Za'Darius Smith is signing with the Atlanta Falcons. The agreement is a one-year deal that is worth $6 million. He was among the premier free agents left on the market and should help the Falcons' defensive line heading into the new season.
The 33-year-old Smith seemed primed to retire after last season but changed course there as well. He briefly retired in October of 2025. Smith made somewhat of a 180 after expectations were that he would sign with the Cleveland Browns earlier this month. The Browns, who traded Myles Garrett this offseason, needed to boost their defensive line in order to not finish dead last in a highly competitive AFC North. That will be their trajectory without Garrett or Smith to rely upon.
Smith has been a stud during his lengthy NFL career. He was originally a fourth-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, having been selected by the Baltimore Ravens. While he didn't start as a rookie, he did manage 5.5 sacks that first season. Smith really blossomed after he left the Ravens and joined the Green Bay Packers in 2019. He went for 13.5 sacks and his first Pro Bowl appearance.
That said, Jordan Schultz, along with many others, reported this news about Smith's signing.
Smith had a letdown of a season with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2025, starting two games and competing in five total. He ended with 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks. The season prior, in 2024, he started 16 games, so it's not like Smith is that far removed from being a full-time starter for a playoff-competing organization.

#garrett

Michigan State basketball has reportedly lost Jaxon Kohler to the transfer portal, officially. After an announcement on Tuesday, it appears that the expected is totally coming true, and Kohler will be moving on upon receiving an additional year of eligibility.
After the announcement that Kohler would be entering the portal upon receiving a fifth year of eligibility, popular college basketball reporter Jon Rothstein took to X to announce the four schools that Kohler is considering.
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisville

#portal #receiving #year #state

The dog days of summer are in full effect, and NFL training camps are taking their toll.
Take, for instance, Tuesday's joint practice between the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints in Oxnard, California. The NFC rivals squared off for a full practice in pads. That meant competing, hitting and some guys performing for their jobs.
The result was a scrimmage that was spicy throughout and eventually erupted to multiple big fights and the ejection of Cowboys defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku.
There was the normal pushing and shoving that should be expected from any sort of joint practice. This involved Saints wide receiver Chris Olave and Cowboys safety Malik Hooker, among others.
But things really got heated multiple times as full-on fights broke out between pretty much all the players on the field.

#take

ESPN co-founder Bill Rasmussen passed away at the age of 93.
Rasmussen brought his vision of a 24/7 all-sports network to life in 1979. Even though he left the network the next year, his impact in helping to launch the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network has far surpassed anyone's reasonable expectations of what could be possible.
In the wake of his passing, several pillars of ESPN's past and present stepped forward to pay tribute.
"Bill was a remarkable man – a visionary and an innovator who conceived the idea of a network entirely devoted to sports," said ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro in a statement released by ESPN. "Quite simply, none of us would be here today if it wasn't for Bill's passion and all the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit he put into building ESPN in the late 1970s – key aspects of our company culture that still carry on to this day."
"He was such a grateful person and every sports fan can be grateful for Bill. He wasn't a glass half-full guy; his glass was always overflowing with optimism. He greeted everyone with a smile and we can all smile knowing Bill's legacy," ESPN legend Chris Berman added in the ESPN announcement.

#rasmussen #even

The dog days of summer are in full effect, and NFL training camps are taking their toll.
Take, for instance, Tuesday's joint practice between the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints in Oxnard, California. The NFC rivals squared off for a full practice in pads. That meant competing, hitting and some guys performing for their jobs.
The result was a scrimmage that was spicy throughout and eventually erupted to multiple big fights and the ejection of Cowboys defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku.
There was the normal pushing and shoving that should be expected from any sort of joint practice. This involved Saints wide receiver Chris Olave and Cowboys safety Malik Hooker, among others.
But things really got heated multiple times as full-on fights broke out between pretty much all the players on the field.

#multiple

After a one-year absence, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will return to Pocono Raceway in 2027.
The 2.5-mile triangular track in Long Pond announced its dates for next season Tuesday afternoon. It again will host a tripleheader weekend June 11-13 featuring all three NASCAR national series.
On Friday, June 11, the Truck Series is back to kick off the weekend. The O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race is Saturday, June 12, with the Cup Series capping the weekend Sunday, June 13, with the Great American Getaway 400 presented by VISIT PA.
"Our renewals end Aug. 31, so we want to give our fans these two weeks to make a decision," Pocono Raceway president Ben May said. "We're pleased with the dates. It's the same weekend as we had last year. The Truck Series is back this year after a year off, as expected. We've sold out our infield the past six years, sold out our grandstands the past four years, so we're looking to plug and play and repeat."
Because of the World Cup soccer tournament, the Truck Series didn't race at Pocono this year and the ARCA Series took its place. But the trucks will be back for a 17th time in 2027. MillerTech Battery, which sponsored this year's O'Reilly Series race, will go back to sponsoring the 200-mile truck race at Pocono next year.

#series

In the build-up to the return of La Liga action, former Real Madrid winger turned La Liga ambassador and ESPN pundit Steve McManaman spoke at a press conference to address the changes at the Bernabéu this summer and the expectations on Jose Mourinho.
"He needs to win. It's as simple as that. He needs to beat Barcelona. He needs to win the league. I don't necessarily think he needs to win the Champions League, but I certainly think he needs to finish above Barcelona," McManaman said.
"He's been brought in because the last two years have been disappointing. Real Madrid can't go three years without winning anything. And your nearest and dearest rivals are in Barcelona winning everything. So Jose has to hit the ground running and he has to be successful straight away. That's what he's being brought in for."
"When we won all those ****** les with the names you mentioned, we had an incredible number six in Claude Makélélé who really helped the midfield… Real Madrid this year have tried to rectify that. I think they were weak defensively last year. He was the most important player in our team. Forget about Figo, Zidane, Raúl, Ronaldo. Zidane said the most important player was Makélélé."
"To be very honest, I never ever thought he would leave Real Madrid. I really didn't. I know there was a lot of stories in the English newspapers about ****** nal, but if you see Vinícius Júnior at Madrid, I thought most people think he was never going to leave. I don't think he was ever going to go to Saudi Arabia. That didn't make any sense at all for me. So his home is Madrid. I'm glad he signed a new six-year contract… The most important thing is for Vini and for Kylian to play in the same team, but each finds a role where they're very comfortable in, and drive Madrid forward."

#needs #mcmanaman

It has been revealed that Jeremy Doku sustained a calf injury as Manchester City fell to a disappointing 3-0 defeat to ******* nal in the FA Community Shield. Belgian publication Nieuwsblad reports that Doku will miss Manchester City's first Premier League fixture of the 2026-27 season against Bournemouth due to the injury he sustained. It is also expected that Doku will face a delayed start to the new season. Enzo Maresca will have to find a solution to the issue that Doku's absence creates against Bournemouth. However, the solution does seem obvious.
If Jeremy Doku were fully fit, it would be expected that he'd start on the left wing for Manchester City against Bournemouth. Antoine ******* yo would likely start on the right. With Doku ruled out of the match, it would be expected that ******* yo would move over to the left wing. That would open up a spot on the right wing.
Looking at the options that Enzo Maresca can use on the right wing against Bournemouth, Rayan Cherki is the clear standout. Cherki played on the right wing last season and he drifts out there when playing through the middle. Enzo Maresca's side relies on creativity from out wide to create chances. Cherki is by far and away the obvious player to slot in on the right wing to allow ******* yo to play on the left wing to cater for Jeremy Doku's absence against Bournemouth. In fact, it is such an obvious solution to the issue Maresca faces with Jeremy Doku injured that it would be a major surprise if he went in another direction.
One option that Maresca may consider is playing Rayan Ait-Nouri on the left wing with ******* yo on the right. Ait-Nouri did play on the left wing throughout Manchester City's preseason tour of Asia and he did score two goals. So that idea could be in play. Savinho is unlikely to feature due to illness and his desire for a summer transfer. At this point, he is likely not an option for Enzo Maresca to consider. It would be a shock if Jack Grealish started against Bournemouth.
However, having considered the possibility of Rayan Ait-Nouri starting on the left wing, that option wouldn't offer the threat of Rayan Cherki on the right wing and ******* yo on the left. The solution to Doku's absence through injury this weekend seems obvious. It will be interesting to see if Maresca chooses that option or has another up his sleeve with the squad he has available for Manchester City's opening Premier League fixture against Bournemouth.

#wing #doku #maresca #right

João Palhinha's future at Bayern Munich continues to move toward a potential exit, with Aston Villa reportedly emerging as the midfielder's priority destination.
According to GiveMeSport's Ben Jacobs (via iMiaSanMia), Aston Villa remains in talks with Bayern Munich over a deal for Palhinha. Discussions have continued despite Bayern Munich initially proposing a loan arrangement without any commitment to make the transfer permanent.
However, Villa now understands that Bayern Munich are looking for greater certainty. The club will either have to complete a permanent transfer this summer or agree to an obligation to buy as part of a loan deal.
Bayern Munich is reportedly asking for around €30 million for Palhinha, although there are suggestions that a deal could potentially be negotiated for slightly less than that figure. The situation could come down to how Aston Villa structures the deal. A loan with an obligation-to-buy could give Aston Villa more flexibility in the short term while providing Bayern Munich with the permanent transfer they are seeking.
Palhinha's time in Munich has not developed as many expected when Bayern Munich signed him from Fulham. With Bayern Munich looking to shape the squad for the 2026/27 season, his departure increasingly appears possible.

#bayern #villa #permanent

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry knew he needed to rebuild the wide receiver room and add talent after it struggled in 2025. Jerry Jeudy showed some ability but had a bad year holding onto the football, and Isaiah Bond had an up-and-down rookie season, though he showed promise.
ESPN's Ben Solak noted in an article that another wide receiver, rookie Denzel Boston, has shown his physical traits and ability are worth taking note of so far in camp.
"The biggest box for a rookie to check is one of physical benchmarks. Wide receiver Denzel Boston smashes it in this regard. He has clear pro size at 6-foot-4 with a well-built frame, and he knows how to use it. He pushes off with strength, and he attacks throws away from his frame with length and hand size. But it's the smoothness with which he's in and out of his routes that truly stands out. He has shorter strides for a taller receiver, which allows him to gather himself more quickly and sink his weight more easily than other jump-ball specialists. You can tell he'll be a great possession receiver on quick-breaking routes (think Michael Pittman Jr. or Drake London) because of his ability to snap into routes and box smaller corners out from the catch point."
Berry spent two of his top three picks at the position to upgrade the room and help whoever the quarterback ends up being. KC Concepcion was taken in the first round and has shown he is a dynamic playmaker, especially in the preseason opener, but the second guy, Denzel Boston, has really stolen the show at camp.
The Browns are hoping they can step into larger roles than many outside the organization are expecting, especially Boston.

#boston #denzel #room

On Tuesday at Barton Hills Country Club in Ann Arbor, the mood was light, not what you'd expect with a United States Golf **** ociation championship right around the corner.
Players said the vibe felt more like a reunion than the buildup to a major championship.
Of course, they expect that to change come Thursday morning.
"I also enjoy seeing everyone, seeing everybody and catching up, seeing what's going on," Annika Sorenstam, the World Golf Hall-of-Famer, said Tuesday. "It's so fun, because you've got 120 players here and we're all just excited to play and compete at a different level than maybe before. But we all try, and we're out there with our caddies reading the greens and trying to get the yardage books.
"It's like old times, but it's not really old times. But it's kind of fun to be back and do it.

#tuesday #expect #we 're

On my podcast yesterday morning, I discussed the implications of Alec Pierce's injury and the strong possibility that the Colts would acquire an instant-impact receiver like Keenan Allen. Later that day, Allen signed with Indy. Now let's walk through the significant fantasy implications.
Allen is not your typical 34-year-old journeyman receiver. He led all Chargers last year in total fantasy points. No longer the same downfield threat he once was, Allen is nevertheless a solid possession receiver who could push for 100+ targets.
This is terrible news for managers who believed Pierce (WR38 ADP) and/or Downs (WR42 ADP) were huge bargains. I was one of those managers, pegging Downs as a must-draft at his ADP -- an almost surefire top-38 wideout with strong top-30 upside. With Michael Pittman Jr. now in Pittsburgh, this thinned-out receiving corps would open the door for Pierce and Downs to build on the former's 2025 breakout and the latter's 2024 breakout.
There are major questions about whether Daniel Jones can feed more than two receivers per game, especially after Jonathan Taylor caught a career-high 46 passes in 2025. Jones was on pace for about 500 pass attempts last season. Between Pierce, Downs, Allen, and ascending tight end Tyler Warren, we might anticipate 400 targets at most.
As a rookie, Warren led this team with 112 looks, and he could easily hit 125+ this year. Allen should be good for 80+. It will be hard for Pierce or Downs to comfortably exceed ADP expectations.

#downs #year #jones #strong

Brazil U-15 National Team faces Uruguay at Granja ComaryCredits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF
As part of another stage of preparation for the Liga Evolução, which will be played in September in Paraguay, the Brazil Men's U-15 National Team takes on Uruguay this Wednesday (19) at 11 a.m. at Granja Comary, in Teresópolis (RJ). The friendly kicks off at 11 a.m., with live coverage on CBF TV. On Saturday (22), the two teams will face each other again at the same venue.
"The two matches are meant to consolidate our ideas, the concepts we've worked on with the players during these seven days of activities at Granja Comary. Above all, to consolidate their behaviors, and that has also been worked on with the U-17 and U-20 national teams. We have to understand the importance of the emotional aspect for this U-15 generation, which is heading into its first official competition. The hope is that they can do everything we proposed during this period with awareness," said head coach Guilherme Dalla Déa.
Guilherme Dalla Déa, U-15 head coach, expects a difficult match against UruguayCredits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF
He highlighted the opponent's physical style, stressing that it broadens the possibilities for evaluating the Brazilian players against a specific kind of challenge.

#national #team #ribeiro #dalla

Roman Anthony begins a rehab **** ignment on Tuesday, but when he gets back to Boston, his friend Marcelo Mayer will not be there.
Mayer and Anthony were two-thirds of Boston's "big three" of prospects, which also included Kristian Campbell. Anthony was a star in the big leagues almost instantly and signed an extension, but Mayer did not have the same fate. He struggled as a hitter and dealt with injuries. The Red Sox decided to trade him at the deadline after adding Curtis Mead in a separate trade.
"Obviously, Marcelo hit a little different," Anthony told reporters on Tuesday, per WooSox reporter Tommy Cassell. "I came up with him and lived with him every day, and he was my roommate since we were — since I was 18, 19 years old. So, seeing him go, I was excited for him to kind of get a new opportunity and almost like a refresh and to be back close to home, I think it'll be good for him and hopefully get to see him come to Boston, that'd be pretty cool, right? But yeah, I was sad. Obviously, spoke to him, still speak to him quite a bit. So, I hope all goes well for him always."
Mayer, Campbell and Anthony were once expected to lead the Red Sox into a new era of greatness, but it looks more like it will be Anthony alone leading the way.
Looking for the perfect gift for a baseball player in your life? Check out our brand new baseball lifestyle brand!

#mayer #boston #almost

The A's dropped their first game in Kansas City last night, losing 9-5 and dropping the club to 49-76, tied with the Angels for the worst record in the sport. If the club ever needed a win, tonight's the night.
Before the game the A's made a minor move for some extra bullpen depth, adding the recently-claimed Taylor Rashi to the active roster:
The right-hander has very minimal big league experience, with 10 games last year and three this season. The former Giants and Diamondbacks farmhand has generally put up good numbers in the minors, including a 2.56 ERA in 24 appearances this year. With the state of the bullpen Rashi is as good as any reliever to give a shot and see if the A's can catch lightning in a bottle.
To make room on the roster right-hander Mason Barnett was optioned to Triple-A. He was in the rotation the past couple turns but he struggled in his chances and will now head back to the minors and continue to work on honing his craft. The A's will need to make a move for a new starter sometime later this week.
It'll be right-hander Jack Perkins getting the ball this evening for his 12th start this year. It hasn't been an easy year for the rookie, who began in the bullpen before being asked to take on a starter's role halfway through the year. The results have been unexpected as he's struggled to an 8.17 ERA during his starting ****** ignments so far. He's not exactly trending in the right direction either as he's gotten smacked for at least five runs in his past three starts. Hopefully he'll be able to turn things around tonight in Kansas City against a fellow bottom-dweller in the Royals, though last night should warn everyone that they still got some big bats in that lineup of theirs.

#last #bullpen #city

PORTLAND, ME. — Roman's Return.
On Tuesday, Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony took a step in the right direction when he began a rehab ******* ignment with Double-A Portland.
Anthony hit second and served as designated hitter for the Sea Dogs in his first live baseball game in over three months.
"Super excited," said Anthony ahead of Portland's game at Hadlock Field. "I was driving here today, and it just felt weird to finally be here. It's been a long, long process for me and took a lot longer than I could have expected when I first did it.
"But I'm happy that it's all behind me and I can just play baseball."

#portland #first #game #return

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills added experienced depth to their defensive front by signing Greg Gaines on Tuesday.
The 30-year-old Gaines has seven NFL seasons of experience, including the past three playing in a backup role with Tampa Bay. He's been a free agent since his contract expired in March.
Listed at 6-foot-1 and 312 pounds, Gaines spent his first four years with the Los Angeles Rams, the final two as a starter, including their Super Bowl-winning season in 2021. He was selected by the Rams in the fourth round of the 2019 draft out of Washington.
Overall, he has 14 1/2 sacks and 16 tackles for a loss in 34 starts in 108 games.
Gaines is expected to compete for a backup job behind projected starters Ed Oliver, Deone Walker and rookie T.J. Sanders. The Bills have an immediate need for depth at the position with Phidarian Mathis to miss the first three games of the season serving an NFL suspension.

#first

Jordyn Tyson is expected to be sidelined for about two months. Is the high-priced rookie still draftable in all fantasy leagues, and who has the best shot at claiming the Saints' #2 WR role?
Admittedly, I was confused when New Orleans used their #8 overall pick on Tyson. Yes, he's exceptionally talented and could be a team's #1 WR someday. But expending that much draft capital on a guy who suffered a severe knee injury in 2022, a broken collarbone in 2024, and hamstring issues didn't make sense.
Now this team has a gaping hole at receiver, while Chris Olave's value couldn't get much higher. However, Tyler Shough's value takes a hit, as he loses a terrific playmaker who could have helped elevate his quarterback.
While Tyson's current overall ADP is 86, fantasy managers should be cautious about drafting him anywhere in the top 140. Yes, you could place him on IR and hope he returns by early November.
But that also would limit your ability to place a more reliable fantasy ***** et on IR if your roster faces more injuries. Plus, there's no guarantee that Tyson will return in two months. This franchise probably will play it safe with their first-round pick. I'd put his over/under on rookie receptions at 30.5.

#place

The bulls have returned to Target's (TGT) stock in a big way this year on hopes for a turnaround under new CEO Michael Fiddelke.
That upbeat thesis — which has powered shares up 59% this year — is about to be put to the test later this week when the company reports second quarter earnings. But even if Target delivers on the quarter and raises its full-year profit guidance as expected, it may not be enough to keep the stock price charging higher.
"Investor expectations are very elevated into Target's second quarter print, but we believe the more important debate is whether improving store and merchandising execution supports confidence in growth durability in FY27 and beyond," Deutsche Bank ******* yst Krisztina Katai said.
Target is expected to post a second quarter comparable sales increase of 2.3% and earnings of $2.29. Comparable sales fell 1.5% in last year's second quarter amid a host of merchandising execution issues. Earnings came in at $2.05.
Since the start of 2026, however, Target has moved quickly to rewrite its merchandising wrongs.

#earnings

Glasgow Warriors expect to be challenging for silverware on two fronts again next season despite another summer of high-profile departures, according to ***** istant coach Scott Forrest.
Huw Jones, Jack Dempsey and Adam Hastings are among a host of big-name players to have left the club after last season.
It was a similar story last summer when Tom Jordan, Sebastian Cancelliere and Henco Venter left Scotstoun, but Franco Smith's side coped admirably, with thrilling runs in both the United Rugby Championship and the Champions Cup.
After topping the URC table at the end of the regular season, Glasgow were knocked out by the Bulls in the URC semi-finals while their European adventure was ended by Toulon at the quarter-final stage.
Forrest believes Glasgow are equipped to go deep in both competitions once again.

#glasgow #last #jones #jack

Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston appears to have avoided a serious injury.
Johnston, who limped off the field during Tuesday's joint practice against the49ers, appears to be just fine.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Johnston is not expected to miss much time, if any, after exiting practice with a lower body injury.
The 24-year-old did not finish the practice session; however, he may be available for the team's next practice, which won't be until this weekend after their Thursday night game against the 49ers.
Johnston is heading into his fourth year in the league. He is set to enter the final year of his four-year rookie deal, and it will be his biggest season yet. Availability, or lack thereof, is far from the issue with Johnston, as he's missed only five of a potential 51 games played in his first three seasons in the league.

#appears #chargers #quentin #adam

Belal Muhammad agrees with Dana White that Ian Machado Garry lacked killer instinct at UFC 330.
Machado Garry (17-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) was criticized by the UFC boss for being too friendly in his ***** le loss to welterweight champion Islam Makhachev (29-1 MMA, 18-1 UFC) in Saturday's main event at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. With one judge having the fight tied at two rounds a piece heading into Round 5, Muhammad expected Machado Garry to go for it more.
"What's with this hugging? You're down in the fifth round. You've got to have the killer instinct," Muhammad said on his YouTube channel. "You've got to for it. His face wasn't beat up. It was an Adesanya vs. Gastelum war where you're like, 'Let's do it.' You were losing. Mindset-wise, he needs to flip the switch. His mindset was we didn't get tapped, we got up from a couple of takedowns, those are wins for him, and he has to change that. Stock-wise, he's going to learn from it. He's going to get better from it, but this game is unforgiving.
"You go against Morales next. You get one-punched and get knocked out. That head kick that Islam landed on you in the second round, if it knocked you out, it changes everything else. You can't waste an opportunity. You can't waste a moment, and I felt like he definitely wasted moments there. The one sequence that I was like Islam has this fight – obviously when it came to the fifth round, and he took the back, I was like, 'Oh, it's over.' When he had the body triangle in, I knew he wasn't going to get out of that situation. For Islam, that was his checkmate moment."
Machado Garry earned his ***** le shot by defeating former welterweight champion Muhammad by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 265.

#muhammad #garry #fight #you 're

With the NFL season now less than a month away, teams are ramping up preparations for their Week 1 matchups in early September.
But not every roster is heading into the opener at full strength. Several franchises are already dealing with injuries, and some with players facing pending investigations.
MORE: 5 most improved NFL offenses entering 2026-2027 season
With that in mind, here's a look at some players worth monitoring ahead of Week 1.
Getting much-needed ankle surgery before camp even began, Alec Pierce remains sidelined for the preseason as Colts fans and the front office are expecting the highly paid WR1 to be ready for Week 1.

#players #less

Commanders special teams coordinator Larry Izzo called Drew Stevens with some important news.
The undrafted rookie had won Washington's kicking competition. Incumbent Jake Moody was being released. The team was formally naming Stevens the starter.
The Iowa product was stunned, but not by the honor. He had been kicking well all spring and summer. It was the timing that set him back.
"It was (Monday) when I found out, and it was crazy because I was not expecting it at all," Stevens told on-site reporters in a Tuesday press conference. "I thought we were going to play all three preseason games and then do it. This is my first rodeo. I have no idea. I'm just trying to play (well) on the field."
Head coach Dan Quinn didn't see a need to continue the competition any further, explaining his logic for ending it now and setting Stevens up for success.

#kicking #well

Several of the best teams in women's college basketball are heading to Phoenix for the inaugural Scripps Sports Women's Basketball Showcase on Wednesday, Dec. 16, at Mortgage Matchup Center.
The showcase will feature two marquee matchups, with defending national champion UCLA facing Duke and USC taking on Miami.
The Bruins will look different from their national championship team as all five starters graduated. UCLA is still an expected preseason Top 15 program and added Iowa State transfer forward Addy Brown. Brown averaged 11.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.3 ***** ists in her junior season. Returning forward Sienna Betts averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds in 14.1 minutes per game in her freshman season.
The Blue Devils look like one of the strongest teams, with three of their five starters from last year's ACC Championship squad returning. Duke also added transfer Aaliyah Crump from Texas, who averaged 7.9 points and 41.1% shooting in her freshman season. Crump was the No. 5 recruit in the 2025 class, while returning guard Emilee Skinner was the No. 4 recruit in that same class.
UCLA and Duke will tip off at 5 p.m. to start the showcase, followed by USC and Miami at 7:30 p.m.

#ucla

Former Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold appears to be headed for the Seattle Seahawks, but there are a few roadblocks in the way before the former first-round pick can see the field.
Arnold and the Seahawks have agreed upon a contract, but Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said recently that they're working through some things before they officially sign him.
"We're working through that and when's the best time for him to come in, but we have an agreement with him and we'll see," Macdonald said."But I just really don't know what, you know, how we're gonna do it."
Arnold is currently facing eight felony charges from an incident in Florida involving an alleged armed robbery and kidnapping. According to the latest reports, his next court date in the trial is Oct. 5.
According to the latest report from Ian Rapoport, this process is expected to move slowly for the Seahawks, and "it will take a while" before they sign Arnold. One huge blockade in this process is the fact that Arnold, according to Rapoport, will go on the Commissioner Exempt List once he signs with a team.

#seahawks #macdonald #working

Nottingham Forest supporter Tony O'Dowd says Coventry City can expect new signing Taiwo Awoniyi to be a "phenomenal in-form player" and an "absolute live wire".
The 29-year-old striker, who became Forest's record signing when he joined from Union Berlin in June 2022, has completed a £9m move to the CBS Arena.
Speaking to BBC CWR, O'Dowd said: "What you can expect is a player who will play with a smile on his face, give you 100% and come up with goals when you least expect them.
"He has scored against every big team in the Premier League. He is a phenomenal in-form player. He has been Mr Nottingham Forest at times, he has always had time for the fans and his team-mates love him.
"I've been a supporter for 60 years and I've never seen a farewell carried out in the manner that it was on Sunday after our pre-season win over Brest.

#phenomenal

Former India cricketers Sanjay Manjrekar and Murali Kartik, who are part of the broadcast team for India's tour of Sri Lanka, found themselves involved in an awkward exchange during the Galle Test on Monday.

The two were discussing the ongoing match when their conversation unexpectedly shifted from cricket to Manjrekar's facial expressions. What started as a joke quickly turned into a series of personal remarks between the two former cricketers.

Kartik began by poking fun at Manjrekar's expression, asking him to stop making what he called the "pout of the century" because it was making his speech difficult to understand.

"That's a bad one," Manjrekar replied and also responded with a comment about Kartik's appearance, suggesting that the camera focus on someone else because the other person, Ajinkya Rahane in this case, had a more pleasant face. The exchange continued as both took further digs at each other.

Watch:
Kartik hit back, saying Manjrekar was the one who liked looking at himself, while Manjrekar suggested there was an incentive for Kartik to look in the mirror.

Kartik said he never looked at himself and added that people who had played or worked with Manjrekar would know him well. Manjrekar then appeared to realise that the exchange could go too far, acknowledging that they were approaching a line.

The conversation ended with Manjrekar saying, "We are both going to cross lines here and social media will have a field day."

The unusual on-air exchange quickly attracted attention because of how far the banter moved away from cricket.

While both former players appeared to be trading jokes, the comments became increasingly personal before Manjrekar attempted to bring the interaction to an end.

#personal

Lazio are making an effort to sign Mauro Icardi, but the latter remains reluctant to tie himself to the project.
The 33-year-old was one of the most prolific centre-forwards in Serie A during his time at Sampdoria (2011-2013) and Inter Milan (2013-2019). The former Nerazzurri captain then had a three-year spell at Paris Saint-Germain, followed by four years at Galatasaray, but he's been a free agent since the start of the summer.
In recent weeks, Icardi has been widely considered Lazio's top target for the striker role alongside Sassuolo's Andrea Pinamonti. However, finding an agreement with the Argentine remains a tall order for Angelo Fabiani and Co.
According to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Icardi and his entourage had initially expressed their openness to negotiate with Lazio officials, but they have now decided to put all talks on ice. While previous reports had mentioned a significant gap between the club's offer and the player's salary request, the Sky Sport Italia correspondent insists the striker's priority is the sporting aspect.
In other words, the former PSG man is keen to find the right project, as he believes he cannot afford to make the wrong choice at this relatively late stage of his career. Therefore, the striker is expected to bide his time and await other proposals before picking his next destination. It should be noted that free agents are allowed to join a new club even after the transfer deadline.

#icardi #project #year #time

Having confirmed the signing of Rodri from Manchester City, FC Barcelona are expected to soon announce the transfer of Joao Cancelo as well.
The final couple of weeks in the transfer window will see them fully focus on signing a new number-nine, while also try to offload some of the players who are not in Hansi Flick's plans.
One such player earmarked for a departure happens to be young right-back Hector Fort, who has a lot of interest but has yet to narrow down on his next destination.
As reported earlier today, Fort has emerged as an option for Real Sociedad. The Basque club have asked about the Barcelona full-back's situation.
However, according to Mundo Deportivo, it will be a very complicated operation to pull off.

#rodri