Three years ago, a team of exiled Afghan women looked on with frustration as the Women’s World Cup took place in the Australian cities where they lived.
The displaced players have come a long way since then, but the Women’s Asian Cup, which starts in Australia on March 1, is both an inspiration and a reminder of the many hurdles they must still clear to play international matches.
“I couldn’t stop crying the entire time as it reminded me of a time that I was able to take that pride and play for my country [before the return of the Taliban in 2021],” defender Mursal Sadat told DW of her memories of the 2023 World Cup, at which point Afghanistan had no women’s national team. “Hopefully, Afghanistan will be competing by the next qualifiers.”
The team’s first major step on the path to international recognition from football’s governing body was an emotional and sporting milestone after a four-year battle to be heard. But four months later, they have yet to play another fixture.
“Morocco was a big milestone, but for us it is only the beginning,” UK-based goalkeeper Elaha Safdari told DW. “As players, we are always eager to represent Afghanistan again. Of course, we want more international matches, but we have stayed disciplined, training hard and improving as a team. We know the staff is working behind the scenes to create more opportunities so we remain ready and motivated.”
After a period of silence, FIFA announced on Monday that Afghanistan will play two unnamed opponents in the June international break, with further information to follow “in the coming months.” Those players based in Europe were involved in a training camp in Doncaster, England, earlier this month, while those based in Australia are set for something similar later in the year.
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Elaha Safdari is keen to play more international footballImage: Ann Odong/FIFA
Given the team’s struggles for recognition, trauma and the development gap that has emerged after missing four years of international competition, the World Cup in Brazil next year, was always going to come too soon. March’s Asian Cup will decide which Asian teams qualify for Brazil 2027 — the semifinalists will make it automatically, while the losing quarterfinalists will go into a series of playoffs for the remaining four Asian spots.
Taliban and UAE ties ‘logical explanation’ for visa rejection
Like Afghanistan, the UAE will not be at Brazil 2027 after failing to qualify for the Asian Cup. It’s fair to say they also won’t be the Afghan team’s opponents in June either, after the Gulf state refused to allow the Afghanistan players to enter the country in October, forcing a last minute change of host country to Morocco.
FIFA has since repeatedly refused to answer any questions from DW on why the UAE, who had agreed to host and play the team, reneged on the deal. It appears more than likely that the UAE’s relationship with the Taliban was the reason for the refusal.
“That appears to be the most reasonable and logical explanation,” Alison Battisson, the Australian human rights lawyer who helped the team find asylum in Australia and maintains close contact with the players, told DW. “The UAE can turn around visas in hours for a team. If it is true that they went quiet on FIFA in that week beforehand, withdrew visas that had been granted or didn’t grant visas, that is really quite extraordinary.
“To me, it says that, without explanation, somebody much more senior and not really that concerned about women’s sport stepped in and said we have to prioritize this other interest, which I can only assume is economic interest in Afghanistan.”
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FIFA doubles down on UAE relationship
DW understands this is also the suspicion of many players, but FIFA’s silence leaves the situation unclear. The organization, headed by Gianni Infantino, were less tight-lipped when they announced “the launch of a new annual world football awards event in Dubai [in the UAE]” on December 29, two months after the visa refusal.
From this year, the press release said, these awards will be the “official annual FIFA awards ceremony that gathers the world’s most influential football figures, celebrating the best players, teams, and achievements of the beautiful game for the previous year.”
Given what happened in October, it’s safe to assume the players of Afghanistan Women United would not be able to attend such a ceremony.
While Afghan players past and present do express gratitude for FIFA’s support, the explicit backing of a country that rejected a team FIFA has recognized is impossible to square with the governing body’s commitment to use “advocacy and diplomacy with relevant actors and organizations regarding long-term access to sport” for the Afghan women.
Afghan defender Sadat has, like most of her teammates, been a determined advocate for their cause. While the players have little control over geopolitics, she retains the faith that they can endure and compete in the qualifiers for the next Asian Cup in 2029.
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“Re-creation and recognition of the Afghan women’s national team from exile is something that millions of Afghans want because it’s a protest against the regime of the Taliban,” Sadat said to DW. “It’s a slap from the football world to say: ‘you are trying to silence them and stop them from playing, but we are still here, and we are giving them the platform to rise, shine and use their sport as a weapon to fight against the gender apartheid and injustice.’”
Looking Forward, Backward and Sideways at the Vikings’ Offseason
During the NFL offseason, it is time to look forward, backward and sideways (and in this case we look at the Minnesota Vikings). There is always plenty to look forward to, as this is the season of speculation designed specifically for Purple prognostication. And, as far as the Vikings are concerned, there is a great history of individual performances, near misses and more than an odd or exceptional win/loss to discuss. The Vikings are an infinitely fascinating franchise if not ultimately a successful one (where success is often only defined by winning the Super Bowl).
But this time on the Vikings Territory Breakdown podcast, the fellas—Joe Oberle, senior writer at vikingsterritory.com and purplePTSD.com and Mark Craig, NFL and Vikings writer for the Star Tribune and startribune.com—look back in sadness to a couple of players who wore Viking purple, and are, unfortunately, no longer with us: WR Rondale Moore and defensive back Ronyell Whitaker.
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The news of these passings brings sadness to Purple Nation, for sure. But couple the news of their passing with the death of rookie draft pick Khyree Jackson last summer, and the Vikings organization has experienced more than enough of highly emotional difficulties of late. We will pay tribute to a couple players who, though only playing a short time in Minnesota, still deserve their due.
In addition, we will look forward to free agency, the draft and the NFL Combine just on the horizon. But if you want to know what we look sideways at, well, you’ll just have to tune in and check it out. Skol!
Joe Oberle is a veteran sportswriter/editor/reporter and has covered the Vikings since 2008. The author of three books, he … More about Joe Oberle
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns defensive back Malik Muhammad (5) against the Clemson Tigers during the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
Do you consider the absolute dream candidate for the Minnesota Vikings a 3rd-Round cornerback? Probably not — but Bleacher Report does. BR’s Gary Davenport picked a “dream target” for every team in this year’s draft, and for Minnesota, that man is Texas’s Malik Muhammad.
He’s twitchy, competitive, and sticky in coverage, with the kind of edge Minnesota keeps chasing at corner.
Muhammad Would Evidently Fit Brian Flores’ CB Mold
A curveball some eight weeks before the draft.
Texas Longhorns defensive back Malik Muhammad (5) lines up during College Football Playoff first-round action against the Clemson Tigers at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium. The young defender handled coverage duties in a high-stakes postseason matchup for Texas. Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA: Muhammad competed in the CFP spotlight as the Longhorns hosted Clemson. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
BR: Muhammad Is the Vikings’ Dream Rookie
Most opened Davenport’s article expecting to find a running back like Jeremiyah Love or a cornerback like Mansoor Delane. But Davenport disagreed.
On Muhammad as the Vikings’ dream pick, he explained, “The quarterback position in Minnesota will dominate the offseason conversation surrounding the Vikings, but if the team adds competition for J.J. McCarthy this spring, it will likely come via a veteran free agent. The Vikings were stout defensively in 2025, allowing fewer passing yards per game (158.5) than any team in the NFC.”
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“But the team has a potential issue on the back end—outside of Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers, the team’s depth at the cornerback position is essentially non-existent. That should lead the Vikes to look to add a cornerback relatively early in this year’s draft, and Malik Muhammad of Texas could be an intriguing target on Day 2.”
The Consensus Big Board has Muhammad listed at No. 82 as of February 24th. A 3rd-Rounder.
Davenport continued, “A 6’0″ 188-pounder who spent the 2025 season matched up with opponents’ No. 1 receivers, Muhammad has it all — size, speed, athleticism, fluidity in coverage…you name it.”
“He also has a background in track and basketball, which can’t hurt at a position that involves a fair amount of running, jumping and whatnot.”
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The Scouting Report
Muhammad is 6’0″ and 190 pounds. He played 41 games at Texas, logging 97 tackles, 16 passes defended, and 3 interceptions. He also has youth on his side; he won’t turn 22 until September. Muhammad is known for his versatility, twitchiness, and role as a defensive field general.
NFL Draft Buzzon Muhammad: “Muhammad brings immediate value as a defender who can contribute in multiple packages from day one. What jumps off the tape is his natural feel for route distributions and ability to process passing concepts – he sees the game unfold with veteran anticipation despite his youth.”
“Watching him navigate complex coverage assignments against elite SEC competition revealed a corner who rarely finds himself out of position and consistently plays above his experience level. His best NFL fit appears to be with defensive schemes employing pattern-match principles that maximize his instincts and football IQ.”
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It’s worth noting that the Vikings are in the middle — hopefully near the end — of a severe drought in drafting cornerbacks. Ten years have passed since the franchise picked one of any round with staying power.
NBD added, “Coordinators who prioritize versatility in their secondary will appreciate his ability to execute both man and zone techniques with equal proficiency. While Muhammad doesn’t possess elite length, he compensates with exceptional footwork and transitional quickness that lets him mirror even the craftiest route runners.”
“The technical refinement he displays in press technique and zone spacing indicates a prospect who’s been meticulously coached. The comparison that resonates when studying Muhammad is a young Marcus Peters.”
Perhaps the Value Is Really That Great
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Davenport must love Muhammad and his fit in Minnesota because it’s not often that a 2nd- or 3rd-Rounder pulls down “dream” draft candidate status a couple of months before the event.
So, how would Davenport’s assertion come true? Well, first, the Vikings would have to scoop Muhammad from Round 2 or 3, fitting his current stock. Thereafter, if he immediately latched on as a starter and remained for longer than a few years, Davenport would be vindicated.
Texas Longhorns defensive back Malik Muhammad (5) wraps up Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Anthony Evans III (5) during second-quarter action at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium. The defensive play stopped the receiver short after a short gain in a key conference matchup. Oct 19, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA: Muhammad secured the tackle along the sideline for Texas. Mandatory Credit: Sara Diggins-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images.
The Vikings must also get into the habit — soon — of playing rookies. In the last four years, rookies don’t often see the field in Year No. 1, with the exception of wide receiver Jordan Addison and guard Ed Ingram. For example, Minnesota drafted wideout Tai Felton in Round 3 last year; the guy barely played on offense as a rookie.
If Davenport is correct, the Vikings grab Muhammad from Round 2 or 3, and he plays right away, fans will treat him like a supreme breath of fresh air.
Other Dream Candidates
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How about real dream draft candidates for Minnesota? Here’s a look at Round 1 rookies who would bring tremendous joy to the fan base if they [somehow] fell to Pick No. 18:
Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU)
Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State)
Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame)
Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State)
Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Lorenzo Styles Jr. (3) celebrates with linebacker Sonny Styles (0) after returning a punt for a touchdown during third-quarter action against the UCLA Bruins at Ohio Stadium. The brothers shared the moment on the sideline after the special teams score energized the crowd. Nov 15, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA: Styles finished the return with a touchdown. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images.
Downs, Love, and Styles live in a category of their own; they’re virtually guaranteed to be gone by Pick No. 18. Delane would turn heads, as he’s considered the top corner in the draft.
Oct 25, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs wide receiver Brenen Thompson (0) catches the ball for a touchdown over Texas Longhorns defensive back Malik Muhammad (5) during the second quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Cue the lights, these men in tights are ready to steal the show at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.
Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest
Only one running back, Notre Dame’s Jeremyiah Love, is a first-rounder. Claiborne’s shifty nature and explosive burst out of the backfield are coveted by teams shopping for change-of-pace backs. If Claiborne can run in the 4.3 range and deliver a dynamite three-cone agility test result, this weaker RB class is his for the taking.
Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State
A candidate to break Xavier Worthy’s 40-yard dash record, Thompson is small and can’t do much about that. His downfield speed could cause heads to turn with a target in the 4.2s.
Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State
Hurst’s small-school pedigree has left some wondering if he can adjust against NFL cornerbacks. If he continues to show precision and explosiveness in and out of breaks, Hurst can erase enough doubt to be in the top 64 picks.
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Jaren Kanak, TE, Oklahoma
Some feigned surprise he was invited to Indy, but if you’ve been keying in on the Sooners, you know why Kanak is here. He will likely have one of the fastest times for the tight end position, and his defensive experience should translate to impressive bench press rep counts as well.
Gennings Dunker, OG, Iowa
Dunker’s combine performance will be a double-edged sword. He’s almost certainly going to nail his bench press reps with his yolked arms and impressive frame, but teams will be looking to see how he performs during agility drills. Everyone knows Dunker is strong. The question is, Can he move like an NFL lineman? Performing well could send him into the top 50.
Zane Durant, DT, Penn State
Aug 31, 2024; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive tackle Zane Durant (28) celebrates after a stop during the third quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Durant’s first-step explosiveness is intense. As a speed-rushing tackle, he has a knack for penetrating inside gaps, a valued skill for a position valuing speed to power. If he can crush his 40 and agility drills, Durant won’t be easy to pass on draft day.
Peter Woods, DT, Clemson
Athletically he’s a no-doubt first-round prospect. Following a down year in terms of production, his final grade isn’t set in stone. Woods participating in the combine drills and showing off his athletic prowess would cement his stock.
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Harold Perkins, LB, LSU
As a former five-star recruit, Perkins’ athletic pedigree should be highly valued. He currently is a mid-round prospect. With talk of him moving to edge in some schemes, timed speed and strength will be more important for Perkins than ever, especially if he’s carrying the weight to reflect his desire to play outside.
Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
Cisse is looking to break into a packed conversation around corners with first-round value. The combine is his best opportunity. His size, speed and strength are exceptional. Putting numbers down on paper to match the film would mean booking himself tickets to Pittsburgh in April.
VJ Payne, S, Kansas State
The battle for the third-best safety in the class is wide open — Ohio State’s Caleb Downs is the clear-cut No. 1 and top five overall. If Payne backs up his impressive athletic traits evident on film in on-field drills and testing, he’ll be a big-time riser.
Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson filed a lawsuit against the women’s golf tour NXXT in December after it changed its policies to prevent biological males from competing against females.
NXXT and its attorneys from America First Policy Institute filed its motion to dismiss this week, and believe the suit will be thrown out.
“We are asking the courts to dismiss the claims and we’re addressing the matter,” NXXT Golf CEO Stuart McKinnon told Fox News Digital.
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“This was about simply protecting women’s sports. So the goal was really clarity and competitive integrity, and, as a professional tour, we believe it was our responsibility to define those categories.”
Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson looks after shot at pre-qualifying stage of LPGA Q-Series.(Riley Gaines/X)
McKinnon said after the organization updated its policies, he reached out to Davidson to offer the golfer a chance to compete on the tour in an open category, free of cost, and would even pay for Davidson’s Q School – an annual, multi-stage tournament where golfers compete for playing status on the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour.
“I had a talk with Davidson. And at that time, prior to the change, I had offered Davidson the opportunity to play in an open division. And in that open division, I had offered Hayley Davidson to play in that open division and even a management position in that open division, and we would allow Davidson to play for free,” McKinnon said.
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“We would pay for Q School fees for Davidson. So we were very generous and respectful of what Davidson wanted to do. And my message to Davidson was simply that perhaps your legacy is forging the path for future generations. But it can’t be right now in this women’s tour right now, when I’m running it, and we are going to make the policy change.”
McKinnon said the trans athlete rejected the offer.
Now, his tour is engaged in a legal battle against Davidson. It was an outcome he expected when he made the policy change, but believed it was necessary based on the feedback of his golfers.
McKinnon said he came to the decision after distributing an anonymous poll to the female golfers on his tour, as the vast majority of them expressed concern over Davidson’s presence.
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“We did an anonymous player poll, which we had a high response rate within a very short period of time. Within two or three days, we had 80% plus response rate, and it was clear that the players, you know, were speaking, that they felt the policy change was in order,” McKinnon said.
“The theme was that it was unfair, and they wanted us to address our policies.”
McKinnon said that a few female golfers expressed support for maintaining the current policy and allowing Davidson to compete.
“We just respectfully disagreed with one another,” McKinnon said.
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McKinnon had to watch Davidson finish first place on the tour in January 2024, marking Davidson’s third first-place finish at the event. The win put Davidson in the race to earn an Epson Tour exemption, which is the developmental tour of the LPGA Tour. The top 10 players of the Epson Tour graduate to the LPGA Tour.
At the time, the LPGA’s policy allowed biological males to compete without much restriction.
NXXT was one of the first women’s tours that stepped up to make a policy change. The LPGA then changed its own policy to bring about more restrictions to protect the women’s category in December 2024.
Now, as Davidson wages a legal battle against NXXT for pioneering the protection of women’s golf, McKinnon doesn’t expect the lawsuit will impede his tour’s operations.
“Nothing has changed from an operational standpoint. We’re going to continue to grow,” McKinnon said.
“We’ve expanded the tour from the NXXT Women’s Pro Tour to the NXXT Battle Tour, which is a professional co-ed tour that we’re launching, as well our NXXT Gen Tour, which is our junior tour. It’s a competitive pathway for elite juniors, male and female. And we just actually have announced a partnership with Sir Nick Faldo for the NEXT Faldo Junior Tour. So all systems are go here at NXXT. We’re growing the pathway. We’re growing the tour.”
Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson during pre-qualifying stage of LPGA Q-Series.(Riley Gaines/X)
Fox News Digital has reached out to Davidson’s attorneys for a response.
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Davidson’s lawsuit argues NXXT breached its contractual obligations and made false representations to Davidson, leading to wrongful exclusion from professional golf opportunities.
“Defendants breached the Contracts by implementing the Policy Change that resulted in Ms. Davidson being prohibited from participating in the entirety of the NXXT Winter Series; failing to allow Ms. Davidson to compete in any NXXT Winter Series tournaments after the Policy Change; retaining Ms. Davidson’s annual NXXT Golf membership fees and entry fees for NXXT Winter Series tournaments; and not awarding Ms. Davidson the Epson Exemptions she had earned,” the lawsuit stated.
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer is currently in a relationship with an NXT star. Last year, they confirmed they were dating. While La Primera is making waves on RAW as its top titleholder, her boyfriend also won his first WWE championship this week.
The NXT star in question here is Myles Borne. On the latest episode of NXT, Borne won the NXT North American Championship. He defeated Ethan Page, ending the longest (tied with Oba Femi) NXT North American Title reign. Vaquer recently took to Instagram to express how she felt about her boyfriend’s achievement.
Thanks for the submission!
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Vaquer wrote that she was proud of Myles Borne because she knew how hard he worked to achieve his goals. The Women’s World Champion added that Borne deserved the North American Championship win and much more. On her Instagram Story, she also posted a picture of the 26-year-old holding his newly won title.
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“I’m so proud of you because I truly know how hard you work day after day. You deserve this and so much more [red heart emoji],” Vaquer wrote.
Stephanie Vaquer has had one of the best rookie years in WWE
Stephanie Vaquer is heading into WrestleMania 42 as the Women’s World Champion. She has had a stellar rookie year, winning a total of four titles. She first won the Women’s North American Championship from Fallon Henley. Later, she captured the NXT Women’s Championship from Giulia. At one point, she held both the titles simultaneously.
La Primera quickly transitioned to the main roster and held her ground. At Evolution, she won a 20-woman Battle Royal for a shot at the Women’s World Championship. She battled IYO SKY in possibly the best match of the night at Wrestlepalooza to capture the coveted gold.
At Crown Jewel: Perth, Stephanie Vaquer squared off against then-WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton in a Women’s Crown Jewel Title match. The RAW Superstar reigned supreme, adding another major accolade to her resume. Ahead of her match against Liv Morgan at ‘Mania, the fan-favorite star seems unstoppable.
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TORONTO — The Oklahoma City Thunder will be the defending NBA champions until sometime in mid-to-late June.
They remain favourites to be champions again, but the group that was on the floor at Scotiabank Arena are not those guys.
Not with defending MVP (and defending Finals MVP) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander back home in Oklahoma nursing an abdominal injury that has kept him out for 10 games and counting, and all-NBA wing Jalen Williams out with a bad hamstring and Ajay Mitchell — their newly discovered bench sparkplug — out now for 14 games and counting.
They are trying to navigate a post-championship season that has been more notable for who has not been playing than who has. Gilgeous-Alexander has now joined fellow starters Luguentz Dort (12), Isaiah Hartenstein (27) and Williams (33) for the dubious distinction of having missed double-digit games through the Thunder’s 59th start. As well, key reserves Mitchell (16), Aaron Wiggins (16) and Alex Caruso (21) have missed significant time.
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But somehow the Thunder continue to roll.
They were able to squeeze out a 116-107 win over the Raptors that they earned thanks to a dominant second and third quarter where they out-scored Toronto by 27, and a fantastic flurry in the final four minutes. They finished with a 15-point surge, shutting down a Raptors rally that saw them come back down 24 with one minute left in the third to tie it up with just over four minutes left.
For the Raptors (34-24), it was another loss to a quality team, this one a little more concerning since Scottie Barnes left the game early after bruising his right thigh in a collision with Hartenstein. Barnes will be listed as questionable as the Raptors host the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday night.
For the Thunder (45-14), it was one more bit of evidence that their championship pedigree extends past Gilgeous-Alexander or Williams and runs all the way through most of their rotation. On Tuesday night, it was Cason Wallace — the Thunder’s third-year on-ball stopper and the league-leader in steals — who exploded for 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. His run included six quick points after the Raptors had tied the game on a Jamal Shead three with 4:06 to play. Meanwhile, Canadian national team star Dort shed his defence-first reputation (though not before helping hold Raptors leading scorer Brandon Ingram to 14 points on 14 shots) long enough to score four of his 15 points in the final minutes on a pair of tough jumpers with the game in the balance.
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“We’ve been in a lot of those situations before, obviously we’re still without our main guys, but we know that we have to execute and find the best shot that we can get,” said Dort. “Credit to the Raptors, they didn’t give up, but down the stretch we had to find the best shots, which we did.”
It was a familiar situation for the Raptors, too. The loss dropped Toronto to 4-14 against the top 10 teams in the league by winning percentage. Three of those wins came against a (then) struggling Cleveland Cavaliers team early in the season and the other came on the road against a short-handed Thunder team back in January, although that version did have Gilgeous-Alexander in the lineup.
It’s a bit of a good news, bad news story: It’s not nothing that the Raptors are 30-10 against the league’s other 19 teams, but beating good teams is essential if all that work is going to deliver something in the post-season.
“I mean, we made a huge jump from where we were last year, like, where were we last year versus now?” said RJ Barrett, who led the Raptors with 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-6 from three, his best offensive outing since returning from knee and ankle injuries that forced him to miss 24 games in a 30-game stretch over December and January. The Raptors won just 30 games all season, was his point.
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“A lot of these teams have already been good, already been in playoff situations [or] like tonight, won a championship. They already have these guys that are battle-tested.
“It’s good for us to play these teams right now, go through these tough losses during the season so we’ll figure it out,” Barrett added. “Detroit game we got blown out [just prior to the all-star break], tonight we went down and fought all the way back, so we’re already learning and we got to continue to learn and scratch and claw and beat these good teams.”
They certainly have some blueprints they could work from, namely how they performed during the first and fourth quarters — or at least until those final four minutes.
The Raptors jumped out to a 32-25 lead after the first as they forced the Thunder into six turnovers in 12 minutes, continuing the ferocious perimeter defence they have shown since the all-star break in road wins over Chicago (23 turnovers with 14 steals) and Milwaukee (19 turnovers with 11 steals).
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It was the Raptors at their best. Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles (four points, four rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal in 30 minutes), starting at centre for Jakob Poeltl (out resting his back), got his hands on seemingly every pass the Thunder tried to throw. Barnes (15 points, seven assists, three steals and four blocks), back in the lineup after missing Sunday’s game for personal reasons, stripped Caruso’s dribble on consecutive possessions, each turning into transition lay-ups, giving the Raptors a 10-point lead — their high-water mark for the game.
They reprised that energy for a nine-minute stretch bridging the end of the third quarter and first eight minutes of the fourth as they went on a 27-3 run where they held the Thunder to 1-of-15 shooting and forced them into seven turnovers. OKC looked very much like a team needing the defending MVP to bail them out.
“I mean [the Raptors] defend really well,” said Dort. “The pressure and the way they turn us over was extremely tough, but obviously it’s hard to pressure for 48 minutes and we had to find a way to break that.”
They did. It began in the second quarter when the Thunder began taking care of the ball and some of their secondary scorers got cooking.
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Wallace — getting all the point guard reps he could hope for with Gilgeous-Alexander out — exploded for 13 of his game-high 27, making all five of his field goal attempts, including three triples. The Thunder led 60-51 at half.
In the third quarter, it was three-point specialist Isaiah Joe shaking loose, knocking down five threes, including two for four-point plays, finishing with 19 points in the frame and pushing OKC’s lead to as high as 25 — creating an 18-point cushion to start the fourth. Over the pivotal second and third quarters, OKC had just five turnovers while forcing the Raptors into seven. Related, the Raptors’ offence cratered, as they scored just 48 points over the middle two frames.
“I wish I had the answers. Hopefully the film is going to help us understand better, but the second, third quarter was not us, and it was not our identity,” said Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic, as his team allowed the Thunder to shoot 54 per cent over the middle two periods. “That was not what we did in the first quarter to start the game. We were dictating and dominating on the offensive end, creating a lot of turnovers, which fueled our offence and we took our foot [off the] gas.”
They got onto the gas again in the fourth and made it a game. The Raptors deserve plenty of credit for that. But two good quarters are not going to cut it against the NBA’s better teams, and certainly not against the defending champion Thunder — even the short-handed version.
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Barnes in good spirits: The Raptors’ workhorse banged his leg on Hartenstein’s knee with 3:38 to play and immediately limped to the bench. The Raptors were down two at the time. The Thunder quickly scored on a lay-up from Wallace, a triple from Joe and a jumper by Dort. Barnes subbed back in with the Raptors suddenly down nine with 2:29 to play and was subbed out again 90 seconds later. In the locker room, he seemed to be in a good mood, joking with locker mates Ingram and Jamal Shead, but could be seen rubbing the inside of his right thigh or knee area before going for treatment post-game. Barnes has missed just two games this season, and the Raptors won his 32 minutes against the Thunder by 18 points.
To the winners go the spoils: When Dort spoke with the media after the Thunder’s win, he had a massive diamond-encrusted necklace on over his black turtleneck sweater. At the end of the chain was a pendant shaped as a wolf’s head, roughly the size of a toddler’s hand. It’s his championship wolf, Dort told me, a gift to himself for winning the NBA title last year. His last name, translated, means wolf. “A [championship]ring wasn’t enough,” he said, laughing.
Silver lining for SGA? Gilgeous-Alexander has played a lot of high-pressure basketball in the past three years. To review: the Canadian national team star led the Thunder to the second round of the 2023 FIBA World Cup, helped the Thunder to the second round of the 2024 playoffs, led Canada to a fifth-place finish at the 2024 Olympics and helped the Thunder to their first-ever championship last summer. Chances are he’ll be playing deep into June this year and beyond, while the 2027 World Cup and 2028 Olympics aren’t all that far in the future. In that context, is missing a month or more of basketball (he’s been out since February 3rd and will be re-evaluated next week) the worst thing? “He wants to play, he doesn’t want to miss games and he didn’t want to miss this game, I’ll tell you that, so that’s a high cost to him,” said Thunder head coach Mark Daigenault. “… But getting a good reprieve out of this [could be a benefit] — not that he would ever want that — but you can’t fight your circumstances.”
On Tuesday, Kansas City Chiefs heiress Gracie Hunt posted a short Instagram video of her making a healthy recipe that she said tastes like dessert. She is best known for keeping her followers updated about her healthy routine.
Hunt shared the ingredients and the recipe and also talked about stevia.
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“I’m obsessed with stevia, and it’s my vice in life,” Hunt said.
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Hunt often grabs people’s attention with her workout routines. On Jan. 28, she posted a video of her gym session. She shared a glimpse of her workout and mentioned the “arms and abs” routine in the caption.
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“Arms & Abs Circuit,” she wrote. “I aim for 20 reps per exercise, focusing on mind–muscle connection over speed. Repeat the circuit 4️⃣ times. This is my go-to routine for building upper-body strength while keeping the core engaged the entire time.”
In the clip, Hunt started her workout with dumbbell deadlifts, then did triceps dips, followed by incline crunches and finally incline situps with a weighted bar. She also did bench hops, incline dumbbell fly and incline shoulder press.
Gracie Hunt penned a heartfelt message on her father, Clark Hunt’s, birthday
On Thursday, Gracie Hunt shared a sweet post on Instagram, celebrating her father, Clark Hunt’s, birthday.
“Happy Birthday, Dad! 🥳🎊 You make the world better every single day through the way you work, love, teach, serve, and make everyone you meet feel truly seen and special,” Gracie wrote. “You’ve impacted countless lives and are the kindest, most patient, God-fearing man I know. Thank you for leading by example and living each day with integrity and intention. I’m so grateful to call you my dad — and to celebrate another 365 days of you.”
Gracie posed with her father in the first slide of the post. She wore a body-hugging dress, while her father wore a printed blue shirt and black pants. She added a video of the Kansas City Chiefs owner cutting his birthday cake.
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Her mother, Tavia, also joined Gracie. She shared a picture with her mother in the third slide of the post. It was followed by a snap of her with her boyfriend, Derek Green, who wore a black shirt and white pants.
Trainer Mick Price recognizes the tough assignment of getting the better of Observer in the Australian Guineas following their recent showdown.
However, Price is far from abandoning his bid for a fourth success in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) which heads to Flemington this Saturday.
“He’s a nice, uncomplicated gelding and he’ll show up, but everything will have to go right for us to turn it around on Observer,” Price said.
“My opinion is no I can’t (beat Observer) but that is not how we’re training him. My opinion is Observer is the clear good horse, and we are there to do our best.”
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Price’s prior Australian Guineas conquests feature Light Fantastic (2008), Heart Of Dreams (2009), and Grunt (2018).
He also achieved second place via Tarzino in 2016, behind Palentino.
Handled by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, Planet Red has tangled with Observer three times, with Planet Red superior in two instances.
Planet Red’s initial success came against Observer in a Pakenham maiden back in May last year, prior to their rematch in the Caulfield Guineas seeing Planet Red runner-up and Observer an unfortunate third.
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Observer later succeeded in the Moonee Valley Vase and Group 1 Victoria Derby, then dominated the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 7, Planet Red rallying late from behind for second.
Planet Red carried 2kg less than Observer then, but equal terms apply for Saturday.
“I’m not sure how we beat Observer,” Price said.
“We rode our horse cold first-up and I thought it was a very good run, a long-sustained run.
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“He’s going well and hopefully he can take up a more forward position in the race.
“He’s had a good prep for the race, he’s sound, he’s got good condition on him, and I’ve got enough horse to go to Sydney for something afterwards, but I haven’t worked that out yet.”
Price keeps the door ajar for a quick turnaround into the Group 1 Randwick Guineas a fortnight hence, despite deeming it improbable.
Price harks back to Global Glamour under Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, who managed dual Group 1 victories a week distant across borders.
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“Normally seven days after a Group 1 here and then a trip up to Sydney would be too close, but Gai did it one year from the Flight to the Thousand Guineas, so anything is possible,” Price said.
Visit the betting sites with the keenest racing betting markets for the Australian Guineas.
Team India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has revealed that batter Rinku Singh will be joining the team on Wednesday (February 25) evening, ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 match against Zimbabwe. The Super 8 clash is scheduled to be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday, February 26.
Rinku Singh was not present for Team India’s mandatory training session on Tuesday as he had left the squad to deal with a family emergency. Reports soon emerged that the southpaw was visiting his father, whose condition, amid long-term cancer treatment, had deteriorated.
The batter has not yet returned as he is not a part of the optional training session on Wednesday, with only Tilak Varma and Varun Chakaravarthy being part of the proceedings.
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“Rinku will come back today evening,” Sitanshu Kotak confirmed during the pre-match press conference. (via RevSportz).
It remains to be seen whether Rinku Singh will be in contention for selection for the playing XI in the upcoming clash.
“There can be changes in the game” – Batting coach on Team India’s playing XI after crushing loss in IND vs SA T20 World Cup 2026 match
The batting coach admitted that the recent result against South Africa in the Super 8 stage and the left-handed top-order being exploited by oppositions, have forced the team management to think about potential changes in the combination.
“There can be changes in the game. We are thinking of the top three left-handers and oppositions bowling off spin. Now that we have lost openers early in 3 matches we are talking about it. The No. 8 position, we think is for all-rounders,” Sitanshu Kotak explained.
The coach also defended Tilak Varma, who has been struggling with form and rhythm after coming into the T20 World Cup 2026 right after an injury, followed by surgery.
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“There are no issue s with how Tilak is batting. He batted well against Pakistan. For Tilak, it is a matter of two boundaries (on his strike rate). There’s no concern about his run a ball innings. There is no tension regarding Abhishek, Tilak or even the loss against SA,” the Indian coach added.
Both Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma have had a campaign to forget so far. The former has scored only 107 runs at an average of 21.40 and a strike rate of 118.89, and was dismissed for one run against South Africa.
Abhishek Sharma, on the other hand, recorded three consecutive ducks in the group stage for India. Although he ended the string of ducks against South Africa, he perished soon after, scoring 15 runs off 12 deliveries.
