President Donald Trump said during his State of the Union address that the gold-medal-winning United States women’s ice hockey team will “soon” head to the White House to celebrate their victory in Milan.
“They beat a fantastic Canadian team in overtime as everybody saw, as did the American women who will soon be coming to the White House,” Trump said as the men’s hockey team was being saluted by everyone inside the House chamber during the State of the Union address.
It’s unknown if the women’s hockey team accepted an invitation to the White House.
Gold medalist Team United States pose after the medal ceremony for the Ice Hockey Women following the Women’s Gold Medal match between the United States and Canada on day 13 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 19, 2026 in Milan, Italy.(Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
USA Hockey and the White House have not immediately responded to a request for comment by Fox News Digital.
The women’s team declined Trump’s invitation to attend his State of the Union address on Tuesday night in Washington, D.C., citing “previously scheduled academic and professional commitments.”
“We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal-winning U.S. Women’s Hockey Team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,” USA Hockey told NBC News. “Due to the timing and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments following the Games, the athletes are unable to participate.
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“They were honored to be included and are grateful for the acknowledgment.”
Trump received criticism for what some viewed as disrespect toward the women’s team while on a phone call with the men’s team after their overtime victory over Canada on Sunday. While Jack Hughes quickly became an American hero with his gold-medal-winning goal, Megan Keller did the same thing in overtime three days before his to defeat Canada in their matchup.
During the viral clip of Trump’s phone call to the men’s team, he said that he would “have” to invite the women’s team to the State of the Union, too, otherwise, “I probably would be impeached.”
While controversy stirred on social media around the moment, Hughes’ mother, Ellen Hughes, who serves as a player development consultant for Team USA women’s ice hockey, explained she was not bothered by Trump’s comments.
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U.S. President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 24, 2026.(REUTERS/KEVIN LAMARQUE)
“These players, both the men and women, can bring so much unity to a group and to a country,” she told “Today.” “People that cheered on that don’t watch hockey, people that have politics on one side or on the other side, and that’s all both the men’s team and the women’s team care about.”
“If you could see what we see from the inside, and the men and women sharing, you know, dorm rooms and halls and flex floors and the camaraderie and the synergy and the way the women cheered on the men and the way the men cheered on the women — that’s what it’s all about,” she continued. “And the other things they cannot control. They care about humanity. They care about unity, and they care about the country.”
And while some were displeased by the men’s team laughing at Trump’s joke on the call, Quinn Hughes, the brother of Jack and hero in the quarterfinal overtime win with his goal over Sweden, explained how “amazing” it was to spend time with the women’s team throughout the weeks in Milan.
They were in attendance, as well as other men’s hockey players, to watch as the women’s team took home gold.
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United States’ Grace Zumwinkle, left, and Taylor Heise celebrate after victory ceremony for women’s ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
“Me and Jack were there, we watched them win the gold medal,” Quinn said. “They came to our game and were able to watch us. So, just the support back and forth, just to get to know them a little better was special, too.”
During Trump’s address, he also announced that men’s hockey goalie Connor Hellebuyck, whose 41-save performance was needed to force overtime to allow Hughes his golden opportunity, would receive the Medal of Freedom – the U.S. civilian honor – for his efforts in the game. Trump said he consulted with the team during their time in the Oval Office earlier on Tuesday.
Miami (Ohio) continued its storybook ride on Tuesday night, as the No. 21 RedHawks improved to 28-0 with a 74-64 win at Eastern Michigan. The win brought Miami within three victories of becoming the first Division I men’s college basketball team to finish the regular season undefeated since Gonzaga went 24-0 during the COVID-impacted 2020-21 season.
By contrast, Miami’s regular-season slate features 31 games. While the RedHawks’ schedule has been one of the easiest in college basketball, starting 28-0 is nonetheless a remarkable achievement. It’s also a reflection of the program’s steady rise under fourth-year coach Travis Steele.
After finishing 12-20 and 6-12 in the MAC in 2022-23 during Steele’s first season, the RedHawks have steadily improved in every season since. A year ago, they finished 25-9 and 14-4 in the MAC, suffering a devastating loss to Akron in the MAC Tournament title game. Steele managed to retain a significant chunk of last season’s roster, which makes Miami a rarity in the mid-major ranks.
With continuity and experience in place, the RedHawks have navigated every challenge thus far. However, due to their poor schedule strength — the RedHawks haven’t even played a Quad 1 game — their status in the NCAA Tournament field will be up for debate if they fail to win the MAC Tournament.
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Though Miami has played zero Quad 1 games and is just 1-0 in Quad 2, there is a metric on official NCAA team sheets that acknowledges the brilliance of its undefeated start.
It’s called Wins Against Bubble (WAB), and it calculates how the average bubble team would perform against your schedule. With a WAB score of 2.16 as of Feb. 22, the RedHawks rank 35th in WAB and are recognized for having over two more victories than the average bubble team would against their slate.
Up next for Miami
The remaining schedule for Miami which is trying to become the first team since Indiana accomplished the feat in the 1975-76 season.
Friday
at Western Michigan
6 p.m. CBS Sports Network
Tuesday
vs. Toledo
7 p.m. ESPN+
March 6
at Ohio
7 p.m. CBS Sports Network
March 12-14
MAC Tournament (Cleveland)
TBD
If Miami doesn’t win the MAC Tournament and needs an at-large ticket to the Big Dance, WAB will be one of its best friends. Its current 35th ranking is within at-large territory. Where it gets tricky is that any loss against MAC opposition carries a significant WAB penalty.
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Here are all the Selection Sunday scenarios for Miami as it heads down this the stretch with its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007 in sight.
NCAA Tournament selection scenarios for Miami
The simple scenario (win MAC Tournament)
Record: Between 31-3 and 34-0 Confidence level: It’s a party Likely WAB range: Doesn’t matter
Bust out the balloons and hire a caterer for the watch party. Miami can go 3-0 to close the regular season, 0-0 or something in between. It doesn’t matter, so long as the RedHawks are cutting down the nets inside Cleveland’s Rocket Arena at the end of the MAC Tournament on March 14.
Winning the MAC Tournament is the only 100% guaranteed path to the Big Dance, and it won’t be easy. The MAC isn’t one of the handful of conferences now offering automatic byes to the semifinals for its top two seeds. The RedHawks will have to win three games in three days against a field consisting exclusively of the league’s top eight teams.
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Many of the players on this Miami team were part of a gutting 76-74 loss to Akron in last year’s MAC Tournament title game in which the Zips rallied late to stun the RedHawks. That should only provide more motivation as Miami seeks its first conference tournament title since 2007.
Miami could still feel reasonably hopeful about making the Big Dance if it entered the MAC Tournament 31-0 and then dropped a game. While on some level it could matter who the loss came against, the RedHawks would still enter Selection Sunday with a WAB ranking in the at-large realm, regardless of who was responsible for handing them their first defeat.
A loss on a neutral floor in the MAC Tournament would likely come with a WAB cost of around 0.80. If Miami lost 0.80 in WAB today, it would drop the RedHawks from the low-to-mid 30s in the metric to the low 40s.
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The team with the best WAB ranking left out of last year’s field was West Virginia, which arrived at Selection Sunday at No. 43 in the WAB. The 2025 selection process was the first to utilize WAB, so there isn’t a trove of past precedents to rely upon. But WVU’s exclusion last year sets a benchmark for Miami to aim for: don’t fall to No. 43.
Finishing the regular season undefeated and then losing in the MAC Tournament would likely be good enough to keep the RedHawks around or just below that figure, which would be enough for them to enter Selection Sunday with some cautious optimism.
The double-defeat scenario involves Miami losing one regular-season game, in addition to a MAC Tournament game.
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This would not be advisable, as it would likely lead to Miami’s Selection Sunday WAB ranking landing in the mid-40s, at best. However, in this scenario, the opponent for the conference tournament loss could make a difference. If it’s a high-end Quad 2 loss against Akron in the title game, then it would be less costly.
The team with the worst WAB ranking selected to last year’s field was Xavier, which was among the Last Four In at No. 49 in WAB. However, the Musketeers counterbalanced their lagging resume metrics with a predictive metrics profile hovering around 40th nationally.
Miami University does not have good predictive metrics to fall back upon. So slipping out of the low-to-mid 40s in WAB would make things dicey. If Miami loses twice, a slip of that magnitude is likely, and it would make Selection Sunday uncomfortable.
A 1-2 finish to the regular season, combined with a loss in the MAC Tournament, would decimate Miami’s at-large chances. In this scenario, the best conceivable outcome would be that the RedHawks lose in the MAC Tournament title game against Akron in a heartbreaking way that tugs on the heartstrings of committee members. But it would be a tough case to make.
With three losses on its ledger, Miami would almost certainly lag behind other bubble teams in resume metrics. Remember, it’s not just about win-loss record. It’s about the totality of your resume. WAB does a good job of quantifying that, and it wouldn’t be on Miami’s side if the RedHawks lost three times.
Onesmoothoperator has plenty of Australian experience but steps into fresh waters lining up for the Blamey Stakes at Flemington.
Previously handled in the UK, the galloper makes his bow with local trainer Tim Fitzsimmons in Saturday’s Group 2 1600m feature.
After appearances in the past two Melbourne Cups for Brian Ellison, Onesmoothoperator was retained in Australia post-16th in last year’s race to Half Yours, now under Fitzsimmons.
Victories in Echuca trials on February 3 and 13 days later signal Onesmoothoperator’s readiness to resume.
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The gelding encounters a career first shorter than 2000m in his 47-race tenure boasting six wins, such as the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) from 2024 and the prior year’s Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m).
“It’s going to be going to be interesting,” Fitzsimmons said.
“The mile will probably be too short for him, but you never know. Hopefully there is a little bit of speed on, but it’s a starting point for him.
“We’ll see how he goes on Saturday. The owners would love to run him in the Australian Cup, but whether he is sharp enough, we’ll have to wait and see.
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“This weekend will give us a good guide as to where we go.”
The March 28 Group 1 Australian Cup at 2000m may precede a tilt at the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) Randwick on April 11 if ground suits, at 55kg.
“He’s nominated for the Sydney Cup, but the problem would be the rain as he doesn’t go a yard on a wet track,” Fitzsimmons said.
“I think last year was a Good 4, but it’s often very wet, so the immediate aims will be the Blamey Stakes and the Australian Cup.”
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Fitzsimmons revealed a brief autumn program for Onesmoothoperator, targeting the October Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).
Onesmoothoperator was ‘casual’ in his work and trials and only does as much as he needs, Fitzsimmons said.
“He’s an interesting horse but they’ve found the key to him, riding him cold and let him finish off,” Fitzsimmons said.
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“Talking to Brian, they tried everything. Riding him closer just doesn’t work, so one thing for sure is whatever race he’s in, he’s going to be ridden quietly to finish off.”
Fitzsimmons’ acquisition of Onesmoothoperator for Bendigo stemmed from a meeting almost 20 years prior.
He visited Perth with Bay Story, imported by Ellison for the 2006 Melbourne Cup Spring Carnival.
“It was the Christmas before I went to Singapore, 2006-2007,” Fitzsimmons said.
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“I went with Brian and we took Bay Story over for the Perth Cup and I spent probably two or three months with them, and we became such good friends.
“Brian recommended me. The owners came up on Bendigo Cup Day, had a look at the facilities and when they decided he would stay, he came to me which I’m grateful for.”
Fans should check the leading betting sites for Blamey Stakes opportunities.
A female WWE star has claimed that she was used by a former champion. This week’s edition of NXT had a few surprises for the fans. Myles Borne won the North American championship after beating Ethan Page, and another title match saw a massive turn.
Jacy Jayne put her NXT Women’s championship on the line against Sol Ruca. However, before the match could get underway, she was blinded by her tag team partner, Zaria.
Thanks for the submission!
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Zaria hit Sol with a Spear, followed by an F-5 on her. Despite this, Sol insisted on starting the match but was beaten quickly by Jayne. Zaria turning on her longtime in-ring partner shocked the fans.
Now, the 26-year-old star has responded to a post on X that claimed she was used by Sol Ruca. A fan posted that Zaria was not the villain and she did everything for the former WWE NXT North American Women’s champion.
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“Zaria is not the villain in this story. Sol was the one who wanted zaria to team with her from the beginning, and once Zaria finally let her guards down, Sol used her. Zaria did everything for Sol and not once did Sol do the same. Once Sol lost her titles, the real her came out,” the fan mentioned.
Zaria replied, saying the fan took the words right out of her mouth, seemingly agreeing with the opinion.
Sol Ruca was labeled “toxic” by a WWE star
Tension had been building between Zaria and Sol Ruca for weeks. Zaria had been unhappy at her former tag team partner getting bigger opportunities than her.
Sol competed against Bayley at Saturday Night’s Main Event and was also a part of the Women’s Royal Rumble. These chances created friction between the two stars.
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A few days ago, a fan posted a video of the two women, highlighting their issues and also paying tribute to their work together. This led to WWE SmackDown star Jordynne Grace commenting that Sol Ruca was “toxic” and gaslighting Zaria.
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President Donald Trump announced during his State of the Union address that Team USA men’s hockey goaltender Connor Hellebuyck will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom after anchoring the team’s gold medal victory in the Milan Cortina Olympics.
During the gold medal game victory over Canada, Hellebuyck collected 41 saves to help keep the game tied at 1-1, forcing overtime.
Jack Hughes scored the game-winner past Canada’s netminder, Jordan Binnington.
President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 24, 2026.(Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)
“It’s a dream come true,” Hellebuyck said, via NBC, after the game. “We grinded, we battled, and this was some of the best and most fun hockey that I’ve ever played.”
Hellebuyck somehow stopped a wide open Devon Toews’ shot in front of his crease with only his stick, turning quickly with his right hand to stop the puck and keeping the game tied in the second period. Without that save, and many others, the result may have been different.
Connor Hellebuyck of the United States saves a shot by Devon Toews (7) of Canada in the third period during the men’s gold medal game at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games Feb. 22, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Canada’s Mitch Marner had the puck in the offensive zone when he threw it toward Hellebuyck’s net, where defenseman Devon Toews was right in front. Perhaps nine out of 10 times, Toews scores in this scenario, but Hellebuyck somehow had the wherewithal to throw out his stick as a last-ditch effort for the save.
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Instead of the puck staying down on the ice, Toews lifted it just a bit and Hellebuyck’s paddle was right in the away to thwart the goal attempt. At the time, the score was 1-1, and it remained that way through the end of the second period and throughout the third before overtime was needed.
After the game, Hellebuyck was skating around the ice alone with an American flag on his back, as the crowd went roaring for the man they knew was a hero just as much as Hughes in the victory.
Goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck of the United States celebrates winning the gold medal during the men’s gold medal game against Canada and USA at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games Feb. 22, 2026, in Milan, Italy.(Andrea Branca/Eurasia Sport Images)
United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth jokingly gave his old title, Secretary of Defense, to Hellebuyck for his performance.
“Now we have a Secretary of War…and a Secretary of Defense!” Hegseth said over the post showing Hellebuyck’s incredible efforts.
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Hellebuyck helped the U.S. make history as the first team since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” squad to win Olympic gold. Jack Hughes scored the overtime goal to strike gold in Milan, and it’s been a party ever since for Team USA.
Canada has historically been the most dominant Olympic hockey team in history, with a world-best nine gold medals. Sunday’s win also avenged a loss to Canada in the NHL’s 4 Nations Face Off exhibition last year.
Connor Hellebuyck seen after President Donald Trump announces he will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
Dec 21, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson (55) sacks New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
Linebacker Eric Wilson posted Pro Bowl-quality numbers in 2025, stealing Ivan Pace Jr.’s job along the way. Now, he’s a free agent and could venture elsewhere next month, with CBS Sports naming him an “under the radar” commodity on the open market.
Wilson brings pressure, forced fumbles, and range — traits Brian Flores consistently turns into weekly defensive answers.
Zachary Pereles identified 10 free agents who fit the criteria, and Wilson got the nod.
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Brian Flores Will Have a Clear Use for Eric Wilson
Jalen Nailor? Jalen Redmond? Nope — Wilson is under the radar, says Pereles.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson (50) closes in on Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) for a second-quarter sack during road action at CenturyLink Field. The play highlighted Wilson’s range and timing as a pass rusher from the linebacker spot. Oct 11, 2020; Seattle, Washington, USA: Wilson broke through protection to bring down the veteran passer. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports.
Pereles: Wilson an Under-the-Radar FA
On a list that included wide receiver Christian Kirk from the Houston Texans and linebacker Alex Singleton of the Denver Broncos, Wilson got some under-the-radar respect.
Pereles explained, “Another veteran linebacker, Eric Wilson returned to Minnesota after spending his first four seasons there and excelled, registering 115 tackles, 6.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. When things are in front of him, he plays quickly and arrives violently.”
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“When it comes to coverage, it gets a little hairy. He’s 31 and has a major hole in his game, but he brings the thump in the run game and when rushing the passer. His 21.9% pressure rate was second in the NFL (min. 100 pass rush snaps) last season.”
It didn’t take Wilson long to become a fan favorite last season, as he was so damn productive as early as Week 1 against the Chicago Bears.
Probably Re-Signing with Vikings
The Vikings owe it to themselves to re-sign Wilson for a year or two, even if he’ll turn 32 this year. Why? Well, he played so damn well last season. Wilson was not a flash in the pan. A few games didn’t make him worth the squeeze; the guy was one of the most consistent players on defense — out of nowhere. Many envisioned him as a “special teams guy” when the Vikings signed him in 2025 free agency.
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Thankfully, the path back to Minnesota has already been laid by Brian Flores, who re-signed with the club after a couple of head coaching interviews, courtesy of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. Wilson utterly cooked with Flores; Flores utterly cooked with Wilson.
Too, the Vikings don’t have an official general manager after Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s termination four weeks ago. Flores is expected to have more personnel input accordingly. Re-upping with Wilson feels like an offseason no-brainer.
The 2025 Campaign
Wilson joined the team as a depth player but ended the 2025 season as a defensive cornerstone. Signed by Minnesota to reinforce the linebacker corps behind Blake Cashman and the aforementioned Pace Jr., he was initially slated for rotational snaps and special teams duties. By December, however, his impact was clear: the defense faltered noticeably in his absence, and opponents began adjusting their strategies to contain him.
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This transformation stemmed from his outstanding performance. Wilson played with relentless intensity, consistently disrupting plays and penetrating the backfield, leading all off-ball linebackers in both sacks and pressures, and ranking near the top in forced fumbles.
At 31, he had the most dominant season of his career, racking up 115 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hits, 6.5 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles — a significant leap from the previous year when he was considered primarily a backup and special teams player.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson (55) celebrates after recording a sack during the second half of a home matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles at U.S. Bank Stadium. The veteran defender delivered pressure plays throughout the contest as Minnesota’s front disrupted the passing attack. Oct 19, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA: Wilson reacted after finishing a drive-stalling sack for the Vikings defense. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
The Athletic‘s Daniel Popper ranked Wilson No. 74 on his Top 150 free agents of 2026 list and explained, “Wilson is a downhill off-ball linebacker who can blitz and defend the run. He is more limited as a coverage player. He has sideline-to-sideline speed and attacks plays in front of him.”
“Wilson also got some edge work in coordinator Brian Flores’ scheme. Wilson is undersized, which limits him when he is asked to take on climbing guards and centers in the run game.”
Who Would Replace Wilson if He Leaves?
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Assuming for a moment that Minnesota does not prioritize re-signing Wilson — that would be weird — it may not rely on the draft for his replacement, unless the club uses a Round 1 draft pick on Ohio State’s Sonny Styles, for example.
That would leave the Wilson replacement looking something like this from free agency:
Devin Bush
Leo Chenal
Nakobe Dean
Kaden Elliss
Kenneth Murray
Quay Walker
Devin White
Quincy Williams
Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal (54) runs onto the field during pregame introductions ahead of a matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The defender took part in the Chiefs’ opening ceremonies before kickoff in a divisional contest. Oct 19, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA: Chenal sprinted onto the field during introductions. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images.
The Vikings could also explore re-signing Pace Jr., hoping that his tackling woes could be rectified over the summer.
Other notable linebackers from April’s draft include C.J. Allen (Georgia), Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas), Jake Golday (Cincinnati), Jacob Rogdriguez (Texas Tech), and Josiah Trotter (Missouri).
U.S. men’s hockey team players arrived in the House Chamber for President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night.
Trump introduced the team, and it received a round of applause from those in attendance.
Players wore USA sweaters with their gold medals around their necks.
Members of the United States’ men’s Olympic hockey team attend as President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
The chamber broke out in “U-S-A” chants.
“They beat a fantastic Canadian team in overtime as everybody saw, as did the American women who will soon be coming to the White House,” he said.
During the address, Trump said he would honor goaltender Connor Hellebuyck with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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Some players were unable to attend with NHL commitments about to ramp up again. But others were in Washington to visit the president at the White House before the event began. Players traveled to D.C. from Miami after they celebrated their gold medal victory at the Winter Olympics.
Several gold medalists took photos with Trump. Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk even let the president wear his gold medal in a lighthearted moment in the Oval Office.
Connor Hellebuyck on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, after President Donald Trump announced he will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
“I’m not giving it back,” the president joked.
Trump invited the team to the State of the Union address Sunday night as they were celebrating in the locker room after their 2-1 win over Canada. FBI Director Kash Patel put Trump on speakerphone.
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“I’ll tell you what. I just told my people two minutes ago, I didn’t know they’d be calling. I said we’re giving the State of the Union speech on Tuesday night,” Trump said. “I can send a military plane or something, but if you would like to, it’s the coolest night, it’s the biggest speech.”
One player cut off Trump and said, “We’re in.”
“We’ll get Kash, and we’ll get the military to get you guys over,” Trump continued. “You won’t have to worry about the weather or landing. We don’t care if it’s snowing or if it’s the worst blizzard.We’ll be sailing through like you did on the ice.”
Jack Hughes poses for a photo with Team USA members Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
The Magpies completed a 9-3 aggregate play-off victory over Azerbaijan champions Qarabag with a 3-2 second leg win at St James’ Park to ensure six Premier League teams will be involved in the next stage.
And ahead of next month’s showdown with either Barcelona or Chelsea – the draw will be made on Friday – Howe is confident his side has what it takes to go even further.
He said: “We want to go as far as we can and why not? I think we’re good enough to do it.
“That’s the great thing now in our season. There’s a positive feel that whoever we get in the next round, it will be an amazing tie for us.
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“I believe that we can raise our game and compete with anybody. That’s what we’re going to have to do whoever we get, but I just think it’s a massive thing for us to give our season an extra boost to get through this knockout phase and then into the next one.
“That’s the mindset we have to have. We have to believe in ourselves. I think we’ve seen the best of ourselves this year when we’ve gone into cup games and one-off games where we’ve been able to really rise to whatever challenge we’ve had in front of us.”
It is the first time the Magpies have reached the business end of the competition in their four attempts and represents significant progress on the European front during a campaign which has not always gone as they might have hoped domestically.
If their progression was a foregone conclusion before kick-off following their 6-1 rout in Baku last week, any hopes of a Qarabag fightback were put to bed within six minutes of kick-off when Sandro Tonali and then Joelinton struck in quick succession.
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Camilo Duran and Elvin Jafarguliyev scored after the break as the visitors made a much better fist of things than they had on their own pitch, but Sven Botman’s header in between ultimately ensured victory on the night for the hosts.
Howe said: “It’s a massive achievement for us to get to the last 16. I don’t care who you play at this stage, it’s a tough draw and we did the majority of the work in the away game. But we’ve come through really well and today.
“We were able to rotate our squad to a degree with mixed success. I don’t think it was a great performance, but I’m really pleased that we won.”
Qarabag coach Gurban Gurbanov was happy to see his players give a better account of themselves than they had done last week.
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Gurbanov said: “I would like to thank my players because they had a long Champions League campaign. In short, I would like to say I am very satisfied with their game because their performance was great.”
Agustín Pizá doesn’t watch the news. To preserve his peace of mind, the golf course architect largely ignores the ceaseless churn of headlines, keeping up instead by stealing glances at select social feeds. Sports are the exception.
“I follow them because they focus on success stories,” Pizá told GOLF.com by phone.
On rare occasions, though, events intrude. This past Sunday morning was one of them.
Pizá was in Puerto Vallarta, where he keeps an office and apartment, wrapping up a work trip that included site visits to two ongoing projects. With a noon flight scheduled, he wasn’t in a rush. Easing out of bed, he pulled back the curtains. No more than 600 feet away, columns of black smoke darkened the sky above the city.
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“At first I thought it was an accident,” he said. “But it almost looked like a war zone.”
His news blackout was about to end. Pizá scanned his phone, which buzzed with worried messages from family and friends, then fumbled with the TV remote.
“I do that so infrequently, it took me a while to find the channel,” he said.
The story was coming into focus. A military operation had killed the country’s most-wanted drug lord, triggering cartel retaliation. Buses and businesses were torched. Clashes erupted between security forces and suspected gang members. Dozens were reported dead. The city was placed in lockdown. Pizá’s flight was canceled.
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That was inconvenient. It was also the least of his concerns.
“This is really a one-off incident for Puerto Vallarta,” he said. “Anyone who has been here knows it’s one of the coolest, safest, friendliest places you can go. But it’s unfortunate because in the end Mexico lives off tourism.”
For Puerto Vallarta, the stakes are particularly high. The metropolitan area is home to roughly 500,000 people and has been a major international destination since the 1960s. Tourism is the region’s economic engine, and golf is one of the pistons.
The stretch of coastline along Banderas Bay, running north toward Punta Mita, is a mosaic of jungle, mountain and ocean, a varied landscape that Pizá regards as a uniquely compelling canvas for golf. The region’s portfolio ranges from the moody mountain corridors of Vista Vallarta Club de Golf to the coastal resort that hosts the PGA Tour’s VidantaWorld Mexico Open, just across the river in Nayarit.
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For Pizá, the connection is personal as well as professional. Born and raised in Tijuana and now based in San Diego with his wife and three children, he has straddled the border in both life and work. He opened his Puerto Vallarta office in 2006 in conjunction with a commission as project manager on the Bahía Course, a Jack Nicklaus Signature design in Punta Mita. The office now employs eight people and serves as a hub for projects across Mexico, Latin America and Europe. Pizá’s San Diego office handles stateside projects.
In industry circles, Pizá is regarded as a creative thinker inclined toward unconventional concepts. Among his more out-of-the-box projects is the Butterfly Effect, a 24-hole layout-in-the-making in the Coahuila Desert divided into four six-hole loops that can played independently. Among everyday golf fans, he gained wider notice with the launch of TGL, the tech-driven league founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
In that virtual arena, his holes have stood out for their whimsy. One is modeled on a cenote, a water-filled limestone cavern; its fairway is a tapered, concave platform. Another, called “Temple,” looks like what you might get if Alister MacKenzie had collaborated with the Aztecs. If you have watched the likes of Justin Thomas or Rickie Fowler trying to plot their way around those fantastical settings, you have seen Pizá’s imagination at work.
On Monday, with parts of the city still shuttered and his Puerto Vallarta office closed, TGL offered a welcome outlet. Pizá stayed inside and tuned in as the simulator league aired on television, watching players take on challenges he’d helped conceive.
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“If it wasn’t for TGL,” he said, “I’m not sure what I’d be doing.”
By Tuesday, authorities had lifted restrictions, the airport had reopened and his flight was rebooked. The smoke had cleared. In Puerto Vallarta, at least, the immediate crisis appeared contained.
Pizá is careful not to dismiss what happened. He recognizes how jarring it must look from afar, and he knows there will be short-term consequences for locals whose livelihoods depend on visitation.
“I’m thinking about restaurateurs, hotel workers, caddies,” he said. “I’m sure they’re going to feel it.”
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At the same time, Pizá pushes back against broad-brush conclusions. When such clashes erupt, he said, tourists are not typically the intended targets. The violence tends to be a show of force between authorities and criminal groups before it recedes. Still, images travel, violent images especially. Context, by contrast, travels slowly.
Pizá tries to provide that to anyone who’ll listen. When friends ask if Mexico is dangerous, he often responds with a question of his own.
“Are you going to be buying guns or drugs?” he said. “If not, you’ll be fine.”
Risk, he said, is not unique to any single country. When bad things happen, they are more often the exception than the rule. But he also knows that perceptions can be stubborn, and that perceptions matter.
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“I don’t want to minimize what happened,” he said. “But Puerto Vallarta is going to recover a lot more quickly than people expect.”
On Tuesday, with his flight rebooked, Pizá could already see a city getting back on its feet. His Puerto Vallarta office had reopened, and though he’d given his staff the option to stay home, every one of them came in.
Nearby, at Marina Vallarta Golf Club, a public-access layout tucked along the bay, the fairways told a similar story. Pizá stopped by and chatted with the general manager. They’d already done 200 rounds that day and were handing out free margaritas.
His trip home was uneventful. The airport was busy but orderly. His noon flight lifted off on schedule, and when it touched down in San Diego, the passengers cheered.
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Pizá said he was glad to be home, too. He’d make a quick stop at the office, then on to his family. But his thoughts were already drifting south.
“I’ll be back in Puerto Vallarta in three weeks,” he said. “I can’t wait.”
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell walks the field during pregame preparations ahead of a divisional matchup with the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Minnesota leader oversaw final warmups as players completed their routines before kickoff. Dec 16, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA: O’Connell prepared his team on the home field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings aren’t making it very mysterious: a different quarterback is on the way. It’s just a matter of who, with free agency less than two weeks away, and what role that man will hold in relation to J.J. McCarthy, the QB1 from 2025. Head coach Kevin O’Connell spoke to reporters Tuesday, explaining that his mindset about McCarthy as the long-term QB1 has changed since 2024, mainly because the timeline is different.
McCarthy still sits in front, yet the language points to a shorter leash and a more serious veteran hedge this offseason.
It feels like Minnesota must win now, and McCarthy may not be the safest option to achieve that mission.
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What O’Connell’s Word Choice Signals about McCarthy
Another day, another noncommittal quip about McCarthy.
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell addresses reporters during media availability at the NFL Scouting Combine inside the Indiana Convention Center. The head coach discussed roster outlook and offseason priorities as Minnesota evaluated upcoming draft decisions. Feb 25, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA: O’Connell spoke publicly while the Vikings prepared for another critical offseason period. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
O’Connell on McCarthy
Reporters asked O’Connell if he still views McCarthy as a franchise quarterback, two words he used freely two years ago, and O’Connell replied affirmatively, adding, “It’s just the timeline is in a different place for all of us than it was in the summer of 2024. And I have a responsibility — we have a responsibility collectively as we put together this team — to make sure that we use the data that we have at this time and the experiences we have.”
If you’re McCarthy, that update is the very definition of bittersweet.
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Interim GM Rob Brzezinski Weighs In
When asked about the Vikings’ offseason quarterback plan, Brzezinski aligned on the same page as O’Connell.
“We’re exploring every option that can be out there. What we do know is we need a level of baseline quarterback play for us to be effective,” he replied.
“A lot of this has been J.J. in unfortunate situations with some of the injuries and things that he’s dealt with, but we’re going to explore every opportunity, and I don’t think there’s anything specifically we’re looking for. We can’t manufacture anything that’s not there. So, No. 1, what are the options? Is it reciprocal? Is it financially doable? All those things. There’s just a lot of factors that go into it.”
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Brzezinski also said of his franchise’s new decision-making structure: “We have to have protocol in place, and so the owners have asked me to handle that responsibility if that would occur. But our intent is to have complete and total collaboration … and I think the decisions are going to be pretty easy to make.”
None of that screams extreme loyalty to McCarthy.
An Acknowledgement That There’s No Time to Develop McCarthy?
What exactly does O’Connell’s remark mean?
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It’s just the timeline is in a different place for all of us than it was in the summer of 2024.
In August 2024, Minnesota had drafted McCarthy four months prior, and there was no reason to believe his torn meniscus would spiral into a high ankle sprain, concussion, and broken hand the following season. The guy had no major injury history in high school or college, and in fact, drafting the “healthy guy,” as opposed to Michael Penix Jr., for example, seemed like the wise choice. Almost two years later, McCarthy and Penix Jr. have battled major injuries.
Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell review selections behind the scenes during the club’s 2024 NFL Draft process. The draft class included first-round picks J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner as Minnesota reshaped its roster. Apr 25, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA: Team leadership worked through decisions during draft operations. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
The timeline may be referring to McCarthy’s health and how it jibes with an alleged Super Bowl window. Former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah constructed his competitive rebuild process for Minnesota to aim for a Super Bowl in 2025 and 2026 — if one assumed that McCarthy would pan out.
Instead, the Vikings traded away the quarterback who would later win the Super Bowl, Sam Darnold, while this offseason wondering whether McCarthy would develop into a dependable starter.
In short, O’Connell likely feels the heat to win now or risk losing his job. That’s the real timeline. Minnesota hired him in 2022, and through four seasons, he reached the postseason twice and won no playoff games. Regarding playoff success, it’s go-time for O’Connell. He can’t bet it all on McCarthy.
All Bets off at QB
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Earlier in the offseason, ESPN reported that “all bets were off” on McCarthy’s future, meaning the club wouldn’t tie its success to him alone. In theory, they could call about big-fish trades for players like Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, or Justin Herbert. They could explore the availability of Kyler Murray and Mac Jones. They could add a veteran like Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins, Derek Carr, or Geno Smith.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) warms up on the field while wearing a WVB bow tie patch honoring late owner William V. Bidwill before kickoff. The quarterback completed pregame routines ahead of the home contest. Oct 13, 2019; Glendale, Arizona, USA: Murray prepared for action while honoring the longtime Cardinals owner. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-Arizona Republic via Imagn Content Services, LLC.
Every single one of those alternatives feels realistic, especially after the comments from O’Connell and Brzezinski at the Combine. McCarthy will probably be on the roster, but it’s a safe assumption that he’ll fight for the QB1 job — like Anthony Richardson versus Daniel Jones in Indianapolis last summer.
