It was a banner day for Team France on February 11, 2026, at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. In the women’s 15km individual biathlon, Julia Simon claimed gold ahead of teammate Lou Jeanmonnot, who took silver. In moguls, Perrine Laffont grabbed bronze, eight years after her PyeongChang triumph. The highlight came on the ice, where Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron won Olympic gold in figure skating.
Elsewhere at the Games, Switzerland’s Franjo Von Allmen made history. Already crowned in downhill and the team combined, he secured a third Olympic title in four days by winning the Super-G, becoming only the third man to complete the triple after Austria’s Toni Sailer (1956) and France’s Jean-Claude Killy (1968).
In football, managers are having a brutal spell. In Ligue 1, Roberto De Zerbi is no longer Marseille coach following a crushing 5-0 defeat in Paris. In England, Tottenham have sacked Thomas Frank after an 11th league loss.
Premier League heavyweights delivered: Manchester City beat Fulham 3-0 to pile pressure on leaders Arsenal, who play Thursday. Aston Villa edged Brighton 1-0, while Liverpool won by the same score at Sunderland.
Advertisement
Bayern Munich reached the German Cup semifinals for the first time in six years after a 2-0 victory over Leipzig.
And in tennis, Arthur Rinderknech fell in the opening round to Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Rotterdam ATP 500, while Alexander Bublik survived a tough test against Hubert Hurkacz.
Nottingham Forest have dismissed head coach Sean Dyche, meaning Nigerian players Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi will soon work under a new manager.
The club decided to part ways with Dyche after a poor run of results this season. Forest have struggled for form and are currently close to the relegation zone.
Dyche was appointed after Nuno Espirito Santo left the club last November following disagreements with the club owner. Although Dyche started well, the team later lost consistency and dropped points in many matches.
Advertisement
Forest confirmed his exit after their goalless draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The coaching change could affect Aina and Awoniyi in different ways. Aina has been a regular starter at left-back and is expected to keep his place in the team.
Awoniyi, however, may face more competition. Injuries have affected his season, and other strikers are fighting for a place in the starting line-up. If he fails to impress the new coach, he could get fewer minutes on the pitch.
Advertisement
Nottingham Forest are expected to announce a new manager soon, and the Super Eagles duo will be hoping the new appointment improves their chances in the team.
Feb 7, 2026; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Jeremy Fears Jr. (1) shoots free throws in overtime while his teammates watch in their game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-Imagn Images
Michigan State faces a tough road challenge when the No. 10 Spartans take on Wisconsin in a Big Ten Conference matchup Friday night in Madison, Wis.
Both the Spartans and Badgers are coming off overtime victories against nationally ranked Illinois.
Michigan State (20-4, 10-3 Big Ten) has been idle since an 85-82 OT win over the Fighting Illini on Saturday in East Lansing, Mich.
Wisconsin (17-7, 9-4) overcame a 12-point second-half deficit to rally for a 92-90 overtime victory at Illinois on Tuesday, bouncing back from a 78-77 OT loss at Indiana on Saturday.
“This league is not for the faint of heart,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard said following the Illinois game. “As I told Brad (Underwood, the Illinois coach,) after the game, he’s got a heck of team, which I knew coming in, but we’re growing into a heck of a team, too.”
Advertisement
Michigan State overcame a nine-point deficit early in the second half to rally past Illinois. Jeremy Fears Jr. scored 22 of his game-high 26 points in the second half and overtime while adding 15 assists to pace the Spartans.
Jaxon Kohler added 11 points and a game-high 16 rebounds for Michigan State, which hit 20 of 23 free throws. The Spartans also had a 48-38 edge on the boards and a 22-0 advantage on fastbreak points.
“They had won 12 in a row, and we were limping,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. “That’s a better team right now, and yet, I thought we played better, and that’s why you play the games on this night. But just think, all the things we’re talking about, and it still took overtime.”
Advertisement
Michigan State, 8-2 away from East Lansing, scores an average of 79.1 points while allowing 65.6. The Spartans also significantly outrebound opponents by a whopping 13.1 per game, the second-best margin in the nation.
Fears averages 9.1 assists, tops in the nation, and 15.1 points per game. Kohler adds 12.8 points and 9.4 rebounds. Coen Carr contributed 11.4 points and Carson Cooper 10.0.
Wisconsin overcame a 68-56 deficit at Illinois in the final nine minutes, then scored the first eight points in overtime. John Blackwell hit the first of two free throws with 5.7 seconds left to make it 92-90, and Illinois missed a long 3-point attempt at the buzzer.
Nick Boyd had 25 points, Blackwell added 24 and Austin Rapp came off the bench for 18 in the victory. The Badgers had 16 3-pointers to improve to 14-2 when hitting 10 or more beyond the arc.
Advertisement
Wisconsin committed only four turnovers compared to Illinois’s 13, leading to a 23-6 advantage in points off miscues.
Wisconsin, which owns a 12-2 home record, is averaging 83.3 points scored and 75.8 allowed. The Badgers are 15-0 when they score at least 80 points.
The backcourt of Boyd and Blackwell went into the Illinois game as one of three high-major duos to both average at least 18.5 points.
Boyd averages 20.2 points and Blackwell 18.7. Nolan Winter adds 13.9 points and a team-high 8.9 rebounds with 11 double-doubles.
Advertisement
The recent series has been almost even, with Wisconsin winning six of the past 10. The Badgers won the latest meeting 77-74 in the semifinals of the 2025 Big Ten tournament.
Chinese snowboarder Liu Jiayu took a serious fall during an Olympic qualifying run Wednesday.
Competition at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics was briefly suspended while Liu remained largely motionless on her back in the snow at the bottom of the halfpipe. The toe edge of Liu’s snowboard appeared to get caught in the snow, sending her slamming, face-first, into the bottom of the halfpipe.
An emergency sled was used to remove the 33-year-old from the area for further evaluation. Liu was able to avoid major injuries to her spine, The Associated Press reported, citing sources with knowledge of the professional snowboarder’s medical report.
Liu Jiayu of the People’s Republic of China reacts after her qualifying run in the women’s snowboard halfpipe during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park Feb. 11, 2026 in Livigno, Italy.(Joe Camporeale/Imagn Images)
It is believed that Liu maintained consciousness after the scary fall.
Liu was trying to finish her second and final qualifying run with a 900-degree spin. After she slammed into the halfpipe, her legs and board snapped over her back, a wreck known in snowboarding as a “scorpion.”
Advertisement
Liu Jiayu of the People’s Republic of China reacts after her run in women’s snowboard halfpipe during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park on Feb. 11, 2026 in Livigno, Italy.(Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)
Riders wear protective gear, including helmets, during competitions. Despite the precautions, dangerous crashes remain a strong — and sometimes life-threatening — possibility. If the head or neck is impacted during a fall, the risk of serious injury rises sharply.
Liu Jiayu of China competes in the women’s snowboard halfpipe qualification at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Livigno Snow Park Feb. 11, 2026 in Livigno, Italy.(Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Former world champion freestyle skier Dave Murray died in 1990 after suffering serious injuries in a halfpipe crash in Utah. In 2010, Kevin Pearce sustained brain injuries while training for the Vancouver Olympics.
Earlier this week, Australian snowboard cross racer Cam Bolton was hospitalized. Representatives for Bolton confirmed he was dealing with multiple stable neck fractures.
Speedskating isn’t an easy sport to break through into the mainstream, but Stolz has all-time talent and the charisma to be the biggest star of these Games
Feb 7, 2026; Providence, Rhode Island, USA; DePaul Blue Demons guard CJ Gunn (11) shoots the ball during the second half against the Providence Friars at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Brandon Maclin banked in a go-ahead drive with seven seconds remaining in regulation as DePaul snapped a 23-game losing streak against Creighton with a 72-71 victory in Chicago on Wednesday.
NJ Benson totaled 23 points with 10 rebounds for the Blue Demons (13-12, 5-9), who ended a four-game overall losing streak.
DePaul trailed 65-59 with a little less than six minutes left in the contest but chipped away and eventually put itself in position to win while holding the Bluejays (13-12, 7-7) without a point for the final 2 1/2 minutes.
The Blue Demons, who shot 52.8% and held a 46-12 advantage in paint points, scored the final four points of the night.
Maclin, who finished with 17 points after being inserted into the starting lineup for the first time since Nov. 29, drove through traffic and some contact to use the glass on a layup that erased a 71-70 deficit.
Advertisement
Benson recorded a key three-point play to kick off the final 13-6 surge for DePaul, which beat Creighton for the first time since Jan. 7, 2015.
Austin Swartz scored 10 of his team-high 15 points in the second half for the Bluejays, who went 14 of 27 (51.9%) from 3-point range for the game but shot just 39.1% overall in the second half. Josh Dix and Jasen Green each scored 13 for Creighton, which has lost four of the past five and saw its 11-game winning streak at DePaul come to an end.
The game featured six ties and 11 lead changes.
Advertisement
Creighton shot 53.8% from the field during a first half in which it shot 10 of 16 from 3-point range to lead 42-40 at the break. Green, who entered with 12 made 3-pointers on the season, scored the Bluejays’ first eight points and went 3-for-4 from distance to score 11 before halftime.
DePaul, though, shot 56.3% and held a 30-4 points-in-the-paint advantage through the first 20 minutes. After the Bluejays went on an 8-0 run to take the lead, the Blue Demons’ CJ Gunn knocked down a corner 3-pointer just before the buzzer.
Tempted laid down a formidable mark for her peers with a powerful resurgence in the Eskimo Prince Stakes, leaving Apocalyptic poised to respond in kind.
The Michael Freedman-prepared three-year-old filly steps out again in the Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday, coming a week on from Tempted’s decisive defeat of colts and geldings first-up across the same ground.
Yet to cross paths, the two fillies are charting paths that will intersect at the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) on February 28, and Apocalyptic’s assertive comeback could forge a thrilling encounter.
“I guess there will be the prospect of us locking horns in the Surround,” Freedman said.
Advertisement
“They’re animals, so I never get too far ahead of myself, and I certainly never get over-confident with any horse.
“But I’m very happy with her and looking forward to getting her back to the track.”
A reliable stable force in recent times, this Group 1 winner is earmarked for stud duties next season, with Freedman keen to bolster her achievements first.
Advertisement
“This will probably be her last campaign, I’d suggest, before she goes off to the breeding barn, so I’d love to try to pick up another stakes win for the Emirates group,” Freedman said.
“She has been here since the Gimcrack and she’s still matching strides (with the better mares).
“She’s never been what you call a headliner, but it’s rare to see them win before Christmas, a stakes winner at two, stakes winner at three and then a stakes winner at four. It’s a pretty good resume.”
Recent reports have suggested that a deal for Fabio Wardley to face Daniel Dubois in May is done, but Tyson Fury has his reservations and has advised fight fans to be curb their enthusiasm.
It made the 31-year-old knockout artist the United Kingdom’s 11th heavyweight world champion, but Wardley is keen to truly validate his position as a worthy titleholder with a strong first defence.
Advertisement
He has been on the lookout for an opponent that would allow him to prove his quality and he seems to have found the perfect dance partner – Britain’s 10th heavyweight world champion, Daniel Dubois.
“I’ll tell you what I find funny, I’ve seen it all over the internet today that Wardley vs Dubois is done, it’s in every media outlet, it’s everywhere except from the actual promoter of both fighters, Frank Warren at Queensberry, so until they put it out it’s not confirmed, believe that!
“Everybody has rushed to get a scoop on inside info apart from the confirmation being from the actual promoter of these fighters, Frank Warren. Until Frank says it’s on, it’s not on.”
It is understood that Wardley and Dubois will collide on Saturday, May 9, at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, in what will be the seventh all-British heavyweight world title contest in boxing history.
Advertisement
Fury, meanwhile, returns in April against Arslanbek Makhmudov, and may well target the winner should he come through as expected.
An all-British heavyweight world title clash is on the horizon, as Fabio Wardley prepares to take on Daniel Dubois in his first defence of the WBO belt. Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed his thoughts on the proposed match-up.
The Ipswich fan-favourite was upgraded to full world champion and ever since, the 31-year-old sensation has been looking for a showdown that will prove his worth as a legitimate titleholder and kickstart his reign in style.
Advertisement
It now appears as though Wardley has found the perfect dance partner, with reports suggesting that he will collide with former IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois, who lost his belt to Oleksandr Usyk last time out in July.
Speaking with iFL TV, Eddie Hearn explained why he believes Dubois’ decision to jump straight into another world title contest may be a naive one.
“If I was Daniel Dubois, I would be coming back with a [lesser] fight, but what happens is you make so much money that you don’t want to come back with one of those fights because you are not really looking at the long play.
“I think sometimes that is a little bit of a poor decision. The last time Daniel Dubois fought was July, against Usyk, that was now eight months ago. So, if he fights in May, he is going to have been out of the ring for 10 months after getting knocked out.
“Daniel Dubois is the kind of guy where, if he has any doubts in himself or if he is not 100% confident, he is much easier to beat than the flip side of that.”
Advertisement
Hearn then went on to reveal why he believes the scrap favours Fabio Wardley stylistically, predicting that the reigning champion will break Dubois down if he is able to survive an early onslaught.
“Daniel Dubois hits really hard, he can take anybody out or hurt anybody early but if you get past two, three or four rounds with him and you start making him second guess himself, you can break him down real quick.
“I think that Wardley and his team will look at that fight and say ‘that is a good fight for us’.”
Wardley-Dubois is being touted for Manchester on Saturday, May 9, whilst Usyk is currently being linked to a shock clash with Dutch kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven on the same date. Although, it is unclear whether the Ukrainian’s three heavyweight world titles would be on the line for that bout.
Oct 1, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) drops back to pass the ball in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings will have approximately two dozen quarterbacks to ponder this offseason, decide on a running mate to challenge J.J. McCarthy this summer for the QB1 job, or serve as insurance if he falters. According to ESPN, if Minnesota explores a “toolsy” young passer with upside, someone like Anthony Richardson, Will Levis, or Tanner McKee could do the trick.
ESPN’s list includes three young quarterback swings for the Vikings: Richardson, Levis, and McKee.
Benjamin Solak dropped those names this week, in addition to Kirk Cousins as a veteran option.
Advertisement
Three Young Quarterbacks Enter the Vikings’ Rumor Mill
The Vikings’ quarterback choice will dominate the offseason indefinitely.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) goes through pregame throwing drills at Lucas Oil Stadium, where Oct 1, 2023 set up a matchup with the Los Angeles Rams as the rookie signal-caller prepared for another early test in front of the home crowd. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Solak on the Vikings’ QB Options
Solak sized up the market for quarterback-needy teams this week, and because McCarthy didn’t do enough in 2025 to fully secure the QB1 gig for the long haul, Solak touched on the Vikings.
He wrote, “Minnesota will absolutely bring in competition for J.J. McCarthy, as it reportedly tried to do last season with Rodgers. Cousins is the obvious choice because he has scheme familiarity from his time in Minnesota as coach Kevin O’Connell’s starter.”
Advertisement
“But O’Connell is a big believer in quarterback development, and I would not be surprised if he wants to go for a younger player to challenge McCarthy’s seat not just in 2026 but also beyond. Every toolsy young passer who can operate from the pocket (Tanner McKee, Anthony Richardson, Will Levis, etc.) is on my radar for a surprise Vikings trade. (It will probably just be Cousins, though, let’s be honest.)”
Solak notably didn’t mention Mac Jones or Kyler Murray, two high-profile passers in the Vikings’ trade rumor mill.
Anthony Richardson
Richardson needs a change of scenery. In 2025, he lost a summer training camp battle to Daniel Jones, got hurt, watched as the Indianapolis Colts signed 44-year-old Philip Rivers, and played rookie passer Riley Leonard in the final game of the season. Quarterback headlines in Indianapolis included everybody — except Richardson.
Advertisement
He might have Top 2 or Top 3 arm strength in the league, and he’s difficult to tackle. A couple of years ago, after his team lost to the Vikings, O’Connell greeted him — consoled — at midfield, instructing him to continue his quarterback journey and encouraging him that he had a long career ahead of him.
The Colts saw something in Richardson to draft him fourth overall in 2023; perhaps the Vikings could trade for him and ‘fix” him. Thankfully, Richardson’s next team won’t have to spend much on him via trade. A 6th-Round pick or so should do the trick, and courtesy of former Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Minnesota has a war chest of late-round picks.
Will Levis
Once Levis is healthy this offseason, the quarterback situation should become clear: Cam Ward is the Titans’ QB1. Tennessee drafted Ward with the No. 1 overall pick last April, and Levis, already fading into the background, will likely be his backup. In Tennessee, Levis’s ceiling appears to be that of a high-end backup— assuming Ward continues his growth.
Advertisement
Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) jogs onto the field during player introductions at Nissan Stadium, with Dec 15, 2024 marking a home showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals as he emerged from the tunnel ahead of kickoff in Nashville. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
This reality suggests a fresh start for Levis, who needs an opportunity to audition elsewhere. O’Connell, for example, tends to favor quarterbacks who aggressively attack defenses vertically and aren’t afraid to make mistakes, as evidenced by players like Nick Mullens and Sam Howell in recent seasons. Fearlessness is the common denominator, and Levis certainly possesses that trait, boasting a powerful arm.
Whether Minnesota acts on this potential fit remains to be seen. However, O’Connell’s ideal QB2 would closely resemble Levis, as his attributes align with O’Connell’s preferences.
Tanner McKee
Probably the least likely on the list to capture the Vikings’ attention, Solak floated McKee nevertheless.
The Philadelphia Eagles picked McKee in Round 6 of the 2024 NFL Draft, and because of that low capital, no team is really chomping at the bit to give him a QB1 audition. But McKee is 6’6″ and 230 pounds, so size isn’t a problem for the Stanford alumnus.
Advertisement
Experience, though, is: only 88 passes over two seasons. He did serve as Jalen Hurts’s backup in 2025, notably defeating the aforementioned Howell for the QB2 job in Philadelphia last summer.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee (16) loosens up on the turf at Raymond James Stadium, as Sep 28, 2025 brought a road meeting with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while he worked through warmup reps in Tampa. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Solak noted on McKee, “McKee typically looks strong in the preseason, and he looked acceptable in two Week 18 starts while throwing to the Eagles’ backups. He is an older prospect (will be 26 next season), but he still has a developmental arc in that he has never seen extended game action.”
“In a world where Will Howard might be starting for the Steelers or Quinn Ewers could be in for the Dolphins, McKee deserves a camp fight somewhere.”
In an extremely small sample, McKee has logged an EPA+CPOE of 0.098, which would rank him 22nd among 66 qualifying passers in the NFL since 2024. He shares EPA+CPOE space with Jaxson Dart (0.099), Daniel Jones (0.096), and Tua Tagovailoa (0.104). Of course, he would need to maintain that pace and hopefully improve with more snaps under his belt.
McKee will turn 26 right after the draft in April.
Dec 6, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; BYU Cougars wide receiver Parker Kingston (11) runs with the ball during the first half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
BYU receiver Parker Kingston was arrested and will be charged with first-degree felony rape, according to a news release from the Washington County (Utah) Attorney’s Office on Wednesday.
Kingston was being held without bail pending a court appearance on Friday, multiple media outlets reported.
The alleged incident occurred on Feb. 23, 2025, in St. George, Utah, with the woman involved reporting a sexual assault.
According to the county attorney’s office, “Detectives with the St. George Police Department then gathered digital and forensic evidence. They also conducted interviews with the parties involved and other witnesses. The information was then turned over to the Washington County Attorney’s Office for review.”
Advertisement
The university wrote in a statement, “BYU became aware today of the arrest of Parker Kingston. The university takes any allegation very seriously, and will cooperate with law enforcement. Due to federal and university privacy laws and practices for students, the university will not be able to provide additional comment.”
As a junior for the Cougars last fall, Kingston led the team in receptions (66) and receiving yards (924) while making five touchdown catches. He added three rushing scores. His best game was a seven-catch, 133-yard, two-TD performance at Iowa State on Oct. 25.
Through three seasons at BYU, the 21-year-old from Layton, Utah, has 98 receptions for 1,327 yards and seven touchdowns.
![[KPOP IN PUBLIC] LISA - 'MONEY' | Cover by BN DANCE TEAM FROM VIETNAM](https://wordupnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/1770893501_maxresdefault-80x80.jpg)
