Sleeper hitters for Week 21 (Aug. 10-16)
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National senior record holder high jumper Pooja Singh failed to live up to the expectations, finishing seventh in the final, as India ended their World Athletics U20 Championships campaign with three medals here.
The 19-year-old Pooja could only clear 1.84m, way below her national senior record height of 1.93m. She failed to sail over 1.87m in three attempts.
Izobelle Louison-Roe of Australia won the gold with 1.92m, while Lilianna Batori (1.90m) of Hungary and Aitana Alonso (1.90m) of Spain bagged the silver and bronze respectively.
In May, Pooja had won gold in the Asian U20 Athletics Championships with the senior national record height of 1.93m. She is also the reigning gold medallist at the Senior Asian Athletics Athletics Championships.
The Indian women’s 4x400m relay team, meanwhile, finished ninth and last in the final, clocking 3 minute 45.28 seconds. The team comprised Bhoomika Nehate, Tahura Khatun, Tanu Chaudhary and Thiya Arumugam.
USA won the gold with a time of 3:29.15s, while Australia (3:31.39s) and Great Britain (3:32.08s) took the silver and bronze respectively.
With two silver and one bronze here, India equalled the medal haul of the 2021 and 2022 editions.
Ashish Yadav had opened India’s medal account with a silver in the men’s javelin throw. Basant Kumar Meghwal and Shahnavaz Khan added a silver and bronze respectively in the men’s high jump and long jump.
From 2002 to 2018, India won just four medals in the World Athletics U20 Championships, including a gold each from Neeraj Chopra (men’s javelin throw in 2016) and Hima Das (women’s 400m race in 2018).
Discus thrower Seema Antil won India’s first ever medal in the World Athletics U20 Championships with a silver in the 2002 edition in Jamaica, before Navjeet Kaur Dhillon won a bronze in the same event in 2014 in the USA.
In 2021 edition, Amit (men’s 10,000m race walk) and Shaili Singh (women’s long jump) won a silver each while the mixed 4x400m relay team bagged a bronze.
In 2022, Selva Prabhu Thirumaran (men’s triple jump) and mixed 4x400m relay team clinched a silver each while Rupal Chaudhary (women’s 400m) bagged a bronze.
India won one medal in the 2024 edition, a bronze through Aarti in the women’s 10,000m race walk event.
Best hitter matchups for this week include the Rangers, Cubs and Giants
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1 min read
Whether you’re in need of an injury fill-in or just a hot-hand play, Scott White has you covered with 10 sleeper hitters for the upcoming scoring period, all rostered in less than 80 percent of CBS Sports leagues. They’re not must-starts by any estimation, but they’re often the best you’ll find off the waiver wire.
All information is up to date as of late Sunday.
Best hitter matchups for Week21
1. Rangers @LAA4, @ATH3
2. Cubs @WAS3, STL3
3. Giants HOU3, COL3
4. Rays @ATH3, BAL3
5. Mets @ATL3, WAS3
Worst hitter matchups for Week 21
1. Padres MIL3, @CLE3
2. Tigers CLE3, CHW3
3. Cardinals PHI3, @CHC3
4. Blue Jays BOS4, NYY3
5. Yankees SEA3, @TOR3
The biggest stars in European athletics head to Birmingham for the 2026 European Athletics Championships with continental titles and in some cases world records on the line, just a week after the close of the Commonwealth Games.
Coming in a fallow year between World Championships and Olympics the Europeans are the major target for most eligible athletes over the outdoor season and the competition is set to be fierce as ever.
Here are the major athletes and races to watch ahead of the week’s action.
Race of the season: the women’s 800m
The women’s 800m is the headline event, even in a stacked programme. Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson has had a stop-start outdoor season, suffering surprise back-to-back defeats and withdrawing in tears from British national championships earlier this summer after tweaking her hamstring. But she returned to winning ways on home soil at the London Diamond League last month, and starts as one of the favourites in a glittering field.
Switzerland’s Audrey Werro has been the surprise package of the season and is the outright favourite after running the fastest in the world this year, but Femke Broeders-Bol – having converted her brilliance in her normal discipline of 400m hurdles to the 800m – is also a potent force. Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium could yet see one of track and field’s oldest world records fall: the controversial 1:53.28 set by Czechoslovakian athlete Jarmila Kratochvilova in 1983.
Hodgkinson had initially targeted the London Diamond League to attempt to break the record, having smashed the world indoor record in March last year. But it now looks as though Werro, who became the first woman since Kratochvilova to run under 1:54 – twice – in Paris and Stockholm this year, is the best placed to finally topple that mark.
The stage is set for a hugely entertaining race – the only drawback is that newly crowned Commonwealth 800m champion Georgia Hunter Bell is opting not to compete over the distance in Birmingham, focusing on the 1500m instead and avoiding a mouthwatering four-way clash.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen makes long-awaited return
Norwegian great Jakob Ingebrigsten has not raced at all in 2026 after undergoing surgery on his Achilles tendon in January, with his grand comeback taking place this week as he runs in the 5,000m. The injury also heavily impacted his 2025; he obviously struggled with it at the World Championships in September, when he failed to make it out of the 1,500m heats and finished a distant 10th in the 5,000m.
He is the reigning European champion in both the 5,000m and 1,500m but has opted to focus on the longer distance only as he returns to competition, writing on social media: “Anyone who has watched me race over the years will know that competition is what drives me. I am healthy, training has been going well and after discussing with my team, we reached the conclusion that there is no reason not to race.
“What better way than to return to the European Championships, where I have so many golden memories. I’ll be lining up for the 5000m August 10th.”
Ingebrigtsen has never been defeated at a European Championships, winning both the 1,500m and 5,000m titles at each of the last three editions, going back to when he was just 17 in Berlin in 2018, and made history in Rome two years ago as the first man to win six gold medals.
Mondo Duplantis bids to shake off rare defeat
One constant of athletics in recent years has been Mondo Duplantis’ crushing supremacy in the pole vault. But the world record holder suffered a shock defeat – his first in three years – at this summer’s Diamond League event in Stockholm, with Australian Kurtis Marschall beating him on Duplantis’ home soil.
The Swede never really looked himself and failed at 6m and 6.05m, only finishing second as he cleared 5.80m with two-time world bronze medallist Marschall clearing 5.90m.
Duplantis set a new world record of 6.28m at the same arena last year but his aura of invincibility took a huge dent this time around, while he then withdrew from the London Diamond League with a thigh strain, after a long conversation with his father and manager on the sidelines.
With the European Championships looming the decision was made to withdraw as a precaution, but the events of the last few weeks mean that – for once – the men’s pole vault title isn’t sewn up before the athletes even step onto the runway. Duplantis arrives in Birmingham looking to win a fourth successive European title and re-establish his supremacy after that blip, setting up a fascinating battle with the likes of major rival Emmanouil Karalis of Greece.
Brits renew rivalry in stacked 100m
While Hodgkinson and Hunter Bell headline the longer distance races for the home nation, there is a raft of British interest in the sprint events, most notably in a stacked women’s 100m field.
Defending champion Dina Asher-Smith has won six European golds and could become the most successful athlete in the history of the event if she wins one more, doubling up after glory in Rome two years ago. She pulled out of the Commonwealth Games with a focus on defending her title but will face opposition from rival Daryll Neita, who is second behind Asher-Smith in the all-time list of fastest Brits over the distance and is a two-time European individual medallist herself.
World 200m silver medallist Amy Hunt is competing in both events in Birmingham; her slow start may rule her out of contention over the shorter distance but her immense closing speed makes her a major favourite in a fascinating 200m race, where she will also come up against former world champion Asher-Smith. British national champion Success Eduan will also be in action, giving the home crowd in Birmingham multiple athletes to cheer on.
Josh Kerr holds off on more records
One major absence from Birmingham is new mile world record holder Josh Kerr. The Scot won the 3,000m world indoor title in March, but his season was entirely built around a tilt at Hicham El Guerrouj’s 27-year-old mile record, which he shattered in stunning fashion at the London Diamond League, running it in 3:42.66.
The 28-year-old is always one to talk a big game and his tilt at the record was rarely out of the spotlight as he shared his training for the catchily named ‘Project 222’ – the number of seconds he would have to run to break it – in the build-up. He wrote “I ran 3.42 at the London Diamond League. July 18th, 2026” in his notebook every day; he would plunge in an ice bath for 222 seconds, living and breathing the project.
His superb form carried him into the Commonwealth Games, another important target for him, especially as they were held on home soil in Glasgow. The mile there was a very different race – he won in 3:54.12 and had time to gee up the crowd as he surged clear down the home straight – but the gold was what he came for.
There had been talk that having completed those two goals he would turn his attention to the 1,500m world record, also held by El Guerrouj, of 3:26 flat. But that is unlikely to happen this year, despite his blistering form, and nor is an appearance in Birmingham at all. He told The Guardian: “I will hold the 1500m world record in my career. But I’m not in a rush to do that. I think we are flying a little close to the sun at the moment.” His absence opens the door to compatriot Jake Wightman, who was sixth in the mile in Glasgow.
The 2027 NHL scouting season has officially launched.
Several prospects made an impression at last week’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup, an annual under-18 tournament that was hosted in Edmonton by Team Canada. The competition will return to Czechia and Slovakia next summer, with future host cities still to be determined. Canada won gold after routing the U.S. 8-1 in the gold-medal game on Saturday night, while Finland downed Slovakia to take the bronze.
It’s early in my process, but several prospects caught mine and colleague Sam Cosentino’s attention. With an eye towards next June’s draft, here are some quick notes on players who stood out:
Landon DuPont — five-foot-11, 192 pounds — right-shot defenceman – Michigan Wolverines (NCAA)
DuPont captained Canada to gold. He was deployed in key offensive- and defensive-zone scenarios, competed physically, executed at an elite level with the puck and ended the tournament with two goals and six assists (including four helpers in the gold-medal game).
DuPont, in my opinion, is a complete player and a future top-pairing NHL defenceman. He doesn’t just produce offence — he’s a fantastic skater who never backs down in the hard areas of the ice, net front and along the boards. He reminds me, in many ways, of a young Drew Doughty.
Brock England – five-foot-11, 175 pounds – left-shot winger – Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
England plays with pace, skill and tenacity. His quick release, and overall puck skill in small areas, was on full display in Edmonton. He ended the tournament with five points (four goals, one assist) and appears poised to have a very productive year with the Thunderbirds. England has the hockey sense and commitment to be deployed in all situations if required and projects as a top-six NHL forward.
Jaakko Wycisk – six-foot-one, 204 pounds – Right Shot Center – Guelph Storm (OHL)
Wycisk was outstanding for Canada as his combination of skating ability, skill and overall physical presence stood out throughout the tournament. Wycisk’s power along the boards and in front of the opponent’s net makes him extremely difficult to defend and opens up space for his linemates. He tied teammate Maddox Schultz for the scoring title with two goals and eight assists for the Canadians and currently projects as a first-round prospect.
Brock Cripps – five-foot-11, 166 pounds – right-shot defenceman – Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
NHL teams covet right-shot defencemen, especially elite skaters and playmakers who project as potential power-play quarterbacks — and Cripps fits the description. He’s currently undersized and will need time to add more weight to his frame, but his quickness and hockey sense already stand out and lead to Cripps winning pucks and launching the attack. He produced one goal and five assists and projects as a two-way/transitional defenceman with top-four potential.
Kayden Stroeder – six feet, 165 pounds – left-shot centre – Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Stroeder was playing on home ice in Edmonton and stood out for a variety of reasons. He contributed offence (four goals, five assists), but it was his relentless compete level that stood out for me. Stroeder battled for possession and drove to the net off the flank. He played with pace, was reliable defensively, and won most of his shifts throughout the tournament.
Cooper McAslan – six-foot-two, 195 pounds – right-shot defenceman – London Knights (OHL)
I could have written about almost every Canadian player for this piece, and their time will come between now and next June, but London Knights defenceman Cooper McAslan is a prospect who deserves recognition to start the season.
McAslan spent most of last year playing for London’s Junior “B” affiliate, the London Nationals, and only suited up for four games with the Knights. He contributed 10 goals and 37 assists in 45 combined regular season and playoff games with the Nationals. McAslan is long and rangy, a solid skater with well-above-average puck skill. He was generally used in a depth role for Canada, but did contribute three assists. I feel like McAslan is just scratching the surface of his potential and should compete for significant minutes with the Knights this season.
Douglas Johnsson – five-foot-10, 169 pounds – right-shot defenceman – Skelleftea J20 (Sweden)
Johnsson is another intriguing and undersized right-shot defender. He’s an outstanding skater who has the ability to track down pucks in his zone and launch the attack on his own or outlet the puck and join the rush as an extra attacker. He quarterbacks the power play and competes defensively. The Swedes were underwhelming overall at this tournament but Johnsson stood out for long stretches, contributing one goal and two assists.
Milan Sundstrom – six-foot-two, 207 pounds – left-shot centre – Modo J20 (Sweden)
Sundstrom is a pre-season top-five prospect who projects as a top-line NHL forward with significant offensive upside. He produced six points (two goals, four assists) for the Swedes and was their most consistent offensive threat. There were times his shift length was too long, leaving him exhausted and cutting some corners defensively, but he left me with a positive impression overall.
Jonah Neuenschwander – six-foot-three, 185 pounds – left-shot centre – Biel NLA (Switzerland)
Neuenschwander played to his identity in Edmonton and appears prepared for a big season in his draft year. He’s the kind of prospect who has to be dissected shift-to-shift with a sense of reality in relation to the team around him. The Swiss lack depth at the top of their lineup, but Neuenschwander ended the tournament with three goals and three assists while having to compete against opponents’ top lines and defensive pairings every shift. He’s another prospect whose combination of size, skill, pace and elite shooting ability stands out.
Luca Santala – six-foot-two, 190 pounds – right-shot winger – London Knights (OHL)
Santala is making his way to North America to play in the OHL for the Knights and projects as a prospect who leans more shooter than distributor. He’s aggressive directing pucks on net and has the size to create issues for defenders who attempt to push him off pucks. One area of Santala’s game I’m monitoring is his overall pace, as he has the ability to play fast but seems to pick his spots at times. Santala produced two goals and four assists.
Gavin Burcar – six-foot-two, 185 pounds – right-shot centre – Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
Burcar was fantastic for Team USA as the Spokane Chiefs centre dominated offensively (five goals, four assists) and, like Santala, was aggressive directing pucks on net. He shoots the puck a ton, but what stood out was the way he stationed himself around the net and walked to open space after winning plays off the boards.
Maxmilian Mares – six-foot-six, 229 pounds – left-shot centre – Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)
I’m pretty sure Cosentino grew tired of me pointing out all of the positive things Mares was doing for Czechia on a shift-to-shift basis. He’s a hulking centre who plays a straightforward power game. When he wins offensive zone draws, he heads to the crease to set screens and hound for tips and rebounds. Mares was selected by Rimouski in the first round (fifth overall) in the CHL import draft. He contributed three goals and three assists in Edmonton and has my full attention heading into the fall.
It would be irresponsible of me to end my piece without acknowledging the under-age prospects (2028 draft eligible) who had significant impact at the tournament:
Maddox Schultz – five-foot-10, 183 pounds – left-shot centre – Regina Pats (WHL)
Schultz was outstanding for Canada. He contributed three goals and seven assists, but it was his complete game that impressed me most. Schultz doesn’t cut corners. He competes in all three zones and isn’t shy to battle in traffic. He’s trending towards being the top prospect for the 2028 draft.
Liam Pue – six feet, 188 pounds – right-shot winger – Regina Pats (WHL)
Pue also plays in Regina and he has undeniable synergy skating alongside Schultz. He owns a lethal release — if he identifies a lane to the net, no matter how small, he has the ability to rip pucks in the blink of an eye. Pue produced six goals and three assists for Team Canada.
Joey Cullen – five-foot-11, 173 pounds – left-shot winger – USNTDP U17 (USHL)
Joey’s brother, Wyatt, was selected by the Nashville Predators 10th overall in June and Joey appears to have the same upside. He’s dynamic with the puck on his stick and plays with a confident swagger that produced three goals and two assists for Team USA.
Manchester United have more work to do in the transfer market after spending more than £80m on new arrivals
Michael Carrick and Manchester United are preparing for close to a full complement of players as they prepare to round off their pre-season campaign. How many of those players are still there at the start of the season is a different matter, though.
United drew with Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday as they continued their pre-season programme. There were injury scares for Mason Mount and Tom Heaton but it’s hoped neither are too serious.
With less than two weeks to go until the league opener at Hull, the two biggest additions have been in midfield. Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos both joined for sizeable fees but another new face could follow after Casemiro’s exit and Manuel Ugarte’s injury.
There’s also the big question of what might be next for Marcus Rashford. We’ve got the latest for you on that and on another potential deal.
Liverpool could rival United for Camara
Manchester United and Liverpool have joined the race for Senegal star Lamine Camara, according to Foot Mercato. Crystal Palace are also keen on the 22-year-old, who has been of interest to English clubs for a while.
Monaco are understood to be seeking £43m for the player, who has previously been mentioned in connection with a Chelsea move. Camara progressed through the famed Generation Foot academy and also represented Metz before moving to his current club.
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Manchester United have launched their new home kit for the 2026/27 season, inspired by the club’s heritage and featuring a classic polo collar with iconic adidas details.
The midfielder was also a key part of Senegal’s World Cup 2026 squad. He appeared in all four games as they made it out of their group but were knocked out by Belgium in the round of 32.
Rashford situation remains fluid
Marcus Rashford is back in the Manchester United camp, with Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez also returning after deep World Cup runs. MEN Sport understands the most likely outcome is Rashford being reintegrated at Old Trafford for the new season, though a buyer could yet emerge.
Barcelona held an option to secure the forward for £26m at the conclusion of their loan arrangement but allowed it to lapse. A comparable bid from another club could still be sufficient to acquire Rashford, though none has been forthcoming so far.
“We have got a full squad this week in Dublin,” Carrick said. “We fly straight there and have a few days where we have the whole group back together.
“Marcus is part of that, and Kobbie and Lisandro. We look forward to seeing them.”
FILE – Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Don Nelson speaks during a press conference before Game 2 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, June 8, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Kyle Phillips, File)
Don Nelson, the second-winningest coach in NBA history who won five championships as a player with the Boston Celtics, died Sunday. He was 86.
Nelson’s family confirmed the death in a statement that did not say where he died or provide a cause.
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“On Sunday morning our beloved husband, dad, grandfather and great-grandfather Don Nelson peacefully went to be with the Lord, surrounded by his loving family,” the statement said. “Throughout his last week, friends and family encircled him with love, sharing the blessing of his friendship and revisiting treasured memories.”
READ: Lenny Wilkens, who coached most games in NBA history, dies at 88
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued the following statement today regarding the passing of Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Don Nelson:
“Don Nelson revolutionized NBA basketball through his fearlessness, ingenuity and deep conviction. He spent nearly 50 years in the NBA –… pic.twitter.com/Fy9pOYTE0h
— NBA (@NBA) August 9, 2026
Nelson is one of two coaches in NBA history to have at least 250 wins with three different franchises — Milwaukee, Dallas and Golden State — also serving as general manager for all three franchises. He was a three-time coach of the year and made the playoffs 18 times in 31 seasons. He went to the conference finals three times with the Bucks and once with the Mavericks, never winning a title.
Nelson introduced what is now known as the point forward, and his up-tempo style of offense created a buzz. He said the idea of shifting from the dominant big men of the 1970s to an offense focused on speed and the fast break came from his playing days under Celtics Hall of Fame coach Red Auerbach.
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“The league really hadn’t seen an offense like the one we were running, and the results were undeniable,” Nelson wrote in 2016 in The Players’ Tribune.
Nelson said that “without Red Auerbach teaching me the mechanics of running the fast break, none of it would have been possible. He deserves all the credit for Nellie Ball, and for how fast the game of basketball is played today.”
Nelson played 11 of his 14 seasons in Boston and was on five Celtics championship teams under four different coaches. He became an assistant coach in Milwaukee after retiring as a player, then took over after coach Larry Costello resigned 18 games into the 1976-77 season. Nelson coached the Bucks for 11 seasons starting in 1976 and won seven straight division titles.
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In Nelson’s second season, Milwaukee overcame a 29-point fourth quarter deficit to beat Atlanta 117-115 in regulation.
“I coached the team as though I was still playing for the Celtics, while implementing a few of my own strategies,” Nelson wrote. “I knew I wanted to play unconventional basketball and use speed to my advantage.”
His fast-paced offenses were probably best on display with Golden State in the “Run TMC” era featuring future Hall of Famers Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin. Nelson said he wanted them on the court at the same time.
Nelson spent 11 seasons over two stints with Golden State. The first one was punctuated by a rift with rookie star Chris Webber, who was traded away a month into his second season. Nelson, demoralized by the trade, missed nine games that season due to illness and resigned under pressure three months later in February 1995.
In between, Nelson was fired after less than one season in New York in 1995-96, then coached in Dallas for eight seasons, missing 21 games with the Mavericks starting in December 2000 to recuperate from prostate cancer surgery.
A basketball innovator. A Mavericks legend. An impact that will never be forgotten.
We mourn the passing of former Mavericks head coach Don Nelson and celebrate a life that left an incredible mark on our franchise and the game of basketball.
Rest in peace, Nellie. #MFFL pic.twitter.com/BcLDKkIEO7
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) August 9, 2026
Nelson’s son, Donnie, joined his father as an assistant coach with the Mavericks in 1998, later became general manager and remained with the organization until 2021. Together they persuaded 20-year-old German star Dirk Nowitzki to pass up European basketball and join the Mavericks. Don Nelson also developed Steve Nash into one of the NBA’s top point guards before Nash went on to win back-to-back MVPs with the Phoenix Suns in 2005 and 2006.
“Don Nelson was a true innovator whose influence on the game of basketball is still felt today,” current Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “He consistently challenged conventional thinking, experimented with different lineups and styles of play and saw possibilities in the game that others often did not. So much of what is now commonplace in the modern NBA can be traced back to the way Nellie approached the game.”
At Golden State, Nelson’s “We Believe” Warriors led by Baron Davis upset Nowitzki and the top-seeded Mavericks in the first round of the 2007 playoffs in one of the biggest shockers in NBA history. In his final season as a coach, Nelson mentored rookie Stephen Curry in 2009-10.
“One of the big reasons I was drafted by the Warriors was because of Don Nelson. The story is he never liked rookies, but from Day 1 he challenged me and gave me an opportunity to be my best self on the court,” Curry said in a statement released by the Warriors. “He taught me a lot during our one season together and I’ll never forget the night he became the winningest coach in NBA history in Minnesota. We were so happy for him. He had an immeasurable impact on the sport and will go down as one of the greatest minds in the history of the game.”
Davis added: “When I think of Nellie, I’ll always think of the ‘We Believe’ team and our incredible run in 2007. He understood what made us go and made us believe we could beat anybody, ultimately helping us make history as the first No. 8 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed in a seven-game series. That time in my life and career was truly special, and Nellie was a huge part of making it possible.”
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Nelson retired as the NBA’s career coaching wins leader with 1,335, just ahead of Lenny Wilkens’ 1,332. Nelson kept that top spot for nearly 12 years before close friend and now-retired San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich passed him in March 2022.
Nelson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2025, he received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the National Basketball Coaches Association. Miffed that the Mavericks sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster trade, Nelson wore a pair of Doncic’s signature Jordan Brand sneakers to the awards ceremony. He called the trade a “tremendous mistake.”
Born in Muskegon, Michigan, Nelson attended high school in Rock Island, Illinois, and averaged a double-double in college at Iowa. He spent his retirement years living on the Hawaiian island of Maui and owned several short-term rentals on the island.
Sports
How Keely Hodgkinson’s ‘freak’ injury, tears and scars add intrigue to thrilling European showdown
Keely Hodgkinson returns to competition at the European Athletics Championships in an unusual position. After breaking the world indoor record over 800m in March, it looked as though the world was at her feet. But the Paris Olympic champion has had a distinctly stop-start outdoor season, troubled by a “freak” injury and dogged by bad luck, and has been beaten resoundingly, twice, by Switzerland’s breakout star Audrey Werro, the fastest woman in the world this year.
With that in mind, does she still believe she is the best in the world, going into a major championships on home soil? On a video call with The Independent and other outlets, she smiles confidently as she says: “Yes, I still believe I’m very much capable of that.
“This is what I trained for, this is the exciting moment. I’ve been doing this for a couple of years now, had lots of people come around and challenge me, and I’ve always been there. I’m proud to have always been in that top segment, I’ve medalled at every single championships. So it’s really great to have the women’s 800 in the spotlight and everyone getting behind us and wanting us to run fast, it’s really exciting.”
The 24-year-old’s outdoor woes began when she fell in training onto a metal grate that left her with cuts to her knees before the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon, where she lost to world champion Lilian Odira. She suffered surprise back-to-back defeats and withdrew in tears from the British national championships earlier this summer, moments before the 400m final, after tweaking her hamstring.
Now she is relaxed about the fall; her knees have healed – “I’ve got some fat scars, but they’re all fine” – and the incident didn’t cause her to miss any training. “It was like, how much pain can I manage? Against these girls, if you’re limping and your back’s out, all these little fine margins can affect your performance.
“I just fell over, it’s a freak accident, who cares? I think people are very quick to judge and don’t really fully know what has happened. I wanted to run, I was there, I flew all the way out. Maybe in hindsight I probably shouldn’t have, but, I was there, I just thought, why not?”
She returned to winning ways on home soil at the London Diamond League last month, but cannot be considered the out-and-out favourite – although she remains a major force – in a glittering field.
Switzerland’s Werro has been the surprise package of the season and is the outright favourite after running the fastest times in the world this year. She won the Diamond League in Stockholm in one minute 53.98 seconds – the third fastest women’s 800m ever and the quickest this year – to leave Hodgkinson a distant second, even with a new personal best and British record time of 1:54.33.
Hodgkinson reflected on that race, saying: “I didn’t know what she was capable of at that point, and I think that just shows you that you can’t underestimate anybody. If you look at all our other head-to-heads, you wouldn’t have thought she was going to hang on. I don’t think I did anything wrong – I think people were trying to make me feel like it was a failure and it really wasn’t. That was a British record, it was my fastest time ever, and I’m going to remind myself of that because I’m proud of that.”
Hodgkinson has become used to being the athlete to beat throughout her young career, a generational talent who wins with ease. This year she has been on the back foot. With Femke Broeders-Bol – having converted her brilliance in her normal discipline of 400m hurdles to the 800m – also a potent force, the 800 is set to be the race of the championships, but it may not go all Hodgkinson’s way.
She is taking a relaxed approach to that. “I’ve obviously got a lot of experience, and experience can be both a positive and a negative thing. Sometimes you overthink more because it’s like, I’ve done it this way, I’ve done it this way. So I just like to go back to basics, like when I was young, upcoming, I didn’t care. I had nothing to lose and I think it’s important for me that I hold on to that and I just race with courage and fearlessness and I think that’s how I’ll get the best out of myself.”
Of the strength of her competition, she says: “I think it definitely just helps motivation-wise. This is what I love about championships. I’ve gone into them ranked eighth in the Olympics in Tokyo, came out with a silver; I’ve gone in as favourite and not won. I think it’s like a bit of a clean slate.
“The standard now in Europe has gone up [over the last few years], so I think the heats, the semis are going to be a lot faster than what we’ve seen in the last couple of years. It does mean you’ve got to bring your A game a bit sooner. But I think that’s a bit better for me because I like to line up and feel like, you know, this matters, I’m gonna have to run fast, I’ve got these girls to run against. I think it’s really exciting, the levels that we have.”
She had initially pencilled in the London Diamond League for an attempt at breaking the infamous world outdoor record, having smashed the world indoor record in March. But it now looks as though Werro, who became the first woman since the controversial Jarmila Kratochvilova to run under 1:54 – twice – in Paris and Stockholm this year, is the best placed to finally topple the Czech’s mark of 1:53.28, which has stood since 1983.
The stage is set for a hugely entertaining race – the only drawback is that newly crowned Commonwealth 800m champion Georgia Hunter Bell is opting not to compete over the distance in Birmingham, focusing on the 1,500m instead.
Hunter Bell and Hodgkinson are training partners and close friends, but the 32-year-old has spoken openly about her desire to double up, racing both the 800m and 1,500m, in future championships, adding yet another rivalry to the 800m field and another dynamic to negotiate for coaches Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows.
Asked whether she would relish the challenge of having another rival over 800m, Hodgkinson says: “If Georgia wants to do that, that doesn’t really affect me. I think it’d be great. Obviously we train together, we push each other really hard, we’re both in really good shape. When we plan our races, I sit down with Trevor and plan mine, she does hers and whatever she feels like she wants to do.
“I think with there being three championships [UK nationals, Commonwealths and Europeans] and her being decisive between the two events, she’s just done what is best for her. But I’m sure there’ll be a time this season that we do match up and it’ll be a good race.”
Tom Dabernig plans to step up the training of exciting sprinter Oliveanotherday, a gelding, with an upcoming jump-out at Casterton.
This Monday’s appearance at Casterton will be Oliveanotherday’s first public run since securing victory in the Listed Wangoom Handicap (1200m) during Warrnambool’s three-day carnival in May.
Oliveanotherday has a strong record, winning five of his seven starts, and Dabernig revealed that some interest has been shown by The Everest slot holders regarding the sprinter.
However, Dabernig indicated that there are many factors to consider before a start is confirmed, and the Warrnambool-based horseman wants to assess the gelding’s condition upon his return.
“He’s ready for a jump out on Monday and then we’ll probably jump out at Caulfield Heath on the 19th with a likely kick-off on the 29th at Caulfield,” Dabernig stated.
Dabernig added that the cold and wet winter weather was not conducive to preparing horses for racing, and Monday’s jump-out is a significant step towards that goal.
“Even through my Lindsay Park days, getting the spring horses ready out of winter is, I find, not as easy as going from spring to autumn,” Dabernig explained.
“In summer, with the warm weather, they seem to carry a bit more residual fitness.
“He’s come back really well, but with the wet tracks everywhere, and while you never miss any work, you’re only going along at about 80 per cent because you don’t want to overdo it on the testing ground.
“He will get benefit from a trip on the truck and in all honesty, he went out extremely fit and when he went out, he only had a month in the paddock.
“Technically, he should come to hand quickly, but he’s a horse that I have never pushed.
“Some horses you push to be where they need to be, but this horse, I have let him do it naturally and I haven’t felt the need to work him too hard too often, but there might come a stage when we have to.
“I want him to improve into the spring, not come out all guns blazing first-up and then peter-out, which some spring horses can do.”
While interest from The Everest has been noted for Oliveanotherday, Dabernig stated his intention to set aside those thoughts and focus on the sprinter’s immediate form after his spell.
“I’m just concentrating on one run at a time and if it goes that way, we’ll embrace it and try and do the best we can,” Dabernig said.
Although Oliveanotherday is still a few weeks from his racing comeback, his stablemate Shadhavar is scheduled to resume in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield this Saturday.
Dabernig, who prepared Cavalry Girl to victory at Caulfield Heath on Saturday, is anticipating Shadhavar’s return.
Shadhavar remained unbeaten in two starts last preparation, winning at Murray Bridge first-up and then in Listed grade at Morphettville.
“We were thinking of going back for the Robert Sangster Stakes, but we thought with the spring and three Adelaide trips, all in the one prep, it might have been a bit too much,” Dabernig mentioned.
“She seems to be going well, has a good Caulfield record and hopefully she can run well.”
Oliveanotherday is slated to begin his campaign at Caulfield on the 29th. Consider placing bets with online bookmakers.
Hall of Famer Don Nelson, the second-winningest coach in NBA history, has died at the age of 86. His family announced the passing of the five-time champion as a player on Sunday, though they did not disclose the manner of death.
“On Sunday morning our beloved husband, dad, grandfather and great-grandfather Don Nelson peacefully went to be with the Lord, surrounded by his loving family,” the Nelson family statement read. “Throughout his last week, friends and family encircled him with love, sharing the blessing of his friendship and revisiting treasured memories.”
Nelson retired in 2010 as the all-time leader with 1,335 regular-season coaching victories, a record later surpassed by San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich (1,390). His distinctive fast-paced style, utilizing smaller athletic players, became famously known as “Nellie Ball.”
The three-time Coach of the Year didn’t win any NBA titles during his 31-year overall tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks (1976-87), Golden State Warriors (1988-95, 2006-10), New York Knicks (1995-96) and Dallas Mavericks (1997-2005). But he put together 13 seasons of 50 or more wins, twice reaching 60 (once with the Bucks, once with the Mavericks).
“[Nelson] was a true basketball visionary who saw the game differently and was never afraid to challenge conventional thinking,” the Warriors said in a statement. “His approach helped shape the game and paved the way for generations of players and coaches who followed.
“More than anything, Don Nelson will be remembered for his authenticity, larger-than-life personality, and incredible passion for basketball, and his influence on the Warriors franchise will endure for years to come.”
He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach in 2012.
As a player, Nelson won five NBA titles during 11 seasons with the Boston Celtics.
He initially reached the NBA with the Chicago Zephyrs (1962-63) after being the No. 3 overall pick. He then spent two seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers before joining behind a loaded Boston starting five and was one of seven Boston players to average double digits in scoring in 1967-68. He averaged a career best 15.4 points and 7.3 rebounds in 1969-70.
In 134 career playoff games, Nelson averaged 11.1 points and 4.8 rebounds. The Celtics retired his No. 19 jersey in 1978.
“Don Nelson revolutionized NBA basketball through his fearlessness, ingenuity and deep conviction,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “He spent nearly 50 years in the NBA – winning five championships as a player with the Boston Celtics before building one of the most successful and pioneering coaching careers in league history. He brought an unmistakable personality to everything he did, and his impact on our sport will continue to be felt for generations.
“I send my deepest condolences to Don’s family and many friends throughout our league.”
In college, Nelson averaged 21.1 points and 10.9 rebounds in 72 games over three seasons at Iowa.
Nelson won the 2025 Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award to honor his overall contributions to basketball.
Coco Gauff of the United States celebrates while playing Alina Korneeva 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
World number two Elena Rybakina battled her way into the WTA Canadian Open quarterfinals on Sunday, while fourth-ranked Coco Gauff cruised into the last eight.
Kazakhstan’s Rybakina outlasted Russian Liudmila Samsonova 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 after two hours and 49 minutes, before American Gauff eliminated Russian teen qualifier Alina Korneeva 6-3, 6-1 in Toronto.
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Rybakina, down two breaks at 0-3 in the third set, rallied to book a quarterfinal against the winner of the last-16 match between four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka and home hope Leylah Fernandez.
READ: Canadian Open: Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff advance while Andreeva exits
For the love of the game 🫶@CocoGauff continues her winning run in Toronto to secure a place in the quarterfinals.#NBO26 pic.twitter.com/1edtDqSaeR
— wta (@WTA) August 9, 2026
Gauff reached the last eight in Canada for the first time since 2023.
Her seventh WTA quarterfinal of the year will be against either Swiss 12th seed Belinda Bencic or Alexandra Eala, the in-form Filipina who won her first WTA title earlier this week in Washington.
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Gauff, who has not dropped a set in Canada, fired 16 winners against 15 unforced errors.
READ: Alex Eala faces another big test vs Belinda Bencic at Canadian Open
“My main focus today was let me try and close it out,” Gauff said. “Probably not the way I should be thinking but it worked today.
“I’m proud of how the last three matches have gone and just knowing if I have to go the distance I’m ready but obviously would prefer to cut it short if I can.”
Gauff won seven of 12 break points she forced but lost all three of those against her.
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