SPORT RSS Streams

1. ‘Everything you said there was a lie’: Joe Scarborough rips Trump’s Kansas rally  MS NOW
2. In Kansas, Trump says a pastor running as a Democrat ‘mocks Jesus’  The Washington Post
3. Democrat Hamilton welcomes Trump's Kansas rally for vulnerable Senate Republican  KOMO
4. Trump rallies in Kansas to support Marshall in tight Senate race: 'They gave him a bum rap'  KMUW
5. Trump’s rally outside Wichita Monday felt like 2016 all over again | Hudnall  Kansas City Star

Kyle Kennedy, granddaughter of Robert F. Kennedy, dies at 42  USA TodaySee more headlines & perspectives on Google News

var adServerUrl = ""; var $el = $( "#video_container-405784" ); var permalink = $el.closest('.snet-single-article').data('permalink'); $el.after( unescape("%3Cscript src=\"" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\" %3E%3C/script%3E") ); $( document ).one( 'ready', function() { $( "#video_container-405784" ).SNPlayer( { bc_account_id: "1704050871", bc_player_id: "JCdte3tMv", //autoplay: false, //is_has_autoplay_switch: false, bc_videos: 6407139896112, is_has_continuous_play: "false", section: "", thumbnail: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/6407139896112-1024x576.jpg", direct_url: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/video/feels-like-a-two-horse-race-bonner-on-spurs-thunder-heading-into-season/" }); });

1. SpaceX just launched its secret Starfall saucer again  Teslarati
2. Photos: 'Space jellyfish' over Florida after SpaceX rocket launch  FOX 35 Orlando
3. APOD: 2026 October 16 – Chasing the International Space Station  NASA Science (.gov)
4. SpaceX launches Starfall reentry capsule, 31 customer payloads on Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission  Spaceflight Now
5. SpaceX launches its 'Starfall' return capsule for 2nd time ever (video)  Space

Fans will have to wait for the debut of this year's No. 1 overall pick.

1. Cornell’s Jane Doe Sent Letter to Faculty Senate Ahead of Vote  The New York Times
2. Jane Doe says she did not feel supported by Cornell’s president.  The New York Times
3. Jane Doe says Cornell president appeared to question her allegations in letter to Faculty Senate  NBC News
4. “We can’t punish our way out of this”: A conversation on meaningful accountability after Cornell  The Washington Post
5. Battling Sexual Misconduct Will Be ‘Defining Effort’ of Presidency, Kotlikoff Pledges in State of the University Address  The Cornell Daily Sun

1. Early flu season, current strain may signal risk for younger people; doctors urge shots  KSL News
2. Early US flu season, current strain may signal risk for younger people; doctors urge shots  Reuters
3. Flu cases are already increasing across the US. Is this year’s flu shot effective?  The Independent
4. Early flu season lands in WA as COVID numbers also rise  The Seattle Times
5. Doctors urge flu shots, as new strain raises concerns for younger people  FOX 13 Tampa Bay

1. AMD Announces FSR 4.1 for Xbox Series X/S, Z2 Extreme and Z2A Handhelds, RX 6000 GPUs and More  Digital Foundry
2. AMD FSR Upscaling 4.1 Boosts Frames and Image Quality on More Devices  AMD
3. Xbox Series X is Getting Its Own QSSR, Now That AMD Is Bringing FSR 4.1 to More Devices  IGN
4. AMD's FSR 4.1 now works on Radeon RX 6000 GPUs, Xbox Series X and S, and Ryzen AI Max, AI 9, and Z2 SoCs — new release brings cutting-edge tech to older hardware with a small performance cost  Tom's Hardware
5. AMD is bringing FSR 4.1 to Xbox consoles and handhelds  The Verge

1. Prince Harry says he wants to reconcile with Charles and William  The Guardian
2. Prince Harry opens up about returning to England, whether he wants to reconcile with Prince William, King Charles III  ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos
3. Prince Harry says he wants to work out relationship with brother and father  The Hill
4. Prince Harry Sums Up Why He and Meghan Markle Moved to the U.K. in One Simple Word  InStyle
5. Prince Harry Rep Denies Comments Were 'Swipe' At Prince William  Yahoo

Though human rights groups call it sportswashing, analysts say Formula 1’s choice of Rwanda to host its first African race since the 1990s can become a watershed moment for the continent’s sports industry — if it can deliver lasting development.

Rwanda President Paul Kagame last week announced the 10-year deal for an African Grand Prix from the early 2030s, a milestone he said that could serve as a catalyst for sports across Africa.

Besides South Africa, which has hosted World Cups in soccer, rugby and cricket — and the last F1 race on African soil in 1993 — the continent historically has been overlooked as a global sports destination.

That’s starting to change.

Rwanda last year hosted the road cycling world championships. In less than two weeks, Senegal will host the Youth Olympic Games — the first ever Olympic event in Africa. And in 2030 Morocco will co-host the men’s World Cup with Spain and Portugal.

“There are some really interesting things beginning to happen in African sport now,” said Simon Chadwick, a business management director at the African School of Economics. “Investors are showing an interest; governments are showing an interest. And what’s significant as well, I think, is that we’re actually beginning to get competition between African nations to be leaders.”

Tapping into the African market

Rwanda saw off competition from South Africa to land the F1 prize. Morocco and Nigeria were also reportedly interested.

The Grand Prix announcement made clear that F1 views Africa, with its population of more than 1.5 billion people, as an untapped market. F1 President Stefano Domenicali said there were more than 100 million F1 fans on the continent, “people who have waited a long time to see our sport return.”

Kagame said it was high time to integrate African markets with global sports franchises and competitions.

“For decades African athletes have been a pillar of the global sports economy, adding significant commercial value to top leagues, with the continent receiving almost nothing in return,” he said. “Partnerships like the one we are building help break the cycle because they serve as a catalyst for sports infrastructure development.”

Abi Ijasanmi, the CEO of African Sports Investor, called the F1 announcement “really significant” for Africa because it connects the continent to global sports and “combines things like sport and technology and tourism and investment. And the continent really needs the boost in all of those things.”

African countries considering bids to host major sporting events have been faced with one overriding criticism: That spending millions or even billions of dollars on a sports event is unwise considering the continent of mainly middle- and low-income nations has pressing concerns like a lack of housing, frail healthcare systems and widespread poverty.

Rwanda’s policy of committing money to sports to burnish its reputation comes right from the top, but it’s largely an outlier, and the majority of African nations may never have the money to host a big-time sports event. Even the government in South Africa, the biggest economy in Africa, has not made the financial guarantees to host an F1 race again, and has been mulling over the cost of a possible Olympics bid for nearly 20 years.

Learning from each other

U.S. professional sports have also started taking a greater interest in Africa. The NFL has opened an American football developmental camp in Ghana and the NBA in 2021 launched the Basketball Africa League together with FIBA, the international basketball federation. Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, has hosted five of the six finals so far.

The basketball league "made other countries sit up and appreciate what’s possible,” Ijasanmi said.

Similarly, other countries have been inspired by Morocco’s developments in soccer, by far the most popular sport in Africa, said Ijasanmi, who previously worked as chief operational officer of the Confederation of African Football.

Morocco hopes to host the 2030 World Cup final in a 115,000-capacity stadium under construction near Casablanca and has been lauded for its player development through its Mohamed VI Academy, an advanced training complex.

“It was really interesting and very positive to hear other presidents and federations sit talking about how they were going to be the next ones to do that,” Ijasanmi said. “So, it can be short-lived, but I think the more that it happens, the more it makes others look and say, ‘OK, well, this is really possible and look what it’s doing for the economy.'”

F1 announcement brings renewed human rights concerns

The F1 news wasn’t universally welcomed.

Human rights activists said it distracted from the rights abuses of Rwandan authorities.

Kagame has been accused of repressive methods to keep his grip on power, with opponents dying in prisons, independent media muzzled, and other abuses.

Amnesty International called the deal “a sportswashing prize” allowing Rwanda “to polish its image and deflect from its appalling human rights record.”

Neighboring Congo joined the criticism. Rwanda is accused by Congo, the United States and U.N. experts of backing the M23 rebels fighting in Congo.

Kagame denies the accusations of human rights abuses.

He has faced sportswashing criticism before because of Rwanda’s sponsorships of popular soccer teams like Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Atlético Madrid, as well as the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA.

Infrastructure remains a challenge for sports in Africa

Corruption and delivery of infrastructure are potential stumbling blocks for African sports projects.

Rwanda has not yet built the F1 circuit in Bugesera, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Kigali, and will be keen to avoid the infrastructure setbacks that have plagued many other sports events, including the Africa Cup of Nations, the continental soccer championship.

Every men’s Africa Cup since 2013 has been moved because of construction delays, security problems or public health issues in the original host countries. There are concerns the next edition in 2027 could be moved from co-hosts Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda due to infrastructure projects reportedly lagging behind.

“The instability in the global markets is kind of forcing some of those countries, they’re not able to advance or proceed as fast as they want,” said Maher Mezahi, a journalist and contributing editor at Africa Is a Country.

Morocco hosted the last men's Africa Cup and the last three editions of the women’s tournament. It has invested heavily in sports infrastructure and often hosts “home” games for other African nations whose stadiums don’t meet the same standards.

Egypt also hosts international matches for other African countries. It recently built a stadium with more than 90,000 seats as part of a sports complex known as Egypt International Olympic City east of Cairo.

However, pointing to Morocco, Mezahi said grassroots initiatives, rather than showcase stadiums, can be a more significant factor in developing sports in Africa.

“The reason why they’ve had success producing talent instead of just hosting events is because they built thousands of what they call ‘proximity pitches’ … artificial turf, small pitch, five-a-side, and it’s really open to the public. It’s really just take your ball and go and play,” Mezahi told The AP from Algiers.

An acid test for sports in Africa

It is too early to tell whether Rwanda’s F1 race will be a game changer for sports in Africa, but it was met with optimism far beyond Kigali.

South Africa Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie pointed to Rwanda as an inspiration and said there’s room for more than one grand prix on the continent, noting that a single European country like Italy has two.

All eyes are now on Rwanda to see how it follows up with the racetrack construction and other infrastructure needed to make the African Grand Prix a lasting success.

“In some ways the F1 grand prix is almost like an acid test,” Chadwick said. “Does Rwanda have what it takes? Or is it going to fall foul of what has beset African sport before?

___

See full AP coverage of African sports here

It's been another great week of play for Maryland flag football.

Linganore holds strong at the top this week, improving to 10-1, while two new faces make their debut on the bottom half of the rankings.

Here are the Week 5 Maryland Super 10 flag football rankings:

1. Linganore (Frederick)

Previous Ranking: 1

Record: 10-1

2. Urbana (Ijamsville)

Previous Ranking: 2

Record: 10-0

3. North Point (Waldorf)

Previous Ranking: 3

Record: 12-0

4. Clarksburg (Clarksburg)

Previous Ranking: 4

Record: 9-1

5. Poly (Baltimore)

Previous Ranking: 5

Record: 11-0

6. Damascus (Damascus)

Previous Ranking: 6

Record: 8-2

7. Wise (Upper Marlboro)

Previous Ranking: 9

Record: 10-1

More: Texas takes big step towards adding girls flag football as official high school sport

8. Northern (Owings)

Previous Ranking: 8

Record: 9-1

9. Gwynn Park (Brandywine)

Previous Ranking: NR

Record: 10-1

10. Dundalk (Baltimore)

Previous Ranking: NR

Record: 7-0

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Maryland flag football rankings: USA TODAY Sports Super 10, Week 5

Phoenix Suns Shawn Marion reacts before getting inducted into the Ring of Honor in the first half against the New York Knicks at Footprint Center. Photo Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect | Source: Lastwordonsports.com - Daniel Benjamin, Editor

The Philadelphia 76ers enter the 2026-27 season with high expectations after making two “splashy” moves and rebuilding their second unit. While bringing in new talent is exciting, having six newcomers on their 15-man roster raises questions about chemistry, among other things.

Philadelphia is coming off another season in which Joel Embiid missed over half the season, and Paul George sat out nearly as many contests. Still, the 76ers — behind Tyrese Maxey’s career season and VJ Edgecombe living up to expectations as the No. 3 pick in the 2025 draft — won 45 games and upset the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs. However, the Sixers were swept in the second round by the New York Knicks.

Philadelphia has made the playoffs in seven of the last eight seasons. Since 2017- 18, the 76ers have the seventh-best record at .579 (444-357), though they have not made it past the second round during this stretch. The last time the Sixers won at least two postseason series was in 2001, when they reached the NBA Finals.

 76ers 2026 OffseasonPhiladelphia 76ers guard Jaylen Brown (7) controls the ball in a game against the Boston Celtics at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Photo Credit: Bill Streicher, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect

Three days after being eliminated from the 2026 playoffs, Philadelphia began retooling its basketball operations by firing president of basketball operations Daryl Morey after five and one-half seasons leading the club. On June 4, the Sixers took their time finding a replacement and ultimately hired Mike Gansey, who had spent the previous four seasons as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ general manager. Gansey and former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers quickly went to work on building the team around Embiid, Maxey and Edgecombe.

Gansey’s first move was selecting Labaron Philon with the No. 22 pick in the first round. But it was the second day of free agency when the 76ers sent shockwaves through the NBA by acquiring 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown for George and draft capital. The Sixers added Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, and Ariel Hukporti on July 6, which was the first day teams were officially allowed to sign free agents.

Trading for Brown wasn’t Gansey’s only magic trick of the offseason, as he reeled in free agent LeBron James at the end of July. James chose the 76ers over the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers, two teams he had a history with. The Sixers also signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who played with James with the Los Angeles Lakers, after the 33-year-old worked out a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Preseason Showed 76ers Have A Lot to Work OnPhiladelphia 76ers forward LeBron James before a game against the Boston Celtics at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Photo Credit: Bill Streicher, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect

While the preseason gets a bad rap and doesn’t mean anything, it gives players some run in a semi-competitive environment and, more importantly, lets teams evaluate the backend of their roster and make adjustments.

Philadelphia went 1-3 in the preseason, struggling mightily on offense. The 76ers, whose only preseason victory came against the New York Knicks in the opener, finished 27th in offensive rating at 108.8. The Sixers averaged 112.8 points and allowed 117.3 in the four contests.  They were also 26th in effective field goal percentage and 23rd in true shooting percentage.

Philadelphia shot just 43.8% from the field in the preseason, with the biggest issue being from deep. The 76ers attempted the ninth-most 3-pointers, nearly 41 per game, but connected on just 11.3 per game (27.8%). Rebounding — particularly on the offensive end — transition defense and injuries were also problems.

However, former 16-year NBA vet and four-time all-star Shawn Marion believes that offensive chemistry is the 76ers’ most pressing concern.

“There are a lot of guys over there and ain’t but one ball,” Marion recently told Kyle Odegard in an exclusive interview for Action Network. “They don’t really call plays anymore, so that’s the uniqueness of the game now, but a lot of guys don’t play well without the ball. Every star doesn’t play well together. I’m optimistic, but I want to see what happens.”

Speaking of the 76ers stars, Brown had a productive preseason, averaging 20.0 points while shooting 58.3% from the field and 38.5% from 3-point range in just 23 minutes over three games. James was efficient in his 42 minutes over two appearances while Maxey and Edgecombe were solid. However, Embiid showed some rust in two contests.

76ers Injury Concerns

Philadelphia has six players on the injury report heading into tonight’s game against New York, including three who have been ruled out.

The Sixers have an injury report for tomorrow’s game @ New York:

Dean Wade – ankle – QUESTIONABLE

Anfernee Simons – hamstring – QUESTIONABLE

Adem Bona – foot – QUESTIONABLE

Dominick Barlow – back – OUT

Tacko Fall – hip – OUT

Ariel Hukporti – Achilles – OUT

— Adam Aaronson (@SixersAdam) October 19, 2026

Dominick Barlow, Ariel Hukporti and Tacko Fall have already been ruled out. Hukporti is out for the season with a torn Achilles while Barlow is slated to miss two weeks with a back injury. Fall is not expected to be sidelined much longer.  Meanwhile, decisions on Wade, Simons, and Bona will be made closer to game time.

Barlow and Hukporti’s injuries have definitely weakened the 76ers’ depth, as both players were expected to play a significant role throughout the season. Fall, who is on a two-way contract, wasn’t likely to see time tonight anyway, as Nick Nurse prefers to use an eight- to nine-man rotation.

Now, the Sixers will really be hurting against the Knicks if Wade, Simons, or Bona can’t play. Now, if Simons has to sit out, they at least have several others to fill his minutes.

The 76ers are already down to 14 healthy bodies after three players were ruled out.  Now, if Wade and Bona can’t play tonight, Jabari Walker or Justin Edwards would have to see time at the four, which would likely mean James would have to slide over to the five when Embiid rests.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) controls the ball against the Boston Celtics during the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn ImagesThe Last Word

It has been a whirlwind last few months for Philadelphia. But tonight marks the start of a new chapter in 76ers basketball as they open the regular season in New York, where they will raise their 2026 NBA championship banners to MSG’s rafters. It is the first time that the Knicks will do so since 1974 and the third time ever.

It is kind of appropriate for the 76ers to watch the Knicks celebrate their championship. The Sixers have the same goal this year as the Knicks did when they brought in Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges to join Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart over the last two-and-a-half seasons.

Granted, the 76ers have a lot to work on and still have room to grow to reach their goal, just like the Knicks. It took the Knicks two seasons to reach their goal after reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2025. There are many similarities between the Knicks and the Sixers, who last won a championship in 1983.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in Philly,” Marion said. “Are they going to be healthy? What are they going to do?”

More News 

The 5 Recurring Injuries Of Zion Williamson

Rockets Predictions For 2026-27: Guard Minutes, STOCKs, and Very Large Men

3 Biggest Storylines to Watch on NBA Opening Night

Bill Guerin and the Minnesota Wild have been in hot pursuit of Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin for months, dating back to Larkin’s initial trade request in early June. Guerin knows Larkin well from his time as GM of USA Hockey. He believes the 12-year veteran, who has recorded five straight 30-goal seasons, is exactly the kind of top-line center the Wild have been looking for in recent years.

But no trade has occurred. Larkin remains with Detroit, at least for the moment. The reason the Wild haven’t been able to get a deal done is that, after somewhat depleting their trade assets when acquiring Quinn Hughes last December, they don’t have the kind of pieces the Red Wings want (given that a win-now Minnesota team obviously isn’t trading any core players).

The Wild’s best realistic trade package for Larkin is something like center Danila Yurov, forward prospect Charlie Stramel, another prospect (like David Spacek), and a 2027 first-round pick. It’s unclear exactly what kind of offer Guerin has put on the table, but whatever it is, it hasn’t been enough for the Red Wings to be seriously interested.

Nine games into this NHL season, there’s a new element to the Wild’s Larkin pursuit that’s worth discussing. Yurov has been excellent to begin his second season. The 22-year-old Russian might be breaking out as a real part of Minnesota’s core. And if that’s the case, does the question for the Wild shift from “What can we do to make Detroit interested?” to “Are we sure trading Yurov and much more for Larkin is the right decision?”

In the Wild’s 2-1 win over the Blue Jackets on Sunday, Yurov scored a goal for the third time in the past four games. He tied a career-high with four shots on goal. And he won six of nine faceoffs. For the season, Yurov is at four goals and five points in nine games, winning 56.6 percent of his 76 draws. He’s done that while playing in a middle-six role (averaging 13:30 time on ice) and on the second power-play unit.

It’s obviously very, very early, but four goals in nine games is a 37-goal pace in an 84-game season. Yurov has impressed with his ability to win loose pucks and has shown a knack for finding open space to create passing opportunities for teammates. All four of his goals this season have come on one-timers.

Danila Yurov, 1-0 PPG #LetsGoBuffalo#MnWildpic.twitter.com/djzjAFI9JZ

— Buffalo Hockey Moments (@SabresPlays) October 7, 2026

Danila Yurov from Yakov Trenin. What a goal pic.twitter.com/UfiIByTc07

— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) October 18, 2026

There’s certainly a lot of projection involved when comparing Yurov (who has 16 career goals) to Larkin (who has 277). But Yurov is eight years younger than Larkin and making almost $8 million less. If the Wild believe they can continue to get this kind of goal-scoring production from the 2022 first-round pick, should they think about pulling their Detroit offer off the table?

The Wild are 6-2-1. The Red Wings are 3-3-2 and have gotten just one goal and three points from Larkin in six games. An argument can be made that Minnesota doesn’t need to change anything.

But there is a significant counterpoint that has to be mentioned, which is how Hughes fits into all this. Hughes, who did not sign an extension with the Wild before this season, is very close with Larkin, his former USA teammate and fellow Michigan native. If acquiring Larkin would get Hughes to sign an extension, it would almost certainly be worth it, even if it means parting with Yurov and three other assets.

For now, the Wild will hope this early breakout from Yurov continues. His current performance can only be a good thing, whether he’s in Minnesota for a long time or winds up convincing the Red Wings to pull the trigger on sending them Larkin.

Related Articles

• Kaprizov leading NHL goal race after dominant week for Wild
• Wild on high alert as Dylan Larkin trade speculation heats up
• Jesper Wallstedt calls out Blues goalie for ‘dirty play’ on Kirill Kaprizov
• Wild get emotional boost from Brock Faber in win over Blues

This story was originally published by Bring Me The Sports on Oct 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the MN Wild section. Add Bring Me The Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Iga Swiatek did not go past the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam event in 2026 [Getty Images]

Six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek has called an early finish to what she described as "one of the most challenging" seasons of her career.

Poland's Swiatek failed to qualify for the end-of-season WTA Finals - for the first time since 2019 - after pulling out of the Ningbo Open on Tuesday with a thigh injury.

Shortly afterwards, the 25-year-old announced she was bringing a largely barren season to a close, in order to recharge over a longer period of time before returning in 2027.

Former long-time world number one Swiatek - who has ended a season without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2021 - has dropped to ninth in the rankings.

"The past few months, or actually the past couple of years, have been incredibly intense," said Swiatek, who will have an opportunity to complete the career Grand Slam at the Australian Open in January.

"I feel I need to rest and recover my body fully, so that's exactly what I will do - [for] a bit longer this time."

Her most recent Grand Slam triumph came at Wimbledon last year.

Swiatek has managed one WTA title this season - the Canadian Open in August - and ends 2026 with a 42-16 win-loss record.

On Saturday, she lost to fellow Pole Maja Chwalinska in the Wuhan Open semi-finals, only her fourth defeat in 23 matches.

"I'm especially proud of the work we've done in the second half of the year and the progress that came with it," said Swiatek, who needed treatment on her thigh but played on against Chwalinska.

"It gives me a lot of confidence in what's ahead."

Analysis: Time for Swiatek to rest body and mind

Swiatek's decision to curtail her 2026 campaign was not a surprise once she withdrew from Ningbo.

For a player who would have automatic qualification for the WTA Finals down as a bare minimum for her yearly expectations, there seems little sense in Swiatek continuing.

Even if the injury cleared up sufficiently to play another tour event in Tokyo, or go to the season finale in Indian Wells as an alternate, she would not have got the mental break which it has long looked like she has needed.

It has been another season of flux and frustration.

In March, she split from Belgian coach Wim Fissette and soon afterwards appointed Spaniard Francisco Roig - the former coach of Rafael Nadal and Emma Raducanu - as she looked to return to being "a rock on the court".

Lifting a WTA 1,000 trophy in Toronto has been the clear high for Swiatek this year.

The unusual explosion of pent-up emotion when she beat Elena Rybakina - now the world number one - demonstrated what it meant and looked to be a turning point.

However, the stress and anxiety which she has openly spoken about feeling on the court - leading to erratic unforced errors - has not gone away.

Swiatek has often been overcome by emotion during matches, most recently when she wiped away tears during her defeat by childhood friend Chwalinska.

While that was somewhat down to the injury, Swiatek's refreshingly honest answer afterwards - that she could "go on a longer vacation" by not reaching the WTA Finals - gave a clearer indication of what she really needs before getting back to work ahead of 2027.

• Navarro opens up on health struggles that caused 'deep anger' on court
• Midnight matches and money disputes - why is tennis schedule such a headache?
• Get tennis news sent straight to your phone
• Live scores, results and order of play

Coming off a devastating loss to the Tennessee Titans, the Indianapolis Colts sit at 2-4, having just fired GM Chris Ballard. It feels like only six games in, the season is already on the brink of spiraling.

So, knowing that things have to turn around, and do so quite quickly, what was Shane Steichen's message to the team?

"I said, look, guys, here's the reality of the situation," Steichen said on Monday, via Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan, "we're 2-4. We dug ourselves in a hole together and we gotta dig ourselves out together. And that was the message. A ton of football ahead of us, but we gotta put our heads down and work, control the controllables, have great meetings, great practice, a sense of urgency in everything we do, the details gotta be right. I said my first year, shoot, we were 3-5, we dug ourselves out and we were one play away from winning the division, and it's a similar situation. I look at it like that, but we gotta put in the work to do that. I can't sit in front of a camera and talk about it, we gotta go put the product on the field for our fans."

Shane Steichen’s message yesterday to his 2-4 football team: pic.twitter.com/J1xHPrRz7e

— Kevin Bowen (@KBowen1070) October 20, 2026

The good news is that time is still on the Colts' side with 11 games left in the season. That said, there is a lot to fix.

Daniel Jones continues to struggle with turnovers, and his overall play has dropped off from where it was last season. The pass rush is stagnant, the run game is lackluster, and the defense has struggled to get stops. The depth at positions like linebacker and wide receiver has been exposed as well.

Adding to the challenge is that the Colts' next two games are against 5-0 Minnesota and 4-2 Jacksonville, with both games coming on the road.

It's now or never for Steichen's team.

This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Shane Steichen's message to 2-4 Colts after latest loss

The Tennessee Titans finally got their first win of the season on Sunday, coming back from a 13-point deficit at halftime to get the win.

If you watched the game, it was a tale of two halves. In the first half, we saw much of the same things we've seen from this team all season. Lackluster offense that can't sustain drives. Defense that is on point and causing problems for the opposing offense, even getting an interception on the Colts' first drive that the offense could not capitalize on.

The second half, though, that's where things picked up for the Titans. The defense started the half creating two turnovers on the Colts' first two possessions, and the offense managed to get points off of those turnovers. Cam Ward suddenly found his targets and hit them. The ground game opened up. The offense seemed to be mostly on the same page, and they scored on each second-half possession.

There's obviously still work to be done; this team has only won one game. But maybe this is what lights the fire under them. Their first win of the season came against a divisional opponent, and that has to motivate them to continue working hard on improving.

As we enter Week 7, here's a look at where the Titans stand in a multitude of power rankings.

Nate Davis, USA TODAY: 29 (32)

Nice that they finally broke into the win column. How many more times is that possible with QB Cam Ward averaging 166.3 passing yards per game, fewest among all QBs with at least 100 attempts this season?

Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports: 30 (31)

When the Titans were down 13-0 to the Colts at halftime, and eventually 13-6 after three quarters, it looked bleak. The Titans had shown very few signs of being the type of team that could overcome a double-digit deficit to win on the road. But they outscored the Colts 26-7 in the second half to win.

"The players, these kids put in so much work, and this league is hard," Robert Saleh said after his first win as Titans head coach, via the team's site. "We'd been close on a few occasions, and to knock this one out for them, I am much more excited for them than for myself."

It's not like this was a big breakout game. Cam Ward had 102 yards passing. The Titans had 186 yards as a team, while the Colts gained 399. Tennessee had just 11 first downs, the fewest in the NFL in Week 6. But the Titans got their first win, which changes the entire conversation surrounding them for the rest of the season.

Ralph Vacchiano, FOX Sports: 31 (32)

Super Bowl odds: +100000 (tied for 31st-best)

The Titans is so bad that they played one good half of football on Sunday and it prompted the Colts to fire GM Chris Ballard. And honestly, it wasn’t even that good of a half by the Titans. They gained 158 yards on five possessions, scoring one touchdown and settling for four field goals. Two of those field goals came on drives they started inside the Colts’ 33. Tennessee did force two third-quarter turnovers and returned a blocked punt for a TD, so give the club credit where it’s due. But the Titans had 186 total yards of offense and QB Cam Ward had yet another stinker (11 for 22, 102 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT). 

Next game: vs. Browns (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)

Stat To Know: Sunday's win against the Colts was the Titans first win since Week 16 of last season, snapping a seven-game losing streak. 

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: 30 (31)

It wasn't pretty against the Colts, but they found way to win a game. That's big for this young team.

Connor Orr, Sports Illustrated: 29 (31)

Last week’s ranking: No. 31Last week’s result: beat Colts, 26–20This week: vs. Browns

Losing to the Titans will absolutely break you as a person. DeForrest Buckner is proof. 

Chad Graff and Josh Kendall, The Athletic: 29 (32)

Last Week: 32

Sunday: Beat Colts 26-20

Fantasy Focus: Carnell Tate

Rookie wide receivers have a history of strong second halves to their first seasons, and Tate needs one. This year's No. 4 pick in the actual draft (No. 78 in fantasy drafts) is 94th in fantasy scoring so far (11.2 ppg). There have been positive signs, though. He had a 145 yards week in Week 4 and 70 more plus a score on Sunday.

Up Next: vs. Browns, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

theScore: 28 (31)

Previous rank: 31

Cam Ward: This isn't the 1990s, when quarterbacks got three full seasons before teams started evaluating them. Ward has shown minimal progress since being drafted first overall two years ago, and the Titans look like they're heading for another top-five selection in 2027. Ward will be under the microscope from here on out.

Bleacher Report: 30 (31)

Last Week: 31

Week 6 Result: Won at Indianapolis 26-20

The Tennessee Titans picked up their first win of the season on Sunday by taking advantage of the Indianapolis Colts' mistakes. However, Tennessee doesn't look like a team that is going to string together wins any time soon.

The Titans' next three games will come against teams that currently have a winning record.

It's just hard to pinpoint any one thing that the Titans do well. Cam Ward continues to underwhelm as an NFL starter, and he completed just 50 percent of his passes for 102 yards against a bad Colts defense. While Tennessee's defense has shown flashes of promise at times this season, it gave up 399 yards in Indy and isn't the sort of unit that will regularly take over games.

Tennessee will certainly welcome Sunday's victory, but it does little to suggest that Ward and head coach Robert Saleh are long-term answers for this franchise.

Walter Football: 31 (30)

The Titans are now 12-29 against the spread since firing Mike Vrabel. They beat the Colts, but needed a comedy of errors from Daniel Jones and Indianapolis' special teams to get the win. There won't be many other victories this year.

NFL Nation, ESPN: 31 (NC)

WWeek 6 result: Beat the Colts 26-20Week 6 ranking: 31

Biggest issue on offense: Passing "attack"

The Titans' passing game is severely inconsistent and last in the league at 153.3 passing yards per game. Although QB Cam Ward has had accuracy issues and failed to see open receivers on occasion, it's not all on him. Ward's pass catchers have dropped passes, and no one has emerged as the second option to rookie receiver Carnell Tate. Second-year wideout Elic Ayomanor had an outstanding training camp but hasn't had much of an impact (seven catches over six games). The tight end group has also been nonexistent, totaling 14 receptions for 90 yards. 

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: NFL Power Rankings Roundup: How do the Titans fare entering Week 7?

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The expected expansion of the College Football Playoff and its effect on conference championship games is to be determined, but Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said he's ready to adjust.

Speaking at Big 12 basketball media days, Yormark addressed the future of the conference's football title game and basketball tournaments, what he called "tentpole events." The NCAA basketball tournament field will grow to 76 teams this season, the first major expansion since 1985.

"First of all, nothing's been done yet with the CFP. It's only speculation," Yormark said. "Nothing's final. So, I don't want to get too much into details there, but tentpole events for us matter. Our (football) championship has been very valuable. Our basketball tournament, both men's and women's, has been very valuable.

"If there's a point in time where change is made, we will look to backstop those events with other events. We're in the event business. It drives a lot of fan engagement and excitement. We'll see what happens in the future, but those are big moments for us, and for some reason if that one goes away, we'll replace it with something different."

Yormark reiterates support for Protect College Sports Act

Yormark also spoke on the Protect College Sports Act, which he said supports his priorities to "put student athletes first, preserve fairness and create greater stability." He pointed to the Big 12's ban on professional athletes returning to college sports to "protect fairness, opportunity and integrity."

"I'm encouraged by the progress of the Protect College Sports Act," Yormark said. "This is the closest we've ever been to passing meaningful legislation, and I look forward to working with lawmakers as the process advances to the House. Like any startup, the College Sports Commission has continued to evolve and improve. Together, these efforts are helping move college athletics in the right direction."

Yormark pushed back on a question about athletes' lack of representation during PCSA discussions.

"I'm a huge advocate of the student-athlete voice," Yormark said. "I can tell you that I sit on four committees, the president's committee, Commission on College Athletics, and there has been great representation by student-athletes on all those committees. They've had a voice. We had a call most recently, two weeks ago, where, again, there were numerous student-athletes."

As the legislation continues to be debated, athletes around the country have spent the offseason trying to regain eligibility under the NCAA's "5 for 5" rule. Yormark said he supports Big 12 schools adding those players to rosters, despite its conflict with the intent of the PCSA.

"I will tell you that we as a conference support the NCAA's age-based eligibility model," Yormark said. "We voted in favor of it. That being said, I respect the decision-making of student-athletes, and I respect the decisions of local courts as well. But there is a balancing act there, for sure."

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Big 12 commissioner talks future of CFP, Protect College Sports Act

A row has erupted after an Oregon high school football player tackled a member of the opposing team carrying an American flag onto the field this past weekend.

Video circulating online shows a Jefferson High School player running into a Grant High School player as the rival team ran onto the field before Friday’s match-up at Jefferson in Portland, KATU reported.

The footage shows the Jefferson player tackling the Grant player to the ground and knocking the American flag out of his hands. The player leaves the flag on the field as he stands to chase the rival player away.

The Oregon School Activities Association said the Jefferson player was ejected from the game over his conduct.

“Rivalry game or not, there’s no place for this behavior before, during, or after a game,” the group said.

A football game between two Portland, Oregon, high schools went viral after one player tackled a student carrying an American flag to the ground (Google Maps)

The association said it does not comment on disciplinary measures. However, students who are ejected are typically removed from participation for the rest of the day and may also face a one-game suspension. Some students may also be required to complete a sportsmanship course, according to KATU.

Portland Public Schools said that the student-athlete “allowed his emotions to override his judgment in the heat of the moment.” Both schools fall under the Portland Public Schools district. The district backed officials’ decision to eject the player from the game.

The district also noted in a statement to KATU that the incident had “nothing whatsoever to do with the American flag.”

The Independent has contacted Jefferson High School, Grant High School and Portland Public Schools for comment.

The Jefferson football team acknowledged the incident on Instagram before deleting the team’s account, according to Fox News.

“The video was not intended to disrespect the American flag,” a since-deleted post read, according to Fox. “However, there was disrespect shown toward Jefferson by Grant players and members of their coaching staff before the game, and if you were there to witness what happened, you would understand the full context.”

Both Grant High School (pictured) and Jefferson High School are part of the Portland Public Schools district (Google Maps)

The post continued: "There was an option to go around the field, but they chose not to. This was our last game ever on Jefferson Field, our Senior Night, and Homecoming. This was a special and emotional night for our school, our seniors, our players, and our community. What happened before the game was not appropriate, especially given the significance of the occasion. If you have an issue with the video or with me personally for posting it, you can address that with me directly.

"I am willing to take accountability for my own actions and for the content I choose to post. However, you will not use this situation as an excuse to be racist toward my students, my players, our staff, or anyone who represents Jefferson. They do not deserve to be targeted or disrespected because of a rivalry or a video posted online.”

It concluded: “At Jefferson, we are proud of who we are. We are Black, Hispanic, white, and people from many different backgrounds who come together as one school and one community. Our diversity is something to be proud of, not something to attack.”

Friday’s football game ended with Grant winning 35-14. Jefferson’s record dropped to 1-6, while Grant is 6-1.

Coming off their Week 6 bye, the Dolphins are replacing their kicker.

According to Jordan Schultz of The Schultz Report, Miami is re-signing Zane Gonzalez for the role. ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes the team is releasing Riley Patterson.

Gonzalez, 31, was previously with the Dolphins during the offseason program and training camp. He was placed on injured reserve in August and released with an injury settlement on Aug. 19.

In nine games for Atlanta last season, Gonzalez hit 19-of-22 field goals and 17-of-18 extra points.

Patterson missed an extra point in the Week 5 loss to the Bengals. He had also missed two field goals earlier in the season.

Miami will be on the road to face the Jets in Week 7.