The 2026-27 college basketball season is approaching, and with the countdown to opening night underway, preseason rankings and projections are taking shape.
Sports Illustrated recently ranked the nation's top shooting guards for the 2026-27 season, highlighting the returning players and rising stars expected to make an immediate impact this season.
Florida's projected shooting guard for the 2026-27 season is Kentucky transfer Denzel Aberdeen, pending approval of his fifth-year eligibility. He misses the top-10 shooting guard list, but does receive recognition as a shooting guard to watch.
Aberdeen was a contributor on the Gators' 2025 national championship team before transferring to Kentucky. That season, he averaged 7.7 points per game on 35% shooting from 3-point range in just under 20 minutes of playing time.
Last season with Kentucky, Aberdeen broke out for the program, starting 35 games while recording 13.5 points and 3.4 ******* ists per game while shooting 36% from beyond the arc.

#guard #points #illustrated #denzel

The game of baseball has been played for well over a century. It's the only American sport to survive two world wars, the Great Depression and numerous controversies and scandals within its own ranks. That's what has made the game America's pastime to this day. Whenever the game gets knocked down or interrupted, it always finds a way to return and rise again. Few have told baseball's stories over the last four decades like Tom Verducci.
The five-time Emmy Award-winning writer, ***** yst and reporter is heading into another fall where his skills shine brightest. A member of the National Sports Media Hall of Fame, Verducci continues to balance his duties for Sports Illustrated, MLB Network and FOX Sports while also hosting a podcast with former MLB manager Joe Maddon. At the heart of everything Verducci accomplishes each season are the lessons he learned in his early days covering the game.
"The writing feeds everything else. It starts with the backbone of writing, which is preparation. Reporting, researching, and being prepared. I always tell students to use a fraction of what you discover in your story. The same approach applies to everything else," said Verducci. "I just wanted to be in this business because I love to write. Longform writing is closest to my heart, but I love doing everything else too."
Verducci believes every great connection to baseball begins and ends with narrative. From an early age, he viewed the sport through the eyes of a coach. His father coached high school baseball during Verducci's youth, giving him a unique perspective that shaped his understanding of the game.
To this day, Verducci admits he's still learning about the sport he grew to love. From those early lessons to becoming one of baseball's most respected storytellers, he believes the best insights often come directly from the players themselves.

#game #everything #sport #love

Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) released a new open-weight AI model called Muse Glimmer on August 10, a compact system built for agentic tasks that can run on a Mac or PC with a single graphics card. CEO Mark Zuckerberg used the launch to press Washington for lighter rules on open-source AI, arguing that Chinese developers have pulled ahead. The release lands squarely inside the debate that has been rattling Meta's stock all summer: whether the company's AI ambitions are actually worth what they cost.
Muse Glimmer's design speaks to real demand. Businesses have grown uneasy about the size of their AI bills, and about a string of recent hacking incidents tied to models built by Anthropic, OpenAI and Meta itself. Open-weight systems answer both worries by running locally and staying cheap to operate. Hugging Face illustrated that shift last month, saying it deployed a Chinese-made open-weight system to fend off an attack traced to a rogue OpenAI model, since closed-source options are restricted from that kind of security work. If Meta can position Muse Glimmer as a trusted domestic alternative for that exact use case, the addressable market is not small.
None of this changes what still pays Meta's bills. Advertising brought in $114 billion in the first half of 2026, 97.7% of total sales, and Wall Street expects that business to keep compounding at a 21.6% annualized clip through 2028. Zuckerberg is also betting AI sharpens that ad targeting further, which is part of why Meta paired the Muse Glimmer release with a governance change, giving independent directors power to sign off on safety criteria before future models ship. Add in early plans to sell spare data center capacity to outside buyers, and Meta has more ways to monetize its AI buildout than the spending headlines usually suggest.
The launch does not erase the fact that Meta is behind in open-weight AI. By Zuckerberg's own account, Chinese labs including Moonshot's Kimi K3, Alibaba's Qwen3.8-Max and DeepSeek's V4-Flash already deliver performance that rivals top US systems, while Meta and its domestic peers remain boxed in by training-data rules Zuckerberg says put American developers at a disadvantage. Muse Glimmer is smaller and narrower than Meta's frontier ambitions, and Washington adds its own uncertainty: the Trump administration has said it will not subject open-weight systems to voluntary safety testing, leaving the ground rules for a technology already tied to hacking incidents unsettled.

#open

In case you weren't already aware, Michigan State tennis has become a bit of a powerhouse program in the Big Ten over the last few years. A lot of that was due to the efforts of star players like Ozan Baris, but a lot of the credit also needs to be given to head coach Harry Jadun, a former MSU tennis standout in his own right who took over the program at 28 years old and just led the Spartans to a Big Ten ******* le in what will be his final season as head coach.
In a fantastic interview with Spartans Illustrated's David Harns, which is free to read and something I'd urge our readers to check out, Jadun gave some extraordinary, insightful answers about his career at MSU, this past season, and his decision to leave the profession after such a successful season. Perhaps most interesting in the interview were his candid comments about former Michigan State athletic director J Batt, who left MSU this summer for Kentucky after a very short two-year stint.
As someone who is no longer working for the university, Jadun gave some comments about Batt that were likely more candid than we should expect to hear from other names still around the university, and it was extremely refreshing.
"He never was a Spartan," Jadun said in the interview. "Coach Izzo says, 'Do right by people.' Coach Izzo and Coach Dantonio embody what it means to be a Spartan. Batt was not."
Contact/Follow us The SpartansWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter IAmBrewster.

#michigan #state #season #spartan

This is Keegan Brown's first year in Lexington, as he looks to revamp the Kentucky Wildcats' scouting and roster-building process after a tough year last season for the Cats.
Despite no games being played yet, it seems like that mindset is already working, as the 2026-27 Cats roster seems to fit together better than last year, and Brown is a major factor in that. It also sounds like he is hoping to develop how the scouting department operates for Kentucky going forward.
In a response to a tweet by Kevin Sweeney of Sports Illustrated referencing the growth needed in scouting departments in college basketball, Brown implies that changes are coming.
Does this mean more staff or a different model to track stats? Not a lot of info in the tweet, but it's obvious that Brown is looking to take the Cats' scouting and roster building to the next level. Hopefully a successful season in Lexington can really help propel the Cats back to the top of the sport, especially with the new administration in Kentucky Athletics.

#brown #year #building

Maxim magazine's ranking takes more than looks into consideration: it's a top 100 of the most influential women in pop culture, sports and business. From influencers to supermodels and successful sportswomen, these winners made an impact on culture and looked gorgeous while doing it. Read on to see who won the top spot between 2013 and 2025...
Elle Macpherson is a model, author and entrepreneur
Born Eleanor Nancy Gow, Elle became known as 'The Body', counting five Sports Illustrated Swimsuit covers in her portfolio.
But she's also found professional success as the founder of nutritional supplement brand WelleCo. and penned 2024 biography Elle.
Elizabeth Hurley is an icon of red carpet fashion

#macpherson #born

If you're here, chances are you're having as hard of a time keeping up with Olivia Ponton and Joe Burrow's rumored relationship as I am. To be fair, their relationship timeline includes two Olivias, a home burglary, and an engagement that may or may not have ever happened, so it's confusing!! Lucky for you, I did the research to figure out how the former Hype House member and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback reportedly got together to begin with…and where the two stand now.
As a reminder: Prior to his maybe-relationship with the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model, Joe was dating his Ohio State classmate Olivia Holzmacher, who he first got together with back in 2017. The two went on to date for over six years (and reportedly even got engaged…) before a 911 call made by Olivia Ponton from Joe's home made the internet question everything. So, without further ado: Here is Olivia and Joe's relationship timeline from the very beginning. Starting with…
Rumors start circulating that Joe and his girlfriend of six years, Olivia Holzmacher, might be engaged after retired NFL star Adam Jones seemingly spills the beans on an episode of the Pat McAfee Show.
"I think life is great for Burrow," Adam says on the show, adding, "Just got engaged, too."
Neither Joe nor Olivia H. ever acknowledge the rumors, however.

#engaged #holzmacher

Will New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart be a fantasy football breakout star in 2026?
Perhaps.
Sports Illustrated's Michael Fabiano sees Dart as this year's version of New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye from last season in fantasy football.
Dart is my favorite breakout quarterback for this season. He finished 13th in points as a rookie, but he averaged more than 17 fantasy points in his 14 games (12 starts). A dual-threat quarterback, he rushed for 487 yards and nine touchdowns. Dart also found success as a passer, and he did it without his top option, Malik Nabers. With Nabers and Cam Skattebo back in action, Dart will have plenty of weapons and a terrific shot at being this year's Drake Maye.
It's reasonable to project Dart flirting with 4,000 passing yards and exceeding 500 rushing yards this coming season.

#quarterback #maye #Football #breakout

Robin Lopez: Biggest issue: If you're being drafted, people are saying "we want you around for 4 years" & I can't imagine anybody wants Enes Kanter or Royce White around them for even 4 minutes. We've seen this illustrated whenever Enes is near Turkey or Royce comes close to logic/reality.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: If you're being drafted, people are saying "we want …

#around #lopez

New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has been building chemistry with quarterback Drake Maye this summer.
According to Sports Illustrated's Mike Kadlick, Boutte stated after a training camp practice this week that he has been forging chemistry with Maye on looks down the field.
"We work on it every day after practice," Boutte said regarding the deep-ball connection that he and Maye are furthering. "I usually just tell him, 'Throw the ball, and I'll get there.'"
Boutte was a reliable down-field threat for the Patriots in 2025. Maye, last season's AP NFL MVP runner-up and one of the best deep-ball throwers in the league, found the veteran receiver for many looks in 2025, including their connection on Boutte's spectacular one-handed catch against the Houston Texans in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Boutte finished his third season with the Patriots with 33 receptions for 551 yards and six touchdowns. The Patriots will look to the former sixth-round pick to be a threat down the field again in 2026 in New England's upgraded offense that now includes A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs.

#practice

The NFL adding an 18th game to the schedule seems inevitable, but longtime NFL reporter Peter King isn't buying the league's argument for it whatsoever.
In an appearance on The MMQB NFL Podcast this week, King laid out why he believes the plan runs in direct contrast to the NFL's efforts to make the game safer and more sustainable for players' long-term health.
"The NFL is ******* -bent on playing an 18th game, and then they say, 'Well we're taking away one of the preseason games,'" King said. "That's the most disingenuous pile of ******* I've ever heard in my life. And everybody knows it. Everybody knows it. The fans, the commissioner, the owners, they all know it."
It turns out King has done the math. The longtime Sports Illustrated reporter explained that today's NFL starters are on the field for "hundreds" more snaps per season than they were during the career of Mike Webster, the first prominent case study for CTE in the sport. The level of stress put on players' bodies and brains is, as a result, significantly more intense.
"One of the reasons I hate the concept of the 18th game is that … you've gotta read what I (have written) about (Kansas City offensive lineman) Creed Humphrey versus Mike Webster," King said.

#game

The beauty of training camp is seeing all the players come back together, watching the practice clips on social media, and forming those opinions early before the season begins. It also allows fans and media members alike to go through teams' schedules and make predictions on how their season will go. Well, one media outlet took the predictions to a whole other level.
Connor Orr, a member of The MMQB, part of Sports Illustrated, went through every NFL game and made predictions. That's right, all 272 games on the football calendar, the team went through and picked winners and losers. Let's see how Minnesota fared:
Week 1, vs. Green Bay: L
Week 2, at Chicago: L
Week 3, at Tampa Bay: W

#predictions #went #well

Max Verstappen's future has been the topic of heated conversation for well over 18 months now, dating back to his last Formula 1 world championship triumph in 2024.
The four-time world champion, the outstanding driver of his generation, officially has a £50m-a-year contract with Red Bull until the end of the 2028 season.
However, the Dutchman is motivated by competitiveness. Red Bull have been unable to provide him with a top-tier car in the last two seasons, as illustrated by their constructors' finishing spot: third last year and, at the 2026 summer break, fourth this year. As such, Verstappen is being linked with a move away.
The futures of Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso are shrouded in speculation (Getty)
There is other "silly season" speculation too: Carlos Sainz is understandably disappointed with Williams' poor start to the season and is said to be looking elsewhere, while Fernando Alonso looks to be on the brink of retirement given Aston Martin's torrid plight.

#year #bull #verstappen

If there is a definite weakness on the Los Angeles Lakers' remodeled roster, it is the team's lack of a starting two-way forward or wing. That is at least one reason why it has been looking to acquire Jonathan ****** inga over the last few weeks.
Kuminga would be a sizable risk, given his below-average 3-point shooting, inconsistent defense and suspect attitude, although his potential is still high. One alternative that Lakers fans have mentioned as far as a trade target is P.J. Washington, who currently plays for the Dallas Mavericks and spent some time alongside Luka Doncic there.
Now that the Mavericks have given a significant contract extension to Naji Marshall, some feel Washington could be a bit expendable for them. But if fans are dreaming of the Lakers making a play for Washington, perhaps they should keep dreaming.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Los Angeles hasn't made an attempt to acquire the 27-year-old forward (h/t Sports Illustrated).
"I haven't heard that the Lakers are making any pursuit of P.J. Washington," Fischer said. "His name just gets brought up by Lakers fans and by Mavericks fans with that trade mechanism, but nothing I've actually heard behind the scenes."

#given

The San Francisco 49ers have a wide range of outcomes for the 2026 season based on how they finished the 2025 season, injuries and other roster issues.
Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr is the most recent **** yst to make a prediction, writing that the 49ers finish third in the NFC West at 10-7 in his annual 272-game season projection, behind both the Rams (13-4) and Seahawks (11-6). Orr still has San Francisco reaching the postseason as the NFC's No. 7 seed.
In this prediction, the 49ers are in a three-way logjam with the Packers and Bears, all projected at 10-7. Green Bay comes out ahead in the tiebreaker order via strength of victory, but San Francisco edges out Chicago the same way, claiming the final NFC wild-card spot while the Bears.
Orr flagged concerns with the roster's age and health. He notes the 49ers are leaning on a 30-year-old running back, wide receivers turning 30 and 33, and a 38-year-old left tackle, with newly signed Deebo Samuel replacing an injured Ricky Pearsall.
But the bigger factor in Orr's optimism is organizational depth. He pointed to San Francisco's performance last season even without star linebacker Fred Warner and quarterback Brock Purdy for stretches, along with the strength of Kyle Shanahan's staff. Orr specifically praised Raheem Morris and Matt Eberflus, both of whom have NFL head-coaching experience, and longtime **** istant Chris Foerster as reasons the operation can withstand instability.

#francisco #season #bears #west

The 2016-17 Warriors might be the greatest team of all time, but Kevin Durant believes the 2026-27 76ers are as good on paper. Durant implied that's what he thought during a USA Basketball event on Sunday, and he doubled down on Monday when replying to a fan on Instagram who said the two teams "ain't close." "Ain't close lmao," Durant replied. "Joel, mvp recently. Jaylen brown, recent finals mvp, Tyrese Maxey, all star the last 3 years. We all know what bron does. Klay Thompson, never a mvp candidate in nothing, 22ppg. Draymond, 14ppg 7 rebounds 6 ***** ist, Steph a mvp just like Joel was. I don't get how the warriors team is better on paper."
Sports Illustrated
NBA Courtside: Joe Johnson says if he's the Houston Rockets I'm taking that gamble on Russel Westbrook teaming back up with Kevin Durant: "I'm taking that gamble because look, think about this. Even if Fred VanVleet, I'm sure he will start the season, but ***** , he just come off of ACL surgery. Y'all going to run him in the ground for 82 game. And what he going to be able to get you in the postseason? Nothing. So, you got to have some depth at that point guard position. Guys who know how to play, guys who know and understand the game and who can make the game easy for guys around him. So, I always think, bro, and when you look at him because he up in age, he always in great ***** shape. And for me, y'all know me, bro. I'm a guy who loves a guy in great shape. You're in great shape. You can play with me any day." (Via NightcapShow_ ) — 8/3/2026 x.com
Heat Central: Bam Adebayo names his top 5 players of all time: Kobe Bryant Steph Curry Michael Jordan Kevin Durant Tim Duncan No LeBron James? — 8/3/2026 x.com
Durant and James won gold medals as teammates in the 2012 London and 2024 Paris Olympics. "It's really on [USA Basketball managing director] Grant Hill and what Team USA wants to do," Durant said. "I stay on top of my game and hopefully I get that call, but there's so many great players who deserve to be on the team." — 8/1/2026 ESPN

#know

New England Patriots wide receiver Romeo Doubs has come up with his own way to memorize the team's offense this summer.
According to Sports Illustrated's Mike Kadlick, Doubs stated before the media on Monday that he uses flash cards to memorize plays.
"I do flash cards," Doubs said. "Sometimes I'll just take a photo of the concept and then just draw it up on my own. I just try to use my memory as much as I can so I don't play slow and can play fast."
Doubs signed with the Patriots in free agency during the offseason. He had a career-year in 2025 as a member of the Green Bay Packers, having recorded 724 receiving yards and six touchdowns on the season. Doubs helped the Packers reach the playoffs last season.
The 26-year-old Doubs is the Patriots' No. 2 option at wide receiver for next season. He will be expected to produce up to standard in that role behind three-time All-Pro wideout A.J. Brown.

#Patriots #play

Kevin Dotson landed at No. 5 and Steve Avila checked in at No. 13 on Pro Football Focus' 2026 ranking of the NFL's top 32 guards, giving the Rams one of just a handful of teams with two players in the top 15.
Dotson's case starts in the run game. Since the start of the 2023 season, his 90.9 PFF run-blocking grade ranks third among all guards, trailing only Chicago's Chris Lindstrom and Denver's Quinn Meinerz. He backed that up in pass protection last season, too, posting a 66.8 grade while allowing 22 pressures and three sacks across 17 games.
Avila's climb has been steadier. The 2023 second-round pick posted a career-high 75.0 PFF grade last season, 11th among qualified guards, and set another career mark with a 72.3 run-blocking grade. He allowed just two sacks all season, including the playoffs.
The PFF ranking arrives as something of a rebuttal to how the duo was viewed elsewhere this offseason. Neither made the top 10 of ESPN's annual survey of coaches, executives and scouts, landing only among players "also receiving votes." That snub came despite Dotson finishing with an 86.4 overall PFF grade — third-best among 81 qualified guards — and the Rams' rushing offense dropping from 4.8 yards per carry with him on the field to 4.0 without him after a Week 16 ankle injury. Avila's 76.8 grade, meanwhile, ranked ninth among qualified guards.
Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame took a different view, naming Dotson and Avila the NFL's third-best guard tandem and pointing to the interior line as a driving reason the Rams enter the season as Super Bowl favorites.

#grade #season #avila #players

The Los Angeles Rams lit up the scoreboard last season as the No. 1 offense in the NFL, and they're returning all of their key players. Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and Kyren Williams are the primary skill players around Matthew Stafford, but second-year tight end Terrance Ferguson should not be forgotten.
Ferguson made the most of his limited opportunities last season, averaging 21 yards per catch on 11 receptions, with three of those catches going for touchdowns. Entering Year 2, Ferguson's stock is trending up.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated recently visited Rams training camp and from what he's heard, Ferguson has had a "fantastic offseason" and the Rams "now believe he could grow into one of the NFL's best tight ends.
On offense, Davante Adams, Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams are where you'd expect them to be, and Colby Parkinson is leading a deep, versatile tight end group. The second layer of skill talent is where the offense could look a little different than it did a year ago. Terrance Ferguson has had a fantastic offseason. He is now proving to be a guy who can play all over the formation and looks like he could be a force after the catch, showing why the Rams coveted him in the 2025 draft and now believe he could grow into one of the NFL's best tight ends. Blake Corum has also worked to earn carries alongside Williams, seeing the game faster, and looking like a guy who could add a big-play element to the Rams' physical run game. If there's a question on offense, it's at tackle, where Alaric Jackson is facing potential discipline from the NFL, and Rob Havenstein retired.
Considering how much talent there is at the tight end position across the NFL right now, those are some seriously high expectations. If he were to somehow develop into a player of Trey McBride or Brock Bowers' caliber, it would completely change the complexion of the offense.

#offense #adams

Paige Spiranac knows her golf outfits aren't for everyone.
The popular golf influencer and content creator, who has more than four million followers on social media, is constantly trending for what she decides to wear on the course. It's often fairly revealing.
But Spiranac, a former gymnast turned golfer, is just wearing what she feels is most comfortable out on the course.
"I was a gymnast before I switched into golf," Spiranac told Sports Illustrated. "I was so comfortable wearing spandex and very little of it because that's just what you wear when you're wearing a leotard and you're competing. When I switched into golf, we were struggling a little bit financially and so I didn't have the luxury to go out and buy a whole new golf-appropriate wardrobe. So, I wore what was in my closet, which was workout clothes. That's just how I learned to play the game.
She added, "That was always my mindset when I got into golf, and it really rubs people the wrong way which is shocking. They'll have really intense discussions over if they should wear shorts or pants or a blade collar or a real collar and I'm just out here just in tank tops or spandex and people are like 'What are you doing?' But I love it.

#spiranac #wear #switched #little

The Los Angeles Queens will face the New York Heights in the first game of the Women's Pro Baseball League today in Springfield, Illinois.
The best-known member of the Queens is outfielder Mo'ne Davis, who in 2014 became the first girl to pitch a shutout in the Little League World Series and first Little Leaguer to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Davis played softball at Hampton University in 2020 and 2022, was an intern in the Dodgers' video production department in 2023, received a master's degree in sports management from Columbia University in 2024 and played for the Indianapolis Clowns of the Banana Ball Championship League earlier this year.
The Queens chose ******* anese right-handed pitcher Ayami Sato with their first selection in the league's draft, the second overall pick. The 36-year-old has helped lead ******* an to six Women's Baseball World Cup championships. The Queens' lone Southern Californian is catcher Jamie Mackay, who played on the baseball team at Pacifica Christian High School in Newport Beach and college softball at Mississippi and South Carolina.
Saturday's 3 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time game will be streamed by ESPN Select.

#played #little #World #sports

The Golics are back in the ESPN family.
In June, the network announced that Mike Golic Sr. and Mike Golic Jr. would be returning to the Worldwide Leader with a new show, The Golics, taking the 10 a.m. to noon ET weekday slot on ESPN Radio.
Speaking with Jimmy Traina of Sports Illustrated ahead of his comeback, Golic Sr. revealed one more item on his sports broadcasting bucket list, and it's one his son has already crossed off.
"Now that I'm back at ESPN, I am hoping to be able to live out one thing—you talk about one of the most disappointing things of all of my time at ESPN, and Mike got do it twice I think. Mike got to host, or be a part of the hot dog eating contest on July 4. I have never been a part of it. I am hoping as I hopefully finish my career at ESPN I will be asked to be on that broadcast."
You can watch the moment below.

#part

Did WNBA star Sophie Cunningham say LeBron James "doesn't have the correct genitalia" to discuss transgender women in sports? No, that's not true: The claim originated on a Facebook page known for posting satirical content that carries the disclaimer, "Nothing on this page is real." The image in the original post also bears the same warning label. Lead Stories found no credible news coverage of any such statement.
The claim appeared in a post and image (archived here) by the sublimeamerica account on X on July 30, 2026. It read:
Sophie Cunningham says she 'couldn't care less' if LeBron James is disappointed about her stance on men in women's sports.
'Floppy should stay out of it,' Cunningham told Sports Illustrated. 'He doesn't have the correct genitalia to have an opinion on this'
This is what the post looked like at the time of writing:

#doesn 't #genitalia

Stassi Schroeder discussed the negative comments she received after walking in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Show. The 38-year-old said critics compared her to SpongeBob SquarePants, and she admitted that she felt their remarks were "not wrong." However, the comparisons left her feeling insecure.
The House of Stassi star opened up to Page Six Radio on July 28 about what it was like to walk the runway. She told co-hosts Danny Murphy and Evan Real, as quoted by Page Six, "The first year was really amazing. The second year, the trolls got to me."
Schroeder said online critics mocked her "rectangle" body shape and compared her to SpongeBob SquarePants. She said the comments made her wonder if she wanted to model in the magazine's annual fashion show for a third consecutive year.
The Vanderpump Rules alum made her first appearance at the SI Swimsuit show in 2025. She walked the runway again in May with Alix Earle, Tiffany Haddish, and Bethenny Frankel at Miami Swim Week. Although the criticism left her feeling "a little insecure," Schroeder said she still enjoyed the event. "I love doing it, I feel so ****** empowered, the girls are so nice. The atmosphere, the energy, it's such a girl power vibe, and everyone's there just lifting each other up. So, I really love doing it."
Schroeder previously faced public backlash in 2020 when Bravo fired her and longtime co-star Kristen Doute from Vanderpump Rules. The decision followed the resurfacing of their past racist actions toward a former cast member.

#year #show #stassi #swimsuit

As Wrexham unveiled their new 2026-27 home shirt while ringing the Nasdaq bell in New York's iconic Times Square, there was little doubt that the club's stock has never been higher.
Icons from the past such as Mickey Thomas, Steven Fletcher, Ben Tozer and Ben Foster were among those in The Big Apple proudly adorning the club's red jersey.
It formed part of the launch of their new home kit, complete with their newest sponsor - yet another global brand.
Which is all in keeping with their cross-Atlantic profile, one unlike any other in the Championship or even many in the Premier League.
"Each time Wrexham has come to the U.S., we've been blown away by the reception," co-owners Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds told Sports Illustrated.

#wrexham #icons #mickey

Training camp is finally underway, which means dominoes are going to start falling day by day in the quarterback battle between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy. Early on, there are not likely to be many nuggets that we get from camp, but head coach Kevin O'Connell did throw the media one bone.
Sports Illustrated's Will Ragatz shared that O'Connell told the media on Tuesday, July 28, that they will be splitting first-team reps in camp early on.
The offense is built to elevate the quarterbacks, even if they are looking for that relationship to be the other way. Both McCarthy and Murray are going to be with the best supporting cast and offensive line they have ever had. It may seem inconventional, but the offense will figure out the starter for the coaching staff by showing them who they work best with, not the other way around.
This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Both Vikings quarterbacks will get first team reps in training camp

#murray #Vikings #going

The Las Vegas Raiders did much to improve their roster this offseason. While the Raiders are still a developing team, they addressed areas of need well in preparation for next season.
Sports Illustrated's Eva Geitheim labeled the Raiders as the most improved team of the offseason due to the range of improvements that the team made dating back to last winter.
"The Raiders entered the offseason with more cap ***** e than any other team, and proceeded to use that money wisely by retooling their roster with the additions of Tyler Linderbaum, Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean, Kwity Paye and Jalen Nailor in free agency. Not only did the Raiders turn to the open market to bolster the roster, they changed the coaching staff—highlighted by the addition of Klint Kubiak, fresh off a Super Bowl win as the Seahawks' offensive coordinator—and used the No. 1 pick on Heisman Trophy–winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza."
Other teams around the league, including the Tennessee ***** ans, Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Vikings improved their rosters greatly this offseason as well. To the credit of the Raiders though, they made a multitude of moves that gave them the veteran and youthful talent that they need on the offensive line, at quarterback, running back and on defense for next season.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Are the Raiders the most improved team of the offseason?

#team #need #well #made

There are many head coaches that will be put under a microscope this fall.
The 2026 season will be very telling for many in the Power Four ranks. Coming off a two-win season, it is not surprising to hear Bill O'Brien in conversations surrounding coaches on the hot seat.
In a recent list put together by Sports Illustrated, O'Brien was featured on a top five list on which coaches are on the hottest seat entering the season.
"Aside from the defensive backfield, there is turnover across much of Boston College's 2026 roster. The Eagles are likely to trot out Mason McKenzie at quarterback, a Division II transfer from Saginaw Valley State. A schedule that features three Power Four non-conference bouts and several upper-echelon ACC programs leaves little room for growth." — Tucker Harlin, On SI
Bill O'Brien took over for Jeff Hafley at Boston College in 2024. This came after a long stretch in the NFL followed by two years as Alabama's offensive coordinator.

#o 'brien #power

The 2026 FIFA World Cup produced memorable individual performances alongside dramatic knockout matches. While Spain lifted the trophy after defeating Argentina in the final, the tournament also highlighted established superstars and introduced a new generation capable of shaping international football for years to come. Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Rodri, Lautaro Martínez, and Mikel Oyarzabal each left a distinct mark on the competition through goals, creativity, leadership, or tactical influence.
Even at 39 years old, Lionel Messi remained the heartbeat of Argentina's campaign. Although he did not finish the tournament as champion, he demonstrated once again why he remains one of football's defining players.
Messi contributed both goals and **** ists throughout the knockout rounds, combining composure with outstanding decision-making under pressure. Rather than constantly looking to finish attacks himself, he increasingly orchestrated Argentina's play, creating opportunities for teammates and controlling the tempo during crucial moments.
His performances against Cape Verde, Egypt, Switzerland, and England illustrated how experience can become just as valuable as physical explosiveness. Even without lifting the trophy, Messi's tournament reinforced his remarkable World Cup legacy.
If one player elevated his global reputation more than anyone else, it was Lamine Yamal.

#tournament #lionel #even #knockout

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III was ranked No. 9 overall in Sports Illustrated's rankings of the top 10 running backs for the 2026 season.
"Walker earned PFF's highest rushing grade in 2025 at 91.4, and also hauled in 31 receptions for 202 receiving yards—a positive for coach Andy Reid, who's known for using his running backs in the passing game," Sports Illustrated's Mike Kadlick said of Kansas City's new bell cow.
Walker rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 2025 and was an impactful player for the Seattle Seahawks in the lead-up to their victory in Super Bowl LX earlier this year. The former Michigan State Spartan has the potential to put up even more impressive numbers in Kansas City next season, which may add to his status as a top 10 running back in the league and put him in a position to enter the highest tier of elite players at his position.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Sports Illustrated ranks Chiefs star Kenneth Walker No. 9 RB in NFL

#walker #chiefs #city #season