preview Page 6 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Lynx, Mercury counting on 'clutch' payers as WNBA semifinals begin
It should be clear that the Minnesota Lynx won't just sail through the postseason as they did in much of the regular season.,The expansion Golden State Valkyries showed that as they pushed the Lynx in the second game of the best-of-three first round, with Minnesota winning 75-74.,Their next challeng...

Earthquakes feeling urgency to win right away with St. Louis SC on deck
It's now or never for the San Jose Earthquakes, according to coach Bruce Arena.,"I'm preparing a team to try to win these last four games," he said after a 4-2 loss to LAFC on Sept. 13. "If we come out the way we did tonight, we're not going to win any of them. I'd like to say we can learn something...

Austin FC seek jump in standings with key match vs. Sounders
Austin FC aim to capitalize on the momentum from a historic win when they host the Seattle Sounders on Sunday in a crucial late-season Western Conference match.,The Sounders took the first meeting of the season with Austin, winning 2-0 on June 28 in the Pacific Northwest.,The Verde (11-10-8, 41 poin...

Nashville SC, Orlando City meet on verge of clinching playoffs
Nashville SC will take on host Orlando City in a matchup of Eastern Conference teams that can clinch playoff berths on Saturday.,Nashville (15-10-5, 50 points) enters on a high after Sam Surridge scored a hat trick in a 3-1 victory Tuesday over the Philadelphia Union in the U.S. Open Cup semifinals....

Dynamo face crucial match vs. Timbers without Artur, Ben Olsen
The Houston Dynamo will face a crucial home match against the Portland Timbers on Saturday night without their captain in the lineup or their coach on the sidelines.,Midfielder Artur and manager Ben Olsen both received red cards in last Saturday's 2-1 loss at the Colorado Rapids, with Olsen's coming...

Marcus Mariota back in starting role as Commanders collide with Raiders
The vast majority of the buzz leading up to this week's game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Commanders surrounded Washington's leading man.,Reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels (knee) will be relegated to the Commanders' sideline with Marcus Mariota stepping in for his 75th ca...

Jaguars take on winless Texans in pursuit of AFC South breakthrough
Two-time reigning AFC South champions, the Houston Texans are headed to Jacksonville winless and wary of losing further ground.,Winners of the division eight of the last 14 years, Houston lost at the Rams in Week 1 and another tight one to Tampa Bay in their Texans' home opener Monday night. At (0-2...

Backup QBs snag spotlight for Bengals, Vikings
As a kid growing up in Bismarck, N.D., Carson Wentz rooted for the Minnesota Vikings and occasionally made the trip with his family to see them play at the Metrodome.,On Sunday, Wentz will play quarterback for the organization he used to support from the stands. He will make his team debut in place ...

Packers prime pass rush with target on Joe Flacco, Browns
The Green Bay Packers hit the road for the first time this season in search of their first 3-0 start since 2020 when they meet the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.,The Packers (2-0) are coming off a 27-18 victory over the Washington Commanders in the Thursday night game, after opening with a statement-ma...

FC Dallas faces Rapids while knocking on wild-card door
FC Dallas looks to parlay a late-season hot streak into a jump above the playoff line when it hosts the Colorado Rapids on Saturday in a Western Conference clash at Frisco, Texas., ,The Toros (8-11-10, 34 points) begin the weekend in 11th place in the conference, two spots below but just one point b...

Focused on climbing East table, Inter Miami host D.C. United
With Lionel Messi's long-term future at Inter Miami reportedly secure, the Herons will try to keep climbing up the Eastern Conference standings when they host D.C. United on Saturday night.,Both ESPN and the Miami Herald reported this week that Miami and Messi have agreed to the terms of a multi-yea...

No. 23 Missouri eager for first SEC test vs. smarting South Carolina
Missouri knew it gained an impact running back when Ahmad Hardy joined the program, but the sophomore is quickly topping expectations.,Hardy ranks second in the nation with 462 rushing yards and he will look to follow up a 250-yard rushing performance when the No. 23 Tigers face South Carolina on Sa...

Chasing wild-card spot, D-backs face playoff-bound Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies and Arizona Diamondbacks enter a pivotal three-games series in Phoenix with fresh starting rotations.,The D-backs, who enter Friday two games behind the New York Mets in the National League wild-card race, will start right-hander Ryne Nelson (7-3, 3.34 ERA) in the opener af...

Ex-Lions star QB Vernon Adams Jr. now leading Stampeders
Vernon Adams Jr. gets the chance to deliver some payback when the Calgary Stampeders host the BC Lions on Friday night.,Adams established career highs of 4,769 yards and 31 touchdowns for BC in 2023. He was enjoying another big season last year before sustaining a knee injury on Aug. 1 against the W...

Argonauts' hot offense to rely on third-string QB vs. Alouettes
Perhaps better late than never, the Toronto Argonauts' sudden surge has thrust them back into contention for a CFL playoff spot.,Now they'll have to win their biggest game of the year Friday night with a third-string quarterback when they host the Montreal Alouettes.,But Jarret Doege's work at the e...

Mercury out to stifle Liberty again, reach second round
The New York Liberty could not come close to producing enough offense in a critical third-quarter stretch on Wednesday because the Phoenix Mercury turned up the defensive intensity in an 86-60 Game 2 road victory.,The result is a deciding Game 3 on Friday night when Phoenix hosts New York to conclud...

Bears welcome Matt Eberflus, Cowboys, discount intel on Caleb Williams
Former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus will return to Chicago as defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, and not everyone is glad to see his unit.,"Make no mistake about it, (Dallas) was one of the more challenging defenses we faced when I was in Detroit," first-year Bears head coach B...

Out to even set vs. Jays, Rays hope bats show more life
The opener of Tampa Bay's seven-game homestand was a prime example of why the Rays will come up short in their efforts for a playoff berth for the second straight season.,The Rays will try to get the bats going after a brutal night at the plate when they face the American League East-leading Toronto...

Pirates' Paul Skenes, Cubs' Cade Horton clash in duel of young stars
A premier pitching matchup is set for Tuesday when young right-handers Paul Skenes of the host Pittsburgh Pirates and Cade Horton of the Chicago Cubs duel in the second game of the three-game series.,Skenes, 23, was the National League Rookie of the Year last season after going 11-3 in 23 starts wit...

Oklahoma St. ‘enthusiastic’ about moving past trouncing, faces Tulsa
Oklahoma State will try to bounce back from its worst loss in 118 years and find some semblance of consistency before conference play begins when Tulsa visits Stillwater, Okla., on Friday for the 78th rendition of the Turnpike Classic.,The Cowboys (1-1) return to the field after an open date Sept. 1...