Sports

6:29 PM ETOhm YoungmisukESPN Staff Writer CloseOhm Youngmisuk has covered the Giants, Jets and the NFL since 2006. Prior to that, he covered the Nets, Knicks and the NBA for nearly a decade. He joined ESPNNewYork.com after working at the New York Daily News for almost 12 years and is a graduate of Michigan State…

10:41 AM ETSam MarsdenSid LoweIs everyone excited for the new LaLiga season? While there have been a few notable exits in the summer transfer window -- some guy named Lionel Messi swapped Barcelona for Paris, we hear, and his longtime rival at Real Madrid, Sergio Ramos, joined him in the French capital -- the talent…

The Spanish LaLiga season will begin Aug. 13 (stream live on ESPN+ in the U.S.). LaLiga is one of the biggest club leagues in the soccer world, and if you don’t have a favorite team, ESPN has info—some directly soccer-related and some less scientific—on all 20 to help you decide. Which team should you back…

Aug 11, 2021Jeff LegwoldESPN Senior Writer Close Covered Broncos for nine years for Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News Previously covered Steelers, Bills and Titans Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors since 1999EAGAN, Minn. -- The impact of Teddy Bridgewater's smile, his willingness to keep trying to stay in football after…

Aug 11, 2021Brady HendersonESPN SEATTLE -- Aldon Smith's hopes of continuing his NFL comeback with the Seattle Seahawks are over.The team waived the veteran defensive end, it announced, with sources telling ESPN the move was because of an off-the-field matter. The decision is not football-related but rather the result of Smith violating the team's trust,…

7:30 AM ETEricka Goodman-Hughey and Anthony OlivieriON JULY 18, 2002, Kobe Bryant approached Rucker Park, the streetball institution in Harlem. He wore a powder blue sleeveless shirt and dark shades; an oversized key-pendant swung from his chain with each step. Onlookers sprinted toward the park's metal fencing, meant to separate superstars from the streets, to…

Aug 11, 2021Bill ConnellyESPN Staff Writer CloseBill Connelly is a staff writer for ESPN.com.The start of the college football season is just a little more than two weeks away. All offseason, Bill Connelly has been providing ESPN+ previews of every division in every FBS conference, from the Sun Belt to the SEC.If you haven't been…

10:00 AM ETTodd ArcherESPN Staff Writer CloseCovered NFL since 1997, Cowboys since 2003 Previously covered Bengals and Dolphins Lives in Dallas area with his wife and two childrenOXNARD, Calif. -- Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was the focus of the first episode of HBO's 2021 season of "Hard Knocks" after coming off an injury last…

The Premier League, Bundesliga and LaLiga kick off this coming weekend, with Serie A starting on August 21. Ligue 1 is already in action, though the real show there has yet to begin (more on that later).- ESPN+ viewers' guide: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, FA Cup, moreEverywhere you look in Europe, the club game is returning…

4:00 PM ETESPN staffAs teams prep for this weekend's 2021 preseason games, quarterbacks took the spotlight at training camp practices on Wednesday.The Ravens' Lamar Jackson had his most accurate day of camp, Zach Wilson looked comfortable for the Jets, and Jordan Love prepared to start in the Packers' preseason games on Aaron Rodgers' day off.…

7:17 AM ETNFL NationESPN Whether you are a fantasy football hawk, a super fan of your favorite NFL team or prepping to place bets this season, figuring out who will come out on top of key position battles is an important part of the preseason.The New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots and Denver Broncos are…

12:40 PM ETMike TriplettESPN Staff Writer CloseCovered Saints for eight years at New Orleans Times-Picayune Previously covered LSU football, San Francisco 49ers Iowa native and University of Iowa graduateMETAIRIE, La. -- Veteran cornerback Patrick Robinson has decided to retire after 11 seasons, adding to the New Orleans Saints' pressing need at the position.Robinson, 33, began…

12:37 PM ETMark SchlabachESPN Senior Writer CloseSenior college football writer Author of seven books on college football Graduate of the University of GeorgiaThere might have been plenty of off-field changes in college football this offseason, from players profiting off their name, image and likeness for the first time to the impending moves of Oklahoma and…

1:23 PM ETAssociated Press VALPARAISO, Ind. -- Valparaiso University announced Tuesday that it has adopted the Beacons as its new team name, replacing the Crusaders, a term school officials dropped this year after saying it had been embraced by hate groups.The university's president, José D. Padilla, said the private Lutheran school's new nickname "directly connects…

6:39 PM ETESPN News Services PHILADELPHIA -- Los Angeles Dodgers star outfielder Mookie Betts was a late scratch from the lineup for Tuesday night's 5-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies because of a sore right hip that could send him to the injured list.Billy McKinney batted eighth and played right field in the opener of…

8:27 PM ETAssociated Press WASHINGTON -- Spencer Dinwiddie is following some impressive players as the point guard for the Washington Wizards. That's a role occupied by Russell Westbrook, John Wall and Gilbert Arenas for much of the past two decades."I'm not Gilbert, John or Russ. Those are all dudes with very interesting personalities," Dinwiddie said…

Aug 9, 2021Jeff LegwoldESPN Senior Writer Close Covered Broncos for nine years for Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News Previously covered Steelers, Bills and Titans Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors since 1999ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Before John Elway made Jerry Jeudy his final first-round draft pick as chief football decision-maker of…

playIs Novak Djokovic the best player of his generation? (2:25)Patrick McEnroe and Darren Cahill discuss where Novak Djokovic ranks among his peers after winning Wimbledon. (2:25)6:48 PM ETAssociated Press Novak Djokovic pulled out of the Western & Southern Open on Monday, meaning the next time he will be in action will be as he tries…

Aug 9, 2021Jamison HensleyESPN Staff Writer CloseUniversity of Maryland graduate Lives in the Baltimore area with his wife and sonOWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was noncommittal on whether he would get vaccinated after being infected with COVID-19 twice in the past eight months, saying it was a "personal decision.""I just got…

Aug 8, 2021Sam BordenESPN Senior Writer CloseSam Borden is a senior writer for ESPN.com.If ever there is a new motto created for the Olympic Games, one could make a very strong case for it being, "That's what the Olympics are all about."Just look at these Tokyo Games. Over the past three weeks, we have heard…

6:00 AM ETJenna LaineESPN Staff Writer CloseCovered the Buccaneers since 2009 Joined ESPN in 2016TAMPA, Fla. -- It was once considered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Achilles' heel and biggest obstacle to Tom Brady winning a seventh Super Bowl title.The league’s youngest secondary surrendered a 69% completion percentage during the 2020 regular season -- fourth most…

4:17 AM ETRob DawsonCorrespondent ST ANDREWS, Scotland -- "They're pish," replied the taxi driver, pulled over on Buchanan Gardens, when told it was the Manchester United team coach that had briefly stopped traffic.Despite that blunt assessment, the welcome Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his players received in Scotland was otherwise warm as they made final preparations…

Aug 8, 2021D'Arcy MaineESPN.com TOKYO -- Athletes didn't have their family members in the stands cheering them on. The stadiums and venues were largely empty. There were nonstop COVID-19 protocols and restrictions -- and a looming threat of testing positive for the virus and being deemed ineligible to compete in the Tokyo Games.It wasn't the…

7:53 PM ETBob HarigESPN Senior Writer Close Senior golf writer for ESPN.com Covered golf for more than 20 years Earned Evans Scholarship to attend Indiana UniversityMEMPHIS, Tenn. -- For the better part of two months, nothing has been easy for Bryson DeChambeau.The latest example occurred on Sunday at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, where the…

Bobby Bowden, the longtime Florida State football coach who ranks second all time in Division I wins, has died, the school announced Sunday morning.He was 91."My father passed away peacefully early this morning with all six of his children and my mother here by his side," Bowden's son Terry said in a statement. "I couldn't…

4:46 PM ETChris LowESPN Senior Writer Close College football reporter Joined ESPN.com in 2007 Graduate of the University of TennesseeWhen Lane Kiffin met with his football team Saturday night prior to Ole Miss' first practice of the preseason on Sunday, he had a confession to make.Kiffin, now more than 30 pounds lighter than he was…

6:59 PM ETJeff LegwoldESPN Senior Writer Close Covered Broncos for nine years for Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News Previously covered Steelers, Bills and Titans Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors since 1999CANTON, Ohio -- One of NFL's most decorated players helped close out the Pro Football Hall of Fame's grandest…

Aug 7, 2021Associated Press YOKOHAMA, Japan -- Japan's players sprinted onto the mound and the collection of All-Stars hoisted their manager up and down as if on a trampoline.They beamed when hanging shiny gold medals around each other's necks, fulfilling a national mission with the first Olympic baseball title in their nation's history.American players didn't…

11:30 PM ETAssociated Press IZU, Japan -- Jason Kenny won a record-setting gold medal for Britain on the final day of track cycling at the Tokyo Olympics.Jennifer Valente and Kelsey Mitchell each scored gold every bit as special for their countries.Valente gave the hard-luck American cycling team a reason to hold their heads high Sunday…

3:23 AM ETMechelle VoepelESPN.com CloseMechelle Voepel covers the WNBA, women's college basketball, and other college sports for espnW. Voepel began covering women's basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN since 1996.When asked before the Olympics if she would consider a second go-round as USA women's basketball head coach, Dawn Staley said jokingly that she…

Aug 7, 2021ESPN News Services Allyson Felix knows the way to the Olympic medals stand better than any runner alive.She made her record-setting 11th trip there Saturday, after starring as the headliner on a 4x400 relay win that featured a who's-who of American running.With the gold medal dangling from her neck and "The Star-Spangled Banner"…

Aug 6, 2021ESPN News Services The U.S. women's 4x100-meter team's push for a third consecutive Olympic gold was thwarted by Jamaica, Italy was a surprise winner in the men's 4x100, and Sifan Hassan's chase for three gold medals withered in her fifth of six races at the Tokyo Games.Jamaica won in a national-record 41.02 seconds,…

1:17 PM ETAssociated Press YOKOHAMA, Japan -- Eddy Alvarez had to be consoled -- scolded, even -- after his first silver medal."My coach had to bring us together and make us snap out of it," Alvarez said. "He yelled at us. ... He basically said, 'You know, you're silver medalists.' And that's when it kind…

CHIBA, Japan -- With 10 seconds remaining, Gable Steveson trailed the biggest wrestling match of his life by three points.When the clock hit zero, he was an Olympic gold medalist.Steveson trailed Georgia's Geno Petriashvili 8-5 with time running out. The 21-year-old American remained composed and took control against his more experienced opponent, scoring on a…

Ariel Torres won the first karate medal in U.S. history at the Olympics, claiming bronze in the men's kata on Friday.Ryo Kiyuna of Japan won the gold medal, beating Spain's Damian Quintero in the final as the sport makes its Olympic debut.Kiyuna was given a score of 28.72 for his demonstration of karate forms. His…

Kevin Durant: two-time NBA Finals MVP, three-time Olympic Games gold medalist. Allyson Felix is now the most decorated track athlete in American history. She won gold with Sydney McLaughlin, Athing Mu and Dalilah Muhammad. The medal gives Felix 11 and breaks a tie with Carl Lewis.In basketball, Durant scored a game-high 29 points while Jayson…

8:03 PM ETBob HarigESPN Senior Writer Close Senior golf writer for ESPN.com Covered golf for more than 20 years Earned Evans Scholarship to attend Indiana UniversityMEMPHIS, Tenn. -- As if Bryson DeChambeau didn't have enough going on these days.The eight-time PGA Tour winner was called out by two European Tour pros on Twitter in the…

2:55 PM ETMarcel Louis-JacquesESPN BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The offseason questions about a contract extension kept coming, no matter how coy Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane was in answering or how many times quarterback Josh Allen deflected.But even with the possibility of tabling the conversation until 2022, neither side showed signs of angst; Allen and…

1:10 PM ETJesse WashingtonTheUndefeated.com Senior Writer Resilience. Determination. Humility. Grace. Excellence, yes, but not dominance, or flamboyance, or any of the other characteristics often associated with the world's fastest humans. It was not eye-popping times that made Allyson Felix the most decorated woman in Olympic track history. It was what she did in her final…

playJonathan Owens: Felt sick for Simone Biles (0:31)Texans' Jonathan Owens, Simone Biles' boyfriend, describes what it was like watching her withdraw from the team competition at the Olympics. (0:31)Aug 5, 2021Sarah BarshopESPN Staff Writer CloseCovered the Packers for ESPN Milwaukee Marquette University graduateHOUSTON -- Early in the morning on July 27, Houston Texans safety Jonathan…

Aug 5, 2021Courtney CroninESPN Staff Writer CloseCovered the 49ers, Raiders and Warriors for the San Jose Mercury News. She joined ESPN in 2017.EAGAN, Minn. -- Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins vowed to follow the NFL's COVID-19 protocols to avoid contracting the virus or being deemed a close contact ahead of returning to practice Thursday after…

2:20 AM ETBrian WindhorstESPN Senior Writer CloseESPN.com NBA writer since 2010 Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years Author of two booksSAITAMA, Japan -- With smooth execution that has gotten more impressive as the Tokyo Olympics have gone on, the U.S. women's basketball team earned a chance to play for a seventh consecutive gold medal with…

11:26 PM ETAssociated Press TOKYO -- April Ross won the Olympic gold medal that completes her set, and when she stood on the top step of the podium at the Shiokaze Park beach volleyball venue on Friday she had with her the perfect person to hang it around her neck: teammate Alix Klineman."I know that…

7:52 AM ETAdrian WojnarowskiSenior NBA Insider CloseHost of The Woj Pod Joined ESPN in 2017New York Knicks All-Star forward Julius Randle has agreed to a four-year, $117 million contract extension -- elevating his deal's total value to five years and $140 million, his agents, Aaron Mintz and Steven Heumann of CAA Sports, told ESPN.The extension…

11:49 AM ETESPN News Services Katie Nageotte won an unexpected gold for the United States in the pole vault at the Olympics ahead of world champion Anzhelika Sidorova of the Russian Olympic Committee team.Nageotte failed on her first two attempts of the competition at 4.50 meters but improved from there to clinch her first major…

10:48 AM ETJoon LeeESPN ClosePreviously a Staff Writer at Bleacher Report Cornell University graduateThey have built it, and they will come. Now, they'll be dressed for the occasion.Ahead of the "Field of Dreams" game in Iowa on Aug. 12, the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox unveiled their uniforms -- inspired by team jerseys…

9:53 AM ETAssociated Press YOKOHAMA, Japan -- Eddy Alvarez sat in the U.S. dugout after the final out, buried his face in his hands and wept, even though his biggest game remains ahead.A 7-2 victory over defending champion South Korea on Thursday night set up a gold-medal matchup against Japan and assured the 31-year-old speedskater-turned-second…

11:56 AM ETAlden GonzalezESPN Staff Writer CloseJoined ESPN in 2016 to cover the Los Angeles Rams Previously covered the Angels for MLB.comThe Los Angeles Dodgers, perpetually in search of depth for their star-studded rotation, have agreed to a one-year deal with four-time All-Star Cole Hamels, it was announced on Wednesday.Hamels, who auditioned for teams during…

5:26 PM ETJohn KeimESPN Staff Writer CloseCovered the Redskins for the Washington Examiner and other media outlets since 1994 Authored or co-authored three books on the Redskins and one on the Cleveland BrownsASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Football Team, which dropped its controversial name a year ago, has banned Native American garb from its stadium.Washington…

Two days after the start of free agency, the landscape of the NBA already looks very different.The Miami Heat found their new starting point guard in Kyle Lowry via a sign-and-trade with the Toronto Raptors. The Chicago Bulls continued to revamp their roster with the acquisitions of DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball. The Los Angeles…