Crystal Palace, after winning the FA Cup in May 2025 for the first time in their history, are now close to reaching their first major European final in the UEFA Conference League. They have reached the semi-finals by beating Fiorentina and will face Shakhtar Donetsk next.
Key Facts
Crystal Palace won the FA Cup for the first time on 17 May 2025 by defeating Manchester City.
The club is competing in the UEFA Conference League for the first time this season.
Palace reached the Conference League semi-finals after beating Fiorentina over two legs (3-0 win at home, 2-1 loss away).
They will play Shakhtar Donetsk in the semi-final round.
The Conference League started in 2021 and offers clubs a chance to win a European trophy.
Previous winners include Roma and West Ham United, both celebrating major achievements.
Palace faced challenges mid-season when their coach, Oliver Glasner, announced he would leave at season’s end, but the team’s form improved afterward.
Striker Ismaila Sarr has been a key player, scoring seven goals in the Conference League this season.
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Nottingham Forest won 1-0 against Porto and advanced to the Europa League semi-finals, their first European semi-final in 42 years. Despite this success, their position in the English Premier League remains difficult, as they risk relegation if they do not get enough points in upcoming matches.
Key Facts
Nottingham Forest beat Porto 1-0 on Thursday, winning the tie 2-1 on aggregate.
They will face Aston Villa in the Europa League semi-final, with the winner going to the final in Istanbul on 20 May.
A win in the final would earn Forest a trophy and a spot in next season’s Champions League.
Forest has spent around £180 million on new players this season.
The club has had four different managers this season: Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou, Sean Dyche, and now Vitor Pereira.
Despite their European success, Forest are at risk of relegation in the Premier League if they lose key league games against teams like Burnley and Sunderland.
Manager Vitor Pereira prioritizes keeping Forest in the Premier League, calling relegation a disaster for the club.
Forest is trying to balance their goals of doing well in Europe while staying safe in the Premier League.
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The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Board of Governors plans to vote this month on changing the league's season schedule. They are considering moving from the current calendar to a fall-to-spring season.
Key Facts
The NWSL is the top professional women's soccer league in the United States.
The Board of Governors is the league's decision-making group.
They will vote on changing the league's schedule.
The proposed change is to shift the season to run from fall through spring.
This would differ from the current schedule, which is spring to fall.
The decision could affect teams, players, and game planning.
The vote is expected to happen later this month.
ESPN reported this information from several unnamed sources.
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Cleveland Guardians rookie Parker Messick almost pitched a no-hitter but gave up a hit in the ninth inning. Despite this, the Guardians won the baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles with a score of 4-2.
Key Facts
Parker Messick is a rookie player for the Cleveland Guardians.
He nearly achieved a no-hitter, which means not allowing the opposing team to get any hits during the entire game.
The no-hitter was broken in the ninth inning when the Orioles got a hit.
The Guardians won the game with a final score of 4-2.
The game was played on a Thursday night.
The Orioles were the opposing team.
This was an official Major League Baseball (MLB) game.
The no-hitter would have been the first in the 2026 MLB season if completed.
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Napheesa Collier is signing a one-year contract worth $1.4 million to return to the Minnesota Lynx basketball team. This deal is known as a "supermax" contract, which offers a higher salary for top players.
Key Facts
Napheesa Collier is returning to the Minnesota Lynx.
The contract is for one year.
The contract is worth $1.4 million.
The deal is called a "supermax" contract, a special type of deal for outstanding players.
ESPN reported the news based on sources.
Collier is a professional basketball player in the WNBA.
The Lynx are a team in the Women's National Basketball Association.
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During a baseball game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Toronto Blue Jays, pitcher Trevor Megill had a tense moment after striking out a Blue Jays player. Megill explained the argument happened because the Blue Jays thought he was cheating by rubbing a baseball on his pants, which he denied. The Brewers won the game 2-1 and improved their season record.
Key Facts
Trevor Megill is a pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers.
The confrontation happened after Megill struck out Daulton Varsho of the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth inning.
Blue Jays players thought Megill had something on his pant leg when he rubbed a baseball on it.
Megill denied having anything on his pants and said it was just rubbing the ball.
The Brewers won the game 2-1 in front of about 23,000 fans at American Family Field.
This win gave the Brewers a season record of 10 wins and 8 losses.
Milwaukee is currently half a game behind the Pittsburgh Pirates in their division.
Megill appreciated the support from fans after struggling in his previous games.
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FIFA is working with host cities in the US to manage rules about tailgating at World Cup stadiums. Tailgating is a popular pre-game social activity where fans gather around their parked cars to eat and drink before matches. FIFA says there is no official ban on tailgating but local safety rules may limit it in some places.
Key Facts
Tailgating in the US means fans socialize near their parked cars outside a stadium before a game.
It often involves eating, drinking, and cooking and is common at American football games.
In the UK, tailgating refers to sneaking into stadiums without a ticket and is illegal.
Reports said FIFA banned tailgating at US World Cup stadiums, but FIFA denied having a formal ban.
Any restrictions on tailgating depend on local safety rules set by host cities and authorities.
The US will host most of the World Cup games, with 16 host cities across the US, Mexico, and Canada.
Fans on social media strongly support tailgating and see it as a key part of the match experience.
FIFA takes control of stadiums during the World Cup and requires secure areas to manage safety and crowds.
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Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest will face each other in the Europa League semi-final after winning their quarter-final matches. This is the first time in 42 years that Nottingham Forest has reached a European semi-final, and the match guarantees a Premier League team will be in the Europa League final this season.
Key Facts
Aston Villa won their quarter-final against Italy’s Bologna with a 7-1 score over two games.
Nottingham Forest beat Porto 2-1 on aggregate to reach a European semi-final for the first time since 1984.
The upcoming semi-final will be an all-English match between Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.
This season's Europa League final will definitely include a Premier League team.
Recent notable English European matches include Tottenham v Manchester United in the 2024-25 Europa League final.
The article recalls memorable English club clashes in Europe, such as Chelsea v Liverpool in the 2004-05 Champions League semi-final.
Tottenham’s dramatic 2018-19 Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City involved controversial referee decisions and VAR reviews.
Liverpool won the Champions League in 2005 after a controversial semi-final and a strong final performance.
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The Los Angeles Angels defeated the New York Yankees 11-4, tying their four-game series. Mike Trout made Major League Baseball history by hitting home runs against the Yankees for four straight days, a first for any visiting player.
Key Facts
The Angels scored 11 runs with nine hits in their win over the Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
Mike Trout hit his fifth home run of the series in the seventh inning.
Trout became the first visiting player to homer against the Yankees on four straight days.
He joined three other players with the most home runs in a series against New York.
Trout was intentionally walked three times and had two official at-bats in the game.
The Yankees allowed 32 runs to the Angels over the series, showing pitching struggles.
The Angels are second in the American League West, one game behind the Athletics.
The Angels will next play the San Diego Padres in a three-game home series starting Friday.
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Jonny Clayton won the Premier League Darts event in Rotterdam by defeating Luke Littler 6-4 in the final. This victory extended Clayton's lead at the top of the league standings as the competition moves toward the playoffs in London.
Key Facts
Jonny Clayton beat Luke Littler 6-4 to win the Premier League Darts night in Rotterdam.
Clayton has won four nights this year and leads the league by five points over Littler.
Both Clayton and Littler are almost guaranteed spots at the finals in London’s O2 Arena.
Dutch players Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen were supported by home fans but both lost in the quarter-finals.
Luke Humphries moved into fifth place after winning a quarter-final match against Van Veen.
The Premier League Darts season includes 16 weeks, with players earning points for wins in each round.
The top four players after these weeks advance to playoffs held on 28 May at the O2 Arena.
Matches in the league stage include quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals each night, with points awarded for each win.
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Pat McAfee, a former NFL player and ESPN host, is heavily involved in promoting this year’s WrestleMania event in Las Vegas. He is expected to play a significant role in the weekend’s wrestling matches, including the main event featuring WWE champion Cody Rhodes and challenger Randy Orton, which has caused concern among some fans.
Key Facts
WrestleMania this year is being held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Pat McAfee is working as a promoter and participant through his ESPN and YouTube shows.
He is involved in the main event match between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.
McAfee hinted he might have a bigger role beyond just the main event.
The event’s closing match is between CM Punk and Roman Reigns, the world heavyweight championship fight.
WWE fans have expressed worry about McAfee possibly becoming the main focus of the event over the wrestlers.
WWE is looking for new major storylines after some key changes, including the end of the Bloodline faction and John Cena’s upcoming retirement.
Using corporate figures like McAfee as “villains” or main characters is a common storytelling method in WWE.
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Victor Wembanyama has led the NBA in blocked shots for three straight seasons, joining only two other players who have done this since 1973-74. He is set to make his first playoff appearance as the San Antonio Spurs face the Portland Trail Blazers.
Key Facts
Victor Wembanyama is 7-foot-4 and from France.
He led the NBA in blocks per game for three consecutive seasons.
His blocks per game were 3.6 in 2023-24, 3.8 in 2024-25, and 3.1 in 2025-26.
Only Dikembe Mutombo and Marcus Camby also led the league in blocks three years in a row.
Wembanyama was injured in early April but returned strong with 40 points and 13 rebounds in a game.
The Spurs are the No. 2 seed and will play the No. 7 seed Trail Blazers in the playoffs.
Wembanyama described the Trail Blazers as a tough and strong team with a clear playing style.
His first playoff game will be on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET.
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Flau'jae Johnson was picked 8th overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft by the Golden State Valkyries but was quickly traded to the Seattle Storm. Seattle Storm fans welcomed her warmly at the airport, showing excitement for their new player who had a successful college basketball career at LSU.
Key Facts
Flau'jae Johnson was selected 8th overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft by the Golden State Valkyries.
The Golden State Valkyries traded Johnson to the Seattle Storm right after the draft.
Johnson was greeted by a large, enthusiastic crowd of Storm fans at Seattle airport.
She arrived wearing a throwback Gary Payton SuperSonics jersey and expressed excitement for joining the Storm.
Johnson previously starred at LSU and was a two-time AP All-American.
She helped lead LSU to its first national championship in April 2023.
Baton Rouge awarded her a key to the city earlier in 2026 as recognition for her achievements.
Johnson appeared on "Good Morning America" and "SportsCenter" to talk about her draft experience and trade.
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The New Jersey Devils have hired Sunny Mehta as their new general manager. Mehta was an assistant general manager with the Florida Panthers, who won the Stanley Cup in the last two years.
Key Facts
Sunny Mehta is the new general manager of the New Jersey Devils.
He previously worked as an assistant general manager for the Florida Panthers.
The Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup in the last two seasons.
The Stanley Cup is the championship trophy awarded in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Mehta’s move to the Devils marks a leadership change for the team.
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The Miami Heat lost to the Charlotte Hornets 127–126 in overtime, ending their season. During the game, Heat player Bam Adebayo injured his back after Hornets player LaMelo Ball grabbed his ankle, which led to a flagrant foul and a fine for Ball.
Key Facts
The Miami Heat were eliminated after losing to the Charlotte Hornets 127–126 in an overtime play-in game.
Bam Adebayo injured his back when LaMelo Ball grabbed his ankle, causing Adebayo to fall hard.
The injury happened in the first half of the game.
The NBA later changed the call to a flagrant foul against Ball.
LaMelo Ball was fined $35,000 for the foul and another $25,000 for swearing after the game.
Ball apologized publicly and said he would contact Adebayo, but no direct communication has happened yet.
Bam Adebayo said he has not heard from Ball but intends to talk with him in the future.
Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Ball is not a dirty player but agreed the play was dangerous and should have been punished during the game.
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The Dallas Wings selected Azzi Fudd as the first overall pick in the WNBA draft. There has been public speculation about a personal relationship between Fudd and her former college teammate Paige Bueckers, but the Wings declined to comment on their private lives.
Key Facts
Azzi Fudd was picked first overall by the Dallas Wings in the WNBA draft.
Paige Bueckers, a former UConn teammate of Fudd, was drafted first overall by the Wings in the previous year.
People have speculated that Fudd and Bueckers are in a romantic relationship.
The Wings' media team declined to discuss players’ personal lives when asked about the relationship.
Team leaders focused on Fudd and Bueckers’ basketball skills and previous success together.
The Wings’ general manager said they chose Fudd because she was the best player available.
The question about their personal relationship appeared during Fudd’s introductory press conference.
The team wants to keep attention on the players' professional roles rather than personal matters.
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The New Jersey Devils have hired Sunny Mehta as their new general manager. Mehta was previously an assistant general manager for the Florida Panthers when they won the Stanley Cup twice.
Key Facts
Sunny Mehta was an assistant GM for the Florida Panthers.
The Panthers won the Stanley Cup two years in a row while Mehta was there.
Mehta has now been hired as the general manager of the New Jersey Devils.
The general manager is the person responsible for building and managing the team's roster.
This is a new role for Mehta with the Devils, giving him more leadership responsibility.
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Lionel Messi has bought the Spanish football club UE Cornella, which plays in the fifth division. The club said Messi’s takeover starts a new chapter focusing on long-term goals and local roots.
Key Facts
Lionel Messi now owns UE Cornella, a football club near Barcelona.
UE Cornella plays in Spain’s fifth division and is based in a working-class area.
The club announced the deal but did not share purchase details.
The club’s statement highlighted plans for ambition, sustainability, and local connection.
Cornella started in 1951 and helped develop players like David Raya and Jordi Alba.
Jordi Alba, a former Barcelona player, also plays with Messi at Inter Miami.
Messi played two decades at FC Barcelona, winning many awards and titles.
Messi aims to play in the upcoming World Cup in North America with Argentina.
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