Sports
NBA winners and losers: Lakers organization shines on every level vs. Rockets
After a fairly chalky opening weekend in which seven of eight home teams won their Game 1s, the 2026 NBA playoffs are starting to get more competitive. On Monday, both the Atlanta Hawks and Minnesota Timberwolves scored road upsets over the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets, respectively, to tie their first-round series at a game apiece.
On Tuesday, the Philadelphia 76ers joined in the fun, tying their series with the Boston Celtics and making it slightly more plausible, if still quite unlikely, that Joel Embiid makes it back before the end of the first round. Meanwhile, the first-round series between the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs took a major turn when Victor Wembanyama left Game 2 with a concussion following a hard second-quarter fall. The night concluded with the shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers, still missing Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, taking a stunning 2-0 lead over the Houston Rockets.
The makes five upsets across six games in the last two days. With all three of Tuesday’s games in the books, here are Tuesday’s winners and losers.
Winner: The entire Lakers organization
JJ Redick said it himself the week before the playoffs: “I’m sure everybody wants to play us.” He was right. Teams aren’t supposed to put up a fight when two of their three best players are sidelined. There are many reasons the Lakers have been able to do so, some of which are beyond their control. They’ve benefitted from tremendous shooting variance. They’re playing a Rockets team that’s melting down before their eyes. But on talent alone, they should be preparing to get swept. That they aren’t speaks to a sort of organizational fortitude that the Lakers have built over the course of the season.
It starts with Redick. This was an absolute masterclass from the second-year Lakers coach defensively. It seemed as though the Lakers knew Houston’s offensive playbook better than the Rockets did, consistently shooting into gaps and mixing up coverages to befuddle a more talented opponent. Kevin Durant‘s nine turnovers were no accident. The Lakers won a March regular-season game with very similar tactics, ultimately forcing seven turnovers in that one through an unpredictable variety of double-teams that Durant was ill-equipped to handle.
General manager Rob Pelinka has drawn quite a bit of criticism for his asset management over the years. Well, he got Marcus Smart for roughly $5 million last offseason and Deandre Ayton for around $8 million. Both have been high-level starters in this series. Ayton’s post defense stymied Alperen Sengun all night. Smart’s 23 points and seven assists were one of the few reliable sources of offense for the purple and gold. One of the others? Luke Kennard, who was acquired for a second-round pick at the deadline. It stands in stark contrast to a Houston team absolutely loaded with assets at this year’s deadline deciding to stand pat and then refusing to trust a recent No. 3 overall pick (Reed Sheppard) in games like this one. The Rockets have every infrastructural advantage and haven’t capitalized.
And then there’s LeBron James. A few months ago, it seemed as if this season was a lock to be his last in Los Angeles. He bought in over the course of the second half of the season, found a supporting role he could thrive in, and then, when Dončić and Reaves went down, eagerly reclaimed his mantle as the team’s centerpiece. He’s 41 years old and just won a playoff game with 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists playing primarily with castoffs.
Everyone here deserves credit for what’s happening. Everyone is punching above their weight class. That only happens when every element of a team, from the front office to the coaching staff, down to the players, is working in lock step. The Lakers believe they can win this series. They have an underappreciated group of players eager to prove their worth by buying completely into whatever schemes their mad scientist of a coach can concoct. We don’t know when or if Dončić and Reaves will be able to return this postseason, but even if they can’t, and even if the Lakers can’t close the door, they have to leave this series feeling good about what has transpired here thus far. This is a level of organizational connectivity and cohesion that has felt absent for so much of the James era in Los Angeles.
Loser: Rockets coach Ime Udoka
Through two games, it’s still unclear what Houston is trying to accomplish offensively. These Sengun isolations and post-ups aren’t working on Ayton. Durant created plenty of his own offense in the first half but none in the second. There are only three genuinely positive offensive players on this roster, and one of them, Sheppard, played 11 minutes in a game in which the Rockets scored 94 points. What kind of shots do the Rockets want? What are the mismatches they’re trying to exploit? These doubles on Durant are not new. What’s the adjustment to combat them?
Redick’s coaching will receive justified plaudits, but his dissection of Houston’s offense comes with the caveat that Houston is barely even running one. It is giving the ball to its two best players and asking them to generate advantages with no space. There’s not nearly enough ball or player movement to help spark those advantages, and one of the few players on the roster who might help address that, the No. 3 overall pick in last year’s draft, is seemingly plastered to the bench because his coach doesn’t trust his defense.
Just as these two games are a celebration of everything going right in Los Angeles, they’ve been a thorough condemnation of the team the Rockets are trying to build. You’re not going to garner much sympathy for the absence of Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams when the other team is missing Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. The Rockets have had all year to figure out a VanVleet-less offense and most of it to adjust to life without Adams. If the plan after all of that time is still as simple as “keep getting offensive rebounds until something goes in,” well, then it’s probably time to re-evaluate the plan, and maybe even the person conceiving it.
Winner: The Tyrese Maxey-VJ Edgecombe duo
Embiid’s injury history hangs over every good thing that happens to this 76ers franchise. At times, they seem almost cursed. Appendicitis? Really? To the same guy who scored 50 points in a playoff game with Bell’s Palsy? It felt in that moment as though a once-promising season once again went down the drain for unavoidable medical reasons.
The 76ers still have a long way to go, of course, but they tied this series on the backs of their two new franchise players. Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe combined for 59 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists in their Game 2 111-97 upset win in Boston. Edgecombe made all sorts of history in his playoff coming-out party, most notably passing Magic Johnson as the youngest player ever to score 30 points and pull in 10 rebounds in the postseason.
Edgecombe’s 16-point second quarter helped Philadelphia regain control after the Celtics nearly ran away with it early, but the fourth quarter belonged to Maxey. The Celtics briefly pulled the score within two, but two pull-up Maxey 3s gave Philadelphia a cushion it would never surrender.
The win itself is, of course, meaningful. Philadelphia stole home-court advantage and tied the series. It bought Embiid a few extra days to potentially return. But in the bigger picture, it’s a reminder that Embiid’s horrid luck doesn’t need to doom this franchise completely. The 76ers have one of the brightest rookie stars in the NBA, and Maxey is going to make an All-NBA Team. The two of them together are enough of a foundation to compete with even seasoned champions like the Celtics. They’ll need help and health to hit their ceiling, of course, but the 76ers are in a deceptively promising position for a team seemingly afflicted with some sort of divine jinx.
Loser: Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla
If Joe Mazzulla has a weakness as a coach, it’s how slowly he makes adjustments during games. Boston playoff losses often feel similar. A lot of dribbling. A lot of good 3s that didn’t go in. A single, iffy strategic decision that an opponent picks persistently until suddenly a winnable game slips through Boston’s fingers. That’s largely how Game 2 played out. If Boston had shot as it normally does, the Celtics probably would have won. If Philadelphia shoots as it normally does, Boston probably wins too.
The former is just variance. The latter? Well, Boston didn’t help matters with its vanilla defensive scheme. The Celtics spent most of the game dropping their big men, Neemias Queta and Nikola Vučević, into the paint in pick-and-roll. That left Boston’s perimeter defenders helpless to contest Philadelphia’s pull-up 3s. That commitment to locking off the paint was technically successful. The 76ers scored just 32 paint points in Game 2, down from 45 in Game 1 and Philadelphia’s season-long average of 50.2, but the exchanges were some of the easiest shots Philadelphia saw all season, especially for Edgecombe. Philadelphia’s two star guards combined to shoot 11-of-22 from deep, and the 76ers as a team nailed 49% of their triples.
It’s an interesting dilemma for Mazzulla, given the roster he’s working with. Having Al Horford at center in previous years gave the Celtics the versatility to play almost any pick-and-roll defense. When Boston finally tinkered with more aggressive coverages late in the game, Maxey had little trouble attacking it. Vučević’s defense has been an issue in the postseason for basically his entire career. Couple that with the absence of Jrue Holiday on the perimeter this season and the Celtics just aren’t as versatile defensively as they used to be.
Mazzulla still has plenty to work with, but he’ll have to mix things up a bit as the playoffs progress.
Winner: Scoot Henderson
The word “bust” hadn’t quite attached itself to Scoot Henderson‘s name after his first two NBA seasons, but it was certainly circling the former No. 3 overall pick. Portland’s additions of Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard had a chance to be enormously beneficial for Henderson in the locker room, but adding two potential Hall of Famers at your position doesn’t exactly scream confidence from your organization. Shaedon Sharpe got a big contract extension last offseason. Deni Avdija grew into an All-Star this year while Henderson was injured. A few months ago, it just wasn’t quite clear what his long-term place in Portland would be.
Well, we’re starting to get an answer. In two strong playoff performances against the Spurs, he’s staking his claim as a foundational player in Portland. In Tuesday’s 106-103 win, Henderson led all scorers with 31 points on 11 of 17 shooting and 5 of 9 from deep.
What’s most notable here is the shooting. His long-term upside was always tied to his ability to pair his elite athleticism with a consistent jumper. That’s finally starting to happen. The five 3-pointers he drilled in Game 2 tied a season high. He hit over 40% of his triples in his last 20 regular-season games. If he can keep shooting like this, it’s going to make it that much harder to keep him away from the basket, and his steadily improving craft as a finisher is making him far more dangerous when he gets there.
This is the version of Henderson we waited three years to see. He’s met the moment with absolute fearlessness, and whether it leads to a series upset or not, it bodes very well for both his future and Portland’s.
Loser: San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs made waves for their fiesta-themed uniforms and fan t-shirts in Game 1, but the whole night played out like a party. Victor Wembanyama’s 35-point playoff debut almost superseded the game itself. It felt like a moment in NBA history. The future face of the league was ready to officially start his ascent to the mountaintop. Portland played San Antonio competitively, but victory was never really in doubt. We allowed our minds to drift to what we assumed was coming next.
Well, you know what they say about assuming. A second-quarter concussion for Victor Wembanyama changed everything. The series is now tied at one game apiece, and Wembanyama will have to go through the concussion protocol before he can return to the floor. That likely means missing time, and the next two games in this series will be in Portland. The Spurs have won plenty without Wembanyama this season. They went 12-6 without him in the regular season, including much of their surprising run through the NBA Cup.
But a head injury isn’t a simple bruise or sprain. It’s a serious, non-basketball medical concern that the Spurs will treat with an abundance of caution. There’s no telling how it might linger, and even if San Antonio makes it through Portland, Denver is likely looming in the next round as a far more difficult opponent. Throw in whatever happened to Harrison Barnes‘ hand in the fourth quarter and the Spurs suddenly have several medical concerns to contend with in a suddenly precarious first-round matchup.
Welcome to our weekly PGA Tour gambling-tips column, featuring picks from GOLF.com’s expert prognosticator, Brady Kannon. A seasoned golf bettor and commentator, Kannon is a host and regular guest on SportsGrid, a syndicated audio network devoted to sports and sports betting, and is a golf betting analyst for CBS Sportsline. You can follow Brady on X at @LasVegasGolfer, and you can read his picks below for the 2026 PGA Championship, which gets underway Thursday in Pennsylvania.
Two days before the second major championship of the golf season begins, there are still some questions about how this golf course will play — one of which involves the weather.
The forecast currently looks beautiful with mostly sunshine, but there are a couple of areas of interest that figure to have an impact on this tournament. Around midnight ET on Wednesday evening, there is a better than a 50 percent chance of some showers, expected to last for a few hours. This could, of course, make for a soft and very vulnerable golf course come Thursday’s opening round. As the day goes on, the sun is expected to shine with winds in the 15 mph range. This not only looks like the early tee times could see an advantage but that the golf course could also dry out over the course of the day. At the same time, the early wave looks to experience chilly temperatures with an expected high for the day only in the low 60s — a stark contrast from Sunday’s final round expected high temperature in the high 80s.
Golf course restoration specialist Gil Hanse has said Aronimink is at its best when conditions are firm and fast. It looks like we will get there eventually but Thursday could be different. It appears on the surface that there will be an opportunity to get out to a fast start on Thursday morning, taking on a rain-softened golf course.
;)
2026 PGA Championship odds: Scheffler tops McIlroy as favorite at Aronimink
The other question mark that exists for me is whether or not the bombers will be able to bomb entirely — or will this test be more tilted toward accuracy and positioning off the tee as it seems is the architect’s intention? We may not know this for sure until early on Thursday or even late on Friday — and for our purposes, it certainly matters in which type of player we are figuring will have the best skill set required for what the golf course is presenting.
It is also interesting to note that when Hanse was brought in to perform his overhaul in 2016, he was under the assumption that this PGA Championship would be played in its normally scheduled month of August, when conditions would almost certainly be firm and fast. Of course, the PGA Tour moved this event from August to May in 2019. From a fan’s perspective, I am hoping Mother Nature cooperates and we get the perfect test. We saw Valhalla play soft and receptive in 2024 and Xander Schauffele won with a winning score of 21 under par. I can tell you that one of the finest golf oddsmakers in the world, Jeff Sherman, at the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas, has made the winning score proposition bet this week Under/Over 267.5 — meaning 12.5 under par. If he is correct, I believe we get our wish of Aronimink, the weather, the rough, etc., providing the proper test and producing a well-deserving champion.
We provided an early look at Aronimink and a few of our selections to win the 108th PGA Championship last week. I have since come up with five additional players who I believe have a legitimate shot to hoist the Wanamaker Trophy and are being offered at a fair price.
Patrick Cantlay (55-1)
I hemmed and hawed on Cantlay last week but eventually pulled the trigger on Monday. I was concerned with his putting numbers but I do like just about everything else that I am seeing. First, in his last four starts, which include the Masters and two Signature Events, he’s finished 7-12-8-10. Strong. Secondly, he has performed very well at what I believe make sense as correlated courses. He was third at Pinehurst in 2024, 14th at Los Angeles Country Club in 2023, and was fourth, not far away, at the Philadelphia Cricket Club last year for the Truist Championship. He’s been runner-up at Detroit Golf Club and at East Lake Golf Club. Cantlay has finished fifth, seventh, runner-up, and has won the Tour Championship. He ranks 51st on Tour in SG: Approach and in Driving Accuracy. He is 20th for Greens in Regulation and in Scrambling.
Jordan Spieth (65-1)
I have actually seen as high as 90-1 on the three-time major champion. Amazing number. I believe somewhere around 60-1 is the correct price. This will be Spieth’s 10th time trying to win the PGA Championship and thus complete the career Grand Slam. I believe this golf course gives him a good chance and that his game is definitely capable of contending. I said Speith finishing top 15 at the Masters was reasonable and if he found a little magic, that he could win it. He finished 12th. I feel similarly here. He is doing just about everything very well, especially the short game and the mid- to short-iron play. And I believe we will know right away if this is Spieth’s week or not as he has only once in his career completed Round 1 of a PGA Championship inside the top 20 on the leaderboard. If he finds himself as such heading into Friday, I believe he will have a shot.
;)
Getty Images
Adam Scott (70-1)
The veteran Australian has been experiencing a bit of a resurgence to his career in the last couple of seasons, sitting second heading into the final round of last year’s U.S. Open at Oakmont and now twice finishing fourth this season: once at Riviera, and again three weeks ago at Doral. He hasn’t missed a cut since the Open Championship last July. The ball striking is impeccable, ranking third on Tour for SG: Approach, third for Hole Proximity from 150-175 yards, second from 175-200 yards, and third from 200+ yards. Scott ranks 19th on Tour in Total Driving and is 46th in Scrambling. He finished ninth at Pinehurst in 2014.
Kurt Kitayama (80-1)
Speaking of ball striking. Wow. Like his fellow UNLV Rebel golfer, Adam Scott, Kitayama too has been striping it and ranks seventh on Tour in Total Driving. The approach numbers are very similar to Scott’s as is his scrambling, ranking 54th on Tour. Unfortunately, the SG: Putting numbers are similar too as Scott is 90th on Tour and Kitayama 109th. Kitayama was runner-up this year at Riviera and has gone 8-9-19 in his last three starts at Harbour Town, Doral, and Quail Hollow respectively.
As usual, he looked dangerous with the puck, playing with pace and confidence. He was effective offensively, which wasn’t always the case in the playoffs during the talented winger’s five playoff runs with the Carolina Hurricanes. Necas set up Nazem Kadri’s power-play goal.
But his most revealing shift was in the final minute. With the Wild desperately pushing for a tying goal they probably needed to maintain a chance at winning this second-round series, Necas was on the ice for coach Jared Bednar, defending Colorado’s 3-2 lead. He read a rim-around in the defensive zone and beat Quinn Hughes to the puck inside the blue line, sidestepped the Minnesota star and passed to Avalanche linemate Nathan MacKinnon for an empty-net goal.
The move from Carolina at last season’s trade deadline has allowed Necas to grow (and get rich) and improve his reputation as a playoff performer — someone whose offensive game doesn’t shrivel when checking and intensity ramp up, someone who can be trusted defensively.
If the Avalanche eliminate the Wild in Game 5 here Wednesday, they will be halfway to the Stanley Cup. Maybe they’ll meet the Hurricanes in the final, which would be a pretty fabulous matchup.
“I feel like it’s just different now,” Necas, 27, told Sportsnet before the series shifted to Minnesota for the weekend. “Obviously, we created some chemistry here with Nate. Last year was hard, but this year it’s different. Compared to Carolina, here I’ve got way more room to shine. Obviously, Carolina had their guys and, like, I’m not saying I wasn’t one of them. But here, I’m playing on the first line, so it’s a little different.
“Everybody looks at the (points) producing side, right? That’s what everybody looks at, but I’m feeling comfortable here. I love the big-time games. It’s the same thing that you guys were asking about for the Olympics; I was excited because I love those kind of moments and games. And I think that the playoffs, it’s the same. And as the rounds go longer and longer, I like it more.”
Necas finished fourth in scoring at the Olympics in February, leading Czechia with three goals and eight points in five games.
At mid-career, Necas has been a development story for the Avalanche.
He had a breakthrough, 100-point season playing with MacKinnon and, mostly, winger Artturi Lehkonen. Gabriel Landeskog replaced the injured Lehkonen on the top line for Game 4.
Necas’ 38-goal season came after he signed an eight-year, $92-million contract extension in October. His previous highs were 28 goals and 83 points.
“Listen, some of the criticisms on Marty from his younger years prior to being here, they may have been valid,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar told reporters after Game 2 a week ago. “Marty and I talked about this. Just because something’s true one day doesn’t make it true the next, especially over time.
“Marty put in a lot of hard work to be a trusted player on our team defensively. It’s one of the talks we had when he got here, and a handful of times after that: if you’re going to play with Nate and play against the opposition’s best guys every night, I’ve got to be able to trust you. You can’t play there (just for) how good you are offensively, right? So he buys into that. The style of the players he plays with, it’s important that he’s on that line because he helps them a lot, and his game has grown. So, I think those criticisms now are invalid.”
Through eight playoff games, Necas has one goal and nine points, and an 11-3 goal differential at even strength.
In Carolina, his points production during the playoffs fell to 0.51 points per game from 0.73 in the regular season. And although Necas rode the Hurricanes’ high tide on puck possession and was never a glaring liability defensively, his shots-for percentage relative to teammates was modest, and overall, he was a minus player in the playoffs.
“Absolutely, I think he’s definitely gotten more aware of what the moment calls for when you don’t have the puck,” Landeskog, the Colorado captain, said after Monday’s morning skate. “His defensive systems and just his checking ability has gotten better and better every month, really, throughout the season. So yeah, he’s definitely becoming a trustworthy player.
“I think he’s always been, obviously, a very talented player and super gifted. The way he thinks the game, and he’s able to execute at such a high speed, not everybody can do that. But now he’s adding kind of the checking mentality to it, and that checking mindset is what you need (in the playoffs) because the margin for error is so small this time of year. He’s done a great job, and continues to be a big factor for us.”
Necas was unaware of what Bednar said about him earning trust — and dispelling the earlier knocks against him — until we told him.
“I agree with Bedsy; he helped me a lot in terms of defence,” he said. “You know, I’m going to be here for a long time, and I know that I want to play in all those situations. Obviously, I’m out there if we’re losing. But he’s been putting me out there when we’re winning, too, you know, when we’re trying to defend the lead. And obviously he has to have the trust in me to do that. So I’ve been trying to play better D. The whole coaching staff helped me a lot with it.
“It’s been cool, like, being the guy.”
Necas is one of them, for sure.
• Tuesday was a travel day for the teams, which did not practise … After getting hit in the face by teammate Devon Toews’ clearance near the end of the second period on Monday, MacKinnon returned for the third period but declined to do interviews after the game. He did tell a couple of reporters, “I got lucky,” that it was the flat side of the puck that hit him on the nose and mouth. He did not require stitches.
“If he was going to be able to get out there, he was going to be out there,” Bednar said post-game of his superstar’s return. “I don’t think that was ever in doubt. I just felt for him because I just went through that. It doesn’t feel very good, so you’re just hoping that the guy’s OK. That’s the main thing, and then you feel for him because it sucks.”
Bednar missed two games behind the Avalanche bench in April after getting hit in the face by a deflected puck during a game against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The PWHL is heading to Sin City.
Las Vegas will join the league in time for next season, The Athletic‘s Hailey Salvian reported on Tuesday.
An announcement is expected Wednesday with youth hockey teams already invited to an event that day, per Salvian. The team would likely play at T-Mobile Arena, which hosts the NHL’s Golden Knights.
Earlier Tuesday, The Hamilton Spectator reported that Hamilton, Ont., would also be getting a team.
The additions would put the league at 11 teams for next season after it announced expansion to Detroit earlier this month.
One more franchise could be added as well, per Salvian.
Vancouver and Seattle joined the league before this season, but both missed the playoffs.
The original six teams are in Toronto, Boston, Montreal, New York, Boston and Minnesota.
In addition to the Golden Knights, Vegas is home to the WNBA’s Aces and NFL’s Raiders.
The 2026 WNBA season got underway on Friday, and all 15 teams have taken the court at least once. The New York Liberty and Golden State Valkyries are tied for first place after their 2-0 starts, while the rebuilding Connecticut Sun are in last as the lone team with two defeats.
Indiana Fever star Kelsey Mitchell is leading the league in scoring at 30 points per game, No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd isn’t a starter and a number of big names, including Napheesa Collier, Sabrina Ionescu, Satou Sabally and Brionna Jones, are sidelined due to injuries.
A lot will change over the next four months as the regular season plays out, but why wait that long to (over)react? Before the first full week of the new season begins, here are some opening weekend overreactions.
The Sparks will miss the playoffs
The Los Angeles Sparks were the final team to make their 2026 season debut, and the league was not saving the best for last. Late on Sunday afternoon, the new-look Sparks were run out of the gym by the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces at Crypto.com Arena, falling by 27 in the worst season-opening loss in franchise history.
It’s one thing to lose to the champs; it’s another to get embarrassed after going all in over the offseason. The Sparks haven’t made the playoffs since the bubble season in 2020, which is not only the longest playoff drought in franchise history, but the longest active one in the league. After Sunday’s showing, it doesn’t look like Nneka Ogwumike, Ariel Atkins and Erica Wheeler will be enough to bring playoff basketball back to Los Angeles.
There were no positive takeaways for the Sparks after their opener, only concerns that their shortsighted moves would backfire. They’ve given away Rickea Jackson and Dominique Malonga in recent years for Atkins and Kelsey Plum, and the one lottery pick they’ve kept — Cameron Brink — can’t crack the starting lineup or stay on the court. In eight scoreless minutes against the Aces, Brink had three fouls and three turnovers, and coach Lynne Roberts said afterward that “we need Cam to produce.”
Brink wasn’t the only bench player who was of no help Sunday. Amid all of their big moves in the offseason, the Sparks forgot to address their depth. They got seven points, six rebounds, two assists and six turnovers from their bench on 3 of 16 shooting, and five of those points came on meaningless baskets in the final minute.
The Sparks blew up their future for an aging squad — the 29-year-old Atkins is the only member of their core not in their 30s — that won’t end their postseason drought, let alone contend. — Jack Maloney
The Liberty don’t miss Ionescu
In the New York Liberty’s final preseason game against the Connecticut Sun, All-Star guard Sabrina Ionescu rolled her left ankle. An MRI revealed no serious damage to her left foot or ankle, but the team said that she would be out for at least two weeks — a timeline that will sideline her for the team’s first four games at a minimum, including their lone road trip to Portland for a two-game set this week. (Ionescu played her college ball at Oregon.)
Even though Ionescu’s ankle issue is not serious, it was a frustrating blow for a team that was snakebit by injuries last season and is also without key free-agent signing Satou Sabally (cyst) and starting forward Leonie Fiebich (overseas commitments) to start the season. As it turns out, the Liberty don’t even miss Ionescu.
They’ve started 2-0 for the third season in a row, thanks in large part to their European backcourt starring Marine Johannes, Pauline Astier and Julie Vanloo. Let’s take a look at their respective numbers after the Liberty’s wins over the Sun and Washington Mystics.
- Johannès: 21 points, three rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals on 50/50/60 shooting splits
- Astier: 11.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.5 steals on 57.1/0/70 shooting splits
- Vanloo: 7.5 points, four rebounds, 6.5 assists and 0.5 steals on 57.1/50/100 shooting splits
Johannès, who re-signed in free agency, had a career-high 25 points in their win over the Mystics and is leading the league in 3-point makes and attempts. Astier, who had a breakout campaign overseas and chose the Liberty in free agency over a number of suitors, has had no trouble adjusting to the WNBA and notably has just two turnovers in 55 minutes. The veteran Vanloo, meanwhile, is in New York on a hardship contract and has made a case to stick around long-term.
Ionescu shot 40.1% from the field overall last season, including 29.9% from 3-point range, and was one of the league leaders in turnovers. The Liberty’s backcourt looks just fine without her inefficient scoring, and her absence has allowed Johannès and Astier, in particular, to spread their wings. — Jack Maloney
Jovana Nogić will win Rookie of the Year
Last week, I wrote that the Rookie of the Year race is wide open, and noted that it was possible the winner wouldn’t come from the 2026 Draft class. I have to confess that I did not have Phoenix Mercury guard Jovana Nogic on my short list of candidates, but her performance in the first two games has me on high alert.
In the season opener, Nogić was a big reason why the Mercury were able to stun the Las Vegas Aces 99-66 and spoil ring night for the defending champions. She was 5 of 8 from the field and 4 of 5 from outside for 19 points, four assists and two steals. She had 13 of her points in the second quarter to help the Mercury put the game away by halftime.
In the second game, a 95-79 loss to Golden State in the Valkyries’ home opener, she was a bright spot in an otherwise rough night for the Mercury, going 5 of 6 from the field and 4 of 5 from beyond the arc for 16 points. She was the only player on the roster with a positive plus-minus.
Now, Nogić is not your typical rookie. She is a 28-year-old from Serbia who played four seasons at Providence College from 2015-2019 and has spent the last six years playing for the Serbian national team and professionally in Spain, Turkey and Russia. But she’s eligible for the award because this is her first WNBA season. Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said that team scouts have had their eyes on her for a couple of years, but that increased salaries, thanks to the new CBA, made it more tenable for her to come to the league this summer.
The Mercury are having injury struggles early this season, so Nogić should get enough minutes to be in contention for the honor. Meanwhile, both Azzi Fudd and Lauren Betts are coming off the bench and Awa Fam won’t be joining the Seattle Storm for a couple more weeks due to overseas commitments. Olivia Miles did have an impressive debut with the Minnesota Lynx, with 21 points, eight assists and three boards, so she’s still the frontrunner. But after this weekend, I think Nogić will give her a run for her money. — Lindsay Gibbs
The Golden State Valkyries will win a playoff series
Before the season, I picked the Golden State Valkyries to finish 12th and not just miss the playoffs, but miss them handily. But I have already seen the error of my ways. Not only do I think they will make the playoffs, but the Valkyries will win at least one playoff series and make it to the WNBA semifinals.
In their first two games, the Valkyries defeated the Seattle Storm 91-80 on the road and took down the Phoenix Mercury in the Ballhalla opener, 95-79. The only other 2-0 team is the New York Liberty, and the Valkyries have played tougher opponents — the Valkyries have the fourth-hardest strength of schedule through the first quarter of the season, while the Liberty have the easiest, according to ESPN.
But it’s not just the win-loss record that impresses; it’s how they are doing it. They’re continuing their formula from last season, with tough defense and a lot of three-point shooting, but with more talent and experience on the roster. The Valkyries have attempted a league-high 35 three-pointers per game and made 40% of them, for a league-leading 14 three-pointers per game. They’re third in the league in assists, with 23.5 per game, and have the third-fewest turnovers per game, with just nine. Their defense is holding opponents to 79.5 points per game, second in the league behind the Toronto Tempo, who have only played one game.
Janelle Salaun started for the Valkyries most of last year, but is coming off the bench early in the season and absolutely thriving, averaging 20.5 points per game. Salaun is especially hot from beyond the arc, averaging 4.5 three-pointers made per game on 56.3% shooting. Kayla Thornton is picking up right where she left off before her injury last season, Veronica Burton is continuing to shine and Gabby Williams was just an absolutely perfect addition to this core during free agency. The front-office moves and messaging have been confounding the past few weeks, but on the court, the Valkyries look ready to build on their successful debut season. — Lindsay Gibbs
Aug 7, 2021; Saitama, Japan; Team Slovenia point guard Luka Doncic (77) reacts on the court during the fourth quarter against Australia during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Saitama Super Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Los Angeles Lakers star Luke Doncic will not play for the Slovenian national team this summer, instead prioritizing his daughters.
Doncic is the father of 3-year-old Gabriela and 5-month-old Olivia. Their mother is his ex-fiancee, Anamaria Goltes, with whom he is fighting over custody of the girls. Doncic announced their split in March.
He announced his summer plans via Instagram after the Lakers’ season ended Monday night with a playoff loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“I love my daughters more than anything, and they will always come first in my life. As I continue working toward joint custody of my daughters, I have been forced to make a difficult decision between traveling and playing for the Slovenian national team and being with my daughters this summer.
“Unfortunately, it has been made extremely difficult for me to see them over the past eight months.”
Goltes lives in Europe. Still, she filed a petition for child support and attorney’s fees in Los Angeles, and Slovenian courts also are expected to be involved.
Now 27, Doncic has played for his national team since age 16. He led Slovenia in the 2020 Olympics with 28.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 7.0 assists. The team did not advance out of pool play.
In the NBA, the Lakers were swept in the Western Conference semifinals by the Thunder. They defeated the Houston Rockets in the opening round.
Doncic missed both series after suffering a serious left-hamstring strain on April 2. He led the NBA in scoring this season with 33.5 points per game and shot 36.6% from long range. Injuries limited him to 64 games.
–Field Level Media
Nikita Shulchenco of LCW UAECycling Team in action during the Tour of Luzon. –HANDOUT PHOTO
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Nikita Shulchenko closed in on the MPTC Tour of Luzon title after finishing second in the individual time trial of the penultimate stage won by Kyeong Ho Min.
Min captured his second stage win after ruling the 20-kilometer race-against-time event in 25 minutes and 39 seconds, with Shulchenko 22 seconds behind.
Coupled with Antoine Huby placing 13th overall, Shulchenko was able to stretch his hold on the yellow jersey going into the final stage of the derby wheels going to Baguio from here via Kennon Road.
Nikita Shulchenko’s lap time of 26 minutes and one second was only good for second, 22 seconds behind, but it was good enough for him to extend his lead over Antoine Huby in the general classification. #TourOfLuzon2026 | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/xLHwsQSymV
— INQUIRER Sports (@inquirersports) May 12, 2026
Shulchenko, the Russian ace of the Filipino-owned, Dubai-based LCW UAE Cycle, now has a total time of 36:42:22, ahead by 3:50 over Huby of 7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines.
The French rider finished the ITT in 27:17, a day after jumping to second overall with his win in the Stage 12 climb towards Daang Kalikasan in Mangatarem.
Huby entered the ITT trailing Shulchenko in the overall standings by 2:30.
Joseph Javiniar of Excellent Noodles finished third in the ITT in 26:09 while Nash Lim of MPT DriveHub clocked 26:33 to become the best Filipino cyclist entering the final lap of the 14-stage cycling odyssey.
Lim jumped to fourth, 8:05 adrift, but is way behind third-running Ibrahiem Alrefai, who trails teammate Shulchenko by 5:37.
7-Eleven’s Mervin Corpuz is fifth by 8:54, while the rest of the top is composed of Malaysia’s Muhammad Mazlin (+9:26), 7-Eleven’s Ronnilan Quita (+9:46), MPT’s Rustom Lim (+12:19), Seoul’s Jung Woo Ho (+13:30) and Go for Gold Philippines’ Rench Michael Bondoc (+13:54).
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The Minnesota Vikings held rookie minicamp last week, and in addition to signing DT-OLB Smith Vilbert, the club inked linebacker Bangally Kamara.
Two tryout players earned contracts. Now comes the real roster climb.
Kamara enters the mix for Minnesota at the bottom of the 90-man roster, hoping to do enough at training camp and in the preseason to stick around for the 53-man depth chart in September or snag a practice squad invitation.
Minnesota Adds More Depth to Brian Flores’s Defense
Get to know Kamara, the newest Viking.
Kamara to MIN
The rookies keep on coming for Minnesota. KU Sports‘ Henry Greenstein wrote Monday, “Former Kansas linebacker Bangally Kamara has signed with the Minnesota Vikings, the team announced on Monday. Kamara went unselected in the 2026 NFL Draft but apparently made enough of an impression at the Vikings’ minicamp to earn a roster spot based on his tryout performance. Minnesota signed him alongside former Penn State lineman Smith Vilbert.”
“Kamara spent one year as a Jayhawk, the first piece in KU’s 2025 expansive transfer class, after four seasons at Pitt and a short stint at South Carolina. He served as KU’s starting weak-side linebacker and was an all-conference honorable mention at the conclusion of a year in which he recorded 56 tackles, including 9.5 for loss, while starting nine of the 11 games he played.”
Kamara, listed between 6’1″ and 6’2″ and 220-230 pounds, is a bit small for an inside linebacker, but he’ll battle for a roster spot nevertheless.
The Background
Kamara stands out as a versatile linebacker prospect. At the aforementioned height and weight, he’s a bit undersized but demonstrates the flexibility to play dedense and on special teams — a critical asset for making an NFL roster. His collegiate path, however, was not straightforward.
He transferred collegiately twice, moving from Pittsburgh to South Carolina before landing at Kansas. Despite this winding route, his production finally materialized in 2025, recording 56 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 4 pass breakups, and a forced fumble in 11 games.
His appeal stems from his movement, range, and utility in sub-packages. Possessing 4.69 speed, a 10-foot-1 broad jump, and 32 1/8-inch arms, he has the athletic tools necessary to operate effectively in space. The primary question mark surrounding Kamara is his definitive NFL role: he’s likely too light for full-time EDGE work and will need to carve out a specific niche. He projects as a developmental linebacker and special teams ace.
Our Kyle Joudry on Kamara: “Per PFF, Kamara had a reasonably humdrum season, finishing off with a 63.4 grade. Most promising was his 79.3 pass rush score, further corroborating the notion that Kamara is at his best when he’s allowed to move forward. His snap allotment shows 309 snaps in the box, 156 snaps along the defensive line, 59 snaps as a slot corner, and 5 snaps as a wide corner.”
“Kamara now has that chance given that he turned his tryout (the initial chance) into an undrafted contract, which will span three seasons while coming in a hair below $900,000 for his 2026 cap charge. Expect the guaranteed money to be low, if not outright non-existent.”
The Revised ILB Group
When the offseason began, off-ball linebacker represented a huge question mark for the Vikings. Wilson and Pace Jr. were free agents, and rookie Jake Golday had not entered the picture yet. Fast forward to May, and both Wilson and Pace Jr. are back, while Minnesota tabbed Golday as its 2nd-Round pick.
Here’s the updated lay of the land at inside linebacker:
- Blake Cashman
- Eric Wilson
- Ivan Pace Jr.
- Jake Golday
- Jacob Roberts
- Scooby Williams
- Josh Ross
- Keli Lawson
- Bangally Kamara
It might be the Vikings’ deepest roster spot.
The Other Guy — Vilbert
Vilbert is a defensive lineman who can be used on the line interior or the edges, depending on Flores’s mood. He’s 6’6 and 290 pounds with 34-inch arms.
Minnesota’s defensive scheme prioritizes versatility, expecting its front-seven players to move around, show different looks, and take on various assignments. This makes Vilbert’s build intriguing, as he could potentially play as a five-technique, an interior backup, or even a big edge rusher.
However, his path forward is undeniably steep. Older than most rookies, Vilbert’s college career at Penn State and North Carolina showed flashes of talent rather than consistent dominance. While his physical tools are legitimate, he remains a project, which explains why he went undrafted.
Vilbert represents a classic Vikings lottery ticket: a big, experienced, and coachable player facing a tough battle for a spot on the 53-man roster.
The Vikings’ defense ranked third-best leaguewide in 2025 per EPA/Play and DVOA.
Ross Blacklock surfaced in December for a tryout with the Green Bay Packers, though a contract never materialized. Five months later, the former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle is the newest member of the Atlanta Falcons.
Blacklock is back in the NFC, trying to turn a camp opportunity into staying power.
Blacklock’s career has stalled compared to his once-promising 2nd-Round draft stock six years ago, but he’ll hope to rekindle his career on Kevin Stefanski’s team.
Atlanta Adds More Depth to Its Defensive Line
A short-timer for the Vikings, Blacklock eyes a roster spot in Atlanta.
ATL Signs Blacklock
Make it seven NFL teams in seven seasons for Blacklock. SI.com‘s Garrett Chapman wrote Monday, “The Atlanta Falcons have announced a flurry of roster moves after the conclusion of rookie minicamp last weekend. It was reported on Monday morning that they would sign offensive lineman Layden Robinson, but an additional slew of moves was made, according to Tori McElhaney.”
“The Falcons welcomed 46 players to Flowery Branch over the weekend, including six drafted players, 14 undrafted free agents, and 24 players auditioning for roster spots. Of those auditioning players, four, including Robinson, were signed. The others include defensive lineman Ross Blacklock, offensive tackle Brandon Walton, and linebacker Daveren Rayner.”
Blacklock last lived on the New York Giants’ practice squad in 2024.
Blacklock’s Background
The aforementioned Giants signed Blacklock to their practice squad in mid-December 2024. Although a futures contract typically implies an opportunity to compete for a spot on the 2025 summer roster, his tenure was brief, as he was released before the offseason concluded.
The 27-year-old defensive lineman has played in 44 NFL games, starting three and accumulating 40 total tackles, 9 quarterback hits, 5 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks. A 2nd-Round pick by the Houston Texans in the 2020 NFL Draft, Blacklock saw his most extensive action with them in 2022, playing 455 defensive snaps.
About four years ago, the Vikings acquired Blacklock and a 7th-Round pick from Houston in exchange for a 6th-Round pick. However, the TCU product struggled to establish himself in Minnesota, playing just 139 defensive snaps before his release in the summer of 2023, following the emergence of Jonathan Bullard and Jaquelin Roy. Blacklock was notably one of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s initial trade acquisitions.
Since his release from Minnesota, Blacklock has moved between five different teams without securing a permanent role, suggesting a career on a downward trajectory. Nevertheless, a recent contract with the Falcons offers him at least one more opportunity.
This is his full resume:
- Houston Texans (2020–2021)
- Minnesota Vikings (2022)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (2023)
- Indianapolis Colts (2023)
- Tennessee Titans (2023)
- New York Giants (2024)
- Atlanta Falcons (2026–now)
The DT Unit in Atlanta
Here’s the revised list of defensive tackles for the Falcons after Blacklock’s contract:
- Zach Harrison
- Maason Smith
- Brandon Dorlus
- Da’Shawn Hand
- LaCale London
- Chris Williams
- Elijah Garcia
- Carlos Allen Jr.
- Anterio Thompson
- Ben Stille
- Ross Blacklock
Blacklock hopes to climb the pecking order a few spots to make the September roster.
The New Faces for Falcons
Atlanta was one of the league’s busier teams during free agency, adding these men in the last two months:
- Jake Bailey | P (MIA → ATL)
- Samson Ebukam | ED (IND → ATL)
- Nick Folk | K (NYJ → ATL)
- Tyler Goodson | RB (IND → ATL)
- Darren Hall | CB (ARI → ATL)
- Da’Shawn Hand | DL (LAC → ATL)
- Christian Harris | LB (HOU → ATL)
- Darnay Holmes | CB (LV → ATL)
- Austin Hooper | TE (NE → ATL)
- Corey Levin | C (TEN → ATL)
- Azeez Ojulari | ED (PHI → ATL)
- Brian Robinson | RB (NYJ → ATL)
- Trevor Siemian | QB (TEN → ATL)
- Tua Tagovailoa | QB (MIA → ATL)
- Jawaan Taylor | RT (KC → ATL)
- Cam Thomas | ED (CLE → ATL)
- Channing Tindall | LB (ARI → ATL)
- Chris Williams | DL (CHI → ATL)
- Olamide Zaccheaus | WR (CHI → ATL)
And from the draft, the Falcons onboarded this class:
- Round 2 — Avieon Terrell (Clemson | CB)
- Round 3 — Zachariah Branch (Georgia | WR)
- Round 4 — Kendal Daniels (Oklahoma | LB)
- Round 6 — Anterio Thompson (Washington | DT)
- Round 6 — Harold Perkins Jr. (LSU | LB)
- Round 7 — Ethan Oniwanwa (Ohio St. | G)
Bleacher Report‘s Brent Sobleski graded the Falcons’ offseason with a C+ grade this week, noting, “The hiring of a two-time NFL head coach of the Year in Kevin Stefanski, who serves as his own offensive play-caller, and offensive line coach Bill Callahan should help maximize this group. The biggest issue remains the uncertainty around last year’s rookie standout James Pearce Jr.”
“The 2025 first-round pick agreed to enter an intervention program, which allowed him to avoid trial on felony domestic violence charges. Significant talent can be found on Atlanta’s roster. The group needs to come together under its new leadership so the Falcons can finally take over the NFC South.”
Blacklock will turn 28 this summer.
MADRID — Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has called for new elections at Real Madrid and says he will seek another term after claiming he is the victim of a campaign to unseat him.
He dismissed rumours that he was tired of the job or sick, saying these had been spread by opponents.
The president spoke Tuesday after a meeting of the club’s board of directors, two days after Madrid lost 2-0 at Barcelona and saw the Catalan rival clinch its second straight Spanish league title.
That meant Madrid has endured a second consecutive season without a major trophy, despite having France star Kylian Mbappé on the squad.
Sports
‘I don’t normally like this’: Barcelona coach reacts to Lamine Yamal waving Palestine flag | Football News
FC Barcelona star Lamine Yamal once again found himself at the centre of attention during the club’s La Liga title celebrations after waving a Palestinian flag during the team’s open-top bus parade through the streets of Barcelona. The 18-year-old winger, regarded as one of football’s brightest young talents, was seen holding the Palestinian flag while celebrating Barcelona’s league triumph alongside teammates on Monday. Yamal later shared pictures of the moment on his Instagram account as thousands of supporters packed the streets to celebrate the title-winning campaign. According to reports, nearly 750,000 fans turned up for the celebrations as Barcelona marked another domestic triumph. Yamal’s gesture quickly drew global attention amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the wider international reaction surrounding the conflict. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick was asked about the incident during a press conference on Tuesday. While the German coach admitted he generally prefers to avoid such situations, he also made it clear that Yamal is mature enough to make his own choices. “This I don’t normally like,” Flick said. “I spoke with him. I said if he wants this, it is his decision. He is old enough. He’s 18 years old.” There has been growing backlash across the world against Israel over the humanitarian impact of the war in Gaza, with demonstrations and protests appearing across several sports and cultural events, including football, cycling and basketball. Spain has also been among the countries protesting Israel’s inclusion in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Yamal, whose father is Moroccan and who is openly Muslim, appeared to express support for Palestinians through the gesture during the celebrations. Despite the controversy, Flick insisted his focus remained on the connection between the club and its supporters following the title-winning season. “We are playing football and you can see what the people expect from us,” Flick added. “We are playing football to make the people happy. This is for me the first thing we have to do.” Yamal continues to rise rapidly in world football and is widely viewed as one of the leading candidates to become the sport’s next global superstar after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Spain international is also expected to be one of the standout names at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
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