First Published: May 16 2026 | 12:37 PM IST

FRIBOURG, Switzerland (AP) — Canada scored five goals in the final period against Denmark and Sidney Crosby assisted on four of them in a 5-1 victory at the ice hockey world championship on Monday.

The Group B game in Fribourg was a rematch of last year’s quarterfinal when Denmark stunned star-studded Canada 2-1 and ended its quest for a 29th title.

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This time Canada left it till late to translate its dominance into goals.

The Canadians needed 28 shots to break the deadlock despite Denmark goalie Nicolaj Henriksen playing his maiden game at the worlds.

Porter Martone scored the opener 28 seconds into the third period on a cross-goal pass by Crosby to put the favorite ahead.

Gabriel Vilardi doubled the advantage 3:02 into the frame and Denton Mateychuk buried a rebound 31 seconds later to make it 3-0 after Crosby set him up.

Ryan O’Reilly and Parker Wotherspoon finished the scoring with a goal each after Crosby found them unmarked in front of the net.

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Teenage captain Macklin Celebrini had two assists and Jet Greaves stopped 15 shots.

Nick Olesen had the lone lone goal for Denmark.

It was the third straight win for Canada after dispatching Sweden 5-3 and Italy 6-0.

Canada next plays Norway on Thursday.

US down again

It’s up and down for the defending champion United States at the worlds.

Lenni Hameenaho scored twice and assisted on another one to lead Finland past the U.S. 6-2 for a third straight win in Group A in Zurich.

The U.S. lost to host Switzerland 3-1 in the opener then defeated Britain 5-1.

Hameenaho wristed a shot past goalie Joseph Woll after a turnover to put Finland 1-0 up 6:06 into the game.

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The U.S. came back 1:38 later thanks to Matt Coronato‘s one-timer.

Finland then pulled away with four straight goals.

Patrik Puistola and Aatu Raty scored in the first period followed in the middle period by Hameenaho on a power play and Saku Maenalanen 31 seconds apart.

That forced the U.S. to pull Woll, who allowed five goals from 10 shots, and send on Devin Cooley.

Ryan Leonard reduced the deficit with the second U.S. goal in the final period but Anton Lundell completed the victory.

The U.S. has Germany next on Wednesday.

Later Monday, host Switzerland played Germany in Zurich and Sweden met Czechia in Fribourg.

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AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Caitlin Clark had an efficient Sunday night as the Indiana Fever picked up a victory over the Seattle Storm.

Clark scored 21 points on 5-of-10 shooting, making all nine of her free-throw attempts and nailing two 3-pointers. It was the first time since Sept. 19, 2024, in which she had 10 or fewer field-goal attempts – doing so against the Washington Mystics in 19 minutes of game action where she was 2-of-5 from the field.

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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark shoots against Seattle Storm guard Zia Cooke in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on May 17, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)

The WNBA star was asked about her performance against the Storm and seemingly came to the realization that she didn’t need to shoot a lot in order for the team to win. She had 10 assists for the first time since July 13, 2025, against the Dallas Wings – one game before she went down with an injury that cost her most of the 2025 season.

“No reason to press. Get my teammates involved,” she said, via The Athletic. “Take what the defense gives me. I thought I did a good job of getting to the line, so there’s no need to probably shoot a bunch of shots. I mean, I only played 23 minutes but I also got to the line nine times. … I think that’s what I can do a better job of – really trying to get to the line and free points.”

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark warms up on the court before a WNBA game against the Seattle Storm on May 17, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Doug McSchooler/Special to IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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Indiana won the game, 89-78.

Clark led the team in scoring but Kelsey Mitchell had 17 points in 28 minutes and Sophie Cunningham came off the bench and contributed 17 points and three rebounds. The team also played without Aliyah Boston, who was sidelined with a lower-leg injury.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark plays during the first half of a WNBA game against the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 17, 2026. (Doug McSchooler/Special to IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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Indiana will be back in action on Tuesday night against the Portland Fire at home.

MVP has been the voice behind All Elite Wrestling (AEW) stars Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin since all three pro wrestlers entered the company in 2024, and now he’s taken his mic skills to a new social media platform.

“Marking Out with MVP & Dwayne Swayze” podcast and show will be released on BZZR each Friday ahead of their episodes going on YouTube. BZZR is one of the newest social media platforms to hit the internet vowing to unite sports fans and cut out the noise.

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Wrestlers Shelton Benjamin, left, and MVP attend the Los Angeles premiere of “Queen Of The Ring” at AMC The Grove 14 on March 6, 2025, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)

MVP told Fox News Digital in a recent interview that he was hopeful that joining BZZR will allow the audience for his podcast to grow.

“It’s a mutual partnership. BZZR is a new platform where content creators can get online and share content, talk about sports – all sports, no noise. It’s a great opportunity for a lot of people,” he said. “But for me, my YouTube show that’s also a podcast, we just reached out first year, the partnership with BZZR will hopefully allow both of us to grow audience. It’s a beneficial relationship for both of us. It’s professional wrestling, which I’m a bit of an expert on. It’s an honor to be given the opportunity to be the wrestling outlet on the platform.”

MVP said he wanted the aesthetics of the show to be similar to his wrestling gimmick – in a speakeasy with a VIP lounge and an exclusive atmosphere.

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Wrestlers Chris Jericho and MVP compete on Aug. 24, 2009. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

He and Swayze have garnered more than 10,000 subscribers since launching the channel a year ago and the audience is only growing.

“It’s kinda funny just to show my age. When I first started ‘Marking out with MVP and Dwayne Swayze,’ my idea was to create a YouTube show,” he said. “I wanted to create a show and it’s visual because we shoot at a speakeasy in Houston with the bar and the aesthetic. The visual aesthetic was very important to me because the MVP brand is VIP, you know, VIP lounge, luxurious, high end.

“When I started it, I had people coming up saying, ‘Oh, congratulations on the podcast, congratulations on the podcast.’ And I said, I don’t have a podcast, I have a YouTube show. Only to learn, in this day and age, everything is a podcast. And I said, wait a minute, the whole term ‘podcast’ comes from iPod. It’s not a – OK, all right, it’s a podcast, sure. But it’s a YouTube show and it’s meant to be watched. You can listen to it. It has an audio aspect, of course. But visually, I enjoy the fact that we’re putting on a show, a weekly show.”

MVP credited BZZR with having the opportunity to give content creators their ability to be their authentic selves.

“It’s a different platform in that it lets content creators … it puts them out there in a way that they can be authentic and you don’t have the same corporate overlords dictating who says what and how they can say it,” he told Fox News Digital. “Various creators at various levels can join the platform and contribute and be seen and be heard.

MVP, Dwayne Swayze and Kayla Becker have all partnered with the sports-focused social media platform BZZR. (BZZR)

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“I think that’s the primary difference.”

Suncorp Stadium will play host to Sunday’s
Round 11 NRL game between Gold Coast Titans and
Newcastle Knights. The game kicks off at 2:00 pm with Newcastle Knights heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Gold Coast Titans vs.
Newcastle Knights
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Sunday May 17, 2026 at 2:00 pm

Where: Suncorp Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Gold Coast Titans vs Newcastle Knights Odds

Gold Coast Titans vs Newcastle Knights Preview

Newcastle’s resurgence has quickly made them one of the competition’s most entertaining sides to watch. The Knights are playing with speed, confidence and strong support around the football, led by a mobile forward pack laying the platform for their dynamic spine. Dylan Brown’s arrival has added another layer of unpredictability, with Newcastle consistently turning half chances into points.

The Titans remain difficult to gauge week to week. There were encouraging signs around young playmaker Zane Harrison last round, particularly in how he linked with Jayden Campbell, but consistency continues to elude Gold Coast. Defensively, the Titans still struggle to absorb sustained pressure against disciplined attacking teams. Newcastle’s ability to repeat effort and maintain shape gives them a clear edge heading into this clash. If the Knights win the middle exchanges early, their strike players should see plenty of opportunities out wide.

Between visa holdups, fitness issues and a scary dehydration episode, James Rodriguez has rarely played for Minnesota United.

Yet when he stepped onto the field last Sunday, his class was obvious.

Rodriguez provided both assists in a 2-2 draw against Austin FC. And as he departed Minnesota for Colombia national team training camp only a handful of days later, he had proven he still possesses the elite ball-striking ability to make a difference at this summer’s World Cup.

It’s a shame American Gio Reyna never gave himself the same chance.

Reyna is not nearly as famous as Rodriguez, who has suited up for club superpowers like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, won a World Cup Golden Boot and a Copa America Golden Ball.

But the two are similar in this regard: Both are technically gifted, athletically limited men who are most dangerous as the gravitational center of a team’s attack.

And if Reyna had really wanted a club environment where he could prove he could be that guy for United States men’s national team manager Mauricio Pochettino, an MLS stint would’ve made a lot more sense than coming off the bench for another Bundesliga season at Borussia Monchengladbach.

Reyna’s on-the-ball abilities are rare enough in MLS that a team could’ve orchestrated their entire attack around him had they swooped in when he finally departed Borussia Dortmund almost a year ago.

There’s also no shortage of current MLS managers who have helped coach him in his previous USMNT stints. They include 2022 World Cup boss Gregg Berhalter, who is now at the Chicago Fire, and three of his former assistants; Nashville’s BJ Callaghan, Austin’s Nico Estevez and San Diego’s Mikey Varas.

The closed MLS league structure also would’ve made taking that chance on Reyna a far less risky proposition. The worst that could’ve happened? A team tries Reyna out, he sputters offensively and his defensive vulnerabilities are exposed, and the team either changes course after the World Cup or endures a bad season.

At Monchengladbach, the downside of going all in on Reyna was far more dire, i.e. the prospect of relegation from the German top flight. That they were fighting the drop for most of the season virtually guaranteed Reyna would be a role player rather than a starring man. He entered the final matchday of the Bundesliga season having played only 496 minutes in 18 appearances

Reyna’s remarks earlier this week suggested even he wasn’t confident he had done enough to warrant inclusion on Pochettino’s final 26-man squad.

Pochettino no doubt knows Reyna can do things with the ball that few — if any — Americans can. But he should only pull the trigger if he believes Reyna is capable of a true No. 10 role. Reyna’s limitations off the ball are too great to be worth the tradeoff unless the plan is to give him possession as often as possible.

A season or so at the MLS level would’ve been a more fitting stage for Reyna to answer that question. Instead, heading into the most important World Cup in U.S. Soccer history, it’s anyone’s guess.

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has said finishing in a European place would be the “best way” to finish his time at the club.

The former Spain defender joined the club in 2023, replacing Gary O’Neil, but will leave in the summer when his contract expires.

With two games of the Premier League season remaining, Iraola’s side sit sixth in a Europa League spot, but are just four points off a Champions League place while they could still end up in Europe’s third-tier competition, the Conference League.

Sixth may even be enough for the Cherries to play in the Champions League should Aston Villa beat Freiburg in the Europa League final and finish fifth.

“It would be the best way to finish these amazing three seasons,” Iraola said.

“Especially this year, it has been really challenging for me as a coach because we’ve changed the team a lot and we’ve changed, not completely our style, but it’s a different type of football comparing to last season.

“It would be the best way to end it.”

The Cherries have never played in European competition in their 127-year history and close out the season with the visit of title-chasing Manchester City on Tuesday (19:30 BST) followed by a trip to Nottingham Forest on Sunday (16:00 BST).

Just one point is required from their last two games to secure European football.

“We are really close, but there is a big difference between being really close and getting it and grabbing it,” added Iraola.

Bournemouth are currently on a remarkable 16-match unbeaten run in the top flight – the longest of any side in the competition this season, with their last defeat coming against leaders Arsenal on 3 January.

Iraola’s side have not been defeated since selling then-top scorer Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City in the January transfer window with the forward returning to the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday.

Brazil, the most decorated nation in FIFA World Cup history, heads into the 2026 edition determined to re-establish itself at the summit of world football. Having appeared in every single World Cup tournament, the Seleção once again arrive with enormous expectations and global attention surrounding them.

Despite possessing a squad filled with elite talent, Brazil’s recent World Cup campaigns have failed to deliver the success fans have come to expect. Now under the leadership of Carlo Ancelotti, the five-time champions hope to begin a new era when they open their campaign against Morocco in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on June 13.

Real Madrid superstar Vinícius Júnior leads a generation eager to restore Brazil’s faded dominance and create its own legacy on the international stage.

Brazil’s road to qualification, however, was far from straightforward. The Seleção struggled for consistency early in the campaign, winning only three of their opening eight qualifiers. Poor performances and disappointing results continued until Ancelotti’s arrival helped steady the team and guide them to qualification.

Brazil’s Group C in FIFA World Cup 2026

• 
  Brazil
• 
  Morocco
• 
  Haiti
• 
  Scotland

Will Ancelloti give Neymar his last dance?

Vinícius Júnior enters the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Brazil’s biggest attacking weapon and a genuine game-changer in the final third. Known for his explosive speed, fearless dribbling, and ability to embarrass defenders in one-on-one situations, the Real Madrid star remains a constant threat whenever he gets on the ball. Reuniting with Carlo Ancelotti at international level could prove crucial, as the Brazilian winger now looks ready to carry his world-class club performances onto the World Cup stage for the Seleção. 
With Neymar’s inclusion a very big possibility this year too, only time will tell who will miss out if the star forward makes his entry into the squad for one last time.

Meanwhile, Endrick has emerged as one of Brazil’s most exciting young prospects heading into the tournament. The 19-year-old endured limited opportunities at Real Madrid earlier in the season but revived his confidence during a productive loan spell with Lyon in Ligue 1. With Estêvão sidelined through injury, Endrick is expected to provide an important option on the right flank.

Brazil schedule for FIFA World Cup 2026

Brazil Strengths

Brazil are expected to line up in a hybrid 4-2-3-1 system under Carlo Ancelotti, built around patience, structure, and explosive transitions. Rather than overwhelming opponents with constant attacking pressure, the Seleção prefer to stay compact, absorb possession, and strike at the ideal moment through rapid counterattacks.

One of Brazil’s biggest strengths lies in their electrifying pace and directness on the break, with attacking stars capable of turning defence into attack within seconds. Their ability to remain disciplined without the ball allows them to create dangerous spaces in transition. Brazil also benefit from exceptional goalkeeping quality, which provides stability at the back and often helps the team comfortably manage tight matches.

Brazil Weaknesses

Despite their attacking talent, Brazil still have concerns in certain areas of the squad. The fullback positions remain relatively unproven at the highest international level, raising questions about consistency and defensive reliability against elite opposition.

Another issue is the inconsistency in midfield performances. While the team possesses technical quality, Brazil’s midfield can occasionally struggle to control games for long periods or maintain rhythm under pressure. If the midfield fails to provide balance between defence and attack, the team can become vulnerable against sides capable of dominating possession and dictating tempo.

Defenders: Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Gabriel Magalhães, Bremer, Léo Pereira, Ibáñez, Alexsandro, Fabrício Bruno, Beraldo, Vitor Reis, Murillo, Wesley, Danilo, Paulo Henrique, Vitinho, Alex Sandro, Douglas Santos, Luciano Juba, Caio Henrique, Kaiki, Carlos Augusto

Midfielders: Casemiro, Bruno Guimarães, Fabinho, Andrey Santos, Danilo, Lucas Paquetá, Gabriel Sara, João Gomes, Andreas Pereira, Joelinton, Gerson, Matheus Pereira

Forwards: Vinicius Jr., Raphinha, Matheus Cunha, Luiz Henrique, Gabriel Martinelli, João Pedro, Neymar, Endrick, Rayan, Antony, Igor Thiago, Pedro, Richarlison, Igor Jesus, Kaio Jorge

The most anticipated matchup of the 2026 NBA playoffs has arrived. The reigning champion Thunder will go up against the upstart Spurs in the Western Conference finals. The best-of-seven series begins on Monday, one day after the 2025-26 MVP award is handed out. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama, the biggest stars on the Thunder and Spurs, are both finalists. 

One of them could very well be handed a trophy at the beginning of the series. But who will be celebrating with hardware at the end of the series? That’s what we’re here to discuss.

The Thunder, a perfect 8-0 through two rounds of these playoffs, are the favorites (-260 at FanDuel) to win this series and return to the NBA Finals. But the Spurs, who finished off the Timberwolves in the second round on Friday night, had OKC’s number throughout the regular season.

Can Wemby and the Spurs pull off the upset? Or will the Thunder take another major step toward becoming the first back-to-back title winner in the NBA since 2018?

Thunder vs. Spurs predictions: WCF expert picks

Botkin: Spurs in 7. This series could come down to the handful of minutes that Victor Wembanyama goes to the bench. We saw the Timberwolves start attacking the rim, successfully, the second that happened, and OKC is all about paint and rim pressure. But Wemby should be playing 40-plus every night in this series, so they’re either going to have to score against the guy basically nobody can score against or make a lot of jumpers. In a shooting contest, I like the Spurs. Yes, San Antonio is going to have to deal with a level of physicality it has not seen in these playoffs. It could stun them initially. But at the end of the day, I’m betting on the Wemby effect to trump all other factors in this series. He’s the defensive version of 2014-15 Stephen Curry in the way he warps the geometry of the court. Because of that, those Warriors were ready to win it all before people were ready to accept that fact, without the years of “playoff bruises” everyone thinks you need to endure first, and San Antonio is going to win not only this series but the whole damn thing for the same reason.

Gonzalez: Thunder in 7. This is the one we’ve all been waiting for: the best two teams during the regular season led by two of the three MVP finalists. Apologies to whoever comes out of the Eastern Conference, but this might as well be the Finals proper. Nobody who gets out of the other side of the bracket is beating either of these teams. The Spurs won 4 of 5 against the Thunder this season — as Wemby is fond of mentioning — but as San Antonio surely knows that’s an entirely different proposition than beating the defending champs in the playoffs. Especially with OKC having home-court advantage, a place where the Thunder have lost just seven times all season. Jalen Williams is ready to return for the Thunder, adding more top-line talent to a team that’s already absurdly deep. SGA barely had to break a sweat in the second round against the Lakers. He’ll obviously have to work a lot harder against the Spurs. But as good as San Antonio is, there’s still a postseason experience gap between the Spurs and the Thunder. That counts for something here.

Herbert: Thunder in 7. That I’m predicting this will go seven is a testament to how awesome the Spurs have been. The Thunder are a true juggernaut of a team, deeper and more versatile and more physically imposing than most championship teams. And based on what we saw in the regular season, San Antonio really could take them down. The Spurs’ guards are capable of making OKC’s historically stingy defense look inadequate. Victor Wembanyama is capable of anything. I just think the Thunder have a bit more room for error, especially with Jalen Williams healthy again.

Maloney: Thunder in 7. Everyone has been looking forward to this series for months, and hopefully the wait will be worth it after a somewhat lackluster postseason thus far. The Spurs, as we’ve noted, went 4-1 against the Thunder during the regular season, and Victor Wembanyama’s presence causes real problems for how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Co. like to operate. But the playoffs are not the regular season, and I’m picking the Thunder to advance in a narrow seven-game series for multiple reasons: their championship experience, their superior depth, their home-court advantage and the extra rest they’ve gotten all postseason after two consecutive sweeps.

Quinn: Thunder in 7. No team vexes Oklahoma City quite like San Antonio. So much of the Thunder offense hinges on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s rim pressure, and no player shuts opponents off at the rim quite like Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs won four of the five regular-season matchups. Both teams still have cards left to play. We don’t even really know how good the Thunder actually are yet, but with Jalen Williams set to return for this series, they might be about to level up. Would Oklahoma City juice its offense by keeping Ajay Mitchell in the starting five over Lu Dort when Williams comes back? Are the Spurs willing to start Dylan Harper? Their go-to “we’re getting serious” move in the old days was starting Manu Ginobili in a big playoff game, and Harper is quite clearly among their best five players. I’m leaning Oklahoma City for a few reasons. I don’t find San Antonio’s recent 3-point shooting all that sustainable. I think the Thunder are the only team in the NBA with the defensive athleticism to contain these guards. The Thunder have home-court advantage. And Oklahoma City has been here before, and I’m not sure the Spurs are quite ready for the level of physicality they’re about to endure. This is anyone’s series, and whoever takes it will be heavily favored in the Finals.

Salerno: Thunder in 6. This matchup reminds me of the Seahawks vs. Rams NFC Championship Game earlier this year. The Thunder and Spurs are the two best teams in the NBA, and the winner of this series will be the favorite in the NBA Finals — just like the Seahawks were the consensus favorite in the Super Bowl vs. the Patriots. I can’t pick against the Thunder. OKC has been dominating without Jalen Williams in the lineup. Ajay Mitchell is turning into a legit star in Williams’ absence. OKC’s physicality will be the difference here. One subplot of this series is that Victor Wembanyama will likely have to watch Shai Gilgeous-Alexander receive the MVP trophy. Drama! Give me OKC in 6.