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NEW DELHI (AP) — The world's richest franchise cricket league is ongoing in India, a cricket- crazy country of 1.4 billion. The Indian Premier League features top players from around the world and attracts hundreds of millions of TV viewers. While the format leads to high-tempo action on the field, Twenty20 cricket has also sparked an evolution in off-field entertainment in cricket. Cheerleaders dancing on podiums, DJs sitting behind decks spinning tunes, and fancy dress themes are all part of the T20 game for crowds, bringing a colorful new twist for those at the stadium and broadcast viewers. This year, 65 international cricketers from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, England and Afghanistan have joined India's high-profile players in the tournament. The tournament started March 23 and the final is set for June 3 at Ahmedabad. The championship decider will be played at Narendra Modi Stadium, the world's largest cricket venue with a seating capacity of 132,000. _______ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

The Edmonton Oilers get their shot at revenge in the Stanley Cup Final after claiming a 6-3 road victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday to close out the Western Conference finals. Connor McDavid collected one goal and one assist as the Oilers dispatched the Stars in five games in the best-of-seven series. Next up is a rematch of last year's finals against the Panthers, won by Florida in seven games. "They're a really good team and we're a really good team as well," Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl said of the Panthers. "It's nice to get a shot at getting some revenge, but we're a long ways from that. We'll enjoy this and get ready." Game 1 will be Wednesday at Edmonton. Corey Perry, Mattias Janmark, Jeff Skinner, Evander Kane and Kasperi Kapanen also scored for the Oilers, who have won 12 of their past 14 playoff games and eliminated the Stars in the conference finals for the second consecutive year. Edmonton goaltender Stuart Skinner made 14 saves. In last year's Stanley Cup Final, Edmonton lost the first three games but pushed it to the limit before dropping the deciding game 2-1. Now the Oilers have their opportunity to not only win the Stanley Cup but claim the crown against the club that broke their hearts. "I think we're better for going through last year," McDavid said. "It's a great learning experience and really driven us all year. This run has felt very different than last year. It's felt very normal. ... "Games can be emotionally draining, but we're not drained. We've got as good a chance as they do." Jason Robertson scored twice and Roope Hintz tallied once for Dallas, which has lost out in the Stanley Cup chase in the third round three straight years. Wyatt Johnston and Thomas Harley each recorded two assists. Starting Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger was pulled after surrendering goals on the first two shots he faced. Casey DeSmith made 17 saves in relief. "We felt we had a solid group from top to bottom, and that's why this stings pretty bad," Stars captain Jamie Benn said. "It (hurts). Three years in a row now you get that close and come up short. It's not a good feeling." Sensing their chance to close out the series, the Oilers staked an early 3-0 lead thanks to goals by Perry at 2:31, Janmark at 7:09 and then Skinner -- playing his first game since the playoff opener -- 58 seconds later for his first career playoff goal. On Perry's goal, McDavid collected his 100th career playoff assist in his 90th game, the second-fastest player to hit the century mark for postseason helpers, behind only Wayne Gretzky (70 games). Robertson scored for the third consecutive game at 11:40 of the opening frame and Hintz made it a one-goal game with a power-play tally at 12:27 of the second period to draw Dallas close. However, McDavid restored Edmonton's two-goal lead two minutes later with a breakaway tally. Robertson's second of the game 38 seconds into the third period again brought the Stars within one, but Kane responded at 3:21 of the final period. Kapanen's empty-net goal in the last minute rounded out the scoring. Dallas failed to record a shot on goal in the final 16:17 of the game, but a big story going forward will be the goalie change. "I didn't blame it all on Jake, but the reality is if you go back to last year's playoffs, he's lost six of seven games to Edmonton (before Thursday)," Stars coach Peter DeBoer said. "And we give up two goals on two shots in an elimination game. It was partly to spark our team and ... status quo had not been working." --Field Level Media

Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford had some words for home plate umpire Andy Fletcher on Thursday. In the sixth inning of the Mariners' 9-3 loss to the Washington Nationals, Crawford was rung up on a called third strike from starting pitcher Mackenzie Gore with runners on the corners, no outs and Seattle down 2-0. The pitch was outside to the naked eye, but Fletcher still saw it as in the zone. Immediately after he was punched out, Crawford could be heard yelling "That's not a strike man!" at Fletcher, who responded by ejecting him. Crawford remained on the field to get his money's worth until Mariners manager Dan Wilson stepped in and pushed him back to the dugout. JP Crawford was ejected from the game after this strike three callpic.twitter.com/iHUwyilXYF — FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX)May 30, 2025 Crawford was replaced atop the Mariners lineup by Leo Rivas, who took over at second while Dylan Moore moved to cover shortstop. MLB's Statcast cameras sided with Crawford, showing the pitch to be at least a ball outside. And here's a look at the pitch location, per Baseball Savant:pic.twitter.com/IFcmTZ3X7W — Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_)May 30, 2025 That result wound up being significant. Julio Rodriguez struck out on the next at-bat to give the Mariners their second out, then Cal Raleigh reached base on a hit-by-pitch. With the bases loaded and two outs, Randy Arozarena also struck out to keep Seattle scoreless for the inning.

For the second consecutive year, hockey fans will be treated to Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers defeated the Dallas Stars 6-3 on Thursday to win Game 5, and the Western Conference Final, to advance to the Cup. It was a quick start for Connor McDavid and company as Edmonton scored two goals on their first two shots of the game. With the Stars fans on hand at the American Airlines Center stunned, Dallas coach Pete DeBoer pulled goalie Jake Oettinger, who was replaced by Casey DeSmith. Oilers forward Jeff Skinner would tally the team's third goal minutes later. But as the Stars had showed throughout the playoffs, they had no quit. Jason Robertson stopped the bleeding and got Dallas on the board as they took a 3-1 deficit into the first intermission. After a Roope Hintz goal to bring the Stars back to just a one-goal game, it was McDavid that came through and flashed why he is the most dangerous player in the game. The 28-year-old, three-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner gathered a redirection from Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner and blazed down center ice to beat DeSmith to extend the lead. Despite Robertson scoring his second goal of the game, the Oilers proved to be too much, adding two more goals to down the Stars in the conference finals for the second straight year and coast to another Cup final against the Panthers. The Oilers celebrated in front of the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl, which McDavid went against all usual hockey norms and touched the trophy. The Oilers didn't touch the trophy last year before losing to the Panthers in seven games. McDavid shook off any superstitions one might have. "It's pretty obvious I think," McDavid told reporters. "Don't touch it last year, you don't win. Touch it this year, hopefully we win." McDavid said after the game he was proud of his team's will all series long. "It was a long night. We hung in there," McDavid told the ESPN broadcast. "I thought we played well all five games. Honestly, everybody stepped up. Everybody made contributions. Fun group to be apart of for sure." The Oilers will face aPanthers teamthat is coming off a dominant stretch in this year's playoffs, eliminating the Carolina Hurricanes in five games on Wednesday to secure their third consecutive trip to the Cup. The reigning champions Panthers defeated the Oilers in a hard fought seven-game series last year. McDavid called Florida a "heck of a team." "Obviously, it's their third finals. They're a special group," McDavid said. "We're a special group. It's going to be fun. Couldn't ask for a better opportunity to go up against a team that beat us last year. Really excited about it." The Panthers will look to be the NHL's first team to repeat as Cup champions since their in-state rival, the Tampa Bay Lightning, did so in 2020 and 2021. It is the second Cup Final rematch over the past 40 years and 11th in NHL history. Edmonton are now four games away from not only winning the franchise's fifth Cup and first since 1990, but they can become the first Canadian team to lift it since the Montreal Canadiens did in 1993. Game 1 is at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday at Rogers Place in Edmonton. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

TheDallas Starsgot off to a bad start whilebeing eliminated Thursday nightby theEdmonton Oilers. A careless penalty. A power-play goal in which Corey Perry was left alone in front. Another defensive breakdown on the Oilers' second goal by Mattias Janmark at 7:09. Stars coach Peter DeBoer called a timeout, then did something shocking: He pulled star goaltender Jake Oettinger and inserted backup Casey DeSmith. DeBoer explained his reasoning afterward, saying he didn't fully blame Oettinger for the goals but at the same time, he cited the "reality" of the situation. "If you go back to last year's playoffs, he's lost six of seven games to Edmonton and we gave up two goals on two shots in an elimination game," DeBoer said. "It was partly to spark our team and wake them up and partly knowing that status quo had not been working. That's a pretty big sample size." Jake Oettinger's night is DONE 5 mins into Game 5 😳He gets pulled after allowing 2 goals on the Oilers' first 2 shots 😬pic.twitter.com/gSSyXUZsZJ — Gino Hard (@GinoHard_)May 30, 2025 DeSmith gave up a quick goal to Jeff Skinner and though the Stars pulled close on a couple of occasions. they fell 6-3. "We didn't roll over," DeBoer said. Oettinger was one of three U.S. goalies at the 4 Nations Face-Off who could also be thenetminders for the 2026 Olympics. Top goalie Connor Hellebuyck hadsome tough games on the roadfor the Winnipeg Jets in the playoffs. Oettinger had a 3.93 goals-against average and .853 save percentage in the conference final. Boston's Jeremy Swayman missed the playoffs but helped theUSA win a rare gold medalat the world championships. The Stars have now lost three consecutive trips to the Western Conference final. "Our group needs to go – you know, coaches, players – and reflect in the summer on what we can do when we get to this point against the best teams," DeBoer said. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Stars' Jake Oettinger pulled; coach Peter DeBoer explains why

PARIS (AP) — If more tennis players find themselves breathing easier, it might just be thanks toCarlos Alcaraz. The four-time Grand Slam champion, whose bid for a second consecutiveFrench Open titlewas scheduled to continue with a third-round match Friday night, has often worn a nasal strip in matches since last season — although not during his first two contests atRoland-Garrosthis week — and the sport's other athletes took note. After all, if Alcaraz finds something useful on the court, their thinking goes, maybe it makes sense to give the adhesive bands a shot. "I saw Carlos playing in it," said 18-year-oldMirra Andreeva, a semifinalist in Paris last year and the No. 6 women's seed this time. "I'd be pretty interested to try and see if there is really a difference. If he plays matches in it, then probably there is." At the 2024 season-ending ATP Finals last November, Alcaraz said: "It is something that I'm going to wear more often. I could recover better between points." Once associated with Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice and soccer stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, the bands, which essentially look like a Band-Aid worn across the bridge of the nose, are popping up on tennis courts — sometimes out of necessity, sometimes out of curiosity. They are designed to open the nostrils slightly, making it easier to breathe through the nose. Originally marketed to reduce snoring, they're being embraced to enhance air intake during physical exertion. The idea is simple: Better breathing could mean better oxygen intake. In practice, the science is less convincing. In 2021, Brazilian academic Ricardo Dinardi reviewed more than 600 studies on nasal strips and found they didn't make a real difference in how much air athletes took in, their heart rate or how strenuous exercise felt. "The effect on athletic performance is mostly placebo," Dinardi said. "But in elite sports, even perceived benefits can count." Three-time major finalistCasper Ruud, who wore the strips in matches earlier this year, knows the evidence is shaky. But he still liked using them — both on the court and while sleeping. Like Alcaraz, Ruud did not wear one in Paris before his second-round exit. But he has been testing a prototype of a different version. "I tried out a device that's very early in development. It will be a bit more comfortable to wear, because it's inside the nose and it looks like I have this bullring under," said Ruud, who was the runner-up at Roland-Garros to Rafael Nadal in 2022 and Novak Djokovic in 2023. "It will return, don't worry." For other players, like Nicolás Jarry, the strips are more than a trend — they're a necessity. After nasal surgery in 2020, the Chilean still needed help to draw air into his nose, so he puts them on for every practice and every match he plays. "Without it, I cannot breathe. My nostrils shut when I try," he said, inhaling to demonstrate for a reporter. "Others don't have that issue and still use them." Jarry definitely has noticed a recent spike in interest among players. He said that even though he's worn the strips for years, including at this French Open, other competitors on tour never asked about them — until Alcaraz started wearing one last year, sometimes in black, sometimes in pink. "Others have asked me, and many are trying it," said Jarry, who sported a beige-colored strip in Paris. "But before him? Nothing." There are those, like2024 US Open runner-up Jessica Pegula, who are tempted to try. "I have a horrible deviated septum. I can't really breathe out of one side of my nose," said Pegula, who will play 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the third round Saturday. "Maybe I should start wearing one." She admits, though, that the aesthetic aspect might be a deal-breaker. "I don't know," Pegula said with a smile, "if I have the confidence to rock one." ___ AP Tennis Writer Howard Fendrich contributed. ___ AP tennis:https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Jessica Clements and UCLA softball finished out the evening of Women's College World Series action with a walk-off home run to defeat Oregon 4-2 on Thursday. The Bruins and the Ducks were tied 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Bruins had the potential game-winning run on first base with two outs before Clements clinched the victory with her home run. The ball landed just over the fence in center field and into the hands of a fan in attendance. "We just have an unwavering faith in each other and what we are doing," UCLA catcher Alexis Ramirez told NCAA sideline reporter Michella Chester after the game. THE GAME ALWAYS KNOWS!!JESSICA CLEMENTS WALK-OFF HOMER TO TAKE GAME ONE!!#GoBruinspic.twitter.com/vl9vOl9mMu — UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball)May 30, 2025 Ramirez played a key role in the game for the Bruins, going 2-for-3 with a two-run home run. The Bruins held a 2-1 lead going into the final inning before the Ducks tied the game after a controversial obstruction call at home plate. Oregon's Paige Sinicki slid toward home plate but was tagged by Ramirez, who appeared to have her foot on the plate. The Ducks challenged the call and were awarded the run afterthe call was reversed. Oregon ties it in the top of the 7th on ESPN2 😯After review, UCLA was called for obstruction on the game-tying play.pic.twitter.com/7Zr1MJgnn1 — espnW (@espnW)May 30, 2025 As a result of the victory, the Bruins will advance to the winner's bracket. WCWS bracket 2025:Scores, schedule, matchups for NCAA softball tournament UCLA will play Texas Tech on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Texas Tech beat Ole Miss 1-0 with Lauren Allred scoring a run in the fourth inning after scoring on an error. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:UCLA softball beats Oregon in WCWS with walk-off home run

NEW YORK — In a despondent visiting locker room at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Josh Hart was searching. He'd just committed a handful of "just bad, stupid turnovers" that helped kickstart the Pacers' potent transition attack, fueling Indiana's offense in a130-121 win in Game 4of the 2025 Eastern Conference finals. After anear-flawless performanceby Tyrese Haliburton gave the Pacers a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven set, pushing New York to the brink of elimination, Hart was asked what message his team could rally around as they exited Indianapolis. "We're going back home," Hart said. "I've never known this team to quit. That's not the character of the guys we have in the locker room. Obviously, our backs are against the wall, but we're competitors, and we're going to bring it until the series is over." It's not over yet. The Knicks are still alive, thanks largely to its superstars — the celebrated but also, in this series, somewhat maligned duo ofJalen BrunsonandKarl-Anthony Towns— showing up and showing out with the season on the line. During his pregame media availability, Thibodeau said Towns would be a game-time decision with theleft knee contusionhe suffered late in New York's Game 4 loss. Asked when he knew he'd be good to go, Towns said, "I looked at the game, and it said, 'Game 5.' Do or die. That was pretty much all I needed to see." Towns credited the Knicks' medical staff with getting him prepared to be able to compete. "We put a lot of hours in, trying to get myself ready so I could have a chance," he said. "God was good. I was able to go out there and play." Towns didn't just play; he started, had a double-double by halftime, and finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds and 3 assists, his fourth 20-and-10 of the series and ninth of this first postseason as a Knick. "I thought he was very aggressive, and I think that's super important," Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said of Towns. "I think Jalen, as well." Ah, yes: Jalen, as well. Brunson made his first three shots in the first 89 seconds of Game 5, staking the Knicks to an early edge that they'd never relinquish. New York would push the advantage as high as 22 points in the third quarter before settling in fora 111-94 Game 5 winto cut their series deficit to 3-2, and giving the Pacers plenty to think about on the flight back to Indianapolis ahead of Game 6 on Saturday. The Knicks' superstar point guard came out hot and stayed that way, scoring 14 points and dishing a pair of assists in the first quarter, establishing from the jump that New York would be able to get to its game offensively and was not at all interested in embarking on an early summer vacation. "He was cooking, that's what I saw — I saw him cooking," Towns said. "When he's playing like that and he's hitting shots, obviously it energizes everyone." Two nights after Indiana's All-NBA table-setter energized his team with his shot-making and ball movement, Brunson responded in kind, finishing with 32 points on 12-for-18 shooting to go with 5 rebounds and 5 assists in 34 minutes of work. It's Brunson's 22nd 30-point, five-assist game in the playoffs,tying Oscar Robertson for 15th all-time; he's now averaging 33 points and 5.4 assists per game on 51/36/93 shooting splits in these conference finals, continuing to burnish his reputation as one of the game's elite postseason offensive weapons. "[Haliburton] played phenomenal in Game 4," Brunson said. "I mean, our backs are against the wall. I wasn't thinking, 'I need to play better than him.' I was just thinking, 'I need to help my team win.' And that's my mindset every time I'm on the court — just help my team win." Brunson also carried that mindset over to the defensive end on Thursday, playing like a competitor eager to offer an emphatic response to multiple days of conversation aboutthe success Indiana has had hunting him in this series. When the Pacers worked to put him in actions in Game 5, Brunson played with energy, physicality and tenacity. When he hedged on ball screens and recovered back to his man, he didn't go half-speed with a half-hearted reach; he worked to turn back the ball-handler, sprint back to his man, and keep a body on a body. When he got switched into a mismatch, against Haliburton or Myles Turner, he didn't just concede or commit a bailout foul; he forced the opponent to make plays over the top of him or through him. Sometimes, they did; sometimes, they didn't. That's progress. "That's our guy," said Hart, who chipped in 12 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in 34 minutes as hecontinued to come off the bench. "We know he's gonna bring it offensively, but I felt like dug in defensively and had great intensity … Sometimes we know it's tough against the pick-and-roll offensively, but the biggest thing when you're getting searched out, at the end of the day, it's about pride. He answered the call, he defended well, he defended without fouling, which is the most important part. And we need that from him again next game." That progress was an important part of the Knicks turning in their best defensive performance of the series — and, given the stakes, arguably their best of the entire season. The Knicks defensive intensity has been so high up this game, this play is after Mitchell's rejection of Haliburton.pic.twitter.com/Djw3EeO4iH — Mo Dakhil (@MoDakhil_NBA)May 30, 2025 New York held an Indiana team that had been shooting50% from the floor in the playoffs as a teamand scoring a scorching121.1 points per 100 possessions through four conference finals gamesto 40.5% from the field and just96.9points-per-100 in Game 5. That's the first time the Pacers have failed to score at least one point per possessionin the 2025 NBA playoffs, and just the eighth time in 97 combinedregular-and postseason contests. The Pacers made a couple of runs at it, getting within 12 on a 3-pointer by little-used reserve Jarace Walker with just over eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter, and cutting the Knick lead to 14 on a driving Haliburton layup with 3:18 to go in regulation. If that combination of time and score made you start to sweat a little, you might be a Knicks fan who's still working through the trauma of the team squandering a14-point lead with 2:51 to go in Game 1. On Thursday, though, Aaron Nesmith wasn't coming out of the bullpen to start chucking lightning bolts. The Pacers forward, still battling through asprained right ankle, played just 16 ineffective minutes in Game 5, missing seven of his eight shots and checking out for good with five and a half minutes to go in the fourth. On Thursday, Pascal Siakam wasn't ending every good possession of New York defense with a backbreaking fadeaway, or sprinting the length of the court off of every Knick make or miss for deflating transition buckets. Six days after scoring what Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle called"a quiet 39 points,"the Pacers All-Star forward finished with anactuallyquiet 15 points on 5-for-13 shooting. Pascal Siakam: "They played harder than us." — Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix)May 30, 2025 And on Thursday, Haliburton wasn't getting loose to torture New York with impossible haymakers. In fact, he wasn't really going anywhere. Look at the New York Knicks flying around on defense.pic.twitter.com/Z02jl31bcE — Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20)May 30, 2025 After four games largely spent flailing in his wake, the Knicks defense finally found some success limiting Haliburton's freedom of movement, holding the All-NBA point guard to just eight points on 2-for-7 shooting and six assists — just his second single-digit scoring performance of this postseason, and his fewest helpers in the series. Thibodeau is fond of saying that you don't defend superstar players individually, you guard them with your entire team, and dimming Haliburton's shine on Thursday was a collective effort. Mikal Bridges turned in his best and most committed defensive performance of the series, giving the Pacers a taste of their own medicine by extending his pickup point, applying backcourt ball pressure on Indiana's lead guard, and staying connected to Haliburton all over the court. When other Knicks picked up the assignment — including OG Anunoby, who guarded Haliburton for a stretch in the second quarter, and reserves Landry Shamet and Delon Wright, who continue to make significant contributions now that Thibodeau has actually deigned to go to his bench and lengthen his rotation — they followed suit, staying physical and disciplined to limit Haliburton's easy touches and opportunities to drive into open space. Big men Towns, Mitchell Robinson and Precious Achiuwa did yeoman's work moving their feet when drawn out into deep water. The gap help behind the initial defender was on time all night, dissuading Haliburton from making his typical deep forays into the paint. "Sometimes, it was probably a combination of him missing some shots he normally makes," Thibodeau said after the game. "But I thought our guys were tied together, trying to make him work for everything. That's what you have to do. We have to fight to win every possession." That extends to the other end of the floor, too. Thibodeau insisted after the game that New York didn't necessarily make a concerted effort to hunt Haliburton the same way thatIndiana's been hunting Brunson all series long. When opportunities presented themselves, though — a Bridges post touch here, a Bridges-Mitchell Robinson pick-and-roll in secondary action there, some double high ball screens that forced Haliburton to navigate traffic — well, let's just say New York didn't turn them down: Through four games, the Pacers had outscored New York by28 points in 152 minuteswith Haliburton on the court; in Game 5, Indiana lost his minutes by 23. "I feel like we picked up our intensity a little bit, obviously," Brunson said after the game about the defensive improvements, on Haliburton and in general. "I think we paid attention to detail better as a team. The little things go a long way. If we pay attention to the minute things, the things that just don't seem like a huge deal, they really do help." The devil's in the details, the magic's in the work, and the Knicks, still, are in the fight. They've staved off elimination once. Do it again on Saturday in Indianapolis, and they come home for Game 7 at Madison Square Garden. It's a tall task. But Hart's never known this Knicks team to quit, and on Thursday, they sure didn't look like they were ready to start any time soon.

CHICAGO – In a move that was months in coming, theCincinnati Redshave moved on from former All-Star closer Alexis Díaz. The Reds and Dodgers have agreed to a trade to send Diaz to Los Angeles for a minor leaguer, the club announced Thursday, May 29. Diaz had struggled since the second half of his 2023 All-Star season, eventually giving way to veteran Emilio Pagán as the closer this season. Diaz has been in the minors since the club optioned him to Class AAA Louisville on April 30 after command issues persisted into the early season. In six appearances with the Reds this season, he allowed eight runs on five walks and eight hits, including four home runs, in just six innings. He also hit two batters and had just three strikeouts. The Reds received minor league right-handed pitcher Mike Villani in the deal. Villani, who was drafted in the 13th round out of Long Beach State last year, just made his professional debut this week, in rookie ball. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer:Alexis Diaz trade: Dodgers get former All-Star in deal with Reds

Oklahoma softball'spath for a fifth consecutiveWomen's College World Seriesnational championship looked to include the elimination bracket. Ella Parker then changed that. Down to the last out in the bottom of the seventh inning, Parker connected a 0-1 fastball from Tennessee pitcherKarlyn Pickensand sailed it over the centerfield wall at Devon Park in Oklahoma City to give the Sooners a 4-3 win over the Volunteers in the opening round of the WCWS on Thursday. "Going into it, I knew our fourth man was in fire. This team has done so much. We just battled and battled and battled. Just knowing that our fourth man was with us, I'm so emotional," Parker told ESPN's Holly Rowe after her walk-off home run. ELLA PARKER WALKS IT OFF ‼️#WCWSx 🎥 ESPN /@OU_Softballpic.twitter.com/Z9RZ8t1bxI — NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball)May 29, 2025 REQUIRED READING:WCWS scores: Bracket, TV schedule for NCAA softball tournament With Thursday's opening win, Oklahoma continues to be undefeated in the WCWS against Tennessee. It was also the second home run of the game for Parker, who is theniece of Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "I was just doing whatever to stay loose and pass the bat to my next teammate," Parker told Rowe on what she saw on Pickens' pitch. "Nothing else, just keeping it simple." The Volunteers got to Sooners ace Sam Landry early in the top of the first inning with back-to-back hits to put runners on second and third with no outs. Tennessee plated its first run in the inning on a passed ball that got away from OU catcher Isabela Emerling, which allowed Gabby Leach to score from third. Tennessee extended its lead to 2-0 in the first when former Sooner Sophia Nugent brought in Taylor Pannell on a sacrifice fly. The Vols' 2-0 lead was short-lived, as Oklahoma quickly responded in the home half of the inning with a solo home run to right by Parker. Aggressiveness in the third inning helped extend Tennessee's lead to 3-1, when Ella Dodge scored from second on a misplayed ball in left field by Oklahoma left fielder Kasidi Pickering. T3: gettin' aggressiveLady Vols 3, Sooners 1pic.twitter.com/qZs6Dv2je4 — Tennessee Softball (@Vol_Softball)May 29, 2025 REQURIED READING:How does WCWS work? Explaining double-elimination format for NCAA softball tournament The Volunteers had an opportunity to break the game open in the top of the seventh inning when Nugent came up to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. However, Nugent would ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the rally. Then in the bottom of the seventh, Pickens, who holds theNCAA softball record for the fastest pitchat 79.4 mph, the Sooners began their rally with Ailana Agbayani working a four-pitch walk. Agbayani was then brought around to third on a single up the middle from Pickering that got under the glove of Dodge at second base. Parker's heroics in the seventh inning staved off numerous pieces of history for Oklahoma, most notably becoming the first defending national champion to lose its opening round game since 2018, which happened to also be the Sooners. Oklahoma will now take on No. 6 Texas on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET in the "winners' bracket" of the WCWS in what will be a rematch of last year's WCWS championship series. The Longhornsshut out No. 3 Florida by a score of 3-0in the opening game of the 2025 WCWS on Thursday.. (This story was updated with new information) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Ella Parker walk-off home run helps Oklahoma beat Tennessee in WCWS

DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) — Buried in gnarly rough Thursday at the Memorial, the prudent shot for Jordan Spieth was to chip out sideways back to the fairway. That's what his caddie suggested. That's not how Spieth operates. "It's really hard to get me to chip out," Spieth said after he opened with a hard-earned round of even-par 72 at Muirfield Village. "I chip out maybe less than anyone else that's every played the game of golf. "It's demoralizing enough that I'll make a terrible decision not to." That's what he faced Thursday on the par-5 fifth holeafter a tee shot that hit a tree and bounced slightly backward, creating a lie that went against the long blades of grass and left him a lie that was close to impossible. What to do? No commentary is necessary. Spieth provides that on his own. "If it gets to the fairway, I can make 4," he told Michael Greller, the caddie who has worked with him since the U.S. Junior in 2011. "Versus do I still make 5 if I can't get it to the fairway." The fairway was only 115 yards away — the lie was that bad. They reasoned that if he didn't carry it to the fairway, he'd have to lay up again because of water in front of the green. Spieth still figured he could get that up-and-down for par. As he settled over the shot, Greller made one last pitch: "Why don't you hit it right there?" he said to Spieth, indicating a chip-out to the left. "I don't want to hit it right there," Spieth said. "Because I'm hitting good shots, and they're getting absolutely boned so far, so I can't accept it." No one can fault Greller for trying to talk some safe sense into him, and this wasn't the first time. Spieth is aware of that. "His hands are tied on some of those," Spieth after his round, and then revisited that shot on the fifth hole. "I didn't think I was going to be able to reach the fairway, and I talked him into ... I could still make par either way. The reality was eight of 10 (times), I'm not going to cover. I should punch it out." He hammered it. The ball caught the first cut and barely made it back to the fairway. That left him 128 yards to the hole, and his third shot was 25 feet below the hole. Spieth holed the putt, of course. "It actually got to the fairway and I made birdie," he said, "which doesn't help the whole cause." ___ AP golf:https://apnews.com/hub/golf

USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. Texas Tech and Ole Miss softball's highly anticipated debut at theWomen's College World Serieshas been interrupted by Mother Nature. Due to inclement weather in the Oklahoma City area, Thursday's WCWS game between the Red Raiders and Rebelshas been delayed by weather. The game between Texas Tech and Ole Miss was originally scheduled for a 7 p.m. ET first pitch at Devon Park in Oklahoma City on Thursday. REQUIRED READING:Texas Tech vs Ole Miss softball live score: Live score, highlight of WCWS game To make the WCWS, Texas Tech took down No. 5 Florida State in the Tallahassee Super Regional, while Ole Miss, the lone unseeded team at the WCWS this year, took down No. 4 Arkansas in the Fayetteville Super Regional. Here's the latest weather updates on Texas Tech-Ole Miss at the WCWS: All times Eastern 7:33 p.m.:The tarp appears to be off the field in Oklahoma City. The newly announced first pitch between Texas Tech and Ole Miss is roughly 35 minutes away. THE TARP IS COMING OFF THE FIELD!!#wcwspic.twitter.com/LJtkllKJcr — Ryan Compeau (@Ry_Compeau)May 29, 2025 7:27 p.m.:The NCAA announces on X that the first pitch between Texas Tech and Ole Miss is now scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET in Oklahoma City. #WCWSSession 2 schedule update.pic.twitter.com/zMS006zBNC — NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball)May 29, 2025 7:26 p.m.:As noted by The Oklahoman's Jeff Patterson, Thursday's Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss WCWS has been delayed due to lightning in the Oklahoma City area.Per NCAA rules, if lightning strikes within at least six miles of the venue of the event, the game must be suspended for at least 30 minutes.  For every lightning strike that follows the initial lightning strike, the 30-minute clock is reset. The WCWS is in a weather delaypic.twitter.com/dMQE6m23Dk — Jeff Patterson (@jeffpattOKC)May 29, 2025 7:09 p.m.:Texas Tech's official X account (formerly Twitter) announced the originally scheduled first pitch for the 7 p.m. ET game won't happen due to a weather delay. We won't be starting at 6pm ⛈️Updates as we have thempic.twitter.com/uxf2CwxYNT — Texas Tech Softball (@TexasTechSB)May 29, 2025 According to The Weather Channel,it looks like once the current patch of inclement weather rolls through Oklahoma City, there should not be any more rain for the rest of Thursday night. Here's an hourly forecast from The Weather Channel for Oklahoma City: 8 p.m.:Partly Cloudy (5% chance of rain) 9 p.m.:Partly Cloudy (2% chance of rain) 10 p.m.:Partly Cloudy (2% chance of rain) TV channel:ESPN2 Streaming options:ESPN app |Fubo (free trial) ESPN2 will nationally televise Thursday's WCWS game between Texas Tech and Ole Miss. Streaming options include the ESPN app (with a TV login)and Fubo,which carries the ESPN The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:WCWS weather updates: Texas Tech-Ole Miss softball game delayed

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — For all the strides theMinnesota Timberwolveshave made since they drafted Anthony Edwards first overall five years ago, a once-woebegone franchise now playing deep intothe playoffsas a habit and not a hiccup, a noticeable gap remains between them and anNBAtitle. Reaching the last two Western Conference finals, particularly this spring after asurprise shuffleof the roster right before training camp and the pains of adjustments and injuries throughout the regular season, was a remarkable accomplishment. The last team to appear in two in a row was Golden State in 2018 and 2019. Edwards will turn 24 in about two months, a superstar only beginning his prime years with a handful of mid-20s role players around him. But the five-game defeat delivered in machine-like fashion by Oklahoma City raised fair questions about whether these Timberwolves can cleartwo more hurdlesto win their first championship. "Nobody's going to work harder than me this summer. I'll tell you that much," Edwards said after the 30-point losson Wednesdaythat ended the series in five games. The offseason commitment has never been in question for Edwards, whose set career highs in 2024-25 in points per game (27.6), 3-point shooting percentage (39.5) and free-throw shooting percentage (83.7) while playing in 79 of 82 games. He also led the league in made 3-pointers (320). In five seasons, Edwards has missed a total of nine games. But the Thunder and their NBA-best defense posed a distinct challenge. Edwards shot just 6 for 31 from 3-point range in the four losses and was held under 20 points in three of them. He still found ways to drive to the basket and kick the ball through traffic to teammates in the corner, but the discrepancy in production between his counterpart Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was stark. The NBA MVP outscored Edwards 157-115, with a 116-87 edge in field goal attempts and a 51-32 edge in free throw attempts. "Obviously, he's got to learn to play against that physicality and that type of holding all the time. They made it really hard for him," coach Chris Finch said. "I thought for a lot of the series, he did make the right play, and we preach that to him all the time. Yeah, we need him to be aggressive, for sure. He's got to find some easier buckets. I've got to help him do that." Edwards was also a culprit in the overall dip in effectiveness and intensity on defense, after the Wolves led the league on that end of the court during the 2023-24 season. Even after slipping from first to sixth in defensive rating for 2024-25, they held the Los Angeles Lakers under 100 points in three of five games in the first round and did the same to the Warriors in the second round. But Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder were a different story, albeit with an attack fueled by their steal-happy defense that made Edwards, Julius Randle and Naz Reid in particular pay for dribbling too much in tight coverage. "Fifteen puppets on one string," was how Edwards marveled at the Thunder's execution of their defensive scheme. Though three of their starters — Mike Conley, Rudy Gobert andRandle— this season were 30 or older, the Wolves with their mid-20s core of Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo weren't consistently disciplined and focused enough in following the game plans. "I think for individuals it has to become even more important to them," Conley said on Thursday as players went through exit interviews at team headquarters. "Maybe that means studying the game more. Maybe that means doing more individual coaching, taking coaches on the side and getting some individual stuff there, bringing me aside every now and then even more often, and just using the minds around you to help you grasp certain concepts and certain things about the game." The eight-player rotation Finch was hesitant to extend will certainly change, with Terrence Shannon Jr. clearly ready for more playing time in the backcourt and the Wolves hopeful that Rob Dillingham and Jaylen Clark are too. Nickeil Alexander-Walker will become an unrestricted free agent, creating one potential opening. Then there's the tricky contract situation in the frontcourt, where Randle and Reid each have an option to exercise for next season they could decide to decline in favor of a longer-term, more lucrative deal. Reid, for his part, said he would likely opt out. The 2023-24 NBA Sixth Man of the Year also said he would prefer to be a starter. "But if you want to be in a winning position," Reid said, "sometimes you might have to sacrifice." ___ AP NBA:https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) —Bo Nixlooks a lot more comfortable than he did a year ago at this time, and not just because he's no longer a wide-eyed rookie trying to carve out some snaps behind Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson. This marks the first time since he was attending Pinson Valley High School in Alabama that the Broncos' second-year starting quarterback heads into a season with the same offensive play-caller and quarterback coach. "It's huge," Nix said Thursday in his first public comments since leadingDenver's first playoff appearancesince 2016 last season. "It's kind of weird going back to the first install, it's not new verbiage and not new things. It made it a lot easier this year. "Honestly, it felt weird because it hasn't (like this) been since high school. I'm just used to learning different things, so it's good not to have to learn an entire new system this year and have the same play-caller and have the same quarterback coach." That familiarity makes for a much smoother offensive operation. "Just spitting out play calls a lot easier and just processing," Nix said. "Being around 'VJ' (defensive coordinator Vance Joseph) for a year and understanding the defense that I'm going to get. It's a lot better and a lot more enjoyable not thinking right now as opposed to what I was doing last year. "It's fun, it's fun to be in the know and it's fun to have a little more of an understanding of what's going on so I can be a little more beneficial to others and help them out along the way. I feel good." Nix always felt as if he was going back to Square 1 in his three seasons at Auburn and two at Oregon, because he was. Nix said he's excited to also have so many familiar faces in the huddle. "The same guys you're throwing it to. The same center and the same line," Nix said. "Being the same, it's going to be — it's hard to even explain. You're going to see it in ways that you can't even understand. It's just a natural thing to go out there and just pick up right where you left off and not have to restart." After a slow start, Nix had a terrific rookie season, throwing for 3,775 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024 to go with a dozen interceptions. Coach Sean Payton is busy expanding Nix's repertoire this upcoming season, and he, too, appreciates the stability surrounding his quarterback. "I think it's a positive. Just the stability in what we're doing offensively and his overall understanding," Payton said following his team's first open practice of OTAs. Payton noted that the offensive operation under Nix is running so much smoother than it was a year ago, producing a "feeling almost like the plays can run off his tongue where a year ago you were having to repeat it twice. It's just a lot different." Another difference from his college days is that Nix was able to take several weeks away from football after the season, so he said he's refreshed like never before. "I hadn't really had a break in 18 months to two years," Nix said. "It's just a lot of winding down and getting your body right. That doesn't mean fixing things that are hurt. It's just like giving your legs some rest and not running every day. "Giving your shoulder some rest and not throwing (as much). I didn't throw a football for a while, but I was doing a lot of shoulder care and arm care and doing some rotational work and doing different things that were kind of replacing the throw. "For me, that was good because I was able to do something different, work on my mechanics and tighten some things up, tweak a few things and feel really sharp when I picked up a football," Nix added. "I wasn't just out there wasting throws. I feel good." NOTES: Payton said it wasn't a big deal that defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers skipped the OTAs this week: "This is all voluntary. He's had a good offseason." ___ AP NFL:https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Backup catcher Rafael Marchan hit a two-run homer, drove in the go-ahead run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the eighth inning and caught two runners stealing, helping the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 5-4 in in a doubleheader opener Thursday. Phillies star Bryce Harper missed the game, two days after he washit on the right elbow by a 95.3 mph pitch from Spencer Strider. The NL East-leading Phillies won for the 23rd time 29 games and dealt the Braves their sixth loss in seven games. Jordan Romano walked three and allowed a single in the ninth before Eli White took a slider on the low, outside corner for a game-ending called third strike, giving the closer his eighth save in 10 chances. Marchan put the Phillies ahead 2-0 in the third scored with a headfirst slide on Trea Turner's fifth-inning infield single. He was nicked on a shin protector by a bounced slider from Daysbel Hernández (3-1). Marchan threw out Fairchild for the final out of the fourth and Ozzie Albies for the first out of the ninth, both on attempts to steal second. José Ruiz (1-0) retired Nick Allen on a groundout to strand a runner on second in the eighth. Sean Murphy homered and had an RBI single, and Ronald Acuña Jr. had a pair of hits and an RBI for the Braves. Acuña entered in the fourth after Fairchild appeared to hurt a finger on his right hand during a slide. Braves starter A.J. Smith-Shawver took a 96.6 mph line drive off his right ankle, a ball hit by Bryson Stott with one out in the third. Smith-Shawver threw a warmup pitch and stayed in the game, then left after wincing while allowing a flyout to Turner on the fourth pitch of the at-bat. Key moment Kyle Schwarber homered off Pierce Johnson for a 4-2 lead in the seventh, his 19th home run this season, one batter after the right-hander relieved lefty Aaron Bummer. Key stat Harper had started the Phillies first 54 games. Up Next Braves LHP Chris Sale (2-3, 3.36 ERA) and Phillies RHP Zack Wheeler (6-1, 2.42) in the second game, Sale won last year's NL Cy Young Award and Wheeler finished second in voting, ___ AP MLB:https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. —The SEC conferencehas officially changed its policy on field and court storming scenarios ahead of the 2025-26 academic year. League commissionerGreg Sankey, in his final press conference at league's spring meetings, announced that violations of the SEC's access to competition area policy will incite a flat fee of $500,000 instead of escalating fees that were set in 2023. However, Sankey said that if schools allow for visiting teams and officials to exit the field of play before fans rush the field or court, a fine will not be given. "We'll welcome your celebration," Sankey said. "Let's let the team, the visiting institutions depart." Sankey said the increased frequency of court and field rushes in the past three years invoked "meaningful conversation" about a policy change. "If you are the one rushed, no matter how problematic the situation is, if it's only the first time on campus, it's $100,000," Sankey said. "It may be a lot more. So the motivation was field rushing is field rushing, the first time or the 18th time. We'll offer an outlet of a delayed field rush where let the visitors exit, let the officials exit. Then you go. That goes to zero." Sankey said to secure no fines, there must be no interactions "period" between a visiting team and the rushing team's fans. The $500,000 fee will continue to go to the visiting team if incurred. If the field or court storm happens during a non-conference game, Sankey said the fine will continue to go to the conference's post-graduate scholarship fund. In aMay 28 press conference, Sankey said football field storms could be harder to police than basketball, which he still called not easy. "I don't think any of it is easy," Sankey said. "It has to be done with intent." Colin Gay coversAlabamafootball for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him atcgay@gannett.comor follow him@_ColinGayon X, formerly known as Twitter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:SEC field and court storming fines increase - with flexibility

After fending off retirement rumors, star tight endTravis Kelce is back for another seasonwith the Kansas City Chiefs. Though some suspect that Kelce might be gearing up for his final year in the league, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes says that Kelce is just as motivated as ever. Kelce, 35, is entering his 13th year in the league — all with the Chiefs. But Mahomes told reporters at organized team activities (OTAs) on Thursday that Kelce wasn't acting like someone with retirement on the horizon. "If it's the last ride, you would never know," Mahomes said during Thursday'spress conference. "The way he's talking about football, the way he's talking about working and trying to be even better this year than he was last year — he doesn't seem like a guy that it's his last ride, like he's tired of the job.He's in there, he's working." Mahomes added that Kelce was feeling healthy heading into this season. "I know his body feels good, I think it feels better than even last year, before going into last season. I think he's motivated to go out there and have an even better year than he had this last (year)," Mahomes said. Kelce wasweighing the possibility of retirementafter last season, but ultimately decided to return to the Chiefs. A major factor in Kelce's return was the Chiefs' Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Soon after deciding to return, Kelce explained on his podcast "New Heights" that he wanted another year to make up for the loss — and felt that he could come back stronger. "I think the biggest thing is that I f***ing love playing the game of football," Kelce said. "I love playing. I still feel like I can play it at a high level and possibly at a higher level than I did last year." As for Mahomes, the quarterback feels that having veterans like Kelce around at voluntary offseason workouts has a positive influence on the younger players. "Whenever you have the guy that's already got the gold jacket on, if it's him (Kelce) or Chris Jones, and they're working hard and they're showing what it takes to be great, it's easier for me to talk to the young guys and say, when they're tired, that they need to keep working, that they need to keep pushing," Mahomes said. "They (Kelce and Jones) don't need to be here and they're still gonna go out there and have success on the field. "They take care of their bodies and work hard in the offseason," he added. "And so for them to still show up and set that standard, it sets the standard for everyone else that's going on the practice field."

Marta is back. The six-time world player of the year has returned to Brazil's national team for friendlies against Japan on Friday and Monday in São Paulo. While it remains to be seen whether she'll play, her inclusion on the roster suggests she may not be ready to retire just yet. The 39-year-oldannounced last yearthat she would step down from the national team following the Paris Olympics. The Brazilianswent on to win the silver medal after a 1-0 lossin the final to the United States. She has continued to play for her club team, the Orlando Pride in the National Women's Soccer League. Last season, Marta scored 11 goals with the Pride,which won the NWSL title. She re-signed with the team through 2026 earlier this year. "Marta has had a great season and has been very important for her club, which is the league champion," Brazil coach Arthur Elias told reporters when he announced the roster. "Her presence in some call-ups is very important for the younger players, for the renewal that is taking place in the national team." The matches against Japan are important for Brazil to prepare for the Copa América, which opens in July in Ecuador. Brazil is the defending champion. "She's a very important person for our group, for the other girls who are just arriving. I've already told her to retire when she's about 45, around there. As long as she's well, I'll be encouraging her to continue with us," Brazil defender Tarciane said in a press conference ahead of the matches against Japan. "And there's no way we can be without Marta. I can't see the national team now without Marta, because we need her, we need everything she's experienced in women's football, and she needs to live this moment too." Marta has played in 185 matches for Brazil. In her last, in the Olympic final, she was emotional as she came off the field. She insisted her tears were not because of the loss or her retirement, but because of pride for having medaled. "I am crying out of gratitude, happiness. I am not crying because we won silver. Look at how much we had to overcome to win this silver," she said. Better known just by her first name, Marta Vieira da Silva has scored a record 119 goals for Brazil. She was just 17 when she appeared at the 2003 World Cup, held in the United States. She has the career record for most World Cup goals with 17, and she has 13 Olympic goals, one shy of compatriot Cristiane's record. Brazil is hosting the 2027 Women's World Cup, leading to some speculation that she might try to play in the game's biggest tournament on home soil. She has said in the past that she's willing to help Brazil in any way possible. "Having this opportunity to share a dressing room with Marta, not only for the national team but also for the club, is a privilege," midfielder Angelina said after training on Wednesday. "You never imagine that you will be sharing a dressing room with your idol." ___ AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Kurts Adams Rozentals/Instagram British canoeist Kurts Adams Rozentals' dream of competing in the Olympics is now uncertain after he was suspended by Paddle UK over "allegations" concerning his social media Rozentals suspects the allegations surround his OnlyFans account, where he has a "spicy content page" "This is the hardest decision that I've ever faced in my life," he says of having to choose between continuing his OnlyFans versus a chance at the Summer Games Kurts Adams Rozentalsfinds himself with a difficult decision to make over his "spicy content page." The British canoeist is being forced to choose between going for his "ultimate dream" at the Olympics or continuing his OnlyFans account, according toBBC Sportand the athlete's own claims onInstagram. In April, Paddle UK's governing body removed Rozentals from the UK Sport's lottery-funded initiative, which supports athletes in their journey to the Olympics, the outlet reported on Thursday, May 29. Paddle UK has since launched an investigation following "allegations" related to Rozentals' social media accounts. The governing body has not clarified the specifics surrounding the allegations, but Rozentals has some ideas of his own, the outlet and a lengthy statement posted to Instagram. Rozentals said he created an OnlyFans account in January for the purpose of raising money to fund his athletics. He uses his Instagram posts to funnel online traffic to the subscription website, which is known for its adult content. Alex Pantling/Getty The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! "I have been posting videos [on Instagram] that are consciously made to be edgy in order to drive conversions to my 'spicy content page' [on OnlyFans] to fund this ultimate dream of going to the Olympics," Rozentals told BBC Sport. Paddle UK reportedly provides their athletes with an annual grant of £16,000, but Rozentals said that's nowhere close to covering his training costs. "I don't know how much you need but it's certainly not £16,000," he claimed. Noting that most full-time athletes are living in London, Rozentals said they are responsible for covering all of their food, rent and travel which adds up on top of training. "They're very fortunate to have parent backing — I wasn't," Rozentals said about his personal finances in relation to other competitors. He added, "I never had the ability to move to London because of financial struggles so I was always doing the travel from the East Midlands, where I live, to London, back-and-forth, back-and-forth." On Instagram, he noted that he "was sick of worrying how to pay rent" and "sick of being on the verge of homelessness." Kurts Adams Rozentals/Instagram Rozentals, who competes in the individual canoe slalom, has since published 39 videos and over 100 photos to his OnlyFans account in addition to clips on Instagram. In that time, the athlete told BBC Sport that he gained well over 10,000 likes on his posted content as well as pocketed over £100,000. However, in April, Rozentals recalled receiving a call from a Paddle UK representative informing him that he was suspended from the program while also warning him to cease all contact with the program's staff and athletes. Additionally, on Instagram, he claimed that Paddle UK "banned [him] from competing at the 2nd and final part of GB team selections." "I kind of froze and I couldn't believe the words I was hearing because this is what I put my life into this is everything I do," Rozentals told the outlet, explaining, "My personality at this point, my identity, is sport and I want to be a professional athlete chasing my Olympic dream." Kurts Adams Rozentals/Instagram Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. An investigation is now being conducted by an independent investigative service called Sport Integrity, the governing body said, telling BBC Sport that while the suspension was not a disciplinary action, it was an "interim action" and a "neutral act designed to protect all parties." Paddle UK said they aim to "safeguard other athletes, staff and volunteers due to the nature of the allegation." According to Paddle UK'sAthlete Disciplinary Policy, which was last updated in October 2022, an athlete's participation in "gross misconduct" can lead to disqualification in the program. "Offensive use of social media" and "indecent, offensive or immoral behaviour" are listed as examples of gross misconduct. Yet, Rozentals isn't too quick to give up his OnlyFans account to earn back his spot with the Paddle UK program and a chance to compete for a spot on Team GB, calling it the "hardest decision that I've ever faced in my life." Kurts Adams Rozentals/Instagram The PEOPLE Appis now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! "I came to the realization about why I started doing this last winter after years of struggle, years of living on the edge, my mum working 90 hours-a-week, having bailiffs at the door," Rozentals explained to BBC Sport. He added, "I'm going to find a way where we don't have to struggle, where my mum can enjoy her life and I'm able to put everything into this sport because when you're thinking about how to pay the rent this month and you're standing at the start line, that's not very conducive [to performing well]." However, at this time, the athlete's future with Paddle UK remains uncertain. "It's a tough decision but unless something changes in the way athletes are paid I don't see a way of working with Paddle UK," the athlete said, Read the original article onPeople

NFL owners may have voted to allow their players to playflag football in the Olympics, but the next iteration of the Summer Games is still a ways away. That's why 37-year-oldLos Angeles RamsquarterbackMatthew Staffordhad the jokes when a reporter asked him if he'd consider suiting up to play in 2028. "You talking about coaching, or what?" Staffordjoked. The reporter doubled down on his question, asking if the 16-year NFL veteran would have any interest in participating as a player. "Sure!" Stafford said with a smile. "I mean, nobody's gonna want me to, but yeah, sure, it'd be fun... to coach." 37 year old Matthew Stafford on potentially playing Flag Football in the 2028 Olympics:"Nobody's gonna want me to, but yeah, sure, it'd be fun" 😂🎥:@RamsNFLpic.twitter.com/8Z8Zpz6Brd — The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB)May 29, 2025 OLYMPIC FLAG FOOTBALL:Justin Jefferson discusses playing in 2028 Summer Games: 'It's a dream' The first overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft will be 40 years old by the time the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games roll around. Whether Stafford will even still be in the NFL by then – his Rams contract is up after the 2026 season – remains to be seen. Stafford isn't the only current NFL quarterback considering what his age will be by then. Kansas City ChiefssuperstarPatrick Mahomes, who turns 30 in September,told reportersearlier on Thursday that he'll "probably leave that (the Olympics) to the younger guys. I'll be a little older by that time." MORE:Patrick Mahomes on playing flag football in Olympics Rams head coach Sean McVay had a similar attitude about how things will stand three years down the road. "I think that is so far away from me. Coaching years are dog years, you know that," he said. Overall though, McVay's tone was generally favorable about allowing players to participate while also recognizing the players on the already successful United States national flag football team, which currently doesn't feature any NFL players. "If that's something that players say they want to be able to do, then I think it's a really cool experience for them to be able to be a part of while also acknowledging that man, there are some other guys that have been doing it," he said. "I'm not going to pretend to understand the nuances tactically and what that game entails, but I think it's good. I think it's great." In 2023, the U.S. men's and women's national flag football teams both won gold medals at the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Americas Continental Flag Football Championship. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Matthew Stafford: QB jokes about playing flag football in Olympics