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2 hours ago

Undaunted Illinois gets past Iowa State, advances to Elite Eight

BOSTON -- The Illinois men's basketball team is so experienced that many of its players wouldn't get carded at a local dive bar. They are physical enough that their front line looks like it could be auditioning for linebacker spots at the NFL combine. The Illini balance that age and edge with an offense that can hum like a jazz band, with flourishes of deft passes and cuts that have formed one of country's most efficient and effective units. That harmony manifested itself in a first-half burst on Thursday night and a closing kick that allowed No. 3 Illinois to outlast No. 2 Iowa State 72-69 in the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament on Saturday night. Illinois solved the nation's most efficient defense Saturday, jumping out with abandon in the opening minutes to build a 13-point lead and never relinquishing the lead to top Iowa State, which cut the lead to two three times in the final 10 minutes. Illinois scored the game's first eight points and never flinched,...
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2 hours ago

Alabama takes down No. 1 UNC for Tide's 2nd Elite Eight trip

LOS ANGELES --  Alabama coach Nate Oats had been firm with his team. During the first two rounds of the men's NCAA tournament, the Crimson Tide had beaten teams --  Charleston and Grand Canyon -- that they were supposed to beat. As far as Oats was concerned, getting to the Sweet 16 did not need to be celebrated. "We haven't done a thing yet, so let's not act like we've done anything yet," Oats said of the message he had imparted to his team. "Now, if we can beat [North]  Carolina, now we've done something." The Tide could celebrate Thursday night. Against the No. 1 seed in the West region, Alabama did not back down. Oats' team not only matched the Tar Heels blow for blow but outlasted them in a dramatic 89-87 victory that gave Alabama its first Elite Eight berth since 2004, only the second in program history. "We've been working for this all season," said senior forward Grant Nelson, who posted 24 points, 12 rebounds and five...
2 hours ago
March 29

Alabama upsets UNC for 2nd Elite Eight trip in school history

LOS ANGELES --  Grant Nelson converted a go-ahead three-point play with 38 seconds remaining, and Alabama beat top-seeded North Carolina 89-87 on Thursday night to reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament for the second time in school history. Nelson finished with a season-high 24 points, 19 in the second half, and he blocked RJ Davis' attempt at a tying layup after giving Alabama the lead. Rylan Griffen added 19 points, tying his career high with five 3-pointers, and Aaron Estrada also scored 19 for the fourth-seeded Crimson Tide (24-11). The Tide face sixth-seeded Clemson on Saturday for a berth in the Final Four. The Tigers (24-11) defeated second-seeded Arizona 77-72 in the first semifinal at Crypto.com Arena. After Nelson blocked Davis' shot with 25 seconds left, Davis furiously dribbled around before missing a layup and the Tar Heels got called for a shot-clock violation with 8 seconds left. They were forced to...
March 29
March 29

D-backs hammer Rockies with Opening Day-record 14-run inning

PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks got their season started with an offensive flourish, scoring 14 runs in the third inning of their 16-1 Opening Day win over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday night. The 14 runs were the most in an inning on Opening Day for any team since 1900. Arizona, the defending National League champions, led 2-1 going into the bottom of the third, but then sent 18 batters to the plate and had 13 hits, two walks and a sacrifice fly. "I joked at one point 'Hey, I want to play,'" D-backs starter  Zac Gallen said. "It makes our job as pitchers a lot easier when they give you that much support. Next time, I'd rather them just do it in 10 minutes. Those guys came ready to play." Maybe most improbably, Arizona didn't hit a homer during the inning. Ketel Marte, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Christian Walker, Gabriel Moreno and Geraldo Perdomo all had two hits. Corbin Carroll walked twice. Blaze...
March 29
March 29

UConn into Elite Eight with 30-point win in rematch vs. SDSU

BOSTON -- There's been a tongue-in-cheek mantra for UConn over the past two seasons: The Huskies can't win close games. In reality, it's not that they can't win one- or two-possession games -- it just rarely comes down to the final minutes for Dan Hurley's team. Earlier this season, the Huskies set the record for most consecutive nonconference victories by double digits. They lead the nation in scoring margin. And on Thursday, UConn laid down another marker. The top-seeded Huskies dominated No. 5  San Diego State  82-52 in a national championship rematch, advancing to the Elite Eight with the largest margin of victory in a Sweet 16 game since 2017. "We suck at winning close games, so you have to go with the alternative," Hurley joked after the win. After three NCAA tournament games, UConn has trailed for a grand total of 28 seconds. The Huskies have led by double digits for 58:27 of a possible 60 second-half minutes. They've won their three games by an...
March 29
March 28

A's fans protest move by watching opener in parking lot

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Thousands of Athletics fans gathered in the Coliseum's south parking lot before Thursday night's Opening Day game against the Cleveland Guardians to try out a new way of displaying their displeasure with the team's ownership: showing up but staying away. In what might be the beginning of the team's final season in Oakland, fans waved hundreds of "SELL" flags, ate free tacos and listened to live music. What most of them didn't do was enter the stadium to watch the game, choosing to continue the party through the night by watching the game on a blowup projection screen. The announced crowd for the game -- 13,522. "This will be the first time since 2006 that I've missed Opening Day," said Jorge Leon, the president of the Oakland 68s, an influential fan group. "Opening Day used to be a holiday for all of us. We'd take the day off and celebrate from 11 a.m. to the first pitch. This is hard." The fans partied on the cracked asphalt of the Coliseum...
March 28
March 28

USWNT's Albert apologizes after critical Rapinoe post

United States women's national team midfielder Korbin Albert apologized on Thursday for previous social media activity that appeared to support anti-LGBTQIA+ content, and for purportedly liking an Instagram post that made light of Megan Rapinoe's torn Achilles in her final professional game. Albert, 20, is a rising star for the U.S. and Paris Saint-Germain who recently started all three knockout games for the U.S. in a Concacaf W Gold Cup triumph while wearing No. 15 -- the number Rapinoe donned for the past decade-plus before retiring in late 2023. "I want to sincerely apologize for my actions on social media," Albert wrote in a post shared on her Instagram story late Thursday. "Liking and sharing posts that are offensive, insensitive and hurtful was immature and disrespectful which was never my intent. I'm really disappointed in myself and am deeply sorry for the hurt that I have caused to my teammates, other players, fans, friends and anyone who was offended." Albert's social...
March 28
March 28

Ohtani welcomed warmly, helps Betts, Freeman lead Dodgers in home debut

LOS ANGELES -- Shohei Ohtani was pleased with the quality of his at-bats and "grateful" for the warm reception he received from the sold-out Dodger Stadium crowd on Opening Day -- but he came away from it all with one regret. "I was the only guy who couldn't hit a homer," Ohtani, speaking through an interpreter, said with a slight chuckle after the Los Angeles Dodgers breezed to a 7-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday afternoon. Ohtani was referring to the superstar trio atop the Dodgers' lineup, of which he is at the center. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, the two hitters who flank Ohtani, each homered off Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas in the third inning. But all three of them placed their imprint on the Dodgers' home debut, combining for 5 hits, 4 walks and 4 RBIs while scoring each of the Dodgers' first six runs. Through the season's first three games -- the team opened with a two-game series against...
March 28
March 28

Juan Soto delivers game-saving throw in New York Yankees debut

HOUSTON -- That  Juan Soto's first signature Yankee moment happened in his debut on Opening Day wasn't far-fetched for a superstar with an uncanny ability to show out in the biggest moments. But for that moment to happen on a game-saving defensive play? That wasn't a part of the script anyone, at least on the outside, envisioned for Soto, whose defense has been a knock on him, especially over the past two seasons. That's what happened Thursday afternoon against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. With one out and two runners on in the ninth inning and the Yankees nursing a one-run lead, Kyle Tucker smashed a single to Soto in right field. Soto's route to the ball was clean, he gathered it smoothly and let it rip -- a one-hop missile to home plate that catcher Jose Trevino caught before spinning around to apply a difficult tag on Mauricio Dubon. Soto pounded his chest and released a few screams. The play, confirmed after a...
March 28
March 28

Washington's Michael Penix Jr. shows off speed at pro day

SEATTLE -- On his final throw Thursday, Michael Penix Jr. put a bow on his performance at the University of Washington pro day by unleashing a deep ball that traveled some 75 yards in the air for a completion, showing off the arm talent that has made him one of the top quarterback prospects in this year's draft. What happened at the start of the workout might have actually been more significant. That's when Penix posted a sub-4.6-second time in the 40-yard dash, perhaps checking off an important box to the roughly 100 representatives from NFL teams on hand to watch him and several other Huskies who are expected to be selected next month. According to ESPN's Field Yates, a handful of scouts clocked Penix's lone run at 4.56 to 4.59. "I'm a 4.4 guy, in my opinion," Penix, the runner-up for the last season's Heisman Trophy, said afterward. "Some people had 4.46, some people had 4.5, but that's unofficial, so I'm good. I just showed I can run, so I feel...
March 28
March 28

Rangers' Max Scherzer encouraged by rehab, eyes earlier return

ARLINGTON, Texas -- As the Texas Rangers begin defense of their first World Series title, the news surrounding ailing ace Max Scherzer keeps getting brighter. Scherzer, 39, underwent back surgery in December to address a herniated disk, and while he will begin 2024 on the injured list, his stay there might not be as long as initially expected. Rather than placing Scherzer on the 60-day IL, which would have ensured his absence for the first two months of the season, Texas put him on the 15-day list. That bodes well for Scherzer's recovery, even as he is for the time being still in spring training mode. "It's kind of early February for me right now," said Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young winner. "Just have to come in and continue to do the rehab, do the process, and hopefully I'm back out there sooner than later." Scherzer threw two innings in a bullpen session Tuesday, his highest-stress action since the surgery. He came out of it encouraged by his body's...
March 28
March 28

Liverpool rule out Xabi Alonso to succeed Jurgen Klopp - sources

Liverpool have abandoned plans to pursue Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso as a replacement for Jurgen Klopp as manager, sources told ESPN, with Brighton's Roberto De Zerbi and Sporting CP coach Ruben Amorim regarded as leading candidates for the Anfield job. Alonso, a Champions League winner as a player with Liverpool in 2005, is on the verge of guiding Leverkusen to their first-ever Bundesliga title this season. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) With Klopp announcing publicly in January that he would step down as Liverpool manager this summer -- the former Borussia Dortmund coach informed the club of his intentions in November -- Alonso had emerged as the strong favourite to move to Anfield because of his connection as a player and his impressive work at the BayArena. With Bayern Munich also searching for a new manager due to Thomas Tuchel leaving the Allianz Arena at the end of...
March 28
March 28

Notre Dame AD: Independent status 'more valuable than ever'

While college athletics undergoes sweeping changes, Notre Dame's desire to remain independent is constant, as Notre Dame leadership feels "as secure as ever" in its football status, first-year athletic director Pete Bevacqua told ESPN on Thursday. Bevacqua, who began his new role on Monday following the retirement of longtime athletic director Jack Swarbrick, cited multiple reasons for the athletic department's continued sense of security. He said the university's most recent television deal with NBC, its partnership with the ACC for all other sports except hockey, and the new College Football Playoff deal all provide financial security. He also said he's "bullish" on the future of the football program as coach Marcus Freeman enters his third season. "We are now in as good of a position as we've ever been in the modern era of college football to be independent," said Bevacqua, a 1993 Notre Dame graduate who returned to the school in 2023 in an administrative role after...
March 28
March 28

Jets owner calls report on argument with Saleh 'absolutely false'

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson used social media Thursday to rebut a claim by an NFL Network host that he and coach Robert Saleh engaged in a "very heated conversation" earlier this week at the NFL's annual league meeting in Orlando, Florida. "All this nonsense about a heated argument between Coach Saleh and me at the league meeting is absolutely false," Johnson said on X. "It is yet another irresponsible report from NFL Network. Please disregard." It's unusual for Johnson, 76, to respond in this manner, but he evidently felt compelled after a comment by NFL Network's Colleen Wolfe gained traction late Wednesday. On the "Around the NFL" podcast, Wolfe said she heard about the alleged Johnson-Saleh dispute from a "very reliable source." Initially, she said it occurred at the NFL's cocktail reception Monday night at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, which hosted the NFL's league meetings. Later in the podcast, she said it was Sunday night, not Monday. She provided no other...
March 28
March 28

Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo 'humbled' by newfound stardom

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo was a rising prep star growing up in New Jersey, but she did not start following women's basketball until her junior year in high school. Now, in the middle of a freshman All-America season, Hidalgo reflected how she has become a household name headed into the Irish's Sweet 16 matchup against Oregon State on Friday. "I never thought I would be the face of something," Hidalgo said Thursday. "It's still like, 'Wow, people are trying to look up to me.' When I was in Spain, and people are chanting my last name, it's just like, people know me from all over and it's humbling. I continue to be humbled because I know in an instant everything could be taken away from me." Hidalgo has led an injury-depleted Notre Dame team, playing with six players in its rotation, to its third straight Sweet 16 appearance. It was the work of coach Niele Ivey, a Notre Dame alum herself, that got Hidalgo interested in playing for the...
March 28
March 28

Timberwolves owner not selling stake to Alex Rodriguez, Marc Lore

Minnesota Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor is no longer selling his controlling stake in the franchise to minority owners Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, he announced Thursday. Taylor alleges Lore and Rodriguez failed to meet certain contractual deadlines and obligations of the sale process, which began in 2021. Sources told ESPN that the relationship between Taylor and his successors -- Lore and Rodriguez -- disintegrated over the past two years. Minnesota (50-22) is having its best season in years and is just a half-game out of first place in the Western Conference. In a statement given to ESPN, Lore and Rodriguez maintained they have met their financial obligations to Taylor, including a final payment last week. In 2021, Taylor agreed to sell the Timberwolves and WNBA's Minnesota Lynx for $1.5 billion, with a structure that called for a transfer of power over a number of years as Lore and Rodriguez made a series of payments. "We are disappointed with Glen Taylor's public...
March 28
March 28

Lawyer: Chance Comanche won't face death penalty if convicted

Former G League player Chance Comanche, who was charged with the murder of a woman whose body was found near Las Vegas, will not face the possibility of the death penalty if he were to be found guilty at trial, his lawyer told ESPN on Thursday. "Today the State announced that they are not seeking the death penalty," Gary L. Guymon, Comanche's attorney, wrote via email. "We are grateful for this decision. The case will be set for trial where we will make the necessary comments and arguments in Court in anticipation of trial." Comanche, who also faces kidnapping charges, pleaded not guilty at a hearing Thursday. Indicted by a grand jury, Comanche saw his arraignment continued earlier this month while the case was considered by the capital case review committee. Prosecutors said that Comanche and his former girlfriend, Sakari Harnden, 19, -- who faces murder and kidnapping charges related to the death of the same woman -- will be tried together. Harnden also pleaded not guilty. They...
March 28
March 28

Caitlin Clark invited to Olympic camp before Final Four

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Caitlin Clark will be busy on women's Final Four weekend in Cleveland whether her Iowa Hawkeyes make it that far or not. USA Basketball on Thursday confirmed Clark is invited to take part in the Olympic training camp in Cleveland on April 3-5. The Final Four is April 5-7. Clark's Hawkeyes are the No. 1 seed in the Albany 2 Region, and face No. 5 Colorado here on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC). Iowa is hoping to make the Final Four for the second year in a row. If the Hawkeyes fall short, Clark can take part in the USA senior team camp. She has earned three gold medals with USA Basketball junior national teams, most recently with the 2021 USA Women's U19 National Team. Clark, who leads Division I in scoring, assists and 3-pointers, is expected to be the WNBA's No. 1 draft pick by the Indiana Fever on April 15. No dates have been announced for when the women's U.S. Olympic 5-on-5 and 3x3 teams will be named for the Paris Games, which are July 26 to August 11. Clark...
March 28
March 28

Rob Manfred hopes Shohei Ohtani investigation takes 'short' time

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said Thursday the league is committed to its investigation of the scandal surrounding Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and hopes it will take a "short" time to resolve. Last week Ohtani's interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was fired after questions surrounding at least $4.5 million in wire transfers sent from the superstar's bank account to a bookmaking operation. Ohtani claims his close friend Mizuhara repeatedly took money from his accounts to fund his illegal sports gambling habit. Ohtani also says he was completely unaware of the "massive theft," as his lawyers termed it, until Mizuhara confessed to him and the Dodgers last week in South Korea, where the team opened its regular season against the Padres. "Given the way the story unfolded, it's important in assuring our fans about the integrity of the game that we verify the things that Mr. Ohtani said, it's really that simple," Manfred said on Major League Baseball Network's "High...
March 28
March 28

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole placed on 60-day IL due to elbow

Any dreams of a speedy return to the mound for reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole were dashed Thursday when the New York Yankees moved the right-hander to the 60-day injured list due to elbow inflammation. On March 16, Cole said he wouldn't throw for three to four weeks in an effort to heal his ailing throwing elbow, telling reporters that nerve irritation and edema were the source of his problem, with rest and recovery the prescription. The Yankees finalized their Opening Day roster Thursday morning, also moving right-handers Tommy Kahnle (right shoulder inflammation) and McKinley Moore (right knee bursitis) to the 15-day IL and infielders DJ LeMahieu (right foot contusion) and Oswald Peraza (right shoulder strain) to the 10-day IL. All four moves were retroactive to Monday. New York also added newly acquired infielder Jon Berti to the active roster, recalled right-hander Luis Gil from Triple-A...
March 28
March 28

Warriors' Draymond Green says he 'deserved to be kicked out'

Golden State star Draymond Green on Thursday expressed regret for again being ejected -- this time, less than four minutes into the game -- in the Warriors' victory against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night. "It just can't happen," Green said on "The Draymond Green Show" podcast Thursday. "I said what I said. I deserved to be kicked out at that point. If I'm all the way honest with y'all, kind of was trying to turn my body and angle it to go to the bench, but I said what I said a little too soon before angling my body. ... But, yeah, it just can't happen." Green had been chirping at official Ray Acosta after being called for his first personal foul. A few plays later, after Stephen Curry was called for a shooting foul, Green approached Acosta and began yelling at him. Acosta issued a technical foul, and when Green didn't stop, Acosta gave him another, ending his night at the 8:24 mark of the first quarter. It was Green's career-high fourth...
March 28
March 28

Source: Chiefs agree to deal with rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit

The Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to contract terms with European rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit, a source confirmed, giving the team another potential offensive threat. The Chiefs will look at Rees-Zammit at running back and perhaps wide receiver. His biggest immediate impact could come on special teams and particularly as a return specialist under the NFL's new kickoff format. Rees-Zammit, 23, announced in January that he would attempt to play in the NFL. He participated in the NFL's International Player Pathway pro day last week and ran a 4.43 in the 40-yard dash. Rees-Zammit, who is from Wales, then made visits to a handful of teams before agreeing to contract terms with the Chiefs. This season marks the first time that each team will have a 17th roster spot on the practice squad specifically available for an international player. Teams also are permitted to elevate an international practice squad player to the active roster a maximum of three times...
March 28
March 28

Rays' Wander Franco placed on administrative leave, sources say

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was placed on paid administrative leave through June 1 while a potential criminal case in the Dominican Republic remains unresolved, sources told ESPN. Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association reached the agreement on Franco as prosecutors continue to investigate allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl in the Dominican Republic, sources said. The agreement, sources said, allows Franco's status with MLB to change if there are further developments in the case, in which prosecutors allege that he broke sexual exploitation and money-laundering laws. Franco has yet to be formally charged. Sources familiar with the judicial process against Franco told ESPN that there have been no significant changes and that they continue to carry out the corresponding investigations, with no set date on which they plan to file a formal accusation. In January, during a coercive measures hearing,...
March 28
March 28

Hornets' LaMelo Ball shut down for season due to ankle injury

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball will not play again this season as he continues to rehab a right ankle injury, the team announced Thursday. Ball has been out since Jan. 27, when he did not play in the second game of a back-to-back. The 22-year-old missed two significant stretches of the 2023-24 season, sitting out nearly seven weeks after he sprained his right ankle in November. In all, Ball has been limited to 58 games over the past two seasons due to a number of injuries to the same ankle. When he is on the court, Ball has been effective despite the Hornets (18-54) missing the playoffs for the eighth straight season. He averaged a career-high 23.9 points per game this season and has been Rookie of the Year (2020-21) and an All-Star (2021-22). Ball is under contract through the 2028-29 season after receiving a five-year designated rookie max extension in July.
March 28
March 28

Michael Porter Jr. defends brother Jontay amid betting probe

Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. said Wednesday night that he's sure younger brother  Jontay would never do anything to jeopardize his budding NBA career. Jontay Porter, a forward for the  Toronto Raptors, is under investigation by the NBA after multiple instances of betting irregularities over the past several months, sources told ESPN earlier this week. At issue are prop bets involving Porter from games on Jan. 26 and March 20, sources said. An NBA spokesperson told ESPN that the league is "looking into it." Michael Porter Jr. took the podium after the Nuggets' loss at home to the  Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night and was asked about the probe involving his brother. Michael Porter Jr. said he has no more details than the media does, but he vouched for his brother, who at 24 is a year younger than him, saying, "Jontay loves the game of basketball" and has been thrilled to play for Toronto on a two-way contract this season. "I've...
March 28
March 28

LeBron James being 'strategic' with health vs. Lakers' seeding

MEMPHIS --  LeBron James says he will prioritize his health over the chase for the Los Angeles Lakers' playoff seeding down the stretch of the regular season. "I got to be smart with it," James said after the Lakers' 136-124 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. "If I'm not healthy, or [anywhere] close to being healthy, then it's not good for our ballclub anyway. It's not good for me." James returned from a one-game absence because of his sore left ankle -- something that has been an issue for the 21-year veteran for months -- to log his fourth triple-double of the season with 23 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists against the Grizzlies. L.A. extended its winning streak to a season-best five games and is currently No. 9 in the Western Conference standings with nine games remaining in the regular season. However, James said the fact that he rested his ankle the night before in the Lakers' 128-124 double-overtime win against the ...
March 28
March 28

Chimaev vs. Whittaker tops UFC Saudi Arabia card June 22

The UFC will put on its first event in Saudi Arabia on June 22 with a card headlined by a middleweight bout between Khamzat Chimaev and  Robert Whittaker, Dana White, the promotion's president, announced Wednesday night. The UFC Fight Night card will air for free on ABC. Chimaev and Whittaker will fight to determine the No. 1 contender for middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis, White said. Chimaev (13-0) hasn't fought since he defeated former welterweight champion  Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 in October. He had pushed for a title bout with Du Plessis at UFC 300 in April, but Du Plessis injured both legs when he took the championship from Sean Strickland in their January UFC 297 fight. Du Plessis told ESPN earlier this month that he is expecting to be ready by mid-2024. Whittaker (26-7), a former middleweight champ, is coming off a unanimous-decision win over  Paulo Costa in February. It was his first fight since a TKO loss to Du...
March 28
March 28

Refs admit missed foul on 76ers' final drive in loss to Clips

PHILADELPHIA -- Following the Clippers' 108-107 win over the 76ers on Wednesday night, crew chief Kevin Scott said in a pool report that there should have been a foul called on a drive by 76ers forward  Kelly Oubre Jr. on the game's final play. "On the last play on the floor, in real time the crew interpreted that play as the defender jumping vertically," Scott said. "However, in postgame video review we did observe some slight drift to his left by the defender  [Paul] George, and a foul should have been ruled." The play capped a chaotic final minute of action, one that saw multiple reviews, a wedgie that resulted in a jump ball, two costly 76ers turnovers, a pair of and-1s by Clippers star Kawhi Leonard and, ultimately, Oubre's drive that resulted in him lying on the ground as the Clippers celebrated a needed victory in James Harden's first game in South Philly since being traded.  Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse stormed onto...
March 28
March 28

Stephen Curry 'lets out steam,' lifts Dubs after Green tossed

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Since  Draymond Green returned from his indefinite suspension in January, the Golden State Warriors have applauded the way he has maintained his fire while managing not to cross the line. He would bark at officials and play with physicality but did so without taking it too far. Until Wednesday night. Green was ejected less than four minutes into the Warriors' eventual  101-93 win over the Orlando Magic. He had been chirping at official Ray Acosta after being called for his first personal foul. A few plays later, after Stephen Curry was called for a shooting foul, Green approached Acosta and began yelling at him. Acosta issued a technical foul, and when Green didn't stop, Acosta gave him another, ending his night at the 8:24 mark of the first quarter. "We need him. He knows that. We all know that," Curry said of Green. "So whatever we need to do to keep him on the floor and be available, that's what's got to happen....
March 28
March 27

Sources: Florida Atlantic hiring John Jakus as next head coach

Florida Atlantic is hiring Baylor assistant John Jakus as its next head coach, sources told ESPN on Wednesday. Jakus is replacing Dusty May, who left last week to become the head coach at Michigan. May led FAU to the 2023 Final Four and back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances. Jakus has been on Scott Drew's staff for seven seasons, helping lead Baylor to the national championship in 2021 and back-to-back Big 12 regular-season titles in 2021 and 2022. He also spent three seasons on Mark Few's staff at Gonzaga as director of basketball operations and began his college coaching career as a graduate assistant at Baylor. He also has coaching experience overseas, as the head coach of ABA Strumica in Macedonia and Agape Bulgaria. Drew's coaching tree has produced several head coaches, including Kansas State's Jerome Tang, Texas Tech's Grant McCasland, Wichita State's Paul Mills and North Florida's Matt Driscoll.
March 27
March 27

SMU targeting USC's Andy Enfield for coaching job, sources say

SMU is targeting Andy Enfield for the school's basketball job, sources told ESPN. Enfield has been the focus of the search for days, but sources indicated that a deal isn't expected to be finalized imminently. Sources indicated that SMU's search is solely focused on Enfield at this point, as the school isn't engaged with other candidates. It could take days to resolve and finalize the hire. SMU initially reached out to Enfield over the weekend, as the school has been looking to make a splashy hire in the wake of firing Rob Lanier after just two seasons. Lanier went 20-13 this season, but SMU's brass wanted someone who could deliver an immediately competitive team in the ACC. Enfield has been the coach at USC for 11 seasons, going 261-175 with five NCAA tournament appearances. Enfield's profile includes the power conference résumé that SMU is seeking, as he had reached three straight NCAA tournaments before going 15-18 this season. SMU will enter the ACC next season, a...
March 27
March 27

D.C. mayor, Leonsis announce Caps, Wiz to stay in Washington under new deal

WASHINGTON -- The NBA's Washington Wizards and NHL's Washington Capitals are staying in the District of Columbia for the long term after ownership and the city reached an agreement on a $515 million arena project. Owner Ted Leonsis and Mayor Muriel Bowser signed a letter of intent on Wednesday for the deal, which keeps the teams in the district through 2050. They announced the development at a joint news conference at Capital One Arena minutes later. "It's a great day, and I'm really relieved," Leonsis said. "This was not only the right thing for the community, the right thing for the city, the right thing for us, it's a really smart business deal." The project is set to include 200,000 square feet of expansion of the arena complex into the nearby Gallery Place space, the creation of an entertainment district in the surrounding Chinatown neighborhood and safety and transportation upgrades. "We are the current home and the future home of the Washington Capitals and...
March 27
March 27

Warriors' Draymond Green ejected after arguing with official

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was ejected less than four minutes into Wednesday night's game against the Orlando Magic. Green had been chirping at official Ray Acosta after being called for his first personal foul. A few plays later, after Stephen Curry was called for a shooting foul, Green approached Acosta and began yelling at him. Acosta issued a technical foul, and when Green didn't stop, Acosta gave him another, ending his night at the 8:24 mark of the first quarter. As Green made his way off the court, Warriors coach Steve Kerr voiced his displeasure with the referees. During the subsequent timeout, Curry paced back and forth while shaking his head. The Warriors went on to win 101-93. It was Green's career-high fourth ejection of the season. He is the first player to be ejected at least four times in a season since Kevin Durant was tossed five times in 2017-18, according to ESPN Stats & Information...
March 27
March 27

Sixers' Joel Embiid likely back in regular season, Nick Nurse says

PHILADELPHIA --  Sixers coach Nick Nurse expressed optimism that reigning MVP  Joel Embiid will be back on the court before the end of the regular season.   "I think there's a very good likelihood that he will return before the play-in, playoff," Nurse said before the Sixers' game Wednesday night against the  LA Clippers. Embiid hasn't played since Jan. 30, when Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga inadvertently fell on his leg in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Warriors in San Francisco. Since then, the 76ers have gone 10-16, the 10th-best record in the Eastern Conference over that span, and have fallen into the play-in tournament mix in the Eastern Conference standings. Things would change in a hurry if Embiid, who was leading the league in scoring at 35.3 points per game before getting hurt, is able to return sometime over the next 10 games. Embiid is seven weeks removed from having surgery on the lateral meniscus in his...
March 27
March 27

Dan Hurley: UConn 'manifested' tournament home-court advantage

BOSTON -- In a quest for back-to-back national titles,  UConn coach Dan Hurley saw a competitive advantage for the Huskies soon after they cut down the nets in Houston last year. Way back then, he saw UConn's potential path back to the Final Four only requiring bus trips. And with the Huskies handling business in the first two rounds of the men's NCAA tournament in Brooklyn against No. 16 Stetson and No. 9 Northwestern, Hurley said his team has earned an expected home-court advantage in Boston this weekend. "We hope the crowd can be a Storrs North for us," Hurley said, referencing the school's home in Connecticut. "Maybe feel a little bit like [Madison Square Garden] does for us when we play there [in] the Big East tournament and during the Big East regular season, too." He estimated that 60% of the crowd could be wearing UConn blue when the top-seeded Huskies play No. 5 San Diego State in a rematch of last year's national title game. UConn is the...
March 27
March 27

Jayden Daniels honors teammate with cancer at LSU pro day

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Jayden Daniels was true to his word. The LSU quarterback and 2023 Heisman Trophy winner worked out in front of NFL teams at LSU's pro day after declining to do so during the NFL scouting combine in February. Daniels was wearing a long-sleeved purple shirt with the name and number of former Tigers teammate Greg Brooks Jr. on the back. Brooks missed most of his senior season at LSU last fall after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor in September. "Obviously, if Greg were here, he'd be a part of this. He's not here, but he's here in spirit, and I'm here to rep him," Daniels said. "My teammates who didn't get an invite to the combine, obviously they had multiple eyes out here, all 32 [NFL teams] and more, so it was beneficial to go out there and showcase their talent, showcase how they move, write their own journey. If they get an opportunity, I know they're going to crush it." LSU coach Brian Kelly said Daniels' tribute to Brooks...
March 27
March 27

Yankees' Juan Soto feeling 'at home' ahead of season opener

On the eve of the  New York Yankees' season opener at Minute Maid Park against the Houston Astros, manager Aaron Boone had a simple directive for his new slugger: It's your team, too. Asked how Juan Soto will fit into a team with Aaron Judge as the acknowledged superstar and Anthony Rizzo and Giancarlo Stanton entrenched as veteran leaders, Boone said on a Zoom call with reporters Wednesday, "My message to him is: It's his clubhouse, too, and we want to learn and grow from you and want you to feel empowered to say and do whatever you feel like you need to do." Acquired from the San Diego Padres in a blockbuster offseason trade, Soto brings his powerful bat, elite on-base ability and Soto Shuffle to a lineup that struggled to score runs in 2023. With the Padres, there were reports during the season as the team's playoff hopes slowly disintegrated that some of the egos in the San Diego clubhouse -- Soto, Manny Machado...
March 27
March 27

Dodgers, catcher Will Smith agree to 10-year, $140M extension

Catcher Will Smith and the Dodgers signed a 10-year, $140 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, the latest deal in an offseason of massive spending by a Los Angeles team that is locking up its core members. Smith, who turns 29 on Friday, was due to hit free agency following the 2025 season. Los Angeles prevented that by giving him a deal that will run through the 2033 season and keep him in the middle of one of baseball's most dangerous lineups. The $140 million is the third-highest guarantee ever for a catcher, behind Joe Mauer's eight-year, $184 million contract with Minnesota and Buster Posey's nine-year, $167 million deal with San Francisco. The deal, negotiated by Apex Baseball, includes a $30 million signing bonus -- to be paid in two installments by January 2025 -- and around 30% of the remaining salary deferred, sources said. After debuting in 2019, Smith almost immediately established himself as one of the best-hitting...
March 27
March 27

Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ruled out vs. Rockets

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Superstar guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will sit out the Thunder's home game against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday due to a right quadriceps contusion. Gilgeous-Alexander originally suffered the injury during a March 20 win over the visiting  Utah Jazz. He played in the Thunder's next three games but didn't perform up to his MVP-contender standards, averaging 19.7 points on 44.2% shooting during that stretch. "He's banged up, for sure," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault told reporters after Gilgeous-Alexander hobbled noticeably at times while scoring 24 points in 38 minutes during Tuesday's road win over the New Orleans Pelicans. "He's not 100 percent. We're monitoring it." Gilgeous-Alexander, who has missed only one previous game this season, ranks third in the league with 30.4 points per game on 54.0% shooting. He has led the Thunder to a 50-21 record, putting Oklahoma City a half-game behind the defending champion...
March 27
March 27

Panthers to sign pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney, sources say

Free agent pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney has agreed to a two-year, $20 million contract with the Carolina Panthers, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Wednesday. Clowney's contract can be worth up to $24 million, the sources said. Clowney gives the Panthers another pass-rusher to help fill the void left by the trade of Brian Burns to the New York Giants earlier this month. The Panthers also signed free agent D.J. Wonnum earlier this month. It will be a homecoming for Clowney, who is from Rock Hill, South Carolina, and played collegiately for South Carolina. Besides the Panthers, Clowney also received interest from the New York Jets, visiting the team last week. Clowney, 31, got his career back on track last year, becoming one of the bigger surprises on the Baltimore Ravens with his pass rush and durability. He proved he can still impact games by getting to the quarterback with 9.5 sacks, which tied a career high. In the...
March 27
March 27

Panthers reach deal with pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney

Free agent pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney has agreed to a contract with the Carolina Panthers, the team announced Wednesday. Terms were not disclosed but sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Clowney agreed to a two-year, $20 million contract that can be worth up to $24 million. Clowney will receive bonuses for reaching 8, 10 and 12 sacks in each season, a league source told ESPN's David Newton. For Clowney, this is a homecoming. He is a native of Rock Hill, South Carolina, about 25 minutes south of Charlotte where he starred at South Pointe High School. He also attended the University of South Carolina, about 90 minutes south of Charlotte. Clowney was the top pick of the 2014 draft by the Houston Texans. For the Panthers, this fills a huge need after they traded two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants. They signed D.J. Wonnum and K'Lavon Chaisson during free agency, with Chaisson brought in more...
March 27
March 27

Sophia Smith signs new Thorns deal, becomes NWSL's highest paid

United States women's national team forward Sophia Smith has signed a new contract with the Portland Thorns that ties her to Portland through the 2025 season, with an option to extend the contract through 2026, the National Women's Soccer League ( NWSL) announced Wednesday. Smith's new deal makes her the highest-paid player annually in the NWSL, the team told ESPN. Sources later confirmed that information to ESPN. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL more (U.S.) The record for the highest-paying cumulative contract in NWSL history was set on multiple occasions this past offseason. Chicago Red Stars forward Mallory Swanson, Bay FC forward Racheal Kundananji, and Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda all signed multiyear deals worth between $2 million and $2.5 million in total. Smith signed a shorter-term deal but will be paid higher annually, the Thorns said, although general manager...
March 27
March 27

Sources: Dodgers, Will Smith close to 10-year, $140M deal

Catcher Will Smith and the Los Angeles Dodgers are finalizing a 10-year, $140 million contract extension, sources told ESPN, the latest deal in an offseason of massive spending by a Los Angeles team that is locking up its core members. Smith, who turns 29 on Friday, was due to hit free agency following the 2025 season. Los Angeles prevented that by giving him a deal that will run through the 2033 season and keep him in the middle of one of baseball's most dangerous lineups. After debuting in 2019, Smith almost immediately established himself as one of the best hitting catchers in baseball. With an elite eye and 20-plus-home run power, Smith spent most of last season hitting third for Los Angeles and made his first All-Star team. The addition of Shohei Ohtani this winter pushed Smith down to the cleanup spot, behind the three former MVPs at the top of the Dodgers' lineup: Mookie Betts, Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. Smith's extension follows...
March 27
March 27

Sophia Smith signs new Thorns deal, becomes NWSL's highest-paid

United States women's national team forward Sophia Smith has signed a new contract with the Portland Thorns that ties her to Portland through the 2025 season, with an option to extend the contract through 2026, the National Women's Soccer League ( NWSL) announced Wednesday. Smith's new deal makes her the highest-paid player annually in the NWSL, the team told ESPN. Sources later confirmed that information to ESPN. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL more (U.S.) The record for the highest-paying cumulative contract in NWSL history was set on multiple occasions this past offseason. Chicago Red Stars forward Mallory Swanson, Bay FC forward Racheal Kundananji, and Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda all signed multi-year deals worth between $2m and $2.5m in total. Smith signed a shorter-term deal but will be paid higher annually, the Thorns said, although general manager Karina LeBlanc...
March 27
March 27

Sources: Lakers' LeBron James expected to play vs. Grizzlies

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- LeBron James is expected to be available Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies after sitting out the Los Angeles Lakers' 128-124 come-from-behind win in double overtime Tuesday against the Milwaukee Bucks, sources told ESPN. James was sidelined in Milwaukee because of left ankle soreness, something that he has been playing through for several months. The Grizzlies matchup is the second leg of Los Angeles' six-game road trip that continues against Indiana, Brooklyn, Toronto and Washington. The Lakers (40-32) are currently No. 9 in the Western Conference standings with 10 games remaining.
March 27
March 27

Messi visit set to break New England's 61k attendance record

The anticipated visit of Lionel Messi to Gillette Stadium next month is set to break the New England Revolution's long-standing single-game attendance record with over 60,000 tickets already sold for the matchup with Inter Miami, New England announced Wednesday. Less than 5,000 tickets remain for the April 27 MLS clash, the Revs said. The figure is well on track to surpass the club's previous attendance record of 61,316 set for the 2002 MLS Cup, when New England hosted the LA Galaxy. The previous regular-season attendance record for a Revolution home game dates back to 1997, when New England hosted the Tampa Bay Mutiny in a doubleheader with a World Cup qualifying match between Mexico and the United States. Gillette Stadium, which also hosts six-time Super Bowl winners the New England Patriots, opened in 2002. The record for a Revolution regular-season match at the stadium was 42,947 in 2015. Last season,...
March 27
March 27

Source: Broncos signing ex-Lions WR Josh Reynolds to 2-year deal

Free agent wide receiver Josh Reynolds is signing a two-year deal worth up to $14 million with the Denver Broncos, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Wednesday. Reynolds' addition comes after the Broncos traded wide receiver Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns earlier this month. Reynolds joins a depth chart that includes Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., Tim Patrick and others. Reynolds has provided a veteran presence within the Detroit Lions' receiving corps as a consistent target for quarterback Jared Goff over the past few seasons. In 2023, he finished with 608 yards on 40 catches with 5 touchdowns. The yardage total, which he reached on the final drive of the regular-season finale, was significant because it triggered a $250,000 bonus clause for surpassing 600 yards for the season. His total was third highest on the team. At the NFL's annual league meetings this week in Orlando, Florida, Lions...
March 27
March 27

It was a good day: Ice Cube's Big3 extends $5M offer to Caitlin Clark

Iowa women's basketball star  Caitlin Clark has been offered $5 million to play in the Big3 league, co-founder Ice Cube confirmed on social media on Wednesday.  "We intended the offer to remain private while Caitlin Clark plays for the championship," Ice Cube wrote on X. "But I won't deny what's now already out there: BIG3 made a historic offer to Caitlin Clark. Why wouldn't we? Caitlin is a generational athlete who can achieve tremendous success in the BIG3. "The skeptics laughed when we made Nancy Lieberman the first female coach of a men's pro team, and she won the championship in her first year. Then Lisa Leslie won it all in year two. With our offer, Caitlin Clark can make history and break down even more barriers for women athletes." Clark, who will be playing in the NCAA tournament Sweet 16 this weekend in Albany, New York, was not available for comment Wednesday morning. ESPN reached out to her agency, Excel, for comment. ESPN also reached out to the...
March 27
March 27

David Rubenstein unanimously approved as new Orioles owner

Major League Baseball's owners have unanimously approved private-equity billionaire David Rubenstein as the new owner of the Baltimore Orioles. The accelerated sale, which will eventually give Rubenstein and his ownership group 70% of the Orioles, transferred control of the team to him less than two months after he agreed to buy it from the Angelos family. "On behalf of Major League Baseball, I thank the Angelos family for their many years of service to the game and the communities of Baltimore," said Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred, Jr. in a statement. "Peter Angelos loved Baseball, loved Baltimore and was an important part of MLB for more than three decades. "I congratulate David Rubenstein on receiving approval from the Major League Clubs as the new control person of the Orioles. As a Baltimore native and a lifelong fan of the team, David is uniquely suited to lead the Orioles moving forward. We welcome David and his partners as the new stewards of the...
March 27
March 27

Sources: Louisville targeting Pat Kelsey for basketball coach

Louisville is targeting Charleston's Pat Kelsey as its next head coach, sources told ESPN on Wednesday. Kelsey is coming off his second consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, leading Charleston to back-to-back CAA regular-season and tournament championships. He brings a career 261-122 record over 12 seasons as a head coach at Charleston and Winthrop. The Cougars went 31-4 during the 2022-23 season, winning 21 of their first 22 games. They took eventual national runner-up San Diego State to the wire in the first round of the NCAA tournament before falling. Kelsey's hire brings to an end a whirlwind search for athletic director Josh Heird, who fired Kenny Payne just over two weeks ago. Heird first pursued Baylor coach Scott Drew, who opted to return to Waco, and then targeted Florida Atlantic's Dusty May, who ultimately chose Michigan. This all played out amid a backdrop of uncertainty in the ACC, as last week...
March 27

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