In 1946, Patty Berg won the inaugural U.S. Women’s Open at Spokane Country Club, beating a field of 39 players for a first-place prize of $5,600, paid entirely in war bonds.
She might not recognize the event today.
Eight decades on, the 81st U.S. Women’s Open presented by Ally arrives this June at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, where 156 of the best female players in the world — whittled from a pool of 1,897 entries — will compete on one of the game’s most storied stages for a total purse of $12 million.
Do the math. The numbers alone tell a striking story about the evolution of women’s golf. But as with most good stories, statistics only go so far.
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Golf is booming as never before, and female players have helped power that surge. Nearly 8 million now play the game in the United States, according to the National Golf Foundation, a 46-percent increase since 2019. They account for a record 28 percent of all golfers and contribute significantly to the billions spent in the game each year.
And yet, for many women from all walks of life, golf still often seems like someone else’s pursuit: governed by unfamiliar rules, elusive codes of conduct and a culture that falls shy of feeling fully inclusive. For all the strides that golf has made since Patty Berg was in her prime, a divide remains, limiting women’s access not only to the camaraderie and competition of the game but also to the relationships and opportunities so often forged around it.
That was the gap a recent gathering at Riviera set out to close.
Presented by the USGA and Ally, the presenting partner of the U.S. Women’s Open, an event called “Golf with Us” brought together 40 female business professionals, many of them newcomers to the game, for an immersive day of instruction and conversation. On the range, participants worked with eight teaching professionals across three stations covering full swing, short game and putting. They flushed some shots and bladed others. No one was keeping track. The goal was not to produce scratch golfers. It was something more impactful: to help women gain confidence and comfort with a game that carries profound benefits both on and off the course.
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“I’m someone who has been in (golf) my entire life,” said Tisha Alyn, a former professional golfer, media host, trick-shot artist and entrepreneur, who moderated a panel discussion that followed. “Every opportunity, the majority of friendships, the majority of connections and employees I’ve made in my life have been through this game.”
Alyn knew that made her an outlier in the room. A quick show of hands confirmed it.
“How many of you had played golf before today?” she asked.
Most hands went up.
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“And how many of you have made a business deal on the course?”
Most hands stayed down.
The panel discussion at Riviera.
USGA
Alyn’s three panelists had plenty to say about that gulf, which they’d each confronted in one form or another in their own winding paths into the game. Lauren Campbell, director of sports and entertainment marketing at Ally, was introduced to golf as a child through father-daughter outings to a PGA Tour event in Michigan and has spent much of her career since trying to make the game more accessible and inviting for women. Kat Harwood, U.S. sports practice leader, Deloitte Consulting LLP, got her start as a passenger in a cart, riding alongside her husband, taking in the fresh air and scenery, until curiosity finally got the better of her. When play ground to a halt, she began taking swings. She realized that she liked it. What’s more, she discovered, “I wasn’t terrible at it,” she said. Katie Conway, the USGA’s senior director of partnerships, grew up as a fan’s daughter, her childhood weekends structured around Jack Nicklaus’s tee times. She even worked at golf courses along the way, yet somehow never thought to pick up a club. Eleven years into her career at the USGA, she’s still early in the learning curve. She has yet to break 100.
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Which, as the panel made clear, is beside the point.
As Alyn teed them up, the speakers took turns sharing experiences and counsel. Conway talked about treating every round as a chance to learn something: a swing tip, a point of etiquette, a better feel for the rhythm of the game. She recalled playing Pebble Beach in a USGA outing, posting a score that was not the course record, but walking off focused on the positive: a single hole she’d played particularly well. She recommended adopting that mindset. “Women are less exposed to golf,” she said, “and we’re probably harder on ourselves than we should be.” Find the one good shot. Carry that with you.
Harwood offered a companion thought: Don’t make a production of the bad ones. No anguished post-shot commentary, no apology to your playing partners. “I realized I was drawing attention to my bad shots,” she said. Most of the judgment golfers fear on the course exists only in their imagination. Fact is, no one cares how you play as long as you’re not slowing down the pace. “Just pick up the ball and move on,” Harwood said.
Another pearl of hard-won wisdom: Don’t hesitate to go all in. For a while, Harwood said, she’d never taken a lesson, which she used as a built-in excuse, until she realized how absurd that was. “I wouldn’t do that in any other aspect of my life,” she said. If she wanted to learn to cook, she’d take a cooking class. Golf deserved the same respect and attention.
The women in the audience weren’t beginners off the course. They were accomplished professionals, mothers, wives. But Alyn was candid about how long it can take to feel truly at home in the game, and how to reframe the moments that feel most daunting. Being the only woman in a golf outing, she said, isn’t so different from being the only woman in a boardroom. Both can be intimidating. Both can be flipped with some mental gymnastics. “You might think, ‘Holy crap, there are only two or three women in this room,’” she said. “I’m like, ‘Heck yeah, I’m here.’” Confidence on the course, she added, can also be a matter of faking it until you make it. “You all are badasses in this room. You have so much conviction in whatever you try.” Apply that same mentality to golf, and eventually the feeling becomes real.
And whatever you’re feeling on the course, remember: It’s a game. It’s supposed to be fun.
Trouble is, it can seem so serious, walled off by barriers — some real, some imagined — that the industry is bent on bringing down. As evidence, take the U.S. Women’s Open presented by Ally itself, the oldest championship in women’s golf, and a tournament whose growth over eight decades is a shining reflection of the game’s changing face.
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As Conway made plain, you don’t have to be a pro to be part of the picture. She has no illusions about her game. She still has her sights on breaking 100. But her broader ambition can’t be measured in strokes. When work outings have come up in the past, she’s found herself asking hesitant questions. Would she be the only woman in the group? Were others aware of her skill level? She’d like to let go of that self-doubt.
“I’d love to get to a place where I just say yes,” she said. “I’d be happy to play with those clients without any caveats.”
She encouraged the women in the room to do the same, whether the invitation is to a driving range, a mini-golf outing or a company scramble.
“Just say yes to golf somewhere in your life,” she said. “It will change your life personally and professionally.”
A representative of the new generation of Brazilian women’s football, Tainá Maranhão could reach 10 matches for the Brazilian National Team next Saturday (6) against the United States. The young forward, who started playing football at 15, has steadily progressed in her appearances for the Canarinho since her first call-up to the U-17 team in 2019.
In October last year, she made her debut on coach Arthur Elias’s squad list. Today, she has five call-ups to the senior national team and nine matches played. Of the six games the Canarinho has played this year, Maranhão found the net in three: in the friendly against Costa Rica and in the matches against South Korea and Zambia in the FIFA Series.
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In a press conference this Wednesday (3), she said she is happy to be experiencing this stage of her career, especially because of her age — she turns 22 in August. “Everyone says I’m one of the youngest, and I take that as a good thing. Everything I see in the more experienced players, I try to absorb for myself and take as learning,” said Tainá.
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Tainá Maranhão and Raissa Bahia during the Women’s National Team’s second training session at CT Joaquim GravaCredits: Lívia Villas Boas/Staff Images/CBF
The press conference took place after the second day of training for the friendlies against the United States, scheduled for Saturday (6) in São Paulo and Tuesday (9) in Fortaleza. One of Palmeiras’ key players, with whom she has already won major titles such as back-to-back Paulista championships and the Copa do Brasil, Maranhão does not feel the weight of expectations.
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“I’m happy even because of the expectations. And I’m going to work to live up to everyone’s expectations,” she assured. In the squad called up for these FIFA Date matches, the forward is joined by great club teammates: Raissa Bahia, who is beginning to make her mark with the Canarinho, with two appearances; and Bia Zaneratto, a veteran with 130 matches.
“Everyone knows I’m very inspired by Bia, but there’s also Guti (Amanda Gutierres), who keeps me on my toes,” she admitted, with the familiarity of someone who played alongside them for two years. “I think this reunion is really cool, we build closeness. Everything we’ve been through adds a lot to what we’re experiencing with the national team. Everything is still very new to me, but I’m loving it,” said the player, whose speed and intensity on the field are already showing up in her numbers with the Canarinho.
In golf, there are a few things you just don’t do: stepping in front of a birdie, walking through someone’s line or forgetting to tip your caddie are just a few of the unwritten rules most golfers abide by.
In addition to the etiquette most of us already follow, there are a few instructional fundamentals that belong on the list. While we could spend hours listing them out, there’s one in particular that stands out. Recently, GOLF Top 100 Teacher and PGA Tour putting consultant Stephen Sweeney shared one of his putting rules, and it’s something every golfer should keep in mind.
“I have yet to see a world-class putter that putts good with a closed stance,” Sweeney said.
“There are certain things that are non-negotiable for me,” he continued. “The one thing that I hate to see is any sort of closed stance with the feet, and open shoulder.”
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In a recent lesson with GOLF’s Jake Morrow in the debut episode of The Lab with Stephen Sweeney, presented by Baird, Sweeney explained that a closed stance often causes players to unintentionally aim right, leading to compensations that reduce consistency on the green. Luckily, the fix is easy.
Square up your stance
As Sweeney demonstrates, an easy way to square up your putting stance is to set your feet shoulder-width apart and then let your arms hang loosely. Then, slide your fingers down until they’re resting on your kneecaps. This position should help everything square up.
“In an ideal world, we’re going to have everything square: knees, hips, shoulders, chest,” Sweeney said.
From there, you might notice your head or eye position feels slightly different, maybe a bit more forward or over the ball. That’s intentional. This drill also helps your head and eyes get into the proper position at address.
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“I want you to get to a point where you feel like your eyes are over the golf ball,” Sweeney said.
While Sweeney uses lasers to help Morrow settle into a proper setup, a putting mirror or even an alignment rod work just as well. The key here is developing a square, consistent setup — one that puts you in position to start the ball on your intended line.
For more from Sweeney, you can watch the full video below. You can subscribe to GOLF’s YouTube channel here.
Russell Wilson has announced his retirement from the NFL after 14 seasons, a career highlighted by a Super Bowl victory with the Seattle Seahawks.
Wilson, a 10-time Pro Bowler and the 2020 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, announced his retirement in a video posted to social media.
A third-round pick by the Seahawks in the 2012 NFL Draft, Wilson became one of the league’s most recognizable quarterbacks, tallying 46,966 passing yards and 353 total touchdowns during a career that also included stints with the Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants.
Russell Wilson of the New York Giants walks off the field following the game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium on Jan. 4, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.(Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
This announcement from Wilson comes after he reportedly finalized a deal to become a CBS Sports NFL analyst. When news broke of his sports media deal, it was unclear if he wished to call it quits for his playing career, or simply take a season off to think about it. But Wilson posted a lengthy video on his social media, where he reflected on his time with the game and confirmed that he would be joining CBS Sports.
“I remember the moment I fell in love with football. Waking up before sunrise with my dad and brother. Deep post routes and ‘moon balls.’ Yeah, that’s where it all began. But somewhere along the way, my love for football turned into more than just passion. It was an obsession,” Wilson narrated as clips from his childhood to college, to the NFL Scouting Combine, to his career highlights.
Wilson found quick success in the NFL after a college career that began at NC State, but flourished at Wisconsin. He went 11-5 in his first NFL season, as the Seahawks quickly became a feared squad in the NFC.
Accompanied by the “Legion of Boom” defense in Seattle, Wilson and the Seahawks walked into MetLife Stadium for Super Bowl XLVIII and put on a rout of the Denver Broncos, 43-8, to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy. It was just the second season for Wilson, who cemented himself as the future at quarterback for Seattle under head coach Pete Carroll, who he shouted out in his video.
“To Coach Carroll, thanks for taking a chance on the young, 5’11″ black kid from Richmond, Virginia who was told he was too small to ever make it in the NFL. We knew what winning was like,” Wilson said.
Wilson wasn’t able to win the trophy again, ultimately falling to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIV in heartbreaking fashion. Instead of running with Marshawn Lynch on the goal line, the Seahawks infamously chose to pass, and Wilson was picked off by Malcolm Butler to seal victory for yet another Tom Brady ring.
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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson passes during warm-ups before an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, in Seattle.(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
In 10 seasons with Seattle, Wilson had 37,059 passing yards with 292 touchdowns and a 104-53-1 overall record. Wilson told Seattle fans, “You raised me,” in his video.
It wasn’t as sweet for Wilson once he was traded to the Broncos before the start of the 2022 season, as he started to face some serious adversity and public rifts with head coach Sean Payton. Wilson went 4-11 in his inaugural season with Denver, and after going 7-8 in 2023, the team moved on despite his massive contract looming.
As a result, Wilson took a veteran minimum deal to join Mike Tomlin and the Steelers during the 2024 campaign. He went 6-5 in his starts, earning his 10th and final Pro Bowl bid. The Steelers made the playoffs, but didn’t make it out of the Wild Card Round.
Finally, the Giants signed Wilson before the start of the 2025 season, though they drafted Jaxson Dart out of Ole Miss to be his successor. That quickly changed after just three starts for Wilson, as Dart took over in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Wilson never regained the starting role, though he was as classy as ever, talking about his mentorship of Dart.
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Throughout the years, Wilson enjoyed working with every coach, teammate and the fans of each franchise across his football journey.
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson waves to fans after the game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Jan. 4, 2026.(Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
“To every teammate I’ve had the privilege of sharing the locker room with, thank you for the sacrifices, the brotherhood, the memories. None of this is possible without you,” he said.
“To every fan who supported, through the highs and the lows, your belief, your energy and your passion meant more than you’ll ever know.”
AC Milan rival Premier League sides for West Ham‘s Crysencio Summerville, Real Madrid to sign Inter’s Denzel Dumfries and Newcastle target Nigerian teenager Zadok Yohanna.
AC Milan have emerged as serious contenders to signCrysencio Summerville, 24, from West Ham, with the Dutch winger also attracting interest from Tottenham and Aston Villa. (Teamtalk), external
Real Madrid are expected to trigger the £17.3m release clause to sign Inter Milan and Netherlands right-back Denzel Dumfries, 30. (Sky Sports), external
Kieran McKenna and Thomas Frank are the leading contenders to replace outgoing Fulhamboss Marco Silva, who is set to replace Jose Mourinho at Benfica. (Talksport), external
Manchester Unitedhave shelved contract talks with Bruno Fernandes, 31, after being assured the Portugal midfielder and club captain wants to stay at Old Trafford for the long term. (Mirror), external
Atletico Madrid could use the big-money sale of Argentina striker Julian Alvarez, 26, to fund the purchase of Marseille and England forward Mason Greenwood, 24. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external
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Roma are also interested in Greenwood, with his former club Manchester United set to benefit from a sell-on clause in the deal that took him to France. (Teamtalk), external
Evertonare chasing Arsenal‘s Brazilforward Gabriel Jesus, 29, but want the Premier League champions to reduce their £20m asking price. (Football Insider, external)
MEXICO, Pampanga—Jakob Taruc and Kendra Garingalao completed dominant victories on Wednesday, overcoming rain delays and shifting conditions to capture the premier division titles at the ICTSI Beverly Place Junior PGT Championship.
Taruc capped a wire-to-wire performance with a closing 75 for a 54-hole total of 224, winning by 18 strokes over Nathan Belandres at Beverly Place Golf Club.
Garingalao, meanwhile, stretched a three-shot overnight lead into an eight-shot victory despite a birdie-less 77. The 15-year-old finished with a 235 aggregate, comfortably ahead of Rafa Anciano and Levonne Talion, who tied for second at 243.
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Play was delayed for an hour by heavy rain before competitors resumed under a lift, clean and place rule. Conditions improved later in the day, although another interruption due to lightning threats halted play for nearly two hours.
Taruc, who began the final round with an 11-shot cushion, opened with a birdie but mixed in three bogeys over the next four holes and a double-bogey on the par-3 15th. The setbacks proved inconsequential as he cruised to his first Junior Philippine Golf Tour victory.
Belandres shot a 76 to secure runner-up honors at 242.
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Dylan Harper #2 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket against Tyler Kolek #13 and Jordan Clarkson #00 of the New York Knicks in the fourth quarter of the championship game of the Emirates NBA Cup at T-Mobile Arena on December 16, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP
No player from the Philippines has won an NBA title, but two with Filipino heritage—New York’s Jordan Clarkson and San Antonio’s Dylan Harper—meet in this month’s NBA Finals.
And one of them will be part of a championship squad.
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Clarkson, whose mother has Filipino roots, signed with the Knicks last July for his 12th NBA campaign after stops with the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Utah Jazz. He has also played on the Filipino national basketball squad.
“Definitely inspiring to the Filipino-Americans and Filipinos all around the country. It’s definitely going to be fun to watch,” Clarkson said of his matchup with Harper.
“One of us two [is] taking a championship back home to the Philippines and representing that well.”
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Clarkson, who turns 34 on Sunday, has been keeping an eye on 20-year-old rookie Harper, the second overall selection in last year’s NBA Draft.
“He has been really good throughout the whole year. I’ve been watching him, keeping up with him, as well, him being so young and having so much poise throughout this whole playoffs,” Clarkson said.
“It’s a great sight to see a young star coming in this league and doing what he’s doing.”
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Harper, whose father is five-time NBA champion Ron Harper and whose mother, Maria, is from the Philippines, appreciated the special rivalry with Clarkson.
‘The biggest thing’
“Me and him get to do something really special, representing our country, where we’re from, represent everything on the biggest stage in basketball,” Harper said.
“I feel like over there in the Philippines, basketball is probably the biggest thing.
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“I think we’re very excited for that and we’re just very blessed and grateful to be in this position.”
Maria Harper is a high school boys assistant coach in New Jersey who coached Dylan and his brother Ron Jr., who now plays for the Boston Celtics.
“My mom, she’s not my coach no more, so I don’t get it as much anymore,” Harper said of motherly basketball advice. “But regular mom stuff with a little mix of basketball here and there.
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“At the end of the day it’s more of, as long as you’re happy, I’m good.”
Berrettini’s only previous retirement from a Grand Slam match was at the 2023 US Open.
He also made an early exit from the 2021 ATP Tour Finals because of an abdominal injury, while last season he had to pull out midway through matches in Madrid and Rome in the run-up to the French Open.
But the former world number six, who had missed the previous four French Opens because of injury problems, is determined to take the positives from reaching a seventh Grand Slam quarter-final in his first outing at Roland Garros since 2021.
Now ranked 105th, he added: “I have to take the good stuff that I did in this tournament, because a few weeks ago or a few days ago, it would have been crazy to think about me in the quarter-finals, and so I’ll try to go back home with a smile on my face.
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“It’s going to be tough but that’s how I like to approach these two weeks, and of course I’m disappointed, I’m sad, but I’m also proud of the way I fought through this tournament.”
Speaking on court after his win, Arnaldi said: “You never wish for someone to end the tournament like this.
“He did an amazing tournament. I am sorry for him and I hope he recovers because soon it is the grass and he is going to be very tough to play.”
Arnaldi, ranked 104th in the world, is the lowest-ranked male player to reach a French Open singles semi-final since Filip Dewulf did so in 1997 when ranked 122nd.
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He will play another Italian, 10th seed Flavio Cobolli, on Friday for a place in Sunday’s final.
New Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley addresses reporters while outlining his vision for the franchise and emphasizing cooperation throughout the organization. On June 3, 2026, in Eagan, Minnesota, Teasley discussed alignment between ownership, coaches, and football operations as he began shaping the club’s direction during a pivotal offseason for the Vikings. Mandatory Credit: YouTube
It’s official — more than official. The Minnesota Vikings formally hired Nolan Teasley on Monday to replace Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who was fired four months ago, and on Tuesday, the franchise trotted him in front of Twin Cities media.
Teasley gave an introductory speech and answered questions. Here’s what we learned from the event, as training camp looms about eight weeks away.
Teasley Steps into a Win-Now Vikings Operation
Seahawks assistant general manager Nolan Teasley discusses the club’s scouting process during a behind-the-scenes feature focused on NFL Draft preparation. In footage released following the NFL Combine, Teasley detailed how evaluators compare prospects, build consensus grades, and assemble Seattle’s draft board while preparing for one of the most important events on the football calendar. Mandatory Credit: YouTube
1. Teasley Is Ready to Win Now; There Is No Rebuild
One reporter asked about the state of the roster, whether it was time to contemplate a rebuild or win now. Teasley, without hesitation, affirmed the goal is to win a Super Bowl in 2026, not operate under the guise of a rebuild.
“We’re going to build the deepest, most competitive roster possible so that we can be at our best in December and January and February, and ultimately working toward winning the Super Bowl that this fan base deserves,” he added.
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Most fans assumed a rebuild was not afoot — the Vikings never tear it down to the studs and start over — and 2026 is no different. With Kyler Murray and Justin Jefferson on the roster, it’s go-time for Minnesota to win its first Super Bowl in 65 years of existence.
Teasley is not in town to start over.
2. Has Final Say of 53-Man Roster
While Minnesota has a unique power dynamic among Kevin O’Connell, Rob Brzezinski, and Teasley, the buck stops with Teasley.
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Pressed by SKOR North‘s Judd Zulgad to clearly define the leadership hierarchy, Wilf said, “He’s the general manager of the organization. He has final say on the roster, of the 53-man roster, but in the end, he’s going to lean heavily — and he’ll say it himself — on our head coach, obviously, and people like Rob Brzezinski in the building that have deep experience and skillsets that are complementary.”
“So I think we have it all put together in a great way. And I’m confident that this is a great move for the organization, a great move for the Minnesota Vikings.”
Many believe the Vikings’ structure will be more custom than most, with O’Connell and Brzezinski having considerable input on the roster.
“Nolan, the General Manager, reports to ownership as well as the head coach,” Wilf stated.
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You can wonder about a “triangle of power” until you’re blue in the face, but Teasley is the organization’s point guard.
3. Everyone Loves Kevin O’Connell
Throughout the 20-30 minute conversation, O’Connell’s name came up about a half-dozen times. Wilf and Teasley separately gushed about him, claiming he was the right man for the job.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell observes drills during mandatory minicamp at TCO Performance Center. On June 8, 2022, in Eagan, Minnesota, O’Connell continued overseeing offseason preparations as players worked through practice sessions designed to install schemes, evaluate roster depth, and build momentum ahead of training camp. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Wilf even acknowledged that O’Connell was a part of the process in hiring Teasley: “We appreciate Kevin being part of the process in selecting a general manager. We haven’t had that type of iteration here, and I think that was a big part of it, their dialogue and communication.”
Teasley also said he checked with his former Seahawks coworkers who now work in Minnesota, and every one of them spoke glowingly of O’Connell, making Teasley’s decision to accept the job a no-brainer.
4. Wilfs’ Reiteration of Shared Leadership
Wilf, while introducing Teasley and answering questions, repeatedly name-dropped O’Connell and, when pressed about the leadership structure, replied, “Rob is part of the football operations, a football organization that’s under Nolan. So again, in the end, that’s the structure. That’s the way it is. If it comes to structure, we’ve got a problem, OK?”
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“The end result is making sure leaders collaborate, work together, and kudos to Rob and the effort he led this past few months. Right now, we have Nolan, and I think that’s an incredible piece to our puzzle. Like I said, Nolan’s leading our football operations at GM reports ownership, and obviously Coach O’Connell reports to ownership as well.”
Teasley won’t work alone.
5. Don’t Expect to Learn Much from Teasley’s Words
On Adofo-Mensah’s watch, the former boss was actually quite revealing at times, telling reporters and fans his plan for the team. Some might argue he could be too forthcoming at times.
Minnesota Vikings owner Mark Wilf attends the 2026 NFL Annual League Meeting at the Arizona Biltmore. On March 30, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona, Wilf joined fellow league executives, owners, and team representatives for discussions covering league business, competitive matters, and long-term initiatives shaping the future of the NFL. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Teasley is not like that. Reporters asked him deep questions requiring elaborate responses, and in most cases, Teasley answered in two sentences with canned lingo one might use while running for the United States Senate.
Unless he suddenly changes his personality, Teasley won’t divulge much to reporters; his actions will do the talking. He’s not a “here’s what I will do” kind of guy.
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Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson celebrates with wide receiver Justin Jefferson after a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals at U.S. Bank Stadium. During the Sept. 21, 2025, contest in Minneapolis, the Vikings leaned on two of their premier offensive playmakers as the passing attack continued producing points in an early-season matchup. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings don’t start training camp until the end of July, and until then, NFL-focused media outlets are making bold predictions about the purple team and its peers.
SI.com‘s Conor Orr publishes such prognostications every summer, and this go-around for Minnesota, he picked Carson Wentz to start more games than J.J. McCarthy and Minnesota to exceed its Vegas win total of 8.5.
McCarthy Pressure Builds around Minnesota’s Summer Plan
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz (11) speaks during a media session at Sport Ireland Campus ahead of Minnesota’s international showcase. On Sept. 26, 2025, in Dublin, Ireland, Wentz addressed reporters as the Vikings continued preparations for their overseas appearance, drawing attention as one of the club’s veteran quarterbacks during a busy week abroad. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Orr’s Two Predictions
Orr began at quarterback, writing, “J.J. McCarthy will start fewer games than Carson Wentz. All three Vikings quarterbacks — Wentz, McCarthy and Kyler Murray — will play at some point this season. Murray will get the lion’s share of snaps while Wentz steps in during a critical two-game late-season stretch to keep Minnesota’s playoff hopes alive.”
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And for the win forecast, he opined, “The Vikings will surpass their current projected Vegas win total. Topping 8.5 wins feels manageable for a team that finished last year with nine wins despite a markedly worse quarterback situation. In fact, I’m bold enough to say that this team will have four wins by its Week 6 bye.”
It’s a pair of bittersweet, perhaps contrasting, theories.
An Awful Look for McCarthy
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If McCarthy plays fewer games than Wentz, something will have gone really, really wrong. Foremost, it could be that the Vikings elevated Wentz to the QB2 job, which would be an utterly terrible look for McCarthy’s career trajectory — if he can’t win a backup quarterback job over a guy who’s a few years from retirement.
Or — the prediction could insinuate that McCarthy gets hurt again after suffering a torn meniscus, high ankle sprain, concussion, and broken hand through two NFL seasons. McCarthy has missed 73% of Vikings games due to injury.
Even if Murray establishes himself as Minnesota’s QB1 in 2026, McCarthy’s endgame cannot be Wentz playing more snaps. It would put McCarthy on borrowed time in Minnesota.
Nine Wins or More Checks Out
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On the other hand, Orr’s second bold prediction is a little ironic and bittersweet. He expects the Vikings to win nine games or more — they finished 9-8 last year despite showcasing the NFL’s fifth-worst quarterback production per EPA/Play — while oddsmakers believe Minnesota will finish 8-9 or 9-8.
Having Wentz play more games than McCarthy but the Vikings still finishing with a winning record would either be a re-run of 2025 or feature a Minnesota club that is playoff-bound. Fans would prefer the latter.
Also, the Vikings boast one of the NFL’s top defenses, led by Brian Flores, who has marshaled a Top 3 defense since he arrived in Minneapolis three years ago. The working theory suggests that if that trend continues while Murray, McCarthy, or Wentz deliver average-or-better quarterback efficiency, the sky is the limit.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray answers questions from reporters following OTA practice at the TCO Performance Center. On May 27, 2026, in Eagan, Minnesota, Murray discussed his transition to Minnesota, collaboration with J.J. McCarthy, and developing chemistry with wide receiver Jauan Jennings as offseason workouts continued. Mandatory Credit: YouTube
Orr basically thinks the Vikings will be good, and very little McCarthy will be needed.
Essentially Sports‘ Luke Hubbard predicted the Vikings to finish with a 7-10 record last week and opined, “I don’t not like the Minnesota Vikings’ roster, but I don’t love it either. It all starts at quarterback. As fun as Kyler Murray could be, there’s a reason Arizona let him go.”
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“He’s dealt with a ton of injuries, and when he’s been on the field, he hasn’t been all that great. And we all know J.J. McCarthy isn’t the answer. If they had a quarterback, they would feel like a bubble team, but without above-average quarterback play, they’ll miss the playoffs by quite a few games.”
Other Bold Stuff from Orr
Orr, sadly, also picked the Detroit Lions to win the NFC North. He explained, “One of the most underrated aspects of a team’s schedule, in my opinion, is the runway with which to build momentum. That momentum overpowers the basic fact that many of those wins were against opponents that the team should have beaten. Those wins create a false confidence those teams carry with them into more neutral matchups or matchups in which a team should be considered an underdog.”
“I love the beginning of the Lions’ slate, even if Detroit has all of its road divisional games over the final weeks of the season. My thought: If the Lions can bank four wins from their opening stretch against the Saints, Bills, Jets, Panthers and Cardinals, they will be in a much better position to lose ground later in the season in Green Bay or Chicago.”
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Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) embraces Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) following a hard-fought NFC North matchup at Ford Field. On Nov. 2, 2025, in Detroit, Michigan, McCarthy celebrated the Vikings’ 27-24 victory after a competitive divisional contest that carried significant implications in the conference standings. Mandatory Credit: Junfu Han-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Sportsbooks agree, with the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears fighting for second place in the division, but the Vikings stuck in last.
Vikings training camp, the next major step in the summer, is about eight weeks away.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Davido is set to perform at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Countdown Concert in Los Angeles on June 10.
The Nigerian singer will take the stage at Crypto.com Arena as part of a special event connecting the three host nations of the 2026 FIFA World Cup: the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The concert will also feature performances from Major Lazer in Los Angeles, Bryan Adams in Toronto, and Los Ángeles Azules in Mexico City.
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According to FIFA, the event will be broadcast simultaneously across the three cities and streamed live on TikTok beginning at 6 p.m. PT.
The appearance marks another World Cup-related event for Davido after his involvement in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
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