Sports
Team Akwa Ibom Athletes Shine in Celebration-Filled Opening of 2nd Niger Delta Games
Team Akwa Ibom shone brightly at the opening ceremony of the 2nd Niger Delta Games at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, on Friday, 20 February 2026. The event was filled with colour, music, and unity. The Akwa Ibom contingent was at the centre of the dance segment, as athletes from different states danced together in groups, reflecting the unity and regional integration goals of the games.
Beyond the energetic dance display, Akwa Ibom also received special recognition at the ceremony. Former Akwa Ibom State Governor and current Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, received loud cheers when he was announced to give his address, which was delivered on his behalf by Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong.
Distinguished sons of Akwa Ibom also played key roles at the event. Mr Edidiong Stephen served as one of the comperes and delivered with distinction, while Guinness World Record holder George Iniabasi Essien, popularly known as Mighty George, hosted the red carpet.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, Mrs Rosemary Ubia, was also present and joined the athletes on the dance floor in an inspiring moment, adding to the celebratory atmosphere of the evening.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, praised the vision of the Niger Delta Games and aligned it with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. He said the competition was here to stay and called on governors in the region to support the NDDC in co-funding the event.
Dr Ogbuku described the games as a platform to discover future national and Olympic champions, stressing that the aim is to tap talents from the amateur level and sustain their development. He added that the games promote regional integration by helping athletes build bonds and friendships.
In their remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo said the Niger Delta is blessed with both natural and human resources and commended the NDDC for initiating the games.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, described the Niger Delta Games as a powerful investment in the future of Nigerian youths. He said the maiden edition showed that young people respond with excellence when given opportunities and that the second edition builds on that foundation.
He noted that beyond medals, the games focus on talent discovery and creating pathways into the multi-billion-dollar sports industry. He urged the NDDC and stakeholders to continue investing in youth development programmes and called on athletes to embrace sportsmanship.
The President also said the progress of the Niger Delta is inseparable from the progress of Nigeria and expressed hope that the games would strengthen unity and discover new talents.
President Tinubu officially declared the 2nd Niger Delta Games open. Music star Patoranking then took the stage, delivering an electrifying performance that provided the perfect ending to the event.
The 2nd Niger Delta Games features 16 sports events and brings together athletes from nine participating states. Dunamis-Icon Limited is the rights owner and organiser of the games, sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Bayelsa State emerged champions at the maiden edition held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, in 2025, while Team Akwa Ibom will be looking to improve on their sixth-place finish from the first edition.
Sports
Vanderbilt vs. Florida prediction, odds, spread, time: 2026 SEC Tournament picks from proven model
The top-seeded and defending national champion Florida Gators will look to reach the 2026 SEC Tournament finals for the third consecutive season when they battle the fourth-seeded Vanderbilt Commodores in a semifinal matchup on Saturday. Florida advanced with a 71-63 win over ninth-seeded Kentucky on Friday, while Vanderbilt downed fifth-seeded Tennessee 75-68 in the quarterfinals. The Commodores (25-7), who have won three in a row, are looking to reach the SEC Tournament finals for the first time since winning it all in 2012. The Gators (26-6), who have won 12 straight, are looking to win their second consecutive conference tournament championship.
Tipoff from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., is set for 1 p.m. ET. Florida leads the all-time series 76-74, including a 98-94 win on Jan. 17. Florida is an 8.5-point favorite in the latest Vanderbilt vs. Florida odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 160.5. Before making any Florida vs. Vanderbilt picks, check out the men’s college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
New users can target the DraftKings promo code, which offers $200 in bonus bets instantly after any $5+ bet:
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every college basketball game 10,000 times. It entered conference tournament week on a sizzling 14-2 run on its top-rated over/under college basketball picks dating back to last season, and is on a 28-21 run on top-rated CBB side picks. Anyone following its college basketball betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen strong returns.
Now, the model has simulated Vanderbilt vs. Florida 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted men’s college basketball picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several men’s college basketball odds and men’s college basketball betting lines for Florida vs. Vanderbilt:
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Vanderbilt vs. Florida spread: |
Florida -8.5 at DraftKings Sportsbook |
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Vanderbilt vs. Florida over/under: |
160.5 points |
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Vanderbilt vs. Florida money line: |
Florida -357, Vanderbilt +275 |
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Vanderbilt vs. Florida picks: |
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Vanderbilt vs. Florida streaming: |
Fubo (Try for free) |
New users can also check out the latest FanDuel promo code and get up to $300 back in bonus bets every day for 10 days:
Top Vanderbilt vs. Florida predictions
SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (160.5 points). The Over has hit in six of the last seven meetings between the teams. The Over has also hit in five of the last seven Vanderbilt games, and in four of the last eight Florida games. The Commodores are 5-5 against the spread in their last 10 games, while the Gators are 7-3 ATS in their last 10.
The model projects Vanderbilt to have five players score 10.2 points or more, including Duke Miles, who is projected to score 16.7 points. Florida is projected to have five players score 11.3 points or more, led by Thomas Haugh, who is projected to score 17.1 points. The model is projecting 163 combined points as the Over hits 57% of the time.
How to make Florida vs. Vanderbilt picks
The model also says one side of the spread hits in nearly 60% of simulations. You can only see that pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Florida vs. Vanderbilt, and which side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Vanderbilt vs. Florida spread to back, all from the advanced model that has simulated this game 10,000 times, and find out.
TORONTO – More than one thing can be true at once.
On one hand, the Toronto Raptors have a roster where all their starters have at least five years of NBA experience and includes two players — Brandon Ingram and Jakob Poeltl — who are in their 10th season in the league.
So the notion that the Raptors are in “year two of a rebuild” — which is how head coach Darko Rajakovic tends to refer to his team in good times and bad — defies the standard definition, where a team is reliant on players still on their rookie contracts, with more work in the draft still to come.
It might be more accurate to say the Raptors are rebuilt. They just don’t know what they have, and what changes they need to make.
But on the other hand, the Raptors as a group are new to this playoff-race concept, lack a significant number of collective repetitions in the crucible of a stretch drive and have a young and inexperienced bench that they have no choice but to rely on as the season reaches its crucial stages.
Rajakovic referenced the ‘rebuild’ again Friday before the Raptors’ 122-115 win over the Phoenix Suns, a victory his team needed so badly after listing and slipping for most of the past two weeks that his first comments post-game were to praise a higher power.
“God is great. I can thank him for the performance of our team tonight,” Rajakovic said. “He kept us together during the whole game, and the whole ups and downs.”
There were plenty of both. The Raptors trailed by 11 in the first half and by 10 with eight minutes to play and didn’t take the lead for good until an RJ Barrett floater with 1:35 left. They still needed another spectacular last-minute block from Scottie Barnes — this time on a Jalen Green dunk attempt that otherwise would have made every highlight reel and cut the Raptors’ lead to two with 43 seconds left.
Instead, Barnes got his 2021 draft-class pal from behind and then sent Barrett in for a dunk on the ensuing fast break that put the Raptors up six, which proved enough.
The win snapped the Raptors’ losing streak at two games, marked their first win over a team with a winning record since Jan. 26, and pulled them back within a half-game of the sixth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference before they host East-leading Detroit on Sunday. After that, it’s a five-game road trip.
No one said this would be easy, and maybe the Raptors are learning as they go.
Barnes said after the game that he felt compelled to make the play on Green’s dunk because he’d reached in on the lightning-quick guard, who led the Suns with 34 points and some spectacular shot-making, and got beat.
“I was going to jump no matter what,” Barnes said.
Playing through an illness — Rajakovic monitored his minutes closely as Barnes played about five less than he would normally — and still being able to dig in to affect the game pleased the Raptors star.
“Got out there. Was a little tired and a little winded,” Barnes said after logging 14 points, six rebounds, four assists, a steal and two blocks. “Fight through and make it to live another day.”
And as for the Raptors’ struggles? He’s finding beauty in that too:
“It’s pretty amazing. We hit adversity,” said Barnes. “We had two options, to either quit (or) go out there and fight. This just shows the character of this team. We went out there and fought and got a dub. This was a great game. They had us in that first half. We fought back; we made winning plays.”
No one made more than Ingram. It had been a while. The Raptors came into the game with the NBA’s 29th-rated fourth-quarter offence, and Ingram is one of the reasons why. He has been shooting just 41.6 per cent from the floor in the fourth quarter and just 36.5 per cent in ‘clutch’ situations: the last five minutes of close games.
Ingram led the Raptors with 36 points on 13-of-20 shooting, including five threes on six attempts. He scored seven points in the fourth quarter while converting three of four shots, all while suiting up in his 64th game this season, the second-most he’s played in his career.
The Raptors’ loss Wednesday in New Orleans — in his first visit back since being traded to Toronto last year — didn’t sit well with him and was a factor in the team’s collective resolve Friday.
“I think it was an urgency to compete and most of all stay together,” Ingram said. “We’ve been through some times where the other team was scoring offensively and we weren’t able to stop the bleeding or find a rhythm on the offensive end. At those times, we would put our heads down a little bit and sort of take it upon ourselves to try to fix it. I think tonight we just stayed connected.”
But it wasn’t just the Raptors’ leading scorer and highest-paid player delivering the goods
Second-year wing Ja’Kobe Walter (12 points, three-of-five from three) hit one of the biggest shots of the game after Barrett delivered him the ball wide open in the corner and then screened off the nearest defender to make sure it would stay that way. Walter had missed a similar look a few possessions earlier. This time, he squared up and let it fly, part of a game-changing 11-2 run that cut the Suns’ lead to two with 5:22 to play.
Barnes said Barrett’s biggest contributions were on defence. Barrett said being in the mix was its own reward.
“That’s the fight we need to have,” said Barrett, who finished with 22 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals on 9-of-16 shooting, scoring nine points on five shots in the fourth quarter. “A lot of these games we have fought and just come up short and this game, we fought all night long, and that’s the result. That’s just the intensity we gotta have.”
They haven’t had enough of it lately, and they certainly didn’t on Wednesday in New Orleans when they were bullied around by the Pelicans in the fourth quarter, culminating in the frozen image seen around the basketball world: New Orleans guard Dejounte Murray straddling a prone Jamal Shead, fists clenched, glowering — the universal sign of basketball dominance, and not a good look for the Raptors, especially when the team’s response to the incident was tepid at best.
Was their lack of fight going to be a galvanizing moment to build on, or a metaphor for a team not up for the battle — literally or figuratively?
“After watching the film, I thought that we did not handle the situation the way we want and how we were supposed to,” said Rajakovic. “Our players had conversations with each other. They know that’s not the true picture and image of our team. They all agreed that’s never going to happen again.”
“There is a way that you need to stand up for each other and protect each other,” Rajakovic said. “This team that we have is all about that and all about connectivity. It needs to be addressed the right way.”
Even if the Raptors don’t match the standard definition of a rebuild, it doesn’t mean they are close to a finished product. The future is not set in cement. The Raptors need to learn to fight, at least in the basketball sense.
Against the Suns, they showed they understood what was being asked of them.
The Battle of New Orleans
That Shead didn’t jump up and immediately confront Murray on Wednesday night was probably the main reason his teammates’ response was muted, and in the eyes of many — including their head coach — inappropriately so.
But Shead said on Friday his first reaction was one of confusion.
“I think in the moment I was just like, ‘Oh snap, he’s over me.’ That was about it,” said Shead before chipping in six points and eight assists in 25 minutes off the bench against the Suns. “We were really focused on the outcome of the game. We just weren’t happy with that. It got blown out of proportion a bit. We weren’t really focused on that.”
Any idea what Murray was on about?
“Who knows? I guess he was (excited) about the play,” said Shead.
But he said the experience was one to learn from for the team as the stakes get higher.
“I don’t think I responded in any type of way … (but) if it comes up again, I think we’ll respond a little differently.”
Added Immanuel Quickley (17 points, 3-of-6 from three vs. Suns): “We talked about it. It stays in house. As long as we’re there for our teammates, that’s all that matters.”
With everyone on high alert for how the Raptors might respond if things got a little testy at any point, people took note that when Suns wing Grayson Allen — who has a checkered reputation for playing on the physical edge — knocked Barrett to the floor with a body check as the Raptors wing was driving to the rim, Barrett jumped up and his teammates were quick to gather.
Allen was hit with a fragrant foul for unnecessary roughness, essentially. But it wasn’t quite as it seemed.
Barrett and Allen are friends, with Allen having acted as Barrett’s host on his official visit at Duke, their shared alma mater. Just before Allen’s body check, Barrett had stood Allen up and knocked him back with a stiff shoulder and elbow to start his drive.
When the two came together after the whistle, Allen told Barrett he had leaned into him pre-emptively because he thought Barrett was going to send him backwards again on the way to the basket. “And I was, too,” Barrett told me.
The pair dapped up, all good, acknowledging hard play but no hard feelings.
The Battle for the Dillon Brooks Cup
The hope is that the Suns forward and Canadian national team star will be back on the floor for the Suns in time for the playoffs. He told me his left hand — which he had surgically repaired after fracturing it on Feb. 21 — is coming along well. He’s had a career season in Phoenix and is credited for the year-over-year turnaround.
He was disappointed to miss his one chance to play at home this season, but he still plans to attend the Dillon Brooks Cup on Saturday at Father Henry Carr, where he went to high school for Grade 9, 10 and 11 before going to Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nev. and the University of Oregon.
Brooks has supported the prep basketball program at Father Henry Carr financially for the past two years. Without it, the highly rated program might not operate, says long-time head coach Paul Melnik.
“The financial support is invaluable,” said Melnik. “We still have to charge a fee, like all prep programs, but we do it at a much more reasonable cost, because the reality is most kids aren’t wealthy and if you can save a few thousand here and there and still get a good program, that’s huge … Getting a little bit of help from Dillon, it makes it easier to run our program.”
The program fields teams at three age groups, and all three will be playing Saturday, with the freshmen hosting St. Michael’s at 11 a.m. ET, the juniors hosting Royal Crown at 1 p.m. ET and the seniors hosting King Heights at 3 p.m. ET.
When it comes to the Masters, there is only one player who can assume the throne as the undisputed GOAT at Augusta National, and that’s Jack Nicklaus.
With six victories spanning three different decades, no one has more green jackets than Nicklaus. Tiger Woods is one behind him, with five, and Arnold Palmer has four.
This year is particularly special for Nicklaus, as it marks the 40th year anniversary of his final Masters win in 1986 — a victory that was particularly memorable for its drama.
The difference between Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, according to this pro
;)
Heading into the final round, Nicklaus trailed the lead by four shots. He then blistered the back nine by hitting a 2-iron that set up an eagle on the par-5 15th, hitting a tee shot to three feet that led to a birdie on 16, and draining another birdie on 17 — an 18-footer that elicited the famous “Yes, sir!” call by Verne Lundquist. Nicklaus’ final-round 65 sealed his sixth victory at Augusta and made him the oldest player to ever win the Masters. He was 46.
Now, you can celebrate Nicklaus’ singular achievement with a limited-edition item that is sure to be a big hit whenever you wear it: a 40th-anniversary edition of the popular Caddie Uniform, complete with the name “Nicklaus” on the back in removable Velcro, the number “86” and a Nicklaus logo to place on the front of the jumpsuit to commemorate the year of his victory.
And in true limited-edition form, there are only 86 of these Nicklaus Caddie Uniforms available for purchase, so if you’re ready to pay tribute to the Golden Bear’s incredible legacy at Augusta, click the link below to order your jumpsuit now!
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Sports
Kimi Antonelli Creates History In Chinese GP, Becomes Youngest-Ever To Take Pole In F1 History
The 19-year-old Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli took pole position for the Chinese Grand Prix on Saturday, becoming the youngest driver to achieve the feat in Formula 1 history. Antonelli led a Mercedes front-row lockout along with George Russell and erased the record of Sebastian Vettel, who was 21 when he took pole for the Italian Grand Prix in 2008. The Mercedes duo, as in Australia last weekend, have been dominant in Shanghai. Antonelli blasted round in 1min 32.064sec on his final qualifying lap, 0.222sec ahead of championship leader Russell, who had won the sprint race earlier in the day.
“It was a pretty clean session,” said Antonelli. “No mistakes and looking forward to the race tomorrow.”
The Ferrari pair of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will fill the second row of the grid for Sunday’s race after qualifying third and fourth.
Then, on a two-by-two grid, came the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and world champion Lando Norris.
Max Verstappen was only eighth fastest, continuing a very unhappy weekend in a clearly struggling Red Bull.
– ‘Damage limitation’ –
Pierre Gasly was seventh in the Alpine with the second Red Bull of Isack Hadjar ninth and Oliver Bearman’s Haas rounding out the top 10.
Russell had got stuck in gear on his opening out lap in Q3 and had to return to the pits.
After the problem had been fixed it left him time for just one flying lap and he was unable to eclipse his teammate.
“Really happy for George who had an issue there,” said Antonelli of his teammate.
Russell said he was relieved to have set a lap time right at the end of the session.
“Definitely damage limitation,” said Russell.
“In Q2 the front wing broke, and then in Q3 I stopped out on track and then couldn’t change gear,” he said.
“On the last lap I had no battery, no tyre temp or anything. The team did a really good job. Just really happy to be standing here. It could’ve been much worse.”
Ferrari have been quick out of the blocks at the start of races so far and Hamilton said he would be eyeing up the two Mercedes in front of him on Sunday.
“I’m sure we’ll have some fun, I’m looking forward to it,” said the seven-time world champion.
The six failing to make it into the top-10 shootout for pole position were Nico Hulkenberg in an Audi, Franco Colapinto’s Alpine, Esteban Ocon (Haas), Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad of Racing Bulls, and Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
Eliminated in Q1 were the Williams pair of Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, both Aston Martins, driven by Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, and the two Cadillacs, in the hands of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez.
Russell earlier won a thrilling sprint race after a back-and-forth scrap in the opening laps with Hamilton, who eventually finished third behind Leclerc.
It enabled the Mercedes driver, who won the opening race in Australia, to extend his championship lead to 11 points over teammate Antonelli and Leclerc. Hamilton is a further four points back.
Sunday’s grand prix will be raced over 56 laps of the 5.451km Shanghai International Circuit.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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Nov 5, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Fans react during the League of Legends World Championships between T1 and DRX at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images OpTic Texas survived a stiff test from the Paris Gentle Mates but kept their unbeaten mark intact with a 3-2 victory on Friday as Week 5 of qualifying for the Call of Duty League Stage 2 Major began.
Texas improved to 9-0, well clear of the second-place Miami Heretics, who improved to 5-3 with a 3-0 sweep of the Riyadh Falcons.
In the day’s other match, last-place Cloud9 New York slipped past the Toronto KOI 3-2.
The 12 Call of Duty League teams are playing a full qualifying round robin to determine seeding for the second major of the season, to be held March 27-29 in Marston Green, England, as part of the DreamHack Birmingham event.
The top six teams in qualifying head straight into the Stage 2 Major playoffs, while the teams in seventh through 10th place will compete in a play-in round.
The Stage 2 Major champion will receive $150,000 and 100 Call of Duty League points, while the runner-up will get $90,000 and 75 CDL points.
On Friday, OpTic produced a 250-165 victory on Colossus Hardpoint before Paris took Raid Search and Destroy 6-5 and Scar Overload 2-1. Texas rallied to capture Scar Hardpoint 250-200 and Scar Search and Destroy 6-5.
Miami bested Riyadh 250-233 on Scar Hardpoint, 6-5 on Raid Search and Destroy and 6-2 on Scar Overload.
Toronto opened with a 250-166 win on Scar Hardpoint. New York replied by taking Colossus Search and Destroy 6-3 and Exposure Overload 5-4. The KOI extended the series by prevailing 250-154 on Colossus Hardpoint, but Cloud9 closed out the victory by a 6-4 count on Raid Search and Destroy.
The remaining Week 5 matches:
Saturday
–G2 Minnesota vs. Carolina Royal Ravens
–Vancouver Surge vs. Toronto KOI
–Los Angeles Thieves vs. Cloud9 New York
–Paris Gentle Mates vs. Boston Breach
Sunday
–G2 Minnesota vs. Boston Breach
–Vancouver Surge vs. Miami Heretics
–Riyadh Falcons vs. Los Angeles Thieves
–FaZe Vegas vs. Carolina Royal Ravens
Call of Duty League Stage 2 Major qualifying standings (match record, map differential)
1. OpTic Texas, 9-0, +20
2. Miami Heretics, 5-3, +6
3. Los Angeles Thieves, 4-3, +6
4. GS Minnesota, 4-3, +1
5. Riyadh Falcons, 4-4, +2
6. Toronto KOI, 4-5, 0
7. Carolina Royal Ravens, 3-4, -3
8. Vancouver Surge, 3-4, -5
9. Boston Breach, 3-5, -6
T10. FaZe Vegas, 3-5, -4
T10. Paris Gentle Mates, 3-5, -4
12. Cloud9 New York, 2-6, -13
–Field Level Media
Despite a drop in game time after finding himself in the deep end of a title challenge at just 18 last year, it is not all negative for Lewis-Skelly.
He started 26 times in 42 games last season as Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney all had injury issues.
That may have led many, including Lewis-Skelly, to expect more time on the pitch this season. However, while he has started 12 games in 26 appearances, just one start has come in the Premier League.
The talk of being a starting England left-back came ahead of schedule for the plan that Lewis-Skelly had in his career and he will still have played enough to receive a Premier League medal if Arsenal are able to make the step to becoming champions in May.
He has started six of Arsenal‘s nine Champions League games, which included impressive wins over Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid – during which he produced a line-breaking run and assist – and he also played the full 90 minutes in Arsenal‘s victory over Inter Milan in the San Siro.
“Every season is different,” Arteta said when asked about Lewis-Skelly’s game time this season.
“He had very good moments in this season. He had other moments when he hasn’t played in that much.
“Obviously, a few days ago, in the FA Cup, he was suspended and he could not play.
“So, there are various reasons. Sometimes, as well, the good form of your team-mates. There’s a lot of factors that contribute to that. But he’s doing well.”
Arteta is not adverse to giving young players a chance, with six youngsters making their debut this season, but there is a difference between getting a taste of first-team football and playing in crunch games.
Lewis-Skelly has excelled when playing as a full-back and inverting into midfield with the ball, but with a tweak on the requirements on Arsenal‘s full-backs this season, those attributes are not so obviously needed in build-up play.
Nwaneri’s loan will still be fresh in the memory, and the fact that Lewis-Skelly would present pure profit for Arsenal on the balance sheet is also another intriguing factor when discussing his future.
There are not many 19-year-olds who have achieved what Lewis-Skelly has.
But with selection for the World Cup looking increasingly unlikely, there may be discussions to be had about his immediate career plan in the summer.
Sports
WWE SmackDown Results, March 13: Randy Orton Sets WrestleMania 42 Expectations Clear With Heel Turn
The latest episode of the WWE SmackDown was dominated by one big and unexpected development as Randy Orton turned heel in dramatic fashion, attacking Cody Rhodes during their WrestleMania 42 contract signing. What was supposed to be a routine segment quickly turned violent as Orton unleashed a brutal assault, leaving Rhodes bloodied and the crowd stunned. This betrayal re-established Orton as “The Viper” and set up a heated WrestleMania showdown between the ruthless veteran and the resilient champion.
The attack confirmed Orton’s return to the dark side of the game, ensuring that WrestleMania 42 will feature yet another “hero versus villain” storyline. Cody Rhodes now stands as the heroic figure defending his Undisputed WWE Championship, while Orton has positioned himself as the dangerous challenger determined to take it away. The timing of this heel turn adds intensity to the build-up for WrestleMania, making their clash one of the most anticipated matches on the card.
While Orton’s betrayal was the headline, SmackDown also featured several other important matches and segments that kept the night action-packed.
RANDY ORTON JUST TURNED HEEL
OH MY GOD #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/aT4DdL4p6S
— Tribal Wrestling (@TribalMegastar) March 14, 2026
Other SmackDown Results – March 13, 2026
– Michin lost to Jade Cargill, who continued her dominant streak.
– Nia Jax and Lash Legend retained the Women’s Tag Team Championships against Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair.
– Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga battled Uncle Howdy and Erick Rowan in a chaotic non-title tag match.
– Drew McIntyre attacked Jacob Fatu, keeping their rivalry alive after McIntyre’s recent title loss.
– Jelly Roll appeared on Miz TV and knocked out The Miz, while The Bella Twins made a surprise return.
This episode of SmackDown proved that WWE is building strong momentum heading into WrestleMania 42. Randy Orton’s heel turn was more than just a storyline twist-it was a reminder of why he remains one of the most dangerous and unpredictable figures in WWE history. All eyes are now on his clash with Cody Rhodes, which promises to deliver fireworks on the grandest stage of them all.
Topics mentioned in this article
Chelsea swept up every domestic trophy in 2024-25, going unbeaten in the process, during manager Sonia Bompastor’s first season in charge.
They beat United 3-0 in the Women’s FA Cup final as part of that treble success but it has not been a smooth-sailing campaign this time around.
The Blues are nine points behind Women’s Super League leaders Manchester City, threatening the end of their six-year dominance of the division.
Bompastor has come under pressure as a result, while off-field issues – including the departure of head of women’s football Paul Green – have sparked concern.
But if they were to win the League Cup, would it quieten criticism and confirm Chelsea’s status as serial winners?
“I will always expect to have a lot of noise around Chelsea. There will be noise when you are losing, or when something happens, because I think this club is the best in England,” said Bompastor.
“That’s why this happens and I’m totally fine with it. It’s important also when you are in high moments you don’t go too high and in more low moments you don’t go too low.
“We just want to win because that’s part of our DNA. I don’t want to win because people are talking or making noise. That’s not what drives us.”
Chelsea have a formidable record against United, beating them in two of the past three FA Cup finals and unbeaten in 12 WSL matches.
They scored an extra-time winner to knock United out of the FA Cup fifth round in their last game and drew 1-1 draw at Leigh Sports Village in October.
Bompastor says that record boosts confidence and success on Sunday could help build momentum for the rest of the season, with a trophy under their belt.
But she knows United have strengthened and it will not be an easy task to defend the first trophy she won as Chelsea boss.
“Every team is strengthening their squad, being more competitive and bringing us more challenges,” she added.
“When you are Chelsea, if you want to sustain success, and stay at the highest position, you need to work hard and make sure you anticipate the future.
“It’s becoming more and more difficult, the competition is becoming tighter and tighter, and every team now can beat anyone. We know that.
“When you are in a club like Chelsea, and for myself individually, as soon as you win a trophy, your next thinking is ‘what do I need to do to win the next one?’”
Sports
Rahul Dravid Among 3 India Legends To Be Honoured With Lifetime Achievement Award At BCCI Gala
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will honour excellence throughout Indian cricket at the Naman Awards 2026, taking place on Sunday in the national capital, with the former BCCI chief Roger Binny, ex-captain & coach Rahul Dravid and former women’s captain Mithali Raj to be honoured with the prestigious Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award. The Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award honours a career marked by service, integrity, and lasting contributions to Indian cricket.
A key highlight of the Naman Awards 2026 will be honouring all five Indian teams that have won ICC trophies, marking a historic milestone for Indian cricket. The BCCI will recognise the senior men’s team for their victories in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, the senior women’s team for winning the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, the men’s Under-19 team for securing the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026, and the women’s Under-19 team for their win at the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2025.
“At this year’s ceremony, Roger Binny and Rahul Dravid will be bestowed with the Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, the BCCI’s highest honour recognising outstanding service to Indian cricket,” the BCCI said in a statement.
“Mithali Raj will receive the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award for Women, recognising her extraordinary contribution to the growth and global stature of women’s cricket in India,” the statement read further.
This annual event celebrates outstanding achievements and lasting contributions in international, domestic, and youth cricket, while recognising individuals who have significantly influenced the development and prestige of the sport in India.
A prominent member of India’s legendary 1983 World Cup-winning team, Binny’s impact on cricket has spanned decades as a player, mentor, and administrator. Famous for his skilful seam bowling and crucial breakthroughs, he was the top wicket-taker in the 1983 World Cup, playing a key role in a defining moment in Indian cricket history. As part of the Indian team that won the 1985 World Championship of Cricket, Binny is also the first Indian cricketer to open both bowling and batting in a single ODI.
After retiring from playing, Binny dedicated himself to Indian cricket with equal distinction. As coach of the Indian Under-19 team, he led them to win the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2000, helping young players begin their professional careers. He also served as a national selector from 2012 to 2016, significantly influencing the team’s composition during a crucial period in the sport’s development.
Recently, Binny has maintained his long-standing involvement in Indian cricket through administrative roles. He was the 36th President of the BCCI from 2022 to 2025, leading the during a period of notable growth and increased global recognition for Indian cricket. During his tenure, the BCCI enhanced its focus on excellence throughout the cricketing ecosystem. His leadership demonstrates a lifelong commitment to the sport.
Dravid will be recognised for his profound impact on Indian cricket, both as one of the most talented batters the sport has seen and as a coach who helped usher in a new era. His distinguished international career was characterised by a textbook batting style, unwavering resilience, solid defence, and overall mastery. He scored over 24,000 international runs, led India’s batting order across formats for more than ten years, and played a key role in many of the team’s most memorable wins as both a batter and captain.
After retiring from playing, Dravid smoothly moved into a position that contributed to shaping Indian cricket’s future. As the Head of Cricket at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), he significantly enhanced India’s player development systems, mentored emerging cricketers, and helped establish a strong talent pipeline for the national teams. His impact was particularly notable when he led India’s Under-19 team to win the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2018.
His influence expanded when he became the head coach of the Indian men’s team. He carried the same clarity of purpose and focus on discipline that marked his playing days. Under his leadership, India won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2024, showcasing resilience, preparation, and dominance internationally.
Mithali, one of women’s cricket’s most iconic figures, will be honoured with the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award for Women, acknowledging her remarkable role in promoting the women’s game worldwide. Throughout a distinguished international career lasting over twenty years, Raj set new standards of excellence through her grace, reliability, and leadership. As the top scorer in women’s ODIs with 7805 runs at an average of 50.68, she established benchmarks that changed the perception of women’s cricket in India and motivated many young girls to pursue the sport.
Her inspiring captaincy was equally important, leading India to two ICC Women’s World Cup finals and establishing the team as a strong international contender. Through her outstanding accomplishments and enduring impact, Raj has been pivotal in elevating Indian women’s cricket to new heights.
The Naman Awards will also honour exceptional performances in international, domestic, and age-group cricket throughout the 2024-25 season.
“India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill will receive the Polly Umrigar Award for Best International Cricketer (Men) for the 2024-25 season for the second time. Ms Smriti Mandhana will receive the Best International Cricketer (Women) award for the fifth time in her career,” the board stated.
“Among domestic performers, Ms Ira Jadhav of Mumbai will receive the Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy for Best Woman Cricketer (Domestic) following a prolific season with the bat. Ms Shafali Verma of Haryana will be honoured with the Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy for Best Woman Cricketer (Senior Domestic One Day) for the 2024-25 season.
“Ayush Mhatre of Mumbai will receive the Lala Amarnath Award for the Best All Rounder in Domestic Limited Overs Competitions for the 2024-25 season, while Vidarbha’s Harsh Dubey will receive the Lala Amarnath Award for the Best All Rounder in the Ranji Trophy for the 2024-25 season.
“The Mumbai Cricket Association will once again receive the award for Best Performance in BCCI Domestic Tournaments, having won four trophies and finished runner up in two during the season,” the board added.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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Sports
Arizona’s buzzer-beating epic win over Iowa State delivers Big 12 what it sorely needed: the Game of the Year
KANSAS CITY — Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark made a tough decision late Thursday night that guaranteed widespread reaction across the country, hardly all of it laudatory.
Less than 24 hours later, Yormark was rewarded for his goodwill gesture.
Despite the hype, marketing and promotion over the Big 12’s LED glass floor, the league and its commissioner were the subjects of routine mockery after sporadic slippage and one legitimate injury interfered with the basketball through the first three days of the men’s tournament.
Yormark swallowed his pride and decided to unplug the digital floor in exchange for good ol’ American hardwood.
“We have a tremendous final four tomorrow night,” he told me late Thursday night. “That should be the story.”
Instead of a story, the Big 12 and college basketball were delivered an epic in Friday night’s opening semifinal between No. 1 Arizona and No. 7 Iowa State. The Wildcats’ buzzer-beating 82-80 win was nothing less than arguably the best game of this splendid season. Arizona senior/Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley hit a fallaway 17-footer from the wing at the buzzer over an immaculate defensive effort from Cyclones freshman defensive stud Killyan Toure. When the ball swished, that shot and this game buried the previous three days worth of chatter about the court.
“It was a crazy shot,” Bradley said. “It was great defense.”
This is how you flip the script.
Adding to the frenzy and upping the cosmetic appeal was the lack of timeouts called in the final frantic minutes, especially in the closing possessions. Lloyd had multiple in his pocket and didn’t use them.
“It set the stage for something epic to happen,” Lloyd told me. “In those games, you feel like Will Ferrell in Old School, where he gets up there and he’s doing the political argument against like James CarvuCarver, or something like that, and he and he kind of blacks out.”
Lloyd blacked out a little bit. The game was that great, the moments bursting with drama, the big shots happening a pace too quick to ingest them all properly.
Bradley being the hero was apt. BYU superstar AJ Dybantsa led the nation in scoring, but the league’s coaches voted for who they believed was the best player on clearly the best team.
“I thought it was pretty tough for him the last couple days to win an award like that,” Lloyd told CBS Sports in the coach’s locker room after the game. “It is big, and he’s not a guy that tries to take up any extra space in the room. He’s not about individual things at all. And then to have people come back at him and say, ‘No, you shouldn’t have got it.’ I think that’s a tough space to put a young guy in. Even giving him the MVP trophy before the game yesterday is kind of weird. He hasn’t experienced anything like that and he just wants to be one of the guys. And then for him to come out and put a stamp on it, and a game like this, I think, is really cool.”
The frenzied finish that flooded into Bradley’s winner was a work of art. Arizona and Iowa State combined to make a shot on their final 11 possessions, including seven in a row from 3-point range. Arizona finished with 1.24 points per possession to ISU’s 1.21.
“It’s like shooting in the ocean, you feel like you can’t miss,” Dell’Orso said.
“I think it’s an amazing feeling,” Iowa State All-American Joshua Jefferson said of playing in a 40-minute masterpiece.
The night just as easily could have gone his team’s way.
“They were able to make one more play tonight,” Iowa State coach TJ Otzelberger said. “Just like they’re Final Four contenders, so are we.”
The Cyclones got off to a 14-2 start and they also had a flurry 9-0 run to end the first half that had the joint blaring thanks to three 3-pointers from Cyclones senior forward Milan Momcilovic.
“Larry Bird showed up,” Lloyd told me. “Thank God, the half ran out.”
Momcilovic sank eight 3-pointers, becoming just the fourth player in the history of the Big 12 Tournament to make so many triples in one game.
“Great player, crazy shooter,” said Bradley.
Momcilovic’s 28 points were a game-high, but only two more than Arizona’s Anthony Dell’Orso, who had career-best 26 points (including six 3s) after combining to score 23 in his four previous games.
“You enter into that kind of flow state,” Dell’Orso said. “And guys just brought everything. There were multiple facets of the game other than just shooting that go unnoticed, but we definitely pay attention to that.”
Everything crescendoed to Bradley’s buzzer-beater, the first by any Big 12 player in any game since 2022 (Kansas‘ Bobby Pettiford vs. Wisconsin) and also the first winning shot as time expired in this tournament since Monte Morris beat Texas at the horn in the 2015 quarterfinals from damn near the same spot.
“They really made us dig deep literally 40 minutes. We were just trying to hang on by a thread, stay in the game,” Lloyd said.
God it was great. The NCAA Tournament is the main event for clear and obvious reasons, but every single year we are reminded why March Madness is the motto just as much for the two weeks that feed into Selection Sunday. And this game was one of the best conference tournament battles of the past decade.
It was Arizona’s ninth win this season over a ranked team (second-most in college basketball history). The only teams to get 10 were 2024-25 Florida, 2010-11 Connecticut and 2000-01 Duke. They all won the national title.
Arizona may well become the fourth/next to do it.
The result won’t change anything for Selection Sunday. Arizona is a lock No. 1 seed going to the West and Iowa State will most likely be a No. 2 seed in some other region of the bracket.
Sometimes, a great game is all we want. On Friday, it’s what the Big 12 needed. Until tonight, the tournament was heavily trending toward being remembered for a floor that lit up like a casino game and induced some conspicuous extracurricular slipping and sliding while a basketball tournament was trying to play out.
Lloyd made sure to credit Yormark and the Big 12’s director of basketball, Brian Thornton, for not being too proud to stick with the glass floor. Lloyd and Kelvin Sampson in particular endorsed the switch from the moment they were asked on Thursday.
It’s those two coaches who will still be on the sidelines for Saturday night’s title game.
“Shows a lot of courage and great leadership,” Lloyd told me. “I mean, on two levels. The foresight and the fortitude to try something outside the box and then have it not work and pull it back. It’s pretty special. The Big 12 makes basketball a priority and and that’s pretty special to be a part of. I don’t know if every power conference can say that, but we definitely can say that with our leadership.”
Arizona will play in a second straight league championship game, and it will be a rematch: Houston beat Arizona for the league championship in this building a year ago. Now, again, the Big 12’s two best teams will battle for a trophy. Arizona won 73-66 at Houston back in February.
Now it goes for its Big 12 Tournament title. Houston is still vying for the last No. 1 seed.
The stakes are clear. And look us now: Talking all about hoop. It’s back to being about the basketball, about the tournament, about the teams.As it always should have been. The Big 12 is more than good enough to sell the product on the floor and have that be enough. Turn on the lights, let the coaches and players take care of the rest and who knows what they’ll give you?
Sometimes it’s one of the best games you’ll ever see.
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