si Page 4 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights
Re-elected Barcelona president: Doors 'always open' to Lionel Messi
Newly re-elected Barcelona president Joan Laporta tendered an olive branch to Lionel Messi, saying the erstwhile club legend and Inter Miami superstar would always be welcome to return.,Laporta routed challenger Victor Font in Sunday's election, earning 68.1% of votes cast by 48,480 club members to ...
Fifth asylum-seeking women's soccer player decides to return to Iran
A fifth member of the Iranian women's national soccer team who originally decided to remain in Australia on a refugee visa had a chance of heart and decided to return home Sunday evening, the Australian government announced.,The team arrived in Melbourne to compete in the 2026 Asian Women's Cup shor...
Italy pivots to RHP Aaron Nola in WBC semis vs. Venezuela
Team Italy will turn to right-hander Aaron Nola as the starter for Monday's World Baseball Classic semifinal game against Venezuela at Miami, instead of right-hander Michael Lorenzen.,With an eye toward Tuesday's championship game, Italy presumably will line up Lorenzen for a potential matchup again...
AFC official: Iran still set to play in 2026 World Cup
Iran has given no indication it intends to remove its national team from this summer's FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, a representative for the Asian Football Confederation said Monday.,The Iranian team, currently 20th in the FIFA rankings, is set to compete in its fourth con...
Expansion plans in Seattle, Vegas reportedly on NBA docket this month
NBA expansion plans are on the league agenda this month with discussions centering on valuations for franchises in Seattle and Las Vegas, according to multiple reports Monday.,The NBA Board of Governors has had open dialogue about returning to Seattle, where the Oklahoma City Thunder franchise calle...
Top players to watch in the Women's NCAA Tournament
Interest around collegiate women's basketball continues to rise.,The last three national championship games have averaged over 9 million viewers -- including 18.9 million for Iowa-South Carolina in 2024 -- and 20 regular-season games this season had more than 500,000 viewers, the most in history.,Fo...
One team from each seed line with best chance of advancing in tournament
There's nothing wrong with all four No. 1 seeds barging their way into the Final Four. When it happened last March for the first time since 2008, it led to a terrific Final Four in San Antonio that didn't determine the champion until the title game's final possession.,So, if Duke, Arizona, Michigan ...
USA generates enough power to edge Dominican Republic in WBC semifinals
MIAMI -- Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony each hit solo home runs in the fourth inning and Team USA's pitching kept the mighty Dominican Republic lineup in check enough to secure a 2-1 victory in a World Baseball Classic semifinal on Sunday night.,The United States advanced to its third WBC final ...
Report: Messi had no role in Spain-Argentina 'Finalissima' cancellation
The "Finalissima," a match between reigning European champion Spain and South American champion Argentina scheduled for March 27 in Qatar, has been canceled due to continued conflicts in the Middle East, UEFA announced on Sunday.,Additionally, contrary to speculation otherwise, ESPN reported Sunday ...
Wilyer Abreu's HR carries Venezuela into WBC semis over Japan
Wilyer Abreu hit the go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth inning Saturday night for Venezuela, which eliminated defending champion Japan with an 8-5 win in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals in Miami.,Venezuela, the runner-up in Pool D with a 3-1 record, will face Italy in Monday night's semi...
Team USA, Paul Skenes face prolific Dominican Republic in WBC semifinal
MIAMI - It will be power arm against power bats when Team USA takes on the Dominican Republic in a World Baseball Classic in a high stakes semifinal on Sunday night.,Pittsburgh Pirates ace and reigning National League Cy Young winner Paul Skenes will be tasked with trying to slow down the Dominican ...
No. 3 Michigan edges No. 23 Wisconsin to reach Big Ten title game
Big Ten Player of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg hit a 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left to lift top-seeded Michigan to a 68-65 victory over fifth-seeded Wisconsin in the first Big Ten Conference tournament semifinal Saturday in Chicago.,Lendeborg finished with 12 points for No. 3-ranked Michigan (31-2), wh...
Ole Miss strives to continue upsets in clash vs. No. 17 Arkansas
Ole Miss coach Chris Beard divided the Southeastern Conference tournament into a series of mini-tourneys.,So far, so bracket-busting good.,The 15th-seeded Rebels (15-19) built a 14-point lead and held off second-seeded and 15th-ranked Alabama 80-79 on Friday for their third straight upset to reach t...
With 'rust' removed, No. 3 Michigan out to avenge loss to No. 23 Wisconsin
Michigan point guard Elliot Cadeau was asked about rest vs. rust following his team's 71-67 victory over eighth-seeded Ohio State on Friday in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Chicago.,"We felt like it took us a minute to get into our groove in the game," Cadeau said of the ...
Dominican Republic mercy-rules South Korea 10-0 in WBC quarterfinal
The Dominican Republic quickly turned its World Baseball Classic quarterfinal into a blowout, routing South Korea 10-0 on Friday night in Miami, with the mercy rule ending the game in the bottom of the seventh inning.,The Dominicans piled up 10 runs on nine hits, building a lead so quickly that Sout...
Lionel Messi seeks 900th goal as Inter Miami face Charlotte FC
Lionel Messi will try to add another milestone to the long list of accomplishments in his legendary career Saturday when he leads Inter Miami against host Charlotte FC.,Messi will be seeking his 900th career goal, which would join him with Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players to achieve the feat.,M...
Ducks D Radko Gudas suspended 5 games for kneeing Auston Matthews
Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas was handed a five-game suspension for his knee-on-knee hit Thursday night that injured Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews.,The NHL Department of Player Safety announced the decision Friday after a phone hearing with Gudas. Five games was the maximum suspens...
Guards drive Wisconsin past Illinois in OT
Overtime was too much for Illinois for the fourth time this season, as the No. 9 Fighting Illini fell 91-88 to No. 23 Wisconsin in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals on Friday afternoon in Chicago.,Wisconsin guards Nick Boyd and John Blackwell combined for 69 points and made 21 of 22 foul shots to...
Ole Miss eyes another upset in SEC tourney, faces Alabama
No. 15 seed Ole Miss will look to extend its run through the Southeastern Conference tournament Friday night against the highest-rated opponent it has faced so far, No. 15-ranked and second-seeded Alabama.,The Rebels (14-19) enter the quarterfinals in Nashville after a second straight wire-to-wire u...
Illinois needs to build on last two outings to get by Wisconsin
Jim Valvano called it survive and advance in 1983 when his North Carolina State team won the national championship.,After Wisconsin hung on to eliminate Washington on Thursday in the third round of the Big Ten Conference tournament, Badgers coach Greg Gard referred to it as "just find a way to get t...