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The Stanley Cup playoffs have long been marked by parity. Perhaps more than any other major professional sports league, the NHL routinely sees teams outperform expectations in the regular season, sneak into the playoffs, make a run to the Stanley Cup Final and often even win it. Few teams embody the spirit of this better than the 2005-06 Carolina Hurricanes, who opened that regular season at 60-1 to win the title -- the longest preseason odds of any Cup winner since at least 1984-85. That squad entered the postseason at +600 and exited with the most famous trophy in North American sports. It feels appropriate, then, that, 18 years later, the Hurricanes open the Stanley Cup playoffs as the favorites to lift the Cup but -- at +550 odds at ESPN BET -- also hold the longest odds for any favorite entering the playoffs in the past 40 seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Other books have Carolina as long as +650, meaning its odds as this year's favorite are longer than...

MIAMI -- The atypical 8-seed is back. The Miami Heat, who last year ran through the Eastern Conference playoffs as the lowest seed, earned the eighth spot again after beating the Chicago Bulls, the same team they defeated to earn last season's final playoff berth. The victory sets up a first-round clash with the 64-win Boston Celtics, whom the Heat beat in seven games in last year's Eastern Conference finals and the team they have faced in three of the past four conference finals. Without Jimmy Butler, who injured his left knee in Miami's first play-in game and is expected to need several weeks to recover, the idea of a repeat run for the Heat seemed a stretch, at best. But Heat coach Erik Spoelstra made a defensive decision before Friday's 112-91 defeat of Chicago that might have injected some hope back into this band of culture carriers. Spoelstra gave his center, Bam Adebayo, the responsibility of guarding Chicago's leading...

MIAMI -- While DeMar DeRozan reiterated a desire to remain in Chicago as the  Bulls' season ended Friday night, he also emphasized just how much he wants to win, particularly as his career winds down. In the aftermath of the Bulls' 112-91 loss to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament -- the second consecutive season Chicago has been eliminated by Miami for the No. 8 seed -- DeRozan stated his preference to re-sign with the organization but expressed his frustration with losing in the same spot as a year ago.  "My stance on wanting to be here is still the same, but I just want to win," said DeRozan, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. "Just have the opportunity to win and not [have] to go home to see the first round of the playoffs, second round of the playoffs. It's frustrating." DeRozan scored 22 points in 41 minutes Friday night, but the Bulls were dominated by the Heat, who were missing star ...

The World Anti-Doping Agency on Saturday confirmed reports that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for a banned drug before the Tokyo Olympics but that it accepted the country's findings it was due to substance contamination. Multiple reports said the swimmers tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ), which is found in heart medication, months before the COVID-delayed Games began in the Japanese capital in July 2021. CHINADA, China's anti-doping agency, and the Chinese Swimming Association did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. WADA said it was notified in June 2021 of CHINADA's decision to accept that the swimmers returned adverse analytical findings (AAFs) after inadvertently being exposed to the drug through contamination. The global anti-doping body, which has the authority to appeal the rulings of national doping agencies, said it reviewed the decision and consulted scientific experts and external legal counsel to test the contamination theory...

NEW ORLEANS -- Prior to Friday night, the week had not gone the way Brandon Ingram would have hoped. As the New Orleans Pelicans forward attempted to come back from a bone bruise in his left knee, he had two subpar games as the Pelicans dropped their regular-season finale and the first play-in tournament game to the Los Angeles Lakers. Ingram responded Friday, and as a result, the Pelicans are headed to the playoffs. Behind a team-high 24 points from Ingram and an all-around defensive effort, the Pelicans defeated the Sacramento Kings  105-98 to advance to the playoffs as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. New Orleans will face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night. "This was the goal at the beginning of the year," Ingram said. "Throughout it, we had some injuries. We had different things happen. But we had another opportunity today, and we came in and everybody contributed." Following Tuesday's loss, during...

MIAMI -- While DeMar DeRozan reiterated a desire to remain in Chicago as the  Bulls' season concluded Friday night, he also emphasized just how much he wants to win, particularly as his career winds down. In the aftermath of the Bulls' 112-91 loss to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament -- the second consecutive season Chicago has been eliminated by Miami for the No.8 seed -- DeRozan stated his preference to re-sign with the organization, but expressed his frustration with losing in the same spot as a year ago.  "My stance on wanting to be here is still the same, but I just want to win," said DeRozan, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. "Just have the opportunity to win and not [have] to go home to see the first round of the playoffs, second round of the playoffs. It's frustrating." DeRozan scored 22 points in 41 minutes Friday night, but the Bulls were dominated by the Heat, who were missing star ...

NEW ORLEANS -- Hustle plays and production from up and down the lineup helped the New Orleans Pelicans overcome the absence of leading-scorer Zion Williamson, keep their season alive and avoid a historically significant loss. Brandon Ingram scored 24 points, Jonas Valanciunas added 19 points and 12 rebounds, and the Pelicans booked a spot in the NBA playoffs with a 105-98 victory over the Sacramento Kings in a play-in tournament elimination game on Friday night. "We stayed together. We we supported each other. We played for each other," Valanciunas said. "We all want to get to the playoffs. And and we did it by playing good basketball, by supporting each other, helping each other on defense, on offense, sharing the ball, you know, making a right play. It's fun basketball to play that way." Williamson was sidelined by a left hamstring strain that occurred as he reached the 40-point mark in a play-in loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday...

MIAMI -- The atypical 8-seed is back. The Miami Heat, who last year ran through the Eastern Conference playoffs as the lowest seed, earned the eighth spot again after beating the Chicago Bulls, the same team Miami defeated to earn last season's final playoff berth. The victory sets up a first-round clash with the 64-win Boston Celtics, the team Miami beat in seven games in last year's Eastern finals and the one it has faced in three of the past four conference finals. Without Jimmy Butler, who injured his left knee in Miami's first play-in game and is expected to need several weeks to recover, the idea of a repeat run for the Heat seemed a stretch, at best. But Heat coach Erik Spoelstra made a defensive decision before Friday's 112-91 defeat of Chicago that might have injected some hope back into this band of culture carriers. Spoelstra gave his center, Bam Adebayo, the responsibility of guarding Chicago's leading scorer,  ...

MIAMI -- The chants started raining down in the fourth quarter. "We want Boston," the Miami Heat crowd kept shouting, over and over. The fans got their wish. And a rematch of the past two Eastern Conference finals awaits in Round 1 this year. Miami -- even with Jimmy Butler sidelined for several weeks with a sprained knee -- is back in the playoffs. Tyler Herro scored 24 points and was an assist shy of a triple-double, rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 21 points and the Heat grabbed the last spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs by beating the Chicago Bulls 112-91 in a play-in tournament elimination game Friday night. "I have an appreciation for the things you can't buy, the things that you have to earn," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We had to earn this. You can't influence it. You can't pay money for it. You actually have to collectively come together to earn it -- and we had to do it the hard way, just to get this first ticket...

Jamahal Hill is wasting no time moving on from UFC 300. Less than one week after suffering a knockout loss to Alex Pereira in the main event of the UFC's landmark card, Hill has already booked his next assignment. The former light heavyweight champion will face Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 303 on June 29 in Las Vegas, the promotion announced Friday. Hill (12-2) came up short in a title bid against Pereira last weekend in Las Vegas. The fight ended when Pereira landed his signature left hook three minutes into the opening round. Hill, 32, was coming off a 14-month layoff because of a torn Achilles, which forced him to relinquish the 205-pound championship last July. Rountree (13-5) is riding a five-fight win streak, during which he has recorded four knockouts. The 34-year-old veteran took some time off in 2020 and even announced plans to retire, but has been hot since returning in 2021. He is coming off a third-round knockout of Anthony Smith in...

Jac Caglianone can't stop hitting home runs for the Florida baseball team. The junior was at it again Friday night, slugging a solo shot in the top of the sixth inning against Vanderbilt. It was his ninth straight game with a home run, matching former Nevada slugger Tyler Bosetti (2021) for the longest streak in Division I history. The preseason first-team All-American can break the record when the Gators wrap up their series against the No. 13 Commodores on Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee. "It's something we've never seen before, honestly," Florida coach Kevin O'Sullivan said. "And we've had some really good hitters over the last 16 or 17 years." Caglianone had 33 home runs last season and already has 23 in 2024. Friday's shot to right field off Vanderbilt starter Carter Holton traveled 401 feet and had an exit velocity of 109 mph, the Gators said. It was the lefty-hitting Caglianone's 16th long ball of the season against a left-hander, twice as many as any other hitter in...

DALLAS -- If the Dallas Cowboys are in no rush to sign Dak Prescott to a long-term extension, then that's fine with the quarterback. Prescott said negotiations have not really begun with the Cowboys on a new deal, although he had what he termed a "great conversation" with owner and general manager Jerry Jones about a month ago. "I'm focused on here, right now where I am," Prescott said Friday as he prepared to take part in the Children's Cancer Fund's "A Knight to Remember" gala, where he serves as a co-chair with Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman. "That's how I've always been. Anytime y'all have asked me, it's always been about right now, getting better tomorrow. And I've been in this situation before, so it's OK. I'm fine in any situation at that point betting on myself or playing this year out." Prescott is entering the final year of a four-year, $160 million deal he signed in 2021 and is set to count $55.4 million against the salary cap. The Cowboys cannot...

DALLAS - If the Dallas Cowboys are in no rush to sign Dak Prescott to a long-term extension, then that's fine with the quarterback. Prescott said negotiations have not really begun with the Cowboys on a new deal, although he had what he termed a "great conversation" with owner and general manager Jerry Jones about a month ago. "I'm focused on here, right now where I am," Prescott said as he prepared to take part in the Children's Cancer Fund's "A Knight to Remember" gala, where he serves as a co-chair with Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman. "That's how I've always been. Anytime y'all have asked me, it's always been about right now, getting better tomorrow. And I've been in this situation before, so it's OK. I'm fine in any situation at that point betting on myself or playing this year out." Prescott is entering the final year of a four-year, $160 million deal he signed in 2021 and is set to count $55.4 million against the salary cap. The Cowboys cannot use the...

Four-star senior  Justin Pippen, the son of Pro Basketball Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, announced his commitment to Michigan on Friday. Pippen chose new coach Dusty May and the Wolverines over a final list that included Cal, Florida, Stanford and Texas A&M. "I like the feel of the campus and school," Pippen told ESPN. "I wanted to be at a big school. They can help me reach my end goal of making the NBA." Michigan was a late arrival into Pippen's recruitment, but shortly after May was hired as Juwan Howard's replacement in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines entered the mix. "I was really going to make a decision between my other schools," Pippen said. "Then I got a call from Coach Dusty May. I wanted to give him a chance. We set up a Zoom call. I went on a visit, and I felt it was the right place and situation for me. "Coach Dusty May has been straight up with me. He sees me playing both on and off the ball. He even mentioned they...

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula is looking into a potential sale of a minority interest in the team, the team said in a statement Friday, while emphasizing that no new investment would involve changing the Pegula family's controlling interest. "The Pegula family has retained Allen & Company to explore the potential sale of a non-controlling, minority interest in the Bills," the team said in its statement. "These discussions only involve the Bills and no other team. No investment would be possible without Terry Pegula and the Pegula family maintaining a controlling interest in the team. "Their continued commitment to Western New York, the new Highmark Stadium, our fans, and the other teams in their portfolio remains unchanged. Neither the team nor the Pegula family are able to comment further at this point." The Pegulas, who also own the Buffalo Sabres, the National Lacrosse League's Buffalo Bandits and Rochester Knighthawks, and the American Hockey...

Coban Porter, the younger brother of Denver Nuggets star Michael Porter Jr., was sentenced Friday to six years in prison for a drunken driving crash that killed a woman in Colorado last year. The January 2023 crash in Denver killed Kathy Limon Rothman and seriously injured her passenger. Porter, who caused the crash after he ran a red light and slammed into the other vehicle, received an additional two-year sentence for the passenger's injuries that he will serve concurrently. According to The Denver Post, prosecutors on Friday said Porter was speeding and had a blood alcohol level of .19, more than twice the legal limit of .08. Porter had pleaded guilty in February to vehicular homicide and vehicular assault as part of a plea agreement that had reduced his sentence to a maximum of eight years. "All I can really say is that I'm sorry," Porter told the courtroom Friday, according to the Post. "I know that I'm never going to be able to right that wrong. ... I never...

GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Ahead of the Knicks' playoff opener Saturday night at Madison Square Garden against the Philadelphia 76ers, star Jalen Brunson admitted he spent all summer thinking about his turnover in the closing moments of New York's Game 6 loss to the Miami Heat last spring. "A lot more than you would think," Brunson said, when asked how much he has thought about that turnover, which came with under 20 seconds to go in the game and New York trailing by two. Rather than getting up a potential game-tying -- or go-ahead -- shot, Brunson got stuck in a double-team on the baseline and wound up trying to force a pass to a cutting Julius Randle coming down the lane, which was stolen by Miami. And, instead of New York possibly sending the series back to The World's Most Famous Arena for Game 7 and a chance to make a trip to the Eastern Conference finals, New York's season ended.  "We are in a position where we could have forced the Game 7,...

Terence Crawford, ESPN's No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer, will move up to 154 pounds to challenge Israil Madrimov for his WBA junior middleweight title Aug. 3 in Los Angeles, sources told ESPN. The event will be presented by Riyadh Season under His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, the chair of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority in association with Sela Sport. There will be a news conference Wednesday in New York to announce the bout. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made a major commitment to boxing since 2019, when it staged the Anthony Joshua-Andy Ruiz heavyweight championship rematch. The kingdom's interest in boxing grew exponentially when Alalshikh entered the fray last year with October's Tyson Fury-Francis Ngannou fight in the capital city of Riyadh. Saudi Arabia went on to stage a December card featuring former heavyweight champions Joshua and Deontay Wilder, then a March fight between Joshua and Ngannou. The kingdom will present its two biggest fights yet over the next...

NEW YORK -- Ryan Garcia weighed 143.2 pounds Friday, 3.2 pounds over the 140-pound limit for his fight against Devin Haney, and afterward didn't attempt to lose the extraneous weight, sources told ESPN. Instead, Garcia immediately asked to cut a deal for the fight to proceed Saturday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, sources said, and there is a signed agreement. Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) will forfeit upward of $600,000 of his purse to Haney, sources said, but he will not have to step on the scale Saturday as is customary when fighters miss weight. Garcia, 25, also won't be eligible to win Haney's WBC junior welterweight title. If Haney loses -- he's a -900 favorite at ESPN BET -- the title will become vacant. At Thursday's news conference, and throughout the lead-up to the bout, Haney said Garcia would miss weight. Garcia's December win over Oscar Duarte, an eighth-round knockout, was contested at 143 pounds after it was originally scheduled to take place at 140. Haney (31-0, 15...

The Federal Aviation Administration and United Airlines are investigating an incident involving the Colorado Rockies during a chartered flight from Denver to Toronto. In a since-deleted video posted to social media, Rockies hitting coach Hensley Meulens is seen sitting in a pilot's seat in the cockpit while the plane is in flight. "Had some fun in the cockpit on our flight from Denver to Toronto. Thanks to the captain and the first officer of our United charter that allowed me this great experience," Meulens wrote in a caption for the social media post. A United spokesperson said the airline was conducting its own investigation of the April 10 flight. The airline said the cockpit visit was "a clear violation of our safety and operational policies" and was reported to the Federal Aviation Administration. "We're deeply disturbed by what we see in that video, which appears to show an unauthorized person in the flight deck at cruise altitude while the autopilot was engaged,"...

NEW YORK -- Ryan Garcia weighed 143.2 pounds Friday, 3.2 pounds over the 140-pound limit for his fight against Devin Haney, and afterward didn't attempt to lose the extraneous weight, sources told ESPN. Instead, Garcia immediately asked to cut a deal for the fight to proceed Saturday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, sources said, and there's a signed agreement. Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) will now forfeit upward of $600,000 of his purse to Haney, per sources, but will not have to step on the scale Saturday as is customary when fighters miss weight. Garcia, 25, also won't be eligible to win Haney's WBC junior welterweight title. If Haney loses -- he's a -900 favorite, per ESPN BET -- the title will become vacant. At Thursday's news conference, and throughout the lead-up to the bout, Haney said that Garcia would miss weight. Garcia's December win over Oscar Duarte, an eighth-round KO, was contested at 143 pounds after it was originally scheduled to take place at 140. Haney (31-0, 15 KOs)...

The Federal Aviation Administration and United Airlines are investigating an incident involving the Colorado Rockies during a chartered flight from Denver to Toronto. In a since-deleted video posted to social media, Rockies hitting coach Hensley Meulens is seen sitting in a pilot's seat in the cockpit while the plane is in flight. "Had some fun in the cockpit on our flight from Denver to Toronto. Thanks to the captain and the first officer of our United charter that allowed me this great experience," Meulens wrote in a caption for the social media post. "We're deeply disturbed by what we see in that video, which appears to show an unauthorized person in the flight deck at cruise altitude while the autopilot was engaged," United Airlines said in a statement. "As a clear violation of our safety and operational policies, we've reported the incident to the FAA and have withheld the pilots from service while we conduct an investigation." A spokesman for the FAA said it does...

College football is adding helmet communication for FBS games, two-minute timeouts at the end of each half and other changes approved this week by the NCAA's Playing Rules Oversight Panel. Games featuring FBS teams will give each the option of using coach-to-player communications through the helmet of one player on the field, designated with a green dot on the midline of his helmet. Several teams used helmet communications during the most recent bowl season, but it will now be an option for every game in the sport's top division. Coach-to-player communication will be shut off with 15 seconds left on the play clock or the snap of the ball -- whichever comes first. The NFL and other levels of football, including some high school associations, have long used helmet communication to signal in plays. FBS coaches had discussed implementing the technology for several years, but the NCAA Football Rules Committee didn't propose it until March. Concerns about cost, logistics and the...

Duke forward Sean Stewart, a former top-20 recruit in the 2023 class, announced Friday that he plans to enter the transfer portal, becoming the seventh Blue Devils player to transfer since the end of the season. Stewart's announcement comes less than a day after fellow freshman TJ Power decided to enter the portal. "I am grateful to have fulfilled a dream to play for the Blue Devils! I made some great memories that I will always cherish," Stewart said in a social media post. "I have decided for my continued growth and development of my basketball goals, I will be entering the transfer portal." A 6-foot-9 power forward from Florida, Stewart averaged 2.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in 33 games off the bench as a freshman. He flashed his double-double ability early in the season, with 16 points and 10 rebounds in 18 minutes against La Salle, but never carved out a consistent role in coach Jon Scheyer's rotation. His highlight in ACC play came against NC...

The Boston Celtics, with home-court advantage throughout the playoffs and a perceived easier path to the Finals, are the consensus betting favorite to win the NBA title at sportsbooks around the nation. But oddsmakers say a Finals matchup with the defending champion Denver Nuggets would be nearly a toss-up. The Celtics are the title favorite at +145 at ESPN BET, followed by the Nuggets +275. They are the only two teams with single-digit title odds entering the postseason. The  LA Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder are next, each at 14-1. The betting action on the NBA title odds has varied at sportsbooks throughout the season. The Celtics have attracted more bets and more money than any other team at Caesars Sportsbook and DraftKings, while the Los Angeles Lakers have received the most support from the betting public at ESPN BET. The Lakers, who face the Nuggets in the first round, are 18-1 to win the championship. The Dallas...

The NCAA announced penalties for Arizona State and four former employees related to recruiting violations that occurred under former football coach Herm Edwards. Arizona State received four years of probation, an undisclosed fine, vacated games in which ineligible players competed, reduced scholarships and recruiting restrictions. The NCAA did not provide further details about any of those punishments. The school also disassociated from a booster for five years. The NCAA acknowledged the school had self-imposed a one-year bowl ban last season. The Sun Devils will be eligible for a bowl in 2024. "Arizona State's cooperation throughout the investigation and processing of this case was exemplary, and the cooperation began with the leadership shown by the university president," said Jason Leonard, executive director of athletics compliance at Oklahoma and chief hearing officer for the NCAA committee on infractions panel. "The school's acceptance of responsibility and decision...

The Boston Celtics, with home-court advantage throughout the playoffs and a perceived easier path to the Finals, are the consensus betting favorites to win the NBA title at sportsbooks around the nation. But oddsmakers say a Finals rematch with the defending champion Denver Nuggets would be nearly a toss-up. The Celtics are the title favorites at +145 at ESPN BET, followed by the Nuggets +275. They are the only two teams with single-digit title odds entering the postseason. The  LA Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder are next, each at 14-1. The betting action on the NBA title odds has varied at sportsbooks throughout the season. The Celtics have attracted more bets and more money than any other team at Caesars Sportsbook and DraftKings, while the Los Angeles Lakers have received the most support from the betting public at ESPN BET. The Lakers, who face the Nuggets in the first round, are 18-1 to win the championship. The Dallas...

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson, on the trading block since the start of the offseason, is skipping voluntary workouts as he remains in limbo with the NFL draft approaching next week. Wilson, the No. 2 pick in 2021, was granted permission in February to speak to teams about a potential trade. General manager Joe Douglas said Friday he has had discussions with teams but added, "There's just no news to report on that." In his first three seasons, Wilson was always an active participant in the offseason program, so his absence is out of character and seems to indicate a level of frustration. Of course, the landscape has changed, as the organization has publicly declared its willingness to move on from the former starter. The Jets already replaced him on the roster, having signed veteran Tyrod Taylor as Aaron Rodgers' backup. "I think it's each player's choice whether they're going to be here for Phase 1 [of the program],"...

Cole Palmer tried to leave Manchester City "for two seasons" before joining Chelsea, manager Pep Guardiola said Friday. Palmer moved to Stamford Bridge in a £42.5 million ($53m) deal in the summer and has become one of the signings of the season after scoring 23 goals in all competitions, including 20 in the Premier League. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Guardiola shrugged when asked whether it was a mistake to let Palmer move but said the 21-year-old wanted to leave the Etihad Stadium long before he joined Chelsea. "He's an exceptional player," Guardiola told a news conference. "I said many times, I didn't give the minutes that maybe he deserved and now he has at Chelsea. I understand completely. "He's a shy guy with a lot of potential. It is what it is. He's playing fantastic so what can I say? The decision has been made for many reasons. "He was asking for two seasons to leave and I said stay. He said he...

Cole Palmer tried to leave Manchester City "for two seasons" before joining Chelsea, Pep Guardiola said on Friday. Palmer moved to Stamford Bridge in a £42.5 million ($53m) deal in the summer and has become one of the signings of the season after scoring 23 goals in all competitions, including 20 in the Premier League. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Guardiola shrugged when asked whether it was a mistake to let Palmer move but said the 21-year-old wanted to leave the Etihad Stadium long before he joined Chelsea. "He's an exceptional player," Guardiola told a news conference. "I said many times, I didn't give the minutes that maybe he deserved and now he has at Chelsea. I understand completely. "He's a shy guy with a lot of potential. It is what it is. He's playing fantastic so what can I say? The decision has been made for many reasons. "He was asking for two seasons to leave and I said stay. He said he...

After playing an immense part in a national championship run, UConn freshman guard Stephon Castle is entering the 2024 NBA draft, he told ESPN on Friday. Castle -- No. 9 on ESPN's list of Top 100 prospects -- is one of the fastest-rising players on NBA draft boards and is expected to push toward the top of the lottery with the momentum of a dominant performance in the Huskies' NCAA title season. Castle has selected agents Joe Smith and Thad Foucher of Wasserman for his player representation, he said. Castle averaged 18 points in the Huskies' Final Four victories over Alabama and Purdue and had a combined 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. For the season, Castle -- a McDonald's All American out of Covington, Georgia -- averaged 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. At first glance, Castle's allure to the NBA is readily apparent. He possesses an elite physical profile at 6-foot-6, long arms and a chiseled 215-pound frame. Castle is...

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has signed an extension to remain in his post past this summer's Euros, removing any chance that he will return to succeed Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich. Some of the biggest coaching jobs in Europe are available this summer, with Bayern, Liverpool and Barcelona looking for their next manager. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) However, Nagelsmann ruled out a return to club football by penning a contract extension that will keep him in charge until after the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, the German FA (DFB) announced on Friday. The DFB said that its supervisory board and shareholders decided unanimously to keep Nagelsmann in charge of the national team after Euro 2024, which Germany will host.  German media reports said Nagelsmann was on Bayern's shortlist to replace Tuchel, who is stepping down at the end of the season. Nagelsmann was replaced by Tuchel...

New federal regulations released Friday will prevent colleges and coaches from suspending athletes accused of sexual misconduct while school officials investigate complaints against them. The due process provision is one of several outlined in the U.S. Department of Education's final version of regulations governing how K-12 schools, colleges and universities respond to complaints of sexual harassment and violence under Title IX. The regulations, a draft version of which the Biden administration proposed in June 2022, are scheduled to go into effect Aug. 1. Friday's release did not include provisions regarding the eligibility of transgender athletes, which had been included in an earlier Department of Education proposal. Officials separated that issue from the broader Title IX rules, and those regulations are not expected until after November's presidential election. Asked during a call with reporters Thursday whether the delay was politically motivated, a senior...

FORT WORTH, Texas -- For the first time since 2012, the Oklahoma women's gymnastics team will not be competing in the NCAA championship meet. The two-time defending champion Sooners, who spent the entirety of the season ranked No. 1, did not advance to Saturday's final after finishing third during Thursday's second semifinal session at Dickies Arena. The Sooners finished with a final score of 196.6625. Utah won the session with a score of 197.9375 followed by Florida (197.8750). They will be joined in Saturday's championship by LSU (198.1125) and California (197.7125), who were victorious in the first semifinal Thursday. The favorites to win their seventh NCAA championship, the Sooners got off to an uncharacteristic nervy start during their first rotation on vault as three gymnasts had major landing errors. Needing to count two of those scores (the lowest score is dropped), Oklahoma recorded a 48.3250 -- more than a full point below its average on the event this season and its...

After their successful stint together at Kentucky, new Arkansas coach John Calipari has reunited with Kenny Payne, the former Louisville head coach. Payne, who was fired by Louisville last month, will serve as associate head coach on Calipari's staff in Fayetteville, it was announced Thursday. From 2010 to 2020, Payne was an assistant and associate head coach during Calipari's most successful years at Kentucky. Payne was noted for his work with some of the notable big men who anchored the program, including NBA All-Stars Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns and Bam Adebayo. With Payne on staff, Calipari won his lone national championship in 2012 and participated in a streak of four Final Four appearances in five seasons. Former players would sometimes return to Lexington during the NBA offseason to work with Payne, who left Kentucky in 2020 for a role as an assistant with the New York Knicks. Calipari had his worst...

Arizona State freshman quarterback Jaden Rashada is set to enter the transfer portal, his agent Henry Organ of Disruptive Sports told ESPN on Thursday. Rashada appeared in three games for the Sun Devils last fall, passing for 485 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions. ESPN's No. 31 overall recruit in the 2023 class initially signed with Florida but was released from his national letter of intent after a $13 million name, image and likeness agreement fell through with Florida's Gator Collective. The Pittsburg, California, native eventually signed with Arizona State, where his father, Harlen, played defensive back from 1992 to 1994. Jaden Rashada posted a message to social media thanking his Arizona State teammates and coaches and saying he is "seeking the best fit for my career." Rashada has four years of eligibility left and will become one of the top players available in the spring transfer cycle, which opened Tuesday and lasts through the...

SAN FRANCISCO -- For the past several years, the Golden State Warriors have consistently been asked how much longer they can keep their dynasty together. Their title in 2022 bought them a year. But, following last season's second-round exit and Draymond Green's free agency, the question resurfaced. And now, after getting run off the floor and out of the postseason by the Sacramento Kings and with  Klay Thompson heading into unrestricted free agency, the question is even louder. The hope within the organization is that the core of Thompson, Green and Stephen Curry can remain intact. But there's no hiding from the fact that it's easier said than done. "It's rarely a storybook," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said at his exit interview Thursday. "Even the '96 or '98 Bulls, you know, the team was broken up and we won the championship in our last year but there was a documentary about what a disaster the whole thing was. It's impossible for this...

SAN FRANCISCO -- For the past several years, the Golden State Warriors have consistently been asked how much longer they can keep their dynasty together. Their title in 2022 bought them a year. But, following last year's second-round exit and Draymond Green's free agency, the question resurfaced. And now, after getting run off the floor and out of the postseason by the Sacramento Kings and Klay Thompson heading into unrestricted free agency, the question is even louder. The hope within the organization is that the core of Thompson, Green and Stephen Curry can remain intact. But there's no hiding from the fact that's easier said than done. "It's rarely a storybook," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said at his exit interview on Thursday. "Even the '96 or '98 Bulls, you know, the team was broken up and we won the championship in our last year, but there was a documentary about what a disaster the whole thing was. It's impossible for this stuff to...

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- While history shows that the Denver Nuggets swept the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals en route to the championship in 2023 and the Lakers beat the Nuggets in the conference finals on their way to the title in 2020, LeBron James says whatever happened in the past has no bearing on the present playoff series about to begin. "I think you're putting a little bit too much emphasis on it," James said after practice Thursday when asked about the rematch factor for the two teams. "This is our first-round matchup. I mean, we're looking forward to the postseason. But I haven't been, like, looking forward to the rematch. The game is played how it's being played, and this is the matchup. So we're looking forward to that challenge." It doesn't serve the Lakers any good to reflect on how their recent performances have gone against Denver. The Nuggets have won the past eight straight, including last year's playoffs. "It shouldn't...

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Aroldis Chapman has been suspended two games and fined an undisclosed amount for "inappropriate actions" during Monday's game against the New York Mets, MLB announced Thursday. Unless he appeals, Chapman is scheduled to start the suspension Friday, when the Pirates host the Boston Red Sox. Chapman was ejected by plate umpire Edwin Moscoso after giving up a two-run double in the eighth inning of Monday's loss to the Mets. "He evidently said something that the umpire did not like," Pirates manager Derek Shelton said after Monday's game.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers will not be disciplined by the NFL after being involved in a domestic violence investigation earlier this year, the league said in a statement Thursday. "Following a review, the NFL concluded there was insufficient evidence to support a finding that Zay Flowers engaged in any activity that violated the NFL's personal conduct policy," the NFL said. "There will be no action taken by the league and Flowers remains eligible to participate in all team activities." This decision comes two months after Baltimore County Police suspended a domestic violence investigation involving Flowers, who was never charged. The alleged incident occurred Jan. 16 in Owings Mills, Maryland. According to a police report, a woman said she was involved in a "violent" domestic incident with an NFL player. She told police the player's brother pulled a gun on her. Flowers, 23, set Ravens rookie records last season with 77...

The Texas Rangers overcame a rough major league debut from Jack Leiter to hold off the Detroit Tigers in the finale of their four-game series Thursday. Leiter, the No. 2 overall draft selection in 2021 and the son of former big-league-left-hander Al Leiter, struck out two in a scoreless first inning but struggled after that. The hard-throwing right-hander lasted just 3⅔ innings, allowing seven runs and eight hits with three walks and three strikeouts. "He was all right," Texas manager Bruce Bochy said. "He had a little trouble hitting his spots in the second inning but he came right back in the third and got two quick outs in the fourth before he ran into trouble." Leiter said it was "a surreal experience" to make his major league debut. "It's something you dream about since you were a little kid. Being around the game always, it's a special day. I know I'm better and I need to be better, and I will be better. And that's kind of the frustration is some...

The Department of Justice is in the final stages of settlement negotiations with victims of sex offender Larry Nassar. The FBI allegedly mishandled abuse allegations made by dozens of U.S. gymnasts.

Kentucky freshman guard Reed Sheppard will enter the 2024 NBA draft and forgo his remaining college eligibility, he told ESPN on Thursday. "I'm going all-in," Sheppard said. "The opportunity I have is great. I've gotten really good feedback showing where I can be in the draft. I had an unbelievable year at Kentucky. It was such a fun year. It's not easy leaving the fans and the school I dreamed of playing at. I need to do what's best for me, and that's heading to the NBA." Sheppard, the No. 7 prospect in ESPN's NBA draft projections, was named the SEC freshman of the year and second-team all-conference after averaging 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game and shooting 52.1% from 3. No first-round pick from college has shot over 50% from 3 on similar volume since Glen Rice at Michigan in 1988-89. "My teammates and coaches put confidence in me, telling me you need to shoot," Sheppard said. "I was fortunate to be able to get in the gym...

The NFL has reinstated five players who were suspended for the 2023 season for violating the NFL's gambling policy. Washington Commanders defensive end Shaka Toney and four free agents -- defensive end Rashod Berry, wide receiver Quintez Cephus, safety C.J. Moore, and defensive end Demetrius Taylor -- were reinstated. Defensive back Isaiah Rodgers, who also was suspended last year for at least the 2023 season, wasn't reinstated Thursday. His situation remains under review, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Thursday. Both Rodgers and Berry were with the Indianapolis Colts at the time of their suspensions, and both were released by the team last year. Rodgers later signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, who hold his rights if he gets reinstated. Cephus and Moore were with the Detroit Lions at the time of their suspensions and both were released by the team. Cephus had 60 catches for 568 yards and four touchdowns...

The NHL is moving the team now formerly known as the  Arizona Coyotes to Utah to begin play as a new franchise next season, the league announced Thursday. Ryan and Ashley Smith of Smith Entertainment Group bought the team and its existing hockey assets for $1.2 billion from Alex Meruelo, sources told ESPN. Meruelo had owned the Coyotes since buying the franchise for $300 million in 2019, but the league lost patience in his ability to find a long-term arena solution in Arizona and facilitated a sale. The Smiths, who also own the NBA's Utah Jazz, initially built a relationship with commissioner Gary Bettman because they wanted an expansion franchise. However, over the past several months, the conversation changed and Bettman approached the Smiths about becoming a solution for the Coyotes instead. According to Ryan Smith, things pivoted fast. "I mean, if you would've told me at the beginning of the year that this is where we'd be, I'd say you were crazy," he told...

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. --  Josh Allen said Thursday that he can't thank Stefon Diggs enough for "for when he came in and how hard he worked and what he taught me along the years." Allen said Diggs "meant a lot" to him since the Bills traded for the star wide receiver in 2020. The quarterback also noted multiple times that the trade opens opportunities for other players to step up. "It's definitely hard to part ways with a guy that's been very instrumental in our success here over the last four years," Allen said. "... Obviously, I wish we can keep everybody. You know, we've made a lot of changes this offseason, lost a lot of veteran leadership, Stef being one of them. I guess that's the nature of the business. And going into Year 7 now, it's just kind of is what it is. I don't get paid to make changes on the team. I get paid to be the best quarterback that I can be and try to lead the guys on this team." Allen also said his lasting memory of Diggs will "be the...

In the wake of 14 Colorado players entering the transfer portal this week, Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders downplayed the notion that their departures will have a significant impact on the team. "We're good. I trust the recruiting team. I trust our coaches, and please have some faith in me," Sanders said Thursday. "We good. We all right. We all right." Sanders said most of the movement in the transfer portal consisted of backups and that he believes it's rare for starters to enter the portal at this stage. "I think we got some [starting-caliber players] coming in from visits pretty soon, maybe even this weekend, but we can attract those type of players," Sanders said. "I don't think we're losing those type of players, and if we do, we're good. We're good. We're making a big deal out of nothing." Former five-star cornerback Cormani McClain, who had a tumultuous first season at Colorado, and running back Alton McCaskill, who was the AAC Rookie of the Year in...

Haley and Hanna Cavinder are returning to Miami for their fifth and final season of collegiate eligibility, they announced on social media this week. The twins helped Miami in 2023 reach its first-ever Elite Eight in their first season there after spending three years at Fresno State. They are among the biggest beneficiaries of name, image and likeness policies, capitalizing on their pandemic-era explosion in fame on TikTok to build an extensive NIL portfolio. Both Cavinders originally intended to step away from basketball following their senior year and pursue a new chapter of their lives, including opportunities with WWE, but Haley announced in Nov. 2023 she had committed to play at TCU beginning in the 2024-25 season. On Wednesday, Hanna posted that she would be returning to basketball and finish her career at Miami, and then on Thursday Haley announced she'd be joining forces with her twin. "My last season of basketball was one of the most successful &...

Former LSU star Hailey Van Lith will transfer to TCU for the 2024-25 season, according to multiple reports. Van Lith is joining the Horned Frogs for her final season of college eligibility after averaging 11.6 points and 3.6 assists per game in her only season with the Tigers. The 5-foot-7 guard -- a two-time first-team All-ACC selection during her three years at Louisville -- was one of LSU's big-name transfers that catapulted the defending champion Tigers into the conversation as the No. 1 preseason team in the country and helped them reach another Elite Eight. After guiding the Cardinals to the Final Four in 2022, Van Lith went to Baton Rouge and took on a less prominent role offensively, averaging 9.9 field goal attempts per game, the second-lowest mark of her career. As the primary scorer playing off the ball at Louisville, she posted a career-best 19.7 points per game as a junior. "A lot of people have a lot to say about how this year went...