GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN – MAY 01: Elena Sadiku, Head Coach of BK Hacken FF, poses for a photo with the UEFA Women’s Europa Cup trophy during the BK Hacken FF Winners Shoot following the team’s victory in the UEFA Women’s Europa Cup 2026 Final Second Leg match between Hammarby IF and BK Häcken FF at Hisingen Arena on May 01, 2026 in Gothenburg, Sweden. (Photo by Linnea Rheborg – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Elena Sadiku has been nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or Women’s Coach of the Year award after a remarkable time at Celtic and BK Häcken.
Sadiku made history at Celtic after taking charge in January 2024, guiding the club to its first-ever Scottish Women’s Premier League title. She also led Celtic through three Champions League qualifying rounds and into the competition’s group stage for the first time.
After leaving Celtic for BK Häcken, Sadiku continued her impressive run. In her first season at the Swedish club, she guided Häcken to the first UEFA Women’s Europa Cup and secured the club’s first European trophy. Häcken also won the Swedish championship during the season.
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That success is what earned the 32-year-old a place among five nominees for the prestigious award, alongside Jonatan Giráldez, Andrée Jeglertz, Nils Nielsen and Pere Romeu.
The winner will be announced at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on October 26.
Trainer David Payne has a promising prospect in Bangkok Hottie, following her recent victory at Randwick.
With a stable comprising only sixteen horses, David Payne may have identified his next Group 1 aspirant in Bangkok Hottie. The filly has triumphed over a strong field of fillies to secure the Furious Stakes at Randwick.
The three-year-old, sent off at $8.50, demonstrated impressive early speed to settle just off the pace-setter and Silver Shadow Stakes winner Pembrey. She then took the lead in the straight and held off Chilly Girl ($4), the Rosebud winner, by a half-length.
Striking Alibi ($21), a former Perth-based filly, finished with a strong run from the back to claim third place, another neck behind, marking a promising Sydney debut.
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Payne revealed he spoke with jockey Kerrin McEvoy prior to the race about positioning Bangkok Hottie closer to the action. This was a change from her previous start, where she conceded too much ground when finishing runner-up to Pembrey in the opening leg of the Princess Series. He indicated, however, that a more conservative approach would be adopted when she tackles longer distances in her subsequent races.
“We gave them a lot of start the other day and I said to Kerrin, ‘have her a bit handier today. We don’t want her in front, but a bit handier.’ He was just worried about getting her some cover,” Payne said.
Bangkok Hottie showcased her adaptability in achieving this win. Payne confirmed her next outing will be the Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) in a fortnight, followed by the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) two weeks after that, assuming favourable conditions.
“She goes 14 (1400m in the Tea Rose Stakes) and then the Flight. We will be riding her a bit differently,” he said.
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“She is fit now. She’s ready. I just hope all goes well.”
The winner’s stablemate, Krasina, also produced an eye-catching run to finish fourth. Payne is considering whether she will join Bangkok Hottie in the Tea Rose Stakes.
“I’ll see what the jockey says. We might. Why not?” Payne remarked.
“But she has been up a long time.”
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Pembrey, the $2 favourite, faded significantly to finish sixth. Jockey Tommy Berry suggested that the mare might perform better with more time between runs.
“She raced very flat today,” Berry commented.
“The two week back-up obviously isn’t her go. I doubt you will be seeing her on the back-up again.”
Explore the latest racing odds available at Australian betting sites.
LIV Golf has filed for bankruption protection in a New Jersey court.
The future of the breakaway tour was plunged into doubt in April when Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced that they would be pulling their funding.
The rebel league has spent around £4bn since its launch in 2022 on signing stars such as Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm through hugely lucrative contracts, bonuses and prize money.
But LIV confirmed on Tuesday that it had filed for Chapter 11 protection and had entered a “court-supervised restructuring process”, with BC Partners as the primary source of its capital.
The filing showed LIV faces more between $500m and $1bn in liabilities, with LIV listing between $100m and $500m in estimated assets. Rahm ($7.5m) and DeChambeau ($5.7m) were named as the two leading creditors listed in the filing.
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In a statement, LIV said PIF had agreed to provide a $49.6m loan as part of debtor-in-possession financing, and confirmed that the league was planning to return in 2026 under a “player-first ownership model”.
What is unclear is whether top players will sign up to be part of the second iteration of LIV Golf, with former Masters champion Rahm telling the BBC this week that “time will tell” and offering no assurances over his future.
Under the bankruptcy filing, players who had previously signed contracts with LIV Golf will be free to leave. Rahm reached a deal with the DP World Tour in May to play in their events and will tee-up at the Irish Open this week.
“LIV Golf has entered a court-supervised restructuring process that provides us with the time and framework to address previous financial obligations and complete a transaction that will make the league’s next phase a reality,” a statement said. “Put simply, this process is designed to build a stronger and more sustainable future for LIV Golf.”
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LIV Golf’s CEO Scott O’Neil said: “This process gives us the structure and time to pursue a landmark transaction and begin the next chapter of LIV Golf – one built around the fans, an innovative, player-first ownership model, and a part of the global golf ecosystem. We are excited about what lies ahead and yet, there is still much to accomplish in the months ahead.”
Former NBA star Ben Simmons is back after he signed a one-year deal with the Sacramento Kings. On Tuesday, the free-agency acquisition was formally announced. Last season, Simmons did not play in the league and spent most of the time recovering from his nagging back issues.
Early in the offseason, the three-time All-Star made headlines when it was revealed that he intended to return to the NBA. Simmons did a private workout in Miami where Kings general manager Scott Perry was present. After that, he worked out in front of coach Doug Christie and the team’s front office in Sacramento.
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Simmons’ godfather and former LSU coach David Patrick said the 6-foot-9 forward is working on his outside stroke. The Australian star has always been criticized for not being a reliable 3-point shooter. Patrick confirmed on Monday that the former No. 1 pick is attempting shots on live plays.
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“He comes to camp, he’s shooting threes in live play, doesn’t care whether they make or miss… That swagger, that confidence that he once had, is back,” Patrick said on the Matt & Kayla Show on Sactown Sports 1140.
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However, fans are not convinced Simmons is shooting consistently from deep and have trolled him online.
“Confidently shooting bricks is nasty work,” a fan said.
@LegionHoops Confidently shooting bricks is nasty work
Antonio Daniels Believes Signing Ben Simmons is a Good Gamble for the Kings
Ben Simmons arrives in Sacramento as a veteran player who could potentially help the Kings’ youth. Some believe it’s a good offseason acquisition even though he hasn’t played in more than a year. Antonio Daniels, a former champion, believes that signing Simmons was a wise risk for the team.
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“You don’t have to be the No. 1 overall pick. You don’t have to do that, just see what you have. Just see what you have physically, see what you have mentally,” Daniels said.
Ben Simmons is not under any obligation to lead the team, according to Daniels. He can now play his game with confidence and little pressure because he is no longer the center of attention.
The two-time defending champion needed a deciding-set tie-break to overcome Wimbledon winner Noskova 7-6 (1) 3-6 7-6 (10-7).
It was Sabalenka’s 19th consecutive win at Flushing Meadows, but rarely has she been tested quite as much.
Sabalenka celebrates victory (Getty)
She blew a 5-2 lead in the first set, trailed 4-2 in the third and was 2-0 down in the tie-break.
However, a Noskova double-fault proved costly and Sabalenka finished the job with a 107 mph second-serve ace – her 12th of the match.
“Oh my god, what a battle, what an incredible player she is,” said the 29-year-old from Belarus.
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“I’m speechless right now because I was pushing myself to the limit in this match, especially in the third set. I honestly thought ‘that’s it, the match is over’.
“I’m super happy to get this win. This has boosted my energy and my confidence. I’m super glad I made that ace – it just shows that I’m ready to fight.”
It was a tough loss for 21-year-old Noskova, who was bidding to become only the third woman this century – and the first whose surname is not Williams – to win Wimbledon and the US Open back-to-back.
The Czech hit 46 winners to Sabalenka’s 42 in a match of the highest quality on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
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But for Sabalenka the New York ‘three-peat’, an achievement only Chris Evert and Serena Williams have managed, remains within reach.
Sabalenka will lose her spot as world number one after 99 weeks at the top if Elena Rybakina wins her quarter-final against qualifier Qinwen Zheng on Wednesday.
However, the top seed admitted retaining her title – and winning a first grand slam crown this year – would definitely soften the blow.
“Yes, I’ll be more than happy,” she said. “Yes, ‘three-peat’ sounds great.”
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Noskova conceded recently that she had lost her mojo after her SW19 win, but she certainly rediscovered it here.
“I have that back,” said the sixth seed. “You know, it was a new grand slam, so I definitely stepped it up since the beginning of the tournament, which helped me to get into the flow.
“Such loss is good for the motivation – you know, obviously bad in itself – but I have to take some positives from it all.”
Kevin O’Connell tends to be an optimist. Still, the word choice is quite bold.
Minnesota’s outgoing skipper did his weekly sit down interview with KFAN’s Paul Allen. Doing so allowed the pair to swerve into a variety of topics that are of interest to Minnesota Vikings football. In one instance, Coach O’Connell kicked some nice praise over to sophomore large lad Donovan Jackson. The top coach called Jackson’s improvement “monumental,” creating some intrigue about where things are going with the LG1.
Kevin O’Connell Expects Nice Growth from LG1 Donovan Jackson
Per O’Connell, the plan is to see the left side of Minnesota’s offensive line become dominant. Both of the players over there are homegrown talents who are moving into 2026 with momentum. Consider how the starting five got added in Minnesota:
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LT1 Christian Darrisaw, Drafted No. 23 in the 2021 NFL Draft
LG1 Donovan Jackson, Drafted No. 24 in the 2025 NFL Draft
C1 Blake Brandel, Drafted No. 203 in the 2020 NFL Draft
RG1 Will Fries, Signed to 5-Year $88M Deal in 2024
RT1 Brian O’Neill, Drafted No. 62 in 2018 NFL Draft
For a long time, the Vikings have struggled to build the offensive line. Mike Zimmer’s years were largely characterized by dominant defense and an offensive line that couldn’t protect the passer. Rolling into 2026, there’s considerable optimism for how good the front five can become. Most of those guys got drafted by the Vikings — a trio of Rick Spielman picks, one by Kwesi Adofo-Mensah — and have become good ball players.
Aug 15, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell looks on during the first half against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images – Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
According to PFF, Jackson was last year’s 45th-best guard (81 under consideration). Where he showed the most promise was in pass protection, an area of the game where he pulled down a 65.7 grade that led to being listed at 26th overall.
His report card shows 2 sacks allowed, 5 QB hits allowed, and 26 pressures. There were then 4 penalties.
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Already, Donovan Jackson has proven a few things. For starters, he’s a good ball player who can be at least an average NFL player. Do note, though, that he proved that from within a season where he needed wrist surgery and had to sort through a pile of injuries around him. Worse yet, his position coach (Chris Kuper) got canned after the season, surefire evidence that there was internal discontent about how the offensive line was coming along. Oh, and the QB play was abysmal.
Minnesota Vikings offensive linemen Donovan Jackson and Christian Darrisaw align at U.S. Bank Stadium, with Sept. 21, 2025 placing the first-half scene in Minneapolis against the Cincinnati Bengals. The two blockers settle in before the snap as Minnesota’s offensive front prepares to handle Cincinnati’s rush during an early home matchup that afternoon. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Seeing him improve in his sophomore season isn’t a locked-in reality. A lot of guys battle sophomore slumps. What appears more likely, though, is a really nice step forward.
Kevin O’Connell went on to explain that “that left side is something else now when those guys get going.” Put differently, the Darrisaw and Jackson twosome is capable of putting a dent into the line of scrimmage.
The International team for the Presidents Cup is for players from all over the world except for Europe. It also helps to have a PGA Tour card in America.
One of the tougher phone calls for International captain Geoff Ogilvy was to inform Casey Jarvis, the 23-year-old South African, he would not be on the team that goes to Medinah.
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Jarvis won four times in four months, concluding with a South African Open title that earned him a spot in the Masters. Ogilvy also was impressed Jarvis came over to the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and they had kept in touch via text messages over the last few months.
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Jarvis closed with a 66 at Royal Birkdale to tie for sixth in The Open.
“He was very determined to make the team,” Ogilvy said after announcing his captain’s picks. “But then the European schedule is tough.”
Europe had a three-week break after The Open. Jarvis played twice leading up to Ogilvy’s picks and missed the cut both times.
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Ryan Fox had won on the DP World Tour and had three runner-up finishes to get inside the top 50 when he was left off the International team in 2022. Thriston Lawrence was worthy of consideration in 2024 playing a European tour schedule, though the Internationals had enough depth that even two Canadians were left off that team in Royal Montreal.
Even so, Ogilvy conceded not having a PGA Tour card can be a detriment.
“If you have two equal golfers, one who plays fulltime in Europe and one fulltime here, you have to lean toward the guy who plays here,” Ogilvy said.
“Not only because you know him, but he’s used to being in the locker room with Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Sam Burns. There’s a comfort level. Take a kid who plays in Europe. He might be playing the same level of golf, but you don’t know how he’s going to react on the first tee if you drop him on Scheffler and Burns.”
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Ogilvy said Fox was disappointed not to make the 2022 team at Quail Hollow, a team that already was gutted by players leaving for LIV Golf.
“Talk to him now and he’s like, ‘Yeah, that was probably the right call because I don’t know how ready I would have been,’” Ogilvy said. Since then, Fox has three PGA Tour victories, including The Open this summer at Birkdale.
“Golf is golf, but playing over here is challenging,” Ogilvy said. “It’s a different environment. They’ve got big auras around them and it takes a while to get used to that.”
The Big Ten saw some of its top wide receivers put on some shows in Week 1 of the college football season, with a Heisman Trophy candidate, All-Big Ten-caliber receivers, and rising stars all helping their teams on the field to start the season.
USC wide receiver Trent Mosley is leading the Big Ten in receiving yards after Week 1. However, it is worth a reminder that USC is the only Big Ten team to have played two games so far, having played in Week 0 and Week 1. Regardless, it has been a nice start for the freshman wide receiver for the Trojans. Mosley has averaged 111 receiving yards per game through his two games played, which still keeps him in the top 10 of the Big Ten in terms of average receiving yards per game.
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Penn State wide receiver Koby Howard had a big performance for the Nittany Lions in Week 1 after being used sparingly in 2025. Howard has already eclipsed his 2025 season receiving yards total after just one game played this season. KJ Duff of Rutgers had a massive game with his receiving total in Week 1, although his yards came in a losing effort with some big plays late in the game with the game already well out of reach.
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Not to be forgotten in Week 1 was Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, arguably the top wide receiver in the Big Ten and the nation. Smith got off to a fast start before getting an early rest in Ohio State‘s lopsided victory in Week 1. Smith picked up 151 yards and 2 touchdowns in his first game of the season.
Here are the Big Ten’s top 10 leaders in receiving yards after Week 1.
1. Trent Mosley, USC
Sep 4, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver Trent Mosley (4) s cores on a 68-yard touchdown reception against the Fresno State Bulldogs in the first half at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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2. KJ Duff, Rutgers
Sep 5, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Koby Howard (6) makes a catch during the second quarter against the Marshall Thundering Herd at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
4. Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
6. Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, USC
Michigan wide receiver JJ Buchanan catches the game-winning pass with no time left on the clock to beat Western Michigan at Michigan Stadium on Sept. 05, 2026.
Best photos form Penn State’s season-opener against Marshall
Sep 5, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Marshall Thundering Herd quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson (7) looks to throw a pass during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
(Matthew O’Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Best photos form Penn State’s season-opener against Marshall
Sep 5, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Marshall Thundering Herd quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson (7) looks to throw a pass during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
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(Matthew O’Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Best photos form Penn State’s season-opener against Marshall
Sep 5, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Rocco Becht (3) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Marshall Thundering Herd at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
(Matthew O’Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Best photos form Penn State’s season-opener against Marshall
Sep 5, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Chase Sowell (0) runs with the ball during the first quarter against the Marshall Thundering Herd at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
(Matthew O’Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Best photos form Penn State’s season-opener against Marshall
Sep 5, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Zay Robinson (2) runs with the ball on the opening kickoff during the first quarter against the Marshall Thundering Herd at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
(Matthew O’Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Best photos form Penn State’s season-opener against Marshall
Sep 5, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Zay Robinson (2) runs with the ball on the opening kickoff during the first quarter against the Marshall Thundering Herd at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
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(Matthew O’Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Best photos form Penn State’s season-opener against Marshall
Sep 5, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Marshall Thundering Herd running back Jo’Shon Barbie (6) pushes through the Penn State Nittany Lions defense during the first quarter at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
(Matthew O’Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Penn State postgame report card: Grading Nittany Lions vs. Marshall
Sep 5, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Marshall Thundering Herd running back Jo’Shon Barbie (6) pushes through the Penn State Nittany Lions defense during the first quarter at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
(Matthew O’Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Penn State WR Koby Howard says he is just getting started after Week 1
Sep 5, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Koby Howard (6) runs with the ball which would result in a touchdown during the first quarter against the Marshall Thundering Herd at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
(Matthew O’Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Best photos form Penn State’s season-opener against Marshall
Sep 5, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Koby Howard (6) runs with the ball which would result in a touchdown during the first quarter against the Marshall Thundering Herd at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
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(Matthew O’Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Best photos form Penn State’s season-opener against Marshall
Sep 5, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Marshall Thundering Herd running back Judah Price (10) leaps forward with the ball on a runt return during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
(Matthew O’Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Best photos form Penn State’s season-opener against Marshall
Sep 5, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions safety Jamison Patton (3) reacts following a tackle during the first quarter against the Marshall Thundering Herd at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
(Matthew O’Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Best photos form Penn State’s season-opener against Marshall
Sep 5, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Marshall Thundering Herd quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson (7) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
(Matthew O’Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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5 things to watch for Penn State football in Week 2 vs. Temple
Sep 5, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Rocco Becht (3) reacts from the sideline during the first quarter against the Marshall Thundering Herd at West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
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(Matthew O’Haren, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
HENDERSON, NV — Sidney Crosby is about to begin the final year of his contract, but he fully expects to be reporting to training camp in 2027. At age 40.
In fact, the NHL’s seventh all-time scorer has already commenced contract extension talks with Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas via longtime agent Pat Brisson.
With NHL superstars jacking up the price of business, will Crosby re-sign again for his lucky $8.7 million, the team-friendly AAV the future Hall of Famer has maintained since wrapping his entry-level contract way back in 2008?
“I have no idea. But if history is any proof of that, we’ll see,” Crosby told Sportsnet Tuesday at the NHL’s Player Media Tour. “But Pat and Kyle are talking and hopefully get something done.”
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The age-defying Crosby has posted an unprecedented 21 consecutive point-per-game seasons and has shown little signs of regression despite being one of the game’s oldest skaters.
After the double Olympic gold medalist was too injured to dress for Team Canada’s gold medal game in Milan and settled for silver, does he view a fourth Winter Games, Alpes 2030 in France, as a motivator to keep going?
“I haven’t thought that far ahead. I think it’s so hard. Like, there’s no blueprint for how you’re going to feel at this age. You see a lot of guys that I came into the league with, they’re not playing anymore,” said Crosby, who reassesses his health regularly.
“I want to play for a number of years, for sure. But you don’t know how you’re going to feel a year from now, two years from now. I can go based on how I feel now, and I feel pretty good. For playing as long as I have, I’m pretty happy with how I feel.”
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The MCL sprain Crosby suffered in February, due to a hit from Czechia’s Radko Gudas, limited him to 68 games played in 2025-26, but the durable veteran was fit to play 80-plus games in each of the three seasons prior.
“You think about different injuries you’ve had, and you just don’t want to pick your hopes up too much. I think you just try to enjoy it, approach it the same way year by year. And I’ve been pretty happy with the way I felt,” said Crosby, who bounced back remarkably after dealing with multiple frightening concussions in the early 2010s.
“Looking back, I probably wouldn’t have expected to go that way or to feel as good as I have. But that can change pretty quickly. So, I think you just try to enjoy it and embrace it as much as you can.”
The joy of coming to the rink was easier to embrace last spring, as the rebuild-on-the-fly Penguins shocked the league by snuffing a three-year playoff drought under the first-year coach Dan Muse.
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“It energizes you, when you’re winning games and young guys come in, and as a team, kind of that underdog role. I think you just get caught up in that, and it’s fun to be a part of that,” Crosby said.
“We had a rookie head coach, and he had something to prove, and we had new guys to the organization. We had young players. We just really came together pretty quick as a group, and it was really fun to be a part of that.”
With 1,761 career points, a healthy Crosby should have no issue surpassing Marcel Dionne (1,771) and Ron Francis (1,798) on the all-time leaderboard and move into the top five this season.
Should he pass Gordie Howe (1,850), Mark Messier (1,887), and fellow Pittsburgh icon Jaromir Jagr (1,921) one day, Crosby will have a shot at joining Wayne Gretzky (2,857) as the only two NHLers to reach 2,000 points.
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He’s 239 points away — and raring to go.
“Some work to do if I want to get there,” Crosby chuckled. “Three pretty good seasons. That’d be nice. That’d be a nice number, but that feels so far away. That being said, I’m not gonna shut the door on that possibility. I think it’s good to be motivated. It’s good to have goals and milestones that you’d like to hit.
“But that’s not necessarily the main motivation. Just competing, playing at a high level, trying to win — those are always the main goals. And everything else kind of follows.”
Jul 27, 2026; Westchester, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) during training camp at Loyola Marymount University. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The NFL is back with a jam packed Week 1 featuring plenty of star-studded teams.
This first week of the season provides NFL fans with an opportunity to make their first predictions of the entire season. Kalshi, a popular prediction market that allows users to buy and sell contracts of real-world outcomes like NFL games, has plenty of markets that football fans should know about ahead of Week 1.
Let’s take a look at a few fun prediction markets before this week kicks off.
New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks Anytime Touchdown Scorer
The football season kicks off with the final two teams from last season as the Patriots and Seahawks get an immediate Super Bowl rematch in Week 1.
Both of these rosters improved over the offseason. But a notable difference is Seattle’s run game. The Seahawks lost Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker to the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency. So in the 2026 NFL Draft, Seahawks general manager John Schnieder selected running back Jadarian Price at No. 32 overall out of Notre Dame.
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Without Zach Charbonnet (ACL recovery), the Seahawks should see what they have in their young running back early in his rookie season.
Kalshi gives Price a 40% chance of scoring a touchdown during Week 1, and a 40¢ contract would return just over twice the investment.
Los Angeles Rams’ Defense To Score First TD vs. San Francisco 49ers in Australia
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Two California teams will face off on Thursday in the league’s first game down under.
The Rams had an incredible offseason, trading for back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett after he broke the single-season sack record last year. After that news, the Rams officially brought back Aaron Donald on a one-year deal, but he has already been ruled out for Week 1.
Without question, the Rams will feature one of the best defensive lines in football. But they also picked up superstar cornerback Trent McDuffie in a spring trade with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Can they use all of this defensive momentum into scoring the first touchdown in Australia? Especially against a Niners team that lost Brandon Aiyuk and brought back an aging Deebo Samuel?
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The 49ers won’t be bad this season. But couldn’t you imagine an offensive flub in Australia to start the game? It’s a fun prediction to make and has a 14% chance of happening, which would return over a triple payout on Kalshi.
The first controversy, if you could call it such a thing, at the 20th Solheim Cup didn’t seem to be much of a controversy, if you could call it such a thing, until a reporter posed this innocent question:
Why was Charley Hull, Team Europe’s biggest star, late for her Tuesday-morning practice round at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands?
The query was directed at Europe’s captain, Anna Nordqvist, and her three lieutenants, Caroline Hedwall, Mel Reid and Anne van Dam, at their captain’s press conference.
Nordqvist leaned in.
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“Do you want to do this one, Mel?”
Reid did, because, as she saw it, she had some rumors to quash.
“This could be a full story,” Reid began. “Charley Hull was the first one to bed last night at 8 o’clock and first one on the bus this morning. She doesn’t even drink, so that’s a completely false story it’s been misquoted. She was late to the tee because I was responsible for her, so I’ll take a little bit of responsibility to that. But she just thought her tee time was a little bit later, and trying to drag Charley Hull off a driving range is a feat in any tournament, especially a Solheim. So yeah it’s a completely false story.”
The reported seemed puzzled.
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“I wasn’t aware there was a false story,” he said. “I was just aware she was late on the tee.”
“Yeah, well, late on the tee,” Reid said. “But there’s actually a story behind it, so I just want to shut this down before it gets, before other people start talking about it. But she was literally late because, one, I couldn’t drive drag her off the driving range, and, two, she thought her tee time was five minutes later than it was.”
The “false story” to which Reid was referring had been sparked — where else? — on social media by a Sky Sports clip that showed Hull hurriedly going off the first tee Tuesday, with her would-be playing partners a couple of minutes ahead of her. After Hull hit her tee shot in front of a smattering of fans and officials, she smiled and looked back down the tee box. It’s difficult to discern what she said, but in the video clip a Sky commentator laughs and says, “Oh my word! Charley’s giving us a little reason why she’s a little bit late this morning.”
That reason seemingly became clear in the caption on the Sky Sports post, which reads, ‘We had drinks last night!’ Charley Hull reveals the reason for her late arrival to the first tee.’
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The caption, it seems, was not meant to be read literally — more jokingly. But Reid, for one, felt some observers might have misinterpreted its meaning, which led to her to address the episode in no uncertain terms.
After Reid had provided context, Nordqvist jumped in to provide more clarity.
“I was on the first tee this morning and obviously I told the first three girls to go because there’s a little bit of a hike given that we start on the third hole and not the course No. 1 this week,” she said. “So it takes a good, five, 10 minutes to get out there. So I told the first tee, like go ahead and then Charley would just catch up. Because we knew she was on the way.”
In short: Nothing to see here, folks.
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Which, of course, won’t be the case should any players be tardy to their tee times when play begins in earnest. If a player is up to 5 minutes late for a starting time, the penalty in match play is loss of hole. And more than 5 minutes? Disqualification.
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