Aug. 2Editor's note: This is the fifth in a series of stories that will run each day previewing Washington State's preseason camp before it begins on Aug. 6. This edition covers the Cougars' cornerbacks.PULLMAN When September rolls around and Washington State players take the field at Husky Stadium to take on rival Washington, and when the Cougars' defense rolls out, good luck recognizing any of the players in the visitors' secondary.That's because among the 32 transfers WSU landed over the offseason, several of them play cornerback, a position at which the Cougs desperately needed to restock. Head coach Kirby Moore and staff did well to do so, likely using connections like new safeties coach Greg Burns and cornerbacks coach Brandyn Thompson to land a couple players.But who are the new guys in this position group? And how might they fare this fall?Players who will be vying for starting jobs include Texas State transfer Khamari Terrell, Oregon State transfer Jalil Tucker, Cal Poly transfer CJ Solis-Lumar, junior college transfer Elmo Wharton and others. A few returners will be in the mix too keep an eye on redshirt freshman Jamarey Smith, who started in the Potato Bowl last winter, plus Kai Rapolla and Ishmael Gibbs but the biggest roles will likely belong to a combination of transfers.In that group, if there's a shoo-in for a starting job, it could belong to Terrell. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, Terrell spent the first three years of his career at Oregon, where he totaled 14 tackles and one pass breakup in that span. Then he transferred to new Pac-12 member Texas State, where he registered 36 tackles, three pass breakups and one interception last season, helping the Bobcats go 7-6 with a bowl game win over Rice.Terrell came off the bench for the first four games of last season, then started each of the final eight contests. He also picked up one quarterback pressure, a hurry against Louisiana-Monroe. On the season, he allowed 24 catches on 38 targets, a decent catch rate of 63%.The only complicating thing: Terrell missed a chunk of spring practices with an injury, making it tricky to evaluate him at WSU. His previous experience and size makes him a real candidate to star with the Cougars. He'll get a chance to show he's capable of that in fall camp. We just haven't gotten much of a chance to see him in action in Pullman just yet.Terrell will also be competing with Solis-Lumar, who comes from FCS club Cal Poly, where he played in 11 games last season, logging 332 total snaps. He also broke up three passes and made 23 tackles. Like Terrell, Solis-Lumar is also listed at 6-foot-1, giving the Cougs some real size at the cornerback spot. This will be one position battle to monitor. Could they both earn starting roles? Or could one get bumped out by the other?If the latter happens, be sure to keep an eye on Tucker, the Oregon State transfer. Last fall, he totaled five pass breakups and one interception last season for the Beavers, playing 11 games with 10 starts. That year, Tucker registered a Pro Football Focus coverage grade of 54.2, which is below average. He allowed 27 catches on 47 targets, a respectable catch rate of 57%, but he also gave up four touchdown receptions.A product of San Diego, Tucker is well-traveled. He started his career in 2022 at Oregon, where he played only seven snaps in one game, preserving his redshirt season. He then played the next two seasons at San Diego Mesa College, where he played in 19 total games, posting four tackles and one pick in 2024 and one tackle in 2023.He will also be in competition with Wartson, who might be the sleeper of this group. Listed even bigger at 6-foot-3 and 174 pounds, he spent the past couple seasons at Modesto College, where he played well enough to earn offers from Baylor, Mississippi State, Boise State and others. He chose WSU, where he looked sharp in the spring, even if he found himself taking reps with the second-team units at times.The Cougs have what feels like a thousand new cornerbacks. The ones who cement themselves as starters could play an outsize role in how their defense fares this fall.

Aug. 2VANCOUVER, B.C. The Spokane Indians entered Sunday's series finale against the Vancouver Canadians on a roll, winners of three straight to retake first place in the Northwest League.The good times did not last.Each of the Canadians' nine hitters in the batting order drove in at least one run and the Indians fell 14-0 at Nat Bailey Stadium.The Indians (20-16) stayed in first place by a half-game pending Eugene's late result. The fourth-place Canadians improved to 18-18.Jack Casey, Alexis Hernandez and Ryan Sprock hit home runs. Sprock had three hits, five Canadians had two or more hits, and Tucker Toman drew four of the team's eight walks. Leading by a wide margin already, the C's batted around in the eighth inning and scored eight runs to blow it wide open.The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth. Canadians' first base Peyton Williams singled with one down, then Indians starting pitcher Jordy Vargas walked Toman prompting a pitching change after just 60 pitches.Tyler Hampu entered and walked Maddox Latta to load the bases. Jean Joseph popped out to the infield for the second out, but No. 9 hitter Austin Smith lined a single to left to plate Williams for a 1-0 lead.Casey made it 2-0 with one swing, taking Hampu deep with one down in the fifth for his fourth homer of the season. After the homer, the C's loaded the bases on a double by Hernandez and a pair of walks, then Hampu walked Joseph on four pitches to force in a run.Indians manager Tom Sutaris turned to lefty Justin Loer, and he promptly recorded a groundout to strand the bases loaded and keep it at 3-0.Loer wasn't as fortunate in the sixth. Sprock doubled off the wall in center and with twp down Hernandez turned on a fastball and launched it into the bullpen in left field for a two-run shot, his 14th of the season, and a 5-0 lead.Vancouver got to Loer for another run in the seventh, then Sprock homered off Seth Clausen promoted this week from Low-A Fresno for his third of the season in the eighth. The first six batters Clausen faced all reached, the Indians committed two errors in the inning, and it was 14-0 when the eighth inning ended.The Indians could get nothing going against Vancouver starter Johnny King. The 20-year-old lefty ranked No. 4 in the Toronto Blue Jays system allowed three hits and three walks with seven strikeouts over five shutout innings.The Indians host a six-game series against Eugene at Avista Stadium starting Tuesday at 6:35 p.m.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have developed their team over the decades via the usual ways most teams in the NBA have, finding special success through the NBA draft since their founding as the Seattle SuperSonics. Many of the franchise's top players have joined the team either through direct selections in the annual draft or via trades executed on that day.On top of this, the Thunder have selected not only several star players through the draft but also a number of notable alumni each offseason. A few colleges have been more prominently represented than others in sourcing those prospects, though OKC has always cast a wide net as well. Both prestigious programs and smaller institutions have consistently contributed high-caliber talent to the Thunder's roster over the years.So without further ado, let's take a look at every player who has been drafted by the Thunder out of Arizona,Jud Buechler - forwardDraft year and position: 2nd round (11th pick, 38th overall), 1990 NBA DraftSeasons at Arizona: 4Seasons played with Thunder: did not make the teamJoseph Blair - centerDraft year and position: 2nd round (6th pick, 35th overall), 1996 NBA DraftSeasons at Arizona: 4Seasons played with Thunder: did not make the teamAll stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Every Arizona player drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder

Lionel Hollins explains how LeBron James made Anthony Davis a better player on the Lakers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Now that LeBron James has left the Los Angeles Lakers, it marks the end of an era for the Purple and Gold. Of course, it's not too bad for them because they have another superstar to build around with Luka Doncic. However, there was a time when they did not have that megastar.When James signed with the Lakers in 2018, he inherited a young team. However, they made a splash when they traded for Anthony Davis, a player who was toiling away on the New Orleans Pelicans at the time. That move sealed the deal for the Lakers, giving them a superstar duo.Lionel Hollins speaks about LeBron James' impact on Anthony DavisWhen he was with the Pelicans, Davis was clearly one of the league's most gifted players. He was physically imposing with his height and length, but he also paired that with unreal talent. Davis could defend at the highest possible level in basketball, but he could also serve as the go-to option on offense.That made him enticing for almost every team in the league. However, it was the Lakers that got him in a trade that had a significant package centered on Brandon Ingram at the time. It was a worthy gamble for the Lakers because it ended up with the team winning the 2020 championship.MORE:Gauging LeBron James' all-time teammates throughout his storied careerDavis did have to adjust to playing with James, especially when he got a front-row seat to the latter's hard work behind the scenes. According to former Lakers assistant coach Lionel Hollins, learning about James' work ethic was a turning point for Davis."We got AD in a trade after I had joined the team. AD comes into the weight room in the morning, and he said, 'Bron, you said if I came here, we were going to work out together.' Bron said, 'You gotta wake up earlier if you want to come work with me.' It was a true statement because LeBron is a morning person, AD was hugging that pillow a bit," Hollins said about the relationship between Davis and James on SiriusXM NBA Radio.It seems Davis learned a lot from James because they played together for seven seasons. While they did not win another championship after 2020, it was a big-time era for the Lakers as they established themselves as powerhouses again.More NBA news:Luka Doncic gets compared to the superstars of the 1980s, Magic Johnson and Larry BirdShaquille O'Neal speaks about why he knows why Lakers fans do not like him and LeBron James that muchThe Lakers get a stern warning about their future after LeBron James' exitKevon Looney is now earning the same money in LA as LeBron James is in PhillyJulius "Dr. J" Erving speaks about why he thinks LeBron James has the most unique profile in NBA history

If Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer had one goal ahead of this years trade deadline, it was to add the type of starting pitcher that a team in win-now mode needs and deserves. And on the eve of the trade deadline, we can now say that he has done just that. The Chicago Cubs landed one of the best rentals on the market Sunday, acquiring right-hander Kevin Gausman from the Toronto Blue Jays for prospects Brett Bateman and Ty Southisene.Gausman, 35, checks a lot of boxes for the Cubs, who have also acquired pitchers David Peterson and Aaron Civale in recent weeks. Not only is Gausman the type of frontline starting pitcher that Chicagos rotation has been missing, but whats more, for a team looking to go deep into October, he has the postseason pedigree that is sought after by every contender.Chicagos newly acquired right-hander is 5-10 with a 4.38 ERA in 23 starts this season, but his 3.51 FIP would suggest that he has been a bit unlucky thus far in 2026. In his postseason career, Gausman has a 3.83 ERA with 56 strikeouts across 56 innings.There might not be a team in baseball that has been hit as hard by injury as the Chicago Cubs this year. And most of that has come in their starting rotation. After right-hander Cade Horton was lost to season-ending elbow surgery, left-hander Justin Steele hit a setback in his rehab and has yet to pitch this season. Right-handers Ben Brown and Edward Cabrera are also currently on the 15-day IL.Nonetheless, the Cubs have shown they arent messing around in their quest to make noise the rest of this season as they try to get back to the playoffs. They designated right-hander Jameson Taillon for assignment on Monday after his struggles continued. He has since been traded to the Blue Jays for a player to be named later or cash.Gausman should slot right in at the top of Chicagos rotation alongside left-handers Shota Imanaga, Matthew Boyd and David Peterson. The Cubs will have to figure out what to do with right-hander Colin Rea upon the return of Cabrera and/or Brown, but thats a good problem to have.Hoyer still has irons in the fire, and as the Monday deadline looms, you can expect the Cubs to continue to augment their roster. They still have needs in the back end of their bullpen and might not be finished adding to the rotation. And because they didnt have to surrender any of their top prospects to land Gausman, the Cubs still have the prospect capital to make more moves. DorseyGrading this return for the Jays:C+Although the Blue Jays took two of three from the Cardinals over the weekend, the defending AL champs made their first major subtraction ahead of the deadline in deciding to trade Gausman before he reaches free agency this winter. Its a somber conclusion to a tremendously successful tenure in Toronto for the right-hander, who didnt miss a single turn through the Blue Jays rotation since signing a five-year, $110 million free-agent deal; only Logan Webb and Dylan Cease have made more regular-season starts since the beginning of 2022.No matter the prospects coming back, this was always going to be a difficult and emotional farewell to a pitcher who endeared himself to the community and fan base at every turn. But trading Gausman is an entirely reasonable decision for the Jays to make given the circumstances, and Toronto landed two intriguing minor-league position players worth monitoring for the future, even if the chances of them making a Gausman-like impact are microscopic.Bateman is a center fielder; Southisene a shortstop. Southisene bats righty; Bateman swings left-handed. Bateman is three years older. The biographic details differ on the surface, but the pros and cons of their profiles as prospects are remarkably similar. The topline question for both is simple: Can their defense at premium positions, plus speed and exceptional knack for reaching base overcome a lack of raw power at the plate? Listed at 5-foot-7 and 170 pounds, Southisene has yet to hit a home run across 156 professional games since he was drafted out of a Las Vegas-area high school in the fourth round in 2024. (Of note: Tys younger brother, Tate, was a first-round pick in 2025 and has broken out this season to become one of the Braves top prospects.) Among 477 minor-league hitters with at least 700 plate appearances the past two seasons, Southisenes .322 slugging percentage ranks 453rd, but his .407 OBP ranks 12th, and he has stolen 72 bases to boot.Batemans bat isnt quite that punchless, but its similar: Among 145 qualified Triple-A hitters this season, Batemans .431 OBP ranks fourth, but his .110 ISO ranks 129th. That both players have a real shot to stick at an up-the-middle position is an obvious buoy for their chances to be useful major leaguers, but such a total lack of slug is rare for regulars in the majors nowadays, so unless Toronto can help them unlock more pop, its tough to project these two as anything more than role players. Batemans debut could come down the stretch especially if incumbent center fielder Daulton Varsho is dealt before Mondays deadline but the 21-year-old Southisene is at least a couple of years away. Shusterman

After 17 months away, Kevin Owens made a stunning return to the ring Sunday at WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night 2 in U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Along with Gunther, Owens was announced as a surprise entrant into the Undisputed WWE title No. 1 contender match between Sami Zayn and Finn Balor, which Owens then won by pinning Zayn.Owens, 42, was last seen before WrestleMania 41 when he was lined up to take on Randy Orton. His momentum hit an abrupt halt when he suffered a bad neck injury that required surgery, bringing Owens' career into question. On the WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night 2 Post-Show, the former Universal Champion discussed his road back to the ring."It was a rough road, honestly. It really was. But none of that matters now because I'm here," Owens said."There was a moment where I thought it wasn't going to happen, and I definitely did not make peace with it. I was not ready. Getting this taken away from you when you're not ready is hard. But I had such a great group around me to support me through it. My wife, my kids, my parents, my friends, the WWE medical staff. Even you [retired wrestler Big E], I would talk to you a lot. But I was never OK with it."KEVIN OWENS IS BACK!!!! THIS IS MADNESS!!! pic.twitter.com/W1BWKhNuVb WWE (@WWE) August 2, 2026Battling back from injuries is nothing new in Owens' career. This one, however, was scarier than the rest.It wasn't until a matter of weeks ago that Owens even found himself cleared to compete, he revealed."Honestly, up until a month ago, I thought this may be it," Owens said."We kept doing scans. It kept not showing exactly what we were hoping for, as far as the healing process from the surgery. Then I was like, well, I don't know. Maybe it's just not going to happen."A few weeks ago, we did a scan, and they were like, 'We finally saw what we needed to see. You can get back in the ring.' And from there, here I am."KO IS NO. 1 CONTENDER Welcome BACK to the KEVIN OWENS SHOW!!! @FightOwensFightpic.twitter.com/P7Lj5LuV2i WWE (@WWE) August 2, 2026With Owens' big return win, he's now the next challenger in line for a shot at CM Punk, who successfully defended his title against Cody Rhodes at WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night 1.Coincidentally, the aforementioned Orton also played a part in the outcome of Punk vs. Rhodes, nailing Rhodes with a match-deciding RKO in a surprise return of his own.

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Aug 2, 2026; Washington, D.C., USA; Jessica Pegula (USA) (L) and Alexandra Eala (PHI) (R) pose at the net prior to their women's singles final of the 2026 Mubadala DC Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. Geoff Burke-Imagn ImagesJessica Pegula, Alexandra Eala, Taylor Fritz, and Rafael Jdar have suffered a major setback after their long wait to complete their respective finals on Sunday, August 2, ended in disappointment. The Mubadala DC Open organizers announced that play had been canceled for the day due to relentless rain.The update comes after the ATP and WTA 1000 events in Montral and Toronto, respectively, were also forced to delay play because of inclement weather.Jessica Pegula and Alexandra Eala Forced to Extend Mubadala DC Open StayPegula and Eala were scheduled to take the court for their final at 12:00 p.m. ET on Sunday. However, the match did not get underway until 3:00 p.m. local time after the tournament issued multiple rain delay updates.The pair completed 13 uninterrupted games, with Pegula leading 6-4, 1-2, before another spell of rain forced them off the court. Tournament organizers were unable to get the courts back into playable condition as persistent drizzle throughout the day prevented the final from resuming.At around 9:00 p.m. ET, the Mubadala DC Open officially canceled Sundays play and postponed the matches to Monday. While Jessica Pegula and Alexandra Eala will resume their final from the second set, the ATP 500 final between Taylor Fritz and Rafael Jdar, which was scheduled to follow on the same court, has been postponed in its entirety to August 3.Matches have been cancelled for tonight. The womens singles final will now take place at 12:00 p.m. tomorrow. The mens singles final will take place not before 1:00 p.m. tomorrow. Ticketing information to come soon, the statement on the tournaments social media page read.As of the time of writing, Mondays weather forecast for Washington, D.C., still includes the possibility of rain.The postponement is especially frustrating for the quartet, who are eager to continue their North American hardcourt campaigns at the ongoing WTA 1000 and ATP Masters 1000 events in Toronto and Montral, respectively. However, all four players are seeded at their respective tournaments and have received first-round byes, giving them some additional time before entering the draw.Incidentally, the opening day of the Canadian Open main draw in both Toronto and Montral was also disrupted by rain on Sunday.The August 2nd evening session (Session 3) has been cancelled. Please note that our ticketing team will contact ticket holders shortly to present the options available to them. Please note that the site will close at 7:30 p.m., the update for the Masters 1000 event in Montral read.All matches have been cancelled for tonight. Sunny skies in our future. Action resumes tomorrow! the WTA Toronto update read.MORE: Been Difficult Bianca Andreescu Dispels Misconception About Her Comeback Journey Ahead of Toronto RunWhile several matches were suspended midway through, first-round contests featuring Matteo Berrettini, Gabriel Diallo, Bianca Andreescu, and others were postponed in their entirety to Monday.This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

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CHICAGO The Chicago Cubs search for a starting pitcher has landed them a veteran with postseason experience.Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman is heading to the Cubs, a source confirmed to the Chicago Tribune, in exchange for two minor leaguers, outfielder Brett Bateman and infielder Ty Southisene.Gausman, 35, gives the Cubs a proven big-league starter, even amid a slightly down year in Toronto. In 23 starts this season, Gausman owns a 4.38 ERA and 102 ERA+ over 127 1/3 innings. Hes in the final year of the five-year, $110 million deal he signed with the Blue Jays. In his last start with the Blue Jays on Saturday, Gausman held the St. Louis Cardinals to one run on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings.If Gausman pitches on normal rest, he would be lined up to face his former team Thursday in the Blue Jays makeup game at Wrigley Field. That game was postponed due to weather on June 21.The Cubs are banking on Gausmans track record as a two-time All-Star with a 3.34 ERA and 124 ERA+ in his previous five seasons. Theyre also getting a veteran with postseason experience as they look to make a deeper October run. Hes pitched in the playoffs in four of the last five years and made six postseason appearances last year for the Blue Jays (10 earned runs in 30 2/3 innings).The Cubs and Blue Jays had teamed up earlier Sunday to send right-hander Jameson Taillon, who was designated for assignment Monday, to Toronto for cash considerations or a player to be named later.While right-hander Edward Cabrera is nearing a return he allowed three runs, two hits, two walks and struck out three in 1 2/3 innings Friday in his first of what likely will be three rehab starts the Cubs needed reinforcements and should continue to look for pitching staff upgrades until Mondays 6 p.m. ET trade deadline.Bateman, an eighth-round draft pick in 2023, has thrived in his first season at Triple A. The 24-year-old center fielder, rated the teams No. 21 prospect by MLB Pipeline, posted a .312/.431/.422 slash line in 81 games for Iowa with 23 extra-base hits, 20 stolen bases and 33 RBIs. Bateman didnt have a path to the majors this season given the Cubs depth at the position.Southisene, ranked No. 13 in the Cubs system by MLB Pipeline, joined the organization as a fourth-round draft pick in 2024. Hes shown great plate discipline at High-A South Bend this season with a .459 on-base percentage. But Southisene, 21, doesnt possess great pop; the middle infielder has yet to hit a home run through 156 games in his professional career.____