Moses Itauma will fight twice more this year according to promoter Frank Warren, who has big plans for the young heavyweight.
Itauma knocked out Jermaine Franklin in a statement win back in March, further boosting his reputation as boxing’s hottest prospect and a champion-in-waiting. Post-fight, Warren said the plan is to fight again in the summer and to capture a world title before the end of the year.
It has since been revealed that the Brit will headline the O2 Arena for the first time on Saturday August 8. The fight – against an as yet unnamed opponent – was pushed back due to a date clash with Anthony Joshua, but will not stop Itauma getting out for a third time if all goes to plan.
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Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Warren revealed that Itauma’s third outing of 2026 will be a debut in the United States, in either November or December.
“What I am looking forward to doing this year, and it will happen this year, we will bring him to the [United] States. November/December, we will bring him out. Whatever it is, it will have to be a big fight because he will be making his announcement in person.”
In a seperate interview with TalkSPORT, the Hall of Fame promoter confirmed the world title goal is still alive.
“Moses is gonna fight for the world title this year. Who it’s against, I don’t know yet, but that’s what he’s going to do. By the end of the year he will be facing a world champion.”
Talk now turns to opponents, with Warren saying that the August fight will be announced officially within the next two weeks.
Should that work out for Itauma in August, he would become the second youngest heavyweight world ruler of all time, taking Floyd Patterson’s place behind Mike Tyson’s long-standing record.
New York’s Jarrell Miller is currently the WBA #2 and mandatory challenger, so could be in a good position to then be the opponent for Itauma’s final bout of 2026 in the US.
There are, however, plenty of options for Itauma, who is ranked number one with the WBO and WBA, five with the IBF and three with the WBC.
The WBO are expected to call the young Brit as mandatory challenger this year, meaning he will be ordered to face the winner of Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois, which takes place this weekend in Manchester.
Madison Square Garden always attracts the biggest stars courtside, and it was no different during Game 2 between the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. Several high-profile names were in attendance, including Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner, with the actor turning heads after repeatedly grabbing his girlfriend during the game.
Hater Report shared a clip of Chalamet on X (formerly Twitter), in which the Dune star appeared to get handsy with his girlfriend on the sidelines.
Thanks for the submission!
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“Timothée Chalamet couldn’t stop palming Kylie Jenner a*s like a basketball at the Knicks game lmao,” Hater Report captioned the post.
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In the clip, Chalamet and Jenner appeared to be celebrating the Knicks’ 108-102 win over the 76ers, sharing a kiss courtside. However, the actor was repeatedly seen grabbing his girlfriend during the celebrations, prompting reactions from fans.
@HaterReport Dude couldn’t stop asserting his dominance, chill out bro
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@HaterReport Timothée said “mine” with his whole chest.
@HaterReport Now that’s a real man …lol…You know if u are offended by that it is maybe u never loved anybody…
While most fans chose to see the funny side of the couple’s courtside romance, a few suggested that the actor’s behavior reflected poorly on their relationship and questioned its longevity.
@HaterReport That’s because he knows she’s going to drop him here within the next fiscal quarter
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@HaterReport He better she will dump him and move on faster then he can blink 😂😂😂
Though fans remained divided in their opinions, suggesting that the couple would not last based on a single courtside moment may be a stretch.
The pair have been together for over a year and have been regulars at Knicks games, despite Jenner being based in Los Angeles.
While speculation about Chalamet’s relationship will likely remain a talking point among fans, the actor will be a happy man heading into Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series.
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The Knicks have made back-to-back semifinal appearances for the third straight season and have one foot in the conference finals as they look to take a 3-0 lead in Philadelphia on Friday.
Timothee Chalamet prioritizes the Knicks’ playoff game over Kylie Jenner and the MET Gala
The Met Gala remains one of the biggest events on the annual calendar, especially among movie stars and fashion icons. However, Timothee Chalamet skipped the event in favor of the Knicks’ semifinal game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The actor appeared courtside for Game 1 of the series on Monday, while his girlfriend, Kylie Jenner, attended the Met Gala alone. Bleacher Report highlighted this on X (formerly Twitter).
“Timothée Chalamet SKIPPED the Met Gala to watch the Knicks in Game 1 😭🔥He’s one of us 🙌,” Bleacher Report captioned the post.
Chalamet skipping the gala for the Knicks highlights his loyalty to the team, as the actor remains a regular attendee at Madison Square Garden.
Manchester City are looking to defend their Under-21 title with another victory over Manchester United. The young Blues won a derby on their way to play-off glory last season and have a semi-final tonight with their eyes set on successive finals.
Hoping to be in Ben Wilkinson’s starting XI at the Joie Stadium will be centre-back Harrison Parker. The 19-year-old moved to City in 2023 straight from United, having joined Old Trafford after his early years in Arsenal’s academy.
It is quite the list of clubs to already have on his CV as a teenager and Parker’s move to City was one of those rare academy transfers that makes its own headlines. Since arriving at the City Football Academy though, it has been anything but straightforward.
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Parker describes it as a ‘shock to the system’ when he arrived, not least because he was injured when he arrived and had to recover from that before he could be in the best shape to learn new things. The competition for a position has also been fierce. Last year Jahmai Simpson-Pusey became the first centre-back to win the Premier League 2 Player of the Year award and his partnership with Max Alleyne was the foundation of the City Under-21 team that went on to lift the trophy.
This season, Stephen Mfuni has followed those two out of the door on loan and Parker has been one of the reasons that 17-year-old Kaden Braithwaite – who made his senior debut in 2024 – has spent the majority of his campaign playing for the Under-18s.
Youth football is tough and rarely linear, with academy players needing to be hardened mentally for the rough that inevitably comes with the smooth. As difficult as it was for Parker getting a different kind of education at City, he has started to build a good rhythm this year and is confident that City have set him up to follow in the footsteps of the centre-backs in front of him that have already started their journeys in senior football.
“It’s been tough. Coming from two big clubs to another big club is hard and you want it to all go smooth, but it’s part of football. You learn a lot of things and it’s only going to help my career in the long term,” he told the Manchester Evening News.
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“Just the way that City play football, it adapts you for men’s football. It’s a totally different way. I think going to a different team you’d have to change it again because that’s what the manager wants but even being with the first team you learn so much each day. You’re with the best players in the world and it’s great.
“I think City is massively different from everyone. They’ve just got such a style of play that no one else can do. That’s why a lot of academy players from here have gone on to have such great careers because technically they’re ready for men’s football.”
Aug 16, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) and New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (8) meet after the game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Stefon Diggs is a free agent, was just found not guilty of assault charges by a Massachusetts jury, and played for the Minnesota Vikings for five seasons a decade ago. According to Bleacher Report, he could be a prime target for the Vikings, a club with a WR3 vacancy.
The reunion would bring production, familiarity, and experience.
Diggs’s free agency will likely heat up now that his legal woes are in the rearview. Minnesota cannot be ruled out of the sweepstakes.
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Diggs Joins a Crowded List of Vikings WR3 Options
Would you welcome the reunion?
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs jogs during a road matchup against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. On Dec. 2, 2019, Diggs remained one of Minnesota’s premier offensive weapons while helping power the Vikings passing attack during a high-scoring primetime battle in Seattle. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports.
BR: Vikings Make Sense as a Diggs Landing Spot
Right after the draft, BR’s Joseph Zucker sized up Diggs’s employment options in 2026, and the Vikings were mentioned.
He wrote, “The Kansas City Chiefs are in a much different spot organizationally. They’re aiming to contend despite quarterback Patrick Mahomes recovering from a torn ACL. Like the Raiders, the Chiefs didn’t take a receiver until Day 3. Cincinnati’s Cyrus Allen went in the fifth round, so signing Diggs to a short-term contract makes sense for Kansas City.”
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“Would one of Diggs’ old teams consider a reunion? Jordan Addison has yet to make a true breakthrough with the Minnesota Vikings. The team’s depth really falls off once you get past him and Justin Jefferson as well. The Vikings have one quarterback on a one-year contract (Kyler Murray) and another who may be heading into a make-or-break season (J.J. McCarthy). Bringing Diggs back to Minneapolis has some merit.”
The Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins might make sense for Diggs, as well.
Vikings’ Need for a WR3
The Vikings had a WR3; his name was Jalen Nailor. But he’s from Las Vegas, and when the Raiders dangled a fat contract in front of him in March, Nailor dipped. He’s a Raider. Then, the Vikings, equipped with nine draft picks in 2026, picked zero wide receivers last month, despite extensive scouting of the position.
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That leaves Tai Felton, a 3rd-Rounder from last year, who, based on draft stock, should be ready to roll as the WR3. There’s one problem: Kwesi Adofo-Mensah selected him, meaning he could be another example on a long list of draft gaffes. Felton played 26 offensive snaps last year. It’s unclear if that was by design, with the Vikings ready to peel off the tape in 2026 — or if Felton looked like a buffoon behind the scenes.
No Nailor. No rookie WR draft picks. A mixed outlook on Felton. Those elements create the theoretical need for a WR3.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson and Houston Texans receiver Stefon Diggs exchange jerseys following a game at U.S. Bank Stadium. During the Sep. 22, 2024, matchup in Minneapolis, the two star receivers shared a postgame moment after competing in one of the NFL’s more anticipated interconference contests of the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Sporting News‘ Billy Heyen on the Vikings’ WR3 stakes: “The top of the depth chart is awesome, of course, with Justin Jefferson. The good news for the Vikings is that free agency still includes multiple veteran WRs who have yet to sign anywhere. Those are the three big names left, and while Diggs, Jauan Jennings and Deebo Samuel likely could go elsewhere, they’d have to feel pretty good about their chances of playing ample snaps in Minnesota.”
“They’d also be joining the Vikings’ new QB, Kyler Murray, who is in prove-it mode himself. It’d be a shock to see Minnesota make it to the new season without some kind of WR addition. At this point it’s a matter more of ‘who’ rather than ‘if.’”
Diggs’s Production Last Year
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Diggs made an immediate impact in his first season with New England. Less than a year after tearing his ACL, he started every game and quickly became Drake Maye’s go-to target, catching 85 passes for 1,013 yards and 4 touchdowns. Such immediate and high-level production typically leads to a swift contract extension.
Retaining Diggs would have provided the Patriots with a valuable bridge to the future, particularly if they aimed to draft a rookie wide receiver. The strategy is common across the NFL: pairing a young receiver with an experienced veteran to foster their development together.
Even in 2025, Diggs remained a game-changer. Among all NFL wideouts who ran at least 50 routes, he ranked eighth in total EPA (Expected Points Added), a key metric for offensive impact. Players delivering that level of production are rare, even at 32 years old.
New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs speaks with reporters following minicamp inside the WIN Field House at Gillette Stadium. On June 10, 2025, Diggs addressed the media while continuing preparations for his first season in New England and building chemistry with the Patriots’ evolving offense during offseason workouts in Foxborough. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images.
If he popped off for 1,013 yards last year in New England, he can for damn sure tabulate 700+ this year in Minnesota. New England may also make it simple and re-sign Diggs, now that he beat the allegations.
The WR Options
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If Diggs is a nonstarter for Vikings’ free agency options, the good news is that plenty of other reputable alternatives are on the open market. In addition to Brandon Aiyuk, who could be gettable via trade with the San Francisco 49ers, these options remain for Minnesota and other WR3-needy clubs:
Keenan Allen
Tyreek Hill
DeAndre Hopkins
Jauan Jennings
Deebo Samuel
Almost all, including Diggs, would bring a degree of excitement and past Pro Bowl flavor.
Diggs’s free agency should heat up as soon as now.
Editor’s Note: Shortly after this article was published, Jennings signed with the Vikings.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Luke Littler beat Luke Humphries to claim a third successive night win and a record-equalling sixth victory of the season in the Premier League.
The 19-year-old set the record last year and now has two more nights in the league phase to break it.
The win in Leeds backed up victories in Liverpool and Aberdeen in the past two weeks and has seen him open up a five-point advantage at the top of the standings.
The 2024 champion, who is guaranteed a place in the play-offs at London’s O2 Arena on 28 May, beat Michael van Gerwen 6-5 in the quarter-finals, before edging past Jonny Clayton in another last-leg decider in the semis.
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He won by the same scoreline in the final – for the second successive week against defending champion Humphries.
The final was a sublime game with both players averaging in excess of 100 and more than 45% on the checkouts.
Littler missed darts to break in the fifth leg, and Humphries had the opportunity to break and seal victory in leg 10.
But Littler raised his level in the decider to take the win and deny Humphries a third straight success in Leeds.
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“I’ve just got to keep going – I can go and beat my own record,” Littler told Sky Sports.
“Even the win against Jonny [Clayton, in the semi-finals], I knew I was a few points clear. I’m in the clear now and I’ve just got to keep top spot.”
The McEvoy stable, comprising Tony and Calvin, is counting on give in the turf to aid Bossy Nic at Morphettville.
She lines up in the Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes (1200m) on Saturday, chasing a further Stakes addition to her resume.
Although tempted by the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville this weekend, the father-and-son trainers chose the gentler fillies and mares set weights for Bossy Nic.
As a juvenile in her second race, Bossy Nic won the Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m) held at Flemington, with expectations she could progress to Sydney’s Autumn Carnival thereafter.
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Since then, Bossy Nic has failed to reproduce that spark, recording four wins across 29 starts for almost $740,000 in earnings, yet no more Stakes placings.
She did achieve bronze in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in the previous spring.
Bossy Nic has raced twice this preparation on wet tracks, filling a place on both: second returning at Flemington, then third at Caulfield most recently on April 11.
Saturday’s soft track at Morphettville is music to Calvin McEvoy’s ears.
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“She wants cut in the ground,” McEvoy said.
“She’s a nice mare, she’s going well and is a capable mare on her day and as soon as she gets some soft ground, she improves, which is what she’s had two runs this time in.”
In current markets, Bossy Nic holds the third line of betting, with Aviatress leading at $4.20 ahead of Naifah ($4.40).
Saturday sees senior jockey Daniel Stackhouse aboard, replacing apprentice Jackson Radley from the mare’s two previous starts this campaign.
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Head to the racing betting markets for competitive prices on Bossy Nic’s Proud Miss Stakes bid.
The game will be played in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle 2025-27.
Bangladesh defeated Pakistan in their previous Test series 2-0 in 2024.
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Start date of BAN vs PAK 1st Test match 2026
Bangladesh vs Pakistan 1st Test match 2026 will start on Friday, May 8, 2026.
The matches will be played as part of the current ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. At present, Bangladesh stands eighth in the nine-nation league table, while Pakistan is ranked fifth after drawing a series 1-1 against South Africa at home earlier.
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The last time Bangladesh and Pakistan locked horns in a Test series was in October 2024, during which Bangladesh defeated Pakistan 2-0.
As both nations look to score early points in the ICC WTC, the BAN vs PAK 1st Test match could lay down the foundation for an exciting duel across two Tests.
How to watch BAN vs PAK 1st Test match 2026 from India
In India, the Bangladesh vs Pakistan Test series 2026 is not available on traditional TV, but fans can live stream the action on FanCode app and website.
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BAN vs PAK 2026 Test series schedule
Match
Dates
Venue
BAN vs PAK 1st Test
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May 8-12
Dhaka
BAN vs PAK 2nd Test
May 16-20
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Sylhet
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Munster would be nervously looking over their shoulder if they lose in Galway, with a final fixture against Lions.
Nonetheless, Gavin Coombes remains confident in the bid to repeat their 2023 title triumph.
“We’re so tight and connected as a group that belief inside this building is huge,” said the back-row forward.
Cardiff aim to ensure Welsh interest in the knock-outs and are fuelled by narrowly missing out to rivals Scarlets last season, but face the top two sides in the final weeks.
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“It’s really tough to do all the calculations about other teams but it’s still in our hands and we can control it,” said head coach Corniel van Zyl.
“So it’s back to the old cliche of this week being the most important and we will try to get as many points as we can.”
A late win at Scarlets kept the Bulls seventh and they finish on home soil against the Italian pair of Zebre and Benetton.
Maximum points would not only claim a play-off place but potentially the huge advantage of a home quarter-final at altitude in Pretoria.
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Ulster have recovered from a horrendous 2024-25 when they finished 14th, but have wobbled with back-to-back URC losses.
The Challenge Cup finalists finish against the top two in Belfast with scrum-half Nathan Doak aiming to build on their rousing semi-final win against Exeter.
“We’ve lost a few league games at home,” he said. “The last two games at home are massive for us. We’ll not be taking the foot off the pedal at all.”
Final rosters for the 2026 WNBA season were due Thursday ahead of opening night on Friday and, after a flurry of last-minute moves, all 15 teams now have their groups in place. The new collective bargaining agreement mandates that teams fill all 12 roster spots this season and also created two developmental roster spots per team — though those are optional.
As is always the case, there were a number of notable cuts. Perhaps the most shocking was the Golden State Valkyries’ decision to part ways with Marta Suarez. They traded the No. 8 pick (Flau’jae Johnson) to the Storm for the No. 16 pick (Suarez) and another future second-round pick, then cut Suarez and couldn’t even get her to stay on a development contract. General manager Ohemaa Nyanin initially declined to give an explanation, then later said it was about cap flexibility. Regardless, it was horrible asset management even before Suarez signed a development contract with the Phoenix Mercury.
The Valkyries also waived fan favorite Kate Martin, who is not on a roster to begin the season, and announced that Iliana Rupert is pregnant and will be out indefinitely. Her absence will be a major blow to their playoff hopes this season.
Additionally, the Storm waived first-round draft pick Taina Mair and later signed her to a development contract. Their decision to take Mair at No. 14 was a complete stunner, and looks even worse now that she failed to make the full roster. Still, she’s at least with the organization.
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Finally, a number of players have been temporarily suspended because they are still fulfilling overseas commitments. That includes Awa Fam (Storm), the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft, Justė Jocytė (Valkyries), the No. 5 overall pick in 2025, Nell Angloma (Connecticut Sun), the No. 12 overall pick in this year’s draft, Leïla Lacan (Sun), Leonie Fiebich (New York Liberty) and Monique Akoa Makani (Phoenix Mercury).
Here’s a quick glossary on the different types of roster contracts:
Protected veteran: These are veterans with a fully guaranteed contract. Teams can only have a maximum of seven protected veterans under such a contract.
Protected rookie: When a team picks up the fourth-year option on a rookie-scale contract, it becomes fully guaranteed. These contracts do not count toward the limit of protected veteran contracts.
Unprotected: These are players without a guaranteed contract. If they are waived, they are only owed the pro-rated salary for the time they were on the team. These contracts become guaranteed at the midpoint of the season.
Draftee: These are players who have just been drafted and signed their rookie-scale contract. They do not count against the salary cap until the first day of the season if they remain on the roster.
Developmental: The new collective bargaining agreement created a new developmental system that will give each team two developmental players. These players do not count against the salary cap.
Training camp: These are players who were invited to training camp on a non-standard contract that does not count against the salary cap until the first day of the season if they remain on the roster. In the event they make the team, the contract converts to a one-year, unprotected, minimum deal.
Pregnancy/Childbirth: Players who are unavailable due to pregnancy or recent childbirth. These players receive 100% of their base salary, which does count toward the salary cap. However, these players do not count toward a roster spot.
Atlanta Dream
The Dream brought back their entire core in free agency, traded for Angel Reese, drafted Madina Okot and convinced former first-round pick Isobel Borlase to come over to the WNBA out of the Women’s National Basketball League in her native Australia.
Their rotation was set heading into camp, but a few spots at the end of their roster were won by British guard Holly Winterburn and second-round pick Indya Nivar. They currently do not have any developmental players.
The Sky completely revamped their roster in the offseason with a clear eye on returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2023. Out went Angel Reese and Ariel Atkins, and in came Skylar Diggins, Natasha Cloud, Azurá Stevens, Rickea Jackson, DiJonai Carrington, Jacy Sheldon and Gabriela Jaquez via free agency, trades and the draft.
Ajša Sivka, the No. 10 overall pick in 2025, ended up signing with Kentucky to play college basketball, while Hailey Van Lith, who went one pick later at No. 11, was waived. Sydney Taylor, who went undrafted in 2024 out of Louisville, earned the final full roster spot, while Maddy Westbeld and Aicha Coulibaly signed development deals.
The Sun will field an extremely young roster for their final season in Connecticut before moving to Houston. Only three players have five or more years of experience: Brittney Griner, Kennedy Burke and Shey Peddy. That group will have to provide leadership to their six rookies and four second-year players.
Draft picks Nell Angloma, Gianna Kneepkens and Charlisse Leger-Walker all made the team, as did Ashlon Jackson (developmental), a second-round pick who was waived by the Valkyries, and undrafted rookie Raegan Beers. They also signed Hailey Van Lith after she was waived by the Sky. Because Angloma and Leïla Lacan are temporarily suspended, the Sun are currently carrying 14 players on their full roster. They will have to get down to 12 when Angloma and Lacan arrive.
Like so many teams, the Wings will look completely different this season after making some major moves in free agency and drafting Azzi Fudd with the No. 1 overall pick. In addition to signing 2025 co-Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith and Jessica Shepard, the Wings also brought former No. 2 overall selection Awak Kuier back stateside.
The Wings invited 22 players to camp before making their final wave of cuts, which included veteran guard Lindsay Allen and Amy Okonkwo, who had some nice moments down the stretch last season. They also signed Costanza Verona and Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu to developmental deals.
The Valkyries signed Gabby Williams in free agency, which was a big get, and lost a few deep rotation players, including Temi Fágbénlé, but are mostly bringing back the same team. In terms of minutes played, seven of their top nine from last season returned, which means their rotation won’t look too different.
Notably, No. 5 overall pick Justė Jocytė will be coming over to the WNBA this season, though she is temporarily suspended. Additionally, the team will be without French center Iliana Rupert this season because she is pregnant. Under the new CBA, players receive 100% of their base salary while they are out due to childbirth/pregnancy, but their salary does count toward the salary cap. The player does not, however, count toward their roster limit.
Their roster is now set after waiving Megan McConnell, Jessica Timmons and Kayana Traylor on Wednesday. Veteran guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough made the final roster after signing a training camp contract. Second-round pick Justine Pissott will occupy one of their developmental spots.
Unsurprisingly, the Aces are largely running it back after winning their third title in four years, and they don’t anticipate having an eventful training camp. They only invited 13 players to camp, which may have set a record. The final roster spot came down to draftees Janiah Barker and Jordan Obi, and Barker won out.
Former lottery pick Chennedy Carter also locked up a roster spot. She has gone unsigned in two of the last three seasons, but the Aces are betting on her talent.
The Sparks went all in this offseason. They brought back franchise icon Nneka Ogwumike, who had spent the last two seasons in Seattle, re-signed Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby and traded former lottery pick Rickea Jackson for Ariel Atkins.
But even though the Sparks hope to contend, they have some questions about their depth. Second-round picks Ta’Niya Latson and Chance Gray both made the final roster, as did South Korean forward Jihyun Park.
The Lynx‘s three leading scorers from last season — Napheesa Collier, Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams — are all back, but almost nothing else remains the same in Minnesota. There was a mass exodus in the expansion draft and free agency, and they made some notable additions, including No. 2 pick Olivia Miles and veteran forward Natasha Howard.
They also got Maya Caldwell from the Fire in exchange for a third-round pick, and had a number of international rookies make the final roster, including Emma Cechova and Antonia Delaere. Emese Hof will be on a developmental deal.
The front end of the Liberty’s roster is stacked, and they also did some nice work on the margins to solidify their depth, including re-signing Marine Johannès, Han Xu, Rebekah Gardner and Rebecca Allen. Additionally, Europeans Pauline Astier and Raquel Carrera made the final roster, while Marine Fauthoux is on a developmental deal.
Leonie Fiebich and Carrera will be temporarily suspended to begin the season.
The Mercury re-signed Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper, but did nothing to replace All-Star forward Satou Sabally, who walked in free agency. While they’re still going to be a competitive team, a return trip to the Finals looks unlikely unless they’re able to work some true magic on the margins. They certainly made an effort to do so, as they brought in 24 players — two full rosters worth — to camp.
A number of international players made their final roster, including Kyara Linskens, Jovana Nogic and Noemie Brochant. Additionally, Marta Suarez and Shay Ciezki will occupy their developmental spots.
The Fire are one of two expansion teams to join the league this season, and they have an extremely young group. Bridget Carleton, Megan Gustafson and Karlie Samuelson are the only players on the final roster with more than four years of experience. Eight of the 11 players they selected in the expansion draft made the final roster.
Spanish guard Iyana Martín, the No. 7 overall pick, will remain in Europe this summer and will not play in the WNBA this season. Additionally, Nika Mühl will not play this season as she recovers from a torn ACL. Second-round pick Frieda Bühner will occupy a developmental spot, and Teja Oblak and Kamiah Smalls are both temporarily suspended due to injuries, so the Fire will enter the season with 15 players.
The Storm lost a ton of talent in free agency, including Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins and Gabby Williams, but they crushed the draft by adding Awa Fam and Flau’jae Johnson. Their rebuild is already off to such a strong start that they’re actually a winner from the offseason, even though they’re going to be worse this season.
No. 14 overall pick Taina Mair — a surprise selection — was waived, but has since signed a developmental contract. Additionally, Fam has been temporarily suspended as she finishes her season in Spain with Valencia, and will join the team at a later date. Third-round pick Grace VanSlooten has made the final roster — at least for now, while Fam is suspended.
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Toronto Tempo
The Tempo are one of two expansion teams joining the league this season, and they took a completely opposite approach from the Fire in both the expansion draft and free agency. This is a veteran team that’s out to compete this season and has an outside chance to make the playoffs. Draft picks Kiki Rice and Teonni Key are the only two players on the roster under 25 years old.
The Tempo ended up only keeping four players they selected in the expansion draft: Marina Mabrey, Nyara Sabally, Lexi Held and Maria Conde. They bolstered their roster with free-agent signings such as Brittney Sykes, Isabelle Harrison and Canadian Kia Nurse.
The Mystics decided to match the three-year max offer sheet that Shakira Austin signed with the Tempo in free agency, and she will return as the second-most experienced player on the roster. In fact, Michaela Onyenwere is the only other player who has more than one year in the WNBA under her belt
Including developmental spots, nine rookies ended up making the roster, including their three first-round picks this year, Lauren Betts (No. 4), Angela Dugalić (No. 9) and Cotie McMahon (No. 11). Second-round pick Cassandre Prosper and third-round pick Rori Harmon also made the squad.
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Second-round pick Darianna Littlepage-Buggs and Spanish guard Alicia Flórez will occupy their developmental spots.
The Carolina Hurricanes extended their winning their ways with a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night in the Xfinity Mobil Arena.
The Canes remain undefeated in postseason play and now lead this second round series, 3-0. They are 7-0 overall in these playoffs.
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Going back to the regular season, they have won 16 of their last 18 games.
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Frederik Andersen earned another win in goal and made 18 out of 19 shots.
The Flyers came out fired up and had several scoring chances early, but failed to convert. They hit the post a couple of times and the other times Andersen and the Carolina defense were both equal to the task.
Late in the period, Jordan Staal took a puck off the boards during a powerplay and tucked it past goalie, Dan Vladar.
Trevor Zegras tied it up early in the second but that would be the only time they could get one past Andersen.
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During a shorthanded opportunity a bit later in the period, Staal fed a wide open Jalen Chatfield who made no mistake as he gave the Canes a 2-1 lead.
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At 3:52 into the third period, Andrei Svechnikov rifled in a one-timer to give Carolina a 3-1 lead. It was another powerplay goal for the Canes, who went 2-9 on the night.
K’Andre Miller and Jordan Martinook then got the puck to a streaking Nikolaj Ehlers and “Fly” broke in alone and roofed in a beautiful goal to virtually put the game out of reach.
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Carolina’s balanced scoring made a statement in this game.
On the other side, the penalty kill was perfect, even during over a minute of a 5-3, disadvantage. This was due to a poor sportsmanship call on coach Rod Brind’Amour.
Obviously it was far from a perfect game but the Hurricanes did what they had to do for the win. It was another penalty filled fiasco at times. The Canes were called for 10 penalties while the Flyers were called for 15, but six of them were called with less than three minutes left in the game when the home team intentionally tried to rough up the Canes.
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Carolina will look for another sweep as they face the Flyers for game four on Saturday.
Masters champion Rory McIlroy had to settle for just a solitary birdie on the last hole of his return to action at the Truist Championship in North Carolina.
The Northern Irishman had not played since securing a second successive green jacket almost a month ago, opting to get back into the swing at Quail Hollow before heading to the US PGA on Monday for the year’s second major.
Following a rain delay McIlroy, who teed off on the 10th, admitted it had been something of a low-key opening round where chances to pick up shots proved at a premium before one finally dropped on the par-four ninth.
“I knew that I made so many pars, but I was thinking I can’t remember the last time I played a round of golf and didn’t have a birdie – I was like ‘just try to make one’,” said McIlroy, who signed for a 70.
“I felt like I didn’t make birdie at seven, didn’t make birdie at eight, so then I thought my chance had passed me by, but nice to see one putt go in there at the last.”
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McIlroy, though, remains positive as he looks to make an impact through the weekend.
“I wasn’t frustrated, I was hitting good putts, some days they just don’t want to go in,” he said.
“I just needed to figure out the reads a little bit better, but sort of felt like I got into it by the end of the round.”
Matt McCarty is the clubhouse leader after his fine eight-under 63, one ahead of Sungjae Kim, who had one hole remaining when play was suspended.
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Sepp Straka was also left with one hole to finish and was in a group on five under which included England’s Harry Hall.
Tommy Fleetwood and Alex Fitzpatrick are also in the mix at four under – although Matt Fitzpatrick had an opening round to forget as he slumped to a three-over 74.
“I felt like I played well. I played really solid, putted very well. Felt like I holed two or three really key putts,” Fleetwood said.
“It is not an easy golf course. It is an amazing challenge and I think if you shoot under par around here it is always a good day.”
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