Sports
Girls in Egypt box against violence and prejudice
There is a phrase you often hear from the girls at the Impact Academy in Cairo.
“I won’t stop until I’m a champion.”
The girls in Cairo learning to box seem determined and confident. It could be an everyday scene, a training session like any other—but it’s not.
Many of the girls in southern Cairo come from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. They often experience gender-based violence and are pressured to marry at a very young age—usually at the expense of their education and independence.
Choosing boxing, a male-dominated sport in a traditional society, is tantamount to rebellion. The Impact Academy offers the girls much more than just training. It is a safe space where they also receive psychological support.
“I used to be quite timid, but now I have more self-confidence,” says Salma.
The 17-year-old has been at the academy since 2023. She used to be bullied, partly because her skin is darker than most of the others, and she was also abused.
Since Salma has started boxing, she has been left in peace by her bullies, who are now afraid of her. Salma also feels accepted for who she is by her fellow students at the academy.
“I feel unconditionally loved by my friends here,” Salma says.
A ‘good life’ for the girls
The idea for the academy’s holistic approach came from Sally Hassona. The 49-year-old coach has a background in boxing herself. Hassona works full-time as a sports teacher at a private school and is a member of the Egyptian ministry of sports’ selection committee, which trains boxing talent for the country’s Olympic team.
In 2017, Hassona founded the academy, where girls can train three times a week – in a used boxing ring and with a few old sandbags. Around 25 girls and young women between the ages of 12 and 23 are involved, but not everyone comes to every training session.
Hassona is not paid for her work. But money is not what matters to her.
“I just want the girls to have a good life, to get away from their stigma,” Hassona says.
‘Boxing gives us self-confidence’
Women in Egypt continue to be structurally disadvantaged and are very often subjected to sexual harassment, as the 2013 comprehensive study on this topic from the United Nations agency UN Women showed. In it, 99.3% of Egyptian girls and women stated that they had been sexually harassed at least once, while 91% did not feel safe on the streets.
“There are many dangers for women and girls here. Boxing gives us self-confidence and makes us feel strong. It’s good to know how to fight someone,” says Hana Abdel Bary, one of the academy’s team captains.
“But we also learn to set boundaries and protect ourselves.”
Because even though the girls can knock someone out in the ring, Hassona advises them to avoid dangerous situations and run away instead.
Abdel Bary is constantly reminded that it is not “normal” for girls to box.
“Every time I go to the doctor and say that I box, they comment on it,” she says. “Some are proud, but others say nasty things.”
However, she receives support from home. Her father was the boxer Saleh Abdel Bary who competed twice for Egypt at the Olympics.
Training for independent living alongside boxing
Although sport is the main focus, it is not the only thing the girls learn at the academy.
“Sally always emphasizes that boxing is not a profession. She pushes us to learn languages or whatever else we want to learn,” says Hana.
Hassona tries to work with the girls to find out what they enjoy doing and what their goals are, and encourages them to try their hand at male-dominated STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields.
Hanin wants to become an electrical engineer. She is currently doing a paid internship at a company that manufactures air conditioning systems.
“When parents don’t have money and can no longer ‘afford’ their children, they try to marry them off as early as possible,” says Hassona.
Focus on mental health
Hassona regularly applies for various grants for the academy. It currently receives financial support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, a Canadian government program that supports local projects around the world. The grant amounts to 31,000 Canadian dollars (€19,800, $22,800).
Under the slogan “Play It Brave,” the Impact Academy focuses on mental health and gender-based violence. Several mental health coaches, a psychologist, and a doctor educate the girls about hygiene, health, and menstruation. The latter is still a big taboo in Egypt.
“Many think they can’t or aren’t allowed to go to school when they have their periods,” says the doctor.
16-year-old as a great sporting hope
Around 400 girls have passed through the academy over the years. Aya Hassan Najjar, 16, is one of Hassona’s great hopes. Since joining the academy around five years ago, she has twice taken first place in a national Egyptian competition and once came third in an African competition.
“Of course I want to become a professional boxer, but I also want to perfect my English and German,” says Aya.
Her goal is to go to Germany to study medicine and become a veterinarian.
“I want to help the stray cats and dogs here in Egypt. The animals can’t speak for themselves,” she says.
It was only in September 2025 that the Egyptian Ministry of Sports confirmed that it was working to increase women’s participation in sports through special initiatives, as reported by Egyptian newspaper Ahram Online.
But deeper structural change in society takes time. Hassona doesn’t even dream of that. She wants her own building.
“Like this one, behind the football field,” she says, pointing to a simple, long house. With a room for training, one for relaxation with a sauna.
“Maybe I could extend the concept to rugby,” Hassona says.
This article was originally published in German.
Mar 8, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) looks to control the puck during the third period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images Tampa Bay put it together in 60 minutes of winning hockey during its last outing, but the Lightning may have to be even better when the Eastern Conference-leading Carolina Hurricanes visit on Saturday night.
The East’s heavy hitters will meet for the final time this regular season after facing each other shortly after the Olympic break on Feb. 26.
On home ice in Raleigh, Carolina won that matchup 5-4 in regulation, avenging Tampa Bay’s 6-4 home win on Dec. 20 – two high-scoring affairs by skilled clubs who excel at putting the puck in the net.
Sitting in second place in the Atlantic Division, coach Jon Cooper’s Lightning score 3.52 goals per game (fourth-most in NHL) and won 4-1 Thursday night over the Detroit Red Wings.
It was just the home team’s second win in eight contests (2-6-0).
Gage Goncalves and Jake Guentzel netted two goals apiece, and playmaking right wing Nikita Kucherov, who dealt one assist each to the wingers, achieved 1,100 career points in the win.
He became the second Lightning member with 1,100, joining Steven Stamkos, who notched 1,137 points in 16 seasons playing bayside.
Goncalves reached 10 goals to set a new career high for a season, just as he has in assists (13) and points (23).
“He’s always had (a high hockey IQ),” Cooper said of Goncalves. “It was just about how he was going to develop … what he can and can’t do. Pretty turnover-prone when he first came into the league, so he had to learn kind of the hard way.
“Great example of a kid that’s fought through everything to get here and is doing a heck of a job.”
Since Feb. 1, Carolina is 8-3-0 but went 1-1-0 on its two-game homestand, beating the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 before falling 3-1 to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night.
The Hurricanes rank sixth in scoring by averaging 3.46 goals. They lost for the first time in regulation at home since Jan. 3 and had a 12-game home point streak come to an end last time out.
Mark Jankowski scored the lone goal for the losing side on Team Canada silver medal-winning goaltender Jordan Binnington – his second straight game with a tally – and said he and his teammates have to be better in the middle period.
“We had a good start, but our last few games, our second period, we kind of had a lull,” Jankowski said. “We can’t have that. We’ve got to play a full 60 minutes. Every game in the NHL is a battle. Every night we’ve got to bring it for 60 minutes or else that’s going to happen.”
Coach Rod Brind’Amour said the Jankowski-centered fourth line, featuring left wing William Carrier and right wing Eric Robinson, was rather unfortunately the team’s best grouping. “They were our best line,” said Brind’Amour. “That’s generally not a good thing because they don’t play that much. We’ve got to get more out of our top guys.”
Seth Jarvis has tallied a team-high 28 goals, while Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov have 23 apiece.
Goaltender Brandon Bussi (25-5-1, 2.37 goals-against average, .899 save percentage) made 14 saves vs. St. Louis but lost his second straight start for the first time in his career.
–Field Level Media
Devin Haney will have the chance to add yet another belt to his collection this May, according to his father and trainer, Bill Haney.
The 27-year-old became a three-weight world champion in November last year, winning the WBO title in his welterweight debut against hard-hitting Brian Norman Jr.
Haney appears well suited to the 147lb scene not only because of his natural size, but because the division is stacked with big names and tough challenges – something the pound-for-pound star has embraced in recent years.
While a rematch with Ryan Garcia, who recently won the WBC title to make it a unification, remains one of the biggest fights in boxing, Haney will instead look to collect another belt before making that happen.
Bill, when speaking to FightHype, confirmed that talks with Rolando Romero have made it over the line.
“Devin gonna put it on his ass, May [30th], Las Vegas. You heard it from me.”
It would be a struggle to argue that Romero is on the same skill level as Haney, but he brings power to the table and the intriguing factor of holding a win over Garcia, whom he dropped once before scoring a unanimous decision victory.
Though Haney has warned fans that the triangle theory does not apply in boxing, in the build-up to the fight he will be reminded that, while ‘Rolly’ soundly beat Garcia, Haney was knocked down three times by him. The important caveat is that Garcia would subsequently fail a doping test and see his victory overturned.
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The fourth round of races in Formula 1’s new season, scheduled for next month in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, are no longer expected to proceed as planned.
ESPN, citing sources, reported that F1 officials agreed to cancel the events amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
Sky News was first to report the cancellation.
The Bahrain race had been scheduled for April 12, while the event in Saudi Arabia was slated to begin on April 19 in the city of Jeddah. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have both been hit by missile strikes during Iran’s retaliation after a series of U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.
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Driver Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin competes during the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at the Miami International Autodrome May 7, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Eva Marie Uzcategul T/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Although it remains unclear what state the conflict will be in around the dates the races were scheduled to begin, F1 teams would soon need to start sending freight to the region in preparation for both events. The condensed timeline likely prompted decision-makers to reach a conclusion now.
There is no word on whether the Middle East races will be rescheduled for a later date. However, there is little room on the rest of this year’s calendar to move the events.
The F1 logo is displayed during the Formula 1 MSC Cruises Grande Premio De Sao Paulo 2025 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Nov. 6, 2025. (Alessio Morgese/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Given the uncertainty, F1 reportedly made the decision to avoid any disruption to the championship should a race be canceled later in the calendar.
LIV GOLFERS DEAL WITH ‘TERRIFYING’ EXPERIENCE IN MIDDLE EAST AS CONFLICT BROKE OUT IN IRAN
The reduced 2026 schedule of 22 races also creates a five-week gap between the season’s third round in Japan and the Miami Grand Prix, scheduled for May 3.
Italy’s Andrea Kimi Antonelli (12), driving the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W16, leads Great Britain’s Lando Norris, driving the (4) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes, during the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit April 20, 2025, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Clive Mason/Getty Images)
A request for comment from Fox News Digital to Formula 1 was not immediately returned.
On Thursday, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton said he was confident F1 would make the best decision.
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“I know that [F1 CEO] Stefano [Domenicali] will do what is right for all of us and the sport,” Hamilton said in the lead up to the Chinese Grand Prix. “That is the great thing about having a great leader like him.”
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The 2025 world champions of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) were President Donald Trump’s guests at the White House Friday.
It marked the first time in more than four decades that a group of PRCA champions had been hosted at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The last such visit came during Ronald Reagan’s presidency.
Friday’s visit featured several reigning rodeo champions, including all-around and bull riding champion Stetson Wright, bareback rider Rocker Steiner, steer wrestler Tucker Allen and team ropers Andrew Ward and Jake Long.
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Members of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo champions walk outside the White House in Washington, D.C., March 13, 2026, before meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)
Barrel racer Kassie Mowry and breakaway roper Taylor Munsell were also among the guests honored by Trump.
Wright arrived in the nation’s captol in the No. 1 position in the all-around race. In individual events, Wright is in the No. 2 spot in the saddle bronc riding and is ranked tenth in the bull riding.
President Donald Trump takes questions from the media during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office of the White House March 3, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Allen won the 2025 world championship, while Ward and Long clinched their first-career PRCA world title. The pair also earned their first NFR championship together.
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, center, joined by the National Finals Rodeo champions, speaks to members of the press outside the West Wing of the White House March 13, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)
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In a video shared by White House communications advisor Margo Martin, several guests in the Oval Office explained the different types of ropes commonly used in rodeo competition.
In the clip, Trump responded, “It’s so cool.”
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Suncorp Stadium will play host to Sunday’s
Round 2 NRL game between Dolphins and
Gold Coast Titans. The game kicks off at 6:15 pm with Dolphins heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Dolphins vs.
Gold Coast Titans
game and give you our free tips and bets.
When: Sunday March 15, 2026 at 6:15 pm
Where: Suncorp Stadium
Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE
Dolphins vs Gold Coast Titans Odds
Dolphins vs Gold Coast Titans Preview
The round concludes with a Queensland derby at Suncorp Stadium as both teams look to avoid a 0-2 start to the season. The Dolphins were beaten 40-30 by South Sydney in Round 1, with defensive lapses again proving costly despite some encouraging attacking moments from Isaiya Katoa.
The Titans endured an even tougher outing, conceding 50 points in a heavy defeat to Cronulla that highlighted familiar defensive concerns.
The Dolphins have dominated this young rivalry, winning five of the six meetings between the clubs, including two victories last season.
With both sides capable of producing attacking football but struggling defensively, the match shapes as an entertaining contest where momentum swings and quick scoring bursts could decide the result.
Head To Head Bet
We’re tipping Dolphins to win at $1.36 odds.
First Try Scorer
Dolphins vs Gold Coast Titans Teams
Dolphins team: 1. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 2. Jamayne Isaako 3. Jake Averillo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Selwyn Cobbo 6. Kodi Nikorima 7. Isaiya Katoa 8. Tom Gilbert 9. Brad Schneider 10. Thomas Flegler 11. Connelly Lemuelu 12. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki 13. Morgan Knowles 14. Max Plath 15. Oryn Keeley 16. Felise Kaufusi 17. Ray Stone 18. Trai Fuller 19. Sebastian Su’a 20. Lewis Symonds 21. Tevita Naufahu 22. Brian Pouniu
Titans team: 1. Keano Kini 2. Sialetili Faeamani 3. Jojo Fifita 4. Max Feagai 5. Phillip Sami 6. AJ Brimson 7. Lachlan Ilias 8. Moeaki Fotuaika 9. Sam Verrills 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Arama Hau 12. Beau Fermor 13. Chris Randall 14. Kurtis Morrin 15. Tukimihia Simpkins 16. Klese Haas 17. Cooper Bai 18. Luke Sommerton 19. Zane Harrison 20. Jett Liu 21. Jenson Taumoepeau 22. Josh Patston
Pep Guardiola has launched a passionate defence of his team selection following Manchester City’s defeat at Real Madrid.
City went down 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the Bernabeu on Wednesday after Guardiola opted for an attack-minded line-up.
The Spaniard has previously been accused of “over-thinking” tactics on big occasions but he insists reactions are always shaped by results and similar decisions are often praised when they succeed.
Guardiola said: “This is not the first time I’ve been hurt. I’ve lost many times in Champions League at all stages – many, many, many times – and have been massacred for decisions and what happened.
“My argument or reason (to) justify the team selection – it’s because I lost, we lost the game. But if you win, ah, ‘genius’. How many times have I heard, ‘Pep is a genius’ for the team selection?
“I have to explain before and after? After 10 years? I would not convince you for one second. Why? Because we lost and that’s all – 3-0, destroyed.
“It’s normal. It’s not the first time I’ve played in that competition, the Champions League – 17 years playing in that competition – and every time I lose, boom, my God ‘peow, peow, peow’ (mimics gun shots to head).”
To illustrate his point, Guardiola recalled the fall-out from City’s defeat in the 2021 Champions League final to Chelsea, when he left Fernandinho and Rodri on the bench. He contrasted that with the feeling after last weekend’s FA Cup victory at Newcastle, for which he had raised eyebrows by making 10 changes.
He said: “I played a final of the Champions League without Fernandinho and Rodri as holding midfielder against Chelsea. I was destroyed in that moment.
“They are right but in that moment I knew how Rodri and Fernandinho were playing. It was not the Rodri we saw after.
“I can explain that but they’re going to be convinced? Forget about it.
“What happened in Newcastle? Did you read the comments before the game (about) my team selection? ‘What are you doing? Lack of respect, how do you leave Erling (Haaland) at home?’ – 1-3.”
Guardiola defended his approach at the Bernabeu.
He said: “After the game in Madrid I said there was a logical reason. I wanted a threat. I wanted to have people arriving to the goal, I wanted people to make (grunts) when we arrive with the wingers.
“We did it in the first 20 minutes. We were close.”
City are back in Premier League action on Saturday as they travel to West Ham hoping to keep the pressure on Arsenal in the title race.
Top scorer Haaland has scored just four goals in his last 17 appearances.
Guardiola said: “Of course he needs goals. Of course the team needs it and he needs it. We have to find him more.”
Gary Portelli wishes for history to repeat itself with Craig Williams steering Verona Rose in the Coolmore Classic at Rosehill while the mare chases her first Group One triumph.
Williams handed Portelli’s ex-flagbearer Kimochi the breakthrough elite success after three high-level runner-up finishes, culminating in the 2024 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes victory.
Portelli reveres the international star’s racing expertise and equally prizes his off-track presence.
“We’ve got a good association and I just love being able to leg him on,” Portelli said.
“You don’t have to talk about the race too much. He’s done his homework, he comes out and tells the owners what he wants, where he wants to be, and then we might talk about the Ukraine war or something like that. It breaks up the nervousness.
“Craig is fantastic. I love his business acumen. His word is his word and importantly, he’s a great rider. He is very professional.”
The combination boasts two wins from two for Verona Rose, including the Flemington Inglis Bracelet (1600m) last spring and Randwick’s Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) in her most recent.
Verona Rose is quoted at $10 for the 1500m Coolmore Classic at Rosehill on Saturday amid a 14-runner field, where Portelli desires an honest speed to unleash her devastating finish.
That setup could see her right in the mix, he predicts.
“We had a dream that she’d run in a Coolmore last campaign, but we wanted to see something from her that would warrant going around and not making a fool of ourselves,” Portelli said.
“After her last run, we’re now at the reality that we’re a legitimate chance of winning.”
Portelli’s Friday entries comprise fillies Queen Of Clubs and Long Legs for the Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic (1600m), repeating Verona Rose’s win from last year.
Queen Of Clubs lagged behind everyone in her latest Surround Stakes (1400m) effort, which Portelli attributes to poor preparation upon review.
“She pulled up really fat. She is a gross filly, and she is taking a lot of work to get fit,” he said.
“I don’t work my horses very hard, and it showed up last start.”
The slow 7 rating at Kembla Grange on Thursday should suit Queen Of Clubs, complemented by a significant change in gear.
“If she is going towards the Oaks, she needs to do a lot more this week,” Portelli said.
“Blinkers off, she should run well.”
Having placed in the Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle last time in, Long Legs promises another competitive run.
Check racing betting markets for value in the 2026 Coolmore Classic.
Shane Lowry knew it the second he let it fly on the 18th hole on Thursday.
The 2019 Open Champion tried to will his ball to move right and miss the water, but he quickly gave up that fruitless endeavor and watched it splash down, becoming the 1,000th tee shot hit into the water on TPC Sawgrass’ finishing hole since 2003.
Lowry was at even par when he arrived at the 18th tee on Thursday. He walked off at 4-over par following a quadruple bogey and never recovered.
The 2025 Ryder Cup hero was a popular pick at this week’s Players Championship. He nearly won the Cognizant Classic two weeks ago before he imploded late to hand the trophy to Nico Echavarria. He has five top-20s in 10 appearances at TPC Sawgrass and loves playing golf in Florida.
But this was not Lowry’s week. That quadruple bogey sent him down the leaderboard, and he was unable to climb out of that hole on Friday.
Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy barely made the cut. Ludvig Aberg and Xander Schauffele are atop the board. Most of the PGA Tour’s big names have a Saturday tee time, but Lowry leads our list of notables who will not play the weekend at TPC Sawgrass.
Jordan Spieth’s wild Players round left him with nagging, relatable feeling
;)
Notable players who missed the cut at the Players Championship
Honorable mention: Collin Morikawa
Morikawa was one of the pre-tournament favorites and for good reason. He won at Pebble Beach and followed that up with a T7 at the Genesis and a runner-up at the API. But Morikawa tweaked his back on his second hole on Thursday and had to withdraw. Had he played 36 holes, he’d top this list. But since it’s injury-related, he just gets an honorable mention to start us off.
6. Joel Dahmen
What he shot: 77-73
Notable because: He has been playing good golf when he has gotten into the field. Dahmen missed the cut at brutally difficult Bay Hill, but posted top-10s at the Farmers and Cognizant to start the season. His golf has been solid, but a first-round 77 spelled the end for him at TPC Sawgrass.
5. Kurt Kitayama
What he shot: 74-75
Notable because: Kitayama came in playing good golf. He backed up a T2 at Riviera with a top-20 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, but never got going this week at Sawgrass.
4. Jake Knapp
What he shot: 75-72
Notable because: Knapp has been playing excellent golf to start the year. He went T11-T5-T8-T8-6 across his first five starts of the season, including an impressive showing at the Genesis Invitational. But he was a late WD from last week’s Arnold Palmer and clearly didn’t have his best stuff this week.
3. Harris English
What he shot: 73-77
Notable because: The No. 16-ranked player in the world hadn’t missed a cut since last year’s API. English had finished no worse than T28 in six starts this season before this week. The quadruple bogey 8 he made on the 18th hole (his ninth of the day) on Friday spelled the end of his tournament.
NASHVILLE — Florida profiled as a top-100 team in 3-point percentage (35.6%) as it rode the perimeter marksmanship of Walter Clayton Jr. — among other things — to a national title last season.
This year, the Gators are a sub-300 3-point shooting team (30.8%) and still every bit as dominant as the squad that won it all.
Case in point: Friday’s 71-63 SEC Tournament quarterfinal victory over Kentucky.
Hiding in the scrum of a whistle-plagued 2.5-hour display of horrific perimeter shooting from both teams was the trait that legitimizes the Gators’ full-tilt pursuit of a national title repeat.
“I mean, everybody goes to the glass,” Florida guard Urban Klavzar told CBS Sports, “and even if we miss, they get the rebound. So it’s awesome to have that.”
Florida hit 3 of 20 attempts from beyond the arc and missed its first eight of the second half while tying a season-low for 3-point makes and setting a season-low in 3-point percentage.
But the Gators were never in any grave danger against the Wildcats. Why? Because last year’s great rebounding team has developed into an absolutely lethal rebounding team.
For the Gators, every 3-point miss is an opportunity. Those 17 rim-clangers hoisted from beyond the arc against UK turned into 16 second-chance points as Florida dominated UK 18-8 in offensive rebounds and 50-29 overall on the glass.
All but five of Florida’s second-chance points came after missed 3-pointers.
“I think it’s obviously a big part of what we do and how we play,” Florida coach Todd Golden told CBS Sports. “We don’t necessarily separate the 3-point attempts as opposed to the 2-point attempts. But when we get good shots from the perimeter, it’s going to be really good offense for us because of the second chances that we’re able to provide.”
What should be terrifying for the rest of college basketball is that Florida is actually improving from beyond the arc, too. Prior to Friday’s clunker, the Gators were firing at a 37.6% clip from deep over an 11-game winning streak that has now grown to 12.
Last year’s title-winning team, known primarily for its guard play, made 36.6% of its 3-pointers over its final 11 regular-season games.
Amid the focus on what Florida lost with its top four guards from last year’s team, either exhausting their eligibility or transferring, is what it kept.
What was already perhaps the nation’s best frontcourt returned fully intact, and it’s only been bolstered by the improvement of Rueben Chinyelu into one of the nation’s top rebounders. The junior finished with 10 rebounds against Kentucky for his 22nd double-digit rebounding performance of the season.
Klavzar called Chinyelu the “best rebounding big in the States” and “just an animal” on the boards before quickly rattling off the names of fellow Florida towers Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Micah Handlogten as similarly impactful. With Haugh now flexing down to play small forward, the Gators also have more rebounding on the floor for longer stretches.
“All of the bigs have improved from last year,” Klavzar told CBS Sports. “And then I feel like for the past month and a half, we’ve been shooting way better than the way we started the year. So when we combine those, when we shoot the ball well, and these guys are just dominant in the paint, it’s really tough to stop us.”
The result is the profile of a potential March wagon. Not many teams can survive their worst 3-point shooting performance of the season and beat an NCAA Tournament-caliber team on a neutral floor.
Florida did it somewhat convincingly on Friday in the latest bit of evidence that the Gators mean business in their pursuit of a repeat. Shots not falling? Not a problem, as it would be for most others. Florida will keep firing, knowing that even missed shots are a legitimate form of offense.
“It gives me a lot more confidence as a coach,” Golden said, “that even if we’re not playing our best or shooting efficiently, that we can still win.”
Sports
George Russell takes pole as Mercedes seal 1-2 in China sprint qualifying | Other Sports News
George Russell praised his Mercedes as a “joy to drive” as he took pole for the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix on Friday to continue his team’s dominant start to the new era of Formula 1.
Russell is the driver to beat in Shanghai after his dominant win in Australia last week. With teammate Kimi Antonelli qualifying second and no other team close, Mercedes is on target for another 1-2 finish in Saturday’s sprint, which is followed by qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
“The car has been feeling amazing,” Russell said. “The engine is performing really well and today it was a real joy to drive.”
Lando Norris was 0.621 of a second adrift, a vast gap in F1 terms, in third for McLaren. Only Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari in fourth and Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri in fifth got within a second of Russell’s time.
Hamilton might be the biggest threat to the Mercedes pair because the Ferrari is quick off the line, which allowed teammate Charles Leclerc to jump into the lead in Australia last week before a strategy error ended his victory hopes. Russell suggested Mercedes has improved its sluggish starts, though.
Verstappen, the most prominent critic of the new regulations, had another tough qualifying session in eighth, though not as bad as the crash which left him at the back of the grid in Australia last week.
Ferrari debuts Macarena’Russell and Mercedes led the way in Friday’s sole practice session, as Ferrari failed to find a significant advantage from its unique rear wing which rotates upside-down for more speed on the straights.
Leclerc had the fifth quickest time (1:33.599) followed by Lewis Hamilton (1:34.129).
Hamilton touched tires with Norris in practice and also spun as he lost control on another lap.
Dubbed the “flip-flop” or “Macarena,” it was used briefly in testing, dropped for Australia, and is the sort of innovation which could help Leclerc and Hamilton compete with Mercedes. It could also disrupt the airflow and hinder cars following close behind.
Changes on the wayF1’s governing body, the FIA, could take stock of how the racing is going and make changes, potentially even in time for the Japanese Grand Prix later this month.
One gripe so far has been the lack of control by drivers of when the electrical power kicks in and how much is used.
They can’t stop the power being deployed in typical straight-line driving and can only add an extra boost, which in Australia resulted in cars finishing the formation lap with an empty battery and lacking pace at the start. That’s “not a lot of fun and also quite dangerous,” Verstappen said Thursday.
A related issue ended home hero Oscar Piastri’s race before it began in Australia, when the extra power kicked in unexpectedly and tipped him into the barriers before he even reached the grid.
If F1 can’t race next month in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, which remain on the schedule for now despite the Iran war, it would leave a five-week gap in the calendar, which teams could use to refine any changes.
Zhou a boost for CadillacThere hasn’t been a Chinese driver on the F1 grid since Zhou Guanyu left Sauber at the end of 2024, but he’s still a big celebrity in his home country. As reserve driver for Cadillac, he could give the new team extra recognition in a key market after its solid but unspectacular debut in Australia.
It was a tough day for Cadillac as Valtteri Bottas was 21st in sprint qualifying, slower than even the unreliable Aston Martins, while Sergio Perez couldn’t start because of a problem with his fuel system.
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