Saniya Rivers crashed down to the court hard after being blocked at the rim early on Wednesday night. (David Butler II-Imagn Images)IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / REUTERSConnecticut Sun guard Saniya Rivers was taken off the court in a wheelchair after suffering what appeared to be an awkward ankle injury in the first half of their matchup with the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday night.Rivers was driving to the basket in the second quarter of the contest, but was blocked by Nia Coffey at the rim. As Rivers came back down to the floor, however, her left leg gave out awkwardly and her shoe fell off. She was clearly in significant pain as teammates and staff came out to help.Eventually, Rivers was taken off the court in a wheelchair.Saniya Rivers was helped off the court in a wheelchair after this play. pic.twitter.com/pNzTpFjUOC espnW (@espnW) July 9, 2026Specifics of her injury are not yet known, though Coffey was seen stepping on Rivers foot accidentally as she landed on the court. Rivers also sustained a left ankle injury earlier this season, too.Rivers had five points and two assists when she left the contest. The 23-year-old, who was selected with the No. 8 overall pick out of NC State last year, entered Wednesday averaging 6.9 points and 3.2 assists per game.The Sun held a 45-41 lead at halftime. They sit at just 5-16 this season, but have won three of their last four games entering Wednesday night which included a one-point win over the Lynx on Monday in Minneapolis.This post will be updated with more information shortly.

SportsLine's Martin Green reveals his picks for Morocco vs. France in the World Cup 2026 quarterfinals on Thursday

The World Cup ended far sooner than anyone had hoped for the Americans. Following the United States' 4-1 loss to Belgium, much of the attention centered on Christian Pulisic and whether the team's biggest star delivered when it mattered most. Pulisic's urgency and passion came under scrutiny after his postgame comments were perceived by many as lacking emotion. His response even led some to question how much urgency and commitment he brought into what was arguably the biggest match of his career. "I just totally twisted my ankle and my knee in one play," Pulisic told reporters after the loss. "I mean, whatever. I have time to rest. It's just an unfortunate way to finish." Pulisic suffered a twisted ankle and knee injury against Belgium, likely limiting his impact in Monday night's loss. On Wednesday, he shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, thanking fans for their unwavering support of the United States throughout its World Cup run. For a player expected to carry the team on his back, Pulisics overall energy and impact fell well short of the standard. Across four World Cup matches, he failed to score a goal, recording just two shots on target and one assist. Pulisic's focus will now return to AC Milan, where he will look to put the disappointment of the World Cup behind him and prepare for the upcoming Serie A season. The United States, meanwhile, begins the long wait toward 2030. After falling short on home soil, the program will spend the next four years trying to turn promise into a breakthrough in Spain, Morocco and Portugal.

CARSON, Calif. (AP) No more playful dances. No more taunting social media posts. Belgium is done celebrating its victory over the host United States and hard at work on extending its World Cup run on American soil.The Red Devils trained in the Los Angeles area on Wednesday with the memory still fresh of their 4-1 thrashing of the Americans in Seattle on Monday. After surviving a test from Senegal with a thrilling comeback and then thoroughly dominating the U.S. in its first two knockout games, Belgium faces its toughest challenge yet against unbeaten Spain in the quarterfinals on Friday.But this tumultuous World Cup run has sparked something in this Belgian team, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois believes.We gained a lot of confidence, because we knew it was going to be a hard game against America, Courtois said at the LA Galaxy's suburban stadium. Theyre obviously the home team with a full stadium (that's) with them, so its nice to perform in a good way defensive, offensively, and just play our game.Belgium went into the U.S. matchup with a world of indignant motivation after star American forward Folarin Balogun's one-game red-card suspension was curiously lifted by FIFA. The Red Devils took it out on an outclassed American team and then celebrated gleefully, both on the pitch and in the dressing room.In the most viral moment, many players did the simplistic dance associated with U.S. President Donald Trump and performed by numerous athletes across the sports world in recent months, including American star Christian Pulisic.Belgium left back Diego Moreira smiled slightly when asked about the meaning of doing the dance after Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino to ask for a review of Balogun's red card.There are different ways to celebrate different goals, Moreira said through an interpreter. You can do different dances, and thats what weve done. We just celebrated the win after the game.Courtois said he wasnt in the dressing room because he was at doping control, so he couldn't comment on the dance.The Red Devils say they've put that cathartic evening behind them after landing for their second game of the tournament to be played at SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles area.Belgium was still in a mood to argue with Americans, however: The team moved its training base on Wednesday with FIFA approval after deciding that its assigned fields at Los Angeles' Loyola Marymount University did not meet the minimum standards required for our training session, according to a statement from the Royal Belgian Football Association.Belgium will be an underdog against Spain, which has yet to concede a goal in this World Cup. That's fine with the Red Devils, who have played their best soccer of the tournament since their stirring rally from a 2-0 deficit to beat Senegal 3-2.When asked about facing powerhouse Spain, Courtois' mind immediately went to Belgium's 2-1 victory over Brazil in the World Cup eight years ago in Russia. That upset sent the Red Devils to the semifinals for the first time in 32 years.They were favored against us, and maybe they were more individually with more quality in the team, Courtois said. But I feel we are a great team all together now, and we are fighting. Especially (the match) against Senegal showed our ability to keep believing until the end, and thats also a strength at the World Cup. The important thing is to win games. Its a nice thing to also play well, but the most important thing is to win and to compete, and thats what we did.___See more of APs World Cup coverage here

In retrospect, the Texas Tech coach says the school would have done things differently

Justin Verlander plans to call it a career later this year. The three-time Cy Young Award winner, two-time World Series champion and 2011 AL MVP will retire after this season with the Detroit Tigers. Verlander made the announcement on Wednesday, shortly after he was added as a Legend Pick to the American League All-Star roster. "While I'm fully committed to giving my team everything I have for the rest of this season, I've decided this will be my last," Verlander shared on social media. "It's fitting that I get to finish where it all started with the Detroit Tigers, the organization that drafted me and gave me my first opportunity." Oldest Player In The Majors The 43-year-old Verlander is the oldest player in Major League Baseball. He signed a $13 million, one-year contract to rejoin the Tigers in February. Verlander allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings during a 9-6 road loss at the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 30. That was his only start this year. "Its time for the next chapter," Verlander said. "But first, Im excited to finish this season the only way I know how with everything Ive got." Verlander Has dealt With Injuries This Season He went on the injured list with hip inflammation early in the season and when the right-hander was nearing a return last month, he pulled a hamstring during a bullpen session. "I never wanted to retire because of a milestone, a number, or a date on the calendar," Verlander said. "I wanted the game to tell me when it was time. Over the last several months, I've realized that time has come." He was scheduled to pitch in June and make what would have been his first start with the Tigers at Comerica Park since August 30, 2017 the day before he was traded to the Houston Astros. Cy Young Winner And World Series Champion He went 183-115 from 2005-17 with the Tigers. He won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 2006 and both the AL MVP and Cy Young Award in 2011. He helped Detroit reach the World Series in 2006 and 2012 along with four straight division titles from 2011-14. Verlander was the 2017 ALCS MVP in Houston and helped the Astros win the World Series that year and was a key player for them when they won another title in 2022. He won his second and third Cy Young Award in 2019 and 2022. "I've been fortunate to play with and against incredible players, for outstanding organizations, and compete in front of fans who deeply appreciate the game," Verlander said. All-Star Game Tribute While he will not play in the All-Star Game, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said Verlander will be at the game in Philadelphia on Tuesday and will be honored during the festivities. "The opportunity to attend once again is something I'll cherish, and it will be an incredibly special moment for me and my family," said Verlander, who is married to model Kate Upton and has two children. Verlander has a career record of 266-159 with a 3.33 ERA in 556 starts across 21 Major League seasons with the Tigers, Astros, New York Mets and San Francisco Giants. He has 3,554 strikeouts while tossing 26 complete games, including nine shutouts. He joins Bryce Harper of the host Philadelphia Phillies as a Legend Pick for the 2026 Midsummer Classic. Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera and Clayton Kershaw in 2025 have been recognized as baseball legends at previous All-Star games. How to Watch the 2026 MLB All-Star Game The 2026 MLB All-Star Game is Tuesday, July 14, with first pitch at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, live from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Watch the MLB All-Star Game on FOX One for live and on-demand streaming. Reporting by The Associated Press.

The 2026 World Cup features a lot of firsts.There was an expanded field of 48 teams for the first time.This created the first ever round of 32.There were four teams, including Cinderella story Cape Verde, making their World Cup debut.Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goal in a World Cup knockout round.And there will be a halftime show at the World Cup final for the first time.Shakira, who released the official song of the tournament, "Dai Dai," with Burna Boy, will be performing in the show along with Madonna and BTS. She already was part of Mexico's opening ceremony, marking her fourth performance at a World Cup and her return to the competition for the first time since 2014.On Wednesday, July 8, FIFA announced that Justin Bieber will be joining the star-studded lineup. The Canadian crooner wowed with his stripped down performance at Coachella this spring and will now bring his hits to the global stage.Who will be performing in the World Cup halftime show?HeadlinersShakiraMadonnaBTSJustin BieberAlso set to appearBurna BoyGustavo DudamelPS 22 Chorus featuring ColdplayHow long will the World Cup final halftime show be?FIFA said that the World Cup halftime show will be 11 minutes.The average Super Bowl halftime show is 12-14 minutes, per Sports Illustrated.Shakira and Jennifer Lopez's Super Bowl halftime show in 2020 was 14 minutes long.How to watch the World Cup halftime showThe World Cup halftime show will be during the final match at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.Time: Kickoff - 3 p.m. ET, Projected halftime show start - 3:50 p.m. ETDate: Sunday, July 19TV: FOXLive streaming:Fuboor theFox One AppSpanish language: Telemundo andPeacockThis article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is performing at World Cup halftime show? Shakira, Justin Bieber, more

SportsLine's Jose Onorato reveals his picks for the 2026 Wimbledon ladies' semifinal featuring Marta Kostyuk vs. Linda Noskova on Thursday

Dave Roberts knows the drill. As he gets set to lead the National League All-Star team for the fifth time since 2018, the Dodgers manager understands how the next week will look leading into the game and when he needs to start preparing his lineup and pitching decisions. So, he's in no rush. "I probably really start thinking about the starting pitcher the Thursday or Friday before the All-Star Game," Roberts told me on Tuesday, one week ahead of the game in Philadelphia. "Its whos going to be available. From that bucket, who deserves it? And then the hometown pitcher, starter, has got to have some weight. Then, try to bake it all in to see whats the right decision." Cristopher Snchez would be a logical hometown choice to start, even after the Phillies starter saw his ERA jump from 2.00 to 2.62 with a clunker this week in Kansas City. Atlanta Braves veteran Chris Sale and Cincinnati Reds breakout Chase Burns are also among the top NL arms available to Roberts. The best pitcher in the National League this year, however, will not be an option. Milwaukee Brewers star Jacob Misiorowski, who leads all qualified MLB starters in ERA (1.64) and strikeouts (167) among a litany of categories, was ruled out of the All-Star Game since hes scheduled to start Sunday. Fellow National League All-Star pitchers Paul Skenes, who is slated to start against Misiorowski on Sunday, and Max Meyer were also ruled out for the same reason. Replacing that trio of pitchers is Philadelphia starter Jess Luzardo, Pittsburgh starter Braxton Ashcraft and St. Louis reliever Riley OBrien. There are sure to be more changes ahead in the coming days, which is why Roberts is taking his time before solidifying his choices. He said he gets the roster updates at the same time as everyone else, and he doesnt get a say in the choices, so he knows theres no rush. Soon, Roberts and his coaching staff will be fielding calls from other NL managers and pitching coaches to discuss the workloads of the players on the NL All-Star roster. Those conversations havent happened yet, but theyre likely to take place over the weekend. Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior and Major League Baseball also help facilitate those discussions. "Theres a lot of bait-and-switching going on," Roberts told me. "Pitchers want the All-Star nod, but when they get it and get their bonus, they dont want to pitch. Thats something were very mindful of. Then it puts more stress and potential in harms way of other guys that are going to pitch. So, thats something were still trying to get a handle on." Roberts invited Phillies manager Don Mattingly and Cardinals manager Oli Marmol to be honorary coaches on his All-Star coaching staff this year. Mattingly managed the Dodgers from 2011-15, right before Roberts took over, and was in the opposing dugout in last years World Series as the Toronto Blue Jays bench coach. Roberts thought it made sense to have the hometown manager joining him for the game, but his decision to include Mattingly went beyond that. "Ive never spent time with Donnie," Roberts said. "For me to be able to have an opportunity to spend time with him I thought was great. And Oli, I just think hes been an organizational guy as a player, as a manager, and we developed a bond, a friendship, and its an opportunity for me to spend some time with him." Roberts said he has gotten to know Marmol much better over the last five years. Marmol has been the Cardinals manager since 2022 and has been with the organization for the past 20 years, starting as a minor-league player before working his way up as a manager through the system. He remained on board as the Cardinals skipper this year after Chaim Bloom took over as president of baseball operations, signing a two-year contract extension in March despite coming off three seasons without a playoff appearance. The 2026 Cardinals, one of the surprise stories of the first half, are contending for a playoff spot. "We have conversations when we play each other, and he wanted to pick my brain about some things, and I wanted to pick his brain," Roberts told me. "I think, for me, all the scrutiny that he was going through, I loved the way that he responded and how he remained steadfast managing the ballclub with all the uncertainty, the noise, outside of it. I respected that." While Mattingly is a National League manager now after a 9-19 start, the Phillies have gone 42-22 since Mattingly took over as interim manager hell have plenty of connections in the opposing dugout at the All-Star Game after spending three seasons on Torontos coaching staff. Blue Jays skipper John Schneider, of course, will be managing the American League team. Roberts advice for the first-timer? "Enjoy every bit of it," Roberts said. "The managers speech to the players is something that is always memorable. Sometimes you feel maybe a little pressure, but its exciting. Try to get everybody in there. And be mindful of the pitching. You never want to run out of pitching." Thats something Roberts remembered well from his first experience as an All-Star manager in 2018, when the game at Nationals Park went to extra innings. "Its a balancing act," Roberts said. "But at the end of the day, its an exhibition, and its a lot of fun." Shohei Ohtani is still lined up to make his scheduled pitching start Friday, a week after feeling tightness in his right biceps on a swing. Ohtani said his removal from the game late last Friday the Dodgers pinch-hit for him in the seventh inning was precautionary and that he had dealt with a similar issue earlier this season and was able to play through it. Ohtani was held out of the lineup Saturday but returned on Sunday and then homered in each of his first two games against the Rockies on Monday and Tuesday this week, joining the 300-homer club in the process. Immediately after Ohtanis biceps issue arose, Roberts said the idea of skipping Ohtanis last pitching start of the first half should be on the table. Now, though, thats not the plan. "As he goes through the next couple days, if he doesn't feel great, we'll pivot, and we're prepared to pivot," Roberts said. "But as we sit here, I don't see that changing." Roberts reiterated Tuesday that he doesnt expect Ohtani to pitch in the All-Star Game or to compete in the Home Run Derby, but he does see him taking "an at-bat or two" in the game. "He understands the responsibility he has," Roberts said. "So, I do think that there's a middle for what's best for him, what potentially could be downside, but also what's best for the game." Justin Wrobleski wasamong the biggest All-Star snubs when the initial rosters were announced last weekend, and that remained the case after his latest start Tuesday. Wrobleski lowered his ERA to 2.69 on the year while striking out nine Rockies and holding them to one run in his third straight start of seven innings. The Dodgers sixth starter is 10-2 with a 2.69 ERA that ranks eighth among qualified NL starters. "Obviously it's disappointing," Wrobleski said of the snub. "You want to be an All-Star. It's something that, regardless of the year, whenever, it's always a big deal. It's something I wanted to do. It's frustrating to not get that nod. But like I said before, it's just more reason to try and keep getting better. Hopefully, I can gain the respect of players and everybody else and maybe be in there next year." He might not have to wait that long. Changes are still being made, and if Yoshinobu Yamamoto who is starting Saturday for the Dodgers is unable to pitch in the All-Star Game three days later, Wrobleski would make for a logical replacement. Wrobleski said he would still love to get the call and would also like to know where hes going to be spending his All-Star break. His manager has already lobbied for him to make the team, and because Wrobleski made his last start of the first half on Tuesday, he would be available to pitch in the All-Star Game if he got the nod. "We run a six-man rotation, and I just don't want him to get dinged for not making a couple more starts that he potentially could have had," Roberts said. "It's about winning, the ERA is stellar, innings per outing, and so I just think that he's performed enough to earn that opportunity." "That means a lot, obviously," Wrobleski said of Roberts support."He has given me this opportunity to kind of be a starter in the major leagues when maybe some other teams would've given up on me." How to Watch the 2026 MLB All-Star Game The 2026 MLB All-Star Game is Tuesday, July 14, with first pitch at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, live from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Watch the MLB All-Star Game on FOX One for live and on-demand streaming.

The NFL's all-time leading scorer who spent 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts will be inducted into the team's Ring of Honor during the 2026 NFL season.Adam Vinatieri scored 2,673 points for the Colts and New England Patriots from 1996-2019. His 1,515 points from 2006-19 are the Colts' record.He kicked three field goals in the Colts' Super Bowl XLI win over the Chicago Bears.When will Adam Vinatieri be inducted into the Colts' Ring of Honor?Vinatieri will be inducted into the Colts' Ring of Honor on Oct. 18, during a Week 6 game against the Tennessee Titans.Adam Vinatieri stats1996-2005 with New England: 1,158 points, 263-of-321 field goals (81.9%), 367-of-374 PATs (98.1%). 2006-2019 with the Colts: 1,515 points, 336-of-394 field goals (85.3%), 507-of-524 PATs (96.8%).NFL career: 2,673 points, 599-of-715 field goals (all NFL records), 874-of-898 PATs.Who is in the Colts' Ring of Honor?Team owners Robert Irsay and Jim Irsay; receiver Bill Brooks; coach Ted Marchibroda; offensive lineman Chris Hinton; quarterback Jim Harbaugh; "Colts Nation;" coach Tony Dungy; receiver Marvin Harrison; running back Edgerrin James; running back Eric Dickerson; running back Marshall Faulk; center Jeff Saturday; general manager Bill Polian; quarterback Peyton Manning; receiver Reggie Wayne; defensive end Dwight Freeney; defensive end Robert Mathis; offensive lineman Tarik Glenn, and tight end Dallas Clark.Joel A. EricksonandNathan Browncover the Coltsall season. Get more coverage onIndyStarTVand with theColts Insider newsletter.This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: NFL all-time leading scorer Adam Vinatieri will be inducted into the Colts' Ring of Honor

McGregor has beaten Holloway once before, but many things have changed in the 13 years since that meeting

Christian Pulisic has become the target of many critics of the U.S. men's soccer team following its round of 16 loss to Belgium at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, he has a pair of U.S. Soccer icons in his corner, too: Landon Donovan and Tim Howard. Both Donovan and Howard expressed some empathy for Pulisic after some of the criticism he's received for his underwhelming play during the World Cup and his early departure from its elimination loss. But Donovan also pleaded with Pulisic to make some changes to how he conducts business and treats others off the pitch. "This is an opportunity to help and to change your life forever," Donovan said on his podcast, "Unfiltered Soccer," with Howard. "One of the biggest problems I speak to people who are at U.S. Soccer. I speak to his sponsors. I speak to his teammates. I speak to the staff and the coaches. People are fed up with the way things are handled around him. "And it's not necessarily him, but it's his agents, his family, his hangers-on, the people who are influencing. People are fed up with it. They treat people poorly. They do things poorly. It's always a 'no' whenever you wanna ask, 'Can we do an interview?' It's always a, 'No, you can't get near him.' He doesn't say 'hi' to the commentators who do all the games all the time when they walk by. All the other guys come over and shake hands and say, 'Hello.' "There's just this sense about him that you can't get near him. And I actually don't think it's from him. I think it's from I think it's from the people around him. They need to stop, and he needs to man up and have a conversation with them and say, Look guys, this is not helping me." Donovan said that he went through something similar to what Pulisic is going through now when the USA was eliminated in group play at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, with Donovan being viewed as the face of the team at the time. "I have been in his shoes. I know the feeling. The feeling is identical," Donovan said. "I would just say this: It led me to therapy. It led me to take a look at my life and my career honestly for the first time. It allowed me to have massive, important conversations with people I love in my life about all things, not just soccer, and it changed my life forever, in a positive way." While Pulisic's 2026 U.S. team went further than Donovan's 2006 squad, the 27-year-old didn't do a ton to contribute to the team's success. He logged zero goals and an assist during the tournament, with a calf injury forcing him to miss parts of all three group matches. He departed Monday's loss early in the second half due to an ankle injury, with his comment that he has "time to rest" to FOX Sports' Jenny Taft particularly catching heat on social media. As Pulisic is dealing with some backlash, Howard said that he hopes the USA star isn't on social media for a bit. But, like Donavan, Howard also suggested that Pulisic change his off-field approach. "Yeah, rubbed some people the wrong way," Howard said of Pulisic's post-match remarks. "I don't envy Christian Pulisic right now. That's a difficult place to be. I do, though, believe that the sort of perceived nonchalantness is not that he doesn't care. I think he's hurting. I think he's aware. I think that's his own defense mechanism. All I can is, I think it's impossible for him to feel the way that he felt being one of the leaders on that team and being the biggest name and the best player with his ankle hurt and getting crushed going out of a World Cup I would find it almost impossible for him to give a legitimately nonchalant interview. "So, there's something else going on there." This isn't the first time Donavan has pointed remarks toward Pulisic. He took multiple swipes at the AC Milan star for opting not to play for the USA in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup due to rest. But as Donovan acknowledged that he doesn't have "a great relationship" with Pulisic, he hopes he's able to change how he conducts himself off the pitch so he doesn't alienate himself from the fans. "He has a big challenge ahead," Donovan said. "I'm looking ahead to the next game, the next U.S. game in this country, what do you think that's going to look like? Think about that, is he going to get booed when they announce him? Maybe. People are livid. It's a long, winded way of saying, this can be a good moment in your life. A lot of things need to change, and I actually think it's not him it's the people around him."