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MIAMI -- Less than a second away from their second trip to the NBA Finals in four seasons,  Miami Heat players and fans stood in collective shock after  Boston Celtics guard Derrick White tipped in the go-ahead bucket at the buzzer in a stunning 104-103 loss Saturday night in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals. The shot forced Game 7 on Monday and pushed the Celtics to within one victory of becoming the first NBA team to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series. Despite the emotions of the loss, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and star forward Jimmy Butler were defiant in the belief that they could still find a way to win the biggest game of the season on Monday night. Spoelstra called the final sequence a "shame" but said he has "no regrets." "This is the way this season has been," he said. "This is one hell of a series. At this time right now, I don't know how we are going to get this done, but we are going up there and get it...

MIAMI -- The Heat were less than a second away from the NBA Finals. But with a precious two-tenths of a second remaining, Derrick White -- who had served as the inbounds passer on the final possession for the Boston Celtics -- managed to release a putback of a Marcus Smart missed jumper that fell through the net just as the buzzer sounded, giving the Celtics a heart-stopping 104-103 victory in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals. It sends this series back to Boston for Game 7 on Memorial Day night and moves the Celtics one win away from becoming the first NBA team to come back from a 3-0 series deficit "Derrick White, like a flash of lightning, just came out of nowhere and saved the day, man," teammate Jaylen Brown said. "It was just an incredible play." It was an incredible series of moments -- all of which were eerily similar to the way Game 7 of this same matchup on this same court played out almost exactly one year...

With head coach Becky Hammon on the sideline for the first time this season, the Las Vegas Aces received their 2022 WNBA championship rings Saturday night. So did former Aces player Dearica Hamby, who was traded in January to the Los Angeles Sparks, Las Vegas' opponent for the evening. Hamby criticized the Aces after the trade, accusing them of treating her in an "unprofessional and unethical way" due to her pregnancy and not following through on promises that were made to her when she signed a contract extension during the 2022 season. The Aces have denied mistreating Hamby. But after an investigation, the WNBA on May 16 imposed penalties on Hammon and the Aces for violating the league's Respect in the Workplace policy and impermissible player benefits regarding Hamby. Hammon was suspended two games, and the Aces were stripped of a 2025 first-round draft pick. On Saturday, the crowd at Las Vegas' Michelob Ultra Arena gave a warm ovation to Hamby when she...

LAS VEGAS -- A healthy scratch to start the series, Ty Dellandrea scored two pivotal, third-period goals in the Dallas Stars' 4-2 victory on Saturday against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals. The win kept the Stars' season alive for at least two more days. Game 6 is Monday night in Dallas. Dellandrea's winning and insurance goals also came with another accomplishment in that it guaranteed Stars captain Jamie Benn will return for Game 6 after being suspended for the past two games for a cross-check on Golden Knights captain Mark Stone in Game 3. "It's a lot of desperation, we have a lot to play for here," Dellandrea said. "Our group's really come together and leaned on one another. Guys have stepped up. ... We've really been leaning on one another and playing for a lot here. It's been a group effort for sure." Stars defenseman Thomas Harley set up Dellandrea's goal by breaking up a Golden Knights'...

Shilo Sanders' long-anticipated transfer to Colorado is set, as the Jackson State safety will join his father and brother with the Buffaloes. Sanders, the son of Colorado coach Deion Sanders and younger brother of Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders, announced that Colorado will be his transfer destination Saturday night. Although Shilo Sanders entered the transfer portal Dec. 17, the same day as his brother, he remained at Jackson State to finish his undergraduate degree this spring. A video posted to Shilo Sanders' social media platforms ended with him in a Colorado uniform wearing No. 21, the same number he wore at both Jackson State and South Carolina, and Deion Sanders' number during a Hall of Fame NFL career. Shilo Sanders earned second-team all-conference honors for Jackson State in 2021, when he recorded 4 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 7 pass breakups and 39 tackles. His interceptions total tied for second in the SWAC. Last season, Sanders...

Two-time Olympic champion Ryan Crouser demolished his own shot put world record on Saturday, throwing for 23.56 meters at the Los Angeles Grand Prix. The American surpassed his previous world record of 23.37 meters, which he achieved at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon in June 2021. Crouser is the only man ever to throw further than 23.50 meters and he punched the air as he sent one ricocheting off the back barrier, reaching the record-breaking mark on his fourth attempt at the Continental Tour Gold event. He put the field on notice with opening attempts of 23.23 and 23.31 meters, which would both count among the top six farthest attempts produced in the event.

MIAMI -- Heat guard Gabe Vincent will return from a one-game absence and start in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics on Saturday night. In another switch for the Heat, forward Caleb Martin will take Kevin Love's spot in the starting five. Vincent, who is averaging 17.5 points a game during this series, missed Game 5 with a left ankle injury, which he suffered after landing awkwardly after taking a jump shot midway through the fourth quarter of Game 4. Vincent briefly returned to the game and was optimistic about playing in Game 5, but his ankle did not recover in time. Kyle Lowry started in Vincent's place in Miami's 110-97 loss on Thursday. He struggled in his 30 minutes on the court, posting five points, two rebounds, one assist and four turnovers. Martin has had a strong series off the bench for the Heat, averaging 17.6 points on 59.3% shooting from the field. He has also shot well from deep, going...

Luis Alberto Lopez needed to again cross the Atlantic Ocean if he wanted to remain a featherweight champion. And for the second time in six months, Lopez retained the IBF belt in the 126-pound division. Lopez stopped Michael Conlan in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on Saturday with a thunderous right uppercut in the fifth round that put the Irish challenger on his back and prompted his corner to throw the towel to stop the bout before the referee could administer a 10-count. "I wanted to come to Belfast so I can prove that I am a true champion," Lopez said through an interpreter in a postfight interview with BT Sport. Conlan was down for a couple of minutes following the stoppage and received oxygen from the medical staff before he eventually sat up and returned to his corner. He stood in the middle of the ring and applauded Lopez as the result was announced inside the ring. Lopez (28-2, 16 KOs) was making his first title defense of the IBF featherweight belt. Last December, Lopez...

Oklahoma nearly let history slip away as it saw a four-run lead turn into a three-run deficit against Clemson in Game 2 of the Norman Super Regional on Saturday. But, down to their final strike, the defending champions fought back, tying things up on a Kinzie Hansen three-run homer and then getting the go-ahead solo home run from Tiare Jennings in the ninth inning to win 8-7 and advance to the Women's College World Series next week. The win gives the Sooners the most consecutive victories of all time (48). Arizona (1996-97) was the previous record holder. Oklahoma also holds the third-, fourth- and fifth-longest win streaks (41 games in 2019, 40 games in 2020-21 and 40 games in 2021-22). The Sooners (56-1) are the prohibitive favorites to win a third straight WCWS. They have won six championships under coach Patty Gasso, including five in the past 10 years. Their only loss this season came in February against Baylor -- a 4-3 defeat on the road. They later swept a three-game...

Luton Town will play in the Premier League for the first time after beating Coventry City 6-5 on penalties in Saturday's Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium, earning a return to England's top flight after a 31-year absence. Coventry's Fankaty Dabo blazed his spot kick over the crossbar after the shootout went into sudden death following a 1-1 draw and a tense but goalless period of extra time, when Luton's Joe Taylor had a late goal disallowed due to handball. - Imber:  Luton's football fairy tale goes on after after historic promotion - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) A second-half equaliser from Coventry midfielder Gustavo Hamer cancelled out Jordan Clark's brilliant opener, after Luton captain Tom Lockyer was carried off on a stretcher early on after he collapsed on the pitch. Luton confirmed Lockyer, 28, is responsive and talking to his family after he was taken...

Luton Town will play in the Premier League for the first time after beating Coventry City 6-5 on penalties in Saturday's Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium, earning a return to England's top flight after a 31-year absence. Coventry's Fankaty Dabo missed the crucial penalty, blazing his shot over the crossbar, to seal the win for Luton following a 1-1 draw and a tense but goalless period of extra time, when Luton's Joe Taylor had a late goal disallowed due to handball. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) A second-half equaliser from Coventry midfielder Gustavo Hamer cancelled out Jordan Clark's brilliant opener, after Luton captain Tom Lockyer was carried off on a stretcher early on after he collapsed on the pitch. Luton confirmed Lockyer, 28, is responsive and talking to his family after he was taken to hospital for tests. The centre back had fallen to the ground with no player around him and was...

The Milwaukee Bucks are hiring Toronto Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin as the franchise's next head coach, sources told ESPN on Saturday. The Bucks landed on Griffin as their choice Saturday morning and began negotiations on a multiyear contract that is expected to result in a formalized deal soon, sources said. Bucks general manager Jon Horst and team ownership became sold on Griffin's leadership presence, character and ability to oversee high-level defensive teams, sources said. Griffin will replace Mike Budenholzer, who was dismissed after five years following a first-round playoff loss to the Miami Heat. Griffin will take over a franchise that has had significant success in recent years around two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and is only two years removed from winning the NBA title. Each of three finalists for the job -- Griffin, Golden State Warriors associate head coach Kenny Atkinson and former Raptors coach Nick Nurse -- met...

Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames was placed on the seven-day concussion list Saturday after he was hit by a line-drive foul ball while in the dugout Friday night. He spent the night in a Milwaukee hospital as a precaution. Teammate Brian Anderson was batting in the bottom of the second inning against the  San Francisco Giants when he hit a line drive that struck Adames, with video showing the ball appearing to hit him in the head or face. Adames was able to walk to the clubhouse, and manager Craig Counsell said after the 15-1 defeat that tests done at the hospital showed no broken bones. The game was stopped for a few minutes to allow Milwaukee's training staff to attend to Adames as he sat on the bench. Anderson's concern was apparent on his face as he waited from near the batter's box. "I still haven't really processed it all the way through," Anderson said Saturday. "I was able to talk to him a little bit last night and he seemed like...

The Milwaukee Bucks are planning to hire Toronto Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin as the franchise's next head coach, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on Saturday. The Bucks are beginning work on financial terms of a contract with Griffin and a deal is expected to be reached soon, sources said. Griffin has been a steady climber as a top head-coaching candidate among the pool of league assistants. He spent the past four years on Nick Nurse's staff with the Raptors and has made stops with Oklahoma City, Orlando and Chicago. He started his coaching career as an assistant for two seasons (2008-10) with the Bucks. Prior to that, Griffin played nine seasons in the NBA. Griffin is set to take over a Bucks team that features two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in his prime and is only two years removed from winning the NBA title. Milwaukee is replacing Mike Budenholzer, who was fired after the Bucks were upset in the first round of...

Pitcher David Hess, whose MLB career was previously interrupted by a cancer diagnosis, has announced the disease has returned. "The last couple weeks have been a whirlwind for us with this cancer journey that seems to never want to end," he posted to social media on Friday. "We found out that inside my tumor was [a] very rare and very aggressive type of cancer called angiosarcoma. Along with that discovery, lung nodules have popped up that we aren't sure what to make of yet." Hess, 29, said he will have surgery Tuesday to biopsy the nodules and also undergo another surgery to remove the tumor. He also will have chemotherapy. "I will fight like hell and do whatever is needed for a cancer free prognosis at some point," he wrote. An online fundraiser was set up Friday to help Hess and his wife, Devin, with medical expenses. The biggest contribution so far has come from Chicago White Sox reliever Liam Hendriks and his wife, Kristi. Hendriks was diagnosed with...

Bayern Munich have won the Bundesliga title for an 11th consecutive season after a dramatic final day that saw Dortmund crumble under pressure and draw at home to Mainz. Dortmund entered Saturday's decisive final match two points clear of Bayern, but Edin Terzic's side were stunned in a 2-2 draw following a disastrous first half that saw Mainz go two goals ahead and forward Sebastian Haller miss a penalty. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Meanwhile, Bayern travelled to Cologne and went ahead inside 10 minutes thanks to an early goal from winger Kingsley Coman. A late penalty from Cologne midfielder Dejan Ljubicic looked to cause more late drama -- with the title heading to Dortmund as it stood. However, Bayern forward Jamal Musiala netted on 89 minutes to seal a memorable 2-1 victory. Dortmund scored a stoppage-time equaliser through Niklas Sule but had just seconds to chase a winner, with the final whistle...

Bayern Munich have won the Bundesliga title for an 11th consecutive season after a dramatic final day that saw Dortmund crumble under pressure and draw at home to Mainz. Dortmund entered Saturday's decisive final match two points clear of Bayern, but Edin Terzic's side were stunned in a 2-2 draw following a disastrous first half that saw Mainz go two goals ahead and forward Sebastian Haller miss a penalty. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Meanwhile, Bayern travelled to Cologne and went ahead inside 10 minutes thanks to an early goal from winger Kingsley Coman. A late penalty from Cologne midfielder Dejan Ljubicic looked to cause more late drama -- with the title heading to Dortmund as it stood. However, Bayern forward Jamal Musiala netted on 89 minutes to seal a memorable 2-1 victory. Dortmund scored a stoppage-time equaliser through Niklas Sule but had just seconds to chase a winner, with the final whistle...

Bayern Munich have won the Bundesliga title for an 11th consecutive season after a dramatic final day that saw Dortmund crumble under pressure and draw at home to Mainz. Dortmund entered Saturday's decisive final match two points clear of Bayern, but Edin Terzic's side were stunned in a 2-2 draw following disastrous first half that saw Mainz go two goals ahead and forward Sebastian Haller miss a penalty. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Meanwhile, Bayern travelled to Cologne and went ahead inside 10 minutes thanks to an early goal from winger Kingsley Coman. A late penalty from Cologne midfielder Dejan Ljubicic looked to cause more late drama -- with the title heading to Dortmund as it stood. However, Bayern forward Jamal Musiala netted on 89 minutes to seal a memorable 2-1 victory. Dortmund scored a stoppage-time equaliser through Niklas Sule but had just seconds to chase a winner, with the final whistle...

ATLANTA --  Craig Kimbrel had a feeling this would be a special night, so he wanted about 30 to 40 family members and friends from Alabama to come watch him reach a rare milestone. The hard-throwing closer became the eighth pitcher in major league history to earn 400 saves as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 6-4 on Friday. "I'm happy it was here in Atlanta," said Kimbrel, who began his career with the Braves. "I am happy the majority of my family was here to see it. Getting to take it in and enjoy it with them is great." Making his 730th career appearance, Kimbrel, 34, worked a scoreless ninth inning to get his sixth save in six chances this season. Of the seven previous relievers to reach 400 saves, only Mariano Rivera (697 games), Trevor Hoffman (706) and Kenley Jansen (778) reached the milestone in under 800 appearances. Kimbrel, the 2011 NL Rookie of the Year, played his first five seasons in Atlanta, was a four-time All-Star...

Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames was to spend the night in the hospital after being struck by a foul ball from teammate Brian Anderson while watching from the dugout during Friday night's game against the San Francisco Giants. "He was alert and responsive as he left, and then we got pretty good news at the hospital, too," Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said after the Giants' 15-1 win. "Obviously, he's in pain. But I think overall I think not bad news, considering how scary it was." Counsell said that tests revealed no fractures, but Adames would remain in the hospital overnight "just for monitoring purposes" and would get placed on the injured list. "Anticipate him being released tomorrow morning," Counsell said. "It'll be a concussion. It'll be an IL." Anderson was batting in the bottom of the second inning when he hit a line drive that struck Adames. Video appeared to show that Adames was hit in the head or face. The game was stopped...

MILWAUKEE -- Brewers  shortstop Willy Adames left Friday night's game against the San Francisco Giants after getting hit by a foul ball from teammate Brian Anderson while watching from the dugout. Anderson was batting in the bottom of the second inning when he hit a line drive that struck Adames. The game was stopped for a few minutes to allow Milwaukee's training staff to check on Adames as he sat on the bench. Anderson looked concerned as he waited near the batter's box. Adames eventually walked out of the dugout and headed toward the clubhouse. The Brewers said he was taken for a scan and left the ballpark to get additional tests and evaluation. Brice Turang replaced Adames at shortstop in the top of the third. San Francisco won the game 15-1. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Denver Nuggets returned to practice on Friday as they continue to wait to see whom they will face in the NBA Finals. The Nuggets have not played since sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals on Monday, meaning they will have nine off-days heading into Game 1 of the NBA Finals, which are scheduled for June 1 no matter when the Eastern Conference finals are decided between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat. "It's impossible to keep your rhythm if you're not playing games," Denver coach Michael Malone said Friday after practice. "You can do whatever you want in practice, but there's no way you can replicate playing an NBA playoff game." The Nuggets were off on Tuesday. Some players came in for an optional workout day on Wednesday and did conditioning on Thursday before participating in practice on Friday. They are scheduled to practice on Saturday. "For us, my biggest concern is the rhythm but more importantly...

The NBA's Fitness to Play panel has cleared Kansas State guard/forward Keyontae Johnson, allowing for him to be selected in the June NBA draft, his agents Mark Bartelstein and Ross Aroyo of Priority Sports told ESPN on Friday. NBA teams were informed of Johnson's clearance in a memo shared from the league office on Friday afternoon. Johnson, considered a potential late first-round pick, will now be eligible to start traveling and working out for prospective teams, Bartelstein said. Johnson had conducted interviews with teams at the NBA draft combine in Chicago last week. As a member of the Florida Gators, Johnson, 23, collapsed on the court against Florida State in December 2020 and spent three days in a medically induced coma. He was diagnosed with a heart condition, but he eventually was cleared to play again and landed at Kansas State, where he was voted the 2023 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. Fifteen months after collapsing,...

NEW YORK -- Major League Baseball suspended Yankees manager Aaron Boone one game for his recent conduct toward umpires. Boone served his suspension Friday night against the San Diego Padres. Carlos Mendoza took over as manager in his place as New York lost, 5-1.  On Thursday, Boone, who was fined an undisclosed amount as well, got ejected for the fourth time this season and the second time in four days. He most famously got tossed in 2019 while going on his "Savages in the Box" rant. Speaking before the suspension was announced Friday, Boone said he knows he's earning a reputation for arguing with umpires, but he does not believe it has changed the way umpires are treating him. "I think I've earned that reputation," Boone said. "Do I think it's leading to a quick hook? Not necessarily. I think last night was quick, but that could be a one-off. Maybe I'm delusional and that I did more than I think." Boone was tossed in the middle of the third inning of...

Michael Block walked out after signing his scorecard at Colonial on Friday afternoon with his cap turned backward, his shirt untucked and still with a smile on his face after a grueling 36 holes and being at the bottom of the 120-player field. A week after the club pro from California became a sensation for everyday golfers by finishing tied for 15th in the PGA Championship at Oak Hill, Block was looking forward to finally getting home and playing with his black Labrador in the backyard. Only then, he said, would he be able to fully exhale and reflect on how much his life has changed in the past week. "I'm not trying to do anything, period. I'm just playing golf," the 46-year-old Block said. "That's what I know to do." After a week of intense attention with countless media interviews, thousands of texts and messages that included one from Michael Jordan, and a late sponsor's exemption to play in the Charles Schwab Challenge, the exhausted Block never got his game...

NEW YORK -- Yankees manager Aaron Boone knows he's earning a reputation for arguing with umpires. Boone got ejected for the fourth time on Thursday this season and the second time in four days, most famously getting tossed in 2019 while going on his famous "Savages in the Box" rant. But despite his reputation, Boone does not think it's changed the way umpires are treating him. "I think I've earned that reputation," Boone said. "Do I think it's leading to a quick hook? Not necessarily. I think last night was quick, but that could be a one-off. Maybe I'm delusional and that I did more than I think." Boone was tossed in the middle of the third inning of the Yankees game against the Baltimore Orioles by umpire Edwin Moscoso while arguing about the strike zone. The Yankees skipper indicated he thought the umpire missed four calls, holding up four fingers to indicate his displeasure. While his ejections are accumulating, Boone does not think it's affected how teams...

LSU freshman Sa'Myah Smith fainted and was helped off a stage during Friday's ceremony with President Joe Biden at the White House to celebrate the Tigers' women's basketball national championship. Medical personnel were rushed into the East Room after Smith fainted while Biden called for year-round support for women's sports. Smith, who was standing in the risers behind the podium, slunk downward and was helped off the stage as the ceremony was halted for about 10 minutes. "It's a lot of standing," Biden said. "I apologize. It's OK. It's happened lots of times." LSU coach Kim Mulkey said Smith was fine as personnel wheeled her out, and Smith later told NOLA.com that she was "way better" after being released from the White House's care. "I'm great, better -- way better than earlier," said Smith, who made her way back to the team's hotel. "I don't quite remember how everything happened. I just remember waking up pretty scared. The last thing I remember is telling one of...

New quarterback Derek Carr had a familiar helping hand this past week -- former Raiders coach Jon Gruden -- as the New Orleans Saints installed their offense during offseason workouts. The Saints brought in Gruden to help Carr and the offensive coaching staff under coach Dennis Allen, NOLA.com reported Friday. A second-round draft pick by the Raiders in 2014, Carr spent his career in the silver and black until his release after the 2022 season. He signed a four-year, $150 million contract with the Saints in March. With the Raiders, Carr ran the West Coast offense installed by Gruden during the latter's tenure as coach from 2018 through the first five games of the 2021 season. The offense is similar to the one the Saints employ. The Saints' version of the West Coast offense is an offshoot of the one former coach Sean Payton used during his 15 seasons as head coach in New Orleans. And it had its roots with Gruden -- Payton and Gruden coached...

A Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua heavyweight title fight is being discussed for September in the U.K., sources tell ESPN. The talks began this week between Fury's promoter, George Warren, and Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, sources said, revisiting a discussion from last fall that failed to deliver the long-anticipated showdown between the U.K.'s two top boxing stars. Fury (33-0-1, 24 KOs) scored a 10th-round KO of Derek Chisora in a December trilogy fight and then engaged in talks with Oleksandr Usyk for an undisputed heavyweight championship fight eyed for April 29 at London's Wembley Stadium. Those negotiations played out in the media and collapsed in March, leaving Fury, 34, searching for a new opponent. "The Gypsy King" then targeted a July 15 return in the U.K. Fury said the fight was offered to Andy Ruiz Jr., who asked for $20 million, according to the WBC champion. Another potential opponent, Zhilei Zhang, became unavailable when Joe Joyce ...

Utah Jazz legend Karl Malone recently auctioned off 24 pieces of memorabilia from the 1992 Summer Olympics USA Basketball "Dream Team" -- game-used jerseys and sneakers from all 12 members -- to the tune of $5 million.  The bulk of those earnings from the auction with collectibles marketplace Goldin, unsurprisingly, came via Michael Jordan's No. 9 white jersey -- worn during the 127-76 dismantling of Lithuania in the semifinals. It sold for $3,003,000 -- a record for any game-used Olympics Jordan item. Jordan's game-worn sneakers from the 1992 Tournament of the Americas -- the pre-Olympics event where the Dream Team debuted -- sold for $420,000. Larry Bird's jersey, also from the semifinal against Lithuania, sold for $360,000, while a pair of Bird game-used sneakers sold for $91,200 -- records for a Bird jersey and sneakers. In a 2023 addendum to "Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals,"  Magic Johnson wasn't far behind, as his semifinal jersey sold for...

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Cardinals released wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins on Friday, the team announced. Hopkins' future with the Cardinals had been in question since the end of the 2022 season because of his team-high $30.75 million cap hit, which ranked tops among wide receivers in the NFL and seventh highest overall. By releasing Hopkins now, the Cardinals will save $8.15 million in cap space in 2023, but are set to take a dead cap hit of $22.6 million. Hopkins had been under contract through the 2024 season. Hopkins, 30, had been at the center of trade speculation for months, but the Cardinals didn't deal the wide receiver during April's NFL draft. General manager Monti Ossenfort said at the time: "DeAndre's a Cardinal, and we're moving forward." The Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots had been among the teams reportedly interested in pursuing Hopkins. Hopkins skipped the Cardinals' voluntary organized team...

Pep Guardiola has said he is "not optimistic" Spain will take appropriate measures to combat racism in the country after Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior was again subjected to insults on Sunday. Three people have been arrested for racially abusing the Brazil winger at Valencia on Sunday, and the club have been hit with a fine and a partial closure of the Mestalla. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) The incident has opened a wider debate about the issue of racism in Spain, but Guardiola, who spent time as a player and manager in La Liga, said he does not expect things to change quickly. "Of course racism is a problem everywhere, not just in one specific place," Guardiola said. "Everywhere we have [people] thinking we are better than our neighbours, we are better than the other one. "The problem is that there is racism everywhere. Not just for gender but for colour, for attitudes. We believe that our...

Longtime University of Iowa athletic director Gary Barta announced his retirement Friday. He will officially step down on Aug. 1. Barta, 59, has been the athletic director at Iowa for 17 years, making him the second-longest tenured AD in the Big Ten conference behind Ohio State's Gene Smith. Barta has played a big role in college athletics overall, including a recently completed three-year stint as a member of the College Football Playoff selection committee. He served as the CFP committee chair in 2020 and 2021. "This decision didn't come suddenly, nor did it come without significant thought, discussion, and prayer," Barta said in a statement released by the school. "As I've reflected, I came to the conclusion there's never a good time to step away...because there's always more to be done. That said, I'm confident this is the right time for me and for my family." His tenure included strong success on the field. Per his Iowa bio, the school has won 11 Big Ten championships since...

Longtime University of Iowa athletic director Gary Barta is expected to announce his retirement Friday, sources told ESPN. He's expected to officially step down on Aug. 1, per sources. Barta, 59, has been the athletic director at Iowa for 17 years, making him the second-longest tenured AD in the Big Ten conference behind Ohio State's Gene Smith. Barta has played a big role in college athletics overall, including a recently completed three-year stint as a member of the College Football Playoff selection committee. He served as the CFP committee chair in 2020 and 2021. His tenure included strong success on the field. Per his Iowa bio, the school has won 11 Big Ten championships since the fall of 2020. Iowa's women's basketball team, led by star  Caitlin Clark, played for the national title in 2023. Iowa's men's basketball team has won at least 20 games in each of the past four seasons and won the Big Ten tournament title in the 2021-22 season. Meanwhile...

Stanford sophomore Rose Zhang, the most decorated player in amateur women's golf history, announced on Friday that she's turning pro. The first woman to win two NCAA Division I individual national championships, Zhang will make her LPGA debut at next week's inaugural Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey. "The endless love, support and inspiration from so many people brought me to this point of my golf career," Zhang posted to Instagram. "From my teammates to my coaches and trainers, to my friends and family -- you have all been integral in my journey, shaping me as a person and player while making sacrifices for my success. You have made it possible for me to pursue my dreams." The United States Golf Association, shortly after Zhang's announcement, granted her a special exemption Friday into the U.S. Women's Open, which will be played July 6-9 at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California. The 20-year-old Zhang,...

Olivier-Maxence Prosper is keeping his name in the 2023 NBA draft and will forgo his remaining eligibility at Marquette, he told ESPN on Friday. "After talking to my family, agents, and evaluating the feedback I've gotten after the draft combine and my pro day, I've decided to keep my name in," Prosper said. "Teams say they are really intrigued by me and value my skill set and ability to impact the game on both ends. I'm ready to make that jump and go after this." The 6-foot-8 Prosper, the No. 32 prospect in the ESPN 100, has had a strong pre-draft process that has elevated his standing in the eyes of NBA teams from fringe prospect to potential first-round pick. He posted 21 points and 7 rebounds in 22 minutes in his lone game at the draft combine and conducted a well-attended pro day in Los Angeles on Tuesday where several NBA executives told ESPN they were impressed with his perimeter shooting and explosiveness. He participated in five individual workouts with NBA teams...

Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been diagnosed as a gambling addict, which led him to bet on his own clubs to lose matches, according to the English Football Association's (FA) reasons for handing him an eight-month ban. The 27-year-old was hit with the suspension and a £50,000 fine earlier this month after he accepted 232 breaches of the FA's rules on betting. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) English football's governing body published the independent regulatory commission's full verdict on Friday and revealed they pushed for a 15-month ban but handed down a reduced punishment after taking into account the striker's guilty plea and evidence from a psychiatry expert who concluded he is an addict. The FA report read: "The Commission had the benefit of a report from Dr Philip Hopley dated 2 February 2023 who also attended the hearing by video conference to answer questions. "Dr Hopley had interviewed Mr...

DALLAS -- The Dallas Stars avoided a Western Conference finals sweep by the Vegas Golden Knights with a 3-2 Game 4 victory Thursday, thanks to forward Joe Pavelski's power-play goal 3:18 into overtime. Now comes the hard part: trying to become the first team in NHL history to rally from a 3-0 deficit to win the round before the Stanley Cup Final. Teams leading the conference finals or semifinals 3-0 have a 47-0 series record, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. In the process, the Stars would become the fifth team in NHL history to rally from a 3-0 hole and win a playoff series. Teams holding that lead in the Stanley Cup playoffs have a series record of 201-4. Pavelski knows better than anyone that it can be done. Because he was on the other side for one of those four rallies. In 2014, the San Jose Sharks won the first three games against the Los Angeles Kings in the first round. Pavelski watched as the eventual Stanley...

BOSTON -- Jimmy Butler still believes the  Heat are going to close out the Celtics and advance to the NBA Finals despite two straight losses that have cut their series lead to 3-2. After a 110-97 Game 5 loss Thursday night inside a raucous TD Garden, the Heat have lost by a combined 30 points over the past two potential close-out games. So why is Butler, who walked around the outside of the locker room calmly eating popcorn after the game, still so confident about his team's chances? "Because the last two games are not who we are," he said. "It just happened to be that way. We stopped playing defense halfway because we didn't make shots that we want to make. But that's easily correctable. You just have to come out and play harder from the jump. Like I always say, it's going to be all smiles, and we are going to keep it very, very, very consistent, knowing that we are going to win next game." For one of the first times throughout his torrid...

California club pro Michael Block was living the dream at the PGA Championship. Thursday at Colonial brought him back to reality. A sensation at Oak Hill when he tied for 15th against the strongest field in golf, Block shot an 11-over 81 that left him in last place and 19 shots behind Harry Hall in the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas. Block received a sponsor exemption -- he has one for the RBC Canadian Open next week, too -- after his amazing week at the PGA Championship. He was on "SportsCenter," received a text from Michael Jordan and signed with WME Sports. But things were wayward from the start Thursday. He bogeyed four of his first five holes, and closed with double-bogeys on three of his last four. There were highlights, though. On the par-4 10th, he watched his drive go way right and settle on a cart path bridge. "Worst tee shots I've ever hit in my life are today," he said as the ball flew through the air, one of seven fairways he...

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah said there was "no excuse" for his team's failure to qualify for next season's Champions League after Manchester United clinched the remaining top-four spot in the Premier League on Thursday. Man United's 4-1 win over Chelsea means that with one game remaining Liverpool are guaranteed to finish fifth and go into the Europa League. It is the first time that Liverpool have failed to qualify for Europe's top club competition since Salah joined the team in 2017. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) "I'm totally devastated," Salah tweeted. "There's absolutely no excuse for this. "We had everything we needed to make it to next year's Champions League and we failed. We are Liverpool and qualifying to the competition is the bare minimum. I am sorry but it's too soon for an uplifting or optimistic post. We let you and ourselves down." Liverpool had won seven straight...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Their latest loss prompted Toronto Blue Jays players to call a postgame meeting in response to a 2-9 stretch manager John Schneider described as being "punched right in the face." "We have to get better," Schneider said after Thursday's 6-3 defeat to the Tampa Bay Rays. "When it come down to us as a staff, the expectations are put right in front of you. There is an urgency that needs to be had in order to meet those expectations. Wins and losses out the window, the last 10 days haven't been great, and I think that the urgency in which those expectations are trying to be achieved is not right there." "Yes, that's on me and the players ... Ultimately on me." Schneider added. "When the players are recognizing that, and when the players are calling attention to that, it's going to hold a lot more weight than any one of the staff members trying to get mad or get in their face."  Zach Eflin became the major league's third seven-game winner in the...

Manchester United will be back in action in next season's Champions League after they hammered Chelsea 4-1 on Thursday to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League. Casemiro, Anthony Martial, Bruno Fernandes (penalty) and Marcus Rashford scored for United, who needed a point from their final two league games to officially end Liverpool's fading hopes of securing a spot in Europe's premier club competition. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) "It's important; this club belongs in the Champions League," manager Erik ten Hag told Sky Sports. "But it's not easy in the Premier League. It's a tough competition, so it's a massive performance when you get this done." Three-time European champions United, who failed to qualify for the Champions League last season, are third on 72 points with one game remaining, six points clear of fifth-place Liverpool. Fourth-place Newcastle secured a spot among...

FRISCO, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy is making sure he will not be fined for a third straight year for too much contact during organized team activities. "Our team periods are basically walkthroughs and jogthroughs," McCarthy said before the Cowboys' second OTA of the offseason program. "So we won't have a competitive 11-on-11 drill here probably ever again in the offseason." McCarthy was fined in 2021 and 2022 for what the league deemed as too much contact in the offseason practices that are conducted without pads and theoretically not supposed to have any contact. A brief tussle between two players last year led to the investigation that prompted the second fine. A third violation of the rules could lead to a team potentially losing a draft pick. In the recent rookie minicamp, the on-field work was limited. When players were on the field, they did not have any one on one or team drills and most of the practice was conducted with the players...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Newly acquired tight end Darren Waller is embracing the change of scenery and approach from the New York Giants after five seasons with the Raiders. Most notably, Waller feels empowered in the culture that coach Brian Daboll has established compared to those of his previous stops. "Yeah, they value our opinions here," Waller said Thursday after standing out in the Giants' third OTA workout this spring. "As a player, I feel like a lot of places I've gone, you're told to do things a certain way and you do those things. But here it's like, they ask a lot of questions. They want to know what you're thinking, what you want to do more. "So to offer input is a really cool thing because coaches and players have to be in partnership. We're all together and shouldn't be clashing with each other. We're all going in the same direction." This is a staple of Daboll's approach. He famously was hired by the Giants...

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots were stripped of two organized team activities because of coaches' scheduling that resulted in players spending more than their allowed time at the team facility, according to league sources. As part of its ruling, the NFL noted the "candor and full cooperation" of the Patriots, referring to it as "noteworthy and commendable." Nevertheless, the NFL still fined coach Bill Belichick $50,000, according to league sources, in addition to taking away the two organized team activities. The NFL Players Association had filed a formal complaint against the Patriots on May 4, alleging a violation of Article 21, Section 5(b) of the collective bargaining agreement that players can be at the team facility no more than four hours per day during the second phase of the voluntary offseason program. The complaint was specific to meetings/workshops that weren't on the official schedule of the four-hour workday sent to players for May 1, May 2...

HENDERSON, Nev. --  Las Vegas Raiders coach Josh McDaniels said Thursday that he had no issue with All-Pro receiver Davante Adams venting recently by saying he and the team did not see "eye-to-eye" on the direction of the franchise. McDaniels said Adams, entering his 10th NFL season, has "an opinion and a voice because [he has] earned it" over the course of his career. "And I respect the hell out of anything that [he] would say or suggest or anything like that," McDaniels said. "During the course of the process of trying to improve our team, which, I know where Davante comes from, he's a competitor. He wants to win, and that's really his sole focus, and that's what he does here every day. He's here pushing himself, pushing his teammates. He's been a tremendous leader again this spring for our football team." Adams, meanwhile, said he was "unapologetically me" while adding that he is sometimes taken out of context while reiterating his "love" for McDaniels and...

HENDERSON, Nev. -- Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo underwent surgery on his injured left foot after signing a free agent contract with the team in March, a league source confirmed to ESPN on Thursday. "All trending great," a source said. Garoppolo signed a three-year, $72.75 million deal with Las Vegas on March 17, though his introductory news conference was delayed a day. "He's going through his process just like we knew he would," Raiders coach Josh McDaniels said. "Nothing has happened that would surprise us based on the information we had." McDaniels would not get into the specifics of whether Garoppolo underwent a procedure, which was first reported by The Athletic. McDaniels said only that there were no surprises and that the QB would not be on the field for the start of OTA practices. He did allow that Garoppolo might be out until the start of training camp, though. Garoppolo suffered the injury in Week 13 with the San Francisco...

DETROIT -- Claressa Shields has a new opponent for her marquee fight in the Motor City. The two-time Olympic gold medalist and women's middleweight champion is now scheduled to face contender Maricela Cornejo on June 3 at Little Caesars Arena. Shields was scheduled to box Hanna Gabriels, but the Costa Rican boxer was removed from the card Thursday because of results from a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association test earlier this month. Gabriels (21-2-1, 12 KOs) put Shields (13-0, 2 KOs) on the mat before losing to her in a 2018 match at the Masonic Temple in Detroit. The 36-year-old Cornejo, who is from Prosser, Washington, is ranked No. 3 by ESPN among contenders in the 160-pound division after winning three straight fights that improved her record to 16-5 with six knockouts. "I told my team to get me the best," the 28-year-old Shields said. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

DETROIT -- Claressa Shields has a new opponent for her marquee fight in the Motor City. The two-time Olympic gold medalist and women's middleweight champion is now scheduled to face contender Maricela Cornejo on June 3 at Little Caesars Arena. Shields was scheduled to box Hanna Gabriels, but the Costa Rican was removed from the card on Thursday due to results from a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association test earlier this month. Gabriels (21-2-1, 12 KOs) put Shields (13-0, 2 KOs) on the mat before losing to her in a 2018 match at the Masonic Temple in Detroit. The 36-year-old Cornejo, who is from Prosser, Washington, is ranked No. 3 by ESPN among contenders in the 160-pound division after winning three straight fights that improved her record to 16-5 with six knockouts. "I told my team to get me the best," the 28-year-old Shields said.