nit Page 1 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

D.C. United pick NC State's Nikola Markovic No. 1 in 2026 MLS draft
D.C. United made North Carolina State defender Nikola Markovic the No. 1 overall selection of the 2026 MLS SuperDraft on Thursday.,The full three-round, 90-pick draft was conducted Thursday, just three days after Washington beat Markovic's Wolfpack 3-2 in overtime to win the College Cup men's nation...

D.C. United acquire All-Star striker Tai Baribo from Union
D.C. United acquired All-Star striker Tai Baribo from the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday in exchange for up to $4.6 million.,Philadelphia receives $4 million guaranteed and up to $600,000 more if certain incentives are reached by the 27-year-old Israeli international.,Baribo has signed a five-year ...

Minnesota United acquire M Peter Stroud from Red Bulls
Minnesota United FC acquired midfielder Peter Stroud from the New York Red Bulls on Tuesday in exchange for $475,000 in general allocation money.,Stroud, 23, appeared in 66 MLS matches (43 starts) with the Red Bulls from 2023-25 and contributed four assists.,"Peter brings valuable MLS experience and...

Sunderland, Newcastle renew Premier League rivalry after decade
As ninth-place Sunderland prepare to host 12th-place Newcastle United in the first Tyne-Wear Derby league fixture in nearly a decade, both sides will be trying to harness the hype in the right manner.,While Newcastle earned a 3-0 win in a third-round FA Cup match in January 2024, the sides haven't m...

Rapids fully acquire D Noah Cobb from Atlanta United
The Colorado Rapids permanently acquired defender Noah Cobb from Atlanta United on Tuesday, the clubs announced.,In exchange for the 20-year-old center back, Atlanta receives $525,000 in general allocation money across the next two seasons.,Atlanta also retains a sell-on percentage and could receive...

Michael Annett, retired Xfinity racer, dies at 39
Michael Annett, a winner on the NASCAR Xfinity Series, has died at age 39.,The announcement of his death came from JR Motorsports on Friday night. No cause of death was released.,"Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett," the racing te...

Thomas Bjorn, Darren Clarke guide Europe to World Champions Cup lead
Thomas Bjorn of Denmark and Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland were the best tandem on the course Thursday as they helped Team Europe open up a lead at the Skechers World Champions Cup at Feather Sound Country Club in Clearwater, Fla.,Team Europe scored 57 points over two sessions on Day 1 of the eve...

NWSLPA: Trinity Rodman's record contract offer was CBA compliant
The NWSL Players' Association filed a grievance on behalf of Trinity Rodman after what would have been a record-setting four-year contract to stay with the Washington Spirit was reportedly vetoed by league commissioner Jessica Berman.,The NWSLPA claims the contract offer was within the terms of the ...

D.C. United decline striker Christian Benteke's option
D.C. United declined veteran striker Christian Benteke's contract option for 2026, the club announced Wednesday.,Benteke, who turns 35 next month, recorded 47 goals and 10 assists in 93 MLS matches (90 starts) from 2022-25.,The United said they are in discussions with his representatives potentially...

Expansion SDFC blank Minnesota United, reach West final
Anders Dreyer scored his fourth goal of the MLS Cup playoffs midway through the second half, lifting San Diego FC to a 1-0 victory over visiting Minnesota United in a Western Conference semifinal match on Monday.,Dreyer's 23rd goal in all competitions helped No. 1 seed San Diego become the first exp...

Anders Dreyer, San Diego FC plot to take down Minnesota United
Top-seeded San Diego FC will try to continue defying expectations when they host No. 4 seed Minnesota United on Monday night in a conference semifinal.,San Diego became the second expansion team in three seasons to finish atop the West standings, and in the process set an MLS points record for a fir...

Unbeaten but imperfect Penn State seeks crisper showing vs. Providence
Penn State's undefeated start hasn't always been pretty, but coach Mike Rhoades knows that college basketball isn't a beauty contest.,Fresh off a narrow victory over Harvard, Penn State is hoping for a crisper effort Saturday when the Nittany Lions travel to Uncasville, Conn., to take on Providence....

Spain leads, U.S. rises in latest FIFA men's world ranking
Spain maintained its top spot in the latest FIFA men's world rankings in advance of the 2026 World Cup, while the United States men's national team moved up two spots to overtake rival Mexico.,The United States' 5-1 thrashing of Uruguay at Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, moved the team up two spots in the ...

Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz to defend United Cup title
World No. 3 Coco Gauff and world No. 6 Taylor Fritz will return to United Cup play in January, focused on defending the United States' title in the mixed-team event.,The Americans were named the top seeds on Thursday. ,Eighteen countries are entered in the event, which will run from Jan.2-11, with m...

Against all odds, Minnesota United knocks out Sounders in shootout
Goaltender Dayne St. Clair made five saves then delivered the game-winner in the 10th round of a shootout as 10-man Minnesota United rallied to defeat the Seattle Sounders on penalty kicks following a 3-3 tie in a first-round playoff clincher Saturday at St. Paul. Minn.,Minnesota United finished wit...

Against odds, Minnesota United knocks out Sounders in shootout
Goaltender Dayne St. Clair made five saves and then delivered the game-winner in the 10th round of a shootout as 10-man Minnesota United rallied to defeat the Seattle Sounders on penalty kicks following a 3-3 tie in a first-round playoff clincher Saturday at Saint Paul. Minn.,Minnesota United finish...

Loons out to overcome hurdle, top Sounders in decisive Game 3
Minnesota United must try to figure a way to get past an old nemesis when they host the Seattle Sounders in the decisive match of the best-of-three Western Conference First Round series Saturday afternoon in Saint Paul, Minn., ,The Sounders, who won the MLS Cup in 2016 and 2019, are 15-3-3 all-time ...

'Tata' Martino returns as head coach of Atlanta United
Gerardo "Tata" Martino has signed on for a second stint as head coach of Atlanta United.,The club announced Thursday that he signed a two-year contract. He replaces Ronny Deila, who was dismissed after one season and a 14th-place finish in the MLS Eastern Conference.,He was the first coach of the ex...

Behind Obed Vargas' brace, Sounders level series with Loons
Obed Vargas notched a brace Monday night and the Seattle Sounders stayed alive in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs with a 4-2 win over visiting Minnesota United.,The result tied the best-of-3 series at 1-1 with the deciding match scheduled for Saturday in Saint Paul, Minn. The seri...

Loons eye first-round sweep, 4th straight win vs. Sounders
Coaches often say it's hard to beat a team three times in a season.,So what's their stance on four?,Minnesota United FC will try to accomplish that feat Monday night in Seattle and complete a sweep of their first-round, best-of-3 Western Conference playoff series.,The fourth-seeded Loons beat the No...