A little more than a week after Kelsey Plum was traded from the Los Angeles Sparks to the Phoenix Mercury, the five-time WNBA All-Star guard was set to return to Los Angeles to face-off against her former team on Tuesday, Aug 11.However, Plum won't be in the lineup. Plum has been ruled out of the Mercury's matchup against the Sparks on Tuesday with left lower leg tightness that limited her to 14 minutes in the Mercury's 95-75 loss to the Washington Mystics on Sunday, Aug. 9.With 9:19 remaining in the second quarter, Plum went down near half court after Mystics guard Georgia Amoore pushed Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb into Plum, resulting in a foul on Amoore. Plum got up under her own power and returned to the game before being shut down in the second half with left calf tightness."We wanted to be safe," Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said. "We'll just see the next couple days how it looks."EXCLUSIVE: Kelsey Plums open book begins with a bang in PhoenixThe veteran guard finished with five points against the Mystics, shooting 2-of-7 from the field and 1-of-5 from the 3-point line in 14 minutes of action. She rounded out her night with three rebounds and two assists.Plum got off to a blistering start this season, but a string of injuries had limited her to 12 games in her second season with the Sparks. She missed three games with an ankle sprain suffered on May 26, and eight games after her return, she sustained a left leg injury on June 21 that sidelined her six weeks.Her next game played was in a purple and orange jersey. Plum was traded to the Mercury on Aug. 1, and her debut came days later on Aug. 3, marking her first game since late June. Plum scored 20 points in 21 minutes in her first game with the Mercury, shooting 60% from the floor and adding four assists in the 106-101 win against the Chicago Sky.Plum is averaging 17.3 points on 53.5% shooting from the field in her first four games for the Mercury. Phoenix (12-22) is currently out of playoff contention in 12th place in the WNBA standings, one year removed from the team's 2025 WNBA Finals run. The Mercury are 7.5 games out of eighth place the final postseason berth with only 10 games remaining in the regular season.It remains to be seen if Plum's injury will affect her participation in the upcoming 2026 FIBA World Cup. Plum was named to the U.S. women's national basketball teamfor the tournament in Berlin next month.Team USA begins group stage play at the World Cup on Sept. 4, opening with a game against China. The Americans will then play Italy on Sept. 6 and Czechia on Sept. 7 before the knockout round begins. Team USA is 8-0 all-time against China, 1-1 against Italy and 2-0 against Czechia.The WNBA season will take a pause while the World Cup is played. The gold medal game is set for Sept. 13, and WNBA games will resume on Sept. 17.Contributing: Mitchell Northam Reach USA TODAY National Womens Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at@CydHenderson.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kelsey Plum injury update: Mercury star out vs. Sparks, won't face former team

CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 23: Cornerback Cam Lampkin #33 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after a play during the fourth quarter of an NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on August 23, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Rams 19-17. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesLos Angeles Rams training camp at Loyola Marymount University came to a close on Friday. The team now returns to their practice facilities at Woodland Hills.A change of scene could bring the addition of Aaron Donald, who is expected to make an announcement in the coming weeks whether he will return to football. The Dallas Cowboys are also set to face LA in a joint practice session on Tuesday.But before we turn our attention to the preseason, which players showed out at Loyola Marymount? Roster battles are won or lost in camp. Lets check in on those with rising and falling stocks.WinnersReceiver & corner battlesNothing steals the show quite like two strengths going head-to-head. Puka Nacua and Davante Adams battled every day against Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. They each had their own victories on certain days, but the Rams won from the competitive bar being raised.Nacua and Adams seem to be picking up where they left off in 2025. A clean bill of health is of the upmost importance for each.McDuffie and Watson seem as advertised. There are no signs of buyers remorse for the Rams so far.This is the TD pass from Matthew Stafford to Davante Adams I was referring to earlier. Hard for any CB/DB to beat that ball placement by Stafford and the late hands by Adamspic.twitter.com/FOyc3umDzz Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) August 3, 2026Blake Corum, RBIs it a stretch to think that Corum can overtake Kyren Williams as the primary running back this season? Corum appears slimmed down and was already the more explosive player a year ago. This could realistically be Williams last season in Los Angeles.It may not happen as early as Week 1, but Corum seems on the path to earning LAs RB#1 job in 2026 and beyond.Cam Lampkin & Emmanuel Forbes, CBWhile McDuffie and Watson were the shiny new additions that were met with more anticipation, Cam Lampkin and Emmanuel Forbes both consistently drew praise across camp practices.Fans may see Forbes more often than they expect depending on how much McDuffie plays in the slot. The Rams plan to deploy McDuffie in a variety of ways, and someone must play outside if McDuffie aligns elsewhere. Its an encouraging sign for LA that Forbes has performed well when given the opportunity.For that same reason, the Rams need as many outside corners as possible. They are short on numbers. Lampkin is an outside corner, and he entered camp with an advantage over the likes of Josh Wallace and others because of positional value. Lampkin has been a ballhawk. Hes someone to watch in the preseason.Cam Lampkin has had a solid camp. pic.twitter.com/jsRCgZNKqd Allen Sales (@AllenSales) August 7, 2026Terrance Ferguson, TEFerguson reportedly knows all receiving positions within the offense and is aligning all over the field. The Rams would like to utilize his run after the catch ability more oftensomething he consistently flashed at Oregon.Its not exactly bold to predict a breakout campaign for last years top draft pick; however, things seem to be trending in the right direction for Ferguson. Max Klare has recently received first-string snaps as well. Could 2026 be the year of the tight ends?LosersKyren Williams, RBDeploying Williams as the primary punt returner at the minimum is peculiar. Perhaps the Rams are simply biding time until cutdown day when they acquire an alternative. Still, with Corums emergence and Williams strange usage, it only seems like the veteran is trending downwards with the team. LA has several key players that need re-signed in the next year or two. There may not be enough salary cap space to keep around an expensive running back. Enjoy him in Los Angeles while you can. Xavier Smith, WRHow bad is Xavier Smith as a punt returner for the team to hand the reins to Williams? It would be increasingly difficult for Smith to stick on the roster if he loses his value as a special teams player. He also hasnt had many breakout moments in camp as a receiver.Smith may never live down his muffed punt in last years NFC Championship game. Stetson Bennett, QBIt may seem odd that Bennett is included on the losers list. Hes drawn praise in camp for his performance so far, although in recent days hes seemed to have taken a step back and saw an uptick in turnovers.Its telling that Sean McVay said Ty Simpson would play in the preseason but is still mulling the idea of whether Bennett will join him. That tells me the backup quarterback spot is not yet won. And if the quarterback competition is even remotely close, Simpson will have the upper hand in terms of sticking on the roster. Bennett had to win in convincing fashion. Im not sure he did.Pick 6 here by Sean Dolac. pic.twitter.com/LtzvpAEu4j Allen Sales (@AllenSales) August 7, 2026Jarquez Hunter, RBJarquez Hunter needed to stand out in training camp in order to find a role in 2026. Its been quiet on that front so far, which aligns with his first year in the NFL.But training camp can be a tough environment for running backs. Hunter is battling with Ronnie Rivers for what is likely the third and final spot on the roster at the position.Their real battle does not begin until the preseason. Both should be expected to see significant work and make their case. It hasnt been ideal for Hunter so far. There is still time to salvage his second season.

Will the Houston Texans have Brevin Jordan back soon? That remains a mystery entering the first preseason game on Thursday night. For the past several days, the veteran tight end who missed the past two seasons because of lower-body injuries has been sidelined. When asked about his status following Monday's training camp, Texans coach DeMeco Ryans mentioned that Jordan was once again dealing with a lower-body issue. "Brevin's dealing with a knee right now, so he's kind of day-to-day," Ryans said. "We'll see how it goes with him.Back in 2024, Jordan suffered a torn ACL in Week 2's win over the Chicago Bears and missed the rest of the season. A year later, Jordan was back at full speed before suffering another season-ending injury during practice. With a torn patellar tendon, it was another year lost to injury. DeMeco Ryans says Brevin Jordan is dealing with a knee right now, hes kinda day to day, well see how it goes. pic.twitter.com/Oeibzy5TwE Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) August 10, 2026A former 2021 draft pick like Pro Bowlwideout Nico Collinsand backup quarterback Davis Mills, Jordan has recorded 53 career catches for 532 yards and five touchdowns over his five NFL seasons, though two seasons were lost to injury. The Texans have five tight ends fighting for reps on the active roster. Dalton Schultz and rookie Marlin Klein are considered locks to make the active roster, as should Foster Moreau because of his potential upside as a blocker. That leaves one spot left between Jordan and Cade Stover barring an injury. The Texans open the preseason against the Los Angeles Chargers this Thursday at 7 p.m. The game will be televised on ABC. This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans provide injury update on TE Brevin Jordan

TORONTO, CANADA - AUGUST 10: Nick Sogard #20 of the Boston Red Sox reacts as he takes a walk in the first inning of their MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on August 10, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesWhatever else can be said about tonights game, it had one of the most you cant predict baseball moments of all time. It was the only run the Sox scored, and it was utterly ridiculous, and they lost anyway. The short story is this: Both Sonny Gray and Jameson Taillon were on point, with the first damage coming on a solo homer from Charles McAdoo, his second ever. Really cant be allowing that stuff, says smart guy:The Jays added another run on garden-variety stuff before the shit hit the fan in the top of the seventh. And my sisters, I promise Im not exaggerating when I say this is one of the most fucked baseball moments of all time.Heres what happened:Ceddanne Rafaela comes up with runners on first (Eric Sogard) and second (Anthony Siegler) with one out. Only, and this is important, the scoreboard in center says there are two outs. Which apparently all the players watch, because when Ceddy flies out to center, no one is really moved by it, and the Blue Jays tag first in the perfunctory way teams do when theyre just sort of going on muscle memory. During all this, Sogard crosses second and Siegler crosses home.Come back from commercial, and Blue Jays manager-for-life or so it seems John Schneider is talking to the umps for a good five minutes. Hes not losing his mind, but hes not happy. Then the umps talk to Chad Tracy, who dramas a bit, and then the head ump gets on the mic and is like: New York, tell us what to do.Which is this: The Red Sox score. For the dumbest possible reason: Since the only way to successfully protest an incorrect run-scoring call in this instance is to challenge it at third base, and the Jays instead went to first, the run counted. Chances are youll never see this again in your life, tbh. Too many weird things had to happen at once for it to come to pass. But it did happen:But whatever. Jarren Duran led off the ninth with a double and was moved to third on a bunt and couldnt tie it. The shine is gone. Its over. Its never been more over. The only question is: Are we back? I think were back.

FREEPORT, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) The Freeport Pretzels didn't make the playoffs last year. They're a team that could potentially benefit from an expanded playoff field this year. With or without that expanded field, they are doing all they can to set themselves up for a strong season.They've worked on their conditioning in the offseason. They're focused on doing all the little things right now during practices as the season closes in. Tylor Sorensen has our season preview of the Pretzels. Watch the media player above for that and watch for our coverage of the Pretzels and football in the 815 all season long on 'Overtime' Friday nights on FOX 39 and on all of our digital platforms.Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO WQRF News, Weather and Sports.

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Chris Berman has spent more than four decades as one of the most recognizable personalities in sports media. But while arriving at the latest Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony, it wasnt one of his famous calls or memorable stories that had people talking.Instead, it was his walk.Berman, affectionately known as Boomer, appeared to have a noticeably unusual gait during the ceremony, and footage quickly began drawing attention from fans on social media. The moment has led to plenty of discussion, particularly because Berman is such a familiar face to generations of NFL fans.MORE: Rating every NFL game on the Monday Night Football schedule in 2026One of ESPNs most iconic figuresAug 2, 2025; Canton, OH, USA; Pro Football Hall of Fame emcee Chris Berman speaks during the Class of 2025 enshrinement ceremonies at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesBerman has been a foundational part of ESPN since joining the network in October 1979. He was one of the original anchors of SportsCenter, helping establish the energetic style that became synonymous with the program.He later became the longtime face of NFL PrimeTime, where he worked alongside Tom Jackson, before taking over as host of Sunday NFL Countdown. Berman hosted the pregame show for more than 30 consecutive seasons, from 1985-2016.His rsum extends well beyond football. Berman covered numerous Super Bowls, World Series, U.S. Opens and the MLB Home Run Derby from 1994-2016.MORE: 8 retired NFL star players making their Hall of Fame ballot debuts in 2027Broadcasting legendBermans list of accomplishments is extensive.He is a six-time National Sportscaster of the Year, has won 10 Emmy Awards and 12 CableACE Awards, and received the Pro Football Hall of Fame Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award in 2010.He was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2017 and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010.Thats why any appearance from Berman tends to attract attention. Hes been part of the sports landscape for so long that fans immediately notice when something looks different.While his unusual walk became the talking point from the ceremony, its worth remembering the remarkable career that has made Berman one of the most recognizable broadcasters in sports history. After more than four decades in the business, Boomer remains an iconic figure in NFL coverage.Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter

HONG KONG, CHINA - AUGUST 6: Luis Diaz of FC Bayern Munich reacts during the Bayern Munchen Training Session in the Kai Tak Stadium on August 6, 2026 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Joseph Dinesh Daniel/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesDespite a potential financial windfall, there is a very strong argument to be made that Bayern Munich needs to keep Luis Daz and should not even consider a sale of the Colombian.While there have been some rumors reporting Al-Hilal to have interest in the winger, Bayern Munich absolutely needs to keep Daz for the next two seasons and capitalize on the insane chemistry that the attacker has with Harry Kane and Michael Olise.The Colombian winger has already shown why he can be such an important piece of Vincent Kompanys team. Bayern Munich needs players who can create something out of nothing, stretch defenses, attack space and provide another source of goals and assists. Daz brings all of those qualities.In addition, Daz brings insane production to the table as well. The 29-year-old had 26 goals and 23 assists in 51 games across all competitions last season. His value goes beyond the numbers, too. Bayern Munich have several talented attacking players, but Daz offers a different profile. His directness and willingness to take defenders on can change the dynamic of a match. When Bayern Munich are facing a compact defense and struggling to create space through the middle, having a player capable of driving into the box from the wing becomes extremely important.There is also the matter of squad depth. Bayern Munich are competing on multiple fronts, and relying on the same small group of attackers throughout a long season is not realistic. Injuries, rotation and fatigue will inevitably play a role. Keeping Daz gives Kompany another proven option who can start important matches or change a game from the bench.Perhaps most importantly, Bayern Munich should be thinking about continuity. Daz is already familiar with the club, his teammates and Kompanys expectations. Moving him on would create another hole that would eventually have to be filled.Bayern Munich should always listen to reasonable offers for its players, but Daz is not someone the club should be eager to lose. If the goal is to remain competitive at the highest level in Germany and Europe, keeping Daz should be a priority.Join the conversation!Sign up for a user accountand get:New, improved notifications system!Fewer adsCreatecommunity postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community posts

United States president Donald Trump has weighed in on the controversy surrounding FIFA after the federation's president, Gianni Infantino, proposed a plan to sell a minority stake of the organization to private investors.In the midst of the news, other governing bodies of soccer and world leaders have expressed distrust in Infantino and suggested his position should be on the line."FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday, Aug. 10. "He is fantastic, having just presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented. If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again!"The United States was a co-host of this summer's World Cup with Mexico and Canada. It was the largest tournament yet, with a field of 48 teams playing 104 matches in 16 cities across three countries and breaking viewership and attendance records.Infantino scrapped the proposal, called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), after the plan received severe criticism from Concacaf andUEFA saying it would boycott all FIFA tournamentsif the deal went through. Even after the plan was shelved, both organizations released statementscontinuing to express their distrust in the leader.Several world leaders have said they lost trust in Infantino, includingCanada Prime Minister Mark Carneyand United Kingdom Prime Minister Andy Burnham."I don't have confidence in Mr. Infantino after this point given what transpired and given the nature of what transpired," Carney said.The football federations of Mexico and Argentina have expressed their support of Infantino, who is up for reelection in March.In December, Infantinopresented Trump with the first FIFA Peace Prize. For the World Cup, Trump called Infantino and asked him to review USMNT player Folarin Balogun's red card. FIFA did rescind the penalty ahead of the round of 16, but Infantino said Trump did not influence the decision. Trump and Infantino attended the final match together and the U.S. leader handed the trophy to the winner, Spain.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump backs FIFA president Gianni Infantino amid private sale controversy

Ann Arbor Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham, in his first season with the Wolverines, wants to make it abundantly clear that he understands Ohio State is the programs arch rival and that beating the Buckeyes is a priority.Whittingham, who spent the last 21 seasons as Utah head coach, knows that every word he utters as Michigan coach will be parsed. He may not have realized just how much. During the recent Big Ten media days, he was asked about hating Ohio State.Hate's a strong word," Whittingham said. But I want to win that game as badly as anybody in Ann Arbor. Ijust think that a rivalry can be intense and emotional without the hatred factor.I don't think there's a place for that. "Personally, I think (OSU coach) Ryan Day is a good person. To sit here and say I hate Ryan Day, I'd be making crap up because that's not true."The portion of his comment perhaps overlooked focused on wanting to beat OSU as badly as anyone."Many have hung on the fact he said he didnt hate Day or OSU.Will we have a better chance to win if I hated them? Whittingham said Monday during a news conference. Whatever gives us the best chance to win, I'm all for. Want to beat them worse than anybody, and so I don't know how that got to be such a hot topic.The season has yet to begin, so that offers time to discuss depth charts, make predictions, and, apparently debate whether Whittingham understands the depth of the rivalry known as The Game and what it means to both programs. Whittingham coached in the Holy War, Utah-BYU, so he understands rivalries and said he absolutely gets the meaning of the Wolverines final regular-season game.I guess I set myself up for it in a lot of ways, Whittingham said Monday referring to his comments at media days in Chicago. But just don't confuse that with a lack of desire to win the game. I mean, we obviously understand that is The Game, as we call it.Rich Rodriguez, who was hired after Lloyd Carr retired, was the last Michigan head coach who didnt play or coach for the Wolverines before joining the staff. He spoke of receiving a Beat Ohio State button when he first arrived, and he kept it on his desk as a reminder.Whittingham probably doesnt need a Beat Ohio State button to keep the game in the front of his mind. After all, he sees the signs in the weight room and the infield practice field, holdovers from the Jim Harbaugh Era, that read: What are you doing to beat Ohio State today? Tight end Zack Marshall said last Friday that the Wolverines still have a version of the Beat Ohio drill that Harbaugh implemented. It was a bit different in the spring but wasnt sure how it might be during preseason and regular-season practices.The goal at the end of the day, win the Big Ten, Marshall said. And how you do that? You beat Ohio State. When we beat them, thats the answer to all of it.Whittingham reiterated hes more than aware what the Ohio State game means. But thats the 12th game of the season, and hes preparing his team for the season opener against Western Michigan and every other game leading to the Buckeyes in Columbus in late November.Theres periods in practice segments or things in the weight room that you know that's talked about, Whittingham said. We've got the countdown clocks. I'm not trying to downplay that at all. It's a huge game. Gigantic. Its something that we all have the back in the back of our mind 24/7."I probably should have worded it differently, but that game is of the utmost importance.Whittingham has two assistants on staff who coached the Buckeyes, special teams coordinator Kerry Coombs and running backs coach Tony Alford. They understand the rivalry from both sides, and Coombs said no one at Michigan discounts anything about it.It is the greatest rivalry in sports, and its not just a rivalry between the two football teams, Coombs told reporters last week. Its a rivalry between the universities. Its a rivalry between the states.Its people that live there. I live there. People that live here.Its real. We dont discount that at all.At the same time, theres no reason (for hatred).I grew up with Woody and Bo. One of the reasons why Im a football coach is because I grew up with Woody and Bo.Theres no reason for any of it to be nasty.It doesnt have to be hateful. It doesnt have to be unnecessarily violent.Violence between the lines during the game, thats what we do.Responding to WeddleEric Weddle, a safety who played for Whittingham at Utah, made some well-publicized comments about Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood on a podcast this spring. Weddle said he had attended Michigan spring practice and observed Underwood, who started every game as a freshman last year.Dont be surprised if the backup is playing early because that Underwood kid, I dont think he could throw or play quarterback, so well see, Weddle said on the podcast.Whittingham on Monday was asked if Weddles remarks were a fair assessment.We see Bryce every day, Whittingham said. We know where hes at and (where) we need him to get and the time and effort hes putting into everything. I got to say, everyones entitled to their own opinion, but we feel good about Bryces progress right now.Receivers elevating their gamesWhittingham said that five practices in, the offense is on schedule in terms of install and execution. The running back room is fairly established, the coaches are working toward finding the right starting five on the offensive line, and Underwood has shown improvement.Andrew Marsh is the top returning receiver, but J.J. Buchanan, who transferred from Utah after last season when he had 427 yards on 26 catches with five touchdowns, is getting plenty of praise. Whittingham called him a special receiver.Hes, at times, unguardable in practice, Whittingham said. With the 50-50 ball and the contested catch up the field, hes as good as anybody Ive ever been around. Hes got size at 6-3, 215 pounds. He can run, he can jump, hes tough, hell block. Hes a complete receiver in all aspects.He also said young transfers Salesi Moa and Jamie Ffrench, as well as Channing Goodwin, have had solid camps.When all is said and done, we want about seven guys that we feel confident we can put in the game, Whittingham said, adding Michigan is about two shy of that target right now.achengelis@detroitnews.com@chengelisThis article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan coach Whittingham wants to beat Ohio State 'worse than anybody'