Aaron Rodgers made clear on Wednesday that he has no plans to live a “public life” with his mystery wife, citing immense media scrutiny on his past relationships with high-profile women.
The NFL star previously dated actresses Olivia Munn and Shailene Woodley and former NASCAR driver Danica Patrick. Rodgers and Woodley were engaged in 2021, but called off their wedding plans in 2022 and later broke up.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) reacts on the field before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Acrisure Stadium on Oct. 26, 2025.(Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
Rodgers lambasted his previous girlfriends during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” though he didn’t mention any of them by name. He said when he first met his wife, she didn’t want to date an athlete and moved back overseas.
“I got myself into crazy town, and I was with individuals who called the paparazzi, who leaked or talked about where I was living, who coerced me to make the proverbial Instagram, social media posts,” he said. “I never really wanted to live a public life. If you look at the saga with my family, for years it was one-sided. They were making shots in the media saying bulls—. I never said anything until it got to the point that, all right, enough is enough. … I’m not a social media guy anymore.”
“The narratives have gotten a little bit ridiculous,” he continued. “To some of those, I just want to say, just f—ing move on. It’s been years and years and years. I’ve dealt with clinically bipolar depressed relevance seeking, I dealt with people that wanted to search out other possibilities before they could commit to me, and then they go on TV talking about how I ruined their lives and all this s—.
“And I just want to say, move on with your life. Stop lying about me. Just move on with your life and be happy. It’s not just them, but it’s other people in the media that there’s this relevance they feel that they have to mention my name. I’m not seeking relevance. I’m not seeking attention.”
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Aaron Rodgers previously dated actresses Olivia Munn and Shailene Woodley and ex-NASCAR driver Danica Patrick (not pictured).(Getty Images)
Rodgers added that, when his playing career is done, “you won’t see me.”
“I’m not doing TV … I’m not going to be out and about.”
The four-time MVP also pushed back on those seeking to figure out who his wife is, calling the issue “very strange.” He said earlier in the interview that the media frenzy caused him to move out of his Malibu, California, home.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) runs off the field after the game against the Miami Dolphins at Acrisure Stadium on Dec. 15, 2025.(Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
Rodgers has only said that his wife’s name is Brittani. The two started dating in December 2024, and they were married at some point in 2025. He said she’s a person who doesn’t want to be in the public spotlight and is happy with the possibility of leaving public life as well.
Former AEW star Danhausen had a somewhat underwhelming debut at WWE Elimination Chamber 2026. An All Elite Wrestling veteran has addressed the incident, seemingly explaining why.
For weeks before Elimination Chamber, WWE teased a potential new arrival to the promotion through a mystery crate bearing the message ‘open on Feb 28, 2026’ (the date of the Chamber). When the crate was finally opened at the pay-per-view, outcame ex-AEW star Danhausen to a relatively mild reception. The Very Nice, Very Evil star’s arrival then became a topic of discussion, with many giving their two cents on why it was underwhelming. The latest to join that discussion is AEW commentator and wrestling legend Jim Ross.
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Talking on the latest episode of his Grillin’ JR podcast, the veteran noted that Danhausen was placed in a tough position, especially since it was WrestleMania season, and believed that the 35-year-old was not ready for the moment.
“It’s like WrestleMania, for God’s sake. You just don’t… I don’t know, it put Danhausen in a tough spot. Was he ready for that moment? I don’t think he was. I think there are a lot of people who didn’t even know who the hell he was,” said JR [H/T: Ringside]
Check out his comments in the video below:
Ex-AEW star Danhausen will reportedly appear at this week’s WWE SmackDown
Despite his Elimination Chamber reveal receiving mixed reviews, PWInsider reported that WWE officials were pleasantly surprised by Danhausen’s pull, as his merchandise sales brought in strong numbers. The report also noted that the Very Nice, Very Evil star will appear this Friday night on Smackdown.
“Per PWInsider, WWE officials are said to be “pleasantly surprised” with the merchandise numbers Danhausen has generated since debuting with the company. Danhausen is also expected to appear on this Friday’s episode of SmackDown.”
It will be interesting to see what WWE has planned for Danhausen on SmackDown this Friday.
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Fan-favourite light-heavyweight ruler David Benavidez is set for a tough challenge against Gilberto Ramirez in two months’ time. Ahead of that bout, ‘The Mexican Monster’ has named the opponent who has given him his hardest fight to date.
The Phoenix-born powerhouse then became a two-time champion at 168lbs, but lost the belt for a second time after missing weight and then continuously campaigned for a showdown with new champion Canelo Alvarez, but to no avail.
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Benavidez overcame David Lemieux, Caleb Plant and Demetrius Andrade whilst in hot pursuit of Canelo, eventually moving up to light-heavyweight when he realised that the fight was not happening.
There, the now 29-year-old has trumped Oleksandr Gvozdyk, David Morrell and Anthony Yarde in impressive displays, during which time he has got his hands on the WBC light-heavyweight world title.
When speaking to streamer Neon on Kick, Benavidez picked out Plant as the man who gave him his toughest fight, despite his unanimous-decision victory.
“Who was the toughest fight? Everybody kind of has a lot of different stuff that they do, I would say that probably the hardest fight that I have had was with Caleb Plant.
“It was such a big moment, there was a lot of animosity towards each other and he is a great fighter. He fought a good fight, we had a great performance, both of us.”
Fernando Mendoza has been the consensus number one pick for the last few months.
It makes sense. He’s a safe option for a Raiders team that is in desperate need of a quarterback. Mendoza, coming off his Heisman victory this past season, checks a lot of boxes. Most scouts agree that he’s a very intelligent prospect. He’s very large at 6’5”, 235 pounds, solid arm talent, can move outside of pressure and extend plays with his legs, and has a generally high floor as a prospect.
I’m just not sure he’s a slam dunk first overall pick. Mendoza is good at most things, but I’m not sure he’s very elite at any one thing. I’m not saying that he isn’t good, but it feels crazy that the Las Vegas pick has been locked in since they found out they were picking first.
Scouts do not seem sold on Mendoza’s ability to process at an NFL level. Luckily, Vegas probably made the best hire of the coaching cycle in former Seahawks offensive coordinator Klin Kubiak. He runs a very high-level offense and can get the most out of a quarterback, but I could see Mendoza struggling within this offense, at least in his rookie year.
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Mendoza will also be entering what could be the league’s worst situation. Ashton Jeanty was the Raider’s first round pick last year, but he struggled to develop behind one of the worst offensive lines in the league. Then you go over to receiver, and there’s not much talent there outside of Brock Bowers at tight end. Bowers is one of the best offensive tight ends in football, but I don’t love my rookie’s top target being a tight end by a massive margin.
The Raiders were mostly dysfunctional last season, and I’m not sure this is the best year for them to go all in on a QB in the first round. They need so much more help, and will also have to replace Maxx Crosby once he’s traded. Would it be absolutely insane to draft one of the elite edge players with that first pick?
Arvell Reese looked like he was made in a lab when testing at the combine, and David Bailey and Reuben Bain Jr. feel like future All-Pro guys as well. I know a team would never reach on Sonny Styles or Caleb Downs because of positional value, but I feel way better about those two players’ ability to be NFL-ready over Mendoza’s.
The NFL is a quarterback league, but our last two Super Bowl winners are the Eagles and Seahawks. Jalen Hurts and Sam Darnold certainly aren’t bad, but it was the elite teams around them that took them to the top.
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It’s a lot easier to win in the NFL when a quarterback isn’t taking up a team’s entire cap space, and by the time the Raiders have a roster around Mendoza good enough to compete, I think they will be overpaying for what will be their former number one overall pick. Drafting an edge rusher won’t sell as many jerseys, but it could be a move that gets you closer to creating a playoff-contending roster.
Dec 29, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (1) runs after a catch against the Los Angeles Rams in the third quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Falcons are set to release wide receiver Darnell Mooney, NFL Network reported Thursday morning.
Signed to a three-year, $39 million contract in March 2024, Mooney was set to count $18.4 million against the salary cap. The Falcons would save $7.42 million on the cap with the reported move.
Mooney, 28, recorded 64 catches for 992 yards and a career-high five touchdowns in his first season with the Falcons in 2024. He had just 32 receptions for 443 yards and one score in 15 games in 2025.
He has 309 catches for 4,028 yards with 17 touchdowns in 91 career games (80 starts) with the Chicago Bears (2020-23) and Falcons.
Dec 7, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) avoids the tackle against Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jonathan Allen (93) during the second half at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah did not leave the Minnesota Vikings in late January with a stellar track record, and his reputation took yet another hit on Wednesday night, as the team will reportedly release defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. And that’s in addition to Allen’s DT counterpart, Javon Hargrave, on his way out as well.
Minnesota may lose both DT signings, forcing a quick pivot to the draft and the next wave of veterans.
The Vikings will hand the bulk of DT snaps to different players in 2026. Adofo-Mensah’s 2026 free-agent class is going up in flames.
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The Allen Decision Signals Vikings’ Plan to Redo Everything at DT
The hits just keep on comin’.
Defensive lineman Jonathan Allen discusses his move to Minnesota during an appearance on the Vikings’ official YouTube channel, with the interview taking place on March 12, 2025, shortly after he signed with the team in free agency. Allen reflects on joining the Vikings following several seasons with Washington. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Vikings to Cut Allen
Allen, as a cap casualty, is basically a done deal.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert wrote, “The Minnesota Vikings are expected to release defensive tackle Jonathan Allen in the coming days as they continue to whittle down their salary cap deficit and reduce their cash commitments, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Wednesday.”
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“Allen was an expensive one-year investment for the Vikings, who signed him as a free agent in March 2025. Allen earned $16.2 million last season, during which he played in all 17 games and finished with 68 tackles and 3.5 sacks. He also has $8 million in full guarantees for 2026, which would be partially offset if he signs with another team. The move will save the Vikings $6.5 million against their 2026 cap.”
Once upon a time, about a year ago, Allen was theorized as Minnesota’s fancy solution at defensive tackle. While Allen didn’t play terribly, the experiment largely flopped.
Hargrave before That
Before Allen, the who’s who of NFL reporting said last week that Hargrave will leave the organization if it cannot finagle a trade.
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In 2025, Hargrave played in 16 games, participating in 537 defensive snaps (53%). He recorded 52 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 6 quarterback hits, 4 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and 31 pressures. Although his 31 pressures ranked 34th among defensive tackles, the statistic indicates consistent involvement despite not being a truly dominant interior force.
His performance grades reflect this assessment. Pro Football Focus gave Hargrave a 70.0 pass-rushing grade and a 57.3 run-defense grade, ranking him 35th among interior defenders for the season. While his pass-rushing ability flashed at times, his run defense lacked consistency.
Like Allen, he’s on his way out, and the Vikings’ stop lasted a single season.
The Immediate Future at DT
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After Jalen Redmond, one of Minnesota’s top defensive players last season, finalizes a new deal with the Vikings this offseason and secures an expected starting role, several players will compete for increased playing time behind him. Levi Drake Rodriguez has shown noticeable improvement as a run defender and could compete for a starting position next season.
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins gained valuable experience as a rookie. Undrafted free agent Elijah Williams impressed the coaching staff during training camp and the preseason. The team also signed UFLer Jaylon Hutchings in January.
Our Kyle Joudry noted Wednesday, “The Vikings appear ready to lean into a youth movement. Most prominently, there’s the status of Jalen Redmond. He’s a fantastic player, proving to be difficult to corral when rushing the passer and when shutting down the run.”
“Most notable and obvious is his athleticism, but consider that he must have a work ethic, compete, and resilience. Going the way of undrafted free agency, the UFL, and then to the Vikings’ roster (where he was cut before breaking out) is impressive.”
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Minnesota Vikings defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave line up on defense during the season opener against the Chicago Bears, with the matchup taking place in Week 1 of the 2025 campaign after both players joined Minnesota in free agency. The duo anchors the interior defensive line. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
The draft could also provide additional talent; Minnesota is well-positioned to select an interior lineman early if it chooses to bolster the position. Prospects like Peter Woods (Clemson), Caleb Banks (Florida), Kayden McDonald (Ohio State), Lee Hunter (Texas Tech), and Christen Miller (Georgia) are among the defensive tackles expected to draw attention in the first couple of rounds.
Free agency presents another avenue. Veteran interior defenders such as John Franklin-Myers, Levi Onwuzurike, and D.J. Reader are expected to be available when the market opens next week, offering Minnesota multiple options to strengthen the DT spot.
Money Saved vs. Money in Dead Cap
If the Vikings date the releases of Allen and Hargrave with a post-June 1st designation, they’ll save about $22 million in salary cap while eating a $23 million dead cap hit. Financially, in the long-term scheme of things, it’s a wash. Pragmatically, the $22 million would allow the club to sign a few new players.
Minnesota clearly endorses a path without the two DTs because keeping them aboard, not being socked with the $23 million dead cap hit, would make more sense.
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Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (93) stands on the field during pregame warmups at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, ahead of the matchup played on Nov. 23, 2023, between the Commanders and Dallas Cowboys. Allen prepares with teammates before the NFC East contest. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images.
The Vikings either love their existing, somewhat under-the-radar DT depth — or a fancy new DT, probably from the draft, is on the way.
Allen and Hargrave should have no problem finding new employers for 2026; they’re decent defenders.
India’s Lakshya Sen celebrates (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)
NEW DELHI: Lakshya Sen delivered a determined performance to defeat Ng Ka Long Angus and advance to the quarterfinals of the All England Open Badminton Championships on Thursday.The world No. 12 Indian shuttler won a tough round-of-16 clash 21-19, 21-23, 21-10 after an intense three-game battle filled with long rallies and physical exchanges. Lakshya, who finished runner-up at the 2022 edition of the tournament, showed strong mental resilience to overcome his opponent, against whom he had previously lost all three matches.
Hardik Pandya, Abhishek Sharma are fan favourites – mood outside Wankhede Stadium
“It was a very solid game, I think both the sets and also credit to him, he made a solid comeback in the second. I think I just didn’t play freely towards the end of the second set and gave too many easy shots for him to kill,” Lakshya said.The match started with Lakshya trailing early in the opening game, but he gradually found his rhythm. Using sharp smashes and precise placement, he recovered from a 4-6 deficit and built a solid lead before sealing the first game after a tense finish.Lakshya looked in control in the second game and even built a comfortable lead midway through. However, Ng Ka Long mounted a late comeback and saved multiple match points to force the contest into a deciding third game.“But yeah I think I was prepared again in the third set to just go all out and happy with the way I played in the third,” he added.“Tactically I was playing the right game both the sets and yeah it’s just the last few points I didn’t stick to the plan, just gave too many easy errors. But again, it was important to just switch off, forget the second set, forget the first set and just play the third set with the same game plan which was working.”In the decider, Lakshya quickly regained control, taking an early lead and dominating with strong defence and fast attacking shots. His opponent struggled to keep up as Lakshya pulled far ahead and comfortably closed out the match.“I’m feeling pretty good on court especially, the last two matches and yeah now it’s time to again recover, another tough match tomorrow so just have 24 hours and then just go all out,” he added.
“Underrated”, “overlooked”, “sleeper”, “ready for the primetime”…
Those are all terms you may have heard when it relates to Tour Edge Golf. However, for those who follow gear actively it’s no surprise that Tour Edge consistently tops the charts when it comes to bang for your buck performance and value.
If you follow PGA Tour Champions golf at all you would know that Tour Edge is extremely active in terms of clubs in play week in and week out. Players like Bernhard Langer, Scott McCarron, Duffy Waldorf, Tim Petrovic and Tom Lehman have all been Tour Edge users fairly consistently over the past decade.
In this new installment of Tour Validated, Rocco and I had a chance to test the Tour Edge Exotics Max and LS drivers and it goes without saying that we were both surprised (not shocked) and just how quality and efficient this new lineup really is.
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Launched last October, the Exotics drivers have been quietly inching their way into any serious driver conversation based on overall performance and value vs. their much larger competitors. What Rocco and I learned more than anything during the video is that both the Max and LS not only perfectly live up to their marketing, but the user experience is a 10/10 in terms of consistency, look, feel and dispersion down range.
Here are the three biggest takeaways from our Tour Validation test:
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3 biggest takeaways from Tour Edge Exotics driver testing
The Tour Edge Exotics drivers had Johnny and Rocco scratching their heads
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1. Consistent launch and spin windows
Rocco hits one shot and one shot only, a draw. While that shot is optimal for extra distance, it’s also a shot that can lead players down a tricky path in terms of spin retention. If a draw isn’t spinning in a consistent window (2300-2700 RPMs) it makes reliability a fleeting endeavor.
In this particular session Rocco saw a 1 to 1 relationship with launch and spin from model to model. The Max model launched at 14-15 degrees at 2400-2800 RPMs while the LS launched at 14-15 degrees with 2100-2400 RPMs of spin and wouldn’t curve as much. That’s exactly the feedback you would expect from a Max to an LS model.
2. It’s sneaky fast
Compared to his Ping gamer, both Exotics models were 1-2 MPH faster. The question most would ask is “why isn’t it in the bag then?” To put it simply, it’s not that simple at a Tour level. Especially with someone like Rocco who judges a driver on the way it draws vs. what the math/data tells him.
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What we discovered in our test was that although the Tour Edge outperformed his gamer in a bunch of categories, it came down to Rocco’s non-negotiable “window” that it must fly out of which is about a degree and half lower than the Exotics. That was it. Keep in mind that this test isn’t a fitting, it’s a test, so we no doubt knew there was still value to be found.
3. This thing is just really fun to hit
That’s been the overarching feedback I’ve seen and heard on the Exotics lineup, the user experience via sound, feel and flight is just a bunch of fun.
“That thing sounds incredible” is something I heard a few times after the fact from Rocco. Sound has always been a mark of a great driver in his eyes, and it’s always the first acid test he will put any club through. He’s not your normal Tour player in terms of fitting which makes him quite a challenge when it comes time to getting him into a new club. His swing speed and ball speed have stayed within 2-3 MPH of each other for the past 30+ years. I would estimate at his fastest Rocco probably lived in the 155-160MPH neighborhood at the peak of his powers, and now in his 60s he lives in the low 150s.
The point is, because of his tight parameters for shape and the fact that there isn’t a world where a driver affords him 5-6MPH more ball speed (without sacrificing shape and spin), the Tour Edge Exotics Max was the first driver I have seen that was faster and on the razor’s edge of giving him all the other “have tos” he requires. Quite impressive actually. The other drivers we have tested with him may be faster, launch higher, etc., but the tradeoffs to give him those better numbers cost him too much in terms of what he needs to see on the course and under the gun.
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There is lot to learn from how Rocco evaluates equipment. He’s not a data guy, he doesn’t really care about hitting it farther, and hitting it high has never been an issue. His priorities are simple, any club he considers has to fly out of a window that is just right of the center line and slowly drift back to the left. That’s it. Consistency and reliability are demanded in every possible situation. “If I do this, the ball has to do that” is something I’ve heard him say countless times.
What’s even cooler is he doesn’t look back at the numbers to confirm this either, he looks down range the whole time. “The ball in the air will tell me if a club is good for me”.
That’s how we should all be looking at our sticks at the end of the day, building a bag of trust vs. a bag of really fun launch numbers will always lead to better play. It seems counterintuitive these days based on fitting content, how we review equipment, etc., but Rocco is over 60 years old, not long by any metric and still competes week in and week out on the Champions Tour… eyeballing everything.
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So how does that have anything to do with Tour Edge and their Exotics lineup? Simple. It passed his eyeball test on the first go around and mine based on the data. To put that into perspective, Rocco may play clubs he loves that won’t make any fitter jump for joy based on the numbers, but in this case it satisfied both. That’s saying a lot actually. For as fun as Rocco is he has a healthy stubbornness when it comes to his clubs. The Tour Edge Exotics broke through all of that.
Don’t sleep on these, we were both very curious after this video shoot was done… very curious.
India 34/1 (3), Samson 25, Kishan 0, Archer 0-26 (2)
And Sanju Samson makes Brook pay! Archer drops slightly shorter and is positively walloped up into the third tier over midwicket. Samson is good at picking that sort of length.
Substance, meet style. An elegant carve of a yorker through third man for four. What touch India’s opener is in.
How crucial could that be? It’s an absolute sitter for the England captain at mid-on as Sanju Samson mistimes a drive, but Brook inexplicably lets it burst between his fingers in front of his face.
Harry Latham-Coyle5 March 2026 13:41
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OUT! Abhishek Sharma c Salt b Jacks 9 (7b 2×4 0x6), India 20/1 (2)
The Wankhede falls silent! Hoisted to deep midwicket!
Abhishek Sharma had just shuffled down and planted Will Jacks over extra cover for a one bounce four, but comes a-cropper as he tries to keep the momentum rolling. He’s not quite to the pitch of a ball dragged slightly shorter and can only haul it high in the air, with Phil Salt settling safely beneath it. A vital strike for England with India just getting going.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Harry Latham-Coyle5 March 2026 13:39
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India 16/0 (1.1), Samson 11, Abhishek 5, Jacks 0-4 (0.1)
It will be Will Jacks from the other end, off-spin to the left-handed Abhishek – and he’s flayed away immediately! Just a hint of width and a little too short and the southpaw swats him for four through point.
Abhishek is all about intent, like most of this new breed of Indian batters.
Harry Latham-Coyle5 March 2026 13:36
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India 12/0 (1), Samson 11, Abhishek 1, Archer 0-12 (1)
Jofra Archer has an excellent record in T20Is against Sanju Samson, the pair former Rajasthan Royals teammates. He beats the bat second ball with a bit of away movement.
That’s a fine riposte, though, Archer deposited up over mid-on with Samson sitting back in his crease. And that’s six! Short, too straight and swivelled high over the short fine leg fielder! That’s a poor ball, really, and given the treatment.
Can Archer get fuller? Yes, caressed to cover for a sharp single. Abhishek Sharma replies in kind to keep the strike at the end of the over.
Harry Latham-Coyle5 March 2026 13:34
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India 0/0 (0,1), Samson 0, Abhishek 0, Archer 0-0 (0.1)
A calm start. Sanju Samson runs the first ball to short third for no run. Good lift from Jofra Archer on a surface with a slight green tinge.
Harry Latham-Coyle5 March 2026 13:31
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India 0/0 (0), Samson 0, Abhishek 0
Unsurprisingly, it’ll be Jofra Archer with first use of the gleaming white Kookaburra. Harry Brook directs a few fielders around before taking up his position. Jamie Overton is at first slip for England to the right-handed Sanju Samson. It looks like square leg and deep backward point are the permitted two men out.
Harry Latham-Coyle5 March 2026 13:30
England vs India
Out come the teams. This opening powerplay feels huge – Jofra Archer aside, England aren’t blessed with new-ball options. Opening with Liam Dawson would be a huge risk against the free-swinging Abhishek Sharma; similarly, Sanju Samson may fancy himself against Will Jacks’ off-breaks.
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Harry Latham-Coyle5 March 2026 13:23
LAST TIME OUT: England finish Super 8s with perfect record
England had already qualified for the semi-final when they faced New Zealand in their final Super 8s game but produced an impressive performance to win by four wickets
(AP)
(Getty)
(AFP/Getty)
Luke Baker5 March 2026 13:20
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LAST TIME OUT: India beat West Indies in winner-takes-all clash
Sanju Samson’s brilliant unbeaten 97 from 50 balls saw India chase down 196 with four deliveries to spare to beat West Indies and snatch second place in their Super 8s pool.
India faced England in the T20 World Cup semi-final at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, with an interesting moment before the toss as Rohit Sharma, India’s T20 World Cup 2024-winning captain, was seen chatting with current skipper Suryakumar Yadav. The conversation caught the attention of fans and cameras just before the crucial match began.At the toss, England captain Harry Brook won and chose to bowl first. India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav said his team would have preferred to bat as well, believing the pitch looked good and conditions were suitable for batting.“We were looking to bat first. Semifinal, big game, and there’s wind around too. Don’t think there will be much dew. Looks a good one (the pitch). The best one. Credit to all the curators and groundsmen. Same team,” Surya said at the toss.Watch Rohit Sharma attending IND vs ENG T20 World Cup semi-final:Brook explained England’s decision and admitted India had more experience at the venue.“We’re going to have a bowl. Looks like a good wicket, hopefully we can get off to a good start with the ball. They’ve obviously got a lot more experience on this ground than us. T20 cricket is such a fickle game, you never know what’s going to happen. Hopefully we can keep them quiet (the crowd). Overton comes in for Rehan.”Looking at their journey to the semi-finals, India had a mixed campaign. They started with a narrow win over USA, followed by victories against other teams in the group stage. However, they suffered a heavy loss to South Africa in the Super-8 round before bouncing back with important wins against Zimbabwe and West Indies to secure a place in the last four.England’s path was also uneven at first. They scraped past Nepal, lost to West Indies, and struggled in wins over Scotland and Italy. But their form improved in the Super-8 stage with strong victories against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and New Zealand, which helped them become the first team to qualify for the semi-finals.At Wankhede, England had played two earlier matches with a 1–1 record, while India had won their only game at the venue against USA by 29 runs. Historically, the two sides are evenly matched at this ground, with England winning in 2012 and India returning the favour in 2025.
That might sound like a strange thing to say about a major champion and top 20 player in the world, but Stark’s recent form has been missing something. Despite her Open victory at Wisconsin’s Erin Hills in June, the months since have been somewhat of a struggle.
“When I won, I kept thinking, Well, I’ve just done the biggest thing I’ll probably ever do in my career,” Stark says. “For weeks, maybe months, I couldn’t stop thinking about that week. And it made me lose some motivation. I didn’t really know what to chase next.”
The 26-year-old Swede is describing post-achievement depression, something only those who’ve reached the summit are familiar with: the emotional letdown after a peak accomplishment. She’d fulfilled a dream she held since childhood. All of her dreams, in fact: Solheim Cup winner (with Team Europe in 2023); Olympian (for Sweden, at the ’24 Games in Paris); LPGA Tour winner (the ISPS Handa World Invitational in 2022); six-time winner on the European circuit; and now, major champ. All of a sudden, the résumé felt … complete.
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“It was like checking off the last big box,” she says, calling from her home in Nashville, Tenn., where she moved after her stellar run at Oklahoma State University. “I’ve experienced so many amazing things already, and I wasn’t sure what else there was after that.”
In the wake of her Erin Hills triumph, Stark missed seven of her next nine cuts. That’s when her team stepped in.
“They helped me understand what was going on,” she says. “We sat down and started creating new goals. Small ones at first.”
They weren’t lofty — example: two more top 10s before the 2025 season ended. And she didn’t always meet them. But they served their purpose.
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“I needed something short term to feel stressed about,” Stark says with a laugh. “In a good way. I needed something to chase.”
That renewed sense of the chase is central to who Stark is—not just as a competitor but as a technician. Her Open win didn’t come from riding a hot streak. In 2025, she had just one top 10 prior to arriving at Erin Hills. It came from solving something.
“I had really low confidence going into that week,” she remembers. “Nothing was clicking. I was trying to find anything at all.”
That “anything” turned out to be a simple trigger. While prepping with her coach, Joe Hallett, Stark noticed something about her putting routine: She always hovers the putterhead slightly above the ground before taking it back. What if she tried the same thing with her irons?
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“I thought maybe it would help me let go of control and start the swing smoother,” she says. “I had a million thoughts in my head, and I just needed one that cleared the rest out.”
Diana King
There was another small key too: keeping her eyes locked on the ball longer through impact, preventing her hips from firing too early and spinning her open. The combination helped sharpen her contact. Perhaps more importantly, it helped quiet her mind.
Stark remembers the moment she sensed that something big might be brewing. It wasn’t on Thursday of that week. It wasn’t on Sunday. It was Wednesday, on the front nine of her practice round.
“I was hitting really good irons, and [Golf Channel course reporter] Karen Stupples came out to the tee where we were,” Stark says. “When someone like Karen — a past major champion — is watching, you want to show you’re good. I flushed a 4-iron into the 8th to a really scary pin and made birdie.”
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It wasn’t a predictor of victory, but it was a hint, a surge of belief that showed up at exactly the right time. When the week ended with her lifting the trophy, the gravity of it became real. Calls poured in from her parents, her coach and, most memorably, fellow Swede and mentor Annika Sörenstam. “She took time out of her little Alaska trip to call me,” Stark says. “That was really cool.”
Now, months later, Stark’s perspective on that week is more grounded. She’s grateful for the win but equally grateful to feel “normal” again — to feel the healthy pressure of improvement, to care about the present rather than the past, to return to the chase. Short-term goals still guide her day-to-day, but a new long-term vision is taking shape too. The major didn’t mark the top of a mountain, it marked the beginning of another climb.
“I feel stressed about my golf again, and, for me,” she says, smiling, “that’s a really good feeling.”
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