A Scottish gold made up for the fact Scott missed out on his bid to defend his 200m freestyle title and add a 16th Commonwealth medal, having failed to qualify for the final at the end of a rigorous schedule.

And Evans’ success was not the only one cheered to the roof of Tollcross instead.

Aberdeen’s Toni Shaw stopped an Australian clean sweep of medals in the women’s S9 100m freestlye final to replicate the bronze of Birmingham four years ago.

“I had lots and lots of nerves even before the walkout, all day since my heat,” Shaw told BBC Scotland.

“But we’ve got a good support team and they helped me keep my cool and wish me luck. All you can do is swim as fast as you can and that’s the mentality I went into the race with.”

Meanwhile, Keanna MacInnes added 200m butterfly silver, having also come second in the 100m. The 24-year-old played her part in the relay silver too to take her own tally to three.

As she stood next to her relay team-mates Katie Shanahan, Evans, and Evelyn Davis the Stirling swimmer reflected on a Games during which Scottish swimmers have delivered 12 medals, four of them gold.

“If you said to me at the start of the week I’d win two medals I’d be over the moon – sneaking that extra mixed medley one last night was special for all of us,” MacInnes said.

“We heard it a 100 times, about the crowd being amazing but it absolutely delivered. I’m a proud and patriotic Scot so there’s been a lot of tears this week.

“Not only is it 12 medals but there are a lot of golds and silvers, not necessarily sneaking into bronze. That shows the depth.

“There were so many finals with multiple Scots in them. So not just medals but lots of personal and season’s bests which shows how good the team has been this week.”

Oleksandr Usyk is planning on just one more fight before hanging up the gloves and sailing off into the sunset, and the Ukrainian icon has confirmed who he is targeting for his ‘last dance’ and why.

Usyk’s achievements at both cruiserweight and heavyweight have seen him recognised as one of boxing’s all-time greats, having joined Evander Holyfield as the second man to claim the undisputed title in both weight divisions.

However, against Rico Verhoeven back in May, the 39-year-old showed signs that perhaps he’s starting slowing down and was somewhat fortunate to avoid an astonishing upset as a controversial round 11 stoppage spared his blushes.

During the aftermath, Usyk announced his decision to vacate all three of his heavyweight world titles and to have one last dance before retirement, with former WBC heavyweight ruler Deontay Wilder deemed by many to be the frontrunner for the opposing corner. 

In an interview with All Out Fighting, Usyk confirmed that ‘The Bronze Bomber’ is his targeted opponent because he is a ‘dangerous guy’.

“This is a man who, in the last 10 years, has been a top fighter, a world champion. It’s a dangerous guy.” 

Despite the fact that Wilder has lost four of his last seven contests, Usyk was unbothered by the suggestion that the American’s recent form could see him not receive credit from the fans for defeating him at this point in his career. 

“I am not boxing for glory. For me, it is just my life.”

Usyk vs Wilder could be set to take place in either December 2026 or early 2027, as the Ukrainian calls time on an illustrious career.

Next month Teofimo Lopez attempts to become a three-division world champion as he steps up to welterweight and challenges for Rolando Romero’s WBA (Super) world title.

Now, Shakur Stevenson, who defeated Lopez back in January, has laid out his prediction for the fight.

Lopez has overcome two dominant champions when getting his hands on world titles, trumping the respective poster boys of both the lightweight and super-lightweight divisions when dethroning Vasyl Lomachenko and then Josh Taylor.

After three defences of his WBO super-lightweight world title, his reign came to an end at the beginning of the year when he was comfortably outboxed by Stevenson at Madison Square Garden, prompting a move up to 147lbs.

On his debut at the weight, Lopez is set to face Romero, who claimed his belt with a win over Ryan Garcia at Times Square in New York almost 14 months ago, but is yet to defend it since.

On his X account, Stevenson admitted that he’s backing Lopez to bounce back from their meeting and come out on top, but recognised that he was wrong when he previously picked Garcia to get the better of Romero last year.

“I talk s**t about Teo, but he for sure should win. Although, I did pick Ryan to beat Rolly, but I got more faith in Teo tbh!”

Romero vs Lopez is scheduled to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, August 22, with the remainder of the bill expected to be announced in the coming days.

Manchester United are looking to make their money stretch in the summer transfer window and four exisiting players could help them do just that

Manchester United have been aiming to change their approach to transfers since Ineos took charge of football operations in February 2024. Sir Jim Ratcliffe has spoken about ending United’s reputation as the ‘dumb money’ in the transfer window. Their aim is to buy players for relatively small fees, and squeeze the maximum amount of profit from the deal.

United have not become a selling club, but the re-sale value of a player is now taken into consideration before buying. In theory, this should bring to an end deals like the one that saw United pay £60m, plus £10m in add-ons, for Casemiro.

Of course, this strategy is not without its critics. Many believe that signing players who can improve this team, will require hefty transfer fees. But Ineos are sticking to their guns and are looking to save money in the process.

Another way United can make their money stretch further this summer, is by looking at their existing squad and seeing which players can offer the Reds greater depth, without splashing the cash. Whether it be injuries, loans or their emergence from the academy, MEN Sport has spotted four players who can give Michael Carrick different options this season.

Shea Lacey

Before the Rosenborg game, all eyes were on JJ Gabriel to see if he would make his United debut. As it transpired, United chose to save Gabriel for another day, with the Reds opting for the slow and steady approach to his first-team introduction. In the 15-year-old wonderkid’s absence, Lacey excelled.

It wasn’t too long ago that the 19-year-old had the attention of United fans after his highlights from youth games went viral. Against Rosenborg, Lacey showed he is maturing into a gifted player and his involvement from the start in Norway suggests he is seen by Carrick as a senior player now.

Competition is fierce in attacking midfield, particularly with Bryan Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha and Amad all vying for minutes. But after three Premier League appearances last season, it is time for Lacey to make that next step.

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Mason Mount

Lacey’s emergence in pre-season could be seen as a disaster for Mount. The former Chelsea man was already struggling to play in his natural No.10 role thanks to Fernandes and the change back to 4-2-3-1. Adding a fresh academy player to the mix was the last thing he needed.

However, the World Cup has come to his rescue this summer. Mount has been deployed in a deeper role alongside new signing Andrey Santos and that partnership is showing early promise.

“He’s a little bit more defensive, so it allows me to push on a little bit more forward in these last two games and work off him,” Mount said of their partnership last week. United have not signed their third midfielder yet and if Mount continues to do well in the pivot, there won’t be a rush to add another face in the centre.

The big thing for Mount is for him to keep himself fit. The 27-year-old missed nine Premier League games due to injury last season and each issue knocked his momentum. A consistent run of games this campaign should benefit both him and United.

Matthijs de Ligt

Cast your minds back to 2025, De Ligt was on course to becoming one of the players of the season for United. He did not miss a minute of the Reds’ opening 13 Premier League games and was a rock at the heart of defence.

Sadly for him, a back injury suffered following the victory at Crystal Palace in November, has left him sidelined ever since. De Ligt will now miss the start of the season after successfully undergoing surgery, but the hope is he will be back before Christmas.

If that timeline works out, United could get a huge boost going into the second half of the season. Should he be the same player as before his injury, De Ligt could easily become irreplaceable in the middle again.

At 26, he still has plenty of years in the tank. The Dutchman has every chance of starting afresh post-recovery.

Marcus Rashford

In an ideal world, United would still sell Rashford this summer. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since he was scoring 30 goals in a single campaign. But the Reds are willing to reintegrate him into their squad when he returns from his post-World Cup break if no suitable bids are submitted for him.

Should he stay, Rashford will return as a player with 28 combined goals and assists last season in La Liga. That’s not a shabby record in any of the top five divisions and if he can recreate that in the Premier League, United would be happy.

He would likely start behind Cunha this season but his return should allow the Reds to save money on a new left winger, at least for this transfer window. Rashford has a long road to redemption, but United fans would soon welcome him back if he hit the ground running under Carrick.

Several months ago, the Vikings opted to move on from veteran defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Minnesota then did next to nothing from within free agency before opting for Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Does adding a hulking defensive lineman from within the NFL’s trade market make sense?

ESPN’s Adam Schefter passed along the news on social media, writing, “Source: Vita Vea has requested a trade from the Bucs.” Likewise, Ian Rapoport sent along word of the DT’s desire, doing so with some added clarity about what’s spurring the trade ask: “Vea had hoped for a long-term contract extension and talks stalled. Now, he wants out.”

Hulking Defensive Lineman Vita Vea Wants a New Home

Seeing Minnesota make a move for Vita Vea appears unlikely. But while that’s true, the possibility isn’t too unrealistic.

At 6’4″ and close to 350 pounds, Vea is a presence. Very few are capable of standing out as being unusually large on a football field. Vea is among those unique few who looks massive even among NFL athletes. And while he’s a juggernaut at nose tackle, Vea can offer help as a pass rusher, made evident in his 4.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hits in 2025.

Do the Vikings actually need him? That’s going to depend on the team’s perspective on the DT depth, or lack thereof. Check out the current outlook:

• DT1 Jalen Redmond
• DT2 Levi Drake Rodriguez
• DT3 Caleb Banks
• DT4 Domonique Orange
• DT5 Elijah Williams
• DT6 Eric Johnson
• DT7 Isaiahh Loudermilk
• DT8 Taki Taimani
• DT9 Jahvaree Ritzie
• DT10 Smith Vilbert

Quite possibly, Ty Ingram-Dawkins belongs within that cluster of talent. At minimum, the sophomore appears likely to get work as a 5-tech (across from the offensive tackle). But then there’s the possibility of going further inward to play across from the guard and/or further outward in more of an edge rusher’s role.

— READ MORE: Vikings Step into Batter’s Box and Take a Good Swing —
— READ MORE: Vikings Begin Pruning Roster with 3 Moves —
— READ MORE: A 53-Man Roster Projection as Training Camp Begins —

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Even without Ingram-Dawkins, the Vikings have plenty of defensive linemen. None, though, offer the same résumé as Mr. Vea.

The juggernaut of a nose tackle got chosen at No. 12 in the 2018 NFL Draft. He has more than lived up to that draft slot by playing terrific football for the Buccaneers from 2018 through to 2025. He has been to the Pro Bowl a pair of times and likely would have secured more recognition as being among the NFL’s top DTs if he didn’t share a league with Aaron Donald for several seasons.

Per Over the Cap, Vea is moving into the final year of the four-year extension that got added onto his rookie deal. Vea’s second contract came in at $71 million. His cap charge sits at north of $22 million. Whoever trades for him would be welcoming $18 million for the 2026 season.

But, of course, there’s the other shoe that needs to drop: Vita Vea wants an extension. Extending the rugged defensive lineman would mean wiping away a pile of that cap charge.

In the past, top defensive tackles have demanded a 1st on the trade market. Tampa Bay is very unlikely to get so much back. Being older and demanding an extension on the other end ensures that desiring a 1st isn’t going to happen. Does a contending team send over a Day 2 pick?

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Vita Vea will turn 32 in February of 2027.

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Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

The Indiana Fever said in a statement that they had no knowledge of a Tuesday night rally in support of guard Sophie Cunningham’s after her recent statements about transgender athletes. The rally took place outside of Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena prior to the Fever’s 105-95 win over the Seattle Storm. 

The rally consisted of a “few dozen” people who were there to support Cunningham and two Washington state initiatives that would bar transgender students from participating in girls’ athletics in state schools, per the Associated Press.

Neither Cunningham nor Caitlin Clark were made available to the media after the win. Kelsey Mitchell and Monique Billings joined coach Stephanie White at the podium. When White was asked about the rally and Cunningham’s comments, Fever PR stepped in with a statement: 

“Neither our organization nor Sophie had any knowledge of this demonstration and no contact with its organizers. Our only goal as a team, whether at home or away, is to win basketball games and make Fever fans for life, and we are united in that mission.”

The Storm also released a statement prior to the game, saying they were aware of the rally and “tracking it closely.” The team added it is “committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all guests.”

Additionally, Storm coach Sonia Raman made a comment during her pre-game press conference:

“Seattle and this organization and Climate Pledge, we always want to be an area where people feel welcome coming into this building. I think we’ve always done a really good job with that. So, I know our organization was working closely with Climate Pledge and the security just to make sure that everybody feels safe and included and welcome when they walk in this door.

“From what I understand, that was successful.”

However, the Storm ownership did release an apology on Wednesday after it was reported that Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton directed expletives at two fans sitting courtside who were visibly supporting Cunningham and her comments.

“We are aware one of our co-owners made comments to two fans in attendance at last night’s game. We apologize that this happened,” Storm majority owner Ginny Gilder said in a statement released Wednesday. “Everyone who attends a Storm game deserves to feel welcome, and we remain committed to creating an inclusive environment where every fan is treated with respect.”

What has Cunningham said?

In a recent ESPN profile, Cunningham said, as part of a discussion about her political views, that she wants to “protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”

She doubled down on those comments when asked about them prior to the Fever’s win over the Connecticut Sun on July 22. 

“I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense,” Cunningham said. “And I think I’ll always believe in that. I think it’s really important to protect children, and that’s little girls who are also involved in that category. I stand on what I said.”

Cunningham added that she doesn’t “dislike anyone” and that there’s “room to love everyone. She continued, “I’m also there to love biological women, and I think that there are rights that need to be protected. And, like I said, I’m gonna stand true to that. I’ll never falter in my beliefs in that. But I have never once stated that I hated the trans community.”

The Fever released a statement on July 22 after Cunningham’s pre-game media session:

“Our players are thoughtful adults with their own perspectives and voices, and those views are their own,” the statement said. “We are committed to welcoming fans from every background and treating everyone with respect, and that’s what guides us as an organization.”

Olympic champion cyclist Emma Finucane insists she has “nothing to prove” at the Commonwealth Games despite her ambitions of winning an elusive gold in Scotland.

Finucane, 23, collected two bronze medals in Birmingham four years ago but has since won 16 medals at the Olympics, World and European Championships.

The Welsh star says she is targeting “the top step” on the podium in Glasgow.

“I haven’t actually stood on the top step at the Commonwealth Games,” Finucane told BBC Sport Wales.

“That’s something I’d love to achieve this time round.

“I feel like I’m a different person four years on and I can’t wait to show what I can do on the track.”

The Carmarthenshire native credits the Birmingham 2022 Games as the “springboard” to where she is today.

“I would not be where I am today without the Commonwealth Games,” she said.

“The first time I was pretty young, pretty naive to the sport of sprint cycling.

“It was a very overwhelming experience, whereas this time round I feel like I’m more of an established rider.”

She added: “I was 19 [in Birmingham] and the year after I won my first world title, which was crazy for me.

“I think it gave me the confidence I needed as an athlete to develop in my career, and get to where I am so quickly.

“We became Olympic champions two years ago, and I actually don’t even know how that happened.”

What had been billed as a Battle of Britain instead became another emphatic demonstration of Australia’s dominance in the Commonwealth Games pool.

With Olympic relay gold medallists James Guy, Matt Richards and Tom Dean all lining up for the men’s 200 metre freestyle final, plus Jack McMillan – the reserve member of the Paris squad – the hope inside Tollcross Swimming Centre was that one of Britain’s decorated quartet would come out on top. Instead, it was Australia’s Kai Taylor who stole the show.

Drawn in the outside lane, Taylor attacked the race from the opening 50 metres and set a fearless pace that none of his rivals could match. While Guy and Richards closed relentlessly over the final 25 metres, the Australian never looked vulnerable, touching first to secure a surprise Commonwealth title.

Behind him, Guy and Richards shared silver after recording identical times in a frantic finish, while McMillan and Dean faded out of medal contention.

Scotland’s Duncan Scott, perhaps the ​pre-race favourite and another member of Britain’s Olympic relay-winning team in Paris, had not even made the final after an unexpected exit in the heats.

Guy and Richards, training partners and friends, embraced at the end but it was hardly jubilant.

Guy has fought his way back into elite freestyle form this season and, aged 30, may have just seen his last remaining hope of an individual Commonwealth Games gold medal slip through his fingers.

Ahmedabad 2030 feels a long way away.

Ironically, he was beaten by a swimmer who displayed the very tactics for which he is renowned for.

The man from Bolton has made a career out of setting a searing pace and then trying to hang on as best he can while the field comes back to him at the end.

It helped deliver him a World Championship in this discipline 11 years ago but here he was caught out.

“I saw at the halfway mark Kai Taylor was out in front. In those situations you want to stick to your plan. Fair play, he got his hand on the wall first,” Guy said.

“Listen, I’ve tried that. I’ve done it so many times before. I go off like a rocket and then you die.

“When you’re in the outside lane, that’s probably the only way you can do it. You can’t just sit back and wait. You have to go out and smoke it. That’s what you’ll see anyone do at a World Championships or Olympic Games.

“Kai had a great swim, got his hand on the wall first and his family’s lovely. They were chatting to my mum and dad, so fair play to them.”

His silver brought up medal number 49 at senior championships, while Richards made Welsh history by becoming the first swimmer from the nation to win four medals at a single Games.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want more,” said the 2023 world champion and Olympic silver medallist.

“I wanted a gold there but Kai was the better man tonight and that is sport. It’s frustrating but it gives me something to target again in four years.

“The record is pretty special in itself. To walk away with two bronzes, two silvers from this game is incredible. As much as that one stings tonight, there’s a lot of positives to take away this week.

“It’s tough not to beat yourself up when you feel like you are capable of more. But it’s been a phenomenal week and one that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed.”

It was an underwhelming result for a partisan crowd, with this the blue-riband event of the meet.

But like most of the 56 finals, the only colours on display at the end were green and gold.

This marked Australia’s 29th win of the week, their national anthem ringing in the ears of anyone who has been near Tollcross during the Games.

Taylor’s win was one of the more surprising – this was his first ever individual gold. They won seven more to take their tally to 36.

There was some respite from Advance Australia Fair and some home nations success, as Angharad Evans announced herself as the new queen of Scottish swimming.

The 23-year-old completed a breaststroke double by adding the 200m crown to the 100m title she won earlier in the week, before playing a part in a 4x100m mixed medley relay silver.

“It’s really surreal,” she said. “I didn’t go into this meet expecting any sort of medal. I just wanted more experience and to put the demons to bed after a tough 2025, and I have done that, with the help of some medals. I’m really proud of myself.”

Thanks to National Lottery players, more than £33m is raised every week for good causes. It’s because of you that sport, arts, heritage and community projects, as well as our athletes competing at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, are supported across the UK

Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz left Wednesday night’s matchup with the Boston Red Sox after he took a pitch to his left wrist. 

Kurtz, in the opening inning of the contest at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, took an inside pitch from Patrick Sandoval directly to his left wrist as he checked his swing. Kurtz immediately started hopping around, and bent over a few steps away from the plate, clearly in a lot of pain.