It's once again clinching season in Major League Baseball.
The postseason is rapidly approaching, and the field for this year's World Series race is starting to take shape. While much of the National League picture appears close to being settled, several American League races remain wide open, with division **** les, wild-card spots and postseason seeding still up for grabs.
Here's a look at every team that has clinched a playoff berth, which clubs are closing in and what the postseason bracket would look like if the season ended today.
MLB POWER RANKINGS: Can Vlad Jr., Blue Jays wake up in time for playoffs?

#league

BERLIN (AP) — The U.S. women are in a familiar spot — playing for another FIBA World Cup championship.
Getting to a fifth consecutive ******* le game was a little harder then the previous few as they beat Spain 76-66 on Saturday in the semifinals. The Americans had averaged winning the previous four semifinals by 26 points, including a 40-point rout of Canada in 2022.
The Americans will face France in a rematch of the 2024 Paris Olympic gold-medal game that the U.S. won by a point.
"I think it's two great teams going to go head-to-head," said Kahleah Copper, who had 13 points in the win against Spain. "You know I'm excited for the matchup. I'm excited for us to be able to compete."
The U.S. has won 35 straight games in the World Cup going back to a loss to Russia in the semifinals in 2006. Now the Americans are one win away from a fifth consecutive tournament ******* le. That would match the former Soviet Union for the most consecutive championships.

#consecutive #fifth #title #points

It was great to hear Dave Burns and John Gambadoro Friday afternoon on ArizonaSports 98.7 FM when they mentioned my story about the Arizona Cardinals potentially shocking the world this season.
Their discussion morphed into what they believed the Cardinals would have to do to "shock the world." Different thoughts were expressed, including not being one of the five worst teams in the league. In another, it was said the offense would shock the world if they ranked in the top 10.
To that end, I've always taken exception to the rankings as gospel mantra that usually takes place in a vacuum. By that I mean, ranking whatever number it is in yards or points, for example, is meaningless unless it takes into account the actual statistics for other teams in the rankings.
Last season, the Denver Broncos were 10th in total yards at 342.7 per game and 14th in points per game (23.6 average). The Baltimore Ravens were 16th (smack dab in the middle of the 32-team league) in yards at 332.2 per game and 11th in points (24.9 per game). The Kansas City Chiefs were 20th in yards (320.7 average) and 21st in points (21.3).
It's easy to see that the difference in yards per game between the Broncos and Ravens (seven ranking spots) was only 10.5 per game and 22.0 per game between the Broncos and Chiefs (11 spots).

#game #yards #points #World

CANNONSBURG Riley Maynard cornered the market on game-winners.
The ball hadn't seen the back of the net for nearly an hour of match time when the Boyd County freshman took care of any shootout concerns in the second overtime period against Ashland.
Maynard lined up her shot near the corner flag, connected with her left foot, and curved it inside the far post to lift the Lions to a 2-1 win in the 63rd District seeding contest Thursday.
Boyd County coach Olivia Pennington said it's not the first time Maynard found her target on the long-distance shot that offers no angle to the goal.
"It's something that she's done multiple times this season," Pennington said. "Any time we have that shot on the left side, Riley is attempting that shot."

#riley #county #left #cannonsburg

Of all the chatter surrounding FC Cincinnati's 5-0 drubbing at the hands of the surging Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night, the most illuminating quote came in the buildup to the match, when manager Pat Noonan was asked to take a stab at explaining his team's poor away form this season.
"I didn't realize, record-wise, how poor it was, because there's been games where I think we've been good, and maybe the results don't go our way," Noonan said. "But there's a lot of things this year that feel like they're out of the norm. One of them is our inability to have success on the road. I can't put a finger on it."
It was a strikingly honest moment from the fifth-year Cincy manager, one that suggested more pressing concerns than the variance-related issue of whether more wins came home or away.
And it foreshadowed one of the more troubling performances by the club since Noonan and sporting director Chris Albright took over the once-flailing outfit ahead of the 2022 season.
The lopsided result left Cincinnati with a 1W-6L-5D away record, but could be forgiven in isolation. Cincinnati played the hefty majority of the match a man down following Obinna Nwobodo's 16th-minute dismissal. And Philadelphia's high-pressing game model is exactly the kind that can exploit a man advantage once it gets a lead and forces its opponent to emerge from a low block.

#cincinnati #manager #season

Despite getting the win against New Mexico State in Week 0, the Florida State Seminoles are looking to play better against the SMU Mustangs. For their second game of the 2026 season, they are jumping right into ACC play against the Mustangs.
Florida State and the Mustangs first met in 2024. In the last game, SMU crushed FSU, 42-16. With guys like Kevin Jennings under center for the Mustangs, they have a great opportunity to take down a struggling FSU and build their resume.
When asked about his thoughts going into SMU week, head coach Mike Norvell praised the Mustangs.
"This is a championship caliber opponent game all, all part of it here to kick off ACC play and very excited for what's in front of us the opportunity that's there coming off the game."
But what do the experts have to say about this game? Find out here ahead of Monday's 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff from Doak Campbell Stadium.

#state #week #here #Mexico

The San Francisco 49ers are less than one week out from their season opener against the Los Angeles Rams, and they've already touched down in Australia as they adjust to the major time change before the game.
The 49ers have been dealing with a ton of injuries ahead of the season, recently placing Sam Okuayinonu on Injured Reserve, but they are expected to have Nick Bosa and George Kittle available in Week 1, with both making the trip to Australia.
Bosa finally practiced in full for the first time this offseason earlier this week, as he's made his recovery from an ACL tear and then tendonitis that unexpectedly popped up this summer, raising concerns.
Speaking to the media, the defensive end acknowledged the difficulties with the recovery process and why the setback occurred.
"It was a long road," Bosa acknowledged. "There's some stuff I dealt with, with that patellar tendon, and then I kind of ramped it a little too fast with the football stuff a month ago or whatever it was. And that kind of told me to back off. I've just been trying to get it as strong and as confident as I can to where I could rip the Band-Aid off and go to team stuff today.

#bosa

Where to watch East St. Louis vs. Gainesville football: Channel, live stream, kickoff time for high school game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
East St. Louis always casts a wide net when it comes to football scheduling, and the latest top matchup is a showdown with Georgia power Gainesville on Friday.
The Flyers, ranked No. 37 nationally by MaxPreps, already have faced a pair of nationally ranked opponents this season, taking down Chicago Mt. Carmel 42-23 in the opener, then falling 35-28 in overtime at Florida's American Heritage last weekend.
The players to watch for the home team in this one are Flyers running back Myson Johnson-Cook, an Auburn commit, and Florida-bound corner Raheem Floyd.
Gainesville has an elite DB of its own in junior four-star Jai'lil Goley, who anchors the defense alongside senior linebacker and Pitt commit Jeremiah Proctor.

#gainesville #flyers #Football #nationally

Liverpool will reportedly welcome three players back this season. It's a welcome surprise for the squad.
Liverpool's squad is locked in - but it's far from solid. The Reds lack players all over the place, having failed to sign a right-sided winger, a midfielder or a right-back at the deadline.
There was apparently a last-gasp attempt to sign Malo Gusto from Chelsea on loan. He's someone who could have covered the middle of the pitch as well as right-back, but the Blues weren't willing to let him go cheaply.
And so Liverpool will just have to make do. They're largely biding their time, really, as they wait for injuries to ease up and reduce the strain on the squad. There's good news in that regard, too.
The Times reports that Liverpool expect all three of Hugo Ekitike, Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley to play a 'chunk' of the season. The three of them are out injured right now and have been for quite some time.

#right #back #season #sign

Celtic have completed loan deals for former England goalkeeper Sam Johnstone and teenage striker Shumaira Mheuka.
Johnstone, 33, arrives from Wolverhampton Wanderers and will provide competition for Finland international Viljami Sinisalo at the Scottish champions.
Mheuka, 18, has extended his contract at Chelsea until 2031, having made nine outings for the London club already.
Four of those came in the 2024-25 Conference League, including his only start.
Last season, he captained the Chelsea Under-21 side, scoring 18 goals in 19 games.

#england #shumaira

The Los Angeles Angels are the latest professional sports team to be sold in 2026. The Angels have been purchased by Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke, his company announced Tuesday.
The deal is expected to close early in 2027, per that statement.
This story will be updated.

#team

The Philadelphia Eagles retained several familiar players Monday while announcing the first 13 members of their 2026 practice squad.
Here are the biggest takeaways from the initial group.
Covey did not make a crowded wide receiver room, but his return gives Philadelphia an experienced option who understands the offense and can handle punt-return duties. He could be elevated if injuries affect either unit.
Dameon Pierce and Carson Steele give Philadelphia two call-up candidates behind Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley. Pierce supplies NFL experience and a physical running style, while Steele strengthened his case during the preseason.
Eight of the 13 additions play defense. Uar Bernard and Gabe Hall provide interior depth, while Chance Campbell joins four outside linebackers: Keyshawn James-Newby, Mason Reiger and Joshua Weru. Maximus Pulley and Cole Wisniewski give the secondary two developmental safeties.

#covey

Rashid Latif slams Mohsin Naqvi's PCB as 'worst cricket board in 70 years' after Pakistan's horror Test series defeat in England originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Rashid Latif has launched a scathing attack on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) following the team's Test series defeat in England.
Pakistan under Babar Azam lost the three-match series after going 0-2 after Leeds and Lord's Tests.
Latif said the focus should not only be on Pakistan team being labelled the "worst touring team in 50 years" but also on what he described as the "worst cricket board in the last 70 years."
Former Pakistan wicket-keeper Rashid Latif has launched a scathing attack on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and its chairman Mohsin Naqvi following the national team's disastrous Test series defeat in England

#test

This broken nation tormented by anti-intellectualism and a politics of lethargy briefly put all that to the side to commemorate the life of one of the world's greatest cultural heroines: Dolly Parton.
The country music powerhouse and philanthropist passed away at age 80 on Tuesday, Aug. 25.
Immediately, a flood of tributes was unleashed, with politicians, athletes, fellow musicians, actors, other cultural figures and her legion of everyday fans sharing fond feelings and memories about the woman who wore the coat of many colors.
Her signature hits "I Will Always Love You", "9 to 5" and "Jolene" are timeless classics. Dolly's unquestioned genuineness and unabashed generosity will forever hold a place in the hearts of people around the nation and world.
Dolly's legacy was so big that she intersected with other **** es in the culture beyond her stomping grounds of music and cinema.

#jolene

One down, 16 to go.
The Denver Broncos plan to sign outside linebacker David Agoha to their practice squad on Monday, according to the Denver Gazette's Chris Tomasson. NFL clubs are allowed to sign 16 players to practice squads, but there's an exception for up to one international player. So the Broncos will have 17 practice squad players this fall, with the Nigerian-born Agoha as their international exception.
Agoha (6-4, 252 pounds) was one of four pass rushers who worked out for Denver on Aug. 6. The 25-year-old outside linebacker originally entered the league through the NFL's International Player Pathway Program with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023. He spent part of last season on the Tennessee ****** ans' practice squad and was waived by Tennessee earlier this month.
The Broncos are busy trimming their roster down to 53 players ahead of Sunday evening's deadline. After players clear waivers on Monday, Denver can officially begin signing players to the practice squad.
Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.

#players #player

The Jacksonville Jaguars have wrapped up the final week of the preseason.
After 20 practices, the training camp slate is officially over and the team will transition to the regular season. First they must get their roster down to 53 players, cutting nearly 40 players in the process.
Most of Jacksonville's roster was largely set going into the final preseason game, but several players helped their stocks in the win against the Buccaneers.
Game Takeaways: Jaguars close out preseason with win over Buccaneers
Notes:

#players

The Bhoys are back at home tomorrow with Falkirk the visitors to Celtic Park for the return to league action.
Join us for the match tomorrow (Saturday, August 29) which kicks off at 3pm (Celtic Park Time) and catch all the action, on the new home for live football – CelticPlayer.
Subscribers overseas can watch all the action live from 2:30pm, whilst subscribers in the UK & Ireland can listen to live audio commentary from Celtic Park. A full match replay will be available for all subscribers later the same day.
Subscribe
Your CelticPlayer subscription isn't just about matchdays though, there's so much more included when you sign up to CelticPlayer –

#park #action #live #bhoys

Jaka Bijol is the cover star and exclusive interview in this weekend's matchday programme as we welcome Brentford to Elland Road for our first Premier League fixture on home soil this season!
In the discussion with the Slovenian international, he looks back at two memorable victories over Nottingham Forest and speaks glowingly about the new additions to the squad.
Priced at £4, programmes are available to buy around the ground ahead of kick-off and can also be purchased online.
The programme contains columns from manager Daniel Farke and captain Ethan Ampadu, as well as club legends Eddie Gray and Stuart Dallas.
You can also find out how our Women's team, Under-21s and Under-18s got on in their opening few matches of the campaign to date.

#road

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Pete Alonso had four hits, including a three-run homer, and drove in four runs before leaving the game in the fifth inning, and the Baltimore Orioles routed the swooning St. Louis Cardinals 13-1 on Tuesday night.
Chris Bassitt (5-4) allowed one run on six hits in 6 2/3 innings, matching his longest start of the season. He struck out five and walked none as the Orioles, who are chasing an AL wild-card spot, won for the third time in four games.
The Cardinals lost their fourth straight.
Alonso, who has been dealing with a nagging calf injury, left shortly after he contributed his fourth hit, an RBI double during Baltimore's eight-run fifth that made it 12-1. He put the Orioles ahead 3-0 with his 435-foot shot in the third off Matthew Liberatore (5-12), his 31st of the season.
Jackson Holliday had three hits, scored twice and drove in a run for the Orioles in his first big league appearance in St. Louis, where his father, Matt, starred for the Cardinals. Christian Encarnacion-Strand had a pair of hits, including a 450-foot homer in the third, and drove in three. Leody Taveras had two hits, scored twice and drove in two runs.

#cardinals #four #alonso

Jack Grealish is back in the fold at Manchester City... for now.
The 30-year-old is into the final year of his reported £300,000-a-week contract at Etihad Stadium and was discarded by Pep Guardiola in the Spaniard's final season in charge, being allowed to join Everton on a season-long loan deal.
That spell on Merseyside was cut short in January by an Achilles tendon injury, but the Englishman has returned to full fitness and featured in both of City's games so far this season.
Grealish came on during the Community Shield defeat by ******* nal and played the final eight minutes of City's late comeback win over Bournemouth in Sunday's Premier League opener.
The winger appeared to be in good spirits while sitting on the bench against the Cherries and thanked City fans on social media afterwards for a "nice welcome" on his home return.

#city

It's up to APP readers to pick which returning girls bowler standout will be the Shore's top prospect among rising seniors for the 2026-27 school year. Vote below in the poll presented by Alliance Othropedics.
Girls bowling 110 Shore prep sports top prospects for 2026-27
The poll closes Sept. 15 at 10 p.m.
Please switch to desktop if the ballot is not viewable.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: VOTE Shore girls bowling No. 1 rising senior | Alliance Orthopedics poll

#bowling

Where to watch Sky vs. Fever today: Channel, time, TV schedule, live stream for Caitlin Clark WNBA game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
It's a race to the end of the regular season. The Sky host the Fever in an all-important matchup.
Indiana is all but guaranteed to make it to the playoffs. It sits on top of the Eastern Conference standings, just a few games away from clinching a postseason berth. Chicago can disrupt that anticipation.
While the Sky are not out of the race yet, they're far from clinching. Only the top eight teams in the league go to the playoffs, and Chicago sits among the last in the standings. That doesn't mean it can't still have fun.
It's the final showdown between these midwestern rivals. The Fever took home wins in the previous two matchups, but a team like the Sky won't go down easily.

#Chicago #caitlin

Arizona Diamondbacks skipper Torey Lovullo said he felt "betrayed" by Ketel Marte's absence for the series opener against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Monday.
Marte had sustained a left knee injury in the first game of the series against the Atlanta Braves, sat out the second game and returned for the third game. Despite traveling to Boston, he didn't appear for the series opener against the Red Sox.
Lovullo addressed the media at Chase Field ahead of the series opener against the Reds on Friday and said he felt frustrated not knowing the reason Marte failed to show up for the game on Monday.
"I was clearly hurting. And once I saw what was unfolding, I became extremely frustrated, and I felt betrayed. And that's a whole different type of pain and frustration. But I'm through that. I'm through that. There are human emotions tied into these athletes all over the world. All over the world. And it's not easy," Lovullo said.
Lovullo also addressed Marte's decision to scrub his Instagram account of Diamondbacks-related content in July.

#diamondbacks

Pine Grove's Jamie Dinger, One of the Schuylkill League's top pitchers, has made her college decision.
The two-time state champion will continue her softball career at Elizabethtown College. Dinger plans to study occupational therapy while pitching for the Blue Jays.
Last spring as a junior, Dinger helped lead Pine Grove to its second-straight state championship, pitching in 23 games and collecting a 15-2 record. In 107 innings pitched, she struck out 128 while walking 17. She allowed just 12 earned runs on the season.
In the state championship game against Sharon, Dinger struck out eight and allowed just one run on three hits and a walk in 6.1 innings.
Dinger also pitched all 13-innings of the 2025 Class 3A state championship game against Bald Eagle, helping lead the Cardinals to victory.

#pine

England defender Ezri Konsa has completed his transfer to **** nal, with the 28-year-old becoming the Gunners' fifth major signing of the summer.
The former Aston Villa defender moves to north London in a deal worth £51m, and he has signed a four-year contract with the option of an additional 12 months.
The defender – who can play at both centre-back and right-back – was targeted for his versatility, as well as for cover for the injured Jurrien Timber and William Saliba, the latter of whom could be out until late this year after requiring surgery on a back injury.
Konsa is **** nal's fifth major summer signing (PA)
The move was completed on the same day that the champions will open their 2026/27 campaign at home to ewly promoted Coventry City, though the timing of the deal means that Konsa was obviously not registered in time to be in the squad for the game.

#summer #deal

The Davenport Northwest Little League team will have to wait a little longer to take the field in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
The Iowa team's Little League World Series matchup scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 20 was postponed to Friday, Aug. 21 due to prolonged inclement weather in Williamsport.
Friday's game is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT.
TV information will be released later.
The all-star squad from Davenport represents the Midwest and is scheduled to play Sweetwater Valley of Bonita, California, the West Region champion.

#pennsylvania

Newcastle United has focused heavily on youth this summer, with five of the club's first six additions aged 20 or younger as Matthias Jaissle begins reshaping the squad he inherited from Eddie Howe.
Defense, however, remains an area requiring more than just some attention, particularly with no virtual backups at the full-back positions, Dan Burn entering his age-34 season, and Newcastle also dealing with increasing uncertainty surrounding Lewis Hall's future amid Manchester United's interest.
FussballDaten's Ekrem Konur reported on Saturday that Newcastle is among the Premier League clubs closely monitoring Werder Bremen center-back Karim Coulibaly, alongside ****** nal and Manchester United.
"Arsenal, Manchester United, and Newcastle United are closely following the player's development as they seek to rejuvenate their defenses while simultaneously improving their build-up play," Konur reported.
The 19-year-old enjoyed his breakthrough with Werder last season after joining on a free from Hamburg in July 2024, and has subsequently emerged as one of the Bundesliga's most coveted young defenders. Standing 1.91 meters tall, Coulibaly is left-footed and has impressed with his athleticism and ability in possession of the ball.

#newcastle #coulibaly #back

Northridge and Goshen were the top two teams in the Northern Lakes Conference last year with the Raiders eventually prevailing for their third straight NLC **** le.
No one would be surprised if those two are once again this year at the top of the league standings.
"I feel the NLC will be tough again this year across the top," said Northridge coach Chris Malott, whose squad finished 15-3-2 overall last year and 7-0 in the conference.
"We return a seasoned core from last year. Goshen and Warsaw also return some very talented players. Concord and NorthWood have some talent and I feel they may surprise some people. Plymouth has a new coach (Lindsey Stiles) and I think she will bring some good things to the program."
No. 14-ranked (3A) Northridge will be led by Adelynn Miller (12 goals, seven **** ists), Anna Garber (three goals, one **** ist), Brylee Yoder (one goal, three **** ists) and Halle Moeller from last year's Class 3A sectional championship squad. All four were all-conference selections last year. Yoder also made the honorable mention All-State team.

#goshen #yoder

As discussions around WNBA inclusion policy heat up, voices within the transgender community are sharing their take on who belongs on the court.
Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White have re-entered the spotlight after vowing to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft. They are looking to exploit a specific phrasing in the league's collective bargaining agreement, which dictates that players must be 'women' without outlining concrete biological or identity criteria.
Both claim that self-identifying meets the baseline requirement, though the WNBA shut down the stunt as a bad-faith effort to mock trans individuals.
The WNBA hasn't helped itself by offering vague, non-committal statements instead of taking a clear stance. And the situation worsened when league security mistakenly forced fans wearing t-shirts with opposing views on the trans debate to cover up, forcing the WNBA into an embarrassing, public apology.
But amongst all the chaos, what do transgender people think about all of this?

#transgender #trans #former #white

FRANKLIN – At least for a day, a Marquette University golf program group text of alumni, coaches and players could be draining batteries across the area as the Golden Eagles made their presence felt Aug. 16 during the first round at the 106th Wisconsin State Open at Tuckaway Country Club.
Golden Eagles ***** istant coach Josh Robinson and senior Mason Schmidtke finished the day tied for first place, along with University of Wisconsin freshman Cody Guetzke, at 5-under par 67.
Chasing the leaders is Marquette alumnus Brandon Cloete at 4-under. Cloete, who finished his college career at Marquette in 2015 and plays out of Madison, was the first-round leader of the Wisconsin State Amateur before finishing tied for fourth.
Of all the blue and gold peppering the leaderboard, Robinson was the one with the best chance to take the solo lead after the first round as he approached the 18th hole at 6-under, but he couldn't save par. It was one of just two bogeys on the day for the Northern Irishman, who said he's played more this summer than he has in recent years.
"I don't think you ever abandon any idea of playing, especially once you get to this level it always brings you back," said Robinson, who is about to begin his third season as a coach with his alma mater after finishing his college career in 2024.

#cloete