Darius Acuff Jr., the No. 7 overall pick, played well in a Summer League game for the Sacramento Kings, scoring 19 points and making seven assists. He showed improvement on defense and careful ball handling, helping his team win against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Key Facts
Darius Acuff Jr. was picked No. 7 overall in the NBA draft.
He scored 19 points and made seven assists in the Summer League game.
This game was part of the Sacramento Kings' victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Acuff demonstrated strong skills finishing near the basket.
He showed better defense than expected, causing two steals.
He played 28 minutes and kept only three turnovers.
Acuff improved his defensive play compared to his college season at Arkansas.
Coaches value his balance of scoring, passing, and defending in his first NBA action.
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The article reviews the history and statistics of World Cup penalty shootouts from 1982 to 2026, highlighting team performances, top players, and strategies. It examines which countries and players have been most successful and offers insights on penalty kick directions and shootout tactics.
Key Facts
Since 1982, there have been 39 World Cup penalty shootouts involving 360 penalties.
The Netherlands and Spain share the record for most shootout losses with four each, having won only one out of five.
Argentina is the most successful team, winning six out of seven shootouts, including the 2022 final.
Croatia has won all four of its shootouts, while Germany lost its first shootout in 2026 to Paraguay.
Mexico has the lowest penalty scoring rate at 29%, while Egypt, Belgium, and South Korea have scored all their penalties.
Lionel Messi and Luka Modric are the only players to score in three different World Cup shootouts, each with a 100% success rate in shootouts.
Goalkeepers Danijel Subasic and Dominik Livakovic from Croatia have each saved four penalties in World Cup shootouts.
Penalty shots aimed to the right or left have a higher success rate (around 70%) than shots aimed down the middle (58%), which also have more misses.
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Greg Hawthorne, a former NFL player and Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers, died at age 69. He played nine seasons in the NFL for the Steelers, New England Patriots, and Indianapolis Colts.
Key Facts
Greg Hawthorne was born on November 13, 1956, in Memphis.
He was a first-round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1979.
Hawthorne won Super Bowl XIV with the Steelers.
He played multiple positions including running back, receiver, and tight end.
Hawthorne played 112 NFL games over nine seasons.
He also played for the New England Patriots, reaching Super Bowl XX.
His career totals include 784 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns, 37 receptions, and one receiving touchdown.
Hawthorne’s family announced his death but did not share a cause.
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FIFA will sell pieces of the grass from the 2026 World Cup final stadium as souvenirs, starting at $450 each. The sale aims to generate over $11 million and offers fans a chance to own a small part of the playing field used in the final match.
Key Facts
Pieces of the World Cup final pitch will be sold starting at $450 per piece.
FIFA expects to earn more than $11 million from selling the pitch pieces.
Each piece is preserved in acrylic and comes with a USB showing its authenticity.
The pitch was grown at a turf farm in North Carolina and installed at MetLife Stadium, renamed New Jersey New York Stadium for the World Cup.
The turf sale is limited to buyers in the United States and Europe and will ship after the final match.
The highest-priced turf package costs $3,000 and includes extras like a replica ticket and a mini World Cup ball.
FIFA has also charged high prices for World Cup tickets, with some seats costing up to nearly $33,000.
New natural turf was installed at all World Cup venues, even those that usually use artificial turf for other sports.
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England and Norway played each other in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal in Miami. England’s Jude Bellingham and Norway’s Erling Haaland, former teammates at Borussia Dortmund, showed friendly moments before and during the game despite being opponents.
Key Facts
The match took place on July 11, 2026, in Miami.
England was trying to win its first World Cup since 1966.
Norway was playing in its first men’s World Cup since 1998 and reached the quarterfinals.
Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland were teammates at Borussia Dortmund from 2020 to 2022.
Haaland moved to Manchester City in May 2022, and Bellingham moved to Real Madrid in June 2023.
Before the match, Bellingham lightly kicked Haaland to get his attention and they hugged.
During the match, they smiled and laughed at each other while competing for position.
Borussia Dortmund shared clips of their friendship, calling it “football’s best bromance.”
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Rookie Morez Johnson had a strong first game in the NBA Summer League with the Dallas Mavericks, scoring 25 points and grabbing eight rebounds. He showed both offensive skills and defensive potential in a physical game against Golden State that Dallas lost 101-90.
Key Facts
Morez Johnson is a rookie player for the Dallas Mavericks.
He scored 25 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and made three assists in his Summer League debut.
Johnson played against Yaxel Lendeborg, a former teammate from Michigan.
Their matchup was physical but did not cross the line into fouls.
Mavericks’ new coach Dusty May watched the game from courtside.
Another Mavericks player, Cooper Flagg, was also present but did not play.
The Mavericks lost the game to Golden State by a score of 101-90.
Johnson showed strong defensive abilities in addition to scoring well.
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Yaxel Lendeborg played very well in his first NBA Summer League game with the Golden State Warriors. He scored 21 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and made six assists, helping the Warriors win 101-90 against the Dallas Mavericks.
Key Facts
Lendeborg scored 21 points in 28 minutes of play.
He also had 10 rebounds and 6 assists in the game.
The game was part of the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
Lendeborg led the Warriors to a 101-90 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
He scored the last nine points for the Warriors to finish the game strong.
Fans at the arena showed strong support for him.
The game took place at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Lendeborg impressed with his ability to play well in key moments.
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England is playing against Norway in the World Cup quarter-final right now. Fans can rate the players from both teams on a scale from 1 to 10 through the BBC website until 30 minutes after the game ends.
Key Facts
The match is a World Cup quarter-final between England and Norway.
Fans can rate each player’s performance out of 10 during the game.
Player ratings will be averaged from all fan submissions after the game.
To rate players, users must be signed into a BBC account.
The rating tool might not work on all browsers or if JavaScript is disabled.
The article lists all starting players and substitutes for both England and Norway.
Related coverage includes goal highlights and expert predictions for the match.
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Fifa's disciplinary head refused to answer questions about why England’s Jarell Quansah was banned for two World Cup games while US player Folarin Balogun was not, despite both being sent off for serious fouls. The US player’s case drew attention after President Donald Trump and White House officials reportedly lobbied Fifa to lift the ban.
Key Facts
Jarell Quansah received a two-game ban after a serious foul in England’s win over Mexico.
Folarin Balogun from the US was sent off for a serious foul but was not banned for games afterward.
The US player’s unbanning caused criticism and questions about fairness.
President Donald Trump and White House officials reportedly contacted Fifa about Balogun’s ban.
BBC’s sports editor tried to question Fifa’s disciplinary chairman, Mohammad al Kamali, but he declined to comment.
Fifa said Balogun’s case was reviewed carefully but did not share details.
Quansah missed England’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway due to his suspension.
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Linda Noskova won the Wimbledon women's singles title after a strong comeback in the final against Karolina Muchova. Noskova dedicated her victory to her late mother, who passed away from cancer before the tournament.
Key Facts
Linda Noskova won the Wimbledon championship by beating Karolina Muchova.
Noskova was close to losing but saved multiple championship points to win.
She dedicated her win to her mother, Ivana, who died of cancer just before Wimbledon 2024.
Noskova showed resilience and calmness during high-pressure moments in the match.
Her father was in the audience during the final match.
Noskova took a short break during the match to regroup and came back strongly.
Tennis legends and former champions watched the final and praised her performance.
Noskova’s mother had described her daughter as calm and steady under pressure before she died.
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Matt Fitzpatrick shares the lead in the Scottish Open golf tournament after a fog delay disrupted play. Rory McIlroy, who had led earlier, struggled during the third round, while Johnny Keefer leads with a strong score as players deal with changing weather conditions.
Key Facts
Fog caused the Scottish Open to pause play twice on Saturday, delaying the third round.
Matt Fitzpatrick scored well early in his round and is tied for the lead at 11 under par.
Rory McIlroy made three bogeys and fell five shots behind Fitzpatrick at 6 under par.
Johnny Keefer from the US set the clubhouse target at 10 under with a third-round score of 64.
Several top players, including defending champion Chris Gotterup and US Open winner Wyndham Clark, have not finished their third round yet.
Play is scheduled to resume Sunday morning at 07:00 BST.
The weather, especially fog, is challenging the golfers and affecting the schedule.
Keefer said the key to links golf is being creative and flexible because conditions can change quickly.
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LaBaron Philon Jr., a new player for the Philadelphia 76ers, played well in his first NBA Summer League game in Las Vegas. He scored 18 points and assisted his teammates 7 times, helping the 76ers win against the Detroit Pistons.
Key Facts
LaBaron Philon Jr. was the 22nd overall pick in the NBA draft and comes from Alabama.
He scored 11 points in the first 11 minutes of the game.
Philon showed good skills in passing and involving teammates.
He finished the game with 18 points and 7 assists.
The 76ers beat the Detroit Pistons 101-93.
Four 76ers players scored 10 or more points by halftime.
The 2026 NBA Summer League is taking place from July 9 to July 19 in Las Vegas.
All 30 NBA teams play in the Summer League, which includes 76 games.
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Norway and England are playing against each other in the World Cup quarter-finals. Norway is led by star player Erling Haaland, and England aims to continue its progress toward winning the tournament.
Key Facts
The match is a quarter-final game in the 2026 World Cup.
Norway beat Brazil in the round of 16, which was a major surprise.
Erling Haaland is a key player for Norway and a standout in the tournament.
England, known as the Three Lions, are coached by Thomas Tuchel.
England defeated Mexico in the round of 16 to reach this stage.
Both teams are trying to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup.
The starting players for both teams were announced shortly before the match.
Jordan Pickford, England’s goalkeeper, is appearing in his 18th World Cup match.
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UFC 329 will feature a main fight between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway, marking McGregor’s return after five years. Retired fighter Jon Jones predicts that Max Holloway will likely win because he has been more active recently.
Key Facts
UFC 329’s main event is Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway in a welterweight fight.
Conor McGregor has been out of the UFC for five years and is coming back after recovering from a leg injury.
Max Holloway last fought in March and has been more active than McGregor.
Jon Jones, a retired fighter, said he thinks Holloway will probably win.
Jones also said he hopes both fighters enjoy the fight.
McGregor’s recent record includes 3 wins and 3 losses in his last 6 fights.
Holloway has won 4 and lost 2 fights since April 2023, including wins over notable fighters Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje.
Fans can watch the UFC 329 main card on Paramount+ at 9 p.m. ET.
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Trae Young signed a four-year, $212 million contract extension with the Washington Wizards, including a player option in the final year. Despite injuries and lower performance last season, Young remains focused on proving doubters wrong as the Wizards build a younger, stronger team with new key players.
Key Facts
Trae Young agreed to a four-year extension worth $212 million with the Washington Wizards on June 22.
He gave up a $49 million player option for next season to secure the long-term deal.
Young missed most of last season due to injuries, playing only 15 games in total.
Last season, his scoring and assists were below his usual levels.
The Wizards have added new star players, including Anthony Davis and top draft picks AJ Dybantsa and Alex Sarr.
Young said winning games will prove the value of his big contract.
The Wizards’ young roster is improving and expected to be very competitive in coming seasons.
The team now features a mix of experienced stars and promising young talent.
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Bryce Hopkins, a new player for the Denver Nuggets, played well in his first NBA Summer League game in Las Vegas. He scored 24 points and contributed on defense, showing confidence and skill despite being a later draft pick.
Key Facts
Bryce Hopkins plays for the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Summer League.
He scored 24 points in 26 minutes during his debut game.
Hopkins also made 4 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocked shots.
He is 6-foot-7 tall and plays both offense and defense actively.
Hopkins played college basketball at Providence, Kentucky, and St. John's.
He was selected 49th in the NBA draft.
The NBA Summer League ran from July 9 to July 19, 2026, in Las Vegas.
All 30 NBA teams participate to showcase young players.
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Jayden Adams, a South African soccer player and midfielder, died at age 25 shortly after playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His death is under investigation, and no cause has been announced. Adams was a key player in South Africa’s first-ever advancement to the World Cup knockout stage.
Key Facts
Jayden Adams was 25 years old when he died.
Adams had recently played in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for South Africa.
South Africa reached the Round of 32 at the World Cup for the first time in history.
Adams played in all three group matches during the tournament.
Authorities found Adams’ body in Cape Town and have started an investigation without releasing the cause of death.
Adams’ grandmother died during the World Cup campaign, which affected him deeply.
He played for Mamelodi Sundowns club and the South African national team, Bafana Bafana.
South African sports officials and FIFA expressed condolences and highlighted Adams as a talented young player.
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Heather Knight, the former captain of England's women's cricket team, has retired from international cricket during a Test match against India at Lord's. Knight played 320 international games, captained England for nine years, and led the team to a World Cup victory in 2017.
Key Facts
Heather Knight is 35 years old and announced her retirement during a Test match at Lord's.
She has played a record 320 international matches for England's women's cricket team.
Knight was captain for nine years and led England to a World Cup win in 2017.
She also led England to two World Cup finals after 2017 but lost both to Australia.
Knight made history by scoring international centuries in all three cricket formats by 2020.
She has appeared in 15 Tests, 160 one-day internationals, and 145 T20 matches.
Knight will transition to a management role as general manager of the London Spirit women's team.
Her retirement comes at a time when the team is going through changes with other key players leaving.
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Ryan Conwell played his first NBA Summer League game with the Miami Heat and scored 19 points. Although he missed many three-point shots, he found other ways to score and helped his team win against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Key Facts
Ryan Conwell was picked 37th overall in the NBA draft after playing at Louisville.
He led the ACC with 112 made three-pointers in his last college season.
In his Summer League debut, he made only 2 out of 8 three-point attempts.
Instead of forcing shots, he adjusted and scored inside the three-point line.
Conwell finished with 19 points and 3 assists in the game.
The Miami Heat won the game against the Milwaukee Bucks with a score of 119-86.
The 2026 NBA Summer League is held in Las Vegas from July 9 to July 19.
All 30 NBA teams participate in this Summer League event, playing 76 games.
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The Charlotte Hornets won their Summer League game against the Orlando Magic with a score of 86-74. Two players, Liam McNeeley and Hannes Steinbach, had strong debuts by contributing in very different ways.
Key Facts
Liam McNeeley scored 28 points in 28 minutes, making 7 out of 8 three-point shots.
McNeeley showed more confidence and strength compared to his previous Summer League experience.
Hannes Steinbach scored 15 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and blocked 2 shots off the bench.
Steinbach focused on rebounding and physical play, similar to his college basketball style.
The 2026 NBA Summer League runs from July 9 to July 19 in Las Vegas.
All 30 NBA teams participate, playing 76 games at two venues: Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion.
The Hornets’ balanced performance combined scoring and defense effectively in their opening game.
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