Playing in Florida, the Dunedin Blue Jays had their fair share of battles with the weather last year. Now, they're embracing them with special uniforms.

The Single-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays shared their "Rain Delay" jerseys Thursday, with a twist. They included a weather radar of their region, similar to what a local meteorologist would analyze on a news broadcast.

According to their post, the team faced 24 weather delays, 10 postponements and six cancellations in 2025. They wrote in their caption: "If you can't beat the weather, wear it."

The Blue Jays play at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, which is right near the Gulf. Living near the Gulf results in a climate that is "uncharacteristically hot and humid for its latitude," according to the U.S. national park service. Rainfall, thunderstorms, hurricanes and tropical storms are typical in the region.

It establishes an environment that could be challenging for an outdoor ballpark. But the Blue Jays are taking it in stride.

The club is part of the Florida League and will debut the uniforms against the Clearwater Threshers, the Phillies' Single-A affiliate, on July 18, if weather permits.

Names were called, dreams became reality and draft-night fashion once again turned heads.

The 2026 NBA draft delivered everything fans have come to expect: emotional reactions, potentially franchise-changing selections and plenty of memorable moments from inside Barclays Center.

But not every draft-night takeaway shows up in a box score or on a scouting report. Some moments are about personality -- and are simply too good to let pass without recognition.

Now that the final pick is in, we're handing out our NBA draft superlatives for the players, moments and trends that stood out most over the past two nights.

Most interesting jersey negotiation
AJ Dybantsa and Trae Young

Top pick Dybantsa is headed to Washington, but there's one small complication: the No. 3 jersey.

Dybantsa has long been associated with the number, but star guard Trae Young already wears it for the Wizards. Young welcomed the rookie to D.C. on social media and added, "We'll talk about that # soon," creating an offseason subplot before Dybantsa has even suited up ... which is perhaps just as well given the subject matter.

Most adept at trading places
Cameron and Carlos Boozer

Moments after being selected by the Memphis Grizzlies, Cameron Boozer and his family headed to ESPN's set for a group interview. It was a familiar situation for Cameron's father, Carlos, who played 13 years in the league.

However, Cameron had some prior NBA experience at the mic, too. A video surfaced of Carlos bringing his son to a news conference after a playoff game in 2010. They traded places over 15 years later with Cameron now answering the questions with his dad by his side.

Best reunion
Dusty May and Morez Johnson Jr.

Sometimes the draft brings people back together. After helping new Mavericks coach Dusty May capture a national title at Michigan last season, Johnson will reunite with his college coach in Dallas.

Easiest wardrobe change
Caleb Wilson

The Chicago Bulls selected a North Carolina star in the first round of a draft. It's a familiar move to Bulls fans as the team drafted another Tar Heels star in the first round of the 1984 draft: Michael Jordan.

Moments after the Bulls' No. 4 selection became official Tuesday, Wilson shared an old photo of himself in a Bulls hoodie. Wilson won't have to go too deep into the closet to fit in with Chicago.

Most likely to have extra rookie duties
Yaxel Lendeborg

Fresh off being drafted at No. 11 by the Golden State Warriors, Lendeborg fulfilled his media obligations. He called it a "full circle" moment to be able to team up with Stephen Curry, with the reason being tied to a not-so-fun fact.

"[In] 2016, I'm a big Kyrie [Irving] guy. So I used to hate Steph Curry," he said of the NBA stars who clashed in the 2016 NBA Finals between the Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers. "So now that I'm actually able to be on the same team as him and play and actually learn so much from him, it means a lot."

Lendeborg went on to talk about how much of an honor it will be to watch Curry work in person. However, he might be saddled with additional rookie duties because of his Irving fandom.

Bringing the family name to the league
Mikel Brown Jr., Darius Acuff Jr., Morez Johnson Jr., Christian Anderson Jr., Labaron Philon Jr., Tarris Reed Jr. and Chris Cenac Jr.

Seven players with "junior" in their names were selected in the first round (and one more in the second round, Jaron Pierre Jr.), from Mikel Brown Jr. at No. 6 by the Brooklyn Nets to Chris Cenac Jr. by the Boston Celtics at No. 27.

There were eight juniors who heard their names called in the first round from 2022 to 2025 combined.

Most likely to have a perfect one-legged fadeaway
Hannes Steinbach

The Charlotte Hornets took Steinbach with the No. 14 pick, adding him to an impressive list of German-born NBA players. Steinbach has a special connection with arguably the greatest German player to play in the NBA: Dirk Nowitzki.

Steinbach's father, Burkhard, played alongside the future Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer in Germany. Nowitzki sent a special message for Steinbach once he was drafted.

"Another kid from Würzburg [Germany] in the league. Incredible. I've known you since you were born. I've followed your journey," Nowitzki said. "And I'm super proud of you, how you handled everything. Enjoy this moment with your family. Speaking of, I'm so glad you didn't get your dad's athleticism and hands. Enjoy this moment. Congratulations."

If Steinbach pulls out a Nowitzki-esque fadeaway in a game, it won't be too much of a surprise.

Shortest commute
Braden Smith

It's always a draft win when a team adds local talent, and the Indiana Pacers did exactly that in the second round. The Pacers picked Purdue guard Smith at No. 38 via a trade with the Chicago Bulls.

Smith went to Westfield High School in Indiana and was named Indiana's Mr. Basketball in 2022. His high school is just 30 miles from Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Pacers' arena, and Purdue is just under 60 miles away, making this one of the shortest commutes of any draft pick.

The Washington Wizards made AJ Dybantsa the No. 1 pick of the 2026 NBA draft Tuesday. Seemingly at the top of Dybantsa's list now that he's in the league? Securing his uniform No. 3 from his new teammate, Trae Young.

Washington acquired Young from the Atlanta Hawks in a trade in January. Young then changed his jersey number from 11 to 3, which he wore at Norman North High School in Oklahoma. No. 11 is retired by the Wizards in honor of Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Elvin Hayes.

During an appearance on Gilbert Arenas' podcast earlier in June, Dybansta spoke about potentially being drafted by the Wizards and claiming his number.

"If they draft me, I do need 3, Trae. If they draft me. You never know, we gonna see in like five weeks," Dybansta said.

The Wizards indeed drafted Dybansta, making him the third player Washington has taken No. 1 since the franchise moved to D.C. in 1973, according to ESPN Research. He joins a team with Young and 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis.

Young welcomed Dybansta to the team, with the caveat that discussions for the number would come at a later time.

Dybansta wore No. 3 during his lone season at BYU and throughout high school. That jersey would seemingly be a natural choice in the league for Dybantsa. But Young -- an eight year NBA veteran -- has the final say.

Young plans to sign a four-year deal worth approximately $212 million with the Wizards, with a player option in Year 4, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Monday. One unknown during those four years is what number Young will don with Dybansta probably part of the team throughout the stretch.

History says that the 19-year-old forward might have to endure some rookie duties to get his way.

Tyler Herro is headed back home to Wisconsin after being traded to the Bucks, but not before reflecting on his first NBA home: Miami.

Herro was dealt to the Bucks late Monday night in a blockbuster deal centered around two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Herro had spent his entire seven-year NBA career with the Heat, earning All-Star honors during the 2024-25 campaign.

Herro, 26, is from Greenfield, a Milwaukee suburb, where he played for Whitnall High School and played AAU basketball with the Wisconsin Playground. Herro decommitted from Wisconsin before signing to play for Kentucky. Miami drafted Herro No. 13 in 2019.

He acknowledged his change of scenery in various posts on his secondary Instagram account, sharing photos of him playing in Wisconsin.

Herro also posted an image of him and former Heat teammate Jimmy Butler III after they reached the 2020 NBA Finals, writing in the caption: "a time was had."

Butler is flashing a wide grin and rocking Herro's jersey, while the guard holds the Eastern Conference finals trophy. The two were teammates for 5½ seasons.

As a rookie, Herro played a key role in Miami's run to the Finals. He appeared in 21 playoff games and averaged 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, including a 37-point performance in the conference finals.

The Bucks acquired Herro alongside Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks (including No. 13 in Tuesday's NBA draft), one pick swap and one second-round pick from the Heat, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis headed to Miami in the deal.

Herro averaged 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists this past season.

Scotland's Tartan Army took over Boston last week for the national team's first two games of the 2026 World Cup. Now, ahead of Scotland's final fixture of the group stage, the Tartan Army are making their presence known at another destination: Miami, where the team will face Brazil on Wednesday.

The Marlins hosted Scotland's supporters organization at their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday. It was part of a "Tartan Army ticket package" the Marlins posted Sunday.

Festivities for the game included a pregame march, a performance by Nick Morgan -- who released "No Scotland, No Party" ahead of the 2024 Euro competition -- and a first pitch from injured Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour. However, one benefit for the Tartan Army came from being punctual. The first 250 members of the organization received a voucher for one free beer.

The Tartan Army showed up in bunches, with some even playing the bagpipes on the field before the game. They sang and chanted in the stands as starting pitcher Tyler Phillips took the mound. One member even caught a foul ball. Videos posted to social media showed the fans marching in Little Havana and playing bagpipes near the concession stands inside Loan Depot Park.

The attendance for the game was 20,008, the eighth highest for the club this season, according to ESPN Research. Miami lost 4-3.

Scotland's supporters received similar love while in Boston as the Red Sox hosted "Scotland Day" on June 14. That night included at least 5,000 fans at Fenway Park with the "The Flower of Scotland" sung following the U.S. national anthem.

The fans made their presence felt outside of sporting events, too. The parent company of Sam Adams said that its Boston Taproom ran out of Boston Lager following Scotland's first weekend in Boston.

The national team played two games in Boston, a 1-0 win vs. Haiti and a 1-0 loss vs. Morocco. Scotland face Brazil in Miami on Wednesday with a spot in the knockout stages still on the line. However, one thing is certain -- the Tartan Army will be ready for battle.

When the clock strikes midnight Friday, many people will already be in bed. In Fairbanks, Alaska, they'll still be at the ballpark, where the lights never come on.

Since 1906, the "Midnight Sun Game" has been held in Fairbanks, a city with a population just under 95,000 people. First pitch is typically at 10 p.m. and lasts past midnight. The catch? It takes place on the summer solstice, when the sun doesn't fully set for 24 hours.

"Here's this really crazy just contrast of a very American ballgame with all of the pageantry and flyovers of the military and singing, kids running the bases," said Dr. Katherine Ringsmuth, Alaska state historian, to ESPN. "Yet you look at your watch and it's midnight."

And of course, the lights at Growden Memorial Park, which hosts the game, don't work. They haven't since 2003.

"It's really not that much of a nuisance to not have them," Alaska Goldpanners general manager John Lohrke told ESPN. "... But they're pretty old, you know, before LEDs and all that. So I'm afraid what would happen if we turn the switch on and see what might take place."

The Goldpanners, a summer baseball team in Fairbanks, has hosted the game since 1963. This year, they play the Utah Yaks on Friday. Through the years, future Baseball Hall of Famers like Dave Winfield and Tom Seaver have played for the Goldpanners, the latter of which started in the Midnight Sun Game.

It's one of baseball's oldest traditions, a bucket list item for fans traveling from as far away as Japan and Australia. Attendees from at least 40 states and two to three countries are the norm for the crowd.

F-35s fly over following the national anthem. Once midnight comes around, members from SingUnited take the field to perform the Alaska flag song. It's all about building a fun, family atmosphere that would be challenging to replicate anywhere else. Alaska is one of the few places in the world to have the "midnight sun" phenomenon.

"You can't really describe it because it's just unique," Lohrke said. "We've had coaches and people come to our organization and ... they'll say, 'John, I've been involved in baseball a long time and I've never had an experience as cool as this.' There's really nothing like it."

The game began as a bar bet between miners searching for gold.

Following the California gold rush in the middle of the 19th century, the Klondike region in northwestern Canada had its own rush near the end of the 1890s. Then it was Nome in south Alaska before reaching Fairbanks, which brought miners, like Eddie Stroecker.

Deemed the "Father of the Midnight Sun Game," Stroecker was a ballplayer from California. Like many others, he came to Fairbanks to find gold. Stroecker worked for the California bar and, according to local legend, made a bet with the Eagle's Club involving a baseball game.

The gold rush is a key component of its origins. However, there are additional layers to the game's continuation early on.

"Yeah, it's this bar bet. Yeah, it's a reflection of the American society at that time moving into Alaska. But it's also a promotional thing, right? They're trying to get people to come to Alaska," Ringsmuth said.

Media began covering it, including the New York Times in 1914 and 1945, only adding to the impact for Fairbanks. Before the Goldpanners became the hosts, there were various participants. Local leagues kept the unique event alive, and during the two World Wars, military teams became part of them. The popularity increased decade by decade.

Stroecker was a key player, appearing in the game until 1918. Local sports aficionados credit him as a driving force behind it. The game is now appropriately named the "W.G. & Eddie Stroecker Midnight Sun Game" after Eddie and his son William George, who was also involved in the game.

In 1960, future Fairbanks mayor Red Boucher founded the Goldpanners. He focused his efforts on further promotion, taking the team to Wichita for a national tournament. That resulted in Boucher bringing a squad from Wichita to play in the Midnight Sun Game in 1963.

"That kind of created the whole kind of promotion around and aura really continued that legend of the Midnight Sun Game and filling the stands and making it into just an extraordinary global event, which it really is today," Ringsmuth said.

During Lohrke's tenure, he estimates that not too many players knew about the game before joining the team. But once they did, they thought it was cool and wanted to be there, he said. It has always been "a special night in Fairbanks," Lohrke added.

Growden Memorial Park typically holds 1,800 fans. It expands to 2,500 for the Midnight Sun Game with only about 130 seats reserved and the rest available for general admission. Reserved tickets for this year's contest sold out within an hour, Lohrke told ESPN.

Lohrke has been the general manager since 2016. The demand for the game has intensified every year. He said the game is "as much of a social experience as it is a baseball experience."

"It's almost like a concert. It's like people look for it. They look at our website and they get a feel [for] when are they available? When are they available? And it's just a frenzy," he said. "We're just sitting there watching our phones and it's you know, bing, bing, bing, and just it's pretty nuts."

This year's game will purposefully be played a day before Alaska's summer solstice. Fairbanks hosts a midnight sun festival on Saturday from noon to midnight, and there's a 10K run that begins at 10 p.m. the same day. Therefore, they avoid Saturday to not compete with each other.

Gates for the game open at 8 p.m. and more tickets will be sold 30 minutes before it starts, with the expectation that there probably won't be open seats.

"And they will not care," Lohrke said. "They will say, 'We want to be there. It's fun. We'll go to the beer garden and hang out or we'll be wherever, but we just want to be there.' They just want to be a part of it. The demand is greater than ever. It's really amazing."

A key result of that demand? For the first time, a jumbotron and five instant replay cameras will be in the park Friday provided by a production company from Anchorage.

So far, obstacles haven't gotten in the way during its 121-year history. It has been played through world wars and global pandemics. Over 200 major league players plied their trade with the Goldpanners.

Last June, Growden Memorial Park was added to the National Register of Historical Places, making it available to apply for funds. The Goldpanners are now financially strong enough where they could explore renovating the lights, Lohrke said.

Mother Nature has helped sustain the game for more than a century, and there are few signs of that changing anytime soon. All one has to do is listen to the famous lyrics of the song "Tomorrow" from the musical 1977 musical "Annie": "The sun'll come out, tomorrow." And with it, Fairbanks' summer solstice will include the Goldpanners shining on the field.

Ten years after their championship run, members of the 2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers reunited in the United Kingdom.

LeBron James, Kevin Love, J.R. Smith, Richard Jefferson, Tristan Thompson and Channing Frye shared photos of themselves together Tuesday and Wednesday as they hit the golf links and sipped wine.

The group posed near Tower Bridge in London and played golf at Loch Lomond Golf Club in Scotland, one of the world's "finest private members clubs." They also bought watches and ate dinner as part of an itinerary that seemingly included five days of golf.

In a joint Instagram post Wednesday between James, Smith, Thompson and Frye, the caption read: "The group chat finally linked up." Another joint post between Jefferson, Love, Thompson and Frye included a video of Thompson delivering drinks to the group on the course, captioned: "We all have roles."

Notably absent was Kyrie Irving, who hit the go-ahead 3-pointer for Cleveland in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors. Smith seemingly addressed Irving's absence, commenting on a post about the reunion: "Missing none. He was invited and ghosted us all. So stop with that bs."

Irving was dealt to the Boston Celtics following the 2016-2017 season after he requested a trade.

Cleveland memorably came back from a 3-1 deficit against the 73-win Warriors. The 10-year anniversary of the Cavaliers' Game 7 victory is Friday. It marked the first 3-1 comeback in the NBA Finals and the first championship in Cavaliers history. Cleveland returned to the Finals the following two seasons, losing both to Golden State.

Jefferson began a 10-year anniversary series on his podcast, "The Richard Show," with Love, Thompson and Iman Shumpert each joining to reminisce. Smith -- whose episode on the show is set to release Thursday -- hinted at the group traveling in May, pinpointing Scotland and Northern Ireland for a golf trip.

"These boys want to play 36 [holes] a day. They locked in. I'm like OK, now we talking, now we talking," Smith, who played golf at North Carolina A&T, said. "I don't know how many holes they gone finish but we gone see."

Plans successfully made it out of the group chat, and the champions have been posting each stop on the itinerary.

Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker is changing his jersey number from No. 1 to No. 15, honoring his USA Basketball uniform and the college number of his father, Melvin, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

Booker wore No. 1 during his lone college season at Kentucky. He had stuck with it since being drafted 13th in 2015 by Phoenix. While playing at Moss Point High School in Mississippi, Booker repped No. 2, which was retired by the school in 2022. He also wore No. 2 with the Alabama Challenge in the Nike EYBL. Melvin Booker also played for Moss Point and had his No. 15 retired.

Devin Booker earned two gold medals with Team USA in the Tokyo and Paris Olympics while wearing No. 15.

Melvin Booker donned the same number during his four years at Missouri, earning men's consensus second-team All-America selection honors his senior year. He didn't wear No. 15 in the NBA, instead opting for Nos. 9, 14 and 5 in his two seasons with three teams.

Suns center Mark Williams donned No. 15 last season, though he is a restricted free agent. Therefore, any return to Phoenix would warrant a number change.

Booker becomes the 16th player in Suns franchise history with No. 15 on his jersey. Most notably, Danny Manning won Sixth Man of the Year in 1998 with the number.

Phoenix is coming off a surprising season that included a first-round sweep to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Booker played a key role in the 45-37 campaign, leading the team with 26.1 points plus six assists per game.

LOS ANGELES -- In the 63rd minute of their opening match of the 2026 World Cup on Monday, Iran midfielder Mohammad Mohebbi leapt into the air to meet Ramin Rezaeian's wonderfully whipped cross and guide his header in off the far post, giving New Zealand goalkeeper Max Crocombe no chance. The goal was decisive, the fourth goal in a 2-2 draw, and it sent shock waves through the 70,108-strong crowd at SoFi Stadium.

Just over 9 miles from where the match was being played in Inglewood, Iran fans at a watch party near Westwood were just as jubilant. They were gathered hosted at Meymuni Cafe to watch Iran's first match, cheering, chanting and coping with all the drama that comes when you watch your team in the World Cup.

Los Angeles is home to the largest Iranian community outside of Iran, and this part of the city is appropriately nicknamed "Tehrangeles." Iranian Americans have found themselves in a conflicted position due to circumstances around the team. The U.S. and Israel began a war against Iran on Feb. 28, and the national team's participation in the World Cup had been in doubt ever since. But, as Team Melli played its opener in L.A., watch parties in the area felt a little closer to home.

"I always remind people: Persians are a very, very important part of the fabric of Los Angeles' society," Shaheen Ferdowsi, founder of Meymuni Cafe, told ESPN. "I don't even know what L.A. would look like without Persians.

"I think something that's really cool is that here in L.A., we're so proud of being Iranian and other Iranians who come to L.A. from other parts of the U.S. are always so happy to see this different pride and being Iranian."

Meymuni Cafe, known for its lavashak (Persian fruit leather) smoothie, sold tickets for reserved seating and walk-ins with a maximum capacity of about 75 people. Ferdowsi is no stranger to hosting events in his bustling space, and will do the same for each of Iran's World Cup games. Their next is on Father's Day, deemed as "BYOB -- Bring Your Own Baba."

"My main goal and my main mission has always been to serve as a unifying symbol for the Iranian community," Ferdowsi said. "And just given everything that we've been through this year and how devastating things have been, I think Meymuni Cafe has kind of served as that hub for the majority of people who follow us and are fans of us."

Iran is the first team to participate in a World Cup hosted by a country with which it was at war. The team has had to face unique and ongoing challenges due to this unprecedented situation.

The team requested to move its three group matches outside of the U.S. -- it has two in L.A. and one in Seattle -- but was denied. Iran's base camp moved from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, weeks before the tournament. In a last-minute change to its travel plans, the team was forced to travel back to Tijuana immediately after the New Zealand match instead of the following day.

It set up a unique atmosphere in L.A. with several hundred Iranian Americans protesting the Iranian government prematch outside the stadium. The national anthem prompted cheers and boos from those in attendance, while some even actively cheered against the team during the game. Flags of Iran before the 1979 Islamic Revolution could be seen within the stadium, despite FIFA's efforts to ban them. However, once the game kicked off, a vast majority of the noise turned to supporting the team.

"It was an incredible atmosphere in the game, all 90 minutes," Iran striker Mehdi Taremi said postmatch. "It was like at home for us."

At the café watch party, fans rallied behind the players and acknowledged the challenges they face.

"It's great to host them. I wish it was under better circumstances. I wish they felt more welcome, you know," Benyamin Dabiri told ESPN. "It sucks that they can't stay the night. That four-hour bus drive, I mean, I can tell it's f---ing with them psychologically. It's messing with them a little bit."

Dabiri was born in Tehran and moved to the U.S. at 8 years old. He feel a connection with the Iran players. "Those are our cousins, our brothers," he said.

That was the prevailing sentiment among those watching, and it spread beyond its walls as the game progressed. A group fitness center is attached to the café, and workouts began at kickoff and halftime of the match. Occasionally, people would push their faces on the glass door to peep the score -- often after yells were heard following big moments.

By halftime, only some standing room remained. The chance to support Iran while it played in their backyard became too good to pass up for Iranian Americans.

"L.A. has the biggest Iranian population outside of Iran," Pourya Banaee, who moved from Iran to Los Angeles at 9 years old, told ESPN. "So it's just honestly a surreal experience supporting them and watching them play. It's super cool."

Banaee's friend Nima Malek emphasized how surreal it is to have Iran play in Los Angeles, while presenting it as a huge opportunity. He wished Iran's participation in the region came under a different situation, but posited that the team would come out more motivated because of it. The results could be surprisingly positive -- especially in L.A.

"A majority of the time, they're underdogs and no one really expects anything out of them," Malek, who was born and raised in L.A. and visits Iran every four or five years to see family, told ESPN. "But I think with Tehrangeles here, it's a rare opportunity."

Tehrangeles made its presence felt at Meymuni Cafe. Rezaeian's opening goal led to an "insane" energy, Dabiri said. When Mohebbi scored, the place was filled with cheers and chants. As the match remained in the balance for the final half-hour, that excitement turned to tension. All that mattered at the moment for those there was supporting Team Melli.

"These guys are just trying to play soccer," Dabiri said. "It's a different thing than any political thing.

"They don't have control over whatever political circumstances they're under. They just have to deal with the cards they're dealt with and play the best football they can. So, as Iranians, I think we should all just be supporting them and hoping for the best."

Banaee called it "amazing" to have the local support of Iranian Americans in Los Angeles. Rooting for the sports teams is "part of our blood," Malek said.

Following the team is a way for the community to stay connected to their homeland. That's something Ferdowsi -- and surely other Persian cafés hosting watch parties across Tehrangeles -- hopes to encourage.

"As a small café here, founded by someone Westwood born and raised, we're just happy to bring the community together," Ferdowsi said. "I hope that people just come together because of this game."

With group matches against Belgium and Egypt to come on June 21 and 27, Tehrangeles have at least two more chances to unite behind Team Melli.

At each of their men's World Cup appearances since 1998, Japan's fans have made headlines for cleaning up their sections after matches. On Sunday, they received help from a special guest -- Jameis Winston.

The New York Giants quarterback is a Fox Sports World Cup correspondent and assisted with coverage of the Japan-Netherlands match in Dallas on Sunday. It marked the opening match for both countries in this tournament.

Before the game, Winston walked with Netherlands' "Orange Army" fanbase. Following a thrilling 2-2 draw, Winston headed to the stands and assisted Japan fans in cleaning up. It's a tradition the fans began in 1998 during their first World Cup appearance.

Winston rocked a custom Japan jersey with "No. 4" and "Winston" on the back and carried a blue bag to collect trash.

The explanation for Japan's tidiness is a simple one.

The Japanese are taught in school to clean their school classrooms and hallways with those basic behaviors then becoming habits for the population, Scott North, professor of sociology at Osaka University, explained to the BBC in 2018.

"In addition to their heightened consciousness of the need to be clean and to recycle, cleaning up at events like the World Cup is a way Japanese fans demonstrate pride in their way of life and share it with the rest of us," North said.

Japanese fans do the same at other major sporting events, including the Olympics.

But the change Sunday was the inclusion of Winston, the veteran quarterback who is entering his 12th NFL season.

"Go New York, Go New York, Go!"

The New York Knicks are NBA champions. After defeating the San Antonio Spurs on the road 94-90 in Game 5, the Knicks have broken a 53-year title drought.

New York came back yet again from a double-digit deficit to bring the title home. Jalen Brunson had the game of his life, scoring 45 points with three rebounds, three assists and two steals.

The last time the Knicks won a championship was May 10, 1973, when they defeated Wilt Chamberlain and the Los Angeles Lakers on the road at the Forum in five games with a star-studded roster that included Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, Earl Monroe and Phil Jackson.

It has been a long time coming for Knicks fans, exactly 19,392 days since New York won an NBA championship. Sure enough, times were a lot different back then. Here's what the world looked like the last time the Knicks won the title.

Miami Dolphins cap undefeated season

The Dolphins completed the only undefeated season in NFL history in 1973. Focus On Sport/Getty Images
Still the only undefeated campaign in NFL history, the Dolphins went 17-0 after a 14-7 victory over Washington in Super Bowl VII.

Miami scored in the first quarter on a 28-yard reception from Howard Twilley, and Jim Kick's 1-yard TD run in the second quarter extended the lead. Washington had a 49-yard scoop and score in the fourth, but it was too little, too late.

The Dolphins included iconic figures such as coach Don Shula and four first-team All-Pro members: quarterback Earl Morrall, Larry Little, Bill Stanfill and Dick Anderson.

'The Godfather' wins three Oscars, beginning franchise
"The Godfather" was released in March 1972, beginning a legendary film franchise. It received 10 nominations at the 45th Academy Awards, taking home three: "Best Picture," "Best Actor in a Leading Role" and "Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium."

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, "The Godfather" is widely regarded as one of the greatest movies.

Battle of the Sexes I
Fresh off the federal civil rights law of Title IX, 55-year-old former American tennis player Bobby Riggs faced off against women's tennis star Margaret Court, who was 35, in a match deemed "Battle of the Sexes."

Riggs was skeptical of women playing tennis and challenged Court to prove a point. He won May 13, 1973. However, it set the stage for "Battle of the Sexes II," a match against 29-year-old Billie Jean King, whom Riggs had also wanted to face. King defeated Riggs in three sets in September.

After Riggs' death in 1995, King said: "Our 'Battle of the Sexes' match helped to advance the game of tennis and women everywhere."

Secretariat in midst of Triple Crown run

Secretariat, with Ron Turcotte in the saddle, won the 99th running of the Kentucky Derby with a record time and capitalized two weeks later in the Preakness Stakes. Getty Images
Secretariat's Triple Crown quest was on full display as the Knicks won the title.

On May 6, 1973, he won the Kentucky Derby with a record time of 1:59.40. Two weeks later, he set another record with a victory at the Preakness Stakes. Secretariat capped his Triple Crown with a record time of 2:24 seconds at the Belmont Stakes.

Secretariat became the first horse in 25 years to win the Triple Crown.

Elvis says Aloha from Hawaii
There might not be a more consequential performance in entertainment history than Elvis Presley's in 1973.

"Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii" was a TV special that aired in January 1973 and, according to IMDB, "made history as the first televised event to be simulcast live to 40 countries worldwide." It received 1.5 billion views, still the most-watched entertainment show by a single person.

Presley's live concert was the first by a solo entertainer to be broadcast internationally via a satellite.

"Soul Train" in its second, third seasons

Some of the most iconic performances took place on the set of "Soul Train" in 1973, including the Jackson 5. Soul Train via Getty Images
Created by Don Cornelius in 1971 and officially hitting syndicated airwaves in 1972, the Saturday music program "Soul Train" was in its second season with a lineup for the ages.

Around the time the Knicks began their run to the Finals, the show held a special airing for Aretha Franklin, who performed her classic hits that included "Rock Steady" and "Day Dreaming."

A couple of days after the Knicks won the title, The Supremes and Lloyd Price appeared on the show.

Later that year, the iconic Jackson 5 performed on the show, and a young Michael Jackson debuted the famous robot dance to "Dancing Machine." The group also performed "Don't Say Goodbye Again," "Get It Together," "You're In Good Hands" (Jermaine) and "With a Child's Heart" (Michael).

Al Green, James Brown, Stevie Wonder and The Temptations were among the other performers featured that year.

The first mobile phone call was made
In the streets of New York City, Martin Cooper made the first mobile phone call on April 3, 1973. According to NPR, Cooper, then the head of communications at Motorola, was standing on 6th Avenue when he made a phone call -- and you wouldn't believe to whom.

At the time, car phones were believed to be the future. Cooper, though, thought past the portable device and wanted to create something that was more personal. He set out to create something that could fit in one's pocket in 1972. A year later, his team created the mobile device that was 10 inches tall, 1½ inches wide and 3 inches deep. It weighed 2½ pounds.

Bell Labs, which saw the car phone as the future, was Motorola's competitor. Cooper made the phone call to the competitor and said: "I'm calling you from a cellphone but a real cellphone -- the personal, handheld, portable cellphone."

The New York Knicks needed one stop to complete the comeback in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals, and Ben Stiller had his iPhone ready.

Taylor Swift and Mariska Hargitay stood to his left. San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper and Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns were front and center. Thousands at Madison Square Garden and millions watching around the world had their own perspective of the play.

Yet, Stiller's courtside view proved the most engaging. He captured the moment when New York completed the largest comeback in NBA Finals history, using a black-and-white filter and walking on the court to take a rapid 360-degree video of the pandemonium at the Garden as the buzzer sounded.

From slo-mo clips of Jalen Brunson isolations to practice before a Finals game, the lifelong Knicks fan has documented the team's run in the playoffs with videos on his X account. It's part of a rumored project around the Knicks' playoff run, something Stiller seemingly confirmed on ESPN's "Inside the NBA" before Game 4.

"There is a project in the works, but look, I'd be doing it anyway," he said. "But it is part of a bigger project. ... [The access] is insane. To be able to have that point of view, it's fun to be able to share it with people."

Stiller's clips have often gone viral on social media, offering a unique perspective of the Knicks' most prosperous postseason in half a century. Here's a look at the top videos from the lens of Stiller's iPhone.

Brunson buckets in slow motion
The Knicks' star had 28 points, seven assists and five rebounds in the team's opening game of the playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks. Nineteen of Brunson's points came in the first quarter, including a floater over Atlanta center Zaccharie Risacher to end the frame.

Stiller tracked the moment with his camera, then turned it into a slow-motion view before posting it on X during the game.

A special cameo
Hours before the Knicks closed out the Hawks in the first round, Stiller shared a clip of a pregame intro at Madison Square Garden. Early in the video, actor and avid Knicks fan Timothée Chalamet jumped into the frame with a simple declaration: "Let's go, Knicks."

Anunoby triple gets the Garden -- and Stiller -- up
Stiller was sitting on the opposite side of the court when OG Anunoby rose for a 3-pointer in Game 2 against the Philadelphia 76ers. The score was tied 86-86 in the second-round matchup, and the Madison Square Garden fans rose to their feet after Anunoby's 3-pointer.

Similar to the Brunson play, Stiller captured it in slow motion. But as Anunoby tracked back down the court, Stiller stood up and brought it to regular speed, zooming in on the forward's stoic look after the big shot.

Lucky bounces for Shamet
As New York stormed back against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, Stiller captured a key turning point. With 45 seconds remaining, Landry Shamet hit a 3-pointer to tie the score.

The shot first hit the back of the rim, bounced up, then off the front rim and settled into the basket for a remarkable bucket. The image slightly shook as Stiller stood up. But he got a perfect view of Shamet's poised expression as he got back on defense. A special filter dramatized one of the biggest plays of the postseason.

An emphatic block on Harden
The Knicks and Stiller were back at the Garden after the wild comeback win against the Cavaliers. During the game, he shared a defensive highlight.

Cleveland guard James Harden handled the ball against Mikal Bridges before getting Brunson to switch on him. Stiller zoomed in and out with his camera, while Harden dribbled between his legs before crossing to his left hand and driving toward the basket.

Harden then attempted a floater, but Knicks center Mitchell Robinson rotated over and blocked the shot. Stiller gave the play a simple caption: "Mitch said no."

Knicks celebrate trip to the NBA Finals
Stiller sat courtside near the Knicks' bench in Cleveland as New York had a chance to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. The Knicks got the job done emphatically, sweeping the Cavaliers after a 130-93 victory.

With the game in hand, starters and key rotation players were on the bench as the clock hit zero. Stiller captured the final seconds, even dapping up Shamet, before closing the video in cinematic fashion -- a shot of Brunson and Towns, the Knicks' two stars, standing side by side.

Another impressive Robinson stop
It seems like for every clutch Knicks play this postseason, Stiller has had his camera ready. That was the case in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

New York held a one-point lead with 7.5 seconds remaining in the game. San Antonio guard De'Aaron Fox and center Victor Wembanyama ran a pick-and-roll that resulted in a 20-foot jumper from Wembanyama. Robinson contested the shot and helped force a miss, securing the Knicks a 2-0 lead in the Finals.

Stiller again got the right shot, capturing Wembanyama's miss. As the buzzer sounded, however, Stiller celebrated and dapped up Bridges, causing his camera to go away from the action.

The Knicks are one win away from the NBA championship following the largest comeback in NBA Finals history.

New York stormed back against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night, taking a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals following a 107-106 victory.

San Antonio led by as many as 29 points, including 15 points entering the fourth quarter. Prior to Wednesday, there had been one comeback of at least 15 points entering the fourth quarter in Finals history. In Game 6 of the 1992 Finals, the Chicago Bulls overcame a 79-64 deficit, according to ESPN Research.

The 29-point comeback by the Knicks is the largest in the NBA Finals since at least 1971 as well as the third 20-point comeback in this time, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Here are key numbers and reactions from around the sports world to New York's improbable victory.

76: San Antonio was firing on all cylinders in the first half, putting up 76 points. It marked the most points the Spurs -- or any team -- had scored on the road in the first half of an NBA Finals game.

It was also the most points the Knicks had ever allowed in the first half of a playoff game.

46: It was a game of two halves for the Spurs. After scoring 76 points in the first half, they had just 30 in the second.

Per Elias, that 46-point decrease ties the largest from a first half to a second by any team in a playoff game in the shot clock era (since 1954-55).

Spurs legend and four-time NBA champion Manu Ginobili didn't hide his pain following the Game 4 defeat.

36: Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 36 points on 12-of-25 shooting. He also added seven assists and five rebounds on the night. That followed up a Game 3 in which Brunson had 32 points plus five assists and five rebounds.

Brunson is the first player with consecutive Finals games in a single series with at least 30 points, five rebounds and five assists since LeBron James had a three-game streak in 2017. He joins James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant as the only players to have consecutive Finals games of 30-5-5 since 2000 (streaks within a single Finals).

1.2: OG Anunoby put the Knicks ahead for good with a tip-in that left just 1.2 seconds in the game. He finished with a playoff career-high 33 points on the night. Brunson and Anunoby are the first Knicks duo with at least 30 points in the same NBA Finals game.

It marked Anunoby's second career go-ahead field goal in the final five seconds of a playoff game. He made a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in Game 3 of the 2020 Eastern Conference semifinals. Per Elias, Anunoby is the fifth player in the play-by-play era (1998) to make his first two career go-ahead attempts in the final five seconds of a playoff game.

His game winner stunned the sports world.

1:22: New York had to battle back practically the entire game. It took its first lead with 1:22 left in the fourth quarter following a bucket from Brunson.

The Knicks led for just 2% of the game.

0.4% Early in the fourth quarter, it didn't seem like it would be in the cards for New York. It faced a 95-75 deficit with 9:33 remaining in the game.

According to ESPN analytics, the Knicks had just a 0.4% chance of winning the game.

Magic Johnson and Russell Wilson led the reaction to New York storming back to win the game.

The Knicks' NBA Finals run has touched every inch of New York City. From Coney Island to the Bronx to Central Park, watch parties have become as much a part of the postseason as a Jalen Brunson clutch bucket.

And in some cases, watch parties held in venues that you would never expect ... even in New York.

Erica Hill, the founder of Sparrow, a funeral home in Brooklyn, is hosting one for Game 4 of the Finals (8:30 p.m. ET on ABC). But its origins come from a place deeper than a typical watch party.

Hill was inspired by Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns, who has said that he feels the presence of his late mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, during the series.

"In a way I felt like I was seeing her in the stands and it was just fun. It was really fun. It was really comforting. ... I don't know," Towns said. "It felt like a certain presence was here that was very comforting and very loving."

Cruz-Towns died in April 2020 due to COVID-19 complications. Towns lost six other family members in 2020 because of COVID.

Towns' comments spread on Instagram in the "end of life world," Hill told ESPN.

"Because all we do here is deal with people who are and support people who are grieving," Hill told ESPN. "So that's really, he was the impetus. We would never be having a watch party if he hadn't been so open and talking about his mom."

Following an 18-point, 12-rebound performance in the Knicks' Game 1 win over the San Antonio Spurs, Towns spoke about a sense of calm and peace that "had to come from the woman above."

With the Knicks needing a stop to win Game 2, Towns said he prayed to his mother. When Knicks center Mitchell Robinson stopped Victor Wembanyama to secure the victory, Towns said he saw it as a sign that his mother was there.

He expanded further to ESPN's Malika Andrews in an interview Monday, saying that he feels his mother's presence "a lot."

"It's kind of unexplainable. I'm always looking for signs. I pray, I go to sleep and I have a dream with her or just something that resonates with her," Towns said. "And I always feel her presence."

Hill says both of her parents have passed, and she'll "still sort of talk" to her father, who died in 2001. She opened her funeral home four and a half years ago and has worked with families who look for signs of their loved ones, similar to Towns.

The six-time NBA All-Star's comments really resonated with her, she said.

"I thought a lot about that, and just how, here's this guy who is arguably one of the best athletes in the country, being very open and vulnerable about wanting his mom with him," Hill said. "And to me, that's basically ... he's talking about his grief, and that's not really a common thing, especially for men."

On Sunday afternoon, two days after the Knicks won Game 2, Hill texted her colleagues to get thoughts on a potential watch party before deciding to go for it. She posted information about the watch party Monday on Instagram, prompting a widespread reaction.

"It's been pretty bananas," Hill said.

She thought it would be 15 people at most to RSVP, most of whom she probably already knew. As of Tuesday afternoon, 60 people had reached out about attending. Hill admitted they'd likely have to cap the invites to 120 people.

Neighbors are stopping by, as well as families the funeral home has served, which is particularly special for Hill.

Hill has a feeling that naturally conversations will hover to family members who loved the Knicks, like Hill's own father. She hopes to put together a board for people to share who they are watching for in honor of the Knicks center.

"It's lovely for us to have a light shown on us. ... To me it's not just like, 'Oh, let's have a watch party at Sparrow because we have projectors and we can do it,'" she said. "It really came from somewhere else. And it's clear from at least some of the people that have RSVP'd that they were really happy to have a place to go with other people who potentially are grieving."

She explained that people in the end of life community, including herself, believe it's extremely healthy for people to talk more about loved ones who have died. There was something about listening to Towns speak openly, especially during one of the highlights of his career.

But Hill didn't sense sadness when he reflected about his mother. She sensed joy.

"Here he is, I'm going to assume, dealing with a lot of grief, which is heavy," Hill said. "But yet he still goes out there and he does his job, which is playing basketball. And then his mom is like this comfort and inspiration. ... I think it's pretty inspiring. It really has resonated with a lot of people, not just me."

On Wednesday, they'll cheer and hope their loved ones -- past and present -- can guide Towns and the Knicks closer to basketball immortality.

The cast of the NBA's grandest stage is always easy to identify. This year, there's Victor Wembanyama and Jalen Brunson. The Spurs' Coyote and Spike Lee. The ex-Knicks and Spurs in the crowd. Head coaches Mike Brown and Mitch Johnson. And of course, New York's celebrity fans courtside.

But, the most avoidable yet arguably important supporting character of each NBA Finals? The 29.5-inch official Wilson-branded 100% genuine leather cover basketball.

Karl-Anthony Towns will grab it from the air. Stephon Castle could punch it through the basket. Josh Hart surely will dive in the stands to secure it. De'Aaron Fox can dash up the floor while dribbling it.

As New York and San Antonio face off in the 2026 NBA Finals (Game 2 on Friday) the basketballs in action have all had a winding trip to Frost Bank Center and Madison Square Garden. They've actually been thudding off the hardwood for months across the NBA.

It's how the league makes sure the game's biggest stage has the right bounces.

Every January, the NBA sends four Finals-branded basketballs to all 30 teams. The mission is simple: Break them in before the league collects and redistributes them for the NBA Finals.

"Obviously, this is the most pivotal series of games we have. And so, you want them to have, I keep using game-ready, but game-ready basketballs which is different than out-of-the-box basketballs," Christopher Arena, the NBA's head of on-court and brand partnerships, told ESPN.

Similar to Spalding, Wilson uses leather supplied by Chicago's Horween Leather Company. But one key difference emerged when Wilson became the NBA's official ball provider in the 2021-22 season.

Under Spalding, used game balls were sent back to be laser-engraved with the NBA Finals script. Wilson's Finals basketballs are pre-produced and distributed to teams months in advance to be broken in.

Wilson has a protocol at their Ada, Ohio, facility that Arena said the league calls "waking the windings of the ball." Wilson pre-balances them on a machine that dribbles rapidly, while another sends them against a wooden panel.

But there's nothing to substitute sweat, oils and dirt that can come from a player, court and environment.

What makes leather unique is that it's an organic material derived from a living thing (in the NBA's case, the leather comes from cowhides). Therefore, there's a natural aging process, referred to in the fashion industry as "patina" -- a fancy way of saying it gets stained.

"Those elements sort of break the ball in. It gives it its darker color. It gives it a little bit more tack over time," Arena said. "And so, it takes, depending on who you ask and how much play, like three to four weeks to get that right."

Any equipment manager around the league will explain that the veterans won't play with the new balls, Arena added. The job falls to rookies, G-League players or ball attendants. The Knicks' and Spurs' equipment managers were not made available for this story.

Unlike composite basketballs that are "made of synthetically produced material that feels like leather," the NBA's official game ball uses genuine leather.

Leather doesn't always have to be broken in either, Keanan Duffty, a professor at the University of Southern California, told ESPN.

Duffty, a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, explained the process of breaking in a basketball, which is "very much a utility. It's very practical.

"Leather reacts to humidity. ... It can stretch. Depending on the heat in its environment, it can change the way it behaves. So I would think that basketball players don't want to be surprised by that on the court," Duffty said. "They want it to go through this process of being utilized so they know how it's going to behave when they're actually on the court for a game."

Every time a ball bounces, it stretches, going through an aging process. Leather naturally softens, but the pressure it endures while hitting the court can cause it to soften, too.

Moisture impacts that process in a unique way. The friction that a ball goes through when feeling the court or rim would change according to the moisture in the skin of the ball, Duffty explained. The moisture too increases over time of a game with more people touching the ball, resulting in a different behavior.

All of these factors lead to a preferred game experience for the players, especially important on the heightened stage of the NBA Finals.

"If you take the new balls out of the box ... and you shoot for an hour, the tips of your fingers will be bloody, just because the thread is so new," the Golden State Warriors' then-equipment/travel manager Eric Housen told ESPN in 2015.

The league entrusts all 30 of its teams to approach the process their own way.

Most of the time, those basketballs remain hidden from public view. But occasionally they surface in the open, creating a rare, bizarre scene when teams are spotted shooting around with an NBA Finals basketball before the playoffs.

Someone saw basketballs for the 2025 series at a Denver Nuggets game that season, prompting theories that the NBA had "leaked its script." A 2024 version was found during warmups at a Memphis Grizzlies game in March of that year.

"Most of the time, I think the equipment managers are really good about trying to keep it in the practice facility. And it's not a secret," he said. "Like, it's not the end of the world. It's just a little weird to have it on a court on March 2 on a Tuesday, you know?"

The minute a team is eliminated from postseason contention or in the playoffs, they will begin sending the their Finals basketballs back to the NBA, and the league will designate them by conference.

The teams at the last stage keep their own basketballs. The league supplements the rest so that it can hopefully fill up a rack in a game and practice facility. That total reaches 38 basketballs.

"Through the months of April, May, we are just collecting them. And then as soon as we know who the Western, Eastern Conference participants are in the Finals, we ship them right to them," Arena said. "It's challenging when you get to Game 6s and 7s and there's a tight turnaround because we want them playing with them ASAP."

Case in point: the 2026 Western Conference finals between the Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.

With the Thunder up 3-2 in the series, the NBA sent Finals basketballs to Oklahoma City. Therefore, if the Thunder closed out the Spurs, they had theirs ready once they landed back home. If San Antonio sent it to seven, the basketballs would be ready for either team regardless of the winner since the series shifted to Oklahoma City.

The Spurs won in Game 7 and as they prepared to depart, one task remained: grabbing the basketballs. Oklahoma City's equipment manager handed them to San Antonio, which took them on the plane.

"We wanted to maximize the amount of time they had to play with those basketballs, knowing those were going to be the balls they were going to play the NBA Finals with," Arena said.

One more important bounce en route to the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

The 2026 NBA Finals pits the New York Knicks vs. the San Antonio Spurs, a rematch of the 1999 championship series. The uniforms will look familiar, too.

San Antonio is no stranger to the big stage -- 1999 marked the first of six during a stretch that ran until 2014. New York though hasn't been in the Finals since facing San Antonio. Not a lot has changed in the uniform department for either team during that span.

The Spurs' white and black threads are a staple, especially during the NBA Finals. Tim Duncan clinched his fifth ring while wearing San Antonio's white jerseys. His fourth came with the black ones on. It will be a similar rotation for the Spurs against the Knicks.

For New York, white and blue uniforms remain a key part of its closet. The Knicks rocked those colors in their previous two Finals appearances in 1999 and 1994.

Similar to the uniforms of Super Bowl LX in February, each jersey for the 2026 NBA Finals will have a special "USA 250" patch on the front of it, commemorating the 250th anniversary of America's independence.

Here's a look at New York's and San Antonio's uniform schedules for Games 1 through 4 of the NBA Finals, plus their records this regular season and postseason while wearing each uniform.

New York Knicks
Game 1, 3 and 4: Association

Regular-season record: 27-16

Postseason record: 6-0

Game 2: Icon

Regular-season record: 7-5

Postseason record: 4-1

San Antonio Spurs
Game 1, 3 and 4: Icon

Regular-season record: 15-3

Postseason record: 5-2

Game 2: Association

Regular-season record: 20-6

Postseason record: 6-3

Buzz for the Knicks' first NBA Finals run since 1999 is taking over New York City, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani is making sure the youth can enjoy it unimpeded.

The 112th mayor of New York City signed an executive order Monday with the title "repealing kids' bedtimes for Knicks Finals run." New York faces the San Antonio Spurs in a quest for its first NBA championship since 1973.

Mamdani signed the document with a group of young students around his desk, some of whom wore Knicks jerseys. Handprints of kids appeared on the opposite side of the order.

Details of the order include the importance for New Yorkers of all ages to support the team in its run for the title. A key hindrance for younger fans could be their bedtimes as each NBA Finals game tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET. However, Mamdani has that one covered.

He writes: "WHEREAS, bedtimes should not impede the ability of New York's Cutest to cheer for the Knicks and watch every second of this historic Championship series."

Section 1 puts it more definitively: "I hereby direct that bedtimes in the City of New York are repealed during the NBA Finals so that kids of all ages can root for their New York Knicks." Mamdani also added a section for "Go New York Go New York Go," lyrics from a popular team anthem released in 1993.

"As Mayor, you're forced to make many difficult decisions," Mamdani wrote on X. "This was not one of them."

The 34-year-old has been vocal during New York's road to the NBA Finals.

He jokingly blamed former Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young -- and noted Knicks villain -- for the high ticket prices of New York's first-round matchup with Atlanta. When the Knicks swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals, Mamdani tagged New York City sanitation on social media and wrote: "I'd like to report a sweep." He also took in Game 2 of the series at Madison Square Garden.

San Antonio hosts Game 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals, which begin Wednesday (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC), before the series shifts to New York. Kids around the city will likely be tuned in late -- courtesy of Mamdani.

The 2026 NBA Finals tip off on Wednesday between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs. The matchup will be a familiar sight for longtime NBA fans as it's a rematch of the 1999 Finals. However, the aesthetics will be reminiscent of another time, too: the mid-2000s.

Starting with the 2005 NBA Finals, the Larry O'Brien Trophy appeared in center court for each game. It heightened the importance of the final round, but the NBA stopped using the decals following the 2009 postseason.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver offered a simple explanation last year for the pivot.

"I've seen some of the chatter on social media around on-court decals," Silver said on ESPN during the 2025 NBA Finals. "People don't realize they went away a decade ago because there were claims that some of the players [were saying] they were slippery when we had the decals on the floor."

As the years and Finals passed, photos of the decal would surface and go viral on social media. The nostalgia led to an outcry from fans to bring it back, and the league did so digitally for Game 2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers matchup last year.

Sources told ESPN's Shams Charania in October that the trophy would indeed return for the upcoming Finals series. And on Sunday, the league made it official, sharing what the courts for the Spurs and Knicks will look like in the final round -- with the Larry O'Brien front and center painted on the hardwood instead of as a decal.

San Antonio is familiar with this design. It participated in the Finals in 2005 and 2007, winning both. However, New York hasn't been at this stage of the postseason since 1999.

As the trophy makes its return to the court, here's a look back at each previous NBA Finals series to feature the trophy design.

2005 NBA Finals: Spurs vs. Detroit Pistons

2006 NBA Finals: Miami Heat vs. Dallas Mavericks

2007 NBA Finals: Spurs vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

2008 NBA Finals: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers

2009 NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Orlando Magic

Arsenal suffered a heartbreaking loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on Saturday, and one of their biggest rivals -- Chelsea -- made sure to rub salt in the wound immediately.

The final play came down to a penalty shootout, which the Parisian side won 4-3 after a 1-1 scoreline after regular and extra time. Paris Saint-Germain became just the second team to win back-to-back Champions League titles.

For Arsenal, the loss extends their quest to win their first Champions League title. They've lost both of their final appearances in 2006 and 2026.

Therefore, the only team in London to win the Champions League remains Chelsea, who have won it twice (2012 and 2021). The Blues took to social media right as PSG won the title, advertising stadium tours at Stamford Bridge with the UCL trophy center stage.

The club wrote in the caption: "Come and visit London's Home of Trophies. Book your Stadium Tour at Stamford Bridge now."

Chelsea and Arsenal are fierce rivals in the English Premier League, with Chelsea in southwest London and Arsenal in the north.

Over 121 years, the two sides have met more than 200 times, including in the 2019 Europa League final, which Chelsea won. In four matches across all competitions this season, Arsenal defeated Chelsea three times and the clubs drew once.

The Champions League has been a common theme of trolling chants aimed at Arsenal fans by Chelsea followers -- and beyond. They often belt out: "Champions of Europe, you'll never sing that."

Arsenal won the Premier League last week for the first time since 2004. However, after Saturday, the Blues can still hold a prominent accomplishment over their rivals -- two Champions League final victories in 2012 and 2021.

And it didn't take long after the final whistle for Chelsea to show it off.

In the aftermath of Frances Tiafoe's second-round French Open victory Thursday, the American turned his attention to another task: getting his game-winning racket back.

Tiafoe outlasted Hubert Hurkacz 6-7 (5), 7-6 (7), 6-4, 6-7 (1), 6-4 in a marathon match that lasted four hours and 43 minutes. He had an emphatic reaction after hitting a forehand winner to secure the victory, running to hug fans in the crowd with his racket in hand.

In the midst of his celebration, Tiafoe embraced the fans. However, when he exited the crowd, his racket was gone. As he walked off the court with what he thought was all of his rackets in his bag, Tiafoe told his team: "Wait, I think I'm down a racket," he said on the TNT Sports broadcast.

Dr. Mark Kovacs, Tiafoe's head coach, then asked if he wanted to post something to retrieve it from the fan.

"I was like, yeah, it'll be funny. I was like, here, I'll get it [back]. In the States, I'm not getting it," Tiafoe said.

So Tiafoe posted on his Instagram story that he'll give two tickets for his next match if the fan returns the racket. Soon thereafter, a member of his team snapped a selfie with the person who had it, tagging Tiafoe and writing: "keep your racquet in your hands brotha." The fan held up what were seemingly shoes from Tiafoe's match. There was no mention of if the tickets were also distributed.

The lime green racket is one of eight Tiafoe travels with to tournaments. He had a simple explanation as to why he wanted it back.

"I mean I won the match with it, it's gotta be good luck," he said.

Tiafoe will face Portugal's Jaime Faria in the third round Saturday, with lime green surely part of the match.

Bam Adebayo posed with A'ja Wilson in Golden Knights jerseys Sunday, resulting in disapproval from the Florida Panthers.

The Miami Heat center and Wilson, who stars for the Las Vegas Aces, attended Game 3 of the Western Conference finals between the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche. A photo of the couple wearing Vegas jerseys in the crowd surfaced. It prompted a reaction from the Panthers, who play in south Florida with the Heat.

The Panthers responded to the post, writing, "Bam... wyd" with a wilted flower emoji. Adebayo wore a custom No. 13 jersey and banged the Panthers' drum before Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final last year. He also celebrated on social media when they won the Cup, sending his congratulations.

Therefore, the three-time NBA All-Star had to clarify where his fandom stood postgame. He posted a video on X and tagged the Panthers with the caption: "don't ever disrespect my loyalty."

"I just want everybody to know. ..." Adebayo said on social media as he showed off a Panthers jersey. "I just couldn't wear it in there 'cause I was with somebody. But, y'all know what it is."

The "somebody" is likely Adebayo's girlfriend, Wilson, whom he was photographed with at the game. Adebayo and Wilson confirmed their relationship in February 2025 after being linked since the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Panthers approved of Adebayo's video, writing: "Bam forever a real one."

Regardless of loyalties, Vegas would likely welcome the couple back. It stormed back from a 3-0 deficit to win 5-3 and take a 3-0 lead in the series against Colorado.

It's time to party like it's 1999 because the New York Knicks have advanced to the NBA Finals.

New York swept the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, defeating them 130-93 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.

This will be the Knicks' first appearance in the NBA Finals since 1999, when they lost to the San Antonio Spurs in five games. It's their ninth Finals appearance overall, which is tied with the Philadelphia 76ers for the fourth most in NBA history, according to ESPN Research.

It has been a long time coming for the Knicks. New York won just one playoff series between its loss to the Indiana Pacers in the 2000 conference finals and its run to the second round in 2023. The Knicks had the 12th-longest Finals drought among active franchises. Now, the franchise is vying for its first championship in 53 years.

A lot has changed since the last time the Knicks were in the Finals. Here's a look back at what was going on in the sports and pop culture world.

LeBron dunks for the first time

Before he collected four NBA championships and became the NBA's all-time leading scorer, LeBron James had to overcome a hurdle -- dunking.

Then an eighth grader, James was playing in a teachers-versus-students game at Riedinger Middle School in Akron, Ohio.

"I got a fast break, and this was the first time I ever even tried it. I said, 'I'm going for it,' James recalled in 2011. "It was an unbelievable moment for myself when I realized I could dunk."

Twenty-six years later, James dunked the ball 97 times in his 23rd NBA season, his most since the 2017-18 campaign (120).

Another Brunson suits up for New York

The common denominator between the Knicks' previous Finals run and this one? A Brunson on the court.

Rick Brunson played his first season with New York in 1998-99, appearing in 17 regular-season and nine playoff games. He played in just one Finals game that postseason and didn't record a stat.

However, his experience has proved valuable over 20 years later. Brunson is on the Knicks' coaching staff with his son, Jalen, leading the way on the court. It's a bit of déjà vu for the Brunson family with New York again competing for a title.

Star Wars dominates box office

After its original trilogy captivated audiences, the first Star Wars prequel released May 19, 1999: "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace." The film was a box office hit.

It opened to $64 million in its first weekend and grossed over $1 million domestically for 61 consecutive days, the fourth most of any film in history, according to IMDB. It also made $924 million worldwide in 1999, the most of any film and over $200 million more than second place.

Y2K concern takes over the globe

While the Knicks and San Antonio Spurs battled in the Finals, the world prepared for the potential Y2K bug.

The predicament focused on a presumed software glitch. The fear was that computers were programmed to read years such as "99" as 1999; therefore, when the calendar shifted to 2000, it was unclear whether the computer would see it as 1900 or 2000. If computer systems were potentially affected by this bug, power outages, bank shut downs and transportation issues were among the problems that could arise.

On Dec. 14, 1999, the Bill Clinton administration revealed that "99.9 percent of the government's mission-critical computer systems are Y2K compliant," and once the ball dropped on a new century, most computers stayed intact, alleviating the Y2K fears.

Houston Comets win third straight championship

The Houston Comets won their third of four straight championships as the WNBA's first dynasty in 1999. Houston went 26-6 in the regular season before defeating the Los Angeles Sparks to reach the Finals.

The Comets then took down the New York Liberty 2-1 for the title. Cynthia Cooper led Houston with 20.3 points and 6.8 assists per game in the playoffs, while Sheryl Swoopes added 14.7 points.

Jennifer Lopez has first No. 1 track

The Knicks' championship quest coincided with the first No. 1 hit for Jennifer Lopez, who was born and raised in the Bronx. The pop star released "If You Had My Love" on May 4, 1999, and it debuted at No. 81 on the Billboard Hot 100.

However, the track rocketed up to No. 1 on June 12, a position it held for five weeks. It was the first of four No. 1 hits for Lopez and spent 31 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 -- her longest run for a song.

Other tracks on the chart during the 1999 NBA Finals included Ricky Martin's "Livin' la Vida Loca" at No. 2, TLC's "No Scrubs" at No. 3 and 702's "Where My Girls At?" at No. 4.

Napster launch changes music scene forever

Speaking of music: On June 1, 1999, Napster launched, suddenly changing the music listening habits of millions. Napster allowed users to share music files with one another from their personal computers.

In less than one year, 20 million people downloaded the program with more than 4 million songs in rotation, according to a Harvard business study. Napster shut down in 2001 because of a federal court decision, but it set the stage for a new wave of music streaming.

John Elway goes out on top

The Hall of Fame quarterback finished his final season in the NFL in storybook fashion. Elway led the Denver Broncos to consecutive Super Bowls, with the second one coming in January 1999.

Elway threw for 336 yards and one touchdown and ran for another score to lead Denver to a 34-19 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII. He won Super Bowl MVP honors at age 38, becoming the oldest to do so until Tom Brady (42) in 2019.

Trio of hit TV shows debut

Three shows that dominated the 2000s and beyond debuted in 1999.

First, it was "The Sopranos," which premiered Jan. 10 on HBO. Three weeks later, "Family Guy" hit the airwaves following Super Bowl XXXIII. On May 1, another iconic animated show, "SpongeBob SquarePants," debuted.

Each show captivated specific audiences throughout the first quarter of the 21st century. "Family Guy" and "SpongeBob SquarePants" still produce new episodes. "The Sopranos" concluded in 2007 and is considered one of the greatest TV shows of all time.

The Knicks are onto the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has his eyes on keeping the streets clean -- sort of.

New York blew out the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals Monday night. It marked the Knicks' 11th straight playoff victory and second consecutive postseason sweep.

Moments after the Knicks clinched the win, Mamdani acknowledged the Knicks' 4-0 series victory in clever fashion. He tagged New York City's sanitation account on social media and wrote: "I'd like to report a sweep."

NYC sanitation responded with: "CLEAN UP IN CLEVELAND!!"

Mamdani's Knicks fandom has been on full display recently. He was spotted at Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, sitting in the nosebleeds of Madison Square Garden.

Monday also didn't mark the first time the 112th mayor of New York City opted to troll a Knicks opponent this postseason. When discussing the ticket prices of the Knicks' first-round matchup against the Atlanta Hawks, Mamdani poked fun at Knicks villain and former Hawks guard Trae Young.

"I blame Trae Young. I think it's always important to blame Trae Young," Mamdani quipped last month.

New York will face the winner of the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals. With Game 1 on June 3, Mamdani presumably has more than enough time to think of a way to troll the Knicks' next opponent if New York wins the title.

What to know about Team USA in the FIBA World Cup: Schedule, format, roster and more

August is rapidly coming to a close, which means football season is coming back and basketball fans are in hiding until October.

Well, not so fast.

Some of the top basketball players in the country will compete in the FIBA Basketball World Cup, which tips off Aug. 25. The games will take place across the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia, and the tournament will be played through Sept. 10. The top basketball p

It's the first NFL Sunday since Super Bowl LVII when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles.

Just over six months later, the Chiefs' journey to repeat begins with their first preseason game of 2023. But, the reigning champs look a little different this year.

Patrick Mahomes and company lost key wide receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman during the offseason. Offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy is now with the Washington Commanders. Kansas City still has Travis Kelce

The knockout stages of the 2023 World Cup are beginning to heat up with two last quarterfinals taking place on Saturday.

Star forward Sam Kerr's return for Australia has given the host some hope heading into the quarterfinals. After a wild Round of 16 matchup with Nigeria, England enters its match without star Lauren James, suspended because of a red card. James was handed a two-match ban on Thursday for stepping on Nigeria defender Michelle Alozie.

There will be a new World Cup champion for t

The new NBA season will tip off with two marquee matchups on TNT on Tuesday, Oct. 24.

The Denver Nuggets will host the Los Angeles Lakers in a rematch of last season's Western Conference Finals, followed by the Phoenix Suns heading to San Francisco to face the Golden State Warriors, a person with direct knowledge of the opening night TV confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly until the schedule is officially announced.

Th

Netherlands forward Lineth Beerensteyn just poured salt in the USWNT's wounds after its shocking World Cup exit.

The U.S. team came into the tournament with a chance at three consecutive World Cup titles, but lost to Sweden in a penalty shootout during the Round of 16. It's the earliest exit the USWNT has had at the World Cup. The U.S. also went winless through its final three games, its worst streak of all time.

Beerensteyn enjoyed the USWNT's early exit, emphasizing that the team had entered

The NFL preseason is finally here, which means football is ramping up to dominate the sports landscape soon.

The Cleveland Browns and New York Jets kicked off the preseason last Thursday during the NFL's Hall of Fame Game. Now, the rest of the league will join them with exactly one month until the start of the regular season.

Preseason games mean there will be no shortage of overreacting to a fourth-string running back or declaring that your team is back. But, for the most part, the preseason

After seven seasons in the minors, Wes Wilson hit a home run in his first career at-bat

Hitting your first career major league home run is surely a memorable one and Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Wes Wilson took that to another level on Wednesday. His first career home run came in his first major league at-bat, leaving his father in tears.

Wilson has more than 2,500 career at-bats in the minor leagues with 97 home runs across seven seasons. He hadn't been called up once by a Major League

First base umpire Lew Williams has three calls overturned in Phillies-Nationals game

Athletes have off days sometimes and umpires are no different. Fill-in umpire Lew Williams had one of those days during Tuesday's Phillies-Nationals game.

Through three innings, Williams — called up from Triple-A — had three of his calls at first base overturned after review, including two within one pitch.

First, Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos hit a ball toward Nationals third baseman Ildemaro Varga

Tampa Bay Rays ace Shane McClanahan likely out for rest of season: 'Surgery is an option'

Tampa Bay Rays All-Star pitcher Shane McClanahan is likely to miss the rest of the season, manager Kevin Cash said on Tuesday.

The Rays placed McClanahan on the 15-day IL last Thursday because of forearm tightness. He flew to Los Angeles to see forearm specialists, and everything is on the table – including Tommy John Surgery – though Cash said a decision won't be made until a visit with Dr. Keith Meister

Missouri head football coach Eli Drinkwitz had an important question following the major conference realignment last week in college sports: What about the student-athletes' mental health?

Drinkwitz didn't pull his punches, implying that university leaders didn't pay attention to the toll realignment takes on the young adults actually playing college sports.

The Pac-12 first lost Southern California and UCLA to the Big Ten last year. Then Colorado went to the Big 12. And last Friday, Oregon an

England advances at World Cup despite Lauren James' red card in Round of 16 versus Nigeria

England is back in the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the fifth consecutive time after defeating Nigeria in a penalty shootout. But, it didn't come without drama.

A late red card by England forward Lauren James meant England had to play the extra time period outnumbered. Nigeria had a whopping 20 shots for the game but only two landed on target. A penalty shootout went in England's favor and they 4-2

The Philadelphia Eagles signed linebackers Myles Jack and Zach Cunningham to one-year deals, the team announced on Sunday.

Jack and Cunningham are two veteran pieces that add depth to a linebacker group that had just five players on the depth chart entering Sunday — Nakobe Dean and Nicholas Morrow are slated to be starters. Eagles general manager said late last month that Philadelphia would be keeping its options open at linebacker, and he stayed true to his word.

Jack spent six seasons with t

Julie Ertz retires from USWNT after stunning World Cup Round of 16 defeat

Julie Ertz has announced her retirement from the U.S. women's national soccer team, moments after the squad's knockout loss against Sweden on Sunday.

Ertz appeared in every match during the USWNT championship runs in the 2015 and 2019 World Cups. The U.S. couldn't replicate that success, falling to Sweden in the Round of 16 to mark their earliest ever exit from a major tournament.

Ertz is a two-time Olympian and a World

Bryson DeChambeau earned his first LIV victory Sunday, shooting a 58 in the final round at the LIV Golf Invitational Greenbrier for a total score of 23-under through three rounds of play. Mito Pereira finished in second at 17-under.

The win is DeChambeau's first worldwide one since March 2021, the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He becomes the first LIV golfer to shoot below 60 in a single round.

All DeChambeau needed for a sub-below 60 score was a par on the final hole. Instead, he shot a birdie

Tickets for Lionel Messi's first road MLS match reaching $20,000 on resale market

With each game Lionel Messi plays for Inter Miami, we're reminded of his greatness Lionel Messi's journey in the MLS has just begun, but already we're seeing the level of soccer he's bringing to America and that he's embodied his whole career.

Tickets for Lionel Messi's first road game with Inter Miami sold out on Thursday in one-tenth the time it takes to fly from Miami to Dallas — 22 minutes.

The resale market

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami's upcoming schedule: Everything to know

Lionel Messi’s fire start at Inter Miami isn't showing any signs of being extinguished any time soon.

Messi’s scored five goals in three games that all resulted in wins, including a brace in Wednesday night’s League Cup matchup against Orlando City FC.

“It makes sense for him to score five goals in three matches. Can that be done by any player? Of course not,” said Tata Martino, Messi’s coach with FC Barcelona, Argentina and

Chicago White Sox closer Liam Hendriks underwent Tommy John surgery on Wednesday to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, the team announced. Hendriks made a comeback to baseball this season after beating c, but will not be sidelined again.

The procedure was performed by Dr. Keith Meister at TMI Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Surgery in Arlington, Texas, the head team physician of the Texas Rangers. The recovery time is approximately 12 to 14 months, putting Hendriks likel

Legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon announced his retirement from soccer on Wednesday, capping off an illustrious 28-year playing career that included a World Cup in 2006.

He shared his retirement on X, formerly Twitter, with the caption: That's all folks! You gave me everything. I gave you everything. We did it together." Buffon surely gave it everything.

He spent the majority of his club career with Juventus, which signed him from Parma for a record fee in 2001. Buffon won 10 Serie

NASCAR announced its Hall of Fame class of 2024 on Wednesday, headlined by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson.

Chad Knaus and Donnie Allison rounded out the group of three Hall of Fame inductees. Janet Guthrie earned the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.

Members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame voting panel met on Wednesday to finalize the inductees from a list of 15 drivers and five drivers for the landmark award. The class of 2024 was determined through vote

Vince McMahon subpoenaed by federal agents, on medical leave due to surgery

WWE executive chairman Vince McMahon was served a federal grand jury subpoena last month after a search warrant by federal law enforcement agents, according to a regulatory filing.

Government investigations are still ongoing, but there are no charges filed yet against McMahon, the WWE said in its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. McMahon is currently on medical leave after having spinal surgery last w

Watch: Serena Williams learns she will be having baby girl in epic gender reveal video

Serena Williams just called game, set, match on the gender reveal.

Gathered around with her family, a drone display in the sky revealed that Williams and husband Alexis Ohanian will be having a baby girl.

The drones first brightly spelled out "It's a...," prompting Williams' daughter Olympia to ask: "It's a what?" Roughly 14 seconds later, the sky lit up with "Girl."

Williams threw her hands up in the air

Former USMNT and current Revolution head coach Bruce Arena put on administrative leave

New England Revolution sporting director and head coach Bruce Arena has been put on administrative leave due to allegations he made "insensitive and inappropriate remarks," Major League Soccer announced on Tuesday.

Arena has been away from the team since Sunday, according to The Athletic. Players were told that the head coach would not be at team activities for an unspecified time.

"The New England Revoluti

ESPN to name Doris Burke, Doc Rivers to NBA Finals coverage; Mark Jackson let go, per reports

ESPN is close to promoting Doris Burke to the NBA Finals crew and hiring Doc Rivers to replace Mark Jackson, according to the New York Post.

Burke would become the first woman TV analyst on NBA Finals coverage.

While there were discussions that Jackson might be relegated to the second team with Mark Jones, he has instead been let go by ESPN, according to Peter Vecsey. He had two years remaining on hi

After an ongoing pay scandal hovered over the squad before the tournament, Nigeria has qualified for the Round of 16 at the World Cup.

Nigeria advanced with a scoreless draw against the Republic of Ireland on Monday to finish second in Group B with 5 points, ahead of Canada and one point behind Australia.

The person at the helm of Nigeria's underdog run has been University of Pittsburgh women's soccer head coach Randy Waldrum, who shed light on the controversial pay dispute earlier this month.

The Los Angeles Lakers spent one of their two-way contract slots on Syracuse senior Cole Swider last offseason. Swider spent four years in college developing into a 41% 3-point shooter with Syracuse his final season. At 6-foot-9, he could have been someone the Lakers used earlier in the year.

Unfortunately for Swider, he saw limited minutes throughout the season. He only appeared in seven games with the Lakers, often when the game was out of reach. Much of that can be attributed to a navicular

The Los Angeles Lakers held another pre-draft workout on Friday ahead of the 2023 NBA Draft where they hold the No. 17 and No. 47 picks. Similar to their workout held on Tuesday, this group included a majority of upperclassmen. Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe, Kansas’ Jalen Wilson, North Carolina State’s Terquavion Smith, Loyola Marymount’s Cam Shelton, New Mexico’s Morris Udeze and France’s Nadir Hifi rounded out the group.

Tshiebwe is the most notable name, a 6-foot-9 forward who averaged 16 points

One of the more famous Los Angeles Lakers playoff moments revolves around the big shot-making of Robert Horry. His game-winning 3-pointer against the Sacramento Kings in the 2002 NBA Playoffs is an iconic memory. The shot came during a playoff run that ended in Horry’s fifth championship ring.

Horry went on to win two more championships with the San Antonio Spurs, but arguably never had a shot greater than the one against the Kings. Horry’s remarkable career finished with seven championships, t

The Los Angeles Lakers announced their schedule for the fifth annual California Classic Summer League this year. The Lakers will face the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

By matching up against the Spurs, it means the Lakers will likely face off against likely No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama. The 7-foot-4 center is one of the more hyped-up prospects in NBA history and will surely be headed to San Antonio after the draft. The Lakers will first play against the

Mere moments after the Los Angeles Lakers season ended, LeBron James dropped a bombshell. In a press conference after Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, James made cryptic comments about having a lot to think about going forward with basketball. Soon after, it was reported that James is contemplating retirement.

If LeBron were to retire, the Lakers’ initial offseason plans would be thrown out of the window. General manager Rob Pelinka is offering support and communication for whatever Jam

It’s another offseason without celebrating a championship for the Los Angeles Lakers, although the front office has a lot to work with.

There are only three players with guaranteed contracts next season — LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Max Christie. Malik Beasley has a $16 million contract that is a team option and the Lakers can guarantee Mo Bamba’s $10 million salary and Jarred Vanderbilt’s $4.6 million salary.

Bringing back Bamba is a possibility if L.A. prefers to keep a homegrown version

General manager Rob Pelinka turned around the Los Angeles Lakers season with moves made near the trade deadline. Pelinka dealt away Russell Westbrook to acquire D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley. Pelinka also swung trades to bring Rui Hachimura and Mo Bamba to L.A.

The Lakers playoff push began to heat up soon after, slipping into the No. 7 spot after a Play-In game victory then making a Western Conference Finals run. Pelinka described the season positively, even though the

A major rotation change in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals was the insertion of Los Angeles Lakers center Tristan Thompson. The big man signed with the Lakers in early April, though only appeared when games were out of reach in the playoffs.

Thompson was subbed in to start the second quarter of Game 4 and played in 10 minutes and scored four points while grabbing one rebound. He had an even plus-minus and matched up with Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic. Thompson held Jokic to just two

The Los Angeles Lakers have important decisions to make in free agency with the offseason now underway. Ten players from last season’s roster will be free agents, including playoff rotation guys Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Dennis Schroder, D’Angelo Russell and Lonnie Walker IV.

General manager Rob Pelinka expressed a desire to prioritize roster continuity and keeping the core together this offseason. Whether that actually comes to fruition is one thing, but it’s clear the Lakers have a bigger

The NBA released its 75th-year anniversary team last season with current and former Los Angeles Lakers dominating the list. The Lakers had 18 representatives, second-most behind the Boston Celtics, including at the time four current Lakers — LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony.

The list could have included more Lakers. Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard each missed out, joining a group of non-Lakers such as Vince Carter, Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving that didn’t receive

Moments after the Los Angeles Lakers season-ending loss against the Denver Nuggets Monday night, LeBron James hinted at contemplating retirement. He ended his post-game press conference in a cryptic fashion, saying he has “a lot to think about” regarding playing basketball.

The comments from LeBron came out of nowhere and will dominate the off-season headlines. It also doesn’t add up when looking at recent retirement thoughts from James.

In December, Dennis Schroder said LeBron told him he wan

It’s impossible to speak about the NBA’s history and not mention Los Angeles Lakers icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Through 20 seasons in the league, Abdul-Jabbar etched himself as one of the greatest basketball players ever. He also has an argument for the most decorated basketball player — he won three consecutive national championships at UCLA and three straight New York City Catholic Championships.

The center held the NBA’s all-time scoring record for almost 40 seasons before LeBron James passed

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham saw it all in his first year as the lead man. From a 2-10 start to a deep run in the Western Conference Finals, his rookie season as head coach came to an end with a loss against the Denver Nuggets on Monday night.

It was a rollercoaster year that didn’t end in the way many in the organization hoped for — new space being made for another championship banner in the Crypto.com Arena rafters. Ham, though, reflected with a positive outlook when summarizing t

The Los Angeles Lakers’ whirlwind season concluded with a loss in the Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. A last-second effort from LeBron James wasn’t enough to push the series to a fifth game with the Lakers ultimately being swept for the ninth time ever.

General manager Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office have an important summer ahead. The sudden news of LeBron contemplating retirement creates a heavy cloud over any plans. But, regardless, Pelinka will

The Los Angeles Lakers came up short in Game 2 against the Denver Nuggets, falling into a 2-0 hole in the Western Conference Finals. It was another quiet offensive night for Lakers star LeBron James, who tied Austin Reaves with a team-high 22 points.

LeBron has only scored 30 points once during the playoffs, an uncharacteristic run that may be a result of the foot injury he suffered late in the season. He’s had to pace himself at times too, only shooting more than 20 times in three games this p

The Los Angeles Lakers dropped their second straight game for the first time in these NBA Playoffs on Thursday. The Lakers were in prime position to steal a road game until Nuggets’ guard Jamal Murray exploded for 23 points in the fourth quarter of Game 2.

It’s a rare position for the Lakers, who haven’t been down 2-0 in a series since 2013. As a franchise, the Lakers have only come back from a 2-0 deficit to win a series once — the 1969 Conference Semi-Finals when they reeled off four straight

Even in their Game 2 loss to the Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers received strong play from forward Rui Hachimura. He had 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting in 30 minutes, including solid defense on Nuggets star Nikola Jokic.

Hachimura shot 7-for-7 in the first half, the first time a player shot 7-for-7 or better in a half of a Conference Finals game since LeBron James did the same in Game 1 of the 2016 Conference Finals.

So far in two games, Hachimura’s averaging 19 points per game while sho

While the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James were fighting for a win in Game 2 against the Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan wanted to join in on the fun.

The 19-year-old is coming off a rookie season where he averaged 11 points and five rebounds per game. He scored in double digits in three of the four games against the Lakers this season, though San Antonio lost all of those matchups. Sochan ended up making the All-Rookie Second Team.

The Spurs tanked the season, losin

The Los Angeles Lakers have two opponents in the Western Conference Finals — the Denver Nuggets and the altitude of the Ball Arena. The Nuggets’ home stadium is 5,280 feet, or one mile, above sea level, earning the “Mile High City” moniker.

It creates a unique home-court advantage with players having to catch their breath more often. LeBron James has spoken about the altitude in recent matchups, specifically in 2021 when he said it wasn’t that much of a factor for him.

However, it still is a m

Former Los Angeles Lakers and current Denver Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope enjoyed some of his best years as a professional in the purple and gold.

He averaged double-digit points his first two years in L.A., even playing in a career-high 82 games in the 2018-19 season. Though his role diminished during the 2019-20 regular season, he was a massive part of the Lakers’ run to the title in the bubble.

Against his current team in the 2020 playoffs, Caldwell-Pope had double-digit points in

The Los Angeles Lakers have an important task in the Western Conference Finals — stop a man that no one has figured out how to in the last three seasons.

With each year under his belt, Denver Nuggets superstar and two-time MVP Nikola Jokic becomes more dominant as an offensive player, enough so that Lakers head coach Darvin Ham joked their game plan is to kidnap him. The Denver police department has other ideas, so the Lakers can’t execute that idea.

They may have the solution though in big ma

The Los Angeles Lakers open up the 2023 Western Conference Finals on the road against the Denver Nuggets.

It is the Lakers’ 23rd appearance in the Conference Finals, the most in NBA history. Of those appearances, the Lakers have faced the Nuggets three times, their second-most common opponent. L.A. has never lost to Denver on their quest for an NBA Finals appearance.

Everyone is available for the Lakers except center Mo Bamba, who is out with a left ankle injury. For Denver, Jamal Murray is li

Against all odds, the Los Angeles Lakers have made the Western Conference Finals in Darvin Ham’s first season as head coach. It’s been an up-and-down rookie year for Ham, who began the year 2-10 but finished the regular season with a 9-3 record.

Ham acknowledged last week that LeBron James and Anthony Davis have been helpful throughout his first season, serving as his rock. The two leaders are the longest-tenured players on the Lakers, which LeBron said allowed them to help Ham on the court and

The relationship between Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves and LeBron James has been full of memorable moments over two seasons.

Reaves immediately stood out to LeBron during the team’s minicamp before the 2021 season. James emphasized he knew right away that Reaves would fit in well with him.

And as Reaves emerged into the rotation, LeBron seemed to take him under his wing — a moment where James explained something to Reaves went viral during a Lakers game last season.

It wasn’t the fir

A day after No. 1 recruit Juju Watkins committed to USC women’s basketball, the No. 1 boys basketball in the nation followed suit when he committed to USC as well.

Marietta (Ga.) Wheeler five-star point guard Isaiah Collier chose the Trojans over UCLA, Michigan and Cincinnati in November. He joined four-star power forward Arrinten Page, his Wheeler and EYBL teammate, who committed to USC two weeks prior to Collier’s decision.

The two made their Galen Center debut Saturday night as Wheeler trav

Judea "Juju" Watkins has been deemed a generational talent. Someone capable of shifting the trajectory of USC women’s basketball’s future. A player whose talent is program-altering.

When Chatsworth (Calif.) Sierra Canyon took on La Jolla (Calif.) Country Day in the Chosen-1’s Invitational Saturday night, it was clear why.

Watkins scored 30 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in a battle of two of the best teams in the nation, leading the undefeated Trailblazers to a 64-55 victory over La Jolla Coun

There are bowl games and then there’s the Rose Bowl. Since 1916, fans have flocked to Pasadena to kick off the New Year by watching the “Grandaddy of Them All.”

USC has had its fair share of Rose Bowl games. The Trojans have appeared in a record 34, winning 25 of them. But, none have become as famous as one USC fans hate to relive — that Rose Bowl game in 2006.

In the latest episode of Omaha Productions’ Eli’s Places on ESPN+, Eli Manning walks viewers through the iconic 2006 National Champion

It’s been just over three months since Jordan Addison shocked college football, announcing his decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal. His choice of USC made the Trojans' expansive receiver room one of the best in the country.

It also brought a transitional period the reigning Biletnikoff Award winner said hasn’t been as smooth as he thought it would be. The response raised eyebrows among reporters initially, but Addison clarified why it was a bumpy transition — he had to take classes.

“I

From the many Heisman winners to the memorable Rose Bowl victories, it’s not difficult to tell a story about USC football. A program with as deep a history as USC is bound to have shows document it.

In episode three of Omaha Productions’ Eli’s Places on ESPN+, the show does exactly that, focusing on the rich history of Trojans who wore the No. 55. The theme of the episode is to find the greatest number in college football history. Naturally so, No. 55 joins the conversation before moving on to

With fall camp coming to a close, it’s clear for Shaun Nua where the group hasn’t made progress at: “Depth.”

The defensive line and rush group have become alarmingly thin with players coming in and out of Rehab Island. Korey Foreman, Solomon Tuliaupupu, Romello Height and Solomon Byrd have all battled some form of injury through camp.

The lost time makes it difficult for players such as Foreman and Tuliaupupu who have been out for extended times to catch up. It also establishes a group that is

Ceyair Wright is a busy man. From rehearsals and reading scripts to hitting the weight room and running drills, the offseason was a grind for the second-year corner.

He spent time filming for his new role on ABC’s “Grown-ish,” which premiered recently and is relevant to the growth he’s enduring as a player during the offseason.

Entering fall camp, Wright has a noticeable change in mindset and play on the field. He’s running with the starters on defense, occupying that second corner spot alongs

Brett Neilon has been through practically everything in his five years at USC. Arriving a season after the Trojans' last Rose Bowl win, he’s seen everything from the peaks and valleys of Clay Helton to the emergence of NIL.

But nothing could have prepared him for this last offseason. Half of the roster was turned around through the transfer portal bringing almost an entirely new team.

It’s something even the veteran Neilon could never have expected.

“It’s been pretty different this year,” he

USC’s shopping in the transfer portal is, rightfully so, headlined by two powerful offensive players — Caleb Williams and Jordan Addison. Travis Dye, Mario Williams, Austin Jones, Brenden Rice, Terrell Bynum and Bobby Haskins round out the other offensive transfers that will rack up points.

Where the Trojans look comfortable on offense, it’s the other side of the ball that will need some help.

Transfer linebacker Shane Lee spearheads a group that’s looking to move forward after a porous previo

If you had a bingo sheet for what USC needed to fix when Lincoln Riley was hired as head coach, culture could have been the free space right square in the middle.

The Trojans took a culture hit under Clay Helton becoming a program lacking accountability and structure. Riley immediately turned that around when hired. There began to be accountability and consequences for the wrong choices on and off the field.

During spring camp, Riley said players bought into the changes, reacting well with det

It’s April 30. USC women’s basketball played its final game nearly two months ago — a loss to rival UCLA in the Pac-12 Tournament -- ending head coach Lindsay Gottlieb’s debut season with the Women of Troy.

Gottlieb’s first year finished with a 12-16 record, near the bottom of the conference. But, weeks after their last game, Gottlieb wants to send a message and set the tone for the days and weeks ahead.

It kick starts a summer full of resurgence for the women’s basketball program.

The mere d

USC and UCLA’s decision to leave the Pac-12 for the Big Ten Conference will potentially leave a lasting impact on college football. The Trojans and the Bruins are two of the most storied schools in the Conference of Champions. They’ve been part of the Pac-12 for almost 100 years.

The schools will leave the Pac-12 in 2024 and will include all sports except beach volleyball, men’s volleyball and men’s and women’s water polo, according to the Los Angeles Times.

It’s a power move that surely left

Peterson emerged as one of the Trojans’ most important players. He had a quiet first season at USC only averaging 9.8 points per game in 28 minutes. But, he bounced back putting up a career-high in points (12.4) and near career highs in rebounds (2.7) and assists per game (3.3).

For Peterson, each year is about progressing and improving to be the best player possible. Peterson found consistency last season, scoring in double figures in 10 of the Trojans’ final 11 games.

“Progression is a big t

The last time USC basketball was on the court it was heartbreak.

Less than ten seconds remained in the first round of March Madness. Seventh-seed USC and tenth-seed Miami were all square at 66. Hurricanes guard Charlie Moore was at the line for two free throws with a chance to take the lead.

He hit them both then Isaiah Mobley launched a pass to half court for Drew Peterson. Peterson took two dribbles then his half-court heave for the win just bounced off the front iron, sending the Trojans ho

Without further ado, here are the highlights from a momentous weekend for USC Athletics.

There were two crosstown rivalry matchups over the weekend for USC. Both ended in strong victories for the Trojans, adding to a weekend that turned out to be victorious.

When USC and UCLA get together in water polo, it’s an electric atmosphere. Fans flock to Uytengsu Aquatic Center for a matchup that almost always lives up to the hype. And Saturday it did, with the Trojans securing a huge conference victor

Six months after fracturing his ankle, Drake London participated in his official pro day Friday morning. London originally scheduled an individual workout, rather than particip to give him more time to get back to full strength after the ankle injury. His pro day was originally scheduled for April 5 but was moved to Friday because of a hamstring issue.

London is projected to be the tenth overall pick in Mel Kiper’s most recent ESPN Mock Draft.

The 6-foot-5 receiver caught passes from Carson Pa

It’s almost the middle of April meaning USC’s spring sports are heating up. Even though spring football is grabbing most headlines, there are plenty of Trojan athletes making noise. All of the active women’s teams are ranked in the top-20 nationally — Beach volleyball and water polo are even ranked No. 1 in the country. Both squads won their matchups last weekend, including beach volleyball pushing their dual win streak to 22. Here are some highlights from a weekend full of USC Athletics.

The T

Donte Williams was reserved and cautious in his answers the first time he spoke with the media this offseason. He didn’t want to talk about that 2021 season where he was thrust into the limelight. He wanted to move on, spending more time focusing on this new group.

It was more of the same Thursday. Williams’ excitement to be back coaching the group he was originally tasked to do last season was evident.

There was no question there was a sense of relief being back working primarily with the def

New defensive coordinator Alex Grinch began his tenure at USC Tuesday. Grinch is in charge of a unit that allowed its opposition to score 40-plus points in five of its 12 games.

The Trojans were last in the Pac-12 in points allowed per game last season with 34.2. They were also tenth in the conference in yards allowed per game with opposing teams averaging 409.3. It won’t get any easier too as key defensive players such as defensive end Drake Jackson and corners Chris Steele and Isaac Taylor-St

LOS ANGELES -- There was a point in the second half when UCLA third-year guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. nailed a jumper and reacted with a shrug. It was supposed to be the Bruins' senior game, but it may now become known as the shrug game.

Jaquez’s 27 points led the Bruins to a 75-68 victory against USC Saturday night, snapping the Trojans’ five-game winning streak over their rivals.

The loss also marks USC’s first consecutive defeats this season. The Trojans were marred by 15 turnovers in a sloppy pe

Tuesday night, the white out became the blowout.

Visiting Arizona fans high-fived and yelled, “Easy!” as No. 2 Arizona whited out No. 16 USC in a 91-71 victory at the Galen Center.

The loss snaps the Trojans’ six-game winning streak, which started after losing to the Wildcats on Feb. 5. Tuesday night’s matchup was the first time USC hosted a team ranked as high as No. 2 since 2014 when it played top-ranked Arizona. The Trojans never led in the game.

“We did not play very well and Arizona did.

The Galen Center was filled to its brim Saturday night in the first rivalry matchup with fans in attendance since March 2020. It was an electric atmosphere, but with USC down four and at risk of losing against its crosstown rivals for the first time since 2019, everyone settled down.

The scoring droughts the Trojans had been so accustomed to having had been avoided. But, it came around eventually like the sun in the morning, until USC woke up before it was too late.

A layup here, a three-point

MANHATTAN BEACH Anxious energy filled the Mira Costa Sports Complex as the Bay League girls basketball tournament semifinal came to an end.

Just last week, No. 2 Mira Costa blew out No. 3 Peninsula 60-43.

Wednesday night, it was far from a blow out — no team had a double digit lead and the largest deficit was seven points and both sides took turns leading the game.

It was playoff basketball and the game was within grasp for both teams.

However, it was Peninsula who made the most of its posse

REDONDO BEACH The fans filled the red and black bleachers at Redondo High for a key semifinal girls basketball match-up between North Torrance and Rolling Hills Prep in the Battle at the Beach Gold Division tournament.

Both sidelines were electric with Rolling Hills Prep taking the crown as the loudest early when it jumped out to a double digit lead.

It seemed like it was in for an easy win.

But, North Torrance answered back with more energy, riding a strong defensive performance fighting for

A week after a 106-point performance against rivals Morningside High School, fans came out in numbers to see if the Inglewood High School hype was real. Inglewood ran out onto the field amid loud cheers to a packed crowd. The national anthem concluded and a loud “Let’s go,” from an Inglewood fan began the game.

It wasn’t the last one of the night.

In a game with fog so thick seeing either side of the field became a challenge, Inglewood fought for a tight 27-10 victory over St. Bonaventure Frid

Football fans entered Fred Petersen Stadium buzzing amid anxious energy Friday. It was Homecoming night and a bout between two nearby schools with lots on the line.

What began as a tight battle though ended in an easy win – North Torrance cruised on its way to a 34-21 victory over West Torrance on Friday night, snatching the second-place spot in the Pioneer League.

The Saxons closed the door for a Warriors comeback when they scored on back-to-back possessions in the third quarter.

A long driv

CULVER CITY — The first three drives of the game for the Culver City football team went like this: a fumble leading to a touchdown, a pick six, and another fumble that led to a field goal.

It was a rough start for a Culver City offense that put up 42 points last week against Redondo . Before fans had the chance to settle in, Peninsula found themselves up 17-0 five minutes into the first quarter.

If you left by that time, the end result would have made you check your phone twice. Culver City ro

In what was the 70th annual homecoming football game for Culver City High School, literal fireworks brought out the home team in a momentous entrance. By the end of the game, Culver City made the more memorable plays and secured a wire-to-wire 16-9 victory Friday night.

With 1:16 left in the game, Mira Costa had a chance to steal the win, but a sack and no timeouts led to a forced throw by quarterback Casey Pavlick and an interception with 7 seconds left.

An early fourth quarter Culver City to

Midway through the first half of USC’s men’s basketball game Sunday, the Trojan Marching Band had one task — play the Fight Song during a timeout.

It’s a simple assignment that the band is fully capable of, having practiced hundreds of times before. There was just one problem: Auburn fans had their own chant to sing.


As the marching band performed Fight On, traveling Auburn fans overshadowed the noise with their War Eagle chant. The uproar dominated Galen Center, as Auburn fans in opposite c

For much of Monday night’s men’s basketball game, the loudest sounds in the arena weren’t from DJ Mal-Ski. They came from the opposing bench.

Florida Gulf Coast cheers and excessive towel-waving on the bench dominated the noise as USC dropped its season opener 74-61 at Galen Center. The Trojans showed some life by cutting the Eagles’ lead to nine with a minute left, but it was too little too late.

“We just didn’t have it tonight,” said Head Coach Andy Enfield in a post-game press conference Mo

Last Thursday, the No. 19 women’s tennis season reached game, set and match.

USC’s remaining players lost in the NCAA singles tournament, effectively ending the season. After falling in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in early May, USC had two participants in the singles tournament — junior Eryn Cayetano made her debut and senior Salma Ewing participated for the second consecutive year.

Ewing fell 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (6) in the Round of 16 last Wednesday to No. 26 Connie Ma from Stanford. Ca

There was a buzz in the air walking past the peristyle before Saturday’s spring game. Fans piled in for the festivities full of a surplus sale of merchandise, food trucks and photo ops. Cardinal and Gold jerseys with names old and new flooded the walkways.

USC’s social media released the spring game details through a graphic with the same style as a Coachella lineup drop. It was no Indio music festival, but it was a Lincoln Riley football team.

The Trojans’ offense defeated the defense 34-30 a

After a USC turnover midway through the first half, Head Coach Andy Enfield threw his hands in the air and turned his back to the court. Enfield’s frustration would sum up the night for the Trojans.

In an anticlimactic trilogy game and rubber match, USC fell to UCLA 69-59 in the semifinal game of the Pac-12 Tournament Friday night. The 59 points for the Trojans were the fewest since Feb. 3 against Arizona State.

“We had some guys that had a little off night tonight putting the ball in the bask

Eight minutes into USC’s game against UC Berkeley Saturday, the Trojans began in a way that is evolving into a regular routine. USC had just 9 points while giving up 20 to the Golden Bears, which had 29 in just the first half of their previous game against UCLA.

A certain fan had seen enough, exclaiming: “Wake up, Trojans” to a team that combined for 23 points in the first 10 minutes of play in its previous two games.

But just like against Arizona State and Stanford, No. 15 USC eventually woke

It was revenge night Thursday for No. 15 USC as it faced a Stanford team that gave the Trojans their first loss of the season two weeks ago.

Galen Center waited for a Trojan team to come out with vengeance in a season where it was off to its best start since 1971. Two hours later, on a night where crosstown rivals UCLA took sole possession of first place in the Pac-12, it played out like a nightmare.

USC crumbled in crunch time with only 4 field goals in the final nine minutes of the game, col

It had been a tough start for No. 15 USC in its first home game with fans in attendance since December.

Midway through the first half, the Trojans had the same number of points as turnovers — 8 — while shooting just over 30% from the field. It seemed like a lid was left on the rim with USC missing 8 consecutive shots and going scoreless across six minutes.

With every missed shot, nervous sighs echoed through the arena. The Galen Center fans sat quiet, like an elementary student thrown into tim

At the end of the third quarter, the noise in Galen Center came from an odd place — fans wearing Blue and Gold. Waving their hands above their heads, UCLA fans screamed as if a Trojan horse was running toward them, creating an echo throughout the court with loud claps.

UCLA had seen its half time lead of 9 evaporate in the quarter, only to go up by the same margin five minutes later. One final quarter remained as USC hoped to avenge a 23-point loss from last week where they had 27 turnovers.

I

In a matchup rescheduled two weeks ago following positive coronavirus cases within the UC Berkeley team, it was fitting that viewers from home had to wait for another game to finish before watching the Pac-12 showdown on TV.

Three hours later and the unusual start time for the game ended in the usual fashion for USC this season: a loss.

Golden Bear fans roared as Cal defeated the Trojans 24-14 at California Memorial Stadium Saturday night, capping off a USC season with no Bowl Game for the sec

USC’s defense got a stop to push Arizona off the field early in the second quarter. The Trojans were up by one touchdown, but the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum sat eerily quiet during the homecoming game.

If you looked away for a second, you might have thought someone made a home run play. But, it was just freshman quarterback Jaxson Dart running out with the offense, making his long-awaited debut at the Coliseum as the crowd chanted “Let’s Go, Dart.”

The Trojans scored on their first two poss

In previous games, USC’s sideline looked deflated as the game wore on. But, as kickoff approached Saturday in the 92nd all-time meeting between USC and Notre Dame, the Trojans looked bouncy, jumping in unison like teenagers on the dance floor.

Unfortunately for USC, it was the only part of the night different from other weeks. Halfway through the second half, heads were down once again as Notre Dame cruised to a 31-16 victory Saturday night full of Trojan mistakes in South Bend, Ind.

USC has n

Boos louder than the Trojan Marching Band’s music filled the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as No. 14 USC dropped its Pac-12 opener 42-28 to Stanford Saturday night.

As the first in-person Pac-12 game since 2019 neared at the Coliseum, the electricity was palpable.

USC made its run onto the field in a pitch-black arena, welcomed by rowdy fans shouting through their hands and fire shooting up in the air. The Trojan sideline was jumpy and the crowd was fiery as kickoff approached.

A memorable en

The traffic on the way to the Coliseum, the humming of USC fans on the outskirts of the stadium and the noise from the crowd were oddly familiar.

After fans chanted “We Want Spencer,” in the first quarter, redshirt junior inside linebacker Spencer Gilbert proceeded to intercept the ball on the next possession, sending the crowd in a frenzy.

In many ways, it was finally like things were returning to normal at the Coliseum

It was USC’s annual Spring Showcase, but the energy and the feel of havi

In a tournament like March Madness, there are two sides of the coin — the dreamers and the dream crushers.

In sixth-seeded USC’s first Elite Eight appearance since 2001, its Final Four dreams were crushed by the overwhelming first-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs, who cruised to an 85-66 victory Tuesday night in Indianapolis. The loss marked the first time this season the Trojans have lost after having four players score in double figures.

Sophomore forward Isaiah Mobley led USC with 19 points and seve

Playing in an NBA arena during March Madness can make any college basketball player nervous. The lights are brighter; the stakes are higher and the energy of the moment can be overwhelming.

However, the Mobley brothers are not your typical college basketball players. They combined for 32 points to lead sixth-seeded USC to a 72-56 victory over eleventh-seeded Drake in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

In his March Madness debut, freshman forward Evan Mobley led USC with 17 points, 11 rebo

After trailing by 13 points just 8 minutes into the game, things were not looking great for USC. The Trojans came out of the gates flat, shooting poorly and looking sloppy on offense.

The slow start sparked a timeout speech from USC assistant coach Chris Capko so loud the seats across town at Galen Center were probably rocking. USC was facing defeat — possibly its fourth in the last two weeks after losing just three over the first month in a half.

The Trojans were speechless with their mouths

The shot clock was ticking in the first quarter, the ball kept moving, Stanford’s players were cutting, but there was nowhere to go. USC’s defenders were planted, swinging toward the open spot like a door, ready to contest a shot.

Seconds later, the shot clock went off, sending a deafening tone throughout Galen Center. The Trojans’ defense had forced the Cardinal to commit a shot clock violation, and USC’s bench exploded while Stanford’s collapsed.

It was the story of the game, as USC dominate

Sophomore guard Ethan Anderson has had an up and down season.

The 6 feet, 1 inch point guard from Los Angeles, Calif. missed a month and a half due to a back issue. He had to undergo multiple diagnostic tests to pinpoint the injury. As a result, he hasn’t really found his footing this season and has experienced bouts of inconsistent play.

Against UCLA, however, when the lights were the brightest and the stakes were the highest, Anderson showed up, hitting five 3-pointers for a career-high 19 p

Freshman forward Evan Mobley had 25 points and eight rebounds en route to leading USC to a 76-68 wire-to-wire road victory over Cal Saturday night.

USC has now won its last six games against the Golden Bears — three in a row at Haas Pavilion. They are also now 10-0 on the season when leading at halftime.

The Trojans were led by another strong defensive performance, holding Cal to 41% shooting from the field. They also controlled the boards, hustling for 17 offensive rebounds resulting in 16 se

Down 10 with 1:20 remaining in the game, USC redshirt junior forward Noah Baumann stole the ball out of Colorado senior guard McKinley Wright IV’s hands. Seconds later, the ball was right back in Wright’s hands.

It was the story of the game. USC could not take care of the ball Thursday night, resulting in a 72-62 defeat to Colorado in the Trojans’ Pac-12 opener at Galen Center. The Trojans are now 5-2 on the season.

USC totaled 15 turnovers throughout the game, often disrupting the flow of the

Halfway through the first half against Santa Clara Tuesday night, USC associate head coach Jason Hart yelled to his team “run the offense with pace, with pace.”

And that’s exactly what the Trojans did to cruise to a 86-63 victory at Galen Center.

The Trojans jumped on the Broncos early and never looked back — they held the lead for just over 39 minutes. Prompted by a consistent offense and dominant defensive performance, USC flexed its muscles throughout.

Since USC’s previously scheduled oppo

The USC men’s basketball team tipped off the 2020-21 season with a 95-87 victory over California Baptist at Galen Center Wednesday night.

The Trojans were led by No. 3 recruit freshman forward Evan Mobley, who had 21 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. His brother, sophomore forward Isaiah Mobley, had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Redshirt senior Tahj Eaddy contributed with 18 points and four assists.

The Trojans have now won 12 of their last 13 home openers and are 48-8 in home non-conferenc