The New York Yankees entered the offseason facing familiar questions about their offensive identity after another frustrating end to their season. Despite the talent in their lineup, the Yankees were swept by the division rival Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Division Series, leaving the franchise to confront concerns about its execution, approach and ability to deliver when the stakes are highest.
The team's reliance on superstar slugger Aaron Judge was laid bare, as the offense struggled to produce while he was sidelined by an injury. And its failure to execute fundamental defensive and baserunning plays has come under fire as well, particularly after the Rays and World Series champion Milwaukee Brewers succeeded with such a different style.
Former Yankees manager Joe Girardi articulated many of the criticisms surrounding the Yankees shortly after their season ended.
"Joe Girardi isn't blaming Aaron Boone for the Yankees' shortcomings, but believes a deeper-rooted culture issue might have contributed to the team being swept in the ALDS," Mark Suleymanov wrote for the New York Post. "Girardi cited Austin Wells' baserunning blunder in Game 1 and Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s disastrous throw in an error-filled Game 2 as examples of the team's fundamental failures — and the concerning response to those mistakes."
And with the Yankees under fire for a power-heavy offense and poor fundamentals, one of their most intriguing infield prospects has spoken out about the kind of change he'd like to see in the sport.

#series #division

ATLANTA – "We don't want to have to come back to Ballhalla."
It was part of a longer answer Kiah Stokes gave to reporters during Wednesday's practice availability. Stokes, and the Golden State Valkyries at large, obviously love their home crowd. It's one of, if not the most electric home court advantage in the WNBA. But going back would signal a Game 6 loss; within that lens, why play in front of that crowd again if you could handle business beforehand?
Ultimately, the Valkyries weren't able to get it done. Save any bail you want to shoot for the earlier-than-expected 12:30 ET tip-off time — **** ody on the Golden State side wants it, nor will they use it as an excuse.
A barrage of 3-pointers (6-of-8 in the opening frame), timely drives, and stellar defense sparked a 32-15 first quarter lead for the Atlanta Dream, one they ultimately never relinquished. The Dream were able to notch an impressive 80-69 victory to tie the series, setting up the two most exciting words in sports: Game 7.
Here are three numbers that popped in the Dream's Game 6 win, numbers the Valkyries need to flip in order to bring home their first championship.

#ultimately

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce registered four receptions for 53 yards on five targets in Week 6 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
SOURCE: USA TODAY
Why it Matters: Kelce had a rather mediocre stat line, but his four receptions were the second-best mark on the team. It was a mostly run-heavy offensive attack, which doesn't bode well for the pass catchers, obviously. Still, Kelce remains a solid low-end TE1 in all fantasy leagues heading into Week 7.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Travis Kelce has rather mediocre stat line in Week 6

#four

Section 2 field hockey rankings are released each Monday during the regular season and sectionals.
In all, five teams are ranked, regardless of classification.
Click on a team for highlights from the past week.
There's more to Albany with the Times Union. Subscribe today for just 25¢.
This article originally published at 2026 Section 2 high school field hockey weekly power rankings.

#field #rankings #albany

Irish Premiership
Dungannon Swifts 0 - 1 Linfield FT
Linfield left it late at Stangmore Park but made it five league Irish Premiership wins on the bounce thanks to a Kyle McClean stunner.
McClean's strike from the edge of the box in the 82nd minute was enough to secure a 1-0 and all three points for the visitors.
Chris Johns made multiple saves in the first half to keep his side in the game, with Dungannon Swifts perhaps feeling hard done by on the night.

#irish #made

Federico Dimarco is closing in on a return to Inter's matchday squad for Monday's clash with Udinese at San Siro, with Cristian Chivu weighing several further changes to his starting XI following the Champions League trip to Real Madrid.
According to TuttoMercatoWeb, the Nerazzurri boss is treating the fixture as more than a simple fatigue-management exercise. The report frames it as evidence of a genuine rotation policy, made possible by the depth Inter built during the summer transfer window.
Dimarco has been managing a knee sprain picked up in recent days, and while the issue kept him sidelined, he has now completed part of the latest training session alongside his teammates before continuing with individual work. His call-up against Udinese appears probable, though Chivu still must decide whether to throw him straight back into the action or ease him in gradually, as detailed in SempreInter's recent coverage of Dimarco's situation.
Djed Spence remains further off the pace. The wing-back continues his individual work on the pitch but is edging closer to a full return to group training.
John Stones could be handed his first start of the season after a string of promising cameos, including his second-half introduction in Madrid. A Stones start would mark the fourth different defensive trio Chivu has fielded in five matches this season.

#stones #individual

Real Madrid's La Liga journey continues on Saturday night as they play host to Rayo Vallecano on Matchday 5 of the competition.
Coming off a win over Inter Milan at the same venue, Real Madrid have bounced back strongly from their defeat against Real Betis last weekend.
The fact of the matter, however, is that the team looked unconvincing against the Serie A champions despite winning and were lucky to be gifted both their goals on the night.
There is a lot to improve on from a Real Madrid perspective, and while it will indeed take time to adapt to a new manager's ideologies, they simply cannot afford to lose any more points.
Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano.

#coming

During the first 30 years of the Baltimore Ravens' story, they and the Indianapolis Colts have met 18 times. That includes three postseason matchups, but Sunday's opener carries a different feel. The Ravens are entering a new era under head coach Jesse Minter, while the Colts hope to prove they can contend in the AFC after last season's disappointing finish.
Most of the attention this week has focused on Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Jonathan Taylor, Baltimore's revamped coaching staff, and what to expect on offense and defense. All of that will certainly influence the outcome, but several less-discussed storylines could play an equally important role. Here are five worth monitoring in Week 1.
Fair or unfair, Rashod Bateman enters the season under a microscope. The veteran receiver is attempting to move forward after a difficult 2025 campaign and an offseason that generated headlines for reasons unrelated to football.
A strong opener would immediately help shift the conversation back toward his on-field value. A quiet performance, however, could reignite many of the same questions that followed him throughout the offseason. One game should not define a season, but Week 1 often shapes perception. Bateman doesn't need a 100-yard performance to make an impact. He needs to remind everyone why the Ravens still believe in him.
Ja'Kobi Lane spent much of the summer generating excitement, while Vega Ioane appears poised to play a meaningful role immediately. They are not the only rookies worth watching. Pass rusher Zion Young could find himself in situations where a single splash play changes the trajectory of his debut.

#worth

BERLIN — Caitlin Clark extended her hand to a United States teammate in the first quarter of the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup quarterfinal game against Hungary. It was a gesture of appreciation for the connection that had just occurred.
Seconds earlier, Paige Bueckers recorded a steal from Hungary's Yvonne Turner. Bueckers' pass met Clark, and like clockwork, she was off. Clark found her way to the paint where 6-foot-4 Dorka Juhasz stood as the last line of defense. Faced with an easy decision, Clark dished the ball to Angel Reese, who went up for the layup with two seconds to go, bringing the U.S. to the end of the first quarter with a 36-12 lead.
As Clark reached out her hand, Reese met it with simplicity and normalcy. This would be the first of four total ***** ists between Clark and Reese in an overwhelming 108-56 U.S. victory.
In a world that continues to divide these two athletes, the World Cup has offered another viewpoint, one that seems all the more true. It is a stage that presents these women as selfless competitors, and more simply as teammates.
In a post-game interview with TNT, Reese remarked on her connection with Clark, saying "We've played against each other so many times, so I'm sure we know each other's game like the back of each other's hand."

#clark #reese #quarter

SMU did everything it could to give Florida State a chance to win Monday night. Instead, the Mustangs got out of Tallahassee with a 27-24 win after a 20-yard field goal from Nick Reed with 21 seconds to go.
Once the game finally started after a 100-minute delay because of a power outage at Doak Campbell Stadium, it was clear that SMU was the better team.
Yet the Mustangs were also the team that kept making more mistakes. SMU turned the ball over four times, missed a field goal and committed a penalty on an FSU field goal attempt that led to a game-tying touchdown in the third quarter. It was an incredibly sloppy effort from SMU, yet Florida State could not capitalize.
The Mustangs' fourth turnover came with 6:33 to go and the game tied at 24-24. Safety Ashlynd Barker read QB Kevin Jennings' eyes for an interception and gave Florida State a chance to take its first lead of the night.
Instead, the Seminoles' offense lost seven yards on three plays after Ashton Daniels was sacked on third down. That down was FSU's nemesis all night; it finished 2-for-14 on third downs. Florida State punted the ball back to SMU, and the Mustangs got into position for an easy field goal thanks to a 29-yard completion to Dramekco Green on third down with less than three minutes to go.

#field

8
Manchester United were held to a 2-2 draw by Everton at the Hill ****** inson Stadium. Here are our player ratings from the game.
(A score of 6 is around average.)
Senne Lammens 4 – He looked hesitant in a few big moments and really should have done better with Everton's equaliser. It just wasn't good enough from him.
Diogo Dalot 5 – Consistently stretched United's attack and took up advanced positions, eager to make an impact in the final third. Yet he was given a stern test by George, a battle that continued unabated when Jack Grealish entered the fray

#manchester #everton #stadium

Sergio Martinez could make one of the most unexpected Real Madrid debuts in recent years when Jose Mourinho's side face Inter Milan in their Champions League opener on Tuesday.
The midfielder only joined Madrid from Racing Santander days ago, but his rise has already taken him from the reserve setup to the senior squad.
According to MARCA, Martinez has trained with Mourinho's first-team group and is now in contention for the European fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Notably, his inclusion on Madrid's Champions League A-list has accelerated that progression even further.
Martinez's rise has been driven partly by circumstances within Mourinho's squad.

#martinez #squad

Just days remain until the 2026 NFL season gets underway and Skip Bayless has already made a controversial prediction.
The NFC North has the potential to be the most competitive division in football this season, with four teams all capable of playing in the postseason.
There have been a lot of changes made at the Minnesota Vikings over recent months, with Kyler Murray named as the starting quarterback by Kevin O'Connell.
Murray joined the Vikings after years in Arizona with the Cardinals as he targets a new opportunity in Minnesota.
There will certainly be no guarantees in this division, but broadcaster Skip Bayless is already expecting the Vikings to win the NFC North.

#Vikings #skip #north #made

As high school flag football begins its second season as a sanctioned sport in Colorado, it's evident that the talent just keeps growing.
After Week 1, quarterback Peyton Marr is off to a hot start for Mountain Vista, proving that the Golden Eagles are still capable of a three-peat, even without MaxPreps National Flag Football Player of the Year Ariana Akey. Legend and The Classical Academy also remain undefeated, while Green Mountain and Chatfield are among the two newest teams in the rankings.
Here are the USA TODAY Sports Super 10 Colorado flag football rankings after Week 1.
Record: 3-0
Previous ranking: 1

#flag #mountain #rankings #golden

[UPDATE 2:01 PM] – Xavier Restrepo has reportedly been waived.
[UPDATE 1:13 PM] – The ****** ans are also signing S Terrell Burgess to the active roster.
[UPDATE 1:08 PM] – The ****** ans are waiving LB Mohamoud Diabate to make room on the roster.
The Tennessee ****** ans have been awarded 3 players on waivers: LB Owen Pappoe, DB Melvin Smith, and DT ****** r Stackhouse. The corresponding roster moves have not been announced yet, but the ****** ans will have to release 3 players to make room on the 53-man roster for these guys. It is a little surprising that the ****** ans didn't add any offensive lineman today. Their first unit has been good in the preseason, but they have zero depth behind those guys.
Pappoe was a 4th-round draft pick by the Arizona Cardinals back in 2023. He appeared in all 17 games for the Cardinals last season and recorded 27 tackles. He led Arizona in special teams snaps over the last 2 seasons.

#update #pappoe #arizona #players

If you went to Kroger Field the last couple of years, you probably left with a sour taste in your mouth. Kentucky was just 1-8 over the last 2 seasons against Power 5 schools at home. But it wasn't just the on-field performance that left a lot to be desired.
Fans saw places like Bryant-Denny and Williams-Brice come alive with lights, music, and great sound. The pregame atmosphere was electric. For Kentucky, everything had seemed a little stale. There was Grove Street but not much else. And a lot of fans complained about the speaker system that felt like it was only being played on one end of the stadium. And the stadium itself needed a good, deep cleaning after a couple of years of grime had built up on the outside.
Will Stein heard those comments.
The new head coach said he wanted new traditions; he talked about how he would love to extend the Wildcat walk and have different songs and an electric atmosphere. He and new AD J Batt even delivered pizzas to fans who wanted to set up their tailgating spots.
They power-washed the stadium and cleaned up the inside and out. It was announced that they have now put in field-level speakers to help boost the sound, and they will have a new game-day host to help keep the atmosphere rocking all night long.

#fans #atmosphere #couple

The Tennessee ******* ans have finished off their preseason with a 24-15 loss to the Chicago Bears, dropping their record to 2-1 just ahead of the league-mandated cuts on Sunday evening.
After the game, head coach Robert Saleh met with the media and pointed out that most of the roster decisions have been made and that this is always the hardest part of camp, full of hard conversations among him, general manager Mike Borgonzi, and some players (roster cuts).
Saleh also pointed out that roughly 10 roster spots were up for grabs on Saturday.
"There's going to be stuff that shows up on tape, and if players were neck and neck, it could make a difference."
The ******* ans are a young team, and some players definitely made a case against the Bears. Did it make a difference? Who knows. But everyone will find out when the ******* ans cut their roster to 53-players on Sunday afternoon.

#roster #bears

Hull City have agreed a deal with Eintracht Frankfurt to sign winger Jean-Matteo Bahoya.
The 21-year-old is understood to be open to the move and has been granted permission to undergo a medical in East Yorkshire before Tuesday's transfer deadline.
The France Under-21 international, who has previously been linked with several Premier League clubs, has seven goals and eight **** ists in 78 matches for Frankfurt since joining from French club Angers in 2024.
Primarily a left winger, he is capable of playing in multiple attacking positions and holds the Bundesliga speed record after being clocked at 23.09mph during a match against Bochum in 2025.
He could become the Tigers' 13th signing of the summer transfer window as the club continues to invest heavily in Sergej Jakirovic's squad.

#frankfurt #transfer #hull #bahoya

Packers third-string quarterback Kyle McCord had an excellent game in the preseason finale, throwing for four touchdown passes and leading a fourth-quarter comeback as the Packers beat the Cardinals 42-38. And it was Packers first-string quarterback Jordan Love's voice in McCord's helmet during that comeback.
Love was given the play calling duties by Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, who delegated the duties to offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich for the first half and surprised Love by making it his job in the second half.
"Steno called the first half, did an outstanding job, and then we had J-Love call the second half," LaFleur said. "That was pretty cool, to hear his demeanor on the headset and how calm, cool and collected he was throughout the entire game, especially during those critical moments. That's what we see on the field, too."
It was the first time Love had called plays, and LaFleur didn't tell him he would have the job until they were on the field before the game.
"I just went up to him. It's not like he had time to prep. I was just like, 'Hey, you want to call the second half?'" LaFleur said. "He said, 'Sure. Yeah, I'll do it.' And he did it and he did an outstanding job."

#lafleur #half

Félix Bautista delivered a clean inning in his second rehab appearance (first at Triple-A). Bautista shook off the rust from his first outing and generated a ground out, strikeout, and fly out. His sinker topped out at 97 MPH.
Bautista entered after starter Trey Gibson threw four innings of two-run ball. Gibson allowed four hits, struck out four, and did not hand out a free pass.
Albert Suárez returned to Norfolk with a fresh minor league deal. Big Al tossed 2.1 innings of bulk relief. He allowed an unearned run and struck out three.
Norfolk trailed 3-2 before scoring in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings. Enrique Bradfield Jr. tied the game with a single in the seventh, José Barrero gave the Tides the lead with a solo homer in the eighth, and Jeremiah Jackson drove in a crucial insurance run with a base hit in the ninth. Bradfield Jr. finished 3-for-4 from the leadoff spot, and Jackson went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.
Heston Kjerstad doubled and took a walk. Aaron Noda walked twice and launched a solo home run in the top of the second. Creed Willems ended the day 0-for-5 with three strikeouts.

#gibson #second

Red Sox could upgrade infield with .957 OPS top prospect instead of Trevor Story originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox are looking to make some upgrades to their roster in September for a chance at a deep postseason run in a wide-open American League.
With a strong pitching staff in both the rotation and bullpen, and Roman Anthony set to bolster the outfield, the only area worth looking to upgrade would be their infield. Trevor Story is coming back from injury and could be an option.
But Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report called out .957 OPS prospect Franklin Arias as a possible September call-up option for Boston, who could be a bigger upgrade than Story for a postseason-bound Red Sox team.
"Already widely regarded as the best defensive infielder in the Red Sox system, Franklin Arias has taken his offensive game to new heights this season," Reuter writes.

#upgrade #sporting #reuter

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Free agent guard Brandon Williams has signed a one-year, $2.6 million contract with the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, the second player the team has added in two days.
Forward Georges Niang signed for the veteran league minimum of $3.9 million over one year in a deal announced Tuesday.
The 26-year-old Williams averaged career bests of 13.0 points, 3.9 ***** ists and 2.9 rebounds over 66 games with 15 starts for Dallas last season. That included 50 games scoring in double figures.
He spent his first NBA season of 2021-22 with Portland then three with the Mavericks after playing in the G League during the 2022-23 campaign. He has appeared in 96 total G League games with the Westchester Knicks, College Park Skyhawks, Osceola Magic and Texas Legends.
The Warriors, eliminated in the play-in tournament as the 10th seed, have also added center Al Horford on a two-year, $14 million contract and center Kristaps Porzingis on a two-year contract for $40 million.

#williams

Hollywood has decided motorcycle racing is the next thing to monetize, and the first swing at it is not the reverent documentary the paddock probably expected. It's a caper.
The project surfaced not through a studio press release but through the actor himself. Alan Ritchson, appearing on Dax Shepard's Armchair Expert podcast in late July, said flatly: "I got the rights to MotoGP. I love motorcycles." He went on to describe wanting to build something international and Fast & Furious-shaped around premier-class racing, and said he'd already started riding preparation with the intent of handling his own work on camera. Everything since — the streamer, the writer, the plot mechanics — has come from trade reporting rather than any confirmed announcement, so treat the details as provisional until someone official puts their name on it.
What isn't provisional is why a streamer would say yes. Ritchson's War Machine climbed to No. 9 on Netflix's all-time most-popular film list with 139.9 million views inside its 91-day counting window. That's the kind of number that buys an actor a first-look deal and the ability to walk in the door with a passion project attached.
MotoGP changed hands last year. Liberty Media completed its acquisition of Dorna Sports on July 3, 2025, folding the championship into the same Formula One Group that owns F1 and Quint. Anyone who watched what Liberty did with Formula 1 — the docuseries, the American race expansion, the feature film — can see the playbook being run again with a different set of wheels.
Bugatti's One-Off Veyron 'Restoration' Buries the Real Story: It Fixes the Car's Worst Ownership Headache

#formula #first #project #actor

Chelsea rejected a loan offer from AS Roma for Jamie Gittens, but the Italians want to see whether there is room for manoeuvre.
According to Alfredo Pedulla, they want to know whether the Blues are really keen to keep him at Stamford Bridge and are planning further contact this week.
Chelsea are poised to line up in a 3-4-2-1 set-up, and Morgan Rogers will likely take the starting berth on the inside left 10 position.
Gittens might decide he wants to be first-choice elsewhere as he bounces back from an injury-riddled first season in West London.
It remains unclear whether Chelsea will keep him for the season or be more open to a permanent sale.

#whether #italians

India vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test live score, weather report, toss, winning probability, result and highlights from Colombo originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Venue: Galle International Stadium, Galle
Captains: Shubman Gill (India), Dhananjaya de Silva (Sri Lanka)
Toss result: India won the toss and opted to bat.
Live Telecast: Sony Sports Network (India), Willow TV (USA, Canada), Sky Sports (UK, England)

#India

It's time to cancel those Saturday night plans and settle on the couch for NFL action.
The Chicago Bears face off with the Cincinnati Bengals tonight, for what will serve as the second preseason game for both teams.
The two teams enter the game after starkly different results last season.
The upstart Bears nearly earned their way into the NFC championship game but were narrowly defeated by the Los Angeles Rams in overtime in the NFC divisional round. Despite the loss, it was something of a coming-out party for Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson on the national stage.
On the other side, the Bengals endured a disappointing campaign marred by another slow start and an injury-riddled season for Joe Burrow. As a result, head coach Zac Taylor has decided to play the Bengals' starters, including Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Dexter Lawrence, in an effort to avoid another slow start to the regular season.

#game #bears

It's the first year on the job for the new head of the Atlanta Falcons front office, former quarterback Matt Ryan. It's still too early to judge Ryan's offseason moves based on the results, but we can at least evaluate his process.
So far, the best move that Ryan has made was one of his earliest: signing former Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to a one-year deal at the veteran minimum.
That move earned the Falcons an "A" grade from Bleacher Report in a piece re-ranking the biggest free agent moves of the year.
"Another no-brainer for another NFC team losing confidence in a third-year first-round pick. Tagovailoa is a flawed quarterback but has accomplished a lot (Pro Bowler, league's highest-rated passer, passing yardage leader) at the age of 28. Miami is footing most of the bill."
If Tagovailoa bombs during the regular season as he did in his preseason debut against Denver, at least it didn't really cost the Falcons anything. Ryan added critical depth at the game's most important position and did it on the cheap - that's always going to earn strong grades no matter how the player winds up performing.

#Miami #least

Liverpool have already been linked with a whole host of players this summer.
The Anfield outfit were expected to make many different changes to their ranks and, while they have welcomed three new players through the Anfield doors, it's unclear whether they'll make much of an impact.
Of course, Ronald Aruajo and Jeremy Jacquet are bound to get a lot of playing time due to the number of injuries that the Reds' defence seems to suffer every year but, someone such as Munoz might not be ready to fill Mohamed Salah's boots yet.
Indeed, a deal for Bradley Barcola is being rumoured in the background but, until that is completed, fans have to look at the options that Liverpool have available to them.
Despite their attack needing some serious work, other areas of their ranks could also do with another player or two being added to them.

#ranks #ronald

The overlooked clause in James Harden's $97 million Cavaliers agreement originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
James Harden joined the Cleveland Cavaliers in a February trade that sent Darius Garland and a 2026 second-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers. He appeared in 26 regular-season games with Cleveland, averaging 20.5 points, 7.7 ****** ists, and 4.8 rebounds, helping push the team to a 52-30 finish.
With him on the roster last season, the franchise made its first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals since 2018. However, they were swept by the New York Knicks in four games.
Harden is officially locked in to stay in Cleveland for the foreseeable future. The 11-time All-Star has agreed to a new three-year, $97 million contract to return to the franchise, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. It includes a player option for the third year alongside a trade kicker attached to the deal.
The trade kicker in his contract acts as a built-in insurance policy for Harden. If Cleveland ever trades him, his salary immediately jumps by 15%, with the new team forced to pay the difference.

#games

The Chargers have made a roster move ahead of their Week 2 preseason matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.
Los Angeles announced that they have signed wide receiver Liam Clifford.
In a corresponding move, the Chargers waived wide receiver Luke Grimm with an injury designation.
Clifford heads to Los Angeles after spending part of training camp with the Colts. He signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent in late July. Clifford was waived a week later.
After working out Clifford on Tuesday, the Chargers liked what they saw and signed him Wednesday.

#chargers #angeles #week #waived