Sports News

The roof at Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, sustained major damage because of high winds associated with Hurricane Milton, which made landfall Wednesday along Florida's Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm. Pictures and video on social media showed most of the fabric covering the domed roof torn off.  The ballpark in St. Petersburg was designated as a staging site for first responders and state and local emergency management services aiding with debris removal. The facility was set up to host 10,000 people, with cots arranged on the playing surface. Capt. Garth Swingle of St. Petersburg Fire Rescue told ABC News there has been contact with the people inside and they are safe. It wasn't immediately known if there was damage inside the stadium.  The roof is made from ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), a polymer that's stronger than glass but significantly lighter. The metal frame appeared to be unscathed. According to the Rays, the Trop was built to...

Tennis great Rafael Nadal will retire from the sport at the end of the year. Nadal, 38, has enjoyed a career that has seen him win 22 Grand Slams, including 14 French Open titles. But he has been hampered by injuries in recent years, and he announced Thursday that this will be his final year playing the sport. He will play for Spain against the Netherlands in the Davis Cup in Malaga from Nov. 19-21. That will be his final act on the tennis court, in a sport where he stood alongside Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray as four modern greats in the men's game. "I'm here to let you know that I am retiring from professional tennis," Nadal said in a video statement posted to social media. "The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these two especially. I don't think I have been able to play without limitations. It is obviously a difficult decision, one that takes me some time to make. "But in this life, everything has a beginning...

"In this life everything has a beginning and an end."

NEW YORK -- Before the New York Mets gathered for another celebratory team photo Wednesday night, after another thrilling postseason victory extended this dream season to the National League Championship Series, Francisco Lindor made it a point to hug as many people as possible. The night's star thanks to a go-ahead grand slam, the franchise cornerstone paid like a franchise cornerstone for these nights, bounced around the infield grass at Citi Field from embrace to embrace. There was a warm hug with Alex Cohen, owner Steve Cohen's wife, who was in tears. There were daps with teammates and coaches and support staff. Finally, before rushing to the mound for the team photo, there was an extended hug by second base with Brandon Nimmo, the longest-tenured player on the roster. The shortstop and the outfielder squeezed tight. Nimmo dug his face into Lindor's shoulder. Tears welled in his eyes. "It's really hard to put into words what we've gone through behind...

SAN DIEGO -- With the rotation decimated, the lineup wounded and the season hanging in the balance, a group of close to 12 Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers walked toward Petco Park's center-field bullpen late Wednesday afternoon to attempt what at that point seemed improbable -- tame a vaunted San Diego Padres offense, quiet an effervescent opposing crowd and send this National League Division Series back to L.A. Their only hope was to do what they always do -- band together, follow the plan laid out for them and prepare for it all to unravel. "Obviously stuff can change," said  Daniel Hudson, the most senior member of that group. "I mean everybody's got a plan until they get punched in the mouth, right?" On this night, in a must-win Game 4, it was the Dodgers who did the punching, deploying eight relievers to shut out the Padres and capture an 8-0 win, setting up a winner-take-all Game 5 from Dodger Stadium on Friday. Along the way, Ryan Brasier, ...

NEW YORK -- Before the New York Mets gathered for another celebratory team photo Wednesday night, after another thrilling postseason series victory to extend this dream season to the National League Championship Series, Francisco Lindor made it a point to hug as many people as possible. The night's hero thanks to a go-ahead grand slam, the franchise cornerstone paid like a franchise cornerstone for these nights, bounced around the infield grass at Citi Field from embrace to embrace. There was a warm hug with Alex Cohen, owner Steve Cohen's wife, who was in tears. There were daps with teammates and coaches and support staff. Finally, before rushing to the mound for the team photo, there was an extended hug by second base with Brandon Nimmo, the longest-tenured player on the roster. The shortstop and the outfielder squeezed tight. Nimmo dug his face into Lindor's shoulder. Tears welled in his eyes. "It's really hard to put into words what we've gone through...

The roof at Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, sustained major damage because of high winds associated with Hurricane Milton, which made landfall Wednesday along Florida's Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm. Pictures and video on social media showed most of the fabric covering the domed roof torn off.  The ballpark in St. Petersburg was designated as a staging site for first responders and state and local emergency management services aiding with debris removal. The facility was set up to host 10,000 people, with cots arranged on the playing surface. Capt. Garth Swingle of St. Petersburg Fire Rescue told ABC News there has been contact with the people inside and they are safe. It wasn't immediately known if there was damage inside the stadium.  The roof is made from ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), a polymer that's stronger than glass but significantly lighter. The metal frame appeared to be unscathed. According to the Rays, the Trop was built to...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Five hours before the New York Yankees' pivotal division series game against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, a pitching machine set up well off the third-base side of the mound fired balls at an angle toward Giancarlo Stanton. The Yankees' slugger was looking to acclimate himself to the Kauffman Stadium batter's eye and find his swing, aware of how imperative it is for New York's postseason success. Stanton found it. And because of it, the Yankees are one game from the American League Championship Series. He hit a no-doubt, go-ahead home run in the eighth inning of Game 3, and newly minted closer Luke Weaver held strong for a five-out save to secure a 3-2 victory Wednesday night in front of a rowdy crowd of 40,312. New York holds a 2-1 lead in its ALDS and will start reigning AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole in Game 4 on Thursday night. The home run capped a 3-for-5 night for Stanton, who drove in Juan...

SAN DIEGO -- First baseman Freddie Freeman was scratched from Game 4 as the Los Angeles Dodgers try to avoid elimination in their National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres. Freeman was lifted for a pinch-runner in Game 3 on Tuesday after he limped to first on an eighth-inning single. He also left Game 2 on Sunday after five innings due to discomfort in his sprained right ankle. The Dodgers made numerous changes to adjust for Freeman's absence. Max Muncy moved from third base to first, Enrique Hernandez switched from center field to third base, and Chris Taylor got the start in center field. Reliever Ryan Brasier started for the Dodgers, with manager Dave Roberts saying Tuesday that the team would go with a bullpen game. Brasier was announced as the starter about four hours before first pitch at Petco Park. The right-hander pitched in relief in Games 1 and 2 at Dodger Stadium, earning the win in a 7-5...

Just as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wrapped up the first of three practices this week at Tulane University in New Orleans, where they evacuated to in advance of Hurricane Milton, conditions some 685 miles back home began to rapidly deteriorate Wednesday. The area is seeing its first direct hit from a major hurricane since 1921, and that wasn't lost on players and coaches. "A lot of prayer, a lot of prayer," quarterback Baker Mayfield said in a video call with reporters. Added wide receiver  Mike Evans: "We're not even just playing for just football now. We're trying to play for something a little bit bigger." Ten days ago, Hurricane Helene swiped the Florida Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm, forcing Mayfield and others living in coastal areas to evacuate. The worst of the impact was felt in Florida's Big Bend region, some 200 miles north of Tampa, but it still left piles of broken furniture and other debris in places such as Pinellas and Manatee...

SAN DIEGO -- First baseman Freddie Freeman was scratched from Game 4 as the Los Angeles Dodgers try to avoid elimination in their National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres. Freeman was lifted for a pinch-runner in Game 3 on Tuesday after he limped to first on an eighth-inning single. He also left Game 2 on Sunday after five innings due to discomfort in his sprained right ankle. The Dodgers made numerous changes to adjust for Freeman's absence. Max Muncy is moving from third base to first base, Enrique Hernandez switches from center field to third base, and Chris Taylor will get the start in center field. Reliever Ryan Brasier will start for the Dodgers on Wednesday night, with manager Dave Roberts saying Tuesday that the team would go with a bullpen game. Brasier was announced as the starter about four hours before first pitch at Petco Park on Wednesday. The right-hander pitched in relief in Games 1 and 2...

INDIANAPOLIS -- Michael Pittman Jr., the Colts' No. 1 wide receiver, has suffered a back injury that is expected to sideline him for multiple games, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Wednesday. Pittman played the entirety of Sunday's loss at the Jacksonville Jaguars but is believed to have been injured in the game. He joins a long list of key Colts players dealing with injuries, leaving them looking for answers at numerous positions. The Colts have not yet determined whether Pittman will be placed on injured reserve, which would sideline him for at least four games. Pittman has 22 receptions for 238 yards and a touchdown through five games this season and has 3,159 combined receiving yards in the past three seasons. He was rewarded during the offseason with a three-year, $70 million contract extension in March that prevented him from reaching free agency. Also Wednesday, the Colts said starting receiver  Josh Downs is dealing with a toe injury....

INDIANAPOLIS -- Michael Pittman Jr., the Colts' No. 1 wide receiver, has suffered a back injury that is expected to sideline him for multiple games, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Wednesday. Pittman played the entirety of Sunday's loss at the Jacksonville Jaguars but is believed to have been injured in the game. He joins a long list of key Colts players dealing with injuries, leaving them looking for answers at numerous positions. The Colts have not yet determined whether Pittman will be placed on injured reserve, which would sideline him for at least four games. Pittman has 22 receptions for 238 yards and a touchdown through five games this season and has 3,159 combined receiving yards in the past three seasons. He was rewarded during the offseason with a three-year, $70 million contract extension in March that prevented him from reaching free agency. Also Wednesday, the Colts revealed that starting receiver  Josh Downs is dealing with a...

INDIANAPOLIS -- Michael Pittman Jr., the Colts' No. 1 wide receiver, has suffered a back injury that is expected to sideline him for multiple games, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Wednesday. Pittman played the entirety of last Sunday's loss at the Jacksonville Jaguars but is believed to have been injured in the game. He joins a long list of key Colts  players dealing with injuries, leaving them looking for answers at numerous positions. The Colts have not yet determined whether Pittman will be placed on injured reserve, which would sideline him for at least four games. Pittman has 22 receptions for 238 yards and a touchdown through five games this season and has 3,159 combined receiving yards in the past three seasons. He was rewarded during the offseason with a three-year, $70 million contract extension in March that prevented him from reaching free agency. Also Wednesday, the Colts revealed that starting receiver  Josh Downs is dealing...

METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints will start rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, coach Dennis Allen said Wednesday. Rattler will start in place of injured Derek Carr, who strained his oblique against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday. Allen said Carr's return would be a "week-to-week" decision and that Carr would retain his starting job when healthy. "Overall, I think he's doing OK, and yet I think he's disappointed that he can't be out here," Allen said. "He's a guy that hasn't missed a lot of time, doesn't like to miss a lot of time, so I think he's frustrated with that part." The Saints play two games in five days -- Sunday against Tampa Bay and then Oct. 17 against the Denver Broncos on "Thursday Night Football." Rattler, a 2024 fifth-round draft pick out of  South Carolina, won the starting job over second-year player Jake Haener, but Allen declined to go into...

Five former employees of San Diego Wave FC have filed a lawsuit in San Diego Superior Court against the club and the National Women's Soccer League alleging multiple forms of discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination. The suit adds additional allegations to those made over the summer by former Wave employee Brittany Alvarado that the club, led by team president Jill Ellis, created a toxic work environment. The Wave quickly refuted those allegations from July, and a few weeks later, Ellis filed a defamation lawsuit alleging that Alvarado "made false and defamatory statements about Ellis ... supported by a fake email." Ellis is not named as a defendant in the new lawsuit, although she is mentioned throughout it. The lawsuit alleges that Wave leadership fostered an "abusive and hostile work environment" and that multiple employees "asked for help from the NWSL." A San Diego Wave spokesperson provided the following statement to...

ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels can make plays with his legs, just like Sunday's opposing quarterback Lamar Jackson. That doesn't mean Daniels views the two as similar. "I don't like when people try to compare me to Lamar," Daniels said. "We're two different players. I want to be known as Jayden Daniels and not the next such-and-such." Washington (4-1) plays at Baltimore (3-2) on Sunday in a matchup of the NFL's two highest-scoring offenses -- and two of the most dynamic quarterbacks. Daniels owns the NFL's third-highest quarterback rating (73.2); Jackson's is fifth (67.2). Jackson has thrown for 1,206 yards passing and nine touchdowns while rushing for another 363 yards and two scores. Meanwhile, Daniels has thrown for 1,135 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 300 yards and four scores. Both quarterbacks are on pace to surpass 1,000 yards rushing. But while their stats might be comparable, that doesn't mean...

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Concerns over Hurricane Milton and its effects on Florida forced the cancellation of Friday's preseason game in Orlando between the Magic and the New Orleans Pelicans, the NBA said. The game will not be rescheduled. Orlando was playing at San Antonio on Wednesday night and was scheduled to return to central Florida on Thursday. A team spokesperson said the Magic now will stay an extra day in San Antonio before departing Friday. Forecasters say the hurricane is set to make landfall somewhere on the Gulf Coast of Florida sometime late Wednesday or early Thursday. The Magic-Pelicans game is the second NBA preseason matchup to be affected by Milton. A game scheduled for Thursday in Miami between the Heat and Atlanta Hawks was postponed until Oct. 16 because of storm concerns. Also called off earlier this week: a rescheduled NHL preseason game on Friday in Tampa between the Lightning and Predators -- one that...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux had surgery Wednesday morning on his wrist and is considered "week-to-week," according to coach Brian Daboll. While Thibodeaux is excepted to miss some time, rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers is getting closer to a return from a concussion. Nabers worked on the side with a trainer at Wednesday's practice and is making progress in the concussion protocol after missing Sunday's 29-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Daboll said Nabers, the Giants' leading receiver, is "feeling better." Thibodeaux suffered a fractured scaphoid bone during the win over the Seahawks, a source confirmed to ESPN. He played through the injury and finished the game before being reexamined early this week. The Giants (2-3) seem to think that Thibodeaux will be able to return this season. "Yeah, again, I'm not going to give you a timeline or anything like that," Daboll said. "I would just say he's...

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, commenting for the first time on Robert Saleh's dismissal, fired back at those who believe he influenced owner Woody Johnson's decision to change coaches after only five games. "As far as any of the ridiculous allegations out there, I'm not going to spend more than one sentence in response to it," Rodgers said during his weekly appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Wednesday. "And that is that I resent any of those accusations because they are patently false. It's interesting the amount of power that people think that I have, which I don't. I love Robert." Rodgers said he will support interim coach Jeff Ulbrich and any changes he might make to the offensive staff. One of those changes could be a demotion for Rodgers' close friend, Nathaniel Hackett, the offensive coordinator and playcaller. Ulbrich said Tuesday he's mulling changes, but he didn't offer specifics. Before he got fired, Saleh was...

Before the Lakers departed on a 1,750-mile flight from Los Angeles to the Midwest for Thursday's exhibition against the Milwaukee Bucks, LeBron James took to social media to question the necessity of the trip. "Can someone please explain to me why we're getting on a [plane emoji] and heading to Milwaukee for 1 pre-season game!?!?" James posted to X on Wednesday. The Lakers will play a six-game preseason slate this month, and none of the games are at home. The team scheduled the games on the road because of planned renovations to Crypto.com Arena. The building is completing the third phase of its major renovation program since undergoing a rebrand from Staples Center to Crypto.com Arena in 2021. The NHL's Los Angeles Kings also will be displaced until Oct. 24, when they play their first  regular-season home game vs. the San Jose Sharks. The result has been the purple-and-gold going on a barnstorming tour before the curtain rises on...

HENDERSON, Nev. -- Aidan O'Connell will start at quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, replacing Gardner Minshew, coach Antonio Pierce announced Wednesday. Minshew won a tight training camp battle over O'Connell but was twice benched late in his five starts for the Raiders, in losses to the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos. The Raiders are 2-3 heading into Sunday's game. "I mean, it was a quarterback battle early on," Pierce said, "and at this point, I think it's best to go with Aidan going forward." Pierce said the decision to make the switch was his. Asked if it was permanent for the rest of the season or if Minshew might regain the job, Pierce left the door open. "I don't plan on making switches at any time," he said. "When it's time to make a switch, we'll make a switch." Minshew was completing a career-high 70.7% of his passes for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns in five games....

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New York Giants outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux had surgery Wednesday morning on his wrist and is considered "week to week," according to coach Brian Daboll. While Thibodeaux is excepted to miss some time, rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers is getting closer to a return from a concussion. Nabers worked on the side with a trainer at Wednesday's practice and is making progress in the concussion protocol after missing Sunday's 29-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Daboll said Nabers, the Giants' leading receiver, is "feeling better." Thibodeaux suffered a fractured scaphoid bone during the win over the Seahawks, a source confirmed to ESPN. He played through the injury and finished the game before being reexamined early this week. The Giants (2-3) do seem to think that Thibodeaux will be able to return this season. "Yeah, again, I'm not going to give you a timeline or anything like that," Daboll said. "I would just say...

PITTSBURGH -- The NFL is reviewing the explicit message worn on the eye black of Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens during Sunday night's loss to the Dallas Cowboys for a potential fine over violation of the league's uniform policy, according to a league source. Pickens' message read, "Open F---ing Always," and was written in silver over the eye black. According to league rules, Rule 5, Section 4, Article 8 states that players are prohibited from "wearing, displaying or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office." Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he was unaware of Pickens' eye black. "I don't know what messaging you're talking about regarding his eye black," Tomlin said Tuesday. "I didn't have any outlying issue with his effort." Pickens, who played a career-low 34 snaps Sunday, declined a postgame interview request and didn't make...

HENDERSON, Nev. -- Las Vegas Raiders receiver Davante Adams, who has been out with a hamstring injury as well as having requested a trade, is not expected to play Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Allegiant Stadium, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Adams last played for the Raiders in a Week 3 home loss to the Carolina Panthers and was on the sideline for Las Vegas' Week 4 win against the Cleveland Browns at Allegiant Stadium but has not spoken to local media since Sept. 25. "It shouldn't take a coach to say something to you to get you fired up and motivated to turn it around," Adams said that day, in the wake of the Panthers loss. "So, just looking to see how the guys respond, myself included, everybody." He canceled his scheduled paid appearance on the "Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams" on Tuesday. Adams, 31, prefers to be traded to a team with a quarterback he has a previous relationship with, per ESPN 's Adam Schefter, such as...

Erik ten Hag is preparing as normal for Manchester United's next game against Brentford, a source told ESPN, despite the continuing uncertainty surrounding his position. The club's executive committee, including co-owners Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Joel Glazer, met for more than six hours in central London on Tuesday amid growing pressure on the Dutchman. Early-season performances, which have seen United slip to 14th in the Premier League table, were discussed at the meeting along with a number of other topics. But with no clear directive received since, Ten Hag is continuing to work as normal ahead of Brentford's visit to Old Trafford on Oct. 19. A source told ESPN Ten Hag has been in touch with members of his staff who have remained in Manchester during the break. United have privately maintained that the gathering, which was also attended by CEO Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth, technical director Jason Wilcox and Ineos director of...

Dallas Mavericks guard Dante Exum is expected to miss three months after undergoing right wrist surgery on Tuesday, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania. Exum suffered the serious right wrist injury during a training camp workout and sought multiple opinions before electing for surgery this week. His extended absence is an early-season blow to the Mavericks' backcourt, which will now rely heavily on Spencer Dinwiddie, Quentin Grimes and Jaden Hardy. Exum, 29, has been hampered by injuries throughout his career since being selected by the Utah Jazz with the fifth overall pick of the 2014 draft. Exum played in Europe for two seasons before the Mavs signed him during the 2023 offseason. He emerged as a key role player for Dallas but missed most of January and February due to foot and knee ailments. Exum averaged 7.8 points and 2.9 assists in 55 games and was one of the Mavs' best perimeter defenders last season.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The NFL placed New England Patriots starting safety Jabrill Peppers on the commissioner exempt list, the league announced Wednesday. Peppers may not practice or attend games while on the list. Peppers pleaded not guilty Monday after he was arrested Saturday on charges that include strangulation and drug possession, according to police in Braintree, Massachusetts. "I just want to be clear -- any act of domestic violence is unacceptable for us as a team, whether you're a player, staff member. We're wholeheartedly against any type of domestic violence. I know the organization's position, which I fully support," coach Jerod Mayo said Wednesday. "With that being said, I do think that Jabrill has to continue to go through due process. We'll see how that works out. The league has put him on the exempt list, and that will give us time to gather more information going forward. At this time, he is not in the building and we'll talk about that at a...

The Houston Texans have placed wide receiver Nico Collins on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least the next four games. Collins, who leads the NFL with 567 receiving yards this season, suffered a hamstring injury in the first quarter of Houston's 23-20 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 5. The injury occurred when quarterback C.J. Stroud launched a deep pass to Collins for a 67-yard touchdown to put the Texans up 14-3. Collins limped to the sideline following the score, eventually heading to the locker room. He didn't return to the game. On Monday, coach DeMeco Ryans said Collins' injury was "week-to-week" and replacing his production will require a team effort. "Nico has been the best receiver in the NFL this year. So, do you replace him? No, everybody just steps up and whatever role you're asked to do, just step up and play your role the proper way," Ryans said. "Nobody has to be Nico. There is one Nico, he's done a great job of that....

Former Boston Bruins star goaltender Linus Ullmark has signed a four-year contract extension with the Ottawa Senators, who acquired him in a high-profile trade in June. Ullmark, 31, has one more season left on a deal that carries a $5 million average annual value. His new contract, which begins in the 2025-26 season, has an AAV of $8.25 million -- the same salary cap hit as his former Bruins crease-mate Jeremy Swayman, who signed an eight-year contract Sunday. "We are excited to have Linus signed to a contract extension before the start of the regular season," Senators president of hockey operations and general manager Steve Staios said in a statement. "In a short window of time, Linus has been able to see the culture we're trying to grow with our hockey club and his family has experienced the community spirit of Ottawa-Gatineau." Ullmark and Swayman were the NHL's best tandem over the past three seasons, helping the Bruins to the lowest...

On Aug. 13, three days after his first NFL appearance, Cleveland Browns rookie Michael Hall Jr. was arrested after police said he held a gun to his fiancée's head and threatened to kill her. Hall initially pleaded not guilty to a domestic violence charge, and the NFL opened an investigation into the allegations the next day. He played in the Browns' remaining two preseason games before the NFL announced he would be placed on the commissioner's exempt list and barred from practice or games until the league concluded its investigation. His fiancée later recanted her statement that Hall held a gun to her head, and in September, he pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of disorderly conduct. The NFL suspended him Oct. 1 for five games without pay. The NFL's immediate reaction to Hall's arrest was a result of the procedures implemented a decade ago, when public criticism over the league's delayed response to allegations involving then- Baltimore Ravens...

Jürgen Klopp is set to make his return to football as head of global soccer at Red Bull, with the former Liverpool manager taking up his role on Jan.1, 2025. Klopp, 57, will oversee Red Bull's network of clubs, and while he will not be involved in their day-to-day running, he will help with strategic vision, aid the sporting directors, support their global scouting operation and also help with training and developing coaches. This will be his first official role back in football after he left Liverpool at the end of the 2023-24 season after nine hugely successful years at Anfield. Multiple reports in German media say Klopp's contract has a break clause if the Germany men's national team job becomes available after the 2026 World Cup. Klopp will bring years of experience to the role, having managed Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool. In his role, he will work across their portfolio of clubs, which includes  RB Leipzig, New York...

SALT LAKE CITY -- The first game. The first goal. The first fight. Those moments led to another first for the Utah Hockey Club: the first win in franchise history, a 5-2 victory Tuesday night over the Chicago Blackhawks. Though it took months to reach this point, Utah's introduction to the NHL was swift. Dylan Guenther needed less than five minutes to score the first goal in team history. Nearly 10 minutes later, Utah captain Clayton Keller scored to give the club a 2-0 lead. "That was pretty cool," Guenther said. "That building was special. That was a ton of fun. A lot of fun to play in front of that crowd." Midway through the second period, Utah tripled its lead when prized offseason acquisition Mikhail Sergachev set up Barrett Hayton for a 3-0 lead. A three-goal lead in front of a packed crowd created the belief that at least the first game in team history would be a successful one. And it was -- but it almost...

SAN DIEGO -- For Fernando Tatis Jr., baseball's purest form occurs back home, in the Dominican Republic, within the raucous stadiums and the tense environments unique to what is colloquially known as winter ball. Tatis plays there any chance he gets, even in years when Major League Baseball's arduous season tires his body. It brings him joy. In some ways, Tatis has often expressed, it gives him life. And so perhaps it's no surprise that Tatis has starred in his first true playoff experience. The electricity from it has empowered him. "I feed off that type of energy," Tatis said after he helped lift his San Diego Padres to a 6-5 Game 3 victory and 2-1 lead over the rival Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series. "When the fans are coming, meaningful games, leave everything that you have out there -- I just feel like I take it to another level. My mindset, my body -- everything is just through the roof." Tatis' latest home run, the...

SAN DIEGO -- For Fernando Tatis Jr., baseball's purest form occurs back home, in the Dominican Republic, within the raucous stadiums and the tense environments unique to what is colloquially known as winter ball. Tatis plays there any chance he gets, even in years when Major League Baseball's arduous season tires his body. It brings him joy. In some ways, Tatis has often expressed, it gives him life. And so perhaps it's no surprise that Tatis has starred in his first true playoff experience. The electricity from it has empowered him. "I feed off that type of energy," Tatis said after he helped lift his San Diego Padres to a 6-5 Game 3 victory and 2-1 lead over the rival Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series. "When the fans are coming, meaningful games, leave everything that you have out there -- I just feel like I take it to another level. My mindset, my body -- everything is just through the roof." Tatis' latest home run, the...

MINNEAPOLIS -- As fans cheered and exchanged high-fives around her, Napheesa Collier ran toward the front row and wrapped former Minnesota Lynx star Lindsay Whalen in a bear hug. Then, she danced with her teammates as Kool & The Gang's "Celebration" echoed throughout the Target Center. Collier added another triumph to her burgeoning legacy, leading a blue-collar collection of talent to the WNBA Finals with Tuesday night's 88-77 victory over the  Connecticut Sun in Game 5. The Lynx will face the  New York Liberty for the championship, stamping a new chapter for a franchise that dominated the WNBA during a run of four titles from 2011 to 2017 but will be making its first Finals appearance since. "The fact that we have worked so hard and we genuinely just like each other so much, it just makes it all sweeter," said Collier, who finished with 27 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 blocks. "It makes you want to win for them, too. It's not just...

Carter Verhaeghe, a vital part of the Florida Panthers' Stanley Cup win last season, has signed an eight-year contract extension worth $56 million. The deal was announced Tuesday night after the Panthers raised their championship banner and 6-4 win over the Boston Bruins in their season opener.  Verhaeghe, 29, is in the final year of a contract that carries a $4,166,667 salary cap hit. The new deal, which begins in 2025-26, has an average annual value of $7 million. Sources told ESPN that the deal also includes $48 million in guaranteed signing bonus money and carries trade protection. "This guy's a Florida Panther," general manager and hockey operations president Bill Zito said. "We're very blessed to have him." Verhaeghe signed with Florida as a free agent in October 2020 after he won the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019-20 as a rookie. He scored 236 points, including 118 goals, in 278 games with the Panthers over the past four...

NEW YORK -- When his brilliant performance was finally over Tuesday, Sean Manaea gave the ball to his manager, said a few words to his infielders and began a different walk off the mound. The crowd showered him with cheers, delighted with his dominance in the most important game of the wondrous 2024 New York Mets' season. His mind was elsewhere. He took a deep breath. He clapped his glove, tipped his hat to the adoring fans and blew two kisses. One toward them and one toward the sky. "That was for my Aunt Mabel," Manaea said. "Just got a message that she had passed away early this morning. And, yeah, so that game was for her." What he dedicated to her, given the context, was the best outing of his major league career in the Mets' 7-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 3 of the National League Division Series. The 32-year-old left-hander pitched into the eighth inning, affording the Mets much-needed length to spare a taxed bullpen. He held...

NEW YORK -- Pete Alonso launched another homer off Aaron Nola, and Sean Manaea took a two-hit shutout into the eighth inning as the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-2 on Tuesday in Game 3 of their NL Division Series. Jesse Winker also went deep and Starling Marte had a pivotal two-run single to help the wild-card Mets, playing their first home game in 16 days, grab a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series. Game 4 is Wednesday, with All-Star Ranger Suárez scheduled to start for Philadelphia against fellow lefty Jose Quintana. A win advances New York to the National League Championship Series to face the Los Angeles Dodgers or San Diego Padres. The Mets have never had a clinching celebration at Citi Field, which opened in 2009. "It would be fantastic to get it done, but we've got to stay within ourselves," Alonso said. After reaching the 2022 World Series and Game 7 of last year's...

The New York Liberty, founded in 1997 as one of the WNBA's original franchises, is favored to take home its first championship in team history. At ESPN BET, New York opened as the -290 favorite Wednesday to win the WNBA Finals against the Minnesota Lynx, who are +240 underdogs to prevail. The Lynx are seeking their fifth title in franchise history and first since 2017. The odds for Thursday's Game 1 in Brooklyn opened at multiple sportsbooks with the Liberty as consensus 5.5-point favorites. Minnesota went 3-1 straight up and against the spread versus New York during the regular season. The Liberty entered the 2024 campaign with high expectations and +245 odds to win the season's championship, second only to the Las Vegas Aces (+100), whom they defeated in the semifinals. Entering the postseason, New York had the third-most bets and handle to win the title at ESPN BET, but were nowhere near as popular as the Aces or Indiana Fever, who themselves...

SAN DIEGO -- Padres manager Mike Shildt vehemently came to Manny Machado's defense Tuesday, one day after Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called the third baseman's throw toward his dugout in Game 2 of the NLDS "unsettling." When asked about Roberts' comment, Shildt, speaking before the teams played in Game 3, said he would never "disparage another player on another team, especially anybody I've managed in the past, nor will I do it to a collective team." The Padres manager then praised Machado's "professionalism and leadership" in the team's 10-2 win in Game 2, most notably the impromptu team meeting he led in the dugout after a seventh inning that saw Dodger Stadium fans hurl objects onto the field. "He nor I nor anyone would profess to be perfect," Shildt said, "but Manny has made some strides that are very impressive both on and off the field. It's been a privilege to witness that. It's representative of him being a...

LOS ANGELES -- Thieves surrounded Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler last month outside a horse racing track in a Los Angeles suburb and slipped an expensive watch off his arm, police said Tuesday. Buehler was not threatened during the mugging Sept. 28 at the Santa Anita Park horse racing track in Arcadia, police there said. They are investigating two similar episodes the same day that officials said were by organized groups who steal high-end watches in large crowds during events. Buehler was at the track that day with his wife, McKenzie, and a teammate, starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, to attend the inaugural California Crown races. Buehler, a Lexington, Kentucky, native, is a major horse racing fan. While walking from the paddock to his seat, Buehler was "unknowingly the victim of a snatch and grab robbery of his watch," his agency, Excel Sports Management, said in a statement. "We are grateful Walker and McKenzie were not harmed and...

The NCAA's Division I Council has voted to shorten the transfer portal windows for FBS and FCS football as well as men's and women's basketball, the NCAA announced on Tuesday. The D-I Council reduced the total number of days players in FBS and FCS can enter the transfer portal from 45 to 30 days but preserved the spring transfer window. They'll move forward with a 20-day winter transfer window from Dec. 9 -- the Monday after conference championship games -- through Dec. 28 and a 10-day spring window April 16-25. In August, the NCAA FBS and FCS oversight committees recommended the elimination of the spring window, citing a focus on promoting "roster stability for student-athletes and their programs." But the impending House settlement, which includes a change from 85-man scholarship limits to 105-man roster limits in football, will bring new complexities for roster management and team revenue sharing budgets this offseason. Men's and women's basketball will also move from a 45-day...

NEW ORLEANS -- Saints quarterback Derek Carr suffered an oblique injury in Monday night's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, a source confirmed to ESPN.  An MRI taken Tuesday confirmed the injury was to Carr's oblique, according to the source. The quarterback had said he thought he suffered the injury while throwing an incomplete pass toward the end of the 26-13 loss but needed to have additional testing to confirm.  The source wouldn't put a timeline on how long Carr will be sidelined.  Oblique injuries typically lead to multiweek absences. The Saints play two games in the 10 days -- Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then Oct. 17 against the Denver Broncos on "Thursday Night Football."  If Carr cannot play, then either rookie Spencer Rattler or Jake Haener would take his place. Haener replaced Carr against the Chiefs. The oblique muscles, or the abdominal muscles, can impact a quarterback because much of his...

Dallas Mavericks chief executive officer Cynthia "Cynt" Marshall announced Tuesday that she plans to retire on Dec. 31. Marshall became the first Black female CEO in NBA history when she was hired by then-Mavericks owner Mark Cuban in March 2018. "My three-year commitment has more than doubled in time," Marshall told Mavericks employees in a letter obtained by ESPN's Andscape. "I cherish every day of our journey together. We've made the Mavs better. We've made communities better. We've made our industry better. Y'all made me better. I pray that I'm leaving it better than I found it. "I love you. I love our team. I love our fans. My wildest dreams would never have included being the CEO of the Dallas Mavericks. Thank you for the experience of a lifetime for me and my family. We are Mavs Family and Fans for Life. You can count on us." Marshall decided that she would retire several weeks ago and recently came to a retirement agreement with Mavericks Governor Patrick Dumont, a...

Major League Baseball announced Tuesday it will produce and distribute local games for the Cleveland Guardians, Milwaukee Brewers and Minnesota Twins for next season, signaling that all three teams will break away from the bankrupt Diamond Sports Group. The Texas Rangers will also break away from Diamond, which is 19 months into Chapter 11 reorganization, but is considering other local media options for the 2025 season, MLB announced. The Guardians, Brewers and Twins will join the Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres as teams under MLB's umbrella. The Diamondbacks and Padres were dropped by Diamond last year; the Rockies were previously affiliated with Warner Bros. Discovery, who shut down or sold their regional sports networks at the end of 2023. MLB, which launched a local-media division when Diamond went into bankruptcy, will negotiate cable and satellite distribution agreements and make local...

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Rookie  Drake Maye is taking over as the New England Patriots' starting quarterback, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Maye, the third overall pick in the 2024 draft, replaces nine-year veteran Jacoby Brissett as the Patriots (1-4) prepare to host the Houston Texans on Sunday. The Patriots have lost four games in a row after beating the Cincinnati Bengals 16-10 in the season opener. First-year head coach Jerod Mayo said last week that the way the team played in its lone victory was "unsustainable" because of the low scoring output; the Patriots are now averaging 12.4 points per game. Brissett admirably handled adversity, and mostly avoided critical mistakes, to help keep the Patriots competitive despite averaging nearly 10 hits taken per game. That included playing behind five different starting offensive line combinations and throwing to a wide receiver corps that ranks last in the NFL in catches (39) and receiving...

USC sophomore star JuJu Watkins has agreed to a multiyear contract extension with Nike that will give her one of the richest shoe endorsement deals in women's basketball, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. Nike officials finished discussions Tuesday on the deal, with negotiations led by Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul and Watkins' team, including agent Jade-Li English, head of marketing Eric Eways and vice president of basketball marketing Brittany McCallum. Watkins originally signed with Nike as a high school senior in October 2022. Last season, she became the all-time leading scorer among freshmen in NCAA Division I women's basketball history, scoring 920 points to surpass a record that had stood since the 1983-84 season (898 by San Diego State's Tina Hutchinson). Watkins, who was voted as the Associated Press' Preseason Player of the Year heading into this season, led the Trojans to the Elite Eight last season -- the school's deepest NCAA tournament run in three decades. She...

After missing the past three games with a forearm injury that required surgery, Colorado safety Shilo Sanders will return this week against Kansas State, his father, Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders, announced Tuesday.  "Shilo's ready. He's practicing. He's full go," Deion Sanders said. "Has a rubber cast on. He's doing his thing. I can't wait to see him back there." The injury occurred in Colorado's loss to Nebraska on Sept. 7, and the Buffaloes have since won three straight games to improve to 4-1. Colorado's recent success was expected, the elder Sanders said. "How can you be surprised with the expectation you have for yourself?" he asked. "Only way you can be surprised is if you didn't expect it. We expect the results when we put in the work. I just don't want it going to their heads." Last year, Sanders led the team in tackles (70) and forced fumbles (4) and was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection. This week's game will pit the Buffaloes against former...

LOS ANGELES -- Thieves surrounded Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler last month outside a horse racing track in a Los Angeles suburb and ripped an expensive watch off his arm, police said Tuesday. Buehler was not threatened during the mugging Sept. 28 at the Santa Anita Park horse racing track in Arcadia, police said. They are investigating two similar episodes the same day that officials said were by organized groups who steal high-end watches in large crowds during events. Buehler was at the track that day with his wife, McKenzie, and a teammate, starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, to attend the inaugural California Crown races. Buehler, a Lexington, Kentucky, native, is a major horse racing fan. While walking from the paddock to his seat, Buehler was "unknowingly the victim of a snatch and grab robbery of his watch," his agency, Excel Sports Management, said in a statement. "We are grateful Walker and McKenzie were not harmed and Walker is...