Category: Sports

Thousands of people packed a major Mexico City boulevard Saturday in an ambitious attempt to establish a world record for the Mexican wave — fittingly taking place in the nation that gave this popular stadium tradition its name.

The gathering marked the 40th anniversary of when the wave first appeared during Mexico’s 1986 World Cup, though debate continues over its true beginnings, with American audiences also staking claims to early versions of the phenomenon.

Mexico is gearing up to welcome the tournament once again, with games starting June 11, marking its third time as host nation. The country will make history as the first to host or co-host the men’s World Cup three times, adding to its previous tournaments in 1970 and 1986.

Saturday morning saw Mexicans and visitors gathering along the Paseo de la Reforma, the major thoroughfare cutting through the capital city’s center.

Many participants donned the vibrant green uniforms of Mexico’s national squad, displaying flags and shouting “Mexico, Mexico!” while raising their arms in coordinated succession, creating a flowing wave of movement across the assembled crowd.

Guinness World Records maintains multiple Mexican wave categories in its official records.

The participation record stands at 157,574 people achieved in the United States during August 2008; Portugal holds the longest wave line record with 8,453 participants in 2007; while Japan recorded the duration record of 17 minutes and 14 seconds in 2015.

A spokeswoman for the Mexico City government explained their goal was establishing a world record specifically for the largest Mexican wave conducted outside stadium walls.

“It’s not about breaking a record, it’s about setting one — this is something unprecedented,” she said. “That’s why Guinness took the evidence away to assess all the elements. There are many things they analyse.”

Teresa Lopez, who made the trip to participate, explained her dual motivation for attending. “We came to participate in the biggest wave in the world and to support our national team,” she said. “We are Mexican and we are very proud of our country.”

International visitors also embraced the festive atmosphere. Tourist Vivia Shivers, who arrived in the capital before the tournament begins, found special significance in the event. “It’s a special location, it’s a contribution to a World Cup, and participating feels wonderful,” she said.

The Los Angeles Angels executed several roster transactions on Saturday, with the team bringing back infielder Nolan Schanuel from the injured list while moving outfielder Jorge Soler to the IL due to an oblique injury, effective retroactively to June 4. Additionally, the organization brought up outfielder Gustavo Campero on a contract selection before immediately placing him on the 10-day injured list, and removed catcher Omar Martinez from the roster through designation for assignment.

Schanuel, who was chosen in the first round of the 2023 draft, has served as the team’s regular first baseman throughout the last three seasons. Throughout his professional career, he maintains a .259/.348/.373 statistical line at the plate. The 24-year-old player has contributed four home runs and 24 RBIs this season while posting a .313 on-base percentage through 49 appearances.

Soler is sidelined with a strain in his left oblique muscle. The former All-Star performer has contributed nine home runs and 33 RBIs while posting a .220/.300/.402 statistical line through 58 games this season. In his absence, manager Kurt Suzukki is using different players in the designated hitter role, with infielder Nick Madrigal receiving Saturday’s assignment at DH.

Campero will not participate in major league games immediately due to his placement on the injured list.

Martinez had been providing organizational depth behind the plate while Travis d’Arnaud remains on the 60-day injured list. Martinez recorded one hit in three at-bats during his brief tenure with the club.

Rain forecasts led to the cancellation of Saturday evening’s baseball matchup between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

Officials called off the contest approximately 30 minutes following the original 7:35 p.m. EST scheduled start time. The teams will play a makeup doubleheader on August 29.

Stadium crews covered the playing field with a tarp about an hour before game time. Precipitation held off for another hour before the official rainout was declared shortly after 8 p.m.

New York had planned to start right-handed pitcher Will Warren (7-1, 3.22 ERA) against Boston’s left-handed starter Ranger Suarez.

For Sunday’s contest, Suarez (2-3, 3.38) is scheduled to pitch for Boston, while New York will counter with right-hander Cam Schlittler (7-3, 1.89).

The Red Sox have performed well at Yankee Stadium recently, posting an 8-5 record over their last 13 road games against New York, including Friday’s 5-3 series-opening win.

Willson Contreras delivered his second consecutive home run with a two-run blast against Ryan Weathers. Contreras knocked in three runs total and has safely reached base in 17 straight contests.

New York has won seven of their past 11 contests but dropped three of four games since losing power hitter Aaron Judge to a stress fracture in his right rib. Prior to Saturday’s weather delay, the Yankees placed catcher Austin Wells on the injured list due to cervical headaches. The team brought up catcher J.C. Escarra from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre as his replacement.

Nineteen-year-old Russian tennis sensation Mirra Andreeva claimed her first Grand Slam championship at the French Open, defeating Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska 6-3, 6-2 in the final. The eighth-ranked Andreeva becomes the youngest women’s singles champion at Roland Garros since Monica Seles captured her third consecutive title in 1992 at age 18. Chwalinska, ranked 114th, fell short in her bid to become the first qualifier ever to win the French Open. The men’s championship match features Alexander Zverev against Flavio Cobolli on Sunday, wrapping up what many consider the most unpredictable Grand Slam tournament in recent years.

The New York Knicks continue their remarkable turnaround under coach Mike Brown, extending their winning streak to 13 games since a devastating loss to Atlanta on April 23. That defeat left them down 2-1 in their first-round playoff series, with Brown’s job security becoming a major talking point. Now the team finds itself leading the NBA Finals 2-0 against San Antonio, with Brown having guided two of the longest single-season playoff winning runs in league history.

Despite their commanding position, the Knicks maintain they haven’t accomplished anything yet, while the trailing Spurs refuse to show concern about their deficit. Both teams took Saturday off for travel, with practices resuming Sunday ahead of Monday’s Game 3 at Madison Square Garden. Among the spectators will be President Donald Trump, joining fans paying nearly $10,000 for seats so distant that even 7-foot-4 Spurs center Victor Wembanyama will appear small.

At Saratoga Race Course, Golden Tempo completed a impressive double by winning the Belmont Stakes five weeks after capturing the Kentucky Derby. Jockey Jose Ortiz guided the horse to victory in the final Triple Crown race under trainer Cherie DeVaux’s guidance. Commandment finished second while favored Renegade took third place. DeVaux made history as the first woman to train a Kentucky Derby winner and joins Jena Antonucci, who accomplished the same feat at the Belmont with Archangelo in 2023, as the second female trainer to win in four years.

Basketball star Caitlin Clark expressed her desire to see the NBA Finals extend to seven games, not out of team loyalty but simply for her love of exceptional basketball. Clark watched Game 2 on her phone while dining in New York with teammate Lexie Hull on Friday evening. After the Knicks’ victory, she briefly considered heading to Madison Square Garden to experience the massive watch party atmosphere firsthand.

The Stanley Cup Final between the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights has featured dramatic momentum shifts, with both teams ruing missed opportunities for 2-0 series leads. The teams appropriately split their first two contests in Carolina given the wild nature of the series. Saturday’s Game 3 carries enormous significance, as historical data shows teams taking 2-1 final leads have claimed the Cup in 46 of 57 instances, though this unpredictable series defies conventional wisdom.

Severe weather forced suspension of the third round at the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, with J.T. Poston and Ryan Gerard sharing the lead at 9-under par through five holes. Sam Burns trails closely behind the co-leaders. Scottie Scheffler, seeking his third straight Memorial victory, mounted an early charge from 10 shots back but stumbled with two bogeys in three holes. Play will resume Sunday morning due to thunderstorms, with Rory McIlroy sitting eight shots off the pace.

Germany secured a 2-1 friendly victory over the United States in Chicago, extending their winning streak to nine games before the World Cup. Leroy Sané netted the decisive goal in the 57th minute after Kai Havertz’s early header and Antonee Robinson’s equalizing volley. The 16th-ranked Americans have now lost nine consecutive matches against European competition. The U.S. will open World Cup play against Paraguay on Friday, hosting the tournament for the first time since 1994.

Denny Hamlin earned his 50th career NASCAR Cup Series pole position at Michigan International Speedway despite earlier practice damage from a flat tire. His No. 11 Toyota’s 195.117-mph lap edged Carson Hocevar’s No. 77 Chevrolet by less than a tenth of a mile per hour. The pole continues Toyota’s dominance at Michigan since the Next Gen car’s 2022 debut, though Hamlin expects to start from the rear due to necessary repairs that would violate NASCAR regulations.

Iran’s World Cup soccer squad departed Turkey for their Mexican training facility while several Iranian Football Federation officials remain stuck awaiting U.S. visa approval. State television reports key federation members are among those still waiting for documentation before matches in Los Angeles and Seattle. Visa complications related to the Iran conflict forced the team to relocate their training base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico. While all players received visa clearance, some staff members faced rejection and the team had been preparing in Antalya, Turkey.

The match kicked off with Jim Cornelison, the renowned Chicago Blackhawks vocalist, delivering his signature powerful rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner,” setting the stage for what fans in Chicago expected to be a soccer contest but turned into something resembling a hockey battle.

Although the U.S. men’s national soccer team suffered a 2-1 defeat to Germany on Saturday in their final game before the World Cup, they may have captured the loyalty and enthusiasm of supporters who were desperately seeking more than another early tournament elimination.

What fans will remember from the contest against the No. 10 ranked squad won’t be the poor defensive play that led to a goal just 1:45 into the game, but rather a spectacular goal by Antonee Robinson that evened the score and, more significantly, a bench-emptying confrontation in the closing minutes that sparked the crowd to chant “USA, USA.”

This kind of determination shouldn’t be overlooked, particularly considering that just months ago the squad appeared to have lost its way completely.

As the German and American players traded fierce challenges and hostile glares, the home squad stood their ground.

“We want to show our skill and our quality, but it doesn’t come without being combative, fighting, winning duels, those kinds of things,” midfielder Tyler Adams said. “If I see one of my guys get kicked, I’m going right after them.”

This represents the American fighting spirit that even non-soccer enthusiasts can support.

In the immediate aftermath, there’s frustration about not securing a victory in the farewell game. However, the last occasion the U.S. didn’t win its final pre-World Cup contest was in 2002, and that team advanced to the quarterfinals, an achievement they haven’t repeated since.

Reaching the quarterfinals must be the minimum expectation this time around, but no matter how spectacular the goals or aggressive the approach, it won’t matter if the primary concern remains unaddressed.

For years, the U.S. was recognized for developing world-class goalkeepers comparable to European standards, including former World Cup netminders Tony Meola, Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel and Tim Howard.

Matt Freese and Matt Turner, who started in 2022, don’t belong in that elite group. Freese earned the starting position during this preparation period and with his appearance against Germany would likely remain the top choice moving forward.

However, the opening goal from a free kick created additional doubts about how he’ll perform in his debut World Cup.

TNT commentator Brad Guzan, another accomplished European-based goalkeeper, observed that Freese positioned a four-player wall expecting Joshua Kimmich to attempt a direct shot from just beyond the penalty area. Instead, Kimmich delivered a bending cross to Kai Havertz’s head for the score.

Freese couldn’t see the ball leaving Kimmich’s foot, so by the time it was airborne he reacted too slowly to contest it while Havertz arrived perfectly positioned. The World Cup stage is too important for such momentary lapses.

Another worry involves the fitness of key central defender Chris Richards. The Crystal Palace defender is rehabilitating from an ankle problem and missed both the Germany match and the previous game against Senegal. He’s essential if coach Mauricio Pochettino employs a three-defender formation.

Pochettino indicated uncertainty about Richards’ availability for Friday’s opening match against Paraguay, though this could be strategic misdirection. If it’s genuine, however, this obvious vulnerability could become even more problematic.

Regardless of these concerns, the team’s overall performance in victories over Senegal and against Germany has revived confidence in the program that had been lost, along with many supporters, following disappointing defeats to Belgium (5-2) and Portugal (2-0) in March.

What the players accomplished on Saturday in Chicago was sending fans home eager for the World Cup to commence.

NEW YORK (AP) — Basketball standout Caitlin Clark is hoping the NBA Finals will extend to its maximum length, driven not by team loyalty but by her appreciation for exceptional play on the court.

“I’m kind of indifferent on who wins, but I’m just such a basketball fan that I would love to see it go to seven games just because I love it,” Clark commented prior to the Fever’s matchup against the Liberty on Saturday evening. “I think it’s been such a great series, and even the Spurs beating the Thunder I think was incredible, too. I’m a fan and I think even watching like you can learn so much so I try to absorb as much as I can.”

While dining in New York on Friday evening, Clark watched Game 2 of the Knicks-Spurs matchup on her mobile device alongside teammate Lexie Hull. Following the Knicks’ victory, Clark briefly considered attending the massive viewing celebration at Madison Square Garden to witness the electric environment firsthand.

“They’re like jumping around on each other and climbing light poles. I feel like that would be an experience,” she explained. “I don’t know if my security guy would let me do that, but I want to. I want to experience that because those Knicks fans are so passionate and crazy, I admired. It’s pretty awesome.”

Clark’s presence has been prominent throughout the Finals through advertisements that air during each contest. While she acknowledges muting her own voice during these spots, she appreciates how they highlight the WNBA’s visibility.

“I think it speaks a lot to where the WNBA is,” she noted. “Most commercials are airing during primetime sports, NBA Finals. It’s not just me. There are quite a few other women in this league that are across national brands and different advertisements. So I think it speaks to how much this this league has grown, how much attention is on this league and the way people think of us as athletes.”

Following the departure of star defensive end Myles Garrett from Cleveland, cornerback Denzel Ward has emerged as the team’s longest-tenured player, and he’s committed to maintaining that status.

Speaking at his first celebrity softball game in Eastlake, Ohio on Saturday, Ward expressed his commitment to the team. “I definitely still want to be here,” Ward told ESPN. “Myles is a good friend of mine, a great teammate, but things aren’t lost. It’s Ohio against the world. So people could doubt us, but we’re going out there still trying to play our best ball and bring wins to the city.”

The blockbuster deal that sent Garrett to Los Angeles was completed on Monday, with the Rams acquiring the five-time All-Pro in return for two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Jared Verse, along with a first-round pick in 2027, a second-round selection in 2028, and a third-round choice in 2029.

Selected first overall by Cleveland in the 2017 NFL Draft, Garrett established a new NFL single-season sacks record last year with 23. The defensive standout, who has earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors twice and made seven Pro Bowl appearances, compiled 412 tackles, 149 tackles for loss, and 125.5 sacks during his nine-year career. His sack total ranks tied for 20th in official NFL records since 1982 and third among current players, trailing only Von Miller at 138.5 and Cameron Jordan with 132.

Ward didn’t hide his surprise about the transaction. “Crazy trade, definitely a crazy trade,” he said Saturday. “I believe that either you’re with us or against us, and as you see, he’s not with us. Crazy trade, but hey, that’s the nature of this game.”

The cornerback still has two seasons remaining on his five-year, $100.5 million extension that he signed in 2022, although no additional guaranteed money is included in the deal.

When questioned Tuesday about Ward’s response to the Garrett transaction, Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry told ESPN it was “most appropriate for Denzel to speak for himself” while confirming the Browns have no intention of trading Ward.

“(Ward is) a big part of the team, and we like him a lot,” Berry stated Tuesday. “He’s still playing at a really high level. That doesn’t change with this transaction.”

Ward acknowledged that the possibility of being traded is always present in professional football.

“I could get traded, but I don’t look too much into that stuff,” Ward explained to ESPN. “It’s the nature of the game. Say I do get traded, for me, wherever I’m at that’s where I’m supposed to be. So if I’m here, I’m supposed to be here. If I go to a different team, that’s where I’m supposed to be.

“But I love playing for the Cleveland Browns. I want to be here. I’m grateful wherever I’m at, whatever opportunity I get to go play football, that’s what I do.”

The 29-year-old Ward was selected fourth overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. The Ohio State alumnus has recorded 361 career tackles, 18 interceptions — two returned for touchdowns — 104 passes defensed, four forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries across 110 games with 107 starts. Two of his fumble recoveries also resulted in touchdowns.

Extensive security protocols and street restrictions will be implemented around Madison Square Garden on Monday when U.S. President Donald Trump attends Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.

The Knicks have surprised many by taking a commanding 2-0 advantage in the best-of-seven championship series, capturing both road victories while French star Victor Wembanyama has struggled to live up to expectations for San Antonio.

Despite nearby MetLife Stadium preparing to host its initial World Cup match in one week, the NBA Finals have captured New York’s attention, with resale tickets on StubHub starting at over $9,000 as of Saturday evening.

The Secret Service has advised fans to plan for early arrival at what calls itself the “World’s Most Famous Arena,” located above Penn Station, the nation’s busiest transportation center. This marks the venue’s first NBA Finals hosting in over 25 years with a sitting president attending.

“Attendees should anticipate hard street closures in the immediate area surrounding Madison Square Garden,” Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi told Reuters in a statement.

“A strict no-bag policy will be enforced, and we want to communicate that early and broadly so fans can plan accordingly. Attendees should also expect Secret Service-level security screening, similar to airport screening procedures.”

Local subway and Long Island Rail Road services through Penn Station are anticipated to operate normally despite the heightened security measures.

During his second presidency, Trump has frequently appeared at major sporting events, becoming the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl last year and subsequently appearing at the Ryder Cup and Club World Cup final.

Security delays related to Trump’s presence at the U.S. Open men’s final in September caused thousands of ticket holders to miss the match’s opening.

“To ensure timely entry and avoid delays, we strongly encourage fans to arrive at least two hours before tip-off. While final operational details are still being coordinated, this is the planning framework we currently expect and can be reported as such,” said Guglielmi.

The Knicks haven’t captured a championship since 1973, and their first Finals appearance since 1999 has energized all five New York boroughs.

Approximately 6,500 supporters gathered outside Madison Square Garden to watch the Knicks’ thrilling 105-104 victory over the Spurs on Friday night, securing their 2-0 series advantage.

During the outdoor viewing event, New York City police detained 17 people, including one individual who struck an officer in the face, according to the NYPD. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called on fans to “celebrate responsibly.”

“New Yorkers are rightfully excited about the Knicks’ historic Finals run, and we want fans to celebrate this moment together. There is, however, no place for violence, and no tolerance for attacks on police officers,” Mamdani said in a statement on Saturday.

A devoted Knicks supporter, Mamdani has attended numerous local sporting events since winning the mayoral race last year and informed New York radio station 1010 WINS that he intends to be present at Monday’s game.

Multiple nations claimed victories in World Cup preparation matches on Saturday, with England narrowly defeating New Zealand 1-0 in Tampa while Germany extended their winning streak against the United States in Chicago.

England’s captain Harry Kane provided the match-winning moment with a precise header that found the bottom corner following a cross from Djed Spence. Manager Thomas Tuchel made wholesale changes at the break, giving 22 players match experience in sweltering 32-degree Celsius (89.6 degrees Fahrenheit) conditions.

Kane’s sharp finish served as a crucial reminder of his value to England’s tournament ambitions. The friendly was structured to evaluate the team’s preparedness for World Cup conditions, with England displaying moments of coordination while struggling to find consistent flow.

Seventeen-year-old Rio Ngumoha made his debut appearance, though he remains outside the official World Cup roster. Four Arsenal players – Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke – were expected to rejoin the squad later Saturday after receiving rest following last weekend’s Champions League final.

Four-time world champions Germany maintained their perfect run with nine consecutive victories, edging the World Cup co-hosting United States 2-1 in Chicago.

Kai Havertz connected with Joshua Kimmich’s free kick delivery for a second-minute opener, but the Americans responded with a spectacular equalizer when Antonee Robinson unleashed a powerful volley after defender Jonathan Tah cleared a corner kick.

Leroy Sane restored Germany’s advantage in the 57th minute with a strike from 12 meters out.

Portugal overcame Chile 2-1 in a heated encounter in Oeiras that saw both sides reduced to 10 players after Rafael Leao and Ivan Roman were dismissed.

Goncalo Guedes opened the scoring for the hosts before Bruno Fernandes doubled the lead with a long-range effort. Lucas Cepeda managed a late reply for Chile.

“We were superior in the 90 minutes, we managed to control the game very well, especially having a lot of the ball in the last third,” Fernandes told RTP.

Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku marked his return from injury with a 25-minute substitute appearance as his team demolished 10-man Tunisia 5-0 in Brussels.

Leandro Trossard, Charles De Ketelaere, Kevin De Bruyne, Dodi Lukebakio and Nicolas Raskin found the net, with Lukaku contributing an assist.

“We wanted a good performance in front of our fans,” Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said. “It is a good preparation for the World Cup, we know this team can do great things.”

Scotland’s heavily rotated lineup scored four first-half goals in a commanding 4-0 triumph over Bolivia in New Jersey.

Che Adams netted twice alongside goals from Lawrence Shankland and Scott McTominay in an encouraging display.

Switzerland and Australia settled for a 1-1 draw, while Bosnia and Herzegovina were held to an identical result by Panama.

Iraq’s national soccer team has made a roster adjustment for the 2026 World Cup after losing a player to injury, officials announced Saturday.

Ahmed Hassan Makenzie has been added to the squad following Ahmed Yahya’s withdrawal due to a hamstring injury that will prevent him from participating in the tournament.

The team’s statement on X explained that head coach Graham Arnold made the substitution after reviewing medical reports. “Based on the medical report, head coach Graham Arnold has decided to call up Ahmed Makenzie and register him in the final squad for the 2026 World Cup finals in place of Ahmed Yahya,” the national team said.

The roster change was announced as Iraq’s delegation touched down in Chicago during the early morning hours to begin tournament preparations.

This World Cup represents a historic moment for Iraq, marking their return to soccer’s biggest stage after a 40-year absence. Their previous and only World Cup participation occurred four decades ago. Iraq will face tough competition in Group I, where they’re matched against France, Senegal and Norway.

The Tampa Bay Rays announced Saturday they are relocating left-handed hurler Steven Matz from their starting rotation to relief duties after recent poor performances.

Matz’s earned run average has ballooned to 5.48 following a pair of difficult appearances, most recently in Tuesday’s 8-0 defeat against the Detroit Tigers where he surrendered five runs and six hits, including a pair of home runs, across just 1 2/3 innings of work.

In his prior start on May 27, he yielded six runs on seven hits during three innings of work in an 11-2 defeat to the Baltimore Orioles on their home field.

“Got to try to work myself out of this rut and move forward,” Matz stated following the Detroit game, where he was removed after throwing 53 pitches by Rays skipper Kevin Cash, who explained the decision was made because Matz’s fastball velocity had dropped from his season average of 93.3 mph down to 92 mph.

Matz, who celebrated his 35th birthday on May 29, came back to action May 20 following time on the 15-day injured list due to elbow inflammation.

Before his placement on the IL, Matz had delivered one of his finest performances of the year, surrendering just one run on four hits across six innings against the San Francisco Giants.

He currently holds a 4-3 record with 37 strikeouts through 10 starts in his inaugural campaign with Tampa Bay.

Across 12 seasons in the majors, Matz carries a 64-65 record with a 4.25 ERA through 256 appearances (182 as a starter) with the New York Mets (2015-20), Toronto Blue Jays (2021), St. Louis Cardinals (2022-25), Boston Red Sox (2025) and Rays.

Cash has yet to announce who will take Matz’s spot in the starting rotation for the Rays, who began Saturday’s games with a 37-23 record and hold first place in the American League East, maintaining a 1 1/2 game lead over the New York Yankees.

Professional golfer Madelene Sagstrom didn’t make the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open, falling short by five strokes, but her performance drew widespread attention for remarkable circumstances — she competed while 26 weeks pregnant.

The 33-year-old Swedish golfer recorded rounds of 77-76 at Riviera Country Club in the Pacific Palisades section of Los Angeles. She’s expecting a baby boy in September.

This major championship marked the sixth tournament Sagstrom has entered during her pregnancy. While competing, she experiences occasional contractions and feels her baby moving during play.

“I keep saying I will keep going until my body’s telling me something different, and I think that it’s telling me to,” Sagstrom told The Athletic on Friday. “I lose my stamina out there. And then when I get tired, I’m not hitting the right shots. If I’m going to play, I want to be able to compete. I’m going to play one more (tournament).”

The world’s 73rd-ranked player found herself receiving unusual amounts of support during the tournament. Spectators and television audiences took notice of her condition, giving her applause typically reserved for higher-profile competitors.

“I didn’t realize it was going to turn into such a spectacle, the whole thing,” Sagstrom explained. “For me, golf is all I’ve ever done, and it’s my job. So it was natural. If I feel good, just keep trying to play.

“But it’s so lovely. It’s nice that people are understanding that it’s not easy, and everyone’s been super supportive.”

Throughout her professional career, Sagstrom has captured two LPGA victories and accumulated over $5 million in prize money. Her best major championship results include a second-place finish at the 2021 Women’s British Open and a fourth-place showing the year after.

Her performance at Riviera showed the physical challenges she faced. Thursday’s opening round featured four bogeys and one double bogey. Friday’s second round included two birdies but also five bogeys and another double bogey.

Despite the struggles, completing 36 holes of championship golf while 26 weeks pregnant represents a remarkable accomplishment.

“It’s good to show that there’s more to our lives than just to play golf,” Sagstrom reflected. “We live day in and day out with our results, and sometimes we make decisions about other things that are important to us. But it doesn’t mean that you can’t do this and you can’t come back if you want to.”

The atmosphere at Michigan International Speedway this weekend carries a somber tone that Richard Childress never anticipated.

Rather than making public a contract extension agreement with Kyle Busch, the veteran NASCAR team owner found himself addressing media members about the unexpected and tragic passing of the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, who died on May 21 due to sepsis that stemmed from bacterial pneumonia.

The 80-year-old Childress revealed that he had a conversation with Busch just two evenings prior to his passing, merely one day before the 41-year-old driver was rushed to the hospital after becoming unresponsive during testing sessions in Chevrolet’s racing simulator located in Concord, N.C.

When Busch died, he had not secured a Cup victory since his triumph at the Enjoy Illinois 300 in June 2023, however, a new crew chief assignment and his strongest performance of the season with an eighth-place result at Watkins Glen had sparked encouraging conversations between the two about Busch — who was racing under a contract year — continuing with the No. 8 Chevrolet for another season.

“He said, ‘You give me cars like you gave me the last three weeks, I will make The Chase this year,’” Childress shared with media representatives on Saturday in Brooklyn, Mich. “We were that confident.”

Moving forward, the racing organization announced they plan to reserve the No. 8 car number for Busch’s 11-year-old son Brexton, regardless of which team he eventually drives for.

“Talking to Kyle at different times, knowing his plans and what he had in the future for Brexton and his family,” explained Childress, who had recently enjoyed hunting excursions with both father and son and observed them compete together on a dirt track near the Charlotte region. “The many things that we all could have done together — that was probably the toughest part of this whole thing.”

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

“I just feel so bad for the family and the employees and everybody,” Childress expressed. “But yeah, I mean, I haven’t slept very good lately.”

Throughout his career, Busch accumulated an unprecedented 234 victories spanning NASCAR’s premier three divisions: 63 in the Cup Series, 102 in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and 69 in the Craftsman Truck Series. His final trucks victory came at Dover, Del., just six days before his death.

The driver from Las Vegas captured NASCAR Cup Series championships in 2015 and 2019. While the Daytona 500 victory eluded him, he earned his first pole position for the race this year before placing 15th. Among his most notable victories were the 2008 Southern 500, the 2015 and 2016 Brickyard 400 and 2019 Coca-Cola 600.

Childress expressed his belief that Busch deserves immediate induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which recently announced its 2027 class including Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Larry Phillips, scheduled for official induction ceremonies in January.

“Kyle will go down in history as one of the greatest race drivers that’s ever been,” Childress stated. “His legacy is that he was a man that a lot of people thought he was tough to deal with, and that he wouldn’t last long. He is a man that loves his sport. He loved it so much he wanted to see his family carry on in it. To see the enjoyment in Kyle’s eyes watching his son race was just unbelievable.”

A vacation phone call turned into a life-changing moment for 20-year-old midfielder Assan Ouedraogo, who received an unexpected invitation to join Germany’s World Cup team while relaxing in Marbella.

The RB Leipzig player got the surprise call-up after Lennart Karl suffered a muscle injury during practice before Saturday’s exhibition match against the United States in Chicago. Manager Julian Nagelsmann selected Ouedraogo as Karl’s replacement.

“I got the call from the national coach on Friday evening while on holiday,” Ouedraogo shared during an interview posted on his club’s website.

“When Julian Nagelsmann told me I was now part of the squad, I needed a moment to take it in and realise what had happened before going and packing my things straight away.”

This marks Ouedraogo’s second opportunity with the national team, having previously been called up to replace injured player Nadiem Amiri. During that November appearance, he entered the game as a substitute and netted the final goal in Germany’s commanding 6-0 victory over Slovakia in their last qualifying match.

“It’s a huge honour and makes me very proud to represent Germany at the World Cup,” Ouedraogo expressed.

“A childhood dream of mine has come true, one I have worked hard for, especially over the past few months and years.

“At the same time, I would like to wish Lenny a speedy and full recovery. I feel very sorry for him that he got injured so close to the tournament and can’t be involved.”

The German squad, seeking their first World Cup championship since 2014, will open Group E play against Curacao on June 14 in Houston. They’ll then face matches against the Ivory Coast and Ecuador.

New York Liberty star guard Sabrina Ionescu will sit out Saturday night’s matchup with the Indiana Fever due to continuing back discomfort.

The guard, who was listed as questionable heading into Saturday’s contest, has only appeared in one of New York’s 10 games this season, with the team holding a 6-4 record. She was absent for the opening five contests due to an ankle injury sustained during preseason, then returned to action against the Dallas Wings on May 24. During that appearance, she contributed 11 points along with seven assists and five rebounds.

Following that contest, back problems began affecting her and she has remained out of the lineup since then.

“She wants to be out there, and she’s trying her best, and she’s getting better,” Liberty Coach Chris DeMarco told ESPN during Saturday morning’s shootaround. “Hopefully we’ll have her on a road trip.”

DeMarco mentioned that Ionescu participated in Friday’s practice but experienced soreness in her back following the session. The Friday practice marked the first time this season that all New York players took part together.

Ionescu described her back condition as “getting better, day-by-day,” and expressed her desire to participate in Saturday’s game.

“See how I feel, taking every day in stride and see how it responds to what I do,” Ionescu said. “It is what it is. I haven’t really tried to think too much into it. It’s still early. Want to be out there competing. It’s part of sports. Deal with it as it comes.”

In Ionescu’s absence, rookie guard Pauline Astier has stepped up, posting averages of 11.8 points, 3.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds per contest.

The Baltimore Orioles have called up catcher Sam Huff from their Triple-A Norfolk affiliate after Samuel Basallo sustained an abdominal injury during Friday’s matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Basallo, who was serving as the designated hitter, dropped to one knee following a swing during the contest. Team officials diagnosed him with abdominal discomfort, though an MRI conducted Saturday morning showed no serious damage.

Despite the injury, Basallo remained available for pinch-hitting duties in Saturday’s contest. The catcher has posted a .273 batting average this season along with nine home runs and 26 RBIs across 52 games.

Huff, age 28, previously appeared in three games for Baltimore during April, recording two hits in nine at-bats with one RBI. Over his six-year major league career, he maintains a .246 batting average with 12 home runs and 25 RBIs in 101 games, having played for the Texas Rangers (2020, 2022-24), San Francisco Giants (2025) and Orioles.

The team designated utility player Weston Wilson for assignment to create roster space for Huff on both the active and 40-man rosters. Wilson, 31, carries a career .240 batting average with 10 home runs and 32 RBIs over 119 games split between the Philadelphia Phillies (2023-25) and Orioles.

The Chicago Cubs made roster adjustments Saturday, bringing back pitcher Javier Assad to their major league squad while sending Ethan Roberts down to Triple-A Iowa.

Assad, 28, has appeared in eight games for the Cubs this season, including three as a starter, posting a 3-1 record with a 5.88 ERA. The team sent him to Iowa on May 17 with plans to develop him as a full-time starter.

The pitcher began the season with two starts at Iowa before getting called up to Chicago. During his latest Triple-A assignment, Assad made three starts and posted a 6.00 ERA across nine innings. His most recent outing came Wednesday against Toledo, where he threw just one inning.

Throughout his five seasons in the majors, all spent with Chicago, Assad has compiled a 21-13 record with a 3.61 ERA across 86 games, including 57 starts. Last year, he made 29 starts and finished 7-6 with a 3.73 ERA.

Roberts, also 28, had been 0-1 with a 1.96 ERA in 14 relief outings for Chicago this season. His last appearance came Friday against San Francisco, where he allowed one run over 1 2/3 innings.

During his four partial seasons with the Cubs, Roberts has recorded a 2-3 record with a 4.09 ERA in 54 relief appearances.

English golfer Tyrrell Hatton preserved his two-stroke advantage entering the final round of LIV Golf Andalucia following a 4-under-par 67 performance on Saturday at Spain’s Valderrama course.

Hatton began strong on the demanding Real Club Valderrama layout, completing the opening nine holes at 3-under-par. After stumbling with a bogey on the par-4 10th, he quickly recovered with birdies on holes 11 and 17.

The Englishman has excelled on holes 11 and 17 this week, playing them at 3-under-par combined, and now stands at 10-under-par through three rounds.

“Got off to a great start making birdie on (the first hole),” Hatton said. “I feel like the front nine generally played pretty solid, so I was happy with that. Then yeah, making bogey on 10 wasn’t ideal. But a good bounce-back making birdie on 11.”

Belgium’s Thomas Detry held onto second position after also carding a 4-under round during Saturday’s play.

Two Spanish golfers are positioned to challenge the leaders. Sergio Garcia fired a 3-under round and sits alone in third at 6-under for the tournament. Fellow countryman Jon Rahm trails by one more stroke in a tie for fourth after also posting 3-under on Saturday.

Garcia, who confirmed Saturday that Real Club Valderrama remains his preferred course worldwide, posted par on each front-nine hole before collecting birdies on the 10th, 11th, and 17th holes.

“Well, it’s going to take something good. Obviously Tyrrell is playing amazing, and he’s 10-under,” Garcia said when asked his chances of winning Sunday. “There’s a lot of great players there that they know what they’re doing. It’s just going to take a really good round.”

Garcia boasts four tournament wins at this weekend’s venue across various professional tours and has secured top-10 finishes in 17 of his 18 appearances at Real Club Valderrama.

“This course, obviously being my favorite and just being in front of the Spanish crowds and everything, makes it a little extra nice,” Garcia said of being in contention for the title.

Rahm navigated a challenging day featuring two bogeys and five birdies. He struggled on the course’s three par-5 holes, finishing them at 1-over for the round.

Dustin Johnson recorded the day’s best score with a 7-under performance, jumping into a fourth-place tie alongside Rahm, Mexico’s Abraham Ancer (67), and Australia’s Cam Smith (69). Spain’s third representative, David Puig (69), shared eighth place at 4-under with Bubba Watson (67).

Johnson, who began his round at the eighth hole, caught fire over his closing seven holes with a 5-under stretch that included an ace on the third hole.

“The previous two days I had hit really good shots (on No. 3), just did not turn out good,” Johnson said. “Today when this one was in the air, I was like, ‘This is as good a shot as I can hit; if it’s not good, I don’t know what to do.’ And it went in the hole. Obviously it was a bit lucky to go in, but I hit a really nice shot.”

Tampa Bay Lightning netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy has captured his second Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s premier goaltender.

The league announced Saturday that Vasilevskiy earned the 2025-26 award, which recognizes “the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his position,” through voting by NHL general managers.

The 31-year-old dominated the voting process, collecting 17 first-place votes and accumulating 114 total points. This put him well ahead of New York Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin, who garnered eight first-place votes and 51 points, and Boston Bruins netminder Jeremy Swayman, who received two first-place votes and 46 points.

Vasilevskiy topped all NHL goaltenders with 39 victories this season, while his 2.31 goals-against average ranked second-best across the league. The six-time award finalist earned his first Vezina Trophy during the 2018-19 campaign, when he compiled a 39-10-4 record alongside a 2.40 GAA and .925 save percentage.

Sorokin, age 30, finished the season with a 29-24-2 record while leading the NHL with seven shutouts. He also posted a 2.68 GAA and .906 save percentage. His victory would have marked the first Islanders goalie to claim the honor since Hall of Famer Billy Smith accomplished the feat in 1981-82.

The 27-year-old Swayman recorded a 31-18-4 mark with a 2.71 GAA and .908 save percentage during his first season as a Vezina finalist. He paced the league with 38 starts while maintaining at least a .900 save percentage throughout the campaign.

Last season, Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck captured both the Vezina Trophy and Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player.

An Iraqi national team striker faced an extended detention at Chicago’s O’Hare airport over the weekend, according to a sporting official from Iraq.

Aymen Hussein, who plays a key role in Iraq’s World Cup squad, was detained and questioned for almost seven hours after the team landed early Saturday morning, said an official with the Iraqi Olympic Committee who maintains close ties with the team.

While Hussein was eventually permitted to enter the country, the team’s photographer was refused admission to the United States, the official reported.

Neither the Iraqi Football Association nor Hussein himself provided immediate statements regarding the incident. Hussein is considered a crucial player who netted the decisive goal that earned Iraq’s spot in the tournament finals.

Federal immigration and homeland security agencies did not respond right away to requests for comment about the reported questioning, which Iraqi media outlets also reported.

Social media footage captured enthusiastic supporters gathering in the early morning hours to welcome the Iraqi team at the airport, waving flags and requesting photos with players just days before tournament play begins.

Officials examined Hussein’s mobile device following his arrival, the Iraqi official noted.

“National team photographer Talal Salah was held for more than 10 hours, underwent similar phone checks, and was ultimately denied entry into the United States,” the official added.

This marks Iraq’s return to World Cup competition for the first time since their initial appearance four decades ago.

The 30-year-old Hussein anchors an attacking unit that includes Ipswich Town’s Ali Al-Hamadi along with promising young players Ali Jassim and Youssef Amyn.

Iraq will compete against France, Senegal and Norway in Group I.

The tournament, jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico, begins Thursday.

Weather conditions forced officials to halt Saturday’s third round of the Memorial Tournament at 11:16 a.m. ET.

Tournament organizers stopped play at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, before the leading golfers had begun their Saturday rounds.

J.T. Poston holds the lead heading into the suspended round with a score of 9-under-par 135. Ryan Gerard trails by one stroke, while Sam Burns sits three shots behind the leader.

New York holds a 2-0 advantage in the NBA Finals, yet the Knicks maintain they aren’t getting ahead of themselves.

San Antonio trails by two games, but the Spurs refuse to consider themselves finished.

This describes the current atmosphere surrounding the NBA Finals, with both squads taking Saturday as a rest day. Team workouts return Sunday before Game 3 takes place Monday evening at Madison Square Garden, where President Donald Trump will be among spectators paying close to $10,000 for seats positioned so far from the action that 7-foot-4 Spurs center Victor Wembanyama will appear small.

New York emphasizes they haven’t started celebrating. San Antonio stresses they haven’t given up hope.

“Every single day, we chip away and try to be the best that we can be. … Even with the series it is now, next game, mindset has to be 0-0 again,” said Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, who delivered clutch performances in both Game 1 and Game 2 victories that New York captured in San Antonio to gain commanding control of the championship series. “It’s just how it has to be. You can’t be comfortable. You can’t be satisfied with anything. Just got to continue to push forward.”

That approach has defined their recent play for six weeks.

New York has captured 13 straight contests, marking the second-longest single-season playoff streak in league history, trailing only Golden State’s 15-game run during the 2017 postseason. They could become the first franchise ever to sweep through the final three playoff rounds — conference semifinals, conference championship and NBA Finals — without a loss.

“One of the things that we preach is being present,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “In order to be present, you can’t think about the past, you can’t think about the future. For all of us as humans, that’s hard as heck to do. I constantly, boom, flick myself in the head, tell myself, ‘Be present, be present, be present.’ I obviously mention it to the group, too. With those guys being who they are, they’ve really embraced it, and they’re really trying to live it every single moment during this run.”

The team maintains composure even under championship pressure. Including the NBA Cup championship game, which doesn’t count toward official statistics, New York is 4-1 versus San Antonio this year. All four Knicks victories share one notable pattern: New York overcame double-digit deficits in every win.

— Cup championship in Las Vegas, San Antonio led by 11 points (and lost by 11).

— Regular-season matchup at Madison Square Garden, San Antonio led by 12 points (and lost by 25).

— Finals Game 1, San Antonio led by 14 points (and lost by 10).

— Finals Game 2, San Antonio led by 12 points (and lost by one).

“We just need to figure it out,” Wembanyama said. “We need to keep working on it.”

San Antonio’s lone victory against New York came during the regular season at home, where they won by two points after falling behind by 19 and never holding more than a six-point advantage.

Quite puzzling.

“It was going to take everything to win the series anyway,” Spurs guard Stephon Castle said. “Putting ourselves in this type of predicament is going to be tough, but I don’t think it’s anything we can’t handle.”

New York anticipates what awaits them Monday night.

Madison Square Garden will vibrate with intensity, as fans who invested significant money to witness basketball likely won’t remain silent in their seats. The city’s excitement will reach extraordinary levels, with a 53-year championship drought now just two victories from ending and betting odds — showing New York at -550 to capture the title — essentially declaring victory inevitable. San Antonio will emerge ready to deliver whatever fight remains in them.

“Knowing them, there’s going to be another level,” Brunson said. “We have to be prepared and be ready to match it and play for 48 minutes. No matter what goes on in the game, we have to have each other’s back, what’s going on, who is on a run, what’s not, who is up, who is down, making sure we are playing together for 48 minutes is really important.”

Should New York need a warning from history, they can examine Mikal Bridges’ experience. He played for Phoenix when the Suns grabbed a 2-0 advantage in the 2021 championship series against Milwaukee. The Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo claimed that series in six games. While circumstances differ now — those Phoenix victories came at home, not away — it demonstrates that two wins don’t guarantee success.

“It’s still 0-0 as far as we’re concerned,” Knicks forward Josh Hart said. “Being up 2-0 means really nothing. This (San Antonio) team is going to come out on Monday with an unbelievable amount of energy and desperation, and we’ve got to be better.”

Just six and a half weeks ago on April 23rd, the New York Knicks appeared to be in serious trouble. Following back-to-back single-point defeats to the Atlanta Hawks, they found themselves down 2-1 in their Eastern Conference opening round matchup.

Warning signs were evident throughout the organization.

Fan sentiment in New York had reached rock bottom.

Questions about Mike Brown’s job security as head coach dominated conversations.

“Stuff’s going to happen,” Brown, the Knicks coach in his first year, said that night in Atlanta. “Plenty of teams have been down 1-2. I even think Oklahoma City was down 1-2 last year and they ended up winning it. I’m not saying we’re going to win it or anything like that, but the reality of it is it’s seven games and you take one game at a time.”

Since that moment, the Knicks have competed in 13 contests. Their record: victory, victory, victory, victory, victory, victory, victory, victory, victory, victory, victory, victory and victory. Taking it one contest at a time, securing one triumph at a time, and potentially, capturing one title at a time. The Knicks have returned to New York holding a 2-0 advantage over San Antonio in the NBA Finals, continuing to benefit from their remarkable 13-game championship run.

Such a streak has occurred just once previously in NBA playoff history when considering only single-season winning runs. Golden State captured 15 consecutive games during their march to the 2017 championship.

The connection between those Warriors and the current Knicks? That connection is Brown. He served as an assistant coach on that Golden State team and compiled a perfect 12-0 record as interim head coach during the playoffs while Steve Kerr was absent due to back problems.

“You’ve got to have good players,” Brown said. “I’m not that smart. You’ve got to have good players that carry you.”

Brown’s official playoff record stands at an impressive 64-42 as a head coach.

Including those 12 contests with the Warriors in his record — which, according to NBA regulations and precedent, doesn’t occur because Kerr remained head coach despite not being present on the sideline for those games — would boost Brown’s playoff success rate to .644. That figure would rank third-best in NBA history among coaches with a minimum of 100 playoff contests, trailing only Phil Jackson and Kerr.

Regardless, Brown must now be regarded as the master of playoff winning streaks.

An examination of this remarkable run by New York:

— The Knicks have outscored Atlanta, Philadelphia, Cleveland and San Antonio during these 13 contests by 273 points, representing the largest 13-game margin in NBA playoff history. Prior to this run, the greatest 13-game playoff point-differential margin was 225, achieved by those Warriors — the squad that Brown guided on an interim basis — in 2017.

— Eleven of the Knicks’ victories in this streak came by double-digit margins. The two exceptions: Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Philadelphia (a six-point victory) and Game 2 of the NBA Finals against San Antonio (a one-point victory). Six other wins featured final margins between 10 and 16 points, while the remaining five were complete routs — the Knicks capturing those by 29, 30, 37, 39 and 51 points.

— The Knicks have held leads of 40 or more points in four separate contests during the streak, including a 61-point advantage at Atlanta in the series-clinching game of that East first-round matchup.

— The Knicks have encountered double-digit deficits in only four of the contests, with two of those occurring in the first two games of these NBA Finals against the Spurs. They fell behind by 14 in Game 1 and by as much as 12 in Game 2.

— They also trailed Philadelphia by 12 in Game 3 of the East semifinals and Cleveland by 22 in Game 1 of the East final.

— New York stands at 8-0 away from home during this winning streak, with the final margin in those contests — even including a one-point game from Friday — averaging an impressive 21.5 points.

— The only squad in Knicks history with a longer road winning streak, whether in regular season or playoffs, was the 1969-70 team that once captured 12 consecutive games away from home. That squad proceeded to win New York’s first NBA championship.

A 19-year-old Russian tennis sensation claimed her maiden Grand Slam championship at the French Open on Saturday, defeating Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska in commanding fashion with a 6-3, 6-2 victory in Paris.

Mirra Andreeva, seeded eighth in the tournament, achieved the distinction of becoming the youngest French Open winner in more than 30 years. Following her triumph, she delivered heartfelt remarks during the trophy presentation, playfully addressing her defeated opponent.

“You’re a very tricky opponent. Wouldn’t want to play you one more time. No, it’s ok. I hope we play many more finals in the future,” Andreeva said during the presentation ceremony.

The young champion expressed amazement at achieving her longtime goal, stating: “It was a big dream of mine to win this tournament. I can’t believe that I’m holding this trophy.”

Andreeva acknowledged her support team, which includes coach and 2000 French Open runner-up Conchita Martinez, admitting her demanding nature while expressing appreciation for their dedication.

“I can be a tough cookie sometimes and it’s hard to put up with me. Thanks for always pushing me to my limits, thanks for making me work when I don’t want to,” she added.

“Thanks also to Conchita for sharing her experience giving me advice. Thanks to everyone on my team, special thanks to my parents for believing in me. My dad’s watching on TV.

“Last but not least, I want to thank myself for believing and always giving my 100%, even when it was tough, for trying to be better as a person and player, fighting so many demons.

“Only I know how tough it was, how nervous I was. Thanks to myself for working so hard and giving my best.”

The 24-year-old Chwalinska graciously congratulated her opponent while expressing disappointment about the one-sided nature of the championship match.

“Congratulations to Mirra, such an incredible player, so young and so talented, it’s so annoying. Congratulations to your team as well, for an amazing job, and all the best for the future,” Chwalinska said.

“I wish we could see a better match today, but Mirra is too good, so I guess it’s her fault. I tried my best and I’m sorry. I will never forget these three weeks.

“Paris will forever be in my heart. Merci.”

MONACO, June 6 – In a dramatic qualifying session Saturday, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli claimed pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix, narrowly defeating Max Verstappen in the final moments.

The 19-year-old Italian driver, who currently leads the world championship following four consecutive race wins, posted a time just 0.043 seconds faster than Red Bull’s Verstappen, who will join him on the front row for Sunday’s race.

Ferrari drivers, who had been widely expected to perform well at the Monaco circuit, will occupy the second row of the starting grid. Lewis Hamilton qualified third, finishing 0.228 seconds behind Antonelli’s pole time, while local driver Charles Leclerc, who claimed victory in the 2024 Monaco race, will start fourth.

Isack Hadjar secured fifth place in the second Red Bull entry, while Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate George Russell managed only sixth place in what was considered a disappointing result.

The reigning world champion and defending Monaco race winner Lando Norris will begin Sunday’s race from the fourth row, starting alongside his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri.

PARIS – Nineteen-year-old Russian tennis sensation Mirra Andreeva secured her first Grand Slam championship on Saturday, defeating Poland’s Maja Chwalinska 6-3, 6-2 in the French Open women’s singles final.

The eighth-seeded player from Russia achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first Russian woman to capture a Grand Slam title since Maria Sharapova’s French Open victory in 2014.

Tournament Performance

Andreeva’s championship run included victories over France’s Fiona Ferro (6-3, 6-3) in the opening round, followed by a comeback win against Spain’s Marina Bassols Ribera (3-6, 6-1, 6-1). She then defeated Czech Republic’s 27th-seeded Marie Bouzkova (6-4, 6-2) and Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann (6-3, 6-2) to reach the quarterfinals.

In the quarterfinals, she dominated Romania’s 18th-seeded Sorana Cirstea 6-0, 6-3, before advancing to the final with a semifinal victory over Ukraine’s 15th-seeded Marta Kostyuk 6-1, 6-3.

Tennis Journey

Andreeva began playing tennis at age six and reached the Australian Open girls’ championship match in 2023, where she fell to Alina Korneeva in three sets.

Her professional journey started on the ITF circuit in 2022, where she claimed six championships. She gained international attention in 2023 by reaching the third round at the French Open in her Grand Slam debut, followed by a fourth-round appearance at Wimbledon.

In 2024, she advanced to the French Open semifinals, losing to Jasmine Paolini, and earned an Olympic silver medal in women’s doubles as an individual neutral athlete alongside Diana Shnaider. She also captured her first WTA title at the Iasi Open.

At just 17 years old in 2025, she made history as the youngest WTA 1000 champion by defeating Clara Tauson at the Dubai Tennis Championships. She followed that success with another WTA 1000 title at Indian Wells, defeating world number one Aryna Sabalenka.

In 2026, she added titles in Linz and Adelaide to her resume while also reaching the Madrid final before claiming her breakthrough Grand Slam victory in Paris.

PARIS, June 6 – Nineteen-year-old Mirra Andreeva of Russia claimed her first Grand Slam championship Saturday, defeating Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 at the French Open.

The eighth-seeded Andreeva’s victory marks the first time a teenager has claimed the Roland Garros championship since Pole Iga Swiatek accomplished the feat in 2020.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Following hostile crowds and chants of “no means no” in Carolina, Vegas Golden Knights netminder Carter Hart returns to the comfort of his home arena for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Saturday.

The T-Mobile Arena crowd has embraced Hart throughout the playoffs, with support growing stronger each game as he helped lead the Golden Knights to the championship series. The series stands even at one game apiece.

“Just really fortunate to be here in Vegas,” Hart said. “It’s a great culture of people.”

The hostile reception in Carolina related to Hart being among five players from Canada’s 2018 world junior team who were acquitted of sexual assault charges last July. The NHL determined these players could sign contracts starting Oct. 15 and return to play beginning Dec. 1. Hart subsequently inked a two-year, $4 million deal with Vegas.

Ironically, Hart might have been playing for the opposition. The Hurricanes explored signing both Hart and Michael McLeod — another of the five players involved in the case — but ultimately chose not to pursue that path.

Hart’s stellar postseason performance had positioned him as a candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the playoffs’ most valuable player.

He brought a 12-4 playoff record into the opening game, along with a 2.22 goals-against average and .924 save percentage. However, against the Hurricanes, his numbers have dipped to a 3.90 GAA and .855 save percentage.

The struggles haven’t been entirely on Hart’s shoulders. Vegas’ defense committed several uncharacteristic mistakes in the opening two contests, forcing Hart into challenging situations. Still, according to Natural Stat Trick, the expected goals against Hart and the Golden Knights reached 4.47 at five-on-five, while Carolina managed six even-strength goals.

Vegas coach John Tortorella stood by his goaltender when questioned about how Hart was managing the circumstances.

“Carter’s played very well,” Tortorella said.

Hart appeared poised to extend his postseason winning streak to eight games Thursday evening, carrying a shutout into the final 9:40 of Game 2. However, the Hurricanes found the net three times in regulation and once more in overtime for a 4-3 victory.

The Golden Knights must now regroup from this setback. They’ve faced similar situations before, dropping Game 2 in three of their four playoff series this year, including the first two at home before defeating Utah and Anaheim in six games each.

However, Vegas hasn’t experienced this type of collapse. While they’ve typically stolen victories from opponents, this time they watched one slip away.

Game 3 will reveal where Hart and his teammates truly stand.

“It’s in the past,” center William Karlsson said. “There nothing we can change, so now we just look ahead.”

PARIS, June 6 – Alexander Zverev’s quest for his first Grand Slam championship brings him to another crucial moment at the French Open, where the German player will battle Italian surprise contender Flavio Cobolli this Sunday.

The 29-year-old has been consistently thwarted by tennis legends Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic, along with rising stars Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, but now faces his fourth opportunity to claim a major title and achieve his long-awaited breakthrough.

Following defending champion Alcaraz’s pullout and unexpected early exits by Sinner and Djokovic that altered the tournament bracket, the second-seeded Zverev has taken advantage with a steady progression through the competition to reach his second championship match in Paris within three years.

“The only thing I can control is that I play good tennis,” Zverev stated to media following his dominant victory over Czech 26th seed Jakub Mensik in the semifinals.

“I mean, I’ll try to show my level. I’ll try to do the right things. That’s the only thing that matters to me.”

The French Open has represented both opportunity and heartbreak for Zverev, from the devastating ankle injury that ended his 2022 semifinal match against Nadal to falling to Alcaraz in last year’s championship.

Zverev enters this French Open final carrying another recent disappointment after losing to Sinner in the 2025 Australian Open final, though he now possesses an excellent opportunity to finally achieve victory with a favorable matchup against his friend Cobolli.

“I look forward to playing him in the final. Of course, it’s his first final, so I’m happy for him that he reached it,” said Zverev, who leads their previous meetings 3-1.

“He’s a great player and a great guy. I like him. I like his dad a lot. Two very good people, just generally.

“We got closer at the Laver Cup in 2024 in Berlin … he’s just a nice person. He has a good heart. He’s extremely funny if you get to know him.”

The 24-year-old Cobolli secured his championship opportunity after Italian compatriot Matteo Arnaldi withdrew from their semifinal match due to viral illness, leaving the 10th seed as the more rested competitor entering Sunday’s showdown.

“Sometimes it helps. Sometimes it doesn’t,” Cobolli commented.

“Maybe having almost four days off is a lot, so you lose the rhythm, but I think also during the warm-up I played well.

“I think I’ll be ready for the final, for sure, but I also know that I’ll be fresh. Maybe it’ll help, maybe not. I’ll tell you after the final.”

Cobolli presents a legitimate challenge on clay courts, having defeated Zverev on German soil in Munich earlier this season, demonstrating his capability to upset the German’s game plan on tennis’s slowest playing surface.

Zverev quickly responded to that loss by winning their next encounter in Madrid, maintaining his edge in their rivalry and solidifying his position as the heavy favorite in Paris.

However, carrying painful memories including his stunning collapse after leading by two sets against Dominic Thiem in the 2020 U.S. Open final, Zverev understands the pressure of championship moments.

Sunday’s final between 2-Alexander Zverev (Germany) and 10-Flavio Cobolli (Italy) is scheduled for Court Philippe Chatrier beginning no earlier than 1300 GMT.

ANTALYA, Turkey — Iran’s national soccer squad departed from Turkey on Saturday, heading to their Mexican training facility before competing in three World Cup group stage matches on American soil later this month.

Iranian state television reported that several Iranian Football Federation members who were scheduled to travel with the team have not yet obtained entry visas for the United States.

The television broadcast indicated that federation secretary-general Hedayat Mombeini and vice president Mehdi Mohammad Nabi were part of a group of 14 support personnel and administrators still lacking US visas before matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.

Whether federation president Mehdi Taj received visa approval remained uncertain.

The squad’s World Cup involvement has faced challenges due to Iran’s conflict with Israel and the United States. Visa processing difficulties previously forced Iran to relocate their training facility from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana on Mexico’s California border.

The federation criticized the US for “vindictive behavior” in denying visas to “key managerial and administrative members” of the squad.

This action has “effectively denied the Iranian national team the opportunity for a level playing field and a competition free from discrimination,” according to a statement carried by Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim and Mehr news agencies. The federation announced plans to address the issue through FIFA, soccer’s global governing body.

A US official previously informed The Associated Press that Iranian team players received visa clearance, while another official confirmed visas were granted to players, coaching staff, trainers and certain support personnel. A third official indicated some team-affiliated applicants were denied for seeking visas “under false pretenses.”

These officials requested anonymity as they lacked authorization to publicly discuss visa matters.

The team has been training at a facility in Antalya, Turkey, for World Cup preparation. The squad confirmed receiving visas from Mexico’s Embassy in Ankara.

Iran faces New Zealand on June 15 in Inglewood, California, for their opening match, followed by Belgium six days afterward, before traveling to Seattle to meet Egypt on June 26. Iran and the US could potentially clash in the round of 32 on July 3 in Arlington, Texas, should both teams finish second in their respective groups.

President Donald Trump discouraged Iran’s tournament participation in March, stating he found it inappropriate and expressing concerns about players’ “life and safety.” Iran’s national team responded the following day, declaring “no one can exclude” them from competition.

Iran announced their final roster Monday, featuring 17 domestic-based players whose clubs haven’t competed since February due to the ongoing war. Star striker Sardar Azmoun was removed in March, reportedly over a social media post that upset Iranian authorities during the conflict.

Iran’s sports minister stated in March that team participation would “not be possible,” but the soccer federation announced in May they would proceed with a squad. The federation demanded visa approval for all players and staff, including those with military service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

PARIS, June 6 – Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos captured their second consecutive French Open men’s doubles championship on Saturday, defeating Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, to secure their third Grand Slam victory as a team.

The Spanish-Argentine partnership of Granollers and Zeballos, who first began competing together in 2019, earned French Open and U.S. Open championships last year and lived up to their number one seeding by completing their 2026 Roland Garros run without losing a single set.

Heliovaara from Finland had difficulties with his service game during the match, while the second-seeded team, who have also captured two Grand Slam tournaments together, found it challenging to match their rivals’ precisely executed shots from positions near the net.

“I’m 41 years old (and) this is one of the best moments of my career. So it’s never too late for anybody,” said Zeballos, whose partner, Granollers, is 40.

The defending champions secured their first service break in the third game when Heliovaara committed a double fault. While the second seeds managed to break back and level the score at 3-3, Granollers delivered two forehand winners to break serve in the following game, shifting momentum back toward the top-seeded pair.

Patten from Britain started the second set with two unforced errors and a double fault, allowing Granollers and Zeballos to break serve again. The Argentine player then struck winners throughout the court to build a 3-0 advantage that their challengers could not overcome.

“Sorry guys, wasn’t the best, but thank you,” Patten, 30, told his family and friends in the stands. “Harri, thanks for being my partner. We’re going to bounce back stronger, we know that,” he said of the 37-year-old Finn.

The West African archipelago of Cape Verde resonates with the melancholic sounds of morna, a traditional folk music filled with yearning and emotion. The genre’s most celebrated piece, “Sodade,” pays tribute to countless emigrants who departed these 10 islands scattered off West Africa’s coast seeking employment and better prospects elsewhere.

The song’s verses express: “If you write me, I’ll write you. If you forget me, I’ll forget you.”

In the coming weeks, residents of Cape Verde anticipate their feelings of longing will transform into jubilation. They’re focusing on their national football squad, which features numerous players whose families departed Cape Verde generations ago yet still regard the islands as their homeland.

Known as the Blue Sharks, the squad represents one of the unexpected teams to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup. Housing under 600,000 residents, Cape Verde ranks as the third-smallest nation by population to ever qualify for the globe’s premier sporting competition, following Iceland in 2018 and Curacao, also qualifying for 2026.

Cape Verde’s squad blends domestic players with numerous foreign-born athletes, such as defender Roberto Lopes, born in Ireland to an Irish mother and Cape Verdean father, and Logan Costa, born in France to Cape Verdean parents who currently plays for Villarreal in Spain.

This mix of homegrown and international players has delivered remarkable results. Cape Verde secured seven victories in their 10 World Cup qualifying matches, suffering only one defeat while achieving a stunning home victory against African powerhouse Cameroon.

The World Cup presents an entirely different challenge. Currently ranked 69th globally, the Blue Sharks will encounter tournament favorites Spain, two-time World Cup champions Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia, a smaller nation but still ranked higher at 61st, in group play.

However, residents maintain optimism.

“I’m very proud,” expressed Anton Delgado, 25, following a recent Sunday afternoon with companions at a Mindelo establishment on São Vicente island. “It’s a marvel. I’ve been waiting years for this. We have real hope that we can win a game or even two.”

This optimism spreads throughout Cape Verde. The small nation’s dining establishments and entertainment venues typically overflow with performers playing morna for visitors and residents. Now they’re preparing for World Cup festivities.

At the Café Royal, a hospitality venue in Mindelo, employees are organizing for large gatherings. The Royal displays an extensive artwork depicting morna legend Cesária Évora, who remains Cape Verde’s most internationally recognized figure 15 years after her passing. However, the nation’s football players currently dominate conversations.

Noaela Delgardo, 22, employed at the Royal’s bar, described the World Cup as an exceptional chance for fellow Cape Verdeans to excel and for their country to achieve “more visibility in the world.”

Despite expanding tourism, the archipelago’s remoteness from major centers remains evident. European flights are available, but the sole direct route to America arrives in Providence, Rhode Island, reflecting 19th-century whaling connections between the regions and the substantial Cape Verdean population residing in Providence currently.

The World Cup offers an opportunity to bridge that gap, explained retiree Jorge Goncales, 69, relaxing with companions one morning in a tree-lined Mindelo plaza. “The whole world comes to us. Now we go out to the world.”

Head coach Pedro Leitão Brito, who received Africa’s Coach of the Year honors last year and goes by his nickname Bubista, also recognizes an opportunity to showcase Cape Verde globally.

“We want to make an impact on the tournament for our people,” he shared with CNN recently. “We want to show everyone watching that, yes, we’re a small country, but we can play against the big teams. We know it’s hard but we want to show that nothing is impossible.”

Spanish rider Marc Marquez overcame an early qualifying crash to secure pole position at Saturday’s Hungarian Grand Prix, edging out countryman Pedro Acosta at Balaton Park.

The Ducati rider’s earlier tumble during qualifying initially appeared to give Acosta the advantage for pole position, but the KTM rider’s slow finish in the final sector allowed Marquez to recover and claim the top starting spot with authority.

Fermin Aldeguer from Gresini Racing rounded out the front row, while Marquez enhanced his pole-winning effort with a blistering lap time of one minute and 36.785 seconds, delivering a strong statement to his competition.

“It’s true that this morning I tried to be aggressive on the bike, I tried to use a lot of energy. Yesterday I was riding in ‘eco mode’ and just trying to flow, trying to save energy,” Marquez said.

“Today I give everything … Starting in pole position will help but our target, at the moment, fighting for the victory will be difficult for all the laps. But let’s see if we can fight for the podium, it depends a lot on the start.”

The pole position represents a stunning comeback for Marquez, who had dual surgeries on his shoulder and foot just one month ago. The Spanish racer had also dominated both practice sessions.

“We know that one lap is not a problem, the race is another story. His body needed time to recover,” said Ducati’s team manager Davide Tardozzi.

Fabio Di Giannantonio from VR46 Racing, who also went down at turn one in the same location where Marquez lost control, finished fourth in qualifying.

He will start alongside an entirely Italian second row featuring Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia and Aprilia’s championship leader Marco Bezzecchi.

Jorge Martin, Bezzecchi’s teammate who sits second in the championship standings, managed only eighth place in qualifying.

The expansive playing surfaces at World Cup venues represent a massive undertaking, though the teams responsible for creating them hope spectators won’t give the grass a second thought.

Despite requiring tremendous engineering expertise to develop suitable turf for various stadiums and maintain flawless conditions throughout the competition, success means the playing surface remains invisible to viewers.

Nothing disrupts gameplay more than irregular areas, holes, and deteriorated sections that can compromise player stability when attention should remain focused on the matches.

“We want to give credit to the pitch managers who do an amazing job to get these canvases presentable, to be beautiful, but also play perfect, and people see it and admire it. But then they go on and say, ‘Oh, what a great goal that was, and what a great header that was,’” said John Sorochan, professor of turfgrass science within the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Tennessee.

For approximately eight years, Tennessee and Michigan State have collaborated to develop ideal hybrid turf systems for the 16 venues across Canada, Mexico and the United States scheduled to accommodate World Cup matches.

FIFA maintains stringent standards for playing surfaces, requiring predominantly natural grass that performs uniformly to ensure competitive fairness. This tournament presents particular challenges for maintenance teams due to the expanded format featuring 48 nations and 104 total games.

Eight World Cup venues — seven in the United States and one in Canada — typically feature artificial surfaces. All eight locations, except Vancouver’s BC Place, serve as home fields for NFL franchises. Five facilities have complete, partial, or retractable roof coverage.

Seattle’s Lumen Field, home of the NFL’s Seahawks, became among the initial stadiums to transition from synthetic to natural turf in preparation for the tournament beginning Thursday.

The conversion required installing a crate-style drainage and air circulation framework above the current field, adding over 10 inches of sand on top, laying locally cultivated sod, and reinforcing everything with synthetic fiber support.

Seattle will accommodate six games. Grass installation began in March, with the U.S. women’s national team testing the surface in April.

U.S. captain Lindsey Heaps provided exactly the evaluation turf specialists wanted to hear.

“I didn’t notice it at all, so that means it was a good thing,” Heaps said.

SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles received grass among the final venues, with sod from Washington state arriving May 13, just 30 days before the stadium’s World Cup debut featuring the United States against Paraguay.

Beyond converting artificial playing surfaces, turf professionals also had to address the tournament’s geographical scope and varying weather conditions. Monterrey, Mexico experiences greater heat and humidity during summer months, while BC Place sits in a cooler northern location.

Consequently, they developed two distinct mixtures. Bermuda grass will serve warmer regions, while perennial rye combined with Kentucky bluegrass was placed in cooler areas and enclosed facilities. Turf for both stadiums and practice locations was cultivated and collected at 10 specialized farms throughout the three participating nations.

AT&T Stadium, temporarily called Dallas Stadium for the competition, will accommodate nine contests, exceeding any other location.

The Dallas Cowboys’ venue received new sod installation in early May. The grass was cultivated in Colorado and transported in climate-controlled vehicles to the Arlington facility.

One significant obstacle emerged: the stadium features a retractable roof that blocks natural sunlight from reaching the field. Engineers responded by suspending pink growth lighting from the ceiling to maintain grass quality. The outcome resembles a fusion of Barbie aesthetics with World Cup soccer.

“They’ve never been hung from the ceiling before, so basically, what’s fantastic out of that is that typically these systems have a set of wheels that they’re wheeled on in and out of the facility, and so these are able to be lifted up, and it means that we’ve just got one less thing on the field,” said Ewen Hodge, the World Cup’s head of pitch infrastructure.

Sorochan developed his interest in turf maintenance during the United States’ previous World Cup hosting in 1994. As a Michigan State student, his responsibilities included helping install sod and cutting grass on match days.

Following the tournament’s conclusion, he examined the grass from atop the Pontiac Silverdome.

“We moved it in, it was inside for 30 days, and we didn’t have the grow lights, we didn’t have all the technologies that we have today with the hybrid reinforcement, so those 30 days with no sunlight, it just kind of deteriorated and went down,” Sorochan said. “It held up for those four games they had and practice sessions, but you could definitely see the wear and tear on the field, and I thought, How do we make that better?”

The turf technology and management expertise that Sorochan and his team developed for this World Cup’s playing surfaces enables venues to accommodate more diverse programming.

The grass system allows for rapid installation and removal, permitting stadiums to host packed schedules including tractor pulls, NFL games and premier soccer competitions. The innovation also has municipal applications.

“We can now develop hydroponic systems where we grow grass and recycle water below, and instead of watering from above, and we can use the same water back and forth, and we can have a pitch that’s going to be more sustainable, and really a benefit to the community,” Sorochan said. “So that’s kind of some of the cool stuff coming out of this research that’s just starting to explode over the next five, 10 years. It’s gonna be an unintended game changer.”

The San Francisco Giants unleashed an offensive explosion on Friday, crushing the Chicago Cubs 18-3 behind a seven-homer barrage at Wrigley Field.

Matt Chapman led the assault with both a grand slam and a three-run blast, while Willy Adames and Casey Schmitt contributed two home runs each. Chapman recorded a personal-best eight RBIs, Adames crossed home plate four times while driving in four runs, and Schmitt collected four hits with three runs scored and three RBIs. The offensive outburst marked San Francisco’s second-largest run production this season and their first seven-homer game since April 2023.

Robbie Ray (4-6) capitalized on the 19-hit attack to earn his first victory since May 8, cruising through five scoreless frames.

The Cubs, fresh off a dramatic ninth-inning comeback victory against the Athletics on Thursday, remained scoreless until Carson Kelly delivered an RBI single in the sixth inning. Chicago starter Edward Cabrera (3-3) was hammered for eight runs on eight hits in just 3 2/3 innings.

Dodgers 1, Angels 0

Roki Sasaki struck out a personal-best 10 batters while Freddie Freeman delivered a walk-off homer in the ninth as the Los Angeles Dodgers edged the visiting Los Angeles Angels.

Blake Treinen (3-1) earned the victory with one out in the ninth as the Dodgers maintained their perfect 4-0 record against the Angels this season. Freeman connected on a 3-2 fastball from former Dodger Kirby Yates (0-2) for his 10th homer, sending a 404-foot shot over the right-center field wall.

Sasaki scattered two hits and two walks across a career-high-tying seven innings. Angels starter Reid Detmers matched him with six strong innings, allowing just two hits while walking two and fanning six. Mike Trout struggled, going hitless in four at-bats with three strikeouts as the Angels dropped their fourth game in five contests.

Red Sox 5, Yankees 3

Sonny Gray dominated one of his former clubs over 6 1/3 innings while Willson Contreras homered to power Boston past New York on the road.

Gray (7-1) captured his first victory as a visitor at Yankee Stadium, surrendering three runs on eight hits to extend his record to 5-0 across six starts since returning from a hamstring injury. Contreras went deep for the second consecutive game, finishing with three RBIs for the Red Sox, who also received a homer from Andruw Monasterio.

Ben Rice connected off Gray just two batters into the opening frame, and Trent Grisham added a fifth-inning blast. Spencer Jones, called up to replace the injured Aaron Judge (right rib cage), highlighted his first three-hit major league performance with an RBI double in the fourth. Ryan Weathers (2-4) surrendered five runs on seven hits across six innings.

Nationals 14, Diamondbacks 1

Luis Garcia Jr. launched two homers and recorded a career-best six RBIs while James Wood also went deep and scored three times as Washington demolished Arizona in Phoenix.

CJ Abrams and Daylen Lile (3-for-6) each homered and scored twice for the Nationals, who lead the majors with 345 runs. Washington’s Foster Griffin (7-2) limited Arizona to one run on two hits over five innings.

Aramis Garcia hit his first major league homer since 2022 for the Diamondbacks’ only run. Merrill Kelly (5-4) was battered for seven runs and six hits in five innings.

Phillies 8, White Sox 6

Kyle Schwarber racked up four hits while Brandon Marsh belted a two-run homer to lead Philadelphia past Chicago at home.

Alec Bohm contributed two hits and two RBIs for the Phillies, who have captured eight of their last 10 contests. Bryce Harper also recorded two hits, while Adolis Garcia homered for the second straight game.

Randal Grichuk went deep twice for the Cubs, who have dropped three of their last four. Derek Hill also connected, while Luisangel Acuna added two hits, an RBI and a run.

Tigers 7, Mariners 3

Kerry Carpenter and Spencer Torkelson each launched two-run homers as host Detroit stretched its winning streak to four games with a victory over Seattle.

Gleyber Torres collected three hits and drove in two runs for the Tigers, while Riley Greene added two hits and a run. Framber Valdez (3-4) allowed one run and five hits across five innings.

Seattle shortstop J.P. Crawford exited in the third after taking a 96 mph Valdez pitch to the hand. Mariners manager Dan Wilson reported that X-rays came back negative and Crawford is listed as day-to-day. Bryan Woo (5-4) was tagged for five runs and nine hits in 6 1/3 innings, while Colt Emerson hit a solo homer.

Orioles 13, Blue Jays 3

Adley Rutschman went 4-for-4 with a homer, two doubles and five RBIs as visiting Baltimore demolished Toronto.

Coby Mayo contributed a two-run shot to highlight a five-run sixth inning as Baltimore won for the fifth time in six games. Jeremiah Jackson, who entered for the injured Samuel Basallo in the sixth, added two RBI singles. Brandon Young (4-1) pitched 6 1/3 innings of three-run ball.

Brandon Valenzuela hit a two-run homer for the Blue Jays, who have lost five of their last six. Trey Yesavage (2-3) gave up six runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Astros 5, Athletics 1

Isaac Paredes homered for the third straight game, propelling Houston to victory over the visiting Athletics in the series opener.

Paredes gave the Astros a 3-0 first-inning lead with a three-run blast, finishing with a season-high four RBIs. Houston right-hander Peter Lambert (5-4) maintained a shutout into the sixth, allowing five hits and four walks over 5 1/3 innings.

Brent Rooker broke up the shutout with a solo shot. Athletics starter Jack Perkins (2-3) gave up five runs on five hits over four-plus innings.

Rangers 3, Guardians 2

Corey Seager smashed a go-ahead two-run homer in his return from the injured list, guiding Texas to victory over Cleveland in Arlington, Texas.

After the Rangers tied it on Kyle Higashioka’s leadoff homer in the sixth, Wyatt Langford doubled before Seager’s decisive blast. Josh Jung recorded two hits for Texas, which has won six of its last seven games. Peyton Gray (2-0) threw 1 2/3 scoreless relief innings.

Travis Bazzana went 3-for-4 with a triple and homer while Steven Kwan had two hits and a run for the Guardians, who have lost four of their last six. Parker Messick (6-2) surrendered three runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Braves 6, Pirates 3

Mauricio Dubon homered for the third consecutive game to help Atlanta defeat visiting Pittsburgh.

Dubon went 2-for-4 with a home run, double, two runs and three RBIs. He is 5-for-11 with seven RBIs over his last three contests. Former Pirate Martin Perez (4-3) worked five innings and gave up three runs on three hits.

Mitch Keller (5-3) lasted 4 2/3 innings and allowed six runs on seven hits. Nick Gonzales and Marcell Ozuna each delivered an RBI single for Pittsburgh.

Cardinals 10, Reds 3

Alec Burleson homered and scored four times while Jordan Walker doubled twice among his three hits, leading St. Louis to a rout of visiting Cincinnati.

The Cardinals sent 12 batters to the plate and plated six runs in the sixth off three Reds relievers to break open a one-run contest. Hunter Dobbins (1-0) scattered four hits over five scoreless relief innings.

Cincinnati starter Brady Singer (2-6) fell victim to poor defense and a disputed replay review while losing his fifth consecutive decision. Singer was charged with four runs (one earned) and four hits over four innings.

Brewers 9, Rockies 7 (10 innings)

Jake Bauers collected three hits, including a tie-breaking two-run double in the 10th inning, as Milwaukee rallied to defeat Colorado in Denver.

Sam Frelick had two hits and two RBIs while Trevor Megill (1-2) earned the victory for the Brewers, who managed just one hit through eight innings but recovered to end a two-game losing streak.

Hunter Goodman homered while Sterlin Thompson had three hits and two RBIs and Jake McCarthy added two hits for the Rockies, who carried a 3-1 lead into the ninth. Starter Ryan Feltner set down the final 13 batters he faced and surrendered one run on one hit over six innings.

Rays 6, Marlins 0

Tampa Bay starter Drew Rasmussen was dominant over seven brilliant innings, yielding just one hit as the Rays began a three-game road series by shutting out Miami.

Rasmussen (5-2) allowed one run on one hit while striking out nine and retiring 21 of 22 batters to end Tampa Bay’s four-game road losing streak. Junior Caminero collected two doubles, two runs and two walks. Ryan Vilade and Richie Palacios each knocked in two runs.

Javier Sanoja and Esteury Ruiz managed the Marlins’ only two hits, both singles, as Miami suffered its first loss in four games. Opener Ryan Gusto (0-1) surrendered three runs over two innings.

Mets 5, Padres 0

Jared Young and Luis Torrens homered while Christian Scott sailed through 5 2/3 solid innings as visiting New York shut out San Diego.

Scott (2-0) scattered three hits to win his second straight start after going winless in his first 15 major league starts dating back to 2024. Three relievers completed the shutout, holding San Diego hitless for 3 1/3 innings.

Michael King (4-5) allowed six hits and four runs over six innings for his third straight loss and the Padres’ sixth consecutive defeat. San Diego has managed only 14 runs during that stretch and just 26 over its last 11 games, losing 10 of them.

Twins 5, Royals 3

Brooks Lee homered and drove in two runs as Minnesota held on for victory over Kansas City in Minneapolis.

Josh Bell doubled home a run for the Twins, who evened the four-game series at one victory each. Minnesota starter Zebby Matthews (2-3) surrendered two runs on five hits over seven innings. Travis Adams recorded his second save despite allowing a run in the ninth.

Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone (two hits) each doubled in a run for the Royals. Michael Wacha (4-4) gave up five runs (four earned) on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.

The NCAA has rejected Texas Tech’s request to reinstate quarterback Brendan Sorsby’s playing eligibility, multiple news outlets reported Friday.

Sorsby became one of the most sought-after signal-callers in this year’s transfer portal after departing Cincinnati. On April 27, he enrolled in a treatment program to address a gambling addiction.

The NCAA declared him ineligible after he acknowledged placing wagers on college football and other sports. The organization’s rules forbid student-athletes from betting on any sport for which it sponsors competitions, whether at the professional or college level.

This appeal rejection operates independently from Sorsby’s legal challenge against the NCAA, which had its initial hearing Monday before Lubbock County (Texas) District Court Judge Ken Curry, who listened to arguments from lawyers representing both Sorsby and the NCAA.

Judge Curry has yet to announce his verdict in the matter, which could grant Sorsby a temporary court order allowing him to compete while litigation proceeds, or could support the NCAA’s eligibility ruling through the judicial system.

Sorsby’s legal representative, Jeffrey Kessler, asked for a decision by June 15. The quarterback faces a June 22 deadline to enter the NFL’s supplemental draft if he remains barred from college competition.

Following the NCAA’s initial rejection of Sorsby’s eligibility petition last month after he completed his rehabilitation program, various news sources reported that legal documents filed by Sorsby’s attorneys revealed he made no fewer than 40 wagers on the Indiana football program during his time with the Hoosiers in 2022 and ’23.

Overall, the court filings show that Sorsby placed approximately $90,000 in bets using multiple sportsbook accounts registered under friends’ and a family member’s names across a four-year span.

Sorsby, ranked as ESPN’s top transfer prospect in this year’s class, compiled 5,613 passing yards, 45 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions during his last two seasons at Cincinnati. He additionally rushed for 1,027 yards and 18 touchdowns across 24 contests.

In 2025, the Bearcats began 7-1 but dropped their final five contests.

Texas Tech captured its inaugural Big 12 championship last season and earned a College Football Playoff berth as the No. 4 seed, falling to No. 5 Oregon 23-0 in their quarterfinal contest.

LOS ANGELES — Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki is beginning to show the talent that originally caught the Los Angeles Dodgers’ attention when they scouted him overseas.

The 24-year-old right-handed pitcher held the Los Angeles Angels hitless for more than four innings Friday night, striking out a personal-best 10 batters across six innings in the Dodgers’ 1-0 win.

For the first time in his 19-start career, Sasaki completed a shutout performance. He delivered 98 total pitches with 72 strikes, achieving a 73.5% strike rate that ranks as his second-best in any start. His fastball reached 100.4 mph during the outing.

“He went through some tough times and some doubts,” manager Dave Roberts said, “but he’s gotten to the other side.”

Roberts decided to test Sasaki’s composure by sending him out for the seventh inning in the tight contest. The young pitcher responded by retiring all three batters, including two more strikeouts.

“He was on the attack, he didn’t run,” Roberts said. “That shows a lot of growth.”

High expectations surrounded Sasaki’s arrival from Nippon Professional Baseball, but his rookie campaign got off to a rocky start when he couldn’t secure a spot in the starting rotation. Television cameras in Japan captured his emotional reaction during his initial U.S. appearance, leading to criticism on social media and within baseball circles.

“We all felt sorry for him,” Roberts recalled.

Opposing batters could sense Sasaki’s struggles through his dejected body language on the pitcher’s mound.

A shoulder injury then sidelined him for four and a half months before he returned as a relief pitcher during the team’s championship playoff run.

Spring training brought new challenges when Sasaki issued 15 walks, once again casting doubt on his ability to handle starting duties and further damaging his self-confidence.

Recent weeks have seen marked improvement, however, as Sasaki has developed consistency through a more powerful splitter that reaches 90 mph, working effectively alongside his fastball and slider while showing better control.

“There is an adjustment with the ball that he had to make with his grip,” Roberts said. “You can see his demeanor on the mound. There’s just no more doubt and uncertainty.”

Sasaki’s earned run average dropped to 4.03, and he has posted a 1.48 ERA across his most recent four starts.

“I’m just doing small things all the time, and I just keep building on it,” he said through a translator.

The Dodgers secured victory on Freeman’s sixth career walk-off home run in a game where both teams managed just three hits each.

“Roki has really turned the corner here and it’s fun to watch,” Freeman said, “especially after last year grinding, coming back as a bullpen guy. He just looks great out there.”

Freeman and catcher Will Smith join their teammates in supporting Sasaki’s success on a roster that includes fellow Japanese players — two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto — who have established high performance standards.

“You can see the care factor, the drive he’s got,” Smith said. “It’s good to see the benefits right now.”

Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton sustained a right shoulder contusion during Friday night’s game and will undergo further evaluation on Saturday to determine the extent of his injury.

The star outfielder was hurt when he collided with the outfield wall while making a spectacular leaping catch, forcing him to leave the contest just half an inning later.

“I think we’ll see how he is tomorrow,” Minnesota manager Derek Shelton said after the Twins’ 5-3 win over the Kansas City Royals in Minneapolis. “That’s the biggest thing. The fact that he jammed the same shoulder that he had the issue with before, there’s always concern there. But how he comes in tomorrow, I think, will be a good indicator.”

The injury occurred when Buxton pursued a deep fly ball hit by Carter Jensen to start the third inning in straightaway center field. He made a spectacular backhanded catch before slamming face-first into the padded outfield barrier. Despite appearing to be in significant pain, Buxton initially stayed in the game after being checked by the team’s medical staff.

However, when it was time for his turn at the plate in the bottom half of the inning, the team opted to use pinch hitter Tristan Gray in his place.

The 32-year-old Buxton, who has earned two All-Star selections and a Platinum Glove award, is currently hitting .257 this season with a team-best 18 home runs and 28 RBIs across 55 games.

Throughout his career spent entirely with Minnesota, Buxton has compiled a .248 batting average with 188 home runs and 464 RBIs over 953 games.

The New York Knicks had little reason to feel confident during the closing minutes of Friday’s Game 2 of the NBA Finals in San Antonio.

However, after watching a comfortable 14-point advantage slip away, the Knicks managed to escape with a narrow 105-104 victory over the San Antonio Spurs when the final horn sounded.

The victory gives New York a substantial 2-0 advantage in the best-of-seven championship series, with Game 3 scheduled for Monday.

A weary Jalen Brunson supported himself against his teammates following the victory, managing only a tired grin. His crucial steal with 9.5 seconds remaining and the ensuing free throw became the game-winning sequence in a physical battle where persistence ultimately triumphed.

“We could have folded a few times, but our guys just kept fighting,” New York coach Mike Brown said. “They kept fighting, and you work on connectivity throughout the course of the year for moments like these.

“No matter what run (San Antonio) went on, no matter what time of the game, our guys just kept uplifting one another. It’s an amazing feeling as a coach to know how mentally tough your team is no matter what the situation is in front of them.”

Brunson opened the game by netting New York’s initial five points but then struggled offensively, reaching the fourth quarter with only 13 points while shooting 4-of-16 from the field.

San Antonio forced the Knicks’ star point guard to battle for every opportunity, leaving him physically drained and collapsing onto the bench during New York timeouts in the final minutes as he searched for energy to push his team across the finish line.

“We have to do a good job of staying composed in those situations,” said Brunson, who ended with 20 points and just as many bruises. “Not (folding) in situations like that is key to winning games like this. At this stage of the season, things aren’t going to be pretty. It’s going to be ugly. It’s going to be grinded out. It’s simple as that.”

The path to victory proved challenging. San Antonio trailed 97-83 with 6:04 remaining before unleashing a 14-0 run that culminated with Dylan Harper’s floater knotting the score at 2:59.

The Spurs grabbed their first lead at 104-102 when Victor Wembanyama completed a three-point play with 57.3 seconds on the clock. Brunson answered immediately, sinking a fadeaway jumper with 39.3 seconds left to tie the contest.

After Brunson’s missed jumper with 13.5 seconds remaining, Wembanyama secured the rebound. The Spurs center attempted to find Stephon Castle with a pass, but Castle wasn’t prepared, and the ball deflected off his back directly to Brunson. Wembanyama’s subsequent foul on Brunson created the opportunity for the decisive free throw.

“That’s the most frustrating thing, to throw it away after putting in all this work,” said Wembanyama, who also misfired on a 20-foot attempt in the closing seconds. “I messed up. We didn’t play great as a team. We needed to win that game. This game was ours.

“But at this point, it’s done. Yes, am I going to regret it? Yes, of course. Am I going to use that to fuel me and to fuel us next game? Absolutely.”

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson emphasized that his team must maintain the same energy throughout entire games that they displayed during their fourth-quarter rally. With an inexperienced roster experiencing their first Finals appearance, maturity and closing ability remain essential elements.

“We showed tremendous desperation, urgency and competitive response (late in the game),” Johnson said. “We don’t feel like we played well, or up to our standard at least, in the last two games. New York has played very well, and that’s a part of that.

“But we’re going to go into Game 3 — if we play our brand of basketball up to our standard, we’ll be just fine.”

While San Antonio may possess the league’s emerging superstar as the foundation for a promising young roster, New York counters with Brunson and a championship-tested group that continues finding ways to win.

The Knicks extended their postseason winning streak to 13 games, placing them second in NBA history for consecutive playoff victories behind the Golden State Warriors’ 15-game streak in 2017.

“I don’t know if you could say it was a rough shooting night (for Brunson),” said New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns, who paced the team with 21 points and 13 rebounds. “I see ‘Captain Clutch’ doing what he’s always been doing since I got here. When it comes down to winning the game, No. 11 can’t be messed with.”

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Following Friday night’s conclusion of Game 2 in the NBA Finals, Victor Wembanyama characterized his mental state in an uncommon manner.

“Very blurry,” Wembanyama stated.

However, the San Antonio Spurs’ predicament is crystal clear. They face significant difficulties. Major difficulties. Wembanyama directed the blame entirely toward himself.

San Antonio experienced both a remarkable rally and a catastrophic collapse within the same final period, losing to the New York Knicks 105-104 — following a conclusion that Wembanyama will likely remember for years to come. San Antonio trailed by 14 points at the midpoint of the fourth quarter, then mounted a 14-0 scoring surge to even the contest, subsequently taking a brief advantage when Wembanyama converted a three-point opportunity with less than 60 seconds remaining.

With approximately 14 seconds left and the game deadlocked, it became a matchup between elite talents: New York’s Jalen Brunson versus Wembanyama, the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year.

Brunson attempted a shot from roughly 16 feet away. The 7-foot-4 Wembanyama extended his arm upward, forcing the Knicks’ guard to add extra arc to clear the Frenchman’s elevated reach. The ball struck the back iron. Wembanyama secured the rebound. The crowd grew excited. He spotted Spurs teammate Stephon Castle and delivered a pass in his direction. The issue was that Castle wasn’t paying attention and the ball deflected off him. Brunson recovered possession and Wembanyama committed a foul.

“I need to have more poise,” Wembanyama stated. “More control over the game.”

Castle explained: “I was looking at him when he first got the rebound. I just started to take off to try to give him some space to dribble up the court. I didn’t see him throw it to me.”

The mistake was significant but not decisive. Brunson converted only one of two free throws, giving New York a single-point advantage. San Antonio requested a timeout. The final possession featured a pick-and-roll play, with De’Aaron Fox locating Wembanyama for a jump shot from essentially the identical position on San Antonio’s side of the court where Brunson had attempted his shot moments before.

“He’s made that shot a thousand times,” Castle commented. “He has a game-winner with that shot this year. Yeah, I’ll take that shot every day.”

However, the attempt was unsuccessful.

The contest concluded. New York players rushed onto the court in triumph. Wembanyama walked toward the far tunnel, questioning how everything went awry.

“I threw that one away. I messed up,” Wembanyama acknowledged. “We didn’t play great as a team. We needed to win that game. This game was ours. But at this point, it’s done. Am I going to regret it? Yes, of course. Am I going to use that to fuel me and to fuel us next game? Absolutely.”

San Antonio will require all available motivation moving forward. The Spurs are down 2-0 and will travel Saturday to New York for Game 3 on Monday and Game 4 on Wednesday. They must capture one of those contests to extend their season, and they’ll need to secure two victories at Madison Square Garden before the series concludes if they hope to claim the championship.

Historical precedent suggests this outcome is unlikely.

San Antonio established an early advantage and even employed the Hack-a-Mitch approach — deliberately fouling New York’s Mitchell Robinson, who posted the league’s worst free throw percentage (among players with at least 100 attempts) during the regular season and has performed even more poorly in the playoffs — during the opening quarter, attempting to disrupt New York’s offensive flow.

Even this tactic proved ineffective. Robinson had converted just one of his previous 10 free throws before Friday’s game; he made 3 of 6 attempts during the Hack-a-Mitch sequence in the first half, which likely felt like bonus scoring for New York.

Those three points proved valuable at night’s end. Robinson was also the defender who contested Wembanyama’s final attempt, an ironic development in the view of Knicks coach Mike Brown.

“It started with Mitch and it ended with the other four guys boxing out,” Brown commented. “So just a heck of a job by Mitch guarding the most iconic player in the world.”

While Wembanyama leads all scorers in these finals, his performance hasn’t been commanding. He’s posting 27.5 points per game while shooting just 41%. From beyond the arc, he’s connected on 4 of 15 attempts, or 27%. Though he’s recorded seven blocks, New York hasn’t hesitated to attack him directly. He managed a sluggish opening half Friday evening, attempting only four shots in the first two periods.

Monday will demand more. San Antonio’s top performer must establish himself as the court’s premier player if the Spurs hope to re-enter this series.

This reality is unmistakable.

“We don’t feel like we played well or up to our standard at least in the last two games,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson stated. “New York has played very well and they’re a part of that. But we’re going to go into Game 3 (and) if we play our brand of basketball up to our standard, we’ll be just fine.”

Stadium employees at SoFi Stadium have given their union the green light to call a strike just days before the venue is set to host World Cup soccer matches.

UNITE HERE Local 11, which represents over 2,000 stadium staff members, held the authorization vote on Friday. The union membership, primarily made up of food service employees, backed the potential work stoppage by an overwhelming margin.

Contract talks between the union and Legends Global, the company that operates the stadium, have reached an impasse. The workers’ current contract has already run out, and several rounds of bargaining sessions failed to produce a replacement deal.

Eight World Cup games are set to take place at SoFi Stadium. Among these are two group-stage contests featuring the United States team – one against Paraguay on June 12 and another versus Turkey on June 25. The venue will also host three elimination round games, including a quarterfinal scheduled for July 10.

In a Friday statement, the union announced the results of their vote: “SoFi Stadium cashiers, dishwashers, cooks, bartenders, concessions workers, and food attendants have voted 96 per cent in favor of authorizing a strike, meaning workers could walk off the job at any moment if their demands are not met. Negotiations are scheduled to continue Monday ahead of the USA vs Paraguay match on June 12th.”

Should contract discussions remain unsuccessful, a worker committee from the union will decide the timing of any potential strike action.

According to The Athletic, the union has already informed FIFA about the potential disruption. FIFA mandates background screenings for all stadium personnel during the tournament, meaning any substitute workers brought in during a strike would lack the required clearance.

The union has also requested that FIFA prohibit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel from entering the stadium during World Cup events, citing worker safety concerns.

The union’s statement emphasized this point: “Workers must have the right to walk off the job if federal immigration enforcement enters the stadium and creates a reasonable fear for their safety — no worker should have to choose between their job and their freedom.”

NEW YORK moved one step closer to their first NBA championship in five decades Friday night, defeating San Antonio 105-104 in a thrilling Game 2 that came down to the final seconds in San Antonio.

With 9.5 seconds on the clock, Jalen Brunson intercepted an errant pass and sank the decisive free throw that put the Knicks ahead for good. Victor Wembanyama’s 20-foot attempt fell short as time ran out, giving New York a commanding 2-0 series advantage in the best-of-seven championship round.

The victory marked the Knicks’ 13th consecutive postseason win, surpassing the 1999 Spurs for the second-longest playoff streak in league history. New York also extended their road winning streak to eight straight games.

Brunson finished with 20 points and recorded his fifth theft of the game when Wembanyama’s pass deflected off teammate Stephon Castle near midcourt. Though Brunson made just one of two free throws after being fouled, it proved enough for the one-point triumph.

Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Mikal Bridges also contributed 20 points. OG Anunoby chipped in 17 points and Landry Shamet added 13 for New York, which nearly let a 14-point fourth-quarter lead slip away.

For San Antonio, Wembanyama posted a game-high 29 points along with nine rebounds and four blocks. De’Aaron Fox contributed 20 points, while Dylan Harper provided 15 points off the bench. Castle and Devin Vassell each scored 14 points in the losing effort.

The series now shifts to New York for Game 3 on Monday, with Game 4 scheduled for Wednesday at the same venue.

San Antonio appeared poised for a dramatic comeback after Wembanyama’s three-point play with 57.3 seconds left gave the Spurs their first second-half lead at 104-102. Brunson quickly responded with a jump shot to level the score at 39.3 seconds, setting up the dramatic finish.

New York connected on 41.6% of their field goal attempts and made 15 of 38 three-point shots for 39.5%. San Antonio shot slightly better at 47.4% overall and went 11 of 29 from long distance for 37.9%.

The Spurs mounted a furious rally after falling behind by 14 points midway through the final quarter, scoring 14 unanswered points to tie the game at 97. Fox scored five consecutive points during that surge, and Vassell connected on a straight-on three-pointer to cut the deficit to two. Harper’s short jumper with 2:59 remaining completed the comeback and knotted the score.

The Knicks entered the fourth quarter with an 84-75 lead that quickly grew to 12 points after Shamet’s three-pointer. San Antonio responded with seven straight points to close within 87-82, but Shamet’s second three-pointer sparked a 10-1 New York run.

Brunson added a driving score, Miles “Deuce” McBride hit an open three-pointer, and Anunoby dunked over Wembanyama’s defense to push the Knicks’ advantage to 97-83 with 6:04 remaining.

Towns dominated the first half with 17 points and seven rebounds as New York took a 56-52 halftime lead. Fox paced San Antonio with 12 first-half points. After the Spurs built an early 12-point advantage, the Knicks claimed their first lead on Shamet’s basket for a 49-48 edge with 3:39 left in the second quarter.

LOS ANGELES — Baseball history was quietly on display Friday evening when Jen Pawol took her position behind home plate for the matchup between the Angels and Dodgers.

Pawol broke new ground last season when she became the first female umpire to officiate major league games. During Friday’s contest, Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani acknowledged her presence with his typical greeting to the home plate umpire as he stepped into the batter’s box to start the bottom of the first inning.

The 49-year-old official participated in spring training for her third consecutive year but was not selected for a permanent position on MLB’s umpiring staff. She currently serves on the league’s call-up roster.

Earlier this season on April 17, Pawol officiated her first contest featuring the new automated balls and strikes challenge technology when the Giants played the Nationals.

Her groundbreaking debut in the major leagues occurred on Aug. 9, 2025, and she completed five games at the highest level during that season. The previous year marked another milestone when she became the first woman to work big league spring training contests since Ria Cortesio accomplished the feat in 2007. Pawol has officiated minor league baseball since 2016 and advanced to Triple-A level in 2023.

Friday’s game featured some early excitement that could have led to more historic moments for Pawol.

Angels pitcher Reid Detmers kept the Dodgers without a hit through three complete innings before Freddie Freeman broke through with a single in the fourth frame.

On the other side, Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki maintained his no-hitter through four innings until Nick Madrigal connected for a double in the fifth inning.

As Major League Baseball faces potential labor tensions, President Donald Trump expressed strong support for team owners on Friday by endorsing the implementation of a salary cap system.

During remarks made while traveling on Air Force One, as reported by USA Today, Trump commented on MLB’s situation, saying “If you don’t have a salary cap, you don’t have a sport, because they can’t help themselves. Football has a salary cap. (MLB) should have done it a long time ago.”

The president also referenced the 1994-95 work stoppage, when team owners previously attempted to establish salary restrictions, stating “It’s shocking, frankly, that they didn’t put a cap on many years ago. They had a chance to do a cap but they blew it.”

The league’s current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire on Dec. 1, while the MLB Players Association maintains strong opposition to any salary cap proposal.

Team owners recently revealed their negotiating position, which includes a proposed $245.3 million salary cap combined with a $171.2 million salary floor. USA Today reports that while the proposed cap falls below the current payrolls of eight teams, the floor exceeds the present spending levels of 12 franchises.

Trump brings personal experience as a former team owner, having operated the New Jersey Generals in the USFL from 1983-85, a franchise that included prominent players such as Herschel Walker and Doug Flutie.

Seattle Mariners infielder J.P. Crawford has been listed as day-to-day following an injury to his right hand after being struck by a pitch during Friday’s matchup with the Detroit Tigers.

The shortstop was hit by a 96-mph sinker thrown by Detroit’s starting pitcher Framber Valdez during the third inning. Crawford remained in the game initially after being hit, but was substituted by Patrick Wisdom in the bottom half of the inning following his turn on the basepaths. Colt Emerson shifted from third base to shortstop to fill Crawford’s position.

The substitution enabled Crawford to receive x-rays on his wrist, which returned negative results, according to manager Dan Wilson’s postgame comments to media following Seattle’s 7-3 defeat.

Crawford had also seemingly suffered a leg injury earlier in the contest, showing signs of discomfort while returning to the dugout after a feet-first collision with Tigers backstop Dillon Dingler during a slide at home plate that produced the game’s first run in the opening frame.

Any time missed would come at an inopportune moment for Crawford, who has posted a .333 batting average (14-for-42) over his previous 11 contests, including four home runs during that stretch.

The 31-year-old Crawford is batting .228 this season with 10 home runs and 23 RBIs across 55 games.

The San Diego Padres placed outfielder Ramon Laureano on the 60-day injured list Friday following surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right hip, effectively ending his season.

The injury represents another setback for San Diego’s offense, which entered Friday’s games ranked dead last in Major League Baseball with a .216 team batting average and just 235 runs scored.

Laureano had been dealing with hip discomfort throughout the season while posting career-low offensive numbers, batting just .203 with seven home runs and 21 RBIs across 53 games.

“It’s a big loss,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said Friday. “It was a guy we were counting on a lot coming into the season, and the guy that we had batting leadoff for a while. He’s been in a little bit of (an offensive) funk lately. Maybe that’s a reason for it, but unfortunate that he had to go have surgery and have it taken care of.”

The outfield loss marks the second for San Diego this week, though for different circumstances. The team also officially released struggling veteran Nick Castellanos on Friday after placing him on waivers earlier in the week.

The 31-year-old Laureano has compiled a .236 batting average with 16 home runs during 103 games over his two seasons with San Diego. Throughout his major league career, he has maintained a .250 average with 113 homers and 349 RBIs while playing for the Athletics (2018-23), Cleveland Guardians (2023-24), Atlanta Braves (2024), Orioles (2025) and Padres.

The injury may signal the end of Laureano’s time in San Diego. Acquired from Baltimore at last season’s trade deadline, he becomes a free agent when the current season concludes.

Soccer icon Lionel Messi is on the mend from a left hamstring injury and may take the field during Argentina’s exhibition games leading up to the World Cup.

Team manager Lionel Scaloni provided an update Friday on the star player’s health status before Argentina’s upcoming friendlies – Saturday’s match against Honduras in College Station, Texas, and Tuesday’s contest versus Iceland in Auburn, Alabama.

“Leo is doing well,” Scaloni stated. “Leo trained for a part (of the Friday practice) with the group, which is important. He’s not fully separated. He’s coming along. He may be part of the friendly matches, getting some minutes in these two friendlies. We’ll see if it’s the one (Saturday) or the next one. But he’s doing a lot better and that gives us tranquility.”

The 38-year-old Messi sustained his injury during Inter Miami’s May 24 game, which was the team’s final contest before Major League Soccer paused for two months because of the World Cup.

Argentina holds the current World Cup title, with Messi earning the Golden Ball award as the tournament’s top performer at the 2022 competition in Qatar.

In 14 appearances for Inter Miami this season, Messi has netted 12 goals while contributing eight assists. On Friday, he earned selection to the MLS All-Star squad for the July 29 game in Charlotte featuring top talent from Mexico’s Liga MX.

Messi’s international career spans 198 appearances for Argentina, during which he has scored 116 goals – the second-most in global competition history. Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo leads with 143 international goals.

Messi holds the record for most World Cup appearances at 26 games, surpassing Germany’s Lothar Matthaus by one. Both Messi and Ronaldo will participate in their sixth World Cup, establishing a new record.

At the upcoming World Cup, Argentina will compete in Group J with games against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City, Missouri; Austria on June 22 in Arlington, Texas; and Jordan on June 27 in Arlington.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson departed during the third inning of Friday’s road matchup with the Miami Marlins due to what team officials described as left thumb discomfort.

This marked the second occasion this week that Simpson had to exit a game prematurely. Earlier on Monday during Tampa Bay’s contest with the Detroit Tigers, Simpson suffered an unusual injury while attempting to steal second base with a headfirst slide. His batting helmet came loose during the play, bounced off the ground and struck him in the face.

The impact caused Simpson’s lower lip to split open, requiring a trip to the hospital where he received stitches. Despite the injury, he returned to action the following day and participated in all remaining games of the Detroit series.

During Friday’s game, Simpson managed no hits in two at-bats before Victor Mesa Jr. took his place in the lineup. The performance continued Simpson’s recent offensive struggles, as he has collected just one hit in his last 21 at-bats across six games.

The 25-year-old Simpson is currently hitting .276 through 59 games this season. Known for his speed on the basepaths, he has successfully stolen 14 bases this year after recording 44 steals during his rookie campaign last season. His four triples lead all American League players.

Simpson wasn’t the only Rays player dealing with injury issues this week. Shortstop Taylor Walls also departed Monday’s game due to hamstring tightness. After missing the remainder of the Tigers series, Walls returned to Tampa Bay’s starting lineup on Friday.

The NBA has conducted interviews with Kawhi Leonard as part of its continuing probe into allegations that the Los Angeles Clippers violated league salary cap regulations to compensate their star player, according to ESPN’s Friday report.

ESPN also reported that interviews have been conducted with Leonard’s uncle and business adviser Dennis Robertson, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, additional team executives, and leaders from the now-closed company Aspiration.

ESPN contributor Pablo Torre obtained documentation that allegedly bears Kawhi Leonard’s signature from when he joined the Clippers as a free agent. The paperwork indicates the six-time NBA All-Star was set to collect $28 million in cash payments from Aspiration across four years spanning 2022 through 2025, contingent upon his continued employment with the Clippers.

Torre’s investigation revealed that Ballmer provided $50 million in financial backing to the sustainability company Aspiration in 2021. The business has been accused of fraudulent practices, and its co-founder Joseph Sanberg entered a guilty plea in August for deceiving multiple investors. Additionally, the Clippers established a $300 million partnership with Aspiration in September 2021, designating the company as the “first founding partner” of the Intuit Dome.

The league’s investigation has been underway since September, with NBA commissioner Adam Silver stating Wednesday evening before Game 1 of the NBA Finals that the inquiry is approaching a stage where it must be concluded.

Both Ballmer and the Clippers organization have repeatedly rejected any allegations of misconduct.

The NBA’s existing collective bargaining agreement outlines potential sanctions for teams found guilty of salary cap violations, which may include monetary penalties reaching $7.5 million, forfeiture of draft selections, contract nullification, and suspensions for involved team staff members.

ESPN’s reporting suggests other franchises would likely object if the NBA penalizes the Clippers without clear evidence of wrongdoing.

“I certainly hear and read things all the time about the perception of what really happened or didn’t happen here, and I think my only reaction is: I wouldn’t be doing my job if ultimately I issued a determination based on perception,” Silver said Wednesday.

“My job is to follow the facts. What essentially happens here is that the factual report, together with findings, will be made by this independent firm. That’s presented to me. It’s then, ultimately, my role to determine what the appropriate discipline, if any, should be meted out based on their findings.”

ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager broke out of a career-worst 0-for-29 hitting drought with a two-run home run in his return to action Friday night, marking his first game back after missing 19 contests due to lower back inflammation.

The five-time All-Star’s sixth-inning blast against Cleveland rookie Parker Messick followed a double by Wyatt Langford, who was also returning from the injured list. Seager’s eighth home run of the season gave Texas a 3-2 advantage.

Langford, playing left field, had been absent for 39 games since landing on the injured list April 22 with a right forearm strain. The duo occupied the first two spots in the batting order against the Guardians, and their back-to-back extra-base hits occurred during their third plate appearances of the contest.

Prior to the series opener against Cleveland, Seager was mired in an 0-for-27 stretch that featured 11 strikeouts. The two-time World Series MVP had gone hitless across his last seven games, also a career-high drought, dating back to an RBI single on May 6 at Yankee Stadium following a home run earlier in that same contest.

“I’m excited to see, really for the first time in some time, our group together. Still missing (second baseman) Josh Smith, but beyond that, we have not had our group together in a long time,” Chris Young, the team’s president of baseball operations, said before the game.

“Look at the past week, 10 days, and there have been a lot of positives with the way we’ve played,” Young said. “And now getting Corey and Wyatt back in this lineup, I think will be very big for us. I’m excited to see what that does for everybody.”

Prior to a defeat at St. Louis on Wednesday, the Rangers had compiled a five-game winning streak that represented their longest of the season.

Utility man Cody Freeman and outfielder Alejandro Osuna were sent to Triple-A Round Rock to create roster space. Utility player Sam Haggerty was designated for assignment after being activated from the bereavement/family medical emergency list.

Both Langford and Seager participated in two rehabilitation games together this week at Double-A Frisco. Langford had previously appeared in two contests with Round Rock.

“Definitely feel great. I feel like I’m in a really good spot,” Langford said before the game.

Seager, who was not available to reporters in the clubhouse before the game, had not appeared in a major league contest since May 13. At that time, the 32-year-old shortstop had started 42 of the Rangers’ initial 43 games. He indicated then that physically he felt “completely fine” after participating in all 24 games during a 27-day period.

The Rangers had a scheduled day off following that stretch and intended for Seager to receive additional rest by sitting out the series opener at Houston. However, he missed the entire series after experiencing back spasms upon waking one morning.

When Seager was placed on the IL, his batting average stood at .179 with seven homers and 20 RBIs. His 50 strikeouts represented 27.5% of his 182 plate appearances. He had managed just 6 hits in 61 at-bats (.098) with 23 strikeouts over his final 16 games.

During his initial rehab appearance Tuesday night, Seager recorded one hit in two at-bats with a single and handled two ground balls at shortstop. He went hitless in three at-bats on Wednesday.

Langford had posted a .238 batting average with one homer and four RBIs across 20 games for Texas before his injury designation. He went 2 for 10 with five walks during four rehab appearances.

A former world championship silver medalist in the 100 meters has been handed a 12-year ban from competition following his third violation of anti-doping regulations, according to an announcement Friday from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.

Marvin Bracy-Williams, the 32-year-old American who earned silver at the 2022 World Championships, was penalized for three instances where he failed to properly report his whereabouts to testing officials. These violations took place on July 1, 2025, February 24, 2026, and April 1, 2026.

Anti-doping whereabouts rules mandate that athletes provide authorities with information about where they can be located for at least one hour each day to allow for surprise drug testing outside of competition.

Initial violations of whereabouts requirements typically result in suspensions lasting one to two years, with the exact length determined by how much fault the athlete bears. Since this marked the American runner’s third offense, he faced enhanced penalties ranging from eight years to a lifetime ban from the sport.

The 12-year suspension will begin after Bracy-Williams completes a 45-month penalty for separate anti-doping violations that he agreed to in November 2025.

USADA officials said Bracy-Williams informed the organization Friday that he plans to retire from competition. His suspension will remain in effect indefinitely unless he decides to return from retirement and complete the remaining portion of his penalties.

All competitive results achieved by Bracy-Williams on or after April 1, 2026, have been invalidated, resulting in the loss of any medals, points, and prize money earned during that period.

The American sprinter participated in the Enhanced Games earlier this year, a competition that permits athletes to use performance-enhancing substances prohibited in traditional events. He placed third in the 100 meters at the first Enhanced Games held last month in Las Vegas.

Milwaukee has placed southpaw pitcher DL Hall on the 15-day injured list following a left pectoral strain, announcing the move Friday along with other roster changes.

The 27-year-old Hall was among two Brewers relief pitchers who sustained injuries during Thursday’s 12-9 defeat to the San Francisco Giants at home.

During the fifth inning, Hall was seen hopping after delivering his 27th pitch of the contest. Following a consultation with Brewers manager Pat Murphy and Milwaukee’s medical staff, the southpaw was removed from the game.

This season, Hall has posted a 2.03 ERA across 24 outings, including one starting assignment. According to Murphy, Hall’s expected recovery period ranges from four to six weeks.

The second player hurt Thursday, Grant Anderson, who was struck by a line drive on his right forearm, received negative X-ray results and was observed participating in pregame activities before Milwaukee’s Friday contest in Colorado.

Milwaukee also placed right-hander Jake Woodford on waivers, while promoting left-hander Brian Fitzpatrick and right-hander Craig Yoho from Triple-A Nashville.

The 29-year-old Woodford has registered a 6.94 ERA through 16 outings. Fitzpatrick, 26, has made four big league appearances in his career, all during this season, posting a 1.59 ERA. Yoho, 26, previously pitched for Milwaukee last year, recording a 7.27 ERA across eight contests.

LOS ANGELES — During their annual Pride Night celebration on Friday, the Los Angeles Dodgers revealed a lasting tribute to two pioneering LGBTQ+ athletes, Glenn Burke and Billy Bean, who made history as the first Major League Baseball players to publicly acknowledge being gay.

The unveiling ceremony included family members of both former players and took place on the team’s 13th Pride Night, just before the Dodgers faced off against the Los Angeles Angels in their crosstown rivalry matchup.

“It’s brave of them in this day and age to spotlight someone in our community when other organizations are trying to erase us,” said Greg Baker, Bean’s husband.

Family members gasped with delight and clapped as organizers pulled away a blue covering to reveal the memorial beneath the left-field stands close to the team’s bullpen area. The tribute features both players’ uniform numbers — Burke’s No. 3 and Bean’s No. 40 — displayed on framed jerseys against a colorful rainbow backdrop. Burke’s section includes a colored image of his baseball card plus an action shot in black and white, while Bean’s portion shows two color photographs. Information panels detail their playing careers and lasting impact on the sport.

“He would be smiling, he would be so happy, he probably would be giving a high-five,” said Joyce Burke Henderson of Vallejo, California, one of Burke’s three sisters present at the event.

Burke broke barriers in 1982 when he became the first MLB athlete to reveal his homosexuality, making the announcement following his retirement. His professional career spanned from 1976 to 1979 with the Dodgers and Oakland Athletics. Burke and former Dodgers player Dusty Baker are commonly recognized for creating the high-five celebration after their hand-slapping gesture during a 1977 game.

Burke Henderson remembered how her brother initially concealed his sexual orientation before eventually deciding “he just didn’t care.”

“Nowadays the world is different and we need to conform to what’s going on,” she said. “As long as everybody is safe, they’re healthy, we don’t have the right to tell people how to live their lives. That’s up to them, but just respect that decision.”

Burke passed away in 1995 at 42 years old due to complications from AIDS.

Bean followed Burke’s example four years later, becoming the second major league player to disclose his homosexuality after retiring from professional baseball for four years. In 2014, Bean received an appointment as MLB’s inaugural ambassador for inclusion and eventually advanced to serve as the league’s senior vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion.

Bean received a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia in 2023 and died the next year at 60 years old.

“It never stops being emotional,” said Baker, who became visibly moved while speaking to attendees. “It’s so well-deserved. I’m so proud of him.”

Baker continues maintaining relationships with Bean’s relatives, including his mother and father Ed and Linda Kovac and three siblings who were present.

Baker expressed little surprise that more professional athletes haven’t publicly come out.

“I still think there’s a lot of work to do and I think that work is not necessarily like within the sports community. I think it’s within our community as a whole,” he said. “There’s always going to be homophobia, just hopefully there’s going to be less and less of it.”

Family members alternated taking pictures in front of the memorial wall and capturing their own photographs of the display.

“We still love him,” Burke Henderson said. “We just appreciate the Dodgers honoring him and Billy Bean, too. We knew Billy Bean. They were both great guys.”

CHICAGO (AP) — Third baseman Matt Chapman put together a historic offensive performance Friday, driving in eight runs to match an elite group of San Francisco baseball legends including Willie Mays.

The 33-year-old veteran delivered his fourth career grand slam along with a three-run blast and a sacrifice fly, setting a personal record for RBIs in San Francisco’s commanding 18-3 victory over the struggling Chicago Cubs. Chapman’s eight-RBI showing matched the franchise record for the San Francisco era, a mark first achieved by Mays on April 30, 1961, following the team’s move from New York in 1958.

Five other Giants players have reached the eight-RBI milestone: Orlando Cepeda in July 1961, Brandon Crawford in July 2019, Joc Pederson in May 2020, and Wilmer Flores in May 2025.

“I feel like I’ve been doing a good job with runners in scoring position and I’ve been having a lot of opportunities with guys on base,” said Chapman, who is in his 10th major league season and third with the Giants.

Chapman’s grand slam came during San Francisco’s six-run fourth inning rally, connecting off Edward Cabrera despite light rain conditions. The ball just cleared Wrigley Field’s left-center basket.

His sacrifice fly contribution came in the fifth inning.

The second home run highlighted San Francisco’s explosive seven-run sixth inning. Chapman connected on Ethan Roberts’ sweeper down the middle, launching the ball 432 feet to left field where it collided with an electronic advertisement sign above the bleachers.

The grand slam marked San Francisco’s second in consecutive games and sixth of the season — all coming within the team’s most recent 18 contests. According to the organization, the Giants became just the sixth MLB franchise in history to record six grand slams within a 20-day span or shorter.

Chapman noted that his two homers at Wrigley completed his quest to homer in every major league stadium.

“I got Sacramento (the Athletics’ temporary home) in Triple-A, so we’ll count it,” he said. “But this was my last one, so that’s cool.”

Willy Adames and Casey Schmitt also contributed two home runs each, while Jonah Cox added a solo shot after coming in as a pinch hitter. The Giants secured their third consecutive victory with a 19-hit offensive explosion, following Thursday’s 20-hit performance in a 12-9 triumph at Milwaukee.

Chapman’s season statistics now include four home runs and 31 RBIs with a .241 batting average. His career-best campaign came in 2019 with the Athletics when he earned All-Star honors with 36 homers and 91 RBIs.

“I haven’t been doing anything different over the last week,” Chapman said. “We went to Milwaukee and I hit that home run (on Monday) and then got a few more hits yesterday, so I felt like I was starting to feel more comfortable in the box.

“I feel like I’m on time, getting good swings off and then today just showed up and just kept trying to repeat it and, you know, the power showed up a little bit.”

Despite the offensive surge, San Francisco remains at 26-38 and sits deep in the NL West division standings.

“We didn’t have many guys swinging the bat early and it seems like everybody’s kind of come alive at a similar time,” Chapman said. “The quality of at-bats have been really good.”

The American League Most Valuable Player race has been completely transformed following an injury to New York Yankees star Aaron Judge that will keep him out of action for an extended period.

Judge, who has claimed AL MVP honors in each of the past two seasons, is dealing with a stress fracture in his right rib. Though doctors expect him to return before the season ends, the injury effectively eliminates any chance of capturing a third consecutive MVP award.

Houston Astros power hitter Yordan Alvarez has emerged as the new betting favorite, with BetMGM listing him at +140 odds. Through Friday’s games, Alvarez was posting a .316 batting average alongside 21 home runs and 44 RBIs, while accumulating a 3.1 WAR. His 1.077 OPS currently tops all of Major League Baseball.

Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. holds the second-best odds in the race. Even as the Royals have struggled through a difficult first half, Witt has maintained a .281 average with nine home runs, 26 RBIs and an impressive 3.8 WAR, while also providing exceptional defense.

Both Alvarez and Witt lead the MVP conversation despite their teams’ poor records. Kansas City entered Friday with the AL’s second-worst mark at 25-38, while Houston sat just slightly better at 28-36.

Judge’s Yankees teammate Ben Rice has emerged as another strong candidate, hitting .300 with 17 homers, 44 RBIs and a 2.6 WAR. His 1.030 OPS ranks second in the majors behind only Alvarez. Rice benefits from playing for one of the American League’s top teams and will likely see increased opportunities with Judge sidelined.

BetMGM has Rice listed at +300 odds, with Athletics second-year first baseman Nick Kurtz following at +850. Kurtz has built on his impressive rookie campaign by hitting .284 with 11 home runs, 43 RBIs and a 2.3 WAR across 61 games.

Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez rounds out the top contenders with +2200 odds.

Current AL MVP betting odds from BetMGM:

Yordan Alvarez, Astros (+140)

Bobby Witt Jr., Royals (+155)

Ben Rice, Yankees (+300)

Nick Kurtz, Athletics (+850)

Julio Rodriguez, Mariners (+2200)

Junior Caminero, Rays (+2800)

Jose Ramirez, Guardians (+3000)

Shea Langeliers, Athletics (+3000)

San Antonio faces a challenging situation following their collapse from a 14-point advantage in the opening game of the NBA Finals.

Rather than holding a 1-0 series lead and being championship favorites, the Spurs dropped the contest, surrendered their home-court edge, and now trail as series underdogs.

Despite this setback, they enter Game 2 as a consensus 6.5-point favorite at home Friday evening. A victory would send San Antonio to New York with the series even. A defeat would put the Spurs at risk of not bringing the series back home for Game 5.

BETTING LINES & PATTERNS

DraftKings shows nearly even moneyline wagering, with San Antonio receiving 52% of total bets. Meanwhile, New York as 6.5-point underdogs has attracted 58% of spread betting.

BetMGM opened the spread at 5.5 but moved it up a full point with New York drawing 60% of bets and 84% of the money. The Knicks’ +190 moneyline has also captured 75% and 60% of the action, respectively.

PLAYER BETTING OPTIONS

Knicks guard Josh Hart Under 11.5 Points (-120 at BetMGM) stands as the most popular player wager at the sportsbook, with Hart producing just 3 points in Game 1. This followed a 6-point effort in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals, though he averaged 14.3 points during the four-game Cleveland sweep.

Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama 25+ Points (-203 at DraftKings) reflects expectations for a strong bounce-back performance from Wembanyama, who scored 26 points while shooting just 28.6% from the field in Game 1. He averaged 27.3 points during the seven-game Oklahoma City series and 26.4 points per game at home this season.

GAME DEVELOPMENTS

Jalen Brunson carried New York’s offense in Game 1, recording 13 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter. Brunson continued playing despite suffering right knee and left ankle injuries during the first half.

The Knicks closed Game 1 with an 11-0 surge to stun the Spurs on their home court.

San Antonio managed just 6-of-21 field goal shooting and turned the ball over five times while being outscored by 10 points in the final quarter.

While the Spurs roster includes many players experiencing their first NBA Finals, coach Mitch Johnson rejected the idea that inexperience caused their late-game struggles.

“Old teams make bad decisions, too, at the end of games,” Johnson said. “It’s looking at a picture, understand if you see that moving forward, whatever that pattern is, whatever led to that situation, if you can recognize it and make a better decision next time or understand maybe where there’s a better opportunity to look for an advantage, we’ll try to help them with that.”

Wembanyama’s 6-of-21 shooting performance perhaps best symbolized their downfall. The French star also turned the ball over six times.

He insisted the pressure of his first appearance on basketball’s biggest stage didn’t affect him. Wembanyama also received a message from legendary director of basketball operations Gregg Popovich regarding his performance.

“In the big lines, it was that I’ve been bad and I’m better than this,” Wembanyama said of what Popovich’s message entailed.

Wembanyama still managed 26 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots.

San Antonio guard De’Aaron Fox struggled significantly, scoring seven points on 3-of-13 shooting while frequently defending Brunson.

Fox acknowledged Thursday that his shooting must improve while emphasizing that Wednesday’s result represents just one loss.

“We know it’s a long series,” Fox said. “Obviously you want to win every game that you have on your home court, but it’s not the way it happens every day. We try to go in and fix the things we need to fix. Obviously we want a different outcome.”

OUTLOOK

The foundation exists for a compelling series, but only if San Antonio can recover to win Game 2. It would be challenging for them to perform worse than their collapse from 14 points ahead to a 10-point defeat Wednesday night. Prediction: Spurs 107, Knicks 103.

The NCAA revealed on Friday that four members of Alabama State’s 2024-25 men’s basketball roster violated sports betting integrity rules.

Amarr Knox, Shawn Fulcher, Corey Hines and Tony Madlock participated in game fixing during their December 5, 2024 matchup against Southern Miss, where the Hornets lost 81-64 despite Southern Miss being favored by six points.

According to NCAA enforcement interviews with Knox, Fulcher connected the four teammates with known gamblers through a group chat. Madlock told the bettors he was hurt and wouldn’t participate in the contest. The gamblers then offered the quartet $2,000 collectively to manipulate the outcome, which the players agreed to and received payment for.

The Hornets actually held a 33-30 advantage at the break, but managed just 23 successful shots out of 71 attempts (32.4%) throughout the contest, while Southern Miss connected on 30 of 60 shots (50%).

Alabama State went on to win seven of their last eight regular season contests, claimed the SWAC tournament championship and beat Saint Francis in the 2025 NCAA Tournament’s First Four round.

Knox scored the decisive basket with one second left on the clock, securing the program’s first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament win.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania indicted the bettors in January 2026 on wire fraud and sports bribery charges. Hines and Fulcher, who refused to cooperate and gave false statements to enforcement officials, also face federal indictments.

Madlock, whose college playing career had ended, refused to speak with enforcement personnel.

All four players sat out last season from college basketball. Without help from an NCAA institution, Hines, Fulcher and Knox are permanently barred from reinstatement.

Prior to Carolina’s dramatic rally, prior to Vegas needing a clutch goal with just over a minute remaining to force overtime, and prior to Seth Jarvis finding the net in the extra period, Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final was marked by an eerie quiet.

The enthusiastic fans who had been thunderous at the series opener sat in shocked silence as their cherished team was held scoreless through 40 minutes for the first time since mid-January. With under 15 minutes on the clock, they faced the possibility of a devastating 2-0 deficit that historically only five teams out of 55 have managed to overcome for championship glory.

The wild sequence that unfolded concluded with Carolina claiming victory in thrilling style, transforming this matchup into a genuine battle between two elite NHL franchises. The third contest takes place Saturday evening in Las Vegas.

Should it mirror the opening pair of games, fans should prepare for more surprises ahead.

“It’s obviously a new series, a five-game series now,” said defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who leads the Hurricanes with three points so far in the final. “A lot of emotions throughout the games, too. For almost 50 minutes there it’s kind of low, and then kind of even, then really high, then low again, and then high. It’s a roller coaster for sure.”

This championship round is developing into something resembling a seesaw, featuring dramatic shifts in momentum. This marks the first Cup final in NHL history where both opening contests included comeback victories of multiple goals.

Carolina has become the first squad in 82 years to claim victory in a final game when trailing by multiple goals inside the last 10 minutes of regulation time. That achievement also makes Vegas — which trailed by two in the series opener — the first franchise since 1944 to surrender such an advantage.

“The sport of hockey is funny that way,” Golden Knights center William Karlsson said Friday. “I think that’s why we all love it. It can go either way at any times …. But it’s hockey. It’s a game of mistakes, and it’s bound to happen.”

The Hurricanes, who dominated their first three playoff rounds with 12 victories and only one defeat, have encountered a worthy opponent in Vegas, which became apparent in the opening game. What has also emerged is that neither squad will allow themselves to be overwhelmed for a complete evening, despite periods where one team controls play.

“It’s going to be hard to play your best game — that’s the point,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “It would be great if you could do it for the whole 60 minutes. But it’s probably not going to be that way because they’re a very, very good team.”

Counterpart John Tortorella emphasized that again before he and his team flew home, insisting he likes where Vegas is at two games into its biggest challenge yet this postseason. The Golden Knights have stolen home-ice advantage and get to play the next two on The Strip, where Tortorella can better control matchups.

“There’s no difference,” Tortorella said. “We’re going to play. We know how to play. We know how we want to play.”

Carolina understands their approach as well, which they demonstrated during the closing moments of Game 2. Logan Stankoven ignited the rally, Mark Jankowski maintained the momentum, and Jordan Staal converted on a power play following Tortorella’s unsuccessful goaltender interference challenge that became a pivotal moment.

Naturally, Vegas’s control for most of the opening two periods and early in the third demonstrated why they have been so dominant since Tortorella assumed control in late March. Brind’Amour recognized the atmosphere surrounding his squad was more positive than it might have been without the comeback, though neither team should expect to feel overly confident for extended periods in such a series.

Players are welcoming this as part of the excitement.

“This is exciting,” Jarvis said. “This is what playoff hockey’s all about is tight games and momentum swings, and you never really know what’s going to happen next. I don’t think you can ask any more of a playoff series.”

World Cup attendees in the United States and Canada will now be permitted to bring one factory-sealed disposable water bottle into stadiums, FIFA announced on Friday. The announcement came just days after the soccer governing body stated that reusable bottles would be banned for safety reasons.

According to FIFA, spectators may bring one soft plastic bottle containing up to 20 ounces (590 ml) into the venues. However, the organization maintained that hard-sided and reusable bottles will continue to be forbidden.

FIFA Chief Operating Officer Heimo Schirgi explained that the restrictions stem from safety and security concerns, noting that bottles are among several items that could create hazards if hurled during matches.

The updated policy follows FIFA’s revision of its Stadium Code of Conduct earlier this week, which overturned previous guidelines that had permitted empty, clear reusable plastic bottles inside stadiums.

The initial ban had generated worry among fans about maintaining proper hydration during games, especially at locations where temperatures are projected to surpass 25 degrees Celsius.

FIFA announced that host cities will implement heat-reduction strategies around stadium areas, including water stations, misting zones and air-conditioned tents. The organization also stated that beverage costs within venues will match prices typically charged at other events hosted at these stadiums.

The World Cup begins on Thursday when Mexico faces South Africa at the Azteca Stadium.

Former NFL superstar Randy Moss continues to make impressive catches, though now they’re happening on the water rather than the football field.

The legendary wide receiver, who holds the second-highest touchdown reception record in NFL history, has discovered his true calling after football involves pursuing freshwater bass from a fishing boat.

“That’s my passion right now. That’s my hobby. That’s my getaway. That’s my therapy,” Moss said.

After spending approximately nine months primarily at home receiving chemotherapy and radiation treatments to fight cancer, Moss gained a renewed appreciation for outdoor activities. Following the completion of his medical treatment last fall, his uncommon cancer type — located in the bile duct connecting the pancreas and liver — was declared to be in remission. Since then, Moss has frequently been found with fishing equipment in hand.

This longtime interest has evolved into what could be considered Moss’s third professional pursuit, alongside his return to ESPN as an NFL commentator for the 2025 season.

“I’m just excited to be able to showcase my talent and go out there and show people that I have something else other than football that I love,” Moss said.

World Bass Enterprises recruited Moss to work as an ambassador for “The Champions” competition scheduled for this fall in Hendersonville, Tennessee. This debut five-day tournament, located near Nashville, aims to crown a definitive champion in a sport currently split between two rival circuits. WBE was established this year by Brian Bird, a Texas entrepreneur and recreational fisherman who has become Moss’s fishing companion.

Meanwhile, Moss and his business associate, Andrew Grein, have been producing a documentary series called “Chasing 10.” The show features Moss fishing alongside famous guests as they hunt for the coveted 10-pound largemouth bass while sharing techniques and personal stories. Each season, he auctions a specially designed boat to support the Children’s Cancer Research Fund in Minnesota.

“I had to take a year off to be able to get myself back right, but my health is great,” Moss said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. “I still have my quarterly checkups every four months, my scans, but I just think that now that I’m back outside, this is one of the things that I couldn’t wait to see. I have the bass waiting on me, so I’m just a kid in the candy store having fun, man.”

The Champions tournament features a record-breaking $3.25 million total prize pool, with the victor earning $1.25 million from a field of 50 competitors — the top 25 from each of the sport’s two major organizations.

The Bass Anglers Sportsman Society — abbreviated as B.A.S.S. — operates the Bassmaster Elite Series. Major League Fishing manages the more recent Bass Pro Tour. For seven years, similar to the PGA and LIV divisions in golf, the world’s elite anglers have been separated into two competing groups. Moss has joined Bird’s mission to help reunify the sport and bring it to a broader audience.

“We both are trying to bring something that’s really positive to the sport of bass fishing,” said Bird, who sold his electrical construction services company three years ago and has invested his own money into the launch of the tournament. “It’s a good way for a family to spend time out in nature.”

The initial episodes of Chasing 10 were released on YouTube this week, featuring an energetic trip with the Kelce brothers and a gathering of former Minnesota Vikings receivers including Cris Carter and Jake Reed. During another filming session with Bird at a Texas lake, Moss excitedly landed the prized 10-pounder, likening the nervousness he experienced to the anticipation before a football play when he expected to receive the ball.

Moss initially learned fishing techniques while growing up in West Virginia alongside his older half-brother, Eric Moss, who passed away in 2019. Shortly after beginning his NFL journey in Minnesota in 1998, he met professional angler John Laub, who taught him bass fishing on the St. Croix River near the Wisconsin border.

“My first actual bass experience, I caught 20!” Moss said. “John, he was glowing. That’s the man who showed me bass fishing, and I haven’t looked back since.”

The Carolina Hurricanes have demonstrated an exceptional ability to bounce back from setbacks and remain composed when facing challenging road environments or sudden-death overtime situations during their playoff run.

These qualities under intense pressure help explain their current position in the Stanley Cup Final, having evened the series with the Vegas Golden Knights after dropping the opening game. The team appears to flourish in these high-stakes moments, boasting flawless records in both overtime situations and away games throughout the postseason, while successfully preventing back-to-back defeats since mid-January.

“It’s a special time of year, and it’s a really cool opportunity and experience we all get to have,” goaltender Frederik Andersen said Friday. “And if we weren’t enjoying it as well, it would be a big shame, right?”

Carolina enhanced their playoff record to 13-2 through spectacular circumstances on Thursday, overcoming a two-goal third-period disadvantage to secure a 4-3 overtime victory and even the best-of-seven championship series. The dramatic finish featured Seth Jarvis delivering a powerful one-timer past Carter Hart from the left wing while on the power play, potentially serving as a pivotal moment for both the team’s top regular-season scorer and their struggling man-advantage unit.

Equally impressive is Carolina’s capacity to handle adversity throughout their campaign. Thursday’s victory extended the Hurricanes’ remarkable streak to 13 consecutive wins following defeats, a stretch that began after back-to-back setbacks in Detroit and St. Louis on Jan. 12 and 13.

“It goes to talking about belief,” forward Andrei Svechnikov said. “I think we believe in the group. We’re confident in what we’re doing and how we’re doing it. We believe in our system, and we just try to go there and play our game, and that’s what we’ve kind of been doing.”

The Hurricanes’ initial postseason defeat occurred during the Eastern Conference Final against Montreal, when Carolina emerged from an unprecedented 11-day layoff between rounds and surrendered four opening-period goals in a 6-2 defeat.

Their response was emphatic: four consecutive victories, including two in overtime and two dominant performances with a combined 10-1 scoring advantage to eliminate Montreal.

After falling 5-4 in the series opener against Vegas, Carolina again demonstrated their resilience, despite facing a daunting 2-0 deficit and struggling through what coach Rod Brind’Amour described as a second period that was “kind of a dud.”

The Hurricanes netted three consecutive goals within approximately five minutes of the final period, culminating with captain Jordan Staal’s deflection from close range during a power play opportunity.

Carolina then overcame Vegas tying the contest with 1:21 remaining in regulation, capitalizing on their second consecutive power play when Jarvis scored the decisive goal. The winning sequence featured excellent execution from Shayne Gostisbehere, who had assisted on Staal’s earlier score.

Gostisbehere effectively feinted a shot attempt, drawing the attention of Vegas defenders positioned in the middle, while Nikolaj Ehlers even jumped in the slot as if avoiding a shot. This deception kept Hart focused centrally for an extra moment as Gostisbehere instead found Jarvis on the left side for the championship-clinching goal.

Prior to these crucial scores, Carolina’s power play had struggled at 7 for 60 (11.7%) during the playoffs after finishing fourth in regular-season efficiency (24.9%).

The Hurricanes now stand 6-0 in overtime playoff situations, including victories in all four Game 2 home contests, and maintain a perfect 6-0 road record.

“For almost 50 minutes there (emotions are) kind of low, and then kind of even, then really high, then low again, and then high,” Gostisbehere said. “It’s a roller coaster, for sure. But it’s just managing them. We’re still human beings. We’re going to be nervous out there and have emotions, but the more you do it, the more you do anything, you get used to it.”

President Donald Trump announced Friday that he plans to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday at Madison Square Garden, while offering little compassion for basketball fans unable to afford the expensive ticket prices to see the game in person.

Speaking to reporters while traveling on Air Force One to Wisconsin for a farming event, Trump addressed questions about ticket costs that have soared to $8,000 per seat for the matchup between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs in Manhattan.

“They can watch it on television,” Trump responded when asked about the high prices. “It’s sorta semi-free to watch it on television. That’s the way life goes.”

The president also mentioned that if the Knicks weren’t performing well — noting their lack of success since their last finals appearance in 1994 — “you could go very easily.”

As president, Trump doesn’t need to buy tickets for major sporting events. During his second term, he has attended numerous high-profile games, including the 2025 Super Bowl, Daytona 500 and Ryder Cup.

However, his comments come as he faces growing scrutiny over campaign promises to reduce inflation and lower costs for everyday necessities like groceries. With November midterm elections approaching and ongoing conflict in Iran driving up gas prices and destabilizing global markets, concerns about inflation and economic stability continue to mount.

Trump, a long-time Knicks supporter, revealed he watched Game 1, which New York won 105-95 in San Antonio. “I think the Knicks have an amazing team the way they played,” he commented.

“Started off slow and it just got stronger and stronger,” Trump said about the opening game. When asked about his preferred players, he highlighted Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Reporters also questioned Trump about Spurs player Victor Wembanyama’s decision to stand with crossed arms during the national anthem before Game 1. The gesture sparked controversy among conservatives online, despite Wembanyama being French and not hearing his own country’s anthem.

While praising Wembanyama as someone who “looks like he’s gonna be a great player,” Trump avoided commenting on the anthem situation, claiming he hadn’t witnessed the crossed-arms gesture.

“Is that what he did? What did he mean by that?” Trump responded, directing reporters to ask Wembanyama directly for clarification.

Trump’s confirmation of his Game 3 attendance follows comments from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on Wednesday, who suggested a presidential presence at finals games could help unite “our increasingly divided society.”

“It creates a sense of connectivity among people,” Silver explained. “It creates a sense of belonging, and I feel that every day.”

NEW YORK — The New York Yankees have officially placed star outfielder Aaron Judge on the 10-day injured list following Friday’s announcement that the slugger is dealing with a stress fracture in one of his ribs, an injury that will sideline him for an indefinite period.

The three-time AL MVP will undergo a period of rest with limited physical activity before doctors re-evaluate his condition and conduct additional imaging studies in approximately four to six weeks. According to a Yankees statement, Judge is anticipated to return “at some point this season.”

To fill Judge’s roster spot, the team has brought back Spencer Jones from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre for his second call-up with the club.

During his previous stint from May 8-21, Jones posted a .167 batting average, going 4 for 24 after being summoned to fill in for Jasson Domínguez, who suffered an AC joint injury in his shoulder after colliding with the left-field wall while making a catch against Brandon Nimmo during a May 7 matchup with Texas.

Judge received a CT scan on Thursday and had undergone an MRI earlier in the week during a consultation with a medical specialist. The Yankees initially described Judge’s condition as shoulder discomfort before correcting the diagnosis to reveal the rib injury on his right side, which was first discovered during testing conducted on Monday during the team’s scheduled day off.

This marks Judge’s 10th trip to the injured list since making his major league debut on Aug. 13, 2016, including a previous placement on the COVID-19 injured list in July 2021. His injury history includes missing 45 games due to a fractured right wrist in 2018, sitting out 54 games with a strained left oblique in 2019, and being sidelined for 42 games with a fractured toe in 2023 after colliding with a wall while making a defensive play at Dodger Stadium.

This represents Judge’s second career rib injury.

He previously received a diagnosis of a stress fracture in one of his right ribs in March 2020. That injury resulted from diving for a ball in September 2019, though Judge avoided missing game time due to the pandemic-related delay of the 2020 season.

The 34-year-old is currently batting .248 with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs this season. However, he has managed just one home run over his last 18 games since May 10 and snapped an 11-game streak without a homer or RBI with a walk-off, two-run blast on May 24 against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Prior to the Tampa Bay game, Judge was mired in a 1-for-24 slump that had dropped his batting average to .246. He had gone hitless in 15 consecutive at-bats before recording a single in the first inning of that contest.

Last season, Judge captured the batting title with a career-best .331 average along with 53 home runs and 114 RBIs across 152 games. He was absent for 10 games from July 26-Aug. 4 due to a flexor strain in his right elbow sustained while making a throw to home plate on July 22 in Toronto. He received a plasma-rich injection and avoided the need for offseason surgery.

When Judge was injured last season, Giancarlo Stanton appeared in 17 outfield games. Stanton has been unavailable since April 24 with a strained right calf and began taking live batting practice on the field Wednesday, though he has been ruled out for New York’s upcoming road series.

José Caballero has started the first two games against Cleveland and has made four starts in right field since his acquisition from Tampa Bay at the July 31 trade deadline. Max Schuemann made his first career start in right field Thursday, recording a diving catch on Steven Kwan in the second inning and a leaping catch on Brayan Rocchio in the seventh.

Judge had started 52 games in right field this season. Jones made four starts in right field before being optioned on May 22, while Cody Bellinger has started two games at the position.

The National Basketball Coaches Association announced Friday that Paul Westhead will be the recipient of its 2026 Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award.

During his distinguished 38-year career, Westhead served as either a head coach or assistant across multiple levels including the NBA, WNBA, NCAA, and international basketball. He holds the unique distinction of being the sole head coach to capture titles in both the NBA and WNBA.

His NBA head coaching experience included stints with the Los Angeles Lakers from 1979-82, the Chicago Bulls in 1982, and the Denver Nuggets between 1990-92. In the WNBA, he led the Phoenix Mercury during the 2006-07 seasons.

Westhead’s championship victories came with the Lakers in 1980 and with the Mercury in 2007.

His collegiate coaching resume features tenures at La Salle from 1970-79, Loyola Marymount from 1985-90, and George Mason from 1993-97. He also coached the Oregon women’s basketball program from 2009-14. His international experience included coaching Wakayama in Japan’s National Basketball League.

“I am thankful for all the coaches who worked with me during my NBA coaching career,” Westhead said in a statement. “From Jack McKinney, who gave me my start with the LA Lakers, to P.J. Carlesimo who hired me for my last job (as an assistant coach) with the Seattle SuperSonics.”

Westhead gained recognition for creating high-speed offensive systems that pushed both teams into rapid-fire gameplay that challenged scoring records.

“Coach Westhead’s impact on the game extends far beyond wins and championships,” said NBCA president J.B. Bickerstaff, who also is the head coach of the Detroit Pistons. “He challenged conventional thinking, introduced ideas that were ahead of their time, and influenced generations of coaches across every level of men’s and women’s basketball.”

Past honorees of the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award include Don Nelson (2025), Rudy Tomjanovich (2024), Rick Adelman (2023), Mike Fratello (2022), Larry Brown (2021), Del Harris (2020), Frank Layden (2019), Doug Moe (2018), Al Attles and Hubie Brown (2017), K.C. Jones and Jerry Sloan (2016), Dick Motta (2015), Bernie Bickerstaff (2014), Bill Fitch (2013), Pat Riley (2012), Lenny Wilkens (2011), Jack Ramsay and Tex Winter (2010), and Tommy Heinsohn (2009).

The Chicago Bears have decided to pursue building their new stadium in Northwest Indiana following the failure of Illinois lawmakers to approve financial incentives that would have kept the NFL franchise in their home state.

On Thursday, the team’s board of directors approved moving ahead with a stadium development in Hammond, Indiana. While the Bears have been evaluating property near Wolf Lake, they clarified Friday that no specific site has been chosen yet.

In a joint statement from Chairman George McCaskey and team president Kevin Warren, the organization said: “We believe a world-class stadium project in Hammond will transform the region, connecting Northwest Indiana to the South Side of Chicago through the Loop and across neighborhoods and suburbs stretching north of the city. It will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses.”

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun expressed enthusiasm about the Bears’ decision. Earlier this year, an Indiana House committee approved legislation creating a Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority with powers to finance, build and lease a stadium facility.

“We look forward to building a partnership as strong as the ’85 Bears defense, creating opportunities and economic growth that will benefit our state and the Bears organization for decades to come,” Braun stated. “An NFL franchise in Northwest Indiana will be an economic boost to the entire region like we haven’t seen before.”

The Bears represent one of the NFL’s original franchises, having operated in Illinois since their 1920 establishment as the Decatur Staleys. The team relocated to Chicago the following year and played at Wrigley Field before moving to their current home at Soldier Field in September 1971.

While the Bears’ current lease extends through 2033, the team has the option to terminate early by paying a penalty fee. Soldier Field sits approximately 40 miles south of the team’s Lake Forest, Illinois headquarters at Halas Hall, while Hammond would be roughly 20 miles south of their current lakefront venue.

Matt Hill, speaking for Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, indicated the governor “remains open to a sensible solution that protects taxpayers.”

“The Bears have built a storied legacy in Illinois for over 100 years but have spent the last six years, and especially the last few months, shifting their position on a stadium location,” Hill commented. “That has hindered their progress. Today appears to be another instance of that after Illinois leaders have been working with the Bears in good faith.”

The New York Yankees face a significant challenge as three-time American League MVP Aaron Judge will be absent from the lineup due to injury, but team officials remain optimistic about their ability to adapt their offensive strategy while competing for the AL East division title.

Team officials announced Thursday that Judge is dealing with a stress fracture in his right side’s first rib and will be unavailable for an undetermined period. The organization plans to reassess his condition in four to six weeks following a recovery period involving rest and restricted physical activity, with expectations that he will rejoin the team before the season concludes.

Currently sitting in second place in the AL East division entering Friday’s games, the Yankees trail the Tampa Bay Rays by just half a game. Manager Aaron Boone expressed confidence in his team’s ability to maintain their performance level during Judge’s absence.

“He’s the best hitter in the sport, so you know there’s a void there,” Boone told reporters following Thursday’s 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. “But we also have really good players that can pick it up, too.”

First baseman Ben Rice has been delivering strong offensive production, maintaining a .300 batting average alongside 17 home runs — matching Judge’s season total for the team lead — and 44 RBIs.

Multiple reports indicate the Yankees are preparing to bring back prospect Spencer Jones from the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. The 6-foot-7 player faced difficulties during his initial major league opportunity in May, managing only a .167 batting average without scoring any runs across 10 games.

This season with the RailRiders, the 25-year-old has posted a .269 batting average with 13 home runs and 48 RBIs.

The organization acknowledges the difficulty of compensating for Judge’s production, as he has compiled a .248 batting average with 38 RBIs alongside his 17 home runs this season. Third baseman Ryan McMahon believes the team can succeed by diversifying their offensive approach.

“I think we’ll be all right. We’ll be good,” McMahon commented after Thursday’s game. “We have the guys who can do a lot of different things with the stolen bases and hit-and-runs. We just might need to pull it out a little bit more.”

Jazz Chisholm Jr., who will need to elevate his offensive contributions, emphasized that Judge’s unavailability cannot serve as justification for subpar team performance.

“We’re all baseball players, and we’ve got to go out there and win a game,” Chisholm stated Thursday.

The anticipated returns of Jasson Dominguez and Giancarlo Stanton should provide additional offensive support for the Yankees. According to the team’s most recent injury report, Dominguez was scheduled to start a minor league rehabilitation assignment Friday, while Stanton could potentially return by mid-June.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Following a devastating overtime defeat where his squad surrendered a two-goal advantage, Vegas Golden Knights coach John Tortorella expressed confidence in his team’s position as the Stanley Cup Final against Carolina stands even at one game apiece.

True to his characteristic style, Tortorella kept his reasoning brief and to the point.

“I like our team, where we’re at,” Tortorella stated Friday. “We’re good. We’re ready to play. I like a lot of things about what’s gone on in the first two games. I’m not giving you specifics.”

The Golden Knights head back to their home venue for Game 3 against the Hurricanes on Saturday evening, carrying valuable experience from an unprecedented start to the championship series. This marks the first occasion in NHL history where both opening contests of a Cup final witnessed teams overcoming multi-goal disadvantages to claim victory.

The Golden Knights fell behind 2-0 in the series opener before rallying for a 5-4 triumph, then held a 2-0 advantage Thursday evening until deep into the final period’s second half. Following Carolina’s three goals in slightly more than five minutes, captain Mark Stone managed to even the score with goaltender Carter Hart off the ice for an additional attacker, sending the game to overtime.

“We have pretty good control, and then some minor mistakes and it ends up in the back of the net,” center William Karlsson explained. “Just kind of ride it out all game long and hopefully not give Carolina any chances to come back.”

Players acknowledged how the Raleigh crowd helped fuel the Hurricanes’ rally, which made them eager to return to their Strip-based arena known as the Fortress. Despite the Golden Knights’ relatively short nine-year history, their home atmosphere has become among the league’s most intimidating.

“We feed off the crowd,” forward Keegan Kolesar explained. “You can tell from (Game 2), once things started going their way, they’re playing a lot faster, a lot harder when their crowd is involved. Go back to even the COVID year, it makes you realize how important fans are because when they’re not in that building, it can be pretty miserable, so really excited to have that back in our building.”

Vegas has compiled a 6-2 record at home throughout the playoffs while posting a 7-3 mark on the road.

Since replacing Bruce Cassidy following his dismissal in late March, Tortorella has emphasized maintaining consistent approaches regardless of venue.

“There’s no difference,” Tortorella declared. “We’re going to play. We know how to play. We know how we want to play.”

Carolina maintained a flawless 6-0 away record through the opening three playoff rounds, including their Eastern Conference Final series in hockey-obsessed Montreal.

“I don’t think we really care, to be honest, where we play,” said Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen, who has posted a 1.27 goals-against average and .931 save percentage in road games this postseason. “We’re really just focused on our foundation in our game, and that’s really what sets us up for success.”

A major concern for Vegas involves the possible unavailability of top-pairing defenseman Brayden McNabb, who absorbed an 87.3 mph slap shot to the face 11 minutes into Game 2 and couldn’t continue. Should McNabb be unable to participate in Game 3, left-handed shooter Ben Hutton or right-handed Kaedan Korczak would likely step in.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper was taken into custody Friday morning facing domestic violence allegations.

The 28-year-old player was detained on allegations of two domestic violence counts plus one criminal mischief count, based on Douglas County jail documentation. Parker Police took Cooper into custody at 11:16 p.m. Thursday evening, with his jail booking completed at 2:38 a.m. Friday morning.

Cooper made his initial court appearance Friday in the 23rd Judicial District Court and must return Monday for a disposition hearing.

Team officials issued a statement to The Associated Press saying they “are aware of the matter and are gathering more information.”

The Associated Press contacted Cooper’s agent for comment but has not received a response.

Selected in the seventh round from Ohio State during the 2021 draft, Cooper is beginning his sixth year with Denver. He has been a starter in every contest since 2023 and recorded 31 1/2 career sacks, with eight coming last season when he also notched a playoff sack.

Cooper achieved a personal-best 10 1/2 sacks in 2024 and secured a four-year, $54 million contract extension late in that season.

Denver launched the on-field portion of their offseason training program this week, and Cooper took part in Thursday’s practice session that was accessible to media personnel.

The Chicago Bears’ board of directors has given the green light to proceed with constructing a new stadium in Hammond, Indiana, the franchise revealed on Friday. This decision would result in the team playing their home games outside of Illinois for the first time since the organization was established.

“We believe a world-class stadium project in Hammond will transform the region, connecting Northwest Indiana to the South Side of Chicago through the Loop and across neighborhoods and suburbs stretching north of the city,” Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey and president and CEO Kevin Warren said in a joint statement.

“It will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses.”

This development follows just four days after the Bears indicated they were maintaining a “late spring/early summer timeline” for assessing possible stadium locations in Hammond and Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Just this week, Illinois state legislators concluded their spring session without passing a last-ditch stadium funding proposal designed to retain the Bears within Illinois borders.

Constructing their new venue in Indiana would mark a historic shift for the Bears, who would be departing Illinois for home games for the first time during their 106-year existence.

The Inter Miami striker Lionel Messi has been selected to spearhead the MLS All-Star roster announced Friday for the upcoming exhibition against Liga MX’s elite players.

The two-time league MVP and current MLS Cup champion tops the 2026 MLS All-Star First XI chosen for the July 29 match at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

Nashville SC contributes three players to the team, while the Chicago Fire adds two representatives. The selections came through voting by MLS supporters, players and media based on first-half season performance, with the league currently paused for the FIFA World Cup.

Messi, earning his third MLS All-Star selection, joins the forward line with Hugo Cuypers from Chicago Fire and Son Heung-Min from LAFC.

The midfield features Sebastian Berhalter from Vancouver Whitecaps, Zavier Gozo from Real Salt Lake and Hany Mukhtar from Nashville.

The defensive unit includes Anthony Markanich from Minnesota United, Mbekezeli Mbokazi from Chicago Fire, Tim Ream from Charlotte and Andy Najar from Nashville, with Brian Schwake from Nashville serving as goalkeeper.

The complete 26-player All-Star Game roster will be filled out with 13 additional players selected by Charlotte head coach Dean Smith and two more chosen by MLS Commissioner Don Garber.

German tennis player Alexander Zverev has secured his place in the French Open championship match after defeating Jakub Mensik in a four-set semifinal battle on Friday in Paris.

The 29-year-old overcame the 26th-seeded Czech player with scores of 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 on Court Philippe Chatrier, bringing him one step closer to capturing his first Grand Slam championship.

Zverev, who has previously fallen short in three major finals including a French Open final two years earlier, will await the outcome of the all-Italian semifinal between 10th seed Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Arnaldi to determine his Sunday opponent.

“I knew that it would be my toughest challenge. I managed it and I won, so I’m happy,” Zverev commented after his victory, noting his achievement as only the fifth active player to reach multiple Roland Garros title matches.

“It’s amazing the way he (Mensik) played these last two weeks, he beat so many unbelievable players. He started playing amazing in the third set, stepping up his level, but this is a Grand Slam with best-of-five-set matches,” Zverev explained.

“Things happen and your opponents will play better. You have to deal with it. I hope to play another great match on Sunday,” he added.

The opening set remained competitive until Zverev capitalized on his opportunity in the 11th game, executing a crosscourt backhand winner to create a break point opportunity. He converted the chance when Mensik’s return found the net, allowing the world number three to serve out the set with a powerful ace.

Zverev maintained his momentum in the second set, breaking early as the 20-year-old Mensik struggled in his first Grand Slam semifinal appearance. The Czech player appeared overwhelmed during a changeover, sitting with a towel covering his head as Zverev extended his advantage with a second break to claim the set decisively.

Following a lengthy medical timeout to address a neck problem, Mensik regrouped in the third set, combining powerful serves with skillful drop shots to break Zverev’s serve and take a 4-2 lead before winning the set. However, Zverev responded strongly in the fourth set, closing out the match without significant difficulty to advance to his second French Open final.

German automaker Audi remains committed to Formula One despite ongoing discussions about major engine regulation changes that could bring back V8 power units by 2030 or 2031.

The company’s Chief Executive Gernot Doellner addressed concerns at the Monaco Grand Prix, stating that potential shifts away from current turbo hybrid systems wouldn’t force Audi out of the sport it just entered this season.

Formula One’s governing body FIA is pushing for less complex and more affordable engines in future regulations, with president Mohammed Ben Sulayem supporting a return to naturally aspirated V8 engines powered by sustainable fuels.

When reporters asked if the proposed changes could end Audi’s involvement, Doellner responded: “No, not right now. I believe and trust that we will have a good discussion regarding the regulations and we will definitely have sustainable fuels … it’s more in some areas a philosophical question.”

The CEO made his comments following Audi’s introduction of the Nuvolari, the manufacturer’s debut supercar featuring high-performance hybrid technology. While expressing openness to different engine configurations, Doellner emphasized his company’s preference for turbocharged systems.

“That’s definitely more important than talking about the number of cylinders,” he explained. “We prefer turbo due to the efficiency aspect. The Nuvolari has a V8. Audi has no problem with V8s.”

The FIA’s push for V8 engines stems from desires to cut expenses and simplify technology while bringing back the distinctive loud sounds that characterized Formula One racing in earlier eras.

Despite showing flexibility on cylinder count, Doellner stressed that Audi’s main concern involves shaping future rules that preserve energy efficiency and cost management while giving manufacturers room to enhance their power systems.

“Our focus is on the actual regulation and to optimise that, to optimise our drivetrain to the regulation we have,” he stated.

“Of course we just entered, we invested in a drivetrain concept, and so we are not keen on changing soon. We are happy with stability.”

The executive expressed confidence in ongoing regulatory discussions, noting: “The process is running. It’s in good hands and we are part of that process together with the other engine manufacturers. FIA is leading the process and I’m very optimistic that the outcome will be a good one.”

Current Formula One cars utilize V6 turbo hybrid power systems that split energy equally between traditional combustion and electric components.

Rising concerns about expenses and technical complexity have created momentum for adjusting that balance to 40-60 for the upcoming season, with possible elimination of hybrid systems entirely in favor of V8 engines not used since 2013.

RALEIGH, N.C. — A wild final quarter-hour of hockey saw the Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights light up the scoreboard with five goals Thursday night in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, with one additional score disallowed.

The dramatic conclusion somehow topped the excitement from the series opener two days prior, when Vegas’ Tomas Hertl netted the game-winner with 3:24 remaining on the clock. With the series now even, the Hurricanes mounted an incredible comeback from a multiple-goal disadvantage.

Here’s the breakdown of the action:

Trailing 2-0 after generating minimal offensive pressure through two periods and most of the third, Carolina trapped the Golden Knights in their defensive zone, firing three shots at goaltender Carter Hart. When Vegas cleared the puck down the ice, the home crowd sensed their team gaining momentum.

“The building got going,” captain Jordan Staal said. “Obviously, we just needed a spark.”

Logan Stankoven, who has emerged as one of Carolina’s top performers throughout the playoffs, decided to create his own opportunity. He stripped the puck from Rasmus Andersson behind the goal, moved toward the net and deflected the puck off defender Jeremy Lauzon for the score.

“It’s tough to find goals,” Staal said. “We got a bounce. That’s kind of all it took.”

The shift in energy was immediate, and Carolina’s fourth line maintained the pressure. William Carrier managed to stay onside and, while getting entangled with Lauzon, fed the puck to teammate Mark Jankowski on the rush, who beat Hart to level the score.

“I didn’t have a lot of time, honestly,” said Jankowski, who notched his first playoff goal after having two others disallowed. “Just got it on my stick, got my head up and just tried to give my best shot possible. Didn’t have a lot of thought behind it, honestly. Instinct half kicked in there.”

With Vegas forward Ivan Barbashev, a two-time Cup winner, positioned near the net with space to work, Carolina netminder Frederik Andersen extended across his crease to deflect the puck with his stick blade. After players swarmed the area, the puck found its way into the net, but referee Jean Hebert immediately nullified the goal, ruling goaltender interference due to contact with Andersen.

Golden Knights coach John Tortorella disputed the decision. Officials and the NHL’s on-site review center quickly upheld the original call, awarding Carolina a power play opportunity.

“I saw a loose puck in front of Freddie,” Tortorella said. “Our player stabbed it, didn’t move the goalie and it goes through him into the other side. I’d challenge it 10 out of 10 times.”

Carolina entered the man-advantage having failed on all four previous power play chances in the series and converting just 7 of 60 opportunities during the playoffs. Shayne Gostisbehere fired from the blue line, with Staal deflecting the shot past Hart from close range to give the Hurricanes their first lead of the contest.

“Just shooting pucks and finding ways to get it to the net,” Staal said. “Just finding ways to get a good, quality shot.”

Jackson Blake’s interference penalty on Barbashev gave Vegas their own power play chance. Carolina’s penalty killers successfully defended the advantage, maintaining their impressive 56-for-60 record, good for 93.3% efficiency.

Moments after the man-advantage ended and with Hart pulled for an extra attacker, Golden Knights captain Mark Stone evened the score. The puck deflected off Stone, and Carolina’s Jaccob Slavin accidentally directed it into his own goal.

Hertl’s tripping penalty on Staal at 3:17 of overtime gave the Hurricanes another power play opportunity.

Gostisbehere connected with Seth Jarvis, who had been moved to the third line by coach Rod Brind’Amour due to his recent struggles. Jarvis unleashed a one-timer that beat Hart, securing a 4-3 victory for his team.

“It’s huge,” Jarvis said. “To be able to contribute to win and help the team out like that is nice, get the power play going even more after Jordo, follow his lead. Just keep this wave rolling now.”

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Before the opening game of the NBA Finals, Victor Wembanyama briefly left the basketball court to receive greetings from several supporters wearing San Antonio Spurs uniforms, then lowered his head to participate in a brief prayer with them.

These supporters are the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco.

During basketball games, they go by the name Spurs Nuns.

While New York boasts celebrity superfans like Ben Stiller, Tina Fey, and Tracy Morgan, San Antonio features a collection of nuns who don Spurs uniforms over their religious clothing. This connection spans approximately two decades, and the sisters believe it serves their purpose perfectly.

“We’re serving the poor and the young,” said Sr. Bernadette Mota, the director of the department of mission advancement for the Salesian Sisters. “And in order to reach the young where they’re at, you have to love what they love and then they’ll love who you love. So, we have that affinity with the Spurs because it gives us an avenue to do our mission with the young people that we serve.”

This unusual story began in an extraordinary manner.

According to the account, approximately twenty years ago, some retired sisters — who were Texas natives and devoted Spurs supporters — would follow the games through television or radio broadcasts, with some even watching from hospital beds. They would root for every player and coach Gregg Popovich. However, when Popovich appeared frustrated during games, several sisters decided to send him correspondence.

“They would write to Coach Popovich and let him know when they thought he was he doing great and let him know when he lost his temper — but they were really supporting him,” Mota said. “He’s the one that actually responded back to them, thanking them for their support for him and for the Spurs. It was really just a very organic conversation that started all of this.”

Indeed, the sisters would gently correct Pop when he misbehaved.

“They would, in a nice way, in a very nice way,” Mota said. “They’d be like, ‘Coach, you lost your temper there, come on, we’re praying for you, you can do better.’”

Popovich and the Spurs have maintained their connection with the sisters ever since. Popovich’s deceased wife Erin, who passed away in 2018, also maintained strong relationships with the sisters and supported their work. The partnership has benefited both sides; the Spurs enjoy having the sisters attend games, and publicity about the nuns’ activities beyond basketball has resulted in numerous people volunteering to support their cause.

“We’ve had a number of individual people reach out and they’ve been donating anywhere from $10 to $100 and we’ve had a few ones who have larger capacity reach out, too,” Mota said. “All of this is divine providence, God’s gift, because we’re actually very much in need. Our mission, we rely on the generosity of people who are our partners and collaborators in our mission.”

The sisters represent just one fan organization that the Spurs have welcomed. This season also introduced the Jackals — a supporter group conceived by Wembanyama with goals of recreating the atmosphere found at European soccer games, featuring coordinated cheers, percussion, and similar activities throughout contests.

The nuns offer prayers. The Jackals sing “Olé, Olé, Olé.”

Different methods, identical goals.

“I’ve known for years that the Spurs community had this strength in them,” Wembanyama said. “Now to finally see it being channeled into something organized and efficient and effective, it’s a great joy.”

Joy. That’s the same term the sisters employ.

Those within the Spurs organization certainly observed that the sisters provided Luke Kornet with a special blessing during the Western Conference finals, and he subsequently made an amazing defensive block late in the fourth quarter of Game 7 in Oklahoma City, helping secure San Antonio’s victory in that contest and their advancement to this championship series.

Divine intervention? Perhaps.

The sisters also recognize that Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for June focuses on the importance of sports and their ability to foster peace and respect worldwide.

“I don’t know if his people who helped him out in terms of creating prayer intentions were also in tune with what’s going on with the sisters and the San Antonio Spurs,” Mota said. “Maybe, maybe not. I have no idea. But I just thought it was pretty awesome that his prayer intention for June is for sports.”

Soccer enthusiasts typically travel across the globe to witness their national teams battle on the world’s biggest sporting platform, the World Cup. They gather in bars and supporter zones, chanting songs and discussing championship predictions.

However, this year presents a different scenario for devoted followers, who claim tournament organizers have created the most unwelcoming World Cup atmosphere they’ve encountered. High ticket costs, expensive intercity transportation, and worries about U.S. entry procedures have led some to remain in their home countries.

Mike Wilson, an IT worker based in London, has attended four World Cups during the last two decades. This summer, he plans to stay in Europe and view portions of the competition from a beach in Portugal.

Emiliano Becerra, an Argentine physician, typically supports his team throughout each elimination phase. This tournament, he’ll watch two initial games before returning home.

Peter Bergakker, a Dutch-born finance manager, traveled to South Africa to witness the Netherlands compete in the 2010 World Cup championship match. However, regardless of how far the “Oranje” progress this summer, he stated he won’t journey to the U.S.

The precise number of supporters choosing to stay away remains unknown, but concerning indicators exist.

Hotel reservations have been weaker than anticipated in numerous U.S. host cities. Additionally, the president of the travel agency association in soccer-enthusiastic Uruguay reported organizing tour packages for approximately 3,000 supporters, substantially fewer than those who attended recent World Cups.

The demographic of supporters capable of traveling and taking extended time off work to support their teams during the World Cup naturally tends toward the affluent. However, past tournaments remained within reach for enthusiasts who, in many instances, would save for years to afford their flights and game tickets.

Four years earlier, lower-category Category 3 tickets for group stage games cost $69. This year, FIFA has sold them for up to $265.

The previous two tournaments in Russia and Qatar provided match attendees with complimentary transportation between host cities, although many games were significantly closer than the extensive area encompassed by the 16 stadiums hosting matches throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

While supporters at those events were prohibited by FIFA from selling their tickets on the official resale platform above face value, the sports governing organization has adopted a different strategy this time — permitting fans to resell tickets at any price they choose, with FIFA collecting 30% in fees during the process. FIFA did not respond to a comment request Thursday but has previously justified ticket prices as reflecting “record-breaking” demand.

Tomonori Akutsu, who resides outside Tokyo, said if he had understood how costly this tournament would be when he began planning, he might have reconsidered attending his sixth consecutive World Cup.

Without doubt, he believes, the U.S. has been the poorest host, and tournament organizers have shown a “complete lack of hospitality in every aspect,” referencing elements like ticket prices, an inflated resale market, expensive hotel rates and fan festivals that charge admission.

“Simply, my impression is ‘this is America,’ the ultimate capitalism,” Akutsu said.

Becerra, from Argentina, paid $1,100 to watch Argentina defeat France in the 2022 final in Qatar. For the previous three World Cups, he supported Argentina through the knockout phases.

Not this time.

This year, he paid even more — $1,200 — for a resale ticket to watch Argentina’s game against low-ranked Jordan in Dallas.

“It’s absolutely crazy – it’s just a group stage match,” said Becerra, a 64-year-old ophthalmologist who lives in Neuquén, in northern Patagonia.

Becerra will return home before the knockout stage starts. The prices, he said, are “just not possible for me.”

Wilson, the IT specialist from England, said he and his friends chose to skip this summer’s tournament because they couldn’t justify paying the prices they were seeing.

Wilson had never paid more than $200 for any World Cup match, a price that, on the resale market, barely purchases a nosebleed seat at a group stage match between two obscure teams. Instead, he and his friends have reserved a Portugal vacation.

For Wilson, the World Cup is more about the atmosphere than the matches.

“That’s the great thing about these tournaments: You’re sitting at a hostel, chatting with U.S. fans, and then you go to a bar up the road and there are loads of Chileans who have just taken over the place,” Wilson said, recalling a memorable night in Johannesburg in 2010. “It’s stuff like that which makes the World Cup. But now they’ve just priced everyone out.”

Mark Doidge, a sociologist at England’s Loughborough University, said World Cups have long been characterized by their traveling supporters, pointing to Colombia’s famous “Birdman” and the sea of St. George’s crosses at every England match. Rising costs, he said, risk losing exactly those fans.

“Most of those buying expensive tickets are not those passionate fans, but wealthy people paying for an experience,” he said.

There is at least one group of supporters that appears determined to come regardless of the cost: the Scots, who are eager to see their team compete in their first World Cup in 28 years.

Campbell Lewis and his friends began booking refundable accommodations across the U.S. as soon as Scotland qualified last year before prices rose.

With tens of thousands of Scottish fans expected to attend, tickets for their team’s matches have proven harder to obtain.

But after prices began to drop in recent weeks, Lewis bought two tickets for Scotland’s second match for him and his 10-year-old son. He and his friends are still waiting until the final days to get tickets to the team’s opener against Haiti, though. As of Thursday, the cheapest resale ticket for that match outside Boston exceeded $600.

“For a lot of Scottish people of my generation, this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” he said. “We were all kids the last time we qualified. And even though the prices have gotten out of hand, there’s just this determination that we want to go.”

U.S. entry requirements may also be limiting international visitors.

Unlike Russia in 2018, which waived visa requirements for ticketholders, and Qatar in 2022, which streamlined entry for fans, many traveling to the U.S. still face strict visa requirements. Until the U.S. reversed course last month, ticket-holding fans from Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia were even going to have to pay as much as $15,000 in bonds to enter the country.

Carlos Pera, president of Uruguay’s travel agency association, recently told Uruguay’s Subrayado that U.S. visa requirements were among the reasons fewer Uruguayans are making the trip this year.

U.S. officials have pushed back on concerns about visitors encountering an unwelcome environment, and the White House’s World Cup task force has highlighted efforts to prioritize visa interviews for fans with tickets. Andrew Giuliani, who leads the task force, dismissed concerns Thursday that traditional traveling supporters may be staying away.

“We want superfans and first-time visitors alike to know: America welcomes you to what will be the greatest World Cup yet,” he said in a statement.

For some fans, however, the concern goes beyond visas and cost.

Bergakker, a 48-year-old Dutch financial controller who lives near Heidelberg, Germany, said President Donald Trump’s “hostile” approach toward European allies has changed his view of traveling to the U.S.

Bergakker has attended two World Cups and four European Championships and said he is extremely susceptible to “Oranjekoorts” — the orange fever that grips Dutch fans as a tournament progresses.

A deep Netherlands run usually would be all it takes to get him on a plane, no matter the price of tickets. But Bergakker said he worries his criticism of Trump on social media could lead to problems at the border, a concern the White House rejected. A spokesperson said Thursday that a Customs and Border Protection proposal to scrutinize World Cup visitors’ social media accounts was never enacted.

Still, Bergakker said that as long as Trump is president, “this Oranje fan won’t be visiting.”

MANAUS, Brazil — Deep in the Brazilian Amazon, locals and business owners are buzzing with excitement as the World Cup approaches.

Community members are transforming Rua 3, a downtown Manaus street, where an outdoor celebration fills the air with Brazilian melodies. Giant flags showcasing all 48 nations competing in the soccer championship have been painted directly onto the roadway, while matching banners made from paper and string create a colorful overhead display.

Local residents express their desire to gather under these decorations to view matches once the competition begins on June 11.

“The rain prevented us from finishing the work. But now summer has arrived and we can finish, complete the work calmly … and cheer for the national team,” said Aldri Tavares Castro, 42, a visual artist.

Young people are lending a hand with the project, scaling ladders to connect banners while others kick soccer balls on the pavement as tourists arrive to photograph and experience the festive atmosphere.

“The residents unite for a cause,” said Ezequiel Pedro da Silva Filho, 62, a school administrator and also the Rua 3 organizer. He and fellow Manaus community members plan to gather beneath the colorful display to watch Brazil’s World Cup competition, beginning with their opening Group C match against Morocco on June 13.

RALEIGH, N.C. — An unsuccessful coach’s challenge by John Tortorella became a pivotal turning point during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday evening.

The Vegas Golden Knights thought they had found the back of the net with five minutes remaining in regulation time, but referee Jean Hebert immediately disallowed the goal, ruling goaltender interference. Hebert declared that he and his fellow on-ice officials believed Ivan Barbashev had pushed Carolina Hurricanes netminder Frederik Andersen while forcing the puck into the goal.

Following some consideration, Tortorella chose to challenge the ruling, and officials along with the on-site NHL situation room quickly upheld the original no-goal decision. Carolina converted on the resulting power play just 25 seconds afterward and ultimately prevailed 4-3 in overtime to even the series.

“I saw a loose puck in front of Freddie,” Tortorella said. “Our player stabbed it, didn’t move the goalie and it goes through him into the other side. I’d challenge it 10 out of 10 times.”

The review focused exclusively on goalie interference and had no connection to whether the whistle had blown before the puck entered the net.

“The ruling on the play was goaltender interference,” executive vice president and director of officiating Stephen Walkom told a pool reporter. “He waved it (off) immediately. He believed that it was under the goalie, and the Vegas player went after the puck and interfered with the goalie and his ability to freeze the puck and waived it off immediately.”

Mark Jankowski had evened the score for the Hurricanes just moments before after Logan Stankoven began the rally from a 2-0 deficit. On Carolina’s bench, players and coach Rod Brind’Amour remained uncertain about how the review would conclude.

“Obviously, you’re hoping for the best,” center Sebsastian Aho said. “You can’t really control it. I didn’t have a really good view of it, so I had no clue. So, I was just hoping for the best.”

Brind’Amour chose not to challenge a potential goalie interference situation in Game 1 on Tuesday evening because multiple factors were involved. His judgment proved correct once more.

“It happened to us in I guess the first game: When it’s called a goal or no goal on the ice, it better be 100% to challenge it,” Brind’Amour said. “That’s the rule we go by. So, they called no goal on the ice, so that’s kind of how I think it worked out. I don’t know. I don’t know what the explanation is. It looked like he had it covered, and then all of a sudden it was in the net. I don’t know. I haven’t really looked at it. I was just happy that it went our way.”

Andersen stretched to his limit to make a paddle save against Barbashev’s initial attempt. A scramble developed near the crease as players lunged for the puck, trying either to score or prevent a goal.

“To me, it felt like a no goal,” Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal said. “Obviously, I’m on the other side, but I’m sure they have a different opinion. My gut was like, ‘Man, there’s no way.’ What an incredible effort my Freddie just staying with that one and finding a way to get a piece of that. I was flopping everywhere. I didn’t know what was going on. Freddy just stuck with it. The guy’s an absolute animal. That was a pretty crazy play and obviously a game-changer for us.”

A failed coach’s challenge results in a two-minute minor penalty. Vegas had successfully killed all four previous Carolina power plays in the series up to that moment.

“I’m not sure how they go about their thought process, Brind’Amour said. “They’ve obviously killed all the penalties. That’s a big one.”

Staal ensured the Golden Knights couldn’t kill this penalty, deflecting defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere’s shot from the point for Carolina’s eighth power play goal of the playoffs. Seth Jarvis added the ninth with his overtime winner, though the extra period might never have occurred without Tortorella’s challenge.

“You’d like to make them pay every time,” Aho said. “It’s a big swing because the other option is going down a goal. But other than that, every time you get a power play, you’re trying to score. So, it’s not that different, but obviously it was a big swing.”

RALEIGH, N.C. — Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb was forced to exit Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday night after being struck in the face by a puck.

McNabb was hit directly in the face by a slap shot from Carolina’s Nikolaj Ehlers during the first period. The defenseman immediately dropped his stick, fell to the ice, and clutched his nose before skating off and heading to the locker room.

“It’s a scary play,” forward Brett Howden said. “You never want to see that. Just hope he’s doing all right. We haven’t seen him yet but hope he’s doing OK.”

McNabb was unable to return to action, forcing Vegas to continue the game with only five defensemen available.

“You lose a guy like Nabber who logs heavy minutes, such a good teammate, plays the game so hard, it’s tough,” captain Mark Stone said. “They battled as hard as they could.”

Coach John Tortorella said “they played well” and had no update when asked about McNabb’s condition after the Hurricanes’ overtime victory that tied the series.

The injury came after McNabb recorded the first three-assist game of his NHL career in Game 1. He is among three original Golden Knights players who have remained with the franchise throughout its nine-year history and are appearing in the final for a third time.

“Any time you see that happen to a teammate, especially to a guy like Nabber who is a huge part of this team, a leader, it’s tough,” fellow D-man Noah Hanifin said. “It’s hard to see that happen to any guy on the ice. We’re just hoping for the best for him.”

The Golden Knights had restored their complete, healthy roster for the series opener when Jeremy Lauzon returned from injury. However, that full lineup was short-lived.

If McNabb cannot play in Game 3 on Saturday, either Ben Hutton, a left-handed shooter, or Kaedan Korczak, who had been filling in for Lauzon, is expected to take his place.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Carolina Hurricanes players had been saying all along that their star players and power-play unit would eventually deliver crucial performances.

It appears they were correct.

The timing couldn’t have been better, as it allowed the Hurricanes to stay alive in their Stanley Cup Final matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights.

Seth Jarvis fired a one-timer beyond Carter Hart during a power play 3:56 into overtime — a pivotal moment for both Jarvis and a special teams unit that had struggled during the postseason — propelling the Hurricanes to a 4-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday evening. The win capped a remarkable evening that saw Carolina down 2-0 heading into the final period and appearing outplayed, before mounting a comeback with three straight goals, then regrouping after surrendering a late equalizer that sent the game to extra time.

More significantly, the Hurricanes transformed what could have been a devastating 0-2 series hole after dropping both home games into a deadlocked series as they prepare to travel west following this dramatic shift in momentum.

Carolina’s man-advantage unit had managed only 7 goals in 58 opportunities (12.1%) entering Thursday’s contest after finishing fourth during the regular season with a 24.9% success rate. However, that same unit delivered twice when it mattered most on Thursday, beginning when captain Jordan Staal deflected Shayne Gostisbehere’s shot past Carter Hart from near the crease to give Carolina a 3-2 advantage with the extra man.

Jarvis then provided the decisive strike, marking just his fourth playoff goal for the top-line player who paced the team with 32 goals during the regular season.

After connecting from the left circle, he glided toward the blue line and dropped to one knee, sliding across the ice as his teammates poured over the boards in an emotional celebration.

The third contest of this best-of-seven series takes place Saturday in Las Vegas.

The Chicago Cubs pulled off a stunning comeback Thursday night, erasing a five-run deficit with four runs in the final inning to defeat the Athletics 7-6 in dramatic fashion.

Dansby Swanson came through with the game-tying hit while Pete Crow-Armstrong delivered the walk-off single that sealed the victory for Chicago, who had struggled recently with only three wins in their previous 17 contests.

Crow-Armstrong also contributed a solo home run earlier in the game, while Ian Happ powered a two-run homer and drove in three runs total for the Cubs.

The Athletics received strong offensive performances from Shea Langeliers, who connected for two home runs including a rare inside-the-park blast. Tyler Soderstrom and Jonah Heim also homered for the visiting team, but their efforts weren’t enough to complete a series sweep.

The ninth-inning collapse fell on Joel Kuhnel (1-2), who couldn’t preserve a three-run advantage for the Athletics. Michael Busch started the rally with a leadoff double and came around to score on Happ’s one-out double, cutting the deficit to 6-4. Nico Hoerner followed with a base hit to put runners at first and third.

After Hoerner was caught stealing for the second out, Moises Ballesteros managed an infield hit that brought Happ home. Pinch-hitter Seiya Suzuki then reached base safely with another single to left field.

Swanson’s clutch hit to center field off Luis Medina evened the score at 6-6, setting the stage for Crow-Armstrong’s soft single to right field that brought Suzuki home with the winning run.

Ryan Rolison (4-1) earned the victory after throwing 1 2/3 scoreless innings and recording three strikeouts for Chicago.

Athletics starter J.T. Ginn turned in a quality performance, allowing just one run on two hits across six innings while striking out eight and walking one batter.

Chicago’s Shota Imanaga endured his worst outing of the season, surrendering a career-high four home runs over six-plus innings. He was charged with six runs on six hits while striking out five and walking one.

The game remained scoreless through three innings before Langeliers opened the scoring in the fourth with an opposite-field drive that barely cleared the ivy-covered wall in right-center field.

The Athletics extended their lead in the sixth when Williams drew a walk with one out and scored on Henry Bolte’s double to left-center field.

Langeliers added to his night with two outs when he lifted a fly ball to center field that Crow-Armstrong misjudged completely. The outfielder stood motionless with his arms outstretched as the ball landed roughly 30 feet behind him, allowing Langeliers to circle the bases for an inside-the-park home run.

The Cubs finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth when Crow-Armstrong crushed an 0-2 slider from Ginn into the right field seats.

The Athletics appeared to put the game away in the seventh inning when Soderstrom launched the fifth pitch from Imanaga over the left-center field wall. Two pitches later, Heim followed with his own blast to center, giving the visitors a commanding 6-1 advantage.

Chicago responded immediately in their half of the seventh against reliever Scott Barlow. Alex Bregman led off with a double, and Happ followed with a towering 446-foot home run to right field that brought the Cubs within three runs and set up their eventual comeback.

The Vegas Golden Knights have positioned themselves well in the Stanley Cup Final, holding a 2-0 advantage over the Carolina Hurricanes through two periods of their second matchup. Brett Howden powered the Golden Knights’ offense with a pair of goals, bringing his playoff total to a series-leading 13 scores as Vegas pursues back-to-back wins in the championship series.

The Golden Knights faced a setback when defenseman Brayden McNabb suffered an injury midway through the opening period. McNabb was struck in the face by a slap shot from Nikolaj Ehlers, immediately left the ice, and did not return for the second period. The series continues Saturday when the teams head to Las Vegas for the third game.

In basketball news, the NBA has issued lifetime bans to two individuals following a court invasion during the opening game of the NBA Finals. One person was taken into custody after rushing onto the playing surface and apparently taking a photograph with Victor Wembanyama during the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s matchup between San Antonio and New York. The Spurs center seemed unaffected by the disruption. League officials have not revealed the second person’s involvement in the incident.

A separate situation arose in the game’s closing moments when New York’s Jalen Brunson appeared disturbed by comments from a courtside spectator. Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed the league is investigating what was communicated to Brunson during that exchange.

New York City has erupted in celebration as the Knicks reach their first NBA Finals in nearly three decades. The enthusiasm spans from Bay Ridge to the Bronx, with skyrocketing ticket costs and packed venues at Madison Square Garden. Thousands gathered outside the arena to witness the Knicks’ 105-95 triumph over San Antonio in the series opener.

Brooklyn establishments overflowed with fans, and “Knicks in Four” cheers rang out past midnight following the victory. Central Park hosted a complimentary viewing event, with similar celebrations occurring throughout all five boroughs of the city.

President Donald Trump has announced plans to attend an upcoming NBA Finals contest in New York to support his hometown team. The president revealed Thursday he has accepted an invitation from Knicks owner James Dolan, with Monday’s third game as his target date for attendance. Trump, a longtime sports enthusiast and New York native, watched portions of the Knicks’ opening win against San Antonio and described the team as “dominant.” League officials believe Trump would become the first sitting president to witness an NBA Finals game in person.

At the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, defending champion Scottie Scheffler faces an uphill battle after a challenging opening round. Windy conditions at Muirfield Village contributed to Scheffler’s 73, placing him six strokes behind the leaders as he seeks his third consecutive title at the event.

Four players share the top spot: Tommy Fleetwood, Wyndham Clark, U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun, and Ryan Gerard, all posting scores of 67. Only seven competitors managed to break 70, while 22 players finished under par. Gerard’s round included just five pars in what he described as a wild day. Scheffler expressed particular frustration at the 16th hole when shifting winds caused his ball to find the water.

FIFA has implemented a last-minute policy change prohibiting World Cup attendees from bringing refillable water containers into the tournament’s 16 venues across North America. Many stadiums offer minimal protection from sun exposure, making the decision controversial among fan groups.

The England supporters organization Free Lions criticized the move, stating FIFA had previously assured fans they could carry empty plastic bottles to fill with complimentary water at a tournament where extreme heat is anticipated. FIFA justified the restriction as necessary “to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees” from thrown bottles, promising water pricing consistent with other stadium events.

Iranian national team players have opened up about the challenges of World Cup preparation amid ongoing tensions with the host nation, creating an unprecedented tournament situation. Two team members discussed their efforts to maintain soccer focus despite political distractions.

Midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi, 29, acknowledged the difficulty of balancing political circumstances while preparing for his third World Cup appearance. The squad has been training in Turkey and plans to relocate to Tijuana, Mexico, due to visa complications. First-time World Cup participant Mohammad Ghorbani stressed the significance of representing their nation, saying the team hopes to deliver happiness and pride to Iranian supporters.

The Green Bay Packers have secured another key receiver with a contract extension for Christian Watson. The team announced Thursday they had reached terms with Watson without revealing specifics, but a source familiar with the agreement told The Associated Press the 27-year-old receiver signed a four-year, $110.5 million extension running through 2030, including a $31 million signing bonus.

This continues the Packers’ strategy of locking up their top pass-catchers, following Jayden Reed’s April extension worth $50.25 million in new money with $20 million guaranteed over three years.

Dallas Cowboys receiver George Pickens remains absent from voluntary offseason activities, though coach Brian Schottenheimer reports positive communication with the player. Pickens signed his $27.3 million franchise tag over a month ago but has not joined team workouts.

The Pro Bowl selection isn’t obligated to participate until mandatory minicamp from June 16-18. Pickens delayed signing the one-year deal for two months; the contract triples the 25-year-old’s earnings from his four-year rookie agreement while he “takes care of his business,” according to Schottenheimer.

The NCAA stands ready to expand Division I athlete eligibility from four competitive seasons to five while establishing age restrictions. This addresses a debate that has persisted since college athletics began, when participation length and age requirements have remained contentious issues.

Historical examples include Walter Camp, known as football’s founding father, who was in his seventh playing season at Yale when injury ended his 1882 campaign. Amos Alonzo Stagg was 27 during his fifth season in 1889. The proposed rule modification aims to address concerns about increasingly older team rosters.

President Donald Trump has confirmed his plans to be in attendance for upcoming NBA Finals matchups in New York after receiving an invitation from Knicks owner James Dolan.

When asked Thursday about attending the championship series featuring the Knicks versus the San Antonio Spurs, Trump responded: “The answer is yes. (Dolan) has invited me, and I’m going. I’ll be there. It could be Monday (for Game 3). Maybe I’ll do both (with Game 4 on Wednesday).”

NBA commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged that having the president in attendance will necessitate additional security measures at Madison Square Garden, though he doesn’t expect it to take away from the games themselves.

“I am sure there will be announcements about coming early,” Silver commented, “but I think fans are very understanding of that. They recognize that it adds to the bigness of the event.”

Should Trump attend, he would make history as the first sitting president to watch the NBA Finals. The most recent sitting president to attend a regular-season NBA contest was Barack Obama in 2015.

“I think sports in particular is something where we can emphasize what we have in common, not what pulls us apart,” Silver noted. “It creates a sense of belonging. We’re seeing that in New York and I think President Trump is very much a New Yorker and I’m thrilled that yet another New Yorker wants to participate in the enthusiasm and the joy around this Knick team.”

Trump revealed that Dolan had previously offered him tickets to Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals last month, but the Knicks completed a four-game sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers to reach their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.

The Knicks are once again facing the Spurs, the same team they met in 1999. San Antonio won that series and is now working to deny New York their first championship since 1973.

New York captured a 105-95 victory over the host Spurs on Wednesday, extending their winning streak to 12 games. They have the opportunity to take a 2-0 series advantage on the road Friday in the best-of-seven format.

“(The Knicks) find a way to do it,” Trump said Thursday. “They’re really great, a great team. I’m happy for Jim (Dolan) because Jim has really been fighting hard to produce such a team.”

Throughout his presidency, Trump has been a regular attendee at major sporting events, including the Super Bowl, U.S. Open tennis tournament, Ryder Cup and Daytona 500 across his two terms in office. Most recently, he attended a UFC event at Madison Square Garden in November 2024.

Trump’s connection to New York runs deep, having been a longtime resident, and he maintains relationships with both the franchise and Dolan, who also manages the venue and the NHL’s New York Rangers.

“Before he ever ran for office, he was a big Knicks fan,” Silver said regarding Trump. “I’ve been with the league for a long time. I was there at many Knicks games with him in the old days. He attended many of our drafts when they used to take place at Madison Square Garden, and he actually appeared in one of our ‘I love this Game’ spots when I was running NBA entertainment years ago” (in 2004).

SAN ANTONIO — While Jalen Brunson showed tremendous determination in New York’s opening NBA Finals win, veteran utility player Josh Hart ranks as the second most crucial performer in the series’ opening contest.

The 6-foot-5 Hart managed just three points on 1-of-5 shooting. However, he dominated the boards with 15 rebounds while adding six assists and four steals in New York’s 105-95 triumph over the home team San Antonio Spurs. Hart is eager to continue his impact when the teams meet again Friday evening for Game 2.

The 31-year-old Hart grabbed three more boards than any other player on the court, including San Antonio’s 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama.

“His energy is just relentless, it doesn’t stop,” Brunson said Thursday of Hart, his former college teammate at Villanova. “I mean, he eats candy all the time. That tells you who he is. He’s a big kid with an absurd amount of energy.”

Hart’s impact proved valuable as New York extended its playoff victory streak to 12 games, matching the second-longest run in NBA history.

Hart posted averages of 12.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists across 66 regular-season contests. His playoff statistics show 10.9, 9.1 and 4.7, respectively.

Hart, however, focuses solely on statistics when discussing wins and losses.

“It takes humility and just a willingness to sacrifice,” Hart said. “We’re in the NBA Finals — there’s millions of people watching. It’s easy to get wrapped up in human nature of wanting to get recognition, wanting to score the ball, wanting to show people what you can do on the biggest stage.

“That’s not everyone’s calling and not everyone’s assignment. I know for me, that’s not really my assignment. It takes a little bit of time to find that humility.”

Knicks coach Mike Brown appreciates having such a selfless player like Hart on his roster.

“He rebounded the basketball. He was great,” Brown said. “He was great on the weak side defensively. He impacted the game in so many different ways for us. When you look at what he shot from the field, you wouldn’t think that he was probably the most impactful guy on the game last night.”

Brunson served as the offensive catalyst, scoring 13 of his 30 points during the fourth quarter. Brunson also battled through injuries — right knee, left ankle — suffered during the opening half.

New York finished Game 1 with an 11-0 surge to leave San Antonio stunned on their home court.

San Antonio managed only 6-of-21 shooting and turned the ball over five times while getting outscored by 10 points in the fourth quarter.

The Spurs roster includes numerous players experiencing their first NBA Finals, but coach Mitch Johnson rejected the idea that inexperience caused their late-game struggles.

“Old teams make bad decisions, too, at the end of games,” Johnson said. “It’s looking at a picture, understand if you see that moving forward, whatever that pattern is, whatever led to that situation, if you can recognize it and make a better decision next time or understand maybe where there’s a better opportunity to look for an advantage, we’ll try to help them with that.”

The most telling indicator of their loss was Wembanyama’s 6-of-21 field goal performance. The French star also turned the ball over six times.

He insisted he didn’t feel overwhelmed by the pressure of his debut on basketball’s biggest stage. Wembanyama also received a message from legendary director of basketball operations Gregg Popovich regarding his showing.

“In the big lines, it was that I’ve been bad and I’m better than this,” Wembanyama said of what Popovich’s message entailed.

Wembanyama still managed 26 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots.

One San Antonio player who struggled was De’Aaron Fox, who managed seven points on 3-of-13 shooting while frequently guarding Brunson.

Fox acknowledged the obvious Thursday — his shooting must improve — while emphasizing that Wednesday’s contest represents just one defeat.

“We know it’s a long series,” Fox said. “Obviously you want to win every game that you have on your home court, but it’s not the way it happens every day. We try to go in and fix the things we need to fix. Obviously we want a different outcome.”

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton announced Thursday that quarterback Bo Nix is making steady progress recovering from his fractured ankle and should be ready for the team’s mandatory minicamp scheduled for June 16-18.

Nix was present but did not take part in team activities during the Broncos’ initial three days of voluntary organized team activities, which wrapped up Thursday in the first session accessible to reporters.

Payton described Nix’s rehabilitation as progressing well following the right ankle fracture he sustained during Denver’s divisional-round playoff victory against the Buffalo Bills on Jan. 17.

“It’s good,” Payton commented regarding Nix’s recovery status.

The coach noted that while media observers don’t witness pre-practice activities, Nix has been working on his throwing. “You don’t see the pre-practice, but he’s been throwing,” Payton explained. “I do think in our third week, when you guys (media) are out here for three straight days, I think you’ll see more of a role.”

According to Payton, Nix will likely sit out the second round of organized team activities planned for June 9-11 as well.

Currently, quarterbacks Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger are battling for the backup quarterback spot behind Nix.

The 26-year-old Nix underwent surgery three days following his injury and had an additional planned procedure performed on his ankle in April.

Since Denver selected him 12th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, Nix has energized the franchise over two seasons. His regular-season performance includes a 24-10 record, 64.8 completion percentage, 7,706 passing yards, and 54 touchdown passes against 23 interceptions. Additionally, he has contributed 786 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns, helping guide the Broncos to playoff appearances in both seasons.

The Texas Rangers brought back star shortstop Corey Seager from the 10-day injured list on Thursday, with plans for him to play in Friday’s home matchup against the Cleveland Guardians.

Seager had been sidelined with lower-back inflammation, with his most recent game appearance occurring on May 13.

The 32-year-old player is struggling offensively this season with a .179 batting average and is currently in a career-worst streak of 27 consecutive at-bats without a hit. Through 42 games, he has contributed seven home runs and 20 RBIs.

This marks Seager’s fifth campaign with Texas, following his 2023 World Series MVP performance when the Rangers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks in five games. That same year, he finished second in regular-season MVP voting behind Shohei Ohtani, who was then playing for the Los Angeles Angels.

Seager previously earned World Series MVP honors with the champion Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020 and has been selected as an All-Star five times throughout his career.

The Rangers are also considering bringing back outfielder Wyatt Langford before Friday’s contest.

Langford has been recovering from a forearm flexor strain suffered in April, with his last appearance for Texas coming on April 21. His current season statistics show a .238 batting average with one home run and four RBIs across 20 games. During the previous season, he produced 22 home runs, 62 RBIs and 22 stolen bases in 134 games.

The 24-year-old Langford started his rehabilitation assignment at Round Rock on Saturday, posting a 2-for-10 record with one homer and two RBIs through four minor league contests.

In corresponding roster moves, Texas sent outfielder Alejandro Osuna, 23, and third baseman Cody Freeman, 25, to Triple-A Round Rock.

Osuna compiled a .253 batting average with nine RBIs over 37 games, while Freeman went 1-for-2 in his single appearance on Wednesday.

A highly anticipated college basketball showdown between Duke and Michigan is reportedly switching venues from New York’s Madison Square Garden to a baseball stadium in Miami, according to multiple sports media outlets.

CBS Sports and Front Office Sports report that the Blue Devils and defending national champion Wolverines will now face off at loanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins, rather than at the iconic Manhattan arena.

The December 21 contest will still proceed as planned with Amazon Prime Video maintaining broadcasting rights, though venue change contracts have yet to be finalized, according to the reports.

The venue switch reportedly stems from Duke’s groundbreaking streaming deal with Amazon and complications with conference television territory agreements.

Fox serves as the Big Ten’s main broadcasting partner and objected to Amazon streaming Michigan’s game from Madison Square Garden, citing the venue falls within conference territory. Conference teams including Rutgers have previously competed at MSG, and Illinois battled Duke there in February 2024.

When Duke and Michigan launched their series last year in Washington, D.C., ESPN handled the broadcast as the ACC’s primary partner. The Big Ten anticipated its broadcast partner would cover the Duke-Michigan matchup and was reportedly “miffed” when Duke signed a three-game Amazon agreement, according to Yahoo.

Relocating to Miami removes the game from Big Ten territory, but instead of selecting a traditional basketball venue, Michigan coach Dusty May contacted Marlins owner Bruce Sherman directly, CBS Sports reports. May developed a relationship with Sherman during his tenure at Florida Atlantic, which he guided to a surprising Final Four appearance in 2023.

Sherman had previously proposed hosting an FAU game at loanDepot Park and now welcomes the Duke-Michigan clash instead.

The retractable-roof facility has never hosted basketball, though other Major League Baseball stadiums have accommodated the sport. Wisconsin and Stanford men’s teams played at Milwaukee’s American Family Field in 2022, along with Wisconsin and Kansas State women’s squads. The University of San Diego and San Diego State also competed at Petco Park in 2015.

Additionally, loanDepot Park expanded beyond baseball when it hosted the NHL Winter Classic on January 2 this year.

Formula One racing will remain a fixture in Las Vegas for years to come after officials announced Thursday a decade-long contract extension keeping the Grand Prix in Nevada’s entertainment capital through 2037.

The nighttime spectacle under bright lights showcases drivers speeding down the iconic Strip at speeds exceeding 200mph, making it one of three Formula One events held annually in the United States alongside races in Austin and Miami. Las Vegas welcomed its first Grand Prix in 2023.

The Texas venue has secured racing rights until 2034, while Miami’s agreement runs through 2041.

“We are thrilled that Formula One will continue racing in Las Vegas for many years to come,” Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali stated before this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix. The sport is owned by Liberty Media.

“Since its debut in 2023, the event has been extraordinary, rapidly establishing itself as a premier destination for great racing, world-class entertainment, global business leaders, A-list celebrities and influencers,” he added.

“We always believed that Las Vegas would become a cornerstone of our presence in the United States and this extension, together with the success of recent years, reinforces our long-term commitment to this important market.”

According to Formula One officials, the Las Vegas race has brought $3.2 billion in total economic benefits to Southern Nevada since its launch, with every event selling out completely. Official records show 300,000 people attended last year’s three-day racing weekend.

The previous year’s competition produced $43 million in combined state and local tax income while donating over $2 million to charitable organizations.

“Securing a 10-year extension through 2037 is a defining moment for the Las Vegas Grand Prix and a reflection of the strength of our local partnerships,” stated Las Vegas Grand Prix president and CEO Emily Prazer.

Multiple organizations including Las Vegas Grand Prix Inc, Clark County leadership and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority have pledged their support for the race’s continued operation.

The convention authority’s president Steve Hill called the extension a “major moment” for both the racing event and the city.

“As the spotlight of the world turns to Las Vegas, the event continues to reinforce our evolution as a premier sports and entertainment destination,” Hill commented.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs’ journey to the NBA Finals has been filled with obstacles and challenges.

During their first-round matchup with Portland, they surrendered home-court advantage before ultimately claiming the series victory. The same pattern repeated itself in the second round against Minnesota. In their Western Conference finals battle with Oklahoma City, they fell behind 2-1 before managing to eliminate the reigning champion Thunder in a grueling seven-game series.

Now in the championship round, they’ve once again surrendered home-court advantage after dropping Game 1 to the New York Knicks. It’s another familiar challenge for this resilient squad.

“We’ve been consistent in that regard,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said Thursday as his team prepares for Game 2 on Friday night. “I think one thing we have learned in our three series is that series are long. Games are long. Things shift quickly, whether that’s health, who’s playing well or hot, quote-unquote, at the time. Teams at this stage typically have shown the ability to evolve on the fly and improve within a series.”

Such improvement will be essential if the Spurs want to travel to New York with the series tied at one game each.

Their Game 1 performance featured numerous struggles: poor shooting overall (36%), dismal three-point accuracy (26%, connecting on just 11 of 43 attempts), insufficient ball movement with only 16 assists, being outscored 50-42 in the paint, and failing to protect a 14-point advantage in the third quarter. While New York deserves recognition for causing many of these problems, the Spurs recognize they can perform at a much higher level.

“I think the reason we lost that game isn’t even technical (or) tactical,” Spurs star Victor Wembanyama said. “We need to approach the game with a better mental state. We just need to play our game. We just need to be normal.”

Normal?

“‘Normal’ means trusting each other, trusting the basketball gods, trusting the game plan, executing, and not relying on talent so much to make shots or to save the day,” Wembanyama said. “We’ve been playing a certain way all season. We’ve been successful this way. There’s no reason to change the day the finals start.”

Identifying areas for improvement came easily for the Spurs.

For the Knicks currently, that task proves much more challenging.

New York has won 12 consecutive games, becoming just the third team to accomplish this feat during a single postseason. The previous two teams to achieve this — San Antonio in 1999 and Golden State in 2017 — both captured NBA titles. While the Knicks are performing like championship contenders, star guard Jalen Brunson emphasizes that New York cannot adopt any mindset suggesting their work is complete and victory is guaranteed.

“It’s all about just getting better every single day, keep chipping away, keep chipping away, being 1% better,” said Brunson, who led all scorers with 30 points in his finals debut Wednesday. “When you take steps back, how can you improve? … Having that mentality and focus and approach I think allows us to still be students of the game and still find ways to learn, even through wins, and I think we need to continue to do that.”

The Knicks had experienced their second nine-day layoff between series — an unexpected result of sweeping Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference semifinals and Cleveland in the East finals — and managed the extended break effectively.

However, New York’s Mikal Bridges anticipates Game 2 will showcase better play.

“I don’t think our Game 1s, even though we won, have been great at all,” Bridges said. “It’s tough to assimilate the emotional aspect, how physical it’s going to be when you’re in practice every day, besides being in those games. It’s tough. … Now, we kind of got a rhythm. We’ve got to be better and I know we will be Game 2.”

The Spurs share similar expectations for improvement.

While this isn’t yet a must-win situation for San Antonio, traveling to New York trailing 2-0 would make their championship quest significantly more difficult. The Spurs have overcome every challenge presented during these playoffs and must rise to the occasion once more.

“It’s very reassuring,” Wembanyama said. “We know we’re not here by chance. We’ve been through some weird — what do you call it? — weird situations, whatever. Yes, it’s reassuring to know that these guys, the 18 guys we got, are built this way. They are resilient.”

The excitement surrounding star player Jalen Brunson was evident when he learned about the astronomical cost of the most affordable seat for the upcoming Game 3 matchup between New York and San Antonio at Madison Square Garden – a staggering $7,500 on resale platforms.

When asked what entertainment would justify such an expense, the Knicks standout needed a moment to consider his response.

“That’s a good question,” Brunson remarked on Thursday, taking several seconds to think before responding: “A live Michael Jackson performance.”

The excitement is certainly electrifying.

Across all five boroughs, New York has embraced basketball fever like never before.

Not only has the franchise reached the championship series for the first time since 1997, but they’ve also maintained a perfect 12-0 streak following their comeback victory over San Antonio. After trailing by 14 points in the second half, New York secured a 105-95 triumph in Wednesday evening’s opener. The second contest takes place Friday evening in San Antonio before action returns to New York on Monday.

The entire metropolitan area appears united in support. Thousands packed Madison Square Garden to view the contest on large screens, while equally impressive crowds gathered outside beneath the Empire State Building, which was illuminated in the team’s signature blue and orange.

The MTA — the city’s transit authority — joined the celebration by decorating multiple subway stations near the arena with team colors. Mayor Zohran Mamdani even issued an executive order temporarily extending children’s bedtime hours.

“Knicks in Four!” echoed through the streets past midnight as supporters climbed streetlights and even scaled an ambulance parked outside MSG.

Comparable celebrations occurred at a complimentary viewing event in Central Park and throughout all boroughs.

Outside a Brooklyn establishment, patrons overflowed onto the sidewalk to catch the action on indoor televisions. At a nearby pizza shop, supporters gathered around a television someone had positioned in a vehicle’s open trunk.

This enthusiasm stems from the possibility of witnessing history 53 years in the making, dating back to when Willis Reed and his teammates last delivered an NBA championship to this basketball-obsessed city. The local excitement has overshadowed much discussion about the World Cup, which begins next week.

“Honestly, I just feel grateful to be here and experience the New York Knicks, doing what we haven’t done in a long time,” Owen Odigie expressed while celebrating the Game 1 victory inside Madison Square Garden. “It’s special. It’s beautiful.”

Forward Karl-Anthony Towns sensed the metropolitan area’s energy from approximately 1,800 miles away in San Antonio after the opening game.

“You feel the energy in the city, the grit, the grind, the hard work you’ve got to put in to make it in the city,” commented Towns, a New Jersey native. “I think we reflect all our fans … when we step on that court with a Knicks jersey.”

New York supporters made their mark in San Antonio as well, joining recognizable celebrities including Spike Lee, Tracy Morgan, Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller and others. Approximately 20% of the San Antonio audience consisted of Knicks supporters, some making themselves heard by chanting “Let’s go, Knicks” during the national anthem.

Considering the expensive home ticket prices, traveling to San Antonio proved more economical for many fans, even factoring in airfare and accommodation expenses. Opening game tickets in San Antonio began around $750 on resale markets.

San Antonio guard Julian Champagnie — a New York native — anticipated seeing the visiting fan contingent.

“I kind of expected that,” Champagnie commented. “I’m from New York. I know how New York fans travel and stuff like that, so I kind of expected that.”

President Donald Trump confirmed Thursday that he intends to attend an NBA Finals matchup at Madison Square Garden next week, accepting an invitation from the team’s ownership.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump expressed his enthusiasm as a devoted supporter of both the franchise and owner James Dolan. He indicated his attendance would likely occur during Game 3 on Monday, though he hasn’t eliminated the possibility of also appearing at Game 4 on Wednesday.

“The answer is yes — he’s invited me, I’m going,” Trump stated regarding Dolan’s invitation. “Maybe I’ll do both.”

According to the NBA, Trump would become the first sitting president to witness an NBA Finals contest in person. The president described himself as a “big fan” of both the team and its owner.

Despite managing ongoing military conflicts in Iran, congressional tensions, and approaching midterm elections, Trump made time to watch portions of Wednesday’s Game 1, where the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs to take an early series advantage.

“I missed the middle because I talk to generals all night long now, but I watched that end of the game and they were dominant,” Trump explained. “Really amazing.”

During a press availability following an event promoting his administration’s coal industry initiatives, Trump provided his own analysis of the game’s outcome. He noted the contest “wasn’t looking good” initially for the Knicks but praised their defensive strategy against Victor Wembanyama, the imposing Spurs center.

“I say, how do you guard this guy? He’s 7-foot-5 and he’s got a great shot, right? But they find a way to do it. They’re really great.”

Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed that no previous sitting president has attended NBA Finals games, though some former presidents have been in attendance. Silver recalled Trump’s long-standing connection to the franchise from before his political career began.

“Donald Trump, before he ever ran for office, he was a big Knicks fan,” Silver noted. “I was there at many Knicks games with him in the old days. He attended many of our drafts when they used to take place at Madison Square Garden.”

The commissioner emphasized themes of unity through sports, building on comments he made Wednesday when reports first emerged about Trump’s potential attendance.

“We can emphasize what we have in common, not what pulls us apart,” Silver said. “We’re seeing that in New York and I think President Trump is very much a New Yorker, and I’m thrilled that yet another New Yorker wants to participate in the enthusiasm and the joy around this Knick team.”

Silver acknowledged that presidential security requirements will create additional logistical challenges and likely cause delays for fans entering and leaving Madison Square Garden.

“I think the fans are very understanding of that,” Silver said. “I think they recognize that it adds to the bigness of the event.”

Two relief pitchers for the Milwaukee Brewers suffered injuries during Thursday’s home matchup against the San Francisco Giants, forcing both players to leave the game.

DL Hall was the first to get hurt in the fifth inning when he appeared to injure himself after throwing his 27th pitch of the game. After discussions with Brewers manager Pat Murphy and Milwaukee’s training staff, Hall was taken out of the contest.

Grant Anderson suffered his injury later when a line drive hit by Bryce Eldridge struck him in the right forearm. The Milwaukee pitcher was also pulled from the game following the incident.

Before his injury, Hall had pitched effectively for 2 1/3 innings, allowing just one hit and no runs after the Giants had scored six times against starting pitcher Coleman Crow. Anderson pitched 1 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on three hits.

At the time of the report, San Francisco was leading 12-5 in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell has yet to determine his starting quarterback as the battle continues between J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray.

Murray joined the team following his release from the Arizona Cardinals and is now challenging McCarthy, the incumbent starter. McCarthy, who was selected in the first round of the 2024 draft, moved into the top quarterback position after Sam Darnold departed to join the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent before the previous season.

According to O’Connell, a “transparent competition” is currently underway between the two quarterbacks.

“I’ve been really happy with the way both of those guys, J.J. and Kyler, have kind of attacked it in their own individual kind of ways knowing that they’re competing. It’s a competition,” O’Connell stated. “These guys are working every day, they know that. But the greater good of the Minnesota Vikings and our team ceiling is the most important thing that’s clear to both of those guys.”

During a recent interview, McCarthy revealed that he and Murray sit on “opposite sides” of the quarterback meeting room, suggesting the two former first-round selections aren’t particularly close friends.

O’Connell indicated he doesn’t require the quarterbacks to maintain a close relationship and isn’t concerned about external opinions regarding the competition. Many observers believe the Vikings acquired Murray with the intention of making him the starter when O’Connell reaches his decision.

“What actually matters is what I care about,” O’Connell explained. “Did we take the right footwork on a play? Did we have our eyes in the right spot? Did we make a protection call against one of (our practice) blitz looks? Did we do our jobs to manufacture the starting point and potential path to success for the offense? And there’s enough that goes into that, that I don’t have a ton of space left over for who says what and how they say it.”

“… It’s all a reflection of how people handle competitive situations and we’re all going to handle them differently. What I care about is when they step between the white lines, that there’s growth and development and that it really is a competition.”

Transportation officials in New York are getting ready to accommodate an additional 100,000 passengers per day during upcoming FIFA World Cup games.

The massive influx of sports fans heading to New York and New Jersey for matches is prompting significant transit planning efforts as the city’s mass transportation network prepares for the surge in ridership.

Officials are working to ensure the transit infrastructure can handle the dramatic increase in daily travelers expected during the international soccer tournament and NBA championship games.

Wide receiver Christian Watson has reached agreement with the Green Bay Packers on a massive four-year contract extension valued at $110.5 million that will keep him with the team through 2030, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.

The source confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on Thursday under the condition of anonymity since the contract has not been officially completed. The extension includes a $31 million signing bonus, with ESPN being first to report the agreement.

The 27-year-old Watson suffered a torn right ACL during Green Bay’s final regular season game in 2024, but returned last season to haul in 35 receptions for 611 yards and six touchdowns across 10 games. Despite being sidelined for much of the campaign, he shared the team lead in scoring catches and finished second in receiving yards.

When questioned Wednesday about potential contract talks, Watson expressed optimism about reaching a deal.

“Yeah, that’s the hope,” Watson said during the Packers’ organized team activities. “I mean, I kind of just put it all in my agent’s hands, and you know, when it’s getting to that point down the wire, he’ll obviously let me in on it. But for now, I’m just worried about what I can worry about, and just let him do his job.”

Watson had previously signed a one-year, $13.25 million extension last fall while rehabilitating his torn ACL, which extended his deal through 2026. This new agreement provides him with much greater long-term security.

Watson joins teammate Jayden Reed as the second Packers receiver to secure an extension this offseason. Reed inked a three-year deal in April featuring $50.25 million in new money with $20 million guaranteed.

These two players are anticipated to anchor a receiving corps that saw departures when Romeo Doubs joined the New England Patriots and Dontayvion Wicks was dealt to the Philadelphia Eagles.

“It was definitely tough to see those guys go because they’re great friends of mine, great teammates,” Watson commented this week. “This thing always keeps on moving. I definitely think they’ll be a lot more opportunities for the guys who are out there this year, myself included. Just got to embrace that and continue to make plays when our numbers are called.”

Selected in the second round of the 2022 draft from North Dakota State, Watson has established himself as a reliable deep threat for Green Bay when healthy. However, various injuries have restricted him to just 48 games during his initial four professional seasons.

Watson discussed this week how beneficial it has been to experience a complete offseason while healthy instead of rehabbing from injury.

“It makes a big difference between just finding a rhythm and building that confidence with the whole offense and personally just being able to work on my craft and get a feel for things,” Watson explained. “It’s definitely a lot smoother of an offseason for me this year, being able to do everything.”

Through his career, Watson has recorded 133 receptions for 2,264 yards — averaging 17 yards per catch — along with 20 touchdown catches. He has also scored twice on rushing attempts.

Only Billy Howton and James Lofton are the other players in franchise history to maintain at least a 17-yard average per reception while recording a minimum of 125 catches during their first four seasons.