It's time to take a look at the standout performers from the past week of the volleyball season.
We'd like you to choose the lohud Volleyball Player of the Week, presented by White Plains Hospital. Finalists and their credentials are listed below. The poll will remain open until 3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16. The winner will be announced Wednesday on lohud sports social media.
Nominees are based on play from Sept. 7-13.
Past winners: Michaela Lopane, Harrison.
Let's meet the candidates.

#week #lohud #white

After a banner week throwing the football, Pieper senior Chase Lyons has been voted the Express-News Athlete of the Week.
The quarterback completed 28 of 38 pass attempts for 305 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Warriors to their first win of the season - a 56-13 rout of Buda Johnson.
The second-year starter repeatedly found receiver Cade Diamond (11 catches, 127 yards, 3 TDs) as the Warriors' passing attack shredded the Jaguars' defense.
Lyons won the weekly fan poll over four fellow finalists to earn Athlete of the Week honors.
Johnson sophomore receiver Braelyn Allen accounted for three touchdowns in the Jaguars' 38-7 road win over then-No. 23 Austin Vandegrift. He caught nine passes for 90 yards and a score and rushed for 22 yards and two scores on two carries and was named Offensive Player of the Week.

#week #jaguars

Five-star shooting guard Adan Diggs has narrowed his list of offers to seven schools, he told Rivals. Moving forward, the 6-foot-4 senior out of Millennium High School (AZ) will consider Arizona, Arkansas, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, and USC.
[ $19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage ]
To this point, Diggs has just one official visit scheduled, to Arizona the weekend of September 25, but says he plans to take trips to each of his remaining finalists.
He is ranked as the No. 5 overall recruit in the 2027 class and the No. 1 ranked shooting guard, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, an average of all three major recruiting media companies (Rivals, ESPN, 247Sports).
Diggs was previously ranked as Rivals' No. 1 overall player in the 2028 class before reclassifying.

#overall

How to watch Champions League: Live streams, TV channels and latest fixtures for 2026/27 season schedule originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The return of the UEFA Champions League has fans anticipating a thrilling competition from start to finish, as the most prestigious knockout soccer tournament in the world soldiers on seeking to crown a new champion for the 2026/27 season.
Two-time defending ***** le-holders Paris Saint-Germain are now looking to become just the third club ever to win three consecutive European championships.
They will look to hold off last year's finalists ***** nal as well as fellow Premier League giants Man City and Liverpool. Other top contenders include Real Madrid helmed by Champions League icon Jose Mourinho, their Clasico rivals Barcelona, German giants Bayern Munich, and many other massive European brands.
All roads lead to the final on June 5, 2027 at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain.

#live

Old foes South Africa and New Zealand collide in a new series in the first "Rugby's Greatest Rivalry" tour.
The Springboks and All Blacks have reached a reciprocal touring agreement that will see the pair clash in a number of Tests every four years.
The first edition sees Dave Rennie's side head for South African soil to take on four United Rugby Championship sides alongside a quartet of clashes with Rassie Erasmus's world champions.
The fourth of those fixtures, which brings together the World Cup finalists from three years ago, will take place in Baltimore on the east coast of the United States.
Here's everything you need to know.

#four #years #africa

SV Telfs 1-15 FC Red Bull Salzburg Women (H/T:1-6). Tore: Monz (16.) - Triendl (4.), D'Angelo (21.), Kobler (22., 39.), Pamminger (37., 57./pen), Plattner (45.), Schwarz (64., 73., 84., 88., 89.), Wienerroither (78., 81.), Grünwald (86.)
Our FC Red Bull Salzburg Women easily advanced to the round of 16 of the Austrian Women's Cup against third-division side SV Telfs. From the outset, Dusan Pavlovic's team left no doubt about the outcome of the match. After the Tyrolean side's surprising equaliser, five-goal scorer Magdalena Schwarz and her team-mates added more than a dozen goals. The draw for the next round will take place on September 10th, live on ÖFB TV from 14:00 CEST.
"This isn't an outing - our approach can be no different than for a top-of-the-table clash in the league." – coach Dusan Pavlovic's instructions were put into action by our team. Although the motivated hosts briefly equalized with a 30-yard wonderstrike - a clever chip from Monz over goalkeeper Annika Bräunlinger (16') - the home side naturally couldn't keep up with our pace. Our set pieces also worked well, and our coaching staff celebrated three goals from well-rehearsed routines.
The substitutions brought additional attacking power to our Salzburg team, with Magdalena Schwarz scoring a particularly impressive goal. After a one-two with Katja Wienerroither, the summer signing slipped into ****** e and slotted the ball home – just one of Schwarz's five goals. While our team squandered several clear-cut chances, last year's finalists ultimately capitalised on their superior footballing abilities in the final stages of the match, scoring almost by the minute. With a 15-1 win, we put our 2026/27 cup opener behind us.
We put in a good performance, and the girls were focused. Some players who haven't started much recently got to play, but they all performed well and were on top form for the full 90 minutes. The girls always wanted to attack and go for the next goal – that's not something to take for granted, and it was a well-deserved win!

#schwarz #goal #bull

By getting past Internacional, Grêmio qualified for the 16th Copa do Brasil semifinal in its historyCredits: LUCAS UEBEL/GREMIO FBPA
The 2026 Copa do Brasil finalized its semifinalists this week. Grêmio, who eliminated rivals Internacional with a 3-1 victory this Thursday (3), will face Atlético-MG, who beat Cruzeiro on Tuesday (1). On the other side, Palmeiras, who got past Santos on Wednesday (2), will take on Vasco, who eliminated Vitória, also on Wednesday.
The Tricolor gaúcho will make its 16th appearance in a Copa do Brasil semifinal and has now matched Flamengo's record, as Flamengo has also reached this stage of the competition 16 times since it began in 1989. Vasco, now in its third straight semifinal, has 11 semifinals in the tournament. Palmeiras, whose last semifinal appearance came during its 2020 ******* le-winning campaign, will play in its 10th semifinal. Atlético-MG, champions in 2014 and 2021, will contest their seventh semifinal.
Clubs with the most Copa do Brasil semifinal appearances (1989-2026):
16 – Grêmio (1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2023 and 2026)

#internacional #vasco #eliminated

Arsenal will face holders Barcelona and eight-time winners Lyon in the league phase of the Women's Champions League, while Chelsea will travel to Lyon and Manchester City will take on last season's semi-finalists Bayern Munich.
Arsenal will host Lyon, Benfica and Danish side HB Koge, who they beat home and away in 2021-22.
Renee Slegers' side will travel to face Barcelona, Paris FC and Inter Milan as they look to reclaim the European **** le they won in 2025.
Chelsea - beaten finalists in 2020-21 - will play Paris St-Germain, Roma and league phase debutants Austria Wien in London.
Blues manager Sonia Bompastor will be reunited with her former club Lyon when Chelsea face the record Champions League winners in France, with trips to Swedish side Hacken and OH Leuven in Belgium completing their schedule.

#lyon #Chelsea #Barcelona

Brad Marchand has drawn criticism after mocking Tim Stutzle amid Ottawa Senators' search for its next captain. The Florida Panthers forward responded to an Instagram post naming Stutzle, Thomas Chabot, and Jake Sanderson as finalists.
A hockey page named "Puck Empire" shared a post in which they wrote, "The Ottawa Senators are reportedly 'closing in on a decision on who is going to replace Brady Tkachuk.'"
Marchand responded in the comment section and wrote, "Hahahah …..Stutzle….hahaha," dismissing the idea of Stutzle wearing Ottawa's captaincy. The comment soon drew attention and has now led to a debate over whether Marchand crossed a line.
MORE: Ex-Maple Leafs player reveals Auston Matthews' quiet leadership in Toronto
Speaking on The Sid Seixeiro Show, Seixeiro called the remark "highly disrespectful stuff." He also questioned whether Marchand's history as an agitator made the comment more significant heading into the season.

#stutzle #comment #seixeiro #wrote

Former Miss Dominican Republic Andreína Martínez is getting closer to another major international stage. The Dominican model and beauty queen has been named one of 10 finalists in Victoria's Secret's search for its newest Angel, putting her in contention for a spot on the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2026 runway.
Martínez, who represented the Dominican Republic at Miss Universe 2022 and finished as second runner-up, advanced from a massive pool of more than 100,000 applicants. She is also reported to be the only Latina among the final 10 contestants.
Miss Venezuela Amanda Dudamel Miss USA R'bonney Gabriel and Miss Dominican Republic Andrei­na Marti­nez during The 71st Miss Universe Competition (@ Getty Images)
The milestone comes months after Martínez publicly shared her goal of making it onto the Victoria's Secret runway. "Hi, I'm Andreína and I want to be an Angel," Martínez said in a video announcing her pursuit of the opportunity.
Victoria's Secret launched an open casting search in 2026, inviting aspiring models to compete for an opportunity to walk in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

#miss #republic #andre #angel

It's time for the Quarter-final showdown of the 2026 Copa Betano do Brasil!
And OneFootball will stream every matchup, all the way to the big final, for audiences outside Brazil!
This Wednesday (2), we'll find out two more semifinalists in the Santos vs Palmeiras derby and Vitória vs Vasco.
You have complete flexibility to choose how you want to follow the final stretch of the tournament, with options tailored to your market.
Please note: all broadcasts will feature English-language commentary only

#betano #brasil #onefootball

Atlético Mineiro are the first semifinalists of the 2026 Copa do Brasil.
They lost a starter before the ball had even rolled, went behind thanks to Kaio Jorge, and came back after going a man up.
Galo were strong, vengeful, and had the talent of the decisive Fred to secure a 2-1 win over their rivals on Tuesday night, September 1, after a 1-1 draw in the first leg.
The spot was sealed in front of 42,992 fans, the biggest crowd of the year at Arena MRV.
The introduction of Cruzeiro's No. 19 had forced the Atlético defender to be substituted in the first leg.

#galo

Nicki Minaj will serve as a judge of the Trump administration's upcoming business competition on 18 September.
The Starships rapper, who is a vocal supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, will serve as a judge of the Small Business Administration's Million Dollar Pitch Competition, a live event in Washington D.C., on 18 September.
According to Fox News Digital, Minaj will be joined by entrepreneur and private equity fund manager Grant Cardone and co-founder of Airbnb and U.S. Chief Design Office Joe Gebbia on the judging panel. Former Superman Dean Cain will host the event.
The five entrepreneurs and finalists will make the case for their business during the event, and the judges will decide how to divide the $1 million (£739,000) prize pot between them. All five finalists are guaranteed a payout.
The Pound the Alarm hitmaker shared the news on X and wrote, "This is a major, MAJOR KEY. Sooooooooooo (sic) looking forward to this!!! Imagine being a part of the Trump Administration's initiative to support small businesses. Let's GO!!!!!!!!!!"
Entrepreneurs from across the U.S. submitted pitches earlier this year, and they were whittled down to five finalists.

#Event #finalists #minaj #small

Deni Avdija has become a standout in the NBA, and is by far Israel's best player. But the Portland Trail Blazers didn't let him play with his team this summer.
Avdija had a breakout season with the Trail Blazers, earning his first All-Star nomination and leading the team to their first playoff appearance in five years.
After a disappointing first-round exit against eventual finalists San Antonio Spurs, Avdija geared up to join the Israeli national team ahead of their first round of FIBA World Cup qualifying games.
Photo by Nicholas Muller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
In a lengthy post on his Instagram Story, Portland Trail Blazers star Deni Avdija explained why he did not take part in Israel's FIBA WC qualifiers this summer.

#trail #blazers #team #deni

With the 2026 Texas high school football season kicking off and volleyball season tipping off statewide, many of the Big Country's top high school athletes shined across the Lone Star State last week.
Several athletes had standout performances during last week's action and have been nominated for this week's edition of the Abilene Reporter-News' City National Bank Big Country High School Athlete of the Week.
The Reporter-News is taking weekly nominations and will release a list of finalists for the City National Bank Big Country Athlete of the Week at the beginning of each week.
Please include statistics from the week's games and any pertinent information or honors.
Students in all varsity sports are eligible and can only be named Athlete of the Week one time per season, per sport, and athletes from one school cannot win more than three consecutive weeks.

#school #season #bank

María Vargas of Jalisco was crowned Miss Universe Mexico 2026, succeeding Fátima Bosch and earning the chance to represent Mexico at the next Miss Universe competition.
Vargas, 28, holds a degree in international business and is also a writer. She won the national ****** le in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, where 32 contestants competed for the crown.
María Vargas takes the stage after winning the Miss Universe Mexico 2026 crown. (@ missuniverse.mexico)
In the final round, Vargas prevailed over four other finalists. Mariana Macías of Michoacán was named first runner-up, followed by Fernanda Abaroa of Guerrero as second runner-up.
More Miss Universe News

#Mexico #crown #runner

The cat distribution system is functioning in Lawrenceville, Georgia this week. The Gwinnett Stripers were blessed with a little baby orange furball yesterday.
Check out that third from the last panel. My word, I don't need anything else to take care and shelter at the moment, but I'm finding a blanket for this handsome fellow if he shows up at my door. They have requested names for the little one. The finalists are:
ChiPurr Jones
Parker
Cracker Jack

#chipurr #parker

The 2026 Tour Championship, the grand finale of the PGA Tour season, has officially teed off. Not only is the coveted FedEx Cup ****** le at stake, but a substantial portion of the massive $40 million prize pool will go to the champion.
The stakes are high for the field of elite golfers at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. The winner of the Tour Championship not only claims the prestigious FedEx Cup trophy but also walks away with $10 million of the prize pool.
The runner-up will still secure a $5 million payout. Golfers finishing in the top eight are each guaranteed at least $1 million, with payouts gradually decreasing further down the leaderboard. Ultimately, each of the 30 finalists (including J.J. Spaun, who withdrew on Thursday) will leave East Lake with a substantial reward.
Below is a breakdown of payouts for the Tour Championship and how the rewards are distributed among the world's top golfers as they vie for the season-ending ****** le.
MORE: 2026 Tour Championship winners and losers after Thursday's Round 1

#championship #golfers

On Friday, SC Freiburg found out which teams they will face in the league phase of the Europa Conference League this season. Julian Schuster's side booked their place in today's draw after beating Motherwell FC 7-2 on aggregate.
Last season's Europa League finalists were in Pot 1. Unlike the Champions League and Europa League, there were six pots with only six league phase matchdays in the Conference League.
Freiburg's home games will be against Panathinaikos, Twente and Czechia side Jablonec. They will face AS Monaco, Mohamed Salah's Trabzonspor and Lithuanian side Kauno Žalgiris away from home.
AS Monaco (A)
Panathinaikos (H)

#Friday

On Friday, TSG Hoffenheim and Bayer Leverkusen found out which teams they will face in the league phase of the Europa League this season. Last season's fifth-placed team Hoffenheim were in Pot 4, while the 2023/24 finalists were drawn out of Pot 1.
Carles Martínez's side will face Ligue 1 sides Marseille and Lyon from the top ranks, while home games against RB Salzburg and Beşiktaş are also standout fixtures. Hoffenheim will also face Lyon and Beşiktaş, in addition to tricky trips to Olympiacos, Anderlecht and Conference League champions Crystal Palace.
Here is a breakdown of who Hoffenheim and Leverkusen will face during the league phase starting 10 September 2026 and ending 28 January 2027.
Marseille (H)
Lyon (A)

#league #leverkusen #Friday

Dženan Pejčinovic could hardly have made a better first impression in Stuttgart.
Just weeks after completing a €25 million move from Wolfsburg, the striker marked his competitive debut with a hat-trick against Hansa Rostock in the DFB-Pokal.
After making an "absolute dream start" to life at the club, Pejčinović opened up on his Stuttgart move in this week's "Midweek Interviews" segment by the Bundesliga.
"If I can say what I actually wanted, then of course it was for us to go through. That was the big goal for me," the 21-year-old said, after the 2025 Pokal champions and 2026 finalists put four past third-tier side Rostock.
"But I approached it very cautiously and said that first of all I wanted to do the job and help the team win. Of course, if a goal came with it, that would be great for me.

#pokal #first #goal #hansa

India appeared to have wrested control of the second Test against Sri Lanka after a late burst of wickets, but rain could yet play a major role in determining the outcome of the Test and, in turn, India's WTC campaign.

Sri Lanka were 218 for 6 in their second innings when play was called off early, with Sonal Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha unbeaten at the crease. The hosts had earlier mounted a spirited fightback through Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Kamindu Mendis, raising the prospect of a draw if further rain disrupts the final day.

Such an outcome could hurt India's chances of making the WTC final.

India are currently fifth in the WTC standings with a points percentage of 53.33. A victory over Sri Lanka would lift Shubman Gill's side to fourth place following Bangladesh's heavy defeat to Australia. A draw, however, would leave India in fifth place with their PCT slipping to 51.52.

The bigger concern is the shrinking margin for error in the remainder of the cycle.

India will have seven Tests left after this match, including a two-Test tour of New Zealand in November before a five-Test home series against Australia next year. Having already lost four of their 10 Tests in the current cycle, India can ill afford many more setbacks.

If India win seven of their remaining eight Tests, including this match, they can finish with a PCT of 68.52. But six wins and two defeats would leave them at 62.96, a figure that may not be enough based on recent qualification trends.

Three of the four teams to reach the WTC final across the last two cycles had a PCT of more than 65, with India's 58.8 in the 2023 cycle the lone exception. Both finalists in 2025 finished above 67.

The calculations also ******* ume India do not lose any points through over-rate penalties.

For now, India remain well placed in the Test after Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain struck regularly in the final session. But with Sri Lanka still fighting and rain already interrupting play, a result remains crucial not just for the series but for India's increasingly tight road to the WTC final.

#test #final

Everton have been drawn against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the third round of the Carabao Cup for the second consecutive year. This came after beating Preston North End in a 4-0 jaunt earlier tonight. Wolves beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 to progress to the clash against the Blues.
Last season the Blues featured a weakened side against bottom dwellers Wolves who were yet to win a game at the time, but then slipped to a 2-0 defeat away from home to exit the tournament they are yet to win.
Carabao Cup Round Three fixtures will take place across two weeks (beginning 7th and 14th September), with fixtures in the Champions League (week beginning 7th September) and Europa League (week beginning 14th September) also scheduled during this period. The additional dates required in the calendar for European competitions are as a result of an increased number of games for the season, the same as last year.
The eight teams competing in European competitions this season will be drawn separately in a pre-draw to keep them apart from the rest of the third round teams tonight. Since UEFA competitions fixtures cannot be rescheduled, additional rules for the third round of the Carabao Cup had been introduced for the draw tonight. Clubs taking part in the Champions League or Europa League cannot be drawn against each other in the Carabao Cup third round.
The Blues have never won this competition in their 141-year history, but have been beaten finalists twice, against Aston Villa in 1977 and to Liverpool in 1984. Their run in the tournament last season lasted until the Third Round when they lost at home to Southampton in a penalty shootout, with newest signing Tyler Dibling a second half substitute in that game.

#league #blues

Lakers attempting to part ways with $18M former first-round letdown in Jonathan **** inga trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Lakers are still looking to add to their roster despite making plenty of moves this summer. Their starting lineup is expected to look almost entirely different, with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves being the only returning starters.
LA has pursued several targets throughout the summer and has been successful with many of them. However, one name the Lakers have been chasing for months is Jonathan **** inga, and there appears to be mutual interest between the two sides.
"There is mutual free agent interest between Jonathan **** inga and the Lakers, per Jovan Buha. Los Angeles continues to work behind the scenes to secure **** inga's commitment as their new wing addition," NBA reporter Evan Sidery wrote.
With the pursuit lasting nearly the entire summer, **** inga's options have dwindled, leaving only a few potential destinations. As things stand, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lakers are the two finalists to land him in free agency.

#Lakers #jonathan #angeles #only

Where to watch Dunkman World Championship: Channel, time, TV schedule, finalists for 2026 Shaq competition finals originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The first of its kind, Shaquille O'Neal's professional league Dunkman is getting ready to crown its inaugural dunking champion this week.
Basketball Hall of Famer and entertainment personality Shaq revolutionized the world of dunking when he debuted a professional avenue for the spectacle earlier this year. Dunkman is the first and only established league dedicated to competitive dunking, and has already made waves in its inaugural season.
In the league's format, 24 of the world's best dunkers competed across four group-stage events to claim a spot in the World Championship field. Now only eight athletes remain, and they will battle it out for the **** le and $500,000 prize on Tuesday.
Who will reign supreme in the world of dunking?

#dunking #first #inaugural

Why the Mercury are buying out DeWanna Bonner's contract originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Phoenix Mercury will not make the WNBA playoffs in 2026. That was fairly clear when last season's finalists began this year with a 2-8 record, but it was mathematically confirmed in a loss to the Atlanta Dream on Saturday.
On Monday, the Mercury announced it had reached an agreement with veteran forward DeWanna Bonner over a contract buyout. The 38-year-old came up just short in last season's WNBA Finals, and Phoenix now is affording her a chance to latch on with a contender and pursue a third career championship before a possible retirement this winter.
MORE: Alyssa Thomas enters WNBA club of one on night Mercury season ends
"DeWanna has been an important part of our team and brought tremendous leadership, experience and competitiveness to the Mercury," general manager Nick U'Ren said in a statement. "Because of the relationship we have with DeWanna, we worked out a buyout agreement that gives her the opportunity to chase a ****** le in what could be her final postseason. DeWanna will always be part of the Mercury family, and we wish her all the best."

#phoenix

As preseason watch lists continue to roll in, the Texas Longhorns have been a popular team. That continued on Thursday when junior offensive lineman Brandon Baker was named to the preseason watch list for the 2026 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award. The award is given annually to the most outstanding player of Polynesian descent.
For many in Austin, Baker's inclusion on the watch list comes as no surprise. He was a staple on the Longhorns' offensive line last season, starting all 13 games. With Baker providing stability at right tackle, Texas' offense was hard to stop. One of their best performances came in the home opener against San Jose State when the Longhorns had 472 yards of total offense.
Over the last week, Baker's play last season has been rewarded with multiple honors. The California native is also on the preseason watch list for the 81st Outland Trophy. His success does not stop there, as earlier this month, Baker received Preseason All-SEC Third Team honors.
As the Longhorns look to win a national ****** le, Baker will again be an important piece. He showed during the 2025 season that he could hold his own in the SEC and stepped up when injuries piled up. In just a few weeks, Baker will get to continue building on his success.
While Baker is focused on winning a national ****** le, he will be watching how voting for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year plays out. Finalists for the award will be revealed on Dec. 8, and the winner will be announced on Dec. 15. For Baker, the hope is that he can add some hardware to his trophy case this holiday season.

#preseason #watch #polynesian #last

NEW DELHI: Bangladesh's defeat to Australia in the second Test in Mackay has given India a small but significant boost in the race for a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

Bangladesh had stunned Australia in the opening Test in Darwin to secure their first-ever Test win Down Under, but Mitchell Starc's 10-wicket match haul inspired the hosts to an innings-and-51-run victory in the second Test on Sunday. The result not only allowed Australia to level the series 1-1 but also cost Bangladesh valuable points in the WTC standings.

India, currently fifth in the nine-team table, can now move above Bangladesh and reclaim fourth place by beating Sri Lanka in the second Test in Colombo.
Bangladesh remain fourth despite the defeat, but their points percentage (PCT) has dropped sharply from 66.67 after their Darwin victory to 55.56. They now have 50 points from six matches, with three wins, two defeats and one draw.

India are just behind them with 64 points and a PCT of 53.33 from 10 matches. Shubman Gill's side have five wins, four defeats and one draw.

The equation is straightforward for India: a victory over Sri Lanka in Colombo will take them past Bangladesh and into fourth place.

Australia strengthened their position at the top with 96 points and an 80 PCT from 10 matches, while South Africa are second with a 75 PCT and New Zealand third with 72.22.

Sri Lanka, India's current opponents, are sixth with a PCT of 33.33. England, West Indies and Pakistan occupy the next three positions.

India's bigger challenge, however, is that they need to continue winning consistently to stay in contention for the top two positions that ultimately determine the finalists.
Bangladesh's Test campaign has still produced a landmark achievement. Despite losing the second Test, they climbed three places to No.6 in the latest ICC Test rankings — their highest-ever position.

"Of course (reaching No. 6) is good news," Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said after the Mackay defeat. "I am just hearing about it. To reach No 6 in the Test ranking is a huge achievement. It would have been better if we could have played better cricket in this Test match."

Shanto also called for Bangladesh to play more frequently in Australia after their first Test series there in 23 years.

"We are here after 23 years (first Test series in Australia since 2003). It's not easy to compete in this condition against this quality of team. If we are able to come here consistently, then the players can get an idea of playing here. They will have more experience playing in Australia. They can adjust to this kind of condition and play good cricket," he said.

"It's hard for the players. Probably 90% of the players haven't played here. They don't know how to adjust, how to cope with this kind of condition, and this kind of bowling attack. My request is that we want to play here. We want to play similar kind of conditions consistently, not after 23 or 25 year

PEORIA — Marlee Wren is the ultimate late-bloomer, a woman who built a comeback story from a childhood of pain and fear and heartbreak and has emerged as an elite social media influencer with a powerful following.
"I'm slowly becoming what I wanted to be when I was a little girl, and it's all because of my true and loyal supporters," said Wren, 26, a Peoria resident. "The ones who have seen me since Day One. The ones who root for me and have my back."
Wren has about more than 113,000 followers on TikTok (Maarjaay0), and her videos have earned 26 million likes. Her Instagram page (maarjaay_) has more than 44,000 followers and her Facebook page (maarmaar) has swollen to 74,000 followers.
Wren emerged from over 400 nominations in the 2026 Journal Star Content Creators contest and was a popular choice by readers who cast votes in an online ballot of 25 finalists. She was then chosen by a Journal Star panel for a place among the competition's eight winners.
"I came from nothing, I had a horrible, traumatizing childhood and I always would see beautiful influencers or content creators thinking I want to be just like them," Wren said. "I want to make content about my life, things I love, and have the world watch me and love me for doing it.

#wren

Last week, ABC aired its coverage of the 2026 Patriot Games, which were announced by United States President Donald Trump last year as part of the nation's America 250 celebration, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the country.
While it received some glowing praise from ESPN's Pat McAfee, who attended the event alongside Trump, the viewership numbers for the event were downright embarrassing.
The Patriot Games were a first-of-its-kind athletic competition that was announced by Trump in 2025 as a way to celebrate America's 250th birthday.
"In the fall, we will host the first-ever 'Patriot Games,' an unprecedented 4-day athletic event featuring the greatest high school athletes, one young man and one young woman from each state and territory," Trump said at the time.
The games promised that athletes would be "tested on the skills from the Presidential Fitness Test, go through a military-inspired boot camp circuit, and finalists will compete in an obstacle course designed to test strategy and skill."

#athletes