Dallas Mavericks star guard Kyrie Irving will miss the rest of the 2025-26 NBA season to continue rehabilitation from a torn left ACL suffered nearly a year ago, the team announced Wednesday, marking the first full-season absence in his 15-year career and shifting focus to a strong return in 2026-27.

The Mavericks made the announcement two days before resuming play after the All-Star break, confirming Irving has made steady progress but will not return this year. The nine-time All-Star tore the ACL on March 3, 2025, during a 122-98 loss to the Sacramento Kings, playing just over nine minutes and scoring seven points before exiting. He underwent reconstructive surgery later that month and missed the final 20 games of the 2024-25 season.

Irving, 33, has not appeared in any games this season. The team stated he will remain actively engaged with the Mavericks through the campaign’s end, supporting teammates and staff while prioritizing long-term health.

“This decision wasn’t easy, but it’s the right one,” Irving said in a team release. “I’m looking forward to coming back stronger next season.” His agent, Shetellia Riley Irving, told ESPN the choice emphasizes being “1,000% ready” for a championship pursuit in 2026-27.

The Mavericks enter the post-All-Star stretch with a 19-35 record, sitting 12th in the Western Conference and well out of playoff contention. The decision aligns with a cautious approach amid the team’s struggles, allowing Irving extended recovery time beyond the typical 9-12 month timeline for ACL repairs. Some initial speculation had suggested a possible late-season return around March, but the Mavericks opted against risking re-injury.

Irving’s absence compounds backcourt challenges for Dallas, which has relied on younger guards and role players this season. The Mavericks acquired Irving in a 2023 trade from the Brooklyn Nets, pairing him with Luka Dončić in a high-profile tandem that reached the Western Conference finals in 2024. Injuries and inconsistency have limited that potential, with Irving playing fewer than 60 games in each of his first two full seasons with the team.

Despite the setback, the announcement has drawn support from fans and analysts who view it as prudent for Irving’s longevity and the franchise’s future. Social media reactions highlighted optimism for a fully healthy Irving teaming with emerging talents — including potential lottery pick Cooper Flagg in future drafts — to chase titles.

Irving’s career highlights include an NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, where his clutch performance in Game 7 sealed the win over the Golden State Warriors. A dynamic scorer and ball-handler, he ranks among the league’s elite in handles and mid-range efficiency when healthy.

The Mavericks continue their season Friday against an opponent yet to be specified post-break, focusing on development and positioning for the offseason. No timetable for Irving’s on-court return has been set beyond next season, but the team expressed confidence in his progress.

NBA medical experts note ACL recoveries vary, with modern protocols emphasizing gradual ramp-up to contact. Irving’s extended timeline reflects a conservative strategy to minimize re-tear risk, common in high-level athletes.

As Dallas navigates the final months without its star guard, attention turns to roster adjustments and youth development ahead of what the organization hopes will be a revitalized 2026-27 campaign with Irving leading the charge.

The U.S. Air Force is implementing a striking new paint scheme for the presidential aircraft fleet, including the next-generation Air Force One jets, featuring a palette of red, white, dark blue and gold — a design championed by President Donald Trump that breaks from the iconic light blue and white livery in place since the Kennedy administration more than six decades ago.

The Air Force announced the change Feb. 17, 2026, confirming the colors will apply to the VC-25B program — two modified Boeing 747-8 aircraft under conversion by Boeing — as well as other executive airlift planes. The redesign revives a proposal Trump unveiled during his first term in 2019, which the Biden administration scrapped in 2022 over concerns about cost, weight and potential heat absorption from darker hues affecting onboard systems.

An Air Force spokesperson told multiple outlets, including Fox News and Reuters, that the new requirement covers the VC-25B fleet and additional executive aircraft, such as four C-32s (military Boeing 757s often used as Air Force Two). “The Air Force is implementing a new paint scheme requirement (red, white, gold and dark blue) for VC-25B as well as the additional executive airlift fleet,” the statement read.

The shift is already visible: A C-32A VIP jet emerged in late February 2026 sporting the updated livery — white upper fuselage over dark blue lower body, separated by red and gold cheat lines, with a large American flag on the tail — photographed departing from a maintenance facility in Greenville, Texas. Sources indicate the makeover occurs during scheduled maintenance and upgrades, minimizing additional expense.

The design echoes Trump’s personal Boeing 757, often dubbed “Trump Force One,” with its navy blue, red accents and gold touches. Critics have called the scheme flashy and a departure from the understated elegance of the robin’s-egg blue introduced in 1962 for President John F. Kennedy’s VC-137C. Supporters praise it as more “patriotic” and bold, aligning with national colors and Trump’s aesthetic preferences seen in White House decor and campaign branding.

The change extends to a luxury Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar in 2025, which Trump ordered retrofitted as a “bridge” Air Force One. The Air Force expects that aircraft — undergoing extensive security, communications and defensive modifications — to enter service no later than summer 2026, potentially becoming the first presidential plane in the new colors. Boeing’s two VC-25B jets, part of a long-delayed $3.9 billion program signed in 2018, are slated for delivery in coming years, with the new livery applied during final assembly.

The original Trump proposal faced backlash for estimated added costs and engineering risks, including darker colors potentially raising cabin temperatures. The Biden-era reversal restored renders of a modernized Kennedy-style scheme. Trump’s return to office prompted the latest pivot, with the Air Force citing updated requirements in August 2025 briefings.

No immediate safety or operational issues have been reported with the new palette, and the phased rollout — tied to routine overhauls — limits disruption. The iconic blue-and-white look has symbolized American presidential aviation through multiple administrations, appearing in countless state visits, summits and homecomings.

Reactions have been mixed. Aviation enthusiasts and historians expressed disappointment over losing a 60-year tradition, while others welcomed a fresh, assertive appearance. Social media buzzed with comparisons to Trump’s branding, with some dubbing it “Trump Force One official.”

As the first painted aircraft re-enter service in the coming months, the new look will become a visible symbol of the administration’s style on the global stage. The VC-25B fleet, once fully operational, will represent the most significant update to presidential airlift since the current VC-25As entered service in the 1990s.

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Top-seeded Canada faces an early deficit against Czechia in a high-stakes men’s ice hockey quarterfinal at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, with Czechia leading 2-1 after the first period in a winner-advances, loser-goes-home matchup Wednesday at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

The game, which began at 10:40 a.m. ET (16:40 CET), pits a dominant Canadian squad — undefeated in group play with a 20-3 goal differential — against a resilient Czechia team that fell 5-0 to Canada in their tournament opener but advanced through the qualification round with a 3-2 win over Denmark on Tuesday. Sidney Crosby appeared to suffer an injury after a hit from Radko Gudas, limping off, adding urgency for Canada to rally.

Macklin Celebrini scored Canada’s lone first-period goal, his fifth of the tournament, but Czechia responded with two quick tallies to take the lead into the intermission. The winner advances to Friday’s semifinals, while the loser ends its medal pursuit.

Fans worldwide can catch the action through official broadcasters and streaming platforms, with several free or low-cost options available depending on location.

In the United States The game airs exclusively on Peacock, the primary streaming home for the 2026 Winter Olympics, with live coverage also on USA Network. Peacock requires a subscription starting at $10.99/month (with ads) or $5.99 for a limited-time promotional rate in some offers. Free trials may be available through partners like DIRECTV Stream, which offers a trial period for new users to access USA Network channels without immediate cost. NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app provide authenticated streams for cable/satellite subscribers.

In Canada CBC, TSN and Sportsnet hold rights, with free streaming on CBC Gem — the public broadcaster’s ad-supported platform accessible without a subscription. CBC Gem offers live coverage and on-demand replays. TSN and Sportsnet+ require subscriptions or cable login, but CBC Gem serves as the primary free option for Canadian viewers.

International Viewing Rights vary by country: In many regions, the Olympic Channel on Olympics.com streams select events subject to geo-restrictions. Broadcasters include Nine in Australia, TV Globo/CazéTV in Brazil, and others. Check local listings or the official Milano Cortina 2026 site for rights holders. VPNs may enable access to free streams like CBC Gem from abroad, though compliance with terms is advised.

Key Viewing Details

• Time: 10:40 a.m. ET / 7:40 a.m. PT / 16:40 CET
• Venue: Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, Milan
• Primary U.S. Stream: Peacock (subscription; potential free trial via partners)
• Free U.S. Option: DIRECTV Stream trial for USA Network
• Free Canadian Option: CBC Gem
• Additional: NBCOlympics.com (authenticated), Olympics.com (select regions)

This rematch carries extra weight after Canada’s commanding group-stage win, but Czechia has shown fight with strong goaltending from Lukas Dostal and physical play. Live updates and highlights are available on NHL.com, ESPN, CBC Sports and Olympics.com.

The quarterfinals continue with Finland vs. Switzerland (12:10 p.m. ET), U.S. vs. Sweden (3:10 p.m. ET) and earlier Slovakia’s 6-2 win over Germany. Semifinals follow Thursday, with the gold-medal game Sunday, Feb. 22.

As the second period approaches, Canada looks to erase the deficit and keep its gold-medal hopes alive in a tournament featuring NHL stars for the first time since 2014.