11:30 AM ET After a thrilling opening round of fixtures in ESPN’s Battle of the Leagues, presented by EA Sports FIFA 22, we’ve got our first glimpse of what the all-star teams representing the Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, Eredivisie, Major League Soccer and Liga MX have to offer. Group A continues
2:06 PM ET Jeff PassanESPN Close ESPN MLB insiderAuthor of “The Arm: Inside the Billion-Dollar Mystery of the Most Valuable Commodity in Sports” HOUSTON — In the early hours of July 11, a small group gathered in a ballroom at the Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne hotel in Miami for what felt like a wake. Over
1:26 PM ET Associated Press CLEVELAND — Cavaliers forward Lauri Markkanen has joined teammate Kevin Love and entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols. The team said Markkanen will miss Wednesday’s game against Portland and his status will be updated “at the appropriate time.” The 7-foot Markkanen is in his first season with Cleveland after
2:19 PM BST A number of players from Wales’ women’s team are set to receive a contract for the first time, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) announced on Wednesday. The Union have agreed for 25 contracts to be offered, up to 10 will be professional and up to 15 will be retainer agreements for a
News New Zealand still on course but India could pounce if they slip up India’s emphatic 66-run victory against Afghanistan means they remain in the hunt to take advantage of a slip-up from New Zealand. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s campaign remains on course, while Afghanistan are in it too despite the heavy loss. Here is a
10:51 AM ET Antonio Conte is betting on himself. He’s betting that he can restore star-crossed players to greatness (or, at least, a level of output equal to their salaries/transfer fees). Betting that he can jolt Tottenham Hotspur to life. Betting that his “intensity/winning mentality schtick” — which has generally been around as long as
1:52 PM ET Associated Press Tom Matte, who spent his entire 12-year NFL career as a gritty running back for the Baltimore Colts — except for a star turn for three games in 1965 as their quarterback — has died. He was 82. The Baltimore Ravens confirmed Matte’s death during coach John Harbaugh’s news conference
12:50 PM ET Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has tested positive for COVID-19, according to coach Mike Sullivan. Crosby is experiencing mild symptoms and is in the NHL COVID-19 protocol, Sullivan said. He missed practice on Wednesday because of the positive test. Crosby, 34, had just returned to the Penguins’ lineup Saturday after undergoing left
1:13 PM ET Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck has agreed to a new seven-year contract that will keep him with the Golden Gophers through the 2028 season, it was announced Wednesday. The agreement between the university and Fleck, who is eight games into his fifth season as the Gophers’ head coach, is pending approval from the
11:34 AM ET EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants had a COVID-19 scare of a potential widespread outbreak heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, but running backs coach Burton Burns is currently the only known positive test. Burns was one of 13 members of the Giants organization (some players included,