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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
Favour Ofili is a Turkish sprinter who competes in the 100 m, 200 m and 4×100 m relay. Ofili made her Olympic debut in women’s 200m at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she finished sixth in the finals. In 2025, Ofili switched her sporting allegiance from Nigeria to Turkey.
The dispute between Favour Ofili and Nigerian sports authorities has intensified following reports that the Nigerian Sports Commission is seeking to prevent her from representing Turkey at the 2028 Olympic Games.
Officials reportedly argue that Ofili remains tied to Nigeria after receiving a training grant in early 2025 and must complete the standard three-year waiting period before competing for another country. There are also suggestions that clearance could be delayed until after the 2028 Olympics, pending investigations.
Ofili has now publicly responded, explaining her decision to switch allegiance.
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“I switched to Turkey to save my career from your incompetence,” she said. “It started in Japan, many of us were not registered after qualifying. Happened again in Paris. Yet they moved on like nothing happened. They set up a panel and do nothing. No apologies.”
She added that repeated administrative failures forced her to make a difficult decision.
“The people paid to look after us are the ones denying us from competing after a hard qualification,” Ofili said. “Mary Onyali was never denied from competing. I was. I am a woman. I don’t have time on my side. I had to run for my career and my family.”
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The situation follows controversy surrounding her Olympic registration and broader tensions with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, which had previously suggested it would not oppose a nationality switch.
Netherlands’ players celebrate the wicket of Pakistan’s Shadab Khan during the T20 World Cup in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (AP/PTI)
New Delhi: During the 2016 T20 World Cup, the then Netherlands captain Peter Borren, in one of the press conferences, was almost in tears and made an emotional plea to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to spend more on the Associates. “There is a sort of malaise towards Associate cricket. To grow further in the game, we always hear it is not commercially viable,” he had said.“Look at Indian television, highlights of us beating England are everywhere. Clearly, fans enjoy watching new teams succeed. So give us the opportunity. Let us compete, and let us be seen,” he had said, referring to the highlights of the Netherlands beating England in the 2009 T20 Cricket World Cup.
T20 World Cup | Muhammad Waseem press conference after loss vs New Zealand
Cut to the present, the noise is again getting louder, with Associates pushing Full Members to the edge, and it all started with the Netherlands again.Pakistan had slipped from 98/2 to 114/7 while chasing 148 against the Netherlands. Max O’Dowd dropped a catch in the penultimate over, and Faheem Ashraf became the hero with three sixes and two fours.India had a disastrous start against the USA and were reeling at 63/4 by the 10th over. Shubham Ranjane got down low but could not hold on to a Suryakumar Yadav catch. Surya went on to score a match-defining 84 off 49 balls.Having earlier reduced England to 57/3, Nepal eventually restricted them to 184/7. During the chase, they were 175/5, needing 10 runs off seven balls. Lokesh Bam was well set on 35 off 15 balls. Over the next four deliveries, Bam scored just three runs and England scraped through after a tight final over from Sam Curran.Scotland, who replaced Bangladesh, had England on the ropes as Tom Banton and Will Jacks occupied the crease in their chase of 153. Things had slowed to near run-a-ball over the previous three overs, and England now needed eight off the final six balls. Jacks then struck a six and a four to take them past the finish line.
United States’ Shubham Ranjane (L) reacts after dropping a catch of India captain Suryakumar Yadav (R) during the T20 World Cup in Mumbai. (AP)
A couple of days later, England were 105/5 in the 13th over against Italy before eventually posting a strong 202. During the chase, Italy surged to 173/7 following 34 runs in two overs. Grant Stewart was set on 44 off 20 balls. The first-timers needed 30 off the last 12 deliveries. Sam Curran then removed Stewart, crushing their hopes.Not as dramatic perhaps, but Afghanistan got past the UAE in the final over, while the Netherlands pushed India despite looking down and out at one stage.Before the India vs Netherlands game, a broadcaster arrogantly parroted the pre-tournament claim that a 300-run total would be breached. Instead, the Men in Blue posted 193/6, restrained by Logan van Beek’s three-wicket haul.The eight Associate teams have made themselves count at this T20 World Cup and have not been the pushovers many expected them to be. The gap, as is repeated every two years, is reducing between the Associates and the Full Member nations.The reason for results going unfavourably for the Associates can be attributed quite simply to the lack of top-level opportunities and the inability to absorb pressure at key moments.
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Until you play matches, you won’t be in those situations. No matter how much net practice you do, how do you come out of tight situations
UAE coach Lalchand Rajput
“Until you play matches, you won’t be in those situations. No matter how much net practice you do, how do you come out of tight situations like 80/5? Or how do you win a match if you need 30 runs in the last two overs? You won’t feel it until you experience it on the ground,” said UAE coach Lalchand Rajput.“The more matches you play against good teams, the more situations you face. You might win only one out of five games, but it builds confidence that the next time you are in the same situation, you will be able to win,” he added.Namibia coach Craig Williams, too, didn’t mince his words and has asked for more matches for the associates, if the ICC wants to make the sport global.“I think it’s not rocket science. If you play more cricket, you’re going to get better. And especially if you play more competitive cricket. So I think all the associate nations are calling out for the same thing. It’s been a number of years since I was playing as well,” he had said ahead of their last match against Pakistan in Colombo.Players, coaches and even administrators have urged the ICC to introduce more fixtures in the next Future Tours Programme.
Italy’s Grant Stewart hits a six during the T20 World Cup cricket match against England in Kolkata. (AP)
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“There should be more matches, and definitely the ICC is working on it. That’s why this T20 World Cup has 20 teams. Hopefully, it will keep growing and more Associates will follow. If we qualify for the World Cup, we should get bigger chances to showcase ourselves,” Rajput said.Canada captain Saad Bin Zafar agreed. “If there is one thing I would like to change, it would be Associate countries getting more opportunities to compete against the best nations because that is the learning ground. That is where you learn,” he said after their loss to Afghanistan.Netherlands all-rounder Bas de Leede used the World Cup stage to remind everyone that his team has no cricket scheduled until June, with their next assignment being a World Cup qualifier.“We’ve shown the level Associate cricket is at right now. We can only ask for more opportunities against big teams because that is ultimately how we are going to improve as a collective,” said De Leede.The challenge of finding space in the calendar and the financial hurdles involved are not lost on those advocating for more matches.“The calendar doesn’t allow more matches with Full Members because Associate countries mostly play among themselves. It is also about TV rights, media and sponsorship, as everyone focuses on the top 10 teams. They have challenges as well. But this World Cup has shown that Associate countries are good enough to receive more funding and play more matches,” Rajput said.De Leede also offered a solution.“I understand the financial reasoning, but maybe a tri-nation series involving two Full Members could be an option. I recently saw a post about a European T20 series involving England, Scotland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Italy,” he said.“We saw how close Italy pushed England. There are a lot of options. Normally during the World Cup, it gets attention and then it fades away,” he added.History, though, does not look promising.After reaching the Super Eight stage and becoming one of the stories of the 2024 T20 World Cup, the USA did not play a single Full Member until this edition came around.The Netherlands, who reached the Super 12 of the 2022 T20 World Cup and shocked South Africa, did not play a single T20I between that day in Adelaide and a match against Nepal 479 days later in February 2024. Their only game against a Full Member in that period came against Ireland in the build-up to the 2024 edition.T20 leagues bridging the gap
USA’s Andries Gous, of Desert Vipers, celebrates after scoring a hundred during Qualifier 1 of the ILT20 match against MI Emirates. (Creimas)
A major reason for improved performances, despite the lack of opportunities at the highest level, can be attributed to the growth of T20 leagues. More leagues mean more demand for players and more platforms for Associate cricketers to showcase their skills. USA wicketkeeper-batter Andries Gous underlined this with an unbeaten 120 for Desert Vipers against MI Emirates in the recently concluded ILT20.Curran, who helped keep two Associates at bay, acknowledged that more matches play a role. “The Associate nations are playing more often and getting much better. They are being exposed to better cricket and better grounds,” he said.UAE captain Muhammad Waseem, who plays for MI Emirates in the ILT20, shared dressing rooms with the likes of Rashid Khan, Chris Woakes, Kieron Pollard, Shakib Al Hasan, Jonny Bairstow and Nicholas Pooran ahead of the T20 World Cup.“We’ve learned to improve by playing alongside the best players in leagues. In the same way, if we play Test-playing nations, we will continue to get better. Then, in big tournaments, you will get even more competitive matches,” he told TimesofIndia.com.The presence of experienced heads in the dugout has helped as well.Stuart Law is the head coach of Nepal. Ian Harvey is the bowling consultant. Gary Kirsten is Namibia’s consultant. Rajput brings his wealth of experience from the Indian dressing room to the UAE. Duleep Mendis heads Oman, while Pubudu Dassanayake coaches the USA.Having done all they can on the field, the Associates can only hope they receive more opportunities before the next edition rolls around. Otherwise, the same conversations and pleas will be repeated in Australia and New Zealand.
Mar 26, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell addresses reporters during the NFL annual league meetings at the JW Marriott on Mar 26, 2024. O’Connell fielded questions about roster construction and offseason strategy as Minnesota prepared for the 2024 campaign. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Vikings Kevin O’Connell received a bump in leaguewide prestige Thursday, promoted to the NFL’s Competition Committee, along with Houston Texans skipper DeMeco Ryans. O’Connell enters Year No. 5 in 2026, and it’s time for his seat at the big boy table.
O’Connell’s new committee seat adds clout, but it also keeps him squarely in the spotlight entering a pivotal 2026 season.
Meanwhile, O’Connell enters a pivotal year in Minnesota, one that will determine his long-term job security.
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O’Connell Joins NFL’s Competition Committee for 2026
Good news for O’Connell in a so-far weird offseason.
Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell watches warmups before kickoff against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium on Jan 4, 2026. O’Connell surveyed the field as Minnesota prepared for a late-season divisional matchup at home. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
O’Connell Joins Competition Committee
Vikings fans didn’t know that O’Connell was in the running for the committee, so the news caught them off guard Thursday — in a good way.
NBC Sports‘ Josh Alper wrote, “The NFL has added two current head coaches to the league’s Competition Committee. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans are the new additions to the group. Former Bills head coach Sean McDermott is no longer on the 11-person committee.”
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“Broncos head coach Sean Payton and Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel also joined the group this year. Former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and former Dolphins General Manager Chris Grier joined McDermott in leaving the group.”
The Vikings now have a voting voice among the key players who call the shots.
What Is the Competition Committee?
Unfamiliar with the committee? NFL.com has answers: “The Competition Committee’s actions are based, in part, on feedback from a variety of sources. At the end of each season, the 32 NFL clubs fill out a survey, answering questions about player protection, officiating, competitive balance and technology.”
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“Leading up to the National Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, NFL Football Operations meets with coaches, general managers, players and NCAA representatives to gather their input about potential changes to the rules. There is also a review of data on injuries, instant replay and technology.”
The group basically determines what gets a vote from all NFL owners — and what gets tabled.
NFL.com added, “After the combine, the committee reconvenes to review video, draft rule proposals and positions, discuss proposals submitted by clubs and prepare its report of supporting statistics for the membership to discuss and vote on at the league’s annual meeting. At the annual meeting, the Competition Committee presents a report of its findings to the 32 owners, who vote on any proposed new rules or rule changes.”
“To be adopted, a new rule or a revision must have the support of 75 percent of the owners (24 yes votes out of 32 clubs). During the season, the committee meets occasionally by conference call or in person to review current issues in the game and to begin to discuss potential agenda items for the next year’s meeting.”
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Dec 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell stands on the sideline prior to facing the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Dec 14, 2025. O’Connell oversaw final preparations as Minnesota traveled south for a regular-season contest. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
O’Connell and committee mates essentially set the agenda for change when applicable.
Committee Members
Believe it not, this is a prestigious development for O’Connell — not just a token honor or lifetime achievement. These are the group’s members:
Rich McKay (Co-Chairman) — Atlanta Falcons
Stephen Jones (Co-Chairman) — Dallas Cowboys
Katie Blackburn — Cincinnati Bengals
Todd Bowles —Tampa Bay Buccaneers
John Lynch — San Francisco 49ers
John Mara — New York Giants
Sean McVay — Los Angeles Rams
Kevin O’Connell — Minnesota Vikings
Sean Payton — Denver Broncos
DeMeco Ryans — Houston Texans
Mike Vrabel — New England Patriots
That’s a who’s who of NFL power before the owners lay down the long arm of the law.
A Big 2026 Ahead for O’Connell
Three weeks ago, the Vikings shockingly fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, while keeping O’Connell employed and appearing to promote O’Connell as a de facto personnel GM. Accordingly, most believe the coach must deliver results in 2026 or risk hot-seat chatter.
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O’Connell’s runway is getting shorter. He has led Minnesota to the playoffs twice in four seasons, a tangible accomplishment. However, a postseason victory remains elusive. The franchise hasn’t experienced one since Kyle Rudolph’s Superdome heroics against the New Orleans Saints six years ago, and the drought is becoming increasingly burdensome.
Feb 25, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell addresses reporters during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on Feb 25, 2025. O’Connell discussed roster outlook and draft preparation as teams gathered for the annual offseason event. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The mandate for 2026 is clear: solidify the quarterback position — either by fully embracing J.J. McCarthy or providing him with reliable support and competition — achieve at least nine wins, and, most importantly, secure a playoff win. Without that January breakthrough, O’Connell’s margin for error will rapidly shrink.
All that said, the Vikings now have a member of the Competition Committee in the house. O’Connell will now have a say in matters such as banning the Tush Push, clarifying the “Catch Rule,” and expanding instant replay. It will be O’Connell’s job, in part, to decide if the issues deserve a vote.
Minnesota extended O’Connell’s contract in January 2025. He won the league’s Coach of the Year award in 2024.
USA meanwhile have stars of their own, but don’t have the attacking gifts of the Canadians.
“The Tkachuk brothers [Brady and Matthew], and Jack Eichel, that attacking line has worked well together,” Bennett said.
“What they have not had is much scoring from captain Auston Matthews, he has not yet taken any of the games by the horns. They are OK, but not more than that.”
However, the Americans have the best defenceman at the Games in Quinn Hughes, who scored the crucial winner against Sweden.
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“He might be the best three-on-three player in the world,” said Bennett. “He loves to keep possession, and is always looking to make an exciting play.”
It sets up a mouth-watering finale of an Olympic ice hockey competition which has benefitted hugely from the return of National Hockey League (NHL) players for the first time since 2014.
The attendance of players from the top North American league was in doubt for a time over concerns about the ice quality at the unfinished Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, but they have been a major boon for the Games.
“This is the highest level of hockey we have ever seen at an Olympics,” said Bennett. “The NHL players have made it a different world.
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“At the last two Olympics, games have been good but have missed the quality in the final third, the big moments. Players didn’t have the skillset to break a game, so saw a lot of tight, dull games
“Some of what the players have been doing here has been mind-blowing. One of the goals scored for Canada, McDavid saucered this pass from the back door [behind the goal], it lands as McKinnon is shooting, on the half-volley. That’s when you recognise it.
“I have been getting phone calls from people in the hockey world, all they have been saying is, this is so good. There have been periods where Kent [Simpson, BBC co-commentator] and I have just been sat watching, smiling, laughing.”
Canada have won gold in three of the five Olympics when NHL players have featured and will fancy their chances in a game on Sunday which could be as fascinating in the stands as it is on the ice.
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It is highly likely that Canadian prime minister Mark Carney will be in Milan for the game.
Not only is Canada as a country hockey-mad, but so is Carney – when working as governor of the Bank of England, he would play for a recreational team in Haringey, north London.
The big question is whether his American counterpart will also be in Italy.
