Canadians went 1-for-2 in Strasbourg Open finals on Saturday.
After Gabriela Dabrowski and Brazilian partner Luisa Stefani captured the doubles title, Victoria Mboko fell just short of making it a Canadian sweep.
Mboko dropped the women’s singles title 0-6, 7-5, 2-6 against American Emma Navarro.
The top-seeded Canadian was eyeing her third career WTA title and first since the Hong Kong Open in November. She also won the National Bank Open presented by Rogers last August.
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Mboko out-aced Navarro 4-0 but won just 49 per cent of points on first serve and gave up a whopping 21 break-point opportunities, of which Navarro converted seven.
Strasbourg marked the final WTA Tour stop ahead of the French Open, which begins Sunday. Mboko, seeded ninth, opens her tournament on Monday against Czechia’s Nikola Bartunkova.
Meanwhile, the top-seeded duo of Dabrowski and Stefani cruised to a 7-5, 6-4 championship over American Quinn Gleason and Norway’s Ulrikke Eikeri.
Dabrowski and Stefani earned 66 per cent of points on first serve and went 5-for-7 on break-point chances to clinch the title.
The New Day’s WWE run came to an end when last month Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods announced their exit. Meanwhile, the duo’s departure has raised uncertainty, and Tyler Breeze recently addressed it.
After WrestleMania 42, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods announced their exit from WWE and officially parted ways with the Stamford-based promotion. The decorated tag team’s departure did create a void in the tag team division, but there was hope that Woods might not go away entirely.
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According to a report, the company was trying to cut a deal where Xavier Woods would work for them and cover content around their games. Speaking on Love Wrestling, Tyler Breeze was asked about the multi-time WWE Tag Team Champion and what’s next for UpUpDownDown.
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The former NXT Tag Team Champion wasn’t able to give a straight answer, as he was not in the place to answer on behalf of Woods. However, Breeze, similar to the audience, isn’t sure what’s next for UpUpDownDown and uncertain on what’s next for the show.
“He’s just chilling, you know what I mean? Like, he’s been on the grind; business stuff happens. Not my place to talk on any of it. So, you saw as much as I saw, you know, where’s he at now, and that’s kind of where we’re at. So, I’ll be waiting to see the headlines when you see them as well,” Breeze said.
Why did The New Day decide to leave WWE?
In 2014, The New Day was created under WWE’s old regime, and the trio of Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods took over the tag team and singles division in the coming years. E and Kingston have won the WWE Championship in the past, and Woods has dominated tag team wrestling with the duo on different occasions.
According to reports, the duo of Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods were asked to restructure their deals, which they signed last year in the promotion. The two weren’t on the same page with the promotion and decided to leave instead of taking less pay.
The decision might benefit the legendary tag team, as several promotions, primarily AEW, are interested in the duo. It’ll be interesting to see what’s next for Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods in the industry following their exit.
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Gstaad will face nine rivals in Saturday’s Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh as Aidan O’Brien’s colt looks to go one place better than his Newmarket Classic run.
The son of Starspangledbanner has yet to finish outside the first two in his career and arrives in Ireland after chasing home Bow Echo in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, where he was beaten two and three-quarter lengths.
That run came after a brilliant juvenile campaign, which was crowned by victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. He now carries strong favourite status as O’Brien seeks a record-extending 13th win in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and a first since 2023.
Aidan O’Brien Pair Lead Ballydoyle Challenge
Gstaad will be joined by stablemate Neolithic, who has won two of his six career starts. However, Hawk Mountain, who extended his winning sequence in the Group 3 Prix de Guiche at Chantilly, was not declared.
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Charlie Appleby will rely on Distant Storm, who was third behind Gstaad at Newmarket. The Godolphin runner, winner of last season’s Group 3 Somerville Tattersalls Stakes, finished eight lengths behind Gstaad in that Classic trial and now gets another chance to close the gap.
Buick Suspension Opens Door For Loughnane
With William Buick serving a six-day suspension for overuse of the whip on Caballo De Mar in the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot, Billy Loughnane takes the ride on Distant Storm. Jamie Spencer partners Appleby’s other runner, Pacific Avenue.
Karl Burke, who has made a flying start to the season and already passed the £1 million prize-money mark in Britain, sends over Alparslan. The Greenham Stakes winner is among the more interesting challengers at double-figure odds.
Thesecretadversary, fifth in the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas and a Group 3 winner, also takes his chance for a race that looks centred around whether anything can seriously trouble Gstaad.
Gstaad sets a clear standard on form and brings the strongest Classic profile into the race. Distant Storm has ground to make up, while Thesecretadversary and Alparslan look the most interesting each-way alternatives. However, if Gstaad runs to his Newmarket level, he should take plenty of beating.
Prediction: Gstaad to win, with Alparslan capable of outrunning his odds.
Canelo and Benavidez have been linked to a fight with one another for a number of years, dating back to when the two men were both competing at super-middleweight.
While Canelo remains one of the key fighters at 168lbs, Benavidez has since moved up the divisions, first becoming WBC light heavyweight champion before claiming a win over Gilberto Ramirez earlier this month to earn the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles.
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Following that victory, Benavidez has been linked to fights against the likes of Dmitry Bivol and Jai Opetaia, but he again made it clear that he would offer Canelo a shot at his 175lb WBC belt.
Canelo has now responded, revealing in a media scrum with Boxing News that he isn’t surprised that Benavidez called him out again, but doubts whether ‘The Mexican Monster’ can even make the light heavyweight limit anymore after his move to cruiserweight.
“Every single boxer in any division is calling me out. It’s nothing new to me. He did good in the fight [against Ramirez]. I’m not surprised [he called me out], but I don’t think he can make 175 anymore. It’s not my problem.”
Florian Wirtz has dismissed any suggestions of the Liverpool players turning against Arne Slot after liking Mohamed Salah’s controversial post on Instagram.
Salah is set to leave Liverpool at the end of the season and has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. The Egyptian has looked like the shadow of the player who won the PFA Player of the Year award last season as Liverpool marched to the league title under Slot.
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After being dropped from the eleven, Salah sparked controversy in December, when he claimed that it felt like the club had thrown him under the bus, citing a fallout with Slot.
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While it seemed like the pair had worked on rebuilding the relationship, Salah dropped a bombshell claim last weekend. In the wake of Liverpool’s 4-2 loss against Aston Villa, he delivered a message on social media, which many believe was a direct dig at Slot for the Reds’ poor performances.
Several Liverpool players, including Wirtz, liked the post and it sparked rumors of the players turning against Slot. However, the German has now opened up on the whole situation.
In an interview with The Athletic, Wirtz stated that he likes dropped by him and the others were blown out of proportion. He also added that Salah is someone who you can listen to because he has a lot of experience. The attacker also insisted that Salah was not attacking anyone with his comments.
Wirtz commented:
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“No, nothing like that. I like Mo’s mentality in general — how he sees things, how he works. He’s a guy you can listen to, because he has seen a lot.
“He wasn’t attacking anyone. With the ‘likes’ players gave, I think it was made too big. For me, it was just a thing that he wanted to say because he’s leaving.
“He wanted to make everyone in the club alert that we have to work more and do better.”
Salah is set for an emotional farewell at Anfield on Sunday as Liverpool host Brentford in the final game of the Premier League season.
‘Selfish’ Mo Salah must be dropped from Liverpool farewell game, claims Wayne Rooney
Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney has slammed Salah for his controversial post after the Aston Villa game. The Englishman insisted that Salah is being extremely selfish by publicly going against Slot.
Rooney also believes Slot should consider dropping Salah from the line-up for the final game of the season, despite it being his last for the club.
“I think time catches [Salah] … He’s had a very poor season. I think he can have these issues inside the club.
“So I think he’s been very selfish in what he’s done in the two occasions. I’ve questioned Arne Slot as well, but that’s your manager. You can’t publicly disrespect him twice the way he has and get away with it.
If I was Arne Slot, I’d have to pull rank and just say, listen — you’re not coming anywhere near the place on Saturday, whether you like it or not. I really doubt he will do it, but I think he should.”
Salah has scored 257 goals and registered 122 assists during his time with Liverpool. He still has another year left on his contract at Anfield, but decided to leave early.
Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks (88) participates in a drill during spring football practice at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 1, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]
PurplePTSD works in partnership with Vikings Territory, similarly doing their utmost to offer top-notch coverage of the Minnesota Vikings. As a result, we’re promoting five of their top articles of the past month in “The P/PTSD Perspective.” Take a peek at some of their best stuff.
The P/PTSD Perspective: May 23rd, 2026
1) Check Out the Vikings’ 4 New Starters on Defense: Nothing is certain until it’s certain, so the educated guess is precisely that: an educated guess. Assuming good health, Caleb Banks should have his hand in the dirt for the opening snap of Week 1. Who joins him remains to be seen.
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Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Banks is selected by the Minnesota Vikings as the number 18 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
3) Bleacher Report Offers Glorious Vikings Prediction: At the end of the day, nobody truly knows how the season is going to unfold. How many correctly anticipated a Seahawks v. Patriots Super Bowl? Football can often be an unpredictable sport, making it well worth following.
Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) warms up before the game against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
4) A Late Vikings Signing Deserves an A+: Very few are against the deal for Jauan Jennings. What should be remembered is that he makes the team better. Indeed, the singular player is going to allow those around him to shine, meaning he could punch above his weight class.
5) Vikings Have 1 Player in All-Breakout Team: Major year upcoming for Dallas Turner. The edge rusher was ultra costly. The problem is that he’s closer to Leonard Floyd than Danielle Hunter. In other words, Mr. Turner is good but not great, which needs to change.
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner (15) celebrates after a play as Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) reacts in the second half at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Ukraine’s Valentyna Davidova and Anhelina Khmil celebrate during a game against Australia at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Nuvali.–PNVF PHOTO
SANTA ROSA, Laguna — Valentyna Davidova and Anhelina Khmil of Ukraine survived a tough second-set battle to eliminate Australian Olympian Taliqua Clancy and partner Stefanie Fejes, 21-13, 24-22, and advance to the semifinals of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Nuvali Challenge on Saturday at Nuvali Sands Courts.
The ninth-seeded Ukrainians dominated the opening set before overcoming a late rally by Clancy and Fejes in the second frame.
Trailing 13-16, the Australians unleashed a 5-1 run behind Clancy, a silver medalist in the Tokyo Olympics, to grab an 18-17 lead.
Australia held a 20-19 set point, but Khmil responded with consecutive conversions to restore Ukraine’s advantage at 21-20, but Clancy and Fejes saved two match points to extend the match.
Khmil delivered a drop shot before Fejes misjudged the next attack, which sailed long.
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“It was a hard battle from both sides. We knew who we were going to play against,” Khmil said after finishing with 24 points.
“They’re such great players, and we knew it wasn’t going to be easy. But it was a great performance from us, and we had so much fun.”
Davidova and Khmil will face Americans Madelynn Anderson and Alaina Chacon in the semifinals on Sunday at 8 a.m.
The American pair earlier defeated Brazil’s Andressa Ramalho and Taina Bigi, 21-16, 21-19.
In the other women’s semifinal, top-ranked Lithuanians Monika Paulikiene and Aine Raupelyte will take on Dutch pair Emi van Driel and Mila Konink.
Paulikiene and Raupelyte swept Ukraine’s Tetiana Lezerenko and Sofiia Kurnikova, 21-7, 21-17, while van Driel and Konink beat fellow Dutch players Nigella Negenman and Floor Hogenhout, 21-9, 21-14.
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In the men’s division, Swiss tandem Julian Friedli and Jonathan Jordan arranged a semifinal duel with Aussies Thomas Hodges and Ben Hood.
Friedli and Jordan outlasted Austria’s Paul Pascariuc and Alexander Horst, 17-21, 28-26, 18-16, while Hodges and Hood swept Latvia’s Ardis Bedritis and Arturs Rinkevics, 21-18, 21-11.
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Another Swiss pair, Adrian Heidrich and Yves Haussener, pulled off the biggest upset of the quarterfinals after beating top seeds Eylon Elazar and Kevin Cuzmiciov, 21-18, 21-13.
They will face Germans Philipp Huster and Sven Winter, who rallied past compatriots Maximilian Just and Lui Wust, 18-21, 21-16, 15-10.
It’s been exactly a month since the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, and new Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jermod McCoy’s injury has been a hot topic of discussion ever since. However, we still don’t really know what McCoy’s status is for this season and beyond. It’s been reported that the Tennessee product will likely need a second surgery that could threaten his career, but it seems like the entire situation is still very much up in the air.
The ambiguity is what caused McCoy, who was widely considered a top-15 talent heading into last month’s draft, to fall to the fourth round and into the Raiders’ laps. Granted, Las Vegas did have to move up one spot to get him, and that was because the former Volunteer wasn’t going to be on the board much longer, according to the California Post’s Vincent Bonsignore, who also shed some light on the injury situation.
“I’ve talked to a couple of general managers around the league who shared what their intel was on [McCoy], and by the way, he was not lasting very much longer in the fourth round. People were ready to pounce,” Bonsignore said while guest hosting on Raider Nation Radio’s “JT the Brick”.
“They took the red flag off of him by that point in the draft across the league. So the Raiders did a good job of beating everybody to the punch and the way it’s been explained to me is it’s not a ‘right now’ issue. It’s a potentially long-range issue, the longevity of it. And Todd Gurley was a name that was brought up. He had suffered that devastating knee injury at Georgia, but he was recovered from it, was fantastic for a period of time in the NFL.”
“But then the longevity issue came into play [for Gurley]. People are looking for all these signs about the knee. Is it good? Is he good to go? It’s not that. It’s the longevity issue.”
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Gurley tore his ACL in mid-November of his last College Football season. Unlike McCoy, the injury didn’t impact the running back’s draft status, as he was still taken 10th overall by the then-St. Louis Rams. Gurley had to sit out the first two games of his rookie season but bounced back quickly, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, making three All-Pro teams in four years and becoming the 2017 NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
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However, the former Bulldog’s injury in college caused him to suffer from severe inflammation and arthritis in the knee. That led to the Rams releasing Gurley two years after signing him to a record-breaking contract extension, and him spending one season with the Atlanta Falcons before his career ended after just six seasons and at just 26 years old.
Of course, Bonsignore is not necessarily making a one-for-one comparison, and every situation is different when it comes to medicals. But if McCoy does follow the same path as Gurley, the Raiders would be looking at getting three to four years of really high play from the cornerback before the long-term knee issues start to kick in.
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In Other Raiders’ Links:
Emmitt Smith shades Jeanty, Raiders: “Just like kryptonite is Superman’s weakness, a poor offensive line can be a running back’s weakness, especially if you have jail breaks,” Smith told Heavy Sports’ Austin Boyd. “You talk about Ashton Jeanty coming out of college and doing the things that he did in college, but he went to the Raiders. He went to the Raiders.”
Washington Redskins cornerback Fabian Moreau stands on the field before a preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Aug. 31, 2017, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Moreau entered the NFL that year as a third-round draft pick from UCLA and later developed into a versatile defensive back across multiple franchises. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings’ roster is fully stocked in late May, but before the end of the summer, the club could swap a few players, depending on what happens at training camp. As always, the team could call on some former Vikings, and here’s a look at the most likely candidates.
Minnesota’s roster may still have room for old friends at running back, cornerback, center, and safety.
Ranked in ascending order of likelihood, here’s who makes sense for reunions (No. 1 = most likely reunion candidate).
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Familiar Names Who Could Reenter the Mix for Vikings
To get the band back together …
Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers (27) carries the football against the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 29, 2024, during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Akers contributed valuable depth to Minnesota’s backfield late in the season, providing steady rushing production as the Vikings battled Green Bay in a pivotal NFC North matchup. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
4. Cam Akers | RB
Akers wouldn’t find an easy path to playing time in Minnesota. The Vikings’ current running back room includes Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, Demond Claiborne, Zavier Scott, and Kejon Owens. With Jones, Mason, and Claiborne appearing to be solid roster locks, Akers would likely compete with Scott for the RB4 position if he were to return.
Despite the apparent limited opportunity, Akers has a history of securing roster spots against expectations. The Seahawks released him earlier this month, and while the Vikings don’t have an urgent need for him, Akers has previously landed in Minnesota even when not an obvious priority. It’s kind of a running joke — Minnesota cannot quit Akers.
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Despite being only 26, Akers’ six-season career includes 2,044 rushing yards on 507 carries, 17 total touchdowns, and 52 receptions for 388 yards. His most compelling story is his bouncebackability. Two Achilles tears typically derail a running back’s career, yet Akers has consistently fought his way back onto NFL rosters.
In short, the Vikings don’t need Akers, but his potential return shouldn’t come as a surprise. They always find a way to get him.
3. A Garrett Bradbury Trade
The Vikings’ center position presents a clear choice: either Blake Brandel solidifies his role, or the team seeks a more familiar option. Brandel is poised to be the starting center in 2026 if the Vikings maintain their current roster. He stepped in last season following injuries to the starting center and steadily improved throughout his tenure.
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Minnesota also has Michael Jurgens, a late-round selection from the 2024 NFL Draft, and Gavin Gerhardt, a 7th-Round rookie whom the Vikings reportedly view as more than just a developmental prospect. They specifically scouted Gerhardt as a potential center solution, opting for him over other prospects like Logan Jones and Jake Slaughter.
Which brings us to Bradbury.
Chicago acquired him in March, sending a 5th-Rounder to New England. However, the Bears’ subsequent drafting of Logan Jones last month significantly altered their plans. Jones’ age and draft position indicate he was likely selected to contribute sooner rather than later, potentially even starting in 2026. He’s 25 as a rookie.
This move diminished Chicago’s leverage with Bradbury. The Bears cannot realistically expect to trade Bradbury for more than they paid only months later. A team in dire need of a center could likely acquire him for a 5th or 6th-Round pick, a consequence of Chicago signaling its intentions in the draft.
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Minnesota Vikings center Garrett Bradbury (56) lines up against the Los Angeles Rams during the NFC Wild Card game on Jan. 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Bradbury anchored the middle of Minnesota’s offensive line during the playoff matchup while continuing his longtime role as the Vikings’ starting center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
For the Vikings, the decision is straightforward: send a late-round pick from a potentially deep 2027 draft class to Chicago for a player they know intimately, or proceed into the season with Brandel, Jurgens, and Gerhardt. The only significant hurdle is the NFC North rivalry; Minnesota would need to overcome the unusual hurdle of trading within the division.
2. Fabian Moreau | CB
Last season, the Vikings didn’t require Moreau to be a star; they simply needed him to stabilize a skimpy secondary. Why? Minnesota’s shaky cornerback depth. Byron Murphy Jr. was a known quantity, Isaiah Rodgers offered upside, and Jeff Okudah was a reclamation lottery ticket. Dwight McGlothern and Zemaiah Vaughn were largely unproven, meaning a single injury could have created weekly headaches at the position.
When Okudah suffered an early concussion, followed by another, and struggled, in general, Minnesota turned to Moreau over McGlothern, a move that proved successful. Moreau earned a 70.9 Pro Football Focus grade and allowed a mere 47.4 passer rating on 19 targets. The performance was precisely what the Vikings needed: a disciplined, veteran outside corner capable of preventing breakdowns and stabilizing the entire cornerback unit.
The question for 2026 is whether Minnesota wants to bring him back as a depth piece.
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At 32, Moreau isn’t a long-term solution, nor does he need to be. A dependable CB3 or CB4 still holds significant value, particularly for a team acutely aware of how quickly cornerback depth can erode. If the Vikings seek one more outside corner behind Murphy, Rodgers, James Pierre, and rookie Charles Demmings, Moreau’s proven reliability is undeniable. They can even sign Moreau to the practice squad. He’s used to that.
1. Harrison Smith | S
This one is as straightforward as it gets: Will Smith return or retire?
Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) prepares before the snap against the Los Angeles Rams during the NFC Wild Card game on Jan. 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Smith continued serving as the veteran centerpiece of Minnesota’s secondary while leading the defense in another postseason appearance for the franchise. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Vikings treated his final game in 2025 as a retirement send-off, but then Smith hasn’t expressly retired. If he wants to play one more year, that will be in Minnesota, making him the most obvious reunion candidate for the summer of 2026.
Smith Watch has lasted over four months.
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Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
LSG predicted playing XI: Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c) (WK), Aiden Markram, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Himmat Singh, Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, Prince Yadav
Impact Player: Digvesh Rathi
PBKS predicted XI: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Barlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.
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