England cricketer Jonathan Bairstow (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
NEW DELHI: Cricket has been caught up in rising tensions in the Middle East, leaving players from both England and Pakistan stuck in Dubai.England Lions were in the UAE to play Pakistan Shaheens, but everything changed after Iran carried out missile and drone strikes in the region.
T20 World Cup 2026: Sourav Ganguly backs a batting spectacle at Eden Gardens
As a result, the UAE closed its airspace, grounding flights and cancelling Sunday’s match. Among those stranded are Jonny Bairstow, former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, and 24 other players and staff members.With flights suspended, the team has been unable to leave Dubai. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) says it is working to make sure everyone stays safe and can return home when possible. An ECB spokesperson said, “The safety and security of our teams and staff is our top priority. We are in contact with security experts and the government in relation to current events in the Middle East, and are following official advice.”“We will continue to monitor and assess the situation and official advice in relation to the future of these trips,” the spokesperson told BBC.Bairstow also shared his frustration publicly. Posting on X, he wrote, “@emirates we haven’t had any communication post flight getting cancelled. Tried the lines of communication but nothing. Could someone please be in contact.”It’s not just the men’s ‘A’ teams affected. England’s women’s side had plans for a training camp in Dubai, which will now not go ahead. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is also staying in touch with the Shaheens and keeping a close watch on developments. For now, there’s no clear timeline on when UAE airspace will reopen, leaving both teams waiting for updates.
A new quarterback rumor is making the rounds for the New York Jets, with Kyler Murray emerging as a potential target.
During coverage of the NFL combine on Saturday, Matthew Berry of NBC Sports revealed he has consistently heard talks linking Murray to New York. The franchise, valued at $8.1 billion by Forbes, is reportedly exploring veteran options, and Murray’s name keeps surfacing despite his five-year, $230.5 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals signed in 2022.
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“I heard that Kyler Murray, not on Minnesota’s radar, really,” Berry said. “Wouldn’t be surprised to see him with the Jets. That’s one that I keep hearing a decent amount, Kyler Murray to the Jets.”
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The Jets once again failed to get enough production at quarterback in 2025, this time from Justin Fields. This has prompted the team to start exploring all available options, including the possibility of acquiring Murray.
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Murray’s 2025 campaign with the Cardinals was cut short after just five appearances due to a season-ending foot injury. He threw for 962 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions while posting a 68.3% completion rate. He also contributed 173 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
As a two-time Pro Bowl selection in 2020 and 2021, Kyler Murray still has significant upside at just 28 years old, so the reported link to New York is not surprising. However, injuries and inconsistency have slowed him in recent seasons, but Murray’s skill set could align well with what new Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich wants to implement.
At the same time, the Jets are doing their homework on the 2026 draft class. They reportedly met with Ty Simpson of Alabama and Taylen Green at the scouting combine in Indianapolis.
Breaking down a potential Jets trade package for Kyler Murray
Kyler Murray appears increasingly likely to move on from the Arizona Cardinals, as the franchise enters a new era under coach Mike LaFleur. Murray’s time with the Cardinals hasn’t quite lived up to the expectations as the No. 1 pick of 2019, and a fresh start could be on the horizon.
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Should he leave, the New York Jets have been mentioned as a possible landing spot. According to a mock trade by ESPN’s Ben Solak, if Murray’s contract isn’t restructured, a trade would likely cost a fourth-round pick, though that could be higher if Arizona agreed to absorb some of the dead cap.
Solak suggests that a fourth-round pick or a couple of late-round selections could be enough to acquire Kyler Murray given his current contract. If necessary, the Jets could be forced to part with a third-round pick.
The Jets don’t hold a third-round pick in 2026, but they do have four picks in the first two rounds, a fourth-rounder, and two fifth-round selections. Using Solak’s projection, a package of one fourth-round pick with one of the fifth-round picks, and maybe adding a player, should be enough to convince the Cardinals to finalize the trade.
The Ubisoft Publisher Sale 2026 is now live, bringing massive discounts across some of the biggest franchises. This sale not only features deals on classics, but also some of the newer AAA releases. Some titles are even hitting their lowest prices ever, with up to 95% discount, making this a great time to expand your library. From open-world adventures to tactical and strategy experiences, there is something for everyone to grab.
On that note, here are the best deals worth checking out in the Ubisoft Publisher Sale 2026.
7 best deals in Ubisoft Publisher Sale 2026
Here are some of the best Ubisoft Publisher Sale deals in no particular order:
1) The Crew Motorfest (90% off)
The Crew Motofest gameplay (Image via Ubisoft)
The Crew Motorfest is an open-world racing game set in a vibrant island environment inspired by Hawaii. It features one of the biggest vehicle collections and has numerous collaboration playlists with a great replayability factor. In some aspects, it is even better than Forza Horizon 5. The game is currently available at just $6.99, the lowest price since launch.
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2) Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 (90% off)
The Division 2 (Image via Ubisoft)
The Division 2 is a third-person looter shooter set in a post-pandemic Washington DC. The game features plenty of PvE as well as PvP content to explore, and has a Mostly Positive rating on Steam with over 25,000 reviews. It is priced at $2.99, making it one of the must-haves during the Ubisoft Publisher Sale.
3) Assassin’s Creed Shadows (50% off)
Exploring the Assassin’s Creed Shadows map (Image via Ubisoft)
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the latest entry in Ubisoft’s iconic franchise, featuring a feudal Japan with two distinct protagonists. The game combines stealth, parkour, and large-scale open-world exploration. At $34.99, it is one of the best AAA games you could get during the sale.
4) Star Wars Outlaws (70% off)
Outlaws has a Mostly Positive rating on Steam (Image via Ubisoft)
Star Wars Outlaws is an open-world adventure game set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. It features tens of hours of content and has a fairly large map to explore. The game is available for $20.99 during the sale, which is a great deal considering it’s a AAA title from 2024.
5) Far Cry 5 (85% off)
Far Cry 5 is one of the best games in the series (Image via Ubisoft)
Far Cry 5 is an open-world shooter set in rural Montana and has one of the highest ratings in the franchise. The game offers both solo and co-op gameplay options with numerous side missions and chaotic combats. As of writing, it has a Very Positive rating with over 160,000 reviews on Steam. You can purchase it for a discounted price of $8.99 during the Ubisoft Publisher Sale.
6) Anno 1800 (75% off)
Anno 1800 is a classic city builder (Image via Ubisoft)
Anno 1800 is a city-building and strategy game set during the Industrial Revolution. Players manage resources, build networks, and grow their empire across multiple regions. It is a great starting point for newcomers, especially if you want to try Anno 117 Pax Romana in the future. The iconic strategy title is currently priced at $14.99.
7) For Honor (95% off)
For Honor is one of the cheapest games during the sale (Image via Ubisoft)
For Honor is an iconic multiplayer title that focuses on melee combat. Released in 2017, the game still manages to pull thousands of concurrent players on a daily basis on Steam. It offers skill-based duels and large scale team modes with a unique directional combat system. At just $1.49, it is highly-recommended to add it to your library.
That concludes the list of recommended deals to grab during the Ubisoft Publisher Sale 2026. For those wondering, the sale ends on March 12, 2026.
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I’m not saying something entirely unheard of with this take. Dort, along with most players on the Thunder, benefit from a whistle not given to the rest of the league. Friday night’s matchup between the Nuggets and Thunder showed that at full effect.
This game was very physical from start to finish. These two teams do not like each other, and I feel much of that comes from the SGA vs. Jokic MVP debates. Jokic is probably the better player, but Gilgeous-Alexander won the MVP last year and knocked the Nuggets out of the playoffs.
Things are different this time around. Jokic has far more help than in years past. Denver isn’t quite fully healthy yet, but in spurts, you’ve seen what this team could do in the playoffs.
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OKC and Denver met at the start of the month, but the Nuggets were still missing multiple role players, and Jokic had a bit of a down night in only his second game back from injury. Even still, we saw a level of chippiness in this one that you normally won’t see in the NBA.
What happened on Friday had been building for the better part of two seasons.
While trying to get back on defense on a made basket, Dort purposefully hip-checked and tripped Jokic, leading to a mid-court fight between Jokic and Jaylin Williams.
Dort was given a flagrant two and ejected from the game, something Coach Daigneault disagreed with. He claimed that any player who trips someone running up the floor should be ejected now that this precedent has been set.
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In most cases, if something like this occurs, a player should probably be ejected. Rocket’s Tari Eason did something similar earlier this week, and it led to Vince Williams Jr. tearing his ACL. Physicality is great in basketball, but dumb plays like the one Dort made are dangerous and could potentially injure a superstar like Jokic.
Another key factor is that Dort doesn’t deserve any benefit of the doubt. This isn’t a one-off play. He’s a Draymond Green-like character who is always toeing the line between fair and foul.
Dort has countless plays like this. If you feel like he’s close to doing anything dirty, he should be removed from the game and fined, because he’s constantly committing non-basketball fouls.
The Thunder did go on to win in OT, but luckily, these teams meet again in less than 10 days, so I doubt this is the end of this beef.
I recently took a trip to PING headquarters in Phoenix and had an incredible experience having Adam Harding, from the Ping tour truck, custom-grind me a wedge.
When we visited Ping previously for Fully Fit, I was having trouble finding the right lob wedge, which was disappointing because I liked how they felt off the face and they were spinning more than anything else that I had tried the rest of the week. Thankfully, we were on another trip out west, and I got to work with Adam, whom I had been texting for weeks about my quest to dial in the wedge.
I’ve already gotten comments from viewers and followers that this isn’t a “normal” thing, and it’s tough to compare the experience to what a consumer can get. That, however, is wrong, and I’m really happy to let you guys in on this little secret.
Jake talks with Adam Harding of Ping Tour while hitting shots at PING Proving Grounds
Josh Goedker / GOLF
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How did I know I needed a custom grind?
When we went out for Fully Fit at Ping, I really, really enjoyed the new S259 wedges. On full shots with the gap wedge and the sand wedge, I was impressed by the feel, and more importantly, the penetrating flight the wedges produced with more spin than I had seen from anything I tested. This was confirmed throughout the week-long trip.
The problem was that we couldn’t figure out the lob wedge. I typically play a lower-bounce lob wedge to prioritize the ability to open up the face without exposing the leading edge. This helps add effective bounce while allowing me to be creative.
Weirdly enough, the best option of the day at Fully Fit ended up being the W grind, but it was mostly because I could make the wedge work for more types of square-face shots. Leaning the shaft, keeping the hands back, or going toe down was easy and the wedge was very forgiving, but I had to abandon the option of opening the face on little shots around the green. With that wide of a sole and that much bounce, it just wasn’t something I was comfortable looking at or executing.
This is where the custom grind comes in.
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A friend of mine used to work on all my golf clubs, and a couple of years ago, we discovered that a significant reduction in the heel of any lob wedge is good for my game. I love to swing the face way open, and knocking down the heel helps a lot with that.
I also like to add a bit of skid to the leading edge to ensure that I don’t create a knife that digs into the ground and never comes out. In 2024, I played a Mizuno T24 that was custom ground with leading-edge camber and heel relief, and for 2025, I did the same with a Cobra King, a fresh grind of which is the current front-runner for the bag.
There was just something about these Ping S259 wedges that I really liked, so I texted Adam about potentially making some changes to the H-Grind, which was really close in testing. It worked well around the greens, but it was too sharp on longer pitch shots or full shots. Digging really hard and not getting out of the turf properly is a common issue with the H-Grind, and I had the same problem.
Adam was confident that he could help. He texted me to say that he had explored some options for that exact problem whenever I was able to see him next. You can see the entire interaction in the YouTube video we created.
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Figuring out what the custom grind needed to be
We started by hitting a couple of shots with the “contenders”. Adam wanted to use the S259 S-Grind as the base test because it’s PING’s “standard” grind. It’s something that works for lots of players and has a unique way of showing what a player may need from a wedge. It’s not quite the grind for me.
Sure enough, I shanked one off the hosel. Definitely not the one we were going to move forward with. Next, we went back to test the H-Grind. We were pretty sure this one was going to work for me around the green, so it was more of a fun test just to show off a little bit. The H-Grind has about 90% of what I am looking for on the shorter shots around the green, but I could still feel the heel making contact with the turf before the ball.
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PING S259 S, H, and E grinds that Jake tested with Adam Harding at PING Proving Grounds
Josh Goedker / GOLF
Lastly, Adam, for his own research, wanted me to hit the newly designed E-Grind.
The E-Grind takes the classic Ping Eye-style grind and modernizes it for today’s game. It still has the Eye grind-style material cutout in the sole, which gives it two leading edges and two trailing edges in a way.
The idea is to keep the front of the wedge lower bounce for ease of use around the greens, but high enough in bounce to hit the fuller shots. Unfortunately for me, the shape of the leading edge was still just a bit too sharp for how steep I get on pitch and full shots. Even trying to open it around the greens, I struggled to get past that “second cut” on the sole. We moved back to the H-Grind to hit a few more shots and decided that was going to be our starting point.
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From there, Adam went to work.
Jake hitting chip shots with Adam Harding at PING Proving Grounds
Mark Hannan / GOLF
He started by grabbing a fresh S259 H-Grind from the truck drawer (with no weight port installed) and taking it to the grinding belt. Using a coarser, more aggressive belt, he began removing material.
Since Adam had done a similar grind for himself, it didn’t take him long to get there. He took a bunch of material off the heel, and what used to be a bit of a knuckle in that area became nice and flat. He then smoothed the rest of the wedge with a finer, less-aggressive belt to help blend before tackling the leading edge.
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To make it less sharp without adding too much additional bounce, he had to be careful about the angle he chose to grind this new “skid”. By blunting the front edge a bit more and creating a skid, I can stay aggressively down in attack angle without worrying about the wedge getting stuck in the ground on pitch shots or more full shots.
Again with this, he started with a coarse belt to get the shape down and take away material, and then finished it up with a finer belt for blending it back into the wedge. Since this was a Hydropearl 2.0 Chrome finish, it’s easy to spot the work done, but Adam did a fantastic job blending the grind, even with the finish removed.
Making sure we didn’t screw it up
After Adam ground up the new wedge, he built it up to my specs with a Project X 6.5 Wedge shaft and a GolfPride Tour Velvet Cord grip.
The cool part about building up a PING wedge from scratch is the access to the CTP weights (pictured above). The heads start without a weight in the port, so they can build the wedge without having to worry about tip weights or swing weight at all, really, and then the appropriate CTP weight can be placed in the build at the very end to ensure proper swing weight.
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This is especially cool when it means that there’s zero trouble in building a unique length and, in my case, building it to the same length as a gap wedge.
Adam explaining the new work done to Jake
Josh Goedker / GOLF
Once the wedge was dry, we headed back to the PING Proving Grounds chipping green to hit the same shots we had started with.
I could feel the difference immediately.
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It was so easy to open up the wedge and get aggressive on my attack angle without ever fearing that I was going to stick the wedge into the ground. We quickly hit some fantastic shots and then headed over to the range to hit some full shots. This is where we were going to find out if the entire experiment was worth it.
The good news: it was a breeze. The wedge didn’t get stuck in the ground a single time. It got into the turf fast, which helps me make confident ball-first contact, but came out quickly enough that spin values stayed consistent, impact location and strike consistency improved. The flight window I was seeing was nearly perfect. One shot after another, Adam’s leading-edge grind proved its worth. I was a very happy golfer with a new tool.
Jake’s fresh PING Golf S259 custom H Grind wedge
Jake Morrow Custom S259 Heel Grind
Tour experiences are great… but how can the regular golfer get this?
One of the common comments I’ve received since this content went live is that it’s not fair to show an experience the average consumer can’t get.
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But that’s not true.
There are lots of private bay fitters who do custom wedge fittings and grinds, as well as plenty of online resources for places to send your wedge with notes of how you want it ground. Remember, some things will require more investment. If you really think that you have no options in the wedge market, investing a few more bucks to get one ground the way you need it is absolutely worth it. It is to me, anyway. But that’s not even the best part.
The cooler news is that this type of experience is available through Ping Custom. An authorized Ping dealer can work with Ping through what’s called the Ping WRX program. It’s sort of an “if you know, you know” program, but it’s one of the cool ways that Ping separates itself.
Offerings like it are part of the reason that Ping doesn’t sell directly to the customer. They want to make sure the gear has been properly tested or, preferably, fitted. Working with authorized dealers on things like Ping WRX, it allows customers and their fitters to get specific about what they are looking for from Ping and bring this sort of experience to the regular consumer.
For more information on that program, visit your local authorized PING dealer. I’d probably stay away from the big box stores with this one, though, and find a local fitter or a local golf shop near you to help order properly.
Saturday marked the end for three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva, who succumbed to colic complications.
Unmatched in history, Makybe Diva captured three Melbourne Cups in a row from 2003 to 2005, and owner Tony Santic wasted no time in announcing her departure from competition after that final glory.
Awarded Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year in 2005 for her brilliant run that included the Australian Cup, BMW Stakes, Memsie Stakes, Turnbull Stakes, Cox Plate and the pinnacle Melbourne Cup.
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She was welcomed into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame the next year and elevated to Legend Status in 2010.
Trained initially by David Hall, Makybe Diva joined Lee Freedman after Hall pursued opportunities in Hong Kong, achieving 15 wins out of 36 races and pocketing $14.5 million prizemoney.
“From the day she came into our lives, she was never just a racehorse she was family,” Santic said.
“She gave us moments Australia will never forget, but more than that, she gave us joy every single day.
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“She was loved from the beginning, and she stayed loved for her whole life.”
Makybe Diva’s descendants couldn’t match her accomplishments on the course, so post-breeding retirement, the mare settled into life at Santic’s estate near Geelong.
Reflecting on Makybe Diva’s Melbourne Cup triumphs, racing enthusiasts should visit racing betting markets for the latest options in 2026.
An eye-catching win in a Flemington Stakes has positioned Birdman as a contender for the Australian Cup.
The Chris Waller charge delivered on Saturday in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m), his second start post-spell, signalling bright prospects for the former UK import this autumn.
With $3.50 favourite Ben Melham in the saddle, the gelding quickened decisively beyond the 100m mark to claim victory by 1-¾ lengths over Enxuto ($7), followed half a head later by Mark Twain ($101).
On February 14, Birdman returned via the Listed Elms Handicap (1400m) at Flemington, where a tight draw left the gelding short of room.
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Saturday’s tactics focused on preventing congestion, with Melham directed to position Birdman with freedom.
Darren Beadman, standing in for Waller, praised Melham’s compliance with the riding orders.
“Last start it didn’t work out from the inside draw, but today he held his line out of the gates,” Beadman said.
“He wasn’t the best to step away, but he kept that three wide line and dictated to a few runners around him.
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“He let them know he wasn’t going to go over to the fence. He was seven lengths off the lead, and it was a pretty easy watch.”
Beadman recalled the gelding’s arrival from Britain boasting quality form, including hopes from owners for a Melbourne Cup crack.
“He arrived in Australia about a year-and-a-half or two years ago with good credentials and a couple of wins, including the Queen’s Vase,” Beadman said.
“The owners were hoping to aim for the Melbourne Cup. He’s been very consistent and his was a great run in the Caulfield Cup last year.
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“I guess, without speaking to Chris, the Australian Cup will probably be the ideal type of race for him.”
The Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) is set down for March 28 at Flemington.
According to Melham, Birdman merited success on resumption and the run instilled real optimism ahead of the Blamey.
“I feel that he will go to a new level this preparation,” Melham said.
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“I love the feeling when he let down today.
“He’s a master, Chris Waller. This horse has really come into his own this preparation and he’s a gentleman to deal with and he’s got a motor to boot.
“That will hold him in good stead moving forward.”
For punters tracking the 2026 Australian Cup, leading betting sites offer strong racing odds on Birdman.
1 min read Last Updated : Mar 01 2026 | 1:16 PM IST
The Asian Football Confederation has postponed continental club championship playoffs scheduled in the Middle East this week in response to the US and Israel attacks on Iran.
Soccer’s Asian governing body issued a statement Sunday saying the AFC Champions League Elite Round of 16 games scheduled for Monday and Tuesday in the West Region will be rescheuled.
The AFC Champions League 2 and AFC Challenge League quarterfinals scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in the West zone will also be postponed. No new dates have been set.
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Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi club Al-Nassr is among the teams involved in the Asian Champions League Two competition.
Matches in the East Region across all of the AFC’s continental championships will continue as scheduled, organizers said.
“The AFC will continue to closely monitor this rapidly evolving situation and remains resolute in ensuring the safety and security of all players, teams, officials, and fans,” the AFC said in a statement.
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The AFC is hosting the Women’s Asian Cup in Australia starting Sunday. Iran is among the 12 national teams competing.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley said Saturday that the university is working to bring three former women’s basketball players, including WNBA veteran Tiffany Mitchell, home from Israel as joint missile strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran continued.
Staley shared a message on X revealing that Mitchell, who played last season for the Seattle Storm; former Phoenix Mercury forward Mikiah Herbert Harrigan; and former Team USA guard Destiny Littleton were all in Israel at the time of the strikes.
Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks during a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C., Jan. 25, 2026. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
“Please pray for our @GamecockWBB @TiffMitch25 @2121Mikiah @dstnylttltn24 who are in a war zone in Israel,” her post said.
“We are working a plan to get home. Let us pray for our loved ones to return home safely asap! Thank you in advance.”
Neither the WNBA nor the University of South Carolina immediately responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Littleton, who played for the South Carolina Gamecocks from 2019-2022, posted a series of video updates on social media stating she was “safe.”
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South Carolina guard Destiny Littleton during a game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C., Jan. 9, 2022.(John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“I’m about to head to the shelter now,” she said in one video. “Unfortunate, but this is the circumstance right now.”
Mitchell reshared Staley’s post on X with praying hands emoji but did not comment further. Herbert Harrigan did the same.
Littleton plays for Hapoel Lev Jerusalem, a professional women’s basketball team in the Israeli Women Basketball Premier League. According to the team’s Facebook, she signed with the team in November. She previously played for Team USA basketball, winning a gold medal at the 2017 FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup.
Tiffany Mitchell of the Seattle Storm moves the ball down the court against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, on Aug. 22, 2025.(Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Mitchell signed with the Storm in July after beginning the 2025 season with the Las Vegas Aces. She has played several offseasons overseas, including a stint with the Russian Women’s Basketball Premier League.
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She last played with Hapoel Lev Jerusalem during the 2024-2025 season and won the Israeli Women Basketball Premier League championship in 2019. It was not immediately known if she was playing for the team. She announced on her Instagram in November that she had signed with the Beijing Great Wall of the Women’s Chinese Basketball Association.
Herbert Harrigan was a first-round draft pick in the WNBA, selected sixth overall in the 2020 WNBA Draft. She has had several stints throughout the league, last playing for the Mercury in 2024.
She was later traded to the Dallas Wings before getting waived last year. She currently plays in the Israeli Women Basketball Premier League for Elitzur Ramla.
Mikiah Herbert Harrigan of the Phoenix Mercury against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, July 3, 2024.(Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
The U.S. joined Israel in launching strikes against Iran on Saturday morning. In video remarks posted to Truth Social, Trump encouraged the Iranian people to take over their government once the United States and Israel finished “major combat operations” in Iran.
Iran launched retaliatory missile strikes targeting U.S. sites in multiple countries. Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin reported that approximately 40 missiles had landed in Israel. Additionally, Iran appeared to hit the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, but no casualties were reported. Iran also launched missiles at Saudi Arabia and Jordan, where the U.S. has squadrons of advanced fighter jets, Griffin added.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Sinkewicz and Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.
Fabio Wardley has plotted another domestic dustup, against another former world champion, which could materialise if he successfully defends his WBO title against Daniel Dubois.
Wardley and Dubois will square off in a mouth-watering heavyweight clash on May 9, headlining a Queensberry Promotions card at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena.
Aptly named ‘Don’t Blink’, their world title fight has all the ingredients to deliver an explosive shootout, with each man boasting a 95% knockout-to-win ratio.
Dubois, meanwhile, has not fought since his fifth-round stoppage defeat to Usyk in July, back when the Londoner lost his IBF strap in emphatic fashion.
In this next contest, though, the 28-year-old certainly represents a dangerous threat, while Wardley has already begun to consider a possible clash with Tyson Fury.
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‘The Gypsy King’ must first get past Arslanbek Makhmudov on April 11 but, after that, Wardley firmly believes another all-British world title fight could come to fruition.
Speaking with Daily Mail Boxing, the 31-year-old said he initially tried to make his maiden title defence against Fury, until it became clear that the 37-year-old would first need a comeback fight.
“I gave him [Fury] an open invitation to say, ‘Look, if you want it, I’m here. Call me. Just let me know. It’s no bother to me; if you want to go in April, I’ll go in April.’
“But obviously, he’s fighting Makhmudov and doing his own thing. Hopefully – fingers crossed – he comes through that, and then I get through Daniel, and then, on the other side, we find ourselves in Wardley-Fury territory.”
Fury has not fought since suffering a second points defeat to Usyk in 2024 but, with a win over Makhmudov, perhaps he will soon return to the top end of his division.
Oleksandr Usyk’s upcoming fight with Rico Verhoeven may not be a WBC title defence, despite an initial announcement to the contrary.
The Ukrainian southpaw was last in action against Daniel Dubois in July 2025, where he became undisputed in boxing’s top division for a second time. Rather than face his WBO mandatory challenger, Fabio Wardley, next, Usyk opted to vacate that belt.
However, WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman, who has come under fire since the announcement, has now told Chris Mannix that the fight will be a WBC “special event” and that the belt on the line will be a commemorative token. He says there has been no request for it to be a sanctioned heavyweight title defence.
“The WBC fully supports this cross over fight … (we) will create an unbelievable belt featuring the elements of Pyramids of Egypt. The WBC supported Fury vs Ngannou which turned out to be very competitive and we have full respect of Rico as a legendary kickboxing heavyweight champion. At this moment there has not been discussion of a request to be a title defence and just a special event involving the WBC heavyweight champion.”
Usyk was granted a voluntary defence months ago on the condition that he would face mandatory challenger and interim champion, Agit Kabayel, next. However, voluntaries should come against someone ranked in the top 15 – something Verhoeven, who has had one professional boxing match, can’t boast.
The Tyson Fury–Francis Ngannou bout provides a recent precedent, where the WBC title was not placed on the line. At the time, Fury held the WBC title, but the sanctioning body permitted ‘The Gypsy King’ to have that fight without the belt on the line, then allowing him to move into an undisputed contest with Usyk.
The Verhoeven fight in general has been met by mixed reviews, with many feeling the Ukrainian road warrior has earned the right for big money crossover bouts at this stage of his campaign. Others, however, would rather the world titles were not held up to make it happen. What the IBF and WBA decide to do remains unclear, with Usyk losing those two belts a real possibility.
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