Category: Sports

The National Basketball Association plans to implement artificial intelligence technology to automatically handle certain types of calls during games, Commissioner Adam Silver announced this week.

Speaking on ESPN’s the Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, Silver explained that the league will deploy an automated system to handle out-of-bounds determinations and similar possession decisions, aiming to accelerate game pace and eliminate arguments over ball possession.

Silver drew parallels to the Hawk-Eye electronic system used in professional tennis, which rapidly determines whether balls land within or outside court boundaries.

“We’re going to move to a system like that where that whole category of calls will be automatic,” Silver stated during the broadcast.

“It’s going to be Laker ball, Knick ball, whatever it is. Those calls will be done by an AI, automated system with cameras lined around the court,” he explained.

The new technology would provide immediate decisions and enable referees to concentrate on contact violations and foul calls instead.

“It will take all those so-called objective calls out of the hands of the referees,” Silver noted. “You won’t have to deal with challenges on those calls.”

While Silver didn’t specify an exact launch date for the system, he indicated implementation would happen “fairly quickly.”

The league has progressively adopted replay reviews and centralized decision processes to enhance officiating precision, though these reviews sometimes extend game duration.

Silver emphasized that referees will continue to play a crucial role in evaluating physical contact situations, where human judgment remains necessary to assess whether players have been hindered.

“There’s often contact on every play, but that doesn’t mean there’s a foul on every play,” Silver observed. “That’s something that can’t just be done on camera.”

Professional golfer Tiger Woods has confirmed he will sit out all major championships this season after choosing not to register for The Open Championship, marking his continued absence from competitive golf since 2024.

While Woods lacks eligibility for next month’s U.S. Open, he maintained special qualification status for The Open. The golf star had previously spoken publicly about potentially making his return at last month’s Masters tournament.

However, a vehicle collision in late March that led to a DUI arrest changed those comeback aspirations. Following the incident, Woods revealed he would pursue treatment and step back from his organizational responsibilities, which included his positions on the PGA Tour Policy Board and the Future Competition Committee, while also removing himself from consideration as U.S. Ryder Cup captain.

Physical challenges have significantly impacted Woods’ professional involvement in recent years. A different automobile accident in 2021 caused injuries to his lower leg, and he has undergone seven back operations, including disk replacement surgery in October. The 15-time major winner has been unable to secure another championship since the 2021 accident, with his most recent victory coming at the 2019 Masters.

At age 50, Woods maintains his exemption status for The Open Championship through age 60.

Meanwhile, 55-year-old Phil Mickelson has chosen to register for the tournament, though his attendance remains uncertain due to his absence from multiple LIV events this spring while dealing with a family health matter. Mickelson’s last missed Open Championship occurred in 2009, and he claimed the title in 2013.

Woods captured Open Championship victories in 2000, 2005, and 2006.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — New York Yankees power hitter Giancarlo Stanton has reached an important milestone in his recovery from a right calf injury, beginning outdoor running exercises after encouraging medical imaging results, though his return timeline remains uncertain.

The slugger has been out of action since April 24, when he felt stiffness in his right calf during base running against Houston.

“I think he wants it fully clear, and I think we got enough news today that allows us to take that step to hopefully the running goes in line with how he’s feeling, and we can start to ramp up,” manager Aaron Boone told reporters Wednesday before the team’s final game against the Royals.

Through his first 24 games this season, Stanton was performing well with a .256 batting average, three home runs, and 14 RBIs. The five-time All-Star’s right-handed power is particularly crucial when Boone fields lineups heavy with left-handed hitters like Ben Rice, Trent Grisham, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Cody Bellinger and Austin Wells.

“Having him in the middle, his presence is massive,” Boone noted. “So you know, hopefully not too much longer.”

When Stanton was injured, the team brought up Jasson Dominguez from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, but the young outfielder also landed on the injured list May 7 after straining his left shoulder’s AC joint in a collision with the outfield wall at Yankee Stadium.

Dominguez received a shoulder injection on May 11 and has been taking batting practice off a tee for approximately one week.

Team officials plan to increase Dominguez’s baseball activities this week as the Yankees finish their Kansas City series and travel to Sacramento for three games against the Athletics, wrapping up their six-game, seven-day road trip.

“Hopefully when we get back next week,” Boone explained, “there may be some live (batting practice) situations for him.”

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson broke his public silence Wednesday during his second OTA practice, speaking for the first time since watching placekicker Tyler Loop miss a crucial short field goal that ended the team’s playoff hopes.

That missed kick capped off a difficult campaign for the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, who sat out four games with injury. Jackson posted career-worst numbers, rushing for just 349 yards while getting sacked 2.77 times per game—also a career high. For the first time in eight largely successful seasons, he watched the postseason from home.

During Wednesday’s session, Jackson disclosed that the hamstring injury he sustained in Week 3 against the Lions continued to bother him even after he returned for the season’s final nine contests.

Significant changes have swept through Baltimore since that disappointing finish. The organization dismissed the only head coach the current Ravens roster had ever played under, with John Harbaugh quickly landing with the New York Giants.

“I gotta lot of respect for Coach. I was shocked in a way,” Jackson commented regarding Harbaugh’s firing. “I feel like (team owner) Mr. Steve (Bisciotti) did what was best for the team. I hope Coach has a great, great time in New York. Hats off to Coach because we did so much for the city, for the team, for this organization.”

Baltimore brought in Jesse Minter, the former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator, as the franchise’s fourth head coach. The 43-year-old Minter added 30-year-old Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator, bringing over the former Chicago Bears’ OC (though head coach Ben Johnson handled play-calling duties). Doyle is only months older than his star signal-caller.

While Jackson skipped last week’s OTAs, he has maintained regular communication with both Minter and Doyle about the offensive system he’ll be running. The quarterback is anticipated to have significant influence in shaping that scheme.

“All of us are having fun with the new system, and what he (Doyle) sees on the field and the film,” Jackson explained, characterizing the environment at 1 Winning Drive in Owings Mills, Md. as “a breath of fresh air.”

“It means a lot because I feel like I should know what coach is thinking when he calls certain plays on the field. It sure makes my job a lot easier.”

Despite the absence of a contract extension this offseason, Minter expressed no concerns about Jackson’s dedication to the organization.

“Great to see him out there making the plays that he can make,” Minter stated.

Baltimore restructured Jackson’s 5-year, $260 deal from 2022 this past March, incorporating a voided year and reducing the 2026 cap hit to $34.39 million.

Though both Jackson and the Ravens organization remain quiet about his long-term status in Baltimore, the quarterback made his preferences clear Wednesday, stating his allegiance to purple and black.

“Absolutely. I love the Ravens. I love this organization. I love this city,” Jackson declared. “This is the team that drafted me. I love Baltimore. Everyone should know that by now.”

Soccer’s international governing body FIFA is facing legal scrutiny over dramatically inflated World Cup ticket costs and sales methods that supporters claim resulted in unfavorable purchases.

Top prosecutors from New York and New Jersey, the state set to host eight tournament games including the championship match, revealed Tuesday they are examining whether FIFA’s ticket sales practices broke consumer protection regulations.

Legal officials have issued subpoenas to the worldwide soccer organization seeking details about various ticketing concerns, including FIFA’s implementation of “variable pricing” systems that caused ticket costs to skyrocket for most games and revised venue layouts that supporters claim moved their seats away from the field.

The prosecutors, collaborating with the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, indicated their investigation centers mainly on ticketing procedures for games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

“New Yorkers have been waiting years for the World Cup to come to their backyard, and they deserve a fair shot at affordable tickets,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said. “No one should be manipulated into paying sky-high prices for seats, and fans should be able to trust that the tickets they purchase will be the ones they receive.”

New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport accused FIFA of turning the act of buying a World Cup ticket “into a gauntlet of confusion, fake scarcity, and impossibly high prices.” It’s an honor for New Jersey to host the World Cup, she said, “but the event is not an invitation to exploit our residents and visitors.”

FIFA declined to comment.

The tournament begins June 11 with games in Mexico City and Guadalajara, Mexico. The opening game at the approximately 82,000-capacity MetLife Stadium — temporarily called New York New Jersey Stadium for the tournament — features Brazil facing Morocco on June 13.

Certain seats for the July 19 championship are selling for almost $33,000.

Last week, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani revealed that 1,000 tickets — roughly 150 tickets for each MetLife Stadium contest, not including the championship — will be offered to city residents through a lottery process costing $50 per ticket.

FIFA had earlier offered some $60 tickets for every game, distributing them via the national organizations of the competing teams.

Professional golfer Justin Thomas was questioning whether his career at golf’s highest level could continue before he stepped onto the course at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in early March this season.

Thomas had received microdiscectomy surgery to address persistent hip discomfort, forcing an early end to his 2025 campaign in mid-November. Despite missing the cut at Bay Hill, completing 36 holes without pain validated his choice and the challenging, uncertain path back to full health.

“I had confidence and belief and faith in what I was doing was the best thing for me and my career,” said Thomas on Wednesday before he tees it up for the ninth time this season at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth Texas.

“And that’s, you know, after all the information, everything that I had kind of gathered and talking, reading, whatever you want to call it, I felt like that was what it was. So it wasn’t necessarily a moment after the fact, because I felt like I had already kind of committed to that. But it’s also not something of like once you’ve hit that first driver and it feels good you’re like, OK, I’m good the rest of my life, I don’t have to worry about this ever again. It’s like everything, it’s a process and you got to keep working on it.”

Seven days after that tournament, Thomas placed T8 at the Players Championship. He advanced past the cut at the Masters, and recently carded a 5-under par 65 to claim a tie for fourth place at the PGA Championship.

The 33-year-old Thomas captured the 2017 and 2022 PGA Championships as part of his 16 tour victories. He sat out last week but will return to Colonial CC for his first appearance there since 2022.

“Yeah, probably wasn’t quite as much relaxing as it maybe could have gone for,” said Thomas. “But to go out there and play the round I did when I knew I needed to was great and, yeah, last week just was really a couple days off and then back to the grind.”

When asked about his tournament selection process amid ongoing talks about elevated PGA Tour events, Thomas explained his approach.

“Everybody’s different. I would say the most, the first and foremost, most important thing that a lot of the top guys… anybody that’s in the majors, you’re going to at least I would think, is what’s going to prepare me the best for the major,” he said. “So like I’ve had success in majors when I play the week before.

“So it’s very situational of when you play, don’t play in that regard. But I mean I really, really, really try with all my might to not do four in a row. Four in a row is like I’m not fun to be around. It’s very taxing. So I try to cap it at three. And, yeah, there’s a lot of great tournaments, we’re very fortunate to have to miss some great events, but you have to at some point. So just kind of start with the majors and fill it in here and there, I guess.”

Thomas is grouped with Russell Henley and Korea’s Sungjae Im for an 8:06 a.m. local time Thursday start.

Ben Griffin captured the Charles Schwab Challenge by one stroke over Germany’s Matti Schmid in 2025.

The Texas Rangers made the decision Wednesday to designate veteran outfielder Andrew McCutchen for assignment, dealing a significant setback to the 39-year-old’s professional baseball career.

The former National League MVP once ranked among baseball’s elite players, earning National League All-Star honors for five straight years while playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2011 through 2015. However, his performance declined in recent years, and this season with Texas proved particularly challenging as he managed only a .192 batting average with a single home run and five runs batted in across 37 games, while recording 22 strikeouts in 73 plate appearances.

In a related roster move, Texas brought aboard infielder Nicky Lopez on a one-year contract. Lopez had appeared in just four games with the Chicago Cubs, going hitless in five at-bats before Chicago designated him for assignment this past Sunday.

McCutchen joined the Rangers organization in March as a free agent and is currently in his 18th major league campaign. Throughout his career, he has accumulated 333 home runs, 1,157 RBIs, and 220 stolen bases while maintaining a .271 batting average over 2,299 games. His career has taken him through multiple organizations including the Pirates (2009-17, 2023-25), San Francisco Giants (2018), New York Yankees (2018), Philadelphia Phillies (2019-21), and Milwaukee Brewers (2022). Pittsburgh originally selected him as the 11th overall choice in the 2005 amateur draft.

Lopez, who is 31 years old, brings a .245 career batting average along with seven home runs and 153 RBIs accumulated over 690 games during eight professional seasons. His career has included stops with the Kansas City Royals (2019-23), Atlanta Braves (2023), Chicago White Sox (2024), Los Angeles Angels (2025), and Cubs (2025-26). His best statistical season came in 2021 when he posted a .300 batting average across 151 games for Kansas City.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama delivered a subdued performance during Game 5 of the Western Conference finals and chose not to address the media following the contest.

The San Antonio Spurs are undoubtedly counting on witnessing a transformed player when they take the court Thursday evening.

The sixth game of the Western Conference championship series approaches, with San Antonio — confronting their first elimination scenario of these playoffs — preparing to welcome the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder to their home court. The Thunder hold a 3-2 series advantage and would maintain home-court benefit should a seventh game become necessary this Saturday.

“I think we’ll be fine,” Spurs forward Julian Champagnie said. “I think we’ll be ready to play next game. Obviously, it’s a win-or-go-home situation, so I’m 100% sure everybody’s going to come to play.”

This expectation extends to Wembanyama, who managed just 20 points — his lowest output of the series — during Tuesday’s Game 5 defeat in Oklahoma City. He declined to meet with media members following that contest, resulting in the NBA issuing him a warning Wednesday for failing to meet his media responsibilities.

San Antonio would undoubtedly prefer Wembanyama express himself through his play Thursday night. Ensuring he receives more than 15 shooting opportunities will be essential, according to Spurs coach Mitch Johnson.

“That’s probably the easiest (adjustment) in terms of just surface-level stuff,” Johnson said. “He’ll definitely need to take more shots.”

Numerous technical and sophisticated modifications occur throughout a playoff series, particularly during a competitive back-and-forth battle like this Western Conference final has proven to be.

Strategic approaches can appear quite complex. However, for Oklahoma City, their strategy entering a potential series-clinching Game 6 against San Antonio follows a straightforward approach.

“We’ve got to understand what’s going on,” Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said.

The situation is clear: San Antonio will battle for their postseason survival, supported by their home crowd hoping to witness their team extend the season for at least another game.

This competitive series — where San Antonio captured Game 1, Oklahoma City claimed Games 2 and 3, the Spurs bounced back in Game 4, and the Thunder responded in Game 5 — has now entered the elimination phase for San Antonio.

“We’ve been great when we’re desperate all year,” Spurs guard Stephon Castle said. “I can’t wait to see how we respond.”

Oklahoma City holds a perfect 2-0 record in elimination opportunities this season, securing Game 4 victories on opposing courts against both Phoenix in the opening round and the Los Angeles Lakers in round two. They finished 4-2 in closeout situations last season while capturing the NBA championship.

San Antonio successfully navigated elimination games in their previous two playoff series before this season, though they eventually fell in both of those matchups.

Betting lines suggest a seventh game is anticipated. They’ve established San Antonio as a 3.5-point home favorite for Game 6, indicating the series would return to Oklahoma City for a final deciding contest.

The Thunder remain the betting favorites to claim the NBA championship.

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball players launched their initial bargaining position Wednesday in what’s anticipated to be challenging labor contract talks, requesting broader free agency rules and salary arbitration eligibility alongside nearly doubling minimum wages and enhancing revenue distribution from high-earning teams to smaller-market franchises.

One day ahead of Major League Baseball’s anticipated salary cap presentation, the players’ union detailed their opening economic demands during negotiations at the union’s Manhattan headquarters.

The current labor agreement concludes December 1, with MLB anticipated to implement a lockout, which serves as management’s version of a work stoppage under federal labor regulations.

“Attendance, viewership, interest — by any measure you want to use, our game is moving in a positive direction,” Baltimore pitcher Chris Bassitt, a member of the union’s eight-man executive subcommittee, said in a statement. “We’ve put forward proposals designed to continue that trend. Support, incentivize, and reward clubs who are committed to competing, especially small-market clubs. Compensate players fairly for the work they are doing.”

MLB obviously opposes the union’s presentation and argues the union’s strategy would reduce revenue distribution.

“We understand their proposals are designed to benefit players. Unfortunately, they do not address and in fact exacerbate the competitive balance problem our fans are telling us we must address,” MLB spokesman Glen Caplin said in a statement. “The MLBPA’s proposal would reduce the amount transferred to lower-revenue clubs, weaken the competitive balance tax and lead to even more payroll disparity than exists today. For example, under the union’s proposal, the Dodgers would pay less in luxury tax payments, giving them an additional $70 million to spend on payroll.”

Marcus Semien and Sean Manaea of the Mets and Eugenio Suárez of Cincinnati were present for the meeting while additional players joined virtually.

“The players’ proposals provide increased revenue sharing initially guaranteeing every small-market club a minimum of $240 million in revenue every season,” interim union head Bruce Meyer, who replaced Tony Clark in February, said in a statement. “This enhanced revenue sharing includes added protections to ensure clubs prioritize winning over profiteering.”

Key proposal elements include raising the luxury tax ceiling from this season’s $244 million to $300 million by 2027, followed by $15 million annual increases. Draft pick penalties would be removed, and surcharge rates would decrease from the current 110% maximum to 10% above previous levels.

Free agency qualification, unchanged at six major league seasons since 1976, would drop to five seasons for players reaching age 30 by November 1. Teams could retain such players through qualifying offers, with refusal leading to arbitration eligibility.

Minimum salaries would jump from this year’s $780,000 to $1.5 million next season and $2.2 million by 2031.

Salary arbitration access would broaden with teams required to offer eligible players at least $3 million. The eligibility threshold moved from two to three years in 1986, with the super 2 classification beginning in 1991 at 17% and reaching 22% in 2013. The union proposes expanding this to 44%. Additionally, arbitration panel decisions would guarantee salaries, with some comparison salaries valued at 120%.

The pre-arbitration bonus fund, set at $50 million in the current 2022-26 agreement, would grow to $180 million next year with subsequent $15 million annual increases. Players signing multiyear contracts within their first 21 major league days would lose eligibility.

The qualifying offer system for six-year service players would end. This mechanism has limited some free agent markets since its 2012 introduction due to signing team penalties.

The amateur draft lottery would expand from six to eight teams.

Service time manipulation prevention rules from 2022 would broaden, including full service year credit for eligible prospects finishing top five in MVP balloting.

Lower-revenue franchises losing free agents would receive enhanced compensation, while low-revenue teams would gain additional draft picks.

A competitive integrity levy would target teams spending below 50% of the minimum tax threshold, with additional penalties for teams falling further behind. Franchises would face consequences for not investing received revenue-sharing funds in payrolls.

Every small-market franchise would receive guaranteed annual revenue of at least $240 million, while retaining more ballpark-generated income.

Low-revenue teams achieving winning records or playoff berths would earn additional revenue-sharing money, with local media income distributed more broadly among all teams.

The previous five-year agreement was finalized March 10, 2022, on the 99th day of a lockout, maintaining the 162-game regular season format. This marked baseball’s ninth work stoppage and first since the 7½-month strike spanning 1994-95 that cancelled the World Series for the first time since 1904.

President Donald Trump revealed Wednesday that he’s been extended an invitation to witness the New York Knicks compete in the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden next month.

Speaking to reporters, Trump shared that Knicks owner James Dolan has offered him tickets to watch the Eastern Conference champions face either the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs when the series comes to New York.

The Knicks are set to host the third and fourth games of the finals on June 8 and June 10, respectively. New York has been on a remarkable postseason run, winning 11 consecutive playoff games after completing a four-game sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.

The president, who hails from New York, had originally considered attending the fifth game of the conference finals at Madison Square Garden, but the Knicks wrapped up the series before that became necessary. Trump praised Dolan as a “great guy” and expressed admiration for the team’s performance.

“Boy, what a team,” Trump remarked. “They have some really great players.”

The president described the franchise’s first finals appearance since 1999 as “great to see.”

“The Knicks have really suffered for years,” Trump commented, drawing laughter from reporters. “They’re doing (well) right now.”

Throughout his political career, Trump has frequently attended major sporting events, including the College Football Playoff championship and a primetime NFL matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets just before the 2024 election.

Madison Square Garden has long been known for attracting celebrity fans to courtside seats, including filmmaker Spike Lee, who has previously had public disagreements with Trump.

The Chicago Stars dismissed general manager Richard Feuz on Wednesday following the team’s disappointing performance that has left them languishing near the bottom of the NWSL table with the worst goal differential in the league at minus-17.

Currently holding a 3-8-0 record for nine points, the Stars occupy 15th place in the 16-team league. This follows their last-place finish among 14 teams in 2025 with a 3-12-11 record totaling 20 points. This season, Chicago has managed just five goals while conceding 22, making them both the lowest-scoring and most porous defensive team in the league.

“What we hope for in a league like this is to be competitive,” Stars president Karen Leetzow told reporters on Wednesday, per ESPN. “You want to be in playoff contention all the time.”

“But at the very least, you need to have a compelling product on the pitch. I don’t think we have either this year. And that is not for lack of trying. That’s why we are disappointed with the outcome and why we decided to make the change that we made today.”

During Feuz’s tenure as general manager since his appointment in February 2024, the Stars compiled a 16-34-13 record in regular season play and 17-36-14 across all competitions. The team did secure a playoff berth in his first season as the eighth seed.

Head coach Martin Sjogren joined the organization in August 2025 but was unable to begin coaching duties until this season due to previous commitments in Sweden.

Speaking about the coaching staff on Wednesday, Leetzow stated that “right now, we’re confident in Martin and Martin’s process,” adding that “we feel good about the coaches we have.”

The general manager responsibilities will be shared among Leetzow, assistant general manager Beatrice Caliani, and director of soccer operations Olivia Wynn until a permanent replacement is found.

“We are seeking an experienced sporting leader who brings a proven track record of building competitive rosters and aligning organizations around a clear vision,” Leetzow said in a news release on Wednesday. “We are grateful for Richard’s dedication to the Stars and for his work in attracting world-class talent to Chicago.”

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones is setting his sights on a Week 1 comeback as he continues his recovery from a torn Achilles that ended his season last November.

Six months after undergoing surgery, Jones participated in individual workouts and throwing sessions during the team’s voluntary organized activities in Indianapolis. The quarterback confirmed his goal to serve as the starter when Indianapolis hosts Baltimore for their season opener in September and intends to take part in all training camp activities.

“Absolutely,” Jones stated. “Definitely still work to be done and progress to be made. So, I think it’s just continuing to get stronger, continuing to run faster, cut harder. And progress kind of, according to the program.”

Head coach Shane Steichen remains open to possibilities with Anthony Richardson, who continues seeking a trade after Indianapolis chose to recommit to Jones. While Steichen noted Richardson maintains his desire for a new opportunity elsewhere, the team allowed him to practice with the offense Wednesday since “there’s the potential he could” remain with Indianapolis next season.

While Jones was expected to primarily observe during early organized team activities, Steichen anticipated his gradual integration into full participation.

“I’m actually not surprised, just because of the way he works,” Steichen commented.

Jones began the previous season strongly, helping Indianapolis to an 8-2 record while competing for the AFC’s top playoff position before injuries derailed their campaign – a recurring theme from his tenure with the New York Giants.

Indianapolis committed to continuing with Jones by securing him with a two-year, $88 million contract, avoiding another search for a franchise quarterback.

Riley Leonard remains with the team after Indianapolis brought Philip Rivers out of retirement to start in December when Jones was injured, Richardson dealt with an eye issue, and Leonard battled a minor knee problem sustained while replacing Jones during a game at Jacksonville.

Seth Henigan, formerly of Memphis, represents the only other quarterback currently on the roster heading into training camp. Indianapolis added him to their practice squad on Christmas Day last season for additional depth.

President Donald Trump announced his intention to attend an NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden after receiving an invitation from Knicks owner James Dolan.

The president revealed he had been asked to attend Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals, but New York completed a four-game sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, eliminating the Wednesday game before Trump could accept Dolan’s invitation.

“Boy, what a team,” Trump commented at the White House while taking a break from a Cabinet meeting. “I think I’ll be going to one of the games. Yeah, I was invited by numerous people.”

The Knicks have reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 and are waiting to learn their opponent from the Western Conference finals. The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder currently lead the San Antonio Spurs 3-2 in the best-of-seven series, with Game 6 scheduled for Thursday night.

The Western Conference winner will host the Knicks on June 3 and June 5. New York will host Game 3 on June 8 and Game 4 on June 10 in the best-of-seven championship series.

Throughout his two presidential terms, Trump has made appearances at numerous major sporting events, including the Super Bowl, U.S. Open tennis tournament, Ryder Cup and Daytona 500. Most recently, he attended a UFC event at Madison Square Garden in November 2024.

Trump, a former longtime New York resident, maintains connections to both the franchise and Dolan, who also manages the arena and the NHL’s New York Rangers.

What appeared to be a desperate move by the Vegas Golden Knights when they dismissed Bruce Cassidy and hired John Tortorella late in the season actually follows a pattern that has produced championship results before.

After Tortorella led the Golden Knights through a sweep of the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado team on Tuesday night, he now stands on the verge of becoming just the eighth coach in NHL history to capture the Stanley Cup following a mid-season hiring.

Since 2000, this feat has been accomplished five times, with Larry Robinson’s journey with the New Jersey Devils in that year bearing the strongest resemblance to Tortorella’s situation, as Robinson also assumed control with only eight games left in the 1999-00 campaign. The other successful mid-season coaches had significantly more time to implement their systems.

Vegas turned to Tortorella following a disastrous stretch in March when the team dropped six of seven contests. Under his leadership, the Golden Knights posted a 7-0-1 record to close the regular season and have dominated the Western Conference playoffs with a 12-4 mark.

The most recent championship team to achieve success after changing coaches mid-season was St. Louis in 2018-19, when Craig Berube replaced Mike Yeo early in the campaign. Kris Knoblauch nearly accomplished the same feat in 2023-24 with Edmonton, falling just one victory short after losing Game 7 of the Final to Florida.

Should Tortorella successfully guide the Golden Knights to their second championship, the six instances of mid-season coaching changes leading to titles in the NHL since 2000 would match the combined total from the NFL (0), NBA (4) and Major League Baseball (2) throughout their entire histories.

This accomplishment occurred only twice in the NHL during the 20th century, with Toronto’s Dick Irwin achieving it in 1932 and Montreal’s Al MacNeil doing so in 1971, before becoming more common in recent years.

The NBA coaches who have won championships after mid-season hirings include Jack McKinney with the Lakers in 1980, Pat Riley twice with Los Angeles in 1982 and Miami in 2006, and Tyronn Lue with Cleveland in 2016. In baseball, Jack McKeon led the Florida Marlins to a World Series title in 2003, while Bob Lemon accomplished the same with the Yankees in 1978.

A detailed examination of the five most recent NHL coaches who captured Stanley Cup championships after taking over during the season reveals:

After firing Yeo just 19 games into the 2018-19 campaign, St. Louis promoted Berube. The Blues plummeted to last place by early January before mounting a remarkable comeback.

St. Louis secured second place in the Central Division and overcame a 3-2 series deficit against Dallas in the second round, winning in double overtime in Game 7. They then erased a 2-1 series deficit in the conference final, defeating San Jose in six games to reach their first Stanley Cup Final since 1970.

Berube then guided St. Louis through a seven-game series victory over Boston, delivering the franchise’s first championship.

Pittsburgh was struggling in the early portion of the 2015-16 season and appeared ready to squander another prime year of Sidney Crosby’s career when they dismissed Mike Johnston and elevated Sullivan from the AHL.

Energized by crucial midseason acquisitions and exceptional performances from Crosby, Pittsburgh surged into playoff contention and maintained that momentum. The Penguins dropped only three games total in the opening two rounds before rallying from a 3-2 deficit in the conference final to eliminate Tampa Bay.

They dominated San Jose in a six-game series, claiming the Stanley Cup for Crosby’s second championship.

The Kings sat in 11th place in the Western Conference during December and were struggling offensively when they fired Terry Murray and eventually convinced Sutter to leave his Alberta farm for his first coaching position in over five years.

Sutter’s direct approach and focus on fundamentals proved exactly what the Kings required, helping them secure a playoff berth as the eighth seed. They stormed through the playoffs, stunning top-seeded Vancouver in five games during the first round and winning 15 of their initial 17 playoff games.

Los Angeles ultimately defeated New Jersey in six games for the franchise’s first championship, with their four losses tying for the second-fewest in a Cup-winning playoff run since the first round expanded to best-of-seven format in 1987.

Following their Final appearance in 2008, the Penguins were barely above .500 by February the following season, prompting GM Ray Shero to dismiss Michel Therrien and promote Bylsma from the AHL.

Pittsburgh compiled an 18-3-4 record down the stretch to claim the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. The Penguins then navigated challenging series against Philadelphia and Washington before sweeping Carolina in the conference final.

This established a rematch opportunity against Detroit, and Pittsburgh prevailed this time, capturing Game 7 on the road for the franchise’s first title since 1992.

Despite holding first place in the East and owning the third-best record league-wide with eight games remaining in the regular season, GM Lou Lamoriello made the surprising choice to fire Robby Ftorek and elevate Robinson from his assistant coaching position.

New Jersey had managed just one playoff series victory over the previous four seasons and was faltering late in 2000 when Lamoriello determined a change was necessary.

His decision proved brilliant.

Robinson intensified practice schedules and emphasized defensive commitment, which proved crucial during a playoff run that included a comeback from a 3-1 deficit in the conference final against Philadelphia and a 2-1 double-overtime victory on the road in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against defending champion Dallas.

The Atlanta Hawks announced Wednesday they have elevated general manager Onsi Saleh to president of basketball operations, rewarding him with a promotion after the team’s return to postseason play for the first time since 2023.

The 40-year-old executive, who initially came to Atlanta as assistant general manager in May 2024 before being elevated to GM in April 2025, has agreed to a long-term contract extension with the organization.

“I have such tremendous gratitude for the trust and partnership that the Resslers have shown me since my first day in Atlanta,” Saleh said of the team owners. “They have provided all the resources necessary for our front office to continue methodically building our program into one of the NBA’s elite. It’s an honor to lead this team, and I take seriously my responsibility to deliver for Hawks fans — I could not be more excited for what is ahead for our franchise.”

The promotion comes after Saleh finished as runner-up for NBA Basketball Executive of the Year recognition last month. Under his leadership, Atlanta compiled a 46-36 record, captured the Southeast Division championship, and secured the No. 6 playoff seed. However, their postseason run ended when the New York Knicks defeated them in six games during the first round.

“Onsi possesses a rare combination of valuable leadership qualities and a clear vision that will position our franchise to compete at a championship level. He is a gifted communicator and talent evaluator, widely respected by his peers within the NBA community,” Hawks principal owner Tony Ressler said.

Looking ahead to next month’s NBA draft, Atlanta holds valuable assets including two first-round selections at positions No. 8 and No. 23, plus the No. 57 pick.

The Hawks represent the only 2026 playoff qualifier possessing a top-10 draft selection this year, having obtained that pick through a 2025 draft-night transaction with the New Orleans Pelicans. Atlanta traded Derik Queen, who was selected 13th overall, to New Orleans in return for the better of two first-round picks controlled by the Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks. The Pelicans’ disappointing season resulted in the pick falling into lottery territory for Atlanta’s benefit.

PARIS – Top-ranked tennis players experienced mixed results during Wednesday’s action at the French Open, with some stars moving forward while others suffered unexpected defeats in challenging weather conditions.

Four-time champion Swiatek managed to advance to the third round despite struggling with 38 unforced errors during her match against Czech player Sara Bejlek, winning 6-2 6-3 in the intense heat.

“It was a tricky match in terms of the rhythm, because Sara plays differently than most of the players,” Swiatek explained. “I’m happy with the way I adjusted and how I was making decisions, because sometimes it wasn’t obvious when to attack and stay back. In the end I felt pretty good.”

Three-time champion Djokovic faced a challenging battle against French player Valentin Royer but ultimately prevailed 6-3 6-2 6-7(7) 6-3, keeping his pursuit of a 25th Grand Slam title alive at age 39.

“I think Valentin deserves a big round of applause for his performance today. I hope I won’t play any more French players for the rest of the tournament,” Djokovic commented after the match.

The Serbian star noted the difficult playing conditions, saying “The feelings on the court are different when you win. But it was a tough match in difficult conditions.”

However, second seed Rybakina suffered a stunning early elimination, falling to Yuliia Starodubtseva 3-6 6-1 7-6(10-4). The recent Australian Open champion struggled significantly, committing 71 unforced errors throughout the contest.

“I feel like if you’re trying to beat one of the best, you have to think that you can,” Starodubtseva said following her first victory over a top-five player. “I was trying to go into this match with this mindset, try not to give too much respect, even though she’s a great player and someone you can look up to.”

Ukrainian players continued their recent success, with Rome champion Elina Svitolina defeating Kaitlin Quevedo 6-0 6-4 on Court Philippe Chatrier. Fellow Ukrainian and Madrid winner Marta Kostyuk also advanced, beating Katie Volynets 6-7(4) 6-3 6-3.

Drama unfolded off the court when Spanish player Alejandro Davidovich Fokina discovered his coach had abandoned him mid-tournament. Mariano Puerta left the venue after sending a text message and flew to Miami without explanation.

“After the match against Damir Dzumhur, we had lunch and after that, I went to cool down. He said he was feeling bad, he was going to the hotel,” Davidovich Fokina revealed after his four-set victory over Argentine Thiago Agustin Tirante. “In the afternoon … he texted me a message (saying) he’ll not continue … he didn’t say nothing to anybody, he just took the flight and flew to Miami.”

Additional tension arose during Tamara Korpatsch’s 6-2 2-6 6-3 victory over 32nd seed Wang Xinyu on Court Seven. The match concluded without a handshake after a disputed line call led to heated exchanges between the players.

The controversy began when Wang believed her shot had landed inside the baseline, but Korpatsch pointed to a ball mark outside the court. Wang crossed the net to examine the mark, earning a code violation from chair umpire Aurelie Tourte for unsportsmanlike conduct.

“I can’t say I’ll gift her the point,” Korpatsch explained. “I’m a bit surprised, because we have a good relationship, we’re not enemies. I didn’t offer her my hand because that’s not fair for me. She was unfair to come on my side, and I’m not an unfair player.”

Other notable results included Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Belinda Bencic’s commanding 6-4 6-0 victory over American Caty McNally. German player Alexander Zverev was scheduled to face Czech Tomas Machac in the evening session as he continues his quest for a first Grand Slam title.

The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) revealed Wednesday the Most Outstanding Performers from the 2025 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships held in New Orleans.

Kai Smith received recognition as one of the championship’s Most Outstanding Performers following the competition. The USTFCCCA made the announcement after concluding the Division III outdoor track and field national championships.

Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr. continues his rehabilitation from a torn ACL and has not received medical approval for full-contact team practice sessions, according to new Atlanta head coach Kevin Stefanski’s Wednesday announcement.

The 26-year-old quarterback is making excellent progress in his recovery and will take part in position-specific training and smaller 7-on-7 practice sessions during organized team activities while he awaits complete medical approval for his left knee, Stefanski explained.

“He’s not 100 percent, but he’s exactly where he needs to be,” Stefanski said.

When Penix receives full clearance, the quarterback selected eighth overall in the 2024 first-round draft is anticipated to battle with newly acquired quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for the starting position.

Penix suffered the campaign-ending knee injury during Week 11 of 2025, which marked his first year beginning the season as Atlanta’s primary quarterback. He took over the starting role from Kirk Cousins partway through his 2024 debut season.

Throughout 14 professional games with 12 starts, Penix has achieved a 59.6% completion rate, throwing for 2,757 yards with 12 touchdown passes and six interceptions.

Tagovailoa, age 28, posted a 44-32 win-loss record during his time with the Miami Dolphins, completing 68.0% of his attempts for 18,166 yards, 120 touchdowns and 59 interceptions across six seasons.

Both signal-callers are adapting to a fresh offensive system under Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. Atlanta’s quarterback room also includes Trevor Siemian and undrafted rookie Jack Strand.

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs walked free from police custody Wednesday after being detained on multiple domestic violence allegations.

Prosecutors have not filed formal charges against the 28-year-old player. The Brown County District Attorney’s Office in Wisconsin explained there’s a difference between what’s needed for an arrest versus filing charges. While “probable cause” justifies an arrest, proving guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt” is required for criminal charges.

“After reviewing the available evidence in this case, the Brown County District Attorney’s Office is not yet prepared to make a formal charging decision,” District Attorney David L. Lasee said in a statement. “Our office has requested additional investigation, as there is reason to believe that additional evidence may exist that would impact whether criminal charges are appropriate.”

The Hobart-Lawrence Police Department in Wisconsin took Jacobs into custody Tuesday on allegations including battery (domestic abuse, criminal damage to property), domestic abuse, disorderly conduct (domestic abuse, strangulation and suffocation) and intimidation of a victim.

According to Brown County jail records, the strangulation and suffocation allegation carries felony status, while the remaining charges are classified as misdemeanors.

Jacobs’ legal team issued a statement Wednesday defending their client.

“We are extremely pleased that Josh has been released from custody and that no criminal charges have been filed against him,” a statement from David Z. Chesnoff, Richard A. Schonfeld and Clarence Duchac read. “As we previously stated, we encourage everyone to keep an open mind while the matter is fully reviewed. We remain confident that, once all of the evidence is gathered and evaluated, it will confirm that no charges should be brought against Josh in the future.”

When reporters asked Packers head coach Matt LaFleur about Jacobs during Wednesday’s organized team activities, he declined to elaborate.

“I’m going to stick with the statement we put out as an organization and just let the process play out,” he said.

Currently in his third year with Green Bay after inking a four-year, $48 million contract in 2024, Jacobs has earned Pro Bowl honors three times (2020, 2022, 2024) and first-team All Pro recognition in 2022, when he topped the NFL in rushing yards while playing for the Las Vegas Raiders.

Throughout his seven-year NFL career, Jacobs has accumulated 7,803 rushing yards on 1,840 carries with 74 touchdowns.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Star running back Josh Jacobs of the Green Bay Packers has been freed from a Wisconsin detention facility as officials continue examining domestic violence accusations against the NFL player.

The 28-year-old athlete was taken into custody Tuesday in Brown County facing allegations of strangulation and suffocation stemming from an incident that allegedly occurred over the weekend. Legal representatives for Jacobs stated their client maintains his innocence.

District Attorney David Lasee indicated it remains premature to determine formal charges.

“Our office has requested additional investigation, as there is reason to believe that additional evidence may exist that would impact whether criminal charges are appropriate, and what charges would be issued. … The investigation remains open and is ongoing,” Lasee said.

The legal team representing Jacobs — David Chesnoff, Richard Schonfeld and Clarence Duchac — expressed satisfaction with his release from custody.

“We encourage everyone to keep an open mind while the matter is fully reviewed. We remain confident that, once all of the evidence is gathered and evaluated, it will confirm that no charges should be brought against Josh in the future,” they said.

According to Hobart/Lawrence Police Chief Michael Renkas, officers responded to a report involving Jacobs at approximately 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning.

The football player serves as Green Bay’s leading returning ground-game performer following a season where he accumulated 929 rushing yards and scored 13 touchdowns in 2025. This came after his 2024 campaign in which he gained 1,329 yards on the ground with 15 touchdowns while receiving his third Pro Bowl recognition.

Green Bay commenced organized team activities Tuesday. Team officials have refused to provide comment regarding the arrest.

“I know there’s going to be a lot of questions about Josh,” coach Matt LaFleur said Wednesday. “I’m going to stick with the statement that we put out as an organization and just let the process play out.”

Jacobs represents Green Bay’s most talented player at a position where the team has limited backup options. Emanuel Wilson, who finished as their second-leading rusher last season, has since joined the Seattle Seahawks. The organization did not select any running backs in this year’s draft.

The veteran spent his initial five NFL seasons with the Raiders. He received All-Pro recognition and led the league with 1,653 rushing yards while playing for Las Vegas in 2022.

Throughout his seven-year professional career, he has accumulated 7,803 rushing yards and 74 touchdowns. Among current NFL players, only Baltimore’s Derrick Henry (122) and Buffalo’s Josh Allen (79) have scored more career rushing touchdowns.

San Francisco and reserve quarterback Mac Jones have reached agreement on restructuring his 2026 season contract, according to a Wednesday report from NFL Network.

The reworked agreement features a $300,000 roster bonus, $3.55 million in base salary, and an additional $2.25 million in potential incentive payments, according to the report.

The 27-year-old Jones, who stepped into the starting role for eight games last season (posting a 5-3 record) while filling in for an injured Brock Purdy, will hit free agency in March.

During his debut season with San Francisco, Jones posted career-best numbers by completing 69.6% of his throws for 2,151 yards, throwing 13 touchdown passes against six interceptions over 11 appearances.

Originally selected 15th overall in the first round and earning Pro Bowl honors with New England in 2021, Jones holds a 25-32 record as a starting quarterback across his time with the Patriots (2021-23), Jacksonville Jaguars (2024) and 49ers. Throughout 63 career games, he has connected on 66.5% of his attempts for 12,741 yards with 67 touchdowns and 50 interceptions.

Purdy, 26, was sidelined for eight contests last season due to a turf-toe injury. San Francisco’s quarterback room also includes Adrian Martinez and Kurtis Rourke.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, known for his three Super Bowl championships, four All-Pro selections, and engagement to pop icon Taylor Swift, has taken on a new role as a minority owner of the Cleveland Guardians baseball franchise.

The baseball team made the announcement Wednesday prior to their matchup with the Washington Nationals, revealing that Kelce had acquired a small portion of David Blitzer’s 35% ownership stake. Blitzer has the option to become the controlling owner following the 2027 season or can delay exercising that right.

Speaking on the “New Heights” podcast with his brother Jason Kelce, the NFL star explained his decision: “The opportunity came across my desk and I just couldn’t say no. These guys (Blitzer and majority owner Paul Dolan) gave me the opportunity to show my Cleveland love and plant my roots in Cleveland forever, no matter what. It’s an awesome feeling knowing that a childhood kid that grew up on the east side is now part owner of his favorite baseball team.”

Kelce’s athletic background extends beyond football, having participated in football, basketball, and baseball during his time at Cleveland Heights High School. His baseball prowess was recognized when he was named Cleveland Plain Dealer baseball player of the week after achieving a .636 batting average (14 for 22) with two home runs and 12 RBIs during a May 2008 stretch in his senior season. He continued playing baseball on a collegiate summer team in 2010 while studying at the University of Cincinnati.

In a combined statement, Dolan and Blitzer praised the acquisition: “Travis Kelce knows what it takes to win at the highest levels and he’s exemplified that throughout his playing career and in the way he shows up as a community leader and businessman. He cares deeply for Cleveland and Northeast Ohio and is committed to supporting our mission of building out a world-class organization that helps uplift the communities we serve. It’s great to welcome Travis home and we know he’ll make a lasting impact here.”

During the podcast recording, Kelce sported a Guardians City Connect jersey while sharing memories of attending games during his youth. Both brothers revealed that Albert Belle and Jim Thome were their childhood baseball heroes.

“There’s so many countless memories of the 1990s and then early 2000s where it’s in me to always root for the Guards and always wanted to be a part of them from,” he said. “It’s a dream come true for a Cleveland kid. Any Cleveland kid would be through the roof right now, and I’m happy to be the honorable one to get to do it for us.”

Kelce and Swift were spotted in Cleveland recently, attending Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Cavaliers and New York Knicks last weekend.

As his inaugural act as a Guardians owner, Kelce is scheduled to throw the ceremonial first pitch on June 14 when the team faces the Detroit Tigers. This will be his second attempt at the honor, following a 2023 home opener against Seattle where his pitch bounced near home plate and rolled to the backstop.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt expressed mixed feelings about Kelce joining the organization, given his allegiance to the San Francisco 49ers.

“I’m still a little bit bitter because the Chiefs beat the Niners twice in the Super Bowl,” Vogt said before the series finale against the Nationals. “But outside of that, it’s pretty cool to have Kelce on board.”

This makes Kelce the second Chiefs player to hold ownership in a baseball franchise, joining teammate Patrick Mahomes, who owns a share of the Kansas City Royals. Mahomes congratulated Kelce by posting a video of his previous first pitch attempt on social media.

WASHINGTON — Two influential senators are preparing to unveil bipartisan legislation aimed at addressing ongoing turmoil in college athletics by establishing rules for player compensation, restricting student transfers, and implementing what they call a “Lane Kiffin Rule” to prevent coaches from switching jobs during active seasons.

Senators Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., who serve as chair and ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee overseeing collegiate athletics, shared details of their proposed legislation with The Associated Press. The lawmakers developed the measure hoping it can secure the 60 votes required for Senate passage.

“This is a stability bill, not just an NIL bill,” Cruz explained, referring to name, image and likeness compensation that has resulted in football teams with $30 million payrolls and transformed the collegiate sports landscape.

Cantwell explained their collaboration on the measure, stating she and Cruz worked together “because he and I really do believe the college sports system is in a bit of chaos.”

The proposed legislation combines elements from two previous unsuccessful proposals known as SCORE and SAFE that have stalled in recent months. It incorporates two provisions the NCAA has endorsed: limited antitrust protection and language that would override the current patchwork of state regulations governing NIL.

Collegiate athletics has sought federal intervention while dealing with escalating player compensation costs and an uncontrolled transfer system that has put smaller programs at risk, particularly women’s sports that form the foundation of America’s Olympic development system.

The proposed Protect College Sports Act (PCSA) would provide what Cruz and Cantwell described as highly “targeted” antitrust protections — similar to the Republican-supported SCORE Act that Democrats largely rejected. In return, Cruz said the bill would include “public-facing protections” for student-athletes across 10 categories, including health insurance guarantees, scholarship protections, and stricter oversight of third-party NIL agreements.

“I think it’s better predictability,” Cantwell noted. “Why did we do it? Because when you’ve got thousands of athletes being cut, hundreds of programs being cut, the risk to the whole infrastructure was too high to not try to get better predictability.”

The legislation would restrict student-athletes to one unrestricted transfer during their collegiate careers — a concept that has gained widespread support nationwide — and would implement something similar to the five-year eligibility framework the NCAA appears poised to approve next month.

The measure also addresses coaching mobility. Kiffin’s abrupt departure to LSU from conference rival Mississippi while the Rebels prepared for the College Football Playoff last season highlighted an escalating problem in an environment where programs invest millions in rapidly changing football rosters: Universities show less patience and deploy more resources to hire coaches for immediate solutions.

The proposed legislation would ban mid-season coaching transitions.

“It’s not fair or right to poach a coach in the middle of the season while the team is still competing,” Cruz stated. “There’s a reason the NFL has a rule that you can’t do that. Obviously, NFL teams hire coaches away from each other but they don’t do so in the middle of the season.”

The bill would modify the Sports Broadcasting Act to permit conferences to combine their television rights — a change supporters claim could generate billions in additional revenue, though the Southeastern and Big Ten Conferences dispute this projection.

The senators explained that conferences wouldn’t face mandatory participation in media pooling, but those choosing to participate would need to allocate a portion of any resulting revenue increases toward women’s and Olympic sports programs. This requirement alone could prove unacceptable to the SEC.

“If you do nothing, then obviously, all these other women’s and Olympic sports and less revenue-driven activities are going to suffer,” Cantwell said. “I’ve heard directly from my institutions, they say they’re counting on this. Not creating this stability now would be a missed opportunity.”

The SCORE Act, which received minimal Democratic backing, appeared on last week’s House agenda but was suddenly withdrawn after the Congressional Black Caucus and NAACP announced their opposition.

However, even if it had narrowly passed the closely divided House, it faced virtually no prospect of Senate approval in its current form, requiring 60 votes to overcome a potential filibuster.

“The Congressional Black Caucus and I have the same objective: stop the ‘SEC SCORE Act,’” Cantwell said, noting the SEC among numerous conferences supporting that measure.

Several Democrats hesitated to endorse legislation like SCORE that prevented college athletes from gaining employee status at their institutions. The new proposal adopts what Cantwell characterized as a “neutral” position on employment classification.

“Senator Cruz and I have been very concerned about producing a bill that’s not just about the 1% of athletes who go on and have a professional career,” she explained. “We took care of the entire ecosystem and have opportunities for athletes to continue to have that collegiate experience.”

State prosecutors in New York and New Jersey announced Wednesday they have launched a formal investigation into FIFA’s ticket distribution methods, following recent media coverage that highlighted concerns about fan seating arrangements.

The attorneys general from both states issued a legal subpoena to the international soccer organization as part of their inquiry into ticketing procedures, according to a joint statement released by the state officials.

The investigation was prompted by recent news reports that raised questions about where fans were being seated at events, the officials explained in their announcement.

PARIS, May 27 – Key results from Wednesday’s fourth day of competition at the French Open (all times GMT):

1328 SVITOLINA ADVANCES TO ROUND THREE

Ukrainian seventh seed Elina Svitolina defeated Kaitlin Quevedo 6-0 6-4 to advance to the third round. The Italian Open champion continues her quest for her first Grand Slam title.

1300 KHACHANOV SURVIVES MARATHON MATCH

Russian 13th seed Karen Khachanov overcame Marco Trungelliti 7-6(5) 5-7 6-1 7-6(4) in an epic battle lasting almost four hours to secure his spot in the third round.

1145 SWIATEK SETS UP POTENTIAL OSTAPENKO SHOWDOWN

Third seed Iga Swiatek defeated Sara Bejlek 6-2 6-3 to advance to the third round.

The four-time French Open winner will face either Magda Linette or Jelena Ostapenko next. Ostapenko, a former Roland Garros champion, holds a perfect 6-0 record against the Polish player in their previous encounters.

1040 BENCIC REACHES THIRD ROUND

Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic became the first woman to secure a third-round berth after defeating American Caty McNally 6-4 6-0.

0909 COMPETITION BEGINS

Play commenced in sweltering conditions at Roland Garros, with Paris temperatures reaching 28 degrees Celsius and expected to climb to approximately 32 degrees, accompanied by gentle breezes.

Four-time champion Iga Swiatek, the third seed, kicked off action on Court Philippe-Chatrier against Czech competitor Sara Bejlek, while 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic was scheduled to face Valentin Royer later.

WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE (seeding indicated by prefix number):

COURT PHILIPPE CHATRIER (starting at 1000 GMT)

Sara Bejlek (Czech Republic) v 3-Iga Swiatek (Poland)

7-Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) v Kaitlin Quevedo (Spain)

Valentin Royer (France) v 3-Novak Djokovic (Serbia)

Tomas Machac (Czech Republic) v 2-Alexander Zverev (Germany)

COURT SUZANNE LENGLEN (starting at 0900 GMT)

8-Alex De Minaur (Australia) v Alexander Blockx (Belgium)

Yuliia Starodubtseva (Ukraine) v 2-Elena Rybakina (Kazakhstan)

13-Jasmine Paolini (Italy) v Solana Sierra (Argentina)

15-Casper Ruud (Norway) v Hamad Medjedovic (Serbia)

COURT SIMONNE MATHIEU (starting at 0900 GMT)

Caty McNally (U.S.) v 11-Belinda Bencic (Switzerland)

Camilo Ugo Carabelli (Argentina) v 11-Andrey Rublev

32-Ugo Humbert (France) v Quentin Halys (France)

8-Mirra Andreeva v Marina Bassols Ribera (Spain)

The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the San Antonio Spurs 127-114 in Game 5, positioning themselves just one victory away from returning to the NBA Finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 32 points, while Alex Caruso contributed 22 points off the bench in another impressive reserve performance on Tuesday night.

Jared McCain, stepping into his first playoff start due to injuries sidelining Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell, delivered 20 points for Oklahoma City. The Thunder now hold a 3-2 advantage in the Western Conference finals.

For San Antonio, Stephon Castle topped the scoring with 24 points, supported by Julian Champagnie’s 22 points and Victor Wembanyama’s 20 points. However, Wembanyama struggled offensively, connecting on just 4 of 15 shot attempts.

The late businessman Lamar Hunt played a crucial role in establishing professional soccer in America, founding both the North American Soccer League and later Major League Soccer. He was also instrumental in organizing the 1994 World Cup. His sons Clark and Dan are now carrying forward his vision, coordinating matches for the upcoming World Cup in Kansas City and Dallas. They express confidence that their father would be pleased with soccer’s current progress.

The Vegas Golden Knights have advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in nine seasons, establishing themselves as one of the most successful expansion teams in North American professional sports. They eliminated the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 on Tuesday night, sweeping the Presidents’ Trophy winners.

This year’s Golden Knights team mirrors their 2023 championship squad, utilizing depth scoring and solid defensive play. Coach John Tortorella highlighted the valuable contributions from the third and fourth lines. Goalie Carter Hart has been exceptional throughout the playoffs, posting a 12-4 record with a .924 save percentage.

Iga Swiatek has extended her remarkable French Open career record to 42-3 after defeating 35th-ranked Sara Bejlek 6-2, 6-3 to advance to the third round. The four-time Roland Garros champion previously won the tournament in 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Despite continued hot weather conditions in Paris, 11th-seeded Belinda Bencic also progressed, defeating American player Caty McNally 6-4, 6-0. Upcoming matches include 39-year-old Novak Djokovic facing 74th-ranked French player Valentin Royer, while second-seeded Alexander Zverev was scheduled to play Tomas Machac in the evening session on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

Curaçao has created an unprecedented World Cup narrative. The small autonomous territory, home to approximately 156,000 people, has become the smallest nation by both population and geographic size to qualify for soccer’s premier tournament. Adding to their unique story, they’ll compete under 78-year-old coach Dick Advocaat, who is poised to become the tournament’s oldest-ever coach.

Throughout their qualifying campaign, they faced skepticism about their small size and their coach’s age, with many doubting their chances. However, they’ve proven critics wrong by securing their historic World Cup berth.

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs faces five criminal charges, including strangulation and suffocation, following a weekend incident. Hobart/Lawrence Police Chief Michael Renkas announced that Jacobs was arrested Tuesday and taken to Brown County Jail.

The charges include strangulation and suffocation, battery-domestic abuse, criminal damage to property-domestic abuse, disorderly conduct-domestic abuse and intimidation of a victim. Police responded to a complaint involving Jacobs on Saturday at 8:37 a.m., according to Renkas.

The San Antonio Spurs have followed a consistent pattern throughout the Western Conference finals: they win when Victor Wembanyama dominates, and lose when he doesn’t. Tuesday night fell into the latter category as the Spurs dropped Game 5 to the Oklahoma City Thunder 127-114.

While Wembanyama’s subpar performance wasn’t the sole reason for the defeat, it was certainly a significant factor. The star player, who recorded 41-point and 33-point performances in the team’s victories during the series, never found his rhythm throughout the game.

The 2026 World Cup is expected to feature the final appearances of soccer legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. This tournament may signal the conclusion of their era as they hand over leadership to emerging talent.

Rising stars like Spain’s Lamine Yamal and France’s Kylian Mbappé are prepared to step into the spotlight. Additional players to monitor include Norway’s Erling Haaland and Team USA’s Christian Pulisic. As Messi and Ronaldo approach retirement, the tournament presents an opportunity for new soccer icons to establish themselves.

IOC president Kirsty Coventry has announced that sports and medal events eliminated from the 2032 Brisbane Olympics schedule will have opportunities to return in subsequent Summer Games. Coventry provided this assurance during the annual gathering of Summer Games sports organizations known as ASOIF.

She had previously warned in February about difficult upcoming discussions aimed at making future Olympic hosting more streamlined. The International Olympic Committee plans to finalize the Brisbane sports lineup soon. Coventry had earlier informed sports leaders that fewer than the 36 sports featured in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics would be included.

Shohei Ohtani was struck on the right hand by a pitch during the Los Angeles Dodgers’ matchup with the Colorado Rockies. Colorado pitcher Kyle Freeland hit Ohtani in the fourth inning, and the dual-threat star exited the game after grounding out in the fifth inning.

Ohtani finished 0 for 2 with one run scored. Manager Dave Roberts explained that the ball primarily struck the protective pad on Ohtani’s hand before making contact with his pinkie finger. Roberts removed Ohtani from the game to allow him rest before his scheduled pitching start on Wednesday, though he hadn’t determined whether Ohtani would also bat.

Information regarding the 2026 NCAA Baseball Championship has been made available as college baseball programs prepare for the upcoming tournament season.

The championship preview provides an early look at what teams and fans can expect from the 2026 college baseball postseason tournament.

Additional details about the tournament format, participating teams, and schedule are expected to be announced as the 2026 season approaches.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — While many might draw parallels between the Golden Knights’ surprising journey to the Stanley Cup Final and their remarkable 2018 debut season that stunned the hockey world, a better comparison lies with their championship squad from three years ago.

Vegas has earned its way back to the Final for the third time in nine seasons, potentially establishing itself as the most successful expansion team in North American professional sports. The Golden Knights secured their spot by defeating Colorado 2-1 Tuesday evening, completing a shocking four-game sweep of the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche.

The current squad mirrors the 2023 championship team’s formula: contributions from every line, physical defensive play, and stellar goaltending.

“I think we’ve always built our teams with good depth at the forward position, defensive position and goaltending position,” captain Mark Stone said. “I guess the similarities are that’s just the way we build our teams.”

During the 2023 playoff run, 18 different players found the net and 12 recorded double-digit points across 22 games. This postseason through 16 contests, 15 players have scored goals while six have reached the 10-point mark.

The team’s depth was on full display in the series-clinching victory against Colorado, with both goals coming from the bottom six forwards. Cole Smith netted the game-winner with 5:45 remaining on the clock.

“The third and fourth lines, the five- and six-D, that’s how you continue to move in the playoffs,” coach John Tortorella said. “Those are very important pieces as you go through these series. I’m happy for Smitty. I was going to kill him; he’s taking so many penalties.

“But I’m happy for him and (Dylan Coghlan and Kaedan Korczak). I mean, how well did they play. Playing against that team with the amount of speed that they bring, they weren’t intimidated by a thing.”

Coghlan and Korczak comprise Vegas’s third defensive pairing, which successfully contained an Avalanche attack that led the league with 3.63 goals per game in the regular season and increased that average to 4.11 through the first two playoff rounds. Against the Golden Knights, Colorado managed just 1.75 goals per game.

The Avalanche went without registering a shot for the final 14:23 of the second period in Game 4 and managed only one shot over a span exceeding 25 minutes.

Throughout the series, the Golden Knights consistently threw their bodies in front of Colorado shots. Four of the postseason’s top nine shot-blocking leaders wear Vegas uniforms, led by Shea Theodore’s 46 blocks. In 2023, four of the top five shot blockers were Golden Knights players, with Alec Martinez leading at 57.

The goaltending situation has also been crucial.

Adin Hill was instrumental in 2023, stepping in during the second round and posting an 11-4 record with a .932 save percentage and 2.17 goals-against average. While Hill remains with the organization, Carter Hart has seized the starting role. Hart has compiled a 12-4 record with a .924 save percentage and 2.22 GAA this postseason.

“Hartsy’s been amazing this whole series, whole playoffs really,” Mitch Marner said. “Made some massive saves throughout all these games and again tonight. Made some massive ones for us to keep the game where it was. Hell of a game by Hartsy again.”

The Golden Knights await the winner of the Eastern Conference Final between Carolina and Montreal to determine their Stanley Cup Final opponent.

Grand Depart GB launched a nationwide recruitment drive Wednesday seeking 9,000 volunteers to assist with both the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes when Britain hosts the races in 2027. The application window remains open until September 1st.

This marks a historic first, as Britain will become the initial country outside of France to host both the men’s and women’s Grand Departs during the same year. The men’s competition features three British stages scheduled for July 2-4, with routes running from Edinburgh to Carlisle, Keswick to Liverpool, and Welshpool to Cardiff.

Volunteer opportunities span all six British stages covering Scotland, England and Wales – three for men’s competition and three for women’s events. Applicants must be at least 16 years old, though no previous volunteer background is necessary.

Position responsibilities include event operations and enhancing spectator experiences for both competitions, with comprehensive training provided to all volunteers. Additionally, volunteers between 18 and 25 years old qualify for the Readiness to Work program, which offers career mentoring and employability skills development across various industries.

British Cycling has also requested government commitment of 30 million pounds ($40.31 million) in capital investment to build new cycling facilities and upgrade existing ones throughout Britain, specifically targeting underserved communities.

The head of the Ultimate Fighting Championship recently shared his thoughts on an ambitious project to construct a combat sports venue at the nation’s most famous residence.

During a conversation with NPR’s Steve Inskeep, Dana White, who serves as president and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, discussed his proposal to erect a fighting arena on the White House lawn.

White described the opportunity as an honor during the interview, where he outlined his vision for bringing mixed martial arts competition to the presidential residence grounds.

The most lasting memories that Clark and Dan Hunt carry of their late father, sports magnate Lamar Hunt, center not on the countless World Cup matches they witnessed together, but rather on the winding, peculiar journeys they embarked upon to reach those stadiums.

There were van trips across Europe alongside an eclectic group of journalists, including a young CBS announcer named Verne Lundquist. Adventures seeking the finest wienerschnitzel and gelato. Climbing over barriers to swim in Italian hotel pools that had closed hours earlier. And that infamous Mexican eatery that became their collective undoing.

“My dad, he could eat anything,” Dan Hunt remembered, recalling that evening during the 1986 World Cup. “I mean, he had a cast-iron stomach. He never got sick. And that about killed him. That was the food that took down the Hunt family.”

During extensive conversations with The Associated Press, the Hunt siblings — Clark, who chairs the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, and Dan, who leads Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas — looked back on the significant soccer heritage their departed father established.

America might very well be watching the World Cup unfold in another nation next month instead of serving as host, were it not for his contributions.

Lamar Hunt was instrumental in establishing professional soccer’s presence in America through his backing of the North American Soccer League. When that venture collapsed in the 1980s, an unwavering Hunt played a crucial role in creating MLS, which FIFA required as a condition for allowing the United States to stage the 1994 World Cup.

During that tournament, Lamar Hunt acted as co-chairman of the organizing committee for Dallas matches. Three decades later, Clark Hunt holds the same position for Kansas City games while Dan has assumed that responsibility in Dallas.

However, unlike America’s previous World Cup hosting duties, this time four group matches and two elimination contests will take place at Arrowhead Stadium, where the Chiefs play, and a venue Lamar Hunt often described as his most beloved location on Earth.

“It’s going to be special,” Clark Hunt expressed, “and I think it goes back to thinking about my dad a lot. That’s what I’m going to do during those games, just think about how excited he would be to see the World Cup in Arrowhead Stadium.”

Describing soccer as emerging in 1950s America would be generous. No meaningful professional competitions existed, and following a poor showing at the 1950 World Cup where they lost two of three matches, Americans wouldn’t qualify again for four decades.

Lamar Hunt’s passion for the sport began during a transatlantic journey.

His future spouse, Norma Hunt, was studying at University College Dublin as a Rotary scholar in the early 1960s, and the oil magnate H.L. Hunt’s son had traveled to see her. They attended a Shamrock Rovers contest, standing on a terrace during a chilly evening, and became captivated by the intense, passionate atmosphere of European football.

“I think,” Clark Hunt noted, “that may have been my dad’s first professional soccer game.”

That encounter left a lasting impression on Lamar Hunt, even after returning home and dedicating himself to American football, helping establish the American Football League — which eventually merged with the NFL — and the Dallas Texans, who became the Chiefs.

Several years afterward, Hunt traveled back to Europe for his inaugural World Cup experience. In 1966, he witnessed host nation England defeat West Germany in a memorable Wembley Stadium final for what remains their sole championship.

That same year, a collection of businessmen including Hunt and Jack Kent Cooke formed the United Soccer Association, which later combined with the National Professional Soccer League to establish the North American Soccer League. For almost twenty years, the NASL advanced American soccer, attracting legends like Pele, Franz Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto to North America, and establishing foundations for future American talent.

“We know from his ventures into professional football that he was not afraid of a challenge,” Clark Hunt observed, “and he was always an optimist, too, and many of his ventures probably had long odds. But he had tremendous perseverence and tremendous work ethic, and he had a vision and a belief for what he was doing.”

The NASL expanded rapidly during the 1970s — perhaps too rapidly. Many new franchise owners lacked sufficient resources to absorb early losses while establishing their teams, leading to closures and several years of league contraction.

Following the 1984 season, with declining attendance and no television coverage, the league ceased operations.

“My dad was always great about not sharing his negative feelings, but I’m sure he had them,” Clark Hunt reflected. “I remember as a high school and college student being very upset about it, even though I didn’t have any real, you know, direct nexus to the team. But I just knew how disappointing it was for him, and sad that a sport I had come to love had really disappeared.”

However, professional soccer’s absence proved temporary.

Lamar Hunt possessed remarkable persistence, treating each setback as an educational experience. Therefore, when FIFA informed 1994 World Cup organizers that hosting required a premier domestic league, Hunt applied lessons from the NASL experience while helping create Major League Soccer.

“You knew that if Lamar Hunt was part of it,” explained Thom Meredith, his longtime associate, “it meant something. You had Robert Kraft and all these other guys, but when it came down to it, you had Lamar Hunt in the room.”

Hunt provided financial backing for the league and owned three founding franchises; the family retains FC Dallas ownership but sold clubs in Columbus and Kansas City. The league has since expanded to 30 teams across the United States and Canada, welcomed stars including David Beckham and Lionel Messi, and supported comprehensive youth soccer development nationwide.

“My dad would be so pleased to see where MLS is today,” Clark Hunt said, “and he would be so excited about where it’s going.”

While domestic soccer mattered to Hunt, the World Cup truly fascinated him, starting with that 1966 classic through the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan, which accelerated the sport’s Asian growth.

Most tournaments found Hunt loading his family into rental vehicles and traveling throughout host nations to attend as many matches as possible.

Clark Hunt, who later played college soccer at SMU, experienced his first World Cup in 1978. Rather than the games themselves, his clearest memory involves a plaza outside a Düsseldorf stadium featuring activities for children. One challenge involved kicking a ball through a wooden target, and Lamar Hunt enjoyed the attempt as much as his 9-year-old son.

Dan Hunt’s inaugural World Cup came in Mexico during 1986. The low point was that devastating meal that sickened the entire family, but the highlight was certainly the final, when Diego Maradona led Argentina past West Germany in Mexico City.

“We had seats at about the 40-yard line, you know? Great seats. And we were there with our tickets and people were stitting there, and they were unwilling to move. Security was unwilling to move them. So we had no seats,” Dan Hunt remembered. “So my dad, true to form, solved the problem by buying more tickets, and we were right behind the goal for the penalty-kick shootout.”

Both brothers had commitments at the 2002 tournament’s start, so Lamar Hunt — who passed away four years later at age 74 — ventured to Asia alone. Early in his trip, thieves stole his briefcase containing money, tickets and travel papers, forcing the billionaire businessman to navigate foreign ATM machines.

“He stuck is best card in and started to push buttons,” Dan Hunt recalled, “and he panicked and it shredded his card. So we’d send him cash. And then he was in South Korea, headed back to Japan, and they confiscated it all because he was over the legal limit.

“I just remember thinking, ‘My dad is totally going to get kidnapped.’”

When the United States received World Cup hosting rights alongside Mexico and Canada in June 2018, Kansas City organizers and Chiefs executives immediately began preparations. The city had been excluded from 1994 hosting after FIFA determined Arrowhead Stadium couldn’t accommodate the required field dimensions, and they refused to repeat that disappointment.

Over several years, costing nearly $20 million, lower bowl seating was removed from the NFL stadium and additional changes were implemented to prepare for its World Cup debut, now just days away. The opening match features Messi and defending champion Argentina facing Algeria on June 16.

Kansas City will stage six total matches, including a quarterfinal, with the metropolitan area serving as headquarters for Argentina and Algeria, plus traditional powers England and the Netherlands, a longtime Hunt family favorite.

Meanwhile, AT&T Stadium in Dallas, near Lamar Hunt’s former residence, will host five group-stage contests. The Cowboys’ venue will also stage four knockout round games, including a July 14 semifinal.

“I think this is one of the final pegs of fulfilling dad’s legacy,” Dan Hunt said. “He called Arrowhead Stadium his favorite place on earth, and it’s just so cool to have games there. And you know, Dallas was his hometown, and he loved it so much. So I think he would be just excited that we’re back here. I think he would be over the moon.”

The chief executive of Ultimate Fighting Championship recently discussed his intentions to construct a combat sports venue on the White House grounds during an interview with NPR.

Dana White, who holds the position of president and CEO at the mixed martial arts organization, spoke with NPR’s Steve Inskeep regarding his proposal to establish a fighting arena at the presidential residence.

During the conversation, White expressed that he considers the opportunity to develop such a facility on the White House lawn to be an honor.

The New York Yankees delivered a historic offensive explosion Tuesday night, launching six home runs while demolishing the Kansas City Royals 15-1 in a game that extended their dominance over Kansas City to 14 consecutive victories, including postseason matchups.

Amed Rosario powered the attack with a pair of home runs, collecting four hits and driving in four runs. The Yankees also got long balls from Cody Bellinger, Anthony Volpe, Trent Grisham and Jazz Chisholm Jr., with the five home run hitters accounting for 12 RBIs combined. Grisham, Volpe, Ben Rice and Austin Wells each contributed three hits to New York’s 24-hit barrage.

The offensive showcase marked a franchise milestone, as it represented the first time in Yankees history that every starter recorded at least two hits. On the mound, Cam Schlittler (7-2) delivered six solid innings, surrendering just one run, while Ryan Yarbrough closed out the final three frames for a save.

Bobby Witt Jr. provided Kansas City’s lone bright spot with a solo homer, but the Royals have now dropped 12 of their last 15 contests. Starting pitcher Bailey Falter (0-2) struggled early, giving up seven runs on nine hits in just 2 1/3 innings of work.

In other action around the majors, the Los Angeles Dodgers overwhelmed the Colorado Rockies 15-6 behind multiple home runs from Mookie Betts and Andy Pages. The Dodgers received a scare when star player Shohei Ohtani took a pitch to his throwing hand in the fourth inning, though manager Dave Roberts expects him to make his scheduled pitching start Wednesday.

The Pittsburgh Pirates crushed the struggling Chicago Cubs 12-1, handing Chicago their 10th straight loss – the longest active losing streak in baseball and their worst skid since 2022. Rookie Esmerlyn Valdez homered and drove in three runs while Oneil Cruz had three hits in the victory.

Baltimore defeated Tampa Bay 6-1 as Shane Baz dominated his former team over seven innings, while Samuel Basallo blasted a three-run homer. The Texas Rangers snapped a four-game slide with a 10-7 win over Houston, scoring eight runs in the first inning after being held hitless the previous night.

Seattle beat Oakland 4-1 behind Emerson Hancock’s six shutout innings, while Cincinnati rolled past New York’s other team, the Mets, 7-2. Toronto topped Miami 8-1, Atlanta edged Boston 7-6, and Milwaukee blanked St. Louis 6-0.

Philadelphia held off San Diego 4-3 behind early home runs from Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto and Trea Turner. Washington beat Cleveland 6-3, Los Angeles Angels defeated Detroit 10-6, Minnesota outlasted Chicago’s White Sox 5-3 in 11 innings, and Arizona topped San Francisco 7-5.

The Los Angeles Dodgers overwhelmed the Colorado Rockies 15-6 on Tuesday night, powered by stellar performances from Mookie Betts and Andy Pages who excelled after being moved to different positions in the batting lineup.

Betts launched two home runs while Pages, Enrique Hernandez and Will Smith also connected for long balls as Los Angeles stretched its winning streak to four games and captured its 11th victory in 13 outings.

Pitcher Eric Lauer (2-5) delivered six solid innings in his first appearance for the Dodgers. The left-handed starter allowed just one run on four hits while walking one batter and striking out four.

Batting fourth for the first time since 2017, Betts went yard in the opening frame and recorded his first game with multiple home runs since May 19, 2025. He went 3-for-5 at the plate with five RBIs.

Pages, who was elevated to the second spot in the order for the first time this year, matched his career-best performance with four hits.

The Rockies got home runs from Hunter Goodman, Brett Sullivan and Kyle Karros. Colorado starter Kyle Freeland (1-6) surrendered season-worst totals of eight hits and nine runs across four innings. The left-hander fanned four batters without issuing any walks.

Colorado dropped its fourth straight contest and suffered its seventh defeat in eight games.

Los Angeles took a 2-0 advantage in the first when Betts connected on a home run to center field against Freeland.

Goodman cut into the deficit for Colorado in the second with a leadoff homer to center.

The Dodgers created separation in the third inning as Hernandez led off with a home run and Pages followed two batters later with another blast for a 4-1 advantage. Hernandez was appearing in just his second game this season after returning Monday from offseason elbow surgery, but he exited Tuesday’s contest after the fourth inning due to a strained left oblique.

Manager Dave Roberts confirmed postgame that Hernandez will return to the injured list, stating, “It’s not a season-ending thing.”

Los Angeles added four more runs in the fourth when Miguel Rojas scored on a wild pitch, Pages drove in two with a double and Freddie Freeman contributed a sacrifice fly. Rojas (double) and Hyeseong Kim (sacrifice fly) each drove in runs during the fifth inning.

Betts connected for a two-run homer and Smith delivered a three-run blast in the sixth for Los Angeles, which matched its season-high marks for runs and hits (17).

Sullivan and Karros homered during Colorado’s five-run ninth inning against Rojas, who had moved from third base to the pitcher’s mound.

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani exited Tuesday evening’s matchup with the Colorado Rockies after taking a pitch to his right hand.

The dual-threat player was plunked by Colorado’s starting pitcher Kyle Freeland during the fourth inning. Ohtani remained in the game briefly, grounding out in the fifth inning before departing. He finished the night without a hit in two at-bats but managed to score a run in his team’s dominant 16-5 victory.

Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts explained that the baseball primarily struck the protective padding on Ohtani’s hand before making contact with his pinkie finger.

“We’re in a good spot,” Roberts stated, noting that with the team holding a commanding lead, he preferred to give Ohtani some rest before his planned pitching appearance in Wednesday’s series conclusion.

“I haven’t decided yet if he’s going to hit,” Roberts explained. “I just want to kind of make sure how he comes in and physically how he feels because I want to make sure he feels really good on the pitching side of things.”

The San Antonio Spurs have followed a clear pattern throughout the Western Conference finals: when Victor Wembanyama dominates the game, they emerge victorious. When he struggles, they fall short.

Tuesday evening saw the latter scenario unfold in devastating fashion.

While Wembanyama’s subpar performance wasn’t the sole factor in San Antonio’s 127-114 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5, it certainly played a major role. The towering center, who previously erupted for 41 and 33 points in the team’s series victories, never found his groove as the Spurs dropped into a precarious position.

Facing elimination, San Antonio must win Game 6 on their home court Thursday evening to force a decisive seventh game, with their championship hopes hanging in the balance.

The French sensation managed just 20 points — his series low — and needed a perfect 12-for-12 showing at the free-throw line to reach that total in Game 5. He connected on only 4 of 15 field goal attempts and went 0-for-5 from beyond the arc, struggling to establish any consistent offensive flow.

“He’s got to take more than 15 shots, even with the free throws,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “He’s going to have to score more than 20 points, for sure. … OKC did a good job. We’ve got to do a better job.”

Early in the third quarter, with Oklahoma City holding an 18-point advantage, Wembanyama delivered a passionate message to his teammates during a timeout just two minutes into the period. The rally cry initially sparked results — though the Thunder immediately responded to push their lead to 20, San Antonio managed to cut the gap to eight points later in the quarter.

Brief optimism emerged for the Spurs’ chances. However, they couldn’t mount a sustained comeback. Entering the final quarter down 10 points, San Antonio managed only two points in the opening 4:02 of the fourth period, watching any momentum from Wembanyama’s timeout speech evaporate completely.

Oklahoma City’s defensive strategy proved effective, rotating multiple defenders including Isaiah Hartenstein, Chet Holmgren, Jaylin Williams, and Alex Caruso while employing various schemes against the 7-foot-4 star. Wembanyama simply couldn’t solve the puzzle presented by the Thunder’s approach.

“It’s a team defense,” Thunder guard Jared McCain said. “We talked about it. We made adjustments to it. We know that when he gets going, their whole team gets going.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As Yankees skipper Aaron Boone observed the hits accumulating on Kauffman Stadium’s distinctive crown-shaped scoreboard in center field, he recognized his team was delivering an exceptional performance against Kansas City.

What he didn’t realize until later was that they were making franchise history.

The Yankees launched six home runs, with Amed Rosario contributing two, and collected 24 hits during their 15-1 demolition — their highest hit total since facing Baltimore in July 2011. However, what distinguished Tuesday night’s offensive showcase from every other game in Yankees history — surpassing even contests featuring legendary players like Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle — was this remarkable achievement: Every single starter recorded multiple hits for the first time ever.

“I did see all the hits on the board,” Boone said afterward, “and I was like, ‘Man, you don’t see that very often.’”

The Yankees benefited from facing Kansas City during a bullpen game. Struggling pitcher Bailey Falter took the mound first, surrendering seven hits while recording just seven outs. Luinder Avila provided little improvement as his replacement.

The final hits came against outfielder Tyler Tolbert, who delivered a consistent stream of 44 mph tosses to complete the ninth inning.

Nevertheless, this doesn’t diminish what ranks among the most remarkable offensive displays in Yankees history. Their hit total matched their eighth-highest ever, while the 24 hits represented their most productive road performance since August 31, 1974, against Chicago.

The six home runs marked the season high for any major league team.

“The performance they put up today,” Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler said, “that was awesome to watch.”

The offensive onslaught started with Cody Bellinger’s second consecutive day with a homer, a two-out blast in the opening frame. The attack intensified following Paul Goldschmidt’s double, when Ben Rice lined a sinking hit toward right field that Royals outfielder Jac Caglianone casually fielded at ground level. Boone contested the out ruling, and replay review revealed the ball had hit the turf for an RBI single.

Rosario stepped up next and launched a two-run blast approximately 420 feet to left field.

Anthony Volpe contributed his season’s first homer in the second frame, while the Yankees added four more runs through consecutive singles in the third. Aaron Judge delivered an RBI double during the fifth, Trent Grisham connected in the seventh, Jazz Chisholm Jr. — the final starter to reach two hits — homered in the eighth, and Rosario added his second blast in the ninth.

He admitted with embarrassment that he was simply attempting to avoid striking out against Tolbert’s slow-motion offerings.

“It feels good to be part of history,” Rosario said through a translator. “It’s a team effort and being part of it is great.”

The Yankees have now launched 82 home runs this season, leading all major league teams by a wide margin. Kansas City, in contrast, has hit 51, including Bobby Witt Jr.’s solo shot in the third inning that provided their lone run.

The 24 hits Kansas City surrendered represented the fourth-most in franchise history. Rosario collected four hits while Grisham, Rice, Volpe and Austin Wells each recorded three. Every remaining starter contributed exactly two hits.

“Look,” Boone said with a smile, “as hard as hitting is — as hard as it is now, night-in and night-out — to have a day where everyone, you know, can fatten up a little bit, it’s good.”

The Oklahoma City Thunder moved one step closer to their second straight NBA Finals appearance Tuesday night, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 127-114 at home in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered 32 points to power the Thunder to victory, giving Oklahoma City a 3-2 advantage in the best-of-seven series. Game 6 will take place Thursday in San Antonio.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault adjusted his starting lineup due to ongoing injuries to Jalen Williams (hamstring) and Ajay Mitchell (calf). Rather than starting Cason Wallace, who got the nod in Game 4 on Sunday, Daigneault chose to go with Jared McCain.

McCain struggled early after managing only four points in the Thunder’s 103-82 defeat that tied the series at 2-2. He started slowly again Tuesday, connecting on just 1 of 5 shots for two points in the opening half.

The second half told a different story for McCain, who exploded for 18 points after intermission.

While Gilgeous-Alexander shot just 7 for 19 from the floor, he dominated at the free-throw line, converting 16 of 17 attempts.

Alex Caruso bounced back after being held scoreless in Game 4 with only one field goal attempt. The key reserve came out firing and contributed 22 points for Oklahoma City.

The Thunder’s bench players outproduced their San Antonio counterparts 40-33.

For the Spurs, Stephon Castle paced the scoring with 24 points on efficient 7-of-11 shooting. Julian Champagnie chipped in 22 points, while Victor Wembanyama managed 20 points despite struggling from the field at 4 of 15. Wembanyama also pulled down six rebounds.

Unlike the previous two contests where Oklahoma City dug themselves into early 15-point first-quarter deficits, Tuesday’s eight-point hole proved much more manageable for the Thunder.

Oklahoma City rallied to grab the lead late in the first quarter behind five straight points from Gilgeous-Alexander.

The Thunder built an 11-point halftime advantage and expanded their lead immediately after the break, opening the third quarter with nine unanswered points.

San Antonio refused to fold, twice cutting the gap to eight points late in the third quarter.

The Spurs couldn’t get any closer as Oklahoma City sealed the victory to rebound from their Game 4 setback.

Late in the third quarter, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson challenged an out-of-bounds ruling that went against San Antonio, with replays appearing to show the ball last touched Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren.

When officials denied the challenge and Gilgeous-Alexander drew a foul on the ensuing possession, Johnson received a technical foul. Gilgeous-Alexander capitalized by sinking all three free throws, stretching the Thunder’s lead to 101-88.

Holmgren recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds for Oklahoma City, while Isaiah Hartenstein contributed 12 points and 15 rebounds.

Keldon Johnson provided 15 points off the bench for San Antonio.

Baseball has lost one of its memorable power hitters as Bob Horner, the former Atlanta Braves star known for his incredible four-home-run performance, passed away Tuesday at 68 years old.

The Kansas-born athlete made an extraordinary leap from college baseball directly to the major leagues after Atlanta selected him as the top pick in the 1878 Amateur Draft from Arizona State University. Just one week after being drafted, Horner stepped onto the field for his first big-league appearance on June 16 against the Pittsburgh Pirates at age 20, marking the occasion with a home run off future Hall-of-Famer Bert Blyleven.

His rookie season proved exceptional, as Horner posted a .266 batting average across 89 games while launching 23 home runs and driving in 63 runs. These impressive numbers earned him National League Rookie of the Year honors, edging out future Hall-of-Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith.

Horner’s most legendary moment came on July 6, 1986, when he launched four home runs during a single game at Atlanta Fulton-County Stadium, despite the Braves falling to the Montreal Expos 11-8. This remarkable achievement placed him among just 21 players in baseball history to accomplish this feat, and made him only the second Brave to do so, following Joe Adcock’s four-homer performance against the Brooklyn Dodgers on July 31, 1954, during his time with the Milwaukee Braves.

Despite battling injuries that limited him to 120 or more games in only five of his 10 major league seasons, the third baseman accumulated 218 career home runs and maintained a .499 slugging percentage. His standout 1982 All-Star season featured 32 home runs and 97 RBIs, contributing to the Braves’ National League West Division championship.

Horner’s professional career spanned nine seasons with Atlanta from 1978 to 1986, followed by a year in Japan with the Yakult Swallows in 1987, where he hit 31 home runs and batted .327 in 93 games. He concluded his major league career with one season for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1988.

His death follows the recent losses of former Braves manager Bobby Cox, who was Horner’s first manager, and former team owner Ted Turner.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes returned to the practice field Tuesday, sporting a substantial protective brace on his left knee following surgical repair.

The three-time Super Bowl champion took part in the team’s initial organized team activities session, with the Chiefs sharing footage on social media showing him stepping backward to mimic receiving a snap before delivering a pass. The team’s post included the caption “QB1” alongside a clock symbol.

Details about Mahomes’ time on the field and the scope of his participation remain unknown, as reporters and the public were not permitted to observe the practice session.

The quarterback sustained tears to his left anterior cruciate ligament and lateral collateral ligament during Kansas City’s December 14 defeat against the Los Angeles Chargers, requiring surgery the next day.

Speaking publicly for the first time following his procedure in January, Mahomes expressed his goals for the upcoming 2026 campaign: “I want to be ready for Week 1. The doctors said I could, but I can’t predict what happens throughout the process. That’s the goal, to play Week 1 and have no restrictions. You want to be out there healthy and give us the best chance to win. I hope to do some things in OTAs and training camp and be able to do things there.”

These ligament injuries mark the most significant health setback of Mahomes’ professional football career.

The 30-year-old signal-caller recorded 3,587 passing yards along with 22 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions across 14 appearances last season. He also achieved a personal best with 422 rushing yards and five rushing scores.

Mahomes, who has earned regular-season MVP honors twice, holds a 95-31 record as a starting quarterback throughout his nine NFL campaigns, all with Kansas City. His career statistics include a 66.2% completion percentage with 35,939 passing yards, 267 touchdown throws, and 85 interceptions. His 285.2 yards per game average leads all quarterbacks in league history.

Kansas City acquired Justin Fields through a trade in March as a potential starting option should Mahomes be unavailable for the season opener. The Chiefs also selected quarterback Garrett Nussmeier from LSU in the seventh round of last month’s draft. Chris Oladokun, who posted an 0-2 record filling in for Mahomes at the end of last season, continues with the organization.

The UFC has announced an exciting lightweight matchup for its upcoming Las Vegas event, with ranked contenders Benoit Saint Denis and Paddy Pimblett set to face off on July 11 at UFC 329: McGregor vs. Holloway 2.

Saint Denis, who holds the No. 5 ranking and fights under the nickname “God of War,” brings an impressive 17-3 record into the octagon with six knockout victories. The 30-year-old fighter from Paris enters the bout riding a four-fight winning streak, most recently defeating Dan Hooker with a second-round TKO at UFC 325 in February.

His opponent, Liverpool’s Pimblett, currently sits at No. 6 in the lightweight rankings with a 23-4 record that includes seven knockouts. The 31-year-old English fighter’s most recent performance was a unanimous decision victory over Justin Gaethje, which has earned consideration for Fight of the Year honors.

The highly anticipated bout will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas as part of UFC 329: McGregor vs. Holloway 2. The event’s main card will mark Conor McGregor’s return to UFC competition after a five-year absence from the organization.

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Thunder declared Jalen Williams unavailable for Tuesday night’s Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, despite his status remaining uncertain throughout the day due to continuing problems with a strained left hamstring.

Ajay Mitchell, who normally fills Williams’ starting role, was also sidelined by the Thunder earlier with a strained right soleus muscle.

Oklahoma City chose to insert Jared McCain into the starting five, joining Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Lugentz Dort in the lineup.

This marked McCain’s inaugural playoff start in his professional career. Coming into Tuesday’s contest, he had posted an average of 8.8 points across 12 playoff appearances as a reserve player for Oklahoma City.

Williams made his comeback in the opening game against the Spurs, putting up 26 points over 37 minutes during the Thunder’s 122-115 double-overtime defeat a week ago Monday in Oklahoma City. During Game 2, he managed four points in seven minutes of first-quarter action, highlighted by an alley-oop slam with 2:12 remaining in the period, and has been absent from the court since then.

Throughout this season, including playoff games, Williams has been unavailable for 58 of Oklahoma City’s 95 total contests. Among those missed games, 19 resulted from right wrist problems while 39 stemmed from hamstring complications — with the right hamstring sidelining him for 30 regular season games and the left hamstring now accounting for nine playoff absences.

When Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics was questioned several months back about potentially earning the Coach of the Year recognition this season, his response was brief and direct.

“I don’t need it,” he stated in March. “I think it’s a stupid award.”

On Tuesday evening, Mazzulla received that very award he had criticized.

The NBA named Mazzulla as its premier coach for the 2025-26 campaign, following the Celtics’ achievement of securing the second seed in the Eastern Conference. This accomplishment came despite spending much of the season without Jayson Tatum as he rehabilitated from Achilles surgery, and amid widespread expectations of a rebuilding year after losing key players including Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday.

Mazzulla’s earlier criticism of the award stemmed from his belief that it should honor entire coaching staffs rather than individual coaches – a perspective he maintained during Tuesday’s announcement ceremony. He opened his NBC remarks by acknowledging those who contributed to his success.

“The long nights, the trips, game plans, the video guys that are clipping up the film and coding it, the assistants who are putting in the game plan, I think there’s so much that goes into winning one game,” Mazzulla explained. “It starts with the players, but it goes to our staff. I feel bad that they’re not here — but forever indebted to the guys that we have that give up time with their families and their time to give us a chance to win every day.”

At 37 years old, Mazzulla becomes the youngest recipient of this honor since Phil Johnson claimed it in 1975, according to the NBA.

The Boston coach will receive the Red Auerbach Trophy, named after the iconic Celtics leader. Mazzulla joins three other Boston coaches who have earned this distinction: Auerbach in 1965, Tom Heisohn in 1973, and Bill Fitch in 1980. The Hall of Fame coach Auerbach led the Celtics to nine NBA titles, including an unprecedented eight consecutive championships from 1959 through 1966.

“This is well deserved recognition and a testament to both Joe and his staff,” commented Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens. “With all of our unknowns entering the season, Joe did a fantastic job building and growing a team. He pours everything he has into competing at a high level, while helping players find the best versions of themselves within the framework of a team.”

Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff claimed second place for the second straight year, while San Antonio’s Mitch Johnson earned third position.

The recognition focuses exclusively on regular-season performance. A panel of 100 NBA reporters and broadcasters submitted their ballots during the play-in tournament over a month ago.

This Coach of the Year honor differs from the award presented earlier this spring by the National Basketball Coaches Association, which Bickerstaff received. Tuesday’s announcement marked the final major award ceremony for the 2025-26 season.

The complete award recipients include:

— Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City: Most Valuable Player and Clutch Player of the Year.

— Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio: Defensive Player of the Year.

— Cooper Flagg, Dallas: Rookie of the Year.

— Keldon Johnson, San Antonio: Sixth Man of the Year.

— Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta: Most Improved Player.

— Bam Adebayo, Miami: Social Justice Champion.

— Derrick White, Boston: Sportsmanship Award.

— DeAndre Jordan, New Orleans: Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year.

— Brad Stevens, Boston: Executive of the Year.

— Moussa Diabaté, Charlotte: Hustle Award.

— The All-NBA, All-Defensive and All-Rookie teams.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Manhattan streets have echoed with passionate calls from New York Knicks supporters even before their team secured the Eastern Conference championship.

The rallying cry heard throughout the city: “We want Wemby! We want Wemby!”

New York has accomplished their mission by reaching the NBA Finals. Their next step involves waiting until Thursday at the earliest to learn their opponent from the Western Conference matchup between Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs and the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

Prior to Tuesday evening’s Game 5 between the Spurs and Thunder, San Antonio’s head coach Mitch Johnson was questioned about whether he’d become aware of the fan demonstrations in New York.

Johnson admitted he hadn’t heard about them but expressed little surprise at their occurrence.

“I know New York’s on fire. They won so that city is obviously enjoying it and they’ve had a heck of a playoff run,” Johnson said. “But unfortunately, I’ve been pretty locked-into what we’ve got going right here in front of us.”

New York has strung together 11 straight victories, overcoming a 2-1 series deficit against Atlanta in the opening round before completing sweeps of Philadelphia and Cleveland in subsequent rounds.

Social media footage captured some Knicks supporters expressing their “We want Wemby!” desires following Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cavaliers.

“Tip your cap to New York, for sure,” Johnson said. “They’re having a heck of a run.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Five months after undergoing surgery to fix damaged ligaments in his left knee, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes participated in Tuesday’s opening voluntary practice session of the team’s offseason program, with just four months remaining until their season begins.

While reporters weren’t permitted to observe the practice session, the Chiefs shared a video clip on social media showing the two-time MVP throwing passes while wearing a brace on his left knee. The team plans to hold another practice session Wednesday before meeting with the media on Thursday.

“He’s in a good position to do some things,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said earlier this month. “There’s some rules and regulations that go with that, so we just have to make sure we’re on top of that part. But if he can do some things — phase 2 (of the offseason), remember, is there’s no contact, no offense versus defense. It’s phase 3 that you get into that.”

“So you just have to evaluate what you want to do there,” Reid said. “He’s in a position where he can do everything, I think.”

The quarterback sustained the knee injury during the final moments of Kansas City’s defeat to the Chargers on Dec. 14, a loss that essentially ended the Chiefs’ playoff hopes. Surgery was performed the following day in Dallas, with the ongoing expectation — reinforced by workout videos Mahomes shared on social media — being that he would be prepared for the first week of the coming season.

The Chiefs will face AFC West division opponent Denver on Sept. 14 in a featured Monday night game.

During previous offseasons, Mahomes would typically return to his Texas residence, where receivers and tight ends would often join him for voluntary, player-organized training sessions. However, this year Mahomes chose to complete his rehabilitation at the Chiefs’ training facility alongside longtime trainer Julie Frymyer, enabling the team to closely monitor his progress.

“He’s throwing the ball,” Reid said, “and he does it on his own, so he’s not getting in any trouble here.”

Green Bay Packers star running back Josh Jacobs was taken into custody Tuesday on five criminal charges stemming from a weekend domestic incident, including a felony count of strangulation and suffocation.

According to Hobart/Lawrence Police Chief Michael Renkas, officers responded to a disturbance call involving Jacobs on Saturday morning at 8:37 a.m. Jacobs was subsequently arrested and taken to Brown County Jail facing charges of strangulation and suffocation, battery-domestic abuse, criminal damage to property-domestic abuse, disorderly conduct-domestic abuse and intimidation of a victim.

“This remains an active and ongoing investigation,” Renkas stated. “No further information will be released at this time.”

Court records show the strangulation charge carries felony status while the remaining four counts are classified as misdemeanors.

A legal team representing Jacobs — attorneys David Chesnoff, Richard Schonfeld and Clarence Duchac — released a statement defending their client.

“Josh vehemently denies the allegations, and this matter is in the early stages of investigation with important evidence that has not yet been made public,” the lawyers stated. “We ask for fairness and restraint while the judicial process takes its course.”

The arrest involves Green Bay’s primary ball carrier, who accumulated 929 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in the previous season. His performance followed a 2024 campaign where he gained 1,329 yards and scored 15 times while earning his third Pro Bowl recognition.

Jacobs was the sole Packers player to reach 200 rushing yards last season. Emanuel Wilson, who finished second in team rushing statistics, departed for the Seattle Seahawks during the offseason.

The team launched organized team activities Tuesday, with head coach Matt LaFleur scheduled to meet with media Wednesday.

“We are aware of the matter involving Josh Jacobs,” a team representative stated. “As it is an ongoing legal situation, we will withhold further comment.”

League spokesperson Brian McCarthy confirmed that “we are aware of the report and have been in contact with the club.”

Before joining Green Bay, Jacobs played five seasons with the Raiders, earning All-Pro recognition and leading the NFL with 1,653 rushing yards in 2022 while in Las Vegas.

Throughout his seven-year professional career, he has accumulated 7,803 rushing yards and 74 touchdowns. Among current players, only Baltimore’s Derrick Henry with 122 and Buffalo’s Josh Allen with 79 have more career rushing touchdowns.

Josh Jacobs, the star running back for the Green Bay Packers, was taken into custody Tuesday and faces five criminal charges, including multiple domestic violence allegations, according to the Hobart/Lawrence (Wis.) Police Department. He was processed at the Brown County Jail in Green Bay.

The 28-year-old athlete is facing domestic violence charges that include battery, criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct, along with intimidation of a victim and felony strangulation and suffocation.

Law enforcement from the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department responded to a disturbance call involving Jacobs on Saturday morning around 8:37 a.m.

“This remains an active and ongoing investigation. No further information will be released at this time,” stated Hobart-Lawrence police chief Michael Renkas.

Through his legal representation, Jacobs has disputed the accusations.

“Josh vehemently denies the allegations, and this matter is in the early stages of investigation with important evidence that has not yet been made public,” stated attorneys David Chesnoff, Richard Schonfeld and Clarence Duchac. “We ask for fairness and restraint while the judicial process takes its course.”

The NFL confirmed to The Athletic that it has been communicating with the Packers organization. The team acknowledged awareness of the situation but stated it “will withhold further comment” due to it being “an ongoing legal situation.”

Currently in his third year with Green Bay following a four-year, $48 million contract signed in 2024, Jacobs has earned three Pro Bowl honors (2020, 2022, 2024) and received first-team All Pro recognition in 2022. That year, he topped the NFL in rushing yards while playing for the Las Vegas Raiders. Throughout his seven-year professional career, he has accumulated 7,803 rushing yards on 1,840 carries with 74 touchdowns.

The NCAA rejected Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s reinstatement request on Tuesday, prompting the university’s president to promise an appeal of the decision.

Sorsby lost his eligibility following investigations that revealed he had wagered thousands of dollars on various sporting events through betting applications, which violates NCAA regulations.

When filing a legal injunction against the NCAA last week, Sorsby acknowledged placing the wagers, including at least one bet supporting Indiana football during his time with that team. While he stated he never wagered on games in which he participated or against his own teams, current NCAA rules prohibit student-athletes from betting on any NCAA-approved or professional sporting events. Athletes face potential lifetime bans for wagering on their own teams.

Sorsby’s lawsuit criticized what he described as the NCAA’s “deeply hypocritical” positions regarding sports betting. His legal team indicated they had requested a two-game suspension, which the NCAA rejected. Sorsby is now scheduled to appear in Lubbock County, Texas court on June 1 as he pursues eligibility for 2026.

After transferring to Texas Tech from Cincinnati during the offseason, Sorsby was expected to be the Red Raiders’ starting quarterback for 2026. ESPN had ranked him as the top transfer player in this year’s class.

In an open letter to the campus community Tuesday, Texas Tech president Lawrence Schovanec stated that the NCAA’s decision “should be reversed or modified” considering the circumstances and “context” surrounding Sorsby’s situation.

“As a generation of college athletes face the legalization and rapid proliferation of sports betting in our country, gambling addiction is rising to the point of epidemic among college aged men in particular,” Schovanec wrote. “The NCAA’s stated mission includes ‘fostering (student-athletes’) lifelong well-being,’ and they have claimed their goal is to promote a ‘culture of care’ for student athletes’ mental health. Gambling addiction is a clinically recognized behavioral disorder.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Sorsby announced through social media that he had finished a 35-day inpatient rehabilitation program in Arizona last Friday to address “a diagnosed gambling addiction and anxiety disorder.”

“While I accept responsibility for my behavior and know that I have a lot of work ahead of me, for the first time in many years I feel more free and no longer fully at the mercy of my addiction,” Sorsby wrote in part.

“With the support of my coaches, teammates and the university, I’m looking forward to returning to campus in Lubbock. If I’m blessed and fortunate enough to have the opportunity to continue my college career at Texas Tech, I know I will get the support I need, including through the school’s Center for Students in Addiction Recovery. I am deeply sorry to everyone I’ve disappointed and am committed to the hard and necessary work ahead.”

In his letter, Schovanec outlined Texas Tech’s commitment to providing Sorsby with “Ongoing outpatient clinical care; participation in group and individual therapy; mentor resources; treatment for his related anxiety disorder; active monitoring of his technological devices; installation of software to block betting sites from his devices; the appointment of a custodian to oversee his personal finances; and periodic compliance checks.”

LAS VEGAS — The head coach of the Las Vegas Aces is holding firm on her controversial stance about shorter players leading championship teams, despite Jalen Brunson’s success in taking the New York Knicks to the NBA Finals.

Becky Hammon originally shared her views during an ESPN appearance in December 2023, declaring that the Knicks would be unable to capture a championship with the 6-foot-2 Brunson as their top performer.

“If your best player is small, you’re not winning,” Hammon said at the time.

Her remarks have resurfaced following Brunson’s outstanding performance in earning the Larry Bird Trophy as Eastern Conference finals MVP after the Knicks completed a sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday evening. During the series, he posted averages of 25.5 points and 7.8 assists per game.

New York will meet either defending champion Oklahoma City or San Antonio in the championship series.

“I speak from experience,” Hammon stated on Tuesday. “Allen Iverson got MVP and he lost in the finals. I think the two best teams are probably in the West, but I’m up for being proven wrong. That’s the other thing, I think Jalen Brunson’s a hell of a player, a hell of a player. I’m speaking historically on the NBA with what I said. I don’t know why everybody’s so stuck on that. I said it two years ago.

“I said what I said. If he proves me wrong, he proves me wrong.”

Hammon, whose coaching has led the Aces to three WNBA titles in the last four seasons, has personal ties to the current NBA playoff picture.

The Hall of Fame player previously suited up for the San Antonio Silver Stars — the franchise that later relocated to Las Vegas and transformed into the Aces — and subsequently served as an assistant coach with the Spurs organization under coach Gregg Popovich.

“Oh, you know who I’m cheering for,” Hammon said.

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson is set to return for another season behind the bench, sources indicate.

The Cavaliers’ season came to an end when they were swept by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals. The series started with Cleveland surrendering a 22-point fourth-quarter advantage in the opening game and concluded Monday evening with a decisive 130-93 defeat.

Atkinson earned NBA Coach of the Year honors last season and inked a five-year contract upon his hiring in 2024.

Star player Donovan Mitchell voiced his backing for Atkinson on Monday, praising the coach for guiding the team to the conference finals following consecutive second-round exits in previous years.

“We love Kenny. I ride with Kenny,” Mitchell stated.

During his two seasons leading the Cavaliers, Atkinson has compiled a 116-48 regular-season record. His previous head coaching experience includes a stint with the Brooklyn Nets from 2016-2020, and he has worked as an assistant coach for various teams since 2008, including his most recent role with the Golden State Warriors from 2021-2024.

The Cavaliers roster may undergo changes heading into next season.

Mitchell can sign a long-term extension, while James Harden must decide whether to exercise his $42.3 million player option for the 2026-27 season. Reports suggest Harden is expected to negotiate a new two-year contract at a reduced salary to stay in Cleveland. He expressed Monday night that he “definitely wants to be” with the Cavaliers.

Cleveland could also pursue a third stint with LeBron James, who mentioned last week that he is still considering his options for the upcoming season.

However, the Cavs have reportedly shown considerable interest in pursuing Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. Sources indicate Cleveland approached Milwaukee during the trade deadline but couldn’t reach an agreement because they refused to include Evan Mobley in any deal.

Naomi Osaka came prepared for pushback when she stepped onto the court at the French Open wearing a dazzling yellow-brown and gold dress, packing plain alternatives just in case tournament officials raised concerns about her fashion choice.

The Japanese tennis star elevated the style game in Paris during the third day of competition, making her entrance on Court Suzanne Lenglen wearing a black Kevin Germanier skirt before revealing her shimmering layered Nike competition outfit for her match against Laura Siegemund on Tuesday.

“When I first saw the match dress in real life, I felt I look like the Eiffel Tower at night, when it’s bright,” Osaka shared with media following her 6-3 7-6(3) victory.

“I actually got a little worried, because when the sun hits the dress, it reflects a lot. So I was a little scared that the umpire was going to kick me off the court.”

“So I got two backup normal Nike dresses… thank God I didn’t have to wear them, though. I thought that the reflection of the dress was really beautiful, but it just reminded me of the Eiffel Tower a little bit.”

The tennis player, who previously caught attention with a jellyfish-themed outfit at this year’s Australian Open, acknowledged she’s grown comfortable with her reputation as a fashion trendsetter on the women’s professional circuit.

“I’m a little used to it now. I think in Australia … the Yoon (Ahn) Ambush dress first started it all off (in 2024). The U.S. Open, the roses in my hair (last year), that’s when I started to really get into it a lot more,” she explained.

“In Australia (this year), it was a real conversation starter. I don’t really feel like it’s a big deal to do that and then play after. I can see where people think I feel a little stressed or whatever. I think that’s the thing about it.”

“Sometimes people say athletes are in show business or are entertainers, or whatever. I feel like for me, Grand Slam walk-ons are the only time that I possibly feel I’m an entertainer.”

Osaka expressed enthusiasm about the possibility of style icon and 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams making a comeback to professional tennis.

The 44-year-old American hasn’t competed since the 2022 U.S. Open, following which she announced she was “evolving away from tennis,” but has sparked comeback rumors after rejoining the sport’s anti-doping program last year.

“Just to see her around the sites and playing matches again I think is really cool for tennis,” Osaka commented.

“I would be excited to see her outfits again, too. But also her playing. I think she’s one of the best players in the world, of course.”

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino revealed the United States men’s soccer team’s 26-player World Cup roster on Tuesday, with Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie serving as the squad’s cornerstone players for a tournament where Americans are hoping for a strong performance on home turf.

The roster features an equal balance of 13 first-time World Cup participants and 13 veterans from the 2022 Qatar tournament, where the United States advanced to the round of 16. The returning group features the team’s three goal scorers from Qatar: Pulisic, Tim Weah and Haji Wright.

“We are confident this is the best group of 26 players to help us achieve success at the World Cup,” Pochettino stated.

“These were very difficult decisions, and we are thankful to all the players who were part of this journey. This group is very focused and ready to give everything they have to represent the United States and deliver performances that will make the fans and the country proud.”

The AC Milan player Pulisic continues to be the squad’s most prominent figure, while Adams, who captained the 2022 team, brings a fighting spirit and flexibility to the midfield following his campaign with Premier League side Bournemouth.

AS Monaco forward Folarin Balogun is anticipated to vie for the top striker position if the United States deploys Pochettino’s favored 3-4-2-1 system, and may become a crucial offensive weapon this summer.

Despite receiving minimal minutes at Borussia Moenchengladbach this season, Gio Reyna secured his spot, providing the United States with an additional creative attacking option.

Alejandro Zendejas also made the cut following an impressive end to his season with Liga MX team Club America, after being excluded from the March roster.

Two significant absences include Diego Luna, who has been managing an injury, and Lyon midfielder Tanner Tessmann.

The United States is jointly hosting the tournament alongside Mexico and Canada. This represents the first occasion the nation has welcomed soccer’s premier global competition since 1994.

McKennie expressed that the team has an opportunity to energize a new wave of American supporters.

“It’s a great opportunity for everyone on the roster and also for the fans who maybe don’t know a lot about soccer here in America to feel the passion,” he commented during a roster announcement event in Manhattan.

“I hope that we can make people fall in love with the game here and maybe be able to etch our names in the history books.”

The United States will begin their Group D matches against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles.

Two college basketball standouts have committed to pursuing professional careers by remaining in the 2026 NBA Draft pool.

Christian Anderson, a sophomore guard from Texas Tech, and Allen Graves, a freshman forward from Santa Clara, have both chosen to keep their names in the draft rather than return to college basketball.

Draft analysts project both players will be selected in the first round.

Anderson significantly boosted his professional prospects during this month’s scouting combine, where he demonstrated reliable performance and exceptional shooting range in workout sessions.

The Red Raiders guard posted impressive numbers last season, scoring 18.5 points per game while ranking tied for fourth nationally with 7.4 assists per game. ESPN’s draft projections place him as a potential lottery selection (top 14 overall) for next month’s draft. The third-team All-American connected on 41.5% of his three-point attempts.

Standing 6-foot-3, Anderson compensates for his height with aggressive drives to the basket, aided by his impressive 40.5-inch vertical leap that was confirmed at the Chicago combine.

Anderson made his draft intentions public through social media on Tuesday.

Multiple media outlets report that Graves has also decided to remain eligible for the draft.

The 6-foot-9 forward made a significant contribution at Santa Clara following a redshirt season. Coming primarily off the bench, Graves posted 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game for the Broncos last season.

His playing time increased during the latter portion of the season, and Graves delivered what seemed to be a game-winning three-pointer against Kentucky during the NCAA Tournament’s first round in March. However, Santa Clara and Graves watched in disbelief as Otega Oweh connected on a half-court buzzer-beater less than a second later, sending the game to overtime. The Wildcats ultimately won 89-84.

College players who still have eligibility must decide by 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday whether to withdraw from this year’s draft and return to their schools. The draft will take place in New York beginning June 23.

The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired veteran right-handed pitcher Craig Kimbrel on a major league deal Tuesday as they look to improve their bullpen performance.

To create roster space for Kimbrel, the team moved right-hander Jesse Scholtens to the 15-day injured list due to a right wrist strain.

Kimbrel became available after the New York Mets released him Friday following a difficult stretch where the nine-time All-Star gave up 10 runs across 15 innings in 14 outings. The Mets had signed him as a free agent in January.

At 37 years old, Kimbrel brings extensive experience with 440 career saves across 10 different teams during his 17 seasons in professional baseball. His resume includes a World Series championship with Boston in 2018 and the 2011 National League rookie of the year award.

While the Rays currently hold the American League’s top record at 34-17, their bullpen has been a weak spot with a 4.40 earned run average that ranks 21st league-wide.

Colorado’s star player Nathan MacKinnon is expected to take the ice for Tuesday’s critical Game 4 against the Vegas Golden Knights, despite nursing a right leg injury, head coach Jared Bednar announced. The Avalanche are fighting to stay alive in the Western Conference finals, currently facing elimination while down 3-0 in the series.

The 30-year-old forward skipped Tuesday morning’s optional practice session due to his injured right leg, but Bednar indicated MacKinnon was feeling significantly improved after taking a complete day of rest.

The injury occurred during Sunday’s game when MacKinnon blocked a one-timer from Shea Theodore, taking the shot directly to his right knee with less than eight minutes remaining in the second period.

MacKinnon dropped to the ice immediately and clutched his right leg after the puck struck the side of his knee. Despite being down on the ice, he managed to clear the puck beyond the blue line before being unable to stand, prompting officials to halt play for medical attention.

The injured star left the ice on his own but was clearly struggling. He attempted to continue playing, returning for two additional shifts before ultimately heading to the locker room late in the second period due to his discomfort.

During the third period, MacKinnon managed only one regular-strength shift, though he did contribute during a power play opportunity and when Colorado pulled their goaltender for a 6-on-5 advantage in the final minutes.

Throughout these playoffs, MacKinnon has recorded points in nine of Colorado’s 12 postseason games, including an assist in the first period of Sunday’s contest. His playoff total stands at 15 points, consisting of seven goals and eight assists. During the regular season, he topped the NHL with 53 goals.

Colorado winger Valeri Nichushkin, who sustained a lower-body injury during Game 3, also missed Tuesday’s practice and remains questionable for the upcoming game.

For the first time in the conference finals, the Avalanche will start goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood as they attempt to prevent being swept by the Knights.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have locked up veteran forward Evgeni Malkin for another year, announcing a one-year contract extension worth $5.5 million on Tuesday.

The deal ensures Malkin will suit up for his 21st campaign with Pittsburgh during the 2026-27 season. The forward was set to become a free agent before the new agreement was reached.

At 39 years old, with his 40th birthday approaching on July 31, Malkin continues to produce at an elite level. During the 2025-26 campaign, he tallied 61 points through 19 goals and 42 assists across 56 contests.

Since joining the NHL with Pittsburgh in 2006, Malkin has built an impressive resume of achievements. The veteran has captured three Stanley Cup championships and earned seven All-Star selections throughout his career.

His trophy case includes the Calder Trophy for top rookie honors in 2006-07, the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2011-12, and two Art Ross trophies for leading the NHL in scoring during the 2008-09 and 2011-12 seasons. He also claimed the 2009 Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

In franchise history, Malkin trails only teammate Sidney Crosby in games played with 1,269 appearances. He sits third on the team’s all-time lists for goals with 533, assists with 874, and total points with 1,407.

Seattle’s baseball team brought back relief pitcher Gabe Speier from the 15-day injury reserve list on Tuesday.

The 31-year-old left-handed pitcher had been sidelined since May 4 due to inflammation in his left shoulder.

Before getting hurt, Speier posted an 0-2 record with a 2.92 ERA and recorded one save across 15 relief outings this season.

Throughout his major league career spanning 230 games (including one start) with Kansas City from 2019-22 and Seattle, he holds a 6-11 record with a 3.60 ERA.

To create roster space, Seattle sent right-handed pitcher Nick Davila down to Triple-A Tacoma following Monday’s contest.

The 27-year-old Davila, who made his big league debut on May 3, has given up three hits while throwing 7 1/3 shutout innings over seven relief outings.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins organization announced Tuesday that Manny Fernandez, a defensive lineman who played a crucial role in the team’s historic undefeated 1972 campaign, has passed away at the age of 79.

The team did not reveal the cause of death.

Throughout his complete eight-season NFL tenure with Miami, Fernandez served as a cornerstone of the Dolphins’ “No-Name Defense,” a unit that propelled the franchise to three straight Super Bowl appearances between 1971 and 1973, capturing championships in both 1972 and 1973.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Manny Fernandez,” the Dolphins said in a statement, “a member of the 1972 perfect team, a two-time Super Bowl champion, ring of honor member and an anchor of the Dolphins’ legendary ‘No-Name Defense.’ His consistent and selfless contributions on the field were instrumental to the Dolphins’ success throughout the early 1970s, particularly in the team’s three consecutive Super Bowl appearances, in which he produced some of the most memorable defensive performances in the history of the game.”

Fernandez delivered an outstanding performance in Miami’s Super Bowl victory against Washington that capped their flawless 1972 campaign. He played alongside legendary teammates including Bob Griese, Nick Buoniconti and Larry Csonka.

Despite entering the league as an undrafted free agent from Utah in 1968, Fernandez earned recognition in the Dolphins’ Ring of Honor in 2014.

“Our thoughts are with his family, loved ones and teammates as we remember one of the best players in Dolphins history,” the team said.

New York basketball fans remained in celebration mode Tuesday morning following their team’s historic advancement to the NBA Finals, marking the Knicks’ first championship series appearance since 1999.

Crowds wearing team colors of blue and orange packed the streets of New York City late into Monday evening after the Knicks finished off a complete four-game series victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The triumph sends New York to the Finals as underdogs, no matter which opponent awaits them in their quest to break a 53-year championship dry spell.

Celebrating supporters brought brooms to the festivities, playfully using them to sweep pavement and wave overhead during the street party. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani joined the fun on social media platform X, posting “@NYCSanitation I’d like to report a sweep.”

Following his team-leading 19-point performance in the series-clinching victory in Cleveland, Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns reflected on the moment’s significance. “It’s a magical thing, it’s a historic thing,” Towns commented. “It’s something New York has been dying for, for a long, long time.”

“But for us as players, we understand that the job’s not done,” he added.

The transformation from struggling franchise to championship contender began with team President Leon Rose joining the organization in March 2020, just as the club was heading toward its seventh straight season without playoff basketball.

Under Rose’s leadership, the franchise evolved from league joke to serious title threat. The team has reached the postseason in five of the past six years and made it to the second-to-last playoff round in 2025, falling to the Indiana Pacers in a six-game series.

Point guard Jalen Brunson, who earned Eastern Conference Finals MVP honors this year, has been the cornerstone since joining the organization four years ago. Management has constructed the roster around Brunson, adding talent like six-time All-Star Towns.

“Growing up in the (New York) area, I feel like the word ‘hope’ has been gone from the New York Knicks name for a long time,” Towns explained. “To be part of this team that revives hope is something special.”

New York’s Finals appearance creates compelling drama for the seven-game championship series. The franchise hasn’t captured a title since 1973, and this marks only their third Finals berth since that championship, having fallen short in 1994 and 1999.

Despite an impressive 11-game postseason winning streak, the Knicks enter as underdogs against either NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, or a San Antonio Spurs squad featuring French star Victor Wembanyama.

The Finals run will draw the typical collection of famous supporters to the games. Director and devoted fan Spike Lee, wearing his signature orange glasses, positioned himself courtside to record the team receiving the Eastern Conference championship trophy Monday night.

Four-time Academy Award nominee Timothée Chalamet joined players in their celebration, while actor Ben Stiller also attended the game. Comedian Tracy Morgan appeared emotional while enjoying the victory from his courtside seat.

Whether regular citizens or Hollywood celebrities, the Knicks will have an entire city supporting their attempt to end five decades without a championship.

MONTREAL — Following a regular season where he nearly averaged a point per game and surpassed 30 goals as one of Carolina’s top offensive contributors, Andrei Svechnikov had little to celebrate through his initial 10 playoff contests this spring.

That changed during Monday night’s overtime period.

The Russian winger’s game-winning strike in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final versus Montreal marked only his second postseason goal and fifth overall point, pushing Carolina ahead 2-1 in the series. For the 26-year-old forward, it represented a crucial breakthrough moment.

“It’s the most important time of my life right now — of our life as a team — and you’ve got to get on the scoresheet somehow,” Svechnikov said. “I think we’re just playing good as a line. We’re creating a lot, and (in Game 3) we create lots of chances.”

The Hurricanes’ primary offensive unit featuring Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis had struggled to generate scoring throughout the playoffs. Instead, the combination of Taylor Hall, Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven had primarily driven the attack that carried Carolina through two consecutive sweep victories in earlier rounds.

However, after outshooting Montreal by nearly three-to-one, they delivered when the stakes were highest.

“It’s awesome,” said defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who recorded the opening goal with his first playoff tally. “Those guys built the foundation of this team, and they carried us this whole season. It’s nice to see them, obviously, get the results that they’ve been working hard for.”

This is particularly true for Svechnikov, whom his teammates routinely encourage to take more shots.

“He’s the strongest guy on the ice, and when he’s playing a power forward role is when he’s his best,” Gostisbehere said. “We always say, ‘Just go be an animal out there — smartly.’”

Head coach Rod Brind’Amour, who has guided the team through eight straight playoff berths since assuming control and served as captain during Carolina’s 2006 Stanley Cup championship, wasn’t dissatisfied with Svechnikov’s overall performance. With nine victories in 10 contests, there was little reason for major complaints. Still, Monday’s breakthrough could prove pivotal.

“Hopefully it jumpstarts him getting on the scoresheet,” Brind’Amour said. “He’s been a factor — just not scoring. You’re not going to advance if you don’t get production out of your top guys, obviously, so it was great to see that.”

Contributing as a factor involves delivering hits and maintaining physical presence. Svechnikov ranks third on the roster with 46 hits, and part of their Eastern Conference Final strategy involves targeting Montreal’s smaller defenseman Lane Hutson and his teammates. Svechnikov embraces this approach.

“I don’t want to really talk about it, but that’s what we try to do,” he said. “Just finish the checks, obviously, and hopefully they’re going to turn the puck over or ice the puck and we get the offensive faceoff and all that stuff. We always try to finish our checks.”

Converting offensive opportunities remains equally important. Aho expressed satisfaction with their line’s performance, which finally resulted in a goal just past the 14-minute mark of overtime.

“We could have scored more than one goal, but it’s just the way it goes and we know more goals are coming for us,” Svechnikov said.

Star guard Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever said Tuesday she recognizes she has been dealing with back problems but isn’t worried about the situation.

“I don’t think (the back issues) necessarily started at a certain point. I think it’s just been over the course of the last year when I’ve kind of been understanding my body more,” Clark said. “But before that, I was always like, I’m fine, I’m fine, I can go play, go play, go play.

“And maybe sometimes I’m too hyperaware about certain things.

“… But I don’t think it’s anything of concern, no.”

However, fans were alarmed when Clark was pulled from Indiana’s matchup with the Portland Fire last Wednesday due to back stiffness she experienced upon waking. The decision to sideline her came less than two hours before the game began.

Indiana’s head coach Stephanie White explained to media that the move was made as a safety measure, saying “it’s not the time to take a chance.”

The 24-year-old player was back on the court Friday, scoring 22 points and dishing out nine assists as the Fever defeated the Golden State Valkyries 90-82.

Through five games this season, she is posting averages of 23.8 points and 9.0 assists per contest.

Clark, who was selected first overall in the 2024 draft and has earned two All-Star selections, appeared in only 13 games during the previous season after dealing with injuries to her quadriceps, groin and ankle.

Hockey Canada revealed Tuesday that the organization has reached a mutual understanding with women’s national team general manager Gina Kingsbury and head coach Troy Ryan that both will step down following the 2026-27 season.

The leadership changes come after the women’s squad fell short against their American rivals in an overtime battle for Olympic gold this past February. Both Kingsbury and Ryan had existing agreements that would have kept them in their roles through the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.

Despite the recent Olympic disappointment, the departing duo guided the team to significant achievements during their tenure. The women’s program captured Olympic gold in 2022 and secured world championship victories in 2021, 2022, and 2024 under their direction.

Hockey Canada has formed a selection committee tasked with finding the team’s next general manager. Once chosen, that individual will be responsible for selecting the new head coach and assembling the complete coaching staff, management team, and support personnel.

PARIS, May 26 – Key moments from Tuesday’s third day of competition at the French Open tennis tournament (all times in GMT):

1610 DE MINAUR ADVANCES AS OPPONENT WITHDRAWS

Alex De Minaur secured his spot in the third round when second-round adversary Alexander Blockx pulled out of the competition due to an ankle injury.

1510 GAUFF AND OSAKA ADVANCE TO NEXT ROUND

Title holder Coco Gauff defeated compatriot Taylor Townsend in straight sets 6-4, 6-0 to easily advance to the second round.

Naomi Osaka overcame Germany’s Laura Siegemund with a 6-3, 7-6(3) win to move forward.

1346 NORRIE FORCED TO WITHDRAW DUE TO INJURY

Britain’s 20th-seeded Cameron Norrie was forced to quit during the second set after taking a medical break for what appeared to be a rib problem.

This represented the first occasion the 30-year-old had withdrawn from any competition above ITF level.

1334 AUSTRALIAN WILDCARD WALTON UPSETS MEDVEDEV

Sixth-seeded Daniil Medvedev was eliminated in the opening round following an unexpected loss to Australian wildcard Adam Walton, who defeated the 30-year-old 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 to progress.

1225 ARYNA SABALENKA DEFEATS JESSICA BOUZAS MANEIRO

Belarusian top seed Aryna Sabalenka started her campaign for a first clay court Grand Slam championship with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

0908 COMPETITION BEGINS

Matches commenced in warm weather at Roland Garros, with Paris temperatures around 28 degrees Celsius and expected to climb to approximately 33 degrees later in the day.

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, the tournament’s number one seed, kicked off action on Court Philippe-Chatrier facing Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

The Oakland Athletics are set to call up their highly-rated pitching prospect Gage Jump from the minor leagues following an injury to starter Aaron Civale, multiple sources reported Tuesday.

Jump, a 23-year-old left-handed pitcher known for his strikeout ability, has recorded 56 strikeouts across 38 innings in nine Triple-A Las Vegas appearances this season. The southpaw has issued 20 walks while compiling a 4.50 ERA and an 0-2 win-loss record.

Selected in the second round of the 2024 draft from LSU, Jump currently ranks as the 41st best prospect in all of baseball according to MLB Pipeline. Among Athletics prospects, he sits third behind shortstop Leo De Vries and left-hander Jamie Arnold. Arnold, chosen 11th overall in the 2025 draft from Florida State, is presently playing at Double-A Midland.

Civale was removed from Monday’s game after just four innings due to concerning velocity decline that manager Mark Kotsay attributed to a potential right shoulder or lat muscle problem following the contest. The team announced Civale would receive medical evaluation Tuesday.

During Monday’s 9-2 defeat to the visiting Seattle Mariners, he surrendered seven runs on nine hits plus one walk while throwing just 73 pitches. In his previous outing against the Los Angeles Angels last week, when he gave up five runs over five innings, Civale acknowledged he had been “working through” the arm problem “for a little bit.”

Monday’s fastball velocity registered 88.3 mph on the stadium radar system, representing a drop of more than 3 mph from his 2026 season average.

The 30-year-old Civale carries a 5-2 record this season with a 4.20 ERA through 11 starts. Before his struggles against the Angels and Mariners in his last two outings, he maintained a 2.70 ERA. Those two difficult performances resulted in 14 hits allowed (including six home runs) and 12 earned runs.

The nation’s highest court declined Tuesday to step into a racial discrimination case brought by former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores against the NFL, clearing the way for the lawsuit to move toward trial.

The justices turned down the league’s request to force the case into its private arbitration system instead of allowing it to continue in New York courts. Justice Brett Kavanaugh disagreed with the court’s decision to stay out of the matter.

Flores, who is Black, filed the lawsuit in February 2022 against the league and three franchises, claiming the NFL was “rife with racism” in how it handles hiring decisions for Black coaches. Two other Black coaches, Steve Wilks and Ray Horton, later became part of the legal action.

The former coach, who lost his job with the Dolphins just before launching the lawsuit, currently serves as defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings.

League officials had pushed for the dispute to go through arbitration instead of the court system, but federal judges at lower levels have supported the coaches’ position. The NFL stated it respected the Supreme Court’s ruling, which keeps the lower court decisions intact, but said it remains “fully prepared to defend ourselves as this matter proceeds.”

Lawyers David Gottlieb and Douglas Wigdor, who represent the coaches, expressed satisfaction with the outcome. “The NFL must now accept that its commissioner cannot be the arbitrator over discrimination claims against the league and its teams. We look forward to litigating these claims in court,” they said in a written statement.

Flores was let go after compiling a 24-25 coaching record across three seasons with no postseason appearances. However, the Dolphins had achieved consecutive winning seasons before his dismissal.

The lawsuit names the NFL along with the Denver Broncos, the New York Giants and the Houston Texans. Flores had interviewed with Denver in 2019 and with the Giants and Texans in 2022.

Wilks, who lost his position as the New York Jets’ defensive coordinator in December, joined the case by alleging the Arizona Cardinals treated him as a “bridge coach” in 2018 — elevating him to interim status after dismissing another coach but then overlooking him for the permanent position. He claimed the Cardinals failed to give him a fair opportunity to prove himself.

Horton, whose last NFL coaching role ended in 2019, accused the Tennessee Titans of failing to conduct a legitimate interview process when he sought their head coaching job in 2016.

Known as the “Sommermärchen” or “Summer Fairy Tale,” Germany’s 2006 World Cup earned widespread acclaim as a celebration of a modern, unified country that welcomed international visitors. A key element of that achievement was the “KombiTicket,” which provided fans with complimentary local public transit access during game days.

Following that example, subsequent World Cup hosting nations have made substantial investments in fan transportation, particularly Russia in 2018, where even intercity rail travel between venues was provided at no charge, and Qatar in 2022, where complimentary subway access transformed venue-hopping into an integral tournament feature.

Now comes America’s turn.

Soccer supporters, already struggling with sky-high ticket costs, pricey airfare and steep hotel rates, have expressed anger upon learning that rail transportation to certain venues will carry another substantial expense: $98 for round-trip train travel in New Jersey and $80 in Massachusetts — journeys that typically cost NFL attendees $12.90 and $20, respectively.

Authorities maintain they’re not attempting to exploit supporters, but rather seeking to offset security expenses and enhanced rail operations without burdening taxpayers. However, fans view this as yet another financial burden placed on supporters who are already spending enormous amounts to visit America, a vast, automobile-dependent nation where mass transit has historically been neglected in numerous areas. Unlike previous host nations, certain state and local leaders have shown less willingness to absorb these expenses, contending that FIFA, the global soccer organization expected to generate billions from the tournament, should cover them.

“Planning for this World Cup has been a nightmare from start to finish,” said Scotland-born Rory Phillips-Hunter, a 37-year-old hospitality worker who lives in northern England. “I think it’s the most inaccessible one there’s ever been.”

Confused by the absence of reasonably priced travel options for the 25-mile (40-kilometer) journey from Providence, Rhode Island, to Foxborough, Massachusetts, where Scotland’s opening two games will occur, Phillips-Hunter and fellow Tartan Army supporters chose to arrange their own solution.

For approximately $50 per person, the Scottish fans have reserved roughly 20 school buses to transport nearly 1,000 members of their plaid-wearing supporter group to each game. They’re even receiving police escort services, all for slightly more than half the price of the $95 bus service that local authorities are providing — creating combined savings exceeding $85,000.

Phillips-Hunter acknowledges the $95 bus cost wouldn’t financially ruin him, but he and countless other Scottish supporters are already spending massive amounts to watch their men’s national team participate in the World Cup for the first time in 28 years. Phillips-Hunter calculates it will require two years to pay off the credit card debt he’s accumulating for his six-day American visit, including the $1,350 he paid for his Scotland-Morocco game ticket.

Above all else, Phillips-Hunter feels frustrated that a group of Scots from across the Atlantic managed to arrange transportation for significantly less than what local authorities proposed.

“When I look at that difference in cost, that’s just profits you’re taking from us,” he said.

Host cities aren’t all handling transportation identically. Atlanta, Houston and Seattle feature stadiums connected directly to rail networks, where standard ticket prices will be charged. Miami-Dade County leaders recently revealed they will provide complimentary shuttle services between Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens and locations about 15 miles (24 kilometers) from downtown Miami. Philadelphia, meanwhile, offers free return trips from the venue, funded by FIFA sponsor Airbnb. Kansas City, Missouri, operates $15 shuttle services.

The comparatively expensive transit fees for games at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts stem partly from their suburban locations, where most fans typically drive to NFL contests they usually host. However, parking will be severely restricted during the World Cup due to expanded security zones, broadcasting requirements and lots designated for VIP use, compelling many more supporters to rely on public transportation.

David Gogishvili serves as a senior researcher at Switzerland’s University of Lausanne and examines how sports organizers coordinate major events like the World Cup.

He explained it’s typical procedure for organizers like FIFA to transfer much of the expense to host nations. The distinction this time involves the U.S. having “stronger and more independent” state and local leaders who have shown less willingness to accept the cost and “bow to the wills of FIFA.”

“These costs should be borne by the organization that is earning money out of these events, which is FIFA. It should not always be the host cities that take on all the expenses,” Gogishvili said, referencing the soccer organization’s anticipated $13 billion revenue from 2023-26.

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, has called on FIFA to cover the transportation costs to matches.

However, FIFA responded by arguing that no other international event has been required to absorb such expenses and that its original agreements with host cities required free fan transportation to all games. The contracts were subsequently modified to permit cities to offer transit “at cost.”

Transportation has been so accessible at recent World Cups because host countries like Russia and Qatar treated the tournament as a “public relations exercise,” subsidizing transit costs accordingly, Gogishvili explained.

Leaders’ concerns about transit expenses also emerge amid increasing worry that the anticipated World Cup economic benefits won’t occur, with hotel reservations falling short of projections in most of the 11 American cities hosting tournament games. A 2022 study co-authored by Gogishvili discovered that nearly every World Cup from 1966 through 2018 operated at a financial loss.

Yonah Freemark, a researcher at the Washington-based Urban Institute think tank who specializes in transit issues, said World Cup fans from Europe and Asia will encounter less-developed but more expensive transit networks than they experience at home.

Referencing the transit costs associated with games in New Jersey and Massachusetts, Freemark said officials “are trying to get away with murder.” Delays and transit availability, he noted, will probably disappoint many international visitors.

Ynara Correa da Costa, a Brazilian systems analyst who lives outside Sao Paulo, will be attending her seventh World Cup.

Like many others, she was shocked when authorities initially suggested charging up to $150 for train travel from New York City to MetLife Stadium, where Brazil opens against Morocco. The widespread outrage prompted New Jersey officials to reduce the fare to $98 after obtaining additional funding.

But even the reduced cost for a brief train journey “is just not acceptable,” Costa said.

Costa felt encouraged when the local host committee announced it had obtained more buses for stadium transportation and cut the price from $80 to $20. However, only enough bus capacity exists for 18,000 supporters to reach the stadium, which accommodates approximately 82,500.

That appears much more reasonable to Costa. Previously, she questioned whether she and other budget-minded fans might need to walk to MetLife Stadium, but that option isn’t feasible.

“We’ll go to the match, that I know,” Costa said. “But how? Let’s see.”

Current MotoGP champion Marc Marquez is preparing to make his return to racing at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, according to an announcement from his team Ducati on Tuesday. The comeback follows dual surgical procedures after a crash at Le Mans earlier this month.

The champion was sidelined from both the French Grand Prix race and the entire Catalan Grand Prix weekend due to a foot fracture sustained during a severe highside crash in Le Mans’ sprint race.

The 33-year-old underwent surgery to repair a metatarsal fracture and also had a shoulder procedure that had been planned for after his home Catalan Grand Prix.

“Following a positive medical check, Marc will travel to Mugello tomorrow,” Ducati announced in their statement.

“He is scheduled for a final trackside assessment on Thursday to secure the ‘fit to race’ clearance for the Italian Grand Prix.”

In a separate development, Ducati’s Italian test rider Michele Pirro will take over for Marquez’s brother Alex on the Gresini Racing motorcycle following the Spaniard’s severe crash at the Catalan Grand Prix.

Alex faces time away from both the Italian and Hungarian Grands Prix due to a minor vertebra fracture near his neck area, combined with a fractured right collarbone.

PARIS, May 26 – Top-ranked tennis player Aryna Sabalenka secured a commanding victory in her first-round match at the French Open, defeating Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4, 6-2 on Tuesday.

The Belarusian player quickly established control on the sunny Court Philippe Chatrier, jumping out to a 4-0 advantage before mistakes began affecting her performance. This allowed Bouzas Maneiro to recover two service breaks and position herself to serve for a 5-5 tie.

However, a critical double fault gave the top-seeded player the opening set, and she dominated early in the second set by building a 5-0 lead.

Bouzas Maneiro managed to extend the match by holding serve and then breaking back to make it 5-2, but another double fault sealed Sabalenka’s straightforward advancement.

“That’s the most enjoyable part of the game that I can come to the net to play points there, it’s so much fun,” last year’s runner-up Sabalenka said.

“I’m so happy I was able to improve on that part of the game and bring it on court.”

The New York Knicks dominated Cleveland with a commanding 130-93 victory Monday night, completing a four-game sweep of the Eastern Conference finals and earning their first trip to the NBA Finals since 1999.

Karl Anthony-Towns led the charge with 19 points and 14 rebounds, while OG Anunoby contributed 17 points in the decisive win over the Cavaliers. Landry Shamet added 16 points coming off the bench, and both Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson chipped in 15 points each for New York, which has now won 11 straight games during their playoff run. Only three other teams have achieved such a streak in postseason play, with Golden State being the most recent in 2017 during their 15-game run to their second championship in three years.

Despite Donovan Mitchell’s 31-point effort for Cleveland, the Cavaliers were completely outmatched and suffered their first postseason sweep since falling to Golden State in the 2018 NBA finals.

In other tennis news from Paris, players and fans at the French Open are dealing with unusually hot conditions as temperatures have reached 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit) during the opening days of the clay-court tournament. The extreme heat has created faster playing conditions on the courts and sent spectators seeking relief at water fountains. Russian-born Australian player Daria Kasatkina noted the exceptional conditions, saying “I don’t remember the last time it was so hot at Roland Garros.”

The mental pressures of professional tennis were highlighted as the tournament continues, with recent racket-smashing incidents by players like Daniil Medvedev and Daniel Altmaier drawing attention to the sport’s psychological challenges. Former top-five player Andrey Rublev explained the unique pressure, saying “you are alone and they are watching you” and admitting he’s “one of those guys” who let emotions “take over me.”

In baseball, Houston Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai combined with relievers Steven Okert and Alimber Santa to throw a no-hitter against the Texas Rangers in a 9-0 victory. This marked the first no-hitter in major league baseball since Shota Imanaga and two Chicago Cubs relievers accomplished the feat against Pittsburgh on September 4, 2024. The 23-year-old Santa made history by becoming the first pitcher to complete a no-hitter in his major league debut, throwing two perfect innings and striking out Brandon Nimmo to end the game.

In hockey action, Andrei Svechnikov scored at 14:06 of overtime to give the Carolina Hurricanes a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, putting Carolina ahead 2-1 in their Eastern Conference Final series. Shayne Gostisbehere and Taylor Hall scored in regulation for the Hurricanes, while Frederik Andersen made 11 saves. Montreal got goals from Mike Matheson and Lane Hutson, with goaltender Jakub Dobes stopping 35 shots.

Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson was named Eastern Conference finals MVP, earning the Larry Bird Trophy after averaging 25.5 points and 7.8 assists during the sweep of Cleveland. The All-Star guard, who signed with New York as a free agent four years ago, has justified the team’s decision to build around him by leading them to their first Finals appearance in a quarter-century.

In legal news, a Dominican judge ruled that Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco is criminally responsible for sexual and psychological abuse of a minor but will not serve a sentence. Judge José Antonio Núñez determined that Franco was a victim of extortion by the minor’s mother, who received a ten-year sentence for trafficking her daughter. Franco was arrested in January 2024 in connection with a relationship involving a 14-year-old girl, and full sentencing is scheduled for June 16.

Soccer news features Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano preparing for Wednesday’s Conference League final, with the winner earning a spot in the Europa League for the 2026-27 season. The match represents Palace’s chance to win their first European trophy in a competition they initially didn’t want to participate in after being demoted from the Europa League.

Finally, Inter Miami announced that Lionel Messi is dealing with a left hamstring issue described as “an overload associated with muscle fatigue.” The team confirmed Messi underwent testing Monday but did not provide a timeline for recovery, adding uncertainty as Argentina prepares to open training camp for this year’s tournament on June 1 in Kansas City.

Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog has found a high-tech solution to manage his recovery from a serious knee injury that kept him off the ice for three years. The hockey star now relies on tiny sensors placed in his skate insoles during games and practices, and even wears them in his regular shoes while walking his dog.

These devices track every aspect of his movement, creating detailed biomechanical profiles that helped guide his return to professional hockey. The technology monitors everything from his stride patterns to whether he’s putting too much pressure on his surgically repaired right knee.

The system analyzes his workload during games and practices, examining how his feet interact with different surfaces and calculating when he might be approaching his physical limits. This data helps prevent him from pushing too hard during training, which could cause setbacks lasting days or weeks.

“This detects any red flags before I even feel them,” said Landeskog, whose team trails Vegas 3-0 in a Western Conference Final in which he has two of the Avalanche’s six goals. “It’s been super important for me, and a huge help.”

The technology comes from Plantiga, an artificial intelligence company that develops movement analysis platforms for professional athletes. Their system is currently being used by players and teams across the NBA, NFL, WNBA and MLB, as well as college programs, elite runners, recreational athletes, and NHL players like Landeskog.

“What we’re trying to detect is the smoke before the fire,” explained Matthew Jordan, the vice president of performance science at Plantiga as well as an associate professor, faculty of kinesiology/sport medicine center, at the University of Calgary. “Imagine you’re at the point where your knee is just at the cusp of the next day it’s going to be like, ‘My knee’s killing me. I can hardly walk.’ We can see in the data before you reach that tipping point.”

Landeskog’s knee problems started when a skate blade sliced his right knee during the 2020 playoffs in the Edmonton bubble. Despite the injury, he continued playing and contributed to the Avalanche’s Stanley Cup championship in 2022 when they defeated Tampa Bay.

However, that Cup-winning game marked the beginning of a long absence from hockey. Following a missed season, Landeskog had cartilage replacement surgery on May 10, 2023.

In spring 2024, Landeskog was introduced to Plantiga, the Vancouver-based human analytics company founded by Quin Sandler and his late father, Norman McKay. The company was created to monitor athlete movement using wearable technology placed inside shoes.

Landeskog connected with the Plantiga team through strength and conditioning coach Marcin Goszczynski. The 33-year-old player met with Jordan during a game when the Avalanche visited Calgary.

“We discussed his injury and his frustration with the process,” Jordan recounted. “You have to remember at this point the tunnel was dark and long — there was no light … we were miles from the end of the tunnel.”

Jordan introduced Landeskog to a Canadian ski racer who had overcome a similar injury.

“It was a relief for Gabe to know that another athlete out there had been able to conquer this injury,” Jordan said. “Has among the best mindsets, and he is 100% resilient and gritty to the core.”

Using “Norman,” the movement analysis system named after Sandler’s father, potential changes in Landeskog’s movement patterns are identified before they can become problematic.

“We’re trying to put really good data (together) that him and his trainer will use,” Sandler said. “There’s this fine Goldilocks zone that we help him stay in, and honestly he’s been killing it.”

Landeskog made his return last season during Game 3 of the playoffs against Dallas, marking his first NHL appearance in approximately 1,032 days. His comeback continued this season with 14 goals and 21 assists across 60 regular-season games.

During the season, Jordan monitors Landeskog’s skating technique remotely. He sometimes identifies moments that require closer examination when the data shows readings outside the Swedish forward’s typical range.

“Essentially, put out the ‘smoke’ before it turns into a ‘fire,’” Jordan explained. “In an athlete’s world, a fire can mean a new injury, a reinjury to the tissue, a loss of performance or a setback in rehab.”

While similar in concept to health-tracking devices like the Oura Ring, Plantiga uses laboratory-quality sensors that capture 400 data points every second.

This means an athlete’s movement can be measured with 20-to-30 times more precision than typical smartphones or smartwatches.

“A supercharged human movement measuring device,” Jordan said.

Establishing baseline measurements for Landeskog’s walking pattern and body mechanics involved his dogs, the late Zoey and current pet Mila, who enthusiastically joined these data-gathering walks.

“We can see subtle things in your walk patterns well before it manifests as something very clinical or significant,” Jordan said.

The information eliminated uncertainty from Landeskog’s training routine.

“He’d get on the ice and be like, ‘Oh, I feel good today.’” Jordan said. “It’s like, ‘I think I’m just going to go hard. I feel like my knee feels really good. Oh (no), I went too far. My knee’s flared up. I’ve got to take a week off.’ With all these setbacks he couldn’t catch any progression.”

Now, when the data suggests he should rest, he follows that guidance. He’s a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the NHL player who exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication.

“I’m humbled and honored by it, but I think for me, the ultimate prize I’ve already won,” Landeskog said. “That’s to continue working and getting to play hockey.”

Environmental advocates and Indigenous Australian protesters are standing their ground at a Brisbane city park slated for Olympic stadium construction, despite government warnings they face forced removal when building begins next week.

The demonstrators have established an Aboriginal tent embassy at Victoria Park, one of Brisbane’s limited downtown green areas, which is set to be cordoned off starting Monday for Olympic stadium development.

Queensland state officials have issued warnings that protesters must leave voluntarily or face removal.

“As it stands, participants say they intend to remain at the site and continue their campaign,” Aboriginal elder Gaja (Aunty) Kerry Charlton said in a phone interview.

“They also point to protections under the (Queensland) Human Rights Act, which they argue supports their right to maintain and defend cultural heritage.”

The building timeline moves forward despite a pending request to Australia’s federal government from Indigenous communities seeking permanent protection for the park as a “significant Aboriginal area.”

Victoria Park, home to numerous mature trees, is called Barrambin (meaning “Windy Place”) by the Yagara and Magandjin peoples, who view the location as holding cultural and spiritual importance.

Premier Steve Crisafulli stated the state cannot accept construction delays for the 63,000-seat venue.

“Queensland is feeling a sense of pride, and we’re not going to have that hijacked by a group of activists, I’m just not going to do that,” he said during media remarks last week.

Crews hired by the organization responsible for 2032 Games facilities started installing barriers at the park Tuesday, in a section next to where the Save Victoria Park advocacy group conducted a news briefing.

The protesters claimed the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA) attempted to interfere with their media event.

“We old grannies would say there was a bit of humbug happening there. It was probably, in layman’s terms, some sabotage of our media gathering,” Charlton remarked.

GIICA explained it has conducted site survey work since October and uses temporary barriers for safety purposes, while Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said workers were “left shaken” following confrontations with demonstrators.

Crisafulli announced Victoria Park as the Olympic stadium site more than a year ago, abandoning a campaign pledge that he would not approve a new arena in the city.

He has stated that no more than one-third of the park’s green area will be utilized for the stadium and an aquatics facility being constructed for Australia’s third Olympic Games.

The Save Victoria Park organization commissioned an independent evaluation by hydrogeologist Ted Hamer, who determined the site sits above an active waterway supplied by a natural spring that could be “permanently terminated or unacceptably diminished” by Olympic stadium development.

“The importance of permanent spring-fed freshwater sources, springs and the associated ecology to Aboriginal people and early settlers is undeniable,” Hamer concluded in his evaluation.

Charlton indicated activists are ready for an extended battle to preserve the park.

“My ancestors were in the park, their children, grandchildren. We all visited there and played there,” she explained.

“That cultural heritage is tied to the protection of the spring and the trees — and also those animals and habitats that are connected to that ecosystem.”

The Carolina Hurricanes are developing a pattern in their playoff series.

Carolina claimed their second consecutive overtime victory against the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night, securing a 3-2 triumph in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals thanks to Andrei Svechnikov’s goal at 14:06 of the extra period.

The Hurricanes now hold a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series as they prepare for Game 4 on Wednesday in Montreal.

Carolina previously captured a 3-2 overtime victory on Saturday when Nikolaj Ehlers found the back of the net in the extra frame.

Svechnikov fired a wrist shot from above the right faceoff circle that deflected off goaltender Jakub Dobes before finding the corner of the net. Officials initially credited Sebastian Aho with the goal on a deflection from the crease area, but later changed the scoring to give Svechnikov the winner.

“In the room, we don’t care who gets it done,” Aho said. “We just go in wave after wave.”

Shayne Gostisbehere and Taylor Hall provided the other goals for Carolina, while Frederik Andersen stopped 11 shots, just one more than his previous game total. The Hurricanes, who suffered a 6-2 defeat in Game 1 of the series, have compiled a 10-1 record in the postseason.

“There’s two really good teams going at it right now,” Aho said. “Just stick with the process and play our game and trust that it’ll give us the result we want at the end. That’s been the case the last two games, and just keep on going.”

Mike Matheson and Lane Hutson tallied for Montreal, which suffered consecutive losses for the first time in 17 games during their current postseason run. Dobes turned aside 35 shots while also recording an assist.

“You need everything working against a team like that,” Montreal coach Martin St. Louis said of Carolina. “At this stage, you’ve got to put it all together. Execution is part of that, jam is part of that. It’s not one thing, you’ve got to put it all together and I know we can.”

Carolina opened the scoring at 8:24 of the first period.

The puck emerged from the corner in Montreal’s zone to Carolina forward Mark Jankowski, who fired a shot from the bottom of the right faceoff circle that deflected off Canadiens forward Kirby Dach’s stick blade. The puck found Gostisbehere as he moved through the left circle, and he converted with a one-timer.

Montreal evened the score 1-1 at 15:28 of the opening period.

The Canadiens won a puck battle behind Carolina’s net, with Ivan Demidov feeding the puck out front to Matheson, who beat Andersen’s glove with a wrist shot from above the right hashmarks.

The Hurricanes quickly regained their lead after Dobes made consecutive saves on Hall from close range, but Hall converted on his third attempt to put Carolina ahead 2-1 at 16:22 of the first period.

Montreal earned its second power play opportunity at 4:18 of the second period.

Cole Caufield delivered the puck to Hutson as they entered the Carolina zone, received it back, then passed to Hutson again just above the crease. Hutson redirected the puck home to level the score 2-2 at 4:43.

Noah Dobson seemingly scored at 8:27 of the third period for the Canadiens, but Carolina successfully challenged that Caufield was offside entering the zone 29 seconds before the goal.

“I feel like at times we’re playing too slow and sometimes we play at the right pace but we don’t execute,” St. Louis said. “We didn’t expect this to be easy, and we’re OK with that.”

Three Houston Astros pitchers delivered the first no-hitter in Major League Baseball since 2024, blanking the Texas Rangers 9-0 on Monday night in Arlington, Texas.

Tatsuya Imai (2-2) issued four walks while recording two strikeouts across a career-best six innings. Steven Okert navigated around a leadoff walk in the seventh inning. Alimber Santa completed two flawless innings in his big league debut to finish off Houston’s 18th franchise no-hitter and fifth combined no-hitter in team history.

The previous no-hitter was thrown by three Chicago Cubs pitchers against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 2-0 victory on Sept. 4, 2024. Houston’s last no-hitter came when Ronel Blanco shut down the Toronto Blue Jays 10-0 on April 1, 2024. The Rangers were previously no-hit by the New York Yankees’ Corey Kluber in a 2-0 defeat on May 19, 2021.

Christian Walker launched a three-run home run while Yordan Alvarez contributed a solo blast for Houston, which secured its fourth consecutive victory. Kumar Rocker (2-5) surrendered four runs on four hits across five innings as Texas suffered its fourth straight defeat.

Orioles 9, Rays 7 (13 innings)

Colton Cowser delivered a two-run home run in the 13th inning, marking his second walk-off homer in consecutive days, as Baltimore defeated Tampa Bay to start a three-game series.

Cedric Mullins drove in the go-ahead run with a single in the top of the 13th before Nick Fortes pushed Tampa Bay’s advantage to 7-5 with a sacrifice fly. Baltimore then mounted a comeback. Leody Taveras opened the bottom of the 13th with an RBI double and Jackson Holliday’s sacrifice fly evened the score once more. Cowser connected off Jesse Scholtens (5-3).

Pete Alonso and Blaze Alexander each collected three hits for the Orioles. Dietrich Enns (3-0) worked the top of the 13th. Jonathan Aranda and Victor Mesa Jr. went deep while Chandler Simpson contributed three hits for the Rays.

Brewers 5, Cardinals 1

Power pitcher Jacob Misiorowski surrendered one run on two hits across seven innings and equaled his career best with 12 strikeouts while guiding Milwaukee past visiting St. Louis.

Misiorowski (5-2) carried a no-hitter into the sixth before Pedro Pages broke it up with a leadoff single, leading to the Cardinals’ lone run. The Brewers ace fired 57 pitches of at least 100 mph, the most since the majors began tracking velocity in 2008. Aaron Ashby closed out the contest with two shutout innings.

Milwaukee plated three runs in the first against Matthew Liberatore, highlighted by Christian Yelich’s two-run homer. Liberatore (2-3) gave up three runs on seven hits in five innings, fanning a career-high 10.

Pirates 2, Cubs 1

Henry Davis crushed a go-ahead home run in the seventh inning to propel host Pittsburgh to a victory over Chicago.

Davis’ fourth homer of the season, off Cubs reliever Trent Thornton (2-1), provided the Pirates their fourth win in six games and handed Chicago its ninth straight loss. The Cubs’ current losing streak is their longest since dropping 10 consecutive games from July 7-16, 2022.

Pirates pitchers held the Cubs to just a solo home run by Michael Busch in the fifth inning. Following starter Carmen Mlodzinski’s five-inning effort that allowed one run and five hits, Wilber Dotel (1-0) fired three scoreless frames for his first career victory. Gregory Soto notched his sixth save after a clean ninth inning.

Phillies 3, Padres 0

Kyle Schwarber and Brandon Marsh homered while Jesus Luzardo delivered six solid innings as visiting Philadelphia shut out San Diego.

Luzardo (4-4) allowed four hits in a 104-pitch performance. Three relievers completed the game, with Jhoan Duran working the ninth inning for his 10th save of the year and 100th of his career.

Griffin Canning (0-3) pitched a season-high 6 2/3 innings and yielded three runs on three hits.

White Sox 3, Twins 1

Munetaka Murakami and Drew Romo homered to support six strong innings from Anthony Kay as Chicago defeated visiting Minnesota. Kay (4-1) captured his third consecutive decision and Seranthony Dominguez worked the ninth to secure his 11th save.

Both teams exchanged solo home runs in the first inning, with Brooks Lee connecting for Minnesota two batters into the game before Murakami responded in the bottom half. Romo launched a two-run blast for the White Sox in the second.

Twins starter Zebby Matthews (1-2) produced his third quality start in as many appearances this season. He allowed three runs and five hits in six innings.

Yankees 4, Royals 3

Anthony Volpe lined a two-run, go-ahead single in the ninth inning as visiting New York won for the 12th consecutive time over Kansas City. Tim Hill (2-2) earned the victory in relief, and David Bednar collected his 12th save.

Cody Bellinger homered and J.C. Escarra went 3-for-4 for the Yankees. Starter Will Warren allowed two runs on three hits over six innings.

Lucas Erceg (3-2) blew his fourth save chance of the season for the Royals. Salvador Perez and Bobby Witt Jr. hit solo homers.

Reds 7, Mets 2

Spencer Steer drove in three runs and Tyler Stephenson hit a two-run homer to highlight a four-run fourth inning for visiting Cincinnati, which defeated struggling New York.

JJ Bleday went deep and Eugenio Suarez finished 2-for-3 with two runs for the Reds, who have won four of five. Nick Lodolo (1-1) allowed one run on six hits in six innings.

Marcus Semien, batting cleanup for the first time this season, went 2-for-4 with a homer as the Mets suffered their sixth loss in seven games. Nolan McLean (2-4) surrendered seven runs on five hits over 3 1/3 innings.

Diamondbacks 6, Giants 2

Ketel Marte maintained his hot streak with four hits and three RBIs, Merrill Kelly threw seven sharp innings and Arizona opened a three-game series with a win at San Francisco.

Gabriel Moreno homered and scored twice for the Diamondbacks, who swept a three-game home series over the Giants last week. Corbin Carroll contributed two of Arizona’s 11 hits as the Diamondbacks won for the eighth time in nine games.

Giants starter Landen Roupp (5-5) lasted five innings while giving up four runs (two earned) on seven hits.

Nationals 10, Guardians 2

Curtis Mead hit two of Washington’s six home runs and the visiting Nationals cruised past Cleveland for their third straight win.

James Wood collected four hits, including a home run, for Washington. Luis Garcia Jr. accumulated three hits, including a two-run homer and a two-run single. Jacob Young and CJ Abrams also went deep, and Zack Littell (4-4) allowed one run in a season-high seven innings.

Rhys Hoskins homered for the Guardians, who have lost two of three. Tanner Bibee (0-7) surrendered seven runs in three innings.

Marlins 8, Blue Jays 2

Kyle Stowers, Javier Sanoja and Owen Caissie each recorded two hits and two RBIs as visiting Miami defeated Toronto for its season-best fourth consecutive win.

Janson Junk (3-5) gave up one run on eight hits in five innings for the Marlins. Toronto native Liam Hicks singled, walked and scored twice.

Ernie Clement homered for the Blue Jays, who have lost two straight. Trey Yesavage (2-2) allowed five runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Dodgers 5, Rockies 3

Freddie Freeman hit a go-ahead double in a four-run seventh inning and Los Angeles rallied for a victory over visiting Colorado to open a three-game series.

Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Andy Pages also recorded RBIs in the seventh as the Dodgers returned home following a 7-2 road trip. Los Angeles right-hander Emmet Sheehan surrendered two runs over six innings, and Kyle Hurt (1-0) allowed a run as the bullpen’s franchise-record 38-inning scoreless streak came to an end.

Ezequiel Tovar hit a solo home run and had two RBIs for the Rockies, while Tanner Gordon threw five innings of one-run ball in his first start of the season. Willie Castro and Tovar had two hits apiece for Colorado, which lost for the sixth time in its past seven games.

Mariners 9, Athletics 2

Luke Raley and Dominic Canzone belted two-run homers during a six-run third inning, powering Seattle to a victory over the Athletics at West Sacramento, Calif.

Randy Arozarena went 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs while J.P. Crawford belted a solo shot. The Mariners hit a season-best four homers for the fourth time. Raley and Josh Naylor had two hits apiece for the Mariners, who had lost six of their previous nine games. Nick Kurtz drew a third-inning walk to tie the Athletics’ single-season record of reaching base in 48 consecutive games.

Shea Langeliers homered for the Athletics, who lost for the third time in four games. The A’s lead the American League West despite having a .500 record one-third into the season.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Four years ago, the New York Knicks took a chance on Jalen Brunson, bringing him aboard as a free agent and constructing their roster with him as the centerpiece.

Brunson validated their faith by guiding the franchise to its first NBA Finals appearance in 25 years.

The All-Star floor general posted averages of 25.5 points and 7.8 assists as New York completed a four-game sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference championship round, capturing the Larry Bird Trophy for series MVP honors. During Monday’s decisive 130-93 victory in Game 4, he contributed 15 points and five assists.

“It’s an honor to be here in this city and this organization,” Brunson said, flanked by former Villanova University teammates Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

“We’re still writing our story, but I like the journey that we’re on right now.”

Doubts circulated throughout the NBA when New York offered a four-year, $104 million deal to the former Dallas Mavericks guard in 2022. Brunson quieted numerous doubters by posting 24.0 points per game in his debut season, followed by three consecutive All-Star nods.

Following New York’s Eastern Conference finals appearance in 2025, where they fell to the surprising Indiana Pacers, Brunson dominated the Cavaliers series from beginning to end. His 38-point performance in the opener sparked the Knicks’ remarkable rally from a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit.

“He just puts in the work. He’s a testament of that,” Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns said. “He believes in that, and he showcases that every single day to all of us and it drives us to be better.”

Brunson’s dedication immediately caught the attention of New York coach Mike Brown following his hiring last summer, eventually forcing the coach to modify his own sleep schedule as the 29-year-old’s intensity during morning practice sessions became legendary. Brown drew comparisons between Brunson’s drive and basketball icons Stephen Curry and Tim Duncan.

“Their quiet strength, all the time, is what they all have in common,” Brown said. “Jalen’s work ethic is off the chart and he makes me adjust because he goes so hard every day. When your leader is that way, it’s easy to be a coach.”

New York later added Bridges and Hart through trades, then completed their roster by obtaining Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves as the finishing touch. This quartet now stands four victories from delivering the organization’s first championship since 1973.

“There is no player, no other guard I’d want to be in this position with than J.B.,” Bridges said.

French tennis veteran Gael Monfils expressed his desire to follow in the footsteps of sports legends Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James by competing into his 40s, as he outlined plans for upcoming tournaments at Wimbledon, Montreal and the U.S. Open before concluding his career at home during the Paris Masters.

The tennis player, who will celebrate his 40th birthday in September, said his emotional goodbye to Roland Garros following a first-round defeat to fellow Frenchman Hugo Gaston on Monday, with scores of 6-2 6-3 3-6 2-6 6-0. He departed the court to thunderous applause from fans honoring his two-decade professional journey.

Monfils plans to conclude his playing career at season’s end as he works to maintain his physical condition through his 40s.

“Why do I want to get to the States? Because I want to play until 40. My wish is to be an athlete that plays until 40 years old,” Monfils said.

“Like Stan (Wawrinka), LeBron, Cristiano, (Patrice) Evra, like all of the athletes who have managed to continue their sport until the age of 40.

“That’s what I want to do. You know that whatever happens this summer, I’m locked in to train.”

The player, who achieved a career-high ranking of world number six and has found particular success on clay courts, noted that competing on the clay surface has become increasingly difficult in recent years.

He intends to request a wildcard entry for the U.S. Open while also scheduling appearances at Wimbledon and Montreal.

“Hopefully Wimbledon. Then need to decide if we go to Washington or not,” he said.

“I think we will ask Montreal, hopefully. I want to say goodbye to Montreal. Obviously I will ask the French Federation to have the U.S. Open wildcard. Hopefully I will have this one.

“Asia is a bit blurry, to be honest. Then the end of the year, I can tell you I will play Lyon, the new tournament. Nicolas (his agent) wants me to play Vienna, and then hopefully, Paris.”

Throughout his career, the 13-time ATP champion advanced to the French Open semi-finals in 2008 and contributed significantly to France’s Davis Cup campaigns in 2010 and 2014.

The NBA Finals won’t begin until June 3, meaning the schedule will accomplish what the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers couldn’t manage in recent weeks.

It will stop the New York Knicks from winning.

At least for several days.

The Knicks have secured their spot in the NBA Finals, arriving there with one of the most impressive runs in league history. New York completed a four-game sweep of the Eastern Conference finals Monday evening, defeating the Cavaliers 130-93 and pushing their winning streak to 11 games.

Knicks coach Mike Brown gave all praise to his players.

“They’re just great, great human beings and they’re obviously fantastic basketball players,” Brown said.

The Knicks defeated the Hawks in six games during Round 1, then swept both Philly in Round 2 and Cleveland for the Eastern Conference championship.

Now, the Knicks await either Oklahoma City or San Antonio. The Western Conference title won’t be decided until Thursday at the earliest, and whichever team wins that Thunder-Spurs matchup will host the Knicks for Game 1 of the NBA Finals next week.

The Knicks, who last suffered a defeat on April 23 (they were actually down 2-1 to the Hawks in that opening-round series following consecutive one-point defeats), have joined an exclusive group of teams entering the championship round with such a lengthy winning streak.

Just three other franchises — the Los Angeles Lakers in 1989, the Lakers once more in 2001 and Golden State in 2017 — have entered the NBA Finals riding postseason winning streaks of 11 games or longer.

The Lakers posted an 11-0 record through the first three playoff rounds in 1989 (when the opening round was best-of-five) before Detroit swept them in the finals. The 2001 Lakers also went 11-0 in the initial three rounds, then dropped Game 1 of the finals to Philadelphia before sweeping the remaining games to claim the championship.

Golden State achieved a 12-0 mark in Rounds 1-3 during 2017, then captured the first three finals games against Cleveland — reaching 15-0 for the playoffs — before losing Game 4 of the finals and closing out the series in Game 5.

New York isn’t simply winning. The team is winning decisively. Overwhelmingly so.

The Knicks have outscored their opponents by 262 points during this 11-game winning streak. This represents the most dominant 11-game stretch in NBA history — whether regular season or playoffs.

Boston outscored opponents by 243 points across an 11-game period in 2024. Milwaukee recorded 11-game stretches where they outscored teams by 230, 231 and 236 points (with some games overlapping between two of those runs) during 1970-71.

Those Celtics and Bucks teams both captured NBA championships in their respective seasons.

The Knicks’ average scoring margin in playoff rounds leading up to the Finals this season stands at 19.4 points per game. The previous best combined differential for all pre-Finals rounds was Golden State’s 16.3-point average per game in 2017.

The Knicks have captured six straight road playoff games by double digits. No franchise in NBA history has ever achieved such a postseason streak.

They’ve won those contests by a remarkable combined total of 161 points.

The former record for consecutive double-digit road playoff victories was five, accomplished twice — by Miami in 2013 (by a combined 75 points) and Golden State in 2017 (by a combined 88 points). Both franchises won NBA championships in those years.

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ promising season came crashing down Monday night as they suffered a crushing 130-93 defeat to the New York Knicks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.

The lopsided loss completed New York’s series sweep and secured the Knicks their first trip to the NBA Finals since 1999, while leaving Cleveland facing difficult questions about their future.

After finally breaking through to reach the conference finals, Donovan Mitchell and his teammates appeared overwhelmed by the moment and outmatched by their opponents. The pressure of the big stage seemed too much for a Cleveland squad that looked exhausted from grueling seven-game battles against Toronto and Detroit in previous playoff rounds.

The Cavaliers’ fate was essentially decided when they surrendered a 22-point fourth-quarter advantage in Game 1 at Madison Square Garden. From that point forward, New York controlled every aspect of the series, outperforming Cleveland in shooting, rebounding, and coaching.

Cleveland now enters what promises to be a chaotic offseason filled with major personnel decisions and potential roster reconstruction.

The team’s February trade deadline gamble – sending guard Darius Garland from their “Core Four” to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for James Harden – failed to produce the desired results. While Mitchell supported the Garland trade, the chemistry between him and Harden never developed as hoped, and the team struggled with consistency throughout the season.

Harden holds a $42.3 million player option for next season but is anticipated to decline it and potentially re-sign with Cleveland as a free agent. However, the 36-year-old’s performance fell short of offensive expectations while his defensive play was particularly problematic.

Mitchell’s situation presents even greater complexity. Cleveland can offer him a five-year, $350 million super-max extension as soon as this offseason, but financial considerations may lead the organization to delay that decision while evaluating whether the seven-time All-Star justifies such an enormous investment.

As the Knicks built a 33-point lead in the fourth quarter, Mitchell and Cleveland’s other key players were pulled from the game. The 29-year-old sat on the bench watching a franchise he once supported as a child celebrate their 11th consecutive playoff victory.

The disappointing conference finals exit will intensify questions surrounding coach Kenny Atkinson’s job security. Despite leading the team to a No. 1 seed in his debut season, last year ended with a frustrating second-round elimination against Indiana.

While Atkinson guided the Cavaliers one round deeper this postseason, it remains unclear whether that progress will satisfy owner Dan Gilbert, who has invested over $400 million in a franchise that has yet to deliver him a second championship.

New York’s dominant performance highlighted every weakness in Cleveland’s roster and may prompt Gilbert to pursue even more dramatic changes. The sight of his team being thoroughly dominated in Game 4 – with thousands of visiting fans chanting “Knicks in 4!” – likely left a lasting impression.

The Cavaliers will keep close tabs on superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo’s uncertain future in Milwaukee, as the Bucks have previously shown interest in 24-year-old Cleveland forward Evan Mobley.

Another intriguing possibility involves LeBron James and the chance for the NBA’s all-time scoring leader to complete another homecoming. Currently a free agent dealing with tensions in Los Angeles Lakers, James is exploring his options while Cleveland could certainly use his services once again.

CLEVELAND – The New York Knicks crushed the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals Monday night, completing a sweep and earning their first trip to the NBA Finals in 25 years. Karl-Anthony Towns led the way with 19 points and 14 rebounds in the decisive victory.

New York’s championship series berth ends a drought dating back to 1999, while their current postseason surge has reached 11 consecutive wins – a new franchise playoff record that ties the third-longest single-postseason streak in NBA history.

The Knicks received balanced scoring throughout their roster. OG Anunoby contributed 17 points while Landry Shamet came off the bench to add 16 points, connecting on all four of his three-point attempts. Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges each chipped in 15 points, and Josh Hart recorded six points along with 11 rebounds and six assists.

For Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell paced the scoring with 31 points and Evan Mobley added 15 points with seven rebounds. The Cavaliers had reached their first Eastern Conference finals since 2018 before falling to New York. James Harden struggled significantly, managing just 12 points while committing five turnovers and missing all six three-point attempts.

New York’s head coach Mike Brown will make his second NBA Finals appearance as a coach, having previously guided the Cavaliers to their first Eastern Conference title in 2007.

The 37-point margin of defeat represented the worst playoff home loss in Cavaliers franchise history.

The Knicks controlled the boards completely, out-rebounding Cleveland 60-33. Backup center Mitchell Robinson was particularly effective, collecting 10 rebounds in just 18 minutes of action.

New York seized control early with a devastating 20-0 scoring run spanning 5 minutes and 52 seconds from the end of the first quarter into the second period. Towns capped the surge with a thunderous dunk, pushing the score to 50-26.

The lead continued to grow as New York eventually stretched their advantage to 61-32 following Shamet’s third three-pointer of the opening half.

Cleveland started strong as Mitchell tallied 10 points and Mobley scored seven in the game’s first six minutes, giving the Cavaliers a 17-14 edge. However, a 9-0 New York run flipped the momentum permanently. Robinson’s entrance sparked the Knicks with six points and four rebounds, fueling a 24-9 run to close the first quarter.

Cleveland was dealt an additional blow when backup point guard Dennis Schroder was ruled out due to illness shortly before tipoff.

Several notable celebrities attended the game courtside to support the Knicks, including comedian Tracy Morgan, filmmaker Spike Lee and actor Timothee Chalamet.

The SEC’s top official tried to manage expectations Monday, making clear his conference won’t be making any decisions about College Football Playoff expansion during this week’s spring meetings taking place in Destin, Florida.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey supports growing the current 12-team format to 16 teams, while the Big Ten, ACC and Big 12 are all backing a larger 24-team structure.

Just last week, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti indicated his conference’s schools are prepared to support the 24-team proposal and would be willing to hold off if the SEC doesn’t agree.

Both commissioners face a December 1 deadline to reach consensus if any playoff growth is to take effect for the 2027-28 season.

Speaking to the media, Sankey acknowledged his conference wouldn’t “have a unanimous vote right now on a number.”

Rather than rushing to a decision, Sankey explained his league plans to examine every element of the 24-team proposal during this week’s meetings, including potential drawbacks.

“Four to 12 was monumental, I think it was justifiable, and you want to be careful about how far you go,” he stated.

Moving to 24 teams would likely mean the end of conference championship games, which Sankey strongly opposes. He pointed to existing SEC television deals as a barrier to such expansion, along with the significant financial hit from losing the SEC championship game.

Georgia president Jere Morehead publicly opposed the 24-team format last week.

“I was OK with going to 16,” he told The Athletic. “I thought that was a good number. But 24 scares me, particularly jumping from 12 to 24. If we went to 16 and tried that for a few years, see how it goes, and then we can evaluate whether we should go to 24. And from my standpoint, I would just stay at 12 then, if we can’t get an agreement on 16.”

Still, he left the final call to Sankey, and their shared perspective became clear Monday.

SEC presidents, athletics directors and coaches will also discuss their concerns this week about the lack of progress from the College Sports Commission in Washington, D.C. regarding NIL enforcement and oversight.

CLEVELAND — New York supporters turned Monday night’s Eastern Conference finals Game 4 into their own celebration at Rocket Arena, as the Knicks stood just one victory away from completing a sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Standing on the brink of their first NBA Finals berth since 1999, the Knicks drew massive support from thousands of traveling fans, including several high-profile celebrity supporters who made the trip to Cleveland.

The volume of “Let’s Go Knicks!” cheers during pregame warmups suggested New York supporters may have actually outnumbered local fans, leaving Cleveland supporters clinging to slim hopes their team could achieve the impossible by overcoming a 3-0 series deficit. No NBA team in history has accomplished such a comeback, with teams holding a perfect 164-0 record when leading 3-0 in best-of-seven playoff series.

The star-studded New York contingent included actor Timothée Chalamet with his girlfriend Kylie Jenner, filmmaker Spike Lee, comedian Tracy Morgan, several rappers, and former Knicks legends Walt “Clyde” Frazier and Allan Houston.

Cleveland countered with rapper Machine Gun Kelly representing the home team, while also bringing back fan-favorite guard Matthew Dellavedova from their 2016 championship squad for good luck. The Cavaliers had previously hosted pop superstar Taylor Swift and her fiancé, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, during Game 3.

New York fans had already made their presence felt during the Knicks’ Game 3 victory, prompting Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell to acknowledge the crowd dynamics were affected by Cleveland’s poor performance.

“I’m from New York, this doesn’t shock me. They do it in every arena,” Mitchell said. “That’s how Knicks fans are. I was one back in the day.”

ARLINGTON, Texas — Houston Astros right-handed pitcher Tatsuya Imai completed six innings without surrendering a hit Monday night in his team’s game against the Texas Rangers.

The rookie hurler struggled with his control early, issuing walks to three of the initial four batters he encountered, though a double play in the opening frame helped limit the damage. From that point forward, Imai found his rhythm and set down 16 consecutive Rangers hitters.

Imai’s control issues continued sporadically as he walked Brandon Nimmo to start the fourth inning, marking his fourth free pass of the contest. However, Ezequiel Duran immediately followed with a ground ball that resulted in another double play.

The 28-year-old pitcher is experiencing his debut major league campaign after making the transition from professional baseball in Japan. Through his initial five outings with Houston, Imai had compiled a 1-2 record alongside an 8.31 earned run average. During Monday’s six-inning performance, he delivered 57 strikes among his 97 total pitches while recording two strikeouts. The Astros maintained a 4-0 advantage.

Texas leadoff man Joc Pederson was denied a hit in the third inning thanks to an impressive defensive sequence when shortstop Jeremy Peña executed a backhand stop followed by an off-balance throw to first base for the out. The Rangers came closest to breaking through in the fifth inning when Justin Foscue and Danny Jansen each made solid contact that resulted in deep fly balls.

The Los Angeles Dodgers welcomed back their veteran utility player Kiké Hernández on Monday night as he made his season debut against the Colorado Rockies following a lengthy recovery from elbow surgery.

Hernández, who calls himself the team’s “clown in the clubhouse,” was scheduled to start at third base batting ninth, filling in for the injured Max Muncy in the series opener.

“Just getting his energy back is going to be good for our group,” manager Dave Roberts commented.

The 34-year-old veteran missed the season’s opening 53 games while recovering from offseason elbow surgery to address an injury that had plagued him throughout the previous campaign.

“It’s fixed and I’m feeling pretty good right now,” Hernández stated from the dugout before Monday’s game.

The versatile player will contribute at second and third base, potentially fill in at outfield positions when needed, and serve as a pinch-hitting option from the bench. Muncy remains out with a right wrist problem but may return by Wednesday.

During the offseason, Hernández underwent surgery to repair damaged muscle tissue and a torn extensor tendon in his left elbow. The procedure addressed an injury he initially sustained during the season that progressively worsened over time.

“He’s a tough competitor, tough player,” Roberts noted. “I don’t think anyone appreciated how severe the injury was.”

Despite playing with the torn tendon, Hernández persevered through the discomfort and contributed to the Dodgers’ second straight World Series championship. He participated in all 17 playoff contests, posting a .250 batting average with nine runs scored, one home run, and seven RBIs. However, continuing to play caused the tendon to separate from the bone, necessitating surgical intervention.

“It was a rough year,” he explained. “The best description that I can put on it is every time I would get in my batting stance I would feel like I had a blowtorch on.”

Following the World Series victory, an MRI scan showed significant swelling, leaving Hernández to choose between rehabilitation or surgery. Uncertain about the decision, he allowed his family and agent to make the final call.

They reminded him of his previous attempt to play through a core injury for three seasons, which resulted in additional damage and multiple operations. They encouraged him to have another procedure performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache.

“I woke up with ElAttrache telling me, ‘This is the worst injury I’ve ever seen of this kind and I don’t know how you played,’” he recalled. “I told him, ‘Thank you, I take it as a compliment.’”

While still under the influence of post-surgery medication, Hernández contacted Andrew Friedman via FaceTime and asked ElAttrache to share his assessment with the president of baseball operations.

Before his phone was confiscated, Hernández told Friedman: “I did this for you so you better bring me back.”

In February, Hernández secured a $4.5 million, one-year deal to return for his 10th season with the organization.

Due to his surgery and rehabilitation schedule, Hernández was unable to participate in the World Baseball Classic representing his homeland of Puerto Rico.

“That hurt my soul a little more than I was in pain physically last year just because I’ve been dreaming about playing in the WBC in Puerto Rico since I was 13 years old and it kind of felt like it got taken away from me,” he shared. “You got to find a way to look at positives in life. I was like, it would have sucked a lot more if we’d lost the World Series and I still didn’t get to play in the WBC. It was a fair trade.”

Last October, Hernández set a franchise record with his 87th postseason appearance. He currently holds the eighth position in major league history with 103 playoff games.

Among players of Puerto Rican heritage, he ranks fourth with over 100 career postseason appearances, behind Jorge Posada (125), Bernie Williams (121), and Yadier Molina (104).

“Doing that as a Latino is very important, especially in the city where there’s such a big Latino community and we’re living in some rough times,” he said. “Especially in this city, the last two years there’s been a lot of weird things going on, so I take the responsibility to not only represent this organization but the Latino community, the Puerto Rican community. It’s something that’s very touching to my heart.”

Beginning the season on the injured list provided an unexpected benefit, allowing Hernández to spend quality time with his newborn son born in February and his daughter.

Once he stopped experiencing daily pain, he realized he could return by the end of his IL period.

“It didn’t feel like I had to rush, it didn’t feel like I was going to lose my spot,” he said. “That was very key.”

He completed 12 rehabilitation games with Triple-A Oklahoma City, hitting .214 with two doubles and three RBIs.

“I had lot of fun with those guys,” he said. “Now I’m back with my guys here and I’m ready to go.”

As the Dodgers pursue a third consecutive World Series title, Hernández plans to mentor younger teammates when he’s not providing comic relief.

“I’m in charge of checking guys,” he said. “I think guys know if I’m on them, and I’m tough on them, it means I care a lot about them.”

To make room for Hernández on the roster, utility player Santiago Espinal was designated for assignment.

The 31-year-old former All-Star recorded a .220 batting average with three doubles, one home run, and four RBIs across 26 games with the Dodgers.

“I’ll lob a call to him in the next couple days to thank him for everything he did for us,” Roberts said. “He was fantastic. Obviously, we had a tough decision to make. We were very forthright up front about the expectations. I think he respected that.”

A Dominican Republic court handed down a suspended sentence Monday to Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco for sexually abusing a minor, allowing the former All-Star to avoid prison time.

Judge Jose Ramon Nunez cited “particular circumstances” as the reason for the lenient ruling in the case, which was prosecuted in the Caribbean country where the alleged crimes occurred.

The court also convicted the victim’s mother on charges of trafficking the minor to Franco and attempting to extort money from him.

Franco, who earned All-Star honors with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2023, had previously been convicted in June 2025, but that decision was reversed and a new trial was ordered.

Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, Franco appealed to his supporters, saying “to please continue supporting me and trust God, that soon, through God’s faith, we are heading up again.”

The alleged abuse occurred over approximately four months starting in December 2022, when Franco was 21 years old and the victim was 14.

The Dominican-born player became a star with the Tampa Bay Rays and earned All-Star recognition in 2023.

Franco inked a $182 million deal with the Rays in 2021 and was considered among baseball’s most promising young players before the accusations surfaced publicly in August 2023.

Franco remains on unpaid leave, with the Rays stating he has not reported to the team in Florida.

In a statement Monday, the Rays indicated they respect the legal proceedings and the court’s ruling, adding they will continue collaborating with Major League Baseball’s abuse policy organization. The team did not specify whether they plan to continue their relationship with Franco.

The decision may be challenged on appeal, and the complete legal reasoning has not been made public. Franco’s legal representative said they would review the full details before deciding on future actions.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has received a judicial pardon in the Dominican Republic despite being found guilty of sexually abusing a minor, avoiding any prison time.

A Dominican Republic judge determined Monday that Franco was both a perpetrator and a victim in his case, following his initial conviction in June 2025. Franco had been sentenced to two years of suspended prison time for an unlawful relationship with a 14-year-old girl in his home country.

Following an appeal by Franco’s legal team, a new trial was ordered. A three-judge panel reviewed the case and on Monday found Franco guilty while also determining he was victimized through extortion by the minor’s mother.

“In this case, the court has considered not only the conduct regarding an anomalous or abnormal relationship between the defendant and a minor, but also that the defendant in this specific case is also a victim,” Judge Jose Ramon Nunez said, per Listin Diario. “A victim of rapacious human behavior, which forgets principles and values and, once the problem arises, tries to profit from it at the expense of the very dignity of the one who should have been protected.”

Investigators discovered Franco made two payments exceeding $100,000 to the victim’s mother, reportedly to permit the relationship to persist for approximately two months beginning in 2022.

The victim’s mother received another conviction for trafficking and was sentenced to 10 years in prison for money laundering and additional charges.

Regarding Franco’s professional baseball future, the conviction remains on his record and he continues on Major League Baseball’s restricted list. Franco may face suspension under the league’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.

“We are aware of today’s verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time,” MLB said in a statement to multiple outlets.

Franco remains under contract with the Rays, who signed him to an 11-year, $182 million extension in 2021. He receives no pay while on the restricted list.

“The Tampa Bay Rays are aware of today’s ruling in the Dominican Republic involving Wander Franco,” the team said in a statement to the Tampa Bay Times. “We respect the legal process and the decision issued by the court. This is a serious matter, and our thoughts remain with those affected by the case.

“The Rays will continue to cooperate fully with Major League Baseball as it completes its review under the league’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. Out of respect for the legal process and all parties involved, we will have no further comment at this time.”

Franco, now 25, hasn’t appeared in an MLB game since Aug. 12, 2023. He was selected as an All-Star that season during his third year in the majors, posting a .282 career batting average with 30 home runs and 130 RBIs across 265 games.

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Monday that Iran’s national soccer team will establish their base in Mexico and make daily trips to the United States for their World Cup matches, following Washington’s decision not to accommodate the squad during the tournament.

According to Sheinbaum, FIFA contacted her administration after American officials indicated they preferred Iran not remain in the country for the duration of the June 11-July 19 competition, despite Iran being slated to compete in three Group G games on US soil.

“We have no reason to deny them the possibility of staying in Mexico,” Sheinbaum stated during her daily press briefing.

Iran’s schedule includes matches against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15, Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

Neither the White House nor the State Department provided immediate responses to requests for comment.

In March, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that while Iran was welcome to participate in the World Cup, he felt it wasn’t suitable for Iran’s team to remain in the United States “for their own life and safety.”

On Saturday, Mehdi Taj, who leads Iran’s football federation, announced the team’s headquarters would relocate from Arizona to Tijuana, the Mexican border city, for the duration of the tournament. FIFA validated this change on Monday.

Taj explained that this relocation would help prevent visa complications and enable direct Iran Air flights to Mexico.

Iran’s World Cup participation has faced examination since late February, when the United States participated alongside Israel in strikes against Iran, sparking a conflict that created uncertainty about whether Tehran would deploy its team to compete in one of the host nations.

In March, Taj revealed Iran was discussing with FIFA the possibility of relocating its group matches to Mexico for security reasons, with Sheinbaum indicating Mexico’s willingness to host them. FIFA maintained the original schedule.

This situation sparked broader questions about Iran’s tournament participation. In April, Trump’s envoy for global partnerships, Paolo Zampolli, proposed Italy as Iran’s replacement, which drew dismissive reactions from Italian officials and FIFA.

Iran secured its fourth straight World Cup berth by finishing first in its group during the third round of Asian qualifying last year.

As the World Cup approaches, Charlotte FC defender Tim Ream is focused on earning a spot on the U.S. Men’s National Team roster while recognizing the tournament’s broader significance for American soccer.

The Major League Soccer player understands that the upcoming competition carries weight beyond individual performance, as the team’s success could help cultivate interest in soccer among a new wave of American supporters.

Ream, who plays for the Charlotte-based MLS franchise, is working toward what would be his second World Cup appearance with the national team. The defender sees the tournament as a crucial opportunity for both personal achievement and the sport’s development in the United States.

Argentine soccer superstar Lionel Messi is nursing a hamstring injury with less than three weeks remaining until the World Cup kicks off, his club Inter Miami announced Monday following his early exit from what was expected to be his last match before the international tournament.

The 38-year-old star was substituted out of Sunday’s high-scoring 6-4 Major League Soccer win against the Philadelphia Union during the 73rd minute after he grabbed the back of his leg following a free kick attempt.

“After undergoing further medical tests this Monday, the initial diagnosis indicates an overload associated with muscle fatigue in his left hamstring,” Inter Miami said in a statement.

“The timeline for his return to physical activity will depend on his clinical and functional progress.”

Inter Miami’s head coach Guillermo Hoyos minimized concerns following the game, suggesting Messi looked tired after competing on what he described as a “heavy” playing surface.

The Major League Soccer season is now on break for the World Cup tournament, scheduled to take place across the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 through July 19.

Argentina’s national team coach Lionel Scaloni has named the eight-time Ballon d’Or recipient to a preliminary 55-player roster released this month, with the title-defending squad set to face Algeria in Kansas City on June 16 for their tournament opener.

Messi served as captain when Argentina claimed their third World Cup championship in Qatar during 2022 and is anticipated to once again lead the national team in what may mark his sixth World Cup appearance.

PARIS – Tennis veteran Gael Monfils played his final match at the French Open on Monday, falling to fellow Frenchman Hugo Gaston in a five-set first-round encounter that ended 6-2 6-3 3-6 2-6 6-0. The 39-year-old received an emotional send-off from fans who celebrated his two decades of entertaining tennis at Roland Garros.

The match came just hours after veteran player Stan Wawrinka also concluded his French Open career. Monfils battled through the contest on Court Philippe Chatrier, giving supporters the extended match they hoped to witness despite struggling to reach his peak performance level.

Following a video tribute highlighting his memorable moments and special bond with Paris crowds, Monfils addressed the audience with heartfelt remarks.

“Here we are, I love you all so much. I’ll try to be quick and to the point,” Monfils told the crowd after watching the tribute presentation.

The emotional farewell included gratitude to his family members, including his parents and wife, fellow professional player Elina Svitolina, along with his coaching team and the French Tennis Federation. He then turned his attention to the fans who supported him throughout his career.

“I’d like to thank you all,” he continued. “Every year I come to play at the French Open, I get goosebumps. Every time, I say to myself ‘this is magical’. I’ve created something powerful, unique, exceptional.”

“I’m going to miss you. This tournament is fabulous, it’s magical. Roland Garros, I love you, I owe you everything.”

The match itself provided drama as Monfils, who plans to retire when this season concludes, dropped the opening set before attempting a comeback in the second. Though fans erupted when he showed signs of mounting a challenge, Gaston quickly regained control to take a two-set advantage.

Spectators hoping for a dramatic finish got their wish as Monfils secured a crucial break to lead 5-3 and claim the third set. He then dominated the fourth set to force a deciding fifth set, but Gaston composed himself to win the final set without dropping a game.

Gaston expressed mixed emotions after defeating his countryman in such a significant moment.

“There are a lot of emotions,” Gaston reflected. “There is joy but mostly sadness, I’m so sorry for you, Gael. I want to congratulate you, thank you for all you have done for us, the young players, and for your incredible career.”

“You’re a French legend, a legend of our sport.”

The ceremony continued with video messages from tennis stars including Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Gilles Simon, Richard Gasquet, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Wawrinka, bringing smiles to Monfils’ face as his Roland Garros career officially came to an end.

The Los Angeles Dodgers welcomed back versatile player Enrique Hernandez on Monday night as he returned from the 60-day injured list to face the Colorado Rockies in his first game of the season.

The 34-year-old utility player has bounced back from left elbow surgery and will take the field at third base while batting in the ninth position.

Hernandez went under the knife in November following elbow problems that sidelined him for two months during the 2025 campaign. He inked a one-year deal valued at $4.5 million in February to rejoin the Dodgers organization.

The surgical procedure also kept Hernandez from representing Puerto Rico during the World Baseball Classic in March.

His return comes at an opportune moment as third baseman Max Muncy continues to battle right wrist discomfort after taking a pitch from Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Aaron Ashby on Friday. Muncy has been absent from the starting lineup for three consecutive days, though he participated in outfield throwing exercises before Monday’s contest.

To make room for Hernandez on the roster, the Dodgers placed utility man Santiago Espinal on waivers for assignment.

The 31-year-old Espinal compiled a .220 batting average with one home run and four RBIs across 26 appearances this season. The former 2022 All-Star selection for Toronto posted a .260 career batting mark with 31 homers through 604 games spanning time with the Blue Jays (2020-23), Cincinnati Reds (2024-25) and Dodgers.

Last season, Hernandez managed a .203 batting average alongside 10 home runs and 35 RBIs in 92 contests. Throughout his 12-year major league career, including nine seasons with the Dodgers across two different periods, Hernandez maintains a .236 career batting average with 130 home runs and 470 RBIs over 1,275 games.

Hernandez has built his reputation on delivering in high-pressure postseason moments. He has connected for 16 home runs with 42 RBIs across 103 career playoff contests while contributing to the Dodgers’ World Series championships in 2020, 2024 and 2025.

During his time with the Boston Red Sox in 2021, Hernandez launched five home runs in the postseason as the team advanced to the American League Championship Series before losing to the Houston Astros.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Right when Colorado welcomed back their reigning Norris Trophy recipient Cale Makar, the Avalanche may now be facing the loss of Hart Trophy candidate Nathan MacKinnon.

At minimum, they’ll have a severely restricted MacKinnon, which described his condition after a puck struck his right knee during Sunday evening’s 5-3 defeat to the Vegas Golden Knights.

This series has been challenging for the Avalanche, with the Presidents’ Trophy champions now trailing 3-0 in the Western Conference Final. Facing potential elimination on Tuesday evening, coach Jared Bednar expressed willingness to utilize MacKinnon however possible.

“For him to be able to come back out, get some work done late in the second period and intermission and be able to come out and even help us on the power play and empty-net situations, if that’s all he can do, we’ll take it,” Bednar said. “It’s better than anything else, in my opinion, we can put on the ice.”

While that statement might draw considerable discussion within the Avalanche dressing room, the Golden Knights currently command Colorado’s complete attention.

Although the Avalanche may have entered the series as favorites — the league’s top regular season team facing one so eager to reach the playoffs they dismissed their coach with eight contests left — circumstances have changed dramatically.

The statistical reality is overwhelming.

This marks the 50th occasion in conference finals or league semifinals where a series has reached 3-0. Every one of the previous 49 teams holding that lead advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, with 47 completing the series within six games.

Just four teams have overcome 3-0 series deficits in any playoff round. Los Angeles in 2014 became the latest team to achieve this feat when they eliminated San Jose in their opening-round matchup.

Additionally, there’s the notorious Presidents’ Trophy curse. Chicago in 2013 represented the last franchise to capture both that award and the Stanley Cup during the same campaign. Colorado already experienced the challenge of achieving this double, earning the Presidents’ Trophy during the 2021 COVID-shortened season before falling in six games during the second round… to the Golden Knights.

“There’s going to be a sense of urgency, but it’s got to be smart urgency,” defenseman Josh Manson said. “It’s got to be desperation. It’s got to be our best style of play the whole night. You’ve got to maintain that sense of do or die, while playing up to the edge. That’s what makes it so difficult.

“The margin of error is so thin now, and you’ve got to be able to balance that for at least 12 periods.”

Colorado needs exactly that many periods minimum to achieve something no other team has managed this late in playoff competition. They must perform like the squad that appeared to be the NHL’s finest for six months and during the initial two playoff rounds when they posted an 8-1 record.

“We know where we’re at,” wing Martin Necas said. “We know it doesn’t happen very often, but we still feel confident in this group. It’s not like we’ve been outplayed every game and their team is better than ours. We had a lot of stretches this season where we won four in a row. So we just focus on the next game and take it home and anything can happen.”

Bringing the series back to Denver for Game 5 would represent progress.

“Our team’s played with more intensity and more desperation as the series (has) gone on,” Bednar said. “Hasn’t worked out for us yet. I think with the hill to climb, it’s definitely a tough one. It just doesn’t happen very often, and we’re certainly understanding of that, but I think we have a lot of pride and a lot of character in our room that displayed that time over time throughout the course of the year,

“This will be our most difficult challenge, but I believe that we will show up and we will be ready to play.”