Hours after Canada won a tense semifinal match over Finland at the Winter Games in Italy, the Americans locked in the all-North America final by smashing Slovakia 6-2.
Now, for the third time in four Games featuring NHLers, Canada and the U.S. will play for gold. Slovakia, meanwhile, will try to end the tournament on a high when they battle the Finns for bronze.
After surviving a quarterfinal scare versus Sweden — the Americans surrendered a 1-0 lead with 90 seconds to go, but came through in overtime — the potential was certainly there for the Stars and Stripes to overwhelm the Cinderella Slovaks.
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And that’s exactly what happened.
Granted, the issue was at least somewhat in doubt halfway through the game, as the Slovaks — surprise winners of a preliminary-round group featuring Finland and Sweden — were trailing just 2-0. However, Jack Hughes — who continues to be one of America’s most dangerous skaters — scored a gorgeous goal to make it a 3-0 lead with 7:46 to go in the second. Nineteen seconds later, Jack Eichel deposited a fourth American tally that chased Slovakian goalie Samuel Hlavaj, who had done all he could to keep his club as close as possible to the powerhouse Americans.
From there, Team USA put two more pucks past Stanislav Skorvanek in the third period to round out the Red, White and Blue scoring.
The only point of potential concern for Team USA was the fact that Tage Thompson — who scored his third goal of the tournament in the win — did not return with the team after the second intermission for the final frame. His absence was described as “precautionary” on the broadcast, and head coach Mike Sullivan said after the game that Thompson is expected to play against Canada on Sunday.
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Slovakia looked overmatched from the outset, as the Americans came at them with speed and physicality. Team USA opened the scoring just 4:19 into the night when Zach Werenski hit Dylan Larkin in full flight at the offensive blueline. Larkin tore into the Slovakian zone and let a shot go that ticked off defenceman Peter Ceresnak’s stick and into the net.
Slovakia did get two power-play opportunities in the first period, but couldn’t mount much of an attack. Still, it looked like they might emerge from the opening 20 minutes in a feel-good state thanks to some huge saves by Hlavaj. However, the Americans went to work on a man advantage with 58 seconds left in the frame and, sure enough, Thompson walloped his third of the tournament, crushing a one-timer from below the face-off dot off the right arm of Hlavaj and into the short side of the net for a 2-0 American advantage.
Slovakia got a couple more power-play chances early in the second frame, but again the U.S. kept them at bay. The path to an upset required some special-teams success and the Slovaks just weren’t able to generate Grade-A looks, even at five-on-four.
The dam finally broke when Jack Hughes grabbed the puck in the offensive zone, absolutely juked longtime NHLer and Slovak captain Tomas Tatar in the high slot and wired a shot past Hlavaj.
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Moments later, the Tkachuk brothers — Matthew and Brady — went crashing into the end boards and kicked the puck back to Eichel, who swiped it into the net.
After the Slovak goalie change, Jack Hughes went back to work and scored his second of the night, this time on an American power play. Hughes now enters the gold medal game tied with Thompson, Auston Matthews — who had several great chances but couldn’t buy one versus the Slovaks — and Brady Tkachuk — who scored on a third-period breakaway — for the team lead with three goals.
With Thompson expected to be good to go for the final, the U.S. has certainly found something on its third line with Larkin between Thompson and Hughes. There’s a bit of everything on the unit, with Larkin’s sharp two-way game up the middle, to say nothing of Thompson’s all-world shot and hard-to-handle six-foot-six frame. Throw in Hughes’ outrageous shiftiness and ability to create offence at any moment and you’ve got a recipe for a lethal line.
Connor Hellebuyck wasn’t tested a whole lot while facing 15 shots, but he did have to do some work before the score got out of hand. Not long before Thompson scored to make it 2-0 in the first, Slovak centre Matus Sukel sent a shot through from the point that was tipped by Adam Liksa and made it through to the net. Hellebuyck turned it aside with all kinds of traffic in his face and the U.S. was able to clear the zone.
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Not surprisingly, when Slovakia did beat Hellebuyck for their first goal, it was Montreal Canadiens star Juraj Slafkovsky scoring his fourth of the Olympics in the third period. Before the final buzzer, Pavol Regenda snuck in behind the U.S. defence and scored on a nice shot under the bar to close out the scoring.
Ultimately, the Americans endured precious few tense moments and will be on their toes, flying into Sunday morning’s (8:10 a.m. ET) gold medal showdown with Canada.
While all of North America will be fixated on that battle, Slovakia will be gunning for a second straight bronze medal when they take on the Finns — who won gold four years ago — at 2:40 p.m. ET on Saturday. After winning the country’s first-ever hockey medal at the 2022 Games, earning another third-place finish — this time versus the best of the best — would be huge for Slovakia.
At this point, the only question is whether Tua is going to get released or traded. Both scenarios would come with some complications for the Dolphins and that’s because Tua has $54 million in guaranteed money owed to him for the 2026 season. If the Dolphins cut Tua, they would be stuck with an NFL-record $99.2 million dead cap charge this year. However, they could knock that number down to $67.4 million if they designate him as a post-June 1 cut, a move that would allow them to split the $99.2 million hit over two seasons (they’d also take a $31.8 million dead cap hit in 2027).
The best-case scenario for the Dolphins would be to find a potential trade partner. The problem there is that it’s highly unlikely that any team is going to be willing to take on Tua’s $54 million guaranteed salary for 2026. However, the Dolphins could still try to make a deal happen by agreeing to pay some of that salary. If Miami was willing to pay $24 million, then the acquiring team would only have to pay Tua $30 million in 2026, which is a much more manageable number.
So if Tua does leave Miami, where could he end up? Let’s take a look at four possible landing spots.
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Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are currently in a nightmare situation at quarterback. They appeared to have their quarterback of the future in 2024 with Sam Darnold, who led them to a 14-3 record. The Vikings could have kept him last year, but instead of signing Darnold to a long-term deal (or even just franchise tagging him), they decided to roll the dice by going all in with J.J. McCarthy and that gamble totally backfired. In his first full year as a starter, McCarthy looked much closer to being a bust than someone who will eventually be the team’s future franchise quarterback.
Say what you will about Tua, but he’s definitely a much more polished quarterback than McCarthy. Although he’s had some trouble staying healthy, Tua has been productive when he’s on the field and he’s been especially good when he’s had the right weapons around him and the Vikings have a lot of offensive weapons to work with in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson. Tua might have to compete with McCarthy for the job, but that’s likely a competition where he would be feeling pretty confident.
And let’s not forget, Tua’s former offensive coordinator, Frank Smith, is now in Minnesota. Smith worked with Tua for four seasons in Miami and he’s now the assistant head coach for the Vikings after being hired this year, so there would be some familiarity there.
The biggest question mark here is whether Tua would want to join a team that includes Brian Flores. The Vikings defensive coordinator was Tua’s head coach in Miami for two seasons (2020-21) and the two definitely didn’t get along. Tua ripped Flores’ coaching style back in 2024 and it’s not clear if the two sides have mended fences. If they have, then Minnesota seems like an enticing spot for the former fifth overall pick.
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Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray has almost certainly played his last down in Arizona, which means the Cardinals will likely be in the market for a quarterback this offseason. Jacoby Brissett, who started 12 games last season, is under contract for 2026, so the Cards do have a safety net, but it would make a lot more sense tor them to bring someone in.
New Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur just spent three seasons as the offensive coordinator with the Rams, where he got to work with one of the NFL’s top pocket passers in Matthew Stafford. That’s not Murray’s playing style, but it definitely is what Tua prefers, which why he might be able to fit in with Arizona’s new offense.
The Cardinals have some solid weapons, including Trey McBride, who’s one of the best tight ends in the NFL. They have also have an impressive receiving duo in Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson. Tua was at his best in Miami when Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle were both on the field, so the Cardinals know what kind of production he’s capable of when he has some weapons around him.
The Colts might be the biggest wild card when it comes to the quarterback position this year and that’s because it’s not clear if Daniel Jones will be ready to play in Week 1. Jones had a strong season in his first-year with Indianapolis, but it came to a painful end in December when he tore his Achilles. That’s one of the most brutal injuries in sports and it wouldn’t be surprising at all if he had to miss the first few weeks of the 2026 season. As a matter of fact, if you look at the recovery timeline for quarterbacks, it would be a borderline miracle if Jones were to play in Week 1. Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins both tore their Achilles in 2023 and they ended up playing in Week 1 of the following season, but both of those injuries happened early in the season (Cousins’ injury came in Week 8 while Rodgers tore his Achilles in Week 1. Jones suffered his injury in Week 14).
Not only is Jones’ health up in the air, but he’s also set to be a free agent, so the Colts have fo figure out what they want to do with him, and that’s where Tua would come in. If the Colts decide to re-sign Jones, Tua could sign a one-year deal — if the Dolphins release him — and be the QB until Jones is ready to play. A trade could also make sense if the Dolphins are willing to eat a healthy chunk of Tua’s $54 million salary for 2026. Tua doesn’t have any guaranteed money left after the 2026 season, so he could fill in for Jones for a few weeks, finish out the 2026 season in Indy and then the Colts could release or trade him during the 2027 offseason (Tua will have $3 million of his 2027 salary become guaranteed on March 13, so the Colts would have to deal with that if they acquired him in a trade from Miami).
One thing working in Tua’s favor is that the Colts have a set up where he could thrive: They have a solid offensive line, they have one of the best running backs in the NFL (Jonathan Taylor), they have a solid receiving group led by Michael Pittman and they have a solid young tight end in Tyler Warren. Tua could put up some big numbers in Indy.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons currently have two quarterbacks in Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr., but that won’t be the case much longer. The team is expected to release Cousins before the start of free agency, which will leave Penix as the top guy on the depth chart. Penix comes with some serious question marks, though: He just tore his ACL for the third time in his football career and he hasn’t proven that he can play consistently good football.
Although the Falcons expect him to be ready for Week 1, he’s playing for a new coach and a new front office that didn’t draft him, so it wouldn’t be surprising at all if they brought in some competition for him. Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski has shown that he can win games even if he has to cycle through quarterbacks. He led the Browns to the playoffs during a 2023 season where Cleveland started five different players at quarterback. Stefanski is a smart offensive mind and if he thinks that Tua has more upside than Penix, then he would almost certainly be interested in bringing him to Atlanta.
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Bringing in a left-handed QB to compete with a left-handed QB would be a plus for the Falcons because it means that Atlanta wouldn’t have to make any huge changes from an offensive standpoint.
The man making the decisions in Atlanta’s front office, Matt Ryan, was noncommittal when asked if Penix would be the starting QB in 2026. Ryan told CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones that Penix’s role will be decided by new head coach Kevin Stefanski.
“Kevin’s responsibility is to be the head coach of the football team and he’s going to let you know who our starters are and who our starters are not. It’s not my place to go in there,” Ryan said during Super Bowl week.
So the QB job will be up to Stefanski, which certainly leaves the door open for Atlanta to bring in a new quarterback.
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Why several QB-needy teams didn’t make this list
One thing you may or may not have noticed about this list is that every team on it plays indoors. If Tua has proven one thing in his career, it’s that he struggles when the weather gets cold, so it doesn’t make much sense for him to play in a cold-weather city, which is why we don’t have the Jets, Steelers or Browns listed here.
The final start of Tua’s Dolphins’ career came in a December loss to the Steelers where the kickoff temperature was 17 degrees. That dropped Tua’s career record to 0-6 when the temperature is below 40. If I’m a team in a cold-weather city, I don’t want Tua, and if I’m Tua, I don’t want to play in a cold-weather city. For Tua, playing indoors will guarantee that he’ll get perfect weather for at least eight games per year. Tua has an 8-4 career record when playing indoors (dome or retractable roof) with his last game coming in Week 8 against the Falcons, a day that saw him throw four touchdown passes in a 34-10 win.
Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather said he is coming out of retirement after nine years away from the sport and will make his return this summer.
He is returning to the ring for a match under a promotional deal with CSI Sports/Fight Sports.
Boxer Floyd Mayweather of the U.S. throws a punch against mixed martial artist Mikuru Asakura of Japan in Saitama, Tokyo, Sept. 25, 2022.(AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
“I still have what it takes to set more records in the sport of boxing,” Mayweather said in a statement. “From my upcoming Mike Tyson event to my next professional fight afterwards, no one will generate a bigger gate, have a larger global broadcast audience and generate more money with each event (than) my events.”
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The undefeated Mayweather, who turns 49 Tuesday, hasn’t fought in a real match since 2017 against Conor McGregor. Mayweather declared himself retired after that match with a 50-0 record and 27 KOs.
Floyd Mayweather in action against Aaron Chalmers (not pictured) during their exhibition fight at The O2 in London Feb. 25, 2023.(Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images)
The former five-division world champion has still been in the ring regularly throughout his 40s with a series of lucrative exhibition bouts against the likes of online influencer Logan Paul, YouTuber Mikuri Asakura and John Gotti III, the grandson of the infamous mafia boss.
Mayweather has already announced yet another exhibition coming up this spring against 59-year-old Mike Tyson, although no location or television partner has been confirmed.
Logan Paul, left, and Floyd Mayweather fight during an exhibition boxing match at Hard Rock Stadium June 6, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla.(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Mayweather spent more than a decade as arguably the biggest American star in boxing, and he beat Manny Pacquiao in 2015 in the richest fight in boxing history at the time. His superb defensive skills and quick hands were his ring strengths, but his stardom and wealth proliferated largely because of his “Money May” antihero persona.
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
Conor Benn has spoken out following his stunning signing with Dana White and Zuffa Boxing – with ‘The Destroyer’ sending a clear message to Eddie Hearn.
Benn has shocked the entire boxing world after it was announced that he has joined forces with Zuffa, ending his 10-year relationship with Matchroom Boxing and Hearn, dating back to his professional debut in 2016.
The two parties have gone through a number of highs and lows during that time, including Benn’s recent victory over bitter rival Chris Eubank Jr, along with his long and drawn out drugs saga following a failed test back in October 2022.
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After Benn’s win in November, it looked like more big fights were on the horizon under the Matchroom banner, before the surprise news that he has now teamed up with Zuffa and White.
In a post on social media, Benn explained his decision, but also stated he would like for Hearn to continue to be part of the team in some capacity.
“First and foremost, I want to thank Eddie and the entire team at Matchroom for everything they’ve done for me over the past decade. From guiding me when I first turned pro, to headlining stadium shows. They were not only with me for those highlight moments but stood shoulder to shoulder with me during the tough times.
“It’s been a journey beyond anything we could have imagined, and for their belief, support and guidance, I will always be truly grateful, but Zuffa Boxing presented me with an opportunity I simply couldn’t refuse. I’d love Eddie to continue to be part of my team and for our partnership to evolve in this new chapter.
“I’m filled with excitement and hunger for what’s ahead with Zuffa Boxing. I want the legacy fights, the biggest nights, the biggest stages. I fear no man at any weight, and I’m ready to give the fans the fights they’ve been calling for. I’m in my prime, and together we have bold, ambitious plans.”
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Despite Benn’s wishes, it seems unlikely that Hearn will be able to work alongside Zuffa and White, especially considering the recent verbal battles the Matchroom chairman and the UFC CEO have had in recent weeks.
Hearn is yet to comment on Benn’s decision, but it will certainly be interesting when he shares his side of the story.
Friday’s short track competition at the Milan Cortina Olympics was defined by dramatic moments, culminating in a historic breakthrough.
Team USA’s Corinne Stoddard claimed a podium finish, becoming the first American woman to medal in the event in 16 years.
Stoddard, who entered the Games ranked second in the world in short track, captured bronze in the 1,500 meters after overcoming a series of early setbacks. On her first day on the ice in Milan, the 24-year-old slipped three times.
Corinne Stoddard of the United States celebrates after winning bronze in the short track speed skating women’s 1500 meters at the at Milano Ice Skating Arena during the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics Feb. 20, 2026, in Milan, Italy.(Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Stoddard regained her form and appeared to have little trouble skating through the preliminary rounds to reach the final. Once the race began Friday, she held the lead for much of the event before South Korea’s Kim Gil-li and Choi Min-jeong overtook her.
Kim and Choi won gold and silver, respectively, in the race. Stoddard credited her team with helping her after the early stumbles.
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Corinne th of the United States reacts after competing in the short track speed skating women’s 1500 meters at Milano Ice Skating Arena during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games Feb. 20, 2026, in Milan, Italy.(Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
“I think after the 1000 meters, I basically spent the whole day crying in bed,” she said. “I basically came from the depths of hell to get here, and I couldn’t have done it without my team and my staff and my coaches, everyone, just lifting me up and [giving] me the confidence that I could skate the way I know how to after so many terrible races.
Bronze medalist Corinne Stoddard of the United States celebrates on the podium during the medal ceremony for the short track speed skating women’s 1500 meters at Milano Ice Skating Arena during the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics Feb. 20, 2026, in Milan, Italy.(Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
“Today was just to prove to myself that I can skate under the Olympic pressure and to prove to myself that I’m still me. And I did that. And I feel like that’s a great way to end such a terrible Olympics.”
With her bronze Friday, Stoddard earned her first Olympic medal. The victory also snapped a seven-year medal drought for American short track skaters.
Pakistan will lock horns with New Zealand in their first Super 8 clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday. With a storied rivalry and plenty at stake, the contest promises to be a high-intensity encounter between two evenly matched sides.
Pakistan vs New Zealand Super 8s: Head-to-head record between PAK and NZ in T20Is
This will be the 50th T20I meeting between Pakistan and New Zealand, underlining how closely contested this rivalry has been in the shortest format. Of the 49 matches played so far, Pakistan have won 24, New Zealand 23, while two games ended in ties — a near-perfect split that highlights the fine margins between the teams.
Rain threat adds uncertainty ahead of Pakistan-New Zealand encounter
New Zealand hold intense nets before Super Eight match vs Pakistan | T20 World Cup
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Since January 2022 alone, the two sides have faced each other 24 times in T20Is. New Zealand hold a slight edge with 13 wins compared to Pakistan’s nine. However, Pakistan fans draw confidence from their memorable victory in the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final, where they defeated the Black Caps to book a place in the final.New Zealand and Pakistan last played a T20 match in March last year, when New Zealand hosted the 2009 T20 World Cup champions for a three-match series, which the home side won 2-1.Total Matches Played: 49Pakistan Won: 24New Zealand Won: 23No Result: 2Performance of both teams in their last 5 matchesPakistan: W, W, W, L, WNew Zealand : L:, W, W, L, WIn this edition, both teams have blown hot and cold. Pakistan suffered a setback against India in the group stage, while New Zealand went down to South Africa. As a result, both finished second in their respective groups and now find themselves in a challenging Super 8 group that also includes England and Sri Lanka.Form-wise, Pakistan come into the game with three wins in their last five matches (W, W, W, L, W), while New Zealand’s recent run reads L, W, W, L, W — again reflecting how evenly matched the sides are.
Pakistan vs New Zealand Super 8s: Weather report
While the cricketing rivalry adds spice, the weather in Colombo could play a decisive role. Rain is forecast before and during the match, which is scheduled to begin at 7 PM local time. Showers are expected during the first half, with temperatures hovering between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius and humidity above 80 per cent.
Pakistan vs New Zealand Super 8s weather report: What happens if PAK-NZ gets called off?
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There is no reserve day for this Super 8 fixture. If the match is abandoned due to rain, both teams will share one point each — a scenario that could severely dent their semi-final hopes. Officials will have an additional 90 minutes on the day to try and force a result, but if even a five-over contest isn’t possible, the game will be called off.
Pat Riley is best known for his legacy with the Miami Heat, but his ties to the Los Angeles Lakers run just as deep. An NBA champion with the franchise as both a player and head coach, Riley is now set to be honored by the Lakers with a statue outside Crypto.com Arena.
Legion Hoops shared the news via X (formerly Twitter) on Friday.
Thanks for the submission!
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“The Lakers are expected to unveil Pat Riley’s statue outside of Crypto Arena this Sunday,” Legion Hoops captioned the post.
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Lakers fans were quick to react to the post, with many agreeing that the honor was well deserved.
@LegionHoops Without Pat Riley, Lakers wouldn’t be Lakers.
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@LegionHoops Pat Riley didn’t just coach the Lakers. He defined cool. He defined winning with style. And now he stands forever with the other gods in Star Plaza.
@LegionHoops Pat Riley statue outside Crypto Arena? Well deserved
However, not all fans were thrilled by the idea of Riley receiving a statue.
@LegionHoops How this dude put in application then poof lakers head coach ….. Fake ass rise, only won chips with legends already on the team
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@LegionHoops will his statue be holding a michael jordan flag.
Despite the fans’ polarizing views, it’s hard to argue against Riley getting a statue outside the Crypto.com Arena. The Godfather is an instrumental part of Lakers history, ushering in the Showtime era and helping Los Angeles rise in the NBA ranks.
Riley won four NBA titles with the Lakers and was named Coach of the Year in his final season with the team. His impact on the franchise is undeniable, and the Lakers are set to rightfully honor him with the tribute on Sunday.
However, this won’t be the first time Riley has been honored at an NBA arena. In 2024, the Miami Heat immortalized him in South Beach by renaming their court after him following 30 years with the franchise, both as a coach and executive.
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Pat Riley once acknowledged his part in the sour end to his Knicks tenure
Pat Riley has found enormous success in his six decades in the NBA, evolving from a player to a coach and now an executive. While his stints with the Lakers and the Heat saw him collect multiple titles, his run with the Knicks was more frustrating.
Despite winning Coach of the Year on two separate occasions, Riley’s Knicks tenure was marred by his sour exit. However, Riley once admitted to being at fault for this in 2019.
“The Knicks was a fiasco, okay, it’s my fault,” Riley said. “I regret, you know, torturously interfering to get myself out of a contract and leaving New York for whatever the reasons were.”
Riley’s departure from New York was messy, as he left the team following their 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals loss to the Indiana Pacers after failing to reach an agreement on a new contract.
Hardik Pandya and Mahieka Sharma (Image credit: Instagram)
NEW DELHI: Indian star allrounder Hardik Pandya made Mahieka Sharma’s 25th birthday special with a heartfelt Instagram post — but it was Mahieka’s reply that truly stole the spotlight.Pandya shared an unseen video of the couple celebrating together, capturing candid moments of laughter, warm hugs and hand-in-hand strolls in an outdoor setting illuminated by fireworks. The clip ended on a romantic note, with the couple releasing a floating lantern into the night sky.
New Zealand hold intense nets before Super Eight match vs Pakistan | T20 World Cup
He captioned the video, “Happy birthday, my princess .”Pandya also added an emotional message: “Thank you for coming into this world 25 years ago. You are the most amazing person I know. I love you .”Mahieka’s response quickly grabbed attention. Replying to Pandya’s post, she wrote, “You’re my best gift this year .”Taking it a step further, Mahieka shared a beautiful collage featuring special moments with Pandya and poured her heart out in the caption.“I love my man. Thank you baby for the best birthday ever. I am the luckiest girl in the world,” she said.The couple has made several public appearances together in recent months. Earlier this year, they attended the United in Triumph event in Mumbai, walking hand in hand and twinning in black outfits as they posed for the cameras. Pandya had confirmed their relationship in October 2025, shortly after dating rumours began circulating. Since then, the two have been spotted at the Mumbai airport and on vacations together.
Pandya was previously married to actor Natasa Stankovic. The couple tied the knot in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and welcomed their son Agastya on July 30, 2020. Their separation was confirmed in July 2025 following months of speculation.In a joint statement at the time, they said: “After four years together, Natasha and I have decided to mutually part ways. We tried our best and gave it our all, and we believe this is in the best interest of both of us. This was a tough decision to make, given the joy, mutual respect, and companionship we shared as we built a family together.”
From teetering on the edge of going out of business during the early 2000s to preparing to kick off a league’s 31st season with some of the best players in the world, Major League Soccer has come a long way since the first ball was kicked between the San Jose Clash and D.C. United in 1996. What started as a mandate to bring first division soccer to the United States as a stipulation in landing the 1994 World Cup has become one of the top soccer leagues in the world, with no signs of slowing down. Beginning with only 10 teams in 1996, there will be 30 teams in action this weekend, as the league has grown in unimaginable ways. From multimillion-dollar facilities to the presence on national teams and World Cup rosters, and of course, Lionel Messi, the fingerprints of MLS will be all over the 2026 World Cup, taking place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer.
MLS commissioner Don Garber summed this up well during his state of the league address in December, saying, “We’d love to say that [the World Cup is] the rocket fuel, but this jet has been running for 30 years, and it’s going to run for another 30.”
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In what will be the biggest World Cup in history, the 2026 tournament will expand to 48 teams for the first time, featuring at least four first-time qualifiers. It’s expected to surpass records set by the 1994 World Cup, which is still the most attended in history. The 16 host cities are only the tip of the iceberg as well, with training facilities being picked out all around North America to ensure that national teams can have a true home away from home. But for any of this to happen, it goes back to the soccer builders in this country — Lamar Hunt (of the Hunt family that owns the Kansas City Chiefs), Alan Rothenberg, Philip Anschutz, and so many more.
Only a few may have expected things would advance so far when MLS started. However, for the first commissioner in league history, Doug Logan, this doesn’t surprise him in the slightest.
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“Yes, I did,” Logan said when asked if he expected to see the best players in the world playing in MLS. “People ask me that all the time. And the answer is yes. Part of the responsibility and the charge to the top leader in entities like this is to be able to have a vision of what could be and then tirelessly and ceaselessly keep the institution and the organization on that track. I realized where it was going to go. Not where it could go, but where it was going to go.
“I also realized after the first year or a year and a half that it was going to take longer and be more expensive to get there than my owners anticipated, And those were two realities for me, but if you’re asking me, did I ever envision it getting to this, the answer is yes.”
NASL collapses, MLS rises
Even with the league being founded in the wake of the North American Soccer League collapsing, that didn’t stop investors like the Hunt family from buying into the potential that MLS could have. The NASL brought Pele to North America, and the New York Cosmos are still to this day one of the most recognizable American soccer brands, despite not having played a game since 2020 — although that will change in March as they take the pitch to face Portland Hearts of Pine in New Jersey in USL League One.
At times, being able to keep that vision may have been easier said than done, especially during a period when Anschutz owned six of the league’s 10 clubs, but the message remained the same. The people involved with the founding of MLS saw the potential in the league, and it was massive, but to come full circle with another World Cup on United States soil is where things are special in this moment of reflection. It may have taken longer than expected to get the World Cup back, but this is where the league can show how far it has come from the days of 10 clubs and franchises folding (Tampa Bay Mutiny, Miami Fusion, Chivas USA) and take advantage of the increased interest in soccer in America during it.
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MLS cities, facilities to have huge impact
Host cities during the FIFA Club World Cup took notice when Boca Juniors fans descended on Miami, ES Tunis fans took over Times Square, and Brazilian fans marched from the Art Museum in Philadelphia, and it’s an effect that will only be magnified during the World Cup. Kansas City will be central to this, with Algeria, Argentina, England, and the Netherlands all training in the Kansas City region.
“A World Cup puts the host country and all of the host cities on the global map. And of course, Kansas City is a big city, but from a global standpoint, it’s probably not a very well-known city, with maybe the exception of its American football league team, which has garnered a little bit of global recognition over the last six or seven years,” said Clark Hunt, chairman and CEO of the Hunt Sports Group, which owns the Chiefs and MLS club FC Dallas. “But I really expect that Kansas City will become known globally because of its role in hosting World Cup games.”
MLS facilities have come a long way during this time, as the new Red Bull New York training facility in Whippany, N.J., that will open in March has a price tag higher than most early soccer-specific stadiums as over $120 million. That facility will host the Brazil national team during this summer’s World Cup.
Many of the league’s newest facilities have garnered praise globally, with players noting the differences as well as teams and executives abroad taking note, but with national teams making the United States their home during the summer, it will be a true show of what these facilities have to offer. They were a large part of why the first expanded World Cup is taking place in the United States, and who knows, the facilities could lead to a few transfers into MLS following the World Cup. During a changing tide of American soccer, even those will be easier with the league looking to adopt a summer-to-spring schedule shift in 2027 to aling with the rest of the soccer world.
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It’s one of many reasons why this World Cup feels like as much of an inflection point as it does a celebration of soccer, which was also the case in 1994, which brought the pressure of a new league, as there wasn’t even a commissioner until November of 1995, before beginning play in 1996.
“I had less than three months before we were going to play in 10 cities. It was a whirlwind kickstart. We had an incredibly successful first year because everyone was kicking the tires and thinking that it’s going to be like the World Cup, and leagues are not like the World Cup. Leagues are there to endure and stay and have a legacy,” Logan said.
And more than 30 years later, MLS has endured and is building its legacy brick by brick. This year won’t have such a sprint compared to what ’94 did, but with the coming shift, it’s clear that the league is also entering a new era. New stadium projects will also see New York City FC’s time playing at Yankee Stadium come to an end, and MLS has a massive opportunity in the wake of the World Cup.
But the trajectory doesn’t end there because it also impacts the youth level, which MLS EVP and Chief Communications Officer Dan Courtemanche notes.
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“We’re a league now that has elite player development and incredible facilities, and 43,000 kids playing in MLS NEXT. My son plays U15 MLS NEXT. He’s with an elite club; he plays against the Red Bulls, New York City FC, the Revolution, and D.C. United, and I see the sophistication now at the youth level,” Courtemanche said. “This is my 34th season about to start in professional soccer but I’m only a few season in when it comes to viewing it as a soccer parent at a serious level, and my son, when he’s done within 24 to 36 hours, he goes onto Taka.io, the software program, our partners, and he can see videos of all the key plays that he made, the pluses and the minuses and it helps him evaluate his game he works with his coach and it makes him better, and I gotta tell you, I didn’t see that coming probably even five or 10 years ago that 43,000 kids have access to that.”
With players like Alex Freeman and Obed Vargas making the jump to top level European leagues this year and others like Cavan Sullivan set to follow in the future, the impact of MLS Next on youth soccer can’t be understated as well as the impact that the United Soccer League has in offering more pathways and opportunities for people to play and learn about soccer who may not have previously been able to.
Capitalizing on the World Cup wave
While there’s optimism about what MLS can gain from the World Cup, it’s critical to catch soccer fans soon after the World Cup. It’s easier to do when the league can now say, “Look at these players who were at the World Cup, you can keep watching them in MLS,” which isn’t something that could’ve been said to this degree in previous World Cups outside of members of North American national teams. Truth be told, 2022 was a banner year for MLS at the World Cup, and the 2026 edition is set to be even bigger. Messi joined MLS in the following summer, and he won the Ballon d’Or as a member of Inter Miami for his production in 2022.
Lionel Messi’s 2023 Ballon d’Or was awarded to him as a member of Inter Miami.
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“During the last two years, in total attendance, we were the second-highest attended league in the world behind the Premier League. And I wouldn’t have imagined that either,” Courtemanche said. “So look, the world’s game is here. It’s continuing. And even during the World Cup in 2022, we had 37 players from Major League Soccer competing for various national teams. That was more than any other league in the Western Hemisphere.”
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But how that conversion is done is critical. Just because someone watches the World Cup doesn’t mean that they’ll automatically decide that MLS is the league for them, but the league will need to ensure that it capitalizes on those people sampling soccer to turn them into domestic fans.
“One of the things that has happened after every World Cup in recent times is that the domestic league that plays in the host country receives a big boost,” Hunt said. “If you look at the attendance numbers, the TV viewership, in the year or two after a country hosts the World Cup, those numbers grow significantly. And I think in a country like the United States, where we still have an opportunity to create a lot of new soccer fans, I think that’ll be particularly pronounced. And so MLS will have a real opportunity to benefit both in terms of fans attending games and watching the league on TV. So I think that’s very exciting for Major League Soccer and something that we need to make sure we capitalize on.”
MLS isn’t a league that has been around for the vast majority of Americans’ lives like some other places that have hosted World Cups, but with a fandom that tends to a younger demographic, the league can set itself up well for the next 30-plus years, although, hopefully, it won’t take that long for the World Cup to return to America. Soccer in America has come a long way since the last World Cup, and it could be unrecognizable, taking another look back in the future, in a good way, considering the successes that have happened since the MLS’ founding. American players have taken massive steps over the last several years, and MLS has as well. They are counting on their growth to continue, be further cultivated by the World Cup, and for the next set of years to bring exponential growth initial founders could have only dreamed of.
It seemed like Benn and Hearn would work together on a big fight following that win over Eubank, with the likes of Shakur Stevenson and Ryan Garcia mentioned as possible opponents, but ‘The Destroyer’ will now instead team up with Zuffa and White.
“I’ve known about this for a few days now. I received an email from Conor Benn’s lawyer to make me aware of it. I’m not going to sit here and hang Conor Benn out to dry, I’ll be honest with you, me personally, pretty devasted.
“I’ve had a few days to digest what might happen. Maybe this interview is different to what it would have been a couple of days ago, it’s not often you get shocked, I blame myself, because I forgot it was boxing.
“I just felt that the loyalty that we’ve shown would never ever put us in this position. I felt I never really needed to push Conor Benn to sign a new contract previously and I probably could have done. I blame myself, I made a mistake. I misjudged the character.”
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Hearn then revealed that he reached out to Benn to discuss the situation, but that the British fighter was unwilling to chat.
“I’m not going to hang him out to dry, he will say it was a big offer. When I received the email from his lawyer, I text him and said ‘I think we should have a call. After everything I’ve done for you I think I deserve a call.’ He said no.
“I can’t believe it, I don’t know what to say other than I felt everything that we gave him, the loyalty that we gave him, the support we gave him would be enough to talk it through or get close to a number but there wasn’t the interest. Very surprising, very painful, but another moment in life you live and learn from.”
Benn’s next fight is set to be announced in due course, but it is clear that the relationship with Hearn will never be the same again.
Feb. 20—Even two years ago, it might have been easy to look at Gonzaga’s upcoming home swing and pencil the Zags in for two routine victories.
But things tend to change fast in college basketball.
In 2023-24, Pacific cratered to a 6-26 record, lost to Pepperdine 102-43 in the West Coast Conference Tournament and finished the Leonard Perry era ranked No. 354 at KenPom.
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Those dark days are now distant memories — a testament to the work second-year coach Dave Smart has done in a short time rebuilding the Tigers program.
The Pacific team visiting McCarthey Athletic Center for a 6 p.m. (KHQ/ESPN+) tipoff on Saturday is on the verge of breaking into the top 100 at KenPom, currently ranked No. 110. If the regular season ended today, the Tigers (17-12, 8-8) would earn a bye to the quarterfinals of the West Coast Conference Tournament as the fourth-place team in the league standings.
Four days after Pacific swings through the Inland Northwest, the Zags get a Senior Night visit from Portland. No reminder is needed as to why Mark Few’s team shouldn’t overlook the Pilots (12-16, 5-10), who are tied for eighth in the WCC standings.
Gonzaga can’t afford to drop either game if it wants to raise a WCC regular-season trophy at the end of a consequential eight-day stretch that begins with Saturday’s test against Pacific and concludes the following Saturday at Saint Mary’s.
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“We just got done with a really tough back-to-back down here in the Bay Area,” Mark Few said after Wednesday’s 80-59 win over San Francisco at the Chase Center. “That was marked on my calendar as a really tough stretch. Got through that one, now we’ve got to get home tonight and rest up.”
The Zags need two wins in their final three games to secure the No. 1 seed at the WCC Tournament. If Gonzaga, Santa Clara and Saint Mary’s all finish with identical records, the Zags would control the tiebreaker against both teams due to their 2-0 record against the Broncos. The Gaels dropped their first game against Santa Clara and will face the Broncos again on Wednesday in Moraga.
For Gonzaga, the cleanest path to securing the program’s first outright WCC championship since 2021-22 would be winning the three remaining games. If Santa Clara and Saint Mary’s both lose once more, the Zags only need to go 2-1 to clinch the regular-season title.
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Step one is handling Saturday’s game against much-improved Pacific. Last year’s 9-24 record signified progress from a 6-26 mark the year prior, but the Tigers have taken another sizable step forward in Smart’s second season and could reach 20 wins for just the third time since 2008-09 and first time since 2019-20.
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The top three teams in the WCC have separated from everyone else, with six games between the teams in third and fourth place, but Pacific is one of seven that could still finish in fourth and earn a coveted bye to the quarterfinals of the league tournament.
“Pacific’s having a heckuva year,” Few said. “The best I can remember.”
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The Tigers are in a position to finish top four in the WCC after replacing every rotation player not named Elias Ralph. A preseason All-WCC selection, Ralph is leading Pacific in scoring at 16.6 points per game and rebounding at 6.8 boards per game.
Senior guard TJ Wainwright, a Long Beach State transfer who scored just two points on 1 of 10 shooting when the 49ers visited the Kennel last season, is the other Pacific player scoring double figures at 13.7 ppg.
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Wainwright is one of four transfers in Pacific’s starting unit, alongside Dayton’s Isaac Jack (9.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Maine’s Jaden Clayton (7.5 ppg, 4.4 apg), and UC San Diego’s Justin Rochelin (6.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg).
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Smart, who’s considered one of the most successful Canadian college basketball coaches of all time, won 656 career games at Carleton University before accepting the Pacific job on March 27, 2024, giving him a short window to build his first roster in Stockton, California.
“Last year I recruited, we had to find guys,” Smart said in October at WCC Media Day. “I came in so late, we had no money, we were so late, we had no high school recruits. We had to find guys and I had to recruit the way I used to tell the young coaches … do not do it this way.
“We paid a price for it and we knew we were going to pay a price for it. This year, we recruited the way we recruited at Carleton. I can tell you, we just said if you don’t want to be a high-level pro, then do not come here. But if you think you’re a high-level pro right now, do not come here.”
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The Tigers have been a defensive- and rebounding-oriented team this season. They rank No. 58 nationally in scoring defense, allowing 68.8 ppg, and No. 59 in rebounds per game at 38.1.
Gonzaga hasn’t lost to Pacific under Few, winning all 22 matchups and 24 of the previous 25 games against the Tigers.
