Sports
Who Stays, Who Goes? A Minnesota Vikings 53-Man Roster Projection
It’s been a long offseason of roster shuffling and speculation for the Minnesota Vikings following an up-and-down 2025 regular season that ended without a playoff berth for the second time in the past three years.
Now, the time of speculation is over as the Vikings are back on the field for training camp and now preparing for their first preseason game next Saturday, August 15 against the New York Giants. With the preseason now on the horizon, here is a Minnesota Vikings 53-man roster projection, so you know all the names to keep an eye on next weekend.
Minnesota Vikings Offense
Quarterback (3)
- Kyler Murray
- J.J. McCarthy
- Carson Wentz
Cut: Max Brosmer
The quarterback position has been the main topic of discussion for the Vikings all offseason, and honestly, ever since Kirk Cousins suffered his Achilles injury back in 2023.
Minnesota is yet to find a bona fide QB1 since that injury, but they are hoping one of Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy can change that. So far, reports suggest it’s been a shaky training camp for both, but there is still time to turn things around.
Running Back (4)
- Aaron Jones
- Jordan Mason
- Demond Claiborne
- Max Bredeson
Cut: Zavier Scott, Jordan Mims
The Vikings won’t have a true RB1 this season, and they can’t really operate that way when the top two players in the room are 31 years old and 27 years old.
Sixth-round pick Demond Claiborne is an explosive player out of the backfield who can be the home run threat while Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason man the majority of carries. Max Bredeson also fills in the C.J. Ham role.
Wide Receiver (6)
- Justin Jefferson
- Jordan Addison
- Jauan Jennings
- Tai Felton
- Myles Price
- Dontae Fleming
Cut: Dillon Bell, Jeshaun Jones, Terrill Davis, Michael Briscoe, Trayvon Rudolph, Marcus Sanders Jr.
Despite some questions at the quarterback position, Vikings fans can feel a little bit of relief stemming from the depth seen at the wide receiver position.
Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison create one of the most dynamic one-two punches in the league, Jauan Jennings is a proven, physical veteran who fits perfectly into the WR3 role, Tai Felton is in the running for Mr. Mankato, and both Myles Price and Dontae Fleming have shown flashes.
Dillon Bell, a UDFA out of Georgia, also has a very serious case to make the final roster and likely will get scooped up by a different team if he is cut. We’ll see who the final players actually are here, but the Vikings will have no problem filling six spots at wide receiver this year.
Tight End (3)
- T.J. Hockenson
- Josh Oliver
- Gavin Bartholomew
Cut: Ben Yurosek, Bryson Nesbit, Marshall Lang
Not a ton of surprise here as T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver are back once again as the main two tight ends in the room.
With that being said, Kevin O’Connell loves his three tight end sets, so that TE3 role is one that can prove to be more important in Minnesota than it is in other places around the league.
Gavin Bartholomew was a sixth-round pick by the Vikings in 2025, but his season ended very early on in training camp because of injury. He should get his opportunity on the 53-man roster this year.
Offensive Line (9)
- Christian Darrisaw (LT)
- Donovan Jackson (LG)
- Blake Brandel (C)
- Will Fries (RG)
- Brian O’Neill (RT)
- Michael Jurgens
- Caleb Tiernan
- Joe Huber
- Ryan Van Demark
Cut: Walter Rouse, Vershon Lee, Tomas Rimac, Gavin Gerhardt, Henry Byrd, Delby Lemieux, Tristan Leigh, Caleb Etienne
With Brian O’Neill signing a new contract just days ago, Minnesota’s offensive line situation looks to remain mostly stable for the next couple of years. As for the team’s depth chart in 2026, seventh-round pick Gavin Gerhardt does not make the final roster, but he certainly could become a practice squad guy.
Meanwhile, Walter Rouse has fallen to the third team in reps, which seems to suggest the 2024 sixth-round pick’s time in Minnesota may be coming to an end. Caleb Tiernan, a third-round pick by the Vikings this spring, seems poised to take over the swing tackle spot to back up Christian Darrisaw.
The center position could be an interesting story with Blake Brandel projected as the starter despite having his share struggles at the position last season.
Minnesota Vikings Defense
Defensive Line (6)
- Jalen Redmond
- Levi Drake Rodriguez
- Caleb Banks
- Elijah Williams
- Domonique Orange
- Eric Johnson II
Cut: Taki Taimani, Isaiahh Loudermilk, Jahvaree Ritzie, Smith Vilbert
Outside of wide receiver, the defensive line could end up being the most impressive group on Minnesota’s roster if they can all remain healthy, and that comes despite the departures of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, who were seen as the biggest improvements to the group prior to disappointing 2025 campaigns.
The Vikings opted to add both Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange during this spring’s NFL Draft, who should be immediate contributors to the roster if they are able to stay healthy. I also gave Eric Johnson a spot as a veteran depth piece who can help rush the passer and contribute on special teams.
Outside Linebacker (5)
- Andrew Van Ginkel
- Dallas Turner
- Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
- Bo Richter
- Tyler Batty
Cut: Chaz Chambliss, Arden Walker, Cam’Ron Stewart
Without Jonathan Greenard in the room, outside linebacker/EDGE could cause some problems for the Vikings this year, particularly with their depth.
As a result, I’m only keeping five players here to help fill out other positions on defense.
Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner should be just fine at the top of the room. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins is a jack of all trades on the defensive front, but Minnesota will need some big contributions from names like Bo Richter and Tyler Batty this season.
Inside Linebacker (4)
- Blake Cashman
- Eric Wilson
- Jake Golday
- Jamal Adams
Cut: Ivan Pace, Jacob Roberts, Josh Ross, Keli Lawson, Bangally Kamara
It might be more likely that Ivan Pace is traded rather than outright cut, but either way, I don’t see him on the final roster in September, particularly with the signing of Jamal Adams a couple weeks ago.
Blake Cashman is firmly at the top of the depth chart, and Eric Wilson is hoping to recapture the lightning that he found in 2025 when he put Pace in a place where he might not have a spot in Minnesota anymore.
Finally, we can’t forget to mention second-round pick Jake Golday, who is going to develop into a hawk in the middle of Minnesota’s defense. This projects to be another pretty fun group of players.
Cornerback (5)
- Byron Murphy
- Isaiah Rodgers
- Charles Demmings
- James Pierre
- Zemaiah Vaughn
Cut: Dwight McGlothern, Da’Veawn Armstead, Marcus Allen, Tyreek Chappell, Kahlef Haillassie
Brian Flores didn’t carry many cornerbacks during the 2025 season, but I think we get a fifth CB this year rather than a sixth pass rusher when we compare the depth at the two positions. Obviously, injuries can change that, but there are enough names here that I want to keep.
Outside of the obvious names like Byron Murphy and Isaiah Rodgers, Charles Demmings has emerged as the favorite for Mr. Mankato after stringing together multiple great practices over the past week. Brian Flores has also sung his praises for James Pierre. Finally, Zemaiah Vaughn was a training camp darling last year, and assuming he is able to continue improving, he should be on the final roster in September.
Safety (5)
- Josh Metellus
- Theo Jackson
- Jay Ward
- Jakobe Thomas
- Tavierre Thomas
Cut: Jacob Thomas
The return or retirement decision of Harrison Smith is still hanging over the Vikings’ heads at the safety position, which could impact who makes the final roster.
For now, though, Jay Ward seems poised to crack into the top three at the position and see more time on defense after starting four of the final games of the 2025 regular season.
Jakobe Thomas almost certainly makes the final roster as well, being the Vikings third-round pick this spring while Tavierre Thomas is in his second year in Minnesota and was a key piece on special teams in 2025.
Theo Jackson could end up being the odd man out if Smith opts to return.
Minnesota Vikings Special Teams
Specialists (3)
- Will Reichard (K)
- Johnny Hekker (P)
- Andrew DePaola (LS)
Cut: Brett Thorson
No real surprises here unless you are a big Brett Thorson fan. With the departure of Ryan Wright this offseason to New Orleans, the Vikings will have to turn to a new punter in 2026.
Johnny Hekker has been one of the most consistent punters in the NFL for the past 14 years, though Thorson brings a big leg to the competition. He won the Ray Guy Award in 2025 during his final season at Georgia for a reason, but ultimately, the veteran gets the job with Thorson potentially going to the practice squad.
Alexandra Eala of the Philippines acknowledges the crowd after losing to Belinda Bencic of Switzerland during day eight of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers at Sobeys Stadium on August 09, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP
LIVE: Alex Eala vs Belinda Bencic – Canadian Open round of 16
MANILA, Philippines–The best stretch of Alex Eala’s career came to an end in the Canadian Open round of 16 on Monday (Manila time) in Toronto.
Seemingly weary after the amount of tennis she’s played dating back to her title run in Washington last week, Eala was overwhelmed by a ruthless Belinda Bencic, 4-6, 0-6, despite being cheered on by a massive Filipino crowd at Center Court at Sobeys Stadium.
READ: Alex Eala faces another big test vs Belinda Bencic at Canadian Open
Simply stunning 🌟@BelindaBencic ends the Eala run with a 6-4, 6-0 victory to power into the quarterfinals.#NBO26 pic.twitter.com/iiZIIEiFCx
— wta (@WTA) August 10, 2026
“I know most of you guys were cheering for Alex, but I still have to say it was very nice to play in front of you all. Thank you so much for the great crowd tonight,” said the 12th-seeded Bencic, who became the tournament’s youngest champion in 2015 at just 18 years old when she made her debut in the Toronto Masters.
Eala saw her career-best seven-match winning streak snapped by the Swiss star and former World No. 4, whose unpredictable service game put the Filipino ace in all sorts of trouble.
The loss spoiled what could’ve been an interesting quarterfinal matchup between Eala and fourth-ranked Coco Gauff. Eala beat Gauff, 6-2, 2-0, in the third round of Indian Wells last March after the two-time Grand Slam winner retired due to an injury.
Belinda Bencic of Switzerland is congratulated by Alexandra Eala of the Philippines after their match during day eight of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers at Sobeys Stadium on August 09, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP
While many players struggle against left-handers like Eala, Bencic flourished. The 29-year-old Bencic improved to 10-0 against lefties since 2024, a fact that left the Tokyo Olympics gold medalist in awe.
“On this day, I had to play against a left so I’m surprised by this statistic. Obviously, very tricky maybe it helped me a little bit that I played a lefty the round before against Taylor Townsend so that was a tough one and I got used to the serve a little but yeah, I mean, I wish I was a lefty too,” said Bencic, who overcame Taylor Townsend in the round of 32 on Saturday in a match that lasted more that three hours.
The 21-year-old Eala got off to a hot start after holding to love in the opening game. But that was the only time where she led as she had to play catchup the rest of the way against Bencic, who played like a well-oiled machine.
Eala managed to keep up and level in the first set at 4-4 before Bencic shifted to another gear and never letup.
Bencic broke Eala thrice in each of the two sets in a dominant display set up by her laser sharp serves.
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Sports
Jacob Misiorowski becomes first pitcher to reach 200 strikeouts in 2026, second-fastest in MLB history
Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski took the ball Sunday and every time that happens, we’re in for a strikeout show. Sure enough, he struck out six through his first three innings. His fifth strikeout was his 200th of the season.
Ho hum, just easy 102 mph heat there. That was a theme early, as 29 of Misiorowski’s first 30 pitches were fastballs. If a pitch is that effective, why stray?
Again, that strikeout above was the 200th of the season for the power right-hander. Not only is he the first pitcher to 200 strikeouts this season, but he’s the second fastest to ever get there, by innings pitched.
Misiorowski’s 200th strikeout came on the out that moved him to 129 ⅓ innings. Here’s the new top five fastest to 200 strikeouts in a season (via MLB).
1. Spencer Strider, 2022, 123 ⅓ IP
2. Jacob Misiorowski, 2026, 129 ⅓ IP
3. Spencer Strider, 2023, 130 IP
4. Randy Johnson, 2001, 130 ⅔ IP
5. Gerrit Cole, 2019, 133 ⅓ IP
That 2001 Randy Johnson season saw him finish the year with 372 strikeouts and win the National League Cy Young award with the Diamondbacks, as well as the World Series MVP. Spencer Strider in 2023 recorded 281 strikeouts and broke John Smoltz’s single-season strikeout record.
Misiorowski isn’t just a strikeout machine. He entered Sunday leading the majors in ERA (1.63) and WHIP (0.73). He was also a huge favorite in the NL Cy Young race. Here are the odds, according to FanDuel:
Alexandra Eala’s run at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers has come to an end.
The rising Filipino star was eliminated with a 6-4, 6-0 loss to Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic on Sunday night in Toronto.
The loss snapped a seven-match win streak for the 21-year-old Eala, which included her DC Open title victory on Monday when she became the first player from the Philippines to win a tour-level event.
Bencic was too much for Eala on Sunday, however, as the tournament’s 12th seed had just six unforced errors in the victory — the fewest for Bencic in a singles WTA-1000 match this season.
The Swiss 29-year-old will now take on world No. 4 Coco Gauff of the United States in the quarterfinals.
As for Eala, just like her first two matches in Toronto, the crowd on Sunday was heavily in her favour as the large Filipino community in the city came out to support in droves.
Eala left the court to a standing ovation from the crowd.
Despite the loss, her performance in Toronto was one to remember, and she looks like she’s on her way to being a force on the tour for years to come.
Sports
Kayla McBride sets WNBA record with 10 3-pointers as Lynx clinch playoff berth: ‘There is no better feeling’
Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride set a new WNBA single-game record with 10 3-pointers during Sunday’s 103-90 victory against the Dallas Wings. There was a lot to celebrate for the Lynx, because the win also made them the first team this season to clinch a spot in the playoffs.
In the process, McBride set a new career-high of 43 points. She had a very efficient shooting night, going 10 of 14 from beyond the arc. She said she was not really aware she was close to breaking the record until a member of the coaching staff told her she needed one more 3-pointer.
“Just trying to win, really, that’s all it is,” she said postgame, while also admitting she had been angry about missing some shots in the third quarter. “Just hooping, trying to get a dub. When it’s going down, it’s going down. There is no better feeling.”
In 2019, Kelsey Mitchell became the first player in WNBA history to make nine 3-pointers in a game. Since then, that mark has been matched seven times — this season alone, Chelsea Gray had nine 3-pointers on June 11 and Marina Mabrey equaled that in two separate games later in the month. But no player was able to reach double digits from beyond the arc until Mabrey on Sunday.
The bucket that earned her the 3-point record happened with 2:23 remaining in the fourth quarter. Fans at Target Center gave her a standing ovation to celebrate the achievement.
McBride joined the team in 2021 but was one of the top free agents during this past offseason. She has not won a WNBA championship ring yet and had a chance to star fresh somewhere else, but she chose to return to Minnesota and Sunday was confirmation that she made the right decision.
“When you have a good moment, you want to just soak it all in. I’m just very grateful,” McBride said. “I’m 34 years old, it’s my 13th year in the league. I’m exactly where I want to be. Coming back here in the offseason was the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m so grateful to the city of Minneapolis for just loving me the way they do.”
Besides’s McBride’s stunning performance on Sunday, the Lynx also got 20 points and a season-high 13 assists from Rookie of the Year favorite Olivia Miles. Miles was a key part of McBride’s record because the veteran had 22 points going 8 of 9 from the field off Miles’ passes, per ESPN Insights. Miles is the first true point guard the Lynx have had in a while and McBride said she has certainly benefited from her skills.
“It’s like a kid in a candy store. I’m very grateful for that,” McBride said. “Her ability to get in the paint and her ability in the pick and roll just creates so much for me. These types of moments don’t happen without that play…. It’s all about the team.”
The win helped Minnesota improve to a 27-7 overall record, which is impressive considering the fact that star player Napheesa Collier missed the first 27 games while recovering from surgery on both ankles. The Lynx have been the most dangerous team since May, and they are actually on track to break their franchise record for most wins in a single season. They set the current record last year when they went 34-10 overall.
Next up, Minnesota will take on the Portland Fire on the road on Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET.
In the latest Tour Confidential, GOLF’s writers discuss LIV’s new investors, Bryson’s two-tour request, and the golf postseason.
The post Tour Confidential: LIV’s lifeline, Bryson’s big request, playoffs! appeared first on Golf.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons crashed out of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after suffering a painful 1–0 defeat to rivals Cameroon in a fiercely contested quarter-final in Casablanca on Sunday night.
The defending champions dominated large parts of the match but were unable to find a way past a determined Cameroonian defence.
Cameroon took the lead in the 19th minute through a well-taken free-kick, catching Nigeria off guard and giving the Indomitable Lionesses an advantage against the run of play.
The Super Falcons responded strongly and created several opportunities. Gift Monday and Jennifer Echegini both came close to scoring, but Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely made important saves to keep her side ahead.
Nigeria coach Justin Madugu made his first change in the 38th minute, bringing on Uchenna Kanu for Rinsola Babajide as the Falcons looked for a way back into the game.
After the break, Madugu introduced more attacking options, with Toni Payne, Esther Okoronkwo and Asisat Oshoala joining the action.
Nigeria continued to dominate possession and territory, spending long periods in Cameroon’s half and putting the Lionesses under intense pressure.
However, Cameroon remained organised and disciplined at the back, frustrating the Super Falcons throughout the second half.
Even during the late pressure in stoppage time, Nigeria could not find the equaliser needed to take the match into extra time.
The result ends the Super Falcons’ hopes of defending their WAFCON title, but their 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup hopes remain alive.
Nigeria will now turn their attention to a crucial play-off against South Africa’s Banyana Banyana later this week. The winner will advance to the inter-confederation play-off for a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
For the Super Falcons, the focus now shifts from retaining their continental crown to keeping their World Cup dream alive.
Sports
Basant Kumar Meghwal claims silver with personal best at World U20 C’ships | Other Sports News
Basant Kumar Meghwal won a silver in men’s high jump event with a personal best effort to take India’s medal tally to two at the World Athletics U20 Championships here.
The 19-year-old from Anupgarh, a border town in the Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan, sailed over 2.21m, his lifetime best, to clinch the silver medal on the fourth and penultimate day of the championships on Saturday.
Algeria’s Younes Ayachi won the gold while Great Britain’s Otis Poole took the bronze. All the three medallists could only clear 2.21m but failed all their three attempts to sail over 2.24m.
The positions were thus decided on countback based on the number of attempts to clear the previous height.
Ayachi cleared 2.21m in his first jump, while Meghwal and Poole did the same in their second and third attempts respectively.
Earlier, Ashish Yadav had won a silver in the men’s javelin throw event to open India’s medal account on the third day.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First Published: Aug 09 2026 | 11:02 AM IST
Seventeen-year-old Asterisk Talley took home the trophy at this year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur at The Honors course.
After multiple delays due to storms, the final match came down to Talley and No.1 seed 17-year-old Anna Iwanaga. Talley ended up victorious, winning 8&6 over Iwanaga in the 36-hole final match with nine birdies and an eagle. If you listen to our Fully Equipped Podcast, you’ll often hear us say that the women’s game has more relatable equipment to the average golfer, so let’s see what we can learn from Talley’s winning TaylorMade setup.
The good news for the guys? This is probably one of the more “crafty” women’s setups I’ve seen. It’s a fun bag.
Club Grips: Golf Pride CPX JUMBO (woods), Golf Pride CP2 Pro JUMBO (irons), Golf Pride CP2 Wrap JUMBO (wedges)
Yup. Jumbo. On all her clubs. I had a chance to hang out with Asterisk for a little bit on the range at Whirlwind Golf Club earlier this year, and it was the first thing I noticed too. I asked her about it, and she had a pretty simple answer for me.
“I was playing with my dad one day and I hit a really nice shot with one of his irons, so I’ve gripped my clubs that way since then.”
Fair enough.
;)
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Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (Core) 9º w/ Fujikura Ventus Blue Velo+ 6-Stiff (tipped 1″)
It seems like the TaylorMade Qi4D driver has become the overwhelmingly popular choice for TaylorMade players in 2026, and with the driver now promised to be in the line through 2027, it’s fun to see players so dialed into their gear and imagining what that groove is going to look like moving into 2027.
This “core” model from TaylorMade has four adjustable weights, allowing a fitter to really dial in spin and launch characteristics for a player. Asterisk plays 8g weights in the dual rear positions and 7g weights in the dual front positions. This fairly neutral weight setup gives her just enough forgiveness while making sure that she’s in control of the ball flight off the tee. She plays the adapter one click towards lower, presumably for the driver to sit the way she wants.
SHAPED FOR SPEED
The re-engineered head profile increases ball speed thanks to improved aerodynamics developed through advanced simulations. FACE FOR DISTANCE
60x Carbon Twist Face™ is a technological cornerstone that provides weight savings, incredible ball speed and more consistency vs. a titanium face.
ADJUSTABLE PERFORMANCE
4° loft sleeve can be used to adjust loft, lie and face angle for optimized flight. TOUR PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES
New and improved cut-through Speed Pocket™ protects ball speed and reduces spin on low-face strikes.
Advanced CAD modeling creates a design with a clean and powerful sound, a foundation of TaylorMade driver performance.
Multi-Material Construction allows engineers to strategically place mass in areas of the head where it maximizes performance, speed, and stability.
View Product
;)
TaylorMade Golf
Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (core) 15º w/ Fujikura Ventus Blue Velo+ 7-Stiff (tipped 1″)
TaylorMade fairway woods are fantastic. Both GOLF’s Director of Gear Johnny Wunder and I have publicly stated that they’re the best at what they do. TaylorMade fairway woods tend to be a “fit-killer” at other brands or even throughout years of trial and error to replace one that’s been in the bag for some time.
Their secret is the perfect mixture of launch, speed and spin. TaylorMade fairways are notoriously on the lower-spinning side, which can usually spell disaster for a fairway wood but not when you add ease of launch to the mix. The Qi4D (core) model specifically has found itself in a great sweet spot and has been used to lure players away from “old faithful” options in lots of high-level bags this year. That confidence in launch and speed can really help an amateur player understand what the ball is going to do, which can result in a big boost of confidence.
Hitting a fairway wood isn’t an easy task. It’s probably the biggest struggle that I see from the average golfer on the weekend. Finding the right one for your game can be a massive win for the bag and can help set up the rest of the bag with more creativity, knowing that you’ve got that long approach into Par-5s locked down. It’s a very freeing aspect of the bag to feel comfortable standing over. Talley was no stranger to that confidence this week.
Hybrid: TaylorMade Qi4D Rescue (3-Hybrid) w/ Mitsubishi Golf Tensei 1k Blue 75-Stiff
Even with a setup like Talley’s that leans more into the irons than some other high-level female golfers, she’s still got a trust hybrid in the bag. The Qi4D Rescue was one of the more impressive hybrids/rescues that we tested this year, and it’s not shocking to see it acting as the 3-iron segment in the bag. She’s also playing a 75g shaft, relatively lightweight compared to what we might “think” needs to be in our hybrids. Take the 3-iron out of the bag, gentlemen. Asterisk is going to beat us 10/10 times, so maybe we join her on the more forgiving side of the world with some hybrids.
;)
Getty Images
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (4&5), TaylorMade P7MC (6-PW) w/ KBS TGI 100 Graphite Iron Shafts
I’m not traditionally a fan of combo sets, but I’m not going to argue with the effectiveness of this set in Asterisk’s hands this week.
Players like Asterisk will build combo sets to help ensure proper gapping and ball flight throughout the set. The P770 is going to provide a bit more ball speed than the P7MC does, and that ball speed will typically be married up with more launch to make sure the ball hits her cover numbers in the higher end of the bag. Coming down the stretch with long approaches into Par-4s or trying to get aggressive on a Par-5 can be diminishing to confidence if you can’t stand over the ball knowing you’ve got the right gear in your hands.
Based on these wear marks, she’s got all the confidence in the world that she’s going to stripe it.
;)
TaylorMade Golf
She finishes the iron set with the underdog iron of the P-Series family from TaylorMade, the P7MC.
The MC doesn’t get a ton of attention, as it’s a very niche iron with more traditional characteristics, but what it’s really good at is staying out of the ground. The P7MC has a bit more bounce than something like the more popular P7CB, but it retains a more narrow sole that players like to get creative with. Asterisk has been made famous for her ball flight control throughout the entire bag, and the irons are no different in her hands.
She pairs her irons with the KBS TGI 100 graphite iron shafts, which are designed to help encourage a touch more launch and spin for a player over something more traditional like a standard Dynamic Gold S400 or Nippon Modus series shaft. The switch to graphite in the irons has been a more popular choice for the female side of the game, mostly due to the weight availability of graphite parts, but the performance has definitely caught up as well. If you haven’t given graphite shafts a good test lately, you’d be surprised to see how many options there are on the market now, and how they can really change the feel and performance of your iron play.
;)
TaylorMade Golf
I’d also like to make sure we give some major nods to Asterisk (and her club builder) for the inclusion of some BB&FCO ferrules. Love to see it.
Wedges: TaylorMade MG5 50SB, 54SB, 58LB w/ Fujikura Axiom 105-Stiff Graphite Iron Shafts
For the short game, Talley chooses a full arsenal of TaylorMade MG5 wedges gapped from her 47º P7MC pitching wedge. The TaylorMade MG5 wedge has been well received by golf media this year for its redefined shape and beautiful forged feel off the face. TaylorMade has done something special with these wedges this year, and players have taken notice. There’s a handful of free-agents on the PGA Tour using the MG5 this year, including Ben Griffin, and winning the U.S. Women’s Am just adds another tick to the list of wins for the MG5 at high-level events across the sport this year. Talley chooses the RAW finish for her wedges.
FORGED FEEL
Incredible feel is a must for having a great wedge game. MG5 has been forged from soft carbon steel and designed with geometry to provide excellent feel with great feedback.
MAXIMUM SPIN
MG5 uses all-new, more aggressive grooves designed to maximize spin. Saw-milled grooves produce tighter tolerances allowing engineers to design steeper walls and sharper radii intended to maximize spin in both dry and damp conditions.
PERFORMANCE IN ALL CONDITIONS
RAW face with Spin Tread technology channels away moisture to help retain spin. The same way that tire treads help your car stay connected to the road, laser-etched channels redirect water at impact and creates more friction between the club face and golf ball to maintain spin in wet conditions.
CRAFTSMANSHIP MEETS CONSISTENCY
Crafted by hand and then milled to perfection. Each wedge and sole grind are precision-milled to eliminate the natural human error that comes with hand polishing. Our grinds deliver unmatched consistency and craftsmanship that players can count on every time.
CHARCOAL FINISH
MG5 debuts a sleek, sophisticated charcoal finish that reduces glare and enhances its aesthetic appeal in the bag.
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Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour V Torched (2026)
The winning putt of the 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur was dropped with a TaylorMade Spider Tour V. This is a new shape for TaylorMade this year, and came from direct testing with high-level players on all tours. The mid-mallet shape is preferred by players who may enjoy the roll and performance of a TaylorMade Spider but aren’t looking for something as big as a full-size mallet.
;)
TaylorMade Golf
Having a smaller shape can lead to feeling a bit more in control of the club, something you may have noticed is a theme in Asterisk’s equipment. Even though the weather tried its best to ruin it, the greens at The Honors Course stayed quick the entire week, and being in control of her putter is part of what propelled her to the eventual victory Sunday afternoon.
Just like the standard Spider Tour or Tour X shapes, the Spider Tour V has a Pureroll insert that gets the ball rolling end over end smoothly and efficiently. The insert has a mild feel at impact, so lots of amateur players will say it has a great combination of feel, speed and sound. The Pureroll insert can inspire a lot of confidence in a player, and having the right shape to match up to what the eyes want to see is part of why the 2026 expansion of the Spider lineup has been so well received.
Asterisk plays a special tour-only slant neck version of the putter with a short line up top to match up with her TP5x ball alignment.
;)
Getty Images
Golf Ball: TaylorMade TP5x (with personal markings)
Talley plays the higher-launching, lower-spinning golf ball from the folks over at TaylorMade. She has her own unique markings for the golf ball too. Asterisk in Greek means “Little Star.” When Asterisk writes her name, she marks the dot in the “i” with an asterisk mark (*), and that’s how she marks her golf ball as well.
;)
TaylorMade Golf
TaylorMade Tour Rep Connor Sullivan also provided some context for the golf ball put in play by Talley.
“Peak height was something we looked at closely when testing TP5x with Asterisk. She was able to produce a higher apex allowing the ball land into greens at a slightly steeper angle. This allows her to manage her distances easier and be more aggressive — especially into courses with firmer greens.”
This is big for the everyday amateur, especially on the men’s side. Hit the ball higher. We should all aspire to hit the ball higher. Most golfers I meet hit the ball too low. Stopping power from gravity is a powerful trait to have. Let your equipment make that more achievable!
Built on the success of the best Team TaylorMade athletes in the world, TP5x is designed to deliver unparalleled low spin and distance off the tee and world-class feel and control where you need it most around the green.
Microcoating
No two golf balls are the same, but the all-new TP5x sets out to solve an invisible problem through our revolutionary microcoating finish process. Uneven paint and excess pooling in the dimples can compromise distance and accuracy. Microcoating uses precision application technology to ensure uniform coverage across the ball’s entire surface. Click on the video for a deep dive.
Thinner Than a Human Hair
Microcoating is thinner than a human hair and delivers measurable performance advantages: more consistent ball flight, optimized distance, and tight left-to-right dispersion.
Tour-Level Speed
The reengineered Speed Wrapped Core in TP5x increases the coefficient of restitution (COR) for exceptional ball speed at the top end of your bag.
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Congrats to Asterisk Talley on her win at the 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. Asterisk’s bag is a fun one to talk about because while the TaylorMade staff supervises it, it’s also 100% owned by her. She knows what gear she needs to bring home the trophies, and I have a feeling we’re going to be seeing her hoist many more in the future, starting in college at Stanford and then, eventually, the LPGA.
Looking to get fit for your game? Take the next step for your bag by booking a fitting with our friends at True Spec Golf.
The WNBA Finally Has Stars. Why Is It Fighting Them? | The Riley Gaines Show
Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham are giving the WNBA exactly what every league says it wants: attention, rivalry, ratings, personality, memes, and real fan emotion. So why does the league keep looking uncomfortable with the very energy that is making people watch? On this episode of The Riley Gaines Show, Riley breaks down Clark’s return to elite form, the Fever’s surge, the technical foul controversy, and Sophie Cunningham pushing back on the
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It was a nationally televised WNBA matchup between the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty on Sunday afternoon in Brooklyn, a battle of two championship hopefuls.
But Aces head coach Becky Hammon had a starting five nobody expected, and it could be viewed as a protest for having to play back-to-back games on the road this weekend.
Hammon didn’t play four-time MVP A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray or Jackie Young – three usual Aces starters – with Jewell Loyd, Dana Evans and Brianna Turner taking their spots instead. It wasn’t just for the start of the game either, as all three of those players didn’t step foot on the court other than to cheer their teammates on.
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Becky Hammon, head coach of the Las Vegas Aces, looks on against the New York Liberty during their game at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Aug. 9, 2026. (Getty Images)
For a nationally televised ABC game against a rival, it was a curious move by Hammon, but the load management move is one that she defended following a 111-71 rout by the Liberty on their home Barclays Center court.
“The health and safety of players comes first,” Hammon said, per Yahoo Sports. “Wherever we end up, we end up, and we’ll play whatever hand is dealt to us. To me, this was a just a bigger picture type (of) scenario, so you take the ‘L,’ understanding that it pays dividends on the back end.”
The Aces fell to the Minnesota Lynx, 98-87, on Saturday, where Wilson (33 minutes), Young (33) and Gray (36) all played their usual workloads.
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But the short turnaround, especially on the road, led Hammon to sit her stars. And national TV game or not, it was a move she likely would’ve done considering her stance.
“Not going to put (players) in any kind of jeopardy to get hurt when we’ve been expending a lot of energy and traveling a lot of miles back and forth, crisscrossing the country,” Hammon said as she continued defending her decision.
“It is what it is. I know these are big matchups, and these are what people want to see, but you should ensure that it’s fair.”
As per the WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement, which was agreed upon by both the league and player before the start of this season, has language stating the league will “make reasonable and good faith efforts” to provide at least 20 hours between the scheduled start of a team’s first game of a back-to-back and the scheduled start of its second game.
Head coach Becky Hammon of the Las Vegas Aces looks on during a game against the Minnesota Lynx on Aug. 8, 2026, at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn. (NBAE via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, the WNBA has a guideline that gives teams a minimum of 22 hours between back-to-back games, where travel mustn’t be more than one time zone. It’s similar to what the NBA does during its own schedule.
For this weekend back-to-back, the Aces tipped off on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET, and they were slated for Sunday’s game at 12:30 p.m. ET. Also, the Lynx played their second game of a back-to-back themselves on Saturday afternoon, but both games were at home as they played the Dallas Wings at 3:30 p.m. ET.
The Liberty obviously didn’t mind not facing key starters for the Aces in what was an easy victory, but even Jonquel Jones couldn’t blame Hammon for thinking about the future.
“Obviously, they have to do what’s right for their team,” she said, via Yahoo Sports. “They have to do what’s right for their bodies. But as competitors, we really wanted to match up against them.”
The WNBA schedule will only grow as the seasons continue and its popularity expands. Next season, there will be a 50-game slate for the first time in league history – up six games from 2026.
Becky Hammon, head coach of the Las Vegas Aces, looks on against the New York Liberty during their game at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Aug. 9, 2026. (Getty Images)
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But what Hammon did on Sunday afternoon in Brooklyn could be more than just focusing on her team’s health and safety moving forward with important games left to play closer to a playoff push.
Perhaps this was her way of telling the WNBA that, while it fell within the guideline of a minimum of 22 hours between games, she doesn’t care if the game is on national TV or not.
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TORONTO — And then there were none — Canadians playing in singles competition at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers, that is.
Leylah Fernandez, the last Canadian remaining, was stopped in the Round of 16 by Japanese star Naomi Osaka 6-4, 6-4 Sunday night.
Fernandez played a competitive game, but was ultimately overpowered by the former world No. 1 as Osaka’s baseline game forced Fernandez into committing too many errors. Combined with seven aces from Osaka, the 23-year-old Montreal native simply couldn’t keep up.
Osaka will next face world No. 2 Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals after the Kazakhstan star won a hard-fought three-set match against Liudmila Samsonova earlier Sunday.
“It was a very difficult match as always against (Liudmila),” Rybakina said. “I feel like we both didn’t start that well. Then it became, really, a fight.
“In the third set I was just trying to focus on each point at a time. … I’m glad I managed to win in the end. I fought until the end.”
With world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka going down on Saturday, Rybakina, the current world No. 2, can come within as few as four points of the top ranking should she win the NBO.
It’s not something she’s thinking of too hard about, however.
“(There are) still a lot of matches I’ve got to win,” she said. “I try not to think about the ranking, about the points, and just go one match at a time and see how far I can get.”
In other NBO action, Coco Gauff powered past 19-year-old Russian Alina Korneeva 6-3, 6-1 to reach the quarterfinals.
The American has been in fine form in Toronto, yet to drop a set in the tournament.
“I thought today was pretty solid. As solid as it can get,” Gauff said. “I know she’s young, and one of her first times on this stage, so I’m sure we’ll see each other more in the future.
“It was not as easy maybe as the scoreline shows, but I’m happy with how I played today.”
Gauff will next face the winner of Belinda Bencic and Filipino sensation Alexandra Eala, who will play later Sunday night.
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