Trinity Rodman, a forward for the Washington Spirit, was named the best player in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) for the 2026 season by ESPN. She scored 10 goals and made five assists in 20 games, playing in every match despite past injuries.
Key Facts
Trinity Rodman plays for the Washington Spirit in the NWSL.
She scored 10 goals and made 5 assists in the 2026 season.
Rodman played all 20 league games this year.
Two teammates, Leicy Santos and Tara Rudd, were also ranked in the top 25 NWSL players.
Rodman was named U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year in 2021.
She helped the U.S. women's national team win gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be in Brazil next summer.
Rodman is expected to be part of the U.S. team for the 2027 World Cup.
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Manchester United has agreed to pay up to £70 million to Brighton for midfielder Carlos Baleba. The two clubs finalized the deal, allowing Baleba, 22, to undergo a medical exam before joining Manchester United.
Key Facts
Manchester United will pay an initial £65 million for Carlos Baleba.
There is an extra £5 million in possible add-ons (extra payments based on certain achievements).
Brighton included a sell-on clause, meaning they get a percentage if Baleba is sold again in the future.
Carlos Baleba is a 22-year-old midfielder from Cameroon.
Manchester United recently signed two other midfielders, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.
The deal was finalized on a Friday evening, allowing Baleba to start medical tests at Manchester United.
This transfer shows Manchester United’s plan to strengthen their midfield team.
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The Las Vegas Raiders won their preseason game against the Houston Texans 22-20 after a slow start. Star defensive player Maxx Crosby has not played in the preseason so far and will not play in the final preseason game, although he has been healthy and practicing with the team.
Key Facts
The Raiders were behind 20-3 at halftime against the Texans but came back to win 22-20.
Rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza started the game but struggled and was replaced by Aidan O’Connell in the second half.
Maxx Crosby, a key defensive player, has not played in either of the first two preseason games.
Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak confirmed Crosby will also miss the final preseason game.
Crosby had a knee injury last season and had surgery in January but has fully participated in training camp.
Crosby was unhappy last season when the team placed him on injured reserve, saying he could have kept playing.
Fans and Crosby will likely have to wait until the regular season starts on September 13 to see him play.
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The University of Michigan was interested in adding quarterback Drew Mestemaker from the transfer portal this offseason, despite already having Bryce Underwood as their starting quarterback. Mestemaker eventually chose to transfer to Oklahoma State, and Underwood will continue as Michigan’s quarterback under new coach Kyle Whittingham.
Key Facts
Michigan wanted competition at quarterback and showed interest in transfer Drew Mestemaker.
Bryce Underwood, Michigan’s current quarterback, had a mixed freshman season with 2,428 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions.
Drew Mestemaker led the NCAA in passing yards last season with 4,379 yards, 34 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions.
Mestemaker also scored five touchdowns by running the ball.
He considered schools like Oregon, LSU, Texas Tech, and Michigan before choosing Oklahoma State.
Mestemaker transferred to Oklahoma State to follow head coach Eric Morris.
If Mestemaker had joined Michigan, he likely would have started immediately, with Underwood backing him up.
Underwood will now continue to develop under Michigan’s new coaching staff in his second year.
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UCLA football is starting a new chapter with coach Bob Chesney after a tough previous season that ended with no wins and a coaching change. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava, returning for his second year, feels the team being overlooked will motivate them to perform better this season.
Key Facts
UCLA had an 0-4 start last season, leading to a coaching change.
Bob Chesney became UCLA’s head coach in December and is working to improve the team.
Quarterback Nico Iamaleava transferred from Tennessee and is in his second season at UCLA.
Iamaleava believes the team’s underdog status will drive them to play harder.
UCLA’s first game of the 2026 season is on September 5 against California.
Their home opener at the Rose Bowl is on September 12 against San Diego State.
The first Big Ten conference game will be against Purdue on September 19 at the Rose Bowl.
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Dallas Mavericks player Klay Thompson responded to a fan debate comparing his career to Ray Allen’s. Thompson defended his achievements, highlighting his playoff scoring and championship wins with Golden State Warriors, while Allen has more All-Star selections and points scored.
Key Facts
Ray Allen was a 10-time NBA All-Star; Klay Thompson has been selected five times.
Both players made the All-NBA Team twice.
Allen reached the NBA Finals four times and won two championships.
Thompson reached the NBA Finals multiple times and won four championships, all with the Warriors.
Allen scored over 24,500 points in his 18-year career; Thompson has over 17,300 points entering his 14th season.
Allen had higher averages in points, assists, rebounds, and steals; Thompson has a higher average for blocks per game.
Thompson was the second-highest scorer on Warriors teams without Kevin Durant.
Ray Allen is retired and in the Basketball Hall of Fame; Thompson is an active player for the Dallas Mavericks.
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Alex Rodriguez will take a bigger role with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx basketball teams after co-owner Marc Lore sold some of his shares. Marc and Elisa Stad will become the main owners, while Rodriguez will increase his investment and serve as Co-Chairman and Governor for the teams, pending approval from the basketball league.
Key Facts
Marc Lore sold shares of the Timberwolves and Lynx to Marc and Elisa Stad, who will become controlling owners.
The sale deal was worth $4.5 billion.
Alex Rodriguez is increasing his ownership stake in both teams.
Rodriguez will become Co-Chairman and Governor of the Lynx, and alternate Governor of the Timberwolves, after league approval.
Marc Lore will stay on as a minority investor and remain involved in the partnership.
Rodriguez and Lore took full control of both teams last year for $1.5 billion.
The new ownership group wants to focus on winning championships and improving the teams on and off the court.
They plan to continue working with the current team management and appreciate fan support.
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Amy Hunt finished second in the women's 200m race at the Diamond League event in Lausanne, Switzerland, with a time of 22.32 seconds. The race was won by American Kayla White, who ran in 22.18 seconds.
Key Facts
Amy Hunt’s time was 22.32 seconds in the 200m race.
Kayla White from the USA won the race with a time of 22.18 seconds.
Hunt narrowly beat Nigerian runner Favour Ofili in a very close finish.
Shericka Jackson, a former world champion, had to stop running due to a leg injury during the race.
Brittany Brown, a two-time Diamond League champion, did not start the race.
Hunt had just come off a successful European Championships where she won four gold medals.
She made history by winning gold in the 100m, 200m, women's 4x100m relay, and mixed 4x100m relay at one European Championship.
Upcoming Diamond League events will be held in Poland, Switzerland, and Belgium over the following weeks.
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NFL teams are holding joint practices before preseason games to help players prepare. Recently, several fights broke out during these sessions, leading to fines and player ejections. Coaches warn players to avoid fighting because it harms team progress.
Key Facts
Joint practices are common, with 28 of 32 NFL teams participating this year.
Fights happened during joint practices involving teams like the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, and Tennessee Titans.
The NFL fined the Cowboys and Saints $500,000 each for a fight-filled practice.
Players throwing punches during practice face the same penalties as during actual games.
Coaches say joint practices help starters prepare since they often skip preseason games.
Fighting during practice is discouraged because it disrupts teamwork and learning.
Coaches remind players these sessions are for improving skills, not for conflict.
Some players involved in the fights include Jameis Winston, Ronnie Bell, and others from various teams.
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Olympian Jenny Simpson collapsed during a run and was found to have a rare heart condition called arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. She was saved by co-workers who used a defibrillator, received medical treatment including a pacemaker, and is now recovering at home but cannot run anymore.
Key Facts
Jenny Simpson is a three-time Olympian and won a bronze medal in the 1,500 meters at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Simpson collapsed during a mile run in Raleigh, North Carolina, in June and lost memory of the event.
Two co-workers, Ivy and Joey Pointer, used an automated external defibrillator (AED) and performed CPR to save her.
She was diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, a rare heart condition affecting the heart’s electrical system.
Simpson had a defibrillator and pacemaker implanted to manage her condition.
Running caused the symptoms to appear but did not cause the heart disease.
She is recovering at home and continuing her role as chief running officer at Fleet Feet.
Simpson will no longer be able to run competitively but remains positive about her future.
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Tyreek Hill, a top NFL wide receiver, is still a free agent and recovering from a serious knee injury suffered in the 2025 season. His agent says Hill will not sign with a team until he feels fully healthy and ready, even though the 2026 season is about to start.
Key Facts
Tyreek Hill suffered a severe knee injury (dislocation and multiple torn ligaments) in Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season.
Hill is still rehabbing and has not signed with any team for the 2026 season, which starts in less than three weeks.
His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, says Hill is focusing on returning only when fully ready, without rushing.
Hill’s priority is choosing the right team and being healthy to help them win a Super Bowl, not the money.
Other top free-agent wide receivers like Stefon Diggs, Deebo Samuel, and Keenan Allen have already signed with teams.
Hill has been linked to teams including the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, and San Francisco 49ers.
Videos recently showed Hill running and jumping, suggesting good progress in his recovery.
Rosenhaus believes Hill is a future Hall of Famer and will be highly valued once he signs.
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Real Madrid will play against Espanyol in a La Liga match at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona on August 22. This game marks the start of Jose Mourinho’s second time coaching Real Madrid, as he works to lead the team using new players and his experience.
Key Facts
The match is between Espanyol and Real Madrid in Spain’s La Liga.
It will take place on Saturday, August 22, at 9:30 pm local time.
Jose Mourinho has returned as Real Madrid’s coach after 16 years.
Mourinho aims to restore the team’s strong work ethic and winning attitude.
Real Madrid have made major signings this summer, including Yan Diomande for 140 million euros.
Other new players include Bernardo Silva and Marc Cucurella.
Mourinho hopes to balance the team’s defense and attack better than previous coaches.
The match marks the start of Mourinho’s effort to challenge Barcelona’s dominance in Spanish football.
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USC might try to hire Alabama’s head football coach Kalen DeBoer if they decide to replace their current coach, Lincoln Riley. DeBoer recently signed an extension with Alabama and said he is committed to the program, but changes could happen if Alabama does not perform well this season.
Key Facts
Kalen DeBoer is the current head coach of Alabama’s football team.
DeBoer signed a contract extension with Alabama in April.
There was past speculation DeBoer might consider Michigan’s open coaching job, but he denied it.
USC’s coach Lincoln Riley’s position may be at risk if performance drops.
Agents in college football say USC would be an "earthquake" if Riley leaves, meaning a big shake-up.
If USC opens a coaching spot, they might pursue DeBoer despite his buyout cost at Alabama.
DeBoer expressed loyalty to Alabama and said he chose to be there to build the program.
Alabama’s and USC’s coaching situations depend heavily on team performances in the coming season.
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FIFA punished Argentina’s players and staff after a fight broke out following their 1-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup final. Several Argentine players and officials received bans and fines, and Argentina’s football association was fined and will face partial stadium closures for upcoming home games.
Key Facts
Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes was banned for 10 games and fined $90,000 for grabbing a Spanish player by the throat and pushing another to the ground.
Argentina defender Nahuel Molina received a seven-game ban and a $90,000 fine for hitting a Spanish player in the stomach.
Midfielder Thiago Almada was suspended for one game and fined $30,000.
Argentina official Roberto Ayala was banned for three games and fined $30,000.
Spain’s Gavi was banned for one game and fined $30,000 for unsporting behavior.
The bans apply to international matches, not club games.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) was fined $310,000 and ordered to close 50% of their stadium for one home game, plus one additional game with partial closure.
The AFA plans to appeal the decisions with FIFA and possibly the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
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NASCAR Hall of Famer Kurt Busch talked about the last moments he spent with his younger brother, Kyle Busch, before Kyle died from pneumonia that turned into sepsis. Kurt shared how emotional and difficult the time was and said he is now mentoring his nephew, Kyle’s 11-year-old son, who is starting to race.
Key Facts
Kyle Busch died on May 21 at age 41 due to pneumonia that developed into sepsis.
Kurt Busch was with Kyle in the hospital and shared his emotional experience on NBC’s “Today” show.
Kyle Busch was a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion (2015, 2019) and holds the record with 234 wins across NASCAR’s top three series.
Kurt Busch won the Cup Series championship in 2004 and was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2023.
Kyle became sick during a simulator practice and was hospitalized on May 20, shortly before he passed away.
Despite feeling unwell, Kyle continued racing and won a Truck Series race less than two weeks before his death.
Their father chose not to visit Kyle in the hospital to remember him as Kyle wanted.
Kurt is now mentoring Kyle’s son, Brexton, who is 11 years old and already showing strong racing skills.
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Golfer Lee Westwood responded to recent remarks from Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler about LIV Golf and the possibility of LIV players returning to the PGA Tour. Westwood said LIV players add quality to tournaments, while McIlroy questioned their value and Scheffler supported competition among the best players.
Key Facts
Lee Westwood, a LIV Golf player, was invited to the Alfred Dunhill Championship on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa.
Westwood criticized Rory McIlroy’s comments about LIV Golf players, saying they bring value to tournaments wherever they play.
Rory McIlroy said LIV players have not clearly added value and believes the PGA Tour is in a strong position.
Scottie Scheffler supports having the best players compete against each other and suggested welcoming LIV players back to the PGA Tour would be good.
Westwood was suspended from the PGA Tour in 2022 for playing in LIV Golf events and later left the European Tour.
McIlroy and Scheffler are competing in the BMW Championship, part of the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
Top LIV golfers include Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, and Cameron Smith.
The Alfred Dunhill Championship is a well-known tournament held annually in South Africa on the Sunshine Tour.
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SMU football coach Rhett Lashlee criticized a legal loophole in NCAA rules that lets some players return to college football after trying out for NFL teams. He said the current situation is confusing because different states and courts apply different rules, and he called for Congress to pass a law to create consistent rules for college sports.
Key Facts
Some players working out with NFL teams have been allowed to return to college football before the season starts.
The college football season begins on August 29.
Players from the 2022 class have filed lawsuits to gain more eligibility to play college football.
Different states and courts have different rules about player transfers and eligibility.
SMU coach Rhett Lashlee called the NCAA situation a loophole causing a lack of clear leadership and consistency.
Lashlee supports the Protect College Sports Act, a bill in Congress aimed at fixing these issues.
The current system means player eligibility can depend on which court hears their case.
Coaches must manage their teams while dealing with this uncertain and changing player situation just before the season.
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The Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints were each fined $500,000 by the NFL for a brawl during a joint training practice. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he will challenge the fines and may also fine the players involved.
Key Facts
The NFL fined both teams $500,000 due to a fight during a joint practice session.
No serious injuries happened during the brawl.
The NFL’s Competition Committee focuses on fair play and has warned teams to prevent unsportsmanlike behavior.
Jerry Jones, Cowboys owner, called the fine stiff but understood the league’s decision.
Jones plans to appeal the fines on behalf of the Cowboys.
He may also fine players involved in the fight, including linebacker Donovan Ezeiruaku.
Ezeiruaku was seen removing a helmet and throwing punches during the brawl.
Saints rookie Brock Rechsteiner was also involved, including a wrestling move called a German suplex on a Cowboys player.
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England’s cricket captain Joe Root said it would be good to have more choices about where the England team plays its home matches. England has a strong winning record at the Headingley ground in Leeds, but they will not play there in the next Ashes series in 2025, with matches scheduled at other locations instead.
Key Facts
England won against Pakistan at Headingley, marking their seventh straight win at this ground.
England will not play a Test match at Headingley until 2029, missing out on home advantage in the 2025 Ashes series.
Headingley and Old Trafford were left out of the 2027 Ashes venues, announced in 2023.
The 2025 Ashes northernmost Test ground will be Nottingham’s Trent Bridge; Southampton will also host a Test for the first time.
Headingley will host a women’s Ashes Test in 2025 instead of a men’s match.
England’s Joe Root resumed his role as captain after a break and is preparing to lead the team in the upcoming Ashes series.
Stephen Fleming is the new Test coach but will start after the Pakistan series; Marcus Trescothick is interim coach for now.
England and Wales Cricket Board plans to keep at least one Test match in Leeds or Manchester for every home Ashes series from 2031 onward.
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The Cleveland Browns drafted quarterback Shedeur Sanders in 2025, but there is speculation about tension between him and wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. Jeudy was seen dropping a pass from Sanders in a viral video, which led some fans to question if Jeudy supports another quarterback, Deshaun Watson, for the starting job.
Key Facts
The Browns picked Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Sanders showed promise as a rookie, starting seven games and helping the team win three.
Jerry Jeudy is a top wide receiver for the Browns.
A video showed Jeudy dropping a catchable pass from Sanders, sparking rumors of bad feelings between them.
Jeudy previously appeared to support Deshaun Watson as the starting quarterback by holding up four fingers in a livestream.
Jeudy said the four fingers were actually about his daughter’s age, not support for Watson.
Fans believe Jeudy might be trying to hurt Sanders’ chances, but there is no proof of this.
Browns coach Todd Monken will choose the quarterback who gives the team the best chance to win.
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