By SuperWest Sports Staff
Sports
NBA free agency winners, losers: Raptors leap into title contention, Heat lack urgency
Usually, the NBA’s free agent frenzy comes and goes in a blink. The opening bell rings on June 30th and the best players are all settled in the next few hours and days.
But things are off to a slower start in 2026, no doubt in part because of the surprising availability of LeBron James and several notable restricted free agents dictating how teams want to allocate their money. A number of free agents re-signed with their teams between the end of the Finals and the beginning of free agency, but the first night was relatively slow when it came to big moves.
But even if free agency is taking its time, a number of meaningful moves came on Tuesday — the blockbuster trade of Kawhi Leonard in particular — along with news of James’ free agency. So let’s pick some winners and losers from all of Tuesday’s movement.
Loser: Los Angeles Lakers
Hours before free agency was set to officially begin, James let the Lakers know that he would not re-sign with the franchise, ending his eight-year tenure in Los Angeles.
“Truly an honor to wear the [purple and gold] while trying to continue the greatness & legacies that came before me! Hope I made a few proud during my stint,” James wrote on social media after the team announced his departure.
While you could make the case that the Lakers will be better off in the long run by turning the team over to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, they still have to be considered losers from the first day of free agency. I mean, come on, LeBron James is walking out the door.
Even at 41 and entering a historic 24th season, James remains a top 20-25 player in the league. Last season, he averaged 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists, and was one of 10 players to average 20/5/5. He’s also still one of the most popular athletes alive and provides a major economic boost to whichever team he’s on. Even the Lakers will suffer on that front without him. — Jack Maloney
Winner: Whoever signs LeBron James
It’s unclear when or where James will sign. For now, all signs point to him taking his time. Which, in turn, could put free agency on hold for a number of teams and players. Shortly after the Lakers announced that James would not be back, his agent, Rich Paul, released a statement to The Athletic. It reads, in part:
“LeBron knows the Lakers are building for the future, and he also wants to compete for championships… We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count,” Paul said.
There has been a significant amount of smoke about James joining the Golden State Warriors to team up with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. His two other former teams, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, have also been mentioned as possibilities. In Cleveland, he could join forces with Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, while returning to Miami would allow him to play with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. Additionally, the Minnesota Timberwolves were mentioned as a wild card by The Athletic’s Sam Amick. There, he could unite with two elite guards in Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball.
Of course, while James wants to “compete for championships” and “make every season he has left count,” he also wants to make some money in the process, and is not going to sign for the veteran minimum. That’s bad news for the Cavaliers, in particular, who would have to clear some space to facilitate a return for King James.
Wherever James winds up, that team will be a clear winner, for all of the reasons noted above. James is still a high-level player and a major draw, who will give his new team a boost both on and off the court. — Maloney
Winner: Toronto Raptors
Kawhi Leonard spent one season with the Toronto Raptors and won a championship. That is a 100% championship hit rate. It is almost impossibly rare for teams to make any substantial move with a 100% success rate. The Raptors pulled that off with their reacquisition of Leonard on Tuesday.
Now, obviously, the Raptors are not guaranteed another championship. They’re frankly underdogs to even win the Eastern Conference with the defending champion New York Knicks still around. But remember, the Raptors did not have the absolute best team when they won it all in 2019. They got to the NBA Finals, Klay Thompson got hurt, Kevin Durant played 11 minutes, and they hoisted the trophy. Sometimes, you have to put yourself in a position to take advantage of someone else’s misfortune.
That’s where the Raptors are now. They have a puncher’s chance. They have two All-NBA-caliber players in Leonard and Scottie Barnes, both big wings who can guard anyone. Leonard fills in the half-court shotmaking gap that Barnes needed in a co-star, and that Brandon Ingram couldn’t provide before getting hurt against Cleveland. Between Collin Murray-Boyles, Ja’Kobe Walter and Jamal Shead, this team is loaded with defensive role players, and playoff hero RJ Barrett remains on the team on a big expiring contract.
The price here was steep. The Raptors are winners today. They could be losers tomorrow now that they have lost control of their 2031 and 2033 first-round picks to the Los Angeles Clippers. But Toronto has a genuine chance to compete for a championship. How can they not be winners? — Sam Quinn
Loser: Miami Heat
The Heat, like the Raptors, gave up several first-round picks deep into the 2030s to secure a superstar in Giannis Antetokounmpo. Toronto was able to retain far more depth in its trade than Miami did. The only players the Raptors sent out were Ingram, who Leonard is replacing, and Gradey Dick, who had already fallen out of their plans.
The Heat need to construct basically an entire bench and even fill a starting shooting guard slot after landing Antetokounmpo. That was always going to be difficult because, in addition to Giannis, the Bucks forced the Heat to take on the extra $15 million or so owed to Bobby Portis, leaving Miami precious little room underneath its first-apron hard cap. Tim Hardaway Jr., signed by Miami on Tuesday, is a good player. He is not an adequate replacement for Norman Powell, who made the All-Star Team last year.
The Heat don’t seem to be acting with the urgency of an all-in, win-now team. They seem like they’re prioritizing longer-term cap flexibility. Hardaway only got a one-year deal. When they agreed to a three-year, $64 million deal to bring back Andrew Wiggins, they structured it so he would pick up his $30 million player option rather than take a pay cut this season to maximize flexibility. That might make sense in the long run, but it’s going to make the already thin Heat weaker in a prime Antetokounmpo season. He is 31 and has serious health concerns, given all of the calf strains he’s endured. They may not be able to afford slow-playing this roster build. — Quinn
Winner: Los Angeles Clippers
Getting Leonard may have given the Raptors a chance to win the title. Losing him didn’t deprive the Clippers of that chance. This era ended years ago for them. The Paul George trade was a swing and a miss. James Harden couldn’t save them. Ultimately, the Leonard signing back in 2019 did not yield the championship that the Clippers hoped for.
But think about where this team was in January, essentially waiting out the end of Leonard’s and Harden’s primes while sitting on a great Ivica Zubac contract that they weren’t good enough to benefit from and owing control over four more first-round picks thanks to those prior swings. Their future was about as bleak as anyone’s in the NBA.
They turned those three players into Darius Garland, an All-Star point guard who is a decade younger than Harden, Keaton Wagler, the No. 5 overall pick in this year’s loaded draft, three more future first-round picks (2029 from Indiana, 2031 and 2033 from Toronto) and a 2027 first-round swap (also from Toronto). That is about as dramatic a six-month turnaround as it is possible to have in the NBA. This was a franchise-altering series of moves. The Clippers weren’t going to compete for a championship with Leonard. But they set themselves up to build a real contender a few years down the line with this trade. — Quinn
Loser: Utah Jazz
The Jazz reportedly offered young defensive anchor Walker Kessler a five-year, $140 million contract before free agency. He declined. That deal would have paid him $28 million per year. Now, according to The Athletic, he has multiple offers in the mid-to-high $30 millions annually. The Lakers seem like an obvious fit in that respect, but other teams appear to be trying to woo Kessler.
Utah could likely have avoided this with a more generous offer last offseason, or perhaps a better one earlier in this one. Now they’re sitting in the unenviable position of waiting for someone to throw a massive offer sheet at Kessler and daring them to match it. The Jazz have the capacity to do so. They have full Bird Rights and can legally prevent Kessler from leaving if they want to. But think about how expensive this team is getting now. Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. are on max deals. Keyonte George is eligible for a rookie extension. You can’t pay everyone.
The Jazz are at the very least about to pay their center more than they hoped, and if they don’t, it’s because they’re losing him for nothing. Either way, this will be a very expensive process for Utah. — Quinn
Winners: Injury-prone big men
Two injury-prone big men cashed in on the first day of free agency.
Kristaps Porzingis officially agreed to return to the Golden State Warriors on what ESPN reported is a two-year, $40 million deal. The former No. 4 overall pick played 32 games last season with the Atlanta Hawks and Warriors as he continued to struggle with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), which has ruined his last two seasons. Porzingis has reached the 60-game mark just twice in his career, most recently in 2023 with the Washington Wizards.
Also out West, Robert Williams III agreed to a three-year, $44 million contract to stay with the Portland Trail Blazers, according to ESPN. Williams has played only 85 games with the Trail Blazers since he was traded to the team in 2023, largely due to ongoing knee problems. His 59 games last season were the second-most in his career.
Teams are desperate for quality bigs right now, and that turned out to be great news for Porzingis and Williams.
While both will pose health risks for the rest of their careers, they are unique players who can make a real impact on both sides of the ball. Porzingis is a center who can space the floor and protect the rim. Williams is a major lob threat who can also patrol the paint.
If they can stay healthy, these will be win-win contracts for both the players and the teams. — Maloney
Loser: Jalen Duren
Duren was one of last season’s breakout players. He averaged a career-high 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds on 65% shooting, made his first All-Star appearance and earned All-NBA Third Team honors. The leap he took helped the Detroit Pistons win 60 games and finish first in the Eastern Conference.
But that strong play did not carry over to the postseason — for the team as a whole and Duren individually. The Pistons needed to pull off a 3-1 comeback in the first round against the Orlando Magic and blew a 2-0 lead to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round as Duren pulled a disappearing act. He averaged 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds on 51.4% shooting, and was getting benched at times down the stretch.
In the span of a few weeks this spring, Duren lost nearly all of his leverage over the Pistons in contract negotiations, and is now stuck in free agency limbo.
Jalen Duren landing spots: Lakers, Kings in pursuit of Pistons’ All-NBA big man
Cameron Salerno
Chris Haynes reported Monday that Duren and the Pistons are a “sizeable difference” apart in negotiations, and Duren wants to join the Sacramento Kings via a sign-and-trade. Meanwhile, Sam Amick reported that Duren is set to meet with the Lakers, who could also be a sign-and-trade candidate. The Pistons, however, control the situation. They have the right to match any offer Duren receives, and Marc Spears reported that Detroit has no interest in trading him.
Duren is still going to get a big contract this summer, but he likely lost tens of millions of dollars due to his poor playoff showing and may now have to stay in Detroit against his wishes. — Maloney
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Away-game victories set a college football program apart and often correlate with teams at the top of the standings.
The tables below show the wins, losses, and win percentages for the region’s top programs as the away team over the last 20 seasons.
Boise State leads the way, followed by Oregon, USC, Utah, and BYU.
Away Winning % and Records by Program from 2021-2025
| Win % | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 74.6% | Boise State | 85-29 |
| 67.7% | Oregon | 67-32 |
| 60.2% | USC | 65-43 |
| 58.7% | Utah | 64-45 |
| 57.1% | BYU | 64-48 |
| 48.2% | Stanford | 54-58 |
| 47.9% | Fresno State | 58-63 |
| 46.4% | San Diego State | 51-59 |
| 44.4% | Air Force | 48-60 |
| 44.4% | Washington | 44-55 |
| 40.8% | ASU | 42-61 |
| 39.6% | UCLA | 44-67 |
| 38.5% | Nevada | 45-72 |
| 37.5% | Arizona | 39-65 |
| 35.3% | Utah State | 43-79 |
| 33.6% | WSU | 36-71 |
| 33.3% | Oregon State | 36-72 |
| 32.7% | Cal | 35-72 |
| 31.6% | Hawai’i | 36-78 |
| 31.6% | Wyoming | 36-78 |
| 29.8% | Colorado State | 31-73 |
| 27.7% | San Jose State | 33-86 |
| 26.1% | UNLV | 31-88 |
| 24.8% | New Mexico | 29-88 |
| 20.5% | UTEP | 25-97 |
| 19.4% | Colorado | 20-83 |
| 18.0% | New Mexico State | 22-100 |
Pubs may now be allowed to stay open until the end of England’s World Cup match against Mexico, which is due to kick off at 1am UK time on Monday.
The government had initially said it would not relax licensing laws further than they already have been for the World Cup, but BBC News understands that the Prime Minister is now considering it.
In April, the government relaxed licensing rules so England and Scotland fans could watch matches in the pub.
But earlier on Thursday, Business Minister Kate Dearden had told the House of Commons that opening times would not be extended even further for the 1am start in Mexico City.
Dearden was responding to a question from Liberal Democrat MP Max Wilkinson about a blanket extension.
Wilkinson said in the House of Commons: “Pubs will miss out on a real opportunity to get money in the till if ministers do not make a blanket extension for licensing hours.”
Dearden said that Local Government Secretary Steve Reed had written to councils encouraging them to sign off on pubs staying open late enough that fans can watch to the end of the match.
“Pubs can stay open for an extra two to three hours depending on how late the match starts so pubs can still open as the game finishes,” she said.
“Regarding Sunday, unfortunately that doesn’t apply with the 1am start but going forwards we are absolutely backing our pubs so people can watch and support our lads, and it’s coming home hopefully.”
Licensing hours were extended from 11pm to 1am for games with kick-offs from 5pm up to 9pm.
Additionally, pubs can stay open until 2am for kick offs after 9pm and up to 10pm.
Outside of those rules, pub can apply to their local council for what is called a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) to stay open late.
However, it must be submitted no later than five working days beforehand, leaving it too late for pubs to apply on Thursday.
Some establishments had plotted England’s potential progress through the tournament and have already applied for and received an event notice.
In a video on X, Reed encouraged councils to approve applications from pubs.
“There are still some councils that are saying no to the pubs, and my message to those councils is please say yes,” he said.
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “We remain in close contact with government about concerns raised by publicans who want to show the match but haven’t got TENs in place.
“It would be a crying shame for fans and pubs if our locals weren’t able to host such an important match.”
Sports
“This is another league” – Fans cheer as Graff names BTS’ Jungkook its first-ever global ambassador in its 66-year history
BTS member Jungkook (Jeon Jung-kook) added another luxury brand to his growing list of global partnerships. On July 2, 2026, British luxury jewelry house Graff announced the singer as its first-ever global ambassador since the brand was founded 66 years ago.
Graff introduced BTS’s ‘Golden Maknae’ as its new global ambassador and revealed that he would star in the new Laurence Graff Signature campaign, showcasing pieces from the brand’s iconic goldwear collection. The announcement came after days of speculation among fans.
On June 23, 2026, Jungkook was seen wearing multiple Graff rings during his departure from South Korea to Madrid, Spain, alongside his BTS bandmates for the group’s European concert schedule. The jewelry he wore was estimated to have a combined value of around $126,500, prompting fans to speculate that a partnership with the luxury house was on the way. Following that on June 1, the brand also released a teaser video further igniting the speculation.
Along with the announcement, the company unveiled its latest Laurence Graff Signature campaign starring the BTS member. The brand released a video and three campaign images.
In the campaign, Jungkook is dressed in a black suit layered over a black T-shirt while showcasing pieces from the Laurence Graff collection. The line reimagines founder Laurence Graff’s signature approach to exceptional diamond cutting through faceted precious metal links in bold gold designs.
The campaign images and teaser quickly spread across social media, where fans celebrated both the collaboration and the significance of the announcement. Many pointed out that the idol had become the first global ambassador in Graff’s history, describing the appointment as another major milestone in his career. One fan wrote,
“Need a perspective of how prestigious Graff is? Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana wore the brand. Jungkook is its first ever Global Brand Ambassador in history. This is another league.”
Many others echoed similar sentiments, congratulating Jungkook on the achievement. Several fans pointed out that Graff’s decision to choose him for its first-ever global ambassador role reflected his worldwide influence and standing.
Others expressed their excitement over the announcement, saying they were thrilled and proud of the youngest BTS member for achieving another major collaboration. Many also felt he was the ideal choice to represent the luxury jeweler.
Graff CEO welcomes Jungkook as global ambassador; BTS star says he is ‘profoundly honored’
Graff also shared a statement from its Chief Executive Officer, François Graff, following the announcement. He described Jungkook as a cultural icon whose artistry aligns with the luxury jeweler’s creative vision. The CEO also expressed,
“Jung Kook is a cultural icon, known for his multifaceted talents. His performances are bold yet refined, crafted with a brilliance that is impossible to ignore. Just as we at Graff push the boundaries of what is achievable in luxury jewellery, Jungkook continually challenges creative boundaries in his work. We are delighted to welcome him as Graff’s new global ambassador.”
Speaking separately to WWD on the same day, François Graff echoed similar sentiments. He said the idol’s multifaceted talent and commitment to artistic excellence reflected the values Graff represents.
“He always offers remarkable performances. Just like Graff, which strives to push the boundaries of high jewelry, [he] explores and constantly surpasses those of his creativity” said François Graff.
Jungkook also commented on the partnership, saying he felt “profoundly honored” to join Graff as its newest global ambassador. He described the British luxury house as “the originator of so many legends throughout the decades,” expressing his appreciation for becoming part of the brand’s legacy.
With the Graff announcement, the singer has further expanded his portfolio of global luxury partnerships. The BTS star is also associated with Hublot, Chanel Fragrance and Beauty and Calvin Klein, adding Graff as another internationally recognized brand to his list of collaborations.
The announcement coincides with Jungkook’s ongoing activities with BTS on the ARIRANG World Tour. At the time of the reveal, the group is set to take the stage for the second night of its Brussels concerts at King Baudouin Stadium on July 2.
Edited by Adrija Chakraborty
Now that the first half of the UFC’s 2026 calendar is complete, it’s a good time to look ahead to the next six months and the fighters poised to have a massive second half of the year.
Keep in mind the UFC has only announced fights up to the end of August, so there are still several months at the end of the year which are unaccounted for.
For now, we’ll be basing our list on what fights have been made official for upcoming UFC cards.
Without further ado, here are 10 fighters ready to make a mark in the second half of 2026.
The biggest superstar in UFC history makes his long-awaited return to the Octagon when he takes on Max Holloway in a welterweight rematch set for five rounds. This blockbuster fight headlines UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas. McGregor has not fought since UFC 264 on July 10, 2021, so it will be almost exactly five years to the day that he last competed when he fights Holloway.
The Irishman enters this rematch against Holloway as a big underdog, even though he previously beat the Hawaiian in their first fight back in 2013 when they were both featherweights in their mid or early 20s. But given McGregor is now 37 and hasn’t fought in half a decade, it makes sense why the oddsmakers and betting public are counting him out. That being said, they say power is the last thing to go in a fighter, and McGregor is one of the most powerful pound-for-pound knockout artists the sport has ever seen.
A lot is riding on McGregor in this fight, because if he wins, he could realistically call for a UFC welterweight title shot against Islam Makhachev or a UFC lightweight title shot against Justin Gaethje. After all, McGregor is the UFC’s biggest cash cow, and although he doesn’t deserve a title shot more than some of the other top contenders at 170 or 155 pounds, he has so-called “Dana White privilege” and might skip the line to get a title shot if he beats Holloway at UFC 329. It’s a massive fight for McGregor, as a win potentially sets him up for a title shot before 2026 is over.
The best heavyweight prospect on the MMA regional scene makes his UFC debut at UFC 329 when he battles Elisha Ellison in what is a mismatch of epic proportions.
The 26-year-old Steveson is an Olympic gold medallist in freestyle wrestling, a former NFL practice squad player for the Buffalo Bills, and a former WWE athlete. Oh, and he’s 3-0 in mixed martial arts with three first-round knockout wins since he made his debut last September.
Training alongside UFC legend Jon Jones at Albuquerque’s Jackson-Wink MMA Academy, the sky is the limit for Steveson. Many MMA analysts believe he has all the skills necessary to be the UFC heavyweight champion one day, but the UFC matchmakers are building him slowly by giving him Ellison, one of the weakest heavyweights on the roster. It should be a quick, easy, and violent win for Steveson, and one that sets him up for a return later this year on another numbered card as the UFC continues to build up one of their best heavyweight prospects.
Also at UFC 329, keep your eye on this middleweight prospect. The 24-year-old Aruba native won a contract last summer on Season 9 of Dana White’s Contender Series, and he made his UFC debut earlier this year with a nasty knockout win over Wes Schultz. Pinas, who has won five straight fights by knockout, next battles veteran kickboxer Cesar Almeida on the UFC 329 undercard in what should be an absolute striking clinic between two heavy hitters.
Last November at UFC 322, Ethyn Ewing made his Octagon debut with little fanfare as he fought top bantamweight prospect Malcolm Wellmaker in a fight he was supposed to lose, given Wellmaker’s insane KO power and the fact that Ewing was taking the bout on only a couple days’ notice. But the 28-year-old from California pulled off a huge upset as a +330 underdog as he dominated Wellmaker en route to a decision win. He then returned to the cage in April 2026 and picked up a brutal KO win over Rafael Estevam with a body shot.
Next, Ewing gets his chance to break into the top 15 at 135 pounds when he battles Farid Basharat in a battle of talented bantamweight prospects on the UFC 329 preliminary card. If Ewing wins that fight, look for him to get a top-10-ranked foe later this year, as he continues to work up the rankings.
After an up-and-down UFC career at featherweight, Quebec’s Jourdain decided to go down to bantamweight in 2024, and it has turned out to be the best choice he’s ever made in his MMA career. Since dropping to 135 pounds, Jourdain has won three straight fights, including a Fight of the Night decision win over Kyler Phillips in April at UFC Winnipeg. He returns to the Octagon at UFC Oklahoma City when he battles Marlon Vera in what should be an absolute war between two bantamweights who love to stand and trade. If you’re an MMA fan, you can’t miss this fight.
This is a middleweight poised to make a breakthrough in the second half of 2026. He battles grizzled veteran Jared Cannonier at UFC Oklahoma City on July 18. Duncan enters this bout on a four-fight win streak, including a decision win over Roman Dolidze in his last fight that saw him enter the top 15 at 185 pounds. Though Cannonier is 42 years of age, he is still a tough test for any middleweight. If Duncan can pass this test, then he’ll inch one step closer to the middleweight division’s elite.
The German welterweight prospect was one of the standouts on Season 8 of Dana White’s Contender Series in 2024, as he scored a vicious KO win on the show to earn a UFC contract. The 27-year-old made his UFC debut last summer when he knocked out Adam Fugitt in a devastating fashion at UFC 318. However, he has been off for a year since then due to injuries.
Thankfully, Dulatov returns at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25 when he battles veteran Wellington Turman. It’s a fight that Dulatov will be heavily favored to win, as he’s scored 12 straight stoppage victories. If he can get his hand raised and if he can stay healthy, look for the UFC to try to get him another fight before 2026 is up.
The UFC makes its debut in Belgrade, Serbia on Aug. 1 and one of the fighters to keep your eye on that card is Milos Janicic, the first fighter from Montenegro in UFC history. A KSW and Oktagon MMA veteran from Europe, Janicic, enters the UFC with a 19-3 pro record, with all 19 of those wins coming by stoppage. He has won eight fights in a row, including a notable TKO win over UFC veteran Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira in his last fight.
At UFC Serbia, the 29-year-old Janicic takes on another UFC newcomer, Noah Gugnon, in what should be a fun lightweight bout. While both fighters are solid prospects, Janicic is the A-side in this matchup, so make sure to keep your eye on him when you watch this card.
Tresean Gore entered 2026 on a two-fight losing skid, and he was a +450 underdog when he fought Azamat Bekoev at Vegas 115 in April. But despite entering that bout as a massive underdog, Gore pulled off one of the biggest upsets so far this year when he dominated Bekoev and choked him unconscious in the third round. It was a huge win for Gore, the former Ultimate Fighter standout, who likely would have been cut with a loss. Instead, he got his hand raised, and now he takes on longtime UFC veteran Vicente Luque in an exciting middleweight bout at August’s UFC 330 in Philadelphia.
Finally, don’t forget about women’s flyweight fighter, Jasmine Jasudavicius, the pride of St. Catharines, Ont. At UFC Winnipeg, Jasudavicius got back into the win column with a decision victory over Karine Silva, bouncing back nicely following her knockout loss to Manon Fiorot last October. At UFC 330, Jasudavicius will battle Erin Blanchfield in a battle between the No. 4- and No. 6-ranked women’s flyweights. While Blanchfield will likely enter the bout as the betting favourite, Jasudavicius will hold a significant size advantage, so don’t count her out of winning the fight. If she can get her hand raised, it would bode well for the Canadian’s chances of getting back into the title mix in the 125-pound division.
Actor-turned-NASCAR driver Frankie Muniz has shared a personal life update on social media, announcing that he and his wife Paige Price have decided to separate after 10 years together. In an emotional statement, Muniz confirmed their separation and paid tribute to Paige for her unwavering support throughout their relationship.
Malcolm in the Middle star Muniz and Paige first met in 2016 at an event in California. They dated for over two years before an engagement in November 2018. The couple hosted a formal wedding in February 2020. They share a five-year-old son Mauz.
Thanks for the submission!
Taking to X, Frankie Muniz announced divorce with wife Paige, and they will continue to work side-by-side. They separated mutually.
“Following a period of separation that we kept private, Paige and I have decided to move forward with ending our marriage” Muniz wrote. “After 10 beautiful years together, we’ve grown in ways that made us realize our relationship feels most natural and strong as a deep friendship and as co-parents. We share an incredible son who remains the center of our world, and we’re both happier, stronger parents because of the love and growth we’ve shared.”
The 40-year-old expressed that he is endlessly grateful to Paige, noting she put her own dreams on hold to support his racing career.
“I’m endlessly grateful to Paige for everything she’s done for me and our family. She put her own dreams on hold so I could chase mine, and she was always my biggest supporter. That foundation of respect and friendship isn’t going anywhere” he added.
They remained co-parents. Beyond co-parenting, they plan to remain business partners and will continue to build their racing team, Muniz Racing, together.
“We’re excited to keep building Muniz Racing together and to co-parent our boy with the same teamwork and love we’ve always had,” he continued.
“Please respect our families privacy during this time”: Frankie Muniz requests privacy to his fans
NASCAR driver Frankie Muniz, who has 1.5 million followers on Instagram, concluded the statement by requesting space and privacy as he and Paige are starting a new chapter of their lives.
“We both choose to not entertain any questions on this matter. Please respect our families privacy during this time” the New-Jersey native said.
Frankie Muniz is currently competing in his first full-time NASCAR Truck Series season, driving the #33 Ford F-150 for Team Reaume. He ranks 23rd in the regular season points table with a best finish of 16th at Daytona.
Edited by Yash Soni
Jul 1, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson points after he hits a three-run home run against the San Diego Padres during the third inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images Dansby Swanson hit three home runs and Michael Conforto hit two as the host Chicago Cubs hammered the San Diego Padres 23-3 on Wednesday.
The Cubs, who had not hit more than three homers in a game all season heading into the series, hit five on Tuesday in a 9-7 win and eight on Wednesday to sweep the series and win their fifth straight contest. Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch also homered for the Cubs, who tied a franchise record for long balls in a game.
Swanson, who had a career-high eight RBIs, has five homers in the past two games and nine home runs in his last 13 games. Colin Rea (6-5) was the beneficiary of all the Cubs’ power, giving up two runs and six hits in five innings.
The Padres lost their fifth straight game while sustaining the worst defeat in franchise history. They previously lost by 19 runs on three occasions (twice in 1969, once in 2005). Walker Buehler (5-4) gave up a career-high nine runs on seven hits in four innings.
Rays 4, Royals 0
Junior Caminero became the youngest player in major league history to homer in six consecutive games, socking a two-run shot in the first, and Shane McClanahan allowed three hits over six strong innings as visiting Tampa Bay beat Kansas City for its seventh straight win.
At 22 years, 361 days old, Caminero topped a mark set by then-23-year-old Ken Griffey Jr. with his ninth home run in the past eight games. Cedric Mullins added a solo shot and an RBI single while Taylor Walls had three hits for the Rays, who matched their longest winning streak of 2026. McClanahan (7-5) yielded three singles, did not walk a batter and struck out four.
The Royals have lost six of seven, including four straight against the Rays. Jac Caglianone had two of the Royals’ six hits. Seth Lugo gave up three runs on nine hits in six innings.
Twins 8, Astros 3
Josh Bell, Kody Clemens and Luke Keaschall belted home runs while Taj Bradley matched his career high for strikeouts as visiting Minnesota claimed the rubber match of its three-game series against Houston.
Bell extended his career-best road hitting streak to 16 games with a two-run blast in the first inning before Clemens socked a three-run homer an inning later. Bradley (7-3) worked five innings and allowed four hits and one run. He fanned 11.
Astros right-hander Tatsuya Imai (5-4) allowed five runs on four hits and five walks over 1 1/3 innings, marking his third start of fewer than two innings.
Orioles 6, White Sox 1
Dean Kremer pitched six strong innings in his return from the injured list, and Baltimore avoided a three-game sweep by defeating visiting Chicago.
Tyler O’Neill and Leody Taveras each homered as the Orioles made good use of seven hits to snap a four-game losing streak. Blaze Alexander had two hits, including a run-scoring triple. Kremer (1-1), who hadn’t pitched in the big leagues since April 18 as he recovered from a quadriceps injury, held the White Sox to one run on four hits.
Sam Antonacci homered for one of Chicago’s four hits. He also had a single, but the White Sox lost for just the third time in their last nine games. Starter Noah Schultz, also fresh off the injured list, went 4 1/3 innings and was charged with three runs on two hits.
Phillies 10, Pirates 6
Trea Turner homered for the third straight game as Philadelphia hammered Paul Skenes and the visiting Pirates.
Brandon Marsh and Alec Bohm also hit home runs for the Phillies, who tagged Skenes (6-8) for eight runs, seven earned, in four innings. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner had never allowed more than five runs in any of his first 72 major league starts.
Jared Triolo drove in three runs, and Nick Gonzales had three hits and an RBI for the Pirates. Henry Davis homered in a losing effort.
Nationals 10, Red Sox 2
Andres Chaparro and Nasim Nunez hit their first home runs of the season and James Wood added a three-run shot as visiting Washington rolled past Boston.
Chaparro’s two-run shot in the first inning and Nunez’s fourth-inning solo shot were all that Washington needed to claim the series. Four Nationals had multi-hit games, while Wood, Chaparro and Luis Garcia Jr. each drove in multiple runs. Andrew Alvarez (2-1) allowed two hits over 4 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.
Washington had a 13-9 hits advantage. Three Red Sox players had multi-hit games, but Boston pitchers issued a combined 10 walks.
Tigers 6, Yankees 2 (11 innings)
Zach McKinstry ripped a bases-loaded two-run single off Camilo Doval to highlight a four-run 11th inning for Detroit, which completed a three-game sweep with a victory at New York.
The Tigers completed their first road sweep of the Yankees since 2008 after Detroit reliever Drew Anderson blew a two-run lead in the ninth. Spencer Torkelson gave the Tigers the lead in the 11th by working a walk before McKinstry delivered on a 1-1 cutter from Doval (3-1).
The Yankees, who totaled seven hits, are on their first seven-game skid since losing nine straight from Aug. 12-22, 2023. New York fell to 4-10 in its past 14 meetings with the Tigers.
Blue Jays 9, Mets 3
Sean Keys hit a three-run blast for his first career major league home run and Toronto defeated visiting New York in the decisive match of the three-game series played on Canada Day.
The Blue Jays finished a disappointing 3-7 homestand. The Mets were outhit 12-5 to start 1-2 on their seven-game road trip.
Carson Benge hit a two-run homer for the Mets and Francisco Lindor had a solo shot. Starter Freddy Peralta allowed five runs on seven hits in four innings.
Braves 5, Cardinals 1
Ozzie Albies hit a home run and Atlanta pitchers retired the final 20 batters as the Braves beat visiting St. Louis.
Atlanta ended a three-game losing streak and evened the three-game series at one game apiece. Albies went 2-for-4, scored two runs and had two RBIs. Braves starter Reynaldo Lopez (4-1) threw five innings and allowed one run on two hits, all coming in the first inning.
St. Louis starter Michael McGreevy (3-7) tossed six innings and allowed two runs on three hits. The Cardinals’ offense managed just the two hits.
Guardians 9, Rangers 4
David Fry belted a three-run homer to highlight a five-run second inning, fueling host Cleveland to a victory over Texas.
Austin Hedges launched a two-run homer and Chase DeLauter had an RBI single among his three hits to help the Guardians salvage the finale of their three-game series. Joey Cantillo (7-3) allowed two runs on three hits in five innings to improve to 3-0 in his past four starts.
Elias Diaz launched a solo homer, Nicky Lopez ripped a two-run double and Ezequiel Duran collected three hits for the Rangers, who saw their six-game winning streak end. MacKenzie Gore (5-7) permitted five runs on seven hits in five innings.
Brewers 4, Reds 2
Garrett Mitchell capped a 4-for-4 game with a tiebreaking RBI triple in the seventh inning, leading host Milwaukee past Cincinnati.
Mitchell’s two-out triple into the left-center-field gap gave the Brewers a 3-2 lead. Mitchell then scored on a wild pitch from Brock Burke (3-4). Milwaukee reliever Aaron Ashby (12-1) increased his major-league-leading win total as he tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Trevor Megill pitched around a double in the ninth for his 12th save.
Noelvi Marte hit a two-run homer for the Reds, who took their fourth loss in a row. Reds starter Andrew Abbott allowed two runs and five hits in five innings with five walks.
Rockies 6, Marlins 3
Mickey Moniak doubled, tripled and homered for Colorado in a win over Miami at Denver.
Hunter Goodman and Kyle Karros also homered for the Rockies, who had lost three in a row. Kyle Freeland (2-7) earned his first win since April 7 by limiting the Marlins to two runs and six hits over five innings.
Joe Mack hit an inside-the-park home run and Liam Hicks had two hits and scored a run for Miami, which had won two in a row and six of seven. Max Meyer’s bid to win his first 10 decisions this season was derailed by four unearned runs in the fourth. Meyer (9-1) allowed five runs (one earned) and six hits over six innings.
Giants 6, Diamondbacks 4
San Francisco finally broke through against Arizona, riding home runs from Heliot Ramos and Victor Bericoto to a victory in Phoenix.
Trevor McDonald (3-6) threw six shutout innings for the Giants, who had dropped their first eight matchups with the Diamondbacks this season. Caleb Kilian breezed through a 1-2-3 ninth for his seventh save.
Despite seeing his run of four straight games with a homer end, Ketel Marte had an RBI double and a single for the Diamondbacks. Zac Gallen (3-8) permitted six runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Athletics 7, Dodgers 1
Jonah Heim, Shea Langeliers and Alika Williams hit homers and J.T. Ginn pitched six solid innings to help the Athletics cruise past Los Angeles in West Sacramento, Calif.
Heim drove in two runs, and he, Langeliers, Nick Kurtz, Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and Henry Bolte each had two hits for the Athletics, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Ginn (7-4) gave up one run and three hits.
Freddie Freeman homered and Miguel Rojas had two hits for the Dodgers, who finished a 7-2 road trip. Los Angeles had just five hits after totaling 18 runs and 31 hits while winning the first two games of the three-game series. Shohei Ohtani went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts.
–Field Level Media
DR Congo’s World Cup dream has come to an end after the Leopards lost to the Three Lions during a nail-biting game on July 1. Despite having a 1-0 lead in the first half of the game, DR Congo was disqualified after England’s Harry Kane scored two goals in the second half. But fans aren’t too disappointed, as it was the first time in decades that DR Congo was taking part in the tournament. FRNACE 24’s Selina Sykes tells us more from Boston.
The St. Louis Blues faced significant backlash from fans on social media after signing forward Dillon Dube to a one-year contract on Wednesday.
Dube is one of five players acquitted in the 2018 Hockey Canada sexual assault case. He is the second of those players to sign an NHL contract since the trial ended with acquittals in July 2025.
Goaltender Carter Hart signed with the Vegas Golden Knights in October. He helped them reach the Stanley Cup Final, where they lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games.
Here’s how fans on X reacted to Dillon Dube’s signing.
“Nasty & disgusting I hope you finish dead last & lose the lottery draft No means No,” one fan wrote.
“Spineless organization. I’m embarrassed to be a fan,” another chimed in.
“If the Blues think enough time has passed that we forgot what Dube has done, they are severely mistaken,” a third fan wrote.
“Do you really think we have forgotten what he’s done? This is shameful. This man has no place in the NHL. What a horrible decision,” one X user opined.
“This stinks, anyway you just lost multiple lifetime fans,” another chimed in.
“Absolute clown show. Lifelong fan and I won’t watch a game till he’s gone. To make this decision is to betray your fans and community,” another fan wrote.
St. Louis Blues GM Alexander Steen shares his thoughts after signing Dillon Dube
St. Louis Blues general manager Alexander Steen spoke highly of Dillon Dube after signing him as a free agent to a one-way contract worth $850,000. He said the organization had spoken to Dube’s coaches and teammates at St Louis’s AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, where the player spent the last season.
“He wants to be a positive influence,” Steen said. “He’s had a positive influence on (that team) or a positive impact. He approaches it with a sincerity and humility.”
Dillon Dube amassed 37 points through 20 goals and 17 assists last term with the Springfield Thunderbirds. He had five goals and three assists in the Calder Cup playoffs. Dube played for the Calgary Flames for six years,
Edited by Arvind Sriram
Finn Russell will not feature in Scotland’s opening Nations Championship match of the summer series but could feature against South Africa, says head coach Gregor Townsend, who welcomes back Jonny Gray.
Fly-half Russell, 33, has not fully recovered from the calf injury that kept him out of the latter part of Bath’s domestic campaign and was not considered for the match at Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Cordoba on Saturday (20:10 BST). The Scots face the Springboks in Pretoria on 11 July then Fiji at Murrayfield on 18 July.
Tom Jordan starts at 10 in Russell’s absence, with Fergus Burke among the replacements.
Gray returns against the Pumas, having missed this year’s Six Nations, while fellow lock Scott Cummings, 29, and prop Pierre Schoeman, 32, will win their 50th caps.
“Great for [Jonny Gray] to be back in the squad,” said Townsend. “Since his move to Perpignan, he’s played very well so his form’s been rewarded with this opportunity. It’s nice obviously nice that him and Scott Cummings are playing together.
“Jonny was at Glasgow when Scott came through as an 18-year-old. It will be great to see them both back int he second row again.”
Overall, the XV in Cordoba shows eight personnel changes to the team that finished the Six Nations with defeat to Ireland in Dublin in mid-March.
Full-back Kyle Rowe, centre Rory Hutchinson, wing Jamie Dobie, fly-half Tom Jordan, hooker George Turner, prop Elliot Millar-Mills and Cummings are the players joining Gray in coming in to the side.
Kyle Steyn moves from left to right wing to accommodate Dobie. Prop Zander Fagerson and wing Darcy Graham, who started in Dublin, drop to the bench.
Gregor Hiddleston could make his Scotland debut off the bench.
“We’ll have to gel quickly,” Townsend said.
“It’s our first game since we played in Dublin. We’ve got a lot of evidence in the Six Nations and November that when we get our game in place in attack and defence, we can cause problems to any team in world rugby and do more than that, convert opportunities.
“I believe that our squad now is much deeper and we use that bench to continue what the starters are doing or actually raise the energy.”
Scotland: Rowe, Steyn, Hutchinson, Tuipulotu (capt), Dobie, Jordan, White; Schoeman, Ashman, Millar-Mills, Gray, Cummings, M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey.
Replacements: Hiddleston, Sutherland, Z Fagerson, Samuel, Brown, Horne, Burke, Graham.
Risa Sato is the Akari Chargers’ latest signing ahead of the new PVL season. –AKARI CHARGERS
MANILA, Philippines — Akari has tapped 11-time champion Risa Sato ahead of the new Premier Volleyball League (PVL) season.
Akari on Thursday announced the comeback of the Filipino-Japanese middle blocker.
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“Ready to bring in her championship experience and energy. Risa will be a huge boost for the Chargers. Let’s go!” Akari wrote.
Sato won 11 PVL titles. The first was with BaliPure in 2017 before winning 10 with Creamline.
The National University product transferred to Chery Tiggo last year before the club took a leave of absence last December.
Sato also announced her marriage to basketball player Enzo Joson and revealed their child last November.
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Sato is reunited with former Creamline teammate Ced Domingo, fortifying the Chargers’ frontline with Fifi Sharma.
Akari also signed Galeries middle blocker Shar Ancheta and Farm Fresh libero Ann Monares.
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