Barcelona to step up efforts for Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven, Bruno Fernandes future at Manchester United depends on Champions League qualification and Aston Villa keen on Fulham‘s Harry Wilson.
Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven, 24, is wanted by Barcelona, who are set to intensify their efforts to sign the Netherlands international in the summer. (Sport – in Spanish), external
Manchester Unitedare prepared to offer Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes an improved deal worth up to £400,000 a week – but the 31-year-old will base a decision on his Old Trafford future on whether the club qualify for the Champions League. (Mirror), external
Aston Villa are one of the clubs interested in 28-year-old Wales attacking midfielder Harry Wilson, whose contract at Fulham runs out in the summer. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Juventus appear to have made progress in extending the contract of 26-year-old Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic, whose deal runs out in the summer. (Tuttosport – in Italian), external
Bayern Munich and Austria midfielder Konrad Laimer, 28, have halted talks over a new contract as there is a large gap between the expectations of both parties. (Sky Sports Germany), external
TORONTO – Before the game, legendary New York Knicks player and broadcaster Walt Frazier eyed former Raptors and NBA Hall-of-Famers Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter and said, “You guys better not be suiting up.”
No fear of that, given McGrady and Carter are now 46 and 49, respectively. They were in Toronto promoting the Raptors marketing partnership with the Buffalo Bills, the NFL franchise they each hold small ownership stakes in.
They last played together for the Raptors against the Knicks in April of 2000.
But as the current day Raptors lick their wounds after a discouraging loss to the Knicks and another night when they simply couldn’t reel in or close out one of the NBA’s top 10 teams – the Raptors are 11th – Frazier’s joke had a little bit of truth to it.
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The Raptors are who the Raptors are, now at this point of the season and likely next season, given the parameters of their salary cap situation. Prime Carter or McGrady aren’t walking through that door. Neither are Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry or Pascal Siakam.
And OG Anunoby? The elite 3-and-D monster who represents the Raptors’ last unequivocal late-round steal in the NBA draft? Well, he plays for the Knicks now, which is one reason among several that the Knicks beat the Raptors 111-95 on Tuesday night.
And who the Raptors are simply isn’t good enough against the top tier of the NBA.
It was the fourth time the Raptors have lost to the Knicks this season, all by at least 16 points. The average margin of victory for New York is 20 points per game. The Raptors are now 4-16 against the ten teams with better records than theirs (35-26), and three of those wins came against the (then) struggling Cleveland Cavaliers back in November. Toronto is 1-15 against top 10 teams since Nov. 24.
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Does it feel that way? Is the separation that wide?
“It’s definitely frustrating,” said Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley, who had 13 points and 12 assists against his old team but – along with former Knick, now Raptor RJ Barrett — hasn’t won a game against them since being traded from New York (for Anunoby) on Dec. 30, 2024. “Some of the stuff that happens [against good teams] has nothing to do with Xs and Os, but it’s about being tougher.
“Last game [against the Knicks] we were up 12, this game we were down two with three minutes to go [actually with 5:50 go; by the three-minute mark the Raptors were down seven]. So I wouldn’t say the separation is so far [apart],” said Quickley in a quiet Raptors locker room. “Learning how to close games is something that they’re doing well right now, and we’re not doing well enough.“
The not-so-good news is that the Raptors get to play New York a fifth time on April 10, the second-last game of the regular season. The extra game is because they met in the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup. Wait, it gets worse: there is a decent possibility the Raptors and Knicks — currently the fifth and third seeds in the Eastern Conference — could meet in the first round of the playoffs.
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An optimist might say that with all the reps, the Raptors might finally figure the Knicks out a little bit. A less charitable view – but one based on the fact that the Knicks have now beaten the Raptors 12 straight times going back to the 2022-23 season – is that New York might end up being the first team to go 9-0 against a given opponent in a single season, at least in the annals of the 30-team NBA.
The Raptors had no excuses, really. They were healthy, other than rookie Collin Murray-Boyles being out with a sore thumb. The amount of practice days and rest days the Raptors have enjoyed since the all-star break is nearly idealized by NBA standards. They’ve only played six times in 14 days.
“I’m in heaven,” Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic said before the game about being able to have almost as many practices as games in the past two weeks.
And for long stretches of the game, it showed. Is it encouraging that the Raptors played well and still lost by double figures?
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The Raptors started with tremendous energy, jumping out to a 19-13 lead through the first six minutes that had the Scotiabank Arena crowd engaged early and the Knicks back on their heels.
But almost as soon as Toronto started asserting themselves, there were mistakes made that in the moment or taken alone don’t mean all that much. Any NBA game is full of miscommunications, missed opportunities and misplays, but in the aggregate, for a team like the Raptors against a team like the Knicks, they add up and end up turning a competitive game that might have had a different result into a relatively easy Knicks win.
With the talent they have and likely will have, the Raptors’ margin for error against top teams is a knife’s edge. Too often, they’re the ones reaching for a Band-Aid.
The Raptors were very conscious of holding the bigger, more physical Knicks off the offensive glass and did a good job, giving up just six offensive rebounds to New York all night (compared to 25 in their first meeting of the season). But on the only offensive rebound they gave up in the first quarter, Walter ended up fouling Knicks star Jalen Brunson on a three-point attempt, and he made all three free throws.
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A couple of possessions later, Scottie Barnes (14 points, four rebounds, three steals and a blocked shot) was all over Brunson on one side of the floor, but Walter lost track of Knicks wing Mikal Bridges in the far corner, and he hit the wide-open three. As a result, the Raptors were leading by seven with 2:45 left in the first period and ended up trailing 32-31.
In the second quarter, Toronto cut what was a 13-point Knicks lead with 2:39 to play down to seven with 1:18 left, only to have Brunson score a couple of lay-ups in quick succession and set up Josh Hart for a score on an inbounds play as the Knicks pushed the lead back to 10 at half.
But the mistakes kept coming. Brandon Ingram had 26 points in the first half and finished with 31 on 11-of-20 shooting, but he was also called for an eight-second violation and a turnover when he was too slow advancing the ball — with no pressure from the defence — into the front court late in the third quarter when the Raptors would have had last possession of the period.
Barrett (20 points on 9-of-13 shooting) played his best game offensively since coming back from his ankle and knee injuries that hampered him for much of December and January. He was efficient, decisive and poised. But shortly after a Quickley jumper brought the Raptors to within two points in the fourth, Barrett completely lost Bridges in transition.
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Raptors reserve point guard Jamal Shead – normally a reliable set of hands – threw away the ball on a needless kick-ahead pass the play before. The Raptors were locked in enough in the fourth quarter to force the Knicks into two shot clock violations, but in the last six minutes of the game allowed the Knicks to shoot 7-of-12 from the floor as part of a decisive 16-2 run that turned a tight game into a blowout.
You would like to think the Raptors would eventually get over the hump against the Knicks – or any other quality team. But that might be wishful thinking when your bench gets outscored 26-4 and despite throwing multiple defenders and multiple types of defenders – Barnes, Shead and Walter all took turns – at Brunson, he still was able shake loose for 26 points and 10 assists and while making just one turnover.
And when he was in a jam, Karl Anthony-Towns was on hand to chip in 21 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. Anunoby had 15 points on six shots. The Knicks had six players in double figures and shot 58.8 per cent as a team while holding the Raptors to 45.5 per cent.
“I think when we look back at the tape, I think we’ve got to figure out our fourth quarter execution, exactly what we want to go to,” said Ingram, who was scoreless in the fourth with just two field goal attempts after starting the period with 31 points on 18 shots. “I think every time we play a good team, they know exactly what they want to go to in the fourth quarter, and they do it over again and over again. The good thing is we’re in, we’re in the games, but we got to figure out how to finish the game.”
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More VC and TMac: After a combined 38 years of NBA experience (22 seasons for Carter and 16 for McGrady), the pair have joined forces on a podcast (Cousins) and are part of NBC’s NBA broadcast team. How much are they watching the Raptors, though? McGrady sounded a little more bullish than the consensus on the Raptors prospects. “I actually felt like they this year they could have been a lot better this year,” said McGrady. “… Had they played better against their own division, they’d probably be the second-best team in the East right now …they could be a scary team in the playoffs. If they’re healthy and building some momentum, I think they could have a series.” Nice thought, but it’s safe to say the reason the Raptors are now 0-7 versus Atlantic Division heavyweights Boston and New York is that Toronto isn’t good enough. A first-round series winner? As long as they don’t meet the Knicks or Celtics, maybe? Carter’s Raptors take was better: “I want to give Scottie [Barnes] flowers as well…it was his team, but he was willing to sacrifice for the good of BI [Ingram coming in], and he [Barnes] still became an all-star and brought another one with him [Ingram]. And he [Barnes] might be Defensive Player of the Year as well.”
No CMB, not good: Would the Raptors rookie have been the difference against the Knicks? Unlikely, but he certainly could have helped. His wide body and rugged approach at both ends would have given the Raptors a little depth in that regard after Poeltl. But Murray-Boyles missed his second consecutive game with the left thumb injury that has given him problems for more than two months now and gets reaggravated every time he hits it, which happened in the second half of the Raptors loss to the Spurs last Wednesday. One indication that Murray-Boyles could be out for a little while to come is that both at practice on Monday and before the game on Tuesday, he was the last player on the court and doing conditioning drills only, without any ball-handling or shooting to break up the fitness work. “Collin is still struggling to catch the ball,” Rajakovic said the other day. Not ideal.
Vince and Tracy together again: The former Raptors stars and perhaps Toronto sports ultimate ‘what could have been?’ duo were back at Scotiabank Arena Tuesday night. The Hall-of-Fame wings and distant cousins decided are part of the Buffalo Bills ownership group and were in Toronto to celebrate ‘Bills Night’ and Raptors owners Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment’s strategic partnership with the NFL club just down the QEW. The Bills and Raptors have always had a bit of a relationship. It’s always been common to see Bills players make the trip to Toronto to see the NBA team closest to Western New York. “When we were Raptors players, we’d be running up and down the court and look on the sidelines, and you’d see [former Bills stars and NFL Hall-of-Famers] Thurman Thomas and Bruce Smith and those guys,” said McGrady, who played his first three seasons with the Raptors before leaving for the Orlando Magic in free agency. “…so it’s a great opportunity to get Toronto fans excited about ‘Bills Mafia’.”
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) gestures after converting a first down against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, Nov. 17, 2024. Burrow reacted during second-half action as Cincinnati pushed the tempo and looked to sustain momentum in the road matchup. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
About three months ago, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow told reporters that he was not happy with football or his life, in general, which sparked a litany of trade rumors — because wouldn’t the guy want a change if everything was so bad? The Minnesota Vikings were predictably named as a trade destination, and while that probably isn’t realistic in 2026, next offseason could be Minnesota’s meal ticket in the would-be Burrow Sweepstakes.
Burrow’s price would be massive, but cap math and roster erosion can change “never” into “maybe” fast.
NFL insider Jason La Canfora delivered the Burrow takes this week, redefining the timeline of a possible trade.
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The Clock Matters More Than the Fantasy with Burrow
It’s an all-or-nothing year in Cincinnati for Burrow.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws during pregame warmups before facing the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on October 29, 2023. Burrow goes through his routine as Cincinnati prepares for a late-October road matchup against an NFC contender. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports.
LaCanfora on Burrow
Sizing up Burrow’s future, La Canfora wrote this week, “Is this it? All of that begs major questions about Burrow finishing his career with the Bengals and if this upcoming season goes anything like the past two, few would be shocked in league circles if Burrow requested a trade.”
“The Bengals have never won a Lombardi Trophy, have had contentious negotiations with several top talents recently (top pass rusher Trey Hendrickson chief among them) and Burrow has talked openly over the years about the toll all of his injuries have had on him.”
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La Canfora also quoted an anonymous executive, “This is it. Dude, they aren’t going out and trading for Maxx Crosby or something like that. The defense sucks. This is the final year that Chase and Higgins are both there. It’s going to come to a head, trust me.”
That’s quite the bombshell for a Top 5 quarterback in the league. The upcoming season could be Burrow’s swan song if the Bengals don’t reach the postseason or make noise in the playoff tournament.
Last December, as Burrow sought to return to the field following an injury, he told reporters. “It feels like everybody’s trying to do everything in their power to make me not play football, and I feel like I’m fighting it. I’m fighting everybody else. I just want to play ball. That’s all I want to do.”
Those comments raised eyebrows because, in addition to his general unhappiness, he couldn’t quite understand why his bosses didn’t want to let him play.
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Vikings as Suitors?
Foremost, if the Bengals did trade Burrow, they probably wouldn’t want him in the AFC, on tap to endure that possible grudge match in the postseason every year. That, in theory, clears 16 teams from the trade field.
Then, the Vikings — also in theory — would need a quarterback, whether now or in 2027, which narrows the field to a handful of NFC teams. Not every NFC teams need a quarterback.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) heads toward the locker room after a Week 6 victory over the Seattle Seahawks at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Oct. 15, 2023. The Bengals secured a 17-13 home win to move to 3-3 on the season following the tightly contested matchup. Mandatory Credit: Sam Greene-The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK.
Thereafter, Burrow and Justin Jefferson played ball together in college at LSU. Hell, they won the National Championship in 2019, the springboard to both men’s 1st-Round draft stock in 2020. They remain friends. Jefferson could act as a recruiter.
Most teams don’t have that criteria going for them, especially the clubs that would enter the Burrow sweepstakes.
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What the Bengals Might Want … the Vikings Have
Cincinnati has created a long and strange relationship with EDGE rusher Trey Hendrickson, who will almost certainly join a new team next week. The knock on recent Bengals teams is defense. If the Burrow trade discussions ever come to life with the Vikings, Cincinnati could inquire about one of Minnesota’s outside linebackers, as the club has three prominent ones: Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner.
Theoretically, when the time comes, the Vikings could ship multiple 1st-Rounders to the Bengals, along with Greenard, for example, to Cincinnati for Burrow.
Minnesota has enough defensive trade pieces to sweeten the deal, particularly if Cincinnati wanted Greenard. The Vikings drafted Dallas Turner two years ago for this moment — when Turner can step into a full-time starter’s role.
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A Reasonable Dead Cap Hit for CIN if It Trades Burrow … Next Year
Here’s the real reason Cincinnati won’t trade Burrow this offseason: it would be on the hook for an extremely wicked, shockingly evil, and vile $56.5 million dead cap hit. Yes, the Burrow trade theory rests on the premise that the Bengals would willingly get rid of a Top 5 NFL quarterback — and also shoot themselves in the foot to the tune of $56.5 million. Not going to happen.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) watches from the sideline after exiting a Week 17 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Dec. 28, 2025. The Bengals closed out the home contest with a 37-14 victory despite Burrow’s fourth-quarter departure. Mandatory Credit: Sam Greene-The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
Next offseason, though, the dead cap hit in a Burrow trade reduces to $35.7 million, which is still bad but is more reasonable if a divorce is imminent. The Bengals could spread that figure out over a few years and let it ride.
Cincinnati basically owes it to itself to see if Year No. 7 for Burrow will be any different. If not, it can fire Zac Taylor, perhaps entertain a Burrow trade (especially if he requests one), and start all over for a manageable financial penalty.
A Burrow trade isn’t realistic in 2026; the path straightens at this time next year.
UConn Huskies women’s basketball completed an undefeated 31-0 regular season with an emphatic 85-49 win over St. John’s at Madison Square Garden, extending their winning streak to 47 games.
This is the program’s 11th unbeaten regular season. It is also tied for the fifth-longest winning streak in Division I history. And remarkably, UConn owns five of the top six longest streaks the sport has ever seen.
“When you are fortunate enough to go through 31 games and win them all, there is something to be proud of,” head coach Geno Auriemma said.
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On the floor, the dominance was clear. UConn shot 57 percent, forced 22 turnovers and overwhelmed St. John’s from the opening quarter. Six players scored at least nine points in a performance built on balance and control.
National player of the year candidate Sarah Strong quickly shifted the focus forward.
“Coach came in and said he was proud of us. We also have a lot to work on to get ready for the Big East tournament.”
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The Huskies have not lost since February 6, 2025. Their +37.8 scoring margin ranks among the best in Division I history. They are projected as the No. 1 overall seed for the NCAA tournament.
NEW DELHI: On the eve of a high-voltage T20 World Cup semifinal against India, England captain Harry Brook has made one thing clear — his side thrives when the pressure is at its peak.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!England’s journey to the last four has been anything but smooth. They scraped through the group stage with gritty wins over Nepal, Scotland and Italy, and endured a heavy defeat to the West Indies. But in the Super Eights, Brook’s men flipped the switch, going unbeaten against Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand — the latter requiring a nerve-shredding 43 runs off the final 18 balls.
India players go BANG BANG in the nets, Hardik Pandya and others on fire at Wankhede
“We are managing to scrape along in close games and that is the sign of a good side,” Brook told Sky Sports Cricket. “I have learned you are never out of games. I know I have players with a lot of character, a willingness to win, wanting to win a lot, but also that calmness under pressure.”That belief, he insists, is what makes England formidable heading into a semifinal against the hosts. “I want to make it as uncomfortable as possible for the batter coming in at all times,” he added, underlining England’s aggressive mindset.Despite lean returns from white-ball great Jos Buttler and inconsistent outings from Phil Salt, Brook has thrown his weight behind his top order. “I think Jos should be left alone. He is one of the best players to have ever played the game and I can see him coming good,” he said. “We have so many powerful players in the top seven that if one comes off, the opposition are scratching their heads.”Brook also reserved special praise for all-rounder Will Jacks, calling his first proper World Cup “phenomenal”. “He has embraced that position and done exceptionally well. The character he has shown has been awesome.”With India backed by a roaring home crowd, Brook knows the stage will be daunting. “It is going to be loud… a massive occasion with a hell of a lot of pressure for both sides,” he said.But if England’s campaign has proved anything, it is this: write them off at your own peril.
Andre’s 94th-minute deflected strike proved the difference in a 2-1 win for Rob Edwards’ side, who have now taken points off three of the top five in their last three home outings, despite being doomed for relegation.
Liverpool had already fallen behind once only for Mohamed Salah to end his goal drought and get his side on terms, but his efforts proved in vain as Wolves came away with all three points.
Dealt a blow in their push for Champions League qualification, Van Dijk put full responsibility of the defeat on the team.
Liverpool suffered another late defeat at Molineux (Action Images via Reuters)
“I think it’s down to ourselves,” he told TNT Sports. “It was slow, we were predictable, sloppy in possession and wrong decision-making.
“We didn’t concede chances but if you perform like that then a result like this can be a result of that and that’s a fact. It was disappointing.”
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Liverpool wasted the first half of the contest at Molineux in what was an action-starved 45 minutes of football, with neither side producing anything resembling a clear-cut chance.
“It’s not one reason why that’s the case,” Van Dijk responded when asked to explain the slow start. “The game nowadays we over-analyse why things are happening on the pitch.
“We as a team want to start a game as well as we can and in the last game we did, today we had majority possession but we were still making wrong decisions and we couldn’t find the end product.”
Reds manager Arne Slot, meanwhile, bemoaned his side’s tendency to concede late on this season, having lost five games – against Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Bournemouth, Manchester City and now Wolves – in second-half stoppage-time.
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“We hardly conceded a chance, created not so much but more than they did, but the result is again a 2-1 loss,” Slot said.
“We are losing far too many football games and dropping points. Was it again in extra-time that we conceded? The three times we lost in the last 22 games were all three in extra time.”
Liverpool return to Molineux to face Wolves in an identical fixture on Friday for their FA Cup fifth-round tie.
WNBPA executive committee members Breanna Stewart and Kelsey Plum sent a three-page letter to WNBPA executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson expressing their “serious concerns” about how non-player union leadership is handling the negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, according to ESPN.
Tuesday’s stunning report highlights the growing tension inside the WNBPA ahead of the reported March 10 deadline to agree to a new CBA. If a deal is not in place by March 10, the 2026 season, which is supposed to begin on May 8, will not start on time, the league told the WNBPA and teams last month.
Growing discontent with WNBPA leader Jackson
Plum is the first vice president of the WNBPA, while Stewart is a vice president. In their letter, which was obtained by ESPN, the duo called for “a changed dynamic between our PA administrators and the players” and wrote “we do not feel like we have an adequate seat at the table in these negotiations.”
The WNBPA declined comment to ESPN, and reportedly held a meeting Tuesday to discuss the letter — which Stewart and Plum sent in mid-February — and the result of a recent survey sent to players.
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Late last month, the WNBPA reportedly held a contentious meeting, which Jackson called “spirited, passionate, and at times tough,” in a letter obtained by Front Office Sports. Furthermore, a group of nearly a dozen powerful agents sent a letter to Jackson last week stating “our collective preference for transparency and coordinated communication” about the CBA negotiations, according to ESPN.
Jackson has been the WNBPA executive director since 2016 and oversaw the negotiations on the most recent CBA, which was ratified in 2020. The players opted out of that agreement in October of 2024, and it officially expired in January after multiple extensions. Over the last 17 months, the WNBPA and the WNBA have been locked in a contentious labor battle over a new CBA. The stalemate is now threatening to disrupt, or, in a worst-case scenario, cancel the 2026 season.
Stewart and Plum’s letter makes it clear that some players are not happy with the job Jackson and her staff are doing to get a new deal in place — while acknowledging that she wants what is best for the players.
“We are frustrated that we have not made more progress as we near the March 10 deadline, and we believe this is a result of a breakdown in communication between you and the Executive Committee and players more broadly,” Stewart and Plum wrote.
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They went on to write that they have been “privy to details of these negotiations for less than two months, having first seen a proposal in January,” and have not received more information from union staff despite “repeatedly” asking for it. “Despite a year and a half of negotiations, we have not been meaningfully engaged,” they continued.
Here’s more from the letter:
“As we understand it, the Executive Committee’s role is to help shape the overall goals and priorities of the CBA and to serve as a bridge between your negotiating team and the broader membership — ultimately helping to secure player approval of any deal. Without access to the information requested above, the Executive Committee cannot fulfill this role, and players cannot be expected to engage meaningfully in a process they have largely been excluded from.
“When we and other players have attempted to express concerns about negotiations, we have been made to feel as though we are acting against the interests of the PA. Many other players across the league feel these same frustrations and have expressed them to us, but feel afraid or unable to speak out.”
Stewart and Plum added that this trend “has begun to create unnecessary divisions at a time in which a united front and informed player body are essential to achieve maximum leverage.”
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Strike no longer on the table?
Notably, Stewart and Plum added that “We need to start being pragmatic in these negotiations and in how decisions are being made,” because they are “concerned about the impact that a standoff or work stoppage would have on the overall financial health of the league.”
In December, the WNBPA voted nearly unanimously to authorize the executive committee to strike “when necessary.” The WNBPA stated that 93% of players participated in that vote and 98% voted in favor of authorizing a strike if necessary. Some players have since changed their minds, and it does not appear that a strike is actually on the table.
“I want to play, and players want to play,” Plum said prior to the Unrivaled semifinals on Monday. “And so obviously we’re going to continue to negotiate and do everything we possibly can to get this done in a timely fashion. But obviously a strike would be the worst thing for both sides, because we are in a revenue [sharing system], so no revenue, no revenue to share.”
“I think that while we still are fighting for a lot of different things, we have to realize that the rev share is a win, especially just even coming from the 2020 CBA and the ones before that,” Stewart added on Monday. “Now, as the league makes money, we make money. And so when [Plum] talks about ‘I don’t think a strike is good for anyone,’ because as the league loses money, or if we have a delay, we also lose money.”
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Latest WNBA offer
According to the Associated Press, the WNBA sent the WNBPA a new CBA proposal on Sunday night with a slight increase in the 2026 salary cap from $5.65 million to $5.75 million. Here are the full salary numbers:
“The salary cap in the first year would be $5.75 million — up 280% from last year’s $1.5 million. That would grow to $8.5 million by the sixth year of the deal. The deal would result in maximum salaries increasing by more than $1 million — from $249,000 to $1.3 million — and average salaries increasing from $120,000 to $540,000 in the first year.”
Overall, however, the league did not change its revenue sharing split. The league is still offering 70% of net revenue — that is, the revenue remaining when league-specified operating expenses are removed from the pot — over the course of the deal. The players, meanwhile, are still adamant on receiving a share of gross revenue.
The WNBPA’s most recent proposal would see the players receive an average of 26% of the gross revenue over the course of the agreement (with a $9.5 million salary cap in 2026).
Ciaron Maher eyes a bold move into the Newmarket Handicap after Jimmysstar’s electric Cranbourne hit-out.
He will touch base with the sprinter’s connections before locking in for the Group 1 1200m event at Flemington Saturday.
Maher’s stable plotted the gelding’s reappearance in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) Caulfield March 21, onward to Group 1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m) Randwick April 4 and Group 1 All-Aged Stakes (1400m) subsequently.
Tuesday saw Mark Zahra at Cranbourne trialling Jimmysstar amid Ethan Brown’s suspension lasting to month-end.
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Zahra, retained for Saturday’s feature on Tenytris, switches to Jimmysstar if aiming for William Reid Stakes immediately.
“Mark’s coming back from his ‘fake broken leg’, but he was pretty keen to get down here this morning and he worked super,” Maher joked.
“I will have a chat to the owners, and it will be either this race or the William Reid, but I think Jimmy is coming up really well.
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“We only gave him a short time off and we wanted to keep him active.
“The planning has been to only have one run here and then go to Sydney for the T J and the All-Aged, but I’ll have a chat to the owners after today’s work.”
Stable shelves Jimmysstar for Saturday, Benedetta represents Maher post her creditable third in Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) Flemington February 14.
Benedetta gets 4kg allowance against Tentyris, Lightning winner, avenging her 1-½ length reverse.
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Third crack at Newmarket for Benedetta after fourth, tenth finishes with Jason Warren.
Maher praised Benedetta’s top first-up showing among four stable efforts.
“Last prep, whether we were working out, or she didn’t come up as well, she’s certainly come up better and certainly her coat, and her action, is a pretty good reflection of that,” Maher said.
“She was super the other day. She ran close to a PB. I thought she looked fantastic and I think she’s held that through to this race.
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“We haven’t had to do a lot with her. She was very fit and right to go and couldn’t have hit the line any better.
“The 1200 (metres) is going to be ideal. I think she will hit the line pretty hard.
“It’s going to be a slick race, but I think she’s come on again.”
Visit betting sites to find racing betting markets for the Newmarket Handicap.
Michael Carrick is the favourite to be Man Utd manager next season but the club’s former midfielder has so far been quiet on his long-term hopes.
Michael Carrick has given the strongest indication yet that he wants to stay on as Manchester United head coach past the end of the season and hopes his winning run will strengthen his chances of getting the job on a long-term basis.
The 44-year-old was appointed in January on a contract until the end of the season, with United conducting what insiders describe as a “thorough process” to find a permanent head coach in the summer. A run of six wins and a draw from seven games has thrust Carrick to the top of the shortlist.
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The former Middlesbrough boss, who had been out of work for seven months after leaving the Riverside Stadium before accepting the SOS from Old Trafford, has remained coy on his chances of keeping the job and has been relatively non-committal on whether he would want to stay on.
But a remarkable run of form that has lifted United to third ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Newcastle has made the question unavoidable, and Carrick accepts it is now going to be one he has to face regularly if the results keep coming.
“It’s going to be every week, isn’t it this? There’s no getting away from the situation, of course,” Carrick said. “I love being here. I love doing what I’m doing.
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“I’ve said it from the start, I’m not making any decisions for short-term or quick fixes. I think it’s the responsibility, however long I’m here, to make decisions that are the best for the football club in the long term.
“Winning games helps and the boys are doing great with that. We’ll just have to see where it ends up.”
Carrick left Boro in the summer after three years with the Championship club. He led them from 21st to the play-offs in his first season in charge but wasn’t able to mount a promotion charge after that.
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He had ventured into TV work after that and seemed unclear whether he wanted a return to the pressures of management, having shown little interest in jobs that became available before Ruben Amorim was sacked.
The lure of Old Trafford proved too difficult to turn down, and now that he’s back in the hot seat, he is talking like someone who sees his future there.
“I enjoy working with players,” he said. “I enjoy trying to help players. The responsibility here is the whole football club and I enjoy it. It’s a privilege to be able to influence certain things, but I enjoy working with players and helping them.
“Whether that’s their career, whether that’s for the team, whether that’s development week to week, it’s something I just really enjoy and am passionate about. I never really lost it, to be honest, whether it’s managing, head coach, whatever role that is, it comes down to working with players and people really to get the best out of people and backroom staff and supporters.
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“It’s something I like seeing, that development and connection growing. So, whether that’s skills or technical skills or whether you see the group coming together, like [on Sunday against Palace] from a setback to be able to overcome that, it’s nice when you are part of that.”
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Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Brian O’Neill (75) stood on the sideline Nov 13, 2022, in Orchard Park, New York, before Minnesota’s matchup with the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. O’Neill prepared with teammates during warmups as the Vikings faced a challenging road environment against one of the AFC’s top contenders in an anticipated interconference showdown. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports.
The start of free agency is fast approaching, and the Minnesota Vikings have work to do to become salary cap compliant — even more work to do to create space for any new signings. To do so, there are certain moves to look out for over the coming weeks.
Cap Maneuvers Signal Minnesota’s Next Wave of Roster Decisions
The work has already begun with the announcement that two veterans will be released at the start of the new league year (March 11) if no teams make a trade offer before then. The release of Aaron Jones and Javon Hargrave will save the Vikings $18.65 million — a good start to trimming the salary cap. It will leave Minnesota with just under $27 million in additional savings to reach parity.
Clearly, more moves are required, and there are several ways the Vikings can do this. More releases, contract extensions and restructures, or trades will be on the table as acting general manager and salary cap wizard, Rob Brzezinski looks to get Minnesota ready for the start of free agency. Here are some of the possible moves that could be on the table in the coming weeks.
Hockenson is scheduled to be the highest-paid tight end in 2026 on the back of a couple of less productive years due to a bad knee injury. He had been circled as a potential cut candidate to save the Vikings money, but reports have surfaced that Hockenson has told the team he is willing to take a pay cut in order to stay. If Minnesota can make similar savings and keep Hockenson, then it’s a no-brainer; he is still a good TE.
More Cuts
Hargrave and Jones are the first names in line for release, but I don’t think they will be the last. Three separate concussions decimated Ryan Kelly’s first year in Minnesota. With a history of concussions before arriving in Minnesota and turning 33 years of age in May, the Vikings may decide it’s best to move on.
Jonathan Allen was another disappointing free-agent signing in 2025, and while his release would have to be designated as post-June 1, doing so would save the Vikings $11 million. A couple of players who would save the team around $4 million each with their release are Isaiah Rodgers and Blake Brandel.
Releasing Rodgers after one inconsistent season would seem premature, and Brandel is a good utility lineman. Ideally, both stay, but it depends on how desperate the Vikings get to find savings.
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Brian O’Neill Extension
Sep 11, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Brian O’Neill (75) and Green Bay Packers linebacker Rashan Gary (52) in action at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Brian O’Neill is in the last year of his contract and remains a consistent presence at right tackle for the Vikings. There have been some injuries, but O’Neill has never played fewer than 14 games in a season. He will turn 31 in September, but should still have enough years left in him to warrant a new contract, with the usual backloading of money, which should provide considerable cap savings on the $23.1 million due this year.
Contract Restructures
There are several players the Vikings could restructure contracts with for immediate salary cap relief. All the players on long, expensive contracts are candidates, like Justin Jefferson, Christian Darrisaw, Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Byron Murphy, and Will Fries.
Restructuring all of those contracts would put the Vikings in a healthy cap spot for 2026, but, of course, it would move a lot of money down the road that will need to be addressed later.
Kicking the can down the road, so to speak, splits opinion. Some people don’t like it, and some think the salary cap is a myth. The truth is, restructures and cap management are essential to running an NFL team, but they have to be done wisely. All of those players won’t get a restructure, but a couple probably will. Darrisaw would be my prime candidate.
A Jordan Addison Trade
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison stands on the field during pregame routines, surveying the scene as teammates complete warmups around him. The image was taken on December 25, 2025 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, capturing a quiet Christmas Day moment before kickoff against Detroit. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn–Imagn Images
Fantasy trade proposals for Justin Jefferson by media folk and fans outside of Minnesota have become an offseason tradition. No such trade will be happening, but Jefferson’s WR partner, Jordan Addison, could be a trade candidate. The Vikings must decide on Addison’s fifth-year option this year. He has too much talent to be discarded so easily, but his ongoing off-field discrepancies have proven to be a headache.
A strong trade offer may be enough for the Vikings to decide to move on, and while that will only save $2.6 million against the cap this year, it will save money next year and will add to the years draft arsenal. The value of any trade proposal will determine if it’s a worthwhile move.
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Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.
ONE flyweight MMA world champion Yuya Wakamatsu will put his gold on the line against Uzbekistani slugger Avazbek Kholmirzaev at ONE Samurai 1 on Wednesday, April 29.
The showdown will unfold inside Tokyo’s Ariake Arena on the promotion’s new monthly event series from ‘The Land of the Rising Sun’. The world’s largest martial arts organization confirmed their scheduled five-round war on its official website on March 2.
‘Little Piranha’ has been unstoppable since claiming the then-vacant flyweight MMA crown against former longtime king Adriano Moraes at ONE 172 in Saitama last March.
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He stunned the Brazilian veteran inside the opening round to lay his hands on MMA’s most prestigious strap and returned home with a US$50,000 performance bonus from ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
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His first title defense came against another tough opponent, ONE strawweight MMA world champion Joshua Pacio, at ONE 173 in Tokyo, Japan, on Nov. 16, 2025.
Yuya Wakamatsu can expect to have his hands full against Avazbek Kholmirzaev
Yuya Wakamatsu’s vicious finishes last year upped his winning streak to five, and now he’ll look to make it six back-to-back triumphs when he shares the Circle against the high-flying Kholmirzaev at ONE Samurai 1.
The Uzbek talent, 25 years of age, has built one of the most impressive winning runs on the global stage since debuting at ONE Friday Fights 50 in February 2024.
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‘Ninzya’ kicked off his tenure with three finishes on ONE Friday Fights. Though he suffered a defeat to Bektur Zhenishbek Uulu in his fourth fight, the Raqobat affiliate returned to the winner’s column with a brilliant second-round rear-naked choke triumph against Valmir Galiev in December 2024.
Since then, he’s emerged victorious all of his five fights, with four wins inside the distance. Put simply, Kholmirzaev does not the judges decide the outcome of his fights.
His finishing instincts and well-rounded arsenal should match up well alongside Yuya Wakamatsu’s world-class fight IQ, technicality, and dexterity when these two throw down for the ONE flyweight MMA world title at ONE Samurai 1 on April 29.
