skater

Alysa Liu Is Taking A Break From Figure Skating, But Will Be Back For 2027 Season 

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Olympic champion and hero Alysa Liu announced she will be sitting out of the 2026-27 figure skating season, but will continue to train to return the following year. After having such a notable and successful run at the recent Winter Games, Liu wants to take time away from competitive settings to really reconnect with the sport she loves so dearly. 

Liu announced the news on her social media this week, stating that she wants to “recalibrate” and further develop her skills away from the “demands of competition.” 

“While people are announcing programs, imma take this time to announce that I will not be competing this season,” Liu wrote. 

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“I always want to challenge myself in new ways, so my artistry and skating can evolve. It’s important to me that my sport reflects my personal growth. I’m gonna take the time to recalibrate, fine-tune things & whatnot.”

“So fear not, I’ll be back, and in the meantime I’ll be rooting for my teammates near and far. See y’all soon!” Liu reassured her supporters. 

Liu also spoke with NBC Sports this week to explain that she still is intending on continuing her work with her longtime coaches Phillip DiGueglielmo and Massimo Scali, specifically on her “overall artistry, spins, jumps, everything.”

“I really want to improve my skating and I wanted to take the time to do that for myself and just to evolve, and then I’ll be back after that is done.” 

Liu is only 21-years-old and has already had an illustrious career full of advocacy and inspiration for athletes everywhere. At just 13, she became the youngest US women’s champion, putting an immense pressure on her future successes. Just three years later, she would retire right after finishing sixth in her Olympic debut at the 2022 Beijing Games. 

She cited the relentless training, attention, and fast rise to success in the sport as something that drained her, and made her no longer excited to skate, despite it being one of her favorite things. 

Before the Milano Cortina Olympics, she reflected on how she really “hated skating” when she quit at 16-years-old. 

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“I didn’t care about competitions. I didn’t care about places. I didn’t care about skaters. I didn’t care about my programs. I just wanted to get away.”

During her time away from sport, Liu enrolled at UCLA where she studied psychology. She recalled memories of how she loved hiking in the Himalayas with her friends, giving her space to truly find an identity away from the rink. 

When she made the decision to return to figure skating, she did it on her terms. Liu took control over her entire career, including her training schedule, diet, costumes, and music. “The results would no longer define the experience,” she stated, adding that her initial goal was to make the Olympic team and use figure skating mainly as a form of self-expression. 

In 2025, she won the world championship, becoming the first American woman to win the title since 2006, when Kimmie Meissner earned the honor. This year, she won the Olympic women’s singles title in Milan, and won gold in the Olympic team competition. 

Speaking to NBC Sports, she reflected on her journey and where she is now: 

“Really the only word that comes to mind when I think about my entire journey is grateful. I think the reason why it’s been so fun is because I have my own agency. I really like to skate and so that’s why I skate.”

She made the decision to take a break from figure skating after reflecting on her emotional and physical state this summer, coming off the high of the Winter Games. Both her coaches supported her decision. 

“Logically and emotionally and physically, this just makes the most sense. I will miss seeing the international computers at all international competitions, but there will be more, so it’s fine,” she told the publication.

chiefs

Eric Bieniemy Leaves Chiefs Camp After Wife Is Allegedly Shot by Their Son

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Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy left the team’s training camp after his wife was allegedly shot multiple times by their son at the family’s Virginia home Sunday night.

Mia Bieniemy, 57, remained hospitalized in stable condition Monday. Sources told ESPN that she suffered gunshot wounds to her chest and arm.

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office did not publicly identify the victim but confirmed that a woman was receiving treatment for “serious injuries” after being shot multiple times.

Deputies were called to a residence in the 20000 block of Northpark Drive in Ashburn, Virginia, at 7:32 p.m. ET Sunday following a report of a shooting, sheriff’s office spokesperson Leah Paul said Monday. Mia Bieniemy placed the 911 call herself after the gunfire, Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman told Washington, D.C., ABC affiliate WJLA.

“I’ll just say she was shot multiple times, and we have to go through an entire investigation to determine where everybody was, what they did, what prompted it, and how it all transpired. We’re conducting that investigation right now.”

Police arrested the couple’s 27-year-old son, Elijah Zion Bieniemy, in connection with the shooting. He was charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and discharging a firearm inside a dwelling, according to the sheriff’s office.

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Elijah Bieniemy was being held without bond at Loudoun County detention center. The sheriff’s office said later Monday that the investigation remained ongoing. Authorities said they did not believe the incident posed an ongoing danger to the public. Elijah Bieniemy’s next scheduled court appearance is an Aug. 31 preliminary hearing.

Eric Bieniemy had been with the Chiefs on Sunday for the team’s second training camp practice at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri. He subsequently left camp and was absent from Monday’s practice.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid expressed support for Bieniemy and his family while speaking to reporters after practice.

“Our hearts go out to Eric Bieniemy,” Reid said. “Mia is stable, which is a plus. We all love EB, and you hate seeing those things happen.”

Reid said the team had not established a timetable for Bieniemy’s return, emphasizing that he should take whatever time is necessary to be with his family. Pass game coordinator Joe Bleymaier will assume Bieniemy’s responsibilities while he is away.

“We’ll just see how things go,” Reid said. “[This is] real life, you take care of that. She’s a saint, one of God’s good blessings.”

Reid continued to offer his support for Bieniemy, describing him as a beloved figure within the organization and saying the coach’s family responsibilities should take priority.

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“I know things will work out. The most important thing is that EB has an opportunity to spend some time [with his family] and take care of that business. Everybody loves EB. He’s a great person. Things happen. You have to work through it, and time will have to be involved in this to help heal a little bit. It’ll all work out in the long run.”

Bieniemy returned to Kansas City earlier this year for a second stint as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator. He previously held the position from 2018 through 2022 after initially joining Reid’s staff when the coach arrived in Kansas City in 2013.

Bieniemy spent his first five seasons with the Chiefs as the team’s running backs coach before receiving a promotion to offensive coordinator. During his next five seasons in Kansas City, the Chiefs advanced to three Super Bowls, won two championships and consistently fielded one of the NFL’s most productive offenses.

Despite interviewing for several NFL head coaching vacancies, Bieniemy was repeatedly passed over. He left Kansas City following the 2022 season and joined the Washington Commanders in 2023, hoping the role would strengthen his candidacy for a head coaching job.

Washington struggled that season, however, and the coaching staff led by Ron Rivera was dismissed. Bieniemy then spent one season as UCLA’s offensive coordinator before returning to the NFL last season as the Chicago Bears’ running backs coach.

His return to the Chiefs reunited him with Reid and an organization where he had spent a decade as an assistant coach. His absence from training camp will continue indefinitely as he remains with his family following Sunday’s shooting.

womens sports

Sophie Cunningham Defends Comments on Transgender Athletes in Women’s Sports

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Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said Wednesday that she remains firmly behind her opposition to transgender athletes competing in women’s sports, describing her position as a matter of “common sense.”

“I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense,” Cunningham told reporters before Indiana’s 123-88 win over the Connecticut Sun. “And I think I’ll always believe in that. I think it’s really important to protect children, and that’s little girls who are also involved in that category. I stand on what I said.”

Her remarks followed the publication of an ESPN article in which Cunningham said she wanted to “protect young girls in the locker room” and argued that “they shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”

The Fever responded soon after Cunningham’s pregame media availability with a statement emphasizing the organization’s commitment to treating fans from all backgrounds with respect. The franchise has routinely hosted Pride nights celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.

“Our players are thoughtful adults with their own perspectives and voices, and those views are their own. We are committed to welcoming fans from every background and treating everyone with respect, and that’s what guides us as an organization.”

Cunningham, who said she is “not a very political person” and pushed back against the “MAGA Barbie” label attached to her, framed her position as rooted in her personal values rather than allegiance to a particular political party. She said her comments should not be interpreted as an indication of where she falls on the political spectrum.

“I’m very much in the middle. I agree with things on both sides, disagree with things on both sides,” Cunningham said. “And that’s all I’ve ever said about my political beliefs. But people love to assume.”

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Asked whether her statements might be considered derogatory toward transgender athletes, Cunningham said she does not “dislike anyone” and believes there is “room to love everyone.”

“But I’m also there to love biological women, and I think that there are rights that need to be protected. And, like I said, I’m gonna stand true to that. I’ll never falter in my beliefs in that. But I have never once stated that I hated the trans community.”

Cunningham had previously shared a post from CBS Sports host Josh Pate about former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas, who competed on the women’s team in 2022. The now-deleted post said, “Female collegiate athletes deserve so much better than this.”

Cunningham also pointed to Title IX, the landmark 1972 federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in educational programs that receive federal funding. The measure is widely credited with dramatically expanding opportunities for girls and women to participate in sports across the United States.

“That’s why you have Title IX. That’s why you have some of the greats in women’s sports,” Cunningham said. “If Title IX and women’s sports weren’t protected, then you wouldn’t hear about any type of women in sport. And so, I think in the future, it’s just really important to protect.”

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The debate over transgender participation in athletics has become increasingly prominent in politics and the courts. The Supreme Court recently upheld state-level restrictions preventing transgender athletes from competing on teams alongside cisgender athletes. That decision came about a year after President Donald Trump signed an executive order seeking to block transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports.

Cunningham said she is not concerned about how the public views her after she made her position known. She responded, “I don’t care,” when discussing potential criticism, though she acknowledged that the answer “sounds bad.”

She added that while opponents may focus on negative reactions to her remarks, she has also received messages from people who support her willingness to address the issue publicly.

“Everyone always is coming at it as a negative,” Cunningham said. “Well, me coming out with that, there are so many people who are coming out with the positive, saying, ‘You know what? Finally, someone has said something.’ And I don’t really look at either side of those because I know whatever I say, I’m going to get hate and I’m going to get love, and if I’m going to live by the love, I’m gonna die by the hate, and that’s just not who I am. I beat to my own drum.”

Cunningham is playing her second season with Indiana after the Fever acquired her from the Phoenix Mercury in a February 2025 trade. She returned to the organization on a one-year contract signed in April. The guard is averaging 9.3 points per game and making 42.9% of her attempts from 3-point range.

2030 olympics

2030 Winter Olympics In French Alps Adds Synchro Skating And Freeride Skiing Events

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The International Olympic Committee announced some updates this week regarding the 2030 Winter Olympics, which are taking place in the French Alps. 

The program for the 2030 Games now includes two new disciplines, synchronized figure skating and freeride skiing. They also gave a reprieve to snowboard parallel giant slalom by keeping it on the program, and are completely dropping Nordic combined. These changes also mean that there are more female than male athletes competing at the next Winter Games. 

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Reports show that the IOC set a record quota of 3,046 athletes with 1,525 female and 1,521 male for the next Winter Games. In the most recent edition at the Milan Cortina Olympics this past February, there was a majority of male athletes among the nearly 2,900 athletes competing. 

In the next edition in the French Alps, there will be more medal events for women than men with 56 compared to 55, and 15 mixed events in the 126 total. 

The Nordic combined is the only sport that was an original Winter Games sport back in 1924, and had always been all-male. The IOC did have the option of adding women’s and team events, however they ended up completely cutting it, citing that it struggled to find a “modern audience” for its mix of ski jumping and cross-country skiing. 

Nordic combined was also the only Winter Olympics sport that excluded a gender, so more men had an opportunity for gold. 

The IOC executive board acknowledged that even outside of the Olympic Games, the sport did not have a strong international representation outside of Europe. The board also studied the popularity of it in 14 different ways before coming to their decision, including monitoring broadcast coverage, digital media interactions, and ticket sales. 

The IOC said that Nordic combined ranked last in 11 out of the 14 indicators during the most recent Milan Cortina Winter Games. 

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Nordic combined race director at the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, Lasse Ottesen, stated that this decision from the IOC was “extremely disappointing.”

“I am at a loss for words and struggle to understand the reasoning behind it. Nordic combined has been at the heart of Nordic skiing and part of the Olympic Games since 1924,” he said. 

IOC president Kristy Coventry said this week, however, that there is still hope that the discipline can return at the 2034 Utah Winter Games while acknowledging the disappointment those surrounding the event are feeling: “We know and can fully understand that this may come as a disappointment.”

“It is a shock that will take time to process,” said Norway’s Ida Marie Hagen, a two-time overall women’s World Cup champion. 

“It feels really hard that we never even got the chance to show our sport in the Olympics before we were cut out. I love this sport and we will fight all we can so that the next generation will get the change in this sport as well. Hopefully in 2034.”

On the other end, synchronized skating is added to the list. The discipline is typically seen as only for women, however it will be left open to let men also compete in the French Alps. 

Freeride skiing also will be added, allowing viewers to see professional skiers and snowboarders perform away from traditional slopes and on more natural terrain.

tennis

Former Wimbledon Champion Marketa Vondrousova Suspended For 4 Years For Refusing Doping Test 

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Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova was suspended for four years after refusing to take an anti-doping test in December 2025, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced this week.

This decision has made headlines and has caused quite the controversy due to Vondrousova’s accomplishments in the sport, the substantial length of the ban, and her own account of the situation. 

The ITIA said that 26-year-old Vondrousova refused to submit a sample to a doping control officer who came to her home for an out-of-competition test attempt on December 3rd last year, according to ESPN. When prompted to take the test, she left her apartment to walk her dog and signed a refusal form. 

In a post to her Instagram account in April, Vondrousova discussed her mental health and reaction to her suspension, stating that the agent came to her house outside of the scheduled time period that was provided to the ITIA: “[she] rang my door late at night without properly identifying themselves or following protocol,” which scared Vondrousova.

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“In that moment, it was about feeling safe, not about avoiding anything,” she explained. 

Vondrousova also described how she suffered an acute stress reaction from the incident that “clouded her judgement” leaving her unable to “process the situation rationally.” She then referenced Petra Kvitova, who was stabbed during a home invasion in 2016, further fueling her own fears. 

At a hearing in front of the tribunal, Vondrousova shared the same sentiment, however, they determined that there was “no compelling justification” for her to refuse the test. 

The ITIA requires selected tennis players to provide their whereabouts for one hour every day of the year in order to undergo mandatory testing. Agents are allowed to come to that provided location unannounced and test the player whenever they choose during that predetermined window. 

While the athlete is required to be at the given location during that specific hour, the ITIA can still arrive at any time. There is no punishment if the athlete is not there outside of the window. 

ITIA CEO Karen Moorhouse explained the need for surprise testing in a briefing on Monday: 

“Unpredictable testing is an essential tool to protect clean sport. The independent tribunal ultimately supported that principle. This case is an important reminder that players can be tested at any time, in any place, and that refusal comes with significant risk.”

Vondrousova’s four-year suspension bans her from participating in, coaching, and/or attending any event that is sanctioned by the ITF, WTA, ATP, the Grand Slams, or national federations. The ban is in effect until June 21st, 2030; Vondrousova will be 30-years-old. 

Vondrousova is able to appeal the suspension to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland. Vondrousova’s lawyer, Jan Exner, told the AFP on Monday that they are waiting to receive the final written verdict before they proceed further. 

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“Marketa has asked me, and I want to respect her wish, to refrain from commenting on the matter at this stage,” Exner stated. 

“Basically when we get the verdict, we will read the explanation and decide on further action, whether we will appeal it or not, but first I want to consult Marketa and I don’t want to speculate on further steps. I want to respect Marketa’s wish and I don’t want to go into detail.”

In Vondrousova’s Instagram statement, she explained how the past seven months have been for her, emphasizing that she’s never used performance-enhancing drugs in her career and has never failed a drug test. 

“Waking up every day with uncertainty, fear, and the feeling that you were losing control over your own life is something that is difficult to put into words.”

“It has been an incredibly exhausting and painful period that affected me far more deeply than I could have ever imagined. Tennis has been my entire life from the moment I first picked up a racket as a little girl through thousands of training sessions, injuries, comebacks, and moments that I could only dream of back then. It gave me everything and I gave everything back to it,” she wrote. 

“I have never doped. I have never had a positive test. Throughout my entire career, I have undergone countless anti-doping controls and have always stepped onto the court with a clear conscience. 

Just three days after the incident that ultimately changed my life, I was tested again. The result was negative just like every test before it.” 

For now, Vondrousova is unclear as to what her future truly holds. “Today, I honestly do not know what comes next. For the first time in my life, I do not have a plan. For the first time in my life, I do not know where the road ahead leads.”

The Knicks

NYC Streets Echoing With Cheers For The Knicks Historic NBA Championship Win 

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The New York Knicks made history this week after taking home their first NBA championship in 53 years. Cheers could be heard throughout all five boroughs as New York City felt an intense sense of pride and unity when the team won game 5 on Saturday. 

Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby stopped by “TODAY” on Monday to discuss their victory and what this means to one of the world’s most famous cities. 

“It hasn’t settled in yet. [After we won] I was just trying to find the right words and I really couldn’t,” said Brunson. 

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“It was a magical moment. It was honestly something truly special that no matter how I try to explain it, it won’t grasp how truly special it was.”

The Knicks faced off against the San Antonio Spurs in what was their first appearance in the Finals since 1999. 

During Game 5 on Saturday night, the Knicks secured the championship title against the Spurs with a 4-1 win that was finalized with a 4-point lead. 

“[The win] wasn’t just one person, it was everybody. We have each other’s back,” Brunson said to NBC. 

Anunoby described how he hasn’t been able to sleep since his tip-in at the basket with seconds left on the timer. “We had to get ready for Game 5, and I couldn’t get too excited about it. I love my teammates, love these guys, love the fans.”

Towns then reflected on the energy and excitement that has been exuded throughout New York City since their win on Saturday. 

He explained how incredible it was to see the “fans so excited, to see the city so alive. As long as we’re unified and doing our best to play our game, we believe no one in the world can beat us. We want to play for each other.”

Towns then also reflected on the viral moments that have been occurring regarding his fiancée, Jordyn Woods, and her orange bag from her brand that she wore to almost all playoff games in the post season, which became hailed as a good luck charm by fans. This superstition especially stood out considering the team hadn’t lost a game since she started bringing it, besides Game 3 in the Finals due to a no-bag policy put in place by Madison Square Garden because the president was in attendance. 

“We’ve been very fortunate that this bag has come with us on this championship run,” Towns said. 

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The Knicks’ championship run is being praised as one of the most tense, and greatest, of all time in NBA history. 

The team lost Games 2 and 3 in the first round of the playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks, but went on to win the next 13 playoff games beating out both the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the postseason and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. 

The Knicks then won Games 1 and 2 against the Spurs before losing Game 3 when they returned to the Garden. 

During Game 4, the Knicks accomplished their major comeback after erasing a 29-point deficit to gain a 3-1 lead against the Spurs. Then, Saturday night gave them the historic and iconic win, causing the city to erupt with pure joy. 

Knicks owner James Dolan joked after the win: “Sorry it took so long!”

The entire team has been in awe and are still processing this historic moment for not just the NBA, but for New York City. 

“I’m so blessed and grateful to be here,” Bridges said on “TODAY.”

Head coach at the time, Jay Wright, left a message for the Nova Knicks, Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges, for their appearance on NBC as well: 

“We’re so proud of you, we’re so happy for you. We’re mostly proud of how you represent New York … and how you represent our Villanova community.” 

On the “TODAY” show’s third hour, host Jenna Bush Hager asked the group how they were all celebrating, to which Hart said had “included some drinks.”

Bridges added that “there’s so much…I sprinted [after the win] and ran right to OG [Anunoby]. It’s just a blessing, honestly. All of us worked so hard to get here. It just means so much to us.”

“It’s awesome knowing that no matter what the situation is going on, we all have each other’s back, we all have love for each other,” Brunson said. “It’s special knowing that when we were younger, we had a goal … trying to make it to the NBA.”

tennis

Serena Williams Is Officially Coming Back To Tennis 

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Serena Williams is officially coming back to tennis.

Next week, Williams will be playing doubles at the WTA 500 Queen’s Club event in London, the tournament announced on social media. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion is set to make her return to the court at 44-years-old after four years of not playing professionally. 

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The Athletic reported that Williams received one of the two available wildcards to play in the tournament and will be partnered with 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko. 

“Serena is one of the greatest athletes of all-time, with a legacy that extends far beyond the court,” said Chair of the WTA, Valerie Camillo.

“[Serena Williams] return is an expression of her passion for competition, and I cannot wait to see her face a new generation of top players.”

Williams’ return to the game was actually hinted at towards the end of last year after she quietly re-entered the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s registered testing pool. In order for any player to make a comeback to tennis, they need to “make themselves available for testing for six months before they can compete again,” in line with the World Anti-Doping Agency regulations. 

“Serena Williams is back on the Registered Testing Pool list,” an ITIA spokesperson told The Guardian last year. 

Despite this sneaky registration, Williams still tried to downplay her potential return online.

“Omg y’all I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy,” she posted back in December. 

The last time Williams stepped on the court was in the 2022 US Open after she publicly stated that she was “evolving away” from tennis to focus more on her entrepreneurial projects. In August 2023, she also gave birth to her second daughter with her husband Alexis Ohanian. 

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Despite how busy she’s been, however, within the past four years the rumors of her potential return never quieted down. As an athlete she always had a focus on taking care of her body, but there’s been a magnifying glass focused on just how much dedication she was putting into her fitness in tandem with the return rumors. 

In August 2025, she told People Magazine that she lost 31-pounds while using a GLP-1, and a year prior she told the publication that in lieu of tennis she had taken up running, but “missed tennis like crazy.”

The talks of her return also intensified earlier this year after she made an appearance on the Today show and had a joking back-and-fourth with co-host Savannah Guthrie regarding her coming out of retirement.  

“Recently — tell me if I have this right — you reentered the drug testing pool, which some see as the precursor to a return to tennis. So you know I have to ask, are you returning to professional tennis?” Guthrie said.

Williams, letting out a laugh, replied “I mean, really? Are you asking this on the Today show? Oh my gosh.”

Guthrie, continuing to press, asked, “Is that a no?” 

“Is that a no?” Williams asked, also acknowledging a man off camera who was laughing. “All the people on your set are laughing. This is distracting. You’re distracting us over there.”

“Okay, but you didn’t say yes or no,” Guthrie continued. 

Williams finally responded with “I’m just having fun and enjoying my life right now, I’m just gonna see what happens.”

ncaa

NCAA Tournament Expansion to 76 Teams Nears Approval for 2027

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A long-discussed expansion of the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments is now nearing reality, with the fields expected to grow to 76 teams as early as 2027, ESPN reported.

The proposal, which has circulated within college basketball circles for months, is widely anticipated to move forward. Two Division I athletic directors and three men’s basketball coaches told USA TODAY Sports there is a clear “expectation” the change will happen, with one coach saying, “We’ll be stunned if it doesn’t happen.”

A formal decision could come soon. Individuals familiar with the process say the plan is on track to be finalized in May. However, it must still clear multiple layers of approval, including oversight groups, the Division I Cabinet and the Division I Board of Governors. The NCAA released a statement on Tuesday addressing the expansion.

“Expanding the basketball tournaments would require approval from multiple NCAA committees, including the men’s and women’s basketball committees, and no final recommendations or decisions have been made at this time.”

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The push to expand comes amid growing debate about the current format, which includes 68 teams. The structure has been in place for the men’s tournament since 2011 and adopted by the women’s field in 2022. NCAA president Charlie Baker has previously signaled that changes were likely, adding to expectations that expansion is imminent.

If approved, the most visible adjustments would occur in the tournament’s opening phase. The traditional first round, 32 games played over two days, is expected to remain largely unchanged. Instead, the expansion would significantly reshape the play-in portion of the bracket.

According to ESPN, the men’s “First Four” would expand from eight teams playing four games to 24 teams competing across 12 games for entry into the main draw. Those winners would then advance to face teams already placed in the first round.

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Several key questions remain unanswered. It is unclear how many of the additional berths would go to at-large teams versus automatic qualifiers, which currently include four mid-major champions and four at-large selections. There is also uncertainty about where the expanded play-in games would be held. Since 2011, those contests have been held in Dayton, Ohio, except for the 2021 tournament, which was held in Indianapolis.

While a larger field would add more games to one of the most popular events in college sports, critics worry it could dilute the quality of competition. Expanding access may allow teams with middling records to compete for a national title, raising concerns about the overall strength of the bracket.

Others argue that the change could further tilt the field toward power-conference programs. UC Irvine head coach Russell Turner voiced skepticism about whether expansion would benefit smaller programs.

“It’s become stacked against mid-majors now. Whether that’s been the purpose of those who oversee the system or not is unclear to me, but with the way that they’re deciding the tournament bids now, it’s virtually impossible. I don’t see that changing if they let more teams in. I think they let more teams in, they’re just going to end up letting more power conference teams in.”

fifa

Potential US Host Cities For 2031 Women’s World Cup Consider Withdrawal Over Fifa Backlash

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A number of American cities that are in the running to host games for the 2031 Women’s World Cup are now considering withdrawing their bids over concerns regarding Fifa’s recent handling of this summer’s World Cup. 

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Reports indicate that several cities are now primarily focusing on whether or not they want to host matches at the men’s 2031 Rugby World Cup exclusively while the US is already set to stage the women’s rugby tournament two years after. 

There are currently 40 stadiums on the US Soccer Federation’s longlist for potential 2031 venues. World Rugby has expressions of interest from 27 cities that include 33 stadiums. 

Notably, Chicago and Pittsburgh both declined to enter the running for the Women’s World Cup hosting rights due to concerns over Fifa’s financial demands, with other cities debating pulling out for the same reason. 

The Guardian reported that a source working with one of the cities said that World Rugby was offering far greater commercial freedom and fewer demands regarding access to stadiums compared to Fifa and their requests. 

Fifa also announced last month that they pulled back confirmation of the 2031 World Cup hosts from the end of this month to another undisclosed date this year. 

Other reports show that the US government has yet to provide Fifa with mandatory guarantees for 2031 regarding obligations on visas, tax, safety, and security. Those obligations are typically met before the bidding process is complete. 

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Last year, US Soccer highlighted 14 US stadiums as preferred venues on a 20-strong shortlist for the 48-team tournament with another 26 stadiums endorsed as potential venues. Seven of the 40 stadiums are hosting matches at this summer’s men’s World Cup.

Fifa has insisted that the host cities take on the cost of safety and security while they get to keep the income from broadcasting, sponsorship, and ticket sales. This “agreement” has led to a lot of tension. 

Public transportation to many of the venues within several cities have also been facing conflict in terms of funding and convenience. 

World Rugby announced their stadium shortlist before a New Zealand vs Ireland match in Chicago last November. The list itself will be reduced to be between 10 and 15 stadiums. 

World Rugby has said that they will finance the event and share profits or losses with US Rugby, as opposed to requiring the hosts to underwrite the tournament. 

The US Soccer chief executive, JT Batson, told the Guardian that “the federation had incredible demand to host in 2031.” 

Fifa released a statement regarding the bidding processes last month: 

“Fifa will convene an extraordinary congress before the end of 2026. This extraordinary congress will be a standalone event dedicated to the presentation of the bids, which will highlight the growing power and influence of women’s football and Fifa’s flagship women’s tournament.”

ncaa

NCAA Sues DraftKings Over Use Of March Madness Trademarks 

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The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) filed a complaint in federal court last week in which they’re requesting an emergency restraining order to stop the online sportsbook DraftKings from using registered trademarks connected to March Madness and the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. 

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According to reports the trademark infringement complaint was filed in the Southern District of Indiana. 

It specifically is requesting that DraftKings stops using terms like “March Madness,” “Final Four,” “Elite Eight,” and “Sweet Sixteen,” as well as variations of them in sports betting products, campaigns, or marketing. 

In the complaint, the NCAA stated that their trademarks are used in order to identify, brand, advertise, and distinguish the tournaments across various broadcast media, digital platforms, merchandise, sponsorships, and licensed commercial activities. 

“On the eve of the Tournaments, DraftKings deliberately adopted and prominently began using the NCAA’s iconic NCAA Basketball Marks, including confusingly similar variations thereof, to trade on – and usurp – the immense goodwill, recognition, and consumer trust embodied in those Marks at the precise moment of peak public attention,” the complaint said.

In the exhibits attached to the complaint, screenshots of DraftKings wagering platforms were used to exemplify the NCAA’s issue. 

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“DraftKings’s unlawful use quickly proliferated across its consumer-facing websites and mobile applications, embedding the marks and logos into betting menus, promotional graphics, and marketing publications, to deliberately exacerbate consumer confusion and reinforce a false association with or sponsorship by the NCAA in order to continuously capitalize on the goodwill of the NCAA,” the complaint said.

The NCAA also said that it avoids any appearance of affiliation with gambling companies. They’ve declined sponsorships, banned sports betting by athletes and staff, and have publicly made their opposition to prop and micro bets clear. 

The NCAA also said that it had launched initiatives to prevent harassment and improper influence in college sports. They’re biggest focus is to maintain integrity when it comes to the sport and competitions as well. 

“Every day that DraftKings continues to use these marks, millions of sports fans – and, critically, college students and young adults who are particularly susceptible to gambling harm – are exposed to the false suggestion that the Association has authorized or endorsed DraftKings’ gambling platform,” the NCAA said in a statement.