All eyes were on Caitlin Clark on Wednesday night as she made her anticipated return from injury in a road matchup in Los Angeles.

But instead of a triumphant comeback, the Fever spent the entire night chasing the Sparks as Clark’s rough return fueled a 106-92 rout.

The superstar never found a groove, looking completely out of sync in her return from a back injury.

STEPHANIE WHITE GIVES CAITLIN CLARK STATUS UPDATE AHEAD OF FEVER-SPARKS, BUT HER NEXT MOVE RAISES QUESTIONS

Caitlin Clark huddles with teammates as the Indiana Fever battle the Sparks. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) ((Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images))

Much of that disjointed performance falls squarely on head coach Stephanie White, who kept Clark on a ridiculously tight leash by limiting her to just 16 minutes. The stop-and-go approach could have sabotaged any chance for the phenom to establish a rhythm.

Clark finished with just 9 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Her minus-16 plus-minus told the story.

The Los Angeles Sparks were severely shorthanded, taking the floor without stars Kelsey Plum and Cameron Brink.

MERCURY’S NOW-DELETED SOCIAL MEDIA POST MOCKING CAITLIN CLARK DRAWS SCRUTINY AFTER STAR’S INJURY

Yet while a depleted Sparks roster played to win, Indiana spent the night over-managing its biggest asset.

With Clark on a minutes restriction and Aliyah Boston out of the lineup, Kelsey Mitchell was forced to shoulder the entire offensive burden.

Mitchell did her part, pouring in 29 points while shooting 5-of-9 from beyond the arc.

Caitlin Clark orchestrates the Fever offense as Indiana battles the Los Angeles Sparks in primetime action. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) ((Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images))

But one hot hand couldn’t stop an efficient LA squad.

The Sparks shot 45% from three-point range, going 9-of-20 from deep to cruise to the 106-92 victory.

White’s next move is to sit Clark against the Mercury on Thursday while Boston returns.

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After Wednesday’s loss to a shorthanded Sparks team, it’s fair to question whether Indiana’s cautious approach is working. The Fever dropped to 12-9.

Caitlin Clark and Dearica Hamby face off as Fever and Sparks battle at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. (Photo by Tyler Ross/NBAE via Getty Images) ((Photo by Tyler Ross/NBAE via Getty Images))

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Jockey Blake Shinn is scheduled to take a significant step towards his return to racing when he participates in the Flemington jump-outs this Friday.

Shinn is booked to ride War Machine for the prominent Lindsay Park training establishment of Ben, Will, and J D Hayes on Friday, in addition to four other mounts.

He has also secured rides from the stables of Leon and Troy Corstens, and Will Larkin.

Shinn has not competed in a race since sustaining a broken leg in a fall from She’s Got Pizzazz at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day last year.

Following an extensive rehabilitation period, he gradually improved his fitness, initially riding trackwork for his partner Lucy Yeomans before progressively increasing his workload for outside stables.

Friday’s jump-outs represent the next logical progression in his campaign to return to race riding.

“Each stage has been ticked off and now we’re at the next stage, jump-outs and trials,” Shinn commented.

“I’ll do Friday, then maybe one day next week.

“There are trials on the (July) 16th at Caulfield and that will determine where I kick off, whether it’s the 25th or wait a week for August 1.”

Shinn was present with Yeomans in the winner’s enclosure, celebrating the victory of Parvati Party in the MRC Membership Made Of Moments Handicap (2125m) at Sandown on Wednesday.

He indicated that should Yeomans have a midweek runner prior to his anticipated return, he might be in action earlier.

“I will play that by ear,” Shinn stated.

“But in saying that, when I broke my neck, my first day back was at Randwick and I rode two winners and my first ride back, I won on Tom Melbourne.

“If it pans out, I’ll have a meeting before, but I’m in a good spot and I’m getting excited as all the hard work is done.

“We’re at the pointy end.”

The victory of Parvati Party marked Yeomans’ ninth win since establishing her own stable, with her first runner appearing last September.

“We’ve only got 10 in work but only three or four up and racing,” Yeomans shared.

“That’s our ninth winner, and Blake and I set a little target of trying to get double figures by the end of the season, so hopefully we can get one more winner by then and we’ll be rapt.”

Keep an eye on the latest racing betting markets for Shinn’s potential return races.

After twice going the distance, twice coming back from two sets and breaks down, twice winning match tiebreaks, and having used up many more than just nine lives, Arthur Fery took some pity on the nervous wrecks watching him at Wimbledon. His 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-0 demolition of ninth seed Flavio Cobolli was no improbable comeback, no defiant, last-gasp raging against the dying of the light.

This was a clinic; a demonstration of Fery’s powers at their best. A star born under the fierce sunshine on Centre Court. He went toe to toe with the recent French Open runner-up in two sets before dismantling him entirely in the third.

Nobody seemed more surprised than him, as he dropped his racquet and fell on his back, having served out nervelessly with two thunderous aces. In doing so, he has become just the second wildcard to reach the semi-finals here; infamously, the only other to do so was the 2001 champion, Goran Ivanisevic.

He had recovered his extraordinary composure and self-belief by the time he spoke to press later, saying contentedly: “I’ve always believed in myself and believed that I could be a top player in the world. Obviously, a semi-finalist of Wimbledon is something else. I’ve taken it match by match. I haven’t looked ahead. I’ve just played every match as it is. Yeah, here I am.”

And here to stay, it seems. From 114th in the world, he is now up to around 36th in the live rankings; a morose Cobolli said afterwards that when Fery beat him in the Australian Open first round this January, “I felt that his level wasn’t from a guy that’s outside from top 100. Now I think [he] is close to, I don’t know, 50… 36, even better. I think he deserves it.” Having seen off the Italian, Fery will feel no fear against second seed Alexander Zverev, his opponent in the last four.

Fery made his approach known early; at 5ft 9in, he lacks the aerial advantage of other players but makes up for it with a nonetheless punchy serve, superb all-court coverage, and a deft touch at the net. He alternated powerful forehands with backhand slices, while his agility and movement were key as he scurried around the court like a terrier, retrieving balls from improbable positions. He showed no sign of being intimidated or awestruck by the occasion of a slam quarter-final, returning to Centre with his usual calm swagger.

The pair traded holds, with Fery showing his steel as he fell 0-30 down at 3-3, sprinting onto a Cobolli lob and somehow getting it back in play, leaving the Italian standing with his hands on his hips in exasperation as he shanked into the net. He saved a break point, serve-volleying with expertise and blasting a forehand into the far corner to hold, before holding to love in his next service game.

Fery said: “Throughout the match, I felt like it was very, very close. At times, he was serving really well. But I felt like I had always a little bit, not leeway, but a little bit of an edge.”

His chance came as Cobolli appeared put off by a champagne cork popping at 30-30 on his serve, double-faulting to raucous applause. His first serve went out, then he hit wide, and Fery received a standing ovation as he skipped back to his chair with a one-set lead.

The generally genteel environs of Centre Court were transformed into a cauldron, the crowd whipped into a frenzy on the hottest day of the tournament so far. At times, the whooping and hollering and wolf-whistling was more reminiscent of football ultras – fitting, given Fery’s father is the former owner of a Ligue 1 club – than the Pimms-swigging clientele of SW19.

They were momentarily silenced as Cobolli attacked immediately after the break in sets, lasering a brilliant forehand winner down the line before Fery double-faulted for the first time as he was broken to love. But he refused to go away, drawing more errors from Cobolli at 1-2 before firing a stunning backhand winner into the corner to break back.

The Brit continued to dictate in the rallies and Cobolli began to crack, going for broke on second serves as he came under more and more pressure. The second set went to a tiebreak, where Fery’s shot selection – impeccable throughout the contest – proved decisive: he raced to a 6-3 lead as Cobolli continued to leak errors, and while the Italian retrieved one with a beautiful drop shot right at the net post, he had no reply for a lethal slice volley, which he sent long.

Fery headed off court for an extended break, while Cobolli sat on his chair to stew before an unhappy conversation with his box. There was to be no reset for the 24-year-old, who immediately fell a break down.

At times in the third set, Fery toyed with the miserable Italian. At 2-0, he dug out a genuinely excellent drop shot by Cobolli and feathered an insouciant one of his own right behind him, landing in by a hair’s breadth and prompting the ninth seed to remonstrate with the umpire.

Clearly rattled, Cobolli pointed to his ear in defiance of the crowd as he saved a break point, but then came unstuck as he backhanded into the net and sent a beautiful Fery drop volley out by a millimetre.

Having been two sets and a double break down against Zizou Bergs in the third round, this was now unfamiliar territory for Fery, two sets and a double break up. He soon made that a triple break as Cobolli totally unravelled, increasingly tight on his powerful but error-prone forehand side.

Fery held to love to cement his double break as Cobolli deflated, finding no answers. At 4-0 and faced with the threat of falling down a triple break, Cobolli launched a risky second serve out wide – but Fery refused to go away, retrieving it, then a drop shot, then sending down a smash that Cobolli shanked into the net.

At 5-0 up and serving for a place in a grand slam semi-final, Fery could be forgiven for feeling some nerves. He did not show them, planting a 123mph ace down the T, then – in a point which summed up the match – chasing down a backhand drop volley by Cobolli which just clipped the tape and landed on Fery’s side. The Londoner stumbled as he raced to change direction but just about managed it, dinking it back over the net to set up three match points.

An ace out wide was all that was required. Centre Court leapt to its feet, the chants of “Arthur, Arthur, Arthur” ringing out beyond the grounds. Later, he recalled Emma Raducanu’s breakout run at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2021, saying: “It was impressive how she didn’t let the occasion get to her. She would just keep going match after match, playing well, beating top players, until the title. It’s very tough to do when you’re not used to being on such a big stage. I’ve been trying to do that, as well. Just take it match by match, play my game, put what I do best on court.”

Sounds simple enough. And never beaten, never going away, Arthur Fery storms on.

Miami / 22:00 BST

England’s 3-2 win over Mexico was probably the game of the tournament so far.

I really enjoyed the resilience they showed with 10 men, with the subs coming on and John Stones blocking things, Dan Burn heading every ball clear and Djed Spence making some really important challenges.

This will be a different kind of test for Thomas Tuchel’s side, but I think it will be just as close.

Orjan Nyland made some great saves to help Norway get past Brazil, but I’ve seen quite a lot of them and think they are a good side.

Everyone knows about their star quality in Martin Odegaard and Erling Haaland and, after shooting down Brazil, I am sure Haaland will have a big say in what happens in this game as well.

His movement for his first goal against Brazil was just unbelievable. His contest with Gabriel was hyped up before the game but Haaland won that battle hands down.

Heading is not even among his best attributes, but he stayed out of Gabriel’s eyeline and, at the point the cross was played, he anticipated where it was going, and the defender got nowhere near him.

There are going to be more goals in this game and it would not surprise me if Haaland got a couple of them.

England have not controlled games the way I think people expected them to. They have been a team of moments at this World Cup, in that they have produced some moments of quality at the right times to get through.

At the same time, though, I don’t see Norway’s defence keeping Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham quiet.

If the game opens up, then England won’t mind that one bit. I think there is even more to come from their front players, starting here.

Sutton’s prediction: 2-3

AI’s prediction: 1-2

The international rugby action continues this weekend with six fascinating Tests, and the betting markets have already started to move.

There has been support for France, Ireland and Argentina, while punters have backed Fiji and Scotland to keep things closer than originally expected.

Here are our picks for every game.

🇳🇿 New Zealand v Italy

Pick: Italy +32.0

New Zealand were outstanding against a top-class French side, playing with pace and accuracy throughout. With another Test to come, some rotation is expected.

Italy, meanwhile, simply couldn’t have played much worse against Japan. Errors, knock-ons and poor discipline plagued their performance, but they should improve significantly.

The handicap has edged out to 32 points, making Italy slightly more attractive.

Prediction: New Zealand by 24-30.

🇦🇺 Australia v France

Pick: France -8.0

Australia will still be wondering how they let victory slip against Ireland, while France proved they can compete with the world’s best despite travelling without several frontline stars.

The market has moved from France -7.5 to -8.0, and it’s easy to see why. France look the more complete side and should create enough opportunities to pull away.

Prediction: France by 8-14.

🇯🇵 Japan v Ireland

Pick: Ireland -20.0

Japan deserved plenty of praise for their victory over Italy, but Ireland showed real character to edge Australia in a high-quality contest.

The handicap has shortened slightly from 20.5 to 20 points, giving Ireland backers a little more value.

Ireland’s superior power and squad depth should prove decisive during the final quarter.

Prediction: Ireland by 24-28.

🇫🇯 Fiji v England

Pick: Over 63.5 Points

Neither side produced their best last weekend.

Fiji were disappointing against Wales, while England were completely outclassed by South Africa.

The handicap has dropped from England -20.5 to -19.0, suggesting support for Fiji, but the total points market is far more appealing. Both teams are capable of scoring from anywhere, making this one of the best games of the weekend for entertainment.

Prediction: A high-scoring encounter with plenty of tries.

🇿🇦 South Africa v Scotland

Pick: No Bet

South Africa looked every bit the world champions as they piled 45 points on England.

Scotland impressed against Argentina and have attracted enough support to see the handicap trimmed to 22 points.

The line now looks about right, making this a game to enjoy rather than force a bet.

Prediction: South Africa by 21-28.

🇦🇷 Argentina v Wales ⭐

Best Bet: Argentina -17.0

Argentina were surprisingly subdued against Scotland, managing just three line breaks all game. Expect a much sharper performance on home soil.

Wales were impressive in beating Fiji, but this is a far tougher assignment. The market has continued to back the Pumas, with the handicap moving from 16.5 to 17 points.

Argentina have too much quality to produce back-to-back below-par displays.

Prediction: Argentina by 18-24.

SportsNewsIRELAND’s Best Bets

⭐ Argentina -17.0
✅ France -8.0
✅ Ireland -20.0
🎯 Italy +32.0 (Value)
🔥 Over 63.5 Points – Fiji v England

LiveScores Now Available at IrishScores.com

Cristiano Ronaldo’s FIFA World Cup journey came to a painful end after Portugal suffered a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the Round of 16.

The defeat means the 41-year-old will retire from the World Cup without winning football’s biggest prize, while his long-time rival, Lionel Messi, remains in the tournament.

Despite the fierce rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi over the past two decades, a touching moment involving their partners has reminded football fans that respect exists beyond the pitch.

Antonela Roccuzzo, Messi’s wife, recently shared an Instagram Story thanking Georgina Rodríguez for sending her a thoughtful gift.

The package included workout clothing, a bag and what appeared to be a yoga mat from Mimoa, the fashion and fitness brand founded by Georgina.

Sharing a photo of the gifts, Antonela wrote in Spanish:

“Thank you very much, Georgina. Everything is beautiful. I wish you all the success in the world.”

Her message quickly attracted attention, with many football fans praising the friendship between the two women despite the intense rivalry between their famous partners.

For years, supporters of Ronaldo and Messi have argued over which player deserves to be called the greatest of all time. The debate has often divided football fans around the world.

However, the warm exchange between Antonela and Georgina showed that mutual respect can exist even when competition is at its highest.

The timing of the gesture also drew attention, coming shortly before Portugal’s World Cup exit at the hands of Spain.

While Ronaldo’s dream of lifting the World Cup trophy has now come to an end, the bond between his fiancée and Messi’s wife has offered fans a positive reminder that football rivalries do not have to become personal.

As Portugal leave the tournament, Messi continues his quest for another World Cup success, while the friendship between Antonela Roccuzzo and Georgina Rodríguez stands out as a symbol of respect beyond one of football’s greatest rivalries.

Nigerians are one of the most passionate football fanbases in the world.

Drums, trumpets, dancing, and of course, the famous “Walele” anthem are synonymous with the Super Eagles supporters. They are a spectacle to see and experience, which makes their absence at the 2026 World Cup (and the 2022 before it) all the more painful. 

Simply put, the world stage was robbed of one of the best supporter sections in the world. Or maybe the other way around. Nigeria missed out on a golden opportunity to showcase itself to the world. 

That’s why we wanted to rank (in no specific order) which fans have made a name for themselves the most during the 2026 World Cup across the three hosting countries. Let’s get into some of the fun fans brought to the biggest stage in sports in 2026.

Mexico

Mexico fans were already among the most die-hard in the world despite the team not being the most successful (top-reviewed BetOnline says Mexico are distant World Cup favorites). Giving them tournament hosting duties in 2026 only amplified them. Big time. 

This was not just Mexicans showing up for El Tri games (that’s a given). What made Mexicans fans stand out is how they turned the whole tournament into a month-long national party (that’s still going).

Not just when the national team won — which they did three times in the group stage and once in the knockouts  — but for the tourney and other teams in general. For instance, social media was flooded with South Koreans partying among the Mexicans. So too were the Japanese. Colombians. All fans were embraced by the Mexicans.

Heck, we saw the same for the playing teams. Almost all of them received a mariachi and sombreros upon entering the country. Maybe we missed it, but greetings of this kind were non-existent in Canada and the USA, but hey, we digress! 

Japan’s football team received a warm welcome from Mexico fans and organizers, including free sombreros and mariachi entrance music. 

But going back to the actual Mexico national team, upon their four wins, the local fans occupied the local streets. In Mexico City, we saw over 100,000 flood the downtown area around El Angel statue. Words don’t do it justice, but the drone video that was posted online shows the magnitude of the celebration. 

Mexico already had a firm reputation among football fans, but it’s somehow been strengthened even more after 2026. 

Netherlands

The Netherlands may not have the loudest fan base in the world, but they might have the easiest one to spot from a distance. Of course, we’re talking about that orange wall. 

You best see this during the famed  Oranje Fanwalk. Thousands and thousands of Dutch fans marching together in orange, singing, dancing, bouncing — for miles toward the stadium. Mind you, they did this for one game in Houston despite humid, suffocating weather that Texas is famous for in the summer. Talk about commitment! 

That’s what separates the Dutch from a lot of other fan bases. Some countries bring noise. Some bring numbers. Some bring color. The Netherlands brings all three, and then some!

Scotland 

Scotland may not have had the longest tournament (they were eliminated in the group stage), but the Tartan Army took over the two cities it played in. 

The first was the city of Boston. To the shock (at first), Bostonians were overtaken by thousands of Scottish fans in kilts and playing the bagpipe. They too, like the Netherlands, march to the stadium. But while in Boston, they also went to the famed Fenway Park and turned a baseball game into a frenzy. 

That’s only the tip of the iceberg — or traffic cone, should we say. The Tartan Army is famous for jokingly putting street traffic cones on public monuments, and that they did in Boston. 

The Scots also reportedly drank the city dry of beer. Yes, really. Sam Adams said it’s Boston Lager went empty when the Tartan Army was in town. The company also said its beer was drunk four times as much as it usually is in bars where it’s stocked at. 

That was not its only contribution to the local people though. In their usual tradition, the Tartan Army also donated nearly $30,000 to local kids’ charities in the area.

Now the Tartan Army did similar things in Miami, but it just had a special connection with the city of Boston. So much so that the Tartan Army ran a full-page ad in the local newspaper thanking the city for hosting them. Talk about a romance. 

Argentina

Are Argentina fans the best traveling supporters in the world?

Just based on the eye test, it sure feels like it. Every single game they play, the Argentines take over the stadium. You can tell by not just the sea of blue and white jerseys, but their singing chants all game long. 

That was obvious during the group stage. Argentina opened in Kansas City, then played in Dallas, and fans still followed them city to city like they’re The Beatles (maybe bigger nowadays). Some supporters reportedly shelled out tens of thousands of dollars — a small fortune to the average Argentine worker — to follow the defending champions around the United States. 

To save money, one group of fans allegedly drove 20 hours to Kansas City for the opener against Algeria, living off sandwiches along the way just to save money. And that is before we even get to the cyclists. Three Argentina fans reportedly biked nearly 11,000 miles from Argentina to Kansas City just to watch their national team at the World Cup. Eleven thousand miles!

This is fandom on another level. Of course, it helps when your team is reigning champions and led by Leo Messi, in what might be his final World Cup. That has made every Argentina match feel like part soccer game, part farewell tour, part religious event.

After writing all this, we just hope we get to see the Super Eagles in 2030. The world deserves to see our fanbase in the same light as these four mentioned.

The Minnesota Vikings needed a quarterback to hedge the bet against J.J. McCarthy’s out-of-nowhere injury resume, landing on Kyler Murray, who was booted off the Arizona Cardinals‘ roster, in March for $1.3 million. Because of that value — it’s quite incredible — Bleacher Report has decided that Minnesota gets an ‘A’ offseason grade for the transaction.

Vikings fans are excited to see Murray’s debut in September, and in the meantime, the move is drawing stellar reviews.

Murray Move Gives Vikings Offseason a National Dub

BR: Murray to Vikings Gets an ‘A’

Moe Moton of Bleacher Report handed out a few ‘A’ grades this week, and Murray was among the recipients.

He wrote, “Murray is a two-time Pro Bowler and former No. 1 overall pick with respectable passing numbers. He’s thrown for 20,460 yards, 121 touchdowns and 60 interceptions with a 67.1 percent completion rate in seven seasons.”

“The 28-year-old could be a Comeback Player of the Year candidate. Despite inconsistent quarterback play, the Vikings barely missed the 2025 postseason, finishing 9-8 behind the 9-7-1 Green Bay Packers. Murray doesn’t need a Sam Darnold rebirth-type season to lead Minnesota to the playoffs. If he stays healthy and gets the ball to wide receivers Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings, the Vikings’ passing attack should be far better than last year’s 29th-ranked unit.”

Other passers like Malik Willis and Mac Jones frequented the Vikings’ February and March rumor mill, but Murray ultimately took the plunge.

“Furthermore, the Vikings’ low-risk, high-reward signing at quarterback gives them a chance to re-evaluate their plan for J.J. McCarthy after he struggled mightily last season, throwing for 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions with a 57.6 percent completion rate, Moton added.”

“Keep in mind, they fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who drafted McCarthy, and hired Nolan Tinsley to replace him. Murray could revitalize his career in a new chapter with the Vikings. Grade: A.”

Every Team Should’ve Signed Murray at That Price

Not only is Murray a wonderful value for the Vikings, every team in the league, including squads with elite passers like Josh Allen and Joe Burrow, should’ve called Murray in March. To find a starting quarterback — who produces 3,900+ passing yards, 30 total TDS, and 600+ rushing yards every 17 starts — for $1.3 million is just absurd and mind-boggling.

How’d it happen? Simple — the Cardinals cut ties, only to turn around and pay Murray’s tab for 2026. You can’t offload a big NFL contract before its expiration without consequences. So, the price of a fresh start for Arizona was indeed paying Murray to play for the Vikings.

Even if Murray completely flops — plays terribly or blows out a knee, for example — he was worth the price to find out at $1.3 million.

Extreme QB Depth

The Vikings’ intense focus on quarterback depth this offseason is a logical response to recent history.

Minnesota has experienced two seasons derailed by quarterback injuries. The 2023 campaign took a nosedive the moment Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles. Then the 2025 season became chaotic as J.J. McCarthy sustained repeated injuries. By the end of it, the Vikings had learned their lesson twice over. Their message was clear: “Enough is enough.”

So, the 2026 offseason prompted them to aggressively acquire multiple viable quarterback options. The roster now features Murray and McCarthy. Carson Wentz is on hand as backup, and Max Brosmer can develop without intense pressure.

Murray, naturally, is the showstopper. If he remains healthy for all 17 games, Minnesota can realistically harbor playoff aspirations, as Kevin O’Connell typically thrives with an experienced quarterback. The primary concern, however, is Murray’s history of missing games. His availability has been an ongoing issue for years, and it would be imprudent to ignore that trend.

And if Murray is sidelined in 2026, Minnesota will not be caught off guard or forced to scramble for a last-minute replacement (see: Joshua Dobbs in 2023). McCarthy is poised to step in as a formidable Plan B, a role for which he has every incentive to excel, given his high potential.

Other Offseason Additions and Subtractions

The Jonathan Greenard trade was pivotal — and not entirely ideal. In April, Minnesota sent Greenard and a 7th-round pick to Philadelphia in exchange for two 3rd-rounders. The move not only acquired additional draft capital but also created space for Jauan Jennings, securing a legitimate WR3 for the Vikings and providing crucial salary cap relief in 2027 and 2028.

Given the Vikings’ need to reconstruct much of their roster on a tighter budget, they still faced numerous remaining needs.

Their free-agent acquisitions included:

• Johnny Hekker (P)
• Jauan Jennings (WR)
• Eric Johnson (DT)
• Isaiahh Loudermilk (DT)
• Kyler Murray (QB)
• James Pierre (CB)
• Ryan Van Demark (OT)

And from the draft, they grabbed:

Here’s the wild part about this offseason: it really seemed like Minnesota was strapped for cash, and in some ways, they were. But somehow, they still managed to bring in a starting quarterback, a new WR3, and a ton of young help for the defensive line.

And per Bleacher Report, the Murray addition takes the grand prize.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

Kylian Mbappe, and Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla (AP Photos)

Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla has escalated her bitter feud with France captain Kylian Mbappe, launching a fresh verbal attack on the World Cup winner and refusing to apologise for the racist remarks that have sparked widespread international condemnation.The Paraguay opposition lawmaker, who earlier described Mbappe as a “colonised Cameroonian,” has now branded the Real Madrid forward a “son of a b***,” accusing him of disrespecting Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill after France’s 1-0 victory in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16.The controversy has become one of the biggest off-field talking points of the tournament, with Mbappe, French authorities, FIFA officials and the United Nations all weighing in as the war of words intensified ahead of France’s quarter-final clash against Morocco.

Amarilla doubles down on explosive accusations

Speaking on the Senate floor, Amarilla showed no signs of retreating from her earlier remarks, insisting that Mbappe deserved criticism for allegedly refusing to shake Gill’s hand after the final whistle.“When Orlando Gill, a boy who was surely setting foot in a World Cup for the first time, in Europe for the first time, was playing before the world and extends his hand with all the humility of a Paraguayan, and this son of a b*** refuses to shake his hand and yells in his face, that is not French. A Frenchman would never have done that,” Amarilla was quoted as saying by Marca.The senator then contrasted Mbappe’s alleged behaviour with what she described as France’s cultural legacy.“France is Rousseau, Descartes, Montesquieu, Victor Hugo, Simone de Beauvoir, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. I refuse to reduce all that great France and that enormous cultural, artistic and democratic legacy to Mbappe,” she said.Amarilla also mocked the French superstar while referring to an open letter she had written in both French and Spanish.“What would I say to Mbappe now? That he should read my letter. I wrote it in French and in Spanish. Let him read my letter, if he knows how to read.”She further warned the striker not to “mess with Paraguayans,” invoking the 2020 detention of Brazilian great Ronaldinho in Paraguay before threatening legal action against Mbappe over what she described as gender and political violence.Meanwhile, Paraguayan President Santiago Pena distanced himself from the senator’s comments, reiterating that his government opposes “all kinds of discrimination” and remains committed to defending human rights and free expression.

How the Mbappe-Amarilla feud spiralled

The public clash began after France eliminated Paraguay 1-0 in the Round of 16.Soon after the match, Amarilla sparked outrage by calling Mbappe a “colonised Cameroonian” who was “pretending to be French,” while also describing him as “embittered, nouveau riche, arrogant and ugly.” She further claimed France had won “by a fluke” and alleged that Mbappe and his teammates looked nervous throughout the contest.Mbappe hit back on social media, branding Amarilla “a despicable woman” who was “not worthy of her position,” prompting the senator to intensify her rhetoric rather than apologise.The French Football Federation, French President Emmanuel Macron and FIFA President Gianni Infantino all condemned Amarilla’s original remarks, while the United Nations Human Rights Office described them as “racist and dehumanising,” urging governments, sports bodies and public officials to take stronger action against racism and hate speech in sport.

‘Kylian is in a good place mentally’

Despite the growing controversy, France coach Didier Deschamps insisted the issue has not affected his captain ahead of the quarter-finals.“Kylian is in a good place mentally. He’s ready for tomorrow,” Deschamps said, making it clear that Mbappe remains focused on France’s quest for another World Cup title despite the storm raging away from the pitch.