Reds lefty Nick Lodolo’s stellar rehab outing came to an abrupt end on Thursday.
Lodolo, who started this MLB season on the 15-day injured list because of a blister, exited his start with the Single-A Daytona Tortugas after throwing 40 pitches because of another sore on his index finger.
The 28-year-old retired the first eight batters in order with four strikeouts, but then called for a trainer in the middle of an at-bat during the third inning despite being expected to throw 60-65 pitches.
The Reds confirmed Lodolo’s blister to the Cincinnati Enquirer, though it is still unclear if the issue will delay the lefty’s return to the major league club.
Lodolo, who has dealt with blister injuries throughout his MLB career, suffered the initial injury during his final spring training start on March 22.
Cincinnati skipper Terry Francona said Monday that Lodolo was slated to make his season debut for the Reds during the team’s series against the Marlins (April 6-9) in Miami, barring any setback.
“We didn’t want to have him go somewhere and not pitch,” Francona told the Enquirer. “So we thought this was the best way to do it.”
Lodolo is coming off perhaps his best MLB season in his four-year career so far, where he posted a 3.33 ERA with 156 strikeouts and two complete games through a career-high 156⅔ innings.
This also comes as the Reds are without their ace, Hunter Greene, who is recovering from arthroscopic surgery that he underwent on March 11 to remove bone chips from his throwing elbow.
“I’d been dealing with discomfort for a while,” Greene told reporters following his surgery, according to MLB.com. “Over the course of a season and feeling certain things in an area, especially as an elbow … as a pitcher you think that it’s just, ‘Maybe I’m feeling a little inflammation or discomfort,’ and it’s to be expected because we’re pitchers. Obviously, it’s a lot on the body.
“The bone spurs came up as chronic so there’s no timestamp as to when it formed, but it’s been there. It’s still early [after the surgery], so I still feel it and it’s still uncomfortable and swollen. There’s already a lot of freedom in the elbow.”
Reds’ Nick Lodolo exits injury rehab start early with blister on pitching finger
Daniel Susac has 3 hits in first Major League start
Making his first big league start in Thursday’s 7-2 win against the Mets, the Giants catcher (and No. 21 prospect per MLB Pipeline) laced a single to right-center field in his first at-bat against lefty David Peterson, eliciting an excited roar from the Susac family sitting adjacent to the press box — a fanfare that would repeat three more times as the night progressed.
Facing Peterson leading off the bottom of the second, Susac slapped a curveball the other way, tallying his first hit in his first at-bat at the ballpark he grew up frequenting as a native of Roseville, roughly a two-hour drive from San Francisco (give or take).
Susac’s quick attack exemplified the Giants’ approach against Peterson, who faced 11 hitters through two innings but only registered 24 pitches in doing so. The lefty was ultimately driven from the game after issuing a one-out walk to Jung Hoo Lee in the fifth.
Susac added another first-pitch single in the third, drew a four-pitch walk in the fifth, issued and won an Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge in the sixth and cracked a third single in the seventh, putting a bow on a dream of a first full game.
When it was all said and done, the Giants secured manager Tony Vitello’s inaugural victory at his new home ballpark — another first in his young managerial career.
Giants left-hander Robbie Ray gutted it out for 5 1/3 innings, spotted to a quick 3-0 lead in the first on the strength of a Luis Arraez RBI triple, a Matt Chapman RBI double and the benefit of a fielding error by Peterson on an attempted 1-3 putout from first baseman Mark Vientos.
Ray wasn’t at his sharpest early, needing 59 pitches to get through his first three frames, but the 34-year-old retired his last five batters, departing with one out in the sixth on 96 pitches.
Atlanta Braves Star Is Silently Making Major MLB History
On Thursday night, the Atlanta Braves played the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix.
The Braves won by a score of 17-2.
Matt Olson finished with three hits (one home run), one walk, and three RBI’s.
Atlanta Braves Star Is Silently Making Major MLB History
Olson also continued his historic streak of games played (789).
Bob Nightengale of USA Today wrote: “Matt Olson, who’s playing in his 789th consecutive game, the second-longest streak in baseball since 2000, hits his first HR of the season for Atlanta”
Olson is currently 12th on the all-time list, and will need just ten more games to pass Nellie Fox for 11th.
He streak began on May 2, 2021.
Sarah Langs wrote (on August 19, 2025): “Matt Olson is playing his 746th consecutive game today, dating to 5/2/21, passing Pete Rose for the 12th-longest streak in MLB history
1982-98 Cal Ripken Jr: 2,632 1925-39 Lou Gehrig: 2,130 1916-25 Everett Scott: 1,307 1975-83 Steve Garvey: 1,207 2000-07 Miguel Tejada: 1,152 1963-70 Billy Williams: 1,117 1922-30 Joe Sewell: 1,103 1952-57 Stan Musial: 895 1949-55 Eddie Yost: 829 1931-37 Gus Suhr: 822 1955-60 Nellie Fox: 798 2021-pres Matt Olson: 746 *active 1978-83 Pete Rose: 745″
Olson’s MLB Career
Olson was the was the 47th pick in the 2012 MLB Draft.
Before the Braves, he spent the first six years of his career with the Athletics.
Ranking 2026 Final Four teams by MLB alumni
Though the men’s and women’s Final Four tournaments will determine the NCAA basketball champs, all seven schools involved also have notable histories in baseball.
UCLA, Arizona, Texas, Michigan, Illinois, South Carolina and UConn each has produced multiple MLB All-Stars and postseason heroes, and a few of the schools have produced Hall of Famers from among their drafted and undrafted players.
But which of the schools can claim the best output of baseball talent? Though one stands well above the rest, all have plenty of reason to brag. Here’s a look at how they rank.
UCLA is an undisputed giant in terms of producing baseball talent, and it easily leads the way in terms of MLB standouts among the Final Four schools. As of April 1, 2026, there have been 76 players to attend UCLA, get drafted and later play in the Majors, including multiple All-Stars, postseason stars and Cy Young winners.
By WAR, the most notable player drafted from the program is former Phillies great and six-time All-Star Chase Utley (64.6 bWAR), followed by current Yankees righty and 2023 AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole (43.1 bWAR). Other notables include former Angels slugger Troy Glaus (38.1 bWAR), former Giants standout Brandon Crawford (29.4 bWAR) and 1976 ALCS hero Chris Chambliss (27.5 bWAR).
And this doesn’t even include Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, who wasn’t drafted (because the Draft didn’t exist yet) but produced 63.9 bWAR during his big league career.
Texas has had a whopping 325 players drafted by big league teams, and 77 of them have reached the Majors. The talent tally: 34 All-Star appearances, seven Cy Young Awards, an MVP and seven ERA titles. However, honesty compels us to report that almost all of that belongs to Roger Clemens.
Clemens (139.2 bWAR) was an 11-time All-Star and seven-time Cy Young winner on his way to 354 wins and 4,672 strikeouts. In 1986, the year he won his first Cy Young Award, Clemens also was named AL MVP after a 24-4 season in which he also led the league with a 2.48 ERA and helped the Red Sox win the AL pennant.
There have been other standouts to emerge from the Longhorns program, however. They include former All-Star pitcher and 1981 NLCS MVP Burt Hooton (36.4 bWAR), former All-Star lefty Greg Swindell (30.5 bWAR) and former Giants All-Star Brandon Belt (29.9 bWAR).
Michigan has produced 49 All-Stars from among its former attendees, along with two MVPs and three Hall of Famers. But only two players checked all three of those categories: Charlie Gehringer and Barry Larkin.
Gehringer (84.8 bWAR) was a six-time All-Star and the 1937 AL MVP, a season in which he also won the AL batting title with a .371 average. He was also a member of Detroit’s 1935 World Series championship team, contributing a .375 average and a .923 OPS during the Fall Classic.
Larkin (70.5 bWAR) was a 12-time All-Star, nine-time Silver Slugger, three-time Gold Glove winner and the 1995 NL MVP. Like Gehringer, he also won a World Series, the title coming in 1990 with the Reds. And, like Gehringer, he had a big Fall Classic, hitting .353 with a .950 OPS as Cincinnati swept the A’s.
Rounding out the list of Wolverines with a plaque in Cooperstown is catcher Ted Simmons (50.4 bWAR), who played 21 seasons in the Majors.
The Wildcats have produced well north of 100 MLB players over the decades, including Hall of Fame closer Trevor Hoffman (28.0 bWAR) and six-time All-Star Kenny Lofton (68.4 bWAR).
In all, Arizona attendees have played in more than 26,000 MLB games and have a collective .711 OPS. On the mound, they’ve tossed more than 12,000 innings and have a collective 4.08 ERA — and, of course, this includes Hoffman’s NL-record 601 saves.
Other notables to attend the school include closer and four-time All-Star Mark Melancon (13.3 bWAR), former 20-game winner and 1991 World Series champ Scott Erickson (24.8 bWAR), six-time Gold Glove winner J.T. Snow (11.0 bWAR) and longtime catcher Ron Hassey (14.7 bWAR), who caught two perfect games and won a World Series with the 1989 A’s.
The Gamecocks have a rich baseball tradition, having produced at least one All-Star or World Series champion in every decade since the ’80s.
In total, former South Carolina players have combined for 175.1 career bWAR since 1975. Among those who have contributed is Astros first baseman and three-time Gold Glove winner Christian Walker, who had compiled 15.2 bWAR entering 2026.
Though dozens of MLB players have come from UConn, the school is on the baseball map mostly for two guys: George Springer and Charles Nagy. With seven All-Star appearances and 67 bWAR between them, they’re the clear standouts.
Springer (42.2 bWAR) has been a four-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger and World Series MVP during his 13 seasons with the Astros and Blue Jays. Nagy (24.8 bWAR), a former starter with Cleveland and San Diego, was a three-time All-Star who won 15 or more games six times.
Illinois may not match the baseball pedigree of some of the other Final Four schools, but it has produced 15 All-Stars and a Hall of Famer. All but one of those All-Star appearances came between 1940 and 1973, with the one selection since then belonging to Expos catcher Darrin Fletcher in 1994.
Among those drafted out of the school, two-time All-Star pitcher Ken Holtzman — who also tossed two no-hitters — leads the way with 27.3 bWAR, followed by utilityman and two-time World Series champ Scott Spiezio (8.8 bWAR), and Fletcher (7.7 bWAR).
But among all players to attend the school, Hall of Fame shortstop Lou Boudreau stands above everyone, with 63.1 bWAR. Boudreau was a seven-time All-Star and the 1948 AL MVP. That season, he hit .355 with 18 homers, 106 RBIs and a .987 OPS to help lead Cleveland to a World Series title.
One of NFL’s first female officials alleges gender discrimination, harassment in lawsuit
LOS ANGELES — One of the first women to officiate an NFL game is suing the league for gender discrimination, harassment and retaliation more than a year after she was fired.
Robin DeLorenzo filed a lawsuit last week in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York that claims she was “subjected to gender-based scrutiny, humiliation, disparate training, unequal gear, and open hostility” while employed as an NFL official from April 2022 to February 2025.
“She was denied the support and development routinely afforded to male officials, graded through a system built and controlled by men who had fixated on her gender from day one, and punished when she reported harassment or insisted on being treated with basic respect,” the lawsuit states.
“The NFL had every chance to intervene, to support her, and to apply its policies fairly. Instead, it silenced complaints, rewarded the men who mistreated her, and ultimately terminated her using the very metrics corrupted by that discrimination.”
In a statement emailed to The Los Angeles Times, the NFL denied the allegations.
“The NFL is committed to providing a fair and supportive environment for all of its game officials,” the league said. “Ms. DeLorenzo was terminated following three seasons of documented underperformance. The allegations in this lawsuit are baseless, and we will vigorously defend against them in court.”
Walt Anderson, who was the NFL’s senior vice president of officiating during DeLorenzo’s first two seasons, and former NFL official Byron Boston, whom the lawsuit states had a supervisory role over DeLorenzo during her employment, are named as co-defendants. An NFL spokesperson said Anderson is not commenting on the matter. Attempts by The Times to reach Boston for comment were unsuccessful.
The lawsuit alleges that DeLorenzo was directed to wear her hair in a ponytail that showed through the hole in the back of her hat, “the implication being that this would make her look feminine and/or make her stand out as being a token female on the field.” She ended up wearing her hair in a visible bun as a compromise, the complaint states.
Also, according to the lawsuit, DeLorenzo often had to purchase her own gear and iron the NFL logo onto it because the gear she was issued came only in men’s sizes that were too large for her to wear.
The complaint also states that during the 2024 offseason, DeLorenzo was “forced” to take part in “a low-level college clinic, involving different rules, different mechanics, and different philosophies as compared to the NFL.”
“The Clinic had nothing to do with helping Plaintiff in her NFL career; it was a male power play that served its purpose of humiliating Plaintiff, shattering her confidence, and significantly hindering her NFL career,” the lawsuit states.
The NFL Referees Association filed a grievance over the clinic issue, according to the complaint, resulting in the league reimbursing DeLorenzo for her expenses related to the clinic and paying her for her time spent there. The NFLRA did not immediately respond on Wednesday to a request for comment from The Times.
DeLorenzo also has “identified instances of her male counterparts being treated more favorably” in the grading system used to evaluate officials during her third season, the lawsuit states, adding that she believes “her season three grades were going to be used as a pretext for her eventual termination.”
DeLorenzo spent nearly two decades as an official, working her way up through high school and various levels of college football, before becoming only the third woman to officiate NFL games. In addition to unspecified damages, DeLorenzo is seeking to be brought back as an NFL official and compensated for lost earnings.
Former NFL player Trysten Hill arrested in Texas on assault charges
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Former NFL defensive tackle Trysten Hill was booked into a Texas jail last week on multiple charges relating to an alleged assault of a pregnant woman.
Ellis County Sheriff’s Office jail records list
Steelers Linked to Promising Aaron Rodgers Complement
The 2026 NFL draft is just weeks away, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have some business to do, as do the other teams in the league, when it comes to perfecting their 2026-27 lineup. The draft, which is entering its 91st year, is scheduled for April 23 through 25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
So, what’s the most important thing for the Steelers going into this draft? They have to make potential quarterback Aaron Rodgers happy. In a Wednesday, April 1 feature for Yahoo Sports, NFL analysts Nate Tice and Charles McDonald give their picks for the 2026 NFL draft, and as the date approaches, these predictions tend to be more accurate.
NFL Makes Lamar Jackson’s Wish Come True Amid Ravens Contract Extension Talks
Just as contract talks between Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens are ongoing, the NFL may have given its star quarterback a slight boost. With the NFL continuing to expand globally, the Ravens are now scheduled to play in one of Lamar Jackson’s long-awaited destinations. It is not a direct move tied to negotiations, but it does line up nicely with what the former MVP has wanted for a while.
“Man, that’s dope,” Jackson said, per video posted by a fan account, JacksonMuse. “It’s a blessing for people in Brazil to know who I am, that’s just dope, that’s crazy. I got to go to Brazil one time. I got to travel to Brazil once.”
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Jackson has talked about wanting to travel to Brazil, and it looks like that wish might finally come true. The Baltimore Ravens are set to face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3 of the 2026 season in Rio de Janeiro, according to a report from The Baltimore Banner.
The NFL has clearly been growing its presence in Brazil. It hosted Week 1 games there in both 2024 and 2025, and the league said in February that there are more than 36 million NFL fans in the country.
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Now, this upcoming matchup will be the third game played there and the first one held at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Cowboys will be the designated home team, and it will also be their first international game since 2014.
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The previous two games were played in São Paulo, Brazil, and were close ones. The Philadelphia Eagles lost to the Green Bay Packers (34-29) in Week 1 of the 2024 season, and the Los Angeles Chargers edged the Kansas City Chiefs (27-21) in September 2025.
The Ravens have some experience playing internationally, though both of their previous games were in London. They lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars 44-7 in 2017 and later beat the Tennessee Titans 24-16 in 2023.
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According to the Banner, the Ravens were unlikely to host an international game this year because of a nearly $500 million renovation project at M&T Bank Stadium. The report also noted that the NFL allows teams to keep all their home games while their stadium is being renovated.
The exact date and time for the Brazil game have not been announced yet, but it could leave the Cowboys dealing with a short week, depending on how the schedule lines up. The full 2026 schedule is expected to be released in May.
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While this update lines up with Jackson’s wish to play in Brazil, questions about his contract extension are still there, especially with the new head coach not giving a clear answer on the situation.
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Jesse Minter shuts down Lamar Jackson’s deal talk
Lamar Jackson signed a five-year, $260 million extension with Baltimore in 2023 that runs through the 2027 season, but there is already some quiet talk about another deal, even though nothing serious has come out yet. When asked about it, head coach Jesse Minter did not say much.
“Yeah, Lamar knows how the organization feels about him; we know how he feels about us,” Minter said on NFL Live. “We think in due time that that’ll all work itself out.”
It sounds like both sides are calm and not rushing anything. Jackson was the 32nd overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft and has already proven himself with two MVP awards and four Pro Bowl selections.
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His 2024 season was outstanding. He played all 17 games and recorded 4,172 passing yards, 41 touchdowns, and a 119.6 passer rating. In 2025, his numbers dropped.
He played 13 games and finished with 2,549 yards, 21 touchdowns, and a 103.8 rating, including a career-low 349 rushing yards. Injuries and illness explain the drop, but the team wants its starting quarterback to be more explosive.
Jackson struggled in November and December when he was not practicing as much. He missed six straight weeks because of knee, ankle, and toe injuries. He even left a prime-time Patriots game with a back contusion and was ruled out for Week 17 against the Packers due to a deep tissue bruise. He also missed his practice time due to illness.
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Right now, it feels like the team is staying patient before finalizing a new deal, viewing 2025 as a temporary setback rather than anything long-term.
Ty Simpson’s Draft Stock Questioned by History of Similar QBs
From now until the 2026 NFL Draft is concluded, the ongoing question will be whether Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is a first-round pick or not.
Over the last week or so, thanks mostly to ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky’s hot take that Simpson is the QB1 in this year’s draft over Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza — the presumed No. 1 overall pick — that debate has only heated up.
Orlovsky was raked through the coals for his take, quickly becoming public enemy No. 1 among analysts. But his opinion isn’t all that different from others that have surfaced throughout the process. Ultimately, it’s all a guessing game this time of year.
That said, ESPN’s Jeff Legwold recently broke things down by comparing Simpson to past quarterbacks who carried a similar flaw into the NFL.
Ty Simpson’s Lack of Starts Raises Red Flags
The biggest sticking point in Simpson’s evaluation is his lack of starts at Alabama.
“If he is selected in the first round on April 23 in Pittsburgh, Simpson will be the 10th quarterback with 20 or fewer college starts to be picked on the first day of the draft since 2006, according to ESPN Research,” Legwold wrote. “And he’d be the fifth with as few as 15. The track record of the other passers on that list has been largely underwhelming.”
And that track record is rough.
The previous quarterbacks drafted in the first round with fewer than 20 starts include Ryan Tannehill (19), Mac Jones (17), Kyler Murray (17), Trey Lance (17), Mark Sanchez (16), Dwayne Haskins Jr. (14), Cam Newton (14), Mitchell Trubisky (13) and Anthony Richardson (13).
Among that group, there are just seven Pro Bowl selections — split between Jones (1), Murray (2), Newton (3) and Trubisky (1). More concerning, only Tannehill, Murray and Newton earned second contracts.
Newton clearly stands out as the most successful, leading the Carolina Panthers to a Super Bowl during his MVP season.
Simpson, though, pushed back on the idea that his limited starts tell the full story.
“Everybody talks about my starts, but I played in other games besides that,” Simpson said. “I played really good NFL players. Think about my freshman year, learning from the No. 1 overall pick and Heisman Trophy winner [Bryce Young] … going on scout team I got Will Anderson [Jr.], Dallas Turner, Henry To’oTo’o, got Kool-Aid [McKinstry] on one side, Terrion [Arnold] on the other side. … The Alabama locker room was as close to a locker room in the NFL as you can get.”
Skepticism Continues Around Ty Simpson’s Draft Stock
Not everyone is buying into the first-round hype.
3 & Out’s John Middlekauff made it clear he doesn’t see Simpson as a Day 1 pick.
“Ty Simpson is not a first round pick for me,” Middlekauff said. “I didn’t see it when I watched him. I used his comp of like I see some similarities to [Brock] Purdy, who was a seventh-round pick. Those type of players for me are guys that are drafted after pick 100.”
Middlekauff also pointed to Mendoza as the better overall prospect.
Mendoza holds a clear edge in experience, with 36 career starts between his time at Cal and Indiana. Simpson, meanwhile, spent four years at Alabama but didn’t become the full-time starter until last season.
At this point, it would be shocking to see Simpson leap Mendoza in the draft order.
The real question now isn’t whether he’s QB1 — it’s whether he hears his name called on Day 1 at all, or if he slips into Day 2, with Day 3 not entirely out of the question.
Next Steps for Saints After Hot Start to NFL Offseason
It’s been a solid offseason so far for the New Orleans Saints. So much so that if the 2026 National Football League season were to begin tomorrow, New Orleans arguably would be the favorite in the NFC South. Or, at least, they should be.
New Orleans has added a major boost at guard in David Edwards, firepower in the running back room in Travis Etienne Jr., a Demario Davis replacement in Kaden Elliss, and also have added a high-end punter in Ryan Wright, among other moves.
For New Orleans, there is a lot more work to do this offseason.
2026 NFL Draft
The 2026 NFL Draft is coming up starting on April 23. New Orleans will be on the clock with the No. 8 pick in the first round. New Orleans has eight picks in the 2026 NFL Draft in total. New Orleans has the No. 8 pick in the first round, the 42nd pick in the second round, the 73rd pick in the third round, the 132nd pick in the fourth round, the 136th pick in the fourth round, the 150th pick in the fifth round, the 172nd pick in the fifth round, and the 190th pick in the sixth round. At the No. 8 pick, arguably the best fit would be Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, if he’s still on the board.
Biggest Roster Holes
The Saints have three roster holes right now at cornerback, the No. 2 wide receiver spot and the pass rush. New Orleans will have options to plug all three roster holes in the 2026 NFL Draft. If New Orleans still has a need afterward, there will be options still in free agency.
Right now, a few receiver options out there for the taking are Keenan Allen, Deebo Samuel and Stefon Diggs. At cornerback, a few options are Marshon Lattimore and Trevon Diggs. For the pass rush, Cameron Jordan is still out there and should be a priority. On top of him, Haason Reddick, Joey Bosa and Jadeveon Clowney are three other options for New Orleans to consider.
The big thing to be on the lookout for right now is the 2026 NFL Draft, but free agency should still be in consideration for the franchise as well. All in all, New Orleans is in a better place than it was in at the end of the 2025 NFL season, but it isn’t done yet.
NFL Team Sends 10 Scouts for Fernando Mendoza at Indiana’s Pro Day as Hoosiers QB Makes Intentions Clear
After changing his LinkedIn status to “open to work” in January, Fernando Mendoza backed it up with a strong Pro Day performance. He already got all the hype he deserved with his Heisman win, a championship with Indiana, and now the major spotlight for his performance in front of 10 Raiders scouts at the Pro Day.
Fernando Mendoza completed 53 out of 56 passes, with only a couple of drops, showing great accuracy. He threw all these passes in just 20 minutes with only two short breaks, which also showed his stamina and focus. Mendoza even impressed scouts with his arm strength, easily throwing the ball 50–60 yards.
He is making sure he develops into his best form before turning pro, as he explains his mindset.
“I’m putting all of my efforts toward just trying to be the best quarterback possible for the season,” Mendoza said after the stunning display. “But I know at the next level, there’s going to be a lot more snaps under center, and that’s a big adjustment. I need to get used to that and just the nature of the game. Not only that, the hash marks are more condensed, and the speed of the game is faster. So all those things, I look forward to learning.”
Before starting, he warmed up with his college roommate and then performed in front of all 32 NFL teams, over 100 media members, and many families, friends, and teammates who came to watch him. He was not perfect, though. On one deep throw, he slightly overthrew Elijah Sarratt by a small margin, and a few passes fell incomplete.
But even with those inconsistencies, many analysts already predict him going to the Raiders. They have shown a very strong interest in Fernando Mendoza, and their actions clearly prove it. They have already met him at the NFL Combine, held a long Zoom meeting, and planned more meetings, including a Top-30 visit. They arranged dinner and whiteboard sessions with him, too.
At his Pro Day, the Raiders didn’t just send a scout; they sent top leaders like general manager John Spytek, head coach Klint Kubiak, and several staff members. This shows they are closely studying him and treating him like a top priority. Their coaching setup also fits Mendoza well. Klint Kubiak’s system focuses on play-action passes, taking snaps under center, and a structured passing game.
Another big reason for their interest is their weak quarterback situation. Geno Smith, who struggled and threw 17 interceptions, has been traded to the New York Jets. Backup Kenny Pickett has also left for the Carolina Panthers. Right now, Aidan O’Connell is the only quarterback left on the roster. This clearly shows the Raiders urgently need a new leader at the position.
Fernando Mendoza’s skills make him a perfect fit for the Raiders, too. Last season, he threw for 3,535 yards, scored 41 touchdowns, and made only 6 interceptions. He is also a “clean, crisp passer” who makes quick decisions and reads the defense well. On top of that, Mendoza also has great timing and ball placement.
Another big strength is his mindset. He stays calm in big moments and does not panic under pressure. So, it’s not just his Pro Day performance but also his overall skills and strength that make him an NFL-ready QB.
But at Pro Day, he wasn’t just focusing on his game; he also made sure his teammates got the exposure, too.
Fernando Mendoza makes his mindset clear
From the moment Fernando Mendoza joined Indiana, he has been nothing but supportive of his team, focusing on building relationships and pushing all of them forward into the spotlight. He did it again during Indiana’s Pro Day by throwing for 56 passes. For the 22-year-old, giving all his players equal opportunity mattered the most.
“I feel like it went great,” Mendoza said. “You know, quarterbacks have passed, have done shorter pro days than that. However, I just wanted to make sure everybody could showcase their abilities in front of all 32 NFL teams and really run routes that apply to the timing we’re going to be running in the NFL.”
Now, this wasn’t the first time any quarterbacks did less; Cam Newton just threw 30 passes in his Pro Day workout. So QBs often opt for fewer passes. But for Mendoza, it mattered more because he had a vision for his team.
His teammates also performed well during the Pro Day. Cornerback D’Angelo Ponds showed his speed by running the 40-yard dash in just 4.31 seconds, which is very fast. RB Roman Hemby also spoke about Mendoza and praised him as a leader.
“That’s a guy that’s a great leader, a great person,” Hemby said. “He doesn’t have to do some of the things he does. He wanted to go out there and showcase the guys. That shows the type of person he is. That’s why we love him.”
Now, with this mindset, let’s wait and see how things turn around for him in the future.
Fernando Mendoza wows during Pro Day weeks before NFL draft
Fernando Mendoza showed why he is the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in this month’s NFL draft during his pro day on Wednesday, which drew representatives from all 32 NFL teams to Bloomington, Indiana.
The former Hoosiers quarterback completed 53 of his 56 throws on Wednesday, which included completing his first 23 passes, according to NFL Network.
The outlet reported that his only true off-target pass of the day came when he slightly overthrew on a “go” route.
It would seem that Mendoza made a good impression on the Raiders brass that was in attendance on Wednesday, with the organization that holds the first overall pick sending 10 representatives — including general manager John Spytek and head coach Klint Kubiak.
“I feel like it went great,” Mendoza told reporters. “You know quarterbacks have passed, have done shorter pro days than that. However, I just wanted to make sure everybody could showcase their abilities in front of all 32 NFL teams and really run routes that are applicable to the timing we’re going to be running in the NFL.”
Mendoza is coming off a stellar season, one in which he took the country by storm through his humble and wholesome personality off the field and his fierce ability to step up in big moments on it.
He became the first Indiana player to ever win a Heisman Trophy and helped lead the program to its first-ever national championship in football.
Mendoza had completed 72 percent of his passes in his final collegiate season and threw for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns.
All of which has put him in position to be the top pick in this year’s draft, though he knows he’s still got plenty to learn once he reaches the NFL.
“I’m putting all of my efforts toward just trying to be the best quarterback possible for the season,” Mendoza said. “But I know at the next level, there’s going to be a lot more snaps under center and that’s a big adjustment. I need to get used to that and just the nature of the game. Not only that, the hash [marks] are more condensed and the speed of the game is faster. So all those things, I look forward to learning.”
Mendoza has met with the Raiders twice already.
Las Vegas has the No. 1 pick after going 3-14 during an abysmal season in 2025.
The NFL draft is slated to take place in Pittsburgh beginning on Thursday, April 23, at Acrisure Stadium.
Dallas Cowboys announce event lineup for 2026 NFL draft party
It’s almost time to find out what the Dallas Cowboys will do in the 2026 NFL draft.
On Wednesday, the team officially announced its lineup of festivities for the event that will be held from April 23-25. The Cowboys are following their recent tradition of hosting their draft festivities at The Star in Frisco.
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This year’s lineup of activities includes appearances from current and former players, performances from the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, live music and more.
The Cowboys will be presenting live coverage of the draft at their headquarters. Night one of the event will be present inside the Ford Center at The Star starting at 6 p.m. April 23. The second and third rounds will be presented at 6 p.m. on April 24 outside of the Ford Center on the Tostitos Championship Plaza.
Day three of the event begins at 8 a.m. on April 25 with the team’s annual Draft Day 5K. According to the Cowboys, the draft party’s Saturday itinerary also includes a
Raiders Land Clear Message About Free-Agent QB Kirk Cousins
The Las Vegas Raiders face a clear need at quarterback, with Aidan O’Connell currently the only player on the roster. Many expect the team to select former Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.
When it comes to a potential third quarterback, the Raiders seem to be leaning toward a veteran presence. They showed interest in Joe Flacco, but he opted to remain with the Cincinnati Bengals.
That leaves another experienced option in Kirk Cousins, who could appeal to Las Vegas, particularly if the team prefers Mendoza to develop before stepping into a starting role. However, former NFL player Booger McFarland doesn’t see Cousins as a fit, given that the veteran wants to play.
“Kirk is a tremendous guy, and I think there’s no doubt in my mind that someday he’s going to be in that role,” McFarland said on the April 1 edition of “NFL Live.” “But right now, Kirk Cousins wants to play. So maybe, to your point, somebody has no intention of, when you get tapped on the shoulder, it’s time for you to come out. They’ll gladly step aside, put the ball cap on and say, ‘Let’s go, Fernando.’“
Last season with the Atlanta Falcons, Cousins posted a 76.0 overall PFF grade, ranking 14th among 43 qualified quarterbacks. His passing grade was 75.0, also 14th at the position. On 289 dropbacks, he threw for 1,721 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions, while recording nine big-time throws and five turnover-worthy plays.
NFL Insider Gives Update on Kirk Cousins’ Future
Amid the speculation, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter shared an update on Cousins’ future.
“I think Kirk Cousins is just sitting back and waiting,“ Schefter said on the March 31 edition of the “Pat McAfee Show.” “Whatever opportunity comes his way, he can be selective and choose. He’s made as much money as an NFL player, so he doesn’t have to rush into anything.”
Moreover, Schefter did touch on whether the Raiders make sense for Cousins, considering the player has options outside of the football field.
“Is he rushing out to Vegas now? “ Schefter added. “He’s got his family. I don’t know. He can go when he wants, he can go where he wants, he could play, he could not play, he could broadcast. I don’t think he’s rushing to anything until he feels like it’s the right thing, whatever that is.”
Raiders Projected to Be Landing Spot for Kirk Cousins
After missing out on Flacco, Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport identified one free agent for all 32 NFL teams to sign before the season starts, suggesting Cousins.
“Just because Mendoza is the future under center in Sin City doesn’t mean he should be the present, “ Davenport wrote. “And with Aidan O’Connell the only QB currently on the roster, the Raiders need a bridge starter who can hold down the fort until Mendoza is ready to take over the offense.
Former NHL star dies at 75: ‘A true trailblazer’
Former hockey star Bill Riley, who became the third Black player to play in the NHL, has died. He was 75.
The Washington Capitals announced Riley’s death last week.
In addition to being the third Black player to play in the NHL, Riley was also the first Black Nova Scotian player to play in the league.
“The Washington Capitals extend their deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Bill Riley. Bill was a true trailblazer in our game, becoming one of the first Black players to play in the NHL,” the statement from the Capitals said.
“His courage, perseverance, and passion for the sport helped pave the way for future generations.”
Riley started his NHL career with the Washington Capitals, appearing in 125 games from 1976 to 1979. He then finished his career with the Winnipeg Jets. He totaled 61 points in five NHL seasons, recording 31 goals and 30 assists.
“He was a little bit of an iconic figure, growing up in Amherst (Nova Scotia) and making it to the NHL undrafted,” said Frantz Jean, goalie coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning, according to NHL.com. “It’s already hard enough when you’re from the Maritimes to make it to the NHL, just the fact that he was a Black player made it even more impressive.”
After retiring from playing, Riley later became a coach and general manager in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.
Breaking down Blackhawks rookie Anton Frondell’s best NHL performance so far
Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill has compared Anton Frondell to Jonathan Toews twice in two days.
That’s a premature comparison, probably influenced by Toews visiting Tuesday. But it’s high praise nonetheless. Blashill clearly isn’t worried about keeping expectations low around his Swedish rookie.
Frondell’s NHL introduction has indeed been impressive. He’s the first Hawks rookie to tally five points in his first five games since Artemi Panarin in 2015 and only the third rookie league-wide to do that since 2022.
And his performance Tuesday was probably his best yet.
While playing center for just the second time, his line with Tyler Bertuzzi and Ilya Mikheyev was primarily deployed against the Jets’ top line of Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Alex Iafallo. The Hawks dominated that matchup, outshooting the Jets 8-3 and outscoring them 3-1.
The shift that led up to Frondell’s first-period goal demonstrated particularly well all the things he can do offensively.
He initially exited the defensive zone, entered the offensive zone and made a smooth move toward the net all by himself (going through three Jets), although he wasn’t able to get a shot off.
Seconds later, he found a loose puck behind the net and passed to Mikheyev for a shot on goal. Then he retrieved the puck again near the half-wall and passed low-to-high to Louis Crevier for another shot attempt.
Then he curled back toward the slot, kept his head up, buried a centering pass from Mikheyev and celebrated with arms raised as a crowd of 18,726 erupted.
“Back on the road trip, when we played in Madison Square Garden and different arenas, I thought, ‘Oh [wow], this is pretty good,’” Frondell said. “But they said, ‘Wait til you get back at home.’ I know what they mean by that now. It’s a pretty good crowd here.”
The offensive possession that led to Bertuzzi’s third-period equalizer also began with Frondell winning a battle down low — something he has already done so many times in five games.
Jets defenseman Neal Pionk got between Frondell and the puck, but Frondell craftily whacked it between Pionk’s legs and then spun off him to gain uncontested control.
Frondell has, however, also committed a fair number of defensive mistakes. Blashill has praised his defensive attentiveness, but it takes time to grasp a new system and new position.
When Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey cut toward the net early in the second period, Frondell peeled off, expecting either Crevier or Alex Vlasic to be covering the near post. They weren’t, and Morrissey scored. Crevier had made a mistake, but Frondell should’ve noticed and adjusted accordingly.
“He came back to the bench and said, ‘Should I have stayed with [Morrissey]?’” Blashill said. “I said, ‘Yes.’ So that’s a good thing that he understands those situations and will learn from them. To me, that’s the No. 1 thing.”
Kyle Connor’s overtime winner largely fell on Frondell, too, for not monitoring and sticking with the Jets winger closely enough in three-on-three man coverage.
Still, Blashill seems altogether thrilled with the early results from his Frondell-at-center experiment. Frondell sticking there long-term would give the Hawks a fantastic forward backbone with Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar and him as a “one-two-three” punch of centers.
There are pros and cons to any arrangement. That one would put more pressure on prospects Nick Lardis and Roman Kantserov to pan out as top-six wingers and on general manager Kyle Davidson to acquire a couple more wingers via draft or trade.
Frondell isn’t thinking about any of that, though. He’s simply trying to adjust to the NHL, which he called “a whole new level” compared to the Swedish league.
“Everything goes so fast,” he said. “Everyone is a lot better. I still have a lot to learn. [I’ll] just keep going and get better.”
Avs forward Nathan MacKinnon becomes 1st to 50 goals this season with early score against Canucks
DENVER (AP) — Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon became the first NHL player this season to reach 50 goals when his liner from up top beat Vancouver goaltender Kevin Lankinen early in the first period on Wednesday night.
He celebrated the goal with a little extra flair, too, sliding on his right knee while pumping his right glove.
It’s the second 50-goal campaign of MacKinnon’s career. He became the third player in Colorado/Quebec history to notch multiple 50-goal seasons, joining Hall of Famers Joe Sakic (twice) and Michel Goulet (four).
MacKinnon also joins Milan Hejduk (2002-03) as the only skaters in franchise history to hit the 50-goal mark first during an NHL season.
MacKinnon tied Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov for second with 121 points. They are four behind league leader Connor McDavid of Edmonton.
The 30-year-old MacKinnon turned in his fourth straight season of 110 or more points.
“That’s where he’s gotten his production to over the last handful of seasons — high expectations,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said before the game.
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Boeser has hat trick, last-place Canucks overcomes blowing 4-goal lead to beat NHL-leading Avs 8-6
DENVER (AP) — Marcus Pettersson scored with 5:39 remaining, Brock Boeser had a hat trick and the last-place Vancouver Canucks blew a four-goal lead before beating the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche 8-6 on Wednesday night.
The Canucks, who entered the game 58 points behind the Avalanche, scored in all sorts of ways, including 29 seconds into the game, short-handed, on the power play and into an empty net to snap a six-game slide.
They led 6-2 in the second only to see Colorado tie it up with 6:02 left. Just 23 seconds later, Pettersson knocked in his first goal since November. Boeser sealed it by lining the puck down the ice and into an empty net.
Teddy Blueger scored twice, while Max Sasson and Jake DeBrusk also added goals to spoil a night in which Nathan MacKinnon became the first player this season to reach 50 goals. Vancouver took advantage of the Avalanche juggling their defensive pairings with Cale Makar sidelined by an upper-body injury.
Kevin Lankinen made 24 saves.
Sam Malinski scored twice, while Gabriel Landeskog, Parker Kelly and Brent Burns also scored. MacKinnon notched his second 50-goal campaign of his career with his score early in the first.
Colorado goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood was pulled with 4:39 left in the second after allowing six goals on 19 shots. Scott Wedgewood stopped five shots in relief.
The Avalanche were rolling after a 9-2 win over Calgary on Monday.
Before fans had a chance to settle into their seats, the Canucks were up 1-0. Sasson’s goal 29 seconds into the game was the fastest by the Canucks since Oct. 22, 2024 (21 seconds).
Burns had a goal and an assist as he played in his 999th straight game. The all-time Ironman streak belongs to Phil Kessel, who skated in 1,064 consecutive games.
Up next
Canucks: At Minnesota on Thursday.
Avalanche: At Dallas on Saturday.
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Boeser has hat trick, last-place Canucks overcome blowing 4-goal lead to beat NHL-leading Avs 8-6
DENVER (AP) — Marcus Pettersson scored with 5:39 remaining, Brock Boeser had a hat trick and the last-place Vancouver Canucks blew a four-goal lead before beating the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche 8-6 on Wednesday night.
The Canucks, who entered the game 58 points behind the Avalanche, scored in all sorts of ways, including 29 seconds into the game, short-handed, on the power play and into an empty net to snap a six-game slide.
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They led 6-2 in the second only to see Colorado tie it up with 6:02 left. Just 23 seconds later, Pettersson knocked in his first goal since November. Boeser sealed it by lining the puck down the ice and into an empty net.
Teddy Blueger scored twice, while Max Sasson and Jake DeBrusk also added goals to spoil a night in which Nathan MacKinnon became the first player this season to reach 50 goals. Vancouver took advantage of the Avalanche juggling their defensive pairings with Cale Makar sidelined by an upper-body injury.
Kevin Lankinen made 24 saves.
Sam Malinski scored twice, while Gabriel Landeskog, Parker Kelly and Brent Burns also scored. MacKinnon notched his second 50-goal campaign of his career with his score early in the first.
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Colorado goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood was pulled with 4:39 left in the second after allowing six goals on 19 shots. Scott Wedgewood stopped five shots in relief.
The Avalanche were rolling after a 9-2 win over Calgary on Monday.
Before fans had a chance to settle into their seats, the Canucks were up 1-0. Sasson’s goal 29 seconds into the game was the fastest by the Canucks since Oct. 22, 2024 (21 seconds).
Burns had a goal and an assist as he played in his 999th straight game. The all-time Ironman streak belongs to Phil Kessel, who skated in 1,064 consecutive games.
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Up next
Canucks: At Minnesota on Thursday.
Avalanche: At Dallas on Saturday.
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Macklin Celebrini leads dramatic comeback as Sharks beat Anaheim Ducks
SAN JOSE – Macklin Celebrini scored with 1:39 left in the third period, then assisted on Alex Wennberg’s go-ahead goal with 21 seconds left in regulation time to finish off a four-point night in a dramatic 4-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday.
The Sharks’ top two scorers, Celebrini and Will Smith, combined to score the team’s first two goals.
The Sharks fell behind early in the third period.
With the game tied 2-2 in the third period, a turnover by Sharks defenseman Dmitry Orlov turned into a go-ahead goal by Ducks forward Troy Terry with 15:56 left in regulation time.
Orlov went back into his own zone to retrieve a loose puck and tried to find Wennberg in the neutral zone with a diagonal pass. But Terry intercepted the pass, put a shot on net that was saved by goalie Yaroslav Askarov, then scored his 18th goal of the season on the rebound.
Smith scored a first-period power-play goal off an assist from Celebrini, and Celebrini scored an even-strength goal 27 seconds into the third period to tie the game 2-2.
Celebrini and Smith came into Wednesday as the Sharks’ two leading scorers with 101 and 51 points this season. Celebrini has now scored or assisted on 46.9% of the Sharks’ 224 goals in 73 games this season — the highest goal share ever for a teenager. Wayne Gretzky had points on 45.5% of Oilers goals in 1979-80.
The Ducks outshot the Sharks 31-16 through the first 53 minutes of Wednesday’s game. The Sharks had managed just two shots in the first 14 minutes of the third period.
The Sharks also allowed a late first-period goal to Ryan Poehling and a go-ahead goal to Alex Killorn at the 14:59 mark of the second.
The Sharks were without rookie winger Igor Chernyshov, who was dealing with an illness. It was unclear whether Chernyshov would be available for the Sharks’ home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.
Chernyshov, 20, had been playing alongside Celebrini and Smith, collecting two goals and an assist in four games on the top line. Both of his most recent goals came in the Sharks’ 3-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, including the game-winner with 1:25 to go in the third period.
With Chernyshov unavailable to play against the Ducks, Collin Graf moved to the top line with Celebrini and Smith and forward Ty Dellandrea, who had missed nearly three months with a torn right posterior cruciate ligament, entered the lineup. Dellandrea was activated off injured reserve hours before Wednesday’s game.
Dellandrea, who was injured in the Sharks’ game against the Blue Jackets on Jan. 6, started Wednesday’s game as the third line right wing with rookie center Michael Misa and Tyler Toffoli at left wing.
The Sharks were looking for their third straight win after beating the St. Louis Blues 5-4 on Monday to open the homestand. The Sharks entered Wednesday in 11th place in the Western Conference with 75 points, two points back of the Nashville Predators for the second and final wild card spot.
The Sharks’ homestand continues with games against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, the Predators on Saturday, the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday, and the Edmonton Oilers next Wednesday.
The Sharks and Ducks traded goals in the first period.
Shortly after a Sharks power play began, Celebrini took control of the puck, wheeled around the Ducks’ net, and fired a pass to Smith, who one-timed a shot past Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal for his 22nd goal of the season at the 4:37 mark.
The Sharks had to kill three penalties – all stick fouls – in the first period, but allowed an even-strength goal to Poehling with 2:13 left.
Poehling eluded a check from Orlov inside the Sharks’ blue line, cut to the middle of the ice, and beat Askarov high to the blocker side for his 10th goal of the season.
Askarov finished with 12 saves in the first period as he made his second straight start. He made 22 saves, including 12 in the third period, in the Sharks’ win over the Blues.
NHL-worst Canucks stun league-best Avalanche 8-6
Brock Boeser produced his seventh career regular-season hat trick and added an assist as the Vancouver Canucks recovered from blowing a four-goal lead to beat the Colorado Avalanche 8-6 in Denver on Wednesday night.
Teddy Blueger scored twice for the Canucks (22-44-8, 52 points), who set a season high for goals while ending a six-game skid. Vancouver’s Marcus Pettersson had a goal and two assists, Max Sasson contributed a goal and an assist, Jake DeBrusk also scored, and Drew O’Connor and Marco Rossi had two assists apiece.
Kevin Lankinen turned away 24 shots for Vancouver, which owns the lowest point total in the NHL. Colorado has the highest point total in the league.
The Avalanche (49-15-10, 108 points) rallied from a 6-2 deficit to tie it on Sam Malinski’s second goal of the night at 13:58 of the third period. Pettersson answered 23 seconds later, and Boeser scored an empty-net goal at 18:31.
Colorado’s Cale Makar did not play due to an upper-body injury suffered in the Avalanche’s Monday win over the Calgary Flames.
Nathan MacKinnon scored his league-leading 50th goal of the season, Malinski also had an assist, Brent Burns recorded a goal and an assist and Gabriel Landeskog and Parker Kelly also scored for the Avalanche.
Colorado’s Devon Toews and Valeri Nichunskin contributed two assists each and Scott Wedgewood saved five of the six shots he faced in relief of Mackenzie Blackwood, who permitted six goals on 19 shots.
The Avalanche trailed 6-2 late in the second but made a furious comeback. Malinski started the rally with a goal at 15:43 of the second, and Kelly’s tally 14 seconds into the third made it 6-4.
Burns scored at 13:21 to get the hosts within 6-5, and Malinski leveled the score 37 seconds later. Moments later, Pettersson scored the game-winner.
Vancouver jumped ahead on Sasson’s goal 29 seconds into the game, MacKinnon tied it at 1:22. Blueger and DeBrusk scored before Landeskog’s goal at 16:05 cut Vancouver’s lead to 3-2 after the first.
Blueger scored his second of the game at 5:02 of the second and Boeser had two goals 4:39 apart to make it 6-2, chasing Blackwood.
Boeser has hat trick, last-place Canucks overcome blowing 4-goal lead to beat NHL-leading Avs
Marcus Pettersson scored with 5:39 remaining, Brock Boeser had a hat trick and the last-place Vancouver Canucks blew a four-goal lead before beating the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche 8-6 on Wednesday night.
The Canucks, who entered the game 58 points behind the Avalanche, scored in all sorts of ways, including 29 seconds into the game, short-handed, on the power play and into an empty net to snap a six-game slide.
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They led 6-2 in the second only to see Colorado tie it up with 6:02 left. Just 23 seconds later, Pettersson knocked in his first goal since November. Boeser sealed it by lining the puck down the ice and into an empty net.
Teddy Blueger scored twice, while Max Sasson and Jake DeBrusk also added goals to spoil a night in which Nathan MacKinnon became the first player this season to reach 50 goals. Vancouver took advantage of the Avalanche juggling their defensive pairings with Cale Makar sidelined by an upper-body injury.
Kevin Lankinen made 24 saves.
KINGS 2, BLUES 1, OT
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Trevor Moore scored 1:56 into overtime to lift Los Angeles to a victory over the St. Louis.
Adrian Kempe also scored for the Kings, who moved into the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference — one point ahead of San Jose and Nashville. Anton Forsberg made 23 saves, including one in overtime, for Los Angeles, which stopped a four-game losing streak at home.
Robert Thomas scored the only goal for the Blues on a deflection with 3:53 left in the third period to send it to overtime. Jordan Binnington stopped 24 shots in the loss, including two in the extra period. St. Louis is now four points behind Los Angeles for the second wild-card spot.
SHARKS 4, DUCKS 3
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SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Macklin Celebrini tied the game with less than two minutes to play then assisted on Alexander Wennberg’s winning goal with 31 seconds left to complete a four-point game as San Jose beat Anaheim.
With two goals and two assists, Celebrini now has 40 goals and 105 points this season, moving him past Erik Karlsson (101 points in 2022-23) for the second highest single-season point total in franchise history behind Joe Thornton’s 114-point effort in 2006-07.
The 19-year-old Celebrini also now has 17 games this season with three or more points, second among teenagers in NHL history only to Wayne Gretzky, who had 19 in 1979-80.
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Avs’ Nathan MacKinnon first to reach 50 goals this season
DENVER — Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon became the first NHL player this season to reach 50 goals when his liner from up top beat Vancouver goaltender Kevin Lankinen early in the first period on Wednesday night.
He celebrated the goal with a little extra flair, too, sliding on his right knee while pumping his right glove. That was pretty much the highlight for the Avalanche, whose rally from a four-goal deficit fell short in an 8-6 loss to the Canucks.
It’s the second 50-goal campaign of MacKinnon’s career. He became the third player in Colorado/Quebec history to notch multiple 50-goal seasons, joining Hall of Famers Joe Sakic (twice) and Michel Goulet (four).
MacKinnon also joins Milan Hejduk (2002-03) as the only skaters in franchise history to hit the 50-goal mark first during an NHL season.
MacKinnon tied Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov for second with 121 points. They are four behind league leader Connor McDavid of Edmonton.
The 30-year-old MacKinnon turned in his fourth straight season of 110 or more points.
DeMar DeRozan Passes NBA Legend as Kings Take Down Raptors
The Sacramento Kings may not have much left to play for as the season winds to a close, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t going to keep coming out swinging and trying to win.
The Kings took down the Raptors with an impressive 123-115 win to close out their five-game road trip and snap their losing streak. While a loss would have helped their lottery odds, it’s nice to see them get back in the win column, even if it is for just the 20th time this season.
While the team’s record and lottery position is nearly set (especially after a win tonight), they do still have two Hall-of-Famers on the roster making their climbs up the NBA leaderboards. Russell Westbrook remains out with his injury, but DeMar DeRozan continues to show up night in and night out as Sacramento closes out the year, and he hit another historic landmark tonight.
DeRozan hit a three-pointer in the third quarter to pass Dominique Wilkins for 17th on the all-time scoring list, which is fitting that it was a shot from beyond the arc to put him ahead of the NBA legend, as he’s known for patented mid-range shooting,
And DeRozan wasn’t done there. He went on to finish the night with 28 points, and 4 assists on 7-of-18 from the field and a perfect 12-of-12 from the free throw line. It was a vintage DeRozan performance that we’ve seen time and time again, and even more so because of the game’s location.
Return Home
The Kings just happened to be in Toronto tonight, the place where DeRozan started and built his Hall-of-Fame legacy for nine years. He’s had a few different homes since, with stops in San Antonio and Chicago before landing in Sacramento, but he’ll always be known as a Raptor, and will likely have his jersey retired by the franchise that drafted him.
While Raptors fans may not like him very much tonight as they battle for playoff positioning, it was a fitting way for DeRozan to rise in the ranks in his home gym.
Achiuwa Continues to Impress
DeRozan will get most of the headlines from this one, but Precious Achiuwa continued his monster second-half of the season performance with 28 points and 19 rebounds, 11 of which were offensive.
He continues to make every team in the NBA look bad, as he was a free agent weeks into the start of the season before signing with the Kings. His unrelenting hustle and energy fit exactly what Doug Christie is trying to build in Sacramento. He may be playing himself into a bigger contract, but at this point, the Kings should do everything they can to bring him back next season.
This game may not have been the best outcome for the Kings and their lottery positioning, but it was a fun one to watch and will make for a juvial plane ride home. It’s important to remember how important that is to the players and the organization. So for tonight, we (or at least I) put aside the standings worries, and just enjoyed watching a hall-of-famer cement his legacy even more, and found joy in watching an NBA journey man continue a career-defining stretch of basketball.
Celtics score 53 points in 1st quarter at Miami, setting club record for opening period
MIAMI (AP) — The Boston Celtics had a first quarter like none other in their storied history.
The Celtics scored 53 points — their biggest-scoring first quarter ever — in the opening 12 minutes of their game against the Miami Heat on Wednesday night.
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Trail Blazers Face 6-Figure Fine, Suspension for “Illegal Contact” With 20-Year-Old Star – Report
The NBA has transformed itself over the past few years. Since the introduction of aprons, teams must draft well. However, the Portland Trail Blazers did so by breaking one of the league’s rules. This happened in the case of their 2025 draft pick, Yang Hansen, who they drafted with the 16 pick in the first half.
According to Shams Charania, the Trail Blazers made contact with Hansen two years before the draft. The seven-footer would have been just 18 years old back then. The Blazers may have wanted to take care of the talent they scouted. Nonetheless, the NBA found out and has levied a huge punishment.
Charania revealed the Portland Trail Blazers were fined $100,000 for violating the league’s rules. In addition to the punishment, both assistant general managers, Mike Schmitz and Sergi Oliva, have also been suspended for two weeks. The exact duration of their suspension is still unknown. We also don’t know about the interactions between the Blazers and Hansen two years ago.
NBA teams aren’t forbidden from meeting with rookies before drafting them. But that’s during the draft process. Teams call up prospects for workouts, where they also conduct interviews to determine the culture fit. In this case, the Trail Blazers did so with a player who wasn’t draft-eligible at the time.
The league is strict about teams trying to influence players’ decisions. The Trail Blazers may have dodged a more punitive punishment since they admitted to wrongdoing and cooperated with the NBA.
The Portland Trail Blazers are hopeful with Yang Hansen
Portland saw the obvious parallel with Hansen. His country previously produced Yao Ming, regarded as one of the best centers in NBA history. Hansen came in at almost the same height and made his mark in the CBA. Aside from being an elite shot blocker, Hansen has the ability to shoot the ball.
That’s where the Blazers felt they got the jackpot. Then head coach Chauncey Billups was confident the 20-year-old would play regular minutes. However, the team appears to be practicing patience. They’ve sent Hansen to the G-League in different stretches throughout the regular season. That’s where he’s managed to put up some resounding performances that keep Portland intrigued.
In 14 starts with the Rip City Remix, the 20-year-old is averaging 17.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game. He’s not had enough opportunities in the NBA. But the Blazers haven’t turned their backs on Hansen. They want him to be well accustomed to the NBA’s pace. The G-League could be a driver to build young players’ confidence.
Yang Hansen has done much more than show Portland he’s talented. The 16 overall pick is polishing his game and could play a major role next season. Damian Lillard’s return refreshes Portland’s competitive hopes. If Hansen can continue to stamp his claim, he could form a notorious center rotation, splitting time with Donovan Clingan.
There hasn’t been much to show for the Blazers overlooking Hansen years before the draft. But best believe they are preparing to launch him.
Bulls’ Disaster Continues as Tanking Pacers Complete Season Sweep, 145
The Chicago Bulls nearly shot 50.0 percent from the field, finished with seven players in double figures, out-rebounded the Pacers by 10, and got to the free-throw line for 26 attempts. Typically, that’s a recipe for success, but don’t put anything past this Bulls squad!
The Indiana Pacers were in complete control from the second quarter on, dominating a Bulls defense that looked downright disinterested in the 145-126 victory. Six more games to go before Arutras Karnisovas may or may not sit down with the media!
Pacers Sweep the Bulls
For the first time since the 2019-20 season, the Indiana Pacers have swept the Chicago Bulls. That’s right, folks, four of the Pacers’ 18 wins this season came against their central division rival.
Sure, the Bulls likely didn’t come into this one caring much about the outcome. The fact that Mac McClung and Yuk Kawamura were clocking meaningful minutes speaks to just that. But this is still a pretty major indictment of the front office and everything they have built.
Think about it: Three of these games were played with every intention of winning. The same can be said about the majority of their games against the NBA’s bottom feeders. Yet, as things currently stand, they hold just a 4-9 record against the worst five teams in the NBA. This includes a 2-7 record against the three teams below them in the East.
Again, while these losses may be in the team’s best interest, this wasn’t on purpose. The Bulls have repeatedly touted competitive integrity and seemed to hold themselves to a higher standard than these squads. Well, not only did these outright tankers beat them, but they are now likely on their way to an even better pick in a stacked 2026 draft.
First Half Disaster
To put into perspective just how many points the Chicago Bulls gave up in the first half, consider this: The Boston Celtics dropped 53 points in the first quarter alone against the Miami Heat … and they still didn’t finish with as many first-half points as the Indiana Pacers.
Believe it or not, the first quarter was competitive. Was there any defense played? Not particularly, as even the combined 12 turnovers were more a result of general sloppiness than defensive execution. But at least each team took advantage! They both shot upwards of 60.0 percent from the field and worked their way into the paint with ease. While Indiana did hold a 39-33 lead, it was a tight enough first 12 minutes to make us think these two tanking squads were in for an entertaining high-scoring battle.
Only one of those descriptors proved true. The points kept coming, but the entertainment factor frayed fast. While Chicago posted another 33 points in the second quarter, the Pacers dominated with 44 points in the frame behind eight made threes. The Bulls’ defense was completely lost, as the Pacers kept the ball moving and dished 14 assists on 16 made field goals in the quarter.
The Bulls didn’t just look broken defensively, but they looked completely disinterested. Indiana would walk into the half with a staggering 83 points on the board. This marks the second-most points the Bulls have ever given up in a first half (h/t Will Gottlieb). To be clear, the Bulls were still only down 17 points, which is a gap we have seen plenty of teams close this season. But I’m not sure anyone in the arena – or anyone on the Bulls bench – expected this one to be a game again.
Fastbreak & Turnovers
Without their offensive engine, this ragtag Bulls lineup was a complete mess. The Pacers were able to build an insurmountable advantage thanks largely to the Bulls’ self-inflicted wounds. They coughed up the ball a total of 20 times, which led to 32 points for Indiana. The Pacers scored 26 of those points in the first half alone. As for Chicago, they managed a mere 13 points off Indiana’s 13 mistakes.
Indiana was also beating the Bulls at their own game in the open floor. They were pushing the tempo and repeatedly getting ahead of the defense in transition. It led to 29 fastbreak buckets. All things considered, it was shocking how well they clicked for a team with seven players on the injury report and multiple two-way players suiting up.
Speaking of which, they walked off the floor with 49 assists on their 58 made field goals. This meant they were one shy of their franchise record, as well as one shy of reaching the 50-assist threshold for only the 13th time in NBA history, per Stathead. The last time we saw it was on January 5, 2024, interestingly enough, by Indiana.
Nuggets clinch playoff berth; battle for seeding starts with win at Utah
The Nuggets had already clinched an eighth consecutive playoff berth by the time they tipped off Wednesday in Utah, thanks to Phoenix’s latest loss. That means the results from now on are all about seeding in the Western Conference bracket, where they’ll finish somewhere between third and sixth.
They remained in fourth with a 130-117 triumph over the Jazz, matching a season-best win streak with their seventh in a row. Denver (49-28) also has five chances now to secure its fourth consecutive 50-win season, starting with Saturday’s matinee against Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs.
Murray adds another All-NBA performance
Jamal Murray’s dazzling season as a shooter could be summed up by the eagerness with which he sought out his 3-pointer early. He started the game on a 9-0 solo run, eventually scoring 15 of his 37 points during the first quarter, entirely on 3s. The exclamation point was a half-court buzzer beater to end the frame, his third of the season (prefaced by a travel that he got away with).
That aggressiveness nullified Nikola Jokic’s disinterest in looking to score for most of the night. The three-time MVP finished with a triple-double, but only after attempting just two shots in the first half.
Murray’s 10-for-16 performance outside the arc improved his efficiency to 43.4% for the season, leapfrogging Kon Knueppel for seventh in the NBA. Nobody in the league has a better percentage on more attempts. Murray also has 13 games this season with 35 or more points after the win in Utah.
Injuries and adjustments
Spencer Jones was out with a hamstring injury in Salt Lake City, so Denver went back to Jonas Valanciunas at backup center. The Lithuanian big man took advantage of the opportunity with a strong outing. The Nuggets tried with more conviction to feed him on the block and play out of his post-ups. He went for 13 points and seven rebounds in 13 minutes, earning eight trips to the line. Denver played a lot of zone at the other end, mostly to good effect. Valanciunas finished a plus-eight. The team’s worst defensive stretch came in the third quarter (with Jokic at center), when the Jazz got downhill easily against a man-to-man scheme.
Peyton Watson was supposed to increase his minutes after lingering around 20 recently, but he left the game in the second quarter when tightness resurfaced in his right hamstring. His night ended at nine minutes instead.
In the same quarter, Jazz wing Ace Bailey ran into Tim Hardaway Jr.’s left knee while landing from a dunk attempt. Hardaway was initially able to shake it off and stay in the game, but he was eventually ruled out with knee soreness. David Adelman turned to Julian Strawther for second-half reinforcements.
About that seeding
According to Basketball Reference, the Nuggets have more than an 85% probability of finishing as either the No. 4 or No. 5 seed in the West. They’ve been taking care of business against a weak schedule recently, but so have the third-place Lakers, who possess the head-to-head tiebreaker over Denver. If there’s going to be a push for No. 3, the Nuggets will need help.
In the more likely case that they’re solidified as either fourth or fifth place by the last weekend of the season, Adelman will have decisions to make about who plays and who doesn’t. No. 4 and No. 5 face each other in the first round of the playoffs, so the only difference between them is which team gets to start and finish the series at home. Houston and Minnesota are the teams trying to catch Denver.
“I think all those teams are very aware they can win on the other teams’ home court. But I would say the advantage of having the first game be at home, to me, is it stays in your routine,” Adelman said Tuesday. “You have a week to prepare, and those first two games, you’re at home for maybe up to 10 days (in a row). So I think that is an advantage, as opposed to starting that tournament in a hotel room. It’s different. … But as it showed last year, we have the crazy game against the Clippers where Aaron dunks the ball (in Los Angeles); Kawhi has a monumental night against us in Game 2 (in Denver).
“But it did come down to Game 7 here. We got it done here. And OKC, they took advantage of what they had, what they earned during the season. So rather be a four, but fully confident that as a five-seed, we’d be fine.”
DeRozan scores 28 to pass Dominique Wilkins on career list, Kings beat Raptors 123-115
DeMar DeRozan scored 14 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, Precious Achiuwa had 28 points and a season-high 19 rebounds and the Sacramento Kings beat the Toronto Raptors 123-115 on Wednesday night.
DeRozan reached 26,688 career points, moving him past Dominique Wilkins (26,668) into 17th place on the NBA’s all-time list.
Next up on the list is Oscar Robertson (26, 710). Other than the active players ahead of him on that list — LeBron James, Kevin Durant, James Harden and Russell Westbrook — everyone else with DeRozan’s points total is in the Hall of Fame.
DeRozan shot 7 for 18, but went 12 for 12 at the foul line.
Malik Monk scored 18 points, Devin Carter had 13 and Daeqwon Plowden 11 as the Kings snapped a four-game losing streak and ended a five-game road trip with a victory. Sacramento is 7-32 on the road.
The Kings went 27 for 29 at the line, while the Raptors finished 22 for 32.
Toronto lost ground in the race to finish among the top six in the Eastern Conference, which would guarantee a postseason berth. The Raptors have the same record as Philadelphia and split their four-game season series, but the 76ers hold the tiebreak thanks to their superior record within the Atlantic Division.
RJ Barrett and Collin Murray-Boyles each scored 20 points, but Toronto’s five-game home winning streak was snapped. Murray-Boyles reached 20 points for the first time in his career.
Jakob Poeltl scored 18 points, Sandro Maukelashvili had 17 and Jamal Shead had 16 for Toronto. Scottie Barnes had 14 points and 10 assists.
Achiuwa had 18 points and 15 rebounds by halftime, matching his season high in the latter category. The entire Raptors team had 18 rebounds in the opening half.
Toronto’s Brandon Ingram sat because of a sore right heel. He has missed two of the past three and three of the past six.
Up next
Kings: Host New Orleans on Friday.
Raptors: At Memphis on Friday.
Warriors get taste of Victor Wembanyama’s dominance in lopsided loss to Spurs
There was, technically and by legal definition, a regular-season game between two NBA teams inside Chase Center on Wednesday night.
But it wasn’t a fair fight. Not even close.
There are few foes on the same level as the Spurs and superhuman Victor Wembanyama these days, and the especially bruised and battered group of Warriors that took their home court were a far cry from counting themselves among them.
Wembanyama continued to make his MVP case with 41 points and 18 rebounds while the Warriors fell behind 10-0 and hardly sniffed single digits again in a 127-113 loss to the hottest team in the NBA.
Missing his 26th consecutive game, Steph Curry led a list of inactives that was as long as Steve Kerr’s rotation. Of the nine players in uniform, seven scored in double figures, led by Nate Williams with 18 in a remarkable 47-minute effort. But who didn’t play mattered just as much as anyone who did.
What it means
The loss was the Warriors’ second in a row after a brief three-game winning streak against lesser opponents, but the outcomes of each individual game holds little meaning for a team that is more or less locked into the No. 10 seed, or at least the bottom play-in matchup.
There was more consequence in the pregame warmups: Curry went through his normal routine, and is reportedly targeting Sunday for a return from a two-month absence.
Turning point
It’s possible that no version of these Warriors could contain Wembanyama and the Spurs — few have over their current 26-2 stretch — but the deck was stacked when the injury report dropped.
In addition to the seven rotation regulars already ruled out, Gui Santos (pelvis) and Gary Payton II (knee) were downgraded from questionable to out before tipoff.
Without Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford or Quinten Post, the Warriors were left with Omer Yurtseven — playing on his second 10-day contract — and two-way forward Malevy Leons as their only resistance besides the 6-foot-5 Green against Wembanyama.
Wembanyama had six points before the Warriors had any and scored 14 while the Spurs raced out to a 25-9 advantage before barely six minutes had expired. It took him two minutes into the second quarter to secure a double-double. By halftime, he had 27 and 13, and San Antonio led 70-49.
MVP: Victor Wembanyama
There seemed to be nothing the (listed) 7-foot-4 phenom wasn’t capable of against the undermanned Warriors. He wasn’t just the most valuable player on the court; he looked like the MVP of the entire league.
Stat of the game: 2
Brandin Podziemski looked well on his way to a big night — maybe even his first 30-point effort — after the first quarter. He was 3-for-5 from the field, 2-for-3 from 3 and 4-for-4 from the line with 12 of the Warriors’ 26 points in the opening period.
But Podziemski scored only two more points the rest of the night as Kerr limited him to 17 minutes. Williams picked up the slack with the most minutes by a Warrior in regulation since Harrison Barnes in 2014.
Up next
The Warriors should resemble something closer to full strength when they host the Cavaliers on Thursday in the second half of a back-to-back at Chase Center. Golden State opted for that matchup rather than Wembanyama for Porzingis, and there’s hope that De’Anthony Melton, Payton and Santos will be ready to play with an extra day.
If Curry continues to progress as hoped, it could also be the last of a 27-game absence.
Spurs Star Victor Wembanyama Made NBA History
On Wednesday night, the San Antonio Spurs played the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center in San Francisco.
The Spurs won by a score of 127-113.
Victor Wembanyama exploded for 41 points, 18 rebounds, three assists and three blocks while shooting 16/22 from the field and 2/6 from three-point range in 29 minutes of playing time.
Spurs Star Victor Wembanyama Made NBA History
Wembanyama also made NBA history with his performance.
Real App wrote: “Wemby becomes the youngest player in NBA history with back-to-back 40p/10r games.”
Wembanyama is in the middle of an incredible season with averages of 24.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals and 3.1 blocks per contest while shooting 50.9% from the field and 35.0% from three-point range in 61 games.
He is in his third NBA season (after being picked first in the 2023 draft).
ESPN Insights wrote (before the game): “In the March, Victor Wembanyama became the first player in the play-by-play era (since 1997-78) to record 50 dunks and 30 threes in a calendar month 🤯
Over that span, the only other players with 30 dunks and 30 threes in a month were LeBron James (March 2018), Kelly Oubre Jr. (Feb. 2021) and OG Anunoby (Nov. 2024).”
Spurs Right Now
The Spurs are in the middle of an incredible season where they are the second seed in the Western Conference with a 58-18 record in 76 games.
They are in the middle of a ten-game winning streak (and 28-11 on the road).
Following the Warriors, the Spurs will play their next game on Thursday when they visit the LA Clippers.
ESPN wrote: “Back-to-back games with 40 PTS and 15 REB for the Alien 👽
At 22 years 87 days old, Wemby becomes the youngest player in NBA history with 40/15 in consecutive games!”
Warriors Struggling
On the other side, the Warriors dropped to 36-40 in 76 games, which has them as the tenth seed in the Western Conference.
They are in the middle of a two-game losing streak (and have lost six out of their last ten).
Following the Spurs, the Warriors will play their next game on Thursday when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Defense takes night off Wednesday in NBA
The NBA has 12 days remaining in the regular season. On Wednesday, a number of defenses took the night off early.
Six different teams scored 130 points across the NBA landscape on Wednesday, with the Philadelphia 76ers scoring 153 and the Boston Celtics putting up 53 points in the first quarter on the way to a 147-129 win over the Miami Heat. There weren’t a lot of strong defensive efforts on a night where offenses dominated.
Short-handed teams still lit up the scoreboard on Wednesday
What made the night’s offensive fireworks more impressive is that so many teams were short on players. The New York Knicks had 130 points despite the absence of leading scorer Jalen Brunson. The 76ers’ 153-point effort came with Joel Embiid sitting, though Paul George continued his hot streak with 39 points.
The Indiana Pacers won 145-126 over the Chicago Bulls with three starters out, thanks to rookie Ethan Thompson’s career-high 24 points. Though they’ve been tanking most of the season, the Pacers have won two straight games while scoring a combined 280 points.
That may be a result of the team finally feeling secure in a bottom-4 finish that would protect their first-round pick. It’s also a testament to Pascal Siakam’s excellent season for a Pacers team decimated by injuries. Siakam scored 25 points and dished five assists in just 22 minutes on Wednesday, part of a season where he’s averaging 23.8 PPG.
Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics were especially impressive
The Hawks and Celtics stood out amid all the big scoring nights simply because they were facing opponents who were actually fielding their top lineups and trying to win.
The Orlando Magic got Franz Wagner back for the first time in seven weeks, but it didn’t help them slow down the Hawks in their 130-101 win. The Hawks have won 17 of their last 19 games and climbed into fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
The Celtics got a triple-double from Jayson Tatum (25 points, 11 assists, 18 rebounds) and 43 points from Jaylen Brown against the Heat. Miami was missing All-Star Norman Powell, but they were playing at home, which was no advantage at all on Wednesday.
Both Boston and Atlanta were among the NBA’s top defensive teams in March. Their offensive explosions — and the Sixers’ newfound scoring — should make the rest of the Eastern Conference nervous heading into the playoffs.
Austin FC Aims to Crash Miami’s Party
For the last 141 weeks, the Major League Soccer universe has revolved around South Florida. That’s because it was 141 weeks ago that Inter Miami CF officially signed the sport’s greatest living player, Lionel Messi.
All Messi has done in his time since joining MLS is win back-to-back MVPs and lead Miami to a Leagues Cup, Supporters’ Shield, and the 2025 MLS Cup, while serving as the league’s central protagonist. His club, however, due to perceived special treatment by the league and a documented history of cheating the salary cap, has taken on an antagonistic role for many MLS fans.
So far Austin FC, playing in the opposite conference, has kept a safe distance from Messi’s Miami circus. That changes this weekend, in a big way. Saturday night, the Verde and Black will take on Inter Miami for the first time since the Argentine legend’s arrival, in a match of some historical significance.
That’s because Saturday’s match marks the opening of Inter Miami’s new stadium – appropriately named Nu Stadium. After six full seasons (and part of the seventh) hosting its home matches inside a temporary stadium in Fort Lauderdale, the Herons have now officially relocated into Miami proper and will christen the building against Austin FC.
This, by the way, was no sure thing. ATX head coach Nico Estévez said following his club’s last match on March 21 he had not yet been given confirmation that Nu Stadium would be operational in time for the April 4 date.
“We’ll just wait to see if we play there, or not,” Estévez said.
They will, despite the stadium being surrounded almost entirely by an active construction site in Miami Freedom Park, in the shadow of Miami International Airport. If you’re making the trip for this one, don’t expect much more than the essentials.
“The first game will happen on April 4,” Inter Miami president of business operations Xavier Asensi confirmed to the Miami Herald. “There will be seats. There will be grass. There will be concessions, lights, speakers, two goals, four corner flags. Don’t worry.”
And really, what more do you need for a soccer game? Assuming the lights stay on and the grass – grown entirely on a farm near Palm Beach and only just installed in the past few days – is playable, it should make for a memorable scene fueled as much by curiosity as excitement.
For Austin FC’s part, the assignment is clear: Tune out the off-pitch distractions as much as possible and find a way to spoil the party. Of course, that’s much easier said than done, especially considering the opposition.
The defending MLS Cup champions are off to another strong start in 2026, having lost just once through five league matches to Western Conference leaders LAFC, which came in the season opener.
The Verde and Black, meanwhile, should be able to take some confidence into the weekend after holding LAFC to a scoreless draw last time out.
“We’re going to go to Miami with the same mentality,” goalkeeper Brad Stuver said. “We know that they have really good individual players, but we also know that they have vulnerabilities.”
It’s one thing to spot a team’s weaknesses in a film session, though. It’s another thing entirely when the GOAT of the sport has the ball at his feet and his eye on your net. Stuver, and the entire Austin FC squad, will have to be at their very best to come home from Florida with more than just a tan.
This article appears in April 3 • 2026.
How to get cheap Daniel Caesar tickets for 2026 ‘Son of Spergy Tour’
Canadian R&B artist Daniel Caesar is embarking on a headlining arena run this year with his 2026 “Son of Spergy Tour,” a 30‑date international trek including several North American stops in support of his 2025 album “Son of Spergy.”
The tour marks a milestone in the singer’s career following a standout showing at the 2026 JUNO Awards, where he won Best Contemporary R&B Recording of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, and the International Achievement Award.
Where to get “Daniel Caesar” ticket deals
If you’re looking for early savings on tickets to one of Caesar’s North American shows, check out major retailer platforms such as Vivid Seats, SeatGeek and TicketNetwork, all of which are currently offering discount codes:
Vivid Seats: take $20 off orders over $200 using code CLEVELAND20
SeatGeek: get $5 off orders over $300 using code TAKE5
TicketNetwork: take 15% off using code TIXDEAL15
Here’s a list of all upcoming “Son of Spergy Tour” concert dates:
U.S.
July 14 — Denver, Colo. — Ball Arena: Get tickets
July 16 — Phoenix, Ariz. — Mortgage Matchup Center: Get tickets
July 19 — Austin, Texas — Moody Center: Get tickets
July 20 — Dallas, Texas — American Airlines Center: Get tickets
July 23 — Tampa, Fla. — Benchmark International Arena: Get tickets
July 24 — Atlanta, Ga. — State Farm Arena: Get tickets
July 25 — Eau Claire, Wis. — Eaux Claires Festival (Carson Park): Get tickets
July 26 — Chicago, Ill. — United Center: Get tickets
July 28 — Baltimore, Md. — CFG Bank Arena: Get tickets
July 30 — Brooklyn, N.Y. — Barclays Center: Get tickets
July 31 — Boston, Mass. — TD Garden: Get tickets
Canada
Aug. 2 — Toronto, Ontario — Scotiabank Arena: Get tickets
Aug. 5 — Ottawa, Ontario — Canadian Tire Centre: Get tickets
Aug. 6 — Montreal, Quebec — Bell Centre: Get tickets
Aug. 10 — Winnipeg, Manitoba — Canada Life Centre: Get tickets
Aug. 13 — Edmonton, Alberta — Rogers Place: Get tickets
Aug. 14 — Calgary, Alberta — Scotiabank Saddledome: Get tickets
Aug. 16 — Vancouver, British Columbia — Rogers Arena: Get tickets
U.S.
Aug. 18 — Portland, Ore. — Moda Center: Get tickets
Aug. 20 — San Francisco, Calif. — Chase Center: Get tickets
Aug. 23 — Anaheim, Calif. — Honda Center: Get tickets
Faye Webster and 070 Shake join select shows
Caesar is bringing along two artists whose emotional depth complements his style perfectly:
Faye Webster will support select U.S. dates, adding her signature blend of indie‑folk and R&B melancholy.
070 Shake will join the Canadian and West Coast shows, bringing a moody, atmospheric texture to the lineup.
For longtime fans, these pairings feel just right with a curated experience rather than a traditional opening‑act setup.
Wisconsin NASCAR racer Parker Retzlaff stuns Viking with fast start
Parker Retzlaff has achieved a strong start to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, sitting ninth in the standings.
The 22-year-old driver’s performance with the second-year Viking Motorsports team has exceeded the general manager’s initial expectations.
An alliance with Richard Childress Racing has provided Viking Motorsports with crucial data and resources, contributing to its early success.
Retzlaff is praised for his leadership skills and for building camaraderie by regularly interacting with his crew.
Seven weeks into the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, Parker Retzlaff has matched his best finish, completed every lap and planted himself in the company of some of the biggest teams in the sport.
This comes in the well-traveled, 22-year-old Rhinelander native’s first season with a second-year team.
“I don’t think we’re overperforming at all,” said Retzlaff, who sits ninth in the standings.
“It’s definitely sustainable for the whole year, and I think that there’s just more little stuff we can work on as we get cars built. And as we get a little bit farther ahead of everything, we have got to work on the little stuff that all these really big teams do. That’s where these guys get you, with all the little details.”
This driven, matter-of-fact, won’t-back-down attitude is one of the characteristics Viking Motorsports general manager Jeremy Lange loves about the driver of the team’s No. 99 Chevrolet.
But, here’s where they differ.
“If you were to tell me in December, that we would be 11th in owner points and he’d be ninth in driver points, I’d tell you you’re crazy,” Lange said.
Oh, they both knew this sort of performance was within reach when Lange sat down with Retzlaff last October. That’s why they got together.
But Lange considered contending for a playoff spot by the end of this season “a strech goal.” It wasn’t in his wildest dreams that Retzlaff, crew chief Danny Efland and their crew could have reached this far, this nimbly, this quickly.
“As a competitor, I’d be shocked if he didn’t think he could do what he’s doing,” Lange said. “Parker and any driver that you have in your race cars, they think they’re the best driver on that track at any given day. And Parker thinks he can win every race, which is what we want.
“It’s hard. These are the best drivers. And we’re competing against some teams who’ve been doing this for a long time. I’m excited where we are, and I thought we were gonna be 15th to 20th right now, not 11th. But equally, if we were 25th or 30, I’d be disappointed.”
Parker Retzlaff arrived in NASCAR with a splash despite no fanfare
This is not the first time Retzlaff has turned heads in NASCAR.
He arrived in 2022 with just three ARCA national starts and 13 regional races on his résumé, joining RSS Racing in what was known as the Xfinity Series for what would be the start of a nine-race run. Retzlaff qualified sixth for his debut and finished 12th or better three times in his first five races that abbreviated season with RSS and Our Motorsports.
The buzz was short-lived though, and with minimal sponsorship and no big team behind him, Retzlaff was fighting just to stay in the game.
With emerging Jordan Anderson Racing in 2023, Retzlaff managed seven top-10 finishes and placed an impressive 16th in points. The three-car team’s performance dropped off in ’24, and he ended up 21st and was on the move again.
Retzlaff ended up at Alpha Prime, for which he recorded the team’s best finish, second at Rockingham, but he managed just two other top-10 results in 2025 and dropped one more spot in the points.
In October, though, Retzlaff’s agent, Austin Craven, connected him with Lange at Talladega. Before the season was out they had a deal in place for 2026, and Retzlaff had the earliest jump on a season he’d ever enjoyed.
“You have to go where you have opportunity, but I also think sometimes stuff doesn’t work out, it’s not a good fit, and you’ve kind of got to make the change even though if it is a little bit hard,” Retzlaff said.
“And then just trying to put yourself in the best position. I feel like Viking overall has been the best position I’ve ever been in, the most put-together and professional place I’ve ever been.”
RCR has helped Viking Motorsports make strides quickly
Viking owner Don Sackett, who built and sold two businesses in the portable chemical analysis industry, got his team off the ground in 2024 as a partnership with RSS. That allowed Viking to gain owner points to stand on its own in 2025. Although Sackett and Retzlaff coincidentally both gained entrée with Rod Sieg’s team, that had nothing to do with their subsequent connection, Lange said.
Viking went with veteran Matt DeBenedetto in ’25 but let him go three races before the season ended, eventually hired Retzlaff and then later added a second team with driver Anthony Alfredo.
The team is still relatively small, with 18 employees. But an alliance with Richard Childress Racing helped Viking take a huge step forward. The opportunity opened up when Kaulig Racing left to enter the Craftsman Truck Series with Ram.
“I think I 100% expected to be this strong because we came into the year knowing what we had, the people we had,” Retzlaff said. “The car and stuff matters and all that, but I think with us having the ECR [Earnhardt-Childress Racing Engines] and RCR alliance, we’re in the ballpark pretty well. So … it just then comes down to the guys and the people you have and how hard they work and all that stuff.
“The team’s in the second year of ever running, first year with all of us and basically everyone was brand new at the beginning of this year. They had a big refresh in the offseason of new stuff, new people … and it’s just all the experience and knowledge coming in the building and everyone putting their heads together and having the same goal and focusing on the same things.”
The alliance with RCR gives Viking access to the data that helped Austin Hill win the opener at Daytona and put two cars in the top four in the standings. In turn, RCR benefits from the knowledge gained by Retzlaff and Alfredo and their crew chiefs and engineers.
“We’re still drinking from a fire hose of sorts,” Lange said. “We feel that these next four or five will allow us to catch our breath and kind of get our feet underneath us.”
Parker Retzlaff shows impressive leadership at age 22
JR Motorsports veteran Justin Allgaier leads the standings heading into Rockingham April 4 with Jesse Love of RCR, Sheldon Creed of Haas Factory Team and Hill of RCR in tow. Retzlaff ranks ninth, ahead of Rajah Caruth of JRM and Jordan Andreson Racing (10th), Sam Mayer of Haas (11th) and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Taylor Gray (12th) and William Sawalich (14th) among others.
While crediting RCR, Lange also is quick to tip his cap to Retzlaff, who has exceeded expectations on and, perhaps more impressively, off the track.
“I can’t speak enough for him about his leadership skills as a 22-year-old young man, his ability, desire to do the best he can, is unique at that age. It just is,” Lange said.
“I’ll give a perfect example. He drove to Darlington in the van with the guys vs. drive himself. He’s one of the guys. I can’t say why he does it, except for the fact that he does do it, and it’s impressive. And it speaks volumes to the camaraderie that we’re building at Viking.
“He brings Chick-fil-A to the shop for the guys. After Vegas, he left the track early after the race and got In-N-Out Burger for all the guys. It’s just what he does.”
Retzlaff recorded the team’s best finish Feb. 21 when he sneaked through a last lap crash at Atlanta and finished second to Creed.
It’s not so much the finish that has been the biggest highlight for Retzlaff, it’s the consistency he has developed over three full seasons and parts of two others. For someone who arrived at NASCAR’s second-highest level with minimal experience in full-sized stock cars, he’s being noticed – in a positive way – every week.
“In 2024 … I had two poles and I think we showed a lot of speed, but I think that I was still a little young, still put myself in some not very good positions,” he said, “and I ended up getting damage or wrecked because of putting myself in bad positions.
“So it’s been good this year to see the speed still be there but also be able to just be a little bit smarter and not try and push too hard and put [myself] in a bad spot.”
Could Parker Retzlaff’s first win be around the next corner?
In Retzlaff’s mind there’s nothing really keeping him from winning this weekend or next or the one after that. It’s a matter of how and when, not if.
“If you put yourself in that top five or even top seven area every week, at some point stuff has to fall in line for you to become a little bit lucky in the situation or just do everything right enough and have other people make mistakes enough to where you are in that position,” he said.
“You see people who have a lot less speed who end up winning races just because at some point you’re in a good enough spot and you fall into the position of it. … There’s just a lot of stuff that we can do better to try and put ourselves in a better position.”
Retzlaff was more frustrated than happy when he finished second at Atlanta. Lange reminded him that in terms of development, the team was still between the crawling and walking stages even if it “might sniff moments of running.”
“We want to chase checkered flags and race for wins, but we also know who we are,” Lange said. “I don’t think we ever envisioned it happening this fast or people talking about us this fast.”
But fast is what the sport’s all about.
Chase Elliott Silences Fan Fury Against Crew Chief With 5-Word Emotional Confession
Between the 2023 and 2025 seasons, Chase Elliott had only won three races in total. This came after his brilliant 2022, where he won four times. This run of poor form attracted a lot of criticism from his fans towards the crew chief, Alan Gustafson. Even recently, this trend continued, but the duo put a temporary pause to that with their win at Martinsville.
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Chase Elliott is unaffected by criticism against his crew chief online
Chase Elliott’s fans, who are some of the most passionate and loyal fans in all of NASCAR. They have time and again demanded their favorite driver get a new crew chief. However, Elliott has also made it clear that he and Gustafson share a wonderful relationship in which both have complete faith in each other and want to continue working together.
Following his win at Martinsville, which largely came because of a crucial call made by Gustafson to pit early in the final stage, Chase Elliott opened up on his relationship with his crew chief. Elliott said on the Dale Jr. Download that despite the online outrage and criticism against Gustafson, his belief in him doesn’t waver.
“I think it all kind of started with just a lot of respect. When you come into the sport, and you’re a young guy, and you don’t know nothing and you don’t deserve any respect,” said Elliott. “Somebody that has been there for a long time in a lot of different cases would very easily look down on someone who doesn’t have any experience, that doesn’t have all the answers, or doesn’t have any idea what they’re getting themselves into. And I think for me it was the exact opposite from him. It was a lot of respect.”
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It’s worth mentioning that before Gustafson was paired up with Elliott, he was the crew chief of Jeff Gordon. In fact, he has been a crew chief at HMS since 2005, for 22 years.
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Elliott claimed the mutual respect right from the get-go set their relationship up to be a successful one right from the beginning. He emphasized that when a young driver receives that type of respect, he also feels obliged to give it back.
Jeff Gordon has a theory on the intense scrutiny on NASCAR’s most popular driver
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Jeff Gordon, who knows a thing or two about success in the face of criticism from fans, addressed the Alan Gustafson criticism after the win at Martinsville. During a post-race media availability session, Gordon, the vice-president of the team, claimed that it is only natural for the most popular drivers and the brightest stars to get the most scrutiny from the outside.
“Whether it was Dale Earnhardt Jr. or Chase Elliott, whoever is the popular driver in the series, there are a lot of critics that want to sit on the sidelines and evaluate it,” he said.
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The 4x Cup champion, who was criticised and disliked in the early stages of his career by a lot of Dale Earnhardt fans, emphasized the need to stay strong internally and have strong belief.
Gordon claimed that same was the case and foundation for Chase Elliott and Alan Gustafson, as they continue to carry their driver-crew chief relationship forward in the 11th year, the longest one in the garage at present.
Dale Jr. Admits Bias Towards Driver After Martinsville Incident
Dale Earnhardt Jr. came to the defense of Lee Pulliam following the driver’s mishap on a late restart in last Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Martinsville.
Pulliam, who was piloting the No. 9 JR Motorsports car, restarted second with 17 laps to go. As the field took the green, Pulliam missed a shift, which triggered a massive multi-car crash behind him.
The incident took out a number of drivers, including fellow JR Motorsports driver Carson Kvapil. While there were critics of Pulliam’s mistake, Earnhardt Jr. took up for his driver in the most recent episode of “The Dale Jr. Download.”
While defending Pulliam, however, the JR Motorsports owner conceded that he’s biased towards his driver.
Dale Jr. on Lee Pulliam incident: ‘I must be biased’
On his podcast, Earnhardt Jr. said Pulliam attempted to go from second to third gear, but made a mistake.
That error was crucial for the drivers behind him as it caused an accordion effect and destroyed multiple racecars.
Austin Green was one who criticized Pulliam for the mistake. Green, who was taken out of the race and finished 29th, said that if a driver cannot shift, they “don’t know what we’re doing here” in the O’Reilly Series.
Earnhardt Jr. was straightforward about the incident, saying that Pulliam knew it was a mistake, therefore making it pointless to harp on the driver.
However, he acknowledges he is speaking on the matter while being the owner of JR Motorsports.
“I must be biased. … He knows he [expletive] up. It’s all right there in front of us. There’s no denying it. There’s no hiding from it,” Earnhardt Jr. said.
Earnhardt Jr., who competed in the Cup Series from 2000-2017, might have had a conversation with a driver who missed a shift. Yet, the 51-year-old said he would not publicly shame them for it.
“If I’m a driver and a guy misses a shift, I go over to his car and say, ‘Hey bud, what was that?’ Maybe I offer him some advice about what I do to try and not miss shifts. I’m not going to go out and publicly go, ‘Damn, that dummy missed a shift,’ because I might be the dummy next week that misses a shift,” Earnhardt Jr. said.
Dale Jr. on Austin Green: ‘Don’t have any business talking’
Earnhardt Jr. took exception to Green’s comments about Pulliam following Saturday’s race.
While the 26-time Cup Series race winner praised Green for his talent, he does not believe the 25-year-old should be speaking on a driver the caliber of Pulliam.
“Austin Green is a hell of a racecar driver. He’s doing a lot in this car, he’s impressing people — I would walk that back just a little bit, because I think Austin Green don’t have any business talking about Lee Pulliam when you line the statistics up and the accomplishments. Like, what are we doing?”
Earnhardt Jr. circled back to knowing he favoritizes Pulliam, given that he was piloting a JR Motorsports driver.
While saying he “hates” being biased, Earnhardt Jr. conceded he could have made similar comments to Green’s if he were in the same scenario.
“I’m absolutely biased. I’m biased. I get it, I’m biased. If I’m Austin Green, I probably say the [expletive] same thing. I probably do. … I hate being biased. I hate it, because I try really hard not to be,” Earnhardt Jr. said.
Pulliam finished Saturday’s race fifth and led 40 laps in the event. As of now, the 37-year-old has no upcoming starts in the O’Reilly Series in 2026.
Top area high school performers for March 23-30
Roger Merriam
Watertown Public Opinion
April 1, 2026, 3:01 a.m. CT
Here’s some top performers and other highlights from the opening week of the 2026 South Dakota spring high school sports season.
Sure, most of the activities from March 23-30 were indoors but it’s still competition.
Indoor Girls Track
Grace McElroy & Elly Dingsor, Watertown — McElroy won the 3,200-meter run (11:42.84) and Dingor tied for first in the pole vault (11-6) in the Ruth Marske Indoor Invitational on March 28 at Brookings.
Taryn Hermansen, Aberdeen Central — Hermansen won the shot put (43-1) in the Ruth Marske Indoor Invitational and also in the NSU Fuller Invite (43-0.25) on March 23 at Aberdeen.
Sophia Knittel, Ipswich — Knittel won the 55 (7.79) and 200-meter (28.38) dashes and the long jump (15-0.5) in the NSU Fuller Invite.
Jalyssa Hutson & Marley Guthmiller, Ipswich — Hutson won the high jump (4-7.75) and pole vault (10-8.75) in the NSU Fuller Invite. Guthmiller won the 55 hurdles (9.91) and ran on the winning 1,600 relay (4:33.09).
Bentley Bauer, Mobridge-Pollock — Bauer won the 55 dash (7.59), 200 dash (27.55) and long jump (16-6) in the NSU Indoor Invite.
Addison Cassaday, Aberdeen Roncalli — Cassady won the 1,600 run (6:03.29) and ran on the winning 1,600 relay (4:42.51) in the NSU Indoor Invite.
Abby Kjenstad, Great Plains Lutheran — Kjenstad won the high jump (4-7.75) in the NSU Indoor Invite.
Indoor Boys Track
Kyle Hettich and Seth DeRaad, Ipswich — Hettich won the 55 dash (6.59) and 200 dash (23.15) and DeRaad the 55 hurdles (11.47) and long jump (16-11.25) in the NSU Fuller Invite.
Ty Boekelheide, Northwestern — Boekelheide won the 400 dash (55.66) and triple jump (42-9.75) in the Fuller Invite.
Kaleb Claymore, Herreid-Selby Area — Claymore won the 55 dash (6.92) and 200 dash (24.79) in the NSU indoor Invite on March 24.
Braxton Hokana & Aidan Thurber, Ellendale, ND — Hokano won the 400 dash (56.26) and ran on the winning 1,600 relay (3:59.6) and Thurber the 800 (2:03.28) and 1,600 (4:55.29) runs in the NSU Indoor Invite.
Lucas Johnson, Great Plains Lutheran — Johnson won the high jump (6-1.5) in the NSU Indoor Invite.
Jake Burns, Arlington — Burns won the pole vault (12-0) in the Class B Mount Marty Invite on March 26.
Softball
Macy Ingraham, Kadee Frankfurth & Johanna Vandersnick, Clark-Willow Lake — Ingraham went 2-for-2 with two doubles and two RBIs in a 15-0 win over Groton Area on March 28. Frankfurth doubled and drove in three runs and Vandersnick also produced three RBIs.
Rylynn Streich & Aubrey Lanners, Deuel — The defending state Class B champion fell to Madison 21-5 and West Central 15-0 in season-opening games on March 28. Streich, who doubled, and Lanners each had two hits against Madison.
Jaynie Sieck & Madalyn Madsen, Arlington — The Cardinals lost to Flandreau 15-7 and beat Alcester-Hudson 19-7 on March 28. Madsen doubled twice and drove in three runs against Flandreau. Sieck went 2-for-2 against Flandreau and drove in four runs with a single and a double against Alcester-Hudson.
Cyndi and Sophia Kudrna, Castlewood — The two sisters each had five hits and combined for three doubles, two triples, six runs and five RBIs in season-opening games against Freeman-Marion/Freeman Academy (won 16-1) and Beresford (lost 9-4) on March 28.
McKinley Schwab, Audrey Murano, Kassidy Smith & Morgan Lemme, Sioux Valley — The Cossacks beat Sioux Falls Christian and lost to Tri-Valley 6-2 on March 28. Schwab drove in three runs with three hits, including a triple and an inside-the-park homer, against SFC and added two hits and also struck out nine batters on the mound against TV. Murano added a double and two singles and Lemme three hits, including a double and a triple, against SFC. Lemme drove in three runs with two hits.
Baseball
Kameron Hauck, Sioux Valley — The Cossacks split season-opening games, losing to Sioux Falls Lincoln 17-2 on March 28 and beat Baltic 17-3 on March 29. Hauck had a run-scoring single against Lincoln and went 4-for-4 at the plate with four RBIs and also got the win on the mound against Baltic, allowing only two hits with seven strikeouts in four innings.
Hudson Binger, Noah Johnson & Micah Zastrow, Redfield Area — The Muskrats lost to Madison 10-0 and Tri-Valley 11-10 on March 29. Binger went 2-for-2 against Madison. Zastrow hit two doubles and Johnson a triple and a single against Tri-Valley.
Boys Tennis
Dawson Pederson & Aric Tennant Aberdeen Central — The Golden Eagles kicked off their season March 26-28 by going 2-3 in duals at the West River Invite in Rapid City. Pederson went 3-2 at No.1 singles and also 3-2 at No. 1 doubles with his brother Gannon. Tennant went 4-1 at No. 2 singles and 3-2 at No. 2 doubles with partner Wyatt Kiesz.
Liam Voehl and Caleb Stoks, Aberdeen Roncalli — Roncalli also went 2-3 in duals at the West River Invite. Voehl (No. 2) and Stoks (No. 3) each posted two singles wins and also added two wins at No. 2 doubles.
3-Class Shootout
Girls — Class AA topped Class A 100-92 and Class B 103-72 in the 38th 3-Class Shootout All-Star basketball games on March 28 at Salem. Class AA MVP Alyvia Padgett of Brandon Valley had 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists against Class A and 14 points against Class B. Class A MVP Ashlan Carlow-Blount of Mahpiya Luta finished with 26 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. Area players Blake Thompson of Mobridge-Pollock (eight points, four rebounds, three assists) and Amari Ward of Sioux Valley (five points, four rebounds, four assists) played for Class A. Hazel Luethmers of De Smet was the Class B MVP with 20 points and eight rebounds. Hadlee Holt of Iroquois-Lake Preston added 12 points and nine rebounds.
Boys — Class AA topped Class A 127-110 and Class B 124-117. Class AA MVP Sam DeGroot of Sioux Falls Lincoln tallied 15 points and nine rebounds against Class A and 32 points, 12 rebounds and six assists against Class B. Class A MVP Trey Hansen of Vermillion had 32 points and Class B MVP Holden Wollmann of Bridgewater-Emery 20 points and six assists. Area players Keegen Tracy (16 points, nine rebounds) and Ryder Johnson (two points, seven rebounds) of Groton Area played for Class A. Chance Schoenfeld of Deubrook Area (13 points, six rebounds) and Grant Wilkinson of De Smet (eight points, seven rebounds) played for Class B. Ayuel Deng of Brandon Valley won the dunk contest.
Follow Watertown Public Opinion sports reporter Roger Merriam on X (formerly known as Twitter) @PO_Sports or email: rmerriam@thepublicopinion.com
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25-Year-Old WTA Star’s Brutal Injury Makes Comeback Timeline Uncertain
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears remain one of sport’s most brutal setbacks, striking in split seconds when athletes cut or pivot under pressure. Women, especially young athletes, face nearly triple the risk due to lower hamstring and glute strength and estrogen-driven ligament laxity. Now, that same devastating injury has sidelined Varvara Gracheva, leaving her comeback timeline clouded in uncertainty.
Gracheva, the French number two, shared difficult news on Tuesday, March 31. She confirmed that she suffered a serious knee injury during training. “I’m disappointed to share that last week, during a training session, I ruptured my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The recovery will be long, but I am determined to come back stronger than ever when my body is ready,” the 25-year-old and current world No. 59 wrote.
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Despite the setback, she remains focused on her recovery. She is determined to return to the court when she is fully ready.
“I can’t wait to get back on the pitch as soon as possible, but in the meantime, stay tuned to discover my other activities during my recovery,” she told her followers.
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Before the injury, Gracheva had a mixed start to the season. She reached the second round at the Australian Open. She also made it to the round of 16 at the WTA 1000 event in Doha. However, her form dropped in other tournaments. She exited in the second round in Dubai. She then suffered first-round losses in Indian Wells and Miami.
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This injury comes at a difficult time for French women’s tennis. Currently, only four French players are ranked inside the top 100. Gracheva was one of the main hopes for France. She will now miss the chance to compete and defend her position this season.
Known as “Varya,” she was born in Russia and became a French citizen in May 2023. She had dropped outside the top 100 last summer but fought back to reach world No. 59, though she will now miss months of action along with Lois Boisson, who is also sidelined.
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Lois Boisson has been sidelined for more than seven months now
Lois Boisson has not played an official match since the end of September 2025. Her last appearance came when she retired during the Beijing tournament. She had a breakthrough year in 2025. She reached the semi-finals of the French Open, which was a huge achievement given that she was ranked outside the top 350 at the time.
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After that run, she confirmed her rise. She won a title in Hamburg and moved comfortably into the top 50 in the rankings. However, her progress was slowed by repeated injuries. These physical issues started to affect her consistency and momentum.
Her 2025 season ended early due to a thigh problem. Because of this, she had to withdraw from the Australian Open and later from the WTA 1000 events in Dubai and Doha in early 2026.
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Before Indian Wells, she shared an update. She explained that she had not fully recovered from a right forearm injury.
Her absence from Miami Open, however, was not due to physical discomfort, according to RMC Sport. By skipping the tournament, she officially activated a six-month absence period.
This decision allows her to use a protected ranking for eight tournaments. It is a major advantage as she has 720 points to defend from her Roland-Garros semi-final, which is more than half of her total 1339 points.
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Currently ranked world No. 39, she will still be able to enter top tournaments without playing qualifiers. With her expected return approaching, possibly at the Billie Jean King Cup or the WTA 250 in Rouen, fans now eagerly await the comeback of both Boisson and Varvara Gracheva.
Manatee, Sarasota high school roundup for March 30 to April 3
The Venice High School baseball team secured its 20th win of the season against Naples Barron Collier.
In softball, Sarasota High freshman Maisy Johnson led the Sailors to a 3-1 victory over Parrish Community High.
A roundup of Manatee and Sarasota high school events for the week of March 30 to April 3, 2026.
TUESDAY
Baseball
Venice 6, Barron Collier 2: Fresh off their second-place finish at the National High School Invitational, the Venice Indians baseball team won its 20th game of the season on Tuesday night, a 6-2 victory over visiting Naples Barron Collier at the Venice field.
Ranked third in the MaxPreps National Rankings, Venice (20-1) got three runs in the third inning off Barron Collier (13-9), one in the fourth, and two more in the fifth. Leadoff hitter August Backman had two doubles in the game and knocked in three runs. Shortstop Graham Houston had two hits and one RBI as the Indians finished with nine hits.
Venice starting pitcher Macade Carey got the win, pitching the first 4.2 innings, allowing one hit and two runs. The Indians are at Bishop Verot on Friday.
Sarasota 5, Manatee 2: Tied at 2 in the fourth, a Mark Metcalf double scored one run, and a Kole Ayrault (2 for 3) single made it 5-2. Nathan Handley-White pitched six innings in relief for Sarasota, allowing one hit, no runs while striking out 13 and walking two. Braedon Mackay went 3 for 3 with 3 doubles, a run, and an RBI. Jordan Roberts had a double and 2 RBIs for Manatee.
Out-of-Door 3, Sarasota Christian 2: Dameer Watford and Cam Yates scored in the fifth to rally the Thunder to a win. Evan Poznanski hit a home run for the Blazers, and Justin Brock had a double and RBI.
Softball
Sarasota 3, Parrish 1: Freshman right-hander Maisy Johnson of Sarasota High (12-4) scattered five hits and a walk and struck out four batters on Tuesday night as the Sailors won 3-1 on the road at Parrish Community High (9-3).
Senior Sailor Gia DePastino smashed a solo home run that went well beyond the left field wall. Junior shortstop Olivia Lockhart also singled in a run for Sarasota. Sophomore Mylee Gilbert singled home the Bulls’ lone run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
North Port 8, Manatee 6: Elise Indico went 2 for 4 with a home run and 3 RBIs, and Lauren Boff went 3 for 3 with a triple, 3 runs scored and an RBI for North Port. Addison Davis went 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs, and Amanda Formosa drove in 2 for Manatee.
Cambridge Christian 13, Sarasota Christian 0: Selah Spenn, Bralyn Yoder, and Nora Blasewitz each recorded a hit.
Girls Lacrosse
Steinbrenner 15, Riverview 5: Kinley McCaw scored 3 goals with a draw control, 2 ground balls, and a caused turnover, and Kat Hodapp had 2 goals and a ground ball.
Beach Volleyball
Sarasota Christian 3, Cambridge Christian 2: Cambridge won the first two matches, but SCS battled back to win the next two. The final match on the fourth court went to a third set, and the Blazers took home the victory. Linlee Mayer was named player of the match with 14 aces and 9 kills.
1. Hadley Heytgen/Branca Schwabb (CC) defeated Ryan Donlin/Reagan Miller (SCS) 21-14, 21-172. Sam Fernandez/Scarlett Reoldish (CC) defeated Hallee Volkert/Willow Bobik (SCS) 21-14, 21-153. Linlee Mayer/Hayden Mullet (SCS) defeated Harper Courtuniur/Linden Hale (CC) 21-9, 21-114. Hannah Bryan/Olivia Shakura (SCS) defeated Millen Reynolds/Summer Spencer (CC) 10-21, 21-16, 15-95. Ruvae Boskers/Camilla Ceballos (SCS) defeated Taylor Fisher/Madalyn Olson (CC) 15-21, 21-18, 15-8
Girls Tennis
Pine View 6, Out-of-Door 1: Singles – 1. Naomi Hugill (O) d. Isabella Zmiyiwsky 6-2, 6-4; 2. Carolinbe Cannon (P) d. Maggie Kolar 6-2, 6-0; Hailey Han (P) d. Victoria Sevilla 6-1, 3-1 (Ret.); 4. Margaret Halpern (P) d. Lily Levinson 6-4, 6-3; 5. Varshini Ganesh (P) d. Starlla Jackson 6-0, 6-0. Doubles – 1. Zmiyiwsky/Han (P) d. Hugill/Kolr 6-3, 7-5; 2. Biance Grebing/Jessie Ochsendorf (P) d. Sevilla/Levinson 6-7 (7-4), 6-3, 10-3.
Boys Tennis
Pine View 4, Out-of-Door 3: Singles – 1. Abner Yu (O) d. Ariston Spanos 6-0, 6-0; 2. Philip Zhang (P) d. Daniel Jacobs; 3. Luke Calleja (P) d. Max Murphy 6-0, 6-4; 4. Willian Woosden (P) d. Cash Murphy 7-5, 4-3 (Ret.); 5. Jonah Wooden (P) d. Michael Kolar 6-3, 6-3. Doubles – 1. Yu/Jacobs (O) d. Spanos/W. Wooden 6-4, 6-1; 2. Murphy/Murphy (O) d. Zhang/George Bovkun-Grytsencko 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
MONDAY
Baseball
Mizuno Reenters North American Tennis Racket Market With Two Frames
Mizuno’s nearly 80-year history of making tennis rackets hasn’t always included North America. It does again, with the launch of the AcroStrike and AcroSpeed frames in North America on April 1. The Japanese company started crafting tennis frames in 1947, first bringing them to the United States in the 1980s—notably used by Ivan Lendl—but Mizuno didn’t stay in North America. The brand’s latest tennis equipment build-out focuses on taking its racket technologies global.
“We set these rackets apart by focusing on technologies that directly enhance how the ball interacts with the frame at impact, rather than simply chasing stiffness or raw power,” Yohei Yamashita, Mizuno lead engineer for both frames, tells me. “We believe Mizuno is a premium, high-tech, quality brand that will always lead through great products and innovations.”
The two rackets feature core technologies but also provide unique differences. Each model includes the “Enerzy frame” technology designed to amplify energy return and a “dual spring” design that offers a fresh perspective on carbon fiber layering.
In the dual frame construction, a boundary layer dividing the carbon fiber helps make the frame compression more resilient. “This creates a trampoline effect for greater energy transfer and more ball speed,” Yamashita says. “The Mizuno dual spring is patented in Japan and patent pending the U.S.”
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Dual spring works in tandem with the Enerzy frame construction that extends ball dwell time on the strings. “That added dwell time is critical because it gives players a more connected, controlled feel at contact, even in a frame like the AcroSpeed with a higher RA of 69,” Yamashita says. “The result is a response that feels both powerful and plush, which is a combination not typically found together in today’s racket landscape.”
The AcroStrike, launched in Japan in February, features a suite of control specifications focused on adding more spin and feel, Yamashita says. The 98-square-inch head includes a four-way pocket technology, a specific grommet hole shape that enables string movement and snap-back, maximizing pocket and spin. This technology is patented in Japan and patent-pending in the U.S.
The AcroStrike comes in a 305-gram and a 290-gram weight, both with a 16×19 string pattern.
MORE: Mizuno Releasing Wave Exceed Tour 7 Tennis Shoe In January
The AcroSpeed, designed with speed and power specifications, adds what Mizuno calls A.B.G. Technology. This grommet hole design mixes round and rectangular holes to improve bite on the ball for extreme levels of spin. “Our A.B.G. grommet and four-way pocket systems are both engineered to increase sting movement and snapback, which makes it easier for players to generate spin without having to overswing,” Yamashita says, adding the approach is a differentiator in the market.
The AcroSpeed comes in a 16×19 pattern on a 100-squre-inch head size in both a 300-gram and 285-gram offering. The AcroSpeed model had a first-generation release in Japan in 2023, but the newest offering is the generation two model with updated technologies, launching first in the U.S. and then in Japan in July.
Yamashita says the mix of technologies focus on helping Mizuno build a product that feels different in a player’s hands, “offering an uncommon balance of easy power, accessible spin and refined control that stands apart from other frames on the market.”
As Mizuno continues to grow its presence in tennis footwear and rackets, the brand isn’t stopping. “There are a few notable next steps that Mizuno has in mind,” Yamashita says, adding that consumers will soon see the frames on the ATP and WTA tours. “Additionally, we are devoted to providing the full layout of gear for racket sports fans. We have already begun developing grips and string to help support all of our customers.”
Boys Tennis preview, 2026: Key statewide storylines to follow this spring
Every conference has something to look forward to this boys tennis season.
Have a look below at the main boys tennis storylines this season — one for each conference — that expands on certain players, teams, coaches and more heading into the spring of 2026.
If you feel we missed something, let us know.
State singles/doubles tournaments move up
After seeing the state singles and doubles tournaments end between June 12-17 the past five years, the finals for both individual events this year are scheduled for June 7. That lines up with when the tournaments previously finished up in 2019 and prior.
The past few seasons have seen some of the state’s best players especially from the non-public programs like Newark Academy, Pingry and others have to skip the state singles and doubles tournaments due to the later start and end dates. Some private schools end their year before public schools, forcing players to choose between graduation and the tournament. The earlier dates beginning this year again should help alleviate that problem and ensure top players can compete.
Are there any one and done players?
Speaking of the state singles tournament, in two of the past three years, there have been singles champions as seniors who only played one year of high school tennis. Liam Kilmer and Lucas Rao followed that path in 2023 and 2025, respectively.
Adding to the trophy case
Haddonfield has won 22 straight sectional titles. Delbarton has captured nine consecutive Morris County Tournament titles including 22 in the last 23 seasons and 39 all-time. Wayne Hills has won the last 20 Passaic County Tournament titles.
Westfield enters the season having won the previous four Union County Tournament crowns. Pingry has streaks going of five consecutive Somerset County Tournament championships and four Prep A titles. St. Peter’s Prep has taken the last four Hudson County Tournament titles as well.
While the other teams are pushed year in and year out, Haddonfield cruises every year to its championship. But after graduating the bulk of the starting lineup from last year, maybe this is the year the Bulldawgs get upset.
Encore, encore
West Windsor-Plainsboro South went 25-0 last spring including 7-0 in the CVC Colonial Division. The Pirates won the Group 3 title, the Central, Group 3 crown, the Bryan Bennett Memorial Tournament, the Moorestown Classic and the Blue Devil Invitational.
However, WW-PS graduated four strong senior starters leaving holes to fill this season. But the Pirates have plenty of talented reserves who can step right in and not miss a beat like senior Karthik Buddhidinesh, and freshmen like Pavan Buddhidinesh, Saheb Manku and Arnav Badis who can crack the lineup.
The CVC is tough and WW-PS’ schedule is daunting just as last year’s was so it won’t be easy, but the Pirates are more than capable of repeating their success this spring.
Will anybody get hot late?
Like the weather warms up, teams often play better in May and June than they do March. Early in the season, players are still recovering from any lingering injuries, lineups are being formed and sometimes rust is shaken off. A team like Ridgewood last year got healthy and had its top starting seven for the postseason, and it went all the way to capture the Group 4 title. The Maroons also saw their first doubles pair of Ethan Rosenberg and Ben Caradonna win the state doubles tournament. Rosenberg and Caradonna had only played twice with one another prior to the playoffs and earned a spot in the draw based on a wildcard entry.
Simply put, you can’t judge a team fully based on how they look in late March/early April. You have to wait until May and June to get the real picture.
Transfer portal
Transferring in tennis isn’t as common as in basketball or football, but it happens. Two notable ones this spring in New Jersey are Nolan Sharma moving from Ridgewood to Newark Academy and Monroe’s Nathan Vudin going to Christian Brothers.
Sharma played first and second singles last year for Group 4-winning Ridgewood as a freshman. He also advanced to the inaugural Bergen County Singles Tournament final. Vudin, one of the Greater Middlesex Conference’s top players, gives Christian Brothers a strong one-two punch alongside Vincenzo Caruso.
Note: Please let us know of any more transfers.
Freshman watch
Every year, freshman come in and make major impacts on various teams up and down the Garden State. This season, Delbarton has two standouts at singles in twins Aaron and Aiden Paul. East Brunswick added Kaito Woodridge, Ishaan Makim and Vyan Mahesh. St. Joseph (Met.) brought in Brandon Jeon.
West Windsor-Plainsboro North also welcomed in Satvik Pany, Nevyn Colabavala and Mukund Venkatesan. Newark Academy could see Roger Hu or Sebastian Topor get playing time.
Livingston is back in contention as well with the addition of Ayaan Jayanty. Chatham has Elias Bruu-Syversen playing second singles. Moorestown predicts Jayden Tu will play first singles.
Tennis is a sport where freshman don’t need to get bigger, faster and stronger before they play well on the varsity level. These freshmen and others across the state could be difference-makers this spring.
Who will represent South Jersey?
South Jersey has fewer highly-ranked players compared to North and Central Jersey, but several standouts could change that perception.
Moorestown Friends’ Rafael Rauf steadily improved his rating from the end of last season when he made a deep run at the state singles tournament. Rauf dealt with injuries last year, but is healthy heading into 2026.
Ashus Mahmood, also from the BCSL at Northern Burlington, made the singles final at both the BCSL Tournament and the Burlington County Open last year. Cedar Creek’s Miguel Manalang captured the Cape-Atlantic League Tournament at singles in 2025
Cherokee’s Kunal Prabhakar, West Deptford’s Carter Watson, Cherry Hill East’s Landon Schuster, Delsea’s Zeph Kell, Clearview’s Andrew Crawford, Lenape’s Kunal Gupta and Tevin Pham and Moorestown’s Jayden Tu are some of the other top names to watch.
Singles success?
The inaugural tournament featured excellent matches but faced logistical challenges with weather, courts, and travel.
The schedule this year appears to run across three days instead of two, and during the week instead of the weekend, which many players were hoping for. Still, the area is home to many top players and it should provide fireworks.
Will anybody challenge Newark Academy?
We posed this question in the headline of our preseason Top 20, and it is a real thought that Newark Academy might not lose an individual match—like first singles, second singles, etc.—let alone a whole team dual match this season.
Newark Academy returns six of seven starters from last year’s team that won its 14th straight state title and 31st championship all-time. The Minutemen also brought in transfer help and have players that were reserves last year pushing for playing time. Newark Academy added a new and experienced head coach who is an upgrade as well.
The Minutemen have the deepest and most talented roster in the state, and it’ll be interesting if another team can match up with them. On the surface, Pingry and Delbarton might be the only ones, and all three are in the same North, Non-Public playoff section. Christian Brothers is another team with strong singles players that could pick off a flight or two. Can any public super team close the gap? West Windsor-Plainsboro South went undefeated last year too, but it did not play NA. Without a Tournament of Champions, it can be difficult to get the right matchups to determine who the absolute best team is in the state.
Back to Princeton
The first two days of the state singles and doubles tournaments from May 30-31 will be at the usual Mercer County Park and Veterans Park locations, but the last three rounds will be played at a new venue.
The quarterfinals, semifinals and finals for both tournaments will be played at Princeton University at its new outdoor (or indoor) facility. The fall saw the girls have the quarterfinals and semifinals there to great success, although it extended the day a bit being inside due to rain. Many factors prevented the finals from remaining at Princeton including weather and a state of emergency, but if all goes well, the boys finals should be at Princeton as well.
The move provides a twist that the players and everybody involved should find positive. Mercer County Park remains the epicenter of the high school tennis state championships, and the singles and doubles tournaments finals could go back there in the future.
Serena Williams Has Moms Everywhere Nodding In Agreement as Her Daughter Dares to Challenge the Rules at Home
Tennis champion Serena Williams got a little feisty during a relatable moment she shared with fans online, and it features a guest appearance that nobody saw coming.
The GOAT is best-known for her 23 Grand Slam wins in women’s singles tennis, 14 Grand Slam doubles titles with her sister, Venus Williams, four Olympic gold medals, and 73 singles title wins on the WTA Tour.
Most people can only dream of such accomplishments, but Serena has shared another talent that many moms, or parents, can relate to.
‘She Is Deathly Afraid’: Serena Williams’ Daughter Olympia Has Priceless Reaction After Grandma Gives Her a Look Every Black Person Understands
Williams and her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, have two daughters, Olympia Ohanian, 8, and Adira River Ohanian, 2.
The mother of two often shares cooking videos on social media, and her latest featured her making a chocolate ganache “Matilda” cake for her girls, similar to the cake that sadistic teacher, Miss Trunchbull, forced a schoolboy to eat in front of his classmates in the 1996 movie.
The mother of two shared an Instagram video of her making a cake, featuring a hilarious moment with her youngest, Adira, as the main attraction. “Full video on TikTok!” she wrote in the caption.
The full TikTok video shows Williams making two cakes from scratch while Olympia and a friend played in front of the television.
The kitchen was in a disarray in the next room, noting the mixing bowls, flour, and chocolate crumbs on the counter before Williams poured the mix into a blender. She cooked both cakes in the oven and then stacked each one on top of the other and slapped chocolate frosting on top.
As Williams was cutting into the delicious-looking chocolate delight, she looked at her toddler and warned, “Don’t put those fingers on it.”
The video instantly goes into slow motion as Adira disregarded her mother’s orders and put her fingers in the cake, not once, but twice, as Williams exclaimed, “Aht! What’d I just say?”
Williams fans mostly supported Adira’s side, noting that kids can’t resist the temptation when it comes to food, sweet stuff, or doing the opposite of what they are told. One person joked, “Looks so yummy, I wouldn’t be able to resist either.”
“She was set up,” said another social media user, pointing the blame at her mom for making the cake hard to resist. Another echoed, “Get into that cake, girl.”
“In my momma’s kitchen that finger would have come back two inches shorter,” joked another, while one replied, “Well. I was just thinking that I wouldn’t have dared.”
@serena
I finally made the irresistible chocolate ganache “Matilda” cake for my girls !
♬ Square Biz – Teenie Marie
“Don’t put fingers on it = great idea mom,” added one supporter, while another said, That’s that black mom coming out. That’s not cute. Hahahaha.”
One user had some sage advice for Williams. “You gotta get yo reflex skills together if you coming back!! Lmao! That baby was like a ninja.”
In her TikTok video, Williams asked her daughter, “Do you want to be the first one to taste the cake?” to which Adira said, “Yes,” and took a big bite, “Ummmmmm!” she exclaimed.
Williams tasted the cake next, and she was also impressed with her new talent.
“Umm… this is really good,” said Williams before she added. “I’m not a fan of chocolate, but this is really good.”
Williams and Ohanian were married in 2017.
Olympic medalist Taylor Fritz kicked my butt at Mario Tennis
When you’re playing video games against a professional athlete, you could be forgiven for hoping their rigorous training and competition schedule might prevent them from getting really, really good at games. Sadly, this isn’t the case for Taylor Fritz, the tennis star who destroyed me in Mario Tennis Fever.
Fritz is one of the best real-life, non-video-game tennis players in the world — he’s currently ranked number 8 among the thousands of hopefuls who take to the courts in tournaments across the globe. He holds an Olympic Bronze medal for the U.S., and 10 career titles. He’s also a lifelong gamer, cutting his teeth on World of Warcraft before honing in on the competitive multiplayer experiences he prefers.
“I enjoy playing online games, competitive stuff, because there’s more pressure and entertainment in it for me. I enjoy that a lot,” Fritz tells Polygon. He’s ranked Emerald 3 in League of Legends, and the sweaty survival game Rust is one of his favorites.
“I like games that require a time commitment. It kind of makes me feel that rush of ‘I could lose everything I’ve just spent a lot of time working for,’” says Fritz.
For all his competitiveness, he’s remarkably chill in our Mario Tennis Fever match-up. Or maybe I’m just not activating his cutthroat instincts. In our first game, he plays as Bowser while I choose Boo, my longtime main. We switch it up after he reveals that Boo is his longtime main.
“I won a tournament one time with him,” Fritz says casually, a red flag I only notice when I read through the transcript of our interview. Why Boo? “We played a Mario Tennis influencer tournament, and I looked up online what was the most broken character to play. I played online a little bit, and I was like,
Golden Valley boys’ tennis overcomes Hart for win
Following a 13-5 win over the visiting Hart Hawks on Tuesday, the Golden Valley Grizzlies secured their seventh Foothill League victory of the season.
In singles play, the Grizzlies (11-3, 7-2) defeated the Hawks (3-7, 3-6), 8-1, with sweeps in the first and second rounds.
Grizzlies’ Rowan Andres had the strongest showing for Golden Valley in singles play as he won all three of his matchups, 6-1, 6-0, 6-0.
For Hart, the lone win in singles play was in the third round with Hawks’ Alex Gutierrez defeating Grizzlies’ Maxim Van Rooy 6-1.
In doubles play, the Grizzlies secured the narrow 5-4 win over the Hawks across the three rounds.
In the second round of doubles play, the Hawks pairings of Nixon Liescheidt and Micah Selwa defeated Grizzlies’ Sean Bodian and Brandon Schoeni. And Hawks’ duo Boden Snow and Bryan Wynn defeated Emaad Islan and Neil Agrawal, 7-6, as Hart defeated the Grizzlies 2-1.
With the win, the Grizzlies remain in second place in the league standings, tied with Valencia Vikings with a 7-2 record, and will look to build upon their momentum on Thursday with a road matchup against the Canyon Cowboys.
The Hawks will look to bounce back on Thursday with a home matchup against the visiting Saugus Centurions.
Both games are set to begin at 3 p.m.
After Tuesday’s games, here are scores from around the Foothill League:
West Ranch 15, Saugus 3: The West Ranch Wildcats (10-1, 10-0) secured their 10th Foothill League win of the season following a victory over the Saugus Centurions (9-7, 5-5).
The Wildcats remain in first place in the league standings and play again on Thursday on the road against the Valencia Vikings at 3 p.m.
The Centurions dropped to 5-5 in league play and matchup against the Hart Hawks on Thursday with first serve set for 3 p.m.
Wildcats’ Sonnenberg remains in 1st, Saugus boys’ tennis wins first league match since 2012
For the first time since 2012, the Saugus boys’ tennis team won a Foothill League match on Tuesday in the third round of the boys’ golf season at the Oaks Club after the Centurions posted a total team score of 397.
“I’ve been doing this for four years now and I was pretty excited as a coach that we finally got a chance to win a league match,” Saugus coach Kevin Miner said in an interview with The Signal. “But it’s all the boys. They put in the work, they put in the time, and they put in the effort.”
In the third round, Miner said the achievement was a total team effort as the Centurions defeated the second-place West Ranch Wildcats by seven strokes.
The Centurions were led by sophomore Ben Momary, who ended the day with a total score of 75 (+3).
“They would probably agree that they’re capable of shooting better scores, but they’re still pleased,” Miner said. “Ben Momary, who’s a sophomore, and Aiden Lee, who’s a junior, those were the guys that kind of propped us into winning.”
Aiden Lee ended the day with a score of 76 (+4) and was one stroke behind Momary.
As for the rest of the Foothill League, the Wildcats’ Tyler Sonnenberg ended the day as the medalist with a total score of 72 and remains in first place in the individual Foothill League standings.
Sonnenberg holds a nine-stroke lead ahead of Valencia’s Namo Thoontakhob, who ended the third round with a score of 76 (+4).
Thoontakhob is tied in the individual standings with teammate Lucas Buendia, who shot a 74 (+2) in the third round.
In the Foothill League team standings, Valencia remains in first place with a total score of 777 and holds a 16-stroke lead over the second place Saugus Centurions after the Vikings posted a 404-team score on Tuesday.
The Centurions jumped the West Ranch Wildcats, who dropped to third place, and hold an 18-stroke difference after the third round.
The Wildcats ended the third round with a score of 419.
The Hawks remain in fourth place in the team standings and were led by Cole Ardenas, who scored a 77 (+5) as the team ended the third round with a 417.
Behind the Hawks in fifth place are the Canyon Cowboys, who were in seventh going into Tuesday’s third round.
Canyon’s Aydan Huang ended the third round with a score of 80 (+8) as the team ended with a score of 430.
As for Golden Valley, the Grizzlies ended the day in sixth after the team posted a score of 438 with the Coyotes ending the day with a score of 470.
For Saugus, the jump into second place in the standings has provided a much-need boost of momentum for the team and as the boys’ golf season takes a week off for spring break, Miner said the team will be ready to tackle the fourth round and continue to make history.
“I think [the team] is looking to get some practice over spring break and try to get a lay of the land and have a plan for league match number four,” he said. “And I told them, ‘Golf is different than any other sport, you can’t play defense, you can’t stop them from making a putt. So, you just have to worry about yourself.’ So, that’s the mentality into the next couple of league matches.”
The Foothill League will return for its fourth round of play on Tuesday, April 14, with teams set to play at the Sand Canyon Country Club with tee time scheduled for noon.
As Baseball Season Starts, Artist Who Paints Games Live Worldwide Visits LI: ‘Every Stadium Tells A Story’
Artist Andy Brown, who visits baseball stadiums worldwide to paint live, capture memories says the sport is a
Giants Legend Barry Bonds’ Total MLB Walks Adds Up to Absurd Distance
Barry Bonds ended his Major League career with the San Francisco Giants in 2007. When he did so he led baseball in four career categories.
First was home runs, which is obvious to anyone who grew up in the Bay Area from 1993-2007. He slammed 762 home runs. He also holds the record for most single-season home runs with 73. He leads all players in bWAR, or wins above replacement, at 162.8. That’s a data point that allows baseball historians to compare players across eras.
He also led the Majors in walks (2558) and intentional walks (688). There were some days when pitchers just didn’t want to deal with the slugger. In 2004 he was intentionally walked an incredible 120 times.
A walk in baseball gets you 90 feet, whether it’s drawn by the batter or intentional. Add them up and, well, you get one of the most absurd distances in sports.
Barry Bonds, Walking Distance
Baseball History Nut, a well-followed account on X (formerly Twitter) calculated Bonds’ career walks by distance and found that combined it led to 43.6 miles. That’s 3,264 combined walks multiplied by 90 feet. The total is 292,140 feet. Divide that by a mile in feet, which is 5,280 feet, and you get 55.32 miles.
Clearly, Baseball History Nut only counted Bonds’ non-intentional walks. That’s 2,558 walks multiplied by 90 feet for 230,220 feet. Divided by 5,280 feet and it comes to 43.6 miles.
That’s all fun and games until people get creative and try to apply that distance to reality. That’s what Giants flagship radio station KNBR did recently.
It took that 43.6 miles and found that, incredibly, Bonds — or anyone else that fancies the notion — could walk from Oracle Park in San Francisco to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara at essentially that same distance.
Per Google Maps, that drive might take someone 50 minutes (probably longer with Bay Area traffic). It would take about one hour and 41 minutes by bus and four hours and 40 minutes by bicycle. If someone walked to walk it, well get hydrated. It would likely take a normal person more than 16 hours.
So, yes, Bonds — the most productive power hitter in Major League history — took more than 16 hours’ worth of walks to first base during his 22 Major League seasons. No wonder he’s taking it easy during retirement. That walk from home to first must have gotten exhausting after a while.
Mansfield, Frisco stadiums selected as World Cup base camps
Czechia and Sweden will call North Texas home during the World Cup.
All countries participating in the tournament will need a base camp. It’s the place where the players will live and train for the duration of the tournament.
Czechia will be based at the new Mansfield Stadium, and Sweden will be at Toyota Stadium in Frisco.
Czcheia in Mansfield
The Czech Republic, which FIFA calls Czechia, will be stationed at Texas Health Mansfield Stadium in Mansfield.
The brand new $85 million facility still needs a fair amount of work. But local officials promised it will be ready by the time the team arrives in North Texas in the days leading up to the start of the tournament.
Czechia was one of the final teams to qualify for the World Cup after defeating Denmark on a penalty kick in one of the final qualifying matches on Tuesday.
This will be Czechia’s first World Cup appearance in 20 years.
Sweden in Frisco
Sweden also beat Poland on Tuesday and claimed FC Dallas’ Toyota Stadium in Frisco as its base camp.
One of the players on the Swedish national team, Hermann Johansson, is also a midfielder for FC Dallas. So, he already calls Toyota Stadium home.
Morocco eye 2030 World Cup final amid Spain racism controversy
This week, Spanish football has been rocked by yet another case of racist abuse coming from the stands in their stadiums. During the friendly match between Spain and Egypt, a number of supporters were heard making Islamophobic chants towards the visiting side, which have since been rightly condemned.
Lamine Yamal, who himself is a Muslim, called out those that were involved in the racist chanting, which he was appalled by. Action is already being taken by those in the relevant positions, but there is a chance that there is now a knock-on effect for the 2030 World Cup, which Spain are co-hosts for.
It has been expected that the 2030 World Cup final will be held in Spain, with Real Madrid’s Bernabeu and Barcelona’s Spotify Camp Nou among the leading contenders. However, Moroccan publication Goud (via Cadena SER) believe that the North African nation now has an increased chance to win the rights.
“Numerous racist incidents have been witnessed in Spanish stadiums. Fears have been inability of Spanish institutions to combat this phenomenon during matches. Muslims in Spain are suffering racism in the stadiums. Curiously, the main star of the Spanish national team is a Muslim of Moroccan origin (Lamine Yamal).”
FIFA “aware of everything” going on with Spain
Goud have also stating that FIFA are “aware of everything” going on with Spain and their issues with racism in football, and they believe that this gives Morocco an edge in their hopes of becoming the first African nation to host the World Cup final since South Africa in 2010, as they note that “in Morocco’s stadiums there are no racist incidents of this type or of this intensity”.
It remains to be seen whether there are any repercussions for Spain regarding he 2030 World Cup on the back of this week’s events, but it is clear that serious action needs to be taken to stamp these incidents out once and for all.
PGA y Masters de Augusta apoyan a Tiger Woods en su recuperación
Woods, que ya sufrió otros percances viales en su carrera, es acusado de conducir bajo los efectos de sustancias, entre otros cargos, y en el momento del accidente portaba dos pastillas del analgésico hidrocodona, según el reporte policial.
El golfista, que arrastra secuelas de sus numerosas operaciones de espalda y pierna, se negó a realizar un examen de orina y los agentes en el lugar observaron que tenía los ojos
Tiger Woods turns down Ryder Cup captain’s job as he steps away to get healthy
Tiger Woods has turned down the chance to be U.S. captain for the Ryder Cup matches in 2027 as he steps away from golf-related activities to seek treatment and focus on his health.
The decision announced Wednesday by the PGA of America was expected considering recent developments involving Woods. He was arrested Friday on suspicion of driving under the influence during a car crash near his home in South Florida.
Woods entered a plea of not guilty on Tuesday and posted a statement later that said he was stepping away indefinitely. “This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery,” he said in a social media post.
“We commend Tiger for prioritizing his long-term health and deeply respect the courage it takes to make such a personal decision,” the PGA of America said in a statement.
The PGA of America, which runs the American side of the Ryder Cup, said it would have further updates on the captaincy when appropriate.
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Is Brooks Koepka Playing in Masters 2026? PGA Tour Pro’s Eligibility and More Explored
After returning to the PGA Tour via the Returning Member Program, Brooks Koepka hasn’t been able to turn heads like he used to. Of course, he’s struggling to do better and has made a few changes to improve his game. But with the 2026 Masters Tournament lurking around the corner, if you’re wondering about his eligibility as a former LIV golfer, here’s what you need to know.
Koepka has won five major championships in the past, and the list includes three PGA Championship wins (2018, 2019, and 2023), and two U.S. Open wins (2017 and 2018). That (2023 PGA Championship win) has provided the 35-year-old with a five-year exemption into the Masters Tournament. And no, it doesn’t matter if he was playing for LIV Golf a year ago.
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It means he’s eligible to enter the tournament through 2028. And if he wins another major championship within the period, his exemption will also extend. But a win at the Masters would get him a lifetime exemption.
This year, Brooks Koepka will participate in the Masters for the 11th time. He became the runner-up in 2019 (trailing behind Tiger Woods) and 2023 (trailing behind Jon Rahm), marking his best finishes in the tournament. He even had a 54-hole lead at the 2023 Masters. But six bogeys in the final round trashed his dreams of wearing the green jacket. Currently, his scoring average through 34 rounds is around 71.97, with the lowest round being a 65.
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Koepka restarted his PGA Tour journey with a T56 finish at the Farmers Insurance Open. Then, he finished T9 at the Cognizant Classic after missing the cut for the Phoenix Open. He missed another cut at the Houston Open after securing top 20 finishes at THE PLAYERS Championship and the Valspar Championship.
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A strong performance at Augusta National next week could bring him back up in the headlines as well as the Official World Golf Rankings, where he currently stands way below 160. But is Koepka confident enough to make it at Augusta this time? He’s certainly working his way around it.
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Brooks Koepka looks to address a major aspect of his game at the 2026 Masters
Ahead of the Houston Open, Koepka said, “I like the way the game’s trending. Sometimes it’s not always about the finishes; it’s about how I feel, and I feel very good, very confident going into Augusta in a few weeks. The only thing is I really haven’t put myself in contention with nine holes to go. That’s really the last missing piece that I feel like I need to accomplish here before Augusta.”
Last year, at the Masters Tournament, Koepka failed to make the cut because of the troubles at the 18th hole in round two. After hitting a bogey on the 17th, he went four shots over par to score 75 in that round. In 2024, he made nine bogeys and three double bogeys on the back nine, compared to seven bogeys on the front nine.
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He also added, “My game is rounding into form. I can see it. I don’t know if maybe results-wise, it probably hasn’t looked that way, but I can see it as a whole; it’s really all starting to come together.”
He has also made changes to his equipment by switching to the TaylorMade Spider Tour X putter and a Pro V1x ball earlier in February. That’s how he scored a six-under 66 at the Cognizant Classic, even though the bad putts troubled him at the Phoenix Open.
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Now, all we need to do is wait and watch how things turn out for Koepka at Augusta.
Woods will not serve as 2027 US Ryder Cup captain, says PGA of America
April 1 (Reuters) – Tiger Woods will not serve as U.S. captain for the 2027 Ryder Cup, the PGA of America said on Wednesday, after the 15-time major champion announced he was stepping away to focus on his health.
The PGA of America said it supported Woods’ decision as the 50-year-old announced he was seeking treatment following his arrest on a driving under the influence charge stemming from a rollover crash in Florida last week.
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Tommy Fleetwood headlines Texas Open field as The Masters looms
It’s go time for the PGA Tour stalwarts who are searching for some form before they travel to Augusta National — and it’s the last chance for everyone else to snag a ticket.
The Valero Texas Open once again occupies the week before the Masters on the tour schedule, and Englishman Tommy Fleetwood will headline the field that tees off at TPC San Antonio on Thursday.
2026 Valero Texas Open odds, picks: Surprising predictions from golf model that’s nailed 16 majors
A two-event stop in Texas concludes this week with the 2026 Valero Texas Open beginning on Thursday at 8:30 a.m. ET at TPC San Antonio – The Oaks Course. Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are both out this week ahead of major play, but there’s still a strong Valero Texas Open field headlined by top-10 OWGR players such as Tommy Fleetwood and Russell Henley. For many players in the Texas Open, it will be a last chance to qualify for the Masters.
The latest 2026 Valero Texas Open odds via FanDuel list Fleetwood and Ludvig Aberg as the +1500 co-favorites. Russell Henley (+1600), Jordan Spieth (+1800) and Robert MacIntyre (+1800) are among the other favorites. Collin Morikawa and Gary Woodland have both withdrawn from the field.
Before locking in any 2026 Valero Texas Open picks, entering any Texas Open one and done contests, or making any PGA DFS picks on sites like FanDuel or DraftKings, be sure to see the golf predictions and projected leaderboard from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
SportsLine’s proprietary model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, simulated every PGA Tour event 10,000 times and reveals golf betting picks that have a history of being extremely profitable.
This same model has also nailed a whopping 16 majors entering the weekend, including the 2025 Masters — its fourth Masters in a row — as well as last year’s PGA Championship and Open Championship. Anyone who has followed its sports betting picks could have seen massive returns on betting sites.
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Now that the 2026 Valero Texas Open field is locked in, the model simulated the tournament 10,000 times, and the results were surprising. Head to SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard, which you can use for PGA picks, one and done contests or Texas Open DFS lineups.
2026 Valero Texas Open predictions
One major surprise the model is calling for at the Texas Open 2026: It projects that Henley barely cracks the top 5 despite being one of the favorites. Henley has yet to finish inside the top 5 in any event this year, so the model isn’t ready to project him near the top of the leaderboard. He finished fourth in this event in 2024, but didn’t play it in 2025 and he finished T52 and missed the cut in his other two Texas Open appearances. See who else to fade here.
Another surprise: The model projects Sepp Straka as a top-10 contender despite him not being in the top group of favorites at +2200. The 32-year-old Austrian has finished inside the top 20 in four of his last five events, including a strong T8 finish at The Players Championship last time out. He struggled during his first two appearances at this tournament, but turned a corner last year, finishing T22 after a strong weekend, so the model likes his value this week. See who else to pick here.
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How to make 2026 Valero Texas Open picks
The model is also targeting several other longshots, including one at 30-1 who makes a stunning run for the title. You can only see the model’s picks here.
Who will win the 2026 Texas Open, and which longshots will stun the golfing world? Check out the 2026 Texas Open odds below and then visit SportsLine to see the projected leaderboard, all from the model that’s nailed 16 golf majors, including three in 2025.
2026 Valero Texas Open odds, favorites
Get full 2026 Valero Texas Open picks, best bets and predictions here.
(odds via FanDuel and subject to change)
Tiger Woods takes himself out of 2027 Ryder Cup captaincy consideration
Tiger Woods won’t be at the Masters next week, and he won’t be a Ryder Cup captain next year.
The iconic golfer, who plans to leave the US for treatment following his rollover crash and subsequent DUI arrest in Florida last week, told the PGA he isn’t going to helm the Americans’ 2027 Ryder Cup team.
“Tiger has shared with us that he will not serve as Captain of the 2027 US Ryder Cup team and we support his decision,” the golf outfit said in a statement on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, Woods requested and was granted approval to seek “comprehensive inpatient treatment” out of the country, citing privacy reasons.
On Friday, Woods was involved in a rollover incident near his Jupiter, Florida home with police saying he was “sweating profusely” and was “lethargic and slow” at times with his movements. He was found with two hydrocodone pills, though he passed a breathalyzer test but refused a urinalysis.
He pleaded not guilty to DUI charges on Tuesday, later acknowledging the “seriousness of the situation I find myself in,” and said he was planning to step away to ““seek treatment and focus on my health.”
The crash marked the fourth known one involving the 50-year-old, his first since a 2021 crash nearly ended his career with multiple leg injuries.
Masters chairman Fred Ridley confirmed Tuesday that Woods would not be taking part in the festivities at Augusta next week.
The golf community has shown an outpouring of support for the 15-time major champion, with the PGA adding to the count on Wednesday.
“The PGA stands in full support of Tiger Woods as he steps away to focus on his health and well-being,” it said. “During this time we are keeping tiger in our thoughts and prayers, with sincere hop for this strength, comfort and recovery.
“Tiger has meant so much to our Association and to the game of golf. … We commend Tiger for prioritizing his long-term health and deeply respect the courage it takes to make such a personal decision.”
Tiger Woods rechaza la capitanía de la Ryder Cup de 2027 tras ser arrestado después de un accidente de auto
Por Jacob Lev, CNN
El golfista Tiger Woods ha rechazado la capitanía de la Ryder Cup de 2027 tras ser arrestado y acusado de conducir bajo los efectos de sustancias la semana pasada, anunció el miércoles la PGA de Estados Unidos.
La noticia se produce un día después de que el ganador de 15 títulos de Grand Slam declarara que se “apartaría por un periodo de tiempo para buscar tratamiento” y centrarse en su salud.
“Elogiamos a Tiger por priorizar su salud a largo plazo y respetamos profundamente la valentía que requiere tomar una decisión tan personal. Tiger nos ha comunicado que no ejercerá como capitán del equipo de Estados Unidos para la Ryder Cup de 2027, y nosotros respaldamos su decisión”, afirmó la PGA de Estados Unidos en un comunicado.
El golfista de 50 años fue acusado de dos delitos menores —conducir bajo los efectos de sustancias y negarse a someterse a una prueba legal—, según documentos judiciales. Se declaró no culpable de ambos cargos. Asimismo, en un reciente escrito presentado ante el tribunal, Woods solicitó permiso para recibir atención médica fuera del país.
Keegan Bradley fue el capitán más reciente del equipo estadounidense en la Ryder Cup de 2025, celebrada en Bethpage Black.
La Ryder Cup está programada para septiembre de 2027 en el Adare Manor Golf Club, en Irlanda.
2026 Masters odds, predictions: PGA One and Done picks from DFS millionaire
The first major championship of the year is rapidly approaching with the 2026 Masters starting on Thursday, April 9 at Augusta National Golf Club. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler headlines the 2026 Masters field and will try to reclaim the title. A win in Augusta, Georgia, would net Scheffler his third green jacket in four years and make him the ninth player ever to win three or more Masters titles. Scheffler is the +480 favorite (risk $100 to win $480) in the 2026 Masters odds. Other top 2026 Masters contenders include defending champion Rory McIlroy (+1000), Bryson DeChambeau (+1200) and Jon Rahm (+1200).
With a massive $21 million purse up for grabs, it is imperative to nail your 2026 Masters One and Done picks. Should you use this event to target a favorite like Scheffler or McIlroy, or take a swing on a sleeper like Jordan Spieth (+3300), Adam Scott (+6500), who has had success at Augusta in the past? Before locking in any 2026 Masters One and Done picks, you need to see what SportsLine DFS pro and PGA expert Mike McClure has to say.
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The One and Done format is growing in popularity. It has several noticeable similarities to NFL Survivor pools with the main difference being that entries are not eliminated with a bad week. Players pick one golfer per week and earn points based on their selected golfer’s prize money for that tournament. Golfers can only be used once per season, and the point format makes nailing majors and big money tournaments critical.
SportsLine’s proprietary model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, simulated every PGA Tour event 10,000 times and reveals golf betting picks that have a history of being extremely profitable.
This same model has also nailed a whopping 16 majors entering the weekend, including the 2025 Masters — its fourth Masters in a row — as well as this year’s PGA Championship and Open Championship. Anyone who has followed its sports betting picks could have seen massive returns on betting sites.
Now, McClure has dialed in on the 2026 Masters golf tournament and just locked in his one and done picks and PGA predictions. They are a must-see for any player looking for an edge in their One and Done pool. You can only see McClure’s Masters One and one picks at SportsLine.
Top 2026 Masters One and Done picks
One of McClure’s surprising One and Done picks for the 2026 Masters is Xander Schauffele, who is going off at +1600 in the 2026 Masters odds. Schauffele’s only win in the past two years came against a relatively light field in the 2025 Baycurrent Classic last fall, so he’s flying a bit under the radar. Schauffele started 2026 with a couple of poor showings at the Farmers Insurance Open and the WM Phoenix Open.
He appears to be rounding into form, however, as the Masters 2026 approaches. He finished a solo third at The Players Championship and then followed that up with a T4 at the Valspar Championship. In total, he’s finished in the top 10 in three of his past four events. His course history at Augusta is impressive as well. He’s finished in the top 10 in five of his last seven Masters appearances, so he’s a strong sleeper pick to bring home a big payday despite his longer odds compared to some other top contenders. You can see who else to back at SportsLine.
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How to make Masters 2026 One and Done picks
McClure is also targeting another golfer for his 2026 Masters One and Done picks who is heating up this season, yet has odds longer than +2000. This player has a championship pedigree and could be on the cusp of breaking through at Augusta. You can find out who it is and check out all of McClure’s Masters One and one picks at SportsLine.
PGA Tour Had Once Shared a Curious $8,472 Cufflinks Fact About The Players Championship
A gift for first-timers at The Players Championship came with a shocking price tag. The Tour first ‘gifted’ players a set of cufflinks, then presented them with a bill for over $8,400, and their reactions did not disappoint.
At The Players Championship in 2022, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan initially described the Tiffany & Co. cufflinks as “commemorative gifts.” However, Vice President Phil Margurger said the first-timers had to pay $8472.16.
“Do you need them back?” asked Taylor Moore before Marburger told him he had to pay for them. “Cufflinks that you’re giving them as a gift?” asked his agent.
While Moore first said ‘no problem,’ he responded with “Are you kidding me?” when the Vice President told him the price. Meanwhile, German golfer Stephan Patrick Jäger completely refused to take them. “I don’t want any cufflinks. I’m out… I’m not paying for f****** cufflinks,” said Jäger.
Sahith Theegala immediately agreed, but then saw the price. “Yeah, I’ll probably cry about this too,” said Theegala. He then tried to reason with Marburger about the pricing.
“It feels like $800 or $1000, I have no problem…” said Theegala before asking if the cufflinks had diamonds in them. Moore was the first to realize that they were part of a prank. “My guy, we are on camera. This is a prank,” said Moore once he spotted the cameras.
The First Timers: Where Are They Now?
Stephen Jager has found the most success among the three. In 2024, he won his first PGA Tour title at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, beating Scottie Scheffler.
On top of that, he has six Korn Ferry tour wins, making him tied at number 2 for the most titles won on the Korn Ferry tour.
Taylor Moore’s biggest achievement was winning the Valspar Championship in 2023. He also had one win on the Korn Ferry tour at the Memorial Health Championship in 2021.
Sahith Theegala secured a two-shot victory at the Fortinet Championship, his first on the PGA Tour.
Jager and Moore will be competing at the Valero Texas Open starting on the 2nd of April. However, Theegala is not participating in the Oaks Course.
Tony Stewart’s 2011 Championship Run Dragged Back Into Spotlight as Chase Elliott Warns NASCAR Garage
In NASCAR, what wins a title? Is it a one-shot race or consistent victories? This age-old debate is reignited by the new NASCAR points system, this time bringing Tony Stewart’s 2011 championship run into the picture. As the 2026 Chase format rewards wins even more, drivers who can string together continuous victories, like Stewart, are poised for greater success. This leads to Chase Elliott’s stern warning to the entire garage.
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Chase Elliott’s warning amid the importance of wins
In a conversation with Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Dale Jr Download, Chase Elliott made it clear that the new playoff system was a wake-up call for drivers and teams alike. As he puts it, “The biggest difference in this version of the chase versus the one I remember, like in 2011, Tony Stewart won 50% of the last 10 races that year. He beat Carl on a tiebreaker at Homestead.”
In that year, Stewart was tied with Carl Edwards on points but won because he had more victories than Edwards in the final ten races.
Highlighting the criticality of drivers being consistent, Elliott stated, “You better be running good. You better be winning. You’re gonna have to be lights out for those last 10 because a win is worth an awful lot of points.”
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Despite his warning to the grid, Elliott’s excitement was audible as he also drew upon the new opportunities that this system afforded drivers.
“But from our standpoint, I’m just excited to have a win this early. Like, I know that seems like really silly, but man, we’ve never won a race this early in the year.”
And then came the ever-important phrase from “Young Elvis”: “You better be winning.” He clearly showcased that consistency wasn’t enough, but rather consistently winning was. This could have far-reaching consequences for both teams and the NASCAR organization alike, which would both need to recalibrate their strategies to align with the new system.
The effect of the new 2026 points system on teams, NASCAR, and drivers
The new points system has forced teams to make some critical changes. These changes, in turn, also revamp strategy. Let’s take, for example, the scenario where the points awarded for a race win have now increased from 40 to 55. This creates an almost 20-point gap between first and second place, making it essential for teams to adopt aggressive strategies while also forcing team crew chiefs to make split-second calls.
Additionally, teams that already race aggressively and optimize their cars for peak performance, such as Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, and Team Penske, would find their competitive edge widening.
This is especially when compared with mid-tier teams such as RFK Racing and Spire Motorsports, which previously focused on finishing in the top-10 but would now also need to develop track-specific strategies and calculated pit stops to even deserve a place in the championship.
The dilution of the “win-and-in” berth also shifts the calculus for drivers, who must now secure their Chase berth solely on points, making every finish and stage point critical. Stage points, such as 10 for first, 9 for second, and so on, remain unchanged. But when we take them in accumulation with the 55-point win bonus, the total adds up, forcing teams across the grid to ensure minimal tire wear and optimal fuel tactics to prove continuous race aggression.
Even for NASCAR, which has been struggling with declining playoff viewership in recent seasons, this change could prove to be a boon. A championship that is decided over a cumulative of wins, rather than a one-off race, could allow for a reversal in this downward trend, as this could provide a continuous, stable audience base. After all, NASCAR really needs a trend reversal to justify its massive $7.7 billion media rights agreement.
Whether these changes truly benefit the organization or are successfully adopted by the teams remains to be seen. However, what is certain is that this season promises to be one of the most consistently interesting in years, one that many NASCAR fans have missed since 2014.
Richard Petty’s Son Slams Denny Hamlin & Co. Over Absurd Controversy
The NASCAR Hall of Fame debate has erupted, and the legendary Kyle Petty has picked his side. It all started when Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s producer, Travis Rockhold, said that only the Cup drivers should be eligible for the HoF. While many pushed back on this take, Denny Hamlin seemed to agree with him. However, the Cup Series legend, Kyle Petty, shared his thoughts on the Hall of Fame eligibility for drivers who do not race in the Cup Series.
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Kyle Petty responds to Hamlin’s controversial Hall of Fame remarks
Petty had a respectful career, winning eight Cup Series races as a driver. He dismissed the remarks made by Hamlin to back Rockhold in a passionate rant.
“This is the NASCAR Hall of Fame. It doesn’t just say ‘Winston Cup,’ it doesn’t just say ‘Nextel Cup.’ It says NASCAR, and that encompasses every single series,” said Petty in a clip from Inside the Race podcast.
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He emphasized that NASCAR is the culmination of a wide range of talents from across various series, all of which contribute culture, spice, and fervor to the sport’s soul. Hamlin had broken his comments down on the recent episode of the Actions Detrimental podcast.
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“I believe that most of the people who argue passionately for the lower series guys have some kind of personal connection to them. They’re their friends, they grew up watching them, or something,” said Hamlin. “So, they have this emotional tie. ‘I want my guy in! He’s my guy! He deserves to be in!’ I think it all depends on what you want the Hall of Fame to be.”
The three-time Daytona champion added, “It’s the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Go ask any casual fan, someone who knows the NASCAR name but doesn’t watch the races — do they know that NASCAR has like six different series? No. They know about Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, and Richard Petty. That’s Sunday. They don’t know about all the others, right?”
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Petty, clearly frustrated by the debate, continued, stating, “The numbers get you to a place. The wins get you to a place. I think if you’ve won a championship in a NASCAR series, you’ve done something that is hard to do. I don’t care which series it’s in.”
In the clip Petty shared on X, he pointed out that there have been 35 O’Reilly champions since the series’ inception in 1982, and one of them is a contender for the Hall of Fame, emphasizing that such accomplishments deserve recognition, not dismissal.
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After all, Petty’s argument seems to have strong standing. For if Hamlin’s argument were to be extended, it would seem reasonable to exclude from the Hall of Fame anyone but the drivers from the Cup Series. This, in turn, draws the capacity to water down America’s massive racing culture.
Celebrating NASCAR’s legacy: Owners, crew chiefs, and broadcasters who shaped the sport beyond the track
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The NASCAR Hall of Fame, established in 2010, was designed to accommodate all those who left a significant mark on the sport, not merely Cup drivers, or even just drivers. Popular inductees include team owners such as Richard Childress, who built RCR and earned multiple championships, and Rick Hendrick, whose team is the most successful in Cup history.
Robert Yates and Ralph Moody also earned their spots for their legendary and groundbreaking efforts in team ownership.
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Even crew chiefs such as Ray Evernham, whose excellent strategies earned him three championships alongside Jeff Gordon, and the great technical expertise of Dale Inman, bringing him notable victories, have been honored. Crew chiefs haven’t been overlooked, with names like Chad Knaus, a five-time championship-winning crew chief, and contributors to engineering like Maurice Petty, known for his prowess in building workhorse engines.
Great broadcasting storytellers such as Ken Squier, whose commentary popularized NASCAR, and Benny Parsons, who won an Emmy for his insightful commentary, have their names on the wall. Finally, figures like H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler, a visionary promoter, were awarded the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions, acknowledging those who expanded the sport’s reach and enhanced the fan experience.
Together, all these legends created NASCAR into what it is today. They celebrate NASCAR’s diversity, and also the recognition of the opportunities that varied careers offer at America’s greatest racing stage. If anything, the inclusion of such names is the very foundation of “the American Dream,” and including just Cup Series winners would exclude all those who gave it their all.
Fans Turn On Entire NASCAR Garage in Surprising Defense for Controversial Cup Star
Carson Hocevar doesn’t have the best rapport with his fellow NASCAR drivers, but he isn’t left all alone with no defense. While he runs in a complete attack mode on the track, his fans are there to defend him on social media. It is hard to argue. Hocevar has been the center of quite a few wrecks in the past year and a half. But is he the only driver on the field who has been causing wrecks?
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Carson Hocevar and his aggressive driving
NASCAR drivers were recently questioned on who wrecks the most on the track. Many, including the likes of Kyle Busch, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Larson, took Hocevar’s name in almost unison.
If there is one thing that defines Hocevar, it is his aggressive driving. He is the last driver on the field to wait for the opening of a potential gap to overtake. If there isn’t one, he creates it, running bumper-to-bumper. Just this year in Atlanta, he was responsible for the final stage wrecks, a story that has been on repeat for a long time.
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But Hocevar has a strong response to his critics: “Well, just get the f*ck out of the way! And there wouldn’t be a wreck. You know what I mean? Just move. Just move out of the way.”
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Fellow driver Ryan Blaney also appreciated him earlier this year, claiming that Hocevar could start winning races once he finds out the thin line between aggressive driving and wrecking.
For now, however, it seems that Hocevar will have to stick to his fans for all the defense that he needs. While he has been outspoken about his aggressive driving, the fans have some other points, too.
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Fans point out other NASCAR drivers’ irregularities
“80% of the hypocrites in the video who said Hocevar have already caused twice as many wrecks as Hocevar himself,” claimed a fan. This comment, more or less, carried the sentiment of most fans, as there were some drivers in the video that NASCAR posted who don’t have the cleanest of records when it comes to clean racing. “Wrecky calling someone out for wrecking people is golden,” read another comment.
Some also pointed out the recent race at the Martinsville Speedway, where the only major wreck was caused by another driver, and not Carson Hocevar, calling this an “interesting” time to post the video.
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“Interesting timing for you to post this, considering what happened at Martinsville. Hocevar does spin a lot of people, but most of those are typically done off being a chaotic neutral rather than with negative intent like the driver in the 23 does when he wrecks others.”
Some of the other comments mentioned this, too: “They better start looking at their garage pull buddy, Bubba Wallace.”
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This has been the trend around NASCAR for quite a while now. Hocevar’s driving may be questionable, but he’s not the only driver who does that (as another comment mentioned: “Stenhouse and Ty Dillon answering this question is incredibly ironic.”)
But again, that is the one quality through which Hocevar manages to outperform his competition. While he is yet to win a race in the Cup Series, he has proved to be promising, and if Spire were to fix their pace issues, he might as well start contending for the title in the future.
Martinsville Ringer Reveals Bizarre Trick He Used To Survive “Nauseating” NASCAR Sim Session
A bicycle in a training session would sound bizarre to a NASCAR driver, considering it doesn’t even run at a fraction of the speed of the actual cars on the track, right? But it was these two wheels that enabled Lee Pulliam to complete his preparations for the O’Reilly Auto Parts debut with JR Motorsports earlier at Martinsville. His 5th-place finish came through extreme hard work in training, which even ended up making him nauseous.
Racing sims have become a large part of driver training now. Most of the young drivers on the Cup Series field spend hours practicing on these sims; however, the motion sickness can be rather unforgiving.
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“When I first went there and did it that first session, I threw up four times at Pratt and Miller. I’d run outside and throw up, and it was all I could do to drive a car,” said Pulliam in his recent appearance on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast.
Training on a simulator was difficult, but he used his experience and figured out a solution to solve his nausea problem.
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“I brought my bike with me because I had heard that, whenever you throw up, you jump on a bike, it’ll help you [regain your] equilibrium,” said the 37-year-old.
Seemingly, that worked for him. At the same time, he started using virtual reality glasses even while playing video games, to help him get used to the motion sickness in the racing simulator, and it ended up helping him.
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“The next time I got an emotion rig, I was perfectly fine. I had zero issues. I never got out of the car, did the full session. And then I was like, that’s amazing,” Pulliam told Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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This was essential for Pulliam. While he is 37 and has been involved in racing for a long time, he has never had the perfect opportunity to run NASCAR in a competitive position. However, Dale Jr. gave him the opportunity to run the NOAPS for the first time, and he delivered an impressive 5th-place finish.
It was quite apparent that his training, including his time in the simulator, helped him run the race in such a competitive manner. These simulators have been helping drivers for quite a long time now, but some still don’t seem to be spending enough time behind the virtual wheel, and a former driver is not happy with it.
Former NASCAR driver disappointed with lack of racing sim use
Kevin Harvick expressed his disappointment at drivers for missing out on simulator sessions in a recent episode of his podcast. He revealed it helped understand the car better, and the lack of practice on the simulator would be evident on Sunday.
“How are you going to fix it, fellas? Tell me how you’re going to fix your car if you don’t go to the simulator,” he questioned. “Being in there week after week allows things to be developed around you, especially when you’re in a new scenario where you have new aero packages [..] And if you’re not in there scaling those tires and you’re just leaving it to the sim guys to be able to do that, in my opinion, it’s going to take you longer to catch up.”
These simulators have become so accurate now that the drivers can figure out possible car setups, race pace, and even strategies by modifying the weather and track temperatures. While the new drivers, including the likes of Tyler Reddick, have been spending quite some time practicing on these simulators, it is apparent that the older drivers find it a little unorthodox.
As NASCAR progresses, simulators will also advance and will be able to help drivers more than they have previously. It will be interesting to see if drivers still put off practising on them, as results could be defined by their work on simulators.
Shane van Gisbergen’s immense improvement no longer a hypothetical
Shane van Gisbergen is arguably NASCAR’s most improved driver through the first seven races of 2026.
The 36-year-old road course ace from Auckland, New Zealand, entered the 2026 campaign with one question looming: would he be better at ovals?
If he wanted to contend for a Chase berth and a title in the future, the answer would have to be yes. So far, it is.
Through six oval races this season, van Gisbergen has four top-15 finishes. He led three laps and ran inside the top 10 in the season-opening Daytona 500 before being caught up in a crash and suffering early damage on the opening lap at Las Vegas that relegated him to a 36th-place finish.
But in the four other oval races at Atlanta, Phoenix, Darlington and Martinsville, van Gisbergen has finishes of sixth, 11th, 14th and 11th. Add in a runner-up at Circuit of the Americas, and you have a driver who is 14th in the Cup Series standings and looking like a contender for a postseason slot.
Is SVG the new top dog at Trackhouse?
SVG’s improvement from 2025 to 2026 is even more noticeable when you compare his results to those of his Trackhouse Racing teammate in Ross Chastain.
Not only is Chastain five spots below van Gisbergen in the standings, but he only has one top-15 on the season — a third-place result at Atlanta. He’s finished behind van Gisbergen in five of the seven races so far.
Chastain and the No. 1 team have certainly struggled to start the year, leaving van Gisbergen and the No. 97 group to take up the mantle at Trackhouse, especially as rookie Connor Zilisch goes through the inevitable growing pains of his first Cup Series season.
It’s still very early, but so far, van Gisbergen is playing the part of the exemplary student well as he continues to traverse the NASCAR Cup Series.
Cleetus McFarland no longer wants to race in the NASCAR Cup Series
There was a time when internet sensation Cleetus McFarland wanted to race in the NASCAR Cup Series and compete in the Daytona 500. That was before he made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Daytona in February.
Alan Kulwicki unapologetically did things his way
Thirty-three years after his death, there’s still an Alan Kulwicki-sized hole in NASCAR.
It’s not specifically due to Kulwicki’s greatness as a driver, though the five-time Cup Series winner and 1992 Cup Series champion was excellent behind the wheel.
It’s because Kulwicki was about as much of a self-made man as you can find. He was pragmatic and did things his way, and he couldn’t care less if anyone agreed with him.
That’s what won him a NASCAR championship and made many of his fellow competitors try their hand at being owner-drivers in the years following his 1992 title. Few of them had any success at all, and none of them replicated what Kulwicki had been able to do as an owner-driver.
In 1985, Kulwicki sold most of his belongings and trekked to North Carolina in his pickup truck, which caught fire. He had borrowed another truck in order to haul his trailer to Charlotte.
The Greenfield, Wis., native who would come to be known as NASCAR’s
“Make It Real”- the Accidental Headline Hoax That Triggered Michael Jordan & Denny Hamlin’s NASCAR Takeover
The 23XI Racing team, formed by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin are only in their 6th year of racing, but has already achieved a lot of success. The backstory of how one of the most exciting teams started is actually interesting and emerged from a rumor.
In an interview with CBS Mornings alongside Michael Jordan and Tyler Reddick, Hamlin recalled seeing a headline. It basically read that NBA legend Jordan and he were looking to buy a NASCAR team together.
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“I never forget, I saw an article that wasn’t true. It said Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan are looking to purchase a NASCAR team. It wasn’t true?” Hamlin recalled. “No, I was looking to purchase a stake in a NASCAR team. I wasn’t going to get the control that I wanted because it was just a small chunk I was looking for.”
Hamlin quickly decided to send the message to MJ, whose positive response seemed to start it all.
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“I saw the article, sent it to him. He says, ‘Not real, but if you want to make it real, let me know,’” Hamlin said. “Of course, I say, well, here’s this opportunity. He says, I’m in.”
The two weren’t acquaintances but had a friendship built over a decade.
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“He had his security guys pull me aside at a Charlotte Hornets game,” said Hamlin about a conversation he had with Jordan during a basketball game. “We talked racing during halftime. He got my number. We started chatting and next thing you know, he’s doing my shoes, doing my gloves, all those things.”
Fast forward a few years, and the 23XI team was formed after planning and seeking permissions fromthe authorites. One of the reasons is that their goals were aligned.
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“It’s so much more than putting up the money… It’s about building something that can stand the test of time,” the veteran driver opined.
The team name, too, reflects how collaborative the efforts have been over the past few years. 23XI Racing is a combination of both Jordan’s iconic jersey number 23 and Hamlin’s longstanding car number XI.
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Jordan has won six championships in his NBA career and was a fierce competitor when he got on the court. Hamlin, who races for Joe Gibbs Racing, is the same, and sometimes, if he has to knock over a 23XI car to get to a win, the veteran is going to do exactly that. The winning mentality is what is common between the two, but there are times when Jordan has had to make calls to Hamlin about his racing style.
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Jordan on what he feels when Hamlin races against 23XI Racing
Hamlin is almost always near the top when it comes to contending in a race. This season, he has had to go up against Tyler Reddick quite a lot because of that.
The JGR racer has already made his stance clear about how he is only focused on winning on Sundays. He proved that in a race when he wiped out a 23XI car, but what followed was a call from his co-owner, Michael Jordan.
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“I said, ‘Look, I know you want to win, but race fairly.’ I didn’t think he raced fairly, but he kept trying to convince me that he did. I said, ‘bullshit,’” said Jordan in the CBS interview. “I know you, I know how you’re competitive, and I probably would have thought the same thing… I understood it, I totally did, but I can also understand when he was lying.”
Hamlin is currently third in driver standings, only 12 points behind Ryan Blaney and trailing Reddick by 94 points. He could have narrowed this gap if the Martinsville race had gone his way. However, Hamlin is expected to get closer to the top as the season progresses, and this means direct competition against a team he owns.
While 23XI Racing is a priority, Hamlin’s goal is to win the elusive championship. He missed out on it last year, but Hamlin wants to secure it this year or in the near future to cement his legacy as an all-time great before he retires.
Short Track Champ Details Harsh Reality of Turning Down a KBM Dream Ride
What could possibly be the one thing that could be holding back a potential Cup Series driver from running at the top level of stock car racing? Lee Pulliam realized it over a decade ago when he was faced with perhaps the harshest reality of motorsports, when he had to let go of a massive opportunity to run for Kyle Busch Motorsports, only because he lacked something. And it wasn’t talent. The team loved his racing portfolio, but it was a lack of funds that held him back from being a driver for KBM Motorsports.
“When I saw that number, I was like, I mean[…] How am I gonna ever get an opportunity?” said the driver in his recent appearance on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast. It has become quite transparent now that NASCAR, and motorsports in general, are very expensive to run. Teams pick certain drivers on their sheer ability to bring sponsors, and this cost Pulliam a potential career as a Cup Series driver.
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“It was tough for me to swallow, and I said, dude, I really appreciate your time, but I don’t know how I can do that, you know, I don’t have any connections like that, my family has no… You know, we can barely Late Model race,” said Pulliam.
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Despite being quite a competitive driver, Lee Pulliam struggled for a long part of his racing career. In fact, after his chance to meet Kyle Busch passed, he did not have any other opportunity in any of the NASCAR series until 2026. It was Earnhardt Jr. who noticed his brilliance and gave him a chance at the Martinsville Speedway. He impressed with a 5th place finish and broke down while speaking to the media, understandably.
It took him well over a decade to get the chance back, but there are many drivers who struggle with the same. In fact, Kyle Busch had also reflected on this a few years ago, when speaking about yet another promising Cup prospect.
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When Kyle Busch broke down the harsh reality of Cup racing
John Hunter Nemechek was yet another promising driver, stuck with racing in the NOAP Series (called the Xfinity Series back then). He had been rather promising with Joe Gibbs Racing, winning multiple races in the 2023 season. However, there were no talks about a potential move to the Cup Series, despite the results he was bringing. It was then that Busch broke down what racing had become:
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“This isn’t to be mean or rude or a bad word, but he needs 6 million bucks, and he’ll be in a JGR Cup car next year. It’s all he needs. It’s not a success game anymore; it’s a money game. So if he can find the cash, then there’ll be a seat for him. I’m pretty sure,” he said.
This was a harsh truth that Nemechek had to face at the time. He had run a full-time season with Front Row Motorsports back in 2020, but nothing solid after that. Luckily for him, Jimmie Johnson’s Legacy Motor Club signed him in 2024, and he continues to race for them, full-time, in the Cup Series.
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But this wasn’t easy to clinch, and while Nemechek did get the opportunity, there are still many drivers who don’t. Even grassroots levels of racing are incredibly hard to participate in because of all the costs of the car, and the sponsorship issue at the national and even regional levels is another stressor for the drivers.
While even Pulliam got the chance this year, it is tough to say if he will be going forward. He did put on an impressive show, though, with a fifth-place finish, which could catch the attention of some strong sponsors. But there seems to be no confirmation right now.
Kevin Harvick Says the Quiet Part Out Loud About Team Penske’s Glaring NASCAR Deficit
For a driver to win, his pit crew must excel; if not, no matter how good he is on track, things will be tough for him. These words may sound simple, but behind them lies the harsh reality of Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 Team Penske crew. This performance gap has not gone unnoticed, and NASCAR commentator Kevin Harvick has been vocal about the impact of these pit-road deficiencies on Blaney’s results. Harvick’s take on the situation sheds light on a deeper issue within the team’s performance.
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Kevin Harvick sounds off on Team Penske’s pit crew struggles
Kevin Harvick didn’t seem to hold back while discussing issues that plagued Blaney’s crew. While this year has been great for Blaney, Penske have shown some glaring faults that have become difficult to ignore. A former driver himself, Harvick pointed that out on a recent episode of his podcast.
“Everything’s gonna be fine. And obviously they know that they have a good pit crew, but hasn’t been great,” said Harvick. “You know, from a speed start, speed point on pit road this year, their ranking has been awful, but they didn’t, they didn’t look like that team on Sunday.”
Stats certainly back Harvick’s statement. Blaney’s pit crew ranks 35th out of 36 teams in four-tire stop times in 2026, with an average of 12.89 seconds, far behind top-performing crews like Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing.
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This palpable talent difference between crews was also noticed by Harvick, who bluntly stated, “I still think the problem that they have is they’re just not as good as the Hendrick and the Gibbs pit crews.”
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Although the crew has had a disappointing season, they showed great composure at Martinsville, and Harvick gave them flowers for their performance there.
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“So in a situation like that where you have a team that is struggling and trying to get their footing, you know, back on the ground and get things headed back in the right direction, you just have to have a scenario where you don’t have any mistakes, a clean day, and just put that confidence back in everybody that you can do this,” Harvick said.
Hopefully, the performance of the crew improves, and they carry the momentum into future races. Blaney is currently second in driver standings, and only if he has their support will the driver be able to challenge Tyler Reddick and Denny Hamlin to secure the title.
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The critical role of pit crew performance in NASCAR’s evolving championship race
Faster crews have always helped achieve better finishes. It was Hendrick Motorsports who pioneered modern pit crew training with Andy Papathanassiou in the early 90s. His efforts helped reduce four‑tire stop times from 18–19 seconds in the late 1990s to elite sub-14 performances.
In the 2024 Texas Motor Speedway race weekend, for example, Hendrick crews averaged 9.27- second four‑tire pit stops against Penske crews, who averaged 9.57 seconds, a whole 0.3-second performance gap with the second-best crew.
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The value of quick pit stops has further increased with the new rules, where a race win has gone from 40 to 55 points, making it important for pit crews to cut down on time in the pits. No race can be taken lightly under the Chase Format. They will have to continue repeating their exploits from Martinsville, as that is the only way they can help Blaney get close to the title.
Underdog Promo Code WTOP: Get $50 Bonus for NBA, MLB Picks (April 1)
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All new DFS users can redeem the Underdog promo code WTOP to receive a fantasy bonus to use on all NBA and MLB entries today, or any other sport. With baseball on basically all day starting at 12:15 p.m. ET, there are no shortage of options to use this bonus thanks to this welcome offer.
Create a new account and place a $5 entry on the NBA, MLB, or any other sport and event to automatically receive $50 in fantasy entries. The outcome does not matter, so this bonus is received no matter what.
Underdog Promo Code WTOP for NBA, MLB Action Wednesday
Before tip-off between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, make sure you are fully prepared to take advantage of this welcome offer. Whether you are backing the Celtics’ elite rebounding or banking on the Heat’s scorers, here is a quick breakdown of the promotion details so you can claim your bonus entries:
Underdog Promo Code WTOP New Underdog User Offer Play $5, Get $50 Bonus Entries Terms and Conditions New players only, 18+, must be a resident of legal state. 21+ in AZ, MA and VA. 19+ in AL and NE. Date Last Verified April 1st, 2026
Claiming the latest Underdog promo code is a straightforward process for fantasy players looking to elevate their card for tonight’s Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat matchup. By simply creating a new account and playing your first $5 entry, you will instantly receive $50 in bonus entries credited directly to your bankroll. This gives you extra flexibility to hunt for longshot value and craft the perfect player prop entries before the action begins.
Please note that this exclusive welcome offer is strictly reserved for completely new Underdog customers. To successfully redeem the promotion and secure those bonus entries, you must meet the minimum age requirements and be physically located within a participating state where Underdog operates.
How to Use Your Underdog Bonus Tonight
The Boston Celtics hit the road tonight to take on the Miami Heat. Tip-off is scheduled for April 1, 2026, at 07:30 PM EDT.
Take a look at tonight’s popular player props from both teams to help build your card:
Boston Celtics Props:
Jaylen Brown: 27.5 Points
Jayson Tatum: 8.5 Rebounds
Derrick White: 4.5 Assists
Payton Pritchard: 16.5 Points
Sam Hauser: 2.5 3-Point Field Goals
Miami Heat Props:
Bam Adebayo: 10.5 Rebounds
Tyler Herro: 22.5 Points
Andrew Wiggins: 14.5 Points
Jaime Jaquez Jr.: 13.5 Points
Davion Mitchell: 5.5 Assists
When evaluating the lines tonight, there are several intriguing statistical trends that point to hidden value. For the Boston Celtics, Jaylen Brown’s points line sits at 27.5, which is just below his season-long baseline as he is averaging roughly 28.5 points per game. Likewise, Derrick White provides solid upside on his 4.5 assists prop as he is averaging close to 5.5 per game. Jayson Tatum has also been a force on the glass since he has returned from his achilles injury.
Looking at the Miami Heat side, Bam Adebayo’s rebound line is set at 10.5. Adebayo averages 10.03 total rebounds per game, but it does stand to reason that he may face stiff resistance on the boards tonight. The Boston Celtics boast a dominant 52.8% total rebound percentage, meaning the under might hold the real value here. Meanwhile, Andrew Wiggins offers steady scoring potential against his 14.5 points line, as he has averaged 15.60 points through 62 games this season.
How to Redeem the Underdog Promo Code WTOP
Ready to get in on the action and lock in your predictions for tonight’s Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat matchup? Activating your bonus entries is a simple process. First, you need to create and register a new account by providing your standard personal information. During registration, make sure to enter promo code WTOP to lock in your eligibility. Remember, you must be a completely new user and meet all local age and region requirements to participate.
Once your profile is up and running, head to the cashier and deposit at least $5 using one of the platform’s secure payment methods. With your account funded, all you need to do is play a $5 entry on tonight’s game—or any other available market—to instantly activate your $50 in bonus entries.
When you are ready to construct your card, Underdog provides two distinct ways to structure your entries:
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Choose the entry style that best fits your analytical strategy!
Camera catches SF Giants star Matt Chapman cussing out teammate
Broadcast cameras for Wednesday’s Giants-Padres game in San Diego caught San Francisco third baseman Matt Chapman ripping into his teammate after a costly error brought in a run for the second time.
In the bottom of the fifth, Chapman scooped up a chopper that Xander Bogaerts hit his way and then threw what should have been the third out of the inning to first base. However, the ball sailed over the outstretched arms of temporary first baseman Casey Schmitt, which allowed Gavin Sheets to score and double the Padres’ lead, 2-0, and moved two runners into scoring position.
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Chapman was dinged for the error, but the Giants’ broadcast showed two replays that revealed Schmitt, who doesn’t normally play first base, reached out for the ball when he should have reached up.
As the local Bay Area broadcast showed those clips, the San Diego broadcast showed something different. The Giants gathered for a mound visit, and Chapman, who is widely viewed as an unofficial captain of this Giants team, was none too pleased with his teammate. Keen-eyed viewers noted that it sure looked like the Giants star looked at Schmitt and shouted, “Catch the f—king ball. Catch the f—king ball.”
This wasn’t Schmitt’s first mistake of the afternoon, as he got charged with an error himself in the bottom of the first when he was unable to field a throw from none other than Chapman, which let the Padres score the first run of the game. Overall, the Giants generally seemed nonplussed by the fiery remark after the game, as manager Tony Vitello told reporters, “Same thing you say to your brother in the backyard if he doesn’t catch it.”
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If it’s any consolation to Schmitt, those two mistakes weren’t the difference in the game. The Giants would go on to give up five more runs in the eventual 7-1 loss, missing out on a series sweep.
Dodgers Make MLB History with Yoshinobu Yamamoto Start vs. Guardians
The Los Angeles Dodgers have officially made MLB history on Wednesday night against the Cleveland Guardians.
As Dodgers reporter Fabian Ardaya indicated earlier this week, the Dodgers are the only team in MLB history to have three Japanese-born pitchers start in three consecutive games. On Monday, Roki Sasaki started (Dodgers loss), and on Tuesday, Shohei Ohtani got the start in game two of the series, a 4-1 Dodgers win.
Los Angeles is going for the series win on Wednesday, but this shocking informational grab highlights the emergence of Japanese baseball players in MLB.
More MLB on Heavy: Braves Trade Pitch Lands Athletics’ 2X All-Star, $45 Million Ace
Yoshinobu Yamamoto Has Emerged as Top MLB Pitcher
The Dodgers signed Yoshinobu Yamamoto just two years ago, before he had even made his MLB debut. In those years since, Yamamoto has emerged as a true NL CY Young threat, and has already aided the Dodgers in two World Series victories.
He was handed over $320 million, and it is looking totally worth it after just two seasons.
In 49 total starts in his young career, Yamamoto has 312 strikeouts in 269.2 innings to the tune of a 2.67 ERA.
His Japanese counterparts are also becoming household names across the states.
Shohei Ohtani started on Tuesday, and what else would you expect from the Sho. He pitched six innings, gave up zero earned runs on just one hit allowed, and also struck out six.
Everyone knows what Ohtani can do with the bat, but this season will be just another spectacle of his superior powers.
More MLB on Heavy: Red Sox Predicted to Trade for Nationals’ All-Star Infielder
The Trio of Roki Sasaki, Shohei Ohtani, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto
After Shohei Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 2024 season, all the best Japanese talent followed suit.
Yoshonobu Yamamoto signed shortly after, and then Roki Sasaki and Hyeseong Kim followed before the 2025 campaign.
Ohtani is like a strong gravitational force, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone if more players from Japan sign with the Dodgers in the coming years.
Coach’s son replaced 2 MLB Draft prospects. Now he’s thriving for defending HS champion
We have seen this play dozens of times from a Don Bosco Prep shortstop.
Chasing a hard-hit grounder, he ranges three steps to his right, collects it back-handed, then fires the baseball on a jump throw with his momentum going towards the third base foul line to get the out.
That kind of jaw-dropping play was reserved for a Becker brother in the 2020s.
Two of the greater talents in recent New Jersey high school baseball history, Eric graduated in 2023 and has become a star at the University of Virginia, where he’s now a Top 15 prospect in the upcoming MLB Draft. His younger brother Nick was taken in the second round by the Seattle Mariners in 2025 directly out of Don Bosco.
They combined to help the Ironmen — ranked No. 4 in the NJ.com Preseason Top 20 — win three Non-Public A state championships. Whoever would replace these two titanic shortstops had major shoes to fill.
Enter Michael Rooney.
A senior, Rooney has more experience with the Don Bosco program than any other player, even though his prior roles were as the backup shortstop and a pinch-runner.
He is the son of the head coach and has watched his father lead the Ironmen since he was in grade school.
As if there wasn’t already enough pressure for anyone to play shortstop for a program of Don Bosco’s stature, Rooney is not only replacing two all-time greats, but doing so with his father calling the shots in the dugout.
“There’s definitely a little bit of pressure. You hear some chirps from the other team throughout the game. I’m aware of the situation, but I’m just happy to be in a spot to help my team again, even if the role is a little different,” Rooney said.
Rooney has quickly settled into his new role, batting second and playing shortstop. In his first two games as the everyday shortstop this spring, he’s driven in three runs and reached base four times, including a triple.
He even flashed a show-stopping back-handed jump throw on Wednesday in the fourth inning as part of Don Bosco’s 7-0 win against No. 10 Ramapo at home. He also turned a pair of double plays.
“He’s making big plays just like they did. We love having him there at shortstop,” said senior Don Bosco teammate Michael Hanna.
Rooney learned that he would be the starter at the end of the 2025 season, when Don Bosco hoisted its ninth state championship trophy in program history.
He was ready for the challenge.
“I have been with the program for the last 10 years. I’ve learned from my dad. I’ve learned from both Becker brothers. I’ve been so fortunate,” Rooney said.
When Nick Becker sat out eight games due to injury in 2025, Rooney seized the opportunity. He batted .333 in 24 at-bats, driving in 11 runs and drawing 11 walks. It wasn’t a consistent starting role, but he basked in the chance to prove that he was ready to take over upon Becker’s departure.
“Something we talk a lot about is having the attitude and gratitude to show everyone how good you can be. With that mindset, you can play easily and aggressively,” Coach Mike Rooney said.
“Dwelling on Michael’s situation can make it overwhelming. But he has a team and a coaching staff that believes in him. Now it’s about focusing on the opportunity that we have all prepared for.”
Don Bosco is off to a 2-0 start this season, extending the program’s win streak to 20 games, which dates back to last April. Even though there are newer players taking on different roles, the goal remains the same.
Win each day. Prepare for every situation. Believe in one another.
Now, even in a post-Becker era of Don Bosco baseball, they can still rely on its shortstop to contribute.
“We’re always rooting for the ball to be hit on the ground towards our shortstop,” Coach Rooney said.
MLB Draft 2026 bonus pool and pick values
The White Sox have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 Draft, which comes with an assigned value of $11,350,600, the largest since the bonus-pool era began in 2012. Yet it’s the Pirates who possess the largest overall pool at $19,130,700, another record.
MLB informed the teams of the updated slot values and bonus pools on Wednesday. The pick values increased by 2.5 percent compared to last year, reflecting the growth in MLB revenues.
Chicago had the best odds of winning the Draft Lottery at the Winter Meetings and came away with the top selection. The value of the No. 1 choice rose from $11,075,900 a year ago and makes up the bulk of the $17,592,100 bonus pool for the White Sox, which ranks third among all clubs.
Pittsburgh not only has the No. 5 selection ($8,336,500) but also gained two extra picks — a competitive-balance choice at No. 34 ($2,897,400) and compensation for failing to sign 2025 second-rounder Angel Cervantes at No. 51 ($1,938,100). The Pirates’ total eclipses the previous record of $18,334,000 by the Guardians in 2024. The Rays, who have the No. 2 pick ($10,507,000) and a competitive-balance choice at No. 33 ($2,970,200), also surpass Cleveland’s standard at $19,009,300.
Nineteen teams boast eight-figure bonus pools for 2026, while the World Series-champion Dodgers have the smallest pool at $3,951,900. Los Angeles’ first selection dropped from No. 30 to No. 40 because it exceeded the second surcharge threshold of the competitive-balance tax. It also surrendered its second-, third-, fifth- and sixth-round choices for signing free agents Edwin Díaz and Kyle Tucker.
The 30 clubs’ bonus pools total $358,662,500, an increase from $350,357,700 a year ago. Teams spent a total of $392,533,711 in signing bonuses for drafted players in 2025, breaking the record of $374,345,077 set the previous year. The Orioles spent a record $21,150,840, surpassing the $20,416,100 paid out by the 2024 Guardians.
Each pick in the first 10 rounds comes with an assigned value, with the total for a club’s choices equaling what it can spend in those rounds without incurring a penalty. If a player taken in the top 10 rounds doesn’t sign, his selection’s value gets subtracted from his team’s pool. Clubs near the top of the Draft often spend less than the assigned value for those picks and use the savings to offer more money to later choices.
Teams that exceed their bonus pool face a penalty. Clubs that outspend their allotment by 0-5 percent pay a 75 percent tax on the overage. At higher thresholds, teams lose future selections: a first-rounder and a 75 percent tax for surpassing their pool by more than 5 and up to 10 percent; a first- and a second-rounder and a 100 percent tax for more than 10 and up to 15 percent; and two first-rounders and a 100 percent tax for more than 15 percent.
In 14 Drafts with bonus pool rules, clubs have outspent their allotments a total of 260 times but never by more than 5 percent. The Cubs, Dodgers and Giants have surpassed their pools every year, and 20 of the 30 teams did so in 2025. The Rockies and Twins never have exceeded their pools.
First round
1. White Sox: $11,350,600
2. Rays: $10,507,000
3. Twins: $9,740,100
4. Giants: $8,988,400
5. Pirates: $8,336,500
6. Royals: $7,746,100
7. Orioles: $7,327,200
8. Athletics: $6,982,600
9. Braves: $6,675,300
10. Rockies: $6,393,100
11. Nationals: $6,133,500
12. Angels: $5,889,300
13. Cardinals: $5,661,300
14. Marlins: $5,444,900
15. Diamondbacks: $5,241,000
16. Rangers: $5,051,900
17. Astros: $4,868,600
18. Reds: $4,695,500
19. Guardians: $4,530,500
20. Red Sox: $4,373,900
21. Padres: $4,224,700
22. Tigers: $4,082,700
23. Cubs: $3,947,600
24. Mariners: $3,818,700
25. Brewers: $3,696,000
Competitive Balance Round A
29. Guardians: $3,270,200
30. Royals: $3,190,500
31. Diamondbacks: $3,118,300
32. Cardinals: $3,044,600
33. Rays: $2,970,200 (from Orioles in Shane Baz trade)
34. Pirates: $2,897,400
35. Yankees: $2,826,700
(first-round pick dropped 10 spots from No. 25 for exceeding second surcharge threshold of competitive-balance tax)
36. Phillies: $2,758,800
(first-round pick dropped 10 spots from No. 26 for exceeding second surcharge threshold of competitive-balance tax)
37. Rockies: $2,696,700
Second round
38. Rockies: $2,633,100
39. Blue Jays: $2,571,700
(first-round pick dropped 10 spots from No. 29 for exceeding second surcharge threshold of competitive-balance tax)
40. Dodgers: $2,504,200
(first-round pick dropped 10 spots from No. 30 for exceeding second surcharge threshold of competitive-balance tax)
41. White Sox: $2,446,100
42. Nationals: $2,388,800
43. Twins: $2,333,200
44. Pirates: $2,278,700
45. Angels: $2,225,800
46. Orioles: $2,181,600
47. Athletics: $2,131,300
48. Braves: $2,081,900
49. Rays: $2,033,400
50. Cardinals: $1,982,700
51. Pirates: $1,938,100 (for failure to sign 2025 second-rounder Angel Cervantes)
52. Marlins: $1,892,500
53. Diamondbacks: $1,848,200
54. Rangers: $1,805,300
55. Giants: $1,763,000
56. Royals: $1,721,700
57. Astros: $1,677,400
58. Reds: $1,637,700
59. Guardians: $1,598,900
60. Padres: $1,561,000
61. Tigers: $1,523,600
62. Cubs: $1,487,200
63. Yankees: $1,451,700
64. Phillies: $1,416,600
65. Mariners: $1,382,600
66. Brewers: $1,353,100
Atlanta Braves Make Roster Decision on Three-Year MLB Veteran
Per MLBTradeRumors, Atlanta Braves infielder Brett Wisely has cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett.
“He’ll remain in the organization in a non-roster capacity, as he doesn’t have the previous career outright or three years of service time to elect free agency.”
Wisely previously spent some time with the San Francisco Giants, and has 420+ at-bats in the majors since 2023.
More MLB on Heavy: Dodgers Make MLB History with Yoshinobu Yamamoto Start vs. Guardians
Braves Outright Brett Wisely
Back on Opening Day, the Braves made the decision to DFA Brett Wisely. Now, after a week, no MLB team claimed him off waivers, so he will start his 2026 season in the Braves minor league season.
In 2025, Wisely recorded six at-bats with the Braves. He got zero hits. Previously in 2025 with the Giants, Wisely hit .208 in 48 at-bats. The 26-year-old utilityman is out of Panama City Beach, Florida.
Over his 3-year MLB season, Wisely has seven total home runs and a .214 average with 49 career RBI.
More MLB on Heavy: Braves Trade Idea Lands Twins’ All-Star Starter for Grant Holmes & Nacho Alvarez Jr.
Brett Wisely’s MLB Career
As mentioned, MLBTradeRumors.com was quick on this news and provided insight into Brett Wisely’s MLB career:
“The 26-year-old Wisely has appeared at the big league level in each of the past three seasons. He spent the majority of that time with the Giants, who lost him on waivers to Atlanta in the waning days of the 2025 campaign. Wisely is a .214/.265/.319 hitter in a little under 500 trips to the plate at the MLB level. He has been a much more productive offensive player in the minors, batting .275/.372/.433 over 835 Triple-A plate appearances.”
Brett Wisely will join a cast of characters in the Braves minor league system that are fringe MLB players. That group includes Nacho Alvarez Jr., Rowdy Tellez, and Luke Williams.
The Braves had made previous roster decisions with Brett Wisely this winter.
MLB 2026 first-week takeaway for each team
Blue Jays: Kazuma Okamoto might already be a star
Forget settling in, Okamoto is already taking Toronto by storm. Okamoto’s stardom from Japan has carried right over to Major League Baseball with the Blue Jays and in his first week, he’s already shown exciting power paired with solid defense in the field. John Schneider is already using him as a moving piece up and down the lineup, anywhere from second to seventh, and continues to speak about how Okamoto “fits” what the Blue Jays are trying to build. Yes, there will be growing pains along the way and countless new pitchers to adapt to, but Okamoto’s first impression couldn’t be going any better. — Keegan Matheson
Orioles: Pete Alonso is living up to the hype
The O’s opening homestand was a bit uneven, but Alonso is already providing a steady presence in the heart of the order. No surprise, right? This is why Baltimore went big and signed the Polar Bear to a five-year, $155 million contract over the offseason. The 31-year-old slugger hit a go-ahead RBI single in the seventh inning of Sunday’s 8-6 win over the Twins, and two days later, he swatted his first Orioles homer, taking former Mets teammate Jacob deGrom deep in an 8-5 loss to the Rangers. Alonso is hitting .304 (7-for-23) over his first six games for the O’s. — Jake Rill
Rays: Yandy Díaz and Jonathan Aranda can hit, too
There has been a lot of hype around Junior Caminero, for obvious reasons. He hit 45 homers and drove in 110 runs last season, and he’s one of the most electric young players in baseball. Opponents have approached him with an appropriate level of care to start the season, pitching around him whenever possible, and he’s walked six times in six games. But hey, the guys hitting in front of him are elite in their own right — arguably two of the best pure, well-balanced hitters in the sport. Díaz has 12 hits and six RBIs in Tampa Bay’s first six games, and Aranda has gone 7-for-23 (.304) with two homers. The Rays’ lineup has looked better than expected as a group so far, but it all starts with those two and Caminero atop the order. — Adam Berry
Red Sox: Roman Anthony is human
Considering that Anthony is all of 21 years old, the amount of expectations that have been put on him to carry the Red Sox in a post -Rafael Devers and post-Alex Bregman world has been a little much. It does speak to Anthony’s immense talent and poise. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some lumps still to be taken. After getting three hits and reaching base four times on Opening Day, Anthony went 1-for-18 in his next four games. However, Anthony did go home on a positive note with a pinch-hit homer in the ninth in Wednesday’s loss in Houston. One thing that will help take pressure off Anthony is for Boston’s other key hitters — beyond Wilyer Abreu — to start producing. — Ian Browne
Yankees: ‘Pen pals pitching in
On paper, the bullpen appeared to be the Yankees’ biggest question mark entering this season. The early returns looked strong: 11 scoreless innings across their season-opening sweep of the Giants, with just five hits allowed. David Bednar picked up two saves, Camilo Doval looked dominant in a pair of scoreless appearances, and Jake Bird’s wicked movement has been impressive — Aaron Judge said that if Bird keeps looking like this, he could become a breakout star of the relief corps. They tossed three shutouts in their first five games, a feat that hadn’t been done since 1943 (Cardinals). — Bryan Hoch
Guardians: The offense is a work in progress
One week is too small of a sample to draw any final conclusions, but the Guardians’ lineup is off to a slow start. Cleveland, which has a lot of continuity from a 2025 mix that collectively struggled, entered Wednesday slashing .188/.269/.305 with 17 walks and 65 strikeouts through six games before scoring four runs in their win over the Dodgers. Chase DeLauter (who appeared to avoid a serious injury after fouling a ball off his left foot on Tuesday) was responsible for each of the club’s’ first four home runs. The Guardians have faced some tough starting pitching against the Mariners and Dodgers, but certainly have plenty of room for improvement at the plate. — Tim Stebbins
Royals: The rotation looks solid again
The Royals felt good about their five starters along with all the depth heading into the season, but you never really know how it’s going to play out. Well, the first week showed why the club had a lot of optimism in the first place. Cole Ragans was hurt by the long ball on Opening Day, but the swing and miss stuff was still there. Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo followed that up by pitching scoreless gems of six and 6 1/3 innings, respectively. And Kris Bubic gave the fans something to cheer about for six strong innings in the home opener Monday. The Royals will go as far as the rotation takes them this season. So far, so good. — Anne Rogers
Tigers: Kevin McGonigle is already a focal point
It took less than a week for McGonigle to advance from a 21-year-old rookie infielder to a hitter that opponents plan around. McGonigle had four hits and two doubles in his MLB debut, added a go-ahead hit the next night, then moved up from sixth to second in the Tigers’ lineup a few days later. Add in some solid play in the infield, and McGonigle is fast becoming a key cog in Detroit’s quest for a third consecutive playoff berth and their first division title since 2014. — Jason Beck
Twins: The bullpen is starting to take shape
Through the first four games, Kody Funderburk pitched three times, while neither Zak Kent nor Cody Laweryson got an appearance. Funderburk is clearly very trusted, and it appears they’re funneling the ninth to Cole Sands. Justin Topa is the other trusted righty besides Sands, while as expected there’s a decent amount of faith in all of the lefties. It’s not all sorted out but it’s a bit clearer than it was. — Matthew Leach
White Sox: Munetaka Murakami is as good as advertised
By his own admission, the left-handed-hitting first baseman from Japan has plenty of work to do as he begins his Major League career. In fact, Murakami has focused more on early shortcomings and the process for improvement even when opening weekend accolades were heaped upon him. But Murakami became the first player in White Sox franchise history to have a home run in each of his first three big league games, not to mention producing a hit in each of his first five, an RBI in four of those five and showing great patience at the plate with a walk in three of those five. He appears to be a needed bonafide power source. — Scott Merkin
Angels: The old Mike Trout looks back
Trout is a three-time AL MVP and an 11-time All-Star but hasn’t been selected to a Midsummer Classic since 2023 because of a recent spate of injuries, including knee problems in each of the last two seasons. But Trout is finally healthy and back to producing at an elite level. Through his first seven games, he has a 1.007 OPS with two homers, three RBIs and two stolen bases. His speed is also back, as he’s matched his stolen base total from last year in 130 games and has returned to his natural position of center field. If he can stay on the field, he could be in for a monster year. — Rhett Bollinger
Astros: A healthy Yordan Alvarez is a difference-maker
Alvarez was held to only 48 games last year, missing 100 games with a hand injury and then the final couple of weeks of the regular season with a sprained ankle. The Astros have made keeping Alvarez in the lineup a priority, and his red-hot start to the season provided a reminder of his impact. Through seven games, Alvarez is slashing .417/.563/.917 with three homers, six walks (three intentional) and four strikeouts. With Alvarez leading the way, the Astros scored at least six runs in five consecutive games from Saturday through Wednesday and are averaging 8.6 runs per game in that span. — Brian McTaggart
Athletics: Shea Langeliers looks like an MVP-type hitter
Cal Raleigh established himself as the top hitting catcher in baseball last year, but Langeliers is making an early case to wrestle that title away from him with a scorching hot start, with his five home runs tied for most by a primary catcher in his team’s first six games of a season. It’s only one week, but Langeliers has been performing as one of the top sluggers in baseball dating back to the 2025 All-Star break. — Martín Gallegos
Mariners: Cole Young and the bottom of the order has pop
Seattle’s thumpers — Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez and Josh Naylor — are a combined 7-for-78 (.090), the type of production that probably would’ve led to a brutal Opening Week in the win column. Yet, the Mariners were able to withstand those struggles and manage a 3-4 record thanks to the Nos. 6-9 hitters. Entering Wednesday, that group combined for an MLB-best .897 OPS in that stretch. And there are signs that this could be legitimate, especially the showing from the 22-year-old Young, who’s continued from a stellar Spring Training. — Daniel Kramer
Rangers: Brandon Nimmo is having a real offensive impact
The Rangers acquired Nimmo in a one-for-one trade with the Mets that sent Marcus Semien to New York this offseason, just a small part of trying to revamp an anemic offense. In just six games, that impact has been felt at the top of the lineup, as Nimmo’s approach has percolated throughout the lineup. He fights off pitches, he draws his walks, he swings at strikes, he does everything that new manager Skip Schumaker wants from the lineup. — Kennedi Landry
Braves: Rotation concerns have been quieted
The Braves got what was expected when they had José Suarez start the fifth game of the season. But each of the first four starters have been solid and it looks like Martín Pérez will be a good replacement when that fifth spot comes up again on Sunday. Reynaldo López’s fastball was back in the mid 90’s and Spencer Strider could be just a week or two away from being activated. Depth remains a concern, but so far, so good for a group that lost four pitchers to injuries during Spring Training. — Mark Bowman
Marlins: The bullpen is legit
Pete Fairbanks, who signed a franchise-record deal for a reliever, has gone 2-for-2 in save situations. The surrounding cast has been just as strong. Miami’s bullpen owns the lowest ERA (0.51) and the second-fewest walks in the Majors, and has yet to surrender a long ball. Marlins relievers were able to sit back and relax on Wednesday, when starter Sandy Alcantara tossed a
The Early MLB Shocker No One Expected After One Week
We’re just about one week into the 2026 Major League Baseball season and there has been one team that has surprised more than anyone else: the Miami Marlins.
Miami went 79-83 in 2025 and finished in third place in the National League East. While it’s a small sample size, Miami has been much better so far this season. The Marlins are 5-1 on the season so far. While it has just been one week, if you had guessed that the Marlins would be tied for the best record in baseball at any point in the season, there are few who would’ve believed you.
Miami is tied with the New York Yankees and the Milwaukee Brewers for the best record in the game at 5-1. Right now, the Marlins are one game ahead of the Atlanta Braves — who have been surprising themselves — in second place in the NL East.
Miami won its first three games of the season before suffering its first loss of the season on March 30 against the Chicago White Sox. The Marlins bounced back with a 9-2 win on Tuesday and a 10-0 win on Wednesday, both over the White Sox.
The Marlins are MLB’s biggest shocker
The Marlins’ pitching has been its biggest strength and right now the club is tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers with the fourth-best team ERA in baseball at 2.83 through six games. Miami has also scored the fourth-most runs in the league this season with 33 while boasting the No. 1 team batting average in the league at .290. So, the Marlins have put the bat on the ball and scored runs and have been among the very best in the game at preventing opposing teams from scoring. You can’t really ask for much more than that.
Again, who would’ve predicted that the Marlins would be tied for the best record in baseball at any point in 2026? Not many people. It has been a fun season so far across Major League Baseball and the Marlins have been the biggest surprise. Now, of course things can change. A week from now, the Marlins could be struggling. But right now, the Marlins are playing very good and clean baseball and have been much better than expected.
It would be a good story for the league if a team like Miami could actually be good over the course of the season. It hasn’t been the case in recent memory. But maybe they have turned a corner.
2X MLB All-Star Fires Back After Jason Kelce & Travis Kelce Make Controversial Baseball Remarks
The Kelce brothers are two of the most well-known figures in the sports community. But their recent take on baseball hasn’t been well-received. While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, Jason and Travis’ dismissive take on baseball saw a seasoned MLB voice call the brothers out.
“You guys play once a week, we play ‘almost’ everyday,” said 2x All-Star Jonathan Lucroy.
Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce were having a casual chat on their ‘New Heights’ podcast, where they discussed why Travis hated baseball. A small clip covering their conversation on the specific sport went viral.
“The reason why I didn’t play baseball in my sophomore and junior year was conditioning in baseball… get me the f*** out of here,” said Kelce. “Why am I running foul pole to foul pole?”
The Kelce brothers questioned the training methods used in baseball as they believed it had no real connection to the game.
In his tweet, Lucroy highlighted the daily workload involved in baseball and how running between the foul poles helps build aerobic endurance to help recover between games.
“We play 162 games. Plus Spring training, and then the playoffs if we get there. If you make the WS, you are talking 190+ games. NFL games are brutally violent, and I’m not understating that, but our game is more about endurance and longevity over a 7-month season of daily attrition,” Lucroy explained in his tweet.
The 2-time All-Star catcher himself is aware of how physically demanding the game is and explained how it takes a lot to play his position.
“Just for myself, I caught 200+ pitches every time I caught. That means I did at least 200 squats every game. (not counting warm-ups before the game and at the start of an inning.) If I caught 120 games in a season, that’s 24,000 squats I did over the course of the regular season. Plus all of ST, and then the warmups before and during the game,” Lucroy tweeted.
While Lucroy took a strong stand for MLB, he gave the NFL its respect by mentioning how physical the sport was. But it’s not just Kelce or Lucroy, MLB or NFL, every single sport has its own definition for fitness and practice.
NFL and MLB have their own difficulties
Football involves way more activity from all the players during the entire game. But it’s only 60 minutes. Whereas a standard 9 innings lasts around 2 to 2.5 hrs. If it goes to extra innings, that’s a different and more difficult story.
Sprinting is necessary in football, but baseball needs endurance. True, you don’t run around the field all the time, but even standing on your feet, being ready to move within a nanosecond requires fitness too. And doing that almost 6 days a week doesn’t make it any easier.
Lucroy also highlighted the amount of squats he had to do as a catcher.
It isn’t any less challenging for the hitters or pitchers, and all of them have their own set of warmups as well.
In the end, it’s not about which is more difficult. It’s just perspective. While the NFL grabs a lot of headlines, the technical nuance required to play baseball is unique and offers a brilliant viewing experience.
MLB World Series Champion Puts Bob Nutting on Notice as Pirates Mull Over Konnor Griffin Decision
MLB teams are focused on securing their future as they hand out contract extensions to their top prospects and minor leaguers. While the Milwaukee Brewers and the Seattle Mariners have already done so, the Pittsburgh Pirates are reportedly invested in a negotiation with Konnor Griffin. The No.9 overall pick in the 2024 draft, the shortstop is the Pirates’ top prospect in 2026. If the Pirates want to keep Griffin, a former World Series champion thinks Bob Nutting must become more proactive about it.
According to ESPN, the Pirates are willing to offer a deal similar to the one the Arizona Diamondbacks offered Corbin Carroll, an eight-year, $111 million deal. On the other hand, Griffin’s side is arguing for something closer to Roman Anthony’s eight-year, $130 million. Amid this ongoing negotiation, AJ Pierzynski on Foul Territory clearly stated that Nutting and the Pirates franchise must pay Griffin more if they believe he will be a key piece in the near future.
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“He should get more,” remarked Pierzynski. “If he’s as good as the Pirates think he is, think he’s gonna be the face of the franchise, then he should get more than Roman Anthony. That’s how these things work. The guy before you set the bar, so the next guy gets more.”
Last season, the shortstop batted at .333 with a .942 OPS and 21 homers in 122 games in the minors. Griffin also batted well in Spring Training this season. He put together 4 homers in 41 at-bats in 16 games.
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Though his recent performance was solid enough to fuel big league speculation, the Pirates ultimately optioned the 19-year-old to Triple-A.
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Recent contract extensions to other shortstops should help Griffin in negotiations
Outside the Pirates world, the Mariners and the Brewers have also offered eight-year contract extensions to shortstops Colt Emerson and Cooper Pratt, respectively. While Pratt signed a $50 million contract with the Brewers, the Mariners agreed to a $95 million deal with Emerson.
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These recent deals should help Griffin secure a bigger one, especially if the Pirates consider him as their top prospect.
Jim Bowden also shared a similar opinion on Foul Territory. He suggested that if Emerson gets $95 million, then Griffin should get $150-160 million in nine years.
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“I think, if I’m Konnor Griffin, the cold Emerson deal just made me some money. Because I’m going to argue that the Colt Emerson deal that was negotiated by Seth and Sam Levinson of Aces, you know, I’m going to look at it as $130 million over nine years,” remarked Bowden. “And so, if you’re worth nine, $130, then my argument is Konnor Griffin’s now worth nine, $150 or $160 if he’s going to give that up, because he’s graded a lot higher in terms of how we project the players.”
Pierzynski, the 2005 World Series champion, also thinks the same as Bowden.
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He put it simply as, “Pay the man, Bob. Pay the man his money.”
Having secured a talented prospect in Griffin, they will certainly need to pay him big money to persuade him to be a part of the franchise. As a young prospect, a lot of eyes will be on Griffin, but Nutting will have to get the deal over the line, as losing him would cost the team a lot.
Michael Vick’s Wife Kijafa Turns Heads in Bikini Enjoying Tropical Paradise
It was a rough first season coaching college football Michael Vick, and for his wife Kijafa rooting him on. She’s at least enjoying the football offseason while rocking a bikini in Belize.
The Norfolk State Spartans finished dead last in the season at 1-11 overall in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Vick even lost to his former Philadelphia Eagles teammate DeSean Jackson who coaches at Delaware State.
While the former quarterback legend’s team struggled, Kijafa was a bright spot. The 45-year-old coach’s wife and a star of W.A.G.S. to Riches Kijafa turned heads with looks like her Spartans cheerleader fit, and her can’t-miss press conference stunner.
Kijafa has been on fire this offseason like her ab-flexing look at an event, and this crazy over-the-top “leather and feathers” creation.
Kijafa stuns in another bikini
She’s also been living it up on tropical vacations with not only one trip, but a second where she flexed another bikini stunner while on a swing by the ocean in what she called her “happy place.”
That looks like the perfect spot to relax.
The Vicks’ love story
Michael and Kijafa met in 2002 and dated for several years before he proposed in 2009 during his 29th birthday. They married in 2012 in a lavish Miami, Florida, ceremony. They have three children together Jada Vick, 20, London Vick, 17, and Michael Vick Junior, 7.
Giants Potential Draft Target Compared to Pair of Superstar RBs
In less than a month, the New York Giants will be on the clock with the No. 5 pick in the NFL draft. As the front office continues its due diligence, one name on their board garnered some high praise.
During an appearance on the ‘Schein Time’ show, NFL analyst Greg Cosell gave his thoughts on running back prospect Jeremiyah Love. He is very high on the Notre Dame standout, comparing his style of play to the likes of Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs.
“I got the same bromance with Love that you have,” Cosell told Adam Schein. “The more I watched him, the more I thought of Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs. Almost like a combo platter.”
Love is someone the Giants zeroed in on early, as they’ve already had a sit-down meeting with the dynamic running back. There seems to be a mutual respect, as he had good things to say about the Giants organization during Notre Dame’s Pro Day earlier this month.
Currently projected to come off the board in the back half of the top ten, New York might have an opportunity to add the promising backfield threat to their strong core of young talent.
Giants Coach Makes His Feelings Clear on Jeremiyah Love
Coming off an impressive season at Notre Dame last season, Love has many excited as he prepares to make the leap to the pros. Among those who is a strong believer in what he brings to the table is Giants head coach John Harbaugh.
While speaking with the media of the NFL’s annual meetings, Harbaugh was asked about drafting a running back that high in the first round. He is all for putting together the most talented team possible and praised Love’s skill set.
“You build the best team you can with the best players you can get,” Harbaugh said. “I’d probably put very very good player. Put a couple verys in front of that, maybe even a couple more. He’s really good.”
Giants Expected to Select Jeremiyah Love if he’s Available at No. 5
Before suffering a season-ending ankle injury last year, it looked as though the Giants had found their running back of the future in Cam Skattebo. While they are likely still confident in him moving forward, they are expected to create an exciting young backfield duo in 2026 and beyond.
In a recent column for ESPN, a handful of insiders weighed in on the rumors they are hearing leading up to the draft. As it pertains to Love, there remains an expectation that the Tennessee Titans could take him with the fourth overall pick. However, if they decide to pass on Love, Matt Miller noted there’s a strong chance the Giants snatch him up with the following selection.
“Love is the type of transcendent prospect who the Titans can build their offense around, giving quarterback Cam Ward a viable threat in the run and pass game,” Miller wrote. “And from what I’ve heard, if Love falls past Tennessee, the Giants will likely take him at No. 5.”
Only time will tell if the Giants will have a shot at the exciting RB prospect or if they’ll be forced to pivot and go in a different direction.
Jeffrey Lurie won’t rule out leaving South Philly amid stadium research
PHOENIX — With the expiration of Lincoln Financial Field’s lease looming in 2032, team owner Jeffrey Lurie made it clear that all options are on the table for the Eagles’ future home.
One of those variables is the prospective location of their home.
At his annual news conference at the league meetings on Tuesday, Lurie explained that the team is conducting “exploratory research” on the prospect of a new or renovated stadium. That research dates back to at least last year, when the organization sent out surveys to season ticket holders to solicit their opinions on a potential stadium renovation or a new building.
Before the Eagles’ move from Veterans Stadium to Lincoln Financial Field in 2003, Lurie said the organization conducted two to three years of exploratory research. Similarly, in the next year or two, he said he aims to have a more “definitive approach” to their stadium plans.
For now, the Eagles are taking it slow with the exploratory process, using the latest NFL stadiums belonging to the Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills, as well as renovated international stadiums such as Bernabéu in Madrid and Camp Nou in Barcelona, as case studies.
“Is there anything we can learn from Nashville and Buffalo?” Lurie said. “Is there anything we can learn from the renovations in Madrid and Barcelona? It’s really important. I think we want to maximize fan amenities and attract the best possible environment for Philadelphia. And to do that, you’ve really got to do the exploratory research. Don’t rush into it. This is a big decision.”
Part of the big decision includes the future site of the stadium, if the Eagles decide to build anew. Since 1971, the Eagles have called the South Philadelphia Sports Complex their home. The World War II-era Steagles aside, each of the team’s six permanent home stadiums throughout its 92-year history have been located within city limits.
But in recent years, some NFL teams with new stadium plans have explored moves outside of city centers, or even to different states entirely. Chicago Bears president Kevin Warren told Pro Football Talk on Tuesday that the team’s next stadium will likely reside in either northwest Indiana or Arlington Heights, Ill., after their lease expires at Soldier Field in 2033.
Public funding often plays a role in prospective stadium destinations. Indiana governor Mike Braun signed a bill in February that permitted funding for a potential new Bears stadium in Hammond, Ind., which is located approximately 25 miles northeast of Chicago.
Lurie wouldn’t rule out any potential locations if the team builds a new stadium, even if that means leaving South Philadelphia.
“Whatever’s best for the fans,” Lurie said. “I mean, we don’t really go on a geographical basis. It’s whatever’s best for the fans. And I can’t tell you where [the planned stadium in] Cleveland is, Barcelona is, I don’t know. Honestly, the bottom line is whatever is best for the fans.”
Lurie repeatedly emphasized that the fan experience is his top priority in the stadium plans. He said he doesn’t have any “non-negotiables,” even as it pertains to the decision to include a dome on their home. New stadiums and renovations to existing facilities around the league have often included roofs, increasing the eligibility of those cities to host events such as the Super Bowl.
“We’re so focused on fan amenities,” Lurie said. “To me, that’s the number one thing. Just as a boy growing up, you want to have as best a fan experience. The rest is architecture, design, and where it ends up.”
Lincoln Financial Field will turn 23 years old in August. The Jefferson Health Training Complex, the team’s practice facility formerly called the NovaCare Complex, is 24 years old. By the time the Washington Commanders’ new stadium is scheduled to open at the historic RFK Stadium site in 2030, Lurie acknowledged that the Eagles’ facilities will be the oldest in the division.
But Lurie said he loves Lincoln Financial Field and called it “wonderful.” The practice facility went from “worst to best” when NovaCare was built in 2001, he said. The team continues to make upgrades and renovations to its current facilities, plus investments beyond the physical buildings into player health and safety endeavors.
Just because the Eagles’ facilities are aging doesn’t necessarily mean that they can’t be improved or that a new stadium is a foregone conclusion, according to Lurie.
“There’s Fenway [Park], there’s Lambeau [Field], whatever, but there’s no question our practice facility and particularly our stadium will be the oldest in the division,” Lurie said. “We have put so much money into the stadium, so it doesn’t appear that way, and it’s still great, and people still love it, but it’s a fact of that exploration I was talking to you about.
“Do we want to be in 2045, 15 years older than every other stadium in our division or whatever? We’d have to see. Maybe. But it’s all part of it. I know part of our culture is to … maximize the athletic ability that we have of our players, our coaches and everybody. That will always be the top priority. So whatever we’re doing with [the] stadium, with [the] practice facility, if it’s not near top-notch, it’s not our goal.”
The Eagles are still at least a year away from cementing their stadium plans. The only certainty is that Lurie is considering every alternative.
“I think if you’re just humble about it and open that you don’t have all the answers, and do the exploratory work, you’ll end up with a better long-term situation,” Lurie said.
Raiders Hit With Strong Draft Take to Help Maxx Crosby
This offseason, the Las Vegas Raiders have bolstered their defense with the arrivals of Taron Johnson, Nakobe Dean, and Quay Walker, and even with the failed Maxx Crosby trade, they can keep their top defensive player.
Nonetheless, while Las Vegas has made moves to ensure it has a competitive defensive unit, there are still areas it needs to improve, especially on the defensive line.
While many assume the Raiders will take former Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza, the question is what the team does in Round 2. Could they pursue a wideout with No. 1 potential to help Mendoza?
However, ESPN’s Matt Bowen believes the player who best fits the team is a defensive lineman: Former Ohio State Buckeyes star Kayden McDonald.
“Edge rusher Maxx Crosby is staying with the Raiders, and the team also signed edge rusher Kwity Paye in free agency,” Bowen wrote in his article published on March 31. “So, Las Vegas should look to upgrade the interior of its D-line with McDonald, who can play the nose tackle spot under new coordinator Rob Leonard.
“With more range than a transitional nose tackle, McDonald is a true run game disruptor. He uses his foot quickness and power to make splash plays, leading to 17 tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage in 2025. McDonald also had three sacks and two forced fumbles.”
Raiders Need to Improve QB Depth Before 2026 Season
Along with improving their interior defensive line, the Raiders need to improve their QB situation. The Raiders were looking to add a veteran in Joe Flacco, but he decided to stay with the Cincinnati Bengals.
As a result, it appears that the Silver and Black want a veteran signal caller to go with O’Connell and likely Mendoza. On March 30, Raiders general manager John Spytek spoke with reporters and shared an update on the team’s plan to improve the QB position as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches.
“Aidan’s played a lot of good football in this league,” Spytek said. “He’s started, he’s thrown for 300 yards in games. He’s a great teammate, works his tail off, and he’s smart.
“Obviously, he’s the only quarterback on the roster right now, and at a premium position, I think it’s a fair question to ask. We’re considering a bunch of different things right now, and I think we’ll have some answers here in the coming weeks.”
Las Vegas Predicted to Be Landing Spot for Kirk Cousins
After missing out on Flacco, Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport identified one free agent for all 32 NFL teams to sign before the season starts, suggesting the Raiders add veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins.
“Just because Mendoza is the future under center in Sin City doesn’t mean he should be the present,” Davenport wrote. “And with Aidan O’Connell the only QB currently on the roster, the Raiders need a bridge starter who can hold down the fort until Mendoza is ready to take over the offense.
Kirk Cousins Gets Bad Career News in Latest NFL QB Update
Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins continues hunting a new home in the NFL, but the options are slim and getting slimmer with regards to a chance to start somewhere among the 32 teams.
Cousins caught some bad news in that regard via an update from ESPN’s Adam Schefter regarding four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his thoughts on returning to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2026.
“The situation is that he and [Steelers head coach] Mike McCarthy have been talking on a regular basis,” Schefter said. “Why are they even talking if Aaron Rodgers is not serious about coming back? That would tell you that, obviously, he is strongly entertaining the idea of coming back to the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
“And I think everyone, right now, within the Steelers organization is cautiously optimistic that he’ll be back,” Schefter continued. “We never fully know with Aaron Rodgers. But that much activity and conversations and talking about what the future could look like clearly is an indication that he’s serious about playing. My understanding also is it has nothing to do with a contract, that should not be difficult to work out.”
Aaron Rodgers, Mike McCarthy Excited About Potential Reunion in Pittsburgh
Rodgers and McCarthy spent 13 years together with the Green Bay Packers, where they captured a Super Bowl ring following the 2010 season.
Pittsburgh brought McCarthy in to replace Mike Tomlin, who stepped down following one year with Rodgers as his starting quarterback. The Steelers won the AFC North Division and earned the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoffs in 2025, but lost to the Houston Texans in blowout fashion in Round 1.
Rodgers will turn 43 years old in December, though he and McCarthy have both publicly complimented one another and mused on what it would be like to reunite at the end of their respective careers.
“It’d be a great story,” McCarthy said.
Raiders May Be Kirk Cousins’ Last Chance at QB1 Role if Aaron Rodgers Returns to Steelers in 2026
Pittsburgh owner Art Rooney II said recently that he expects to know before the upcoming draft, which begins on Thursday, April 23, whether Rodgers will return in 2026. The quarterback spoke to his decision timeline several weeks prior.
“There’s been no deadline that’s been put in front of me. There’s no contract offer or anything,” Rodgers told the Pat McAfee Show March 5. “I’m a free agent.”
If Rodgers comes back to Pittsburgh, Cousins’ last best bet to earn a starting job will probably be with the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Raiders are likely to draft Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick, though they are unlikely to compete for the playoffs in 2026 and may decide to bring him along more slowly rather than throw him directly into the fire in Week 1.
There is no guarantee that Cousins would get a full year as QB1 in Las Vegas, and it is probably more likely that he would not than that he would, as the Raiders will have incentive to get Mendoza some experience during his rookie campaign.
However, if Cousins plays well, he could be a trade candidate ahead of the mid-season deadline for some team struggling with QB injuries, or perhaps he could up his value for a chance to start elsewhere in the NFL in 2027.
Roger Goodell Offers
Roger Goodell offered NFL Network employees some departing words as they transitioned to ESPN.
Starting on Wednesday, April 1, the sports broadcaster will take over the NFL Network and RedZone Channel as part of the deal they announced back in August 2025.
As of now, no major changes have been announced, but changes might be expected as the NFL season ramps up.
“With a new league year upon us, we wanted to take a moment to recognize the members of our NFL family who will be transitioning to ESPN as part of the sale completed earlier this year,” read the note Goodell sent to NFL Media employees. “In 2003, we had an idea. Many skeptics doubted there was demand for a network featuring round the clock, yearlong NFL news, information and analysis. But we knew our fans. We knew if we built it, they would come.”
The note continued, “The team at NFL Network has accomplished something remarkable over the past two decades. A home for the best content in all of sports — from Total Access, Good Morning Football, and NFL RedZone, to breaking news and live games, including Thursday Night Football. And let’s not forget, along the way you made the NFL Scouting Combine and NFL Schedule Release must-see TV. It is no surprise that the fruits of your labor would be attractive to an industry leader like ESPN as they look to serve the insatiable appetites of NFL fans.”
Goodell said that a new chapter began for NFL Media, NFL Network, and many of its employees, adding, “To those remaining with NFL Media to evolve our key fan-facing platforms — from our website, apps and content productions across YouTube, FAST and podcasts, to NFL RedZone — please know how much we appreciate you. You will lead NFL Media into this next chapter. To those heading to ESPN, we offer a heartfelt thank you. We have no doubt that you will continue to drive unparalleled coverage of the NFL. And whether you are transitioning or staying, each of you will keep contributing to our greater football story, building on the relationships, sacrifice and teamwork that made this moment possible.”
Pioneer Female Referee Sues NFL Over
A former female NFL referee has alleged that the league’s celebrated DEI commitments failed to support her when she needed help during her pathbreaking career. One of the league’s first three women to officiate an NFL game has filed a discrimination lawsuit against the league for alleged sexism that she experienced over three years.
“Robin DeLorenzo cited gender-based scrutiny, humiliation, and open hostility among the indignities she suffered from 2022 to 2025 as a league official,” ESPN reported. “The lawsuit in Manhattan federal court, filed Friday, sought reinstatement along with unspecified damages.”
According to the lawsuit, DeLorenzo faced countless discriminatory actions, such as being sent oversized men’s uniforms, being asked to show her ponytail, and being demanded to perform a humiliating singing performance in front of players and coaches. The former referee mentioned that her crew chief often humiliated her, harassed her, and used abusive language.
Furthermore, DeLorenzo also confirmed that she was forced to participate in a ‘training opportunity’ for lower-level college officials. However, no male official had ever been required to do so, which she alleged to be ‘male power play’ for humiliating and undermining her.
“[DeLorenzo] worked her way through two decades of officiating — breaking barriers, making history, and outperforming expectations at every level — only to be met with hostility, retaliation, and systemic inequality the moment she stepped into a league that claims to champion opportunities for women,” the lawsuit read.
However, this wasn’t always the case for Robin DeLorenzo, who often described her amazement with her role as an NFL official as she followed her father’s advice throughout her journey. This happiness surged to the next level when the NFL’s senior vice president of officiating allowed her father to deliver the news to her that she had been promoted to the NFL.
“Once he gave me the news, my dad and I just stared at each other, crying for about five minutes,” DeLorenzo told NFL.com. “It was the most magical night.”
However, on February 18, 2025, DeLorenzo was terminated after a three-year tenure, which started in 2023. Her termination letter, as per DeLorenzo, delved into her performance across all three seasons. This was the same period when she faced discrimination, harassment, and was punished for speaking up.
The lawsuit raises twelve causes of action under federal, New York state, and city, and New Jersey anti-discrimination laws, as the former NFL referee seeks reinstatement, compensatory and punitive damages, and back pay.
Given the lawsuit’s potential to harm the NFL’s reputation for inclusivity, the league issued a statement.
NFL issues statement on Robin DeLorenzo’s lawsuit
Following the lawsuit, NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy confirmed through an email to ESPN that DeLorenzo was dismissed after three seasons marked by documented underperformance. However, unlike the league, the NFL Referees Association hasn’t yet issued a comment on the situation.
“The allegations in this lawsuit are baseless, and we will vigorously defend against them in court,” McCarthy said.
With Robin DeLorenzo, one of the first women to officiate an NFL game, suing the NFL over alleged sexism and harassment, questions will be raised about how serious the NFL is about its DEI commitments. Despite the league’s stance of denying her claims, the outcome of this lawsuit will force a few systemic changes for the NFL moving forward.
Jets Encouraged to Select Texas Tech Star David Bailey Second Overall
Texas Tech star edge rusher David Bailey enters the 2026 NFL Draft as one of the top prospects.
With less than a month left in the draft, it is more than likely that Bailery will hear his name called within the first five picks of the draft. He’s established himself as one of the more elite edge rushers. Because of that, many teams high in the draft will look at Bailey as a potential pick.
While many mock Bailey inside the top 10, NFL analyst Brian Baldinger believes his skill set should land him with the New York Jets at No. 2 overall.
Baldinger made his case for Bailey at No. 2 overall in his more recent appearance on NFL Network.
Ben Roethlisberger Fires Warning to Steelers on Drafting QB
The Pittsburgh Steelers are still searching for a long-term replacement for two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger. But if it were up to Roethlisberger, he wouldn’t try to find Pittsburgh’s next great quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Not in the first round, second round or third. Roethlisberger explained on the latest episode of “Footbahlin Podcast” that he wouldn’t pick a quarterback on either of the first two days of the 2026 draft.
“I’ve seen some people say quarterback. They should get a quarterback in the second round. I think that’s a huge mistake,” Roethlisberger said Tuesday, via Steelers Depot’s Jake Brockhoff. “Second round, you can get so many really good players, and you don’t waste it on a quarterback right now.
“Even if Aaron [Rodgers] says I’m not coming back, I wouldn’t do it in the second round …
“I would not draft one in my first three picks, to be honest.”
The former two-time NFL passing leader then argued the fact the draft is in Pittsburgh this year should play a role in the organization’s decision-making.
“You better hope that first pick they announce up there is one the fans want,” Roethlisberger added. “They were talking about Ty Simpson. I’m like, alright, they better not.
“Like, that would be the craziest [thing], but if they did that, I think Pittsburgh would boo.”
Ben Roethlisberger Calls Drafting Second-Round QB ‘Waste’
There’s a couple things of note from what Roethlisberger said Tuesday.
First, the former quarterback seems to be reacting to national pundits suggesting the Steelers could take Ty Simpson or another quarterback on Day 2.
That’s not out of the realm of possibility. But Steelers insiders such as Gerry Dulac and Mark Kaboly have reported and/or argued the team isn’t interested in taking a quarterback early.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio suggested that could be a smokescreen. Maybe it is. It’s hard to tell this time of year.
But it’s far from a foregone conclusion quarterback will be one of the positions the Steelers address in the first three rounds. More than likely, if Aaron Rodgers comes back, it won’t be.
If it is, though, it’s hard to see why it would be a wasted pick as Roethlisberger claims.
The 2026 NFL Draft class isn’t billed as a strong quarterback group. That’s likely why Roethlisberger sees staying away from the group entirely as the more prudent approach.
But clearly, the Steelers have a quarterback need. Rodgers might fill it for one more season. Other than that, Will Howard is far from a guarantee as a former sixth-rounder pick. Mason Rudolph has likely peaked as a decent backup.
Therefore, the Steelers drafting a quarterback at any point hardly seems wasteful.
And to say Pittsburgh might boo Simpson, who the team would believe is its next franchise quarterback if it drafted him in the first round, is a bit of a stretch.
Should Pittsburgh Hosting Play a Role in Steelers Draft Selections?
In the Steelers home matchup against the Buffalo Bills on November 30, the Acrisure Stadium crowd broke out a “Fire Tomlin” chant.
There’s a lot of frustration in the Pittsburgh fan base. While Tomlin is gone, that frustration remains. The team hasn’t won a playoff game in almost a decade. Furthermore, a lot of fans and pundits weren’t happy with the choice of Mike McCarthy as their next head coach.
With that in mind, Roethlisberger is right — the Steelers could use some positive PR with its first-round choice.
But that doesn’t mean the team should aim to make a crowd-pleasing selection in the first round.
If the Steelers firmly believe one of the 2026 quarterbacks is the guy to be the next Roethlisberger, they have to take a chance on him. The organization should do that regardless of what the draft crowd’s reaction may be.
Commanders Called on to ‘Be Bold’ to Land Jayden Daniels New Playmaker
The Washington Commanders hold a top 10 selection in the NFL Draft for the third time this decade. But that’s not enough for one draft analyst — Fox Sports’s Rob Rang. In his newest mock draft this week, Rang proposed the Commanders make a splash with a move up to No. 3 overall to draft running back Jeremiyah Love.
Rang characterized the trade as a necessary risk for a team desperate to get quarterback Jayden Daniels another weapon.
“If the Commanders are really serious about protecting Jayden Daniels, they’ll insulate him with a dynamic runner and won’t risk losing the opportunity to draft him by waiting until they are on the clock at No. 7 overall,” Rang wrote. “With just six draft picks in 2026 (including no second-round selection), Washington would have to be bold, indeed, to make this move, likely having to trade not only this year’s first round pick but next year’s, as well.”
Love is the clear-cut top running back in the 2026 draft class. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah each have Love rated as their No. 2 prospect behind Heisman trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.
“Love reminds me a lot of Reggie Bush. The 20-year-old has vision and burst between the tackles and to the outside, and he can break tackles with ease (60 forced missed tackles on the 2025 season),” Kiper wrote. “Once he gets into space, he can take it to the house with his 4.36 breakaway speed too. But Love isn’t only an outstanding runner. He also is a high-impact pass catcher.
“An NFL team will be able to flank him out wide and create a whole other dimension of the offense.”
Why the Commanders Should Target RB Jeremiyah Love
It’s not very hard to see why Washington could try to land the Notre Dame running back.
Love rushed for 1,372 yards for the Fighting Irish last season. He averaged 6.9 yards per attempt each of the past two years. Love also scored 40 touchdowns in 2024 and 2025 combined.
Commanders rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt led the team with 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns last season. Third-year running back Chris Rodriguez also had 500 rushing yards, but he joined the Jacksonville Jaguars in NFL free agency.
To replace Rodriguez, the Commanders added Rachaad White and Jerome Ford in free agency. But Love would give Washington another dynamic in the backfield. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared the Notre Dame product to Jahmyr Gibbs, who posted 5,029 yards from scrimmage in his first three NFL campaigns.
“Three-phase running back capable of stressing defenses with big-play speed and untapped pass-catching value,” Zierlein wrote. “He’s a talented route runner and pass catcher who can work from the slot and mismatch linebackers.
“Love is a three-down, scheme-independent player who would benefit from a complementary back to preserve his big-play ability.”
Would the Commanders Trade Up to No. 3 for Love?
It’s important to note that Rang’s mock draft featured trades as a theme. Every single projection in the mock draft was via a trade.
So Rang exploring the possibility of the Commanders moving up to No. 3 for Love seemed to be more of a fun experiment than an actual prediction.
The Commanders have significant needs on defense, especially at edge rusher. Offensively, they could use another receiver.
With that in mind, a trade up to No. 3 for Love seems far-fetched, particularly when considering the Commanders don’t have a second- or fourth-round pick.
On the other hand, Washington could see Love as an indirect defensive improvement for the organization. If the Commanders can successfully run the ball more often next season, their defense will be on the field less.
Love would also be a pass-catcher for Daniels.
The Commanders could roll the dice and see if Love falls to them at No. 7. A trade up to No. 3, though, would be an aggressive move to ensure Washington lands arguably the top non-quarterback prospect of 2026.
Alex Ovechkin scores twice, hitting 30 goals for 20th season, as Caps win
Alex Ovechkin scored twice and hit the 30-goal mark for the record-extending 20th time in his NHL career, and the Washington Capitals beat the Philadelphia Flyers 6-4 on Tuesday night.
Ovechkin’s latest milestone 30-goal season is three more than the next-closest player (Mike Gartner – 17 times), according to ESPN Research. He has hit that mark in all but one season: the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign, where he had 24 in 45 games.
Ovechkin joined Gordie Howe (who did it two times), Teemu Selanne and Johnny Bucyk as the only players in NHL history to score 30 goals in a season at age 40 or older, per ESPN Research.
Ovechkin’s 30th and 31st goals marked his 185th career multi-goal game; only Wayne Gretzky has more with 189.
Tom Wilson also had two goals, Jakob Chychrun had a goal and two assists, and Ryan Leonard added a goal and an assist. Pierre-Luc Dubois had three assists for the Capitals, who have won three straight as they try to climb back into playoff position.
Travis Sanheim, Carl Grundstrom, Christian Dvorak and Denver Barkey scored and Porter Martone made his NHL debut for the Flyers, whose three-game winning streak came to an end.
Late in the first, Wilson’s shot from the slot made it 1-0 in his 900th career NHL game. Minutes later, Ovechkin cashed in Matt Roy’s cross-crease feed to extend Washington’s lead to 2-0.
The Flyers fought back to open the second, evening the score in a span of 4:36 minutes on a point shot from Sanheim and lay-up from Grundstrom. Washington didn’t take long to respond, though, as Chychrun’s one-timer on the power play made it 3-2. Leonard scored another power-play goal later in the period to put the Capitals back up by two.
While Dvorak pulled things to 4-3 to open the third, Ovechkin got to the front and buried a one-timer to restore the two-goal lead with his 928th career goal.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Alex Ovechkin scores twice, hitting 30 goals for 20th season, as Capitals beat Flyers 6
WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Ovechkin scored twice and hit the 30-goal mark for the 20th time in his NHL career, and the Washington Capitals beat the Philadelphia Flyers 6-4 on Tuesday night.
Tom Wilson also had two goals, Jakob Chychrun had a goal and two assists, and Ryan Leonard added a goal and an assist. Pierre-Luc Dubois had three assists for the Capitals, who have won three straight as they try to climb back into playoff position.
Travis Sanheim, Carl Grundstrom, Christian Dvorak and Denver Barkey scored and Porter Martone made his NHL debut for the Flyers, whose three-game winning streak came to an end.
Late in the first, Wilson’s shot from the slot made it 1-0 in his 900th career NHL game. Minutes later, Ovechkin cashed in Matt Roy’s cross-crease feed to extend Washington’s lead to 2-0.
Ovechkin has reached 30 goals in all but one season: the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign, where he had 24 in 45 games.
The Flyers fought back to open the second, evening the score in a span of 4:36 minutes on a point shot from Sanheim and lay-up from Grundstrom. Washington didn’t take long to respond, though, as Chychrun’s one-timer on the power play made it 3-2. Leonard scored another power-play goal later in the period to put the Capitals back up by two.
While Dvorak pulled things to 4-3 to open the third, Ovechkin got to the front and buried a one-timer to restore the two-goal lead with his 928th career goal.
Barkey’s deflection brought the Flyers within one, but Washington and Thompson fended off a comeback effort while Wilson iced the win late with an empty-netter.
Thompson stopped 20 of 24 shots, and Dan Vladar had 12 saves on 17 shots.
Martone, who signed his entry-level contract on Sunday, led the Flyers with five shots on goal through nearly 17 minutes in his debut.
Up next
Flyers: Host Detroit on Thursday.
Capitals: Visit New Jersey on Thursday.
___
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Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
Flyers’ playoff push and Porter Martone’s debut stalled by Capitals in 6-4 loss
WASHINGTON ― The Flyers’ final countdown began on Tuesday night.
Playing in their 74th game of the season, and facing a Washington Capitals team clinging to their own playoff dreams, the Flyers had a chance to gain some ground but instead fell, 6-4.
The loss ended the Flyers’ winning streak at three games; they have not won four in a row since Feb. 6-12, 2023.
It also spoiled Porter Martone’s debut, who was drafted sixth overall in the 2025 NHL draft.
» READ MORE: Porter Martone is going from NCAA freshman to an NHL playoff race. That precedent is rarer than you think.
Martone did not look out of place. He skated on a line with Christian Dvorak and Travis Konecny, the latter of whom was his linemate during exhibition games for Canada at the Ice Hockey World Championships last May.
The 19-year-old played more than 16 minutes, got tagged one penalty for a delay of game, and had five shot attempts and three shots on goal, including a one-timer off a pass from Konecny as they were rushing into the zone. He made a great play in the third period with the Flyers down by two, when he backchecked on a play that turned into a two-on-one, and knocked away the pass across the ice.
Skating in his 900th game, Washington’s Tom Wilson opened the scoring with just over five minutes left in the first period. Skating in two-on-two against Rasmus Ristolainen and Travis Sanheim, he took a drop pass from Pierre-Luc Dubois and sent the shot against the grain and past Dan Vladař’s blocker.
It is the 47th time in 74 games that the Flyers have trailed first.
Less than four minutes later, they found themselves in a 2-0 hole when Alex Ovechkin registered his 927th regular-season goal.
The Capitals gained the offensive zone, and Connor McMichael dished the puck to defenseman Matt Roy, who was trailing. He had room and skated down to the net before sending a pass into the crease, where Jamie Drysdale tried to clear, but Ovechkin swooped in and knocked it home.
An unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, there is a strong possibility that the game was “The Great 8’s” last game against the Flyers.
But the Flyers battled back, and before the clock hit five minutes in the second period, it was all tied up.
» READ MORE: Porter Martone grew up in Canada rooting for the Flyers. He’ll make his NHL debut with them on Tuesday.
Just 39 seconds into the frame, Sanheim scored during four-on-four action, firing a one-timer off a pass from Konecny. However, the referees said there was goaltender interference by Christian Dvorak and called off the goal. Coach Rick Tocchet and his staff challenged the call because Dvorak actually never touched Capitals goalie Logan Thompson as he crashed the net. The replay showed that Capitals defenseman Martin Fehérváry’s stick touched Thompson, and after review, the goal counted.
Sanheim has nine goals on the season, one shy of his career high set in 2023-24. The primary assist extended Konecny’s point streak to three games (goal, three assists) and gave him 64 points in 70 games. Dvorak got the secondary assist for his 45th point of the season.
Under four minutes later, it was Carl Grundström getting on the board for the first time since Feb. 3 — which just happened to be against the Capitals too.
The Flyers dumped the puck in, and Owen Tippett put a little bit of pressure on Roy, causing him to send a somewhat blind pass up off the boards. Trevor Zegras got there first and sent a quick, zinging backhand to the front of the net where Grundström was. The Swede took it and scored around the left pad of Thompson.
The good vibes didn’t last long, however, as the Capitals retook the lead just over two minutes later on a goal by Jakob Chychrun. Off an offensive-zone faceoff during a power-play, Ryan Leonard sent the puck over to the big defenseman, and he fired off the one-timer past Vladař. Leonard scored to make it 4-2 with his own power-play goal later in the period.
But once again, the Flyers tried to charge back in the third period.
Less than 40 seconds in, Sanheim made a good play in the defensive zone that started the rush up the ice. Martone got the puck on a two-on-one with Konecny and tried to pass it over.
The play was broken up, but Sanheim was there to get the loose puck and to send it over to Konecny, who just missed short side. He got the puck and fed it in front to Dvorak for his 16th goal of the season, putting him one shy of his career high.
Ovechkin made it 5-3 when he was left alone in front and reached to tap in a pass from McMichael. It was Ovechkin’s 54th goal and 86th point in 82 regular-season games against Philly.
Cole Caufield leads Canadiens over Lightning as win streak hits 6
Cole Caufield’s 47th goal broke a second-period tie, and the visiting Montreal Canadiens extended the NHL’s longest active win streak to six games with a 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.
In a two-point night, Caufield registered a goal and an assist like teammates Juraj Slafkovsky and Mike Matheson, but his game-winner lifted the Canadiens (43-21-10, 96 points) to within two points of Tampa Bay (46-22-6, 98 points), who got a goal from Jake Guentzel.
Matheson, who posted his 300th career point, and Nick Suzuki recorded empty-net markers for the final margin as the Habs finished 10-4-1 in March.
Coupled with Buffalo’s 4-2 win over the New York Islanders, the Sabres (46-21-8, 100 points) moved back into first in the Atlantic Division, while the Lightning slid to second and 8-6-2 in March.
Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes made 36 saves to improve to 14-3-1 since Jan. 1. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 19 shots as his club’s eight-game point streak (6-0-2) came to an end.
Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov returned to the lineup after a two-game absence, and penalties quickly became the focal point as six players were cited in a span of 7:57 during the first period.
After Guentzel and Charle-Edouard D’Astous went off 38 seconds apart, top-line winger Slafkovsky made the home side pay on his club’s second power play with a one-timer from below the right dot at 12:25, his 15th on the man advantage, but Guentzel netted the equalizer just 1:16 later.
In a second period where the Lightning doubled up Montreal in shots 12-6, the Habs notched the only goal after Anthony Cirelli’s clearing pass was intercepted by Matheson and sent to Slafkovsky, who drove hard to the left side of the net. He then curled a pass to Caufield near an open net at 12:49.
Late in the third, Suzuki committed a cross-checking penalty on Yanni Gourde with 4:06 left, but Montreal held on in the penalty kill, including a massive hit by Jake Evans on Kucherov, and then scored twice into an open cage.
Jets recover to defeat Blackhawks in OT, move 1 point back of wild-card spot
Mark Scheifele won the face-off to start overtime and soon after passed to Connor, who scored the winner with a wrist shot top shelf from the slot.
Josh Morrissey, Cole Perfetti and Isak Rosen each scored in the second period, Scheifele had three assists, and Connor Hellebuyck made 18 saves for the Jets (32-30-12), who have won four of their past five games and moved to within one point of the idle Nashville Predators for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference.
Anton Frondell scored his first career NHL goal, Tyler Bertuzzi scored twice, and Spencer Knight made 20 saves for the Blackhawks (27-34-14), who are 1-4-2 in their past seven games.
Frondell, the No. 3 pick by Chicago in the 2025 NHL Draft, gave the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead at 4:42 of the first period. He scored on one knee from the slot thanks to a pass from Ilya Mikheyev, who had retrieved the loose puck off defenseman Louis Crevier’s wide shot attempt.
Morrissey tied the game 1-1 at 1:06 of the second period when he skated in along the Blackhawks’ goal line and flipped the puck past Knight’s glove side on the backhand.
The Jets took a 2-1 lead on Perfetti’s power-play goal at 11:19. Blackhawks forward Landon Slaggert’s pass in the Jets’ zone hit Scheifele and was picked up by Alex Iafallo, who went on a 2-on-1 with Perfetti. The forward scored from the bottom of the right circle with 13 seconds remaining on the power play.
Rosen gave the Jets a 3-1 lead at 11:57, putting the rebound of Danil Zhilkin’s wraparound attempt past the left pad of Knight after Rosen was left alone in front. It was the forward’s fifth goal of the season and second with the Jets, who acquired him as part of the trade of defensemen Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley to the Buffalo Sabres on March 6.
Bertuzzi pulled the Blackhawks back to within one, 3-2, at 13:26, scoring on a spinning backhand that beat Hellebuyck cleanly to the glove side. He then tied the game 3-3 at 9:46 of the third period, jamming it through Hellebuyck’s five-hole off a pass from Mikheyev. The tying goal also earned Bertuzzi a career-high with 31 on the season.
Cal Ritchie’s Islanders heater is no surprise to his old OHL GM
BUFFALO — In a way, when Roger Hunt has caught different parts of the Islanders’ season, he felt as if he watched the same version of Cal Ritchie that the Oshawa Generals vice president and general manager did in the OHL. “I’m just watching Cal 2.0 in the NHL,” he said. The same defining points of Ritchie’s skill set — from the underrated shot to the slip plays and everything else in between — have kept appearing in Islanders games.
This was the same potential the Islanders envisioned when they acquired him ahead of the trade deadline last season in the Brock Nelson deal, but the type of role Ritche could construct in the present remained a bit of an unknown entering the campaign. He started the year injured. Then in Bridgeport. Then with the Islanders, without much production to show for it.
But that has changed. A four-game point streak in January marked a career-high. A five-game run — with six points across that stretch — after recording a goal during Tuesday’s 4-3 loss to the Sabres reset it, and Ritchie’s recent play has allowed him to impress both Hunt and Islanders head coach Patrick Roy, both the past and the present of his hockey career, as he contributes to an Islanders team fighting for a playoff berth.
“He’s doing things up there, to be honest with you, he did at junior,” Hunt told The Post before the Islanders faced the Sabres at KeyBank Center on Tuesday, “and it’s incredible to think that he can translate that skill set up there to the best players in the world.”
For Ritchie, this serves as the first stretch run of his NHL career. The games with the highest of stakes. He appeared in seven games for the Avalanche in October 2024 before getting loaned back to Oshawa, and by the time Ritchie played in his next NHL game, he’d already been traded. But he was prepared for that next level of hockey, Hunt said. Ritchie knew that he couldn’t make his mark in the NHL on goal scoring alone, so he worked on adding defensive elements to his game while with the Generals, too.
Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin makes more NHL history with another 30-goal season
Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin is already the NHL’s all-time leading goal-scorer, and he keeps adding to his list of personal milestones. He did it again on Tuesday night with a two-goal effort in their 6-4 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Alex Ovechkin makes history with another 30-goal season
With his two goals on Tuesday, Ovechkin is now up to 31 goals on the season.
That makes him the first player in NHL history to ever reach the 30-goal mark 20 different times. He has reached that mark in all but one of his seasons in the league, failing to do so in only the 2020-21 season when he scored 24 goals in 45 games. Not only did Ovechkin miss nine games that season, but that was also only a 56-game season.
It is a remarkable run of consistency over two decades that is nearly unmatched in league history. It is not just a matter of pure talent, either. It is also incredible durability and longevity to be able to maintain that standard for so long.
What makes this year’s performance even more historic is that he is still scoring 30 goals despite the fact he has already celebrated his 40th birthday.
He is just the fourth player in league history to ever score 30 goals in their age 40 season or older, joining a list that includes only Gordie Howe, Johnny Bucyk and Teemu Selanne.
Stars’ Wyatt Johnston: NHL’s best power-play sniper
Johnston had a goal and an assist in Tuesday’s 6-3 loss to Boston.
Johnston’s goal came on the power play at 19:02 of the third period to pull the Stars to within 5-3. But it was too little, too late. The goal was Johnston’s 41st of the season, which moves him into sole possession of the team lead in that category. He has 80 points (75 games) for the first time in his career and sits second behind Jason Robertson on the Stars’ scoring list. But perhaps most impressively, Johnston sits on top of the NHL in power-play goals. He has 25, and the next closest player (Pavel Dorofeyev) has 18.
Anton Frondell scores first goal in loss
A Chicago Blackhawks legend was back in the building for the Winnipeg Jets’ trip to the United Center. Jonathan Toews, captain of three Stanley Cup runs with the Hawks, played in Chicago for the second time this season.
He got a lengthy ovation the first time around, one that matched Patrick Kane’s first time back to the United Center. It was all business for the second return — no celebratory skates on Tuesday night.
“I think it might start getting on some of the guys’ nerves in here, today it’s all hockey,” Toews said pregame. “(First time here) was a super special moment, (I) had no expectation whatsoever and (they) blew it out of the water.”
Toews’s last visit saw him skate against some veterans, including 2006 draft classmate Nick Foligno. On Tuesday, most of the Hawks were a decade younger than the franchise idol.
They’re as talented as they are young. Anton Frondell scored his first NHL goal to continue his career-opening heater, and the rest of the Hawks showed flashes of potential.
One thing these Hawks don’t have just yet is that winning gene. That’s how Toews put up three of the Hawks’ six Stanley Cup banners, and how the Jets left United Center with a win.
The Hawks fell to Winnipeg 4-3 in their first home game in nine days. Jets left winger Kyle Connor scored 33 seconds into overtime, handing the Hawks their fourth straight loss.
“I’m not losing sleep over it, but certainly it’s something that if you look at our one-goal losses this year, not including empty-netters, including overtime, it’s a whole swing,” Hawks coach Jeff Blashill said. “We’re going to have to find ways to win in overtime but some of that’s reps and going through the pain of losing. Failure can be a great thing if you learn from it.”
Frondell, the Hawks’ 2025 No. 3 draft pick, opened scoring after collecting the rebound off an Ilya Mikheyev shot. He’s fit right into the NHL, scoring five points (one goal, four assists) in as many games.
“The game is a whole new level from what I’m used to playing back in Sweden, everything goes so fast, everyone is a lot better,” Frondell said. “I still have a lot to learn, (I’ll) just keep going and get better.”
It was his first time in the United Center since being called up to the Hawks. The fans roared when his first goal was announced, so there’s obvious excitement for the rookie.
“Back on the road trip when we played in Madison Square Garden and different arenas, I thought, ‘Oh s−−−, this is pretty good,’” Frondell said. “But they said, ‘Wait until you get back at home.’ I know what they mean by that now, it’s a pretty good crowd here.”
It was a familiar tale of an above-average first period being followed by an abysmal second set of 20 minutes. The Jets had 29 shot attempts (15 shots on goal) compared to the Hawks’ four (two shots on goal).
Tyler Bertuzzi’s flashy spin-around goal at 13:26 was the saving grace for the team in the second. It was his 30th goal of the season, which tied his career high. Still, it was their second and final shot of the period.
“Part of it is the pushback from them, we walked into the room and we had outchanced them and if you’re them, you’re not going to be happy with that,” Blashill said. “Part of it was we didn’t win any faceoffs, so it just seemed like they had the puck a lot and we didn’t break out clean.”
Bertuzzi then scored his career-high 31st goal halfway through the third period off an assist from Mikheyev. The second line of Mikheyev-Frondell-Bertuzzi was on the ice for all three Hawks goals.
“I’m going to keep going to the net, keep doing the same things,” Bertuzzi said. “My body’s been feeling good, it’s been keeping me in games and being able to compete at the hardest I can and at the highest level I can.”
He willed his team back into the game with two goals to tie the game up at three. He made sure to credit his ice mates for the setup.
“It’s (Mikheyev) both times, on the forecheck, he created the turnover, I just got the puck,” Bertuzzi said. “I thought as a whole group we played a really good game, except for maybe the second, we just got to build off that and learn from it.”
Selflessness is part of the reason the player nicknamed “Bert” was awarded the ‘A’ after the trade deadline. That’s just how he is, which Blashill sees as leadership in itself.
“You know what Bert’s done? Bert’s been Bert, he hasn’t changed one ounce,” Blashill said. “They’ve (Bertuzzi and Connor Bedard) just been themselves and the best way to lead is just who you are.
“When you show it by example and you live it, other guys will follow and I think he’s done an excellent job of that. So for me, Bert’s just been Bert and because of that, he’s been a good leader for us.”
Sacha Boisvert was a healthy scratch on Tuesday. Blashill said pregame that it will help the 2024 No. 18 draft pick to observe some games as the season nears an end.
“He’s not going to play every single game, but he’ll play a good number of them,” Blashill said. “We give him a chance to get a feel for it, then you get a chance to watch it. Those are all good learning experiences; I don’t like sitting guys out for long.”
Alex Ovechkin, Capitals spoil Porter Martone’s Flyers debut
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Just about the only team the Flyers can’t beat on the road these days is the Washington Capitals. Way back on Feb. 25, the Flyers dropped fell to the Caps at Capital One Arena, then went on a team record-tying eight-game road winning streak.
How did the run end? Of course, on Tuesday night in Washington, D.C.
The Flyers had their chances, coming back from a two-goal deficit in the second period, but things went downhill from there in a 6-4 defeat.
That loss cast a bit of a shadow over the play of highly touted Porter Martone, who made his NHL debut after signing an entry-level contract on Sunday.
The Caps’ attack was led by two goals from Alex Ovechkin, giving him a total of 54 goals in 82 career games vs. Philadelphia. Tom Wilson also chipped in two goals in his 900th NHL game.
The Flyers took some silly penalties, and the Caps scored twice on the power play. The Caps came out playing a physical game, led by Wilson, before the Flyers began to counter.
“We had a lot of good looks,” Travis Sanheim said in a televised interview after the game. “Just couldn’t outscore them. Giving up two on the power play hurt us as well. Sometimes you have to take a hit to make a play. As it progressed, I think we handled it much better than we did early on.”
One bright spot was the play of Martone. He played more than 16 minutes, had five shots on net and a couple of legitimate scoring chances. He took a delay of game penalty early on and that might have been a bit of nerves. He seemed to settle down after that.
“I took a couple shifts to get my feet wet,” he said. “You know you’re adjusting to the NHL level.”
Martone was clearly getting in toward the net in the third period.
“I thought I had some good chances early, too,” he said. “I thought I got better as the game went on. It’s a tough loss but I think we can improve. It was pretty special. When you’re a kid and dream of this, you never think it will come true. It was a dream come true.”
Several teams ahead of the Flyers in the standings failed to win, so it wasn’t a complete lost night.
“They (the Caps) tried to come out the first 10 (minutes) and tried to bully us,” coach Rick Tocchet said. “I thought after that we started to get our game. It’s good for some guys to understand you have to be ready to go.
“I thought as the game went on he (Martone) really started to go. I told him to relax early on. He’s going to score. He’s had a whirlwind week. I liked his game.”
With the Flyers down 2-0, a goal by Sanheim 39 seconds into the second period was initially waved off by officials, citing goaltender interference on Christian Dvorak. But the Flyers challenged and won when replays showed Dvorak was guided into goalie Logan Thompson by a Caps defender.
Then the Flyers tied it at 4:36. Trevor Zegras took control in the corner, wheeled around and found Carl Grundstrom open in front for a shot past Thompson.
The deadlock didn’t last long. Caps defenseman Jakob Chychrun connected for his 24th goal of the season on the power play. Chychrun leads all NHL defensemen in scoring.
Washington’s power play struck for a second time at 17:37 on a goal from Ryan Leonard, and the Flyers were once again in a two-goal hole.
In the third period, the Flyers got a goal from Dvorak to cut the deficit to 4-3. But Ovechkin countered shortly after. Still, the Flyers wouldn’t give up and got a goal from Denver Barkey at 7:52 to cut the deficit to one again.
The Flyers had scored first in five straight games, but that streak came to an end when Washington registered two goals in the first period. The Capitals got the pair from Wilson and Ovechkin.
Wilson took advantage of a mismatch when Owen Tippett was caught up ice. Wilson’s long shot from the top of the slot beat Dan Vladar at 14:59.
Then Ovechkin made some history at 18:35. He was left open on the right side and put the puck in the net for his 30th goal of the season. That’s the 20th time in his career he’s achieved that plateau.
NOTES >> For the second time in less than a week, the Flyers will play the Detroit Red Wings Thursday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena. The Flyers took a 5-3 decision in Detroit last Saturday. … Garnet Hathaway’s 1,333 hits since the 2021-22 season lead the NHL. … To make room for Martone, the Flyers scratched Alex Bump. … Defenseman Emil Andrae played in his 100th NHL game. … Ovechkin has 928 regular-season goals in his career.
What The Latest NBA Salary Cap Projections Mean For The Indiana Pacers
Just over one week ago, ESPN reporter Shams Charania relayed that the NBA has new projections for its salary cap in the 2026-27 season, and it sent those numbers to teams recently.
The updated figures are all $1 million lower than the previous projections, with next season’s salary cap currently estimated at $165 million. The last time the NBA sent projections to teams was in September when they actually suggested a higher number – one that was a 7.34% increase over the current cap. That number is now forecasted to be roughly 6.7%, which Charania says is due to “a reduction in local media revenue.”
Because every NBA team operates under the same salary cap, in theory a drop in the projected numbers – including the salary floor, luxury tax line, and apron levels – would impact every team equally. In practice, that isn’t accurate. Teams that hoped to use cap space, or teams that are trending toward being close to the tax or apron thresholds next season, now have less wiggle room than anticipated to do their business, assuming the projections come to pass.
These numbers can change if the NBA earns more revenue than expected in the playoffs or from other funding avenues. As of right now, though, teams will have to do their offseason planning based on a slightly reduced figure.
What do those NBA cap changes mean for the Indiana Pacers?
One team this decrease impacts is the Indiana Pacers, who have hopes of contending again next season when Tyrese Haliburton returns from injury and the team has a more normal year of health. In 2024-25, the Pacers reached the Eastern Conference Finals, then the NBA Finals last season. This year has been a gap from contention, but the franchise projects to be back in the mix at the top of the Eastern Conference in 2026-27.
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Much of the Pacers rotation and roster seems set for next season. But how they add to that core will be influenced by the salary cap and, perhaps, the changed projections to it. As of this writing, the Pacers have Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, Ivica Zubac, Jarace Walker, Ben Sheppard, T.J. McConnell, Obi Toppin, Jay Huff, and Johnny Furphy signed to guaranteed contracts for next season.
Those 11 players, combined with some light guaranteed money for Kam Jones and Quenton Jackson, has Indiana at about $194.5 million in guaranteed salaries for next season. The new luxury tax projection, which has decreased by about $1 million too, is about $201 million. The Pacers already are close to that. The first, and lower, salary cap apron is reported to be near $209 million.
While the Pacers are currently under those numbers when it comes to their team spending level, that could change based on what happens on May 10. That’s when the NBA Draft lottery will take place, and it’s a crucial day for the blue and gold.
The Pacers 2026 first-round draft pick will go to the Los Angeles Clippers if it lands between five and nine. Any other spot goes to the Pacers, though the 10-30 portion of the pick is all but out of the question for the team right now. Only the top four slots are important for the blue and gold.
Picks one through four are the only picks that are determined by the NBA’s lottery proceedings. So the Pacers draft pick outlook for the 2026 NBA Draft will come down to that drawing – if they keep their pick, they will have the chance to add a top-end talent in what is considered to be a strong draft class. If the pick falls into a range in which they would not be able to select one of those premier talents, it will go to the Clippers anyway.
That’s where the new salary cap projections come in. The Pacers would love to add a top-four pick to their roster, and a random event will determine if they’re able to. But the NBA’s rookie scale pre-determines the contract value for first-round draft picks, and any player taken inside the top four would almost certainly (pending which pick number) come with a first-year salary between $10 and $15 million. Their upside is immense, it’s still worth it for teams to spend that much.
But for the Pacers, adding a contract in that range would take their team spending over the projected luxury tax, and possibly near the first apron. That would have been somewhat true in the league’s older projections but is more so the case now.
The Pacers would still prefer to have the pick and figure out their salary cap ramifications later. But the NBA’s latest cap projections being lower may put the team in a position in which it needs to shed money to get more space under the first apron, or under the luxury tax line, for the 2026-27 season.
Without a top-four pick, the Pacers could add to their team using salary cap exceptions, such as the Mid-Level Exception or Bi-Annual exception. If they are conscious of certain spending thresholds next year, then lower salary cap numbers could limit what they are willing to spend. Again, every team is impacted by lower salary cap marks. But the Pacers and their near-tax spending outlook for next season are hit a little harder than other teams. They may not be willing to spend quite as much in free agency or may have to look at slightly more dramatic cost-saving moves to get their salary cap situation where they want it.
Jackson, Jones, and Micah Potter have contracts that aren’t fully guaranteed next season. The Pacers could look to acquire a second-round pick just for the cheap first-year salary. There are things the team could do in order to open up some spending flexibility. But — especially if they keep their top-four protected pick – they may have to make some cap-focused moves. The new cap numbers make that even more plausible.
These projections could change again between now and the decision-making time of the summer. They have already been updated twice since the start of the 2025-26 offseason. But for the Pacers, and other NBA teams, lower salary cap numbers could lead to tougher decisions.
“Michael Jordan Led the Pack”: NBA Champion Disagrees With Isiah Thomas’ Controversial Kevin Durant Take
When it comes to Michael Jordan’s legacy, there will always be a select few who believe he is overhyped. But none come close to the generational MJ hating by Detroit Pistons great Isiah Thomas. The 64-year-old was at the center of controversy a few weeks ago when he made a questionable comparison between Houston Rockets’ Kevin Durant and MJ.
Thomas said that if the roles were reversed, and KD played for the Chicago Bulls, they would still win six rings. These comments came after the ‘Slim Reaper’ overtook Jordan on the all-time scoring list. But former NBA Champion Kendrick Perkins highlights why these comparisons are all a load of b*****it.
“Fu** no, the one thing that separates, a big thing that separates Michael Jordan from Kevin Durant is the mentality,” Perkins said on the latest segment of the Road Trippin’ show. “Michael Jordan has never come on record and said he’s not a leader; Michael Jordan led the pack.”
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Perkins, who won the 2008 NBA championship with the Boston Celtics, maintains that Jordan brought something to the game that KD doesn’t: ownership. He led by example and did not shy away from taking on a ‘leadership’ role.
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“Michael Jordan was first in sprints. Michael Jordan took pride in playing 80-plus games, competing on both ends of the floor. Michael Jordan didn’t run to situations; people ran to him. So, when you talk about KD, like, to me and I respect Isaiah Thomas, man, I talk to him all the time, great friend of mine, but I’m just disagreeing with him on this basketball take…He’s lost his damn mind.”
KD overtook MJ in the all-time scoring list (32,409 vs 32,292), but trails in field goals attempted (13th vs. 5th). The Bulls legend leads in career PPG (30.1 vs. 27.3), with 10 scoring titles to Durant’s 4.
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Jordan also leads the Rockets star in playoff dominance, with 33.4 PPG (1st all-time) and 5,987 points (2nd overall). KD averages 29.3 PPG (4th) and 4,985 points (7th overall) in the postseason.
This shows the difference in mindset between the two and how, despite his longevity and efficiency, Durant still trails the six-time champion by a considerable distance.
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Kendrick Perkins on what KD needs to match Michael Jordan
Kevin Durant, himself, has played down comparisons with Jordan. On multiple occasions, he’s admitted that MJ is his idol and someone he looks up to. But Perkins believes that the former OKC man needs to do this talking on the basketball court, just like Jordan did.
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“KD really, to be honest with you, when you talk about what he needs to be getting done, what he needs to be doing is leading this Rockets team somewhere. That’s what he needs to be focused on. I’m not saying he’s not. That’s the bigger conversation because ever since he left Golden State, the narrative is still going to be what it is,” he added.
Ime Udoka’s team is sixth in the West with a 46-29 record heading into the postseason. KD, at times, has looked disinterested in team huddles and between timeouts, often chilling by himself on the bench. His numbers are impressive, considering he’s averaging 25.9 points and 5.4 rebounds in 71 games this campaign, but you get the sense that he’s holding back at times.
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“Now you’re back with the Houston Rockets, a team that traded away a lottery pick guy that they drafted at number two in Jalen Green, the heart and soul. Phoenix is doing pretty damn good, and the Rockets are still going through an identity crisis. So the answer is no, I don’t agree with Isaiah Thomas when it comes to that. I may not have Jordan as my GOAT because that’s Bron, but he’s damn sure number two on that fucking list of mine. I keep J’s on my feet, and I would never ever f****g disrespect what he done and how he did it,” Perkins concluded.
At 37, with two championship rings to his name, KD can retire tomorrow and still go down as a legend. But with his legacy on the line, he still has the time to prove his doubters wrong and become the figurehead that his former teammates know he can be. But the question is: Will Durant go the extra mile and lead by example? We’ll find out in April.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Was So Proud After Brother Alex Helped Family Make NBA History
The Antetokounmpo brothers made NBA history on Tuesday night.
Alex Antetokounmpo, the 24-year-old brother of Giannis and Thanasis, made his official NBA debut on Tuesday after originally signing a two-way contract with the Bucks in the fall. By making Milwaukee’s active roster, the Antetokounmpo brothers became the first sibling trio to play for the same active NBA roster.
However, only Alex, the youngest of the three brothers competed in the win over the Mavericks. Giannis, the middle brother, may not be playing right now because of injuries, but he made sure his brother got to take home a piece of his history after he scored his first NBA points on Dallas. All three of his points came from free throws.
The former NBA MVP anxiously stood on the sidelines until play paused so he could secure the basketball his brother used to score his first NBA points. He saw it fitting that his brother should keep this significant game ball. How sweet.
The Bucks mic’d Giannis up on the sidelines, and the cameras caught some interesting and funny comments from Antetokoummpo that surely won’t start any rumors (side eye).
“Hey, man. I can retire now,” he said after his brother made a free throw. “I’ve done it all man. I can retire now.”
Bucks coach Doc Rivers talked about how special the moment the young Antetokounmpo brother’s free throw shots were for his older brothers during his post-game press conference.
“It’s really cool,” Rivers said. “Giannis told me his hands were sweating. I thought that was hilarious. … Giannis grabbed my hands and said ‘My hands are sweating. I’m so nervous right now for my brother.’ To see him make the free throws and play—listen, three family members in the NBA, that’s a pretty cool moment for him.”
Maybe one day we’ll get to see the Antetokounmpo brothers on the court at the same time. That would mark another historic moment on the court.
The NBA’s become quite the family affair in the past couple years. Notably, LeBron James and his son Bronny became the first father–son duo to play in the same game on the same team last season. Then, brothers Steph and Seth Curry finally were put on the same roster on the Warriors this season, but they haven’t shared the court together yet as teammates. There’ve been other brother duos in the league, but none quite like the Antetokounmpos.
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Pistons’ Jalen Duren achieves NBA first with latest near-perfect game
With Cade Cunningham still out of action, Jalen Duren stepped up once again to lead the Detroit Pistons to another victory on Tuesday night.
And as Detroit beat the Toronto Raptors 127-116, Duren put up a box score that no one has achieved as often throughout the entire league this season.
In a near-perfect performance, Duren scored 31 points in 35 minutes. He missed only one single shot all game, going 12-of-13 from the field and 7-of-7 from the charity stripe. (He did not take a three all game.)
No NBA player has scored as much and been almost perfect as often as Jalen Duren
Duren, named an All-Star for the first time this season, is now the only player to record more than one game with 30-plus points on a 90-plus shooting clip. His other such occurrence came back on Nov. 17 when he also hit 12-of-13 shots for 31 points, granted he did it in 29 minutes in that game against the Indiana Pacers.
Jalen Duren came close to duplicating his accomplishment multiple other times
Duren also came close several other times, including recently, scoring 30 off an 83.3% 10-of-12 night two games prior against the New Orleans Pelicans. Earlier in the month of March, Duren shot 90%, but was shy of 30 with 26 points at Brooklyn. Going further back, he converted 10-of-11 shots for 23 points in a Jan. 29 loss to the Phoenix Suns.
Jalen Duren impacts a game by more than just efficient scoring
Showing his complete versatility as a player, Duren added nine rebounds and dished out three assists on Tuesday, and he brought down 15 boards in his first-near perfect game in November.
Duren’s latest big game moved his season averages to 19.5 points, which would be a new career-high for a season, 10.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists with a 64.7% shooting mark.
While the Pistons still need Cunningham — who was having a season worthy of being an MVP candidate before being forced to miss time after suffering a collapsed lung on March 17 — back to have a shot at a deep run in the playoffs, Duren has shown he can carry the load when needed and can be the complimentary star many were questioning if Detroit had on the roster.
Los Angeles Lakers Star Luka Doncic Made NBA History
On Tuesday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers played the Cleveland Cavaliers (at home) in California.
The Lakers won by a score of 127-113.
Luka Doncic went off for 42 points, five rebounds, 12 assists and two steals while shooting 13/26 from the field and 6/13 from three-point range in 34 minutes of playing time.
Los Angeles Lakers Star Luka Doncic Made NBA History
Doncic also made NBA history during the game.
Real App wrote: “Luka Doncic becomes the youngest guard in NBA history to reach 15,000 career points.”
Doncic has been sensational this month.
He came into the night with averages of 33.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 1.6 steals per contest while shooting 47.6% from the field and 36.6% from three-point range in 62 games.
Underdog NBA wrote: “Luka Doncic in March: 37.5 PPG 8.0 RPG 7.4 APG 2.3 SPG One of 10 players to record a 600-point month in NBA history.”
NBA World Reacts To Luka Doncic’s Performance
Here’s what people were saying about Doncic’s performance:
LeBron James sets new career NBA wins record, passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: LeBron James has set a new NBA record. On Tuesday night, James and the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 127-113. Between the regular season and the playoffs, it was the 1,229th NBA game that James has won. That breaks a record previously held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who racked up his victories across his own legendary 20-year career.
James passing Abdul-Jabbar in the record books has become a somewhat frequent occurrence. James famously passed Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time scoring leader back during the 2022-23 season. More recently, on March 5, James also passed Abdul-Jabbar for the career record in terms of field goals. Soon after that, James took Robert Parish’s career games played record. Parish ranks fourth on the all-time wins list with 1,121.
Ranking LeBron James’ 10 most unbreakable records: All-NBA selections, playoff points and more
Sam Quinn
Just to specify, James still does not hold the all-time regular-season wins record. That still belongs to Abdul-Jabbar, who won 1,074 regular-season games as a Buck and Laker. James has a 29-win gap to fill at 1,045. Obviously, with less than two weeks left in the regular season, James won’t be able to cross that line this year. If he’s going to set the regular-season wins record, he’ll have to come back and play a 24th NBA season, either with the Lakers or another team.
If James does return, well, basically every longevity record will then belong to him. As we’ve covered, James already owns the records for games (both regular-season and playoffs) and wins (playoffs now, regular-season next year), but he also holds the record for both regular-season and playoff minutes, total seasons played (23) and total postseasons appeared in (soon to be 20).
Records are obviously old hat for James at this point. Even he probably doesn’t know how many of them he’s set. But there’s something particularly meaningful about the wins record because winning is the singular goal whenever James, or any player, steps on the court. James has never been defined by his statistics, but winning more games than any other player is a fairly neat summation of his career. Having LeBron James on the floor gives you a chance to win, no matter who else you have on your team. Now, he has the record to prove it.
Luka Doncic reaches points milestone in Lakers’ rout of Cavaliers
Luka Doncic, with the eyes of five defenders fixed on him in the paint, faked a lob pass. He threatened to wrap a pass around Cleveland center Thomas Bryant’s back. Instead, the Lakers superstar pulled up straight over the top of Bryant’s outstretched arm, dropping a fadeaway jumper softly through the net.
Doncic smiled slyly toward the Lakers bench as he back pedaled. He shrugged at himself.
Doncic brought back all his old tricks after serving a one-game suspension and continued his torrid March with 42 points, 12 assists and five rebounds in the Lakers’ 127-113 rout of the Cavaliers (47-29) on Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena.
Doncic, who was suspended for Monday’s game against the Washington Wizards because of technical foul accumulation, had his league-leading 16th 40-point game. The league’s leading scorer reached 15,000 points for his career, becoming the third-youngest player in NBA history to reach the mark.
LeBron James, who tops that list, added to it with 14 points and six assists. James became the youngest person to reach 15,000 points when he was 25 years and 79 days old. Now 41, the league’s new leader in regular-season and playoff wins was questionable to play in his second game in as many nights while managing left foot arthritis.
He didn’t waste any time easing into the game, chasing down Donovan Mitchell for a block on the opening possession. James had a thunderous one-handed dunk off a lob from Austin Reaves in transition with 7:42 remaining in the third quarter that put the Lakers up by 17 points. Reaves had 19 points as all five Lakers starters scored in double figures.
The Lakers (50-26) reached 50 wins in consecutive seasons for the first time since the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. Before tipping off, they had already locked up a playoff spot when the Phoenix Suns lost to the Orlando Magic, giving the Lakers their second consecutive Pacific Division title.
Before this month, the Lakers, who’ve won 13 of their last 14 games, were fighting to hold off the Suns in the sixth position in the West. But they reasserted themselves as legitimate playoff contenders behind Doncic’s historic brilliance.
The Lakers went 15-2 in March, winning eight games against teams with winning records. Doncic scored 600 points, becoming just the second player in NBA history to reach the 600-point mark in March, joining Michael Jordan. He is just one of 10 players to score 600 points in a month.
Doncic’s step-back threes, mid-range floaters and driving layups powered the rise, but a rare dunk punctuated it. Doncic scored his final points of the night on a two-handed dunk in transition, methodically jumping off of both feet before barely clearing the top of the rim.
The Lakers bench erupted in cheers.
94-Year-Old NBA Champion Snubbed Again From the Hall of Fame, Says “I Know What I Did”
Imagine winning the NBA Coach of the Year award, an NBA championship, and a whopping 991 wins, including playoff games, and still not enough for the Hall of Fame. That’s the story of the former coach Dick Motta, who has been nominated for the past 16 years. This year, the 94-year-old was a finalist for the third time, the first since 2012. Yet, the former Dallas Mavericks head coach is unfazed by the result.
“When they called me (in 2012) to tell me I hadn’t made it, I didn’t get bitter. At all,” Motta spoke with Jason Quick of The Athletic. “I developed the basic attitude of: ‘Why should some (stranger) out there judge me?’ I object to subjective judgments.” Even while doing the interview, Dick Motta was a little hesitant. He is opposed to the idea that campaigns for an honor.
“It’s beneath one’s dignity,” Motta said. “I don’t need to, and I don’t want to pound my chest. I know what I did.”
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Motta has led the Chicago Bulls, Washington Bullets, and Dallas Mavericks to 50-plus-win seasons and 14 NBA playoff appearances. For the Bulls’ six straight postseason campaigns (1969-1975), 4 straight for the Washington Bullets (1976-1980), and 4 straight for the Dallas Mavericks (1983-1987). He is among the top 15 NBA coaches by all-time wins, yet only 2 coaches remain to be inducted.
With Doc Rivers’ induction this year, Dick Motta and the current Pacers head coach, Rick Carlisle, aren’t in the Hall of Fame. In fact, Hall of Famer Bill Fitch, who has a lower winning percentage than Motta, was already inducted in 2019. Again, this is not a case of one over the other, but it’s about the induction that Motta deserves.
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Because the criteria for induction are still unclear, five coaches in the Hall have more wins than Motta but no NBA titles. So, if NBA titles are considered or if wins are considered in both scenarios, Dick Motta’s name should have been in the Hall of Fame. It’s not just about his impact on the hardwood. The coaching tree that produced great minds also defined his legacy.
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Mitch Kupchak, Bob Weiss, Danny Ainge, Scott Brooks, and Jason Kidd are some of the distinguished names. In fact, Jerry Sloan and Rick Adelman, who have 2263 regular-season wins combined, are in the top 10 in NBA history.
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Steve Kerr had previously campaigned for Dick Motta
A week ago, when the Warriors faced the Dallas Mavericks, the Golden State head coach made his opinion crystal clear on why Dick Motta deserves a place in the HoF. Kerr was candid enough to call Motta one of the guys who “just was a lifer and had been around for the league and knew the league, and everybody knew him.”
“(943 wins) I mean, that’s a whole lot of winning. And so I think the contributions that someone makes with a lifetime of contributions and commitment, that negates to me the idea that you have to win a bunch of championships to be in the Hall of Fame. I think we should recognize the people who helped build this league and who did it through a long and successful career in coaching. So I think that’s why Coach Motta would deserve it.”
Despite Steve Kerr’s positive words, the pleas seemed to go unheard by the Hall of Fame decision committee. As Dick Motta had already stated, his legacy is not defined by accolades. One prime example is him winning his first NBA championship after the Bullets won Game 7. Yet, he did not call that the greatest accomplishment of his life. “It was a great win, but my fondest memory is the Grace High School team that won the Idaho state championship,” Motta said.
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To define his career, he is from Union, Utah, and taught himself coaching by reading books and attending clinics. That journey of his to the NBA is his legacy.
NBA Star LeBron James Made History In Cavs-Lakers Game
On Tuesday night, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers played the Cleveland Cavaliers (at home).
The Lakers won by a score of 127-113.
James finished the win with 14 points, five rebounds, six assists, one steal and one block while shooting 4/8 from the field and 1/3 from three-point range in 31 minutes of playing time.
Los Angeles Lakers Star LeBron James Made History
James also made major NBA history during the game.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin wrote: “A historic night in the making for the Lakers. Rui Hachimura reached 5,000 career points; Luka Doncic reached 15,000 career points; and if LAL holds on to beat the Cavs, it will be the 1,229th win of LeBron James’ career, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most wins all-time.”
James (who is 41) continues to break NBA records.
The future Hall of Famer came into the nigh with averages of 20.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.1 steals per contest while shooting 51.2% from the field and 31.4% from three-point range in 54 games.
Lakers’ Luka Doncic Hits Career Milestone in Return From NBA Suspension
Los Angeles Lakers All-NBA and All-Star guard Luka Doncic went scorched earth in March.
The Lakers (50-26) went 15-2 in March, including a nine-game winning streak. During a six-game road trip that concluded last week, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin,
MLS local markets unlikely to get media rights back when Apple TV deal ends
New York City FC CEO Brad Sims doesn’t foresee the day that Major League Soccer ever returns to local market broadcast rights, even if it would benefit the club that he helps run.
MLS and Apple will break their media rights agreement early following the 2028-29 season, but Sims does not anticipate the league looking to return to the old ways where clubs reached local agreements with regional media partners.
“I don’t see that ever happening again,” Sims said during last week’s SBJ Business of Soccer conference in Atlanta, where the U.S. Men’s National Team has set up camp during the international break.
NYCFC previously aired games locally on YES Network from the club’s first season in 2015 through 2022. In the following campaign, MLS moved all its teams’ broadcasts to Apple TV as part of the original package dubbed MLS Season Pass that paid the league $250 million per year.
The success of the streaming-only option to watch MLS games is up for debate, but Sims admitted that a local rights TV “would be better” for a club like NYCFC.
“We were better off financially in a model where we could have local rights,” he said. “I don’t know that that’s best for the league as a whole, as an enterprise. I think that what was done, and how it was built, is probably the best path. We have a ways to go in terms of where the owners and where the league thinks the broadcast rates should be. … You got to have a product that people want to watch in the U.S. and globally and so that you have broadcasters willing to pay for those rights.”
The MLS will be watching closely to see if there is a soccer boom in the United States following this summer’s World Cup and how it can leverage that in its favor when it negotiates its next media rights deal.
Dispersal orders sent in Philadelphia area due to event at Bridgeport Speedway
Many residents in the Philadelphia region took to social media Sunday night after a notification popped up on their phones indicating an “immediate dispersal order” had been lifted. However, for some, the order to disperse never came in the first place.
The confusion led many to post online, “Did anyone else get an alert for a Dispersal Order Lifted?” one local Facebook user posted. “We didn’t even know we were under one?”
Rumors swept the internet about large crowds gathering for Car Music Fest, organized by ImportExpo, at the Bridgeport Speedway in Gloucester County. Social media users reported large crowds and heavy traffic.
Logan Township Police Department, the agency that initiated the dispersal order, confirmed several cases of vehicles racing on roads, passing other cars unsafely, and passengers riding on top of cars.
The car show was organized without prior notice or approval from Logan Township, and drew an estimated crowd of 25,000 people — some from as far away as Massachusetts and Virginia — with attendees parking “wherever they chose,” exiting their vehicles, and walking to the venue, according to the police department.
In addition to motor vehicle violations, police received reports of public intoxication, public urination, lewdness, disorderly conduct, littering, and “numerous” fights.
Police arrested one man for disorderly conduct. Several other municipal ordinance violations were filed in association with the car show.
The owner of Bridgeport Speedway, which did not organize the ImportExpo show, said he was not aware of incidents besides the large crowds.
“The overall problem was simply the volume of people attending the event. Unfortunately, it caused a lot of unwanted traffic in the community,” Speedway owner Doug Rose said. “Social media also spreads many untruths without knowing any facts. The event was not shut down for any unruliness.”
Gibbstown resident Pamela Reistle Ott was on the phone with her father, who resides in Bridgeport, when she saw the alerts on her phone before she was scheduled to visit her parents at 4 p.m.
“I couldn’t get from Gibbstown to Bridgeport to their house. It was scary, seeing that many cars driving pretty recklessly on our otherwise quiet back roads,” Reistle Ott said. “When the first alert came over, I warned my dad, who did not get the alert on his phone. We checked back in with each other with each alert, and we’re so grateful when it was all over with.”
According to the PBS WARN dashboard, which tracks regional alerts, the dispersal order went out at 4:47 p.m. Sunday, but some reported having received the alert sooner. A second alert announcing that the order was lifted went out around two hours later, which many across the region shared on social media.
Logan Township Police Department, the agency that initiated the alert, and Gloucester County did not respond to requests for comment on what incident spurred the dispersal order, or why it reached residents in Pennsylvania. Other local law enforcement agencies, like Harrison Township and Delaware County’s Middletown Township, shared the alert on social media, amplifying its reach.
Reports of local neighborhoods and public spaces becoming parking lots, with speeding on surrounding roadways, and large gatherings swirled on social media Monday.
Philadelphia’s Office of Emergency Management confirmed that the city did not take part in issuing the alert, and the dispersal order was not distributed through “ReadyPhila,” Philadelphia’s own emergency alert system.
The organizers of the car show, ImportExpo, a multicity car show traveling to parts of the United States and Canada, did not respond to a request for comment. But ImportExpo did post rules to its Instagram before the event advising attendees to “respect the property,” pick up trash, and avoid fighting and arguing.
Why did people in Philadelphia get this dispersal order?
Wireless emergency alerts are the notifications sent to phones during severe emergencies, said Michael Giardina, deputy director of operations for Philadelphia’s Office of Emergency Management. Amber Alerts and severe weather warnings from the National Weather Service are common examples of these alerts.
“The reason why someone in Philadelphia, or perhaps a lot of people in the region, would have received the dispersal alert is that those alerts work off of cell phone towers,” Giardina said. “When an alert of that magnitude is sent out, a mechanism identifies who should receive that alert based on which cell tower they’re connected to.”
Rick Hendrick and his team made all the right calls in earning first NASCAR victory of the season
MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Alan Gustafson ignored the phone call while packing a suitcase for the morning drive to Martinsville Speedway. Then he saw whom he’d missed — NASCAR Cup Series team owner Rick Hendrick.
“I better get on it,” Gustafson said with a chuckle. “As soon as I got in the car, I called him right back.”
The founder of Hendrick Motorsports had a message that he wanted the crew chief for Chase Elliott to deliver to his team, and it set the tone for their first victory of the season.
“He just basically was super positive,” Gustafson said. “The quote from him was: ‘This is a marathon, not a 10K race. We’re in it for the long run. Regardless of the way it starts, it’s about the way it finishes.’”
That certainly was the case at Martinsville, where Elliott started 10th and was hardly a factor as Denny Hamlin led the first 292 of 317 laps from the pole.
But Gustafson made the critical call for an early pit stop that vaulted the No. 9 Chevrolet to the front, and Elliott led the final 69 laps for his 22nd career win despite having the sixth-fastest car, according to Racing Insights, a NASCAR analytics firm.
His victory in the seventh race is the earliest in a season for the 2020 Cup champion, who now enters an off week with some peace of mind.
“That was one of the first things I thought about,” Elliott said of winning early. “Man, this is awesome. We’ve never done that. Going into the off week with the win is really cool. I know we still have a lot of room for improvement, don’t get me wrong, but a great way to cap off this first stretch. A lot of good momentum for the whole organization.”
After a rough start of four top-five finishes among its four cars through the first six races, it’s fitting that Hendrick Motorsports earned its first victory of 2026 at Martinsville Speedway.
The team has a record 31 wins at the short track, which typifies the performance and resilience of NASCAR’s winningest outfit and its redoubtable founder.
Rick Hendrick lost his son, a brother, two nieces and two key executives when a Hendrick plane crashed en route to Martinsville on Oct. 24, 2004. The team pushed through the tragedy, and Sunday marked its record 321st victory in NASCAR’s premier series (along with 15 championships, most recently last season with Kyle Larson ).
This year’s struggles pale by comparison. With a new Camaro body necessitating setup adjustments, Hendrick also wasn’t alone in being behind — Chevy teams were winless through six races for the first time since 2019.
“I hate it when we go through stuff like this, but we’ve been through this before,” said Hendrick vice chairman Jeff Gordon, who had four championships and 93 wins in a Hall of Fame driving career for the team. “You lean on your tools more. You get back to the basics.”
Part of the team’s foundation is an actively engaged owner offering a constant source of encouragement behind the scenes.
Before calling Gustafson, Hendrick rang Elliott. The driver said he “shot the breeze” with Hendrick about his car dealerships and the performance of Elliott’s car. Hendrick, who juggles racing with running an automotive empire, also revealed he’d miss the race.
Though there was no discussion of his season, Elliott knew Hendrick had his back.
“I feel that all the time from him,” Elliott said. “He’s always done a great job of just showing support to me, whether things are going good or bad. Always cool to hear from him.”
Gordon said the conversations aren’t always pleasant. In fact, Hendrick’s “kick in the butt” sessions are legendary.
There was the “pork chop meeting” at a race in the early 2000s when Hendrick destroyed the dinner he was holding in his hand while railing about an issue (the meat allegedly flew off the bone he angrily waved and struck a crew chief).
Hendrick held the famous “milk and cookies meeting” with Jimmie Johnson and Chad Knaus when the pair wanted to split after the 2005 season. With milk and cookies as props, Hendrick underscored that his star driver and crew chief were acting like petulant children.
The message was heeded. Johnson and Knaus won the next five Cup championships and seven overall, and they entered the NASCAR Hall of Fame together in 2024.
“This is what I love about his style is that he mixes it up,” Gordon said about Hendrick. “He’ll surprise you. Some days, he will just get fired up. Then there’s the days where you think you’re going to get that, and he is calm and just positive and supportive. His experience of being in business, he knows how to read a room, how to read people and how to motivate them when they need it most.”
In this case, Gustafson said the check-in by the boss helped remove any prerace pressure.
“Ultimately, go out and have some fun,” Gustafson said. “Don’t focus on any of the noise, focus on what we can control. It was just nice to hear from him. He’s the master of knowing what to say at the right time.”
2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule: Bracket, matchups, dates, locations, groups, results, how to watch
The full schedule for the 2026 World Cup has been confirmed, with the kick off times, dates and venues for all 104 games sorted.
There are less than 100 days to go until the 2026 World Cup kicks off, and you can watch every single game live on Universo, Telemundo and Peacock en Espanol, here. Check out the latest on the superstars and how they’re shaping up ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
We now know where you can watch each team play across the USA, Canada and Mexico in the summer so you can make your plans.
MORE — World Cup base camps for every team | 2026 World Cup hub | 2026 World Cup venues
This is what it is all about, as we’ve been waiting years for the schedule for this 48-team tournament to be revealed.
Below are all of the details you need.
How to watch 2026 World Cup live, stream links, TV channel, dates, times
Dates: June 11 to July 19, 2026
Where: 16 stadiums across Canada, Mexico and the USA — Details
Streaming: All 104 games available to watch on Peacock (en Espanol)
TV channel: Telemundo (92 games) and Universo (12 games)
2026 World Cup schedule, dates, times, stadiums, full details
All game shown on Telemundo and Peacock, unless otherwise stated
Group A schedule
June 11: Mexico vs South Africa – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City – 3pm ET
June 11: South Korea vs Czechia – Estadio Akron, Guadalajara – 10pm
June 18: Czechia vs South Africa – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 12pm ET
June 18: Mexico vs South Korea – Estadio Akron, Guadalajara – 9pm ET
June 24: Czechia vs Mexico – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City – 9pm ET
June 24: South Africa vs South Korea – Estadio BBVA, Monterrey – 9pm ET – Universo
Group B schedule
June 12: Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina – BMO Field, Toronto – 3pm ET
June 13: Qatar vs Switzerland – Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area – 3pm ET
June 18: Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 3pm ET
June 18: Canada vs Qatar – BC Place, Vancouver – 6pm ET
June 24: Switzerland vs Canada – BC Place, Vancouver – 3pm ET
June 24: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar – Lumen Field, Seattle – 3pm ET
Group C schedule
June 13: Brazil vs Morocco – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey – 6pm ET
June 13: Haiti vs Scotland – Gillette Stadium, Boston – 9pm ET
June 19: Scotland vs Morocco – Gillette Stadium, Boston – 6pm ET
June 19: Brazil vs Haiti – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia – 9pm ET
June 24: Scotland vs Brazil – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami – 6pm ET
June 24: Morocco vs Haiti – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 6pm ET – Universo
Group D schedule
June 12: USA vs Paraguay – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 9pm ET
June 13: Australia vs Turkiye – BC Place, Vancouver – Midnight ET
June 19: USA vs Australia – Lumen Field, Seattle – 3pm ET
June 19: Turkiye vs Paraguay – Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area – Midnight ET
June 25: Turkiye vs USA – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 10pm ET
June 25: Paraguay vs Australia – Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area – 10pm ET – Universo
Group E schedule
June 14: Germany vs Curacao – NRG Stadium, Houston – 1pm ET
June 14: Ivory Coast vs Ecuador – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia – 7pm ET
June 20: Germany vs Ivory Coast – BMO Field, Toronto – 4pm ET
June 20: Ecuador vs Curacao – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City – 8pm ET
June 25: Ecuador vs Germany – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey – 4pm ET
June 25: Curacao vs Ivory Coast – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia – 4pm ET
Group F schedule
June 14: Netherlands vs Japan – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 4pm ET
June 14: Sweden vs Tunisia – Estadio BBVA, Monterrey – 10pm ET
June 20: Netherlands vs Sweden- NRG Stadium, Houston – 1pm ET
June 20: Tunisia vs Japan – Estadio BBVA, Monterrey – Midnight ET
June 25: Japan vs Sweden- AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 7pm ET
June 25: Tunisia vs Netherlands – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City – 7pm ET
Group G schedule
June 15: Iran vs New Zealand – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 9pm ET
June 15: Belgium vs Egypt – Lumen Field, Seattle – 3pm ET
June 21: Belgium vs Iran – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 3pm ET
June 21: New Zealand vs Egypt – BC Place, Vancouver – 9pm ET
June 26: Egypt vs Iran – Lumen Field, Seattle – 11pm ET – Universo
June 26: New Zealand vs Belgium – BC Place, Vancouver – 11pm ET
Group H schedule
June 15: Spain vs Cape Verde – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 12pm ET
June 15: Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami – 6pm ET
June 21: Spain vs Saudi Arabia – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 12pm ET
June 21: Uruguay vs Cape Verde – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami – 6pm ET
June 26: Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia – NRG Stadium, Houston – 8pm ET – Universo
June 26: Uruguay vs Spain – Estadio Akron, Guadalajara – 8pm ET
Group I schedule
June 16: France vs Senegal – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey – 3pm ET
June 16: Inter-confederation playoff 2 vs Norway – Gillette Stadium, Boston – 6pm ET
June 22: France vs Inter-confederation playoff 2 – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia – 5pm ET
June 22: Norway vs Senegal – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey – 8pm ET
June 26: Norway vs France – Gillette Stadium, Boston – 3pm ET
June 26: Senegal vs Inter-confederation playoff 2 – BMO Field, Toronto – 3pm ET – Universo
Group J schedule
June 16: Argentina vs Algeria – Arrowhead Stadium – Kansas City – 9pm ET
June 16: Austria vs Jordan – Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area – Midnight ET
June 22: Argentina vs Austria – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 1pm ET
June 22: Jordan vs Algeria – Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area – 11pm ET
June 27: Algeria vs Austria – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City – 10pm ET – Universo
June 27: Jordan vs Argentina – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 10pm ET
Group K schedule
June 17: Portugal vs Inter-confederation playoff 1 – NRG Stadium, Houston – 1pm ET
June 17: Uzbekistan vs Colombia – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City – 10pm ET
June 23: Portugal vs Uzbekistan – NRG Stadium, Houston – 1pm ET
June 23: Colombia vs Inter-confederation playoff 1 – Estadio Akron, Guadalajara – 10pm ET
June 27: Colombia vs Portugal – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami – 7:30pm ET
June 27: Inter-confederation playoff 1 vs Uzbekistan – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 7:30pm ET – Universo
Group L schedule
June 17: England vs Croatia – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 4pm ET
June 17: Ghana vs Panama – BMO Field, Toronto – 7pm ET
June 23: England vs Ghana – Gillette Stadium, Boston – 4pm ET
June 23: Panama vs Croatia – BMO Field, Toronto – 7pm ET
June 27: Panama vs England – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey – 5pm ET
June 27: Croatia vs Ghana – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia – 5pm ET – Universo
Round of 32 schedule
June 28: Match 73 – Runner up Group A vs Runner up Group B – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 3pm ET
June 29: Match 76 – Winner Group C vs Runner up Group F – NRG Stadium, Houston – 1pm ET
June 29: Match 74 – Winner Group E vs 3rd Group A/B/C/D/F – Gillette Stadium, Boston – 4:30pm ET
June 29: Match 75 – Winner Group F vs Runner up Group C – Estadio BBVA, Monterrey – 9pm ET
June 30: Match 78 – Runner up Group E vs Runner up Group I – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 1pm ET
June 30: Match 77 – Winner Group I vs 3rd Group C/D/F/G/H – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey – 5pm ET
June 30: Match 79 – Winner Group A vs 3rd Group C/E/F/H/I – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City – 9pm ET
July 1: Match 80 – Winner Group L vs 3rd Group E/H/I/J/K – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 12pm ET
July 1: Match 82 – Winner Group G vs 3rd Group A/E/H/I/J – Lumen Field, Seattle – 4pm ET
July 1: Match 81 – Winner Group D vs 3rd Group B/E/F/I/J – Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area – 8pm ET
July 2: Match 84 – Winner Group H vs Runner up Group J – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 3pm ET
July 2: Match 83 – Runner up Group K vs Runner up Group L – BMO Field, Toronto – 7pm ET
July 2: Match 85 – Winner Group B vs 3rd Group E/F/G/I/J – BC Place, Vancouver – 11pm ET
July 3: Match 88 – Runner up Group D vs Runner up Group G – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 2pm ET
July 3: Match 86 – Winner Group J vs Runner up Group H – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami – 6pm ET
July 3: Match 87 – Winner Group K vs 3rd Group D/E/I/J/L – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City – 9:30pm ET
Round of 16 schedule
July 4: Match 90 – Winner Match 73 vs Winner Match 75 – NRG Stadium, Houston – 1pm ET
July 4: Match 89 – Winner Match 74 vs Winner Match 77 – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia – 5pm ET
July 5: Match 91 – Winner Match 76 vs Winner Match 78 – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey – 4pm ET
July 5: Match 92 – Winner Match 79 vs Winner Match 80 – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City – 8pm ET
July 6: Match 93 – Winner Match 83 vs Winner Match 84 – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 3pm ET
July 6: Match 94 – Winner Match 81 vs Winner Match 82 – Lumen Field, Seattle – 8pm ET
July 7: Match 95 – Winner Match 86 vs Winner Match 88 – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 12pm ET
July 7: Match 96 – Winner Match 85 vs Winner Match 87 – BC Place, Vancouver – 4pm ET
Quarterfinal schedule
July 9: Match 97 – Winner Match 89 vs Winner Match 90 – Gillette Stadium, Boston – 4pm ET
July 10: Match 98 – Winner Match 93 vs Winner Match 94 – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 3pm ET
July 11: Match 99 – Winner Match 91 vs Winner Match 92 – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami – 5pm ET
July 11: Match 100 – Winner Match 95 vs Winner Match 96 – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City – 9pm ET
Semifinal schedule
July 14: Match 101 – Winner Match 97 vs Winner Match 98 – AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 3pm ET
July 15: Match 102 – Winner Match 99 vs Winner Match 100 – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 3pm ET
Third-place game
July 18: Match 103 – Loser Match 101 vs Loser Match 102 – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami – 5pm ET
Final
July 19: Match 104 – Winner Match 101 vs Winner Match 102 – MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey – 3pm ET
looking Electric Picks necklace is 20% off
Tennis, anyone?
When Bethenny Frankel told us that she wears her Electric Picks Tennis Necklace “constantly,” I immediately took note. And while it’s already a steal at under $100, it’s currently 20% off at Amazon’s Big Spring Sale — for less than 24 hours more.
“It layers perfectly,” the star said in May, recommending it as a Mother’s Day gift for someone “who’s always dreamed of a tennis necklace but doesn’t want to drop five figures.”
Electric Picks Tennis Necklace
When I tried it myself, I loved how flat the stones lay. It looks similar to the real thing, but the size makes it easy to layer with more casual outfits. (It instantly elevates even a T-shirt, blazer and jeans for a laid-back office look.)
The stones really catch the light, and no one is the wiser that it costs just under $80.
Electric Picks Tennis Bracelet
To complete the look, the matching Tennis Bracelet is also on sale for a limited time.
Frankel’s a longtime fan of Electric Picks, frequently posting about it organically before teaming up with the label on her own line last year.
Though her collaboration is now sold out, her ShopMy curation also includes the Camila Bracelet — which bears striking resemblance to a far more expensive design — and the San Tropez Hoops. (Both of which are also on sale right now.)
The “Just B” host is hardly alone in her love for the label, as Alix Earle, Shay Mitchell, Olivia Culpo, Emily Ratajkowski and Emma Roberts (to name but a few) have all worn its wares over the years.
But with the Big Spring Sale ending in just a matter of hours, there’s limited time left to shop before Electric Picks pulls the plug on these markdowns.
Why Trust Page Six Style Shopping
John DeAngelis, Rudr Malayya to lead St. John’s Prep tennis in quest for third straight title
To win three Division I state titles in a row, a program needs consistency and a deep bench of talented young players.
St. John’s Prep comes into this season winners of back to back titles. With the return of stars like John DeAngelis and Rudr Malayya, the Eagles feel like they fit the bill for a team that has what it takes to complete a three-peat.
“The team has eight players who were already part of those winning teams, so they know how sweet winning is, and they have shown me that they are willing to work very hard this year to have a chance at a title again,” first-year Prep coach Francisco Montoya said. “We are all going to take the season one week at a time, and one match at the time. I believe that this mindset and trying to keep the players healthy physically gives us the best chance.”
Prep finished last season 22-0 and capped its campaign off with a victory over Lexington in the Division I state championship.
Coming into this season, with offseason tennis experience under its belt in addition to in-season work, Prep players seems primed for another strong run.
“I have witnessed that the majority of our players in the varsity team have been playing tennis throughout the year and also competing in tournaments for the most part,” Montoya said.
Although it’s his first year as head coach, Montoya has a lot of familiarity with his current group of student-athletes, having coached some of them on club teams.
He’s looking forward to being with those seniors on their last ride in high school tennis.
“I know that this is an important year for them to try to finish their high school years strong,” Montoya said. “My second goal is to start making an impact on those freshmen that are coming, and the potential new recruits for the future, because we obviously have big shoes to fill once these eight players graduate.”
Before the team can make another run at a title, Prep has to get through big tests on its schedule. Matches against Concord-Carlisle and Lexington will be crucial to see how the team performs against tough teams down the stretch.
Winning back to back titles puts some pressure on the Eagles this spring to make it three in a row, but it’s a pressure the team welcomes.
“I put a lot of pressure on myself to give my very best to the players and the school,” Montoya said. “I don’t create result expectations because I have enough experience to know that a season is very long and many stars need to align for big results to take place.”
Prep tennis: Close wins add up to Cascade sweep on Monday
Prep girls tennis roundup for Monday, March 30:
(Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results and statistics, email sports@heraldnet.com. Please report results by 10:30 p.m.)
Wesco 4A
Cascade 7, Lake Stevens 0
At Lake Stevens H.S.
Singles—Sophia Manabat (C) def. Maya McLaurin 6-2, 6-0. Yasmina Drissy (C) def. Juliana Manley 7-5, 4-6, 13-11. Miley Ho (C) def. Amanda Pfiester 6-3, 6-3. Audra Everett (C) def. Athena Mohler 6-2, 7-6. Doubles—Sophia Thigpen-Lana Vu (C) def. Megan Dauber-Natalie Hayden 6-4, 7-6. Tashi Sherpa-Inessa Dmitrak (C) def. Chloe Bernstein-Liah Campbell 3-6, 6-4, 11-9. Eva Wagner-Jessica lov (C) def. Taylor Bryant-Andi Heininger 6-3, 6-2.
Arlington 6, Mariner 1
At Mariner H.S.
Singles—Grace Armes (A) def. Christina Pham 7-5, 6-1. Iris Suchan (A) def. Eliza Reyes 6-3, 6-0. Mia Le (M) def. Savannah Thomas (3-6, 6-2, 6-3). Fatima Carrillo (A) def. Ilima Oliva 7-6 (4), 6-2. Doubles—Audrewy Marsh-Kara Glassman (A) def. Morgan Trenh-Kayla Cahyadi 6-3, 6-4. Grace Farris-Lyla Moreelewski (A) def. Sophia Feolino-Rohev-Jaiteh 6-2, 7-5. Mia Whibrey-Elle Linklatev (A) def. Emily Huynh-Malany Lai 6-3, 0-6, 10-6.
Glacier Peak 5, Kamiak 2
Singles—Jasmine Neph (G) def. Tiya Aleti 4-6, 6-3, 6-0. Anna Kim (K) def. Sara Pena 3-6, 7-5, 10-6. Kumi Jayasinghe (G) def. Julia Amarsaihan 6-1, 6-0. Tina (G) Def. Hannah Kim 4-6, 6-6, 10-7. Doubles—Kaitlin Wong-Tenasyn Pacini (G) def. Madelyn Pyun-Anne Marie Madson 6-0, 6-1. Oliva Robbins-Sophia Leuk (G) def. Julie Yi-Charlotte Lee 6-1, 6-4. Yeji Park and Angela Madson (K) def. Bella Edmonds-Maddy Unsdeth 6-1, 5-7, 7-1.
Wesco 3A/2A North
Snohomish 7, Everett 0
At Snohomish H.S.
Singles—Mak Dauer (S) def. Lauren Desimone 6-0, 6-0. Janelle Childs (S) def. Meagan McMains 6-1, 6-2. Morgan Gibson (S) def. Elizabeth Moiseyev 7-6 (7-2) 6-2. Elle Cottet (S) def. Grace Regan-Bone 7-5, 6-2. Doubles—Annie VanAssche-Lily Masche (S) def. Avery Hammer-Sophia Munro 6-4, 6-2. Ava Beaver-Claire Bosa (S) def. Tegan Trefry-Alice Buchanan 6-3, 3-6, 10-7. Chloe Dauer-Bianca Richards (S) def. Lydia Hogan-Alice Nelson 6-1, 6-2.
Stanwood 5, Monroe 2
At Stanwood H. S.
Singles—Emersyn Hartway (M) def. Grace Ross 6-4, 6-3. Emiko Spengler (M) def. Abbie Carlson 6-0, 2-6, 6-4. Katie Rahmn (S) def. Eva Heit 6-3, 6-0. Liza Howe (S) def. Ashtyn Wheeler 6-1, 6-0. Doubles—Addison Bowie-Mylee LaComb (S) def. Rowyn Grant-Keeley Reed 6-0, 6-0. Poppy Hanson-Teagan Swanson (S) def. Eliana Horner-Addyson Sullivan 6-2, 6-2. Zoey Halligan-Megan Smith (S) def. Ava Magruder-Maclelyn Clark 6-2, 6-0.
Marysville Getchell 6, Marysville Pilchuck 1
At Marysville Pilchuck H.S.
Singles—Stella Baumgart (MP) def. Hallie Peterson 6-3, 7-5. Felicity So (MG) def. Analise Weber 6-2, 6-1. Vanessa Ugnira (MG) def. Grace Cabrera 6-2, 6-1. Teaghan Weller (MG) def. Gabi Cabrera 6-1, 6-0. Doubles—Elshady Yohannes-Daniela Marmolejo (MG) def. Abby Guzman-Danna Mendoza 6-2, 6-2. Kathryn Hu-Alysha Saeturn (MG) def. Lila Freeman-Milan Rivera Valencia 6-2, 6-2. Maylie Lillard-Hazel Perkins (MG) def. Brianna Osorio-Jill Thomas 6-1, 6-1.
Wesco 3A/2A South
Edmonds-Woodway 4, Shorecrest 3
At Kellogg M.S.
Singles—Maddy Ashe (E) def. Zuma Vining 2-6, 6-2, 10-4. Abby Peterson (E) def. Lauren Kajimura (S) 6-2, 6-2. Sophie Schmitz (S) def. Hannah Heong 6-1, 6-0. Mia Halset (S) def. Jenna Hodson 6-0, 6-3. Doubles:
Darcy Brennan-Sydney Bates (E) def. Walker Temme-Thayer Katahara-Stewart 6-4, 0-6, 10-5. Sabina Schoeld-Calla Rihnsmith (S) def. Izzy Beltran-Poppy Swenson 6-4, 6-3. Amelia Miller-Ava Oliver (E) def. Gigi Garbaccio-Neena Mercado 6-2, 6-2.
Meadowdale 6, Mountlake Terrace 1
At Mountlake Terrace H.S.
Singles—Claire Yim (Me) def. Minh-Grace Ngo 6-0, 6-1. Jenna Vanderpoel (Me) def. Julia Shteyngart 6-2, 6-4. Bella Partido Del Rosario (Me) def. Kalli Opewheley Robinson 6-0, 6-3. Saryna Moua (Me) def. Gretta Patterson 6-0, 6-0. Doubles—Clara Loveless-Alex Robles (MT) def. Sophia-Venitia Nguyen 6-1, 6-2. Leyna Ball-Cayetana Figueroa (Me) def. Leia Anteneh-Camden Curtis 6-2, 6-1. Eleanor Ly-Reina Yanadori (Me) def. Anka Ariunsihan-Hanna Nguyen 6-2, 7-5.
Lynnwood 6, Archbishop Murphy 1
At Gateway M.S.
Singles—Rose Tulga (L) def. Kamdyn Latta 6-1, 6-1. Tayler Simbulan (L) def. Jules Rioja 6-2, 6-4. Tamanh Huynh (A) def. Rachel Ericson 6-4, 6-2. Tina Vo (L) def. Kamille Catapang 6-1, 6-1. Doubles—Adeline Tran-Ava Barias (L) def. Fernanda Lopez-Vianne Tran 6-0, 6-0. Maggie Resedahl-Venus Hernandez (L) def. Lizzy Robinson-Taylor Nguyen 6-0, 6-0. Naomi Aquino-Melissa Seng (L) def. Anneliese Hallgren-Eunice Torres 6-0, 6-0.
Non-league
Jackson 6, Shorewood 1
Singles—Micah Crose (S) def. Teegan Bridgman 6-4, 3-6, 15-13. Francys Montilla (J) def. Jessica Saleska 6-3, 6-4. Sreshta Sundar-Ganesh (J) def. Sophia Nguyen 7-5, 6-2. Lauren Chung (J) def. Gigi Amgalan 6-1, 6-0. Doubles—Leah Wilson-Myla Nguyen (J) def Lilah Becker-Shinuen Moon 6-7 (8-10), 6-1, 10-8. Jimena Beltran-Orduna-Nadia Villarreal-Carriedo (J) def Madeline Thorpe-Kiera Vega 4-6, 6-4, 12-10. Arushi Dashore-Saruul Tumurbaatar (J) def Haileleigh Cunningham-Anika Benson 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).
Bush at Granite Falls, score not reported
Boys Tennis preview, 2026: N.J. is loaded with elite singles players this spring
Every spring, there are high-level high school tennis players that step onto the courts in the great Garden State.
As we all get ready for the upcoming 2026 boys tennis season, take a look at over 60 standout singles players below.
Did we miss anybody? If so, let us know. All rankings and ratings are courtesy TennisRecruiting.net and UniversalTennis.com.
Advaith Busa, Watchung Hills, Sr.
Busa started out 2025 with nine wins in 11 matches. Busa, who holds an 8.65 UTR, also won his opening round match at the state singles tournament. Busa will look to make a deep run at the competitive Somerset County Tournament and make noise in the Skyland Conference Delaware Division this season.
Luke Bysiek, Northern Highlands, Sr.
Bysiek made the semifinals of the first singles flight at the Bergen County Tournament last spring. A previous winner at second singles, Bysiek enters the 2026 campaign with a 9.11. Ranked as a two-star recruit, Bysiek made the second round of the state singles tournament as well a year ago.
Karthik Buddhidinesh, West Windsor-Plainsboro South, Jr.
After losing his starting spot last season, Buddhidinesh remained ready and contributed a crucial point when called upon in the Group 3 final. Buddhidinesh is currently battling for a singles spot again this season with a host of strong teammates.
Vincenzo Caruso, Christian Brothers, Jr.
Caruso powered Christian Brothers to titles at the Shore Conference Tournament and the South, Non-Public state tournament last season. As a sophomore, Caruso went 26-2 overall and made the final round of the state singles tournament. His only two losses were to the eventual winner of the event, Lucas Rao, though he was able to take a set in each of the two encounters. The All-State pick enters the season with an 11.07 UTR and a four-star ranking.
Shayan Chatiwala, Wayne Hills, Sr.
Chatiwala is a four-year singles starter who made All-Group 3, All-County and All-Big North a year ago. A team captain, Chatiwala, who holds an 8.48 UTR, is expected to win the first singles title at the Passaic County Tournament for the second consecutive year. A two-star recruit, Chatiwala made the third round of the state singles tournament last spring.
Jake Christensen, Hunterdon Central, So.
Christensen captured the first singles title at the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament last spring in his rookie campaign. Christensen also won his opening round match at the state singles tournament. The sophomore was able to get a taste of the action, and he is positioned to build on that experience. The sophomore currently has 8.84 UTR and a three-star rating.
Prahalad Dharma, West Windsor-Plainsboro South, So.
Dharma won his way into the third round of the state singles tournament in his freshman campaign last spring. Dharma was also a vital member of the Group 3-winning Pirates squad which finished the year undefeated. A four-star recruit, Dharma, who has a 9.55 UTR, was a finalist at second singles at the CVC Tournament in 2025 as well.
Todd Edison, Ocean Township, Jr.
Edison was an all-Group 2 selection last spring as he advanced to the quarterfinals of the state singles tournament and the first singles final of the Monmouth County Tournament. Edison, who has a 9.83 UTR, is rated as a three-star prospect.
Giovanni Fighera, St. Joseph (Met.), Sr.
Fighera improved his UTR by over a point since this time a year ago. After playing second singles for St. Joseph last season, Fighera has a chance to move up the ladder as a senior. Fighera went unbeaten in team dual matches for the Falcons last season and battled in the state singles tournament. Right now, Fighera’s UTR stands at 8.70.
Rishi Gajjar, Pingry, So.
Gajjar was set to play for Pingry last season, but an injury forced him to miss the entire year. Back healthy, Gajjar is expected to play third singles for the Big Blue. Right now, Gajjar has a 9.59 UTR.
Drew Gilbert, Millburn, Sr.
Gilbert enters his fourth season as a singles starter and his second at first singles. Gilbert was an All-Group 3 selection last season for a Millburn team that won the North 2, Group 3 sectional title. Gilbert, who has a 10.49 UTR and is rated as a four-star recruit, reached the third round of the state singles tournament last spring.
Elijah Glaze, Ridge, Sr.
Glaze made the move back to singles last year and was successful in the second slot. Glaze made the second singles final at the Somerset County Tournament and the third round of the state singles tournament. Glaze currently has an 8.71 UTR and is a two-star recruit.
Ryan Hao, Pingry, Jr.
Hao played first singles for Pingry last season, but is expected to land at second singles this spring. His experience at first singles should benefit him as he moves to second singles, where he’ll face slightly less challenging competition in general. Hao, who was the runner up at the Prep A Tournament, advanced to the third round of the state singles tournament as well where he fell in a tiebreaker. Hao currently is a three-star recruit who has a 9.13 UTR.
Vihaan Iyer, Ridge, Jr.
Iyer, who holds an 8.88 UTR, will be looking to build off of his strong end of the 2025 season which saw him win six of his last eight matches including three in the postseason. Iyer, an All-Group 3 selection last season, advanced to the third round of the state singles tournament a year ago. With a year of experience under his belt at the top position, the junior has a chance to make deeper runs at states and at the Somerset County Tournament this spring.
Brandon Jeon, St. Joseph (Met.), Fr.
Jeon is a five-star freshman who has a 10.58 UTR. The Falcons brought back every singles starter from a year ago, but he should play his way into the first singles position. St. Joseph (Met.) is a team to watch going forward.
Emil Kapur, Princeton, Jr.
Kapur’s exact singles position is still up in the air this spring, but he is projected into the top spot. Kapur won three matches at first singles and three more at third singles last year as Princeton dealt with various lineup shifts. Kapur, who holds an 8.35 UTR, made the second doubles final of the CVC Tournament in 2025 as well.
Steven Komoto, Bergen Catholic, Sr.
Komoto is in his second year at first singles at Bergen Catholic. Komoto made the semifinals at the flight at the Bergen County Tournament a year ago, and he also reached the second round of the state singles tournament. Entering his final year of high school, Komoto has an 8.38 UTR and is a two-star recruit.
Manav Kumar, South Brunswick, Jr.
An All-Group 4 pick last season, Kumar was solid in his first year at first singles for South Brunswick. Kumar, who has an 8.69 UTR, placed third at the flight at the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament. He also made the second round of the state singles tournament, and enters 2026 as a two-star recruit.
Ravin Lalla, West Windsor-Plainsboro North, Jr.
Lalla moved between first and second singles throughout last season, ultimately settling at second singles for the postseason when West Windsor-Plainsboro North reached the Central, Group 3 final. Lalla, who was unseeded, also advanced to the first singles final at the Colonial Valley Conference Tournament and the third round of the state singles tournament. Entering the season, Lalla, who is projected to be in the second singles spot for the Knights, has an 8.96 UTR.
Cole Langer, Pingry, Sr.
Langer missed all of his junior year due to an injury, but is expected to be healthy heading into his last scholastic campaign. As a sophomore, Langer made the first singles final at the Somerset County and went 13-2 in dual matches for the Big Blue. Langer currently has a 10.43 UTR and is a three-star prospect.
Andrew Lee, Blair, Sr.
Lee secured first singles titles at the Prep A Tournament and the MAPL Tournament last spring. The Amherst College commit went undefeated on the year. Entering 2026, Lee has a 10.95 UTR.
Vaughn Lee, Columbia, Sr.
A two-star recruit, Lee sports a 9.07 UTR. Lee reached the second round of the state singles tournament, and was a 10-point tiebreaker away from advancing further. Lee faced a tough schedule last season but more than held his own against strong competition.
Ben Levkov, Summit, Sr.
Levkov is a former second singles winner at the Union County Tournament who is competing to claim the first singles job for Summit for the second year in a row. An All-Group 3 pick last season, Levkov, who holds an 8.59 UTR and is a two-star prospect, made the second round of the state singles tournament last spring.
Jake Li, Millburn, Jr.
Li, a former state doubles champion, enjoyed a solid first season at second singles in 2025. Back for more at the flight as a junior, Li should be even better. Li, who has a 9.59 UTR and is rated as a three-star recruit, advanced to the state singles tournament third round a year ago.
Neil Lund, East Brunswick, Jr.
A two-star prospect, Lund enters his first year as a first singles starter for East Brunswick. Lund played doubles as a freshman before skipping his sophomore campaign. Lund, who has a 9.19 UTR, made the third round of the state doubles tournament two seasons ago before he and his partner had to withdraw due to school exams.
Ashus Mahmood, Northern Burlington, Sr.
Mahmood is one of the top players in Burlington County. Mahmood made the first singles final of the BCSL Tournament and the Burlington County Open. The senior currently has an 8.24 UTR. Mahmood had to withdraw from the state singles tournament last season, so he’ll look to make his senior year count.
Ishaan Makim, East Brunswick, Fr.
Makim is projected to man the third singles role for East Brunswick this spring. Heading into his freshman season, Makim has a 8.98 UTR.
Miguel Manalang, Cedar Creek, So.
Manalang captured the singles title at the Cape-Atlantic League Tournament last spring in his freshman year. Manalang, who made the second round of the state singles tournament, owns an 8.43 UTR and is a two-star recruit. Manalang is one of South Jersey’s top returning players.
Simon Monsanto, Woodbridge, Jr.
Monsanto is a junior, but this will be his first year playing high school tennis. Monsanto, enters the season as a four-star prospect and with a 10.33 UTR. He automatically becomes one of the top players in Middlesex County.
Kieran Naidu, Summit, Sr.
Naidu returned to Summit after skipping his sophomore and junior years. Naidu played in just two matches as a freshman, but won both them at second doubles and third singles, respectively. Flash forward to his senior year, and Naidu has an 8.27 UTR.
Nikhil Narsi, Ridge, Sr.
Narsi found his stride late in the year at third singles for Ridge last season, and he helped the Blue Devils reach the North 2, Group 3 final. Narsi, who has an 8.60 UTR, is a two-star recruit.
Satvik Pany, West Windsor-Plainsboro North, Fr.
A freshman, Pany, who has an 8.62 UTR, has fought his way to the first singles spot on a solid West Windsor-Plainsboro North team this spring.
Aaron Paul, Delbarton, Fr.
Paul is one of the freshman twins that are projected to take over the top two singles spots for Delbarton. Paul, who owns a 9.11 UTR will play first singles for the Green Wave.
Aiden Paul, Delbarton, Fr.
Paul is predicted to come in and take over the second singles job for Delbarton. A freshman, Paul has an 8.92 UTR.
Juan Miguel Pereyra, Montgomery, So.
Pereyra was an All-Group 4 pick as a freshman last season. Pereyra, who has a 9.98 UTR and is rated as a four-star prospect, advanced to the third round of the state singles tournament. Pereyra is expected to make a jump this season and compete for the Somerset County crown.
Niranjan Ramalingam, Rutgers Prep, So.
Ramalingam performed well in his freshman campaign in 2025. Ramalingam won the first singles title at the Somerset County Tournament and played his way into the state singles tournament fourth round where he was a few points away from upsetting the event’s No. 2 seed Ian Batra in a 10-point tiebreaker. A four-star recruit, the All-State selection has earned a 10.33 UTR so far.
Rafael Rauf, Moorestown Friends, Jr.
Rauf, who spent the first month of the season out injured, went on a Cinderella run as an unseeded player to the fourth round of the state singles tournament. Rauf who has a 9.89 UTR and is rated as a four-star recruit, likely would have been seeded if he had played in enough qualifying matches. As a junior, Rauf won’t be flying under the radar this year after winning the first singles title at the BCSL Tournament.
Ethan Rosenberg, Ridgewood, Jr.
Singles jobs are wide open for the taking at Ridgewood, and Rosenberg has a good chance in earning the top spot. Rosenberg was one half of the state doubles tournament-winning tandem last spring along with Ben Caradonna. Rosenberg won all four of his singles matches he played in last April showing he can win individually as well, but this could be his first full year at singles. Rosenberg currently has an 8.90 UTR and is ranked as a two-star recruit.
Ryan Ricciardi, Somerville, Sr.
Ricciardi might be one of the top players in Somerset County not many people know about. Ricciardi has a 9.50 UTR and is ranked as a two-star recruit. The senior was a first singles finalist at the county tournament last spring, and he also made the second round of the state singles tournament.
Devin Seth, Tenafly, Sr.
Seth is projected to return to his first singles position for Tenafly which won the North 1, Group 3 title last spring. Seth had to withdraw from his second-round match at the state singles tournament, but he enters the year with an 8.44 UTR and rated as a two-star recruit.
Saikrishna Siddesh, West Windsor-Plainsboro North, Sr.
Siddesh has spent the last two seasons playing all three singles positions. Siddesh is predicted to begin his senior year starting out at third singles with a chance to move up the ladder. Siddesh, who also played first doubles last season, placed third at the CVC Tournament. Siddesh currently has a 9.08 UTR.
Adi Somaiya, Delbarton, Jr.
After not playing as a sophomore, Somaiya is back on the team at Delbarton and he will make an impact as one of the strongest third singles in the state. Somaiya won the second singles flight at the Morris County Tournament as a sophomore. He enters 2026 with an 8.71 UTR.
Nolan Sharma, Newark Academy, So.
After winning a state team championship and reaching the Bergen County Singles Tournament final as a freshman at Ridgewood, Sharma has made the move to New Jersey powerhouse Newark Academy. Despite his talent, there is a chance the All-Group 4 pick plays second singles for the Minutemen depending on how challenge matches shake out. Sharma enters the year with a 10.05 UTR and is rated as a four-star recruit.
Pranav Vaddepalli, Lawrence, Sr.
Vaddepalli was competitive against the Colonial Valley Conference’s best last season. While he didn’t earn any key victories against the top players, the matches were tight. Vaddepalli, who holds an 8.53 UTR, will be looking to flip the results as a senior. He did, however, win his way to the third round of the state singles tournament.
Ananth Vasishta, Hightstown, Sr.
Vasishta has won the past two Mercer County/Colonial Valley Conference Tournament first singles titles and will be aiming for a third this spring. Last season, he also advanced all the way to the state singles tournament semifinals as he knocked off Sourish Gadhi in a marathon quarterfinal. The Ram has a 10.47 UTR and is rated as a three-star prospect. Vasishta was an All-State selection a year ago too.
Vaibhav Venkatesan, Edison Magnet, Sr.
Venkatesan currently sports 10.23 UTR and is a three-star recruit. A year ago as a junior, the All-State pick captured the first singles title at the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament and he reached the quarterfinals of the state singles tournament. Venkatesan was a 10-point tiebreaker away from beating the top seed Lucas Rao.
Nathan Vudin, Christian Brothers, So.
Vudin played his freshman year at Monroe where he made the third round of the state singles tournament. The All-Group 4 pick got hurt during the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament, but managed to return to have that good showing at states. Vudin is predicted to make a major impact for a solid CBA squad this season. The sophomore currently has a 9.66 UTR and is rated as a three-star recruit.
Rohan Vyas, West Essex, Jr.
Vyas has flown under the radar in Essex County because of the amount of talented players and teams in the area, but he will be looking to make his mark as a junior. An All-Group 2 pick last year, Vyas has one of the state’s top UTRs at 10.61. He is also rated as a four-star recruit. Last season, Vyas made it all the way to the quarterfinals of the state singles tournament.
Dennis Wang, Livingston, Jr.
Wang skipped his sophomore high school season but is back as a junior. His addition makes the Lancers a strong team once again. Wang was an All-Group 4 pick as a rookie two seasons ago when he reached the fourth round of the state doubles tournament. Right now, Wang is a three-star recruit who has a 9.89 UTR.
Kaito Woodridge, East Brunswick, Fr.
Woodridge is slated to play second singles for a strong East Brunswick team. Entering his rookie campaign, Woodridge currently sports a 9.14 UTR.
Chris Winters, Westfield, Jr.
Winters has raised his game significantly within the calendar year. In March of 2025, Winters held a 7.76 UTR. Two years ago at this time his UTR was around 5.82. Now his rating is all the way up to 10.40. Winters has traveled around the country playing in various tournaments and has put in the work to improve his game. Winters, an All-Group 4 selection who made the second round of the state singles tournament last season, is rated as a three-star recruit.
Davis Zhang, Chatham, Sr.
Zhang, an All-Group 3 pick a year ago, made the second round of the state singles tournament and the first singles final at the Morris County Tournament. Zhang helped Chatham make the North 2, Group 3 semifinals and take a close second at the MCT as well. With much of the roster back, Zhang and Chatham are predicted to contend for titles again this spring. The senior enters the year as a two-star recruit with an 8.88 UTR.
Andrew Zielinski, Newark Academy, Jr.
Zielinski took over the first singles spot for Newark Academy last spring and proved he was ready for the task. Zielinski helped guide Newark Academy to titles at the Essex County Tournament, the NA Invitational, the North, Non-Public state tournament and the overall Non-Public tournament. Individually, he reached the fourth round of the state singles tournament. The All-State selection holds a 10.73 UTR at the moment and is a four-star prospect.
Others to watch
Dublin/Pleasanton Tennis Team Wins NorCal Title, Advances To Nationals Again
The DPTG team won a national championship in 2022, were runners-up in 2024 and 2025, and represented USTA NorCal nine times in four years. It also marked the team’s first time reaching nationals with a tri-level team that included players from across the 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 skill divisions.
Belinda Bencic’s Daughter Steals the Show at Charleston Open
Belinda Bencic is looking to win her second title at the 2026 Charleston Open. After losing to American phenom Coco Gauff in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open last week, Bencic is ready to bounce back.
Bencic noted she was dealing with menstrual cramps at Hard Rock Stadium. “I don’t think it’s a taboo topic anymore, which I love,” Bencic told reporters. “I think other female athletes have also spoke about being done hiding this topic.
“It’s no excuse if you lose a match, but it’s something we deal with.”
The Swiss tennis star, the No. 3 seed in Charleston, previously won the tournament in 2022, almost two years before she welcomed her daughter, Bella, with husband Martin Hromkovic.
When Bencic takes on Dayana Yastremska in her opening match at Credit One Stadium on March 31, Bella will be there to cheer her on.
Belinda Bencic’s Daughter Is the Perfect Ball Girl During Charleston Open Warmups
A few days before the Charleston Open kicked off, Bella stole the show with her tiny tennis racket, waving to fans and helping her mom with extra balls. Sorana Cirstea commented on Instagram, “My favourite girls❤️❤️❤️.” Jasmine Paolinin wrote, “Bella bellissima 😍.”
The 29-year-old opened up about tennis tour life as a mom before the tournament started. “I choose to bring Bella really to every tournament,” Bencic told Richard Osborn.. “So I spend so much time with her, and I’m really grateful to have people around me that help me to do that, to play and to bring Bella also.”
Bencic, the first Swiss to win the gold medal in women’s singles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, is grateful to wake up Bella every morning and put her to bed every night while on the road. “For me, it’s a huge privilege to do that and still be able to kind of continue to do my job,” she said.
Bencic also notes she couldn’t make it all work without Hromkovic. “I have an unbelievable husband that is 24/7 with Bella,” she said in 2025, The Post and Courier reported. “I have my mom and my dad and both of my husband’s parents that are helping so much, even when we’re home and I have to go to practice. It takes a village, yeah.”
Belinda Bencic Won Her First Tournament 4 Months After Returning From Maternity Leave
After giving birth to Bella in April 2024, Bencic return to compete six months later. She went from No. 421 to No. 11 after winning titles in Abu Dhabi in February 2025 and Tokyo in October 2025.
Bencic says having a baby helped her become a better player. “I didn’t know how it was going to be before having a baby, but now I would say it’s eased it up for me a little bit, because I can separate my private life and my professional life much more,” she said. “
“I don’t have so much time to think about tennis, and maybe that’s a good thing for me. I’m not overthinking stuff. I’m really just more productive on the practice court. I practice less. I probably put less effort into being a professional tennis player, and somehow it’s working for the better.”
3 Tennis Figures Handed Bans as ITIA Cracks Down on Match-Fixing and Corruption
The shadow of match-fixing still looms large over tennis. Take, for instance, the three players who were suspended and handed heavy fines over corruption charges just two months ago. Now, the issue has resurfaced, with three tennis figures being reprimanded.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has issued three sanctions under the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program (TACP) on Tuesday, March 31. This program includes a set of rules and regulations against match-fixing and betting, and offenders are met with hefty penalties, including lifelong bans and fines. This just does not apply to players, but it even includes coaches and match officials. And in the latest enforcement from ITIA, a Serbian player, a German, and a Kazakh tennis official have been reprimanded.
The most severe punishment has been given to WTA player Mila Masic. She reached a career high ranking of world No. 875 in December 2024 and has been competing on the tour for many years. Masic has been suspended for four years and ten months and fined $20,000 for fixing four of her own matches. She accepted that she had received payment for these fixes and pleaded guilty.
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The 28-year-old did not appeal for a hearing as she had already accepted her fault. She was already provisionally suspended from December 24, 2025, and the ban will run until October 23, 2030.
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The second player who was sanctioned is Jana Vanik. She is a 23-year-old German player with a career high ranking of world No. 1257, which she achieved in April 2024. Vanik has been suspended for one year and four months and fined $1,500 for not cooperating with the ITIA investigation.
During ITIA’s investigation of match-fixing, it was revealed that the German might have broken some of the rules of the program. After not responding to charges issued on February 27, 2026, the ban came into effect, which will last until July 20, 2027.
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The third case was that of Assylbek Kassym, who is a national-level tennis official in Kazakhstan. Kassym has been suspended for one year and fined $10,000 under the charges of non-cooperation with the investigation. The body alleged that he approached players for corruption, and the Kazakh did not engage in any communication with ITIA. His sanction entered into effect on March 19, 2026, and will end on March 18, 2027.
During their period of suspension, all three are prohibited from playing, coaching, officiating, or attending any tennis event authorised by the ITIA. The member bodies sanctioned by ITIA are ATP, WTA, ITF, the four Grand Slams, and any tennis national association.
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ITIA has been working tirelessly to maintain the integrity of the sport by applying penalties, bringing laws against match-fixing, etc., but it’s getting harder and harder every day.
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A pattern that the ITIA is working hard to break
The three cases reflect a severe pattern that the tennis integrity body will have to fight against. The active corruption takes place at the lower levels of the sport because money is almost non-existent at that level. It is difficult for tennis players in the lower circuits to manage their expenses alongside a tennis career. The costs of training, team, nutrition, accessories, traveling, and accommodation, as well as tournament entry fees, become expensive for an upcoming player, and therefore, they seek ideas like these.
ITIA had not spared the world’s No. 1s of their wrongdoings as well. In 2025, both Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek were out of the action for a brief moment because of failing an anti-doping test under unfortunate circumstances. The Italian had faced a three-month suspension, while the Pole was suspended for one month. In this case, Masic was handed the longest suspension, almost five years, due to the seriousness of the offences.
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Meanwhile, Vanik and Kassym were handed a suspension on the basis of non-cooperation during the due ITIA investigation. The message has been clear that engagement with any kind of sanctionable offence will be met with serious consequences to protect the integrity.
The enforcement of TACP has really helped the sport to control corrupt activity across levels. Apart from this, the tennis governing bodies should really look into increasing the prize money at the Challenger Tours and ITF tournaments. With vulnerability affecting both the lower-ranked players and the integrity of the sport, ITIA hopes to find a solution that addresses both.
No. 14 Summit sweeps New Providence in season opener – Boys tennis photos
Summit, No. 14 in the NJ.com Top 20, met little resistance as it swept New Providence, 5-0, in New Providence.
Ben Levkov at first singles and Connor Fei at second singles won their respective matches, 6-0, 6-0 for Summit (1-0). Summit got a 6-4, 6-0 victory from Abdiel Lara at third singles.
First doubles proved to be the most competitive of the matches as Summit’s Henry Deutsch and Ayaan Khan defeated the New Providence duo of Ankit Karthik and Matteo Agastra, 6-3, 7-5.
Summit also took second doubles as the team of Evan Markowitz and Dylan Schulberg, won 6-2, 6-1.
New Providence falls to 0-1.
Iga Swiatek Dragged Into Ticket Controversy as Polish Tennis Association Breaks Silence
On April 10–11 in Gliwice, Poland’s Billie Jean King Cup clash with Ukraine was meant to ignite national pride, but anticipation took a sharp hit. Last Saturday, hopes dimmed when Iga Swiatek, the six-time Grand Slam champion, on whom fans were counting, was ruled out. And her absence didn’t just sting emotionally; it reportedly cooled public interest so significantly that the Polish Tennis Association was forced to step in.
According to Interia Sport, the Polish Tennis Association responded firmly after claims about ticket returns surfaced ahead of the Billie Jean King Cup tie in Gliwice. The controversy began when coach, commentator, and analyst Lech Sidor suggested fans were reacting to Iga Świątek’s absence. “The statement that ‘people are en masse returning tickets’ for the Poland-Ukraine match in the Billie Jean King Cup is untrue,” they said.
The Association further clarified the actual situation using official data. “According to information provided by the distributor, there has been one such request in the last week. We are also not observing increased activity in ticket resale. We are surprised by the lack of faith in the attitude and commitment of Polish fans.”
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The statement also pointed to past fan support as evidence. “Last year’s Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers tournament in Radom clearly showed that, regardless of the circumstances or the line-up, the national team can count on strong support and genuine fan support.”
The Association emphasized respect for the players representing the country. “Such statements are also unfair to the players who come to Gliwice to represent Poland and deserve the full support of their fans and respect for their work and commitment.”
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They also addressed the importance of responsible reporting and accurate information. “As the Polish Tennis Association, we appreciate all initiatives that popularize tennis, such as the ‘Trzeci Serwis’ channel, but we encourage building their popularity based on reliable and verified information.”
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Sidor had earlier spoken about the situation in a YouTube video on the “Trzeci Serwis” channel. He expressed concern about the fans and the overall situation surrounding the venue and organization.
“I’m sorry for the fans. There was an issue with the PreZero Arena, a concert was cancelled, everything was arranged. From what I understand, people are returning their tickets en masse, trying to sell them elsewhere, or will simply throw them away.”
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Despite the Association’s claims, Swiatek’s withdrawal has clearly weakened Poland’s squad. The team will enter the tie without a single top-50 player, while Ukraine arrives stronger with Elina Svitolina and Marta Kostyuk leading the lineup.
Poland must beat Ukraine to qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen, China, while Ukraine aims to build on last year’s semifinal run and push further in 2026.
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Poland already missed the final eight in 2025, and with Swiatek still chasing her first Billie Jean King Cup title, her absence may delay that goal again, even as renewed scrutiny grows over her recent on-court form.
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Rennae Stubbs identifies the root cause of Iga Swiatek’s struggles
Iga Swiatek was once the world’s top-ranked women’s tennis player, but her position is now under pressure. With the rise of Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina, she is close to slipping out of the top five again.
Her struggles are not obvious at first glance, but they appear in small and critical moments. Analysts say her decision-making, once instinctive, now looks rushed and forced during key points.
These small lapses have started affecting her results on the court. Matches that she once controlled are now slipping away due to poor shot choices under pressure.
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Her second-round loss at the Miami Open only increased concerns about her current form. The defeat also led to a major change, as she parted ways with coach Wim Fissette.
Following this setback, former player and coach Rennae Stubbs offered detailed advice. She spoke openly about what Swiatek and her team should focus on before the next tournament.
“If I was coaching her… I would say stay with the same shot. You don’t need to change the direction of the ball that much,” said Stubbs. “I think you should stop trying to hit the sidelines,” she continued. “Hit the ball big and rely on the relentless pressure you are putting on your opponent.”
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This analysis matches what Swiatek herself has admitted publicly. She has described this period as the “worst nightmare” stretch of her career.
According to Polish outlet Przeglad Sportowy Onet, a new coaching move is already in progress. Francisco Roig is expected to join her on a trial basis in Mallorca.
She will train at the Rafael Nadal Academy as she prepares for the clay season. Last year, she struggled on clay and failed to win a WTA title, including missing the chance to defend her French Open crown.
This season, the four-time French Open champion will try to reverse that trend. She will return at the Stuttgart Open on April 13, followed by the Madrid Open on April 20, aiming to rediscover her best form on clay.
Prep girls tennis: Mountlake Terrace wins on final doubles match
Prep girls tennis roundup for Tuesday, March 31:
(Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results and statistics, email sports@heraldnet.com. Please report results by 10:30)
Wesco 3A/2A South
Mountlake Terrace 4, Archbishop Murphy 3
At Gateway M.S.
Singles—Kamdyn Latta (A) def. Amanda Wangmo 6-2, 7-6(2). Jules Rioja (A) def. Tramanh Ho 6-1, 6-1. Minh-Grace Ngo (M) def. Angelia Pedersen 6-4, 6-4. Julia Shtegngart (M) def. Kamille Catapang 6-1, 6-4; Doubles—Alex Robles-Clara Loveless (M) def. Fernanda Lopez-Anneliese Hallgren 6-4, 6-1. Lizzy Robinson-Taylor Nguyen (A) def. Camden Curtis-Leia Anteneh 6-3, 6-4. Anka Ariunsaihan-Redi Kassa (M) def. Ceci Mayans-Eunie Torres 6-0, 6-3.
Shorecrest 5, Lynnwood 2
At Kellogg M.S.
Singles—Zuma Vining (S) def. Rose Tulga 6-3, 6-3. Lauren Kajimura (S) def. Tayler Simbulan 6-0, 6-1. Sophie Schmitz (S) def. Rachel Ericson 6-2, 6-0. Mia Halset (S) def. Tien Vo 6-3, 6-0; Doubles—Maggie Hesedahl-Venus Hernandez (L) def. Walker Temme-Thayer Katahara-Stewart 6-4, 7-5. Sabina Schoeld-Calla Rihnsmith (S) def. Maggie Hesedahl-Venus Hernandez 7-6(9), 6-0. Naomi Aquino-Melissa Seng (L) def. Gigi Garbaccio-Neena Mercado 6-2, 7-5.
Shorewood 6, Meadowdale 1
At Shorewood H.S.
Singles—Micah Crose (S) def. Claire Yim 6-1, 6-1. Jessica Sakska (S) def. Jenna Vanderpoel 6-3, 6-3. Sophia Nguyen (S) def. Bella Burtido del Rosario 6-1, 6-2. Shinuen Moon (S) def. Saryna Moua 6-4, 6-1; Doubles—Lilah Becker-Addy Falkin (S) def. Sophia Owen-Venitia Nguyen 6-2, 6-1. Madeline Thorpe-Kiera Vega (S) def. Eleanor Ly-Leyna Ball 6-4, 6-3. Cayetana Figuera-Marlene Venz (M) def. Gigi Amgalan-Haileigh Cunningham 6-4, 7-6(5).
Wesco 4A
Jackson 6, Arlington 1
At Arlington H.S.
Singles—Teegan Bridgman (J) def. Grace Armes 6-0, 6-0. Francys Montilla (J) def. Iris Suchan 6-1, 6-2. Sreshta Sundar-Ganesh (J) def. Savannah Thomas 6-2, 6-1. Tatiana Carrillo (A) def. Lauren Chung 6-4, 6-3; Doubles—Leah Wilson-Myla Nguyen (J) def. Audrey Marsh-Kara Glassman 5-7, 6-4, 10-8. Jimena Beltran-Nadia Villarreal-Carriedo (J) def. Grace Farris-Lyla Morzelewski 6-3, 6-1. Arushi Dashore-Ravenna Holland (J) def. Mia Whobrey-Ashlyn Huling 6-4, 6-4.
— — — — — —
Cascade at Glacier Peak, score not reported
Valero Texas Open prop bet picks and PGA Tour predictions
The PGA Tour is in Texas for the second straight week, as TPC San Antonio is hosting the 2026 Valero Texas Open. The first round begins on Thursday morning in San Antonio, Texas, as players get one last chance to prepare for next week’s first major of the season — the Masters in Augusta, Georgia. Below, we search for the best value prop bets for the Valero Texas Open and make our PGA Tour picks and predictions before the first round begins Thursday.
Collin Morikawa was one of the top players in the field, but he withdrew Tuesday as he continues to recover from a back injury and hopes to be ready for the Masters.. Gary Woodland, Nicolai Hojgaard and Daniel Berger have also withdrawn. Ludvig Aberg (+1400) enters as the tournament favorite, with Jordan Spieth, Russell Henley and Tommy Fleetwood also among the strongest contenders at +1600.
TPC San Antonio (par 72, 7,435 yards) is a challenging course, especially when the wind blows. It features an abundance of bunkers guarding the greens, and though it’s an open layout, greens are tough to hit – especially given the length of the par 3s.
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Valero Texas Open – Top-5 picks
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.
Jordan Spieth (+300)
Spieth won this event in 2021 and has 2 top-12 finishes in the last 2 years. His game is trending up heading into the Masters, notching 3 top-12 finishes in his last 4 starts this season.
Valero Texas Open: Outright winner picks
Keith Mitchell (+600)
Mitchell is an excellent driver of the ball, which is important at TPC San Antonio. He’s finished 12th and 14th in his last 2 starts at this event and is riding some momentum after finishing 14th in Houston last week.
Valero Texas Open – Top-10 picks
Alex Noren (+333)
In his last 2 starts at this event, Noren finished 14th (2024) and 15th (2023). He’s far enough removed from last year’s hamstring injury that caused a delayed start to his season in 2025 that health is certainly no longer an issue.
Ryo Hisatsune (+333)
Hisatsune is another player who’s driving it well right now, with his overall ball-striking statistics also putting him among the tour’s best (5th in SG: tee-to-green in this field in last 3 months). He tied for fifth at this tournament last year after finishing 78th the year prior in his debut.
Valero Texas Open – Top-20 picks
Austin Smotherman (+225)
Smotherman ranks seventh in SG: tee-to-green in the last 3 months among players in the field this week, showing how well he’s hitting the ball despite some struggles on the greens. He finished T-13 in his latest start this season and also had a T-2 at the Cognizant Classic.
Adrien Dumont de Chassart (+275)
Dumont de Chassart has only played this event once, missing the cut in 2024. He’s finished T-26 or better in each of his last 4 starts, including a T-12 at the Texas Children’s Houston Open last week.
Denny McCarthy (+150)
McCarthy has always been a good driver and typically excels on the greens, using that to finish T-26 and T-12 in his last 2 starts this season. He was the runner-up in 2024 and tied for 18th last year.
Valero Texas Open – Matchups
Suggested play is golfer in bold.
Jordan Spieth (-105) vs. Russell Henley (-118)
Henley is a great fit for this course with how accurate he is and how well he putts, but Spieth has some great history at TPC San Antonio and is playing well right now.
Valero Texas Open – Top Swedish
Alex Noren (+200)
Noren’s top competition in this market is the tournament favorite, Aberg, who is -120 to be the top Swedish player. Noren has never finished worse than 15th here and should be able to navigate the winds if they become a factor.
Valero Texas Open – Top Japanese
Ryo Hisatsune (+160)
Hideki Matsuyama (+105) is the favorite to be the top Japanese player in the field but Hisatsune is a strong challenger, especially with how well he’s hitting the ball right now.
Valero Texas Open – First-round leader
Keith Mitchell (+4500)
Mitchell opened with a 64 last year to be 1 shot off the lead after Round 1. He’s 41st in Round 1 scoring average this season and is riding momentum after Sunday’s 65 in the final round in Houston.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Golfweek:
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Tiger Woods Decision After DUI Crash Sparks Reactions
Tiger Woods’ decision to step away from golf following his recent DUI crash has sparked a wave of mixed reactions across the sports world, with the PGA TOUR publicly offering support while fans remain divided.
In a statement posted on social media, Woods said he would be stepping away “for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health” after last week’s incident in Jupiter Island, Florida.
“I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today,” Woods said. “I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health… I’m committed to taking the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger, and more focused place.”
PGA TOUR Shows Support
Shortly after Woods’ announcement, the PGA TOUR issued statements backing the 15-time major champion.
CEO Brian Rolapp emphasized Woods’ impact on the sport while offering support during his time away.
“Tiger Woods is one of the most influential figures the sports world has ever known… My thoughts are with him and his family as he takes this step.”
The TOUR also released a broader statement reinforcing its stance.
“Tiger Woods is a legend of our sport… our focus is on his health and well-being. Tiger continues to have our full support.”
Reactions Split Across Social Media
The public response was immediate — and sharply divided.
Many fans expressed support for Woods’ decision to prioritize his health.
“Come back stronger 💪 Be an example for others to follow,” one fan wrote.
“We will always be here for you, Tiger. You will rise again. 🐐,” another added.
Others urged compassion while acknowledging the physical toll Woods has endured.
“Show yourself some compassion… Be well 🙏🏽,” one comment read.
The reaction extended beyond golf, with Donald Trump Jr. also weighing in — with one report describing him as “livid” behind the scenes over concerns involving his kids.
Criticism Focuses on Accountability
At the same time, criticism quickly surfaced, particularly around accountability and the legal context of the case.
Some questioned the contrast between Woods seeking treatment and pleading not guilty.
“If you weren’t under the influence… then what are you seeking treatment for? I’m confused,” one user wrote.
Others were more direct.
“You should never be allowed to drive again,” another comment read.
“Then why plead not guilty… you won’t take accountability,” another added.
Incident Revives Memories of 2017 Arrest
The situation has also brought renewed attention to Woods’ past legal troubles.
In 2017, Woods was arrested in Jupiter, Florida, after being found asleep in his vehicle. Authorities later determined he was under the influence of a mix of prescription medications.
He ultimately pleaded guilty to reckless driving — a reduced charge — and completed a diversion program.
That history has resurfaced in public discussion, adding another layer to the reaction surrounding his latest incident.
Tiger Woods Faces Legal Case While Away From Golf
Woods’ latest statement came after he entered a plea of not guilty, waived his arraignment and requested a jury trial.
The combination of seeking treatment while contesting the charge has become a focal point in the conversation.
Golf World Watches Closely
Woods has long been one of the most influential figures in sports, with a career defined by both historic success and high-profile comebacks.
That history is shaping the response once again.
For now, the PGA TOUR’s public support offers a clear signal from the sport’s leadership.
PGA Tour takes Tiger Woods stand as Masters questions linger after DUI arrest
Days after a DUI arrest in Florida, Tiger Woods is getting support from the PGA Tour.
Woods said Tuesday evening that he’s “stepping away for a period of time.” Shortly after he posted his statement to X, the PGA and PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp both extended their support for the 15-time major champion.
“Tiger Woods is one of the most influential figures the sports world has ever known,” Rolapp wrote. “Over the last year, I have come to deeply appreciate Tiger not only for his impact on the game, but for his friendship and the perspective he has shared with me as I joined the golf industry.
“My thoughts are with him and his family as he takes this step, for which he has my full respect and support.”
Woods, 50, was arrested on Friday in Jupiter Island after a rollover crash in which he was allegedly under the influence. He also allegedly had hydrocodone pills in his pocket, The Post previously reported. He also allegedly told officers that he “had a few” pills that morning before his Land Rover was involved in the crash, his fourth known incident since 2009.
The golfer allegedly blew a negative on the breathalyzer but refused a urinalysis test. He was charged with driving under the influence with property damage and refusing a lawful test. On Tuesday, he pleaded not guilty to charges related to the crash. In 2021, he suffered an open fracture in a Los Angeles crash that threw his golf career in doubt.
Now, Woods wrote in his statement, he is making his “well-being” a priority.
“I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today,” he wrote in a statement shared on social media Tuesday. “I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery.
“I’m committed to taking the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger, and more focused place, both personally and professionally. I appreciate your understanding and support, and ask for privacy for my family, loved ones and myself at this time.”
With the Masters set to start next Thursday, it now appears unlikely Woods will compete in the major, one he has won five times.
“Tiger Woods is a legend of our sport whose impact extends far beyond his achievements on the course,” the PGA Tour wrote Tuesday. “But above all else, Tiger is a person, and our focus is on his health and well-being. Tiger continues to have our full support as he takes this important step.”
Tommy Fleetwood proud to carry ‘25 consistency into ‘26
Tommy Fleetwood had, without a doubt, the best year of his golf career in 2025.
He made 18 cuts in 19 starts on the PGA Tour, finishing in the top 25 almost every time. He came tantalizingly close to victory at the Travelers Championship (T2) and the FedEx St. Jude Championship (T3) before finally breaking through on the biggest non-major stage there is.
Winning the Tour Championship in August marked not only his first FedEx Cup, but also his first win on U.S. soil at all. He backed it two months later by capturing the DP World India Championship, and he rose as high as No. 3 in the world rankings.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday before the Valero Texas Open, the Englishman was rightfully pleased that he’s kept up his stellar form three months into 2026.
Historic PGA Tour Event Faces Critical Turning Point as $3.3B Giant Steps In
Gary Woodland did not just win last Sunday at Memorial Park. His PGA Tour win made headlines, moved galleries to tears, and gave the Texas Children’s Houston Open its most talked-about moment. But even before Woodland rolled in his final putt, Astros owner and tournament supporter Jim Crane already had his sights on something bigger.
“We want to be one of the best tournaments,” Crane told PaperCity. “The possibility we’d move to an elevated event, I know they’re working on that. We haven’t had many talks with the PGA Tour yet. But we want one of the best tournaments and stops on the Tour, and I think we have the facility here with 300 acres.”
The case for elevating the Houston Open is building itself. Despite Scheffler withdrawing days before the tournament started due to the impending birth of his second child and Rory McIlroy pulling back to manage a back injury, the 2026 Houston Open still had excellent attendance. Even though this season’s numbers have yet to come, we remember how ticket sales across the Texas Children’s Houston Open were already up 15% year over year in 2025.
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Astros Golf Foundation president Giles Kibbe confirmed: “We set attendance records this year. So every year it gets bigger and bigger. Every year, the golf course is maturing.”
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The history and scheduling of the PGA Tour’s Houston Open amplify all of these factors.
The Houston Open was started in 1946 and has been played at several Houston venues until the 1970s. It is the largest fundraiser for the Astros Foundation and has donated millions to local charities.
The tournament sits two weeks before the Masters and acts as one of the spots for pros to test their skills. Scheffler praised Memorial Park as an Augusta preparation in their 2025 pro-am, pointing to the ryegrass fairways and demanding second shots that mirror conditions at Augusta National.
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“Good preparation between here and Augusta,” Scheffler acknowledged.
Adam Scott left a note this week calling Memorial the best-conditioned course he had played all year. Shane Lowry came specifically because he had heard the course was exceptional, and according to Kibbe, he will be back.
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Woodland set a course record of 21-under 259. He won $1,782,000 from the $9.9 million purse. What made this victory even more special was it came weeks after revealing his PTSD struggles following the removal of a baseball-sized brain tumor in September 2023. He even wore shoes designed by 15-year-old Texas Children’s brain cancer patient Ceci. He also called the course setup unbelievable.
Golfers are not only playing at Memorial Park; they are actively involved in its transformation. Brooks Koepka helped redesign it and has supported its growth. This helped the Municipal course gain a reputation as a high-quality, Tour-ready venue.
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Largely, everything contributes to Crane’s Signature Event push.
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp proposes doubling the number of Signature Events from eight to 16, which feature 120-player fields, cuts, and $20 million purses with $4.5 million for winners. Implementation could start in 2027, but 2028 is more likely.
Rolapp has also stated that the Tour competes in only four of the top ten U.S. media markets and wants events in larger markets. The fourth-largest city in the nation, Houston, almost fits both criteria.
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Texas Children’s sponsorship runs through 2028, but a $20 million purse may require more wealthy backers. But Kibbe is direct.
“We know that Houston is going to be a big part of the PGA Tour. We want it to be one of the bigger tournaments on Tour. So we’re going to do everything we can to get there.”
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The blueprint already exists in the PGA Tour history
The PGA Tour has done this in the past. Back in 2023, it elevated select existing tournaments into “Designated Events” with $20 million purses rather than creating new ones. The Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational, and Memorial Tournament were among the first to receive that status.
These designated events were rebranded as Signature Events in 2024, forming the Tour’s top tier outside the Majors and The PLAYERS Championship. The formula was consistent: an established tournament, a proven market, strong player reception, and the financial backing to support an elevated purse.
The Houston Open qualifies, and Jim Crane has a track record of making long shots land, having turned a $680 million Astros purchase into a $3.3 billion franchise. Is the Houston Open’s elevation next on that list?
Storylines for the Valero Texas Open: Rickie Fowler’s Masters Hail Mary
We’re only one week away from the 2026 Masters Tournament, but the PGA Tour still has one more stop before the first major championship of the year. Let’s check out the juiciest storylines for the Masters tune-up at the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio.
Collin Morikawa returns after Player Championship WD
This is a big week for Collin Morikawa. The last time we saw the No. 8 player in the world, he was grabbing his back after a practice swing and withdrawing from the Players Championship after playing just one hole at TPC Sawgrass. Morikawa is in the field for the Valero Texas Open, so his back injury must not be a long-term concern.
If Morikawa is back to full health, it’s not hyperbole to say he’s a top-three favorite to win the green jacket next week. The 29-year-old won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, finished T7 at the Genesis Invitational and notched a solo fifth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational before pulling out of the Players Championship. He also has four straight top-15 finishes at Augusta National.
A strong, healthy week in San Antonio will put Morikawa back on top of the Masters contender tier.
Ludvig Aberg looks to shake off Sunday meltdown
Ludvig Aberg also had a disappointing week at TPC Sawgrass — just in a much different way. The talented Swede was three strokes ahead of the field heading to the back nine on Sunday. But after 63 holes of great golf, he shot a 4-over 40 coming home and allowed Cameron Young to rip the Players Championship trophy from his grasp.
Performing after a Sunday meltdown is never easy, so it will be fascinating to see where Aberg’s mental and physical game is after enduring that heartbreak. Playing in a professional event a week before the Masters is exactly what he needs to shake off the disappointment and reset his focus.
Last chance for Rickie Fowler, others to crack Masters field
PGA Tour CEO Among First To Respond As Tiger Woods Announces Break After DUI Arrest
President Donald Trump had predicted that Tiger Woods would not play at Augusta National this year. And that’s precisely what happened. Within days of his rollover car crash and DUI arrest, Woods announced that he’s stepping away for now and is prioritizing his lasting recovery. Within minutes of Woods’s announcement, the PGA Tour CEO issued a statement supporting him, along with others.
“Tiger Woods is one of the most influential figures the sports world has ever known. Over the last year, I have come to deeply appreciate Tiger not only for his impact on the game but also for his friendship and the perspective he has shared with me as I joined the golf industry,” Rolapp announced in the statement on Woods. “My thoughts are with him and his family as he takes this step, for which he has my full respect and support.”
Woods is a key asset for the PGA Tour, not just for his illustrious golf career but also as a board member. Rolapp appointed Woods as the head of the Future Competition Committee back in 2025 to help reshape the Tour. That is proof of the amount of trust that the PGA Tour CEO has in the 82x PGA Tour winner. After all, he wouldn’t give the power to create the best schedule and product for the 2027 season to just anybody.
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And Tiger Woods has also responded in kind. When Rolapp was appointed as the CEO, Woods stood in his support and called it a win for the Tour and the fans. Their shared goal of growing the PGA Tour and improving the golf landscape in the country strengthens their mutual respect.
Even the official statement from the PGA Tour regarding the controversy surrounding Woods had a similar opinion to that of Rolapp.
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“Tiger Woods is a legend of our sport whose impact extends far beyond his achievements on the course. But above all else, Tiger is a person, and our focus is on his health and well-being. Tiger has our full support as he takes this important step.”
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For Tiger Woods, whose career has been defined by both unparalleled dominance and deeply public setbacks, this moment feels different. Woods reflected on the seriousness of the situation through a statement.
“I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today. I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery,” he announced in a statement.
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“I’m committed to taking the time needed to return to a healthier, stronger, and more focused place, both personally and professionally. I appreciate your understanding and support and ask for privacy for my family, loved ones, and myself at this time.”
Responding to Woods’ statement, Paige Spiranac took to X and reassured her support for the 15x major champion. Her support went beyond the golf course and towards Woods as a human being.
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“I think we are all rooting for Tiger. Not as a golfer, but more importantly as a person. None of us can fathom what he’s been through both emotionally and physically. Not excusing any behavior, but I hope he’s able to get the help he needs in peace without the whole world dogpiling on him in a very difficult situation.”
Woods had to step away from the course for a long time due to his persistent injuries. He ruptured his Achilles tendon in March 2025, and later in October 2025, he underwent his seventh back surgery to fix a collapsed disc, disc fragments, and a compromised spinal canal around the L4 and L5 vertebrae.
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He was probably all set to make a return at the 2026 Masters Tournament. But the March 27 crash brought a different storyline. He was later spotted practicing his swings. He has now pleaded not guilty to the DUI charge and has hired his 2017 attorney, Douglas Duncan, to help him navigate the jury trial.
With everything going on, what do some of the significant people of the golf world think?
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What does the golf world think of Tiger Woods’s recent situation?
Golfers like Anthony Kim and Kevin Kisner gave their honest opinion regarding Woods’ sticky situation. Kisner expressed his desire to see Woods swinging at Augusta National, while AK extended his best wishes for Woods’ sobriety. Many people expressed their support for the 50-year-old and wished him a swift recovery, although some, such as Mark Lye, were not pleased with the situation Woods has found himself in.
“The first domino should be to take Tiger’s name off the LA Open Genesis (Genesis Invitational)…not a good look. Next, the Hero [World Challenge]. As a former player myself, as well as a broadcaster, I couldn’t even show my face again. His kids will suffer as well, shameful and selfish,” Lye wrote in a post on X.
Woods had filed his registration for the upcoming 2026 U.S. Senior Open scheduled for the summer. And with that, he might consider returning to compete in early July 2026, provided his legal battle and injuries have completely healed.
Collin Morikawa & 6 Others, Including Last Week’s Winner, Withdraw From $9.8M PGA Tour Event
The field for the Valero Texas Open is shrinking. Seven players, including major champion Collin Morikawa, have withdrawn just before the event. Their focus is now set on the Masters.
According to the latest field update from PGA TOUR Communications, David Lipsky has withdrawn, and Carson Young is in. But Lipsky is not the only one. He’s joined by a total of six more stars.
Collin Morikawa is among the seven players who withdrew from the event. Also withdrawing is Gary Woodland, who just won his tournament last week. The list includes the likes of Pierceson Coody, Nicolai Hojgaard, Matti Schmid, and Daniel Berger.
These withdrawals are strategically planned ahead of the first major tournament of the year, with most players choosing to withdraw from the event to give themselves a week of practice before the Augusta tournament.
The toll of consecutive tournaments can lead top players to prioritize the green jacket over an immediate cash prize.
Given his recent success, Gary Woodland’s withdrawal is especially remarkable. It’s understandable for new winners to take time off, as the fatigue following a victory is common.
At the same time, Morikawa’s withdrawal remains the most concerning. He hasn’t played since mid-March, and he’s nursing a back injury he picked up at TPC Sawgrass.
But there is one major positive coming out of these golfers’ exits.
Seeking Momentum Beyond the Texas Field
An opportunity has now presented itself to Carson Young and other alternates. These changes offer ‘bubble’ players the opportunity to earn crucial FedEx Cup points and build momentum at the professional level.
Golf Glance: Final Masters spot on line in Texas; $4M purse for LPGA in Vegas
The final spot in the Masters Tournament is on the line as the PGA Tour stops in San Antonio, while a $4 million purse is up for grabs for an elite women’s field at the ultra-exclusive Shadow Creek in Las Vegas.
PGA TOUR
THIS WEEK: Valero Texas Open, San Antonio, April 2-5
Course: TPC San Antonio (Par 72, 7,438 Yards)
Purse: $9.8M (Winner: $1.764M)
Defending Champion: Brian Harman
FedEx Cup Leader: Jacob Bridgeman
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Friday: 4-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday: 1-3:30 p.m. (GC), 3:30-6 p.m. (NBC); Sunday: 1-2:30 p.m. (GC), 2:30-6 pm. (NBC)
Streaming (ESPN+): Thursday-Friday: 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday: 10:15 a.m.-6 p.m.
X: @ValeroTxOpen
NOTES: The winner will earn the final invitation into next week’s Masters Tournament if not otherwise qualified. Three of the past six winners of the event earned a spot into the Masters. Notable players who are not currently qualified for the masters include six-time PGA Tour winners Tony Finau and Rickie Fowler. … The field includes 17 of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking. … Sponsor exemptions included Ryan Palmer, Brandt Snedeker, Camilo Villegas and Jimmy Walker. … This is the final event for players to earn spots into the next signature event at the RBC Heritage via the Aon Swing 5. The current leaders are David Lipsky, Chandler Blanchet, Jordan Smith, Johnny Keefer and Marco Penge. … Zach Johnson in 2008-09 was the most recent player to win consecutive Valero Texas Open titles. … The TPC San Antonio tournament scoring record of 268 is shared by Corey Conners (2019) and Akshay Bhatia and Denny McCarthy in 2024.
BEST BETS: No. 4 Tommy Fleetwood (+1425 at DraftKings) is the top-ranked player in the field and has finished T8 or better in three of four starts this season. … Ludvig Aberg (+1500) held the 54-hole lead in his most recent start at The Players, which followed a T3 at Bay Hill. … Robert MacIntyre (+1800) is coming off a solo fourth at The Players and has three consecutive finishes of T24 or better. … Si Woo Kim (+2150) has cooled off following a strong start to the season but still has five finishes of T13 or better in eight starts in 2026. … Hideki Matsuyama (+2250) is one of the most accomplished players in the field as the former Masters champion prepares for Augusta next week. … Michael Thorbjornsen (+2700) has been in contention before struggling on Sunday each of the past two weeks. The former Stanford standout is still seeking his maiden PGA Tour victory.
Last Tournament: Texas Children’s Houston Open (Gary Woodland)
Next Tournament: Masters Tournament, Augusta, Ga., April 9-12
LPGA TOUR
THIS WEEK: Aramco Championship, Las Vegas, April 2-5
Course: Shadow Creek Golf Club (Par 72, 6,765 Yards)
Purse: $4M (Winner: $600,000)
Defending Champion: Inaugural Event
Race to CME Globe Leader: Hyo Joo Kim
HOW TO FOLLOW:
TV: Thursday-Friday: 7-10 p.m. ET; Saturday-Sunday: 5-9 p.m. (Golf Channel)
X: @LPGA
NOTES: The 72-hole stroke play event is co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour as part of the
Tiger Woods’s Absence Looms Over PGA Tour Committee’s Ongoing Decisions
The PGA Tour’s Future Competition Committee faces one of its biggest tests yet. Just as the committee was gaining momentum on some of the most sweeping reforms in Tour history, its chairman, Tiger Woods, stepped away following a DUI arrest, leaving a leadership void at a critical juncture.
As reported in SBJ, a spokesperson confirmed Tuesday that the Future Competition Committee held a virtual meeting and would continue its work despite Woods’s absence, adding that the Tour expects him to return as chairman once he’s ready. The stance came after Tiger Woods himself broke his silence.
“I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery,” he wrote.
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The timing of it all couldn’t be worse. The Future committee is in the middle of shaping the Tour’s scarcity model. It is a sweeping overhaul targeting full implementation by 2028. The six pillars under review include a compressed season from late January to early September; a two-track system featuring 21 to 26 elevated signature events; a promotion and relegation structure modeled on European soccer; consistent 120-player fields with cuts; major market expansion into cities like New York, Chicago, and Boston; and an enhanced FedEx Cup postseason with potential match play rounds.
Progress updates are expected at the Travelers Championship in June and the Tour Championship in August. Woods’s part in the process wasn’t just for show. In August 2025, CEO Brian Rolapp made him chairman of the FCC. Rolapp had joined the Tour in 2025 and relied on the 82x PGA Tour champ’s credibility and power to lead the effort to change things. His statement on Tuesday underlined just how crucial a golfer’s role has become.
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“Over the last year, I have come to deeply appreciate Tiger not only for his impact on the game but also for his friendship and the perspective he has shared with me.”
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Beyond the committee, Woods also sits on both the PGA Tour Policy Board and the PGA Tour Enterprises Board. This means his absence creates ripple effects across the tour’s governance structure.
After his March 27th crash, the 50-year-old was arrested for 8 hours and then let go on bail. He appeared “lethargic and slow” and was “sweating profusely” at the scene. Woods was charged with DUI, to which he pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in Martin County, Florida. He has now waived his arraignment and has demanded a trial by jury.
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This entire situation has also impacted Tiger Woods’s on-course decisions.
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Tiger Woods’ statement ends all Masters hopes.
Tiger Woods’ chance of appearing at Augusta this season has completely disappeared. His statement that he was stepping away from the sport for health reasons effectively ruled out any Masters appearance, ending a comeback attempt that had been quietly gaining momentum over the past few months.
Woods had been working hard to reach a playing stage. Earlier this year, he stated that a Masters appearance was still a possibility. He had been practicing at his Jupiter home and even competed in the TGL Season 2 finale.
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Fred Ridley, Augusta’s chairman, has also released a statement saying that Woods would not be present there and his absence will be felt. This is the sixth Masters that Woods has missed or pulled out of. He has already missed the 2014, 2016, 2017, 2021, and 2025 tournaments. Every absence had its own painful reason, but this one is different because he was actively trying to get back before the crash ruined everything.
NASCAR Schedule Rockingham: Where to Watch, TV Timings, Line Up, Race Odds, Purse & More
It’s finally happening! NASCAR is back again at Rockingham Speedway, and there’s plenty to keep track of this weekend. From race timings and TV coverage to the full lineup, odds, and what’s at stake, fans have a packed NASCAR schedule ahead. Whether you’re tuning in for the Truck action or the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series showdown, here’s everything you need to know before the green flag drops.
NASCAR schedule at Rockingham
The weekend at Rockingham Speedway gets underway on Friday, April 3, with a packed slate of on-track action. Fans can enter the Fan Zone and access ticket gates and suites from 10:30 a.m., setting the stage for a full day at the track.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series takes center stage early, with practice and qualifying running from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. That’s followed by the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series practice and qualifying session from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The day builds toward its main event, the Black’s Tire & Auto Service 200 Truck Series race, scheduled for 4:30 p.m., kicking off the competitive portion of the weekend in style.
Saturday, April 4, brings an even earlier start, with gates and the Fan Zone opening at 8:30 a.m. The focus initially shifts to the ARCA Menards Series East, which holds its practice session from 9:00 a.m. to 9:50 a.m., followed by qualifying from 10:05 a.m. to 10:25 a.m. The ARCA Menards Series East race goes green at 11:30 a.m., offering a strong mid-day highlight. Later in the afternoon, attention returns to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for the NC Education Lottery 250, set to begin at 2:30 p.m., wrapping up a busy and action-packed return to “The Rock.”
Weather forecast
The weather should be largely favorable across the weekend at Rockingham Speedway. Friday will see temperatures in the low 80s with about a 25% chance of scattered afternoon showers. Saturday looks similar temperature-wise, hovering in the 80s again, with a slightly lower rain threat, making for solid racing conditions overall.
Where to watch
Fans can catch all the action from the Rockingham Speedway NASCAR schedule across multiple platforms. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will be broadcast on FS1, while the ARCA Menards Series East will stream on FloRacing and the NASCAR Channel. The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race airs on The CW. Radio coverage is available via MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Entry list & key names to watch
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series field features 38 entries this weekend, with a notable crossover appearance from Carson Hocevar, who will drive the No. 77 for Spire Motorsports despite the Cup Series being off. This race also marks the second leg of the Triple Truck Challenge, adding extra incentive before the finale at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Meanwhile, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series brings a stacked 39-car lineup. All eyes will be on Garrett Mitchell, making his debut in the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. Defending winner Sammy Smith returns to the track, while the race also serves as the qualifier for the upcoming Dash 4 Cash stretch, set to kick off at Bristol next weekend.
Race purse
NASCAR has not yet released the official purse for the 2026 weekend at Rockingham Speedway. However, if the previous year is any indication, the numbers should remain in a similar range. In 2025, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race carried a purse of $1,651,939, while the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event offered $782,900. With growing interest around “The Rock,” comparable, and possibly slightly higher figures are expected this time around.
Wrapping up
With packed grandstands, competitive fields, and a nostalgic return to Rockingham Speedway, this weekend has all the ingredients for a memorable show. From the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series to the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, there’s no shortage of action. Whether you’re watching for the racing, the storylines, or the atmosphere, Rockingham’s comeback is shaping up to be worth the wait.
Dye Reinstated But Now Faces An Even More Uncertain Future In NASCAR
Once rising NASCAR prospect Daniel Dye was reinstated by the sanctioning body Tuesday. And then, almost in the same breath, he found himself out of a job.
Motorsports has always had a peculiar way of doing that. One minute you’re climbing the ladder, the next you’re staring at it from the ground wondering which rung you missed.
A Sudden Stop in a Rising Career
It seemed only weeks ago that the 22-year-old could do no wrong. He was on a steady upward trajectory, with a full-time opportunity in one of NASCAR’s most competitive divisions with Kaulig Racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. It was a continuation of a relationship that had already produced 48 starts in what is now the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Then, on March 17, it stopped.
NASCAR indefinitely suspended Dye after video surfaced of him making insensitive remarks about IndyCar driver David Malukas during a social media livestream. The sanctioning body required sensitivity training as a condition for return. That box, it appears, has now been checked.
But in racing, as in life, checking the box doesn’t mean the slate is wiped clean.
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Reinstated But Not Recovered
Shortly after NASCAR announced his reinstatement, Dye confirmed he would be stepping away from Kaulig Racing.
“I’m incredibly thankful for my time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and for the chance to compete with Kaulig Racing alongside some of the most passionate fans in motorsports. At this time, I am stepping away from that role,” Dye said in a statement.
He added that after “honest self-reflection” and guidance from mentors, he is shifting focus toward his long-term goal of reaching NASCAR’s highest level.
Kaulig Racing’s response was brief and to the point: the team accepted his resignation and wished him well.
A Veteran Steps Into the Seat
If there was any doubt about the direction things were heading, it vanished minutes before NASCAR’s weekly penalty report was released. Kaulig Racing announced that veteran driver Corey LaJoie would take over the No. 10 Ram 1500 for the remainder of the 2026 season, beginning this weekend at Rockingham Speedway. That, notably, was the same truck Dye had been piloting.
LaJoie’s arrival is its own story of professional whiplash. After five full-time seasons in the Cup Series and more than a decade bouncing through NASCAR’s ranks, he suddenly found himself on the outside looking in during one of the sport’s more bizarre driver shuffles.
A few weeks ago at Darlington Raceway, he showed up for a one-off Truck Series start in Kaulig’s No. 25 entry. He was running competitively, flirting with a top-10, until a late-race incident dropped him to 21st.
“The last couple months I’ve missed the grind of working towards a goal of success on track,” LaJoie said. “There’s certainly a lot of work ahead of us… but with the people in the Kaulig Racing building, I believe we will get there.”
Kaulig Racing CEO Chris Rice pointed to LaJoie’s experience and familiarity with the organization as key factors, calling him the right driver to help accelerate the development of the team’s Ram-backed program.
“He brings the skill, maturity and work ethic we need to get our Ram program where it needs to be,” Rice said. “We think he’ll help us speed that development and battle for checkered flags. We’re confident he’s the right driver to help us.”
Redemption in NASCAR Takes Time
It’s somewhat ironic. One driver exits under a cloud, while another re-enters with something to prove.
Because if there’s one thing NASCAR has never been short on, it’s second chances, though they rarely arrive looking like the first.
Drivers like Kyle Larson and Noah Gragson have already charted a path for Dye: Suspension, accountability, time, and, crucially, performance. Redemption here isn’t granted. It’s earned, slowly, and usually under a microscope.
For now Daniel Dye is in the most uncomfortable position in all of sports: reinstated, but not yet restored.
There may come a day when another press release lands, announcing his return to a full-time ride, his career stitched back together piece by piece.
But in NASCAR, redemption doesn’t come with a deadline.
It comes with laps, and time.
Race Deal With Beard Motorsports
Barring unforeseen circumstances, Casey Mears is set to accomplish his goal of 500 career starts in the NASCAR Cup Series ranks. The winner of the 2007 Coca-Cola 600, who resurfaced last season after a lengthy six-year hiatus, will compete in five NASCAR Cup Series events this year behind the wheel of the No. 62 Chevrolet for Beard Motorsports.
Mears’ first start with the Beard team will come at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26. Heading into his five-race stint with Beard Motorsports, Mears sits at 495 career NASCAR Cup Series starts.
In addition to Talladega in April, Mears will compete for Beard Motorsports in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis, the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, the YellaWood 500 at Talladega in the fall, and the season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Mears will have sponsorship backing from a plethora of longtime partners, including the Gracie Foundation, a foundation honoring the late Gracie Germain.
The Beard Motorsports team is honored to provide the opportunity to Mears for the veteran racer to accomplish the 500 starts milestone.
“We’re thrilled with the opportunity to partner with Casey Mears for these five races in 2026,” said Amie Beard-Deja, executive vice president, Beard Motorsports, in a press release. “It has been well documented that Beard Motorsports is a passion project for my family, and we’ve been committed to carrying on what my dad started. To take the No. 62 Chevrolet to new venues is beyond anything we could’ve imagined when we started in 2017.
“After hearing about Casey’s desire to get to his 500th Cup Series start, we started talking. His experience in the NASCAR Cup Series and at the tracks we’ll visit with him this year makes us very excited for the rest of the season.”
Mears just feels that it’s right that he’ll check off his 500th career start driving for a family-owned Beard Motorsports team, which always does its best to come to the track prepared to compete any time they show up, and he couldn’t be more thankful to the Germain family for always supporting him through the journey.
“Partnering with Beard Motorsports, a team founded by the late Mark Beard Sr., and operated by his wife and daughter, means a lot to me. We have a feel-good story that connects with race fans,” Mears said. “One thing I’ve learned during the last year is how much I still love racing and competing. I’m incredibly appreciative of Bob Germain and his continued support as I close in on 500 Cup starts. His generosity is moving, and I’m thankful for his friendship.
Why Chase Elliott Is NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver
Chase Elliott didn’t just win at Martinsville.
He reminded everyone why, year after year, he continues to stand alone as NASCAR’s most popular driver.
Because when Elliott wins, something else always follows — attention.
Search interest spikes. Social media fills up. Casual fans who haven’t watched in weeks suddenly tune back in. And once again, the same question starts circulating:
Why is Chase Elliott still NASCAR’s most popular driver?
It Starts With Winning — and the Timing Matters
Elliott’s Martinsville victory wasn’t just another checkered flag.
It came on a short track where emotions run high, stakes feel bigger, and moments tend to stick. When Elliott delivers in those environments, it amplifies everything around him.
And unlike many drivers, Elliott’s wins don’t stay contained to race fans.
They break through.
That’s a big part of the equation.
His Popularity Isn’t Forced — and Fans Know It
Elliott doesn’t chase attention.
He’s not the loudest voice in the garage. He’s not trying to dominate headlines. And he rarely inserts himself into controversy.
That restraint is exactly what makes him stand out.
Fans don’t feel like they’re being sold a personality — they feel like they’re watching someone genuine.
As Elliott has said:
“I feel like I have some of the best fans that you can have.”
That connection is built on consistency, not moments.
The Elliott Name Opened the Door — But That’s Not Why He’s Still Here
There’s no ignoring the legacy.
As the son of Bill Elliott — a 16-time Most Popular Driver winner — Chase entered the sport with built-in recognition. But nearly a decade into his career, that alone doesn’t explain his staying power.
If anything, sustaining that level of popularity is harder than inheriting it.
And Elliott has done exactly that.
He Reaches Every Kind of NASCAR Fan
Elliott’s appeal cuts across the entire fanbase:
Older fans recognize the familiarity in his approach
Younger fans connect with his steady, no-drama presence
Casual viewers gravitate toward him when he’s running up front
That kind of crossover is rare — and it’s why his popularity doesn’t dip, even in quieter stretches.
Martinsville Didn’t Change Anything — It Just Made It Obvious Again
Elliott has been NASCAR’s most popular driver for years.
Martinsville didn’t create that reality. It just reminded everyone how visible — and how powerful — that connection still is.
Because when Chase Elliott wins, people don’t just notice. They show up.
Casey Mears Signs With Beard Motorsports With 500 Starts In Sight
Casey Mears’ unlikely NASCAR comeback will continue in 2026. The 48-year-old suddenly made his NASCAR return in 2025 after making his last start six years prior.
Now, after competing in this year’s Daytona 500 with Carl Long’s Garage 66, Mears is back in another surprise deal. He just inked a five-race ride with Beard Motorsports, a team with a Richard Childress Racing alliance, in an attempt to make his 500th NASCAR Cup Series start.
Mears’ unlikely comeback has been highlighted by qualifying for the Daytona 500 after narrowly escaping a crash in the Duel qualifier.
“Partnering with Beard Motorsports, a team founded by the late Mark Beard Sr., and operated by his wife and daughter, means a lot to me. We have a feel-good story that connects with race fans,” Mears said. “One thing I’ve learned during the last year is how much I still love racing and competing. I’m incredibly appreciative of Bob Germain and his continued support as I close in on 500 Cup starts. His generosity is moving and I’m thankful for his friendship.
“I’ve watched Beard Motorsports race over the years, and it’s a team that doesn’t just show up for superspeedway races – they make races and are competitive. As a racer, that’s really appealing.”
Where Will Casey Mears Race In 2026?
Mears currently sits at 495 Cup Series starts. The deal with Beard Motorsports, a part-time Chevrolet entry, should get him to 500 starts unless more than 40 cars show up to an event and he does not qualify.
Mears will compete in the No. 62 entry at Talladega on April 26, July 26’s Brickyard 400, Aug. 29’s race at Daytona, the second Talladega race on Oct. 25, and the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 8.
“We’re thrilled with the opportunity to partner with Casey Mears for these five races in 2026,” said Amie Beard-Deja, executive vice president, Beard Motorsports. “It has been well documented that Beard Motorsports is a passion project for my family and we’ve been committed to carrying on what my dad started. To take the No. 62 Chevrolet to new venues is beyond anything we could’ve imagined when we started in 2017.
“After hearing about Casey’s desire to get to his 500th Cup Series start, we started talking. His experience in the NASCAR Cup Series and at the tracks we’ll visit with him this year makes us very excited for the rest of the season.”
Mears has one Cup Series win in his career, coming in the 2007 Coca-Cola 600.
Who Will Casey Mears Be Driving For?
Beard Motorsports is a family-owned, single-car operation that usually only competes at drafting tracks, also known as superspeedways.
The team qualified for the Daytona 500 in 2026 with Anthony Alfredo. However, NASCAR deemed the No. 62 car illegal and they were disqualified. Beard Motorsports has a single top five (2022 with Noah Gragson) and seven top 10s in 34 Cup Series races. Last year, Alfredo led a combined 21 laps at both Talladega races, which gives Mears hope going into this year’s events.
Mears’ effort will be supported by his longtime Cup Series owner, Bob Germain, who retired and sold his team several years ago.
NASCAR Weather Update Rockingham: Clouds of Doom to Ruin Easter Weekend?
NASCAR is prepared to return to the Rockingham Speedway this coming Easter weekend as racing returns to the 1.5-mile track for only the second time in the past two decades. The track made a striking return to the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and Truck Series calendar last year, but the Cup Series did not return here. Given the questionable forecast, the Cup Series drivers are likely glad they have the week off.
Clouds over Rockingham threaten NASCAR’s Easter weekend
This upcoming race at the Rockingham Speedway will be a special event taking place over Easter weekend, but, as with the trend earlier this year, there is a threat of the weather acting up and hampering the race. The track will remain considerably cool, so that would be an added advantage for drivers as tire degradation would be under control (although bringing them up to optimum working temperature could be challenging).
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Friday, 3 April
For Friday, the weather seems rather stable, but risky. There is a slight chance of rain; however, it is not too concerning for the drivers. According to The Weather Channel, the temperature will peak at around 80° and drop to 61°. There will be a huge cloud cover over the track, but precipitation is not expected.
In the late hours of the morning of the 3 of April, the Truck Series drivers will take to Rockingham Speedway, with their practice session beginning at 11 AM ET. An hour later, it will be followed by their qualifying session. Later, the NOAPS drivers will begin their practice session at 01:30 PM, followed by qualifying an hour later. And at 04:30 PM, the Truck Series drivers will begin their race.
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Saturday, 4 April
Saturday will be the main event, with the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race scheduled for 02:30 PM. This will be relatively hotter than Friday, with temperatures peaking at 83° before dropping by roughly 20 degrees overnight. But for the main race, the track could be a little heated because of the lower cloud cover. With this, the threat of rain will remain low, although a partial cloud cover can be expected.
This could probably be the best news for the Cup Series drivers, as they will be enjoying their week off and not battling against the weather, because on Sunday, there is a very high chance of rain. The peak temperatures drop to 78° with a high probability of rain throughout the day. Luckily for NASCAR, however, there are no events scheduled for that day.
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Famed automotive YouTuber to make NOAP Series debut at Rockingham
This is going to be more than just a scheduled race for Richard Childress Racing, as popular automotive influencer Garrett Mitchell will make his NOAPS debut with the team. He is better known as Cleetus McFarland, and he will be piloting the #33 Chevy on the track. Earlier this year, he also made his Truck Series debut at Daytona, although the result turned out to be rather disappointing with a DNF, but he could perform better at Rockingham Speedway.
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This will be one of the three O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races he is scheduled to run with the team this season. The series has expanded quite a bit in recent years, with more participation from the lesser-experienced drivers. McFarland, however, comes with some prior experience from the ARCA Menards Series.
The weather will also play to his advantage, as it won’t be a very hot day; moreover, the small chances of precipitation will make it a good race.
Kevin Harvick on Emotions of NASCAR HoF Nomination
Kevin Harvick found out during the FS1 pre-race show of the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville that he was a NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2027 nominee.
One day removed from that live TV moment, the 2014 Cup Series champion got an opportunity to reflect.
In a career where he had 60 career Cup wins and one championship, Harvick detailed why it is special to be on the Hall of Fame nominee list.
Kevin Harvick on Hall of Fame nomination: ‘You want to be the best’
In a recent episode of “SPEED with Harvick and Buxton,” the former driver of the No. 4 was asked about the emotions of finding out he was a Hall of Fame nominee.
The 50-year-old could not shy away from how the moment made him feel.
“I would say that one brought a tear to my eye,” Harvick said.
Being enshrined in the NASCAR Hall of Fame is one of the most prolific achievements the sport has to offer.
Harvick went on to say the moment was emotional because NASCAR racing has been all he has ever known. From the driver’s seat to the TV booth, Harvick has been a staple in NASCAR for over two decades.
Now, he could find himself among the legends in the Hall of Fame next year.
“You put so much effort into everything that you do with your craft. You want to be the best at it. To be able to have the success. … It was my job for 23 years. Now, I sit here on this side of the camera being able to talk about the sport that I love. You put your whole life into something and to be able to reap the rewards of all the effort that you put into it is pretty special,” Harvick said.
Harvick competed full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series from 2001-2023. The California native competed for two different teams in his career.
He was tapped to replace the late Dale Earnhardt in 2001 and piloted the No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet from 2001-2013. One of Harvick’s most notable wins with the team was the 2007 Daytona 500.
In 2014, Harvick joined Stewart-Haas Racing. Piloting the No. 4 car, he captured the 2014 title and placed runner-up in 2015. From 2014-2023, Harvick totaled 37 wins with SHR, including a series-high nine victories in 2020.
Harvick stepped away from full-time competition at the end of the 2023 season. Yet, he ventured into the TV side of NASCAR in 2024 as a color commentator for FOX Sports.
Other NASCAR HoF nominees
Kevin Harvick is not the only one who got the nod as a NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee.
Fourteen other names made the Class of 2027 Hall of Fame nomination lineup. Some of the notables include the late Greg Biffle, who tragically perished in a plane crash last December.
Biffle won 19 career NASCAR Cup Series races and won championships in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.
The late Neil Bonnett is another nominee for 2027. Bonnett won 18 career NASCAR Cup Series races.
Dale Jr.’s Questions NASCAR’s HoF Induction Process With Brutal 6-Word Confession
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast was the scene of a hot take about the NASCAR Hall of Fame last week. The opinion, which has the whole of NASCAR talking, that only Cup drivers should be allowed into the HoF began from the Dirty Mo Media studios. But a week from that, another hot take has emerged from the podcast. And this time it is from Dale Earnhardt Jr. himself.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. wonders if NASCAR rushed with him in the HoF
During the latest episode of the Dale Jr. Download, the discussion began around the recent HoF announcement. At Martinsville, Mike Helton announced that Kevin Harvick would be a nominee for the Class of 2027.
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This was something which Dale Earnhardt Jr. believed would be ‘a lock’ for Harvick. However, he was then confronted with the idea that some fans wondered whether NASCAR should’ve waited for some time before naming Harvick as a HoF nominee, which led to a major admission from Dale Jr. about his own induction in 2021, four years after his retirement.
“I’ll tell you this, they shouldn’t have put me in when they did. I think they could’ve waited. I would’ve preferred to have waited. Now there are the Jimmie Johnsons, the Dale Earnhardt, the Richard Pettys that you don’t make them wait. Guys who have won multiple championships. Like Kyle Busch, he’s going in; we’ll put him in right away. But there are a few people, and I would be comfortable saying I am one of them, who could’ve (waited),” he described.
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To Earnhardt’s point, three of the drivers he mentioned are 7-time Cup champions. Even Kyle Busch, who has two Cup titles to his name, has 233 wins, the most in the history of NASCAR across the three national series.
Dale Jr.’s career numbers are pale in comparison to Busch’s, Jimmie Johnson’s, or his own father’s.
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Making his case for NASCAR waiting to put him in the HoF, Dale Earnhardt Jr. claimed he feels healthy and young. And looking at the list of the Class of 2027 nominees, he sees names of drivers that have been around for a long time, names that deserve to get in.
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However, a driver like him, Dale Jr. claimed, appears on the ballot and goes ‘right to the front of the line.’ He likened that to waiting for one’s turn while checking in for a flight and getting the luggage tagged.
Junior’s legacy in NASCAR covers more than the track
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There are very few names in the history of NASCAR who achieved beyond the racetrack and wins. Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s name is one of them. While he had modest success behind the wheel of a racecar across the Busch Series and the Cup Series, his contributions extend far beyond his role as a driver.
Earnhardt won two Busch Series championships and 24 races. At the Cup level, he won 26 races, including two Daytona 500s, but no titles.
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However, much like Jeff Gordon in the 90s, Earnhardt Jr. was also responsible for introducing NASCAR to a whole new audience. His appearances on shows like Cribs, Talladega Nights, and even starring in a Jay- Z video are some of the many examples of Earnhardt’s presence in pop culture, which made NASCAR a household name.
But even after his retirement in 2017, Dale Earnhardt Jr. continued to be a big part of the sport. His podcast network, dedicated almost entirely to NASCAR, his efforts of uplifting grassroots racing, and shedding light on iconic tracks like North Wilkesboro are some of the highlights of Dale Jr.’s key role in the sport. In fact, to this day, he remains a beloved figure among the fans, the garage, and the overall ecosystem of the sport.
Therefore, it’d be interesting to see how his take on him being put in the Hall of Fame prematurely goes down.
Danica Patrick Joins Donald Trump’s White House for Once in a Lifetime Opportunity
Danica Patrick’s career began with racing, but she drifted apart from it a long time ago. She has remained politically active on social media, with unwavering support for the Republicans, especially Donald Trump. Because of the popularity she gained during his 2024 Presidential Campaign, Patrick has been quite involved in similar activities, and she will also be joining the Second Lady, Usha Vance, in the White House for a special program targeted towards kids.
Danica Patrick to join the SLOTUS
Usha Vance announced the “Storytime with the Second Lady” program, a podcast for kids, which will feature guests reading children’s books. This is intended to combat the declining US child literacy rate. In a clip that White House’s official account shared on social media, Danica Patrick could also be seen reading one of those books.
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“Thank you so much @SLOTUS for having me on your new podcast to read Cars to the kids!” She wrote on X.
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This seems to be an interesting turn in Patrick’s career, although not surprising. While she is most popularly known for being the first woman to win an IndyCar race and her long-running NASCAR Cup Series career, racing is something that she has not undertaken in a long time. She was involved with Formula 1’s Sky Sports broadcasting team, but was not announced as a part of the same for this year.
But, Danica Patrick’s speaking skills seem to be adept for this role with the SLOTUS. She has been the guest host on some of the most popular podcasts, including one with Charlie Kirk. Moreover, she also hosts the Pretty Intense podcast regularly, discussing life improvement tips and other ideologies. However, just a few years ago, this podcast was targeted because of some questionable topics that were discussed.
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When Patrick’s podcast was under the radar
Back in 2024, Danica Patrick had Elizabeth April on her Pretty Intense podcast as the guest. While their conversation started quite normally, they ended up discussing some topics that did not sit well with the fans. One of these also included a questionable discussion over pop star Justin Bieber.
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April claimed that Bieber was going to transform into a fictional creature in front of a huge crowd.
“Justin Bieber was going to shapeshift into a giant reptilian on stage in front of hundreds of thousands, who all have their phone on him, who capture it… They have suppressed a lot of these sightings,” claimed April on the podcast.
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Moreover, Danica Patrick also made mention of ‘Men in Black’ devices, referring to the 1997 sci-fi movie that had a memory-erasing tool.
As expected, this particular episode received huge backlash from the fans. Patrick was largely criticized for discussing such unrealistic topics and earning hundreds of thousands of views.
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Her role working with the Second Lady of the US. will be different from that on her previous podcast. She will be reading out stories to children, who, in turn, will only get inspired by her and her racing career.
Cleetus McFarland Breaks Silence With 4-Words After Falling Victim to NASCAR Fans’ Hatred
Ever since Richard Childress Racing announced Cleetus McFarland as a part-time driver on their team, the pushback has been immense. Many fans and big-name insiders questioned his skills and his experience, wondering if he had truly earned the opportunity. After weeks of criticism and debates around NASCAR circles, McFarland finally opened up on his feelings about the situation.
The doubters are not getting to Cleetus McFarland
The YouTuber-cum-racecar driver is set to debut for RCR at Rockingham as part of his three-race deal in the O’Reilly Series.
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After his disappointing run at Daytona, McFarland was not feeling all that well, but when the opportunity to race for RCR came, it was tough for him to refuse.
“If Richard Childress called them and said, ‘Hey, you want to come drive our car?’ All of them would have taken that opportunity too,” said McFarland. “And if NASCAR is letting me do it, I’m in. I’m here, and no one can save me but myself at this point. Once I get on that track on Saturday, it’s up to me. So, they can complain as much as they’d like, but it’s happening, and it’s for two years. So they better buckle up.”
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It’s worth mentioning that, along with many fans, some big names like Kyle Busch and Freddie Kraft also questioned Cleetus McFarland’s racing in NASCAR.
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Busch, who himself is a driver of RCR, wondered how CleetusMcFarland got through the approval process, given his lack of experience. He even claimed that his 10-year-old son, Brexton, has more experience in race cars than the YouTuber.
Kraft, the spotter of Bubba Wallace, sarcastically called out McFarland being approved by NASCAR. He mentioned how the YouTuber crashed in the Rockingham test while also crashing on lap 5 of his Truck start at Daytona. The spotter even speculated that NASCAR got McFarland in because of his social media following of over 4.5 million subscribers.
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However, not everyone is against the idea of Cleetus McFarland and the potential gains from his presence in NASCAR.
McFarland has the backing of a big NASCAR name
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Dale Earnhardt Jr., who has featured in Cleetus McFarland’s videos and hosted him on his podcast, claimed that NASCAR needs names and backgrounds like the YouTuber’s. However, Junior also admitted that McFarland needed a lot more experience to ‘really compete.’
“I want him racing in NASCAR, I want him bringing his followers to our sport, I want him to have success, I want him to have fun. I would say that he probably wouldn’t tell us, but that probably wasn’t too much fun, what happened [at Daytona],” Earnhardt said on his podcast.
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The veteran driver wondered why NASCAR, as a sport, did not back Cleetus McFarland enough and instead of pushing back, help by surrounding him with the tools needed to excel in the sport.
Andrew Painter strikes out eight in Major League debut
He was less than an hour from his highly anticipated MLB debut against the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. The fans that noticed him applauded as he walked to the bullpen to begin his final preparations for the biggest day of his professional life.
Painter had waited a lifetime for Tuesday. Fans had waited since the organization selected him with the 13th overall pick in the 2021 Draft. All hoped to leave the ballpark knowing they had experienced something special.
Everyone went home happy. Painter, 22, dazzled against Washington in Philadelphia’s 3-2 win, striking out eight and allowing four hits, one run and one walk in 5 1/3 innings.
He showed a big arm with a four-seam fastball that touched 98.7 mph and averaged 96.7 mph. He showed wipeout secondary pitches, getting three strikeouts on changeups, two on sliders and two on curveballs.
He got into a jam in the second when the Nationals hit back-to-back singles to start the inning, but he worked out of it. He was in control the rest of the night, retiring 13 of 15 batters following those singles until he allowed a one-out single to CJ Abrams in the fifth inning.
Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani Headline 4 MLB Stars Off to Ice
We’re about one week into the 2026 Major League Baseball season and it already has been a fun one.
There are a handful rookies tearing up right now already in the big leagues, including St. Louis Cardinals phenom JJ Wetherholt, Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle, New York Mets starter Nolan McLean and Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami, among others. There haven’t been a lot of surprises yet in the standings. The Los Angeles Dodgers are the Los Angeles Dodgers. They’ve looked good so far as they look to win their third straight World Series title. The New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays have been really good so far as well. Also, despite another offseason without a ton of additions — and after trading another key piece away in Freddy Peralta — the Milwaukee Brewers have picked up right where they left off.
It’s been a fun season in general. It’s obviously very early. Again, we’re not even one full week into the new season. But there have been a few stars who have uncharacteristically struggled to kick off the season.
Here are five Major League Baseball stars who would’ve preferred a better start to the 2026 campaign.
Aaron Judge — New York Yankees
Games: 4
Home Runs: 2
RBIs: 3
Doubles: 0
Slash Line: .188/.235/.563 with a .798 OPS
Breakdown: Judge has hit the ball out of the ballpark, but he’s just 3-for-16 on the season so far with eight strikeouts. The two home runs are good, but the strikeouts are high and he hasn’t been getting on base at the same rate. Last year, he finished the season with a .457 on-base percentage. In 2026 so far, his on-base percentage is .235.
Shohei Ohtani — Los Angeles Dodgers
Games: 4
Home Runs: 0
RBIs: 0
Doubles: 0
Slash Line: .167/.412/.167 with a .578 OPS
Breakdown: Ohtani has been getting on base thanks to his four walks, but he’s 2-for-12 so far on the season without an extra-base hit. That’s almost shocking to right, even though it’s a small sample size.
Josh Naylor — Seattle Mariners
Games: 5
Home Runs: 0
RBIs: 0
Doubles: 0
Slash Line: .000/.136/.000 with a .136 OPS
Breakdown: Now, this isn’t what you expect to see from the one-time All-Star. Naylor is 0-for-19 on the season so far after landing a long-term deal with the Mariners this past offseason. Pretty surprising, to say the least.
Julio Rodríguez — Seattle Mariners
Games: 5
Home Runs: 0
RBIs: 1
Doubles: 0
Slash Line: .053/.182/.053 with a .234 OPS.
Painter wins MLB debut with 8 Ks, Schwarber homers as Phillies beat Nationals 3
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Andrew Painter struck out eight in 5 1/3 innings in a fantastic major league debut, and Kyle Schwarber and Adolis Garcia homered to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-2 win over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.
Jhoan Duran struck out two in a scoreless ninth for his second save. Brandon Marsh made a nice running grab of James Wood’s deep drive to left field to end the game with the tying run on second base.
The 22-year-old Painter lived up to the hype as the most promising Phillies pitching prospect to make his debut since Cole Hamels 20 years ago.
The 6-foot-7 right-hander gave up four hits, one run, and walked one while throwing 84 pitches.
Painter (1-0) mixed curves, sweepers and sliders with a fastball that nearly touched 100 mph and flashed every bit of greatness that has been predicted of him since he was the 13th overall pick in the 2021 amateur draft and signed for a $3.9 million bonus.
His Phillies’ debut was delayed following Tommy John surgery in 2023 that forced him to miss two full minor league seasons and pitch 118 innings last season, mostly at Triple-A Leigh Valley.
Painted opened the game with a strikeout of Wood and struck out the side in the fifth. Painter tipped his cap to the cheering crowd as he left the mound in the sixth after allowing a one-out single to C.J. Abrams.
Kyle Schwarber hit his second homer of the season in the second and Adolis Garcia hit his first homer — both off reliever Zack Littell (0-1) — with the Phillies in the fourth for a 2-0 lead.
The Phillies had seven hits in a needed win after dropping two straight games to Texas and losing the series opener to Washington on Monday. The Phillies hadn’t held a lead in any of their three losses and Turner, Bryce Harper and Schwarber entered batting a combined .120 (6 for 50).
Up next
Nationals RHP Cade Cavalli (0-0, 4.91) starts on Wednesday in the series finale opposite Phillies LHP Cristopher Sánchez (1-0, 0.00).
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Umpire C.B. Bucknor’s brutal start to season continues
C.B. Bucknor is already catching more heat just days into the MLB season.
The longtime umpire looked foolish yet again on Tuesday after he made a bad call during the Brewers’ 6-2 win over the Rays, when he said Milwaukee’s Jake Bauers missed first base, calling him out after Tampa Bay applied a tag.
The only problem? Bauers very clearly touched the bag, and Bucknor was spotted not even looking at first base when he made the call.
The call was quickly challenged and overturned, leading the players and managers from both teams to laugh at Bucknor and the broadcasters to mock him on air.
It all started with Bauers’ at-bat with two outs in the bottom of the sixth when he hit a line drive that Rays second baseman Ben Williamson knocked down before he tried to get the out at first.
But his throw went wide, allowing Bauers to seemingly reach first without any issue. That was until Bucknor oddly called that the Brewers first baseman didn’t touch the base.
The play was challenged, and when the Brewers broadcast showed the replay, Bauers could be seen stepping on first while Bucknor was watching the ball, not the runner.
The broadcast also showed both Brewers manager Pat Murphy and Rays skipper Kevin Cash cackling at how outrageous the initial call was.
“I think that is a horrendous call. Where is C.B. Bucknor looking?… C.B. Bucknor wasn’t even looking at the play,” Brewers play-by-play broadcaster Jeff Levering said on air.
Following the overturned call, Bauers stole second base, and Brandon Lockridge doubled to drive him in to give Milwaukee a 5-2 lead.
Bucknor was left with egg on his face over the weekend when he had six calls overturned by the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) during the Reds-Red Sox game on Saturday.
Two of those reversed calls came on back-to-back pitches in the same at-bat.
Bucknor has been a major league umpire since 1996 and is the second-longest-tenured behind Phil Cuzzi.
Bucknor in spotlight again after missed call in Brewers-Rays
MILWAUKEE — Umpire C.B. Bucknor’s tough start to the season continues.
Bucknor was working as the first-base umpire for the Milwaukee Brewers’ 6-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday when he made a call that was so obviously incorrect from the replay that it had both managers smiling afterward.
Milwaukee was leading 4-2 in the sixth inning when Jake Bauers hit an infield single. Bauers initially was called out because Bucknor determined he hadn’t touched first base. The replay showed Bauers clearly touching the top of the bag, right across the middle.
How Phillies’ Pitching Prospect Andrew Painter Performed in MLB Debut
The Philadelphia Phillies are relying on a couple of up-and-coming talents to make an impact at the big league level early this year. And one of those top prospects got off to a strong start in his major league debut.
Right-handed pitcher Andrew Painter, Philadelphia’s No. 2 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 26 overall prospect for 2026, picked up the win on the mound in the Phillies’ 3-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday. The 22-year-old threw 5 1/3 innings in his first big league start, giving up one run on four hits and one walk, while striking out eight.
The lone run charged to Painter, though, crossed the plate after he exited the game. Washington shortstop CJ Abrams singled off the Phillies’ young arm with one out in the sixth inning, and Tanner Banks came in to replace Painter. The Philadelphia reliever then immediately gave up a single hit to right fielder Adolis García, who allowed Abrams to score after throwing the ball into the stands while trying to get him out at third base. Regardless, this was an impressive outing from Painter in his major league debut.
What’s next for Andrew Painter with Zack Wheeler’s return looming?
As things stand, Painter is likely expected to make at least a few more starts for the Phillies. Injured ace Zack Wheeler is on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, though, and he threw three innings last Saturday in his first appearance on the mound since undergoing season-ending thoracic outlet decompression surgery last fall.
While it’s unclear exactly when Wheeler will rejoin the Phillies’ rotation, Painter could be the odd man out of the big league starting pitching staff. But if the hard-throwing righty continues to pitch the way he did in his major league debut, he could make that decision much more difficult for Philadelphia.
The only other realistic option to be replaced by Wheeler when he’s healthy would be Taijuan Walker, who got roughed up in his first start of 2026, giving up seven runs and 10 hits to the same Nationals team that Painter mostly kept in check. Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, and Aaron Nola aren’t going anywhere, so unless one of them gets injured or Philadelphia elects to go with a six-man rotation, Painter and Walker could be in a battle to remain in the starting pitching staff once Wheeler is ready to return.
Jose Fernandez hits 2 home runs in MLB debut, leads Diamondbacks over Tigers 7-5
PHOENIX (AP) — Jose Fernandez hit two home runs, including the go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth inning, in his MLB debut and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Detroit Tigers 7-5 on Tuesday night.
Fernandez finished 3 for 4 with an infield single for the first of his career in the second and a solo home run in the fourth.
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James McCann hit a double along the third baseline and Jordan Lawlar singled before the Tigers swapped out relief pitcher Drew Anderson for Will Vest (0-1). Vest walked Ketel Marte to load the bases and Corbin Carroll hit a double to the wall in center field, sending two home.
Vest walked the next batter and Marte scored on a groundout before Kenley Jensen replaced Vest with runners at the corners. Fernandez hit a 409-foot shot that capped the scoring.
Diamondbacks starter Brandon Pfaadt allowed five runs in six innings. Andrew Hoffmann (1-0) pitching two scoreless innings before Paul Sewald struck out the side in the ninth and earned his second save of the year.
Detroit had all of its six hits in the Tigers’ five-run third. Riley Greene hit a two-run double, and Kevin McGonigle, Kerry Carpenter and Jake Rogers each added an RBI.
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Up next
Detroit’s Tarik Skubal (1-0, 0.00 ERA) starts opposite Zac Gallen (0-1, 9.00) in the series finale Wednesday.
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The New York Yankees Just Tied an MLB Record from the 1940s
Last Wednesday, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge went hitless on MLB Opening Day for the first time in his three-time MVP career.
Judge became the first reigning MVP to strike out four times on Opening Day, per MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch.
The Yankees beat the San Francisco Giants 7-0 anyway, behind spectacular pitching from Max Fried.
While Judge has started the season with a .150 batting average, including two home runs, New York can take solace in the fact that nobody is hitting well against the Yankees.
On Tuesday night, the Yankees improved to 4-1 with a 5-0 win against the Seattle Mariners. Fried went seven innings, struck out seven, and allowed three hits to maintain his pristine 0.00 ERA for at least another few days.
According to MLB, the Yankees tied the 1943 St. Louis Cardinals for the fewest runs allowed through the first five games of a season. New York has allowed three runs.
For the scorecards at home, the Yankees results so far are as follows: a 7-0 win against San Francisco on March 25, a 3-0 win against San Francisco on March 27, a 3-1 win against San Francisco on March 28, a 2-1 loss to Seattle on March 30, and a 5-0 win against Seattle on March 31.
Entering the season, The Athletic’s Jim Bowden ranked the Yankees’ starting rotation of Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Ryan Weathers, and Luis Gil as the third-best in MLB. That’s before the Yanks get back former Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole from Tommy John surgery, which cost him all of 2025, or Clarke Schmidt from his July 2025 Tommy John surgery.
Carlos Rodón is on the 15-day IL with a hamstring injury.
The Yankees have one more game in Seattle on Wednesday before hosting their home opener against the Miami Marlins on Friday.
Carlos Rodon Suffers Injury Setback Before Yankees Rehab Start
The New York Yankees have held up fine in their first run through the starting rotation, but that rotation is still missing Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon. The Yankees are hoping to get both of them back soon, but the injured southpaw is now dealing with another ailment.
Rodon was gearing up for a return at some point in April, but manager Aaron Boone revealed a new development about the former All-Star pitcher on Tuesday. According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, Boone said that Rodon felt some tightness in his right hamstring on Tuesday while progressing through his throwing program.
The timing is awful, as Rodon was scheduled to make a rehab start with the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate. He had tossed 50 pitches in a live batting practice session recently, which is the biggest step forward he’s taken since having an offseason procedure to remove bone chips from his elbow.
Boone didn’t offer much more than the new injury, saying,
Shohei Ohtani Drops Opponent to the Ground in Must-See Strikeout
Shohei Ohtani has won four league MLB MVP awards, is a back-to-back World Series champion, and arguably had the greatest baseball game of all time last season in the postseason against the Milwaukee Brewers.
But there’s one thing left that he wants in his collection as he leads the Los Angeles Dodgers to a possible historic three-peat: a Cy Young award.
While that would have been impossible with the workload he had last season, coming off an arm injury, Dave Roberts showed on Tuesday that Ohtani’s aspirations for the National League Cy Young aren’t in jest.
Ohtani threw six innings, allowed only a single hit with no runs, and had six strikeouts against the Cleveland Guardians.
Throughout the night, Ohtani’s arsenal of pitches bewildered the Guardians players, as Cleveland had little to no shot against most of the Japanese star’s pitches when he was in his control groove.
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And on his final pitch of the night against Rhys Hoskins, he sent a message to the rest of the National League: that Pitcher Ohtani is fully operational, and he might be even scarier than Batter Ohtani.
Ohtani threw a sweeper on a rainy night in L.A. that brought Hoskins down to his knees trying to reach the ball.
The Dodgers would go on to win the game 4-1 to raise their record to the same scoreline through the first few days of the 2026 MLB season.
L.A. will accomplish a record on Wednesday when Yoshinobu Yamaoto takes the mound, making it the first time three Japanese pitchers all started the same series for a respective team. Ohtani and Yamamoto’s junior, Roki Sasaki, lost on Monday but put on a strong performance, only allowing a single run on four hits.
Baseball’s Business Model Is Breaking—And a Strike Won’t Fix It
Like a hurricane, the next disruption in Major League Baseball is already forming, driven by forces building beneath the surface as the Collective Bargaining Agreement approaches expiration.
By Tre Martin | Sports Media Inc | 31 March 2026
Now that Spring is here and we are one week into the new 2026 season, optimism has returned in full swing across Major League Baseball. Stadiums are filling, the crack of the bat resonates across the country, and the hope of a pennant run remains alive for thirty fanbases.
But beneath all the optimism, a different kind of storm is forming.
Hurricanes don’t develop from a single condition. They form when multiple forces align: warm water, rising air, and sustained winds. Baseball is facing a similar convergence in the form of another labor strike on the horizon. Many around the game expect one. But fans and the media are focused on the wrong issue. The real issue is why baseball continues to operate within a system that makes a labor dispute inevitable.
Although the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires on 1 December 2026, approximately nine months from Opening Day, tensions between players and owners are already bubbling over. This timeline is critical, as it places the entire 2027 season in jeopardy before the first pitch of the next winter meetings is even thrown. MLB has been down this road before: most notably during the 1994–95 strike, which wiped out an entire postseason and alienated a generation of fans.
But 30 years later, the difference is not the existence of player-owner disputes, but the persistence of the structural forces that create them. The truth is that labor issues are the symptoms, whereas MLB's economic structure is the problem.
The misalignment of value and power
At the core of this problem, Major League Baseball is dealing with a fundamental misalignment in how it generates and distributes value. Labor disputes are often framed as simple disagreements over contracts, salaries, or individual rules within the agreement. In reality, however, the disputes reflect deeper power struggles over who controls the game's economics.
These struggles are driven by three competing structural forces that continue to drive the league toward conflict. As the industry moves closer to the 2027 deadline, these forces are no longer just theoretical concerns; they are actively dictating how franchises operate.
The first structural force: Player compensation
The central tension between players and owners is not only about how much players are paid, but it’s also about when players are allowed to earn it. Under the current system, teams control players for the early years of their careers: years that often align with their peak physical performance.
Service time rules and arbitration delay access to free agency, pushing the largest contracts into the later stages of a player’s career. By the time many players hit the open market, they are often on the wrong side of thirty, entering a period where traditional aging curves suggest declining production.
At the same time, many owners continue to push for additional cost controls, including a league-wide salary cap. Industry experts note that the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) views salary caps as "institutionalized collusion," citing how caps in other professional leagues have historically eroded the players' total revenue share.
The result is a system that not only delays when players can earn at their highest level but also places potential limits on how much they can ultimately earn. From the player’s perspective, the system restricts both access to and the scale of earnings during a career that is often short. With the average MLB career lasting only three to four years, the window to maximize value is narrow, making any effort to delay or limit earnings particularly difficult for players to accept.
The second structural force: Revenue inequality
The second force is the staggering revenue inequality that divides the league into "haves" and "have-nots." Deep-pocketed, big-market teams like the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers enjoy enormous local revenue advantages. Massive regional sports networks (RSNs), premium sponsorship deals, and consistently high attendance allow them to spend aggressively on talent and absorb financial risk if those players don’t pan out.
The scale of this disparity is best illustrated by specific payroll data. According to MLB.com, when Shohei Ohtani signed his 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2023, his $70 million average annual value (AAV) was higher than the entire 2024 opening day payrolls of the Oakland Athletics, who shelled out just $60.5 million on their entire 26-man roster.
By 2025, these gaps became even more pronounced. Reports indicate the Dodgers' active roster cost exceeded $296 million, while the Chicago White Sox operated with a roster totaling just over $17 million: a disparity exceeding 10-to-1.
On the other end of the spectrum, smaller-market clubs like the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Tampa Bay Rays operate under far tighter financial constraints. These teams rely more heavily on revenue sharing, player development, and cost control. The result is a league that does not function as a single economic system, but as two disparate economies sharing the same game schedule. While total league revenue remains healthy: approaching $13 billion annually: the concentration of wealth undermines the competitive integrity of the sport.
The third structural force: Competitive imbalance and fan engagement
When a subset of teams can consistently outspend the rest of the league, the effects extend beyond payroll by shaping fan expectations. This competitive imbalance is the third force pushing the business model to its breaking point.
Fans in smaller markets do not just experience losing seasons; they experience the long, draining cycles of "tanking," where teams intentionally strip rosters of talent to rebuild through the draft. This leads to years of player development followed by frequent "resets" just as stars become expensive. Meanwhile, higher-revenue teams are positioned to remain competitive year after year, treating the luxury tax as a mere cost of doing business rather than a deterrent.
Over time, that dynamic affects how fans engage with the league as a whole. When outcomes begin to feel structurally tilted, emotional investment declines. The issue for the fans is not just wins and losses, but belief. If the 2026 season feels like a foregone conclusion based on bank accounts rather than box scores, the product suffers.
A system under strain: The strategy of flexibility
Signs of this pressure are already visible in how teams are navigating the current season. Front offices are no longer just planning for the next game; they are planning for the next CBA.
Reports indicate that several franchises, including the Chicago Cubs, have been reportedly structuring contracts to expire after the 2026 season. This is a tactical move intended to maximize financial flexibility before a potential new economic reality emerges in 2027. Championship contenders are facing impossible calculations: do they mortgage the future for a 2026 title run when the entire economic foundation of the sport might shift within 12 months?
Just like hurricanes are formed by warm ocean water, humidity, and wind, these structural forces in baseball do not act in isolation. They reinforce each other:
- Revenue inequality drives spending gaps.
- Spending gaps influence how teams manage and compensate players.
- Both forces shape whether fans believe their team has a realistic chance to compete.
For more on how these shifts impact the broader landscape of sports media and fan engagement, you can explore our latest insights at Sportsmedia.news.
Why a strike is not the solution
The next negotiation will likely center on familiar pressure points: the possibility of a salary cap, continued debates over service time, and mechanisms intended to address competitive balance. But the agreement itself is not creating these tensions. It is exposing them.
Even a successful negotiation that avoids a work stoppage will not eliminate the underlying forces driving conflict. It may temporarily manage them, but it will not resolve the fundamental disconnect between a $13 billion industry and its fragmented distribution model.
This is why the conversation around a potential strike misses the bigger picture. Baseball is not simply negotiating a labor deal; it is being forced to confront a system that is increasingly difficult to sustain in its current form. Discussions around a potential salary floor, adjustments to revenue distribution, and expanded playoff formats all point to a league seeking to rebalance itself.
These are not solutions so much as signals that the current structure is under tremendous strain. Baseball does not just have a labor problem. It has a structural one. And, as with hurricanes, which form because of multiple conditions, MLB’s labor disputes are symptoms of the environment that makes them possible.
Until the league better aligns how money is generated, how players are compensated, and how teams compete, the next disruption won’t be a surprise. It will be the result of conditions that have been building all along.
By Tre Martin, Sports Media Inc
Sports Analytics, Data-Driven Insights, Fan Engagement
LinkedIn: Tre Martin
College Sports Branding Strategy: How the Pac-12 Rebuild Reveals 5 Innovation Secrets Every Athletic Program Needs
HOOK: While most athletic programs scramble to secure any media deal they can get, the rebuilt Pac-12 just cracked the code on modern sports branding strategy: and their blueprint contains five innovation secrets that could revolutionize how every college athletics program approaches brand identity and market positioning in 2025.
The collapse and resurrection of the Pac-12 Conference represents one of the most dramatic transformations in college sports history. What emerged from the rubble wasn't just another athletic conference: it was a masterclass in strategic branding innovation that every athletic program should study. The new Pac-12's approach reveals five critical secrets that separate successful sports brands from the forgotten ones.
Secret #1: Multi-Platform Distribution Dominance
The rebuilt Pac-12 shattered the traditional single-partner media model by establishing partnerships across three major platforms simultaneously: CBS Sports as the primary partner, USA Sports, and The CW. This represents a fundamental shift in how athletic programs should approach brand distribution.
"The days of putting all your eggs in one media basket are over," explains Dr. Sarah Martinez, Sports Marketing Professor at Northwestern University. "The Pac-12's multi-platform strategy ensures they're not dependent on any single network's success or failure."
This diversification strategy allows the conference to reach different demographic segments through each platform. CBS Sports captures the traditional college sports audience, USA Sports taps into mainstream entertainment viewers, and The CW reaches younger demographics. Athletic programs at all levels can apply this principle by diversifying their content distribution across multiple digital and traditional channels rather than relying solely on ESPN+ or single-platform streaming deals.
The innovation extends beyond simple content placement. Each platform partnership serves a specific strategic purpose, creating what industry insiders call "audience stacking": building cumulative brand exposure across multiple viewer bases simultaneously.
Secret #2: In-House Production Excellence as Brand Differentiator
Rather than accepting whatever production quality external partners provide, the Pac-12 created Pac-12 Enterprises as an internal production powerhouse. This subsidiary will produce over 150 broadcasts annually across football, men's basketball, and women's basketball, establishing what the conference calls "best-in-class broadcast production."
"Control over production quality means control over brand presentation," notes media executive John Thompson, former ESPN coordinator. "When you're producing your own content, every camera angle, every graphic, every audio element reinforces your brand identity exactly as you envision it."
This innovation secret reveals a crucial principle: athletic programs must invest in controlling their own narrative presentation. Whether through professional video production teams, enhanced social media content creation, or upgraded facility presentations, programs that control their visual and audio brand presentation gain significant competitive advantages.
The Pac-12's production investment represents approximately $15 million annually, but the brand control and quality consistency it provides creates exponential value in recruiting, fan engagement, and media partnership negotiations.
Secret #3: Maximum Accessibility Strategy
The Pac-12 committed to making 100% of its football games available to all U.S. television households through either national over-the-air networks (CBS and The CW) or widely available cable and streaming platforms (CBS Sports Network and USA Network). This accessibility-first approach eliminates the paywall barriers that limit many programs' brand reach.
"Accessibility equals brand growth," emphasizes marketing strategist Jennifer Walsh, who consults with Power Five conferences. "Every game hidden behind regional restrictions or premium paywalls represents thousands of potential fans, recruits, and donors who can't connect with your brand."
Athletic programs can implement this innovation by prioritizing content accessibility over immediate revenue maximization. This might mean accepting slightly lower per-game fees in exchange for broader distribution, or investing in free digital content that builds brand awareness for premium offerings.
The strategy recognizes that in the modern attention economy, brand visibility often generates more long-term value than short-term revenue optimization. Programs that embrace maximum accessibility create larger fan bases, stronger recruiting pipelines, and more attractive sponsorship opportunities.
Secret #4: Strategic Sport-Specific Platform Optimization
Instead of treating all sports identically, the Pac-12 deployed deliberate, sport-specific distribution strategies. Football receives maximum national reach across all platforms. Men's basketball gets premium placement on CBS Sports during peak viewing windows. Women's basketball is strategically positioned on The CW and USA Network, with tournament games featured prominently on The CW.
"Each sport has different audience characteristics, viewing habits, and growth potential," explains Dr. Michael Rodriguez, Sports Business Analytics researcher at Stanford. "The Pac-12's segmented approach allows them to optimize each sport's brand development individually rather than using a one-size-fits-all strategy."
This innovation secret applies broadly to athletic program branding. Different sports require different promotional strategies, social media approaches, and fan engagement tactics. Wrestling programs shouldn't use the same branding strategy as basketball programs. Track and field requires different promotional approaches than baseball.
Athletic directors can implement this by developing sport-specific brand strategies that align with each sport's unique audience, competitive landscape, and growth opportunities. This targeted approach typically generates better results than generic, program-wide marketing campaigns.
Secret #5: Brand Narrative Control and Positioning
The Pac-12's strategic positioning as "tradition meets transformation" provides a coherent brand narrative that acknowledges historical significance while emphasizing innovation and forward momentum. This messaging strategy differentiates the rebuilt conference in an increasingly crowded marketplace.
"Brand positioning isn't about what you are: it's about what you represent in people's minds," notes branding expert Lisa Chen, who has worked with multiple athletic conferences. "The Pac-12's 'tradition meets transformation' narrative gives every stakeholder: from recruits to donors to media partners: a clear understanding of what this conference represents."
The positioning strategy addresses multiple audience needs simultaneously. For alumni and traditional fans, it honors the conference's historical legacy. For prospective student-athletes and younger demographics, it signals innovation and adaptation. For media partners and sponsors, it communicates strategic thinking and long-term viability.
Athletic programs can develop similar narrative control by identifying their unique positioning in the competitive landscape. This might involve emphasizing academic excellence, community connection, competitive success, facility innovation, or coaching stability: but the key is choosing a clear, differentiated position and reinforcing it consistently across all communications.
Implementation Blueprint for Athletic Programs
These five innovation secrets create a comprehensive framework that athletic programs can adapt regardless of size or competitive level. The principles scale from major university athletics to small college programs seeking brand differentiation.
The multi-platform approach can be implemented through diverse social media strategies, local media partnerships, and digital content distribution. Production excellence can start with improved video content, professional photography, and consistent visual branding. Accessibility strategies might involve free streaming options, community viewing events, or enhanced digital engagement.
Sport-specific optimization requires developing tailored marketing approaches for different programs within the athletic department. Brand narrative control involves identifying unique institutional strengths and communicating them consistently across all platforms and interactions.
The Competitive Advantage
Athletic programs that implement these branding innovations gain significant competitive advantages in recruiting, fan engagement, media partnerships, and fundraising. The Pac-12's approach demonstrates that strategic branding can transform perceived value and market position even in challenging circumstances.
"The programs that master these branding fundamentals will separate themselves from competitors who still rely on traditional, outdated marketing approaches," predicts sports marketing analyst David Park. "This isn't just about pretty graphics or social media followers: it's about building sustainable competitive advantages through strategic brand development."
The rebuilt Pac-12's success in securing major media partnerships despite recent instability proves that strategic branding innovation can overcome significant challenges and create new opportunities for growth and success.
Ready to revolutionize your athletic program's branding strategy? Visit Sportsmedia News for more cutting-edge insights on sports marketing innovation, or contact our team to discuss how these proven strategies can transform your program's brand identity and competitive positioning.
NBC vs TNT Sports: Which Branding Identity Strategy Will Win the NBA Media Rights War?
The battle for NBA media dominance is over, and the results reveal how strategic branding identity can reshape an entire industry overnight.
The dust has settled on one of the most contentious media rights battles in sports history, and NBC has emerged victorious in reclaiming its position as a premier NBA broadcaster after a 23-year absence. This wasn't just about money: though the $77 billion, 11-year deal certainly made headlines: it was about how two media giants positioned their brands for the future of sports entertainment.
The Final Score: NBC's Triumphant Return
NBC successfully secured a $2.5 billion annual package as part of the NBA's restructured media landscape, marking a dramatic return to basketball broadcasting. The network's strategy of positioning itself as a premium, multi-platform broadcaster paid dividends, earning them marquee coverage including opening night and the All-Star Game.
"NBC's return to the NBA represents more than just acquiring content: it's about reclaiming their identity as a destination for premium sports programming," said media analyst Sarah Chen from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.
Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Discovery's TNT Sports lost its primary broadcasting rights entirely, ending decades of NBA coverage. However, the network's strategic maneuvering to preserve "Inside the NBA" through a licensing agreement demonstrates how branding innovation can create value even in defeat.
TNT's Last Stand: Preserving the Crown Jewel
Despite losing live game rights, TNT Sports executed a masterful brand preservation strategy by negotiating to keep "Inside the NBA" in production. The iconic studio show will continue under TNT's creative control while airing on ESPN and ABC: a unprecedented licensing arrangement that maintains TNT's association with NBA culture.
"The 'Inside the NBA' licensing deal is brilliant brand management," explained sports marketing professor Michael Rodriguez from Georgetown University. "TNT couldn't win the war, but they saved the most valuable piece of their NBA identity."
This strategic move allows TNT to maintain its connection to NBA content creation while transitioning its brand focus to other sports and entertainment properties. The network's willingness to license rather than lose the show entirely demonstrates sophisticated brand portfolio management.
NBC's Strategic Brand Positioning
NBC's successful bid wasn't just about financial capacity: it was about demonstrating a clear vision for NBA coverage across multiple platforms. The network leveraged its relationship with Peacock streaming service and NBC Universal's broader entertainment ecosystem to position itself as more than just a traditional broadcaster.
Industry executives noted that NBC's presentation emphasized integration between traditional television and digital platforms, appealing to the NBA's desire to reach younger, streaming-native audiences. This multi-platform approach represented a significant evolution in how networks position their brand identity for major sports rights acquisitions.
"NBC understood that winning NBA rights in 2025 required more than just cable television distribution," said former ESPN executive David Martinez. "They positioned themselves as a 360-degree media partner."
The Legal Chess Match Behind Brand Strategy
The competition intensified when Warner Bros. Discovery challenged the NBA's decision to accept Amazon's streaming offer, arguing their matching rights extended to digital distribution. This legal battle revealed how branding strategy intersects with contract interpretation in modern media rights negotiations.
The NBA successfully argued that WBD's matching rights applied specifically to cable television distribution, not streaming services, and that WBD's proposed match constituted a counteroffer rather than a true match. This distinction proved crucial in shaping the final media rights structure.
"The legal dispute highlighted how traditional media companies must adapt their brand positioning to include streaming-first strategies," noted sports law attorney Jennifer Walsh from Columbia Law School.
The settlement reached in November 2024 allowed both parties to preserve face: WBD maintained some NBA content through the licensing deal while the NBA moved forward with its preferred broadcast partners.
Innovation Through Brand Identity Crisis
TNT's loss of NBA rights forced the network to confront a fundamental brand identity crisis. For decades, TNT had been synonymous with NBA coverage, particularly through its studio programming and playoff coverage. Losing this association required immediate strategic brand repositioning.
The network's decision to pivot toward expanded MLB coverage and original programming represents a calculated brand diversification strategy. Rather than attempting to replicate their NBA success in other sports, TNT is positioning itself as a premium entertainment and sports hybrid network.
"TNT's brand evolution post-NBA shows how media companies can turn identity crises into innovation opportunities," observed brand strategist Lisa Park from the Marketing Science Institute.
NBC's Cross-Platform Branding Revolution
NBC's winning strategy centered on demonstrating how their brand identity could enhance the NBA's own marketing objectives. The network proposed integrated coverage that would feature NBA content across NBC broadcast television, MSNBC for business coverage of league economics, and Peacock for streaming-exclusive content.
This holistic approach convinced NBA leadership that NBC understood modern sports media branding requires seamless integration across multiple touchpoints and audience segments.
"NBC didn't just bid for NBA games: they proposed a comprehensive brand partnership that included news coverage, documentary content, and digital engagement strategies," said media consultant Robert Kim from Deloitte.
The network's emphasis on cross-promotional opportunities between NBA content and NBC's entertainment programming created additional value propositions that traditional sports-only networks couldn't match.
The Streaming Wars Influence
Amazon's inclusion in the final media rights package demonstrated how streaming platforms are reshaping traditional branding strategies in sports media. Amazon's brand positioning as a technology-forward, customer-centric platform aligned with the NBA's goals for global expansion and fan engagement innovation.
This three-way partnership between ESPN, NBC, and Amazon represents a new model for sports media rights that prioritizes brand complementarity over direct competition. Each partner brings distinct brand advantages: ESPN's sports authority, NBC's broadcast reach, and Amazon's technological innovation.
"The NBA's decision to partner with three distinct brand identities rather than consolidating with fewer partners shows how modern sports properties are thinking about audience segmentation," explained sports economist Dr. Patricia Williams from Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Long-term Brand Implications
The resolution of the NBC-TNT competition establishes precedents that will influence future media rights negotiations across all major sports leagues. Networks must now demonstrate not just financial capacity but strategic brand alignment with league objectives.
For NBC, successfully returning to NBA coverage after 23 years validates their strategy of maintaining broad-based entertainment programming while selectively investing in premium sports content. The network's brand identity as a destination for major events: from the Olympics to Sunday Night Football: now includes NBA basketball.
TNT's transition away from NBA coverage forces the network to prove its brand value extends beyond basketball. The success of their licensing arrangement for "Inside the NBA" provides a template for how traditional broadcasters can maintain content relationships even when losing primary distribution rights.
The 2025-26 NBA season, now underway with NBC's coverage, will serve as the first test of whether these branding strategies translate into audience engagement and commercial success. Early indicators suggest that NBC's integrated approach is resonating with both advertisers and viewers, while TNT's pivot strategy maintains the network's relevance in sports media conversations.
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Struggling For Sports Media Innovation? 50+ AI-Powered Fan Engagement Examples That Are Changing the Game
Sports organizations across the globe are racing to implement artificial intelligence solutions that transform how fans interact with their favorite teams and athletes. With 85% of sports fans seeing value in AI integration and 90% of Gen Z and millennials consuming sports content primarily through social media clips, the pressure to innovate has never been greater.
The shift represents more than technological advancement: it signals a fundamental change in fan expectations. Modern audiences demand personalized, interactive experiences that extend far beyond traditional broadcast coverage.
Personalized Content Creation Drives Engagement Surge
The Cleveland Cavaliers' partnership with WSC Sports demonstrates the immediate impact of AI-powered personalization. The team achieved an 83% jump in app downloads while generating over 16,000 highlight clips in a single season. Their system automatically compiles content around individual players, delivering exactly what fans want: whether it's every Donovan Mitchell dunk or every Jarrett Allen block.
"Fans are shifting from passive spectators to active participants," explains one industry analyst. "They want content that speaks directly to their preferences, not generic highlights that could apply to any viewer."
A major league's mobile app introduction of custom highlight reels and personalized content saw engagement triple and video consumption surge by 700%. This dramatic increase reflects fan appetite for tailored experiences over one-size-fits-all broadcasting approaches.
Real-Time Analytics Transform Game Consumption
AI delivers instant access to personalized stats, replays, and real-time insights that enhance game excitement. During NBA Playoffs, Sportradar processed hundreds of thousands of data points live to calculate win probabilities and generate game forecasts for fans.
Wimbledon's 35-year partnership with IBM showcases sophisticated AI integration through their "Match Chat" feature: an AI assistant that answers fan questions during matches: and "Likelihood to Win" calculations that provide real-time win percentages.
The tennis tournament's innovation strategy demonstrates how established sporting events can leverage AI to maintain relevance with younger demographics while preserving traditional appeal.
Stadium Experience Enhancement Through Smart Technology
Sports organizations are revolutionizing physical attendance through AI-driven innovations that extend far beyond the playing field. AI-enhanced seat selection helps fans find optimal viewing locations, while interactive stadium displays increase involvement during games.
The English Premier League and MLS teams like Sporting KC utilize AI-powered cameras and TRACAB tracking systems, allowing vast amounts of additional information to be shared with fans in real-time. Biometric entry systems streamline stadium access, reducing wait times and improving overall game-day experiences.
These technological implementations address a critical challenge: maintaining strong in-person attendance while competing against increasingly sophisticated home viewing options.
Breaking Down Accessibility Barriers
AI removes linguistic, sensory, and cognitive barriers to sports participation through automatic commentary translation into multiple languages and enhanced accessibility features for fans with different needs. This inclusivity expansion represents a significant market opportunity as sports organizations seek to build global audiences.
The technology enables real-time language barrier removal, allowing international fans to engage with content in their preferred languages without waiting for translated broadcasts or summaries.
Social Media Amplification Reaches Critical Mass
Over 90% of Gen Z and millennials consume sports content on social media, primarily through clips and highlights. AI supports this consumption pattern through automated generation and tailoring of content for quick publication, extending engagement beyond stadiums through optimized social distribution.
Real-time highlight clip generation reaches fans while games are ongoing, capitalizing on immediate emotional reactions and social sharing behaviors. This approach recognizes that modern sports consumption extends far beyond live viewing into continuous social media engagement.
Data-Driven Fan Intelligence Creates Competitive Advantages
AI analyzes data from every touchpoint: streaming services, mobile apps, ticketing systems, and social media: to create comprehensive fan profiles. Teams now track favorite players, past attendance, and content viewing history to customize experiences with unprecedented precision.
A collaboration between Snowflake and Sports Innovation Lab found that AI-driven targeting reduced media waste by 40% while boosting fan conversion rates across multiple brands. These efficiency gains translate directly to improved marketing ROI and more effective fan acquisition strategies.
"The ability to understand each fan as an individual rather than part of a demographic group changes everything about how we approach engagement," notes a sports marketing executive familiar with the research.
Immersive Technologies Push Boundaries
Augmented and virtual reality applications include AR filters allowing fans to project themselves lifting championship trophies and 3D player holograms inserted into living rooms through mobile apps. These immersive experiences transform passive viewing into active participation.
The technology creates emotional connections that traditional broadcasting cannot match, particularly appealing to younger demographics who expect interactive digital experiences across all entertainment categories.
Content Creation at Unprecedented Scale
AI enables rapid content generation that produces highlights in seconds rather than hours, creates alternative game outcome simulations, and auto-generates personalized post-game videos featuring specific fans' favorite player moments.
The Cleveland Cavaliers' ability to produce over 16,000 custom clips in a single season illustrates the scale advantages AI provides. This volume of personalized content creation would be impossible through traditional manual production methods.
Gamification Transforms Fan Participation
AI-powered simulations allow fans to test different strategies, while performance comparison tools enable fans to measure their abilities against professional athletes. Gamified experiences transform fandom from watching to direct involvement.
This shift addresses changing entertainment consumption patterns, particularly among younger audiences who expect interactive participation rather than passive consumption across all digital experiences.
Future Innovation Trajectories
The trajectory of AI in sports fan engagement points toward extreme personalization where every fan receives uniquely tailored experiences. Future developments include AI-generated commentators customized to individual preferences and real-time learning systems that continuously improve engagement strategies.
Industry experts predict that successful sports organizations will be those that leverage AI to create emotional connections at scale while maintaining the authentic excitement that makes sports compelling.
The transformation extends beyond technology implementation to fundamental changes in how sports organizations understand and serve their audiences. As fan expectations continue evolving, AI-powered innovation becomes essential for maintaining relevance in an increasingly competitive entertainment landscape.
Ready to revolutionize your sports media strategy with AI-powered fan engagement? Visit Sportsmedia News for the latest innovation insights and industry analysis that keep you ahead of the competition.
Netflix Wants To Expand Its NFL Package
Netflix is looking to expand its relationship with the NFL by adding a Thanksgiving Eve matchup and one international game to its current Christmas Day doubleheader.
The international game would likely be in the season’s opening week, according a report in the Wall Street Journal on Monday. Netflix secured rights in 2024 to two NFL games on Christmas Day, taking a leap forward in live sports. It’s in the final year of a three year deal. The WSJ said it paid about $75 million a game.
Netflix has been cautiously growing in live sports, including a long-term partnership with the WWE. NFL games are consistently among the most viewed television and have done well for the streamer, which also has a deal with Major League Baseball to carry multiple games a year, including on Opening Day, the Home Run Derby during the All-Star Game break in July, and the Field of Dreams Game from Iowa each summer.
The streamer declined to comment on expanded NFL ambitions.
Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria was upbeat on the relationship when asked at the March 18 Next on Netflix event whether the platform was interested in adding more NFL beyond Christmas.
“We love our partnership with the NFL,” she said. “And I think the strategy of an event game on Christmas and what we did with it, as far as adding Beyonce Bowl and then Snoop and doing some more bells and whistles around making the NFL Christmas day a real thing, has been an amazing partnership with them.
“As everybody knows, they have packages and different games coming, we’re always going to have the conversation with them about that, and just always evaluating, is that the right game or the right moment for something for us to do? But we really love the strategy of doing these Christmas Day games with them, and that’s worked well for us and for them.”
How NFL Draft Riser Jeremiyah Love Was Rated as a Recruit
Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love likely won’t have to wait very long to hear his name called in the upcoming NFL draft.
He could sneak into the top five if a team is really wanting to make a splash, but at worst, it’d be a fairly big surprise if he didn’t go in the top 10.
Love feels about as
Netflix seeks four-game NFL package as league renegotiates media rights deals
Streaming service Netflix is looking to add more NFL games to its offerings, eying an expansion from two to a four-game package.
Netflix is interested in adding the NFL’s new Thanksgiving Eve game and an international game, the Wall Street Journal reported, as the streamer looks to add on to its sports and live events options in an effort to retain and boost subscribers and advertising.
This is the final year of Netflix’s three-year deal with the NFL to carry games on Christmas.
The NFL is currently renegotiating its media rights deals with all its broadcast partners in the hopes of being able to create smaller broadcast packages of four or five games to offer to streamers such as Netflix.
The league had gotten back the rights to four games as part of the deal to sell NFL Network to ESPN and the first international game of the season, which the league has sold on its own, is also on the block to be added by a media broadcast partner.
According to the WSJ report, the NFL is remaining flexible so that the five games could potentially be up for grabs by more than one service.
YouTube and Amazon have expressed an interest in adding more games.
Netflix has added a slew of live sports programming, which has included boxing, WWE and Major League Baseball.
Netflix carried its first MLB game last week on opening night as part of a $50 million-a-year deal, which will also include coverage of the Home Run Derby and the Field of Dreams game.
Colts Tabbed Fit for 34-Sack EDGE Rusher
The Indianapolis Colts wanted to reinforce the EDGE position for the 2026 season and were close to adding Trey Hendrickson to the squad. But after a turn of events from around the league, Hendrickson decided to sign with the Baltimore Ravens.
Indy has added some pass rushers to the squad, but none stand out as major talent like Hendrickson.
With around $26.6 million in cap, head coach Shane Steichen and defensive coordinator can go out and sign one of the better EDGE rushers in the market.
Colts Named Landing Spot for Former Houston Texan
Third-year Laiatu Latu will be the only guaranteed starting EDGE rusher for the Indianapolis Colts in the 2026 season. The former UCLA Bruin improved from his rookie year to his second year. Now, adding a solid addition opposite of him would benefit the Colts’ pass rush.
Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report named a free agent who can help every team in the league, naming EDGE rusher Derek Barnett for Indianapolis.
“The Colts have a clear need at edge-rusher but no first-round pick with which to target one. The team’s off-ball linebackers are half a mess, but Ballard has an excellent record targeting the position in Day 2 or even Day 3 of the draft,” Davenport wrote. “It’s the former need we’ll address here—even if it’s not a player who is going to magically fix the team’s problems at the position.”
“Despite playing less than 400 snaps each of the past two years in the shadow of Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter with the Houston Texans, Derek Barnett had five sacks both seasons. The former first-round pick could benefit from a higher snap count. And the Colts have to do something to try to generate a pass rush.”
Barnett won’t be the elite pass-rusher Lou Anarumo is looking for, but he has five seasons in his career with 5 or more sacks in a single season, bringing consistency to the defense.
Indy also brought in Arden Key and Michael Clemons through free agency, with the former on a two-year deal and the latter a three-year deal. Both defenders combined for five sacks last season, tying Barnett.
With a need for the defensive front, Derek Barnett can bring some quality to the Indianapolis Colts defense.
Colts Owner Affirms Defensive Line Worry
At the 2025 NFL Owners Meetings, Carlie-Irsay Gordon affirmed that the team has an issue on the defensive line, but mentioned that the team could make an addition.
“This is just my layman’s view is that I think the path that we need is obviously D-line, and I think it’s a clear path as far as, ‘What are the pieces that we need?’ And I feel like there’s a lot of great opportunities in the draft,” the owner said, via Colts Wire.
Indy does not have a first-round selection and will make its first pick on Day 2 with the 47th overall.
First-round talent seeps into the second round and the Colts could get a promising pass rusher.
With cap space available, it doesn’t shut the window to add Derek Barnett to the team as well.
NFL taps Seahawks to be featured on HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks,’ AP source says
SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks will appear on the HBO show “Hard Knocks” ahead of the 2026 NFL season, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Monday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because neither the Seahawks nor the NFL had formally announced the agreement to have the team on the league’s training camp documentary. The NFL’s behind-the-scenes show is in its 26th year.
The Seahawks didn’t have to participate in “Hard Knocks” for many years because of a rule giving a team the option if they made the playoffs each of the previous two seasons. That rule was changed a year ago.
Seattle has a handful of intriguing storylines ahead of the 2026 season. The Seahawks let running back and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III (Chiefs), safety Coby Bryant (Bears), linebacker Boye Mafe (Bengals), cornerback Riq Woolen (Eagles) and wide receiver Dareke Young (Raiders) all move on from the franchise in free agency.
It is also unclear how Seattle intends to replace Walker’s production, whether that’s by committee with the likes of Emanuel Wilson, who was signed in free agency after three seasons with the Green Bay Packers, George Holani and Kenny McIntosh, or if the injured Zach Charbonnet will become the main option once he’s healthy.
Coach Mike Macdonald told reporters at the NFL’s annual league meeting in Arizona that the Seahawks are expecting to have Charbonnet back at some point during the season.
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NFL taps Seahawks to be featured on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” for 1st time in team history, AP source says
The Seattle Seahawks will appear on the HBO show “Hard Knocks” ahead of the 2026 NFL season, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Monday
March 31, 2026 at 12:06 a.m. EDT1 minute ago
SEATTLE — The Seattle Seahawks will appear on the HBO show “Hard Knocks” ahead of the 2026 NFL season, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Monday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because neither the Seahawks nor the NFL had formally announced the agreement to have the team on the league’s training camp documentary. The NFL’s behind-the-scenes show is in its 26th year.
Patrick Mahomes’ Injury to Play a Key Role in Upcoming NFL Decision, Says Clark Hunt
While we are still months away from the official start of the NFL season, there is already a lot of buzz about some of the bigger matchups in the league. Clark Hunt, CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs, is attending the NFL’s Annual League Meetings taking place from Sunday through Wednesday. Representatives of all 32 teams are gathered to go over key league matters and upcoming decisions. One topic drawing attention is the 2026 season opener, where the reigning champions, the Seattle Seahawks, will host the kickoff game.
Among the potential opponents being discussed, the Chiefs remain one of the possibilities. However, a recent update from Clark Hunt has caught many fans off guard. What may seem like a routine offseason announcement is actually a huge league decision heavily influenced by Patrick Mahomes’ injury.
“I don’t think that’s on the table anymore,” Clark said at the NFL owners meeting, per Chiefs reporter Nate Taylor. “I think from a league standpoint, there would be some concern whether [Patrick Mahomes] would be ready to go.”
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Clark Hunt subtly downplayed the idea of the Kansas City Chiefs being one of the teams to face the Seattle Seahawks, the reigning Super Bowl champions, in the 2026 season opener.
The opener is set to be played on a Wednesday night instead of the usual Thursday. This change comes because the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will face off on Thursday. For viewers in Australia, the Wednesday night game will technically air on Friday morning.
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A major factor in all of this is Patrick Mahomes and his recovery timeline from an ACL injury. The NFL schedule will be released on May 14, but that date is too early to know whether the quarterback will be ready for Week 1.
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Still, Taylor pointed out that the NFL previously scheduled the New England Patriots in the 2009 opener, even with Tom Brady returning from a torn ACL.
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“It’s not a request we’ve made,” Hunt said. “It sounds like a good idea [for the NFL], although it’s only 1 [more] day.”
After Hunt’s comments, the NFL may need to revisit its scheduling, and given the circumstances, it likely should. This is because choosing the Chiefs to face the Seahawks in the opener could come with some risk, mainly because Mahomes’ availability for Week 1 remains uncertain. If he isn’t ready, the spotlight would shift to a matchup between Sam Darnold and new Chiefs backup Justin Fields, which may not generate the kind of excitement and TRP the league typically expects for a marquee kickoff game.
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Now that the Chiefs appear out of the running, the Seahawks’ possible opponents for Week 1 include the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Chargers, and Patriots.
While Clark has raised some doubts about Mahomes’ early-season return, head coach Andy Reid offered a more optimistic update.
“He’s doing great,” Reid said. “He spends a ton of time in the building. … He’s in there for seven hours a day. It’s showing the progress. Now, to tell you a timeline? I mean, I know what he’s striving for. We’ll just see where it goes from there.”
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Mahomes suffered a torn ACL late in a game against the Chargers on December 14, 2025, which ruled him out for the rest of the season. The Chiefs went on to lose to the Chargers, ending their playoff hopes. It also marked the first time in Mahomes’ career that he missed the postseason.
Mahomes underwent the required surgery the next day to repair his torn ACL and LCL, and he is currently undergoing rehab. Although it is still unclear when Mahomes is coming back, the Chiefs strengthened their team with the signing of a backup quarterback for the replacement when needed.
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Justin Fields could take charge of the Chiefs’ offense
The return of Patrick Mahomes is still a question mark for the team. The Chiefs made a wise decision this offseason by bringing in Justin Fields. If their star quarterback cannot make it to the early season, the Chiefs could put Fields in charge of their offense.
The Jets traded their starting quarterback to the Chiefs this offseason in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick. Justin Fields had originally signed a two-year, $40 million contract with the New York Jets in 2025.
A first-round draft choice in the past, Fields is gearing up to play his sixth year in the NFL with the Chiefs after stints with several teams, including the Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Jets.
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Last year, Fields played nine games before being put on injured reserve in December. Although his playing time was limited last season, the head coach praised his potential.
“Well, we snuck out and got a good quarterback to back him up,” Reid said, “So, if he doesn’t, you know, if he’s not able to make it for the beginning of the season, then we know we’ve got a legitimate backup there that can go win games for us.”
He threw for 1,259 yards through 260 dropbacks, including seven touchdowns and one interception. He also recorded six big-time throws and seven turnover-worthy plays, showing how he handled pressure situations.
As the season approaches, it will be interesting to see how things play out for the Chiefs and whether Mahomes is able to return or not.
Ian Cunningham on diversity in hiring:
The NFL is struggling to balance the P.R. and legal realities of diversity in key positions with a potential political assault from those who regard the three-letter “DEI’ acronym as a four-letter word. Through it all, the results speak for themselves.
Exhibit A? The 2026 photo of the NFL’s head coaches. Exhibit B? The 2026 photo of the NFL’s General Managers.
Falcons G.M. Ian Cunningham, whose promotion from assistant G.M. in Chicago somehow didn’t result in the Bears receiving a pair of third-round compensatory picks, addressed the situation on Monday, in comments to David Brandt of the Associated Press.
“Just from my position, especially being a Black man, there’s still work to be done,” Cunningham told Brandt. “Now that I’m in this position and have this platform, I’m going to be intentional about what we do from a grassroots effort to a director level. . . . I do think it’s important to give people of all races and sexes a chance to be in a position to further their career.”
Cunningham’s comments come only days after Florida took aim at the Rooney Rule as discriminatory against white men, and in the aftermath of Steelers owner Art Rooney II acknowledging that “the environment has changed.”
The environment has changed, at the national level and in plenty of states. The law has not. And the NFL’s historical performance as it relates to the hiring of coaches and General Managers — coupled with the league’s decision more than 20 years ago to make interviews of minority candidates for the most coveted positions mandatory — shows that the longstanding legal standard has not been met.
The problem is that there has been no real accountability. And the irony is that the first governmental effort to enforce the law comes from the perspective of the demographic that has benefited from the league’s traditional hiring practices.
The league undoubtedly hopes the Florida problem will go away. That the demand made by Florida attorney general James Uthmeier to abandon the Rooney Rule as to the Dolphins, Jaguars, and Buccaneers is more performative than substantive.
Whatever Uthmeier’s motivations and intentions, the NFL should do the right thing. Don’t run. Don’t hide. Stand up and say, in a clear, loud voice, “Bring it on.”
Would that be good for business? Probably not. But doing the right thing isn’t always good for business. The truest test of an organization’s true character is whether it will do the right thing when it could be bad for business.
Watch: Dallas Cowboys insiders recap Day 1 of 2026 NFL owners’ meetings
Day one of the 2026 NFL owners’ meeting is officially in the books, and the Dallas Cowboys provided plenty of talking points.
Cowboys insiders Calvin Watkins and Joseph Hoyt are in Phoenix this week to hear what Dallas front office members have to say about the team’s offseason. On Monday, Brian Schottenheimer and Stephen Jones spoke about some of the team’s defensive needs and whether there has been progress toward a long-term deal with George Pickens.
Will the Cowboys target a veteran inside linebacker before the NFL draft? Will they fill that position with a rookie? Will Pickens show up to the team’s offseason program under the franchise tag?
Watkins and Hoyt answer these questions in their latest video breakdown. (Can’t see the video? Turn off your ad-blocker and refresh.)
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Kyle Shanahan Exploits NFL Rules to Cancel Broncos Game Against 49ers in Mexico City
After failing to make a deep playoff run, Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers are exploiting every loophole at hand to maximise their chances of winning in the toughest division across the league. The Niners, after finishing third in the NFC West, beat the Philadelphia Eagles before suffering a blowout loss to the SB LX champs, the Seattle Seahawks. With the team making significant moves this offseason, Shanahan and Co. have taken a significant step to ensure they face no disadvantage in their international game in Mexico.
“NFL teams hosting an international game are allowed to designate two opponents they prefer not to face,” NinerStats on X wrote. “With the 49ers hosting a game in Mexico City, one of the teams they’ve chosen not to play is the Denver Broncos. The reasoning is due to the altitude—Denver is already accustomed to playing and practicing at high elevation, which could give them a built-in advantage over SF.”
San Francisco was confirmed as the home team for a regular-season game at Estadio Banorte in Mexico City next season on February 18, with the NFL releasing a statement where the league’s Mexico director general, Arturo Olive, welcomed the franchise to their new home.
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“We’re delighted to host the San Francisco 49ers once again in Mexico City for the 2026 NFL Mexico game,” Olive said, as per ESPN. “We look forward to being back in a country that plays such a meaningful role in the growth of our game.”
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The Niners last played at Estadio Banorte in 2022, registering a 38-10 win against the Arizona Cardinals. Now, coming back to 2026, with the Shanahan-coached outfit set to host the Raiders, Broncos, Dolphins, Rams, and Cardinals, the franchise can decide which teams it will face for the international games. Hence, the 49ers have decided not to play Denver at their international home in Mexico City, which allows them to take advantage of their new home venue.
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Both Estadio Banorte and Empower Field at Mile High Stadium are high-altitude stadiums at 7,350 feet and 5,280 feet above sea level, respectively, which wouldn’t have been a major disadvantage for the Broncos. With that said, San Francisco will now take on Los Angeles (Rams), Las Vegas, Miami, or Arizona in Mexico City.
However, this matchup in La Capirucha won’t be the only international game for the 49ers this season, with Kyle Shanahan and Co. kicking off their season against divisional rivals, the Rams, down under in Australia. While the NFL and fans all around the world are excited about this international fixture, the 49ers’ head coach has raised concerns with the scheduling.
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Kyle Shanahan is unhappy about the 49ers’ international games schedule
The San Francisco 49ers will join the Los Angeles Rams to create history for their 2026 season opener, with both NFC West teams taking on each other in Melbourne, Australia. Both teams will travel 19 hours away to play in a Week 1 game at Melbourne Cricket Ground for a 10:30 a.m. start on Friday, September 11th, in Australia time.
Hence, when asked about this predicament at the NFL Annual League Meeting in Arizona, head coach Kyle Shanahan questioned this scheduling while acknowledging the importance of these international games to the future of the league.
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“So fired up,” Shanahan said. “That was our goal to go 19 hours away and play a game. I think we’re going back in time or in the future. I think we gained a day or lost one. Not sure which yet, but it is what it is, and we’ll deal with it. I think there are eight international games, and we got two of them, so I’m fired up about that… They [the NFL] tell you when, and you deal with it. I don’t see any pros. I mean, it’s cool for the league playing globally; I think that’s awesome, but as far as the team doing it, there’s not much benefit in doing it. Sometimes it’s nice to get it, the bye week after, but it doesn’t happen in Week 1.”
While Kyle Shanahan has managed to maintain his advantage for the international game in Mexico, he still has a massive challenge at the start of the season with his 49ers travelling to Australia and taking on arch-rivals.
Riley remembered as ‘an iconic figure’ for leadership on, off ice
Bill Riley is best known as the third Black player to reach the NHL and one of the first Washington Capitals to wear No. 8 before Alex Ovechkin made it his own.
But Riley, a retired forward whose death at age 75 was announced Sunday, was much more to Frantz Jean and others natives of the Canadian Maritimes. He was a mentor and a trailblazing folk hero who defied the odds of geography and race to play 139 NHL games and later became a coach and general manager in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.
Who will be the next coaching change?
The Vegas Golden Knights sent shockwaves through the NHL world on Sunday when they fired head coach Bruce Cassidy and hired John Tortorella as his replacement for the rest of the season.
While a mid-season coaching change was able to turn the season around for the Columbus Blue Jackets, a move this close to the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is well out of the norm around the league.
With the regular season just a few weeks away from ending, several non-playoff teams are likely to make changes behind the bench in short order. After a disappointing season that has seen them miss the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade, could Craig Berube of the Toronto Maple Leafs be next?
On Monday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, host Tyler Yaremchuk and co-host and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton discussed which NHL head coach is most likely to be the next to lose his job after Cassidy was shown the door.
Tyler Yaremchuk: Alright, Hutts, Daily Faceoff inbox time. We’ve got one: Who do you believe is the next coach who will be searching for a new gig? And listen, it’s crazy. The list of longest-tenured coaches in the NHL, you obviously have Jon Cooper who’s been north of a decade in Tampa. Bednar’s been pretty much a 10-year run now with Colorado. Brind’Amour’s locked in. Then after those three, Martin St. Louis is fourth on the list. He’s only had a job for four years. Spencer Carbery’s only had a job for three years, and now he’s tied for fifth or sixth in longest-tenured coaching, and when you look at the NHL, there’s going to be a lot more guys looking for new gigs this summer. I think in LA, you’re probably going to have D.J. Smith out at the end of this season… I’m curious if Winnipeg makes a switch behind the bench… You go out East, Craig Berube’s good as done in Toronto. In Detroit, if they miss, Todd McLellan’s likely gone… There’s another six to eight jobs in the league that could be open again in the next few months.
Carter Hutton: Yeah, the one for me is Craig Berube. I just think of the way that the whole Gudas situation went down with Auston Matthews, and then they played this weekend in St. Louis where Craig Berube won a Stanley Cup. You think there’d be some sort of response, and they were so bad in that game… I think there, it’s just the fact they lost the room… Those are teams that I think will have an effect, the Winnipeg one is one you mentioned that I think is interesting. With Scott Arniel, it just hasn’t gone as planned.
You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode below…
San Jose Sharks’ Ryan Warsofsky praises ex-Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy
SAN JOSE — San Jose Sharks center Ty Dellandrea, out for nearly three months with a lower-body injury, is now considered day-to-day, perhaps opening the possibility that he could be available to play at some point during the team’s long homestand.
Dellandrea was injured during the Sharks’ home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Jan. 6. Dellandrea had been considered week-to-week, but has now skated with the group for several days without any restrictions.
Including the Sharks’ home date against the St. Louis Blues on Monday, Dellandrea has missed the last 30 games with the injury.
Before his injury, Dellandrea was the Sharks third line center, a role that has since been assumed by rookie Michael Misa. Dellandrea had been one of the Sharks’ faceoff leaders and top penalty killers, and what role he would play upon his return is unclear.
Dellandrea, recently signed to a two-year contract extension, had 11 points in 42 games this season before his injury. Misa had 16 points in 34 games this season before Monday.
Starting with Wednesday’s home game against the Anaheim Ducks, the Sharks play 10 times in 16 days, including games on back-to-back days three times.
The homestand, which will go a long way in determining whether the Sharks make the playoffs, continues with games against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, the Nashville Predators on Saturday, the Chicago Blackhawks next Monday, and the Edmonton Oilers on April 8.
The Sharks entered Monday in 12th place in the Western Conference with 73 points, four points back of the Predators for the second wild card spot.
ASKAROV UPDATE
Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov, who sustained an upper-body injury in the second period of last Thursday’s game in St. Louis, will start Monday’s home game against the Blues. Askarov was unavailable for the Sharks’ game in Columbus on Sunday, leading the Sharks to recall Laurent Brossoit from the Barracuda. Brossoit was loaned back to the Sharks’ AHL affiliate on Monday afternoon.
WARSOFSKY ON TORTORELLA
Warsofsky said he was surprised to see the Vegas Golden Knights fire Bruce Cassidy as their coach on Sunday night and replace him with John Tortorella.
Cassidy helped guide the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup in 2023, but the team has underachieved this season and entered Monday in third place in the Pacific Division with a 32-26-16 record, including a 5-10-2 mark since the Olympic break.
Cassidy was the club’s longest-tenured coach, with a record of 178-99-43 over four seasons. Tortorella coached the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Cup in 2004 and has a career record of 770-648-37.
“It’s a great game, it’s a (crappy) business. So, I feel for (Cassidy),” said Warsofsky, whose younger brother, David, played for Cassidy in the AHL in Providence from 2010 to 2014.
“A really good coach, Stanley Cup winner, did a lot for (the Boston Bruins). Obviously, knowing Torts, I’m sure he’s excited. He might have ridden a horse out there. He’ll do a great job. But, you feel for the other side of it as well, more than anything, because I think (Cassidy) is a fabulous coach.”
Warsofsky first met Tortorella in 2022, as Warsofsky’s time as the head coach of the AHL’s Chicago Wolves was ending. The two then had a more in-depth chat a few weeks later about an opening on Tortorella’s staff in Philadelphia, and life and family, at the NHL Draft in Montreal, roughly a month before Warsofsky officially joined the Sharks as an assistant coach on David Quinn’s staff.
The Sharks and Golden Knights do not play each other again this regular season. San Jose had 11 games left before Monday, and Vegas had eight.
“I know (Tortorella) is probably excited about this opportunity,” Warsofsky said.
REAVES UPDATE
Winger Ryan Reaves, considered week-to-week with an unspecified hand injury, watched the Sharks’ morning skate from the team’s bench on Monday. Several Sharks players have credited Reaves for his leadership role on the team this season.
“He wanted to come on the bench and be part of it, so that’s good,” Warsofsky said of Reaves. “He’s going to be around.”
Reaves injured his left hand in a fight with Philadelphia’s Garrett Wilson on March 21. Warsofsky said it was too soon to say whether Reaves will be available to play again before the regular season ends on April 16 in Winnipeg, Reaves’ hometown.
Sabres’ Zach Metsa: Heads back to NHL
Metsa was recalled from AHL Rochester on Monday.
Metsa will return to the Sabres just four days after being loaned back to the AHL. During that time, he played a trio of games with Rochester and will return to Buffalo in time for Tuesday’s home clash with the Islanders. Across 38 games with the Sabres this season, the 27-year-old bluliner has six points, 22 shots on net and 28 blocked shots. Metsa will likely serve as a depth defenseman during the Sabres’ push towards securing their first playoff appearance since the 2010-11 season.
Kypreos: Canucks GM Patrik Allvin ‘doesn’t expect to survive past this season’
With 10 games remaining in the season, the Vancouver Canucks’ post-mortem will soon begin. And after a disappointing year, there may be consequences.
On Monday, Sportsnet‘s Nick Kypreos broke down some NHL front offices to watch heading into the offseason. Per Kypreos, Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin is not anticipating that he’ll survive the summer:
“In Vancouver, there are strong suggestions that change is coming, but to what extent remains unclear. Until there is a better understanding of Jim Rutherford’s full commitment to a rebuild, things remain fluid. Either way, I hear GM Patrik Allvin doesn’t expect to survive past this season.”
Allvin was originally hired as general manager in January 2022, following the firing of GM Jim Benning. He is the 12th GM in franchise history. At the same time, Jim Rutherford was promoted to President of Hockey Operations. In January 2024, Allvin was signed to a multi-year contract extension, following Rutherford’s own extension.
Under Allvin’s tenure, the Canucks finished first in the Pacific Division two seasons ago, taking the eventual Stanley Cup Finalist Edmonton Oilers to seven games in the Western Conference semifinals. Things have not been as fortunate since then, missing the playoffs two years in a row. This year, they have a 21-43-8 record, on pace to finish with one of their worst records in the 82-game season era.
Allvin’s last two years have been marked by turmoil in the locker room and big moves. Amidst a reported riff between Elias Pettersson and JT Miller, Allvin dealt Miller to the New York Rangers. This season, he was forced to move captain Quinn Hughes when it became clear the franchise cornerstone wasn’t committed to re-signing in Vancouver.
The Canucks currently sit dead last in the NHL, 17 points back from the 31st-place Chicago Blackhawks. If they remain in that position, they would earn the best odds in the draft lottery, and be guaranteed at least a top-three pick. That may influence Rutherford’s decision on whether or not to go for a full rebuild, and if he would like a new face to lead it.
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MLB Odds Today via bet365
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Earlier in the evening at 6:40 PM ET, the Philadelphia Phillies are heavy -170 moneyline favorites against the Washington Nationals. The Phillies lean on run producers like Alec Bohm (4 RBIs) and the efficient hitting of Bryson Stott (.375 AVG in 8 at-bats). Meanwhile, the Nationals (+145) arrive with a lethal bat in Joey Wiemer, who has been flawless so far with a 1.000 average and 4 RBIs across his first 6 at-bats. Bettors backing the home Phillies on the runline can find plus-money value at +120 to cover the -1.5 spread, a spot where we put a lot of stock if you believe Taijuan Walker can keep the Nationals’ bats quiet.
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NHL Fans React to Speculation Surrounding Sharks’ Ryan Reaves Retirement
On and off the ice, it cannot be denied that enforcer Ryan Reaves of the San Jose Sharks brings a veteran energy and protective force to any locker room he’s in.
However, Sharks beat reporter Max Miller of Sharks Hockey Digest has reported that Reaves watched the most recent San Jose morning skate on March 30 from the bench and now has an empty locker room stall. This development comes after Reaves previously sustained an upper-body injury — believed to be a left hand or finger — during a fight on March 21 against Garrett Wilson of the Philadelphia Flyers. Reaves would then return to the game for a 13-second shift before remaining on the bench with the team but not seeing futher action on the ice. Following the matchup, members of the NHL media were surprised to see San Jose forward Barclay Goodrow get emotional when asked about Reaves postgame.
Goodrow said that Reaves is one of the best teammates in the league.
Extend Jared Bednar? Only if Avalanche get past second round
The Avalanche made this Bednar. Now they’ve got to lie in it.
“Results are — they come as they come,” Jared Bednar said before his Avs took on Calgary at Ball Arena on Monday night. “And whether they’re good or bad, other people make decisions based on what they’re seeing and hearing. But I can always walk out of here every day with my head held high if I know I’m doing my best. And that’s how I kind of approach it.”
Life comes at you fast. Bednar’s contract comes up at the end of next season. This year has been fantastic — so far. No coach wants to be a lame duck. If you’re Avs owner Stan Kroenke, it won’t be long before all parties are staring at two expensive forks on a long and winding road.
Longtime NHL insider Pierre LeBrun posited a few days back that short of a first-round exit in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the best team in the league, “all signs” point to Bednar landing an extension from Kroenke Sports and Entertainment.
Win a playoff round? One? That’s it? That sounds like an awfully low bar for a team on pace to rack up at least 120 points during the regular season. Especially one that features Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Martin Necas, Nazem Kadri, Brock Nelson, Val Nichushkin and Nicolas Roy, all at the same time, a legitimately scary roster that goes four lines and two goaltenders deep.
Bednar has taken the Avs to eight straight postseasons. He’s failed to get past the second round in seven of them.
So let’s make it two rounds, at least. No Western Conference final? With this much firepower at your disposal? No contract extension. Period.
And we know that the Battle For Lord Stanley’s Cup can be an untamed, unpredictable sort of beast. But in Avs franchise history, it’s the only beast that matters. Or, at least, it’s the only beast that’s supposed to.
Or does KSE aspire for the Avs to be to the NHL of the ’20s what the Atlanta Braves were to the baseball of the ’90s? The Braves notched 14 playoff berths from 1991-2005 and came away with one World Series title to show for it. If the Cowboys were America’s Team, Atlanta was America’s Bridesmaid.
“For sure, it’s a volatile league (for coaches),” Avs sparkplug Logan O’Connor told me Monday after morning skate. “I think Bedsy, his work ethic and his preparation is something (where) there is zero complacency in what he does day-to-day, I think.
“How he operates, the meetings he runs, the message he delivers, what he expects from players, having good relationships with players — I think he creates a clear picture of how he wants us to play.
If the Avs extend Bednar after, say, another second-round playoff exit, we’ll know exactly the expectations the Kroenkes have for him, too.
Bedsy’s current three-year extension runs through the end of the 2026-27 season. Which means that clock’s already ticking. It doesn’t sound as if KSE wants to leave him dangling, the way CSU did with former football coach Jay Norvell last fall. An awkward summer internally and externally in FoCo went south quickly, and Norvell wound up being fired in mid-October after a 2-5 start.
And we get it. On one hand, why rock the boat? The Avs have 12 seasons of 100 points or more in their Denver history — and Bednar has been in charge for five of those. (Marc Crawford is next-highest on the list, with two.)
Colorado had already piled up 106 points before Monday night’s Flames tussle and started the week on pace for 121 points on the season. That would shatter the old single-season record, also held by Bednar, of 119 — set by the Cup champs of ’21-22.
On the other hand, the other bullies in the West aren’t exactly standing pat. Dallas canned Pete DeBoer last June after three straight losses in the conference finals and a 149-68-29 record during the regular season. On Sunday, Vegas fired Bruce Cassidy at the tail end of his fourth season after a 178-99-43 record, two division titles, and a Stanley Cup title in 2023.
So are they the crazy ones? Or is it the Kroenkes?
“Yeah, well, different ownership, different management beliefs, I guess, in some situations,” Bednar said. “So, I’m very grateful to still be here and trying to accomplish the same goals we’ve had when I first came. So, I don’t know.
“I work with great people that I like. Ultimately, I’m trying to come to the rink every day with a positive attitude and do the absolute best job I can do to help our team win, right? Being respectful of the players, developing those relationships that so when I go to a player with something that they know, I don’t have to yell and scream at them to get a message across, that they understand what I’m saying, how important it is. And I’m certainly willing to hear them out on things too …
“I don’t think that you can ask a player to do anything else but to just give his absolute best and get dialed into what he’s doing. And I don’t know — that’s what I expect from myself on a daily basis (in) leading this team. And then I don’t worry about anything else.”
O’Connor harasses opponents the way a biting terrier harasses trouser legs. Since ’18-19, the winger has served valiantly as a bottom-6 high motor, a plugger who refuses to downshift during big moments. The DU alum was arguably Colorado’s second-best contributor after MacKinnon during that soul-crushing playoff series against Dallas last spring. Through thick, thin, and parades, he’s an unabashed Bednar guy.
“It’s on us to go out there and execute (his) expectations,” O’Connor said of his coach. “But I think he just has the utmost respect from us players. And it’s no surprise that he’s had as great of a run as he has, given the volatility in the market. And we all love playing for him.”
The Avs can prove it next month. Because if Colorado goes out in the second round again, Avs fans are going to look and vent as if they woke up on the wrong side of the Bedsy.
It’s official: NBA formally approves sale of Trail Blazers to a group led by Tom Dundon
The expected has become official: The NBA Board of Governors has approved the sale of the Portland Trail Blazers, a group led by Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon.
The vote was unanimous, according to Jason Quick of The Athletic.
The franchise was valued at $4.25 billion for the sale. The new owners purchased the team from the Paul Allen Trust, which has been run by Allen’s sister Judy Allen since 2018, when the Microsoft co-founder died. All proceeds from the sale will be directed to charities, as the trust requires.
Dundon takes over a team that has just received state approval for major upgrades and renovations to the Moda Center. On the court, the Trail Blazers are a transitioning team that has veterans — Jrue Holiday, next season Damian Lillard — but is really built around younger stars such as Deni Avdija, Sharron Sharpe and Scoot Henderson.
Last-minute goal gives Sharks thrilling win over St. Louis Blues
SAN JOSE – The importance of the Sharks’ game against the St. Louis Blues on Monday didn’t need to be reiterated to Macklin Celebrini, Alex Wennberg, or anyone else in a San Jose uniform.
Wennberg and Celebrini each had three points, and Adam Gaudette scored a go-ahead goal with 21 seconds left in the third period as the Sharks earned a thrilling 5-4 win over the Blues before an announced crowd of 16,031 at SAP Center.
Gaudette came down the left wing and fired a wrist shot that crept through the pads of Blues goalie Joel Hofer and over the goal line as the Sharks began a six-game homestand on a positive note.
The Sharks had a two-goal lead late in the second period before they allowed power play goals to Philip Broberg and Cam Fowler, with Fowler’s goal at the 12:53 mark of the third period — after a tripping penalty on goalie Yaroslav Askarov — tying the game 4-4.
All three of Wennberg’s points, including both of his goals, came on the power play, and Celebrini’s three points gave him 101 on the season, as he became just the third player in the 35-year history of the Sharks organization to reach 100 points.
Joe Thornton had 114 points in 2006-07, and Erik Karlsson had 101 points in 2022-23, when he won his third Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman.
Celebrini joins Wayne Gretzky, Dale Hawerchuk, Mario Lemieux, Jimmy Carson, and Sidney Crosby as the only teenagers in NHL history to record 100 points in a single season.
Chants of “MVP, MVP” echoed throughout SAP Center after both of Celebrini’s goals, his 37th and 38th of the season.
Most importantly for the Sharks, Monday’s win gave them 75 points, two more than the Blues and now two fewer than the Nashville Predators for the second wild card spot in the Western Conference, with two games in hand.
The Sharks are now tied for 10th place in the West with the Seattle Kraken, both one point behind the Los Angeles Kings.
The rest of the homestand will go a long way in determining whether the Sharks make the playoffs. The Sharks play the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday, the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, the Predators on Saturday, the Chicago Blackhawks next Monday, and the Edmonton Oilers on April 8.
Celebrini assisted on Wennberg’s power play goal at the 8:25 mark of the first period and scored his own goal on the man advantage 4:55 later to give him 100 points on the season and the Sharks an early 2-1 lead over the St. Louis Blues at SAP Center.
Celebrini, who entered Monday with 98 points in 71 games, then scored his second goal with 56 seconds left in the first period off a nice assist from Nick Leddy, giving the second-year forward a three-point first period and the Sharks a 3-2 lead.
Celebrini, 19, entered Monday as the NHL’s fourth-leading scorer, trailing only Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (124 points), Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (121 points), and Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (117 points).
“Be Conscientious”: Billy Donovan Breaks Silence on Jaden Ivey Waiver Over NBA Pride Month Comment
Drama continued for Jaden Ivey when a flight attendant had to step in to stop the NBA guard from ranting about the Chicago Bulls on Instagram live. Ivey was waived today hours after he made controversial anti-gay posts on social media. Gradually strange behavior from Ivey lately raised some concern, but things escalated today to the point of Chicago placing him on waivers to end his time with the team.
A flight attendant had to step in tonight when Ivey went on Instagram Live during a commercial flight. Ivey was ranting about the Bulls unfairly waiving him for conduct detrimental to the team and went into detail about how he wasn’t even with the team while rehabbing from injury. The social media live stream kept going with Ivey going further in depth about his religious thoughts.
Ivey didn’t combat the flight attendant and ended his stream shortly after to avoid more issues. However, the live stream made it clear he’s ready to fight the league and refuses to apologize for his comments. Ivey’s behavior didn’t come off well on a controversial day that saw him losing his job and doubling down on what caused it.
Jaden Ivey Admits He May Get Blacklisted
The live stream featured Ivey both claiming he should have kept his job and revealing that he wasn’t planning to back down. Ivey has already burnt his bridge with the Bulls and fell out of favor with the Detroit Pistons for failing to develop as fast as their timeline required him to.
Two teams already washing their hands of Ivey makes it harder for other teams to give him a chance. Ivey’s path back to the NBA would require him apologizing for saying negative things about others based on their sexual orientation and moving forward quietly with his career.
Tonight’s reaction proves Ivey is not ready for that and welcomes getting blacklisted from the league to keep speaking his mind. Ivey would have the chance to play internationally, like many other names unofficially kicked out of the league, but a 24-year-old throwing away their NBA opportunity is a shocking scenario.
Chicago Bulls Look Smart For Acting Fast
Any public figure going on a live social media stream on a flight to respond to getting fired is not going to come out looking good for it. Ivey seemed unhinged in his loud rant requiring a flight attendant to step in and put an end to it.
Chicago had to make a big decision after replacing popular guard Coby White with Ivey after the trade deadline. Bulls’ management decided to step up and make a public stance that they stand with fans and employees who feel homophobia from an active player.
Luka Doncic should be MVP if he and Lakers stay hot, JJ Redick says
It’s been a tumultuous weekend for the Chicago Bulls community, the NBA fans, and Jaden Ivey. Within hours of his online rant disparaging the NBA’s annual Pride Month celebrations, the Bulls waived the guard. This decision, of course, comes at a crucial time for the Bulls who have been struggling with an injury-ridden roster. Ivey had been rehabbing his injury and not had much time with the Bulls but the organization deemed his “conduct detrimental to the team.” The whole situation also puts Billy Donovan in a unique position, now without a backup guard and looking out for his players.
In his first public address since the entire debcle, the Bulls head coach shifted the focus to the well-being of his roster and the importance of mental health resources within a professional sporting environment. He expressed he has always been proactive about ensuring his players holistic health is met along with tactical and physical training.
“I think in this day and age, you have to be conscientious of all these guys may be going through things,” Donovan said. He did not criticize Ivey. His view was more about ensuring the wellbeing in house rather than a judgmental stance. “I’m not passing judgment on what Jaden is or is not going through. But I do worry about that, not only for Jaden, but for all of our players,” he said.
Donovan’s concern is for the underlying factors that can influence player behavior in the modern era. He noted that, unlike previous generations, today’s athletes must navigate a complex landscape of physical and mental demands. They depend on trainers, medical staff, and coaches for the physical and basketball development but often lack expertise for their mental wellbeing.
It appears Donovan is seeing the potential for players to spiral if they don’t get the care they need. This situation made him express a broader worry for all players in the league.”Are we providing the resources, which I think we do, to help them in any way we can?” Donovan asked rhetorically. “I think if any player reached out and said I need some help in this, we could help them.”
Jaden Ivey’s physical and mental health struggles went parallel
The decision to waive Jaden Ivey came after a rapid escalation of events. On Monday, March 30, Ivey conducted a series of Instagram Live streams in which he criticized the NBA’s involvement in Pride Month activities, describing the league’s celebration of the LGBTQ+ community as “unrighteousness.” The rants, which also touched on various religious and moral topics, immediately went viral.
Ivey’s downward spiral didn’t come out of nowhere. He went from the Pistons’ failing season to transforming the them into title contenders. A broken fibula in early 2025 ended that run. The Pistons traded him to the Bulls at the 2026 deadline but lingering knee issues left his availability questionable.
Shortly after the trade, he declared on social media, “The old JI is dead,” signalling a mental shift beyond basketball to cope with his injuries. At that time, fans had been supportive of his journey until his comments didn’t sit well for a large part of the fanbase. The team had decided to shut him down for the season to recover.
Until this Monday, Billy Donovan was likely waiting for improvement in Ivey’s status. The pivot from his physical to mental health drew a swift response from the team. In a statement, they claimed Ivey’s conduct didn’t align with the franchise’s core values.
Instead of letting this situation haunt his remaining players, Donovan seems to turn inward. He’s prioritizing an environment where players feel equipped to handle the mental burden of the professional spotlight.
“Unrighteous”: Jaden Ivey Gets Waived by Bulls After Pride Month Comment on IG Live
All it took was a series of controversial posts on social media for Jaden Ivey to land under the scanner.
Ivey had previously revealed that he had been dealing with depression. However, things escalated as he began posting lengthy religious rants. Then, during an Instagram Live on March 30, he called out the NBA for celebrating Pride Month. And just hours after that, the Chicago Bulls waived him for conduct detrimental to the team.
“The world proclaims LGBTQ, right? They proclaim Pride Month, and the NBA does too. They show it to the world. They say, ‘Come join us for Pride Month, to celebrate unrighteousness,’” he remarked.
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In another broadcast, he made controversial remarks, including calling Catholicism a “false religion,” which sparked immediate backlash online. Earlier this season, he also opened up about his childhood, explaining that he is no longer the same person.
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“The old me is dead,” he said. “I think as a child, I just never felt love before, never felt what true love felt like.”
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On February 19 against the Raptors, the guard did not play because of a coach’s decision, as for the first time in his young career, he had been on a healthy stretch. After the game that night, he noted that he “wasn’t the same player as he used to be,” referencing his religion while talking to reporters in the locker room.
“I’m not the J.I. I used to be. The old J.I. is dead,” he remarked. “I’m alive in Christ no matter what the basketball setting is.”
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Coming back to before the Bulls’ game against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, head coach Billy Donovan explained the decision to waive Ivey.
“Just inside the Bulls, we have people from all different kinds of backgrounds,” Donovan told reporters. “And whether it’s coaches, from the top, it’s always been we’re all going to work well together, we’re going to accept each other. We’re going to be hard-working, we’re going to be respectful, and we’re going to be professional… There are certain standards I think we want to have as an organization and live up to those each and every day.”
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But that didn’t sit well with the son of Notre Dame women’s basketball coach Niele Ivey.
“They’re liars, bro,” Ivey said on IG Live, according to The Athletic’s Joel Lorenzi. “This is lying. They’re lying saying my conduct is detrimental to the team. That’s a lie. Ask any one of them coaches in there, ‘Was I a good teammate?’ All I’m preaching about is Jesus Christ, and they waived me. But they say I’m crazy, right? I’m psycho.”
Over the years, the National Basketball Association has consistently fostered inclusivity in various ways to engage different communities. One such approach is through Pride Nights, which are annual, team-hosted events celebrating LGBTQIA+ inclusion, love, and equality, featuring special themes, merchandise, and community partnerships.
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Overall, Jaden Ivey’s calling out the NBA over Pride Month activities could eventually land him in greater trouble, as his behavior may be deemed inappropriate by the league. And all this comes right after Ivey was ruled out for the remainder of the ongoing season.
Jaden Ivey to sit out for the remainder of the season
When Jaden Ivey moved to the Chicago Bulls from the Detroit Pistons in a three-team trade, there was a lot of excitement around the young guard starting afresh on a new team. But unfortunately, the 24-year-old could only play four games for the Bulls before sustaining knee soreness. After weeks of struggling to return to full fitness, Ivey was shut down for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. Overall, he averaged 8.5 points in 37 games this season, including four for Chicago.
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He was the fifth overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Pistons and had impressed everyone whenever he was healthy. But injuries have been a major issue for him, and that’s why Detroit let him go.
In his breakout third season with the Pistons, he suffered a broken fibula. He followed that up with minor offseason knee surgery, and on his return for the Pistons this season in the first 33 games, he never looked the same player, with his explosiveness taking a major hit.
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Unfortunately, after getting traded to the Bulls, he looked alright until he suffered from knee soreness. Billy Donovan revealed that the young guard first suffered soreness in his knee around February 19. Initially, he was expected to return in two weeks, and the Bulls were adamant that they had a plan around Ivey’s return. They had upgraded him to questionable a week before ruling him out for the season.
But what exactly happened in a week? Donovan said that Ivey bumped his knees in practice, and the damage was bad enough to rule him out for this season.
Los Angeles Lakers Star LeBron James Made NBA History
On Monday night, the Los Angeles Lakers are playing the Washington Wizards (at home).
LeBron James had 21 points, ten rebounds, ten assists and one block while shooting 8/16 from the field and 1/3 from three-point range in 32 minutes of playing time.
Los Angeles Lakers Star LeBron James Made NBA History
James broke his own record as the oldest player to ever record a triple-double.
Law Murray of The Athletic wrote: “LeBron James extends his own NBA record for oldest triple-double in NBA history”
James still remains one of the elite players in the NBA at 41.
He is currently averaging 20.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.1 steals per contest while shooting 51.2% from the field and 31.3% from three-point range in 53 games.
Mike Trudell of Spectrum Sportsnet wrote: “LeBron’s 10th assist tonight, finding Hayes near the rim, has him 1 board away from a triple-double. LA’s lead is 101-79 with 8:40 to play.”
James And The Lakers
The Lakers have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA since the All-Star Break.
They are currently the third seed in the Western Conference with a 48-26 record in 74 games.
Over their last ten games, the Lakers have gone 9-1 (and they have won two in a row).
At home, they are 24-12 in 36 games.
Real App wrote: “LeBron James has the 5th most triple-doubles in the NBA in 2026… he’s 41 years old.”
James’ Tenure In Los Angeles
James is in his eighth season playing for the Lakers, which is his longest single stint with one team.
Over his time with the franchise, they have been up and down.
Since winning the title in 2020, the Lakers have only been able to return to the Western Conference finals once.
Last season, they lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin wrote: “LeBron James has 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists tonight vs WAS for the 125th triple-double of his career (5th all-time). At 41 years, 90 days old, James is the oldest player in NBA history to record a triple-double, passing his own mark (41 years, 79 days).”
Wizards’ Struggles
The Wizards came into play as the 14th seed in the Eastern Conference with a 17-57 record in 74 games.
They are in the middle of a two-game losing streak (and 1-9 over their last ten).
On the road, the Wizards are 6-31.
Jaden Ivey calls Bulls ‘liars’ over framing of his release after anti-religion, LGBTQ rants
Jaden Ivey called the Bulls “liars” after the team waived him on Monday for “conduct detrimental to the team” following an Instagram livestream where he criticized the NBA’s support of Pride Month.
Ivey has hosted several livestreams recently where he has gone on lengthy tangents about religion and has made inflammatory remarks, including calling Catholicism a “false religion.”
He took to the familiar platform on Monday night to address the Bulls’ decision, along with a winding diatribe about religion and calling out other NBA players.
“They’re liars, bro. This is lying,” Ivey said during the Instagram Live, which appeared to be taking place while he was boarding a flight. “They’re lying saying my conduct is detrimental to the team. That’s a lie. Ask any one of them coaches in there, ‘Was I a good teammate?’ All I’m preaching about is Jesus Christ and they waived me. They say I’m crazy, right? I’m psycho.”
He added that he was “doing what was required of my job” by being in the gym and rehabbing when the Bulls decided to waive him.
Ivey had his season shut down last Thursday while he deals with left knee pain.
Ivey also questioned why the Bulls didn’t outright say that the organization did not agree with his stance on LGBTQ issues, while continuing to insist that he had been a good teammate.
The former Bulls guard later appeared to question Steph Curry’s Christianity.
“He don’t know Jesus and I pray he comes to the truth,” Ivey said. “All that stuff isn’t going to matter on Judgement Day. All them rings he got. All them rings LeBron [James] got. All them rings Michael Jordan got.”
Word of Ivey’s release broke on Monday afternoon, hours after the latest livestream, his third in roughly a week.
Ivey’s behavior had started to raise some concerns among basketball fans.
Asked about the decision to waive Ivey, Bulls head coach Bill Donovan said that “there’s a certain level of standards and expectations that are here.”
“I mean, we have people from all different walks of life working in the building and players from all different walks of life, right?” he said. “So, the first thing is, everybody comes with their own personal experiences. But one is, we’ve got to all be professional. I think there’s got to be a high level of respect for one another, and we got to help each other and then be accountable to those standards.”
Joe Mazzulla Calls Coach of the Year a “Stupid Award,” Sends Clear Message to NBA Media
Joe Mazzulla is rarely one to accept praise, often deflecting it towards his staff and players. In fact, he famously told Derrick White, “Nobody cares,” after being congratulated on winning Coach of the Month. And what he has said now only reinforces the stance he has long held.
The 37-year-old has done an outstanding job leading Boston to the second seed in the East behind the Detroit Pistons with a 50-25 record. Ahead of tonight’s outing vs. the Atlanta Hawks, the NBA reporters asked him about his thoughts on winning Coach of the Year this campaign. And his response?
“It is a way to make sure that the staff and the players, you know, get the appreciation,” Mazzulla replied. “I don’t need it. I think it’s a stupid award. They shouldn’t have it.
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“And it’s more about the players, and it’s more about the work that the staff puts in, and it’s just simple like that. I don’t ever want to be asked or talked about it again. It’s just that dumb. So the players play, it’s about them. Staff works their a– off. I’m grateful to have them.”
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His response was swift and concise, ensuring that no one would ask him this question again. It also cements his position across the league and within the Boston Celtics organization, promoting the idea that no single individual is more important than the collective goal. In this case, that goal is an NBA championship.
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The Boston Celtics first elevated Joe Mazzulla from ‘underdog’ assistant to interim head coach in 2022. It was seen as a stopgap move in the wake of sudden organizational turmoil. But the Rhode Island-native has slowly established himself as one of the most iconic figures in modern-day NBA, often compared to New England Patriots legend Bill Belichick.
While Mazzulla didn’t want to discuss his candidacy, what he has done for the Celtics rarely misses the spotlight. He has guided the Celtics to their fifth straight 50-win season despite an offseason overhaul. Atlanta Hawks coach Quin Snyder has nothing but appreciation for the job Mazzulla has done to lead the Celtics to second place in the Eastern Conference, saying he has done “a terrific job identifying where their strengths are — and they play to them.”
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With Jayson Tatum out for a major chunk of the season, not many expected the Boston Celtics to be where they are in the Eastern Conference right now. But Jaylen Brown, Neemias Queta, Payton Pritchard, and Derrick White have all done their part to make up for his absence. Brown, in particular, has thrived under Joe Mazzulla’s tutelage, putting up career-best averages of 28.6 PPG, 5.2 APG, and 7.0 RPG across 65 games.
So, while the Coach of the Year winner won’t be announced until after the regular season is over, who are the other candidates that might win it?
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Joe Mazzulla, J.B. Bickerstaff, and other potential COTY candidates
Thrust into the spotlight at just 34, Mazzulla responded by steering Boston to become one of the league’s most feared outfits, quickly shedding the “interim” tag as he proved he could manage stars, scrutiny, and sky‑high expectations. Since then, he’s quietly grown into one of the NBA’s most successful young coaches.
He led Tatum & Co. through deep playoff runs and a maiden NBA championship in 2024 while becoming a consistent fixture in Coach of the Year discussions. But this year, there’s another name that’s in the running for the accolade: Pistons HC J.B. Bickerstaff.
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The 47-year-old has done a commendable job leading Detroit to the number one seed in the East. He’s elevated the game of Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, leading the Pistons to a 54-20 record as we approach the playoffs.
Another name doing the rounds is San Antonio Spurs HC Mitch Johnson. At 39, he stepped in to fill the legendary shoes of Gregg Popovich and has done a commendable job thus far. The Spurs are second in the West with a 57-18 record and remain firm contenders to win their first title with Johnson at the helm.
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OKC’s Mark Daigneault and the Los Angeles Lakers’ JJ Redick remain in contention for their outstanding work. Redick, in particular, has managed to revive the likes of Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Deandre Ayton, thrusting LA to the third seed in the West against all odds.
With resumes like these, this season’s COTY race is less about finding a standout talent and more about choosing between very different kinds of excellence. Voters will ultimately be weighing narrative versus dominance: who did the most with the least, who transformed their team’s future, and whose fingerprints are clearest on their team’s identity.
NBA Greenlights $4.25B Sale of Portland Trail Blazers to Dallas-Based Billionaire
The NBA Board of Governors has been busy this week. Right after voting to expand the league to Seattle and Las Vegas, it is now welcoming a new arrival. The board has voted for the sale of the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, March 30. According to an official statement from the league, an investor group led by Tom Dundon will soon take over the Blazers. While the official price tag was not disclosed, reports claim that the valuation sits at approximately $4.25 billion, a starkly different figure from the $7 to $10 billion entry fee for the brand new franchises.
The billionaire Tom Dundon is from Mavericks town, Dallas. Some of his co-owners have Oregon ties, including Sheel Tyle, whose wife, Dr. Sejal Hathi is the director of the Oregon Health Authority. With the NBA Board of Governors’ blessing, his ownership group will purchase the Blazers from the estate of Paul Allen.
The official statement read, “The NBA Board of Governors has approved the sale of the controlling interest in the Portland Trail Blazers to an investor group led by Tom Dundon, who will serve as the Trail Blazers’ Governor. The transaction is expected to close this week.”
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Details of the sale though are still a little obscure. Reports state that the sale will go down in a two-part deal. 80.1% is being bought at a $4 billion valuation by March 31. The remaining 19.9% will be bought at a $4.5 billion valuation and will close no later than September 1, 2028.
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The valuation highlights the rising franchise costs in the NBA after a new $72 billion media rights deal. With expansion around the corner, Portland’s sale reflects a changing landscape within the NBA Board of Governors as much as on the court.
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The NBA has approved the sale of the controlling interest. Bert Kolde, the incumbent vice chairman of the Blazers (as well as the Seattle Seahawks), will oversee board meetings but will have no involvement in administrative and governing responsibilities.
Tom Dundon could rescue the Trail Blazers
The Blazers have been under Paul Allen and his sister, Jody’s ownership since 1988. Allen passed away from Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in 2018 and his sister managed the team. In May 2025, she put the team up for sale with the intention to donate all proceeds to charity.
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Tom Dundon had reached a tentative agreement to purchase the team in August 2025. At that time, there was a fear that the Texas resident would relocate the team out of Rose City.
More upheaval came in October. The Blazers head coach, Chauncey Billups was arrested in the FBI’s crackdown on illegal gambling within the NBA. During those uncertain times, Dundon’s group, however, reassured the city that the Blazers will remain in Portland.
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One of the first orders of business for the new owners would likely be the renovation of the Moda Center. The Oregan legislature has already approved $365 million in state-issued bonds to improve the arena. Adam Silver also met with officials to discuss the next steps, further confirming that the team is staying in their original home.
Besides, Dundon doesn’t have a habit of relocating his teams. He also owns the NHL team, Carolina Hurricanes since 2018. He’s also invested in Top Golf and in pickleball teams.
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His ownership style in the other teams has been diverting resources towards players. The Hurricanes have one of the highest payrolls under him. The result has seen multiple playoff appearances for the Hurricanes and turning a small franchise into perennial Stanley Cup contenders. He sold a minority stake in the Hurricanes for $2.66 billion earlier this month, leaving him a sizable fortune to invest in his new basketball venture.
Depleted Pistons come up short in OT thriller with Thunder
The Detroit Pistons nearly pulled off the most unexpected result of their most successful season in decades Monday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
With a road matchup against the team holding the best record in the NBA, the Pistons were without their top five scorers due to various injuries. No Cade Cunningham, no Jalen Duren, even no Duncan Robinson.
Still, the Pistons found themselves in an overtime game against the reigning NBA champions after trailing by 10 at halftime.
It took a Herculean effort from reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 47 points — going 12-of-19 from the field and sinking 21 foul shots — but the Thunder eventually put away a gutsy Pistons team, 114-110, in overtime at Paycom Center.
The Pistons had six players in double digits led by Paul Reed with 21 alongside 10 rebounds and four blocks, with Javonte Green adding 19 points and Kevin Huerter with another 17 with six assists.
Detroit’s starters kept pace with the Thunder early as Green and Huerter sank threes and they took advantage of second-chance opportunities. The Pistons would finish with 15 offensive rebounds, scoring 16 off those extra chances.
A 10-2 run to start the second quarter gave Oklahoma City some breathing room, but Detroit never quite let them run away as Daniss Jenkins started finding his groove driving to the rim.
After trailing by 10 at the half — while shooting 33% from the field — the Pistons opened up the second half on a 7-0 run as a Green three-pointer from a Jenkins kickout pulled them back within three.
Detroit stayed with the Thunder for the rest of the third quarter, shooting 71% from the field in the period to trail by five.
An early workaround by the Pistons found LeVert in the corner for a three to get two down in the fourth quarter. A few possessions later, Marcus Sasser stripped Chet Holmgren on the defensive end and found Huerter for the lead-taking three-pointer.
Going down as much as seven, Gilegeous-Alexander personally got the Thunder back in striking distance, scoring 11 points without another teammate adding to it until Jaylin Williams tied the game at 99 with a corner three.
Ausar Thompson, the lone typical Detroit starter available for the game, fouled out with just under two minutes to go in regulation after posting eight points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Even so, the Pistons held on for overtime after a potential game-winning shot from Gilgeous-Alexander was called off for a push-off foul.
The offense dried up in overtime as a Huerter three and a Reed driving dunk were the only real offense they could muster and the Thunder ran to victory behind an Alex Caruso three and more foul shots for Gilgeous-Alexander.
It was still quite the showcase for Detroit taking the top team in the league to overtime, despite all their absent contributors. Thanks to a Boston Celtics loss Monday night, the Pistons now only need three wins to secure the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
BOX SCORE
Up next: The Pistons are right back to work Tuesday night, hosting the Toronto Raptors (42-32).
Axed Bulls Star Drops “Truth” on LeBron James, Stephen Curry After NBA Pride Month Controversy
The Chicago Bulls waived guard Jaden Ivey after his strange social media rant. The former Pistons guard criticized the NBA for celebrating Pride Month. Ivey termed it ‘unrighteous’, citing belief as the reason behind his strong thoughts. And it appears the 24-year-old didn’t take well to the league’s reaction. Ivey went on another long rant, dropping his version of the world’s truth.
That included advice to Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Michael Jordan. Jaden Ivey proclaims that competing for a championship isn’t going to help. He instead suggested Curry and others need to discover Jesus Christ.
“That’s why you got Steph Curry, he don’t know Jesus, and I pray he comes to the truth, that him & his family be saved in Jesus name…All them rings he got…all them rings LeBron got, Michael Jordan got, all them people in the HOF who don’t know Jesus Christ, it’s not gonna matter on Judgment Day,” Ivey said in his recent video.
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From the above-mentioned names, Stephen Curry arguably has openly spoken about his strong faith. He has tattoos to celebrate his beliefs and often credits God for his success. However, Ivey doesn’t feel that devoting himself to basketball is going to “do no good”. And that wasn’t the only thing he said.
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The recently waived Chicago Bulls guard is certain the NBA isn’t a path for him anymore. Ivey feels teams will refuse to sign him because of his complete faith. The Pistons guard even asked them to turn to Jesus Christ to atone for the ‘sins’ they have committed. It’s evident that Ivey is choosing to stick with his beliefs over a career in the NBA.
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Billy Donovan hopes Jaden Ivey is okay
The Chicago Bulls may have parted ways with Jaden Ivey. But head coach Billy Donovan is focusing on the bigger issue at hand. Ivey has openly admitted to struggling with his mental health. Comments like “The old J.I. is dead” after returning from a dreadful injury sparked wide concern.
It was also among the first times Ivey mentioned taking the path of Christ. But Donovan isn’t focused on his actions. The Bulls head coach just prayed that the former first-round pick is doing well.
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“I don’t want to get into what he put out there, but I hope he’s okay. I’ve had conversations with Jaden, and he’s been about having his knee and trying to work to play,” said the Bulls head coach.
Jaden Ivey co-signed with these claims. He admitted hearing about the Bulls’ decision while rehabbing from his knee. Ivey hasn’t played a game for the Bulls since February. Likewise, Donovan, having developed a relationship with the player, is hopeful for his mental health. That being said, he didn’t agree with Ivey’s claims. He upheld the Bulls organization’s commitment to setting “certain standards we want to have and try to adapt to each and every day”.
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In addition to his reaction, Donovan also implored players to be open about their difficulties.
“I think in today’s player, they know how to eat, they know how to train, they know how to get in the cold tank, get massage therapy, all the stuff, individual instruction on the court. But how do we help them mentally?.. Are we providing the resources, which I think we do, to help them in any way we can? And I think if any player reached out and said, listen, I need some help in this, we could help them,” said Donovan.
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What do you make of the situation? Let us know your views in the comments below.
Delaware City FC makes soccer history with MASL3 championship
The First State has a championship professional sports team, and it’s likely one few knew existed.
Delaware City FC was the last of eight teams to qualify for the Major Arena Soccer League 3 playoffs as Atlantic Division winner but won the championship March 29 at the Fredericksburg Fieldhouse in Virginia.
Adding to the stunning nature of Delaware City FC’s triumph is that it is a first-year franchise.
Delaware City FC started its championship run by beating the Cincinnati Swerve 9-3 behind Henry Gamez’s six goals, one fewer than he scored all season.
The First State side then needed overtime to prevail 10-9 on Sebastian Renteria’s goal against the Rio Grande Valley Barracudas.
That set the stage for a championship showdown against the Muskegon Riders in which Delaware City FC prevailed 10-6 keyed by Gamez, who scored six goals and was named tournament MVP. Gamez is from Nicaragua and previously played professionally for its outdoor Club Deportivo Walter Ferreti side in the country’s premier division before moving to the Philadelphia area.
Delaware City FC plays at the Kirkwood Soccer’s indoor facility at its complex on Route 9 south of New Castle. Majority owner and team founder Steven Matalavage is a Milton native who graduated from Cape Henlopen in 2016 and played soccer there and at Neumann University in Aston Township, Pennsylvania.
“It was awesome,” Matalavage said. “We were really excited for the moment, to say the least. Once we won the division, we really believed in the group and, when we went down there, we were really confident.”
Marlon Trejo, his former Neumann teammate, is the Delaware City FC coach.
The victory could mean promotion to MASL2, which would require Delaware City FC to find a larger playing site, with Wilmington’s Chase Fieldhouse the nearest prospective location. MASL3 is the third tier in the U.S. indoor soccer pyramid.
Delaware City FC joins a list of championship-winning Delaware pro teams that includes the NBA G-League’s Delaware Blue Coats (2023); the Wilmington Blue Bombers’ 1942 and 1944 American Basketball League and 1966 and 1967 Eastern Basketball League titles; and Carolina League baseball’s Wilmington Blue Rocks (1994, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2019).
“Obviously, the first year, you never know what to expect going into it,” Matalavage said. “We had a little group of fans so we always had a small group of supporters. But it definitely grew when people started hearing about us.
“I think now people will pay attention to us even more.”
Benson Boone to hit 30+ U.S. arenas throughout new ‘Wanted Man Tour’
“Beautiful Things” singer Benson Boone just unveiled a new 2026 concert schedule in continued support of his second studio album, “American Heart.”
Following a successful “American Heart” run — which visited Detroit, Michigan’s Little Caesars Arena in August 2025 — Grammy-nominated pop artist Benson Boone is embarking on another U.S. trek set to begin Tuesday, July 7 at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. The “Wanted Man Tour” includes notable Midwest stops at Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio; Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis; the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee; and Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois; with the finale date slated for Thursday, September 3 at the Ford Center in Casper, Wyoming.
Tickets to the new U.S. dates officially go on sale this Friday, April 3 at 11 a.m. local venue time on Ticketmaster and bensonboonelive.com. Artist Presale opens at the same time on Wednesday, April 1. Following the general on-sale and leading up to each concert date, fans may also be able find ticket listings on Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, and StubHub.
Benson Boone “Wanted Man Tour”
Tue, Jul 7 — PPG Paints Arena; Pittsburgh, PA
Wed, Jul 8 — CFG Bank Arena; Baltimore, MD
Fri, Jul 10 — Barclays Center; Brooklyn, NY
Sat, Jul 11 — Barclays Center; Brooklyn, NY
Mon, Jul 13 — Prudential Center; Newark, NJ
Wed, Jul 15 — TD Garden; Boston, MA
Thu, Jul 16 — MVP Arena; Albany, NY
Sat, Jul 18 — Heritage Bank Center; Cincinnati, OH
Sun, Jul 19 — Gainbridge Fieldhouse; Indianapolis, IN
Wed, Jul 22 — Fiserv Forum; Milwaukee, WI
Fri, Jul 24 — Allstate Arena; Rosemont, IL
Mon, Jul 27 — Enterprise Center; St. Louis, MO
Tue, Jul 28 — BOK Center; Tulsa, OK
Thu, Jul 30 — Ball Arena; Denver, CO
Sun, Aug 2 — Numerica Veterans Arena; Spokane, WA
Tue, Aug 4 — Climate Pledge Arena; Seattle, WA
Wed, Aug 5 — Moda Center; Portland, OR
Fri, Aug 7 — SAP Center at San Jose; San Jose, CA
Sat, Aug 8 — Golden 1 Center; Sacramento, CA
Mon, Aug 10 — Crypto.com Arena; Los Angeles, CA
Tue, Aug 11 — Crypto.com Arena; Los Angeles, CA
Fri, Aug 14 — T-Mobile Arena; Las Vegas, NV
Sat, Aug 15 — Pechenga Arena; San Diego, CA
Mon, Aug 17 — Mortgage Matchup Center; Phoenix, AZ
Thu, Aug 20 — Frost Bank Center; San Antonio, TX
Fri, Aug 21 — American Airlines Center; Dallas, TX
Sun, Aug 23 — Smoothie King Center; New Orleans, LA
Tue, Aug 25 — VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena; Jacksonville, FL
Wed, Aug 26 — Spectrum Center; Charlotte, NC
Fri, Aug 28 — Legacy Arena at the BJCC; Birmingham, AL
Sat, Aug 29 — Simmons Bank Arena; North Little Rock, AR
Mon, Aug 31 — T-Mobile Center; Kansas City, MO
Tue, Sep 1 — CHI Health Center Omaha; Omaha, NE
Thu, Sep 3 — Ford Wyoming Center; Casper, WY
N.J. speedway apologizes after unauthorized event draws 25K, wreaks havoc in towns
The owner of Bridgeport Motorsports Park apologized on social media after an unauthorized event descended into chaos, drawing drunk and disorderly crowds and snarling traffic around the South Jersey racetrack.
The gathering prompted authorities to issue an “immediate dispersal alert” to nearby residents’ cell phones, according to officials.
Logan police said the unpermitted “Import Expo” attracted 25,000 people from as far as Virginia and Massachusetts, with drivers speeding, passing unsafely and passengers riding on top of vehicles.
Police in the Gloucester County town said drivers “parked wherever they chose,” got out of their vehicles and walked to the dirt track for the auto and music fest.
Videos posted on social media show traffic was backed up along local roads in Gloucester County, as well as a massive line of cars and at least one motor vehicle accident on surrounding highways, including I-295.
When people arrived at the track, some were drunk and acting disorderly, according to police, who were first called to the scene at about 10:55 a.m. There were multiple fights, public urination, littering and lewdness, police said.
Owner Doug Rose said track officials and police closed Floodgate Road leading to the speedway and informed drivers that no more guests would be allowed inside.
That didn’t stop people, though, according to Rose. People left their vehicles and simply walked to the speedway.
When Rose learned of that, he shut down the rest of the event.
Rose noted that the crowds pictured in photos on social media were confined to less than one acre of the 83-acre facility.
One man was charged with disorderly conduct, Logan police said.
“The overall problem was traffic spilling into our community,” Rose said. “This post is to APOLOGIZE and promise we will be better at what we do because of this.”
He thanked Logan officials but did not address police department’s comment that organizers didn’t have a permit.
Rose couldn’t be reached for further comment.
Police lifted the alert at about 6:45 p.m.
Ole Miss Tennis Pulls Off Massive Sweep Over Alabama Crimson Tide Amid Hot Streak
OXFORD, Miss. – The No. 27 Ole Miss men’s tennis team pulled off a 7-0 sweep against No. 49 Alabama on Sunday afternoon at the University of Alabama Tennis Stadium.
As Ole Miss (16-6, 4-6 SEC) was up 3-0 in the match, freshman Pietro Pamapnin was matched up against No. 109 Andrii Zimnokh. After winning the first set, 6-2, Pampanin wasted no time in the second set as he won 6-2 again to clinch the match for the Rebels.
Ole Miss started things off by winning the doubles point as Isac Stromberg and Kai Milburn defeated Alabama’s (9-13, 3-8 SEC) No. 33 duo of Andrii Zimnokh and Vit Kalina, 6-4. Soon after, Matthieu Chambonniere and Benjamin Martin delivered the clinching match for doubles after defeating Jacob Olar and Brendan Loh, 6-3.
Ole Miss would continue its dominance in singles as Vlado Jankanj secured the first singles court after defeating Jacob Olar, 6-1, 6-0. Senior Noah Schlagenhauf would then defeat Yoshka Sborowsky, 6-4, 6-0, to set up Pampanin for the clinching point.
The remaining three singles courts were played out with No. 77 Stefano D’Agostino securing a ranked win against No. 79 Vit Kalina, 6-2, 6-2. Next came Loan Lestir, whose match turned into a marathon as he won two tiebreaker sets against Hazratwala 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-3).
Chambonniere would cap off the Rebels’ day with a ranked win against No. 94 Matic Kriznik, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 10-6.
The Rebels will return to Oxford, Mississippi, on Thursday, April 2, to take on No. 3 Texas. First serve is set for 1 p.m. at the Palmer Salloum Tennis Center.
Doubles Results
1. Isac Stromberg/Kai Milburn (OM) def. #33 Andrii Zimnokh/Vit Kalina (ALA) 6-4
2. Rohan Hazratwala/Matic Kriznik (ALA) vs. #85 Stefano D’Agostino/Pietro Pampanin (OM) 2-5, unfinished
3. M. Chambonniere/Benjamin Martin (OM) def. Jacob Olar/Brendan Loh (ALA) 6-3
Singles Results
1. #77 Stefano D’Agostino (OM) def. #79 Vit Kalina (ALA) 6-2, 6-2
2. M. Chambonniere (OM) def. #94 Matic Kriznik (ALA) 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 10-6
3. Pietro Pampanin (OM) def. #109 Andrii Zimnokh (ALA) 6-2, 6-2
4. Vlado Jankanj (OM) def. Jacob Olar (ALA) 6-1, 6-0
5. Noah Schlagenhauf (OM) def. Yoshka Sborowsky (ALA) 6-4, 6-0
6. Loan Lestir (OM) def. Rohan Hazratwala (ALA) 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-3)
Order of finish: Doubles (3, 1); Singles (4, 5, 3, 1, 6, 2)
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What is a ‘Sunshine Double’? Explaining Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka’s rare feat
Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka over the weekend both completed a rare
Hysterics at What Mini Dachshund Does After Getting Tired on Walks
A video showing a miniature dachshund running up to strangers’ houses when he gets tired on a walk has racked up more than 2 million views on TikTok, delighting viewers with a moment many dog owners found instantly relatable.
The short clip was shared on March 20 under @frankiethedox and quickly took off, amassing more than 559,000 likes and a flood of amused comments. Viewers were able to see the miniature dachshund trotting confidently off leash toward the front porches of nearby homes, seemingly selecting random doors to stop at once he decides he has had enough of walking.
Overlaid text on the video explains the situation succinctly: “My dog running to random houses when he doesn’t wanna walk anymore.”
The caption below it reads: “Like what.”
As questions surfaced about why the dog appeared to be off leash, the owner addressed the speculation directly in the comments.
“Y’all we [were] walking into my house from my car relax,” they wrote, clarifying that the moment occurred at the end of a walk rather than during an unsupervised outing.
Still, the dachshund’s size and determination only added to the humor of the moment, particularly as he appeared unfazed by the fact that none of the houses were actually his. The comments section quickly filled with jokes and shared experiences from fellow dog owners.
VOTE now for the Longplex Preseason MVP in Boys Tennis
The high school sports season is getting underway in earnest this week. The Providence Journal profiled the players to watch in several spring sports beginning last week, and that will continue this week with softball, baseball and lacrosse.
But now we want to hear from you. Of all the players to watch that we listed, who do you think should be the Longplex Preseason MVP in each sport? There will be plenty of time for these players, or others, to prove us right or wrong, but this is a great place to start as the games get real.
Here are the nominees for Longplex Preseason MVP in boys tennis. Remember the only way to vote is online, as no email or phone votes will be counted. The poll will remain open until Friday, April 3, at 11:59 p.m. So vote early and often, and tell us who you think deserves bragging rights this spring season!
Players listed in alphabetical order
Longplex Preseason MVP nominees in Boys Tennis
Gabe Anderson
Barrington, senior
Anderson has been instrumental in the Eagles’ success the last three seasons, and you can expect more of the same this spring. After winning two state doubles titles his first two years – with Barrington claiming the team title in 2024 – Anderson became a Second Team All-State singles player last year and helped the Eagles win another team title. He’ll be near the top of Barrington’s ladder as it tries to threepeat and should be in the mix at the state singles tournament.
Connor Ainley
Cranston West, senior
Ainley has been one of the best players in Rhode Island since his freshman season, and don’t expect him to slow down now. He burst onto the scene with the first of two Second Team All-State selections his freshman and junior years before taking his game to a new level in 2025, earning his debut as a First Team All-Stater. Ainley should anchor the Falcons’ lineup again this spring and will look to improve on his quarterfinal finish.
Tate Coker-Dodman
East Greenwich, sophomore
The rumblings of his talent didn’t do him justice in his freshman season, because Coker-Dodman ended up better than advertised. He wasted little time in establishing himself as one of Rhode Island’s top players, taking over the top spot in the Avengers’ ladder and showing off his talent every time he stepped on the court. After a semifinal finish at the state singles championship, Coker-Dodman will be on the short list to challenge La Salle’s defending state champ, Andrew Smith.
Ben Kravitz
Providence Country Day, sophomore
Kravitz’s debut season coincided with the Knights dropping to Division III, and no one stood a chance against him his freshman season, as he dominated play and the team rolled to the title. PCD elected to remain, so expect Kravitz to go largely unchallenged throughout the season and the team to repeat as champions. Kravitz was a Second Team All-State pick last spring, and after making the round of 16 in 2025, will look to go deeper into the state singles tourney.
Braden Lynch
Lincoln, sophomore
For another member of last spring’s freshman class, it’s going to be fun to see how Lynch’s game grows in his sophomore campaign. Once he settled in as the Lions’ top player, it was apparent that Lynch was a star. He showed as much in his debut at the RIIL State Singles Tournament, advancing to the quarterfinals before being ousted by Andrew Smith, the eventual champ. Lynch should be in for a monster spring and is on the short list of possible challengers to Smith’s crown.
Eri Ogunde
Cranston East, senior
His length, athleticism and long strokes make Ogunde one of the state’s most fun players to watch. Coming off a breakout junior season, Ogunde helped lead the Thunderbolts to the Division III final before they fell to Providence Country Day. A Second Team All-State pick, Ogunde has the potential to be a dangerous foe once the state singles tournament rolls around in May.
Jonah Plonsky
South Kingstown, junior
Plonsky was one of the best No. 2 singles players in Rhode Island last spring, and this year he’ll be more than ready to take over the role at No. 1. Playing behind First Team All-Stater Elliot Roman, Plonsky found his game and won plenty in 2025. He showed he was more than just a No. 2 by reaching the Round of 16 at the state singles tournament. Plonsky should continue to find success atop the ladder this spring, and watch for him as a dark horse at the state singles tournament.
Henry Seeley
East Greenwich, senior
One of the best athletes in the sport, Seeley saw his game explode in his junior season as he proved he was one of Rhode Island’s top talents. Power has never been a problem for the Avenger, but last year his game became more well-rounded, and it showed with his quarterfinal run at the state singles tournament. Paired with Tate Coker-Dodman, EG has the best 1-2 punch in the state, and Seeley’s talent will be crucial as the Avengers try to get back to Slater Park after losing to Barrington in the final in 2025.
Andrew Smith
La Salle, senior
Smith looked like a star from his freshman season, and over the last three seasons, he’s established himself as one of the best players Rhode Island has seen in the last 25 years. After back-to-back semifinal appearances at the state singles tournament, Smith advanced to last year’s final and was brilliant in his win over teammate Joe Cavanagh. Expect more greatness in his senior season, as the 6-foot-5 senior will put his power, speed and finesse on display while trying to become La Salle’s first two-time singles champ.
Luca Testa
Hendricken, senior
Testa showed promise as a freshman, became a Second Team All-Stater in his sophomore campaign and revved up his game last spring, earning First Team All-State honors. What will senior year bring? Testa should anchor the Hawks’ ladder and should perform well against some pretty tough competition throughout the spring. Last spring Testa made the quarterfinals at the state singles tournament, and he’ll have a chance to earn a semifinal spot – or more – in his final campaign.
WTA star Belinda Bencic juggles tennis, motherhood
As Belinda Bencic practiced on Monday at the Credit One Charleston Open, hitting partners and coaches were joined on court by a very special “assistant.”
She toddled around with a tennis ball in one hand and a tiny racquet in the other, waving at onlookers.
Bencic’s daughter, Bella, is nearly 2 years old and has become a presence on the WTA Tour, playing soccer with men’s star Jannik Sinner in Miami last week and keeping Mom company on the road.
Mom and daughter are together this week on Daniel Island as Bencic, 29 and ranked No. 12 in the world, tries to add another Charleston championship to her resume.
Bencic, from Switzerland, won in Charleston in 2022, won twice more on the WTA Tour in 2023 and then gave birth to Bella in April of 2024. Her comeback has been a rousing success, as she won twice more in 2025 to get to 10 career titles and was named the WTA Tour’s comeback player of the year.
Now, she’s focused on enjoying life with Bella as much as she can before things like school and home routines begin to beckon.
“I choose to bring Bella really to every tournament,” said Bencic, who is the No. 3 seed at the Charleston Open. “So I spend so much time with her, and I’m really grateful to have people around me that help me to do that, to play and to bring Bella also.”
Bencic is able to perform the everyday tasks such as waking her daughter up in the morning and putting her to bed at night, which she does not take for granted.
“For me, it’s a huge privilege to do that and still be able to kind of continue to do my job,” she said.
Just last year, the WTA announced the PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program, through which WTA players for the first time receive paid maternity leave up to 12 months and have access to grants for fertility treatments to build families, as well as other benefits.
Credit One Charleston Open underway with new experiences, record prize money
DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) — The Credit One Charleston Open is underway with new attractions and a commitment to record prize money for North America’s largest women’s-only professional tennis event.
The tournament is making history in women’s tennis by closing the gender pay gap and committing $2.5 million to its players.
Organizers say there will be new and elevated experiences for tennis fans on the grounds, including a kitchen with a new open flame concept where everything will be cooked live over charcoal.
“We seat people. We let them know how it all works. It’s shareable plates. We recommend quantities for your table,” Travis Maynard, general manager of the food and service hospitality, said. “If you got five or six people, this thing serves two to four; this serves four to six. And then we let them know, they’re going to walk right up to the counter and order. They’ll take their drinks back to the table with them and then we’ll run the food to the table.”
Food and shopping
Event organizers say locally sourcing ingredients has been top of mind.
“A lot of local people come here, but a lot of people come from all over the country and some out of the country. So, we partner with a lot of great restaurants that are local to Charleston,” Maynard said.
Organizers say there is more to do between matches, including the brand-new COCO Co-Op, an on-site curated shopping experience featuring local brands.
Fan zone activities
The Fan Zone includes two new activations this year.
“It’s great for kids, but also adults. We have two new activations this year that we’re really excited about. The umpire chair challenge, where you can sit in an umpire chair and watch clips from the previous year’s tournament and make the call,” Ashley Smith, fan experience and special events manager, said.
“And then we have the sign the lens challenge. If you’ve watched tennis, you’ve seen that after a player wins a match, they get to sign the camera lens. So, you kind of have the opportunity to do that as well,” Smith said.
“Everyone’s smiling and enjoying themselves. So, just having everyone come out and seeing all of the fun and exciting things we have going on,” Smith said.
The tournament will wrap up on April 5. Click here for ticket information.
Wake Forest Tennis Completes Tobacco Road Takedown
The Wake Forest men’s tennis team (25-2, 10-0 ACC) came into the weekend with its newly reestablished #1 overall spot. Some teams may struggle with the pressure coming off such a big victory the prior weekend, not the Deacs.
Wake Forest was on the road this weekend, taking on North Carolina in Chapel Hill and then Duke in Durham. Both of these matches resulted in 4-0 victories as the Deacs continue to establish themselves as the clear top dogs in the ACC as well as nationally. Let’s go through the highlights.
No Trouble with North Carolina
Friday’s match saw the Deacs stacked up against the #47-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. Wake took immediate control of this one in doubles as the fifth-ranked pair of DK Suresh Ekambaram and Andrew Delgado cruised to a 6-0 victory over a top-20 doubles pair on court one. The pair of Mees Rottgering and Kacper Szymkowiak continued their good play as well, winning 6-2 to clinch the point.
Wake Forest carried this great momentum from doubles into singles play. They grabbed first set victories on courts one, two, four, five, and six. It was Joaquin Guilleme on court six putting the first singles point on the board, winning 6-4, 6-2.
Mees Rottgering, who has become a staple on court two, claimed a 6-3, 6-3 victory to give the Deacs a commanding 3-0 lead. Ultimately, it was DK Suresh defeating a ranked opponent on court one by the score of 7-6 (3), 6-3 to get the job done and clinch the 4-0 sweep.
Dominating Duke
It is always a bit sweeter when a Wake sports team can knock off the Duke Blue Devils, especially in dominant fashion. The Deacs grabbed the early advantage in doubles as Luca Pow and Aryan Shah pulled out a dominant 6-1 victory on court three.
Despite this big win, the two other doubles courts were tightly contested all the way until the finish. The court two doubles pair of Mees Rottgering and Kacper Szymkowiak showed great toughness, coming back from being down a break to win 7-5 and clinch the doubles point.
After this, the Deacs cruised in singles. Joaquin Guilleme capped off his great weekend, this time on court four, winning by a perfect 6-0, 6-0 margin. Freshman Aryan Shah played five singles and secured a 6-1, 6-2 win, making it a great day all-around for him. Luca Pow got the team over the finish line with a 6-3, 6-2 victory on court three.
ACC Standings Check
As we near the end of the season, it’s important to see where things stand in the race for the ACC Conference Title. The Deacs are at the top with their flawless 10-0 record in conference play. Right behind them are the Virginia Cavaliers, who Wake beat at home last weekend, at 9-1. Notre Dame and NC State are next up and tied at 8-2. Wake already dominated Notre Dame at home earlier in the season and will get NC State to wrap up the regular season in Winston-Salem.
What’s Next?
Minky Couture Week 35 high school star athletes of the week
Baseball
Grady Slesk, Lone Peak (Sr.)
Lone Peak ran its record to 10-0 with a pair of victories last week, and one of the catalysts to that success has been the leadership of senior Grady Slesk.
Last week, he picked up the win over Layton, striking out 11 in just five innings of the 13-2 win.
For the season, he owns a 4-0 record with 32 strikeouts and one earned run allowed in 20 innings.
“Slesk is a fierce competitor with exceptional command, able to locate pitches as well as anyone around,” said Lone Peak coach Matt Bezzant. “A two-time all-state arm, he has the confidence and ability to throw any pitch in any count. His work ethic has been outstanding, and it’s a big reason he’s developed into the pitcher he is today.”
Slesk has committed to pitch for SLCC after he serves a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder Day Saints.
At the plate, Slesk is hitting .321 this season with 11 RBIs in 35 plate appearances.
Softball
Jo Norman, Salem Hills (Sr.)
After playing a big role in leading Salem Hills to a 5A runner-up finish a year ago, Jo Norman is back and dominating in the circle again this season.
The senior leads the team with an 8-0 record this spring, including a big 8-4 win over Springville last week. Norman has struck out 32 batters in her eight appearances, and also maintains a .400 batting average.
“Jo is a four-year stater and one of our captains this year. Her leadership and experience is a huge part of our success last year and this year. She also threw a perfect game against Orem this season. She is a good hitter as well and helps deepen our line. We love having her in our program,” said Salem Hills coach Kalab Stokes.
A year ago, Norman finished with a 14-4 record and 124 strikeouts and was voted a 5A second team all-stater by the coaches.
Boys Soccer
Joaquin Oberhansly, Pleasant Grove (Sr.)
Senior Joaquin Oberhansly is the midfield engine that makes everything go for the undefeated Vikings.
Oberhansly has played nearly every minute this season for Pleasant Grove, which improved to 9-0 last week with a 5-0 win over Payson and a 4-0 win over Timpview.
“He’s a two-year captain who anchors our midfield as our six and is the heartbeat of our team, dictating tempo on both sides of the ball,” said Pleasant Grove coach Chris Ecalono. “His leadership, work rate, and composure allow us to control games and play the way we want to play.”
Pleasant Grove conceded six goals in its first four games, but led by Oberhansly it has earned five straight shutouts.
Boys Volleyball
Coby Rasmussen, Manti (Sr.)
In Manti’s first season competing in boys volleyball, senior Coby Rasmussen has stepped up and played a big role in leading Manti the team in a variety of different ways, including leading the team to a 3-1 record last weekend at the Union tournament.
“His willingness to step into any position without hesitation shows his true character-selfless, dependable, and all about the team. He leads by example and brings a steady confidence that lifts those around him,” said Manti coach Mollie Ramussen.
Rasmussen ranks first in Utah currently with 269 digs, and 18th in the country. He ranks third in 3A with a .294 hitting percentage and 202 kills. His 27 aces ranks second in 3A.
He’s also a force at the defensively with 42 blocks, which ranks first in 3A and sixth in the entire state.
Boys Track
Jackson Spencer, Herriman (Sr.)
The cross country king in the United States this school year is quickly making his impact on the track.
A month into the track season, Herriman’s Jackson Spencer owns the top time in Utah in all three distance events (800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters).
Last weekend he posted a time of 1:52.24 in the 800 meters at the Taylorsville Invitational. The weekend prior at the Pine View Invitational he won the 1,600 meters (4:05.69) and 3,200 meters (8:46.04).
Spencer maintains a 3.92 GPA and is committed to run at BYU.
In addition to winning the 6A cross country championship in the fall, he also won national titles at the Broocks XC Championship and Nike Cross Nationals.
He is the defending 6A state championship in the 3,200 meters.
Girls Track
Reece Lewis, Riverton (Sr.)
As a freshman, Riverton’s Reece Lewis could barely finish a 100-meter race because of the immense pain caused by her severe scoliosis. She never wanted those limitations to define her, and now she’s a school record holder.
Lewis won the 100 and 200 meters at last weekend’s Taylorsville Invitational in addition to finish second in the 400 meters.
Her time of 24.42 in the 200 broke the school record and is tied with Snow Canyon’s Amelia Nadauld for the top time in Utah this spring.
“Reese is driven by her scoliosis, by those who told her she can’t; including, at times her own body and mind fighting back against her. She is a phenomenal athlete, person, teammate and human being who rises above all that would seek hold her down, always,” said Riverton sprints coach Brett Nelson.
Added head coach Marcus Dickson, “Reese is a tone setter for our team. She shows up, has a great attitude, works hard and elevates everyone around her. It is contagious, she even got me amped up to do some 200s with her at practice and my hamstrings were feeling it the next day.”
Her times in the 100 (12.35) and 400 (57.94) both rank in the top 10 early in Utah this spring.
Boys Lacrosse
Carson Butterfield, Skyridge (Sr.)
With 12 points in the past two games, Carson Butterfield has played a huge role in leading Skyridge to an 8-1 record to date.
He recorded a goal and six assists in a win over Maple Mountain, and then three goals and two assists in the Westlake victory.
He’s tallied 18 goals and 14 assists for the season.
“Carson Butterfield has been a steady offensive force for Skyridge throughout his three years on varsity, bringing the complete skill set of a senior attackman who impacts the game as both a scorer and a facilitator,” said Skyridge Bart Butterfield.
“A crafty left-handed playmaker with a high lacrosse IQ, Carson consistently makes the right read under pressure and creates quality opportunities for himself and his teammates. Around the crease, he is an elite inside finisher with quick hands and the ability to score from difficult angles, and he currently boasts a team-high 71% shooting percentage.”
Girls Lacrosse
Lily Henderson, West Jordan (Sr.)
One of the top point producers in 5A a year ago, Lily Henderson has raised her game to another level early this season.
The senior leads 5A with 57 points (39 goals, 28 assists) as West Jordan has jumped out to an 8-0 record near the midway point of the regular season. She’s by no means just a goal scorer producing in a variety of ways to help the Jaguars win.
“A dominant force on both sides of the ball, Lily anchors our roster with her versatility and high-level execution. By leading the team in points (67), ground balls (40), caused turnovers (30), and draw controls (71), her impressive stat line proves she is a true impact player who dictates the flow of every game,” said West Jordan coach Cliff Tomlinson.
A year ago Henderson helped lead West Jordan to an 11-8 record with 110 points (73 goals) as she was named a second team all-stater.
Boys Tennis
Ryan Jenson, Box Elder (Jr.)
Ryan Jenson has made a big impression in his third straight year competing at the first singles spot for Box Elder.
Jenson ran his record 10-2 last week with a straight sets win over Clearfield’s top player. He’s won eight straight matches since starting the season 2-2 against some tough competition.
“He’s a great teammate who’s always willing to help others improve and share his knowledge. When he competes, his focus and determination really stand out,” said Box Elder coach Austin Butterfield.
As a freshman two years ago, Jenson advanced to the 5A state tournament Round of 16 as a No. 18 seed. Last year qualified for the state tournament as the No. 10 seed and advanced to the Round of 16 once again.
With his strong play in the opening month of the season, Jenson looks like a lock to earn a top 10 seed for this year’s state tournament.
Girls Golf
Stratton Durrant, Bingham (Jr.)
In the opening Region 2 golf tournament of the season last week, Bingham’s Stratton Durrant established herself as the golf to beat in the region.
The junior shot a 75 at The Ridge Golf Course, no coincidence according to Bingham coach Brett Boberg who praised her strong work ethic.
“Stratton absolutely loves the game of golf. She always wants to play or practice, it doesn’t matter the weather, the course, who she’s playing with, she literally cannot get enough of the game,” said Boberg. “After a grueling 18 hole tournament, most players just want to get away from the game and the course, but you’ll usually find Stratton on the practice green.”
A year ago as a sophomore, Durrant finished in sixth place in the final Region 2 standings with a stroke average of 79.88, and then placed 12th at the 6A state tournament with a two-day 155.
With her strong start to the season, a top 10 finish at state is certainly within reach.
Crystal Lake South baseball slams Woodstock: Northwest Herald Monday roundup
Baseball
Crystal Lake South 23, Woodstock 8 (4 inn.): At Crystal Lake, Nick Stowasser and Jackson Lee hit grand slams, and the Gators improved to 4-0. Stowasser (3 for 4) also doubled twice and scored three times, as did Carson Trivellini. Nolan Dabrowski was 2 for 3, and Evan Rezendes contributed a double, three runs scored and two RBIs. For Woodstock (1-2), Noah Henning was 3 for 3 with three runs scored.
Libertyville 3, McHenry 0: At Libertyville, the Warriors lost in a rematch of last season’s Class 4A state championship game. McHenry (4-1) had only five hits, including a double by Jeffry Schwab, against Chase Lockwood. Kaden Wisniewski pitched four innings, allowing one run and five hits, while striking out three.
Dundee-Crown 15, Larkin 8: At Carpentersville, Ikey Grzynkowicz homered, doubled and singled in a 3-for-3 effort for the Chargers (3-2). The catcher drove in four runs and scored three. Ryan Pierce, Kyle Pierce and Shane DeMarsh each had two hits. Ryan Pierce, Brady Benton and Gavin Mahaney also doubled. Kyle Pierce had four stolen bases, while Benton, Grzynkowicz and Ryan Pierce each had one. Anthony Horner earned the win, striking out five and allowing two runs (one earned) in 4⅓ innings.
Richmond-Burton 11, Belvidere 1: At Richmond, Grayson Morningstar (2-0), allowed one earned run and struck out seven in five innings, and the Rockets won their home opener. Bryce Kowall was 2 for 3 with a home run, double, and four RBIs to lead R-B (3-2) offensively. Max Martin went 2 for 3 with double and two RBIs.
Belvidere North 15, Harvard 0 (5 inn): At Harvard, the Hornets (2-3) had only four hits, including a double by Alex Bannwolf.
Crystal Lake Central 11, Grant 1: At Crystal Lake, Ethan Wolf tripled and went 3 for 4 with two RBIs for the Tigers (2-4). Johnny Geisser and Konner Altergott (three RBIs) both doubled twice and were 2 for 2. Wade Ozment allowed one run in four innings, striking out seven and walking four.
Jacobs 17, Murphysboro 2: At Mountain Dew Park in Marion, Maddox Miller went 3 for 3 with a double to pace a 14-hit attack. Andrew Robertson doubled twice for the Golden Eagles (4-0), who also got doubles from Andrew Deegan and Jace Koth. Robertson (2 for 2) drove in three runs and scored three times. Cooper Gulgren (1 for 1) and Luke Flaskamp (1 for 4) each had two RBIs.
Marengo 17, Marian Central 1 (4 inn.): At Marengo, Dominic Iovinelli doubled twice, and Alex Johnson (double), Caden Oine (double), Brayden Jenkins (triple) and Mitchell Aukes (triple) also had extra-base hits for the Indians (3-3). Iovinelli, Oine and Max Broughton each had two hits. Broughton threw three scoreless innings, striking out six.
Antioch 2, Johnsburg 0: At Johnsburg, the Sequoits scored twice in the top of the sixth to hand the Skyhawks their first loss.
Skyhawks starter Peyton Mesce struck out 12 in six innings. He also had one of only five hits for Johnsburg (5-1).
Softball
Jacobs 8, Neuqua Valley 1: At Go Pro Sports Dome in Joliet, the Golden Eagles won their first of two games, as Olivia Fillipp and Talia Di Silvio (double, two RBIs) each had two hits. Emily Popilek struck out seven in four innings, and Skylee Ferrante had eight strikeouts in three innings.
Stillman Valley 5, Jacobs 3: At Go Pro Sports Dome in Joliet, the Golden Eagles fell behind 4-0 after three innings and never recovered in their second game of the day. Audrey Wetzel hit a two-run homer, and Talia Di Silvio had a double for Jacobs (5-2).
Richmond-Burton 17, Boylan 6 (5 inn.): At Richmond, Lilly Kwapniewski homered, Miranda Hanson and Rebecca Lanz doubled, and the Rockets pounded out 13 hits in four innings. Lanz and Gracie Johnson each had three hits for R-B (5-4), which received two RBIs apiece from Lanz, Johnson, Kwapniewski, Ellie Smith, Jocelyn Hird and Miranda Hanson. Hanson pitched all five innings for the win.
Marengo 12, Wauconda 6: At Marengo, the Indians got their first win and home runs from Abby Balmes and Bella Matt. Elizabeth White and Gabby Christopher doubled for Marengo (1-4). Balmes was 3 for 4 with two RBIs, while White and Arianna Rodriguez each had two hits. Christopher had three RBIs. White went the distance in the circle.
Girls soccer
Marengo 3, Stillman Valley 0: At Stillman Valley, Maggie Hanson had two goals and an assist, and Macy Noe made 10 saves to earn the clean sheet for the Indians. Myah Broughton also scored, and McKenzie Westwood had an assist.
Boys tennis
Valero Texas Open odds, picks and PGA Tour predictions
The PGA Tour is in Texas for one more week before the season’s first major, heading to TPC San Antonio for the 2026 Valero Texas Open. It’s the final chance for players to earn a spot or tune up their game for the 90th Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, leading to a fairly strong field in San Antonio, Texas. Below, we look at Valero Texas Open odds and make our PGA Tour picks and predictions before the first roound begins Thursday.
Ludvig Aberg, Russell Henley and Tommy Fleetwood are tied atop the favorites board, entering the week with odds of +1600. Past champion Jordan Spieth is up there, as well, at +1800, with Collin Morikawa (+2000) playing his first event since injuring his back at the Players Championship. Brian Harman is the defending champion and is +6000 to win in back-to-back years.
TPC San Antonio (par 72) is 7,435 yards long and though it features a fairly open layout, it can be a difficult course to score on. The winning score was only 9-under-par last year after being 20-under in 2024 when Akshay Bhatia won, with the average winning score being 13-under since 2010. Wind can be a major factor at this course, as are the bunkers that protect the greens.
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Valero Texas Open – Expert picks
Odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 4:54 p.m. ET.
Jordan Spieth (+1800)
Spieth is at home in Texas this week, playing a tournament he won in 2021. Most recently, he finished 10th in 2024 and 12th last year, so he has some excellent course history at TPC San Antonio. And his game is trending in the right direction with 3 top-12 finishes in his last 4 starts.
Keith Mitchell (+3000)
Mitchell soared up the leaderboard at the Texas Children’s Houston Open Sunday with a final-round 65, finishing T-14. It was his second top-15 finish in his last 4 starts and has finished 14th and 12th in back-to-back years at the Valero Texas Open.
Alex Noren (+3500)
Noren has only played here twice (missed last year with a torn hamstring), but he finished 14th in 2024 and 15th in 2023, so he played well both times. Additionally, he’s come in 32nd or better in 4 straight starts this season, including a T-12 at the Genesis Invitational.
Valero Texas Open picks – Contenders
Austin Smotherman (+6600)
Since his T-2 at the Cognizant Classic, Smotherman has had a WD, a T-13 and a missed cut in his last 3 starts, so it’s been a mixed bag. But among players in the field this week, he ranks seventh in SG: tee-to-green, showing his ball-striking is on point right now.
Ryo Hisatsune (+4000)
Hisatsune is fifth in SG: tee-to-green in the last 3 months among players playing this week, only losing strokes on the greens – and barely (-0.07). After finishing T-78 here 2 years ago, he tied for fifth last year and has already notched 4 top-13 finishes this season.
Denny McCarthy (+4500)
McCarthy missed back-to-back cuts at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Players, but since then has finished T-26 and T-12, which is encouraging. His course history is even better, finishing as the runner-up in 2024 and tying for 18th last year; he also finished 18th in 2022.
Valero Texas Open picks – Long shots
Adrien Dumont de Chassart (+10000)
Dumont de Chassart missed the cut in his lone start at the Valero Texas Open in 2024, but it’s his recent form that makes him intriguing. The 26-year-old pro from Belgium finished between T-12 and T-26 in 4 straight starts, including a T-12 at the Houston Open last week.
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Golfweek:
Masters field up to 93 golfers after OWGR cutoff, Gary Woodland win
Prime Video enters Masters broadcast debut with enhanced digital coverage
Golf World Reacts Strongly to PGA Tour Pro’s Action Towards Gary Woodland Amid His Win at Memorial Park
Gary Woodland delivered one of the most emotional moments on the PGA Tour at the greens of Texas on March 29. After a wait of seven long years, Woodland sealed a long-awaited comeback victory at the Houston Open. Woodland’s tearful celebration was already leaving fans emotional. However, in the immediate aftermath, a rival’s heartfelt gesture quickly went viral, earning widespread praise from fans across social media.
It all happened after Min Woo Lee threw his hands in the air, gesturing at fans to cheer louder for the 41-year-old PGA Tour star.
Despite being in contention himself, he showed respect towards Gary Woodland after his marvelous win. Lee was caught on camera right after Woodland grabbed the win, as he urged the crowd to cheer louder—not for him, but for Woodland. The moment instantly went viral across social media as fans started praising Lee’s sportsmanship.
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The situation left fans emotional for all the right reasons. Gary Woodland opened up about his battles against PTSD right before the Players Championship and he shared how the situation has taken a turn for the worse: “But inside, I feel like I’m dying, and I feel like I’m living a lie.”
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From his eyesight getting blurry to him running to the washroom to cry his heart out, he has seen it all. Fans were heartbroken to learn about his mental health.
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“I hope somebody that’s struggling sees me out here still fighting and battling and trying to live my dreams. I have a lot of fight in me and I’m not going to let this thing win. But it’s been hard. This has been harder on my family and my team because they just want to help. They want to make it go away, and that’s not how this battle goes. But their love and support are what’s gotten me through it,” shared Woodland, reflecting on his struggles.
And now that he lived his dream yet again at the Houston Open, Lee made sure to shower him with respect despite trailing behind him on the scoreboard.
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Woodland finished the event with 21 under par. And Min Woo Lee was tied for 3rd position alongside John Keefer with 15 under par. Although he posted a tough fight on the greens of the Memorial Park Golf Course, Lee failed to end at the top of the leaderboards. Despite that, he did not shy away from acknowledging his rival’s remarkable run and cheered for him wholeheartedly.
Gary Woodland also faced strong competition from Nicolai Hojgaard, who finished as the runner-up, scoring a total of 16 under par. Back-to-back bogeys from Hojgaard helped Woodland to maintain the lead.
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After Woodland fought a tough battle against his ailment and PTSD, he pulled off a strong run. Following the tough showdown, Lee’s rare show of sportsmanship in the fiercely competitive individual sport grabbed fans’ attention. And they were quick to chime in with their thoughts in the comment section.
Fans praise Min Woo Lee’s sportsmanship after Gary Woodland’s emotional win
One fan, while congratulating Woodland for the impeccable victory, also praised how Min Woo Lee showed support towards Woodland. They wrote, “Congratulations Gary Woodland on much more than just winning the tournament. Also, great sportsmanship and respect from Min Woo! Great to see!!👏”
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Returning after brain surgery, Woodland was constantly struggling with PTSD. However, he kept his ongoing battle with PTSD a secret and finally decided to open up about his reality before the Players Championship. And after he revealed his hidden battles with PTSD, he received strong support from the golf community. However, making a comeback in his professional realm was not an easy task. Thus, after he achieved the feat, Lee grabbed the moment to shower him with all the love and respect he deserved.
Echoing the same thought, another fan added, “Man of class. How can you not love Min Woo.” On the other hand, another fan seems already excited to catch the two in action on the greens of Augusta for the 2026 Masters. Their comment read, “👏👏👏👏 Great sportsmanship. Now go get ‘em in Augusta, Min! 🧑🍳”
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Although Woodland failed to make the cut in the Players Championship, fans are expecting that he would perform well in the 2026 Masters as he has indeed secured the momentum with his win at the Memorial Park Golf Course.
Golf has always been hailed as a ‘gentleman’s game’. And amid all the rivalry and tough competition, Lee’s action after the conclusion of the Houston Open indeed stood true to the spirit of the sport. Highlighting the same, one netizen added, “Love this. This is the definition of Golf❤️❤️”
The 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black became the center of several controversies. Fans’ behavior towards the away team ruined the spirit of the sport. The historic event was overshadowed by severe crowd misconduct, with American fans directing vitriolic abuse, homophobic slurs, and personal insults at European players and their families. Referring to that, one golf enthusiast stated, “This is the game we love. Not like the Ryder Cup fiasco. What a win!”
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In the end, Gary Woodland’s emotional comeback win was made even more special by Min Woo Lee’s heartfelt gesture. Such a moment would always continue to stay in fans’ hearts.
2026 Valero Texas Open Betting Preview: Picks, Predictions, Odds for TPC San Antonio
Congratulations to anyone who tailed my Gary Woodland bet at 120 to 1 in last week’s betting preview! It took me a few months to hit an outright winner in 2026, but to make up for it, we hit a big one.
We move on to the Valero Texas Open, the penultimate event before the Masters. Despite it not being a signature event, there are some big names in the field this week as everyone tries to get one more warm-up tournament in before the first major of the year. Tommy Fleetwood, Ludvig Åberg and Collin Morikawa are among the list of golfers playing this week.
It’s time to dive into the odds and my best bets to win at TPC San Antonio.
Valero Texas Open odds
Top 15 odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
Tommy Fleetwood +1600
Ludvig Åberg +1600
Russell Henley +1800
Jordan Spieth +2000
Robert MacIntyre +2000
Collin Morikawa +2000
Si Woo Kim +2200
Hideki Matsuyama +2200
Sepp Straka +2500
Maverick McNealy +2700
Michael Thorbjornsen +3000
Rickie Fowler +3000
Keith Mitchell +3300
Alex Noren +3300
Ryo Hisatsune +3500
Valero Texas Open how to watch
Thursday: 4–7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
Friday: 4–7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
Saturday: 1–3:30 p.m. ET (Golf Channel) 3:30-6 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)
Sunday: 1–2:30 p.m. ET (Golf Channel) 2:30-6 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)
Valero Texas Open purse
Date: Thursday, April 2–Sunday, April 5
Purse: $9.8 million ($1.776 million to winner)
2025 champion: Brian Harman
Valero Texas Open notable golfers
Jordan Spieth: He has been flirting with good form, posting three top-12 finishes across his four most recent starts, and now returns to an event he won in 2021. He’s looking to take yet another step forward ahead of Augusta, a major he’s already finished inside the top 5 six times in his career.
Brian Harman: Last year’s winner hasn’t had his best stuff since winning this event last year, but he posted a strong T11 finish at this year’s Players Championship. Is his game peaking at the right time to help him contend at TPC San Antonio for the second straight season?
Valero Texas Open best bets
Hideki Matsuyama +2200 via BetMGM
After a hot start to the season, Hideki Matsuyama has taken a step back recently, finishing T29, T41 and T27 in his last three starts. That may be giving us a great chance to buy low on him at 22 to 1 in an event with a relatively weak field compared to a signature event.
He’s third in the field in total strokes gained over the past three months, and he has two top-15 finishes at this event over the past three years, including a T7 finish here in 2024. His strong chipping makes him a great fit at TPC San Antonio, where scrambling for par is a big key for success.
Denny McCarthy +4900 via DraftKings
Past course success plays an even bigger role at TPC San Antonio than it does at most PGA Tour courses, which leads me to Denny McCarthy. He has four top-20 finishes at this event across six starts including a runner-up finish in 2024. McCarthy’s game has also trended in the right direction, finishing T26 at the Valspar Championship and then T12 at last week’s Texas Children’s Houston Open.
Thorbjorn Olesen +6300 via DraftKings
Thorbjorn Olesen is another example of a golfer who has had past success at TPC San Antonio and whose game is also trending in the right direction. Olesen finished 14th here in 2024 and then fifth last year. He’s also coming in off a T14 finish at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, where he gained +1.40 strokes per round with his approach play, ninth best amongst all golfers who made the cut.
Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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PGA Tour Golfer Gives No Reason as He Withdraws from Valero Texas Open After Heartbreaking Loss
Nicolai Hojgaard was one of the frontrunners to win the recently concluded $9.9 million Houston Open. Unfortunately, slipping down the leaderboard at the last moment, it was Gary Woodland who clinched an impressive win. But while the golfing world is still busy praising the Danish star’s performance, the star golfer came in with a bombshell of news.
“Nicolai Hojgaard a WD from Valero Texas Open,” read an update from Underdog Golf on X.
This was a move few fans saw coming. Surprisingly, Hojgaard has not provided any explanations for why he decided to skip the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio. But one of the presumed reasons has been his heartbreaking loss at the Houston Open.
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Trying to clinch the winning spot in Houston, he struggled to maintain his momentum as he finished 16-under par to claim the second spot. En route to his play on the final day, Hojgaard dropped a couple of bogeys in his initial 10 holes. This pegged him back significantly, giving Woodland the advantage. Although he tried his best to close the gap at the very end, Woodland delivered an impressive performance to seal the victory with a 21-under-par performance.
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On the bright side, such a strong performance also meant that the Danish golfer had secured his place for the Augusta Masters. Coming to the Houston Open, Hojgaard had a lot at stake as he was 47th in the OWGR ranking. Thankfully, after clinching a little over $1 million in prize money, Hojgaard now ranks 36th, securing him firmly for an under-50 cutoff.
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Meanwhile, despite his saddening loss, Hojgaard maintained his sporting self by heaping praises on Gary Woodland.
Nicolai Hojgaard applauds Gary Woodland’s emotional comeback win after long wait
While Nicolai Hojgaard failed to secure a win despite posting a strong contention against Woodland, the Danish star was glad that Gary Woodland could finally grab the moment he had been waiting for so long. Woodland secured a PGA Tour win after seven long years. And in this span of seven years, he faced the toughest phase of his life.
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Acknowledging Woodland’s remarkable form at the Houston Open, Hojgaard said, “He played unbelievably today. There was some good stuff out there as well. Yeah, I felt like the double ball against seven is you know if. That kind of put me on the back foot a little bit. But you know, I’m happy with the way I was fighting out there and there’s some good stuff to build on going forward.”
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Expressing happiness for Woodland’s win, Hojgaard accepted his defeat as he stated, “We talked about it I thought it was appropriate to to make him have his moment It’s a pretty cool moment for Gary and it was cool to see I’m really happy for him.”
Woodland, to overcome his ailment, underwent brain surgery. While the surgery was successfully conducted and he was back on the greens soon after recovering, he was struggling with PTSD. He kept his battles a secret and continued to fight against all odds to work towards his dream of shining bright yet again in the sport. And finally, he did it.
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Alongside praising Woodland, Hojgaard also analyzed his gameplay and added, “I mean obviously not the outcome I was hoping for. Managed to stay in the fight on the back nine and thought if I made the eagle on 16. You know something interesting could happen last two and then when I didn’t make the eagle, I felt like it was you know, I couldn’t reach him. It’s a fair play to Gary.”
Now, as Nicolai Hojgaard takes a step back from the Valero Texas Open, fans will wait to see him back on the greens again soon.
PGA Tour Confirms Early 2027 Start With One Event Locked In Amid Schedule Changes
There has been a lot of talk in recent times regarding a shift in the PGA Tour schedule.
A structural change as well as a timeline delay was on the agenda.
Amidst the proposed schedule changes that the PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp had talked about, the PGA tour has announced its first event of 2027, which is contradictory to what was being discussed.
The American Express is set to return in January 2027, according to The Desert Sun. It will keep its customary early-season slot, taking place once again in La Quinta from 21–24 January.
This announcement comes rather opposed to what Rolapp had suggested. Rolapp was planning out a leaner circuit from 2027 onwards. It would feature around 20-22 events, aiming to bring the big names together often.
Rolapp’s leaner circuit would also reduce clashes with the NFL playoffs, which creates a clash in regard to TV viewership. However, The American Express will overlap with the NFL’s divisional playoff weekend in 2027.
The idea of improvising the PGA tour into a form of uniform, elite-level structure from the current signature-events structure was hailed by Mcllroy.
“It certainly swung the pendulum a little more in the PGA Tour’s favour,“ McIlroy told reporters.
As The American Express confirmed, question remains whether it would be one of the proposed “premier” tier events or would be relegated to the second league.
A packed schedule could still be on the cards. Even though the start of 2027 was supposed to be in February, this recent announcement dismisses that.
How The American Express is Unique from Other Events?
The American Express is the only event on the PGA Tour played on three different golf courses during the same tournament and that makes it unique.
It has a delayed cut at 54 holes and is also the only full-field PGA Tour event that integrates a competitive pro-am format.
The tournament witnesses extreme low scores. Scottie Scheffler’s 27-under par kept him four shots ahead of everyone, making him this year’s champion.
As the tournament is included for the 2027 season, with less than a year to prepare, organizers must urgently begin in their preparation with the golf courses, sponsors and other requirements.
5 Big Names Absent From the Valero Texas Open
One week ahead of The Masters, $9.8 million is on the table at TPC San Antonio. The Valero Texas Open has always been where bold players chase form and fence-sitters stay home. This year, from April 2 to 5, five of the best players in the world have chosen to sit it out. Two are taking time off due to recent injuries, one has just become a father, and others are simply resting up before Augusta.
1. Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy has played in the Valero Texas Open three times, and each time he made it count. He missed the cut in 2022, which means he finished second in 2013 and third in 2024 at 11-under. This highlights that he either shows up sharp or not at all at TPC San Antonio.
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Well, the reason he is sitting out 2026 is that he hurt his back, which messed up his whole Florida swing. Although he confirmed that Augusta will be his next start after pulling out of Bay Hill and finishing The PLAYERS at T46 at even par (74-71-72-71—288). He thought it was better to rest than to compete for another week.
McIlroy’s 2026 season has been a stop-and-start season, with the best result being a second-place finish at the Genesis. The back problem has kept him from doing as many reps as he should have been doing to build momentum toward defending his Masters title. This made his arrival at Augusta the most talked-about story of the week.
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2. Scottie Scheffler
The world No. 1 only appeared at the Valero in 2019 on a sponsor’s exemption, where he finished tied for 20th at 9-under. However, he has consistently chosen the Houston Open as his preferred route into Masters Week and shows no indication that pattern will ever change.
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He is absent in 2026 for personal reasons. Scheffler withdrew from the Houston Open on March 25 to be with his wife, Meredith, ahead of the birth of their second child. The decision had nothing to do with form, scheduling strategy, or the golf course.
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His 2026 season has been a mixed bag so far. Scottie Scheffler did win the AmEx in 2026, but since then? Well, no wins. His top-10 streak snapped at the Genesis Invitational with a T12, after back-to-back strong weeks at the WM Phoenix Open (T3) and Pebble Beach (T4). So, skipping the Valero Texas Open might be a pattern, but this season it’s mainly due to the birth of his second baby.
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3. Justin Thomas
Thomas will miss the Oaks course this season as he is managing recovery from a microdiscectomy he had in November 2025 to repair a herniated disc. The 32-year-old only returned to competition at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March, his first start since surgery. Although Justin Thomas has recorded decent finishes of T8 at THE PLAYERS Championship and T30 at the Valspar Championship, he is still showing only modest signs of improvement.
Moreover, he also missed the Houston Open as part of the same cautious return plan. Everything this year has been built around arriving at Augusta healthy rather than arriving early and breaking down before the major begins.
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4. Patrick Cantlay
Cantlay’s Valero Texas Open history is thin. After a five-year absence, he came back and finished T33 at 1-over, opening with a 71, bouncing to a 67, then fading badly with a 74 and a closing 77. The inconsistency across the four rounds was the defining story.
He is not playing here in 2026 as part of a deliberate pre-Masters strategy. With Augusta arriving the following week, Cantlay has decided that structured preparation beats another 72-hole grind at a venue where his recent results offer little encouragement.
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His 2026 season has been a measured rebuild, highlighted by a T7 at the Valspar Championship. He has not won since the 2022 BMW Championship, but the Valspar result showed his ball-striking is moving in the right direction. Whether the closing form follows is the question Augusta will answer.
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5. Matt Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick’s Valero Texas Open record is short and uneven. A T10 in 2024 at 6-under, built on sharp around-the-green play, was followed by a missed cut in 2025 after rounds of 76-72. The course suits his precision game when it is working, but TPC San Antonio has exposed him when it is not.
He is skipping 2026 to rest after a demanding Florida swing. Fitzpatrick won the Valspar Championship less than 10 days ago, his third PGA Tour title, and came directly off a PLAYERS Championship runner-up the week before. Adding another full event before Augusta was never going to be part of the plan.
His 2026 season has been one of the best stretches of his career. Zero missed cuts in seven starts, a win, and a runner-up at a major-caliber field event. He goes to Augusta ranked sixth in the world and carrying the kind of form that makes him a realistic contender for the green jacket.
Jeff Gordon Responds to Chase Elliott’s Crew Chief Critics
After a pit call that cycled him to second on a late-race restart, Chase Elliott drove away from the field and won Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville.
The call made by Elliott’s crew chief, Alan Gustafson, certainly played a pivotal role in the No. 9 driving to victory lane.
However, when things are not going the Hendrick Motorsports driver’s way, Gustafson is not a favorite in the eyes of many Chase Elliott fans.
Following Elliott’s Martinsville win, retired NASCAR champion and current HMS vice chairman Jeff Gordon responded to the criticism of Gustafson.
Jeff Gordon on Alan Gustafson criticism: ‘You can not let that tear you apart’
During the post-race press conference on Sunday, motorsports insider Jordan Bianchi asked Gordon whether or not they pay attention to fans’ negative impressions of Gustafson.
The four-time Cup Series champion joked that Gustafson was his “favorite.” In the final five years of his racing career, Gordon and Gustafson won 11 races as a driver-crew chief pairing.
Gordon believes the backlash from Gustafson at times stems from Elliott’s popularity. Elliott has won NASCAR’s most popular driver award every year since 2018.
When a driver has a lot of fans, Gordon said that comes with a ton of passionate fans who are not afraid to voice their opinions. Yet, the 93-time Cup Series race winner does not believe it gets to Gustafson or Elliott.
“You’ve always seen this, right? Whether it was Dale Earnhardt Jr. or Chase Elliott, whoever is the popular driver in the series, there’s a lot of critics that want to sit on the sidelines and evaluate it. You can not let that tear you apart. You’ve got to keep strong on the inside and believe in yourself and believe in your team and all the things you’re doing. That’s what Alan and Chase fall back on,” Gordon said.
When Gordon retired from NASCAR competition at the end of 2015, Elliott was the next man up. He piloted the No. 24 for two seasons (2016, 2017), then switched to the No. 9 in 2018.
One constant in Elliott’s Cup career is Gustafson. The duo have been paired up since Elliott entered the Cup Series. Together, they have won 22 Cup Series races and the Cup Series championship in 2020.
Chase Elliott nabs early-season victory at Martinsville
Following a caution on lap 314 of 400 on Sunday at Martinsville, things fell into place for Chase Elliott to grab his first win of the 2026 season.
The driver of the No. 9 overtook Ross Chastain on lap 334, then fended off Denny Hamlin in the final laps to secure the victory. Seven races into 2026, it is the earliest Elliott has won a Cup race in a season.
The win marked Elliott’s 22nd career Cup Series win and his second at Martinsville. His first victory at “The Paperclip” came in November 2020, which he followed up by winning the championship race at Phoenix the following week to claim the 2020 title.
After seven races, Elliott finds himself fourth in the points standings. He is currently 104 points behind point leader Tyler Reddick.
Denny Hamlin Calls for Brutal HoF Crackdown to Preserve Dale Earnhardt-Era Greatness as Induction Tradition Faces Backlash
When something like the Hall of Fame is discussed for a particular sport, the debate is always controversial. And when you bring it to something like motorsports, well, good luck dealing with the countless examples of some great personalities who deserve that spot. While NASCAR deals with the same controversy for its Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Denny Hamlin has a harsh wake-up call for the sport.
Denny Hamlin asks NASCAR to stop Hall of Fame from becoming a consolation prize
“There is no higher accomplishment in your place of work than reaching the Hall of Fame. And in my opinion, it’s only my opinion, in the lower series, I don’t know if you stay there for whatever reason,” said Hamlin.
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As its name suggests, the NASCAR Hall of Fame is literally hinting that it is one of the highest achievements that a person can get. So, when you add someone to the Hall of Fame, obviously that person needs to be at the pinnacle of the sport. Their achievements should eclipse almost everyone else’s in whatever they have done. That’s the reason why Denny Hamlin feels like the Hall of Fame is going to lose its charm.
“Okay. Well, that person didn’t get an opportunity. Well, maybe Eric Jones didn’t have an opportunity to stay in a top truck and win 25 championships. That’s not it. We can’t do the ifs and buts without going the other way.”
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Right now, the tradition faces backlash because of the fact that drivers who’ve not achieved the same as the greats have are also added to it. To support his arguments, Hamlin brings forward the fact that any Hall of Fame inductee will join the likes of Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, and others who have given a new meaning to the sport. So when someone who does not have any similar achievements gets a place in the same spot, it undermines the other legends.
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Those other drivers were the supreme forces during their time. Adding someone who was a ‘what if’ or a ‘never got a chance to be’ does not do justice to the others who did everything in their power to become immortal names in the sport.
“And you can put the top 28 in the Cup in the lower series, and they’re going to win championships in a ton of races. A ton of races. So, I just don’t think you can judge them the same.
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“And I feel as though when people make arguments for the guys in the lower series, listen, more so today—I will say this: the difference between the Cup and Modifieds, like Ray Hendrick when he won all his modified championships, the disparity wasn’t that different.
“Like, it wasn’t that the cup was not far and away bigger than Modifieds like it is today. I think if I oversimplify this, I think it’s okay if everyone they’re talking about gets in, but it certainly should be a tiered system.”
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Not only that, Denny Hamlin also has a stern warning for NASCAR if they continue adding more and more members to the NASCAR Hall of Fame without considering the repercussions.
Denny Hamlin warns NASCAR of running out of people to add
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A while ago, NASCAR switched the induction program from five people to three people per year. But in Hamlin’s eyes, that is still too much. He believes that some years can go by without any further additions. It should be something that signifies the work that a person has done for the sport. To amplify the quality and importance of their contribution, it is necessary for the sport to focus on quality rather than quantity.
“It’s like I’m more in favor of maybe some years of zero getting in. There are just not that many people. I don’t know why there has to be a certain amount every time. We’re going to run out of people, and that’s when we’re going to start. Well, I mean, I think in the next 15 years, think about this. I think with someone with 10 cup wins, we’re going to be talking about the Hall of Fame.
“I’m serious because you’re just going to run out of people, or you’re just going to lower the standards and say, ‘Okay, all right. Well, let’s now look at someone that’s won one Xfinity championship and 15 races.’”
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His last statement sounds very controversial but offers very practical difficulty. At the end of the day, NASCAR keeps adding anyone they feel fit to the Hall of Fame. Then the debate will end up reaching a point about ‘What now? Who do we add next? We don’t have anyone left.’ And when that happens, it will be a shameful day for the sport and the legends alike.
Dale Jr. Echoes Denny Hamlin’s Frustration Against NASCAR’s $23.86 Billion Giant Partner
Dale Earnhardt Jr. seemed to be agreeing with Denny Hamlin’s claims that the stage cautions were running a bit too long because of the TV commercials that are put in. He argued on his Actions Detrimental podcast that the long laps under yellow before the pit road opens can sometimes be too boring for the fans, and Dale Jr. didn’t just agree, but gave another strong argument in support of this.
Dale Jr. claims stage cautions hamper the next stage
“He’s right. It’s also chewing into the next stage and shortening up those parts of the race: taking product off the shelf,” Earnhardt Jr. wrote on social media, agreeing with Denny Hamlin’s claim of the cautions running too long.
Currently, the moment a stage ends, the broadcast switches to commercials, which can go on for over 10 minutes. Now, while the drivers are bunching up on the field and preparing to pit, it can sometimes be a bit too long for the fans, and understandably so. Hamlin argued that they might begin to lose interest in the race itself because of this.
“I’m telling you, a 15-minute caution can really drag down your feeling, and next thing you know now I’ve switched over to basketball and now it’s a close game, and I don’t want to change from this, this is great. I flip back real quick. Still under yellow. Let me go back to the game. And then I just find myself getting caught in the game,” he explained.
While this does make sense, there is still something that needs to be done. Those commercials are like the backbone of NASCAR’s revenue, considering how much the sport generates through the broadcasts. And so, Hamlin has an interesting suggestion: “I think you take a little green away.”
While this does seem to make sense, there is another major issue that comes with it. Throughout the years, fans have pointed fingers at FOX Sports for their broadcasts having too many commercials. It not only hampers the overall viewing experience but also makes the races a little less interesting. So, overall, this seems to be an interesting crossroads that NASCAR has arrived at.
This is a developing story.
Denny Hamlin Rips Into “Emotional Connection” Lobbying Around NASCAR HoF Selection Process Amidst Ongoing Controversy
Denny Hamlin could be treading on thin ice. He had already been facing backlash for agreeing with Travis Rockhold to include only Cup drivers in the HoF selection, but his recent comments might spark more controversy as he doubles down on his words with reasoning.
Denny Hamlin says emotions drive selections
“I believe that most of the people that have adamant arguments for the lower series guys, they have an emotional connection to those people.”
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The argument has heated up quite a bit, with the fans arguing that drivers from other series, including the O’Reilly Auto Parts and the Truck Series, also deserve to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. While it is understandable that personal bias might sometimes frame some of the fans’ opinions, Hamlin seems to be going all out with his.
He argued that most of the casual NASCAR watchers don’t even know the names of most drivers in the other series, and they only relate to some of the legendary Cup drivers.
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“Go ask anyone, anyone that is a casual…they’re not watching. Do they know that there’s like, six series of NASCAR? No. They know of Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, and Richard Petty. That’s Sunday.”
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“It’s just my opinion, is that there’s steps to this, right? There’s steps to your accomplishment in the sport,” he argued further on the Actions Detrimental podcast.
Hamlin claimed that the drivers only get into the Cup Series after following a certain hierarchy of racing, which includes winning championships at the grassroots level, which is then followed by regional racing, NOAPS, and then the Cup Series. So, he argued that if the drivers who are inducted into the Hall of Fame are the strongest performers, why not pick them exclusively from the Cup Series instead of including all other series as well?
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However, there have been quite a few drivers in history who have managed to perform extremely well in these tiers as well, be it the NOAPS or the Truck Series. The only thing that separates those drivers from the Cup drivers (apart from their age) seems to be the total experience of racing. Their skills, however, could be put on a similar level. But Hamlin also recently claimed that this was a thing of the past.
Is Hamlin contradicting himself?
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Denny Hamlin remains fairly active on social media. Earlier, when Kenny Wallace posted the video on Rockhold’s comments, Hamlin mentioned that he agreed with him on this. But there was quite an interesting aspect.
One of the fans, replying to him, mentioned that if he feels that Ray Hendrick, a former driver who was inducted to the Hall of Fame this year posthumously, did not deserve to be on the list, either, considering his lack of participation in the Cup Series. Hamlin penned down quite an interesting reply.
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“Definitely not saying that. I actually think the farther back in time you go, the less the gap is between top level and grass roots. Today the gap is too large between lets say Modifieds and Cup,” he wrote.
While it is understandable that back in the day, the technological gap between all these tiers of racing was much smaller, so being in a second-tier car, comparable to today’s NOAPS car, wouldn’t have made much of a difference from a Cup Series car. However, many still argue that talent should be recognized regardless.
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To some extent, it does make sense. There have been far too many drivers who have performed extremely well in those series and haven’t taken up full-time runs in the Cup Series. As mentioned, the biggest differentiating aspect today seems to be age, but again, young drivers like Carson Hocevar, who compete better than most of the grid, are a prime example of this.
The topic remains open for discussion. While it is a hot take, Denny Hamlin seems to be adamant about it. He has been widely outspoken about this, and although fans shouldn’t worry about NASCAR changing the rules anytime, it does open up the potential for an interesting insight into the sport’s rules.
Jim France Issued a $100M Request for Max Verstappen as F1 Champion Makes Shocking Announcement on Retirement
When Max Verstappen expressed his lack of interest in oval racing considering his career graph, it was understandable. But now he’s not happy in his own sport thanks to the new regulations, and the ‘mad Max’ from all those years ago seems to be returning. With him seriously considering retirement, insiders suggest Jim France give Verstappen a blank check, or a more realistic value.
NASCAR insiders’ appeal to have Max Verstappen
“100 million,” said Jordan Bianchi, responding to Jeff Gluck’s question of what NASCAR would have to pay Max Verstappen to get him to race in the series. Verstappen has been openly criticizing the 2026 regulations in Formula 1, which have been focused too much on battery deployment and recharge, almost destroying the overall point of racing.
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Most famously, Verstappen also claimed that the new Formula 1 cars were Formula E cars ‘on steroids,’ gaining massive attention on social media.
Bianchi also claimed that the France family is not short on money. Quoting the example from NASCAR’s antitrust lawsuit, he suggested that it wouldn’t be difficult for Jim France to poach Verstappen into NASCAR in the future.
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“Listen, if we learned anything throughout the NASCOURT, we learned that Jim France has got some money. Like, the coffers at NASCAR are full. Like, tap into that, man, bring Max over here.”
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This idea does sound exciting. Max Verstappen gained global attention after dominating the 2022 and 2023 Formula 1 seasons, winning with a massive margin. This was also the time when Red Bull Racing was at its peak. While the domination began wearing off in 2024, he still managed to win his fourth consecutive F1 World Championship.
However, more has changed this season than just the regulations. Red Bull’s challenger has seemed to have lost all the competitive advantage they had over the other teams in the past seasons. While the new aero regulations are one reason to blame it, it should also be considered that the team is now making its own engines in a partnership with Ford. Moreover, they don’t have the genius of Adrian Newey anymore, who designed cars that helped them to dominate through the years.
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Understandably, this is drifting Verstappen away from the sport. He recently said, “You also wait for 24 races. This (season) it’s 22. But normally 24. And then you just think about is it worth it? Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family? Seeing my friends more when you’re not enjoying your sport?”
It seems apparent that Max Verstappen is hinting at a potential retirement. However, will he move to NASCAR? He has already been participating in GT races and has showcased immense interest in the same. So even if he planned to switch series, he would instead choose that. But then again, he isn’t the only F1 driver who has ever switched after retirement.
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F1 drivers who switched to NASCAR
Throughout history, there have been many drivers who moved to NASCAR after hanging up their helmets in Formula 1. One of the most prominent and successful examples of the same is Juan Pablo Montoya. He left Formula 1 in 2006 and moved to the Cup Series full-time with Chip Ganassi Racing. He even won a few races and was rather competitive on the field. He retired in 2014 but returned in 2024 to run one race for 23XI Racing.
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Then there was also Nelson Piquet Jr., who moved to NASCAR, winning races in the Truck and NOAP Series after putting an end to his F1 campaign in 2009. Interestingly, Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 F1 World Champion, also ran two races for Trackhouse Racing in 2022 and 2023 in the Cup Series. However, it was more of a one-time participation rather than a full-time run.
History proves that there have been drivers who have moved to NASCAR after finishing their Formula 1 careers. However, it isn’t very common because it can be rather difficult for them to adapt to oval racing after having spent decades racing on circuits. Hence, the likes of Max Verstappen look forward to GT Racing or other similar series, where their prior F1 skillset proves to be useful.
Jeff Gordon Publicly Reveals Tom Cruise’s 5-Word Claim on NASCAR’s Cult Classic Movie
Days of Thunder significantly shaped NASCAR’s local brand into a global one. Thanks to Tom Cruise and the team’s efforts, the cult classic released in 1990 played a big role in making the stock car racing competition reach the nooks and crannies of the world. And as things stand, there is a possibility of a sequel in the near future, on which Jeff Gordon shared his exciting verdict.
Gordon’s update could delight Days of Thunder fans
In a recent interview with Cup Scene, Gordon shared an update on the Days of Thunder sequel. While he did not explicitly mention anything about the movie or add anything new, the HMS boss was hopeful, nonetheless.
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“I don’t have any new updates or insight. I mean, I just assume that whatever was taking place, was building a storyline or some characters, something to do maybe some sort of a pitch,” Gordon said. “To go to some studios or or whoever. I don’t really know a whole lot more than that, but I’m certainly optimistic and hopeful.”
Following this, Gordon assured NASCAR fans with a positive update from Tom Cruise, the lead star of the first movie. Here’s what he said further:
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“And I saw Tom what one or two years ago, and he actually brought it up then, and we were just laughing about it, and then he’s like, ‘No, I’m serious. Like this is going to happen.’ So when Tom Cruise says that you take it seriously, but yeah, we’ll see. But yeah, that’d be exciting to see the sport be able to be a part of that. We’ll go to the TV right here.”
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Notably, Gordon’s update about the Days of Thunder sequel comes amid the recent talks about making the second installment of the movie. As per multiple reports, a Hollywood film writer has met multiple NASCAR teams and drivers to develop a script for the movie.
The film is expected to center on Tom Cruise’s character, Cole Trickle, and will continue the story from where the original movie ended. The first edition of the movie was made on a modest $60 million, and grossed $157.9 million worldwide.
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With that said, it will be interesting to see if Jeff Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports drivers play a significant role in the upcoming movie. Keeping aside the Days of Thunder sequel, Gordon is now a happy man, especially after Chase Elliott’s recent win at Martinsville.
Gordon hailed Elliott after an important Martinsville victory
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Chase Elliott emerged victorious at Martinsville on Sunday’s Cup Series race, and with this, he secured Hendrick Motorsports’ first win of the 2026 season. Following the victory, Gordon, the Vice Chairman of the organization, said about the driver:
“I love this guy. I love the work and the effort he puts in, how smart he is, the team he builds. Nobody’s a tougher critic than he is of the team and their performance.”
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Following this, Gordon emphasized how Elliott has always been under pressure ever since he became the most popular driver in NASCAR. By giving the example of Dale Earnhardt Jr, he said:
“You’ve always seen this. Whether it was Dale Earnhardt Jr. or Chase, whoever is the popular driver in the series, there’s a lot of critics that want to sit on the sidelines and evaluate it.”
Elliott started his race from 10th on the grid, but moved down to 12th by the end of Stage 1. In Stage 2, he went down further to 14th place, but in the end, he recovered brilliantly to finish the race on top. Thanks to the victory, he moved up to fourth place in the Drivers’ Standings with 249 points.
Denny Hamlin Calls for Change in NASCAR Caution Length
Denny Hamlin wants to see NASCAR make a change to the length of caution periods across the board. The comments came on the driver’s “Actions Detrimental” podcast following the race weekend in Martinsville.
The driver of the No. 11 believes NASCAR is spending too much time under caution.
The 45-year-old acknowledged that the TV companies want to catch pit stops live and uninterrupted, but believes they can still make a change where cautions can be shorter.
Denny Hamlin on NASCAR caution length: ‘We’re running too long’
In the latest episode of the Joe Gibbs Racing driver’s podcast, Hamlin made it clear how he felt about the length of NASCAR cautions. The comments were highlighted by motorsports insider Jeff Gluck via X.
“We’re running too long under caution. We have to find a way to shorten them up, but we won’t shorten them up as long as we’re doing what we’re doing in the sense of ‘TV has to catch the pit stops live,’” Hamlin said.
There is one remedy Hamlin suggested if the TV companies want to broadcast live pit stops, which is shortening commercials.
The 61-time Cup Series winner went on to say he watched the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race on Saturday. As a viewer, Hamlin was not pleased by what he saw in terms of caution length.
“It was a single-car wreck, there’s [no] debris on the track, there’s no clean-up to be had, and it’s just yellow, yellow, yellow. I’m like, ‘Choose already,’” Hamlin said.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series circuit took to the Martinsville Speedway on Saturday for the NFPA 250.
Of the 250 laps run, 97 of them were run under caution to make up 14 caution flags, meaning nearly half of the originally scheduled race ran under the caution flag.
There were only five cautions in Sunday’s Cup Series Cook Out 400, but they still totaled 54 caution laps.
Denny Hamlin fell short of Martinsville win after dominant performance
It was not meant to be for Hamlin to win his seventh Cup race at the Martinsville Speedway on Sunday.
The two-time Cup Series runner-up led a race-high 292 of 400 laps. It is the most laps Hamlin has led in a single race since Richmond 2009.
However, a strategy call for Chase Elliott cycled him to the front, allowing him to assume the lead late and fend off Hamlin for the victory. It was the first win of 2026 for the driver of the No. 9.
Despite the dominant run, Hamlin had to settle for second on Sunday. Still, it was a quality points day for the 23XI Racing co-owner.
Hamlin jumped from fourth to third in the standings after Martinsville. The veteran driver has a win this season at Las Vegas, coupled with three top fives and four top 10s.
Through 20-plus years of racing the NASCAR Cup Series, Hamlin has accomplished just about everything. That excludes a NASCAR Cup Series title, however, as the Virginia native still seeks his first Cup title in 2026.
Hamlin joined Joe Gibbs Racing for his rookie season in 2006. He has spent his entire career driving the No. 11 car for the organization, amassing 61 career Cup wins.
Dale Jr’s Wisdom Fails to Change NASCAR as Bubba Wallace’s Reckless Move Raises New Problem: Analysts
The major format change from the playoff system to the Chase for the NASCAR Cup Series has seen some drivers struggle to adapt. While mistakes are a common theme on the track, the race for more points is what is leading to these, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. had already warned about this previously. After Bubba Wallace’s incident at the Martinsville Speedway, this became clearer, and NASCAR analysts now seem to agree.
NASCAR analysts apply Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s wisdom on drivers making silly mistakes
In the latest episode of the Teardown podcast, co-hosts Jordan Bianchi and Jeff Gluck discussed Bubba Wallace’s on-track incident with Carson Hocevar at Martinsville. The 23XI Racing driver ran into the back of Hocevar in a clumsy move during the final stage, which ended his race.
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Bianchi claimed the move was short-sighted from Wallace, who has now had a couple of finishes outside the top 30 in a row. Adding to this, Gluck mentioned Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s comments from Saturday about what he told his drivers at the end of the 2026 season. Junior had emphasized to his drivers about the changes and adjustments they would have to make to their approach to races because now the importance of points would be that much higher.
“He was talking about how Rajah Caruth’s move at the end of the O’Reilly race, like you’re not going to care about that corner in what happened in turn three and four or whatever in a few weeks from now, but you are going to care about the points,” Gluck said. “He’s like ‘I don’t care what happened or who was right or who was wrong, but you can’t give up points like that.’”
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Wallace’s incident led to him finishing 36th in the race. Despite having started strongly in the race, he fell off the standings. The Chase system, introduced at the start of 2026, has garnered a lot of fans, and Bianchi even believes there could be drivers who require more time to get used to it.
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“You just have to look at the big picture, and we’ve heard a lot of drivers talk about this a little bit, and it is a change in mindset, and there are people who say, like, ‘Not everybody quite is there yet,’ or, ‘They quite realize the significance of this because nobody has raced in a system like this before,” Bianchi said. “And now they’re just kind of figuring it out. And it’s going to be one of those things later this year where people are like, ‘Oh, oh, okay.’”
Bianchi recalled the mindset in the playoff system being about going for the wins, no matter what it takes. An ‘always attack, attack, attack’ mentality over thinking big picture. Because of that mindset from the previous era and factors like drivers having a frustrating day or feeling spiteful on track, they snap and make mistakes, which cost them dearly. The analyst claimed that the ideal approach of the Chase format would take ‘a little bit’ to seep into the drivers’ nature.
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However, Jeff Gluck didn’t think it was any justification for Bubba Wallace as he said, “He’s a veteran driver at this point, Bubba Wallace. I mean, it’s not like he’s a rookie that needs this. I mean, I think it’s a sort of a copout to be like, you’re not thinking about it.”
The driver himself was not too pleased with what had happened on the track at Martinsville.
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What did Bubba Wallace say about his thinking at Martinsville?
Following the race at Martinsville, Bubba Wallace addressed his incident with Carson Hocevar.
Wallace claimed that while he didn’t appreciate the three-wide into turn 1, he misjudged the center of the corner and didn’t mean to run into Hocevar. The #23 driver then expressed his frustrations with himself for the mystery of Martinsville for him.
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“What a frustrating day. With so much expectation coming here, favorite track,” said Wallace. “Just wasn’t the day we wanted. We really have to figure out what this place is. We can win Saturday in practice, but we just don’t show up on Sunday.”
Slip-ups in two consecutive races have forced Wallace out of the Top 3 in driver standings, as he is currently placed 11th. With a week off before the Bristol race, Wallace will be hoping to reset and return to his former best for the 23XI Racing team.
NASCAR Fans Back Richard Childress’ Heir As Fix to Restore RCR’s Fading Legacy
Richard Childress’ legacy cannot be understated, but in recent years, his racing team has not had all that success. The team looks far from what it used to be, and many are calling for a major leadership change.
Fans back Richard Childress’ exit over the arrival of a close ally to lead RCR
During the 1990s, Richard Childress Racing won 37 Cup races, 35 of which came at the hand of Dale Earnhardt Sr. In the next decade, that number was cut down to less than half of what it was as RCR won 16 races in the 2000s. But in the next decade, that number remained the same, 16 wins in the 2010s, instead of going up. In the current decade, the 2020s, the team has won 10 races.
However, their failure in recent years has led Kyle Busch to publicly express his frustrations. RCR’s current state was encapsulated in the recent weekend at Martinsville, where all three of their entries qualified outside the top 20 and finished the race inside the top 20, with Busch being vocal about their shortcomings. All of this made a section of NASCAR fans wonder if RCR needed a change of leadership, and if the person to succeed Richard Childress was already inside the organisation.
The person in the subject is Austin Dillon, driver of the #3 car and the grandson of Richard Childress. It’s worth mentioning that not only is Dillon being groomed for a future at RCR in a bigger role, but he is also the owner-operator of the Carolina Cowboys.
One fan claimed that RCR’s woes won’t change until Dillon is made boss. “It’s not gonna change until pop pop hands over the keys to a Dillon,” the fan wrote. Another expressed their faith in the 2018 Daytona 500 winner as they wrote, “I actually think Austin will do good things with the company.”
A fan expressed their faith in Dillon because of his role in the Carolina Cowboys. “Austin has proven success in running a pro bullriding team, and I also think he’s in tune with how things are more ‘modern’, a step with which RC just isn’t capable of,” the fan wrote.
Another fan wondered if the thing holding back RCR is its leadership, as they wrote, “I think if/when leadership change takes place, RCR does have the ability to grow and succeed. I don’t think it will happen prior to that change though,” the fan wrote.
Another fan wondered if the whole organisation needed a change, literally and figuratively. “Honestly, I think they need to leave Welcome. It’s just too far to attract top-tier shop talent with everyone in the Charlotte area, which prevents new brains and opinions from coming in,” the fan wrote.
Austin Dillon certainly has what it takes to take over the reins from his grandfather; after all, Childress has been training him for that over the years.
Dillon is being tested by his grandfather Childress
In an interview from earlier this year, Richard Childress opened up on how he plans for his family members to be more involved in RCR.
“I think that Austin, Ty, Mike, Dylan, and our family can help carry that legacy on and build it stronger. I don’t know the future of RCR. You never know.” Childress said.
Speaking specifically about Austin Dillon, the RCR boss said he put the #3 in charge of the Cowboys so he could gauge his skills in dealing with drivers, agents, and a sanctioning body.
Interestingly, Austin Dillon also spoke about one day being involved in a bigger role at RCR. During a conversation on the Dale Jr. Download, Dillon claimed that his exposure to the competition side of RCR and spending his whole life there, he has an awareness of what is good and what can be improved.
“I think I can directly get in there and make our competition side that much better. I know our trends,” he said.
While Dillon being around the team helps, the pressure that comes with the role is going to be tough to manage. However, he has the best mentor in the business, and if he takes over, Dillon could probably help RCR return to their former glory.
NASCAR Garage Applauds Jesse Love for Surprising Reaction to Animated Post-Race Argument With Rajah Caruth
At the end of a race, when a driver is pacing angrily towards another driver, anything could happen. While it always starts with a verbal spat, in just moments, a full-fledged brawl involving pit crew members could take place. How many times has that scene happened in NASCAR before? Whatever that number is, Jesse Love and Rajah Caruth prevented their beef from being added to that list on Saturday at Martinsville, something Freddie Kraft, Ty Dillon, and Tommy Baldwin appreciated.
NASCAR insider believes Jesse Love is more mature than his age
During the latest episode of the Door Bumper Clear podcast, Jesse Love and Rajah Caruth’s post-race discussion, which was once heated and civil, was discussed. At the end of the race, Love was looking for Caruth, who was already on the receiving end of a rant by Love’s crew chief. In fact, some of Caruth’s own crew members got involved as Danny Stockman berated the JR Motorsports driver.
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Love watched this play out and, in a few seconds, asked for a private discussion with Caruth, away from whatever was happening between the two crews.
This move by Love impressed Freddie Kraft, the spotter of Bubba Wallace.
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“Credit to Jesse. These guys, I think Gluck called it like the most mature argument he’s ever seen, because like these guys, you could tell the crew guys were kind of getting a little ramped up,” said Kraft. “Jesse was like, ‘You guys go away. Let us talk,’ And they just walked to the other side of the car and had a civil conversation about it.”
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Adding to that, Ty Dillon, a guest on the show, claimed that the crews also have a right to be frustrated given how much they invest into each race. However, he also mentioned that they need to know there’s a ‘time and place’. He appreciated the two drivers for doing a ‘good job’, for handling it well, as he deemed them ‘very mature.’
The co-host of the show, Tommy Baldwin, focused on Jesse Love’s handling of the situation. “Jesse’s demeanor is way above his age. His maturity level of what needs to be done, and his focus is, I mean, he’s 35 right now in his mind of how he thinks and how he goes about his day and his business. And Rajah, he’s first class. I mean, he’s a great kid. He’s been doing this for a long time,” he said.
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Kraft added that what happened between them after the race was a product of their own frustrations on the track during the race. He claimed they were both upset because neither of them was running as they would’ve wanted, all of which came to a head at the last lap.
It’s worth mentioning that over the years, a lot of moments exist from post-NASCAR races where two drivers discussed their on-track incident. But what starts as a discussion turns into a physical fight where there’s pushing, shoving, and at times, even punches being thrown.
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Just earlier this season, former teammates Ross Chastain and Daniel Suarez had a heated discussion, which ended with the Spire driver being pushed by the Trackhouse driver. A few years ago, there was the Kyle Busch-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. altercation, and the time when Chastain punched Noah Gragson.
Therefore, Jesse Love and Rajah Caruth being appreciated for handling their emotions and disagreements differently makes a lot of sense. They did what had to be done without doing what was expected of them to do.
Jesse Love believes Rajah Caruth took away his top 5 finish
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Following the race at Martinsville, Jesse Love opened up on how Rajah Caruth’s contact frustrated him during the race. He said Caruth bumped him, took away his 5th-place finish, and replaced it with a 12th-place finish.
“Obviously, completely over the top. And then we’re side by side. And then he doubles down on it and runs me up into the marbles and just misses the corner again. It didn’t work out for him either,” Love said. “He ends up getting crashed, because people see that, and they’re like ‘what the heck’ and they get people back in this deal. I’m definitely frustrated because we worked our guts out to have a good day here.”
However, to his credit, Rajah Caruth accepted his part in the whole affair. He claimed he was ‘in the wrong’ and he didn’t need to hit him again as they’d had contact before. Just like Love, Caruth also knew that he took himself out of contention for a finish with good points.
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Post the Caruth-Love incident, it will be interesting to see if other drivers also follow suit and get inspired by handling post-race disagreements like Jesse Love and Rajah Caruth.
How to Watch Guardians vs Dodgers: Live Stream MLB, TV Channel
The Cleveland Guardians (2-2) head to Dodger Stadium to face the Los Angeles Dodgers (3-0) on Monday night in MLB action.
How to Watch Cleveland Guardians vs Los Angeles Dodgers
When: Monday, March 30th, 2026
Time: 10:00 PM ET
TV Channel: MLB.TV – Cleveland Guardians, Spectrum SportsNet LA
Live Stream: Fubo (try for free)
Cleveland comes into this matchup having split their opening series against the Seattle Mariners. In the series finale, the Guardians’ bats went cold, resulting in an 8-0 shutout loss. Slade Cecconi took the loss as the starter, pitching 4.1 innings, allowing six hits and six earned runs, walking three, and striking out five. Offensively, the team managed just two hits, with one each for Chase DeLauter and Daniel Schneemann.
The Dodgers began their 2026 campaign the same way they ended 2025, as they used timely hitting and a clutch bullpen to sweep the Arizona Diamondbacks. After a season-opening 8-2 win, Los Angeles pulled off two consecutive one-run victories, 5-4 and 3-2. In the latter win, the Dodgers reversed a 2-0 sixth-inning deficit, scoring once in the sixth and then getting a clutch two-out, two-run home run from Will Smith in the bottom of the eighth to take a 3-2 lead. New star closer Edwin Diaz came on to pitch a perfect ninth, securing his second save of the season.
This is a great MLB matchup that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.
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How Blue Jays could address opening in rotation
This time it’s Cody Ponce, who left his Blue Jays debut — and first MLB appearance since 2021 — on Monday on the medical cart with what appeared to be a serious injury. The Blue Jays say the initial diagnosis is “right knee discomfort,” with more information expected as he undergoes testing.
Trey Yesavage, José Berríos and Shane Bieber are on the IL, meaning half of the Blue Jays’ eight MLB-caliber starters are injured. Every moment matters in the AL East, though, and the Blue Jays will need to address this rotation spot, however short- or long-term the solution may be.
Let’s start with two variables the Blue Jays have coming up. This coming weekend in Chicago, the weather is calling for rain, and lots of it. That brings the potential to bump back start days, which would throw a wrench into this already complicated situation.
If there are no postponements, though, the Blue Jays have scheduled off-days on April 3, April 9 and April 13. These could alleviate the need for a “new starter” right away and leave the Blue Jays more open to bulk arms, but that’s still far from ideal, especially when the four healthy starters are considered.
Kevin Gausman threw more innings than anyone in baseball last season when you include the postseason. Max Scherzer is 41. These extra off-days should be protected whenever possible.
Yesavage, Berríos and Bieber are all on the comeback trail, but even in a best-case scenario, we won’t be seeing them for a couple of weeks. The Blue Jays will need to bridge the gap here, but if they can survive into mid-April, one of Yesavage or Berríos could step right in.
Yesavage: Will throw a sim game on Friday of three innings and 45 pitches. From there he could potentially get into a rehab game later next week, but he is still being built up cautiously from his right shoulder impingement.
Berríos: Will throw a bullpen on Tuesday, then face hitters at the club’s complex in Florida on Saturday. Yes, he is going to pitch through a stress fracture in his throwing elbow, which we’re told isn’t as scary as it sounds. If he gets through Saturday without any issues, it feels like he has the inside track to be closest.
Bieber: Will be the last of the group to return, but is getting back on the mound for the first time this Saturday. From there, we’re still looking at a full ramp-up, Spring Training-style. This likely stretches well into May, at least, for Bieber, but a healthy Bieber for the heart of the season and a stretch run would be extremely valuable.
The Blue Jays already built a remarkably deep group of starters, but look at the names above. That’s a former Cy Young Award winner, the breakout star of the 2025 World Series run and one of baseball’s most reliable pitchers from the past decade on the IL. There’s a reason baseball executives will tell you “there’s no such thing as enough starting pitching.”
On the 40-man roster, the Blue Jays have Canadian lefty Adam Macko (No. 21 prospect) and righty Lazaro Estrada in Triple-A. Estrada got a couple of games in with the big club last year despite a disappointing season in Triple-A, but he’s capable of chewing through a few innings and had a strong 2026 debut with the Bisons, throwing 2 2/3 innings of shutout ball with three strikeouts.
Macko, fresh off an encouraging performance for Team Canada at the World Baseball Classic, struck out a pair over two scoreless innings in his 2026 debut in Buffalo and could finally be an option for the big club. The Blue Jays planned to use him in a bulk role, burning once through a lineup, which could be enough if paired with another multi-inning reliever to get to the fifth or sixth inning.
The Blue Jays also have reliever Chase Lee in Triple-A. He nearly made the Opening Day roster and could give them two innings. Other options in Buffalo include CJ Van Eyk, Yariel Rodríguez, Jorge Alcala, Josh Fleming and No. 30 prospect Grant Rogers.
Chase Burns Earns First MLB Win, Reds Stay Hot With Victory Over Pirates
Last year, the Reds struggled to win games when their offense couldn’t score. So far this season, they have two wins scoring three and two runs, respectively.
The second of those wins came Monday night when the Reds blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0 at Great American Ball Park. The Reds have won three-straight games. Spencer Steer’s RBI sacrifice fly and Will Benson’s RBI triple in the bottom of the fourth was the difference on a night where the division rivals combined for just eight hits (four apiece).
Chase Burns set the tone on the mound with an electric start that earned him his first Major League win, and the Reds bullpen covered four innings by using three pitchers who all did not pitch on Sunday.
With the win, the Reds are now 3-1 on the season.
Here are our takeaways from Cincinnati’s 2-0 win over the Pirates on Monday night at Great American Ball Park:
Chase Burns Sizzles in 2026 Debut, Gets First MLB Win
The Reds’ top prospect a year ago, Burns looked stellar in his first start of 2026 against the Pirates in earning the first win of his Major League career. Burns used a combination of high heat with a wicked off-speed slider that still hit 90 miles per hour to keep the Pirates’ bats at bay.
In five shutout innings, Burns allowed just one hit, a leadoff single to Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz to lead off the top of the fifth. That means he didn’t allow a hit through the first four innings, despite walking three batters. Burns offset those three walks with seven strikeouts.
Burns threw 78 pitches in his five shutout innings, with 46 strikes. Throwing strikes is key for Burns. He throws hard, so honing in his command and owning the strike zone is going to be what enables him to be successful on the mound and mow down opposing lineups.
Jose Franco Shines In MLB Debut, Paces Another Great Bullpen Effort
With a lot of Reds’ relievers coming off two straight days of work, the opportunity was there for Franco to make his MLB debut and get significant outs Monday night. Franco did just that, getting five outs across the sixth and seventh innings and giving up any walks. He threw 35 pitches (23 strikes) across 1 2/3 innings. Despite giving up leadoff singles in both the sixth and seventh innings, Franco responded by inducing a double-play ground ball and groundout to short in the sixth and consecutive flyouts in the seventh.
Franco led another great effort by the Reds’ bullpen, their second straight day shutting out their opponent. Franco, Graham Ashcraft, and Connor Phillips combined for four shutout innings, while allowing just three hits and striking out four Pirates’ batters. Franco allowed all three of the hits, and Ashcraft struck out three straight batters across the seventh and eighth innings.
Phillips earned his first Major League save with a gutsy ninth innings. He walked the first two batters he faced, then retired the next three batters in order. In the last three days, he’s earned a win and a save.
Six And Seven Hitters Provide The Scoring For Reds’ Offense
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the middle of the order set up the Reds’ sixth and seventh hitters to dent the scoreboard. Elly De La Cruz led off with a single, his second straight on-base appearance to start the game. Despite getting caught stealing, Sal Stewart walked and Eugenio Suarez singled to move Stewart to third.
That set the stage for Spencer Steer, who had struggled through the first series against Boston to get the Reds on the scoreboard. He did just that, driving a ball deep to right field for an RBI sacrafice fly to hive the Reds a 1-0 lead. With two outs, Will Benson came up and roped an extra-base hit down the right field line that scored Suarez all the way from first. Benson reached third on the relay throw to home for an official scoring of an RBI triple.
When Steer and Benson are producing runs, this lineup is even tougher to pitch against. Monday night, those two hitters provided the difference in the game.
Scoring Summary
Bottom 4th
CIN: Spencer Steer RBI sacrafice fly (Reds lead 1-0)
CIN: Will Benson RBI triple (Reds lead 2-0)
On Deck
The series between the Reds and Pirates continues Tuesday night with the second of three games.
Brandon Williamson will start for the Reds, making his first appearance since late in the 2024 season after missing all of last season for going through Tommy John Surgery. In two seasons, Williamson has a 5-5 record, with all of those decisions coming in 2023. That season, Williamson had a 4.46 ERA with 98 strikeouts and 39 walks. He allowed 111 hits in 117 innings pitched.
For the Pirates, right-hander Bubba Chandler will toe the mound. Chandler pitched in seven games in his first season at the Major League level, with four starts, in 2025. He went 4-1 with a 4.02 ERA, stirking out 31 and walking just four batters. None of his four starts or seven appearances were against the Reds.
Why the Cleveland Guardians Are Likely Leaving Rhys Hoskins Out of the Lineup
Before the 2026 MLB regular season began, Cleveland Guardians manager implied that veteran first baseman Rhys Hoskins was going to be an important piece for the team.
After 3 years away, Griffin wins return to MLB with Nats
PHILADELPHIA — Foster Griffin sat calmly in the Nationals clubhouse three hours before first pitch. He looked like he was preparing for the game just like any other player in the room: locked in and focused, but not like someone who was about to appear in his first Major League game since Sept. 22, 2022.
“A little bit there is, I’m playing the score,” said Griffin. “We’re up 7-2 at that point. I didn’t want to walk him to get to a righty on deck. I kind of also didn’t want to walk him to get the crowd back into it even more than they already were. So at that point, I was kind of like, ‘All right, well I’m going to go at him with what I know I can get the zone and what I can attack him with. And if he hits it at somebody, great. If I get a weak fly ball or ground ball, great.’ He hit it hard, but he hit it hard right at somebody, so we got out of it.”
“He’s like a tactician out there,” Butera said pregame. “And not to say it’s always going to work and he’s always going to get everybody out that he faces, but just the way he thinks through how he wants to attack hitters, he’s like a silent assassin. He’s a pretty quiet guy, but you see he’s always paying attention to what’s going on so he’s never really surprised at any moment.”
“Weirdly enough, I felt much more prepared,” Griffin said. “I don’t know if that comes with three more years of starting experience in Japan. I felt like I really learned how to be a starter, and that goes all the way back to preparing a lineup, preparing a scouting report. So I felt very confident going in with the changes that I made in Japan as well as the scouting report we put together.”
Blue Jays’ Cody Ponce carted off field with injury in first MLB start since 2021
Cody Ponce’s debut with the Blue Jays and first MLB start in five years ended in nightmare fashion.
The 31-year-old, who last pitched for the Pirates in 2021 and last started a game in May of that season.
Ponce suffered a leg injury running to field a bouncer between the mound and first base during the third inning of the Blue Jays’ game against the Rockies at Rogers Centre on Monday.
He stayed down on the ground, wincing in pain before being attended to by the team’s training staff after his right leg appeared to buckle as it landed stiffly. He briefly grabbed for the back of his knee.
Ponce was able to stand and walk toward a cart before being driven off the field. The former Brewers second-round pick in 2015 was noticeably emotional, blowing kisses and lifting his cap to the Canadian crowd.
He was part of a retooling of the defending American League champion’s pitching staff that included signing Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million contract and top reliever Tyler Rogers to a three-year, $37 million deal.
Ponce pitched two scoreless innings for the undefeated Blue Jays before a run scored on the play he was injured on.
He has been fighting to get another shot in the majors after his disastrous 2021, which saw him go 0-6 with a 7.04 ERA, mostly out of the bullpen. Ponce spent three seasons in Japan before pitching in Korea in 2025.
It’s now unclear when he will be back on the mound for the Blue Jays.
What Chase Delauter Said After Winning American League Player of the Week
Chase DeLauter has put the rest of MLB on notice.
He’s here, and there’s very little anyone can do about it.
Following DeLauter’s incredible start to his major league career, on Monday, March 30, he was named American League Player of the Week. The 23-year-old mashed six hits, four of which were home runs, in his first four games of the 2026 regular season.
Heading into the second series of the year against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he has a 1.059 slugging percentage, ranking 10th in all of MLB.
When interviewed after being named Player of the Week, DeLauter said Opening Day helped boost his confidence, even though he already had plenty from the organization’s trust in him.
Federal Judge Favors MLB Commissioner in Age Discrimination Lawsuit Due to Lack of Jurisdiction
The problems in MLB are never-ending. We have players getting suspended for doping and gambling, the MLBPA president getting fired, and it even came to Rob Manfred and the MLB. But it looks like the courts have decided to rule in favor of MLB instead of against.
The complaint by many scouts was that Rob Manfred and the MLB were discriminating based on age. But the case didn’t stand. As reported by Sportico, “A federal judge in New York on Thursday dismissed an age discrimination lawsuit.”
Benedict v Manfred was filed by 35 former scouts aged 54 to 86 against Major League Baseball. They claimed that teams shifted towards analytical hiring and pushed out older scouts across the board. The complaint pointed to 2020, when 51 out of the 83 scouts over the age of 40 lost their jobs.
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They tied this shift to after Rob Manfred started his leadership in 2015 and reduced the reliance on scouting. They argued that during COVID, due to financial constraints, some were fired. But they never got rehired by teams after the revenues were back to normal.
But this argument did not stand, as Judge Margaret Garnett dismissed the case because the court had control over the Yankees and the Mets only. The scouts claimed that all the teams acted together, but the court found no substantial proof of this.
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MLB did not pay scouts or control their daily work, which weakened the joint employment claim. Even standard contracts and arbitration rules did not prove that the league handled hiring decisions.
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This argument also did not hold because there was no proof tying this to the New York teams. One Yankees official cited budget limits in August 2020, but that was seen as financial. The judge stated that even big teams like the Yankees are making budget moves when it is necessary, and it’s not new.
The argument actually fell apart when the scouts failed to prove that all this was related to age. There was no proof shown that younger hires replaced them, which is a crucial point to prove under the age discrimination law.
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But the counterpoint that the scouts kept in front was that analytical hiring favoured the younger workers. They also claimed that MLB had a blacklist of whom the teams should not hire, but gave no proof to back the claim. The case can still be refiled, but after five attempts, stronger proof is now required.
The takeaway is clear: you can’t cite changes teams are making as foul play and not provide proof for them.
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MLB faces another court decision
MLB and Rob Manfred are facing many off-field challenges. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the latest challenge to baseball’s antitrust exemption on 2nd March.
We all know that this century‑old rule has protected Major League Baseball from federal antitrust claims since 1922. But the Court’s silence leaves the exemption fully intact, and nothing changes for leagues or owners today.
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Baseball’s antitrust exemption started with the 1922 Federal Baseball Club case, when the Court said games were not interstate commerce. We all know that this makes professional baseball unique among U.S. sports, giving it protections no other league enjoys.
But critics argue the rule is outdated and doesn’t reflect the modern business of the game anymore.4
Thomas Axon filed the Puerto Rico lawsuit after his Cangrejeros de Santurce franchise was blocked from revival and investor rights were seized. We all know that lower courts, including the 1st Circuit, dismissed the antitrust claims while letting other parts of the suit move forward.
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But the case will continue under civil rights and local law, keeping the fight alive even without federal antitrust relief.
When will top stars meet their former clubs in ’26?
It’s always intriguing when MLB stars wearing new uniforms face their former clubs for the first time. And the opening weekend of the 2026 regular season featured a few such reunions.
For example, Adolis García, a 2023 postseason hero for the Rangers, suited up for the Phillies against his old team for the clubs’ three-game series in Philadelphia — and even had a key hit in the Phils’ ninth-inning rally on Saturday.
Here’s when some other notable players will face their former clubs for the first time in 2026, as well as where those meetings will take place.
Gray and Contreras were traded to Boston in separate deals this offseason orchestrated by new Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom, who spent the 2020-23 seasons as the Red Sox’s chief baseball officer. The Cardinals loaded up on pitching in return, acquiring righty Richard Fitts and lefty prospect Brandon Clarke in exchange for Gray and getting a trio of righties, including Hunter Dobbins, for Contreras. Neither veteran will have to wait long to make their returns to St. Louis, which will come just a few weeks into the season.
McNeil, who was traded to the A’s in December for Minor League right-hander Yordan Rodriguez, is the first of several longtime former Mets to make this list. A 12th-round Draft pick out of Long Beach State back in 2013, McNeil is back in his home state of California after spending his first eight Major League seasons in Queens. A two-time All-Star who won the 2022 National League batting title with a .326 average, McNeil will be back on familiar ground early in 2026 when the A’s visit New York.
Díaz’s iconic entrance now includes accompaniment by a live trumpet, one of the biggest reminders that things are different for the All-Star reliever in 2026. After putting up a 2.93 ERA in six stellar seasons for the Mets, Díaz signed a three-year, $69 million deal with the defending World Series champions this offseason. He won’t return to Citi Field until after the All-Star break, but he’ll be facing his old club in mid-April in L.A.
Lowe is already off to a hot start with his new club, slugging three home runs in the Pirates’ opening series against the Mets in New York. He showed off that premier power during his first eight Major League seasons with Tampa Bay, topping out at 39 dingers in 2021 and earning two All-Star selections before being involved in a three-team swap this offseason. Lowe won’t be making any stops in St. Petersburg in 2026, but he and the Pirates will face the Rays in Pittsburgh.
Donovan’s name was bandied about in trade conversations practically all offseason before the Mariners sealed the deal, acquiring him from St. Louis as part of a three-team trade in early February. The talented infielder won’t have to wait long before he’s back at Busch Stadium, with Seattle set to visit for an Interleague set in late April. Donovan already owns two homers through his first four games with the M’s.
Suarez was a fan favorite and a postseason hero for the Phillies, his home for his first eight seasons, but Philadelphia wasn’t able to retain the lefty starter in free agency. Instead, the Red Sox made one of several additions to their rotation by inking Suarez to a five-year, $130 million deal. Suarez’s return to Citizens Bank Park is currently set for 2027, but there’s a chance he could line up to pitch against his former club during the Phils’ mid-May trip to Boston.
While Castellanos’ tenure with the Phillies ended on a sour note in February, he had plenty of big moments in October, including some game-saving catches and back-to-back multihomer games. After being picked up by the Padres on a one-year deal, the outfielder is in line for six games against Philadelphia this season, all in an 11-day span. His reception during his first series at Citizens Bank Park in early June should be interesting to watch.
Valdez declined the one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer from the Astros, landing a three-year pact worth $115 million from the Tigers in free agency. Slotting in behind Tarik Skubal in Detroit’s impressive rotation, Valdez — who debuted in 2018 — could make his first start against the Astros this June in Houston. During his eight-year tenure with the club, he was stellar in the 2022 postseason as the Astros won the World Series and authored a no-hitter in 2023.
Arenado was one of the highest-profile trade acquisitions in Cardinals history, and the deal paid immediate dividends when the star third baseman finished third in NL MVP voting in his first season with the club. Now 34 with his offensive production declining over the past few seasons, Arenado — traded to the D-backs in January — is at the start of his 14th Major League campaign. He is scheduled for a four-game set in St. Louis in June, his first faceoff with his former team since the deal.
After losing out to the Dodgers on outfielder Kyle Tucker in free agency, the Mets struck quickly to land Bichette on a three-year, $126 million deal. Just 28 years old, the shortstop had a quite productive seven-year tenure with Toronto, making two All-Star teams and gathering down-ballot MVP votes in four different seasons. Game 7 of the 2025 World Series, featuring Bichette’s huge three-run homer off Shohei Ohtani, was his most recent game in Toronto — until the Mets visit Rogers Centre this summer.
Peralta was dealt to New York after his best season in a Brewers uniform, which featured a 17-6 record, a 2.70 ERA and a fifth-place finish in Cy Young balloting. The trade cost the Mets their No. 3 and No. 5 prospects (Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat) but landed them the talented 29-year-old Peralta, whose contract is up after the 2026 season. Peralta should be welcomed back to Milwaukee fondly when the Mets come to town in July for a three-game series.
Another major acquisition by the Mets will be returning to his former club’s home park this summer. Robert already made a splash in his opening series with New York, slugging a three-run, walk-off home run in the 11th inning against Pittsburgh on Saturday for his first Mets dinger. Long discussed as a possible trade candidate before officially being dealt in January, Robert — an All-Star, Gold Glover and Silver Slugger honoree with the White Sox — will face his old team at Rate Field in August.
It’s strange seeing Alonso in another uniform in 2026: The slugging first baseman quickly cemented himself as a Mets icon with a rookie-record 53 home runs in 2019. The Polar Bear topped 30 homers in every full season with New York and had a massive postseason dinger during the club’s 2024 run, too. It won’t be until near the end of the season, but Alonso is poised to suit up for the O’s at Citi Field, where he holds the ballpark’s home run record.
One-for-one trades involving established players of Nimmo’s and Semien’s caliber are rare, but that’s exactly what went down in late November between the Rangers and Mets. Now playing for his fifth franchise, Semien has bounced around a bit more than Nimmo, who spent all of his first 10 seasons with New York prior to the deal. Each veteran will get a chance to say hello to his former club when the Mets visit Texas in the second-to-last series of the regular season.
Experts release early Yankees vs. Mariners betting preview after Fried-Gilbert pitching dual confirmed for Tuesday night
The New York Yankees will square off with the Seattle Mariners in an MLB matchup at T-Mobile Park on Tuesday, scheduled to commence at 9:40 p.m. ET.
Leading up to this early-season clash, much of the betting discussion has centered not just on the pitching matchup between Max Fried and Logan Gilbert, but on a sudden surge in the accuracy of AI sports predictions across the league.
New data, released by Shurzy’s live AI predictions platform immediately after the Mariners triumphed 2-1 over the Yankees on Monday night, has highlighted the value of targeting specific MLB betting markets early in the 2026 season.
Most notably, the data drop revealed that AI-backed MLB Moneyline bets are currently hitting at a staggering 73.53% clip (25 wins to 9 losses).
Conversely, Over/Under totals have been much harder for models to pin down, sitting at a 48.48% win rate over that same span.
This update prompted Dimers’ analysts to reevaluate their Yankees vs. Mariners betting strategies. While the core game simulations remain rooted in Dimers’ proprietary model, comparing these broader MLB betting predictions and trends against their own machine-learning models helps pinpoint the highest-value edges. It also teaches bettors how to rely on data rather than instinct when deciding which bets are actually worth placing.
The results of Dimers’ 10,000 simulations were compared to updated sportsbook odds to compile the data-driven Yankees-Mariners preview below.
Yankees vs. Mariners Betting Preview
Utilize the interactive widget below to view the latest run line, over/under, and moneyline betting odds and probabilities for the Yankees-Mariners game at T-Mobile Park.
Check out all the important details on Tuesday’s game, including each team’s starting pitcher, as well as the best odds sourced from the top sportsbooks in the country.
Game Details
Key information on the Yankees vs. Mariners matchup, including where the game is and what time it kicks off.
Teams: New York Yankees vs. Seattle Mariners
Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
Location: T-Mobile Park
Starting Pitchers
Yankees: Max Fried (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
Mariners: Logan Gilbert (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Odds
Odds for the key markets in the Yankees-Mariners MLB game.
Run line: Yankees -1.5 (+160), Mariners +1.5 (-186)
Moneyline: Yankees -112, Mariners -104
Total: Over/Under 7 (-105/-102)
The odds and lines featured here are the best available from selected sports betting sites at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Local Mariners and Yankees fans in Washington state and New York can find additional betting value with the new $10 Kalshi promo code “OREGONLIVE1,“ and this increasingly popular $50 MLB trading deal from Novig.
Expert Prediction: Yankees vs. Mariners
Utilizing cutting-edge data analysis and machine learning, the experts at Dimers have executed 10,000 simulations of Tuesday’s Yankees vs. Mariners game.
According to Dimers’ popular predictive analytics model, the Yankees are slightly more likely to beat the Mariners at T-Mobile Park. This prediction is based on the model giving the Yankees a 51% chance of winning the game. Given that MLB picks today are seeing a 73.53% success rate on the moneyline according to Shurzy’s recent data, bettors can feel more confident relying on mathematical edges rather than gut feelings for this tight matchup.
Furthermore, Dimers predicts that the Mariners (+1.5) have a 63% chance of covering the run line, while the 7-run over/under has a 54% chance of going over.
As always, these predictions and probabilities are accurate at the time of publication but are subject to potential changes.
Yankees vs. Mariners Best Bet
Our top pick for the Yankees vs. Mariners game on Tuesday is to bet on Over 7 runs (-105).
While broader industry data shows that Over/Under bets have hovered around a 48% success rate lately, Dimers’ specific matchup simulations identified a distinct 54% probability of this game surpassing 7 runs. This highlights the importance of using comprehensive AI picks to find contrarian value that the general public might miss.
This expert betting advice is formulated through cutting-edge simulations and valuable betting intelligence, designed to deliver you the best possible plays. To track how AI models are performing across the entire league in real-time, you can view the live data on Shurzy’s AI sports betting predictions page.
MLB Tuesday: Yankees vs. Mariners
Get ready for Tuesday’s action between the Yankees and Mariners in MLB at T-Mobile Park, which is scheduled to start at 9:40 p.m. ET. MLB picks and MLB props add an enjoyable dimension to the oldest professional sports league in the world, Major League Baseball. MLB features 30 esteemed teams, including the Yankees and Mariners.
We emphasize that all of the MLB predictions and MLB best bets in this preview are based on 10,000 data-driven simulations of the Yankees vs. Mariners matchup, and they are correct at the time of publishing. They are intended to assist you make more informed choices when placing bets at online sportsbooks.
Please remember to gamble responsibly and seek trustworthy sources for accurate and up-to-date information when making online betting choices.
How ‘Giant of the NFL’ is still present and leading the franchise
PHOENIX – The buzz early Sunday afternoon at the NFL’s Annual Meeting here regarding the presence of Giants co-owner John Mara was undeniable.
Four different people within league circles offered a similar greeting to NorthJersey.com and The Record, some variation of a giddy declaration as if a celebrity were in their midst.
NFL Officially Makes Significant Offer to Referees Amid Stalled CBA Negotiations
Earlier this week, while the ongoing labor negotiations between the NFL and the NFLRA hit a roadblock, there was plenty that both sides had to discuss. With the current labor deal between the NFL and the NFLRA set to expire on May 31, the league has already presented what appears to be a significant proposal for a new deal to the union. But as per the latest reports, the response from the NFL officials’ union suggests that the two sides remain far apart in their negotiations.
“The NFL has offered its game officials a six-year labor deal with a 6.45% annual growth rate in compensation, while the NFLRA is insisting on 10% plus $2.5 million for marketing fees the league regards as worthless, sources say,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported via X on March 29. “The union also continues to resist changes the NFL is insisting upon, including shortening the “dark period” after the Super Bowl, deploying underperforming officials to spring leagues for extra reps, and ending a seniority-based system for playoff assignments. “We want to pay for performance,” a source said.”
In simple terms, the NFL is offering steady salary growth over six years, while the union wants a significantly larger annual increase along with additional marketing-related compensation. As per Pelissero, another major point of disagreement in the negotiation talks now involves the NFL’s proposal to shorten the offseason ‘dark period’ for the referees.
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Currently, after the Super Bowl, the NFL cannot contact officials until May 15. But the NFL reportedly wants to move that date up to April to allow more offseason training and evaluation.
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Pelissero also reported that the NFL is exploring the idea of making some officials full-time employees. The NFL believes that full-time officials would allow more development opportunities and provide additional offseason training for those who need improvement. However, the NFLRA has strongly resisted this proposal.
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The NFL also wants to move away from a system where seniority determines playoff assignments and instead reward officials based on how well they perform during the season. From the NFL’s perspective, the issue comes down to accountability. Sources from the NFL’s side believe that the union wants higher pay without agreeing to changes that emphasize performance and evaluation.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer previously reported that the NFLRA is pushing back on several other proposals as well. These include adding new performance standards, shortening the post-Super Bowl dead period, and extending the probationary period for new NFL officials from three years to four. With negotiations stalled, the NFL is already preparing for the possibility of a work stoppage. And that preparation could look familiar to NFL fans.
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“The NFL plans to begin hiring replacement officials before the May 31 expiration of its labor deal and deploy them in training camps to have them ready if no agreement is struck with the NFLRA. As one source said today: ‘Our direction (from owners) is not to be unprepared,’” Tom Pelissero reported through another X post.
This week, ESPN reported that the NFL has already contacted around 150 college officials as potential replacement refs for the 2026 season. According to Pelissero, the NFL plans to train these refs during the offseason and at training camps. If the CBA negotiations fail to produce an agreement, the NFL could begin recruiting these refs as early as next month.
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Why did the CBA talks stall between the NFL and the NFLRA?
The labor negotiations between the NFL and the NFLRA were supposed to move both sides closer to a new agreement this offseason. But while both the NFL and the NFLRA scheduled two days of negotiations, the meeting reportedly lasted just three hours. According to NFLRA executive director Scott Green, it was the league’s approach that left little room for negotiation.
“We offered a counter to the most recent proposal, which was rejected,” Green said in a press statement. “We asked that they respond to our offer with the goal of making forward progress. We then learned that no one in their delegation was authorized to negotiate beyond their original proposal, and at that time they chose to leave, after less than half a day of talks.”
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Meanwhile, sources told ESPN that in the CBA talks, the union refused to discuss one of the NFL’s main priorities: improving the league’s officiating. Later, in his statement, NFL executive VP Jeff Miller also pushed back strongly on the NFLRA’s stance. Miller made it clear that the NFL remains open to continued negotiations with the NFLRA but insists it must prepare for the upcoming season regardless of the outcome.
“We continue to focus on investing in accountability and performance in our officiating,” Miller said in a statement. “[NFLRA executive director] Scott [Green] and his team haven’t changed their approach in almost two years, continuing to demand raises at almost double the rates of the increases realized by the players over the course of this CBA and, in addition, millions of dollars in marketing fees that rank-and-file union members never see.”
“We are ready to continue negotiations to reach a fair and reasonable agreement, but in the meantime, while the union refuses to engage in a meaningful way, we will continue to prepare for the expiration of the current agreement because we will be playing football in August.”
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Ultimately, this situation marks the most serious labor conflict between the NFL and NFLRA since the 2012 lockout, when replacement refs made several controversial calls, including the infamous ‘Fail Mary’ play in Seattle. Therefore, the NFL and the NFLRA will need to reach common ground before May 31, or the league will once again have to risk seeing history repeat itself.
Chiefs Will Evaluate Next Class of International Players This Week
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – As sure as Patrick Mahomes has a State Farm card in his glovebox, the Chiefs will draft an edge rusher next month.
But just as having too many good quarterbacks is a good problem for an NFL team, so is having too many quality edge rushers.
Could Chiefs eye Kenyan rugby player?
Meet Joshua Weru, a 22-year-old Kenyan rugby player who’s spent the past 10 weeks in Fort Myers, Fla., preparing for the 2026 NFL season just like hundreds of draft hopefuls. Weru, who some outlets have reported as 6-4 and 227 pounds, projects as a defensive end.
Thirteen athletes representing 10 nations have been training both on the field and in the classroom as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program.
And while Clark Hunt, Andy Reid and Brett Veach are attending the NFL’s annual league meeting this week, Kansas City scouts will be in Florida to see the international players showcase their skills.
That’s where Weru and 12 other players from outside the United States will take part in a host of activities that include Indianapolis-style timing, testing and medical evaluations. The Chiefs will also interview prospects just as they would at the traditional scouting combine.
Kansas City and other teams can sign any of the 13 as free agents. Some are eligible for the draft, too. Each team gets one roster exemption for a qualifying international player from the start of the offseason program through the final roster reduction.
And if they don’t make the Week 1 roster, qualifying international players can become a 17th practice-squad player. Normally, the practice squad has a maximum 16 players.
Mailata paved road for Chiefs
Jordan Mailata paved a path for the program as wide as the holes he carves out for Saquon Barkley. The Chiefs joined the group of NFL teams to use an IPP player in a starting lineup late last season when Chu Godrick opened at right tackle over the season’s final three games.
The Chiefs love to play international games so, naturally, international players are an important part of their personnel department.
Godrick teamed with Esa Pole as the Chiefs’ starting offensive tackles late in the season. Amazingly, neither played a down of high-school football.
Godrick came to the United States from Nigeria in 2022. A 6-5, 293-pound athlete, he dabbled in basketball before forging a future in football. After training for several months at the Phoenix-area facility started by former NFL center LeCharles Bentley, Godrick signed with the Chiefs after the 2023 draft. After three seasons on their practice squad, he made his NFL debut Dec. 14 against the Chargers.
Louis Rees-Zammit didn’t get as far as Godrick, but he did spend the 2024 offseason with the Chiefs. A 6-2, 209-pound rugby player from Wales, Rees-Zammit converted to wide receiver and trained through the IPP program and signed as a free agent with the Chiefs ahead of the 2024 draft.
Released in the Chiefs’ final roster reduction, he signed with Jacksonville and spent the 2024 regular season on the Jaguars’ practice squad. After re-signing with Jacksonville in January 2025, he didn’t make the final roster and was out of the NFL last season.
Suing to fight ‘dangerous’ microbetting | Morning Newsletter
Welcome to a new week, Philly. It’s starting off with a chance of showers and high temps in the mid-60s.
A new lawsuit filed on behalf of a Montgomery County man accuses FanDuel, DraftKings, and the NFL of profiting from “unreasonably dangerous” microbetting.
And Pennsylvania Democrats are using affordability to strike at President Donald Trump on the Iran war, from campaign ads to gas pump stickers.
Plus, a quiz to navigate our Spring Arts Guide, and more news of the day.
— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.
A lawsuit alleges that FanDuel and DraftKings, as well as the NFL and the data company Genius Sports, are profiting from the compulsive nature of microbets.
The Public Health Advocacy Institute says the sportsbetting companies use push notifications to urge customers to return to their apps and continue gambling, and direct VIP hosts to feign friendships with gamblers.
The nonprofit filed the lawsuit in the Common Pleas Court of Philadelphia last week on behalf of a Montgomery County man who grew addicted to placing bets on the apps. Over five years, he wagered more than $22 million, and was rewarded with VIP perks such as champagne and tickets to Philadelphia Eagles games, court records show.
Investigative reporter David Gambacorta has the story.
A month into the Iran war, Pennsylvania Democrats on Capitol Hill are seeking to tie a campaign-year focus on affordability to their opposition to the military engagement.
Their messaging highlights rising costs at the gas pump, as well as a long list of alternative spending priorities that they say are more worthy of taxpayer money, including healthcare.
For their part, Republicans are downplaying the concerns about affordability. So is U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat increasingly at odds with his own party.
Politics reporter Sam Janesch has more.
In other policy news: Sixteen years after the Affordable Care Act expanded access to healthcare, more than 98,000 Pennsylvania residents have dropped out of ACA marketplace health plans this year after Congress failed to renew a critical financial incentive program and insurance prices doubled, on average.
What you should know today
There’s more to see in our Spring Arts Guide, which highlights the most exciting performances, exhibits, and more coming to the city this season.
🎺 Looking to catch a concert or show this spring? Take our quiz and get tailored suggestions.
🥊 Monument Lab cofounder and Philly native Paul Farber grew up never liking the Rocky statue, but now he has a Philadelphia Museum of Art show centered on it.
📷 University of Pennsylvania’s Institute of Contemporary Art is not a traditional museum. Newish director Johanna Burton wants things to “get a little weirder again.”
💡 Atlantic City Electric’s mascot for years wore blackface and a bellhop suit. The company has found a way to address its racist past.
Philadelphia Soccer 2026 and Visit PA plan to bring the “heart and soul” of the World Cup throughout Pennsylvania via FIFA fan zones in three cities besides Philadelphia. Which is not one of them?
A) Reading
B) Scranton
C) Pittsburgh
D) Harrisburg
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re…
🥟 Eager to visit: Carmen’s Table, bringing Puerto Rican barbecue and a grandmother’s dream to South Jersey.
🎥 Learning: The local ties to Netflix’s new Red Hot Chili Peppers doc.
☕ Grabbing: A late-night latte as Yemeni coffee culture takes over Philly.
🛋️ Buying: A $99 couch and $8 coffee table at this hotel liquidation in Plymouth Meeting.
➡️ Considering: How the United Nations slavery resolution charts a path forward.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Warming event that recurs every three to seven years
NO LINE
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Diane Pieri, who solved Sunday’s anagram: The Colored Girls Museum. Vashti DuBois is the executive director of this Germantown museum. Follow along with her Perfect Philly Day.
Photo of the day
📬 Your ‘only in Philly’ story
Think back to the night that changed your life that could only happen in Philly, a true example of the Philly spirit, the time you finally felt like you belonged in Philly if you’re not a lifer, something that made you fall in love with Philly all over again — or proud to be from here if you are. Then email it to us for a chance to be featured in the Monday edition of this newsletter.
This “only in Philly” story comes from reader Michael Thomas Leibrandt, who celebrates the end of another brutal North American winter:
It happens on the first day or two of warm weather each year after a cold and unforgiving winter. Like any Philadelphian, I take a moment to enjoy the warmth of the sun on my face upon the arrival of our first warm day.
It’s in our nature to thrive in warm weather. We celebrated the signing of the Declaration of Independence in the July heat of 1776, the end of the American Revolution in the warmth of the September of 1783, and finally signed the U.S. Constitution during the sunshine of a September day in 1787.
But as we deal with another significant temperature drop and the last of the winter flurries, our city thrives in winter as well. Thirty years ago in January 1996, just weeks after the Eagles’ historic rout of the Detroit Lions at Veterans Stadium in one of the highest-scoring playoff games in NFL history (58–37), more than 30 inches was dropped on Philadelphia.
Some 18 years later, Detroit returned to South Philly, and the result was nearly the same. So were the conditions. This time, the Eagles domination was in the blizzard itself by a final score of 37–20. The result even echoed stories told by our grandparents of a nor’easter hitting Philadelphia in post-World War II December of 1948, during which the Eagles captured their first NFL Championship over the Chicago Cardinals — a game which took place after the players shoveled out Shibe Park on Lehigh Ave.
You didn’t need to be alive in 1948 to feel the same thrill. This past Eagles season may have been forgettable, but last year’s Super Bowl run will not be. The championship season included that image forever etched in our minds of Saquon Barkley running 78 yards for a touchdown, hitting the outside of his helmet as he glided into the end zone through the snow.
And we don’t just claim winter victory on the field of sport. In the harsh weather of 18th century North America, Washington crossed the Delaware River on an icy Christmas night 250 years ago in 1776, surprising British and Hessian forces which led to the victory at the Battle of Trenton.
No matter the weather — the bitter cold and snow of winter or the warm months — we thrive in sports as we do in history.
Tilt your face to the sun and take that victorious energy with you today. Have a good one.
Late Round Tackles Jaguars Could Target in NFL Draft
This past season, the Jacksonville Jaguars seemingly found their offensive tackle duo for the next couple of seasons. Cole Van Lanen secured a long-term contract after stout play at left tackle late in the season, while Anton Harrison continue prosper as a young tackle emerging into a key blocker on the offensive line.
The Jaguars managed the playing crisis of Walker Little while leaning on their depth, Chuma Edoga, and rookie Wyatt Milum. The team can’t move off of Little’s deal; they can add more depth and competition this offseason through the NFL Draft, where Day Three of the selection process features some intriguing developmental options for the team to choose from.
With that in mind, here are some potential late-round offensive tackle prospects to watch for the draft next month.
Jude Bowry, Boston College Eagles
If you know how the Jaguars operated in last year’s draft, you’ll know how the team approached it, with seven of their eight selections coming from the Senior Bowl. Bowry is a player who caught my attention at this year’s event with his mobility and flexibility at the position.
Bowry likely won’t be questioned about being asked to do the uncomfortable things for the betterment of the team. He took reps at left and right tackle, showcasing explosiveness out of his stance that allows him to reach his landmarks in pass protection quickly against opposing rushers. He’ll need serious technical refinement, but Bowry has the tools to be a future starter if he hits it right.
Nolan Rucci, Penn State Nittany Lions
A few years ago, former general manager Trent Baalke took a chance on former top high school recruit Walker Little. While it hasn’t worked out, current decision-maker James Gladstone could take a chance on another tackle prospect who was a highly recruited prep school player.
Rucci has great size and length that a former five-star recruit would have, as the former Wisconsin Badger transfer plays with tight hands and good grips to hold the point of attack. With further refinement and growth in play strength, Rucci could find himself as either the swing tackle or replacement to Harrison.
Austin Barber, Florida Gators
A former four-star recruit in 2021, Barber is an experienced starter for the Gators, with most of his starts coming at left tackle and others on the right side. Like Bowry, Barber competed at the Senior Bowl in front of a large audience, which should gain the Jaguars’ attention as a local prospect in North Florida. Barber has the physicality, power, and heavy hands to be an effective jumbo package player out of 13 personnel who could develop into quality depth.
2026 NFL mock drafts: Latest ESPN player, team predictions
ESPN has every angle covered for the 2026 NFL draft, including mock drafts and much more from analysts Mel Kiper Jr., Matt Miller, Jordan Reid and Field Yates.
The first round will take place on April 23 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Rounds 2-3 follow on April 24, and finally Rounds 4-7 are on April 25. You can watch on ESPN, ABC and the ESPN app.
To help you get ready for all the action, here is every mock draft we have produced for the 2026 cycle.
More NFL draft coverage
2026 NFL mock drafts
March 30: Miller’s seven-round mock draft
Matt projects all 257 picks in the 2026 draft, from No. 1 overall to Mr. Irrelevant.
March 24: Yates’ two-round mock draft
Field goes two full rounds with less than a month until the draft, projecting 64 landing spots.
March 17: Kiper’s post-free agency mock draft
Mel factors in all of the signings, trades, cuts and franchise tags of the past few weeks and projects every first-round pick.
March 3: Reid’s post-combine mock draft
Jordan maps out how prospects climbed the board after the combine across two rounds of predictions.
Feb. 24: Kiper’s pre-combine mock draft
Mel projects the entire first round as we get ready for the combine workouts.
Feb. 11: Yates’ post-Super Bowl mock draft
The full first-round draft order is set, so Field is projecting all 32 picks coming out of the Super Bowl.
Feb. 2: Miller’s post-Senior Bowl mock draft
After a full week of Senior Bowl practices, Matt projects the first two rounds — all 64 picks.
Jan. 21: Kiper’s debut mock draft
Coming off the national title game, Mel projects the entire first round in his first set of predictions for 2026.
Jan. 6: Reid’s postseason mock draft
The first 18 picks of the draft order are set, so Jordan has a new projection of Round 1, starting with a QB for the Raiders.
Dec. 10, 2025: Yates’ new mock draft
Field helps kick off the unofficial
Countdown to the NFL Draft: Pick a running back at No. 24
In 24 days, the NFL Draft will start in Pittsburgh. The Cleveland Browns hold the 91st No. 24 pick in the draft’s history, obtained last year in a deal with Jacksonville that allowed the Jaguars to take Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter with the No. 2 choice in the 2025 draft.
Could Cleveland trade out of this pick, too? Teams who want a 1,000-yard running back ought to be interested, and the Browns already have high hopes for former Pike Road High School star Quinshon Judkins to reach that total in his second season with Cleveland.
The 24th pick in the NFL Draft has produced eight running backs who have registered 1,000-yard seasons. The only other selection that can match that among the first 32 is No. 2, and the No. 24 group has combined for more 1,000-yard seasons with 33.
Eleven of those milestone performances belong to players with Alabama football roots. Alabama alumni Josh Jacobs and Najee Harris have four apiece, and former Auburn standout James Brooks had three.
The San Diego Chargers picked Brooks in 1981, the Oakland Raiders picked Jacobs in 2019 and the Pittsburgh Steelers picked Harris in 2021.
The other 1,000-yard running backs who entered the NFL at No. 24 in the draft are Rodney Hampton, Craig “Iron Head” Heyward, Calvin Hill, Steven Jackson and Chris Johnson.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Two other prospects who played at Alabama high schools and colleges have been No. 24 selections – Hueytown High School and Alabama back Butch Wilson by the Baltimore Colts in 1963 and Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold by the Detroit Lions in 2024.
Arnold became an immediate starter in Detroit’s secondary, but a shoulder injury caused him to miss nine games in his second season.
Wilson played halfback and defensive back at Alabama, but he transitioned to tight end in NFL. The Colts drafted Syracuse tight end John Mackey five spots before they picked Wilson, and during Wilson’s five seasons with Baltimore, Mackey was a Pro Bowler four times and first-team All-Pro twice.
Wilson still did a great service for the Colts. Just before the 1968 season, Baltimore traded him and a draft choice to the New York Giants for Earl Morrall when Johnny Unitas got hurt in the Colts’ final preseason game. The new quarterback won the 1968 NFL Most Valuable Player Award and led Baltimore into its date with destiny against Joe Namath and the New York Jets in Super Bowl III.
Colts Owner Pushes for Major NFL Adjustments After Backing Roger Goodell’s 18-Game Season Plans
Talk around an 18-game season has started picking up pace among NFL owners lately. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has emphasized that nothing is finalized yet, as there are still important challenges to overcome. Despite this, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts, is already advocating for the league to head in that direction sooner rather than later.
“I think, as long as the players want it, which I think they would, because it would mean more revenue, and I think ultimately a better product, I think it’s reasonable and something we should work towards,” Irsay-Gordon said. “I think we do need to look, also, into the way we do our offseason program.”
The preseason games just aren’t as exciting anymore, as teams are being extra careful with their star players, which leads to fewer important plays and less thrill for the audience. Because of this, selling those games has become tougher, both for tickets and general interest. So, adding another regular-season game starts to sound better.
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Irsay-Gordon feels swapped out a less valuable preseason game for something that really matters.
“If we can make it work, I do think that it would be good,” Irsay-Gordon said, pushing the idea of this major NFL adjustment. “Preseason is, as far as the fan product goes, I know the commissioner’s been open that it’s not the best product that we have. I would say, for development of our team, I don’t think we can get rid of it.”
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However, the road is not that simple. Any move toward an 18th game must go through the NFL Players Association. And NFLPA interim director David White has already made the union’s stance clear, stating they have “no appetite for a regular season 18th game,” per reports.
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In fact, White has been consistent on this issue.
“The league has the right to bring any issue they want to the table and, presumably, to propose what they’re willing to give to receive what they want in negotiation, but we’ll see when that happens,” White said back in September 2025. “We haven’t talked about it yet, and it certainly is not inevitable and should not be presented as such.”
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Discussion about the idea of increasing the regular season continues to happen, particularly because preseason games are more difficult to sell, with teams restricting starters in the number of snaps in order to prevent injuries. The inclusion of an 18th regular-season game would serve as an alternative to a low-interest preseason game with a much better ticket on the list. The current 17 games also bring about the issue of scheduling imbalance, where the team has fewer or more home or road games per year.
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That is an unequal power distribution that complicates the process of making long-term financial plans, as the revenues may fluctuate depending on the type of extra game that will be hosted by a team. Carlie Irsay-Gordon took into consideration those issues, but he also put into consideration the physical burden that the additional game would pose to the players. According to her, these risks could be avoided through proper preparation in the offseason, where most of the injuries occur during the preparation leading to the training camp.
“Another game means more impact on the body, so I think we need to just make sure we’re continuing to innovate with our method and approach during the offseason program,” Irsay-Gordon said. “We’ve improved a lot with the ramp-up period to training camp, because a lot of injuries go down there.”
Although no specific strategy has been defined to date, she is confident that the league will be able to change its strategy to ensure that players are better secured. In her case, it is not just about working harder, but it is about being smarter to cope with the demands of the game.
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While owners are considering adding another game, the league can’t proceed without the players’ agreement. Currently, discussions haven’t started officially, and there are understandable reasons for this delay. Still, Roger Goodell feels it’s not over yet.
Roger Goodell talked about an 18-game NFL season
Last month, Roger Goodell talked about the idea of an 18-game season. He mentioned that it’s “not a sure thing” and confirmed that there have been no official talks about it. He also noted that he wants to meet with the leaders of the NFL Players Association before any decisions are made.
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“It’s not something that we assume will happen. It is something that we want to talk about with the union leadership,” he said. “As you know, they’re going into a transition, and hopefully that will get solidified this spring. And as they determine their priorities, we are doing the same on the ownership levels so that when we get together, we can address these issues together.”
Still, the thought hasn’t gone away. Goodell has alluded in the past that the possibility of adding new games can bring new opportunities, especially on the global front. In September, he said that another game could allow the league to have international games almost every week, which would enable the NFL to increase its following to even greater levels.
In the meantime, he recognized the challenges before him. He emphasized the safety of the players, having a balanced roster, and an additional bye week as crucial issues that should be discussed.
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“We have not had any formal discussions about it and, frankly, very little, if any, informal conversations,” he said. “I’ve heard people talk about it; it is not a given that we’ll do that. It is not something that we assume will happen; it is something we want to talk about with union leadership.”
Goodell also revealed that the current collective bargaining agreement lasts until 2030, so any changes will need to be discussed and agreed upon. Despite the chatter, the current situation severely limits the possibility of change.
Packers clear significant salary-cap space for potential roster moves
The Green Bay Packers have created significant salary-cap space through trades, releases, and contract restructures.
As of March 26, the Packers were roughly $23 million below their adjusted cap, a figure expected to increase to $31 million after June 1.
This financial flexibility places the Packers in the top 10 of NFL teams for cap room, allowing for potential roster additions.
GREEN BAY – It’s unlikely a Micah Parsons opportunity will present itself this season, but if a high-salaried player becomes available through trade or release, the Green Bay Packers aren’t handcuffed by the salary cap.
They have cleared enough space through the trade of defensive end Rashan Gary ($11 million), the releases of center Elgton Jenkins ($19.5 million) and cornerback Nate Hobbs ($8.8 million), and the restructure of contracts belonging to safety Xavier McKinney ($9 million) and guard Aaron Banks ($12.7 million) to put them comfortably under the cap limit.
As of March 26, the Packers were roughly $23 million below their adjusted cap (includes space they carried over from 2025) of $314,903,931. Their space will increase to $31 million in two months because the Packers chose to designate Hobbs’ release after June 1, meaning they won’t get their $8 million of relief until after then.
The $31 million figure places the Packers in the top 10 of teams with the most salary-cap space but doesn’t necessarily put them in a better position than some fellow contenders such as Seattle, New England, Philadelphia, Baltimore, San Francisco, Detroit and Los Angeles Rams, who have enough cap space to compete for a high-end veteran if one becomes available.
It does allow them to continue to make additions to their roster before and after the draft. Player trades have become much more popular – there have been 22 of them in March alone – and it’s likely there will be more as the draft nears.
In some cases, a team can restructure a trade-acquired player’s contract to make it more cap friendly, but it must have the room to accept the player’s current salary-cap number when the trade is made.
The $31 million figure covers only the top-51 salary cap numbers on the roster, so as draft picks are signed, practice squad players are added and replacements for the injured become necessary, some of the room will disappear.
Still, being in the top 10 of the NFL in cap room indicates the Packers have flexibility.
They also have the option of clearing around $11 million more in cap room if they choose to restructure the contracts of running back Josh Jacobs and cornerback Keisean Nixon. And they can greatly reduce defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt’s salary-cap number of $12.9 million with a cap-friendly contract extension, which is likely to happen.
On the other side of the ledger, the Packers will try to sign receiver Christian Watson and tight end Tucker Kraft to expensive long-term extensions and may consider extending receiver Jayden Reed and defensive tackle Karl Brooks later in the year. If they decide not to execute a fifth-year option on defensive end Lukas Van Ness, they may try to sign him to an extension also.
Having all that salary-cap room may give general manager Brian Gutekunst some options, but it came at the expense of losing starters and key backups.
In addition to trading Gary and cutting Jenkins and Hobbs, he did not re-sign inside linebacker Quay Walker, receiver Romeo Doubs, left tackle Rasheed Walker, quarterback Malik Willis, defensive end Kingsley Enagbare, safety Zayne Anderson and running back Emanuel Wilson. They would be tight against the cap if they had re-signed all or most of them.
There isn’t one player in that group who isn’t impossible to replace, but as a collective, the Packers are losing production, experience and depth.
The lone player-for-player replacement was the acquisition of linebacker Zaire Franklin in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts. Franklin will be penciled into Quay Walker’s inside-linebacker position going into the season but will face competition.
The other free-agent additions – returner Skyy Moore, defensive lineman Javon Hargrave, cornerback Benjamin St-Juste – aren’t sure-fire starters, and Hargrave and St-Juste likely will have to fend off draft picks for playing time.
The first phase of free agency lasted less than a week and most signings now are low-cost roster-fillers whose teams aren’t interested in re-signing them. The second phase will start after the draft when teams fill needs and decide they can live without a veteran taking up salary-cap space.
Given the number of trades consummated this year, it’s possible there will be a flurry of them before the draft as teams attempt to add picks or fill an area of need they’re not sure they’ll be able to address in the draft.
Gutekunst has needs at cornerback, defensive line, offensive line and running back.
It could be argued his roster held up despite critical season-ending injuries (Parsons, Kraft, Wyatt, Jenkins, Hobbs) given the Packers were minutes away from sweeping all three games with the Chicago Bears and the return of Parsons, Kraft and Wyatt should put the Packers in contention this year.
But adding a rookie class probably isn’t going to be enough to raise the Packers another level and so Gutekunst is going to have to think hard about using some of that cap money to push them over the top.
The Packers don’t have the draft capital to trade for Las Vegas defensive end Maxx Crosby, Philadelphia defensive tackle Jalen Carter or Eagles receiver A.J. Brown, but they could put together a package of players and/or picks for a trade candidate, some of whom might be in the final year of their contract, like Parsons, and are at a stalemate in negotiations with their current team.
The Packers are carrying a hefty dead-cap number of $43.2 million, so they’ve cleared the decks of some of their future obligations. Cap numbers for their highest-paid players – Jordan Love ($42.5 million), Zach Tom ($17.9 million), Parsons ($26.8 million), Banks ($25.4 million) and Jacobs ($16.6 million) – escalate in 2027, and the cap numbers for Watson, Kraft and Wyatt will grow when they sign new deals.
For now though, they’ve got some money to spend.
They’re not going to find a deal as sweet as the Parsons trade, but if they want to have a better roster than a year ago, they’re probably going to need to open their wallet.
Here’s a look at each player’s 2026 salary-cap number and cash payout, according a source with access to NFL salary information:
Packers salary-cap breakdown by player
Player, position, cap value, cash value
Jordan Love, QB, $36,122,437, $51,000,000
Micah Parsons, DE, $19,201,706, $40,837,000
Josh Jacobs, RB, $14,542,647, $11,500,000
Devonte Wyatt, DT, $12,938,000, $12,938,000
*Nate Hobbs, CB, $12,838,235, $0
Aaron Banks, G, $12,003,176, $18,100,000
Zach Tom, T, $11,884,118, $6,050,000
Xavier McKinney, S, $9,860,235, $13,350,000
Javon Hargrave, DT, $7,705,882, $13,000,000
Keisean Nixon, CB, $7,166,668, $5,000,000
Zaire Franklin, LB, $7,130,000, $9,005,000
Sean Rhyan, C, $6,666,666, $14,000,000
Christian Watson, WR, $6,319,297, $5,750,000
Lukas Van Ness, DE, $5,532,576, $3,121,104
Brandon McManus, K, $5,278,431, $3,700,000
Isaiah McDuffie, LB, $4,975,000, $3,700,000
Matthew Golden, WR, $3,994,395, $1,638,879
Tucker Kraft, TE, $3,930,897, $3,674,000
Jordan Morgan, OL, $3,868,799, $2,084,600
Dontayvion Wicks, WR, $3,749,636, $3,674,000
Karl Brooks, DT, $3,727,007, $3,674,000
Carrington Valentine, CB, $3,699,165, $3,647,000
Benjamin St-Juste, CB, $3,270,588, $4,800,000
Darian Kinnard, OL, $2,750,000, $2,750,000
Luke Musgrave, TE, $2,696,827, $1,905,783
Skyy Moore, WR/RET, $2,500,000, $2,500,000
Daniel Whelan, P, $2,350,000, $1,650,000
Edgerrin Cooper, LB, $2,345,160, $1,576,720
Jayden Reed, WR, $2,284,793, $1,729,197
Nick Niemann, LB, $2,111,765, $2,250,000
Josh Whyle, TE, $1,857,059, $2,000,000
Chris Brooks, RB, $1,845,000, $2,170,000
Javon Bullard, S, $1,828,945, $1,404,648
Anthony Belton, OL, $1,822,006, $1,204,401
MarShawn Lloyd, RB, $1,551,414, $1,312,138
Ty’Ron Hopper, LB, $1,548,552, $1,311,184
Matthew Orzech, LS, $1,502,500, $1,315,000
Brenton Cox Jr., DE, $1,484,706, $1,695,500
Savion Williams, WR, $1,430,103, $1,126,021
Jonathan Ford, DT, $1,391,765, $1,500,000
Evan Williams, S, $1,275,720, $1,075,000
Barryn Sorrell, DE, $1,240,463, $1,005,000
Desmond Ridder, QB, $1,215,000, $1,215,000
Jacob Monk, OL, $1,150,404, $1,075,000
Jordon Riley, DT, $1,145,000, $1,145,000
Arron Mosby, DE, $1,145,000, $1,145,000
Kitan Oladapo, S, $1,138,569, $1,075,000
Kristian Welch, LB, $1,125,000, $1,310,000
Travis Glover, OL, $1,117,845, $1,075,000
Jaden Crumedy, DE, $1,075,000, $1,075,000
Lucas Havrisik, K, $1,075,000, $1,075,000
Pierre Strong, RB, $1,075,000, $1,215,000
Warren Brinson, DT, $1,061,596, $1,005,000
Bo Melton, CB, $1,045,000, $1,045,000
Nazier Stackhouse, DT, $1,010,000, $1,005,000
Brant Banks, OL, $1,005,000, $1,005,000
Shemar Bartholomew, CB, $1,005,000, $1,005,000
Kamal Hadden, CB, $1,005,000, $1,005,000
Donovan Jennings, OL, $1,005,000, $1,005,000
Jamon Johnson, LB, $1,005,000, $1,005,000
Jaylin Simpson, S, $1,005,000, $1,005,000
Messiah Swinson, TE, $1,005,000, $1,005,000
Colin Oliver, DE, $986,021, $885,000
John Williams, OL, $910,418, $885,000
Johnathan Baldwin, S, $885,000, $885,000
Dante Barnett, DE, $885,000, $885,000
Karsen Barnhart, OL, $885,000, $885,000
Anthony Campbell, DT, $885,000, $885,000
McCallan Castles, TE, $885,000, $885,000
Dalton Cooper, OL, $885,000, $885,000
Drake Dabney, TE, $885,000, $885,000
James Ester, DT, $885,000, $885,000
Tyron Herring, CB, $885,000, $885,000
Jakobie Keeney-James, WR, $885,000, $885,000
Damien Martinez, RB, $885,000, $885,000
Kyle McCord, QB, $885,000, $885,000
Isaiah Neyor, WR, $885,000, $885,000
Mark Perry, S, $885,000, $885,000
Will Sheppard, WR, $885,000, $885,000
* Not on roster
Packers dead salary-cap money breakdown by player
Player, position, status, cap value
Rashan Gary, DE, traded, $17,042,273
Kenny Clark, DT, traded, $17,007,000
Elgton Jenkins, OL, released, $4,800,000
Nate Hobbs, CB, released, $4,000,000**
Colby Wooden, DT, traded, $191,982
Micah Robinson, CB, released, $85,380
Johnathan Baldwin, S, released, $10,000***
Tyler Cooper, G, released, $10,000
Amar Johnson, RB, released, $10,000
Jamon Johnson, LB, released, $10,000***
Jalen White, RB, released, $10,000
Kahzir Brown, CB, released, $6,667
Julian Fleming, WR, released, $6,667
Tyron Herring, CB, released, $6,667***
JJ Lippe, G, released, $6,667
Taylor Elgersma, QB, released, $2,000
Brant Banks, OL, released, $667***
** After June 1
*** Released and resigned at a later date
Browns GM Open to Making Major Move Ahead of NFL Draft
The Cleveland Browns entered the 2026 NFL offseason in a shambles offensively. The team was rated the worst offensive unit in the league by Pro Football Focus for the second straight year, and was actually worse in 2025 than they’d been in 2024. In fact, the Browns had the worst offense in PFF’s rankings since PFF began doing rankings two decades ago.
The entire offensive line was heading into free agency. The wide receiver room is the worst in the NFL. There’s no clear-cut quarterback, with Shedeur Sanders having gotten the final seven starts of the season and a looking like a possibility to return to the job next year, in competition with Deshaun Watson, who is coming off two Achilles tendon surgeries.
Even with the hiring of former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken as the head coach, this is a far cry from a juggernaut offense. It’s a far cry from a league-average offense. The Browns need a wave of players, and that could make things interesting with the No. 6 pick in the draft.
NFL Draft Trade on the Table for Browns
Currently, the Browns have No. 6 and No. 24, having gotten the Jaguars‘ pick this year in a trade-down from No. 2 to No. 5 last year. GM Andrew Berry, who met with reporters on Sunday ahead of the league’s owners meetings, said he is open to making a move on the No. 6 pick, with the possibility of trading down for more assets to address the many holes on the roster.
“I think it really just depends on the prospects that are available,” Berry said. “Look, this is what I would say. I don’t know that, but I would tell you guys, I don’t know that we are going to be picking six at the end of April, and if we are picking six, I have no idea what we’re going to take at this point.
“And so we try and remain flexible as we go into draft weekend, and we want to use the asset in the best way possible, whether that’s sitting and picking, trading up, trading down, trading it for a veteran player. I know I said this last year and people thought it was just GM talk, but it really is the truth.”
2025 Trade Worked Out Well
The trade down worked well for the Browns last year. Jacksonville had targeted Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter of Colorado as the player they wanted, and Hunter struggled to find a role before he suffered a season-ending knee injury after seven games.
The Browns, meanwhile, got Mason Graham with the No. 5 pick, and also got the Jaguars’ second-round pick, which was used on budding star running back Quinshon Judkins.
Berry pointed out that with No. 24 still on the board, the deal was very beneficial. It’s likely it would embolden him to trade back again if the option arises.
“Yeah, I think it’s something that made sense for both organizations at the time,” Berry said. “I think for us, the ability to realistically draft Mason (Graham), Draft Q (Judkins) and then obviously be sitting here with Pick 24, it made sense for where we are in our team’s life cycle. And it’s a way, maybe a little bit to Tony’s question earlier that you’re able to manufacture assets or resources without necessarily trading away a venture player.
“So it was an opportunity that came about and we were fortunate for what we were trying to achieve. And we do think that it puts us in a good position with what we’ve also added already.”
Golden Knights Make Shocking Coaching Change
The Vegas Golden Knights might be the team that never sleeps. This NHL franchise has just made a shocking move by bringing in John Tortorella.
While other sports leagues like the MLB and IPL are just kicking off, the NHL has mere weeks before the grind of the playoffs begins.
And the Golden Knights have made a big move.
Bruce Cassidy Out, John Tortorella In
A new report has just come out that Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy is being replaced by the gritty veteran bench boss Tortorella.
“With John Tortorella, we bring in a Stanley Cup Champion as well as one of the most experienced and respected coaches in the NHL,” Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon said in a statement. “His guidance will be a great asset to our team at the pivotal point in the season we currently face. We look forward to welcoming John to Vegas.”
Tortorella brings 1620 games of NHL coaching experience to the Golden Knights. He has 770 career wins under his belt. Tortorella last coached the Philadelphia Flyers in 2024-25.
In 73 games that year, he led the Flyers to a 28-36-9 record. Tortorella owns a .538 points percentage in his coaching career. Additionally, Tortorella won a Stanley Cup in 2004 with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Golden Knights Have Eyes on the Playoffs
With only eight games left on the regular season schedule, the Golden Knights have replaced their head coach.
That’s the kind of bold move that only the Golden Knights would pull off.
Sure, they have a 3-5-3 record over their last 10 games, with their most recent loss coming in the form of a 5-4 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals.
NHL news: Golden Knights shake up coaching staff
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The Vegas Golden Knights only have eight games remaining in the 2025-26 season, but decided to make the stunning move to fire and replace their head coach.
Vegas announced on Sunday that they relieved Bruce Cassidy as head coach and replaced him with John Tortorella.
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The Las Vegas Golden Knights fell to the Washington Capitals 5-4 in shootouts on Saturday. The loss dropped the Golden Knights to 32-26-16 with eight games remaining in the regular season.
Las Vegas is third in the Pacific Division but is on a three-game losing streak. After the loss on Saturday, the team decided to fire Bruce Cassidy.
John Tortorella was named as the new head coach of the Golden Knights.
Cassidy led the Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup championship in 2023, his first season as head coach. He went 178-99-43 during his time with Las Vegas.
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Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon explained the reason for moving on from Cassidy.
“We thank Bruce Cassidy for his dedication to our hockey club and community over the past four seasons,” McCrimmon said, via Las Vegas. “Under Bruce’s leadership, we reached our ultimate goal in 2023 by bringing a Stanley Cup to Vegas. Bruce will forever be remembered with the utmost regard by our organization for what was accomplished here.
NHL Notebook: Golden Knights fire Bruce Cassidy, name John Tortorella as new head coach
While the hockey in the Vancouver market hasn’t been much fun to watch, there are some entertaining playoff watches that Canucks fans can keep track of. The Wild Card race has four teams in the East (Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, and Washington Capitals) and five teams in the West (Los Angeles Kings, Seattle Kraken, Winnipeg Jets, San Jose Sharks, and St. Louis Blues), currently out of the playoffs but are within four points of the final spot.
Earlier this week, Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid described the Pacific Division race as a “pillow fight”. And that’s true. The Anaheim Ducks lead the division with 86 points. To put that in perspective, the Ducks are tied in points with the Senators and Red Wings – two teams who are out of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference.
One of the teams looking to compete for the division title coming into the season was the Vegas Golden Knights. It hasn’t been the season Vegas envisioned to this point, prompting a big change behind the bench right before the start of the postseason.
Vegas Golden Knights make coaching change
On Sunday afternoon, the Golden Knights announced that the team had relieved head coach Bruce Cassidy of his duties. In the same post, they announced John Tortorella has been named the bench boss.
After spending 14 years in the Bruins organization (Providence 2008-2016, Boston 2016-2022), he was fired as the head coach in June 2022, following a Game 7 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. But he wasn’t out of work for long, as just eight days later, the Golden Knights hired him.
It was a successful transition for Cassidy in Vegas, as he led them to a 51-22-9 record, a Pacific Division title, and a Stanley Cup Championship in just their sixth season. But this season, it hasn’t gone as well.
Through 74 games under Cassidy, the Golden Knights sit third in the Pacific Division with a 32-26-16 record for 80 points. They trail the division-leading Ducks by six points and the Edmonton Oilers by three.
Tortorella has been out of a job since he was fired at the tail end of last season with the Philadelphia Flyers after saying he was “not really interested in learning how to coach in this type of season, where we’re at right now.”
Starting his head-coaching career in 1999-2000, Tortorella has coached five teams: the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Philadelphia Flyers. Throughout his 23 seasons and 1,620 games as an NHL head coach, Tortorella has 12 playoff appearances, two Conference finals, and one Stanley Cup on his resume.
With just eight games remaining on the Golden Knights’ schedule, Tortorella will have to work quickly to implement his new systems to help turn this team around before the playoffs. And it just seems fitting that his first game with his new team will be at home against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night.
Golden Knights fire Bruce Cassidy, replace him with John Tortorella
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Bruce Cassidy is out as coach of the Vegas Golden Knights, who fired him Sunday in an abrupt late-season change and replaced him with John Tortorella.
General manager Kelly McCrimmon announced the move a day after the team lost three in a row and six of its past seven games. Vegas is in third place in the Pacific Division and on track to make the playoffs despite the recent skid.
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NHL EDGE stats: Tortorella can spark Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights have made a late-season coaching change by hiring John Tortorella to replace Bruce Cassidy on Sunday, and some of their advanced metrics suggest they could bounce back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Tortorella, a two-time Jack Adams Award winner as the NHL’s coach of the year, ranks ninth all-time in coaching wins (770) at the time of Vegas’ coaching change and won the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004. The Golden Knights, who have made the playoffs in seven of their eight seasons, won the Stanley Cup in 2023 and are close to clinching a spot this year with eight games remaining at the time of the coaching change.
Tortorella has led his teams to 12 playoff appearances in 23 seasons, including when he led the Columbus Blue Jackets to a shocking upset of the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Lightning in the 2019 postseason. The 67-year-old coach now takes over a star-studded roster, led by elite forwards Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner and Mark Stone; at the time of the coaching change, the Golden Knights were the only NHL team with six 50-point scorers, with two 70-point scorers in Eichel (78) and Marner (71), followed by Stone (64), Pavel Dorofeyev (60), Tomas Hertl (54) and Ivan Barbashev (52).
Vegas ranks in the top 10 in power-play percentage (24.5; tied for fourth), penalty kill percentage (81.8; sixth), shots on goal per game (28.6; 10th) and shots on goal allowed per game (24.3; tied for second fewest) this season at the time of its coaching change but was tied for the second-worst team save percentage (.874; ahead of only Vancouver Canucks’ .873).
Here are three underlying metrics storylines that suggest the Golden Knights could bounce back after their coaching change:
1. Save percentage metrics
Prior to the Golden Knights’ coaching change, they had the worst 5-on-5 save percentage (88.4) in the NHL this season. Vegas’ goalie rotation leads with Adin Hill, who was the Stanley Cup-winning starter in 2023, playing in 16 of the Golden Knights’ 22 postseason games and going 11-4 with a .932 save percentage (led entire playoffs) and two shutouts.
Hill has missed significant time because of injury this season; since returning Jan. 15, Hill was 8-9-3 with an .861 save percentage and one shutout prior to the coaching change. The Golden Knights have also leaned on backup Akira Schmid (16 wins, two shutouts in 34 games prior to coaching change). Goalie Carter Hart signed with Vegas on Oct. 24 and made his debut Dec. 2 but hasn’t played since Jan. 8 because of a lower-body injury.
During the 2023 postseason, Hill led the playoffs in high-danger save percentage (.893; minimum 10 games) and also ranked fourth in 5-on-5 save percentage (.941). This season, all three of Vegas’ goalies rank below the NHL average in high-danger save percentage. Tortorella provides hope considering he guided workhorse goalie Nikolai Khabibulin (16-7, .933 save percentage, five shutouts during 2004 postseason) to the Stanley Cup with the Lightning and also led elite starter Sergei Bobrovsky and the Blue Jackets to their upset of Tampa Bay in 2019.
2. High-danger offense
The Golden Knights, despite their underwhelming play of late, ranked among the top five in both high-danger shots on goal (653; tied for second) and high-danger goals (130; fourth) prior to the coaching change. They also rank in the top 10 of the League in both offensive zone time percentage (41.9; sixth) and 5-on-5 shot attempts percentage (51.9; eighth), an indicator of a team’s status as a Stanley Cup contender.
Hertl ranks third in the entire NHL in high-danger shots on goal (109) behind Zach Hyman (111) and Connor McDavid (110). Defenseman Rasmus Andersson, whom Vegas acquired from the Calgary Flames on Jan. 18, has 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 25 games since the trade but brings an elite EDGE stats profile. The 29-year-old ranks among the top five defensemen in both high-danger shots on goal (18; fourth) and high-danger goals (five; tied for second) and also ranks in the 97th percentile at the position in hardest shot (100.26 mph).
Vegas is one of two teams with at least six 20-goal scorers this season (other: Utah Mammoth), led by Dorofeyev’s 34 goals (one away from tying career high with Golden Knights last season). Dorofeyev has robust advanced shot metrics (percentile rankings among forwards listed below):
• Hardest shot: 93.33 mph (93rd percentile)
• High-danger shots on goal: 71 (95th percentile)
• High-danger goals: 14 (90th percentile)
• Midrange shots on goal: 70 (94th percentile)
• Midrange goals: 10 (93rd percentile)
• Long-range shots on goal: 22 (94th percentile)
3. Projected Goal Rate
NHL EDGE IQ uses
Stars rookie Arttu Hyry ties game with first NHL goal, but Dallas falls to Flyers in OT
PHILADELPHIA — Trevor Zegras wristed a sharp-angle shot past Casey DeSmith with 1:33 remaining in overtime, leading the hard-charging Philadelphia Flyers to a 2-1 victory over the slumping Dallas Stars on Sunday night.
Travis Konecny scored in regulation for the Flyers, who are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games. With 86 points, they pulled within two of both Columbus — which is in the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference — and Pittsburgh — which is in third place in the Metropolitan Division. Samuel Ersson made 17 saves.\
Rookie Arttu Hyry, playing his sixth game since being recalled from Dallas’ AHL affiliate, scored the lone goal for the Stars, who are in second place in the Central Division but have lost five of their last six. DeSmith finished with 28 saves.
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Konecny gave the Flyers a 1-0 lead on a wraparound shot at the crease for a power-play goal 9:48 into the second period. Philadelphia entered with only a 15.3% success rate on the power play, last in the NHL.
After allowing that goal, DeSmith bounced back later in the period by robbing Philadelphia’s Matvei Michkov on another Flyers power play.
Hyry scored his short-handed goal at 17:53 of the second to tie it at 1.
Flyers general manager Danny Briere earlier announced the signing of top 2025 draft pick Porter Martone to a three-year entry level contract. The Michigan State product arrived in the second period Sunday night. Briere indicated it’s possible he could play Tuesday night in Washington, “assuming everything goes according to plan.”
Up next
Stars: Visit the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night.
Flyers: Visit the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night.
Canadiens’ Lane Hutson makes NHL history in win over Hurricanes
Making a statement as a team wasn’t the only headline to come out of the Montreal Canadiens’ 3-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday.
Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson made history while helping his team further solidify their place as not just a playoff team, but a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference.
Assisting on two of Montreal’s three goals in the game, Hutson, who just turned 22 in February, became the fastest defenseman to ever record 30 multi-assist games. Hutson set the record in only two full seasons and 157 total games.
Lane Hutson assisted on the two most important goals of the game
As has been the case most of the season, Hutson got involved on the two biggest goals of the game en route to making history. He assisted on Montreal’s first and second goals — the game-tying and eventual game-winner in the second period, both on the heels of Carolina holding a 1-0 lead after the first period.
Overall, in 73 games throughout this season, Hutson now has 62 assists to go along with his 11 goals for 73 points.
Hutson has enjoyed an even better sophomore season
Hutson’s 2025-26 season serves as an even better follow-up to what he produced when he won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie last year.
With two games under his belt from the 2023-24 campaign, Hutson played in all 82 in 2024-25, scoring six goals and registering 60 assists as a rookie.
But Montreal failed to make it out of the first round in the playoffs with Hutson last season. The next milestone for the young budding star will be stepping his game up even more in the postseason and helping his team advance.
First Call: Tensions rise between NFL and its officials; Flyers surging; Andrew McCutchen’s start with Texas
Monday’s “First Call” has an update on increasing contract tensions between the NFL and its officials. Things are really getting muddy in the NHL’s Eastern Conference.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are set for their second series of the season. Andrew McCutchen seems to be enjoying his time in Texas, and a Pittsburgh product is impressing in St. Louis.
Zebra zingers
The saber-rattling is getting loud between the NFL and the union that represents its officials.
The contract disagreement between those two sides is getting a lot of attention, as Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network sent out this characterization of events.
The NFLRA responded through ProFootballTalk.com with its own spin.
“Apparently, ‘league sources’ are continuing to put out false and misleading information instead of wanting to meet at the negotiating table,” the NFL Referees Association said. “The bottom line is our officials work for the wealthiest sports league in America, with profits that far exceed any of the others. That’s normally a point of pride for the NFL. However, our officials are substantially under-compensated when compared to baseball and basketball umpires and referees. Our officials also aren’t even provided the health care benefits that those at 345 Park Avenue have.”
The NFLRA seemed particularly miffed about the “performance” angle of the conversation.
“As far as performance pay, we had ‘high-performing officials’ who worked this year’s Championship games and the Super Bowl who were paid less for those games than what they were paid for a regular-season game. That certainly isn’t rewarding performance, as the NFL claims is their goal.”
As ESPN.com reported, the NFL has a plan in place for replacement officials if CBA talks fail to generate a new deal before the start of the season.
Not dead yet
As the Penguins and New York Islanders had Sunday off to prepare for Monday night’s massive game at UBS Arena, there was some movement around the rest of the Eastern Conference.
Atop the Metropolitan Division, the Carolina Hurricanes lost 3-1 to the Montreal Canadiens. Meanwhile, fourth-place Columbus picked up a point but blew at 3-0 lead in the third period at home to Boston and lost 4-3 in a shootout.
Pavel Zacha forced OT for the Bruins with 11 seconds remaining.
That means the Hurricanes lead the Metro with 98 points. The Islanders are in second with 89, and the Blue Jackets are now tied with the Penguins at 88 points apiece. But, since Columbus has played one extra game thus far, they are in fourth place and occupy a wild card slot with the Bruins (92 points) from the Atlantic Division.
Don’t look now, though, because the Philadelphia Flyers are very much alive. They’ve got 86 points and are tied for ninth place with Ottawa and Detroit, just two points behind Columbus for the final wild card spot.
Philly edged Dallas 2-1 in overtime Sunday for its eighth win in 10 tries. They next play in Washington on Tuesday before tangling with Detroit, the Islanders and Boston the rest of the week.
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Divisional duties
The Pirates open their first divisional series of the 2026 season Monday in Cincinnati.
The Reds took two of three from Boston to start the year. The Pirates won Sunday’s game in New York against the Mets 4-3 in 10 innings to salvage a split after dropping their first two contests.
Cincy won on Sunday, 3-2. Eugenio Suarez homered for the Reds.
One thing the Pirates’ pitching staff wants to do better is find the strike zone. The Bucs issued 16 walks to the Mets in their opening series, fifth-most in Major League Baseball’s opening weekend.
Braxton Ashcraft is scheduled to pitch Monday’s series opener for Pittsburgh. The right-hander was 4-4 with a 2.71 ERA last year. He’ll be opposed by Cincinnati righty Chase Burns (0-3, 4.57).
Hot starts
Andrew McCutchen had a successful first series with the Texas Rangers. The former Pirate had four hits in nine at-bats against Philadelphia. He homered and picked up nine RBIs in those three games.
Texas took two of three and heads to Baltimore for three games starting Monday.
Meanwhile, West Virginia University product J.J. Wetherholt is making headlines in St. Louis. The Mars Area High School product is off to a flying start for St. Louis.
In his first series against Tampa Bay, the rookie infielder went 4-13 with a home run and four RBIs. One of those RBIs was a game-winning hit on Saturday.
OptaSTATS research claims he is the first player in MLB history with a home run in his first career game and a walk-off hit in his second.
The Cardinals host the Mets on Monday after taking two of three from the Rays in their opening series. St. Louis posted 22 runs over the weekend.
NHL playoff watch: Penguins, Isles destined for first-round matchup?
There have been a number of permutations of Eastern Conference playoff teams in the past few weeks beyond the Buffalo Sabres, Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes, who appear pretty stable in their positions atop the Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions, respectively.
Two of the teams that have been riding the teacups are the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders.
The ship probably has sailed on either club catching the Canes for the No. 1 seed in the division, but both are squarely in the mix for the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds; and if the pair do wind up in those slots, they’d square off in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Monday is the final regular-season matchup between the clubs (7 p.m. ET, NHL Network), and they’ve split the season series to this point. So this final game will have a major impact on the standings.
Heading into Monday’s game, the Isles will be in the No. 2 position, with 89 points and 28 regulation wins through 74 games; the Penguins are No. 3, with 88 points and 29 regulation wins through 73 games. What are the chances they wind up matched up in Round 1?
According to Stathletes projections, there is a 27.03% chance of Penguins-Islanders being one of the first matchups in the 2026 bracket. But there’s a greater chance that the third Metro team in the mix — the Columbus Blue Jackets — takes the Isles’ place; Stathletes projects a Penguins-Blue Jackets first-round series occurring in 33.34% of simulations.
Given the small margins, expect this race to come right down to the final days of the regular season.
Every team has no more than 11 games remaining before the regular season concludes April 16, and we’ll help you keep track of it all here on the NHL playoff watch every day. As we traverse the final stretch, we’ll provide details on all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2026 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.
Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today’s schedule
Last night’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Tampa Bay Lightningvs. WC2 Columbus Blue Jackets
A2 Buffalo Sabresvs. A3Montreal Canadiens
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 Boston Bruins
M2New York Islanders vs. M3 Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Conference
C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Nashville Predators
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota Wild
P1 Anaheim Ducksvs. WC1 Utah Mammoth
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Vegas Golden Knights
Today’s games
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).
Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Islanders, 7 p.m. (NHLN)
Calgary Flames at Colorado Avalanche, 8:30 p.m.
Vancouver Canucks at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.
St. Louis Blues at San Jose Sharks, 10 p.m.
Last night’s scoreboard
New York Rangers 3, Florida Panthers 1
Tampa Bay Lightning 3, Nashville Predators 2
Montreal Canadiens 3, Carolina Hurricanes 1
Boston Bruins 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 3 (SO)
New Jersey Devils 5, Chicago Blackhawks 3
Philadelphia Flyers 2, Dallas Stars 1 (OT)
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Tampa Bay Lightning
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 9
Points pace: 110.1
Next game: vs. MTL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Magic number: 6
Tragic number: N/A
Buffalo Sabres
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 108.6
Next game: vs. NYI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Magic number: 6
Tragic number: N/A
Montreal Canadiens
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 9
Points pace: 105.6
Next game: @ TB (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 98.1%
Magic number: 10
Tragic number: N/A
Boston Bruins
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 8
Points pace: 102.0
Next game: vs. DAL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 81.2%
Magic number: 12
Tragic number: N/A
Ottawa Senators
Points: 86
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 96.6
Next game: @ FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 69.3%
Magic number: N/A
Tragic number: 17
Detroit Red Wings
Points: 86
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 96.6
Next game: @ PIT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 24.9%
Magic number: N/A
Tragic number: 17
Toronto Maple Leafs
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 83.1
Next game: @ ANA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Magic number: N/A
Tragic number: 4
Florida Panthers
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 82.0
Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Magic number: N/A
Tragic number: 4
Metro Division
Carolina Hurricanes
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 9
Points pace: 110.1
Next game: @ CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Magic number: 6
Tragic number: N/A
New York Islanders
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 98.6
Next game: vs. PIT (Monday)
Playoff chances: 62.4%
Magic number: 15
Tragic number: N/A
Pittsburgh Penguins
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 9
Points pace: 98.9
Next game: @ NYI (Monday)
Playoff chances: 73.1%
Magic number: 16
Tragic number: N/A
Columbus Blue Jackets
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 97.5
Next game: vs. CAR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 68.3%
Magic number: 16
Tragic number: N/A
Philadelphia Flyers
Points: 86
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 96.6
Next game: @ WSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 16.4%
Magic number: N/A
Tragic number: 16
Washington Capitals
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 92.0
Next game: vs. PHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 6.3%
Magic number: N/A
Tragic number: 11
New Jersey Devils
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 87.6
Next game: @ NYR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Magic number: N/A
Tragic number: 8
e – New York Rangers
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 76.5
Next game: vs. NJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Magic number: N/A
Tragic number: OUT
Central Division
x – Colorado Avalanche
Points: 106
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 10
Points pace: 120.7
Next game: vs. CGY (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Magic number: IN
Tragic number: N/A
x – Dallas Stars
Points: 100
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 110.8
Next game: @ BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Magic number: IN
Tragic number: N/A
Minnesota Wild
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 8
Points pace: 104.2
Next game: vs. VAN (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Magic number: 1
Tragic number: N/A
Utah Mammoth
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 8
Points pace: 90.9
Next game: vs. SEA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 98.5%
Magic number: 13
Tragic number: N/A
Nashville Predators
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 85.3
Next game: @ LA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 17.3%
Magic number: 18
Tragic number: N/A
Winnipeg Jets
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 83.1
Next game: @ CHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 2.4%
Magic number: N/A
Tragic number: 15
St. Louis Blues
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 83.1
Next game: @ SJ (Monday)
Playoff chances: 14%
Magic number: N/A
Tragic number: 16
Chicago Blackhawks
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 74.2
Next game: vs. WPG (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Magic number: N/A
Tragic number: 6
Pacific Division
Anaheim Ducks
Points: 86
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 9
Points pace: 96.6
Next game: vs. TOR (Monday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Magic number: 9
Tragic number: N/A
Edmonton Oilers
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 92.0
Next game: vs. SEA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 96.8%
Magic number: 12
Tragic number: N/A
Vegas Golden Knights
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 8
Points pace: 88.7
Next game: vs. VAN (Monday)
Playoff chances: 96.7%
Magic number: 15
Tragic number: N/A
Los Angeles Kings
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 85.4
Next game: vs. STL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 24.7%
Magic number: N/A
Tragic number: 17
Seattle Kraken
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 85.4
Next game: @ EDM (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 9.3%
Magic number: N/A
Tragic number: 18
San Jose Sharks
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 84.3
Next game: vs. STL (Monday)
Playoff chances: 40.4%
Magic number: N/A
Tragic number: 18
Calgary Flames
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 78.6
Next game: @ COL (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Magic number: N/A
Tragic number: 11
e – Vancouver Canucks
Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 56.9
Next game: @ VGK (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Magic number: N/A
Tragic number: OUT
Note: An
Ex-NBA Star Calls Out Victor Wembanyama’s “Politic” MVP Campaign Despite Favorable NBA Rankings
Last week, reporters asked San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama in a post-match presser why he deserves to be the MVP this season. ‘The Alien’ responded in a nuanced five-minute speech, carefully detailing why he should win his maiden MVP title this year. Fans and the media praised his conviction, but a few individuals did not like his ‘politicking’.
One of them was former New York Knicks player Quentin Richardson. The 45-year-old featured on the latest segment of Andscape and was asked to give his two cents on Wemby’s post-game comments. Let’s just say, he did not hold back.
“I like everything about Wemby, but I didn’t like that. Big fella, your game is doing all the talking,” Richardson said on the show. “I don’t feel like he should have to go up there and politic to prove why he’s the MVP. Now, I also say he’s not the MVP this year. SGA is… My era wasn’t really like that. We wouldn’t go up there and say, ‘I should be MVP!’ We would be in the locker room, like what is he doing?”
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Victor Wembanyama made a case for himself, highlighting how defense is undervalued in the NBA. He also mentioned that the Spurs dominated Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Oklahoma City Thunder throughout the season. Lastly, he asserted that his offensive style encompasses more than just scoring, citing rebounding, playmaking, and spacing as his defining traits.
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Despite this comprehensive argument, Richardson does not believe that the 22-year-old is deserving of the award, at least not at this point in his career.
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“I still don’t like that it felt like he’s trying to give his reasons why or persuade somebody why she should be MVP. I don’t think he should have to do that. I think his game is loud enough; everything he does is loud enough…I do believe that at some point, he’s going to be the MVP, but honestly, my opinion is that SGA is the MVP this year,” Richardson concluded.
Even Golden State Warriors vet Draymond Green took a sly dig at Wemby’s post-game statements, saying “I hated it…and I absolutely loved it.” But the injured Tyrese Haliburton sided with the European, adding, “If I was in his shoes, I’d do the same thing, I ain’t gonna lie.”
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Wemby, SGA, The Joker or Luka Doncic – Who will be crowned MVP?
A couple of months ago, the 2025-26 NBA MVP competition seemed like a one-horse race with SGA in prime position. But fast forward to March, and now it seems like we have a hotly-contested battle with multiple superstars gunning for glory. One player that has seen their stock (and odds) rise in recent weeks is Victor ‘The Alien’ Wembanyama. But another man hot on his trail is the Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Doncic.
The Lakers superstar is averaging 40+ points this month, catapulting his team to the third seed in the West. The 48-26 Lakers are 9-1 in their last 10 and seem to be quietly generating underdog narratives to upset San Antonio or OKC in the playoffs. As of now, the bookmakers have Doncic in third place behind SGA and Wemby, but this could change as we approach the last phase of the regular season.
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Meanwhile, Victor’s odds seem to be on the rise every week. There’s every sign that this race could go down to the wire as the top-three battle for bragging rights. Time will tell who comes out on top, but for neutral fans, this is a battle for the ages. So sit back, grab some popcorn, and enjoy the fireworks!
NBA roundup: Raptors score 31 straight in Magic’s worst-ever loss
Scottie Barnes recorded his second consecutive double-double, going for 23 points and a career-high 15 assists, as the Toronto Raptors destroyed the visiting Orlando Magic on Sunday, 139-87.
Already dominating the matchup between Eastern Conference playoff hopefuls thanks to a 31-0 spurt in the first half, Toronto went on a 17-0 run to close the third and extending into the fourth. The burst, lasting a little more than three minutes, extended a 38-point lead to 55. The run also effectively doomed Orlando to its most lopsided loss in franchise history.
The Magic’s previous worst defeat was a 47-point rout against Chicago in 2017. And, for a stretch in the fourth quarter, Orlando appeared poised to avoid the dubious record. A 15-4 run Magic run pulled them to a 45-point differential with 4:26 remaining. The Moritz Wagner 3-pointer at the conclusion of this stretch represented the last points Orlando scored.
RJ Barrett also scored a game-high 24 points and paced eight Raptors scoring in double figures. Jamal Shead finished with 12 points and 10 assists, while Ja’Kobe Walter and Jakob Poetlt each finished with 11 points. Desmond Bane led Orlando with 17 points, Jalen Suggs finished with 13 points and five assists and Tristan da Silva scored 12. Paolo Banchero, Orlando’s leading scorer, finished with just nine points.
Thunder 110, Knicks 100
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points to lead Oklahoma City to a home win over New York.
The Thunder have won 14 of their last 15 and moved 2 1/2 games ahead of San Antonio for the top spot in the Western Conference. Jalen Williams scored 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting in more than 28 minutes, his most minutes since Jan. 15 and most points in the four games since returning from a hamstring injury.
Jalen Brunson led New York with 32 points, while Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges had 15 points each and Towns added 18 rebounds. The Knicks have dropped back-to-back games after winning seven consecutive.
Clippers 127, Bucks 113
Bennedict Mathurin scored 28 points and John Collins added 22 to lead Los Angeles to a road victory over Milwaukee.
Kawhi Leonard recorded 20 points and eight rebounds and Darius Garland notched a 15-point, 11-assist double-double as the Clippers won their fifth straight game.
The Bucks, in contrast, have now lost four straight contests and 14 times in their last 17 games. Gary Trent Jr. led Milwaukee with a game-high 36 points on 12-for-21 shooting and Taurean Prince added 18 with eight assists and six rebounds, but those efforts weren’t enough without Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kyle Kuzma, Kevin Porter Jr. and Gary Harris.
Celtics 114, Hornets 99
Jayson Tatum had 32 points, five rebounds and eight assists to help short-handed Boston extend its winning streak to three games with a road victory over Charlotte.
Payton Pritchard added 28 points, six rebounds and six assists as the Celtics were without both Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. Neemias Queta also pitched in with 17 points and eight rebounds.
The Hornets shot just 12 of 43 (27.9%) from beyond the arc, with Kon Knueppel especially struggling (1 of 6 from 3-point range). LaMelo Ball scored a team-high 19 points, while Miles Bridges finished with 14.
Pacers 135, Heat 118
Pascal Siakam had 30 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to lead Indiana to a victory over visiting Miami.
Micah Potter scored 21 points on five made 3-pointers, Kobe Brown added 18 points and Andrew Nembhard tallied 15 points and 10 assists for the Pacers, who earned their first home win since Jan. 31. T.J. McConnell added 15 points and nine assists and Obi Toppin finished with 12 points.
Miami was led by Tyler Herro’s 31 points, followed by Jaime Jaquez Jr.’s 17. Bam Adebayo had 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Heat, who dropped their seventh game in eight tries. Andrew Wiggins and Pelle Larsson each had 15 in the loss.
Trail Blazers 123, Wizards 88
Toumani Camara recorded 23 points and seven rebounds and Scoot Henderson added 21 points and seven assists as Portland routed visiting Washington.
Former Wizards player Deni Avdija added 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists as Portland never trailed en route to winning for the sixth time in the past eight games. The Trail Blazers are 1 1/2 games behind the eighth-place Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference play-in jockeying.
Will Riley scored 14 points off the bench for the Wizards, who lost for the 18th time in 19 games. Bub Carrington scored 11 points but missed the final quarter due to muscle cramping. Alex Sarr (left big toe) sat out. Tristan Vukcevic, Justin Champagnie and Sharife Cooper added 10 points apiece.
Rockets 134, Pelicans 102
Alperen Sengun paired 36 points with 13 rebounds while also notching seven assists, three steals, three blocks and five threes to lead Houston to a victory over host New Orleans.
Jabari Smith Jr. and Kevin Durant both dropped 20 points as the Rockets now hold a four-game lead over the Phoenix Suns for the No. 6 spot in the Western Conference. Clint Capela left his mark with 14 boards in 16 minutes off the bench.
Dejounte Murray scored 19 for New Orleans (25-51), which suffered its fifth consecutive loss. Saddiq Bey and Zion Williamson contributed 18 points each.
Nets 116, Kings 99
Ochai Agbaji and rookie Drake Powell combined for 17 points in the fourth quarter as Brooklyn stopped a 10-game losing streak with a victory over Sacramento in New York.
The Nets allowed the game’s first basket and never trailed again, taking a 27-point lead midway through the second quarter before getting their first win since March 9. Agbaji scored 18 points and Powell finished with 16. Rookie Nolan Traore added 17 and six assists as Brooklyn sealed just its third win in its last 23 games.
The Kings took their 11th straight road loss to an Eastern Conference team as DeMar DeRozan (hamstring) and Malik Monk (bruised shoulder) were out. Devin Carter led Sacramento with 20 points, rookie Nique Clifford contributed 17 and seven rebounds and Precious Achiuwa chipped in 16 and eight boards.
Nuggets Star Nikola Jokic Made NBA History In Warriors Game
On Sunday night, the Denver Nuggets played the Golden State Warriors (at home).
The Nuggets won by a score of 116-93.
Nikola Jokic went off for 25 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists and one steal while shooting 10/20 from the field and 4/8 from three-point range in 36 minutes of playing time.
Nikola Jokic Made NBA History Against Warriors
Jokic also made NBA history with his performance.
Real App: “Nikola Jokic now has the most games by a center in NBA history with 25+ PTS on 50/40/90%.”
Jokic had come into the night with incredible averages of 27.9 points, 12.8 rebounds, 10.8 assists and 1.4 steals per contest while shooting 57.4% from the field and 38.5% from three-point range in 59 games.
The three-time MVP still remains one of the five best players in the league.
Kenzo Fukuda of ClutchPoints wrote: “We just watched Jokic in his bag carry a 19-5 Nuggets run to end the quarter. Ridiculously top tier hoops from that dude.
Porzingis and Green threw the kitchen sink at him and Jokic solved every puzzle.”
Jokic And The Nuggets
With their win over the Warriors, the Nuggets are now 48-28 in 76 games, which has them as the fourth seed in the Western Conference.
They are in the middle of a six-game winning streak (and 8-2 over their last ten).
At home, the Nuggets have gone 24-13 in 37 games.
Following the Warriors, they will play their next game on Wednesday when they visit the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.
Jokic is in his 11th NBA season (all with the Nuggets).
In 2023, he helped lead the franchise to the NBA Championship over the Miami Heat.
NBC Commentator Makes Wild Draymond Green Remark During Nuggets-Warriors Scuffle
Draymond Green can’t help it. Trouble seems to find the controversial Warriors forward. He feels his reputation contributes to some of the punishment he faces from officials. So, against the Nuggets, Green made a move that stunned many people. There was a major scuffle during the game. But the former DPOY was the one who kept his composure.
Notably, Gary Payton II snatched Zeke Nnaji’s headband, forcing security and players to intervene. Draymond Green was a part of the heat during the buildup. But when it got really spicy, instead of making his presence felt, the Warriors’ defensive anchor took more than a few steps back.
Even the game announcers couldn’t believe the scenes unfolding in front of them. “Draymond Green is completely away from it!” one of the announcers said during the game.
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Green didn’t just stand ideally. Rather than get himself in trouble, he spent time talking to the officials about the chaos. He then calmly walked back to the Warriors’ bench. Draymond Green didn’t show any emotion. It was something a veteran would do. With the game barely entering the second quarter, Green understood the ramifications of picking up an early technical.
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And as mentioned, Green doesn’t have to be the instigator to be penalised. Likewise, he gave officials no reason to punish him. It’s an encouraging sight considering Draymond Green’s struggles throughout the season. He’s the player with the third most technical fouls, with 12 this season. Moreover, Green has also been ejected twice.
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It helped that Draymond Green stayed on the floor for the Warriors. They built a 13-point lead in the second quarter against the Nuggets. The seasoned forward had 10 points and five assists before the break, playing the role of a catalyst behind the Warriors’ brief success.
Sustainability, injuries hurt the Warriors vs Nuggets
The Golden State Warriors have pulled out every player from their roster to manage the injury problems. And they had started to deliver, going on a three-game winning streak. It started off positively against the Nuggets. The ball was moving, and the Warriors defended well. But the second half was a complete contrast.
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The Warriors had just 11 assists and seven turnovers. They managed to score just 40 points, while the Nuggets put 70 on their heads. And Kerr spoke about the repeating pattern of the Warriors failing to remain consistent for 48 minutes.
“It’s kind of been a pattern of ours a little bit. We’re playing a really solid half, and then we just can’t sustain it. That’s where you really feel the injuries. You need more depth, you need more firepower, but we just got to keep fighting,” said Steve Kerr.
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Even the current set of available players has some health troubles. De’Anthony Melton is going through a slump. And Kerr revealed it’s due to a lingering thumb injury that the veteran guard is playing through. The Warriors were also missing Al Horford on top of both Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler.
Luckily, Kerr did offer some optimism around Curry returning soon. The Warriors talisman has progressed to on-court workouts and is nearing a return from his knee injury. His participation provides the Warriors with the ‘firepower’ required to maintain leads. With Porzingis also being available, a pairing with Stephen Curry could do wonders for the Warriors.
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Till that happens, the team needs to continue fighting and win as many of their remaining games as possible.
Pacers Star Tyrese Haliburton Makes Bold WrestleMania Claim
WrestleMania 42 is headed to Las Vegas in April for a two-night spectacle at Allegiant Stadium.
Since its inception, WrestleMania has been WWE’s flagship pay-per-view event, offering some of the industry’s most compelling, awe-inspiring moments.
WrestleMania 42 will be no different, as it features some of the biggest names in the industry. WWE stars Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton, CM Punk, Rhea Ripley, Jade Cargill and Cody Rhodes, among others, are slated to appear.
Ahead of the action, Indiana Pacers star and wrestling savant Tyrese Haliburton shared his predictions for the main event match.
During an appearance on NBA on Prime, Haliburton weighed in on the main event heavyweight championship match between CM Punk and Roman Reigns.
“Imma go with CM Punk. [Roman Reigns] is my tribal chief and I’m rocking with both of them,” Haliburton said. “But, I’m gonna go with CM Punk on this one.”
Tyrese Haliburton Has Close Ties to WWE
Haliburton, a two-time All-Star, has been vocal about his passion for pro wrestling over the years.
The Pacers guard has attended Smackdown, Fast Lane, NXT, and Summerslam 2025, where he famously gifted a walking crutch to John Cena to use as a weapon.
Haliburton has even made an in-ring appearance.
During an episode of SmackDown in 2024, wrestler Logan Paul made a grand entrance alongside the Olympic gold medalist Haliburton at Madison Square Garden.
As Haliburton made his way to the ring with Paul, he spotted a familiar foe in the audience — Knicks guard Jalen Brunson — and stepped to him.
The NBA stars exchanged words and nearly came to blows.
Haliburton retrieved Paul’s brass knuckles as the match progressed before banging them on the steel stairs, triggering Brunson to take action.
The Eastern Conference rivals continued jawing before WWE officials separated them.
Following their viral altercation on Smackdown, Haliburton and Brunson were added as playable fighters in WWE 2k25.
WrestleMania Returns to Las Vegas in 2026
For the second consecutive year, Vegas will host WWE’s biggest pay-per-view event at Allegiant Stadium.
WWE typically changes locations for the annual show, but there’s a reason why they doubled down on Sin City.
Money.
According to a report from Brandon Thurston at Post Wrestling and Wrestlenomics, WrestleMania 41 from inside Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas in 2025 pulled in $66,074,558 in ticket revenue. That makes the event the most lucrative pro wrestling event in the history of the industry.
Before WrestleMania 41, WrestleMania 40 was the highest ever gate in the wrestling business. If inflation is factored in, per the Thurston report, WrestleMania 32 at AT&T Stadium in Texas was the second-highest gate in history.
In April, WWE looks to cash in again with another two-night WrestleMania event.
Following the March 27 episode of SmackDown, the WrestleMania 42 card is nearing completion.
Two new matches were made official: Drew McIntyre will face Jacob Fatu in an Unsanctioned Match, while newly crowned United States Champion Sami Zayn is set to defend his title against Trick Williams.
WrestleMania 42 features main event matches filled with legends for Night 1 and Night 2.
CM Punk is set to go head-to-head against Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania.
Reigns outlasted 29 other fighters to win the 2026 Royal Rumble and earn the opportunity to headline WrestleMania against whichever world champion he wished.
Additionally, Cody Rhodes will defend the WWE Undisputed Championship against his former mentor, Randy Orton.
For Rhodes, this marks his second consecutive WrestleMania main event match.
Orton, a fellow second-generation superstar, will seek his 15th World Championship reign.
Lakers Urged to Add ‘Wildly Polarizing’ Forward to Boost Frontcourt
Since their nine-game winning streak was snapped by the Detroit Pistons last week, the Los Angeles Lakers have quickly regained momentum.
Back-to-back wins over the Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets have lifted Los Angeles to 48-26 on the season, restoring their grip on the No. 3 seed in a tightly packed Western Conference.
The margin remains slim, however, with the Denver Nuggets just one game behind amid a six-game winning streak of their own.
While the focus remains firmly on postseason positioning, there is an increasing sense that the upcoming offseason could prove pivotal in shaping the franchise’s next phase.
Lakers Could Eye Multiple Roster-Building Paths This Offseason
The future of LeBron James remains one of the central storylines heading into the summer.
Should James depart, alongside several expiring contracts, the Lakers could open up league-leading cap space, with ESPN’s Kevin Pelton identifying the frontcourt as a key area in need of reinforcement.
Even so, the NBA Draft presents a controlled and sustainable pathway for Los Angeles to add young, cost-effective talent without compromising long-term flexibility.
The Lakers currently hold their 2026 first-round pick and are projected to select toward the back end of the round.
In his latest mock draft, Bleacher Report analyst Zach Buckley projected the Lakers selecting Houston forward Chris Cenac Jr. with the 25th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Through 37 games this season, Cenac has averaged 9.5 points and 7.9 rebounds, while shooting 48.5% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range.
“Some clubs might decide Cenac isn’t worth the time it could take to develop him or the risk that the project will never pan out,” Buckley wrote. “The Lakers shouldn’t be one of those teams, since it isn’t hard to imagine some fun pick-and-choose actions between him and Luka Dončić.”
“Cenac should work as both a bouncy finisher and a pop-out shooter, and his effort level makes you want to believe he can maximize his potential.”
Houston Freshman’s Upside Continues to Draw NBA Attention
Cenac played a key role in Houston’s run to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament.
After recording seven points and a career-high 18 rebounds in a first-round win over Idaho, the 19-year-old followed up with 17 points and nine rebounds in an emphatic 88-57 victory over Texas A&M.
He remained active on the glass in the Sweet Sixteen, adding 10 rebounds in a loss to Illinois to close out his freshman campaign.
Despite being viewed as a modern stretch big with outside shooting potential, the Houston prospect shot just 1-of-6 from beyond the arc during the tournament.
Buckley’s colleague Jonathan Wasserman has also linked Cenac to the Lakers in recent mock drafts, while The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie has described him as a “wildly polarizing prospect.”
Vecenie noted that, despite the mixed evaluations, several scouts remain intrigued by Cenac’s long-term upside, reinforcing his first-round projection.
Cenac’s blend of size and versatility would align with a Lakers team looking to strengthen its frontcourt moving forward.
At just 19, he offers both immediate flashes of impact and long-term developmental upside, fitting the profile of a player who can grow alongside an evolving core.
The Lakers are also expected to regain significant trade flexibility this summer, with first-round picks in 2026, 2031, and 2033 projected to become available in potential deals.
Whether Los Angeles opts to package those assets in a blockbuster move or retain them to select an emerging prospect like Cenac, the franchise appears well-positioned to reshape its roster through multiple avenues this offseason.
New NBA owner played key role at company accused of predatory lending
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek is on the verge of giving the Portland Trail Blazers a major gift: hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars to overhaul the team’s arena in an effort to keep the Blazers’ incoming owner, billionaire Tom Dundon, from moving the NBA franchise to a new city.
The deal came together with little public discussion of how Oregon and other states in 2020 landed a $550 million settlement with the car loan company where Dundon built his wealth. The settlement followed an investigation into lending practices that Oregon’s then-attorney general, in a news release, described as “predatory and harmful.”
Now, Oregon Public Broadcasting and ProPublica have obtained documents that reveal the role Dundon played in pushing some of the key company practices that regulators later presented as problematic.
Specifically, the documents show that Dundon, as the company’s CEO, was behind what regulators called an “aggressive push” at Santander Consumer USA in 2013 to waive requirements that car dealers prove borrowers had enough income to afford loans. The company would then charge more for those loans to ensure profit even in cases where borrowers ultimately failed to keep up with payments, according to internal emails and a slide deck that described findings in the multistate investigation.
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Oregon officials wrote in their 2020 court complaint against Santander Consumer that many customers took out loans under the “false pretense” that they were acquiring a car they’d eventually own, when in fact the terms of the loans were so onerous that they would “almost certainly” result in the loan defaulting and the car getting repossessed.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, when asked about Dundon’s call for waiving proof of income on car loans when he was at Santander Consumer, said in a statement: “Proof of income requirements exist for a reason — they protect borrowers from being sold loans they cannot afford. When those guardrails get waived, dealerships win in the short term, and consumers lose.”
Rayfield, who was elected in 2024, is working with other state attorneys general in a continuing investigation into another auto loan company, Exeter Finance, where Dundon’s website lists him as an investor and where he has served as chairman of its board. Dundon left Santander Consumer in 2015.
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“Working families put a lot on the line when they take out a loan,” Rayfield said, “and they deserve lenders who treat them fairly and follow the law.”
Dundon, whose deal to buy the Trail Blazers is expected to close on March 31, did not answer emails sent to his investment firm from OPB and ProPublica that included a copy of the newly obtained records and a list of questions. When provided separately with an overview of the story via text to his phone, he responded simply: “Can talk after 3/31.”
Exeter has said in regulatory filings that it is cooperating with the current multistate investigation. A spokesperson for Exeter declined to comment.
Asked for comment by OPB and ProPublica, Santander Consumer referred back to the statement it gave the newsrooms for an October story: “Operating in a highly regulated industry, we have robust processes in place that are designed to protect customers and adhere to all regulatory requirements and industry best practices.”
Lawmakers recently approved $365 million in public funding to renovate Portland’s 30-year-old Moda Center, home to the Blazers, one of Oregon’s most prominent businesses. The bill awaits Kotek’s signature. Combined with city and county money, the total proposed public backing has reached $870 million, far exceeding what the team originally asked for.
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Kotek’s office did not respond when asked when she became aware of the investigations into businesses connected to Dundon and whether it affected her position on giving public money to the team. Instead, a spokesperson pointed to public remarks Kotek made in support of public funding for the Blazers arena as the Legislature adjourned.
“This is a great first step,” Kotek told reporters at the time. “We’re going to get the best deal possible for Oregon, and the economic impact of keeping not only the Blazers but all the activity at Moda is really important for the state.”
The chief sponsor of the bill, Senate President Rob Wagner, a Democrat representing the Portland suburb of Lake Oswego, also declined to answer when asked if he was aware of Oregon’s investigations into Dundon’s businesses.
“The Oregon Legislature does not have a role in who owns the Trail Blazers,” Wagner said in a statement. “Our goal all along has been to support the renovation of Oregon’s Arena so it can remain an economic and entertainment hub for the region.”
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But a prominent critic of the deal with the Blazers said Dundon’s history with regulators is troubling.
State Sen. Khanh Pham, a Portland Democrat who cast one of just six no votes in the 30-person chamber, wrote at the time that she supported a public investment in the arena but worried the Legislature wasn’t including enough protections for taxpayers. She tried unsuccessfully to win amendments that would require the state to negotiate a private investment and revenue sharing with the Blazers.
Pham said she wasn’t aware of Dundon’s history in Oregon until OPB and ProPublica asked her about the newly obtained emails.
“This new information affirms that guardrails on public-private partnerships are important in all instances and especially this one,” Pham said in a statement.
“Ignoring This Internal Concern”
Dundon was known as a key player in the rise of subprime lending to car buyers, a niche that supporters say makes car ownership possible for people with poor credit. He sold the subprime company he founded to a Spanish firm in 2006, retaining a 10% stake and becoming CEO of the newly formed company.
In January 2013, he took a step that would keep the company’s lending from being slowed down by people having to prove they could afford the cars they were buying. He set a plan in motion that would let the company advertise to car dealers that Santander Consumer wasn’t going to ask anymore for proof of income, or “POI,” in order to issue a loan.
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“Lets do a test,” Dundon wrote to two of his senior employees, Karthik Chandrasekhar and Steve Zemaitis. “I want to waive poi more often.”
As the plan moved forward, Santander Consumer’s chief risk and compliance officer, Michele Rodgers, sent an email on Jan. 21, 2013, to Zemaitis and various senior executives expressing worry the company’s plan could violate federal law.
Rodgers identified potential concerns surrounding anti-money laundering and identity theft laws. She also noted that federal regulators were less than a year from implementing a new rule for another type of loan — home mortgages — requiring those lenders to “determine the consumer’s ability to repay both the principal and the interest over the long term.”
But the records collected by the attorneys general indicate the plan proceeded.
Two weeks after Dundon’s email, Santander’s marketing and sales teams got involved, records show.
Matt Fitzgerald, Santander Consumer’s executive vice president of sales and marketing, described a conversation with Dundon about “stips,” or statements stipulating the borrower’s income, address and phone number have been verified.
“I just rode up the elevator with TD and he wants us to market (fax, e-mails, sale handout) the waiving of stips to all dealers,” Fitzgerald wrote on Jan. 30, 2013. “And he wants to see these communications by the end of the day.”
He added: “We can serve it up to dealers that due to their good performance of the loans, we have decided to waive these certain stips to make it easier for you to close deals.”
Mark Williams, a former Federal Reserve regulator who teaches finance at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, reviewed the state’s summary of the company’s correspondence and said it was troubling that internal concerns seemed to go unheeded.
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Williams described proof of income as one of the pillars of bank lending.
“To say, ‘Sure, I’ll give you a loan and we don’t even care whether you make income or not,’ or, ‘You don’t even have to state your income,’ that’s counter to just sound banking practices,” he said.
By early February of that year, the company was days away from announcing its new plan to car dealers, including a fax-based marketing plan and promotional flyer, ready for final approval.
“Flyer looks good,” Robert O’Brien, senior vice president at Santander, wrote on Tuesday, Feb. 5, “however the POI change will not be in the system until Thursday.”
He suggested holding off a couple of days. Then Rodgers, the company’s chief risk and compliance officer, chimed in again with a question.
“What is the POI Change?” she asked.
“Tom wants to waive POI as much as possible and build in pricing to cover the incremental risk,” O’Brien wrote back. O’Brien said that their tests showed the stated income was correct on most loans, and that they would continue to require proof of income for dealers with a history of problems. He said they found that requiring proof of income “reduces capture especially in the nearprime segment.”
In other words, the company felt it was limiting its business opportunities by forcing potential customers to prove they could afford to pay back a car loan. Any increase in risk created by the new approach would be made up through fees and interest rates.
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“I am just trying to ensure we aren’t disparately treating any of our customer base,” Rodgers wrote to O’Brien on Feb. 5, 2013. Under fair lending laws, companies are not allowed to enact policies that would have disparate impacts on certain groups of customers, such as people of a particular race or gender.
Dundon is not listed as a recipient on the emails that Rodgers sent, and the degree to which her concerns may have been shared with him is unclear from the company emails obtained by OPB and ProPublica.
However, in the slide presentation regulators gave to Santander Consumer, they said the remarks O’Brien and Fitzgerald described Dundon making showed he continued to push for waiving proof of income even after Rodgers raised red flags on Jan. 21. The slides characterized Dundon as “ignoring this internal concern” from his company’s risk and compliance officer.
Oregon’s subsequent 2020 legal complaint against the company alleged Santander Consumer did not, as O’Brien’s email suggested it would, continue requiring proof of income from dealers with a history of fudging borrowers’ incomes as it launched its new approach.
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“When Santander rolled out this change to its funding requirements, Santander did not bar those dealers identified as ‘problematic’ by Santander from using stated income on loan applications,” Oregon’s attorney general wrote in the 2020 complaint. “Santander’s decision to broadly market its new stated-income policy, even to dealers with a history of misstating income, led to a significant spike in the number of early payment defaults.”
Dundon’s 2015 departure from Santander Consumer came with a separation agreement of more than $700 million, including cash for stock he owned, according to Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
Rodgers, Zemaitis and Chandrasekhar all left Santander Consumer and are currently listed as senior executives at Exeter Finance, a subprime car lender where a number of top Santander Consumer employees have landed.
They did not respond when OPB and ProPublica sent copies of the Santander Consumer correspondence in which they are named and requested comment. O’Brien and Fitzgerald are no longer alive.
Santander Consumer did not admit any wrongdoing as part of the settlement it paid to 33 states — including Oregon — and the District of Columbia.
Private Business, Public Money
Six years after the settlement, Dundon and his associates are playing hardball in negotiations with state and city leaders to secure public money to revamp Portland’s Moda Center.
Although sports arena renovations in some cities have been 100% taxpayer-financed, at least 10 — including in Atlanta; Phoenix; Jacksonville, Florida; and Cleveland — have been funded wholly or partially with private money during the past decade. Just north of Portland, Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena opened in 2021 after $1.15 billion in renovations that were entirely privately financed.
That same precedent exists in Portland: When the Moda Center opened in 1995 — back then it was Portland’s Rose Garden — Blazers owner Paul Allen got $34.5 million from the city of Portland but financed the rest of the $262 million construction himself.
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Dundon, too, has offered private dollars as part of arena renovations in the past. In 2023, he agreed to a new arena lease in Raleigh, North Carolina, for his professional hockey team, the Carolina Hurricanes. Raleigh put $300 million toward the arena while Dundon committed to investing $800 million over 20 years toward developing an entertainment district in the surrounding area.
Portland was a different story.
According to a January chat group message from a city employee whose job is to manage sports venues, a consultant for the team and Dundon’s billionaire ownership group was asking for the public to cover 100% of the cost to renovate the Moda Center.
A phalanx of lobbyists hired by the Blazers, meanwhile, were telling state lawmakers they’d need a total of $600 million, starting this year.
“The assumption that the incoming ownership group can finance an additional $600 million for Moda Center — which is now a publicly-owned community asset is not possible,” lobbying materials from the Blazers stated.
After state and local leaders concluded that the team’s initial ask wasn’t nearly enough to cover rising construction costs, they bumped up the investment to $870 million.
Team representatives wrote in the lobbying material that the Blazers’ future in Portland was at stake — and that a departure would threaten the city’s turnaround from pandemic-era headlines about downtown retail vacancies and crime.
“If the Portland Trail Blazers leave Rip City,” team officials stated, “we are losing far more than the tax revenue the Blazers generate for the General Fund. It would have a devastating impact on the City’s national and international reputation and would feed the ‘doom loop’ narrative we have all been working to refute.”
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The Blazers did not respond to emailed questions. When asked about the lobbying effort in a March 17 interview on OPB’s “Think Out Loud,” the Blazers’ President of Business Operations Dewayne Hankins said Dundon’s ownership group never explicitly told the team it would move without a public investment. But he noted that other cities are pushing hard to get an NBA team and said the Blazers had “heard rumblings” of interest.
“You have a team that has very few years left on their lease,” Hankins said of the Blazers. “You have a team that could potentially be portable.”
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson declined to say whether Dundon’s business history would affect the city’s ongoing negotiations with the Blazers after the late Paul Allen’s sister agreed to sell the team. The council plans to take up the issue of arena funding no later than this summer.
“Jody Allen chose to sell the team to the ownership group led by Tom Dundon,” Wilson said in a statement, echoing a point made by Oregon’s Senate president. “The City is not a decision maker in the process of approving franchise ownership changes; that authority lies exclusively with current team ownership and the NBA. The City will work in good faith with whoever owns the Trail Blazers.”
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John Van Alst, senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, said state and local officials should use caution in negotiating with someone whose business the state previously accused of violating consumer protection laws.
“If they’re willing to violate those rules, I’d be concerned about doing business with them,” Van Alst said.
Van Alst said leaders in Portland, far more so than people buying a car through a subprime lender like Santander Consumer or Exeter, have options at their disposal as they negotiate for the Blazers’ future.
“They have more resources to make good choices, hopefully, than a lot of folks do who get themselves tangled up in really bad subprime auto financing,” Van Alst said.
NBA Fans React to Knicks’ Scary Miles McBride Injury Situation
Everything seemed to be going right for the New York Knicks as they entered the challenging Oklahoma City Thunder matchup on Sunday, March 29.
The young veteran Miles McBride was officially cleared for action. McBride has been recovering from sports hernia surgery, which initially placed his regular-season status in doubt.
Prior to Sunday’s action, McBride hadn’t suited up since January 27.
The veteran guard returned with a role coming off the bench. He had 11 minutes of action before he checked out with a suspected injury again.
McBride missed the rest of the 111-100 loss against the Thunder.
NBA Fans React to Knicks’ Miles McBride Concern
Here’s a look at some reactions from Knicks fans on Reddit:
“He was playing a lot for 1st game back,” said TeamPizza21.
“This fkn sucks – f*** the thunder (the refs) and Lu dort,” john0_0 wrote.
“Did he come back early? Thought they were saying he’d be out until playoffs when it first happened,” widedog4lyfe said.
“Im depressed about this. Shamet gotta come back 100%,” added jdavisjdkvjdhs23.
“I blame whoever let him play that long. Was clearly not ready, “Chewielee13088 stated.
The Knicks’ Early Reaction
With McBride leaving his first game back early, New York’s head coach, Mike Brown, was faced with questions regarding the situation during his postgame presser.
The initial messaging suggested there was no update on McBride as of Sunday night.
“I haven’t talked to medical yet, so I don’t know how it is, but it’s tough,” Brown said, via Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News. “He’s worked his tail off to be back… you felt his presence and he made us deeper.”
Considering the circumstances, the Knicks are going to have to move forward with plenty of caution. It’s not typical for a player to return from having such a long stretch of games off to immediately experience another setback.
Before going down with his injury, McBride appeared in 35 games for the Knicks this year. The standout guard was shooting 43.4% from the field and knocking down 42.0% of his threes to average 12.9 points per game.
Along with his scoring, McBride averages 2.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and nearly 1.0 steals per game.
Ideally, the Knicks would get McBride back and healthy before their playoff run. The setback suffered on Sunday could be a major factor for New York either way.
Inter Miami names stand in new stadium after Messi
March 27 (Reuters) – Lionel Messi will become part of a rare sporting phenomenon when he plays in Inter Miami’s new stadium, with the Major League Soccer club announcing that they will have a stand bearing the Argentine’s name.
The
MLS rivals going head-to-head for Casemiro as midfielder considers Saudi alternative
Casemiro has confirmed his departure from Manchester United at the end of the current season, and Major League Soccer clubs are showing strong interest in securing the experienced Brazilian midfielder on a free transfer.
The 34-year-old former Real Madrid star announced in January that he would be leaving Old Trafford when his contract expires in June 2026.
Man Utd have since reached an agreement to waive a clause that could have triggered a one-year extension, allowing Casemiro, who has enjoyed a late resurgence in form, to depart as planned at the end of the campaign.
Two of MLS’s most ambitious sides are leading the pursuit. Inter Miami and the LA Galaxy – the last two MLS Cup champions – have both expressed concrete interest and have made initial contact with the player.
For Inter Miami, who boast Lionel Messi in their ranks, Casemiro could provide the defensive midfield steel to replace the retired Sergio Busquets. The Florida club, backed by David Beckham, views the Brazilian as an ideal anchor to support their attacking talents and bolster their midfield struggles.
LA Galaxy are equally keen, seeing Casemiro as a high-profile addition capable of strengthening their squad in a competitive Western Conference.
Both clubs represent major markets in the United States, offering Casemiro the chance to compete at a high level while enjoying the lifestyle and family-friendly environment of American football.
Casemiro has been spotted in Miami recently, and sources suggest he has told close associates that he likes the idea of a move Stateside.
While Saudi Arabian clubs, including Al Ittihad, are also monitoring the situation, the MLS option appears particularly appealing, given the competitive nature of the league and the opportunity to join title-contending teams.
At 34, Casemiro brings a wealth of experience, including multiple Champions League titles and international caps with Brazil. A move to MLS would mark a new chapter in a decorated career.
Want more breaking transfer lines from original sources? Add TEAMtalk as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust.
More Man Utd news: Barcelona star offered on a plate; Tonali swoop latest
TEAMtalk understands that Man Utd have been offered the chance to sign a top Barcelona talent, as the Catalan giants explore creative solutions to ease their ongoing financial constraints.
Elsewhere, United have been given real hope of securing the signing of Sandro Tonali this summer after a respected journalist named the Newcastle star as the Red Devils’ top target and confirmed their confidence that a deal can be done amid a gentleman’s agreement.
El once de estrellas de la Major League Soccer
La llegada de Antoine Griezmann a la Major League Soccer sumó una estrella más para el torneo estadounidense. El fútbol de Estados Unidos puede presumir a grandes futbolistas en cada uno de los encuentros de las jornadas. Repasa el mejor once que podría tener la MLS.
El torneo estadounidense se ha armado blindado principalmente con jugadores de ataque, pero en la defensa también hay futbolistas de renombre. El arquero de mayor prestigio en la MLS es Dayne St. Clair. El guardameta del Inter Miami es el titular en la selección de Canadá. Ha jugado Mundiales y Copa Oro.
Los centrales de mayor prestigio podrían ser Matt Miazga, futbolista con experiencia en Inglaterra, Francia y Portugal, y Tim Ream, jugador con más de 200 partidos disputados con el Fulham de la Premier League.
Los laterales de mejor carrera son del Inter Miami. El lateral derecho le pertenece a Facundo Mura, futbolista campeón en Argentina con el Racing Club. El lateral izquierdo titular sería Sergio Reguilón, jugador formado en el Real Madrid con amplia experiencia en Inglaterra.
En el medio del campo comienzan a sonar las leyendas. El primero de ellos es Thomas Muller. El mediocampista alemán conquistó 12 Bundesligas y 2 Champions con el Bayern Munich. Muller también ganó un Mundial con Alemania.
Otro de los nombres de prestigio es el de Rodrigo De Paul. El exjugador del Atlético Madrid ganó un Mundial y una Copa América con Argentina. el trio me mediocampistas lo cierra James Rodríguez, ganador de una liga de España y una Champions con el Real Madrid.
En la delantera figuran otros nombres de la categoría de Son Heung-min (leyenda del Tottenham), Lionel Messi (uno de los mejores futbolistas de la historia) y Luis Suárez (exjugador del Liverpool, Ajax, Barcelona y Atlético Madrid).
En este once ideal se pueden dar el lujo de dejar fuera a Antoine Griezmann. El futbolista del Atlético Madrid se incorporará al torneo después del Mundial de 2026. Griezmann es otro campeón del mundo que se suma al torneo.
Once ideal de la Major League Soccer
Dayne St. Clair – Inter Miami CF – Portero
Facundo Mura – Inter Miami CF – Lateral derecho
Matt Miazga – FC Cincinnati – Central
Tim Ream – Charlotte FC – Central
Sergio Reguilón – Inter Miami CF – Lateral izquierdo
Thomas Müller – Vancouver Whitecaps – Mediocampista
Rodrigo De Paul – Inter Miami CF – Mediocampista
James Rodríguez – Minnesota United – Mediocampista
Son Heung-min – LAFC – Delantero izquierdo
Lionel Messi – Inter Miami CF – Delantero (derecho / falso 9)
Luis Suárez – Inter Miami CF – Delantero centro
Suplentes
Antoine Griezmann – Orlando City – Delantero (se incorpora en julio 2026)
Timo Werner – San Jose Earthquakes – Delantero
Germán Berterame – Inter Miami CF – Delantero
Denis Bouanga – LAFC – Delantero
Egypt national team director warns Salah against MLS move
March 30 (Reuters) – Egypt’s national team director Ibrahim Hassan has cautioned Mohamed Salah against moving to Major League Soccer after he leaves Liverpool at the end of the season as it would see the forward fade into obscurity.
Salah, 33, has yet to decide his next move after he ends a hugely successful nine‑year spell at Liverpool, where he won two Premier League titles and the Champions League.
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MLS Commissioner Don Garber has said he would love to see Salah in the league, though it is unclear whether any MLS teams will attempt to sign him.
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The North American leg of Lily Allen‘s West End Girl tour kicks off next month with a run of shows at intimate concert halls, but she’s expanding the tour for the acclaimed album to arenas, including New York’s Madison Square Garden, the United Center in Chicago, and Chase Center in San Francisco.
The original North American dates, announced in December, kick off in April and run through the end of the month. At those shows, she’ll perform her latest album in its entirety. She’ll then head to the U.K. and Europe through the summer, including two dates at the O2 Arena in London plus a festival appearance at Bern, Switzerland’s Gurtenfestival.
Allen will return to North America in September for the arena shows, starting in New York and wrapping up in Los Angeles at the end of the month.
Last week, Allen also paid a visit to the National Portrait Gallery in London, where the West End Girl album art was unveiled as part of the museum’s collection through the next year. The painting by Nieves González is owned by Allen herself, who loaned the painting to the gallery. The portrait isn’t the only one of Allen’s high-art ambitions — she also revealed last year that she wants to turn West End Girl into a play (on London’s West End, naturally).
How to Get Lily Allen Tickets
Presale for the arena dates starts on April 1 at 10:00 a.m. local time, which you can sign up for on Ticketmaster. If you’d prefer to catch the dates at the more intimate venues, most of those have sold out on the primary marketplace Ticketmaster, but you can still find resale options on sites like StubHub and VividSeats. Here’s what you need to know.
You can see the North American dates for Lily Allen’s 2026 North American shows below.
USC Star Alijah Arenas Lands With Intriguing Team in NBA Draft Projection
For USC Trojans guard Alijah Arenas, his freshman season was nothing short of unorthodox. Despite a late-season collegiate debut and a limited sample of games played, Arenas’ upside still has him firmly in the conversation as a prospect in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft. He may not have the same lottery buzz that he had before the season, but he has quietly become a potential second round steal for a team looking for a scorer with high upside.
In Bleacher Report’s latest two-round 2026 NBA Mock Draft, Arenas is projected to stay home in California, landing with the Los Angeles Clippers at No. 37 overall. The projection is banking more on potential over proven production, but it also raises the question of whether the former 13th ranked high school player in the country could return to USC to re-establish his draft momentum and vault himself back into the lottery pick conversation with a strong sophomore campaign.
Rough Season With Flashes of Stardom
Unlike most highly-touted freshman, Arenas did not hit the ground running. His debut was delayed after a serious offseason car accident and a torn meniscus forced him to miss the first 18 games of the season.
After missing over half the year, Arenas eventually made his collegiate debut on Jan. 21 against the Northwestern Wildcats. He had a solid outing with eight points, two assists and two steals but it was obvious that it would take time to shake the rust off. Over his first four games, Arenas averaged just 7.5 points in 23.3 minutes while struggling with efficiency while trying to find his rhythm.
Over his next stretch of games, Arenas looked like the five-star prospect who once carried top-10 expectations in his class. He exploded for a career-high 29 points against the Indiana Hoosiers, followed it with 24 points at Penn State Nittany Lions, and earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. In that span, his scoring jumped to 21.5 points per game in over 30 minutes.
That stretch is what scouts are holding onto. The combination of shot creation, confidence off the dribble, and a 6-foot-6 frame with a near 7-foot wingspan still projects cleanly to the next level. The inconsistency is real, but so is the upside.
Why the Clippers Could Be a Developmental Fit
On the surface, Arenas doesn’t solve an immediate need for the Clippers. But this version of the Clippers isn’t operating like a traditional contender anymore. After moving on from star guard James Harden and veteran center Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles reshaped its core around younger pieces like Darius Garland, Bennedict Mathurin, and Isaiah Jackson. That signals a clear pivot toward flexibility and long-term development. Arenas fits that timeline.
He wouldn’t be asked to run the offense with Garland in place. He wouldn’t be forced into high-pressure scoring with Mathurin already established. Instead, he’d slot into a more controlled role as a secondary shot creator, likely leading or contributing heavily to second-unit scoring. That’s where his game translates best early.
If Kawhi Leonard remains on the team beyond this offseason, Arenas benefits from a low-pressure environment with veteran structure. If Leonard is gone, the runway only expands. Either way, the Clippers would be betting on growth, not immediate production. And for a player that is still pretty unrefined, it would be a strong environment where he would be given the time to simply focus on polishing his game.
Could Arenas Return to USC?
Being projected in the early second round creates an interesting decision point for Arenas. Entering the year, he carried lottery-level expectations. Now, the evaluation is more complicated. That’s where the possibility of a return to USC becomes real. On an episode of the Hoopin’ n Hollerin’ podcast, his father, former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas, revealed that Alijah returning for his sophomore season isn’t completely out of the question.
“I said, ‘If you want to come back again, why would you?’ He said, ‘I want to lead college in scoring. I don’t think these people know what I could do.’ I said, ‘Fair, fair.’”
“I said, ‘If you’re top five in either one, which one would you rather do? He was like, ‘I would rather come back again and be number five so I can lead the league in scoring.’ He puts too much into his craft that he doesn’t think he got evaluated correctly.”
With Chad Baker-Mazara and multiple seniors departing, the Trojans are heading toward a younger core. Arenas would likely step into a featured role alongside five-star forward Christian Collins and the Ratliff twins, Adonis and Darius. A full offseason of development could position him as the clear No. 1 option.
That’s the real decision: bet on upside now, or maximize it with a full season as the guy.
UConn’s Geno Auriemma fumes over women’s double regional format, rims, basketballs
FORT WORTH, Texas — UConn coach Geno Auriemma is ripping the double-regional format being used in the women’s NCAA Tournament, saying it doesn’t make sense for the teams still playing or for efforts to grow the game.
Auriemma brought up attendance, bad shooting percentages and teams having to come to the arena early and late on the same day when taking aim at the format that’s in place for the fourth year, and set to continue for at least five more.
“Well, I think the first question you’d have to ask is why did they go from four (sites) to two. What was the rationale?” the 12-time national champion coach said Saturday. “If they can explain it legitimately and then prove that it works, then great. So what was the reason?”
NCAA officials didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.
The defending national champion Huskies (37-0), the overall No. 1 seed, play Notre Dame (25-10) in the Fort Worth Regional 1 final Sunday.
The Huskies held their required media availability Saturday morning, after the Fighting Irish had already completed their session and before two Sweet 16 games in the Fort Worth Regional 3 were played at Dickies Arena. UConn and Notre Dame both had scheduled practice times there later in the evening.
“So we had to get our kids up, come over here. You already knew who we were playing last night, but we can’t get on the court, and neither can the other teams,” Auriemma said. “Does anybody who makes these decisions ever ask the coaches and the players, hey, does this work?”
AP All-America teammates Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong agreed with their coach’s strong sentiment.
“It’s not ideal. Like the schedule waking up early to do media and then can’t come back to this arena until later, just little things like that. But everyone’s trying to figure that out right now. Every team is going through that,” Fudd said. “There’s no excuse in that. So we’ll figure it out. We’re making it work, but it definitely isn’t the most ideal setup.”
Auriemma, the winningest men’s or women’s NCAA basketball coach with 1,287 victories, didn’t wait for a question from reporters to share his thoughts on the format, opening his session by listing the following numbers: 4 for 20, 4 for 22, 1 for 17, 5 for 17, 4 for 16, 7 for 26.
“That’s the 3-point shooting yesterday across the country. How many arenas are we going to sell out with that (expletive)?” he said. “Now, maybe it was just a bad day shooting by everybody. These are all teams that average probably 30 (percent), over 30, for the season. Know what time our shootaround was yesterday? Six in the morning, 6:20, I think, for half an hour.”
He also mentioned the total combined attendance (18,821 announced) at the two venues Friday, in Fort Worth and Sacramento, California.
Auriemma said there is a lack of input from coaches, and that nothing changes even when the NCAA sends representatives to schools every year after the tournament.
“Hopefully I’m speaking for the other coaches. Some coaches might think I’m full of it. And this is not about UConn. I hope everybody understands that,” he said. ”This is not about us, because you know, we’ve managed to go to the Final Four and win national championships no matter where they’re played, when they’re played, what time they’re played, whatever.
“I think there is a level of frustration right now among the coaches that’s higher than any time I’ve ever seen it.”
For the second day in a row, Auriemma mentioned new rims and new basketballs being used during NCAA Tournament games, and the impact those have on shooting.
“It’s hard to make shots in the postseason. They just break out these new baskets, new rims, and then it gets in the kids’ heads,” Auriemma said Friday after UConn’s 63-42 win over North Carolina, in which the teams were a combined 8 of 42 on 3-pointers.
The coach on Saturday again brought up “new basketballs right out of the box” and the rims.
“Got people dribbling the ball off their feet. You got people missing layups all over the place. You bounce the ball, and it goes up to the ceiling. There’s just no concept of how basketball is played,” he said. “Not that I have any of the answers. Believe me, I just have questions.”
Benson Boone Bakes Up ‘Wanted Man’ Arena Tour
Just two weeks after Benson Boone wrapped up his American Heart Tour, the singer has cooked up his Wanted Man Tour, hitting arenas nationwide this summer.
Boone announced the trek Sunday with a video detailing how he’d bake a cake and how “the whole internet” considers him “The One-Hit Wonder”:
The tour, which promises “backflips and magic,” kicks off July 7 in Pittsburgh and touches all corners of the continental U.S., concluding September 3 in Casper, Wyoming. Along the way, Boone has scheduled two nights at both Brooklyn’s Barclays Center and Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena.
Check out Boone’s tour page for full ticket information. Supporting acts for the Wanted Man Tour have not yet been revealed.
Boone finished his 50-show American Heart Tour on March 15 in Birmingham, England. The trek was in support of his 2025 LP American Heart, while the Wanted Man tour takes its name from a track off that album.
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Benson Boone’s Wanted Man Tour Dates
Stakes Corporate Fight Over Feeding Preterm Babies
In 2013, a scientist at Abbott Laboratories saw study results with potentially big implications for the company’s profits and the lives of some of the world’s most fragile people: preterm infants.
The upshot, she wrote in an email: Babies fed rival Mead Johnson Nutrition’s acidified liquid human milk fortifier — a nutritional supplement used in neonatal intensive care units — developed certain complications at higher rates than those given an Abbott fortifier, a researcher at the University of Nebraska had found.
At least one of those complications can be deadly.
The Abbott scientist, Bridget Barrett-Reis, described the results in the email to colleagues, using two exclamation points. Then she proposed that Abbott test the Mead Johnson fortifier, acidified for sterilization, against another Abbott product.
The clinical trial among preterm infants that Abbott subsequently sponsored, known as AL16, is a case study of corporate warfare in the high-stakes business of infant nutrition, wherein preemies have been coveted like commodities; their anxious, vulnerable parents have been — whether they know it or not — targets of calculated commercial pursuit; and scientific research has been used as a marketing tool.
In hospitals around the country, dozens of babies born an average of 11 weeks early were fed Mead Johnson’s fortifier. Dozens of others were fed an Abbott fortifier that wasn’t acidified.
The clinical trial became a boon for Abbott, which publicized the results to wrest market share from Mead Johnson. But for some of the babies enrolled, it didn’t turn out so well, a KFF Health News investigation found.
Far more infants given Mead Johnson’s product developed a buildup of acid in the blood called metabolic acidosis than those fed Abbott’s product — 19 versus four, according to results published in the journal PharmacoEconomics.
Two outside doctors monitoring infants in the study became so alarmed that they refused to enroll any more babies, according to an April 2016 email one of them sent to Abbott.
In a related email to Abbott, neonatologist Robert White of Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana, and Pediatrix Medical Group — an investigator in the study — explained his concerns.
“We had another SAE” — serious adverse event — “today in which a child developed profound metabolic acidosis while on the study fortifier,” White wrote. The severity was “unlike what we would see in most children with these issues.”
A manager at Abbott replied that the company was “taking your concerns very seriously.”
The study continued for almost a year.
At least some of the consent forms used to inform parents about risks did not mention metabolic acidosis or the often-fatal necrotizing enterocolitis, another condition identified in the 2013 email that led to the study.
In a November response to questions for this article, Abbott spokesperson Scott Stoffel said the clinical trial “was safe and ethical” and that the fortifiers it compared were “on the market and widely used.”
The study was “led by 20 non-Abbott investigators,” Stoffel said.
According to a federal website, Abbott’s Barrett-Reis chaired the study.
Stoffel added that the study was approved “by 14 independent safety review boards at hospitals” and “published in a leading peer-reviewed scientific journal.”
“It is reckless and not credible to suggest that these doctors and institutions conducted and then published the results of an unsafe or unethical study,” Stoffel said.
A spokesperson for Mead Johnson, Jennifer O’Neill, did not comment on Abbott’s clinical trial but said in a November statement to KFF Health News that existing studies “cannot responsibly support” any connection between the acidified fortifier and conditions such as necrotizing enterocolitis or metabolic acidosis.
Mead Johnson executive Cindy Hasseberg argued in a deposition that Abbott waged a “smear campaign” against the acidified fortifier that was “very hard to come back from.”
In 2024, Mead Johnson discontinued the product.
Winning the ‘Hospital War’
Behind their warm-and-fuzzy marketing, industry giants Abbott, maker of Similac products, and Mead Johnson, maker of the Enfamil line, have turned neonatal intensive care units into arenas of brutal competition.
This article quotes from and is based largely on records from three lawsuits against formula manufacturers that went to trial in 2024 and are now on appeal. The cases are Watson v. Mead Johnson, Gill v. Abbott Laboratories, and Whitfield v. St. Louis Children’s Hospital. The records include emails, internal presentations, and other company documents used as exhibits in litigation, as well as court transcripts and witness testimony from depositions.
The records provide an inside view of the business of infant formula and fortifier, a nutritional supplement added to a mother’s milk. For example, a Mead Johnson slide deck for a 2020 national sales meeting — later used in the Whitfield trial — outlined a plan for “Branding NICU Babies.”
Urging employees to win more sales from neonatal intensive care units, the document said: “It is time to open up a can of ‘Whoop Ass.’”
In internal documents and other material from litigation reviewed by KFF Health News, formula makers described hospitals as gateways to the much larger retail market because parents are likely to stick with the brand their babies started on. Products used in the NICU help win hospital contracts, and hospital contracts help establish brand loyalty, according to court records.
Manufacturers vie for contracts that can be “exclusive” or nearly so, according to records from the litigation, including company documents and testimony by people who have worked in management for the companies.
An undated Abbott presentation used in the Gill case, apparently referring to inroads with hospitals in its rivalry with Mead Johnson, boasted of “MJ Strongholds Broken!”
It saluted two employees who “Own 27K Babies Exclusively,” and said another “Stole 600 formula feeders from MJ.”
Still others were praised for “Playing in Mom’s mailbox” or “kicking … and ‘taking names.’”
In July 2024, Abbott CEO Robert Ford said in a conference call for investors that formula and fortifier for preterm infants generated total annual revenue of about $9 million — a small portion of Abbott’s total sales of $42 billion in 2024 and its $2.2 billion of sales in the United States from pediatric nutritional products.
Industry documents cited in litigation provide a different perspective.
“‘First Bottle Fed’ drives our business,” stated an Abbott training presentation from about a decade ago used in the Gill and Whitfield trials.
That described a baby’s first formula feeding in the hospital, the document said. Over 74% of the time, an infant fed formula in the hospital stays on that brand at home, the document said.
Abbott’s goal was that the first-bottle-fed strategy would help generate more than $1.5 billion in sales, the document showed. A staff training slide displayed during the Whitfield trial showed how that momentum could pay off in bonuses for Abbott sales representatives, leading to a “Happy Rep.”
Mead Johnson has espoused a similar strategy.
The company rolled out a “Flip & Win” incentive plan with cash rewards for flipping hospitals from Abbott, according to a 2019 document marked for internal use by Mead Johnson and its parent company, England-based Reckitt Benckiser Group, and admitted into evidence in the Watson case.
“Winning in the NICU is critical to contract gains and acquisition,” stated a company plan for 2022 that was cited in the Whitfield case.
One Abbott document shown in the Whitfield trial said more than half of first feedings happen at night, adding, “Nighttime is the right time to drive your business.”
A “Mead Johnson University” training document described a scenario in which a sales rep overhears patient information in a NICU and encouraged the rep to promote the company’s products. The document, titled “Advanced NICU Skills,” was admitted as evidence in the Watson case.
“[Y]ou are walking back into your most important NICU,” it said. “You overhear the HCP’s” — health care providers, apparently — “stating all of the notes,” it said. “There may be some information that may help you to position your products as a resource for this patient and to handle any objections that the HCP may present you with.”
To win parents’ business, companies have supplied formula to hospitals free or at a loss, court records show. That has resulted in such curiosities as a Mead Johnson “purchasing agreement” cited in the Watson case, listing the price for product after product as “no charge.”
In a 2017 strategy document prepared for Mead Johnson, a consulting firm laid out a plan “to win hospital war.”
Why focus on hospitals? “INFLECTION POINT FOR VULNERABLE MOMS,” it explained.
The document was displayed in the Whitfield case.
In the market for preterm nutrition, Abbott and Mead Johnson compete with each other, not against the use of human milk, the companies told KFF Health News.
“Thus, references in documents about wanting to ‘win’ or ‘own’ the NICU refer to out-performing Mead Johnson by offering the highest-quality products,” Abbott’s Stoffel said in February.
Asked specific questions about business strategies and internal documents, Mead Johnson’s O’Neill said the company was “concerned that you are presenting a misleading and incomplete picture.”
Mead Johnson’s products “are safe, effective, and recommended by neonatologists when clinically appropriate,” O’Neill added.
On the Defensive
In courthouses around the country, Abbott and Mead Johnson are on the defensive — and have been for years.
In hundreds of lawsuits, parents of sickened or deceased preterm infants have alleged that formula designed for preemies has caused necrotizing enterocolitis, or NEC, a devastating condition in which immature intestinal tissue can become infected and die, spreading infection through the body.
Lawsuits also accuse the manufacturers of failing to warn parents of the risk.
One of the cases on which this article is based, Watson v. Mead Johnson, resulted in a $60 million judgment against Mead Johnson. Another, Gill v. Abbott Laboratories, et al., resulted in a $495 million judgment against Abbott. The third, Whitfield v. St. Louis Children’s Hospital, et al., resulted in a jury verdict in favor of Abbott and Mead Johnson, but the judge found errors and misconduct on the part of defense counsel, faulted his own performance, and granted the plaintiff a new trial.
The cases have involved children like Robynn Davis, who was born at 26 weeks, lost 75% to 80% of her intestine to NEC, suffered brain damage — and, at almost 3 years old, couldn’t walk, couldn’t really talk, and was eating through a tube, as Jacob Plattenberger, an attorney representing her, described in court in 2024.
An attorney for Abbott, James Hurst, said in court that Robynn suffered a catastrophic brain injury at birth, 10 days before she received any Abbott formula, and that her NEC resulted not from formula but from many health problems.
In at least three cases, a federal judge has granted summary judgment in favor of Abbott — ruling for the company before the lawsuits even reached trial.
The formula makers have repeatedly denied fault.
Addressing stock analysts in 2024, Abbott’s chief executive denounced as “without merit or scientific support” the theory that preterm infant formula or milk fortifier caused NEC.
In a joint statement issued in 2024, the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health said there was “no conclusive evidence that preterm infant formula causes NEC.”
Mead Johnson’s O’Neill said the scientific consensus is that there is no established causal link between the use of specialized preterm hospital nutrition products and NEC.
Neonatologists use the products routinely, O’Neill said.
O’Neill cited a statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics saying the causes of NEC “are multifaceted and not completely understood.”
In a legal brief filed with an Illinois appeals court in the Watson case, the company said “the NEC-related risks” of a formula for preterm infants “are the subject of medical debate,” adding that trial evidence “demonstrated, at a minimum, uncertainty as to the magnitude of the risk, as well as the causal role of various feeding options in the development of NEC.”
Manufacturers say formula is needed when mother’s milk or human donor milk isn’t an option. Fortifier, a product tailored to preemies, is meant to augment mother’s milk when babies are born prematurely and a mother’s milk alone doesn’t deliver enough nutrition. The Mead Johnson fortifier used in the head-to-head clinical trial sponsored by Abbott was acidified to prevent bacterial contamination.
In March 2025, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that his department, which encompasses the FDA, was undertaking a review of infant formula, dubbed “Operation Stork Speed.” It includes reassessing nutrient requirements and increasing testing for heavy metals and other contaminants, HHS said.
However, FDA oversight of infant formula is limited. The agency doesn’t approve the products or their labeling. Whether to report adverse events — illnesses or deaths potentially related to the products — to the FDA is largely at manufacturers’ discretion.
The business of infant formula further spotlights a central contradiction in the Trump administration’s health policies. When it comes to food and medical products, the administration has criticized industry-funded research as unworthy of trust. Yet under Kennedy, it has disrupted, defunded, or sought to cut government-funded research, which could leave industry-funded research with a larger and more influential role.
It “is entirely appropriate for the Department to scrutinize research design, conflicts of interest, and funding sources, particularly when research is used to inform public policy,” HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said.
‘At the Table’
Company emails cited in litigation shed light on the industry’s approach to research.
In a 2015 email, when Mead Johnson was considering supplying some of its formula to a researcher for a study, a company neonatologist expressed concern that the results could be spun to make the preemie product look unsafe.
“However, we are more likely to have control over final language if we provide the small support and are ‘at the table’ with him,” Mead Johnson’s Timothy Cooper added in the email, which was cited in the Watson trial.
In 2017, Abbott exchanged a series of messages with researchers at Johns Hopkins University about a study on how the composition of infant formula might affect NEC in mice. The email thread became an exhibit in the Whitfield case.
Abbott was both funding and collaborating on the work, a later publication in a scientific journal shows.
Forwarding a draft of the resulting paper to Abbott, David Hackam, chief of pediatric surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in one of the emails, “We hope you like it.” He also requested help from Abbott in filling in information.
“The manuscript looks great!” Abbott’s Tapas Das wrote in May 2017, after a back-and-forth.
But Abbott had some changes, the email thread shows.
“We (VM & DT) made some edits in the text especially to soften a bit with the statement ‘infant formula seems responsible for developing NEC,’” Das wrote.
“Instead, we thought if we could state as ‘infant formula is linked to severity of NEC’. So we made changes throughout the text emphasizing on severity of NEC by infant formula rather than development of NEC by infant formula,” Das wrote.
Das wrote that “other factors are involved for NEC development as described in the text.”
Hackam did not respond to questions KFF Health News sent by email.
Efforts to reach Das and Cooper — including by phoning numbers and sending letters to addresses that appeared to be associated with them — were unsuccessful.
When Mead Johnson provided support to scientific researchers, the company would want to make sure they reported the results “in an honest way,” Cooper said in a deposition played in the Watson trial.
The Abbott co-authors “proposed routine edits to the article for scientific accuracy and for the consideration of the other authors, some of the most well-respected NEC researchers in the world,” Abbott’s Stoffel said.
“Abbott regularly collaborates with and publishes studies with leading NEC scientists for the benefit of both premature infants and the entire scientific community,” Stoffel said.
“The research studies Mead Johnson supports are conducted independently and appropriately, with full transparency,” said O’Neill, the Mead Johnson spokesperson.
‘In the Wrong Direction’
Transparency can be subjective.
More than a decade ago, Mead Johnson sponsored a clinical trial testing what was then a new acidified liquid fortifier against a powdered fortifier already on the market.
In the study, which enrolled 150 babies, 5% of infants fed the acidified liquid developed NEC compared with 1% of infants fed the powder, according to deposition testimony and a record of the clinical trial used in the Watson case.
That information was not included in a 2012 medical journal article that reported the study results.
The article, in the journal Pediatrics, whose authors included two Mead Johnson employees, concluded it was safe to use the new liquid fortifier instead of the powdered one. The article also said that, comparing babies fed the liquid with those fed the powder, the study observed no difference in the incidence of NEC.
The unpublished finding of 5% to 1% represented so few babies that it was not statistically significant.
Nonetheless, retired neonatologist Victor Herson, who ran a NICU in Connecticut and has studied fortifiers, said in an interview he would have wanted to see those numbers.
“The trend was in the wrong direction,” Herson said, “and would have, I think, alerted the typical neonatologist that, well, maybe not to rush in and adopt” the new fortifier.
It’s common for study publications to include tables showing complications even if they aren’t statistically significant so that readers can draw their own conclusions, Herson said.
Neonatologist Fernando Moya, a co-author of the Pediatrics article, had a different perspective.
“You may not be very familiar with medical literature but when there are no ‘statistically significant’ differences, we do not comment on whether something was increased or decreased,” Moya said by email. He referred questions to Mead Johnson.
Mead Johnson’s O’Neill gave several reasons why “the data you cite was not included in the publication.” She said the study was designed to examine infant nutrition and growth, NEC was a “secondary outcome,” the NEC numbers weren’t statistically significant, and the size of the study, “while appropriate, was not powered to draw any conclusions with respect to any potential differences in NEC.”
In a deposition used in the Watson trial, Carol Lynn Berseth — a co-author of the paper and Mead Johnson’s director of medical affairs for North America when the study was completed — testified that the article was peer-reviewed and that no reviewer asked for additional data.
“Had they asked for it, we would have shown it,” Berseth testified.
Berseth did not respond to a phone message or to an email or letter sent to addresses apparently associated with her.
‘It Should Not Be in a NICU’
The Abbott scientist who flagged research on Mead Johnson’s acidified fortifier in 2013, Bridget Barrett-Reis, was later listed as chair of AL16, the follow-up clinical trial Abbott sponsored, and as a co-author of resulting publications.
In a deposition, she was asked why she conducted the study.
“I conducted that study because I thought [the acidified fortifier] could be dangerous,” she said, “and I thought it would be a good idea to find out if it really was because nobody was doing anything about it.”
Elaborating on the thinking behind the study, she testified: “It should not be in a NICU in the United States. That product should not be anywhere for preterm infants.”
In her 2013 email recommending that Abbott conduct a study, Barrett-Reis cited findings by “an independent investigator,” Ann Anderson-Berry, that showed, compared with preterm infants fed an Abbott powder, those on Mead Johnson’s acidified liquid “had slower growth, higher incidence of metabolic acidosis and NEC!!”
Asked about the exclamation points, Barrett-Reis testified in a January 2024 deposition used in the Gill case that she wasn’t excited about the findings. “I am known to put exclamation points instead of question marks and everything anywhere, so I have no idea at the time what those meant,” she testified.
The research that caught her eye in 2013 reviewed patient records from the Nebraska Medical Center. The institution had switched to the acidified fortifier with high hopes but stopped using it after four months because it was concerned about patient outcomes, Anderson-Berry and Nebraska co-authors reported in January 2014.
In an interview, Anderson-Berry said she set out to analyze why, during those four months, babies’ growth “fell apart in our hands.”
Abbott was “very pleased” with Anderson-Berry’s findings and paid her to go around the country discussing them, she said.
Metabolic acidosis can be fatal, Anderson-Berry said. But typically it can be managed, she said, adding that she didn’t know of deaths from metabolic acidosis caused by the acidified fortifier.
Research has found that metabolic acidosis “is associated with poor developmental and neurologic outcomes in very low birth weight infants,” according to a paper Barrett-Reis co-authored. In addition, it is “a risk factor for neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis,” the paper said.
Barrett-Reis did not respond to inquiries for this article, including a message sent via LinkedIn and a letter sent to an address that appeared to be associated with her.
In court, Abbott representative Robyn Spilker testified that metabolic acidosis can be a very serious condition and that nobody should knowingly put kids at risk for getting NEC in an effort to make money.
Before infants were enrolled in the AL16 study, their parents or guardians had to sign consent forms disclosing, among other things, the risks that clinical trial subjects would face.
International ethical principles for medical research on humans, known as the Declaration of Helsinki, say each participant must be adequately informed of the “potential risks.”
Questioning Abbott’s Spilker in litigation, plaintiff’s attorney Timothy Cronin said, “Ma’am, despite the hypothesis going in, are you aware Abbott did not put metabolic acidosis on the informed consent form given to parents that signed their kids up for that study?” Spilker, who identified herself in court as a senior brand manager, said she didn’t know what was on the consent forms.
Through a request under a Kentucky open-records law, KFF Health News obtained an informed consent form for the AL16 study used at a public institution, the University of Louisville. The form mentioned risks such as diarrhea, constipation, gas, and fussiness. It did not mention metabolic acidosis or NEC.
KFF Health News also reviewed an informed consent form for the AL16 study used at Memorial Hospital of South Bend. It was largely identical to the one used in Louisville and did not mention metabolic acidosis or NEC.
Cronin, the plaintiff’s attorney, said in an interview that Abbott showed disregard for the health and safety of premature babies participating in the AL16 clinical trial.
“I think it’s unethical to do a study if you know you are subjecting participants in the study to an increased risk of a potentially deadly disease and you don’t at least tell them that,” Cronin said.
Anderson-Berry told KFF Health News that Abbott was “ethically well positioned” to conduct the AL16 clinical trial because her paper was not definitive.
Yet she said she was unwilling to enroll any of her patients in the Abbott clinical trial because she didn’t want to take the chance that they would be given the acidified liquid.
White, the neonatologist who stopped enrolling patients in the study, defended the decision to conduct it. In an interview, he said it was appropriate to conduct a large, properly controlled clinical trial to see whether concerns raised in earlier research were borne out. The two babies whose serious adverse events he reported to Abbott ended up doing fine, he said.
But White, who went on to be listed as a co-author of the study, told KFF Health News that parents should have been informed that the risks included metabolic acidosis and NEC.
“In retrospect, obviously, that is something that we, I think, should have informed parents of,” he said.
Abbott did not directly answer questions about the consent forms.
The results of AL16 were published in the Journal of Pediatrics in 2018. The conclusion: Infants fed the acidified product — in other words, the Mead Johnson fortifier — had higher rates of metabolic acidosis and poorer feeding tolerance. Plus, poorer “initial weight gain.”
The title of the article trumpeted “Improved Outcomes in Preterm Infants Fed a Nonacidified Liquid Human Milk Fortifier” — in other words, the Abbott product.
Eight of the 78 infants receiving the Mead Johnson fortifier were treated for metabolic acidosis, compared with none of the 82 receiving the Abbott product, the article said. Four infants on Mead Johnson’s product experienced serious adverse events, compared with one on the Abbott product, the article reported.
One infant receiving the Mead Johnson product died — from sepsis, the article said. One had a case of NEC, and infants on Mead Johnson’s fortifier “had significantly more vomiting,” the article said.
However, in a pair of letters to the editor published in the Journal of Pediatrics, doctors criticized the article as hyped. Writers said the article emphasized findings that were subjective and susceptible to bias.
In its business battle with Mead Johnson, Abbott deployed the study. It produced an annotated copy for its sales force, which was shown in the Whitfield trial.
Abbott’s use of AL16 as a marketing tool worked.
In 2019, when Barrett-Reis applied for a promotion at Abbott, she wrote that the results of the study had been “leveraged to secure whole hospital contracts which have increased hospital share to > 70%.”
Her letter was displayed in a deposition video filed in the Gill litigation.
Internally, Mead Johnson conceded it had been beaten in the fight over fortifiers. In the slide deck for a 2020 national sales meeting, the company said, “Abbott won the narrative.”
Steve Kerr’s statesmanship nurtures culture of excellence
I believe that statesmanship is exceptional leadership characterized by vision, courage, compassion, civility and effectiveness.
Considered narrowly, statesmanship relates primarily to politics and government. However, when looked at more expansively, it is equally relevant to business, law, academia, philanthropy and religion. We need statesmanship in all aspects of American society and from the leaders and institutions who influence our lives.
We even need it in sports, which is, as we know, an important feature of American economic, social and even political life.
Steve Kerr, the coach of the Golden State Warriors, would resist the designation of statesman. However, his impressive work to create a culture of excellence for the Warriors has had an outsize impact that far transcends basketball arenas. Kerr’s system of sustained excellence has captured the notice, admiration, and even attempts at emulation in business and politics.
Earlier this year, The Athletic, the sports unit of The New York Times, conducted a survey of the 40 most admired leaders in sports. Kerr took the top spot.
Kerr has been devoted to basketball since he was a teenager. He played at the University of Arizona and then spent 15 years in the NBA as a player. He was a member of three Bulls championship teams and two with the San Antonio Spurs. After retiring as a player, he was the general manager of the Phoenix Suns and a broadcaster for TNT, and, since 2014, he has been the head coach of the Warriors.
Under his leadership, the Warriors reached the NBA Finals six times and won four championships. His 2015-16 Warriors team won 73 games, the most in a single season in the league’s history. He has been voted as one of the 15 best coaches in NBA history. He was the head coach of the USA men’s basketball team that won the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Kerr’s nine combined championships as a player and coach are deeply impressive. So is the way in which he has won. He’s created a culture of innovation and quality that has been widely lauded. It is as common to see Kerr speak at a graduate business school or corporate conference as it is on a sports podcast.
He has said that the Warriors culture is based on four values: joy, competition, mindfulness and compassion. These values infuse the Warriors organization not only during championship years. They are also apparent during years when the team has struggled, often due to player injuries.
Kerr encourages players, coaches and others in the Warriors organization to be kind and tough-minded, compassionate and competitive, rigorous and creative, consistent and innovative. He celebrates and models collaboration, preparation and transparency and urges lifelong learning. He has invited luminaries from various professions to describe their work. Author Michael Lewis, Ambassador Michael McFaul and performer Alicia Keys are among those who have shared their insights with the Warriors.
Speaking at the Aspen Ideas Festival last summer, Kerr described the challenge of creating a culture of excellence and also talked about using his public platform to weigh in on matters on which he is both passionate and knowledgeable.
One is gun violence prevention. His father, Malcolm Kerr, was a respected University of California, Los Angeles professor who was assassinated in 1984 while serving as the president of the American University in Beirut. Kerr is determined to help find solutions to the epidemic of gun violence, focusing on background checks and gun safety.
“There is plenty we can do. There is so much we can do,” he said.
Kerr brushes aside questions about a future political career. “That’s not what I do. I’m a basketball coach,” he said at the Aspen event. “We can lead from our own sphere, from our own place in the world.”
However, his speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago made it clear that he understands the essence of leadership — and of statesmanship.
“I believe in a certain kind of leadership,” he told the DNC delegates gathered at the United Center. “I believe that leaders must display dignity. I believe that leaders must tell the truth. I believe that leaders must be able to laugh at themselves. I believe that leaders must care for and love the people they are leading. I believe leaders must possess knowledge and expertise, but with the full awareness that none of us has all the answers.”
Kerr ended his remarks with an uplifting message for all of us.
“Now imagine what we could do with all 330 million of us playing on the same team. Not as Democrats, not as Republicans, not as libertarians, but as Americans who know the greatness of our nation doesn’t come from any one of us, but from each of us doing our part to build a more perfect union.”
John T. Shaw is director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. Shaw’s columns, exclusive to the Tribune, appear the last Monday of each month. His most recent book is “The Education of a Statesman: How Global Leaders Can Repair a Fractured World.”
NASCAR: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Reveals What Changed Behind JR Motorsports’ Surge
Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared a clear view of where JR Motorsports stands early in the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season. The team entered the year with several changes, including new rules across NASCAR and internal personnel adjustments.
Despite that, the organization has shown strong speed and consistency from the opening races. Earnhardt Jr. pointed to early signs at Phoenix as a key moment that showed the team could compete right away.
He also highlighted the role of veteran driver Justin Allgaier and spoke in detail about Lee Pulliam’s recent debut. His comments focused on preparation, teamwork, and the group’s handling of a challenging offseason to stay competitive in NASCAR.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. on JR Motorsports’ Response to Changes
Dale Earnhardt Jr. said the team worked hard to adjust to rule changes in the series, which impacted competition across NASCAR.
“We worked really hard in the offseason. There were rule changes that everyone in the series had to figure out. We also made changes with our personnel, moved some crew chiefs around, and adjusted drivers. You always worry about that.”
He said the team found early speed at Phoenix Raceway.
“At Phoenix, we had really good speed. That gave us a good idea of how we might start the year. We’ve been able to carry that forward and continue to show up.”
Earnhardt Jr. added that past rule changes often created problems for the team, making this start more important.
“In the past, those kinds of changes hit us pretty hard. We’re proud that we were able to hit the ground running this time.”
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Changes and Early Speed
Earnhardt Jr. said the team’s early performance in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series showed how well it handled the adjustments.
“We’ve been able to hang on, we’ve been able to show up. We had a lot of support, but we also had to figure things out ourselves.”
He explained that strong preparation helped the team stay competitive despite the changes across NASCAR.
“A lot of times those rule changes hit us hard, but this year we worked really hard and came out strong.”
Justin Allgaier and Lee Pulliam deliver strong results
Earnhardt Jr. praised Justin Allgaier for his steady performance and leadership inside the team.
“Justin has done an incredible job leading our organization. He’s always been dependable, always fast, a great teammate, and he handles sponsors the right way.”
He said Allgaier continues to perform at a high level on and off the track.
“He continues to be exceptional across the board and is doing a great job on the racetrack.”
Earnhardt Jr. also highlighted Lee Pulliam for his preparation and effort in his debut.
“Lee did a really good job this weekend and worked extremely hard to be prepared, spent a lot of time in the simulator, and worked on his fitness.”
He said Pulliam made the most of his opportunity.
“He treated it like it might be his only chance at this level and tried to absorb everything he could.”
Earnhardt Jr. believes Pulliam showed he can compete at a higher level in NASCAR.
“I think what he’s done in his career earned him this opportunity, and he showed he can compete. He could do a really good job in a Truck or O’Reilly Auto Parts Series car if given another chance.”
He added that while more races are not easy to arrange, the performance stood out.
“We’d love to run him more, but it’s difficult. He went out there, ran hard, stayed up front, and got a solid result, even with that small mistake on the restart.”
IndyCar Results and Recap for the Barber ‘Rollercoaster’
IndyCar returns to the track dubbed the ‘rollercoaster’ at Barber Motorsport Park with a championship that is, what some would consider, ‘out of whack’. Prior to this race, it was the first time in years that Alex Palou had not led the championship, with Andretti’s Kyle Kirkwood taking that mantle.
During the last time out at the Inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington, it was, indeed, Kyle Kirwood who took the first win around the track with a weekend that saw Andretti dominance throughout.
Now, at Barber, we are back to business as usual with Palou taking a dominant pole position over the Penske of David Malukas and a shocking lap of Graham Rahal that slotted him into third. After a triple header that proved the 2026 IndyCar Championship is anyone’s to win, Barber provided intense racing amongst our lead cars.
It was Alex Palou, however, who returned to the position he is so used to, winning the race from pole and shooting back up just two points behind Kyle Kirkwood in championship points.
Pit Road Race
Most of the race results today were not decided on track, but in the hands of the strategists and trips down pit road. Many drivers were unclear about the tire strategy going out onto the track today, which left the grid on split strategies – some starting on softs and others on hards.
However, it turned out to be a race that we haven’t seen in a while, one that the track favored the Hard Tires over the course of the 2-pit race. Really, though, the positions were decided by the undercut and overcut strategy.
The race on pit road nearly spelled disaster for Palou’s win, as Lundgaard was slotted to come out ahead of him on track with most of the race left. However, in the only pit road bumble of the day, the rear right tire of Lundgaard was not bolted on properly, extending his pit from the 7-second window to over 13 seconds.
The Real Winner of the Day: Graham Rahal
Rahal, the namesake of the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team, has not stood on the IndyCar Podium since August of 2023 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course race. Today, though, that drought has ended.
After a shocking qualifying that saw Rahal start in P3 on the second row, his pace on track maintained position throughout the race. He fended off drivers from Penske’s David Malukas, McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard and Championship Contender, Kyle Kirkwood, to finish P2.
Experience was the true winning recipe for Rahal as he defended his second place finish lap after lap from McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard – affectionately named Lungegaard for his ability to overtake. His two teammates finished in the last places, with Foster in 24th and Schumacher in 25th.
IndyCar Children’s of Alabama Grand Prix Results
Palou wasn’t the only winner around the track today. Four of the top six finishers in the race had their career-best finishes this time around the track. McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard (tied), Penske’s David Malukas, Andretti’s Kyle Kirkwood, and Meyer Shank’s Marcus Armstrong all had their best finishing position at the historic Barber track.
With these dominant finishes, Kirkwood holds on to his IndyCar Championship lead and Christian Lundgaard now sits in third behind Kirkwood and Palou, thanks to his consistent Top 10 finishes.
Palou remarked after the race that his win, although equally as dominant as his record-breaking win earlier this year in St Petersburg, was thanks to this being
Chase Elliott Denies Denny Hamlin of Prestigious NASCAR Record With Resurrecting HMS Claim
The NASCAR community knows that records at Martinsville Speedway aren’t easy to come by for the drivers. But, for Denny Hamlin, history was well within reach today. With six wins already at the paperclip, another victory would’ve pushed him into elite company, tying Rusty Wallace among the track’s fifth-highest-winningest drivers. And after sweeping Stage 1 and Stage 2, it genuinely felt inevitable. However, just when everything seemed to be lining up, Chase Elliott had other plans.
Alan Gustafson and Chase Elliott’s gamble pays off
“So proud of Alan and the whole UniFirst team. They did a great job. We took a gamble. We were gonna two-stop that last stage. Honestly, think it was gonna work out really good for us either way. But just so proud of it.”
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That was Chase Elliott moments after pulling off a statement win at the 2026 Cook Out 400, edging out Denny Hamlin by just 0.565 seconds. While the finish was tight, the foundation of that victory was laid much earlier on pit road.
Credit goes largely to crew chief Alan Gustafson, whose strategy call flipped the race on its head. Elliott capitalized on a bold decision to short pit the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet earlier than the rest of the frontrunners, setting up a crucial track position advantage when it mattered most.
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When the caution flag waved on Lap 312, Elliott was running second behind Hamlin and followed the leaders onto pit road. Ross Chastain briefly inherited the lead by staying out, but it didn’t last long. On the restart, Elliott wasted no time taking control, clearing Chastain and settling into a rhythm that proved untouchable.
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From there, it was all about execution.
Elliott led the final 69 laps and totaled 84 laps led on the day, showcasing both pace and composure under pressure. The win marked his second career victory at Martinsville Speedway and his 15th top-10 finish in 22 starts at the track. These are impressive numbers that underline just how comfortable he is at the paperclip.
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More importantly, it delivered the first win of the 2026 season for Hendrick Motorsports, extending their all-time record at Martinsville to 31 victories. For Chase Elliott and HMS, this wasn’t just a win. It was a reset.
Late-race twist snatches control from Hamlin’s grasp
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For most of the afternoon at Martinsville Speedway, it felt like a familiar script. Denny Hamlin out front, controlling the pace, and leaving the rest of the field scrambling. And the numbers back that up. Hamlin leads all active drivers at Martinsville in wins (six), top-five finishes (21), top-10s (27), and laps led (2,772).
He’s also led at least 100 laps in five of the last 10 races here, including last March when he dominated by leading 274 of 400 laps en route to victory. Simply put, this is his playground. Saturday only reinforced that narrative.
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Starting from the pole, Hamlin immediately took command, leading the opening 38 laps before briefly losing the lead to William Byron in lapped traffic. It didn’t last long. Six laps later, Hamlin was back out front and went on to win Stage 1 under caution after Cody Ware’s spin.
Stage 2? More of the same. Hamlin controlled the entire segment, making it clear that anyone hoping to win would have to go through the Joe Gibbs Racing driver. By Lap 313, the stat line was staggering. Hamlin had 289 laps led out of 314, a 1.12 average running position, and 313 laps spent inside the top five.
Even on pit road, he delivered, winning the race off pit road ahead of Chase Elliott. But that’s where everything changed. A late restart flipped the momentum, and suddenly, the race wasn’t playing out on Hamlin’s terms anymore. After dominating nearly every phase, he found himself chasing instead of controlling. And this time, there was no way back.
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Chase Elliott is Martinsville race winner
Chase Elliott’s victory at Martinsville ended a six-week winless streak for Hendrick Motorsports.
Denny Hamlin led a race-high 292 laps and won two stages but finished in second place.
The NASCAR Cup Series will take a one-week break for Easter before returning at Bristol Motor Speedway.
NASCAR’s trip to Martinsville came at a good time for Hendrick Motorsports.
No, the constant contender hadn’t turned to rubbish in the last two months, but it had not captured a victory through the first six weeks of 2026. That served as their longest winless streak to open a season since 2019.
If there was ever a perfect place to change that, it was the historic speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia, though.
Chase Elliott grabbed the checkers in the Cook Out 400 on March 29. The win marked Hendrick’s 31st on the 0.526-mile oval, the most of any organization at any track in the sport.
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Elliott led 84 laps. He held off Denny Hamlin, who dominated the first two stages before settling into the runner-up spot.
Let’s break it down.
1. Chase Elliott’s gamble pays off on milestone day
Elliott’s victory doubled as an anniversary gift.
He debuted in the Cup Series on the same day at the same track 11 years ago.
Now in his 11th full-time campaign, Elliott carries 22 career wins, including two at Martinsville.
“It’s really cool when this stuff works out, and to win these races is so tough,” he said. “Just really grateful for the opportunity as always. I never take it for granted, trust me. It’s a dream come true for me.”
It required some smart moves and a dash of luck.
Alan Gustafson, the crew chief for the No. 9 Chevrolet, called for Elliott to short pit on Lap 261. The strategy panned out for the duo when a caution flag on Lap 312 allowed Elliott to pit again from second and remain up front.
“We took a gamble,” Elliott said. “We were going to two-stop that last stage. I honestly think it was going to work out really good for us either way. Just so proud of them, man.”
2. Denny Hamlin almost repeats history in Martinsville spring race
Hamlin looked to be doing it again.
In 2025, he commanded the spring race at Martinsville, pacing everyone for 274 laps on his way to Victory Lane.
He surpassed that total this go-around with 292 laps led. He also laid down the fastest qualifying time Saturday and snatched two stage wins Sunday. It was Hamlin at his best.
But following the final caution, Elliott wrestled away the lead, and Hamlin spent the rest of the race in unsuccessful pursuit.
“He did a good job controlling the pace there,” Hamlin said. “It really came from that bad restart I had besides (Ross Chastain). Just not much really I could’ve done there, and it felt like we gave it our all.”
3. NASCAR Cup Series heads to Bristol after Easter break
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and Truck Series will visit Rockingham Speedway next week. The Trucks will kick things off on April 3, and the O’Reilly cars will follow on April 4.
But the Cup Series drivers won’t be accompanying them.
They’ll take a one-week Easter break on April 5, and they’ll have to enjoy it. They won’t receive another fully idle Sunday until the beginning of August.
After the bye, the Cup stars will return to the track on April 12 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The Food City 500 will begin at 3 p.m. and air on FS1.
Martinsville continues to be Hendrick Motorsports’ old reliable
Alan Gustafson, crew chief for the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports team and driver Chase Elliott, received a phone call from team owner Rick Hendrick on Sunday morning ahead of Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Martinsville.
He was packing his suitcase and didn’t pick up the phone initially.
The 10 Best Premier League Stadiums-Ranked
The Premier League isn’t just home to some of the world’s best soccer teams—it can also lay claim to some of the most iconic and unique stadiums in the game.
From cutting-edge, state-of-the-art grounds that make watching a match feel more like a trip to the cinema, to classic, old-school arenas that capture the spirit and history of the beautiful game, England’s top division offers a stadium for every taste.
Here, Sports Illustrated has ranked the best stadiums the Premier League has to offer.
10. Elland Road (Leeds United)
Capacity: 37,890
Few teams relish a trip to Elland Road.
Its traditional, non-bowl design, with stands tight to the pitch, creates an intense, in-your-face atmosphere. Add in the ground’s rich history—Leeds United have played there since the club’s formation in 1919—and a fiercely passionate fanbase, and it becomes one of the most intimidating venues in the game.
The concourses may feel a little outdated, but that only adds to the charm. It’s a stadium that wears its history proudly—and visiting teams feel every bit of it.
9. Stamford Bridge (Chelsea)
Capacity: 41,631
For a club of Chelsea’s stature—two-time European champions and five-time Premier League winners—Stamford Bridge is relatively modest in size. But what it lacks in scale, it more than makes up for in intensity.
When the stadium is rocking (and admittedly, it’s not always), it becomes a cauldron of noise. The steep stands and tight, enclosed design trap the sound, creating a charged, almost claustrophobic atmosphere that can feel like a true fortress. Add in the rhythmic clatter of fans banging metal in the stands after a goal, and it gives the place a raw, unmistakable edge that few grounds can replicate.
8. Stadium of Light (Sunderland)
Capacity: 48,707
The Stadium of Light is simply too good a venue to have spent years outside the top flight—but now that Sunderland are back in the Premier League, it feels like it’s finally where it belongs.
Relatively modern, having been Sunderland’s home since 1997, the ground strikes a rare balance between spaciousness and intimacy. The concourses are wide and comfortable, the seating is tidy with excellent sightlines and no obstructions and the overall layout makes for a smooth, enjoyable matchday experience.
Add in a lively fan zone and the potential for future expansion, and it’s a stadium built not just for the present—but for the long term.
7. Craven Cottage (Fulham)
Capacity: 29,589
Though relatively small compared to many others on this list, Craven Cottage is one of the most unique and charming stadiums in the game—and boasts arguably the best location in the league, perched right on the banks of the Thames, surrounded by pubs and bars.
Famous for its iconic 1905 red-brick pavilion, the ground blends old-world character with modern upgrades, including a state-of-the-art new stand. It’s a rare example of tradition and luxury coexisting seamlessly—giving it a feel that few stadiums can match.
6. Villa Park (Aston Villa)
Capacity: 42,918
Aston Villa’s Villa Park holds just over 42,000 people, but thanks to its structure—and especially the famous Holt End, with its depth and proximity to the pitch—it often feels much bigger.
The steep stands and tight sightlines create a wall of noise, giving the stadium a constant sense of intensity. Add in strong views, fair pricing and a proper old-school soccer feel, and it’s easy to see why Villa Park remains one of the best matchday experiences in England.
5. Old Trafford (Manchester United)
Capacity: 74,879
Old Trafford is, in many ways, a stadium in decline. The roof leaks, parts of the structure are showing their age and its layout can feel like a cramped, confusing maze of corridors.
So why does it still rank so highly? Because Manchester United’s iconic home—despite its flaws—has something intangible. It’s steeped in history, a place that carries decades of triumph, drama and unforgettable moments within its walls.
The fanbase, of course, plays a huge role, but there’s a deeper aura to Old Trafford that’s hard to replicate. And when it is eventually replaced, even if supporters welcome a modern upgrade, recreating that same sense of history and atmosphere will be no easy task.
4. Hill Dickinson Stadium (Everton)
Capacity: 52,769
Everton fans bid an emotional farewell to Goodison Park at the end of the 2024–25 season, closing the chapter on 131 years at one of England’s most iconic grounds. But while that goodbye was difficult, their new home more than rises to the occasion as a worthy successor.
Beautifully located on the waterfront at Bramley-Moore Dock, the stadium delivers everything you’d expect from a modern venue—and then some.
There’s a wide range of social spaces, from traditional pubs and bars to high-street-style restaurants and premium dining experiences, along with self-service “eBars” and top-tier seating. Some areas even feature cinema-style chairs and private screens for instant replays.
3. St. James’ Park (Newcastle United)
Capacity: 52,258
Not so much for away fans—who are perched high up in the gods—but if you can get a ticket in the home end, St. James’ Park offers one of the best matchday experiences in the Premier League.
A towering cathedral of a stadium, it dominates the city skyline, while its steep stands create an intense, close-to-the-action feel despite its size. The result is a unique sense of drama that makes it one of the most special grounds in England.
2. Anfield (Liverpool)
Capacity: 61,276
Thanks to recent redevelopment, Anfield has been brought firmly into the 21st century—transforming what was already an iconic ground into a home truly worthy of giants. The new stands blend seamlessly with the original structure, preserving that classic, old-school aesthetic while modernizing the experience.
When it comes to individual stands, few in world soccer can match the Kop. The sight—and sound—of Liverpool fans belting out You’ll Never Walk Alone, scarves held high, is enough to give anyone goosebumps, regardless of who they support.
1. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Tottenham)
Capacity: 74,879
Tottenham Hotspur may be a club in crisis at times, but their stadium is anything but.
The newly built ground is a state-of-the-art facility, boasting exceptional sightlines—almost every seat offers a superb view of the pitch—along with outstanding comfort. Off the field, it’s just as impressive, featuring modern amenities such as its own in-house brewery, spacious concourses, a wide range of bars and restaurants, and even bottom-up pouring pints.
The only real drawback is access, as getting in and out can be a challenge. But when it comes to the stadium experience itself, few—if any—in England can match it.
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NASCAR Cup Series 2026 Standings after Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway
The NASCAR Cup Series standings took shape after the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway, where Chase Elliott secured his first win of the 2026 season. The result came after a strong late-race move that allowed him to pass Denny Hamlin, who led most of the race.
The outcome directly impacted the Cup Series points standings after seven races. While Elliott gained ground, Tyler Reddick remains the points leader with a strong early-season run. Several drivers inside the top 10 also saw shifts in position as the season continues to build momentum.
NASCAR Cup Series Standings after the Martinsville Speedway Race
The NASCAR Cup Series standings remain led by Tyler Reddick, who holds 353 points after seven races. Despite not finishing inside the top 10 at Martinsville, his four wins earlier in the season keep him in front.
Ryan Blaney sits second with 271 points, followed by Denny Hamlin in third with 259. Hamlin’s strong race at Martinsville, where he led 292 laps and swept both stages, helped him close the gap.
Chase Elliott moved into fourth with 249 points after his win. William Byron holds fifth with 238 points, while Ty Gibbs sits sixth with 222.
Christopher Bell is seventh with 212 points. Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, and Chris Buescher round out the top 10, each with 206 points.
NASCAR Cup Series Race Result Impacts Points Battle
The NASCAR Cup Series race result at Martinsville played a major role in shaping the standings. Elliott’s win gave Hendrick Motorsports its first victory of the season and moved him closer to the top positions.
Hamlin’s second-place finish, along with his stage wins, added valuable points and improved his standing. Joey Logano finished third, followed by Ty Gibbs in fourth and William Byron in fifth.
Ryan Blaney placed sixth, with Christopher Bell seventh and Austin Cindric eighth. Kyle Larson finished ninth, and Josh Berry completed the top 10.
These results helped several drivers gain momentum in the NASCAR Cup Series standings as the season moves forward.
NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Picture Begins to Form
After seven races, the Cup Series playoff picture is starting to take shape. Tyler Reddick remains the clear leader with multiple wins, while other drivers continue to build points through consistent finishes.
Drivers inside the top 16 hold early playoff positions based on points, but the standings can still change as the season progresses. The NASCAR Cup Series schedule will continue with more short tracks and road courses, which could lead to further changes in the order.
The Martinsville race showed how race results and stage points continue to affect the NASCAR Cup Series standings. With more races ahead, teams will focus on consistency to stay in position for the playoffs.
NASCAR Cook Out 400 takeaways
Despite a quiet opening two stages, Chase Elliott took advantage of a savvy pit call from crew chief Alan Gustafson and held off a dominant Denny Hamlin to win Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway.
Here are four takeaways from the Cook Out Clash:
Chase Elliott delivers first 2026 win for Hendrick Motorsports
The HMS organization entered the weekend winless through the first six races for the first time since 2019. That uncharacteristic start will not extend for another week after Elliott’s breakthrough on Sunday.
With Elliott struggling to find track position through the first half of the 400-lap race, Gustafson elected to bring him down pit road with 139 laps to go — 29 laps sooner than Hamlin — as he attempted to two-stop the final stage. A couple of quick cautions bunched the field back up and Elliott held the lead for the final 67 laps.
Elliott ultimately prevailed by 0.565 seconds for his first win of the season, his second at Martinsville and the 22nd of his career. His 84 laps out front were second-most to Hamlin’s 292 and he now finds himself fourth in the standings, 104 points behind Tyler Reddick.
Denny Hamlin’s dominant drive comes up short
The six-time Martinsville winner and pole sitter for Sunday’s race was the driver to beat, but a missed shift on the restart with 78 laps to go lost him the top spot to Ross Chastain. Elliott also got past Hamlin and inherited the lead shortly after a big pileup produced the race’s final caution.
Hamlin swept the opening two stages and moved into fifth all-time in laps led at
What Drivers Said After Martinsville Cup win by Chase Elliott, his first of season
Chase Elliott — winner: “It was definitely a team effort, man. How about that? That was awesome. We’ve never had a win this early in the season. Just a really great team effort, man. So proud of Alan and the whole team. They did a great job. We took a gamble. We were going to two-stop that last stage. I honestly think it was going to work out good for us either way. Just so proud of them. Man, they put up with a lot (smiling). They got to put up with me all the time. I just appreciate them for sticking with me. Sure is a lot of fun when days like this work out. Definitely really appreciate it. Thanks to everybody, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet, Boss. I told you I thought we were okay. I didn’t know if we were this good or not. Thanks for the opportunity, as always. Wish you were here. We’ll see you next time. Say hi to my mom at home. Hope she’s having a good evening. Yeah, I mean, this whole deal is really weird the way it all works. I told them there about, I don’t know, half, three-quarters of the way through, I really don’t dislike my balance, I just wish I could control my runs a little better. Fortunately we got to lead on that last one. Fell into a really good pace. Yeah, just had enough. I think we probably needed a little bit to be just the absolute best outright. We were really close. Was able to manage and save enough to get through traffic there at the end. Yeah, man, it’s really cool when this stuff works out. To win these races is so tough. Just really grateful for the opportunity, as always. I never take it for granted. Trust me, this is a dream come true for me. Thanks everybody for coming out today. Appreciate y’all. Y’all are amazing. Thanks for the support. Hope it was a good show for you.”
Denny Hamlin — second:
NASCAR Cup Series Point Standings After Martinsville Speedway
Chase Elliott was able to take a step forward in the NASCAR Cup Series championship standings thanks to his first win of the season, which came in Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway. Elliott vaulted forward one spot to fourth in the standings, and he now sits 104 points behind the point lead.
Tyler Reddick was able to keep ahold of his series points lead after a 15th-place finish. As Reddick heads into the NASCAR Cup Series offweekend, he will carry an 82-point advantage over Ryan Blaney, who remained the runner-up driver in the standings with a sixth-place result at Martinsville.
Denny Hamlin sits third in the standings, 94 points back, while William Byron is in the fifth position, 115 points back.
Daniel Suarez holds the final spot in the Chase grid, and he sits nine points above Michael McDowell, his Spire Motorsports teammate. Austin Cindric is next in line, 18 points below the cutline, and Ross Chastain ranks 31 points back.
NASCAR Cup Series Point Standings After Cook Out 400
After race 7 of 36 (19 races remaining until the Chase)
Chase Elliott beats Denny Hamlin at Martinsville for first NASCAR win of season
Martinsville, Va. — The strategy calls don’t always work out for Chase Elliott in the Cup Series.
So when the plan comes together — as it did in a victory Sunday at Martinsville Speedway – it’s especially sweet for NASCAR’s eight-time most popular driver and his legions of adoring fans.
“It’s really cool when this stuff works out, and to win these races is so tough,” Elliott said while celebrating on the frontstetch to huge cheers after his first win this season and the 22nd of his career. “So just really, really grateful for the opportunity. I never take it for granted. Trust me, this is a dream come true for me.”
The 30-year-old from Dawsonville, Georgia, capitalized on a shrewd gamble by crew chief Alan Gustafson to pit the No. 9 Chevrolet earlier than the other contenders. When the caution flew on the 312th lap, Elliott was in second behind Denny Hamlin and pitted with the rest of the lead-lap drivers aside from Ross Chastain, who took the lead by staying on track.
Elliott took first from Chastain after a restart and led the final 69 laps to win by 0.565 seconds over Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota.
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“It was definitely a team effort,” Elliott said after his second win on the 0.526-mile oval. “That was awesome. So proud of Alan and the whole team. They did a great job, and we took a gamble. But just so proud of them. They put up with a lot, and they got to put up with me all the time. So I just appreciate them for sticking with me.”
Joey Logano finished third, followed by Ty Gibbs and William Byron.
Elliott, who has been voted NASCAR’s most popular driver annually since 2018, led 84 laps in delivering the first win this year for Hendrick Motorsports. The winningest team in NASCAR history has a record 31 victories at Martinsville.
Gustafson, whose calls are frequently second-guessed by one of NASCAR’s biggest fan bases whenever Elliott struggles, said he got a supportive call Sunday morning from team owner Rick Hendrick.
“He’s like, ‘Everything’s great, love you guys, playing the long game, and this is a marathon, not a sprint,’” Gustafson said in recounting the conversation. “But nevertheless, when the boss calls you, it gets your attention.”
The decision was virtually a no-brainer for Gustafson after Elliott started 10th and ran mostly outside the top five for the first half of the 400-lap race.
“We were just kind of trapped in like the 10th spot,” Gustafson said. “It’s really hard to pass, and we just need to do something different. I just felt like it was worth a shot. And when we pitted early, I think it just drug a lot of guys down. Obviously, the caution’s great. It gave us track position, and the rest is history.”
Hamlin, who has a series-best six wins at Martinsville, started from the pole position and dominated, leading 292 of the first 317 laps. The Joe Gibbs Racing star got shuffled from the lead during a pit stop sequence under a yellow flag that began on the 312th lap and then lost momentum on the ensuing restart. He also thought a loose wheel caused his handling to fade in the final stage.
“(Elliott) did a good job of controlling the pace there,” Hamlin said. “It just really came from that bad restart I had. Just not much really I could have done, and it felt like we gave it our all. We’ll check it out here, but I just thought the wheel was loose here on that last run. Either way, these are just some of the races that get away from you and your career.”
The win came 11 years to the day of Elliott’s debut in the Cup Series. He finished 38th in the March 29, 2015, race that was won by Hamlin. Elliott said he was reminded of the anniversary at an autograph session Sunday morning.
“A couple fans that were here that day came up to me and told me about it,” Elliott said. “So I got to thinking about it. Really cool to kind of see all that come full circle.”
Future deal
Tyler Reddick’s blazing start to the Cup season comes during a contract year for the 23XI Racing driver. Though he would be the hottest free agent in NASCAR on the open market, Reddick has said he’s committed to staying at the team he joined three years ago.
After winning the pole position Saturday, Hamlin guaranteed that 23XI would sign Reddick to an extension soon.
“Tyler’s one of those guys that was very important for us to get our hands on him very early,” Hamlin said. “I think he’s lived up to the expectations for us. We’re seeing it this year. He’s putting it all together, and our race cars are really fast, too.”
Hall of Fame nominees
The NASCAR Hall of Fame unveiled a list of 15 candidates for the three-member class of 2027 that will include two from the Modern Era category and one from the Pioneer division. Among the new nominees are 2014 Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, six-time ARCA champion Ray Elder, championship crew chief and engine builder Ernie Elliott, winning car owner Ray Fox and championship crew chief Herb Nab.
Some of the notable holdover nominees are Cup Series winners Jeff Burton and Greg Biffle, who was killed in a plane crash last December.
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Michael Jordan’s Competitive Fire Still Burns as NASCAR Fills His Basketball Void
Two decades after leaving the game, the competitive fire in Michael Jordan still burns. The Chicago Bulls legend may be long retired from the NBA, but his drive hasn’t faded. Now, as co-owner of 23XI Racing, he’s found a new arena to compete—proving his hunger to win never left.
Recently, in an interview with Gayle King for CBS Mornings, MJ touched on various topics, including his desire to pick up a basketball again, as the competitive fire still burns in his heart. When asked if he still has the urge to play basketball again, Jordan said, “100%. It’s not just a tiny bit; it’s a huge piece. I’ve compensated that feeling through NASCAR. That urge to dream that I wish I could still pick up a basketball, I would love to do that. Believe me. My competitive juices, yeah, I would definitely love to do that.”
Interestingly, Jordan’s team, 23XI Racing, is at the top of the NASCAR standings, and he celebrated with his driver, Tyler Reddick, after his fourth win of the young season in Darlington. “You never know what’s gonna happen, especially at Darlington,’ Jordan told FS1 after the win. ‘We just had to get the car right and [Reddick] kept his composure.”
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NASCAR is an extremely demanding sport, and though Jordan is not in the car or in the thick of the action, he is still deeply involved as a co-owner. So when he says that NASCAR has replaced basketball after retirement, it’s legit. He enjoys a much quieter life as a co-owner of an NASCAR team.
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“It’s a quieter life where I’m not really the show, even though as of late, you know, I’ve been in the forefront … a lot more than I probably anticipated,” he told King. “But I think the sport needs it to some degree, and my team needs it, and I want them to see the passion that I have for winning and for the– you know, being a part of the team.”
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“But it’s something that I think keeps me alive,” he added.
Jordan isn’t alone in this post-career pivot. Many legendary athletes have channeled their unrelenting competitive spirit into team ownership across various sports, staying connected to the games they love while stepping into new leadership roles.
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For example, Magic Johnson — another NBA icon — has built a significant portfolio of investments beyond basketball. He holds a minority stake in the Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB) and is a part-owner of Los Angeles FC (MLS), among other ventures. These investments have allowed him to remain a prominent figure in Los Angeles sports while pursuing business success off the court.
Similarly, baseball superstar Derek Jeter served as part-owner and CEO of the Miami Marlins (MLB) from 2017 to 2022. With a small ownership stake, Jeter oversaw day-to-day operations, bringing his on-field leadership and competitive mindset directly into the front office.
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This pattern extends further: LeBron James has taken minority stakes in teams like Liverpool FC (soccer), while others like Dwyane Wade (Utah Jazz) and various retired stars have followed suit in basketball and beyond. Jordan’s earlier majority ownership of the Charlotte Hornets (which he largely sold in 2023 while retaining a minority share) already placed him in this exclusive club.
His current NASCAR venture with 23XI Racing reflects the same hunger to compete, now expressed through team success rather than personal stats.
Even after 23 years of retirement, His Airness is often considered the best player ever to play basketball. People from that era support MJ as the greatest of all time. However, most fans from this era have their favorites. But the former Chicago Bulls star is unbothered about the GOAT debate and doesn’t believe in it.
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Michael Jordan shares his verdict on the GOAT debate
Michael Jordan is considered one of the best players to feature in the NBA. He has won the championship six times in his career while also securing several other honors. Other than having a sensational resume in the NBA, the Hall of Famer shaped an era of how basketball was viewed as a sporting product in the US and also across the globe.
Therefore, not only is he a legendary player, but he has also left an indelible mark on pop culture around the game with the introduction of his sneaker brand.
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For various reasons, he is hailed by fans, players, and analysts as the greatest player of all time. When he was asked about the GOAT tag and the debate around it, people expected a definitive answer, but the 63-year-old shocked everyone with his response.
“There’s no such thing as a GOAT, not to me. We’re all built from the ones before us. Every generation learns from the last and pushes the game forward. So to say one is better than the other, that’s not really right,” Jordan told King.
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It is surprising for fans to see a player who used to dominate the league and prove, day in and day out, that he was better than his fellow competitors. But his demeanor has completely changed after retirement, and when speaking about the legacy that he has left behind. The change makes sense even though it is surprising.
The GOAT debate has been an integral part of NBA discourse, and it is not restricted to fans. Even analysts set up sessions discussing the same. Players from different eras are often measured, compared, and their numbers dissected. Overall, it is good for discourse and the league’s culture.
But Jordan understands that players from different eras cannot be compared. The game has changed multiple times across eras; rules have also changed, and the playing style is different now compared to what it was in the 1980s and 90s. So the comparison between superstars from each era is actually futile.
Each generation of players builds on what came before them by learning, adapting, and adjusting to the league’s speed, rules, and style. So Jordan sees himself as part of that entire ecosystem, not someone above it.
Charles Barkley Expresses Pride in Michael Jordan’s NASCAR Success After Highlighting Different Career Paths
From champagne showers in the locker room to them happening on the NASCAR podium, Michael Jordan found his place. In February, 23XI claimed its first Daytona 500 win. Jordan was in high spirits following the win. The satisfaction on his face seemed to be the same as when His Airness won his six NBA championships. And it’s difficult not to appreciate Jordan’s journey.
He and Charles Barkley may not have spoken in years. But a fractured relationship didn’t stop the Hall of Famer from praising his former friend. Barkley knows just what winning NASCAR’s biggest race would have meant to Michael Jordan. Most importantly, he’s proud of the Bulls icon for finding a love beyond basketball.
“Whatever you have to find, basketball is just a small part of your life. No matter how great you are, you’re going to be done as a young person. You have to find something else that brings you joy and happiness… I’m happy about his success in NASCAR. I know he loves fishing. But I’m proud of his success in NASCAR. He’s always been great for me, telling me how to make money and things like that. And so man, I’m proud of his success,” Barkley said on TNT.
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For many players, life after basketball is actually the harder part of life. Barkley is fortunate enough to have found something, too. “I love doing television. I’ve been blessed to do this for a long time,” he added. Barkley’s been a part of Inside the NBA for over 25 years. He considers himself ‘lucky’ to have a job that still keeps him connected to the game.
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And there’s something common between Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley in this respect. They are both extremely passionate. Jordan made waves by fighting for the driver’s long-term future with a recent lawsuit against NASCAR. Charles Barkley extensively criticised TNT for failing to secure a media rights deal with the NBA. Such expressions of defiance are an extension of their being completely immersed in what they do.
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Michael Jordan still dreams about basketball
Being a NASCAR owner fills every pore for Michael Jordan. His father was a mechanic and a car enthusiast. Furthermore, Jordan feels the same surge of adrenaline when watching Tyler Reddick race. Watching the race from the pit helps the six-time NBA champion feed into his competitive genes.
But even the great Michael Jordan can’t forget his first love. Electric NASCAR races help fill MJ’s competitive appetite. Yet, it all stems from how much Jordan craves to be back on the hardwood again.
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“It’s not just teenie, it’s a huge piece. But I compensated for that feeling with NASCAR. But that urge to dream that if I wish, I can still pick up a basketball. Oh, I would love to do that. Believe me. My competitive juices say yeah, I would definitely love to do that,” MJ said when asked about missing basketball.
The Hall of Famer joined NBC as a ‘special contributor’, hoping he could give something back to the game. But Michael Jordan also made it clear that he’s all-in with NASCAR. At this moment, being a successful NASCAR team is the motivation that keeps Jordan going. His tick, to compete, may never be satisfied. However, Jordan found something that makes him feel “alive”.
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It’s not gliding through the air and humiliating defenders anymore. But it does a great job of compensating for what Michael Jordan misses the most.
Tyler Reddick Laces Up The Virgil Abloh Archive
It is one of the most anticipated sneaker releases of 2026 and Reddick had them on foot. The choice did not go unnoticed by sneaker fans watching his pre-race coverage.
Furthermore, his presence at a major race in such a culturally significant sneaker says something about where NASCAR’s audience is heading. The sport continues to attract a younger, more fashion-conscious fanbase with each passing season.
Virgil Abloh Archive x Air Jordan 1 High OG
Chase Elliott wins at Martinsville for first of NASCAR season
The 30-year-old from Dawsonville, Georgia, capitalized on a shrewd gamble by crew chief Alan Gustafson to pit the No. 9 Chevrolet earlier than the other contenders. When the caution flew on the 312th lap, Elliott was in second behind Denny Hamlin and pitted with the rest of the lead-lap drivers aside from Ross Chastain, who took the lead by staying on track.
Elliott took first from Chastain after a restart and led the final 69 laps to win by 0.565 seconds over Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota.
“It was definitely a team effort,” Elliott said after his second win on the 0.526-mile oval. “That was awesome. So proud of Alan and the whole team. They did a great job, and we took a gamble. But just so proud of them. They put up with a lot, and they got to put up with me all the time. So I just appreciate them for sticking with me.”
Joey Logano finished third, followed by Ty Gibbs and William Byron.
Elliott, who has been voted NASCAR’s most popular driver annually since 2018, led 84 laps in delivering the first win this year for Hendrick Motorsports. The winningest team in NASCAR history has a record 31 victories at Martinsville.
Gustafson, whose calls are frequently second-guessed by one of NASCAR’s biggest fan bases whenever Elliott struggles, said he got a supportive call Sunday morning from team owner Rick Hendrick.
“He’s like, ‘Everything’s great, love you guys, playing the long game, and this is a marathon, not a sprint,’ ” Gustafson said in recounting the conversation. “But nevertheless, when the boss calls you, it gets your attention.”
The decision was virtually a no-brainer for Gustafson after Elliott started 10th and ran mostly outside the top five for the first half of the 400-lap race.
“We were just kind of trapped in like the 10th spot,” Gustafson said. “It’s really hard to pass, and we just need to do something different. I just felt like it was worth a shot. And when we pitted early, I think it just drug a lot of guys down. Obviously, the caution’s great. It gave us track position, and the rest is history.”
Hamlin, who has a series-best six wins at Martinsville, started from the pole position and dominated, leading 292 of the first 317 laps. The Joe Gibbs Racing star got shuffled from the lead during a pit stop sequence under a yellow flag that began on the 312th lap and then lost momentum on the ensuing restart. He also thought a loose wheel caused his handling to fade in the final stage.
“(Elliott) did a good job of controlling the pace there,” Hamlin said. “It just really came from that bad restart I had. Just not much really I could have done, and it felt like we gave it our all. We’ll check it out here, but I just thought the wheel was loose here on that last run. Either way, these are just some of the races that get away from you and your career.”
The win came 11 years to the day of Elliott’s debut in the Cup Series. He finished 38th in the March 29, 2015, race that was won by Hamlin. Elliott said he was reminded of the anniversary at an autograph session Sunday morning.
“A couple fans that were here that day came up to me and told me about it,” Elliott said. “So I got to thinking about it. Really cool to kind of see all that come full circle.”
After a weekend off for Easter, the NASCAR Cup Series will continue its short-track swing at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee on April 12. Kyle Larson has won two of the past three races at the 0.533-mile oval, leading 411 of 500 laps in a victory last April.
Michael Jordan reveals why he took NASCAR to court
Michael Jordan and 23XI Racing made headlines in 2024 when they took NASCAR to court alongside Front Row Motorsports in what turned into a drawn-out antitrust case, but the basketball legend says he didn’t take legal action out of malice for the sport he loves.
In an interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Jordan, the co-owner of 23XI alongside NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin, explained why he decided to take the privately owned sporting company to battle in the courtroom.
Why Michael Jordan took NASCAR to court
Edmonds-Woodway takes down Shorwood in Wesco South match
Prep girls tennis roundup for Friday and Saturday (March 27-28):
(Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results and statistics, email sports@heraldnet.com. Please report results by 10:30 p.m.)
FRIDAY
Wesco 3A/2A South
Edmonds-Woodway 5, Shorewood 2
Singles—Micah Crose (S) def. Maddy Ashe 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (8-6); Jessica Saleska (S) def. Amelia Miller 6-1, 6-2; Abby Petersen (E) def. Sophia Nguyen 6-4, 6-3; Hanna Heong (E) def Miha Mayuzumi 6-0, 6-0; Doubles—Darcy Brenner-Sidney Bates (E) def. Lilah Becker-Shinuen Moon 6-4, 6-1; Izzy Beltran-Synryn Gill (E) def. Haileigh Cunningham-Kiera Vega 6-3, 6-0; Ava Oliver-Jenna Hodson (E) def. Anika Benson-Kennedy Woods 6-0, 6-0.
Non-league
Everett 6, Mariner 1
At Mariner H.S.
Singles—Lauren Desimone (E) def. Crystal Mendoza Cruz 6-0, 6-4. Meagan McMains (E) def. Kayla Cahyadi 6-0, 6-1. Elizabeth Modseyen (E) def. Michelle Huynh 6-3, 6-1. Grace Regan-Bone (E) def. Kayla Abendroth 6-0, 6-0. Doubles—Sophia Munro-Avery Hammer (E) def. Morgan Trenh-Christina Pham 4-6, 6-4, 10-7. Tegan Trefry-Alice Buchanan (E) def. Rohey Jaiteh-Sophia Feolino 6-0, 6-0. Emily Huynh-Malany Lai (M) def. Alice Nelson-Lydia Hogan 6-1, 6-3.
Jackson 6, Lynnwood 1
At Lynnwood H.S.
Singles—Teegan Bridgeman (J) def. Rose Tulga 6-1, 6-2. Francys Montilla (J) def. Tayler Simbulan 6-1, 6-1. Gracie Schouten (J) def. Rachel Ericson 6-0, 6-1. Sreshta Sundar-Ganesh (J) def. Tien Vo 6-1, 6-0. Doubles—Ava Basias-Adeline Tran (L) def. Leah Wilson-Myla Nguyen 7-6 (7-1), 3-6, 11-9. Jimena Bellson-Nadia Villarreal-Carriedo (J) def. Maggie Hesedahl-Venus Hernandez 6-4, 6-2. Arusni Pasudore-Sarrul Tumurbantar (J) def. Naomi Aquino-Melissa Seng 6-2, 6-2.
Snohomish 7, Arlington 0
At Snohomish H.S.
Singles—Mak Dauer (S) def. Grace Armes 6-0, 6-0. Janelle Childs (S) def. Iris Suchan 6-0, 6-1. Morgan Gibson (S) def. Audrey Marsh 6-4, 6-2. Elle Cottet (S) def. Savannah Thomas 6-1, 6-1. Doubles—Annie VanAssche-Lily Masche (S) def. Grae Farris Mia Whobrey 6-2, 6-0. Claire Bosa-Ava Beaver (S) def. Lyla Morzelewski-Ellie Linklater (S) 6-1, 6-3. Chloe Dauer-Bianca Richards (S) def. Andrea Hernandez Villaloba-Ashlyn Huling 6-2, 6-0.
Marysville Pilchuck at Lakewood, score not reported
Mountlake Terrace at Bothell, postponed
SATURDAY
Monroe at Mason, 10 a.m. at Harmony Meadows
Seattle Prep at Shorewood, 11 a.m.
Credit One Charleston Open returns to the Lowcountry
DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) — The Credit One Charleston Open returns to the Lowcountry this weekend, bringing top women’s tennis players from around the world to Daniel Island.
The tournament runs March 28-April 5 at Credit One Stadium. North America’s largest women-only tennis event features a 48-player singles draw, a 24-player qualifying draw and a 16-team doubles draw.
This year, the Credit One Charleston Open announced it is offering a record $2.5 million in prize money with support from Credit One Bank, a landmark moment for equal prize money in women’s tennis.
Beyond the matches, the event provides a vibrant atmosphere with fan experiences. Attendees can look forward to enjoying food and entertainment from local vendors, as well as opportunities to meet some of their favorite players during special events.
For those planning to attend, tickets can be purchased on the tournament’s official website, which also provides match schedules and information on safety protocols for the event.
Coco Gauff Quietly Supported by BF Jalen Sera at Miami Open
After taking down Karolina Muchova 6-1, 6-1, Coco Gauff punched her ticket to the 2026 Miami Open final, where she’ll face Aryna Sabalenka for the 12th time in her career.
While the first four of her matches in Southern Florida went to three sets, Gauff finally feels settled after soundly defeating Muchova. “Today I didn’t feel like an imposter,” Gauff told reporters after the semifinal victory. “I feel like I played some good tennis today.”
Gauff (No. 4) and Sabalenka (No. 1) are 6-6 in their career head-to-heads. “We’ve played so many matches, and it’s physical when I play her every time,” Gauff said of the Belarusian star. “It’s going to be tough.”
While Sabalenka is looking to win the “Sunshine Double” following her victory at Indian Wells, Gauff is looking to clinch her first career championship at the Miami Open. Wildly enough, the Delray Beach native has never even made it past the fourth round.
Cheering Gauff on at Hard Rock Stadium is her longtime boyfriend, Jalen Sera. While Gauff and Sera keep a very low profile, they will celebrate three years together in June.
Coco Gauff’s Boyfriend, Jalen Sera, Is Her No. 1 Cheerleader Through Wins & Losses
Gauff first publicly mentioned that she had a boyfriend while speaking to the Tennis Channel in November 2023. While showing off her infinity bracelet, “My boyfriend gave this to me,” she said. “I’m sure a lot of relationships look up to that symbol, so I’m not going to explain that.”
In her Vogue cover interview in November 2024, she spoke about Jalen but didn’t reveal his name. The 22-year-old simply clarified that she was not dating a fellow athlete. “He’s a very nice guy. He’s in school now,” she said. “He’s about to apply for music school. He wants to be an actor, and he plays the guitar.”
Gauff highlighted his quiet support while speaking to E! News in August 2025. “Honestly, after a good match, I just talk to my boyfriend, my friends, everyone cause I’m in a good mood,” she said. “When I lose, I would say just my boyfriend ’cause he is the only one that can take me and my mood after a loss.”
While the couple keeps their romance out of the spotlight, Sera’s support means the world to Gauff. “He’s always telling me to trust the process,” she noted.
“Just know that I’ve already accomplished a lot and there’s no need to be so negative. That’s kind of what my whole team, my parents, everybody says. I’m someone that can criticize myself a lot, so I just try to make sure that I stay positive.”
Coco Gauff’s Boyfriend, Jalen Sera, Received the Nod of Approval From Her Mom, Candi Gauff
Speaking to TIME in April 2024, Gauff revealed Sera is from Atlanta and that her mom, Candi Gauff, used to be his 4th grade teacher. “My mom always said, if they’re bad in school, they’re probably bad as adults,” Candi said. “He’s always been a smart, nice kid.”
“This is my first real relationship,” Gauff added. “To just have someone to talk to who is not involved in tennis at all gives me a fresh perspective.”
Aryna Sabalenka’s Fiancé Shares Career News at Miami Open
Aryna Sabalenka, the No. 1-ranked player in the world, takes on American phenom Coco Gauff in the 2026 Miami Open final on March 28.
Sabalenka is looking to win the elusive “Sunshine Double” after winning at Indian Wells earlier this month. However, the 27-year-old knows it won’t be easy to defeat the two-time Grand Slam champion.
“With Coco, you know that you have to play an extra ball, and the ball always comes back,” Sabalenka told reporters. “Sometimes not perfect, but it’s always back on your side, and you have to be aggressive, you have to go for shots. She pushes you into the long rallies, and I think that’s what makes her difficult.”
Sabalenka took down Elena Rybakina in straight sets to advance to the final. Cheering on Sabalenka at Hard Rock Stadium as she faces Gauff, her fiancé, Georgios Frangulis.
While the spotlight remains on Sabalenka and her massive engagement ring as she competes in South Florida, Frangulis also has a major presence at the tournament as the CEO and founder of Oakberry.
Aryna Sabalenka’s Fiancé, Georgios Frangulis, Made His Company an F1 Sponsor
Frangulis, 36, found global success with his acai company, Oakberry, for which Sabalenka is one of the brand’s ambassadors. In an interview with Tara Keeney in Miami, Frangulis spoke about his biggest dreams for the company’s future.
While he’s always wanted to own an F1 team, he’s settled for something else, having his company be an F1 sponsor.
“When you have to keep this aura around your brand and connect to so many different countries — we have stores in 50 different markets, plus markets we still want to tap,” he told Keeney.
“They don’t have to understand anything about motorsports or Formula 1 to understand that a brand that’s on a car, is brand that’s doing something right” the Brazilian businessman said. However, a sponsorship for the famously expensive sport does not come cheap. Most sponsorships are Fortune 500 companies.
“It’s a big accomplishment. So, I love this partnership and I think it add to my brand overall,” he adds.
“But not your bank account,” Keeney interjects.
“Definitely not,” Frangulis answers.
Fellow Tennis Star Celebrated Aryna Sabalenka & Georgios Frangulis’ Engagement
Sabalenka posted a video of the special moment Frangulis got down on one knee on Instagram. She wrote, “You & me, forever ♾️ 3.3.26 💍🤍.” The comments section filled with messages of congratulations from fellow tennis stars Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Caroline Wozniacki, and more.
Novak Djokovic’s wife, Jelena Djokovic, commented, “Congratulations guys!!!! ❤️👏👏👏.” Amanda Anisimova added, “Omgggg 😍😭 congrats guyssss 🤍.” The Tennis Channel’s official account wrote, “Congratulations 🥹♥️ our hearts are so happy for you!!”
Sabalenka gushed in a second post, “I can finally call him something else… FIANCÉ 💍,” a nod to her previous comments about getting engaged. After winning the Brisbane Internationale title on January 11, she called out Frangulis for taking his sweet time to propose after two years of dating.
“Thank you to my boyfriend,” she told the crowd. “Hopefully, soon I can call you something else.”
Sabalenka beats Gauff in Miami tennis final, completes ‘Sunshine Double’
March 28 (Reuters) – Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka beat hometown favourite Coco Gauff 6-2 4-6 6-3 in the Miami Open final on Saturday to join an exclusive club by completing the coveted ‘Sunshine Double’.
World number one Sabalenka, who reached the final without dropping a set, won 73% of her first-serve points and faced just two break points en route to victory in a rematch of the 2025 French Open final won by Gauff.
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Sabalenka is only the fifth woman to win the Indian Wells and Miami titles back-to-back, a feat known as the ‘Sunshine Double’ given the tournaments’ respective locations in California and Florida.
Charleston Open still on leading edge for women’s sports
When Rosie Casals faced Nancy Richey in the finals of the first Family Circle Cup in 1973 on Hilton Head Island, there was something different in the air.
Tennis legend Billie Jean King, beaten by Casals in the semifinals at the Sea Pines Racquet Club that year, said the players “knew it was a historic day in women’s sports.”
The New York Times described the winner’s check of $30,000 — that’s nearly $230,000 in today’s dollars — as “the biggest single prize in women’s professional sport.”
It was a milestone event not only in women’s tennis, but in women’s sports.
“We were on television, and in ‘73 we had the first Family Circle Cup at Hilton Head Island,” Casals recalled in 2020. “And I won the tournament, making $30,000 as champion. I played Nancy Richey in the final, and it was the first time NBC televised women’s tennis on its own.
“It was a big deal.”
That first championship match established the tournament, which has evolved into the Credit One Charleston Open and the largest women’s only tennis tournament in North America, as a leader in women’s sports.
Tournament owner Ben Navarro announced earlier this year that the 2026 Charleston Open, set for this week on Daniel Island, would offer a record purse of $2.5 million, about twice as much as last year and nearly double the minimum for a WTA 500-level tournament.
That’s a legacy that Navarro and tournament director Bob Moran take seriously.
“It’s important to both Ben and myself, and we understand the legacy,” Moran said. “We take a lot of pride in who we’ve been and who we are. Everything we do has that in mind, and we really feel we’re responsible for continuing this legacy, and making sure we’re doing everything possible to improve upon something that’s been built over the last 50-plus years.”
Equal pay
Just as that first final lives on as an important milestone, so will the Charleston Open’s move toward equal pay for men and women in tennis in non-Grand Slam events.
The WTA has begun a multi-year plan to achieve equal prize money with the ATP by 2027 in combined 1000 and 500 level events, and by 2033 in single-week events like the Charleston Open.
“There’s a big discrepancy sometimes in the 500s and the 250s from the ATP to the WTA,” said 2025 Charleston champ Jessica Pegula. “Sometimes people don’t realize that because they know — the normal fan knows that Grand Slams are equal prize money, but they don’t know about all the other events, that there’s a big discrepancy.
“So to be able to kind of set the tone and be probably the first (500 tournament) to do that? It ’s huge. And I think when you’re setting that tone, that sets a trend for other tournaments to do the same. So that’s really, really cool.”
The increased purse will just about double the prize money for the champion — Pegula earned $164,000 for winning last year — and do the same for every level of the draw, said Moran, who measured player reaction while in Miami last week.
“Just talking to a couple of players, they know that this doesn’t just affect the winner,” he said. “It affects every player in the draw … So it’s doubling the check for every player when they’re here, and that’s significant, especially for the lower ranked players, simply because it’s tougher for them.
“They are grinding every day to make a life on tour, and it’s hard, it’s expensive. Global travel is expensive, so from what I’m hearing, the players are really excited.”
The move also is in keeping with the tournament’s legacy in women’s tennis and women’s sports overall, said former WTA Tour star Shelby Rogers of Charleston, who served as a ballkid at the Family Circle Cup.
“And they continue to push the bar, right?” said Rogers, who was ranked as high as No. 30 in the world before retiring in 2024. “I just think back on the beginning of my career, 16 years ago, and how far the prize money and accommodations and opportunities have come for players.
“I can’t imagine how Billie Jean King and those ladies feel seeing the progress of the sport and all of us collectively.”
Leading edge
Through the years as the Family Circle Cup, Volvo Car Open and Credit One Charleston Open, the tournament has been on the leading edge on many fronts.
At that 1973 tournament, the Family Circle Cup was the first women’s event to offer $100,000 in prize money and the first to be broadcast live on network television.
Through the years, important tennis figures such as Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams have played in the tournament, and won it, multiple times.
Under the leadership of Navarro and Moran, the Charleston Open has been named the WTA 500 tournament of the year four years in a row, leading the way in player and fan experience.
And just last year, it was the first WTA Tour clay-court tournament to use Electronic Line Calling.
“I feel like we’ve always been at the forefront, no matter what it is,” Moran said. “Electronic line calling, video boards, how we produce the event. We’ve tried to be a leader on everything, be it technology or prize money, from all the way back to the beginning to today.
“So I think it’s a continuation of legacy. Making sure that, yes, we are respecting our legacy, but also making sure we’re doing everything we can to enhance it as we go.”
Credit One Charleston Open
When: March 28-April 5
Where: LTP Tennis Center, Daniel Island
Tickets: creditonecharlestonopen.com
Vote for Maps Credit Union girls Athlete of the Week
The OSAA spring sports season is here and Salem-area girls athletes across softball, track and field, golf and tennis are back in their respective sports prepping for successful seasons.
Every week, you get to vote for the Statesman Journal’s Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Maps Credit Union.
Here are the nominees for this week’s girls Athlete of the Week, with nominations stretching back to the start of the season.
Maddie Ehrens, Silverton softball
Lexi Enzenberger, Silverton track and field
Bailee Finegan, Sprague track and field
Scout Haugen, Silverton track and field
Maddi Jones, Dallas softball
Kali Parks, West Salem softball
Jocelyn Schnurbusch, McNary track and field
Rachel Suelzle, Cascade tennis
Kate Withers, Cascade tennis
Information about each nominee is listed below. Vote for the athlete you think is most deserving at statesmanjournal.com/sports. The poll closes at 9 a.m. Thursday.
Madalynn Ehrens, Silverton softball
Ehrens, a junior, posted three hits and scored four runs March 20 in the Foxes’ 21-10 season-opening loss to Central Catholic.
Lexi Enzenberger, Silverton track and field
Enzenberger, a senior, won three individual events March 17 at the Silverton Cloud Breaker March. She won the 100-meter dash (12.56 seconds), 200 (26.9) and 400 (1:01.7).
Bailee Finegan, Sprague track and field
Finegan, a senior, won the shot put with a 32-foot throw March 17 at the Sprague vs. Dallas Icebreaker meet.
Scout Haugen, Silverton track and field
Huagen, a freshman, won the high jump March 17 at the Silverton Cloud Breaker meet. Her 5-foot, 4-inch jump is one inch off Oregon’s 5A all-time freshman record.
Maddi Jones, Dallas softball
Jones, a junior pitcher, threw all seven innings and collected 10 strikeouts March 24 in the Dragons’ 6-5 win over Barlow in the North Medford tournament.
Kali Parks, West Salem softball
Parks, a senior, delivered two hits, six RBIs and scored twice March 24 in the Titans’ 11-0 win over McMinnville in the North Medford tournament.
Jocelyn Schnurbusch, McNary track and field
Schnurbusch, a senior, won the 1,500 meter (5 minutes, 9.76 seconds) and 3,000 (11:21.69) March 18 at The Breaker meet at North Salem.
Rachel Suelzle, Cascade tennis
Suelzle, a senior, is a part of the Cougars’ No. 1 doubles team that went 3-0 in dual meets March 17-19. Suelzle and teammate Kate Withers defeated the No. 1 doubles teams from South Albany, Crescent Valley and Catlin Gabel.
Kate Withers, Cascade tennis
Withers, a senior, is a part of the Cougars’ No. 1 doubles team that went 3-0 in dual meets from March 17-19. Withers and teammate Rachel Suelzle defeated the No. 1 doubles teams from South Albany, Crescent Valley and Catlin Gabel.
Landon Bartlett covers high school sports and Oregon State for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at LBartlett@statesmanjournal.com or on X, TikTok or Instagram @bartlelo.
Vote for preseason athlete of the year
Tennis season is nearly in full swing.
Now, the Journal Star is asking readers to make a fans’ choice for the inaugural preseason high school boys tennis player of the year for 2026. The poll runs through noon Monday, April 6.
Cast your vote in the poll below. There are eight players on the ballot, the same who made our athletes to watch list released March 26.
This vote has no bearing on who will be selected the Journal Star athlete of the year or will make the annual all-area team, which are scheduled to be announced after the season.
2026 fans choice for preseason boys tennis player of the year
Ian Durst, Peoria Christian
Dane Hutchison, Metamora
Weston Lange, Metamora
Samuel Loeb, Peoria Christian
Daniel Nathan, Richwoods
Harmin Patel, Dunlap
Hunter Poole, Metamora
Tommy Sopko, Metamora
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
Plymouth North tennis coach Onkgopotse Mokoka making himself at home
There are approximately 7,815 miles between Pretoria, South Africa and Plymouth, MA. If you ask Onkgopotse Mokoka, it is absolutely worth the trip.
“I love being in Plymouth. You can feel a real sense of community here,” said Mokoka, a native of South Africa who is filling in as boys tennis head coach at Plymouth North this season for Kesha Nielsen while she takes a step back for a health-related reason.
Mokoka has also stepped in for the rest of the school year as a marketing and vocational education teacher for the high school. In addition to seeing them in the hallway each day, Mokoka is also familiar with some of his players from his job as a tennis coach with the Plymouth Rec program.
“We are a young team, but there is talent. We’ve had some great competition for spots in the playing order,” during the pre-season, said Mokoka. “We have three home matches in the first week of the season, so we will need to be ready right away.
As for what is his vision of a Blue Eagles tennis team, Mokoka said “I want to see them have respect for the game and have the confidence to lead themselves and solve their own problems” on the court.
Mokoka played tennis, field hockey, as well as cricket in high school back home in South Africa. He brought his tennis skills with him across the globe to UMass Boston, where he was a two-year captain for the Beacons playing both singles and doubles matches, graduating in 2020 with a degree in Math.
His connection with Plymouth was cemented during college when he began dating fellow student Joie Grassi. Grassi was a basketball star at Plymouth North and is the second-leading scorer (1,571 points) in the history of the girls basketball in town. She went on to score 1,162 career points for UMass Boston.
The two have set a wedding date for this summer.
“Having Joie has made getting used to Plymouth very easy for me,” said Mokoka. “Her family seems to know everyone.”
Eagles see some growth
North carried 10 players on varsity last season, earning a 12-7 record and a first round loss in the Division 2 playoffs to Dartmouth. Roster numbers have jumped into the mid-teen’s this season led by co-captains Adam Mott and Bryce Murray. Also returning are sophomores Hunter Cronin, Brycen Kumm, and Xavier Morrison.
“I’m looking for us to have a good season,” said Murray, a junior who moved between third singles and first doubles last year. “We’re young, but I think everyone is going to grow and adapt as we gain more experience.”
Mott likes the compete level that Coach Mokoka has brought to the team during the pre-season. “There’s some very good teams in the Patriot League and we want to be competitive with them all,” said Mott. “We’re bringing in a few younger players who I think are going to be good additions to the team.”
One player to watch is a talented freshman by the name of Paul Miraglia.
“He’s young, but you can tell right away that Paul has played a lot of tennis,” said Mokoka about Miraglia, who plays at the Eel River Tennis Club. “He’s still learning about the game, just like everyone else is, but he is a really talented tennis player.”
The Eagles will see how all the players fit into the overall picture March 31 when Falmouth arrives for the season-opener, the first of four straight home matches to kick things off.
Who and what to know about Charleston Open tennis
There’s something about the green clay tennis courts of Charleston.
The clay, made up of crushed volcanic rock from the Blue Ridge Mountains of West Virginia, signals a new season on the WTA Tour.
The tour year annually switches from hard courts to clay at the Credit One Charleston Open, then moves on to the slower red clay of Europe leading up to the French Open.
“I think, especially on the clay, you have to have kind of that grittiness and that toughness,” 2025 Charleston Open champion Jessica Pegula said of the green clay,
Stewart Cink cruises to Hoag Classic title
Gary Woodland is back in the PGA Tour winner’s circle for the first time since his U.S. Open win almost seven years ago.
The 41-year-old recently opened up about his struggles with PTSD following brain surgery in late 2023. Now he’s back among the game’s elite, leading the tour in driving distance and clubhead speed while earning his fifth PGA Tour victory this week at the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
His driving was one of his keys to victory this past week, as he ranked seventh in distance at nearly 322 yards off the tee while placing 15th in Strokes Gained.
Woodland plays one of the coolest driver setups on the PGA Tour, opting for Cobra’s prototype OPTM Max LS-K driver, something Cobra Tour Rep Ben Schomin described as a “living prototype” earlier this season. It’s essentially a lower-spin, fade-biased version of Cobra’s retail Max K driver that was specifically built with Woodland in mind when he started playing Cobra’s DS-ADAPT Max-K driver last season.
“This is my 18th year on Tour and the drivers that I’ve played when I’ve driven the golf ball well have been back-weighted,” Woodland told GOLF in February, referring to the deeper CG of drivers designed for game-improvement players. “Everyone wants front weight to get the spin down and distance. But for some reason, I’ve been back with it, and I started struggling with spin last year. I went through all the drivers, and I got to their Max K driver last year, and it was low spin for me for some reason.”
With that deep CG, Woodland prefers a lower lofted head, which is why his driver measures in at just 6.4 degrees of loft. He also pairs it with a telephone pole-like Ventus Black 8-X shaft.
Schomin and Woodland also made a major change this week just before his win. Woodland made his second iron shaft change of the season.
He started the year playing a softer Nippon Modus 130 X after he fell in love with the feel when he added it to the bag last fall. But Schomin never saw it as the best option for him, and they went back to the Dynamic Gold X100 last month.
That was the shaft he initially switched to from the KBS C-Taper 130X he used most of last year because he was trying to neutralize his severely out-to-in path.
“So he was trying to neutralize his delivery a little more and not swing so left,” Cobra Tour Rep Ben Schomin told GOLF. “Some dynamics changing in there, and as his swing is becoming more neutral, the X100 was really good. He felt like he could hit a little draw, felt like he could hit a little cut.”
Woodland’s delivery dynamics impart a ton of spin on the ball, which is why he was in the C-Taper, but he felt that the shaft was too boardy last year.
But, with all the speed Woodland has picked up this year, the X100s weren’t scrubbing enough spin, and Woodland was finding his irons were coming up short.
“So X100 just is starting to feel a little bit too soft. And again, going back to C-Taper 130X is something he’s played with for a long time. Immediately, we knew at some point he was probably going back into them.”
Schomin was so sure Woodland was going back to the C-Taper that he kept a set of King MBs with the shafts on the Cobra Tour Truck for Woodland. That set sat on the Cobra truck for nearly a year until earlier this month when Schomin said Cobra tech James Posey sent them back to HQ because they were taking up space.
“He’s like, ‘Is that set still on there?’ and I was like … ‘No, we had just sent them back.’ So I had to go build a new set of irons,” Schomin said. “We just did 5, 7 and 9 iron to get a quick comparison. Sure enough, he’s like, ‘Yeah, these feel great.’ Then I went and completed the rest of the set.”
With as much speed as Woodland has gained, he actually said the C-Tapers, one of the most stout profiles out there, feel much better than before.
“Now he’s like, no, they actually feel good,” Schomin said. “They don’t feel quite the same as X100, don’t get me wrong, but they definitely feel like I’ve got the speed now moving those things.”
Keep reading below for all of Woodland’s detailed specs.
Gary Woodland’s winning WITB at the 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open\
Driver: Cobra OPTM Max LS-K 9.0˚
FF33Hosel Setting: F2
Actual loft: 6.4˚
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus 8-X
Tipping: 2″
Length: 44.75″
Cobra OPTM Max-K Custom Driver
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Fujikura Ventus Black Wood Shaft (Velocore+)
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3-Wood: Ping G440 Max
Loft: 15˚
Shaft: Accra Tour Z XTreme 4100 M5
PING G440 Max Custom Fairway Wood
The G440 fairway family (MAX, LST, SFT) advances PING’s reputation as a Tour-preferred model of choice through a re-designed face structure and low CG system. The face is taller for more confidence off the tee while maintaining a CG location that delivers high- launching performance off the ground. The MAX model (which fits most golfers) is available in five lofts (including a new 4-wood) to provide more gapping solutions. HIGH MOI Easy to launch, stable design increases forgiveness. FLEXING FACE Maraging steel face flexes for more ball speed, optimizes spin. TALLER FACE PROFILE Improves performance off the tee, maintains low CG. FREE-HOSEL DESIGN Saves weight to lower CG, optimize launch/spin and increase forgiveness.
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Utility Iron: Wilson Staff Model Utility
Loft: 18˚
Shaft: KBS Tour C-Taper 130 X
Wilson Staff Model RB Utility Iron
The new Staff Model RB Utility features a high strength C300 steel face yielding a forged feel to help you redefine your long game performance. This club helps players fill the gap between their shortest fairway wood and their longest iron. The versatility it provides around the golf course makes it a perfect solution for long par threes, reachable-in-two par fives and even fairway-finding stingers.
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Irons: Cobra King Tour Chrome (4), King MB Chrome (5-9)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper 130 X
Cobra KING MB Custom Irons
Crafted for the blade aficionados, the traditionalists, and those that aspire for nothing but the best ball striking experience possible. 5-STEP FORGED Crafted and 5-step forged from 1025 carbon steel for exceptional feel and compact shaping TOUR INSPIRED SHAPING Using Tour feedback, the design has been refined to deliver sleek muscle back and cavity back shapes that inspires precision and workability FLOW SET Available in a combo set that flows from a more forgiving muscle cavity back in the 4-6 iron, to a more workable muscle back in the 7 through pitching wedge. Full sets of MB and CB available in custom
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Wedges: Cobra King RAW (48-56), Cleveland RTZ Tour Rack Proto (60)
Lofts/Grinds: 48D, 52C, 56C, 60
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Cobra KING Custom Wedge
Crafted from 8620 steel using MIM (Metal Injection Molding), KING Wedges are one of the softest feelings in market. Choose from four new grinds (DROP, WIDELOW, VERSATILE, TOUR) for enhanced greenside creativity and optimized CG with Flight Window Technology (F.W.T) for tour inspired launch. The redesigned Cobra Speed Notch, 67% larger than before, ensures better glide and speed on open-face shots. MIM (METAL INJECTION MOLDING) Experience precision with MIM technology, offering 50% tighter tolerances than traditional casted wedges. Each head is heat-treated to nearly 1400°C, ensuring a tighter grain structure for a softer feel and enhanced longevity, resisting groove degradation for lasting performance. COBRA SPEED NOTCH Discover the newly redesigned Cobra Speed Notch, featuring softer, blended shaping that complements our new grinds. Now 67% larger, it ensures smooth glide through the ground while maintaining speed and delivering high spinning shots.
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Putter: Scotty Cameron GoLo Tour Prototype
Grip: SuperStroke
Scotty Cameron Studio Style Fastback OC Putter
As an extension of the popular Studio Style Fastback design, the Studio Style Fastback OC is a low-torque model featuring the same ring-weighted, high-alignment, multi-material design of the other Fastback models, but with Scotty’s tour-validated OC technology package. Featuring onset center shaft placement behind the putter face’s leading edge, the straight shaft is precisely positioned in line with the putter head’s CG location and leans 1° forward. This allows for low-torque performance and face alignment that stays square to the path. STUDIO CARBON STEEL (SCS) FACE INSERT The Studio Style Fastback OC includes a chain-link milled Studio Carbon Steel (SCS) insert for soft sound and feel, treated with an electroless nickel plating for enhanced durability with aerospace-inspired vibration damping for tuned sound, feel and performance. CUSTOM BLACK SHAFT Custom made for the new OC putters, each model includes a special black KBS x Scotty Cameron shaft with optimal flex, unimpeded alignment and precise feel. CUSTOM MATADOR GRIP With a debossed chain-link texture built-in, each new OC putter includes a custom 11-inch mid-size Matador grip in black with racy red and cool gray accents.
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Gary Woodland Thanks Security After Fans Get Uncomfortably Close at $9.9M Event
Ever since his craniotomy to remove a benign brain tumor, Gary Woodland has been trying to return to his former self. However, the post-traumatic stress disorder that followed the surgery has posed a significant hurdle. And even though he won the $9.9 million event at Memorial Park Golf Course, he had to overcome several challenges to get there. Fortunately, he had PGA Tour security to assist him during ‘scary’ fan moments.
When Woodland is out swinging the clubs, he isn’t just focused on performing. He’s also fighting his PTSD and trying his best to hide his struggles from the public. But when fans close in, things change for the 5x PGA Tour champion.
“The last 10 holes on Friday, I teed off on nine, and some people behind the ropes got close to me and I got extremely hypervigilant. And I’ll tell you this, if it wasn’t for Tour security and my security, Zach, this week, there’s no way I’m sitting here right now,” he told the world during the press conference present at Texas Children’s Houston Open.
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“I was a wreck the last 10 holes of that day. I got into scoring, Zach got close to me, Tour security was visual so I saw them so they calmed me down.”
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And with that, he was able to get a reset and get back to scoring.
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Also, it’s worth noting that the tumor affected Woodland’s amygdala. It’s the part of the brain that affects fear and anxiety. That’s the reason he got PTSD after his surgery. It brought him panic attacks and subsequent hyperventilation while being hypervigilant and emotional. Even though the procedure helped his seizures, Gary Woodland remains troubled with his mental issues. However, opening up about the issues certainly helped him achieve the well-deserved victory at Memorial Park.
“Coming out, talking, and asking for help, I didn’t do that last year. I didn’t do that early this year. If I wouldn’t ask Tour security, they wouldn’t have been there for me like that. I’m extremely thankful for them,” Woodland acknowledged.
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And it sure paid off.
He opened Thursday with a 6-under 64, carding seven birdies and looking ‘freer than ever.’ In the following round, he fired a career-best 7-under 63, featuring three straight birdies to take a three-shot lead. Then came the third round, where he had a “rocky start” but settled in for a 65 and maintained a one-shot lead over Nicolai Højgaard.
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And while Højgaard faltered with an early double-bogey in the final round, Woodland remained steady, closing with a 67 to win by five strokes. And with this, he will return to Augusta National, where he last played in 2024 but missed the cut.
But what made this win possible was the love and support of his close ones. And it made him realize something important.
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Gary Woodland weighs in on an important realization at the Houston Open
“We play an individual sport out here, but I wasn’t alone today. I’ve got a lot of people behind me, my team, my family, in this golf world. Everybody that’s struggling with something, I hope they see me and don’t give up. Just keep fighting,” Woodland told NBC as he fought back tears right after winning the Houston Open.
The win came after continuous struggles since the beginning of 2024. Even this season, Woodland has made only four out of seven cuts. But a five-shot win over Nicolai Hojgaard brought his efforts to fruition.
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Of course, he seemed proud of himself. But it wouldn’t have happened if he were alone in the battle. He had the backing of his wife, Gabby, his three kids, and numerous peers and fans.
“I wouldn’t be anywhere before this without them. There’s no chance I could do this without Gabby, for sure. This has been hard on me, this has been a lot harder on her. I love her to death,” the 41-year-old remarked.
This is just the beginning of Woodland’s comeback arc. Winning an event after securing only two top-10 finishes in two years has significantly boosted his morale. Now that he’s eligible for teeing it off at Augusta National and the elite events on the PGA Tour, we can expect Gary Woodland to rise even higher.
Gary Woodland Cries Upon Winning Houston Open After 2023 Brain Surgery
Earlier this month, PGA Tour golfer Gary Woodland opened up to Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard about his arduous, emotional recovery after undergoing brain surgery in September 2023.
Gary Woodland wins the Houston Open for first PGA Tour title since brain surgery
HOUSTON — Gary Woodland won the Houston Open on Sunday, an emotional moment that seemed so improbable 30 months ago when he had brain surgery, and even two weeks ago when he opened up about his frightening struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Woodland looked better than ever at Memorial Park, taking a one-shot lead into the final round and stretching it to seven shots until coasting home to a trophy that felt as big as his U.S. Open title at Pebble Beach in 2019.
He closed with a 3-under 67 to win by five shots over Nicolai Hojgaard. The gallery paused chanting his name so Woodland could roll in a 5-foot par putt. He stretched both arms, exhaled and looked to the blue sky before his tears began pouring.
“We play an individual sport out here, but I wasn’t alone today,” Woodland said, his voice quivering with emotion. “Anyone struggling with something, I hope they see me and don’t give up. Just keep fighting.”
Woodland has been a popular figure and powerful player since he left a two-sport college career and joined the PGA Tour. But he began to struggle in 2023, only to learn he had a lesion on the part of his brain that caused unfounded fears that he was dying.
Surgery in September 2023, which involved a baseball-sized hole cut from the side of his head, removed much of the lesion. His return in January 2024 looked fine on the outside, particularly last year when he was runner-up at the Houston Open.
But he was hurting badly with PTSD, once rushing to a portable bathroom to break down in tears when he was overcome with emotion. He chose two weeks ago to share his struggles in a Golf Channel interview.
“I appreciate that love and support. But inside, I feel like I’m dying, and I feel like I’m living a lie,” he said in the interview. “I want to live my dreams and be successful out here. But I want to help people, too. I realize now I’ve got to help myself first.”
He said this week going public made him feel “1,000 pounds lighter.” He still has moments, such as fans getting too close to him on the ninth tee Friday that made him hypervigilant. He said he was in tears in scoring after the second round before he reset and got on with his routine.
“Coming out, talking and asking for help, I didn’t do that last year. I didn’t do that early this year,” Woodland said. “I’m in a fight. With the love and support I have around me, I have hope.”
His physical strength sure didn’t leave him. Woodland reached 196 mph ball speed on one tee shot Sunday, and more striking was the smooth control he showed over every shot.
He finished at 21-under 259 for his first victory since the U.S. Open, and the fifth of his career. This one came with a big bonus — it makes him eligible for the Masters in two weeks.
Hojgaard fell back with a double bogey on the par-3 seventh hole when it took two shots to get out of a bunker. He closed with a 71 and a consolation prize. He secured his position inside the top 50 in the world — going from No. 47 to No. 36 — to earn his invitation to the Masters.
Hojgaard and defending champion Min Woo Lee (67) chose to stay back on their way to the 18th green to give Woodland the stage to himself, a gesture rarely seen outside the majors. It spoke to Woodland’s standing on the PGA Tour.
“We thought it was appropriate to let him have his moment,” Hojgaard said. “It was a pretty cool moment for Gary and it was cool to see. I’m really happy for him.”
Woodland felt huge relief by sharing his PTSD struggles, and he had some technical help with his golf. He went to a new putter to help his alignment, and he consulted coach Randy Smith before going to stiffer shafts in his irons because his speed had returned and that helped him have better control of his shots.
There was no chance controlling his emotions, certainly over the last hour when the outcome was obvious and the 18th hole when it became reality.
But he said it’s still golf, and there’s still a battle with his recovery from brain surgery.
“It’s just another day. Today was a good day,” Woodland said with a smile and a short laugh. “But I’ve got a big fight ahead of me, and I’m going to keep going. But I’m proud of myself right now.”
His wife, Gabby, was with him all 18 holes with their three children at home. Woodland has said his wife was key to get him through surgery and what followed. “This has been hard on me. It’s been a lot harder on her,” he said.
The victory moves him to No. 51 in the world — his highest ranking in five years — and makes him eligible for all the PGA Tour’s remaining elite events this season.
Divots
Michael Thorbjornsen was in position to move into the top 50 and get into the Masters until he made three bogeys in a four-hole stretch on the back nine and stumbled to a 72 to finish well outside the top 10. … Shane Lowry made a hole-in-one on the second hole, his fourth on the PGA Tour. The others came on No. 7 at Pebble Beach, No. 17 at the TPC Sawgrass and No. 12 at Augusta National. Adam Scott also made an ace on the 11th hole. … PGA Tour rookie Johnny Keefer shot 64 and tied for third.
Gary Woodland Earns Respect From LIV Golfer in Rare Moment: ‘Not a Dry Eye in the House’
The PGA Tour and LIV Golf are often at odds, but Gary Woodland bridged that gap even if it’s for a fleeting moment. After battling back from brain surgery, the PGA Tour veteran received a wave of support from a LIV Golf rival.
Despite the tour rivalry, Graeme McDowell posted on X on Monday, “Man, I’m so happy for Gary Woodland. What an inspirational story. Not a dry eye in the house. Special guy.”
The 2019 U.S. Open winner’s situation goes back to mid-2023, when he began dealing with symptoms linked to a neurological issue.
That same year in September, he underwent a craniotomy to remove a lesion affecting the part of the brain connected to fear and anxiety, after facing ongoing anxiety, tremors, and a fear of death.
As Gary Woodland returned to play, he faced PTSD. On a March 9 interview with the Golf Channel, he revealed just how bad things got while talking about competing at the 2025 Procore Championship.
“A walking scorer startled me, got close to me from behind. I pulled my caddie (Brennan “Butchie” Little) and said, ‘You can’t let anybody get behind me.’ Next thing you know, I couldn’t remember what I was doing. My eyesight started to get blurry,” said Woodland.
However, all his struggles paid off at the Houston Open.
Gary Woodland Wins His First Title Since the 2019 U.S. Open
Gary Woodland secured his first win since 2019 by finishing at 21 under and closing out the event with a final round of 67, ending a gap of seven years between titles on the PGA Tour.
Woodland finished five shots ahead of Nicolai Højgaard to take the title in Texas, marking his return to winning form after his last major win at the U.S. Open.
As the final putt dropped, he raised his arms and looked up before breaking down and embracing his wife, later saying he did not go through the day alone and pointing to the people around him who helped him continue.
He said he is still dealing with recovery and plans to keep going, while also thanking his family and noting the role they played in helping him reach that moment.
Fan Cam Catches Tony Finau Walking Off in Socks After Incredible Gesture for Kids at PGA Tour Event
A viral moment at the Houston Open is winning hearts. PGA Tour star Tony Finau went far beyond a simple autograph for his young fans, creating a memory they won’t soon forget.
The video footage captured the PGA Tour star walking along the line, signing autographs. However, when he came across two very young fans, the golfer gave them his shoes.
“He takes off his shoes and gives them to two kids, signing them for the young fans. Finau walks back into the clubhouse in his white socks,” PaperCity Magazine’s Chris Baldwin posted on X.
This was just moments after he finished his final round at Memorial Park. The gesture matters because it highlights the player’s impact extending beyond the greens.
However, this is not the first time Tony Finau has done something like this. He has done this across events and even given away shoes through official collaborations.
In 2019, the 36-year-old teamed up with Golf Digest. “We’ve teamed up with Tony Finau to give away a signed pair of his Nike Golf Air Max 1 G Golf Shoes,” Golf Digest posted in April that year.
That being said, Finau’s own performance at the Houston Open wasn’t great.
A tough road to Augusta for Tony Finau
Finau’s result in the Houston Open places him tied for 39th with a final score of 6-under par, a result that places him in limbo with his future on the tour.
This finish does not give him a ticket to the upcoming Masters, placing him alongside many notable players in jeopardy of not going to Augusta.
With the deadline for world ranking automatic qualifiers ending today, the 2026 Masters field is set without the seasoned campaigner.
His seasonal performance shows several cut misses and the absence of top-ten finishes, which have contributed to his unfortunate position outside the qualification line.
The only way left for him to enter the first major of the year is to win the upcoming Texas Open.
It is now essential that he wins this last tournament before the major, as it is the only one offering invitations to non-exempt players.
There is no doubt that he will need to step up his performance to win the trophy and get his last-minute ticket to Augusta National.
Stewart Cink continues domination of PGA Tour Champions
Florence native Stewart Cink continued his domination of the PGA Tour Champions by winning the Hoag Classic on Sunday.
Cink carded his second 5-under 66 of the tournament in the final round. In between, he put himself in position to win with a 9-under 62 on Saturday and wound up reaching the second-lowest 54-hole score in the 30-year history of the Hoag Classic.
At 19-under par, Cink finished four strokes ahead of Ernie Els and Zach Johnson at the Newport Beach Country Club in Newport Beach, California.
“Kept my foot on the pedal,” Cink said. “We played very aggressively, but we choose targets that are very smart and efficient. Not reckless.”
Cink’s first-place check was for $330,000.
Cink won for the second time in four events this season. He started the year with a victory at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship on Jan. 24. He posted a second- and a sixth-place finish in the events between his victories.
Last year, Cink won the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship on Nov. 16 which lifted him to the PGA Tour Champions’ 2025 title. He received the Jack Nicklaus Award as the PGA Tour Champions Player of the Year for the 2025 season for the older-than-50 golf circuit.
“I feel like I’m playing better and have more control over my ball than I’ve ever had,” Cink said. “When I was even in the top 10 in the world rankings for a long time, I didn’t even drive it like I’ve driven it the last six, seven months.
“I have so much more command over my driver than I’ve ever had. I didn’t have that when I played on the PGA Tour. I was always kind of like, ‘Oh boy, where’s this one going?’ But not right now.”
The 52-year-old Cink has won six PGA Tour Champions tournaments.
An alumnus of Bradshaw High School in Florence, Cink also has eight victories on the PGA Tour, where he’s made 690 starts. Cink’s victories include the 2009 Open Championship, where he defeated Tom Watson in a playoff to win the claret jug.
Twins manager Derek Shelton ejected for arguing ABS challenge, makes MLB history
Just days into the 2026 season, MLB’s new ABS challenge system has already been part of some huge moments. Late in Sunday’s 8-6 win over the Twins, the Orioles took advantage in one of the highest-leverage tests of the system so far.
The O’s overturned not one but TWO pitches with the tying run at the plate in the top of the ninth inning, flipping a walk into a huge strikeout for the second out of the frame and holding on to win.
First, Baltimore closer Ryan Helsley’s 3-0 pitch to Josh Bell was ruled a ball, but catcher Adley Rutschman successfully challenged the call. After Bell fouled off the 3-1 pitch, Helsley’s 3-2 pitch — a slider on the outside corner — was also called a ball. As Bell began jogging down to first base, Helsley tapped his hat to challenge the call. The result? Strike three, just 0.3 inches from the edge of the zone.
“I think our guys used the challenges really well today, even Helsley, which was a weird one,
Twins manager tossed in wild scene as MLB has its first ABS-related ejection
The automated ball-strike (ABS) system has been implemented in Major League Baseball this year and here, on just the fifth day of the regular season, we have our first ABS-related ejection. Twins manager Derek Shelton was the lucky victim in the ninth inning of an eventual 8-6 loss to the Orioles.
Orioles closer Ryan Helsley appeared to walk batter Josh Bell, which would’ve put the tying run on base and brought the go-ahead run to the plate. Helsley challenged the ball and it was overturned for a strikeout. Shelton argued that Helsley didn’t challenge quickly enough. Here’s the call:
The rule states that challenges need to happen immediately, with the rough guideline being about two seconds. It sure looks like Helsley went to tap his head in the amount of time that I’d call
Twins manager Derek Shelton is first ABS ejection of MLB season
Less than a week into the new MLB season and we have our first ABS-related ejection.
Twins manager Derek Shelton was tossed in the ninth inning of Sunday’s 8-6 loss to the Orioles after he argued that pitcher Ryan Helsley had not called for a challenge fast enough, after ABS overturned a ball called that would have walked batter Josh Bell. Instead, it was called strike three for the second out of the inning.
Shelton was convinced Helsley did not tap the top of his hat quickly enough for the umps to go to the ABS review.
A look at the broadcast appeared to show that Helsley signaled for an ABS challenge almost immediately after the umpire’s call and then did so again seconds later, which may have been the motion Shelton had seen leading to the outburst.
The Twins’ skipper was on the field yelling at the umpires in a very animated fashion that led to him being ejected from the game.
“I didn’t think Helsley tapped his hat quick enough,” Shelton told reporters after the game, per the Baltimore Sun. “Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t. But I didn’t feel he did. I feel it’s gotta be something that’s in the three seconds and I didn’t think it was there. But the umpiring crew thought it was.”
The rules around ABS challenges state that a player must indicate a challenge immediately and there is a rough timeframe of two seconds for one to be made.
The overturned call led to the second out of the inning.
Victor Caratini reached on a fielding error for the Twins before Helsley was able to get James Outman to fly out to left field for the final out of the game.
This Major Issue Is Plaguing the Cleveland Guardians’ Ability to Find Success in 2026
Major League Baseball’s new ABS challenge system is going to create some chaos this season.
On Sunday, it produced its first ejection of the season when Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton was tossed from their 8-6 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.
Twins manager Derek Shelton is first ABS ejection of season
With the Twins trailing the Orioles, 8-6, in the top of the ninth inning and Josh Bell facing a 3-2 count, closer Ryan Helsley’s pitch was initially called a ball, sending Bell down the first base line.
Bell would have represented the tying run with only one out and given the Twins a fighting chance to complete the comeback.
But with the Orioles still having a challenge remaining, Helsley could be seen immediately tapping his hat to initiate the challenge.
It was granted.
The call on the field was also overturned and called strike three for the second out of the inning.
This sent Shelton into a full meltdown because, in his opinion, Helsley did not call for the challenge in the allotted time.
Helsley clearly tapped his head almost immediately after the call, so Shelton was probably just expressing his frustration over having the call go against him.
There are also two managers that seemed like they would be likely candidates to be the first to be ejected for something under this system. New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone seemed like a logical guess just because he gets ejected over everything regarding balls and strikes.
Shelton would have been the second logical guess because during his time with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the only thing that seemed to truly bother him was pitch clock violations. So it absolutely makes sense that something like this would infuriate him.