Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson waits for the snap during fourth-quarter action against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 10, 2024, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, giving Minnesota its top playmaker on the field as the offense worked through a late-game sequence in a road matchup against an AFC opponent. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images.
Remember how the Minnesota Vikings shipped Randy Moss out via trade after seven seasons about 20 years ago? One website claims that could happen again, but with Justin Jefferson. In the spirit of recent Giannis Antetokounmpo and Myles Garrett trades, two heavyweights leaving their existing franchises, CBS Sports nominated top-notch NFLers who could follow suit.
And per Garrett Podell, that’s Jefferson, among others.
Vikings’ Playoff Pressure Makes the Rumor Worth Tracking
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson gestures to fans while walking off the Lambeau Field turf after facing the Green Bay Packers on Sep. 29, 2024, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Jefferson’s postgame moment captured a familiar NFC North scene, with Minnesota’s star receiver acknowledging the road crowd after another rivalry chapter. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images.
Podell: Jefferson Could Be Next to Demand Trade
On a list that included Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor and Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, among others, Jefferson got the nod as a player who could request a trade.
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Podell wrote, “Prediction on whether or not Jefferson will eventually ask for a trade: Yes, by the 2028 NFL offseason. The McCarthy-Murray competition will fail to bear long-term fruit at football’s most important position, leaving Jefferson dissatisfied entering the final season of his four-year, $140 million deal in 2028.”
“Out of guaranteed money, Jefferson will be looking for a new, multiyear deal at the age of 29, but he’ll aim to get his next batch of guaranteed cash elsewhere. Compensation to get the deal done: First-round pick and third-round pick. It’s a similar package to the one the Patriots used to acquire Brown from the Eagles, but instead of a fifth-round pick, Minnesota gets a third-round draft choice since Jefferson doesn’t come with the same attitude and fluidity questions.”
Jefferson has never wavered about his commitment to the Vikings, but a playoff-less season in 2026 might change his mind.
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“Likely landing spot: Las Vegas Raiders. It’s hard to project how the NFL landscape will look years down the road, but the Raiders make plenty of sense for a multitude of reasons,” Podell added.
“Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, will need a true WR1 to complement All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers, and Las Vegas has shown a willingness to trade for a superstar wide receiver at the back of the end their 20s: The Raiders traded a first-round draft choice and a second-round draft choice to the Green Bay Packers in 2022 in exchange for a 29-year-old Davante Adams.”
If Vikings Don’t Make Playoffs or Win Playoff Game — Yep.
Trading Jefferson now would be premature. The real challenge lies nine months ahead. Should the Vikings miss the playoffs again in 2026, the situation in Minnesota will become uncomfortable for all involved. While Jefferson is currently expressing loyalty, as most star players do, that patience typically wanes if the team gives them a reason to reconsider.
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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson reacts after a first-quarter play against the Cleveland Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Oct. 5, 2025, in Tottenham, United Kingdom. The international-stage snapshot showed Jefferson working through another Vikings drive overseas, with Minnesota’s offense chasing rhythm in front of a London crowd during a rare regular-season matchup. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
That is where the Damian Lillard comparison in the NBA becomes relevant. Portland recognized the impending issue for years. Lillard remained loyal, often carrying mediocre teams, until he reached a point where continued loyalty no longer made sense. Such decisions are not sudden. But they do build and intensify.
For the Vikings, the crux of the issue is their quarterback situation. Jefferson’s Minnesota requires one of its quarterbacks, Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy, to elevate the offense to a competitive level.
McCarthy previously had an opportunity, but his efficiency metrics were poor, compounded by injuries. That paved the way for Murray. If Murray underperforms, discussions about Jefferson’s future will intensify rapidly.
The Would-Be Trade Haul for Jefferson
If Jefferson posts Jeffersonian numbers in 2026 while Minnesota misses the postseason or gets blown out in the first round, the playmaker will almost certainly fetch a 1st-Rounder via trade — if it comes to that.
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The Philadelphia Eagles were able to squeeze a 1st-Rounder and 5th-Rounder out of the New England Patriots this offseason for Brown. There’s no reason to believe Jefferson would be less. In fact, Minnesota might charge extra juice because Jefferson is a better football player than Brown.
The safest price from a summer of 2026 outlook is Jefferson would probably be a 1st- and 3rd-Rounder. Twenty-one years ago, the aforementioned Moss fetched a 1st-Rounder (Troy Williamson), a player (Napoleon Harris), and a 7th-Rounder.
All Up to O’Connell
Whether Jefferson is traded anytime soon rests squarely on Kevin O’Connell’s shoulders. The Podell theory will not come to fruition if the Vikings make an impressive playoff run this season. All Jefferson wants is to win, which likely translates to the first postseason triumph of his career. It’s a reasonable ask. The last time Minnesota won a playoff game? Six years ago — the 2019 stunner down in New Orleans when Minnesota walked off the Saints courtesy of Kirk Cousins and Kyle Rudolph. The Vikings drafted Jefferson three months after that moment.
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The Athletic senior NFL insider Dianna Russini interviews Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell during training camp in Eagan, Minnesota, on Aug. 15, 2025. Their conversation covered O’Connell’s Coach of the Year season and Minnesota’s roster outlook, with the franchise’s quarterback plan driving much of the broader Vikings discussion that summer in Eagan. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
O’Connell must get Jefferson a playoff win to keep him satisfied.
Otherwise, Jefferson could ask for a trade in the 2027 offseason, and no one would fault him for it. It’s why signing Murray in free agency was so crucial — to prove to Jefferson that the franchise is not content with 9-8 seasons that don’t net playoff berths. They mean business.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Former NCAA Swimmer Paula Scanlan reacts to the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold transgender sports bans, expressing both relief and a call for further legislative action nationwide. Scanlan highlights the physical disparities seen in cases like Lia Thomas’s, advocating for universal protections across all 50 states to ensure fairness and safety in women’s sports for future generations of female athletes.
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The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a historic win to the “Save Women’s Sports” movement on Tuesday, ruling 6-3 to uphold state laws that ban biological males from competing with girls and women.
The decision was met with celebration by women’s sports activists, including several high-profile Olympians.
Leah O’Brien-Amico, three-time gold medalist in softball for the U.S.
Softball player Leah O’Brien-Amico poses for a portrait during the USOC Media Summit at the Marriott Marquis in New York, N.Y., on May 15, 2004.(Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
“Today’s Supreme Court ruling is a victory for every girl who has ever dreamed of competing at the highest level,” O’Brien-Amico told Fox News Digital.
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“As a three-time Olympic Gold Medalist, I am deeply grateful that I had the opportunity to compete on a level playing field with other biological females. The integrity and safety of women’s sports must be protected in every way. We can continue to find ways to honor the dignity of every person while protecting the spaces that generations of women worked so hard to build.”
MyKayla Skinner, U.S. silver medalist gymnast at Tokyo 2020
Mykayla Skinner and Simone Biles of Team United States pose for a photo during Women’s Podium Training ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on July 22, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.(Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
“People from the far left… hopefully they wake up and just realize just how many girls are affected by this. It’s a real thing, and I think sometimes it just goes over their head and they don’t see what’s going on with the girls,” Skinner told Fox News Digital.
USA’s Kaillie Humphries holds an USA flag after competing to win bronze in the bobsleigh women’s monobob heat 4 at Cortina Sliding Centre during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo on Feb. 16, 2026.(Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)
“Women’s sports has changed my life, providing opportunities and a career I couldn’t have got elsewhere. I get to do what I love because people fought to create and protect a space for biological women. The female category was established so biological women can compete on a level playing field,” Humphries told Fox News Digital.
“Today is a win for the generations of girls that will step on to a field, court, track, or rink. We can now all Dream Big knowing we are safe and have a fair environment to compete in any sport at all levels. It’s a big win for women’s sports in this country.”
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Nancy Hogshead, three-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer for the U.S.
Jenna Johnson, Nancy Hogshead, Carrie Steinseifer and Dara Torres of United States celebrate winning the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games at Olympic Swim Stadium.(Porter Binks-USA TODAY NETWORK)
“Today’s decision is a step in the right direction for female fairness & safety in sport! Still, it doesn’t go as far as the UK Supreme Court — it doesn’t define the meaning of ‘sex’ in law. Allowing 27 states to establish boundaries around female sport categories should give sports governance a sigh of relief; they don’t need to worry about very expensive litigation sucking their resources,” Hogshead told Fox News Digital.
“But Sport cannot have a state-by-state web of laws. Even age group and Little League athletes travel across state lines. Further, will sport governing bodies award national competitions to states like California, who do not protect females? In short, Democrats aren’t done with this issue impacting elections, power and everything else on their agenda.”
Donna de Varona, three-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer for the U.S.
President Ronald Reagan with Donna De Varona (blue dress) as they address the Women’s Sports Foundation.(Getty Images)
“Today the Supreme Court decision upholds the significant role biology plays in the lives of all women. Safeguarding girls and women’s spaces is just, fair and humane,” de Varona told Fox News Digital.
Martina Navratilova, a Czech-American former professional tennis player, during a join press conference with Chris Evert of the USA, on Day 5 of the GNP Seguros WTA Finals Cancun 2023 part of the Hologic WTA Tour, on November 2, 2023, in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico.(Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“The Supreme Court made the proper decision today, allowing 27 states to continue formally protecting girls’ and women’s sports. Democratic politicians and blue states need to wake up to the biological reality of a female’s sex,” Navratilova said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital by Hogshead.
Katie Uhlaender, U.S. skeleton athlete, five-time Olympian
Katie Uhlaender of Team United States poses for a portrait during the Team USA Beijing 2022 Olympic shoot on September 12, 2021 in Irvine, California.(Tom Pennington/Getty Images for Team USA)
“Today’s Supreme Court ruling is inspiring because it recognizes that protecting women as a biological class is not discrimination. It affirms that fairness matters, that reality matters, and that women shouldn’t have to apologize for asking for fair and safe competition. Without Fairness, there is no sport,” Uhlaender told Fox News Digital.
“Recently, a respected academic and clinician, told me that acknowledging biological sex is discriminatory. They directed me to respected institutions like the American Psychological Association, and I was shocked to find misleading information on it. The APA suggested that the role of testosterone isn’t proven to enhance athletic performance. The causal effects of testosterone on human physiology have been understood for decades. Suggesting otherwise gives the public an inaccurate picture of the science. Things like that have made it incredibly difficult for women to advocate for fairness.”
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Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
Despite a public back-and-forth with Shakur Stevenson for a catchweight bout, Haney must now face Keyshawn Davis should he want to keep his title.
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After confirming that Davis was next in line recently, WBO President Gustavo Olivieri today issued the following statement:
“The WBO Championship Committee has officially ordered the commencement of negotiations for the WBO Welterweight Mandatory Championship Title Defence between World Champion Devin Haney and the WBO’s #1 world-rated contender & mandatory challenger Keyshawn Davis.
“Pursuant to the Committee’s ruling and the WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests, the parties are granted twenty (20) days to reach an agreement. Failing such agreement, purse bid proceedings may be requested, with the purse split to be distributed 75% to the Champion and 25% to the Challenger, in accordance with the WBO Rules.”
Davis is yet to fight at 147lbs, but is well-ranked due to holding the WBO belt at lightweight in the past. He only just made the super-lightweight limit for his latest fight – a unanimous decision win over Nahir Albright – and signalled shortly after that he would be moving up.
The match-up is an intriguing proposition for fans, with Davis’ speed and calculated aggression potentially a true test of Haney’s elite defence.
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All eyes now turn to Haney, who may be content to drop the belt and continue in his pursuit of bigger fights against the likes of Stevenson or even a returning Gervonta Davis.
Centre Nick Cousins is set to re-sign with the Senators on a two-year, $3.175 million contract, worth 1.5875 million in average annual value, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Periodreported Tuesday.
Cousins, 32, was a big part of the Senators’ physical group, finishing with 169 hits — third most among skaters — and a team-leading 92 penalty minutes.
On the scoresheet, he added nine goals and 14 assists in 81 games while playing 11:25 ice time per night.
A third-round pick by Philadelphia from 2011, the Belleville, Ont., native has 86 goals and 132 assists in 723 career NHL games split between the Senators, Flyers, Arizona Coyotes, Montreal Canadiens, Vegas Golden Knights, Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers.
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He joined the Sens as a free agent ahead of the 2024-25 season and re-signed with them last summer on a one-year deal.
Trainer David Pfieffer is hopeful that Whinchat, a free-wheeling frontrunner, is on the verge of a maiden stakes race victory, buoyed by the gelding’s improved recent performances.
After being pressured into a fast pace by Phearson first-up in the Luskin Star Stakes (1300m), Whinchat was able to dictate terms from an outside draw in the Civic Stakes (1400m), ultimately finishing a commendable second to Midnight Dynamite.
“I was really happy and proud of my bloke’s performance. It’s good to see him show what he can do for us,” Pfieffer shared. “I’d just love to see him win a stakes race. He’s run a couple of placings (in that grade), so hopefully it can come in his next couple of starts.”
Whinchat has amassed seven wins from 20 career starts and has a proven record over the Winter Stakes’ course and distance. While his pre-race behaviour can be a concern, his effectiveness when allowed an uncontested lead is undeniable.
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This weekend’s assignment at Rosehill sees Whinchat drawn in barrier eight, a significant advantage over Midnight Dynamite, who will jump from gate 11 in the field of 15. Pfieffer believes this barrier reversal could be the key to Whinchat reversing the placings.
“When this horse gets out in front and gets his own way, gets unchallenged, he is always going to be hard to run down,” Pfieffer stated. “With the likes of Midnight Dynamite, he got a good gate last start so it allowed him to get a nice run in transit, where drawn a bit wider, he’s got to use himself a bit more mid-race. That’s ultimately how races are defined a lot of the time, by barriers. Especially in big fields and we look like getting that on Saturday.”
The gelding will be third-up into the Rosehill feature and is also nominated for the Winter Challenge (1400m) later this month, with consideration for stepping up in distance. Pfieffer’s long-range plan is to target races later in the year when the major carnival horses are spelling.
“We’ll most likely race this Saturday then go around in the Winter Challenge two weeks after,” Pfieffer said. “Then we’ll consider a country Cup. I’d like to see him out over a mile at some stage. There are some nice races later in the year for him. We’re not going to be in the thick of spring or autumn, so we’ve got to go around where he can be most competitive.”
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General Salute will carry the top weight of 58.5kg in the Winter Challenge, with five runners, including the promising Glorious Moments for trainers Jim and Greg Lee, set to carry the minimum 53kg.
Consider placing your bets on the upcoming races with betting sites and explore the available racing betting markets.
According to multiple sources, the Dallas Stars and Columbus Blue Jackets had a verbal agreement on a Zach Werenski trade, which was to be completed on Wednesday morning, only to have it vetoed by the Norris Trophy winner. (Werenski has a full no-move clause.)
Apparently, the calendar needed to flip to July 1 before it could happen, due to contractual and/or cap reasons. Thomas Harley was to be the centrepiece of the return, but other players/picks may have been involved, too.
Werenski’s decision appears to indicate two things: that his preference — for now — is the Eastern Conference, and that the relationship between player and the Blue Jackets is falling apart in what could be its final days.
Sportsnet reported last week that Columbus planned to meet with Werenski post-draft, but, apparently, the player felt he had addressed his future back in April, saying that he’d play out his current contract (two years remaining), but would not commit to an extension.
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The Stars appear to be caught in the middle, unaware that their trade — which, sources say, was agreed to late Monday — could be vetoed. They were informed Tuesday night.
We’ll see how things evolve, but it’s taken a nasty turn.
France defeated Sweden 3-0 in a dominant round of 32 performance on Tuesday evening, with Kylian Mbappé‘s brace and Michael Olise‘s assist setting the tone for a comprehensive victory. The French superstar struck twice, first from close range after Olise’s through ball, as Les Bleus overwhelmed their opponents with superior skill, movement, and execution.
Mbappe finished a superb move to break the deadlock just before half-time in the last-32 tie watched by 80,663 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, after France had already hit the woodwork twice, once through Mbappe and once through Olise.
The French were on top throughout against a limited Swedish side, utterly dominating in terms of possession and shots on goal.
Olise set up Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola for the second on 53 minutes, and then delivered a delightful pass for Mbappe to complete a convincing victory.
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Mbappe’s 18th World Cup goal
Mbappe’s strikes saw him move level with Lionel Messi on six goals in the all-star golden boot race at this World Cup.
The France captain now has 18 World Cup goals in total, meaning he is just one behind Messi’s overall record of 19, a mark which 27-year-old Mbappe will keep chasing.
He celebrated his first goal by running across to embrace coach Didier Deschamps, who missed France’s final group game against Norway to travel home for his mother’s funeral.
Deschamps will step down at the end of the competition after 14 highly successful years in charge.
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Going out in the last 32 would have been such an anti-climactic way to depart for Deschamps, who captained the first France team to win the World Cup in 1998 and coached them to glory in 2018.
In 1998, France’s run to victory on home soil included a 1-0 last-16 win over Paraguay, when Laurent Blanc scored a golden goal in extra time.
Les Bleus will face the South Americans in the last 16 again this time, on Saturday in Philadelphia.
France will be fully expected to win and march on.
Mbappe and Olise were again central figures, with Ousmane Dembele also showing flashes of his brilliance while Barcola was preferred to Desire Doue as the fourth forward.
Sweden have quality in attack too, with the Premier League trio of Viktor Gyokeres, Alexander Isak and Anthony Elanga. But they couldn’t get enough of the ball to create chances and Graham Potter’s team now go home.
Getting this far should really be seen as a success for them, however, after they only made it to North America through the back door of the play-offs.
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Intense pressure
Olise released Mbappe through the middle to put the ball in the net in the 20th minute, only for a tight offside call to cut short the celebrations.
However, that sparked an intense spell of French pressure which eventually resulted in the opening goal.
Some of their football was mesmerising, as Mbappe hit the post from a Jules Kounde ball across the face of goal and Adrien Rabiot fired narrowly over.
Olise then struck an upright with a breathtaking overhead bicycle kick before Dembele put the rebound wide.
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The opener came right on half-time, after an Olise effort was tipped behind by Swedish ‘keeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.
Dembele and Olise combined at the resulting corner before finding Mbappe, and he did the rest.
Sweden needed the interval to regroup, but they conceded again eight minutes after the restart as the magical Olise threaded a pass through the legs of Gustaf Lagerbielke for Barcola, who lashed in.
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Olise couldn’t score when clean through, but soon after he delivered an exceptional assist for Mbappe to curl in again on 74 minutes.
France look untouchable even if the toughest tests are still to come, although Paraguay will find it hard to live with them.
Manager John Schneider announced after Tuesday’s 3-0 loss that Fisher will serve as an opener for the Blue Jays during Wednesday’s Canada Day showdown against the New York Mets (3 p.m. ET / noon PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+).
Patrick Corbin was originally scheduled to start the game, but the veteran left-hander was moved to the bullpen earlier Tuesday.
Rookie right-hander Spencer Miles is expected to handle the bulk of the duties for the Blue Jays as they go for a series win against the Mets.
It will be the fifth time this season that Fisher has started a game for Toronto. He previously worked as the club’s opener on April 17 against Arizona, May 21 against the Yankees, May 26 against Miami and June 17 against Boston. He didn’t allow a run in any of those three appearances.
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For the year, Fisher has a 3.48 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 44 innings.
A former World Heavyweight Champion returned to WWE tonight. He appeared on the latest episode of NXT.
Booker T was away from the NXT commentary desk for two weeks. He also missed the black-and-silver brand’s latest premium live event, The Great American Bash. RAW commentator Corey Graves and SmackDown’s Wade Barrett filled in for the Hall of Famer during his absence.
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Before this week’s episode of NXT, the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion appeared on his Hall of Fame podcast. During the conversation, Booker revealed that he was forced to take a break from the Triple H-led sports entertainment juggernaut due to family issues. The 61-year-old disclosed that he was healthy and would return to the Tuesday night show this week.
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“I’m the youngest of eight. When something happens in the family, family comes first. Everything stops. I always said, being the youngest in the family, it’s my responsibility to make sure I step up and be there at all time [sic]. For me, I’ve been dealing with family stuff, and I had to take a step back and deal with it. I can’t deal with things and work at the same time. That’s all it’s been. I feel good; I’m perfectly fine; my health is great. I’m getting back to work on Tuesday.” [H/T: Fightful]
The latest episode of the black-and-silver show kicked off with a segment featuring new NXT Women’s Champion Kendal Grey. During Grey’s entrance, the camera briefly focused on the commentary desk. Vic Joseph welcomed Booker T back to WWE during that moment. The Hall of Famer was in good spirits and seemed delighted about resuming his commentary duties.
Booker T has been part of the NXT commentary team for nearly four years as of this writing. He joined WWE’s third brand as a color commentator in October 2022. After a stellar in-ring career, Booker has gained popularity among modern-day fans with his hilarious commentary lines and catchphrases.
The WCW legend has helped many up-and-coming stars, such as Bron Breakker, Trick Williams, and Stephanie Vaquer, get over with the WWE Universe. Booker’s recent absence from NXT raised concern about his status among fans. However, he finally returned to the Tuesday night show this week.
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Serena Williams of the United States, left, and Maya Joint of Australia shake hands at the end of their first round women’s singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Maja Smiejkowska)
LONDON — When Serena Williams accepted an offer to play singles at Wimbledon, Maya Joint got to thinking.
The 20-year-old Joint had said there was “always a part of me that wanted to experience playing against her.”
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After getting what she wished for — a first-round meeting with the tennis icon — Joint delivered on the biggest stage.
The Michigan-born Australian showed few nerves in winning the biggest match of her life — defeating Williams 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 on Tuesday to spoil the 44-year-old Williams’ singles comeback at the All England Club.
“I didn’t get much sleep last night. I was up until like 2 a.m. just thinking about it,” Joint said in her on-court interview.
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The 87th-ranked Joint certainly looked calm on the outside but said she had serious butterflies walking onto Centre Court alongside the GOAT of women’s tennis.
During warmups, she felt like her legs “weren’t moving.”
“I really don’t know how I got a pretty good start in the match,” Joint said. “She has such an aura, she’s just a legend and this court has so many huge names that have played on it. I’ve been dreaming about this moment since I was a little kid, so this is pretty crazy.”
Joint notched her first Wimbledon singles win and just her third Grand Slam singles victory. By the time Joint was born in 2006, Williams had already won seven major titles, completing a career Grand Slam in the process. Williams has won 23 major singles titles — seven at Wimbledon.
“Just the start was very nerve-racking and then trying to finish out the match, as well. She definitely lifted her level and she played some really great tennis there,” Joint said.
Joint had chances to end it earlier.
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At 5-5 in the second set, Joint squandered four break point opportunities as Williams held serve. Joint then won the next game to love, including back-to-back aces to force a tiebreaker.
Joint had her first match point at 6-5 in the tiebreaker but Williams hit a winner and then won the next two points.
Joint got the key break to go up 4-2 in the deciding set. She sealed the win on her third match point.
“I think I tensed up a little bit when I got close to winning, but I think I played my best tennis when I needed to, which was good,” she said.
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Slowed by a back injury earlier this year, Joint at one point lost 10 consecutive matches.
“Even though I didn’t win many matches this year, I still felt like I could win,” Joint said. “I had the belief and I just took advantage of the moment and enjoyed it, didn’t really think about the previous matches I’ve played.”
She later added: “If you’re playing Serena, you have nothing to lose. It makes sense that people play their best game against her.”
Last year, Joint won the grass-court Eastbourne tournament ahead of her debut at Wimbledon, where she lost in the first round to Liudmila Samsonova. Joint’s only two other victories in majors came at the U.S. Open.
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Joint, who represents Australia through her father, joins a list of unheralded players to have eliminated Williams in Wimbledon’s first round.
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Harmony Tan was ranked 115th when she beat Williams in 2022. A year prior, it was Aliaksandra Sasnovich, ranked No. 100 at the time, who emerged victorious when Williams retired from the match with a leg injury.
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy tells Jesse Watters that the World Cup has brought a contagious fever of appreciation for America. He highlights how visitors from various countries are enjoying their time, boosting tourism, and creating positive social media content about the U.S. Portnoy notes that seeing foreigners enjoy the country is a refreshing reminder of America’s appeal.
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The United States men’s national soccer team (USMNT) did its job to begin this 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil, winning Group D and moving on to the knockout stages.
Now, the real run they’ve been looking forward to for the past four years begins on Wednesday night in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The USMNT will be pitted against Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of the great stories of this World Cup, in the round of 32 to determine who is moving on in the tournament, and who will be heading home.
Folarin Balogun #20 of United States celebrates with teammates after scoring during the second half of the international friendly match between United States and Senegal at Bank of America Stadium on May 31, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina.(Cory Knowlton/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
For the “visitors” in this case, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s journey not only knocked off Italy, an iconic country in terms of soccer, to get into this World Cup, but they’ve done enough to become a third-place team that moves on in this inaugural expanded format.
Their 3-1 win over Qatar on June 24 gave them the necessary three points needed to move on after drawing against Canada, a fellow host country alongside the U.S. and Mexico, which earned them one point. They fell to Switzerland, 4-1, as the winners of Group B moved on in their own right.
But Bosnia and Herzegovina knew what they needed to do against Qatar, and now they carry momentum into a matchup against a Team USA squad that was hoping for a bit more themselves when they faced Türkiye in their final Group D matchup last week.
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Of course, the game meant nothing, but Türkiye’s late goal in stoppage time gave them a 3-2 victory that soured what appeared to be a 2-2 draw in Los Angeles. Granted, U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino wasn’t taking any chances, leaving many on his usual starting XI on the bench, though Christian Pulisic made his return in the second half after missing time due to a calf injury.
United States fans cheer after a goal against Turkiye in the second half of a FIFA World Cup 2026 match at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 25, 2026.(Keith Birmingham/Pasadena Star-News)
However, that’s looking at it from the pessimist’s point of view. The patriotic optimist viewed that game as nothing because the USMNT already punched their ticket to the knockout stages with a 4-2 win over Paraguay, which just upset Germany on Monday afternoon in Boston with a penalty-shootout victory to move on to the round of 16, and a 2-0 win over Australia to win Group D.
Now, with many starters well rested and the home crowd still on their side out in the Bay Area, the U.S. are strong favorites to get the job done against Bosnia and Herzegovina to cement their own spot in the round of 16.
Here’s how to watch the game, including start time, TV information and streaming options.
How to watch United States vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Christian Pulisic of the United States celebrates after an own goal by Damian Bobadilla of Paraguay during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026.(Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)
When: Wednesday, July 1 at 8 p.m. ET Where: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, Santa Clara, California
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