Franziska Kett went from hero to villain as Bayern Munich fought back to ensure they will travel to Barcelona for the decisive leg of their Women’s Champions League semi-final all square.

Kett cancelled out Ewa Pajor’s first-half opener at the Allianz Arena, but was then shown a red card for pulling Salma Paralluelo’s hair as a hard-fought first leg ended 1-1 with Bayern having to survive a late onslaught.

Barca were ahead with just eight minutes on the clock when Pajor met Esmee Brugts’ cross with a deft touch to guide the ball past keeper Ena Mahmutovic, although it took a fine save from Cata Coll to keep out Kett’s curling attempt three minutes before the break.

Brugts was denied a second for the visitors by a post and Patri Guijarro had a header cleared off the goal-line before Claudia Pina’s follow-up was saved, but the hosts were back on terms with 69 minutes gone when Kett beat Cata Coll.

Kett’s evening ended in disgrace with 11 minutes remaining and Mahmutovic had to be at her best to repel Mapi Leon’s piledriver at the end.

Defending champions Arsenal face eight-time winners Lyon in Sunday’s semi-final.

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In March, things appeared dicey for Aaron Jones and the Minnesota Vikings.

Word had circulated that the team was going to move on, but there was an 11^th-hour resolution where the veteran agreed to a pay cut to stick around the Twin Cities. The veteran is back for a minimum of one more season.

I spoke with Jones at the Vikings’ draft part at U.S. Bank Stadium. Naturally, the conversation worked into the 2026 NFL Draft. What was his message to those who were being drafted late? How do you have a ten-year career, become a starter, and go to the Pro Bowl? Aaron Jones has done all of those things.

Check out some of his response: “It’s make the most of every opportunity. That opportunity could be an opportunity to get into the cold tub, the opportunity to get in a hyperbaric chamber, extra stretching session. Just maximizing your resources that are there for you.”

Aaron Jones Offers a Message to the Rookies

Sometimes, players (and coaches) fall victim to standard football lingo.

Everyone talks about being tough, working hard, and being a team-first player. Some of that is worked into the Jones answer, but I tend to trust his sincerity. And, to be sure, the proof is in the pudding. Not the fastest, the largest, nor the highest picked, Jones has been in the NFL since going in the 5^th of the 2017 NFL Draft. Clearly, he has something figured out.

His ideas about the young fellas taking care of their body makes sense. Note that he’s talking about that as someone who is in his early 30s and not his early 20s. Maybe some of that insight has been hard earned, but the point remains that the incoming talent would be wise to soak it up from the start of their careers.

What’s also of note from his answer was his emphasis on the NFL being a business. Again, that’s the sort of saying that’s so general and overused that it has been hollowed of its meaning, but he offered further clarity to add nice insight to what he means.

Per Jones, the rookies are “always being evaluated, whether [they] know it or not.” That much is obvious when they’re in practice or playing in a game, but it goes beyond that. The way these guys carry themselves in the building matters. In meetings, it’s vital to be able to demonstrate an understanding of one’s responsibilities within specific plays. Doing so builds trust from the coaches – key to getting onto the field – while proving that work is being done to digest the playbook.

Kick it over to Aaron Jones for these precise ideas: “Even when you’re sitting in the meeting room, and they ask you a question, I’m going to show them that I’m ready, I’ve been in my playbook.” Further from Jones: “I feel like a lot of it comes down to trust.”

Being able to “show your value” is what’s now needed from the incoming talent, especially with the margin being thinner for a late-round player than a 1^st-Round player.

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Think of things this way. Tearing it up in college means earning a ticket to get into the NFL. Now that the rookies have done so, there’s now a new challenge, something else that needs to be earned. Being in the NFL is just the beginning; the focus now turns toward earning a roster spot alongside a job on Sunday. That could be on specials or possibly by getting worked into either of offense or defense. Some may even work into the starting lineup.

Aaron Jones, 31, is coming back in 2026 as a co-favorite to be the Vikings’ top running back (Jordan Mason is competing with him). At the very least, he’ll be an excellent option on 3^rd down as one of the NFL’s most underrated receiving backs. He’s a strong pass blocker and can still move the ball on the ground, so he helps keep the Vikings unpredictable.

Rookies would do well to follow the veteran’s example, mirroring his habits to arrive at a better chance of overcoming the modest expectations that are imposed on Day 3 players.

The 2026 NFL Draft finishes off today.

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Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

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Iga Swiatek’s struggles continued with a tearful withdrawal during her third-round match against Ann Li at the Madrid Open.

The former world number one, who is yet to advance beyond the quarter-finals at any event this season, revealed afterwards she is battling a virus and she had her temperature and blood pressure checked after losing the opening two games of the deciding set.

After taking pills, Swiatek initially continued, but she looked lethargic and pulled the plug trailing American Li 6-7 (4) 6-2 0-3 0-30 before walking off the court in tears.

“The last two days were pretty terrible,” said the Pole. “I think I have some virus.

“It’s been some hours fine, some hours pretty bad. I heard there is something going on between players, that the virus is somewhere on site. I’m sure I’ll be fine in a couple of days, but I had zero energy.

“I just felt really bad physically, and yesterday, even worse. I thought maybe today it’s going to be better – maybe it was, but not enough to play a match.”

Swiatek looked to have turned the contest around after losing a tight opening set but it was no surprise when she called it a day given her demeanour in the third set.

Asked if she considered not taking to the court at all, the fourth seed said: “I knew that it was going to be hard but I still wanted to try.

“In the third set I started feeling a little bit dizzy and not really coordinated. I couldn’t really drink anything because I just felt like I’m full constantly, and the energy went down drastically.”

Swiatek will now focus on recovering before turning her thoughts to the Italian Open in Rome next month, where she will hope to find form under new coach Francisco Roig ahead of Roland Garros.

“It’s sad for me that I can’t play because I was feeling really good with my game, and I was moving forward in the process,” she said.

“The tournament has just started. I couldn’t even compete today, so it’s disappointing.”

It has also been a difficult season for two-time grand slam finalist Jasmine Paolini and she crashed out in the third round, losing 7-5 6-3 to American Hailey Baptiste.

In the men’s singles, second seed Alexander Zverev dropped a set against Argentina’s Mariano Navone but recovered to claim a 6-1 3-6 6-3 victory.

The German potentially stands to benefit the most from the news Carlos Alcaraz will not play at the French Open because of a wrist injury, with Zverev set to be elevated to second seed in Paris.

But the 28-year-old, who lost an epic semi-final to Alcaraz at the Australian Open in January, insisted he takes no pleasure in the Spaniard’s absence, saying: “It’s sad for tennis.

“As he said himself, he’s so young and his career will be so, so long and I think that’s what he’s looking out for. Of course, it’s never nice if he’s missing at big tournaments, I think we need him, tennis is more exciting with him, for sure.

“In my opinion, to win a major, you have to beat the best players in the world. Of course, the last couple of months Jannik (Sinner) has been the best player and he’s obviously still there and he’s the heavy favourite now.

“I don’t want them to not be there. I’m still going to compete my hardest and I’m still going to try to win the tournament, but having them there is the better thing.”

Defending champion Casper Ruud raced to a 6-0 6-1 win over Spain’s Jaume Munar while third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime is also through to the third round.

Pep Guardiola paid tribute to plucky Southampton after Manchester City scraped into a fourth successive FA Cup final with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory at Wembley.

A slow-burner of a semi-final came alive 11 minutes from time when Finn Azaz put the second-tier Saints on course for a shock win by curling home a sublime goal.

Yet that served only to spark City into action and substitute Jeremy Doku quickly equalised with a deflected strike before Nico Gonzalez won it with an 87th-minute piledriver.

“I never thought it would be easy,” said City boss Guardiola, who made eight changes to the team which won 1-0 at Burnley in midweek

“The energy we had second half with Jeremy and Savinho, for example, and other players, if they start from the beginning they would not have this energy.

“The first half was not bad. We didn’t concede much. In the second half we played in the level that we played in Burnley.

“Unfortunately we are not clinical enough and you have to wait. A holding midfielder made an outstanding goal.

“How many times in the second half did Southampton cross halfway? One. And what a goal. Football is unpredictable.

“That is why sometimes it is nice and sometimes it is, ‘oh my God’. Big credit to the way they defended and how they played.

“The team in the second half was really exceptional and created chance after chance. Football is like this. We equalised with a deflection.”

City will face Chelsea or Leeds in the final on May 16 and remain on course for a domestic treble.

Guardiola, whose side slipped back to second place in the Premier League table following Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Newcastle, will not contemplate that prospect until the final game of the season.

The Spaniard has given his players three days off ahead of a trip to Everton a week on Monday.

“It’s far away,” he said of the treble. “Before the Aston Villa game (on May 24), that night I will tell you if there is a chance. Now it’s far, far away.

“Now it’s important we have three days off for the players. I told them don’t think about football, rest.

“Now we start a season for five games, plus the final of the FA Cup.”

Southampton were briefly dreaming of emulating their 1976 FA Cup win on the 50th anniversary of that triumph.

The promotion-chasing Saints, who came into the contest on a 20-match unbeaten run, also had a first-half finish from Leo Scienza disallowed due to offside.

Head coach Tonda Eckert said: “Over big parts of the game, (it was an) outstanding performance from the boys.

“In these games you’re not going to have a lot of moments, you know that you always get a couple. We have a very big one in the first half, it’s a very tight decision and then we had a couple in the second half.

“We had a look how they scored their goals this season and there are not too many goals they scored from outside the box so far. Unfortunately, it was two today.

“I think we’ve done absolutely everything to represent this football club in the best way possible today.

“Obviously we wanted to give the supporters a final here at Wembley. We were very close, so I think it’s quite natural that there is a good sense of disappointment straight after the game.”

Manchester City are going to Wembley, again. City will return here on 16 May to meet either Chelsea or Leeds in what will be their fourth successive FA Cup final. If all goes to plan in these final weeks, in this strange crescendo of a season, it will be the second piece in a treble of trophies for Pep Guardiola’s side.

On a warm, hazy evening in London, City won this semi-final 2-1 but only after coming through an almighty scare against Southampton, who came desperately close to a memorable upset. Saints had soaked up waves of pressure before hitting City with a late suckerpunch when Finn Azaz spun and swept a beautifully arcing shot into the top corner of James Trafford’s goal.

Southampton’s half of the stadium went off, and anything that could be launched into the air went in the air: balloons, hats, scarves, limbs. But the elation didn’t last. Jeremy Doku’s deflected shot brought City level three minutes later, before Nico Gonzalez thundered in City’s winner from long range.

It was the right result on the balance of play and yet Southampton will go away feeling they had a famous win snatched away, in this place, in this year of all years, 50 years after Bobby Stokes’s goal beat Manchester United to win the 1976 FA Cup, the club’s only major trophy in 140 years.

Saints’ rearguard action was immaculate up to those final minutes. The captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis thwarted City with tackles and blocks, Caspar Jander spoiled their midfield patterns, Leo Scienza was excellent down the left and goalkeeper Daniel Peretz made a series of crucial saves.

In those brief moments when the score read 1-0, it felt like they really might make history rhyme half a century later. Southampton pushed this second-string City side right to the brink, so much so that Guardiola sent for Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva from the bench.

Guardiola had taken a risk rotating out many of his best players. Southampton were the country’s in-form team coming into the game, on a 20-game unbeaten run under young German manager Tonda Eckert. They had knocked out Arsenal in the quarter-finals, and this semi-final had a sense of possibility right from the start.

Oddly, Saints stirred to life after 12 minutes when they scored a disallowed goal. Scienza was quite clearly offside, but this was one of those moments when the assistant doesn’t flag until the scorer is celebrating in the corner and fans at the far end of the stadium are embracing strangers around them in delirium.

Yet when they finally came back to Earth, it was as if Southampton – both players and fans – now felt unbridled belief. This is half the battle in these imbalanced games: City should beat a Championship team nine times out of 10, but if you can survive the first 20 minutes, if you can show a little ambition, if you can offer a threat, then slowly a confidence begins to rise to the surface and everyone inside the stadium can feel it.

A set-piece whistles past outstretched Southampton toes and fans gasp. Phil Foden has the ball pinched from his feet and they cheer. Rayan Ait-Nouri can’t keep a heavy pass in play and the south half of Wembley roars like their team have scored the opening goal.

There were naturally some nervy moments to evade. Mateo Kovacic slalomed through Saints’ low block, but then did something a player who has played 13 minutes of Premier League football all season is likely to do when they enter the six-yard box for the first time in nine months, belting the ball as hard as he could without much thought. It blew away for a goal-kick and Kovacic gestured at his teammates like this was somehow their fault.

Omar Marmoush fired a low shot which Peretz repelled with his boots, and Foden wriggled into the area before being shut down as he tried to shoot. Southampton reached half-time all square but City’s pressure turned into an onslaught after the break. Marmoush jabbed over the bar from eight yards, then couldn’t get a touch on a low cross with the goal gaping, the sort of opportunity Haaland would have surely relished. On the touchline, Guardiola went apoplectic with his stand-in striker.

Saints sank deeper and deeper so that all 11 players were regularly inside their own box, which made sporadic attempts to counterattack all the more difficult. A goal was surely coming, and then it did: Saints strung some passes upfield where Azaz swivelled on the ball, 25 yards out, and bent a shot around Trafford’s diving hand.

But soon Doku was shimmying on the edge of the box and his low shot took a deflection off James Bree’s thigh past Peretz into the far corner. It was a cruel way to concede but a fair reward for City’s relentless pressure through the second half.

City went in for the kill and when the ball rolled out to Gonzalez, 30 yards from goal, he arrowed home a magnificent winner. And perhaps therein lies the difference: Southampton battled gamely all evening, and then a £50m player City barely use smashed the ball into the top corner.

World number two Nelly Korda saw her lead at the LPGA Chevron Championship cut to five shots despite equalling the event’s 54-hole scoring record.

After shooting two rounds of 65 on previous days, the 27-year-old American went round in 70 on Saturday to go 16 under par at Houston’s Memorial Park.

If Korda can get over the line on Sunday and win a second Chevron title in three seasons, it would take her to the top of the world rankings after the current world number one, Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul, missed the cut.

Korda got off to a fine start too, with four birdies on the opening six holes but failed to break par on any more holes as she lacked precision on the greens.

“The front nine was great,” said Korda, who said she was going to spend time on the putting greens before Sunday’s final round of the first women’s major of 2026.

“Just got to reset and hopefully it goes my way tomorrow,” she added.

Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit hit a 69 so was able to claw back a shot and reduce Korda’s overnight six-stroke lead to five, despite a bogey on the 13th – her first of the tournament.

She sits on 11 under heading into the final day.

Pauline Bouchard of France is a further shot behind, alongside China’s Yin Ruoning, who scored a bogey-free 66, the joint-best round of the day.

Korda’s 54-hole score of 200 put her level with record holder Jennifer Kupcho, who was the third-round leader on 200 in 2022 – she went on to win by two strokes.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi appeared to be in considerable pain and had to be helped off the field after suffering an injury scare during Rajasthan Royals’ IPL 2026 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday. The incident occurred during SRH’s chase of 229 runs, after Sooryavanshi’s brilliant century had helped RR post a formidable total. In the third over of the SRH chase, Sooryavanshi was running after a shot from Ishan Kishan when he suddenly slowed down and clutched his hamstring. He appeared to be in intense pain, and the team physio assisted him off the field.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is off the field due to injury! #IPL2026 #RRvSRH pic.twitter.com/LTce02epAE

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— Rahul Yadav (@Rahul3kr) April 25, 2026

➡️ FIRST : Ayush Mhatre already ruled out from IPL 2026 due to hamstring injury.

➡️ NOW : Vaibhav Sooryavanshi out off the field due to hamstring cramp. pic.twitter.com/jV3ZV89rfK

— Maina Singh (@Maina_Singhx77) April 25, 2026

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Earlier, following a whirlwind second Indian Premier League (IPL) century, Rajasthan Royals’ 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became both the youngest and fastest player to reach the 1,000-run mark in T20 cricket.

During the clash between two potential playoff contenders, Sooryavanshi wreaked havoc on the bowlers, powering his way to a 37-ball 103, which included five fours and 12 sixes at a staggering strike rate of 278.38.

He is the youngest player to reach 1,000 T20 runs at the age of 15 and also the fastest to the milestone in terms of balls faced, achieving the feat in just 473 balls. This puts him ahead of Australian rising star Mitchell Owen (533 balls) and late Australian legend Andrew Symonds (558 balls).

Sooryavanshi reached the milestone in his 26th innings, making him the fourth-fastest batter to 1,000 T20 runs in terms of innings played. Australian batters Brad Hodge and Shaun Marsh remain the fastest, having reached the milestone in just 23 innings.

Of the 1,069 batters who have aggregated 1,000 runs in T20s to date, Sooryavanshi is the only one with a 200-plus strike rate (212.2).

He is also the first uncapped batter to score two IPL centuries.

Additionally, he brought up his half-century in just 15 balls, marking his third IPL fifty in 15 balls or fewer. In doing so, he surpassed Australia’s Jake Fraser-McGurk, who had registered two such half-centuries during the 2024 season with Delhi Capitals.

With his 12 sixes in the innings, Sooryavanshi overtook Chennai Super Kings and India legend Murali Vijay, who had hit 11 sixes against the same opposition back in 2010.

In eight innings this season, Sooryavanshi has scored 357 runs at an average of 44.62 and a strike rate of 234.86, including one century and two half-centuries. At the time of writing, he holds the Orange Cap for most runs in the tournament.

Rajasthan Royals will need to defend their total of 229 runs to register their fifth win of the season, while SRH must chase down the target to secure their own fifth victory. Sooryavanshi (103 off 37 balls, with five fours and 12 sixes) and Dhruv Jurel (51 off 35 balls, with eight fours and a six) put their foot on the accelerator with a 112-run partnership. A late cameo from Donovan Ferreira (33 off 13 balls, with three fours and three sixes) helped RR finish strongly.

Eshan Malinga (2/38) was the pick of the bowlers for Sunrisers Hyderabad, while Pat Cummins, Praful Hinge, Sakib Hussain, and Nitish Kumar Reddy picked up a wicket each. However, Sakib proved expensive, conceding 62 runs in his spell

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

Terence Crawford has named the opponent he would “love” to see Gervonta Davis face upon his expected return to the sport.

The former world champion has not fought since March 2025, when many believed he was fortunate to come away with a draw against Lamont Roach.

Nevertheless, ‘Tank’ retained his WBA lightweight title and was set to face Roach in an immediate rematch, only to then negotiate an exhibition match with Jake Paul.

Rather than having a move around with the YouTuber-turned-boxer, though, Davis was forced to face allegations of domestic violence from his ex-partner, Courtney Rossel.

Since then, the 31-year-old has been named ‘champion in recess’ by the WBA, who have been urged by No.1 contender Floyd Schofield to either order their fight or present him with a vacant title opportunity.

Davis, however, has expressed more of an interest in rematching Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz at 140lbs, despite having outpointed the Mexican in 2021.

Crawford, meanwhile, has little desire to see ‘Tank’ face Schofield or Cruz, but would happily sit down and watch him collide with Shakur Stevenson.

Speaking with Danielle Pirrello, ‘Bud’ named the WBO world super-lightweight champion a perfect opponent for Davis, believing their potential encounter represents one of the best fights that can be made.

“I would love to see Shakur vs ‘Tank’ Davis.”

Stevenson has previously called out Davis on several occasions, while perhaps becoming increasingly doubtful that the Baltimore man will ever sign on the dotted line.

It is therefore unrealistic to expect an immediate fight between ‘Tank’ and Stevenson, especially after the latter’s dominant performance against Teofimo Lopez in January.

WNBA star Angel Reese appeared on Michelle Obama’s podcast earlier this week and opened up about feeling mistreated by fans and the media with the former first lady.

At one point during the interview, Reese admitted she would rather take a fine than speak to reporters after games.

“The media has not always been great for me. And I’ll take a fine. I’ll catch a fine, especially in a WNBA. I’ll have a fine before I have to go to media and feel like my back is against the wall,” Reese said, while Obama repeatedly expressed agreement.

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WNBA players are required by their collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which was just ratified weeks ago so players can get higher salaries, to be available to the media after games.

Failure to adhere to these rules can lead to fines, such as a $10,000 fine for skipping required sessions.

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese reacts after being fouled by Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark in May as Michelle Obama speaks during the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago Aug. 20, 2024. (Getty Images)

Obama’s brother and former college basketball player Craig Robinson, who co-hosts the podcast, told Reese during the interview that the sports media tries to “manufacture some stuff.”

“Sports is like reality TV. The media wants to manufacture some stuff. And I just want you to know that I noticed how you’ve handled yourself, and it has been absolutely with aplomb,” Robinson said.

Reese later said she likes to turn her phone off when she arrives home after Obama asked her how she stays sane.

“I love being able just to come home and turn my phone off and just relax,” Reese said. “I think the maturity of just understanding like social media isn’t real. … Years prior, I would comment back at things and let things continue to bother me.”

CAITLIN CLARK RETURNS TO WNBA COMPETITION AFTER 2025 INJURY IN FEVER PRESEASON GAME

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese walks on the court during the second half against the Connecticut Sun at Wintrust Arena in Chicago Sept. 3, 2025. (Kamil Krzaczynski/Imagn Images)

Reese claimed she can’t even “go to the grocery store” anymore.

Obama previously commented on the attention surrounding Reese and her longtime rival Caitlin Clark in a podcast appearance last year.

During an August appearance on the podcast “All the Smoke with Matt Barnes & Stephen Jackson,” Obama spoke during a group discussion about the impact of the Clark-Reese drama on the WNBA’s popularity, the impact on the players’ well-being and “hate” involved.

“I think the tough thing is the social media element to it. But that’s true across the board. I mean, we’ve talked about this on our show; it just takes a normal occurrence. These young kids today, what they have to go through, what they have to be able to withstand, because social media is such a huge part of the world,” Obama said. 

“There’s the hate. But now the hate is in your room, on your phone with you all the time. And you can’t, for whatever reason, tell these kids to turn it off, because they’re making their living that way. I mean, now they are expected to stay engaged. 

“So, I think that makes it feel even worse. But I think, as you point out, that’s happening in sports across gender. It’s just harder not to withstand other people’s horrible, horrible opinions.” 

Obama, like her brother, previously compared ESPN to reality TV during an episode of her brother’s podcast “IMO” in July.

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Michelle Obama speaks onstage during a recording of the “IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson” podcast at the 2025 SXSW Conference and Festival in Austin, Texas, March 13, 2025. (Julia Beverly/WireImage)

“It’s all a sociological study. They think that sports is better reality TV, I’m like, ‘It’s the same thing.’ If I listen to ESPN for an hour, it’s like watching the ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta,’ you know?” Obama said. “It’s the same drama, and they’re yelling at each other and they don’t get along, you know?”

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