No matter the discourse that flares up around her style of play, the fouls she takes from opposing players or the various political controversies that find their way into the WNBA ecosystem, Caitlin Clark has been remarkably consistent about one thing during her entire career.She wants no part of your agenda.If you're on the left and believe Clark is doing something to foster online racism and harassment toward her opponents, it is apparent that no amount of denunciation (which she has done many times) will convince you that she just wants to play ball. And if you're on the other side of the spectrum, trying to bait her into one of these hot-button debates that dominates right-wing media, you, too, will find yourself disappointed by her equal-opportunity evasiveness.In an era where every athlete is supposed to have an opinion on everything for the rest of us to judge as we retreat into ideological camps, here's a basketball player who literally just wants to shut up and dribble.And her reward is getting attacked from both sides.It's exhausting. It's pathetic. And everyone would be much better off if they simply let Clark handle her career and her image in the way she sees fit.Her latest offense? After the Indiana Fever lost to the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday, Clark was asked about the WNBA's topic du jour: another round of discussion about trans athletes sparked by an interview her teammate Sophie Cunningham gave to ESPN, followed by backlash within the league, followed by backlash to the backlash and subsequent associated protests.Given a clear lane to weigh in and plant her flag on one side of the issue or the other, Clark did what she always does on an inflammatory topic: Hit the eject button as fast as she can."I think for us, like, you know, it's not really a discussion we really have in our locker room," Clark said. "I think that's for leagues and governing bodies to work with their athletes to find solutions, but our focus is on basketball and that's what we talk about and how we can get wins and obviously we didn't do that tonight."When the reporter tried to follow up and drag her back to his preferred topic, she said: "I just answered for you."Many in the world of right-wing social media quickly pounced, furious that Clark the most famous female athlete in America won't sign on to their cause. Matt Walsh, a commentator with 4 million followers on X, went so far as to say she "might be the biggest coward in the history of sports."Indiana's Caitlin Clark is averaging 21.5 points, 8 assists and 4 rebounds per game in 26 games this season. (Soobum Im/Getty Images)Soobum Im via Getty ImagesFor anyone right or left to believe that Clark must use her popularity to become an avatar for their political project shows a remarkable sense of entitlement.Maybe one day, Clark will tell us where she stands on various non-basketball issues. At the moment, though, it's entirely unclear where she falls on the left-right spectrum, who she voted for in 2024 or whether she cares about politics at all.It appears to be very much by design. When someone tries to draw her into those waters, she sidesteps and turns the subject back to basketball every single time.And that's OK.Clark owes her fans and WNBA viewers a good effort and an entertaining product nothing more, nothing less. But by making herself an ideological blank slate in a league where almost everything seems politically charged, both sides get mad when she doesn't take the bait.It's now reached the point where Clark gets attacked not just for everything she does, but also nearly everything she doesn't do.Can't everyone just chill out a little bit?There are plenty of legitimate reasons to criticize Clark. Her shot selection and propensity to dominate the ball are polarizing. The whining to officials and exaggerating contact is unbecoming. The amount of attention she gets is not in proportion to her accomplishments as a WNBA player, which will naturally invite skeptics.But at the end of the day, there is no debating the fact that she's just there to play ball. And unlike the famous (or infamous) Michael Jordan quote that "Republicans buy sneakers, too," there is no evidence that Clark avoids these controversial topics for commercial reasons or because she's afraid of getting canceled by either side.It could be as simple as this: At age 24, trying to navigate her way through unprecedented fame and wealth while also trying to become the WNBA player everyone expected her to be, she just doesn't need any more aggravation in her life.Other WNBA players have different incentives. Speaking out about something, making yourself known, can also be good business these days. Not to suggest that Cunningham dove into the transgender debate because it would make her a heroine of the right, but it has made her exponentially more famous. Fox News' Laura Ingraham is not doing forensic analysis of WNBA foul calls looking for anti-Cunningham bias, as she did Monday night (yes, really), without that ESPN interview.Cunningham, like Clark, is free to say or not say whatever she wants about any topic. This is America.And while it's certainly possible Cunningham was simply asked a question and answered it without any foresight about what it would turn into, Clark has not lived in that world for many years. Ever since her rise to superstardom at Iowa, she has been well aware that any comment on any topic will turn her into social-media fodder.So she has chosen not to engage in any polemics, always choosing her words carefully and sometimes offering none at all.Now, even that gets her thrown onto the fire. No matter what, Clark can't win.As a league made up of majority Black women, with many players who identify as queer, the WNBA has organically become a platform for people many of whom don't even watch the games or care about women's basketball to engage in culture wars. And often, WNBA players and coaches are eager to oblige.There's no getting around that.But not everything that happens in the WNBA is part of some larger societal or political movement. Most of the time, a foul is just a foul, a flop is just a flop and a racist fan is just some jerk who should be removed from the arena.Sometimes, it's just ball.Regardless of the discourse enveloping the league at a given moment, Clark at this point clearly just wants to shut up and dribble. It's time for everybody to let her.

BEDMINSTER, N.J. LIV Golf players emerged from more than 90 minutes of meetings Tuesday afternoon at Trump National Bedminster Golf Club with little new information about the status of the leagues team championship later this month or potential new investors.No updates, Thomas Detry, a member of Dustin Johnsons 4Aces team, told Front Office Sports after the meetings ahead of this weeks LIV Golf New York event. Just positive information.Captains of LIVs 13 four-man teams met with LIV CEO Scott ONeil inside the Trump Bedminster clubhouse for roughly 40 minutes, before that contingent joined the rest of the leagues players and team GMs for a separate meeting in a different building for about 20 minutes. ONeil and team GMs exited at that point, and Bryson DeChambeau led a players-only meeting for more than 30 minutes.Bryson just ran through what he knows, Richard Bland, a member of the Cleeks GC team, told FOS and other reporters at Bedminster. Were trying to do it as a group, but obviously were individuals as well. So, I think the next kind of two-three weeks is going to be where its at.Byeong Hun An, captain of Korean Golf Club, said the players-only portion of the meeting went well. It was fun, and no ones throwing fists or anything, which was good. Bryson was talking, and it was pretty good. The vibe was good.DeChambeau, ONeil, and many other players declined to speak to the media after the meetings.LIV Golf Michigan, the leagues $40 million team championship, remains scheduled for Aug. 27-30, but there has been no confirmation from LIV that it will be played; the event is expected to be cancelled, sources have told FOS. I dont know, Bland said. So, weve got to wait and see on that.An said, Well see what happens. Im not making the decisions. We know as much as everyone knows. Theres no no or yes. Im waiting on it. It remains possible that LIV could incorporate some elements of its team championship into the LIV Golf Indianapolis event, which is scheduled for Aug. 20-23 and now like the 2026 season finale.LIVs leaders continue to search for new investors to keep the league afloat as the Saudi PIF ends its funding following this season. It was positive, Bland said of ONeils message to players. Theres still a lot to go, but Scott told us what he knows, and were still committed to next year, and hopefully some good comes with it. Were in this together. Were fully backing Scott, and I think probably in the next two to three weeks well have a bigger picture.Bland added: Everybodys just asking the right questions for what it is for the group, and also for them as individuals. Were just in that stage at the minute that were positive with whats going on, but we just need everything to be fully signed off so you can go for it.Cam Smith, captain of LIVs Ripper GC team, said during his pre-tournament press conference on Tuesday morning that it would be a shame if LIV is not able to continue in 2027.The post Inside the DeChambeau-Led Player-Only Meeting at LIV New York appeared first on Front Office Sports.

After an eventful offseason in the NFL, the real drama is about to resume. Pressure is everywhere, as star players are trying to get their respective teams over the hump, get their careers back on track, reach their potential, live up to big contracts, earn new ones and everything in between. So, with all of that considered, who's under the most pressure ahead of the 2026 NFL season? We ranked 15 players who must deliver big this year. Bucky Brooks: The departure of Micah Parsons left a huge hole in the middle of the Cowboys defense. Despite the teams commitment to replace Parsons' production, the unit misses the All-Pro's sideline-to-sideline playmaking prowess. Overshown has shown flashes as a disruptive defender (see: five sacks, an interception, forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in 2024 as a 12-game starter), but he has missed more games (32) than he has played (19) due to multiple knee injuries. As he enters the final year of his rookie deal, Overshown is trying to carve out a long-term role and ideally earn a contract extension by seasons end. Meanwhile, the Cowboys need all they can get from the fourth-year linebacker. They've missed the postseason two years in a row, and their beleaguered defense is the primary reason for it. A healthy and productive Overshown could change their fortunes. Brooks: The 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year has the unenviable task of replacing a future gold jacket playmaker with a pair of Defensive Player of the Year awards and the single-season sack record. Verse not only steps into the role previously occupied by Myles Garrett, but he must anchor a defense that is transitioning under a new defensive coordinator. Given the lofty standards and expectations within the "Dawg Pound," the third-year pro must provide a disruptive presence on the frontline to enable the defense to continue suffocating opponents. Moreover, Verse must deliver massive sack production to help compensate for the loss of a destructive force who posted eight straight seasons with at least 10 sacks. Considering the stellar performance and production of his predecessor, the Browns trade acquisition is on the hot seat to put up blockbuster numbers to justify the surprising trade. It's a huge challenge for a player who has earned two Pro Bowl selections in his two seasons yet recorded just 12 career sacks. Eric D. Williams: The fifth-year running back recently earned Super Bowl MVP honors with the Seahawks. Now he's the potential X factor for his new team to get back to the big game. After signing a three-year, $45 million deal with the Chiefs, he will be counted on to serve as the bell-cow running back for an offense that has become a bit stale and whose all-world quarterback is coming back from a torn ACL. For years, Patrick Mahomes has compensated for Kansas City's mediocre running game. In fact, the Chiefs haven't had a single back eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in Mahomes' eight seasons as a starter. The 31-year-old version of Mahomes will need more help, and Walker is more than capable of providing it. The bigger question is whether he can stay healthy. He struggled to stay on the field in Seattle, despite often sharing lead back duties. Brooks: The big-play specialist averaged 20-plus yards per catch in back-to-back seasons as the secondary option in the Indianapolis Colts passing game. With a promotion to the No. 1 role after Michael Pittmans departure, Pierce must show that he can win against elite corners and double coverage tactics. Just as important, Pierce must validate the Colts $114 million commitment to a former WR2 transitioning to the featured playmaker spot. Although his position coach (Reggie Wayne) successfully made the transition when his Hall of Fame teammate (Marvin Harrison) retired, the student must apply his mentor's lessons to handle his new role and responsibilities as a go-to guy with the Colts desperate to get back to the playoffs. Williams: Pickens has taken the high road in terms of his contract negotiations with the Cowboys, signing his franchise tender. So, he'll make $27.3 million on a one-year deal for the upcoming season. But another strong season from Pickens could lead to an even greater payday, as evidenced by the recent extensions for Zay Flowers and Chris Olave. If Pickens matches the numbers he put up in a career year in 2025 (93 receptions for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns), he should be looking at a long-term deal that pays him over $30 million annually while also potentially serving as the catalyst to a deep Cowboys playoff run. If Pickens falls well short of that, though, he could miss out on a major payday and might have to prove his worth again in 2027. Brooks: If the former Pro Bowler cannot win a quarterback competition against a young, inexperienced passer with an extensive injury history, his days as a QB1 are over. Tagovailoa steps into a situation where he is surrounded by blue-chip talent on the perimeter, with a solid offensive line in front of him that will enable him to wheel and deal from the pocket. As a quick-rhythm thrower who perfectly matches Kevin Stefanskis quarterback profile, the seventh-year pro has the requisite "3Ps" (play caller, playmakers and protectors) needed to play at a high level. Considering he has led the league in completion percentage (72.9% in 2024) and passing yards (4,624 in 2023) at various points of his career, Tagovailoa enters the "no-excuse" zone in Atlanta. Williams: Garrett finally got his wish in the blockbuster trade of this offseason, with Browns general manager Andrew Barry moving the reigning Defensive Player of the Year to a team built to win now in the Rams. Now, the expectation is the NFLs all-time single-season sack leader will elevate a Rams defense that underperformed in the bright spotlight of the postseason. Specifically, the Rams had trouble closing out offenses at the end of games. It was a surprise given that they finished the regular season tied for sixth in the league in sacks (47) and fifth in pressure rate (38%). But they finished with just one sack in three postseason games. Enter Garrett (and perhaps Aaron Donald?), who was brought in as the final piece for L.A.'s Super Bowl puzzle. Brooks: The two-time Pro Bowl selection has been lauded as a fringe top-five quarterback, but a rsum still void of a postseason win (and big moments in general) has critics questioning whether Herbert is a clutch performer capable of sparking a Super Bowl run. Despite his record-breaking success as a gunslinger during the regular season, including the most passing yards and completions in NFL history through the first five seasons of a career, the seventh-year pro has plenty to prove with a new offensive coordinator at the helm. Mike McDaniel not only brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as a playcaller, but a quarterback-friendly scheme that transforms a simple game of "pitch-and-catch" into a pinball session that lights up the scoreboard. If Herbert is unable to lead the Chargers on an extended playoff run, the football world will continue to view him as a talented underachiever who gives off Cinderella vibes in the postseason. Williams: After getting traded to the team he preferred and a coach he respects in Mike Vrabel, there should be no need for Brown to partake in the theatrics that defined the end of his tenure in Philadelphia (see: reading a book in-game on the sidelines). Its time for Brown to let his play do the talking in New England. Browns playing with perhaps the best young quarterback in the game in Drake Maye. Moreover, the Patriots need Brown to play like a No. 1 receiver, particularly in the red zone where he should receive plenty of 1-on-1 matchups. New England has a much tougher schedule after a surprising run to the Super Bowl last season, and the addition of Brown should help add more explosive plays to this offense. Williams: The lightbulb seemed to turn on for Young in 2025 after struggles in his first two seasons, when he was benched for Andy Dalton after the Panthers took him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft. He led Carolina to the playoffs last season, helping the Panthers win the NFC South. Specifically, Young played clutch in critical moments of the game, as evidenced by leading the Panthers to six game-winning drives last season and pushing the Rams to the limit in a close playoff loss. But Young has to continue improving if he's going to command a long-term deal. The Panthers exercised the fifth-year option on his rookie deal for the 2027 season, but he's not getting a big extension until he can prove he can play at a high level on a consistent basis. This year is the ultimate test. Brooks: After making a blockbuster trade to acquire Hunter in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Jaguars are counting on their prized acquisition to make his mark in 2026 as a full-time cover corner and part-time offensive playmaker. Although Hunter flashed big-play potential as an offensive weapon as a rookie prior to his season-ending injury, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound dynamo is expected to step into the CB1 role this season to upgrade a turnover-obsessed defense with his ball-hawking presence. While questions persist about his athleticism and explosiveness after his ACL injury, the second-year pro must play like an elite defender and pass-catcher from Day 1 to silence the critics doubting his impact potential as a two-way pro. Williams: Just three years ago, Stroud posted one of the better rookie QB seasons en route to leading the Texans to a surprising postseason appearance (and victory). But the former No. 2 overall pick has failed to play to that level since, throwing just 39 touchdowns compared to 20 interceptions while taking 75 sacks (tied for sixth-most in the league). That regression is why Houston didn't sign him to an extension this offseason, something that seemed like a lock two years ago. During that charmed rookie season, Stroud threw for over 4,000 yards with 23 touchdown passes and just five interceptions, posting a 100.8 passer rating. The Texans have a championship-level defense but need Stroud to return to form to make a legitimate run at a title. Williams: Nacua would be wise to let his play do the talking as he heads into a contract year. The BYU product has been one of the best receivers in the league since entering the NFL as a fifth-round selection in the 2023 draft. However, immaturity and off-field issues led to Nacua checking himself into a holistic care facility this offseason. McVay said Nacuas situation has not risen to the level where he's no longer in the Rams' long-term plans. But the extension that seemed inevitable when last season concluded still has to be earned. On the field, Nacua deserves to be paid among the top receivers in the league. But given the natural concerns surrounding his behavior coupled with how the Rams traditionally handle contract extensions, he will have to not only wait for a new contract but prove he's good for it. Williams: After a disappointing 2025, the Ravens opted to move on from longtime head coach John Harbaugh, and Jackson had a say in who replaced him. Baltimore ultimately hired Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to replace Harbaugh, and he brought in 29-year-old Declan Doyle from the Chicago Bears to be the team's offensive coordinator, which will undoubtedly bring a new approach to the Ravens. Now, it's up to Jackson to make it work. The 29-year-old, two-time NFL MVP had an underwhelming season himself last year, in which he struggled to stay healthy and didn't play to his elite potential when he was on the field. That led to the Ravens missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021, as questions about Jackson's ability to perform in big moments continue to linger. And, oh yeah, Jackson is seeking a new deal that would make him the highest-paid player in the league. How's that for pressure? Williams: A.J. Brown has been traded to New England, so theres no excuse for bad vibes in Philadelphia. And although Hurts has his sixth offensive coordinator in seven seasons in Philadelphia with Sean Mannion, he must prove to doubters that he is an elite signal-caller in the league. Armed with one of the best offensive lines, one of the best runners in Saquon Barkley and a talented receiver room led by DeVonta Smith, along with some intriguing newcomers, Hurts has the weapons and system in place to create an explosive offense. Now he must go out and make it happen. Brooks: The rhetoric around the former Super Bowl MVP is alarming, given his individual success and the Eagles status as a perennial contender. Despite leading the franchise to a pair of Super Bowl appearances where he outplayed Patrick Mahomes in each contest, the Eagles sagging passing game with Brown as the featured playmaker has raised concerns about Hurts long-term effectiveness as a pocket passer. With his sixth playcaller in place since arriving in Philadelphia, Hurts must adapt to another system while dealing with outsized expectations from a fan base growing increasingly frustrated by the Eagles inconsistent offense. Hurts needs a strong 2026 campaign to silence the boo birds and naysayers and perhaps save his head coach's job, if not his own. Hurts has seen firsthand in Philly how this could all play out.

If one is wondering how it got here, know this: Sophie Cunningham has never been one to back down.Not as a young girl, not in college at Missouri, and not in the WNBA, where she's made her name as a standout sixth player on Diana Taurasi's Phoenix Mercury teams and now Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever. That approach to life was precisely the point of an ESPN feature released last month, which included a small section in which Cunningham spoke about transgender women in sports.The comments circulated widely and set ablaze a renewed conversation about transgender inclusion despite there being no active transgender woman playing or coming into the league. Asia Durr and Layshia Clarendon, two former WNBA players, are nonbinary with a birth sex of female. The newly passed 2026 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) stipulates that "only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA."The NCAA enacted a policy last year that bars transgender women from women's competitions, joining similar policies by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Twenty-seven states also have legislation barring transgender girls and women from women's sports and collegiate sports.NCAA president Charlie Baker testified in December 2024 that he knows of fewer than 10 transgender college student-athletes total. In an NBC News Stay Tuned Poll in 2025, 75% of respondents said they did not support trans women participating in female sports in a yes/no question. That figure is similar to Gallup polls conducted in 2021 and 2023. The WNBA is a progressive league; per VoteHub, it consists of 67.5% registered Democrats, and notably campaigned for Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat, in the 2020 election that flipped the Senate blue.Cunningham spoke previously on the topic of transgender women in sports at the height of those legislative conversations in 2022. Her view has not changed over the years, including the ESPN interview that set off the recent wave of conversation.Below is a comprehensive look at how we reached this cultural inflection point.March 2022: Cunningham references Lia ThomasIn March 2022, Cunningham retweeted a tweet from then-CBS Sports host Josh Pate that protested Penn swimmer Lia Thomas, who became the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I championship in any sport when she took the 500-yard freestyle race at the NCAA women's swimming and diving championships."To my teammates, friends, family, supporters and fans, you know that I stand with all people, especially my fellow athletes," Cunningham wrote in an iCloud note shared to Twitter the next day, on March 18, 2022. "I do not judge, but support all races, religions, sexual preferences and gender equity. We all have a place in this world to compete and I hope we are able to grant everyone that opportunity fairly."July 21, 2026: ESPN releases wide-ranging Sophie Cunningham featureAn ESPN article, "Love her or hate her, Sophie Cunningham won't be ignored," addressed the conjecture online that Cunningham is a "MAGA" Republican. Cunningham, a native of Columbia, Missouri, addressed it and spoke on previous comments made about transgender athletes.The paragraphs from ESPN, in full:You say she's a "MAGA Barbie," as some corners of the internet have taken to calling her? Projection, she says, because of what she looks like and where she's from. She'll weigh in on how to "protect women's sports," she says, because she's in that world and feels qualified to speak to that world. "I got a lot of negative feedback about me hating trans. And I'm like, 'I never once said that,'" she says. "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 shouldn't have to go against biological men."But she also insists that none of this is some Rosetta Stone to unlocking the true nature of her political worldview."I'm very much in the middle. I agree with things on both sides, disagree with things on both sides. And that's all I've ever said about my political beliefs. But people love to assume."July 23: Cunningham elaborates on her commentsA few days later, Indiana Fever beat reporters asked Cunningham to "expand on" those comments ahead of their final game before All-Star weekend."I said what I said. I think it's kind of common sense. And I think I'll always believe in that. I think it's really important to protect children, and that's little girls who are also involved in that category. And so, I stand on what I said and I'll always believe that."She was asked whether this was an issue for which she'd outwardly advocate."I don't know. I didn't, I'm not a very political person, but I do have beliefs, I have morals and I'll always stand on them [and] be true to who I am. I think people are going to take it how they want to take it, but I never really ever said anything about that. And so, when it comes just to protecting young girls in sport and women in sport, I feel very strongly about that. I think that's why you have Title IX. That's why you have some of the greats on women's sports. If Title IX and women's sports weren't protected, then you wouldn't hear about any type of women in sport. So I think in the future, it's just really important to protect."She was also asked about the view that her comments were targets on transgender individuals."Like I said, I extend love. I don't dislike anyone. I think there is room for absolutely everyone here. And I think there is room to love everyone. I truly think when you get people in the same room, you have conversations, you actually have a lot in common with a lot of people. I'm there to love, but I'm also there to love biological women and I think there are rights that need to be protected. Like I said, I'm going to stand true to that. I'll never falter in my beliefs in that, but I've never once said I hated the trans community. Like I said, I think there's space for everyone."Title IX, passed in 1972, reads: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." It was intended for educational purposes, but is most often associated with athletics and had an outsized impact on girls' participation in sport.July 23-27: All-Star weekendCunningham's comments spurred conversation on social media outlets, but were largely in the background during All-Star weekend in Chicago, as she was not in attendance. The events were highlighted by former President Barack Obama visiting the All-Stars including Fever teammates Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell at practice on Friday.July 28: Rally planned outside Seattle arenaAhead of the Fever's return to play after the All-Star break, a small group stated their intent for a pro-Cunningham rally near Climate Pledge Arena for the game against the Storm. A few dozen gathered to promote two Washington state initiatives that would bar transgender students from participating in girls' athletics in schools, according to the Associated Press.Cunningham and Clark did not speak to reporters after the game despite being requested, a violation of the WNBA's media policy. When head coach Stephanie White was asked about the rally and Cunningham's comments, the team's public relations representative stepped in to read a statement:"Neither our organization nor Sophie had any knowledge of this demonstration and no contact with its organizers," the statement said. "Our only goal as a team, whether at home or away, is to win basketball games and make Fever fans for life, and we are united in that mission."Storm head coach Sonia Raman was also asked about it, and said in part that the organization "always wants to be an area where people feel welcome coming into this building." She said from her understanding, everyone worked successfully for fans to feel safe, included and welcome.July 29: Storm co-owner fined, suspended for confrontationTwo young women, wearing shirts advocating against the inclusion of transgender women in women's sports, told a content producer that a woman identified as Storm minority owner Celeste Keaton confronted them while sitting courtside and told them they were "effing insane." The girls held signs reading "We love you Sophie," and "Thank you Sophie for speaking up for girls."The league fined Keaton and suspended her for the team's next five home games for the incident, Yahoo Sports confirmed. The Storm released a statement earlier in the day, after news of the interaction broke."We are aware one of our co-owners made comments to two fans in attendance at last night's game," Storm majority owner Ginny Gilder told Front Office Sports in a statement. "We apologize that this happened. Everyone who attends a Storm game deserves to feel welcome, and we remain committed to creating an inclusive environment where every fan is treated with respect."Cunningham tweeted in support of the girls "standing up for what they believe." I truly believe there is a safe space and love for EVERYBODY. Biological girls, biological boys, trans women, and trans men. Everyone is welcome at my table! You can disagree and still be kind. Bravo to those girls for standing up for what they believe. Youll be hearing from https://t.co/gIVWhEHi3Q Sophie Cunningham (@sophaller) July 30, 2026July 31: Supporter rallies continue in PortlandAhead of the Fever's game in Portland, supporters came with signs and balloons to rally outside the Moda Center in support of Cunningham.Before the game, White was asked about the issue and emphasized inclusion in her comments."I wouldn't say I'm educated enough from a scientific standpoint, but I don't ever believe that exclusion is an answer," White told reporters. "I just don't. I do think, when we think about various levels of sport, various governing bodies of sport and things that go into that, as I said, I'm not educated enough at the different levels. I know growing up that I played with the boys all the time. There weren't girls sports back then."Portland Fire head coach Alex Sarama was also asked for his opinion."[The transgender community has] our full support," he said. "They're a very important part of what the values of the Portland Fire are, at the end of the day. I want to make sure all the fans coming here tonight, I know our organization is going to be intentional in making sure our fans feel comfortable and supported when they come here to the Fire Pit."My focus as a basketball coach, being completely honest, I don't think I've ever had time to think about that.""I have honestly had nothing to do with them," Cunningham said, via the Associated Press. "I think it's people just practicing their rights of freedom of speech and doing what other fans have been doing since the WNBA has started. And so props to them, props to everyone who is able to be competent and be bold and courageous enough to speak their truths."Cunningham said she was not concerned that the rallies were a distraction for the team."I'm here to play basketball, but I'm also here to be me, and I'm not gonna like shadow that or hide or, you know, dim my light just because maybe people don't agree with that."Aug. 2: Dueling rallies continue in MinnesotaThe Fever's road trip concluded in Minnesota, where again rallies were held outside of Target Center for and against the inclusion of transgender individuals in women's sports.Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve wore a T-shirt under her jacket that read, "Trans kids belong." Reeve, a four-time WNBA championship coach who also works as the organization's president of basketball operations, often wears T-shirts under a suit jacket that advocate for causes she cares about, and has spoken out often about trans rights.The day before the game, Reeve said that she comes "from a place of inclusion," and believes the issue is that "a faction of people in our country" are making it into a massive issue, and claiming it as the biggest problem in women's sports. She also spoke for the rights of demonstrators: "Everyone has a right to peacefully assemble. That's whether you agree with them or not."Reeve and Cunningham were seen holding an extended conversation at midcourt before the game."I would encourage anyone to go and listen to Cheryl Reeve's comments. Incredibly thoughtful." The ESPN on ABC broadcast addresses Cheryl Reeve's comments on transgender athletes, her "Trans Kids Belong" shirt, and meeting with Sophie Cunningham.pic.twitter.com/83YKH6X9HN Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 2, 2026"Both of us understand that we have platforms and we both talked about wanting to, more than anything, educate," Reeve said. "There are some things that we have in common, and maybe some things you differ on, just like any issues. I think it's how you handle things. It was nice to be in person, for sure."Clark, who was made available to reporters for the first time all week, was asked about the issue as the first question following the Fever's 108-100 loss to the Lynx."I think it's for leagues and governing bodies to work with their athletes to find solutions," Clark said. "Our focus is on basketball. That's what we talk about and how we can get wins and obviously we didn't do that tonight. So we need to find an area to improve in that way."Aug. 6: Fever begin homestandThe Fever returned home this week and will host the Aces on Thursday (7 p.m. ET). They play in rival Chicago on Saturday, and return home for games against New York and Dallas.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) The Kansas City Royals activated All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. from the injured list on Tuesday after he missed two weeks with back tightness.Hes done a great job working to get back, communicating with the medical department and getting himself in a good spot that we feel comfortable, Royals manager Matt Quatraro said before Tuesday night's game against Minnesota. Were very happy to have him back.A three-time All-Star, Witt leads the American League with 30 stolen bases. He is batting .279 with 13 homers and 39 RBIs in 94 games.Witt was in the lineup against the Twins, but Quatraro said the Royals might manage his workload in the coming days.A lot of it is going to depend on the volume of the game, Quatraro said. Well look at game times, and workloads and temperature and all those kinds of things and communicate with him and see how he feels.Avila and Kolek to have Tommy John and Royals make several movesAlso Tuesday, Quatraro said right-handers Luinder Avila (5-4, 5.53 ERA) and Stephen Kolek (4-3, 4.50 ERA) would undergo Tommy John surgery this week.The Royals made several roster moves, recalling right-hander Jose Cuas from Triple-A Omaha and claiming lefty Connor Thomas off waivers from the Athletics. They also designated shortstop Andrew Velazquez and left-hander Matt Strahm for assignment.Cuas, 32, has a 2.84 ERA in five relief appearances for the Royals this season. Thomas, 28, was claimed off waivers by the Athletics on July 30 and designated for assignment last Saturday. Before joining the Athletics, Thomas made two relief appearances across two major league stints for Atlanta.Strahm, 34, is 3-4 with a 7.32 ERA in 41 appearances for Kansas City. Velazquez signed with Kansas City on June 24 and went 1 for 15 in six games.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Jack Draper won the Indian Wells Open before injury cut his 2025 season short [Reuters]Jack Draper broke down in tears midway through his return to the court after long-term injury difficulties as he suffered a first-round exit at the Canadian Open.In his first appearance since June, the 24-year-old Briton took France's Terence Atmane to three sets before recurring discomfort appeared to limit his play and he lost 6-3 2-6 6-2. Draper received a main-draw wildcard at the tournament in Montreal after a persistent arm injury kept him sidelined and caused his world ranking to plummet from fourth to as low as 160th in a 12-month period. Since injuring his shoulder at the US Open in August, Draper has struggled with bone bruising and pulled out of scheduled comebacks at Wimbledon and the Washington Open this summer.Why can't Draper play, and why won't surgery help?This time, though, Draper made it on to court, appearing initially nervous - but without the compression sleeve that supported him through recent appearances. He was smiling by the third game, when he read a tricky Atmane serve well and pulled off an unlikely winner to delight the crowd and level the score to deuce.Having failed to break Atmane as the Frenchman won the first set 6-3, Draper began to show glimpses of the glittering 2025 form which earned his number four ranking last June.In the second set, the Montreal crowd whooped as Draper executed a powerful cross-court forehand on course to a dominant 6-2 set win. He looked primed for a comeback victory but a different, depleted Draper returned for the third set, surrendering the opening game having led 40-15. The 2024 US Open semi-finalist appeared frustrated in the fourth game when he passed up a gift of a break point, firing a tired forehand into the net.After he was broken for 4-1 in the next, Draper sat down during a change of ends and was overcome with emotion, wiping tears from his eyes. Atmane served out to claim the match and will face Russian Karen Khachanov in the second round.Draper has a wildcard entry to the Cincinnati Open, which starts next week, but the incident puts his involvement in doubt, and that of the US Open which begins on 23 August.Earlier, British number five Jacob Fearnley beat France's Adrian Mannarino 7-6 6-4 to set up a second-round tie against the Czech Republic's Jakub Mensik.Live scores, results and order of playGet tennis news sent straight to your phone

Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. is coming off the best season of his career after being thrust into the position of being the primary for a Nets team in need of scoring. Even though Brooklyn got Porter more help in the form of former Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, the former Denver Nuggets sharpshooter is making sure to put the work in this summer.The National Basketball Player's Association (NBPA) recently unveiled a 24/7 performance center in Los Angeles, California that NBA players can use during the regular season and offseason, according to James H. Williams of USA Today. Williams revealed that Porter is one of the approximately 200 players that spend part of their offseason in the City of Angels so the NBPA wanted to make sure that those players had somewhere to go to work on their game."Michael Porter Jr. and Mo Bamba also were seen in the facility going through their offseason process," Williams wrote in his piece. The facility, known as the PLYRS UNTD Performance Center, will be added to the group of facilities that the NBPA has "like the one located at its New York headquarters and The Sanctuary, which serves as an offseason performance retreat for NBA players in Spain."Porter, 28, is coming off a 2025-26 season in which he did not make the first All-Star team of his career as many expected for him to do so, but that doesn't mean that his numbers weren't spectacular. Porter played 52 games for the Nets last season, posting averages of 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 46.3% from the field and 36.3% from behind the three-point line.Williams noted in his article that the NBPA will attempt to organize open runs during the offseason so that players can get used to playing with each other, which might be the case for Porter and Randle. Either way, the NBA players now have a new facility to visit during their travels and someone like Porter can now work on his game while visiting Los Angeles at an NBPA-ran facility.This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets' Michael Porter Jr. works out at PLYRS UNTD Performance Center

After a hard-fought bidding war, NBC Sports is retaining media rights to the Preakness Stakes, Front Office Sports has learned.NBC had been defending its rights to the second leg of racings Triple Crown against bidders such as Fox Sports, Netflix, and Amazon, say sources. Its unclear how long the networks new deal is for.Dan Illman, a spokesman for the Maryland Jockey Club, declined to comment. But sources say Maryland Governor Wes Moore and other dignitaries are planning a press conference for 12 p.m. ET in Annapolis on Wednesday, where it will be announced that NBC will continue to carry the race.The Preakness drew its biggest audience since 2021 this past May, averaging 5.5 million viewers across NBC and Peacock. That was up 22% from 4.9 million in 2025.NBC has held Preakness rights since 2001. The network also boasts rights to the Kentucky Derby through 2032. Fox holds the rights to the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown.NBC declined to comment.The post NBC to Retain Media Rights to Preakness Stakes appeared first on Front Office Sports.

To recap: Tarik Skubal is now a Dodger, Freddy Peralta is a Ray, Kevin Gausman is a Cub, Casey Mize is a Padre, Luke Weaver is a Pirate, Adley Rutschman is the Red Sox's catcher, Luis Arraez is a Phillies infielder and well, just take a look below for more. In this weeks post-deadline Power Rankings reshuffle, well highlight every teams biggest move or moves. (And you can find the winners and losers of the trade deadlinehere and our trade grades for the biggest moveshere.) The Angels got a lot worse at the deadline, which is actually refreshing! This organization wasnt ready to contend anytime soon and was in need of an overhaul. The infusion of nine prospects to the system even if it meant parting with controllable pieces, including starter Jos Soriano and outfielder Jo Adell was a necessary move. They now have a new top position player prospect in shortstop Arjun Nimmala, a top-50 prospect in baseball. Remember when the As were 38-38? Me neither. Theyve lost 29 of their past 36 games and nothing really changed with their outlook at the deadline. Their biggest move was trading 2022 third-round pick Colby Thomas, a corner outfielder who has been a below replacement level player in his brief MLB tenure, for 2019 first-round pick Seth Johnson, a reliever from the Phillies who has also been a below replacement level big-league player. Much like the Athletics, this was a team that needed to sell but lacked the talented rentals to bring back impact pieces. They held onto controllable arms Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo and sold low on injured starter Kris Bubic to, guess who, the Dodgers after an All-Star season last year. Their biggest move was getting pitching prospect Lucas Braun as part of the Lane Thomas trade to Atlanta. This had a chance to be a bigger deadline for the Rockies, considering the interest in All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman and the lack of available outfielders for contending teams. But Goodman stayed, as did outfielders Jake McCarthy and Mickey Moniak, who reportedlysigned a two-year extension amid the deadline chaos. The Rockies did trade outfielder Brenton Doyle and relievers Antonio Senzatela, Victor Vodnik and Seth Halvorsen to add mostly arms to the farm system. The Giants werent able to move any of their long-term deals, but they did what they had to do, trading most of their rentals. Ramon Marquez (acquired in the Luis Arraez trade), Henry Lalane (acquired in the Heliot Ramos trade) and Miguel Mendez (acquired in the Robbie Ray trade) immediately become three of the best pitching prospects in the system, and it will be interesting to see if a change of scenery can unlock more out of former top prospect Marcelo Mayer. They needed to sell, and they did. The only surprise was that they held onto Luis Robert Jr., who maybe didnt have the market we expected.Their returns were more quantity over quality, though infielder Jefferson Rojas acquired in the Clay Holmes deal with the Cubs immediately became their top prospect. The Mets also clearly think highly of shortstop prospect Sammy Stafura, a 2023 second-round pick whos mashing at High-A, as they acquired him straight up for one of the top relievers on the market in Luke Weaver. Huh? This was a confounding deadline for the Reds, who traded Nathaniel Lowe and Caleb Ferguson but held onto rentals Brady Singer, Tyler Stephenson and Brock Burke. With as many contenders as there were out there in need of catching help, I have no idea how or why Stephenson in particular is still on the team. The Adley Rutschman era is over with unfulfilled promise and zero playoff wins. The Os received a significant haul of prospects in dealing away their franchise catcher to a division rival Anthony Eyanson and Kyson Witherspoon are now two of their top arms on the farm. Its very possible they win that trade, but at what greater cost? It's another year in which the fan base has to think toward the future instead of the present. Taylor Ward, Dean Kremer and Tyler Wells were also part of the deadline sale. After trading Tarik Skubal two days before the deadline, the Tigers were a fascinating team to watch to see what they did next. They were still within striking distance of a wild-card spot, so they could have gone either way tear it down and look to the future, or convince the fan base that even after dealing Skubal there were still enough pieces in the rotation to contend. But by trading Casey Mize at the buzzer, while holding onto other pieces (including a rental in Gleyber Torres), this felt more like a half measure. When youre a team withstanding an unexpectedly poor first half after coming two outs away from winning the World Series a year ago, you can understand the desire to thread the needle at the deadline. The Blue Jays did that arguably more than any other team, adding starters Jos Soriano, Spencer Arrighetti and Jameson Taillon and infielder Josh Smith while trading starter Kevin Gausman, outfielder Daulton Varsho and former closer Jeff Hoffman. The 2026 magic might have run out for a youthful St. Louis club. After losing each of their first five series to start the second half, the Cardinals traded Dustin May, JoJo Romero and Lars Nootbaar at the deadline. The deal with the Brewers netted two legit outfield prospects in Alexander Frias and Josiah Ragsdale. This was not a deadline about capitalizing on unexpected success. A recent sweep of the Phillies, and moving just a couple games out of a playoff spot, didnt cause the Marlins to change direction. They were light sellers, trading one of their best hitters this year in Liam Hicks and a starter in Braxton Garrett to look toward the future, but they held onto Sandy Alcantara. What a difference a week makes. Last Tuesday, the Rangers were two games up in the division and seen as potential buyers. Then they lost six straight and basically sat out at the deadline. They did, at least, grab a couple relievers in Chase Silseth and Adam Macko, but it was quiet in Arlington. The Nationals have lost six straight and are unsurprisingly looking to the future after trading their best pitcher, Foster Griffin, to the Guardians and one of their top hitters, Luis Garcia Jr., to the Yankees. They needed an infusion of arms into the system, and thats what they got. Some should quickly assist what is one of the worst bullpens in baseball. The trade for starter Connelly Early already looks like a big win. A year after selling off every big piece in their bullpen, the Twins used this deadline to try to patch it back up by adding Jeff Hoffman and AJ Minter. They needed a right-handed bat and found one in Taylor Ward. They also traded from their excess of starting pitching and got Luis Castillos contract off the books in a deal with the White Sox, adding an intriguing catching prospect (Boston Smith) and a piece who can help their bullpen now (Seranthony Domnguez) in the process. Their deadline looks better when you consider how little the other AL West contenders did to improve. Theyve won 11 of 13, just swept the Rangers to move into first in the AL West and got little help from the front office at the deadline to back up their strong start to the second half. The Astros picked up Daulton Varsho to help a lackluster Houston outfield, but they traded Spencer Arrighetti to get him when they could really use more, not less, starting pitching. The Guardians needed to add more pop to their lineup (who would have thought?), and the additions of Jo Adell and Nathaniel Lowe should do that. The more unexpected move was their trade for All-Star Foster Griffin, which adds depth to an already solid rotation. Relief pitching was the obvious area of need, and the Pirates completely rebuilt their bullpen by adding Luke Weaver, Camilo Doval, Lake Bachar and Kirby Yates. The Weaver acquisition was one of the best moves any team made at the deadline. I was all set to put Arizona in the top 10 and then they snoozed at the deadline. Outfielder Lars Nootbaar could be a nice addition, but this was a disappointing deadline for the D-backs, who could have used both first base and pitching reinforcements and whose play to start the second half deserved more. With both the bats and the team heating up, GM AJ Preller managed to fix the biggest problem area of the club by acquiring starters Casey Mize and Robbie Ray. Whatever you think of Prellers body of work, you have to give him credit for always finding a way to surprise at the deadline regardless of how depleted the farm system might be. The White Sox needed pitching help and got it, but Im not a huge fan of the Luis Castillo trade. He has a 5.06 ERA, his strikeout rate is plummeting, and he has been a below replacement level pitcher on the year. I wish they would have added more of a sure upgrade to the rotation. Well see if Castillo can turn it around with a change of scenery. I liked the Huascar Brazoban addition for the bullpen, and Brenton Doyle provides more outfield depth. This will be one of the most interesting teams to watch after the deadline. The addition of Luis Arraez gives the offense a needed boost and an element it has been missing, but he also completely reshuffles the defensive alignment. Surely that wont be a problem, right? The additions of Brooks Raley and Caleb Kilian were important moves for the bullpen. It was a bit of an odd deadline for the Yankees, who didnt address their needs at catcher or the bullpen but did manage to upgrade the offense with the additions of Luis Garcia Jr. and Heliot Ramos. Garcia might be the best bat moved at the deadline, but Im still surprised Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson, at the very least, isnt on this team. "Adley Rutschman, Boston Red Sox catcher." Imagine saying that when Alex Cora got fired in April. Or in May, when Boston was 23-33. Or in June, when Boston was 32-46. The Red Sox have won 28 of 33 games, and after sweeping the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, Craig Breslow went all-in at the deadline. Now, we wait to see if the Rutschman gamble was worth it. The Cubs needed pitching help across the board. How about Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes, Braxton Garrett and Ryan Zeferjahn? That do anything for you? Jed Hoyer needed a big deadline if he wanted the Cubs to contend, and he delivered. The Braves failing to get an impact starter was one of the biggest swings and misses of the deadline. Lane Thomas, Tyler Mahle and Brent Suter might be useful pieces for them, but their start to the season deserved more than depth. They lose a spot on this list for their inaction. They raised the ceiling of the rotation by adding Freddy Peralta, acquired a useful bullpen arm in Tyler Wells, and while everyone was penciling in Luis Arraez as the logical bat to add, the Rays instead made an unexpected big swing to upgrade at catcher by trading for Liam Hicks. Dont be surprised if we look back on that Hicks move as one of the biggest of the deadline. Dustin May, JoJo Romero and Antonio Senzatela will all help the Brewers. But none of those pitchers are Tarik Skubal (or even Casey Mize, Clay Holmes, Foster Griffin or Jos Soriano). That is worth remembering if they flame out in October again. The trade for Tarik Skubal has distracted a bit from the fact that the Dodgers have not been playing good ball. Theyve now lost six of their past eight games after running into the buzz saw that is the Red Sox over the weekend. But, who are we kidding? On Tuesday, Skubal will make his Dodgers debut, Blake Snell is throwing what will likely be his final rehab start, and Tyler Glasnow heads out on assignment. Also, lest we not forget,they have Ben Rortvedt again. It's full speed ahead in L.A.

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