Category: Sports

MILAN (AP) — Winter Olympic competitors in Milan Cortina have chosen a South Korean bobsledder and an Estonian biathlon athlete to serve as their voices on the International Olympic Committee following Thursday’s election results.

Yunjong Won from South Korea and Johanna Talihärm from Estonia secured eight-year positions that will give them voting power in selecting the host city for the 2036 Summer Olympic Games.

In the competitive election featuring 11 candidates, Won secured the top spot with 1,176 votes while Talihärm claimed the second available position with 983 votes. Olympic officials reported that 2,393 athletes participated in the voting process, representing 83.4% of all eligible Winter Games competitors.

Several prominent athletes were unsuccessful in their bids, including Chinese figure skating champion Cong Han, Canadian ski cross Olympic winner Marielle Thompson, and Ukrainian aerials skiing champion Oleksandr Abramenko.

Won, age 40, guided his four-person bobsled team to a silver medal during the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics on home soil. His Olympic experience spans three Winter Games, having also participated in Sochi 2014 and Beijing 2022.

Talihärm, 32, brings experience from competing in the same three recent Winter Olympic competitions.

The pair will join the IOC’s current roster of 107 members, taking over from Finnish ice hockey athlete Emma Terho and Norwegian cross-country skier Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen, whose eight-year commitments conclude this Sunday. The IOC maintains 15 designated positions specifically for elected athlete representatives.

Terho has served athletes’ interests on the IOC Executive Board since 2021. She succeeded Kirsty Coventry in that role, who now holds the position of IOC president.

As the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine approaches, draft evaluation specialists from Field Level Media have identified the premier center candidates across all positions.

Offensive line players are scheduled to arrive in Indianapolis this Thursday for team-requested interviews and comprehensive medical evaluations.

Physical testing sessions will commence on Sunday, March 1, after media interactions scheduled for Saturday, February 28.

Here are the leading center candidates heading into the combine evaluation:

1. Connor Lew, Auburn

6-3, 303 pounds

Lew demonstrates exceptional technical skills, strong leadership qualities, and professional-level field awareness. He maintained a starting role for 25 straight games until suffering an ACL tear in October 2025.

2. Brian Parker II, Duke

6-5, 305 pounds

Made the successful switch from tackle to center position. Shows refined blocking abilities with fluid mobility in every direction. Possesses the mental sharpness and technical expertise needed for professional success.

3. Jake Slaughter, Florida

6-4, 303 pounds

Veteran starter who served as team captain, featuring exceptional football intelligence, polished fundamentals, and instinctive pass blocking abilities.

4. Logan Jones, Iowa

6-3, 302 pounds

Strong athletic ability with the mobility skills necessary to excel in zone-blocking systems.

5. Matt Gulbin, Michigan State

6-3, 316 pounds

At 25 years old with modest athletic traits, Gulbin brings flexibility having started at both guard and center positions.

LIVIGNO, Italy – Olympic officials moved several freestyle skiing competitions to Friday after heavy snowfall made conditions unsafe Thursday at the Italian Alpine venue, though organizers say the schedule adjustments won’t significantly impact the Games concluding this weekend.

Competition organizers rescheduled the men’s aerials qualifying rounds and finals to begin Friday at 9:30 a.m. GMT, with the men’s halfpipe qualifying sessions starting an hour later.

Women’s halfpipe qualifiers remained on Thursday’s evening schedule, though officials planned to assess conditions before making a final decision on those events.

“Snow is an occupational hazard of winter sports,” International Olympic Committee spokesperson Mark Adams said during a press briefing.

“They are well used to dealing with delays, changes and bad weather … We are used to it, the federations are used to it. It is something we have to work with, unfortunately.”

Weather-related schedule modifications aren’t unusual for the mountain resort of Livigno, situated near Switzerland’s border and nicknamed “Little Tibet” for its remote Alpine location.

Winter Olympic organizers routinely adjust competition schedules when weather conditions interfere with events.

Earlier this week, officials delayed the women’s snowboard slopestyle finals and postponed the start of freestyle aerials competitions for both male and female athletes.

The Olympic closing ceremony is scheduled for Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. GMT in Verona.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – While Lindsey Vonn drew worldwide attention with her ambitious return to Olympic competition, it was American skiing legend Mikaela Shiffrin and Italy’s Federica Brignone who ultimately stole the show on the alpine slopes.

Vonn’s inspiring story of attempting to become the oldest Olympic alpine medalist at age 41, despite battling a severe knee injury, captivated audiences worldwide. However, her dreams came to a devastating end when she suffered a horrific crash during the downhill event, her screams echoing across the mountain as she was airlifted to the hospital.

The dramatic accident overshadowed teammate Breezy Johnson’s surprising gold medal victory in that same downhill race. The 30-year-old Johnson claimed Olympic glory despite never winning a World Cup event and having just one podium finish this season, adding the Olympic crown to her world championship from the previous year.

Johnson’s unexpected triumph set the stage for more remarkable comeback stories to unfold.

Brignone’s journey reads like a movie script. The 35-year-old Italian was riding high as giant slalom world champion when disaster struck last April – a devastating multiple leg fracture that left many wondering if her racing career was over.

Fighting her way back from that injury, Brignone entered her home Olympics with modest expectations, simply hoping to participate. Instead, she delivered what can only be described as miraculous performances.

In the super-G, Brignone completely dominated the field, defeating France’s Romane Miradoli by a commanding 0.41 seconds.

“I told myself that it was a ‘make it or break it’, but I never thought I would win,” Brignone reflected.

But her fairy tale wasn’t finished. Brignone went on to capture a second gold medal in the giant slalom, completing an incredible double victory.

“I think my secret was not to feel any pressure, just to be happy to be here,” she explained.

Meanwhile, Shiffrin faced her own mountain to climb. The World Cup’s most successful racer, with a record-breaking 108 victories, hadn’t claimed Olympic gold since 2018. Her struggles continued early in these Games when she and Johnson finished fourth in the team combined event, missing out on a medal after Austria’s Ariane Raedler and Katharina Huber took the victory.

Things looked even bleaker when Shiffrin managed only 11th place in the giant slalom, a discipline that has troubled her mentally since a serious crash at the end of 2024.

“When I think about where I was last year I was like, ‘I don’t know, maybe I’ll never race again.’ So here we are in a totally different position,” Shiffrin said, trying to find silver linings after the giant slalom disappointment.

Having left the 2022 Beijing Olympics without any medals despite high expectations, Shiffrin faced the very real possibility of another empty-handed departure.

But with one final opportunity in the slalom, Shiffrin rose to the occasion spectacularly. She didn’t just win – she absolutely demolished the competition.

Her margin of victory over Switzerland’s Camille Rast, the only skier to defeat her in slalom this season, was an astounding 1.5 seconds. To put that dominance in perspective, all the winning margins in women’s Olympic slalom races dating back to 1998 combined total just 1.51 seconds. The 2022 Olympic slalom was decided by a mere 0.08 seconds.

Like Brignone before her, Shiffrin had delivered a performance for the ages when it mattered most.

MILAN, Feb 19 – The Italian government is challenging the International Paralympic Committee’s controversial decision to permit athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate with their national symbols at the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics next month.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Sports Minister Andrea Abodi expressed strong opposition to the ruling, stating it conflicts with the Games’ fundamental values during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

In a Wednesday evening statement, the Italian officials declared their government “categorically disagreed” with the IPC’s September General Assembly decision. They emphasized that Italy stands with 33 other nations and the European Commission in opposing the restoration of these privileges.

Italian leadership is formally “asks the International Paralympic Committee to reconsider this decision,” arguing that “the prolonged violations of the ceasefire by Russia, and of Olympic and Paralympic ideals, supported by Belarus, are incompatible with participation except as neutral individual competitors.”

The Milan Cortina Winter Paralympic Games are scheduled to take place from March 6 through March 15 in Italy.

Following Russia’s 2022 military invasion of Ukraine, both nations faced exclusion from Paralympic events. However, they regained complete membership status within the IPC after member organizations voted in September 2025 to remove their partial suspensions.

Belarus served as a crucial launching point for the invasion operations.

Although individual sports federations within the Paralympic program had maintained their prohibitions on competitors from these nations, Russia and Belarus successfully challenged the International Ski and Snowboard Federation’s ban through the Court of Arbitration for Sport in December.

The situation differs from the current Winter Olympics, where a restricted number of Russian and Belarusian competitors are participating as independent neutral athletes without national symbols, as the International Olympic Committee continues to sanction both countries’ Olympic Committees.

BORMIO, Italy – Thursday marked a historic day for winter sports as ski mountaineering, known as SkiMo, made its Olympic premiere amid heavy snowfall in the Italian Alps.

The preliminary rounds for both men’s and women’s sprint competitions kicked off at Bormio’s renowned Stelvio slope, drawing 36 elite athletes from around the world. Despite challenging weather conditions, enthusiastic spectators filled the venue to near capacity for this groundbreaking event.

SkiMo represents the first addition to Winter Olympic competition since snowboarding was introduced in 1998. The discipline traces its origins to 19th-century mountain skiing, developed long before mechanical lifts existed to transport skiers uphill.

The sprint format features multiple challenging segments. Competitors begin by ascending steep terrain using specialized skis equipped with “skins” – adhesive strips that provide traction for uphill movement. Athletes then transition to running up stairs while carrying their equipment on their backs, return to uphill skiing, and conclude by removing the skins for a downhill slalom run to the finish line.

Each race lasts approximately three minutes, with seamless transitions between segments proving crucial for success. Competitors spend countless training hours perfecting these changeovers, as time penalties during transitions often determine race outcomes.

The competition structure begins with three preliminary heats containing six athletes each. The top three finishers from each heat advance to semifinals, joined by the three fastest remaining competitors. Semi-final races will also feature six participants each, with the fastest six earning spots in the medal rounds.

Women’s finals are set for 1:55 PM local time, followed by men’s competition at 2:15 PM.

France’s Emily Harrop enters as the favorite in women’s competition, currently holding the top ranking in International Ski Mountaineering Federation standings for 2025. Her main challengers include Spain’s Ana Alonso Rodriguez, who recently returned from injury, and Switzerland’s Marianne Fatton.

In men’s competition, Spain’s Oriol Cardona Coll leads the world rankings, with Switzerland’s Jon Kistler and France’s Thibault Anselmet considered strong medal contenders.

In a thrilling double-overtime battle Wednesday night in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the 25th-ranked Crimson Tide mounted an incredible comeback from a 14-point deficit to edge 20th-ranked Arkansas 117-115.

Labaron Philon Jr. delivered a spectacular performance for Alabama, dropping a season-best 35 points while dishing out seven assists to lead the dramatic turnaround victory.

The Crimson Tide managed to secure the win despite allowing Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. to pour in an astounding 49 points, establishing a new school record for first-year players.

Alabama received strong support from Aiden Sherrell, who posted season-high numbers with 26 points and 13 rebounds, while Amari Allen contributed a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds. The victory extended the Crimson Tide’s winning streak to five games and improved their record to 19-7 overall and 9-4 in Southeastern Conference play.

For Arkansas, Meleek Thomas provided 24 points to complement Acuff’s record-setting night. Both Thomas and Acuff connected on six three-pointers each. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Razorbacks, who fell to 19-7 overall and 9-4 in SEC action.

The decisive moment came when Houston Mallette drained a three-pointer with 51 seconds remaining in the second overtime period, giving Alabama a 117-113 advantage. Arkansas responded when Trevon Brazile slammed home a dunk to cut the deficit to two points, but Acuff’s floating layup attempt in the closing seconds missed its mark, sealing Alabama’s victory.

In other Top 25 action, fourth-ranked Arizona bounced back from a two-game losing streak by defeating 23rd-ranked BYU 75-68, with reserve Anthony Dell’Orso scoring a career-high 22 points. Creighton pulled off a major upset by knocking off fifth-ranked UConn 91-84, led by Josh Dix’s 21 points in an emotional performance following his mother’s recent passing from cancer.

Eighth-ranked Kansas handled Oklahoma State 81-69 behind Darryn Peterson’s 23 points, while 10th-ranked Illinois dominated USC 101-65 with seven players reaching double figures. Eleventh-ranked Gonzaga continued their dominance over San Francisco with an 80-59 victory, extending their winning streak against the Dons to 35 consecutive games.

Fourteenth-ranked Virginia crushed Georgia Tech 94-68 to extend their winning streak to seven games, and 17th-ranked St. John’s moved atop the Big East standings with a 76-70 victory over Marquette, pushing their winning streak to 12 games. In an upset, Missouri edged 19th-ranked Vanderbilt 81-80 after nearly blowing a 21-point lead in the final minutes.

Philadelphia Union delivered a commanding performance Wednesday night, overwhelming Defence Force 5-0 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, during the opening match of their CONCACAF Champions Cup first-round matchup.

The Union now holds a commanding advantage heading into the return leg scheduled for February 26 in Chester, Pennsylvania. Should they avoid a historic meltdown in the home match, Philadelphia will earn a spot against Mexican club powerhouse Club America in next month’s round of 16.

The scoring began in the first half when Milan Iloski bent a free kick around the wall and into the near post during the 30th minute. Just two minutes later, Ezekiel Alladoh found the back of the net with a well-placed header to make it 2-0.

Philadelphia’s offensive explosion continued after halftime. Olwethu Makhanya rose high to connect with Iloski’s corner kick service in the 64th minute. Substitute Bruno Damiani then took over the show, netting two goals to complete the rout. His first came in the 69th minute when he finished off a crisp feed from Cavan Sullivan, followed by a penalty conversion to the bottom left corner in the 81st minute.

The Union dominated the statistical categories as well, registering eight shots on goal compared to Defence Force’s single attempt. The Trinidadian squad struggled with discipline throughout the match, collecting four yellow cards before Joevin Jones received a straight red card during stoppage time for bringing down Sullivan on a breakaway opportunity.

Meanwhile, FC Cincinnati also secured a convincing 4-0 victory over O&M FC in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. The Orange and Blue scored twice in each half to take control of their first-leg encounter.

Cincinnati will look to seal their advancement when they return home on February 25. The victorious team from this two-leg series will advance to meet Tigres UANL, who already secured their spot with a 4-0 combined victory over Hamilton, Ontario’s Forge FC last week.

Substitute Ayoub Jabbari provided the finishing touches for Cincinnati with a pair of late strikes. He found the near post from a difficult angle in the 86th minute, then hammered home a half-volley from near the penalty area during the second minute of added time.

Tom Barlow got Cincinnati on the scoreboard early, firing home a rebound with his left foot from distance in the 12th minute. Kevin Denkey extended the lead in the 33rd minute when his 20-yard effort slipped between the legs of O&M goalkeeper Omry Bello.

The twentieth-ranked Texas Tech Lady Raiders delivered a commanding performance Wednesday night, crushing fifteenth-ranked Baylor 87-56 in Lubbock, Texas, behind a stellar bench effort from Snudda Collins who poured in 23 points.

Bailey Maupin contributed 22 points as the Lady Raiders (24-4, 11-4 Big 12) controlled the contest from opening tip to final buzzer, recovering impressively from their weekend defeat to Oklahoma State. Sarengbe Sanogo and Gemma Nunez each chipped in 10 points for Texas Tech, which connected on an efficient 55.7% of their field goal attempts.

Baylor (22-6, 11-4) received 13 points each from Darianna Littlepage-Buggs and Taliah Scott, but the Bears have now posted a 3-3 record since their eight-game victory streak came to an end.

After establishing a 22-15 advantage following the opening quarter, Texas Tech opened the second period with a Sanogo layup followed by a Maupin three-pointer. The margin never shrunk to single digits again, eventually ballooning to as many as 35 points.

In other Top 25 action, top-ranked UConn defeated Villanova 83-69 as Azzi Fudd tallied 25 points while connecting on 4 of 6 attempts from beyond the arc, helping the Huskies preserve their perfect season.

Sarah Strong recorded 21 points and 12 rebounds for UConn (28-0, 17-0 Big East), extending their winning streak to 44 consecutive games dating to last year’s championship team. The Huskies shot an impressive 53.3% from three-point range and 52.5% overall from the field.

Villanova (21-6, 14-4) got 26 points from Jasmine Bascoe and 21 from Denae Carter, but saw their six-game winning streak snapped. The Wildcats held a three-point halftime lead before UConn opened the second half with a decisive 12-2 run.

Twenty-third-ranked Minnesota knocked off tenth-ranked Ohio State 74-61, using a dominant 27-13 third-quarter run to pull away from the Buckeyes in Minneapolis for their ninth straight victory.

The Buckeyes (22-5, 11-4 Big Ten) led 29-26 at intermission, but Minnesota (21-6, 12-4) seized control early in the third quarter. Sophie Hart scored two layups around a Mara Braun three-pointer, then Tori McKinney added another layup to give the Golden Gophers a 35-29 advantage they would not relinquish.

Hart and Braun each finished with 18 points to pace Minnesota’s attack. Amaya Battle recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Grace Grocholski added 12 points. Ohio State received 23 points from Jaloni Cambridge and 17 from Chance Gray.

Twelfth-ranked TCU maintained their Big 12 Conference lead with a 72-50 road victory over Houston, as Marta Suarez posted 21 points and nine rebounds in the wire-to-wire triumph.

Olivia Miles added 18 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals for TCU (24-4, 12-3 Big 12), which captured its third consecutive win to stay one game ahead of Texas Tech, Baylor and West Virginia in the conference standings.

Houston (7-19, 1-14) managed just one double-figure scorer in Kyndall Hunter, who finished with 20 points. The Cougars have now dropped five games in a row.

Eighteenth-ranked Michigan State reached triple digits for the first time in Big Ten play this season, overwhelming Northwestern 104-68 in East Lansing as five Spartans reached double figures in scoring.

Grace VanSlooten equaled her season-best performance with 22 points for Michigan State (21-6, 10-6 Big Ten). Kennedy Blair nearly recorded a triple-double with 17 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds and five steals. Jalyn Brown contributed 15 points, Marah Dykstra had 14, and Sara Sambolic added 13.

Northwestern (8-18, 2-13) got 23 points from Grace Sullivan and 14 from Casey Harter but suffered their eighth consecutive defeat. Despite shooting 51.9% from the field, the Wildcats committed 17 turnovers that Michigan State converted into 22 points.

NBA point guard LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets walked away without harm after being involved in a vehicle collision in downtown Charlotte on Wednesday, according to news reports from multiple outlets.

The basketball star appeared to be in good condition as he stepped out of the driver’s seat of his customized 2022 Hummer following the crash.

Television station WSOC-TV secured dashcam video that captured the collision as it happened.

According to the footage, Ball was driving westbound on Trade Street when he tried to make an unprotected left turn onto Tryon Street, which is a one-way road. At the same time, a Kia sedan was heading eastbound on Trade Street. Ball’s Hummer tried to dodge the oncoming sedan but couldn’t avoid contact, striking the Kia’s front passenger side.

Emergency responders transported the Kia’s driver to a local medical facility with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Tow trucks removed both damaged vehicles from the crash site.

This season, Ball has seen his playing time reduced to career-low levels, currently posting averages of 19.3 points per game along with 7.4 assists and 4.8 rebounds.

Spain’s top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz booked his place in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open quarterfinals following a dominant 6-2, 7-5 victory over French player Valentin Royer during Wednesday’s round of 16 action in Doha.

The world No. 1 controlled the opening set effectively, successfully defending against two break point chances while claiming two service breaks from his opponent. Despite Royer building a commanding 5-2 advantage in the second set, Alcaraz mounted an impressive comeback by capturing 21 of the match’s final 27 points to secure his advancement.

Italy’s second-seeded Jannik Sinner also moved forward with a convincing straight-sets triumph over Australia’s Alexei Popyrin, winning 6-3, 7-5. Remarkably, Sinner has maintained his serve throughout both of his tournament matches without facing a single break point.

The tournament’s lone major surprise came when Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas eliminated fourth-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev with a 6-3, 6-4 victory.

Additional players earning quarterfinal berths included fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev, sixth-seeded Jakub Mensik, seventh-seeded Karen Khachanov, eighth-seeded Jiri Lehecka, and Arthur Fils. All competitors except Khachanov completed their victories without dropping a set.

Delray Beach Open

Hong Kong qualifier Coleman Wong delivered a stunning upset by defeating seventh-seeded American Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 7-6 (4) during round of 16 play in Delray Beach, Florida.

Wong demonstrated exceptional serving prowess, successfully landing 32 of 38 first serves for an impressive 84 percent conversion rate while losing his serve just once during the match. His quarterfinal opponent will be third-seeded Italian Flavio Cobolli, who eliminated France’s Terence Atmane 7-5, 6-4.

In an all-American matchup, Sebastian Korda overcame Alex Michelsen 6-3, 7-6 (6) by capitalizing on four of his 13 break point chances.

Rio Open

Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante scored an unexpected victory over compatriot and tournament top seed Francisco Cerundolo, winning 6-2, 3-1 when Cerundolo withdrew mid-match due to a back injury during round of 16 competition in Rio de Janeiro.

Tirante was in complete control before his opponent’s retirement, firing seven aces and breaking serve three times. He will next meet Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo, who rallied from a set down to defeat Italy’s Francesco Passaro 4-6, 7-6 (0), 6-2.

Juan Manuel Cerundolo, Francisco’s older brother, prevailed over Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann 6-4, 6-7 (1), 6-4, while Czech Republic’s Vit Kopriva dominated Argentina’s Roman Andres Burruchaga in straight sets 6-3, 6-1 to also reach the quarterfinals.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Two key Sacramento Kings players will be absent from the court for the remainder of the current season following surgical procedures performed on Wednesday.

Center Domantas Sabonis, who has earned All-Star recognition three times, and guard Zach LaVine both went under the knife to address separate injury concerns that will keep them out of action through the end of the campaign.

The 29-year-old Sabonis had been dealing with a torn meniscus sustained in November, which significantly limited his playing time in recent months. Despite the injury, he managed to contribute 15.8 points per game and led the team with 11.4 rebounds per contest across 19 appearances this season. His participation became increasingly sporadic, featuring in just seven of Sacramento’s final eight January contests and making only a single February appearance.

Sabonis underwent his procedure in Los Angeles and is expected to start his recovery process shortly. Team officials indicated he will undergo medical assessment before training camp begins.

LaVine’s surgical intervention addressed a damaged tendon in his right pinky finger. The 30-year-old shooting guard, whose name circulated frequently in trade discussions at the deadline, is completing his second campaign with Sacramento. Over 39 games, he posted averages of 19.2 points and 2.3 assists per outing.

Additionally, the Kings announced that reserve center Dylan Caldwell received an MRI examination on his left ankle, which revealed a sprain. Medical staff will reassess his condition in one month.

American skiing sensation Mikaela Shiffrin has finally broken through her Olympic medal drought, capturing her third gold medal with a commanding slalom victory in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The 30-year-old athlete delivered two spectacular runs in pristine weather conditions surrounded by the stunning Dolomite mountains, demonstrating why many consider her the finest Alpine skier ever to compete.

Shiffrin’s triumph marked the third-largest winning margin in Olympic women’s slalom history, bringing her back to the top of the podium in the same event where she first claimed gold as an 18-year-old newcomer in Sochi 2014. After 12 years, she once again proved her mastery in her signature race, earning redemption following her disappointing performance in Beijing where she left empty-handed.

In hockey action, both the United States and Canada advanced to the Olympic semifinals after thrilling quarterfinal victories that required overtime. Quinn Hughes netted the game-winner for Team USA in their 2-1 triumph over Sweden, after Mika Zibanejad had tied the contest with just 91 seconds remaining in regulation. Dylan Larkin had scored the Americans’ only regulation goal off a deflection from Jack Hughes’ shot.

Meanwhile, Canada avoided a shocking elimination by defeating Czechia 4-3 in overtime. Nick Suzuki forced the extra period with a late equalizer, before Mitch Marner sealed the victory to keep Canadian hopes alive.

Major changes are coming to the NFL as the Seattle Seahawks have officially been put up for sale by Paul Allen’s estate. The announcement came Wednesday, less than two weeks after the franchise captured its second Super Bowl championship. Allen, who purchased the team in 1997 for $194 million from Ken Behring, was instrumental in ensuring the Seahawks remained in Seattle. The organization is expected to stay in the Pacific Northwest, with a stadium lease at Lumen Field running through 2032 plus three additional 10-year renewal options.

College basketball has seen several coaches take public criticism of their teams to new levels recently. Among those speaking out was Texas women’s coach Vic Schaefer, whose fourth-ranked team was described by him as having “no heart” following a defeat to fifth-ranked Vanderbilt. However, Schaefer later commended his players’ improved effort in a subsequent victory over Tennessee. Former Kansas State men’s coach Jerome Tang also made headlines before his recent dismissal. Florida State’s Luke Loucks explained that coaches must “find ways to squeeze the orange” when balancing tough motivation with supportive encouragement.

Baseball’s players union has promoted Bruce Meyer to serve as interim executive director following Tony Clark’s forced departure. The 64-year-old labor attorney, who joined the organization in 2018, received unanimous approval from the executive board during a virtual meeting. Matt Nussbaum was simultaneously elevated from general counsel to interim deputy executive director. Meyer previously guided negotiations through the 99-day work stoppage that resulted in the current five-year collective bargaining agreement in March 2022.

The Genesis Invitational returns to historic Riviera Country Club after last year’s relocation due to devastating Pacific Palisades wildfires. The century-old venue now features a dramatically extended fourth hole, with a new tee box stretching the par-3 to 273 yards – making it the longest regular par-3 on the PGA Tour. Rory McIlroy has called the modification “a horrible change,” though he remains eager to add Riviera to his list of tournament victories given the course’s prestigious reputation.

Green Bay basketball coach Doug Gottlieb received a one-game suspension from the Horizon League after his heated criticism of game officials following a 75-72 loss to Milwaukee. Gottlieb’s passionate postgame press conference, during which he slammed his hands on the table while questioning officiating consistency, went viral on social media platforms. He will miss Friday’s road game against Oakland and has since issued a public apology for his remarks.

Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice faces serious legal allegations as his former girlfriend has filed a lawsuit claiming he physically assaulted her repeatedly over 18 months. Dacoda Jones, who previously made accusations on social media, is seeking more than $1 million in damages through the Dallas County lawsuit filed Monday. The complaint details multiple incidents of violence at residences in both Dallas and the Kansas City suburbs, including an alleged strangulation in December 2023, with the abuse reportedly continuing through July 2025.

Shiffrin’s Olympic triumph came after she shifted her focus to rediscovering the pure enjoyment of skiing rather than dwelling on external pressures. The veteran athlete explained that learning to ignore outside noise and criticism allowed her to perform at her peak when it mattered most. Despite knowing that another failure would have invited more scrutiny, Shiffrin embraced the challenge and found the risk worthwhile in her pursuit of excellence.

Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball escaped injury Wednesday evening after his custom camouflage Hummer collided with another vehicle at a downtown Charlotte intersection. The accident occurred around 5 p.m., with television footage showing Ball, dressed in an aqua Hornets sweatshirt, exiting his damaged truck and departing in a different vehicle. A source familiar with the situation confirmed to the Associated Press that the point guard suffered no injuries, though official police reports were not immediately available.

The Anaheim Ducks announced Wednesday that goaltender Petr Mrazek will be sidelined for the rest of the season following hip surgery.

The 34-year-old netminder has been out of action since the beginning of January. During his debut season with Anaheim, Mrazek struggled significantly, posting a 3-5-0 record across 10 appearances with a 4.07 goals-against average. His .858 save percentage marked a career low and placed him among the worst-performing qualified goaltenders in the NHL this season.

Mrazek’s contract status shows he will become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.

The Ducks brought Mrazek to Anaheim through a trade with Detroit last June, sending John Gibson to the Red Wings in exchange. The move was designed to have Mrazek serve as backup to fellow Czech Republic native Lukas Dostal, who is expected to be the country’s top goaltender for the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics.

Originally selected in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL Draft, Mrazek has appeared in 438 career games with 405 starts across six different franchises, maintaining a .905 career save percentage throughout his NHL tenure.

Currently, Anaheim holds the Western Conference’s second wild-card playoff position. The team will resume play following the Olympic break with a nine-game home stretch, beginning next Wednesday when they host the Edmonton Oilers.

American alpine skiing champion Mikaela Shiffrin has finally ended her lengthy Olympic medal drought, capturing gold in the women’s slalom competition with a commanding performance.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — After eight years without an Olympic medal, Shiffrin delivered two exceptional runs that secured her victory by a margin of 1.50 seconds. While dozens of additional competitors still need to complete their runs, Shiffrin holds the top position among the 30 fastest skiers from the opening round. Switzerland’s world champion Camille Rast currently sits in second place, with Sweden’s Anna Swenn Larsson holding third.

TESERO, Italy (AP) — Norwegian cross-country skiing legend Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo has added another chapter to his record-breaking Olympic career, claiming his 10th gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics. The 29-year-old athlete, competing alongside Einar Hedegart, dominated the men’s team sprint competition to earn his fifth gold medal at these 2026 Games. Klaebo initially shattered the Winter Olympics record during Sunday’s 4 x 7.5-kilometer relay event. Swedish competitors Jonna Sundling and Maja Dahlqvist maintained their nation’s successful streak in the women’s division.

MILAN (AP) — American figure skater Alysa Liu has emerged as the United States’ primary medal contender heading into the women’s free skate program at the Milan Cortina Olympics. The current world champion executed an impressive short program highlighted by a triple lutz-triple loop combination, the most challenging jump sequence attempted by any competitor Tuesday evening. Liu trails Japan’s Ami Nakai by just two points and sits directly behind Kaori Sakamoto in the standings. Her American teammates struggled significantly in the individual competition, with Isabeau Levito placing eighth and U.S. national champion Amber Glenn dropping to 13th position despite successfully completing a triple axel.

MADRID (AP) — Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni has firmly rejected accusations of making racist comments toward Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior during their Champions League encounter, when he was seen covering his mouth with his jersey. The 20-year-old Argentine forward stated, “I have never been racist with anyone.” If UEFA’s disciplinary proceedings find Prestianni guilty of racial abuse, he could face a 10-match suspension. The European soccer organization has assigned a special investigator to collect evidence regarding the incident. Tuesday’s match was suspended for almost 10 minutes after officials implemented the anti-racism protocol. Benfica supporters responded to Vinícius’s 50th-minute goal celebration near the corner flag by hurling bottles and debris at the Madrid players, leading to Prestianni’s confrontation with Vinícius.

The expansion of women’s athletics has coincided with remarkable growth in specialized media coverage, as outlets including TOGETHXR, The GIST, Just Women’s Sports, The IX Sports, GOALS and Good Game with Sarah Spain continue broadening their influence and transforming the industry landscape. Olympic competition has demonstrated that dedicated media attention for women’s sports generates passionate viewership, according to industry analysts. While traditional sports media organizations are enhancing their women’s sports coverage in both scope and quality, University of Michigan sport management professor Ketra Armstrong describes the emergence of women-led media companies as uniquely “liberating” because female athletes are “owning their stories and not waiting for it to be filtered through any traditional lens.”

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Major League Baseball Players Association leader Tony Clark has stepped down from his position, the union confirmed, as potential salary cap negotiations approach amid a federal financial investigation. According to a source familiar with union discussions, Clark was requested to resign by the eight-member executive subcommittee following an internal investigation by outside legal counsel that uncovered evidence of an inappropriate relationship between Clark and his sister-in-law, who has worked for the union since 2023. The individual requested anonymity since this information was not publicly disclosed.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Golf legend Tiger Woods remains focused on boardroom responsibilities rather than tournament competition, though he hasn’t completely dismissed a potential Masters Tournament appearance. Woods maintains that participating in golf’s first major championship of the year remains a possibility. However, he’s coming off an unprecedented year without competing in any tournaments, following disk replacement surgery in October. His current priorities center on PGA Tour boardroom duties as chairman of the committee restructuring the tournament schedule. His potential role as Ryder Cup captain also remains undetermined.

NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA Players’ Association submitted a revised collective bargaining agreement proposal to the league Tuesday, featuring modified demands regarding revenue sharing and housing arrangements, according to a source close to the negotiations who requested anonymity due to the delicate nature of discussions. The union has adjusted its request to an average of 27.5% of gross revenue throughout the agreement’s duration, including only 25% during the initial year. Their previous proposal had sought an average exceeding 30%.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — More than a dozen former international cricket team captains have appealed to Pakistan’s government for improved prison conditions and medical treatment for former cricket star and politician Imran Khan. The captains, including India’s Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, expressed concerns about Khan’s vision problems while incarcerated. Khan’s political party and supporters renewed their Wednesday demands for his transfer from prison to a hospital facility. In their letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, 14 former captains requested that Khan receive treatment with “dignity and basic human consideration,” highlighting worries about reported deterioration in his right eye vision during detention.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Lindsey Vonn’s recent Olympic accident has intensified calls for ski binding technology improvements, targeting one of skiing’s most established equipment components. Officials from FIS and U.S. Ski and Snowboard indicate that “smart binding” technology remains in preliminary development stages. Industry specialists suggest new algorithmic systems could detect control loss and activate quicker release mechanisms, similar to mandatory airbag systems in high-speed competitions. Technology developers caution that precise timing presents challenges, while funding sources remain uncertain.

BORMIO, Italy – An Italian husband and wife team believes their unique bond will serve as a competitive advantage when ski mountaineering makes its historic Olympic debut this week.

Michele Boscacci and Alba de Silvestro will represent Italy in Thursday’s sprint competitions and Saturday’s mixed relay event. The married athletes say their shared living, training, and travel experiences have created a pathway to the Olympics while helping manage the intense pressure of elite competition.

“You’re maybe in a single room and you might have a moment to think,” Boscacci explained when describing how their situation differs from other Olympic competitors.

“Instead, this way, we’re together. The tension eases a little, we talk, we try to maintain a bit of a daily routine that we have at home, even though we’re in a hotel and we’re here for the Olympic competitions,” the 36-year-old athlete continued while seated alongside his spouse.

For the couple – Boscacci, 36, and de Silvestro, 30 – ski mountaineering represents far more than athletic competition. The sport forms the cornerstone of their everyday existence. Their relationship began through ski mountaineering, and now they share everything from pre-dawn training routines to competition travel.

During the Olympics, both will participate in individual sprint races and the mixed relay competition, which has been their primary seasonal focus.

De Silvestro recognizes that marriage to a teammate creates both advantages and complications.

“In many ways it’s better, in many ways it complicates things,” she acknowledged. The pair often attempts to avoid discussing racing, only to find themselves returning to the topic before day’s end.

“Ski mountaineering is first and foremost our hobby, which has become our job and is now our life, so it all becomes a bit heavy,” Boscacci noted.

“Many times we say, ‘Come on, enough, let’s not talk about it anymore,’ but it doesn’t last, let’s say, weeks – maybe until the end of the day,” he added.

The Italian team will benefit from substantial family and friend support during the Winter Games. Beyond living just one hour from Bormio, the ski mountaineering venue, Boscacci’s father – who captured gold at the inaugural SkiMo World Championship in 2002 – is assisting with course preparation.

“If we were, say, in China, maybe there you’re a little more isolated from an emotional point of view, and maybe, I’m not saying it’s easier, but maybe you have a little less pressure,” Boscacci reflected on competing in their first Olympics near home.

Despite approaching Olympic pressure, the couple expresses gratitude for experiencing this journey together.

“It’s nice to share these moments, so I’m happy,” de Silvestro concluded.

MILAN, Feb 18 – Wednesday’s Olympic men’s hockey quarter-finals delivered heart-stopping overtime action, setting up compelling semifinal matchups as Canada prepares to face defending champion Finland and the United States gets ready to take on Slovakia.

The return of NHL stars to Olympic competition for the first time in a decade has kept hopes alive for a highly anticipated final showdown between longtime rivals Canada and the United States, while Finland continues defending their title and Slovakia pursues their first-ever gold medal game appearance.

Both semifinal contests are set for Friday at Milan’s Santagiulia Arena.

Canada entered as tournament favorites and reinforced that status during group play, scoring five goals against both Czech Republic and Switzerland while allowing just one, then demolishing France 10-2.

Despite topping their group, Canada faced the Czech Republic again in quarter-final action, where they trailed 3-2 late in regulation before tying the game and getting Mitch Marner’s overtime winner just 82 seconds into the extra period.

The close call may serve as a crucial reality check for Canada heading into their clash with Finland, whose resilient spirit powered a remarkable comeback victory over Switzerland.

Finland’s roster includes only one player from their 2022 championship team – Mikko Lehtonen, their lone non-NHL representative – yet they’ve demonstrated Olympic excellence by earning medals in four of the past five Games.

The defending champions started poorly, falling 4-1 to Slovakia before rebounding with a 4-1 victory over Sweden and an 11-0 rout of host Italy.

Those victories secured automatic advancement to the quarterfinals as the top second-place finisher, but Finland faced elimination when Switzerland built a two-goal advantage with under seven minutes remaining.

Two late equalizers and Artturi Lehkonen’s breakaway overtime goal in extra time preserved Finland’s tournament hopes, showcasing the determination they’ll need against Canada.

SLOVAKIAN SURPRISE

Slovakia entered with modest expectations despite their 2022 bronze medal but announced their presence with that early upset of Finland.

After defeating Italy and falling 5-3 to Sweden, a late goal against the Swedes gave Slovakia the group lead on goal differential, bypassing the playoff round and earning a favorable quarterfinal draw.

Slovakia handled Germany easily in a 6-2 quarterfinal victory.

Standing in their path is a United States team hungry for their first gold since 1980, after nearly squandering their opportunity against Sweden.

The Americans cruised through group stage with victories over Latvia 5-1, Denmark 6-3, and Germany, despite allowing Denmark to score first.

Wednesday’s Swedish quarterfinal proved far more challenging. The U.S. grabbed a second-period lead but couldn’t create separation, keeping Sweden within striking distance throughout.

A Swedish equalizer in the final minute forced three-on-three overtime, but Quinn Hughes scored the decisive goal to send the Americans through.

Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball escaped injury Wednesday afternoon following a two-vehicle collision in downtown Charlotte, a source with knowledge of the incident confirmed.

The source provided information to The Associated Press under anonymity as they lacked authorization to publicly discuss accident specifics.

Officials had not yet released a police report regarding the incident.

Television footage from WSOC-TV captured Ball’s custom camouflage Hummer striking another vehicle as he traveled through an intersection just before 5 p.m. Additional video showed the NBA player, dressed in a teal Hornets sweatshirt, exiting his damaged vehicle and departing in a different car while officers remained at the scene.

Details about the second driver remained unavailable, though footage revealed that person calmly stepped out and approached Ball’s truck after the impact. The collision left Ball’s Hummer with a completely detached front left wheel.

The team had completed practice sessions earlier Wednesday.

The Hornets, riding high with victories in 10 of their previous 11 contests, are set to face the Houston Rockets Thursday evening in their first game following the All-Star break.

This incident adds Ball’s name to a growing list of Charlotte-area professional athletes involved in traffic accidents.

Panthers former quarterback Cam Newton suffered spinal fractures in a 2014 rollover crash that flipped his dark pickup truck close to Bank of America Stadium — occurring within a mile of Ball’s Wednesday accident location.

Additionally, current Panthers backup quarterback Andy Dalton sustained a thumb injury during a Charlotte two-car accident in 2024.

The Edmonton Oilers announced Wednesday that Hall of Fame defenseman Paul Coffey will return to his role as an assistant coach after serving as a special advisor to hockey operations and team ownership.

The 64-year-old hockey legend previously worked as a defensive assistant under head coach Kris Knoblauch from November 2023 until the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.

Under Coffey’s guidance of the defensive unit, Edmonton made back-to-back appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals while posting the NHL’s fifth-best defensive record, surrendering just 2.78 goals per contest.

“I have been in regular contact with Paul since (he became an advisor) last summer and I believe we will benefit both as a team and as a staff from his return at this time,” Knoblauch said.

The Oilers have been on hiatus since February 4th due to the Winter Olympics break, but will return to action next week with consecutive away games – facing the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday followed by the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.

Currently, Edmonton sits four points behind the Pacific Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights in the standings.

“I’m excited to return and work alongside Kris and the entire staff,” Coffey said. “With 24 games left in the season, there is ample time to build on the many positives and build momentum for another long playoff run.”

As Wayne Gretzky’s defensive partner during Edmonton’s dynasty years, Coffey captured three Stanley Cup championships with the Oilers during the 1980s before adding a fourth title with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991.

The accomplished defenseman earned three Norris Trophy awards and holds the second-highest scoring record among NHL defensemen, behind only Ray Bourque, accumulating 1,531 points through 396 goals and 1,135 assists across 1,409 career games. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.

Team USA’s men’s hockey squad has punched their ticket to the Olympic semifinals following a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory against Sweden in Milan on Wednesday.

Defenseman Quinn Hughes netted the game-winner with a thunderous shot from the slot, propelling the Americans into Friday’s semifinal matchup. The dramatic finish capped off an intense quarter-final battle between two hockey powerhouses.

Sweden entered the tournament as one of the medal favorites alongside the United States and Canada, but found themselves in a challenging quarter-final position after an unexpected third-place finish in group play. Their Olympic journey has now come to an end without reaching the podium.

Wednesday’s contest concluded an exciting day of men’s Olympic hockey quarter-finals in Milan, featuring multiple overtime thrillers. Finland defeated Switzerland in extra time, while Canada edged out the Czech Republic, also requiring overtime to settle the outcome.

The semifinal matchups are now set for Friday, with Finland taking on Canada in one contest. Team USA will face Slovakia, who advanced by defeating Germany in the only quarter-final that concluded in regulation time.

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid will sit out Thursday night’s matchup against Atlanta after developing right shin soreness during the All-Star break.

According to the team, Embiid felt the discomfort while taking part in a rehabilitation program designed to manage his ongoing right knee issues. After meeting with medical staff, the center has been receiving daily treatment while continuing court activities and fitness training.

Team officials plan to reassess Embiid’s condition before the 76ers’ upcoming road trip, which includes games Saturday in New Orleans and Sunday in Minnesota.

This season, Embiid has posted 26.6 points per game across 31 contests and had been playing without the minute limitations that restricted him in recent years. However, he missed three of Philadelphia’s final five games before the All-Star break due to right knee discomfort.

Philadelphia has struggled significantly without their star player, dropping six of their last seven contests when Embiid doesn’t suit up.

The towering 7-foot center appeared in just 19 games during the previous season and 39 the year before that. He delivered an impressive 40-point, 11-rebound performance in a victory over New Orleans last month, coinciding with Paul George’s 25-game suspension for violating the league’s anti-drug policy.

Injury troubles have followed Embiid throughout his career, beginning before he even joined the NBA. A stress fracture in his right foot prior to being selected from Kansas sidelined him for two seasons. Since then, he’s battled bone bruises, meniscus damage, a fractured orbital bone, shoulder sprains, tendinitis, torn ligaments, and even Bell’s palsy.

Despite his extensive injury history, Philadelphia committed to Embiid in 2024 with a three-year, $193 million contract extension featuring a player option for the 2028-29 season, which takes effect next year.

A former girlfriend of Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice has filed a million-dollar lawsuit claiming the NFL player repeatedly physically abused her during their relationship spanning a year and a half.

Dacoda Jones filed the legal action Monday in Dallas County court, seeking more than $1 million in damages. The lawsuit follows domestic violence accusations Jones made on social media last month. According to court documents, the alleged attacks occurred at residences in both Dallas and the Kansas City suburbs.

The legal filing claims Rice strangled Jones in December 2023 following what the lawsuit describes as an “escalation in violent behavior.” Jones alleges the abuse continued throughout their relationship until July 2025. It remains unclear whether law enforcement was ever contacted regarding these alleged incidents, as Jones’ legal representative has not responded to media inquiries.

According to the court documents, Rice allegedly “grabbed, choked, strangled, pushed, thrown, scratched, hit, and headbutted” Jones, while also striking her with various objects. The lawsuit further alleges Rice damaged property by throwing items, punching walls and destroying furniture. Many of these incidents allegedly occurred while Jones was expecting, as she has two children with Rice.

The lawsuit states Jones suffered “bleeding, swelling, bruising and other pain and physical injury” as a result of the alleged assaults.

Representatives for Rice have not returned requests for comment, and his legal counsel has also remained silent on the matter.

The Chiefs organization acknowledged awareness of the lawsuit and confirmed ongoing communication with the NFL regarding the situation. League officials stated the matter is currently under investigation.

This legal trouble adds to Rice’s recent issues with the law. He sat out the season’s first six games due to an NFL suspension related to his involvement in a high-speed Dallas freeway collision that injured multiple people during the 2024 offseason. Rice received a 30-day jail sentence and five years of probation after entering guilty pleas to felony charges including collision causing serious bodily injury and highway racing resulting in bodily harm.

Despite missing nearly half the season, Rice managed 53 receptions for 571 yards and five touchdowns. However, Kansas City struggled to a disappointing 6-11 record, marking their first playoff absence in ten years.

NEW YORK — Two Cleveland Guardians pitchers facing federal gambling conspiracy charges entered not guilty pleas Wednesday as their fraud trial will likely be delayed from spring until October, according to a federal judge.

Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto indicated she will probably push the May 4 trial date to fall, though she’s keeping the original date for now.

Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz spoke through a Spanish translator as they denied the charges in the updated indictment filed in Brooklyn federal court.

The revised charges, unsealed Friday, don’t include additional counts but add a third defendant accused of acting as an intermediary between the pitchers and betting interests. That individual also entered a not guilty plea Wednesday.

Federal prosecutors initially brought charges against the duo in November, alleging they received thousands in payments to assist Dominican Republic gamblers in winning more than $460,000 through over 100 in-game proposition bets and combination wagers on pitch velocity and results. The charges encompass wire fraud conspiracy and conspiracy to influence sporting events.

Friday’s updated indictment includes new details claiming Clase communicated about specific pitches using coded language including terms like “rooster” and “chicken.”

Before a May 18, 2025 matchup with Cincinnati, Clase allegedly received instructions to “throw a rock at the first rooster in today’s fight” and replied: “Yes, of course, that’s an easy toss to that rooster,” according to court documents. However, Clase didn’t pitch in that contest and couldn’t execute the alleged plan to throw outside the strike zone to his first batter.

The previous day, prosecutors claim Clase violated MLB regulations by using his mobile phone during the game against Cincinnati to communicate with gamblers about an upcoming off-target pitch, allowing them to collect approximately $27,000.

Both Clase, Cleveland’s former closing pitcher, and Ortiz, who starts games, have remained on paid administrative leave since July while their teammates begin spring preparation. The Guardians’ season opener at home is scheduled for April 3.

The defendants, who are out on bond, departed the courthouse separately following Wednesday’s proceedings without speaking to reporters. Defense attorneys for both players maintain their clients never collaborated with betting interests.

Ortiz’s legal team has requested separate trials, arguing in filings that if Clase shared Ortiz’s pitching plans with gamblers, Ortiz was unaware of such actions. They point out that Ortiz faces allegations involving just two pitches over 12 days, while Clase is accused of ongoing collaboration with bettors dating to 2023.

“Mr. Clase may have abused his relationship with Mr. Ortiz as friends and teammates by convincing Mr. Ortiz to throw certain pitches at certain times — ostensibly for baseball reasons as far as Mr. Ortiz was aware,” the attorneys stated.

They indicated they might argue to jurors that “Ortiz as a victim of Mr. Clase’s scheme, rather than a knowing and willing participant.”

Clase, selected for three All-Star games, earned $4.5 million in 2025 during the fourth year of his five-year, $20 million deal. Federal authorities say he began sharing pitch information with bettors in 2023 but didn’t request compensation until the following year.

Prosecutors allege Ortiz, who made $782,600 last season, became involved in the conspiracy last June.

Both the Guardians organization and Major League Baseball have stated they’re assisting with the federal investigation. MLB officials say they alerted law enforcement after detecting suspicious wagering patterns.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice is facing a civil lawsuit filed by his former girlfriend, who claims he physically abused her over a period spanning from December 2023 through July 2025.

The lawsuit was filed Monday in Dallas County by Dacoda Jones, who shares two children with Rice and states she was expecting during several of the alleged incidents. Jones is requesting more than $1 million in damages, her attorney Ron Estefan confirmed.

According to court documents, Rice and Jones shared residences in Victory Park, Texas, and Lee’s Summit, Missouri. The filing alleges Rice strangled Jones in December 2023, and over the two-year period “grabbed, choked, strangled, pushed, thrown, scratched, hit and headbutted Ms. Jones, as well as hit her with inanimate objects.”

The legal complaint also describes Rice’s alleged pattern of destructive behavior, including “throwing objects, destroying property, punching walls, and breaking furniture, as well as locking her out in the middle of the night.”

Jones is seeking compensation for physical suffering and emotional distress, bodily harm, scarring, past and future medical expenses, and lost income as part of her damage claims.

ESPN reports that Jones’ legal team declined to provide comment. Rice has not faced criminal charges related to these allegations, and neither he nor his representatives have responded to media requests for comment.

The Chiefs organization released a statement Wednesday saying, “The club is aware (of the lawsuit) and remains in communication with the National Football League.”

On January 7, Jones shared images on her Instagram profile that seemed to document physical injuries. She also made public allegations about years of mistreatment.

In a social media post that has since been removed, Jones wrote: “I’m so tired of keeping quiet I’m so tired of protecting his image. I’ve been through enough in the span of 8 years and I’ve had ENOUGH! I’ve dealt with abuse for years, me and this man decided to break up a couple months ago and it’s been nothing but hell.”

She continued: “He literally left us in Kansas and I had to beg him to send money so that I could drive to Texas with my kids and all our stuff. We have an agreement because of everything he’s put me through and he still doesn’t follow it. He’s now trying to remove me and my kids from our home for no apparent reason. I’ve known this man for YEARS. He tries to put on this persona like he’s dad of the year. He does the bare minimum and I have to beg for that. I’ve protected his image too long and I’m done doing that. It’s time to protect my peace, protect my children and stand up for myself.”

The NFL stated Wednesday that “The matter remains under review.”

The 25-year-old Rice began this season serving a six-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct standards following his involvement in a multi-vehicle accident in Dallas that injured several people during the 2024 season. He entered guilty pleas in district court to two third-degree felony counts related to collision causing serious injury and highway racing resulting in bodily harm.

The incident involved six vehicles total. Rice and four companions left the scene without assisting the injured parties and ran away before law enforcement arrived.

Rice received five years of deferred probation and a 30-day jail sentence. He was also ordered to pay over $115,000 in victim restitution.

During this season, he recorded 53 catches for 571 yards and five touchdowns while the Chiefs went 3-5 in games he played.

Throughout his three seasons with Kansas City, Rice has accumulated 156 catches for 1,797 yards and 14 touchdowns across 28 regular-season contests, starting 20 games. He also contributed six receptions for 39 yards when Kansas City defeated San Francisco in overtime to win Super Bowl LVIII.

At a 2011 NBA playoff matchup between the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers, Rev. Jesse Jackson watched intently from the baseline as players warmed up before the game.

The civil rights icon appeared completely at home in the athletic setting, surrounded by an environment that had shaped much of his life’s work.

Jackson, who passed away Tuesday at 84, began his athletic journey early and maintained deep connections to sports throughout his career as both participant and champion for change. After receiving a football scholarship to Illinois, he transferred to the historically Black North Carolina A&T following his first year. As quarterback for the Aggies, he helped lead the team to a conference championship in 1964 and earned induction into the university’s athletic Hall of Fame two decades later.

“What is not a well-known fact is that Rev. Jackson, first of all, he was a football player,” said CK Hoffler, Jackson’s attorney for 38 years. “He himself, as a former athlete, understood the plight of athletes.”

During that Bulls-Pacers game, Jackson’s imposing 6-foot-3 frame commanded attention even among professional basketball players. His presence overshadowed even Bulls star Derrick Rose, the league’s MVP that season and fellow Chicago native whom Jackson had traveled to Indianapolis to support.

Jackson’s athletic background ignited his lifelong commitment to securing fair treatment and equal opportunities for athletes across all sports, regardless of their race, gender, or country of origin.

“He’s always been an advocate of greater inclusion, whether it was fair pay and other things for athletes throughout the country and throughout the world,” Hoffler said. “Athletes from overseas, ensuring that they got a fair shake as well. That was part of what (he) felt was fair. That was part of his social justice.”

Jackson’s commitment to athlete advocacy extended beyond public demonstrations to include private negotiations and behind-the-scenes work.

“The Harlem Globetrotters, they had their own cartoon,” Hoffler said. “They did a lot of community building, and they were just iconic in and of themselves. But they had no insurance. They had no benefits. And Rev. Jackson, upon hearing that, took it upon himself to negotiate their benefits.”

Len Elmore, a former 10-season NBA player now serving as senior lecturer at Columbia University, observed clear connections between Jackson’s athletic foundation and his broader social justice mission.

Throughout the years, Elmore saw Jackson consistently push for reform across Major League Baseball, the NFL, and NBA without hesitation.

“He certainly had a vision and in trying to achieve that vision he was very forward and aggressive in stating what the world should be like,” said Elmore, who teaches courses on athlete activism and sports-related social justice. “He also was very critical of the timing of some of the actions that didn’t come fast enough or they weren’t capable enough.

“His understanding of the world and what it should be, what it should look like was amazing. And his leadership in trying to get there was something that inspired a lot of us.”

Elmore, who operated a sports agency during the early to mid-1990s, treasures an award he received from Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH organization’s sports division recognizing efforts to expand Black representation among sports agents.

Jackson also advocated strongly for minority coaching opportunities. Elmore recalls Jackson’s persistent efforts to convince Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney to implement what became the NFL’s Rooney Rule in 2003. The policy initially mandated that teams interview at least one diverse candidate before filling head coaching positions, addressing the shortage of minority head coaches.

Jackson, Elmore said, “wanted folks to have a piece of the pie. He wanted that pie to have diverse overtones.”

However, Jackson didn’t hesitate to criticize the Rooney Rule’s limited impact. Following Brian Flores’ racial discrimination lawsuit against the NFL, Jackson advocated for improvements in a 2022 USA Today opinion piece, describing the rule as a “toothless tiger.”

“You recognize change and the type of change that he envisioned. It wasn’t just a dream, it was active,” Elmore said. “Whether it was either influencing to some extent Harry Edwards in the ’60s, the Rooney Rule, the Nike boycott (demanding more Black employees) in 1990 — he wanted athletes to recognize their platform and the legacy they possess. Not just in the field, but in the boardroom. … That is what Jesse Jackson envisioned and what he was about.”

According to Hoffler, Jackson maintained passion for all sports while particularly connecting with athletes who championed equality. Despite his football background, basketball held special appeal for him. In recent years, he regularly attended NBA All-Star Weekend events, specifically supporting the HBCU Classic game that highlighted underrepresented college players.

Jackson continued appearing at basketball games throughout his 70s and 80s.

“Even when he was physically not able to walk,” Hoffler said, “he was still at some of those games in a wheelchair. That’s how much he was committed to the plight of athletes.”

MILAN – When Canada’s hockey captain Sidney Crosby was sidelined by injury during a crucial Olympic quarter-final match, his teammates found the inspiration they needed from an unlikely source: Crosby himself, speaking from the locker room.

The Canadian squad staged a dramatic comeback against Czech Republic on Wednesday, overcoming a deficit to win 4-3 in overtime and advance to the Olympic semi-finals. The victory came after what many considered a surprisingly difficult challenge from the Czech team.

Canada appeared dominant early in the Milan contest but found themselves in serious trouble as the game progressed. Nick Suzuki managed to tie the game with under four minutes remaining in regulation, setting the stage for Mitch Marner to score the winning goal just 82 seconds into overtime.

The team was forced to compete for most of the game without their 38-year-old leader, who left the ice carefully during the second period following a collision with Czech defender Radko Gudas and never returned to action.

“He couldn’t come out for the third but he did address the players,” explained coach Jon Cooper. “We didn’t want this to be Sid’s last game at this Olympics. So it was a big motivator for the guys coming out.”

Cooper revealed Crosby’s simple but powerful message to his teammates: “‘Go get it, boys’,” the coach shared.

“He’s a true leader and they didn’t want it to be the end of the tournament for him,” Cooper added, noting it was premature to discuss the captain’s injury status.

The Pittsburgh Penguins star and Stanley Cup champion holds legendary status in Canadian hockey, having created some of the nation’s most memorable Olympic achievements, including the famous 2010 “Golden Goal.” His current teammates drew strength from protecting that legacy.

“Hopefully he’s back in the next game,” said 19-year-old forward Macklin Celebrini. “That’s our leader, our captain, the heart and soul of our team.”

The Seattle Seahawks, fresh off their Super Bowl victory, have officially entered the marketplace as their ownership begins a formal sale process.

According to a statement released by the Estate of Paul G. Allen, the decision to sell the NFL franchise aligns with the late Microsoft co-founder’s wishes to liquidate his sports investments and donate the money to charitable causes.

Allen acquired the Seahawks in 1997 for $194 million but passed away in 2018 at 65 years old due to complications from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a form of cancer. His estate has overseen team operations since his death.

The sale will be managed by investment firm Allen & Company alongside legal representatives from Latham & Watkins, with the process expected to extend through the 2026 offseason.

Any final sale agreement will require approval from NFL team owners.

Following their February 8 Super Bowl triumph over the New England Patriots, Forbes valued the Seahawks at $6.7 billion in 2025, ranking them as the 14th most valuable NFL franchise.

Sporting Kansas City has brought Norwegian midfielder Lasse Berg Johnsen into their fold, the Major League Soccer club revealed on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old player comes to Kansas City from Swedish club Malmo FF, signing a deal that runs through the 2027-28 season with an additional year option for 2028-29.

David Lee, the club’s president of soccer operations and general manager, expressed enthusiasm about the new signing.

“We are delighted to add Lasse to the team,” Lee stated. “Lasse is a highly experienced and accomplished player in both the domestic and international game, and he arrives in Kansas City as he enters the prime of his career.”

Lee continued his praise for the Norwegian midfielder’s abilities and character.

“He has excellent quality in possession and fits the profile of midfielder that we wanted to add to the squad. Lasse has shown throughout his career that he is a winner, while his personality and character will elevate our locker room,” Lee added.

Throughout his professional career in Scandinavian leagues since 2019, Berg Johnsen has recorded 18 goals and 21 assists across 258 matches.

Sporting Kansas City is set to kick off their 2026 MLS regular season campaign on Saturday evening when they face the San Jose Earthquakes in California.

SURPRISE, Ariz. — The second-highest ranking official in the baseball players’ union expressed deep personal distress over the circumstances that forced union leader Tony Clark to step down, while emphasizing that the leadership change won’t impact upcoming contract negotiations where Major League Baseball is anticipated to demand a salary cap.

Deputy executive director Bruce Meyer spoke candidly Wednesday about the emotional toll of recent developments. “Just on a personal level I think we’re all fairly devasted by things that have happened in the last 48, 72 hours,” Meyer stated. “I’m not going to go beyond that in terms of personal feelings, but it’s fair to say that we were all personally upset, concerned about Tony. But I think this was something that the players determined had to happen at this particular point in time.”

Clark, a former All-Star first baseman who led the union for over a decade since 2013, stepped down Tuesday with crucial labor negotiations looming. The current collective bargaining agreement expires December 1st.

According to a source familiar with internal union discussions who requested anonymity, Clark was pressured to resign by the union’s eight-member executive subcommittee following an investigation by external legal counsel. The probe uncovered evidence that Clark maintained an improper relationship with his sister-in-law, who has worked for the union since 2023.

Meyer explained the timeline of events, saying “The information that really led to this came out within the last … 72 hours or so. So this is not something that has been kind of sat on. When the information came out the players on the subcommittee made their feelings known. And Tony, to his credit, he’s always been about the players first and Tony decided to take the action he did in the interest of the players.”

Clark has not responded to requests for comment.

The union’s traditional spring training facility visits were delayed by one day, starting Wednesday with the Kansas City Royals. The executive board scheduled its second consecutive day of virtual meetings, with Royals player representative John Schreiber anticipating a leadership decision by Wednesday evening.

“We’ll see how the meeting goes today,” Schreiber commented. “We’re going on the right path and we’ll have a decision shortly.”

Meyer, who joined the organization in 2018 under Clark’s leadership, spearheaded the 2021-22 contract talks that concluded with a March 10 agreement, ending a 99-day owner lockout. He was elevated to deputy executive director in July 2022.

Regarding future negotiations, Meyer stated confidently, “I don’t anticipate that anybody’s going to be leading negotiations other than me.”

Clark’s exit occurs amid an ongoing federal investigation by Brooklyn prosecutors into OneTeam Partners, a licensing venture established in 2019 by the baseball union, NFL Players Association, and RedBird Capital Partners.

“There have been some issues hanging over, as you know, and in some respects it’s good to get them out of the way sooner rather than later,” Meyer acknowledged.

The union’s complete 72-member executive board holds voting rights for selecting the new executive director, including the executive subcommittee, 30 major league team representatives, and 34 minor league players who joined union representation in 2022.

With MLB expected to propose implementing a salary cap, the possibility of a work stoppage looms that could result in the first canceled regular season games since 1995.

Meyer stressed continuity in the union’s approach: “We don’t expect anything to change in terms of bargaining. We’ve been preparing for bargaining for years. Players have been preparing. Players know what’s coming. At the end of the day leadership is important and leadership comes and goes, but what remains is the players. At the end of the day, it’s the players who determine the direction of the union. At the end of the day, it’s the players who determine our priorities and bargaining. Those priorities obviously have not changed and will not change.”

The union maintains its firm opposition to any salary restrictions.

“Our position and the historic position of this union for decades on a salary cap is well known,” Meyer declared. “It’s the ultimate restriction. It’s something that owners in all the sports have wanted more than anything and in baseball in particular there’s a reason for that, because it’s good for them and not good for players.”

The 64-year-old Meyer brings three decades of experience from Weil, Gotshal & Manges law firm before transitioning to the NHL Players Association in 2016 as senior director of collective bargaining, policy and legal affairs. He declined to discuss his interest in permanently succeeding Clark.

When asked about potential changes to family member hiring policies, Meyer remained vague: “I think it’s fair to say there are issues that will be addressed. There are various issues that will be evaluated, re-evaluated with the advice of counsel and, as always, at the direction of players.”

The Seattle Seahawks NFL franchise has officially been placed on the market by the estate of its late owner.

Paul Allen’s estate made the announcement Wednesday that they have begun the official process to sell the Super Bowl-winning team.

Allen, who helped start Microsoft alongside Bill Gates, passed away in 2018 at 65 years old from complications related to non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

The tech billionaire purchased the Seahawks in 1997, preventing the franchise from a potential relocation to Southern California.

Forbes reports that Allen’s original investment was $194 million. The financial publication now estimates the team’s worth at $6.7 billion, ranking it 14th among NFL franchises.

The most recent NFL team transaction involved the Washington Commanders, which Josh Harris and his investment group acquired in 2023 for a record-breaking $6.05 billion. Industry experts anticipate the Seahawks sale will surpass the $7 billion threshold.

Since Allen’s passing, his sister Jody Allen has overseen the franchise as the estate’s executor. The late owner also possessed the Portland Trail Blazers basketball team, which is currently undergoing its own sale process.

The Trail Blazers are set to be acquired by Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon in a transaction worth $4.25 billion.

The financial firm Allen & Co. along with legal representatives from Latham & Watkins will handle the Seahawks sale proceedings.

Allen’s will specifically outlined his intention for his sports properties to eventually be sold, with the money generated going toward charitable organizations.

Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur is standing firmly behind his controversial selection of Nathaniel Hackett to serve as the team’s offensive coordinator.

The 46-year-old Hackett brings 17 years of NFL coaching experience, though his recent track record has raised eyebrows. Denver dismissed him as head coach partway through the 2022 campaign, and the New York Jets stripped away his play-calling duties during his tenure there, transferring those responsibilities to Todd Downing after just one month into the 2023 season.

Most recently, Hackett worked for the Green Bay Packers in a defensive analyst role under Matt LaFleur, who happens to be Mike LaFleur’s brother.

“He’s been very successful and is very highly thought of, especially in our profession,” Mike LaFleur said.

The 38-year-old LaFleur plans to handle play-calling responsibilities for Arizona himself. During his previous role as offensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams, head coach Sean McVay managed those duties. LaFleur revealed that Hackett was his only consideration for the offensive coordinator position when he took over as Cardinals head coach in January.

“If you guys believe one thing from this press conference, it is literally: I wanted him and nobody else. And he’s here,” Mike LaFleur said.

When addressing the negative feedback surrounding his appointment, Hackett acknowledged the criticism but explained his approach to handling it.

“Learn from your adversity,” Hackett said. “Sometimes you gotta block out that noise. I’ve learned to block out that noise.”

The Cardinals face significant decisions as they rebuild their offensive system, with quarterback Kyler Murray’s future remaining uncertain. Murray could potentially be moved in a trade after sitting out 10 games last season due to a foot injury, raising ongoing questions about his durability given his substantial contract.

SEATTLE (AP) — The estate of the late Paul Allen has initiated the sale of the Seattle Seahawks NFL franchise, following the deceased owner’s previously stated intentions.

On Wednesday, Allen’s estate made public its decision to move forward with putting the team on the market. The timing comes as the Seahawks have just completed a successful season that resulted in their second Super Bowl championship since the franchise began.

The sale will be handled by investment banking firm Allen & Company alongside legal representation from Latham & Watkins. Estate representatives expect the transaction process to extend throughout the NFL’s offseason period. Any final sale agreement will require approval from the league’s ownership group before becoming official.

American speed skating sensation Jordan Stolz will attempt to capture his third gold medal when he competes in Thursday’s men’s 1,500-meter race at the Winter Olympics, facing off against seasoned Dutch competitor Kjeld Nuis in what will be the veteran’s final Olympic appearance.

The 21-year-old Stolz has already exceeded high expectations by claiming victory in both the 1,000-meter race last Wednesday and the 500-meter event on Saturday, setting Olympic records in each competition.

Stolz stands as the sole American speed skater to earn gold at the Milano Cortina Games and enters Thursday’s race as the clear favorite to win the 1,500-meter event.

However, Nuis presents a significant challenge. The 36-year-old Netherlands athlete currently holds both the Olympic record and world record in the 1,500m, with a world-best time of one minute 40.17 seconds.

Nuis enters as the two-time defending Olympic champion, having won the event at both the Beijing 2022 and Pyeongchang 2018 Games, where he also captured the 1,000m title.

“He (Stolz) is obviously the one to beat,” Nuis commented on Wednesday. “He has to make a mistake for us to beat him, but I do not think he is going to make any mistakes.”

“Everyone is fully focused. Nobody is going to make a mistake at this point, and definitely not him,” he continued.

“I have a lot of respect for him. We all maybe hoped he would crack under the pressure of representing the United States at the Olympic Games. That has not always been a good match. But he … just lives up to all expectations. He is so calm.”

“I do not go out there hoping someone is going to have an off day. I want to skate my best race, and hopefully it will be enough for a medal.”

The Netherlands team has already secured nine speed skating medals at these Games, including gold medals from Jutta Leerdam in the women’s 1,000m and Femke Kok in the women’s 500m events.

After placing sixth in last week’s 1,000m race, Nuis acknowledged that the significance of his final Olympic competition is beginning to affect him emotionally.

“I arrived here saying to myself, ‘Just enjoy it, your last Olympic race, it does not matter what is going to happen.’ But now I am like, ‘I need to win a medal.’ So, I’m feeling a bit nervous. But I should be feeling that as well. I need it to perform,” he explained.

American alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin claimed her first Olympic gold medal in eight years on Sunday, capturing the slalom championship in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. For the 30-year-old athlete, this victory represented much more than athletic achievement — it marked her first Olympic triumph since her father’s passing six years ago.

“Everything in life that you do after you lose someone you love is like a new experience,” Shiffrin explained following her slalom victory on the Olimpia delle Tofane course, which helped her move past her disappointing performance at the Beijing 2022 Games.

“It’s like being born again. I still have so many moments where I resist this. I don’t want to be in life without my dad.”

The champion’s personal battle played out alongside professional challenges including injuries, confidence issues, and gradually rebuilding faith in her skiing abilities.

“When I did get injured… my slalom was in a place that I felt was repeatable. And my GS (giant slalom) was not quite,” she explained.

Shiffrin acknowledged that competing at the Olympic level has become more challenging over time.

“Yes, I think it’s harder,” she responded when questioned about whether Olympic competition is more demanding than World Cup racing.

“I wouldn’t have said that in Sochi (2014, when she won slalom gold) because I was like, what are we talking about? It’s just skiing.”

However, Sunday brought the mental clarity she had been seeking.

“What was beautiful was that I actually felt that it was… it just felt like ski racing. It felt like another day on the mountain between the start and the finish,” she said.

Narrow Margins Define Success

Shiffrin’s reflections highlighted how slim the difference between victory and defeat remains, even with extensive experience. Following a lackluster team combined event, she was reminded of the work still required despite holding the career record with 108 World Cup wins.

“I can show up with however many victories… and they think it’s a given. And I’m like, this just goes to show how hard it is,” she noted.

During the race, she defeated Switzerland’s Camille Rast by 1.50 seconds — a margin nearly equal to the combined gaps between first and second place in women’s Olympic slalom events since 1998.

“It felt like it was just on the limit… we’re just right nudging against the ceiling here,” she described.

Before competition began, her emotions about her father’s absence returned.

“I sort of started to cry a little bit because I was thinking about my dad. Maybe today was the first time that I could actually accept this reality,” she shared after taking a quiet moment in the finish area to remember him.

Her grieving experience has been more practical than mystical.

“Part of my journey through grief has been challenging because I don’t feel this thing that a lot of people talk about… this deep spiritual connection,” she revealed. “People talk about feeling the presence, and I haven’t felt it in that way. I feel connected to him in my thoughts and in talking about him.”

Shiffrin credited her support team with helping her reach this breakthrough moment.

“The wonderful thing about this day was that I felt proud before it happened because of my team,” she said, referencing conversations that helped her work through complicated feelings.

Ultimately, her team’s guidance was straightforward and practical.

“It is as simple as skiing. It is something that I have within myself and we’ve trained and prepared for,” Shiffrin concluded.

Pressure is mounting for South Korea’s women’s curling squad as they prepare for a do-or-die showdown against world champion Canada in their last round-robin contest at the Winter Olympics, with team captain Gim Eun-ji vowing to maintain her positive attitude despite the high stakes.

The Korean team currently holds third place in round-robin play with a 5-3 record, setting up a critical Thursday matchup against Canada, the two-time world champions who entered the tournament as heavy favorites.

Canada, led by Rachel Homan, struggled early in the competition but has gained momentum recently and sits one spot below South Korea in the standings, making their head-to-head battle essential for both squads’ semifinal aspirations.

“It’s a game that we must win, but I feel if I smile and enjoy the game, rather than feeling pressure that I have to win, I’ll be able to feel less burdened and make good shots,” Gim explained following her team’s victory over defending Olympic champion Sweden on Wednesday.

“If I play the game that way, I’ll be able to win. They’re ranked at number one in the world, so they are a tough team, but ranking isn’t important at the Olympics. How much you enjoy the game is important. I’ll play the game with that mindset…”

“I definitely want to win a gold medal because South Korea doesn’t have a gold medal (in curling), so that’s what I want to realise.”

While the previous South Korean women’s curling team captured hearts and silver medals at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, earning the nickname “Garlic Girls,” Gim’s current squad has adopted the moniker “5G.”

“Four people on our team have names that are spelt with a ‘ji’ but (Seol) Ye-eun doesn’t. But she has a nickname with a spelling that includes a ‘ji’,” Gim revealed.

“Her nickname is dwaeji, which means pig, because she eats a lot. So that’s why we came up with the nickname 5G.”

ANTERSELVA, Italy – France’s women’s biathlon relay squad captured Olympic gold Wednesday after a remarkable comeback performance led by rising star Oceane Michelon during the crucial third segment of the race.

The French team faced early difficulties when Camille Bened struggled through an opening leg that saw several top contenders fall behind. However, the squad demonstrated remarkable resilience, staging a methodical recovery that culminated in victory.

Michelon, just 23 years old, received the baton from Lou Jeanmonnot while sitting in third place. Drawing from her experience as part of France’s world championship relay team from the previous year, she quickly seized control and established a lead that would prove insurmountable.

“I had my first experience of a big event last year at the World Championships, and today I was really happy to be able to be part of this relay, so I took all my chances and I just focused only on me,” Michelon explained to reporters while French supporters braved the cold weather, chanting her name.

“In my head I was alone, I just focused on only me. I was alone and I said to myself, don’t think, only do what you are able to do and what you have to do, and we will see in the end what happens,” she added.

Michelon’s dominant performance created such a substantial advantage that when Julia Simon took over for the anchor leg, neither Sweden nor Norway mounted serious challenges for first place. Instead, those nations focused their efforts on competing for the silver and bronze medals, which they ultimately claimed respectively.

Back in the athletes’ area, Bened felt a wave of relief after worrying that her opening performance had created too much pressure for her teammates. The victory marked France’s second relay gold medal in as many days at the Winter Olympics.

“It’s really insane, a gold medal in the Olympics, it’s a childhood dream. And now it’s here and I can’t understand it,” Bened shared with Reuters. “I need to touch the medal to understand that it’s really here, and I need to keep touching it to make sure it’s still here.”

Atlanta United announced Wednesday they have acquired experienced striker Sergio Santos as a free agent for the upcoming 2026 Major League Soccer campaign.

The Brazilian forward, age 31, has agreed to terms that include a club option extending through December 2027.

Throughout his MLS career beginning in 2019, Santos has netted 28 goals while providing 13 assists across 156 regular season appearances with three different clubs.

Chief soccer officer and sporting director Chris Henderson praised the acquisition, stating: “Sergio has been a productive forward in our league for the past seven seasons and will add competition to our group of attackers. He’s going to bring MLS experience, quality and a winning mindset to our team, and we look forward to welcoming him to the club.”

The veteran attacker’s MLS journey includes stints with Philadelphia Union from 2019 through 2022, FC Cincinnati spanning 2022 to 2025, and most recently Houston Dynamo during the 2025 campaign.

Atlanta United will kick off their 2026 regular season schedule with a road match against FC Cincinnati this Saturday.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – The British men’s curling team, led by Bruce Mouat, ended their losing streak in spectacular fashion Wednesday, delivering a commanding 9-2 victory over the United States to stay in contention for Olympic medal rounds.

The world champions had endured three consecutive losses over recent days, putting their semifinal aspirations in jeopardy. However, they returned to form against Danny Casper’s American squad, securing the victory with four ends remaining in the match.

“It felt like we were close a lot of the week. We just had a few one or two shots maybe in a game that were going the wrong way for us, and this time we felt like we were getting breaks,” Mouat explained after the match.

“Which we probably hadn’t really felt like we had most of the week. We put in a really good performance.”

The 2022 Olympic silver medalists and current world number-one ranked team now sit in third place with a 5-4 record after completing all their round-robin matches. Norway and Italy are tied for fourth place, each with four victories, and both nations have one game remaining.

“You want to be in control of your own destiny, but now seeing all these other teams trying to still get into the playoffs, it’s hard,” Mouat noted.

“Obviously you want everyone to play well, but you’re supporting their opposition at times.”

In other Wednesday action, Switzerland’s Yannick Schwaller and Canada’s Brad Jacobs both secured wins, having already clinched semifinal berths.

The Swiss team maintained their perfect record with a 10-4 triumph over Norway, collecting their eighth victory without a loss. Meanwhile, Canada overcame an early 3-0 deficit to defeat host nation Italy 8-3.

“We’re just enjoying ourselves a lot here. I wanted to get to this stage for my whole career and all my teammates had the same idea,” Schwaller commented.

“It’s all an experience. We want to enjoy ourselves and that we do, and it translates, I think, to the ice.”

The Czech Republic, captained by Lukas Klima, earned their second competition victory by defeating China 10-5 in a matchup between teams in the lower portion of the standings.

The round-robin phase concludes Thursday morning after nine games per team, with the top four advancing to evening semifinals.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – A young Swiss curler is carrying on his family’s Olympic tradition at the Milano Cortina Winter Games, leading his team to an undefeated record in men’s curling competition.

Yannick Schwaller, now 30, was only six when he watched his father Christof and uncle Andreas capture bronze for Switzerland at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Today, he serves as skip for the Swiss squad that swept all eight matches in round-robin play to advance to the semifinals.

Speaking Wednesday from the same venue where his father competed in the 2010 World Championships, Schwaller reflected on the family connection.

“It’s awesome. In 2002, there was a bus going to get them at Zurich Airport when they came back, and I remember vaguely a public viewing,” Schwaller recalled. “That maybe sparked some inspiration early. I wasn’t really coached by my father, but it was always a bit of mentoring, when I had questions. Now it feels like a circle is closing. 24 years later, I’m playing on this stage as well.”

“He even played the World Championships here (Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium) in 2010, I think. So yeah, it’s just an awesome feeling to follow his footsteps,” he added.

The path to curling wasn’t immediate for Schwaller, who initially resisted the sport that made his family famous.

“I didn’t want to be a curler at first until I was 13 or 14. I only had football in mind and I played football a lot, we grew up next to a pitch,” Schwaller explained. “But then it (curling) grabbed me somehow, and I never looked back. My dad, he was so cool about it. He never said ‘you have to do this or do that now, you have to practice’. He really let me do my own thing.”

The curling tradition may continue into another generation, as Schwaller brought his one-and-a-half-year-old son River to the Olympics. The toddler gained internet fame as the ‘Curling Baby’ after cameras caught him playing with a curling broom nearly twice his size.

When asked about his son’s potential curling future, Schwaller responded with a smile: “He can choose for himself, I guess, but the way he’s attracted to brooms, he might be!”

Charlotte FC has locked up one of their rising stars, extending forward Idan Toklomati’s contract through the 2028-29 season with a club option for 2029-30, the Major League Soccer team revealed on Wednesday.

The Israeli international, just 21 years old, made quite an impact during his debut campaign, finding the back of the net 13 times while contributing four assists over 36 matches in all competitions for Charlotte.

“Idan is a top talent that we were able to sign at 19 and has blossomed into one of Major League Soccer’s brightest talents,” stated Charlotte general manager Zoran Krneta.

The promising striker, who fills a U22 Initiative roster position, made his way to Charlotte from Israeli club Maccabi Petah Tikva in 2024.

“He is a player who believed in our development pathway for him, and during his first full season with the first team, he scored double-digit goals,” Krneta explained. “Our aim, as well as Idan’s, is to win trophies for the Carolinas, and this extension is an important piece of our long-term roster-building strategy.”

Charlotte FC is set to kick off their 2026 regular season campaign this Saturday with a road match against St. Louis City SC.

A teenage snowboarder from Japan made Olympic history Wednesday, claiming the women’s slopestyle championship at the Winter Games in Livigno, Italy.

Mari Fukada, just 19 years old, secured her first-ever Olympic medal by earning a score of 87.83 on her third and final run down the course. The victory marked Japan’s dominance in the event, with teammate Kokomo Murase capturing the bronze medal.

New Zealand’s Zoi Sadowski Synnott, who defended her 2022 Olympic title, claimed silver with a dramatic final performance. The 24-year-old veteran found herself in fourth position before taking her last trip down the mountain as the competition’s final competitor. Her clutch performance earned her 87.48 points and extended her Olympic medal collection to five total.

Murase had initially led the competition following the opening round of runs. The Japanese athlete, who already earned gold in big air competition on February 9, was eventually surpassed by her countryman Fukada during the second round.

The slopestyle discipline challenges athletes to navigate various rails and obstacles while executing aerial maneuvers that judges evaluate based on technical difficulty and creativity. Competitors receive three opportunities to post their best score.

Australia’s Ally Hickman, competing at age 16, experienced a frightening crash during her second attempt when she missed a landing and tumbled forward onto the frozen course. The young athlete remained on the ground for several minutes before getting up and leaving the competition area under her own power. She returned for another run but fell again during a jump sequence.

The women’s competition took place on the same day that China’s Su Yiming celebrated his birthday by winning men’s slopestyle gold.

Competition officials had pushed back the slopestyle finals by 24 hours due to severe winter weather conditions in the Alpine region.

DALLAS — Dallas Mavericks star guard Kyrie Irving will sit out the remainder of the current season while continuing his rehabilitation from a knee injury that occurred nearly 12 months ago.

The announcement came Wednesday from Irving and the franchise, just 48 hours before Dallas returns to action following the All-Star break. The Mavericks are currently enduring their worst stretch in nearly three decades with nine consecutive losses and have been eliminated from playoff consideration.

“This decision wasn’t easy, but it’s the right one,” Irving said in a statement released by the team. “I am grateful for the Mavericks organization, my teammates and our fans for their continued support throughout the process. I am looking forward to coming back stronger next season. The belief and drive I have inside only grows.”

Irving suffered an ACL tear in his left knee on March 3rd. At age 33, this represents the first complete season the veteran has missed during his decade-and-a-half professional career.

The devastating injury occurred just one month following Dallas’s controversial decision to ship young superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for veteran center Anthony Davis and additional assets. The trade came less than a year after Irving and Doncic had guided the Mavericks to an NBA Finals appearance.

The Irving-Davis partnership proved short-lived, lasting only 2½ quarters of game action. Davis suffered an abdominal injury during his first game in a Dallas uniform and never returned to the court before Irving’s season-ending injury in a 122-98 home defeat to Sacramento.

Dallas struck gold in the draft lottery despite holding just a 1.8% chance, selecting former Duke star Cooper Flagg with the top overall pick. However, the trio of Irving, Davis, and Flagg never shared the court together.

Prior to the trade deadline, the Mavericks shipped Davis to Washington, effectively acknowledging the failed Doncic trade less than three months after dismissing general manager Nico Harrison partly due to that controversial deal.

Moving forward, Dallas appears committed to constructing their roster around Flagg while utilizing Irving as a veteran presence, hoping the two former Duke standouts can form a successful partnership.

“Kyrie has the ultimate respect for Cooper,” said co-interim general manager Michael Finley, who was a two-time All-Star with the Mavericks a quarter-century ago. “He loves the kid’s work ethic. He loves the kid’s love for the game. And I think Kyrie’s embracing the role as a mentor to Cooper.”

The organization confirmed Irving will stay “actively engaged” with the team throughout the season’s conclusion. Dallas faces its second consecutive playoff absence since their five-game NBA Finals defeat to Boston.

“And I wanted to send a huge shoutout to ALL of my brothers and sisters out there who’ve torn their ACL or gotten injured doing what they love to do every day,” Irving said in the team’s statement. “THANK YOU for the inspiration. No fear!”

Prior to his injury, Irving had flourished during his two seasons in Dallas following his departure from Brooklyn, where he endured more than three turbulent years. His tenure in Boston was similarly marked by controversy. Originally selected first overall by Cleveland in 2011, Irving captured an NBA championship alongside LeBron James in 2016.

Throughout his career, Irving has maintained averages of 23.7 points and 5.6 assists across 779 games while converting nearly 40% of his three-point attempts and 89% from the free-throw line.

ANTERSELVA, ITALY – France captured gold in the women’s 4x6km biathlon relay at the Milano Cortina Olympics on Wednesday, with Julia Simon completing a commanding performance on the anchor leg for her third gold medal of the Games.

Simon had an easy final lap after teammate Oceane Michelon delivered an outstanding third leg that put France in control of the race. Sweden finished second for the silver medal, trailing by 51.3 seconds, while Norway earned the bronze.

The relay format required each athlete to complete three laps on the 2-kilometer course with two shooting sessions – one lying down and one standing. Competitors could use up to three extra shots to hit their targets before being forced to ski a penalty lap.

Early in the race, top contenders France, Norway, Sweden and Germany all struggled with their marksmanship, using their extra shots frequently and allowing the lead to shift back and forth multiple times.

This opened opportunities for underdogs like Bulgaria, Latvia and Czech Republic to briefly take the lead, but the favored nations eventually found their rhythm and pulled ahead by the third leg.

France’s fortunes changed dramatically when Michelon stepped up for the third leg, delivering flawless prone shooting by quickly hitting all five targets to give her team a commanding advantage.

With a comfortable lead in hand, Simon skied the final leg without pressure, looking relaxed as if she were simply training. She capped off her dominant performance with impressive rapid-fire shooting, hitting all five targets before embarking on what became a victory celebration lap.

The battle for second place came down to Sweden’s Hanna Oeberg and Norway’s Maren Kirkeeide on the final leg, with Oeberg maintaining her composure to secure the silver medal for Sweden.

A 19-year-old Alpine skier competing for Albania expressed optimism about her future performance after securing a 10th-place finish in Wednesday’s Olympic women’s slalom event in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Lara Colturi recorded a time of 1:41.78 in the slalom race, placing her just behind Germany’s Emma Aicher and America’s Paula Moltzan. Despite her Italian birth in Turin, Colturi represents Albania through her mother Daniela Ceccarelli, who became the Albanian Ski Federation’s technical director in 2021. Ceccarelli previously won Olympic gold in super-G at the 2002 Winter Games.

“I try to do my best, and I’m really proud of it even though it wasn’t enough. I know I can do a lot, and ski a lot better, so I will just stay focused on that, and the season is not over,” Colturi stated following her race.

The young athlete, who primarily focuses on slalom events, indicated she might expand into speed disciplines despite recovering from an ACL injury sustained in 2023. She’s contemplating participation in upcoming super-G competition.

“Speed has always been somewhere in my mind. Unfortunately, after the injury it was difficult to train (in the speed disciplines). I was considering doing the next super-G in Italy, in San Pellegrino, but it depends on how I’m feeling. We’ll see, why not?” she explained.

The San Pellegrino venue will host women’s World Cup Alpine skiing competitions in early March.

Colturi’s training arrangement mirrors that of super-G and giant slalom champion Federica Brignone, with family members handling coaching duties. Her mother serves as her coach while her father works as her athletic trainer.

“It’s not easy being coached by your parents – we’re all growing, all three of us, and we’re learning a lot,” she noted. “Having my mum and dad always by my side, here as well, is truly wonderful; they are my rock. I definitely wouldn’t be here without them.”

The skier made World Cup history in 2022 when she debuted at age 15, becoming the circuit’s youngest female competitor in more than four decades. At these Olympics, she carried Albania’s flag during opening ceremonies.

“I haven’t spent much time in Cortina and I had never raced here. I didn’t know the course very well. But it was just amazing, especially when I crossed the finish line on the first run today. I’m really happy to be here,” she shared.

When questioned about potentially switching to compete for Italy in future events, Colturi remained noncommittal. “This is an individual sport, so I am here with my parents and that is the most important thing. As for the future, who knows – we’ll see,” she responded.

Corporate sponsors are finding new ways to showcase their brands at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, breaking from the Games’ traditional commercial-free atmosphere.

At freestyle skiing events, athletes like Eileen Gu wait for their results beside prominently displayed Powerade coolers, though competitors typically don’t consume the beverages. Blue sports drink bottles fill hockey penalty boxes, and even tissues in figure skating’s emotional “Kiss and Cry” zones carry corporate logos.

The Olympics have historically maintained advertising-free competition areas, but the current Milan Cortina Games show sponsors gaining more visibility during actual events.

“We continue to open up those opportunities for partners,” said Anne-Sophie Voumard, the International Olympic Committee’s marketing director, on Wednesday. She explained that sponsor products can now have an “organically present” role across more Olympic settings.

This trend appears to have gained momentum following French luxury conglomerate LVMH’s prominent Louis Vuitton branding during the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony.

“It seems like there’s been an increasing need and desire from the sponsors for the IOC to show greater value in the TOP program (for the biggest partners),” explained Terrence Burns, who previously worked in Olympic marketing and now consults for sponsors and host city bids, in comments to The Associated Press.

Television broadcasts now feature strategic product placement, though it remains subtle compared to typical American sporting events. Arena spectators hear sponsor mentions from announcers and see corporate logos displayed on large screens.

These developments come as sponsors prepare for expanded opportunities at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The IOC seeks to enhance value in its TOP sponsorship program, which has generated significant revenue for four decades. Milan currently hosts 11 TOP sponsors, down from a peak of 15 in Paris. This year’s revenue totaled $560 million in cash and services, compared to $871 million in 2024.

While Olympic hockey appears clean and commercial-free to NHL viewers accustomed to board advertising, the in-venue experience differs significantly.

“This is the Corona Cero wave!” an announcer enthusiastically declares, connecting the alcohol-free beer brand to crowd participation efforts during a quiet afternoon match.

An automotive company receives recognition through the “Stellantis Freeze Cam,” while a boxer interview during intermission comes “thanks to Salomon,” the ski apparel brand that partnered with Milan Cortina organizers.

Burns believes arena logo placement provides psychological benefits for sponsors but offers limited value compared to their major pre-Games marketing campaigns.

“I think it’s a psychological ‘Attaboy’ to see your brand on a board somewhere in and around the Olympics,” Burns observed. “I get it, but show me how that helps you sell more things.”

The Olympic Charter requires exceptional approval for any venue logos, but the IOC has steadily loosened these restrictions over time.

“The Olympic world moves slow, and it should. It’s a 3,000-year-old brand, so they’ve got to be careful with it,” Burns noted.

Just ten years ago, the “clean venue” policy was so rigorous that IOC personnel inspected arena restroom hand dryers to ensure manufacturer brands were covered with tape.

During the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, athlete social media restrictions regarding personal sponsors were relaxed following a German legal challenge.

The Paris Games featured medals delivered in Louis Vuitton-branded cases, followed by athletes receiving phones for “the Olympic Victory Selfie, presented by Samsung,” a new tradition continuing at Milan Cortina.

Voumard acknowledged the importance of being “mindful of the legacy of those (Olympic) Games and the uniqueness of the presentation.”

The Los Angeles Olympics will pioneer new sponsorship territory.

For the first time, the IOC has authorized venue naming rights sales through a pilot program. Anaheim’s volleyball venue will retain its Honda Center designation, matching NHL games, while Comcast will brand a temporary squash arena.

Previously, sponsor-named stadiums required generic Olympic names. London’s O2 Arena became North Greenwich Arena for 2012 basketball and gymnastics, while multiple French soccer venues received temporary names for 2024.

Burns anticipates Los Angeles organizers may pressure the IOC for additional sponsor-friendly measures, requiring the organization to balance requests against Olympic brand protection.

“It’s not unreasonable to think that LA would look to what happened in Paris with Louis Vuitton or even Samsung on a podium,” Burns said.

“It’s their fiduciary responsibility to try to make as much money as they can. So they’re going to be looking for any and all opportunities to generate incremental revenue from sponsors. That’s the IOC’s role as a franchisor to protect that.”

LIVIGNO, Italy — A solitary customs station marks the entrance to this Italian mountain village, standing as the only visible reminder of the unique tax-free zone that has defined Livigno for hundreds of years. But during these Winter Olympics, that special status isn’t delivering the economic windfall local merchants expected.

The duty-free privileges that typically transform this alpine community into a shopping destination are actually working against retailers during the Games. While accommodations and dining establishments are experiencing record business, store owners report significant losses as Olympic attendees focus on athletic events rather than bargain hunting.

The situation highlights a common concern among Olympic host communities about the actual financial benefits of staging the Games. Local business owners shared with reporters that the usual influx of deal-seeking tourists has been replaced by athletes, spectators, workers and volunteers who show little interest in shopping during what’s normally their busiest sales period.

Toy store proprietor Olga Salari, whose shop displays an extensive collection of Lego products, expressed frustration with the current situation. “I’m not positive about the Olympics, because usually you are working more than double in this period, because this period for us was a high season. Now, this period is like our low season,” Salari explained. She noted that Olympic attendees “don’t even visit the shops.”

The financial impact has been severe, with Salari reporting a 70% decline in revenue compared to typical February sales. The Olympic competition period spans from February 6th through the 22nd.

Access restrictions to all six mountain competition sites require visitors to possess accreditation, reserved lodging, event passes, or ski lift tickets, effectively eliminating casual day visitors who might otherwise come solely for shopping opportunities.

This remote village, known locally as “Little Tibet” due to its historical isolation among snow-covered peaks near the Swiss frontier, has maintained tax exemptions since medieval times. These privileges originally helped the impoverished, isolated community import necessary goods.

The construction of a paved southern route and later a northern tunnel to Switzerland during the 1900s transformed the duty-free designation into a powerful economic driver by attracting tourist traffic.

Current regulations allow purchases up to 300 euros ($356) without Italy’s 22% value-added tax, though specific restrictions apply to perfumes, tobacco products, alcohol, and fuel.

This tax advantage typically draws skiing enthusiasts who combine their mountain activities with shopping for timepieces, beauty products, fragrances, electronic devices, or cigarettes before returning to Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and other destinations. However, Olympic circumstances have disrupted this pattern.

Electronics retailer Manuel Galli, whose family operates a local technology store, observed the shift in visitor behavior. “The tourists are more interested to see the competition. They’re not so focused on shopping,” Galli noted.

Financial projections from Italy’s Banca Ifis estimate the overall Games will generate 5.3 billion euros ($6.2 billion) in economic activity. Tourist spending at host locations is expected to reach 1.2 billion euros ($1.4 billion) over the next year and a half, though the bank didn’t specify amounts by individual venues. Milan Cortina organizing committee leader Giovanni Malagò referenced similar figures exceeding 5 billion euros during a radio interview.

Olympic organizers point to infrastructure improvements as lasting benefits, including upgraded electrical systems in Livigno and other mountain venues. Enhanced medical facilities and transportation connections represent additional long-term investments.

Other Olympic mountain locations appear to be experiencing more positive retail results.

Cortina d’Ampezzo’s Deputy Mayor Roberta Alverà confirmed through text message that her community has witnessed “a significant influx of people.”

These visitors are patronizing more than just hotels and restaurants, with both tourists and Italian second-home owners frequenting shops along Cortina’s pedestrian Corso Italia thoroughfare in the town center.

Bormio’s historic district has seen steady foot traffic on its stone walkways throughout the men’s alpine skiing events, with local retailers reporting increased customer activity.

Organizing committee member Sergio Schena, representing the Livigno area, acknowledged that business impacts vary but maintained optimism about future benefits. He suggested the international exposure could attract visitors from more distant markets, similar to Turin’s experience following its 2006 Olympic hosting.

“What we expect to happen is that the markets change, and we get more tourists from the United States and Asia,” Schena predicted.

Some merchants remain skeptical about this shift. Salari explained that her business model depends on customers who drive to Livigno and utilize vehicle storage space for larger purchases. She worries that air travelers will limit themselves to items that fit in carry-on luggage.

Nevertheless, most Livigno residents, including fellow retailers, share Schena’s optimism, believing the televised coverage of snowboarding and freestyle skiing competitions has showcased their community globally and will eventually attract increased tourism.

Perfume shop owner Derio Claoti, despite experiencing a 70% sales decrease, emphasized the promotional value. “This is very important because (the Games) are providing 360-degree publicity around the world and Livigno is coming across very well,” Claoti said.

At the nearby Golden Clock luxury watch and jewelry boutique, owner Damiano Longa expressed confidence that current losses will prove worthwhile.

“We hope that the advertising that it’s making for Livigno will work for the future,” Longa stated.

A surprising guest made headlines at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics when renowned soccer manager Juergen Klopp rang the final lap bell during Tuesday’s men’s biathlon relay competition in Anterselva, Italy.

French athlete Eric Perrot was unaware that the former Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund coach was the one signaling his final victorious push to the finish line. The moment came during a crucial point in the race, as nearly every biathlon event at these games has been determined by performances at the shooting range during the final stages.

Speaking with Reuters and Norwegian broadcaster NRK before Wednesday’s women’s relay event, where he attended as a spectator, Klopp expressed his admiration for the demanding winter sport.

“It’s, for me, the best combination of all the physical aspects of sports and all the mental aspects of sports,” Klopp explained. “(If you took them) and put it in one sport, if you would have asked me that, let somebody run until he dies, pretty much, and then give him a rifle? Not sure who had that idea! But no, really, for ages, I have loved it.”

While the Milano Cortina Games biathlon events have delivered plenty of excitement and drama, Klopp’s home country of Germany has managed just one medal so far – a bronze earned in the opening mixed relay competition.

Despite his nation’s limited medal count, the 58-year-old coach emphasized his respect for all biathlon competitors, regardless of their results.

“It’s an example for constantly restarting, constantly refocusing, and I have to say, there’s so many aspects. A real challenge for me would be to do the last shooting and miss, and then still to finish the race with all you have. That’s a massive thing to do,” he stated.

Since leaving his position as Liverpool manager in 2024, following Champions League success in 2019 and a Premier League title in 2020, Klopp has remained away from club management. He recently joined Red Bull as their global head of soccer in January 2025 and is using his free time to experience Olympic competition firsthand.

“I’m a big fan of the sports people, big fan of the attitude, a big fan of all the things sport can teach us in life,” Klopp shared.

“And so when you see it here, the Olympic Games, in a super difficult time in the world, they still have their spot and their place, and it’s still the same atmosphere and the same mood they create.”

“Everyone, we are all friends — fight against each other (in the events), but we are friends, and that’s the most important message you can get,” he concluded.

LIVIGNO, Italy – Chinese freestyle skier Xu Mengtao successfully defended her Olympic championship in women’s aerials competition on Wednesday, cementing her legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats.

Australia’s Danielle Scott claimed the silver medal, while China’s Shao Qi rounded out the podium with bronze.

The 35-year-old Xu has competed in five Olympic Games and holds the record for aerials with 35 World Cup wins. She currently leads the World Cup standings, and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation considers her the sport’s greatest competitor ever.

Beyond her gold medal from Beijing 2022, Xu previously earned silver in the mixed team aerials at those same Games and another silver in aerials at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

During Wednesday’s competition at the Italian alpine venue, Xu dominated her opponents with a final jump score of 112.90, significantly ahead of Scott’s 102.17 and Shao’s 101.90.

The champion became emotional after her victory, raising her arms while holding China’s flag in celebration.

Scott, also 35 and competing in her fourth Olympics, had expressed hopes of winning gold but couldn’t match her Chinese competitor’s performance. The fact that both top finishers are 35 years old stands out in a sport typically won by younger athletes.

For 24-year-old Shao, competing in her second Olympic Games, the bronze represents her first Olympic medal.

The aerials discipline challenges athletes to launch themselves from steep ramps, soaring as high as 20 meters while performing intricate aerial maneuvers before touching down on sharp inclines.

Competitors can reach speeds exceeding 60 kilometers per hour during their runs. Judges evaluate performances based on air time, distance traveled, form, technical difficulty, and landing execution, with 150 being the perfect score.

Aerials skiing became an Olympic sport starting with the 1994 Lillehammer Games.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – American skiing legend Mikaela Shiffrin finally broke through for Olympic gold Wednesday, capturing the women’s slalom title in the closing alpine skiing event at the Milano Cortina Games.

The victory marked Shiffrin’s first Olympic medal since claiming gold four years ago, ending a drought that had built tremendous pressure on the sport’s most accomplished competitor.

Switzerland’s Camille Rast claimed the silver medal, while Sweden’s Anna Swenn Larsson rounded out the podium with bronze.

Shiffrin, who holds the record as the most victorious World Cup alpine skier in history, controlled the competition from start to finish. She established a commanding lead of 0.82 seconds following the opening run and maintained her aggressive approach through the second descent, ultimately defeating Rast by a decisive 1.5-second margin.

Despite entering as the clear favorite after capturing seven victories in eight World Cup slalom competitions this season, Shiffrin faced mounting expectations following her failure to medal in her first two Olympic events, combined with her disappointing performance at the Beijing Olympics four years earlier.

The 2014 Olympic slalom champion demonstrated her championship form immediately, establishing dominance from the first gate.

Germany’s Lena Duerr emerged as the only competitor to finish within one second of Shiffrin’s opening run time, positioning herself as a potential threat. However, her medal hopes disappeared instantly during the crucial second run when she missed the opening gate after leaving the starting hut.

Sweden’s Cornelia Oehlund held third place following the initial run, though she trailed by a full second. Her medal aspirations also crumbled when equipment failure struck – a broken ski pole prevented her from completing the final run.

Slovakia’s remarkable Olympic ice hockey journey continued Wednesday in Milan as they defeated Germany 6-2 to secure their place in the men’s semifinals at the Santaggiulia arena.

The unexpected tournament standouts, who surprised many by winning their group, dominated the match with goals from multiple players. Forward Pavol Regenda found the net twice, scoring once in the opening period and again in the third. The second period saw a flurry of Slovak scoring with forwards Milos Kelemen, Oliver Okuliar, and Dalibor Dvorsky all contributing goals, while captain Tomas Tatar added the final tally in the third period.

Germany, who earned silver at the 2018 Olympics, had easily defeated France in their qualification playoff but struggled offensively against Slovakia and will finish the tournament without hardware.

Following Wednesday’s quarterfinal conclusion, the remaining teams will undergo reseeding for Friday’s semifinals, with the top seed meeting the lowest seed and the second and third seeds battling each other.

Slovakia, the 2022 bronze medalists, opened the scoring late in the first period when defenseman Erik Cernak fired a shot from the blue line that Regenda deflected into the goal.

The second period belonged to Slovakia as Kelemen maneuvered past a struggling German defender before lifting the puck into the upper right corner just four minutes in. Okuliar followed up quickly, beating the German goaltender just 31 seconds later to extend the lead.

Slovak supporters were relieved to see tournament standout Juraj Slafkovsky return to action after a concerning collision with the boards, and Dvorsky provided additional security by outsmarting the German defense for another goal.

Germany’s Lukas Reichel managed a late second-period goal, and his team applied pressure in the final frame, outshooting Slovakia 13-12. However, Regenda’s second goal of the game sealed Slovakia’s victory, and Tatar’s empty-net goal completed Germany’s disappointing exit.

Two NHL brothers who’ve built reputations as agitators in professional hockey are finding redemption on the Olympic stage, where their skills matter more than their controversial tactics.

Matthew and Brady Tkachuk have made careers out of frustrating opponents and drawing penalties, earning them plenty of critics among rival fan bases. The siblings are notorious for their ability to provoke reactions from other players through their physical and sometimes questionable play.

However, at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, the Tkachuk brothers are being celebrated as vital pieces of Team USA’s quest for hockey gold. Their aggressive style and scoring ability have translated well to international competition, where they’re representing their country rather than divisive NHL franchises.

The transformation from villains to heroes highlights how Olympic competition can reshape public perception of polarizing athletes. While their home team critics may still harbor negative feelings, the brothers are now channeling their competitive fire toward a common national goal.

Team USA’s hockey success may depend heavily on players like the Tkachuks, whose combination of skill and edge gives the squad a competitive advantage in high-stakes Olympic matchups.

LIVIGNO, Italy – In a birthday celebration like no other, 22-year-old Su Yiming from China claimed the top spot in men’s snowboard slopestyle competition on Wednesday, earning his nation its inaugural gold medal at the Milano Cortina Olympics.

The podium was completed by Japan’s Taiga Hasegawa, who secured the silver medal, and Jake Canter from the United States, who earned third place and the bronze.

Sports journalist Christine Brennan recalls how her male peers would mock her dedication to covering women’s athletics during the 1990s.

“It was absolutely infuriating to me,” stated Brennan, a bestselling writer who became the inaugural president of the Association for Women in Sports Media.

Today, the landscape looks dramatically different. Specialized media companies focused exclusively on women’s athletics are emerging everywhere, experiencing rapid expansion and handling their own coverage, including upcoming events like the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.

As women’s sports experience unprecedented growth, the media ecosystem supporting them is similarly thriving. Organizations such as TOGETHXR, The GIST, Just Women’s Sports, The IX Sports, GOALS and Good Game with Sarah Spain are broadening their influence.

“The male-dominated mainstream sports media totally missed the boat on women’s sports,” commented Brennan, who writes for USA Today and is currently covering her 22nd Olympic Games. She expressed enthusiasm about these newer platforms “doing a job that should have been done by mainstream sports media.”

Although traditional sports media have improved by expanding their women’s sports coverage, University of Michigan sport management professor Ketra Armstrong describes the recent wave of women-led platforms as uniquely “liberating” since female athletes are “owning their stories and not waiting for it to be filtered through any traditional lens.”

This frustration drove the creation of Just Women’s Sports. After founder Haley Rosen concluded her professional soccer career, she struggled to find quality coverage of her sport.

“Everything I was seeing just felt nothing like the world I had known,” Rosen explained. “It felt very young, very pink and glitter, a lot of lifestyle content. And I was just like, where are the sports?”

Rosen launched Just Women’s Sports as an Instagram page in 2020, which has since evolved into a major industry platform with partnerships including Nike and Amazon Prime. She emphasizes covering women’s athletics with equal seriousness and intensity as men’s competitions.

“These women are the best athletes in the world, competing at the highest level. And I think we have to treat them as such,” Rosen stated.

The GIST, a Toronto-based “fan-first sports media brand,” emerged from similar frustrations.

Co-founder Ellen Hyslop calls herself “a super-massive avid sports fan.” Despite watching ESPN SportsCenter daily, “the default was always, ‘Oh, you’re a girl, so you’re not a sports fan,’ as opposed to just being welcomed into those communities,” she shared.

Launched with college friends Jacie deHoop and Roslyn McLarty, Hyslop said The GIST was created for audiences excluded from traditional sports media. The platform now boasts equal coverage of men’s and women’s athletics and reaches approximately 1 million newsletter subscribers — nearly 50% growth in two years — primarily Gen Z and millennial women.

“Sports are supposed to be for everyone. They really do have the ability to unite people,” Hyslop noted.

Sarah Spain, an ESPN veteran who hosts the daily women’s sports podcast Good Game, attributes the industry’s acceleration to social media, WNBA star Caitlin Clark, and the women’s national soccer team, citing “a very organic and natural push for more women’s sports coverage.”

Spain emphasized that media attention drives professional league success, and women’s sports have historically lacked this support.

“There was this blaming of the product of women’s sports, without understanding the incredible ecosystem and infrastructure that was lifting up and bringing fans back over and over again to men’s sports,” she explained. “Now we’re finally catching up in terms of investment.”

According to Spain, who has 16 years of sports journalism experience and is covering her first Olympics for Good Game in Italy, the Olympics have consistently demonstrated that meaningful media coverage of women’s sports attracts passionate audiences.

The Milan Cortina Games continue this trend, with skiing star Lindsey Vonn, downhill champion Breezy Johnson and snowboarding sensation Chloe Kim capturing major headlines.

“The Olympics are the shining star for women’s sports coverage that proves if you tell people that there’s value, and you give them the information, and the nuance, and the context to care, that they will be die hard for it,” Spain said.

However, Armstrong from the University of Michigan points out that women’s sports media still constitutes a “very small piece of the pie” compared to the broader sports media industry. Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism professor Craig LaMay warns that growth doesn’t guarantee long-term viability, noting that coverage decisions have historically been “relentlessly a business decision.”

“For all the changes, there’s a lot of things that haven’t changed,” he observed, highlighting that Forbes’ annual list of the world’s 100 highest-paid athletes contains no women.

Despite these challenges, TOGETHXR, a media and commerce company established in 2021 by four star athletes including Olympic halfpipe silver medalist Kim, promotes the motto “Everyone Watches Women’s Sports.” This slogan acknowledges the industry’s recent momentum while rejecting “very antiquated rhetoric in women’s sports that no one watches,” according to co-founder and chief brand officer Jessica Robertson, whose company has generated over $6 million in sales of T-shirts, tote bags and hoodies featuring this message.

Robertson believes the audience for women’s professional sports has always existed but was “starved and underserved.” She says enhanced accessibility has resulted in record engagement and viewership. TOGETHXR now reaches more than 4 million users across platforms, representing a 17% increase from 2024. The company produces newsletters, docuseries, and podcasts, including “A Touch More” featuring Olympic champion and co-founder Sue Bird alongside soccer star Megan Rapinoe.

Streaming services like Netflix, Amazon, and Apple are also expanding opportunities to consume women’s sports in an industry no longer dependent on traditional linear television networks, according to Danette Leighton, CEO of the Women’s Sports Foundation. However, she notes this growth began years ago.

“It takes generations to make generational change,” said Leighton, whose organization was established by Billie Jean King in 1974, two years following the enactment of landmark equality legislation Title IX. “This is really a tipping point.”

Former University of Florida quarterback Jaden Rashada has reached a settlement agreement on Tuesday, bringing closure to his name, image and likeness legal battle against former Gators head coach Billy Napier and several other parties.

The settlement terms have not been made public.

Those named in the lawsuit included Napier, Florida booster Hugh Hathcock, Hathcock’s business, and former Florida staff member Marcus Castro-Walker, according to reports from The Athletic.

Rashada filed the lawsuit claiming the defendants failed to honor a four-year NIL deal worth $13.85 million that was negotiated while he was completing his senior year of high school in Pittsburg, California, during late 2022.

The signal-caller had originally committed to the University of Miami before switching his commitment to Florida, though he ultimately never took the field for the Gators.

Following the settlement announcement, Rashada’s legal representative, Rusty Hardin, shared with ESPN: “He’s a bright young man with great judgment. He thought it was time to move on. He made the point he wanted to make, and now he’s ready to go play football.”

Legal counsel for Napier, attorneys Hank Coxe and Michael Lockamy, issued a statement to The Athletic saying: “The parties have reached a confidential resolution of the litigation. The case will be dismissed, and all parties are moving forward.”

During the litigation process, a federal judge noted in 2025, according to The Athletic, that Rashada’s claims “advance a compelling narrative that the Defendants were all marching to the beat of the same drum throughout Rashada’s failed recruitment to UF, each taking interwoven and often overlapping steps designed to lure Rashada away from Miami all while knowing they would never make good on the NIL promises made and leading Rashada on until his other NIL offers dried up.”

Rashada saw limited action at Arizona State during the 2023 season, taking the field in three contests where he completed 53.7% of his throws for 485 yards, recording four touchdown passes and three interceptions.

Following his time with the Sun Devils, he moved to the University of Georgia but never appeared in games for the Bulldogs before transferring to Sacramento State. During his stint with the Hornets last season, he completed 40.5% of his passing attempts for 264 yards with one touchdown and one interception across six appearances.

Just three weeks ago, Rashada made another transfer, this time joining Mississippi State.

A former University of Michigan football coach achieved a significant legal win Tuesday as a judge approved his request to examine the circumstances behind his December arrest warrant.

Washtenaw County Judge Cedric Simpson set a hearing date of March 2 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to review Sherrone Moore’s case.

Authorities took Moore into custody on December 10, leading to charges of stalking, breaking and entering, and third-degree home invasion. The complainant was identified as a female employee within Michigan’s athletic department.

The purported incident took place on the identical date Michigan terminated Moore’s employment, citing the discovery of “credible evidence” that the coach participated in an improper workplace relationship.

Defense attorney Ellen Michaels contended that the investigating detective from Pittsfield Township Police Department withheld crucial information from the district court magistrate during the December 12 warrant request — specifically omitting that the complainant served as Moore’s supervisor.

Although law enforcement documented Moore’s numerous text messages and phone calls to the woman, they failed to inform the magistrate about the professional connection between the two individuals. Michaels argued that such communication could be interpreted differently when considering their working partnership.

Judge Simpson responded Tuesday by stating, “It seems to me, if I’m the magistrate, I’m getting half the story. I’m not getting the full story. … I’m very worried about the omission.”

The judge further commented, “What is clear from this court’s perspective is that an omission in certain contexts can be more damaging, more problematic, more troublesome than what might be an intentional misrepresentation.”

Speaking to media following Tuesday’s proceedings, Michaels declared, “Judge Simpson got it right in this motion, and due process matters. Coach Moore maintains his innocence, and the truth will come out.”

The 40-year-old Moore compiled a 16-8 coaching record at Michigan following his promotion from offensive coordinator when he replaced Jim Harbaugh. Both coaches faced scrutiny during a sign-stealing scandal connected to the university’s 2023 national championship season, resulting in Moore receiving a two-game suspension.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans plans to return to the NFL for another season, but his future with the franchise remains uncertain.

Evans’ representative, Deryk Gilmore, confirmed Tuesday to NFL.com and ESPN that the 32-year-old veteran will suit up for a 13th campaign in 2026.

“He is opening it up,” Gilmore stated regarding Evans’ upcoming free agency status. “He will play next season with someone. It could be Tampa. But he will definitely play a 13th season.”

The veteran receiver has spent his entire professional career in Tampa Bay since the team drafted him with the seventh pick in 2014. Evans played a crucial role in the Buccaneers’ championship run during the 2020 season alongside quarterback Tom Brady.

After recording over 1,000 receiving yards in his first 11 campaigns, Evans struggled with injuries during the most recent season. He managed only 30 receptions for 368 yards and three scores across eight appearances, missing nine total games due to hamstring and collarbone injuries before returning for the final stretch.

The former Texas A&M standout recently finished a two-year deal worth an average of $20.5 million annually.

Throughout his career spanning 176 games with 175 starts, Evans has recorded 866 catches for 13,052 yards and 108 touchdowns. He holds Tampa Bay franchise records in receptions, receiving yards, touchdown catches, and total points scored with 662.

Spanish tennis star Paula Badosa issued a strong response Wednesday to online critics who accused her of showing disrespect to the sport after a thigh injury forced her to withdraw from her Dubai Tennis Championships match.

The 28-year-old athlete, who previously held the world No. 2 ranking, had been leading 4-1 against Elina Svitolina in Tuesday’s second-round contest before losing five consecutive games and the opening set. Following medical treatment for her right thigh, Badosa made the difficult decision to retire from the match.

After facing criticism on social media, Badosa responded with a passionate defense of her decision and career struggles.

“You have no idea what it’s like to live with a chronic injury and still choose to keep going,” Badosa wrote. “To wake up everyday not knowing how your body will respond, searching for solutions, and fighting for something you love and give everything even when it’s so difficult.”

The Spanish player has battled multiple injuries throughout her career, including persistent back problems that nearly led her to consider early retirement in 2024. Despite these setbacks, she managed to climb back into the top 10 rankings last year through determined performances.

Badosa described experiencing “endless nightmares” while seeking permanent solutions to her health issues, but emphasized that her love for tennis makes the struggle worthwhile.

“So I’ll keep trying,” she stated. “Because it’s all about trying and that won’t change. I’ll always try one more time. I’m doing this for my passion … If there’s even a 1% chance to keep going, I’ll take it. That’s just how I see and understand life.”

Her response has sparked broader discussion about the harmful impact of social media criticism on professional athletes.

“For me the only disrespect here is to open social media and read messages like this,” Badosa continued. “Then we complain if we see players suffering and having mental health issues, but I’m not surprised with the amount of hate and ‘experts’ we have here.”

The Women’s Tennis Association confirmed to Reuters that shielding players from online harassment and threats remains a top priority for the organization.

This issue extends beyond Badosa’s experience. Australian player Destanee Aiava announced last week her intention to leave professional tennis this year, citing a culture she described as “racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile” while pointing to the online negativity she has endured.

Multiple female players have shared similar experiences, including Svitolina, who revealed receiving death threats after her Canadian Open loss last season. She attributed this “shameful” behavior to upset gamblers.

Research conducted jointly by the WTA and International Tennis Federation last year found that frustrated bettors were responsible for 40% of detected player abuse cases.

World No. 6 Amanda Anisimova expanded on the problem’s scope, explaining it goes beyond gambling-related harassment.

“I’d say it’s not just betting, it’s overall cyber bullying all the time,” Anisimova said. “Commenting on everything, like my body all the time, every single day. It’s difficult.”

“I don’t think that people realise the extent of it, how much of an effect it can have on someone,” she added.

The Women’s National Basketball Players’ Association has reduced its financial demands in ongoing contract negotiations with the WNBA, according to multiple media reports released Tuesday.

This revised offer follows the league’s own proposal submitted earlier this month during collective bargaining discussions.

According to reports, the players’ union now wants an average of 27.5% of the league’s total revenue, starting at 25% in the first year of any new agreement. The salary cap for the initial season would sit under $9.5 million based on the WNBPA’s updated proposal.

The union’s earlier demands called for 31% of total revenue on average, with 28% in the opening year. Their previous salary cap request stood at $10.5 million for the first season.

A WNBA spokesperson responded to ESPN about the union’s modified position: “The Players Association’s latest proposal remains unrealistic and would cause hundreds of millions of dollars of losses for our teams. We still need to complete two Drafts (a two-team expansion draft and college draft) and free agency before the start of training camp and are running out of time. We believe the WNBA’s proposal would result in a huge win for current players and generations to come.”

The league’s current offer includes a $5.65 million salary cap. A major disagreement centers on the league wanting to tie player compensation to net revenue instead of gross revenue. While the WNBA reportedly offers more than 70% of net revenue to players, ESPN noted this would equal less than 15% of gross revenue.

The union’s updated proposal also seeks to maintain player housing benefits, which the WNBA has attempted to eliminate from previous agreements. The WNBPA wants housing to continue for the initial years of any new contract, though players earning higher salaries would eventually secure their own accommodations.

The WNBA has reportedly proposed one-bedroom units for minimum-wage players and studio apartments for two developmental players on each team.

The upcoming WNBA season is set to begin May 8 with three games, including expansion team Toronto Tempo hosting the Washington Mystics. The new Portland Fire will face the visiting Chicago Sky on May 9.

Nashville SC put themselves in prime position to advance in the CONCACAF Champions Cup after defeating Atletico Ottawa 2-0 in Tuesday’s first-leg matchup in Hamilton, Ontario. Goals from Woobens Pacius and Sam Surridge in the second half gave the MLS side a crucial away victory.

The return leg of this two-match series is scheduled for February 24th in Nashville. Whichever team progresses will meet defending MLS Cup champions Inter Miami in the tournament’s round of 16 stage next month.

Nashville broke through in the 66th minute when Pacius finished off a well-constructed attack along the left side. The play involved Josh Bauer, Warren Madrigal, and Alex Muyl before Matthew Corcoran delivered a pass into the box, where Pacius created space and fired a 14-yard right-footed strike into the lower left corner.

The visitors secured their advantage deep into stoppage time through a swift counterattack. When Ottawa’s keeper rushed forward but couldn’t reach the ball, Nashville’s Cristian Espinoza squared it across to Surridge, who had an easy finish into the empty goal.

Los Angeles FC 6, Real Espana 1

Denis Bouanga scored three goals to lead LAFC to a dominant 6-1 victory over Real Espana in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, in their first-leg encounter.

The Black and Gold will welcome Real Espana for the return match on February 24th, virtually guaranteed a spot in the round of 16 where they would face Costa Rica’s Alajuelense.

Bouanga opened the scoring just three minutes in from the penalty spot. David Martinez extended the lead in the 11th minute, curling his shot into the upper left corner to cap off a counterattack initiated by Son Heung-Min.

Two more penalty conversions followed in quick succession, with Son finding the net in the 22nd minute and Bouanga scoring his second in the 24th minute for a 4-0 advantage. Timothy Tillman added a clever back-heel finish in the 39th minute to make it 5-0.

Real Espana managed to get on the scoreboard through Jack Jean-Baptiste in the 51st minute, but Bouanga wrapped up his hat trick with a close-range effort in the 71st minute to complete the rout.

The Wolverines demonstrated why they earned the top spot in college basketball by overwhelming seventh-ranked Purdue 91-80 on Tuesday night in West Lafayette, Indiana. Elliot Cadeau spearheaded Michigan’s well-rounded offensive effort, contributing 17 points and seven assists.

Michigan (25-1, 15-1 Big Ten) maintained a comfortable double-digit advantage throughout most of the contest, marking their first appearance as the nation’s premier team since 2013. The victory extended their winning streak to 11 games.

The Wolverines received significant contributions across their roster. Yaxel Lendeborg delivered 13 points and seven assists, while both L.J. Cason and Trey McKenney chipped in 13 points each. Morez Johnson Jr. provided 12 points and hauled in 11 rebounds, and Aday Mara recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Purdue (21-5, 11-4) fought back behind Trey Kaufman-Renn’s impressive 27-point, 12-rebound performance. Braden Smith contributed 20 points and six assists, while Fletcher Loyer added 11 points for the Boilermakers.

Iowa 57, No. 9 Nebraska 52

The Hawkeyes delivered a crucial upset victory over the Cornhuskers in Iowa City, significantly boosting their March Madness aspirations. Bennett Stirtz paced all scorers with 25 points in the triumph.

Cooper Koch provided 10 additional points for Iowa (19-7, 9-6 Big Ten), which overcame poor shooting at 33.3% from the field to secure their first victory against a ranked opponent since February 2024.

Former Hawkeye Pryce Sandfort managed 13 points in his return to his former home court for Nebraska (22-4, 11-4). The Cornhuskers have now suffered four defeats in their last six outings.

No. 12 Florida 76, South Carolina 62

The Gators maintained their position atop the Southeastern Conference standings with a convincing victory over the Gamecocks in Gainesville. Alex Condon registered 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Rueben Chinyelu dominated the boards with 17 rebounds to go with 15 points.

Florida (20-6, 11-2 SEC) controlled the game from the early moments, never surrendering the lead after the first two minutes. The victory marked their sixth consecutive win. Thomas Haugh contributed 10 points and Micah Handlogten grabbed nine rebounds as the Gators outrebounded their opponents 47-30.

South Carolina (11-15, 2-11) received 22 points and three steals from Meechie Johnson, but dropped their seventh straight contest. Elijah Strong added 10 points, though the Gamecocks struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 4 of 19 three-point attempts.

No. 15 Michigan State 82, UCLA 59

The Spartans bounced back from recent struggles with a dominant performance against the Bruins in East Lansing. Jeremy Fears Jr. recorded 16 points and 10 assists, while Coen Carr matched that scoring output.

Carson Cooper provided 12 points and seven rebounds, and Jordan Scott added 11 points for Michigan State (21-5, 11-4 Big Ten). Jaxon Kohler contributed nine points and 10 rebounds as the Spartans snapped a troubling stretch where they had lost three of four games.

UCLA (17-9, 9-6) got 22 points from Tyler Bilodeau and 12 bench points from Skyy Clark. The Bruins concluded a difficult road trip, losing by an average margin of 26.5 points in games against both Michigan schools.

NC State 82, No. 16 North Carolina 58

The Wolfpack delivered a stunning upset victory over their in-state rivals in Raleigh, powered by Quadir Copeland’s 20-point performance. Copeland also recorded six rebounds, seven assists and four steals in the comprehensive victory.

Matt Able knocked down five three-pointers en route to 19 points, while Darrion Williams added 13 points for NC State (19-8, 10-4 ACC). Paul McNeil scored 10 points and former Tar Heel Ven-Allen Lubin tallied 12 points and six rebounds against his former squad. The victory marked first-year coach Will Wade’s initial triumph in the storied rivalry.

North Carolina (20-6, 8-5) played without key contributors Caleb Wilson (hand injury) and Henri Veesaar (lower body injury). Zayden High led the Tar Heels with 13 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out late, while Jarin Stevenson contributed 13 points and nine rebounds.

Rhode Island 81, No. 18 Saint Louis 76

Jonah Hinton erupted for a career-best 29 points, draining nine three-pointers, to lead the Rams to a major upset in Atlantic 10 action in Kingston. The victory snapped Saint Louis’s impressive 18-game winning streak.

Myles Corey added 15 points and converted all 11 of his free throw attempts for Rhode Island (15-11, 6-7 A-10). Tyler Cochran chipped in 11 points as the Rams defeated their first ranked opponent since November 2017.

Saint Louis (24-2, 12-1) received 21 points from Robbie Avila, 19 from Dion Brown, and 10 points, five rebounds and five assists from Amari McCottry. However, the Billikens committed 18 turnovers that resulted in 28 Rhode Island points.

SMU 95, No. 21 Louisville 85

The Mustangs outlasted the Cardinals in a high-scoring affair featuring the ACC’s top two offensive units. Jaron Pierre Jr. led SMU with 25 points and seven rebounds, scoring 13 of those points after halftime.

The contest featured 16 ties and 17 lead changes in a back-and-forth battle. Boopie Miller finished with 23 points and nine assists for SMU (18-8, 7-6 ACC).

Louisville (19-7, 8-5) saw their five-game winning streak come to an end, surrendering 90-plus points for the first time this season. Mikel Brown Jr. paced the Cardinals with 29 points on 11-of-18 shooting but committed a season-high seven turnovers, five coming in the second half when Louisville turned the ball over 12 times.

No. 22 Miami (Ohio) 86, Massachusetts 77

The RedHawks preserved their perfect season with a victory over the Minutemen in Mid-American Conference play in Amherst. Peter Suder led all scorers with 23 points for Miami.

Luke Skaljac contributed 16 points for Miami (26-0, 13-0 MAC), which remains the only undefeated team in Division I basketball. The RedHawks connected on 26 of 52 field goal attempts, maintaining their season-long shooting efficiency.

UMass (15-12, 6-8 MAC) received a career-high 19 points from Isaiah Placide, who made five of seven attempts from three-point range.

Ohio State 86, No. 24 Wisconsin 69

The Buckeyes secured a crucial victory for their tournament hopes, led by Bruce Thornton’s explosive second-half performance. Thornton scored 24 of his 27 points after intermission in Columbus.

Devin Royal posted a season-high 25 points and Amare Bynum added 13 for Ohio State (17-9, 9-6 Big Ten). The Buckeyes led by 12 at halftime and controlled the final 20 minutes, trailing for just 44 seconds total.

Wisconsin (18-8, 10-5) got 20 points from Braeden Carrington, who connected on five second-half three-pointers. Nick Boyd and John Blackwell each contributed 14 points for the Badgers.

While Olympic figure skaters glide across the ice with apparent grace and ease, these elite athletes face injury challenges similar to everyday fitness enthusiasts who visit gyms or participate in recreational sports.

“No athlete at this level is 100% fully healthy,” Gretchen Mohney, the director of medical and performance services for U.S. Figure Skating, told The Associated Press from Milan. “It’s about managing whatever it is that may be breaking down.”

Olympic-level skaters benefit from immediate access to doctors, trainers, and physical therapists when problems arise, whether it’s knee swelling, back pain, or cuts from sharp blades.

Mohney, who earned her doctorate in interdisciplinary health sciences, identified warning signs that skating professionals monitor and shared wellness advice for recreational athletes.

First, address sudden injuries right away. “Recognizing and responding to acute injury is huge and what we are going to do about it versus ignoring it, because it usually gets worse,” Mohney said. “You have to get rid of the old-school philosophy of just suck it up and don’t do anything about it.”

Second, manage ongoing injuries properly. Elite competitors can’t take extended breaks, especially during Olympic competition where timing is everything. “We don’t say rest for two weeks, we say let’s get you to perform as safely as possible … without causing further injury,” Mohney said. Sometimes solutions are straightforward, such as adding extra padding inside skates to reduce friction.

Third, maintain flexibility and watch for compensation patterns. Proper stretching and warm-up routines are essential. “When we lose mobility or flexibility our bodies start to compensate and the stress is put on another part,” Mohney explained. For competitive skaters, this flexibility “could mean the difference between doing a double jump and a quadruple jump.”

Fourth, prevent overuse injuries by varying training intensity and volume. Since skaters compete throughout the year, they must balance their workload. Mohney cited the example of layback spins, where skaters repeatedly arch their backs. “You are going to have back pain no matter who you are,” she said. “All of our athletes vary their training. You want to make sure you are changing your load so the body can recover.”

Dr. Fred Workman, who has served as a team physician for U.S. Figure Skating for a quarter-century, reports seeing more head injuries recently. While audiences may only notice the artistic elements, modern figure skating involves increasingly dangerous technical elements.

Common injuries among skaters include cuts from razor-sharp blades, problems with hips, knees, ankles and feet, plus shoulder injuries for male skaters who lift partners during pairs routines.

“They’re doing overhead lifts, spinning around on the ice — and smiling,” Workman said. “Skaters are doing much more demanding and aggressive — risky if you will — maneuvers. The hard ice always wins. When you fall on the ice, something is going to give.”

Workman’s responsibilities extend beyond physical treatment to include a comprehensive approach to athlete development, encompassing stress management and mental wellness.

“Life doesn’t always go your way,” Workman said. “We’re in a judged sport. You may not always get the scores you think you deserve. But how do you handle it? You have to get yourself mentally focused and be ready to perform.”

The mental pressure on elite skaters was evident when Ilia Malinin fell twice during competition in Milan last week, later describing feeling overwhelmed. “I just felt like I had no control,” he said.

Beyond competition preparation, Workman encourages skaters to diversify their training routines and personal interests.

“Not only cross-train in your sport, but cross-train as a human,” he said. “Diversify your interests. A very common mistake is spending all of your time on the ice and less time in off-the-ice training.”

Workman advocates for a broader perspective, even among Olympic-caliber athletes. He referenced a previous NCAA television campaign that reminded college athletes about life beyond sports.

“At the end of the day, competitive careers end,” Workman said. “Why do we even have sport? It’s to build resilience, to build the life skills you need.”

American pairs skaters Ellie Kam and Danny O’Shea understand injury challenges firsthand. Kam missed a month last year due to concussion, while O’Shea required foot surgery.

Despite these setbacks, they delivered an outstanding performance that contributed to the United States winning consecutive Olympic gold medals in the team competition.

“We just wanted to kind of give it our all, and I feel like that’s part of the reason why Danny and I have been able to work through so much of what people would see as obstacles,” Kam said. “I think in the obstacles we found a way to connect better and be a stronger team.”

Deanna Stellato-Dudek, a 42-year-old American-born skater competing for Canada, suffered a head injury during practice on January 30th. She and partner Maxime Deschamps had to withdraw from the team event during the Olympics’ opening week.

“You have to take extremely specific care of your body,” she told The AP. “I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, I’m extremely healthy. And I do think being able to treat my body like that for the last decade has helped me to heal very quickly.”

World number one Carlos Alcaraz overcame a challenging test in his return to action Tuesday, battling past France’s Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 7-6 (5) in the opening round of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha.

The Spanish superstar was making his first appearance since achieving tennis’s ultimate milestone – completing the career Grand Slam at the Australian Open. Rinderknech pushed Alcaraz to the brink in the second set, earning two opportunities to level the match before the four-time Grand Slam champion rallied to force a tiebreak and secure the win.

Until those crucial moments late in the second set, Alcaraz had cruised without facing a single break point opportunity for his opponent.

Tuesday’s action saw all seeded players successfully navigate their first-round hurdles. Russia’s fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev dispatched Netherlands’ Jesper De Jong 6-4, 6-3, while seventh-seeded Karen Khachanov, also from Russia, overcame Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki 6-1, 3-6, 6-4. Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka, seeded eighth, dominated American Jenson Brooksby 6-3, 6-3.

Other players advancing included Belgium’s Zizou Bergs, Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics and Fabian Marozsan, France’s Quentin Halys, Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, and China’s Zhizhen Zhang.

Delray Beach Open

Defending champion Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia launched his title defense successfully, overwhelming Italy’s Mattia Bellucci 6-1, 6-4 in first-round action at Delray Beach, Florida.

The Serbian dominated on return, capturing 12 of 20 points when Bellucci served his second serve, while maintaining perfect hold of his own service games without facing a break point.

American Brandon Nakashima, seeded seventh, edged past Croatian veteran Marin Cilic in a pair of tiebreakers, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5). Domestic battles saw Sebastian Korda eliminate Mackenzie McDonald 6-4, 7-5, and qualifier Zachary Svajda defeat Aleksandar Kovacevic 7-6 (4), 6-3. Spain’s Rafael Jodar and Adam Walton also recorded straight-set victories.

The evening’s final match featured dramatic late-match tension as fifth-seeded Tommy Paul of the United States eventually prevailed over France’s Corentin Moutet 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Paul endured a nerve-wracking finish, squandering 10 consecutive match points in the final set before finally converting his 11th opportunity.

Rio Open

Argentine players dominated the opening day at Rio de Janeiro, with top-seeded Francisco Cerundolo, eighth-seeded Tomas Martin Etcheverry, and Roman Andres Burruchaga all claiming victories in all-Argentine encounters.

Cerundolo handled Mariano Navone 6-3, 6-4, while Etcheverry rallied past Francisco Comesana 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. In the day’s biggest upset, Burruchaga stunned fifth-seeded Camilo Ugo Carabelli 6-3, 6-4.

The tournament saw additional seeded casualties as Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo shocked second-seeded Italian Luciano Darderi 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, and Portugal’s Jaime Faria eliminated fourth-seeded Argentine Sebastian Baez 7-5, 6-1.

Brazil’s third-seeded Joao Fonseca, Italy’s Matteo Berrettini, Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur, and Lithuania’s Vilius Gaubas also secured opening-round wins.

A teenage figure skater from Japan delivered the performance of her life Tuesday, capturing an unexpected first-place position after the short program portion of Olympic women’s figure skating competition in Milan.

Seventeen-year-old Ami Nakai executed a flawless routine that included a challenging triple Axel, earning her a personal season-best score of 78.71 points in what marks her first-ever Olympic appearance.

Veteran competitor Kaori Sakamoto, a three-time world champion also from Japan, claimed second place with 77.23 points, while Team USA’s Alysa Liu secured third position scoring 76.59 points. The final medal standings will be determined during Thursday’s free skate competition.

“I wasn’t nervous at all, so I was able to perform as my usual self and excel,” Nakai shared with media following her routine.

“Since this is my first Olympics, I had nothing to lose, and that mindset definitely translated into my results.”

The young skater revealed she found motivation from watching Japan’s pairs skating duo Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, who rallied from fifth place to capture gold on Monday.

“I was deeply moved by the pairs performance yesterday, and it really brought home to me how important it is to never give up until the very end,” she explained.

Sakamoto, who has announced this will be her final Olympic competition, relied on her veteran experience to deliver a polished performance to “Time To Say Goodbye” before the packed Milano Ice Skating Arena crowd.

“I wanted to be myself as usual, and there was a little bit of nerve, but I was able to sustain the nerve,” commented Sakamoto, who earned bronze at the Beijing 2022 Olympics.

“In the first half, I was a little bit anxious. But as the music goes on, I got very comfortable, and I was able to really enjoy my performance today.”

Current world champion Liu, competing in her second Olympic Games, appeared relaxed and confident throughout her clean routine. The American skater, who stepped away from competition in 2022 at just 16 years old before making her comeback, seemed free from competitive pressure.

“A medal? I don’t need a medal,” Liu stated to reporters.

“I just need to be here, and I just need to be present, and I need people to see what I do next.”

American teammate Amber Glenn experienced heartbreak during her performance, successfully opening with a triple Axel before encountering trouble later in her routine. The three-time U.S. national champion reduced a planned triple loop to a double jump, receiving zero points for that element.

Glenn departed the ice visibly emotional and chose not to speak with media after her 13th-place finish effectively ended her medal prospects.

Russian competitor Adeliia Petrosian, participating as a neutral athlete due to Russia’s Olympic ban following the Ukraine invasion, emerged as an early surprise contender. Performing a Michael Jackson-inspired routine as the second of 29 skaters, she successfully completed three triple jumps to achieve a personal-best 72.89 points.

Her score held the top position for over two hours until Nakai’s performance displaced her. Petrosian ultimately finished fifth and remains in medal contention heading into Thursday’s final.

The Russian teenager chose not to attempt a quadruple jump or triple Axel during the short program, potentially saving those elements for the free skate as she pursues a fourth straight Olympic women’s title for Russian competitors.

“I would like to keep this a secret because I never tell about my programme,” Petrosian responded when questioned about her free skate strategy.

Due to the international competition ban on Russian athletes, Petrosian has had limited competitive exposure and secured her Olympic qualification by winning a September event in Beijing.

The competition also featured Israeli skater Mariia Seniuk, a 20-year-old Moscow native and four-time national champion for Israel. The crowd welcomed Seniuk warmly as she scored 58.61 points to advance to the free skate in 22nd position.

Seniuk served as Israel’s flag bearer during the opening ceremony, where the nation’s 10-athlete delegation received mixed reactions from spectators.

“I’m skating for Israel and some of the people don’t support [it] but I really enjoyed the atmosphere today,” she noted.

“It’s very, very special … you can just feel it.”

Two veteran Canadian speed skaters are signaling the end of an era after capturing their second consecutive Olympic team pursuit championship at the Milano Cortina Games on Tuesday.

Isabelle Weidemann and Valerie Maltais, competing alongside teammate Ivanie Blondin, crossed the finish line in 2 minutes and 55.81 seconds, nearly a full second faster than the Dutch team to claim Canada’s inaugural speed skating gold medal at these Olympics.

The victory represents Canada’s third gold medal overall at the current Games, joining earlier wins by Mikael Kingsbury in men’s dual moguls and Megan Oldham in women’s freestyle skiing big air.

Following their triumph, both Weidemann and Maltais indicated their competitive careers are winding down as they prepare to make way for emerging Canadian talent.

“We skated together for eight years. I don’t think there are a lot of other teams that haven’t changed their team over the last eight years,” said Weidemann, who previously earned silver in the 5,000 meters and bronze in the 3,000 meters at the Beijing Olympics.

“Defending together meant a lot, but I also think we knew going in that we need to pass the torch a little bit. There’s another generation of Canadian speed skaters coming up and we’re really excited to watch them.”

Weidemann expressed pride in their lasting impact on the sport, adding: “We’ve done a lot for the team pursuit, the three of us. We’re ready to watch the next generation. I’m proud of where we’re leaving speed skating in Canada. We’ve paved the road a little bit with this team.”

The 35-year-old Maltais confirmed their Olympic careers are concluding, stating with humor about their future prospects.

“The future? I think we’re not going to be there in four years,” Maltais said with a laugh. “That’s the straight answer. Isabelle, at the end of the race, when we still had our skates on, she was like, ‘so this is it?’”

While Blondin, also 35, hasn’t made a definitive announcement about continuing her competitive career beyond these Games, she expressed intentions to stay connected with Speed Skating Canada in an advisory role.

Veteran NFL wide receiver Robert Woods has officially ended his 12-season professional football career, inking a ceremonial one-day agreement with the Los Angeles Rams on Tuesday to retire where he experienced his greatest success.

The 33-year-old pass catcher played his most productive years in a Rams uniform from 2017 through 2021, a period that reached its peak when the team captured Super Bowl LVI. However, Woods missed that championship playoff run due to an ACL injury he sustained during a practice session in November.

During his prime years in Los Angeles, Woods delivered back-to-back seasons with 90 or more receptions leading up to the 2021 campaign. His most impressive statistical year came in 2018 when he hauled in 86 passes while setting personal records with 1,219 receiving yards and six touchdown catches.

“After 27 unforgettable years of putting my heart into this game, and 13 incredible years in the NFL, it’s time to step away from playing the sport that has given me everything,” Woods wrote on social media. “Football has never just been a game to me. It has been my passion, my purpose and my lifelong dream. I cherished every moment my cleats touched the grass. Every time I stepped onto the field, I was determined to leave a piece of myself in every snap.”

Woods began his professional journey in 2013 when the Buffalo Bills selected him in the second round of the NFL Draft. After four seasons in Buffalo, he moved to Los Angeles to join the Rams. His career later included stops with the Tennessee Titans in 2022 and the Houston Texans from 2023-24.

Throughout his 171 regular season appearances, including 145 as a starter, Woods accumulated 683 receptions for 8,233 yards and 38 touchdowns. He also contributed 514 rushing yards and five rushing scores, with most of that ground production coming during his time with the Rams.

His postseason statistics include 42 catches for 449 yards and one touchdown across 10 playoff contests, seven of which he started, while playing for Los Angeles and Houston.

Woods sat out the 2025 season after the Pittsburgh Steelers released him during the summer months.

Multiple media outlets reported Tuesday that the New England Patriots have elevated Zak Kuhr from his role as inside linebackers coach to the position of defensive coordinator.

The promotion comes after former defensive coordinator Terrell Williams, who was absent for much of the season due to his battle with prostate cancer, received medical clearance to return and was promoted to a senior position on head coach Mike Vrabel’s coaching staff.

Kuhr took over defensive play-calling responsibilities in the second week of the season and played a key role in leading the defensive unit to an outstanding campaign that culminated in a Super Bowl LX berth. The Patriots’ defense finished the season ranked eighth nationally in total yards allowed per game at 295.2, while placing fourth in points allowed per game with 18.8.

Following Williams’ advancement to a higher role last week, multiple reports indicated that Kuhr was considered the leading candidate to assume the defensive coordinator position permanently.

The 37-year-old Kuhr spent the 2024 season as a defensive assistant with the New York Giants before joining New England. Prior to that, he worked under Vrabel with the Tennessee Titans from 2020 through 2023, where he held positions as defensive quality control coach and inside linebackers assistant. His coaching background also includes several assistant coaching positions at the collegiate level.

The Green Bay Packers are facing an unexpected coaching vacancy after Rich Bisaccia announced his resignation as special teams coordinator and assistant head coach, according to head coach Matt LaFleur on Tuesday. The departure leaves the organization scrambling to fill a key position with the 2026 season staff otherwise largely intact.

LaFleur expressed disappointment over losing Bisaccia in an official statement. “While we are disappointed to lose a person and coach as valuable as Rich, we respect his decision to step down from the Packers,” LaFleur said. “Rich was a tremendous resource to me and our entire coaching staff who had a profound impact on our players and our culture throughout the building. We can’t thank him enough for his contributions to our team over the last four years.”

Bisaccia originally came to Green Bay in February 2022 to lead special teams operations and was promoted to include assistant head coach duties in March 2023. During his tenure, the Packers saw remarkable improvement in special teams performance, achieving a seventh-place NFL ranking in field-position margin over the four-year span while building a return unit known for consistently changing field position.

In his own statement, Bisaccia explained his decision came after careful consideration. “After taking some time to reflect over the last few weeks, I have made the decision to step down,” Bisaccia said. He expressed gratitude to LaFleur and the organization, stating, “Coaching for the Green Bay Packers was truly an honor, and I will always be grateful for my time here. I look forward to whatever is next for me and my family, and I wish nothing but the best for everyone in the organization.”

The unexpected resignation creates a challenging situation for Green Bay, as special teams coordinator positions are typically secured early in the offseason coaching cycle.

In a thrilling display of determination at the Winter Olympics in Anterselva, Italy, French biathlete Emilien Jacquelin orchestrated one of the most dramatic comebacks in Olympic relay history, propelling his team from near-disaster to their first-ever men’s biathlon relay gold medal.

The French squad found themselves in deep trouble after teammate Fabien Claude struggled during the standing shooting portion, dropping the team to 13th place and trailing by more than 50 seconds. That’s when Jacquelin took control of the race.

The 30-year-old athlete, sporting an earring borrowed from the family of legendary Italian cyclist Marco Pantani, delivered a masterful performance combining aggressive skiing with rapid-fire shooting accuracy. His relentless pursuit closed the massive gap and actually put France in the lead when he handed off to teammate Quentin Fillon Maillet.

As the race reached its climax with Eric Perrot skiing the final leg, Jacquelin positioned himself against a wall in the snow, eyes glued to the large video screen. “He’s gonna do it,” he declared, watching Perrot maintain a slim advantage over Norway’s Vetle Staastad Kristiansen.

Perrot successfully held off the Norwegian challenger, securing France’s historic victory. When Perrot appeared on the final stretch with clear space behind him, an elated Jacquelin pointed toward the sky before rushing forward to embrace his teammate and rally the cheering spectators.

The bronze medalist from the pursuit event reflected on the emotional journey of Olympic competition. “The Olympics are all about emotions, it’s not just about winning. I’ve had all the emotions here. You have stress, fear, but you have to go through these emotions,” Jacquelin explained.

This marked Jacquelin’s third Olympic appearance, having started his Games career at age 22 in South Korea. He recalled his previous relay experiences: finishing fifth alongside Martin Fourcade in his debut, then earning silver four years ago – France’s best relay result since the Turin Olympics.

“But today it was win or hospital. We are a team. Penalty laps can happen; it doesn’t mean the race is over. I started with that idea in mind. I looked more at the gap: 50 seconds. There are relays where we finish second or third and we’re more than a minute behind. A medal was within reach. I thought less about winning,” Jacquelin said.

The veteran athlete described his strategic mindset during the crucial comeback leg: “I told myself it would be complicated if the Norwegians controlled the race. I don’t feel like I took risks. I skied my race, I felt I managed my effort. The last lap was difficult, but they have a different vision of racing. I went for it with panache, with desire and with heart.”

Tiger Woods continues his recovery from back surgery performed last October, but the golf superstar isn’t closing the door on participating in this year’s Masters Tournament.

During a media session on Tuesday before this week’s Genesis Invitational in Pacific Palisades, California, where Woods serves as tournament host, reporters questioned whether the April 9-12 Masters was completely out of consideration.

“No,” Woods responded with a broad grin. The golf legend hasn’t competed since failing to make the cut at the 2024 British Open.

The winner of 15 major championships underwent additional surgery in March 2025 to fix a torn left Achilles tendon. In December, doctors gave Woods permission to begin chipping and putting again following his lumbar disc replacement procedure.

Woods indicated his Achilles injury has healed, though his back continues to cause discomfort.

“As far as the disc replacement, it’s just sore. It takes time,” Woods explained. “My body has been through a lot. It’s just one of those things where it’s each and every day, I keep trying, I keep progressing, I keep working on it, trying to get stronger, trying to get more endurance in this body and trying to get it at a level at which I can play at the highest level again.”

Though Woods hasn’t participated in tournament play since July 2024, he remains active in golf administration as a PGA Tour policy board player director and vice chairman of PGA Tour Enterprises.

The 50-year-old golfer faces another major decision regarding potential Ryder Cup captaincy for 2027, revealing that the PGA of America has sought his thoughts on the position.

“Yeah, they have asked me for my input on it, and I haven’t made my decision yet,” Woods stated Tuesday. “I’m trying to figure out what we’re trying to do with our tour.

“That’s been driving me hours upon hours every day and trying to figure out if I can actually do our team, our Team USA and our players and everyone that’s going to be involved in the Ryder Cup, if I can do it justice with my time.”

Woods previously declined the U.S. captaincy for the 2025 Ryder Cup citing scheduling conflicts and PGA Tour obligations, though he indicated the possibility remained open for future opportunities.

Professional golfer Justin Thomas will step back into competitive play next week, though not on the PGA Tour just yet.

The 32-year-old golfer revealed Tuesday that he’ll make his return to competition in the TGL league, representing Atlanta Drive GC this Monday. Thomas confirmed his comeback through a response to a social media message from country music star Luke Bryan, finalizing a return date that golf fans have been speculating about for weeks.

Thomas has been absent from competitive golf since competing in the Ryder Cup back in September. In November, he had a microdiscectomy operation to fix a disc problem that had been causing what he described as “nagging hip pain” for several months. Medical professionals gave him the green light to resume full golf activities earlier this month.

Speaking in January, Thomas said, “I’m looking to come back competitively at some point during the Florida swing. I know how important it is to get this injury behind me so that I’m only looking forward over the course of the season.”

The Florida portion of the PGA Tour schedule kicks off with the Cognizant Classic, scheduled for February 26 through March 1, located roughly 30 minutes from Thomas’ Jupiter residence.

Atlanta Drive has two matches scheduled for Monday, beginning with a 5 p.m. ET contest against Boston Common Golf, followed by a 9 p.m. matchup versus Los Angeles Golf Club. Thomas played a key role in Atlanta’s championship victory during TGL’s inaugural 2025 season, helping secure the SoFi Cup, and Monday will mark his first competitive action since the surgical procedure.

The accomplished golfer has claimed 16 victories on tour and placed seventh in the 2025 FedEx Cup rankings after achieving eight top-10 results, highlighted by his playoff victory at the RBC Heritage.

Detroit Tigers infielder Javier Baez has publicly taken full responsibility for a marijuana-related drug test failure that cost him the opportunity to represent Puerto Rico in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday at the Tigers’ spring training facility in Lakeland, Florida, Baez made his first public statements regarding the suspension. “Honestly, I don’t want to point fingers at anybody, because this is all my fault,” the veteran player said. “I’m the one that failed the test, and the rules are there.”

The 33-year-old shortstop’s positive test occurred on March 12, 2023. As a result, the World Baseball Softball Confederation imposed a two-year prohibition that started April 26, 2024, and extends through April 26, 2026.

The timing is particularly painful for Baez, as the 2026 World Baseball Classic is scheduled for March 5-17.

While Major League Baseball has allowed marijuana use since 2020, meaning Baez faces no penalties from MLB or his team, the international governing body maintains stricter standards.

“There’s one job that I have to do: Play baseball,” Baez explained. “I don’t know if they didn’t want me in the WBC or whatever, but it’s just really frustrating that I won’t be able to be there and to be part of this.”

The missed opportunity holds special significance for the Puerto Rican native, who noted the tournament’s rare return to his homeland. “It’s been a long, long time (since) we played this tournament in Puerto Rico, and when we did, I think in 2006, I was in the stands as a fan,” he reflected. “To have the chance to be part of that and now it’s away from me, it really hurts. It really hurts my family, my reputation. But it’s part of it.”

Baez had been preparing during the offseason to join Team Puerto Rico, having previously competed in the 2017 and 2013 tournaments. Despite his disappointment about missing this “dream” opportunity, he emphasized his intention to move forward and concentrate on the upcoming MLB season.

“Honestly, I understand the rules,” Baez stated. “The rules are not for us. It’s for different sports. It’s not like I was taking steroids or anything to last longer, whatever. They (made) that decision. I’m fine with it. I mean, I’m not fine with it. I just keep my mouth shut.”

The veteran infielder enjoyed a strong 2023 campaign, earning All-Star recognition while posting a .257 batting average with 12 home runs and 57 RBIs across 126 games. His career achievements include a Silver Slugger Award as a National League second baseman in 2018 and a Gold Glove as an NL shortstop in 2020, both earned during his tenure with the Chicago Cubs.

Throughout his major league career spanning the Cubs (2014-21), New York Mets (2021), and Tigers (2022-present), Baez has compiled a .252 batting average with 193 home runs and 685 RBIs over 1,348 regular-season contests. He was part of the Cubs’ 2016 World Series championship team.

Sweden’s men’s hockey team is showing no signs of intimidation as they prepare for Wednesday’s high-stakes quarter-final clash against Team USA at the Milan Olympics, determined to pursue Olympic gold despite their unexpected rocky path to this stage.

The Swedish team was originally anticipated to dominate their group and secure an automatic quarter-final spot alongside powerhouses Canada and the United States. However, they found themselves ranked seventh after preliminary rounds, forcing them into the qualification playoff bracket.

This surprising turn of events marked one of the few upsets in Milan’s men’s tournament, which has otherwise followed expected outcomes. Sweden quickly recovered from this setback, overwhelming Latvia with a commanding 5-1 victory on Tuesday to secure their quarter-final berth.

“It doesn’t matter how you get here, we’re here now,” forward Adrian Kempe stated.

A single loss to Finland during group play put Sweden in jeopardy, and Slovakia ultimately pushed them into qualification playoffs based on goal differential within their highly competitive group – a situation so complex that media members needed calculators to track the tiebreaker scenarios.

Against Latvia, Sweden demonstrated their championship caliber at the perfect moment, netting multiple goals in rapid succession during the opening period before maintaining control throughout the remainder of the game.

NHL enthusiasts have been anticipating a potential gold medal showdown between Canada and the United States since the premier league confirmed its Olympic return following a 12-year hiatus.

However, Sweden remains eager to disrupt those dreams as they elevate their performance in Milan, seeking their first Olympic gold since the Games were previously held in Italy two decades ago in Turin.

“It’s going to be a tough challenge but one we’re prepared for,” said Mika Zibanejad, who will face his New York Rangers teammates J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck on the opposing team, while also competing against his NHL coach who is leading the U.S. squad.

“Little by little it’s been getting better, so that’s a good sign,” Zibanejad added.

Swedish cross-country skiing star Linn Svahn won’t compete in Wednesday’s women’s sprint relay at the Winter Olympics after coming down with minor cold symptoms, according to Sweden’s national team officials on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old athlete will be replaced by teammates Joanna Sundling and Maja Dahlqvist, who will now shoulder Sweden’s expectations for another medal in the event taking place in Tesero, Italy.

Svahn captured gold in last Tuesday’s women’s classic sprint, leading a complete Swedish domination of the podium alongside Sundling and Dahlqvist. Team officials confirmed she will remain separated from other squad members as a safety measure while staying in Val di Fiemme, Italy, the location of the cross-country competitions.

According to team representatives, Svahn’s illness symptoms are mild, and she continues to stay in the Olympic venue area.

The Swedish team earned silver in Beijing’s women’s team sprint competition and enters Wednesday’s race as heavy favorites following their impressive showing at these Games. Sweden has already claimed eight medals in women’s cross-country skiing events, including three gold medals, making them the dominant force in the discipline.

The Carolina Panthers have secured veteran long snapper JJ Jansen for another year, bringing the 40-year-old back for what will be his 18th campaign with the franchise. The team announced the one-year agreement on Tuesday, though contract details remain undisclosed.

Since arriving in Carolina back in 2009, Jansen has established himself as a franchise cornerstone, appearing in a team-record 277 games. His durability puts him well ahead of the next-closest player in team history – former kicker John Kasay, who suited up for 221 regular-season contests during his Panthers tenure from 1995 to 2010.

Special teams coordinator Tracy Smith couldn’t help but marvel at Jansen’s longevity when discussing the veteran late last season. “He’s everlasting,” Smith said with a laugh. “He can do this for as long as he wants to. He’s everlasting. There’s no proof that he’s not a robot. Nobody knows that he is not AI. We’re just going forward to the end of time, as far as I’m concerned.”

Carolina obtained Jansen through a trade with Green Bay in 2009, although he never actually took the field for the Packers. His consistent excellence earned him Pro Bowl recognition in 2013, highlighting his status among the NFL’s elite at his position.

Veteran first baseman Dominic Smith has inked a minor league agreement with the Atlanta Braves and will attend spring training as a non-roster player, according to several media outlets.

The 30-year-old Smith was selected by the New York Mets as their top draft choice in 2013. After spending his initial six major league seasons in Queens, Smith has moved frequently among clubs, suiting up for Washington, Boston, Cincinnati, and San Francisco over the past three years.

During the 2025 campaign, Smith appeared in 63 contests for the Giants, posting a .284 batting average along with five home runs, 12 two-base hits, and 33 runs batted in.

Smith achieved his finest statistical season during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, batting .316 with 10 homers across 50 games for New York. Throughout his nine-year career spanning 756 games, Smith maintains a .250 lifetime batting average with 69 home runs, 292 RBIs, 543 strikeouts, and 185 walks.

While Smith has started 473 games at first base during his career, he has also logged 182 games in left field, though he hasn’t patrolled the outfield since the 2021 season.

After 14 seasons leading Yale University’s football program, head coach Tony Reno announced his resignation Tuesday, stating that health issues prompted his decision to leave the Bulldogs.

The 52-year-old Reno took over the program in January 2012 and achieved a historic milestone by guiding Yale to its first FCS playoff appearance in 2025. The Bulldogs made a remarkable comeback from a 28-point second-half deficit to defeat Youngstown State 43-42 in their opening playoff game, though they later lost to Montana State, who went on to claim the national championship.

“Given my current health situation, I have made the decision to step down as head coach of Yale Football,” Reno said in a statement. “When I arrived at Yale 14 years ago, I could never have imagined what this journey would become. The relationships formed, the moments shared, and the people I have been privileged to be surrounded by have changed my life and my family’s lives forever. I am deeply grateful to the players, the coaches, and the staff who gave everything they had to Yale Football.”

“From the very beginning, I spoke about honoring the proud tradition of Yale Football and fully embracing the responsibility that comes with leading this program. Together, we pursued excellence and built something truly meaningful. I am incredibly proud of the foundation we laid and confident in the future of Yale Football. Serving as the head coach of this program has been the greatest honor of my life.”

During his tenure at Yale, Reno compiled an impressive 83-49 overall record while capturing five Ivy League championships. His victory total ranks second only to the iconic Carm Cozza in Yale football history.

Athletic Director Vicky Chun praised Reno’s contributions to the program and university community.

“Coach Reno’s leadership has been truly transformational,” Chun stated. “His impact on Yale Football, our department, and the university extends far beyond championships and wins — it lives in the countless people he has inspired. Coach Reno led with integrity, humility, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, giving his whole heart to this program every day. He cared deeply about his players as people, challenging them to excel on the field, in the classroom, and in life. Coach Reno’s devotion to Yale and to the young men he coached was total, and his legacy will endure for generations.”

The university has announced it will launch a nationwide search to find Reno’s replacement as head coach.

The head of Major League Baseball’s players union plans to step down from his position while federal investigators examine the organization’s business dealings, according to sources close to the situation.

Tony Clark will leave his role as executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, a person with knowledge of the union’s internal discussions told the Associated Press. The individual requested anonymity since Clark’s departure, which ESPN first reported, hasn’t been officially announced. His exit comes as federal prosecutors in Brooklyn investigate OneTeam Partners, a licensing business created jointly by baseball and football player unions.

In golf news, Tiger Woods continues to focus on boardroom responsibilities rather than tournament play, though he hasn’t completely dismissed the possibility of competing in the Masters this spring. Woods spent 2024 without playing in any professional tournaments for the first time in his career and underwent spinal disk replacement surgery last October. He’s currently serving as chairman of a PGA Tour committee working to restructure the competitive schedule. His potential role as future Ryder Cup captain also remains undecided.

At the Winter Olympics in Milan, Japan dominated the women’s figure skating short program as American competitors faced difficulties. Ami Nakai led the field with a personal-best score of 78.71 points after executing a triple axel, while teammate Kaori Sakamoto placed second with 77.23 points. American skater Alysa Liu managed third place, but her teammates struggled significantly – Isabeau Levito finished eighth and U.S. national champion Amber Glenn dropped to 13th place.

Champions League soccer action was marred by allegations of racial abuse during Real Madrid’s victory over Benfica. Brazilian star Vinicius Junior claimed an opponent used racial slurs against him after he scored the winning goal in Madrid’s 1-0 triumph. The match was stopped for several minutes when Vinicius accused Benfica’s Argentine player Gianluca Prestianni of calling him a “monkey.” French referee François Letexier halted play in the 52nd minute to address the situation. In other Champions League action, Paris Saint-Germain rallied for a 3-2 victory over Monaco, with substitute Desire Doue sparking the comeback.

The basketball world mourns the loss of Doug Moe, the unconventional coach who led Denver’s high-scoring teams in the 1980s. Moe passed away at age 87 following a lengthy battle with cancer, according to his son David and confirmed by longtime Denver sports broadcaster Ron Zappolo. The former North Carolina All-American player turned coach was known for his fast-paced offensive system and colorful personality. He earned NBA Coach of the Year honors in 1988 and also coached San Antonio and Philadelphia during his career.

The Detroit Pistons have emerged as the NBA’s surprise leaders heading into post-All-Star break play, sporting a remarkable 40-13 record. The franchise has transformed from years of poor performance to hold a slim lead over Oklahoma City Thunder. Detroit’s success stems from avoiding extended losing streaks and consistently defeating top-tier opponents. Star player Cade Cunningham credits the team’s sustained focus and continuous improvement for their dramatic turnaround.

Olympic hockey has found an unexpected connection to popular culture through “Heated Rivalry,” a television series featuring a romantic relationship between two male players from competing teams. The show, which follows Canadian Shane Hollander and Russian Ilya Rozanov’s secret romance, has drawn new fans to the sport. The series’ stars, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, even participated in Olympic torch ceremonies, and both athletes and spectators from North America have embraced the show’s influence on the Games.

In other Olympic results, Germany claimed all three medals in two-man bobsled competition, while Italy’s speedskating team defeated American world record holders in men’s team pursuit to capture gold. The Italian trio of Davide Ghiotto, Andrea Giovannini and Michele Malfatti outpaced Casey Dawson, Emery Lehman and Ethan Cepuran from the United States.

MILAN – The Olympic figure skating short program delivered contrasting emotions for Team USA on Saturday, as world champion Alysa Liu positioned herself for a potential medal while three-time national champion Amber Glenn experienced devastating disappointment in Milan.

Liu delivered a graceful performance set to “This Is How It Feels,” earning 76.59 points to claim third place heading into the free skate. The reigning world titlist appeared composed and confident throughout her routine.

Glenn’s evening began promisingly with a spectacular triple Axel – only the second landed among all 29 competitors – but disaster struck when she reduced a mandatory triple loop to a double, receiving zero points for the element. The error dropped her to a stunning 13th place with 67.39 points.

The emotional toll was immediately visible as Glenn broke down in tears after completing her final pose. Fellow American skater Ilia Malinin, who had his own struggles in the men’s event finishing eighth, rose to his feet in applause for his teammate. Glenn declined to meet with media following her performance.

Liu credited her family’s presence in the arena for her successful skate.

“A ton of my family is out there, and I saw them on the warm-up. I also saw them during my programme,” she said. “It was a really cool moment, because they never come to watch like this. So and I’m really glad I did super well. I felt super grounded, and I connected with my programme on another level compared to the rest of the season.”

The performance marks a remarkable chapter in Liu’s career journey. She stepped away from competition after the 2022 Olympics at just 16 years old, citing a loss of passion for the sport. Her return two years later culminated in an unexpected world championship victory in Boston, making her the first American woman to claim that title since Kimmie Meissner in 2006.

Both skaters contributed to the United States’ team event gold medal earlier in these Games.

Despite her medal position, Liu maintained perspective about her individual competition goals.

“A medal? I don’t need a medal. I just need to be here, and I just need to be present, and I need people to see what I do next,” Liu stated.

Glenn had received an unexpected boost before competition when pop icon Madonna, whose “Like a Prayer” serves as Glenn’s short program music, sent an encouraging video message.

“You are an incredible skater, so strong, so beautiful, so brave,” the Queen of Pop said in a video message. “I can’t imagine that you would not win, so I just want to say good luck. Go get that gold.”

The third member of the American trio, known collectively as the “Blade Angels,” Isabeau Levito, finished in eighth position.