Feb 14, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) celebrates with the trophy after winning the three point contest during the 2026 NBA All Star Saturday Night at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Keshad Johnson of the Miami Heat has not started a game this season, Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers has not played in one, and yet both made their impact on All-Star Weekend.
Johnson delivered the defining moment of his short two-season NBA career so far when he won the Slam Dunk competition over rookie Carter Bryant of the San Antonio Spurs to close out Saturday’s prelude of events to Sunday’s All-Star Game.
In the 3-point Contest, the veteran Lillard defeated seven other long-distance shooting rivals and won the event for a third time, tying the record previously held by Larry Bird and Craig Hodges. The 35-year-old has been out due to an Achilles injury.
Johnson used a between-the-legs reverse dunk and a running dunk from just inside the free-throw line to post a combined score of 97.4 in the final round. He then had to wait out a final dunk from Bryant, who delivered a perfect 50.0 on his opening dunk of the final round.
Needing a score of 47.5 to become the dunk champion in his native Southern California, Bryant struggled to deliver some flash and settled for a 360-degree dunk just before time expired. His score of 43.0 left him with a final-round total of 93.0.
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Eliminated in the opening round of the dunk competition were Jase Richardson of the Orlando Magic and Jaxson Hayes of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Johnson, who has played in just 21 games off the bench this season and averages 7.6 minutes per game, outlasted them all.
Lillard’s 3-point victory was almost as much of a surprise. He has been out of action since an Achilles tear during last season’s playoffs as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks.
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“For me, it means a lot just being able to get involved in some competition, feel a little bit of pressure, to do something that I haven’t been able to do all year,” Lillard said. “But just as a shooter, any time you can get in this competition and win it amongst other great shooters, I think that’s one of the greatest honors you can have as a shooter in this league.”
Lillard scored 29 points in the final round to hold off Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns, who had 27 in the final after posting a high score of 30 while advancing from the first round. Rookie Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets also advanced to the final round but was eliminated with a score of 17.
While Lillard made his final 3-point shot to record his 29, Booker reached 27 by making his first two shots on the final rack of balls, then missed all three of his final shots, any one of which would have forced overtime in the competition.
In addition to Booker’s 30 in the first round, Knueppel and Lillard each scored 27 to move on. Failing to advance were the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell (24), the Miami Heat’s Norman Powell (23), the Denver Nuggets’ Jamal Murray (18), the Philadelphia 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey (17) and the Milwaukee Bucks’ Bobby Portis Jr. (15).
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Lillard said his entry in the contest started off as a joke between NBA executive Michael Levine and became a reality when one player in the field backed out.
“It didn’t really take much,” Lillard said “I think I’ve done it enough times. … I think this was my sixth time doing it. I get up every day, and my mind is engaged in being able to play the game. I knew it was an opportunity to get back on this stage.”
Team Knicks — comprised of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and team legend Allan Houston — won the Shooting Stars contest with a dominating 47 points in the final. Team Cameron – consisting of former Duke players Jalen Johnson, Kon Knueppel and Corey Maggette — were the runner-up with 38 points.
The Shooting Stars competition had all three players shoot from seven different spots on the floor with each distance worth a varying amount of points.
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Team All Star (Scottie Barnes, Chet Holmgren, Richard Hamilton) and Team Harper (Dylan Harper, Ron Harper Jr., Ron Harper) were eliminated in the first round of the Shooting Stars contest.
NEW DELHI: Sunrisers Hyderabad return to winning ways with a dominant 65-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders, thanks largely to Heinrich Klaasen’s calm and experienced knock. While Blessing Muzarabani shines with four wickets for KKR, Klaasen’s steady 52 helps SRH post a strong 226/8 after being put in to bat. In reply, KKR never really get going and are bowled out for 161 in just 16 overs, slipping to another defeat.
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Rohit Sharma unleashed: MI coach explains tactical calls after explosive knock
SRH build big total despite stumbles
SRH get off to a flying start as Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma put together a rapid 82-run opening stand, attacking from the outset. Just when it looks like a huge total is on the cards, KKR fight back through Muzarabani, who removes key batters and briefly slows things down. At one stage, SRH lose wickets quickly and the innings looks shaky.That’s when Klaasen steps in and steadies things. He plays smart cricket, rotating strike and keeping the scoreboard ticking even when boundaries dry up. Alongside Nitish Kumar Reddy, he builds a crucial partnership that keeps SRH on track for a big total. The duo adds important runs in the middle overs, ensuring the early momentum doesn’t go to waste and helping SRH reach a competitive score.
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KKR collapse under pressure
Chasing 227, KKR start brightly with Finn Allen’s quick 28, but things fall apart soon after his dismissal. There is visible lack of coordination as run-outs and poor shot selection hurt them badly. Cameron Green is involved in a mix-up and gets run out cheaply, and even Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who plays a fine knock of 52, is run out after another misunderstanding.The innings never recovers as wickets keep falling regularly. Rinku Singh tries to fight back with a 35, but once he departs, the chase is effectively over. SRH bowlers, led by Jaydev Unadkat, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Eshan Malinga, keep things tight and finish the job comfortably, sealing a comprehensive win.
Scotland closed in on a bye to the semifinals at the world men’s curling championship with a 7-4 win over Switzerland in Thursday’s morning draw.
Ross Whyte’s team went ahead 5-4 with a point in the ninth end, then capped the match with a steal of two in the 10th.
Scotland moved into a tie with idle Sweden atop the standings at 9-2 with two round-robin draws to play.
Marco Hoesli’s Swiss side, which is assured of a playoff berth, fell into a tie for fourth with the United States at 8-3. The U.S. defeated Italy 9-8 in the morning in a matchup of two more playoff-bound teams.
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The Italians were sixth at 7-4.
Matt Dunstone’s playoff-bound Canada team was idle in the morning. The Winnipeg rink sat in third at 8-2 heading into games later Thursday against Germany and Norway.
The top two teams at the end of the round-robin earn a direct berth in the semifinals, while the other four teams that make the playoffs play in a qualification round.
In other results from Thursday’s early round, Japan beat Poland 10-2, and China downed Germany 9-5.
With a new collective bargaining agreement in tow, the WNBA is barreling toward the start of the 2026 season on May 8. But first, the majority of players still need to sign contracts.
Every veteran is a free agent this offseason, with the exception of Kalani Brown and Lexie Brown. Veterans signed deals that ended after the 2025 season to take advantage of higher salaries under the new CBA.
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Some key figures for free agency:
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The salary cap will rise from $1.5M to $7M, a 466% jump
Supermax contracts are up 561% to $1.4M, from around $250K
Minimum salaries above $300,000, with the average salary around $600,000
So when will this free agency bonanza begin? Great question. The WNBA has not officially announced dates for qualifying offers or free agency, though tentative dates of April 7-8 (qualifying offers), April 9-11 (free agency negotiations) and April 12 (official start of free agency) were provided. The expansion draft for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo is April 3, the collegiate draft is April 13 and the preseason begins April 19.
For more on each team’s free agency situation, check out our team-by-team free agency primer. And click on the team name below to jump to view notable free agents and the latest developments in each city:
The two brought New York its first championship in 2024, though their title-winning coach, Sandy Brondello, moved on to join the expansion Toronto Tempo this offseason. Former Warriors assistant Chris DeMarco will be at the helm for the 2026 season.
Under contract: Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, Georgia Amoore, Jacy Sheldon, Lucy Olsen Restricted: Sug Sutton, Shakira Austin Reserved: Emily Engstler, Madison Scott Notable free agents: Alysha Clark, Stefanie Dolson
Golden State Valkyries
Under contract: Carla Leite, Kate Martin Restricted: Veronica Burton, Cecilia Zandalasini Reserved: Janelle Salaün, Laeticia Amihere, Kaitlyn Chen, Iliana Rupert Notable free agents: Kayla Thornton, Tiffany Hayes, Temi Fagbenle
Los Angeles Sparks
Under contract: Cameron Brink, Rickea Jackson, Sarah Ashlee Barker, Sania Feagin Reserved: Rae Burrell, Julie Vanloo, Alissa Pili Notable free agents: Kelsey Plum, Dearica Hamby
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Dallas Wings
Under contract: Diamond Miller, Maddy Siegrist, Paige Bueckers, Aziaha James, JJ Quinerly Reserved: Luisa Geiselsöder, Li Yueru, Halley Jones, Grace Berger Notable free agents: Arike Ogunbowale
Connecticut Sun
Under contract: Aneesah Morrow, Saniya Rivers, Aaliyah Edwards, Leila Lacan, Rayah Marshall Restricted: Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Haley Peters Reserved: Mamignan Touré Notable free agents: Marina Mabrey, Tina Charles
Chicago Sky
Under contract: Kamilla Cardoso, Angel Reese, Hailey Van Lith, Maddy Westbeld Reserved: Sevgi Uzun Notable free agents: Courtney Vandersloot, Rebecca Allen, Kia Nurse, Ariel Atkins
Chris Jericho made his return to AEW. Following his return, a WWE legend has offered some advice to Tony Khan’s company.
Matt Hardy is the latest to comment on Chris Jericho’s return. Jericho has been absent from AEW TV for the past year. During this time, there has been a lot of speculation about his future. Many reports emerged that suggested that Jericho could be headed back to WWE after his contract expired on December 31, 2025. However, that did not happen. This week on Dynamite, Jericho made his highly anticipated return to the Jacksonville-based promotion to address the fans.
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Speaking on his The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, the WWE legend said that Jericho’s return depends on how the company utilizes him. He also said that the fan base won’t be crazy about the former World Champion since they want the younger guys to succeed. He also noted that Jericho is a massive star who could contribute in many ways to the show.
“I mean, I really, I really think it’s all in how you utilize him [Chris Jericho]. If you put him in a certain position, I don’t think that their fan base, which is a pretty, pretty loyal fan base, I would say, I don’t, you know, think they’re gonna be crazy about Chris, you know, because they are, they want their younger guys who are out there with the highest work rate possible and are just go, go, go, go, go, five-star bangers. I mean, you know, that’s kind of, that’s kind of how, that’s what they’re building the place on, right? Where the best wrestle and the best wrestling content and what not. So I mean, Chris being an older act would be just such a star. He has so much star power. There’s so many ways he can contribute to the show, it’s just, they would have to utilize him in the correct way.”
Dave Meltzer commented on the reason Chris Jericho chose to return to AEW over WWE
For the past few months, there have been reports that Chris Jericho could return to WWE, where he could wrap up his career. However, he decided to return to Tony Khan’s company instead.
Connections of Linebacker are buzzing not solely due to Zac Lloyd’s blistering run, but for enlisting the jockey in their quest for Doncaster Mile vindication at Randwick.
Lloyd boasts seven Saturday winners lately, capped by the $5 million Golden Slipper conquest on Guest House, while maintaining his role as the horse’s pilot through the last year with complete insight.
Last year’s Doncaster saw the young jockey steer Linebacker from a poor start to a dashing finish, securing a gallant eighth spot just over a length shy.
Tom Charlton, the trainer, emphasised Lloyd’s profound understanding of the four-year-old as a boon for Saturday, even as favourite Sheza Alibi with 49kg sets the standard.
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“He knows him well, and he got him to jump out of the gates well the other day, which is something that has let him down a bit, that horse,” Charlton said.
“When he missed the break in the Doncaster last year, I daresay it cost him the race.
If we can execute well, he will run well. It’s just whether the 49 kilo filly might have a bit more, but we can’t worry about that.”
Differing from last year’s Randwick Guineas lead-in, Linebacker pursues weight-for-age races this time.
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Just 1-1/2 lengths adrift of Joliestar in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m) first-up, midfield versus Autumn Glow in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m), he sheds six kilos for the big race.
Trainer Charlton expressed mild disappointment with the latest effort but noted Linebacker’s habit of even second-up runs, like before his Guineas win post-Hobartville last fall.
“He just felt the pinch the other day in a tough-run 1500,” Charlton said.
“He had a good blow, and he can do that second-up. He will run well third-up, and he gets a significant, six-kilo drop in weight.
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I don’t think he will be far away.”
Drawn nine of 16, the horse sat at $17 Wednesday, behind Randwick Guineas duo Sheza Alibi ($2.10) and Autumn Boy ($7) as the market’s only sub-$10 hopes.
Visit trusted betting sites to check betting markets for the race in the Doncaster Mile.
Manchester United will be in the market for a new midfielder in the summer transfer window as they prepare to bid farewell to Casemiro after four seasons at the club
United’s decision not to offer the experienced midfielder a new deal forms part of their wider squad overhaul. Casemiro joined from Real Madrid for an initial £60million in 2022, with add‑ons taking the total fee to £70million.
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He earns around £300,000 per week, rising closer to £350,000 if United are in the Champions League. Manuel Ugarte’s future at M16 is also uncertain; several names have been linked as potential replacements for the pair.
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Carlos Baleba, Sandro Tonali and Adam Wharton have also been mentioned, but Barry believes Anderson would be the best fit for the role.
Speaking to BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest football odds, the former Aston Villa man said: “Man United are certainly going to be looking for a Casemiro replacement. Elliot Anderson is probably a slightly different player and a very different age, his skillset is a lot different.
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“I like Elliot Anderson. If you’re a Man Utd scout, you’ll mention him. He’s one of the best off-the-ball players. He presses to limit the attacking player’s space. He’s one of the best around, and he’s capable of going the other way as well.
“That’s why Thomas Tuchel’s got him in his starting eleven over a lot of big-name players with England, and he’s a possible starter for the World Cup team. So I’m sure he’s being discussed in the Man United boardroom, as well as maybe other teams.
“I think, from that sort of experience for a player and a club, if the deal is going to happen, try to get it done as soon as possible. I think it just helps everyone. It helps both clubs and helps the player, especially going into a big tournament.
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Barry continued: “He doesn’t want to be thinking about his club future while trying to win the World Cup for England. It’s not going to help anyone. Also, the price tag could be a bit steeper if he has a good tournament.
“If something like that is going to happen and the player’s got his head around the fact that it’s time for a move, it’s certainly better to be done before the tournament than after.”
However, Nottingham Forest are unlikely to let the 23‑year‑old leave after he has established himself as a key defensive midfielder at the City Ground following his move from Newcastle United in 2024. While a £100million fee was previously touted to prise him away, Forest’s battle against relegation could affect that valuation.
Vítor Pereira’s side sit 16th in the table, just three points above the drop zone with seven games remaining.
Eden Gardens in Kolkata is hosting the sixth match of IPL 2026 between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) tonight (April 2). Home team captain Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and opted to field in batting-friendly conditions.
Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma set a great platform for SRH with a blazing 82-run opening partnership in just 5.4 overs. Head smashed three sixes and six fours en route to 46 (21) before perishing in the sixth over. Abhishek also found some rhythm after failing in the previous match, but fell two runs short of a half-century in the ninth over. Varun Chakaravarthy’s sensational diving catch in the deep ended Sharma’s stay at the crease and gave KKR a crucial breakthrough.
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Heinrich Klaasen (52) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (39) then put on an 82-run partnership for the fifth wicket to take SRH over 200. They eventually reached 226/8 in 20 overs, setting a daunting target for the opposition. Blessing Muzarabani scalped four wickets for KKR in the bowling department.
Fans enjoyed the high-scoring first innings of the sixth match of IPL 2026 on Thursday night. They conveyed their reactions by sharing hilarious memes on X (formerly Twitter). Here are some of the best memes:
“Bud is getting 13cr to yawn in the dugout” an X post read.
“Looked like it slowed up during the innings” – Travis Head after 1st innings of SRH vs KKR IPL 2026 clash
During the mid-innings break, SRH opener Travis Head reflected on his team’s batting performance, saying (via Cricbuzz):
“It was nice to get away. Bit dicey in the first over but got some out in the middle. Got off to a good start with Abhi. Looked like it slowed up during the innings. Yeah, good score. If Klaasy normally normally faces that many balls, he’s normally striking, felt it was a little bit difficult in the middle, it slowed which is a good thing for us having runs on the board.”
“It’s always good fun batting with Abhi. We are in a really good space. We got to execute with the ball now. They’ve got some dangerous players at the top. Looks a good score,” Travis added.
What were your favorite moments from the first innings of this IPL match? Let us know in the comments section.
The five-year-old Joliestar is in prime form, according to trainer Chris Waller, who cites her unwavering reliability.
She’ll attempt a third win on the trot in the T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick this Saturday, an unprecedented run in any single campaign for her.
High-class efforts have marked her career since her juvenile years, but full-prep consistency was missing – until recently.
“I can’t fault her. She is two from two this ‘prep’, and she is a confident lady who is taking the next step with consistency,” Waller said.
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“You just see that with more mature horses. That’s the difference between your five-year-olds and your four-year-olds.
“Your four-year-olds still do a few little things wrong, but the five-year-olds, they know what they’re doing. They can race themselves.”
Joliestar resumed decisively beating future Newmarket Handicap winner Caballus in the Expressway Stakes (1200m) and consolidated with a powerful win in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m).
Approaching the T J Smith Stakes after almost a month’s break, a pattern that has previously brought out her best.
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Waller is preserving reserves after the Sydney autumn carnival for Joliestar’s upcoming English raid at the start of summer there.
Following her Saturday effort, a week’s spell awaits before she heads to Melbourne to train and trial on Flemington’s straight, akin to UK tracks.
For now, the emphasis is the T J Smith Stakes, where she’s third-favoured early at $4.40, with only three-year-old Tentyris ($3) and Jimmysstar ($4) ahead.
Tentyris hopes to join Trapeze Artist (2018) as the lone three-year-old to best the older speedsters.
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Visit betting sites for competitive sports betting options on the 2026 TJ Smith Stakes.
Ajinkya Rahane etched his name into the record books as he became the 11th cricketer to play 200 matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The milestone came during Kolkata Knight Riders’ clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026 at the Eden Gardens.Rahane, who made his IPL debut in 2008 for Mumbai Indians, has been one of the most consistent performers in the league over the years. Ahead of this landmark game, the veteran batter had featured in 199 IPL matches, scoring 5,099 runs at an average of around 30, including 2 centuries and 34 fifties.
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IPL 2026: Ajinkya Rahane backs KKR’s young pace attack after loss
Ajinkya Rahane began his IPL journey with Mumbai Indians, representing them in the first two editions (2008 and 2009). He then moved to Rajasthan Royals, where he enjoyed a long stint from 2011 to 2015 and returned again for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Rahane was part of the Rising Pune Super Giants setup in 2016 and 2017 before joining Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2020 through a trade deal, where he played until 2021. He later featured for Chennai Super Kings in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Rahane was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2022 mega auction and re-signed again in the 2025 mega auction. Since 2025, he has been a key part of KKR and currently leads the side as captain.Elite company in IPL historyWith this achievement, Rahane joins an elite list of players who have crossed the 200-match mark in IPL history. Only 10 players have played more matches than him, with MS Dhoni leading the chart, followed by Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Dinesh Karthik, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa, and Ambati Rayudu.Rahane’s longevity and adaptability across teams and roles highlight his importance in the league, having evolved from a classical top-order batter into a dependable captain for Kolkata.
Caulfield’s upcoming Easter Cup has eluded Ciaron Maher so far, though he plans to alter that record with Kings Valley contesting the race.
Third-up for the 2000m Group 3 handicap on Saturday, Kings Valley arrives on the back of claiming the Bairnsdale Cup last time out.
Not the ideal Black-Type form line perhaps, the Bairnsdale Cup nonetheless delivered a crucial boost to Kings Valley, helping Maher nurture the gelding’s ongoing winning pattern.
Having raced initially in Britain, Kings Valley crossed to Australia unraced victoriously, enduring until his eighth start—fourth Australian appearance—for a first win in Horsham’s 1800m maiden.
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Success followed swiftly at Caulfield Heath, Sandown, and Randwick, the latter seeing him topple Birdman.
Spring brought lofty expectations from Maher, but form dipped post-placings at Moonee Valley and Caulfield until revival via the Bairnsdale Cup on March 22.
“First-up was terrible, but then we gave him a trial and after that we took him to Caulfield for a gallop and that really brought him on,” Maher said.
“And it was a brilliant ride at Bairnsdale by Tom (Stockdale).
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“It’s a tricky little track and they went quick and he weaved his way through. He had to get it right and he did and that’s why he won.
“Last prep he never really hit the mark, but I think this prep will be a lot better.
“Last time we ran him at a mile first-up and he pulled and I think that ruined the rest of his prep, but this time there has been a nice progression and now that he’s won, he can go on.
“He’s on the right path this time and he’ll be much better at the 2000 metres.”
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Thomas Stockdale hands the reins to Declan Bates for Kings Valley on Saturday.
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