Sports News

Lionel Messi will miss Inter Miami's match against Orlando City on Wednesday night at Inter & Co Stadium, after suffering an injury to his left knee during his team's 3-2 MLS win over Montreal on Saturday. Montreal defender George Campbell fouled Messi in the 40th minute of the match, forcing the forward to go down while holding his knee. Miami's medical team rushed to the scene before clearing Messi to play the rest of the game. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Despite his participation throughout the 90 minutes, Miami assistant coach Javier Morales confirmed Messi "felt the knock" while doing regenerative work on Monday. Robert Taylor replaced Messi in Gerardo "Tata" Martino's starting XI. "He suffered a hit to the knee on Saturday versus Montréal, he continued playing through the end of the game and then iced it when finished," Morales said. "He trained with the players yesterday who did regenerative...

PITTSBURGH --  Steelers defensive lineman and reigning Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Cameron Heyward has not participated in voluntary offseason workouts and does not plan to attend OTAs as he seeks a contract extension, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Heyward, set to become a free agent in 2025, has never missed an offseason program. Heyward, 35, has registered the most defensive stops in the league since 2019 with 242, via Next Gen Stats, and the third-most sacks among interior rushers during that span with 58.5. He plans to play several more years and is healthy again after last year's core muscle injury, a source told Fowler. Heyward started dealing with the core muscle injury during the 2023 training camp and ended up missing six games when a fall tore his groin muscle in Week 1 and required surgery. But he returned ahead of schedule to play the final 10 games. The longest-tenured Steeler and a longtime captain was adamant in his desire to continue...

BOSTON -- The Cleveland Cavaliers were without three of their top six players -- led by star guard Donovan Mitchell -- for Game 5 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night. Mitchell, who is dealing with a left calf strain;  Jarrett Allen, who is dealing with a bruised rib; and Caris LeVert, who replaced Mitchell in the starting lineup for Game 4 before being added to the injury report Tuesday with a bone bruise in his left knee, were all sidelined for what could be Cleveland's final game of the season. The Cavaliers, trailing 3-1, need a win Wednesday to force the series back to Cleveland for a potential Game 6 on Friday night. Mitchell missed Cleveland's 109-102 loss in Game 4 on Monday night with the same injury, which occurred late in the fourth quarter of Boston's Game 3 victory Saturday, when Mitchell began limping on the court after playing more than 22 consecutive minutes in the second...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Rory McIlroy called Jimmy Dunne's departure from the PGA Tour's policy board a "huge loss," and the four-time major champion said his confidence in the tour getting a deal done with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund to reunite men's professional golf is as low as ever. Dunne, one of the architects of the framework agreement the PGA Tour signed with the PIF on June 6, resigned from the board Monday. In his resignation letter, the Wall Street dealmaker said his vote and role had become "superfluous" because player directors outnumbered independent directors on the board. Tiger Woods was added as a sixth player director to the board in August. There were five independent directors, including Dunne. "Yeah, honestly I think it's a huge loss for the PGA Tour, if they are trying to get this deal done with the PIF and trying to unify the game," McIlroy said Wednesday at Valhalla Golf Club, the site of this week's PGA Championship. "Jimmy was basically the...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Rory McIlroy called Jimmy Dunne's departure from the PGA Tour's policy board a "huge loss," and the four-time major champion said his confidence in the tour getting a deal done with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund to reunite men's professional golf is as low as ever. Dunne, one of the architects of the framework agreement the PGA Tour signed with the PIF on June 6, resigned from the board Monday. In his resignation letter, the Wall Street dealmaker said his vote and role had become "superfluous" because player directors outnumbered independent directors on the board. Tiger Woods was added as a sixth player director to the board in August. There were five independent directors, including Dunne. "Yeah, honestly I think it's a huge loss for the PGA Tour, if they are trying to get this deal done with the PIF and trying to unify the game," McIlroy said Wednesday at Valhalla Golf Club, the site of this week's PGA Championship. "Jimmy was basically the...

Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco, who was ejected from Tuesday's game after umpires found a foreign substance on his glove, has been suspended 10 games by MLB, it was announced Wednesday. Blanco also was fined an undisclosed amount. Astros general manager Dana Brown said that the right-hander will not appeal, meaning it becomes effective Wednesday night as the Astros continue their series vs.  Oakland. Brown said Blanco and his agent initially thought about appealing the suspension, but they determined that they want to "move forward" and "get back out there." "Ronel Blanco is a good human being, a good dude and he's worked his butt off to get into the starting rotation," Brown said. "I think he sees it as, 'Look, I don't want to be out. I don't want to extend this any longer. I want to get back to the business of pitching.'" Third-base umpire Laz Diaz ejected Blanco after a check of his glove before he threw a pitch in the fourth inning. His glove was...

Wolverhampton Wanderers have lodged a motion to scrap the use of VAR in the Premier League, with a vote to be held at next month's meeting of the 20 clubs. Wolves will need the backing of 13 other clubs at the annual general meeting June 6 to pass the resolution, which would see the video assistant referee removed from the English top flight with immediate effect. Any club has the right to submit an item to the agenda, with the league operated as a democracy. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL more (U.S.) A statement issued by Wolves on Wednesday read: "There is no blame to be placed. We are all just looking for the best possible outcome for football and all stakeholders have been working hard to try and make the introduction of additional technology a success. "However, after five seasons of VAR in the Premier League, it is time for a constructive and critical debate on its future. "Our position is that the price we are paying for a...

For the second straight Christmas, the NFL will provide the gift of Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson. Netflix announced Wednesday that it will stream two games -- the Kansas City Chiefs at the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Houston Texans -- on Dec. 25. The streaming network will broadcast at least one game on the holiday for each of the next three years in a new agreement with the NFL. The four teams involved this year will play rare Wednesday regular-season games. "There are no live annual events, sports or otherwise, that compare with the audiences NFL football attracts. We're so excited that the NFL's Christmas Day games will be only on Netflix," Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria said in a statement. This marks back-to-back Christmas games for the Chiefs and Ravens. On Christmas last season, the Ravens beat the San Francisco 49ers 33-19 and the Chiefs were upset by the Las Vegas...

Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy find themselves in familiar territory atop the betting odds list heading into the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club: first and second, respectively. That's the same order for five of the past six tournaments in which they've both played. As of Wednesday afternoon on ESPN BET, Scheffler shows +425 odds to win his third career major championship, up from the +350 he showed in the week prior. Some sportsbooks have Scheffler, 27, as short as +300, while others are as long as +450. McIlroy, meanwhile, is +700 on ESPN BET, with odds ranging from +600 to +750 at other major sportsbooks. The next closest players on ESPN BET are Brooks Koepka and Xander Schauffele at +1400. The 1-2 betting punch of Scheffler and McIlroy is fitting given the pair are, respectively, first and second in the Official World Golf Ranking and in PGA Tour wins this season. Despite taking almost a month off for the birth of his first child,...

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. -- ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said Wednesday the pending litigation with Florida State and Clemson is "disruptive" and "harmful" but it has not changed the dynamic between them as the league wrapped up three days of meetings. Phillips and league representatives, including athletic directors, football coaches and men's and women's basketball coaches met to discuss a big list of topics -- including a possible settlement in the House vs. NCAA case, CFP expansion, revenue distribution and changing the perception around the league. But with Florida State, Clemson and the ACC engaged in lawsuits against each other over the league's withdrawal penalty and grant of rights, uncertainty continues to hang around the league as it charts a new course with three new members joining in the fall. Cal, Stanford and SMU also participated in the league meetings. Phillips acknowledged what remains ongoing with Clemson and Florida State, saying, "It's difficult, it's disruptive,...

Former Colorado cornerback Cormani McClain, who headlined coach Deion Sanders' first recruiting class with the Buffaloes, is transferring to Florida, his agent, Hector Rivas of Disruptive Sports, told ESPN. McClain, ESPN's No. 14 recruit in 2023, visited Florida last week with his mother and Rivas. The Lakeland, Florida, native will return to his home state after entering the transfer portal last month. After a slow start to last season, he started four games and appeared in nine for Colorado, recording 13 tackles and two pass breakups. McClain initially committed to Miami but flipped to Colorado in January 2023, shortly after Sanders was hired. In a YouTube video posted shortly after he entered the portal, McClain said he planned to "bring the old version of me out and change the narrative of [what] everyone's thinking of my name, be part of a real and a great program that's going to impact me at my best abilities." He noted that academics have never held...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants are finally going to be on the long-running HBO docuseries "Hard Knocks," albeit with a little twist: It will be the first offseason version of the franchise. "Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants" will premiere July 2 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO, the network announced Wednesday. The five-part series, which comes as the Giants prepare for their 100th season, will be available to stream on Max. The Giants being on "Hard Knocks" in any capacity is a concession given the franchise's reluctance in the past. Co-owner John Mara made that clear to the New York Daily News back in 2010 that he had no interest in opening their doors for the cameras. "That announcement will come," Mara said at the time, "when I'm next to my father in the Gates of Heaven cemetery." Mara is still the president and CEO of the Giants. But this version of "Hard Knocks" they agreed to will be a little different -- it's the first time the show will focus on...

Netflix will air two games on Christmas Day this season and at least one game on the holiday each of the next two years, the streaming network announced Wednesday. No matchups for the Christmas Day games were revealed prior to the full 2024 schedule release Wednesday night, but the four teams involved this year will play rare Wednesday regular-season contests. "There are no live annual events, sports or otherwise, that compare with the audiences NFL football attracts. We're so excited that the NFL's Christmas Day games will be only on Netflix," Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria said in a statement. This will be the first time Netflix has aired an NFL game. Three games were played on Christmas in the 2023 season, when Dec. 25 fell on a Monday. "The NFL on Christmas has become a tradition and to partner with Netflix, a service whose biggest day of the year is typically this holiday, is the perfect combination to grow this event globally for NFL fans," Hans Schroeder, NFL...

Former UFC welterweight title contender Darren Till will be the latest to make the jump from MMA to boxing when he steps into the ring for his professional boxing debut against former WBC world middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on the undercard of Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson on July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The fight is scheduled for six rounds and will be contested at cruiserweight with a weight limit of 190 pounds. Till, 31, makes his professional boxing debut after a successful UFC career as both a welterweight and middleweight with an overall MMA record of 18-5-1. The product of Liverpool, England, challenged Tyron Woodley for the UFC welterweight title in 2018 but fell to a second-round submission loss. After starting his MMA career 17-0-1, Till went 1-5 over his next six fights with losses to Jorge Masvidal, Robert Whittaker and current UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis. The loss to du Plessis...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Some of the NFL's newest potential stars -- and one of its oldest -- will be showcased in the league's five international games in 2024. Six of the top 11 picks in the most recent draft and veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers highlight a schedule that begins Week 1 in Sao Paulo and concludes Week 10 in Munich. Three games will be played in London this season, beginning with Rodgers and the New York Jets playing the Minnesota Vikings and rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy (No. 11 pick) on Oct. 6 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Rodgers went 17-11-1 against the Vikings when he was with the Green Bay Packers. He previously played in London during his final season with the Packers -- a 27-22 loss to the New York Giants on Oct. 9, 2022. Rodgers fractured his right thumb on the final play of the game, a Hail Mary, and it probably affected him for the remainder of the year -- the worst statistical season of his career. The ...

DENVER --  Nikola Jokic received his third Most Valuable Player trophy from NBA commissioner Adam Silver then celebrated by dominating Rudy Gobert and the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Denver Nuggets superstar exploded for 40 points, 13 assists and 7 rebounds with no turnovers to lead Denver to a 112-97 victory Tuesday night in Game 5 at a raucous Ball Arena. Denver now leads 3-2 in the Western Conference semifinal series and can advance to the conference finals with a win in Game 6 on Thursday in Minneapolis. "I didn't see any weaknesses [in our defense]," Minnesota star guard Anthony Edwards said. "I seen the MVP. He showed that he's the MVP." Even by Jokic's brilliant MVP standards, the center put on a clinic against Gobert, the newly minted four-time Defensive Player of the Year, and the best defense in the NBA this season. Jokic converted 15 of 22 shots but was 8-of-9 when Gobert was his primary defender. "Incredible," said...

NEW YORK -- Fans at Madison Square Garden saw a shift in their team a little more than halfway through the first quarter Tuesday, when the Knicks began an 18-7 run against the  Pacers to close the period. But guard Miles McBride, whose insertion into New York's starting lineup gave the team a tangible lift, said the boost took place far before that. "I think the shift started in the locker room in Indiana. We talked about it and knew we had to respond," McBride said, referring to the players-only meeting the Knicks held after their embarrassing 32-point loss in Game 4 on Sunday. The result was the polar opposite in Game 5: The Knicks drilled Indiana 121-91 to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. They'll travel to Indianapolis with an opportunity to close out the Pacers and advance to their first Eastern Conference finals since 2000 on Friday night. Jalen Brunson shook off an awful Game 4 showing to again star for the Knicks, notching 44 points and...

They got championship rings and a banner, a pregame talk from Tom Brady and a WNBA season-opening win. It was quite a night for the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces. Las Vegas celebrated its back-to-back crowns ahead of its 89-80 victory over the Phoenix Mercury behind 30 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists from forward  A'ja Wilson. "We're back," team owner Mark Davis told the sellout crowd at Michelob Ultra Arena on Tuesday night. "Not only are we back, we're back-to-back world champions. All I can say is let's three-peat." However, seven-time Super Bowl champion Brady, a minority owner of the Aces, told the team in a locker room visit before the game not to get too caught up in focusing on a three-peat. "He was saying, 'The banners are always going to be there, so you don't have to try to defend that. Just go do what you've been doing,'" Wilson said. "That message made the night for me. Because I feel like we get so caught up in, 'Oh,...

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Jeremy Swayman backed up his victory vow with 28 saves, Charlie McAvoy added to the list of disputed goals in this matchup with the go-ahead score and the Boston Bruins staved off elimination by beating the Florida Panthers 2-1 in Game 5 of their NHL playoff series on Tuesday night. Morgan Geekie also scored for the Bruins, who improved to 2-0 in elimination games this season -- they also won a Game 7 over Toronto in Round 1 -- and finally found a way to hold the Panthers' offense in check. Sam Reinhart scored for Florida, and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 26 shots. Florida, which saw its series lead cut to 3-2, had 15 goals on 107 shots in Games 2, 3 and 4 combined, all of them Panthers wins. But on Tuesday, the Panthers were held to 29 shots and Swayman looked in total control the whole way. Game 6 is in Boston on Friday. Game 7, if necessary, would be back in Florida on Sunday. "The reality is that we're going to go...

UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Caitlin Clark scored a team-high 20 points but committed 10 turnovers, the most in a career debut in WNBA history, as her Indiana Fever fell 92-71 to the Connecticut Sun in their season opener Tuesday at Mohegan Sun Arena. Clark, NCAA Division I basketball's all-time leading scorer and the No. 1 pick in this year's WNBA draft, didn't get on the board until the 5:24 mark of the second quarter when she converted on a drive to the rim off a steal. "I'm disappointed, and nobody likes to lose, but I don't think you can beat yourself up too much about one game," Clark said. "I don't think that's going to help this team. "Just learn from it and move on." The game had the bustle and energy of a WNBA Finals matchup. Fans donning Sun, Fever and even Iowa gear lined up to get into the arena more than 2½ hours before the tip. The Sun handed out more than 170 media credentials, with ESPN's "WNBA Countdown" desk stationed near the...

What was billed as "the greatest roast of all time" turned out to be anything but for Tom Brady, who expressed regrets at the impact it had on his three children. "I loved when the jokes were about me," Brady said Tuesday on "The Pivot" podcast with Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor and Channing Crowder. "I thought they were so fun. I didn't like the way it affected my kids. "So it's the hardest part; the bittersweet aspect of when you do something that you think is one way and all of a sudden you realize 'I wouldn't do that again' because of the way it affected, actually, the people I care about the most in the world." Brady's comments came at the end of the 56-minute podcast, when he was asked by Taylor -- his teammate with the  New England Patriots in 2009 and 2010 -- if he learned anything about himself from the roast. Taylor's question was delivered more in the context of his connection with teammates and how it seemed to reflect their bonds formed in the locker room over...

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. -- Florida State athletic director Michael Alford was asked Tuesday during ACC spring meetings whether any part of the university's future with the league was salvageable, considering it has filed a lawsuit against the conference. "We'll just wait for that to play out," Alford said. "We have great partners in this conference, great relationships. But at the end of the day, we've got to do what's best for Florida State and look at the changing environment of collegiate athletics and make sure we're there to be successful." Alford reiterated that his school has not declared its intention to withdraw from the league, despite a pending lawsuit challenging the ACC grant of rights and withdrawal fee. Both Florida State and Clemson have filed lawsuits against the ACC, while the league has filed lawsuits in defense of the grant of rights -- which gives it control over each of its league members' media rights through 2036. Clemson athletic director Graham Neff did not...

CHICAGO -- As Bronny James leaned back in his chair and surveyed the swarm of media members that had surrounded him Tuesday night at the NBA draft combine, he acknowledged the extra attention that comes with being the son of  Los Angeles Lakers star  LeBron James can be "a lot sometimes." Yet, the 19-year-old USC guard reiterated that his goal is simply to play in the NBA, not necessarily on the same team as his father. "I would be happy about getting to the league instead of me thinking about playing with my dad," Bronny James said. "That's not my mindset or not at all. I'm just trying to put in the work and see where it takes me from there." LeBron James, who at age 39 completed his 21st NBA season in 2023-24, has repeatedly expressed a desire to team with his son before his career ends, even though he said following the end of the Lakers' season that he "hadn't given it much thought lately." Bronny James did not grant interviews during his freshman season at...

What was billed as "the greatest roast of all time" turned out to be anything but for Tom Brady, who expressed regrets at the impact it had on his three children. "I loved when the jokes were about me," Brady said Tuesday on "The Pivot" podcast with Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor and Channing Crowder. "I thought they were so fun. I didn't like the way it affected my kids. "So it's the hardest part; the bittersweet aspect of when you do something that you think is one way and all of a sudden you realize 'I wouldn't do that again' because of the way it affected, actually, the people I care about the most in the world." Brady's comments came at the end of the 56-minute podcast, when he was asked by Taylor -- his teammate with the New England Patriots in 2009 and 2010 -- if he learned anything about himself from the roast. Taylor's question was delivered more in the context of his connection with teammates and how it seemed to reflect their bonds formed in the locker room over years, but...

Pep Guardiola has told his Manchester City players to "relax" in Sunday's Premier League finale against West Ham and they will lift their fourth consecutive title. A second-half brace from Erling Haaland ensured City won 2-0 at Tottenham on Tuesday to move back ahead of Arsenal and keep the race in their own hands against West Ham on the final day. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL more (U.S.) City had to wait until the 51st-minute to break the deadlock and Guardiola urged his team to heed lessons from both their own past and Arsenal's narrow 1-0 victory at Manchester United last weekend to stay on course for a historic success. "They were playing for the consequences of the result [in the first half]," said Guardiola. "When you do that you are going to lose the Premier League. You cannot perform to your level. "They are human beings, I understand the pressure. Not even Arsenal played...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Since world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler last carded a competitive golf round -- a 3-shot win at the RBC Heritage last month, a week after securing his second Masters victory by 4 -- Rory McIlroy has won two tournaments, Brooks Koepka has captured one and Scheffler has become a father. The three-week hiatus is longer than Scheffler normally would take during the PGA Tour season but took into account the circumstances of wife Meredith's childbirth. Scheffler said Tuesday that he has been able to practice plenty at home in Dallas and feels ready to get back to competition this week at the PGA Championship. "I'm definitely rested going into this week, for sure. I don't really feel like any rust has accumulated," Scheffler said. "I'm able to do stuff at home to simulate tournament golf, especially on the greens, competing and gambling with my buddies. I don't really want to lose to them, either, so I was able to simulate a little bit of competition...

Erling Haaland's double put Manchester City within touching distance of an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League title as they beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 away on Tuesday. The Norwegian tapped home his side's opener early in the second half and settled City's nerves in stoppage time when he blasted home a penalty for his 27th league goal of the season. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) City had failed to earn a point or score a goal in their first four league visits to Tottenham's new stadium but ended that jinx in timely fashion, to the joy of their supporters. Pep Guardiola's City have 88 points to Arsenal's 86 and will be guaranteed to make history if they beat West Ham United at home Sunday on the Premier League's last day of the season, when Arsenal host Everton. It was far from a vintage City performance, and they almost conceded an equaliser to Son Heung-Min late on,...

Green Bay has hired sports media personality Doug Gottlieb as its next men's basketball coach, it was announced Tuesday. Gottlieb was one of the final candidates for the Green Bay vacancy last spring, but the job ultimately went to Sundance Wicks. After guiding the Phoenix to an 18-14 campaign, Wicks left the program to become the head coach at Wyoming. Athletic director Josh Moon moved quickly to tab Gottlieb as Wicks' replacement. An introductory news conference has been scheduled for Wednesday. "It is an honor beyond measure to be named the 10th men's basketball coach in UWGB history," Gottlieb said in a statement. "Every kid has a dream growing up -- some want to be a firefighter, others want to be president. I have always wanted to be a head basketball coach at the Division I level." Gottlieb doesn't have any college coaching experience, but he has been part of the staff for the United States team at the 2009 and 2017 Maccabiah Games. He was an assistant...

A three-judge panel of Nevada's Supreme Court on Tuesday sided with the NFL against former  Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden, saying that he was subject to arbitration even as a former employee and thus ineligible to sue the league over his 2021 termination. Justices Elissa F. Cadish and Kristina Pickering reversed a district court's order that denied the NFL's motion to force Gruden's complaint into its arbitration process. The case was remanded to the lower court with an order to grant the arbitration motion. Justice Linda Marie Bell disagreed with the majority's interpretation of the arbitration clause in the NFL Constitution, siding with Gruden's attorneys who argued that it does not apply to former employees. "I disagree with their conclusion because the facts of this case do not support survival of the clause past the end of Gruden's employment," Bell wrote in her dissent.   Gruden's lawsuit accuses the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell of "directly...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Four-time PGA Championship winner Tiger Woods will tee off at 8:04 a.m. ET on the 10th tee at Valhalla Country Club on Thursday, alongside Australia's Adam Scott and 2011 PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley. Defending champion Brooks Koepka will begin his quest to repeat and win his fourth overall PGA Championship at 8:37 a.m. off the 10th tee with world No. 9 Max Homa and three-time major champion Jordan Spieth. Spieth is not only seeking his first major win since 2017; a win at Valhalla would also complete Spieth's career Grand Slam. Two-time Masters winner and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler will play his first tournament as a new father and tee off at 2:13 p.m. off the first tee with two other major championship winners: reigning U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark and reigning Open champion Brian Harman. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy -- who is coming off back-to-back PGA Tour wins --...

Green Bay is expected to hire sports media personality Doug Gottlieb as its next men's basketball coach, sources confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday. Gottlieb was one of the final candidates for the Green Bay vacancy last spring, but the job ultimately went to Sundance Wicks. After guiding the Phoenix to an 18-14 campaign, Wicks left the program to become the head coach at Wyoming. Athletic director Josh Moon moved quickly to tab Gottlieb as Wicks' replacement. Gottlieb doesn't have any college coaching experience, but he has been part of the staff for the United States team at the 2009 and 2017 Maccabiah Games. He was an assistant under Bruce Pearl in 2009 and was the head coach in 2017. Gottlieb also interviewed for the Oklahoma State job when the school hired Mike Boynton, and was a consultant for the Cowboys' program this past season. A media personality since 2002 for ESPN, CBS and Fox Sports, Gottlieb was a standout point guard at Oklahoma State during his...

DENVER --  Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert was fined $75,000 for rubbing his fingers together in a money-sign gesture directed at the officials during Game 4 of the Wolves' second-round series with the Denver Nuggets, the league announced Tuesday. Joe Dumars, an executive vice president and head of basketball operations for the NBA, deemed Gobert's actions an "unprofessional gesture that questions the integrity of the league and its game officials" and also said in a statement that the fine "takes into account Gobert's history of improper conduct toward game officials." Gobert took the fine in stride when asked about the NBA's penalty. "Not surprised," Gobert said after Tuesday's shootaround. "Not surprised." Gobert also explained the reason for the gesture he made. "There was no message," Gobert said. "Just emotions. I got to control my emotions. It was a very physical game, an emotional game. So I got to control my emotions." Gobert...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Tiger Woods said progress has been made in the PGA Tour's negotiations with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, but there is a "long way to go still" in bringing the fractured sport back together. Woods' comments came a day after independent director Jimmy Dunne resigned from the PGA Tour's policy board and said talks with the PIF had slowed down. They come less than a week after Rory McIlroy told reporters that other player directors weren't comfortable with him returning to the policy board. PIF finances the rival LIV Golf League, which has poached several top golfers from the PGA Tour over the past two-plus years, including former major champions Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and others. "Well, I think we're working on negotiations with PIF," Woods said Tuesday at Valhalla Golf Club, the site of this week's PGA Championship. "It's ongoing, it's fluid. It changes day-to-day. Has there been...

In his first public comments ahead of his June sexual assault trial, former Illinois star Terrence Shannon Jr. said Tuesday during the NBA draft combine that he understands the "serious" charges against him. Shannon, once projected as a first-round pick, is being scrutinized as a potential NBA prospect, which could depend on the outcome of his June 10 trial for felony rape and felony aggravated sexual assault charges. Last year, a woman accused Shannon of sexually penetrating her with his fingers at a bar in Lawrence, Kansas. Shannon was arrested, charged and suspended by Illinois amid a school investigation in December. After missing six games, however, Shannon received a temporary restraining order from a federal judge and returned to the court for the rest of the season. The school dropped its investigation in April. "I'm looking forward to my day in court," he said. A Kansas judge decided last week at Shannon's preliminary hearing that there is sufficient probable...

The Boston Bruins won't have captain Brad Marchand in the lineup while trying to avoid elimination in Game 5 of their second-round Stanley Cup playoff series against Florida on Tuesday. "[Marchand] is not an option," Bruins' coach Jim Montgomery said after Boston's morning skate. This will be the second straight postseason contest Marchand has missed after he suffered an upper-body injury taking a hit from Panthers forward Sam Bennett in Game 3. He is considered day-to-day with the ailment. Marchand appeared to be making an effort to get back in for Game 5 as the Bruins trail the Panthers, 3-1. He did participate in Boston's skate but wasn't part of any special teams work, a late indication he wouldn't be suiting up. It's a tough blow for the Bruins to have Marchand unavailable again. He leads the team in playoff scoring with three goals and 10 points. Now Boston will have to keep its season alive without him. The Bruins were poised to even the...

Former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling has signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills, the team announced Tuesday. The deal is worth up to $4.5 million, includes a $1.125 million signing bonus, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Chiefs released Valdes-Scantling in February in a move to free up $12 million on their salary cap.  After Stefon Diggs was traded to the Texans and Gabe Davis signed with the Jaguars in free agency, Valdes-Scantling adds another veteran receiver to the Bills' depth chart. He joins free agent acquisitions  Curtis Samuel and Mack Hollins and second-round draft pick Keon Coleman as some of the team's notable additions this offseason. Buffalo's acquisition of Valdes-Scantling (6-foot-4, 206 pounds) continues the team's trend of adding size to its receiving corps this offseason. The 29-year-old also provides a downfield threat, averaging...

The two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces are even money to make it three in a row ahead of what sportsbooks say will be the most heavily bet WNBA season ever. The Aces are even-money title favorites at ESPN BET and sportsbooks around the nation. They're followed by the New York Liberty (+245), and the Seattle Storm (+900) have the third-shortest championship odds. The Aces' A'ja Wilson (+110) is the betting favorite to win the regular-season MVP, followed by the Liberty's Breanna Stewart (+650) and Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark (+900). The arrival of Clark has fueled lopsided betting on the long-shot Fever and a significant year-over-year spike of interest on the WNBA overall at sportsbooks. Caesars Sportsbook reported a 385% year-over-year increase in the number of preseason bets placed on the WNBA. A lot of those bets have Clark and the Fever. Only the Aces have attracted more bets to win the title than the Fever at...

The Golden State WNBA expansion team announced Tuesday its name and brand identity: the Golden State Valkyries. The name, which originates from Norse mythology, refers to a "host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering -- flying through air and sea alike," a team release said. "This brand is Golden State's modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce." The team's primary color is "Valkyrie Violet," which signifies "power, ambition, nobility, and women's empowerment, much like purple has been used symbolically in modern history," the team said. "It feels like we've arrived," Valkyries president Jess Smith told ESPN. "As much as I've loved saying 'WNBA Golden State,' that was a placeholder, and this is who we are. To be able to put that stake in the ground and begin building the brand equity and begin bringing our community together around this, it's a really special moment." The Golden State Valkyries will begin competition in the 2025 WNBA season as the...

Kirk Cousins said he doesn't believe it's constructive to have hard feelings with his new team over its surprising first-round draft pick. Cousins, the productive veteran quarterback, signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons in March. Last month, the team stunningly took a quarterback -- Michael Penix Jr. of Washington -- with the No. 8 pick in the draft.  Cousins' agent, Mike McCartney, told ESPN's Pete Thamel at the time that there was confusion and frustration coming from Cousins' camp because the Falcons acquired his successor before he even put on an Atlanta helmet and that the team didn't do anything with its top-10 pick to improve for 2024. Cousins spoke for the first time about the situation in an interview with the "Bussin' With The Boys" podcast that published Tuesday. When asked whether there was any beef with the Falcons over drafting Penix, Cousins said, "I don't think there can be." "I don't think it's...

The Golden State WNBA expansion team announced Tuesday its name and brand identity: the Golden State Valkyries. The name, which originates from Norse mythology, refers to a "host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering - flying through air and sea alike," a team release said. "This brand is Golden State's modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce." The team's primary color is "Valkyrie Violet," which signifies "power, ambition, nobility, and women's empowerment, much like purple has been used symbolically in modern history," the team said. "It feels like we've arrived," Valkyries president Jess Smith told ESPN. "As much as I've loved saying 'WNBA Golden State,' that was a placeholder, and this is who we are. To be able to put that stake in the ground and begin building the brand equity and begin bringing our community together around this, it's a really special moment." The Golden State Valkyries will begin competition in the 2025 WNBA season as the...

Aaron Rodgers' comeback season will open in prime time, as the New York Jets will travel to the San Francisco 49ers to face the defending NFC champions Sept. 9 on ESPN's "Monday Night Football," it was announced Tuesday morning. This marks the second straight season that Rodgers and the Jets will play a prime-time game in Week 1. His Jets debut last Sept. 11 turned into a season-altering disaster for the Jets, as the four-time MVP tore his left Achilles on the fourth snap and missed the remainder of the season. It was also announced Tuesday that the Buffalo Bills will play at the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night, Sept. 12, to open Week 2. The game will air on Amazon Prime. The game between the Jets and 49ers will feature a fascinating quarterback matchup, as Rodgers squares off against Brock Purdy, the 2022 Mr. Irrelevant who has turned into one of the NFL's biggest success stories. The 49ers are coming off a crushing defeat in Super Bowl...

Former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling plans to sign a one-year deal worth up to $4.5 million with the Buffalo Bills, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Tuesday. The deal includes a $1.125 million signing bonus, the source said. The Chiefs released Valdes-Scantling in February in a move to free up $12 million on their salary cap.  After Stefon Diggs was traded to the Texans and Gabe Davis signed with the Jaguars in free agency, Valdes-Scantling adds another veteran receiver to the Bills' depth chart. He joins free agent acquisitions  Curtis Samuel and Mack Hollins and second-round draft pick Keon Coleman as some of the team's notable additions this offseason. Buffalo's acquisition of Valdes-Scantling (6-foot-4, 206 pounds) continues the team's trend of adding size to its receiving corps this offseason. The 29-year-old also provides a downfield threat, averaging at...

DALLAS -- The stakes of Game 4 weighed on Oklahoma City superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander all day Monday as he waited for the 8:30 tipoff with the  Thunder trailing the Dallas Mavericks in their Western Conference semifinal series 2-1. The 25-year-old Gilgeous-Alexander called it "probably the most meaningful game I've played in my career," but he said he didn't feel pressure when he checked back into the game after a brief rest with 9:30 remaining and the Mavs leading by six points. Gilgeous-Alexander was poised, prepared to seize the moment, but also conscious of not forcing the issue, as he said he had late in the Thunder's Game 3 loss here. "Be aggressive, but be smart," Gilgeous-Alexander told himself. The MVP finalist found that balance down the stretch to lead Oklahoma City to a series-tying 100-96 win at the American Airlines Center, scoring or assisting on 20 of the Thunder's final 30 points. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 34 points, 8...

DALLAS -- The stakes of Game 4 weighed on Oklahoma City superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander all day Monday as he waited for the 8:30 p.m. CT tipoff of Game 4 with the  Thunder trailing the Dallas Mavericks in their Western Conference semifinal series. The 25-year-old Gilgeous-Alexander called it "probably the most meaningful game I've played in my career," but he didn't feel pressure when he checked back into the game after a brief rest with 9:30 remaining and the Mavericks leading by six points. Gilgeous-Alexander was poised, prepared to seize the moment but conscious of not forcing the issue, as he felt he had late in the Thunder's Game 3 loss. "Be aggressive, but be smart," Gilgeous-Alexander told himself. The MVP finalist found that balance down the stretch to lead Oklahoma City to a series-tying 100-96 road win at the American Airlines Center, scoring or assisting on 20 of the Thunder's final 30 points. Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 34...

CLEVELAND -- Already heavy underdogs in this Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Boston Celtics, and trailing 2-1 in this best-of-seven affair, the Cleveland Cavaliers were dealt a massive blow after star guard Donovan Mitchell was officially ruled out for Monday's Game 4 with a calf strain. But instead of a routine Boston blowout, this one was anything but, as the Cavaliers gamely hung in there for the vast majority of the 48 minutes before eventually falling 109-102 in front of a sellout crowd here at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. "To be expected, right?" said Jayson Tatum, who led the Celtics Monday with 33 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists in just under 44 minutes. "When the best player goes out, everybody has more freedom, more opportunity. "Obviously, we knew it wasn't going to be easy. It's the playoffs, they don't want to go home. Give them credit ... they played hard from beginning to end and made big plays on both ends....

NEW YORK -- New York Rangers captain Jacob Trouba said their failure to close out the Carolina Hurricanes at home in Game 5 presents an important character test for his team. "I don't think we thought this was going to be a cakewalk," Trouba said after the Rangers' 4-1 loss on Monday night, which narrowed New York's series lead to 3-2. "We've lost two games [in a row]. We're facing a little adversity. We'll see what we're made of going down to Carolina for Game 6." The Rangers entered the third period with a 1-0 lead thanks to Trouba's short-handed goal in the second frame. But the desperate Hurricanes took over the game by scoring three goals in 6:23.  Jordan Staal evened the score with his first goal of the playoffs. Just 3:06 later, Evgeny Kuznetsov netted his fourth of the postseason to give Carolina the lead. Jordan Martinook added a critical third goal before Martin Necas sealed the win with an empty-netter. "It kind...

CLEVELAND -- Already heavy underdogs in this Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Boston Celtics, and trailing 2-1 in this best-of-7 affair, the Cleveland Cavaliers were dealt a massive blow after star guard Donovan Mitchell was officially ruled out for Monday's Game 4 with a calf strain. But instead of a routine Boston blowout, this one was anything but, as the Cavaliers gamely hung in there for the vast majority of the 48 minutes before eventually falling 109-102 in front of a sellout crowd here at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. "To be expected, right?" said Jayson Tatum, who led the Celtics Monday with 33 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists in just under 44 minutes. "When the best player goes out, everybody has more freedom, more opportunity. "Obviously, we knew it wasn't going to be easy. It's the playoffs, they don't wanna go home. Give them credit ... they played hard from beginning to end and made big plays on both ends. They hit big...

CLEVELAND -- LeBron James attended  Cleveland's playoff game against the Boston Celtics on Monday night, an appearance certain to drive conversation about the superstar's future. James, who can opt out of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers and become a free agent this summer, played two stints in Cleveland. He led the Cavs to their only NBA championship in 2016 before leaving two years later. The league's career scoring leader, James has maintained a residence near his hometown of Akron. He has come back to Cleveland many times since leaving in 2018, but has not attended any Cavs games. James arrived just as the game began and took a courtside seat along with his wife, Savannah, and agent Rich Paul. He received a thunderous ovation when shown on the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse scoreboard during a timeout. James acknowledged the crowd and then King James mimicked putting a crown on his head. James had a short postseason this year as the...

DENVER -- Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said the pregame news of forward  Valeri Nichushkin being suspended for at least six months was not "an excuse" for his team's 5-1 loss Monday to the Dallas Stars in Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series. The Avalanche have lost three straight games since coming back to win the series opener, with the Stanley Cup contenders now facing elimination. "We're not going to use that as an excuse. We can't. We won't," Bednar said. "Again, we treat it just like [ Logan O'Connor] -- injured, done for the year. You get news like that all the time. You continue to play with the players that you have, and we have the ability to play a heck of a lot better than we did today regardless of any news." The news of Nichushkin being placed in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHL Players' Association player assistance program was announced a little more than an hour before puck drop. No further information was given about...

Jimmy Dunne, who last year helped negotiate the PGA Tour's controversial framework agreement with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, resigned from the tour's policy board on Monday. In Dunne's resignation letter, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN, Dunne wrote that "no meaningful progress has been made towards a transaction with PIF" and that "my vote and my role is utterly superfluous" now that player directors outnumber independent directors on the policy board. Dunne's resignation was effective immediately. "It is crucial for the Board to avoid letting yesterday's differences interfere with today's decisions, especially when they influence future opportunities for the tour," Dunne wrote. "Unifying professional golf is paramount to restoring fan interest and repairing wounds left from a fractured game. I have tried my best to move all minds in that direction." Along with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, Dunne and policy board chairman Ed Herlihy secretly negotiated the...