Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham ImagnThe transgender debate has many conservatives against trans athletes competing in womens sports. However, these marginalized athletes have received plenty of support from some of the biggest cis gender women athletes, from Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles to FIFA Womens World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe. However, one of Caitlin Clarks teammatesdoes not agree with them: Sophie Cunningham.She is now receiving some backup from Outkicks Jon Root, who called those who have supported trans athletes cowards.Sophie Cunningham did what Simone Biles, Megan Rapinoe, Serena Williams, Aja Wilson, Paige Bueckers, Katie Ledecky, Alex Morgan, Coco Gauff, & Caitlin Clark have been afraid to say: MEN DONT BELONG IN WOMENS SPORTS, he tweeted.Perhaps the most vocal supporter of trans athletes among those Root mentioned in his tweet is none other than Simone Biles, considered one of the greatest gymnasts in history and a multiple-time Olympic and World champion. She famously hada feud on the matter with fifth-place NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines, a well-known anti-trans activist.Despite the opposition to trans athletes competing against cis females, studies have shown that trans athletes, who are mostly only allowed to compete after transitioning, do not fare as well as female athletes in actual competition. The most famous example is trans swimmer Lia Thomas tying with anti-trans activist Riley Gaines for fifth place.The Journal of Sports Medicine also released a study in 2021 that there is no scientific evidence to support the ban on transgender athletes.Sophie Cunningham Doubled Down On Anti-Trans Stance In SportsESPNs Hallie Grossman released a profile on Sophie Cunningham where the Indiana Fever star alsospoke about her political stances, including that on banning trans athletes from womens sports:I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And Im like, I never once said that, I think that I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldnt have to go against biological men, she said.The current WNBA CBA states that only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA, though this is still vague, as it does not rule out trans women from competing.Read More:Maybe Itll Force Her to Be an Adult: Fans React As Caitlin Clark Faces $1,000 Fine After 6th Technical Foul of the SeasonThis Is a Blatant Lie: Jason Whitlock Pushes Back on Caitlin Clark, Flaujae Johnsons Foul ControversyCollege Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, mens college basketball, womens college basketball, and college baseball!

Lukas Prock has found his future home.The four-star quarterback from Princeton (N.J.) Hun School has committed to Indiana, giving Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers one of the nations premier signal-callers in the 2028 class.Prock, who ranks No. 68 in the 2028 Rivals Industry Ranking, chose Indiana over finalists Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame and Ohio State after a recruiting battle that accelerated throughout the summer.Originally planning to wait until after his junior season, Prock ultimately decided there was no reason to delay once he became convinced Bloomington was the right fit.I kind of got serious about it the last month or so, Prock told Rivals. I started to cut things down and lock in with a school so I wouldnt have to worry about it. I didnt want to rush it, and I dont think its rushed at all.After conversations with my family, the decision became clear. We came to the conclusion that Indiana is the best spot for me and my future.[ $19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage ]When Prock released his top five earlier this month, Indiana was firmly in the mix, but the Hoosiers continued separating themselves down the stretch.Id say maybe a week or so after I put out my top five, they were the one showing the most consistent love and really being there for me this whole time, Prock said. That definitely showed a lot compared to the other programs. I think thats really what separated them.Cignetti and Sunseri were big factors in Procks decisionProcks confidence in Indiana extends beyond relationships.He believes Cignetti has built a sustainable winner.I fully trust that Coach Cignetti is going to put his guys in the right position to succeed, Prock said. Thats what Im looking for.The quarterback also believes Indianas recent success is only the beginning.I actually do think they can sustain it. Thats a big part of why Im committing. I see the future, and I think Coach Cignetti can keep that standard there no matter whos in the building.Rather than relying exclusively on the transfer portal, Prock sees Indiana building its foundation through high school recruiting.They want to build from the ground up, he said. The stability is definitely there.While Cignettis vision stood out, Tino Sunseri played an equally important role in securing the commitment.He was huge, Prock said. When I first met him a few months ago, he immediately jumped off as very energetic and very interested in me.A meeting during his June visit reinforced that feeling.I love the way his mind works. He did a great job breaking down complicated stuff and making it easy for me to learn. I feel like hes going to be a great teacher for me in the future, and Im fired up to work with him every day.Prock saw no reason to waitAs quarterbacks around the country began committing earlier than expected, Prock realized he had already found everything he wanted.My thought process was, if I feel comfortable enough and the staff feels the same way, then whats the point of waiting? he said. Theres no spot Id rather be than Indiana, so why would I wait for somebody else to take that opportunity?Indianas recent rise under Cignetti also made the decision even easier.What they did this year just shows whats possible there and whats possible with Coach Cignetti, Prock said. Im fired up to be a part of it.With Prock now on board, Indiana lands one of the top quarterbacks in the 2028 cycle and continues building momentum on the recruiting trail under Cignetti and Sunseri.

Steelers Predicted to Cut Ties with Veteran QB in Crowded Depth Chart originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Pittsburgh Steelers have set up a tough quarterback situation for themselves.Heading into training camp, they've got four QBs on the roster: Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar.Howard was just drafted last season, and Allar was picked in the third round this year.Rodgers will be the starter.So where does that leave Rudolph?"With Rodgers as QB1 and rookieDrew Allarall but locked in at QB3, the primary backup job will come down to a battle between veteran Rudolph and second-year signal-caller Howard," ESPN's Brooke Pryor wrote this week. "McCarthy spent the offseason praising Howard, but the 2025 sixth-round pick missed most of his rookie season on injured reserve with a fractured pinkie finger. Rudolph, on the other hand, has plenty of on-field experience, with 19 career starts in six seasons. McCarthy, who has never started Week 1 with four quarterbacks on the active roster, will likely have to choose between Howard's potential and Rudolph's known ceiling."MORE:Darnell Washington hopes to lose a lot of weightIn addition to Pryor's analysis above, she also put together a 53-man roster projection for the Steelers. And in that list, she has Pittsburgh keep just three QBs: Rodgers, Howard and Allar.That would mean either a cut or a trade of Rudolph."It's undoubtedly risky to go into the season without a veteran No. 2 quarterback to back up a 42-year-old starter, but the Steelers need to know what they have in both Howard and Allar before next year's draft," Pryor writes. "The organization could be in a position to draft a first-round quarterback out of a strong class, but they need to see how Howard and Allar stack up first. Keeping both of them on the roster to develop them -- and potentially step on the field if Rodgers gets hurt -- allows them to get a complete evaluation ahead of a pivotal draft."It'll be a fascinating balance of priorities this season for the Steelers, who have essentially signed up for back-to-back years of delaying the QB future by relying on Rodgers.They'll have to figure it out eventually, and keeping Howard and Allar this year gives them a chance. It could just come at the expense of Rudolph's job.More SteelersLatest SteelersnewsHow 'Renegade' became Steelers' pump-up songComplete history of Steelerschampionships

Giannis Antetokounmpo appeared on the Greek podcast AnesTea The Podcast with host Anestis Evangelopoulos and expressed some thoughts that Milwaukee Bucks fans are sure to find interesting.On the podcast, which includes generated English subtitles on its YouTube page, Antetokounmpo admitted vulnerability in worries about not fitting in, not being welcomed in Miami and not winning a championship. But he later indicated that leaving his comfort zone was essential for his growth."I'll do right by my coaches and teammates. I'll respect Miami fans," he said. "I'll get to leave my mark on the Miami community. That is very important to me."Giannis speaks on what he is worried about coming to Miami, and wants to help in the Heat community:I worry about not fitting with the team. Or not being welcomed by the fans. Or not winning a championship I just think Ill go there, be well prepared. Ill do right by my pic.twitter.com/3LKL63JxlJ Heat Central (@TheHeatCentral) July 23, 2026He also said he was surprised at the reaction he saw from Bucks fans when the trade to Miami became public.(Comments are translated to English through a transcription service.)"I thought the reaction of people would be, 'After 13 years, you've grown up here, we've loved you, this is your team and you leave us,' but that wasn't the reaction," Antetokounmpo said. "They have a painting in Milwaukee. I don't know, 25 meters [high], and people went and left flowers, they left candles, as if I had died. I saw that they wanted it for me. Because people who love you want to see you grow. They wanted it for me."He reiterated his love for the city of Milwaukee and noted that he "bleeds purple and green," admiring how easy it was to do everyday tasks like a trip to the grocery store without bother. He said he wasn't yet comfortable in Miami.He also mentioned an intriguing prospect returning to Milwaukee someday."I hope when this chapter with Miami ends which I don't know when it will end, but I'm sure it will end one day, I don't know how many years I'll be there I hope to go back to Milwaukee, if they'll have me."Giannis Antetokounmpo wishes to return to Milwaukee one day:I really believed that I would stay in Milwaukee for my entire career. But then I saw I was in my comfort zone. I wanted something different. And I am happy to be in Miami. I cant lie, I dont feel comfortable in https://t.co/p8NFuXJJgEpic.twitter.com/AoPMLibmIl Heat Central (@TheHeatCentral) July 23, 2026This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Giannis says he hopes to return to Milwaukee someday, after Heat

By the start of training camp, teams want their rosters and depth charts mostly figured out. That's the dream. It doesn't always happen. There's plenty left to be settled around the NFL as training camps open up, whether it's key unsigned players, those returning from injury, crucial position battles or anything else that teams stress about over the offseason. Here are the top five unresolved issues as training camps begin: What happens with Brandon Aiyuk? Down at the bottom of the 49ers roster is a key name: Aiyuk, under the "Reserve/Left Squad" list. Yes, Aiyuk is still technically on the 49ers despite an offseason of melting down and ripping the team and anyone else who comes to mind. Play Yahoo's new College Fantasy Football game: Create or join a league now!It seemed like Aiyuk was set to join the Commanders once the 49ers inevitably cut him. But Aiyuk seemed to torch that plan when he ripped Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, a former college teammate. It was one of many unhinged episodes with Aiyuk that played out on social media this offseason. His behavior, which dates back to him going AWOL on the 49ers last season as he was rehabbing a serious knee injury, is why he's no sure thing to land with anyone this season. That uncertainty comes despite the fact he's just 28 years old and had a 1,342-yard season in 2023. This drama might linger for a while. What will happen with Brandon Aiyuk during the 2026 season? (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)Brooke Sutton via Getty ImagesIs Daniel Jones fully healthy? The Colts were fantastic in the first half of last season. They were already regressing before Daniel Jones' Achilles injury, but that setback effectively ruined the Colts' season. Jones tore his Achilles on Dec. 7, which makes for a fairly quick turnaround to the start of this season. Jones was fully cleared for training camp, which is a great sign, but there should be questions if Jones, 29, bounces right back to last season's level. He is a quarterback who relies on mobility, and that's harder coming off an Achilles tear. It's also notable that the Colts have a scary lack of depth behind Jones. Indianapolis needs Jones to look healthy during camp. Will someone sign Stefon Diggs or Tyreek Hill? A late signing of a big-name player can excite a fan base. But there are reasons, on and off the field, that Diggs and Hill are among some recognizable names who are still unsigned. Both were superstars a few years ago, but their play has slipped and Hill is coming off a massive knee injury. Also, both have been caught up with off-field drama for a while, which complicates matters. Diggs is coming off a 1,000-yard season with the Patriots and is the more likely of the two to sign, and a team like the Commanders could use a veteran No. 2 receiver. But any team's fans should keep expectations modest if they sign either fading star during camp. Will Patrick Mahomes look like his normal self? Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL late last season, but the stories about his recovery this offseason have all been positive. The team is hopeful Mahomes is cleared for training camp in the upcoming days, according to SI.com's Albert Breer. But, like Daniel Jones, there's a difference between being on the field and looking completely healthy. The Chiefs had a rough 2025 season and the only way they bounce back is if Mahomes is back to an MVP level. We'll get a better idea in training camp if Mahomes is limited in any way. Does Jalen Hurts adapt to the Eagles' new offense? Hurts is coming off a poor season, and not only did the Eagles change offensive coordinators, they're overhauling their scheme. Sean Mannion, a first-time coordinator, is expected to have a scheme that mirrors Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan, which would mean Hurts lining up under center more than he has before with plenty of motion and play-action passes. Hurts has reportedly resisted similar changes before, but all stories from Philadelphia about the new offense and Hurts have been positive this offseason.Complicating matters is the trade of A.J. Brown, who might not have been happy last season but was still a dangerous receiver. There will be endless reports from Eagles training camp about the new offense and how Hurts is fitting in it.

The word rebuild won't be uttered in and around the LSU football operations facility building on campus this season.Despite the 2026 college football season, which starts in five short weeks, being Lane Kiffin's first as LSU's head coach in Baton Rouge, there is no belief that time is needed to iron things out and make the program go. That time, according to Kiffin, is now."We put together a roster that can win now."At 2026 SEC Media Days at the JW Marriott in downtown Tampa, Florida July 23, Kiffin shook off talk of if expectation around his LSU program is too high heading into this first season with the Tigers. LSU is projected to finished third in the Southeastern Conference behind Georgia and Texas, according to USA TODAY.LSU PICKED TO FINISH 3RD IN SEC Where LSU football was picked to finish 2026 in USA TODAY All-SEC poll"I embrace the expectations at LSU. They match how I think," Kiffin said.When he decided to leave Ole Miss, who was about to start its run in the College Football Playoff following the end of last regular season, Kiffin believed LSU was better equipped to sustain longtime success due to the year-in, year-out instate high school talent the team could recruit. And coupling that aspect with his proven success of attracting key players from the transfer portal every offseason, Kiffin expects the mixture and depth to play a vital role for the Tigers."We came to LSU to sign the best players in the country out of high school and mix that with the best portal players in the country and put them together. That's led us into this roster that we have now which is a really good mixture of that," Kiffin said. "You have some elite high school players that we just signed, some of the best D-linemen in America to be true freshmen. And then you have some elite first-round portal players coming in. "That roster's exciting to work with, I can't wait to get to the field, get back to fall camp to do."Not only is Kiffin under the impression that LSU can win in his first season, his players expect to do so as well. That's a key component to possibly accomplishing that and getting LSU back in the CFP for the first time since 2019.Senior defensive end Princewill Umanmielen and linebacker TJ Dottery, who both followed Kiffin from Ole Miss to LSU over the offseason, have said that this season in Baton Rouge is "not a rebuild." Both of those guys will be looked to as leaders for this season's LSU team and both have been a part of deep CFP run at Ole Miss last year."This ain't no first-year rebuild thing," Umanmielen said during spring practice a couple of months ago. "We're trying to go all the way. That's our mindset right now."Having players with that approach and mentality could go a long way for the Tigers in 2026. For Kiffin, it's another layer of why he's looking forward to the future with LSU."It also excited me about the future of LSU, too. Not just this year. We put together a roster that can win now," Kiffin said. "How you build your program, what makes it really go to another level is how you build your depth. All the portal players aren't top players, you build your depth through that. That makes me excited that we built a roster that can win now."The future is really bright and amazing at LSU of what's to come."Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAYNetwork. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regardingLSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz atbdiaz@gannett.com.This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Lane Kiffin believes LSU football 'can win now.' Here's why LSU can

The Jacksonville Jaguars are more than ready to see how Travis Hunter will perform in training camp this summer, which will be the first real indicator of how he has recovered from his season-ending knee injury in 2025. Updates from the Jaguars seem to bode well, with Hunter most recently featured in a video posted to the team's social media accounts, sprinting at an impressive 22.6 mph.It's easy to see that expectations for Hunter's sophomore season are already high, and the latest offering from NFL.com's Kevin Patra will only add fuel to that fire. In his list of non-quarterback MVP candidates for each team, Patra chose Hunter for Jacksonville's candidate."It doesnt matter how his snap counts wind up shaking out; if Hunter is a lock-down corner and contributes significantly on offense, hell have broken the NFL mold," wrote Patra. "The MVP is a QBs award, but if Hunter proves to be a No. 1 corner and generates 800-1,000 receiving yards, hell do something no one in the modern era has touched."Hunter is already predicted to have a breakout year, and it's for that reason that Patra feels the Jaguars could afford to not make many signings in the offseason. It's also expected that he will be serving primarily as a full-time cornerback, while still seeing some opportunities on offense. However, it has been made clear that, no matter how his role shakes out, Hunter will continue to be a two-way player.Either way, the bar for Hunter has been set incredibly high. Patra is not the first analyst to set high expectations for his return. But to be league MVP, it isn't just enough for the Jaguars to make a strong post-season run; Hunter will also need to be among the best in both positions to have a shot at winning. His performance would need to be so dominant that he would be a better candidate than Trevor Lawrence, who, incidentally, was an MVP nominee himself last season.Given how talented Hunter is, if he is able to remain healthy, it could be possible that he gets an MVP nod. But there is no denying it's still a long shot, no matter how good Hunter is.This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Analyst sets historic Year 2 bar for Jaguars' Travis Hunter

NASCAR has entered a new era after the playoffs were eliminated following the 2025 season. Starting in 2026, NASCAR has moved to an upgraded Chase format, giving drivers more control of their own destiny. However, there is another change the sport is making that is just now being reported before the end of the 2026 regular season.NASCAR will no longer name a regular-season champion or give out a trophy, as reported by Mike Forde on the Hauler Talk podcast. Moving forward, NASCAR will call the top driver in the regular season standings the "No. 1 seed." Therefore, only one trophy will be handed out each season, coming in November.This isn't a bad change, as several other American sports don't recognize the top team in the regular season. In other sports, the top team in each conference simply earns the "No. 1 seed." NASCAR doesn't feel the need to award anything more than bonus points, and it lines up with other sports.More: Layne Riggs provides big update on NASCAR plans for 2027This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: NASCAR won't name a "regular season champion" starting in 2026

And just like that, Argentinas luck ran out. Spains Ferran Torresemphatically found the back of the net from 8 yards out in extra time to secure La Roja a 1-0 win and the countrys second World Cup. Torres goal came in the 106th minute, but dont let that fool you: this was a one-sided contest from start to finish, and a deeper look at the box score reflects that.I predicted Spain would beat Argentina, 3-1, and from the start it seemed like that prediction would come to fruition. Spain came out swinging, almost immediately recording two shots on goal, including an early header that came so close to finding the back of the net. Spains relentless attack was evident throughout the match. La Roja applied pressure with swift passing and precision shots. Just ask Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Dibu Martnez, who seemed to be the only one playing defense, making one spectacular save after another, 11 to be exact. The box score is staggering: Spain controlled possession for 68 percent of the match, unleashed 20 shots, a staggering 11 of which were on goal. Now, compare that to Argentinas final team stats: three total shots and only three on goal. Even more staggering? These final stats came after 120 minutes of action.Sure, Spain had the man advantage in extra time, after Argentinas Enzo Fernandez was sent off after he was given his second yellow card of the game after a reckless tackle. But La Roja didnt need the man advantage to keep Argentina on its heels. Spain had been doing that early and often before Argentina went down to 10 men.The pressure kept coming in extra time, and it finally paid off 39 seconds into the second half of extra time with Torres spectacular goal. I just saw the ball coming to me, and I just shot with the power of all the Spanish people, Torres told reporters in Spanish after the game. While Argentina may have pieced together some quick runs and passes here and there, the threat was never there. The box score clearly indicates that. No reasonable fan will disagree that Spain deserved to win. La Roja was clearly the best team on the field at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday afternoon. Spains astonishing run Hector Vivas / FIFA via Getty ImagesSpains thrilling win perhaps came as a surprise to no one considering its marvelous run.For starters, Spain has now won seven of its last 15 games against Argentina, the latest win giving Spain its second World Cup since winning the whole thing for the first time in 2015.Whats more, Spain remains unbeaten in its last 38 matches. La Rojas record during that span? An eye-popping 29 wins and nine draws. As for Argentina, the defending champs may one day look back and realize that they were ultimately playing on borrowed time. La Albiceleste needed every ounce of luck (and help from the refs?) to dispatch Cape Verde, Egypt, and Switzerland.Argentina was playing in its seventh World Cup final. Argentina has won three World Cups, including its last in 2022. Theres only been one repeat winner: Brazil, which accomplished the feat in 1962.The best of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Hector Vivas / FIFA via Getty ImagesIts sad to say, but the 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially come to an end. But as the great Dr. Seuss once said, Dont cry because its over, smile because it happened. The global event taught us that the world can, in fact, come together and celebrate whats great about this sport, on and off the pitch. On the field, chances are you randomly found yourself rooting for Vozinha and Cape Verde after impressive group-play performances, before nearly pulling off the impossible and knocking off Argentina in the Round of 32. After making its World Cup debut, Cape Verde undoubtedly earned a loyal following after gutsy performances that included holding eventual World Cup champion Spain to a scoreless draw and a 2-2 tie against Uruguay. The world also bared witness to tomorrows stars, from Englands Jude Bellingham (23 years old) to Spains Pau Cubarsi earning the tournaments Best Young Player award. Hes 19. You also cant forget about Mexicos 17-year-old phenom Gilberto Mora, who became the second-youngest player to start a World Cup knockout match since Brazils Pel, who was 20 days younger in the 1958 tournament. How young was Mora? He crossed the stage at his high school graduation just days after England beat Mexico in the Round of 16 at Estadio Azteca. And not that anyone needed a reminder but Kylian Mbapp is good. Really good. He became the first player ever to win the Golden Boot twice: He won the first time in 2022 in Qatar with eight goals. He notched 10 goals this time around. His brace in the third-place game on Saturday against England helped him take the lead over Lionel Messi, who was held scoreless in the final against Spain. Messi, who choked back tears after losing to Spain and very well could have played in his last World Cup game, finished with eight goals. Leonardo Fernandez / FIFA via Getty ImagesOff the field, you saw countless examples of visiting fan bases making themselves at home in foreign cities from the Scots running Boston dry to Japanese fans eating Texas BBQ for the first time. And no one will ever forget Germany fans and fans from other European nations discovering ranch for the first time.There are too many examples to list of the way Mexico welcomed the world to games in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. South Korean, English, Moroccan, and Colombian fans, among others, were treated like royalty during pit stops here. Then there was Tijuana, the city south of San Diego in Baja California, which hosted the Iranian national team after it was banned from setting up camp in the U.S. amid an ongoing war. The bond was so strong, Moroccan officials said they plan to show their appreciation to Mexicos fans when they visit Morocco for the 2030 World Cup. Theres also a strong push for the English FA to schedule an international friendly between Mexico and England at Wembley Stadium to reciprocate the love. The English FA is reportedly considering it.