Charley Hull caught the people’s attention with her picture on social media. She shared a snap with Welsh professional golfer Mark Mouland on her Instagram story.
She shared the throwback picture on her social media story on Saturday and tagged the golfer in the caption. They posed at the Nailcote Hall Cromwell Course. Hull wore a pink top and black shorts for the outing.
Thanks for the submission!
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Charley Hull shares throwback snap with Welsh golf veteran
Away from the field, Charley Hull is enjoying a good time. Her last outing was at the Aramco Championship, where she carded four rounds of 70, 78, 75, and 70. She settled with a score of 5 over in a tie for 15th position.
On April 6, she shared a slew of a few pictures of her outing from the Aramco Championship. She posted the snaps with a sweet caption. She wrote:
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“What happens in Vegas… 😏 Fun week at Aramco Championship, nice T15 finish and memories made at Cirque du Soleil 🤸🎪 Next stop, Augusta”
In the post, she added snaps of her playing golf, and also of the outing she enjoyed in Las Vegas.
Charley Hull offers a glimpse of her practice session
Although Charley Hull is not playing in any official tournament this week, she made sure to practice her game. She offered a glimpse of her practice session on her Instagram account on Friday. She shared the post along with a sweet caption.
“It’s always great to be back playing & practising where I grew up as a little girl playing. I love this grass driving range. I really do have the best memories on it as a kid with my Dad & Kevin growing up. Very wholesome. ⛳️ Very impressed with the condition of Kettering golf club for this time of year,” she wrote.
For her outing, Hull wore a black T-shirt and matching pants.
She started her campaign this season on the LPGA Tour at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. She carded three rounds of 70, 71, and 74 to settle in T17 place.
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She then played at the HSBC Women’s World Championship, which wrapped up with its finale on February 26. She carded four rounds of 72, 67, 74, and 69 to settle with a score of 6 under. She was tied for 10th place in the event.
This season on the LPGA Tour, Hull also played at the Ford Championship, where she played two rounds of 71 and 70. She, however, struggled with her game and missed the cut.
Meanwhile, in the last season, she played in 16 tournaments and made the cut in 14 of them. She recorded four finishes in the top 10 and won the Kroger Queen City Championship.
Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman was on target for Atlético Madrid, but they suffered a painful penalty shootout defeat to Real Sociedad in the final of the Copa del Rey.
Atleti started the match as slight favourites under coach Diego Simeone, but they were shocked early on. Ander Barrenetxea gave Real Sociedad the lead in the opening minute, heading home a fine cross from Gonçalo Guedes.
Lookman responded in style in the 18th minute. The Nigerian attacker calmly controlled a pass from Antoine Griezmann before firing a low shot past goalkeeper Unai Simón to level the score at 1-1.
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The 26-year-old remained lively and nearly turned provider in the 31st minute, but Griezmann failed to hit the target from a good position. Lookman also came close again before the break, narrowly missing the post after another neat exchange with the Frenchman.
Despite Atleti’s efforts, Real Sociedad regained the lead just before half-time. Mikel Oyarzabal converted from the penalty spot after Guedes was fouled in the box.
Atletico Madrid pushed hard in the second half, with Lookman again going close in the 60th minute, but his effort drifted wide. Shortly after, Simeone replaced him with Nicolás González.
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Atleti eventually found an equaliser in the 83rd minute through Julián Álvarez, sending the match into extra time. However, neither side could find a winner after 120 minutes.
The final was decided on penalties, where Real Sociedad held their nerve to score four spot-kicks, while Atletico Madrid managed only three.
Despite the defeat, Lookman made history with his goal. He became the first Nigerian to score in a Copa del Rey final since Finidi George achieved the feat in 1997.
However, the result means Atletico Madrid must now turn their attention to the UEFA Champions League as they continue their search for silverware this season.
PHOENIX — Nathan Lukes has quietly grinded through the first three weeks of the season in more ways than one. So, when his pinch-hit single snuck through the right side Friday night to end an 0-for-23 slide, and the Toronto Blue Jays outfielder saw his teammates in the dugout happy for him as he reached first base, “it was just what I needed,” he said.
“I looked at Bud (first base coach Mark Budzinski) and I go, ‘I kind of want to hug you,’” Lukes recalled. “And he was like, ‘We can hug.’ It was good. I feel like I’ve been due for a cheap one. Hopefully they keep coming.”
Three more did in Saturday’s 6-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, one leading to a first-inning run, and he added a sixth-inning outfield assist, throwing out Geraldo Perdomo trying to stretch a single. It was the type of outing by the 31-year-old the Blue Jays became accustomed to last season, and the kind of effort Lukes aims to deliver more regularly now that he has a handle on the vertigo that’s dogged him since the middle of spring training.
Lukes visited with a Phoenix-area vertigo specialist Friday morning and doubled down on some head-movement exercises that can help alleviate the symptoms, which include dizziness, unsteadiness and nausea. Since arriving in Arizona, he’s had a couple of “the better days with my vision that I’ve had in the past month,” which played a big role in him getting better results.
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“I don’t know where (the vertigo) came from and how it happened, but it’s hard to hit when the world is spinning and when you feel like you could throw up at any second,” said Lukes. “I never want to take myself out of the game, whether I’m feeling good or feeling bad. So, I’ve been grinding.”
As have the Blue Jays, of course, who lost their fourth straight game when Jeff Hoffman, pitching in the eighth inning of a 2-2 game to ensure he got some work in, allowed singles to Ildemaro Vargas and Alek Thomas and a Ketel Marte walk before Corbin Carroll cleared the bases with his third home run of the season.
It was the second straight poor outing for Hoffman, who allowed two earned runs during a messy ninth in Tuesday’s 9-7, 10-inning win at Milwaukee and adds yet another concern to a roster filled with them, even if manager John Schneider insisted there are no changes in role coming.
“If there’s a situation to close out of game, I’ll take Jeff Hoffman,” said Schneider, adding later: “There may be people that don’t want to hear this, but I’ve got a lot of trust and a lot of confidence in Jeff Hoffman. And I’ve said that for as long as he’s been here. He’s going to continue to be a big part of our team. And my job is to find spots to put him in and have success. I’m very confident that he will continue to have success, so we’ll just make the best decisions going forward.”
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That’s what the Blue Jays are also trying to do with Daulton Varsho, who left Friday night’s 6-3 loss after two innings with left knee discomfort and sat out Saturday, Schneider noting that “with the way we’ve been rolling,” they are simply “trying to just be extra careful.”
“I don’t think there’s any need for a roster move or anything,” Schneider added, noting that Varsho had been checked out and there wasn’t any concern about anything structural.
Max Scherzer steadied after two short outings tied to his forearm tendinitis with six innings of two-run ball — “I’m definitely better, I’m fighting through this. I felt like the ball can come out of my hand a little bit cleaner, I’ve got to recover,” he said — but the ongoing offensive issues remained, despite 12 hits.
The Blue Jays went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position, getting only Jesus Sanchez’s RBI single in the first, bringing home Lukes to open the scoring, and a Kazuma Okamoto RBI single in the sixth that made it a 2-2 game.
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Then, as so often has been the case for the Blue Jays so far, the key blow belonged to their opponent.
“We’ve got to make our own luck,” said Scherzer. “We’ve got to find a way to go out there and take it to some teams and find a way to punch through. This can happen in July, but it’s happening to us now, so we have to respond to it. … Everybody can be reflective. And that’s what it takes. It takes a total team effort to win one ball game. I know we can. Obviously, it’s going to be great when we do. Right now, we’ve just got to find that winning recipe.”
One a healthy Lukes can be a big part of, as he showed Saturday.
“Nate’s a damn good baseball player,” said Schneider. “And when he’s at his full capabilities, that’s the kind of game he can have.”
Apr 18, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Corbin Carroll (7) steals secondbase under the tag by Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Andrés Giménez (0) in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Corbin Carroll broke a tie with an opposite-field grand slam in the eighth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks extended their winning streak to four games with a 6-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Phoenix on Saturday.
Ildemaro Vargas singled off Jeff Hoffman (1-2) to open the eighth, extending his season-opening hitting streak to a franchise-record 14 games.
Alek Thomas singled and Ketel Marte walked to bring up Carroll, who hit his fourth career grand slam on a 3-1 fastball.
The D-backs, who have won eight of 10, lead the majors with 10 comeback victories.
Geraldo Perdomo had three singles and an RBI and Thomas had two hits and an RBI for the Diamondbacks, who had eight hits.
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Nathan Lukes had three hits, Kazuma Okamoto had two hits and an RBI and Ernie Clement and Eloy Jimenez had two hits apiece for the Blue Jays, who have lost four straight, six of seven and 12 of 15.
Juan Morillo (1-1) struck out Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on a 100 mph fastball with a runner on first to end the seventh and keep the game tied at 2. He allowed one hit and struck out two over 1 1/3 innings of relief.
Toronto starter Max Scherzer gave up two runs on five hits in six innings, with one strikeout and one walk.
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Arizona starter Zac Gallen permitted two runs and nine hits, leaving after Okamato’s single tied the game at 2 with two outs in the sixth. He struck out three with no walks.
Lukes, Guerrero and Jesus Sanchez singled in the top of the first, with Sanchez’s one-out single driving in Lukes for a 1-0 lead. Guerrero has a nine-game hitting streak.
The D-backs tied it in their half of the first when Carroll walked, stole second and scored on Perdomo’s single. Thomas grounded a two-out double inside the bag at first to drive in Jose Fernandez, who had singled, to give Arizona a 2-1 lead in the fifth.
Toronto tied it in the sixth after an apparent double play was changed after a review. Jimenez singled with one out, and Gallen appeared to get out of the inning when Andres Gimenez grounded to Fernandez to start what originally was called an inning-ending double play.
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Perdomo was ruled to have missed the bag on the play, leaving Jimenez at second, and he scored on Okamoto’s single to tie the game.
One of the matches that actually delivered on the first night at WWE WrestleMania was Gunther vs Seth Rollins. The Ring General and The Visionary delivered a banger show and impressed everyone in the crowd.
However, the match concluded when Bron Breakker returned to WWE and destroyed Seth Rollins. This attack allowed the Career Ki**er to defeat the Architect and secure the victory.
Thanks for the submission!
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Following the match, the new Big Dog continues his domination and spears the former Vision leader again. Meanwhile, in this article, we will be looking at five reasons why The Ring General defeated Rollins at Showcase of Immortals Night 1.
#5. To continue Gunther’s undefeated streak
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Over the past few months, Gunther continued his domination in the squared circle. In the last few months, the former Imperium Leader retired Goldberg, John Cena, and AJ Styles.
Not only this, but he also has an impressive winning streak in the squared circle in singles matches. The last time Gunther suffered a loss in a singles match was at SummerSlam 2025, where CM Punk defeated him to become the new World Heavyweight Champion.
Since then, The Ring General has defeated everyone in his match in singles bouts. So, it seems WWE wants to keep Gunther’s undefeated streak going. As a result, he defeated The Visionary at ‘Mania on Saturday.
#4. To set up a WWE rematch down the road
Gunther defeating Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 42 opens the door for a potential rematch in the near future. If The Visionary had defeated the Career Ki**er at ‘Mania, it would have concluded their rivalry as Rollins stopped his threat amid a feud with the Vision faction.
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However, this doesn’t happen, and the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion put The Architect in a sleeper hold after Bron Breakker’s interruption. Now, WWE can use this angle to set the stage for a rematch between them later this year.
If the Ring General mocks Rollins for beating him at Mania 42, Seth will indeed seek revenge for this loss, setting the stage for another bout. The chances are likely if Seth manages to win the world title later this year.
#3. Paul Heyman now owes Gunther a favor
If Seth Rollins had defeated Gunther at the Grandest Stage of Them All, it might have created a hindrance for the Ring General to redeem his favor from Paul Heyman. After saving the Oracle on Monday Night RAW, the former Imperium Leader confirmed that Heyman owed him a favor.
After defeating the Visionary at Shows of the Shows, Gunther can firmly claim his favor from the Advocate anytime he wants. Many predicted it might lead to a Gunther vs. Brock Lesnar dream showdown, considering that the Hall of Famer is still working with the Beast Incarnate.
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So, this appears to be another major reason behind the loss of Seth Rollins at Mania 42.
#2. To heat things between Seth Rollins & Bron Breakker
One of the primary reasons why Gunther defeated Seth Rollins at Showcase of Immortals was Bron Breakker. The WWE comeback of Bron and his attack on the Visionary gave the Ring General a major advantage to put the ex-Vision leader into a sleeper hold.
So, to heat things between Breakker and Rollins could be another potential reason why the Career Ki**er defeated Seth on Mania Saturday. Now, in the aftermath edition of Monday Night RAW, Rollins will indeed call Breakker out and punish him for his actions.
This will lead to the much-anticipated match between Seth and Bron in the Stamford-based promotion.
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#1. It doesn’t hurt Seth Rollins’ momentum post-Mania
BRON BREAKKER SPEARS SETH ROLLINS AGAIN!!! #WrestleMania OH MY 😱
It’s crucial to note that Gunther indeed secured victory at WrestleMania 42. However, this only happened when the Visionary passed out from the sleeper hold. The Ring General failed to secure a pinfall victory over the Architect.
Even the Visionary never tapped out from Gunther’s submission. The match ended when the referee checked Rollins, and he faded out from that choke. Also, the former World Heavyweight Champion only managed to put this submission move tight on the beloved WWE star after Bron Breakker’s disruption.
Overall, this doesn’t hurt the Architect’s momentum post-WrestleMania 42, and it’s another reason WWE booked Gunther to defeat Seth at the Shows of the Shows.
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Despite this loss, Rollins will still appear strong in his forthcoming feud against Bron Breakker. Meanwhile, if Seth had defeated the Ring General, it would have not only ended his undefeated streak but also impacted his momentum post-WrestleMania.
So, these are all the potential reasons why Gunther defeated Seth Rollins at WWE WrestleMania 42 on Saturday. The RAW after Mania show will be interesting to witness, particularly after Bron Breakker returns to the Sports Entertainment juggernaut.
Also, it remains to be seen what’s next for the WWE Career Ki**er after his massive victory over the Visionary.
The pair will headline a Queensberry Promotions card on May 9, with Wardley making the first defence of his WBO world title at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena.
He was elevated from ‘interim’ to full champion immediately after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt towards the end of last year, following Wardley’s 11th-round finish over Joseph Parker in October.
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Prior to that, many doubted whether the Ipswich man could compete at world level, even after his brutal stoppages over Justis Huni and Frazer Clarke.
By defeating Parker, though, the 31-year-old has firmly cemented himself as a top-tier heavyweight, destructive enough to halt proceedings at any given moment.
The same, to a comparable extent, could be said for Dubois, who has not fought since suffering a fifth-round stoppage defeat to Usyk last July.
As a result, the Londoner was relieved of his IBF world title, which he had previously defended with a fifth-round finish over Anthony Joshua in September 2024.
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But while both competitors carry dynamite power, pound-for-pound legend Jones has told Grosvenor Casinos that he heavily favours Wardley if their all-British dustup goes past round seven.
“Fabio Wardley is a very, very tough customer. I’ve learned to love watching Fabio, and I refuse to ever count him out again.
“Dubois probably is the better boxer, but he had better get Fabio out early, because if the fight gets past round seven, it becomes a Fabio fight.
“Fabio is a modern-day George Foreman. If Fabio gets to round 7 or 8, you can pretty much kiss the baby goodbye.”
By drawing the Foreman comparison, Jones is highlighting Wardley’s power and grit in the heat of battle – something he looks to prove once again next month in Manchester against the hardest puncher he has faced so far.
Carl Froch has given another honest assessment of Conor Benn’s performance against Regis Prograis, considering his chances in a potential clash with Ryan Garcia.
‘The Destroyer’ claimed a wide points victory over Prograis earlier this month, featuring on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov.
But despite defeating the veteran at 150lbs, Benn has received no small amount of criticism for the manner in which he went about his business.
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Given that Prograis announced his retirement soon after, and confirmed pre-fight injury rumours, many expected Benn to at least get his man out of there.
As it happened, though, the two-time world champion at no point seemed in any real danger, other than perhaps the opening round when his legs buckled from a right hand.
The 27-year-old claimed his welterweight belt in February, scoring a unanimous decision victory over Mario Barrios after flooring his man in the opening round.
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As the WBC’s No.1 contender, Benn is widely expected to enter a summer showdown with Garcia, who has already teased a possible date in August.
Froch, however, has said on his YouTube channel, Froch On Fighting, that he doubts whether the 29-year-old would make it past round three against Garcia.
“I’ll tell you what: that performance against Regis Prograis was f**king awful.
“I’m not being horrible, but this is a guy that’s now talking and shouting about Ryan Garcia.
“On that performance, Ryan Garcia absolutely splatters him within three rounds, as far as I’m concerned.
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“Conor Benn was struggling to get his distance, his range [against Prograis] – he was leaping in with his chin in the air; he was walking into shots.
“He’s got no punching power. What’s happened to him? Why doesn’t he punch [hard] anymore? Why is he not ferocious?
“He needs to tidy up his fighting style, his defence. He needs to get behind the jab; he needs to become more of a boxer and a mover.”
Benn has not scored any stoppages since 2022, when his second-round finish over Chris van Heerden was followed by two positive tests for banned substance clomifine, albeit several months later.
Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane pushes forward with the ball as Cleveland Browns safety Grant Delpit wraps him up low during first-quarter action at Huntington Bank Field, with the play unfolding on Dec 29, 2024 in Cleveland. The sequence captures early-game physicality as both teams battle for control at the line of scrimmage. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images.
Every week, we flag the “Nopedy Nopes” around the Minnesota Vikings — the takes that veer off course, stretch logic, lose footing, or collapse under scrutiny.
Three rumors. Three rulings. Draft week brings bluster.
This round focuses on trades, the future at general manager, and a downward-trending draft theory.
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These Latest Vikings Rumors Fall Apart under Scrutiny
The Vikings Nopedy Nopes just a few days before the draft.
Miami Dolphins running back De’von Achane (28) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the New York Jets during the second half, Sep 29, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, celebrating with visible emotion as he turns toward teammates following a breakaway run that extended the Dolphins’ lead in a key AFC East matchup. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The Nopedy Nope: Dolphins RB De’Von Achane is in play for the Vikings via trade.
Because the Vikings now employ Frank Smith, Achane’s offensive coordinator over the last three years, Minnesota made sense as a trade destination — if the Dolphins were willing to offload him.
But Miami has no interest.
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Talking to the media on Wednesday, Miami general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan touched on Achane trade rumors, stating, “He’s not available for trade. Things are going good. We’ve had some positive conversations over the last couple of days, trending in the right direction.”
“Obviously, he’s very important to what we’re doing. It’s part of professional sports. We’ll get where we need to be one way or another, but things are trending in the right direction.”
NBC Sports‘ Josh Alper added, “While there might be an offer that changes the Dolphins’ view of holding onto Achane for the long term, it doesn’t sound like there’s much reason to believe he will be anywhere but Miami come the fall.”
Achane in Minnesota would be electric, but Sullivan isn’t selling.
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The Verdict: Nopedy nope on Achane as a Vikings trade option. Not happening.
The Nopedy Nope: George Paton is a frontrunner to eventually replace Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as general manager.
Some rumors claimed the Vikings could tab Paton for general manager duty after Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was fired on January 30th. That idea appears to be toast.
Denver Broncos general manager George Paton speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine, Feb 25, 2025, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, addressing reporters at the podium while discussing roster strategy, draft preparation, and team outlook during one of the league’s most important offseason evaluation events. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert wrote earlier this month: “Some thought that Zygi and Mark Wilf were clearing a path for the return of former assistant general manager George Paton, who has spent the past five seasons as general manager of the Denver Broncos and is entering the final year of his contract.”
“Others assumed Brzezinski would eventually be promoted to the permanent role and that the Wilfs’ public neutrality on the question was mostly a function of the NFL mandate to conduct diverse search processes for every open GM job.”
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The Vikings employed Paton for 13 years from 2007 to 2020.
Seifert continued, “Based on conversations in Phoenix, it’s clear that neither scenario has begun materializing — raising the real possibility that the organization will go through a second change of direction in a matter of months.”
“There are no indications that Paton is on his way out in Denver or wants to leave. ESPN senior national NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler reported that Paton appears set to return, and Broncos coach Sean Payton has expressed hope that Paton will sign a contract extension.”
It seems Paton will stay on as the Broncos’ general manager.
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The Verdict: Nopedy nope on Paton as an Adofo-Mensah replacement plan.
The Nopedy Nope: Jadarian Price could be the Vikings’ next RB1.
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton analyzed a handful of players who could sneak into the 1st-Round later this week, and Price qualified, the only RB to do so.
He wrote, “NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport believes Jadarian Price will be the second tailback off the board and may sneak into the first round within a shallow class of ball-carriers.”
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“Jeremiyah Love, a projected first-rounder, and Price played together through three terms with the Fighting Irish. The former took on the featured role after Audric Estime’s departure to the NFL, while the latter served in a complementary role.”
Price has usually been considered a safe 2nd-Round pick.
Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price returns a kickoff for a touchdown against Southern California during the second half, Oct 18, 2025, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana, sprinting down the sideline with open field ahead as the play shifts momentum in a high-profile college football matchup. Mandatory Credit: Michael Longo-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
“Although Price didn’t rack up more than 746 yards in a single collegiate term, he averaged at least six yards per carry and scored 18 touchdowns over the last two years. After a couple of seasons as Notre Dame’s No. 2 running back, Price may have more to offer a team that wants a decisive early-down ball-carrier who can also contribute on special teams,” Moton continued.
“He returned three kickoffs for touchdowns in college. Most of the league’s clubs featured multiple running backs, so don’t discount one of them taking Price on Day 1.”
Some think the Seattle Seahawks could use their 32nd pick on Price, mainly because they just won the Super Bowl and seem like they have a house-money roster.
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Minnesota doesn’t pick again after No. 18 until No. 47, diminishing the hopes of Price turning purple.
The Verdict: Nopedy nope on Price in the Vikings’ organic draft range.
Nigeria’s Falconets are approaching the final step in their bid to qualify for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, with head coach Moses Aduku stressing the importance of full concentration.
The West African side will take on Malawi women’s national under-20 team in a two-legged playoff next month. The first leg is set for Saturday, 2 May in Nigeria, while the return fixture will be played a week later in Lilongwe.
Preparations have been calm and structured, with the team camping in Abuja for three weeks. This period has allowed the technical crew to evaluate players, improve fitness, and fine-tune tactics ahead of the decisive ties.
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Aduku is confident his players are mentally and physically prepared for the challenge.
“We have a full squad available and the players are focused. At this stage, our attention is on tactical work and team organisation,” he said.
Known for their attacking quality and discipline, the Falconets are working to sharpen both aspects before the crucial opening match. While Nigeria will look to make the most of home advantage in the first leg, Aduku understands that qualification will be decided over two matches, making consistency vital.
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Road to the final round
Nigeria have been dominant throughout the qualifiers. They advanced from the opening stage after their opponents withdrew, before defeating Rwanda women’s national under-20 team 5-0 on aggregate in the second round. That run included a narrow away win in Kigali and a convincing victory at home in Ibadan.
Their toughest test came against Senegal women’s national under-20 team. Nigeria secured a 1-0 first-leg win in Abeokuta before sealing qualification with a 2-1 away victory, completing a 3-1 aggregate success.
Across these matches, the Falconets have shown a strong balance between solid defending and clinical finishing, underlining their status as one of Africa’s top teams at this level.
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Malawi, meanwhile, have battled their way to this stage. They edged past the Central African Republic women’s national under-20 team on a 1-1 aggregate score in the first round, before beating South Sudan women’s national under-20 team 3-1 on aggregate.
Their standout performance came in the third round against Guinea-Bissau women’s national under-20 team. After a 1-1 away draw, Malawi produced a dominant 5-1 home win in Lilongwe to progress 6-2 on aggregate.
That result highlights Malawi’s attacking strength, especially on home soil, and sets up an interesting contest against Nigeria’s organised and consistent approach.
With both sides just two matches away from qualification, the playoff promises to be closely contested. Nigeria aim to secure their place on the world stage once again, while Malawi are chasing a historic first appearance at the tournament.
Former India cricketer Murali Kartik has called for someone from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to step in, intervene, and assist Nicholas Pooran amid his poor form in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The explosive Caribbean player has been far from his best as the franchise seeks a resolution to avoid a potential third loss in a row.
Nicholas Pooran, who retired from international cricket last year, came into IPL 2026 after an equally poor SA20 2026 campaign while leading the MI Cape Town. With other overseas batters on the bench like Josh Inglis and Matthew Breetzke, and even Indian names like Himmat Singh and Arshin Kulkrani being an option, LSG have to take a massive call.
Murali Kartik branded Pooran’s form as ‘worrying and concerning’ ahead of the Rishabh Pant-led side’s upcoming clash against the Punjab Kings (PBKS).
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“You are relying on your Big 4. Aiden Markram has looked really good, you need him and Mitchell Marsh to strike at the top of the order. Nicholas Pooran, his form is worrying and concerning, because what he can do to the opposition, we all know. But he has been a pale patch of his best self this season. Completely muddled by the looks of it,” Murali Kartik said on Cricbuzz.
“He is not able to get pace away, and whatever technical deficiencies he has, somebody needs to tell him, because it is not helping,” he added.
LSG are set to face the unbeaten Punjab Kings (PBKS) at theMaharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, on Sunday, April 19. This will mark the team’s third afternoon encounter in IPL 2026 after their contests against the Gujarat Titans (GT) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
Nicholas Pooran has scored 42 runs in five matches for LSG in IPL 2026
The left-handed wicket-keeper batter kick-started his IPL 2026 campaign with a run-a-ball eight against the Delhi Capitals (DC), where he was outfoxed by Lungi Ngidi’s trademark slower ball. Since then, he has recorded double figures in only two out of the four matches. Overall, he has scored 42 runs in five matches at an average of 8.40 and a strike rate of 76.36.
In his most recent outing against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), he chopped one back onto the stumps against Josh Hazlewood to depart after scoring one runs off seven deliveries.
That was the story of Tuesday night at Easter Road too. The Scots were dominant, created decent chances but just couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net, until McGovern did deep into stoppage-time to level.
In the Hibernian striker – who had six goals in seven games before this one – it does seem the Scots have found the goalscoring forward they’ve been missing.
But in both games she missed golden opportunities too. Though she was not the only one.
Andreatta insists the clinical edge which is still missing will come as “connections grow” between players.
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Lauren Davidson was drafted in from the off after her impressive performance and assist off the bench midweek, while Freya Gregory only earned her first cap last year, along with McGovern.
There’s still a bit of a transitional feel about things, but Scotland don’t have time for bedding in.
The players know it. Many have seen this movie before where they canter through qualifying campaigns but panic at the play-offs, which are guaranteed to come.
“Frustration” was the first word Docherty said in her post-match reflection.
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She, along with Weir, have been said to have been sharing horror stories of the past in camp this week. Fresh faces, such as McGovern and Miri Taylor have spoken of their importance.
Important to recognise but not be restrained by.
Andreatta has done well in her year to release the squad of their shackles and shift their mentality to one where Scotland leave Belgium with a point and a pang of pain.
A double-header with Isreal is the next challenge, but the overriding focus is getting her side ready to right their play-off wrongs later this year.
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