Category: Sports

American tennis player Tommy Paul mounted an impressive turnaround Friday to secure his spot in the Hamburg Open championship match, overcoming Australia’s Alex de Minaur 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in semifinal action in Germany.

The sixth-seeded Paul found himself in deep trouble early, falling behind 3-0 in the second set after dropping the opener. But the American then dominated play, capturing nine consecutive games to flip the match in his favor and control the deciding set. This marks Paul’s 10th career tour-level final appearance and his second on clay surfaces, with both clay finals coming this season following his Houston championship last month. While de Minaur managed to save 13 of 17 break point opportunities, he struggled on second serves, winning only 44% of those points.

Paul’s championship opponent will be qualifier Ignacio Buse, who made history by becoming Peru’s first player to reach a tour-level final since Luis Horna accomplished the feat in 2007. The 22-year-old Buse dominated lucky loser Aleksander Kovacevic 6-1, 6-4 in just 64 minutes. Despite landing only 42% of his first serves, Buse was nearly perfect on serve, winning 89% of his service points.

At the Geneva Open in Switzerland, No. 4 Learner Tien survived a marathon battle against Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik, the tournament’s second seed, prevailing 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (5) to claim his first clay court final berth.

The 20-year-old Tien looked poised for an easy finish after racing to a 6-1 lead in the decisive tiebreaker, but needed five match points before finally securing victory. Tien becomes Geneva’s youngest finalist since Sergi Bruguera in 1990 and marks the first American to reach the tournament’s final since Aaron Krickstein in 1984.

Tien’s final opponent will be unseeded Argentine Mariano Navone, who upset three-time Geneva champion and sixth-seeded Casper Ruud of Norway 7-5, 6-2. Navone controlled the match with superior shot-making, recording 27 winners compared to Ruud’s 21 while committing fewer unforced errors 29-19. Saturday’s Geneva final will crown a second-time tour-level champion, as both players seek their second career trophy.

The New York Yankees have brought back their former Cy Young Award-winning pitcher from the injured list, with the right-hander set to take the mound Friday night against Tampa Bay in a crucial American League East battle at home.

The veteran starter has spent 14 months working his way back from Tommy John surgery, with the last two months focused on gradually strengthening his arm and participating in minor league rehabilitation games as he prepared for his Yankees comeback.

“It’s been tough. I mean, I’ve missed it quite a bit,” the pitcher said earlier this week. “There’s been some blessings along the way as well. I talked about my family and spending time with my boys. But largely I’m just looking forward to being really tired and having that exhaustion, like, mean something.”

The 35-year-old will step onto a major league mound for the first time since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. That following spring, he underwent reconstructive elbow surgery just five days after giving up two home runs during a spring training appearance against the Minnesota Twins.

During spring training this season, he made two appearances for the Yankees before starting his rehabilitation assignment on April 17. Across six minor league games with three different New York affiliate teams, he recorded a 4.66 ERA while surrendering 28 hits over 29 innings, striking out 28 batters and issuing three walks.

“We’re thrilled to get him back,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday. “I think that goes without saying. It’s been a long road and I feel like he’s crushed the rehab process. I feel like the ramp up’s been really good. We’ve been diligent, haven’t skipped things and haven’t rushed things.”

“As a result, I think he’s in position to come here and perform at a high level. That being said, it’s been a long time and so I’m sure there’ll be some things he’s got to iron out at this level, too.”

The Yankees also activated utility man Jose Caballero from the 10-day injured list, where he had been recovering from a fractured finger.

Caballero sustained the injury to his right middle finger on May 10 while diving back to first base to avoid a pickoff attempt during a 4-3 road defeat to the Milwaukee Brewers.

While Caballero was sidelined, the Yankees promoted shortstop Anthony Volpe, who made his 2026 MLB debut after beginning the season rehabilitating from shoulder surgery performed last October before being sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on May 3.

Prior to getting hurt, Caballero was hitting .259 with four home runs, 13 RBIs and 13 stolen bases across 41 games, starting 39 contests at shortstop. The Yankees obtained him at the 2025 trade deadline from division rival Tampa Bay and utilized him in both outfield and infield positions, though he had secured the everyday shortstop role entering this season.

Right after Caballero’s injury occurred, Boone suggested the 29-year-old would keep his starting shortstop spot, but the Yankees manager remained uncommitted over the past week regarding how Volpe would be deployed once Caballero was cleared to return to the majors.

“We’ll see. We haven’t had that conversation yet. The biggest thing is he’s come up and played his butt off,” Boone said of Volpe during an appearance on “Talkin’ Yanks” on Tuesday. “The one thing that’s encouraging is how Anthony’s played in not ideal circumstances. He’s come up and performed at a really high level.”

Following Spencer Jones being sent to Triple-A Thursday, Volpe stays on the roster, although his future role remains uncertain as Caballero is listed in the starting lineup at shortstop for Friday night’s game.

Volpe, 25, competed through a partial labrum tear in his left (non-throwing) shoulder last season before undergoing the October surgery. Both his batting performance and defensive play declined in 2025 while dealing with the injury, a drop-off from his 21-home run, Gold Glove rookie campaign in 2023 across 159 games and his .243 average with 12 homers and 60 RBIs in 160 games during 2024.

Over 480 career games, Volpe has hit .222 with 52 home runs, 192 RBIs, 84 doubles and 72 stolen bases. He also shared the American League lead with 19 errors last season.

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees will begin training Anthony Volpe at second base now that José Caballero has returned from his broken middle finger injury.

Caballero came back from the injured list and took the field at shortstop during Friday’s series opener against the AL-leading Tampa Bay team after completing the required 10-day absence. Volpe sat on the bench for the game.

“As I’ve told them each, it’s not going to be the perfect scenario every single day. You may like or not like a decision on a given day, but the end of the day we’re all working for the same thing,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “We want to win big, and we want win big for the Yankees. And then it’s my job to try and put you in the best position to be successful and there’ll be some days where that makes sense and is fair or not fair.”

Caballero sustained his injury when he dove back toward first base during a pickoff play by Abner Uribe in the ninth inning of a Milwaukee game on May 10, despite using a sliding mitt for protection. The 29-year-old player, who joined the Yankees from Tampa Bay on July 31 last year, had appeared in 39 of the team’s initial 41 games at shortstop, posting a .249 batting average with four home runs, 13 RBIs and 13 stolen bases for a .720 OPS.

Volpe, who held the starting shortstop role from 2021-23, had been sent down to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after recovering from shoulder surgery performed on Oct. 14, but was called back up when Caballero suffered his injury.

“Both guys are going to play. Cabby’s versatility comes into play now again with Anthony here,” Boone said. “These things have a way of working themselves out. It’s a good situation to be in because we have two players that we feel like can play vital roles in us winning games.”

During Caballero’s time on the injured list, Volpe made eight starts at shortstop and posted a .217 batting average with three RBIs, two stolen bases and seven walks for a .707 OPS.

“Like what I’ve seen. I feel like he’s had a good week of at-bats,” Boone said. “I feel he’s played well in the field. Again, it’s a week, but he’s a really talented player that we have high expectations for.”

Volpe’s experience at second base in professional baseball consists of just one game each at Class A Tampa and High-A Hudson Valley in 2021, the same year he also played three games at third base for Tampa.

“Second base I’m not too worried about,” Boone said. “I probably wouldn’t put him over at third up here. I’d want him to go do that a little bit.”

Volpe also got second base experience during five spring training games in 2023.

“He may still end up being all at shortstop. On the days he’s playing shortstop, I may move Cabby around,” Boone said. “But I want him to at least get some work over there and see that side of the field, too.”

Caballero brings experience at second base, third base and the outfield as well.

The Yankees created roster space by sending top prospect Spencer Jones down to Scranton. Jones made his debut on May 8 and managed a .167 batting average with no extra-base hits and two RBIs across 27 plate appearances in 10 games. His call-up came after Jasson Domínguez injured his left shoulder crashing into Yankee Stadium’s outfield wall on May 7.

“It was a good experience for Spencer even though he didn’t get a lot of results,” Boone said. “I actually feel like he held his own pretty well.”

Domínguez is currently taking batting practice off a tee and may return to game action by late next week or early June.

Giancarlo Stanton, who has been out since April 24 with a strained right calf, will undergo evaluation next week and might receive clearance to begin running.

Trent Grisham returned to the starting lineup in the leadoff spot and center field after sitting out one game. He had exited Wednesday’s contest due to knee discomfort, but tests revealed no structural problems.

The Yankees also brought back ace right-hander Gerrit Cole from the 15-day injured list following his recovery from elbow ligament replacement surgery. He was scheduled to start Friday in his first meaningful big league game since the 2024 World Series.

Right-hander Yovanny Cruz was sent to the RailRiders on Thursday night after making his first two major league appearances.

George Russell claimed the top starting spot for Saturday’s Canadian Grand Prix sprint race, leading a Mercedes front-row sweep with teammate Kimi Antonelli securing second place during Friday’s qualifying session in Montreal.

Lando Norris of McLaren, the current reigning champion, earned the third starting position at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, while his teammate Oscar Piastri will begin the race from fourth place.

Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc claimed the fifth and sixth starting positions for Saturday’s sprint competition.

The 19-year-old Antonelli, who has claimed victory in the previous three grand prix events, currently holds the championship lead with a 20-point advantage over Russell following four completed race weekends, making him the youngest driver ever to lead the Formula One standings.

Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story faces an extended absence from the field following Thursday’s surgical procedure in Philadelphia to address a sports hernia.

The Red Sox announced the operation on Friday without providing a specific recovery timeline. However, the 33-year-old infielder shared with media members last Saturday that “the basic prognosis is six to 10 weeks, give or take.”

The injury first surfaced during spring training when Story experienced discomfort but continued playing despite the pain. Team officials initially classified the problem as a groin issue until additional medical examinations revealed it was actually a hernia.

Story’s performance this season has reflected his physical struggles, posting a .206 batting average alongside three home runs, 19 RBIs and 57 strikeouts across 41 games. His slugging percentage sits at just .303, significantly lower than his career average of .483.

When discussing his declining statistics on Saturday, Story acknowledged the injury’s impact while taking responsibility. “I hate to (make excuses). I’m not going to be blaming it all on that, but it plays a part, for sure. I think the main thing is getting it right, and I’m not so much worried about what has happened, and I’m more worried about problem-solving it and moving forward with the next steps, whatever that may be,” he said.

Throughout his 11-season career spanning 1,106 games with the Colorado Rockies (2016-21) and Red Sox, Story maintains a .262 batting average with 207 home runs and 655 RBIs. He earned National League All-Star recognition twice during his time with Colorado in 2018 and 2019.

Boston manager Chad Tracy announced Friday that second baseman Marcelo Mayer will transition to shortstop starting Sunday and continue at that position during Story’s recovery period. Nick Sogard took over shortstop duties for Friday’s matchup against the Minnesota Twins.

MONTREAL, May 22 – Red Bull’s team leader Laurent Mekies maintained his position that Max Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will move to McLaren as team principal, even as current principal Andrea Stella insisted he would remain in his role.

Mekies initially made this claim during the Miami Grand Prix earlier this month, prompting McLaren Chief Executive Zak Brown to respond that the Frenchman apparently “knows something I don’t.”

“Look, it’s certainly my understanding that GP (Lambiase) is going to McLaren to become a team principal,” Mekies stated during an FIA news conference at the Canadian Grand Prix on Friday, with Stella present when questioned about the matter again.

“That’s what I told you at the time (in Miami).”

“Obviously we had a number of conversations before he was going to make that decision. Now, don’t ask me if it’s going to happen. The timing of it is none of my business. I can just tell you the content of our conversations.”

McLaren revealed Lambiase’s transfer in April, setting his arrival for no later than 2028 when his current contract expires.

The team also stated he would take on the position of Chief Racing Officer, working in a support capacity alongside Stella.

Stella, leading a team that has captured two straight constructors’ championships and Lando Norris’s drivers’ title last season, has faced media rumors linking him to Ferrari, while speculation surrounds their Australian driver Oscar Piastri potentially moving to Red Bull.

Questions have also emerged about whether four-time world champion Verstappen might follow Lambiase to McLaren, though Mekies expressed no concern about this possibility.

Stella dismissed the various rumors on Friday, with the Italian affirming his complete dedication to McLaren, noting Piastri’s contentment and suggesting the ‘Silly Season’ had begun early.

“For us, it’s important to employ the best talents in Formula One because Zak and I want to build the strongest team,” he continued.

“I have been part of the Ferrari team in the early 2000s, and I know what level of seniority, expertise, leadership you need to be successful in the present and in the future.

“And employing GP is part of this vision … of creating additive leadership that can integrate with the present leadership and create a stronger and stronger team at McLaren.

“I very strongly wanted GP to join McLaren. I am personally very stretched in my role as team principal, and I need a strong group of leaders working with me. So, I think the plan is very clear. Any other speculation leads us back to the silly season.”

The New York Mets promoted right-handed pitcher Jonah Tong from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, while simultaneously releasing veteran closer Craig Kimbrel to make room on the roster.

Tong, who is 22 years old, holds the distinction of being the organization’s second-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline. The team brought him up just before beginning a three-game series against the Miami Marlins.

Selected by the Mets in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB Draft, Tong made his major league debut during the previous season, where he compiled a 2-3 record with a 7.71 ERA across five starting assignments.

The organization may deploy the Canadian pitcher in a bulk relief role on Friday following Tobias Myers’ start in the opening game.

This season, Tong has been among the minor league leaders in strikeouts, entering Friday tied for sixth place with 55 strikeouts. Last season, he led all minor leaguers with 179 strikeouts. Through nine starts with Syracuse this year, he holds a 1-3 record and 5.68 ERA.

Meanwhile, Kimbrel, who will celebrate his 38th birthday on Thursday, struggled in his time with the Mets after signing a minor-league contract in January, posting a 6.00 ERA across 14 appearances.

The veteran reliever sits fifth on the all-time saves list with 440 career saves. During his peak years with the Atlanta Braves, he topped the National League in saves for four consecutive seasons beginning with his Rookie of the Year season in 2011.

Kimbrel achieved 39 saves with the San Diego Padres in 2015 and notched more than 30 saves in three consecutive campaigns with the Boston Red Sox from 2016-18, before his effectiveness began to wane.

Over the last seven seasons, he has played for seven different major league organizations. During the previous season, Kimbrel appeared in 42 minor league contests across the Braves, Texas Rangers and Houston Astros systems, while making only 14 major league appearances – 13 with Houston and one with Atlanta.

Throughout his career, Kimbrel has compiled a 56-50 record with a 2.65 ERA over 865 relief appearances.

CONCORD, N.C. — Emergency dispatch recordings obtained Friday by The Associated Press reveal NASCAR star Kyle Busch suffered breathing problems, felt overheated, and was coughing up blood on the day prior to his passing.

The 41-year-old racing champion died Thursday. While no official cause of death has been announced, his family previously disclosed he had been receiving hospital treatment for a “severe illness” just three days ahead of his planned participation in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Sources with knowledge of the incident, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of undisclosed details, told the AP that Busch collapsed while working in a Chevrolet racing simulator facility in Concord on Wednesday and was rushed to a Charlotte-area hospital.

The emergency call, made that Wednesday afternoon from the General Motors training center, captured an unidentified person calmly reporting to dispatchers: “I’ve got an individual that’s (got) shortness of breath, very hot, thinks he’s going to pass out, and is producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood.”

Audio released by the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office shows the caller described finding Busch on a restroom floor within the facility, noting “He is awake.” The caller provided location details for emergency crews and requested they arrive without sirens.

NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell has scheduled a press conference for later Friday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Busch’s sudden passing has devastated the racing community during one of motorsports’ most significant weekends, coinciding with the Indianapolis 500.

Thursday evening’s NHL conference final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens began with a moment of silence honoring the driver.

Vice President JD Vance posted on social media: “I had the opportunity to meet Kyle, one of NASCAR’s greatest racers, on the campaign trail in 2024. Usha and I are praying for him and his family. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.”

Richard Childress Racing, Busch’s team for the past four seasons, announced they will retire his No. 8 Cup Series car and switch to No. 33 starting with Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 race.

The team stated the No. 8 will remain available exclusively for Busch’s son, Brexton, when he begins his NASCAR career.

At 11 years old, Brexton Busch has already gained recognition for his racing abilities.

“Kyle Busch was instrumental in the design of RCR’s stylized No. 8 and it has become synonymous with Kyle and an important symbol for fans and the NASCAR community,” RCR posted on X. “No one can carry it forward to the level that he did.”

Overcast conditions and unusually cool temperatures created a somber atmosphere at the track Friday, complementing the memorial tribute to Busch displayed on the venue’s video screen.

Driver Christopher Bell plans to compete in Friday night’s NASCAR Trucks Series event, a race Busch was originally scheduled to enter.

Busch claimed victory in last week’s Trucks competition at Dover — his final career triumph — bringing his total wins across NASCAR’s three national divisions to 234, more than any other driver in history.

His most recent Cup Series performance was a 17th-place finish in Sunday’s All-Star race.

“It’s going to be very strange to be out there without Kyle in the field,” Bell said. “It’s going to take a long time before things feel back to normal.”

Bell described Busch’s death as creating a “gutwrenching feeling.”

He recalled speaking with Busch before the recent Trucks Series race, saying he appeared “normal, like completely normal.”

Just Monday, Busch shared a birthday celebration post for his son Brexton on Instagram, writing “Your mom & I are so proud who you’re turning out to be!”

The father and son had spent Tuesday evening in Durham, North Carolina, attending the launch of a go-kart facility with the Andretti family.

“I guess it is a very stark reminder of how fragile life can be,” Bell reflected.

A recently obtained 911 emergency call reveals that NASCAR champion Kyle Busch was suffering from severe breathing problems and coughing up blood just 24 hours before his passing, according to USA Today reports released Friday.

The racing legend, who claimed two NASCAR Cup Series championships and is regarded as among the sport’s greatest competitors, passed away Thursday at the age of 41.

His death was confirmed by the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR officials, coming just hours after they had announced his hospitalization earlier in the week and his absence from Sunday’s upcoming Coca-Cola 600 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The emergency call originated Wednesday from a General Motors facility located in Concord, N.C.

During the 911 call, an unidentified male caller described finding Busch collapsed on a bathroom floor in severe distress. The caller specifically requested that emergency vehicles arrive without sirens activated.

“I’ve got an individual that’s (experiencing) shortness of breath, very hot and thinks he’s going to pass out and he’s producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood,” the caller told the dispatcher.

Medical personnel transported Busch to a Charlotte-area hospital following the emergency response.

Officials have not yet disclosed the cause of death.

Busch leaves behind his wife Samantha, along with his 11-year-old son Brexton and 4-year-old daughter Lennix. He was the younger sibling of NASCAR Hall of Famer Kurt Busch, 47.

Throughout his career, Busch accumulated an impressive 234 victories spanning NASCAR’s three premier series: 63 Cup Series wins, 102 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series victories, and 69 Craftsman Truck Series triumphs. His most recent victory came at Dover in the trucks division on Friday, just six days prior to his death.

The Las Vegas-born driver captured NASCAR Cup Series titles in both 2015 and 2019. While the Daytona 500 victory eluded him throughout his career, he earned his first pole position for the race this season before completing the event in 15th place.

His most notable victories included the 2008 Southern 500, back-to-back Brickyard 400 wins in 2015 and 2016, and the 2019 Coca-Cola 600.

American tennis star Emma Navarro dominated her compatriot Ann Li with a commanding 6-1, 6-3 victory on Friday, securing her spot in the championship match of the Internationaux de Strasbourg tournament in France, where she’ll face top-seeded Victoria Mboko.

The American player demonstrated exceptional defensive skills by saving seven out of eight break point opportunities while capitalizing on five of her eight break point chances, wrapping up the WTA 500 clay-court semifinal match in just 77 minutes. Navarro is now pursuing her third professional title and her first victory since capturing the Merida Open championship in Mexico this past March 2025.

Mboko required nearly three hours to secure her finals berth, defeating Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian in a grueling 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-2 battle that lasted two hours and 52 minutes. The 19-year-old Canadian player mounted an impressive comeback after trailing 4-1 and 5-2 in the first set. She’s also chasing her third professional title and first victory since winning the Hong Kong Open last November.

Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem

In Morocco’s capital city of Rabat, sixth-seeded Croatian player Petra Marcinko will square off against unseeded Ukrainian competitor Anhelina Kalinina in Saturday’s final of this tournament.

Marcinko advanced by defeating Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann with scores of 7-6 (2), 6-3 in their semifinal clash at this WTA 250 clay-court event. The Croatian player dominated her service game, winning 83.3% of first-serve points (30 out of 36), delivering four aces and successfully converting five of ten break point opportunities during the match that lasted one hour and 45 minutes.

Kalinina will be pursuing her first-ever WTA Tour championship after recording an impressive 6-0, 6-3 triumph in just 60 minutes against Hungary’s seventh-seeded Panna Udvardy. The Ukrainian player never allowed her opponent a single break point opportunity while successfully converting five of her eight break point chances.

LIV Golf is presenting a streamlined 10-tournament international calendar to prospective investors as the organization searches for new financial backing, according to reports from Sportico and CNBC.

The professional golf circuit is actively pursuing between $250 million and $350 million in investment capital to sustain operations past the current season, following Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund’s announcement that its financial support will conclude when this season ends.

The reports indicate that LIV Golf’s presentation to investors centers on a strategy emphasizing global tournaments, highlighting strong attendance numbers from events in Australia and South Africa as examples of the league’s international appeal.

The organization’s original 2026 schedule included 14 tournaments, with five planned for the United States. However, a tournament that was set for New Orleans from June 25-28 has been delayed.

Earlier this week, Bloomberg published a report suggesting LIV Golf is making preparations for a possible bankruptcy proceeding.

A spokesperson for LIV Golf provided Golf Digest with an extensive response to that report.

“LIV Golf is firmly focused on securing a transaction that positions the organization for the long-term,” the statement said. “As we begin presenting our go-forward business plan to prospective capital partners, we are focused on achieving a sustainable future and there are multiple pathways under active exploration.

“We continue to see great momentum on the course and with support through the 2026 season and a clear plan to raise capital, leadership is focused on identifying the right long-term strategic partners who believe in our mission to grow the game of golf worldwide. These conversations are just getting underway, and as they progress, the company expects to gain further clarity around the structure and timing of a potential transaction.”

Beyond losing PIF funding, LIV Golf may also face challenges retaining players. Golf Digest has reported that representatives for multiple players have contacted the PGA Tour regarding possible routes for their clients to return to that organization.

The Chicago Cubs brought up highly-rated infield prospect Pedro Ramirez from Triple-A Iowa on Friday as the team continues to struggle on the field.

In a corresponding roster move, infielder/outfielder Matt Shaw was placed on the 10-day injured list due to mid-back tightness.

The Cubs are mired in a difficult stretch, having lost five consecutive games and nine of their last 11 contests as they prepared to begin a three-game home series against the Houston Astros on Friday.

The 22-year-old Ramirez has never appeared in a major league game. He was not included in Friday afternoon’s starting lineup at Wrigley Field.

MLB Pipeline ranks Ramirez as Chicago’s second-best prospect and 85th overall. This season at Iowa, he’s posted impressive numbers with a .312 batting average, .942 OPS, nine home runs, 40 RBIs and 19 stolen bases across 43 games.

In 2025, Ramirez earned a minor league Gold Glove award while playing both second and third base at Double-A Knoxville.

Shaw, 24, has struggled this season with a .242 batting average, three home runs and 12 RBIs in 42 games. The 2023 first-round draft selection has demonstrated versatility by playing every defensive position except catcher and shortstop this season.

The Colorado Avalanche will be without their standout defenseman Cale Makar for Friday’s Game 2 showdown against the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference finals.

Makar, dealing with an upper-body injury, was also sidelined during Colorado’s 4-2 defeat in the series opener on Wednesday. Despite participating in Friday morning’s optional practice session and working with the top power-play group, he remains unavailable for game action.

In the first game, Jack Ahcan saw 7 minutes and 34 seconds of action, finishing with a minus-1 rating. Defenseman Nick Blankenberg was held out as a healthy scratch, though coach Jared Bednar hasn’t revealed which defender will take the ice Friday night.

The Avalanche, who claimed the Presidents’ Trophy during the regular season, eliminated the Los Angeles Kings with a four-game sweep before defeating the Minnesota Wild in five contests. Throughout those nine playoff games, Makar contributed four goals and one assist while logging nearly 25 minutes per game.

During the Minnesota series, Makar left both the first and fifth games after taking heavy hits, though he managed to return in both instances.

The 27-year-old defender claimed the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman in both 2021-22 and 2024-25, and remains a candidate for this year’s award.

Four years ago, Makar earned the Conn Smythe Trophy when Colorado claimed the Stanley Cup championship.

Throughout his seven-year career with the Avalanche, Makar has accumulated 507 points on 136 goals and 371 assists across 470 games. This past regular season, he recorded 20 goals and 59 assists in 75 appearances during the 2025-26 campaign.

NEW YORK — On a New York Knicks squad that has maintained a serious approach throughout the NBA playoffs, Josh Hart serves as the team’s primary source of humor.

However, there was little to find amusing early in Thursday’s Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, as Hart failed to connect on three consecutive three-point attempts, extending his playoff shooting struggles. His anger was visible as he repeatedly slammed the basketball down, questioning why his practice performance wasn’t carrying over to game situations.

“I’m just like, bro, it’s not translating right now,” Hart commented while eating a slice from the pizza box he brought to his postgame press conference.

His fellow players — especially those who also played alongside him at Villanova — remained confident that his hard work would eventually show results.

“I know we joke around a lot about his practice habits, but he does work hard,” Jalen Brunson commented.

Hart’s breakthrough came with five successful three-pointers and a playoff personal-best 26 points, helping the Knicks secure a decisive 109-93 win over Cleveland that puts them just two victories away from reaching their first NBA Finals since 1999. He left the court to enthusiastic applause from fans, a stark contrast to two nights earlier when he spent most of New York’s fourth-quarter rally from a 22-point deficit on the sideline.

Despite all his contributions to the Knicks, keeping Hart in the lineup during that previous game proved challenging. The Cavaliers, similar to several NBA franchises, consider the forward’s perimeter shooting among the vulnerabilities in an otherwise strong starting five featuring All-Stars Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, often assigning their center to defend him. He understands he’ll get open looks from distance because opposing teams prefer that option.

Understanding this dynamic, Hart dedicated extra effort to perfecting his shooting mechanics before Game 2.

“When you have guys that are gamers, they do stuff that people don’t think that they can do at any time,” Knicks coach Mike Brown explained. “And he knows the work that he puts in, we know the work that he puts in, and his confidence is not going to waver. He’s going to put pressure on himself to take that next one and make that next one.”

Hart entered the contest converting only 26.7% of his three-point attempts during the playoffs, making the defensive strategy of giving him space statistically logical — though Hart shouldn’t be evaluated based purely on statistics.

“I’m never a huge analytics guy,” Hart stated. “At a certain point they’re a lamppost to a drunk person. You can lean on them, but it won’t get you home.”

While Towns, sitting beside him at the press table, took off his sunglasses to look at Hart with confusion, Hart clarified that the saying came from Jay Wright, his former coach at Villanova.

Hart, who was slightly older than Brunson and Mikal Bridges, became the primary offensive weapon during his final years with the Wildcats. Following their 2016 NCAA championship victory, he posted a career-best 18.7 points per game while shooting 40.4% from three-point range and earning Big East player of the year honors as a senior.

While Brunson now handles the primary scoring responsibilities, Hart’s importance to the Knicks stems from his numerous other contributions. He’s played a significant role in defending Cavs All-Star Donovan Mitchell, and his defensive rebounding ability, despite standing just 6-foot-4, enables the Knicks to quickly transition up court.

“He’s the perfect example for any basketball player who wants to learn how to truly impact the winning of a team and he does that at the highest level,” Towns observed. “What he does not only talentwise but mentally for our team, when he goes out there, he’s hustling, he’s playing that hard, you feel like you’ve got to match his intensity.”

On evenings like Thursday, Hart can make opposing teams pay for challenging him to shoot. Similar to his performance two years ago in the opening round, when he knocked down the series-deciding three-pointer against Philadelphia in Game 6.

Therefore, Brunson, who recorded a playoff career-high 14 assists in Game 2, will continue seeking him out.

“I mean, I’m really not trying to look for him. He just happens to be open, so I give him the ball,” Brunson said with a grin reminiscent of his teammate. “I have the utmost confidence in him, watching the things he does and after practice with his routine and everything. He works hard.”

INDIANAPOLIS — Racing officials announced Friday that NTT will continue serving as the title sponsor for the IndyCar series through a newly signed multiyear contract extension.

The deal was revealed on Friday ahead of the final practice session before Sunday’s sold-out Indianapolis 500 race. Officials did not release financial terms of the agreement. The Japanese telecommunications firm has held the title sponsorship position since 2019.

Under the expanded partnership, NTT and NTT Data Group will also provide artificial intelligence and data services to both IndyCar and its parent organization, Penske Entertainment.

“Leading into another iconic edition of ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,’ we are thrilled to continue our world-class partnership with NTT,” said Roger Penske, chairman of Penske Entertainment. “Their significant expertise as a global leader in AI, digital business and technology services is integral to how we build engagement across IndyCar’s fanbase and provide a top-notch customer experience at the Racing Capital of the World.”

The telecommunications company has broadened its involvement beyond traditional race data analysis and fan interaction to deliver sophisticated artificial intelligence and data solutions for Penske’s organization, the racing series, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The Cleveland Cavaliers find themselves in a precarious position following their second consecutive loss to the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals Thursday evening. With the best-of-seven series now at 2-0 in favor of New York, concerns continue to mount regarding star player Donovan Mitchell’s physical condition.

When pressed about his health status, Mitchell remained emphatic in his response.

“I’m great,” he said. “Great. Great.”

This marks the second time this week the team’s top scorer has faced inquiries about potential injuries. His struggles were particularly evident in the series opener, where Cleveland squandered a commanding 22-point advantage in a devastating defeat.

Thursday’s contest showed some improvement from Mitchell, who managed to rebound from a sluggish seven-point first half to add 19 points after the break, totaling 26 for the game.

Head coach Kenny Atkinson observed that his star player appeared to lack his typical explosiveness during the first two quarters.

“After halftime, I thought he was moving well,” Atkinson said. “Donovan, he’s not complaining about it to me. I did see him trying to work through it — probably some stiffness. But I asked him if he wanted to come out in the fourth quarter and he’s like, ‘I’m fine,’ so I think he’s fine.”

While the current deficit presents a significant challenge, Cleveland has experience mounting comebacks from similar situations. The Cavaliers overcame an identical 2-0 hole against Detroit in the previous round, ultimately capturing that series in seven games.

“This isn’t our first time at it,” Mitchell said. “This isn’t our first time facing adversity. We’ve been through two Game 7s, so being down 2-0 is not the biggest challenge.”

The Eastern Conference finals present numerous obstacles beyond Mitchell’s condition, including containing New York’s dynamic duo of Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. Cleveland also hurt themselves with poor execution, converting only 22 of 32 free-throw attempts in a contest that remained competitive despite the final 109-93 margin.

The team’s overall shooting struggled significantly, connecting on just 37% of field goal attempts and managing only 9 of 35 three-point shots.

“It wasn’t a great shooting night,” Atkinson said. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to put the ball in the hole. Tonight, we didn’t.”

Saturday night’s Game 3 will mark Cleveland’s seventh contest in a 13-day stretch, while facing a New York team that swept through their previous series. Atkinson acknowledged the Knicks possess a “massive rest advantage.” Center Jarrett Allen admitted fatigue might be a factor but refused to use it as justification for their series deficit.

Mitchell completely rejected any discussion of exhaustion affecting his team’s performance.

“We’re not tired,” Mitchell said. “We’re not tired. We’re ready to go for Game 3.”

Former U.S. Olympic hockey standout Meghan Duggan has stepped away from her role in player development with the NHL New Jersey Devils to take the helm as general manager of the PWHL’s newest franchise in Hamilton, Ontario.

The appointment, revealed Friday, completes three of four general manager positions for the league’s expansion teams. The PWHL was expected to finish its hiring by naming the San Jose, California team’s general manager later the same day.

At 38 years old, Duggan delivers both star power and professional expertise to the PWHL’s fifth team based in Canada. She had been serving the league in a consulting capacity within hockey operations before this promotion.

Her tenure with the Devils spanned five years, with the most recent four as director of player development.

These four additional franchises will expand the PWHL to 12 teams for the upcoming season, effectively doubling the league’s roster since its 2024 debut. Detroit and Las Vegas also received new teams in this expansion.

Duggan faces urgent tasks including assembling a coaching staff and preparing to build Hamilton’s player roster through an expansion signing period starting in two weeks. The PWHL draft follows on June 17.

The Danvers, Massachusetts native earned Olympic silver in 2010 and 2014 before capturing gold as team captain at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. Her international resume includes seven gold medals and one silver across eight world championship tournaments.

Though American-born, Duggan maintains strong Canadian ties through her marriage to former Team Canada competitor Gillian Apps, who hails from the Toronto region, roughly an hour east of Hamilton.

During her college career at Wisconsin, Duggan claimed the 2011 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award recognizing women’s college hockey’s most valuable player in her final season with the Badgers.

World Cup spectators face minimal danger from Ebola exposure, according to a global health expert from King’s College London, though increased health screenings and travel limitations may create operational difficulties.

Dr Oliver Johnson, who specializes in global health at the London university, assessed the threat level as the expanded 48-nation tournament prepares to begin across the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 through July 19.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is currently battling an Ebola outbreak in its eastern region, with approximately 600 suspected infections and over 130 fatalities recorded. This situation prompted the World Health Organization to issue a public health emergency declaration of international concern.

The outbreak has already disrupted the DR Congo national team’s tournament preparations, forcing them to cancel pre-competition activities in Kinshasa and move their planning operations to Belgium instead.

American officials have implemented entry restrictions preventing non-U.S. passport holders who visited DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within the previous 21 days from entering the country, requiring Congo-based personnel to leave ahead of schedule.

The team plans to reach the U.S. on June 10 or 11 and will establish their base in Houston.

“If you are a casual visitor to the World Cup from around the world, I think there is a very low risk that you would be at risk of Ebola,” Johnson explained to Reuters. “Ebola has never really caused transmission in high-income country settings, where there have been very occasional cases.”

“That is because it is not airborne. You had to normally have direct contact with someone who is quite sick, and there is usually good contact tracing. If a case does occur, it is identified quickly,” he continued.

However, Johnson noted the outbreak may still create wider consequences.

American authorities have implemented additional screening procedures at Washington Dulles for travelers who recently visited affected nations, while health organizations are coordinating with FIFA and local authorities to address potential dangers.

“It will affect things like airport queues and screening, which will slow things down,” Johnson explained. “It is going to add a little extra stress and it’s going to cost money to the U.S. to try and organise.”

“I think the other possibility is that we hope this outbreak is not going to spread beyond DR Congo…. That could cause a knock-on effect of travel bans or extra screening, and it could happen quite last minute,” he added.

Tournament attendees should maintain standard safety measures including proper hand washing and staying away from close contact when feeling ill, Johnson recommended. He encouraged fans to show respect for others and prevent discrimination, helping maintain the World Cup’s welcoming atmosphere.

DR Congo begins their tournament schedule against Portugal in Houston, followed by matches against Colombia in Guadalajara and Uzbekistan in Atlanta.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Carolina’s extended time away from the ice caught up with them in a big way Thursday night, as the Hurricanes suffered through defensive lapses and mental mistakes in a crushing 6-2 loss to Montreal to open the Eastern Conference Final.

The Hurricanes had been idle for 11 days following their sweep into this round — the most extended rest period for any club before beginning their next playoff series since at least 1920. That lengthy layoff showed immediately as Carolina watched Montreal strike for four goals within the opening 11-plus minutes, establishing the foundation for what became a dominant performance by the Canadiens in the best-of-seven opener.

During the contest, the squad that had compiled an 8-0 record through their first two playoff rounds while never surrendering more than two goals in a single game found themselves constantly caught out of position and missing defensive assignments as Montreal generated numerous high-quality scoring opportunities in open areas.

“We lost the game from the start,” Carolina captain Jordan Staal said. “Obviously, giving them that many freebies, any team is going to make you pay, especially at this time of year. There wasn’t enough respect for them. They played a great game. They were ready to roll and we weren’t.”

The performance will intensify the debate about whether extended rest helps or hurts teams, a conversation that had surrounded Carolina since they eliminated Philadelphia on May 9 and began waiting for Montreal to finish their seven-game series against Buffalo. The Hurricanes appeared to experience both benefits (Seth Jarvis found the net in the opening minute for an early lead) and drawbacks (surrendering numerous premium scoring chances) from their time off.

Montreal center Jake Evans acknowledged the unusual situation, saying: “That’s a really unique circumstance to be off however many days.”

“I don’t think that had anything to do with it,” Jarvis said about the break. “I think it was just a lack of awareness and just us not being ready to go right from the puck drop.”

The opening proved shocking for Carolina, and not just because they trailed 4-1 after Ivan Demidov executed a forehand-backhand-forehand sequence to beat Frederik Andersen on a breakaway. More concerning was how systematically Montreal dismantled Carolina’s defensive structure.

Carolina has built success around aggressive forechecking and puck control that creates offensive zone pressure while limiting opposition chances. This strategy has powered an eight-year postseason streak and helped them finish second only to Presidents’ Trophy winner Colorado during the regular season.

The Hurricanes then eliminated Ottawa and Philadelphia in sweeps, becoming the first franchise to win their opening two playoff rounds without dropping a game since the NHL adopted best-of-seven formatting for all four rounds in 1987. They never trailed during their first five playoff contests. They received outstanding production from the Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake line to compensate for quiet offensive numbers from their top unit of Jarvis-Sebastian Aho-Andrei Svechnikov. Andersen had been outstanding by making crucial saves throughout.

None of that excellence was visible Thursday.

“We weren’t ready, we weren’t mentally ready to play at that (level) we had been playing,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “Everything was just a little off and they’re a very, very talented team. Obviously, some of them were just blown coverages that I don’t know what we were thinking.”

Montreal arrived brimming with momentum after capturing a Game 7 victory on the road against Tampa Bay, then repeating that feat Monday night in overtime against the Sabres.

Montreal coach Martin St. Louis revealed that the team’s analytics department had begun studying Carolina while they were still battling through the Buffalo series. The Canadiens certainly appeared well-prepared in another loud and intimidating atmosphere, successfully moving the puck away from Carolina’s aggressive pressure early to create clean breakouts and multiple breakaway opportunities against Andersen.

Meanwhile, Brind’Amour acknowledged it was a “tough” performance for several of Carolina’s key players. That included defenseman Jaccob Slavin, who recorded a minus-4 rating.

More troubling, this result compounds the mounting pressure from Carolina’s Eastern Conference Final struggles. This marks the team’s third appearance in four years and fourth time in their current eight-season playoff streak under Brind’Amour. The Hurricanes now hold a 1-13 record in those contests, including sweep losses to Boston in 2019 and Florida in 2023.

Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday night.

“I think we just toss this game to be honest,” Brind’Amour said. “I hate that this time of year that’s what we’ve got to do. But there wasn’t much to grab on to there.”

Cleveland has made a habit of fighting back from deficits throughout these NBA playoffs.

However, the Cavaliers have never faced an opponent playing as well as New York is right now.

Josh Hart rebounded from a disappointing first game by contributing nine points during an 18-point third-quarter scoring streak for New York on Thursday evening, helping the home team secure a 109-93 victory over Cleveland and take a 2-0 advantage in the Eastern Conference finals.

New York has now captured both opening games of this best-of-seven matchup at home, following their 115-104 overtime victory on Tuesday when they erased a 22-point fourth-quarter disadvantage.

The series shifts to Cleveland for Game 3 on Saturday evening.

The third-seeded New York squad will enter Saturday’s contest exactly one month since their last defeat and just two wins away from reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.

New York has captured nine consecutive games, establishing a franchise record for victories in a single postseason run, dating back to a 109-108 defeat against Atlanta in Game 3 of their opening-round matchup on April 23.

Eight of those nine wins came by double-digit margins as New York has accumulated a plus-221 scoring differential, the highest mark through any team’s initial 12 playoff contests in league history.

“We’re hungry for the opportunity to go out there and play basketball at the highest level,” Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns said, “but we also understand that you can never be satisfied in these positions in the playoffs. The mindset’s going to continue to be 0-0 every single time we step on that court.”

Hart recorded 26 points, establishing a new personal best for postseason play. He connected on 10 of 21 field goal attempts, including 5 of 11 three-point shots, while contributing seven assists. He managed only 13 points in Tuesday’s opener.

“Just a whale of a game from Josh,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said.

Towns recorded 18 points and 13 rebounds while Jalen Brunson contributed 19 points and a career-playoff-high 14 assists, giving New York two players with double-doubles. Mikal Bridges added 19 points and OG Anunoby chipped in 14.

“We don’t really care who gets the shine, the shots, the minutes, those kind of things — we’re focused on winning,” Hart said. “I think everyone is willing to sacrifice their own personal agendas or performance for the betterment of the team. And when you have a group of guys that do that, sky’s the limit.”

Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 26 points while Jarrett Allen recorded 13 points and 10 rebounds for the fourth-seeded Cavaliers, who now trail 2-0 for the second consecutive series. Cleveland defeated Detroit in seven games during the conference semifinals.

The Cavaliers also required seven games to eliminate Toronto in the opening round, though Cleveland had jumped ahead 2-0 in that series.

“This isn’t our first time facing adversity,” Mitchell said. “We’ve been to two Game 7s, so being down 2-0, it’s not the biggest challenge. It’s right there. So let’s go ahead and take advantage of it.”

James Harden contributed 18 points while Evan Mobley added 14 for Cleveland, which managed just 38.8% shooting (31-for-80) from the floor — including 25.7% (9-for-35) from three-point territory — and 68.8% (22-for-32) from the free-throw line.

“Wasn’t a great shooting night,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to put the ball in the hole. Tonight, we didn’t.”

Both teams stayed within six points of each other during the opening half, when Hart and Anunoby collaborated on an 8-4 scoring run to close the second quarter and give New York a 53-49 halftime advantage.

Allen and Mitchell each scored to begin the third quarter, tying the contest for the last time before Brunson’s 28-foot shot ignited the 18-0 scoring burst.

Cleveland missed all seven field goal attempts and both free throw tries while turning the ball over twice during New York’s decisive run, which concluded when Hart connected on a three-pointer to push the lead to 71-53 with 5:35 remaining in the period.

New York held an 85-70 advantage entering the fourth quarter before Cleveland made one final push by scoring the opening eight points. However, Anunoby answered with a three-pointer at the 8:39 mark and Cleveland managed to get within single digits only once more.

New York’s lead reached as high as 19 points in the closing minutes.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. was removed from Thursday’s matchup against the Miami Marlins during the sixth inning after experiencing discomfort in his left thumb.

Team officials announced on social media that Acuna’s removal was “as a precaution with pain in his left thumb.”

Before Eli White took his place in right field, Acuna had delivered a solid performance, going 2-for-3 at the plate including a two-run single that helped Atlanta establish a commanding 6-2 advantage over Miami.

The performance extended Acuna’s strong return to action, bringing his totals to 4-for-11 (.364) with five runs scored across three contests since rejoining the active roster on Monday. The five-time All-Star had been sidelined for 14 games due to a left hamstring injury.

Through 37 appearances this season, the 28-year-old Venezuela native has compiled a .261/.370/.384 slash line with two home runs, 11 RBIs and seven stolen bases. His .754 OPS represents the second-lowest mark of his nine-year career — only surpassed by his 2024 season that concluded in May following a torn ACL in his left knee.

Current NFL Most Valuable Player Matthew Stafford has finalized a one-year contract extension with the Los Angeles Rams that will keep him with the franchise through the 2027 season.

The team made the announcement Thursday but did not disclose financial terms immediately. According to ESPN’s reporting, the 2027 contract is valued at $55 million with the possibility of reaching $60 million, representing an increase from his current season’s compensation.

This agreement suggests the 38-year-old quarterback is seriously considering remaining with Los Angeles beyond 2026. This development is significant given Stafford’s previously stated approach of evaluating his career on an annual basis since capturing the Super Bowl title in February 2022, and his decision to return for the coming season was only announced when he received his MVP award in February.

The organization caught many by surprise when they selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall selection in last month’s draft, temporarily raising questions about Stafford’s future role — until head coach Sean McVay clearly stated that Stafford remains the team’s starting quarterback for however long he chooses to continue playing.

“Whenever that time comes for (Simpson) to get an opportunity to be Matthew’s successor will be on Matthew’s terms,” McVay said at the time. “I didn’t want that to ever be misunderstood. … It is Matthew’s football team.”

Stafford just completed one of his finest professional seasons, earning his first MVP recognition while narrowly defeating New England’s Drake Maye in the balloting. He led the league with 4,707 passing yards and achieved a personal best with 46 touchdown passes while throwing only eight interceptions, then guided the Rams through two playoff road wins to reach the NFC championship contest.

The coming season marks Stafford’s 18th year in professional football and his sixth campaign with Los Angeles, who obtained him through a trade with Detroit in 2021. Stafford ranks sixth all-time in NFL passing yards with 64,516 and sits seventh in touchdown passes with 423, trailing Philip Rivers by just two.

Los Angeles enters the season among the top Super Bowl contenders despite using their first-round selection on a quarterback who appears unlikely to see significant playing time for at least two seasons. Simpson has expressed enthusiasm about developing under Stafford’s guidance, describing it as “a perfect situation” for a quarterback who started just one season with the Crimson Tide.

The team’s organized team activities are scheduled to begin next week.

This year’s Super Bowl will take place at the Rams’ home venue, SoFi Stadium, occurring one week following Stafford’s 39th birthday. He previously guided the Rams to their championship victory in a Super Bowl held at SoFi.

CONCORD, N.C. — Racing legend Kyle Busch, who captured two Cup Series championships and accumulated more victories than any driver in NASCAR’s three national series combined, has passed away at the age of 41.

A joint announcement released Thursday by the Busch Family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR confirmed the driver’s death following his hospitalization. Officials did not disclose the specific cause of death.

Earlier Thursday, Busch’s family had revealed he was receiving treatment for a “severe illness,” just three days ahead of his scheduled participation in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The Las Vegas native was the younger sibling of Kurt Busch, who has been inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

“Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch,” the statement said. “A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation. He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans.”

The announcement continued, noting that “throughout a career that spanned more than two decades, Kyle set records in national series wins, won championships at NASCAR’s highest level and fostered the next generation of drivers as an owner in the Truck Series. His sharp wit and competitive spirit sparked a deep emotional connection with race fans of every age, creating the proud and loyal ‘Rowdy Nation.’”

This development follows an incident 11 days earlier when Busch contacted his pit crew during the closing stages of a Cup Series event at Watkins Glen, requesting medical attention for what he described as needing a “shot” after completing the race. Television coverage indicated Busch had been battling sinus congestion that worsened due to the intense physical demands and elevation variations of the New York road course.

Despite his condition, Busch managed an eighth-place finish in that competition.

Most recently, Busch participated in last weekend’s Dover events, claiming victory in the Trucks Series race for Spire Motorsports while placing 17th in the NASCAR All-Star race.

“Absolute shock. Very hard to process,” veteran NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski posted on social media.

NASCAR driver and former teammate Denny Hamlin posted on social media: “Absolutely cannot comprehend this news. We just need to think of his family during this time. We love you KB.”

A controversial figure nicknamed “Rowdy” and “Wild Thing” due to his post-race altercations, ongoing rivalries with fellow competitors and occasionally unpredictable conduct, the versatile Busch made his Cup Series debut in 2005, earning Rookie of the Year honors.

He subsequently claimed championships in 2015 and 2019 while driving for Joe Gibbs Racing.

The Nevada driver achieved unprecedented dominance across NASCAR’s three premier divisions, amassing 234 combined victories in Cup, O’Reilly Auto Parts and Trucks Series competition. His tally included 63 Cup triumphs, 102 O’Reilly Auto Parts victories and 69 Trucks wins — the latter two representing series records.

Early in his career, Busch was released by Hendrick Motorsports to create roster space for Dale Earnhardt Jr.

“Kyle and I had a really challenging existence for many years,” Earnhardt said in a statement. “But we luckily took the time to figure out our differences and that was something he instigated with a conversation in his bus around how we each managed our racing teams. I was super eager for us to get on better terms. But it was he who made the effort for that to be possible.”

Busch subsequently joined Joe Gibbs Racing, where he achieved the majority of his career accomplishments. However, he departed after the 2022 season due to sponsorship issues and signed with Richard Childress Racing, where he faced challenges returning to victory lane.

His recent performance struggles contributed to tensions with former JGR teammate Hamlin, who appeared to question Busch’s prospects on the Actions Detrimental podcast. Hamlin said, “If you’re expecting Kyle Busch to just go back to Victory Lane on a regular basis, you are kidding yourselves.”

Though Hamlin later clarified his remarks were observational rather than critical, Busch took offense and threatened to make Hamlin’s racing experience “hell” on the track.

During last month’s Kansas race, while running multiple laps behind, Busch followed through on his warning by aggressively defending his position against race leader Hamlin rather than yielding. This tactic disrupted Hamlin’s momentum during a critical race phase, ultimately contributing to Tyler Reddick’s victory as Hamlin’s performance declined.

Following his Dover Trucks victory last week amid improved performance, Busch appeared to reference the Hamlin controversy, remarking “I guess I just remembered how to drive.”

When asked after his Dover triumph about his career victory goals, Busch reflected on the uncertainty of racing.

“You take whatever you can get, man,” Busch said. “You never know when the last one is going to be, so cherish them all — trust me.”

This tragic loss represents another devastating blow to the NASCAR community. Last December, former driver Greg Biffle, his wife and two children and three others died in a plane crash in Statesville, North Carolina.

News of Busch’s passing emerged after IndyCar teams had concluded media day activities at Gasoline Alley for the Indianapolis 500. As information circulated along Main Street in Speedway, Indiana, near Indianapolis Motor Speedway, racing enthusiasts from both IndyCar and NASCAR expressed their grief.

NASCAR leadership confirmed to The Associated Press that Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 will proceed as scheduled.

Competitors are anticipated to arrive at Charlotte Motorsports Speedway in Concord on Friday, with practice sessions and qualifying rounds beginning Saturday. Earlier Thursday, RCR announced that Austin Hill would substitute for Busch in the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

Busch leaves behind his wife Samantha and children Brexton and Lennix.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams faces an uncertain future in the Western Conference finals as team medical staff monitor his recurring left hamstring injury on a daily basis, according to ESPN’s Thursday report.

The 25-year-old player is receiving ongoing treatment for his second hamstring setback in the same leg within a month’s time. During Wednesday’s matchup, Williams began the game but managed just seven minutes on the court, contributing four points, one rebound and two steals before departing due to left hamstring tightness. The Thunder secured a 122-113 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at home, tying the best-of-seven series at one game apiece.

In the series opener on Monday, Williams delivered a strong performance with 26 points, seven rebounds and three assists across 37 minutes of play. However, the visiting Spurs prevailed 122-115 in double overtime against the host Thunder. Prior to that appearance, Williams had been absent from six consecutive playoff contests due to a Grade 1 left hamstring strain.

The Thunder guard made the trip with his team on Thursday ahead of Friday’s Game 3 in San Antonio. ESPN indicates he will likely receive a questionable designation when the official injury report becomes available.

Following his participation in the opening two games of a first-round series sweep against the Phoenix Suns, Williams was unavailable for all four contests during the Thunder’s sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Williams earned All-Star recognition in 2025 and posted regular season averages of 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.5 assists across 33 games, all as a starter. He missed the season’s first 19 games while recovering from right wrist surgery performed during the offseason. A right hamstring strain also troubled him during the regular season.

Throughout his playoff career spanning 37 games, Williams has maintained averages of 20.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists. His postseason highlight came with a 40-point performance in Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, helping the Thunder capture the championship in seven games.

The New York Giants face uncertainty about when star wide receiver Malik Nabers will return to action following his knee injury, according to head coach John Harbaugh on Thursday.

Speaking after the team’s third OTA practice, Harbaugh expressed hope that Nabers could rejoin the squad during training camp and be available for their September 13 season opener at home against the Dallas Cowboys on “Sunday Night Football,” though he acknowledged the unpredictable nature of the recovery.

The 22-year-old receiver suffered a torn right ACL in September and received a complete meniscus repair on October 28. During the offseason, he required an additional procedure to clear away scar tissue that was creating stiffness in the joint.

“He’s in the middle of it. It’s such a hard thing. It’s an ACL, and whatever else he had in that knee,” Harbaugh explained. “Not a simple knee (injury), you know? So he’s in the slog of it, the grind of it, I would say. So, he’s fighting through it, and he’s here every day working hard at it.”

The coach emphasized the difficulty in making predictions about Nabers’ return, stating: “Just impossible to predict. I mean, the goal is to start the season and get out there sometime in training camp. That’d be the goal, and we’ll see what happens.”

Harbaugh maintained a flexible approach regarding the team’s preparation, saying: “If (Nabers is) out there, great. (If) he’s not out there, great. We’ll be ready to go either way. But I know he’s fighting like crazy to do his best to be out there, and he’s with the guys every day.”

Nabers had a remarkable rookie season in 2024, setting a franchise record with 109 catches for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns across 15 games, earning a Pro Bowl selection. Before his injury last season, he had recorded 18 receptions for 271 yards and two touchdowns in four games.

The Giants have restructured their receiving corps during the offseason. They parted ways with Wan’Dale Robinson, who signed with the Tennessee Titans, while bringing in Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III. The team also selected Malachi Fields in the third round of the draft, with all three new additions participating in OTAs.

“I’m excited about those guys,” Harbaugh said regarding veterans Mooney and Austin. “They’re pros, starters, established starters in the NFL, and they look good.”

The team is also managing another injury situation, as receiver Darius Slayton remains out following core muscle surgery.

“He had a sports hernia thing,” Harbaugh noted. “That’s one of those deals you just got to — you can try to nurse it through and he nursed it through last year, I guess. And so I think we all agreed just get it fixed and he’ll be 100% for the start of training camp.”

Miami Marlins left-handed pitching prospect Robby Snelling is scheduled for Tommy John surgery on Friday to fix the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow, team officials announced Thursday.

According to MLB Pipeline, Snelling ranks as the organization’s second-best prospect and will be sidelined for the remainder of this season plus an undetermined portion of next year. The team moved him to the 60-day injured list Thursday.

The procedure will take place in Dallas with Dr. Keith Meister performing the operation. Miami officials said they will announce the expected recovery timeline following the surgery. Snelling met with Meister on Thursday.

“Disappointing for him, us,” Miami manager Clayton McCullough told reporters. “That’s an unfortunate part of our industry. Guys go down. So Robby will have the surgery. We’ll have more what the timeline and return to play will look like after that. We just keep going, and Robby will come back from this a stronger person.”

The young pitcher was pulled from his scheduled May 14 appearance against the Minnesota Twins after feeling discomfort during a bullpen workout on May 12. Medical tests initially showed a UCL sprain, but additional evaluation confirmed the need for surgical intervention.

This setback occurred shortly after Snelling’s major league debut on May 8 versus the Washington Nationals. In that contest, he allowed three runs on five hits across five innings during a 3-2 defeat to Washington, issuing four walks while recording two strikeouts.

Miami acquired Snelling as part of a four-prospect package from the San Diego Padres in a six-player transaction last July that centered around left-hander Tanner Scott.

The team called up another player from that same trade, third baseman Graham Pauley, before Thursday’s matchup with the Atlanta Braves.

The 25-year-old Pauley hit .173 with one home run and nine RBIs across 28 games with Miami this season. Over three years, he has appeared in 103 games between the Padres and Marlins organizations.

Additionally, Miami moved infielder Leo Jimenez to the 7-day concussion list. The 25-year-old has posted a .227 batting average with one RBI through 18 games.

Top-rated basketball prospect Kameron Mercer revealed Thursday that he will attend the University of Cincinnati to play for the Bearcats while also moving up his graduation timeline to join the Class of 2027.

The 6-foot-5 sophomore guard helped guide Princeton High School to an Ohio state title this past season and intends to complete his studies a year ahead of schedule to team up with Cincinnati’s new head coach Jerrod Calhoun.

“I’m looking forward to doubling up work and being ready,” Mercer said on a Zoom call while on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” on Thursday. “I’ll be supporting the Bearcats from the sideline.”

According to 247Sports rankings, Mercer previously held the No. 16 position nationally in the Class of 2028, but following his reclassification now sits as a four-star prospect at No. 33 overall in the country, third among shooting guards, and second in Ohio for the Class of 2027 based on the 247Sports Composite.

ESPN had previously placed Mercer at No. 7 in the Class of 2028 prior to his grade reclassification and noted that he represents the highest-ranked recruit to choose Cincinnati since their recruiting records began in 2007, marking the program’s first five-star commitment since Lance Stephenson in 2009.

“Growing up in Cincinnati, it means a lot to me to play here,” said Mercer, who also had Ohio State as a finalist.

Cincinnati’s coaching staff initially extended a scholarship offer to Mercer during his eighth-grade year under previous head coach Wes Miller and his assistants. Coach Calhoun renewed that offer, and Mercer returned to campus earlier this month for additional time with the new coaching staff.

“I think our connection grew as soon as I stepped foot on campus,” Mercer said. “(Calhoun) has a little different aura to him. I loved all my other visits, but I think Coach Calhoun, there’s just something about him that I can’t explain. It’s a little different.”

The recruit praised the coaching staff’s direct communication style and genuine approach.

“They genuinely care and they kept it straight with me,” he said. “They didn’t tell me I was just this great player. Just told me what I needed to work on and what I could do from now on to be ready. I love the staff and I know I’ve only known them for maybe a month or a month and a half, but they’re just so real with me. They keep everything real and I love coaches who are straightforward.”

During Princeton’s championship season, Mercer posted averages of 14.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.4 steals per contest. He also earned a gold medal representing the United States Under-16 national team at the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup last summer, contributing 5.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game as a bench player across six contests.

MIAMI — Miami Marlins southpaw Robby Snelling is scheduled for surgery Friday to fix the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, bringing his rookie campaign to an early close following just a single big league appearance.

The organization’s second-ranked prospect received his call-up from Triple-A Jacksonville this month and took the mound for his major league debut against Washington on May 8, surrendering three runs on five hits and issuing four walks across five innings in a losing effort. Following a bullpen session, he experienced discomfort in his left elbow, and subsequent MRI imaging showed a sprained UCL.

After being examined Thursday in Dallas by Dr. Keith Meister, surgery was recommended, according to the team. Officials said a recovery timetable will be provided after Friday’s procedure.

“Disappointing for him and us,” manager Clayton McCullough said. “That’s an unfortunate part of our industry. Guys go down. We just keep going, and Robby will come back from this a stronger person.”

McCullough indicated the Marlins will experiment with various pitchers to occupy the fifth rotation slot, citing Braxton Garrett, who was sent down to Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday, and Tyler Phillips, who has surrendered four earned runs while recording 27 strikeouts across 30 relief innings this season.

“We have some others in Jacksonville that have thrown the ball well and (can) potentially get that opportunity,” he said. “We have ways here with the group we have that we can cover those games. So I think that we’ll just continue to kick the tires on what we think is best. And guys will have chances to step into that spot and have a chance to perform here.”

Snelling was transferred to the 60-day injured list as part of several roster adjustments before Thursday’s series conclusion against the Atlanta Braves.

Additionally Thursday, the Marlins obtained outfielder Rece Hinds through a trade with Cincinnati for right-hander Zach McCambley. Hinds was assigned to Triple-A Jacksonville.

Miami also brought up infielder Graham Pauley from Triple-A Jacksonville and put infielder Leo Jiménez on the seven-day concussion injured list.

Victoria Mboko, the tournament’s top seed, dominated her first-serve opportunities by winning 24 of 29 points (82.8%) en route to defeating seventh-seeded Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-4 in a matchup between two Canadian players at the Internationaux de Strasbourg tournament in France on Thursday.

Service struggles plagued both competitors throughout the match, with Mboko recording five double faults while Fernandez committed eight. Mboko’s next opponent in the semifinals will be Jaqueline Cristian from Romania, who defeated Australia’s Daria Kasatkina in a three-set battle 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-2.

In other semifinal action, Emma Navarro staged a comeback to defeat China’s Shuai Zhang 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2. Navarro will square off against compatriot Ann Li, who secured her first clay-court semifinal appearance by defeating Czech eighth seed Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 7-5.

At the Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem tournament in Rabat, Morocco, Croatia’s sixth-seeded Petra Marcinko dominated her first-serve points, winning 30 of 38 (78.9%) in a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Spain’s second-seeded Jessica Bouzas Maneiro to advance to the semifinals.

After falling behind 3-1 in the second set, Marcinko mounted a comeback by claiming five of the following six games to secure the match. Her semifinal opponent will be Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann, who survived three match points to defeat Morocco’s home favorite Yasmine Kabbaj 6-1, 5-7, 7-6 (6).

The other semifinal will feature Hungary’s seventh-seeded Panna Udvardy against Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina. Udvardy advanced with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Colombia’s Camila Osorio, while Kalinina eliminated Hungarian fifth seed Anna Bondar 6-4, 7-5.

The leader of the University of Georgia is pushing back against proposals to dramatically expand the College Football Playoff system to include 24 teams.

Jere Morehead, who has served as the university’s president since July 2013, made his position clear in comments to The Athletic on Thursday: “A 24-team playoff is a mistake.”

As Southeastern Conference officials prepare for their upcoming meetings in Destin, Florida next week, Morehead expressed concerns that the Big Ten conference hasn’t fully considered what such a major expansion would mean for college football’s future.

“It’s going to devalue big games during the regular season,” Morehead explained. “I think it (would) devalue Georgia-Alabama or Georgia-Oklahoma (this) year. So I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Instead of jumping directly from the current 12-team format to 24 teams, Morehead suggested a more gradual approach would be wiser.

“I was OK with going to 16. 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,” he said.

Morehead indicated he would follow the lead of SEC commissioner Greg Sankey on this issue, saying the commissioner’s opinion carries the most weight with him.

“As long as commissioner Sankey is at 16, I think we’ll be at 16,” Morehead stated, “because I think there’s great respect for his position on any issue.”

The Big Ten’s 24-team proposal has gained support from the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12, and independent Notre Dame.

However, Morehead worries about how such an extensive playoff system might hurt regular season attendance and viewership.

“I think there’s a lot of concern about what 24 is going to do to the regular season,” he explained. “You know, we depend on these sellout home games, the high ratings that we get for our football games during the season. If those become devalued and if those ratings drop because people see it like the NBA, that these games don’t matter anymore, then that affects our situation, in terms of being able to negotiate the next television contract. That’s concerning to me.”

“And I’m not sure that the Big Ten has really thought through the long-term implications of what this is going to do to the regular season,” Morehead concluded.

The stage is set for the 2026 NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Final Four as teams gear up for the championship semifinals.

Tournament organizers have released promotional materials showcasing the upcoming Final Four competition, marking another milestone in the women’s collegiate lacrosse season.

The Final Four represents the culmination of the NCAA women’s lacrosse tournament, bringing together the top four teams in the nation to compete for spots in the championship game.

The Western Conference championship series between Oklahoma City and San Antonio has developed into two separate battles as the teams prepare for Game 3 on Friday night.

While Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has bounced back from his typical slow start and San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama continues putting up historic numbers in the conference finals, both squads are facing mounting injury concerns among their supporting players.

The series stands even at one game each as action moves to San Antonio. San Antonio captured the opener behind Wembanyama’s dominant 41-point, 24-rebound performance, while the defending champion Thunder evened things up in Game 2 with 30 points from Gilgeous-Alexander.

“We’re probably most comfortable playing in front of our fans,” Spurs guard Stephon Castle said following their Game 2 defeat in Oklahoma City. “I don’t think we’ll have any problem doing that. Mentally, I think we’re all in a good head space. We came here, won a game on the road and they’re a good team and they responded. So, now we have a chance to play in front of our fans.”

However, the mental aspect isn’t what should concern either franchise. The physical toll is becoming increasingly problematic.

Multiple players are dealing with various ailments including ankle problems, hamstring issues, and thigh injuries – and those are just the known concerns, not accounting for the wear and tear accumulated over seven to eight months of competition.

As anticipated, the Western Conference finals have evolved into an intense showdown. Beyond the obvious Thunder versus Spurs matchup between the league’s top two teams fighting for an NBA Finals berth, there’s also the challenge of overcoming physical attrition – and currently, the injuries might be gaining the upper hand.

“It feels like that’s always at this time of the season in every sport, right? You have to get to the end to give yourself a chance,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson explained. “And I think that’s why we have to continue to trust our depth and guys have to step up when their name’s called — answer the bell and be able to give us some quality minutes.”

San Antonio All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox continues battling an ankle problem that won’t resolve until the season concludes. His backup, Dylan Harper, appeared to injure his hamstring during Game 2 and left the contest early. For Oklahoma City, guard Jalen Williams re-aggravated his troublesome left hamstring in Game 2, while his replacement, Ajay Mitchell, suffered a thigh injury in the closing moments.

San Antonio’s Game 1 victory came largely due to Harper’s contributions. Oklahoma City’s Game 2 triumph was significantly aided by Isaiah Hartenstein’s impact on both ends of the court. Despite the exceptional play from Gilgeous-Alexander and Wembanyama, role players will likely determine individual games and potentially the entire series.

“I think it’s a privilege,” said Hartenstein, who contributed 10 points and 13 rebounds in Game 2. “You dream of playing in games like this and playing a game against another great team is always something really special. Again, I heard somewhere that pressure is a privilege and so I think just being in this series where the pressure is so high, just trying to go out there and enjoy competing is always something really important.”

Gilgeous-Alexander endured a difficult Game 1, connecting on just 7 of 23 attempts – marking the sixth occasion in his past seven series openers where he failed to shoot 50 percent. However, his timing returned in Game 2, which he anticipated would happen.

“I just have sucked when I get too long of a break,” Gilgeous-Alexander admitted. “I don’t think it’s anything other than that.”

Through two contests, Wembanyama has accumulated 62 points and 41 rebounds. While other players have scored more points in conference finals openers, no one since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1974 has recorded at least 60 points and 40 rebounds through the first two games of this playoff round.

“I can think of a few down moments for myself, especially in the fourth quarter,” Wembanyama reflected after Game 2.

The series couldn’t be more competitive beyond the obvious 1-1 game split.

Each winning team has scored exactly 122 points. Combined scoring shows Thunder 237, Spurs 235. Both clubs recorded 8-0 runs in Game 1 and 11-0 runs in Game 2. Oklahoma City has connected on 30 three-pointers compared to San Antonio’s 29. The Spurs are shooting 46 percent while the Thunder are at 44 percent.

The key differences lie elsewhere: San Antonio holds a 25-rebound advantage but has committed 19 more turnovers. Castle delivered a spectacular dunk over Hartenstein in Game 2 but has struggled with 20 turnovers across both games. Should the Spurs’ backcourt depth remain compromised, Castle will face increased pressure this weekend.

“You’ve got be aggressive against us,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault noted. “But if you’re overaggressive, we’ll make you pay.”

DETROIT — Detroit Tigers star pitcher Tarik Skubal completed his third practice throwing session Thursday as he continues his comeback from elbow surgery.

The two-time American League Cy Young Award winner had a minimally invasive operation on his left throwing elbow May 6 to extract a loose fragment. His latest throwing session took place before Detroit’s home matchup with Cleveland.

Manager A.J. Hinch described the session as a “great step” while declining to provide a timeline for Skubal’s return to competition.

“There are little hurdles to clear along the way when you come back from a procedure,” Hinch said. “As much as we described it as simple, it’s still a procedure.”

During the session, Skubal utilized all of his pitches while delivering 35 throws total, including a rest period designed to replicate the break between innings.

“His velocity was as high as it’s been since his throwing started,” Hinch said. “He sat down and came back and did like a simulated second inning. That’s encouraging and it’s full stuff.”

The pitcher will accompany the team on their upcoming road trip to Baltimore this weekend, where he’ll complete another throwing session. Team medical personnel and coaches will assess his progress before determining the next phase of his recovery.

This season, Skubal has posted a 3-2 record with a 2.70 ERA across seven appearances. His contract expires following this season.

A celebrated Associated Press sports journalist who brought readers into the heart of major tennis championships, Olympic competitions, and skiing events has passed away at age 55.

Howard Fendrich died Thursday at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, according to his wife Rosanna Maietta. He had been battling cancer since receiving his diagnosis in February, just after returning from covering his 11th Olympic Games in Milan.

Tennis legend Roger Federer, who recalled having more than 100 encounters with Fendrich throughout the years, described the writer as “one of those constant and reassuring presences in the tennis world for many years.”

“He started covering tennis in 2002, right around the time I was starting to have my breakthrough in the sport, and over time he truly became part of the fabric of tennis,” Federer said. “Tennis lost a wonderful journalist and a great person.”

Fendrich leaves behind his wife, his mother Renée, his brother Alex, and two sons, Stefano and Jordan, who are both following their father’s path into sports journalism.

“Howard was a gifted journalist who brought such skill, expertise and enthusiasm to his work,” said AP Executive Editor and Senior Vice President Julie Pace. “His stories were a joy to read, combining lively writing with insightful reporting. He was also a generous and beloved colleague whose warmth and passion touched so many across the AP.”

After graduating from Haverford College near Philadelphia, Fendrich spent 33 years with the Associated Press, beginning his career as an unpaid intern in Rome.

During his time in Italy, he mastered the language primarily through watching Italian karaoke videos, which opened doors to covering European sports, particularly soccer. This experience caught the attention of AP sports editor Terry R. Taylor, who facilitated his return to the United States.

Back in America, Fendrich began as an editor at AP’s New York sports desk while also writing a sports media column. He relocated to the Washington area in 2005, becoming a regular fixture covering regional sports in the area where he had been raised.

Tennis, however, remained his greatest love. He documented the careers of Venus and Serena Williams, Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and many others. Over nearly 25 years covering the sport, he reported on approximately 70 Grand Slam tournaments, where his exceptional talent was most evident.

Among Fendrich’s accolades were two Grimsley Awards recognizing the best overall work among AP sports writers, plus several deadline-writing honors. One such recognition came for his coverage of Andre Agassi’s final match at the 2006 U.S. Open:

“Crouched alone in the silence of the locker room, a pro tennis player no more, a red-eyed Andre Agassi twisted his torso in an attempt to conquer the seemingly mundane task of pulling a white shirt over his head. Never more than at that moment did Agassi seem so vulnerable, looking far older than his 36 years.”

This excerpt exemplified Fendrich’s approach – observing carefully, taking detailed notes, venturing beyond the playing surfaces, and meticulously examining details from events witnessed by millions to reveal insights that even nearby observers might miss.

Fendrich documented Federer’s emotional encounter with Bjorn Borg in a corridor following a historic Wimbledon victory. He described the harsh realities of competing on clay courts at Roland Garros, including the post-match ritual of washing red clay from clothing.

During his final major assignment in Milan, he pursued speedskater Jutta Leerdam’s well-known fiancé, fighter Jake Paul, through a hallway to a parking area – all in pursuit of details and quotes. After obtaining what he needed, Paul declared: “OK, we’re done.” Security personnel intervened, and as Fendrich later recounted at dinner: “I decided, ‘Yes, I guess we are.’”

He possessed an intuitive understanding of where to position himself, whom to approach, and crucially, what questions to pose and how to ask them.

During the sweltering Washington summer of 2011, he spent days seated on a folding chair on a sidewalk, laptop balanced on his knees, writing while awaiting key figures to emerge from tense NFL labor lockout negotiations. Despite not being considered an “NFL insider” in today’s terms, Fendrich worked every angle – the room, the phones, and even the sidewalk – helping AP remain competitive in reporting developments and the eventual resolution.

“There was that doggedness,” said Mary Byrne, who served as AP’s deputy sports editor during the lockout. “He was annoyed by it, and by all the time he spent out there waiting for people to come out and say nothing. But that situation wasn’t going to get the best of him, and he wasn’t going to get beat on the story.”

When Washington quarterback Alex Smith suffered a devastating leg injury in 2018, Fendrich immediately contacted the one person who could relate: retired star quarterback Joe Theismann.

Yet even during major events like World Series games, Fendrich would answer his phone when it rang. If he began speaking Italian, it was certainly Rosanna, his wife. Sometimes his children would call with school questions or stories from their soccer games. For his family, he always had unlimited patience and time.

Then he would return immediately to work, never missing any important details.

“Nothing got past him,” said Stephen Wilson, AP’s former European sports editor, who collaborated with Fendrich for over two decades. “Every story — even a three-paragraph brief — had to be iron-clad.”

Fendrich’s mastery extended beyond writing. He possessed a quick, sharp wit. No colleague could refuse when he would raise his eyebrows, gesture toward the door, and invite them to join him in his “office” – typically a quiet courtyard or hallway outside a press room – to discuss daily coverage plans or share observations about people and events around the venues.

Chris Lehourites, an AP editor who oversaw European tennis coverage for decades, spent countless hours with Fendrich deliberating over punctuation, sentence structure, and word selection, calling him a “perfectionist when it came to his job.”

“Howard was also a friend,” Lehourites said, “whose dry humor, along with his bags of Blow Pop lollipops, made long days go by quick.”

The University of Florida announced Thursday that Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Rueben Chinyelu has decided to pull out of the 2026 NBA Draft and will rejoin a talent-rich Gators roster.

The 22-year-old posted averages of 10.9 points and 11.2 rebounds across 35 games, starting every contest for Florida last season. Standing 6-foot-11 and weighing 245 pounds, the center broke multiple university records with 19 double-doubles and 137 offensive rebounds in a single season.

After participating in the NBA combine in Chicago the previous week, Chinyelu chose to head back to Gainesville, Florida.

The Gators will welcome back 11 players from their Southeastern Conference championship squad from 2025-26. The returning roster features All-SEC forwards Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon, along with guard Boogie Fland.

Chinyelu has spent two years with Florida after making the move from Washington State at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.

Montreal Victoire goalkeeper Ann-Renee Desbiens has the opportunity to make history as the first player to claim the PWHL Goaltender of the Year award twice.

The previous year’s winner was selected as a finalist Thursday alongside Boston Fleet’s Aerin Frankel and Ottawa Charge’s Gwyneth Philips.

The honor recognizes the netminder who demonstrates exceptional performance at their position throughout the regular season. Finalists were selected by a committee, and the winner will be revealed June 16 in Detroit.

The 32-year-old Desbiens established new PWHL single-season marks with a 1.11 goals-against average and .955 save percentage while tying for the league lead with a record 19 victories in 25 appearances. She finished second in the league with seven shutouts.

Frankel, 26, recorded a league-best eight shutouts while matching the 19-win record, compiling a 1.17 GAA and .953 save percentage. The Boston netminder achieved a shutout streak lasting 226 minutes and nine seconds.

The 25-year-old Philips established a PWHL record with 28 starts and surpassed the league minutes record by more than 300. She also set a new league standard with 786 saves, outpacing the second-place finisher by 155.

Desbiens, whose Victoire defeated Philips and the Charge for the Walter Cup on Wednesday evening, captured last season’s award while facing the identical pair of finalists.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive player Nolan Smith Jr. was taken into custody in Georgia last week for allegedly driving at excessive speeds and reckless operation of a vehicle, law enforcement officials confirmed.

The former Georgia college player was apprehended on May 15 evening for traveling at 135 mph in an area with a posted speed limit of 70 mph, the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office reported.

Smith posted bail and was freed approximately one hour following his arrest.

The Savannah, Georgia native was chosen by Philadelphia as the 30th overall selection in the 2023 NFL draft. Throughout his three-year career, he has accumulated 25 quarterback hits, 10.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Smith played an important part in Philadelphia’s Super Bowl LIX championship campaign, tallying five quarterback hits, four sacks and four tackles for loss throughout the postseason. He notably stayed in the Eagles’ 40-22 Super Bowl triumph over the Kansas City Chiefs even after suffering a torn triceps injury that subsequently required surgical repair.

The Eagles are set to begin organized team activities on Tuesday. Smith faces a court appearance on July 15, though a sheriff’s office representative indicated he may avoid appearing if he settles his fines.

An Eagles spokesperson did not immediately provide comment when contacted by The Associated Press.

Smith joins a growing list of former and current Georgia players who have faced driving-related charges. His teammate Jalen Carter received 12 months’ probation and a $1,000 fine in 2023 after entering a no contest plea to misdemeanor reckless driving and racing charges connected to a fatal crash that claimed the lives of Bulldogs offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy.

NEW YORK (AP) — Residents of New York City will have an opportunity to secure affordable tickets for this summer’s expensive World Cup matches.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani revealed Thursday that 1,000 tickets priced at $50 each will be offered to residents of the city with over 8 million people for the globe’s most-watched sporting competition.

“To put that into perspective, that is five lattes in New York City,” Mamdani quipped from a bar in Harlem’s Little Senegal neighborhood alongside U.S. men’s national team star Timothy Weah.

These discounted tickets will cover seven out of eight matches scheduled at the approximately 82,000-capacity MetLife Stadium, situated across the river from Manhattan in New Jersey. The only excluded game is the highly sought-after July 19 championship match, where certain seats are currently priced at nearly $33,000.

According to the mayor, the tickets will also come with complimentary round-trip bus service to the venue for purchasers. Distribution will occur through a lottery system beginning May 25.

Addressing ongoing worries about the extremely high ticket costs for matches, Mamdani stated the city would implement measures to guarantee their distributed tickets reach New York City residents and avoid resale on secondary markets.

He explained the tickets would be non-transferable and that city officials would employ a “variety of ways” to confirm residency. Additionally, tickets will only be given directly to fans as they board buses on match days.

“We are making sure that working people will not be priced out of the game that they helped to create,” Mamdani said.

The Democrat, who began serving in January, noted this initiative demonstrates how his administration extends beyond making daily necessities like housing and food more affordable.

“It extends to making it possible for every New Yorker to take part in the things that make us human,” he said.

During his campaign, Mamdani had urged FIFA, soccer’s international governing organization, to reduce costs for New Yorkers attending matches by reserving 15% of tickets at reduced prices for residents. He had also started a petition urging FIFA to abandon its demand-based pricing strategy.

According to the mayor’s office, the $50 tickets originate from allocations given to New York and New Jersey’s combined host committee rather than directly from FIFA.

Earlier, FIFA had offered some $60 tickets for every tournament game in North America following criticism over extremely high ticket prices.

However, those discounted tickets were distributed to national federations of competing teams, with those organizations determining how to allocate them to dedicated supporters who had attended previous home and away matches.

Apart from the final game, the home venue for both the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets will host five group-stage World Cup matches and two elimination round games. Group-stage competitions featuring soccer giants Brazil, France, Germany and England, among other countries, commence June 13.

DANBURY, Conn. – Salisbury University’s men’s lacrosse program earned significant recognition from the Eastern College Athletic Conference on Wednesday, with multiple players receiving prestigious postseason awards.

The Sea Gulls secured three major postseason distinctions from the ECAC, including four student-athletes being selected for the All-ECAC Team, according to the conference’s announcement Wednesday morning.

Leading the honors was Herraiz, who captured the ECAC Offensive Player of the Year award for his outstanding performance this season.

The No. 6 ranked men’s lacrosse squad’s success on the field translated into widespread conference recognition, highlighting the program’s competitive excellence throughout the season.

DENVER — An offensive showcase in the Western Conference Final got its spark from an unexpected source Wednesday night.

Dylan Coghlan fired a wrist shot between Scott Wedgewood’s pads to break open a scoreless battle, propelling the Vegas Golden Knights to a commanding 4-2 victory over the top-seeded Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena.

“Honestly, I didn’t know it went in until I looked at Shea (Theodore) and he was just smiling at me,” Coghlan said.

The goal marked Coghlan’s first playoff tally in his NHL career, his initial league score in almost five years, and only his seventh professional goal overall. The 28-year-old defenseman also delivered a crucial defensive play, breaking up a dangerous 3-on-2 rush that prevented Colorado from finding their rhythm.

“Yeah, so happy for him,” winning goalie Carter Hart said. “He came in in the Anaheim series. I thought he did a tremendous job then. Stepped up tonight huge. That was a huge first goal for us tonight and I couldn’t be happier for the guy.”

Vegas forward Pavel Doroleyev highlighted Coghlan’s complete performance, noting, “It’s not just about his goal. He did a lot of things right, especially in D-zone, on breakouts.”

However, that breakthrough moment stood out most significantly.

Coghlan’s last goal came on Dec. 17, 2021, against the New York Islanders, with three of his six career tallies occurring during a hat trick performance in a 4-3 defeat to the Minnesota Wild on March 10, 2021.

“He’s an easy guy to pull for,” Golden Knights coach John Tortorella said.

This season, Coghlan recorded 14 goals across 62 games with Henderson in the American Hockey League while remaining without a point in three regular-season appearances for Vegas.

“When you say Dylan Coghlan to me, I think of no fear,” Tortorella said. “I think he’s one of our best defensemen since he’s been with us and in the lineup. … He’s a bit unflappable.”

Vegas captured home-ice advantage from the conference’s top seed, ending Colorado’s impressive run of eight victories in nine playoff contests before this Western Conference Final setback.

Colorado defenseman Cale Makar sat out Game 1 due to an upper-body injury. Makar departed the ice clutching his right arm after a late collision in Game 5 against Minnesota last week, though he returned as Colorado secured an overtime victory.

Makar’s unavailability dealt a significant setback to the Avalanche. This represents the first playoff game Makar has missed due to injury during his Colorado tenure. The Norris Trophy finalist contributed four goals and one assist while logging nearly 25 minutes per game through the initial two rounds. Makar also anchors Colorado’s special teams units, which allowed a power-play goal to Doroleyev during the second period.

Colorado experimented with altered defensive pairings without Makar, creating some miscommunication that allowed Coghlan to drift into open ice and thread his shot past Wedgewood’s pads to end the scoreless deadlock in the second period.

“There’s definitely a trickle-down effect to that,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said of not having Makar. “But he’s not playing. We have find a way.”

Coghlan has traveled extensively throughout his career, beginning with two seasons in Vegas before playing for Carolina and Winnipeg. He rejoined the Golden Knights last July, partially motivated by the relationships he had established.

“This is probably the best I’ve felt in my whole career,” Coghlan said. “Whoever it is I’m playing with I’m very comfortable out there with them. They make it pretty easy on me. We have some pretty world-class players.”

College baseball enthusiasts can mark their calendars as the NCAA Baseball Super Regionals are planned for 2026, representing a significant event in the sport’s championship timeline.

The Super Regionals serve as a crucial step in the path to the College World Series, where top-performing teams from across the nation compete for advancement to the final championship rounds.

Tournament organizers have begun outlining the framework for the 2026 competition, which will follow the traditional format that has made the Super Regionals a highlight of college baseball’s postseason structure.

Further details regarding participating teams, venues, and scheduling are expected to be announced as the tournament date approaches.

Coco Gauff has abandoned the mental approach that typically accompanies being a defending champion, stating she’s finished with the stress of constantly trying to “defend, defend” as she prepares to compete for another French Open championship.

With Aryna Sabalenka entering the tournament dealing with injury concerns and Iga Swiatek showing less dominance on clay courts than in previous years, Gauff stands among the top contenders to claim victory in Paris once more.

The world number four, who defeated Sabalenka in last year’s Roland Garros final to capture her second Grand Slam championship, explained she gained an important insight from her earlier experience defending a major tournament, when she was knocked out of the 2024 U.S. Open in the fourth round.

“I realise that the defending means nothing in a way. Each year is a new opportunity and new chance for anyone to win. Obviously I hope it’s me,” she told reporters at this month’s Italian Open.

“I don’t really look at it as defending anymore. I guess at the U.S. Open I was like, ‘I need to defend, defend’… I say now ‘it’s just another tournament’.

“I won it last year. I’ll try again to do it this year. I’m not going to be able to defend every year. I’m not Rafa (Nadal). Maybe one day!”

Gauff’s preparation for the French Open has faced challenges, as she dealt with illness and suffered a fourth-round defeat in Madrid before recovering to make her second consecutive Italian Open final appearance.

During that final match, Gauff recorded seven double faults and lost to Elina Svitolina.

Despite this setback, she feels confident about resolving her serving difficulties, which have put her at the top of the WTA Tour’s double fault statistics for both 2024 and 2025, leading her to work with biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan last year to tackle the issue.

Although she remains atop the double fault rankings for 2026, she managed just one double fault in each of her victories against Sorana Cirstea and Iva Jovic in Rome, progress she attributes to improved consistency on her second serve.

“It’s been an up-and-down process. I obviously don’t want to jinx anything, but I think we found the recipe to making it more consistent,” Gauff said.

“Now it’s focusing on how to make it more of a weapon, how to serve smarter. I’m tossing a bit more consistent. My weight I feel is a little bit better. Also just the trust, the confidence in it is a lot better.”

Should Gauff successfully overcome the serving troubles that have hindered her performance in the past, she could be positioned to capture a third Grand Slam championship.

Five standout athletes are being highlighted as top contenders for the women’s singles championship at this year’s French Open tournament, which kicks off on Sunday.

ELENA RYBAKINA (KAZAKHSTAN)

* World ranking: 2

The Kazakhstani player, who has reached the French Open quarterfinals twice before, began 2026 with impressive momentum after capturing her second Grand Slam victory at the Australian Open – her first major title since claiming Wimbledon in 2022.

After struggling to advance beyond the fourth round in any major tournament last year, Rybakina changed her fortunes at November’s WTA Finals by defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the championship match.

The 26-year-old athlete successfully defended her Stuttgart Open championship last month to begin her clay court season, and now has the chance to overtake Sabalenka for the world’s top ranking at the French Open.

ELINA SVITOLINA (UKRAINE)

* World ranking: 7

Svitolina captured a decisive victory against defending French Open titlist Coco Gauff in last week’s Italian Open championship, positioning herself among the tournament’s leading favorites at Roland Garros.

The Ukrainian athlete, who has advanced to the French Open quarterfinals on five occasions, also defeated both Rybakina and Iga Swiatek during her Italian Open campaign, delivering a clear message to the top seeds before the year’s second Grand Slam event.

The 31-year-old competitor made it to the Australian Open semifinals in January and has recorded seven victories against top-10 opponents in 2026, as she pursues her first Grand Slam title at the French Open.

JESSICA PEGULA (UNITED STATES)

* World ranking: 5

While continuing her quest for a first Grand Slam championship, Pegula experienced disappointing near-misses in her last two major tournaments, falling in the semifinals at both the U.S. and Australian Opens.

The 32-year-old player attributed her enhanced performance to improvements in her serve, explaining to the Tennis Channel in March that she had changed her approach from emphasizing raw power to incorporating varied spins and better positioning.

The former U.S. Open finalist hopes her modified technique will prove more successful on clay courts at Roland Garros, where she advanced to the quarterfinals in 2022.

MARTA KOSTYUK (UKRAINE)

* World ranking: 15

Kostyuk hasn’t progressed past the French Open’s second round since 2021, but the 23-year-old became an unexpected contender when she claimed the Madrid Open title, securing her first WTA 1000 championship by defeating Mirra Andreeva in the final.

Hip and thigh problems caused her to pull out of the Italian Open this month, but she’s anticipated to enter the French Open healthy, well-rested, and maintaining a perfect clay court record this year with 12 victories and two championships, including the Rouen Open title last month.

MIRRA ANDREEVA (RUSSIA)

* World ranking: 6

Andreeva gained recognition through her semifinal appearance at the 2024 French Open and continued with a quarterfinal showing the following year.

The 19-year-old has demonstrated consistent progress throughout the clay season, capturing the Linz Open title and defeating Swiatek in the Stuttgart Open quarterfinals before advancing to her first WTA 1000 championship match at the Madrid Open this month.

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s soccer squad has scrapped their World Cup preparation activities at home because of the ongoing Ebola outbreak, moving their training operations to Belgium instead, according to a team representative.

The national team had originally scheduled a public training session for fans and a farewell event with the nation’s leader Felix Tshisekedi on Monday before heading to the World Cup tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

But U.S. health officials have implemented travel limitations due to the disease outbreak, forcing the team to alter their plans, the representative explained to Reuters.

The U.S. CDC has banned entry for individuals without American passports who have visited DR Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the past 21 days.

This means all team personnel currently in DR Congo must depart the nation by Thursday to gain unrestricted access to the United States. The squad expects to reach the U.S. on June 10 or 11.

Team manager Dodo Landu minimized the impact of the scheduling adjustment.

“The change is not very big, because we only had three days in Kinshasa,” he stated to RFI. “We will just maintain the program in Belgium, the event on May 25 will take place in Brussels instead of Kinshasa.”

During the World Cup, the team will establish their base in Houston, Texas. The complete roster, which was revealed on Monday, consists entirely of players competing for clubs outside DR Congo, with most playing in European leagues.

The Texas Department of State Health Services announced Wednesday they are “working closely with the CDC, FIFA, and local health departments to ensure the health and safety of the teams, spectators, and all Texas residents.”

DR Congo will face Portugal in their opening World Cup match in Houston, followed by a game against Colombia in Guadalajara, and conclude their group stage against Uzbekistan in Atlanta.

As of Wednesday, the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo has produced 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths.

Oklahoma City’s standout player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander didn’t mince words when discussing his poor performance in the opening game of the Western Conference finals.

“I have sucked when I get too long of a break,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I don’t think it’s anything other than that. I guess I gotta do a better job with my breaks.”

Just two days after those comments, the two-time reigning Most Valuable Player delivered a vastly improved showing in Game 2, putting up 30 points to propel the Thunder to a 122-113 victory at home against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.

The win tied the best-of-seven series at one win for each team before Game 3 takes place Friday in San Antonio.

Following his squad’s lackluster beginning in Monday’s Game 1 that ended in a double-overtime defeat, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault anticipated a stronger effort in the second contest.

His expectations were met.

Oklahoma City maintained the lead throughout the game after the opening quarter, although the outcome remained uncertain until the final minutes.

The Thunder achieved victory through improved play from Gilgeous-Alexander, a recovery effort by Chet Holmgren, increased playing time for Isaiah Hartenstein, and another solid defensive showing despite losing Jalen Williams to another hamstring problem.

They also contained Spurs standout Victor Wembanyama.

Wembanyama delivered 41 points and 24 rebounds in a record-setting display during the first game. Wednesday saw him contribute 21 points on 8-of-16 field goal attempts while collecting 17 rebounds and four blocks.

Despite Oklahoma City controlling play for nearly the entire second half and building their advantage to as many as 13 points, San Antonio narrowed the gap to just five points with slightly over one minute left. The Spurs regained possession after Gilgeous-Alexander was whistled for an offensive foul.

But Devin Vassell’s 3-point attempt fell short, and the possession concluded with Stephon Castle’s ninth turnover of the contest.

Gilgeous-Alexander responded by connecting on a step-back jump shot, and following Castle’s missed three-pointer, Alex Caruso’s driving layup sealed the victory with 19.7 seconds remaining.

Gilgeous-Alexander connected on 12 of 24 shots after making just 7 of 23 attempts in the opener. He contributed nine assists on Wednesday.

Holmgren had difficulty getting involved in the first game, managing only eight points on 2-of-7 shooting.

He tallied 13 points in Game 2, including seven during the third period.

Daigneault admitted that giving Hartenstein only 12 minutes in the opener “didn’t feel good.” Hartenstein proved crucial to Oklahoma City’s strategy against Wembanyama in the second game.

Hartenstein committed his second foul just three minutes into the contest but managed to stay out of serious foul difficulty and made significant contributions on both offense and defense. He recorded 10 points and 13 rebounds across 27 minutes.

“That’s the matchup, and so we decided to start with it,” Daigneault said of Hartenstein facing Wembanyama.

Hartenstein’s impact was particularly notable in the fourth quarter, when he contributed four points, eight rebounds and two assists.

While Wembanyama still posted solid statistics, his performance was much less dominant than in Game 1.

“He’s changed the dynamic since the first game he’s played,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of Hartenstein. “He’s our physicality and our backbone. He’s our bruiser, sets screens, rebounds for us, physical.”

Gilgeous-Alexander emphasized that the Thunder cannot become overconfident as the series moves to San Antonio.

“Tonight wasn’t good enough to win the series,” he said, “and we know that.”

San Antonio had controlled turnovers effectively during regular-season matchups with Oklahoma City, which helped the Spurs capture four of five games.

However, without starting point guard De’Aaron Fox, who has been sidelined for both series games with an ankle sprain, San Antonio has faltered in this area.

The Spurs turned the ball over 21 times in Game 2, resulting in 27 points for the Thunder. Castle was responsible for nine of those turnovers.

“They do such a good job of showing crowds in the paint, having multiple bodies,” San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said. “It’s not just Steph. He had too many turnovers, but our whole team did.”

The Spurs also lost rookie guard Dylan Harper, who played a key role in Game 1, to a right leg injury. Harper left the game shortly after the midpoint of the third quarter.

Wembanyama acknowledged that the Spurs must improve across the board without Fox and Harper available.

“We’ve got to help our ball-handlers more (to) take care of the ball,” Wembanyama said.

Williams, who appeared in only 33 regular-season games due to multiple injuries, departed late in the first quarter after experiencing left hamstring tightness.

Williams had been absent for six straight games because of a left hamstring injury before returning Monday for the series opener.

Daigneault provided little information about Williams’ condition following the game.

“He’ll get checked out in the morning. We’ll see where he’s at,” the coach said.

Two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani put on a masterful display Wednesday evening, connecting on a leadoff home run and delivering five innings of shutout pitching as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 on the road.

Ohtani improved to 4-2 on the mound, surrendering just three hits while issuing two walks and recording four strikeouts across 88 pitches. Four relief pitchers completed the five-hit shutout, helping Los Angeles capture their first series victory of the season against their National League West division rivals.

Padres starter Randy Vasquez fell to 5-2 after allowing six hits and three runs over 4 1/3 innings of work.

The game opened with Ohtani crushing a high fastball over the wall in deep right-center field, just beyond the reach of leaping center fielder Jackson Merrill, for his eighth home run of the campaign. The unsuccessful leap appeared to injure Merrill, who exited the contest after four innings with what seemed to be a back injury.

In other action around the majors:

Brewers 5, Cubs 0

Kyle Harrison dominated with two hits allowed across seven shutout frames, helping visiting Milwaukee complete a three-game sweep of Chicago. Harrison moved to 5-1 while fanning 11 batters and dropping his ERA to 1.77. David Hamilton collected two singles and a triple, scoring twice and driving in one run, while William Contreras also recorded three hits and crossed the plate once for Milwaukee, winners of six of their last seven contests. DL Hall worked two innings to finish the two-hit shutout.

Cubs starter Edward Cabrera dropped to 3-2, surrendering four runs with only one earned across three innings before departing one pitch into the fourth due to a blister on his right middle finger. Chicago has dropped a season-high five straight games and nine of their past 11.

Reds 9, Phillies 4

Andrew Abbott captured his fourth consecutive victory while Nathaniel Lowe doubled twice and knocked in three runs as visiting Cincinnati defeated Philadelphia in the series finale. The Reds split their six-game road trip while the Phillies suffered just their sixth loss in 22 games and their first series defeat under new manager Don Mattingly.

Lowe’s two-run double in the seventh stretched Cincinnati’s advantage to 7-4 before Sal Stewart capped the scoring with a two-run homer in the ninth.

Rays 5, Orioles 3

Two-out hits from Jonathan Aranda and Richie Palacios in the eighth inning sparked Tampa Bay’s comeback victory over Baltimore, wrapping up a three-game series sweep in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays managed only two hits through seven innings before erupting for four runs in their fourth straight triumph. Junior Caminero and Hunter Feduccia, who went deep, each collected two hits to help the Rays finish a 5-1 homestand.

Pete Alonso and Samuel Basallo homered for the Orioles, but it wasn’t sufficient to prevent their sixth loss in eight games. Shane Baz delivered his finest pitching performance of the season against his former club, tossing six innings of one-run baseball.

Guardians 3, Tigers 2 (10 innings)

Angel Martinez’s triple brought home the decisive run in the 10th inning as Cleveland beat host Detroit to move within one victory of completing a four-game sweep. Jose Ramirez contributed an RBI double in the 10th against Tyler Holton, who fell to 0-4, as the Guardians won for the eighth time in nine games. Colin Holderman improved to 2-0 by striking out both batters he faced.

Zach McKinstry opened the bottom of the 10th with an RBI single, but Cade Smith retired the next three hitters for his 16th save. The Tigers have now lost 13 of their last 15 games.

Twins 4, Astros 1

Ryan Kreidler smashed a three-run homer and Joe Ryan fanned a season-high nine batters, powering Minnesota past Houston in Minneapolis. Victor Caratini launched a solo homer among his two hits as the Twins won the deciding game of a three-game series. Ryan moved to 3-3, permitting one run on four hits over six innings. Andrew Morris retired the side in the ninth for his first career save.

Christian Vazquez delivered an RBI single and Cam Smith had two of five hits for the Astros, who have dropped eight of their past 12 games. Mike Burrows fell to 2-6 after giving up seven runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Pirates 7, Cardinals 0

Spencer Horwitz homered as Pittsburgh emphatically ended a four-game losing streak with a victory at St. Louis. Carmen Mlodzinski improved to 4-3 by throwing five scoreless innings for the Pirates, who out-hit the Cardinals 15-5. Four relievers completed the shutout. Pittsburgh rookie Konnor Griffin went 4-for-5 and scored three runs.

JJ Wetherholt finished 2-for-4 for the Cardinals, who had won four of their previous five games. Michael McGreevy fell to 3-3 after being charged with three runs in five-plus innings.

SAN DIEGO — The Los Angeles Dodgers witnessed the full power of their two-way superstar on Wednesday night as he delivered excellence both at the plate and on the mound in a commanding 4-0 win against the San Diego Padres.

Making his first dual appearance in nearly a month, the four-time MVP wasted no time making an impact, connecting on the opening pitch of the game for a home run before taking the mound to deliver five innings of stellar pitching, allowing just three hits.

The performance marked his eighth home run of the campaign and dropped his earned run average to an impressive 0.73, establishing himself as the league leader among hurlers with a minimum of 25 innings pitched.

Despite the outstanding results, the Japanese star expressed some reservations about his outing through his interpreter, stating he had “a lot of uncertainty coming into this outing, because the feel wasn’t great. And so the results were good, but as you saw, the process wasn’t that great. … I have a pretty high standard in terms of performance, so it didn’t really match.”

The unique demands of excelling in both roles have presented challenges this season. While his mound work has been exceptional with the lowest ERA among qualified pitchers, his offensive production struggled through April and into May, particularly his power numbers.

“Like we all know, he wants to win that Cy Young, and he wants to help us win games, and he wants to be a really productive offensive player,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained. “At this point in time, he’s doing all of the above.”

Recent weeks have seen a turnaround at the plate with 13 hits across his last seven contests. However, his offensive contributions had been absent during pitching appearances this season, leading Roberts to remove him from the batting order for his previous three starts on the mound.

The decision reportedly didn’t sit well with the superstar, but Roberts only returned him to the lineup at Petco Park due to Thursday’s scheduled day off.

His approval of the decision was immediate, as he drove Randy Vásquez’s elevated fastball 398 feet to center field for his eighth homer and 27th career leadoff blast.

“I think that he’s very mindful of everything that’s said about him, and at times he uses that as motivation to prove people wrong, that he can do something,” Roberts observed. “I think that he likes to contribute, and I know that he’s heard about (his struggles) on days that he pitches or days after he pitches. So for him to homer in that first at-bat, I think he was like, ‘OK, I’ve contributed on the offensive side.’ And then he took some good at-bats tonight.”

The feat made him the only player in baseball history to hit a game-opening homer while serving as the starting pitcher, accomplishing this rare double for the second time. His first occurrence came during one of baseball’s most memorable individual performances — a three-homer, pitching victory masterpiece in the decisive Game 4 of last fall’s National League Championship Series against Milwaukee.

Following Wednesday’s performance, the pitcher credited his hitting counterpart for providing early support.

“The goal as a pitcher is not to give up the first run, so I was glad I was able to not do that,” he said through his interpreter. “I was glad we were able to score first.”

That single run proved sufficient, as he has surrendered merely four earned runs across 49 innings this season, keeping opponents off the scoreboard in five of his eight starts.

His mound work in San Diego lacked smoothness but achieved effectiveness. Though he dispatched the Padres’ initial nine hitters, the effort required 52 pitches, ultimately resulting in his briefest start of the season at fewer than six innings with just 88 pitches, barely exceeding his season minimum. Roberts managed his workload carefully due to his dual role.

“It’s just another case in point that it’s good for us to be mindful of the workload and just not take that for granted,” Roberts noted. “But again, he’s pretty special.”

Challenging situations arose in his final two frames, but he navigated them successfully. With San Diego loading the bases in the fifth inning on two singles and a walk with one out, he induced Fernando Tatis Jr. to ground into a double play on his final delivery.

The moment brought visible emotion from the typically reserved star, who roared with joy in a rare display of the enthusiasm he seldom shows as a hitter.

“I loved the results, but I had walked the guy before, and that wasn’t quite exactly what I wanted to do there, so just the results were good,” he reflected.

DENVER (AP) — Carter Hart’s journey back to playoff hockey has been marked by dramatic changes, but his exceptional goaltending remains unchanged.

Four years ago, the 21-year-old netminder backstopped the Philadelphia Flyers through a second-round playoff appearance during the Toronto bubble, recording a 9-6 record with a .926 save percentage and two shutouts.

Following an extended absence from hockey due to his involvement in the Hockey Canada sexual assault scandal — charges from which he was later cleared — Hart signed with the Vegas Golden Knights this past December. His playoff performance has been instrumental for Vegas, posting a 9-4 record and helping the team capture a crucial 4-2 road victory against top-seeded Colorado to open their Western Conference Final on Wednesday evening.

“We know they’re a good team,” said Hart, who has maintained a .920 save percentage in these playoffs while surrendering only 2.35 goals per game. “We know they got a lot of skill on their team and we respect that, but you can’t respect them too much. And I thought we did a good job of defending and limiting their time in space and I thought we blocked a lot of shots tonight and got in a lot of lanes and tied up some sticks.”

Hart delivered an outstanding performance between the pipes, denying 36 of 38 shots he faced. The only goals that beat him came from a between-the-legs score by Valeri Nichushkin and a late tally from Gabe Landeskog during a power play when the Avs had pulled goaltender Scott Wedgewood for an extra attacker.

“Carter Hart’s a hell of a goalie,” said Golden Knights coach John Tortorella, who assumed coaching duties in Vegas on March 29 and previously coached Hart in Philadelphia. “He was great in Philly for me, and we’ve got two good ones, you know. (Adin Hill)’s kind of been put off to the side a little bit, that’s a guy that just won a Stanley Cup a couple years ago.

“But Carter, I think he’s grown so strong mentally. I don’t think much bothers him. He is just zeroed in. And he’s going to have to be, because we’ve got a lot of work to do here.”

The admiration flows both ways.

“Yeah, I think he’s done a great job coming in here,” Hart said. “It’s never easy coming in late in the season like he did and I think he’s done a tremendous job of just rallying the group and earning the guys’ trust and I really enjoy playing for him. I enjoyed playing for him in Philly and I’m happy he’s here.”

Hart’s hockey career was put on hold in early 2024 when he was given an indefinite leave of absence after facing charges related to an alleged sexual assault involving members of Canada’s 2018 world junior team in connection with the Hockey Canada sexual assault scandal; all charges against him were dismissed last year, allowing him to return to professional hockey with Vegas.

League officials reviewed the situation and permitted the cleared defendants to return to play beginning Dec. 1, 2025. Hart became the first among the five Canada junior players to secure an NHL contract, inking a two-year, $4 million deal before spending time with Vegas’ American Hockey League affiliate in Henderson, Nevada.

Following his contract signing, Hart delivered a statement to media members that included his desire “to show the community my true character and who I am and what I’m about.”

His current performance demonstrates his value to Vegas’ Stanley Cup aspirations. Hart stopped 10 shots during a scoreless opening period as the Golden Knights demonstrated they wouldn’t follow the path of the Los Angeles Kings or Minnesota Wild, who managed just a 1-8 combined record against Colorado in earlier playoff rounds.

“It’s huge,” Hart said. “To come out like we did, I thought we came out really good in the first period and I know this is a hard building to play in and it was huge for us just to get rolling and just start off the right way and then build off that.”

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — In the early moments of Wednesday night’s Game 2 of the Western Conference finals, Victor Wembanyama appeared to commit a foul on Jalen Williams during a shooting attempt.

But appearances can be deceiving.

While Wembanyama did make contact with Williams, and the play initially appeared to warrant a whistle, a review revealed that Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein had actually pushed Wembanyama into his own teammate, causing the contact.

This incident exemplified Oklahoma City’s aggressive physical approach against Wembanyama throughout Game 2. The Thunder employed constant grabbing, pushing and nudging against the 7-foot-4 French sensation, who nonetheless managed to record 21 points, 17 rebounds, six assists and four blocked shots.

However, Oklahoma City prevailed 122-113, evening the series at one game apiece.

“It’s all in the scouting,” Wembanyama said. “I have to trust the scouting. We have to trust it and do our work early. It’s straight effort. … Doesn’t mean it’s easy. We have to work through it.”

Both teams anticipated this physical strategy. Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault had informed Hartenstein on Tuesday that his role would expand in Game 2.

“I’m just kind of one of those players that brings physicality to the game,” said Hartenstein, who played only 12 minutes in Game 1 before taking on a crucial role in Game 2 — contributing 10 points and 13 rebounds. “I think that’s just kind of what we needed.”

Completely neutralizing Wembanyama remains an impossible task given his exceptional talent. Oklahoma City’s strategy in Game 2 — and moving forward — focuses on making his job as challenging as possible, aiming to avoid explosive performances like his 41-point, 24-rebound masterpiece in San Antonio’s Game 1 victory.

“Every good player, they have to feel the defense,” Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s tough. He’s very different to scout. You’ve got to try to mix things up, you’ve got try different things. And that’s just what we did. Coach tried something in the first game, didn’t like it, tried something else. That’s what it’s about.”

Wembanyama’s conference finals debut has been statistically impressive. Through two games, he has accumulated 62 points and 41 rebounds; the last player to achieve 60 points and 40 rebounds in the opening two games of the conference finals was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1974 — who posted 69 points and 40 rebounds for Milwaukee against Chicago.

Despite these accolades, the MVP finalist and Defensive Player of the Year showed little interest in discussing statistics. His focus was on securing a 2-0 series advantage, and accepting a 1-1 split heading home for Game 3 provided no consolation. San Antonio mounted a comeback from a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to create drama, but couldn’t complete the rally.

When asked about the most challenging aspect of Game 2, Wembanyama responded candidly.

“I would say it’s spending so much energy on catching back up … then letting it go away,” Wembanyama said.

For him, that represented the most painful blow of the evening.

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jose Berrios will be sidelined for at least another year following Tommy John surgery performed on Wednesday.

The procedure was carried out by Dr. Keith Meister in Texas, with initial expectations that only minor removal of “loose bodies” from the elbow would be necessary. Instead, doctors determined that complete elbow ligament reconstruction was needed.

“The bone in the elbow was on the ligament. Not ideal,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “We kind of decided that, when they go in there, if that’s compromised at all, we’ll fix it. It was. He’ll be down for 12 to 14 months.”

The right-handed pitcher has spent the entire season on the injured list while attempting to recover from the elbow problem that also prevented him from participating in the team’s playoff run last fall. During the past month, he completed four minor league rehabilitation outings, posting a 0-1 record with a 10.67 ERA across Class-A and Triple-A levels. His most recent appearance for Triple-A Buffalo showed diminished fastball speed compared to his typical velocity.

The 31-year-old has been a cornerstone of Toronto’s starting rotation ever since the Blue Jays obtained him from the Minnesota Twins through a July 2021 trade. Over the previous five seasons, he consistently made 30 or more starts each year, although he was temporarily shifted to relief duties last September before being placed on the injured list.

“It’s weird not having him,” Schneider said. “We were looking for him to get back to normal, and he was hoping for that, too. It’s definitely weird and frustrating for him, too.”

During the previous season, Berrios compiled a 9-5 record with a 4.17 ERA across 31 appearances, including 30 starts.

The two-time All-Star has accumulated a career record of 108-82 with a 4.08 ERA over 275 games, making 273 starts between his time with Minnesota (2016-21) and Toronto (2021-25).

Berrios still has two years and $48 million left on the seven-year, $131 million contract extension he signed with the Blue Jays in November 2021.

The Colorado Rockies moved closer Victor Vodnik to the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to right ulnar nerve inflammation, commonly referred to as funny bone issues.

To fill the roster spot, the Rockies brought up right-hander Keegan Thompson from Triple-A Albuquerque. The team also designated first baseman Blaine Crim for assignment to make room for Thompson on the 40-man roster.

The 26-year-old Vodnik’s most recent appearance came Monday, when he gave up three runs on one hit and two walks while throwing 14 pitches to three batters during Colorado’s 7-6 home victory against the Texas Rangers.

This season, the right-handed pitcher has posted a 1-2 record with four saves, an 8.00 ERA, 13 walks and 16 strikeouts across 18 innings in 18 relief outings (finishing 10 games).

Throughout his major league tenure spanning parts of four seasons with Colorado, Vodnik has accumulated an 11-9 record with 23 saves, a 4.53 ERA, 79 walks and 142 strikeouts in 151 innings across 140 relief appearances. His best campaign came last season with 10 saves and a 3.02 ERA.

Colorado’s injured list already includes starting pitchers Chase Dollander and Ryan Feltner, along with reliever Jimmy Herget.

Thompson, 31, spent time in the majors with the Chicago Cubs from 2021-24, recording a 17-11 mark with five saves, a 3.64 ERA, 111 walks and 225 strikeouts in 227 1/3 innings across 104 games (23 starts).

At Albuquerque this season, Thompson went 1-3 with a 3.34 ERA, 10 walks and 19 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings over 11 games (five starts).

The 28-year-old Crim, who hasn’t appeared in the majors this season, hit .200 with five home runs and 12 RBIs in 20 combined games with the Texas Rangers and Colorado last season. This year at Albuquerque, he batted .265 with seven homers and 35 RBIs in 36 games.

San Diego Padres centerfielder Jackson Merrill departed Wednesday evening’s contest against the Los Angeles Dodgers after playing just four innings due to what appears to be a back injury.

The injury seemed to occur when Merrill jumped in an attempt to catch Shohei Ohtani’s leadoff home run to begin the game. Throughout the following three innings, Merrill was observed stretching his back repeatedly.

Before the start of the third inning, San Diego manager Craig Stammen and a trainer approached Merrill but allowed him to continue playing. Bryce Johnson was prepared to pinch-hit for Merrill in the fourth inning, but Xander Bogaerts made the final out of the inning instead.

Johnson took over Merrill’s defensive position in center field when the fifth inning began. When Merrill left the game, Los Angeles held a 2-0 advantage.

In his single plate appearance, Merrill struck out, causing his batting average to fall to .203.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has announced that his upcoming 22nd NFL campaign will mark the conclusion of his professional football career. When questioned Wednesday about retirement plans following the 2026 season, the veteran player stated “this is it.”

The 42-year-old did not elaborate on the reasoning behind his decision to call it quits after next season. Rodgers recently inked a one-year contract to continue with the Steelers just prior to the beginning of organized team activities.

The four-time NFL MVP indicated that the appointment of Mike McCarthy as head coach influenced his choice to return to Pittsburgh for another campaign after contributing to the team’s AFC North championship run last season.

In basketball news from the Eastern Conference finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers are dismissing defensive worries about James Harden as they gear up for Game 2 against the New York Knicks on Thursday. The anticipated showdown between Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell took a different turn in Game 1’s final quarter when Brunson repeatedly targeted Harden defensively, leading the Knicks to overcome a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit for a 115-104 win in one of the largest postseason rallies ever recorded.

Dallas Mavericks president Masai Ujiri revealed Wednesday that the choice to part ways with head coach Jason Kidd after five seasons was entirely his own difficult decision. Speaking one day after the team announced Kidd’s exit, Ujiri explained he believed the franchise required a fresh start. The former Toronto Raptors executive assumed control as team president and governor just two weeks ago, emphasizing that Kidd’s removal was unrelated to the February 2025 Luka Doncic trade or any associated personnel.

College football’s playoff expansion discussions continue as the Big Ten pushes for a 24-team format, though questions persist about television partnerships and financial arrangements. While Fox backs the expansion concept, networks express concerns about compensation for games featuring less prominent teams. The current ESPN agreement totals $7.8 billion across six seasons. The Southeastern Conference favors maintaining a 16-team structure, while the Big Ten has garnered support from the Atlantic Coast and Big 12 conferences for the larger format. An expanded playoff system could potentially eliminate conference championship games, impacting revenue streams, with the NFL’s television dominance playing a role in ongoing negotiations.

Congo’s national soccer team has scrapped a three-day World Cup preparation camp and fan send-off event in Kinshasa due to an Ebola outbreak in the country’s eastern region. The cancellation comes amid an outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has reportedly claimed over 130 lives with nearly 600 suspected infections. Team spokesman Jerry Kalemo confirmed to The Associated Press that Congo’s World Cup warm-up matches against Denmark in Liege, Belgium on June 3 and Chile in southern Spain on June 9 will proceed as scheduled. Congo is set to face Portugal in their World Cup opener in Houston on June 17.

Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby faces significant challenges in his legal battle against the NCAA’s permanent gambling ban, according to a former NCAA infractions arbitrator. Sorsby filed suit in Lubbock, Texas this week seeking court intervention to allow him to compete for the Red Raiders this season. The director of the Sports Law Clinic at Brooklyn Law School noted that courts have traditionally supported sports governing bodies when enforcing rules related to game integrity.

The Montreal Victoire captured their inaugural PWHL championship Wednesday night, defeating the Ottawa Charge 4-0 in Game 4 of the Walter Cup Finals. Abby Roque netted two goals while Ann-Renée Desbiens stopped 23 shots in the victory. Maggie Flaherty and Lina Ljungblom contributed additional goals for Montreal. The Victoire had opened the best-of-five series with two overtime home victories before dropping a 2-1 decision in Ottawa on Monday. The Minnesota Frost had claimed the league’s first two titles, including last year’s four-game championship series win over Ottawa.

Aston Villa ended a three-decade trophy drought by defeating Freiburg 3-0 in Istanbul to claim the Europa League title, with manager Unai Emery securing his record fifth championship in the competition. Prince William, a devoted Villa supporter, was among the celebrating fans at Tupras Stadium as his team captured their first major trophy in 30 years.

Southampton’s challenge of its removal from the Championship playoff final due to spying violations has been rejected. An arbitration panel confirmed the English Football League’s decision to exclude Southampton from Saturday’s Wembley final, allowing Middlesbrough to take their spot against Hull for Premier League promotion. The ruling is final. Southampton faced expulsion Tuesday after acknowledging repeated spying activities, including unauthorized filming of Middlesbrough’s training sessions before their semifinal encounter. The club also admitted additional violations this season involving matches against Oxford and Ipswich, resulting in a four-point deduction for next season.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams was sidelined for the remainder of Game 2 against San Antonio in Wednesday night’s Western Conference finals matchup due to recurring hamstring troubles.

The Thunder described Williams’ condition as hamstring tightness, marking another setback for the player who had previously sat out six playoff games with a strained left hamstring.

During the first half, Williams was observed receiving treatment for his hamstring before departing the bench area and missing the entire second quarter.

When the second half began, Cason Wallace took Williams’ starting position, and Oklahoma City officials soon confirmed that Williams would not return to the game.

Williams had made his comeback in Game 1 of this series against the Spurs, contributing 26 points over 37 minutes during Monday night’s 122-115 double-overtime defeat in Oklahoma City. In Wednesday’s contest, he managed four points in seven first-quarter minutes, highlighted by an alley-oop dunk with 2:12 remaining in the opening period.

The series continues Friday in San Antonio for Game 3.

Prior to Wednesday’s game, Williams had been absent for 55 of Oklahoma City’s first 91 games this season, including playoff contests. These missed games stemmed from multiple injury issues: 19 games due to a right wrist problem and 36 games related to hamstring injuries — with the right hamstring causing 30 regular season absences and the left hamstring responsible for his most recent six playoff game absence.

Professional competitive eater Joey “Jaws” Chestnut will be permitted to participate in this year’s Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest while serving probation following his conviction on a misdemeanor battery charge.

The 17-time champion and current titleholder entered his guilty plea on April 20 and received a 180-day probation sentence in Hamilton County, Indiana. A judge approved his request for out-of-state travel, enabling him to compete for the signature Mustard Belt at the July 4th event on Coney Island.

According to Us Weekly, the competitive eating star was charged after allegedly striking a man in the face during a late-night incident at an Indiana bar. When authorities questioned him about the incident, he reportedly stated he had been drinking and could not recall the confrontation.

Chestnut’s legal representative, Mario Massillamany, has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.

Major League Eating co-founder and president Richard Shea confirmed to The Associated Press that the incident would not impact the competitor’s eligibility for the contest.

“This incident did not violate Major League Eating’s code of conduct, as it occurred outside any organizational event or activity and it was addressed by local authorities,” Shea said.

During last year’s Nathan’s Famous competition, the eating champion reclaimed his title by consuming 70 1/2 hot dogs and buns within the 10-minute time limit. He had been unable to compete in 2024 after Nathan’s temporarily prohibited his participation due to a sponsorship agreement with plant-based meat producer Impossible Foods.

His most recent victory came at the 2026 Ultimate Bologna Showdown in Tennessee, where he claimed his third consecutive championship by eating 16 pounds of sausage in 8 minutes, establishing a new world record.

The Indiana Fever will be without their standout guard Caitlin Clark for Wednesday evening’s matchup at home versus the Portland Fire due to a back injury.

Clark’s name did not appear on the injury report released a day prior to the contest. Head coach Stephanie White explained that Clark experienced stiffness and soreness upon waking Wednesday morning, having missed Tuesday’s practice session to receive medical treatment.

White expressed optimism that this won’t develop into a long-term problem for Clark, noting that the player had to step away multiple times during the team’s season opener on May 9 for back adjustments.

“It’s not the time to take a chance,” White said. “We just really want to be cautious, you know.”

“… She’s healthy. We’re not managing anything. This is just a back issue that we want to make sure we give the time to be ready.”

The 24-year-old Clark leads the team with 24.3 points per contest while also contributing 9.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds through four games this season. The former No. 1 overall draft pick in 2024 and two-time All-Star appeared in only 13 contests last season after dealing with quad, groin and ankle injuries.

The NBA revealed its All-Rookie first team Wednesday evening, with Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg taking center stage as both the league’s Rookie of the Year and the top overall selection from last year’s draft.

A panel of 100 international media members voted to place Flagg alongside Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel, Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe, San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper, and Memphis Grizzlies guard Cedric Coward on the elite first team.

Three players earned unanimous recognition for the first team: Flagg, Knueppel, and Edgecombe. Harper secured 93 first-team votes, while Coward received 29 first-team selections along with 67 second-team votes.

The Rookie of the Year race proved extremely competitive, with Flagg barely defeating Knueppel by collecting 56 first-place votes compared to Knueppel’s 44.

The second team featured New Orleans Pelicans center Derik Queen, Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud, Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears, Utah Jazz guard Ace Bailey, and Toronto Raptors forward Collin Murray-Boyles.

Scoring statistics showed the top three rookies were Flagg at 21.0 points per game, Knueppel at 18.5, and Edgecombe at 16.0. Flagg also ranked second in rookie assists with 4.5 per game, while Edgecombe finished fourth at 4.2. Knueppel made history by becoming the first rookie to lead the entire league in three-pointers made with 273.

Harper contributed 11.8 points, 3.9 assists, and 3.4 rebounds during the regular season for San Antonio. His playoff performance has improved to 14.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.7 steals across 12 games with one start.

Coward posted averages of 13.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists for Memphis. Unlike his four first-team colleagues who were the draft’s top four selections, Coward was chosen 11th overall from Washington State in the 2025 Draft.

OKLAHOMA CITY — San Antonio’s All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox attempted another pregame warmup session, but his troublesome right ankle continued to cause problems.

The Spurs announced Fox would sit out Wednesday night’s Game 2 of the Western Conference finals matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder, marking the second straight contest he’s been unable to play due to the ankle injury. Dylan Harper was expected to remain in the starting five as his replacement.

San Antonio maintained optimism about Fox’s availability until roughly one hour before tip-off Wednesday, with head coach Mitch Johnson stating — similar to his comments Monday — that Fox’s participation will be determined on a game-by-game basis for the remainder of the postseason. The organization has not disclosed the specific cause of the ankle discomfort.

“It’ll be pretty status quo moving forward, I believe, regardless of if he plays in games or not,” Johnson said. “This’ll be just kind of the world we live in.”

Fox earned All-Star recognition this season for San Antonio, posting 18.6 points per contest during the regular season — ranking second on the roster behind only Victor Wembanyama’s 25 points per game.

Harper — who received NBA All-Rookie first team honors earlier Wednesday — delivered an outstanding performance in San Antonio’s Game 1 victory, recording 24 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and a franchise playoff record seven steals.

Harper, who celebrated his 20th birthday on March 2, ranks as the second-youngest player to participate in this year’s playoffs, trailing only Minnesota’s Joan Beringer and Phoenix’s Khaman Maluach — both still 19 years old. Beringer and Maluach have totaled 24 points combined throughout these playoffs, equaling Harper’s single-game output against the Thunder.

“He didn’t just get this talented or this good,” Johnson said. “For him to buy into the role that was in front of him, for him to do what was asked and be held accountable and learn what it took and what we needed to win games and be a part of it — while probably suppressing some of his individual capabilities — is hard to do for a 19- to 20-year-old.

“For him to be able to do that and grow as a winning team player and then have his individual talent pop as well — it’s hard to do in this league at any time. Doing it as a rookie in the playoffs is ridiculous.”

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA revealed its All-Rookie team selections Wednesday evening, with Cooper Flagg of Dallas, Kon Knueppel of Charlotte, and VJ Edgecombe of Philadelphia earning unanimous spots on the first team.

Rounding out the first-team honors were Dylan Harper from San Antonio and Cedric Coward of Memphis. Harper received recognition on every ballot cast by voters, earning 93 first-team selections and seven second-team mentions out of 100 total votes.

These same five players were the sole recipients of votes in the Rookie of the Year competition, where Flagg narrowly defeated Knueppel for the top prize.

Second-team All-Rookie recognition went to Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen from New Orleans, Ace Bailey of Utah, Maxime Reynaud from Sacramento, and Collin Murray-Boyles of Toronto.

The league plans to reveal its All-Defensive team Friday, followed by the All-NBA team announcement Sunday. The Coach of the Year award will be announced next Tuesday.

The NHL Coaches Association is criticizing the Vegas Golden Knights for blocking their former head coach Bruce Cassidy from pursuing interview opportunities with other teams.

Cassidy, who guided the Golden Knights to their 2023 Stanley Cup title, was dismissed on March 29 during his fourth campaign with the organization. The team brought in veteran head coach John Tortorella as his replacement.

According to ESPN’s Tuesday report, both the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings have sought permission to interview Cassidy for their head coaching vacancies. Vegas has rejected these requests, citing that Cassidy remains under contract for another year with $4.5 million still owed to him.

“The NHLCA has been closely monitoring the situation involving Bruce Cassidy,” the association said in a statement. “While we respect the league’s rules and processes, it is our position that coaches who remain under contract, but are no longer working for their Club, should not be prevented from pursuing other employment opportunities.

“It would be unprecedented at the head coaching level should multiple teams be denied permission to speak with Coach Cassidy. The situation is still unfolding, but our priority is to protect the interests of our members in this type of circumstance.”

Vegas General Manager Kelly McCrimmon stated Tuesday that he has discussed the matter with Cassidy, who “understands” the circumstances. McCrimmon noted that the Golden Knights’ current playoff campaign — they begin Game 1 of the Western Conference finals Wednesday evening against Colorado — is another consideration in their decision-making process.

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — The Eastern Conference finals were marketed around the exciting matchup between Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell.

For the Cleveland Cavaliers, the reality became Brunson targeting James Harden during the final quarter of Game 1.

Brunson repeatedly exploited that defensive assignment to fuel one of the most dramatic postseason rallies in recent memory, with the New York Knicks overcoming a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit for a 115-104 win. Following the defeat, Cleveland dismissed criticism suggesting that one of basketball’s most prolific scorers might be too much of a defensive liability to reach the NBA Finals.

“I know everybody’s putting it on James, but I’d say a lot of, it’s on the team, our team defense,” coach Kenny Atkinson said Wednesday after the Cavaliers practiced at Madison Square Garden. “And we were great for three quarters. Like, really, really great. So we can do it.”

Cleveland aims to bounce back Thursday, seeking to tie the series before heading home for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Atkinson faced criticism equal to or greater than Harden for delaying a timeout during New York’s surge, as Brunson repeatedly drove at Harden during an 18-1 scoring burst.

“Kenny’s a great coach and we know that they’re going to come out ready to play,” said the Knicks’ Mike Brown, who worked with Atkinson when both were assistants to Steve Kerr in Golden State. “They came to New York to get one game and it’s still within reach.”

Cleveland recognizes they should already possess that victory. They dominated the second and third quarters against a Knicks squad showing obvious rust in their first contest since May 10. Far from resembling the team that averaged 19.4-point victories in the prior two playoff rounds, New York eventually implemented an offensive strategy that forced Harden to defend Brunson, leading to four consecutive Knicks baskets during their decisive run.

Cleveland backup guard Dennis Schroder praised Brunson rather than criticizing Harden.

“Jalen Brunson is one of the most clutch players in the NBA. Social media for that is just in a bad place,” Schroder said. “I think that we lost the game. Basketball is a team game. It’s everybody on the bench, coaches, the guys who were on the court. At the end of the day, he made some tough shots and good credit.”

The Cavaliers improved dramatically after trading for Harden from the Los Angeles Clippers late in the season. Harden ranks ninth in NBA history with nearly 30,000 career points and 12th in assists. The 2018 NBA MVP was competing Tuesday on an MSG floor where he shares the opponent scoring record with Kobe Bryant at 61 points.

However, he’s struggled at times during the playoffs, and Game 1 continued that trend. Harden managed just 5 of 16 shooting overall and 1 of 8 from beyond the arc, while committing six turnovers against three assists. He’s recovered from poor performances previously, and Atkinson expects another rebound.

“I said, ‘Without you, we’re knocked out in the first round.’ That’s my first (opinion). My personal opinion,” Atkinson said. “So, let’s just stop that. We’re in a great position. ‘You’ve played great.’ You know, sometimes micro experiences get exaggerated. ‘So, you know, keep being yourself.’”

The Knicks, winners of eight consecutive games, empathize with Cleveland’s disappointment after experiencing similar heartbreak in Game 1 of the 2025 East finals.

New York held a 14-point advantage over Indiana with less than three minutes left in regulation. The Pacers forced overtime when Tyrese Haliburton’s long-range attempt bounced high off the rim before dropping through at the buzzer, then prevailed 138-135 in the extra period.

“Obviously they’re looking at it like that was our game that we gave away,” Knicks forward Josh Hart said of the Cavaliers. “And they’re looking at film of, ‘If we fix this here or fix this here, we would have won the game.’ And that’s what they’re going to try to do tomorrow.”

As FIFA host cities prepare to welcome massive crowds for upcoming World Cup soccer matches, Kansas City is making significant investments in public transportation infrastructure. The city is expanding its bus fleet and creating additional routes to handle the expected influx of thousands of soccer fans traveling to stadium venues.

Kansas City’s transportation upgrades are part of broader preparations taking place across all FIFA host cities as they get ready to accommodate the large numbers of spectators expected for the international soccer tournament.

The world’s top-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler returns to Texas this week hoping to capture back-to-back victories at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.

Last year’s tournament saw Scheffler dominate from start to finish, opening with a spectacular 61 in the opening round followed by matching 63s in rounds two and four. The 29-year-old Dallas resident cruised to an eight-stroke triumph while establishing both a tournament record and matching the PGA Tour record with his impressive 31-under par total of 253.

“Yeah, definitely good memories from last year,” Scheffler commented Wednesday, just one day prior to this year’s tournament beginning at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.

“I had a really nice week, just played a lot of really solid golf. I was fortunate to be the winner at the end of the week.

“In terms of just getting ready for this week, it was nice to have a home week, especially coming off a major championship. Got some rest Monday, did some practice at Royal Oaks yesterday, Pro-Am today, and go home and get some rest and get ready for an early one tomorrow.”

This tournament holds special significance for Scheffler, as it marked his PGA Tour debut back in 2014. Over the years, he has refined his skills to reach his current status as the world’s premier golfer.

This year’s event features a dramatically transformed venue following a $25 million renovation project overseen by World Golf Hall of Fame member Lanny Wadkins.

“I actually came up and played the course a few weeks ago,” Scheffler explained. “I think tee-to-green it is definitely better than what it was before. I think it’s a more interesting test. The greens have added a significant amount of slope to them, and some are a bit aggressive, but overall I think (Wadkins) did a really good job of creating some nice pin locations, and you definitely have to think your way around this place a lot more than you did before.”

Scheffler enters this week’s competition seeking redemption after struggling with his putting during last weekend’s PGA Championship, where he finished tied for 14th place.

“Yeah, I think — I guess just putting specific … you kind of just go through ebbs and flows, and putting is something, especially when you’re putting in wind and on greens without much slope, there’s going to be variants and how things are going,” he explained.

“Overall, I feel like I’m in a good spot. I’ve actually putted the best that I have in my career so far this year and just kind of get a reset, get on some new greens, work on my reads, make sure I’m checking all my fundamentals.”

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers deliberated extensively before committing to return for his 22nd NFL campaign. The Pittsburgh Steelers signal-caller has already reached a decision regarding a potential 23rd season: it will not happen.

“This is it,” Rodgers declared Wednesday when the four-time NFL MVP was questioned about whether this upcoming year would mark his retirement.

The 42-year-old veteran chose not to elaborate on his reasoning behind this decision during his initial public statements since inking a one-year contract to rejoin the Steelers on Monday.

Instead, Rodgers is focusing on the current moment, particularly his partnership with first-year Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy. The pair collaborated for 13 seasons in Green Bay during earlier portions of their careers, with Rodgers identifying McCarthy’s appointment as Mike Tomlin’s successor as a significant influence in his choice to return for one final campaign.

“It is like a (bunch of) ‘pinch me’ moments that have happened in the last few days,” he commented after Pittsburgh’s second day of voluntary organized team activities.

McCarthy and Rodgers captured a Super Bowl championship together in Green Bay following the 2010 season, and they maintained regular communication throughout the winter and spring months while Rodgers considered whether he wanted to endure the physical demands of a 17-game schedule.

Rodgers eventually decided affirmatively, seeking the most uncommon of career conclusions: one he can control according to his own preferences.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Music City offered a preview Wednesday of what the NFL and football enthusiasts can anticipate in 2030 when Nashville hosts Super Bowl 64.

Television broadcaster Jim Nantz served as master of ceremonies, while country music star Eric Church occupied a front-row seat at a press conference that resembled more of a celebration for securing what officials call Tennessee’s largest sporting event in history. NFL team owners unanimously decided Tuesday to grant Nashville the rights to host the 2030 Super Bowl.

Nantz, who has provided commentary for seven Super Bowls on CBS and now calls Nashville his home, emphasized that Music City excels at organizing major events.

“We are, among many things, we’re in the entertainment business, and I don’t have a doubt that we’re going to entertain the people that travel to our city and our state to the greatest experience they’ve ever had at a big event,” Nantz said. “That’s what we do, and now we get to show them.”

Depending on weather conditions, a public celebration was scheduled for Wednesday evening on Lower Broad, the same location that anchored the 2019 NFL draft festivities, featuring live music, special appearances, and a drone display.

The proposal team that helped Nashville secure this Super Bowl featured comedian Nate Bargatze, Church, and another celebrity in Tim McGraw.

Speculation has already begun regarding the halftime entertainment, with Taylor Swift emerging as a favored recommendation.

Peter O’Reilly, NFL executive vice president of club business as well as international and league events, remembered a massive thunderstorm approaching 200,000 attendees during the 2019 draft, only to divide and bypass the city. O’Reilly described that occurrence as Nashville magic.

Nashville concluded with record-breaking attendance figures, establishing new benchmarks for future host cities. O’Reilly anticipates Nashville will repeat this success.

“Super Bowl 64 in 2030 is going to be a game-changer for the Super Bowl,” O’Reilly said. “Super Bowl 64 in 2030 is going to be a game-changer for the NFL.”

The same organizers who helped Nashville execute the 2019 draft remain in their positions. Burke Nihill, the Tennessee Titans’ president and CEO, confirmed they will participate in planning as Nashville applies its Music City identity to all aspects leading up to and including the Super Bowl at the new Nissan Stadium.

“Let’s not start with a base understanding of how it’s always been done,” Nihill said of exceeding the NFL’s expectations. “How can we create something new that’s very different?”

Nantz also serves as co-chair of Nashville’s Super Bowl host committee alongside Bill Haslam, a former Tennessee governor and majority owner of the NHL’s Nashville Predators. Nantz expressed confidence that 2030 will mark only the first Super Bowl held at Nissan Stadium, which is scheduled to open in 2027.

Deana Ivey, president and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, stated her concentration remains on 2030 initially.

“I haven’t asked that question,” she said. “I’m focused on the first time.”

The Colorado Avalanche will be without their star defenseman Cale Makar for Wednesday evening’s opening game of the Western Conference Final against Vegas due to an upper-body injury.

Head coach Jared Bednar made the announcement following the team’s morning practice, describing the elite defenseman’s status as “day to day.”

“I think he’s doing a lot better,” Bednar said. “He’s on the ice again this morning, feeling pretty good.”

The injury occurred when Makar sustained a collision during the final moments of Game 5 against Minnesota last Wednesday, causing him to leave the ice while clutching his right arm. Despite the injury, he managed to return to action as Colorado secured an overtime victory. Earlier in that series, Makar had also temporarily exited Game 1 after being checked into the boards, which sent his right leg airborne before he crashed to the ice.

This setback represents a significant challenge for the Avalanche, who have compiled an impressive 8-1 record throughout this postseason. The upcoming game marks Makar’s first playoff absence due to injury, though he previously sat out one game in 2023 during the Seattle series due to a suspension for interference.

The Norris Trophy candidate has contributed four goals and one assist while logging nearly 25 minutes per game during the first two playoff rounds. His role extends beyond regular play, as he serves as a crucial component of Colorado’s power play and penalty kill units.

“Best defenseman in the world,” Avalanche forward Logan O’Connor said. “He’s not going to be easily replaced. There’s not one guy that’s going to be able to do it. I think the advantage we have with the group we have in the game tonight is a lot of guys can be minute-munchers for us.

“Cale presents a dynamic ability that is super-unique in the league. No one’s going to replicate that tonight, but it’s on the D-core as a whole, and our group as a whole, to try and pick it up when we can.”

Bednar confirmed that defenseman Jack Ahcan will enter the starting lineup as Makar’s replacement. Ahcan appeared in his first Stanley Cup playoff game during Game 4 against Minnesota and saw limited action in Game 5. This season, he also participated in four Calder Cup playoff contests with the Colorado Eagles in the American Hockey League.

The team expects forward Artturi Lehkonen to return to action after missing the final two games against Minnesota with his own upper-body injury.

“He touches every aspect of our game, five-on-five, power play, penalty kill,” Bednar said. “He’s a big-time playoff performer, a great two-way player, so just helps us slot all of our lines where we need them in order to play a team like Vegas.”

Two players from the Boston Fleet have been selected as finalists for the 2026 PWHL Defender of the Year award, the league announced Wednesday. Captain Megan Keller and teammate Haley Winn will compete for the honor alongside Sophie Jaques from the Vancouver Goldeneyes.

The recognition goes to the defensive player who demonstrates exceptional performance at their position during the regular season. A selection committee determined the three finalists, with the winner set to be revealed on June 16 in Detroit.

Keller, age 30, tied a league record for defensemen by recording 22 points through seven goals and 15 assists. She topped all defenders with three game-winning goals and ranked second league-wide in average ice time at 26:40.

The 22-year-old Winn completed her first professional season with 19 points, including five goals and 14 assists. She led all players in average ice time at 26:45 and placed fourth among league defenders by blocking 45 shots.

Jaques, 25, placed second among defensive players with 20 points through nine goals and 11 assists across 30 games for the first-year Goldeneyes. She stood as the lone PWHL defender to record multiple three-point performances, achieving this feat twice.

Last season’s Defender of the Year winner was Renata Fast from the Toronto Sceptres, who defeated finalists Jaques and Claire Thompson of the Minnesota Frost.

On Wednesday, the Seattle Mariners brought back right-handed pitcher Matt Brash from the injured list while sending left-handed pitcher Robinson Ortiz down to Triple-A Tacoma.

The 28-year-old Brash was placed on the 15-day injured list back on May 1 due to inflammation in his right lat muscle. This season, he has posted impressive numbers with a perfect 2-0 record and 0.00 ERA across 14 relief outings for Seattle. The team has found success when Brash takes the mound, going 12-2 in games where he has appeared.

Since joining the Mariners for his big league debut in 2022, Brash holds a career record of 16-11 with a 3.10 ERA and eight saves over 184 appearances, including five as a starter. He sat out the entire 2024 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

The 26-year-old Ortiz was brought up from Tacoma just this past Monday but has not yet appeared in a major league game. In Triple-A action this year, he carries a 0-1 record with a 2.81 ERA through 15 relief appearances.

DALLAS (AP) — The president of the Dallas Mavericks acknowledged Wednesday that dismissing Jason Kidd from his head coaching position was a challenging choice that he made independently after five years with the franchise.

Following Tuesday’s announcement of Kidd’s exit, the team president explained Wednesday that he believed the franchise required a fresh beginning.

“What he’s done for this organization we truly respect, so this was a very, very tough decision,” the president stated.

“I have to be accountable with a decision like this,” he continued. “I also have to be very active in how I look at the organization from top to bottom.”

The president, who assumed his role as team president and governor fourteen days earlier, clarified that the coaching change was unrelated to the February 2025 trade involving Luka Doncic or anyone associated with that transaction.

During his May 5 introductory press conference, the president avoided committing to Kidd’s future, indicating he would speak with the coach while assessing the team comprehensively.

Tuesday evening’s official announcement from the Mavericks characterized Kidd’s departure as a joint decision between both parties.

Under Kidd’s leadership alongside Doncic, Dallas achieved two significant postseason campaigns, advancing to the NBA Finals in 2024 and suffering a Western Conference finals defeat to Golden State two seasons prior.

During the 2024-25 campaign, the Mavericks dealt Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, receiving Anthony Davis as the primary asset in an exchange that proved disastrous for Dallas. The team failed to qualify for the playoffs that year and again in 2025-26, when Davis was subsequently traded.

The former Hall of Fame point guard, who helped deliver the franchise’s sole championship as a player in 2011, concluded his coaching tenure with an even regular-season record of 205-205 wins and losses.

Soccer enthusiasts in Botswana who support Arsenal believed they had extra cause for celebration when their team claimed its first Premier League championship in over two decades – a supposed government-declared day off work.

However, officials in Botswana quickly dismissed a circulating announcement that promised Wednesday as a public holiday in honor of the victory, calling it completely fabricated.

Botswana’s government shared the fraudulent document on X, marking it with red “FAKE” text overlay. Officials clarified in their post: “No, there is no holiday for Arsenal fans.”

The bogus announcement that spread across social media included authentic-looking elements such as the Republic of Botswana’s official coat of arms and presidential office markings. It claimed President Duma Boko had granted the holiday to recognize Arsenal supporters for their “passion, loyalty and unwavering support.”

Observant supporters might have spotted a telltale sign of the document’s fraudulent nature – it bore Sunday’s date of May 17. Arsenal only secured their championship victory on Tuesday following Manchester City’s 1-1 tie with Bournemouth.

A social media user jokingly suggested on X that the phony announcement might have originated from a Manchester United supporter.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Salisbury University’s men’s lacrosse program continues its streak of national excellence, as faceoff specialist Blake Malamphy earned the prestigious USILA Face-Off Player of the Year honor on Tuesday.

The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association announced Malamphy’s selection, marking the third consecutive year that the Sea Gulls have captured significant national recognition from the organization.

The award highlights Malamphy’s exceptional performance at the faceoff position throughout the season, cementing his status as one of the top specialists in collegiate lacrosse.

NEW YORK (AP) — You could label it an incredible rally. Or you could call it a complete meltdown.

The opening game of the Eastern Conference finals featured elements of both scenarios. New York’s dramatic surge wouldn’t have been possible without Cleveland’s stunning collapse.

Cleveland held a commanding 93-71 advantage with less than eight minutes remaining before New York dominated the final stretch, outscoring their opponents 44-11 to secure a 115-104 overtime victory. Among playoff games over the past three decades, only the Clippers’ 24-point rally against Memphis in 2012’s opening game represents a larger fourth-quarter turnaround.

“We should’ve won the game,” Cavaliers All-Star Donovan Mitchell said. “We didn’t.”

Here’s an examination of what went wrong for Cleveland.

Though it seemed unthinkable moments later, James Harden executed solid defense against a then-struggling Jalen Brunson while Cleveland maintained a 20-point cushion with 7:04 left on the clock. Harden successfully blocked Brunson’s driving attempt, though Karl-Anthony Towns secured the loose ball to keep the play alive and found Landry Shamet open for a three-pointer. Following a Cleveland turnover, New York called timeout with 6:41 remaining. Despite the score still reading 93-76, the Knicks appeared energized for the first time in quite a while as Shamet encouraged his teammates with enthusiastic gestures.

“If you’re going to make a run, that’s when you’ve got to do it. So might as well throw your best punch at that point and try to do what you can,” Shamet said.

“You’ve got to leave it all out there especially at this time of the year and that’s what we did. We had a group that didn’t flinch at that deficit and made some effort.”

New York’s strategy during the following minutes centered on fundamental basketball principles. When Brunson advanced the ball upcourt, whichever player Harden was defending — typically either Mikal Bridges or OG Anunoby — would establish a screen against Brunson’s defender, forcing Harden to switch onto Brunson. Brunson then exploited this matchup by driving against Harden, creating opportunities for the floaters and bank shots that helped establish his All-Star reputation.

This approach yielded four consecutive New York baskets for Brunson, culminating in a three-pointer that narrowed the gap to 94-89 with 3½ minutes left.

Just before Brunson attempted that crucial three-pointer, ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson suggested Cleveland might benefit from a timeout if New York scored.

However, was the opportunity already lost? Cleveland witnessed multiple possessions where New York repeatedly executed the same strategy and could have stopped play earlier to implement defensive adjustments that might have altered the outcome.

“I like to hold my timeouts,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson explained afterward. “I didn’t want to get one timeout at the end of the game, a one- or two-point game. I try to hold them.”

Cleveland might have avoided overtime entirely with better fortune on two three-point attempts.

Mitchell attempted one with 3:47 remaining that rolled around the rim before falling out. Success there would have pushed Cleveland’s lead to 11 points. Instead, Brunson connected on his three-pointer just 17 seconds later, cutting the deficit to 94-89.

Later, after Shamet’s game-tying three-pointer bounced favorably off the rim before dropping through, Cleveland possessed the ball for regulation’s final possession and found Sam Merrill in prime position. His attempt appeared so accurate that play-by-play announcer Mike Breen seemed ready to deliver his famous “BANG!” call with the ball rolling inside the rim. However, he managed only “BA!” before switching to “In and out! That one halfway down!”

“We got a little unlucky,” Atkinson said.

During the game’s final 12:49 — encompassing the end of regulation plus overtime — Brunson alone outscored Cleveland 17-11. Anunoby nearly matched that feat with 10 points during the same period.

The statistics from that crucial stretch tell the story:

— Field goal shooting: New York .750 (15-20), Cleveland .222 (4-18).

— Three-point shooting: New York .750 (6-8), Cleveland .182 (2-11).

— Free throw shooting: New York .800 (8-10, all from Anunoby), Cleveland .250 (1-4).

— Rebounding: New York 13, Cleveland 2.

— Brunson converted 8 of 10 shots during those minutes, while Shamet and Bridges combined for perfect 5-for-5 shooting (all three-pointers).

— Harden (1-5) and Mitchell (0-5) struggled badly, combining for just 1-for-10 shooting during the collapse.

A Norwegian soccer star anticipated to make his country’s World Cup roster has joined fellow athletes in pressing FIFA to enhance heat safety measures for the upcoming tournament.

Morten Thorsby, who is likely to represent Norway in their first men’s World Cup appearance since 1998, has signed onto demands for stronger heat protection protocols. Thorsby established “We Play Green” in 2020, an initiative encouraging soccer athletes to take action on environmental and climate concerns.

The Norwegian player joined dozens of other soccer athletes in signing a letter from the New Weather Institute urging FIFA to adopt better heat safety standards. The correspondence emphasizes that “essential that the best available medical expertise is put to practice” during the tournament scheduled across the United States, Canada and Mexico starting June 11.

“We share the concerns outlined by the medical professionals and support their demand that FIFA updates its heat-stress framework before the World Cup,” the letter states.

The athletes’ appeal follows a separate communication from prominent health specialists to soccer’s international governing body last week. These medical experts expressed alarm about “worrying levels of heat stress” that could affect players during the competition and stated they are “concerned that FIFA’s current guidelines on heat stress mitigation are inadequate and will place players at risk of heat injury.”

The health professionals recommended implementing 6-minute cooling intervals during games and ensuring locker facilities include “the right equipment for aggressive pre-game and halftime cooling.”

Research has indicated that 14 out of 16 host cities for World Cup matches will face “levels of extreme heat, which could be potentially dangerous to players, match officials and possibly spectators.” Studies show wet bulb globe temperatures — measurements incorporating humidity, wind speed, sun angle and additional factors — may surpass 90 F (32 C) during afternoon hours in Monterrey, Mexico, while Miami was highlighted for its “particularly high humidity.”

FIFA has established a Heat Illness Mitigation and Management Task Force consisting of medical and operational specialists and implemented various heat-related measures, including mandatory 3-minute hydration pauses for athletes during each half regardless of weather, while team personnel and substitutes will have access to climate-controlled seating areas during outdoor competitions.

The international soccer organization stated that weather conditions have been considered in developing the match schedule.

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s national soccer team has scrapped its planned three-day training camp and public farewell event in Kinshasa due to health concerns stemming from an Ebola outbreak affecting the eastern regions of the country.

The team will relocate its preparation activities following an outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which health officials believe has resulted in more than 130 deaths and nearly 600 suspected infections.

The World Health Organization has classified the situation as a public health emergency of international concern.

The team’s upcoming exhibition matches remain unchanged, with games against Denmark set for June 3 in Liege, Belgium, and Chile scheduled for June 9 in southern Spain. Team spokesman Jerry Kalemo confirmed to The Associated Press on Wednesday that both fixtures will proceed as originally planned.

“There were three stages of preparation: in Kinshasa to say goodbye to the public, Belgium and Spain with two friendly matches against Denmark in Liege and Chile in Spain, and the third stage from June 11 in Houston, United States. Only one stage was canceled – the one in Kinshasa,” Kalemo said.

The entire roster and French coach Sébastien Desabre are currently residing outside the central African nation, with the majority of players competing professionally in France.

Team personnel who remain in Congo “are leaving in the next hours,” Kalemo said.

FIFA released a statement acknowledging its awareness of the health crisis, saying “it is aware of and monitoring the situation regarding an Ebola outbreak and is in close communication with the Congo DR Football Association to ensure that the team are made aware of all medical and security guidance.

“FIFA continues to work with all three FIFA World Cup 2026 host countries’ governments, including the US Department of State, CDC and Department of Homeland Security, Mexico’s Secretariat of Health and the Public Health Agency of Canada, as well as with the World Health Organization, to ensure a safe and secure tournament, as the health of all individuals involved remains FIFA’s priority.”

Congo secured its World Cup spot by winning a playoff tournament in Mexico and has been placed in Group K. The team will open tournament play against Portugal in Houston on June 17.

The Leopards will then meet Colombia in Guadalajara on June 23 before concluding group stage action against Uzbekistan in Atlanta on June 27.

This marks Congo’s first World Cup appearance since 1974, when the nation competed under the name Zaire, leading to widespread celebration throughout the country that has endured decades of armed conflict.

The National Basketball Association announced Wednesday that the New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs will compete in two European cities next year as the league continues its multi-season commitment to international regular-season play.

The two franchises are set to face each other on January 14 in Paris, followed by another matchup in Manchester three days later on January 17.

This European tour continues the NBA’s previously announced plan to stage a minimum of six regular-season contests across Europe during a three-year period.

The initiative launched with matchups between the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic this past January, with those teams playing in Berlin and London. Future games scheduled for the 2027-28 campaign will occur in Berlin and Paris.

George Aivazoglou, the NBA’s managing director for Europe and the Middle East, expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming games in an official statement.

“Playing games in Paris and Manchester reflects the strong momentum we’re seeing for basketball and the NBA in France, the UK and across Europe,” George Aivazoglou, the NBA’s managing director for Europe and the Middle East, said in a statement.

“As interest in the game continues to grow across the continent, we look forward to working with the Pelicans, the Spurs and our partners to deliver unique experiences for fans, aspiring players and the local communities.”

The upcoming Paris matchup will represent the NBA’s 16th contest in France dating back to 1991 and marks the sixth regular-season game held in Paris. While Manchester has not previously welcomed a regular-season NBA game, the event will be the 20th contest involving an NBA franchise in England since 1993.

SAN DIEGO — In a battle of wills that captivated everyone watching, Andy Pages stood firm in the batter’s box against Mason Miller and refused to back down. The Los Angeles outfielder managed to foul off six consecutive pitches from San Diego’s elite closer during a remarkable plate appearance Tuesday evening — three blazing fastballs over 100 mph and three 87 mph breaking balls.

On the ninth offering from Miller, Pages finally made solid contact, sending a 101.5 mph fastball just deep enough to bring home Los Angeles’ go-ahead run in the final frame of an exciting 5-4 triumph over the Padres.

For the Dodgers, this represented far more than a simple sacrifice fly, as they handed Miller (1-1) his initial defeat since joining San Diego.

Pages demonstrated once more that the reigning World Series champions can rise to meet any challenge presented by their nearest regional competitors — regardless of whether it arrives at triple-digit velocity.

“That was one of the greatest at-bats I’ve ever seen in person,” Freddie Freeman said. “And I’ve been playing a long time. That was incredible.”

The Dodgers understand they’ll be facing Miller regularly in future seasons, having already encountered the reliever nicknamed “The Reaper” in both opening contests of their initial series against the Padres this year.

Following Miller’s successful escape from trouble on Monday, the Dodgers created an unearned run Tuesday to defeat the standout performer from San Diego’s formidable bullpen. Los Angeles benefited from an ABS challenge and an unlucky throwing mistake by Miller, though the most difficult task fell to Pages, the Cuban center fielder who has performed at an elite level this season in his third major league campaign.

“Good plate appearance from Pages,” Miller said. “Good, long at-bat, and just barely got it done. Unfortunate, for sure.”

The run batted in marked Pages’ 42nd of the campaign — 17 more than four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani, and significantly higher than World Series hero Freeman or big-money acquisition Kyle Tucker.

“The work he’s put in showed itself there, but I think at the end of the day, it was just fight,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It was just will. Determination. Not worrying about mechanics and this and that. It’s just me versus you, and it was him versus Mason Miller, and he wasn’t going to lose that battle. Mason is the best in the game right now, and Andy willed himself to do something productive in that at-bat. … It’s a fight, and Andy is a tough kid, and he’s hungry.”

The scoring opportunity began with a one-out base on balls when Max Muncy successfully appealed a called third strike. Pinch-runner Alex Call nearly got caught off first base moments afterward — but Miller made his first professional error on his pickoff attempt when Ty France touched the ball but couldn’t secure it.

“Sped up on me a little bit and yanked it,” Miller said. “Probably threw it a little harder than I should have, too. Obviously want it back, but it is what it is.”

Pages worked his way back from an 0-2 deficit in remarkable fashion and eventually lofted his fly ball 275 feet toward right field. Fernando Tatis Jr.’s throw to home plate was intercepted by Sung-mun Song, providing Call sufficient time to score safely.

“The most important thing is to win,” Pages said through an interpreter. “To win at any cost. Doing that against a pitcher of that caliber is obviously really good, but I felt very confident the whole time through.”

The defeat marked Miller’s first since May 17, 2025 — exactly one year and two days earlier, during his tenure with the Athletics. He hadn’t suffered a loss or blown save since last Aug. 5 in his second appearance after the Padres acquired him in a bold trade centered around teenager Leo De Vries, one of baseball’s premier prospects.

Miller has arguably been baseball’s top reliever this season, leading the position in most WAR calculations and successfully converting all 15 save chances to pace the majors. He earned NL reliever of the month honors for March/April, striking out 53.7% of opposing hitters while surrendering just one run and six hits over 15 outings.

“We all know how good Miller has been, so having (Pages) grind it out, battle, spoil pitches — it was tremendous,” Call said. “Incredible job by Andy and the guys tonight.”

The National Basketball Association revealed Wednesday that two teams will take their regular-season competition overseas next year, with the San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans scheduled to face off in European venues.

The international series will begin January 14, 2027, when Frenchman Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs meet Zion Williamson and the Pelicans at Accor Arena in Paris, France.

The teams will then travel to England for a second matchup three days later at Co-op Live in Manchester.

This marks a historic first for Manchester, which has never before hosted an NBA regular-season game, while Paris adds to its collection of five previous regular-season contests.

The European tour represents significant milestones for both franchises. The Spurs will play their 10th and 11th games on the continent, including their sixth contest in France and inaugural game in England.

Meanwhile, the Pelicans will experience their third and fourth European games overall, marking their first appearances in both France and England.

The NBA conference finals delivered unprecedented opening night drama as both Game 1 matchups went to overtime – a first in conference finals history – with both contests ending regulation knotted at an identical 101-101 score.

In the Eastern Conference finals, New York mounted one of the most remarkable postseason rallies in NBA history, overcoming a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Cleveland 115-104 in overtime. Jalen Brunson led the comeback with 38 points, repeatedly targeting James Harden on defense during a crucial 18-1 run that transformed the game. “We were attacking Harden,” the team noted about their strategy down the stretch.

Harden’s defensive struggles against Brunson became a pivotal factor as Cleveland surrendered their commanding lead. The veteran guard also had offensive difficulties, connecting on just 5 of 16 shots including 1 of 3 from beyond the arc, while committing six turnovers. Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson maintained faith in the 11-time All-Star, never considering benching him despite the struggles.

In the Western Conference, San Antonio pulled off a stunning upset victory over defending champion Oklahoma City, powered by Victor Wembanyama’s dominant 41-point, 24-rebound performance. The young star took control in crunch time, mirroring Brunson’s heroics in the East.

Meanwhile, coaching changes continue across the league as Dallas parted ways with Jason Kidd after five seasons. The decision came two weeks after the franchise hired former Toronto executive Masai Ujiri as team president and governor. The Hall of Fame point guard, who helped lead Dallas to its only championship as a player in 2011, mutually agreed to the separation.

In other NBA news, the league’s coaching diversity program resumed this week in Orlando, Florida. Jeff Ulbrich, the former interim head coach of the New York Jets, participated alongside 33 others in the revamped accelerator program designed to increase diversity among coaches and front office executives.

Baseball fans nationwide have embraced a new phenomenon called “Tarps Off,” where groups remove their shirts and twirl them overhead at stadiums. The trend originated in St. Louis and has spread to ballparks in Detroit, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia and Anaheim.

Tennis star Coco Gauff enters the French Open with a fresh perspective on defending her Grand Slam title. “I realize that the ‘defending’ means nothing in a way,” Gauff explained. “I don’t really look at it as defending anymore.” After struggling with 19 double faults during her U.S. Open title defense two years ago, she’s adopted a new mindset. “At the U.S. Open I was like, ‘I need to defend, defend,’” she said. “That’s why I just say now it’s just another tournament.”

In international soccer, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer celebrated Arsenal’s Premier League championship, posting on social media: “22 long years for the Arsenal. But finally, we’re back where we belong. Champions!” The victory provided rare positive news for Starmer amid political challenges following poor election results.

For visiting teams in the NBA playoffs, crowd noise presents a significant challenge. San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson has been doing plenty of yelling to communicate with his players at Oklahoma City’s Paycom Center, where noise levels reach approximately 110 decibels. Forward Julian Champagnie noted the difficulty of hearing himself on defense in the thunderous environment.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — San Antonio’s head coach Mitch Johnson sounds like he’s been dealing with a throat injury lately. His voice has turned rough and scratchy, resembling someone who has been shouting for hours.

The vocal strain isn’t going away anytime soon. During Wednesday’s Game 2 of the Western Conference finals, Johnson will need to yell constantly if he wants his players to hear his instructions over the crowd.

When visiting teams step into Paycom Center, home to the Oklahoma City Thunder, they’re not facing just five opposing players. They’re battling against 18,005 screaming fans. The noise level inside reaches extraordinary heights — consistently hitting around 110 decibels, comparable to standing next to a jackhammer. Game 1 featured T-shirts reading “Oklahoma City Loud,” and the slogan accurately captures the Thunder faithful’s identity.

“I would say anytime you play a team that is having or has had the level of recent success as the Thunder have, the fans follow,” Johnson said. “There’s people that get enthusiastic and bring energy to support. I would say that this would be probably one of the higher-end fan bases and arenas in terms of what the environment is like.”

The Thunder’s supporters have mastered the art of strategic noise-making. They understand precisely when to unleash maximum volume, taking collective deep breaths before creating ear-splitting sounds.

Player introductions trigger massive roars. Every Thunder basket generates thunderous cheers. Arena displays even guide fans through different noise levels during timeouts — ranging from loud to louder to loudest — with distinctly noticeable differences between each category.

Even the home team struggles with the acoustic chaos.

During Monday’s Game 1, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault attempted to get a referee’s attention by shouting from the sideline. When that failed, he moved several steps closer and tried again. Still no response. He continued walking until he reached midcourt — nearly closer to the opposing team’s bench than his own — before finally catching the official’s attention.

“It’s the loudest basketball arena I’ve ever been in. … I think it’s just a testament to how much the community cares, how much this city cares about basketball and this team,” Thunder guard Alex Caruso said during last season’s playoff run.

When asked to describe the volume level, Caruso offered one word: “Deafening.”

While all NBA venues generate significant noise during successful moments, the four remaining playoff locations — Paycom in Oklahoma City, the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Rocket Arena in Cleveland and Madison Square Garden in New York — can become particularly overwhelming.

“Some of these arenas, the timeout and the music’s playing and you’re like, ‘I’m not even going to say anything until the music (is over).’ It’s crazy,’” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said.

Cleveland managed to silence Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, until they couldn’t. The Knicks mounted a remarkable comeback from a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit to capture Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals in overtime. The Garden erupted as expected during the dramatic finish.

Paycom Center fell silent Monday evening when San Antonio completed their double-overtime victory in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. Visiting teams have discovered the simple solution: win games to eliminate the noise.

“It really puts emphasis on the players to echo calls and communicate with each other because there’s no way anyone on the sideline, let alone myself or whoever’s coaching, is going to be able to get all five guys’ attention at times,” Johnson said of the challenge of coaching on the road in very loud places. “And with that being said, I hope there’s also a level of competitiveness and enjoyment of being in an environment like that.”

Spurs forward Julian Champagnie offered Thunder fans the ultimate compliment Tuesday when describing their impact on the game.

“I was trying to talk on defense,” Champagnie said, “and I couldn’t hear myself.”

The eventual silence at game’s end made San Antonio’s victory even more satisfying. The quiet served as evidence of a successful road performance.

“That means you’re doing something right,” Champagnie said.

A preview has been published for the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, highlighting what promises to be an exciting competition for collegiate athletes across the nation.

The championships will showcase the top track and field talent from universities nationwide as they compete for national titles in their respective events.

Details about the upcoming competition continue to develop as the event approaches.