature at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Times Group, another RCB co-owner, maintains substantial American cricket investments through Willow, which broadcasts major cricket competitions including the IPL throughout the United States.

Walmart holds significant Indian business interests, having purchased a controlling stake in e-commerce platform Flipkart in 2018 and operating PhonePe, the country’s dominant digital payments service, among other ventures.

Connections also exist between the IPL and Major League Cricket — a T20 tournament launched in 2023 featuring six teams across Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Dallas and Washington, D.C.

MLC operates with IPL franchise support — Chennai Super Kings owns the Texas team, while Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians control the Los Angeles and New York franchises respectively. The league anticipates expansion to eight teams by 2027, with Arizona considered a leading candidate for one of the new franchises.

The National Basketball Association’s governing board gave the green light Wednesday for league officials to examine potential franchise expansion into two specific markets: Las Vegas and Seattle.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released a statement saying, “Today’s vote reflects our Board’s interest in exploring potential expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle — two markets with a long history of support for NBA basketball.”

Silver added, “We look forward to taking this next step and engaging with interested parties.” While Wednesday’s decision doesn’t guarantee either city will receive a franchise, it opens the door for official discussions with potential ownership groups. Industry analysts project each expansion franchise could cost investors anywhere from $7 billion to $10 billion.

Seattle previously hosted the SuperSonics until 2008, when team ownership moved the franchise to Oklahoma City following unsuccessful negotiations for a new arena facility.

Las Vegas has never hosted an NBA franchise but has established itself as a growing sports destination, currently housing NFL and NHL teams, while Major League Baseball’s Athletics are also planning to relocate to the city.

Should the expansion move forward, both franchises are anticipated to debut during the 2028-29 season, representing the league’s first growth since the Charlotte Bobcats entered in 2004.

League insiders anticipate both new teams would join the Western Conference, likely prompting either the Minnesota Timberwolves or Memphis Grizzlies to move to the Eastern Conference to maintain equal 16-team divisions.

The Twin Cities are making their play to bring one of the NFL’s biggest events to Minnesota, with officials confirming they’ve officially entered the race to host the 2028 NFL Draft.

Minnesota Sports and Events Commission President and CEO Wendy Blackshaw verified to ESPN on Wednesday that the organization has submitted their formal proposal to stage the event at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The league’s annual draft event is scheduled for Pittsburgh in the coming month, followed by the nation’s capital in 2027.

According to ESPN, the NFL generally makes its hosting decisions approximately two years in advance, meaning Minneapolis could learn their fate in the near future.

The draft event underwent a major transformation starting in 2015, moving away from its longtime New York home where it resided from 1965 through 2014. Since then, the selection spectacle has traveled to various cities including Chicago for two consecutive years in 2015-16, followed by stops in Philadelphia, Arlington in Texas, Nashville, Cleveland, Las Vegas, Kansas City, Detroit, and Green Bay scheduled for 2025.

The only interruption to this traveling format occurred in 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic forced organizers to conduct the event virtually.

NEW YORK — The NBA has taken a significant step toward bringing professional basketball back to Seattle and establishing a new franchise in Las Vegas.

On Wednesday, the league’s board of governors gave their approval for NBA leadership to “formally explore potential team expansion” in both cities, which have been widely considered the leading candidates for new franchises.

“Today’s vote reflects our Board’s interest in exploring potential expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle — two markets with a long history of support for NBA basketball,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “We look forward to taking this next step and engaging with interested parties.”

Silver planned to address reporters later Wednesday about future steps in the process. The NBA announced it has enlisted investment bank PJT Partners “as a strategic adviser to evaluate prospective markets, ownership groups, arena infrastructure, and the broader economic implications of expansion.”

While expansion remains uncertain, the formal exploration marks a major milestone beyond mere speculation.

New Orleans guard Dejounte Murray was just 11 when Seattle’s NBA franchise disappeared. Growing up, he idolized players like Gary Payton, Ray Allen and Shawn Kemp, and even recalls a young Kevin Durant during his rookie season with the SuperSonics.

Nearly twenty years have passed since that era concluded. However, Wednesday’s decision should generate genuine optimism for basketball’s return to Seattle — and the beginning of a new era in Las Vegas.

“It’s a basketball city, basketball culture, so it’s mandatory I think that they get it back over there,” said Murray, who hails from Seattle.

Orlando’s Paolo Banchero, also a Seattle native, added: “I think it’s been a long time coming for the city. I think everybody was pretty bummed out when they left. And since then it’s just been waiting and hoping that one day they will come back. I’m sure with the news, everybody’s excited. I know I’m excited for all the kids growing up because Seattle’s a really big basketball city.”

Las Vegas has also established itself as a basketball hub, despite lacking a franchise.

The NBA’s Summer League takes place annually in Las Vegas and has evolved into an essential gathering for team executives, coaches, media, agents and even non-participating players. The NBA Cup championship rounds have also been staged in Las Vegas. Historically, the city has hosted occasional regular-season contests; notably, in 1984, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kareem Abdul-Jabbar set the league’s career scoring record there during a matchup with the Utah Jazz — who were using Las Vegas for some home games at the time.

The concept of placing a franchise in Las Vegas might have seemed far-fetched twenty years ago. That’s no longer the case, particularly with the NFL’s Raiders, NHL’s Golden Knights and WNBA’s Aces already established there, plus Major League Baseball coming soon.

“I’m very excited to see the NBA advance this process toward a Las Vegas expansion team,” Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo said. “Today’s vote by the NBA Board of Governors is a testament to the incredible growth we’re seeing in Southern Nevada and our state’s business-friendly environment. Las Vegans have already shown unwavering support for our professional sports franchises, and a new NBA team will provide even more entertainment, more jobs, and more small business growth for the region.”

Speaking in Las Vegas during December’s NBA Cup, Silver had previously stated: “I think Seattle and Las Vegas are two incredible cities.”

Should owners ultimately choose to expand beyond the current 30-team structure, numerous details must be resolved. Key considerations include: the expansion fee (anticipated to exceed $6 billion), the implementation timeline (2028-29 appears to be the earliest possibility) and Western Conference restructuring (at least one team would likely move to the Eastern Conference).

Golden State coach Steve Kerr described the SuperSonics as “one of the iconic franchises in the NBA.” The franchise relocated in 2008 and became the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“I was shocked when the league left Seattle,” Kerr said. “Incredible fan base. Great basketball market. A ton of talent coming from Seattle. Top 10 media market. Incredible sports city. So, it was kind of shocking to all of us when the league left Seattle. And I think we all hoped it would be a lot sooner than 18, 19 years, whatever it’s going to be, before they got back in the league.

“They belong in that city, and a team belongs there,” he added. “Those fans deserve it.”

The international governing body for track and field has granted the United States three additional roster spots for women’s half-marathon competitors at September’s World Road Running Championships following a routing mishap at the American national championships.

Three female athletes – Jess McClain, Emma Grace Hurley and Ednah Kurgat – were running in the lead positions with just two miles remaining when they were incorrectly guided off the proper course, costing them podium finishes and automatic qualification spots typically awarded to the top four competitors.

Race officials later provided compensation to the affected runners, explaining that law enforcement officers responsible for course direction had been forced to abandon their posts to handle an urgent emergency situation.

In what World Athletics described as an “exceptional decision,” the organization will permit the US team to bring seven female half-marathon athletes to the Copenhagen championships in September on a “strictly one-off basis.”

The three additional competitors will participate as “non-scoring athletes” who are ineligible for medals, prize money or team scoring contributions, though they will earn world ranking points for their race results, according to the World Athletics announcement.

“USATF will select their four fastest athletes to be their scoring athletes, while non-scoring athletes… will take the three additional places. The three non-scoring athletes will wear USA national kit but of a different style to the four scoring athletes,” the organization stated.

USA Track & Field confirmed that McClain, Hurley and Kurgat will join the squad alongside the official top-three finishers Molly Born, Carrie Ellwood and Annie Rodenfels, with one remaining position to be determined through world ranking criteria.

“Should any non-scoring athletes finish in a prize-eligible position, USATF will also provide the corresponding prize money,” the national governing body announced.

The New York Yankees have assigned right-handed pitcher Luis Gil to their Triple-A affiliate to start the season, while bringing outfielder Randal Grichuk onto the major league roster before Wednesday’s season opener in San Francisco.

The 27-year-old Gil experienced an inconsistent spring training campaign but finished strong with a seven-strikeout performance across five innings against Baltimore on March 20. New York’s early-season schedule allows them to operate without a fifth starting pitcher until April 11.

Manager Aaron Boone explained the team chose to send Gil to their Scranton/Wilkes-Barre farm club rather than utilize him in relief work to begin the campaign. The organization anticipates bringing him back to the majors next month.

Gil represents one of three potential rotation pieces – alongside injured starters Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon, who are both recovering from surgical procedures – that could be part of the Yankees’ starting staff through the 2026 season.

New York will begin the year with a four-man starting rotation featuring Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren and Ryan Weathers.

During his four-year tenure with the Yankees, Gil has made 47 appearances (all as a starter) and compiled a 20-9 record with a 3.50 earned run average. He has recorded 255 strikeouts across 242 innings pitched but has also issued 131 walks.

In additional roster moves Wednesday, the Yankees placed shortstop Anthony Volpe on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to March 22, as he continues his recovery from left shoulder surgery.

NBA leadership received authorization Wednesday to investigate bringing professional basketball franchises to Las Vegas and Seattle after the league’s Board of Governors approved expansion discussions.

According to ESPN, potential ownership groups are anticipated to submit bids ranging from $7 billion to $10 billion per team.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver commented on the decision, stating: “Today’s vote reflects our Board’s interest in exploring potential expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle — two markets with a long history of support for NBA basketball. We look forward to taking this next step and engaging with interested parties.”

The expansion discussion required approval from a minimum of 23 out of 30 team governors. League officials did not disclose specific voting tallies from the ongoing New York meetings.

The comprehensive evaluation of prospective owners typically spans several months and includes extensive financial analysis. NBA officials have contracted investment firm PJT Partners to serve as strategic consultants “to evaluate prospective markets, ownership groups, arena infrastructure, and the broader economic implications of expansion.”

Earlier reports indicated the expansion franchises could launch operations during the 2028-29 season.

The SuperSonics represented Seattle in the NBA from the 1967-68 season through 2007-08, capturing a championship in 1979. That franchise eventually moved and transformed into the Oklahoma City Thunder, which claimed a title this past season.

While Las Vegas has hosted various NBA activities for years, including the yearly Summer League tournament, Nevada has never housed a permanent NBA team. The city’s WNBA franchise, the Las Vegas Aces, has operated there since 2018 and secured three championships in the past four years.

The NBA’s most recent expansion occurred in 2004, and adding two franchises may require conference restructuring. Teams currently in the Western Conference — potentially Minnesota, Memphis, or New Orleans — might shift to the Eastern Conference to balance a 32-team structure.

NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood knew exactly who he wanted calling games when he discovered in November that his network would resume baseball broadcasting.

Baseball fans will experience this vision firsthand Thursday during NBC’s Opening Day doubleheader coverage.

Jason Benetti will make his network debut as NBC’s primary baseball voice during the evening matchup featuring the back-to-back World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers taking on the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The veteran announcer becomes the new voice behind Sunday Night Baseball, which NBC and Peacock are taking over following ESPN’s 26-season tenure. Benetti previously handled play-by-play duties for MLB Sunday Leadoff on Peacock in 2022 and called baseball for NBC during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

“Sam and I always joked after 2022 — and he was serious, and it turned out I was, too — that if NBC ever got baseball back in this sort of state, that I would be on the list of people that he would call. And I firmly appreciate that,” Benetti said.

Fox Sports released Benetti from his contract early to pursue this opportunity. He had been calling baseball, NFL, college football and college basketball for Fox since 2022.

NBC secured rights to Sunday evening games and Wild Card playoff rounds for the next three years after ESPN chose not to extend its original agreement with Major League Baseball.

Baseball enthusiasts, particularly in Detroit and Chicago markets, recognize Benetti’s distinctive voice. He’s entering his third season providing local Tigers game coverage following eight years with the White Sox.

Sunday Night Baseball will maintain the same structure used for Sunday Leadoff programming. Benetti will share booth duties with analysts representing both competing teams. Thursday’s broadcast features former Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser alongside Diamondbacks slugger Luis Gonzalez, who helped deliver the franchise’s 2001 World Series championship.

The inaugural Sunday Night Baseball game between Cleveland Guardians and Seattle Mariners will include Rick Manning and Ryan Rowland-Smith as analysts.

“At some point, somebody will ask if you’re around a bunch of baseball people, what three people would you want to have at the dinner table to talk baseball? And I kind of get to do that with this every week,” Benetti said. “It’s going to be two separate people who maybe you haven’t heard have a baseball conversation before. That brings me a lot of joy and curiosity, and we think it’s going to be for fans as well.”

This dual-analyst approach recalls NBC’s World Series coverage history. Between 1947 and 1976, NBC featured play-by-play announcers or analysts from participating teams during the Fall Classic.

NBC’s 1975 World Series coverage included Red Sox announcer Dick Stockton calling Carlton Fisk’s legendary 12th-inning Game 6 home run. Stockton later became CBS’s primary NBA voice.

“The biggest complaint you hear during the postseason in baseball is, I can’t hear my people. I can’t hear my guys call the game. We’re going to have one person that’s authentic to that team calling games through the season,” Flood said. “When we do the Wild Card round, it will exist as well. Because it’s the best way to know exactly what’s going on inside each clubhouse, on the field, who’s hot, who’s not, and what matters most to those fans.”

Benetti welcomes the weekly challenge of collaborating with different analysts, describing the nine-inning dynamic with two distinct personalities as an engaging puzzle.

He compared the experience to his college basketball work alongside the late Bill Walton on ESPN, including a memorable 2019 White Sox-Angels game in Southern California where Walton served as analyst.

“When I worked with Bill — a marvelous, joyful human being — you just had to know that you’re going to have to pay attention to the game and then Bill and the conversation, whatever crosses your own synapses, and then weigh that at all times. And it’s this crossword puzzle that is not black and white; it’s like psychedelic squares instead, but you just kind of have to always gauge where your mind needs to go. And the answer usually is two or three places at once,” Benetti said. “Working with Bill in large part taught me that you can have a conversation about a lot of things while honoring the game and having a great time doing it.”

NBC will debut an “inside pitch” segment during broadcasts, featuring analysis from studio analysts Clayton Kershaw and Adam Ottavino.

Flood expects to incorporate this feature once per inning or every other inning.

“The idea is to really take you through how Adam would approach pitching to Juan Soto or ‘The Password’ (the nickname for Jhostynxon Garcia). Whatever it is, he’s going to take you through that approach, during the at-bat, and looking at it through the lens of a pitcher who was on that mound in a recent season facing these same hitters,” Flood said.

Thursday’s opening NBC game showcases reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates against Juan Soto and the New York Mets. Matt Vasgersian, who calls Sunday afternoon Peacock games, will team with Al Leiter and Neil Walker.

NBC’s first Sunday night broadcast is scheduled for April 12 when Cleveland visits the Atlanta Braves. The following six weeks will air on Peacock and NBCSN before NBC takes over Sunday night coverage from May 31 through September 6.

NBC maintains extensive baseball history despite recent absence from the sport. The network broadcast games from 1939 through 1989, participated in the short-lived Baseball Network partnership with ABC in 1994-95, and aired playoff coverage from 1996 through 2000.

Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid reached a historic milestone Tuesday night, netting his 400th and 401st career NHL goals during a 5-2 victory over the Utah Mammoth in Salt Lake City.

The milestone marker came at a crucial moment, just eight seconds after Utah’s Lawson Crouse had evened the score at 2-2 with 11:59 remaining in the second period. McDavid capitalized on a 2-on-1 opportunity, banking the puck off the crossbar and into the net to restore Edmonton’s advantage.

Jack Roslovic contributed a pair of goals while Evan Bouchard recorded three assists for Edmonton (35-28-9, 79 points). The victory snapped a two-game losing streak and propelled the Oilers past the Vegas Golden Knights into second place in the Pacific Division. Matt Savoie added another goal, and goaltender Tristan Jarry turned away 16 shots.

Alexander Kerfoot found the net for Utah (37-29-6, 80 points), which had captured three victories in its previous four contests. The Mammoth maintain their grip on the first Western Conference wild-card position. Relief goalie Vitek Vanecek was perfect on 10 shots after replacing Karel Vejmelka, who surrendered four goals on 15 attempts through two periods.

Panthers 5, Kraken 4 (SO)

Vinnie Hinostroza delivered the decisive shootout goal as Florida defeated Seattle at home, while head coach Paul Maurice marked his 2,000th game behind an NHL bench. The 59-year-old Maurice now trails only Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman (2,141) for most games coached in league history.

Seattle mounted a dramatic comeback from a 4-1 deficit with under six minutes left, getting goals from Matty Beniers, Jordan Eberle and Bobby McMann to force overtime.

Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 22 shots in regulation and made three crucial saves in the shootout. Nolan Foote, Eetu Luostarinen, Carter Verhaeghe and Noah Gregor provided Florida’s scoring. Defenseman Aaron Ekblad also hit a personal milestone, appearing in his 800th NHL game.

Avalanche 6, Penguins 2

Martin Necas found the net twice while Scott Wedgewood turned aside 30 shots as Colorado rolled to a road triumph over Pittsburgh.

Sam Malinski contributed a goal and assist for the Avalanche, who extended their winning streak to three games and points streak to four contests (3-0-1). Nathan MacKinnon, Parker Kelly and Ross Colton provided Colorado’s remaining offense.

Egor Chinakhov and Rickard Rakell scored for Pittsburgh, which dropped to third in the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins have struggled defensively, allowing 21 goals while going 1-2-1 over their last four outings. Arturs Silovs made 24 saves on 29 shots.

Canadiens 5, Hurricanes 2

Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky struck 3½ minutes apart in the middle frame, while Jakub Dobes made 41 saves to help Montreal rally past Carolina at home.

Oliver Kapanen, Ivan Demidov and Jake Evans also tallied for the Canadiens, who earned their sixth victory in nine games. The comeback marked Montreal’s 24th of the season, matching a franchise record.

Nikolaj Ehlers and Jordan Staal scored first-period goals for Carolina, ending the Hurricanes’ three-game winning streak. Frederik Andersen stopped 14 shots in the loss.

Maple Leafs 4, Bruins 2

Matthew Knies scored a pair of goals while William Nylander netted the game-winner and added an assist as Toronto defeated Boston on the road.

Max Domi also scored, John Tavares recorded three assists and Anthony Stolarz made 18 saves for the Maple Leafs, who overcame an early 1-0 deficit with two goals each in the second and third periods. The victory was only Toronto’s third since the Olympic break (3-8-4).

Elias Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy scored for Boston, which had been on a five-game point streak (3-0-2). Jeremy Swayman made 31 saves. Toronto outshot Boston 35-20 and went 2-for-4 on the power play, while the Bruins were 1-for-5.

Lightning 6, Wild 3

Erik Cernak scored an unusual tiebreaking goal with under three minutes remaining as Tampa Bay opened a season-high seven-game homestand by scoring five consecutive goals in a victory over Minnesota.

Darren Raddysh tallied once and assisted twice for Tampa Bay. Brandon Hagel and Jake Guentzel each recorded a goal and assist. Pontus Holmberg was credited with the final goal after being fouled on a breakaway with 24 seconds left, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 20 saves.

Vladimir Tarasenko had a goal and assist for Minnesota. Mats Zuccarello and Brock Faber also scored, while Filip Gustavsson stopped 19 shots.

Blues 3, Capitals 0

Joel Hofer made 21 saves for his sixth shutout of the season as St. Louis blanked Washington at home.

The shutout was Hofer’s eighth career. Jimmy Snuggerud, Ott Stenberg and Jordan Kyrou scored for the Blues, who have earned points in 10 of 11 games (8-1-2). St. Louis opened a three-game homestand while remaining on the Western Conference wild-card bubble.

Washington began a three-game road trip having earned points in five straight (3-0-2). The Capitals finished six points behind Ottawa for the second Eastern Conference wild card. Logan Thompson made 24 saves.

Ducks 5, Canucks 3

Mikael Granlund scored twice and John Carlson recorded three assists as Anaheim defeated Vancouver on the road.

Alex Killorn had a goal and assist, Leo Carlsson logged two assists and Lukas Dostal made 27 saves for the Ducks, who extended their point streak to five games (4-0-1). Mason McTavish and Troy Terry also scored for Anaheim, which earned its 24th comeback victory, tied for the league lead.

Jake DeBrusk, Brock Boeser and Drew O’Connor scored for Vancouver, which has lost three straight. Filip Hronek and Elias Pettersson each had two assists, while Kevin Lankinen stopped 29 shots.

Predators 6, Sharks 3

Jonathan Marchessault recorded three assists as Nashville scored five first-period goals and cruised past visiting San Jose.

Filip Forsberg had a goal and two assists, Brady Skjei a goal and assist, and Matthew Wood, Roman Josi, Luke Evangelista and Steven Stamkos also tallied for the Predators, who won their fifth consecutive game. Ryan O’Reilly notched two assists and Juuse Saros made 27 saves.

Will Smith scored twice and Adam Gaudette added a goal for San Jose, which has lost five in a row. Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 13 shots.

Jets 4, Golden Knights 1

Mark Scheifele scored a goal, recorded two assists and got into a fight for a “Gordie Howe hat trick” as Winnipeg defeated Vegas at home.

Kyle Connor had a goal and assist while Alex Iafallo and Cole Perfetti also scored for the Jets, who are 2-0-1 in their last three games. Connor Hellebuyck made 26 saves.

Rasmus Andersson scored and Adin Hill finished with 17 saves for Vegas, which has lost four of its past five games.

Devils 6, Stars 4

New Jersey scored four times on its first five shots then held off Dallas’ comeback attempt on the road.

Jack Hughes continued his hot streak with two goals. Jesper Bratt added a goal and assist, while Connor Brown, Tino Meier and Dougie Hamilton also scored for the Devils. Jake Allen made 23 saves for his second win in seven starts.

Wyatt Johnston scored twice to reach 40 goals for the season and assisted on Jason Robertson’s 39th. Mavrik Bourque also scored. Robertson added two assists, as did Thomas Harley.

Blue Jackets 3, Flyers 2

Zach Werenski and Mason Marchment each had a goal and assist as Columbus bounced back from a rare regulation loss with a road victory over Philadelphia.

Columbus had gone 8-0-4 in 12 games before falling 1-0 to the New York Islanders on Sunday. Tuesday’s victory moved the Blue Jackets past Pittsburgh into second place in the Metropolitan Division while Philadelphia missed a chance to gain ground in the wild-card race.

Mathieu Olivier also scored for Columbus while Jet Greaves stopped 24 shots. Sean Couturier and Jamie Drysdale tallied for Philadelphia, while Dan Vladar finished with 16 saves.

Flames 3, Kings 2 (SO)

Yegor Sharangovich scored the winner in the fourth shootout round as Calgary topped Los Angeles at home, extending their winning streak to a season-best four games.

Olli Maatta and Zayne Parekh scored in regulation for the Flames. Dustin Wolf made 23 saves through regulation and overtime.

Quinton Byfield netted both regulation goals for Los Angeles, which is 0-1-3 in its past four games. Darcy Kuemper stopped 21 shots through regulation and overtime.

Senators 3, Red Wings 2

Carter Yakemchuk scored and added an assist in his NHL debut as surging Ottawa edged Detroit on the road.

Brady Tkachuk scored his 20th goal of the season for the Senators, who have won four straight and nine of 11 games. Lars Eller scored the other Ottawa goal. The victory moved the Senators ahead of Detroit in the playoff race. Linus Ullmark made 32 saves for Ottawa, which currently holds the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

Detroit captain Dylan Larkin scored on a third-period power play in his return after missing seven games with a lower body injury. Dominik Shine also scored for the Red Wings, while John Gibson stopped 18 shots.

Blackhawks 4, Islanders 3

Nick Lardis, Ilya Mikheyev, Tyler Bertuzzi and Frank Nazar scored consecutive goals over a 13-minute span bridging the first and second periods as Chicago held off New York’s rally in Elmont, N.Y.

Arvid Soderblom made 44 saves — including 21 in the third period — for the Blackhawks, who won for the second time in six games (2-2-2). Anders Lee scored in the opening minute before Simon Holmstrom and Calum Ritchie tallied third-period goals for New York.

The Islanders took their third loss in four games (1-3-0) and fell even with Ottawa for the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot. Starting goalie David Rittich was pulled after allowing three first-period goals on 12 shots. Ilya Sorokin took the loss after stopping 11 of 12 shots in relief.

SALT LAKE CITY — Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid delivered a surprising statement to media members Tuesday evening after reaching a major career milestone, claiming that finding the back of the net has never been effortless for him.

Following his two-goal performance in Edmonton’s 5-2 victory against Utah, which brought his career total to 401 goals, McDavid maintained a serious expression while addressing reporters about his achievement.

“Goal scoring is something that has not come easy to me,” McDavid stated after the game. “It’s something that I work at, something that I focus on. I set a goal at the beginning of the year: trying to shoot more pucks.”

Teammate Jack Roslovic, who also netted two goals in Tuesday’s victory, appeared stunned by McDavid’s assertion about his scoring abilities. When reporters asked if he shared McDavid’s assessment, Roslovic responded with disbelief, simply saying: “No comment.”

According to Roslovic, the team, which climbed to second place in the Pacific Division standings, draws inspiration from their captain’s work ethic, even though McDavid isn’t particularly vocal as a leader.

“It’s just the hustle. Everyone watches him, knows what he’s doing, and it’s inspiring, humbling, motivating,” Roslovic explained.

McDavid joined an exclusive group as the fifth player in franchise history to score 400 goals when he converted a pass from Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard, defeating goaltender Karel Vejmelka with 7:53 remaining in the middle period.

That breakthrough goal marked his 39th of the current season and gave Edmonton a 3-2 advantage. McDavid added his 401st career goal and 40th of the season by scoring into an empty net with just 7.5 seconds left on the clock.

The superstar center has claimed the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP three times and stands as one of only two players to win the award unanimously, joining Wayne Gretzky in that distinction. McDavid has gained recognition for his exceptional skating ability, recently clocking a maximum on-ice speed of 24.61 mph during a game.

“Of course, there’s his speed, but I don’t think he gets enough credit for his shot,” said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch. “He is dangerous when he gets off the circles and he’s got a great release and is so difficult to check. He’s so determined to get to the net.”

Despite his goal-scoring prowess, McDavid views himself primarily as someone who sets up teammates for success. He has accumulated 1,200 career points, becoming the third-fastest player in NHL history to reach that benchmark behind only Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. McDavid sits one assist away from reaching 800 career helpers.

“It’s a big number, obviously, and I feel like I got a lot of great years ahead of me still, which is exciting,” said McDavid, who was selected first overall in the 2015 draft. “These milestones are just a nice time to reflect and I’m just very grateful to have played with so many great players.”

Several teammates acknowledge that McDavid’s performances can be so spectacular that it becomes tempting to simply observe rather than participate.

“He’s amazing,” Roslovic commented. “Just really cool for him, obviously, to do that, and then for us to be able to be a part of it and to be able to watch is special.”

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Grizzlies star point guard Ja Morant will sit out the rest of the current NBA season after sustaining a UCL sprain in his left elbow, the team announced Tuesday evening.

Team officials indicated that Morant will receive a platelet-rich plasma injection to help the healing process. The organization anticipates he will be fully recovered in time for the upcoming season.

The 26-year-old Murray State product, standing 6-foot-2, has been limited to just 20 appearances this season for Memphis. His scoring average of 19.5 points per game marks his lowest output since his sophomore campaign in the league. This premature conclusion to his season extends a troubling pattern for the frequently injured point guard, who has participated in merely 79 contests across the previous three seasons.

The elbow injury occurred in late January, shortly after Morant had returned from a two-week absence due to calf discomfort.

Selected as the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, trailing only Zion Williamson, Morant quickly became a must-see attraction during his early professional years with Memphis.

The dynamic playmaker became known for spectacular dunks against towering centers and eluding defenders with spinning maneuvers. His court vision allowed him to thread passes through tight defensive schemes, while his defensive hustle resulted in memorable chase-down blocks where he would pin shots against the backboard’s upper corner.

These athletic displays and highlight-reel moments led to his Rookie of the Year award in 2020 and Most Improved Player recognition in 2022.

However, personal conduct problems and behavioral concerns that emerged in 2023 began affecting his on-court contributions for Memphis. Footage from March 2023 showing Morant displaying a firearm at a Denver nightclub resulted in an eight-game NBA suspension, despite no criminal charges being pursued.

Several months afterward, Morant appeared on a livestream again brandishing a weapon while riding as a passenger in a vehicle. Following the league’s investigation, Commissioner Adam Silver announced that Morant would begin the 2023-24 season serving a 25-game suspension.

The University of North Carolina terminated head basketball coach Hubert Davis on Tuesday evening following a crushing first-round exit from the NCAA Tournament.

Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham released a statement acknowledging Davis’s contributions to the program. “We appreciate all that Hubert has done for Carolina as a player, assistant coach, head coach and community leader — he has helped make special memories we will never forget,” Cunningham stated. “This was not an easy decision because of Hubert’s tremendous character and all he has given to the program, but we must move forward in a way that allows our team to compete more consistently at an elite level.”

Multiple sources report that Davis will receive $5.3 million from the university as payment for the remainder of his coaching contract. The former Tar Heel player competed for North Carolina from 1988 to 1992 and later worked as an assistant coach from 2012 through 2021.

The dismissal came after North Carolina’s devastating tournament loss last Thursday in Greenville, South Carolina. The eighth-seeded Tar Heels held a commanding 19-point advantage over VCU in the second half before allowing the 11th-seeded Rams to mount a comeback and secure an 82-78 overtime victory.

North Carolina concluded the season with a 24-9 overall record. The team finished tied for fourth in Atlantic Coast Conference regular season play at 12-6, with their most notable achievement being a 71-68 home victory against rival Duke on February 7.

This marked the second consecutive year that the Tar Heels were eliminated in the tournament’s opening round. Last year, North Carolina defeated San Diego State in a First Four matchup before falling to sixth-seeded Ole Miss 71-64 as an 11th seed.

Davis experienced his greatest success during his inaugural season as head coach after assuming leadership of his former school when Roy Williams stepped down. In the 2021-22 campaign, the Tar Heels compiled a 29-10 record and advanced to the NCAA championship game before losing to Kansas.

The program failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament the following season, then made it to the Sweet 16 in 2024.

During his tenure, Davis accumulated a 125-54 overall coaching record, which included a 68-30 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference competition.

Tiger Woods stepped back into competitive golf Tuesday evening, though his comeback was brief during the TGL SoFi Cup championship match in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

The golf legend participated in the finals for Jupiter Links, but his team suffered a decisive 9-2 defeat to Los Angeles GC. The contest concluded in approximately 90 minutes, ending so quickly that Woods never had the opportunity to participate in the singles competition.

Reflecting on the outcome, Woods candidly stated they got “our (butts) kicked in the end.”

“They steamrolled us in the end, but it’s good to be back,” Woods commented after the match.

This marked Woods’ first competitive appearance since February 2025 during TGL’s debut season. The 50-year-old golfer is roughly six months into recovery from lumbar disk replacement surgery performed last fall, following an earlier Achilles rupture operation. His last regular tournament participation was at the 2024 Open Championship.

Whether Woods will participate in next month’s Masters tournament remains uncertain.

The five-time Masters winner began Tuesday’s competition with a putt from approximately 25 feet that fell short of the target. Shortly afterward, he helped secure his team’s initial point with a 3-wood shot measuring 272 virtual yards, positioning Jupiter Links for a scoring opportunity.

Woods displayed elements reminiscent of his prime years, sporting his signature red shirt while close-up cameras captured perspiration on his face. His intense focus and stern expression recalled the concentration that characterized many of his greatest performances.

However, he also missed a crucial short putt, striking his putter against the ball after it rimmed out. This mistake caused Jupiter Links to trail 3-2 for the first time during the match.

Serving as Jupiter Links captain, Woods competed in the second match of the best-of-three finals held on the Palm Beach State College campus.

“I’ve been a cheerleader all these matches, and I want to contribute,” he stated before the competition began.

Woods joined teammates Max Homa and Tom Kim, taking Kevin Kisner’s spot in the lineup. Their opponents included Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, and Sahith Theegala.

Los Angeles GC had already secured Monday’s opening match. Tuesday’s victory in the second match eliminated the need for a deciding third contest.

Last year’s inaugural TGL finals saw Atlanta Drive GC sweep New York Golf Club 2-0.

CINCINNATI — Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco has reached an agreement to remain with the Cincinnati Bengals, continuing his role as the backup to starting quarterback Joe Burrow.

The Bengals acquired Flacco through a trade with the Cleveland Browns in October, and he stepped into the starting role for six games while Burrow recovered from a toe injury.

Despite posting a 1-5 record as Cincinnati’s starter, the 41-year-old quarterback delivered solid performances. Flacco surpassed 200 passing yards in four of his six starting appearances, helping the Bengals offense maintain an average of more than 27 points per game during that stretch.

Earlier in the same season, Flacco had started four games for Cleveland, recording two touchdown passes against six interceptions.

The former Super Bowl MVP from Baltimore’s 2012 championship run has had an extensive NFL journey, suiting up for Denver, New York Jets, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, and most recently Cleveland before joining Cincinnati.

Throughout his 19-year professional career, Flacco has accumulated 48,176 passing yards with 272 touchdown passes and 172 interceptions. His postseason resume includes a 10-6 record with 3,530 yards through the air, 26 touchdown passes, and 12 interceptions.

March Madness delivered record-breaking television audiences during its opening week, with an average of 10.1 million viewers tuning in across CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV through the second round of competition.

Nielsen data shows tournament viewership climbed 7% compared to the previous year. The current broadcast format began in 2011 when CBS partnered with TNT to air all tournament games, replacing the previous regional coverage system that CBS used from 1991 to 2010.

Thursday and Friday’s opening round games drew 9.5 million viewers on average, representing a 9% boost from last year. Weekend action during the second round attracted 11 million viewers on Saturday and Sunday combined. The second round numbers mark the highest audience levels since 1993 and reflect a 7% year-over-year increase.

Sunday evening’s prime-time slate proved particularly popular with viewers, as simultaneous games featuring St. John’s against Kansas on CBS, Iowa versus Florida on TBS, and Virginia taking on Tennessee on TNT collectively reached 19.7 million viewers. This three-game window set a new tournament record for first-week viewership.

Georgetown basketball guard KJ Lewis, who received All-Big East third-team recognition, is set to enter the transfer portal for the second straight year, according to a Tuesday report from On3.

The guard, who spent his initial two collegiate seasons at Arizona before transferring, appeared in 28 games this season with 27 starts. Lewis topped Georgetown’s roster with a 14.9 points per game scoring average, ranking ninth among Big East players. He also finished second in the conference for steals with 2.1 per contest and paced the Hoyas with 5.1 rebounds per game.

The 6-foot-4 player’s season came to an early end when he suffered a left ankle injury during Georgetown’s matchup with Marquette on February 24, sidelining him for the final six regular season contests.

The Hoyas finished the campaign with a 16-18 overall record and went 6-14 in Big East play. Georgetown managed to advance through two rounds of the conference tournament before losing to UConn in the semifinal round.

During his previous season at Arizona, Lewis posted averages of 10.8 points and 4.6 rebounds across 37 appearances, including six as a starter. He received honorable mention recognition for the Pac-12 All-Freshman team in 2023-24. Throughout his two-year tenure with the Wildcats, Lewis compiled career averages of 8.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals over 73 total games.

Women’s basketball coach Kristy Curry has concluded her 13-year tenure at Alabama to accept the head coaching position at South Florida, both universities confirmed Tuesday.

South Florida’s Athletics CEO Rob Higgins praised the hiring, describing Curry as “a proven winner at the highest levels.”

“She has guided her teams to the NCAA championship game and built an exceptional resume that includes 16 20-win seasons and 21 postseason appearances over 27 years as a head coach,” Higgins stated. “I’m incredibly excited about the future of South Florida women’s basketball under her leadership.”

The decision marks an unexpected career shift for the 59-year-old Curry, who has exclusively coached at major conference programs throughout her career, including Purdue from 1999-2006, Texas Tech from 2006-13, and most recently Alabama. Her move to the American Conference represents a departure from high-major basketball.

South Florida previously enjoyed consistent NCAA Tournament success under Jose Fernandez during his 25-year leadership before he departed to coach the WNBA’s Dallas Wings in 2025. Michele Woods-Baxter filled the interim role for the 2025-26 season, leading the Bulls to a 20-12 record and 13-5 conference mark, though they failed to secure a tournament berth.

“I would like to thank Rob Higgins for the tremendous opportunity to lead a proud South Florida women’s basketball program,” Curry expressed in her statement. “A strong foundation is in place, and I look forward to building on it as we pursue conference championships and NCAA Tournament success. Rob and the University’s commitment to competing at the highest level—along with the clear vision and alignment at USF—are truly exceptional. I can’t wait to meet Bulls Nation and experience a rocking Yuengling Center.”

Alabama Athletic Director Greg Byrne acknowledged Curry’s departure, stating she performed “a commendable job” during her time with the program.

“We appreciated her contributions and wish her and her family well moving forward,” Byrne commented. “As we begin a national search for our next head coach, Alabama athletics remains committed to the continued growth and investment in women’s basketball.”

Under Curry’s guidance, Alabama secured four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and reached the second round in three straight seasons. The Crimson Tide’s most recent campaign concluded Monday with a heartbreaking 69-68 defeat to third-seeded Louisville in the Round of 32, despite entering as a sixth seed.

The program achieved a 24-11 overall record and 7-9 SEC conference mark this season. Alabama also earned AP Top 25 recognition for the second consecutive year, reaching as high as No. 21 in the rankings. Prior to Curry’s arrival, the program hadn’t appeared in the polls since the 1998-99 season.

Curry brings an impressive 554-322 career coaching record to South Florida. Her most notable achievement came at Purdue in 2001, when she guided the Boilermakers to the Final Four and championship game, where they defeated Missouri State before falling 68-66 to Notre Dame for the national title.

Golden State Warriors guard Moses Moody’s season has come to an abrupt end following a devastating knee injury that occurred during Monday night’s 137-131 overtime victory.

Team officials announced Tuesday that the 23-year-old player suffered a torn patellar tendon in his left knee and will undergo surgical repair later this week. Medical imaging confirmed the extent of the damage after Moody collapsed during the game’s final moments.

The injury happened with less than a minute remaining in overtime as Moody attempted what appeared to be an easy dunk following a steal from Cooper Flagg. His knee gave way beneath him, sending him crashing to the floor where he remained in visible pain for several minutes before medical staff transported him from the arena on a stretcher. Despite his obvious distress, Moody managed to acknowledge the crowd with a wave as he was wheeled away.

The shocking scene left players from both teams, coaching staff, and spectators stunned into silence for the remainder of the contest.

This season marked a career year for Moody, who was posting personal-best averages of 12.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steals across 25.7 minutes per game. Monday’s performance was particularly impressive, as he had just returned from a 10-game absence due to a sprained right wrist and delivered 23 points along with three crucial steals against Flagg.

His defensive pressure proved pivotal in the fourth quarter and overtime, with his first two steals sparking an 11-0 Warriors run that broke a deadlock at the start of the final period.

Head coach Steve Kerr praised his player’s character and contribution following the victory, despite the somber circumstances.

“Mo is such a great human being, great teammate, wonderful guy to coach,” Kerr commented afterward. “Puts in the work every day. And was brilliant, by the way. Played so well defensively, changed the game for us with his ball pressure and knocked down big shots. So great to finally have him back. And then for that to happen, you’re just praying that it’s not too serious, but it sure looked serious.”

The arena atmosphere remained subdued throughout the game’s final minute, with Golden State managing just one point in the closing seconds.

Kerr noted the visible impact the injury had on everyone present, including the opposing team.

“I saw the looks on the Mavericks’ faces,” Kerr observed. “Everybody on the floor was just horrified. Players care about players. They know how fragile this business is and how short their careers are and how injuries can happen and can be catastrophic. We don’t know what it is yet. We’re just hoping for the best.”

The Warriors are currently positioned for the Western Conference play-in tournament while also monitoring the recovery status of star player Stephen Curry, who is dealing with his own right knee injury. The team previously lost Jimmy Butler for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury requiring ACL surgery.

BENGALURU, India — A massive $1.78 billion sale has been finalized for the defending Indian Premier League cricket champions, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru set to change hands to an international group of investors.

The purchasing group includes major players from both India and the United States: the Aditya Birla Group, The Times of India Group, sports investment company Bolt Ventures led by David Blitzer, and American investment giant Blackstone.

This consortium will acquire both the men’s cricket team and the franchise’s Women’s Premier League squad from current owner United Spirits Limited.

Tuesday’s announcement comes just four days ahead of RCB’s first match as they attempt to repeat as IPL champions.

The transaction still requires final authorization from the Board of Control for Cricket in India along with other governing bodies.

As one of the IPL’s founding eight franchises, Royal Challengers Bengaluru features Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli on its current roster.

National Football League officials are developing backup plans for potential referee labor disputes in 2026, introducing proposed rule modifications that would grant New York’s replay center broader authority to fix “clear and obvious” officiating errors during any work stoppage.

League competition committee members announced their recommended rule adjustments on Tuesday, featuring minor modifications to kickoff regulations and expanded replay center powers to remove players for egregious conduct on unpunished plays.

Team owners will review these proposals during next week’s Arizona league meetings, requiring approval from a minimum of 24 out of 32 franchises for implementation.

The most significant recommendation addresses potential labor disputes with officials, as the current collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and NFL Referees Association concludes on May 31.

During 2012’s opening three weeks, the league employed substitute officials who made numerous errors and questionable decisions. The situation reached a breaking point during a Monday night matchup between Green Bay and Seattle in Week 3, when the Seahawks secured victory on a controversial touchdown reception dubbed the “Fail Mary.” League officials later acknowledged the score should have been nullified due to offensive pass interference.

Public criticism escalated to include President Barack Obama, who urged an end to the lockout. The dispute concluded days later, followed by an official fan apology from Commissioner Roger Goodell.

The competition committee’s new framework would empower New York’s replay center to guide field officials on overlooked roughing the passer or intentional grounding violations, plus any conduct warranting ejection had penalties been assessed.

Replay officials could also reverse calls involving illegal contact, face mask violations, roughing the passer, horse-collar tackles and intentional grounding. They would additionally assist in overturning pass interference calls when clear evidence shows “advertent tangling of feet when both players were playing the ball or neither player was playing the ball.”

During the final two minutes of each half or throughout overtime, replay centers would gain authority to reverse or assess flags for unnecessary roughness or unsportsmanlike conduct involving punches, forearms or kicks, along with leaping or leverage violations on special teams plays.

Replay officials could also address incorrect decisions regarding running into or roughing kickers.

Another committee recommendation would permit New York’s officiating center to eject players for flagrant or non-football conduct even without on-field penalty calls. Previous regulations only allowed replay center intervention when field officials had already thrown flags.

This change follows an incident involving Pittsburgh receiver DK Metcalf, who avoided ejection during a Detroit game last season after confronting a heckling fan. Since field officials missed the play when Metcalf struck at the fan, replay officials couldn’t remove him. The league later imposed a two-game suspension, but Metcalf continued playing at the time.

The committee also suggested several adjustments to kickoff rules entering their third season, including permitting teams to declare onside kicks regardless of game situation. The original 2024 rule restricted onside kicks to fourth quarter trailing situations. Last year’s modification allowed trailing teams to declare onside kicks anytime, while the new proposal removes all scoring restrictions.

Additional kickoff changes include minor adjustments to receiving team formations and modifications to touchback rules on kicks from the 50-yard line following personal foul penalties.

Under previous rules, kicking teams were encouraged to kick out of bounds from the 50 to give receiving teams the ball at the 25 rather than the 35 for touchbacks. The new proposal would spot touchbacks from 50-yard line kicks at the 20.

Several off-field bylaw changes were also proposed.

The committee recommended granting the league flexibility to modify roster cutdown dates, currently scheduled for Tuesday following final preseason games, to accommodate international regular season games. The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers are scheduled to open the season in Australia, giving the league options to adjust dates based on travel schedules.

Another proposal would designate Labor Day weekend Saturday and Sunday as business days, allowing the 24-hour waiver period for players to take effect on those days instead of waiting until Monday.

The committee also suggested allowing players who began training camp on the physically unable to perform list and remained there after roster cuts to open their 21-day practice window after Week 2 of the regular season. These players still cannot join active rosters until missing four games but could practice earlier.

Owners will also consider two team-submitted proposals from last week, including Cleveland’s request to extend draft pick trading from three to five years in advance, and Pittsburgh’s proposal to make permanent the five video or phone calls with potential free agents during the negotiating window before the league year begins. The communication rule was tested on a trial basis this year.

CAMDEN, N.J. — Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George is prepared to make his comeback Wednesday evening against the Chicago Bulls following a 25-game ban for breaking the NBA’s anti-drug policy, though he chose not to reveal details about the failed test that sidelined him.

Speaking at the team’s New Jersey training facility Tuesday, George expressed remorse to the organization, supporters, and his loved ones for the lapse in judgment that resulted in his positive drug test.

“To let people down hurt more than kind of anything,” George said.

The veteran forward explained that his decision to use a prohibited substance stemmed from mental health challenges triggered by an offseason knee injury that hampered his performance this year.

“The most difficult thing is when your body isn’t where you know it needs to be or where it once was,” George said. “That leads and bleeds into the mental side of things, knowing that you’re limited. But for me, I feel good, my body is feeling great. Mentally, I know I’m capable of doing what I can do and what I’ve been able to on the court for years.”

The suspension, which began in late January, cost the 35-year-old athlete approximately $11.7 million of his $51.7 million annual salary — roughly $469,692 per missed game.

During George’s absence, Philadelphia managed a 13-12 record and currently sits in seventh place in the Eastern Conference with a 39-33 record entering Tuesday’s games. The team has also been without injured center Joel Embiid for the past 13 contests.

George, who inked a four-year, $212 million deal before the 2024 season, has struggled through an injury-plagued first campaign in Philadelphia. He’s averaging just 16 points across 27 games this season, well below his career standards.

The nine-time All-Star’s difficulties began with knee surgery in July after a workout injury, causing him to miss the season’s opening 12 games. His 16.2 points per game average last season in just 41 appearances marked his lowest scoring output in a full season since averaging 12.1 points during his second NBA year with Indiana.

“Being a pro athlete takes a toll on you,” George said. “My body wasn’t where I wanted it to be. The expectations to perform because of my body not being where it needed to be, obviously, I’m going to have an expectation for myself. That’s what led to a poor decision at the time.”

The extended break allowed George’s nagging injuries to heal, which he believes has also boosted his mental state.

“These 25 games were just what I needed, I think for my body,” he said.

George acknowledged his ongoing mental health journey, emphasizing his humanity despite his professional status.

“I’ve said it throughout my career, dealing with mental health, I’m no superhero,” George said. “I’m human and I made a mistake in that moment.”

With 2023 MVP Embiid sidelined by a right oblique strain and All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey missing nine consecutive games due to a right finger tendon injury, George’s return comes at a crucial time for Philadelphia’s playoff aspirations.

No immediate timeline has been established for either Embiid’s or Maxey’s return to action.

George expressed confidence in his ability to help carry the scoring load and guide the 76ers out of play-in tournament territory into a secure playoff position over the final 10 games.

“I’ve been feeling great, feeling explosive again, feeling strong again,” he said. “I feel like I’m back on that level of being able to perform and be the focal guy and be the scorer.”

The National Basketball Players Association is advocating for changes to the NBA’s 65-game minimum requirement for major awards, citing concerns that deserving athletes are being unfairly excluded from recognition due to injury-related absences.

Detroit’s Cade Cunningham has become the latest example of the rule’s impact, as his qualification for honors like All-NBA team selection remains uncertain. The guard has participated in 61 contests this season and faces additional missed games while dealing with a collapsed lung injury.

The players union, which originally agreed to the requirement through collective bargaining negotiations, now believes modifications are necessary.

“Cade Cunningham’s potential ineligibility for postseason awards after a career-defining season is a clear indictment of the 65-game rule and yet another example of why it must be abolished or reformed to create an exception for significant injuries,” the union said through a spokesperson. “Since its implementation, far too many deserving players have been unfairly disqualified from end-of-season honors by this arbitrary and overly rigid quota.”

The attendance requirement will affect numerous high-profile athletes this season. LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers will see his remarkable 21-season streak of All-NBA selections come to an end. Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and Golden State’s Stephen Curry have also exceeded the absence limit for award consideration.

Several MVP candidates find themselves approaching the eligibility threshold, including Denver’s Nikola Jokic and San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama. However, leading MVP contenders Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from Oklahoma City and Luka Doncic of the Lakers maintain their qualification status with room for additional absences.

Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell recently expressed mixed feelings about the policy during weekend comments to cleveland.com.

“It’s for the right reasons, but it’s tough,” Mitchell said. “We get paid money to be out there, but there’s certain things you can’t control. It’s not like guys are resting and missing these games. These are legitimate injuries, so it’s something to look at for sure because there’s no way certain guys should be in this scenario.”

The league does provide limited exceptions to the 65-game standard. Players who compete in at least 62 games before suffering a season-ending injury may still qualify for awards, though this provision would not benefit Cunningham’s situation.

ATLANTA — Former Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa announced Tuesday that his new one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons represents a chance to rebuild his career following a turbulent end to his six seasons in Miami.

Atlanta’s general manager Ian Cunningham revealed on March 13 that Tagovailoa will compete for the quarterback position alongside Michael Penix Jr., once Penix returns from an ACL injury sustained in November.

While acknowledging that quarterback competition is standard in professional football, Tagovailoa admitted he must improve significantly from his 2025 performance, which included a career-worst 15 interceptions and resulted in him being benched for the season’s final three games.

“If you’re looking at last year, my play wasn’t up to the standard of the way I’ve been playing football the past, what, three years since the new contract,” Tagovailoa reflected on his four-year, $212 million extension signed with Miami in 2024. “So just got to play better football. That’s what that really means. There’s no other way to sugarcoat that or go around that.”

Miami will still pay Tagovailoa $54 million in guaranteed money for 2026, while his Atlanta contract is worth just $1.3 million — the veteran minimum salary. The Falcons deal came after Miami decided to release the quarterback despite absorbing a record-breaking $99 million dead cap penalty.

Should Penix remain sidelined with his knee injury, Tagovailoa could begin the season as Atlanta’s starting quarterback. This scenario would give him a platform to demonstrate he can return to his 2023 and 2024 performance levels, when he led the NFL in passing yards (4,624) and completion percentage (72.9%) respectively.

“Last year wasn’t the best year for me,” he acknowledged. “And, you know, I’m looking for a fresh start, but fresh start in the sense of being able to compete, being able go back out there and playing football, good football, and I think the best football is still ahead of me.”

The 28-year-old quarterback said it’s premature to consider his long-term plans beyond the 2026 season or whether he’ll seek another opportunity in free agency.

“It’s hard to look that far in front,” he explained. “I think the best thing right now is making the best of this opportunity that I have with the team on my one year and make the best out of that in terms of the relationships I make with these guys.”

Tagovailoa emphasized his gratitude for the opportunity to continue playing professional football. “This is what I’ve dreamed of my entire life, you know, so regardless of what that looks like. I’m gonna be present, I’m going to be in the moment,” he said.

The Alabama product, selected in the first round of the 2020 draft, compiled a 44-32 record as Miami’s starting quarterback. Despite suffering his fourth documented concussion early in the 2024 season, he reported that his medical evaluation with Atlanta went well.

“Everything came out good” from his physical examination with the Falcons, he noted. “Some things are looking way better than, you know, the guys might have thought.” He added that concerns about future injuries don’t weigh on his mind.

“You either love it or you don’t,” Tagovailoa said regarding the injury risks inherent in football. “That’s what I would say. You either the love the game or you don’t, and you know the challenges that are ahead in terms of playing the sport with injuries.”

Former Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is looking forward to a career revival after joining the Atlanta Falcons, where he’ll battle for the starting position.

Miami drafted Tagovailoa fifth overall in 2020, awarded him a lucrative contract extension, then cut ties with him just last month. Now he’s joined Atlanta on a one-year contract, setting up a quarterback competition with Michael Penix Jr.

“Last year wasn’t the best year for me, and I’m looking for a fresh start in the sense of being able to compete, go back out and play good football,” Tagovailoa stated Tuesday during his first public comments about the career transition.

Atlanta inked him to a one-year, $1.2 million contract at veteran minimum rates, though Miami remains responsible for over $50 million still due from his four-year, $212.4 million extension signed in July 2024.

“The best thing for me right now is making the best of this opportunity that I have with the team in terms of the relationships I make with these guys,” he explained. “I get to freaking play football. This is what I dreamed of my entire life. I am going to be present. I’m going to be in the moment. I’m going to be where my feet are.”

Penix entered the 2025 season as Atlanta’s starting quarterback but suffered an ACL tear in Week 11, ending his campaign early.

“Everybody, not just those two, is coming in to compete. There are no starters right now,” general manager Ian Cunningham declared March 10 when Tagovailoa joined the organization. “We are excited to have Tua, but we’re excited to have all the players we were able to get (via free agency).”

The 28-year-old Tagovailoa expressed comfort with the upcoming quarterback battle against Penix.

“Competition is just a thing in the NFL. I am no stranger to competition — had it in college,” Tagovailoa noted. “I would say competition is just going to be there, and competition enhances the play of everyone. I don’t think the mindset changes at all. … I embrace the competition. I am excited to work alongside Mike.”

Tagovailoa led the league in passing yards and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2023, finishing his Miami tenure with a 44-32 record across six seasons. His career statistics include 68.0% completion rate, 18,166 passing yards, 120 touchdowns and 59 interceptions.

Only during the 2023 campaign did he participate in every game of his six-year career. Various injuries have sidelined him throughout his professional tenure, including a minimum of three documented concussions during his NFL years.

Penix, age 25, holds a 4-8 starting record with 59.6% completion percentage, 2,757 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. Atlanta selected him eighth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.

ESPN confirmed Tuesday that veteran quarterback Trevor Siemian’s representative announced his client is also joining Atlanta’s quarterback group.

Contract details for Siemian weren’t revealed. The 34-year-old last played in an NFL regular season game during 2023 with the New York Jets and spent most of 2024 and 2025 on Tennessee’s practice squad.

The University of Cincinnati announced Tuesday that Utah State head basketball coach Jerrod Calhoun has accepted a six-year contract to return to his alma mater as the Bearcats’ new head coach.

The agreement, which requires board approval, will compensate Calhoun $3.7 million in year one with annual increases of $100,000, according to the university. The 2004 Cincinnati graduate is departing Utah State, which ESPN reports will receive nearly $3.9 million from his contract buyout.

The Ohio-born 44-year-old is departing a Utah State program where he compiled a remarkable 55-15 record across two seasons. Under Calhoun’s leadership, the Aggies earned NCAA Tournament berths and achieved AP Top 25 rankings for at least one week during both campaigns.

Utah State, seeded ninth with a 29-7 record, knocked out eighth-seeded Villanova in the NCAA Tournament’s opening round on Friday but lost to top-seeded Arizona 78-66 on Sunday.

Calhoun takes over for Wes Miller, whose contract Cincinnati terminated after five seasons without an NCAA Tournament appearance. Miller accepted the head coaching position at Charlotte on Monday.

“It is a tremendous honor to have the opportunity to lead the Bearcats’ program — one that I know intimately as an alum and hold in the highest regard,” Calhoun stated. “I am deeply grateful to (athletic director) John Cunningham and President Neville Pinto for their trust and confidence in me to elevate this program and guide our student-athletes as we pursue championships. Our goal is to build a program that consistently makes Bearcats fans proud, both on and off the court. Sarah, our children and I are excited to get to work at a place that means so much to our family.”

During the 2003-04 season, Calhoun worked as a student assistant under Bob Huggins at Cincinnati. He later joined Huggins’ coaching staff at West Virginia from 2007-12 before launching his head coaching career. His resume includes head coaching positions at Division II Fairmont State (2012-17), Youngstown State (2017-24), and Utah State.

After leading his team to both regular-season and tournament titles, Calhoun earned 2026 Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year honors. The 2023 Horizon League Coach of the Year has guided teams to nine 20-win seasons and captured conference championships in three different leagues, accumulating a 297-159 overall coaching record, with 173-121 at the Division I level.

“Jerrod is a tireless worker, has an incredible passion and talent for developing not just players, but people, and has won at every stop along the way,” Cunningham commented. “He’s one of the best offensive minds in college basketball and has the pedigree to take Cincinnati basketball to the next level in the Big 12 and nationally. I’m looking forward to welcoming his wife, Sarah, and children, Jordan, Kennedy, Kendall and Quinn to the Cincinnati family.”

Milwaukee has completed a player transaction with Tampa Bay, bringing in right-handed pitcher Jake Woodford through a trade that sent minor league hurler K.C. Hunt and cash considerations to the Rays on Tuesday.

Hunt, age 25, moves to Tampa Bay’s organization following three years developing within Milwaukee’s minor league system.

The 29-year-old Woodford joined Tampa Bay as a non-roster player for spring training activities. During four spring appearances, including two as a starter, he posted solid numbers by surrendering just one earned run across 7 1/3 innings while recording five strikeouts against two walks on four hits allowed.

Last season with Arizona, Woodford struggled in relief work, posting an 0-4 record alongside a 6.44 earned run average while notching three saves across 22 bullpen outings.

Throughout his major league career spanning 111 games with 25 starts, Woodford holds a 10-17 record and 5.10 ERA after stints with St. Louis from 2020-2023, followed by time with both Chicago’s White Sox and Pittsburgh in 2024, before joining the Diamondbacks.

The departing Hunt compiled a 7-9 record with a 4.45 ERA during his most recent campaign at Double-A Biloxi, working 121 1/3 innings across 26 starts while issuing 43 free passes and recording 122 strikeouts.

TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash doesn’t believe automated umpires will end the tradition of managers getting thrown out of baseball games.

“You only get two challenges, right? That can come up in the first inning,” Cash explained.

Baseball fans have always enjoyed watching managers lose their temper with umpires, from memorable moments like Billy Martin of the Yankees kicking dirt at Dale Scott in 1988, to Lou Piniella of Cincinnati hurling first base toward right field in frustration with Dutch Rennert in 1990, and Earl Weaver of Baltimore getting into a heated face-off with Bill Haller in 1980.

Over the last twenty years, Major League Baseball has reduced opportunities for manager complaints. Video replay started with home run decisions in August 2008 and expanded significantly to cover many calls beginning in 2014. This season introduces the Automated Ball-Strike System, allowing teams to challenge human umpires’ strike zone decisions through what’s commonly called robot umpires.

Hall of Fame manager Jim Leyland, who earned Manager of the Year honors three times and was ejected 73 times across 22 seasons, noted the trend. “Manager ejections have been down for a while now because of the replay system,” Leyland said. “I really like the ABS. I think it’s going to be great for the game.”

Statistics from MLB show that 61.5% of all ejections involving players, managers and coaches last year (99 out of 161) stemmed from ball and strike disputes, a slight increase from 60.3% (114 out of 189) in 2024. These numbers include inappropriate remarks and behavior, plus equipment throwing incidents.

“I’m in favor of anything that allows our technology to play in this game,” Cash stated. “We have so much of it. Why not use it?”

Teams receive two challenges each game, keeping their challenge when successful. Clubs that exhaust their challenges get an extra one during each additional inning.

Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton believes the system will initially reduce strike zone arguments. “You’re going to take out the argument of balls and strikes initially,” Shelton said. “I think the challenge is going to be after the challenges go away, how managers are and what they do? But I do think that there is going to be probably less general complaining about balls and strikes in the early going.”

Yankees manager Aaron Boone has topped or tied for most ejections four consecutive seasons, with his nine ejections in 2022 marking the highest total since Bobby Cox of Atlanta was tossed 10 times in 2007.

Cox holds the all-time record with 162 ejections, followed by John McGraw with 121, Leo Durocher at 100, Weaver with 96, Tony La Russa at 93, and Bruce Bochy with 89.

Terry Francona of Cincinnati leads current managers with 54 ejections over 25 major league seasons. Boone ranks second among active managers with 46 ejections entering his ninth season.

Rather than worrying about fewer arguments, Boone focuses on helping players stay mentally prepared when challenges don’t go their way. He wonders how pitchers will handle situations where they celebrate what appears to be a game-ending strikeout with bases loaded, only to have the automated system overturn the call and require another pitch.

“It’s a whole new thing that pitchers have never dealt with. That’s an emotional thing you’ve got to deal with,” Boone explained. “That’s something we’ve already addressed, same with the hitters to a lesser degree: that reset. How do you clear the mechanism?”

Former manager Bobby Valentine, who led three major league teams over 16 seasons, will receive recognition from the New York Mets this May with a promotional giveaway celebrating one of his 44 career ejections. Following his removal by umpire Randy Marsh on June 9, 1999, Valentine famously snuck back into the dugout wearing sunglasses and a mustache made from eye black.

Valentine believes today’s players have moved beyond responding to managers’ theatrical disputes with umpires. “I found that by the end of my career that that was only entertainment,” he said. “It didn’t fire anyone up except for my wife, who was worried about the fine that I was going to get.”

Atlanta has brought veteran quarterback Trevor Siemian onto their roster, according to confirmation from his representative to ESPN on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old signal-caller will provide additional quarterback depth for the Falcons, joining the team behind recent acquisition Tua Tagovailoa and first-round draft selection Michael Penix Jr. from 2024.

Financial details of Siemian’s contract have not been made public. His most recent NFL regular season action came in 2023 when he played for the New York Jets. During the 2024 and 2025 seasons, he was primarily on Tennessee’s practice squad roster.

Throughout his NFL career, Siemian holds a 15-18 record as a starting quarterback. Over 40 games, he has connected on 58.5% of his pass attempts, accumulating 7,751 passing yards with 44 touchdown passes and 32 interceptions while playing for Denver (2015-17), the Jets (2019, 2023), New Orleans (2021), and Chicago (2022). He has also contributed 251 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Denver selected Siemian in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

Several compelling matchups are scheduled for Wednesday across the NBA.

The Hawks will travel to face Detroit, putting a surging Atlanta squad against a Pistons team working to secure the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Boston will host Oklahoma City in a clash between the league’s two most recent title winners. Minnesota and Houston will square off in a contest that could significantly impact playoff positioning in the West.

Meanwhile, Washington will face Utah, matching a team currently enduring a 16-game losing streak against a franchise that would clearly benefit from securing one of the league’s five worst records this season.

League officials are once again addressing the persistent issue of deliberate losing during this week’s board of governors gathering in New York. The NBA has modified its draft lottery system multiple times in recent years, and more substantial reforms appear imminent. While final decisions may not emerge this week, changes are definitely coming.

“Are we seeing behavior that is worse this year than we’ve seen in recent memory? Yes, is my view,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated last month, emphasizing that the league is “going to be looking more closely at the totality of all the circumstances this season in terms of teams’ behavior, and very intentionally wanted teams to be on notice.”

Silver is scheduled to address media members on Wednesday, with expansion plans expected to dominate headlines as league governors prepare to vote on advancing toward adding new franchises in Las Vegas and Seattle.

However, after expansion discussions conclude, the topic of intentional losing will resurface once more.

This season has featured three separate 16-game losing streaks. Washington is currently experiencing one, Indiana recently ended such a stretch with a dramatic victory in Orlando on Monday night despite being a Finals team last year before Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles injury in Game 7, and Sacramento endured a winless 16-game span during January and February.

“We’ve got to get some wins, man. We’ve got to keep building as a team,” Indiana forward Pascal Siakam expressed during his televised court-side interview following the Orlando victory. “It’s been tough. It’s been a tough year for us, man. It shows your character. It tests you. But that’s life.”

Deliberate losing has dominated conversations throughout the season. Brooklyn owner Joe Tsai acknowledged in the fall that the Nets are in rebuilding mode, highlighting that despite having five first-round selections in last year’s draft, they possess only one this year.

“We hope to get a good pick,” Tsai revealed at the All-In Summit. “So, you can predict what kind of strategy we will use for this season.”

The Nets entered Tuesday with a 17-55 record, ranking as the league’s third-worst team. Under current lottery rules, this position would guarantee Brooklyn the maximum 14% odds of securing the top draft selection.

Utah received a $500,000 penalty last month for failing to utilize its top players during fourth quarters, including one game the Jazz actually won against Miami. Washington’s ongoing 16-game slide represents the franchise’s fourth such streak in slightly over two years, a level of consistent failure matched just once previously in league history. Notably, in Washington’s three other 16-game losing streaks since 2023-24, the team won the 17th game.

Finishing among the league’s bottom five teams would provide Utah with a 99.4% probability of earning a top-eight draft pick; otherwise, that selection would transfer to Oklahoma City.

Jazz owner Ryan Smith responded to the $500,000 fine through social media, writing in part “agree to disagree … Also, we won the game in Miami and got fined? That makes sense.”

“Agree to disagree” could serve as the unofficial slogan for intentional losing. The practice continues regardless of opinions about it.

Pinpointing exactly when deliberate losing began remains impossible, though it dates back at least to 1982 when an owner publicly declared that finishing last would be beneficial.

That owner was Donald Sterling, who led the then-San Diego Clippers and quickly received a $10,000 fine for his recorded comments. Sterling was expelled from the league in 2014 and forced to sell the Clippers after making racist remarks.

Sterling’s 1982 tanking target was Ralph Sampson, Virginia’s dominant center. Sampson ultimately remained in college another year, partly because the draft entry deadline preceded the coin flip determining whether the Clippers or Lakers would receive the first pick. Sampson refused to risk joining the Clippers; ironically, the Lakers won the coin toss regardless.

The strategy failed then and doesn’t guarantee success now. Yet more than forty years later, the issue persists.

Detroit’s Daniss Jenkins delivered a career-best performance with 30 points, including crucial baskets in the final 25 seconds, as the Pistons stunned the visiting Los Angeles Lakers 113-110 on Monday night, bringing an end to LA’s impressive nine-game winning streak.

Jenkins also dished out eight assists while Jalen Duren dominated inside with 20 points and 11 rebounds, helping Detroit secure their fourth consecutive victory. The Pistons accomplished this feat while missing All-Star guard Cade Cunningham for the third straight game due to a collapsed lung diagnosis from last week.

Los Angeles was led by Luka Doncic’s 32-point effort, with Austin Reaves contributing 24 points and Deandre Ayton recording a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds. LeBron James nearly achieved a triple-double with 12 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds.

Doncic was available to play after the Lakers successfully appealed his 16th technical foul from Saturday, which had triggered an automatic suspension. The league rescinded the technical on Sunday, allowing the superstar to suit up. However, Doncic’s contested three-point attempt at the final buzzer missed the mark entirely.

In other NBA action, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 22 points powered Oklahoma City past Philadelphia 123-103, extending the Thunder’s winning streak to 12 games. The Thunder shot efficiently across all categories while VJ Edgecombe led the undermanned 76ers with 35 points.

Pascal Siakam erupted for a season-high 37 points as Indiana finally broke their franchise-record 16-game losing streak with a 128-126 victory over Orlando. The Pacers hadn’t won since before the All-Star break on February 11th, with Siakam making a crucial defensive play by blocking Paolo Banchero’s potential game-tying layup at the buzzer.

Victor Wembanyama showcased his versatility with 26 points, 15 rebounds, five blocks, and four assists in San Antonio’s dominant 136-111 win over Miami. The Spurs have now won 11 straight games with Wembanyama in the lineup and boast the NBA’s best record since February 1st at 22-2.

Kawhi Leonard set a career-high for three-pointers made in a season while scoring 28 points in the LA Clippers’ 129-96 blowout of Milwaukee. The Clippers shot 58% from the field and connected on 17 of 38 three-point attempts in the lopsided victory.

Chicago overcame a blown 22-point lead to defeat Houston 132-124, with Collin Sexton’s 25 points and Matas Buzelis’ 23 points leading seven Bulls players in double figures. Despite Kevin Durant’s 40-point performance and Alperen Sengun’s triple-double of 33 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, the Rockets fell short on the road.

Atlanta continued their home dominance with a 146-107 rout of Memphis, extending their home winning streak to 11 games. Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 26 points, including 22 in the first half, as the Hawks improved to 14-2 since the All-Star break.

Toronto snapped a two-game skid with a convincing 143-127 victory over Utah, led by RJ Barrett’s 27 points and Sandro Mamukelashvili’s 23 points. The Raptors shot an impressive 61.4% from the field and 54.1% from three-point range.

Toumani Camara established career highs with 35 points and nine three-pointers in Portland’s 134-99 demolition of Brooklyn. The Trail Blazers moved within a half-game of the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference with the victory.

Golden State concluded their six-game road trip with a 137-131 overtime victory over Dallas, though Moses Moody suffered a knee injury after hitting a crucial three-pointer in the extra period. Cooper Flagg led Dallas with 32 points in the losing effort.

NEW YORK (AP) — Ottawa Senators goaltender James Reimer spent Monday night waiting for the New York Rangers’ offensive attack to materialize at Madison Square Garden.

It never came.

When the final buzzer sounded on the Senators’ 2-1 victory, the Rangers had managed a mere nine shots on goal — setting multiple records in the process. The performance represented Ottawa’s franchise-best defensive showing, New York’s weakest offensive output since 1955, and marked the first time any NHL team had been held under 10 shots since 2003.

“The boys played great,” Reimer commented after the victory.

The defensive achievement became even more remarkable considering Ottawa lost two defensemen to injuries during the contest, forcing them to play most of the game with only four blue-liners. Thomas Chabot departed in the closing moments of the opening period after Rangers captain J.T. Miller struck his right arm with a stick, while Lassi Thomson suffered an undisclosed lower-body injury in the second period during his first NHL appearance since November 25, 2022.

“Whenever you get down to four D-men and you find a way to win, it’s a gutsy effort,” stated Warren Foegele, who netted his fifth goal in nine contests since arriving from Los Angeles in a trade deadline deal. “The whole group stepped up when those guys went down.”

Head coach Travis Green indicated both Chabot and Thomson will “both be out for a while,” with the team planning to summon two replacement players Tuesday before facing Detroit in a crucial Eastern Conference playoff race matchup.

The Senators were already missing two key defensemen, with Jake Sanderson potentially sidelined for another week and Nick Jensen rehabilitating from knee surgery.

With the depleted roster, Jordan Spence logged a personal-best 26 minutes and 44 seconds of ice time. Tyler Kleven contributed 24:30, Artem Zub played 23:44, and Nikolas Matinpalo skated 18:19.

“With two defensemen going down, guys have to step up, play a lot more minutes than they’re used to,” Green explained. “Give them all credit. They played a hell of a game back there.”

Spence remained unaware of his extensive playing time, focusing instead on Chabot’s injury.

“Chabby just doing how well he was doing and seeing that, it’s unfortunate,” Spence reflected. “We’re trying to win a game, so we kind of had to forget about that and try and do the best we can.”

Ottawa became the first franchise since the salary-cap implementation in 2005-06 to restrict an opponent to single-digit shots. The last occurrence happened when New Jersey limited Washington to nine shots on December 4, 2003.

Shot totals weren’t officially recorded by the league until the 1959-60 season. New York’s record books show their previous low of nine shots in a Detroit loss on December 11, 1955.

“They were better than us,” Miller admitted following the disappointing performance that overshadowed teammate Mika Zibanejad’s 1,000th regular-season game celebration. “We just didn’t have it. I don’t know what to say. We got outplayed, got outcompeted — things that we’re just not OK with as a group.”

Since beginning their playoff push on January 25, Ottawa has surrendered the fewest shots in the NHL at approximately 21 per game. They permitted just 14 shots while defeating Toronto on Saturday and 19 against the New York Islanders on Thursday.

“That’s part of our structure,” Spence noted. “That’s part of our identity, so we have to keep that going in order to win games.”

Despite needing only eight saves for the victory, Reimer admitted the quiet evening presented unique challenges.

“These games are a lot harder than a 30- or a 40-shot night,” he explained. “You’re not in a rhythm. You’re not feeling it. It’s not just happening, so you’ve just got to trust it and trust that your body knows what it has to do when the time comes. It’s a difficult game as a goalie to play mentally, but you just trust it.”

MIAMI — San Antonio Spurs sensation Victor Wembanyama isn’t being shy about his ultimate goal this season: capturing the NBA’s Most Valuable Player trophy.

Following the Spurs’ commanding 136-111 victory over Miami that secured their first Southwest Division championship in nearly a decade, the towering star laid out his argument for why he deserves the league’s top individual honor. The triumph marked San Antonio’s 22nd victory in their past 24 contests.

“I have thought about it,” Wembanyama said. “I think right now there is a debate. There should be, even though I think I should lead the race. I’m trying to make sure that at the end of the season, there’s no debate.”

The 7-foot-4 center is putting up remarkable numbers this season, posting averages of 24.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 blocks per contest. Such statistical production places him in elite company — only five other players in NBA history have achieved those benchmarks: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (five times), Hakeem Olajuwon (twice), plus single seasons from Shaquille O’Neal, Patrick Ewing and David Robinson. Notably, Wembanyama also reached these marks last season, though in just 46 games.

According to BetMGM Sportsbook, current MVP holder Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from Oklahoma City Thunder leads the odds for repeat honors. Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Doncic holds the second position in betting favorites.

Wembanyama sits third in the current MVP race odds, just ahead of Denver’s Nikola Jokic. The NBA’s requirement of 65 games played for major awards could influence the final outcome — Jokic can afford to miss just one more game before becoming ineligible, while Wembanyama has a cushion of three additional games he could sit out.

The former Rookie of the Year winner, who was considered a frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year last season before being sidelined with deep vein thrombosis, presented a three-pronged argument for his MVP candidacy.

“My first one would be that defense is 50% of the game and that it is undervalued so far in the MVP race. I believe I’m the most impactful player defensively in the league,” Wembanyama said. “Second argument would be that we almost swept OKC in the season, and we dominated them three times with their real team. … The third argument would be that offense impact is not just points.”

Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson offered strong support for his star player’s MVP credentials.

“I think he’s close,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “All those guys you named are deserving; a couple of them already have that award. And I’m very biased. I get to see one of those guys every single night. I get to see him on the practice court. I get to see what he does in the morning. I get to see what does right now after the game. So, I understand my opinion and outlook and perspective is very different than almost everyone else.”

Johnson continued his praise, emphasizing Wembanyama’s comprehensive impact on games.

“But he affects as much of the game in every single way — on the court, on both ends, with and without the ball, what the other team tries to do, plan for, scheme, adjust to, on both sides of the basketball, in my very ignorant opinion, as much as any other player I’ve ever seen. Take that for whatever it’s worth.”

San Antonio’s impressive 54-18 record positions them for either the top or second seed in the Western Conference playoffs. This record guarantees home-court advantage for at least the opening playoff round, likely extending through the second round, and potentially through the NBA Finals should they advance that far. While multiple factors contribute to this success, the primary catalyst remains their 22-year-old franchise cornerstone, whose daily dedication and professional maturity continue to impress the organization.

Though MVP awards seem inevitable in Wembanyama’s future, the young star isn’t interested in postponing that recognition.

“Right now, it is still reasonable that there is a debate,” Wembanyama said. “But as I said, my goal is to make sure there’s no debate anymore at the end of the season.”

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers’ newest pitcher Roki Sasaki encountered more difficulties during Monday night’s spring training matchup.

The Japanese rookie surrendered five runs while walking six batters in just over two innings of work against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium. Out of his 66 total pitches, only 32 found the strike zone.

Through four spring training appearances, the right-handed pitcher has compiled a troubling 15.58 ERA for the reigning World Series champions. With 15 walks issued across 8 2/3 innings, concerns are mounting about whether he’ll be ready when the regular season begins.

When the Dodgers face Arizona in their season opener Thursday night, Yoshinobu Yamamoto will take the mound instead.

Sasaki’s Monday performance got off to a disastrous start in the first inning, where he recorded no outs. After hitting Zach Neto with a 3-0 fastball and allowing Mike Trout to reach on a fielder’s choice, he walked three straight batters before manager Dave Roberts pulled him for Ronan Kopp.

The 24-year-old returned to pitch the second inning, where he again hit Neto and walked Trout before managing to work out of trouble with two ground ball outs.

In the third frame, Sasaki walked Yoán Moncada to start the inning but recovered by striking out Jo Adell and Josh Lowe. Logan O’Hoppe’s line drive to second base ended the inning.

After walking Adam Frazier to begin the fourth inning, Sasaki was pulled for Ben Casparius. Frazier eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Nolan Schanuel.

The young pitcher joined the Dodgers organization in January 2025 on a minor league contract, earning a $6.5 million signing bonus under international signing rules that apply to players under 25. He spent his previous four professional seasons playing in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball League.

A right shoulder impingement limited Sasaki’s availability for most of last season, where he posted a 1-1 record with a 4.46 ERA across eight starts and two relief outings.

However, he made a strong comeback in September and became crucial to the team’s postseason success, allowing just one earned run over 10 2/3 innings while recording three saves to help the Dodgers capture their second consecutive championship.

ARLINGTON, Texas — What 24-year-old Carter Baumler thought would be the end of his final spring training appearance turned into the moment he learned he’d made the Texas Rangers’ opening day roster.

After the rookie right-hander got two Kansas City Royals batters out in Monday night’s fifth inning, Rangers manager Skip Schumaker walked to the mound with an unexpected message. Surrounded by catcher Danny Jansen and the entire infield, Schumaker delivered the news that Baumler would be joining the team’s bullpen for the regular season.

“I wasn’t expecting it. I was like, why is he coming out here? And he got on the mound and told me I made the team,” Baumler explained during a live television interview on the Rangers Sports Network. “I mean, honestly, I thought I was like getting taken out of the game. … Obviously, whenever the manager comes out, you’re usually done.”

Following congratulations from his teammates on the field — including Jansen tapping his mitt against Baumler’s chest — the young pitcher regained his focus and finished the inning by striking out Isaac Collins with a 96.8 mph fastball.

Throughout eight spring training appearances, Baumler posted impressive numbers, surrendering just one earned run while recording 10 strikeouts across 9 1/3 innings.

When Baumler returned to the dugout after completing the inning, he embraced Schumaker and received congratulations from his teammates.

The journey to this moment hasn’t been straightforward for Baumler. Baltimore drafted him in the fifth round from an Iowa high school in 2020, but he underwent Tommy John surgery shortly afterward. After spending 2022-25 in Baltimore’s minor league system — never advancing beyond Double-A — the Orioles left him off their 40-man roster last fall. Pittsburgh selected him in December’s Rule 5 draft before immediately trading him to Texas.

“A few years ago I never would have expected this,” Baumler reflected. “Looking back … I’m glad I kept my head down and kept hammering away.”

DALLAS (AP) — Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr confirmed that Stephen Curry will take part in the upcoming play-in tournament, provided his troubled right knee is healthy enough to compete. Kerr rejected any suggestion that the team would bench their franchise player given the Warriors’ uncertain playoff position.

Speaking before Golden State’s matchup in Dallas on Monday evening, Kerr revealed that medical personnel postponed Curry’s anticipated return to practice by at least a day. The Warriors will wrap up their six-game road swing against the Mavericks before determining Curry’s next steps once they return home.

“It’s all just part of the rehab and all the different testing he does,” Kerr said. “Just pushed back a day or two.”

Currently sitting in 10th position in the Western Conference standings, the Warriors face an uphill battle if they maintain that final play-in spot, requiring victories in two away games to secure a playoff berth.

The superstar guard has been absent from action since January 30th while battling patella-femoral pain syndrome and bone bruising in his knee. Golden State posted a 23-17 record with Curry in the lineup but has gone just 10-22 without him, including a devastating 1-8 slide that contributed to their 6-15 mark since his most recent injury.

“We’re not chasing a play-in berth. We are squarely in the play-in no matter what we do,” Kerr said. “Bottom line, if Steph is healthy, he’s going to play because that’s what we’re here for. The chance to get into the playoffs is a big deal for us, big deal for Steph.”

However, Kerr emphasized that if there’s any possibility of causing additional long-term harm to the knee, Curry will remain on the sidelines. The 38-year-old veteran paces the Warriors in scoring with 27.2 points per contest.

When asked about Curry’s reaction to the delayed practice return, Kerr avoided giving specifics.

The organization had originally targeted a comeback immediately following the All-Star break, though Curry chose to skip this year’s All-Star Game due to his injury.

“It’s been a long haul,” the coach said. “He’s dying to get out there for sure.”

Canadian tennis sensation Victoria Mboko continues her impressive climb up the professional ranks, with former U.S. Open winner Andy Roddick now predicting major championship success for the rising star after her latest victory at the Miami Open.

The teenage player secured her spot in the tournament’s quarterfinals Monday following a hard-fought 7-6(4) 4-6 6-0 victory over fellow young competitor Mirra Andreeva on the Miami hard courts.

Roddick expressed strong confidence in Mboko’s championship potential during his podcast appearance, declaring: “Mboko is going to win a slam in the next two years.”

The former champion highlighted her remarkable consistency, noting: “She’s making the quarters or better in every single event. She gets through tough three-set matches all the time.”

Mboko’s 2026 season has featured several impressive tournament performances, including reaching the fourth round at January’s Australian Open. Her breakthrough came at last year’s Miami tournament, where she claimed her inaugural WTA Tour victory.

Despite recent losses to world number one Aryna Sabalenka at both the Australian Open and Indian Wells quarterfinals, Roddick remains convinced of her championship caliber.

“She plays well every single week. Losing to Sabalenka, that doesn’t bother me at all. She’s physically strong and can withstand the stress test of big tennis,” Roddick explained, adding: “I’m just more and more impressed with her.”

In Monday’s match, the 10th-seeded Mboko demonstrated her resilience against Andreeva, who also serves as her doubles partner. After dropping the second set, Mboko dominated the final frame, breaking her Russian opponent’s serve three times while Andreeva required medical attention for a back issue.

The Canadian Open titleholder clinched the victory with a powerful inside-out forehand winner, marking her fifth top-10 triumph this season.

Mboko’s semifinal berth will depend on her upcoming match against Karolina Muchova, who advanced earlier Monday with a commanding 6-0 6-2 victory over Alexandra Eala.

The streaming platform Netflix is making its debut in Major League Baseball broadcasting, launching Wednesday evening with the season-opening matchup featuring the New York Yankees against the San Francisco Giants.

This inaugural broadcast marks the beginning of a three-game package that Netflix has acquired, which will also feature the Home Run Derby and the special Field of Dreams contest between the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies scheduled for August 13.

The streaming service’s entry into baseball follows a familiar pattern established with the NFL, where successful documentary programming demonstrated viewer appetite for the sport before moving into live game coverage.

Major League Baseball found itself with available broadcast inventory after ESPN decided to exit its rights agreement in February of last year.

While Netflix secured these three premium events, NBC and Peacock have taken over broadcasting duties for “Sunday Night Baseball” and the Wild Card Series.

Brandon Riegg, who serves as Netflix’s vice president of nonfiction series and sports, acknowledged that while many expected the platform to broadcast the Home Run Derby, a single event wouldn’t have made business sense.

“This is in with our event strategy. On opening night, there’s only one game, and it’s on Netflix. And then doing the Home Run Derby and Field of Dreams, we can capitalize on the renewed fandom and energy around baseball,” he said.

The streaming company is investing approximately $50 million annually over three years and has obtained global broadcasting rights for these MLB events, similar to its NFL arrangement.

Netflix previously demonstrated its baseball broadcasting capabilities by streaming all 47 World Baseball Classic games live and on-demand in Japan. The platform also holds U.S. broadcasting rights for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031.

Historically, MLB featured a single opening-night game on Sunday when seasons traditionally began on Monday, but recent years have seen the season start on Thursday instead.

“All of the events feel unique, and it’s our job to elevate those elements to make them even brighter. I think when you do that event approach, our experience at least has been you’re pulling in all the existing fans, but really you end up recruiting a lot of people that wouldn’t normally or wouldn’t have otherwise engaged or watched it,” Riegg said. “I think that’s always a big win for the league, and it’s certainly a big win for us.”

MLB Network will handle production responsibilities, with Matt Vasgersian calling play-by-play, former players CC Sabathia and Hunter Pence providing analysis, and Lauren Shehadi serving as field reporter.

Elle Duncan, who transitioned to Netflix from ESPN in December, will anchor pre-game and post-game programming. Her broadcast team includes Giants legend and seven-time National League MVP Barry Bonds, three-time NL MVP Albert Pujols, and Anthony Rizzo.

These same broadcasting teams are anticipated to cover the Home Run Derby and Field of Dreams game as well.

“I think what folks have seen us accomplish on the platform, and also knowing we’re only doing a couple of things over the year. I think it allows greater flexibility for some of the talent we’re approaching, so they don’t have to lock themselves into a really long schedule or a high volume of commitment. I do think we’ve been able to have conversations with some talent that otherwise wouldn’t either be interested or available to do it,” Riegg said.

The contest will showcase Yankees power hitter Aaron Judge, a Northern California native who was courted by the Giants during 2022 free agency before ultimately signing a nine-year, $360 million deal to remain in New York.

The game will also mark the major league managerial debut of Tony Vitello for San Francisco, who moves up from the University of Tennessee where he guided the Volunteers to a College World Series championship in 2024.

Virginia Commonwealth University announced Monday it has granted head basketball coach Phil Martelli Jr. a two-year contract extension, securing his position through the 2031-32 season following an impressive inaugural campaign.

The contract extension follows Martelli’s outstanding first year leading the Rams, which concluded with a 28-8 record and the program’s first NCAA Tournament victory in ten years – an 82-78 overtime triumph against North Carolina on Thursday. The team’s remarkable run included 17 wins in their final 18 contests before falling 76-55 to Illinois on Saturday, ending their tournament journey.

Athletic Director Ed McLaughlin praised the coach’s performance in a statement, saying Martelli “showed all season that he embodies the leadership qualities we want in our head men’s basketball coach.” McLaughlin added that the coach “made history in his first season by winning the Atlantic 10 Championship and an NCAA Tournament game and continued the standard of excellence that we have created and come to expect.”

McLaughlin emphasized the university’s commitment to maintaining their basketball program’s success, noting their desire to “keep Coach Martelli and give him the opportunity to build on the amazing foundation we have solidified at VCU with three A-10 Championships in the last four years and appearances in 12 of the past 15 NCAA Tournaments.”

The 28 wins achieved this season matched the second-highest total in university history, falling just one victory short of the record established during the 2011-12 campaign under former coach Shaka Smart.

Expressing his appreciation, Martelli stated: “I am grateful to the players and the staff who believed in the vision and worked tirelessly to ensure its continued success. We are very fortunate to be at such a storied program and look forward to continuing our short- and long-term pursuit of adding to its rich legacy. Go Rams!”

The 44-year-old coach arrived at VCU after spending two seasons at Bryant University, where he compiled a 43-25 record and led the Bulldogs to the 2025 NCAA Tournament before losing to Michigan State in the opening round.

Martelli Jr. follows in the footsteps of his father, Phil Martelli, who achieved significant success during his 24-year tenure at St. Joseph’s University. The elder Martelli finished with a 444-328 record and guided the Hawks to the Elite Eight in 2004 as a top seed.

In a stunning NCAA Tournament upset Monday night, Virginia’s women’s basketball team defeated heavily-favored Iowa 83-75 in double overtime, marking the tournament’s most shocking result so far this year in Iowa City.

Kymora Johnson led the charge for the 10th-seeded Cavaliers with 28 points while also pushing the game into both overtime periods. Her performance helped Virginia (22-11) make history as the first women’s squad to reach the Sweet 16 after starting in the First Four.

Paris Clark contributed significantly with 20 points, seven rebounds, and four assists for the Cavaliers. The second-round Regional 4 matchup saw dramatic momentum swings, with Virginia holding a seven-point advantage before Iowa surged in the third quarter to build a nine-point lead.

Clark responded with a crucial individual 8-0 scoring streak featuring two three-pointers to cut into the deficit. Johnson then delivered the game-tying three-pointer with 2:11 remaining in regulation, which became the final score of the fourth quarter as Iowa missed their last five shot attempts.

The first overtime period featured lead changes for both teams, but the Hawkeyes managed a two-point edge in the closing moments before Johnson’s paint jumper knotted the score at 65-65 with 13 seconds left. Virginia dominated the second extra period, outscoring Iowa 11-2 early and securing the victory from the free-throw line.

Additional scoring for Virginia came from Romi Levy with 13 points and Caitlin Weimar with 12. The Cavaliers excelled at the charity stripe, converting 18 of 23 free throws compared to Iowa’s struggling 8-for-16 performance. For Iowa (27-7), Ava Heiden poured in 26 points, Chazadi Wright added 21, and Hannah Stuelke recorded 15 points, 19 rebounds, and six assists. The Hawkeyes had previously survived a close call against 15th-seeded FDU in the opening round, winning 58-48.

In other tournament action, third-seeded Louisville edged sixth-seeded Alabama 69-68 to advance to the Sweet 16 from Regional 3. Elif Istanbulluoglu and Tajianna Roberts each scored 18 points for the host Cardinals.

Alabama’s Karly Weathers scored with 9.4 seconds remaining to cut Louisville’s lead to four points. After Imari Berry made two free throws for Louisville, Weathers connected on another three-pointer with four seconds left to make it 69-68. However, after Reyna Scott missed two foul shots, Alabama couldn’t advance the ball in time for a potential game-winning attempt.

Istanbulluoglu also grabbed 11 rebounds for Louisville, which overcame poor three-point shooting at 7-of-26 by collecting 14 offensive rebounds and scoring 24 points in the paint. The Cardinals outrebounded Alabama 41-24.

Ace Austin paced Alabama with 17 points, including a fifth three-pointer that kept the Crimson Tide within striking distance at 52-49 with 1:22 left in the third quarter. Weathers scored 11 of her 13 points in the final quarter, while Diana Collins contributed 14 points and made 4 of 5 three-point attempts. Alabama shot an impressive 46.2% from beyond the arc (12 of 26) but managed only 45.6% overall (26 of 57).

Carolina Hurricanes star Sebastian Aho couldn’t contain his excitement Monday after discovering his team will take on the Seattle Kraken in a pair of matchups in his native Finland during the upcoming season.

The two games are scheduled for November 12th and 14th as part of the 2026 Global Series, with both contests taking place in Helsinki, Finland’s capital city.

“Very excited. Happy,” Aho shared with the media. “I’ve been dreaming about it for 10 years. When they announce the teams (for the Global games), you usually don’t see Carolina there, and you’re always like, ‘Bummer.’ But (this is) worth the wait.”

This marks Carolina’s first European games since facing Minnesota in Helsinki back in 2010. At that time, a young 13-year-old Aho was in the stands watching as a spectator.

The now 28-year-old forward has consistently scored more than 20 goals throughout each of his 10 NHL campaigns and currently has 25 goals and 72 total points this season.

“Hockey is such a big part of Finnish culture, and people definitely enjoy watching it and cheering on Finns,” Aho explained. “It’s such a big part of the whole country, and I know it’s going to be a good atmosphere at the games.”

Aho won’t be the lone Finnish representative on Carolina’s roster, as teammate Jesperi Kotkaniemi also hails from the Nordic nation.

Meanwhile, Seattle brings three Finnish players to the matchup: forwards Kaapo Kakko, Eeli Tolvanen, and Jani Nyman.

“I was always thinking that it would be fun to play there in Finland in front of all of my family and friends,” Kakko commented. “Now, I’ll get to do that, so I’m real excited about it.”

These Global Series games will mark a franchise first for Seattle, which is currently in its fifth year of operation.

Finland recently captured the bronze medal at the latest Winter Olympics held in Italy.

Major League Baseball will debut computer-assisted umpiring technology this season, marking a significant shift in how ball and strike calls are made.

The league’s Automated Ball/Strike System operates as a challenge-based format where traditional umpires continue making initial calls, but teams can appeal decisions to computer verification. This technology has undergone extensive evaluation in minor league play beginning in 2019, with comprehensive testing at Triple-A level starting in 2022, during MLB spring training last season, and at the 2025 All-Star Game in Atlanta.

The system relies on strategically positioned cameras throughout ballparks that monitor every pitch and determine whether it passes through the strike zone over home plate. During initial trials, umpires received audio feedback through earpieces announcing “ball” or “strike,” then communicated these decisions using standard gestures.

Under the challenge format, human officials make all initial pitch calls, but each team receives two opportunities per game to contest decisions. Teams losing their challenges earn one additional appeal during each extra inning. Successful challenges allow teams to keep their remaining appeals, mirroring current video review procedures that began with home run calls in August 2008 and expanded significantly for the 2014 season.

Challenge requests can only come from batters, pitchers, or catchers, who signal by tapping their helmet or cap, with dugout assistance prohibited. Appeals must occur within 2 seconds, after which the pitch trajectory and strike zone graphic appears on scoreboards and television broadcasts. Umpires then announce any count changes.

Last year’s spring training challenges required an average of 13.8 seconds to resolve.

The Hawk-Eye pose-tracking camera system monitors pitches and compares them against individualized strike zones based on each batter’s height, measured without footwear. Players undergo strike zone measurements between 10 a.m. and noon on a rotating schedule during spring training, with this specific timeframe chosen for consistency since height decreases throughout the day. The Southwest Research Institute validates all measurements, with MLB estimating under one minute per player for the calibration process.

While traditional umpire strike zones tend to form oval shapes, the ABS creates rectangular zones matching official rulebook specifications.

Establishing the computer strike zone parameters required extensive deliberation.

MLB has modified the ABS strike zone dimensions multiple times.

The system began with 19-inch width in 2022, then reduced to 17 inches to match home plate dimensions. This narrower zone increased walk rates while producing minimal strikeout changes.

The upper strike zone boundary was set at 51% of batter height in 2022 and 2023, then increased to 53.5% in 2024 following pitcher complaints. The lower boundary has remained at 27% since 2022, down from an initial 28%. Batter positioning doesn’t influence these calculations.

ABS evaluates pitches at the plate’s center point, 8.5 inches from both front and back edges. This differs from the rulebook zone used by umpires, which defines the zone as three-dimensional with strikes occurring when any portion crosses through. Current big league umpires achieve approximately 94% accuracy on pitch calls, according to UmpScorecards data.

The Hawk-Eye camera-based ABS has undergone minor league testing since 2019. The independent Atlantic League first trialed the technology during its 2019 All-Star Game, followed by MLB installation for that year’s Arizona Fall League featuring top prospects. Eight of nine Low-A Southeast League ballparks used ABS in 2021, before advancing to Triple-A in 2022.

Triple-A began the 2023 season with half their games using automated ball/strike calls and half employing human umpires subject to team appeals.

MLB converted all Triple-A games to the challenge system on June 26, 2024, then implemented it across 13 spring training facilities hosting 19 teams for 288 exhibition games last year. Teams successfully overturned 52.2% of their ball/strike challenges (617 of 1,182 attempts).

During last year’s MLB All-Star Game, four of five challenges against plate umpire Dan Iassogna’s calls succeeded.

Minor league success rates have consistently hovered near 50%. Triple-A’s success rate decreased to 49.5% from 50.6% last season. Defensive players, primarily catchers, achieved better results with 53.7% successful challenges compared to 45% for batters. Challenge frequency increased from 3.9 to 4.2 per game.

In 2024 Triple-A play, only 1.6% of first pitches faced challenges, but rates climbed to 3.9% on two-strike counts, 5.2% on three-ball counts, and 8.2% during full counts.

Challenge rates increased as games progressed. The first three innings saw 1.9% of pitches challenged, rising to 2.5% from the fourth through sixth innings, 2.8% in the seventh and eighth, and 3.6% in the ninth inning.

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman received favorable strike calls from human umpires on 709 pitches that were actually outside the strike zone during the last ten years, ranking him third among all major league players.

“I would have thought maybe I was top 20 maybe but top five is kind of kind of crazy,” the right-handed pitcher commented. “I guess the book is kind of still out. We’ll see what happens and how we have to adjust.”

Major League Baseball’s new Automated Ball-Strike System launches Wednesday evening when the New York Yankees face the San Francisco Giants, bringing both advantages and disadvantages for different players. The system employs Hawk-Eye technology with 12 cameras to determine if pitches pass through the strike zone, achieving precision within roughly one-sixth of an inch.

According to MLB Statcast data from the previous decade, Kyle Hendricks topped all pitchers with 777 favorable strike calls on pitches outside the zone. Aaron Nola came second with 747, followed by Gausman and Zach Davies at 709 each, then Kyle Gibson with 697, Patrick Corbin at 694, Marcus Stroman with 671, Zack Greinke at 667, Martín Pérez with 647, and Kyle Freeland at 631.

“I guess that’s a good thing because you make balls look like strikes,” Nola observed. “There’s going to be some maybe good and bad to it, but I think the good parts and the big situations and big games, I that’s going to help out a lot. We’ve seen over the years our side lose games on a bad call.”

On the flip side, Corbin led all pitchers in strikes that should have been called but weren’t, with 470 such instances. Chris Sale followed at 461, Nola at 460, Carlos Rodón with 450, Yu Darvish at 442, Sonny Gray with 439, José Berríos at 438, Steven Matz with 436, and Jon Gray and Justin Verlander tied at 435.

“All umpires always had like — they give a little bit here, they’re a little tight there. You know this as a hitter and a pitcher,” explained Verlander, the three-time Cy Young Award winner returning to Detroit for his 21st major league campaign. “But it’s all because of the way they set up and they see certain areas better than others. And now I think they’re put in a situation where they have to call this like theoretical zone, instead of creating their own strike zone that they’re probably much more consistent at.”

Among hitters, Mookie Betts experienced the most unfavorable strike calls on pitches outside the zone, with 714 instances.

“He knows the strike zone as well as anyone and it does seem that he gets the short end of a lot of calls,” noted Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “He’s a guy I certainly would trust to challenge a call.”

Following Betts were Eugenio Suárez with 684, José Ramírez at 657, Paul Goldschmidt with 656, Aaron Judge at 653, Marcus Semien with 631, Xander Bogaerts at 625, Alex Bregman with 603, and Christian Yelich at 594.

“When we didn’t have a challenge system, you just try to do the best you could and understand that there’s stuff that’s out of your control,” Goldschmidt reflected. “Definitely the guys that are a little bit more patient are always going to have that. We just understand that’s kind of the nature of it.”

Giancarlo Stanton experienced 440 incorrect strike calls on pitches outside the zone and 351 ball calls on pitches that should have been strikes.

“The challenge, you could change the whole game right there,” the Yankees designated hitter stated. “If you overturn one call, it could grow 15, 20 more pitches on a pitcher.”

Carlos Santana had the most strikes incorrectly called as balls, totaling 636. Mike Trout ranked second with 612, followed by Suárez at 558, Ramírez with 554, George Springer at 539, Andrew McCutchen with 513, Cody Bellinger at 487, Freddie Freeman with 471, and Ryan McMahon at 466.

Previously, Statcast calculations used the rulebook strike zone at home plate’s front edge based on each batter’s stance. This season, the system will calculate using the ABS strike zone measured at the plate’s center and determined by batter height.

Teams attempted to prepare players through ABS-assisted batting practice and scoreboard displays showing ball-strike decisions.

Count situations like 1-1 frequently determine at-bat outcomes. Nola experienced ABS during three rehabilitation appearances at Triple-A Lehigh Valley last August.

“We’re just going to have to see what the umpires do,” he said, “if they’re really going to be that tight as they were down there.”

Statcast data revealed that 1.6% of out-of-zone pitches received strike calls last season, declining from 2.1% in 2024 and representing the highest accuracy since tracking began in 2008 at 4.2%.

Meanwhile, 2.1% of in-zone pitches were incorrectly ruled balls, slightly increasing from 1.7% in 2024 but significantly better than 2008’s 4.3%.

Pitchers who succeeded by getting borderline calls may lose those advantages, while controversial missed calls could be overturned — such as Mark Langston’s 2-2 fastball to Tino Martinez during the 1998 World Series opener that crossed the plate above the knees but was called a ball by retired umpire Richie Garcia. Martinez hit a game-changing grand slam on the following pitch, propelling the Yankees to a 9-6 victory and eventual four-game championship sweep.

Garcia doesn’t wish ABS had existed during his career.

“I’d rather take the grief,” he said.

A game-worn jersey from Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani’s 2026 World Baseball Classic performance fetched more than $1.5 million during Sunday evening’s MLB Auctions sale, demolishing previous records for Ohtani memorabilia.

The unsigned uniform crushed the earlier high-water mark for an Ohtani jersey – an autographed piece inscribed with “24 NL MVP” that brought $249,999 through Fanatics in 2025.

Though Sunday’s record-breaking sale falls short of baseball’s most expensive jersey transactions – including Babe Ruth’s legendary “called shot” uniform from the 1932 World Series that commanded $24.12 million in 2024, and jerseys from Jackie Robinson and Mickey Mantle that each exceeded $4 million – it establishes a new benchmark for Ohtani game-worn items from premier MLB competitions.

The jersey sale comes just days after another Ohtani collectible made headlines. Last Thursday, a unique 2025 Topps MVP gold Logoman patch card featuring autographs from both Ohtani and New York Yankees star Aaron Judge brought $2.16 million at a Fanatics Premier auction. The special card showcased gold-enhanced MLB logo patches from jerseys worn by both MVP winners.

Judge has now had two trading cards sell for seven figures, while a standalone 2025 Topps Chrome gold Logoman patch card featuring only Ohtani’s signature reached an even higher $3 million through Fanatic Premier.

Including the latest jersey auction, the Dodgers phenomenon now has four collectible items that have crossed the million-dollar threshold at public sales.

Duke basketball guard Caleb Foster is pushing for a potential comeback as the top-seeded Blue Devils prepare to face fifth-seeded St. John’s in Friday’s Sweet 16 clash in Washington, D.C., nearly three weeks after suffering a foot fracture.

The injury occurred during Duke’s final regular season matchup against North Carolina at home, forcing Foster to sit out both the ACC tournament and the Blue Devils’ opening two NCAA Tournament victories. Duke enters the East Region semifinal with an impressive 34-2 record.

Coach Jon Scheyer hasn’t completely dismissed the possibility of Foster suiting up for Friday’s game or potentially Sunday’s Elite Eight contest should Duke advance to face either second-seeded UConn or third-seeded Michigan State.

“When he first got hurt, I felt there was more like one in a million. … Since that, since he got hurt, the way he’s worked, the chances have continued to increase. I even think there’s an outside chance maybe for this Friday,” Scheyer explained to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein. “He’s trying to do the impossible here. I think this weekend, I don’t think I can rule it out because of who he is and how he’s been working.”

This season, Foster has been a reliable contributor for the Blue Devils, connecting on 40.2% of his three-point attempts while contributing 8.5 points, 2.8 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per contest.

A teenage professional boxer remains hospitalized in a medically induced coma following a devastating knockout during a Saturday night fight in San Bernardino, California, according to ProBoxTV, which aired the bout.

Isis Sio, 19, suffered the knockout defeat against opponent Jocelyn Camarillo after absorbing multiple punches just one minute and 18 seconds into what was scheduled as the evening’s opening match. The young fighter, who held a 1-2 professional record going into the bout, began convulsing in the ring immediately after the knockout and was rushed to Loma Linda University Health for emergency treatment.

ProBoxTV released an official statement expressing concern for the injured boxer’s condition. “On behalf of CEO Garry Jonas and the entire ProBox family, we are praying for a speedy recovery for Isis Sio,” the statement read. “Ms. Sio is currently in a medically induced coma. Our thoughts are with her and her family at this very difficult time. Please join us in wishing for a full recovery.”

The fight took place in the junior flyweight division, with Sio competing at 107.5 pounds – a significant drop from her previous professional fights where she weighed in at 114 and 118 pounds respectively.

Her opponent, Camarillo, brought an undefeated 5-0 professional record into the ring, though all of her previous victories had come by way of judges’ decisions rather than knockout. The fighter also holds the distinction of being a three-time national amateur champion.

The New England Patriots are preparing to cut quarterback Josh Dobbs following unsuccessful attempts to trade him, according to a Monday report from NFL Network.

Dobbs still has one year remaining on his two-year, $8 million contract that he inked in March of last year to serve as Drake Maye’s backup quarterback.

This month, New England brought back quarterback Tommy DeVito on a new two-year, $4.4 million deal. DeVito had joined the Patriots last offseason and worked as the team’s third-string emergency quarterback.

By cutting Dobbs, the Patriots will free up $3.7 million in salary cap room while absorbing $1.05 million in dead money charges.

The 31-year-old Dobbs saw action in four contests for New England during the previous season, connecting on 7 of 10 passing attempts for 65 yards. Selected in the fourth round of the 2017 draft, he has played in 27 games across six seasons with six different franchises, starting 15 times with a 3-12 record. His career statistics include a 62.8% completion rate for 3,346 passing yards, 17 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions, plus 515 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.

DeVito, age 27, did not play in any games for New England last season but had previously started eight of 12 games for the New York Giants between 2023-24. During that span, he accumulated 1,358 passing yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions, while also rushing for 227 yards and one score.

SEATTLE — Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the Seattle Seahawks have reached agreement on a massive four-year contract extension valued at $168.8 million, with $120 million in guaranteed money, according to a source familiar with the negotiations who spoke to The Associated Press on Monday.

The source requested anonymity since the contract, which would establish Smith-Njigba as the NFL’s top-paid wide receiver, has not yet been officially completed.

The 24-year-old receiver broke franchise records last season with 1,793 receiving yards and 119 catches, earning him the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year honor.

Smith-Njigba will remain with Seattle through the 2031 campaign. The team had already picked up the fifth-year option on his rookie deal last week.

The massive contract tops the previous record held by Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase, who inked a $161 million extension with $112 million guaranteed last March.

During the regular season, Smith-Njigba recorded nine games with over 100 receiving yards and played a crucial role in Seattle capturing its second Super Bowl title in team history. His performance in the NFC championship victory over Los Angeles was particularly impressive, hauling in 10 passes for 153 yards and one touchdown in the 31-27 triumph.

Throughout his professional career, Smith-Njigba has accumulated 282 catches for 3,551 yards and 20 touchdowns.

NORTH PORT, Fla. — Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider will open the season on the injured list after suffering an oblique strain, team officials confirmed Monday.

The right-handed pitcher was originally slated to take the mound in Monday’s final spring training game against Pittsburgh but was pulled from the lineup. Braves manager Walt Weiss expressed optimism to media members that Strider would only be sidelined for a few weeks.

The 27-year-old hurler is working to continue his recovery path following right elbow surgery two years ago. After missing the majority of the 2024 season, Strider made his return to the big leagues last year, posting a 7-14 record with a 4.45 ERA across 23 appearances.

During this spring’s training camp, he compiled a 2-0 record with a 3.24 ERA over 8 1/3 innings as he attempts to recapture his 2023 All-Star performance, when he topped the major leagues with 20 wins and 281 strikeouts.

This injury adds to Atlanta’s mounting rotation concerns, as starters Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep have already been placed on the 60-day injured list after undergoing elbow procedures.

WNBA players have taken a major step toward ending their contract standoff by overwhelmingly approving a new seven-year collective bargaining agreement with league management.

During an appearance on ESPN’s “First Take” Monday, Women’s National Basketball Players Association president Nneka Ogwumike revealed that players supported the deal by a nearly unanimous margin, with 90% of the membership participating in the ratification process.

The contract now awaits final approval from league officials.

League management and the players’ union jointly announced Friday that they had reached terms on the seven-year deal, which will remain in effect through the 2032 season.

Under the revenue-sharing arrangement, player salaries will see dramatic increases, with average pay rising to $583,000 for the current season and top earners making up to $1.4 million. The total compensation package will provide more than $1 billion in wages and benefits throughout the contract period.

“This Collective Bargaining Agreement represents a defining moment in the WNBA’s 30-year history and all of women’s professional sports,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert stated Friday in an official announcement. “Since its inception, the WNBA has been shaped by extraordinary athletes who believed in the league’s future. The agreement is a testament to that belief and to the tremendous progress we have achieved together.”

The compensation improvements mark a dramatic advancement for professional women’s basketball players. Team spending limits will reach $7 million this season — a massive increase from the previous $1.5 million cap in 2025 — with future adjustments tied to team and league revenue performance.

Projections show maximum player earnings could reach $2.4 million by 2032, while average salaries are expected to exceed $1 million by the contract’s end.

Base salaries for the current season will range between $270,000 and $300,000, determined by years of experience. The top draft selection in 2026 will earn roughly $500,000.

“We’ve always believed that as this league grows, the players who power it must grow with it, and we’re proud to see that belief shared,” said Ogwumike, who won the league’s Most Valuable Player award in 2016. “We love this game enough to push for what it can become, not just for ourselves, but for those who built this league and those who will carry it forward.

“This agreement reflects that shared commitment, with players owning their value and future alongside a league growing stronger because of it.”

Players have operated without a contract since choosing to terminate their previous agreement in October 2024, one year ahead of its scheduled October 31, 2025 conclusion.

Championship bonuses will also see substantial increases, with title-winning team members receiving $60,000 each — up from $22,908 in 2025 — while runners-up will earn $20,000 (previously $8,521). The Finals MVP bonus jumps to $30,000 from $5,000.

Individual award bonuses include $60,000 for the season MVP, $30,000 for Defensive Player of the Year, and $15,000 for Rookie of the Year.

All-Star Game MVP recipients will earn $20,000.

The regular season schedule will expand to 50 games during 2027 and 2028, then increase to 52 games from 2029 through 2032.

The WNBA Draft is scheduled for April 13, with training camps beginning six days afterward.

The Atlanta Braves announced Monday that right-handed pitcher Spencer Strider will miss the beginning of the season after suffering an oblique strain.

The 27-year-old hurler was pulled from his planned spring training outing Monday against Pittsburgh in Bradenton, Florida. During spring training, the former All-Star posted a 2-0 record with a 3.24 ERA across three appearances, including two starts, recording 11 strikeouts and issuing two walks over 8 1/3 innings.

This setback comes as Strider works to bounce back from an inconsistent 2025 campaign following his recovery from Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for most of 2024. Last season, he compiled a 7-14 record with a 4.45 ERA across 23 starts.

The right-hander’s best season came in 2023 when he earned National League All-Star honors and placed fourth in Cy Young Award balloting. That year, he topped the majors with 20 wins and 281 strikeouts while posting a 3.86 ERA in 32 starts.

Since his MLB debut in 2021, Strider has accumulated a 39-24 record with a 3.74 ERA over 90 career appearances, including 77 starts. Atlanta selected him in the fourth round of the 2020 draft from Clemson University.

Atlanta kicks off the new season Friday when they host the Kansas City Royals. Nine-time All-Star left-hander Chris Sale will take the mound as the team’s Opening Day starter.

The injury adds to mounting concerns for Atlanta’s pitching rotation. Left-hander Joey Wentz will miss the entire season after tearing his right ACL, while right-handers Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep are both on the 60-day injured list with elbow problems.

After spending 16 seasons at the helm of Creighton’s men’s basketball program, head coach Greg McDermott revealed Monday that he’s stepping down from his position.

The 61-year-old McDermott will remain with the Bluejays through their upcoming postseason College Basketball Crown tournament before officially departing. His replacement will be Alan Huss, a seven-year member of McDermott’s coaching staff who will be elevated to the top position.

“It has been an incredible honor to lead the Creighton men’s basketball program for the past 16 years,” McDermott said in a statement. “I’m very proud of the young men that have proudly worn the Bluejay uniform and represented our program in a first-class manner. Witnessing their growth and development on and off the playing floor was especially gratifying.”

Since taking over the program during the 2010-11 campaign, McDermott accumulated a 365-188 coaching record. His victory total allowed him to eclipse Dana Altman in 2024 as the most successful coach in program history.

Under McDermott’s guidance, the Bluejays achieved 20-win seasons in 14 of his 16 years, although the current campaign’s 15-17 mark ended a streak of 10 straight seasons reaching that milestone.

The veteran coach guided Creighton to 10 NCAA tournament berths, featuring three Sweet 16 runs and a 2023 Elite Eight appearance. That tournament count would have reached 11 if the 2020 event hadn’t been cancelled due to the pandemic, as the Bluejays captured the Big East regular season title and posted a 24-7 record that year.

Just last March in 2024, McDermott inked a contract extension that would have kept him with the Omaha, Nebraska-based program through the 2027-28 season, stating at the time that he anticipated Creighton being his final coaching destination.

Huss rejoined the Creighton coaching staff in April 2025 as coach-in-waiting after departing his head coaching role at High Point, though no specific transition timeline was established at that time.

“While this chapter of my career comes to a close, my love and respect for the Bluejays will never fade. I look forward to the continued success of Bluejay basketball under the leadership of Alan Huss,” McDermott said.

Before arriving at Creighton, McDermott served as head coach at Northern Iowa from 2001-06 and Iowa State from 2006-10, giving him a career coaching record of 514-319 (.617).

“I’m deeply grateful for the support of my family, our players, coaching staff and support staff, as well as the presidents, athletic directors, and all the University and athletic administrators,” McDermott said. “The support of the Omaha community consistently packing our arena with 17,000 fans has created many fond memories.”

The University of Charlotte announced Monday that Wes Miller will take over as the new head coach for the men’s basketball team, signing a five-year agreement with the 49ers program.

The 43-year-old Miller comes to Charlotte after being dismissed from Cincinnati just 10 days earlier, following the Bearcats’ 18-15 campaign in the 2025-26 season. During his five-year tenure at Cincinnati, Miller posted a 100-74 overall record but never guided the team to an NCAA Tournament appearance.

“I’m incredibly honored to lead the Charlotte Basketball program,” Miller said. “This is a university with tremendous momentum, a passionate city behind it, and deep basketball roots in the state of North Carolina.”

“From the moment I began talking with (athletic director) Kevin White and Chancellor (Sharon) Gaber, it was clear there is a shared vision to build a program defined by toughness, passion, and relentless energy. We’re going to pour everything we have into developing our student-athletes, competing at the highest level, and building a team that our campus and this city are proud to rally around. The foundation is here for something special, and I can’t wait to get to work because Charlotte’s stock is rising.”

Before his stint at Cincinnati, Miller spent a decade coaching at UNC Greensboro, approximately 90 miles away from Charlotte, where he achieved a 185-135 record. His accomplishments with the Spartans included two NCAA Tournament berths and earning Southern Conference Coach of the Year honors twice.

Athletic Director Kevin White praised the selection, stating: “Wes Miller is a proven leader with a deep understanding of the game and strong ties to basketball in our state. Throughout this process, what stood out most was his passion, competitive energy, and clear vision for building a championship culture here at Charlotte. He embodies the toughness, resilience, and commitment to the total student-athlete experience that we value, and he understands the opportunity we have to build something special for our university and our city.”

A Greensboro native, Miller played collegiate basketball at the University of North Carolina from 2004-07, helping the Tar Heels capture the 2005 national championship.

Miller takes over from Aaron Fearne, who was terminated on March 17 after compiling a 47-51 record over three seasons with the program. The 49ers finished 17-17 this past season, falling to South Florida in the American Conference tournament semifinals.

The Charlotte basketball program has not reached the NCAA Tournament since the 2004-05 season.

Goalkeeper Ilya Sorokin delivered a flawless performance between the pipes Sunday night, turning away all 26 shots he faced as the New York Islanders secured a crucial 1-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets in Elmont, New York.

Bo Horvat provided the only offense the Islanders would need, scoring on their very first shot of the contest. That early strike proved sufficient as Sorokin dominated throughout the evening in a game carrying significant Eastern Conference playoff implications.

The victory propelled the Islanders (40-26-5, 85 points) past the idle Detroit Red Wings (84 points) into the second and final wild-card position in the Eastern Conference. New York also ended a troublesome two-game skid while drawing even with Columbus (37-21-11, 85 points) for third place in the Metropolitan Division, though the Blue Jackets maintain a game in hand.

Sorokin’s stellar effort marked his seventh shutout of the current campaign and the 29th of his professional career, setting a new franchise milestone. The performance also tied him with Glenn “Chico” Resch and Semyon Varlamov for the team’s single-season shutout record.

Columbus netminder Jet Greaves answered with 21 saves of his own, but the Blue Jackets saw their impressive 12-game point streak (8-0-4) come to an end.

In other NHL action, the Winnipeg Jets defeated the New York Rangers 3-2 in a shootout, with Kyle Connor and Gabriel Vilardi converting in the decisive round. The victory ended Winnipeg’s three-game losing streak against a Rangers squad that has now dropped four consecutive contests.

Utah’s Hockey Club edged the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 in overtime, with Nick Schmaltz netting his second goal of the night just 1:46 into the extra session. The win helped Utah maintain their grip on the first wild-card position in the Western Conference.

The Vegas Golden Knights snapped their own three-game slide with a 3-2 triumph over Dallas, thanks to Reilly Smith’s go-ahead goal with 3:38 remaining. Smith had been a healthy scratch for the previous five contests before delivering the game-winning strike.

Anaheim topped Buffalo 6-5 in overtime, with Troy Terry scoring twice including the decisive goal at 1:29 of the extra period. The Ducks have now captured three of their last four outings.

Colorado rallied past Washington 3-2 in overtime, becoming the first franchise to clinch a Stanley Cup playoff berth this season. Brock Nelson provided the winning goal at 1:22 of overtime.

Nashville continued their hot streak with a 3-2 overtime victory over Chicago, marking their fourth straight win. Filip Forsberg tallied twice, including the overtime winner, after returning from a two-game absence due to an upper-body injury.

Carolina dominated Pittsburgh 5-1, converting three of five power-play opportunities. Seth Jarvis contributed a goal and two assists in the lopsided victory.

Calgary completed a 4-3 overtime win against Tampa Bay for their third consecutive victory, with Ryan Strome providing the overtime heroics. The Flames extended their remarkable streak to 54 straight wins when scoring four or more goals, the fourth-longest such streak in league history.