Spain has announced World Cup squad, which includes no Real Madrid players. Bruno Génésio is leaving LOSC. In Italy, AC Milan is undergoing a major shake-up following its disastrous end to the season. 

The second-ranked Texas Longhorns softball team clinched the Austin Super Regional and earned a trip Women’s College World Series, with a 5-0 win over Arizona State on Sunday. But the victory was overshadowed by an explicit hot mic moment.

ESPN microphones picked up an unidentified person whispering obscene remarks after Texas pitcher Teagan Kavan got ahead 1-0 against the opposing batter.

A male voice was then heard over the microphone directing listeners — and likely viewers — to lick a specific part of his anatomy, video showed.

The remark, however, did not seem to distract play-by-play announcer Kevin Brown, who continued the broadcast without acknowledging it.

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A general view of Red & Charline McCombs Field in Austin, Texas, before the SEC college softball game between Texas Longhorns and Tennessee Volunteers on April 12, 2025. (David Buono/Icon Sportswire)

“You’re going to compete for national championships as an assistant, and then they’re going to send you off,” Brown said while discussing Arizona State manager Megan Bartlett’s track record of developing assistants.

UMPIRE CURSES HIMSELF OUT ON HOT MIC AFTER MISSING CALL

Sunday’s moment was just one of several surprising developments leading up to the tournament.

An Arizona State Sun Devils softball helmet is shown during a college softball game between the CSUN Matadors and Arizona State Sun Devils at Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium in Tempe, Ariz., on Feb. 10, 2019. (Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire)

A celebration involving former NBA star Jason Williams and his daughter, Mia, led to Williams’ ejection during Texas Tech’s game against Florida over the weekend.

Mia hit a two-run homer to help push the Red Raider past the Gators, her former team, last Friday.

NCAA signage is displayed before the Division II women’s softball championship game between the UT Tyler Patriots and Western Washington Vikings at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood, Fla., on May 25, 2024. (Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

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Texas will take on the Tennessee Volunteers on Thursday in the double-elimination round of the Women’s College World Series.

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Captain Dean Henderson has challenged Crystal Palace to “finish the movie off” when their Conference League final brings down the curtain on Oliver Glasner’s glittering spell in south London.

The Austrian manager has already guided the Eagles to an historic FA Cup and a Community Shield, and on Wednesday night in Leipzig could leave Palace with the ultimate parting gift, should they beat Rayo Vallecano and require even more room in their trophy cabinet.

Henderson inherited the armband following Marc Guehi’s January departure to Manchester City, and, despite admitting to feeling “depressed” during the post-FA Cup comedown, wants nothing more than to polish off a “sensational” script for his departing boss.

“The togetherness in this group is phenomenal,” said the England goalkeeper. “All the lads are pushing in the right direction for each other. All the staff at the training ground, everyone.

“It’s just like a family club. We’re all pushing towards the same end goal. Obviously, it would be a great way to finish the movie off for Glasner as well. Everyone wants that happy ending and everyone’s working towards that.

“It’d be unbelievable for him, wouldn’t it? Obviously the best manager this club’s ever had and to finish on such a high would be sensational.”

Henderson was instrumental in Palace’s 2025 FA Cup triumph over Manchester City, saving Omar Marmoush’s first-half penalty in their 1-0 win at Wembley, where they secured their first major silverware and a proper European campaign.

The passionate and popular skipper is candid about how he felt after that day, admitting: “The high to the low. I remember after the FA Cup final, three days after, I didn’t want to get out of bed. I was like, ‘what has gone on here?’

“I swear. I don’t know whether that was alcohol, or… but I actually think it was like, I felt depressed. It was mad. But I don’t know why. I’ve never really spoken about it.”

Henderson admitted Wednesday’s European final has been playing on his mind during the final stages of the campaign.

“Naturally, you’re thinking about it,” he said. “Even for the last couple of weeks, you’re probably thinking, ‘let’s try and win the final’. It’s natural. No one speaks about it. No one speaks about it to each other. It’s just about your individual battles, isn’t it?”

While it remains uncertain who will follow in Glasner’s indelible footprints, when the credits finally roll on Palace’s topsy-turvy campaign, Henderson and his fellow Premier League protagonists want to be holding a trophy.”

He added: “When the tournament’s got real, we’ve turned up haven’t we? We’ve delivered some great performances and some good results, obviously, since we got out of the group stage.

“So, yeah, as I say, we’re looking forward to it. We won’t freeze. We’ll play with no fear and we’ll have confidence.”

Pacer Yash Dayal has finally opened up on missing the ongoing season of the IPL for the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, saying that he is still part of the squad despite his absence this year. Before the start of the season, RCB Director of Cricket Mo Bobat revealed that Dayal would not feature for the Bengaluru side this year due to a “personal situation.” However, the 28-year-old has differed from the explanation given by Bobat regarding his absence from the team this season.

Speaking on the Talk with Manvendra podcast, Dayal revealed that he misses the team and insisted that opting out of the ongoing season was not his decision.

“Obviously, if you are sitting outside. When I watch them on television, sometimes I just get up. But then it is my team, and they haven’t removed me. They kept me on the retain list and didn’t get me a replacement. They probably think that I am an important part. The other thing is that my opting out of this season wasn’t my personal decision. The statement could be controversial, but the decision is always made by the authority. I don’t know what was the reason was behind RCB’s decision. I miss them a lot. I don’t know if the team misses me, the fans will say that,” said Dayal.

Dayal added that he remains in regular contact with the RCB management, including team mentor Dinesh Karthik, despite his absence from the field this season.

“I have been in conversations with the management. I have spoken to the director, and with the coach too, and also Dinesh Karthik. We communicate in intervals, and the connection hasn’t broken. There is no communication gap. Everything is clear and sorted,” he added.

For context, Dayal’s absence is linked to ongoing legal proceedings that have prevented him from returning to competitive cricket. 

The pacer faces allegations of sexual exploitation in one matter, alongside a separate case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The first FIR against 27-year-old Dayal, who plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL, was registered on July 6 at the Indirapuram police station in Ghaziabad district under Section 69 (Sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means etc.) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Dayal has been accused of sexually exploiting a woman on the pretext of marriage.

Regarding the second instance, NDTV accessed the FIR report, which was registered against Dayal at Jaipur’s Sanganer Police Station for allegedly raping a girl over a period of two years while emotionally blackmailing her. It was revealed that Dayal lured her with promises of a cricketing career and invited her to a hotel in Sitapura, where the first sexual assault took place. The girl was only 17 when the abuse began, prompting the police to register the case under the POCSO Act.

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Tushar Deshpande’s Brilliant Final Act Ensures Thrilling Win For RR Over Gujarat Titans

The Garden crowd isn’t ready for this.

The New York Knicks demolished the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93, capping a dominant four-game sweep to reach the franchise’s first NBA Finals since 1999.

The Knicks controlled Game 4 from the opening tip, racing out to a double-digit lead and never allowing Cleveland back into contention.

New York buried 19 of 43 3-pointers while dominating the rebounding battle.

Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks celebrates during the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 25, 2026. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)

OutKick founder Clay Travis summed up Cleveland’s no-show effort perfectly …

“The Cavs just totally quit this series after the fourth-quarter collapse in Game 1. Embarrassing effort since then,” Travis posted on X. “Congrats to the Knicks, party like it’s 1999.”

The blowout capped a stunning collapse for Cleveland, which entered the series viewed by many as the East’s most complete team.

KNICKS STAR JOSH HART LEAVES KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS BEWILDERED WITH HILARIOUS ANALYTICS ANALOGY

With more than eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of Game 4, Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson pulled his starters, effectively conceding the series as the Knicks turned the final minutes into a celebration.

On Sunday, Atkinson told reporters he believed the Cavaliers had “analytically” won two of the first three games. Instead, New York responded with overwhelming physical dominance.

Head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during the third quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 25, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks is defended by James Harden of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the third quarter in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 25, 2026. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Karl-Anthony Towns anchored the interior with 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson orchestrated the offense without committing a turnover.

KNICKS PICK MIKE BROWN AS FRANCHISE’S NEXT HEAD COACH AFTER TOM THIBODEAU’S SHOCKING DISMISSAL: REPORT

Even Donovan Mitchell’s 31-point performance wasn’t enough to keep Cleveland competitive as the Knicks’ defense smothered the Cavaliers’ perimeter attack for the fourth straight game.

The victory also marked New York’s sixth consecutive road playoff win.

The Finals appearance serves as a massive validation for the organization after the Knicks moved on from Tom Thibodeau following last season and hired Mike Brown amid heavy skepticism and immense pressure to win immediately. Under Brown, the Knicks have become the NBA’s hottest team, carrying an undefeated streak of more than a month into the Finals.

New York will now face either the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, which begin June 3.

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The road to the Larry O’Brien Trophy runs through Madison Square Garden.

Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela 

Punjab Kings spent 22 days at the top of the IPL 2026 Points table but still failed to qualify for the Playoffs. The Shreyas Iyer-led side made a dream start to the new season with 6 victories on the trot but ended up losing their next 6 matches while one match was abandoned due to rain. It was such a drop-off in form for the franchise that despite winning their last match against Lucknow Super Giants, they were fifth with 15 points from 14 matches. When it comes to days spent at the top of the table, Royal Challengers Bengaluru were second with 18, Rajasthan Royals third with 13 and Sunrisers Hyderabad fourth with 4. Gujarat Titans were number one in the IPL points table for just one day and ended up finishing in the second position.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s pursuit of back-to-back Indian Premier League (IPL) titles will run into the season’s most disciplined bowling attack when they face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday, with a direct place in the final at stake.

Both teams ended the league stage on 18 points after 14 matches, but RCB claimed the top spot owing to a superior net run rate. Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans have arguably been the two most complete sides of IPL 2026, though they have taken contrasting routes to the playoffs. RCB, under skipper Rajat Patidar, built their campaign around aggressive batting and a far more reliable bowling unit than in previous seasons.

The defending champions repeatedly crossed 200 this season and benefited immensely from the experience of the iconic Virat Kohli at the top and the pace duo of Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar with the ball.

Their ability to win away from home and close out tight matches made them one of the most consistent sides of the league phase. RCB also carry the advantage of recent familiarity with conditions in Dharamsala, where they sealed a crucial win against Punjab Kings earlier this month.

GT, meanwhile, have surged into the playoffs on the back of a formidable bowling attack and a top order that rarely allowed pressure to build. Captain Shubman Gill, the elegant Sai Sudharsan and explosive wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler have provided solidity and firepower in equal measure.

But it is GT’s bowling that has stood out in the second half of the season. The pace trio of Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada and Prasidh Krishna has consistently struck with the new ball, while Rashid Khan and left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore have controlled the middle overs expertly.

GT head into the knockout clash with strong momentum after hammering Chennai Super Kings by 89 runs in their final league game.

(With PTI inputs)

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IPL 2026 | Delhi Capitals Wins By 6 Wickets Against Mumbai Indians: Redemption For Sameer Rizvi

NEW DELHI: The emotions, tears, smiles, satisfaction and the feeling of finally holding the IPL trophy – the scenes of Virat Kohli and the entire Royal Challengers Bengaluru camp after winning the IPL 2025 title are still fresh in the minds of fans. And now, with another dominant campaign, RCB are back in the playoffs and dreaming of back-to-back titles.

With nine wins in 14 matches, 18 points and an impressive net run rate of +0.78, RCB became the first team to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs.

One of the biggest architects behind RCB’s success this season has once again been their talisman Virat Kohli. The former India captain has been in tremendous form throughout the season and the defending champions will hope he carries the same momentum into the playoffs as well.

RCB are set to face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala.

The winner of Qualifier 1 will march directly into the IPL 2026 final, while the losing side will get another opportunity in Qualifier 2 against the winner of the Eliminator between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals.

But there is one statistic that may worry RCB fans.

Despite being one of the greatest batters in IPL history, Kohli does not boast a dominating record in the playoff stages of the tournament.

Yes, you read that right.

In his illustrious IPL career spanning 281 matches, Kohli has played 16 games, in playoffs, for RCB and scored 357 runs at an average of 25.50 and a strike rate of 121.42. He has registered two half-centuries in playoff matches and also has a duck to his name.

Kohli has been the face of RCB since the inception of the IPL in 2008. Signed by the Bengaluru franchise as a youngster, he has remained loyal to the team throughout his IPL journey.

After failing to qualify for the playoffsts in the inaugural season in 2008, RCB reached the playoffs for the first time in 2009. They defeated Chennai Super Kings in the semifinal to enter the final, but eventually lost the title clash to Deccan Chargers.

Now, as RCB gear up for another massive playoffst clash against Gujarat Titans, all eyes will once again be on Kohli.

Here’s a look at Kohli’s overall IPL numbers and his record in the playoff stage.

Virat Kohli in IPL

Virat Kohli in IPL playoffs

Virat Kohli in IPL playoffs – all matches

The Sports Ministry on Tuesday notified the rules of operation for the soon-to-be-formed National Sports Tribunal (NST) and the National Sports Board (NSB), stating that a dedicated portal would be set up for submission of disputes and maintenance of legal records.

In separate notifications addressing the roles of the two bodies, which will be formed under the National Sports Governance Act passed last year, the Sports Ministry reiterated that a search-cum-selection committee is in the process of being formed under the cabinet secretary.

The National Sports Board, that will function as the central authority for granting recognition to National Sports Bodies and ensuring compliance with governance, financial and ethical standards, will comprise a Chairperson and two members. It will have a three-year term.

The Tribunal’s strength has not been specified by the government. The rules for NST, however, have incorporated the provisions for techno-legal measures to ensure “digital implementation”.

“(These include) notification of a dedicated portal by the Central Government for submission of disputes, notices, responses, documents and clarifications, as well as communication from the Tribunal, publication of orders, virtual hearings and maintenance of records related to proceedings and orders,” the ministry stated.

The Tribunal will serve as a dedicated adjudicatory body for sports-related disputes in the country.

“It is aimed at reducing reliance on civil courts and ensuring independent, speedy, effective and cost-efficient disposal of disputes relating to sports governance and administration,” the ministry reiterated.

The government also stated once again that if the appointed Chairperson or member of the Tribunal is a serving judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court, “he shall either resign or obtain voluntary retirement from his parent service before joining the Tribunal.” 
In addition to granting affiliation, the National Sports Board will also maintain a roster of the National Sports Election Panel and a register of affiliate units of the National Sports Bodies 
The Board has also been empowered to specify model guidelines or regulations on sports governance. An age cap of 65 has been set for the members. 

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gives captain Riyan Parag an ‘awkward’ stare (Screengrab)

NEW DELHI: A funny moment between Riyan Parag and teenage Rajasthan Royals star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has gone viral on social media. In a video taken at an airport, paparazzi asked the two players for a photo together. Responding casually, Parag said, “(Hum nahi hai flim star.) We’re not flim stars!” After hearing the comment, Vaibhav gave Parag an awkward and funny stare, which quickly became a talking point online.Watch:The viral clip arrived at a time when Rajasthan Royals secured a playoff spot in IPL 2026 after defeating Mumbai Indians by 30 runs. The team had faced criticism earlier in the season after losing several matches in the middle phase of the tournament, with many fans questioning Parag’s captaincy.Despite the criticism, Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara strongly defended Parag’s leadership. He said, “When we decided to offer Riyan the captaincy, he is the absolute right guy to lead this franchise.” Sangakkara praised Parag’s confidence, maturity, and the respect he has earned inside the dressing room. He also spoke about the trolling Parag has faced over the years, saying, “I think I’ve seen very few players who have been criticised like Riyan has for about seven years now.” Sangakkara added that Parag is misunderstood publicly and described him as “a lovely, soft, gentle, really determined, smart young man.”Meanwhile, 15-year-old Vaibhav continues to impress with a record-breaking season. Speaking on Kevin Pietersen’s YouTube show, the young batter revealed his huge ambitions. “I want to score 200 in T20s. I want to break Gayle’s record,” he said, referring to Chris Gayle’s famous unbeaten 175 in IPL history.Vaibhav has already scored over 580 runs this season with an explosive strike rate, becoming one of IPL 2026’s breakout stars.