De’Aaron Fox‘s wife’s friend mocked Shai Gilgeous-Alexander after Stephon Castle dunked on the league’s reigning MVP in the Spurs’ 122-115 double overtime win over the OKC Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
On Tuesday, Fox’s wife, Reece Fox, shared a video of Castle dunking on SGA on her Instagram story. The Spurs star’s wife’s friend and former USC Trojans player, McKenzie Forbes, took a jab at the league MVP in the story’s comments section.
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“On that n***a head!!!!” Forbes wrote.
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Reece Fox praised Castle’s courageous effort at the rim in the caption.
“Youngs don’t give af!!!” she wrote.
Reece Fox’s friend mocks SGA on IG.
De’Aaron Fox was ruled out of Game 1 of the WCF before tip-off because of ankle soreness. However, rookie Dylan Harper compensated fairly well for Fox’s absence. He finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.
Stephon Castle took on the playmaking responsibilities in Fox’s absence. He finished with 17 points, six rebounds and 11 assists. Victor Wembanyama, on the other hand, looked like the best player in the world.
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The Spurs superstar delivered a career-defining performance. Wemby was the best player on both ends of the floor. He scored 41 points, recorded 24 rebounds, dished out three assists, made one steal and had three successful blocks.
De’Aaron Fox’s wife hypes up Victor Wembanyama following Game 1 win over the OKC Thunder
De’Aaron Fox’s wife, Reece Fox, hyped up Victor Wembanyama following the Spurs’ win over the defending champions. Fox shared the Spurs’ Instagram post celebrating the victory on her Instagram story.
The post featured a picture of Wemby showing off his arms as he stared into the camera. A glowing “W” graphic was behind the Spurs star in the picture.
“He here!!!!!” Fox wrote in the caption.
Reece Fox hypes up Victor Wembanyama on her IG story.
De’Aaron Fox’s wife has been a big supporter of her husband’s career, but her support is not limited to just her beloved. She has been giving her flowers to other Spurs players during their entire playoff run.
She mocked the Minnesota Timberwolves on her Instagram story on Friday. The Spurs eliminated the Timberwolves in the Conference Semifinals following a 139-109 win in Game 6 of the series.
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The Spurs managed to grab a win on the road in De’Aaron Fox’s absence. However, they would need to get their primary ball handler back on the court as soon as possible. According to NBA insider Marc J. Spears, Fox is expected to play in Game 2 of the WCF series.
Apr 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) leaves the court after being defeated by the Golden State Warriors during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
An eventual Toronto homecoming might happen for Kawhi Leonard this summer, but a trade from the Los Angeles Clippers back to the Raptors is on hold while the NBA completes its investigation into allegations of impermissible payments to skirt salary-cap rules and fines.
In September 2025 the NBA said it was looking into the Clippers for potential violations tied to an allegation they used a company, Aspiration, to pay Leonard $28 million. Nothing was asked of Leonard in the “no-show job” which left open concern it was a loophole to pad the amount of guaranteed money the Clippers offered when they signed him as a free agent.
The Raptors, who lost Leonard in that agreement after winning the NBA championship, said in a statement the trade agreed to on June 30 in principle wasn’t off, but the NBA made it clear Toronto “would assume the risk of any potential outcome of the investigation impacting Kawhi.”
“In light of this,” the Raptors said, “we will wait until the league’s investigation is complete.”
The Clippers also confirmed the deal was on hold on Thursday, which brings a trove of roster-related questions and complexities for each franchise.
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Leonard and the Clippers are staying together until the NBA completes the investigation which is 10 months running. The Clippers again denied in a statement Thursday any wrongdoing.
“For the past 10 months, our organization has fully cooperated with an NBA investigation, participating in dozens of interviews, providing tens of thousands of documents, and facilitating access to our staff. While the process has been challenging, we have remained committed to transparency,” the Clippers said in a statement. “On June 30, we reached an agreement in principle to trade Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors. We have since been informed that the trade can only be finalized if the Raptors’ ownership group assumes the risk of penalties related to Kawhi’s contract that could theoretically result from the ongoing investigation. The investigation is ongoing, and we expect the trade to be finalized following its conclusion.
“At the heart of this investigation are Joe Sanberg and Aspiration. We did not funnel money to Kawhi Leonard through Aspiration. Like many sophisticated investors, financial institutions, and business partners, we were victims of a fraud initiated by Sanberg, who has been convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison.”
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ESPN also reported Thursday afternoon both teams expect the deal to eventually be finalized with punishment for any violations as established by the NBA likely to include monetary fines and loss of draft picks.
Terms of the in-limbo trade had handshake approval on either side with the Clippers receiving All-Star forward Brandon Ingram, third-year guard Gradey Dick, two first-round draft picks, one pick swap and two second-round selections in the deal.
Leonard, who turned 35 on Monday, is a two-time NBA Finals MVP. He led the Raptors past the Golden State Warriors in six games, averaging 28.5 points and 9.8 rebounds in the series that delivered Toronto’s only NBA title to date.
Leonard averaged 26.6 points and 7.3 rebounds in 60 games with Toronto in 2018-19, his lone season with the team before moving on to the Clippers.
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During his seven seasons in Los Angeles, he appeared in only 59.7% of the Clippers’ regular-season games (331 of 554) due to a string of injuries. But Leonard capped his run with his finest season since his 2019-20 debut with the Clippers. He averaged a career-high 27.9 points along with 6.4 rebounds in 65 games to earn seventh place in the league’s Most Valuable Player voting as well as his seventh All-Star Game nod.
That’s because Stevenson has made the decision to sign with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, and the four-weight world champion believes that will lead him to becoming the pound-for-pound king.
“Line them up, one by one, and I’ll beat all the top guys once I get them in front of me. With Zuffa Boxing, I’m going to go after the biggest fights in the sport and I will become the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world.”
Zuffa chief White also spoke out about the acquisition of Stevenson.
“Shakur is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. He’s 29 years old, undefeated and already a four-division world champion. This is a massive signing for Zuffa Boxing, and I’m looking forward to promoting this next fight.”
Three-weight world champion Haney has been linked to signing with Zuffa in recent months, so it could now pave the way for the two fighters to meet, though ‘The Dream’ would have to vacate his WBO welterweight title in order to avoid a mandatory defence against Keyshawn Davis.
It’s not the game Ben Hogan knew. It’s a modern-day alternative, adapted to an age of simulators, launch monitors, gamified driving ranges and other high-tech platforms.
It also happens to be wildly popular.
Consider these numbers from the National Golf Foundation. Of the 48.1 million Americans who play golf, some 38 million play some form of alt-golf, while roughly 19 million have never even pegged it on an actual course.
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Like traditional golf, alt-golf lends itself to competition. There are tournaments, leagues, long-drive contests and closest-to-the-pin games. Players of every ability take part, from first-timers at Topgolf to Tour pros in TGL.
Unlike traditional golf, however, alt-golf has lacked one of the game’s defining innovations: a common way to measure ability across players of different skill levels.
Until now.
On Thursday, Evenplay, an AI-powered gaming platform, introduced the Evenplay Index, a skill-rating system designed specifically for golfers who play on high-tech platforms.
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Rather than relying on posted scores from rated golf courses, the index evaluates players based on the shots they actually hit. Using data gathered by launch monitors and simulators, the company’s AI analyzes each swing, develops a skill rating on a 1-to-100 scale and then converts that rating into a handicap tailored to whichever platform a golfer is using.
There is no cost to sign up for an Evenplay Index. You get one automatically when you create an account on any of the company’s affiliated high-tech platforms. According to Evenplay, the system can generate a reliable assessment within roughly the first 10 shots — that’s all you need to establish an Index — and continues refining its evaluation as more swings are recorded. Ratings are locked during competitions, preventing players from manipulating their handicaps mid-round. Beware of hustlers, whether they’re hitting into greens or screens.
“The handicap is one of the great inventions in sport, but it was built for posted rounds on rated courses,” said Sameer Gupta, Evenplay’s co-founder. “It was simply never meant to reach the garage sim, the indoor league or the Friday-night bay. The Evenplay Index fixes that — your skill, measured shot by shot, turned into a handicap built for wherever you play. Whether you shoot 72 or 120: game on.”
The launch reflects how dramatically golf’s off-course landscape has evolved.
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The NGF estimates that nearly four out of every five golfers now participate in some form of off-course golf, and millions play exclusively in those settings. Yet only a fraction of all golfers maintain a traditional handicap, which is designed specifically for rounds played on rated courses.
Evenplay isn’t positioning its Index as a replacement for the USGA Handicap Index. Rather, it’s meant to fill a gap by providing a standardized skill measurement for formats the existing system was never intended to cover.
The company also announced a broad list of launch partners, including Full Swing, Golftec, SkyTrak, X-Golf, aboutGolf, Topgolf, Toptracer, Dryvebox, the PGA of America and the Indoor Golf Alliance. Together, Evenplay projects that those partnerships could eventually bring the Index to more than 200,000 simulator bays and practice stations serving tens of millions of golfers.
For Evenplay, the announcement marks an expansion of technology upon which the company was built.
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At its birth in early 2025, Evenplay focused on AI-powered skill-based competitions, allowing simulator golfers to compete for prizes in contests calibrated to their ability. To make those competitions fair, the company built software capable of evaluating players almost immediately and adjusting challenges based on their demonstrated skill.
The Evenplay Index grows out of that same concept, extending it beyond the company’s own competitions into a broader rating system that participating simulator and range operators can adopt.
As off-course golf continues to evolve, the company is betting that a common competitive language — a handicap for the digital age — will become as fundamental indoors as the traditional Handicap Index has long been outdoors.
France’s Kylian Mbappe became the youngest player to reach twenty World Cup appearances. He achieved this milestone at twenty-seven years and two hundred one days old. (AP Photo)
Kylian Mbappe and World Cup records go together like goals and glory and on Thursday night, he added another one to his growing collection.When Mbappe took to the pitch for France’s quarterfinal clash against Morocco in Boston on Thursday, he became the youngest player in history to make 20 appearances at the FIFA World Cup, achieving the milestone at just 27 years and 201 days old. The record had previously belonged to Poland’s Wladislaw Zmuda, who reached 20 World Cup appearances at 28 years and 34 days during the 1986 tournament in Mexico. Mbappe broke it by nearly a year.The timing of the milestone is fitting. Mbappe made his World Cup debut as a 19-year-old at Russia 2018, helping France lift the trophy in a stunning 4-2 final victory over Croatia, becoming the first teenager since Pele to score in a World Cup final in the process. He returned in Qatar 2022, winning the Golden Boot with eight goals despite France’s heartbreaking final defeat to Argentina on penalties. Now in 2026, he arrives at the quarterfinals with seven goals already to his name, sitting just two behind Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race.Twenty appearances. Three World Cups. One World Cup winner’s medal. And at 27, he has at least two more World Cups ahead of him.The record is not the only one Mbappe holds at this tournament. He has already surpassed Miroslav Klose’s men’s World Cup goals record, becoming only the second player after Messi to score seven or more goals at two different World Cup editions. He is also the only player in history to score three or more knockout-stage goals at three separate World Cups, a feat achieved against Paraguay in the Round of 16.Messi holds the outright record for World Cup appearances with 30, set across six tournaments. Mbappé, with at minimum two editions still ahead of him, has every chance of chasing that number down too.Zmuda played in four World Cups across 12 years to reach his mark. Mbappé reached the same number in three tournaments across eight years.
The start of the PBA Governors’ Cup on Friday will also be the start of the process Jimmy Alapag will have to go through in his new foray as head coach of the NLEX Road Warriors.
Alapag and the Road Warriors take on the guest team Macau Giant Pandas at 7:30 p.m. at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, with the goal of an auspicious debut that could bring some semblance of hope after coming off a Commissioner’s Cup campaign that ended in misery.
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Terrafirma and Titan Ultra formally open the third conference at the 5:15 p.m.
As disappointing as that campaign went when the Road Warriors were ousted in the quarterfinals despite topping the eliminations, Alapag sees that as a good jump-off point.
“I don’t care what happened in the quarterfinals,” he said. “I think it’s important for us, together with the coaching staff, to build on their success in that elimination (round).”
The PBA and Gilas Pilipinas legend takes over from Jong Uichico, who will remain with NLEX as part of the coaching staff, and perhaps help in Alapag’s transition. Alapag stayed in the United States during the last three years and worked as player development coach for the NBA’s Sacramento Kings.
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He has plenty of talent at his disposal, namely MVP candidate Robert Bolick, JB Bahio, L-Jay Gonzales plus import DeQuan Jones, who is back after suiting up for the Road Warriors in last season’s Governors’ Cup.
NLEX takes on a Macau team that is returning for another participation despite a dismal 2-10 record in the Commissioner’s Cup.
The Giant Pandas, formerly known as the Black Knights, will come in with a few familiar names in Damian Chongqui, Jenning Leung and Ramon Cao, but have also tapped Kobey Lam, who had played for the Bay Area Dragons and Hong Kong Eastern.
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Macau’s import is De’Vondre Perry, whose credentials include stints in Germany, Belgium and the Dominican Republic.
Meanwhile, Terrafirma and Titan Ultra try to get their campaigns off on the winning track after their disappointing runs last conference.
Little changes were made by the Giant Risers, with the most notable being the signing of the controversial John Amores to a one-conference deal after his professional license was reinstated by the Games and Amusements Board following a shooting incident two years ago in Laguna.
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Terrafirma, on the other hand, once again has Juami Tiongson on its roster after it shipped Jerrick Ahanmisi and Paolo Hernandez to San Miguel Beer.
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All four teams set to see action in the first twinbill of the conference are in Group A, together with San Miguel, TNT, and Converge. Teams will meet those in their group twice for a 12-game schedule, with the top four advancing to the crossover quarterfinals.
Minnesota Vikings fans look on during the fourth quarter of the team’s matchup with the Baltimore Ravens at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Nov. 9, 2025, scene captured a tense late-game moment in Minneapolis as the home crowd reacted to another Vikings finish inside one of the league’s loudest indoor venues. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Because the Minnesota Vikings don’t have a singular announced quarterback for 2026, they don’t have total stability at the position — or so goes the theory, according to NFL writer Steve Silverman.
Silverman outlined how the Vikings’ quarterback position is suspect heading into 2026, comparing Minnesota to its division peers, the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, and Chicago Bears, who have exactly zero questions at quarterback.
Silverman Says Minnesota’s Ceiling Rests on QB1
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray appear in separate team settings, linking quarterbacks central to Minnesota’s 2026 competition. On Jan. 4, 2026, McCarthy warmed up before facing Green Bay in Minneapolis, while Murray appeared during Arizona’s Sept. 25, 2025, game against Seattle in Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images and Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
Silverman: It’s Quarterback Trouble for Vikings
Silverman explained his theory this week, “The other three teams in the NFC North know who their starting quarterbacks will be but the Vikings don’t. The Chicago Bears found their quarterback a year ago when Caleb Williams came through in his second season led the team to the division title.”
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“The Packers are secure in knowing Jordan Love is coming off an excellent season in which he had a 23-6 TD-interception ratio and led his team to the playoffs again. The Lions have Jared Goff under center as that team attempts to regain its stature after a disappointing 2025 season.”
Most Vikings are thrilled that the team stumbled upon Kyler Murray for $1.3 million in free agency and aren’t deathly afraid of quarterback optionality.
Silverman concluded, “That’s a problem that the Vikings will have to overcome, and it could turn out to be a season-long weak link. The ideal situation would have Murray asserting himself and demonstrating his excellence from Day 1. The locker room will be at risk if the Vikings struggle at the start.”
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Maybe … Murray Will Just Be Good?
There’s just one problem with Silverman’s theory: the Vikings may not have quarterback instability. While the mystery over who will prevail at quarterback exists this summer, Murray could show up in Week 1 and look the part. After all, he’s a -770 favorite per sportsbooks to win the job from J.J. McCarthy at training camp.
The plan is not for the Vikings to debate the starting quarterback each week in September, October, November, and beyond. It’s to pick a winner this summer and start that man for the entire 2026 regular season.
Silverman’s argument will be useless if Murray thrives as the Vikings’ QB1. Nobody will care that he won the job in a training camp battle. Remember when Daniel Jones won the QB1 job in Indianapolis last season? No Colts fans debated weekly whether Anthony Richardson or Jones would start.
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Murray can win the Vikings’ QB1 job and make it his own.
The Sam Darnold Example — and Mistake
There’s also precedent for this. Two years ago, Minnesota signed Darnold to pair with McCarthy, then a rookie, and after McCarthy tore his meniscus in the preseason, Darnold fully assumed QB1 duty. How did he respond? He threw for 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, with 4,319 passing yards, before collapsing in the season’s final two games.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold watches the TGL match between Jupiter Links GC and Atlanta Drive GC at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens. On March 4, 2025, Darnold attended the indoor golf event during the NFL offseason while remaining one of Minnesota’s most recognizable players. Mandatory Credit: Greg Lovett-Palm Beach Post / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
Because Minnesota had McCarthy ready and waiting, the Vikings let Darnold leave in free agency, allowing the Seattle Seahawks to sign him and go on to win a Super Bowl 11 months later. If Darnold could put together a remarkable season in Minnesota, Murray can too.
There’s also the Baker Mayfield example. In 2023, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took a flyer on him in free agency, signing him cheaply to see if he had QB1 juice left in the tank. He did — and now he’s the Buccaneers’ established starter.
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Neither of these examples is far-fetched for Murray.
Good News: The Rest of the Roster Is Sweet
Pretend that Silverman is on to something, and a quarterback competition equals vertigo at the position, unlike Minnesota’s NFC North peers. It won’t mean the Vikings are cooked.
Brian Flores’s defense remains formidable, ranking third in the league last year per DVOA and EPA/Play. The group welcomed newcomers like Caleb Banks, Domonique Orange, Jake Golday, and James Pierre this offseason, while losing Jonathan Greenard via trade. With Flores in charge, the defense should remain a force.
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Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell speaks with reporters at TCO Performance Center after an organized team activities session, offering updates on the roster and offseason progress for the upcoming season. On June 4, 2026, O’Connell discussed the quarterback competition and Minnesota’s development as preparations continued in Eagan before training camp later that summer. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Offensively, Murray — or McCarthy if he pulls off the upset — will have weapons galore, including Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T. J. Hockenson, Jordan Mason, and Aaron Jones. An offensive line of Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, Blake Brandel, Will Fries, and Brian O’Neill should also have the personnel to rank in the NFL’s Top 15.
Meanwhile, the Vikings employ an All-Pro kicker in Will Reichard. And that’s all on top of a head coach whose winning percentage ranks fifth-best in the NFL since he came aboard in 2022.
Silverman delivers a fair point, but it won’t matter if Murray wins the QB1 job and establishes himself right away in September.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Sami Zayn‘s reign as the Undisputed WWE Champion came to an abrupt end, thus proving once again that no title is truly safe in the company. Although many fans expected the underdog to enjoy a longer run after his emotional victory at Night of Champions, Triple H shocked the fans by taking the championship off him well before SummerSlam.
With WWE’s biggest event of the summer rapidly approaching, creative could have more surprises in store. Whether due to storyline developments, mounting challengers or unfortunate injuries, several other champions may not make it to SummerSlam with their gold intact.
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This article will look at three WWE Superstars who could lose their championships before SummerSlam 2026.
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#3. Trick Williams — United States Champion
Trick Williams has enjoyed a memorable run as the United States Champion. Thus, proving that he belongs among WWE’s top stars. Ever since arriving on the main roster, the former NXT standout has continued building momentum, with the United States Championship serving as the biggest accomplishment of his career so far.
However, Williams’ reign may be approaching its biggest test. The U.S. Title picture has become increasingly competitive in recent weeks, with multiple superstars eyeing the prestigious title. Also, WWE has shown a willingness to use the championship as a launching pad for rising stars. Thus, Triple H could decide that it’s time for a fresh face to carry the gold into SummerSlam.
Timing also plays a role. If WWE wants to establish a blockbuster U.S. Title match for SummerSlam, changing the gold beforehand could immediately reshape the landscape. A surprise title switch on SmackDown or Saturday Night’s Main Event XLV would create buzz while giving the new champion momentum heading into the Biggest Party of the Summer.
That isn’t to say Trick Williams has failed as champion. On the contrary, he’s elevated the title through consistently entertaining performances. However, WWE often prioritizes unpredictability during the weeks leading up to SummerSlam. Thus, that could leave the United States Champion vulnerable.
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#2. Sol Ruca — Women’s Intercontinental Champion
Sol Ruca has quickly become one of WWE’s brightest young stars. Her athleticism, unique offense and growing confidence have made her a standout performer. Thus, capturing the Women’s Intercontinental Championship cemented her status as one of the division’s rising talents.
Still, Ruca’s reign may not be guaranteed to last until SummerSlam. The Women’s IC Title continues to attract a growing list of challengers. Also, WWE has invested heavily in building depth across the women’s mid-card division. That means every title defense carries significant pressure.
Triple H could decide that a championship change is the best way to inject fresh life into the title picture before SummerSlam. Given this, a new champion would immediately create fresh rivalries and open the door for several stars who have been waiting for meaningful opportunities.
Also, there’s the possibility that the company wants Sol Ruca to move beyond the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. She has consistently demonstrated that she can compete with the biggest names in the division. Thus, losing the title wouldn’t necessarily hurt her momentum. Instead, it could free her to pursue a Women’s World Championship opportunity later in the year.
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Sometimes, dropping a midcard championship is the first step toward something even bigger.
#1. Rhea Ripley — WWE Women’s Champion
Unlike the other champions on this list, Rhea Ripley‘s biggest threat isn’t another Superstar. It’s her injury.
Ripley is currently sidelined, thus leaving the future of the WWE Women’s Championship surrounded by uncertainty. With SummerSlam drawing closer, the company faces an increasingly difficult decision regarding one of its most prestigious titles.
If Ripley isn’t medically cleared in time, Triple H may have little choice but to ask her to vacate the championship. Although WWE has occasionally allowed injured champions to retain their titles during shorter absences, the company has also shown that it won’t leave a major championship inactive indefinitely, especially with one of the biggest PLEs of the year just around the corner.
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Given this, keeping the title off television for too long would leave a significant gap in the SummerSlam card.
Vacating the championship would allow the company to crown a new champion before or at SummerSlam. Thus, ensuring the title remains central to the event. It would also create immediate opportunities for several top stars eager to step into the spotlight.
Of course, asking Mami to relinquish the title would be an unfortunate outcome rather than a reflection of her reign. She has consistently been presented as one of the most dominant competitors, and her absence is entirely beyond her control.
Should the creative team go in that direction, it’s almost certain that Ripley would return with a ready-made storyline centered on reclaiming the championship she never truly lost. In many ways, that could make her eventual comeback even more compelling.
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On Thursday, general manager John Chayka announced in a statement released by the team that they would be parting ways with members of the staff.
“As part of our ongoing evaluation of the organization, we have made the difficult decision to part ways with some valued colleagues. These decisions were not easy and are not a reflection of the commitment of the impacted people. We are sincerely grateful for everything they have contributed to this organization and wish them nothing but the very best in the future,” Chayka said.
Assistant general manager Hayley Wickenheiser, who has been with the team since 2018, later announced that she was part of those changes.
“For the past eight seasons, it has been an incredible honour to work for the Toronto Maple Leafs,” Wickenheiser said. “Over the last few days, John Chayka and I had several discussions about my role moving forward. During those conversations, my expectation was that I would be in a position to continue to have a significant impact within the organization. However, it became clear that his leadership group envisioned a different path.
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“Since joining the club in 2018, I have been immensely proud of the work our player development has accomplished. I want to sincerely thank the incredibly talented individuals, coaches, management, and players whom I have been fortunate enough to work alongside over the last eight years. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity, wish the team nothing but the best moving forward, and look forward to the next chapter.”
Wickenheiser, 47, is one of Canada’s most decorated hockey players, winning five Olympic medals, four of which were golds, between 2002 and 2014.
She retired from professional hockey in 2017 to pursue medical school, which she completed in 2021. She was hired by the Leafs in 2018 as the assistant director of player development and soon rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the team’s assistant GM in 2022 under former GM Kyle Dubas.
Norway striker Erling Haaland believes England are one of the favourites to win the World Cup outright, and with a smile called on the media to put as much pressure on them as possible leading into their quarter-final meeting on Saturday.
Norway had not competed at a World Cup since 1998, but have reached the final eight for the first time after finishing second in Group I before beating Ivory Coast and Brazil in the knockout stage.
England have reached at least the quarter-finals in the past three men’s World Cups, but have not made the final since winning the competition in 1966.
“I think there’s some clear favourites out there, England’s one of them,” said Manchester City striker Haaland.
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Speaking to journalists, he added: “I think all of you should put every single pressure on the English lads.
“Yeah, they [England fans] should be confident of progressing, definitely. It’s England.”
Haaland, 25, has scored in each of his past 14 competitive games for Norway, and will look to continue that run against the nation of his birth – he was born in Leeds, during the summer his father Alf-Inge moved from Leeds United to Manchester City – when they meet in Miami on Saturday (22:00 BST).
When Haaland appeared on the cover of Time magazine last year, he said Norway had a 0.5% chance of winning the World Cup.
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But seven goals in four appearances for Haaland – including a double to eliminate Brazil in the last 16 – have helped fire Norway to the last eight.
“I didn’t expect it. To be honest, to be in the quarter-finals with Norway in the World Cup is quite surprising even for me,” he added.
“Playing against Brazil was kind of crazy for us Norwegians and to win against Brazil and then go and play England in the quarter-finals in the World Cup in the USA is quite special.
“It’s difficult to take everything in because you need to kind of just play the game like it’s a training session.
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“I think if you watch the scenes back in Norway, this is not normal for Norway to be, so it’s super special.”
Haaland’s popularity in the US has surged during the tournament, partly because of his personality and off-field exploits, as well as his goals.
Just hours after scoring the winner in the last 32 against Ivory Coast, Haaland went shopping in Dallas for cowboy hats and boots.
He filmed the trip for his YouTube channel, and the video gained more than six million views in five days.
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“It’s a good thing because I like the Americans, I think they are kind of hilarious as well. They are funny, so I like the way they are,” he said.
“I think it’s just good. Honestly on every single thing with the World Cup so far here it has been amazing. From the games to the stadiums, everything has been amazing.
“The training ground where we train has been amazing, so I’m super happy and it’s been impressive.”
Other videos show him attending the Stanley Cup final in North Carolina and leading his team-mates in the Viking row after beating Brazil.
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“I like to joke a little bit and I like to have fun,” he said. “I think that’s a key to for my daily life to joke around and of course train good, of course focus well and prepare well but you also need to joke around and you need to enjoy the moment.
“That’s what we’ve been doing now and just as we play in the World Cup, we have to enjoy it because nothing lasts forever. We have to just enjoy while we’re here.”
The Texas Rangers have activated outfielder Wyatt Langford from the injured list, the team announced today. To make room for him on the active roster, Josh Smith has been optioned to AAA Round Rock.
Langford last played on June 26, with a hamstring strain having sidelined him the past two weeks. The initial word was that he would not be back until after the All Star Break, but Langford has improved quicker than expected, and beat that estimate.
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Langford has missed more than half of the season due to injury, but has been very good when healthy, slashing .278/.324/.500 in 40 games. He had been on a hot streak when he went down, and the Rangers could definitely use his bat back in the lineup.
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Smith was called up at the beginning of July when Corey Seager went back on the injured list due to his back issues. He is slashing .230/.312/.295 on the season.
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