Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) gets into position during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The NFL Draft is just a few days away, and it’s a foregone conclusion that Fernando Mendoza will be the No. 1 overall pick to the Las Vegas Raiders.
That’s still up for some debate, as the New York Jets own the keys to when the draft actually begins. There’s been plenty of debate between Texas Tech defensive end David Bailey and Ohio State EDGE Arvell Reese.
The Jets have plenty of needs, including a franchise quarterback. Unfortunately, after Mendoza, a quarterback doesn’t exist. That means the Jets are likely to get defensive-minded head coach Aaron Glenn a difference maker on defense.
On popular prediction market site, Kalshi, Reese is more likely to be the No. 2 overall selection as of Friday evening.
Advertisement
Our Current Best Offers
Channel debug: betting
He’s 59% to be the No. 2 overall selection at 61¢. Bailey is 43% to be the No. 2 overall selection at 48¢. Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. is <1% – a true long shot.
There’s actually some debate here – and that favors Bailey, who is the less likely player to be selected by the Jets at No. 2 overall.
Advertisement
After a dominant first three seasons at Stanford, Bailey cemented his NFL Draft stock by showcasing his ability in 14 games at Texas Tech. He had career-highs in almost every category, finishing the season with 52 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks. Of course, that was good enough for a consensus All-American.
Reese’s story is just as impressive – but much different.
As a true freshman, Reese appeared in just six games for the Buckeyes. In 2024, Reese played in 16 games for the national championship winning team, recording half a sack and 3.5 tackles for loss. In his final season, Reese exploded onto the scene at Ohio State. He had 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He joined Bailey as a consensus All-American.
Most organizations would prefer Reese’s age, which is just 20 years old. Bailey isn’t a dinosaur at 22 years old, but extending Reese on his second contract before he’s 25 years old is very ideal. That maximizes the window for how great players can be in one organization.
Advertisement
They’re also similar in size – but Reese had some real naysayers at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis because of his unorthodox pass rushing style.
There’s plenty of reason to believe that Reese should be the No. 2 overall pick. But the value on Bailey makes sense, especially if the Jets don’t feel comfortable with drafting a player that could be perceived as a bit of a tweener.
The outcome was decided in the penultimate round. A draw against his closest rival, Anish Giri of the Netherlands, was enough for Javokhir Sindarov to win the World Chess Candidates Tournament in Cyprus.
“Every round was very, very tough, and the past week was the hardest of my life,” the new chess superstar said after his breakthrough victory. “I slept really badly and I’m glad it’s over.”
Winning the Candidates Tournament means Sindarov, 20, will now face the reigning world champion Dommaraju Gukesh of India for the World Chess Championship title in late 2026. With Gukesh just 19, it will be a duel between two young stars from the emerging chess nations of India and Uzbekistan.
Chess stars reaching peak earlier
Sindarov, who became a grandmaster at the age of 12 and has been in impressive form for months, dominated the Candidates Tournament from the start. The first decisive moment came as early as the fourth of 14 rounds, when he outplayed Fabiano Caruana, the top US favorite and 2018 World Chess vice-champion.
Advertisement
India: Why Tamil Nadu state is a chess powerhouse
With that, the Uzbek took the lead in the standings and never relinquished it. In the first six games, he achieved a sensational five wins — a feat no chess player had ever accomplished in a high-level Candidates tournament.
Sindarov represents a continuation of a trend towards younger players reaching the top of the sport from outside the traditional chess-playing nations of Europe. Primarily these prodigies are from Asia and that continent’s dominance in chess was also evident in Cyprus in the women’s competition. India’s Vaishali Rameshbabu won the Candidates Tournament by beating Russia’s Kateryna Lagno in the final round and earning the right to challenge world champion Ju Wenjun of China.
It comes as no surprise that Uzbekistan is now establishing itself as a chess powerhouse alongside China and India. “The young talents in Uzbekistan are really, really strong,” Rustam Kasimjanov, a former elite player from Uzbekistan, told DW recently.
Advertisement
Kasimjanov, who has lived near Bonn for many years, is considered the catalyst for the chess boom in the central Asian country and has personally trained many of Uzbekistan’s young chess stars. The conditions for top-level chess in his homeland are now very good: “In Uzbekistan, the state has been supporting the sport of chess with substantial funding for several years,” he added.
German influence
Former champion Kasimjanov isn’t Sindarov’s only connection to Germany. His head coach, Roman Vidonyak, was born in Ukraine but lived in Munich for many years. He has been coaching Sindarov for about a year.
“We still have big plans,” he told chess news site Chessbase following his protege’s victory. Now the goal is to win the world championship title and then try to establish Sindarov as the dominant player of his generation. The man standing in the way of that mission is the reigning world champion Gukesh, who, at 19, is even younger than Sindarov.
Advertisement
Turning Nigeria’s slums into a chess classroom
Since winning the title in late 2024, things haven’t been going well for Gukesh. He currently ranks only 15th in the world. Sindarov’s chances of becoming world champion this winter are therefore fairly strong. The Norwegian Magnus Carlsen is still considered the best chess player around, but he no longer competes in world championship games, preferring other formats.
Germany struggling to keep up with Asia
Aside from Sindarov, Germany’s Matthias Blübaum also enjoyed a strong tournament. “The lone wolf from Lemgo,” as the chess magazine New in Chess labeled him, was a surprise qualifier for the Candidates Tournament and became the first German to compete in it for over 35 years.
As an underdog, Blübaum took few risks in Cyprus, defending prudently, and steering his games towards a draw round after round. Even rising star Sindarov could not manage more than two draws against him. Blübaum suffered only two losses.
Advertisement
Matthias Blübaum acquitted himself well but the German federation lacks resourcesImage: Michal Walusza/FIDE
“In Uzbekistan, as in India, we see what happens when a lot of money is invested in chess,” Lauterbach added. But for the time being, she can only dream of such developments in Germany.
Blübaum’s success has so far failed to produce the powerful sponsor hoped for by the cash-strapped sport in Germany. Nevertheless, around EUR 90,000 in support were ultimately raised for Blübaum. The funds came in part from the German Chess Federation, and there was also a special round of state funding. In the end, to make sure that Blübaum could take his own coaches to the tournament the chess officials even organized a crowdfunding campaign online.
UFC champion Carlos Ulberg says he lost his championship belt that he just won after capturing the light heavyweight title at UCF 327.
He told Fox Sports Australia Monday he misplaced his golden title belt while celebrating his victory.
“I’ve lost the belt, bro,” Ulberg told FOX Sports. “Initially after winning, the plan was to not have a drink. But you know how these things go, right?” he said.
Advertisement
“First, someone gives you a champagne to celebrate. Then one thing leads to another, and you’re doing shots.”
Carlos Ulberg of New Zealand celebrates his knockout victory over Jiri Prochazka in a light heavyweight title bout at UFC 327 in Miami, Fla., April 11, 2026.(Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The 35-year-old from New Zealand fought through a knee injury to defeat Jiri Prochazka in the main event at UFC 327 by knockout this weekend in Miami to become the new champion of the light heavyweight division.
His injury could keep him sidelined for a year, meaning he will have to give up his champion status anyway, with UCF holding an interim title fight to take his place.
Advertisement
Carlos Ulberg of New Zealand celebrates his knockout victory over Jiri Prochazka in a light heavyweight title bout during UFC 327 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Fla., April 11, 2026.(Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
But Ulberg said he’s fairly confident his belt will be found before he heads to Las Vegas to get further evaluation from doctors on his knee. He then plans to spend time at the UFC Performance Institute before returning to New Zealand to be with family.
“I didn’t want to be carrying the belt around, so I think it’s still there at the apartment somewhere. One of the boys probably has it in bed with him,” Ulberg said.
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
MONTE-CARLO, MONACO – APRIL 10: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates after victory against Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in the Men’s Singles Quarter Final match on day six of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters at Monte-Carlo Country Club on April 10, 2026 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Madrid Open, marking a second straight year he will miss the tournament.
“This is news that is extremely hard to give,” Alcaraz said.
“Madrid is home, one of the most special places on the calendar for me, and that’s why it hurts me so much not to be able to play here for the second year in a row.”
Advertisement
He also spoke about missing the home support.
“It hurts me especially not being able to be in front of my people, in a tournament that is so special.”
“Thank you for the love as always and I hope to see you soon.”
Advertisement
The Spaniard had been expected to play a key role in the tournament, but will now focus on recovery.
The future of Marcus Rashford appears far from resolved as the end of the season approaches
Barcelona have reportedly begun exploring alternatives to Marcus Rashford, with the prospect of triggering his Manchester United release clause said to have cooled. The Catalan giants hold an option to convert his loan from United into a permanent £26million deal.
However, no definitive decision has been made amid growing uncertainty. According to Spanish newspaper Marca, Barca’s plans to secure Rashford have ‘cooled drastically’ due to concerns over his performances since the turn of the year.
Advertisement
The forward has scored just two goals in his last 16 appearances and has failed to take advantage of positional rival Raphinha’s injury-enforced absence.
Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.
Barcelona are reportedly questioning whether the pre‑agreed fee for Rashford could be better invested elsewhere following their Champions League elimination at the hands of Atletico Madrid.
They have identified Julian Alvarez as a potential alternative, though Atletico are believed to be preparing a substantial salary increase to deter any interest in the former Manchester City forward.
Advertisement
Rashford would also represent a far cheaper deal compared to Atleti’s reported £175m valuation of Alvarez.
Barca must also prepare for the possibility of Robert Lewandowski leaving this summer if no new agreement is reached.
Up to 70% off Man United kits and merch
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Fanatics has slashed the price of Man United kits and merch with up to 70% off select items.
Reports claim the club have offered the veteran striker a new contract on significantly reduced wages.
With no new deal agreed, Barcelona have reportedly identified Alexander Sorloth as Lewandowski’s potential successor.
The former Crystal Palace striker is said to have convinced the club with his technical similarities to the Polish forward and his ability to slot quickly into Hansi Flick’s system.
Advertisement
There has also been speculation that Barca would prefer to extend Rashford’s stay with another loan from a financial standpoint.
However, United are understood to be pushing for a permanent sale of the academy graduate.
STUTTGART, GERMANY – APRIL 17: Mirra Andreeva of Russia reacts against Iga Swiatek of Poland during the WomenÕs Singles quarterfinal on day five of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix 2026 at Porsche Arena on April 17, 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)
Mirra Andreeva came from a set down to defeat Iga Swiatek 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 and reach the semi-finals in Stuttgart.
The 18-year-old trailed 0-2 in the final set before turning the match around, making it three straight wins over Swiatek and her first victory against her on clay.
It also extends her run to seven consecutive wins and marks her first top-10 win of the 2026 season, as well as her first semi-final appearance in Stuttgart.
Advertisement
After the match, Andreeva revealed she even used the tournament’s Porsche prize as motivation. The Stuttgart winner receives a car, and she had been convinced it would be a 911.
“I was right! We were fighting in the restaurant yesterday and everyone was saying it’s probably the one on the right, the Cayenne. I was like it’s 911. It’s 911 and that’s it… I kept telling myself that it’s 911 and that’s it. That’s what kept me going today.”
She also spoke about the challenge of facing Swiatek.
Advertisement
“Of course when you play someone that’s so experienced… she’s won so many tournaments I can’t even count… I was telling myself ‘No matter what’s happening, I have to keep fighting and keep believing. I can win from any score.’”
WNBA star Angel Reese spoke out about her recent departure from the Chicago Sky during her first news conference with the Atlanta Dream on Friday after she was traded from Chicago to Atlanta earlier this month.
“I’m always gonna be grateful for that because I did experience a lot of great things,” Reese said Friday of her time in Chicago. “I enjoyed being able to grow within my first two years, but I wanted more. I love to win, I love to compete and I wanted to be surrounded by people that can make me better.
“And I am not satisfied with what I am as a player, and I felt like being around these kinds of players would help me be better. I can help them in different ways to help them win, and that’s all I ever wanted.
Advertisement
“I don’t care about anything else that comes with it. I want to win and being able to come to an organization that really cared about their players.”
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese reacts against the Phoenix Mercury in the first half at Phx Arena Aug. 28, 2025.(Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
The Dream acquired Reese from the Sky April 6 in exhange for first-round draft picks in 2027 and 2028. Atlanta also received the right to swap second-round picks with Chicago in 2028.
One of the WNBA’s most recognizable stars, Reese led the league in rebounds in each of her two seasons with the Sky.
Advertisement
Reese is known in mainstream pop culture as one of the WNBA’s most polarizing players due to her ongoing rivalry with women’s basketball phenom Caitlin Clark.
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese gestures toward the crowd after scoring during the second half against the Los Angeles Sparks June 29, 2025, in Los Angeles.(Jessie Alcheh/AP)
Reese taunted Clark by pointing to her ring finger during the game, prompting outrage and sparking an ongoing feud between fans.
Advertisement
Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes got revenge on Reese’s LSU Tigers a year later in the Elite Eight, but the tension hit a whole new level when the players reached the pros for their rookie WNBA seasons.
In their first WNBA season in 2024, Clark took a series of questionable fouls from Reese’s Sky throughout the 2024 season, including one from Reese June 16.
In 2025, the two had a heated exchange after Reese pushed Fever forward Natasha Howard in the back as she grabbed an offensive rebound off a miss by teammate Rebecca Allen. Reese brought the ball low, and Clark fouled her before she went up for a shot. Reese fell to the ground.
Reese got up from the floor and got into the face of Clark.
Advertisement
Referees reviewed the play and determined Clark used her left hand to shove Reese to the floor. They upgraded the personal foul on Clark to a flagrant foul. And Reese and Aliyah Boston of the Fever were issued technical fouls.
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) reacts to a flagrant foul from Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) May 17, 2025, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.(IMAGN Syndication/The Indianapolis Star)
When the two played as teammates at the FIBA World Cup qualifiers qualifiers in March, Clark ignored Reese’s gesture for a high-five during a game.
Now with Clark’s Indiana Fever contending for a championship in 2026, Reese’s Dream could prove to be a legitimate challenger.
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
Double Olympic champion Duncan Scott won the men’s 200m individual medley title in style as the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships continued in London.
Scott, 28, has won silver medals in the event at the last two Olympics and showed he remains a class act, winning in a time of 1:56.08 to qualify for this summer’s European Aquatics Championships in Paris.
He saw off Evan Jones in second, while Max Litchfield took bronze.
Scott said: “It was pretty good, I think.
Advertisement
“In terms of my technique, my strokes and transitions between them felt pretty good, and I’m happy – that’s a good place for me to be at this time of the season.”
The Scottish swimmer won gold in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay at both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024..
Earlier on Friday evening Oliver Morgan won the 50m backstroke and Eva Okaro became champion in the women’s 50m butterfly.
Morgan set a new personal best of 24.36, and Okaro claimed her second title of the week with a PB of 25.95 to break the sub-26-second mark for the first time.
Advertisement
She said: “I’m really happy with that. The 50m is a bit of a fun one for me, but I really enjoyed that race.
“I wanted to race the event to break up the meet a bit, but I’m also quite good at a splash and dash, so why not!”
Former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick hit a superb, bogey-free 63 to claim a one-shot lead over Viktor Hovland after a punishing second round at the RBC Heritage in South Carolina.
On a day of sweltering heat and unpredictable wind, the Englishman moved to 14 under par with an impeccable round helped by a stroke of fortune at the par-three 14th.
After pulling his tee shot towards the trees, Fitzpatrick’s ball struck a cart path, ricocheted back on to the green, and was only prevented from trickling into the water by a well-positioned sprinkler head.
He capitalised fully, holing the subsequent 30-foot putt for an improbable birdie.
Advertisement
“Yeah, it was lucky, there’s no two ways about it,” Fitzpatrick said. “Sometimes you need that in a week, so it’s nice to get, and then even nicer to take advantage of it.”
The 2023 champion followed up with two further birdies in his final three holes to surge ahead of the field.
Norway’s Hovland remains his closest challenger after a stunning birdie at the 17th kept him in the hunt.
“I wouldn’t say I striped it today, but at least I kind of kept the ball in front of me, and that’s what you’re trying to do on this golf course,” Hovland said.
Advertisement
World number one Scottie Scheffler, playing alongside Fitzpatrick, produced a characteristically disciplined 67. Despite hitting every fairway, the American struggled to convert several birdie opportunities and sits seven shots adrift.
Jordan Spieth was among those to suffer in the tricky conditions, carding three double bogeys in a frustrating 72, while Akshay Bhatia hit 11 birdies in a round of 63 to climb back to -6.
Jul 21, 2019; Miami Beach, FL, USA; A general view of gaming controllers on display during the Call of Duty League Finals e-sports event at Miami Beach Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
The Vancouver Surge recorded the lone sweep as qualifying for the Call of Duty League’s Stage 3 got underway on Friday.
The Surge topped G2 Minnesota 3-0, albeit in three tight maps. In the opening day’s other results, the Paris Gentle Mates downed the Carolina Royal Ravens 3-1, and the Los Angeles Thieves topped the Miami Heretics 3-1.
The 12 Call of Duty League teams are playing a full qualifying round robin to determine seeding for the third major of the season, to be held May 15-17 as part of the DreamHack Atlanta event.
On Friday, Vancouver eked past Minnesota 250-249 on Gridlock Hardpoint, 6-4 on Raid Search and Destroy and 7-5 on Scar Overload.
Carolina opened with a 250-138 victory on Gridlock Hardpoint, but Paris responded by capturing Den Search and Destroy 6-3, Den Overload 4-1 and Sake Hardpoint 250-188.
Advertisement
The Thieves began by claiming Sake Hardpoint 250-137 and Fringe Search and Destroy 6-5. The Heretics extended the match by taking Scar Overload 5-3, but Los Angeles wrapped up the win by prevailing 250-197 on Colossus Hardpoint.
The weekend schedule:
Saturday
–FaZe Vegas vs. Boston Breach
Advertisement
–Toronto KOI vs. Riyadh Falcons
–Paris Gentle Mates vs. G2 Minnesota
–Vancouver Surge vs. Carolina Royal Ravens
Sunday
Advertisement
–Toronto KOI vs. Boston Breach
–Riyadh Falcons vs. FaZe Vegas
–OpTic Texas vs. Cloud9 New York
Advertisement
Call of Duty League Stage 3 Major qualifying, with match record and map differential
Steve Kerr has coached the Golden State Warriors for a dozen of the most successful seasons in franchise history. Kerr took the helm in 2014 and four championships, six Finals berths and 600 wins later, he is seriously considering what comes next. After Golden State’s season-ending loss to the Phoenix Suns on Friday, Kerr told reporters that he has not decided whether he will return to coach the Warriors next season, but will do so after taking some time and consulting team management.
“My plan is to take a little time. I don’t know, take a week or two. Eventually, sit down with [owner] Joe [Lacob] and [general manager] Mike [Dunleavy]. We’ve always had a great partnership and collaboration, and just see where they are, and I’ll tell them where I am, and we’ll talk about what’s next for the Warriors, what the plan is this offseason, and we will come to a collaborative decision on what’s next,” Kerr said.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen. I still love coaching, but I get it. These jobs all have an expiration date. There is a run that happens and when the run ends, sometimes it’s time for new blood and new ideas and all that.”
Kerr signed a two-year, $35 million extension in 2024 that just expired after Friday’s loss. That technically makes him a coaching free agent, able to consider other jobs, but he confirmed that the Warriors are the only team he’d consider coaching next season.
Advertisement
Earlier this season, Kerr told The Athletic that he “will never leave Steph Curry.” Curry and Draymond Green are the only two players who have been on all 12 of his Warriors teams. Curry is under contract only through next season. Green has a player option for next season that he could pick up to align with Curry or decline to seek a longer-term deal. After Friday’s loss, Green confirmed that he does not plan to retire and would like to be back next season. “I hope I’ve done enough to still be here.”
Several key figures from the Warriors’ dynasty have departed over the course of their run. Executive Jerry West left for the Clippers in 2017 after the first two Warriors titles. Kevin Durant, who joined the team in 2016, left in 2019 for the Brooklyn Nets. General manager Bob Myers stepped down after the 2022-23 season, and team legend Klay Thompson signed with the Dallas Mavericks after the 2023-24 campaign.
Advertisement
Kerr, Curry and Green are the three remaining pillars of the dynasty, one that Kerr himself acknowledged is “fading.” The Warriors will do everything in their power to extend this run no matter who their coach is, but at some point in the very near future, this era of Golden State’s history will be over. For now, Kerr and Green will mull their futures and make decisions in the weeks and months to come.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login