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Stanford transfer Andrej Stojakovic, the son of former NBA All-Star Peja Stojakovic and one of the best available wings in the portal, has committed to Cal, he told ESPN. Stojakovic visited the Golden Bears' campus last weekend and came away impressed by coach Mark Madsen's program. The Sacramento, California, native was pursued by Kentucky, North Carolina and Michigan, among others, but opted to stay close to home. "It was just the overall transparency from Coach Madsen and his staff," Stojakovic said. "We had many conversations about a development plan, what me at Cal could look like. Just overall, the consistency with them recruiting me, spending time with myself and my family." Madsen made Stojakovic a priority in the portal from the time he entered in mid-March, conducting an in-home visit with the freshman wing and his family early in the process. "I didn't know him at all. My dad didn't know him personally. He came to the house that...

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos opened Day 3 of the NFL draft with a move to select a teammate of quarterback Bo Nix, who was their first-round pick Thursday night. The Broncos, who traded five draft picks and three players to the Seattle Seahawks to acquire quarterback Russell Wilson in 2022, dialed up the Seahawks again Saturday morning. Denver moved up from No. 121 overall to No. 102 -- the second pick of Day 3 -- to select Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin. The Broncos also sent a fifth-round pick (No. 136 overall) and a sixth-round pick (No. 207) to the Seahawks and received a seventh-round pick (No. 235) in addition to the pick they used for Franklin. With the trade of Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns, Franklin's speed is needed in the Broncos' offense. Franklin was one of the fastest receivers at the scouting combine this year with a 4.41 time in the 40-yard dash, and the Broncos' expectation is...

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos opened Day 3 of the NFL draft with a move to select a teammate of quarterback Bo Nix, who was their first-round pick Thursday night. The Broncos, who traded five draft picks and three players to the Seattle Seahawks to acquire quarterback Russell Wilson in 2022, dialed up the Seahawks again Saturday morning. The Broncos moved up from No. 121 overall to No. 102 -- the second pick of Day 3 -- to select Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin. The Broncos also sent a fifth-round pick (No. 136 overall) and a sixth round pick (No. 207 overall) to the Seahawks and received a seventh-round pick (No. 235 overall) in addition to the pick they used for Franklin. With the trade of Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns, Franklin's speed is needed in the Broncos' offense. Franklin was one of the fastest receivers at the scouting combine this year with a 4.41 time in the 40-yard dash, and the...

BYU senior Jaxson Robinson, a projected NBA draft pick, plans to enter the transfer portal, he told ESPN. Robinson, who graduated Friday, announced this week that he plans to enter the NBA draft, and while the draft process -- including a potential invitation to the NBA draft combine -- is still his priority, entering his name into the portal before the May 1 deadline allows him to keep his options open. "The reason I am entering the transfer portal is because of the new coaching change at BYU," Robinson said. "I want to get to know Coach [Kevin] Young, but at the same time, I need to weigh all of my options. However, my primary focus is still achieving my longtime dream of playing in the NBA." The combine is May 12-19, and the deadline to withdraw from the NBA draft is May 29. Should he opt to return to college, the perception will be that following coach Mark Pope to Kentucky is the most likely route. But Robinson said he will look at other schools...

Sheffield United have been relegated from the Premier League with three games remaining following their   5-1 defeat to Newcastle at St. James' Park on Saturday. Chris Wilder's side have already broken the record for most goals conceded in a 38-game Premier League season with 97, and remain on track to surpass Swindon Town's mark of 100 goals conceded in the 1994-95 season, when the division contained 22 teams. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Sheffield United have already passed the ignominy of the lowest points tally in Premier League history -- that record remains with Derby County's 11 points in 2007-08 -- but should they lose their remaining three fixtures, they will have accumulated the third-fewest points in a 38-game season. Their season has been punctuated by heavy defeats both at Bramall Lane and on the road, notably the 8-0 home loss to Newcastle in September, the 5-0 reverse away at ...

Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon said Friday that he has a high-grade partial tear of his left hamstring, with the update coming five days after he was placed on the injured list with a "strain." It is expected to be a lengthy recovery for Rendon, who has not played more than 58 games in any of his previous four seasons since signing a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Angels, although one of those was the shortened 2020 pandemic season. "I'm definitely not going to be back in the 10-day window," Rendon said. "It's been four years running now. So I was angry for a few days, frustrated, mad, everything you could imagine because the game keeps getting taken away from me, right? I want to win, and I want to be out there. I do everything in my power to stay out there, and it seems like nothing is working." Rendon is batting .267 with no home runs, three RBIs and three stolen bases in 19 games. He opened the year by going 0-for-19 in five games before...

Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon said Friday that he has a high-grade partial tear of his left hamstring, with the update coming five days after he was placed on the injured list with a "strain." It is expected to be a lengthy recovery for Rendon, who has yet to play more than 58 games in any of his previous four seasons since signing a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Angels, although one of those was the shortened 2020 pandemic season. "I'm definitely not going to be back in the 10-day window," Rendon said. "It's been four years running now. So I was angry for a few days, frustrated, mad, everything you could imagine because the game keeps getting taken away from me, right? I want to win, and I want to be out there. I do everything in my power to stay out there, and it seems like nothing is working." Rendon is batting .267 with no home runs, three RBIs and three stolen bases in 19 games. He opened the year by going 0-for-19 in five games before...

Australian golfer Lucas Herbert says his caddie is "good now" after he was struck in the head by a water bottle during second-round action Saturday at LIV Golf Adelaide. Herbert had just made birdie on No. 12 and was celebrating with boisterous fans when his caddie, Nick Pugh, was hit in the back of the head by a water bottle thrown by a patron while he was replacing the flag in the cup. Pugh was knocked to his knees but managed to avoid serious injury. He eventually made his way back to the clubhouse at The Grange Golf Club. "I was worried about him to begin with, but he's good now," Herbert said, according to The Sydney Morning Herald, after his round. "He's good, and he took it really well. He could have been a lot more upset with it, but he took it really well." More than 30,000 fans were in attendance for LIV Adelaide's second round, many of whom were crammed into the popular party hole. "It's probably difficult to request someone who has had 15...

Mohamed Salah has refused to reveal the reasons behind the touchline disagreement he had with manager Jurgen Klopp during Liverpool's 2-2 draw with West Ham at the London Stadium on Saturday, saying: "There is going to be fire today if I speak." Klopp and Salah appeared to have a disagreement as the Egypt international waited to be introduced from the bench with 13 minutes remaining, with fellow substitutes Darwin Núñez and Joe Gomez stepping in to defuse the situation. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) - Liverpool ratings: Van Dijk, Alisson 5/10 as title hopes hit again Salah declined the opportunity to speak to reporters in the mixed zone following the full-time whistle in East London, saying: "There is going to be fire today if I speak." The draw dealt a further blow to Liverpool's fading hopes of winning the Premier League, with Klopp's team now two...

Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw away to West Ham United on Saturday, suffering a further blow to their hopes of lifting the Premier League trophy in manager Jurgen Klopp's final season at the club. Liverpool, still reeling from a 2-0 loss at Everton in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday, were marginally the better side in a flat first half. The visitors had a penalty denied for an offside in the build-up before Luis Díaz hit the post. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) They again conceded first, however, when Jarrod Bowen nodded home shortly before halftime, his 20th goal of the season in his 200th game for the West Ham. Liverpool levelled three minutes after the restart through Andy Robertson when his shot wriggled past Alphonse Areola at the goalkeeper's near post. Liverpool then took the lead in the 65th minute through the ugliest of own goals, with Cody Gakpo's sliced...

HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. -- Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay acknowledged the NFL Network report that quarterback Matthew Stafford would like more guaranteed money on his contract, saying, "We're going to try to figure it out." McVay said he has "had good dialogue" with Stafford about the situation, adding that the quarterback has "been working with our guys, and we will keep those things in-house." Stafford signed a four-year, $160 million contract extension in March 2022, but his salary is not guaranteed after the 2024 season. "We're going to take a day at a time," McVay said Friday on the second night of the NFL draft. "We'll see, so we're going to try to figure it out. "There's nothing that's more important than making sure that he feels appreciated and he knows how much we love him and want him to lead the way. And I think that commitment that I think he wants to have can be reciprocated, and we want to work towards figuring that out." Asked if Stafford would...

HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. -- Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay acknowledged the NFL Network report that quarterback Matthew Stafford would like more guaranteed money on his contract, saying, "We're going to try to figure it out." McVay said he has "had good dialogue" with Stafford about the situation, adding that the quarterback has "been working with our guys, and we will keep those things in-house." Stafford signed a four-year, $160 million contract extension in March 2022, but his salary is not guaranteed after the 2024 season. "We're going to take a day at a time," McVay said Friday on the second night of the NFL draft. "We'll see, so we're going to try to figure it out. "There's nothing that's more important than making sure that he feels appreciated and he knows how much we love him and want him to lead the way. And I think that commitment that I think he wants to have can be reciprocated, and we want to work towards figuring that out." Asked if Stafford would...

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. --  Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. spoke on the phone Thursday night after the  Atlanta Falcons stunningly took Penix with the No. 8 pick in the NFL draft. Penix, who led the  Washington Huskies to the national championship game last season, said Cousins reached out to him and that the two quarterbacks had a "very good conversation," although he did not disclose specifics about what they spoke about. "I'm going to keep it just between me and him right now," Penix said Friday at a news conference at the Falcons' facility. "But it was definitely a good conversation, and I'm super excited to work with him, and he said he's the same with me." Falcons coach Raheem Morris described the call between Cousins and Penix as "a pretty cool outing by both of those guys to have the empathy and the humility to talk to each other about what was going to happen and how [Cousins] talked about his support." The Falcons signed Cousins last...

PHOENIX -- The boos trickled down in the third quarter Friday night when the Minnesota Timberwolves began to pull away, just as they had in the first two games of the series. Soon, that trickle became a deluge, and by the end of the quarter, a steady stream of fans poured out of the Footprint Center. When Game 3 reached its final minutes, most of the sellout crowd had long ago departed into the desert night after their team's disastrous performance. The Timberwolves' wire-to-wire 126-109 win placed the Phoenix Suns, a team that began the season with championship expectations, on the brink of being swept in the first round of the playoffs. It also placed the Timberwolves one win away from winning their first playoff series since 2004. The Suns fans' displeasure was palpable -- and the team, which trailed by as much as 24, certainly heard it. "They expect so much out of us and they pay their hard-earned money, and they deserve to react how they want to...

DALLAS -- Clippers star Kawhi Leonard said the inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee did not respond the way he had hoped after Game 2, and after gutting out 25 minutes in Friday's 101-90 loss to the  Mavericks, his status for Sunday's Game 4 is in question. Leonard had nine points and nine rebounds but did not look like his normal self in Game 3 at American Airlines Center. With their franchise player limited, the Clippers unraveled and now trail 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. Leonard was asked if he will be able to play Sunday afternoon with less than 48 hours between Games 3 and 4. "Yeah," Leonard said. "Right now, I'll see [how it feels] tomorrow. But I want to play." Leonard missed 23 days with inflammation in his right knee and sat out the final eight games of the regular season and Game 1 of this first-round series against Dallas. He logged 35 minutes in his return Tuesday, finishing with 15 points, seven rebounds and four...

DALLAS -- A couple of heated confrontations during the fourth quarter of the  Mavericks' 101-90 Game 3 win over the Clippers on Friday night resulted in a pair of ejections and a boost to  P.J. Washington's local popularity. Washington, the power forward acquired by the Mavericks at the trade deadline, was ejected along with Clippers guard Russell Westbrook with 6:10 remaining. That confrontation began with Westbrook fouling Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic by grabbing his right arm from behind and yanking on it, pulling Doncic backward. When Doncic approached Westbrook to object, Westbrook shoved him with his left arm. Washington and Westbrook then exchanged shoves before other players, coaches, officials and security prevented the skirmish from escalating. "Always got to protect 77 at all costs," Washington told ESPN. "So I mean obviously it was a hard foul and then he pushed him afterwards, so I was right there and I just had to...

FRISCO, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys have yet to fill their running back need, but the return of Ezekiel Elliott looks more and more likely. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones would not say the Cowboys have an agreement in place with Elliott, who played for Dallas from 2016 to 2022, but he has acknowledged interest in Elliott. Jones was asked Friday whether not drafting a running back during the first three rounds was more about the way the draft has fallen or the Cowboys' comfort level of what they have on the roster. "First of all, the draft's not over and that's a thought," Jones said. "And it was a long time before a running back was taken in today's draft. But we also are keenly interested in seeing what the future might look like with Zeke." The Cowboys met with Elliott and his agent, Rocky Arceneaux, earlier this week to discuss a potential reunion. Then Elliott and Arceneaux happened to go to the same restaurant, Dee Lincoln Prime, where the Cowboys...

HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. -- Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay acknowledged the NFL Network report that quarterback Matthew Stafford would like more guaranteed money on his contract, saying, "we're going to try to figure it out." McVay said he has "had good dialogue" with Stafford about the situation, adding that Stafford has "been working with our guys, and we will keep those things in-house." Stafford signed a four-year, $160 million contract extension in March 2022, but his salary is not guaranteed after the 2024 season. "We're going to take a day at a time," McVay said Friday on the second night of the NFL draft. "We'll see, so we're going to try to figure it out. "There's nothing that's more important than making sure that he feels appreciated and he knows how much we love him and want him to lead the way. And I think that commitment that I think he wants to have can be reciprocated, and we want to work towards figuring that out." When asked if Stafford would...

INDIANAPOLIS -- Colts general manager Chris Ballard fiercely defended second-round pick Adonai Mitchell against criticisms of his character after selecting the wide receiver Friday night, calling the condemnations of the former Texas star "bulls---" during a lengthy rant. Mitchell, selected 52nd overall, had hoped to be selected in the first round but slid into the second round amid reports that he interviewed poorly and was a difficult player to assess. Ballard pushed back vociferously against those reports. "I read some of the bulls--- that was said," Ballard said. "Excuse my language. Our typical league -- unnamed sources, bad interviews. That's such bulls---. I mean, it f---ing is. It's bulls---. Put your name on it. I'm tired of it. We tear these young men down. "These are 21-, 22-year-old young men. And can people out there tell me they're perfect in their lives? It's crazy. It's crap. This is a good kid. And for those reports to come out, it's...

INDIANAPOLIS -- Injuries are beginning to pile up for the Milwaukee Bucks, presenting them with a new hurdle as they try to rally from a 2-1 deficit in their first-round series against the Indiana Pacers. Milwaukee has already been playing without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, sidelined with a calf strain. Khris Middleton was listed as questionable entering Friday's Game 3 before scoring 42 points in 41 minutes. And near the end of the fourth quarter, Damian Lillard aggravated an Achilles injury that he said hindered him during overtime. "We are just taking a lot of hits right now as far as injury-wise," Bucks coach Doc Rivers said after his team's 121-118 loss in overtime.  Lillard finished with 28 points on 6-of-20 shooting in 45 minutes, but he did not take a shot and went scoreless in overtime. He told Rivers he wanted to stay on the floor to serve as a decoy for Middleton, who hit tying 3-pointers with 2 seconds remaining...

PHILADELPHIA -- The Eagles moved up in the second round to select versatile Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean on Friday. DeJean, a first-team All-American and the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year in 2023, had been widely projected to be selected in the first round but was still on the board as Day 2 got underway. The Eagles traded both of their second-round picks -- Nos. 50 and 53 -- along with a fifth-round pick to the Washington Commanders for picks 40 and 78. The 40th pick was spent on DeJean, who totaled seven interceptions and 13 passes defensed over the past two seasons for Iowa while also making an impact as a punt returner. He missed the end of last season with a broken fibula, but has since been medically cleared to return to football. "Physically, I'm good," DeJean said after being drafted. "If there was a game played today, I'd be ready to go." He held a personal pro day in early April and reportedly ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash. DeJean...

COSTA MESA, Calif. -- After an offseason during which they parted ways with much of their offensive talent, the Los Angeles Chargers have added a new receiver for Justin Herbert. The Chargers traded up three spots Friday in the second round to select Georgia receiver  Ladd McConkey. At 6 feet, 186 pounds, McConkey ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine and had 1,687 yards and 14 touchdowns over his three years at Georgia. After the Chargers selected  Quentin Johnston with the 21st pick last year, it's the second time in the common draft era that they have taken a wide receiver in the top two rounds in consecutive years. McConkey had a back injury that sidelined him for Georgia's first four games last season and an ankle injured that sidelined him for the Bulldogs' regular-season finale. McConkey said that those injuries have no impact on him now and that his size shouldn't be a concern in the NFL. "Just looking at the receivers...

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- If the Los Angeles Lakers' season ends with a sweep in Game 4 of their first-round series against the Denver Nuggets, Darvin Ham is going down with the same guys who got them there. "I'm not changing my starting lineup," Ham said Friday after L.A. had a film session in lieu of practice. Down 3-0 against the Nuggets a year ago in the Western Conference finals, Ham took D'Angelo Russell out of the starting lineup for Game 4, which L.A. lost 113-111. This time, with Russell going scoreless on 0-for-7 shooting in Game 3 (0-for-6 from 3) and seemingly disengaged from the team in the fourth quarter Thursday as he sat on the end of the bench by himself while L.A. huddled, Ham is sticking with his point guard. "You want to give your players a chance to make good for themselves," Ham said. "There were questions about that after Game 1 and you saw what we did in Game 2. He got back in the gym, as he's always done, and worked on his stuff. And...

Liam McNeeley, a top-10 recruit and the best available high school prospect in the 2024 class, has committed to UConn, he told ESPN. "It felt like a perfect fit," McNeeley said. "Coach Hurley is a hard-nosed coach. That's the kind of coach I thrive under. The offensive system they run is perfect for my game. The culture of the team. The sets they run. They are going to help me get better on both sides of the ball. The whole coaching staff are good people." McNeeley, a 6-foot-7 wing from Richardson, Texas, picked the Huskies over Arkansas, Kentucky, Alabama, Michigan and others. He was previously committed to Indiana, but requested his release last month. McNeeley, ESPN's No. 9 prospect in the class of 2024, was named a McDonald's All American after helping Montverde Academy to a perfect 33-0 season that culminated in a win in the championship game of the Chipotle High School Nationals earlier this month. He was Montverde's third-leading scorer this season behind...

CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Amarius Mims shrugged off criticism from someone who was once on the verge of coaching him. When the Bengals selected Mims on Thursday with the 18th overall pick in the NFL draft, former Alabama coach Nick Saban questioned Mims' consistency throughout his playing career at Georgia. As a high school prospect, Mims had once been committed to play for Saban before he ultimately signed with Georgia, where he made eight starts in 29 games over three seasons. During his introductory media session in Cincinnati, Mims wasn't fazed by Saban's comments. "Everybody has their own opinions of me," Mims said Friday. "I don't really care about what he said or what he had to say, honestly. I'm just glad to be a Cincinnati Bengal." The 6-foot-8 offensive tackle joins a team that features two other 6-8 players who anchor the Bengals' offensive line -- left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and right tackle Trent Brown. As a...

Juwan Howard has agreed to a deal to become an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets, sources told ESPN on Friday. Howard -- fired by Michigan in March after five seasons as coach -- joins new Nets coach Jordi Fernandez's staff. Howard spent six seasons as an assistant under Erik Spoelstra with the Miami Heat upon his retirement from an NBA career that included 19 seasons, two championships and All-Star and All-NBA selections. After his initial success as Wolverines coach, Howard was approached for some NBA head-coaching openings -- including with the Los Angeles Lakers -- but remained at Michigan, where he eventually coached his sons  Jett and Jace. Howard led the Wolverines to a Sweet 16 and an Elite Eight in his time at his alma mater but struggled in the past two seasons, culminating with an 8-24 record that led to his dismissal. Howard joins assistant Steve Hetzel, who left the Portland Trail Blazers after three...

Leicester City have been promoted back to the Premier League from the Championship after second-placed Leeds United lost 4-0 to Queens Park Rangers on Friday. Leeds' defeat means that they are four points behind Leicester with only one match left to play, thereby ensuring that they can no longer overtake the midlands club for one of the two automatic promotion places. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Third-placed Ipswich Town could still catch Leicester, but even if they were to win their three remaining matches, Leicester would need just four points from their two remaining games to win the title. Leicester, whose nine-year Premier League stay was ended by relegation last season, had seemed almost certain of a return to the top flight when they opened up a 14-point gap between themselves and third place in February. But they saw that lead quickly shrink after a poor run of form that left them needing to...

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. --  Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. spoke on the phone Thursday night after the  Atlanta Falcons stunningly took Penix with the No. 8 pick in the NFL draft. Penix, who led the  Washington Huskies to the national championship game last season, said that Cousins reached out to him and that the two quarterbacks had a "very good conversation," although he did not disclose specifics about what they spoke about. "I'm going to keep it just between me and him right now," Penix said Friday at a news conference at the Falcons' facility. "But it was definitely a good conversation, and I'm super excited to work with him, and he said he's the same with me." Falcons coach Raheem Morris described the call between Cousins and Penix as "a pretty cool outing by both of those guys to have the empathy and the humility to talk to each other about what was going to happen and how [Cousins] talked about his support." The Falcons signed Cousins...

University of Southern California women's basketball coach Lindsay Gottlieb -- responsible for rapidly restoring the Trojans into a national powerhouse -- has signed a contract extension that'll take her through 2030, athletic director Jen Cohen announced Friday. Gottlieb's new deal comes with the Trojans on the cusp of competing for national championships with first-team All-American freshman JuJu Watkins -- the nation's best returning player -- and ESPN's No. 1-rated recruiting class arriving in the fall. "We couldn't be more excited to extend Lindsay and keep her as a part of the Trojan Family for years to come," Cohen said in a statement. "She has built a program we are extremely proud of and one that has had an incredible impact on our University and entire community. "Lindsay has led us back to national prominence at a time when the sport is as popular as it's ever been. The future of USC Women's Basketball is extremely bright and we can't wait to support her and see...

Liverpool have moved a step closer to appointing Arne Slot as manager at Anfield after reaching an agreement with Dutch club Feyenoord for the highly rated coach, sources confirmed to ESPN. Slot, 45, confirmed on Thursday that he was keen to move to Liverpool after being identified as the Premier League team's preferred candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp, who is stepping down at the end of the season after 8½ years in charge. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL more (U.S.) And sources have said that the two clubs have now sealed a compensation deal for Slot, who has two years left to run on his contract with the Eredivisie side. Feyenoord had been holding out for a £9 million ($11.25m) deal for Slot and, although a figure has yet to be confirmed publicly, a settlement has been reached, leaving Liverpool free to negotiate a contract with Slot. Liverpool opened talks with Feyenoord on Wednesday for Slot, who signed...

All-America center Hunter Dickinson announced Friday he plans to return to Kansas for his final year of eligibility, likely solidifying the Jayhawks as the preseason No. 1 team in men's college basketball. Dickinson, a 7-foot-2 senior, has been one of the most dominant and productive big men in the country during his college career. This past season, he averaged 17.9 points and a career-high 10.9 rebounds, which ranked eighth nationally -- en route to earning second-team All-America and first-team All-Big 12 honors. He produced huge single-game performances, going for 27 points and 21 rebounds against Kentucky; 17 points and 20 rebounds against Tennessee; and 30 points and 11 rebounds against TCU. Dickinson also finished with 19 points, 20 boards, five assists and four blocks in Kansas' first-round NCAA tournament win over Samford. He had 17 double-doubles on the season. Dickinson spent three seasons at Michigan before transferring last spring and joining Bill...

The NFL has adjusted its rules to allow players the option of using Guardian Caps in regular-season games to enhance their protection against head injuries, the league confirmed Friday. The padded headgear was mandated for players at certain positions during training camp in 2022 and 2023. Speaking earlier this year, NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller said that Guardian Caps have contributed to a nearly 50% reduction in concussions for the position groups that wore them during those time periods. In a statement provided Friday to ESPN, Miller said: "We now have two years of data showing significant concussion reductions among players who wear Guardian Caps during practice, so players will be permitted to wear the cap during games this upcoming season. Additionally, there are new helmets this year that provide as much -- if not more -- protection than a different helmet model paired with a Guardian Cap. These developments represent substantial progress in our efforts to make...

University of Southern California women's basketball coach Lindsay Gottlieb -- responsible for rapidly restoring the Trojans into a national powerhouse -- has agreed on a contract extension that'll take her through 2030, sources told ESPN on Friday. Gottlieb's new deal comes with the Trojans on the cusp of competing for national championships with first-team All-American freshman JuJu Watkins -- the nation's best returning player -- and ESPN's No. 1-rated recruiting class arriving in the fall. Gottlieb's recruitment and deployment of Watkins has been met with sold-out Galen Center crowds, national television ratings and an electric environment around the program in the Greater Los Angeles area. Watkins -- a prep icon at nearby Sierra Canyon -- has starred in national advertising campaigns with LeBron James and Joel Embiid and has become a magnet to recruit the best high school and portal players to USC. In Gottlieb's third season after arriving to a program...

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is mulling a future with 18 regular-season games, a Presidents Day weekend Super Bowl and a significant increase in international games. Goodell, during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Friday, shared his long-term vision, one that involves numerous changes to the season's current format. Specifically, Goodell said he would embrace a schedule featuring 18 regular-season games and two preseason contests, a significant shift from the current 17 regular-season and three preseason games that was implemented in 2021. "I think we're good at 17 now," Goodell said. "But, listen, we're looking at how we continue. I'm not a fan of the preseason." Then, gesturing toward a group of fans assembled nearby, Goodell said, "And I don't think these guys like it either." He continued: "The reality is, I'd rather replace a preseason game with a regular-season game any day. That's just picking quality. If we get to 18 and 2, that's not an unreasonable...

BALTIMORE - Highly touted prospect Jackson Holliday has been optioned to the minor leagues by the Baltimore Orioles after starting his big league career with a disappointing thud. Holliday was promoted from Triple-A Norfolk on April 10 amid plenty of fanfare, but the 20-year-old second baseman managed only two hits -- both singles -- and two walks in 36 plate appearances. He struck out 18 times and was batting just .059 with one RBI and a .111 on-base percentage. The Orioles tried to rest him periodically, but Holliday, the top pick in the 2022 MLB draft, never busted out of his funk at the plate. So, Baltimore sent him back to Norfolk on Friday before opening a three-game series at home against the Oakland Athletics. Holliday will seek to regain his form at the plate with Norfolk, where he batted .333 with five doubles, two homers and nine RBIs in 10 games this season before being summoned by the Orioles. "He's ultimately going to be better off for it,"...

No. 1 pick Caleb Williams is breaking records before setting foot in Chicago. The Bears selected the quarterback first in the NFL draft on Thursday night, and his merchandise on Fanatics, including jerseys and other apparel, set the record for draft night sales value in any sport. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft on April 15, had broken the existing record 10 days earlier when her No. 22 jersey sold out in a matter of hours. The alternate orange jersey was the only version of Williams' new duds that was still available Friday morning, and exclusively in size 2XL. His navy jersey was available only in youth sizes. Williams switched from his jersey number at USC (13) to No. 18 with the Bears, the team announced Thursday night. Newly acquired wide receiver Keenan Allen, traded to the Bears by the Los Angeles Chargers, is expected to wear No. 13. Quarterbacks Mike Tomczak and Kyle Orton previously wore No. 18 for the...

No. 1 pick Caleb Williams is breaking records before setting foot in Chicago. The Bears selected the quarterback first in the NFL draft on Thursday night and his merchandise on Fanatics, including jerseys and other apparel, set the record for draft night sales in any sport. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft on April 15, had broken the existing record 10 days earlier when her No. 22 jersey sold out in a matter of hours. The alternate orange jersey was the only version of Williams' new duds that was still available on Friday morning, and exclusively in size 2XL. His navy jersey was available only in youth sizes. Williams switched from his jersey number at USC (13) to No. 18 with the Bears, the team announced Thursday night. Newly acquired wide receiver Keenan Allen, traded to the Bears by the Los Angeles Chargers, is expected to wear No. 13. Quarterbacks Mike Tomczak and Kyle Orton previously wore No. 18 for the Bears, as...

Reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Josef Newgarden blinked back tears Friday as he accepted blame for using a manipulated push-to-pass system in his season-opening IndyCar win that has since been stripped, calling it an embarrassment. Newgarden insisted he is "not a liar" and said he didn't know he had broken the rules until Monday, the day after the manipulated systems were discovered during morning warmups at Long Beach. The two-time series champion choked back tears several times, including when asked what he has to do to regain the trust of his competitors, some of whom have been outspoken in their skepticism that his and his team's actions were unintentional. "I don't know how you do that," Newgarden said. "I don't know that anybody's going to believe what I've told you here today. And that's OK. It's a crazy set of circumstances to try to wrestle with. It's certainly not going to come with words. I'll just try and earn it through action." Newgarden's 25-minute news...

The Milwaukee Bucks have ruled two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo out of Friday night's Game 3 of the series against the Indiana Pacers with a left calf strain. The Bucks already played the first two games of this series without Antetokounmpo. The Bucks and Pacers are tied 1-1 in the best-of-seven series. Antetokounmpo hasn't played since straining his left calf in an April 9 victory over the Boston Celtics. He missed the Bucks' final three regular-season games. The Bucks face the possibility of continuing the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series without two of their top three players. Khris Middleton has a sprained right ankle that kept him from practicing Thursday and puts his status in question for Game 3 in Indianapolis. The NBA's injury report Thursday afternoon listed Antetokounmpo as doubtful and Middleton as questionable for Friday's game. Middleton was limping in the first quarter of the Bucks' 125-108 Game 2 loss...

More than two dozen athletes who were based in Iowa filed a federal lawsuit Friday alleging that state criminal investigators violated their constitutional rights by using geolocation software to track activity on their cellphones as part of a widespread sports wagering inquiry that resulted in criminal charges and the loss of NCAA eligibility. At issue in the 47-page lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa is whether the state's criminal investigators needed a search warrant before using a program from third-party company GeoComply to find athletes -- including many who were under 21, the legal betting age in Iowa -- and conduct searches to examine their online wagering activity. The plaintiffs are 26 current and former athletes: 16 from the University of Iowa, nine from Iowa State and one from a community college in central Iowa. Thirteen played football, six wrestled and the other seven played baseball or basketball. "The lives of these young...

More than two dozen athletes who were based in Iowa filed a federal lawsuit Friday alleging that state criminal investigators violated their constitutional rights by using geolocation software to track activity on their cellphones as part of a widespread sports wagering inquiry that resulted in criminal charges and the loss of NCAA eligibility. At issue in the 47-page lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa is whether the state's criminal investigators needed a search warrant before using a program from third-party company GeoComply to find athletes -- including many who were under 21, the legal betting age in Iowa -- and conduct searches to examine their online wagering activity. The plaintiffs are 26 current and former athletes: 16 from the University of Iowa, nine from Iowa State and one from a community college in central Iowa. Thirteen played football, six wrestled, and the other seven played baseball or basketball. "The lives of these young...

The Miami Marlins scratched left-hander Jesus Luzardo from Friday's scheduled start because of elbow discomfort. The team said Luzardo, 26, will undergo further testing. In his place, right-hander Anthony Maldonado is scheduled to make his major league debut when the Marlins open a four-game series against the visiting Washington Nationals on Friday night. Maldonado, 26, was called up from Triple-A Jacksonville, where he has gone 11-3 with a 1.84 ERA across 78⅓ innings pitched over three seasons. Luzardo has struggled through five starts this season, going 0-2 with a 6.58 ERA. He has struck out 27 batters, walked 13 and allowed five home runs in 26 innings of work. He owns a career record of 23-30 with a 4.32 ERA in 98 games (82 starts) with the Oakland A's (2019-21) and Marlins. Luzardo is the latest Marlins starting pitcher to be slowed by injury. Left-hander A.J. Puk went on the 15-day injured list Saturday with left shoulder...

Inter Miami CF head coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino shut down artificial turf doubts when confirming the availability of Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez for selection vs. the New England Revolution on Saturday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. "The players are all available, and those who are healthy will travel. We will see the formation to face the New England Revolution a little later," Martino said during a Friday news conference. "We previously played on artificial turf at Charlotte last year and had no problem."  - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Messi formed part of the Inter Miami side that took on Charlotte FC on Bank of America Stadium's turf. Messi played the entirety of the game in the 1-0 loss. The Argentine striker had reaffirmed his disposition to play on any field during his introductory news conference last summer. "The truth is my youth was spent on artificial turf, my whole...

Alabama basketball transfer Rylan Griffen, one of the best shooters in the portal, has committed to Kansas, he told ESPN. The Jayhawks quickly emerged as the favorite to land Griffen, conducting an in-home visit and then welcoming him on campus last week. "I chose Kansas because Coach [Bill] Self and the coaching staff are going to push me to be the best player I can be," Griffen said. "I think I fit in because they said they needed shooting. I think I can help them in that area. I think I can help them with perimeter defense and help get stops and help carry on the same winning culture they've always had." A 6-foot-6 shooting guard, Griffen made significant strides during his sophomore season in Tuscaloosa. He went from averaging 5.9 points as a freshman to 11.2 points as a sophomore, starting 33 games and shooting 39.2% from behind the arc. Griffen was at his best during the middle part of the season, averaging nearly 14 points during a 17-game stretch from late...

Brazil's all-time top scorer in both men's and women's football, Marta, will retire from internationals this year, the 38-year-old striker said on Thursday. Marta, who has been playing in the United States with Orlando Pride since 2017, hopes to make her sixth appearance at the Olympics at this year's Games in Paris. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) "If I go to the Olympics, I will enjoy every moment, because, regardless of whether I go to the Olympics or not, this is my last year with the national team," Marta told CNN in an interview on Thursday. "There will be no more Marta from 2025 in the national team as an athlete. "I am very calm about this, because I see with great optimism this development that we are having in relation to young athletes." Marta, affectionately known as "Queen Marta," is the all-time highest scorer for Brazil with 116 goals in 175 matches. Regarded as one of the best footballers of...

Nico Hulkenberg will leave Haas for Sauber in 2025, the two teams confirmed on Friday. Hulkenberg joined Haas in 2023 after three seasons without a full-time ride and has been one of the grid's in-form drivers this season. - Unlapped: How to listen or watch ESPN's F1 show The German driver will join Sauber on a multi-season deal one year before it becomes the Audi team in 2026. "I'd like to extend my thanks to Nico for his contributions to the team in the time that he's been here with us - he's been a great team player and someone we very much enjoy working with, " team principal Ayao Komatsu said in a statement put out by Haas on Friday.  "His experience and feedback have proved invaluable to us in terns of improving our overall performance - a fact that's clearly evident in both his qualifying and race performances in the VF-24 this season. "There's a lot more racing to go this year so we look forward to continuing to benefit from his inputs...

LOS ANGELES -- Having just logged the 285th playoff game of his career -- clearing the entire Denver Nuggets starting five's combined 275 -- Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James spoke from plenty of experience when he detailed what it takes to thrive in the postseason after Thursday night's 112-105 Game 3 loss. "You're supposed to have anxiety and pressure -- or feel the pressure," James said after Denver went up 3-0 in their first-round series, one win away from sweeping L.A. into its summer for a second straight year. "That's what it's about. This is what the postseason is about." With  Anthony Davis to his right, James endorsed his and the Lakers center's ability to perform when the games matter most. The pair combined for 59 points. James finished with 26 points on 12-for-20 shooting, six rebounds and nine assists, while Davis led L.A. with 33 points on 14-for-23 shooting and 15 boards. He didn't say the same for the rest of the Lakers, who were...

LOS ANGELES -- Having just logged the 285th playoff game of his career -- clearing the entire Denver Nuggets starting five's combined 275 -- Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James spoke from plenty of experience when he detailed what it takes to thrive in the postseason after Thursday night's 112-105 Game 3 loss. "You're supposed to have anxiety and pressure -- or feel the pressure," James said after Denver went up 3-0 in their first-round series, one win away from sweeping L.A. into its summer for a second straight year. "That's what it's about. This is what the postseason is about." With  Anthony Davis to his right, James endorsed his and the Lakers center's ability to perform when the games matter most. The pair combined for 59 of L.A.'s 105 points, with James finishing with 26 points on 12-for-20 shooting, six rebounds and nine assists and Davis leading L.A. with 33 points on 14-for-23 and 15 boards. He didn't say the same for the rest of the...

Before the Baltimore Ravens selected Nate Wiggins in the NFL draft's first round Thursday night, team officials were getting constant reminders from Clemson coach Dabo Swinney that the Tigers cornerback was still on the board. "We were getting texts from the head coach," Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said. "Dabo was texting us during the first round [saying], 'Please take this guy.'" Swinney, who attended Wiggins' draft party, gave him a hug after he was drafted by the Ravens. "Nate is as talented as we've ever had come through here at his position from a skill set standpoint," Swinney said in a press release Thursday night. One of the top cornerbacks in the draft, Wiggins unexpectedly fell to No. 30. He said he was unaware that Swinney had contacted Baltimore, but he was certain that the Ravens were targeting him. "They always told me if I was there, and I was available, they were going to take me," Wiggins said. "So, it was just, 'Will I be...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- As San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan made their way to the auditorium Thursday night, a text popped up on each of their phones. The sender was Brandon Aiyuk, the subject of plenty of trade speculation amid the Niners' latest attempts to consummate a big-money contract extension with the star wide receiver. Lynch and Shanahan had just spent the No. 31 pick in the NFL draft Thursday on Florida receiver  Ricky Pearsall, a selection that didn't do much to quiet the Aiyuk rumors. But Aiyuk's message wasn't one of anger. It was far simpler. "Fire pick, I can't lie," Aiyuk's message said, according to Lynch. Aiyuk and Pearsall played together at Arizona State in 2019 and remain friendly. In fact, Pearsall spoke to Aiyuk on the phone before he spoke with Bay Area media Thursday night. That all took place against the backdrop of the seemingly endless speculation about Aiyuk's future. Despite San...