Sports News

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The young daughter of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward has died after battling heart problems. Ward posted on Instagram that his daughter, Amani Joy, died Monday morning. She was going to turn 2 years old in November. "We are heartbroken that our beautiful baby girl, Amani Joy passed away on Monday morning," Ward wrote Tuesday on Instagram. "She was the best blessing we could have asked for, and her joyous spirit made us smile from ear to ear. She taught us to have patience, trust, and a positive outlook on life. She showed us true strength and bravery. She overcame adversity at a young age and was always happy, lighting up every room with her smile. Having the privilege of being her parents and seeing the world through her eyes has changed us for the better. She will forever be daddy's best friend and mommy's little girl. We'll miss you and love you forever, Amani Joy." During a December appearance on former teammate ...

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and the NFL's No. 1 offense have landed an experienced target who can provide another dimension to the passing attack. The Ravens traded for Carolina Panthers wide receiver Diontae Johnson in a swap of draft picks Tuesday, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Ravens will send a fifth-round pick to the Panthers for Johnson and Carolina's sixth-round selection, the sources told Schefter. It's the second time Johnson has been traded this year. The Panthers acquired Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens' AFC North rival, before the season. Johnson will become just the third wide receiver since 2000 to catch a pass as a Raven and as a Steeler, according to ESPN Research, joining Mike Wallace and Miles Boykin. Johnson indicated to ESPN last month that he'd like to re-sign with the Panthers (1-7) after the season. But as the losses mounted and frustration set in,...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants plan to start Deonte Banks at cornerback on Sunday against the Washington Commanders after benching him during Monday night's loss, coach Brian Daboll said Tuesday. "He will start," said Daboll, who also reaffirmed that quarterback Daniel Jones will remain the starter against the Commanders. Banks, the first-round pick from the 2023 NFL draft, was pulled from the 26-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers because of his effort and/or performance -- the third time this season he has come under fire for questionable play. The previous week, Banks gave up on trying to make a tackle on Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts in the second half of a blowout loss, and he gave up chasing Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb on a touchdown reception earlier this season. Daboll wouldn't go into specifics on the decision to bench Banks during the Monday night loss. Greg...

Cooper Flagg is accustomed to the national spotlight at this point. The 17-year-old is Duke's next college basketball star and the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft by ESPN. Now, he can add Gatorade sponsorship to his list of accomplishments as the 6-foot-9 phenom became the first men's college basketball player to sign with the brand, the company announced on Tuesday. Flagg said he's been committed to keeping his circle tight as the buzz -- and opportunities -- around him continues to grow. "It just comes down to trying to just stay grounded and kind of stay where my feet are and focus on the present and where I am," Flagg told ESPN in a conversation about his Gatorade sponsorship and his first season as a college basketball star. "Whether that's focusing on a day we have practice, class ... Whatever I'm doing, I'm just trying to stay present and really just focus on the moment." With Gatorade, he'll join Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins as the other...

HOUSTON -- Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs has a torn ACL and will miss the rest of the season, coach DeMeco Ryans announced Tuesday. Ryans called the Diggs' injury a "blow to us," as the two-time All-Pro ranked seventh in the NFL in catches (47) this season and was second on the Texans in receiving yards (496). "Hurts our team to hear that news. He's been such an important part to our team and everything that he brought, not only on the field, but off the field. The energy, the leader, the way he worked every single day," Ryans said. "Have to pick up the slack. A lot of guys have to step up and pick up the slack. Definitely praying for him." Diggs tore the ACL on a noncontact play in Houston's 23-20 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. With 2:01 remaining in the third quarter, quarterback C.J. Stroud completed a 4-yard pass to running back Joe Mixon. But during the play, Diggs cut inside on a route and grabbed his right knee,...

The Indianapolis Colts are benching Anthony Richardson and turning to Joe Flacco as their starting quarterback, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Adam Schefter. Colts coaches met Tuesday morning and ultimately decided to change quarterbacks, sources told Fowler and Schefter, opting for Flacco over the struggling Richardson. The benching came two days after Richardson asked to come out of Sunday's game against the Houston Texans for one play because, as he later told reporters, he "was tired." Colts coach Shane Steichen said Monday that he was evaluating the team's quarterback situation, adding that Richardson's request to come out of the game would not be a factor in his decision. Internally, the Colts maintain that Richardson's time as their franchise quarterback is not over. One team source characterized the benching as a "growth opportunity" and also insisted that the Colts "are not quitting on Anthony." "That will be the story, but that...

The PGA Tour Player Advisory Council is recommending sweeping changes to field sizes, exemption status and the number of PGA Tour cards that can be obtained each season through the Korn Ferry Tour and Q-school, as well as a slight adjustment to the FedEx Cup points allocations for major championships, the Players Championship and signature events. The changes, which wouldn't take effect until the 2026 season, must be approved by the PGA Tour policy board at its next meeting on Nov. 18. The PGA Tour Player Advisory Council unveiled the proposed changes to golfers in a 23-page executive summary, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN on Tuesday. Among the proposed changes: The PGA Tour would adjust the maximum number of players in a starting field of an open one-course, full-field tournament from 156 to 144, with a further reduction from 132 to 120 as required by circumstances such as darkness. In the executive summary, the PAC noted that 28% of tournaments in 2024 (12...

Manchester United's bid to hire Sporting CP coach Rúben Amorim has moved closer with the Portuguese club informing the country's financial regulator that the Premier League team have confirmed their willingness to pay Amorim's €10 million ($10.79m) release clause. Amorim is due to take charge of Sporting in a Taca da Liga tie against Nacional at Estadio Jose Alvalade on Tuesday night, but it could be the 39-year-old's final game as coach following confirmation of United's move. Due to their listing on the stock market, Portuguese champions Sporting have an obligation to inform the CMVM -- Portugal's financial regulator -- of any significant impact on the club's business and they have this afternoon released a statement outlining United's offer for Amorim. The statement to the CMVM said: "Sporting comes, under the terms and for the purpose of fulfilling the information obligation arising from the provisions of Article 17.º of Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014, of the...

ABC News contributor Mike Muse discusses the sports stars jumping into the presidential race to support a candidate.

Manchester United are hoping to finalise a deal with Rúben Amorim to become their new manager in time for the Sporting CP coach to take charge of their  Premier League clash against Chelsea on Sunday, sources have told ESPN. Amorim, 39, has been identified by the United hierarchy as the No. 1 candidate to replace Erik ten Hag, who was sacked after 2½ years in charge on Monday following a 2-1 defeat at West Ham which left the team in 14th position in the table. And with United prepared to pay the €10 million ($10.7 million) release clause in Amorim's contract with Portuguese champions Sporting, sources have said that an agreement could be reached ahead of the weekend encounter with Chelsea at Old Trafford. Sporting play Nacional in a Taca da Liga quarterfinal at Estadio Jose Alvalade on Tuesday evening and reports in Portugal have said that Sporting expect a United delegation to be in Lisbon to accelerate negotiations after...

NEW YORK -- For the New York Yankees, the franchise with the richest history in baseball, to win their 28th World Series and their first since 2009, they will have to make history. No team has ever overcome a 3-0 series deficit to win the World Series. Just one club -- the Boston Red Sox against the Yankees in the American League Championship Series two decades ago -- has completed the comeback in a postseason series at all. But that's where the Yankees, whose offense has largely vanished on the grandest stage, find themselves after falling 4-2 to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 at Yankee Stadium on Monday. The quest to become the first team to defy the odds in the World Series begins with Game 4 on Tuesday. "We're trying to get a game tomorrow," Boone said. "OK? That's where our focus lies. Hopefully we can go be this amazing story and shock the world." What has been shocking so far in this World Series has been New York's offensive ineptitude....

NEW YORK -- Walker Buehler had spent all year wondering if he'd ever recapture who he was, when his fastball was overpowering and his confidence was unrivaled. By the time he took the mound for Game 3 of the World Series, he had evolved from searching to accepting to surviving over these past six months. If he was going to give his Los Angeles Dodgers a chance in the biggest of games, Buehler thought, he'd basically have to reinvent himself every time he toed the rubber in October. And then, somehow, in what might be his last game as a Dodger, the old Buehler showed up. In front of a hostile Yankee Stadium crowd and against a desperate-yet-overpowering New York Yankees lineup, Buehler cruised through five scoreless innings, riding a suddenly lively fastball and setting the tone in a backbreaking 4-2 victory on Monday night. The Dodgers have now taken a commanding 3-0 lead in this World Series, sitting just one win away from their first title in four...

PITTSBURGH -- Russell Wilson grinned as he sat at the dais following the Pittsburgh Steelers' 26-18 win against the New York Giants and considered how to describe the difference between his first and second outings as a Steeler. "I felt more fluid," the quarterback said, settling on a descriptor. "I haven't really missed any games in my lifetime, and you miss five, six games, and you're just, 'OK, all right, you got to get your rhythm.' ... Sometimes it's not easy every possession, especially when you're going against good teams, and so you just respond. I think the most important thing is just response." With 278 yards and a touchdown as he completed 20 of 28 attempts Monday night, Wilson set a franchise record for most passing yards by a Steeler in his first two games with the organization (542), surpassing Earl Morrall's 504 yards in 1957, per ESPN Research. "I just thought he didn't need to warm up to it," coach Mike Tomlin said of Wilson's...

DALLAS -- Utah Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks is expected to miss the remainder of the season after suffering a fractured right fibula and dislocated ankle in Monday's  110-102 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, sources told ESPN. The Jazz confirmed the nature of Hendricks' injuries after the game. The second-year player was to return to Utah with the team for further testing Tuesday, coach Will Hardy said. "That's hard to stomach," Hardy said of Hendricks' injury. "He's put in a lot of hard work. He's a great kid, and so we're really just trying to focus on him, his health, keeping him up, his spirits up as he begins the road of his recovery. But these are the moments in sports that suck." Hendricks, 20, collapsed suddenly without any contact with 5:59 remaining in the third quarter. His lower right leg was turned gruesomely to the outside. Medical personnel immediately brought a stretcher out to the court. Hendricks wore a protective boot on his right...

NEW YORK -- Walker Buehler pitched five scoreless innings, Freddie Freeman belted a two-run homer and the Los Angeles Dodgers continued to act like the deeper, better, more sound team in this World Series, beating the New York Yankees 4-2 on Monday night to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. Now, to somehow win it all, the Yankees will have to become the second team ever -- after the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 American League Championship Series -- to win four consecutive games with their season on the line in a best-of-seven series. The Dodgers applied the pressure immediately. Shohei Ohtani, playing through a slightly dislocated left shoulder, drew a four-pitch walk to start the game. Two batters later, Freeman, playing through his own set of injuries throughout October, lined a two-run homer into the short porch in right field. It was Freeman's third home run in a stretch of six at-bats, immediately after going 32...

DALLAS -- Utah Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks exited Monday's 110-102 loss to the Dallas Mavericks after suffering a fractured right fibula and dislocated ankle, the team announced.  Hendricks will return to Utah with the team for further testing Tuesday, sources said. He collapsed suddenly without any contact with 5:59 remaining in the third quarter. His lower right leg was turned gruesomely to the outside. Medical personnel immediately brought a stretcher out to the court. The Jazz announced after the game that further updates on Hendricks' status would be provided "when appropriate."  The 6-foot-9 Hendricks, the No. 9 pick in the 2023 draft, is an important part of the Jazz's rebuilding project. He profiles as an outstanding defender, drawing the assignment on Dallas superstar Luka Doncic on Monday night. Hendricks averaged 7.3 points and 4.6 rebounds as a rookie and moved into the starting lineup on a regular basis this season.

DALLAS -- Utah Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks exited Monday's 110-102 loss to the Dallas Mavericks after suffering a fractured right fibula and dislocated ankle, the team announced.  Hendricks will return to Utah with the team for further testing Tuesday, sources said. He collapsed suddenly without any contact with 5:59 remaining in the third quarter. His lower right leg was turned gruesomely to the outside. Medical personnel immediately brought a stretcher out to the court. The Jazz announced after the game that further updates on Hendricks' status would be provided "when appropriate."  The 6-foot-9 Hendricks, the No. 9 pick in the 2023 draft, is an important part of the Jazz's rebuilding project. He profiles as an outstanding defender, drawing the assignment on Dallas superstar Luka Doncic on Monday night. Hendricks averaged 7.3 points and 4.6 rebounds as a rookie and moved into the starting lineup on a regular basis this season.

DALLAS -- Utah Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks exited Monday's game against the Dallas Mavericks after suffering a fractured right fibula and dislocated ankle, sources told ESPN. Hendricks will return to Utah with the team for further testing Tuesday, sources said. He collapsed suddenly without any contact with 5:59 remaining in the third quarter. His lower right leg was turned gruesomely to the outside. Medical personnel immediately brought a stretcher out to the court. The Jazz announced that Hendricks would not return to the game, but they did not immediately provide any official updates on the injury. The 6-foot-9 Hendricks, the No. 9 pick in the 2023 draft, is an important part of the Jazz's rebuilding project. He profiles as an outstanding defender, drawing the assignment on Dallas superstar Luka Doncic on Monday night. Hendricks averaged 7.3 points and 4.6 rebounds as a rookie and moved into the starting lineup on a regular basis this...

Connor McDavid is returning to Edmonton to be evaluated for a lower-body injury, Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said on Monday night. McDavid left Monday's 6-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets after getting injured just 37 seconds in, during his first shift. The Oilers captain was tripped up by Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski while crossing the blue line and crashed awkwardly into the boards. McDavid left the ice on his own and did not return. The Oilers have two more games on the road trip: Thursday against the Nashville Predators, and Sunday at the Calgary Flames. McDavid will undergo testing on Tuesday, and the team is expected to provide an update after that. McDavid, the reigning Conn Smythe winner as Stanley Cup playoffs MVP, has 10 points so far, including three goals. He is tied for first in points with Leon Draisaitl on the Oilers, who fell to 4-5-1 on the season Monday. McDavid, clearly, was missed. ...

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Connor McDavid left the Edmonton Oilers' game at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night after getting injured on the first shift. McDavid was chasing the puck past the Blue Jackets blue line when he tripped over Zach Werenski's extended stick and slid into the boards skates first. Bracing himself with his left arm, McDavid landed awkwardly and headed to bench as soon as he got up, 37 seconds in. The Oilers said he would not return with what they called a lower-body injury. The undisputed best player in hockey is coming off leading Edmonton to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final and earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP despite losing to the  Florida Panthers. McDavid had 10 points in the team's first nine games this season.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Paolo Banchero had the best night of his career Monday. Banchero tied the Orlando Magic record for points in a half, scoring 37 in the first two quarters against the Indiana Pacers. He finished with a career-high 50 points -- tying the fifth-highest scoring effort in Magic history. Orlando won 119-115. "Man, I'm tired; I'm tired as hell," Banchero said after the first 50-point effort in the NBA this season. "But it was a hell of a game." Banchero, the league's Rookie of the Year two seasons ago and an All-Star last year, was 13-of-17 from the field in the half and finished 16-of-26 from the floor. He also had 13 rebounds and nine assists. "It was just being in the zone," Banchero said. "Felt like I was in an open gym, back at home, just working on my game. Every shot felt like it was going in and it's a good feeling when you've got a day like that. Not every game is going to be like that, but I'm glad today was." At 21 years and...

Michigan quarterback Jack Tuttle announced Monday that he is medically retiring from football. Tuttle, a seventh-year senior, played in two games for the Wolverines this season, with one start. During the offseason, Tuttle underwent surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing arm. Tuttle said the arm "didn't fully recover" and that he continued to have "ongoing issues" with it. Tuttle also said he recently suffered the fifth concussion of his career. He said that "brought forth the painful truth: that I need to start prioritizing my health." Tuttle began his career at Utah, then transferred to Indiana, where he backed up Michael Penix Jr. (who later transferred to Washington, leading the Huskies to the 2023 national championship game against Michigan). In 2023, Tuttle transferred to Michigan, where he backed up J.J. McCarthy and was part of the Wolverines' undefeated national title team. But injuries torpedoed Tuttle's...

Ruben Amorim has emerged as the leading contender to take over from Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, a source has told ESPN. The Sporting CP coach is aware of the interest, according to the source, as are his club, with United attempting to move quickly to name a new permanent manager after appointing Ruud van Nistelrooy as caretaker manager. Ten Hag was sacked on Monday following a 2-1 defeat to West Ham United on Sunday. A source has told ESPN that United will have to pay a fee of around £10 million to release Amorim from his contract at Sporting Lisbon. The source added that United have also enquired about the availability of Brentford manager Thomas Frank. Frank's release clause at the Gtech Community Stadium is nearly double that of Amorim. Amorim was also linked with the Liverpool job before Arne Slot succeeded Jurgen Klopp in the summer and held talks with West Ham before they appointed Julen Lopetegui. The 39-year-old former ...

FRISCO, Texas --  Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy cited  Trevon Diggs confronting a television reporter after Sunday's 30-24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers as an example of the team's frustration with its 3-4 record. "But I think we have to be better in those moments. I always talk about staying on a high road," McCarthy said. "That's part of our responsibility in this business. But I'm not ignorant or naive to the fact that this generation, that's part of the world they live in, the social media world. You have to manage that. That's part of being a professional athlete and that's part of representing this organization properly." Not long after the players returned to the locker room from the field, Diggs, still in uniform, came outside to where the media was waiting to enter the locker room to approach a reporter about an in-game X post. The post showed video of Diggs' tracking after 49ers tight end George Kittle on a catch in which he...

NEW YORK -- Shohei Ohtani's availability wasn't all that uncertain in the first place. Not to his teammates, at least. The Los Angeles Dodgers flew to New York late Saturday night without Ohtani, who stayed in L.A. to get an MRI on his injured left shoulder. But he texted the group chat consisting solely of Dodgers players as his teammates rode an airport-bound shuttle, assuring them he felt fine and would be in the lineup for Game 3 of the World Series. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts wasn't privy to that. "It would have been helpful if I saw that thread," said Roberts, who had Ohtani back in his customary leadoff spot for Monday's game from Yankee Stadium. "I would have slept better Saturday night." Ohtani put a scare into the Dodgers when he injured his left shoulder in an attempted steal of second base in the seventh inning of Game 2, a  4-2 win over the New York Yankees. But Roberts' nerves were calmed, at least slightly, when Ohtani's shoulder --...

EAGAN, Minn. -- No, Jordan Addison does not want to be traded. The Minnesota Vikings receiver said he's not upset with his number of targets this season and wasn't trying to imply otherwise in an Instagram story he posted over the weekend. "People just try to make something out of anything," Addison said Monday. "It ain't nothing." Early Saturday morning, Addison posted a photo on social media of his No. 3 jersey with the caption "Free 3" -- a message that led to widespread speculation. Addison, however, said Monday that he has used the phrase for at least four years, beginning with his time at the University of Pittsburgh, and later posted a screenshot of an Instagram post from that time period to clarify. "I think I came up with that in in 2020 fall camp at Pittsburgh," Addison said. "So that's where that started. People got to do their homework before they start saying stuff." Addison's production has decreased in his second season, in part because of an ankle...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- As the rest of his San Francisco 49ers teammates get some much-needed downtime during this week's bye, running back Christian McCaffrey has reached an important benchmark in his recovery from Achilles tendinitis. McCaffrey, who missed the first eight games of the season because of the injury, will remain in the Bay Area this week to do what coach Kyle Shanahan described Monday as "simulated practice stuff" with an eye toward opening his practice window on Nov. 4. "It depends how this week goes," Shanahan said. "He's had no setbacks, so it looks like we're on track, but he's going to hit it hard this week while we're gone ... as long as it all goes good, hopefully we'll get him back in practice next week." The 49ers have been eagerly anticipating McCaffrey's return since Shanahan announced his star running back was dealing with a calf injury on Aug. 6. Shanahan later revealed that McCaffrey was also battling Achilles tendinitis, which has...

Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara is not listed on the depth chart for this week's game against Wisconsin after leaving Saturday's win against Northwestern with an undisclosed injury. Brendan Sullivan, a transfer from Northwestern, replaced McNamara in the second quarter on Saturday and is listed as the starter with redshirt freshman Marco Lainez as the backup. Sullivan had 79 passing yards and 41 rushing yards and a touchdown against his former team. Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz on Saturday cautioned against the change being permanent, saying they planned to play both quarterbacks. Ferentz said McNamara took a hard hit before being removed from the game and was "shook up, hit the turf pretty hard." McNamara had an interception returned for a touchdown shortly before being removed from the game. He appeared on the sideline without his helmet in the second half. Ferentz is scheduled to meet with reporters on Tuesday. The transfer from ...

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been awarded the Ballon d'Or after a stellar season that saw him pick up silverware with both club and country. Rodri was handed the award at a ceremony in Paris on Monday, organised by the French magazine France Football in collaboration with UEFA.  "A very special day, for me, my family and my country," Rodri said. "I understand that because I have no social media, people don't know me much. I am just a normal guy. I enjoy the sport, I enjoy my profession. And I try to be a good person. I am a very calm person." The 28-year-old won his fourth straight Premier League with City in May as Pep Guardiola's side held off Arsenal's challenge, winning their last nine games to clinch the title. He is the first player from England's top tier to be crowned since  Cristiano Ronaldo won in 2008 during his first stint with Manchester United. Rodri's stiffest competition for the Ballon d'Or came from Madrid's  ...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry will miss the next two games with a left peroneal strain and will be reevaluated on Friday, the team announced Monday. Curry sustained the injury during Sunday night's home opener against the LA Clippers. In the third quarter, Curry twisted his left ankle and immediately went to the bench to be assessed. He checked back into the game with eight minutes remaining in the fourth but twisted the same ankle. He walked back to the locker room with a severe limp and with assistance from Gary Payton II and team security. After the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Curry thought his injury was "mild or moderate." He underwent an MRI on Monday morning. "The MRI was positive," Kerr said after practice on Monday. "That's the main thing. No significant damage." In addition to Curry, the Warriors will be without De'Anthony Melton for games Tuesday and Wednesday against the New Orleans...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry will miss the next two games with a left peroneal strain and will be re-evaluated on Friday, the team announced Monday. Curry sustained the injury during Sunday night's home opener against the Los Angeles Clippers. In the third quarter, Curry twisted his left ankle and immediately went to the bench to be assessed. He checked back into the game with eight minutes remaining in the fourth but twisted the same ankle. He walked back to the locker room with a severe limp and with assistance from Gary Payton II and team security. After the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Curry thought his injury was "mild or moderate." He underwent an MRI on Monday morning. "The MRI was positive," Kerr said after practice on Monday. "That's the main thing. No significant damage." In addition to Curry, the Warriors will be without De'Anthony Melton in Tuesday and Wednesday's games against the ...

Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson apologized to teammates Monday morning for his role in giving up a Hail Mary touchdown that resulted in the  Washington Commanders' 18-15 victory Sunday. Stevenson jawed back and forth with fans as the final play began from the Commanders' 48-yard line. The cornerback had his back turned to the play for over four seconds as he yelled at fans in the stands before sprinting toward where Bears and Commanders players were gathered in the front of the end zone. Bears coach Matt Eberflus confirmed that Stevenson was supposed to box out Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown, who was left unguarded behind seven players. Safety Kevin Byard III was then supposed to knock the ball down. Instead, the cornerback tipped the pass at the front of the scrum that fell into Brown's hands to decide the game. "Honestly, I don't I feel like I should probably share what intimate side of me that I shared with the guys because I...

The Golden State Warriors announced that an MRI of Stephen Curry's sprained left ankle Monday did not detect any structural damage and described the injury as a left peroneal strain. He will be reevaluated Friday, meaning he will miss at least two games. The Warriors host the New Orleans Pelicans for back-to-back games on Tuesday and Wednesday nights before a road game against the Houston Rockets on Saturday. Curry, 36,  suffered his ankle injury late in the third quarter of Sunday's 112-104 loss to the LA Clippers, tried to return, then exited again and left the court for the locker room. Curry returned briefly at the 8:08 mark of the fourth quarter before exiting again 13 seconds later after turning the ankle -- it appeared to roll outward -- again during an offensive possession. It happened near the end of Golden State's bench, and he limped into the tunnel that goes to the locker room. The team said he was done for the night...

Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen said he's "evaluating" the quarterback situation amid Anthony Richardson's recent struggles, but the coach indicated that Richardson's surprising decision to ask out of Sunday's game for a play late in the third quarter will not be a factor in his decision-making. Richardson was 10-of-32 for 175 yards in Sunday's loss at the Houston Texans, and the team's offensive struggles have prompted Steichen to take a closer look ahead of their Sunday night matchup at Minnesota. "We're evaluating everything," Steichen said when asked whether Richardson would start that game. When pressed if Richardson was still the team's starter, Steichen said, "Right now, today, he is, yes." Joe Flacco, the Colts' 39-year-old backup, went 1-1 in his two starts this season while Richardson rehabbed an oblique injury. Richardson showed promise in four starts last season before landing on injured reserve and missing 12 games following...

Stephanie White is out as head coach of the Connecticut Sun, the team announced Monday. In her two seasons in Connecticut, White went 55-25 (including 28-12 this season) and led the Sun to two semifinal appearances. She won WNBA Coach of the Year in 2023. "We parted on good terms because some of [White's] decision-making process was not just about basketball," Connecticut Sun president Jen Rizzotti told ESPN, adding she assumes White will speak on her decision at a later time. The WNBA now has seven head-coaching vacancies. Prior to the Sun's announcement, the Indiana Fever were the latest to move on from their head coach, Christie Sides. The Chicago Sun-Times reported earlier Monday that the Fever were targeting White to replace Sides as coach. White previously coached the Fever in 2015 and 2016.   White did not confirm what may be next for her, but did say it was a "professional and personal decision" to leave the Sun and thanked Connecticut for what the...

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The groin injury that Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love sustained in the win Sunday over the Jacksonville Jaguars is not expected to keep him sidelined long term, a source told ESPN. Tests on Monday did not show any significant damage, and it is considered a strain. A source said his availability for Sunday's NFC North showdown against the Detroit Lions will be about how he feels and progresses throughout the week. If the Packers (6-2) don't have Love on Sunday against the Lions (6-1), there's a good chance it will be the only game he misses because Green Bay has its bye the following week. Malik Willis, who replaced Love on Sunday, would start against the Lions if Love is out. While Packers coach Matt LaFleur did not provide any additional update on Love's status Monday, he said his quarterback seemed "in good spirits." "Yeah, if he can go, he'll go," LaFleur said. "So, we'll see where he's at by the end of the week....

Brentford manager Thomas Frank and Sporting CP boss Rúben Amorim are among the candidates Manchester United are considering to replace Erik ten Hag, a source has told ESPN. Ten Hag was sacked by United on Monday after a run of four wins from 13 games in all competitions this season. Frank's was one of the names in the frame to replace Ten Hag in the summer before the club decided to keep faith with the Dutchman. A source has told ESPN that Frank is again high up on United's list of targets, although he is under contract at Brentford until 2027, having joined as an assistant in 2016 before taking the main job in 2018. Agreeing to a deal that would allow the 51-year-old to leave the club is considered a major stumbling block. He has previously played down talk of leaving Gtech Community Stadium, but a source has told ESPN that United are set to enquire about his availability as they search for their next permanent manager. Amorim was coy over links with the United...

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton defended his team's efforts and his own playcalling Monday and denied he was trying to run up the score in Sunday's 28-14 victory against the Carolina Panthers. The Broncos were ahead 28-7 in the fourth quarter when they attempted a fake field goal -- on what would have been a 60-yard attempt by Wil Lutz. Later in the quarter, Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton completed a fourth-down pass to fullback Michael Burton to keep a drive going. Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn approached Payton on the field after the game for a brief, heated exchange, and he could be seen on video telling Payton that the Broncos were trying to "run up the score." Horn on Monday said the fourth-quarter trick plays were "disrespectful." "It wasn't necessarily directed at him,'' Horn said about yelling toward the Denver sideline while standing near Payton. "I just felt like personally ... I...

The Kansas City Chiefs acquired pass rusher  Joshua Uche in a trade with the New England Patriots on Monday. The Patriots received a 2026 sixth-round pick in the trade, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. The Chiefs placed tight end Jody Fortson (knee) on injured reserve in a corresponding move. Uche was a healthy scratch for the Patriots' 25-22 victory over the New York Jets amid trade interest for the fifth-year outside linebacker. Uche, 26, has two sacks in six games this season and 20.5 sacks in his career. Uche re-signed with the Patriots as a free agent before the season on a one-year, $3 million contract. He will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. It's the second impact trade made by the Chiefs (7-0), who acquired wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in a deal with the Tennessee Titans last week. On Sunday, the Chiefs defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 27-20, and they had five sacks from five different...

Brentford manager Thomas Frank is among the candidates Manchester United are considering to replace Erik ten Hag, a source has told ESPN. Ten Hag was sacked by United on Monday after a run of four wins from 13 games in all competitions this season. Frank was one of the names in the frame to replace Ten Hag in the summer before the club decided to keep faith with the Dutchman. A source has told ESPN that Frank is again high up on United's list of targets, although he is under contract at Brentford until 2027 having joined in 201. Agreeing to a deal that would allow the 51-year-old to leave the club is considered a major stumbling block. He has previously played down talk of leaving Gtech Community Stadium, but a source has told ESPN that United are set to enquire about his availability as they search for their next permanent manager. United declined to comment when approached by ESPN. Asked about his future at a news conference on Monday, Frank said: "I've said many,...

The Kansas City Chiefs are acquiring pass rusher  Joshua Uche in a trade with the New England Patriots, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Uche was a healthy scratch for the Patriots' 25-22 victory over the New York Jets amid trade interest for the fifth-year outside linebacker. Uche, 26, has two sacks in six games this season and 20.5 sacks in his career. Uche re-signed with the Patriots as a free agent before the season on a one-year, $3 million contract. He will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. It's the second impact trade made by the Chiefs (7-0), who acquired wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in a trade with the Tennessee Titans last week. Now Uche joins an already strong Chiefs defense that is ranked second in the NFL this season. 

Penn State coach James Franklin said Monday that quarterback  Drew Allar's status for fourth-ranked Ohio State could be a game-time decision. Allar suffered a left knee injury late in the first half of Saturday's 28-13 win at Wisconsin. Allar tried to play to begin the second half, but after warming up he told Franklin that he didn't think he could be effective enough playing through the injury. Sophomore backup Beau Pribula replaced Allar in the second half and completed 11 of 13 passes with a touchdown. Franklin said that Allar and Pribula could both get snaps in Tuesday's practice but that the team would wait until Saturday before making a starting quarterback decision. "That timeline will go all the way up to the game," Franklin said. Allar ranks 10th nationally with a QBR of 83.6. He has completed 71.3% of his passes for 1,640 yards and totaled 15 touchdowns with four interceptions. The third-ranked Nittany Lions (7-0) have lost seven straight...

Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller has been in contact with the Big Ten about the fight between Spartans players and Michigan Wolverines players at the end of their game Saturday night. Following Michigan's final kneel-down of a 24-17 win, Michigan State defensive lineman Anthony Jones and Michigan tight end Colston Loveland engaged in a scuffle, bringing both teams to the middle of the field as the clock expired. Video appeared to show Michigan running back Kalel Mullings and other Wolverines engaged with Michigan State personnel who were on the turf. "I haven't thoroughly looked at every angle and all of that," Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith said Monday. "It was a lot of bodies out there. ... Yes, we had a staff member that was in the fray of it and a player that was in the fray of it, and that's what we're hoping [the Big Ten] is looking into." Michigan coach Sherrone Moore on Monday called the postgame skirmish "unacceptable." He...

The Kansas City Chiefs are acquiring pass rusher Josh Uche in a trade with the New England Patriots, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Uche was a healthy scratch for the Patriots' 25-22 victory over the New York Jets amid trade interest for the fifth-year outside linebacker. Uche, 26, has two sacks in six games this season and 20.5 sacks in his career. Uche re-signed with the Patriots as a free agent before the season on a one-year, $3 million contract. He will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. It's the second impact trade made by the undefeated Chiefs (7-0), who acquired wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in a trade with the Tennessee Titans last week. Now Uche joins an already strong Chiefs defense that is ranked second in the NFL this season. 

Vinícius Júnior and his Real Madrid teammates will not travel to Paris for the Ballon d'Or ceremony on Monday, sources told ESPN, because they believe Manchester City midfielder  Rodri will receive the award. Vinícius, 24, was a leading contender to win the 2024 men's prize after leading Madrid to a LaLiga and Champions League double last season. Sources told ESPN that the Brazil international and his fellow Madrid nominees -- Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, Kylian Mbappé, Antonio Rüdiger, Federico Valverde, as well as Andriy Lunin, nominated for best goalkeeper, Arda Güler, nominated for the Kopa Trophy, and Carlo Ancelotti, nominated for best coach -- would not be attending the event, organized by the magazine France Football, in collaboration with UEFA. One club source considers it "unfair" and "a disgrace" that Vinícius would not win the award. Not attending the ceremony is a protest in the...

Golfer  Tom Kim apologized Monday for damaging a locker door following his playoff loss to Byeong Hun An in the DP World Tour's Genesis Championship in his native South Korea. In a statement posted to his Instagram account, Kim said that he didn't intend to damage the door Sunday and that he offered to pay for its repair. Kim said he apologized to the DP World Tour and the Korean PGA Tour, which co-sanctioned the tournament held at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Incheon. "After the loss I was frustrated, yes, absolutely," Kim said in the statement. "[B]ut I can assure you with absolute truth that I had no intent of damaging any part of the locker, not a single bit." An, who also hails from South Korea, made an 8-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to tie Kim, who had an 8-footer lip out that would have won him the tournament. In the playoff, Kim hit his third shot into a grandstand on the par-5 18th and made bogey. An made another birdie to pick up...

PITTSBURGH -- New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones took all the first-team reps at practice this week and is not expected to be on a short leash Monday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers despite getting pulled in the fourth quarter last week, multiple sources told ESPN. Jones went to the bench in a 28-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and was replaced by backup Drew Lock. Coach Brian Daboll said he was looking for a "spark." It didn't happen. Lock went 3-of-8 passing for 6 yards. A handful of Giants players told ESPN this week they weren't pushing for a permanent change at quarterback entering the Monday night matchup. Jones is their starter. Several players did note that it might be different if Tyrod Taylor were still on the roster. He's not. It's still Jones' team. Taylor was the backup each of the past two seasons. He signed with the New York Jets this offseason. It has been a struggle for Jones and the 2-5...

Erik ten Hag was sacked as Manchester United manager following Sunday's 2-1  Premier League defeat against West Ham United, the club announced Monday. Ten Hag, who had his contract extended in the summer, had just four wins from 13 games to start the new season. Ruud van Nistelrooy will take over on an interim basis and is expected to be in charge for the Carabao Cup tie against Leicester City at Old Trafford on Wednesday. Sources told ESPN that United bosses made the decision to sack Ten Hag after losing faith that the Dutchman would be able to turn things around after a poor start to the new campaign. After earning just 11 points from nine league games, there are already concerns that United are too far adrift to qualify for next season's Champions League. Results and performances in the Premier League at the end of last season were also taken into account. United finished eighth in the table last season and are...

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez won the Roberto Clemente Award, Major League Baseball's prestigious honor awarded annually to the player whose humanitarian efforts exemplify off-the-field service. The 34-year-old, who has spent all 13 years of his major league career with Kansas City, is the first Royals player to win the award and was lauded for his generosity not only in his adopted hometown but in Valencia, Venezuela, where Perez grew up, and Colombia, where his contributions honor a minor league pitcher who died of cancer. "When we do something, we do because it's coming from my heart," Perez said. "I don't like to do things because somebody ask me to do it. When I sit with my mom and want to do something, we just do. We don't have to post anything on social media. I don't like that. If I do, I do it for my heart. I want to make people happy." Perez, the Royals' captain who is one of the most beloved athletes in Kansas City sports history, played on Roberto...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- When the season started, the Dallas Cowboys never believed they would be in such a predicament after seven games. With Sunday's 30-24 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Cowboys are 3-4 and closer to the bottom of the NFC than a Super Bowl contender at the moment. "We're disappointed," coach Mike McCarthy said. "Our men really had a good week of preparation. I thought there were areas of improvement. But still, we have a ton to work on." The last time the Cowboys had a 3-4 record with a healthy Dak Prescott at quarterback was 2018. In 2020, the Cowboys were 2-5 on their way to 2-7, but Prescott suffered a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle in the fifth game of the season. The 2018 Cowboys were jump-started by a midseason trade for wide receiver Amari Cooper and finished the campaign with a 10-6 record, winning the NFC East and a playoff game. Only five players active on Sunday remain from the 2018...