It has been nearly a half-century since Washington was a real championship contender in the NBA.Now, AJ Dybantsa's arrival represents a potential turning point for a franchise that could really use one.The Wizards took Dybantsa with the first overall pick in Tuesday night's NBA draft. The 6-foot-9 freshman averaged 25.5 points at BYU last season. Born in Boston, Dybantsa played at Utah Prep in high school before staying in state for his one year in college. When Washington won the draft lottery, there was speculation the Utah Jazz might try to trade up from No. 2 to take Dybantsa, but ultimately the Wizards kept the pick and selected him.I was just super confident. I've been betting on myself for a while now, Dybantsa said. Since about ninth grade I've been No. 1, so I didn't really plan on dropping in the draft.The Wizards won an NBA title in 1978, back when they were called the Bullets. But they have not won 50 games since 1979, and that was also the last time they so much as reached the conference finals. In between periods of total futility, they've occasionally had entertaining players and interesting teams. But a true superstar capable of delivering a championship? That's been for other franchises.Washington blew the top pick in 2001, taking Kwame Brown. The Wizards fared better in 2010 with John Wall at No. 1 overall, and he at least helped them get past the first round of the postseason.That era eventually ran its course, and not even a brief visit from Russell Westbrook in 2020-21 could make Washington particularly relevant. Recently, the Wizards have embarked on a significant rebuild that yielded a record of 50-196 over the past three seasons.Washington drafted big man Alex Sarr at No. 2 overall in 2024, and the roster also includes recent first-round picks Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, Kyshawn George, Will Riley and Cam Whitmore. Even before they won this year's lottery, there were signs the Wizards would be a lot more interesting in 2026-27. They traded for Trae Young and Anthony Davis last season, and although Davis didn't play at all for Washington and Young barely did, Dybantsa is joining a team that has some intriguing talent around him.Obviously they have a great young core, and the potential is there, Dybantsa said. Them adding me, I think I can help them a little bit. Them re-signing Trae Young, them having A.D. and having good vets along with our young core. I think we can do big things.Dybantsa has drawn comparisons to Kevin Durant, his favorite player. That's fitting, because Durant has been a white whale of sorts for Wizards fans, since he's from D.C. but hasn't played there while in college or the pros.Dybantsa's full name is Anicet Francois Dybantsa Jr. He wore flag pins Tuesday for Jamaica and the Republic of Congo, where his mother and father are from.___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

England supporters heading home from work this evening face potential fines reaching 2,500 if they peek at their mobile devices to follow tonight's World Cup clash with Ghana.Vehicle specialist Paul Gorry from luxury motorhome manufacturer Auto-Trail has issued a stark reminder that using handheld phones behind the wheel remains illegal, regardless of how tempting it might be to check the score."Checking a score, message or filming may feel like a harmless action, but it's illegal to hold and use a phone, sat nav, tablet or similar device while driving," Gorry warned.Fans eager to watch Harry Kane and Thomas Tuchel's squad in their second group stage fixture, following last week's victory over Croatia, should resist the urge to speed home before the 9pm kick-off.Gorry cautioned that motorists racing to catch the opening whistle put themselves and others in danger, with the minimum speeding penalty standing at 100 plus three points on their licence."Drivers can be disqualified if they build up 12 or more penalty points within three years, so rushing for a match is never worth risking your licence," he added.Drivers caught using a handheld device can expect six penalty points alongside a 200 fine, Gorry explained."In serious cases, drivers can also be taken to court, where they could face a maximum fine of 1,000, or 2,500 if they are driving a lorry or bus," he said.Motorists may also receive three penalty points if they fail to maintain a clear view of the road ahead or lose proper control of their vehicle.Even a brief glance lasting mere seconds could trigger these penalties.For those desperate to keep track of the action while on the road, Gorry recommends a straightforward solution: tune into radio coverage instead.Listening to live commentary provides a perfectly legal way to stay updated on proceedings without risking prosecution.The advice comes as millions of fans prepare to watch England's second group match, with many likely to be travelling during the fixture.Rather than reaching for a smartphone or tablet, supporters should simply switch on their car radio for score updates throughout the evening.The dangers of putting one's foot down in a desperate bid to reach home or the pub before kick-off cannot be overstated, according to Gorry."Speeding for kick-off or to reach the pub before the first whistle puts everyone around the driver at risk," he warned.Consequences become significantly more severe for those who already carry points on their licence, with disqualification looming for anyone accumulating a dozen points over a three-year period.The message is clear: no football match justifies gambling with your driving privileges.Win two tickets to a FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final. ExpressVPN are giving one lucky Friend or Member the chance to experience football's biggest tournament live, with flights and accommodation covered by GB News. Entries close 30 June. ENTER HERE.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

Ghana correspondent Thomas Naadi reports from Black Star Square in Accra.

Denmark's team doctor said an ICD implanted into the footballer's chest responded as it should after he collapsed on Sunday.

Am 2. Gruppenspieltag trifft Kolumbien auf die Demokratische Republik Kongo.[mehr]

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La FFF fait savoir ce mardi, trois jours du match Norvge-France la Coupe du monde 2026, que le slectionneur Didier Deschamps sera absent pour cette rencontre. Le technicien, qui a eu la douleur de perdre sa mre, va rentrer en France pour assister ses obsques.

For almost five years, Australian soccer authorities have been trying to coax Volpato away from the Azzurri. This is how the Socceroos finally pulled it off.

Croatia secured a crucial 1-0 victory against Panama, keeping their World Cup aspirations alive. Substitute Ante Budimir netted the decisive goal in the second half, capitalizing on a well-placed cross. This win propels Croatia into their final group match against Ghana with qualification for the knockout stage still within reach. Panama, meanwhile, has been eliminated from the tournament.