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Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid notched his 100th assist this season against the San Jose Sharks on Monday night, becoming just the fourth player in NHL history to hit triple digits for helpers. McDavid returned to the Edmonton lineup after missing three games with a lower-body injury, entering their home game against San Jose with 99 assists in 74 games. He picked up the primary assist on Zach Hyman's second-period goal, the winger's 54th goal of the season. Hockey Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Bobby Orr are the only other NHL players to eclipse 100 assists in a season. Orr did it once, becoming the first NHL player to achieve the feat in 1970-71. Lemieux also hit the mark once, in 1988-89. Gretzky topped 100 assists in a season 11 times and is the all-time NHL leader in career assists with 1,963. Gretzky was the last player before McDavid to have 100 assists, in the 1990-91 season. McDavid's previous career high in assists was 89...

Jordi Fernandez has emerged as the Brooklyn Nets' choice to become the franchise's next coach, separating himself amid a wide, monthlong search that now has the Nets prepared to hire the Sacramento Kings' top assistant, sources told ESPN on Monday night. Fernandez, 41, has been a fast-rising coaching candidate in the past two years and will land the Nets' head-coaching job, sources said. Fernandez will take over a Nets franchise that completed a 32-50 season under interim coach Kevin Ollie -- its fifth coach since 2020.   Brooklyn is reshaping its team in the post- Kevin Durant- Kyrie Irving era and is hiring Fernandez to reinvigorate a roster that includes Mikal Bridges, Cam Thomas, Nic Claxton,  Cameron Johnson and Noah Clowney. Nets general manager Sean Marks met with dozens of candidates in recent weeks and Fernandez advanced to meet with owner Joe Tsai recently, sources said. Fernandez will...

DETROIT -- Michael Lorenzen pitched five scoreless innings in his Texas debut and three relievers completed a five-hit shutout as the Rangers topped the Detroit Tigers 1-0 on Monday night. Lorenzen, signed to a $4.5 million, one-year contract as a free agent late in spring training, gave up three hits and walked five while notching four strikeouts against his former team. Lorenzen represented the Tigers at the All-Star Game last season before he was traded to Philadelphia. "Everything about Detroit I really enjoyed. The guys over there are great," Lorenzen said. "I tried not to talk to them at all because I wanted to beat them. I'll catch up with them [Tuesday]." The right-hander, who had been on the 15-day injured list due to a neck strain, made three rehab appearances at Triple-A Round Rock before he was activated. "You saw a guy with poise," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's got the experience. He knows how to make pitches when he has to....

NEW YORK --  Caitlin Clark is officially a pro. Clark, the record-breaking face of women's college basketball, was selected No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA draft Monday night at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The draft was held in front of 1,000 fans, who bought all the tickets within 15 minutes of them going on sale a few months ago. "I got a little anxious there before the pick," Clark said with a laugh during an interview with ESPN's Holly Rowe. "I dreamed of this moment since I was in second grade, and it's taken a lot of hard work, a lot of ups and downs, but more than anything, just trying to soak it in."  Los Angeles chose  Stanford's Cameron Brink at No. 2. She'll get to stay in California and will give the Sparks a two-way player. The prolific scorer was also the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. The Sparks needed to replace franchise player Nneka Ogwumike, who left for Seattle in free...

Team USA is finalizing a 2024 Paris Olympics men's basketball roster that includes several of the generation's iconic players, including the Lakers' LeBron James, Warriors'  Stephen Curry, Suns' Kevin Durant and 76ers' Joel Embiid, sources told ESPN on Monday. Team USA managing director Grant Hill is keeping one roster slot open ahead of a July training camp and exhibition games in Las Vegas, sources said. U.S. basketball is planning to formally announce this 11-man roster that also includes Lakers forward Anthony Davis, Suns guard Devin Booker, Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards, Boston forward Jayson Tatum, Boston guard Jrue Holiday, Miami center Bam Adebayo and Indiana guard Tyrese Haliburton, sources said. Team USA coach Steve Kerr will be coaching Curry -- his four-time championship and two-time MVP guard -- in his first Olympic appearance. Kerr will also be reunited with Durant, who is one...

USA Basketball is finalizing a 2024 Paris Olympics men's basketball roster that includes several of the generation's iconic players -- including the Lakers' LeBron James, Warriors'  Stephen Curry, Suns' Kevin Durant and 76ers' Joel Embiid, sources told ESPN on Monday. Team USA managing director Grant Hill is keeping one roster slot open ahead of a July training camp and exhibition games in Las Vegas, sources said. USA Basketball is planning to formally announce this 11-man roster that also includes Lakers forward Anthony Davis, Suns guard Devin Booker, Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards, Boston forward Jayson Tatum, Boston guard Jrue Holiday, Miami center Bam Adebayo and Indiana guard Tyrese Haliburton, sources said. Team USA coach Steve Kerr will be coaching Curry -- his four-time championship and two-time MVP guard -- in his first Olympics appearance. Kerr will also be reunited with Durant, who...

NEW YORK -- WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert is "pretty confident" the league will expand to 16 teams by 2028 and that the goal is to bring in a 14th team for 2026, she told reporters Monday. With women's basketball booming in popularity, players and fans alike have called for expansion, as the WNBA's current footprint of 12 teams, each with 12 roster spots, means the league can accommodate a maximum of 144 players. The WNBA announced late last year it is adding a 13th team that will be owned and operated by the Golden State Warriors. It is the league's first new franchise since the Atlanta Dream in 2008. "It's complex because you need the arena and practice facility and player housing and all the things you need, committed long-term ownership groups," Engelbert said before Friday's WNBA draft. "And so, the nice thing is we're getting a lot of calls, we're continuing to engage with cities." Engelbert mentioned cities such as Philadelphia, Toronto, Portland,...

L-S-U'S Angel Reese, South Carolina's Kamila Cardoso and Iowa's Caitlyn Clark are heading to the pros. They're expected to be drafted into the WNBA in the leagues first round draft.

A 6-0 win -- including a four-goal night by one of his star players in Cole Palmer -- should have left Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino with no issues following the game. But that was far from the case, as the Argentine coach took his team to task for an incident regarding who would take a penalty kick in the second half with Chelsea already up 4-0 on Everton on Monday night at Stamford Bridge. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Captain Conor Gallagher had to intervene to shove away Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke as they squabbled for the ball after the latter was brought down in the box. Gallagher secured the ball then handed it to Palmer, the team's designated penalty taker. "The players and staff know that Cole Palmer is the penalty taker," said a furious Pochettino after the game. "I am so, so upset about the situation. Discipline is the most important thing in our...

Kentucky freshman Zvonimir Ivisic announced Monday he will follow John Calipari and transfer to Arkansas. Ivisic entered the transfer portal over the weekend, becoming the first Kentucky player to leave the program after Mark Pope was named head coach. He's now the first player to follow Calipari to Fayetteville. Ivisic said in a post on social media that he met with Pope on Monday but informed him he would not be returning to Kentucky. "I made the lifetime decision to come to college for [a] few reasons," Ivisic wrote. "Main ones to win a national championship and go to the NBA. Monumental part of that decision was coach Cal, and no one does both of those at the same time than him. That's why I am excited to announce that I am committing to coach Cal and Arkansas Razorbacks." Ivisic, a 7-foot-2 center from Croatia, had one of the most anticipated debuts of any newcomer this past season -- and then "Big Z" produced an eye-opening display in his first college...

Rashee Rice and  Teddy Knox are being sued in Texas for over $1 million in actual damages and $10 million in punitive damages by two people who say they were injured in a six-vehicle crash March 30 in Dallas.  The plaintiffs, Edvard Petrovskiy and Irina Gromova, allege Rice and Knox deliberately raced their vehicles at speeds well beyond the posted limits and caused the six-vehicle crash that led to their injuries. Rice, a wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs, was the leaseholder of both vehicles and was driving one at the time of the crash. Knox, a football player and former teammate of Rice's at SMU Mustangs, was driving the other. Rice, 23, and Knox, 21, are each facing one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury, according to police. In the lawsuit, Petrovskiy and Gromova claim injuries that include brain trauma, cuts to the face requiring stitches, bruises,...

John Sterling, the longtime radio voice of the New York Yankees, has decided to retire, effective immediately, the club announced Monday. Sterling, 85, joined the Yankees' broadcast in 1989. He went on to call 5,420 regular-season and 211 postseason Yankees games. Sterling had taken on a reduced role in recent seasons and traveled less often because of health concerns. This season was his 36th in the booth and 20th working alongside Suzyn Waldman. "I am a very blessed human being," Sterling said in a statement. "I have been able to do what I wanted, broadcasting for 64 years. As a little boy growing up in New York as a Yankees fan, I was able to broadcast the Yankees for 36 years. It's all to my benefit, and I leave very, very happy." Known for his individualized home run calls and signature Yankees victory call, Sterling was in the booth for 5,060 consecutive games from September 1989 to July 2019, when he missed a series with an illness. The native New Yorker was on the...

HOUSTON -- Coach DeMeco Ryans made it clear he isn't paying attention to the hype the Houston Texans are receiving. "We don't care about expectations," Ryans said Monday. "Talk doesn't win games. We have to go out and play good football when the time comes." The Texans spent $178.5 million this offseason in guaranteed money, according to Roster Management System, the fourth most in the NFL. That includes a reworked contract for newly acquired All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs. The Texans sent a 2025 second-round pick (via the Minnesota Vikings) to the Buffalo Bills for Diggs and voided the final three years of his deal before increasing his base salary to $22.52 million guaranteed. He's now set to become a free agent in 2025.   "The guy's been an All-Pro player, been a Pro Bowl player, over 1,000 yards for multiple seasons," Ryans said. "So, we're excited about adding Diggs to our team." The Diggs trade capped the Texans' aggressive...

EAGAN, Minn. -- Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson has had a long time to think about the controversial hit that ended his 2023 season and could keep him out from the start of 2024. Speaking publicly Monday for the first time since, Hockenson's mood boiled down to seven words. "Obviously," he said, "I wasn't too happy about it." As he continues his rehabilitation from torn ACL and MCL ligaments in his right knee, an injury he suffered from a direct hit by Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph in Week 16, Hockenson had plenty more to say. While stopping short of accusing Joseph of intending to injure him -- or Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee on an identical play in the playoffs -- Hockenson said that players should protect one another as much as possible. He called on the NFL to address why defenders can hit pass-catchers low in those situations, but offensive players can't cut-block in similar areas and said he would have preferred...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs expect wide receiver Rashee Rice to participate as they began their offseason program Monday with virtual meetings, coach Andy Reid said. Reid wouldn't say whether the Chiefs were planning on having Rice participate later in the spring when they move the program to Kansas City. "I want to keep gathering the information from the law enforcement people,'' Reid said. "We'll just see where everything goes from there [and] let the process take place.'' Otherwise, Reid said little about Rice's situation but did say he has spoken with the wide receiver. Rice, the Chiefs' leading wide receiver last season, is facing one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury and six counts of collision involving injury, according to Dallas police, for his involvement in a six-vehicle car crash last month. Rice turned himself in to police last week and was later released on bond. On April 3, he said...

Kentucky freshman D.J. Wagner, a former top-five recruit in the 2023 class, entered the transfer portal Monday. Wagner, a 6-foot-4 guard from Camden, New Jersey, immediately becomes one of the more intriguing backcourt players in the college basketball portal. The son of former high school phenom and NBA player Dajuan Wagner, D.J. Wagner was considered the top player in the 2023 class for much of his high school career. He was one of the best scorers on the Nike EYBL circuit and led Camden High School to the New Jersey state title. Wagner also earned MVP honors at the McDonald's All American Game. He finished his high school career ranked No. 4 in the ESPN 100 and entered Kentucky with first-round NBA draft projections. After a couple of early 20-point efforts against Saint Joseph's and Marshall, however, he was inconsistent on the offensive end. Wagner finished the season scoring in single-digits in 10 of his final 13 games, including a scoreless outing...

BOSTON -- Sisay Lemma scorched the first half of the Boston Marathon course Monday, setting a record pace to build a lead of more than half a mile. Then the weather heated up, and the 34-year-old Ethiopian slowed down. After running alone for most of the morning, Lemma held on down Boylston Street to finish in 2 hours, 6 minutes, 17 seconds -- the 10th-fastest time in the race's 128-year history.  "I decided that I wanted to start fast early," said Lemma, who dropped to the pavement and rolled onto his back, smiling, after crossing the finish line. "I kept the pace and I won." Lemma, the 2021 London champion, arrived in Boston with the fastest time in the field -- just the fourth person ever to break 2:02:00 when he won in Valencia last year. And he showed it on the course Monday, separating himself from the pack in Ashland and opening a lead of more than half a mile. Lemma ran the first half in 1:00:19 -- 99 seconds faster than Geoffrey Mutai's course record pace in 2011, when...

PHILADELPHIA -- The Eagles and DeVonta Smith have agreed to a three-year extension that ties the wide receiver to the team through the 2028 season. Terms were not disclosed, but a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the contract is worth $75 million, with $51 million guaranteed. The team also exercised Smith's fifth-year option, which will pay Smith a salary of around $16 million for the 2025 campaign. Smith becomes the fifth receiver in the NFL with a contract averaging $25 million or more per season, joining Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins ($30 million), Davante Adams of the Las Vegas Raiders ($28 million), Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams ($26.7 million) and Smith's teammate, A.J. Brown ($25 million). Smith and Brown became the first receiver tandem in Eagles history to each reach 1,000 yards receiving in 2022 and they repeated the feat last season. Teamed with quarterback Jalen Hurts,...

Five-star guard Boogie Fland has requested his release from Kentucky and will reopen his recruitment, sources told ESPN. Fland becomes the fourth member of what was the No. 2-ranked recruiting class in the country to decommit from the Wildcats, following five-star forward Jayden Quaintance and ESPN 100 prospects Karter Knox and Somto Cyril. These decisions come in the wake of John Calipari's decision to leave Kentucky for Arkansas and the Wildcats hiring Mark Pope to replace Calipari. When Fland originally committed to Kentucky in October, he chose the Wildcats over Indiana, although Alabama was also on his final list of three. The Hoosiers were in the lead entering the final weeks, but Calipari and Kentucky finished strong to overtake Mike Woodson's program. "He is a Hall of Fame coach who cares about his players," Fland told ESPN at the time about Calipari. "When he gave his Hall of Fame speech, his former players and coaches were...

In February, Raiders general manager Tom Telesco indicated that star wide receiver Davante Adams wouldn't be traded when he said, " He's a Raider." On Sunday, Adams made it clear that sentiment was mutual. "If I wanted to be gone, I'd be gone by now," Adams told reporters from his football camp, according to The Athletic. "This is where I want to be." The Raiders acquired Adams from the Packers in 2022 and then signed him to a five-year, $140 million contract extension. That still hasn't stopped trade speculation the past two offseasons. However, while he might have had some discontent with Josh McDaniels, his former coach, he is a staunch supporter of Antonio Pierce, his new coach. In January, Adams stumped for Pierce to have the interim tag removed from his title after he led the Raiders to a 5-4 record to end the season. Adams appears to be much happier now that Pierce was hired for the full-time role. "It's already helped the...

Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen has agreed on a four-year, $70 million contract extension that includes a player option, his agents Mitch Nathan, Aaron Mintz and Steven Heumann of CAA Sports told ESPN on Monday. The deal keeps Allen out of unrestricted free agency this summer and rewards him for a career-best season with the Suns. Allen started 73 games and averaged 13.4 points, 3.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 33.5 minutes per game.  After landing with his fourth team in six seasons, Allen, 28, was eager to re-sign as part of a lineup of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal that allows him tremendous space and room to operate on the court. His 46.1% on 3-pointers led the NBA this season. Allen's signing comes with massive luxury tax implications for owner Mat Ishbia. The Suns could've replaced him only with minimum contract free agents, so his re-signing was vital to the franchise's ability to keep its core together. Allen's $15.6 million...

Tiger Woods and Verne Lundquist will always share a connection at Augusta National. It was only appropriate that they shared a moment at Lundquist's final Masters. At the 16th hole, where Woods made a memorable chip-in at the 2005 Masters on the way to his fourth of five green jackets, the golfer stopped to shake Lundquist's hand and exchange a few words after tapping in for par. The 83-year-old Lundquist is retiring after calling the Masters for CBS for the 40th time. His decision to step away has rekindled memories of his epic call of Woods' chip-in nearly two decades ago, when Lundquist bellowed, "In your life have you seen anything like that?!" Early in Sunday's broadcast, CBS' Jim Nantz said, "We will be celebrating you as long as there is a Masters tournament. ... You will always be a part of it. You have permanent residence here with that impressive resume of calls and moments. ... We're going to miss you." Lundquist replied, "I thank you Jim, and thanks to all of you."...

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts have locked in another key piece of their core. In a continuation of moves made this spring, the Colts signed star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to an extension Monday. Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that it's a two-year deal for $46 million and runs through the 2026 season. The deal comes as the Colts report this week for voluntary offseason workouts and preempts what would have been a contract year for one of the team's captains and most productive players. He was entering the final year of a four-year, $84 million contract signed after joining the Colts in a trade from the San Francisco 49ers in 2020, when he was a first-team All-Pro selection. "DeForest has been the epitome of what it means to be a Colt the last four years," general manager Chris Ballard said in a statement. "As one of the premier defensive tackles in the league, he is a destructive force on our defensive line. DeForest is one of the...

LOS ANGELES -- San Diego Padres outfielder Jurickson Profar came up with the game-winning hit that led to a series victory Sunday at Dodger Stadium. That his three-run double in the seventh inning came one day after Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith called him "irrelevant" did not go unnoticed by one of Profar's most prominent teammates. "Irrelevant? I don't know. You'll have to check the dictionary on that," Padres third baseman Manny Machado said after San Diego's  6-3 win. "He's been leading this team big-time. The numbers speak for themselves. Every time he comes out here, steps on that field, he makes a big impact on the game. At the end of the day, boy got 10 years in the league. There's only a handful of baseball players, in all of baseball, who accomplish that goal, so, got to put a little bit of respect on his name." Profar took exception to being brushed back by an up-and-in cutter from Dodgers starter Gavin...

Houston Dash winger Maria Sanchez has requested a trade only four months after signing one of the most lucrative deals in National Women's Soccer League history, multiple sources confirmed to ESPN. Both the NWSL trade window and transfer window will close at midnight ET on Friday. Sanchez signed a new contract with Houston in December for three years plus a fourth-year option, with a total compensation of $1.5 million including bonuses and the option year. At the time it was inked, it was the largest deal in NWSL history, although it was eclipsed by a few contracts signed in the months that followed. - Stream on ESPN+: NWSL regular-season games (U.S.) Reached by ESPN on Sunday, a Dash spokesperson provided the following statement: "Maria Sanchez is under contract, a choice she made in free agency at the end of 2023." Sanchez, 28, was a restricted free agent this past offseason, meaning that Houston had the ability to match any offer from...

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- A victory at the 2024 Masters seemed inevitable for Scottie Scheffler. The Texan has been ranked No. 1 in the world for more than 80 weeks during his short career. He'd won eight times on the PGA Tour since February 2022, a stretch that saw him become the first golfer ever to win the Players Championship in back-to-back years. Scheffler is regarded as perhaps golf's best ball striker since Tiger Woods in his prime, and Scheffler's magical hands around the greens also have drawn comparison to you-know-who. Until Sunday, Scheffler had only one major championship victory, the 2022 Masters, which might have been the only reason anyone would doubt his status as the game's next generational star. After entering Sunday's final round of the 88th Masters at Augusta National Golf Club leading by 1 shot, Scheffler ran away from the other contenders on the second nine to win a second green jacket in three years. Scheffler carded a 4-under 68 over the final...

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Cutter Gauthier, who scored the most goals in the NCAA in the past 25 years during Boston College's run to the Frozen Four, signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday. Gauthier is likely to make his NHL debut Thursday when the Ducks wrap up their season at Vegas. His rights were acquired from Philadelphia for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 second-round pick. Gauthier was the fifth overall pick by the Flyers in the 2022 NHL draft. Flyers general manager Danny Briere said in January that he traded Gauthier because he wouldn't sign, train or even communicate with Philadelphia. Gauthier's 38 goals are tied with Ryan Potulny, who played for Minnesota in 2005-06, for most by a collegiate player in the past 25 seasons. The center also led the NCAA in game-winning goals (10), was second in points (65) and tied for second in power-play goals (13). He was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the top player...

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- A victory at the 2024 Masters seemed inevitable for Scottie Scheffler. The Texan has been ranked No. 1 in the world for more than 80 weeks during his short career. He'd won eight times on the PGA Tour since February 2022, a stretch that saw him become the first golfer ever to win the Players Championship in back-to-back years. Scheffler is regarded as perhaps golf's best ballstriker since Tiger Woods in his prime, and Scheffler's magical hands around the greens also have drawn comparison to you-know-who. Until Sunday, Scheffler had only one major championship victory, the 2022 Masters, which might have been the only reason anyone would doubt his status as the game's next generational star. After entering Sunday's final round of the 88th Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in a three-way tie for the lead, Scheffler ran away from the other contenders on the second nine to win a second green jacket in three years. Scheffler carded a 4-under 68...

CHICAGO -- Welcome to the NHL, Frank Nazar. Nazar scored on his first shot on goal in his debut with the Chicago Blackhawks in the team's home finale against the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday, a 4-2 Chicago loss. Wearing No. 91, a smiling Nazar got a big cheer from the early-arriving fans when he took the ice for his solo rookie lap ahead of warmups. He centered a line with Jason Dickinson and Joey Anderson at the beginning of the game, but coach Luke Richardson said the Blackhawks might take a look at a couple different combinations. After coming up empty on an early power-play opportunity, Nazar got a slick pass from Seth Jones and skated in on Pyotr Kochetkov for a breakaway. He beat Kochetkov on the goaltender's stick side 10:05 into the first period, sending a charge through the United Center crowd. The 20-year-old Nazar, one of Chicago's top prospects, turned pro after Michigan lost 4-0 to Boston College in the Frozen...

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Rookie center Chet Holmgren unzipped his black hoodie sweatshirt when asked how the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrated earning the Western Conference's No. 1 seed, showing off his blue Northwest Division champions T-shirt that was handed out in the locker room. The Thunder took a team picture to commemorate the occasion after Sunday's 135-86 win over the Dallas Mavericks -- who rested all their starters and a few key reserves -- then shifted their focus to preparing for the playoffs. "I wouldn't say celebratory so much as just kind of recognizing the fruition of all the hard work that we've been putting in," Holmgren said. "We're not in the position we're in by accident. There was a lot of dedication and hard work that went into it. "But we're not celebrating, because what we're trying to do, we're not there yet. So, we're still eyes on the prize, locked in." Oklahoma City entered the final day of the regular season in a three-way...

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Rookie center Chet Holmgren unzipped his black hoodie sweatshirt when asked how the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrated earning the Western Conference's No. 1 seed, showing off the blue Northwest Division T-shirts that were handed out in the locker room. The Thunder took a team picture to commemorate the occasion after Sunday's 135-86 win over the Dallas Mavericks, who rested all their starters and a few key reserves, and then shifted their focus to preparing for the playoffs. "I wouldn't say celebratory so much as just kind of recognizing the fruition of all the hard work that we've been putting in," Holmgren said. "We're not in the position we're in by accident. There was a lot of dedication and hard work that went into it, but we're not celebrating because what we're trying to do, we're not there yet. So we're still eyes on the prize, locked in." Oklahoma City entered the final day of the regular season in a three-way tie for first place in...

Days after John Calipari left town, Mark Pope stood on a podium in front of a sold-out crowd at Rupp Arena on Sunday. During his official introduction, Kentucky's new coach, who signed a five-year deal for $5.5 million per season, said he's aware of the expectations around the program. "I understand the assignment," Pope said. "We are here to win banners. As we go through this journey, we're here to win banners in Nashville [at the SEC tournament] because you guys turn out in Nashville like nobody else and that matters. And our job here and our assignment is here to win banners in the Final Four, national championships. That's our job." Pope's arrival marked the latest step in a surprising sequence of events that has changed the SEC and men's college basketball. Three days ago, Calipari was introduced as the head coach at Arkansas following a 15-year tenure that included the 2012 national title. Calipari decided to leave the Wildcats after a series of lackluster postseason...

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 points in one half of action and the Oklahoma City Thunder rolled past the Dallas Mavericks 135-86 on Sunday to clinch the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Oklahoma City finished with the same 57-25 record as the Denver Nuggets but owned the tiebreaker. The Thunder hadn't finished as the top seed since the 2012-13 season. The Thunder entered the final day in a three-way tie with the Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves for the best record in the Western Conference, the first such occurrence in NBA history. Denver's win over the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota's loss to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday clinched the No. 2 and 3 seeds for the Nuggets and Timberwolves, respectively. The Thunder will have to wait for the play-in tournament's conclusion to learn their first-round opponent. The Nuggets will face the winner of the 7-8 play-in game between the Los Angeles...

PHILADELPHIA -- Long after the 76ers emerged with a comfortable 107-86 victory over the Brooklyn Nets in their season finale Sunday at Wells Fargo Center, most of Philadelphia's roster was standing in the locker room watching the final moments of the New York Knicks- Chicago Bulls game 100 miles up Interstate 95. If New York won, it would clinch the second seed in the Eastern Conference and be Philadelphia's potential first-round opponent next weekend. If Chicago won, the Knicks would be the third seed, and the Milwaukee Bucks would get the second seed. Ultimately, the Knicks escaped with a thrilling 120-119 overtime victory after Chicago forward  DeMar DeRozan's potential game-winning jumper went wanting. The 76ers -- relegated to the play-in tournament close to an hour earlier by the Orlando Magic's 113-88 victory over the Bucks -- will shift their focus to Wednesday's Nos. 7-8 play-in game at home...

Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso hailed their Bundesliga triumph as "something extraordinary" after they secured their first title in the club's 120-year history on Sunday evening. Bayer Leverkusen had a 13-point lead heading into the match against  Werder Bremen, knowing a victory would secure the Bundesliga even with five matches remaining. The hosts made easy work of Bremen as they won 5-0 thanks to a penalty from Victor Boniface, a wonderful strike from Granit Xhaka and a Florian Wirtz hat trick. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) The triumph marked the end of Bayern Munich's run of 11 straight titles, and a breakthrough for Leverkusen after they came so close in both 2000 and 2002. "This is a very special moment for the club," Alonso said postmatch. "After 120 years, to win the Bundesliga for the first time is something extraordinary. The players really performed, they were a top team...

The NHL has fined Boston Bruins defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk $2,734.38 for unsportsmanlike conduct after he hit Pittsburgh Penguins winger Michael Bunting with his stick from the bench during Saturday's game. Shattenkirk was not penalized for his action with 19:37 left in the first period of the Bruins' 6-4 victory. Bunting had made contact with the Bruins' Linus Ullmark, the winger's stick catching the goaltender's skates and causing him to fall over. Bunting then skated past the Boston bench, where Shattenkirk apparently reached out with his stick and hit Bunting with it. On Sunday, the league's Department of Player Safety announced the fine, the maximum allowed for unsportsmanlike conduct under the collective bargaining agreement, with the money going to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund. Shattenkirk scored a goal and Bunting had one goal and one assist in the game, with Ullmark (28 saves) earning the win. Shattenkirk was...

Liverpool's season is starting to unravel, and manager Jurgen Klopp is at a loss to explain why. A 1-0 home loss to Crystal Palace damaged Liverpool's Premier League title challenge on Sunday, three days after a 3-0 defeat to Atalanta at Anfield in the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinals. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Those consecutive home losses come after last Sunday's draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford and leave Klopp's side looking up the table at leaders Manchester City yet again. "Could be," Klopp said, when asked if the loss to Palace was a hangover from the defeat to Atalanta. "If you look at my teams over the years, I think you could say our pressing is usually good, the counter-press is there. The first half [against Palace], we were open -- like how can that happen? "It's only a few days ago that we played a bad game, so it might have something to do with that. Actually it was a...

One of the biggest question marks of the Cincinnati Bengals' offseason appears to be heading toward a resolution. Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins anticipates playing for Cincinnati in 2024, he told reporters at his youth football camp Sunday. Higgins, who is entering his fifth year in the league, had requested a trade earlier in the offseason after Cincinnati placed the franchise tag on him. "I do anticipate it," Higgins said, according to video posted by WXIX-TV. "I've grown a love for Cincinnati that I didn't think I would. [I'm] looking forward to it." For the past two years, Higgins and Cincinnati have been unable to come to terms on a long-term contract. The two sides made little progress ahead of a 2023 season that saw Higgins battle injuries. A rib injury he suffered in Week 4 and a hamstring issue ahead of Week 10 forced Higgins to miss five combined games last year. He finished with 42 catches for 656 receiving yards and five...

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Despite posting his highest round in his Masters career and his worst 72-hole score in a professional event, Tiger Woods said his return to Augusta National Golf Club was a "good week." A day after the 15-time major champion posted a 10-over 82 in the third round, he played better while carding a 5-over 77 over the final 18 holes Sunday. Woods made a triple bogey on the par-4 fifth hole to go with three bogeys and one birdie. Woods' 72-hole total of 16-over 304 was last among the 60 golfers who made the 36-hole cut. The five-time green jacket winner was 2 strokes behind former Masters champion Vijay Singh and Denmark's  Thorbjørn Olesen. Still, Woods was able to finish an official 72-hole tournament for the first time since tying for 45th at the Genesis Invitational outside Los Angeles in February 2023. It was the first time he finished a major championship since he was 47th in the 2022 Masters, his first start after he was seriously...

The Chicago Sky acquired the seventh overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft and center Nikolina Milic from the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday. The Lynx, in turn, received the eighth overall pick in the draft, forward Sika Kone, Chicago's second-round selection in the 2025 draft and the rights to swap the Sky's first-round pick in 2026.   "We are excited to strengthen our draft position once again in a year with many top prospects," Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca said. "We thank Sika for her many contributions to the Chicago Sky and wish her success in her next role." The Sky now own the third overall pick in the 2024 draft (from the Phoenix Mercury) in addition to Nos. 7 and 13 (from the Dallas Wings via the Indiana Fever). "This trade in the WNBA draft continues our focus on building a foundation for sustained success," said Cheryl Reeve, the Lynx's head coach and president of basketball operations. Minnesota has two...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry and forward Draymond Green will not play in the team's regular-season finale against the Utah Jazz on Sunday afternoon. "[Curry] could play. If he had to play, he would be playing," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said before the game. "Given what we are facing, it made no sense to put him out there today. We're hoping that we've got three games this week, so getting a rest today, getting time to recover before that first play-in game, that's much more important." Gary Payton II will miss his third consecutive game with a left calf strain. All the other players on the roster are available, including  Jonathan Kuminga, who missed Friday's game with a right pelvic contusion. The Warriors have a chance to move into the 8-seed, but given the way Kerr spoke pregame, it appears that they are preparing to move forward as the 9- or 10-seed. "It's most likely we're going to have to win two games...

Bayer Leverkusen won the first Bundesliga title in their history with a 5-0 win over Werder Bremen  on Sunday, securing the championship with five games to play. Alonso's team remain unbeaten in all competitions this season having broken Bayern Munich's German record of 32 games without a defeat in all competitions in February. The run now stands at 43 in all competitions. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) "It feels great. I have the feeling this is not just for us, this is for so many people that have been chasing this dream for so many years," Alonso said after the game. "Past coaches are part of it as well. It is very special when it is the first time for everything, and this is the most difficult title probably." Leverkusen took the lead in the 25th minute through  Victor Boniface's penalty, and a long-range strike from  Granit Xhaka in the second half added comfort to the score in front a...

PHILADELPHIA --  Joel Embiid sat out Sunday's regular-season finale for the Philadelphia 76ers against the Brooklyn Nets as a precautionary measure ahead of the playoffs, sources told ESPN. The expectation is Embiid will be available for Philadelphia's next game, sources told ESPN. That next game could be Tuesday if Philadelphia is on the road for the 7-8 play-in game, or Wednesday if the 76ers are hosting it. It also could be next weekend, if the 76ers move up into the fifth or sixth seed in the East and avoid the play-in game. Embiid, who briefly left Friday's 125-113 win over the Orlando Magic after it appeared he was having issues with his left knee late in the first half, returned and played the rest of the game. Sixers coach Nick Nurse told reporters Embiid took part in Saturday's practice. The NBA's reigning Most Valuable Player, Embiid has averaged 30.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists in the five games he has played following a...

Liverpool's quest for a Premier League title in manager Jurgen Klopp's final season with the team suffered a huge blow with a 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace at Anfield on Sunday that left them third in the table. Eberechi Eze scored in the 14th minute to stun the Anfield faithful in the third consecutive disappointing result for Liverpool. Klopp's men are even on 71 points with second-placed Arsenal, who were playing later Sunday, and two behind provisional leaders Manchester City. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) "I would say with the chances we had, we were really unlucky," Klopp told the BBC. "In the second half, Crystal Palace were lucky we didn't punish them, but that's why we are stood here with no points and Crystal Palace have three." Tyrick Mitchell found Eze unmarked in the box after some good passing and the England international slotted home with his first touch to put Palace ahead. "It's an...

LOS ANGELES --  Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers received some special footwear Saturday, courtesy of Kobe Bryant's widow. On the eighth anniversary of Bryant's last NBA game, Vanessa Bryant gave members of the Dodgers exclusive sneakers in a team color scheme from the late basketball star's signature Nike line. The club posted a thank-you message to Vanessa Bryant with photos of the sneakers on X and shared video on Instagram of players opening their new Nike Kobe 6 LA Dodgers PE shoes. Betts said he was going to wear them every day, and manager Dave Roberts said: "These are ridiculous. I'm going to rock these with Mamba pride." The Dodgers went on to beat the  San Diego Padres  5-2 on Saturday night. Bryant scored 60 points for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Utah Jazz at home in the last game of his career on April 13, 2016, often referred to as Mamba Day in a nod to his Black Mamba nickname. He...

LAS VEGAS -- Conor McGregor's comeback fight is now official. UFC CEO Dana White announced Saturday night that McGregor will fight Michael Chandler -- long the planned matchup -- in the main event of UFC 303 on June 29 in Las Vegas. The card will highlight the UFC's annual International Fight Week. McGregor had said Jan. 1 that he'd be fighting Chandler on that date, but it was not made official until White's announcement. White said the fight would take place at 170 pounds. McGregor, the biggest star in UFC history, has not fought since July 2021, when he broke his left leg in a fight with Dustin Poirier. McGregor and Chandler coached against one another on "The Ultimate Fighter" in 2023, with the plan being that the two would fight after the conclusion of the reality show. McGregor (22-6) has just one UFC victory since 2016 and has fought only four times since then, not including a blockbuster boxing match against Floyd Mayweather in 2017. The Ireland...

LAS VEGAS --  Alex Pereira continued his run as one of UFC's most dynamic big-fight athletes. Pereira has already won two championships at New York's Madison Square Garden. And on Saturday, he knocked out former champ Jamahal Hill to retain the UFC light heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 300 -- one of the biggest events in promotion history -- at T-Mobile Arena. The finish came at 3 minutes, 14 seconds of the first round after one of Pereira's trademark left hooks. The finish will live on highlight reels forever. Hill kicked Pereira low, prompting referee Herb Dean to step in and try to pause the fight. Pereira held up his right hand, stopping the official from intervening. Pereira then blasted Hill with the left hook and followed with violent punches on the ground. "I was gauging the distance and timing," Pereira said through an interpreter. "Everything went perfect." Pereira said the groin kick hurt him a little, but he was just starting to figure out...

LAS VEGAS --  Alex Pereira continued his run as one of the UFC's most dynamic big-fight athletes. Pereira has already won two championships at New York's Madison Square Garden. And Saturday, he knocked out former champ Jamahal Hill to retain the UFC light heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 300 -- one of the biggest events in promotion history -- at T-Mobile Arena. The finish came at 3 minutes, 14 seconds of the first round after one of Pereira's trademark left hooks. The finish will be one that will live on highlight reels forever. Hill kicked Pereira low, prompting referee Herb Dean to step in and try to pause the fight. Pereira held up his right hand, stopping the official from intervening. Pereira then blasted Hill with the left hook and followed with violent punches on the ground. "I was gauging the distance and timing," Pereira said through an interpreter. "Everything went perfect." Hill relinquished the title last summer after rupturing his left...

The BMF title is not a real championship, but Max Holloway did the gimmick proud on Saturday night with an explosive last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 in Las Vegas. Holloway (26-7), a former featherweight champion competing at lightweight in this bout, was in control from the start, with faster hands and elusive footwork that made it difficult for Gaethje (25-5) to find him. For Gaethje, the defending BMF belt holder, the fight became increasingly difficult after Holloway connected with a spinning back kick to the face right before the horn to end Round 2. The kick busted up Gaethje's nose, and his face was a bloody mess the rest of the way. Gaethje did floor Holloway with a right hand late in Round 4, although UFC Stats did not credit him with handing Holloway the first knockdown of his career. The punch turned the tide briefly, but Holloway retook control in the final round. As the final seconds ticked away, when all Holloway had to do was avoid a...

A stunning long-range strike from Lionel Messi helped Inter Miami to a 3-2 win over Sporting Kansas City in front of a record crowd of 72,610 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday. Making his first MLS start since March 2 after overcoming a hamstring injury, Messi let fly from 25 yards with his famed left foot to give Miami the lead six minutes into the second half. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL more (U.S.) The home team, cheered on by minority owner and three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes, played its part in an entertaining evening. Erik Thommy, who also gave his team the lead after six minutes, equalized with an impressive volley seven minutes after Messi's strike. But Miami avoided a sixth straight match without a win in all competition courtesy of a close-range finish from Messi's ex- Barcelona teammate,  Luis Suárez, in the 71st minute...