Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic will travel to England for talks with Manchester City over the Josko Guardiol situation.

On 4 January, the defender started in Manchester City’s 1–1 draw against Chelsea in the Premier League. He left the field after 51 minutes due to injury.

After this the Manchester City player underwent surgery and has been out of action since then.

At the time, there were concerns over the Croatia international’s availability for the World Cup. He made his senior debut in 2021 and has been a regular for the national team since then.

The 24-year-old has established himself as one of the key men in Dalic’s squad and his absence for the World Cup would be a blow for Croatia.

Last month, Croatia Head of Medical Services, Tomislav Vlahovic hinted Guardiol will be ready for the summer FIFA tournament.

Earlier this month, Sport Witness Covered Claims Manchester City are pleased with his recovery so far.

Need answers from Guardiola and company.

Croatia will face Colombia and Brazil during the upcoming international break. On Friday Dalic announced his squad for two friendlies and then spoke at a press conference. net.hour Has released his comments.

The national team boss was specifically asked about the Manchester City player’s chances of making the World Cup.

Dalic confirmed his visit to Manchester after the March international break to hold talks with Pep Guardiola and the Etihad club.

“After this tour, we will go to Manchester to talk to the coach to investigate the situation.” He said.

“Josko is very important for us, there is no doubt about that position, his energy and power. We will go to Manchester and try to get answers from the coach about what the plan is.

“We can’t let it affect us and we don’t want to do that. I believe he will be fine, no matter what position he comes in, it will be important for us. If he doesn’t play anything at the club until then, we will have two friendly matches to prepare him. I hope and believe he will be fine.”

Josko Guardiol statistics, contract and value

The centre-back, who can also operate as a left-back, has played 1,796 minutes in 23 matches for Manchester City this season.

His contract is until 2028, and transfer market He was valued at €70m, and had a high of €80m in October 2023.

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is out of Italy’s 28Man squad for the international break.

He suffered an injury just hours before Gennaro Gattuso announced his selection.

Gattuso confirmed the decision today and immediately recalled Alex Meret, who returned after being sidelined with injury at the start of the season.

Goalkeeping changed due to late injury

tuttomerkatoweb It is reported that Vicario will undergo a trial with Tottenham in the coming hours. As a result, Gattuso decided not to involve him and called up Meret instead.

Doctors have not yet clarified the nature of the injury, and further assessment will determine how long Vicario could be sidelined.

Italy’s goalkeeper hierarchy confirmed

Gianluigi Donnarumma will lead Italy’s goalkeeping group as first choice. Marco Carneschi is ranked as the primary backup, Elia Caprile plays the number-three role, and Meret completes the four-man unit.

Concerns for Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham will now assess Vicario to establish the severity of the problem, and the club are hopeful the 29-year-old will avoid a long absence amid an ongoing investigation into the goalkeeping situation.

If Vicario misses time, Antonin Kinski could get another chance to impress after his tough performance against Atletico Madrid.

Domestic and international bets ahead

Tottenham face Nottingham Forest in a relegation six-pointer this weekend, which adds urgency to the situation.

Meanwhile, Italy will turn their attention to World Cup qualification and gather in Coverciano ahead of the decisive week.

World Cup qualification pressure

Italy will host Northern Ireland in their World Cup play-off semi-final in Bergamo on Thursday, March 26, before a possible final against Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 31.

Although Vicario did not play a starting role, his absence still represented a blow, as it disrupted Gattuso’s carefully balanced team at a crucial moment.

Stability is a priority for Italy

With Italy only two matches away from a World Cup berth, the team needs stability, and late changes complicate preparations.

For Tottenham, the focus now turns to Vicario’s recovery timeline and whether the club can rejoin him as soon as possible.

Following a disappointing season, Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters addressed several areas he has heard criticism for. Some of the team’s biggest weaknesses suddenly had answers.

This was especially true at edge rusher with Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson both aboard. Leo Chenal arrived to provide stability at middle linebacker. Nick Cross and Amick Robertson help shore up the secondary.

Still, apart from tailbacks Rachad White and Jerome Ford and tight end Chig Okonkwo, Washington hasn’t done much to address an offense that averaged 7.6 fewer points per game than last year.

One area that could still use a boost is at wide receiver, where Deebo Samuel has seen his contract expire. The Commanders have signed both Van Jefferson and Dymie Brown, but neither of them solve what the team didn’t have last season.

Another prospect the Commanders have been linked with on multiple occasions is former second-team All-Pro Brandon Aiyuk. Nevertheless, he is still under contract with the San Francisco 49ers.

ESPN’s John Keim takes it a step further, reporting that the Commanders are “well aware” of Aiyuk’s “desire” to play with his college quarterback Jayden Daniels. But this is not so easy.

“An interesting name could be San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk,” Keim wrote. “Multiple team sources said Washington is well aware of Aiyuk’s desire to play alongside Daniels. But Aiyuk is still under contract and the Commanders would be unlikely to trade for him or sign him to anything other than a one-year prove-it deal when he becomes free.”

The 49ers are essentially playing hardball here, knowing that Aiyuk and Commander will be trying to unify. Still, while we’ve seen teams hesitant to release past stars like Tua Tagovailoa, Kyler Murray, or Tyreek Hill, the 49ers are unwilling to do the same with Aiyuk. As yet.

Meanwhile, the Commanders are apparently unwilling to trade anything of real value for a player who missed the entire 2025 season due to a knee injury. It doesn’t help that Aiyuk still has three seasons left on his four-year, $120 million contract.

Obviously, the Commanders don’t want to pay that price for a player who has had 374 yards and zero touchdowns the last two years. The 49ers also do not want to release Aiyuk outright. If so, they would face $29.5 million in dead cap fees.

Thus, unless the 49ers or the commanders back down from their stance or perhaps meet in the middle, it doesn’t look like this situation is going anywhere in the near future. As a result, commanders may find they have no choice but to make other plans at the receiver position.

RELATED: Washington Commander showing NFL Draft prospect ‘a lot of love’

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Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Santiago Bueno has openly admitted that the club’s January transfer business has left the team “significantly weakened”.

talking to efe and relayed by Mundo DeportivoBueno addressed the impact of losing several players during the January window.

Jørgen Strand Larsson, John Arias, Emmanuel Egbadou, Fer López, Marshall Munetsi and Kijana Hoever all left Wolves in January, while the club only added Adam Armstrong and Angel Gomes.

The club saw those deals as part of a long-term team rebuild, with the prospect of a drop into the Championship becoming increasingly likely.

“We were weakened quite a bit” – Bueno on Wolves’ winter exit

Bueno appeared unhappy with the club’s turnover and made it clear how his departure affected the team.

“It was a little difficult for us because we were very depleted, and I don’t think we brought what it took to replace him,” He said.

“Despite this, the team is very united, and we are all pulling together to move forward.”

Why Fer López struggled and why Bueno still believes in him

While Strand Larsson, Arias and Egbadou left on permanent deals, Ferr López returned to former club Celta Vigo on loan.

He was one of several summer signings who failed to make an impact at Molineux this season.

Since returning to Spain, she has rediscovered her form and happiness. He now plays regularly for the team that finished seventh in La Liga and competes in the Europa League.

That turnaround has seen him go from starting just two league games at Wolves since his return to appearing in seven La Liga matches and three Europa League games. Expectations remain that he will leave permanently in the summer, but Bueno defended the 21-year-old.

“Feir is a brilliant player. He is a very young boy who has not played many professional matches. It is not easy to get to the Premier League, which is the most demanding league in the world,” He said.

“It is a very physical competition and very different from what they are used to, which is why the players need an adaptation period. The team situation also worked against them, and when such situations arise, it becomes very difficult.

“He is showing at Celta what a good player he is, and if not now, he will perform at this level here or wherever he plays in the future.”

A message the wolves can’t ignore

Santiago Bueno’s honesty reflects concerns shared by many supporters. Wolves needed reinforcements, not a net loss of quality.

His comments stop short of directly criticizing the club, but they do underline a team stretched thin and relying heavily on unity to reach the end of the season.

That unity has been visible lately, which can only be a positive for the difficult months ahead.

With the NBA doing big business over the past few years, the idea of ​​expansion is a topic that has gained a lot of momentum. While many American cities would love to get an NBA franchise, Seattle and Las Vegas have long been favorites to win the sweepstakes.

Well, this week, the pair of cities took another big step closer to becoming a reality when ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the league’s Board of Governors will soon vote on exploring the idea of ​​putting franchises in Seattle and Las Vegas starting in 2028.

It’s a sure bet that this Northwestern team will be a revival of the SuperSonics. However, the Las Vegas club will need an entirely new brand. With that in mind, we present some fun, funny, and logical ideas for what the new NBA team in Las Vegas should be called.

las vegas dry heat

Las Vegas is located near several Nevada deserts, including the Mojave. The dry climate is a major part of living in the city. So why not play with that regional specialty? It’s already summer in Miami due to the hot and humid temperatures in South Florida. Maybe Las Vegas needs to bring the NBA the Dry Heats.

las vegas blackjack

Las Vegas grew from the Nevada desert to become one of the biggest tourist attractions on Earth as a top destination for entertainment and gambling. It’s possible that a new NBA team could get a nickname related to their highly successful casino. Since blackjack is one of the most popular casino games on the planet, Las Vegas Blackjack is the favorite sports bookmaker to become the club’s ultimate nickname.

las vegas sinner

Many major cities around the world have funny nicknames. Las Vegas is one of the best when it comes to being called Sin City. The wild things that happen there are why locals have long used the phrase, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” Why not play on that popular name and go with Las Vegas Sinners? A logo featuring a cute devil with a basketball could turn their merchandise into some of the most popular in sports.

las vegas bighorns

Sports fans are accustomed to naming animals after their favorite teams. Las Vegas could be no different. That’s why one local mammal that can end up on their Jerseys is the bighorn sheep. The bighorn is the official state animal and can be turned into a very scary looking team logo.

las vegas gambler

As mentioned earlier, the casino business is what has made Las Vegas one of the top cities in the United States. So let’s not shy away from this fact and consider the Gamblers as a possible name for the team. Oddly enough, they would not be the first major pro sports team with this name as one of the current franchises of the UFL is the Houston Gamblers.

las vegas sidewinders

Going back to the idea of ​​using animals as the name of the city’s new NBA team, another interesting option would be Sidewinder. This snake is famous for its “S-shaped” sideways movement across the dunes in the Mojave Desert. Just like a star player has to make his way through the opposing defense. Snakes are great for logos, and this new franchise will corner the market for them in the NBA.

las vegas strippers/strips

Even if you don’t live in the city, people across America know about the Las Vegas Strip. Why not play up that aspect of the city and call the team the Las Vegas Strips or the Strippers? It’s certainly different than anything seen in pro sports, and for fans dominated by mostly men, perhaps the name might bring up some positive thoughts about some time off after work.

las vegas jackpots

As mentioned earlier, there is a strong possibility that this new franchise will get a casino-related name. If the ultimate owners of the club do not like gamblers or blackjack, jackpots can be another option. Slot machines are one of the most popular casino games in the world, and who doesn’t love a jackpot?

las vegas 702s

In an era where people like to reflect where they are from by removing their city area code, another name would likely be 702. Sports fans are familiar with the 76ers and 49ers, so a number for the name is not unusual. Additionally, repeating the entire city, rather than some elements of it or the state, would be a refreshing way to approach the team name.

las vegas lebron/brony

It’s no secret that there’s a real possibility that LeBron James could own a new NBA franchise in Las Vegas. And he understands the immense value of his brand and unique name. He even passed it on to his son Bronny and got him drafted by the Lakers a year ago. Maybe he should take things a little further and put it on his team. The Las Vegas LeBron’s will be equal parts unique and hilarious.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans wants to travel to the United States with Belgium during the March international break.

The De Rode Duivels will face the United States and Mexico in two friendlies in the coming weeks. Belgium manager Rudy Garcia will announce his squad this week and the Aston Villa star will not be involved but still wants to make the trip.

The midfielder has been out of action since January due to an ankle injury.

He last made an appearance for the Premier League team in a 2–0 win over Newcastle United. He suffered an injury during the clash at St James’ Park and is yet to return to the field.

This is his second injury blow this season. tielemans shin hurt in September and spent almost two months ashore. He regained full fitness before the November international break and suffered another setback in January.

Tielemans wants to join the Belgium team

newspaper Let us tell you that the 28-year-old player wants to board a plane to the United States with his national team. This is a ‘surprise’ as he has been out of action for two months due to an ankle injury.

García made him captain of the national team in June 2025 and he wore the armband that month, September and November.

Tielemans wants to take the captaincy role seriously and expressed his desire to travel with the national team this month.

Although he won’t be on the pitch, the former Leicester City player wants to do so ‘Contribute to team spirit’.

Aston Villa couldn’t be happier

The Belgium international has made 17 Premier League appearances this season, including 15 appearances.

He created four big chances for Aston Villa. Per game, Tielemans makes 1.5 key passes, makes 2.2 tackles, has an 84% accurate pass percentage and wins 5.1 duels.

Since November, Aston Villa have lost two league matches when the midfielder was on the pitch. Following his injury, the Villans picked up one win and lost their last three league games. In recent results the English club has slipped to fourth place.

These are some of the statistics that highlight his importance to Unai Emery’s side. Aston Villa will want Tielemans to focus solely on returning to his club and the trip to America may not help that.

The Baltimore Ravens have been heavily involved throughout the offseason, including arguably the biggest controversy in the NFL following a trade for Max Crosby. Although they did not get Crosby, the Ravens did turn their attention to what some might call the best pass-rusher available in free agency by signing Trey Hendrickson.

They have also seen some of their players leave in free agency, whether it be by signing a deal with a different team or simply having their contracts expire. One player who has not yet signed a new deal is DeAndre Hopkins.

Still, the three-time All-Pro has been busy criticizing his former team on social media.

On Monday, Hopkins tweeted the following message:

“How many times do you think I was used in the red zone after this? I’m still one of the most productive guys when targeted but I have never complained with my snaps and never will. Fact!”

Hopkins was responding to a tweet that urged the Ravens to bring the 33-year-old wideout back to Baltimore. Still, it doesn’t seem like Hopkins has any strong interest in re-signing in Baltimore after starting only three of his 17 appearances.

In that time, Hopkins has been targeted only 39 times. But he caught 22 of those passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns. However, the five-time Pro Bowler’s numbers have been declining over the past few seasons. In 2024, Hopkins combined for only 610 yards and five touchdowns while splitting time between the Titans and Chiefs.

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Team USA lost an influential member of its pitching staff before a big game in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic, as the New York Mets demanded he be sent back to spring training.

Team USA is feeling a lot of pressure ahead of the start of the elimination rounds at this year’s World Baseball Classic. After a surprise loss to Italy earlier this week, the United States needed the Italians to beat Mexico on Wednesday night to avoid going home early from the tournament.

Nevertheless, they are expected to defeat Canada in their quarterfinal game and move one step closer to winning their first WBC title in nearly a decade. However, it looks like they won’t have two-time All-Star Clay Holmes for the matchup with Canada and any other games in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

NY Mets demand Clay Holmes withdrawal from World Baseball Classic

“Clay Holmes will return to the Mets from the World Baseball Classic and take part in tomorrow’s Grapefruit League game,” MLB Network’s Anthony DiComo reports. “The Mets wanted him back because Team USA could not guarantee him the workload he needed for the season.”

Despite Team USA having four games under their belt during pool play, Holmes has only taken the mound once. This happened during their win over Great Britain last week when he pitched three scoreless innings and struck out six.

With Holmes set to be a part of the NY Mets’ starting rotation again in 2026, it’s understandable if the organization feels he isn’t being prepared adequately for the start of the season in a few weeks.

This is a significant reduction in the WBC for American fans, as MLB teams are prioritizing their goals over Team USA. So now the US club will have no meaningful respite for some big matches in the next few days.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The Detroit Pistons’ terrible losing streak has finally ended. After losing four consecutive games, Detroit got back on its winning streak with a 138–100 loss against the Brooklyn Nets.

The Pistons returned to their winning identity, marked by the impressive performance of their All-Star center, Jalen Duren. The fourth-year big man gave the Nets all he could handle, scoring 26 points on 9-10 shooting from the field. Duren also had a solid bounce-back game defensively, adding two steals and two blocks to her stat line.

Duren’s big night is fueling some big encouragement from his team into the Most Improved Player conversation. Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham gave him big support during a postgame conversation with the media after the win against the Nets.

“I think the proof is in the pudding. As far as the leaps he’s made, how much teams respect him this year compared to last year. I believe their game plan is different. I think he’s making leaps in a lot of different ways,” Cunningham explained via Coty M. Davis. “This group, we don’t really like to talk about it. We just like to go out and try to show it. If my words mean anything, I think it’s obvious.”

Duren has the current lead as the betting favorite for the award on FanDuel. He currently averages a career-high 18.6 points per game, an increase of nearly seven points from last season.

Detroit’s star center has also been a monster on the glass, ranking in the top ten in rebounds with 10.6 per game. This has helped him make 31 double-doubles this regular season. He is also showing significant growth defensively, individually and as a team defender. Duren is posting the best defensive rating of his career at 107.2. This rating has been a major reason behind the Pistons’ current position as the second-highest rated defense in the NBA.

What did JB Bickerstaff say about Jalen Duren?

This successful campaign helped Duran earn his first selection as an NBA All-Star. His growth has also been a major catalyst behind Detroit’s rise as the No. 1 team in the Eastern Conference. Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff also took time to advocate for Duren’s candidacy for the Most Improved Player award after his game against Brooklyn.

Bickerstaff told the media, “I think it’s easy if you watch us play and if you watch us play consistently over the last year and a half or two years. The steps he’s taken from the beginning of last year to this year have made him an All-Star and a dominant force on both ends of the floor.” “You have to recognize a guy who works so hard and give him credit for the work he did over the summer to get better and understand what he wants to do this year. And I’ll say it again, his stats are not hollow. His stats impact winning, too.”

With only 18 regular season games left, Duren could end up being in the conversation for the award with a strong finish to the season. Rising stars like Jalen Johnson, Keyontae George, Ryan Rollins and others are making a push but the consistency of Duren and the Pistons gives them a respectable edge at this point.

The legal grace period in the National Football League allows clubs to talk to certain players and negotiate with agents, so big news is imminent. It’s a known fact that handshake deals are often struck between teams and players, so before it’s all over, we’re making one last prediction about what could happen.

Let’s take a look at our NFL free agency predictions for the NFC, with one player projected to be signed by each club.

Washington Commander: Kenneth Walker II, RB

With the New York Giants reportedly out of the mix for Super Bowl MVP, we now think Kenneth Walker III will sign with the Washington Commanders. General manager Adam Peters is under pressure to build a better supporting cast around quarterback Jayden Daniels after what happened last season. Walker’s up-and-down nature makes it risky, but his explosiveness and ability to help as a third-down back mitigates that risk somewhat. This is going to be an expensive addition, possibly upwards of $14 million per season, but Washington can reduce the long-term risk a bit by using Zackary Croskey-Merritt as a complementary back to avoid overworking Walker.

RELATED: Six teams with the most cap space in NFL free agency, potential targets for each

New York Giants: Isaiah possibly, TE

A new regime for the New York Giants means tight end Theo Johnson may face a lot more competition in 2026. John Harbaugh saw the improvements Isaiah made after entering the league as a fourth-round pick in 2022, but he never got a big role in Baltimore because of Mark Andrews. Harbaugh is now the head coach of the Giants, so there is a possibility that he could look to the New York offense as a potential threat to back up Jackson Dart.

RELATED: 2026 NFL free agency predictions for top quarterbacks

Dallas Cowboys: Nakobe Dean, LB

After the Rashaan Gary trade, the Dallas Cowboys can now put more of their money into other positions in NFL free agency. Defensive coordinator Christian Parker saw what an impact Nakobe Dean can make when healthy, and the off-ball linebacker is a glaring hole in the Cowboys defense. Dean would provide excellent juice as an instant blitzer, and there have been reports that Parker believes Dean could thrive in the Mike linebacker role in his system.

RELATED: Predicting landing spots for top NFL free agent wide receivers

Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Phillips, EDGE

Jaylen Phillips is the second-best edge rusher available this offseason, and it’s hard to imagine Howie Roseman letting him go. After being acquired before the NFL trade deadline, Phillips generated 17 pressures with seven QB hits in eight games with the Philadelphia Eagles, and he held his own as an edge protector against the run. While durability may always be an issue for him, he’ll only be 27 in May, and he’s proven to be a perfect fit for Vic Fangio’s system.

RELATED: Winners, losers from week one of NFL offseason frenzy

Arizona Cardinals: Malik Willis, QB

After spending two years in development under Matt LaFleur, which was a career-changing time for Malik Willis, we believe he belongs within the LaFleur family. Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur can provide Willis with a system he is familiar with, and it’s a landing spot with lower stakes. Plus, he’ll be landing to start behind an offensive line with three excellent pass-catchers (Trey McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson), including what could be the third overall pick at right tackle. This is an ideal landing spot for Willis.

RELATED: Most Underrated NFL Free Agents 2026

San Francisco 49ers: Romeo Doubs, WR

While the San Francisco 49ers are increasingly being linked to Alec Pierce, we think Romeo Doubs falls more into their price range. He’s not as deep a threat as Pierce, but he’s a willing blocker who can make contested catches and work in different areas of the field. It would also be a return to California, where Dobbs grew up, and he could serve as the No. 2 receiver in Kyle Shanahan’s offense for the next three-plus years.

RELATED: 5 NFL free agents who will get overpaid this week

Seattle Seahawks: Jaun Jennings, WR

The Seattle Seahawks will be lacking a No. 2 receiver to fill with Rasheed Shahid likely heading elsewhere. Jauan Jennings comes from a system where receivers are asked to block, and he has a good familiarity with Seattle’s new offensive coordinator, Brian Fleury. While the Seahawks have obviously lost something in their return game with Shaheed’s departure, Jennings will probably prove to be a better complementary receiving option for Jackson Smith-Njigba than Shaheed.

RELATED: NFL free agency predictions for top running backs

Los Angeles Rams: Zach Wilson, QB

Signing Zach Wilson wouldn’t be the kind of move fans like to see from the Los Angeles Rams, but the team has spent a lot of money on Quentin Lake, Kam Curl and Trent McDuffie. With Jimmy Garoppolo potentially headed elsewhere, head coach Sean McVay could bring in Wilson as a developmental backup behind Matthew Stafford. Maybe Wilson will prove himself enough to the Rams coaching staff during the summer to at least have a chance to remain with the team long-term.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trey Hendrickson, EDGE

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to upgrade their pass rush this offseason, even if it means letting Mike Evans finish his career with another team. There is little room for contention for Tampa Bay with Baker Mayfield and this defense desperately needs a step forward. Trey Hendrickson could still be one of the league’s best pass rushers, and a three-year deal worth more than $35 million per season would give him what he wants without eating up a ton of cap space beyond the 2027 season.

New Orleans Saints: Dallas Goedert, TE

Taysom Hill could be retired, and Kellen Moore likes to use two tight ends on the field. While the New Orleans Saints may not have a ton of cap space this offseason, they stand as a viable landing spot for Dallas Goedert. The 31-year-old will enter an offensive system he knows well and can serve as a secondary receiving option behind Chris Olave and Juwan Johnson. Additionally, he can spend a year living in New Orleans.

Atlanta Falcons: Marcus Mariota, QB

The Atlanta Falcons need to find a viable bridge starter in 2026 who can step in while Michael Penix Jr. recovers from ACL surgery. Because the former first-round pick will still be given a real chance to reclaim the starting job, one of the top quarterbacks is unlikely to come to Atlanta. However, it is a prime landing spot for Marcus Mariota. He posted a 93.4 passer rating with a 14-7 TD-INT line in 14 games over the past two seasons and added a little something to the run game with his legs, getting the football to Kyle Pitts and Drake London with accuracy.

Carolina Panthers: Odafe Oweh, EDGE

The Carolina Panthers pass rush needs a lot of juice next season to take this defense a step forward. Enter edge rusher Odafe Oweh. He flourished after being traded to the Los Angeles Chargers, recording 19 pressures with 13 QB hits and 7.5 sacks in 12 games and then recording 3 sacks, 3 QB hits and 2 forced fumbles in the Wild Card round. Heading into his age-27 season, Oweh Ejiro could be a very good No. 2 pass rusher in Avro’s defense.

Minnesota Vikings: Kyler Murray, QB

It seems inevitable to have Kyler Murray as the Minnesota Vikings starting quarterback in 2026. He’s easily the best proven starter on the market and, unlike other options, Minnesota can afford to pay him the minimum salary as Arizona is set to make up the majority of his salary this season. It’s a perfect storm, giving Murray a chance to revive his career like Sam Darnold in the same situation.

Chicago Bears: David Onyemata, DT

Connections matter in NFL free agency, and there’s a strong connection here. The Chicago Bears need help on the defensive interior, and veteran David Onyemata is very familiar with Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. While Allen served as the defensive play-caller for the Saints from 2015-2024, Onyemata was there for almost the entire time (2016-2022). While he’s not as strong an interior pass rusher as he used to be, he still has some juice left in him and is good against the run.

Detroit Lions: JK Dobbins, RB

The Detroit Lions will need to find a 1B running back after David Montgomery left, as Zion Walke is not a viable option for that role. JK Dobbins is an obvious durability risk, but he’s averaging 4.8 yards per carry on 348 attempts (1,677 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns) over the past two seasons. Detroit could bring him in as a replacement to pair with Jahmir Gibbs and hope the reduced workload keeps him healthy.

Green Bay Packers: Jevon Hargrave, DT

Set to be released by the Vikings, the signing of Javon Hargrave will have no impact on the projected compensatory selection the Green Bay Packers are expected to receive in the 2027 NFL Draft. The veteran defensive tackle also played with the Eagles for two seasons (2021-22) under defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. Hargrave fills a glaring need on the defensive interior for Green Bay and should be relatively inexpensive to sign. Additionally, general manager Brian Gutekunst may still try a cornerback to add depth to the secondary.

Reality: 5 Potential Green Bay Packers Free Agent Targets

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

Both Liverpool and Chelsea are keeping an eye on Benfica youngster Daniel Banzaqui, according to a report from Portuguese newspaper to ball. However, the Premier League club may soon face a very difficult task if they decide to make a move.

The 17-year-old right-back is expected to sign a new long-term contract with Benfica when he turns 18 later this month. Banjaqui celebrates his birthday on March 24, which would allow the Portuguese club to offer him a deal running until 2031.

According to A Bola journalist Nuno Travassos, Benfica already have an agreement with the player’s representatives. So once he reaches the legal age to sign a longer professional contract the renewal is considered a formality.

That time is important. If Banzaqui were to sign before turning 18, the maximum contract length would have been three years. By waiting until the end of the month, Benfica can secure their long-term future and significantly strengthen their position.

Transfer interest and new release clause

The same report states that Liverpool and Chelsea are among the clubs keeping a close eye on the defender. Barcelona were previously named as interested, and Bayern Munich have also been mentioned in recent weeks.

However, Benfica’s contract plans would dramatically raise the hurdle for any potential suitor.

Banzaqui’s release clause will increase from €30m (£25.7m) to €80m (£68.6m) following the signing of the new deal. The figure reflects the club’s growing confidence in the defender’s ability and their desire to protect one of their most promising academy products.

The youngster has already made three appearances for Benfica’s first team. Jose Mourinho handed him his first FRENZ debut during a Portuguese Cup match in December.

Since then, Banjaqui has also featured twice in the Primeira Liga. Notably, he recorded an assist against Estrela da Amadora at the Estadio da Luz in January.

Why are Liverpool and Chelsea watching?

The 1.84 m tall Banjaqui is known for his physical strength and ability to win duels and tackles. Additionally, he contributes forward with crosses and dribbling from the right flank.

The Defender is often described as having a “locomotive” under the wing. He combines pace and power with aggressive defensive work and a willingness to support attacks.

His profile rose further after becoming an U17 World Cup winner with Portugal. That development helped him earn promotion to Benfica’s senior team under Jose Mourinho during the 2025/26 season.

Football also runs in the family. Banzaqui is the brother of Figo and Zidane Banzaqui, and the cousin of Maldín and Rivaldo Semedo, all of whom have had careers in the sport. His full name is ‘Armando’, which, according to family naming patterns, may be an allusion to Diego Maradona – although it may be a little longer.

In recent weeks, Banzaqui has been playing for Benfica B in Liga Portugal 2 while continuing his development primarily in the youth league setup.

Nevertheless, the growing list of elite clubs tracking him makes clear Benfica’s urgency to secure a new contract.

Both Liverpool and Chelsea have made a habit of targeting elite young defenders across Europe. The release clause, set at €80 million (£68.6 million), suggests that Benfica view Banzaqui as a player with that level of long-term potential.

However, for now, the message from Lisbon is clear: the teenager’s future is expected to remain at Benfica – at least until someone is ready to carry out that evaluation.

Juventus are exploring the possibility of signing Bernardo Silva from Manchester City this summer.

However, their chances largely depend on qualifying for the Champions League. Reports from Italy claim the Portuguese midfielder is one of the high-profile options being considered to strengthen the club’s midfield.

according to gazzetta dello sportThe Turin side have already started discussing several possible reinforcements. However, the club’s ability to land top targets such as Silva will depend on whether they finish in the top four in Serie A and the financial boost that comes with participation in the Champions League.

Currently, Juventus is sixth in the table and four points behind fourth-placed Roma. The difference means qualification is still within reach, but there are no guarantees as we approach the final stages of the season.

Transfer status and financial references

The Italian newspaper states that Silva is seen internally as a signing capable of immediately raising the level of the team. The report claims the Portuguese international will “transform the team” thanks to his experience, leadership and technical quality.

Silva is one of a number of midfielders being assessed by Juventus ahead of the summer window. As we covered earlierNewcastle United’s Sandro Tonali and Bayern Munich’s Leon Goretzka are also being considered, although the club is unlikely to pursue all three options at once.

The attraction for Juventus partly lies in Silva’s contract situation. The 31-year-old player is approaching the end of his deal with Manchester City. This may allow him Move without transfer fees. However, the financial package will still be important.

Italian reports suggest that Silva will expect wages in the region of €6m-€8m (£5.2m-£7m) per season. That level of investment will be difficult to maintain without the additional revenue generated by the Champions League.

Champions League football can decide on this move

For Juventus, the equation is simple. Champions League qualification would generate revenues of approximately €60m-€70m (£52m-£61m), giving the club the opportunity to make a major addition to the midfield.

Without that income, the club will likely need to turn to more affordable targets.

Silva is also attracting interest from several other clubs across Europe. This includes barcelonaAtlético Madrid and AC Milan, while benfica Has long been linked with a possible move for the Portuguese international.

As a result, Juventus’ summer ambitions may ultimately be decided not only by their recruitment strategy, but also by where they finish in Serie A.

Bournemouth forward Ryan continues to receive positive feedback within the Brazil national team, even though an immediate call-up may still be a while away.

The attacker, who left Vasco da Gama to join AFC Bournemouth, was discussed this week espn. Journalist Pedro Ivo revealed that people working with the Brazil national football team highly value the young player.

According to him, Ryan is already seen internally as a player for Brazil’s future plans.

“Do you know who the coaching staff respects the most? Ryan,” Pedro Ivo told during the program. “The national team really likes him,” He said.

However, the journalist also warned that call-ups should not be taken lightly in the immediate future.

“This does not mean that he will appear in the March team or even in the World Cup team, because he is still very young and does not have much experience yet.”

Competing in Brazil Attack

One of the biggest obstacles for Ryan is the depth of attacking talent Brazil currently has.

Pedro Evo explained that the coaching staff already has several options capable of working in the same areas of the pitch. Ryan is primarily seen as a wide attacker rather than a central striker, which puts him in competition with many established and emerging names.

Players like Estevao Willian and Luiz Henrique are among those competing for those roles. Meanwhile, versatile attackers like Raphinha can also occupy similar positions in the national team structure.

Because of that depth, it appears the coaching staff is taking a long-term approach to moving Bournemouth forward.

As Brazilian pundits recently suggestedHe has to stay calm and wait for his chance – but that chance will definitely come.

Future plans for Ryan

Despite stiff competition, the internal outlook regarding the Brazil setup remains very positive. Plan to bring him to Seleção was in motion a long time ago He joined Bournemouth.

Pedro Ivo suggested that when the staff discussed future cycles of the national team, Ryan’s name regularly appeared among the first mentioned possibilities.

“When they talk internally about the future, what’s next, Ryan is at the top of the list.”

For Bournemouth, this is another sign of the long-term potential associated with the young forward. Even if an immediate call-up is not guaranteed, the recognition from the Brazilian coaching staff already puts him on an interesting trajectory.

If his development in the Premier League continues in the right direction, a path to becoming a senior Brazilian player could soon open up.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Pedro Porro has branded their Premier League season a ‘disaster’ and admitted his team is not good at all.

Cadena SER has quotes from Tottenham The full-back today after appearing in El Larguero.

Igor Tudor’s team is currently in 16th place^th in the Premier League and just one point out of the relegation zone.

West Ham won over Fulham yesterday but Spurs are in serious danger of being in the relegation scrap. Nottingham Forest’s point against Manchester City also took them one point closer to 17^th.

Why is he angry at Tottenham’s terrible form?

Of those teams, Spurs are undoubtedly in the worst form, having failed to win a single game so far this calendar year. they are 20^th Form table of last six matches. They have failed to win in their last ten league matches.

A big part of the issue has been injuries and suspensions, with 10 first-team players currently out of contention. This is the highest in the league, and Porro admits he simply does not have the team to compete.

“Obviously, when you don’t have a team capable of competing in four competitions, it’s difficult,” He said.

“You look at the injuries and it’s the starting XI that makes you think, ‘Wow.’ Last year was exactly the same; We had that momentum in the Europa League to win the competition and the same happened in the Premier League.

“You have to create a project to compete in everything and focus on everything.”

champions league distraction

Strangely, however, competing in Europe has not been a problem for Tottenham. Spurs finished fourth in the Champions League league stage earlier this year. This secured automatic qualification for the round of 16.

After the draw last week, they will now face Atletico Madrid. How they treat that game when the existence of the Premier League is under threat is debatable.

Poro is hoping for a good game, admitting that while his Premier League form has been disastrous, Europe has been good to him.

“Our situation in the Premier League is a disaster,” He added.

“But then you look at how we have competed in the Champions League and barely conceded at home. It’s going to be two very intense matches, and we’ll see what happens.”

Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown has led his team to one of the best records in the NBA this season without Jayson Tatum, which for JR Smith means this is no longer Tatum’s team. With Tatum’s potential return to the Celtics, many wonder how Boston will adjust to Jason Tatum’s midseason debut.

while brown have been leaders For the Celtics this season, that’s been their title for Jaylen for years, Smith said, according to To The Baha.

“It’s always been his team. Jaylen Brown. He’s the leader. Isn’t he? First of all, he protects everybody. It’s always been his team. It’s his team,” Smith said. “To the players, I’m sure it’s their team; to everyone else in the media on the outside, it’s Jayson Tatum’s team. That’s the way they want to show it. Internally, it’s Jaylen Brown’s team.

“Jaylen Brown is the leader of that team. 100 percent on and off the court. Fact. I guarantee you he commands more film sessions, practices than JT. He’s the leader of that team.”

“It’s always been his team. Jaylen Brown. He’s the leader. Isn’t he? … To the players, I’m pretty sure it’s his team; to everybody else in the media on the outside, it’s Jayson Tatum’s team.”

– JR Smith 🤔

(via @ToTheBaha)pic.twitter.com/mnELzcwFk9

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 4 March 2026

In Brown and Tatum’s second NBA Finals appearance in two years, Brown won the 2024 Finals MVP award after capturing his first title.

NBA insider says Jayson Tatum will need to adjust to new Celtics

NBA insider Chris Mannix believes the Celtics are Jaylen Brown’s team who will have to accommodate Jayson Tatum if he returns from his nearly season-long Achilles injury. Tatum has to do it slowly work your way back Mannix said, according to FanDuel TV’s Run It Back, linking up with the Browns and the Celtics.

“I think [Jayson] Tatum knows that by coming back he is stepping into Jaylen Brown’s team. “Brown is a top-five, top-six MVP candidate this year,” Mannix said. “He’s put this team on his back offensively.” And Tatum will have to find a way to fit in.

This is Jaylen Brown’s team now 👀

With the pending return of Jayson Tatum, @SIChrisMannix I don’t think there is a chemistry problem.

Tatum knows this is Brown’s team. pic.twitter.com/wgMkvmJHDF

– Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) 4 March 2026

In 54 games played, Brown is averaging 29 points per game, 7.1 rebounds and 5 assists per game with one steal. He is shooting 48% from the field and 34.9% from three-point range. He has been the catalyst for the Celtics’ success as they have kept themselves in the news as NBA title contenders.

The Denver Nuggets are considered one of the potential contenders in the Western Conference, with a solid roster with strong depth. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Nuggets added that potential depth this week with the signing of David Roddy to a two-way contract.

According to Michael Scotto of Hoopshype.com, the Nuggets already had all three of their two-way contract roster spots filled, so they waived Tamar Bates to facilitate the signing of David Roddy.

Roddy’s inclusion is interesting for the Nuggets as he has been performing brilliantly with Team USA during the recent FIBA ​​World Cup qualifiers. During last week’s two-match schedule, Roddy was one of the team’s top players.

In Team USA’s first game against the Dominican Republic, he scored eight points with three rebounds, three assists and two steals. He had a breakout game with a team-high 20 points in the win against Mexico. He shot 7 of 10 from the field, and a perfect 2 of 2 from the 3-point line in that win.

Roddy’s opportunity with the Nuggets is not his first go-round in the NBA. Drafted 23rd overall in the 2022 NBA draft, he began his career in the league with the Memphis Grizzlies. After one and a half seasons, he was traded to the Phoenix Suns as part of a multi-team deal that obtained the Suns’ Royce O’Neal.

Following the 2023–24 season, he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks waived him during the 2024–25 season, and he spent the remainder of the season playing brief stints with the Philadelphia 76ers and Houston Rockets. He was part of the blockbuster Kevin Durant-to-the Rockets trade involving multiple teams. The deal brought him back to the Hawks, who immediately waived him.

Roddy was playing with Raptors 905 in the G League before getting called up to Team USA and then eventually the Nuggets.

For several seasons now, Trey Hendrickson trade rumors have been a major talking point of the NFL offseason. Now the All-Pro pass-rusher finally gets a chance to test free agency, where he’ll be one of the best players available regardless of position.

The Cincinnati Bengals had plenty of time to avoid this scenario. Heck, they could even put the franchise tag on the four-time Pro Bowler earlier this week.

Alas, the now 31-year-old finally got what he wanted, a chance to test free agency, where he would certainly be compensated as one of the highest-paid players at his position after recording 61 sacks in five seasons in Cincinnati.

Still, according to ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter, Hendrickson, a Florida native, would “love” to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“I think he’d love to stay in Tampa,” Schefter said. “I think he’d love to live in Tampa. He lives in Ponte Verde. I don’t think the Jaguars have the cap room they need for him. Tampa would be a great fit. I think in an ideal world, Trey would love to live in Florida. No state income tax. But, he’s also willing to go to the best possible situation. If Trey has a choice, I think he’d want to end up (with the Bucks), but we’ll see if that works out.” Does. way.”

Hendrickson will have several teams pursuing him in free agency. Chances are, at least one of those teams will have a Florida zip code like Hendrickson.

RELATED: Max Crosby trade could happen very soon; NFL Insider Link 7 Teams

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

The Charlotte Hornets continued their dominance with a 117-90 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night, becoming the only team in the NBA this season to record five consecutive wins by at least 15 points.

According to ClutchPoints, Charlotte’s latest setback capped a remarkable string of decisive wins during her recent surge. The Hornets have defeated five straight opponents by double-digit margins of at least 15 points, a feat no other team in the league has accomplished during the 2025–26 season.

The run included a 27-point win over the Mavericks, as well as 16-point wins against the Portland Trail Blazers, 24 points over the Indiana Pacers, 32 points against the Chicago Bulls, and 17 points against the Washington Wizards.

Charlotte’s recent success marks a dramatic change from earlier in the season. The Hornets were 13–25 after a close 114–112 loss to Indiana on January 8, a point that proved to be a turning point for the team.

Since that loss, Charlotte has improved in the standings, improving to 31–31 and climbing to ninth place in the Eastern Conference. Climbing back to the .500 mark represents the franchise’s first return to an even record since the opening week of the season, when the Hornets started 2–2 before a 144–117 loss to the Miami Heat on October 28.

The Hornets have won 5 consecutive games by 15+ points

+27 vs. Mavs
+16 vs Trail Blazers
+24 vs pacers
+32 vs Bulls
+17 vs magician

They are the only NBA team to accomplish this feat this season. pic.twitter.com/z9ssRCFDOL

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 4 March 2026

Hornets look to extend streak of dominance against Celtics

The recent streak has been fueled by strong defense and balanced scoring, which has allowed Charlotte to consistently pull away from opponents and maintain control in the second half of games. The Hornets’ ability to string together several solid wins in a row has established them as one of the hottest teams in the league entering the final stretch of the regular season.

Charlotte will look to build on its momentum Wednesday night when it travels to face the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm ET.

Boston enters the matchup with momentum. The Celtics (41-20) have won three straight games, including a 108-81 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night in Giannis Antetokounmpo’s return from a lengthy calf injury.

With both teams on winning streaks, Wednesday’s contest will give Charlotte another chance to extend its historic win streak, as well as continue its lead in the Eastern Conference standings.

Lonzo Ball is currently unemployed in the NBA, as the Cleveland Cavaliers traded him in a salary dump to the Utah Jazz, who immediately waived him. There are no strong indicators at this time that Ball will sign with a team before the end of the 2025–26 regular season. Now, he’s at least as busy with his brother LiAngelo on the Ball in the Family podcast, and in the latest episode of the podcast, he was reminiscing about his days with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Ball got the big break of his career when the Los Angeles Lakers traded him to the Pelicans in the Anthony Davis trade. And he looks back fondly on his time with the team, especially as he considers Zion Williamson to be the best fit for him in the NBA.

“To surround with? I would probably say, bullshit, low key probably Zion. Just because I can throw him the lob anywhere and if I get him in the pocket, just match my assists. He’s lying that shit down every time,” Ball said.

But Ball says that, considering the off-court bonding, DeMar DeRozan might be his favorite partner to wear his shoes.

“Off the court, it’s tough. [But] I respect Dibo the most. If I had to choose to be like a big brother in the league, I would say him,” Ball added.

Injuries significantly slowed down Lonzo Ball’s career

Ball was emerging as a 3-and-D playmaking point guard whose only goal on the court is to play winning basketball and make his teammates better. Sadly, he was out of action for over two years due to persistent knee problems, and while he looked good for the Chicago Bulls during the ’24-’25 season, his performance so far this season has been poor – so the Cavs decided to trade him.

At only 28 years old, perhaps Ball will get another chance to prove he deserves to remain in the NBA.

Kenny Attkisson knows the challenges of rebuilding. The former Brooklyn Nets head coach, now leading the championship hopefuls Cleveland Cavaliers, also knows what it takes to succeed.

While Atkinson acknowledged the difficulties of the Nets’ situation, he is confident The team would eventually advance, as their group did when they made the playoffs in 2018–19.

“You will definitely go through them [hard] moment. You like to be process-oriented and stick to it, but you’re going home after the game and you’re taking that L. It’s tough, especially when they start piling up,” Atkinson said before Brooklyn’s 106-102 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. “Everyone says, ‘Okay, don’t worry.’ Of course, if you’re competitive you worry. But that’s part of it, part of going through a rebuild and part of being a young coach. You’re looking at Charlotte right now, well, they went through it. that third year [in Brooklyn] When we were successful and reached the playoffs, it was almost doubly rewarding, because you go through these real struggles and tough times.

“I’ll never forget when we won the playoffs; it was like winning the championship. It was crazy, because you look back at the first year, I think we lost 27 out of 29. It was crazy, like, ‘Will we ever win another game?’ [The turnaround] That will happen here because they have drafted really good talent. They have a good coaching staff and a good front office. It will break. You’re just waiting for it, like ‘When’s that going to happen?’ And you look at it like, ‘Is it ever going to happen?’… But they work so hard, it’s going to happen eventually with the talent they have.’

Kenny Atkinson explains whether it’s difficult to maintain a positive attitude during a rebuilding year like the Nets:

“It’s tough, especially when the losses start piling up… My first year here, I think we lost 27 out of 29. It was crazy, like, ‘Can we… pic.twitter.com/IOIruXRfkk

– Eric Slater (@erikslater_) 1 March 2026

The loss was the Nets’ eighth consecutive loss to Cleveland, their longest of the season. Still, a four-point loss against the fourth-seeded Cavaliers after Friday’s 148-111 loss to the Boston Celtics was a step in the right direction.

Nets searching for wins through challenges of rebuilding season

In another season of rebuilding, Brooklyn’s focus is not on wins or losses, but on development. While developmental wins are paramount, they don’t show up on the scoreboard.

Danny Wolf admitted accepting reality has been a challenge in the Nets locker room.

“Most people in the NBA come from winning teams, no matter what level,” Wolf said. “This is the first time I’ve been a part of it, I don’t say we’re a losing team, obviously our record is 15-45, but we are the youngest team in the NBA and there are a lot of valuable lessons. I don’t like to say you can learn from losing, because it hurts and it sucks, and losing as a contender is one of the worst feelings, but with such a young group, I think there’s resiliency and fight. [is important]. When you lose by four points to a team that you lost to by 30 points a week before, I think that points to improvement.”

The Nets are hoping this rebuild will produce similar results to Sean Marks’ first. However, the current team is a stark contrast to the groups Atkinson coached from 2016 to 2019.

Brooklyn was devoid of rookie talent during those years. The Nets now feature an NBA-record five rookie first-round picks. While this is a luxury compared to their previous rebuilds, it is also an unprecedented challenge for Jordi Fernandez and his staff.

Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said of the difficulties of the situation in Brooklyn, “It’s hard to ask one 19-year-old boy to help another 19-year-old boy. It’s like asking a group of kids who are just learning to swim to make sure the other one doesn’t drown.” “You have to, sometimes, take a step back and give grace and be patient. They’re learning what it takes to survive in this league, which is a lot. When you have a lot of young players trying to do that, it’s hard to have the connectivity or cohesion that it can take to make some tough performances in a given game or over time. But it’s also very rewarding when you have guys with character, good young players and hard workers. Jordi [Fernandez] You have done a great job. You see the competition every night. You just have to live with it.

Mitch Johnson when asked how challenging he thinks it will be to develop five rookies for the Nets:

“It’s hard to ask one 19-year-old boy to help another 19-year-old boy. It’s like asking a group of kids learning to swim to make sure the other one doesn’t drown.” pic.twitter.com/dOFqkdPDpf

– Eric Slater (@erikslater_) 26 February 2026

The Nets have done their best to control the development of their rookies – Igor Demin, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf and Wolf. Apart from Demin, all of them have spent a long time in the G League. Each has been an encouraging addition to Brooklyn’s rotation, providing encouragement to the team’s brass.

The Nets’ 15-45 record puts them in prime position to add a star-level draft pick to their young core this summer. While draft status would remain the main story in the team’s last 22 games, Fernandez was adamant that his team would compete until the final buzzer of the season.

“The record is what it is. It is a reality, and we are well aware of it,” Fernandez said. “And at the same time, we don’t like it. Hopefully, everybody feels the same way, and that’s what our players do: They show up every day and work. It’s not pulling teeth, it’s not uncomfortable, it’s not a bad feeling. So it’s all good. Coming here and feeling like we can go against anybody should be very important. If you’re up 10, you want to be up 20. If you’re down 20, you Wanting that to be down to 10. Those things have to matter. We don’t have to flip a switch and suddenly we’ll be there.

“I like where the group is. The group cares, the coaches care, the organization cares. Finding our wins, we did it last year, we’re going to do it differently this year because it’s a different context. We really like where we are. We have a process and a plan. You can’t control everything because there are things that are [out of your control]But it is very exciting. And everyone should feel the excitement of the next step. Obviously, I want to win every single game, but to compete in these 25 and then play this summer, it’s the greatest summer of our lives.

Last season, Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn was denied the honor for his defensive efforts. However, his efforts this season are being rewarded by teammates Kawhi Leonard and Darrisu Garland.

According to Clippers beat writer Joey Lynn, Leonard, in particular, is campaigning for Dunn to be named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team.

“He’s been very good all year, even last year, I think he should definitely be First Team All-Defense this year. I’m not sure what the requirements are, I know he didn’t make it last year because of minutes or something like that. Hopefully he’s hitting those minutes because he’ll definitely get First Team or Second Team. I think he definitely should, the way I’m watching him play last year and this year.” “I am.”

According to The Athletic’s Law Murray, on Monday, Leonard and Garland reiterated their conviction that Dunn is worthy of such an honor.

“Should be first team all-around defense this year,” Leonard said.

“KD – just a beast,” Garland said.

Talked to Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland about Kris Dunn last night

Kawhi: “Must be first team on all defense this year”

DG: “KD – just a beast” pic.twitter.com/FOs8VeE8Gd

– Law Murray 🕯️ (@LawMurrayTheNU) 3 March 2026

The Clippers defeated the Golden State Warriors 114–101. Overall, Dunn finished the game with 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Additionally, he also recorded two thefts.

Meanwhile, Leonard led the way with 23 points and eight rebounds. Additionally, Garland finished the game with 12 points in his debut with the Clippers.

As a result, the Clippers are 29-31.

Dunn currently has a defensive rating of 107.1. He is known for having a similar defensive presence. During the 2024–25 season, Dunn consistently averaged 3.3 steals a game.

Additionally, Dunn is posting his highest defensive rating of 114.0 so far from the 2021-22 season.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey continues his progression as one of the NBA’s deadliest players, and at the rate he’s progressing, he may find himself rewriting the record books.

The 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics 114-98 on Sunday at TD Garden. Nevertheless, Maxi once again performed exceptionally well and scored a game-high 33 points. He also had three rebounds, six assists and two blocks.

In the fourth quarter, he made a fallaway jumper to keep them safe. In the process, he also reached an impressive feat. he did his calculations 65th game With at least 30 points and five assists, he surpassed 76ers legend Wilt Chamberlain for fourth most in team history.

With this bucket, Tyrese Maxey recorded his 65th game with 30+ PTS and 5+ AST, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain (64) for the fourth most in 76ers history! pic.twitter.com/jnyOkgGYxs

– NBA (@NBA) 2 March 2026

Whenever you surpass Chamberlain on any list, you know you’re doing something excellent.

Chamberlain, who led Philadelphia to a title in 1967, was very talented in his heyday. Maxi would be honored to know that he has succeeded the late Hall of Famer.

The 25-year-old Maxi had to carry the heavy load for the 76ers against the Celtics, as Joel Embiid sat out again with an oblique injury. Embiid has already missed 27 games this season.

Maxey received support from VJ Edgecombe, who recorded 23 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Andre Drummond, who started in Embiid’s place, contributed 10 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and four steals. However, their efforts were not enough to overthrow the Celtics.

Philadelphia’s three-game winning streak was snapped and it dropped to 33–27, while Boston improved to 40–20.

The Sixers will take on the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.

Stephen Curry has received a big update on his injury recovery timeline as the Golden State Warriors wait for his return to the court this season.

Curry has been on the sidelines since his last on-court appearance on January 30 against the Detroit Pistons. He has been dealing with a knee injury that kept him sidelined throughout February, and also prevented him from participating in All-Star Weekend festivities in Los Angeles.

Despite this, Golden State had an important update on the veteran star guard’s timeline. The team believes he is making progress as he will get another evaluation after the next 10 days.

“The re-evaluation concluded that Curry is making continued progress. He will be re-evaluated in 10 days,” the announcement said.

Josh Minot played extended minutes for the first time with the Brooklyn Nets on Friday. While the Nets were thoroughly embarrassed during their 148-111 blowout loss to the Boston Celtics, Minot surprised everyone with his play against his former team.

The trade deadline acquisition was one of Brooklyn’s only bright spots, posting nine points and two rebounds on 4-of-7 shooting in 16 minutes off the bench.

“It’s just me trying to play basketball to the best of my ability,” Minot said after the game. “Being here I know a little bit about the enemy’s tactics, but overall I’m just trying to play as hard as I can for my team, my coaches and trying to play the Brooklyn way.”

Minot showcased his athletic talent and two-way versatility against his former teammates. The 6-foot-8 forward was comfortable making plays off the dribble, breaking down Boston’s defense on two possessions, leading to easy Brooklyn buckets. He also threw down a poster dunk over Celtics rookie Hugo Gonzalez early in the game.

Josh Minot looks very comfortable creating bounces. pic.twitter.com/WiPrHfWV3B

– Eric Slater (@erikslater_) 28 February 2026

Josh Minot looks very comfortable creating bounces. pic.twitter.com/WiPrHfWV3B

– Eric Slater (@erikslater_) 28 February 2026

Minot has impressed for the Celtics early this season.

Josh Minot impresses during first extended minutes with Nets after trade from Celtics

The 23-year-old averaged 6.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.8 steals in 18.5 minutes per game in his first 27 appearances with Boston. He shot 50.8 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three on 7.1 attempts per 100 possessions during that span.

However, he fell out of Boston’s rotation as the team got healthy. The Celtics salary-dumped Minot to the Nets in exchange for $110,000 at the deadline to get out of the luxury tax.

Minot played three games with Brooklyn’s G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, before being called up Thursday. Jordi Fernandez hinted that the fourth-year forward could be in line for an extended NBA audition.

Fernandez said, “He played in Long Island, did a great job. We needed him to be in game shape and I think he took advantage of those minutes and now he’s ready to play here. So, very happy with him and trying to help him develop and see what we got.” “[Josh is a] Great personality. You can tell he’s been a teammate in the group for a long time, the way he’s blended in right away. He knew what we were about. I sat down with them in my office, and sometimes you feel like it’s going to be a quick conversation, and all of a sudden, we’re talking for about 20-30 minutes, and it was cool getting to know these guys. The reality of the NBA, sometimes trades happen, and it can be weird, but it’s part of it. And he’s done a great job of trying to be a part of it [here] right away.”

With the Nets tanking, Minot should continue to see heavy minutes as the season progresses. He has a $2.6 million team option for 2026–27.

Wolves have now been directly mentioned by Colombia manager Nestor Lorenzo when discussing John Arias’ recent career path.

talking to AS ColombiaLorenzo openly suggested that the winger’s situation at Molineux has limited his opportunities to show his best level.

Lorenzo explained to him Arias’ advance towards Palmyras He offers something he didn’t have in England: continuity.

“Arias was not playing at Wolves and he has gone to Palmeiras to play, to maintain continuity, to be happy. We brought him from Brazil to the national team and now he has returned to Brazil. This means he can achieve his best level and be with us in the best possible way.”

After this, Colombia’s coach single-handedly escalated the argument by minutes.

“I loved it when he got the chance to test himself in the Premier League, but it’s not just about playing in the Premier League. It’s about the context in which you find yourself – the team, your teammates, the manager, the conditions, the adaptation. All of that meant it was probably convenient for him to return to Brazil. Hopefully it will be great for him, because he is an excellent player and person.”

Those comments place a clear emphasis on environment rather than capacity.

What does this mean for wolves

Arias’ time at Wolves never fully settled. He arrived with expectations but struggled to secure consistent opportunities. Lorenzo’s comments suggest that the issue was structural rather than technical.

From the wolves’ perspective, this is uncomfortable territory. The Premier League badge alone was not enough. According to Colombia’s manager, the wide setup was not aligned for the winger.

Now at Palmeiras, Arias is playing regularly working in a leading position. If he rediscovers consistency and confidence, attention will inevitably return to how his Molineux spell was managed.

For the Wolves, the story could turn on whether Arias was good enough and whether the context ever allowed him to prove it.

New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes will appear in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon With his brother Quinn Hughes and Women’s Team USA Hockey captain Hillary Knight on Monday, March 2, 2026. The joint interview is based on both the men’s and women’s gold medal performances at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, where both teams defeated Canada in overtime to win the gold medal.

On Sunday, February 22, 2026, Hughes scored the decisive goal in a 2–1 overtime win in the men’s gold-medal game. At 1:41 of the extra frame, he beat Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington in the five-hole on Zach Werenski’s cross-ice pass, securing Team USA’s first men’s Olympic hockey gold since 1980. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 41 saves in the win. Hughes led Team USA in tournament goals (four) and played a key role after raising some doubts due to a poor 4 Nations face-off performance a year ago.

Upon his return to New Jersey, the Devils honored Hughes in a pregame ceremony at the Prudential Center before their first game.

“I’m very proud and I’m very pleased that the men’s and women’s USA hockey teams brought gold medals back to the United States,” Hughes said during his pregame ceremony.

“You guys are making me emotional.”

tonight show The episode, airing at 11:35pm ET/PT on NBC (with streaming the next day on Peacock), will also include guests Nicole Kidman and Luke Thompson, as well as a cooking segment with chef Mario Carbone.

The Devils’ first overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft is seeing his stock rise from NHL star to international superstar.

“Obviously, it’s been some of the best three days of my life,” Hughes said Wednesday upon returning to the Devils after the Olympic break. I had a lot of fun with that group of guys, and I’m sure everyone on the team is probably wishing it was still going on, but it’s good to get back into my routine and get back to work here.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Atletico Madrid director of professional football Matteo Alemany has insisted that Tottenham will remain a “top-class team” despite their Premier League struggles.

Mundo Deportivo covered Alemany’s comments today following the Champions League draw which pitted the two sides against each other.

Tottenham travel to Wanda Metropolitano on March 10^th For the first leg of their last 16 double header. They will then host Atlético in the second leg a week later.

It is unclear how much they will focus on the game at that time. For now, their focus is on Premier League survival.

Tottenham impress in Europe

They currently sit 16^th In the table, only four points out of the relegation zone. They are yet to win a single in the Premier League in 2026 and have picked up just two points from their last 15. Their last win in the league came on 15 December^th.

However, interestingly, they have made an impact in Europe. They finished the league stage in great form, scoring 4 points^th Placed in the overall table to qualify directly for the last 16. This made them the fourth highest seed behind only Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Liverpool.

Their only defeat in the competition this season came at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in November. And the Alemany are focused on that form rather than what’s happening in the Premier League.

“Any opponent would have been extremely difficult,” he said.

“You have to look at their European record, which has been fantastic. A top-class team, a Premier League favourite, whatever the draw, it was going to be tough. The important thing is that we focus on our performances.”

atlético calendar

His own team faces a tough calendar with a Champions League clash with Tottenham after taking on Barcelona in the Copa del Rey a week ago.

There are also La Liga commitments, making life more difficult as they face ‘abridged’ Tuesday-Tuesday fixtures. However, Alemany is not worried.

“We know we are in the highest level of competition, facing the highest level of opponents and difficulty,” he said.

“It depends on the opponent, on their ability to rotate their team in the domestic league. Whatever happens, we can’t change it; we will accept it and adapt.”

Kevin Durant’s recent comments regarding the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and the differences between USA Basketball and European basketball have sparked a huge debate. Durant previously claimed that the criticism against the AAU was a veiled attack on the notion that “black Americans” control the game, and that there was no real reason for the criticism other than arising from racist tendencies.

However, Stephen A. Speaking to Smith, Jay Williams launched a passionate tirade against Durant’s comments, claiming that they represent a racist, victim mentality, according to a post on Ax by ClutchPoints.

“The first argument was about AAU basketball, which is a completely different argument than the Black American thing. I think anytime you bring up race like that, it hijacks the conversation and takes it away from the starting point. It felt a little bit like a racist, victim mentality and it concerned me a little bit because I think criticizing a development system is not a criticism of a race. And we’re talking about development systems for Americans,” he said before mentioning several legends. Who have also talked about the differences between the European approach compared to the United States approach.

“It felt a little bit like a racist, victim mentality… because I think criticizing a development system is not criticizing a race. And we’re talking about development systems for Americans.”

Jay Williams on Kevin Durant’s USA Basketball take.pic.twitter.com/BayDVNIraK

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 26 February 2026

For example, Kobe Bryant previously claimed that in the United States, players are initially taught athleticism, with European schools prioritizing basketball IQ and skill. Bryant did not conclude that the European method was correct and was merely speaking on the differences between the two schools.

Williams said, “The thing that really bothered me about the comment is that we’ve heard American players talk about it for a long time. Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, 2015 Kobe Bryant literally said that European players are taught to play the right way.”

The logic is simple. Williams believes that the criticism, or differences, between the two schools do indeed exist, and that the former players’ argument has never been about proving that the European method works better. Instead, when Durant suggested that the criticism was simply a result of racist tendencies, he was removing the real logic behind the argument.

Williams explained, “He never said European players were better… I felt like when KD said things like that, it seemed a little careless… Black history should never be reduced to a month, it should be American history.”

While KD, undoubtedly a serial winner, may have actually jumped the gun by bringing racism-related discourse into the argument, Williams is merely pointing out that the difference between the two schools of basketball is there for all to see.

Former Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors star Jonte Porter is attempting to return to professional basketball in 2024 after being handed a lifetime ban by the NBA. Porter is accused of “disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting their participation in one or more sports for betting purposes, and betting on NBA games.” Porter last played for the Raptors 905 in the NBA G League.

Jonte Porter is signing with the Seattle Superhawks of the United States Basketball League and will play for them next month.

He was given a lifetime ban by the NBA for gambling in 2024, where he pleaded guilty to related federal charges. He is currently awaiting sentencing. pic.twitter.com/sAfNKUrXtd

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 26 February 2026

However, according to a post on X by ClutchPoints, Porter is currently signing for the Seattle Super Hawks of the newly rebooted United States Basketball League while awaiting sentencing. The 26-year-old player, whose request to play professionally in Greece was previously denied by a federal judge, is expected to make the team’s debut in the March 7 season opener against the Lilac City Legends at Seattle Pacific University.

The revived USBL, an eight-team West Coast league that pays homage to the original 1984-2008 circuit that launched the careers of players like Muggsy Boggs, appears to be the new landing spot for Porter. In April 2024, the league banned him permanently after an investigation revealed shocking compromises with the integrity of the game.

While playing on a two-way contract for the Toronto Raptors, Porter intentionally limited his playing time in two different competitions in order to manipulate the results of illegal prop bets. Court documents further detail that he messaged co-conspirators between games to coordinate the scheme and personally placed illegal bets on 13 NBA matchups, netting $22,000 in winnings.

Prior to his ban, Porter, the younger brother of Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr., recorded a total of 37 NBA appearances between the Memphis Grizzlies and Raptors, posting modest career averages of 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. In July 2024, Porter pleaded guilty in Brooklyn federal court to a felony charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

While the charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, he will most likely receive a sentence of three to four years.

Team USA’s decision to leave Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown off the roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics became a hot-button topic. It was a curious call, to say the least, as Brown was coming off winning a championship with the Celtics and being named Finals MVP.

Even when Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard withdrew to focus on recovering from his knee problems, Team USA chose Celtics guard Derrick White over Brown as a replacement.

Brown did not hide his displeasure at being snubbed. Now, he has a good chance to make the roster and prove himself right. But is he still interested in playing for Team USA?

While discussing Team USA’s potential roster for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on “Run It Back”, former NBA player Chandler Parsons said that Brown should be included.

“Jaylen Brown is the biggest thing. They’ve got to find Jaylen Brown. Let go. Let go and put him on the team,” Parsons said.

However, he added that the 29-year-old Brown may only want to play for a different country out of spite.

Parsons said, “I think he’s the type of guy that’s going to get citizenship somewhere else and actually keep it with us.”

“Go to France. Do you have any French somewhere?” Co-host Michelle Beadle responded.

It is unknown whether Brown, who grew up in Marietta, Georgia, has any ancestry other than American, so it may be very difficult for him to obtain a different citizenship before the next Olympics.

If Brown ever surprisingly suits up for France, as Beadle has suggested, he would make Les Bleus even stronger, joining San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, Atlanta Hawks forward Zachary Rissacher and Washington Wizards center Alex Sarr.

France lost to Team USA in the gold medal match of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

After hearing the words of confirmation from Jack Hughes on Wednesday night, New Jersey Devils fans have certainly taken a lot of comfort in the franchise forward’s future with the organization.

Hughes went with Team USA to Milan, Italy with one goal. To win the gold medal. Little did he know that his goal would be to seal the deal. However, Team USA felt the gold was theirs.

“Obviously we had a lot of confidence in that locker room,” Hughes said. There were a lot of people like alphas in a room, you know? It’s the same with Canada, but there are a lot of big dogs in the room, a lot of guys who believe in themselves, and believe in the group. I think for our team, it didn’t matter who got it, we were just so happy that we got it done. And there was so much confidence in that room that we were going to move forward, and we did.”

Hughes scored the golden goal in overtime to upset Canada and win the gold medal for the United States for the first time since 1980.

The party was going on from there. Team USA arrived in Miami, Florida to celebrate and then traveled to the White House, accepting an invitation from United States President Donald Trump.

“Obviously, it’s been some of the best three days of my life,” Hughes said. “I had a lot of fun with that group of guys, and I’m sure everyone on the team is probably wishing it was still going on, but it’s good to get back into my routine and get back to work here.”

After the White House cameo, Hughes headed back to New Jersey for the Devils’ tilt against the Buffalo Sabers when the NHL schedule resumes on Wednesday.

His legs weren’t right yet, but as the game progressed, he started looking better and better.

“He had a lot of short shifts early on and he’s not a short shift guy,” head coach Sheldon Keefe said. “If he’s giving you short shifts, you know he’s not feeling it early. But I felt as the game went on, he was increasing his shifts. He wants to be there and you almost have to take him off. [the ice] Because he wants to bring change.

“All things considered, I thought he gave us a lot.”

The Devils’ usual struggles continued on Wednesday. The scoring problems continued despite shot totals and they lost their first game to the Sabres, 2–1. At this point, New Jersey’s season is almost over.

Combine this with the idea that the Devils failed to add the very available Quinn Hughes – Jack’s older brother and Team USA teammate – earlier this year and many began to worry that the Devils could lose their franchise face at some point.

This extended to Jack’s pre- and post-game speeches. Before and after the game, Hughes expressed his love for New Jersey amid questions about his big moment in Milan, which will forever be etched in USA Hockey history.

“I really love living in New Jersey and playing in New Jersey. For some reason, when I got drafted, obviously I was their first overall pick, and I’m an American kid, but I feel like they’ve accepted me so deeply. I feel like, I’m their guy, you know? I’m their guy. I come to these games, and every time I drive by, I just think about that when I see people walking by. [around the Prudential Center] With a Hughes jersey at 4:30. I’m opening my window and yelling at them. They like it, you know?

“But just to represent New Jersey, to represent our fans, like I’m very proud to be a Devil. I’m very proud to play for the Blitzer family, the Harris family, the Fitzgeralds. These guys, it means a lot to me, so to represent them through all of this… just… New Jersey means a lot to me.”

See, the thing is this. Jack could ask questions about the Olympics and tell it all about himself and how big this moment was to him. Instead, he placed all the blame on Team USA, the United States Hockey Development Program, and the Devils for helping them get to this point.

He didn’t need to profess his love for New Jersey. He didn’t need to talk about ownership, or the highly scrutinized Devils GM.

Still, despite public admissions earlier this year that Jack wanted to play with Quinn in addition to younger brother Luke Hughes, Jack made sure the Devils and their faithful knew he held them close.

He shouldn’t have done this.

So, Jack went to the 2026 Winter Olympics and came back an accomplished man. It’s a moment he and Team USA will never forget. However, Jack made it clear that he has the same ambitions for himself in New Jersey. Except he’s not chasing gold in New Jersey. He is looking for a silver medal in the form of a Stanley Cup.

Maybe…after all, the New Jersey speculation about Quinn isn’t over.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

NBC analyst Reggie Miller is high on the Boston Celtics’ potential in the NBA playoffs. in a recent appearance dan patrick showMiller praised the Celtics’ Jaylen Brown for stepping up during Tatum’s absence and highlighted the team’s depth. He then said that the Celtics are “the scariest team in the Eastern Conference”, even with Tatum marginalized.

“The Celtics are the scariest team in the Eastern Conference, and the reason there are no expectations is because people thought it would be a gap year. Yeah. About Tatum and the way Jaylen Brown is, his name should definitely be in the MVP discussion with Cade Cunningham.”

He added, “With the Celtics, with or without Tatum coming back, the Celtics are a real threat to win the Easter Conference… They’ve been well coached by Coach Mazzulla. They’re deep. They can play a lot of ways. They can play big, small, and I think Vucevic has a pickup low. You can play it back to the basket. He can knock down threes. They play a certain way. They shoot a lot of threes. Gonna jack up. Most of those shots come from, uh, 16 feet away. Defensively, I’m just telling people they’re high on the Knicks and that’s right, and Cleveland’s going up too.

The Boston Celtics are currently in second place in the East behind the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. They are two games up on the third-seeded New York Knicks in the loss column. The Celtics have emerged as one of the biggest stories of the season, as many NBA fans and forecasters believed they would suffer a blowout without Tatum in the lineup.

But Jaylen Brown has stepped up. He averaged 29.2 points, 7 rebounds and 1 steal along with 4.9 assists per game. The Browns also have help from Peyton Pritchard, who is averaging 17.6 points per game, and Derrick White, who is averaging 17 points per game. Additionally, a sharpshooter like Sam Hauser has emerged as one of the best high-volume shooters in the league, as he shoots 39% from the three-point line. The Celtics also recently acquired Nikola Vucevic, who is averaging 11 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. The Celtics head to Phoenix to play the Suns tonight at 9pm Eastern.

Does anyone else still have Olympic fever? With the 2026 Winter Olympics coming to an end, meaning there will be no more afternoon curling tournaments, all of our attention is now focused on the 2028 Summer Olympics, which will be held in Los Angeles, California. After seeing Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Stephen Curry win gold medals in France, could we see these three stars lead Team USA once again?

The spectacle dominated headlines and the basketball world in 2024. There was nothing better than watching these three greats win gold medals in France, and now, USA Basketball can do the same on home soil in two years.

“Golden Dagger!”

Steph Curry This is absolutely ridiculous. 🤯#parisolympics | 📺 NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/8hIN8tgmfK

– NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) 10 August 2024

However, with the 2024 Olympics over, it looks like this will be the last time we see LeBron, KD, and Steph playing together on the court. James told reporters he would be “watching from Cabo” and Curry said he “highly doubts it.”

After all, they are in the final stages of their respective careers, and it’s reasonable to believe that James won’t be in the NBA by the time of the next Olympics.

It’s never too early to consider what the future of USA Basketball will look like, especially now that Durant is hinting at playing in Southern California in two years, shortly after the conclusion of all winter programs in Italy.

Kevin Durant won’t close the door to the 2028 Olympics

When the 2024 Olympics ended and Team USA, led by Durant, James and Curry, won gold medals, everyone’s attention immediately turned to what the future of USA basketball would look like.

Cooper Flagg, who had not yet been drafted, was a popular choice for many to be one of the next to follow in the footsteps of the greats before him. Anthony Edwards and Devin Booker, two other key contributors to the 2024 Olympic team, were also early selections to become the team’s principal “captains”.

Maybe it’s the Olympic love in the air from this year’s Winter Games, but it doesn’t seem like there will be any major changes or a changing of the guard for Team USA just yet, especially after Durant made clear his stance on playing in Los Angeles to ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill.

“You guys, the media, have speculated,” Durant told ESPN about the story of Paris being the veteran athlete’s last Olympic race. “Where did that narrative, the last dance thing, come from? I didn’t say I wasn’t playing. LeBron said he wasn’t playing. You didn’t hear that from me or Steph.”

As far as actually playing, Durant’s answer was simple.

“Yeah, I want to play,” Durant said. “Today, yes, I feel like I’m going to put my name in that hat.”

Well, that settles the matter. Kevin Durant, who will be 39 years old and set to turn 40 in the summer of 2028, wants to play for the Stars and Stripes in the 2028 Olympics. Assuming he’s healthy and obviously doesn’t change his mind, Durant will be the team captain and take one of the 12 coveted roster spots to defend the gold medal in front of the American faithful.

Durant is very proud of American basketball and made his stance on USA vs. the World clear to ESPN.

“I don’t like to talk about the United States versus the European style of how you approach the game,” Durant explained. “‘France is coming for you.’ really? We beat up those boys.”

Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo have been the faces of basketball’s rapid evolution around the world, but USA Basketball continues to dominate on the world’s biggest stage every four years. Once again, Team USA will enter the 2028 Olympics as the favorites to win the gold medal, and Durant is ready to make that dream come true once again.

Whether Curry will join them is still a big question mark.

Will Stephen Curry join Kevin Durant in 2028?

Before 2024, Steph Curry has experienced basically everything possible in a Hall of Fame career.

He broke the league’s all-time 3-point record, won four NBA championships, led the league in scoring twice, won two MVP awards (one of which was the first unanimous selection), and was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. But the one empty spot in Curry’s massive trophy cabinet was an Olympic gold medal.

Although he played for Team USA at the World Cup, Steph actually pushed to play in the 2024 Olympics, and he was one of the leading voices along with LeBron and Durant to get the best on this roster.

“Personally, it’s something I haven’t been able to experience: being an Olympian,” Curry told Endscape ahead of the 2024 Olympics. “Hopefully we win a gold medal. At this point in my career, it gives me a chance to be present in the moment and enjoy playing basketball. It’s a pure expression of the game.”

The United States won the gold medal as Curry expected, and he was the main reason the team defeated France in the gold medal game. If not for Curry’s heroics and iconic shots from the perimeter, Team USA would not have won the gold medal.

“It was the most surreal feeling, especially the way it ended,” Curry told The Athletic’s Marcus Thompson II after the 2024 Olympics. “I felt like a kid again. A 12 out of 10 experience.”

If Curry had so much fun playing in Paris and winning a gold medal, what will it be like to play in Los Angeles and do it again next to Durant? Although LeBron will most likely not be on the team, there is a roster spot for Steph if he wants.

He will be 40 by the time the next Olympics begins, which is why it is too early to speculate about whether Curry will actually consider playing in the 2028 Summer Games. Ultimately, this will be a decision based on Steph’s overall health that year and where he is in his career, especially with the finish line on the horizon.

Durant clearly wants to play, and his words show he wants Steph out there with him, too. For now, we’ll assume that both of these legends will take the United States off their chest at least one more time, leaving 10 spots open for the remaining pool of American players.

Prediction of remaining players of 12-man Olympic roster

If we assume both Durant and Curry will lead Team USA at the 2028 Olympics, who else will be on this roster?

Edwards and Booker, as mentioned earlier, will hold their spots as long as they are healthy. Both stars played integral roles following Curry and Durant in Paris, and they will likely play bigger roles as they enter the primes of their respective careers in 2028.

Flagg is another safe choice, as he’s coming off his third NBA season and is better than ever. After practicing with Team USA in 2024, everyone involved with the program was already raving that he would one day lead the Americans.

Another guard who will likely receive one of the first calls up to play in Los Angeles is Cade Cunningham. Not only has he established himself as one of the best players in the East with the Detroit Pistons, but Cunningham has turned himself into a legitimate MVP candidate. Between his playmaking and scoring abilities off the dribble, Cunningham is the perfect guard for Olympic play.

This leaves six more spots open, some of which need to be filled with frontcourt talent.

Bam Adebayo is a two-time Olympic gold medalist with Team USA, and is considered one of the best defensive centers in the world. He will be 31 by the time the next Olympic Games begin, and Adebayo will likely be the starting center for the Americans.

Even with the addition of Adebayo, USA Basketball will need even more height to match Wembanyama and other tall European players, which makes Chet Holmgren a viable option to make his Team USA debut after playing in the FUBA Under-19 Championship.

There is a very clear rivalry growing in the NBA between Holmgren and Wembanyama, and the Oklahoma City Thunder big man is one of the best rim protectors in the world.

The final center spot shouldn’t go to anyone other than Jalen Duren right now. In his fourth NBA season, Duren has become an All-Star big man with his toughness in the paint on both ends of the floor. Duran’s athleticism is evident when watching the international game, especially with his pick-and-roll connection with Cunningham.

There are three spots left, and with Erik Spoelstra replacing Steve Kerr on the sideline, he will want a strong, two-way player on the wing. Enter Jaylen Brown, who has already declared himself the best two-way player in the world and has taken his game to new heights since winning the 2024 Finals MVP.

Brown can score and defend like a top-10 player in the world, which is why he would be one of the key names on Team USA’s roster if the Olympics were starting right now.

Needing at least one more wing who can defend and score, Scottie Barnes stands out. Not only is Barnes viewed as one of the best all-around defenders in the league, but he serves as a “point forward” who can do a little bit of everything on the floor. With his quick instincts as a defender and ability to push the pace, Team USA will have the youth and athletic ability needed to keep up with the rest of the world.

And eventually, one spot is left, and it becomes very difficult to choose from all the remaining talent.

Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum were both on the 2024 Olympic team, but both players suffered major Achilles injuries in the 2025 playoffs. Jalen Johnson and Jalen Williams are two young forwards on the rise, but are they ready to help the country win a gold medal? Then there are All-Stars like Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Maxey who will compete for spots.

If the Olympics were today, I would give Mitchell this last spot for two major reasons: dynamic scoring and perimeter shooting.

We saw how important it was for Curry and others to hit threes in the big time in the 2024 Olympics, and Mitchell is sixth in the NBA with 667 threes over the past three years. He is one of the best offensive players off the dribble in the NBA, and Mitchell’s unselfish play will be needed on this team.

So this is our initial projection for Team USA at the 2028 Olympics:

• Guard: Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, Cade Cunningham, Donovan Mitchell
• Wing: Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, Jaylen Brown, Scottie Barnes, Cooper Flagg
• elder: Bam Adebayo, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Duren

Of course, this is not the official Team USA roster, and we’re likely to see some big changes over the next two years before the Summer Games in Los Angeles. Who knows whether Curry will actually play, and health could clearly impact the status of any player competing for a USA Basketball roster spot.

Needless to mention, this year’s 2026 NBA Draft class has a chance to be one of the most historic in league history. Darin Peterson, Cameron Boozer, AJ DiBantsa, Caleb Wilson and Kingston Flemings, among others, could easily make their mark on the NBA like Flagg and earn their spots on the Olympic team.

After all, age matters in the Olympics, and the roster is usually made up of players in their mid- to late 20s. Obviously, the 2024 Olympics was a unique event, because the average age of the new-age “Dream Team” assembled by James, Durant and Curry was 30.1 years old.

The Team USA roster in 2028 will be much younger, faster and more athletic. If Durant and Curry are to lead this team and defend their gold medals one last time, we should expect to see a group of 12 players that resembles the fantasy team assembled above.

With the 2026 Winter Olympics over, the countdown to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles has officially begun.

Barcelona have been chasing Norwich City youngster Ajay Tavares for the past few weeks.

Two months ago, Sports Witness First covered several Catalan claims Barcelona’s strong interest in the 16-year-old player.

Hansi Flick made further progress in January to lure him away from Norwich City.

On 17 February, Game Witness news broadcast from spain Barcelona wish to complete this signing as quickly as possible.

Why Barca could sign the Norwich City youngster immediately?

Tavares was born in England but also holds a Portuguese passport. It is important for the La Liga winners to sign him immediately, pending FIFA approval.

Without it, the Blaugrana will have to wait until he turns 18 in December 2027.

Last Friday, we Covering the latest from Spain That the winger has received the green light to join Barcelona. The source said he will travel to the Camp Nou on Sunday to complete all the formalities related to the transfer.

Tavares did not travel at the weekend and his transfer from Norwich City to Barcelona is no longer in danger at all.

Norwich City winger arrives in Spain

The game started on Monday xWhat was formerly known as Twitter posted a video of the Canary youth attacker arriving in Spain this morning. This is an indication that he has already received approval from FIFA.

The Catalan newspaper shared a video of the England U17 international getting out of the car. It is claimed that Tavares has arrived at Barcelona to complete medical tests and other formalities in order to complete his transfer.

The game says it will complete these formalities, including a medical, on Monday so that the player can join the new team ‘immediately’.

Last July, Tavares forced his way into the Norwich City U18 squad and has one goal in 19 appearances this season. He has yet to make his first-team debut for Philippe Clement’s side.

Most likely, the teenager will first start with Barcelona’s youth team.

🔴 special image @sport

‘Victim’ Ajay Tavares is undergoing medical examination in Barcelona!

British footballer will sign today, as he revealed @game And will join immediately.

🎥 @monfortcarlos pic.twitter.com/FEyHWhonHA

– Sport Diary (@Sport) 23 February 2026

Team Canada and Team USA met in the gold medal game on Sunday morning, which was the first opportunity for Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki to enjoy success at the Winter Olympic Games.

NB Due to Olympic rights issues, you may not be able to watch the highlights in your country. If you are located in the United States, please visit the NBC Olympics Twitter account for highlights.

Hey say, can you score?

The Americans started brightly and scored their first goal of the game, a very familiar situation for many Habs fans.

Matt Boldy not only opened the scoring, he also beat both Cale Makar and Devon Toews before beating Jordan Binnington with a brilliant move. Team USA captain Auston Matthews and Minnesota Wild superstar Quinn Hughes were awarded assists in the game.

Considering the impressive talent levels of both teams, scoring the first goal of the game gave the Americans the biggest advantage, while Canada was forced to play behind the eight ball for a significant portion of the game.

Hockey🏒| Final 🇨🇦-🇺🇸 Matt Boldy gave the Americans the lead.

The score is 1–0 to the United States in the gold medal game.@hockeycanada #MilanoCortina2026 #rcsports #Hockey #olympic games #teamcanada pic.twitter.com/sxN9F7mm6Y

– Radio-Canada Sports (@RC_Sports) 22 February 2026

solving hellebuyck

With Canada down 1-0, he showed great performance in the pace department, forcing the United States to take back-to-back penalties, increasing time at 5-on-3 for Team Canada. However, despite controlling the game at 5v5, Canada created very few high-quality chances on the powerplay.

When Canada finally created a high-danger scoring chance, Connor Hellebuyck shut them down with ease. Without his heroic effort throughout the game, there is a very good chance that Team Canada would have found the net on multiple occasions.

It took an excellent shot by Calle Makar, not to mention a strong effort from Suzuki on the boards, which ultimately tied the game at the end of the second period.

Suzuki wasn’t given an assist on the play, although you could easily argue he deserved the assist.

Hockey – Final 🇨🇦-🇺🇸 Cale Makar 🇨🇦 ties the score at the end of the second period! It’s 1-1. ➡️@hockeycanada#MilanoCortina2026 #rcsports #Hockey #olympic games #teamcanada pic.twitter.com/cq4BCh9HqT

– Radio-Canada Sports (@RC_Sports) 22 February 2026

golden goal

Canada defeated the United States 40–26 in regulation, but as per tradition, the teams required extra time to decide which team would be victorious.

Then New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes gained additional fame in less than two minutes, securing the gold medal for Team USA.

Hockey – Final 🇨🇦-🇺🇸 Jack Hughes scores in overtime to give the United States a 2–1 victory, the first Olympic gold medal for the Americans since 1980.

Canada will have to settle for a medal.@hockeycanada#MilanoCortina2026 #rcsports #Hockey… pic.twitter.com/vbnaAXbd09

– Radio-Canada Sports (@RC_Sports) 22 February 2026

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

With the U.S. women’s team already enjoying their gold medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the Team USA men’s team will take on Team Canada in a highly anticipated heavyweight battle for the gold medal on Sunday.

Team USA easily defeated Slovakia 6–2 at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

The United States has not won a gold medal since a scrappy group of college players led by coach Herb Brooks defeated one of the greatest teams in hockey history, the venerable Soviet Union, in 1980; The game that became known as the Miracle on Ice.

The United States has won several times since the NHL began sending players to the Olympics, but the Americans have never won when involving NHL players. Extremely close moments, including a loss to Canada in 2002 and again in Vancouver in 2010 behind Sidney Crosby’s overtime “golden goal”.

On Friday, second-seeded USA took an early lead against its rival, third-seeded Slovakia. Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin entered the offensive zone after a one-two, but still deflected a wrist shot past Slovakia goaltender Samuel Hlavaj at only 4:19 in the game.

Hlavaj is in the Minnesota Wild organization and playing for the Iowa Wild.

At the end of the first period, Team USA scored a power play goal to take a 2–0 lead. Buffalo Sabers center Tage Thompson blasted a one-timer from the left circle into a very narrow spot, over Hlaváz’s shoulder but below the crossbar. The 6-foot-6 Thompson hit a one-timer at 19:19 of the first period.

Later in the second round, the United States took the lead in the game.

New Jersey Devils star center Jack Hughes danced around the offensive zone, playing with the puck as if it was on a string. After dodging a few defenders, Hughes hit a wrist shot with 7:46 remaining in the second minute.

Just 19 seconds later, Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel put the dagger in Latvia with a goal with 7:27 remaining in the second period.

Latvia made a goalkeeper swap to Slovakian league goalkeeper Stanislav Skorvanec, but it made no difference.

J. Hughes struck again with 1:36 remaining in the second period. Zach Werenski’s shot went across the net but bounced off the back wall and past Hughes in the left circle. Hughes played the bounce perfectly with a quick shot into the yawning cage, before Skvoranek could move sideways to snatch the near post.

Brady Tkachuk scored his second goal of the third period when he scored with a backhand shot with 9:08 remaining to give the US a 6–1 lead.

Early in the third period, Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slavkowski scored the first goal for Latvia after a pass between USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and his defenseman. Pavol Regenda converted a point-blank opportunity long after the contest had left the game, and put it past Hellebuyck with 6:43 remaining.

Hellebuyck stopped 22 of 24 shots. USA scored 39 runs on the target.

Earlier on Friday, Canada defeated Finland controversially 3-2 to enter the championship round. Canada has won the last two Olympic Games that included NHL players, winning gold in 2010 and 2014. Canada also won the gold medal in 2002.

Team USA Notes

Shortly before Hughes’ first goal, the referee waived a potential American tally due to Jake Guentzel’s elite kicking speed.

As expected, the shots were one-sided in favor of the Americans. The courageous Latvians kept the game close until the final burst, but after 40 minutes the shot clock was 26–13 to the United States.

The three goals of the second period were on shots 22, 23 and 24, while the USA had allowed only 10 shots up to that point.

Thompson, who had a goal and an assist, was not on the bench for the third period due to injury. The team announced that they held Thompson out of the one-sided game for “precautionary” reasons.

The gold medal game is Sunday at 8:10 a.m. Eastern time. NBC and its streaming service Peacocks will broadcast the game.

Slovakia will face Team Finland for the bronze medal on Saturday.

In an NHL season in which goaltender interference has been an increasingly frustrating topic, an ambiguous and often downright judgment call went to Team Canada in the men’s Olympic hockey semi-finals, and led the Canadians to a 3–2 victory over Team Finland.

With two Canadian referees, no less.

With 6:35 remaining and Canada trailing 2-1, dangerous winger Brad Marchand came to the crease with no hesitation. He then approached Team Finland forward Erik Haula from behind. Those are undeniable facts.

From there, how fans watched the drama had a lot to do with the passports they held. Finland did not challenge the call for fear of being outmatched against rising Canada.

Shea Theodore ties it for Team Canada 🇨🇦

They were trailing Finland 2-0 at the start of the game

(via @NBCOlympics)pic.twitter.com/rYJTaBPdgM

– Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) 20 February 2026

Referees Eric Farlat and Dan O’Rourke could have waived the goal, but the call on the ice was a good goal.

To this writer, it certainly looked like Marchand made contact and then tripped over Saros because of the contact, and Saros did not have time to reset his position for play again, but the referee ruled that Haula caused the contact or that Saros had enough time to regain his position.

Shea Theodore was credited with the call. This season, nearly 70% of goalie interference challenges in the NHL have been unsuccessful. Finland decided not to take the chance, potentially giving the Canadiens a power play.

After the quarterfinal loss to Canada, Czechia coach Radim Rulik criticized the referees and questioned their impartiality.

“I feel like everyone is afraid to say anything against Canada,” Rulik said after the game on Wednesday.

To add insult to injury, Finland lost on a late power play goal after a high-sticking penalty. Canadian forward Nathan MacKinnon blasted a shortside one-timer from the left circle with just 35 seconds remaining.

Canada will face the winner of Team USA vs. Slovakia on Sunday for the gold medal.

Ochai Agbaji is getting a fresh start with the Brooklyn Nets. Traded by the Toronto Raptors at the deadline, the former lottery pick has an opportunity to regain his form in Brooklyn during the second half of the season.

Agbaji took a step in the right direction during his first extended action in net. The 25-year-old was one of Brooklyn’s only bright spots during Thursday’s 112-84 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He posted 13 points, three rebounds, three assists and one block on 5 of 8 shooting from the field and 3 of 6 from three.

Agbaji finished with a team-best minus-four in 28 minutes.

“[Ochai] Very good job,” Jordi Fernandez said after the game. “He was ready to shoot. He still has to get used to the spacing, the rules, certain plays and defensive concepts. But I think he was great. He was ready; he fought. Physically and mentally, he was ready to go. Nice to see this.”

Agbaji had the best season of his career in 2024–25, averaging 10.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists on 50/40/71 shooting splits in 64 appearances. However, he fell out of the Raptors’ rotation this year due to a career-worst shooting slump (12 of 65 from three in 42 games with Toronto).

Ochai Agbaji struggling to secure long-term role after trade with Nets

While the Nets received a second-round pick in exchange for Agbaji’s contract, Fernandez praised the guard’s skills upon his arrival. With a 6-foot-5 wingspan, a 6-foot-10 frame and above-average athleticism, the former Kansas star has the tools to be an impact guard.

that athleticism was on display On Thursday.

Agbaji got Uttar Pradesh for this rejection

➡️ Watch Live on YES & THE @gothamsports App: https://t.co/sWMqNZ0hci pic.twitter.com/sqneGAEdL6

– Yes Network (@YESNetwork) 20 February 2026

His ability to put together a positive shooting night will go a long way in earning an expanded role.

“It felt good. It felt good to see the ball go in and get some rhythm with my guys and score some runs,” Agbaji said after the game. “Obviously, that was one game before the All-Star break, but [it was] Little minutes here and there. Saw this for the first time [extended] A few minutes to really get my form and go with them, and I’m excited. I’m excited about what we can do. The style we play is very unselfish and I’m that type of player. So I fit in.”

Agbaji will be a free agent when his rookie contract expires this summer. He is one of several players — including Ziaire Williams, Jalen Wilson and Josh Minott — fighting to secure a new deal on the back-end of Brooklyn’s roster.

Meet all the medalists from the United States at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. And catch up on all the latest Olympic news here.

GOLD: Women’s hockey

Megan Keller backhanded in a shot 4:07 into overtime and the United States won its third Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey, beating Canada 2-1 to close another thrilling chapter of one of sports’ most heated rivalries. American captain Hilary Knight, in her fifth and final Olympics, forced overtime by tipping in Laila Edwards’ shot from the blue line with 2:04 remaining. The goal was the 15th of her Olympic career and 33rd point to break the U.S. record in both categories.

SILVER: Jordan Stolz, speedskating, 1,500 meters

Jordan Stolz‘s bid for a third gold medal came up short with a loss to China’s Ning Zhongyan in the 1,500 meters. Ning won in an Olympic-record time of 1 minute, 41.98 seconds. Stolz, skating in the day’s last heat, finished 0.77 off the pace and added a silver to the golds he claimed earlier at these Winter Games in the 500 and 1,000. Only two long-track speedskaters have won at least four golds at one Games: Eric Heiden of the U.S. went home with five from the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics, and Lidiya Skoblikova, representing the Soviet Union, claimed four in 1964.

GOLD: Mikaela Shiffrin, skiing, slalom

Mikaela Shiffrin put in two dominant runs in gorgeous conditions amid the jagged peaks of the Dolomites to win the women’s slalom by a massive 1.50 seconds, ending her eight-year medal drought at the Winter Games and showing why she is widely regarded as the greatest Alpine skier of all time. It made the 30-year-old Shiffrin the first American skier to win three Alpine golds and was the third-largest margin of victory in a women’s Olympic slalom.

SILVER: Gus Schumacher and Ben Odgen, cross-country skiing, two-man relay

The U.S. men’s cross-country ski team had won only one medal in the history of the Olympics before the Milan Cortina Winter Games. Now it has two more. Gus Schumacher anchored a two-man team relay that took the silver medal behind Norway and held off Italy in third. The medal makes this the winningest U.S. men’s team ever. Schumacher’s partner in the relay, Ben Ogden, became the first American man to win a cross-country skiing medal in the Olympics in 50 years when he won a silver in the sprint on Feb. 10.

BRONZE: Jake Canter, snowboarding, slopestyle

Nine years after enduring a traumatic brain injury, the result of getting kicked in the head in a freak accident on a trampoline at an action-sports camp, 22-year-old Jake Canter won the Olympic bronze medal in his sport’s trick-filled trip down the hill — slopestyle. That third-place finish stamped an exclamation point on one of those only-at-the-Olympics kind of stories.

SILVER: Emery Lehman, Casey Dawson and Ethan Cepuran, speedskating, team pursuit

When it ended, Oak Park’s Emery Lehman and his teammates, Casey Dawson and Glen Ellyn’s Ethan Cepuran, tried to look happy. They smiled politely while they took their place on the podium and lowered their heads for their medals. They waved to the crowd. They hid well whatever heartbreak or disappointment they carried. Second place was not what they anticipated after years of training together and rising to the top of their sport.

SILVER: Mac Forehand, freestyle skiing, men’s big air

Mac Forehand pushed the men’s big air freeskiing to the last jump of a high-scoring final, winning a silver medal behind Tormod Frostad of Norway. Frostad had the lead through most of the final, but Forehand turned a thrilling competition on its head when he moved ahead of Frostad on the second-to-last jump of the night. That turned a victory lap for Frostad into the most pressure-filled run of his career. Frostad finished with 195.50 points to Forehand’s 193.25.

GOLD and BRONZE: Elana Taylor Meyers and Kaillie Humphries Armbruster, bobsleigh, women’s monobob

Elana Meyers Taylor won her first Olympic gold in women’s monobob, and she made history as the oldest American woman to do it at the Winter Games. She rallied in the final heat on Feb. 16 and dropped to her knees in tears. Kaillie Humphries Armbruster took bronze for the United States. Meyers Taylor already owned five Olympic medals, but she had never won gold. Her sixth medal ties Bonnie Blair for the most by a U.S. woman at the Winter Games.

GOLD: Jordan Stolz, speedskating, men’s 500 meters

Jordan Stolz won his second speedskating gold medal of the Milan Cortina Olympics by finishing first in the 500 meters in an Olympic-record time on Feb. 14. The 21-year-old from Wisconsin was coming off a victory in the 1,000, the first of his four individual events in Milan. The men’s record for most speedskating titles at one Olympics is the five by Eric Heiden in 1980 in Lake Placid, N.Y. Stolz beat 500 world champion Jenning de Boo of the Netherlands, who took the silver.

SILVER AND BRONZE: Jaelin Kauf and Elizabeth Lemley, freestyle skiing, women’s dual moguls

Skiing through a heavy snowstorm, American Jaelin Kauf captured her third Olympic silver medal and second of these Games, and teammate Elizabeth Lemley added bronze to go with the gold she won earlier in the week. They each won their second medals in four days despite falling in their semifinal rounds. Australia’s Jakara Anthony took the gold.

SILVER: Chloe Kim, snowboarding, women’s halfpipe

Chloe Kim fell short in her bid to become the first Olympic snowboarder to win three consecutive gold medals, finishing second to Choi Gaon of South Korea in the women’s halfpipe on Feb. 12. Choi, 17, bounced back from an ugly crash to jump into the lead with a score of 90.25 on her final run. Kim had one more shot to get back on top, but the 25-year-old American wiped out on her last of three runs to settle for silver.

BRONZE: Jessie Diggins, cross-country skiing, women’s 10-km freestyle

Jessie Diggins battled through bruised ribs suffered in the opening race to claim bronze on Feb. 12 in the women’s 10‑kilometer interval start, a race dominated by Sweden’s Frida Karlsson as she won her second gold medal. The 34-year-old Diggins, racing in her final season, collapsed to the ground, shouting in pain after finishing the freestyle race and adding to her gold, silver and bronze career medal tally.

SILVER: Madison Chock and Evan Bates, figure skating, mixed ice dance

In a controversial judging decision, France’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron answered a season-best free dance by the dominant American duo of Madison Chock and Evan Bates with a season best of their own on Feb. 11, giving them 225.82 points and the top step of the podium. Chock and Bates finished with 224.39 and a bittersweet silver medal after having lost just four times in the four years since they finished fourth at the Beijing Games. Cizeron made several mistakes while Chock and Bates were nearly perfect. Yet the French judge favored the French skaters by nearly eight points in the free dance, while five of the nine judges favored the American team.

GOLD: Jordan Stolz, speedskating, men’s 1,000 meters

Wisconsin native Jordan Stolz, 21, will hope to add to his collection of trophies as he entered three more events in Milan. In winning the 1,000 meters in 1 minute, 6.28 seconds on Feb. 11, Stolz didn’t threaten his world record of 1:05.37 but did better the Olympic standard of 1:07.18 that had stood since 2002 — before Stolz was born.

GOLD AND SILVER: Elizabeth Lemley and Jaelin Kauf, freestyle skiing, women’s moguls

Elizabeth Lemley, 20 — nicknamed “Lizard” by her teammates — landed an unbeatable run to lead a 1-2 finish for the red, white and blue in the women’s moguls on Feb. 11. Lemley topped the eight-skier final with a score of 82.30 points, right in front of countrywoman Jaelin Kauf, who successfully defended her silver medal from Beijing with a score of 80.77. Perrine Laffont of France, the 2018 champion, took bronze.

SILVER: Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Alpine skiing, men’s super-G

Ryan Cochran-Siegle’s latest silver medal was inspired by his mother and powered by maple syrup. The 33-year-old Vermont captured his second straight Olympic super-G silver on Feb. 11 when he finished 0.13 seconds behind winner Franjo von Allmen of Switzerland. Before the race, a little fuel of maple syrup — which, like ski racing, has become the family business (Cochran’s Slopeside Syrup). In the stands to cheer him on was his mother, Barbara Cochran, who won Olympic gold in the slalom at the 1972 Sapporo Games.

SILVER: Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin, curling, mixed doubles

Swedish siblings Isabella and Rasmus Wranå took the gold medal with a 6-5 win on Feb. 10, but the American pair of Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin made history as the first U.S. team to medal in Olympic mixed doubles, and Thiesse is the first American woman to medal in Olympic curling.

SILVER: Ben Ogden, cross-country skiing, men’s sprint classic

Ben Ogden finished 0.8 seconds behind the defending gold medalist, Norwegian cross-country ski star Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, in the men’s sprint on Feb. 10.

SILVER: Alex Hall, freestyle skiing, men’s freeski slopestyle

Alex Hall’s silver medal in men’s freeski slopestyle on Feb. 10 goes with the gold he won four years ago in Beijing, even though he said everything he tried this time was more difficult. Visibility on the mountain created challenging conditions for all the skiers.

BRONZE: Jacqueline Wiles and Paula Moltzan, Alpine skiing, women’s team combined

The U.S. pair of Jaqueline Wiles (downhill) and Paula Moltzan (slalom) took bronze in the women’s team combined on Feb. 10, beating out the other American team of Mikaela Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson by 0.06 for the podium.

BRONZE: Ashley Farquharson, luge, women’s singles

Ashley Farquharson, who started sliding as an after-school activity when she was a little kid in Park City, Utah, won the bronze medal in women’s singles on Feb. 10, representing a seventh Olympic medal for USA Luge.

GOLD: Team figure skating

Ilia Malinin beat Japanese rival Shun Sato in a head-to-head showdown at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 8, helping the U.S. defend its team figure skating gold medal by breaking a deadlock with Japan in the final session of the competition.

GOLD: Breezy Johnson, Alpine skiing, women’s downhill

Ski racer Breezy Johnson won the Olympic downhill on Feb. 8 with a hard-charging run on a day marred by teammate Lindsey Vonn’s crash that saw her being taken off the mountain in a helicopter. The 30-year-old Johnson joins Vonn, 41, as the only American women to win the Olympic downhill.

Associated Press contributed.

The Boston Celtics are currently preparing to begin the unofficial second half of their season, which begins on Thursday evening against the Golden State Warriors. The Celtics were represented at the NBA All-Star weekend by Jaylen Brown, who participated as part of one of the USA teams in the round robin tournament.

The Celtics have performed well beyond expectations this year, and recently, former NBA guard Lou Williams praised what Boston is able to accomplish in 2025-26 on FanDuel’s “Run It Back” show.

“I still think Boston is the most dangerous team in the East,” said Williams, formerly of Run It Back on X, on Twitter.

Co-host Chandler Parsons said, “He’s exceeded everyone’s expectations… Jaylen Brown has to be in these MVP conversations.”

In fact, most pundits expected the Celtics to be a fringe playoff team at best this year, given that the team was playing without injured superstar Jayson Tatum, and also parted ways with Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis via trades over the summer that were mostly financially motivated.

However, as Parsons said, Brown is playing at a borderline MVP level for the Celtics this year, more than replicating Tatum’s production, and he’s also gotten some help from players like Derrick White and Peyton Pritchard, who have returned to form after rough starts to the year.

Hovering over all of this is the possibility of Tatum’s eventual return, which looks more than likely day-to-day at some point this season. If Tatum can look somewhat like his normal form during Boston’s upcoming playoff run, the Celtics will likely be the clear favorite to come out of the East this year.

In any case, the Celtics will next take the field against the Warriors on Thursday at 10:00 PM ET as they begin their trip to the West Coast.

This must have been a bittersweet moment for many hockey fans in Toronto. Watching Mitch Marner score the spectacular overtime winner for Team Canada over Czechia in the Olympic hockey quarter-finals had many Maple Leafs fans wondering why he hadn’t been so clutch for the Blue and White in the Stanley Cup playoffs all these years.

But Marner’s Team Canada teammates supported the winger after the thrilling OT win.

It started with his Vegas Golden Knights teammate Mark Stone, who is playing with Marner in the Olympics. Stone was asked about Marner’s thoughts on not being ‘clutch’:

As a teammate, I haven’t had that experience. 4 Nations, he gets a big overtime goal for us, makes an incredible play for the winner. Then tonight, when we need him most, he makes a play. So… I guess it’s a Toronto thing.

Truly a ‘Toronto thing’.

Tampa Bay Lightning star and Canadian teammate Brandon Hagel also gave his support to Mitch and dismissed the ‘not clutch’ narrative.