Lakers and Rockets named top trade landing spots for former $190 million legendary 3-point shooter originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets are two Western Conference contenders with a need for three-point shooting.

Los Angeles could lose three-point specialist Rui Hachimura in free agency, and it would be wise for the team to replace him with an elite shooter who can pair well with Luka Doncic and LeBron James, assuming he returns.

As for Houston, as long as Amen Thompson doesn't develop a three-point shot, the Rockets will need to have a versatile arsenal of floor stretchers to make up for it.

With the Lakers and Rockets likely in the market for a shooter, both teams have been linked to a four-time NBA champion who has ties to both organization's star players.

Lakers and Rockets named top trade landing spots for Klay Thompson

Bleacher Report's Andrew Peters lists the Lakers and Rockets as the top landing spots for Dallas Mavericks forward Klay Thompson, who could be on the move this offseason after two underwhelming years in Dallas.

"If the Mavs can take some of the financial burden off of Thompson's contract, he could be a fit for the Lakers as they look to make a title run. The Rockets had the defensive makeup of a championship team last season, but their offensive shortcomings were noticeable, especially in the playoffs. Houston ranked last in three-point percentage in the postseason, a stat Thompson could improve," Peters wrote.

It's no secret that Thompson is past his prime and likely has only a few years remaining in the league. However, the four-time NBA champion is still one of the better three-point shooters in the sport and averaged nearly 12 points per game in a limited role last year.

Thompson is in the final season of a three-year, $50 million deal he signed with the Mavericks during the 2024 offseason, so trading for him wouldn't carry much risk at all for the future. With Dallas bringing in a new head coach in Dusty May, the Mavericks could look to trade the 2011 No. 11 overall pick and retool the roster around franchise cornerstone Cooper Flagg.

Los Angeles has always been mentioned as a possible destination for Thompson, as his dad played for the Lakers and is currently a color commentator for the franchise.

Thompson would be a downgrade from Hachimura, but the five-time All-Star would bring valuable playoff experience to the Lakers and knows how to play with Doncic. Thompson would be a pivotal bench piece for Los Angeles with his shooting, and he is also still a viable perimeter defender.

A reunion with Kevin Durant in Houston would also make sense for Thompson. The 36-year-old would be fantastic backcourt depth behind Fred VanVleet and Amen Thompson, and address one of the Rockets' top needs.

Overall, Thompson isn't the elite two-way player he once was with the Golden State Warriors, but the future Hall of Famer can still be a valuable part of a playoff-contending team, so the Lakers and Rockers should explore his market this summer.

In a recent report, journalist Fraser Fletcher mentioned that Manchester City are on the brink of recruiting Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson this summer. It is understood that the Mancunian club are close to agreeing on a British record deal to sign the English talent in this transfer window.

Anderson’s Impressive Form In Premier League Football

The 23-year-old enjoyed a good run of form at the Midlands club in the previous campaign as he put in a string of impressive displays for them at the centre of the park. Anderson made 50 appearances for Nottingham last season, netting four goals and securing five assists across various competitions.

The English sensation is currently one of the best central midfielders in the Premier League. Thus, Man City would do well to get a deal over the line for him in this transfer period.

His current deal at the City Ground will run out in the summer of 2029, so the Mancunian club have no choice but to meet Nottingham’s demands for their prized asset this off-season.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JUNE 17: Elliot Anderson #8 of England during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L match between England and Croatia at Dallas Stadium on June 17, 2026 in Dallas, United States. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Will Anderson Be A Dream Signing For Manchester City?

Anderson loves a tackle and can read the danger well to secure possession back for his team inside his half. He usually clears the danger when the opposition are on the offensive and can shoot the ball with venom from long range.

The English sensation has got the eye to play some decisive passes in the final third and is an energetic runner with the ball. Anderson mainly plays as a box-to-box midfielder but can also serve as a defensive midfielder or play in the number ten position if required. He has already proven his worth in the Premier League and won’t take much time to adjust to life at the Mancunian club.

We can expect Anderson to enhance the quality of Man City’s midfield department. He is capable of challenging for a regular first-team spot at the Etihad Stadium in the coming seasons.

At 23, Anderson has his peak years ahead of him, which makes him a dream signing for Man City to consider in this transfer window. He might even help the Premier League giants compete for some major honours over the next few years.

Alex Karaban was selected No. 29 overall in the first round of Tuesday’s NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings. The 6-foot 8-inch forward brings not just a wide variety of skills to the table, but a leading attitude on and off the floor.

An elite catch-and-shoot player from the perimeter isn’t the only thing that Sac-Town needs; As the all-time winningest player to put on the UConn Huskies jersey and having racked up the third most wins (15) all-time in NCAA tournament, he’s a winner in every sense of the word. The Kings finished this past season with just 22 wins, tied for last in the Western Conference. Karaban can show what it takes to build a sustainable winning culture and get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2023.

​Dan Hurley spoke to KCRA3 on Wednesday morning to dive into the selection. “I talked to BJ Armstrong (Kings assistant GM) this morning, and he asked me how I felt, and I said, ‘How I feel is we got worse last night with Alex leaving and you guys got better with Alex joining your team,’”

​The two-time national champion will likely come off the bench behind DeMar DeRozan. With DeRozan entering his 18th NBA season, only time will tell when Karaban can snatch that starting spot. Karaban will play alongside No. 7 pick Darius Acuff, Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis. Karaban’s elite catch-and-shoot ability provides immediate gravity on the perimeter. In an offense built around Sabonis’ high-post facilitating andDeRozan’s mid-range pressure, Karaban offers the exact floor-spacing safety valve the Kings desperately need to keep the lane open.

​Sabonis is practically a walking double-double, but with Karaban spacing the floor on the wing, his passing lanes will open up significantly. Karaban’s ability to knock down kick-out jumpers could easily push Sabonis past his mark of 10 triple-doubles from last season.

Sabonis isn’t the only assist man the Kings have; Russell Westbrook is a prime example of an unselfish player. Westbrook’s ability to get downhill can allow for even more space to open up for Karaban out on the wing or find him cutting to the rim.

​Defensively, Karaban offers the exact type of high-IQ that’s needed at the NBA level. While he may not be a lockdown isolation defender, his awareness as a weak-side helper is elite. Playing alongside Sabonis—who anchors the interior but isn’t a traditional rim protector—Karaban’s ability to read plays, box out, and execute crisp defensive rotations will give the Kings’ bench much-needed structural stability. He’ll be the first to dive for loose balls, put his body on the line to take a charge and be the first to help up a teammate when they go down.

Karaban doesn’t need for him to go out and light it up for 25 points a night to make his rookie season a success. He needs to stick to what made him a UConn legend and be the ultimate glue guy.

WWE SmackDown Results | June 26, 2026

• Rey Fenix def. Nathan Frazer
• Paige def. Jacy Jayne
• Danhausen And Matt Cardona def. Los Garza.
• Jade Cargill def. Chelsea Green
• Giulia def. Kiana James

WWE SmackDown Ratings And Viewership

• June 19, 2026 | 1.191 million
• June 12, 2026 | 1.038 million
• June 5, 2026 | 1.089 million
• May 29, 2026 | 1.096 million
• May 22, 2026 | 1.258 million

WWE SmackDown Ticket Sales On June 26, 2026

• WWE SmackDown Venue: O2 Arena (London, England)
• WWE SmackDown Ticket Sales: 13,328

What Time Does WWE SmackDown Start? How To Watch

• WWE SmackDown Date: Friday, June 26, 2026 (Aired June 23, 2026)
• WWE SmackDown Start Time: 5:00 pm PST (8:00 pm EST)
• Where to Watch/Stream WWE SmackDown: USA Network

WWE SmackDown Spoilers And Highlights From The O2 Arena In London

WWE SmackDown aired from the O2 Arena in London, England on June 23, 2026. The episode featured the advancement of multiple angles as Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga split away from the MFTs just days after Solo Sikoa spiked his own brother Jimmy Uso in the name of his family. A brawl broke out at the end of the show as King of the Ring finalists Jey Uso and Oba Femi had a pull-apart with WWE champion Cody Rhodes and challengers Gunther and Sami Zayn.

WWE SmackDown also saw the debut of former AEW star and former NXT women’s United States champion Blake Monroe, who attacked Giulia following Giulia’s main event win over Kiana James.

SmackDown was the go-home show for tomorrow’s WWE Night of Champions, which features a five-match card in Saudi Arabia as part of a busy wrestling weekend that also features PPVs and PLEs from AEW, TNA and NXT.

WWE Night Of Champions 2026 Match Card And Betting Odds

• Oba Femi (-140) vs. Jey Uso (+100) | King of the Ring Finals
• Iyo Sky (-900) vs. Liv Morgan (+500) | Queen of the Ring Finals
• Trick Williams (-4000) vs. Ricky Saints (+1000) | WWE US Title
• Tiffany Stratton (-105) vs. Jade Cargill (-135) | WWE Women’s US Title
• Cody Rhodes (-550) vs. Gunther (+250) vs. Sami Zayn (+700) | WWE Title

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Lakers working on trade to comfort Luka Doncic, per report originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

At the end of the day, the Los Angeles Lakers can’t move forward without making a significant roster move and expect Luka Doncic to be thrilled with the franchise’s trajectory/direction. 

Whether it’s sighting their sights on a game-changing two-way perimeter stud or a near-perfect DeAndre Ayton low-post replacement, the Lakers must take initiative this summer by bolstering their roster by any means necessary.

According to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Lakers are working on making a trade(s) to help them comfort Doncic going forward.

“The Lakers are actively exploring trade scenarios utilizing their cap space to improve the roster,” Charania stated per an X/Twitter post from NBA reporter Evan Sidery. “LA will be aggressive this summer to retool around Luka Doncic.”

Obviously, the Lakers are in the beginning stages of the trade process.

Still, it’s good to know the 17-time NBA champions are making a legitimate effort to fulfill the promise they made to Doncic when he first arrived in Los Angeles (ESPN’s Dave McMenamin recently reported that the Lakers informed the former Dallas Mavericks superstar that they would make a major splash during the 2026 offseason). 

It’ll be interesting to see who the Lakers wind up acquiring this summer and which assets they'll be forced to part with to help finalize a beneficial deal or two.

More NBA news:

• Lakers named landing spot for $68 million Pelicans defensive star after Yves Missi trade rejection

• Lakers predicted to outbid Knicks for $60 million fan-favorite rebounding star, NBA champion

• Luka Doncic sends clear message to Lakers on roster they can't afford to ignore

The final day of match play in Foxborough features a heavyweight showdown as Norway takes on France.

The marquee matchup brings together two of the biggest stars in world soccer: France’s Kylian Mbappé and Norway’s Erling Haaland. Both have lived up to the hype, delivering standout performances throughout the tournament.

Norway’s manager says Haaland and Mbappé are every bit as good as advertised, and both will once again be in the spotlight with a place in the knockout stage on the line.

What you need to know: France, Norway face off at Boston Stadium in biggest matchup of group stage

While helping their teams secure a victory is the top priority, there’s also an individual race to watch.

Haaland and Mbappé each enter today’s match with four goals, just one behind Lionel Messi in the chase for the tournament’s Golden Boot, awarded to the World Cup’s leading scorer.

The match kicks off at 3 p.m. It can be seen on Boston 25 News/FOX.

Follow live updates leading up to, during, and after the match:

3:30 p.m.

After two France goals from Ousmane Dembélé, Thelo Aasgaard cut the deficit in half with his strike from inside the box.

NORWAY PULLS ONE BACK IMMEDIATELY 🇳🇴

What a response to cut the deficit to one goal! pic.twitter.com/U6irFdgloG

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 26, 2026

DEMBÉLÉ BRACE 🇫🇷

A GOLAZO to double France's advantage pic.twitter.com/AoULupSmsF

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 26, 2026

2:38 p.m.

The Norwegian fans had some fun with Boston 25’s Michael Raimondi while he was hanging out at Patriot Place.

#Norway kept adding on 😂 @boston25pic.twitter.com/VRoX4IBiyE

— Michael Raimondi (@mraimonditv) June 26, 2026

2:10 p.m.

With Norway already qualified for the Round of 32, manager Stale Solbakken makes the choice to rest most of his key players, including possibly the world’s best striker in Erling Haaland.

Norway star Erling Haaland will start their final Group I match vs. Kylian Mbappé and France on the substitutes' bench with manager Stale Solbakken planning to rest ten players, per @MarkOgden_.

They've already qualified for the Round of 32 but would win the group with a win… pic.twitter.com/49n8FQ5ofY

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 26, 2026

12:25 p.m.

Norway fans have descended on Patriot Place in force.

#Norway 💪🏽 @boston25pic.twitter.com/CgqidejV1F

— Michael Raimondi (@mraimonditv) June 26, 2026

The drums are out #Norway fans are hungry for a win against #France today@boston25pic.twitter.com/HYRZJ1TXLG

— Michael Raimondi (@mraimonditv) June 26, 2026

11:40 a.m.

Boston 25’s Michael Raimondi observes that Norway supporters outnumber France supporters.

As of now #Norway fans are outnumbering the #France supporters @boston25pic.twitter.com/68ss54KZwq

— Michael Raimondi (@mraimonditv) June 26, 2026

10:00 a.m.

Boston 25’s Lauren Walsh and Julian Cardillo break down the premier matchup of Group Stage play at Boston Stadium:

9:00 a.m.

⚽ 🏟️ @FWC26Boston Norway & France fans are you ready for the #BostonStadium Match TOMORROW?!

📣 Check here for Boarding Group times at South Station, so you don't miss your train.

👀✅ Check https://t.co/YAXF8lxN7y for more match day info! pic.twitter.com/9iNoQrSNPF

— MBTA Commuter Rail (@MBTA_CR) June 25, 2026

8:00 a.m.

FIFA World Cup Boston 2026says to arrive early for today’s match:

It's matchday Boston — Norway vs. France, KO 3PM! 🇳🇴🇫🇷 Arrive early, tickets ready & check our Fan Travel Guide. https://t.co/gTYbHhOV0J#WeAre26#WeAreBoston#FIFAWorldCup@cityofboston@fifaworldcup@BOS311@massgov@massdot@mbta@mbta_cr@visitma@meetbostonusapic.twitter.com/G4OuS20QHX

— FIFA World Cup™️ Boston 2026 (@FWC26Boston) June 26, 2026

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

Editor's note:Follow our updates for every World Cup game on Friday

Ousmane Dembélé's struggles at major tournaments seem to be a thing of the past.

The France superstar scored a remarkable hat trick in the first 33 minutes of Friday's World Cup match against Norway, making it four goals in three games at this tournament.

Dembélé opened the scoring just seven minutes in at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, chopping past his defender after a great long pass from Kylian Mbappé and then hammering home a right-footed shot.

FRANCE GOES UP 1-0 🇫🇷

Ousmane Dembélé scores early to put Les Bleus on the board! pic.twitter.com/tR6fWb3Ckv

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 26, 2026

Mbappé would assist Dembélé yet again on 20 minutes. This time, the reigning Ballon d'Or winner cut in from the right onto his favored left foot and curled an unstoppable shot into the far post.

DEMBÉLÉ BRACE 🇫🇷

A GOLAZO to double France's advantage pic.twitter.com/AoULupSmsF

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 26, 2026

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: France star Ousmane Dembélé scores rapid brace in World Cup vs Norway

Eintracht Frankfurt defender Rasmus Kristensen has agreed personal terms with Danish side FC Midtjylland, according to Tipsbladet.

The Danish outlet reports that the 28-year-old has reached an agreement on a contract with Midtjylland until 2031.

Negotiations between the two clubs are said to be at an advanced stage, with growing optimism that a final agreement will soon be reached.

Kristensen initially joined Eintracht Frankfurt on loan from Leeds United two years ago before the Bundesliga club made the move permanent for a reported fee of around €9.5 million.

The Denmark international has established himself as a regular starter during his time in Frankfurt, making a total of 71 appearances.

A product of Midtjylland's academy, Kristensen began his professional career with the club before moving abroad.

Do the Detroit Red Wings have a first-round pick?

It's a question many fans may be wondering as the 2026 NHL Draft gets underway and the Red Wings, despite missing the playoffs, aren't listed on the board.

The answer is pretty simple: the Red Wings do not have a first-round pick after sending it to the St. Louis Blues at the trade deadline for defenseman Justin Faulk.

Do the Detroit Red Wings have a first-round pick?

It's a question many fans may be wondering as the 2026 NHL Draft gets underway and the Red Wings, despite missing the playoffs, aren't listed on the board.

The answer is pretty simple: the Red Wings do not have a first-round pick after sending it to the St. Louis Blues at the trade deadline for defenseman Justin Faulk.

The move backfired for the Wings and general manager Steve Yzerman.

At the time, the Wings were trying to make a push to end a playoff drought that was approaching a decade and were still in a strong position to claim one of the eight spots in the Eastern Conference.

That didn't happen, as the team fell apart down the stretch once again after trading for Faulk and instead of losing a pick at the end of the first round, the Blues will have pick No. 15 overall from the Wings, one of their three first-round picks.

The Wings, meanwhile, won't pick until No. 47 overall in the second round.

There is of course the chance for a trade into the first round, and the Red Wings certainly have the firepower to do it, with superstar center Dylan Larkin potentially on the market after a trade request.

Here's the Wings' picks in the 2026 NHL Draft.

MORE WINGS: Detroit Red Wings at 2026 NHL draft: What to know about picks, trades

Red Wings 2026 draft picks

Overall pick number in parentheses.

• Round 1: None.
• Round 2: No. 15 (47).
• Round 3: No. 15 (79).
• Round 4: No. 12 (108).
• Round 5: No. 15 (143).
• Round 6: No. 15 (175).
• Round 7: No. 4 (196), No. 15 (207).

NHL Draft first round order

1. Toronto Maple Leafs.
2. San Jose Sharks.
3. Vancouver Canucks.
4. Buffalo Sabres.
5. New York Rangers.
6. Calgary Flames.
7. Seattle Kraken.
8. Winnipeg Jets.
9. San Jose Sharks (from FLA via OTT).
10. Nashville Predators.
11. St. Louis Blues.
12. New Jersey Devils.
13. New York Islanders.
14. Columbus Blue Jackets.
15. St. Louis Blues (from DET).
16. St. Louis Blues (from WSH).
17. Los Angeles Kings.
18. Washington Capitals (form ANA).
19. Utah Mammoth.
20. Buffalo Sabres (from EDM via SJS).
21. Philadelphia Flyers.
22. Pittsburgh Penguins.
23. Boston Bruins.
24. Vancouver Canucks (from MIN).
25. Ottawa Senators (from TBL via SEA via FLA).
26. New York Rangers (from DAL via CAR).
27. San Jose Sharks (from BUF).
28. Montreal Canadiens.
29. St. Louis Blues (from COL via NYI).
30. Calgary Flames (from VGK).
31. Carolina Hurricanes.
32. Ottawa Senators.

Need to catch up on the news during your lunch break? Sign up for our Sports Briefing newsletter to get daily summaries of Detroit sports! 

You can reach Andrew at abirkle@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Do the Red Wings have a first-round pick tonight in 2026 NHL Draft?

The focus around July's UFC 329 headliner is largely and rightfully centered around Conor McGregor and his comeback, but what does it mean for Max Holloway?

Former featherweight champion and BMF titleholder Holloway (27-9 MMA, 23-9 UFC) enters his July 11 rematch with McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (Paramount+) on the heels of two losses in his past three fights.

Holloway lost the BMF belt to Charles Oliveira in March, beat Dustin Poirier in Poirier's retirement fight in July 2025, then was knocked out for the first time against Ilia Topuria in a 145-pound title bout in October 2024. The Hawaiian is a heavy favorite over McGregor, which puts some pressure on him to deliver at UFC 329.

Although the odds are in his favor, Holloway, who dropped a decision to McGregor in their first meeting in August 2013, seemingly is in a must-win scenario if he wants to keep his UFC title dreams alive. Losing to a version of McGregor who hasn't fought in five years, while falling to 1-3 in his past four, would be detrimental on paper.

UFC Hall of Famer and color commentator Michael Bisping thinks that outlook is too grim, however. It wouldn't be ideal, but Bisping sees big opportunities for Holloway on the other side of UFC 329 – win or lose.

"Max has been around forever. He's 34 now, been part of the roster since he was 19. It's insane," Bisping told MMA Junkie. "The career that he's had, that's been unbelievable. Even that fight with Ilia Topuria – I was watching it on the flight over here. I forgot. He was doing really good. It was a very competitive fight until he got stopped. It favors Max Holloway. He's got the numbers. He's got the resume. He's been fighting nothing but the best, probably three times a year the whole time Conor's been away. If he loses, it's not the end of the world. I think Max Holloway will be just fine if he loses this fight."

Ultimately Bisping doesn't see this becoming a real concern for "Blessed." Although he thinks McGregor is being doubted too heavily going into his comeback fight, he currently gives Holloway a great chance to get his hand raised.

"I don't think he's probably going to lose it," Bisping said. "He's probably going to do very, very well."

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Michael Bisping: Max Holloway loss to Conor McGregor 'not the end of the world'

The race to reshape NHL rosters is picking up speed, and two Canadian contenders have already identified a forward who could address multiple needs in one move. Toronto is looking to add more size and secondary scoring, while Montreal continues searching for experienced help up front.

With free agency only days away, both teams are watching the same situation unfold as Columbus works to keep one of its most valuable forwards. This uncertainty leads directly to the latest development surrounding the Blue Jackets’ top pending free agent.

Mason Marchment Draws Interest From Maple Leafs, Canadiens

The player drawing interest is Mason Marchment, and according to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun, several teams are preparing to pursue him if he reaches unrestricted free agency on July 1.

In his latest report for The Athletic, LeBrun wrote, “It sounds like there’s a robust market shaping up for Mason Marchment if he gets to free agency. The Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs are among several other clubs with interest.

“But even after the Nichushkin acquisition, Columbus hasn’t given up on trying to re-sign Marchment. It feels like that decision will go to the wire Tuesday night/Wednesday morning, either way.”

This update leaves Toronto and Montreal waiting to see whether Columbus can complete a new contract before the market opens.

The Maple Leafs want more physicality and reliable secondary scoring in their top six, and Marchment checks both boxes. A return would also reunite the Uxbridge, Ontario native with the organization where his professional career began after signing with the Toronto Marlies as an undrafted free agent.

Montreal is searching for many of the same qualities. General manager Kent Hughes has been aggressive ahead of free agency, viewing Marchment as a player capable of adding size, toughness, and offense to the Canadiens’ forward group.

Although reports have raised questions about whether Marchment wants to play in Canada, Montreal remains among the teams monitoring his availability.

Columbus, however, is not ready to let him walk.

General manager Don Waddell recently made that clear during an appearance on 97.1 The Fan’s Rothman & Ice Show, saying, “I’ve gotten calls; I’ve not made any calls on Marchy… we’ve had a few that are not even close to what he means to our hockey club.”

Waddell added that Marchment is “an important player to us” and stressed it would be difficult for another team to offer something more valuable than keeping the veteran winger.

The Blue Jackets have reason to remain confident. Following his December 2025 trade from Seattle, Marchment flourished in Columbus, collecting 15 goals and 32 points in 39 games after producing just 13 points in 29 contests with the Kraken.

He finished the season with 19 goals, 45 points, 84 hits, and a +17 rating while posting a career-best 20.5% shooting percentage.

DON’T MISS: Toronto Maple Leafs Targeting Auston Matthews’ Team USA Teammate

Columbus also enters the offseason with more than $25 million in projected cap space, though extensions for players like Marchment, Adam Fantilli, Cole Sillinger, and Jet Greaves remain priorities.

This financial flexibility gives the Blue Jackets a legitimate chance to keep him, but if negotiations stall, Toronto and Montreal appear ready to make their move.

Of course, that's being a little disingenuous when I say it like that. While Uso is the Vegas favorite to win, the expectation among wrestling pundits (always enjoyed with a good pinch of salt) is that there may be some "unexpected" interference at play. In other words, either The Bloodline or Brock Lesnar will appear to tip the scales away from Femi.

We'll find out the truth on that tomorrow afternoon, when Night of Champions kicks off Saturday from Saudi Arabia. But I mention that particular fixture not just because it's timely, but because it's also a perfect example of something that has been going on in WWE for a while: the idea that upper-card wrestlers need to be protected, to the extent that they can never lose clean.

I call them "asterisk results" — i.e. they're technically a win/loss result, but usually because some unexpected event played out that takes the sting out of the loss. That might be because a third party shows up when the ref is incapacitated, or because the losing wrestler only falters due to a storyline injury, or because the referee doesn't notice foul play. Either way, the end result is the same: the defeated talent's reputation is protected.

WWE via Getty Images

Look, I'm not saying I want Uso to beat Femi clean here. But I have gotten a bit tired recently of how many supposedly big matches end up with an asterisk finish.

Obviously I get why they do these things — at least some of the time. Presumably WWE fears that if we saw guys like Femi and Bron Breakker losing matches over the years, they'd lose some of their aura by the time they become world champions. And there's some truth in that — but there needs to be a balance.

Take the finish to Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther back at Crown Jewel 2024. Going into that show, most of us assumed the match was on a knife's edge, not least since neither man had been pinned on their current WWE runs more than a handful of times.

In the end, WWE came up with a smart finish that let Cody win while protecting Gunther's reputation. "The American Nightmare" semi-reversed one of Gunther's famous sleeper holds, thus ensuring that the latter's shoulders were on the canvas. It was the sort of finish that tells a story — the more experienced wrestler outwitting his upstart rival.

The problem is, though, that if you keep running those kinds of finishes, you risk having Gunther just look a bit … silly? Look at the recent finish to Rhodes vs. Gunther at Clash in Italy, for example. Gunther now says he knew his leg was under the rope. But if that was the case, why not just raise it and force the rope break? It doesn't really make sense.

Gunther is far from the only star to receive the protection racket treatment. On last week's "Raw," we had Je'Von Evans losing his King of the Ring semifinal due to a worked rib injury. The "Young OG" might be a future star, but he only came up from NXT about five minutes ago. Are we really saying he needs to be protected from a loss to Jey Uso?

It wasn't just Evans on that occasion. Uncrowned’s reviewer Drake Riggs flagged at the time that there were two separate King of the Ring semifinals that revolved around worked injuries that night — the second being Charlotte Flair hobbling around in pain like an extra in a hospital drama before her eventual defeat to Liv Morgan. Why not just let Morgan, the actual WWE women's world champion, get a proper win for her résumé?

The asterisk results are very similar to the whole "too many DQ finishes" issue that we exposed last year, when it felt like every second "Raw" or "SmackDown" main event was ending in a disqualification or no-contest. And it probably comes from the same place: a widespread overcautiousness with the weekly shows and a desire to avoid doing anything with the big stars outside of PLEs.

We know how it works by now. Big matches are kept on the burner for years on end. Potential future champions are protected in the meantime, either through silly finishes or being put into multi-person matches where they don't have to take the pin. The focus is always to play it safe and avoid mistakes, rather than take creative risks.

Of course, that isn't to say there aren't still pockets of brilliance in the current WWE product. And obviously there would be risks if they were having their future champions go out there every week taking pinfalls and bumps with abandon. But protecting half the roster at all times isn't that much better either.

Surely we wrestling fans can handle a bit of nuance every now and then. Wrestlers should win and lose, like in any other sport, and we can still form our conclusions over who has the edge in the long run and who we want to root for. But the occasional surprise shouldn't be that much of a problem, even if it means seeing a future world champion take an L.

That said, I'd probably still draw the line at Uso beating Femi. If that really does have to happen this weekend, then a protection racket result is infinitely better than a clean upset.

Jurgen Klopp vs. Rafael van der Vaart beef, explained: How Virgil van Dijk gibe sparked World Cup war of words originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Jurgen Klopp and Rafael van der Vaart have become involved in one of the 2026 FIFA World Cup's stranger off-field controversies.

The dispute began after Van der Vaart criticised Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk before attracting further controversy over comments about Japan.

Here's how the feud unfolded and why it has attracted attention during the tournament.

2026 WORLD CUP HQ:Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Buy World Cup tickets

What did Rafael van der Vaart say about Virgil van Dijk?

Van der Vaart criticised Van Dijk's defending after the Netherlands' 2-2 draw with Japan and compared the Liverpool captain to a Boeing 747 airplane due to his perceived sluggish turning speed.

The former Netherlands midfielder was analysing Japan's late equaliser on Dutch television when he suggested Van Dijk had reacted too slowly to the danger.

"I must honestly say that I was a bit shocked by Van Dijk," Van der Vaart said. "That turning... it was a bit of a Boeing 747. I hope he will run a little faster during the tournament."

The comments quickly became a talking point, particularly as Van Dijk had scored and was later named Player of the Match.

How did Jurgen Klopp respond to Rafael van der Vaart?

Klopp brushed off Van der Vaart's criticism and questioned the former Netherlands international's credibility as a pundit.

Speaking on German television, the former Liverpool manager suggested Van der Vaart rarely offers positive assessments of players.

"I don't know if it's worth naming Rafael van der Vaart at all," Klopp said. "But if he ever says something positive about a player, I'm willing to take him seriously again."

Klopp also accused Van der Vaart of expressing his opinions in a "flowery way" before dismissing the controversy as "not that important."

Why Rafael van der Vaart was criticised for Japan comments

Van der Vaart faced further criticism after making comments about Japan's players following the Netherlands' clash with the Samurai Blue.

The former midfielder drew backlash when he suggested the Japanese players "look alike," with the remarks widely condemned as racially insensitive.

He later apologised for the comments, but the incident generated significant attention and added to the scrutiny surrounding his punditry during the tournament.

What is Jurgen Klopp doing now?

Klopp stepped down as Liverpool manager at the end of the 2023/24 season after almost nine years in charge at Anfield.

He now serves as Red Bull's Head of Global Soccer, overseeing the company's soccer operations across a number of clubs and projects around the world.

Alongside his executive role, Klopp has also made media appearances during the 2026 World Cup, largely with German broadcasters.

Who did Rafael van der Vaart play for?

Van der Vaart played for several of Europe's biggest clubs during a career that spanned almost two decades.

The former attacking midfielder represented Ajax, Hamburg, Real Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur, Real Betis and Midtjylland, establishing himself as one of the most recognisable Dutch players of his generation.

At international level, he earned 109 caps for the Netherlands and featured at three World Cups and three European Championships.

MORE WORLD CUP NEWS

• Who will win the World Cup in 2026?
• Updated FIFA World Rankings
• How World Cup qualifying works
• Explaining the expanded World Cup bracket
• Full list of teams to qualify for 2026 World Cup

The Lewis family have injected a staggering £100 million into Tottenham Hotspur as they look to back new manager Roberto De Zerbi in the summer transfer window, Football.London reports.

The move comes ahead of what could become one of the most ambitious rebuilds in recent years, serving as proof of how determined they are to restore Spurs to the top end of English football.

The latest investment follows a previous £100m cash injection made last October, giving Spurs greater flexibility as they look to banish the demons from their disappointing finish in the last two seasons.

They’re also funding the investment through INEC rather than adding to their debt.

The investment is another clear sign that the Lewis family have no interest in selling the club or relinquishing their role as major shareholders.

Despite attracting interest from potential buyers over the past year, the Lewis family have remained firm in their stance that the club is not on the market. 

Instead, they are choosing to invest heavily in a project they believe can return Spurs to competing at the highest level.

That project is now being led by new manager Roberto De Zerbi, who has been tasked with restoring Tottenham’s reputation after consecutive 17th-place finishes. 

The Italian arrives with a reputation for attacking football, and the latest financial backing suggests he will receive the resources needed to build a competitive squad.

Tottenham mean business this summer

Even before the Lewis family decided to pump cash into the club’s coffers, Tottenham were already attacking the transfer window with an aggression that suggests they’re desperate to avoid a third consecutive relegation battle.

The calibre of players on their extensive shortlist proves they’re ready to reclaim their place in the upper echelons of the Premier League, and De Zerbi is keen to get the job done.

Tottenham have all but restructured a backline that couldn’t stop leaking goals last season, bringing in Andrew Robertson, Marcos Senesi, and Jan Paul van Hecke.

They’ve now shifted their attention to midfield, where they’re plotting a stunning double big-money deal for Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes.

Even then, they still wouldn’t be finished, with the club also looking to revamp their attacking options.

They’ve already been linked with a couple of exciting names, including Marcus Rashford and Ivory Coast breakout star Yan Diomande.

Ipswich Town Transfer News: Gary O’Neill Eyes Tom Fellows as First Major Move

O’Neill begins shaping Ipswich squad

Gary O’Neill’s arrival at Ipswich Town always promised movement. A new manager, a three-year contract, a club returning to the Premier League, a summer stretching out in front of them with all its danger and possibility.

According to SportsBoom, one of his first major transfer targets could be Southampton winger Tom Fellows, a player O’Neill is said to have admired for some time.

Fellows, still only 22, feels like the sort of signing designed not merely for survival, but for identity. Ipswich cannot afford to approach the Premier League as tourists. They need legs, imagination, bravery and players willing to run at full-backs when the air gets thin.

Photo: IMAGO

Fellows fits Ipswich transfer profile

The Birmingham-born attacker joined Southampton from West Bromwich Albion in August 2025, in a deal worth a reported £8million plus £2million in add-ons. He signed a four-year contract, which means Southampton have protection, but their failure to win promotion has changed the landscape.

Fellows played 37 Championship matches last season and was one of Southampton’s brighter attacking sparks. His appeal is obvious. He can operate wide, inside, or as a more advanced creator. He carries the ball well, has pace, and brings the directness Premier League managers increasingly crave.

Premier League chance may tempt winger

SportsBoom report that Everton and Leeds United had already shown interest earlier this year, which underlines the wider admiration for Fellows. He is also a UEFA European Under-21 Championship winner with England, which adds further weight to the feeling that his ceiling may be higher than the Championship.

Before Southampton, Fellows made 85 senior appearances for West Brom and was named the club’s Player of the Year twice. That matters. This is not a prospect built only on academy promise. He has played, carried responsibility and produced under pressure.

For Ipswich, the question is whether Southampton can be persuaded. For Fellows, the question may be simpler. If Premier League football arrives now, does he wait?

Ipswich could make early transfer statement

O’Neill will know Ipswich need more than enthusiasm. They need difference-makers. Fellows would not arrive as the finished article, but that may be precisely the point.

He would give Ipswich thrust, unpredictability and a sense that the club are not simply trying to patch holes. They are trying to build something.

SportsBoom deserve credit for the original information, and if Ipswich do advance this pursuit, it could become one of the more revealing deals of their summer. Not because Fellows is a superstar, but because he would tell us what O’Neill wants this Ipswich side to become.

Our View, EPL Index Analysis

From an Ipswich supporter’s perspective, this is exactly the kind of link that gets the mind moving. Tom Fellows is young, quick, technically sharp and already tested across a proper Championship season. He is not some vague punt from a foreign market, where supporters have to rely on grainy clips and hopeful scouting reports. Ipswich fans have seen enough of the Championship to know what a dangerous wide player looks like.

There will be caution, naturally. Southampton paid good money for him, he has time left on his contract and they will not want to lose one of their best young players cheaply. Ipswich cannot afford to get carried away and spend Premier League money without discipline.

Still, this feels like the right sort of ambition. Fellows would give O’Neill a player who can stretch teams, create moments and grow with the club. Ipswich need signings who arrive hungry, not comfortable. Fellows fits that mould.

If this is the tone of O’Neill’s first window, young, energetic, attack-minded and purposeful, then Portman Road may have reason to feel quietly encouraged.

In search of Italians, Como has conducted a new survey to acquire Roma’s Niccolò Pisilli.

As reported by TuttoMercatoWeb, the answer was a resounding no from the Giallorossi, who see him as a crucial part of the squad, so much so that they’re unwilling to even sit down to discuss the matter.

He’s unsellable, even though the need for capital gains remains more than pressing for the Roman club.

In January, there were several reports of interest in Pisilli, including Genoa.

Gasperini used him much less than his predecessor, Ranieri, so he could have considered an alternative destination to find more consistency.

Instead, he stayed, and from January onwards, he’s been practically always included on the pitch, whether from the start or during matches. This is also why the idea is to keep him, considering he’s also useful for the UEFA squad.

• Manchester City and Nottingham Forest have agreed a deal for Elliot Anderson for £116M
• The fee is guaranteed with no add-ons, making it a club record Man City acquisition
• Anderson to sign a five-year contract, with an option for a further 12 months

Manchester City have agreed a deal to sign England midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for a club record fee.

Anderson had been City’s primary midfield target since the window opened, with director of football Hugo Viana identifying the 23-year-old as central to the rebuild at the Etihad Stadium.

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis and director George Syrianos held firm throughout negotiations, consistently demanding a record fee. City have ultimately met that valuation in full after seeing two opening bids turned down by City Ground officials.

Elliot Anderson to undergo Manchester City medical in New York City on Friday morning

After being given permission by England manager Thomas Tuchel, Anderson will undergo a Manchester City medical before putting pen to paper on a long-term contract at the Etihad Stadium, which will see the midfielder earn a substantial pay rise as he enters a new chapter in his career.

Report: £116M guaranteed, five-year deal & £300k-per-week potential

The £116 million fee is guaranteed, with no add-ons attached to the deal struck between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest, as confirmed by The Athletic’s Daniel Taylor and David Ornstein.

Anderson has signed a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium, though an option exists to extend the agreement by a further 12 months should both parties wish to trigger it.

Across the duration of the contract, Anderson can earn up to £300,000-per-week if applicable bonuses are achieved – underlining the scale of City’s commitment to the England international.

What does Anderson’s arrival mean for Manchester City?

Incoming Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca now has his first major signing all but confirmed ahead of his debut season in charge at the Etihad Stadium.

Anderson addresses the most pressing gap in City’s squad: a dynamic, high-energy midfielder capable of carrying, pressing and progressing the ball at the highest level.

Manchester City agree record £116M deal for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson

The 23-year-old’s performances for Forest last season were among the most consistent in the Premier League. His FIFA World Cup displays for England have only added to his standing heading into the move.

For Viana, the deal represents an early statement of intent in the executive’s second summer in charge of Manchester City transfers since taking over from Txiki Begiristain in 2025.

Securing a British record signing before pre-season begins signals the ambition underpinning City’s rebuild, with further arrivals at the Etihad Stadium expected before the window closes.

Warwickshire provided arguably the shock of this season's Women's T20 Blast so far as they moved off the foot of the table by beating high-flying Surrey.

Half-centuries from Abbey Freeborn and Davina Perrin helped Warwickshire post 172-5 at Edgbaston.

Surrey fell well short on 130 in reply as they suffered only a second defeat in the competition this summer, while the hosts posted their first win.

Elsewhere, Hampshire jumped into top spot with a comfortable win over a Yorkshire side who replace Warwickshire at the bottom.

And Durham climbed to second with a six-wicket win at Somerset.

• Women's T20 Blast fixtures & results
• Women's T20 Blast table

Warwickshire had not won in six Blast attempts this summer until Friday but Perrin (50) and Freeborn (51) gave them the perfect platform against Surrey.

Their first-wicket stand of 88 was backed up by Georgia Redmayne's 28 and Mary Taylor's unbeaten 23.

Surrey, in reply, also put on a decent opening partnership thanks to Alice Davidson-Richards (39) and captain Bryony Smith (30).

But they fell apart from there as Taylor (3-24) and Warwickshire captain Georgia Davis (3-35) brought about a Surrey collapse.

In Taunton, Hollie Armitage staged a well-judged unbeaten half century to guide Durham to victory over Somerset.

Durham's captain made 65 not out from 45 deliveries and struck seven fours as the visitors chased down a target of 156 with five balls to spare.

Somerset captain Sophie Luff top-scored for her side with a 38-ball 56 and Alex Griffiths (31 not out) and Chloe Skelton (26) contributed valuable lower-order runs, but Mady Villiers set up Durham's fourth consecutive win, taking 4-28, her best figures for the county.

Georgia Adams impressed with bat and ball as Hampshire sailed to the top of the table with a bonus-point win over Yorkshire.

Hawks captain Adams (30) set the tone with Maia Bouchier (44) in a blazing 68-run first-wicket stand before claiming 2-20 with the ball.

Yorkshire never got going in their chase of 175 and they remain winless in the competition.

Match report details supplied by ECB Reporters' Network.

• Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport

Euro Tommy is back at it.

Arizona men’s basketball landed a commitment Friday from Montenegrin forward Maksim Brnović, a 6-foot-10 18-year-old who recently played for Lithuanian pro team Žalgiris II. Brnović’s commitment bolsters Arizona’s front court for the 2026-27 season and leaves one remaining scholarship.

Jonathan Givony of Draft Express confirmed Brnović’s commitment on Friday. Wildcat Authority previously reported Brnović has signed with the program.

In 34 games with Žalgiris II, Brnović averaged 8.1 points and 3.2 rebounds. He shot 54 percent from the field and 29 percent from three-point range.

Brnović has demonstrated he can shoot from the perimeter. At the Adidas Next Generation Tournament with developmental team Žalgiris, he made 10 of 21 three-point attempts over five games.

Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd developed a reputation as an assistant at Gonzaga for landing heralded European prospects. He’s carried that reputation to Arizona, with this year’s offseason roster haul being no exception.

Brnović joins incoming freshman Endurance Aiyamenkhue (Germany) and Nebraska transfer Ugnius Jarusevicius (Lithuania) as the latest Europeans to play for Arizona. The UA returns Motiejus Krivas (Lithuania) and Ivan Kharchenkov (Germany), both of whom are expected to start next season.

Brnović is also one of four new big men joining the program, along with Aiyamenkhue, Jarusevicius and Idaho State transfer Evan Otten.

Arizona is expected to dole out one more roster spot, ostensibly at the power forward position.

Formula 1 heads into Saturday at the Austrian Grand Prix with Kimi Antonelli back on top after a perfect Friday at the Red Bull Ring.

The Mercedes championship leader topped both practice sessions in extreme heat, beating McLaren pair Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in FP2. Reliability issues also shaped the opening day, with Sergio Perez stopping due to an overheating Cadillac and others reporting problems in the hot conditions.

Saturday brings final practice and qualifying on one of the shortest laps of the season, where small gaps, traffic and track limits can quickly decide the grid. Here is everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s running at the Austrian GP.

F1 Austrian GP: Kimi Antonelli tops FP2 to complete perfect Friday

How can I watch the F1 Austrian GP?

Broadcast coverage of Formula 1 varies by region. For viewers in the United Kingdom, Sky Sports continues as the championship’s exclusive broadcaster, showing every session live throughout the 2026 season. F1 coverage can also be streamed via Sky Go or NOW, with highlights available free-to-air on Channel 4.

In the United States, Apple TV is broadcasting the entire Austrian GP weekend—and grand prix—free for viewers in the U.S. as a one-race promotion.

Apple TV is the primary broadcast partner for the 2026 season, with all sessions available on the platform following a multi-year deal. F1 TV remains the series’ global subscription streaming service.

Motorsport.com will provide live coverage and updates throughout the Austrian GP weekend.

F1 Austrian GP Saturday schedule

Times local to Austria:

Saturday, June 27 — free practice 3 — 12:30pm CEST
Saturday, June 27 — qualifying — 4:00pm CEST

For UK viewers:

Saturday, June 27 — free practice 3 — 11:30am BST
Saturday, June 27 — qualifying — 3:00pm BST

For US Eastern Time viewers:

Saturday, June 27 — free practice 3 — 6:30am ET
Saturday, June 27 — qualifying — 10:00am ET

F1 Austrian GP full weekend schedule

All times local to Austria:

Austrian GP Saturday weather forecast

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Saturday is expected to be even hotter at the Red Bull Ring, with dry and sunny conditions for final practice and qualifying.

With the FIA declaring a Heat Hazard for the weekend, teams will have to manage the conditions carefully as track temperatures rise. The heat could make tyre preparation more difficult, while traffic may also become a factor on one of the shortest laps of the season.

Sunday is forecast to stay hot and dry for the grand prix, so cooling, tyre life and driver management will remain crucial throughout the weekend.

Five things to look out for at the F1 Austrian GP

Austrian GP track facts

* Circuit: Red Bull Ring
* Location: Austria
* Event: Austrian GP
* Circuit type: permanent road course
* Friday sessions: free practice 1 and free practice 2
* Saturday sessions: free practice 3 and grand prix qualifying
* Race: Sunday, June 28
* The Red Bull Ring is a short, fast Formula 1 lap, with long straights, heavy braking zones and a final sector where traffic and track limits can quickly become important.

2026 Formula 1 driver and team roster

Photos from Austrian GP - Friday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Pauline Ballet / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Mark Thompson / Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Clive Mason / Getty Images

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images

Dino Beganovic, Ferrari

Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images

Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images

Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Michael Potts / LAT Images via Getty Images

Mattia Binotto, Audi F1 Team

Michael Potts / LAT Images via Getty Images

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Michael Potts / LAT Images via Getty Images

Lando Norris, McLaren

Marcel van Dorst / EYE4images / NurPhoto via Getty Images

Like Crawford, Aston Martin F1 Team

Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images

Like Crawford, Aston Martin F1 Team

Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Mark Thompson / Getty Images

Luke Browning, Williams

Peter Fox / Getty Images

The Williams team excercises

Peter Fox / Getty Images

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing

Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images

Ryo Hirakawa, Haas F1 Team

Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images

Paul Aron, Audi F1 Team R26

Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images

Luke Browning, Williams

Clive Mason / Getty Images

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images

Dino Beganovic, Ferrari

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Paul Aron, Audi F1 Team R26 aero paint

Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Mark Thompson / Getty Images

Ferrari rear technical detail

Marcel van Dorst / EYE4images / NurPhoto via Getty Images

Like Crawford, Aston Martin F1 Team

Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Pauline Ballet / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Mark Thompson / Getty Images

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Peter Fox / Getty Images

George Russell, Mercedes

Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Clive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Mark Thompson / Getty Images

Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing

Pauline Ballet / Formula 1 via Getty Images

Luke Browning, Williams

Peter Fox / Getty Images

Lando Norris, McLaren

Michael Potts / LAT Images via Getty Images

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

"Ultimately, though the Celtics were willing to part with Brown, they weren't willing to also include young prospects Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman to land Antetokounmpo, a decision that has put them in an awkward situation with Brown," they write.

"Multiple sources say the team is still engaging in trade discussions for the five-time All-Star," add the ESPN reporters.

"Says one league source: 'It'd be insane for Boston to bring him back after dangling him so publicly,'" share Shelburne and Collier. "Says another: 'I wouldn't do a damn thing. Those two guys are so good, you can't just trade Jaylen because it's awkward. Make everyone come back and figure it out.'"

Keep in mind much negotiation takes place though the media at this time of the league calendar, but based on the preponderance of reports we have been hearing around the Association on Brown's potential trade availability, there seems to be some substance worth keeping tabs on here.

Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:

Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKp

iTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47

YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3

This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Report: Boston Celtics still taking trade calls for Jaylen Brown

After trading out of the first round entirely, the Cleveland Cavaliers still managed to address dire needs with the selection of Meleek Thomas at No. 34.

Thomas, the running mate of Darius Acuff Jr. in the Arkansas backcourt, was a foundational piece to the team’s success. His outstanding three-point shooting and defensive specialties were pivotal in college, and are exactly what the Cavs need to help get over the hump.

Meleek Thomas Gives Cavs’ Bench a New Offensive Layer

Though he may not have lived up to his No. 11 ranking on the ESPN top 100 recruits, Thomas showed more than enough potential to be a late-first-round selection this year. 

He was second on the team in both three-point makes (2.2) and attempts (5.3) last season, with over 73% of those shots being assisted. 

Thomas did a good job working off of Acuff. He moved to open spots consistently and used the lottery pick’s rim pressure to his advantage.

Off-ball shooting is an element of the Cleveland bench that was sorely missed from the backcourt last season. Aside from their sharpshooting wings, Max Strus and Sam Merrill, the Cavs couldn’t rely on their bench to hit threes.

Veteran guards Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis‘ jump shooting was unreliable. Additionally, with James Harden and Donovan Mitchell‘s playoff struggles, Cleveland was left with slim pickings behind the arc.

The addition of Thomas will immediately help resolve that issue, especially with the driving presence of Harden and Mitchell. He shot over 41% from deep on the season and nearly 49% in conference play.

Outside of his shooting, Thomas also shows playmaking upside. Even with Acuff on the court, he has had solid passing and driving responsibilities. Summer League play will help determine whether these traits are noteworthy in the NBA or flashes from college.

Possibly his best non-shooting offensive trait is his ball security. He averaged only 1.0 turnover per game while still serving as a secondary ball handler. Cleveland averaged the second-most turnovers per game in the playoffs last season (16.7), so Thomas’ ability to maximize possessions will be momentous.

These limited but significant offensive traits already make him a nice piece for the Cavs, but his defense is what puts his game together.

Thomas’ Defensive Tenacity

Meleek Thomas was all over the floor on defense last season. 

He would pick guards up from full-court, read the passing lanes, and pick pockets with ease. Thomas’ solid height and great hands make him difficult to drive on for other guards. His 1.5 steals per game ranked first on the team.

A strong point for the Cavs’ backup guards was actually defense. Ellis is a monstrous defensive playmaker with good size, and Schröder’s physicality makes him a very solid on-ball defender. But because of their offensive lapses, they were not viable playoff pieces.

Thomas will be able to bring this strong defensive play while also being a good catch-and-shoot player.

The addition of Meleek Thomas gives the Cleveland Cavaliers a shot at a consistent 3&D backup guard for years to come.

The post How Will Meleek Thomas Fit on the Cavs’ Roster? appeared first on The Lead.

New York Knicks fans expressed anger at owner James Dolan after NBA insider Fred Katz reported on Friday that he’s preventing the Leon Rose-led front office from going over the second apron. The ramifications could be massive for the Knicks in their bid to defend their NBA title.

New York could lose multiple key bench players who were critical to its title success during the 2025-26 NBA season. Here’s what Katz wrote:

If true, it’s a surprising decision from Dolan, as New York could have a shot at becoming the first team in eight years to win consecutive titles. That would be huge for the Knicks, given how much they have struggled over five decades to get to the summit.

Considering this, Knicks fans called out Dolan, who has a $2 billion net worth according to Celebrity Net Worth, for limiting the team’s resources to retain the core or get even better this offseason. One X user pointed out that former Knicks star Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson being on the Brooklyn Nets would be a “PR disaster” for New York.

Randle is already on Brooklyn’s roster after the Minnesota Timberwolves traded the former star in a salary dump. Meanwhile, reports suggest the Nets are considering prying Robinson away from the Knicks.

One fan also suggested that the Knicks might see president Leon Rose leave the franchise, similar to former president Donnie Walsh, who left in 2011 after Dolan reportedly proposed a pay cut and limited his extension to two years.

Here are some more reactions:

Not just Mitchell Robinson, Knicks could also lose Landry Shamet because of James Dolan’s reported decision

The Knicks could suffer a double blow if James Dolan remains adamant about his reported restrictions to limit the team from going over the second apron. Along with Mitchell Robinson, Landry Shamet could reportedly be on his way out in free agency if Dolan doesn’t allow Leon Rose to spend in free agency.

Robinson averaged 5.7 points and 8.8 rebounds, including 4.2 offensive rebounds per game. He shot 72.3% from the field. Robinson played 60 games, the most in the last four years. Despite his injury concerns and lack of offensive output, several contenders will look to pursue him due to his intangibles, especially on defense.

Offensively, he’s as efficient as anyone around the rim, so with a higher volume of shot attempts, Robinson can prove decisive on that end on some nights. He could command between $12 to $16 million annually.

On the other hand, Shamet averaged 9.3 ppg, shooting 39.4% from 3-point range on 5.2 attempts. He was a spark plug off the bench, giving the Knicks’ offense exactly what they needed amid lean stretches. Shamet was even more efficient in the playoffs. He averaged 6.0 ppg on 47.3% shooting from 3-point range.

The Knicks landed him on a $3.1 million minimum contract last season, which Shamet outplayed significantly. He could command an annual salary of $8 million to $12 million.

Read more:

College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in the NBA, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!

World Cup 2026 red cards tracker: Updated list of suspended players for FIFA group stage originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has already delivered plenty of drama, and players must be careful to stay on the right side of the referee as the tournament progresses.

A red card can have major consequences during the group stage, with any player sent off left facing an automatic suspension for their country's next match. That can leave teams without key players at a crucial point in the competition.

The Sporting News is tracking every red card shown at the 2026 World Cup, with a full list of dismissals from the tournament below.

2026 WORLD CUP HQ:Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Buy World Cup tickets

How many red cards at the 2026 World Cup?

A total of eight players have been sent off at the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far.

Dismissals can be issued for offences such as serious foul play, violent conduct, denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity or receiving two yellow cards in the same match. However, one of the tournament's most talked-about rule changes means players can be shown straight red cards for covering their mouths during confrontations with opponents. We saw this with Paraguay's Miguel Almiron against Turkey.

Every red card results in an automatic suspension, meaning teams can quickly find themselves without key players during the race to reach the knockout stages.

List of players shown a red card during World Cup 2026

Fewest and most red cards at a World Cup all-time

Red cards have produced some of the World Cup's most memorable moments, from controversial dismissals to costly suspensions that changed the course of a tournament.

The fewest red cards shown at a World Cup in the modern era came in 2018 and 2022, with just four players sent off across 64 matches in each tournament.

At the other end of the scale, the 2006 World Cup in Germany remains the most ill-disciplined edition on record, with 28 red cards issued during the competition.

The table below shows how every World Cup compares in terms of total red cards and dismissals per match.

*Ongoing

We are just weeks away from Big 12 football media day. Which Iowa State players will represent the team for the annual event?

The Cyclones announced their player representatives on June 26. There will be a quintet of players joining head coach Jimmy Rogers for his first Big 12 media day.

Quarterback Jaylen Raynor, running back Aiden Flora, cornerback David Coffey, defensive end Isaac Terrell and kicker Kyle Konrardy will be in attendance for the Cyclones.

Big 12 media day is returning to The Star in Frisco, Texas. The two-day event is slated to run July 7-8. The 16 conference teams will be divided into eight-team lineups for each day. Iowa State is scheduled for the second day on Wednesday, July 8. Both days will be broadcast live on ESPNU from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. CT.

Raynor is the front-runner to be the Cyclones' starting quarterback this fall. A three-year starter at Arkansas State, Raynor provides experience after accumulating a 20-16 record under center, with a 62.9% completion rate for 8,694 yards, 52 touchdowns and 28 interceptions. He also ran for 1,183 career rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on 414 carries.

Flora emerged as a fan-favorite for his effort on special teams. The former walk-on was named to the All-Big 12 second team as a returner last season. He had the clutch, game-winning punt-return touchdown at TCU, and he's projected to get a bigger role at running back.

Coffey is a returning member of the defensive backfield. He played in nine games last season, including one start, and finished with 11 tackles and two pass breakups. During the April spring showcase, he appeared to take first-team defense reps at cornerback.

Terrell is a Washington State transfer that will bolster Iowa State in the trenches. He was named the Pac-12 Top Defensive Line Performer of the Year last season, finishing with 28 tackles, including 12 for loss, with a team-high seven sacks, and one forced fumble.

Rounding out the Cyclones' lineup is Konrardy, another returning fan-favorite. Last season, the standout kicker had a school-record 63-yard field goal against South Dakota, then followed up with the go-ahead, game-winning field goal against Iowa the following week. He was an All-Big 12 honorable mention last year.

2026 Big 12 media day team lineup for Tuesday, July 7

• Arizona State
• Baylor
• BYU
• UCF
• Colorado
• Houston
• Oklahoma State
• Texas Tech

2026 Big 12 media day team lineup for Wednesday, July 8

• Arizona
• Cincinnati
• Iowa State
• Kansas
• Kansas State
• TCU
• Utah
• West Virginia

Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: See which Iowa State football players will be at 2026 Big 12 media day

North Carolina continued to build momentum on the recruiting trail by landing a commitment from four-star linebacker Theo Wilson of Tampa (Fla.) Armwood.

The 6-foot-2, 235-pound defender, ranked as the No. 29 linebacker in the country, chose Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels over LSU after a recruitment that featured several national contenders.

For Wilson, the chance to play for one of football’s most accomplished coaches proved to be a major draw.

“I did my research on Coach Belichick and got to know him in person,” Wilson told Rivals. “I really liked how he runs his team and how he runs his defense. Knowing how he runs things and the way he coaches were big parts of my decision.”

[ $19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage ]

North Carolina’s official visit earlier this month made an immediate impact. It was Wilson’s first trip to Chapel Hill, and the experience quickly elevated the Tar Heels to the top of his board.

“They made a great first impression,” he said. “The official visit was very big for me. The people I met there were genuine and it felt like home. I really liked the defensive scheme, and I believe in the coaching experience they have.”

Linebackers coach Jamie Collins and general manager Mike Lombardi played especially important roles in the recruitment.

“Both those guys meant a lot in my decision too,” he said. “Coach Lombardi came to my school, and I could really feel it when I talked with him. Then when I met Coach Collins on my official visit, we clicked right away. We have the same kind of energy — laid back, don’t say too much, but we get our work done.”

LSU mounted the strongest challenge down the stretch, but Wilson admitted he had begun leaning toward North Carolina before taking his trip to Baton Rouge.

“It was kind of before the LSU official visit that I knew,” he said. “LSU would have had to change my mind. It was a great trip, but and LSU is a great school, but North Carolina was the best choice.”

Michigan State announced the return of "Meet the Spartans" ahead of the 2026 football season. According to a social media post from the football team's account, the event will be held on August 26.

The event will run from 4 to 6 p.m. ET, and will include the opportunity for fans to meet with the players ahead of the season. Exact details on this year's event have not yet been released but typically the event includes players signing autographs and taking pictures with fans.

The event is free admission.

Michigan State football will officially open the season on September 4 against Toledo. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET from Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Mich.

Save the date 🗓️

Meet the Spartans returns on August 26! pic.twitter.com/76Gq9Lr570

— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) June 26, 2026

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.

This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: MSU football to host 'Meet the Spartans' event in August

There is pressure on quite a few Cleveland Browns players going into the 2026 season to prove that they should be a part of the team’s future plans. With how unstable the offense has been, many players have a lot to prove on that side of the ball. 

Deshaun Watson

Watson probably has the most to prove out of any player on the Browns roster because he really has one last season to decide his future in this league. Given his off-the-field issues, injury history, and inconsistent performance, it will be difficult for any team to justify signing him to a new contract once his time in Cleveland comes to an end. He will need to put together an impressive season and prove his value if he hopes to secure his future in the NFL.

Shedeur Sanders

Also in the quarterback room, Sanders needs to show the Browns’ coaching staff and front office that he deserves to have a future in Cleveland. A solid summer at training camp will prove to the team that he deserves to take snaps as a starter this season and could solidify him as a part of the team’s future, whether that is as a starter or a backup. 

Quinshon Judkins

Judkins got off to a strong start in his rookie season before suffering a leg injury that sidelined him for the rest of the year. He will need to prove he has fully recovered and show he can emerge as a breakout star in the offense. The opportunity is there; it’s just a matter of whether he is ready to take it and has recovered from his injury. (Editor’s Note: Judkins, unlike Watson and Sanders, has a chance to prove he’s a Top 5-10 player at his position if recovered from injury. Different from the two QBs.)

Let me know what you think in the comments – Which Browns’ players have the most to prove in 2026?

Arsenal have had a sub-£60M bid for Bruno Guimarães rejected by Newcastle, reports The Athletic. The 28-year old Brazilian has intermittently been linked to the Gunners for a couple of seasons running and is one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the Premier League. Newcastle “insist” Guimarães is not for sale, but I’d be willing to bet the Arsenal brass test their resolve at least one more time.

Newcastle are in a tough spot overall. They were reportedly up against PSR constraints last summer and perhaps even before that. They don’t have European football next season. The combination of Nick Woltemade, Anthony Elanga, and Yoanne Wissa, who spent much of the season injured, weren’t able to replace the on-field contributions of Alexander Isak, who forced a move to Liverpool. They’ve sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona for nearly £70M. Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City are circling around Sandro Tonali, who was mentioned as a possible Arsenal target in the spring.

The Magpies are also in a tough spot with Guimarães in particular, with several factors likely to hold down his sale price. He’s 28-years old (until he’s 29), so they won’t get the young player premium. Buyers will be wary of overspending on a player who is going to give them one contract-worth of value. He only has two years remaining on his current deal, which is the point where clubs either extend or sell to avoid losing the player for free.

It doesn’t seem particularly likely to me that Guimarães will want to stay at Newcastle, either. He’s a Champions League-level player on a club that isn’t in Europe, and he’s watching all his CL-level teammates leave the club.

Wages are a potential equalizing factor. We know the PIF has near-infinite resources. But they’re limited in spending that money by PSR. Clearly, they should have gone the Manchester City route — gotten into the game earlier and spent like it was going out of style to goose their numbers and create headroom before the more closely monitored, stricter controls were in place.

I’m not a Newcastle expert but it feels like losing Bruno would be a different, deeper wound than selling Isak or Gordon. He’s the club captain and a fan favorite. His high workrate and aggressive, physical play mirrors the club identity and the overall ethos and culture of the Industrial revolution-built, working-class city that is Newcastle.

It’ll come down to what Guimarães wants, as it did with Alexander Isak. How much does he value Champions League football versus, theoretically, becoming the highest-earner at Newcastle? Given their reported PSR struggles, can they even offer him a number to make that tradeoff worth it? After what happened with Alexander Isak, the whole “promises made, not kept” stuff, it’s fair to wonder if there might be something similar happening behind-the-scenes with Guimarães, too.

It also comes down to what Arsenal wants and how much they want it. As I said, they’ll probably come back with another offer, but if that gets knocked back, will they make a third? Is Andrea Berta using this as a smokescreen and market-setting exercise for another target?

Arsenal need another quality player at the base of the midfield. That’s in addition to whatever role Myles Lewis-Skelly plays next season. Martin Zubimendi was so exhausted that he lost his starting spot for the last month of the season. Declan Rice carried and managed a back / hamstring injury for several weeks down the stretch and into the World Cup. Christian Norgaard wasn’t trusted enough to play anything close to meaningful minutes.

It’s a bit odd to say because the Gunners were a Champions League penalty shootout away from winning the double, but if they want to win the double, it feels like they need to get their key players more rest. The Premier League got close at the end in large part because of the toll that injury and fatigue took on the squad at a couple pain points of the campaign.

Just look at PSG. Some of their best players had more minutes played in the Champions League than in Ligue Un. Arsenal won’t ever get to that point. It’s not feasible. The Premier League is too tough. But it would be nice if Mikel Arteta could get his workhorses a bit more rest. Adding another quality player, Bruno or someone else, to the central midfield stable would help accomplish that.

There are plenty of minutes to go around. I don’t think Bruno would have an issue with how much playing time he gets nor would he cut into Myles Lewis-Skelly’s “developmental” minutes in a meaningful way, either. You can frame it in a pretty positive way, actually. Spreading minutes around between 27-year olds Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi and 28-year old Bruno Guimarães helps to keep all of them fresher and healthier and having three top-class, established players to rotate in the center of the park takes pressure off MLS. Not that he necessarily needs it – he held his own as a starter in a CL final just a few weeks after moving back into midfield.

I don’t want to belabor the question of price because it’s the one we’re least-equipped to address from the outside. There is a range where you do the deal if you fall in that band. There is a number at which it stops making sense. My gut is telling me that the inflection point is somewhere around £65M.

The Arsenal win-now window is wide open. The squad is set up to be a potentially dominant team for the next two or three seasons. From a roster standpoint, you want to maximize the prime years of players like Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, William Saliba, and so on by winning as much silverware as possible with them as the key pieces of the team. We’re not playing Football Manager. It’s not all about building for the future all the time. At some point, you’ve done enough building and you go for it. That’s where Arsenal find themselves right now.

A 28, 29, and 30-year old Bruno Guimarães absolutely helps with that. He is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and arguably the world right now and will continue to be that level of player for a couple more seasons. I think his on-ball skill, and he’s got plenty of it, can get lost in the focus on his industry and physical play. He’s a really talented player.

That he’s 28-years old right now gives some pause. If Arsenal buy him, he likely gets a 4+1 year contract, which would take him into his early 30s. By that time, he will probably have started to slow down. Does that mean he’ll be a completely useless player in four years? Definitely not. Look at Jorginho’s time at Arsenal or Casemiro’s resurgent season this past year. For what it’s worth, I think the market has swung so far towards young players that there is value to be found with guys in their late 20s if you can get them for the right price.

It’s all about finding the right balance of youth and experience, of pushing in some chips at the right time while also keeping an eye on the future. If the club were to bring in Bruno and / or another established, veteran player to have a go at more silverware in the immediate future, you’d expect them to make a few longer-range moves, too. In those couple of years that Bruno is patrolling the midfield, you develop someone like Myles Lewis-Skelly and sign another player to go along with him to ease the transition into the next iteration of the team.

Outside of whether you can make the money work and pry him away from Newcastle, his age is the likeliest reason not to do the deal. I’m also mildly concerned about the way he plays and whether he’d be able to get away with Newcastle-type stuff in an Arsenal shirt. He toes the line and can step over it (the blow to the back of Jorginho’s head stands out in my memory), but every team needs a bit of steel and bite (that isn’t blasting guys up high). Although I felt strongly he should have been sent off for that bit of violence, he’s never actually gotten a straight red card in the Premier League.

As for the physical play and the winding guys up stuff, I can’t stand it when he does it to Arsenal, but he strikes me as the kind of guy you’d love to have doing it for you rather than to you. I’m also fairly confident in the strong leadership of the team, from Mikel Arteta through the players, and their ability to turn excessive aggression into controlled aggression should he prove a bit to exuberant.

And I’ll be honest, I think his brand of football would fit right in at Arsenal right now. This is a hard-working, resolute, stubborn, physically imposing side that, when they’re at their best, overwhelm opponents. Heck, if everybody wants to paint Arsenal as the villains, they might as well commit a bit of villainy, right? Call us a soft touch now, punks.

The prospect of Arsenal buying Bruno Guimarães doesn’t thrill me in the way that buying a 22-year old attacking prodigy (or Ayyoub Bouaddi) would. It’s just not that type of transfer, but I wouldn’t have any complaints about it, either. It’s pragmatic. It improves the team in an area of substantial need. It would be an excellent move towards winning more silverware in the next few years with this core group of players.

After getting horrific quarterback play last season, we all know the situation in that room for the Minnesota Vikings was going to be very fluid. It did not take long for Minnesota to make a move, landing Kyler Murray on a one-year deal. But it appears that Murray maybe wasn't the top choice among the Vikings brass.

ESPN reporter Nick Wagoner is reporting that Minnesota made a push to acquire San Francisco 49er Mac Jones via trade, but the cost of Jones versus Murray was too much in the long run.

“Then, for a team such as the Minnesota Vikings, which was believed to be Jones’ preferred destination outside of San Francisco, it was easier and cheaper to sign Kyler Murray to a league-minimum deal because of offset language in his contract, than it was to deal a pick and then potentially sign Jones to a lucrative extension.” -

“Then, for a team such as the Minnesota Vikings, which was believed to be Jones’ preferred destination outside of San Francisco, it was easier and cheaper to sign Kyler Murray to a league-minimum deal because of offset language in his contract, than it was to deal a pick and then… pic.twitter.com/m9sICLHnWq

— SleeperVikings (@SleeperVikings) June 22, 2026

It does make you wonder what a trade might have looked like for Jones. The report was that San Francisco was likely looking for a day two pick in return for the former first-round pick. Instead, Minnesota takes a flier on Murray in hopes of revitalizing his career and developing him into their long-term starter. If that does happen, it will be fascinating to see what develops with McCarthy, and where he gets moved to.

This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Vikings may have wanted 49ers' QB Mac Jones initially as starter

Following Friday practice at the Austrian Grand Prix, Mercedes has firmly established itself as the team to beat—led by championship leader Kimi Antonelli. The Italian topped the timesheets in both the first and second free practice sessions while also delivering the strongest long-run pace.

Traditionally, the second practice session shifts the focus towards long runs with high fuel loads, providing valuable insight into race pace and tyre degradation. Antonelli emerged as the fastest driver, finishing 0.06 seconds per lap ahead of Mercedes teammate George Russell after correcting for different tyre compounds and stint lengths.
McLaren fielded the second-fastest long-run package but already trailed by an adjusted 0.21 seconds per lap. Above all, excessive tyre degradation proved to be the reigning world champions' biggest weakness, despite showing competitive pace at the beginning of each stint.

No sign of Ferrari: what happened to the engine upgrade?

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Friday proved to be a disappointing day for Ferrari. The Scuderia arrived in Spielberg full of confidence after its victory in Spain with an upgraded chassis and introduced a new power unit update in Austria, hoping to take another step forward.

However, Ferrari fell well short of expectations over both a single lap and in the long runs. Lewis Hamilton was 0.597 seconds off the pace in the second practice session, while his adjusted long-run deficit stood at 0.51 seconds per lap.

Charles Leclerc, who handed his car over to rookie Dino Beganovic during the opening practice session, also struggled to find his rhythm. He was 0.841 seconds behind Antonelli in qualifying simulation, while his long-run deficit increased to 0.97 seconds per lap.
Notably, Ferrari lost the majority of its time through the more technical second and third sectors. The deficit to Mercedes was considerably smaller in the top-speed-dependent opening sector, although this is also the shortest part of the lap. Overall, little remained of Ferrari's previously impressive chassis performance on Friday in Spielberg.

Just like Barcelona? McLaren once again struggles with tyres

Lando Norris, McLaren

McLaren showed striking similarities to last weekend in Barcelona. Oscar Piastri looked strong over a single lap, finishing 0.237 seconds behind Antonelli and ahead of teammate Lando Norris (+0.325), but the picture changed completely during the long runs.

As in Barcelona, Piastri visibly struggled with tyre degradation. His adjusted long-run deficit to Mercedes amounted to 0.50 seconds per lap—roughly three tenths slower than Norris.

Overall, McLaren suffered from tyre degradation of around three tenths of a second per lap. By comparison, both Mercedes drivers averaged roughly one tenth per lap while simultaneously producing faster lap times.

Red Bull upgrade: step forward or no impact?

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Red Bull was also under the spotlight in Spielberg. The team's second major upgrade package of the season was expected to deliver the final step towards the front after the first substantial update in Miami had already brought significant gains. However, the anticipated breakthrough failed to materialise on Friday.

Max Verstappen was 0.550 seconds adrift of Antonelli in qualifying simulation, while his adjusted long-run deficit stood at 0.27 seconds per lap. The former world champion also struggled with tyre degradation, and the Red Bull consistently lost time to the Mercedes across all three sectors.

Nevertheless, Red Bull currently appears to be the third-fastest team behind Mercedes and McLaren. Overnight setup changes could still alter the competitive order before qualifying.

Midfield: Audi strong again, Williams and Aston Martin off the pace

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

The midfield painted a familiar picture. Alpine, Racing Bulls and Audi currently appear to make up the leading midfield group, followed by Haas and Williams with a noticeable gap. Behind them sit the backmarkers Cadillac and Aston Martin.

Nico Hulkenberg once again impressed with a strong long-run performance, trailing Mercedes by just 0.80 seconds per lap. As has been the case on previous Fridays, however, the question remains whether Audi can finally convert this pace into meaningful championship points. The German manufacturer also introduced a comprehensive upgrade package in Spielberg.

Alpine (+0.83) and Racing Bulls (+0.94) also delivered encouraging long-run pace. Haas, on what is traditionally one of its strongest circuits, lost 1.27 seconds per lap to Mercedes. Williams (+1.82) and Aston Martin (+3.03) were clearly off the pace, while Cadillac was unable to complete any long runs due to technical problems.

Heatwave: could Austria become a three-stop race?

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

The ongoing European heatwave has also reached Spielberg and is expected to have a major impact on race strategy. Last year, the frontrunners completed the race with two pit stops, while some midfield teams managed just a single stop. Under the current conditions, however, a one-stop race in 2026 appears highly unlikely.

Friday's long runs produced an average tyre degradation figure of 0.164 seconds per lap across the field. As a result, a three-stop strategy—similar to Barcelona—has become a realistic possibility. That said, the circuit is expected to gain grip as the weekend progresses, which could reduce tyre wear to some extent.

"We didn't really expect such warm conditions here in Austria," Pirelli Head of Motorsport Dario Marrafuschi told Sky. "We've brought the three softest compounds, and tyre degradation has been higher than anticipated.

"Before the weekend, we expected either a one-stop or a two-stop race, with two stops being slightly quicker. Under these conditions, however, we've measured tyre degradation of almost two tenths per lap during the long runs. At the moment, I therefore expect the race to be at least a two-stop affair."

FIA bans Ferrari style exhaust wings in F1 2027

Alex Brundle explains why Austrian GP altitude could worsen Mercedes power unit concerns

Red Bull details Austrian GP updates; Audi, Cadillac bring improvements

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Schweinsteiger called it, “A bit African football, a bit unorthodox, a bit wild, a bit perhaps also not so conditioned by tactics" and added it was unpredictable. Ivory Coast coach Emerse Faé slammed those comments on Thursday as being racist.

“I was talking about football, not about people," Schweinsteiger said in a statement released by German broadcaster ARD, the same outlet on which he made the remarks. "It’s a football analysis. Nothing more and nothing less. ... I certainly didn’t mean to offend anyone.”

Some commentators criticized his comments as playing into racist stereotypes. Sports commentator Patrick Schnitzler wrote on Instagram of “racist prejudices that we are all passing on unnoticed,” and journalist Philipp Awounou, who is Black, wrote in Der Spiegel magazine that the characterizations played on old racist tropes rooted in colonialism. Awounou said he did not think Schweinsteiger is racist.

Germany went on to defeat the Ivory Coast 2-1 on Saturday.

Faé then led Ivory Coast into the World Cup knockout round for the first time in its history with a 2-0 win over Curaçao on Thursday. Faé said after the game he hoped Schweinsteiger had made a “clumsy statement that’s not necessarily reflective of what’s in his life.”

“We could call it racist, if we were calling a spade a spade,” Faé said.

Jürgen Klopp, who is working for broadcaster Magenta, seemed taken aback when asked about Schweinsteiger’s comments by Deutsche Welle in a conversation with journalists in New York on Wednesday.

“Now you want to carry on the subject,” Klopp responded before breaking off the interview. “No, no, I have no chance. I have no chance to answer this question. Everybody likes it so you bring me in this situation. It’s not my job that everybody likes it, but this is a serious subject, and I don’t even know what is appropriate to say. For African people it’s one thing, for other people it’s another thing, and I’m not here.”

ARD executive Axel Balkausky defended Schweinsteiger’s stance.

“He summarized his experiences and observations from recent games,” said Balkausky, ARD’s sports coordinator. "It wasn’t about individual people but rather a footballing assessment. I can’t detect any form of racism in that or in his choice of words. If the coach of Ivory Coast, Emerse Faé, were to speak directly with Bastian, his suspicions would be quickly revised, I am sure of that. Perhaps an opportunity of that sort will arise in the course of the tournament.”

___

See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

Dembele double as dominant France lead Norway in World Cup, Senegal beating 10-man Iraq

World Cup: Senegal take on Iraq in Toronto

2026 North American Darts Championship live results, scores, schedule & bracket: Sevada produces stunning 102.5 average in whitewash win originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

David Cameron had match darts, but a missed opportunity to close the game allowed Gary Mawson to win the match in a last-leg decider.

The U.S. Darts Masters first round took place last night, but the attention this afternoon is all on the North American qualifiers, who will battle for the 2026 North American Darts Championship title.

Matt Campbell, the 2025 North American Darts Championship title winner, isn't competing this year, so we will see a different player take home the title today.

Jim Long was the sole North American qualifier at the U.S. Darts Masters who upset a PDC qualifier, so he'll look to carry that momentum into this afternoon.

The winner of today's event will qualify for the 2027 PDC WC and will also earn a spot in the Grand Slam of Darts later this year.

2026 North American Darts Championship schedule & results

Quarterfinals (first to 6 legs)

All eight players competing Thursday night from the North American side will all have a shot to win this afternoon's championship.

MORE: 2026 U.S. Darts Masters: Draw, schedule, prize money and format explained

Semifinals (first to 6 legs)

Final (first to 6 legs)

More Darts articles:

• Luke Littler contract details: Teenage phenom signs richest endorsement deal in darts history
• How much prize money did Luke Littler earn in the 2026 Premier League of Darts season?
• Every Premier League Darts play-off night 9-darter: From Luke Littler to Phil Taylor
• Explaining the significance of the World Series of Darts
• 2026 U.S. Darts Masters qualifiers: Michael van Gerwen to miss event

Few observers tipped the Netherlands as potential World Cup winners, but a quietly efficient group-stage campaign has propelled them firmly into the conversation.

Ronald Koeman's team beat Tunisia 3-1 in Kansas City on Thursday to top Group F with seven points, ahead of Japan and Sweden, who both also qualified for the knockout rounds.

Next, the Dutch face Morocco in the Mexican city of Monterrey on Monday, with the winners of that last-32 match going on to face South Africa or Canada.

It was put to Koeman after Thursday's game in the stormy American Midwest that they had done the hard part by topping their group, thus avoiding Brazil.

But the head coach, who captained the Netherlands the last time the World Cup was held in the United States, in 1994, warned against thinking too far ahead.

"We need to prepare for Morocco first because it will be a big game," he said.

"It's a good team with a lot of quality, and they can score easily."

The Netherlands, followed everywhere by their legions of orange-clad fans, are World Cup royalty but have never been crowned, finishing as runners-up in 1974, 1978 and 2010.

Often cited as the best nation never to have won the tournament, they are unbeaten in 15 World Cup matches since losing the final in 2010, if penalty shootouts are excluded. 

The team did not qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

It is difficult to argue that the Dutch do not punch above their weight for a country with a population of about 18 million.

On the other hand, they have boasted richly talented squads for generation after generation, none of whom have managed to get over the line.

Koeman's squad lacks the superstar names of the past such as Johann Cruyff, Marco van Basten and Arjen Robben but he still has great quality and depth, particularly in midfield and defence.

Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk is the undisputed leader of the pack, marshalling a powerful back line that includes Denzel Dumfries and Micky van de Ven.

The midfield is also elite, with Frenkie de Jong pulling the strings alongside Ryan Gravenberch and Tijjani Reijnders.

If there is a weaker area of the team, it is in attack, where the Dutch can no longer call on world-class forwards such as Robin van Persie and Robben, who hung up their boots nearly a decade ago.

- Brobbey goals -

But they managed 10 goals in their three group games, with Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo, who has a knack of scoring at major tournaments, sharing five goals between them.

Sunderland's Brobbey was only given a few minutes at the end of the Netherlands' opening game -- a 2-2 draw against Japan -- but he has since proved his worth, netting three times.

Van Dijk said the powerful forward was a great outlet.

"Brian's quality is so strong," he said. "We've seen it obviously throughout the whole year in the Premier League. If he has you pinned up, you can't get the ball."

Former Germany and US coach Jurgen Klinsmann believes the Dutch deserve to be considered as World Cup contenders alongside the usual suspects.

"It's a team that definitely you've got to have on the plate for going far, going maybe to the semi-finals, being able to compete with Spain, France that we all mentioned as the top favourites alongside obviously Argentina and Brazil," he said on ESPN.

"They seem to be a group now that sticks together. We have a coach, Ronald Koeman, who's very, very experienced. 

"If they gel, the Dutch -- because often they had in the past problems on the inner side of things and not towards the opponents -- then it's definitely a team that is very dangerous and difficult to beat."

jw/nf

The Baseball Gods are so often cruel and unrelenting.

The Cincinnati Reds battled the Milwaukee Brewers in a three-game series in Great American Ball Park earlier this week, and they battled them pretty well. Twice they got near perfect starts from starters only for their offense to similarly be stifled, and once they battled back after they once looked buried.

Losses are losses, plain and simple, but they went toe to toe with the best team in the league and lost 2-1 (in extras), 2-0, and 6-5. They were close, but close simply doesn’t count in the sport of baseball.

They’ve fallen 5 games under .500 for the first time all season, and that’s after peaking at 9 games over .500 at the start of May. They’re an abysmal 2-15 vs. NL Central foes so far, too, showing just how far they’ve fallen down the pecking order of baseball’s most competitive division.

You’d think the Gods might throw them a bone here or there. Instead, their next foe on the schedule is none other than NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, who’ll start Friday’s series opener between the Reds and his Pittsburgh Pirates.

Skenes has actually been better in 2026 than he was during his award-winning 2025 in many ways. He’s sporting a 0.93 WHIP that’s better than his 0.95 mark from last season, and his 5.94 K/BB is improved from his 5.14 mark in ’25. So, the Reds have that going for them this evening. You may also recall that in 6 career starts against the Reds, he has held them to an abysmal .474 OPS and 0.53 ERA across 34.0 IP, with an absurd 45/4 K/BB.

Yikes!

The Reds will roll out lefty Andrew Abbott and hope he can keep the team in the game until the point where Skenes hands the ball over to the bullpen (should that ever actually have to occur). First pitch is set for 6:40 PM ET as the Reds try desperately to rescue their season after dropping it into the porta potty.

Here’s the order in which the Reds will be retired by Skenes to start:

In fact, Oklahoma went under .500 in SEC games with a 14-16 record (tied for 11th in the SEC). The Sooners got hot at the right time and dominated in the College World Series.

The Sooners became the seventh straight SEC team to take home a national title in baseball after defeating the No. 5 North Carolina Tar Heels in the national championship series.

Despite winning a national title, Oklahoma did not have close to the best record in the SEC. That honor goes to the Georgia Bulldogs, who won the SEC during the regular season and the SEC Tournament. Georgia finished the season with an impressive 53-14 record, but fell twice to Oklahoma in the College World Series, so we can't put the Bulldogs over Oklahoma in our final SEC power rankings.

SEC teams dominated the final USA TODAY baseball coaches poll with five SEC teams in the top seven. Ten SEC teams finished the season ranked. Five SEC teams made the College World Series: Oklahoma, Georgia, Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas.

Final SEC baseball 2026 power rankings

1. Oklahoma Sooners (43-23 overall, 14-16 SEC)
2. Georgia Bulldogs (53-14, 23-7)
3. Texas Longhorns (46-15, 19-10)
4. Alabama Crimson Tide (42-21, 18-12)
5. Ole Miss Rebels (41-23, 15-15)
6. Auburn Tigers (42-22, 17-13)
7. Mississippi State Bulldogs (43-19, 16-14)
8. Texas A&M Aggies (41-16, 18-11)
9. Florida Gators (41-21, 18-12)
10. Arkansas Razorbacks (41-22, 17-13)
11. Tennessee Volunteers (38-22, 15-15)
12. Vanderbilt Commodores (33-25, 14-16)
13. Kentucky Wildcats (33-23, 13-17)
14. LSU Tigers (30-28, 9-21)
15. South Carolina Gamecocks (22-35, 7-23)
16. Missouri Tigers (24-31, 6-24)

The SEC's 7 straight national champions

the standard is the standard. 🏆#MCWS x #ItJustMeansMorepic.twitter.com/98ustG2CLD

— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) June 23, 2026

Follow UGA Wire on Instagram, Facebook, X or Threads for more Georgia baseball coverage!

This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Final 2026 SEC baseball power rankings

Veteran kicker Graham Gano will be heading out of the New York Giants as injuries take their toll on the 39-year-old, but it appears he has the support of the Giants fans as they appreciate all the effort he put in for the team.

Gano took to social media platform, X, to speak about how he wished he could do more, but leaves the Giants with sweet memories knowing he gave it his all.

“I wish I could have given you the healthy version of me for all 6 years NY. Not a single regret though. I gave it all, everyday, Go Big Blue,” Gano wrote on X.

Fans flooded the comments with plenty of support for the kicker, highlighting just how fond they are of him despite him leaving the franchise.

Gano’s Time at the New York Giants Has Been Riddled With Injuries

Graham Gano joined the New York Giants in 2020, but after three successful seasons with the franchise, he played just eight games in 2023 as his injury problems began, and just 15 games were played by the kicker across the next two years, as groin and hamstring trouble began.

With new head coach John Harbaugh now involved, change as in the offing, and Gano was unfortunately released by the Giants as fresh blood is being preferred. At 39, it certainly appears that a competitive future in the NFL is looking bleak for Gano.

Read More:

LOOK: Puka Nacua Spotted With Rookie Teammate During USA vs Turkey’s FIFA World Cup Battle

Simone Biles Opens Up About Near Death Experience: ‘Wasn’t on My Bingo Card’

College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!

The Opening Finals is officially back following a six-year hiatus. The Nike Football event gets underway on Thursday from Beaverton, Oregon and will run through Friday.

More than 100 prospects across the 2027, 2028 and 2029 recruiting cycles are in attendance this week at the Philip H. Knight Campus. Prospects earned invites to the finals after competing in regional events across seven cities this spring and summer.

Some of the program’s prominent alumni include 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II, two-time All-Pro receiver Ja’Marr Chase, reigning Offensive Player of the Year Saquon Barkley, and two-time NFL rushing yards leader Derrick Henry.

FULL OPENING FINALS ROSTER | OPENING FINALS PREVIEW

Friday’s action will feature a 7-on-7 tournament, culminating in a championship match in the afternoon. Rivals National Scout Cody Bellaire, as well as Rivals national experts Greg Biggins, Brandon Huffman and Sam Spiegelman are all on hand this week and will provide analysis throughout the first session.

Join the discussion on the Rivals recruiting board here.

Opening Finals Day 2 Updates

12:17 p.m. PT:Nevada commit Ryan Rakowski with the go-ahead TD score to four-star Eli Woodard with 20 seconds left.

11:56 a.m. PT: Ohio State QB commit Brady Edmunds finds USC WR commit Quentin Hale for tying score in second half.

11:46 a.m. PT: Rakowski to Jaden Baldwin gets West on the board. Extra point is good. Southwest up on West 13-7 at halftime.

11:40 a.m. PT: Houston to Julian Caldwell for a touchdown. The extra point was no good. Southwest up on West, 13-0.

11:29 a.m. PT:Peyton Houston to Trenton Yancey for a TD, XP is good, Southwest scores on their opening drive to go up on West 7-0. — Greg Biggins

11:20 a.m. PT:Jermaine Cobbins picks off a fourth-down pass in overtime to win the game for the South.

11:11 a.m. PT:Tyler Boyd has impressed today, really nice PBU on fade ball covering the bigger Jaxon Dollar. — Greg Biggins

11:10 a.m. PT: Jake Nawrot leads Team Midwest to victory with a walk-off pass to the corner of the endzone to Jamier Brown. — Cody Bellaire

10:59 a.m. PT: Kharim Hughley evades the blitz and runs it in for a touchdown, but the play was nullified for an illegal pick/block.

10:58 a.m. PT:Tripp Keller picks off Jake Nawrot in the endzone. Keller’s had three interceptions over the two days of 7-on-7. — Cody Bellaire

10:48 a.m. PT: Warren to Isaiah Rogers for six. Northeast goes up 18-6 with 8:30 left in the game.

10:45 a.m. PT: Kharim Hughley to Jayden Mills. South pulls to within 14-6 with 12:34 left in the game.

10:32 a.m. PT: Warren to Jaxon Dollar for a TD. Northeast up on the South 12-0. — Greg Biggins

10:31 a.m. PT:Kentucky defensive back commit Tristin Hughes has been exceptional throughout the week in Oregon

Another interception Friday morning adds to his total of three so far in this tournament. — Sam Spiegelman

10:30 a.m. PT: Tristin Hughes continues to be disruptive for opposing offenses. Comes down with a clutch interception on fourth down. — Cody Bellaire

10:26 a.m. PT: Abdul Turay makes a sweet diving grab from a pass down the sideline from Braylon Warren. — Brandon Huffman

10:24 a.m. PT: Ja’Hyde Brown continues to stay on fire catching the first touchdown for Team Midwest against Team Southeast. — Cody Bellaire

10:19 a.m. PT:Braylen Warren hits Jamar Taylor for six. Northeast up on the South, 6-0.

10:18 a.m. PT: Neimann Lawrence having a strong outing thus far. Has been fitting the ball into tight windows and consistently moving the chains. — Cody Bellaire

10:17 a.m. PT:Rutgers commit Jamar Taylor make a sick one-handed touchdown catch on a pass from Missouri commit Braylon Warren. — Brandon Huffman

10:10 a.m. PT: Next game on Field 1 will be South – Northeast. — Greg Biggins

10:07 a.m. PT: Peyton Houston clutches up. Drives Team Southwest down the field and ends the game with a walk-off score after evading the blitz. — Cody Bellaire

10:06 a.m. PT:Hayden Stepp with the pass breakup on the final play of the game to seal the win for the West, 14-6.

10:01 a.m. PT:James Foster has been patrolling the secondary with a VENGEANCE. Has been flying all over the back half of the field. — Cody Bellaire

10 a.m. PT: Tough game for Trae Taylor, four three-and-outs and a pick. Two coverage sacks to end drives, too. — Brandon Huffman

9:59 a.m. PT:Israel Abrams throws a dot down the right sideline to Derrell Hines who climbs the ladder to bring down a 50-50 ball. — Cody Bellaire

9:53 a.m. PT: Sarod Baker continues to making magic happen in the open field. He’s extremely shifty with the ball in his hands and has been consistently targeted in the underneath levels of the field. — Cody Bellaire

9:51 a.m. PT: Raheem Floyd super active this game- had the pick six and just nearly had another one to break up a 4th and goal pass. — Brandon Huffman

9:46 a.m. PT: Jaxsen Stokes has been really good catching the ball out of the backfield. The Cal commit is also showing no hesitance when a defender tries to get too physical in tagging him. He just lowers his shoulder. — Brandon Huffman

9:43 a.m. PT:Raheem Floyd with a sick one-handed pick-six in the back of the end zone on a pass from Ryan Rakowski to get them on the board. — Brandon Huffman

9:39 a.m. PT: Jake Nawrot now in at QB and is picked off by Donte Wright. — Greg Biggins

9:35 a.m. PT: SMU linebacker commitment Braylon Williams was taken off the field after suffering what looked to be a knee injury during play on Friday morning. — Sam Spiegelman

9:33 a.m. PT: Halftime here with the West team up 14-0. Midwest has yet to get a first down. — Greg Biggins

9:29 a.m. PT: Rakowski’s first drive ends with a touchdown pass to Eli Woodard. — Brandon Huffman

9:27 a.m. PT:Kamil Loud with an INT for West. Still 7-0. Ryan Rakowski now in at QB. — Greg Biggins

9:26 a.m. PT: Edmunds with a rope to USC commit Quentin Hale for another touchdown for the West. — Brandon Huffman

9:23 a.m. PT: Quick three-and-out for the Midwest, West takes over, Edmunds still in at QB. — Greg Biggins

9:22 a.m. PT: Edmunds finds Hayden Koo for a touchdown then hits Eli Woodward for an extra point. West up 7-0. — Brandon Huffman

9:21 a.m. PT:Travion Washington picks off Neimann Lawrence’s pass for back-to-back Team Southwest interceptions for their defense. — Cody Bellaire

9:20 a.m. PT:Trae Taylor in at QB for the Midwest. — Greg Biggins

9:19 a.m. PT: Brady Edmunds to Hayden Koo for an opening-drive touchdown for the West.

9:16 a.m. PT: James Foster with an early INT jumping Israel Abrams pass down the left sideline. — Cody Bellaire

9:12 a.m. PT: Top seed West takes on the Midwest on field one. Ohio State QB commit Brady Edmunds gets the first reps for the West. — Brandon Huffman

8:43 a.m. PT: Back at the Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon this morning for the final day of The Opening Finals. The double elimination Nike 7-on-7 tournament gets started this morning and the championship game is set for 3 p.m. PT.

Action gets started at 9 a.m. PT. — Brandon Huffman

The United States Men's Soccer team is on to the knockout round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after beating Paraguay and Australia in the group stage. While the United States lost to Turkey on a goal in stoppage time, they are riding high going into the Round of 32.

In that loss to Turkey, the USMNT played most of their backups as they opted to rest the starters. But one of those backups is a key substitute who is one of the first to come off the bench for the team. Sebastian Berhalter has carved out a role for himself in his first World Cup and is earning the trust of Mauricio Pochettino.

On Thursday night, the former Tar Heel standout scored his first career World Cup goal to even up the score at 2.

2-2! SEBASTIAN BERHALTER FINDS THE EQUALIZER FOR THE @USMNT 🇺🇸

He brings the ball all the way back to the center of the pitch pic.twitter.com/QFAKNZbRMj

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 26, 2026

Berhalter comes from a soccer bloodline as his father, Gregg, played for the USMNT, was a coach for the USMNT, and currently coaches the Chicago Fire. His mother, Rosalind, played four years at North Carolina and won four national championships. For Sebastian, he played one year at UNC and appeared in 16 matches.

USA will take on Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, July 1 as they look to advance to the round of 16.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Sebastian Berhalter nets first career World Cup goal

It couldn’t have gone any better for Senegal. After the ball was already nestling in the Iraqis’ net in the fourth minute, the current bottom side of the group reduced themselves to ten men around five minutes later. 

After a defensive error, former Bayern star Sadio Mané was clean through, before being held back by Rebin Sulaka and therefore denied a shot. After reviewing the footage, the referee showed the red card. 

Unlike the group’s blockbuster clash between France and Norway, where the Scandinavians are fielding a B team today, this match is an absolute “do or die” game for the West Africans. With a win, Mané & Co. would have a realistic chance of reaching the round of 32, while a draw or a defeat would definitely send them out. 

Looking at the first two matches against France and Norway, Senegal would have more than deserved to go through. Against France, they were the stronger team for long spells, and even in the narrow defeat to Norway they looked anything but out of place. 

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

Newly promoted York City have signed midfielder Arthur Read and centre-back Zech Medley on free transfers.

Former Luton Town academy graduate Read, 26, made more than 150 appearances for Colchester United after joining from Stevenage in 2023, scoring 14 goals.

The Minstermen, promoted back into the Football League as National League champions, have not disclosed the length of contracts for Read or fellow new signing Medley, 25.

Medley made 21 appearances in League Two last season for Fleetwood, who finished 15th, before playing nine games on loan at eventual champions Bromley in the second half of the campaign.

His career started in the Chelsea academy before he made the switch to Arsenal, where he made his senior debut in a Europa League game against Vorskla Poltava in 2018.

He made three first-team appearances for the Gunners and then had loan spells with Gillingham and Kilmarnock before signing for Belgian side KV Oostende in 2021.

• All done deals in June 2026
• Listen to York City content on BBC Sounds

Senegal and Iraq face off at BMO Field in Toronto on the final matchday of Group I, with both sides still on zero points after defeats to France and Norway.

💡 Want to stay up to date on everything happening in the USA, Mexico and Canada? Don’t forget to bookmark the World Cup! To follow the tournament, search for “World Cup” on OneFootball and click the star next to it so you don’t miss a single story!

The Lions of Teranga still have a faint hope of qualifying as one of the best third-placed teams, but they will need a big-margin win. Iraq, meanwhile, want to bow out of the World Cup with at least a positive result. Let’s see how the match is unfolding.

⚽ Seck? No, it’s Diarra’s goal: he got the final touch

It takes the Lions of Teranga just four minutes to break the deadlock against Iraq. From a corner taken by Camara, Seck rises highest with a header and Diarra, positioned just a step from the goal line, gets the slight touch that proves decisive and wrong-foots the goalkeeper.

🟥 Sulaka on Mané: sent off after on-field review

It turns into a disastrous evening for Iraq: after conceding early, Sulaka blatantly brings down Mané as he races through on goal. Taylor initially shows a yellow card, then goes to the monitor after a VAR recommendation and changes his decision. Straight red for DOGSO: Iraq trail 1-0 and are down to 10 men after just 13 minutes.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

In those 37 games, it wasn't like Burakovsky made up for it in other areas of the game either. There was a lot of turning the puck over and frustrating defensive plays. 

Instead of being forced to eat some money and buy him out, however, the Blackhawks were able to find a trade partner in the Ottawa Senators. Burakovsky goes to Canada's capital in exchange for a 6th-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft. Chicago will not retain any of Burakovsky's contract. 

trade alert 🔔 pic.twitter.com/YTmiDwCZ4m

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) June 26, 2026

It isn't a consequential draft pick, but Burakovsky's lackluster play for a $5.5 million cap hit is off the roster. That is a tremendous amount of flexibility added when it comes to cap space. 

Burakovsky has a strong past of productive NHL play, and the Ottawa Senators are going to try to rekindle that for him. They just traded Brady Tkachuk earlier in the week, so they need forwards who can bring some offense, assuming Burakovsky (somewhat) gets back on track. 

The fact that the Senators were willing to give up a draft pick on a risky player shows that it is a legitimate seller's market in the NHL right now. Teams are desperate to add on and are willing to overpay for it. More of that is on the way as draft weekend heats up. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.

And if you look at his last name, it might sound familiar. Is he related to Emil Hemming, the right winger who went 29th overall to the Dallas Stars back at the 2024 NHL Draft? The answer is: Yes! Emil is Oscar's older brother. Maybe that means he'll be there in Buffalo to cheer on his sibling on Friday night if the whole family is in attendance for the draft.

Will the Stars draft Oscar Hemming to join his brother Emil?

Probably not? NHL mock drafts have Hemming as a first rounder and the Stars don't have a pick on Friday. But maybe if Hemming drops?

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Is Oscar Hemming related to Stars prospect Emil Hemming?