
By SuperWest Sports Staff
Sports
NBA free agency winners, losers: Raptors leap into title contention, Heat lack urgency
Usually, the NBA’s free agent frenzy comes and goes in a blink. The opening bell rings on June 30th and the best players are all settled in the next few hours and days.
But things are off to a slower start in 2026, no doubt in part because of the surprising availability of LeBron James and several notable restricted free agents dictating how teams want to allocate their money. A number of free agents re-signed with their teams between the end of the Finals and the beginning of free agency, but the first night was relatively slow when it came to big moves.
But even if free agency is taking its time, a number of meaningful moves came on Tuesday — the blockbuster trade of Kawhi Leonard in particular — along with news of James’ free agency. So let’s pick some winners and losers from all of Tuesday’s movement.
Loser: Los Angeles Lakers
Hours before free agency was set to officially begin, James let the Lakers know that he would not re-sign with the franchise, ending his eight-year tenure in Los Angeles.
“Truly an honor to wear the [purple and gold] while trying to continue the greatness & legacies that came before me! Hope I made a few proud during my stint,” James wrote on social media after the team announced his departure.
While you could make the case that the Lakers will be better off in the long run by turning the team over to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, they still have to be considered losers from the first day of free agency. I mean, come on, LeBron James is walking out the door.
Even at 41 and entering a historic 24th season, James remains a top 20-25 player in the league. Last season, he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists, and was one of 10 players to average 20/5/5. He’s also still one of the most popular athletes alive and provides a major economic boost to whichever team he’s on. Even the Lakers will suffer on that front without him. — Jack Maloney
Winner: Whoever signs LeBron James
It’s unclear when or where James will sign. For now, all signs point to him taking his time. Which, in turn, could put free agency on hold for a number of teams and players. Shortly after the Lakers announced that James would not be back, his agent, Rich Paul, released a statement to The Athletic. It reads, in part:
“LeBron knows the Lakers are building for the future, and he also wants to compete for championships… We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count,” Paul said.
There has been a significant amount of smoke about James joining the Golden State Warriors to team up with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. His two other former teams, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, have also been mentioned as possibilities. In Cleveland, he could join forces with Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, while returning to Miami would allow him to play with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. Additionally, the Minnesota Timberwolves were mentioned as a wild card by The Athletic’s Sam Amick. There, he could unite with two elite guards in Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball.
Of course, while James wants to “compete for championships” and “make every season he has left count,” he also wants to make some money in the process, and is not going to sign for the veteran minimum. That’s bad news for the Cavaliers, in particular, who would have to clear some space to facilitate a return for King James.
Wherever James winds up, that team will be a clear winner, for all of the reasons noted above. James is still a high-level player and a major draw, who will give his new team a boost both on and off the court. — Maloney
Winner: Toronto Raptors
Kawhi Leonard spent one season with the Toronto Raptors and won a championship. That is a 100% championship hit rate. It is almost impossibly rare for teams to make any substantial move with a 100% success rate. The Raptors pulled that off with their reacquisition of Leonard on Tuesday.
Now, obviously, the Raptors are not guaranteed another championship. They’re frankly underdogs to even win the Eastern Conference with the defending champion New York Knicks still around. But remember, the Raptors did not have the absolute best team when they won it all in 2019. They got to the NBA Finals, Klay Thompson got hurt, Kevin Durant played 11 minutes, and they hoisted the trophy. Sometimes, you have to put yourself in a position to take advantage of someone else’s misfortune.
That’s where the Raptors are now. They have a puncher’s chance. They have two All-NBA-caliber players in Leonard and Scottie Barnes, both big wings who can guard anyone. Leonard fills in the half-court shotmaking gap that Barnes needed in a co-star, and that Brandon Ingram couldn’t provide before getting hurt against Cleveland. Between Collin Murray-Boyles, Ja’Kobe Walter and Jamal Shead, this team is loaded with defensive role players, and playoff hero RJ Barrett remains on the team on a big expiring contract.
The price here was steep. The Raptors are winners today. They could be losers tomorrow now that they have lost control of their 2031 and 2033 first-round picks to the Los Angeles Clippers. But Toronto has a genuine chance to compete for a championship. How can they not be winners? — Sam Quinn
Loser: Miami Heat
The Heat, like the Raptors, gave up several first-round picks deep into the 2030s to secure a superstar in Giannis Antetokounmpo. Toronto was able to retain far more depth in its trade than Miami did. The only players the Raptors sent out were Ingram, who Leonard is replacing, and Gradey Dick, who had already fallen out of their plans.
The Heat need to construct basically an entire bench and even fill a starting shooting guard slot after landing Antetokounmpo. That was always going to be difficult because, in addition to Giannis, the Bucks forced the Heat to take on the extra $15 million or so owed to Bobby Portis, leaving Miami precious little room underneath its first-apron hard cap. Tim Hardaway Jr., signed by Miami on Tuesday, is a good player. He is not an adequate replacement for Norman Powell, who made the All-Star Team last year.
The Heat don’t seem to be acting with the urgency of an all-in, win-now team. They seem like they’re prioritizing longer-term cap flexibility. Hardaway only got a one-year deal. When they agreed to a three-year, $64 million deal to bring back Andrew Wiggins, they structured it so he would pick up his $30 million player option rather than take a pay cut this season to maximize flexibility. That might make sense in the long run, but it’s going to make the already thin Heat weaker in a prime Antetokounmpo season. He is 31 and has serious health concerns, given all of the calf strains he’s endured. They may not be able to afford slow-playing this roster build. — Quinn
Winner: Los Angeles Clippers
Getting Leonard may have given the Raptors a chance to win the title. Losing him didn’t deprive the Clippers of that chance. This era ended years ago for them. The Paul George trade was a swing and a miss. James Harden couldn’t save them. Ultimately, the Leonard signing back in 2019 did not yield the championship that the Clippers hoped for.
But think about where this team was in January, essentially waiting out the end of Leonard’s and Harden’s primes while sitting on a great Ivica Zubac contract that they weren’t good enough to benefit from and owing control over four more first-round picks thanks to those prior swings. Their future was about as bleak as anyone’s in the NBA.
They turned those three players into Darius Garland, an All-Star point guard who is a decade younger than Harden, Keaton Wagler, the No. 5 overall pick in this year’s loaded draft, three more future first-round picks (2029 from Indiana, 2031 and 2033 from Toronto) and a 2027 first-round swap (also from Toronto). That is about as dramatic a six-month turnaround as it is possible to have in the NBA. This was a franchise-altering series of moves. The Clippers weren’t going to compete for a championship with Leonard. But they set themselves up to build a real contender a few years down the line with this trade. — Quinn
Loser: Utah Jazz
The Jazz reportedly offered young defensive anchor Walker Kessler a five-year, $140 million contract before free agency. He declined. That deal would have paid him $28 million per year. Now, according to The Athletic, he has multiple offers in the mid-to-high $30 millions annually. The Lakers seem like an obvious fit in that respect, but other teams appear to be trying to woo Kessler.
Utah could likely have avoided this with a more generous offer last offseason, or perhaps a better one earlier in this one. Now they’re sitting in the unenviable position of waiting for someone to throw a massive offer sheet at Kessler and daring them to match it. The Jazz have the capacity to do so. They have full Bird Rights and can legally prevent Kessler from leaving if they want to. But think about how expensive this team is getting now. Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. are on max deals. Keyonte George is eligible for a rookie extension. You can’t pay everyone.
The Jazz are at the very least about to pay their center more than they hoped, and if they don’t, it’s because they’re losing him for nothing. Either way, this will be a very expensive process for Utah. — Quinn
Winners: Injury-prone big men
Two injury-prone big men cashed in on the first day of free agency.
Kristaps Porzingis officially agreed to return to the Golden State Warriors on what ESPN reported is a two-year, $40 million deal. The former No. 4 overall pick played 32 games last season with the Atlanta Hawks and Warriors as he continued to struggle with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), which has ruined his last two seasons. Porzingis has reached the 60-game mark just twice in his career, most recently in 2023 with the Washington Wizards.
Also out West, Robert Williams III agreed to a three-year, $44 million contract to stay with the Portland Trail Blazers, according to ESPN. Williams has played only 85 games with the Trail Blazers since he was traded to the team in 2023, largely due to ongoing knee problems. His 59 games last season were the second-most in his career.
Teams are desperate for quality bigs right now, and that turned out to be great news for Porzingis and Williams.
While both will pose health risks for the rest of their careers, they are unique players who can make a real impact on both sides of the ball. Porzingis is a center who can space the floor and protect the rim. Williams is a major lob threat who can also patrol the paint.
If they can stay healthy, these will be win-win contracts for both the players and the teams. — Maloney
Loser: Jalen Duren
Duren was one of last season’s breakout players. He averaged a career-high 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds on 65% shooting, made his first All-Star appearance and earned All-NBA Third Team honors. The leap he took helped the Detroit Pistons win 60 games and finish first in the Eastern Conference.
But that strong play did not carry over to the postseason — for the team as a whole and Duren individually. The Pistons needed to pull off a 3-1 comeback in the first round against the Orlando Magic and blew a 2-0 lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round as Duren pulled a disappearing act. He averaged 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds on 51.4% shooting, and was getting benched at times down the stretch.
In the span of a few weeks this spring, Duren lost nearly all of his leverage over the Pistons in contract negotiations, and is now stuck in free agency limbo.
Jalen Duren landing spots: Lakers, Kings in pursuit of Pistons’ All-NBA big man
Cameron Salerno

Chris Haynes reported Monday that Duren and the Pistons are a “sizeable difference” apart in negotiations, and Duren wants to join the Sacramento Kings via a sign-and-trade. Meanwhile, Sam Amick reported that Duren is set to meet with the Lakers, who could also be a sign-and-trade candidate. The Pistons, however, control the situation. They have the right to match any offer Duren receives, and Marc Spears reported that Detroit has no interest in trading him.
Duren is still going to get a big contract this summer, but he likely lost tens of millions of dollars due to his poor playoff showing and may now have to stay in Detroit against his wishes. — Maloney
Sports
Manny Pacquiao says Terence Crawford fight couldn’t happen for one reason
Manny Pacquiao faced a who’s who of excellent fighters across several divisions, but never managed to cross paths with Terence Crawford despite both holding belts at 147lbs at the same time.
The eight-division world champion made his professional return last year, fighting then-WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios to a draw. With a professional rematch against Floyd Mayweather put on hold indefinitely due to the American’s legal troubles, he is now looking for another major fight.
It will not come against Terence Crawford, who retired in December following his victory over Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
Speaking to Vibe, ‘PacMan’ was asked if there was any fight he wanted that never happened, and he named none other than ‘Bud’ Crawford, believing their shared promoter at the time, Bob Arum, ‘preserved’ the American.
“The Crawford fight. Because Bob Arum preserved him. I’m under Top Rank promotions, and he was under Top Rank promotions before, so I would’ve loved to fight him. But it never happened. Bob didn’t give it to me.”
When both men held belts at welterweight – Pacquiao after his record-breaking title win over Keith Thurman, Crawford on his run as WBO champion – the fight would have indeed been a stellar main event.
Pacquiao ended up being booked to face future Crawford rival Errol Spence Jr, but an eye injury for Spence saw Yordenis Ugas step in. Ugas beat the Filipino icon over 12 rounds before losing the belt to Spence, who would face Crawford for undisputed in 2023.
Ironically, Crawford has offered the exact same take on the fantasy match-up but with roles reversed, believing Arum wanted to keep Pacquiao away from him.
Sports
Wimbledon 2026 results: Arthur Fery reaches third round to keep British hopes alive but Katie Swan loses
However, Swan – making her first appearance at Wimbledon in three years – was unable to join Fery in the third round as she fell to a 6-1 6-4 defeat by American Keys.
Both Fery and Swan were watched on by Catherine, the Princess of Wales – a patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC).
“I didn’t know she was here. I probably would have been a bit more tight if I did,” said Fery, who has reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time and is set to earn least £185,000 in prize money.
Virtanen, the world number 140, caused the biggest shock of the men’s draw so far on Tuesday when he knocked out fourth seed Ben Shelton in a five-set win.
The Finn, who spent more than four hours on court against Shelton, won just four points on Fery’s serve in the opening five games, but when he was presented with a first break point at 5-5, he capitalised on it before serving out the set.
After suffering another nosebleed – a repeat of an issue he experienced against Dzumhur in the first round – Fery pulled himself level via a second-set tie-break and he did not offer Virtanen another break point before wrapping up the win.
Fellow Britons Jacob Fearnley and Jan Choinski will hope to follow suit later on Thursday, when they take on Jaume Munar and Frances Tiafoe respectively.
Fery, ranked 114th in the world, will next face another unseeded player in either Zizou Bergs of Belgium or Portugal’s Jaime Faria.
Sports
DR Congo head coach learned of father’s death hours before World Cup defeat by England
Democratic Republic of Congo head coach Sebastien Desabre received the devastating news of his father’s death just hours before his team’s World Cup Round of 32 clash against England.
Despite the personal tragedy, Desabre led his side to an agonisingly close defeat, nearly securing an upset victory.
The emotional revelation was made public at the conclusion of his post-match press conference, when the team’s media officer, Jerry Kalemo, said: “We announce that the coach has lost his father. Our sincere condolences.”
Desabre, who will turn 50 next month, responded with a quizzical expression before simply saying “thank you”, a reaction that initially led to erroneous reports suggesting it was his first time hearing the news.
However, an official later clarified to Reuters that Desabre had been informed prior to the match in Atlanta.

The Congolese team had taken an early lead through Brian Cipenga and maintained it for over an hour before Harry Kane scored twice, ultimately securing a 2-1 victory for England.
The official added that Desabre’s father had been unwell for some time, though no further details were provided.
DR Congo are now heading home after their best ever performance at a World Cup, having reached the knockout stages for the first time in their history.
Congo earned a 1-1 draw against highly-fancied Portugal in their opening group game before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat by Colombia.
Heading into their final group fixture against Uzbekistan, DR Congo knew they needed a victory to book their spot in the knockout rounds.
They fell behind early on but produced a spirited comeback to claim an impressive 3-1 victory. Newcastle striker Yoane Wissa scored twice, either side of Fiston Mayele also finding the net.
This meant that they went through to the last-32 to face England, and they pushed Thomas Tuchel’s men all the way before ultimately coming up short.
England are now through to the Round of 16 where they will play co-hosts Mexico at the Azteca Stadium on Sunday night.
Mexico have won all four of their matches so far without conceding, while England are also unbeaten at this year’s World Cup.
Sports
July update: Dynasty RB Rankings for 2026
There seems to be a pretty strong consensus in the Fantasy Football world that the Mike McDaniel hire was a home run for the Los Angeles Chargers. People are talking Super Bowl again, and Fantasy managers are fired up about drafting Omarion Hampton, Justin Herbert, and Ladd McConkey. I have even heard some hype about Keaton Mitchell. The one guy who doesn’t seem to be getting the McDaniel boost is Quentin Johnston. That makes Johnston one of my favorite buys in Dynasty as we enter training camp.
It may be surprising to hear, but Johnston actually led the Chargers in receiving yards per game (52.5) and receiving touchdowns (8) in 2025. In his last 17 regular season games he has 72 catches for 987 yards and eight touchdowns. Those numbers would have made him WR22 on a per game basis last year. If he stays healthy, and McDaniel makes Johnston even a little more efficient, Johnston could be a top 20 wide receiver in 2026. He’s still just 24 years old, yet in current Dynasty consensus rankings he ranks as WR54. I’m not sure you can find a cheaper Dynasty buy that combines Johnston’s youth and upside.
I had Matthew Rupert from Couch Scouts on Fantasy Football Today Dynasty to discuss recent rankings risers like Brian Thomas Jr. and Christian Watson. Check it out:
Youth and upside may be about all Xavier Worthy has going for him. He only has 1,170 receiving yards in his first two NFL seasons combined. While his blazing speed still shows up on film, so does ho his poor ball tracking skills on deep passes. And Patrick Mahomes hasn’t exactly done Worthy any favors on those deep balls. Enter Eric Bienemy, who is returning to the Chiefs to replace Matt Nagy as offensive coordinator. While conventional wisdom says the coordinator in Kansas City doesn’t matter because it’s Andy Reid’s offense, it is also true that Mahomes’ best football has come with Bienemy on the sideline.
The Chiefs have told anyone who would listen that their big plans for Worthy in 2025 were blown up when Worthy collided with Travis Kelce in Week 1. The speedy receiver was never 100% after that, and his production showed it. The Chiefs didn’t add anyone who should cut into Worthy’s role, and we may see a concentrated target tree with Rashee Rice, Travis Kelce, and Worthy accounting for a large share of Mahomes’ targets. Worthy is still just 23 years old, and it used to be commonplace to expect talented wideouts to break out in Year 3. The fact that he has fallen outside of the consensus top 40 wide receivers shows that Dynasty managers have mostly given up on that possibility.
While the addition of Kenneth Walker could make the Chiefs more run-heavy, we also expect a significant reduction in Mahomes’ rush attempts with him coming off of the torn ACL. It’s also likely that having a run game that defenses have to worry about opens things up downfield for Worthy. At his current cost, it’s worth making that bet and seeing if the speedster can finally get on the same page with his quarterback.
Here are my updated Dynasty Wide Receiver Rankings:
Sports
Phil Mickelson dismisses misconduct expose as ‘click-bait narrative’
Phil Mickelson of Team HyFlyers GC reacts to the cheers of his fans as he walks up to the fourth green during the LIV Golf Michigan Team Championship semifinals at The Cardinal at St. John’s in Plymouth on Saturday, August 23, 2025. Days after an article by Skratch Golf asserted that Phil Mickelson was kicked out of three golf clubs for inappropriate interaction with women and propositioned another woman by displaying a nude photo, the golfer denied all of the allegations.
Mickelson’s representatives issued a statement to The (New York) Post on Wednesday, describing the Skratch article as an “anonymously sourced drive-by shooting” focused on creating “a compelling, click-bait narrative over an accurate one.”
Last month, Golf Digest reported that Mickelson had his membership revoked at The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., because of alleged nonconsensual and inappropriate physical contact with a female club employee.
Skratch reported that, in addition to The Farms, Mickelson is no longer welcome at The Madison Club in La Quinta, Calif., and at The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe.
Skratch cited anonymous sources saying Amy Mickelson, Phil’s wife, was in part responsible for the clubs ousting him.
Ashley Perez, the ex-wife of golfer Pat Perez, also told Skratch that Mickelson showed her a nude photo of himself in 2015 and told her to come see him after Pat Perez fell asleep.
The statement from Mickelson’s representation read, in part, “Mr. Mickelson has never been expelled from a golf club. His membership has never been revoked by a golf club. Those decisions were his alone.”
Mickelson’s team also stated that the Skratch article misstated the golfer’s interaction with Ashley Perez, adding, “Mr. Mickelson’s willingness to apologize for his conduct should not be misconstrued as an admission of every allegation made against him.” The statement also noted that Skratch is affiliated with the PGA Tour, the organization Mickelson left to join the fledgling LIV Golf in 2022.
“None of those relationships mean Skratch cannot report independently,” the statement read. “They do, however, create a corporate relationship that reasonable readers may consider relevant when evaluating an extensive investigation into Phil Mickelson, one of the most consequential players ever to leave the PGA Tour for LIV Golf.”
Skratch’s editor in chief, Ben Boskovich, told The Post that Mickelson and his representatives were given an opportunity to reply to the allegations before the article was published but declined to do so.
Boskovich added, “It’s bizarre that (Mickelson’s team) is now challenging our reporting through The New York Post. Skratch Golf stands by its reporting.” Mickelson, 56, won the Masters in 2004, 2026 and 2010; the PGA Championship in 2005 and 2021; and the Open Championship in 2013. He registered 45 wins during his time on the PGA Tour.
–Field Level Media
Sports
MLB DFS picks, Thursday lineup advice from daily Fantasy professional who’s won $2 million
Thursday’s Major League Baseball schedule features nine games, including a National League West battle between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers. Play begins at 12:35 p.m. ET, with the final first pitch set for 10:10 p.m. ET. Among the top options in the MLB DFS player pool include Nathan Eovaldi, Shohei Ohtani, Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez, Bobby Witt Jr., Matt Olson, Junior Caminero and Freddie Freeman. With only so much MLB DFS salary cap space, you’ll have to be judicious on who you select to compose your daily Fantasy baseball lineups.
Before making any MLB DFS picks be sure to check out the MLB DFS advice, player rankings, stacks, and top daily Fantasy baseball picks from SportsLine’s Mike McClure.
Visit our DraftKings promo code review to see their latest offers and get started.
McClure is a DFS professional with more than $2 million in career winnings. He’s also a predictive data engineer at SportsLine who uses a powerful prediction model that simulates every minute of every game 10,000 times, taking factors like matchups, statistical trends and injuries into account. This allows him to find the best MLB DFS values on sites like DraftKings and FanDuel and create optimal lineups that he shares only over at SportsLine. They’re a must-see for any MLB DFS player.
McClure has turned his attention to MLB action on Thursday and locked in his top daily Fantasy baseball picks. You can only see them by heading to SportsLine.
Top MLB DFS picks for Thursday, July 2
For Thursday, one of McClure’s top MLB DFS picks is Kansas City outfielder Starling Marte ($2,900 DraftKings, $2,200 FanDuel). Marte has been on a roll. He has three hits over his past two games. In 39 games this season, he is hitting .268 with four doubles, one homer and seven RBI. See McClure’s other MLB DFS picks right here.
McClure is also stacking Marte with outfielder Lane Thomas ($3,100 DraftKings, $2,600 FanDuel). Thomas has fared better on his home field this season. In 31 games played in Kansas City, he has registered six doubles and two home runs. He has a .357 slugging percentage and .677 OPS. See McClure’s other MLB DFS picks right here.
New to sports trading? Check out our Kalshi promo code review to see their latest offers.
How to set your MLB DFS lineups for Thursday, July 2
McClure is also targeting a player who could go off for massive numbers on Thursday because of an optimal matchup. This pick could be the difference between winning your tournaments and cash games or going home with nothing. You can only see who it is here.
Who is DFS pro Mike McClure putting in his optimal MLB DFS lineups for Thursday? Visit SportsLine now to see optimal MLB DFS picks, rankings, advice, and stacks, all from a professional DFS player who has over $2 million in career winnings, and find out.
Sports
Away Winning % in Last 20 Years for CFB Programs in West
Away-game victories set a college football program apart and often correlate with teams at the top of the standings.
The tables below show the wins, losses, and win percentages for the region’s top programs as the away team over the last 20 seasons.
Boise State leads the way, followed by Oregon, USC, Utah, and BYU.
Away Winning % and Records by Program from 2021-2025
| Win % | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 74.6% | Boise State | 85-29 |
| 67.7% | Oregon | 67-32 |
| 60.2% | USC | 65-43 |
| 58.7% | Utah | 64-45 |
| 57.1% | BYU | 64-48 |
| 48.2% | Stanford | 54-58 |
| 47.9% | Fresno State | 58-63 |
| 46.4% | San Diego State | 51-59 |
| 44.4% | Air Force | 48-60 |
| 44.4% | Washington | 44-55 |
| 40.8% | ASU | 42-61 |
| 39.6% | UCLA | 44-67 |
| 38.5% | Nevada | 45-72 |
| 37.5% | Arizona | 39-65 |
| 35.3% | Utah State | 43-79 |
| 33.6% | WSU | 36-71 |
| 33.3% | Oregon State | 36-72 |
| 32.7% | Cal | 35-72 |
| 31.6% | Hawai’i | 36-78 |
| 31.6% | Wyoming | 36-78 |
| 29.8% | Colorado State | 31-73 |
| 27.7% | San Jose State | 33-86 |
| 26.1% | UNLV | 31-88 |
| 24.8% | New Mexico | 29-88 |
| 20.5% | UTEP | 25-97 |
| 19.4% | Colorado | 20-83 |
| 18.0% | New Mexico State | 22-100 |
Sports
Government considers U-turn over extending pub hours for England v Mexico
Pubs may now be allowed to stay open until the end of England’s World Cup match against Mexico, which is due to kick off at 1am UK time on Monday.
The government had initially said it would not relax licensing laws further than they already have been for the World Cup, but BBC News understands that the Prime Minister is now considering it.
In April, the government relaxed licensing rules so England and Scotland fans could watch matches in the pub.
But earlier on Thursday, Business Minister Kate Dearden had told the House of Commons that opening times would not be extended even further for the 1am start in Mexico City.
Dearden was responding to a question from Liberal Democrat MP Max Wilkinson about a blanket extension.
Wilkinson said in the House of Commons: “Pubs will miss out on a real opportunity to get money in the till if ministers do not make a blanket extension for licensing hours.”
Dearden said that Local Government Secretary Steve Reed had written to councils encouraging them to sign off on pubs staying open late enough that fans can watch to the end of the match.
“Pubs can stay open for an extra two to three hours depending on how late the match starts so pubs can still open as the game finishes,” she said.
“Regarding Sunday, unfortunately that doesn’t apply with the 1am start but going forwards we are absolutely backing our pubs so people can watch and support our lads, and it’s coming home hopefully.”
Licensing hours were extended from 11pm to 1am for games with kick-offs from 5pm up to 9pm.
Additionally, pubs can stay open until 2am for kick offs after 9pm and up to 10pm.
Outside of those rules, pub can apply to their local council for what is called a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) to stay open late.
However, it must be submitted no later than five working days beforehand, leaving it too late for pubs to apply on Thursday.
Some establishments had plotted England’s potential progress through the tournament and have already applied for and received an event notice.
In a video on X, Reed encouraged councils to approve applications from pubs.
“There are still some councils that are saying no to the pubs, and my message to those councils is please say yes,” he said.
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “We remain in close contact with government about concerns raised by publicans who want to show the match but haven’t got TENs in place.
“It would be a crying shame for fans and pubs if our locals weren’t able to host such an important match.”
Sports
“This is another league” – Fans cheer as Graff names BTS’ Jungkook its first-ever global ambassador in its 66-year history
BTS member Jungkook (Jeon Jung-kook) added another luxury brand to his growing list of global partnerships. On July 2, 2026, British luxury jewelry house Graff announced the singer as its first-ever global ambassador since the brand was founded 66 years ago.
Graff introduced BTS’s ‘Golden Maknae’ as its new global ambassador and revealed that he would star in the new Laurence Graff Signature campaign, showcasing pieces from the brand’s iconic goldwear collection. The announcement came after days of speculation among fans.
On June 23, 2026, Jungkook was seen wearing multiple Graff rings during his departure from South Korea to Madrid, Spain, alongside his BTS bandmates for the group’s European concert schedule. The jewelry he wore was estimated to have a combined value of around $126,500, prompting fans to speculate that a partnership with the luxury house was on the way. Following that on June 1, the brand also released a teaser video further igniting the speculation.
Along with the announcement, the company unveiled its latest Laurence Graff Signature campaign starring the BTS member. The brand released a video and three campaign images.
In the campaign, Jungkook is dressed in a black suit layered over a black T-shirt while showcasing pieces from the Laurence Graff collection. The line reimagines founder Laurence Graff’s signature approach to exceptional diamond cutting through faceted precious metal links in bold gold designs.
The campaign images and teaser quickly spread across social media, where fans celebrated both the collaboration and the significance of the announcement. Many pointed out that the idol had become the first global ambassador in Graff’s history, describing the appointment as another major milestone in his career. One fan wrote,
“Need a perspective of how prestigious Graff is? Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana wore the brand. Jungkook is its first ever Global Brand Ambassador in history. This is another league.”
Many others echoed similar sentiments, congratulating Jungkook on the achievement. Several fans pointed out that Graff’s decision to choose him for its first-ever global ambassador role reflected his worldwide influence and standing.
Others expressed their excitement over the announcement, saying they were thrilled and proud of the youngest BTS member for achieving another major collaboration. Many also felt he was the ideal choice to represent the luxury jeweler.
Graff CEO welcomes Jungkook as global ambassador; BTS star says he is ‘profoundly honored’
Graff also shared a statement from its Chief Executive Officer, François Graff, following the announcement. He described Jungkook as a cultural icon whose artistry aligns with the luxury jeweler’s creative vision. The CEO also expressed,
“Jung Kook is a cultural icon, known for his multifaceted talents. His performances are bold yet refined, crafted with a brilliance that is impossible to ignore. Just as we at Graff push the boundaries of what is achievable in luxury jewellery, Jungkook continually challenges creative boundaries in his work. We are delighted to welcome him as Graff’s new global ambassador.”
Speaking separately to WWD on the same day, François Graff echoed similar sentiments. He said the idol’s multifaceted talent and commitment to artistic excellence reflected the values Graff represents.
“He always offers remarkable performances. Just like Graff, which strives to push the boundaries of high jewelry, [he] explores and constantly surpasses those of his creativity” said François Graff.
Jungkook also commented on the partnership, saying he felt “profoundly honored” to join Graff as its newest global ambassador. He described the British luxury house as “the originator of so many legends throughout the decades,” expressing his appreciation for becoming part of the brand’s legacy.
With the Graff announcement, the singer has further expanded his portfolio of global luxury partnerships. The BTS star is also associated with Hublot, Chanel Fragrance and Beauty and Calvin Klein, adding Graff as another internationally recognized brand to his list of collaborations.
The announcement coincides with Jungkook’s ongoing activities with BTS on the ARIRANG World Tour. At the time of the reveal, the group is set to take the stage for the second night of its Brussels concerts at King Baudouin Stadium on July 2.
Edited by Adrija Chakraborty
Sports
Fighters poised for huge second half of 2026: Mac is back, Steveson to debut
Now that the first half of the UFC’s 2026 calendar is complete, it’s a good time to look ahead to the next six months and the fighters poised to have a massive second half of the year.
Keep in mind the UFC has only announced fights up to the end of August, so there are still several months at the end of the year which are unaccounted for.
For now, we’ll be basing our list on what fights have been made official for upcoming UFC cards.
Without further ado, here are 10 fighters ready to make a mark in the second half of 2026.
The biggest superstar in UFC history makes his long-awaited return to the Octagon when he takes on Max Holloway in a welterweight rematch set for five rounds. This blockbuster fight headlines UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas. McGregor has not fought since UFC 264 on July 10, 2021, so it will be almost exactly five years to the day that he last competed when he fights Holloway.
The Irishman enters this rematch against Holloway as a big underdog, even though he previously beat the Hawaiian in their first fight back in 2013 when they were both featherweights in their mid or early 20s. But given McGregor is now 37 and hasn’t fought in half a decade, it makes sense why the oddsmakers and betting public are counting him out. That being said, they say power is the last thing to go in a fighter, and McGregor is one of the most powerful pound-for-pound knockout artists the sport has ever seen.
A lot is riding on McGregor in this fight, because if he wins, he could realistically call for a UFC welterweight title shot against Islam Makhachev or a UFC lightweight title shot against Justin Gaethje. After all, McGregor is the UFC’s biggest cash cow, and although he doesn’t deserve a title shot more than some of the other top contenders at 170 or 155 pounds, he has so-called “Dana White privilege” and might skip the line to get a title shot if he beats Holloway at UFC 329. It’s a massive fight for McGregor, as a win potentially sets him up for a title shot before 2026 is over.
The best heavyweight prospect on the MMA regional scene makes his UFC debut at UFC 329 when he battles Elisha Ellison in what is a mismatch of epic proportions.
The 26-year-old Steveson is an Olympic gold medallist in freestyle wrestling, a former NFL practice squad player for the Buffalo Bills, and a former WWE athlete. Oh, and he’s 3-0 in mixed martial arts with three first-round knockout wins since he made his debut last September.
Training alongside UFC legend Jon Jones at Albuquerque’s Jackson-Wink MMA Academy, the sky is the limit for Steveson. Many MMA analysts believe he has all the skills necessary to be the UFC heavyweight champion one day, but the UFC matchmakers are building him slowly by giving him Ellison, one of the weakest heavyweights on the roster. It should be a quick, easy, and violent win for Steveson, and one that sets him up for a return later this year on another numbered card as the UFC continues to build up one of their best heavyweight prospects.
Also at UFC 329, keep your eye on this middleweight prospect. The 24-year-old Aruba native won a contract last summer on Season 9 of Dana White’s Contender Series, and he made his UFC debut earlier this year with a nasty knockout win over Wes Schultz. Pinas, who has won five straight fights by knockout, next battles veteran kickboxer Cesar Almeida on the UFC 329 undercard in what should be an absolute striking clinic between two heavy hitters.
Last November at UFC 322, Ethyn Ewing made his Octagon debut with little fanfare as he fought top bantamweight prospect Malcolm Wellmaker in a fight he was supposed to lose, given Wellmaker’s insane KO power and the fact that Ewing was taking the bout on only a couple days’ notice. But the 28-year-old from California pulled off a huge upset as a +330 underdog as he dominated Wellmaker en route to a decision win. He then returned to the cage in April 2026 and picked up a brutal KO win over Rafael Estevam with a body shot.
Next, Ewing gets his chance to break into the top 15 at 135 pounds when he battles Farid Basharat in a battle of talented bantamweight prospects on the UFC 329 preliminary card. If Ewing wins that fight, look for him to get a top-10-ranked foe later this year, as he continues to work up the rankings.
After an up-and-down UFC career at featherweight, Quebec’s Jourdain decided to go down to bantamweight in 2024, and it has turned out to be the best choice he’s ever made in his MMA career. Since dropping to 135 pounds, Jourdain has won three straight fights, including a Fight of the Night decision win over Kyler Phillips in April at UFC Winnipeg. He returns to the Octagon at UFC Oklahoma City when he battles Marlon Vera in what should be an absolute war between two bantamweights who love to stand and trade. If you’re an MMA fan, you can’t miss this fight.
This is a middleweight poised to make a breakthrough in the second half of 2026. He battles grizzled veteran Jared Cannonier at UFC Oklahoma City on July 18. Duncan enters this bout on a four-fight win streak, including a decision win over Roman Dolidze in his last fight that saw him enter the top 15 at 185 pounds. Though Cannonier is 42 years of age, he is still a tough test for any middleweight. If Duncan can pass this test, then he’ll inch one step closer to the middleweight division’s elite.
The German welterweight prospect was one of the standouts on Season 8 of Dana White’s Contender Series in 2024, as he scored a vicious KO win on the show to earn a UFC contract. The 27-year-old made his UFC debut last summer when he knocked out Adam Fugitt in a devastating fashion at UFC 318. However, he has been off for a year since then due to injuries.
Thankfully, Dulatov returns at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25 when he battles veteran Wellington Turman. It’s a fight that Dulatov will be heavily favored to win, as he’s scored 12 straight stoppage victories. If he can get his hand raised and if he can stay healthy, look for the UFC to try to get him another fight before 2026 is up.
The UFC makes its debut in Belgrade, Serbia on Aug. 1 and one of the fighters to keep your eye on that card is Milos Janicic, the first fighter from Montenegro in UFC history. A KSW and Oktagon MMA veteran from Europe, Janicic, enters the UFC with a 19-3 pro record, with all 19 of those wins coming by stoppage. He has won eight fights in a row, including a notable TKO win over UFC veteran Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira in his last fight.
At UFC Serbia, the 29-year-old Janicic takes on another UFC newcomer, Noah Gugnon, in what should be a fun lightweight bout. While both fighters are solid prospects, Janicic is the A-side in this matchup, so make sure to keep your eye on him when you watch this card.
Tresean Gore entered 2026 on a two-fight losing skid, and he was a +450 underdog when he fought Azamat Bekoev at Vegas 115 in April. But despite entering that bout as a massive underdog, Gore pulled off one of the biggest upsets so far this year when he dominated Bekoev and choked him unconscious in the third round. It was a huge win for Gore, the former Ultimate Fighter standout, who likely would have been cut with a loss. Instead, he got his hand raised, and now he takes on longtime UFC veteran Vicente Luque in an exciting middleweight bout at August’s UFC 330 in Philadelphia.
Finally, don’t forget about women’s flyweight fighter, Jasmine Jasudavicius, the pride of St. Catharines, Ont. At UFC Winnipeg, Jasudavicius got back into the win column with a decision victory over Karine Silva, bouncing back nicely following her knockout loss to Manon Fiorot last October. At UFC 330, Jasudavicius will battle Erin Blanchfield in a battle between the No. 4- and No. 6-ranked women’s flyweights. While Blanchfield will likely enter the bout as the betting favourite, Jasudavicius will hold a significant size advantage, so don’t count her out of winning the fight. If she can get her hand raised, it would bode well for the Canadian’s chances of getting back into the title mix in the 125-pound division.
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