l Page 86 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Storylines abound as Scottie Barnes, Raptors open series at Cavs
Success came quickly for Toronto Raptors power forward Scottie Barnes, who won the Rookie of the Year award and got a taste of the playoffs four years ago.,Two All-Star selections followed, but a return to the postseason proved elusive until now.,The fifth-seeded Raptors will challenge the fourth-se...

Rivalry continues as Nuggets host Timberwolves for Game 1
Denver slugged its way past Minnesota in 2023 on its way to the NBA title. The Timberwolves derailed a Nuggets repeat with a Game 7 upset in 2024.,Act III of this sometimes-bitter rivalry kicks off Saturday afternoon when No. 3 Denver hosts No. 6 Minnesota for Game 1 of the Western Conference quarte...

Falcons trade DT Ruke Orhorhoro to Jaguars for DT Maason Smith
The Atlanta Falcons acquired Maason Smith from the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for Ruke Orhorhoro on Friday in a trade involving defensive tackles that were selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.,Orhorhoro, 24, recorded 25 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 17 games (eight starts) last seaso...

Padres activate RHP Matt Waldron to face Angels
The San Diego Padres activated right-hander Matt Waldron from the injured list ahead of his season debut Friday on the road against the Los Angeles Angels.,To open a roster spot, right-hander Alek Jacob was optioned to Triple-A El Paso.,Waldron has not pitched this season after undergoing hemorrhoid...

Stars take win streak into playoffs as Wild goalies await
The Dallas Stars are entering the Stanley Cup Playoffs on a different path this season.,When they host the Minnesota Wild in Game 1 of their first-round series on Saturday, the Stars will be riding a five-game winning streak.,A year ago, Dallas entered the playoffs on a season-long seven-game skid, ...

Yankees RHP Gerrit Cole (elbow) set to begin rehab assignment
The New York Yankees sent Gerrit Cole on a minor league rehab assignment Friday as the right-hander closes in on his first major league appearance since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series.,Cole, 35, underwent Tommy John surgery in March of 2025 after experiencing elbow discomfort early in spring traini...

FIFA president defends World Cup prices in 'very special' U.S. market
FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended high ticket prices for this year's World Cup in North America by saying on Friday that the event, which captivates the globe, is the organization's only source of income every four years.,Speaking at Semafor's annual world economy summit in New York, Infantin...

Report: Retirement an option on table for Lakers' LeBron James
LeBron James will lead the Lakers into the first-round of the NBA playoffs against the favored Houston Rockets in Los Angeles in what could be the final series of his storied 23-year career.,Unless it isn't.,The Athletic reported Friday that James, 41, is considering retiring from the league he ente...

Cards' Jacoby Brissett not at offseason program, wants extension
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett is seeking a contract extension that will pay him as a starter.,NFL Network reported on Friday that Brissett is not attending the team's voluntary workout program as a means to address that situation.,Brissett, who has only $1.5 million guaranteed on the...

Reports: Texans' Will Anderson Jr. agrees to 3-year, $150M deal
All-Pro edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. agreed to a three-year, $150 million contract extension to make him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history, multiple media outlets reported on Friday.,The deal reportedly includes $134 million in guaranteed money and has a no-trade clause for Anderson, ...
Why the NBA Must Fix Its Draft System to Stop Tanking
Tanking has become a major issue in the NBA, raising concerns about integrity and fan experience. Here’s how the league could fix it....

Liberty re-sign Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones
New York Liberty stars Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones signed contracts for the 2026 season, the team announced on Friday.,Financial terms were not disclosed by the team.,"This is an incredibly historic moment for the New York Liberty franchise," Liberty general manager Jonathan K...

Iranian soccer players in Australia thankful for 'safe haven'
Two members of the Iranian women's soccer team who were granted asylum in Australia last month, released a joint statement Friday thanking the Australian government for assistance with "the process of rebuilding our lives.",Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh were the only two of seven membe...

ATP roundup: Semifinals set at Barcelona and Munich
Unseeded Slovakian qualifier Alex Molcan continued his strong run in Munich on Friday and joined three top seeds in the semifinals at the BMW Open.,Molcan defeated Canadian Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 6-4 in 78 minutes in the quarterfinals of the ATP 500 clay-court tournament. Up next is No. 2 seed Ben Sh...

Montreal opens new chapter against visiting Red Bulls
CF Montreal will be under new leadership against the visiting New York Red Bulls on Saturday afternoon.,Montreal (1-6-0, 3 points) parted ways with head coach Marco Donadel after dropping its home opener 2-1 to the Philadelphia Union last weekend. After just over a year in charge, Donadel boasted th...

Court orders Rashee Rice's co-defendant to pay $2.88 million
A Texas court ruled former SMU cornerback Theodore "Teddy" Knox was "grossly negligent" in a 2024 street racing crash in Dallas that involved Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice.,Judge Kim Bailey Phipps issued a default judgment of $2.88 million on Wednesday against Knox for the accident in...

Report: NWSL nearing vote on calendar shift
The NWSL reportedly is considering a switch to a fall-to-spring schedule to align with other top soccer leagues -- including MLS. ,ESPN reported on Friday that the NWSL's board of governors is expected to vote on the issue later this month.,Currently, the NWSL season runs from March to November. Top...

Former Angels great Garret Anderson dies at 53
Garret Anderson, the hero of Game 7 of the 2002 World Series and the all-time hits leader among other offensive categories for the Angels' franchise, died on Thursday. He was 53.,The Angels did not disclose a cause of death in announcing his passing on Friday. TMZ reported Anderson died following a ...

Report: Mats Sundin discussing role with Maple Leafs
Mats Sundin, the all-time leading scorer for the Toronto Maple Leafs, is interviewing with the club for a job in the front office, The Athletic reported Friday.,Per the report, Sundin was in Toronto on Friday to talk with team owners "about a potential role in the new setup," with no specific job be...

Stars D Nils Lundkvist signs 2-year, $3.5M extension
Dallas Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist signed a two-year, $3.5 million contract extension, the team announced Friday.,The deal runs through 2027-28 and adds to a big week for the 25-year-old Swede, who announced the birth of his first child -- a son -- on Tuesday and whose team opens the playoffs on...