During the summer months, I asked safety Josh Metellus about the growth from Jay Ward. Optimism was the overwhelming takeaway, as is sometimes the case in June.
September has brought a harsh reality: the 4th-year Vikings defender isn’t playing.
Earlier in the week, Vikings DC Brian Flores took on a question about Ward’s playing time, or lack thereof (presser link). Like a good politician, Flores said a pile of words without saying very much at all. Each game is different and different players have different abilities, Flores explained, while trying to deflect the reasonable inquiry about why the 4th-year player has earned a whopping zero snaps in 2026.
Vikings Defender Jay Ward Yet to Get Worked into Rotation
On a basic level, Mr. Ward offers a lot to like.
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The defensive back boasts good height and speed. So, too, is he aggressive and physical. At 26 yards old and moving into his fourth season, Ward blends youth and experience. Indeed, part of what makes him intriguing is that his employment in the Twin Cities perfectly coincides with Brian Flores being the defensive playcaller. Both arrived in 2023 and both are still part of the mix in 2026.
Shouldn’t he be getting at least some playing time?
A minor surprise so far in the 2026 season is that Ward sees his playing time sitting at 0 snaps. When does that change?
So far, the bulk of the snaps at safety have gone to Josh Metellus, Theo Jackson, and Harrison Smith. Next up has been Jacob Thomas, the super impressive UDFA rookie who has gotten into action early.
What makes the odd absence even more odd is that rookie 3rd-Round pick Jakobe Thomas still hasn’t dressed, so it’s not like the other newcomer at safety is siphoning off snaps. Consider how the total snaps look moving into the Week 3 Bucs game:
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S1 Josh Metellus: 142 Snaps
S2 Harrison Smith: 55 Snaps
S3 Theo Jackson: 93 Snaps
S4 Jacob Thomas: 18 Snaps
S5 Jay Ward: 0 Snaps
S6 Jakobe Thomas: 0 Snaps
The official count for Jay Ward moving into Week 3 shows the defender being active for a pair of games but only getting involved in 34 special teams snaps. He has just a single tackle to his name. In Week 2, the secondary put together a much better effort, but the Vikings’ various players at safety haven’t brought back memories of vintage Hitman. In theory, getting some playing time should be possible.
Aug 26, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Jay Ward (20) sacks Arizona Cardinals quarterback Clayton Tune (15) and causes a fumble that would be recovered by the Vikings during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
Instead, Coach Flores refused to venture too fully into a meaningful answer.
There’s talk about there being a “deep room” at safety alongside Jay Ward “doing a great job.” Not long afterwards, there’s a mention of eventually needing “everybody” and Ward being an “unselfish” player. All of that sounds good, but the fourth-year player still isn’t playing. Do the team’s actions speak louder than these words?
Ward became a key piece of the effort to end 2025. Think back to the five-game winning streak to close off the year. The overlooked depth safety wasn’t the main reason for that streak but he clearly wasn’t a major hindrance, either. In fact, Ward appeared to be a solid piece of the puzzle to close out the year, seemingly pointing to some momentum going into 2026 that hasn’t yet come to fruition.
Sophie Cunningham showed off her inner quarterback skills before the Fever’s 96-77 win over the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday. She was handed a football to sign and throw in the stands.
The Fever guard launched the ball from the court to the second deck of the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. On Tuesday, the Fever’s X account shared the video of Cunningham’s throw.
Cunningham retweeted the video with her thoughts in the caption.
“Call me Patrick Mahomes from here on out,” she wrote.
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Cunningham’s reference to Mahomes was a nod at the Chiefs star’s incredible football-throwing skills. As the Chiefs’ star quarterback, Mahomes has been one of the best passers in the NFL for almost a decade.
The Fever guard is gearing up for a postseason run with the Fever. Indiana has clinched a playoff spot and currently sits in fifth place in the WNBA standings with a 28-15 record. They have only one game remaining on their schedule.
“I had to get to work”: Sophie Cunningham on bouncing back from poor showing in loss to the Mystics
Sophie Cunningham had a forgettable night, going scoreless, in the Fever’s 93-77 loss to the Washington Mystics on Sunday. The Fever guard did not let the slump affect her in the following game.
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Cunningham finished with 11 points, two rebounds, and two assists in the Fever’s last home game of the season in a win over the Lynx. After securing the win, the Fever guard reflected on her bounce-back.
“I just wanted to go out there and do my job,” she said. “I’m used to having to just work through things. I could have had an attitude kind of somewhat after the Washington game, but no, I had to get to work.”
“I had to look myself in the mirror: what can I do better? And defensively is one of those things that I can’t (not) show up. The team relies on me on that, and if it’s not that, my communication, my energy. And so, I just wanted to come in and be a pro and lock in, and I think I did that.”
Cunningham has played as a bench option under Stephanie White, starting only three games in 42 appearances. She is averaging 8.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game on 46.8% shooting.
Golf will make its debut at the Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival today as the Ibom Golf Course at Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort, Uyo, hosts the first golf event in the history of the state festival.
The historic event will feature 32 teams, representing the 31 Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State alongside Team Nigeria, made up of non-indigenous participants.
The ceremonial tee-off is scheduled for 8:00am, while the competition is expected to begin at 8:30am.
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Captain of Ibom Golf and Country Club, Isuamfon Archibong, will lead the golfing community into the maiden competition.
Several prominent Akwa Ibom indigenes and professionals are expected to feature, including Dr James Inam for Eket, Rt. Hon. Usoro Akpanusoh for Esit Eket and former Akwa Ibom Golf Association chairman, Sam Ekpenyong, for Ibeno.
Ibesikpo Asutan will feature former Head of Service of Akwa Ibom State, Elder Effiong Essien, and retired Permanent Secretary, Elder Eno Effiong, while Senator Albert Akpan and Dr Iniobong Essien will represent Ibiono Ibom.
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Former House of Assembly member, Barr. Uwem Ekanem, will represent Ikot Abasi.
A notable pairing will come from Nsit Ubium, where Leader of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otobong Bob, will team up with former Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke.
For Urue Offong/Oruko, former Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Victor Iyanam, will represent his home Local Government Area.
Uyo will be represented by IGCC Captain Isuamfon Archibong, who will pair with Federal Commissioner of the Public Complaints Commission, Hon. Ubong Uwah.
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The competition will also bring together captains of industry, bankers, professionals, women golfers and young talents, with participants seeking to make history as the first champions of golf at the Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival.
The inclusion of golf in the 2026 edition has been welcomed by the golfing community, with appreciation extended to Governor Umo Eno for his support towards the maintenance of the Ibom Golf Course.
The Ministry of Sports, led by the Commissioner, Elder Paul Bassey, has also been recognised for including golf in this year’s festival.
Attention now turns to the course as golfers prepare to battle for the maiden title and the opportunity to become the first-ever golf champions in the history of the Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival.
Sep 20, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) rushes during the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Green Bay Packers will host the Atlanta Falcons in one of the least anticipated Thursday Night Football games of the season. The Packers boast a 1-1 record after two uninspiring performances. The Falcons are 0-2, struggling to find any success in their games.
This is a spot where we can back an underrated Green Bay defense. They’ve given up 0.421 points per play through two games, which is boosted because of offensive struggles against the Minnesota Vikings. They also rank second in the NFL, allowing only 3.9 yards per play, which is more indicative of how good their defense is.
The Falcons are the only team in the NFL who hasn’t had a single play in the red zone yet this season. They’ve only scored 16 points through two games, but that doesn’t tell the entire story.
Michael Penix Jr. is expected to make his 2026 debut, which is a massive upgrade over Cooper Rush and Jack Strand. How good will Penix be, though? He’s returning from another major injury, tearing his ACL in 2025.
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Ultimately, Green Bay’s defense should have a huge edge at home against this Atlanta offense.
On the other side, there’s very little to love about this Packers offense outside of Jordan Love, Matthew Golden, and Christian Watson.
Green Bay has one of the worst offensive lines in recent memory. Zach Bako-Bewele, who is the only solid option, isn’t going to play, while Aaron Banks, Anthony Belton, and Donovan Jennings could also miss this game.
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The Falcons have been able to generate pressure (29.3%) against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers without blitzing (15.9%). They shouldn’t have many issues generating pressure in this game, and they could ramp up their blitzing to create more problems.
Granted, Green Bay will be playing at home, and they have flashed the ability to hit big plays while struggling to produce consistent blocking. That could be an issue for the under, but they aren’t likely to find sustained success.
This is a spot where the defenses are both in drastically better spots than the offenses to find success. Both teams should focus on field position here, and we could get a similar game to Green Bay against the New York Jets last week, which totaled only 37 points [with overtime]. Where to Bet: Atlanta Falcons/Green Bay Packers under 43.5 points | -112 at FanDuel Sportsbook
TORONTO — Gavin McKenna adapts as fast as he shifts directions.
The leap in performance from the teenager’s first pre-season game to his second was so loud, you could hear it in the gasps from Wednesday’s Scotiabank Arena crowd, an impressive portion of which were already decked out in straight-off-the-rack No. 92 sweaters.
Be it speed or confidence, rewind-worthy dangles or clever reads, McKenna’s improvement from Saturday to Wednesday was the talk of the barn.
“I think we all saw that, didn’t we?” Toronto Maple Leafs coach Jim Hiller said. “It’s going to be a process for him to understand and adapt. But that was pretty encouraging to be able to come back from Game 1 and show us what he did tonight.”
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What he did was deftly chip a D-zone puck along the wall to a rushing William Nylander, who buttered one cross-ice to John Tavares. Billet Dad scored on McKenna’s first assist in a Leafs uni.
What he did was feign an O-zone retreat before slicing through two Ottawa defenders and drawing a hooking penalty that quickly led to a Jack Roslovic power-play goal.
What he did was bring a growingly optimistic fan base out of its seats with spins and passes and prolonged head-up carries through traffic.
“He’s a hard guy to contain, right?” Hiller continued. “If you ask me, ‘What’s the one part of his game that has caught you off-guard?’ I would say it’s his skating. It’s his speed. I don’t know if he was talked about that way. Skating and straightaway speed has been really good.”
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Knowing he was joining a league that can run laps around the NCAA, McKenna emphasized skating work over the summer. Not only straight-line pace for rush attacks and backchecking, but switching gears to deceive his checks and earn space to create.
“He really settled in tonight. Had the puck on his stick a lot, a lot of quick plays to a lot of guys out there, give-and-goes and buying his ice and creating space for himself and his teammates,” Jake McCabe said. “Lots of great flashes.”
You’ve probably seen those flashes making the rounds on social media already.
But the coach also saw fewer turnovers like the one McKenna committed against Montreal Saturday, a debut in which the No. 1 pick admitted he felt “a bit timid.”
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No timidity could be spotted Wednesday.
McKenna tilted the ice something fierce. The Leafs outscored the Sens 3-0, outshot them 13-2, and outchanced them 13-2 when McKenna hit the ice at five-on-five.
No wonder Hiller promoted the rookie to Auston Matthews’ top line mid-game. More flashes. More quick chemistry.
“That was the encouraging part. Game over game, he was able to create a little bit more space for himself. It was almost like he made that adjustment naturally. I know he lives with John Tavares. They talked quite a bit on the way home after the last game about what it was like. So, I would say he’s got a great mentor there in John. But I know he talks to Willy too. He talks to Auston,” Hiller said.
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“He wasn’t really in the O-zone much last game. He was on the forecheck tonight. He was on the (back)track again. So, it seems to me that he’s adjusting pretty well to the game without the puck, too.”
McKenna’s self-assessment?
“I felt good out there,” he said. “It gives us all a big confidence boost, having a game like this where you win 6-1, don’t give a whole lot up defensively.
“That’s huge for our team, huge for myself, and that’s how you want to end a preseason game. So, it’s a lot good going into Game 1.”
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Hiller wants more from Knies
If any top-six forward’s stock dipped a notch during this sprint of a pre-season, it is power forward Matthew Knies.
Not only did Knies lose his net-front spot on the top power-play unit out of the gate, but the left wing sat on the bench while McKenna and Easton Cowan each got a shift or two alongside Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic on the left side of Line 1.
While fully recovered from a knee injury that nagged him last season, Knies has yet to pop off the page as strongly as the other five members of the top six.
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“Wasn’t that dangerous. I think he only had one shot on goal, took one to the net. So, I think he’s been OK. I wouldn’t say strongly one way or the other,” Hiller assessed.
“I think there’s more there, for sure.”
Marshall Rifai won’t make the Leafs out of camp, as was the Calder Cup champ’s aim, but his willingness to fight Florian Xhekaj Saturday did not go unnoticed by Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and the rest of the organization.
“It’s just setting the tone right away from a culture standpoint,” Rifai told reporters. “If you saw where the Marlies were when I got here and where we’re at today, I think it’s a lot different.
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“This part of the year is about gelling and knowing we have each other’s backs.”
This is a team eager to scrub the stain of Radko Gudas’s greasy kneeing of Matthews last season going unpunished in the moment.
Teddy Blueger also jumped in to fight Ethan Samson Saturday after the Montreal blue-liner levelled Vinni Lettieri.
And recently hired muscle Zack MacEwan dropped ’em with Hayden Hodgson Wednesday, igniting Scotiabank Arena. Matthews scored 42 seconds later.
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“You look back to the Marlies and why we won a championship, it was that kind of mentality,” scrapper Michael Pezzetta said. “If someone goes down, you’re getting right in there and every single guy would stand up for each other. And when you have that feeling in the room, it’s special. And it’s something you build one day at a time and that was a good start.”
A little insight into why John Chayka went out and signed so many fourth-line wingers in July: Dakota Joshua has been dealing with a core injury since the new GM took the job in May and, although he practises regularly, has not been cleared for game action.
Injuries and inconsistency limited Joshua, 30, to 55 games last season, his first in Toronto. The forward, who overcame testicular cancer prior to joining the team, suffered a lacerated kidney in late December but did finish the season.
“Just as he ramps up, it’s been hard to get into game shape and be ready to play,” Chayka said. “He’s still day-to-day, and we’re hoping that it progresses. But it’s been a while now.”
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In other roster news, the Leafs placed Cole McWard and Dakota Mermis on waivers for the purpose of AHL reassignment.
While Daniel Alfredsson travelled to head coach Toronto’s B squad at Bell Centre Saturday, the Leafs’ new associate head coach did not assume the same responsibility Wednesday in Ottawa.
That task fell to John Gruden. And so, Alfredsson’s awkward homecoming will be pushed to Jan. 20, when the Leafs visit Canadian Tire Centre.
“The hard one for him will be going back into Ottawa,” Hiller said. “That’s what I think. He gave us some input this morning on some of the stuff that Ottawa does well. So, that’s a resource for us. But I think there’ll be a lot more questions about that once we go into Ottawa.”
Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko missed the draw at Fulham on Sunday with a shin issue, and now Wayne Rooney has had his say on the Slovenian
Wayne Rooney has agreed with Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt in questioning Benjamin Sesko’s shin injury. The Manchester United striker featured last Wednesday in the 3-2 Carabao Cup collapse against Brighton & Hove Albion, but did not travel to west London on Saturday to face Fulham.
Reds head coach Michael Carrick said that Sesko had felt an issue with his shin and would be assessed. United confirmed on Monday evening that the forward had withdrawn from his national team squad for the upcoming three-week international break.
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But former United midfielders Scholes and Butt raised doubts about how serious the injury actually was. while speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast. Scholes said: “If it isn’t broken, just wear your shin pads,” before Butt added: “You’re a player – you either break your shin or you play!”
Slovenia colleague and Leeds defender Jaka Bijol was far from impressed by those comments and hit back. The 27-year-old said: “I hope and believe that Beni knows how to distance himself from this kind of pressure. When things aren’t going your best on the pitch and you have certain doubts, reading things like this can make your confidence even worse.”
Now, Rooney has had his say while speaking on his podcast Stick to United.
He said: “Shin? Has he broken it? You can hurt your shin, you can take tackles… I bet he’s wearing them little stupid shinpads as well.”
The former United skipper did not stop there. The 40-year-old said: “If you’re trying to play No9 [for Man United] and you’ve got a must-win game and you’ve got a sore shin and you’re not playing… that’s a big part of the problem.”
Later on in the show, he reflected on his time at United. He added: “Unless you physically can’t play, you play when you’re injured. I remember before games we used to get injections and the doctor used to put them in your arse.”
Sesko released a statement on Instagram in Slovenian on Tuesday morning. Translated, the message read: “I am very sorry that I will have to miss the national team’s upcoming matches. I have always played for Slovenia – and always will – with heart and pride.
“Right now, the most important thing is to focus fully on my recovery. I am already working on getting back on the pitch as soon as possible to help both the national team and my club once again.
“I believe in our guys, and I am certain that this time, too, they will display the team spirit that has always defined us. I can’t wait to wear the national team jersey again; until then, I will be Slovenia’s biggest supporter. Go Slovenia.”
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Sesko will aim to be back at United after the international break. Carrick’s side are next in action at home to Tottenham Hotspur on October 10.
It was a rough day for most teams in the playoff hunt across Major League Baseball.
In the American League, the Baltimore Orioles were Wednesday’s clear winners by sweeping a doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays to keep their long odds of a post-season berth alive.
For the Blue Jays, the pair of losses officially eliminated them from playoff contention just one year after going to the World Series.
Helping Baltimore’s hopes stay alive was both AL Central contenders having their respective win streaks snapped as the Cleveland Guardians lost to the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox to the Kansas City Royals.
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It also meant that Cleveland kept its one-game lead atop the division.
In the AL West, the Texas Rangers also lost to the New York Mets, meaning that they are at risk of falling further behind the Houston Astros — who were facing the Seattle Mariners later Wednesday night.
Had they managed to win, both the Guardians and White Sox would have clinched a post-season berth with the Rangers’ loss.
Speaking of missed clinch opportunities, the three National League wild-card leaders missed their chance on Wednesday.
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The Chicago Cubs needed either a win over the Miami Marlins or an Arizona Diamondbacks loss to the Colorado Rockies to clinch, and neither scenario unfolded.
The Philadelphia Phillies needed a win over the Milwaukee Brewers to set in motion their clinching scenarios, but ultimately lost as well.
And finally, the San Diego Padres cannot clinch even if they beat the Los Angeles Dodgers later Wednesday, as Arizona’s triumph eliminated that possibility.
Here’s a full look at MLB’s standings after Wednesday’s results:
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Houston: at Athletics, 9:40 p.m. (Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet+) Cleveland: at Boston, 6:45 p.m. (Sportsnet Ontario) Chicago White Sox: at Kansas City, 2:10 p.m. Texas: vs. NY Mets, 2:35 p.m. (Sportsnet, Sportsnet+) Baltimore: Off
San Diego: at Dodgers, 10:10 p.m. Chicago Cubs: vs. Marlins, 2:20 p.m. Philadelphia: vs. Brewers, 6:05 p.m. Arizona: at Rockies, 3:10 p.m.
ORIOLES 4, BLUE JAYS 2, GAME 1
BALTIMORE — Pete Alonso hit his 41st home run of the season, Chris Bassitt took a shutout into the sixth inning and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 in the first game of a doubleheader Wednesday, eliminating the defending American League champions from the post-season race.
The Orioles and Blue Jays both entered this twin bill one loss from elimination. The best the Blue Jays (77-81) can do now is finish .500 — a season after they pushed the Los Angeles Dodgers to extra innings in Game 7 of the World Series.
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Max Scherzer (3-9) allowed four runs and four hits in five innings in the 500th appearance — and 491st start — of his career. He struck out seven and walked three. The 42-year-old right-hander said he hopes he can come back on short rest to pitch again Sunday in the season finale — and he’ll likely have something to say in the next couple days about his future.
The 37-year-old Bassitt (9-5) allowed two runs and seven hits in five-plus innings. He was pulled with two on in the sixth and both runners scored on second baseman Jeremiah Jackson’s throwing error.
ORIOLES 4, BLUE JAYS 2, GAME 2
BALTIMORE — Trey Gibson pitched brilliantly into the seventh inning and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 on Wednesday night to sweep a doubleheader and at least temporarily stay alive in the American League playoff race.
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One more loss by the Orioles — or a win by the Chicago White Sox — would eliminate Baltimore. The Orioles also won the opener 4-2 against Toronto, then the 24-year-old Gibson (2-3) was outstanding in the nightcap.
He would have completed at least seven innings if not for a rare defensive positioning violation that kept the top of the seventh going. Sean Keys grounded out to second for the third out, players left the field, and the Orioles were already playing “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” — which comes after “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” during the seventh-inning stretch — when an umpire interrupted the song to say the Blue Jays were challenging.
A replay appeared to show second baseman Jeremiah Jackson’s heel on the outfield grass before the grounder, so Keys was awarded first. The play was scored an error on Jackson, but no at-bat was charged to Keys. Gibson walked the next hitter and was pulled. Yennier Cano then issued a walk before striking out Myles Straw with the bases loaded to end the inning for real.
In his eighth career start, Gibson allowed three hits in 6 2/3 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and two walks. Christian Encarnacion-Strand homered and drove in three runs.
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Miguel Garcia had three hits and three RBIs, including a tie-breaking, run-scoring double in the seventh inning, as the Kansas City Royals beat the White Sox 5-4 Wednesday night and delayed Chicago’s bid for a post-season berth.
Chicago could have secured its first playoff berth since 2021 with a win over the Royals and a Texas loss to the New York Mets.
Instead, Garcia and the Royals played the role of spoiler.
Connor Thomas (2-1) struck out one and allowed one hit in two scoreless innings for the win. Steven Cruz struck out two in the ninth and earned his eighth save.
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BOSTON — Sonny Gray pitched six innings to tie Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sánchez for the major league lead with his 18th victory, Andruw Monasterio drove in the only run with a sixth-inning single, and the Boston Red Sox edged Cleveland 1-0 on Wednesday night to snap the Guardians’ six-game winning streak.
It was just the fifth win in 13 games for the Red Sox, who clinched a playoff spot on Sunday.
The 36-year-old Gray (18-5) is in line to become the fourth Red Sox pitcher since 2000 to lead the AL in victories, joining Rick Porcello (2016), Josh Beckett (’07) and Curt Schilling (’04).
Gray allowed four singles, struck out three, walked one and lowered his ERA to 2.72.
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Aroldis Chapman struck out the side in the ninth for his 35th save of the season.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Marcus Semien hit a tie-breaking homer in the eighth inning against his former team and Brett Baty added a pinch-hit grand slam in the ninth as the New York Mets beat the Texas Rangers 7-2 on Wednesday night.
Rookie right-hander Nolan McLean (12-10) allowed two runs and three hits over seven innings for the last-place Mets (73-85), who have won both games in Texas since ex-interim manager Andy Green was given the full-time position Tuesday.
The Rangers (78-80) have lost three consecutive games and trail first-place Houston by a half-game in the AL West, with the Astros playing later in Seattle. They own the head-to-head tiebreaker over Texas if the teams finish with the same record.
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Semien, traded by the Rangers to the Mets last November for Brandon Nimmo, launched his 15th homer this season off all-star closer Jacob Latz (3-4) to give New York a 3-2 lead. Semien’s first homer since Aug. 7 snapped an 0-for-13 slump
CHICAGO — Kyle Stowers homered and the Miami Marlins denied the Chicago Cubs a chance to clinch a playoff berth for the second straight night with a 3-2 victory Wednesday.
Dansby Swanson drove in both runs for the Cubs, who needed a win or an Arizona loss to Colorado to secure an NL wild-card berth.
Joe Mack’s groundout brought home Augustin Ramirez with the go-ahead run in the seventh and the Marlins retired the next nine Chicago batters to win their second straight game after dropping three in San Diego.
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Stowers hit his 21st homer, a two-run shot, off Kevin Gausman in the top of the sixth to break a scoreless tie. The Cubs evened things in the bottom of the inning when Swanson laced a broken-bat single into left field to bring home a pair of runs.
Cade Gibson (6-2), the second of four Miami relievers, struck out two in the seventh and Sandy Alcantara worked the ninth for his second save.
PHILADELPHIA — Christian Yelich and Brice Turang hit solo home runs, and the Milwaukee Brewers delayed Philadelphia’s potential post-season clinch with a 4-1 win over the Phillies on Wednesday night.
The Phillies needed both a win over the Brewers and a loss later Wednesday night by either Arizona or San Diego to secure their fifth straight trip to the National League playoffs. The Phillies started their run with a trip to the World Series in 2022, reached the NL Championship Series the next season and are coming off consecutive NL East titles.
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The Phillies have to settle for a wild-card berth this season and are likely to open the playoffs next week on the road. The Phillies, Chicago and San Diego hold the three NL wild cards headed into the final games of the season.
The Phillies went 0 for 12 with runners in scoring position against the Brewers and left 10 runners on base.
Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said ahead of the game the team was willing to wait at Citizens Bank Park until after the Padres game ended, if necessary, to celebrate. No need to hang around.
DIAMONDBACKS 5, ROCKIES 3
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DENVER — Corbin Carroll had a two-run triple to cap a four-run first inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks kept their playoff hopes alive with a 5-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night.
Gabriel Moreno drove in the first run and finished with three hits to help Arizona (84-74) close within three games of the Phillies and Cubs for an NL wild card.
Moreno, with a .310 batting average, trails the Phillies’ Luis Arraez at .312 for the NL batting title with four games remaining.
Merrill Kelly (10-14) allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings to improve to 6-0 in nine starts at Coors Field since 2022. Jonathan Loáisiga earned his second save when he retired Ezequiel Tovar on a foul pop that first baseman Ildemaro Vargas caught at the railing with runners on second and third.
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DETROIT — Yohandy Morales homered for the second time in three games and the Washington Nationals beat the Detroit Tigers 4-2 on Wednesday.
Washington has won eight of its last 11 games. Detroit has lost six of eight.
Will Dion (2-2) picked up the win despite giving up three hits and one run in two innings of relief. Yovanny Cruz got the final four outs for his first save.
Framber Valdez (10-12) took the loss, allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings.
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The Nationals ended the scoreless tie with three straight singles to start the sixth. Base hits by Andres Chaparro and Brady House put runners on first and second, and CJ Abrams made it 1-0 with a line drive to right.
SAN FRANCISCO — Pinch-hitter Walker Jenkins hit an RBI single in the seventh inning that put Minnesota ahead and the Twins won their second straight over the San Francisco Giants with a 4-2 victory on Wednesday.
The score was 2-all with Kody Clemens at second and one out in the seventh. Jenkins delivered a base hit to right off Dylan Smith (0-6) that scored Clemens for a 3-2 Minnesota lead. With two outs, Josh Bell added an RBI single off Sam Hentges to increase the Twins’ edge to 4-2.
Yoendrys Gomez (3-4) retired all five hitters he faced to earn the win. Andrew Morris worked a scoreless ninth for his fifth save. He struck out Shay Whitcomb with runners at first and second to end the game.
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Minnesota got on the board first when Luke Keaschall took Cesar Perdomo deep to left for a solo homer in the third inning. It was Keaschall’s 10th homer of the season.
PITTSBURGH — Matthew Liberatore ended an 11-start winless stretch and Alec Burleson got his major league-best 112th RBI as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 on Wednesday night.
Liberatore (6-14) gave up one run and six hits in 5 2/3 innings with six strikeouts and no walks. His previous win came on July 11 against Atlanta in the left-hander’s last start before the All-Star break. Liberatore had lost eight straight decisions.
Burleson singled in the first run in a three-run third that put the Cardinals ahead 3-1. Iván Herrera scored on a wild pitch and Leo Bernal hit an RBI single.
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Masyn Winn doubled home a run and scored on JJ Wetherholt’s single in the fourth to stretch the lead to 5-1. Wetherholt had three hits and José Fermín added two.
The Pirates’ five-game winning streak ended. It matched their longest of the season.
NEW YORK — Ben Rice hit his 40th and 41st home runs, Ryan McMahon added a grand slam while matching his career high with five RBIs and the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 9-2 on Wednesday night.
Gerrit Cole (10-9) allowed two runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings and a season-high 105 pitches with eight strikeouts and three walks. The 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner had a 3.61 ERA and 131 strikeouts over 22 starts and 127 innings following his return in May from Tommy John surgery.
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A day after Tampa Bay clinched the AL East title, Rice hit the first pitch of the first inning from Mason Englert (0-4) into the right-field second deck for his fourth career leadoff homer and second this season.
Rice added a solo drive in the fourth for his fifth career multihomer game and finished with three hits. He is tied for the AL home run lead with Baltimore’s Pete Alonso, the Rays’ Junior Caminero and Houston’s Yordan Alvarez.
BRAVES 3, REDS 2, 10 INNINGS
ATLANTA — Chris Sale struck out 10 and reached 200 Ks for the season, Mauricio Dubón delivered a winning RBI single in the 10th inning, and the Atlanta Braves defeated the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 on Wednesday night.
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Matt Olson and Austin Riley hit solo homers for the Braves. Brent Suter (3-2) worked a scoreless 10th inning and earned the win.
Sale went 5 2/3 innings and was removed after recording his third strikeout of the game of Reds rookie Sal Stewart. The 37-year-old left-hander has reached 200 strikeouts nine times, which is the most of any pitcher since 2013. In his final start before the post-season, he allowed one run on four hits. Sale hit at least 99 mph on the radar gun on 12 of his 97 pitches.
Olson’s home run was his 41st of the season and tied the game at 1 in the sixth. Riley’s homer tied the game at 2 in the seventh. Dubón was 2 for 4 with a walk and extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Donovan Walton hit a three-run homer and rookie Henry Bolte had his first four-hit game to help the Athletics beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-3 on Wednesday night.
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Lawrence Butler had an RBI single and Walton hit his ninth home run, a two-out shot off rookie Walbert Ureña (9-11) for a 4-0 lead in the first inning.
Bolte went 4 for 5, scored two runs and had an RBI double in the second that put the Athletics (63-95) up 5-0.
Mike Trout and Vaughn Grissom hit back-to-back homers off Jeffrey Springs in the fourth to make it 5-2. It was the 22nd homer this season for Trout the 426th of his career.
Grissom followed his 13th homer with an RBI single in the fifth to cut it to 5-3 and chase Springs.
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LOS ANGELES — Manny Machado homered and drove in three runs as the San Diego Padres beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 on Wednesday night to take sole possession of the top spot in the National League wild-card standings.
The loss snapped the NL West champions’ 11-game home winning streak and kept the Dodgers (97-61) from clinching at least the No. 2 seed in the National League and a first-round playoff bye. To secure that, they still need one win or an Atlanta loss.
The Padres (88-70) were prevented from clinching their franchise-record third consecutive playoff berth when Arizona beat Colorado 5-3. But they need just one win or a Diamondbacks loss to punch their ticket to the postseason.
San Diego leads Chicago (87-71) and Philadelphia (87-71) by one game for the first National League wild card, a spot that would bring home-field advantage throughout a best-of-three series.
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In his return from the injured list, Shohei Ohtani went 1 for 4 with a single, a walk and two strikeouts for Los Angeles. He went down swinging with the bases loaded to end the fourth inning. His long drive to center field was caught near the wall leading off the eighth.
Roman Reigns is the Tribal Chief now with a world title. He has spent more than a decade with WWE and has earned the respect of being a generational talent. However, he always puts Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson above anyone in the debate as to how he achieved everything in the least amount of time possible.
Reigns, in an interview with Complex, said that becoming a superstar requires immense time, something that The Rock was an exception to. The Great One was full-time in WWE for eight years and revolutionized the industry. Becoming a multiple-time world champion, coming from a legendary wrestling family, and switching to a successful, full-time acting career was a feat like no other.
Thanks for the submission!
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“Dwayne is the anomaly. He is the outlier. Nobody’s ever gonna do it like The Rock. As it’s been shown with John and then also with me, it takes a decade or so,” said Roman Reigns
The current World Heavyweight Champion gave the example of himself and John Cena, who are quite the needle-movers in WWE. Although even they attained it with decades of grind in the wrestling business, unlike Rock, who got it done in less time and left the place better than it was.
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Roman Reigns might choose to follow The Rock’s blueprint
Roman Reigns has walked a trajectory comparable to Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. He has cemented himself as WWE’s biggest draw while also stepping into the real-life box office. Yet, their career paths diverge when comparing their commitments to the ring and beyond.
By 31, The People’s Champion had stepped away from full-time wrestling to become a global Hollywood powerhouse. In contrast, Reigns, now in his 40s, has taken a far more measured approach to Hollywood, exploring smaller roles in films.
The OTC remains tied to the WWE ecosystem and has not yet traded the ring for movie sets permanently. On the other hand, he was responsible for Rock’s comeback to the WWE ring for one match at WrestleMania 40. They were initially planned to face each other but ended up teaming up in the Night 1 main event.
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When I was a kid, putting was the strongest part of my game. I didn’t have unlimited access to a driving range, but the putting green was always free. So, after dinner most nights, I’d head over to the course and hit putts until the sun went down.
Now, as a 30-something living in New York City, I face the opposite obstacle. I can head to the simulator any time of day to work on my swing, but there aren’t many putting greens in my vicinity. So naturally, I’m now a much better ball-striker than putter.
Go figure.
In recent months, I’ve become increasingly frustrated with my lack of aptitude on the greens. What once was a huge asset to my game turned into an unmistakable liability. I used to look at 10-footers with glee, but that eventually turned into dread. Putting was no longer fun.
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That’s when I decided to consult one of the brightest putting minds in the world, GOLF Top 100 TeacherStephen Sweeney, who teaches the likes of Collin Morikawa, Ludvig Aberg, Joaquin Niemann and more. Check out below to see a video of our “Putting Fundamentals Bootcamp,” in which Sweeney helped fix my putting with two simple tweaks.
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2 tweaks that fixed my putting
One thing I’ve learned in my time working with some of the best teachers in the game is that they typically always start lessons the same way: checking your fundamentals. No matter what element of the game is plaguing you, there’s a good bet that the root cause of your issue comes from something before you ever take the club back.
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That’s why practicing your grip, posture, aim and alignment are so important. When they are off, it can cause all sorts of issues in the swing or stroke.
When I went to see Sweeney, our sessions began in much the same manner. He had me find a straight, flat putt, and I rolled several putts. That’s how he discovered I had two setup flaws that were wrecking my putting consistency.
1. Poor eye alignment
After watching me hit a few putts, and taking video of my stroke, Sweeney noticed that my eyes were misaligned when I stood over the ball. Instead of having my eyes directly above the ball, they were instead inside (closer to me) where they needed to be.
“Where your eyes are right now, I tend to see if players’ eyes are inside the ball line, they tend to look out to the right,” Sweeney said. “As the putter goes back, the putter is moving a little on the inside — but pretty square to where you aimed it.”
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Because of my eyes being misaligned at setup, I was always subconsciously aiming out to the right of the hole. From there, I would use an inside-out club path to try to “draw” the ball back on line, much like what you would do during the full swing.
The problem with this is that the putting stroke hits shots that are so short that these full-swing compensations do no work in the putting stroke. Instead, you just end up with poor alignment and a stroke that is not starting the ball on a consistently straight line.
To fix the eye alignment problem, Sweeney had me bend forward a touch more to get my eyes more out and over the ball. He alluded to feeling as though I were in a tabletop crouch, much like Michelle Wie West at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open.
A good way to check the alignment of the eyes after this adjustment is a trick Sweeney sees used by many older Tour pros. Once I go into my stance, he held a ball directly underneath my eyes and dropped it. With my old stance, the ball landed about two inches inside my ball position, but with the new stance, the dropped ball landed right on top of my ball on the ground.
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“As a general rule of thumb, I like to see a two putter head-(width) from the ball to the toe line,” Sweeney said. “Then we go into forward bend at the hip until we get the eyes over the golf ball.”
Once I got my eyes more on top of the ball, it became much easier to consistently hit the ball where I was aiming.
2. Incorrect face alignment
Having the face of the putter aligned where you want to hit your putt is another crucial element of good putting. But because of my poor setup, I was not doing this correctly either. At address, Sweeney noticed my putter face was aimed a good ball or two right of the cup on every putt.
“We can see on every putt a little bit of face closure,” Sweeney said. “Then we are trying to pull that ball back on line.”
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This aim issue was caused initially by the misalignment of my eyes, so even when I was hitting the putt “straight,” it was starting out to the right of the hole.
Once we got my eyes more on top of the ball, it became much easier get the putter face lined up at the center of the hole. To check this, Sweeney showed me a handy method that involves using your phone as a training aid.
“Just go ahead and set up and aim your putter face,” Sweeney said. “If I go ahead and set the back of my phone to your putter face, and you come back and look down that line, you can see the face aimed on the right edge. It’s a really simple way, if you put a scorecard or other square edge down against your putter face, you can see where you are aimed.”
Before adjusting my setup position, I was consistently aiming the putter face off to the right. But by making a couple of simple adjustments, I could easily aim the face right at the center of the hole.
About 2km from the Republic of Ireland’s Aviva Stadium, which won’t be hosting the home leg of the two Nations League games against Israel next week, there’s a notable indication as to why. Dublin’s Liberty Hall, the headquarters of the country’s main workers’ union, features a huge banner imploring the national team to “Stop the Game”.
That is also the name of the grassroots campaign behind the banner, which adds: “Go with your conscience, don’t play ball with genocide.”
Irish manager Heimir Hallgrimsson took the last few words further at his squad announcement last week, stating: “We are not playing with genocide, we are playing against genocide. We are playing against Israel, we are not playing with Israel.”
The stridency caused surprise, but spoke to a lot of an Irish society very mobilised about this match, while infuriating Israel.
Although bodies like the United Nations Commission of Inquiry have described the conflict in Gaza as a “genocide”, that has not been currently been proven in an international court, and Israel denies the claim.
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An Israel Football Association spokesperson stated “it is impossible to say genocide against us and not respond to him”, with an official social media post adding: “We have not yet found a cure for stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy displayed by [Hallgrimsson]. We’re not playing with ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity, we’re playing against the coach who embodies them.”
The Israel FA were said to be considering a complaint to Uefa, amid an expectation that players will not swap shirts at full-time and Israel coach Ran Ben Shimon will not shake hands with his counterpart Hallgrimsson.
And all of this on the Monday six days before the first game. Little wonder the Football Association of Ireland cancelled all media engagements outside those mandated by Uefa, as federation head David Courell described “a unique couple of fixtures”.
Israel play their “home” game in Debrecen in Hungary on Sunday, before Ireland “host” a return the following Sunday in Serbia’s Backa Topola. Irish broadcaster RTE is only showing a live feed of the games in order to fulfil contracts, with no additional coverage, as all the usual commercial aspects are stripped away. The LED boards in Serbia will only have “respect” messaging, while traditional protocols like dining with opposition officials will not take place.
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This is largely because of the profound anger in Ireland about Gaza, which has contributed to what various football figures – including at the top of Uefa – have described as “unprecedented” circumstances for two countries not in conflict. “I’ve never known anything like it,” one source said.
In Ireland, debate about refusing to play has dominated national discourse, with severe criticism for the FAI over “cowardice”.
Fintan Drury, an Irish football agent who has published two books critical of the west’s support of Israel, has been a leading voice.
The ‘Stop the Game’ campaign has grown since Ireland were drawn with Israel in February (Getty)
“The public support of Palestine is smothered by institutional cowardice, starting with a government that speaks out of both sides of its mouth. Its indifference made it easier for the FAI board to back away from its call on Uefa to ban Israel but then decide to play the matches when they found themselves pitted against them.”
One reason Ireland’s home game is in Serbia is because of what Courell described as “operational challenges” that “could impact on the delivery of the game” in Dublin. Any such fixture would have faced considerable protests about “normalising” Israel at this seismic historic moment.
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In Israel, some close to the team see this as a next step from similar fixtures they have faced over the last three years, not least a November 2025 World Cup qualifier away to Norway. Such trips have involved 16 Mossad agents travelling and snipers on hotels, amid a sense there isn’t sufficient awareness of how society – including concerned players – were affected by the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023.
As regards this specific match, some have pointed to the perceived symbolism of Ireland being one of very few countries unable to safely host Israel, unlike fellow group opponents Kosovo and Austria.
Sources in European football have actually expressed sympathy for the FAI due to the diplomatic tightrope, but there is also a frustration within the Irish body as to why they have been left with the decision to play.
Football Association of Ireland chief executive David Courell said Uefa rejected a request from the FAI to keep Ireland and Israel apart in future draws (PA)
Courell expressed his “wish” that such decisions “were taken on another level”. Hallgrimsson echoed this, while relaying a common contrast with Russia, stating there’s been no “explanation why one is banned and the other is not”.
The general view of Uefa and Fifa is not to ban associations, due to both the idea that the national team is separate to the current state – echoed in how Israel would point to Arab players in their team – and the understandable reluctance to have to repeatedly adjudicate on conflicts.
Consequently, neither Fifa nor Uefa proactively banned Russia on the invasion of Ukraine. They were forced to respond to Poland refusing to play a World Cup play-off, with the backing of multiple other countries.
The Uefa hierarchy are nevertheless understood to have been so affected by the urgency of the Gaza situation in October 2025 that informal discussions were held about a potential vote on banning Israel, only for that to be postponed by peace negotiations. That came just before the match in Norway, that foreshadowed much of Ireland’s fixture.
There were protests on the streets of Oslo and Udine before World Cup qualifiers between Norway and Italy and Israel last season (AFP/Getty)
“Stop the national match” protests surrounded a game that was the country’s most high-security sports event since the 1994 Winter Olympics. Norwegian federation president Lise Klaveness went through a tense press conference, since she had previously led calls for Israel to be banned.
Klaveness stressed that wasn’t down to the recent UN Commission of Inquiry conclusion, but Israeli teams contravening Fifa rules about playing on occupied land. First put to Fifa by the Palestinian FA, that argument was echoed by the FAI to Uefa in 2024. An independent Fifa panel didn’t rule on it, citing “the unresolved legal status” of the West Bank, despite the International Court of Justice ruling the occupation unlawful.
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The same qualification group saw Italy stage their Israel fixture in Udine’s small Stadio Friuli, also out of security concerns. The city was essentially on military lockdown, as local politicians tried to stop the game.
Udine also hosted the 2025 Super Cup two months before, with Uefa mascots holding up banners that read “stop killing children, stop killing civilians”. Numerous sources say Israeli officials were furious over “hypocrisy” and “sides being taken”.
Uefa displayed banners before the Uefa Super Cup match between Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain in August 2025 (AFP/Getty)
Norway meanwhile donated the proceeds from their game to Doctors Without Borders, but neither they nor Italy ever considered going out on their own with a boycott.
Such stances have been given short shrift by swathes of Ireland, a country widely viewed as the most pro-Palestine in Europe. The connection goes back over a century, when the same British colonial officials served in both countries, as parallels have frequently been drawn – especially with Northern Ireland. Ireland were in 1980 the first European Union member to call for Palestinian statehood. Or, as one figure in Irish football put it, “pictures of dead children should be enough”. The layers of the relationships are only illustrated, however, by how a necessary neutrality in the second world war has since strained relations with Israel.
Those close to the Israeli team ultimately feel their situation and the role of Hamas just isn’t fully relayed in Ireland. All of this is why there was dismay within both federations when the draw was made. None of that, however, has extended to a refusal to play.
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The FAI insist they have to consider Irish football’s long-term interests, arguing a boycott could cost more than €5.5m, having also warned members of further sanctions. The thinness of the line they are treading is nevertheless illustrated by Courell insisting Uefa have not made any such threats.
A Palestinian flag flutters alongside EU and Ukrainian flags outside Leinster House to mark Ireland’s recognition of a Palestinian state (AFP/Getty)
A potential test for the FAI’s position is that the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld Poland’s refusal to play Russia. Whether that serves as a precedent is open to question, however, since Fifa and Uefa relied on safety justifications or suspending Russia – even in neutral grounds. More significantly, that decision involved numerous countries threatening a boycott. Ireland would have to risk punishment alone.
Courell has insisted the FAI are continuing lobbying efforts for Israel to be banned, but there is scepticism about this among both their members and within Uefa. Member associations closer to Ireland say they are not aware of any overtures.
Uefa, however, have intimated they may consider separation of countries based on such tensions in the future. That could be one legacy of this fixture.
In just one other break from protocol, meanwhile, the FAI have discussed the game with their squad and manager. “None of us feel comfortable playing these games but once we have decided to play them, we all stick together and play as one,” Hallgrimsson said.
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Some players are also conscious of how the Nations League could influence qualification for Euro 2028, which Ireland part-host along with Britain. “It’s happening,” says one source, “so players have to treat it as just another game.”
Everything around it, however, suggests it is anything but.
SEATTLE — Paige Bueckers scored 25 points, Jessica Shepard had 20 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists for her WNBA-leading sixth triple-double of the season, and the Dallas Wings beat the Seattle Storm 103-91 on Wednesday night in the regular-season finale for both teams.
Dallas (27-16), which won just 10 games last season, set a WNBA record for the best single-season turnaround in league history with a 17-win improvement. The Wings have won seven of their last eight games, with their lone loss coming on Monday after leading by 14 points.
Dallas led 90-71 with 6:55 left in the fourth quarter before Seattle went on a 17-4 run to get within 94-88. But Awak Kuier and Bueckers made 3-pointers on Dallas’ next two possessions to pull away.
Arike Ogunbowale added 23 points and six assists for Dallas, which secured the No. 7 seed in the WNBA playoffs after Atlanta’s victory over New York earlier in the night. Bueckers had 20-plus points and five-plus assists for the third straight game.
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Dominique Malonga led Seattle (8-36) with 29 points and eight rebounds. Awa Fam scored a season-high 22 points, Flau’jae Johnson added 21 points, and Natisha Hiedeman had 10 points and 14 assists.
Dallas won all four games against Seattle this season to earn its first sweep over the Storm in franchise history.
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