
By SuperWest Sports Staff
Sports
Sonia Bompastor explodes at Katie McCabe’s hair-pull as Chelsea exit Champions League to rivals Arsenal
The battle of Stamford Bridge was already getting spicy and bubbling when Sjoeke Nusken finally grabbed the goal Chelsea had been pushing for all night. Then, as Arsenal held on to what was now only a one-goal advantage, Katie McCabe set it alight by pulling the hair of Alyssa Thompson as the winger surged away on the counter-attack in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Sonia Bompastor and the Chelsea bench leapt to their feet, the French coach exploding at the fourth official on the touchline when the Danish referee, Frida Klarlund, waved play on and the VAR apparently fell asleep.
If Chelsea were to exit the Champions League, again, they would do so while torching the place down. Bompastor was booked twice in two minutes for her furious protests, a dramatic sending off encapsulating her anger at the officiating throughout this quarter-final. Bompastor raged last week when Chelsea had controversially seen a goal ruled out in their 3-1 first-leg defeat at the Emirates. The officiating, she said, showed a lack of respect for the women’s game, and those claims were repeated loud and clear to Uefa here.

It wasn’t why Chelsea did not overturn Arsenal’s advantage in the second leg – numerous wasted chances in the first half, plus an outstanding display from goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar, saw to that as well – but McCabe’s hair-pull going unpunished was the final straw for Bompastor and how the night would be remembered by.
During a post-game TV interview, Bompastor pulled up a video of the incident on her phone and held it to the camera. “Why do we have VAR?” she demanded.
McCabe protested her innocence, posting an immediate statement on Instagram to say she “wouldn’t ever want to pull someone’s hair”; the Republic of Ireland international said she attempted to grab Thompson’s shirt when the Chelsea forward burst away on the counter-attack. Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers also insisted it was not deliberate. But Thompson, whose hair had been pulled, was left in tears, Bompastor said.

“I think the intention is clear,” Bompastor added, before the former Lyon coach reeled off a series of four or five incidents that had gone against just Chelsea, or against her, or both, in the Champions League.
They included Catarina Macario’s disallowed goal against Barcelona this season, to before Bompastor’s time at the club and a contentious disallowed goal and penalty decision in a 2-2 draw against Real Madrid in November 2023. Bompastor came prepared and with her research: referee Klarlund was in charge of that, too, she pointed out. Bompastor also brought up her Lyon side’s defeat to Chelsea in the quarter-finals three years ago, when Lauren James went down in penalty box under a soft challenge in the last minute of stoppage time and Chelsea went on to knock Lyon out on penalties.

Right to the end, this was wonderful chaos; and a result to bolster Arsenal’s belief that this could be their year again. Sleger’s side may have lost their run of 11 consecutive in all competitions but they emerged from this bruising affair with their title defence intact after a resilient defensive effort. They will either face Lyon, in a possible rematch of last season’s semi-finals, or Wolfsburg for a chance at returning to the final they won last year against Barcelona in Lisbon.
“Champions of Europe” was the cry from the away end at Stamford Bridge and it is no secret that Arsenal almost ghosted in last season to capture the one trophy Chelsea want to win above all others. Chelsea had suffered three consecutive semi-final exits to Barcelona in this competition but a quarter-final exit to their London rivals will hurt more. Chelsea will also be relinquishing their Women’s Super League crown after six straight titles to Manchester City in the next few weeks.
They appeared a sad imitation of last season’s team, which confidently overturned a 2-0 first-leg defeat to swat Manchester City aside at Stamford Bridge in last year’s Champions League quarter-finals. The reality of a transitional year, which perhaps was always to be expected following the departure of Emma Hayes, and which may have been somewhat covered up by last season’s unbeaten domestic treble, is now painfully clear. “The reality is the season is not where we want it to be,” Bompastor admitted.

Chelsea had enough chances to have cancelled out Arsenal’s lead. “The story of our season, we missed the clinical element,” Bompastor accepted. In the first half, Nusken and Thompson turned wide as Ellie Carpenter caused a threat down the right and James pulled the strings in midfield. When Chelsea spurned those opportunities, James started to drop deeper and deeper, the frustration rising as Chelsea became even more disconnected. Sam Kerr was denied a vintage strike by Van Domselaar, who brilliantly tipped over her shot from the edge of the box after she had been released with a long pass over the top.
Bompastor turned and began to laugh when Van Domselaar later tipped Nusken’s header onto the post, the second time Chelsea had struck the frame of the goal in their late siege. It was evidently not going to be their night, but Nusken gave Chelsea some hope when the German finally finished one of their chances by slamming in Kerr’s cut-back in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Then came McCabe’s hair-pull, and the most explosive of exits.
Sports
Lions HC Dan Campbell On All-Pro Penei Sewell Changing Spots: He ‘Can Do It All’
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Penei Sewell has been an All-Pro three times and selected to the Pro Bowl four times during his first five seasons, putting him in elite company with just three Hall of Famers.
The Detroit Lions are switching Sewell’s position this season, setting him apart from Anthony Munoz, Tony Boselli and Joe Thomas.
The trio of former all-time greats are the only other offensive tackles to be first-team All-Pro at least three times and named to the Pro Bowl four times or more in their first five years in the league — and they were left tackles throughout their NFL careers.
Detroit is making the move to replace Taylor Decker while putting first-round pick Blake Miller or newly acquired veteran Larry Borom at Sewell’s previous spot at right tackle.
Lions coach Dan Campbell expects a seamless transition for the 6-foot-5, 335-pound Sewell.
“It’ll be like riding a bike for him,” Campbell said Friday before the team’s workout. “Will there be things he’ll have to learn? Yeah, of course there will be. But I mean, he has played left. That’s muscle memory. He played a lot of left in college and for us in ’21.”
Detroit drafted Sewell out of Oregon, where he was an award-winning left tackle, with the No. 7 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Sewell started the first eight games of his career in 2021 at left tackle because Decker was injured, making him the youngest left tackle to start an NFL game at 20 years old.
The Lions shifted Sewell to right tackle midway through his rookie year, and he stayed there for the last four-plus seasons, other than a short stint during the 2023 season when Decker was hurt again.
“Sewell can do it all,” Campbell said.
Decker asked for his release during the offseason, ending a 10-year run as the team’s starting left tackle after announcing he was coming back instead of retiring. The Lions addressed the void by taking Miller out of Clemson with the No. 17 pick last month.
Sewell, who is in the first season of a four-year, $112 million contract, has proven to be quite a pick for Detroit.
He earned first-team, All-Pro honors the last three years and Pro Bowl recognition four straight times. Sewell has started 83 times in the regular season, plus four playoff games, in five years to help the long-suffering franchise become a respected team in the league.
Campbell said Sewell is athletic enough to play guard or even tight end, but switching sides for an offensive lineman can be challenging.
Players who have made the move say it’s like driving a car with the opposite foot or shaving with their other hand. The footwork is different, as is the hand-and-eye coordination required on each side.
“When you switch, you have a different leg up front,” Sewell has said. “So you have to push off a different leg every time. You have to train this leg that’s been back the whole time and catching to now pushing.”
Reporting by The Associated Press.
Sports
Family pays tribute to Claude Lemieux following death days after Canadiens honor
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The NHL and greater sports world continues to mourn the loss of two-time Stanley Cup champion Claude Lemieux, who died on Thursday. He was 60.
Lemieux’s death came as a surprise, as he carried the torch at the Montreal Canadiens’ home arena Monday before the team’s Game 3 matchup against the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final. In his red and blue Canadiens sweater, No. 32, Lemieux smiled and carried a flame toward a darkened rink.
Tributes quickly poured in as news of Lemieux’s death spread, with his daughter among those who remembered one of hockey’s most respected — and polarizing — figures.
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Claude Lemieux made an appearance at Montreal’s Bell Centre for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final just days before his death. (Photo by Matt Garies/NHLI via Getty Images)
After reposting a New Jersey Devils tribute to her father on Instagram Stories, Claudia Lemieux shared a heartfelt message of her own. “No words to express the level of devastation we feel. I love you forever daddy. Forever your only girl.”
Claude Lemieux’s son, Brendan, also honored his father by sharing a photo featuring three generations of the family on social media.

Claude Lemieux, wearing No. 22, scores for the Canada Legends against the USA Legends during the Legends Classic Hockey Game at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, on Nov. 7, 2010. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
“I love you dad! My son’s favorite person is going to watch from above for a while. We will see you,” he wrote along with a red heart emoji. Brendan inherited his father’s passion for hockey and went on to spend a decade in the NHL, most recently playing for Carolina during the 2023-24 season.
KEN DRYDEN, HALL OF FAME GOALIE AND ‘MIRACLE ON ICE’ BROADCASTER, DEAD AT 78
Lemieux authored one of the most famous goals in Canadiens history as a rookie in 1986, slipping a backhander over Hartford goaltender Mike Liut’s glove and into the top corner in Game 7 of the second round.

Claude Lemieux is honored at the Colorado Avalanche’s 30th anniversary celebration of the 1995-1996 season before the game against the Florida Panthers at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, on Dec. 11, 2025. (Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
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Lemieux grew up in Mont-Laurier in western Quebec.
Former Canadiens center Doug Gilmour said Lemieux possessed the rare ability to frustrate opponents while earning the respect of teammates, a trait that stood out during the 1989 Stanley Cup Final.
“He was a pain in the a– to play against, but you wanted him on your team.”
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Sports
Moise Kouame youngest man into Grand Slam 3rd round since Nadal
Moise Kouame of France reacts as he plays against Adolfo Daniel Vallejo of Paraguay during their second round men’s singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)
Home hope Moise Kouame became the youngest man to reach the third round of a Grand Slam tournament since Rafael Nadal 23 years ago, after an epic French Open victory on Thursday, saying it was a “dream” to one day win the tournament.
The 17-year-old wildcard survived a comeback from Paraguay’s Adolfo Daniel Vallejo to claim a remarkable 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (10/8) win after four hours and 56 minutes on a raucous, and boiling hot, Court Suzanne Lenglen.
READ: French Open: Who remains in contention after Jannik Sinner’s exit?
Kouame is the youngest man to reach the last 32 of a major since Nadal at Wimbledon in 2003.
Nadal went on to win 22 Grand Slam titles, including 14 at Roland Garros, and Kouame is not putting any limits on what he is hoping to achieve.
“Winning Roland Garros is, of course, a dream, but winning all four (Slams) is a dream actually, you know. Being world number one is also a dream,” Kouame, currently ranked 318th, told reporters.
“I think thinking about winning the tournament is a bit early. But, yeah, I’m really happy to be in the third round, as well, of course, and I’m going to try my best to win another match.”
After wins for Rafael Jodar and Joao Fonseca on Wednesday, it is the first time three teenagers have made the third round of the men’s singles at Roland Garros since Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Gael Monfils in 2006.

Moise Kouame of France returns to Adolfo Daniel Vallejo of Paraguay during their second round men’s singles tennis match at the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)
“I think thinking about age is a mistake,” said Kouame. “I think because… when you are on court, you are trying to win the match. You’re not trying to think about how old is your opponent. That is something I do pretty well.”
Kouame had already become the youngest man to win a Slam match in 17 years with his first-round success against Marin Cilic.
The Grand Slam debutant powered into a two-set lead to the delight of the French fans but then started to wilt in the baking heat.
But Kouame somehow dragged himself back from the brink of defeat when Vallejo was serving for the match at 5-3 in the fifth, before completing a memorable win in a thrilling tie-break.
He soaked up the adulation from the French fans, telling them he could “never” have got over the line without them.
“I love this sport, because we get those kinds of atmospheres and for the pressure that you experience,” Kouame added.
“I was playing in front of 10,000 people, right? It’s not easy, that’s for sure, but I was able to draw into their energy because they were there to support me, not to stress me.
“But it is definitely more enjoyable to play in front of 10,000 people than 10. That’s a fact.”
Kouame will next face Alejandro Tabilo, who will be comparatively very well rested after being the beneficiary of a walkover after second-round opponent Valentin Vacherot withdrew from the tournament with an injury.
Sports
McLaughlin: Disrespect for Pac-12, G6 from SEC Coach?
Hidden amidst a flurry of SEC comments at their Spring meetings this week was a remark from Florida HC Jon Sumrall.
His comments should worry G6 fans.
On today’s episode of Locked On College Football, I discuss the push from Texas Tech to play the Texas Longhorns in 2026.

The game would be an outstanding spectacle for the sport.
There have been discussions about the Big Ten and SEC forming a scheduling partnership for the leagues to play each other in football.
Would the cons outweigh the pros in that scenario?
00:00 Group of six playoff chances
04:15 Duke’s playoff controversy
07:48 Lane Kiffin’s early departure
12:12 Quarterback change and schedule issues
15:10 The Texas vs. Texas Tech matchup
19:50 Proposing a new college football format
20:54 SEC and Big Ten scheduling
24:13 Discussions on college sports leagues
Sports
Irfan Pathan crowns Shubman Gill-Sai Sudharsan ‘best batting pair in IPL history’ | Cricket News
Everything about Gujarat Titans’ season has revolved around the opening pair of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan, and now former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has joined the growing list of admirers of the duo.The pair once again showcased their brilliance in Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals, stitching together a match-winning 167-run opening stand while chasing a daunting target of 215. Gill led the charge with a sublime 104 off 53 balls, while Sudharsan provided explosive support with 58 off just 32 deliveries. Their partnership completely absorbed the pressure of the knockout contest and effectively sealed the result long before the final overs.Both batters have crossed the 700-run mark this season, with Gill currently occupying second place in the Orange Cap standings with 722 runs, while Sudharsan is close behind with 710 runs.Speaking on JioStar, Irfan Pathan hailed Gill and Sudharsan as the greatest opening pair in IPL history.“Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan are the best batting pair in TATA IPL history. They hold the record for the most 100-run partnerships and the most 50-plus partnerships in the tournament. In T20 cricket, if you want a flying start, you want both of them at the top. They complement each other perfectly. One rotates the strike, the other finds the boundaries. Their understanding is remarkable,” Irfan Pathan said on JioStar.Pathan also highlighted how the pair punished Rajasthan Royals’ bowling plans in Qualifier 2.“If bowlers try short-pitched deliveries, they actually enjoy it. They are ready to play the cut shot and punish anything short. That is exactly what Nandre Burger and Jofra Archer did. They bowled short, and Gill and Sudharsan were waiting. Even when Yash Raj Punja came into the attack, he bowled slightly shorter lengths. Shubman Gill is not afraid to use his feet against both fast bowlers and spinners. He steps out, creates room, and hits over the top,” he added. According to Pathan, the 167-run stand proved to be the decisive moment of the match – “The opening partnership of 167 runs in just 77 balls was where Rajasthan Royals lost the game. That stand took the chase away from them completely.”Their consistency is not new. Last season, despite Gujarat Titans’ Eliminator defeat to Mumbai Indians, Gill and Sudharsan combined for 912 runs in 15 innings, the highest partnership aggregate of IPL 2025. Sudharsan also finished that campaign as the Orange Cap winner. This season, the duo has already amassed 886 runs together in 15 innings and needs just 27 more runs in the final to surpass their own record.
Sports
Champions League Final: PSG and Arsenal set for battle of superstars – Sports
Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal face off in the Champions League final this Saturday in Budapest. PSG are aiming to retain the European crown, while the newly crowned Premier League champions are chasing the first Champions League title in their history, 20 years after their only previous final appearance, a defeat to Barcelona.
Elsewhere in sports news, Nice have secured their Ligue 1 status. The Eagles crushed Saint-Étienne 4-1 on Friday in the second leg of their relegation playoff after a goalless first leg on Tuesday.
In women‘s football, Lyon are French champions once again. OL Lyonnes thrashed Paris FC 5-0 in Friday’s Arkema Première Ligue final to capture a record-extending 19th league title.
Barcelona have landed their first signing of the summer, with England international forward Anthony Gordon joining from Newcastle on a five-year deal.
France have officially begun preparations for the World Cup. Les Bleus gathered at Clairefontaine on Friday, where head coach Didier Deschamps urged his players to stay humble despite being considered among the tournament favorites.
At Roland-Garros, the shocks keep coming. One day after Jannik Sinner‘s stunning exit, Novak Djokovic also crashed out. The 24-time Grand Slam champion was beaten by 19-year-old sensation João Fonseca after a marathon five-set thriller, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5, lasting 4 hours and 53 minutes. In the women’s draw, four-time champion Iga Swiatek continued her title bid with a straight-sets victory over fellow Pole Magda Linette, 6-4, 6-4.
And finally, Sepp Kuss conquered the Giro d’Italia’s queen stage on Friday. The American’s triumph means he has now claimed stage victories in all three Grand Tours. In the overall standings, Jonas Vingegaard remains in the pink jersey, ahead of Felix Gall and Jai Hindley.
Sports
Rockies overtake Giants with 2 homers, 5 runs in bottom of ninth
May 29, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb (62) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Hunter Goodman and Ezequiel Tovar homered in a five-run ninth inning, and the Colorado Rockies rallied to stun the San Francisco Giants 8-6 in Denver on Friday.
Willi Castro, Jake McCarthy, Tyler Freeman, Goodman and Tovar had two hits each and Juan Mejia (1-4) got the win for Colorado, which snapped a five-game skid with the dramatic victory.
The Rockies trailed 6-3 when McCarthy and Freeman opened the ninth with singles off Caleb Killian (1-3). TJ Rumfield flied out before Goodman crushed a home run just inside the left field foul pole to tie the game.
Castro’s two-single kept the inning alive, and Tovar ended it with his second homer of the game and fourth of the season.
Jung Hoo Lee had four hits and scored twice while Luis Arraez and Rafael Devers had two hits each for San Francisco, which has dropped four in a row.
San Francisco’s Logan Webb made his first start since May 5 and lasted 4 1/3 innings. He allowed one run on three hits and three walks while striking out five in his return from right knee bursitis.
Lee, who was activated from the 10-day injured list after recovering from a mid-back strain, contributed two run-saving catches. He made a running catch of Kyle Karros’ liner at the right field wall to end the fourth and then a sliding catch of Troy Johnston’s sinking liner to end the fifth.
The Rockies took a 1-0 lead in the second when Tovar came home on a double steal, with Edouard Julien swiping second. San Francisco tied it in the third on Willy Adames’ sacrifice fly and then went ahead in the fourth on a sacrifice fly from Daniel Susac and an RBI single from Harrison Bader.
That was all for Colorado starter Michael Lorenzen, who allowed three runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out two.
The Giants padded the lead in the eighth when Lee led off with a double, went to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Bryce Eldridge’s sacrifice fly.
Tovar hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth. San Francisco answered with two in the ninth, on Devers’ RBI triple and Matt Chapman’s run-scoring single, to make it 6-3. –Field Level Media
Sports
Canadiens’ bright future will be shaped by pain from loss to Hurricanes
RALEIGH, N.C. — For now, there is nothing but pain, which might be more formative for the Montreal Canadiens than anything else they experienced through this season and these Stanley Cup Playoffs.
It is the pain of every blocked shot, every hit and every slash now suddenly throbbing uncontrollably, radiating over the deep wound inflicted by a fourth straight humbling loss that ended a dream after 101 games.
The ice won’t make it go away just yet, and that’s not a bad thing.
No one knows more than these Carolina Hurricanes — who pulverized the Canadiens — that this pain is a pathway forward. They suffered it in three Eastern Conference Finals, over which they lost 12 of 13 games in demoralizing fashion to better teams, and it turned them into the punishers they’ve become.
“A lot of years with a lot of pain,” said Jordan Martinook after Friday’s 6-1 win over the Canadiens at Lenovo Center, his 89th playoff game that finally pushed him and the Hurricanes to Round 4.
“We had teams that could’ve got there and just (didn’t do it)… It’s been a crazy journey…”
The Canadiens have only taken a few steps on theirs, with each one of them bringing them hope that the pain they’re feeling takes them to where Carolina has now gone.
“I don’t know if I have three more years,” said 33-year-old Phillip Danault, who’s under contract for one more season with the Canadiens. “I hope it’s not that long for us, but we’re a different team. Sometimes it’s just a matter of who you play against. The maturity you build, the brand you have, it helps you find ways against certain teams.
“They found their way against us, and they deserved it. They work harder every single year.”
That’s what it takes; a deeper investment each time, with more sacrifices leading to more pain until what you have is a team that can assert its will over any opponent and inch that much closer to the ultimate pleasure.
The Hurricanes showed some rust in Game 1, a 6-2 loss that followed an 11-day break between rounds. But from Game 2 on, the Hurricanes asserted their will in one of the most dominant four-game performances in the history of the playoffs.
In those four wins, they outscored the Canadiens 15-4, outshot them 139-67, and you can imagine how lopsided the rest of the metrics were just based on those two.
“I think the one thing we kind of learned is they really played to their identity, and they have a lot of details inside of that, and I think for us it’s to keep trying to play to our identity but elevate the details a little bit,” said Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis. “The details just come with maturity and experience. It’s a really good team, a lot of experience. You’ve got to give credit to how well they played. They made it really hard on us, and we’re going to learn from a lot of that stuff.”
That’s what the Hurricanes did after getting waxed 4-0 by the Boston Bruins in the 2019 ECF and then sliced and diced 4-0 and 4-1 in 2023 and 2025, respectively, by the buzzsaw Florida Panthers.
The pain felt insurmountable to them each time, but it eventually pushed them to a level perhaps not even the Vegas Golden Knights will be able to contend with in the Stanley Cup Final.
A series against this galvanized, hardened Hurricanes team (which is now 12-1 in these playoffs) will present a challenge to the Golden Knights unlike any other they’ve faced so far.
Meanwhile, the Canadiens will be licking their wounds, thinking about what could’ve been after wins over the 106-point Tampa Bay Lightning and 109-point Buffalo Sabres got them to this stage before a loss to the 113-point Hurricanes made them realize how far they still have to go.
“It wasn’t easy this year to get into the position we were in, being one of the top three teams (left standing) or whatever, but it’s going to be even harder next year,” said formidable Canadiens sophomore Lane Hutson.
He’s only 22, but wise beyond his years, for Hutson knows the Sabres are nearly just as young as his team and just as motivated by the pain they endured at the Canadiens’ hands this spring.
He knows that the Ottawa Senators, who lost in four games to the Hurricanes in Round 1, are also on the rise; that the Panthers, who were injury-riddled after three straight trips to the Final and two consecutive Cups, will be back; that the Lightning still have a championship-calibre team.
And that’s just what the Canadiens will have to contend with in the Atlantic Division. Never mind the Ducks, the Mammoth, and the San Jose Sharks, who are all on the rise and looking at the Canadiens as an example of how fast a rebuilding team can ascend.
“These teams are hungry, they’re coming, they see what we’re doing and we’re not sneaking up on anyone necessarily,” said Hutson. “We feel like expectations are we’re supposed to be one of these teams, so we’ve just gotta bring it right from the start and bring a playoff mentality to training camp.”
There will be some healing to do before then, but first some pain to process.
“It should put gas on the fire. It should make them feel hungry,” said St. Louis.
He knows, because he experienced it before winning the Cup as a player in 2004.
“I remember my first experience losing in the second round of the playoffs,” St. Louis said. “I was so upset on the bus because I couldn’t believe I had to go through another 82 games before I get to have this fun. So, I think that when you taste that, it makes you hungrier, because we’ve had a lot of fun. There’s been waves and stuff, but it’s been unbelievable to go through it.”
At the end of it, the pain resonates before it dissipates.
It’s not something you welcome, but it’s something you need to go through.
“You learn more when you’re losing than winning, that’s for sure,” said a desolate Mike Matheson. “It’s hard to see that right now and look past how disappointing it is right now. But obviously, in the coming weeks, once you get back to your summer training, that motivation should be pretty high.”
It was for the Hurricanes, who stormed their way through their first 90 games before decimating the Canadiens.
Their pain pushed them to the next level, and they may be less than two weeks from finally shedding the remnants of it.
Sports
Jalen Williams ruled out of Thunder vs. Spurs Game 7 with hamstring injury
Spurs force Game 7 vs. Thunder, SGA struggles, Will Wemby carry this momentum? | The Herd
Victor Wembanyama scored 28 points and 10 rebounds in the San Antonio Spurs’ 118-91 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the WCF. Jason McIntyre says that Wemby showed up in the biggest moments, and asks if he can carry this momentum into Game 7. Plus, he discusses Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s struggles and asks if he will cost the Thunder the series.
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The Oklahoma City Thunder will be shorthanded in Saturday’s pivotal Game 7, as one of Oklahoma’s key contributors has been sidelined with an injury.
OKC guard Jalen Williams has been ruled out for Game 7 with a hamstring issue, ESPN reported on Friday. Williams appeared to aggravate his left hamstring during the Thunder’s 122-113 victory in Game 2. He missed the next three games before returning for Game 6, but logged just 10 minutes off the bench in Oklahoma City’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, which forced a winner-take-all Game 7.
“He’s obviously not 100%,” Mark Daigneault, the head coach of the Thunder, said.
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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams watches during the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in Game One of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on May 18, 2026. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Daigneault applauded Williams for fighting through the injury and doing everything he could to help Oklahoma City.
“He didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know what to expect. So, it was a matter of getting him out there in kind of an insulated role and see what he can bring to the team. He’s an All-Star player, he’s an All-NBA player. He hasn’t done a full return to play [protocol] like he would if this was the regular season, and yet, he just wants to do whatever he can to try to contribute whatever he can to the team.”
BLOCKBUSTER GAME 7 SHOWDOWN: FOUR BEST BETS FOR SAN ANTONIO SPURS AT OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
“I give him a lot of credit to get himself out there. He did the best he could. He’s certainly not the reason we lost.”

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams reacts to a shot by forward Luguentz Dort in the third quarter against the San Antonio Spurs during game one of the Western Conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on May 18, 2026. (Alonzo Adams/Imagn Images)
Williams did not talk to reporters after Thursday’s game in San Antonio.
Williams underwent surgery last offseason to repair a wrist injury but still played a key role in the Thunder’s run to the NBA Finals last season. He appeared in just 33 regular-season games before this year’s playoffs.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams drives into the paint during the first quarter of Game Two of the NBA Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on May 20, 2026. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
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The winner of Saturday’s Game 7 will advance to the NBA Finals to face the New York Knicks. New York snapped a nearly three-decade Finals drought by sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.
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Sports
Home Winning % in Last 15 Years for CFB Programs in West
Home-game victories are the foundation of a college football program’s success 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 over the last 15 seasons.
Oregon leads the way, followed by Boise State, Washington, BYU, and USC.
Home Winning % and Records by Program from 2011-2025
| Win % | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 88.0% | Oregon | 88-12 |
| 84.0% | Boise State | 79-15 |
| 78.8% | Washington | 78-21 |
| 77.2% | BYU | 71-21 |
| 75.8% | USC | 72-23 |
| 72.8% | Utah | 67-25 |
| 71.1% | San Diego State | 69-28 |
| 69.7% | Air Force | 62-27 |
| 69.5% | ASU | 66-29 |
| 68.2% | Utah State | 60-28 |
| 67.8% | Fresno State | 59-28 |
| 65.2% | WSU | 58-31 |
| 61.5% | Stanford | 56-35 |
| 59.6% | Wyoming | 53-36 |
| 59.1% | UCLA | 55-38 |
| 57.9% | Arizona | 55-40 |
| 57.7% | San Jose State | 49-36 |
| 55.0% | Cal | 50-41 |
| 54.9% | Hawai’i | 56-46 |
| 53.9% | Nevada | 48-41 |
| 52.9% | CSU | 46-41 |
| 50.0% | Oregon State | 47-47 |
| 46.1% | UNLV | 41-48 |
| 44.8% | Colorado | 39-48 |
| 41.9% | New Mexico | 36-50 |
| 41.8% | New Mexico State | 33-46 |
| 39.3% | UTEP | 33-51 |
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