Sports photographers often risk pricier gear for a good vantage point from the sidelines – and one photographer just found his gear on the wrong end of a Lionel Messi shot.

If you know even a little bit about soccer, you’ll have heard of Messi. Whether you think the FC Barcelona alumnus and current Inter Miami forward is the GOAT or not (I’m looking at you CR7 fans!), there’s no denying that he’s immortalized on the beautiful game’s Mount Rushmore alongside Pelé and Maradona (fourth place is up for grabs – I vote George Best).

So, when I came across a video shot by @manuelamoretta on the Daily Mail Sport’s Instagram, showing the Argentine forward smashing a shot past the post and straight into the path of a hapless photographer, I couldn't help but think to myself – I’d be getting that lens hood framed!

It looks like the poor photographer took it on the chin (or the lens…) and thankfully, it looks like the lens and camera weren't damaged. Still, official lens hoods can be expensive in their own right, and I couldn’t help noticing some of the comments downplaying the moment because of the existence of camera insurance. But broken equipment for a working photographer is no joke. Sure, you’d expect the kit to be insured, but even the best camera insurance in the world isn’t going to result in a replacement mid-game.

Thankfully, it looks like the lens hood took the brunt of the impact. I also noticed that the photographer had a second setup, and while professionals often use a two-camera setup to switch seamlessly between a pair of lenses, having a second camera and lens also serves as a vital backup should the worst happen.

Ultimately, though, the main thing is that the photographer wasn't harmed. I'm sure they'll be regaling friends and family about the time they weathered a full-pelt shot from ‘Leo’ Messi for years to come. As one commenter suggested: “Sell that on eBay.” But, frankly, if that happened to me, I'd keep that smashed lens hood in a place of honor on the mantle.

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Want to photograph soccer yourself? Here's how to photograph soccer like a pro. Perhaps you're in the market for the best sports camera. And if you're looking for long lenses, here are the best lenses for sports photography.

College sports insider of On3 Pete Nakos is reporting that Michigan State transfer linebacker Darius Snow is set to visit Texas this week. The date of when Snow will visit was not immediately known.

Snow has been at Michigan State for six seasons, with his career starting in 2020. Across his time at Michigan State, Snow has appeared in 47 games, recording 161 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and an interception.

Snow received a waiver for a 7th year of eligibility from the NCAA, making him eligible to play one more season in 2026. It appears he will be moving down to the group of five level, where he should be able to get some solid playing time.

Snow entered the transfer portal in early January but never committed to any team ahead of spring practice. He had reported visits with UNLV and Tulsa but didn't commit to either program. Now, it appears he is gaining interest from one of the few schools that is considered a national championship contender for next season.

Update: Texas will host Transfer LB Darius Snow this week, @PeteNakos reports

Snow had 34 Tackles and 1 Sack for Michigan State Last Season. He would bring six years of college football experience to a young Texas LB group.

More here: https://t.co/wvQ0isl2XLpic.twitter.com/daXx9cBn4Z

— Orangebloods.com (@orangebloods_) April 15, 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 transfer LB Darius Snow to reportedly visit Texas this week

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Every year on April 15, the entire baseball world celebrates the achievements of Jackie Robinson for breaking the color barrier and becoming the first African American to play in Major League Baseball. The impact that Jackie had—not just on the sports world, but globally—through his courage, endurance, and military service shows the importance of the figure the Hall of Famer was.

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman talk about Jackie’s story, including how his wife, Rachel Robinson, was just as important a figure in his life and continues to spread the message of her late husband. Jordan also discusses Charles Follis, the first African American professional football player, who also played in the Negro Leagues, and his relationship with Branch Rickey.

Also on this episode, Jake and Jordan discuss the early-season power rankings, which have the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees at the top of the list, and why it’s tough to rank teams with so few games played so far. Later, they cover Steve Cohen’s interesting tweet after the New York Mets extended their losing streak, Houston Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai having a difficult time adjusting in the States and try to figure out why Ben Rice isn’t starting every game for the Yankees.

1:34 - The Opener: Power rankings drop

19:07 - Remembering Jackie Robinson

29:56 - The importance of Charles Follis

50:10 - Steve Cohen’s Mets tweet

58:17 - Scary dugout moment in Baltimore

1:07:50 - Why isn’t Ben Rice starting?

Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images

🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube

Check out all episodes of Baseball Bar-B-Cast and the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

Conor McGregor has settled a multi-million euro High Court lawsuit tied to his Proper No. Twelve, resolving a long-running dispute with former friend and sparring partner Artem Lobov, according to RTE.

The case, which was due to begin in court and expected to last eight days, centered on Lobov’s claim that he was entitled to 5% of proceeds from the whiskey brand based on an alleged oral agreement made in Dublin in 2017. Lobov said the agreement was sealed with a handshake and witnessed by others, and that he was an initial creator and co-founder of the brand before being pushed out.

McGregor denied that any such agreement existed. However, he acknowledged previously offering Lobov $1 million in recognition of his contributions to developing a whiskey concept. Lobov declined that offer and initiated legal action in 2022.

The dispute stems from the eventual sale of Proper No. Twelve. McGregor and his partners sold their stakes in the brand to Proximo Spirits in 2021 in a deal valued at approximately $600 million. McGregor is widely reported to have earned more than €100 million ($118 million) from the transaction.

On the day the trial was set to begin, Lobov’s legal team informed the court that the matter had been settled. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

In a statement read in court, McGregor said he was satisfied with the resolution and thanked Lobov for his work on the whiskey business. Lobov declined to comment in detail but indicated he was pleased with the outcome.

The settlement brings an end to a high-profile dispute over one of the most commercially successful celebrity-backed whiskey brands in recent years.

This all started when Lobov was promoting his book in 2022. He teased that his book would cover the “Proper 12 Whiskey story,” which, according to Lobov, went as such: McGregor wanted to start an Icelandic vodka brand and came to Lobov for advice because he had a master’s degree in finance. Lobov says he encouraged McGregor to instead pursue an Irish whiskey brand, an McGregor asked him to put together a deal and come back to him. According to Lobov, that deal he put together was the genesis of Proper No. Twelve.

Founded by Dan Abrams, The Daily Pour is the ultimate drinking guide for the modern consumer, covering spirits, non-alcoholic and hemp beverages. With its unique combination of cross-category coverage and signature rating system that aggregates reviews from trusted critics across the internet, The Daily Pour sets the standard as the leading authority in helping consumers discover, compare and enjoy the best of today's evolving drinks landscape.

The France forward's suspected Achilles tendon injury occurred in the 27th minute of Tuesday's second-leg match at Anfield. He was taken off the field on a stretcher.

Ekitike has been one of Liverpool’s top players this season and has scored 19 goals for club and country. He scored for France in its 2-1 win against Brazil last month.

Liverpool coach Arne Slot initially said after the 2-0 defeat, which sealed a 4-0 aggregate victory for PSG that “It looks really bad."

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Alderman is the third Rivals expert to pick the Gators as a landing spot for Ards, following vice president of recruiting and transfer portal Steve Wiltfong (March 4) and recruiting analyst Corey Bender (Feb. 26). With all three submitted predictions in Florida's favor, the Gators are the overwhelming favorite to land Ards with 94.9% of the prediction data.

Texas A&M is viewed as the team competing with Florida the most, despite holding less than 1% of the data.

Outside linebackers coach Bam Hardmon is leading the charge for Florida, along with Sumrall. Development is a driving factor in his recruitment, and Florida has convinced him that Gainesville is the right place for him to grow. There's also the staying close to home angle that plays well for Florida.

Ards made his first visit to campus over a year ago and was in town for each of the last two Orange and Blue games. He was a priority target for the previous staff and remained at the top of the board for Jon Sumrall's staff.

Ards named a top five of Alabama, Florida, Florida State, South Carolina and Texas A&M in January. He has official visits lined up with each of his top schools. Florida will host Ards from June 4-6. Florida State is also making a run at Ards, but the Seminoles remain a team outside the bubble for now.

Frederick Ards III Recruiting Summary

Ards is a consensus four-star prospect among the three major recruiting services — 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals.

Rivals values him the most at No. 85 nationally and No. 11 among edge defenders. ESPN has him at Nos. 112 and No. 8, respectively, while 247Sports has him at Nos. 109 and No. 15. The Rivals industry ranking, which considers all three rankings, puts him at No. 92 overall and No. 11 at his position. The 247Sports composite has him all the way up at Nos. 77 and 11.

As a junior, Ards recorded 73 total tackles with 13 being for loss and 11 sacks in 14 games played.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida football recruiting earns RPM predictions for Frederick Ards

There is a lot to suggest that FC Bayern Munich can finally shake off the long-running Real curse later this evening and knock Los Blancos out of their favorite competition. 

Kompany’s side goes into the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinal at their home Allianz Arena with a one-goal lead, currently looking like the most in-form team in the world, with Manuel Neuer as the X-factor between the posts. 

In the sold-out stadium, of course, most of the 75,000 spectators were wearing Munich’s club colors and were already making plenty of noise before kickoff to show the visitors from Madrid who the home side is and to make full use of the home advantage. 

The fans had already set the stage for this big, perhaps historic evening with a loud welcome during the warm-up and, a little later, with a very impressive choreo.

The tone has therefore been clearly set. 

What do you think — will Bayern hold on to their lead tonight and reach the Champions League semifinals? Or will Real rise to the occasion away from home? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

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

Internazionale host Cagliari this Friday at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Match Day 33 of the Serie A.

Internazionale currently have 75 points and lie in 1st position. Last time out, Cristian Chivu's team triumphed 3-4 against Como 1907 (Serie A 2025/26).

Cagliari have picked up 33 points and currently lie in 16th position. In their last game, Fabio Pisacane's team won 1-0 against Cremonese (Serie A 2025/26).

The last meeting between the two teams ended with Internazionale winning 2-0.

Unavailable

Internazionale

Cagliari

• Leonardo Pavoletti - Knee Problems
• Mattia Felici - Cruciate Ligament Tear
• Riyad Idrissi - Cruciate Ligament Tear
• Luca Mazzitelli - Calf Muscle Tear

Last starting XIs

Internazionale ( vs Como 1907 2026-04-12): Yann Sommer, Manuel Akanji, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni, Denzel Dumfries, Hakan Çalhanoglu, Nicolò Barella, Federico Dimarco, Piotr Zielinski, Marcus Thuram, Francesco Esposito

Cagliari ( vs Cremonese 2026-04-11): Elia Caprile, Marco Palestra, Juan Rodríguez, Yerry Mina, Adam Obert, Gianluca Gaetano, Luca Mazzitelli, Sebastiano Esposito, Alessandro Deiola, Michael Folorunsho, Gennaro Borrelli

Did you know...by playmaker stats

MANAGERS

• Cristian Chivu has faced Fabio Pisacane on two occasions, recording only wins.
• Fabio Pisacane has faced Inter on one occasion, recording one defeat.
• Cristian Chivu has faced Cagliari on one occasion, recording one win.

TEAMS

• Away from home, Cagliari currently have two wins in their last 15 matches.
• Away from home, Cagliari are coming off three consecutive matches scoring goals.
• Away from home, Cagliari are coming off 11 consecutive matches conceding goals.
• Away from home, Cagliari are coming off four consecutive matches without a win.
• Away from home, Cagliari are coming off two consecutive defeats.
• Cagliari currently have one win in their last nine matches.
• At home, Inter currently have one defeat in their last seven matches.
• At home, Inter currently have two draws in their last 23 matches.
• At home, Inter are coming off 11 consecutive matches scoring goals.
• At home, Inter are coming off three consecutive matches unbeaten.
• Inter currently have one defeat in their last seven matches.
• Inter are coming off four consecutive matches scoring goals.
• Inter are coming off five consecutive matches conceding goals.
• Inter are coming off four consecutive matches unbeaten.
• Inter are coming off two consecutive wins.

HEAD TO HEAD

• Inter and Cagliari have already faced each other 100 times, with Inter holding the advantage: 53 wins, compared with 16 Cagliari victories.
• At the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Inter have the edge in their matches against Cagliari: 32 wins in 51 games. Cagliari have eight victories.
• In Serie A, there have been 89 matches between the two teams, with 46 Inter wins, 29 draws and 14 Cagliari victories.

The Oklahoma City Thunder held practice on Wednesday. For the third straight year, they're enjoying a week off as they await to see who grabs the eighth seed on Friday at the conclusion of the play-in tournament.

The possibilities are down to three. They will either face the Phoenix Suns, LA Clippers or Golden State Warriors as the eighth seed. The Portland Trail Blazers clinched the seventh seed in their 114-110 win over the Suns in the play-in tournament.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault, Lu Dort and Alex Caruso talked to the local media after practice. Daigneault broke down what OKC's coaching staff does at this time of the year. Dort discussed what he thought of being required to play the last two regular-season games to become eligible for All-Defense Teams. And Caruso explained what the NBA playoffs are about.

Here's what else happened at OKC's Wednesday, Apr. 15 practice:

Another Thunder practice day. They’ll find out tonight who will face the Sun for the 8th seed on Friday pic.twitter.com/8CLFzI9xFH

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) April 15, 2026

New hairstyle for Kenrich Williams ahead of the playoffs pic.twitter.com/zn6Xrt9Dd2

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) April 15, 2026

Mark Daigneault on last night’s play-in games: “It was fun. The NBA must be happy. They invented the play-in and it went really well.” pic.twitter.com/65fWZLiDvw

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) April 15, 2026

Mark Daigneault on Jalen Williams’ defense: “I think the combination of his ability to fight the handler on the perimeter and then protect the basket is very unique. There's not a lot of guys, when you think about it, that can pressure guards effectively 40 feet from the basket… pic.twitter.com/lapJ57dMVB

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) April 15, 2026

Mark Daigneault on OKC’s coaching staff: “The first thing we benefit from is the same thing the team benefits from, which is continuity. We've been together a long, long time… Dave Bliss and Mike Wilks are organizational staples for years prior to me becoming the head coach.” pic.twitter.com/qgjWYtMT7i

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) April 15, 2026

Mark Daigneault on Ajay Mitchell: “He's a huge piece for us. It's the ability to be a secondary creator on the court. It's the ability to be a primary creator at times... He's an excellent on-ball defender. He's an excellent help defender.” pic.twitter.com/AUjxZSWHlb

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) April 15, 2026

Alex Caruso on Mark Daigneault: “He's won all the prestigious awards coaches can win, won a championship, but he's still humble enough to try to improve as a coach.” pic.twitter.com/CN0eBKzYj9

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) April 15, 2026

Alex Caruso on the playoffs: “This is what I live for. You can get lost in the shuffle in the regular season, just how much of a marathon it is. This is a different beast. It’s very high stress. It’s very focused. It’s a details game. It’s a commitment to suffering game.” pic.twitter.com/v47wg8cYgx

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) April 15, 2026

Alex Caruso on becoming a fan favorite in the playoffs last year: “Humbly, that's been a thing for me everywhere I've been. I think that whatever level I played at, there's been that infatuation and an affection towards the crowd and the fans.” pic.twitter.com/yMRN84tfCi

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) April 15, 2026

Lu Dort on how much Jalen Williams’ wingspan helps him be a plus defender: “A lot. I wish I had it. That’s his body. He knows how to use it. He’s able to get steals, blocks.” pic.twitter.com/CsAceYtoeg

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) April 15, 2026

Lu Dort on going back-to-back: “We try our best to not think about that. Obviously, we got to go back and play the first team that we got to go against, and that's our main focus after that.” pic.twitter.com/3FFDkMJgWk

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) April 15, 2026

Lu Dort on needing to play the last 2 regular season games to qualify for All-Defense: “There's nothing that we can do about it. Try your best to be available. Sometimes you're unlucky where you're not able to play some games just because you hurt. But yeah, it is what it is.” pic.twitter.com/QgPYmC9BdI

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) April 15, 2026

Lu Dort on getting ready for the playoffs: “I just go back to YouTube and watch some of the stuff that we did last year. What we accomplished was amazing. Sometimes when I go back and look at it, it puts me back in that mode.” pic.twitter.com/Wnw2hwvrpk

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) April 15, 2026

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Recap: What happened at OKC Thunder's Wednesday, Apr. 15 practice

Royals getting second breakout season from Gold Glove third baseman originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Kansas City Royals might not be off to a great start this season with a mediocre at-best 7-10 record. But there are still some reasons for optimism.

Bobby Witt Jr.'s start hasn't been great with a .682 OPS, but there's a different infielder who is having another breakout season. That infielder is Maikel Garcia.

As Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report pointed out, Garcia is having the kind of start to the year that's reminiscent of a second breakout. He had 5.8 bWAR last year and could be in store for an even better season in 2026.

Royals getting second breakout from Maikel Garcia

"Now, he seems ready for a proper breakout in 2026," Rymer writes. "His OPS+ is up from 122 to 135, with outstanding metrics across the board. And all this while still playing elite defense at the hot corner."

Garcia broke out last season after a few solid years in 2023 and 2024 for the Royals. But this season, he's looking better than ever.

He's hitting .288 with an .815 OPS and 135 OPS+, all of which would be the best marks of his career. But add in his Gold Glove defense at third base, and he has a chance to have a fantastic season.

More: Mets didn’t want to trade Brett Baty while White Sox didn’t want Mark Vientos in Luis Robert Jr. trade

A top-10 MVP finish if he plays at this pace for the full year would not be a major surprise, as his elite defense and high-quality hitting make for a great player.

He has already put up 1.0 bWAR on the season, and it's only been 17 games. If he keeps up this pace, he could be looking at a 9.0+ bWAR figure by the end of the season.

Of course, it's going to be challenging for Garcia to keep up such an elite pace all season long. But that's not the main topic with Garcia this season. It's his second breakout.

He already broke out as an All-Star caliber player last year, and now he could be approaching MVP-caliber if this very hot start were to continue for the rest of the season.

More MLB news:

• Braves predicted to trade Bryce Elder for Lars Nootbaar
• Jacob DeGrom is only 149 strikeouts from 2,000 for his career
• Three ways Pirates' Paul Skenes could lose NL Cy Young Award
• Red Sox never close on Astros’ Isaac Paredes trade
• Shohei Ohtani deemed more valuable than Aaron Judge in recent ESPN discussion piece

John Fitzgerald, a center for the team from 1971 to 1980, died Tuesday at the age of 77. During that span, he appeared in 137 games and made 109 starts. And that's counting just the regular season; he played over a full season's worth of playoff contests- 19- and made another 13 postseason starts during a decade-long run that saw the team go to four Super Bowls and win two of them. Perhaps most impressive, the Cowboys never finished with a losing record while Fitzgerald was on the roster.

Fitzgerald was a fourth-round draft pick out of Boston College in 1970. A two-way collegiate player with the Eagles, the Cowboys tried him first on the defensive line. After spending his rookie season on the practice squad, he moved permanently to offense in 1971, initially as a guard before finally finding his home at center.

Landry's 1975 offense resurrected the seldom-used shotgun formation for quarterback Roger Staubach, but it required a precision snap of five yards (then) or more from the center. After a few misfired long snaps in earlier seasons, Fitzgerald eventually found he could routinely do it without looking back between his legs.

"It took some adjustment," Fitzgerald said at the time. "If you're going to get the 'bleep' knocked out of you, at least it's nice to see where it comes from."

The shotgun snap finally caught on for good around the league and forever made the center position more valuable as a result, especially in Dallas. Legendary names like Tom Rafferty, Mark Stepnoski, Andre Gurode, and Travis Frederick would follow in Fitzgerald's footsteps, establishing a longstanding tradition of excellent Cowboys centers.

Thursday would have been Fitzgerald's 78th birthday.

Todd is on X at @ToddBrock24f7. Also, follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!

This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys longtime center John Fitzgerald passes away at 77

Cornish Pirates' upcoming match against Ealing Trailfinders is to be the club's "toughest" of the season, their joint-head coach has said.

Gavin Cattle's side head to West London on Saturday sitting sixth in the Champ table, and occupying the final play-off place after their impressive 57-21 win over rivals Chinnor.

However, Ealing are top of the league having won all 23 matches this season, and Pirates lost the reverse fixture 41-14 back in December.

"I think we can cause most teams in this league a bit of bother, but this is the toughest match in many ways," Cattle told BBC Radio Cornwall.

"They are unbeaten for a reason and, yes, they are well financed, but they are layered and have good coaching staff.

"Ealing are about as close as you can get to being Premiership ready," he told BBC Radio Cornwall.

Tomiwa Agbongbon, Matt Cannon, and Harry Yates are all on loan at the Pirates from Ealing and so would be blocked from playing on Saturday, Cattle said.

"It's also the hardest because we've had a few injuries and so we're at our weakest point in terms of availability."

But, Cattle added, there was still potential to clinch a bonus point if his side could score four or more tries in the match.

"We've got to chip away with those tries and score bonus points, and who knows what could happen.

"We are comfortable being called the underdogs, and if you're in the game in the last 20 minutes pressure can do some funny things."

Related internet links

• Cornish Pirates

Carlos Alcaraz has pulled out of the Barcelona Open.

Alcaraz, who opted to skip practice on Wednesday, made the decision after feeling discomfort in his wrist during his opening-round match against Otto Virtanen.

He was leading 5-4 in the first set when he called the physio onto court, who then taped up his right wrist.

The Spaniard spoke to reporters on Wednesday and explained why he decided to step away from the tournament.

Carlos Alcaraz pulls out of the Barcelona Open

“It’s a more serious injury than we expected when we saw the results of this morning’s tests,” Alcaraz told reporters in the Spanish city, as per Jose Moron of Punto de Break.

“I’m stepping back to avoid taking any risks.

“With great sadness, I’m leaving to start recovery as soon as possible so I can be ready for the upcoming tournaments as soon as possible.”

Alcaraz’s absence is a big blow to fans who were hoping to see him add another title to his collection, having already won in Barcelona twice before.

Lorenzo Musetti, still looking for his first title since 2022, now becomes the top seed left in the draw. Tomas Machac moves forward by default and will play Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Friday’s quarter-final.

Alcaraz will be hoping that he has recovered in time for the Madrid Open, which starts on April 21st. However, it remains uncertain if he’ll be fit enough by then.

What will this mean for Carlos Alcaraz’s ranking?

At the 2025 Barcelona Open, Alcaraz was defeated in the final by Danish star Holger Rune.

The result means he will lose 280 ATP points from his ranking total, dropping him to 12,960 points – now 390 behind world number one Jannik Sinner.

Alcaraz had a chance to reclaim the top spot with a title run in Barcelona but will have to wait for another opportunity later in the season.

Both players are now uncertain to play in Madrid. Alcaraz may not recover in time from his wrist issue, while Sinner has yet to confirm his participation following a gruelling stretch that included his title run in Monte Carlo Masters.

Read more:

Hugo Ekitike will miss the 2026 World Cup for France after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon during Champions League play on Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Julien Laurens.

The Liverpool forward went down with a non-contact injury during the first half of their quarterfinal loss to Barcelona. Minutes after being tended to by medical personnel, Ekitike was stretchered off and replaced by Mohamed Salah.

Ekitike, 23, is scheduled for scans on Wednesday to determine the severity of the injury. The estimated recovery period for the injury is 9-12 months.

“It doesn’t look good,” Liverpool manager Arne Slot said after the match. “It’s difficult for me to say how bad.”

That timeframe would rule Ekitike out of consideration for France's World Cup team this summer. In eight appearances on the international level, he has two goals. He recently saw action in both of France's recent friendlies against Brazil and Colombia.

Ekitike, who is in his first season with Liverpool after joining last summer from Eintracht Frankfurt, has 17 goals in all competitions this season.

Former Arsenal captain, Patrick Vieira, believes that the club can shake off a poor run of form and still win silverware this season with midfielder Declan Rice a ‘really important’ leader for the team.

Arsenal have seen their hopes of winning a quadruple brutally deflated in recent games after defeats in the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup preceded a shock 2-1 loss to Bournemouth in the Premier League.

The results have seen the Gunners lose three of their last four games but they hold a slim 1-0 lead over Sporting CP after the first leg of their Champions League quarter-finals.

Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of kick off for the second leg at the Emirates Stadium, Vieira addressed the recent dip and encouraged the players to go back to basics for the rest of the season.

Vieira, who was the last Arsenal captain to win the Premier League, was asked what advice he would give the current crop of players and responded: “I think I would remind them about what they’ve been doing since the first game of the season.

“I would remind them that the majority of the coaches and the teams will want to be in their shoes. There’s a lot of managers and teams that will want to play a quarter-final of the Champions League and to be top of the [Premier] League.

“It’s true that they’re having a really difficult run at the moment, there’s a lot of injuries, there’s players that are not at their best, but it doesn’t mean that they can’t win it. I think they just need some really important players to drive the team, I think Gabriel can be one of these players and Declan Rice can be another one.”

Speaking of Rice, Vieira admitted that his leadership qualities will be crucial to drive Arsenal to winning trophies this year and show his teammates what needs to be done.

He said: “I don’t know how he [Rice] is in the dressing room but something I like on the field he is the engine of the team, the drive of the team.

“I like seeing him going forward, making runs, I like to see him challenging for the tackles because when you win the ball in the midfield that shows to your teammates that you are present and what you need to do.

“His natural leadership will be really important for the rest of the season.”

Vieira also questioned Arsenal’s recent tactics about maintaining possession over scoring goals and urged the team to revert to the aggressive nature they showed at the start of the season.

“I think they have to go back to what they were doing at the beginning of the season,” he added. “I think they were quite clinical, playing forward, scoring goals and creating chances.

“It’s true that at the moment they are a little bit too much on having the possession but there’s not the end product. I believe that there is enough in that team to go to the final of the Champions League and even win the Premier League.”

How poetic that the Vegas Golden Knights have destiny in their hands in game 82 of 82.

On Wednesday, the stakes reach their highest point yet when the Golden Knights close out the regular season against the Seattle Kraken.

Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, NV

Date: Wednesday, April 15

Time: 7:00 pm PST

How To Watch: ESPN+, SCRIPPS

Radio: 1340 AM, 94.7 FM

With the Anaheim Ducks losing to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday, the Golden Knights are guaranteed home-ice advantage for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, the Pacific Division needs the Golden Knights to secure only one more point to guarantee the fifth division crown in nine seasons, locking a first-round series with the Utah Mammoth. A regulation loss could shift things in a different direction, however, potentially leading to dates with the Ducks or Los Angeles Kings instead.

Everything is on the line, and the Golden Knights will do everything in their power to push themselves over the finish line.

A fitting end

How apropos that the final roadblock for the Golden Knights in the Pacific is one of the teams they have struggled with.

The Kraken are one of only two Pacific teams the Golden Knights have failed to beat so far this season (the Ducks are the other), and all three games so far have been decided by only one goal. The only time Vegas has yet to win under John Tortorella was against the Kraken on Apr. 9, falling to them in a shootout loss. Finally getting one over on their expansion brethren would be a massive relief for the Golden Knights, who are hoping to keep riding a surge of momentum into the postseason.

Nine lives

There will be no memes about Jack Eichel this season, who is getting hot at the right time.

On Monday against the Winnipeg Jets, Eichel secured his first power play goal of the season on the second half of a double minor by Mark Scheifele. It was the cherry on top of an excellent night for Vegas’ leading point scorer, who notched his fourth four-point game of the season to push his total to 88 (the second highest of his career after 2024-25). Eichel has lead the way with 13 points in 8 games since Tortorella arrived in Vegas on March 28, and that will continue to be the case if the Golden Knights spark a deep playoff run.

Trending upward

Eichel has not been the only player who has seen an uptick in production since Torotorella took over.

Four players outside of Eichel (Mark Stone, Mitch Marner, Ivan Barbashev, Rasmus Andersson) have been operating at a point-per-game pace or better in the eight games under the new head coach. Carter Hart has also gone on his best stretch in the same span with a .925 save percentage and 1.80 goals against average, the latter of which is top-10 in the league in that time. Several players getting hot at the right time is exactly where the Golden Knights want to be right now, and others finding their way on the board against Seattle will make their wagon even more difficult to slow down.

Twelve months ago, Luke Loucks took his first-ever head coaching job and transitioned from the NBA into college basketball. He had only a few weeks to hire a staff, learn the roster, and get prepared for the portal before it opened. With a first-year head coach and a roster made up of mostly mid-major players, most outlets picked Florida State to finish at the bottom of the ACC.

Instead, Loucks proved the general public wrong and delivered a proof of concept for what his tenure at Florida State can hold.

FSU finished the 2025-26 season on a tear, winning 10 of its final 13 games and finished three inches shy of defeating Duke in the ACC tournament. Instead of being a program in question, Seminoles basketball is on the rise, with people from all over the country calling.

What a difference a year makes.

“We get a lot of calls from a lot of different people,” Loucks told the local Tallahassee media at his end-of-season press conference about the excitement around his program. “Especially when you (start gaining) steam and winning games and building a real program that people want to be a part of…Currently, you have agents reaching out to us, and not vice versa.”

However, the head coach will need to bring in multiple players from the portal to replace the six seniors leaving, including do-it-all point guard Robert McCray V, and other players departing the program, to maintain its trajectory.

“I could see anywhere from three to five (portal pickups). Some of that will be dependent on how much money I can raise. I’m not just going to fill a team with players just to fill a team with players. You have to bring in impactful players that can help you win, and that are about the right things.”

We’ll be tracking all the moves FSU men’s basketball makes this offseason including portal pickups, departures and returning players.

The portal officially opened on Tuesday, April 7, with official visits beginning on the 10th. The 21st marks the closure of the transfer portal window with the 30th serving as the final day of the recruiting period.

FSU basketball: Portal additions

• Guard Shon Abaev (Cincinnati)

FSU basketball: Portal departures

• Guard Cam Miles

Quick analysis: Miles saw his playing time dwindle as the year went on and did not see action in either ACC tournament game. His departure is not a surprise, as he began the year in the rotation and quickly fell out of it, while he holds multiple years of eligibility remaining.

• Forward Shah Muhammad

Quick analysis: Muhammad became an impactful, veteran leader for a Florida State team that was thrown together at the beginning of the year. The senior also held his own when asked to suit up, but, like Miles, he was not a consistent rotational piece. It is unclear whether he has eligibility left to keep playing college basketball.

• Guard Martin Somerville

Quick analysis: Somerville turned into FSU’s sixth man this year and became Florida State’s best ball handler besides Robert McCray V. The sophomore carried the Noles at multiple points during the season, including dropping 23 points against Virginia Tech and recording seven assists in round one of the ACC tournament. If Somerville does not end up withdrawing from the portal, Florida State will need to replace its two best ball handlers.

• Forward Alier Maluk

• Guard Xaiver Osceola
• Guard Maximo Garcia-Plata

FSU basketball: Returning players

• Upcoming sophomore foward Thomas Bassong
• Freshman guard Jasen Lopez (early enrollee, dual-sport athlete)

FSU basketball: High school prospects

Signees

• Four-star guard Brandon Bass Jr.

Bass Jr., a four-star recruit, averaged 20.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.2 steals as a junior. He set the Windermere Prep school record for most points scored in a game, 43, during the 2024-25 season.

Bass Jr. (6-5, 190) played in the NBPA Top 100 Camp in the summer of 2025. He played in the invitation-only 2025 Pangos All-American Camp and the 3SSB circuit All-American Camp in 2025. He averaged 13.7 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist on the 3SSB AAU circuit.

• Four-star forward Collin Paul

Paul (6-7, 225), a four-star recruit, averaged 13.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.2 steals during his junior season at Calvary Christian Academy. Playing with SOH Elite this spring, Paul averaged 16.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.1 blocks on the Under Armour AAU Circuit. During the 2025 UAA Session I, Paul was a standout as he was named as the Defensive MVP and to the All Session I First-Team.

He played in the prestigious NBPA Top 100 Camp in the summer of 2025.

• Four-star center Marcis Ponder

Ponder (7-0, 285) averaged 9.8 points and 9.6 rebounds, and 2 blocks while shooting .500 from the field as a junior at West Oaks Academy during his junior season.

Ponder, a four-star recruit, played in the 2025 Nike/Slam New York vs. New York game and in the NBPA Top 100 Camp during the summer of 2025. Ponder was the MVP of the Grind Session All-Star game in 2025. He led Team Breakdown to back-to-back national championships on the New Balance P32 circuit.

• Four-star guard Martay Barnes

BEFORE FSU: Consensus four-star prospect…rated as the Class of 2026’s No. 2 combo guard and the No. 10 overall prospect from Florida in Rivals Industry Ranking…ranked as No. 7 nationally at his position and No. 12 overall in Florida on 247Sports Composite…tabbed as No. 60 overall recruit and No. 7 prospect from Florida by ESPN…led Academy of Central Florida to 2026 SIAA state championship…recorded 14.3 points, 3.2 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game in the 3SSB Circuit with the Austin Rivers SE Elite…averaged 19 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 3.4 steals, and shot 34% from the 3-point line in the 2025-2026 Grind Session…scored 17 points in the semifinal of the Grind Session Men’s World Championship…scored 32 points against New School on December 20, 2025…reclassified to Class of 2026 and committed to Florida State in February of 2026.

• Guard JD Jones

BEFORE FSU: Four-year starter…scored 1,762 career points, the second-highest total in school history…four-time all-region selection…team captain his senior season…named region’s Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year…first-team all-conference and all-region…led Phoenix Country Day School to 25-2 record and into the semifinal round of the state championship bracket…opened state tournament with 28 points in first-round victory…scored 20 points to help Eagles to win in quarterfinal round of state tournament…helped Phoenix Country Day to 20 wins and a state semifinal appearance during his junior season and into the quarterfinal round of the state tournament as a sophomore…named region’s Player of the Year his junior year and was back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore and junior…son of three-time NBA champion James Jones, who is currently the NBA’s Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations.

Why Mets' Brett Baty hasn't walked even once this season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Brett Baty hasn't walked once all season.

As in, the New York Mets' youngster hasn't had a base on balls yet. He's the only qualifying hitter in MLB for whom that is true.

It's not automatically a bad thing, although Baty isn't hitting well at all so far -- his OPS is just .520 in the early going.

The lack of walks feels like it's at least a part of what's going on here, so it's worth breaking down a little further.

MORE: Bryan Woo was called for the weirdest balk as Mariners played Padres

Why hasn't Brett Baty walked at all?

Baty hasn't put a very good combination of traits together so far this season.

One of the biggest problems is his chase percentage, which ranks in the 12th-percentile of MLB in the early going. He has swung at 38.4% of the pitches out of the strike zone.

That alone will make it tough to walk, because it's on those pitches that he's chasing that he could otherwise get balls called and have a chance to walk.

Baty also loves to swing. He swings at pitches in the zone 65.8% of the time. So when you combine that with his chase percentage, he's swinging at more than half the pitches he sees (52.2%).

He also swings very often on the first pitch, 42.1% of the time, which makes it that much tougher to walk.

Essentially, Baty doesn't have the profile of a guy who will walk very much at all. He could tone things down a bit and work a walk here or there, but he'll also have to simply start making better contact, because he innately loves to swing, so he just better swing well.

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They heard all the predictions about how they would take a step back from the NBA’s top tier with Jayson Tatum rehabbing from the ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered in the playoffs last May.

They heard the narrative that this would be a throwaway year, likely ending with Boston in the draft lottery, after an offseason shakeup that included the departures of key 2024 championship contributors Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford.

So, when the Celtics last month notched their 50th win for the fifth consecutive season, All-Star Jaylen Brown didn’t hold back in ripping that narrative into confetti.

“50 wins in a gap year,” Brown posted on X, along with a shamrock emoji.

Enough said.

Now, as the Celtics prepare for their fourth straight playoff appearance under coach Joe Mazzulla as the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed, they are whole again following Tatum’s return last month. And the rest of the NBA is acknowledging what the Celtics have believed for some time: The sky remains the limit for this team.

Though Brown, who seized the leadership reins during an MVP-caliber season, acknowledged that he was surprised “a little” at least about just how well the cards have fallen for this group.

“Obviously, my mentality was come in and compete. But the way the group merged together as quickly as it did — it didn’t take us long. I thought it would take us a littler longer," Brown said. "We were trending upward post-All-Star break. But we kind of figured it out maybe the first 10 or 15 games. We started clicking and gelling. That just doesn’t happen.”

With Tatum sidelined the first 65 games, Brown flourished as the No. 1 option and leader, taking his game to new levels on both the offensive and defensive ends. He post career-high averages in points (28.7), rebounds (6.9) and assists (5.1).

He also got lots of support.

Derrick White struggled offensively at times but remained a stalwart on defense, leading all NBA guards in contested shots (550) while ranking second among guards in blocks per game (1.3).

Payton Pritchard adjusted his game, first as a starter and then by returning to the bench role that earned him Sixth Man of the Year honors last season. Sam Hauser remained a reliable threat from the 3-point line, and Neemias Queta grew his game in leaps in his first year as a starter.

There were some questions about how Tatum’s return on March 6 would affect the flow of a group that had learned to adjust and thrive without the sixth-time All-Star.

Instead, Tatum has reacclimated himself in short order, averaging 21.8 points, 10 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 16 games.

“Quite honestly I think it’s impressive that he’s gotten back to the level that he’s at as fast as he’s done it, while also keeping the main thing the main thing, which is remaining healthy and giving us the best chance to win every night,” Mazzulla said. “It’s a credit to him."

One of the final hurdles to Tatum feeling “back” came on April 9, when the Celtics visited the New York Knicks in his first game at Madison Square Garden since suffering his injury. He said the past month has strengthened a love for basketball he feared during rehab he might lose.

“You go through ups and downs mentally when you go through an injury, especially the one that I had,” Tatum said. “Moments of doubt or things like that. But there’s definitely a sense of gratitude.”

For Brown, it’s also put into perspective just how unlikely his nine seasons playing alongside Tatum have been.

Famed Celtics duo Bill Russell and Bob Cousy played together for seven seasons. Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant played together for eight.

“I think it’s been a historic run. We were able to deliver a championship in 2024. Unfortunately, we had opportunities in the past that got away from us, but we’ve been right there for a long amount of time. We’ve gained a lot of experience,” Brown said. ”Everything isn’t always perfect, but it’s not supposed to be. It’s a part of the journey. ... I’m excited to go have another opportunity.”

Brown also has an eye on bringing more trophies to Boston.

“I’m still improving. I’m still getting better. I’m still learning. I’m still growing," he said. "I feel like I’m entering my prime and I’m excited to maximize my potential and then take advantage of every opportunity I have to win and just be a part of a team and be a part of something special.”

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Florida State has added another player to its 2026 recruiting class, announcing the signing of JD Jones on Wednesday.

“JD Jones is exactly the type of young man we want in our program,” FSU head coach Loucks said in a statement. “He’s a high-character individual who brings toughness, consistency, and a team-first mindset every single day. What stands out most is how he impacts the culture – he competes, he leads by example, and he elevates the people around him. We’re excited about what he brings both on and off the court.”

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, Jones was a four-year starter, scoring the second-highest points in school history (1,762) while playing at Phoenix County Day School. His father,  three-time NBA champion James Jones who is currently the NBA’s Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations, enrolled him in a smaller program in an effort to provide him a more complete high school experience, including playing every position on the court.

From the Arizona Republic:

James could have taken his son anywhere to play high school basketball. He could impact at the highest Arizona Interscholastic Association level in 6A. He could impact at a top prep academy level.

But James said the quality of life that his son is getting as a person, more than a player, at the north Phoenix private school is more important than being part of a top-tier program that has Division I college coaches flocking to find talent.

“I think in order to be a great player, you have to be a great person,” James said. “It’s not the three hours on the floor that defines you. It’s the 21 hours off the court that defines you.

“I wanted to put him in a place where the next 21 hours would put him in a position to be the best person he can be. And the basketball will take care of itself.”

Jones, unranked by the major recruiting services, is the sixth addition to the Seminoles’ No. 9-ranked (No. 2 in the ACC) class, which also features four-star signees Brandon Bass Jr., Martay Barnes, Jasen Lopez, Collin Paul and Marcis Ponder.

The full release from Florida State:

TALLAHASSEE – Florida State has added guard JD Jones to its 2026 signing class, head coach Luke Loucks announced Wednesday.

“JD Jones is exactly the type of young man we want in our program,” Loucks said. “He’s a high-character individual who brings toughness, consistency, and a team-first mindset every single day. What stands out most is how he impacts the culture – he competes, he leads by example, and he elevates the people around him. We’re excited about what he brings both on and off the court.”

FSU’s class is ranked No. 9 in the nation and No. 2 in the ACC according to the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings. Jones is the sixth prep addition to the class, which also features four-star signees Brandon Bass Jr., Martay Barnes, Jasen Lopez, Collin Paul and Marcis Ponder.

JD Jones | SG | 6-5 | 205 | Phoenix, Ariz. | Phoenix Country Day School
BEFORE FSU: Four-year starter…scored 1,762 career points, the second-highest total in school history…four-time all-region selection…team captain his senior season…named region’s Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year…first-team all-conference and all-region…led Phoenix Country Day School to 25-2 record and into the semifinal round of the state championship bracket…opened state tournament with 28 points in first-round victory…scored 20 points to help Eagles to win in quarterfinal round of state tournament…helped Phoenix Country Day to 20 wins and a state semifinal appearance during his junior season and into the quarterfinal round of the state tournament as a sophomore…named region’s Player of the Year his junior year and was back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore and junior…son of three-time NBA champion James Jones, who is currently the NBA’s Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations.

Quote on JD Jones
“We are incredibly proud of JD and the hard work he has put in to reach this milestone. Choosing to continue his journey at Florida State University is a testament to his dedication, and we couldn’t be more excited to see him join the Seminole family. We know he will represent the Garnet and Gold with the same passion and integrity he has always shown, and we look forward to all the great things he will achieve in Tallahassee. Go Noles!”
— Destiny and James Jones
JD’s Parents

Peyton Bair has won the last three men's combined-event national championships, making him only the second athlete in collegiate history to accomplish such a feat.

But whether he stretches that streak to four straight titles might come down to a decision made off the track instead of his performance on it.

Oregon coach Jerry Schumacher confirmed April 14 that the Ducks' star decathlete might redshirt this outdoor season to preserve a full season of competition in 2027, when the senior Bair would have both an indoor and outdoor season of eligibility remaining. If he competes for Oregon outdoors this spring, he'll have only an NCAA indoor season remaining for next season.

Changes are needed to fix the Detroit Red Wings after the 2025-26 season. With a 5-3 loss at home last weekend to the New Jersey Devils, “Hockeytown” was eliminated from Stanley Cup playoff contention. The worst part is that this makes it a full decade since they have been to the postseason. To say that this season was a failure would be an understatement.

The team had at least an 80% chance to make the playoffs for most of the year. They are the second team ever in NHL history to have 69 points in 53 games and miss the postseason. The slip began after coming back from the Olympic break. Since then, they’ve posted an 8-11-2 record while struggling to finish games late.

The “Yzerplan” Problems

While there are many places to point fingers, most should be directed at the team’s general manager. Since being hired on April 19, 2019, Steve Yzerman‘s plan to revive the original six franchise hasn’t worked out. He has brought in top-tier talents like Moritz Seider (2019), Lucas Raymond (2020), Simon Edvinsson (2021), and Sebastian Cossa (2021). Despite those additions, along with Dylan Larkin and Alex DeBrincat, the club hasn’t had its first taste of Stanley Cup playoff action in this era.

Yzerman has put the Red Wings in the unpleasant position of the “mushy middle.” There are glaring reasons that have led to the team stalling out with him in charge. Some failed free agent signings like Andrew Copp, Ben Chiarot, and J.T. Compher did not provide expected results, filling the roster with average talent rather than high-impact players. While drafting is considered a strength, the slow, cautious integration of top prospects has hindered immediate progress.

What Changes Are Needed in Detroit

Some form of change must come for Detroit in order to avoid more continuous mediocrity. Unless ownership decides to go into a new direction, Yzerman will have to retool this team to ultimately save his job. They need to add scoring depth for the forward core and the backend as well. He’ll also have to address the goaltending position yet again.

While John Gibson had a strong season overall in his first year with the team, he needs more support in a tandem. Cam Talbot will be a UFA, and they need an upgrade. While it’s likely prospect Sebastian Cossa takes Talbot’s spot next year, they should still be open to someone via free agency/trade. Either way, the pipes need some more help.

The 2025-26 season was the team’s 100th campaign. While their centennial jerseys were a big hit, the product on the ice wasn’t as much. Changes are needed to fix the Detroit Red Wings, and this offseason is particularly important.

If things don’t improve, the organization will become the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over, knowing the result.

The post The Detroit Red Wings Need Major Changes This Offseason appeared first on The Lead.

Spotlight on Arsenal-Sporting, a decisive clash to book a place in the Champions League semi-finals.

Watch the entire Serie BKT live on OneFootball for just €9.99 a month. Click here to buy the LaB Channel Monthly Pass with no automatic renewal.  

After the 1-0 first-leg win, the Gunners start with the advantage, although Arteta has to deal with the shocking spell his team is going through: the defeat to Bournemouth dramatically reopened a Premier League title race that, just weeks ago, seemed all but over.

On the other side, Sporting are dreaming of another feat after the comeback they pulled off in the previous round against Bodo/Glimt and are looking to turn this tie around as well.

🔴 Article constantly updated: click the match card above for live text commentary.

💪 Arteta on Rice: "He didn't want to miss this match"

Speaking to TNT Sports, Arteta talked about Declan Rice's presence despite not training yesterday: "This is Declan. All the boys are eager to play on occasions like this, they didn't want to miss it and he is fit and available."

The coach also spoke about the defeat to Bournemouth: "First of all, we have to be more effective in both boxes than we were [against Bournemouth, editor's note]; and above all, if we manage to put into practice many of the things we have done so well over the last nine months, everything will be fine".

✅ OFFICIAL lineups

ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Raya; Mosquera, Salibà, Gabriel, Hincapié; Rice, Zubimendi; Madueke, Eze, Martinelli; Gyokeres.

SPORTING LISBON (4-2-3-1): Rui Silva; Eduardo Quaresma, Diomandè, Gonçalo Inacio, Araujo; Hjulmand, Morita; Katamo, Trincao, Pedro Gonçalves; Suarez.

Arsenal absentees: Merino, Calafiori, Odegaard, Saka, Timber.

Sporting absentees: Ioannidis, Nuno Santos, Luis Guilherme.

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

Two of those top picks were Lauren Betts and Angela Dugalic, who were selected by the Washington Mystics at No. 4 and No. 9, respectively. In Washington, they will be teaming up with the No. 4 overall pick from last year’s draft: USC’s Kiki Iriafen.

It is clear that the Mystics have a thing for Southern California players. With three first round draft picks from USC and UCLA in the past two years, they will now be led by a young core of two Bruins and one Trojan. Iriafen, Betts, and Dugelic will be forced to put the USC-UCLA rivalry aside in order to come together and help their new team win.

Iriafen and Betts have not always been rivals, however. Both players actually started their college careers at Stanford, where they were teammates for a season in 2022-2023. After stints on opposite sides of the Crosstown Showdown, they are now on the same team once again in Washington.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC’s Kiki Iriafen, UCLA’s Lauren Betts now WNBA teammates in D.C.

NFL reporter Dianna Russini resigned from her position at The Athletic on April 14, exactly one week after pictures of her with New England Patriots head coach and Ohio native Mike Vrabel at a posh Arizona resort were published by the New York Post.

"These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable," Vrabel told the Post, which published the photos, in a statement last week. "This doesn’t deserve any further response."

Mike Vrabel's connections to Ohio amid Russini rumors

Before Vrabel became the head coach of the New England Patriots, he grew up in the state and starred at Ohio State Buckeyes after graduating from Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls.

From 1993–96, Vrabel was one of the most successful defensive ends in college football, according to a story by the Columbus Dispatch. Vrabel was named the Big Ten's Defensive Lineman of the Year as both a junior and senior.

After playing for the Buckeyes, Vrabel was selected in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and later played for the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs, winning three Super Bowl titles with the Patriots.

Vrabel retired from the NFL in 2010 and began his coaching career the following year. He was an assistant at Ohio State until moving on to become an assistant with the NFL's Houston Texans in 2014. Vrabel was the Tennessee Titans head coach from 2018–2023 and a consultant for the Cleveland Browns in 2024 before taking over the Patriots head coaching job. Vrabel led New England to a Super Bowl berth in his first season as coach.

More on Dianna Russini's resignation after photos with Vrabel surface

Russini's resignation letter to The Athletic's executive editor, Steven Ginsberg, which she shared on social media, reads in part: “I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published. When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful.

"In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts. Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept. Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”

The New York Times, which owns The Athletic, confirmed Saturday that Russini's conduct was being investigated, saying "The Athletic’s editorial guidelines require that their journalists avoid any activities that pose a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict, so as not to call into question their credibility."

The photos, published by The Post on April 7, show Vrabel and Russini in bathing suits poolside as well as hugging on a rooftop at the Ambiente in Sedona, Arizona, days before the NFL's annual league meeting in Phoenix. Both Vrabel, 50, and Russini, 43, are married to other people with whom they have children.

NANCY ARMOUR: Dianna Russini put credibility of all women in sports at risk | Opinion

The day after the pictures emerged, Ginsberg did weigh in with a statement of support as well.

"These photos are misleading and lack essential context," he said at the time. "These were public interactions in front of many people. Dianna is a premier journalist covering the NFL and we’re proud to have her at The Athletic."

However in a letter sent to staffers of The Athletic on Tuesday following Russini's resignation, Ginsberg expressed that new issues had arisen during the course of the investigation into her conduct, writing in part: "While I can't share the details of our investigation into Dianna's conduct, I want to emphasize that the leadership of The Athletic has taken this matter seriously from the moment that we learned about it. ... When this situation was brought to our attention last week, there were clear concerns, but we received a detailed explanation and it was our instinct to support and defend a colleague while we continued to review the matter. As additional information emerged, new questions were raised that became part of our investigation."

Russini, who previously covered the NFL in the Washington D.C. area for the local NBC affiliate (WRC) and worked for ESPN before joining The Athletic in 2023, covered Vrabel while he was the coach of the Tennessee Titans. Despite Ginsberg's initial support, her conduct later came under scrutiny within the organization.

Is Mike Vrabel facing any discipline with the Patriots?

It doesn't seem so.

Pats vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf conducted the team's pre-draft press conference April 13 − Vrabel did so in 2025 but was never scheduled to handle it this year − and was only presented with one question that even vaguely touched on the coach's dynamic with Russini.

Asked how much Vrabel had been immersed in draft preparation over the past week, Wolf replied: "Very involved. Business as usual. He’s been in there with us a little more than he was last year."

Vrabel has not addressed reporters since making his initial statement the day after the photos with Russini emerged. He is expected to speak at some point during the upcoming NFL draft, which will occur from April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.

USA TODAY Sports reached out to the Patriots seeking further comment. Aside from Wolf's statement, the team has not made any public acknowledgement of the pictures with Vrabel and Russini nor whether the coach has violated organizational standards of conduct in any way.

All NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Writer Russini resigns over pics with Ohio native, NFL coach Mike Vrabel

Liverpool Exit Exposes Need for Major Rebuild After PSG Defeat

Liverpool’s Champions League exit, as detailed by James Pearce in The Athletic, carried a familiar echo. Pride, noise, energy, and ultimately, elimination. The 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield completed a sobering 4-0 aggregate loss, one that demands reflection far beyond the final whistle.

There was applause, there was defiance, there was belief. Yet there was also a clear reminder of how far Liverpool still have to travel to rejoin Europe’s elite.

Performance Shows Fight but Highlights Flaws

Arne Slot’s side delivered effort in abundance. Their 21 shots, 50 touches in the opposition box and xG of 1.94 spoke to a team that engaged with the contest, rather than shrinking from it.

Photo IMAGO

“I think we made a lot of progress compared to last week,” Slot said. “I have to give a lot of credit to the players for how hard they worked. I also have to give a lot of credit to our fans for how they helped us to execute our game plan with the high press as they kept pushing us.

“We’re very disappointed because I think there were times in the second half where you could feel: ‘If we can score now, this is going to become a special night’. Not many teams can be dominant against PSG and generate so many chances as we did.”

The numbers support his argument, yet football is decided in moments, not metrics. Liverpool created, PSG converted. That distinction defined the tie.

Key Moments Undermine Liverpool Effort

The decisive blows came late. Ousmane Dembele punished a lapse from Alexis Mac Allister before adding a second on the counter attack. Clinical finishing met defensive fragility, and the outcome felt inevitable.

Photo IMAGO

Liverpool’s struggles in front of goal were laid bare. Their tally marked their most attempts without scoring in a Champions League game since the 1-0 defeat by Real Madrid in the 2022 final.

Slot pointed to a controversial moment when a penalty decision was overturned. “I’ve conceded a few of these penalties this season and I could name them all for you, starting with Brentford away and Leeds away,” he said. “If a penalty has been given and VAR says, ‘I see contact’, then they should stick with the on-field decision. I wasn’t surprised this went against us, but it’s not the story of the game.”

He was right to add that caveat. Liverpool’s issues ran deeper than one decision.

Squad Questions Grow Ahead of Summer Window

Selection choices also shaped the narrative. Alexander Isak, short of rhythm after injury, struggled to impose himself, registering just five touches in the first half. Mohamed Salah’s introduction brought urgency, though his 22 losses of possession underlined inconsistency.

Photo IMAGO

The injury to Hugo Ekitike compounded matters. Slot admitted fears the striker’s season is over, another blow in a campaign punctuated by setbacks.

Photo IMAGO

“I’m very sad for him. To be fair I think it is bad. I don’t know. I send him my prayers and everything,” said Ibrahima Konate, capturing the mood within the squad.

Concerns extend across the pitch. Florian Wirtz failed to influence proceedings, Jeremie Frimpong endured a difficult first half, and Giorgi Mamardashvili’s distribution continues to invite scrutiny. Only a handful of last summer’s arrivals have met expectations.

Summer Rebuild Defines Liverpool Future

This leaves Liverpool at a crossroads. Departures loom, with Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson expected to move on, while uncertainty surrounds several others.

Photo IMAGO

Slot remains optimistic. “The future looks very bright for this team,” he insisted. “We’ve shown that we can compete with the champions of Europe.”

There is truth in that sentiment, yet the aggregate scoreline tells its own story. Competing is one thing, bridging the gap is another.

Slot acknowledged the challenge ahead: “This model of the club means that we have to sell, usually, to buy, so it’s a big challenge. It was already a big challenge last season and it’s going to be a challenge in the summer again.

“But the club has already shown many times that this model works and we can be very successful with this model. The future looks very good especially if we can add a few good signings after good players leaving as well.”

Liverpool now face a defining summer. Recruitment must be decisive, planning must be clear, and execution must be ruthless.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

For Liverpool supporters, this feels like a moment of clarity. The performance at Anfield showed effort and commitment, though it also exposed limitations that cannot be ignored.

Fans will recognise the attacking intent. Creating 21 shots against a side like PSG reflects ambition. Yet the inability to convert chances remains a persistent issue. That frustration has become all too familiar this season.

There is also growing concern about squad balance. Too many players are underperforming at the same time. When that happens against elite opposition, the gap becomes visible.

Supporters will question recruitment. Big money arrivals are expected to elevate the team, though several have yet to justify their price tags. That scrutiny will only intensify heading into the summer window.

The focus now shifts to securing Champions League qualification. That remains essential, both for finances and for attracting the calibre of players needed to rebuild.

This is a pivotal moment. Get the next steps right, and Liverpool can close the gap. Get them wrong, and the distance to Europe’s elite may grow further.

Lens and Toulouse go head-to-head at Stade Bollaert-Delelis this Friday in the Ligue 1.

Lens have won 59 points to date and are placed in 2nd position. In their last fixture, Pierre Sage's team suffered a 3-0 reverse against Lille (Ligue 1 2025/26).

Toulouse have 37 points to their name this season and occupy 10th position in the table. In their last encounter, Carles Martínez's team were beaten 0-4 by Lille (Ligue 1 2025/26).

The last meeting between the two teams ended with Lens winning 3-0.

Unavailable

Lens

• Jonathan Gradit - Lower Leg Fracture
• Régis Gurtner - Hamstring Injury

Toulouse

• Álex Domínguez - Ankle Injury
• Rafik Messali - Ankle Injury

Last starting XIs

Lens ( vs Lille 2026-04-04): Robin Risser, Nidal Celik, Ismaëlo Ganiou, Malang Sarr, Saud Abdulhamid, Adrien Thomasson, Mamadou Sangaré, Matthieu Udol, Florian Thauvin, Odsonne Édouard, Wesley Saïd

Toulouse ( vs Lille 2026-04-12): Guillaume Restes, Mark McKenzie, Seny Koumbassa, Rasmus Nicolaisen, Djibril Sidibé, Pape Demba Diop, Cristian Cásseres Jr, Dayann Methalie, Aron Donnum, Emersonn, Yann Gboho

Did you know...by playmaker stats

MANAGERS

• Pierre Sage has faced Carles Martínez on five occasions, recording four wins and one draw.
• Carles Martínez has faced Lens on five occasions, recording one win, one draw and three defeats.
• Pierre Sage has faced Toulouse on five occasions, recording four wins and one draw.

TEAMS

• Away from home, Toulouse currently have one win in their last six matches.
• Away from home, Toulouse are coming off three consecutive matches scoring goals.
• Away from home, Toulouse are coming off six consecutive matches conceding goals.
• Toulouse are coming off two consecutive matches without a win.
• Toulouse are coming off two consecutive defeats.
• At home, Lens currently have one defeat in their last 14 matches.
• At home, Lens are coming off 14 consecutive matches scoring goals.
• At home, Lens are coming off two consecutive matches without defeat.
• At home, Lens are coming off two consecutive wins.
• Lens currently have five defeats in their last 28 matches.
• Lens currently have two draws in their last 26 matches.
• Lens are coming off three consecutive matches conceding goals.

HEAD TO HEAD

• Lens and Toulouse have faced each other 87 times, with Lens holding the advantage: 32 wins, compared with 30 Toulouse victories.
• At Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens hold the advantage in matches against Toulouse: 22 wins in 41 games. Toulouse have eight victories.
• In the French league, the two teams have met 83 times, with 32 Lens wins, 24 draws and 27 Toulouse victories.

The EFL has informed the preferred bidder for Sheffield Wednesday that the club will start next season in League One with a 15-point penalty.

Arise Capital Partners, a consortium led by David Storch, was named preferred bidder last month after a previous takeover of the administration-hit club fell through.

Storch said in a statement that the group wants the EFL to recognise the "unique" nature of the League One-bound club's situation.

However,BBC Sport understands that the American private equity company's £20m bid, when broken down, will represent about 6p in the pound to the unsecured creditors - of which former owner Dejphon Chansiri would be the major beneficiary.

This falls notably short of the 25p in the pound required to avoid a 15-point deduction next season.

"We have now been informed that a 15-point penalty is set to be imposed at the start of next season. We fundamentally disagree with this decision," said Storch.

"We also requested the opportunity for this matter to be reviewed through independent arbitration - going as far as offering to cover all associated legal costs ourselves in the interest of transparency and fairness. That request has been denied.

"What makes this situation particularly difficult is that it is entirely unique. A significant portion of the club's debt sits with its former owner who has not agreed to write down or restructure that debt.

"We have made repeated attempts, through the administrators, to engage with Mr Chansiri in order to find a constructive resolution. Those requests have gone unanswered."

Storch said the facilities at the club's Hillsborough home are "inadequate" and require "significant and urgent" work.

Despite the ongoing difficulties, Storch reassured fans the group still intends to complete a takeover by 1 May.

"Sheffield Wednesday is worth saving. We believe in its supporters, its history, and its future," he said.

"And, as we have shown to date, we remain prepared to invest the time, capital and energy required to rebuild this club properly - from its infrastructure to its footballing foundations.

"We are simply asking to be heard properly, for the circumstances to be fully considered, and for a decision that reflects the reality on the ground - not one that risks further harm to a club facing extraordinary challenges and that has already suffered substantial penalties."

• Latest Sheffield Wednesday news, analysis and fan views
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The New York Mets try to snap a seven-game skid as they face the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight. 

L.A. will have two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani on the mound, and my Mets vs. Dodgers predictions are betting on him to shut down New York's ice-cold offense.

Here are my best free MLB picks for this NL clash on Wednesday, April 15. 

Who will win Mets vs Dodgers today: Los Angeles RL -1.5 (+105)

Shohei Ohtani has allowed just five hits and one run (none earned) through 12 innings this year.

Ohtani also anchors a Los Angeles Dodgers offense that leads the majors in OPS (.838), with that surging to .912 over the last week. They'll get to New York Mets righty Clay Holmes, who has a 4.08 FIP in 34 starts since last year. 

The Mets are 28th in the majors in OPS (.625), with that dropping to .473 over the last seven days, as Juan Soto remains sidelined. They simply don't have the bats to keep up with the Dodgers' firepower.

COVERS INTEL: Since the start of 2025, opponents have slugged just .240 against Shohei Ohtani's four-seamer, while the Mets are slugging .342 against four-seam fastballs this year.

Mets vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Under 8 (-115)

I'm expecting regression for Holmes against L.A.'s elite offense. However, he's still been solid since making the move to the rotation and has a 3.59 xERA this year.

Both teams also have strong bullpens. Mets relievers rank sixth in ERA (2.94) and eighth in WHIP (1.20), while Dodgers relievers are ninth in ERA (3.25) and sixth in WHIP (1.19).

The main reason to bet the Under is how bad New York's offense has been without Soto. The offseason departure of Pete Alonso was a huge blow, and Francisco Lindor (.194 BA) and Marcus Semien (.243 OBP) have been awful.

Mets vs Dodgers odds

• Moneyline: Mets +165 | Dodgers -200
• Run line: Mets +1.5 (-125) | Dodgers -1.5 (+105)
• Over/Under: Over 8 (-105) | Under 8 (-115)

Mets vs Dodgers trend

The Mets are 0-7 in their previous seven games, while the Dodgers are 9-2 in their last 11. Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. Dodgers.

How to watch Mets vs Dodgers and game info

Mets vs Dodgers latest injuries

Mets vs Dodgers weather

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The list of returning Red Storm players continues to shrink.

Freshman Kelvin Odih has entered the transfer portal, according to the New York Post’s Zach Braziller, becoming the sixth Red Storm player to depart the program this month, joining Joson Sanon, Dylan Darling, Sadiku Ibine Ayo, Lefteris Liotopoulos, and Imran Suljanovic.

Originally committed to West Virginia as a class of 2025 four-star recruit, Odih re-opened his recruitment following Darian DeVries’s departure from the Mountaineers and became Rick Pitino’s only signing out of high school for the 2025-26 season.

Odih had the physical tools and defensive acumen to eventually become a factor for the Red Storm, but injuries plagued his freshman year and prevented him from locking down a rotation spot. During an August practice open to the media, Odih sprained his ankle midway through the second half of a scrimmage, cutting short his standout performance, and then a pectoral injury forced him out of action in October. Later in the season, he also missed time with soreness in his right leg.

Making sporadic appearances in his freshman year, Odih averaged 1.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and shot 46.7% while logging 5.6 minutes per game across ten contests. His best outing came in his college basketball debut, when he recorded a season-high five points and five rebounds in nine minutes against Quinnipiac.

St. John’s is now down to four players coming back for the 2026-27 season. Shooting guard Ian Jackson and forward Ruben Prey are the only two returners who played on a nightly basis.

The Red Storm will need to fill eleven spots on next year’s roster, and they’re hoping the signing of Quinn Ellis is the start of a massive week on the recruiting front. Transfers Mouhamed Dioubate from Kentucky, Abdi Bashir from Kansas State, DeSean Goode from Robert Morris, and Leroy Blyden from Toledo have already made visits to campus this week. Rick Pitino and his staff are also in the process of scheduling visits for Utah’s Kendyl Sanders, Arizona State’s Mor Massamba Diop, and Seton Hall’s Najai Hines.

Competitors on Phoenix Xavier Prep's swim and dive team have a 3.928 grade-point average.

Because of that, the Gators earned Gold-Level Team Scholar recognition from the National InterscholasticSwimming Coaches Association (NISCA), placing them among the top academic programs in the country.

The school announced the achievement in a media release on April 15.

As LIV heads to Mexico City of its sixth event of the season, the PGA Tour's is staging its 15th tournament of the year at the 2026 RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

This is a signature event which means its 82-man field has many of the Tour's big names. In the field is 2026 Genesis Invitational winner Jacob Bridgeman, who happened to be first up in the RBC media center after the rumors surfaced.

"I haven't heard really much about it. Look, Brooks [Koepka] was welcomed back, and it's been great for our Tour. Any more eyeballs we can get, I think it's great, and Brooks has been playing some great golf. He's earned it. He's a major champion, I think, five times," Bridgeman said. "If they're able to come back and promote our Tour, then great, and if they're not, then it's not really going to change my day-to-day."

Bridgeman sounded like a player keeping his head down and eyes focused on his own game but chances are he shares this sentiment with others.

"I'm going to play the golf that I play on this tour and have fun doing it, and if some guys that haven't been here for a few years come back over, then good for them, and if not, then it doesn't really matter to me."

Max Homa, also in the RBC field, told Golfweek, "Everyone deserves a place to play golf so it would be ridiculous to not allow them a place to play. I just heard that rumor an hour-and-a-half ago so it would be a hard one for me to digest at this moment, which is why I am not Brian Rolapp. I don't know, I guess we got to find out if the rumor is even true. We've heard a lot of untrue ones in the last three years."

What are LIV golfers saying about the rumors?

Sergio Garcia and his Fireballs teammates held a pre-tournament news conference in Mexico City early Wednesday morning. The team captain was the only one to be asked about the continued saga.

"No, honestly, we haven't heard anything other than what Yasir [Al-Rumayyan] already told us at the beginning of the year, that he is behind us," Garcia said in Mexico City on Wednesday, April 15. "And well, honestly, you know how these rumors are. There are always a lot of them and I can’t tell you anything more than what we already know."

Al-Rumayyan runs the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund which finances LIV Golf.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: As LIV shutting down rumors persist, here's what PGA Tour players say

WNBA rookie Lauren Betts is stepping into the pros in style.

On Wednesday, Reebok announced the Washington Mystics center is joining the brand. Betts is reportedly in line to receive a shoe deal as well, making her the fifth WNBA athlete the company has signed.

Reebok famously signed Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese to a deal in 2024. The agreement included a collection of clothing and a signature shoe, The Angel Reese 1, which was released in 2025. Other WNBA athletes under the Reebok umbrella include Aneesah Morrow, Dijonai Carrington and Lexie Brown.

After hosting Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, the 49ers are also reportedly meeting with Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu, both according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Utah OL Caleb Lomu spent last night with the #49ers (27th) on a Top 30 visit, as SF continues to do work on the top OLs. Imagine Lomu is a possible be a trade-up target.

He spent time with the #Rams, #Panthers, #Texans, #Bears, #Lions, #Browns, #Chiefs, #Eagles and #Dolphins. pic.twitter.com/g7LGL2HNvw

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 15, 2026

As Rapoport noted, Lomu is a potential trade-up target for the 49ers if they are targeting him with their No. 27 pick. Lomu has been mocked all over the first round to teams, so the 49ers might not have the luxury of waiting to see if he falls to them at the end of the round.

This and the Proctor news are intriguing, given the report that the 49ers weren't prioritizing offensive line in the first round. It could just due diligence on the part of general manager John Lynch, or perhaps the 49ers are hedging their bets if the board doesn't fall their way for other positions like receiver or edge rusher.

An additional element to consider is the future of Trent Williams. If the 49ers are looking at offensive tackles now, perhaps Williams' future with the team isn't as stable as some are led to believe after his reported contract disputes.

We'll find out for sure in a week.

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Report: 49ers meeting with OT Caleb Lomu

France manager Didier Deschamps has confirmed striker Hugo Ekitike will miss the World Cup after suffering a suspected Achilles injury during Liverpool's Champions League defeat by Paris St-Germain on Tuesday.

The France forward left the pitch at Anfield on a stretcher, and Liverpool fear a long absence for the 23-year-old, which could also rule him out of the start of next season.

Ekitike went for scans on Wednesday, which are expected to confirm the extent of the damage.

"Hugo suffered a serious injury on Tuesday evening against PSG. The severity of his injury will unfortunately prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and participating in the World Cup," confirmed Deschamps in a statement published by the French Football Federation.

"Hugo is one of the dozen young players who have made their debuts with the national team in recent months. He had perfectly integrated into the group, both on the pitch and off it. This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the France team.

"His disappointment is immense. Hugo will regain his top form, I'm convinced of it. But I wanted to express all my support to him, as well as that of the entire staff. We know he'll be fully behind the France team, and we're all thinking of him very strongly."

Ekitike joined Liverpool from Eintracht Frankfurt last July and has been one of their standout performers in a difficult season for the club, with 17 goals and six assists in all competitions.

Speaking after the quarter-final second-leg loss by PSG, head coach Arne Slot said of his frontman's injury: "I think we could all see that it didn't look well and didn't look good. Let's wait and see what it will be. But we could all see it didn't look good.

"In the second half, he went home so I haven't seen him yet. Losing a game is already very hard, especially in the way we lost it, but again - as it seems to be - losing a player is something we've had so many times this season.

"It's especially very hard for him because you never want to be injured, especially not at this moment of time in the season."

In January, Ekitike became just the second player after the iconic Kenny Dalglish to score in five different competitions during their debut campaign with Liverpool.

He made his France debut last September and was set to be part of Deschamps' squad for this summer's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Liverpool have suffered a number of setbacks this season, with both teenage centre-back Giovanni Leoni and full-back Conor Bradley ruled out for the rest of the season with injuries.

Keeper Alisson Becker and midfielder Wataru Endo also remain sidelined, while Sweden striker Alexander Isak returned earlier this month from an ankle injury that he suffered in December.

Seth Wenig/AP

Executives from LIV Golf were reportedly summoned for an “emergency media” amid speculation that the Saudi-backed golf tour will soon shut down.

News of the meeting was confirmed in a Wednesday report by The Telegraph. The tour was scheduled to hold its next tournament in Mexico City this weekend, but the pre-tournament press conference was suddenly canceled due to supposed technical issues. As noted by The Telegraph, it was the first time in LIV’s history that such a conference was canceled.

The report continued:

Telegraph Sport has since learned there was not a single executive present on the same day at the Club de Golf Chapultepec, the Mexico City venue where the sixth tournament of the league is taking place, and that they were all summoned to what was described as “an emergency summit” in Manhattan. The reason for the meeting remains unclear.

Telegraph Sport contacted several LIV players on Wednesday morning and they all insisted it was business as usual as they went about their preparations. One of these golfers said: “I’ll be honest. None of the players have heard anything. It’s hopefully a merger. Everyone gathers at Augusta don’t they?”

Chatter about the company’s rumored demise seemed to have stemmed from cryptic social media posts from insider Ryan French, who runs the X/Twitter account Monday Q info. On Tuesday night, French hinted at an upcoming “bombshell announcement” regarding the future of LIV Golf.

He later added that his sources — as well as the sources of others — have all indicated that LIV would be shutting down.

Nearly three years ago, LIV Golf rocked the sports world when it announced an agreement with the PGA Tour to join forces. Since then, however, the sides have seemingly made little progress to finalize the seismic merger. Last February, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement that President Donald Trump’s involvement helped the sides inch closer on a deal. LIV has used Trump’s golf courses on numerous occasions.

Former ESPN anchor Trey Wingo backed the reporting after his own sources indicated that LIV was “preparing to wind down operations as the Public Investment Fund (PIF) reassesses its broader strategy amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East.” Wingo added that LIV was “fully funded” through 2031, but Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had decided to “pull the rug” on the golf operation.

—

The post Saudi-Backed LIV Golf Tour Reportedly Holding ‘Emergency Meeting’ Amid Social Media Chatter That It’s About to Shut Down first appeared on Mediaite.

The Miami Dolphins are continuing to spend time with the 2026 NFL Draft’s top-tier offensive line prospects. We’ve heard they have interest in Spencer Fano of Utah and Francis Mauigoa of Miami, but Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network is reporting a new name on Wednesday — one the Dolphins have spent a good amount of time with according to the veteran insider.

Monroe Freeling of Georgia is apparently on Miami’s radar. Freeling — a 6’7”, 315 lb behemoth — is considered one of the top tackles in this year’s selection process. Plenty of mock draft experts have him going in the top-10 of next Thursday’s first round.

If he were to drop to pick #11, would the Dolphins pounce?

Here’s what Lance Zierlein of NFL.com had to say about Freeling.

“Freeling offers coveted length and athleticism at right tackle. With only one season as a full-time starter, filling out his frame and improving his technique should be early priorities. His quickness brings first-phase positioning advantages, but he needs more play strength to carry that over to block sustain and finish. Lunging and deadening feet post-punch must be coached out of his muscle memory in pass protection so his athleticism and length can do their jobs. Independent hand usage and a reliable “snatch and trap” could instantly bolster his success rate. There is some buyer beware on tape, but if smoothed out, he has the ceiling of a quality NFL starter.“

We’ve got 9 days to go until the start of the 2026 NFL Draft, so we shall all soon find out.

Baltimore has added an alternate 'Purple Rising helmet for one game each season, and the new design was met with praise and excitement from fans and players alike. On Thursday, they'll debut the 'Next Flight" uniforms, and the new threads will go on sale on Friday, April 17.

The wait is over.

The Next Flight collection is available in store this Friday.

Doors open at 8 a.m. pic.twitter.com/4Nm5qEOHAi

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 15, 2026

The Ravens have 12 uniform combinations, and it's unknown whether this new reveal has been in the works for years or is part of Nike's Rivalries uniforms, which will celebrate storied local traditions and unite fan communities with designs unique to select cities and teams.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens new 'Next Flight' uniforms will go on sale Friday April 17

If a recent report from the Turkish outlet Fotomac (as cited by A Spor) is believed to be true, Celtic are expected to rival Besiktas for Eric Martel. But the FC Koln youngster has multiple other suitors, with Bundesliga rivals Stuttgart and Serie A side Fiorentina also in the mix, according to rumours.

The 23-year-old former German youth international progressed through the academy ranks of Jahn Regensburg and RB Leipzig before the latter sent him out on loan to Austrian outfit Austria Wien for regular gametime. He eventually completed a €1.2m transfer to Koln in the summer of 2022 and has since appeared 130 times for the Germans across competitions.

Although he was key to their immediate top-flight return last year, having been relegated the year before, a summer move can’t be ruled out, as the midfield ace might explore a fresh challenge elsewhere. A transfer to Celtic could fascinate him, as it would present an opportunity to chase glory rather than battle for survival.

COLOGNE, GERMANY – JANUARY 17: Eric Martel of 1. FC Koln is challenged by Lee Jae-Song of 1. FSV Mainz 05 during the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Köln and 1. FSV Mainz 05 at RheinEnergieStadion on January 17, 2026 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

The Hoops are expected to undergo a summer overhaul after back-to-back dreadful transfer windows. Martin O’Neill has kept them in the title race alongside Hearts and Rangers. But the management must find a long-term successor for the interim Northern Irishman to carry his legacy forward. They should learn from the mistake made by appointing Wilfried Nancy midway through the season. Also, the squad needs strengthening in multiple areas to overcome the ongoing mediocrity all over the pitch.

Why His Versatility Would Improve Celtic Both In Defence And Midfield

Predominantly a deep-lying playmaker, Martel is also comfortable at centre-back thanks to his physicality and aerial dominance. Cameron Carter-Vickers’ return from a long injury layoff should restore parity and quality in the heart of the backline. Yet the Koln star’s versatility would offer the Celts much-needed depth amid uncertainty over the long-term futures of Dane Murray, Stephen Welsh and Benjamin Arthur at Parkhead.

Nevertheless, Martel must be viewed as Callum McGregor’s replacement in the long run. The skipper, 33 in a couple of months, has been ever-present for more than a decade. The Celts could not find an able understudy, with Paulo Bernardo failing to impress as a ‘number 6’ during the Scotsman’s injury absence.

While it remains to be seen whether Celtic will reconstruct their midfield, Martel’s arrival would address a major crisis in the centre of the pitch. His aggression, concentration, ability to protect the defence, as well as tackling and passing expertise, should bolster the Bhoys en route to scripting the transition.

Aurelien Tchouameni has become one of the few permanent fixtures in the starting lineup for Real Madrid this season.

Be it under Xabi Alonso in the first half of the season, or under Alvaro Arbeloa since January, the French international has been a mainstay in the team and has performed quite consistently as well, unlike some of his teammates.

As such, his absence for tonight’s UEFA Champions League clash against Bayern Munich, due to a suspension, comes as a huge blow for Arbeloa and Real Madrid.

Arbeloa and Tchouameni’s relationship

According to MARCA, Arbeloa and Tchouameni share a very strong relationship which has been built on the coach’s complete trust in the Frenchman’s role within the team.

As soon as he arrived on the Real Madrid bench, the manager called the midfielder in to deliver a promise he knew the player would like.

“With me, you’re not going back to playing as a centre-back again,” Arbeloa told Tchouameni.

The Frenchman became his holding midfielder, a key pillar in the middle, and he made it clear he had no intention of moving him from there.

With Arbeloa, Tchouameni delivered immediate performances and, under the new coach, the Frenchman continued the growth he had already begun under Alonso.

Tchouameni has become an integral part of the team. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

His game kept improving and, in addition, he started to gain influence in the dressing room, gradually becoming one of the important voices in the group.

However, there was a moment that strengthened that bond between coach and player even further. It came in the match against Celta Vigo, in the middle of the injury crisis that had left the team badly affected ahead of facing Manchester City.

Tchouameni, aware of the situation, knocked on Arbeloa’s office door and offered to play as a centre-back if the team needed it. The coach’s response was firm: he thanked him for the gesture but reminded him of his promise.

“You’re my midfielder, and that’s where you’ll stay. I’d rather use someone from the youth academy,” he essentially told him.

Far from creating doubts, that decision strengthened the player, who responded on the pitch with a decisive goal that allowed the white team to take three key points.

Now, Tchouameni’s absence in Munich is a significant blow for the team and for Arbeloa himself. Even so, the Frenchman has once again shown his commitment.

Despite being suspended, he travelled with the group, aware of the importance of the moment. With his status as an authoritative voice in the dressing room now firmly established, he did not want to leave his teammates alone on the most important night of the season.

Jon Krawczynski: Julius Randle on defending Jokic: "Probably gotta call God and talk to him for a little bit and ask him for a few favors. It’s going to be a tough matchup. He’s an incredible player. ... It’s going to be a battle, but we’re prepared. We’re ready for it."

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Julius Randle on defending Nikola Jokic: Probably got to call God and ask him for a few favors

Tom Osborn: Mitch on Dylan Harper (left thumb): “We expect him to play Sunday. He just got it hit and there's going to be some pain there. … He's got to work his way through that, but we expect him to play.”

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Spurs expect Dylan Harper to play in Game 1 on Sunday

Dane Moore: At the beginning of December, Anthony Edwards said it felt to him like the Wolves were "waiting around for the playoffs" Asked Edwards today if it felt that way for most of the regular season. "Yeah, it felt like that at times, like we was just trying to get through season to get to the playoffs. But we here now and all the other excuses are out the window. So it's time."

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "Yeah, it felt like that at times, like we was just …

Dane Moore: Anthony Edwards was asked today at practice if he sees this to be a rivalry with Denver. "I don't think there's anything else to call it but a rivalry... I think there's a lot of rivalries in the league now. And I think me and Denver is one of them."

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "I don't think there's anything else to call it but a …

Dane Moore: Anthony Edwards said he currently weighs 218. I asked what he weighed during the middle of the season, and he said 226.

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Justin Martinez: Asked Alex Caruso how special playoff basketball is: “It’s great. This is what I kind of live for. You can get lost in the shuffle of the regular season just with the monotony of the schedule and just how much of a marathon it is, but it’s a different kind of beast. It’s very high-stress. It’s very high-focused. It’s a details game. It’s a commitment-to-suffering game. And I think that’s something throughout my career that I’ve been able to hone in on and play towards. This time of year really kind of brings that out.”

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “It’s great. This is what I kind of live for. You can …

Justin Martinez: Lu Dort is entering the postseason on a hot streak, shooting 46.7% from deep in his last 10 outings. I asked him how he feels with the playoffs set to begin: “My body feels right. Throughout the whole season, there’s a lot of ups and downs and bumps and bruises. Obviously, it’s been a couple of rough stretches, but I’m staying confident. I keep trusting my work and obviously take care of my body.”

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: “My body feels right. Throughout the whole season, …

Tom Osborn: Asked about Blazers, Mitch stressed that a "strong part of their identity all year is they really pressure the basketball." Also noted, "They're really going to challenge you in transition, try to get to the paint..... And then they do a great job of crashing the boards."

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Asked about Blazers, Mitch stressed that a "strong …