Sports News

LAS VEGAS -- The legend of Poatan continues to grow. Alex Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) scored a vicious second-round knockout of Jirí Prochazka (30-5-1 MMA, 4-2 UFC) with a devastating head kick and brutal follow-up strikes to retain his light heavyweight championship in the main event of UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. The rematch between the two, who met last November with Pereira winning by second-round TKO, happened a lot sooner than expected as both were called to action on two weeks' notice after Conor McGregor was forced out of his main event showdown with Michael Chandler because of a broken toe. Both fighters had competed at UFC 300 and pulled off impressive knockout victories in their respective fights, with Prochazka taking out  Aleksandar Rakic and Pereira impressively dispatching Jamahal Hill in defense of his title. Both left with little damage, but a pair of broken toes was the only thing in the way of Pereira accepting the...

The Chicago Bulls and forward Patrick Williams have agreed to a five-year contract worth $90 million, sources confirmed to ESPN on Saturday. The deal includes a player option for the fifth year. Williams, the No. 4 pick in the 2020 NBA draft, was set to become a restricted free agent this summer but will return to the Bulls on a new deal after four up-and-down seasons. Williams has averaged 9.7 points and 4.2 rebounds on 47% shooting (41% from 3) in his career in Chicago but has had two of his four seasons shortened by injury. He played just 17 games in 2021-22 after breaking his wrist. He completed 43 games last season before requiring season-ending surgery on his left foot in February. Williams, who will turn 23 in August, will be one of the anchors of Chicago's youth movement, including Coby White (24) and newly acquired Josh Giddey (21). The Bulls also have a decision to make this offseason on the future of forward DeMar DeRozan, who...

MIAMI -- Teofimo Lopez retained his WBO junior welterweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Steve Claggett on Saturday evening at the downtown James L. Knight Center, but he failed to make a statement against the major underdog. Lopez -- a -1200 favorite, per ESPN BET -- shut out Claggett on two cards with scores of 120-108 and won 119-109 on the third. Canada's Claggett (38-8-2, 26 KOs) was fighting in a 12-round fight for the first time. Lopez, ESPN's No. 10 pound-for-pound boxer, easily defeated Claggett, outlanding him 315-60, but he surprisingly never came close to scoring a knockdown, much less a knockout, against a boxer fighting on the world-class level for the first time. Lopez (21-1, 13 KOs) showed tremendous power at 135 pounds, where he reigned as undisputed champion, but in five fights at 140, he has scored just one KO. That came in August 2022 against journeyman Pedro Campa. "I knew exactly what kind of fighter this guy was. ... He's going to come...

LAS VEGAS -- The legend of Poatan continues to grow. Alex Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) scored a vicious second-round knockout of Jirí Prochazka (30-5-1 MMA, 4-2 UFC) with a devastating head kick and brutal follow-up strikes to retain his light heavyweight championship in the main event of UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. The rematch between the two, who met last November with Pereira winning by second-round TKO, happened a lot sooner than expected as both were called to action on two weeks' notice after Conor McGregor was forced out of his main event showdown with Michael Chandler because of a broken toe. Both fighters had competed at UFC 300 and pulled off impressive knockout victories in their respective fights, with Prochazka taking out  Aleksandar Rakic and Pereira impressively dispatching Jamahal Hill in defense of his title. Both left with little damage, but a pair of broken toes was the only thing in the way of Pereira accepting the...

EUGENE, Ore. -- American track and field enthusiasts take a lot of pride in making one bold claim. When it comes to qualifying for the Olympics, they contend their team is the toughest one to make -- of any sport, in any country. Given what took place in two electrifying men's and women's 200-meter races at the U.S. Olympic trials Saturday night, the track and field diehards may have a point. "The U.S. has been dominating. We've had two medalists at least at each world championship and Olympics since 2021," men's 200 winner Noah Lyles said. "So the 200, we definitely have a strong, strong [chance] for sweeping it." For the men such as Lyles, it was business as usual in Saturday's final. By the end of the tightly contested sprint, the top 3 were Lyles, Kenny Bednarek and Erriyon Knighton, respectively. A semblance of that trio had long been expected to emerge from the last heat and qualify for the Paris Games. Although Bednarek charged out to an early lead and appeared in...

EUGENE, Ore. -- Sha'Carri Richardson got passed on the outside down the stretch and finished fourth in the 200-meter final at the U.S. track trials Saturday, meaning she'll only have one chance for an individual Olympic gold medal next month in Paris. Gabby Thomas won the race in 21.81 seconds for her second straight national title. Richardson was in the top three, her second-best distance, with about 40 meters left, but Brittany Brown and McKenzie Long passed her and pulled away. Richardson finished in 22.16 seconds, her slowest of three races through the rounds in the 200. The 27-year-old Thomas, who decided not to run the 400 meters at trials so she could focus solely on the 200, her best race, will look to add to the bronze medal she won in the event three years ago in Tokyo. "I knew I needed to get today done, and this is a first step," Thomas said. "There was no gold medal in Paris without getting the job done today, so I'm just ecstatic to be alongside these amazing,...

Eleven people were injured after an escalator at the Milwaukee Brewers' American Family Field malfunctioned, resulting in "an increased downward speed." The incident occurred after the Brewers' 5-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs while fans were taking the escalator from the terrace to the loge level. Five of the people injured were treated at the ballpark while the other six were transported to area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries, according to a statement from the team. "Our onsite physician and EMS were on the scene immediately, and we are appreciative of their quick response," the Brewers said in the statement.

Eleven people were injured after an escalator at the Milwaukee Brewers' American Family Field malfunctioned, resulting in "an increased downward speed." The incident occurred after the Brewers' 5-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs while fans were taking the escalator from the terrace to loge level. Five of the people injured were treated at the ballpark while the other six were transported to area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries, according to a statement from the team. "Our onsite physician and EMS were on the scene immediately, and we are appreciative of their quick response," the Brewers said in the statement.

United States men's national team forward Tim Weah has been suspended for an additional match and fined $3,000 for his red card against Panama at the Copa América, South America's confederation Conmebol confirmed to ESPN on Saturday. Weah was ejected from the USMNT's 2-1 loss to Panama on Thursday in the 18th minute for an extended-arm jab to the back of the head of Panama defender Roderick Miller. Weah was already due to miss Monday's crucial group-stage finale against Uruguay to serve the automatic one-game suspension from the red card. On Saturday, Conmebol added an additional game to the suspension, meaning Weah will miss a potential quarterfinal should the USMNT advance in Copa América. "I'm good, just a little down obviously with the circumstances," Weah told Fox's Jenny Taft on Saturday. "To put my team in this situation was never my intention. I think I'm getting painted to be like a violent person which I'm not. And I think that...

DORTMUND, Germany --  Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand hit out at "ridiculous handball rules" and said "this is not how football should be" after two VAR decisions in the space of two minutes against his team helped Euro 2024 hosts Germany seal a 2-0 round-of-16 victory in Dortmund. Premier League referee Michael Oliver ruled out a Joachim Andersen goal on 48 minutes following a VAR intervention that highlighted a marginal offside involving Denmark midfielder Thomas Delaney. Two minutes later, Oliver awarded a penalty to Germany after VAR officials Stuart Attwell and David Coote urged him to review an apparent handball by Andersen from David Raum's cross. Kai Havertz scored from the spot to put Germany 1-0 ahead, and Jamal Musiala then added the hosts' second goal later in the half. But an angry Hjulmand questioned the use of VAR after the game and noted that both decisions went against his team. "It was decided by two VAR decisions,"...

LeBron James has opted out of the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers worth $51.4 million for next season and will look to work out a new deal with the team. James, 39, had a 5 p.m. ET deadline Saturday to inform the Lakers of his official decision. Shortly after James officially opted out, his agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, explained his client's thinking. "He is prioritizing a roster improvement," Paul told ESPN on Saturday. "He's been adamant about exuding all efforts to improve the roster." Paul said James would be willing to work with the Lakers on signing a deal below the maximum three-year, $162 million he is eligible for to open up the full $12.9 million midlevel exception to sign an "impact player." The type of player that James would be willing to make a financial sacrifice for would be an established veteran playmaker such as  James Harden or Klay Thompson, or an established big man to play alongside Anthony...

SAN ANTONIO -- Moments after Stephon Castle became a member of the San Antonio Spurs on draft night, he received a video call from the reigning rookie of the year, Victor Wembanyama. After the two exchanged greetings, Wembanyama introduced himself and said, "It's Victor." Castle, the No. 4 pick in the draft, chuckled and told him he knows exactly who he is. While chasing a national championship last season with UConn, Castle said he remembers watching Wembanyama's rookie season and letting his thoughts wander. "Just the thought of playing with him, of course it circulates in your mind, but it really doesn't feel real until it becomes reality," Castle said Saturday morning at his introductory news conference. "So I mean, just to know that that's going to be my future teammate now, I'm just really excited for what our future looks like." Castle left UConn after his freshman season when he helped the Huskies to a national championship. Along the way, he had a...

LeBron James has opted out of the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers worth $51.4 million for next season and will now look to work out a new deal with the team. James, 39, had a 5 p.m. ET deadline Saturday to inform the Lakers of his official decision. Shortly after James officially opted out, his agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, explained his client's thinking. "He is prioritizing a roster improvement," Paul told ESPN on Saturday. "He's been adamant about exuding all efforts to improve the roster." Paul said James would be willing to work with the Lakers on signing a deal below the maximum three-year, $162 million he is eligible for to open up the full $12.9 million midlevel exception to sign an "impact player." The type of player that James would be willing to make a financial sacrifice for would be an established veteran playmaker such as  James Harden or Klay Thompson, or an established big man to play alongside Anthony...

The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired the signing rights to defenseman Chris Tanev in a trade with the Dallas Stars on Saturday, in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round draft pick and prospect Max Ellis. Tanev, 34, is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and by grabbing his rights now from Dallas, the Maple Leafs have an exclusive opportunity to sign Tanev before he hits the open market. Toronto rightly anticipated Tanev would have several suitors as a free agent. The veteran is a coveted right-shot defender who would instantly take on a top-pairing role for the Maple Leafs. Toronto has been desperate to match Morgan Rielly with a new partner and Tanev could be the right fit as a one-two punch with Rielly on the Maple Leafs' back end. The Maple Leafs had interest in getting Tanev at the March trade deadline as well but weren't able to get a deal done. Tanev was instead traded from Calgary to Dallas, where he collected one goal and five points...

LeBron James opted out of the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers worth $51.4 million for next season and will now look to work out a new deal with the team, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports told ESPN on Saturday. James, 39, had a 5 p.m. ET deadline on Saturday to inform the Lakers of his official decision. The Lakers are committed to keeping James with the franchise and would be interested in offering the four-time MVP up to the maximum three-year, $162 million contract he is eligible for, sources told ESPN. James will work with L.A. on his next deal if it means adding an impact player, according to Paul.  "He is prioritizing a roster improvement," Paul told ESPN. "He's been adamant about exuding all efforts to improve the roster." L.A. drafted James' eldest son, Bronny James, with the No. 55 pick in the second round of the NBA draft Thursday. James averaged 25.7 points, 8.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds in 71 games this past season -- the most games...

LA Clippers star Paul George has declined his $48.7 million option and will enter free agency, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Saturday. George is planning to take free agent meetings with the Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic beginning late Sunday and Monday on the West Coast, sources said. With George declining his player option, the opt in and trade scenario for him will no longer be possible. George, 34, played 74 games this past regular season -- his most since he was traded to the Clippers before the 2019-20 season. The nine-time All-Star averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He shot career highs of 47.1% from the field, 41.3% from 3-point range and 90.7% from the free throw line. George also made 45% on catch-and-shoot 3's, fourth best among 117 players to attempt 200-plus of those shots, according to Second Spectrum. After the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard agreed to a three-year, $153-million...

Vinícius Júnior criticised the Copa América's pitches, referees and organisers CONMEBOL after putting in a player-of-the-match performance in Brazil's 4-1 win over Paraguay on Friday. The Real Madrid forward scored twice in a convincing win at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, to leave Brazil on four points in second place in Group D -- behind leaders Colombia -- and on track to qualify for the quarterfinals. "The Copa América is always difficult because of the pitches, because of the referees -- who always go against us -- and because of the way CONMEBOL treats people," Vinícius said post-match. "It's always difficult, but we have to stay strong. We can only talk by winning. When we talk, CONMEBOL say we talk too much." ESPN has approached CONMEBOL for comment. Brazil had an underwhelming start to the competition, drawing 0-0 with Costa Rica on Monday, with Vinícius coming in for criticism and questions over his role in the...

Italy coach Luciano Spalletti said he took full responsibility for his team's exit from the European Championship in the first knockout round after a  2-0 loss against Switzerland. However, the 65-year-old former Napoli boss also complained he had not had enough matches in which to blend his team ahead of the defeat, which marked Italy's first elimination before the quarterfinal stage of the Euros in 20 years. "I have the responsibility," Spalletti said at the post-match news conference. "We failed because of my team selection, it is never down to the players." Spalletti said, however, that he did not have enough time to get to know the team better. All other coaches had 30 or even more games with their teams before the tournament started, he said, adding: "I only had 10." He added: "There is the possibility of building something, but it takes a little more time. I didn't have a lot of it. If we look at my predecessors, almost all of them had more games...

A pair of superb strikes from Remo Freuler and Ruben Vargas for Switzerland sent defending champions Italy crashing out of the European Championship in the round of 16 after a sloppy, rudderless display by Luciano Spalletti's side. Though the Swiss defended well, the Italians made their job all the easier with bad passing and poor decision-making, giving the ball away cheaply in central positions and failing to press with any vigour as they headed for the exit. After a slow, tenuous start on a sweltering evening in Berlin, Switzerland should have taken the lead in the 24th minute when Breel Embolo was played in, but his attempt to wait out Gianluigi Donnarumma didn't succeed and the Italy goalkeeper comfortably parried his curled shot. Looking far more like defending champions than the men in blue, Switzerland's breakthrough came 13 minutes later with a brilliantly worked goal as they pulled the Italians out of position, Freuler...

LeBron James intends to opt out of the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers worth $51.4 million for next season and work out a new deal with the team, a source familiar with his plans told ESPN. James, 39, has until 5 p.m. ET on Saturday to inform the Lakers of his official decision. The Lakers are committed to keeping James with the franchise and would be interested in offering the four-time MVP up to the maximum three-year, $162 million contract he is eligible for, sources told ESPN. L.A. drafted James' eldest son, Bronny James, with the No. 55 pick in the second round of the NBA draft Thursday. James averaged 25.7 points, 8.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds in 71 games this past season -- the most games he has played in six seasons with the franchise. He shot 54% from the field and a career-best 41% from 3 as he was named to the All-NBA third team and became the first player in league history to surpass 40,000 points. Lakers star big man ...

After a quiet first day of the NHL draft, Day 2 kicked off with a stunner as the Tampa Bay Lightning traded defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to the Utah Hockey Club. Neither team would be done dealing on Saturday. Utah added New Jersey Devils defenseman John Marino, building out its defensive corps in preparation for its first season in Salt Lake City after relocating from Arizona. Tampa Bay then sent forward Tanner Jeannot to the Los Angeles Kings. Sergachev, 26, was acquired from the Lightning for restricted free agent defenseman J.J. Moser, high-scoring center prospect Conor Geekie, a second-round pick in 2025 and Tampa Bay's seventh-round pick in 2024. The defenseman is entering the second year of an eight-year contract extension he signed with the Lightning in June 2022. He had a no-trade clause that was set to kick in July 1. Sergachev's contract carries an average annual value of $8.5 million against the salary cap,...

Barcelona and United States right-back Sergiño Dest has joined Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven on a free transfer, the Catalan club confirmed. Barça will receive a percentage of any future transfer as part of the deal for Dest, whose contract with the LaLiga side was due to expire next summer. Dest, 23, spent last season on loan at PSV, but the Dutch team turned down the option to make the move permanent for €11 million ($11.9m) after he tore his ACL in April. However, negotiations over a new low-cost agreement continued with Barça, leading to Saturday's announcement that the U.S. international will return to the Netherlands on a permanent basis, where he will continue his rehabilitation. Dest has signed a contract with PSV until 2028. "First of all, PSV believes in me and I am greatly appreciated here," Dest said. "I got to know the club and it is incredibly warm, like I have never experienced anywhere before. "Those are...

Nine-time All-Star guard Russell Westbrook is picking up his $4 million option and returning to the LA Clippers, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Westbrook averaged 11.1 points, 5 rebounds and 4.5 assists last season. Westbrook's first full season with the Clippers hardly went as he expected. He began the season as the starting point guard but the late-October trade for James Harden led to Westbrook becoming a sixth man for his second straight team. But unlike during his brief tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers, Westbrook's move to the bench this season was the catalyst for the Clippers' best regular season in the Kawhi Leonard- Paul George era. The Clippers finished 51-31 during the regular season and lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. After Westbrook's move to coming off the bench on November 17, the Clippers went 35-13 -- the second-best record in the NBA during that span --...

Miami Heat forward/center Kevin Love is declining his $4 million player option, but both sides are enthusiastic about negotiating a new deal in the opening days of free agency, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Teams can begin signing free agents July 6. Love, who will turn 36 in September, averaged 8.8 points and 6.1 rebounds across 55 games for Miami this past season, shooting 34.4% from 3-point range. The 2016 NBA champion, five-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA Second Team selection has played 16 NBA seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Heat, whom he signed with midway through the 2022-23 season after agreeing to a buyout with Cleveland, where he won that 2016 title and spent more than eight seasons. He then helped Miami make it to the NBA Finals last year, before the Heat lost in the first round to the Boston Celtics this spring. Even at this stage of his career, he remains a strong rebounder and floor...

Star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk said he wants to stay with the San Francisco 49ers this season despite his contract stalemate with the team. Aiyuk, who is entering the final season of his rookie deal, told TMZ Sports at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday that he's ready to play for the 49ers although they have yet to agree on an extension. "For sure," Aiyuk told TMZ Sports. "For sure!" Aiyuk added intrigue to his contract situation with the 49ers with a post to TikTok this month. In the video, Aiyuk is talking via FaceTime with Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, his former Arizona State teammate. Aiyuk tells Daniels, "They said they don't want me back." Daniels responds, "That's it?" "I swear," Aiyuk said, prompting Daniels to shout, "My boy!" Aiyuk wrote in the caption of the post, "Im laughing but im crying fr." It is unclear whether Aiyuk was implying the 49ers don't want him back for this season or is...

Former No. 1 NFL draft pick JaMarcus Russell was fired as a volunteer assistant coach at his alma mater, Williamson High School in Mobile, Alabama, and is facing a lawsuit accusing him of taking a $74,000 check meant as a donation to the school. "JaMarcus Russell was relieved of his volunteer coaching duties at Williamson High School during the fall of last year," Mobile County Public School officials told WKRG Sports. A local business owner, Chris Knowles, wrote the $74,000 check, saying Russell approached him about a donation to help the Williamson football team purchase weight room equipment. The school allegedly never received the check, and Russell reportedly deposited it in a credit union and promptly withdrew $55,000 of it. In addition to being fired as a coach, Russell is also not allowed to be on the school's campus, according to a statement from Mobile County Public School officials. Russell attended an event for the football team this week, but was told he was not...

Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell plans to opt into the final year of his contract for $18.7 million, he told ESPN a day before the deadline for the decision. Russell, 28, is coming off a strong season for L.A. thanks to a second-half surge. He finished his ninth season with averages of 18.0 points on 45.6% shooting (41.5% from 3), 6.3 assists and 3.1 rebounds. Russell, who found himself at the center of trade talks last season, made it clear that he intends to stay in Los Angeles and play for the Lakers' new coach, JJ Redick. "I love what JJ is about and I really see myself thriving under his guidance to help win at a high level," Russell told ESPN on Friday night. Jaxson Hayes also is likely to opt into the final year of his deal, a source familiar with the center's intentions told ESPN, confirming news first reported by The Athletic. Hayes, 24, came to the Lakers last summer after playing his first four seasons in New Orleans, signing a two-year deal with a...

Los Angeles Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell plans to exercise his $18.7 million player option and return for next season, he told Swish Cultures late Friday night. Russell was part of the group that sparked a turnaround for the Lakers last season after they revamped their roster at the trade deadline. He excelled during the team's push to make the playoffs but struggled at times during the Lakers' run to the Western Conference finals. Russell returned to L.A. this summer on a two-year, $37 million deal, but he was heavily rumored to be a trade piece for the Lakers almost as soon as the contract was signed. After a shaky start to the year, Russell has been on a tear since he was reinserted into the starting lineup back on Jan. 13. He's averaging 24 points while shooting 46.6% from 3 in the 13 games since then. For the entire season, Russell is shooting 44.5% on catch-and-shoot 3s, which ranks 10th among qualifying players, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Russell,...

New York Yankees starting pitcher Marcus Stroman took responsibility for "losing my cool" and said he has to "be better" after yelling at teammate Gleyber Torres during Friday night's 16-5 rout of the Toronto Blue Jays. The right-hander yelled at second baseman Torres after New York failed to turn a double play in the fifth inning, leading to a run. "It was frustrating," Stroman said. "I felt like I made a good pitch. That was a big spot. I wanted to have that turned there, and we didn't." Stroman said he spoke to Torres afterward to clear the air. The pitcher later said in a social media post that "Raw emotion and passion are part of the game." Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he didn't see Stroman's outburst as divisive. "No issue with where Stro's mind, heart and focus is," Boone said. "Sometimes when you're competing like heck, it spills over a little bit. There's no issues in that room with anything." Stroman was the first Yankees player out of the...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Orlando Cepeda, the slugging first baseman nicknamed "Baby Bull" who became a Hall of Famer among the early Puerto Ricans to star in the major leagues, has died. He was 86. The San Francisco Giants and his family announced the death Friday night, and a moment of silence was noted on the scoreboard at Oracle Park midway through a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. "Our beloved Orlando passed away peacefully at home this evening, listening to his favorite music and surrounded by his loved ones," his wife, Nydia, said in a statement released through the team. "We take comfort that he is at peace." It has been a difficult month for the Giants. Cepeda's death comes only 10 days after Hall of Famer Willie Mays died on June 18 at age 93. "Man, what another gut punch," said Giants manager Bob Melvin, who grew up in the Bay Area cheering for the team. "Another just incredible personality and just beloved here. Statue out front. The numbers he put up,...

NEW YORK -- Houston Astros shortstop  Jeremy Pena misplayed a fly ball in Friday night's 7-2 loss to the New York Mets while participating in an in-game interview. Peña was involved in an interview with Apple TV+ just before New York's Jeff McNeil popped up toward the shortstop area with one out in the bottom of the second inning. Peña was shaded toward the second-base bag against the left-handed hitting McNeil and ranged to his right and was on the edge of the outfield grass close behind third baseman Alex Bregman. Neither Peña not Bregman put his glove up to make the play on the popup, and the ball landed between them. "Holy ...," Peña said as the ball bounced once before he grabbed it and tossed it back to the infield. Peña and Bregman appeared to glance briefly at one another. McNeil was credited with a hit and was picked off first base by pitcher Ronel Blanco two pitches into  Harrison Bader's at-bat. Bader...

Four-star running back Akylin Dear pulled his commitment from Ole Miss on Friday night, becoming the fourth high-profile prospect from the Rebels' 2025 class to do so this week. The 29th-ranked recruit in the ESPN 300 confirmed the news with a pair of emojis in a post on X. Dear, the second-ranked running back in the country out of Quitman, Mississippi, was the top prospect remaining in Lane Kiffin's 2025 class and had been committed to the Rebels since March 30. His exit comes four days after three other Ole Miss commits, headlined by four-star wide receiver Jerome Myles, pulled their pledges from the program's upcoming class. Dear is the second-ranked prospect in the state of Mississippi in the 2025 class and picked Ole Miss over offers from the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Texas and Mississippi State earlier this year. As a junior last fall at Quitman High School, Dear totaled 2,016 rushing yards and 27...

The New Orleans Pelicans are adding Dejounte Murray to their backcourt via a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday. The Pelicans are sending two first-round picks -- a 2025 selection via the Los Angeles Lakers and a 2027 selection (least favorable from either the Milwaukee Bucks or New Orleans' own) -- to the Hawks for the 27-year-old Murray, sources said. Forwards  Larry Nance Jr. and E.J. Liddell and guard Dyson Daniels are also going from New Orleans to Atlanta in the deal.  Murray averaged a career-high 22.5 points in 2023-24 for the Hawks while also making a career-best 201 3-pointers. He averaged 6.4 assists and 5.3 rebounds while sharing the backcourt with fellow star Trae Young. In 2022, Atlanta sent three first-round picks to the  San Antonio Spurs for Murray with hopes of building its backcourt of the future. However, it didn't pan out the way the team...

LAS VEGAS -- Macklin Celebrini was a lock to be San Jose's No. 1 overall pick in the NHL entry draft Friday. But after months of Celebrini anticipating the moment, actually hearing his name called was a relief. "Once it's [actually] official, it's a pretty amazing feeling," Celebrini said. "It's been a dream of mine ever since I was a little kid. I'm just so excited to join the organization." The 18-year-old center projected to be the draft's No. 1 selection following a celebrated freshman season at Boston University. Celebrini became, at just 17 years old, the youngest winner of the Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA's top skater. He produced 32 goals and 64 points in 38 games for the Terriers. Celebrini -- clocking in at 6 feet and just shy of 200 pounds -- was second in college scoring, failing to notch at least one point in only six games. Just four other freshman -- Paul Kariya, Jack Eichel and Adam Fantilli -- had ever won a Hobey Baker Award. That same...

A New York judge on Friday ruled NBA commissioner Adam Silver should resolve a dispute between the New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors over the alleged theft of thousands of confidential files. Less than a week after the Knicks sued the Raptors in August 2023 over the alleged theft, Toronto asked Silver to step in and help settle the dispute. The Raptors continued those efforts in court filings in the months that followed and argued that the lawsuit had "no business wasting judicial resources" given Silver's authority to adjudicate it. The Knicks, who sought more than $10 million in damages in the lawsuit, pushed back on the Raptors' request, arguing that Silver shouldn't become involved partly because of his close relationship with Raptors governor Larry Tanenbaum, who also is chairman of the NBA board of governors. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Jessica Clarke weighed in and sided with the Raptors, which now sends the matter to Silver, according to a court filing...

The New Orleans Pelicans are adding Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray to their backcourt, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday. The Pelicans are trading veteran forward  Larry Nance Jr., second-year guard Dyson Daniels, a 2025 first-round pick via the Los Angeles Lakers and the least favorable of a 2027 first-round pick from either the Milwaukee Bucks or the Pelicans to Atlanta for the 27-year-old Murray, who just completed his second season in Atlanta. Murray averaged a career-high 22.5 points in 2023-24 for the Hawks while also making a career-best 201 3-pointers, an area he's seen an uptick in since joining the team. He also averaged 6.4 assists and 5.3 rebounds while sharing the backcourt with fellow star guard Trae Young. In 2022, Atlanta sent three first-round picks to San Antonio for Murray with hopes of building its potential backcourt of the future. However, it never panned out the way the team...

LAS VEGAS -- Macklin Celebrini was the No. 1 overall choice at the NHL Draft on Friday, going swiftly off the board to the San Jose Sharks. The 18-year-old center projected to be the draft's No. 1 selection following a celebrated freshman season at Boston University. Celebrini became, at just 17 years old, the youngest winner of a Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA's top skater. He produced 32 goals and 64 points in 38 games for the Terriers. Celebrini -- clocking in at 6-foot and just shy of 200 pounds -- was second overall in college scoring, failing to notch at least one point in only six games. Just four other freshman -- Paul Kariya, Jack Eichel and Adam Fantilli -- had ever won a Hobey Baker Award. That same season Celebrini was the Hockey East Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and scoring champion. Celebrini is a quintessential two-way skater, with excellent speed and a lethal shot that's made him a dominant threat at every level of his career to...

The panel weighs in on the draft pick that introduced the world to the NBA's first father-and-son teammates.

ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale announced Friday that he will have surgery to remove cancer from his neck. In a post on X, Vitale said a biopsy of a lymph node in his neck showed cancer. Vitale said surgery is scheduled for Tuesday. This is the latest cancer diagnosis for Vitale, 85. In 2021, Vitale was diagnosed with lymphoma, months after he had multiple surgeries to remove melanoma. He chronicled his treatments and recovery on social media, posting photos of doctor visits and hospital stays while issuing motivational tips recorded before he was put on voice rest. In 2022, he announced that he was cancer-free. Vitale had vocal cord cancer last summer and underwent radiation treatment. In November, he announced he was cancer-free but had to push back a return to ESPN broadcasts. Vitale said in a message shared by ESPN PR that he feels "fantastic physically" and plans to do "everything that I can control in winning this latest new setback." A member of the...

The Tampa Bay Lightning and longtime star center Steven Stamkos are unlikely to reach an agreement on a new deal prior to the start of NHL free agency. Stamkos, the team captain since March 2014, will become an unrestricted free agent Monday at noon ET if the two sides remain without a deal. "If we had reached an agreement at this point, we would gladly have sent out a press release announcing that agreement," Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said. "So as we stand here right now, we haven't been able to reach an agreement yet. I don't know if we will be able to reach an agreement. "But we met with Steven's agents again yesterday. Both sides are still interested in getting a deal done, but we haven't been able to agree to terms that are satisfactory for both sides." Stamkos' agent, Don Meehan, doesn't sound optimistic a deal will be reached before the deadline. "He will be a free agent on July 1," Meehan told Sportsnet. The two sides were unable to reach...

CLEVELAND -- Kenny Atkinson's first stint as an NBA head coach ended with a sudden, strange separation in Brooklyn. He's hoping for a longer-lasting relationship in Cleveland. The Cavaliers finalized a five-year contract on Friday with Atkinson, who spent the past three seasons as an assistant with Golden State and now takes over a Cleveland team coming off its second straight playoff appearance. In choosing the respected Atkinson, the Cavs ended a monthlong search that began after the firing of J.B. Bickerstaff, who led the team to 99 wins the past two seasons. Bickerstaff was let go after Cleveland lost in five games to Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals. "Kenny brings a wealth of experience, a proven track record of player development and a relentless work ethic that aligns with the vision we have for this franchise," Koby Altman, the team's president of basketball operations, said. "His familiarity coaching alongside some of the NBA's...

The Golden State Warriors and guard Chris Paul intend to move the date to guarantee the $30 million on his 2024-25 contract to the start of free agency on Sunday, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The deadline to lock in Paul's contract was originally Friday, but this gives the Warriors a small window of time to keep exploring possible trades. There is also still a possibility that Golden State ultimately will waive Paul, giving the team major cap relief. But sources told ESPN that the Warriors wanted to help ensure Paul had a good landing place on another team -- if they can find the right deal. Paul's contract would have to be included in any big trade for an All-Star-caliber player. Paul, who turned 39 in May, averaged 9.2 points, 6.8 assists and 3.9 rebounds in 26.4 minutes per game in 58 games for the Warriors last season, primarily in a bench role. He was brought to the Warriors last offseason in a trade that dealt Jordan Poole to the ...

A year from now, incoming Duke freshman Cooper Flagg could be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, and he's already adding to his résumé. USA Basketball has invited the 17-year-old to practice against Team USA ahead of the Paris Olympics. Flagg was one of 15 players named to the USA Select Team on Friday, a group that will help the national team prepare at a training camp next week in Las Vegas. There's a long history of players from the Select Team eventually joining the national team down the line, including current players Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton, who served in the role in 2021 before the Tokyo Olympics. Flagg, a 6-foot-9 forward from Newport, Maine, is the first collegian to play for the Select Team since 2013, when then-college stars  Doug McDermott of Creighton and  Marcus Smart of Oklahoma State were on the squad. Joining Flagg will be a group of players who just finished strong rookie seasons. Charlotte Hornets...

Georgia's players are in line for an unexpected payday at  Euro 2024 after a billionaire former prime minister promised to pay out more than $10 million following their surprise win over  Portugal. The Georgian team can double its money with another win over  Spain on Sunday in the round of 16. Bidzina Ivanishvili, who founded the ruling Georgian Dream party and is now its honorary chairman, initially offered the payment of 30m Georgian lari ($10.7m) before the tournament on the condition that Georgia reached the knockout stages. They did so after goals from  Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Georges Mikautadze gave Georgia a 2-0 win over a Portugal team led by Cristiano Ronaldo on Wednesday for one of the biggest shocks at any European Championship. Ivanishvili confirmed the bonus in a statement carried by Imedi TV on Thursday and said that an equally large sum would be paid out to the team if Georgia beat Spain. The statement...

A year from now incoming Duke freshman Cooper Flagg could be the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft and he's already adding to his resume. USA Basketball has invited the 17-year-old to practice against Team USA ahead of the Paris Olympics. Flagg was one of 15 players named to the USA Select team Friday, a group that will help the national team prepare at a training camp next week in Las Vegas. There's a long history of players from the Select Team eventually joining the national team down the line including current players Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton, who served in the role in 2021 before the Tokyo Olympics. Flagg, a 6-foot-9 forward from Newport, Maine, is the first collegian to play for the Select Team since 2013 when then Creighton star Doug McDermott and Oklahoma State star Marcus Smart were on the squad. Joining Flagg will be a group of player just finished with strong rookie seasons. Charlotte Hornets forward ...

World No. 1 golfer Nelly Korda has pulled out of a Ladies European Tour event in England next week after a dog bit her, she announced in a statement on Instagram on Friday. Korda, 25, was scheduled to play in an LET Aramco Team Series tournament Wednesday through Friday at Centurion Club in Hemel Hempstead, England. Last year, she won the 54-hole tournament outside London by 4 strokes over Charley Hull for her third career LET victory. "I regret to announce that I must withdraw from next week's Ladies European Tour tournament in London," Korda said in the statement. "On Saturday in Seattle, I was bitten by a dog and need time to receive treatment and recover fully." Korda didn't say where the dog bite is. She was competing in last week's KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington, in which she missed the cut for the third time in as many starts. "I apologize to the LET, the sponsors, and my fans for my absence," Korda said. "Thank you...

Guard Immanuel Quickley intends to sign a five-year, $175 million contract to stay with the Toronto Raptors, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Quickley's agent, Raymond Brothers, reached agreement with the Raptors' front office in the last day on deal and now Quickley is part of the organization's long-term future. Quickley, 25, was traded along with  RJ Barrett to the Raptors by the Knicks this past season in a deal that sent OG Anunoby back to New York. Since his arrival, Quickley has established himself as a cornerstone player for Toronto. Quickley was the 25th overall pick by the Knicks in 2020 and developed into a fan favorite as primarily an off-the-bench spark plug. He did not start any of the 30 games he played for New York this year. However, he started all 38 games he played for the Raptors and averaged 18.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6.8 assists, which would all be career-best averages for Quickley over a full season. News...

The Dallas Mavericks traded shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. and three second-round picks to the Detroit Pistons for shooting guard Quentin Grimes, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Hardaway, 32, is due $16.2 million next season in the final year of a four-year, $75 million contract. Grimes, 24, is due $4.3 million in the final season of his rookie contract. The trade positions the Mavs to be able to use part of the $12.9 million nontaxpayer midlevel exception. Dallas had been limited to the $5.2 million taxpayer midlevel with Hardaway on its books. Mavs general manager Nico Harrison described re-signing starting small forward Derrick Jones Jr. as the team's offseason "priority 1A and 1B" last week. Jones, the team's best perimeter defender, played last season on a veteran's minimum deal. Hardaway averaged 14.4 points this past season, primarily serving as the Mavs' sixth man. However, his role was reduced down the stretch of the...

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal is celebrating ahead of Spain's Euro 2024 round of 16 match against Georgia on Sunday after successfully passing his school exams. Yamel, 16, received the good news at Spain's training camp in the south of Germany, where he has been combining his education with representing his country at the tournament. "I just came out of training and I've been told it all went well," Yamal told Spanish radio station Onda Cero. "I passed the exams and I have the ESO qualification now. "If I'm honest, I saw them on my phone and it said I had passed so I just closed the application, called my mum and told her." The results correspond to the fourth year of the ESO, which is the final stage of secondary education in Spain, roughly the equivalent to GCSE exams in the United Kingdom or the high school diploma in the United States. Yamal, who will turn 17 the day before the Euro 2024 final, had revealed earlier in the tournament that he...

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark is leading all WNBA rookies in scoring (16.2 PPG) and assists (6.6) as well as field goals made (4.9) and attempted (12.2). After Thursday night's 89-77 loss at  Seattle, Fever coach Christie Sides said she wants Clark to shoot the ball even more. "Caitlin Clark needs to shoot a minimum of 15 shots a game for us," Sides said. "She's got to get shots, and we've got to do a better job of setting her up, setting some really good screens for her to get her open." On Thursday, Clark led the Fever with 15 points on 4-of-9 shooting from the field, including 3-of-7 from behind the arc, and went 4-of-5 from the foul line. She also had 7 assists and 6 rebounds. Post players Aliyah Boston (5-of-16, 11 points) and NaLyssa Smith (5-of-11, 12 points) led the Fever in shot attempts against the Storm, and guard Kelsey Mitchell was 5-of-10 for 14 points. Clark is second on the Fever this season in shot attempts, behind...