Betting sign up offers and free bets are available from betting sites for signing up and betting online.
At The Independent, our experts have used their impartial and detailed analysis to find new and existing customers the best betting sign up offers and free bets on the market.
We have stringent criteria when it comes to picking our top betting offers available. Our experts focus on accessibility, flexibility, fairness, key terms and conditions and regularity when selecting the best options out there.
Every betting site that we recommend is licensed and regulated by United Kingdom Gambling Commission, ensuring that new and existing customers are using a reputable betting operator.
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Free bets can be claimed from betting sites by new and existing customers, allowing bettors to bet without risking their own money.
Terms and conditions are attached to free bets and betting offers. Usually, bettors must deposit or stake a qualifying amount to claim a free bet, which can be used on selected sports and events.
Wagering requirements can be attached to free bet offers, which means winnings must be played through a set number of times before you can withdraw funds as cash, but this is more common on casino sites.
Types of free bets
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Bet & Get: The most common betting sign-up offer, bet a minimum amount, meet the T&Cs and receive a free bet bonus.
Moneyback specials: Typically an ongoing free bet promo, whereby punters get their money back as a free bet if there’s an underwhelming outcome such as a 0-0 draw.
Free bet clubs: Loyalty reward schemes aimed at those who bet regularly with one bookmaker in particular.
Enhanced odds with free bet winnings: A bookmaker offers a wildly inflated price on a popular market, such as 40/1 on Man City to win, with winnings paid out as free bets.
No deposit free bets: These are rare, but can be obtained via free-to-play prediction games on several online bookmakers.
Free bets are straightforward to use for customers, although the way they can be deployed may differ depending on your chosen bookmaker.
Usually, betting sites will have a box or toggle on your bet slip that users can tick or move to confirm free bets on their bet.
An important note. If your bet wins, you only keep the profit, the free bet stake itself isn’t returned.
Bookmakers may require you to use free bets in precise portions, such as £5 or £10, while others will allow you to bet with amounts of your choosing until you’ve used up your balance.
Here are the latest betting sign up offers and free bets available for this week’s major sporting events.
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William Hill: Wales World Cup Epic Boost
William Hill are offering an Epic Boost price for Wales to qualify for the World Cup play-off final on Thursday.
Customers can claim the Epic Boost price of evens boosted from 2/5 for Wales to advance from their World Cup play-off semi-final clash against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Qualifying bets must be placed before kick-off and customers are limited to a maximum £10 stake.
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Paddy Power: Free Bet Builder Czech Republic vs Republic of Ireland
Paddy Power are offering customers a free bet builder for users that place a qualifying bet builder on Czech Republic vs Republic of Ireland on Thursday.
To qualify, customers must opt-in on the free bet offer before placing a £2 bet builder on the World Cup play-off clash with three selections or more and odds of evens or greater.
Once the qualifying bet has settled, customers will receive a free bet builder worth £2 to use on football. Free bet builder expires within seven days.
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Bet365: Bet Builder Boost 25% World Cup Playoffs
Bet365 are offering 25 per cent bet builder boosts on select games for tonight’s round of World Cup play-off matches.
Customers can claim the betting offer for matches including Italy vs Northern Ireland, Wales vs Bosnia-Herzegovina and Czech Republic vs Northern Ireland.
Qualifying bet builders must include three selections or more and odds of evens or greater, with users selecting the bet builder boost option in their bet slip.
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Winning bet builders will be paid out with the 25 per cent boost.
Betting Site
Offer Type
Min. Bet
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Free Bet Value
Best For
Coral
Welcome bonus
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£5
£30
Low-stake sign up value
Betano
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Welcome bonus
£10
£50
Football free bets
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Tote
Welcome bonus
£10
£30
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Horse racing free bets
Bet365
Moneyback special
£10
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£10
Ongoing money-back as free bet offers
Virgin Bet
Free Bet Club
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£20
£5 weekly
Ongoing rewards for regular bettors
Free bets value for money (Independent)
Here are the standout betting offers on the market for users broken down into strength of category.
Coral – Best low-stake betting sign up offer
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Coral offer the best low stake betting sign up offer allowing new customers to secure £30 in free bets after signing up and betting just £5 on any sports bet of their choice.
There’s plenty of flexibility over where users can place their qualifying bet. Customers can choose any sport with odds of 1/2 odds or greater, only Bet365 has a lower threshold among welcome offers, but their value is not as high as Coral’s.
Time is also on your side using Coral. Customers can take up to 14 days after sign up to make their first bet and still qualify for the betting sign up offer.
Coral rewards customers with £30 in free bets for betting just £5 online (The Independent)
Payout is also prompt as soon as your qualifying bet settles. Coral will credit your account with £30 in free bets within 24 hours. These free bets are paid out in 6 x £5 free bets, giving customers plenty of scope to use their funds.
These free bets are fairly flexible as 4 x £5 free bets available to use on any sport on Coral, while the remaining £10 free bet balance is reserved for 1 x £5 football bet builder and a 1x £5 horse racing bet builder.
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It’s arguaaly the best £5 deposit betting site around as customers secure a 600% return from their first deposit and bet. For first-time bettors it’s a perfect betting sign up offer for value.
Betano – Best football betting sign up offer
Betano is the best option for punters looking for free bets at leading football betting sites, with the Betano sign up offer providing £50 in free bets with an initial wager of just £10 (an excellent return for a low entry stake).
The offer includes a straightforward qualifying bet with minimum odds of evens and no accumulator required, while the 30-day expiry on free bets gives users flexibility, with plenty of time to use bonuses.
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Newcomers can get £50 in free bets after an initial £10 bet (iStock/The Independent)
This new betting site provides great variety on its football markets – from match odds and BTTS to goalscorers, correct scores and much more – and users will also find regular offers and promotions once signed up to the site.
Tote – Best for horse racing free bets
The Tote betting sign up offer is an excellent choice for horse racing fans, with a £10 bet returning £30 in racing value – a strong 3x reward for such a low qualifying stake.
The offer provides £20 in Tote Credit for horse racing – which is ideal for pools, exotics, and Tote-only markets – as well as £10 in free bets to use on the sportsbook, offering plenty of flexibility for new customers.
The Tote website performs equally well on mobile and desktop (iStock/The Independent)
The qualifying bet simply need to be a £10 wager on any sport (with some exclusions, though win, place, or pool bets all count) at odds of evens or greater, and winnings are fully withdrawable, with Tote Credit profits available to be cashed out, keeping risk low.
Tote also guarantee boosts payouts paid at SP or better, adding an extra upside for horse racing bettors and making Tote the best choice among horse racing betting sites.
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Bet365 – Best for moneyback as a free bet
Bet365 have recently launched its moneyback specials across a number of sports, including football and horse racing, as well as a range of major events.
Customers can wager up to £10 and will receive their stake back in free bets if their bet fails. The system is simple for claiming the betting offer, with users ticking the ‘Money Back As Free Bets’ box on their bet slip to qualify.
Free bets are usually credited within a matter of hours, but it can take up to 24 hours. Free bet credits can be used anywhere on one of the best betting sites in the business with no limit on where and how your credits can be spent.
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Bet365 customers can get up to £10 back as a free bet on losing racing and football bets (iStock/The Independent)
Bet365 moneyback specials are most common on football, and notably the Premier League where the highlight games of the week are covered with a moneyback special notably on Saturday and Sunday evenings, although Champions League and Europa League midweek games have also featured this betting offer.
The nuts and bolts of the requirements are as follows. Customers must place a qualifying bet builder on the eligible game or event, with bet builders needing only evens (2.0) or higher odds.
Bet365 also attaches its Sub Play On feature on football bet builders in conjunction with the moneyback special, which keeps bets alive even if a player is subbed.
Virgin Bet – Best free bet club
Existing customers can use the weekly Virgin Bet rewards club to claim £5 in free bets for placing qualifying accas.
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Users only need to opt-in on the promotion before placing four £5 accas with odds of 2/1 or greater between Monday to Sunday, making these qualifying stakes smaller than most rival free bet clubs.
Virgin Bet have an extremely low minimum odds requirement to use your free bet at 1/100.
Claim £5 in free bets for placing qualifying accas on Virgin Bet (iStock/The Independent)
You’re spoiled for choice, and better yet, there are no restrictions where you can use your bonus.
In addition, the seven-day expiry gives plenty of time to use the bonus, meaning the free bet club offers huge flexibility.
After the qualifying bets have settled, Virgin Bet pays out the £5 free acca bet into your account and to activate the free bet offer, simply use the toggle on your bet slip to use up the credits.
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Below, we’ve provided some detail on common traps that users can fall into when claiming free bets:
Stake not returned on free bets
Not all free bet offers return the original stake if your bet wins. For example, a £10 free bet at 3/1 pays £30 profit, not £40; always factor this in when comparing headline free bet amounts.
Short expiry windows
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Free bets usually expire within 5-7 days of being credited, and occasionally less. Unused free bets are removed automatically once they expire, so casual or infrequent bettors can lose value this way.
Remember to always check the expiry date as soon as the free bet is added.
Bet builder or market restrictions
Some free bets are limited to certain types of use. For example, some are football bet builders only, accumulator bets or bets fixed to specific sports, leagues or events. These restrictions reduce flexibility and can increase risk.
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Bet builder-only free bets often require multiple selections to win, meaning long odds, and it is the same with accas. Remember to check eligible markets before placing your qualifying bet.
Minimum odds requirements
Betting offers may require minimum odds on either the qualifying bet or the free bet itself, and sometimes both. Higher odds thresholds can push bettors toward riskier selections, while a smaller free bet with low odds requirements can offer better value.
Cash-Out and In-Play exclusions
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Remember that cashing out a qualifying bet often voids eligibility for the offer. Some free bets also cannot be used on in-play markets.
These exclusions are commonly hidden in the T&Cs, so avoid cashing out unless you’re sure it won’t affect the promotion.
Wagering requirements and bonus conditions
Wagering is uncommon on free bets, but it is not unheard of. Some promotions attach extra conditions to winnings or follow-on bonuses instead.
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Offers requiring winnings to be wagered multiple times reduce real value, while simpler “bet and get” free bets are usually the safest option.
Before a bookmaker makes our list of free bet offers, they must meet key criteria to ensure a high-quality betting experience.
1. Licensing
Only sites with a valid UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licence are considered on our list of recommended operators.
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The UKGC ensures fair play and consumer protection, working alongside independent testing agencies like eCOGRA. If a bookmaker isn’t regulated, it’s not safe – anyone can verify a licence via the UKGC register.
2. Security
Every bookmaker we recommend must implement high-quality security measures such as SSL encryption and two-factor authentication to protect customer data.
3. Reputation
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Reputation also plays a role – established brands like Betfred, William Hill and Bet365 consistently rank highly with us, but we also highlight new, reputable operators such as BetMGM when their free bet offers meet our expectations.
4. Mobile
With most bets now placed on phones and tablets, mobile betting functionality is essential.
Bookmakers with dedicated betting apps that mirror the desktop experience are given preference, and we also consider user app reviews from the Apple and Google Play stores.
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5. Experience
The customer experience is equally crucial – we rigorously test bookmaker support channels, favouring those that provide fast, effective resolutions.
Ultimately, our rankings focus on the quality of the free bet offers, but we also take into account matters including odds restrictions, timeframe to both unlock free bet offers and use your bonus funds, wagering requirements and available payment methods.
6. Value
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Operators that provide valuable betting sign up offers, competitive terms, and ongoing free bet promotions for returning customers get the highest ratings.
Why trust us?
Chris Wilson is a betting content producer and sports reporter who has been working at The Independent since 2023.
He writes betting tips across a range of sporting events as well as reviewing dozens of betting sites and casino sites across the UK.
Chris has extensively tested and reviewed offers from established operators and new betting sites to find the best free bet offers for readers of The Independent.
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Responsible gambling is always at the forefront of his research, ensuring customers have a fair and secure experience claiming and using betting offers online.
If you decide to engage with any of the online betting sites highlighted on this page, remember to gamble responsibly, even when using free bets and betting sign up offers.
When betting, always assume you’ll lose and therefore, only bet what you can afford to lose. Even free bets still involve a level of risk.
Make sure you use the responsible gambling tools offered by betting companies such as deposit limits, reality checks, loss limits and time outs. These can stop gambling from getting out of hand.
If you have gambling-related concerns, then seek independent help. There are several UK charities and institutions that offer support, advice and information, with a few listed below:
Are free bets withdrawable?
No, it is not possible to withdraw a free bet. It must be used according to the terms and conditions of the free bet offer or it will be forfeited.
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Can you cash out free bets?
In most cases, bookmakers will not allow punters to cash out a free bet before the bet has run its course, so you will likely have to wait for your bet to settle before receiving any winnings.
What does money back in free bets mean?
This means you can get a refund on your stake, but not as withdrawable cash – only as a free bet, meaning you have to stake the same cash again on a different bet.
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What is the best betting sign up offer available now?
In the Independent’s view, Coral provides the best betting sign up offer on the market at present. New customers need only sign up and deposit £5 before betting £5 on any sports market with odds of 1/2 or greater to unlock £30 in free bets.
What betting sites give free bets without a deposit?
Few bookmakers hand out free bets for nothing, but you can earn free bets by entering free-to-play prediction games on Bet365, BetVictor, NetBet, Betway, Betfred, Ladbrokes, Coral and BetMGM.
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We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Marvel Stadium will play host to Sunday’s
Round 10 AFL game between St Kilda Saints and
Richmond Tigers. The game kicks off at 3:15 pm with St Kilda Saints heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the St Kilda Saints vs.
Richmond Tigers
game and give you our free tips and bets.
St Kilda returns to Marvel Stadium on Sunday afternoon hoping to steady its season against an injury-hit Richmond side. The Saints struggled badly in Darwin last week, with the absence of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and an in-game injury to Callum Wilkie exposing their lack of depth against Gold Coast. Richmond again fought hard despite an extensive injury list, though the Tigers were ultimately overpowered by Adelaide as their casualty toll worsened further. St Kilda has generally handled this matchup well in recent seasons, including a dominant 82-point win earlier this year at Marvel Stadium. Wanganeen-Milera was particularly influential in both recent victories over Richmond and remains crucial to the Saints’ ball movement and transition game. If St Kilda can regain some defensive stability, the Saints should see this as a valuable opportunity to remain in touch with the finals race.
When Lanny Wadkins won the Byron Nelson Classic in 1973, he earned a $35,000 paycheck and a handsome trophy, presented in person by the tournament’s namesake.
Wadkins was 23, at the dawn of his career. Nelson was 61 and long retired from competition. The two became friends and fellow World Golf Hall of Famers. Their connection would not end there.
Through the decades, Wadkins watched as the Byron Nelson moved from venue to venue, leaving its home at Preston Trail Golf Club for other Dallas-area courses. Nelson remained its official host until his death in 2006, and his name has followed the event ever since. Wadkins, meanwhile, has forged a new tie to it as the architect of sweeping renovations to TPC Craig Ranch, which hosts this week’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
“Oh, I’ll be out there watching,” Wadkins said by phone. “I want to see how those guys take it on.”
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Wadkins is 76, but he’s no old dog learning new tricks. He’s been involved in course design for decades, collecting credits that include Blackjack’s Crossing in Lajitas, Texas, and TPC Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. After his playing days, he climbed the broadcast tower and spent 18 years as a TV commentator. Now that that chapter is closed too, he’s turned his full attention to design. “I really don’t like to do something unless I can go all in,” he said.
His work at TPC Craig Ranch was the lynchpin to a $25 million overhaul carried out by club owner, Invited Clubs. The work began as soon as last year’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson wrapped up, with Scottie Scheffler running away with the title by eight shots at 31-under par. The course, a Tom Weiskopf design that opened in 2004, had never been touched. Now it has been.
Wadkins’ mandate was familiar in the modern era: stiffen defenses against the game’s best players while keeping the course playable for everyone else. One of the layout’s strengths, he said, was its flexible tee options, crucial in Texas, where the wind holds near-constant sway. He leaned into that, stretching several holes that play with a favoring prevailing wind. He also repositioned and deepened bunkers and tweaked angles on several holes. The 9th green now sits closer to a creek, for instance, while the 11th green — a bunker-less complex with false fronts that Wadkins described as reminiscent of the 14th at Augusta National — wraps closer to a lake.
“That’s one way to defend these days,” he said. “I try to put the driver back into play as an important club.”
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On the greens, Wadkins and his team went with bentgrass, a receptive turf that allowed them to create challenging contours. Hole locations sit in relatively flat areas, so players will be rewarded for precise approaches. But sloppy shots stand to be punished, leaving players with long, bending putts or testy recoveries from run-off areas.
“Without stellar iron play, it’s going to take some real imagination to play well,” Wadkins said.
Growing up in Virginia, Wadkins cut his teeth on Golden Age designs, including a pair of William Flynn courses. Those experiences stuck.
“I did well enough in my career that I got to play a lot of really great courses,” he said. “But always really liked the old stuff.”
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At Wake Forest, his home course was Old Town Club, a Perry Maxwell design, and he credits Maxwell’s wrinkled, contoured greens as an influence in his own work.
Some of that old-school sensibility shows up at Craig Ranch. The par-3 4th now features a Biarritz green, a classic design element, with a deep swale bisecting the putting surface. The 11th green, with no bunkers and a series of false fronts funneling wayward approaches away from the hole, is reminiscent of the 14th at Augusta. On the 6th hole, Wadkins and his team added a fronting lion’s mouth bunker, stiffening the demands of a short par 4 that Wadkins watched players carve up last year. They also stretched the tournament tee back to the fence line and installed crossing bunkers at 320 yards, forcing players to decide whether to lay up safely to a ticklish distance, or challenge the sand.
How hard will the course play? Wadkins isn’t sure. A lot depends on setup, which he does not control. He planned to play a practice round with his sons to get a feel for things — though he’s quick to note his game is no barometer of elite golf. “I hit it so short, I can hear it land,” he said.
If he had his way, the rough would be thick and the greens lightning-paced. “I think they could play them at 13,” he said, “though I don’t think the Tour would want to play them quite that quick.”
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Hard to know what the winning number will be. The purse, though, will be dramatically different than it was when Wadkins won. The total payout tops $10 million, with the winner taking home $1.8 million.
Neymar has been named in Brazil’s squad for next month’s World Cup, manager Carlo Ancelotti said on Monday, handing the forward a chance to return to international soccer’s biggest stage after an injury-disrupted cycle.
The inclusion of Neymar, Brazil‘s all-time leading goalscorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances, was the biggest surprise in the 26-man squad named by coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Ancelotti announced Neymar‘s selection at a gala ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, with loud cheers ringing out as the veteran attacker’s call-up was confirmed.
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Speculation has raged for months over whether the 34-year-old former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain attacker would force his way back into the national team set-up.
The forward, a veteran of the 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups, had not played for Brazil since suffering knee injury during a World Cup qualifying game against Uruguay in 2023.
A mixture of injuries and poor form had left him outside the national team set-up, with Ancelotti citing concerns over his fitness after leaving him out of Brazil’s squad for March friendlies against France and Croatia.
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However Neymar, who rejoined boyhood club Santos in January after an injury-ravaged stint in Saudi Arabia, has now earned Ancelotti’s stamp of approval for the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“We monitored Neymar throughout the year and observed that, in recent times, he has been playing consistently and his physical condition has improved,” Ancelotti said. “We believe he is an important player.”
Injuries have restricted Neymar to just 15 appearances in 31 matches since his return to Santos in 2026.
Brazil, who are chasing a record sixth World Cup crown, open their World Cup campaign against Morocco on June 13 before playing Haiti and Scotland in Group C.
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Neymar joins a potent line-up of attackers that includes Barcelona striker Raphinha and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.
Ancelotti meanwhile said he believed the World Cup would be won by the most “resilient” team.
“The World Cup won’t be won by a perfect team — because a perfect team doesn’t exist,” he said. “It will be won by the most resilient team.”
De’Aaron Fox‘s wife’s friend mocked Shai Gilgeous-Alexander after Stephon Castle dunked on the league’s reigning MVP in the Spurs’ 122-115 double overtime win over the OKC Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
On Tuesday, Fox’s wife, Reece Fox, shared a video of Castle dunking on SGA on her Instagram story. The Spurs star’s wife’s friend and former USC Trojans player, McKenzie Forbes, took a jab at the league MVP in the story’s comments section.
Thanks for the submission!
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“On that n***a head!!!!” Forbes wrote.
•
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Reece Fox praised Castle’s courageous effort at the rim in the caption.
“Youngs don’t give af!!!” she wrote.
Reece Fox’s friend mocks SGA on IG.
De’Aaron Fox was ruled out of Game 1 of the WCF before tip-off because of ankle soreness. However, rookie Dylan Harper compensated fairly well for Fox’s absence. He finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.
Stephon Castle took on the playmaking responsibilities in Fox’s absence. He finished with 17 points, six rebounds and 11 assists. Victor Wembanyama, on the other hand, looked like the best player in the world.
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The Spurs superstar delivered a career-defining performance. Wemby was the best player on both ends of the floor. He scored 41 points, recorded 24 rebounds, dished out three assists, made one steal and had three successful blocks.
De’Aaron Fox’s wife hypes up Victor Wembanyama following Game 1 win over the OKC Thunder
De’Aaron Fox’s wife, Reece Fox, hyped up Victor Wembanyama following the Spurs’ win over the defending champions. Fox shared the Spurs’ Instagram post celebrating the victory on her Instagram story.
The post featured a picture of Wemby showing off his arms as he stared into the camera. A glowing “W” graphic was behind the Spurs star in the picture.
“He here!!!!!” Fox wrote in the caption.
Reece Fox hypes up Victor Wembanyama on her IG story.
De’Aaron Fox’s wife has been a big supporter of her husband’s career, but her support is not limited to just her beloved. She has been giving her flowers to other Spurs players during their entire playoff run.
She mocked the Minnesota Timberwolves on her Instagram story on Friday. The Spurs eliminated the Timberwolves in the Conference Semifinals following a 139-109 win in Game 6 of the series.
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The Spurs managed to grab a win on the road in De’Aaron Fox’s absence. However, they would need to get their primary ball handler back on the court as soon as possible. According to NBA insider Marc J. Spears, Fox is expected to play in Game 2 of the WCF series.
The 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Finals get underway on Tuesday with the Game 1 matchup between the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers. The third-seeded Knicks (53-29) swept Philly in the East Semis and have won seven straight games in the 2026 NBA playoffs. No. 4 Cleveland (52-30) needed seven games to win each of its first two postseason series but has won two straight away games after starting the playoffs 0-5 on the road. Larry Nance Jr. (illness) is questionable for Cleveland. OG Anunoby (hamstring) is probable for New York.
Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden in New York City. New York is a 6.5-point favorite in the latest Cavaliers vs. Knicks odds from FanDuel Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 217.5. Before making any Knicks vs. Cavaliers picks, check out the Cavs vs. Knicks predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight-plus seasons. The model entered the conference finals of the 2026 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 26-10 roll (72%) on top-rated NBA spread picks this season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
After 10,000 simulations of Knicks vs. Cavs, SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (217.5). The Over went 2-1 during their regular season matchups, with both of their meetings in New York going over. Both squads saw the total eclipsed in their last playoff games, and this continued a trend for each team. The Over sports a 4-1 record over the Cavs’ last five games, while the Over is 4-2 over the Knicks’ last six contests.
New York and Cleveland each have offenses that are ahead of their respective defenses this season. The Knicks rank third in offensive rating, compared to seventh on defense, while the Cavaliers are sixth on the offensive end but just 15th in defensive rating. With three players projected to top 20 points, and another half-dozen forecasted to score in double-digits, the model calls for 220 combined points, making the Over, which hits 53% of the time, a great selection for anybody targeting NBA parlay betting. See the Cavaliers vs. Knicks spread pick at SportsLine, and you can bet the Over in Knicks vs. Cavaliersat FanDuel here:
Any cause for concern over the health status of the Colorado Avalanche defenseman heading into Game 1 on Wednesday?
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“No,” coach Jared Bednar said. “Not yet.”
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Makar, a Norris Trophy finalist, left the ice following a collision late in Game 5 against Minnesota, only to return as Colorado won the game — and the second-round series — 4-3 in overtime. He also briefly left Game 1 after taking a hit along the boards, with his right leg flying into the air before falling to the ice.
The 27-year-old Makar has four goals and an assist while averaging nearly 25 minutes of ice time through two rounds. He’s a crucial part of their offensive and special teams plans.
Asked what he’d say to fans worried about missing Makar for Game 1, fellow defenseman Sam Malinski responded: “I don’t know what to tell them. Obviously, it would be great to have him out here. You can’t replace him, and we’re going to miss him out there. Yeah, hopefully we can still get it done without him.”
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Makar has missed some recent practices but no games as the Avalanche have gone 8-1 so far in the playoffs.
“We’re all going to have to play a little bit more and we’ll be challenged with different situations,” Malinski explained. “I might have to penalty kill or whatever it is. But, yeah, I wouldn’t say we feel pressure. We’re just going to have to step up.”
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Manson agreed.
“If he can’t go, it is what it is,” Manson said of Makar. “That’s a huge piece. You don’t replace a guy like that, right, so hopefully he can. If not, then guys will step and you fill roles and you just do what you can.”
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Forward Artturi Lehkonen returned to practice Tuesday. He’s been dealing with an upper-body injury and didn’t play in the final two games of the Minnesota series.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola spoke to the media after his side’s Premier League game with Bournemouth
22:00, 19 May 2026Updated 22:12, 19 May 2026
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Pep Guardiola has spoken for the first time about his future at Manchester City, refusing to confirm or deny that he will leave the Blues this summer.
News broke on Monday evening that Guardiola was set to leave the Etihad after a trophy-laden decade but there was no official word from the club or the man himself.
Guardiola was not asked by Sky Sports about his future ahead of the game against Bournemouth, with City needing a win to take the Premier League title race to the final day, with the broadcaster saying it would be unfair to pose the questions on that subject, instead asking if the reports had impacted City’s preparation for the contest.
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But after the game the City chief was asked to clarify his position and said he will confirm his future plans at the end of the season once he has spoken to Blues chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.
“I could say I have one more year of contract and with conversations I have had for many, many years always from my experience, when you announce whatever you announce during the competition is a bad, bad result,” he said.
“Like you understand the first person I have to talk to is my chairman because we decided when we finish the season we will sit and we will talk. Simple as that. And after we will take the decision.
“Listen, I have one more year contract, I will not tell you here because I have to talk to my chairman, my players, my staff. When we play for the FA Cup, before we qualify for the Champions League, we play for the Premier League, there is just one thing in my mind and the focus is try to win the team to the highest points and we have done.
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“I am the happiest man in the planet to be at this club, this club is just extraordinary. At the moment the season is over for us, we want to arrive in the last game with our fans but I know they will come. In 10 seasons they have been good in many, many moments and that is what we have to do until the end.”
Pep Guardiola remained tightlipped on his future after Manchester City’s 1-1 draw at Bournemouth – a result that sees Arsenal win the Premier League for the first time in 22 years.
Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark will serve as grand marshal of the 110th Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, race officials announced Tuesday. The green flag is set to drop at 12:45 p.m. ET at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and will be broadcast on FOX.
Clark’s role involves giving the traditional command for drivers to report to their cars during the official pre-race ceremonies. Other sports stars who have shared this honor include former Fever legend and 2012 WNBA champion Tamika Catchings, five-time MLB champion Derek Jeter, two-time Super Bowl winner Peyton Manning and three-time NBA champion Larry Bird.
“I’m honored to represent Gainbridge as grand marshal of the Indy 500,” Clark said in an official statement. “I’m looking forward to experiencing an iconic piece of what makes Indiana so special and being part of the time-honored tradition of ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’”
The green flag, which indicates the official start of the race, will be waved by Academy Award-winning actor and Indianapolis native Brendan Fraser.
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Since the race takes place during the WNBA season, Clark’s game schedule kept her from participating in race-week activities in previous years. However, this year’s schedule worked out in her favor. The Fever will be in the middle of a six-day break after Friday’s home game against the Golden State Valkyries.
Despite only being in her third WNBA season, Clark is already one of the biggest superstars in basketball. During her time with the Iowa Hawkeyes, Clark set an NCAA Division I career scoring record with a total of 3,951 points. The Fever selected Clark as the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 draft and she went on to win Rookie of the Year while setting the WNBA rookie record for total points scored in a single season, as well as the single-game assist record (19) and the single-season assist record (322).
“Since being drafted by the Fever, fans have been clamoring to share the epic celebration and thrilling excitement of Indy 500 Race Day with Caitlin,” INDYCAR and IMS President J. Douglas Boles said in a statement. “Through our incredible partnership with Gainbridge, everyone joining us for the world’s largest single-day spectator sporting event will get to do just that. Caitlin will bring unique energy and presence to a quintessentially Hoosier experience and an absolutely bucket list global sporting spectacle.”
The race is presented by online financial services company Gainbridge, a company Clark has been an ambassador for since her senior year with the Hawkeyes. The Fever play their home games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, which they also share with the NBA’s Indiana Pacers.
Despite strong fan support, Edmonton still does not have a PWHL team, and the reason may come down more to logistics than interest. The Professional Women’s Hockey League is growing quickly, recently adding Detroit, Hamilton and Las Vegas as new markets. Edmonton, though, has not joined that list despite showing it can draw crowds.
During the 2025 Takeover Tour, more than 17,500 fans attended the Edmonton stop, one of the highest totals on the tour. The city also drew crowds above 10,000 for other PWHL games, showing there is clearly an audience for women’s hockey.
The bigger problem may be finding a home arena. Rogers Place already has a busy schedule with the Edmonton Oilers and Edmonton Oil Kings sharing the building. Between the two teams, there are 75 home games across the season.
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Once concerts and other events are added, fitting in another hockey team becomes difficult, especially since the PWHL now plays a longer schedule than it did in its early seasons. Ownership is another part of the issue.
The PWHL owns all of its teams directly instead of using separate ownership groups. That means any Edmonton team would likely need an agreement with Oilers Entertainment Group to play at Rogers Place without being owned by OEG.
According to Ice Warriors Media Group, the league and OEG did discuss bringing a team to Edmonton but were unable to reach an agreement. A smaller arena does not seem like an easy answer either. Downtown Community Arena only seats about 1,000 people, which is far below the size most PWHL teams play in.
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So while Edmonton looks like a strong hockey market for the league, scheduling issues and arena arrangements may be what is keeping a team out of the city for now.
PWHL expansion keeps moving ahead without Edmonton
While Edmonton is still without a team, the Professional Women’s Hockey League has continued to add new markets at a fast pace. The league recently announced San Jose as its 12th franchise, adding another city to an expansion group that already included Detroit, Hamilton and Las Vegas.
That growth has come quickly. The PWHL started with six teams in 2023 and has now doubled in size in just a few seasons.
San Jose will play out of SAP Center, home of the San Jose Sharks. The city also brings a large market, growing interest in women’s sports and strong girls hockey participation.
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The league’s executive Amy Scheer said San Jose’s hockey background, women’s sports scene and community growth all played a role in the decision.2
The league could also change how it is organized as more teams come in. Officials have previously discussed using conferences or divisions as travel becomes a bigger part of the schedule.
The league owns all of its teams and is backed by Mark Walter and Kimbra Walter. With 12 teams now in place, including seven in the United States, the league may also be in a stronger position when it comes to landing a national broadcast partner.
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