Sunderland says their midfielder Granit Xhaka, who helped the team qualify for European competition, is not for sale despite talks with Chelsea. Chelsea is interested in signing Xhaka to add experience to their squad, although Sunderland does not want to sell him and personal terms have not been agreed.
Key Facts
Granit Xhaka is a 33-year-old midfielder from Switzerland, under contract with Sunderland until 2028.
Sunderland finished seventh in the Premier League last season and qualified for the Europa League.
Chelsea has contacted Xhaka’s representatives about a possible transfer.
Sunderland is not under financial pressure and wants to keep Xhaka.
Chelsea has mostly signed younger players recently and signing Xhaka would be a change in their transfer strategy.
Chelsea wants to strengthen their midfield and may lose Enzo Fernandez to Real Madrid.
Chelsea is also close to signing right-back Marco Palestra from Atalanta.
Some Chelsea players, including Marc Cucurella, have left or may leave the club.
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Novak Djokovic praised Serena Williams for her return to Wimbledon after four years. He called her comeback inspiring because she is competing again after having two children.
Key Facts
Serena Williams is playing at Wimbledon for the first time in four years.
She received a wild card to join the main singles competition.
Serena will also play doubles with her sister Venus Williams.
Novak Djokovic has won Wimbledon seven times and is chasing his 25th grand slam title.
Djokovic described Serena’s return as "inspirational" and "epic."
Serena is unranked and will face Maya Joint from Australia, ranked 53rd.
Williams has two children and took time away from professional tennis.
Djokovic said Serena’s comeback is motivating for him and many others worldwide.
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Some top tennis players, including Aryna Sabalenka, are limiting their media appearances at Wimbledon to protest prize money and welfare benefits. Wimbledon increased its prize fund by 20% this year, but some players want tournaments to give more money and support to lower-ranked players. Not all players agree, and some are participating fully in media duties.
Key Facts
Aryna Sabalenka and others limited media time to 15 minutes to protest prize money and welfare benefits for players.
Protesting players want more prize money and contributions to pensions and maternity leave.
Wimbledon raised its total prize money by 20% to £64.2 million, the largest increase ever.
Defending champions like Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek also limited their media appearances.
Novak Djokovic is not part of the protest and held a 20-minute news conference.
Some players, like Alex de Minaur and Alexander Zverev, decided not to join the protest at Wimbledon.
Protesting players said the revenue share for players is lower now than 10 years ago.
Wimbledon’s chief executive expressed surprise and disappointment at the protest actions.
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The San Jose Sharks picked Alexander Karmanov, a 7-foot-1 defense player, in the NHL draft. At 18 years old, he is the tallest player ever chosen by an NHL team.
Key Facts
Alexander Karmanov is 7 feet 1 inch tall.
He plays in the defense position in hockey.
He was selected by the San Jose Sharks.
Karmanov is 18 years old.
He is the tallest player ever drafted in the NHL.
The NHL draft is how teams choose new players.
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The article discusses which players selected in the 2026 NHL draft are good choices for fantasy hockey teams next season. It gives advice on which top draft picks might perform well and be valuable for fantasy players.
Key Facts
The article focuses on the 2026 NHL draft picks.
It highlights certain players expected to do well in their first NHL season.
The advice is aimed at people who play fantasy hockey.
Fantasy hockey involves creating teams of real NHL players and scoring points based on their real-game performance.
Choosing the right draft picks can help fantasy teams score higher.
The article helps fans decide which new players to pick for their fantasy teams.
It mentions young players who have potential to succeed soon.
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The United States Men's National Soccer Team (USMNT) lost 3-2 to Turkiye but still qualified for the World Cup Knockout Phase. They will face Bosnia-Herzegovina next and could face tough teams like Belgium, Spain, France, and Argentina on their way to the final.
Key Facts
USMNT lost 3-2 to Turkiye but already secured a spot in the Knockout Phase.
Their next match is against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32.
DraftKings rates USMNT as a -255 favorite to win the next match.
If USMNT advances, they could face Belgium in the Round of 16.
A quarterfinal against Spain is possible if they pass Belgium.
France and Argentina are considered the top contenders to win the World Cup.
Argentina's Lionel Messi leads all-time World Cup goal scoring.
The World Cup Final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
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Cape Verde advanced to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in their first-ever appearance, finishing second in Group H behind Spain. Despite not winning any matches, they secured draws against Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia, making history as the first team since 1998 to move on without a win.
Key Facts
Cape Verde competed in the 2026 World Cup for the first time.
They finished second in Group H, which included Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay.
Cape Verde drew 0-0 with Spain, 2-2 with Uruguay, and 0-0 with Saudi Arabia.
They became the first country since Chile in 1998 to reach the knockout round without winning a match.
Goalkeeper Vozinha made seven saves against Spain.
Midfielder Kevin Pina scored Cape Verde’s first-ever World Cup goal from a free kick.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic praised Cape Verde and mentioned former player Thierry Henry’s prediction about their strength.
Cape Verde will next play Argentina and Lionel Messi on July 3 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
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Phoenix Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts criticized the WNBA after star player Alyssa Thomas was suspended. The suspension was for a play involving Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark. The comments came just before the Mercury played the Toronto Tempo.
Key Facts
Nate Tibbetts is the coach of the Phoenix Mercury basketball team.
Alyssa Thomas, a key player for the Mercury, was suspended by the WNBA.
The suspension resulted from an incident with Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark.
Tibbetts publicly defended Thomas against the suspension decision.
The criticism of the WNBA by Tibbetts happened before a game against the Toronto Tempo.
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In the third Test cricket match at Trent Bridge, New Zealand leads England by 204 runs after the third day of play. The pitch has become difficult to bat on, causing many wickets to fall, putting England in a challenging position as they try to catch up.
Key Facts
New Zealand scored 438 runs in their first innings, with Conway and Latham each scoring over 150 runs.
England scored 354 runs in response, with Duckett scoring 113 and Bethell 74.
On the third day, New Zealand reached 120 runs for the loss of 3 wickets, leading by 204 runs overall.
The pitch deteriorated due to hot weather, making it harder for batsmen and causing 11 wickets to fall on the third day.
England lost three early wickets quickly but fought back with some good batting from Harry Brook and others.
New Zealand's bowler Zak Foulkes took three wickets and has been effective despite being a substitute player.
England captain Ben Stokes admitted the team feels the highest pressure in his four years as captain.
England’s chances are tough as New Zealand is missing three key players but still controls the match.
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The article reviews the results of the 2026 NHL draft, highlighting the most notable player selections, trades, and key moments. It points out the teams that benefited the most and those that lost out during the event.
Key Facts
The NHL draft has concluded with all teams making their player picks.
Trades between teams played a major role in shaping draft outcomes.
Some teams improved their future prospects by selecting strong players.
Other teams made decisions considered less successful.
The article identifies memorable moments from the draft process.
Team performances in the draft affect their player rosters for upcoming seasons.
The draft is an important annual event for building NHL teams.
Future player development will be influenced by the draft choices made this year.
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Scottie Scheffler scored a 10-under 60 during the Travelers Championship, taking the lead in the PGA Tour event. He made history as the first PGA Tour player to have recorded rounds of every score from 59 to 79 without ever shooting in the 80s.
Key Facts
Scheffler shot a 10-under 60 on Friday in the Travelers Championship.
He made 11 birdies (one stroke under par on a hole) and one bogey (one stroke over par).
Scheffler came close to shooting 59 for the second time in his career but finished one stroke higher.
The course record is 58, set by Jim Furyk.
Scheffler is the world No. 1 ranked golfer.
He became the first golfer in PGA Tour history to have rounds scoring every number from 59 through 79 without an 80 or above.
Scheffler credited his success to making more putts than usual in this round.
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Rory McIlroy decided to skip the Travelers Championship, which is the last major event on the PGA Tour calendar this year. This choice means he might not meet the PGA Tour rule requiring players to participate in at least 15 events, but the PGA Tour commissioner can allow exceptions for special reasons like medical issues.
Key Facts
Rory McIlroy is practicing at Royal Birkdale for the upcoming Open Championship.
He chose not to play in the Travelers Championship, a key PGA Tour event.
This is the third time McIlroy has missed a signature event on the PGA Tour.
PGA Tour rules say players must enter at least 15 events to keep membership status.
McIlroy uses a "home tour" rule that allows playing in Europe and the Middle East but still requires meeting the 15-event minimum.
The PGA Tour commissioner can reduce this minimum if there are medical problems or other special reasons.
McIlroy is a highly recognized golfer and fan favorite with six major titles.
The PGA Tour might avoid strict punishment to maintain a good relationship with McIlroy.
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Ireland won their first ever match at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup by beating the West Indies in Bristol. Ireland scored 129 runs for 4 wickets in 18.1 overs, chasing the West Indies' total of 128 runs for 7 wickets.
Key Facts
Ireland defeated the West Indies by six wickets in the T20 World Cup match.
West Indies scored 128 runs for 7 wickets in their 20 overs.
Ireland reached 129 runs for 4 wickets in 18.1 overs to win the match.
Orla Prendergast scored 63 runs off 44 balls, leading Ireland’s batting.
Ireland had lost all 21 of their previous matches in five past T20 World Cups.
West Indies were the 2016 T20 World Cup champions and were expected to do well.
Rebecca Stokell remained not out with 16 runs to help complete the victory.
The match took place in Bristol, England.
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The Carolina Hurricanes traded with the Anaheim Ducks to get the rights to defenseman John Carlson. Carlson is an unrestricted free agent, meaning he can sign with any team.
Key Facts
The Carolina Hurricanes made a trade with the Anaheim Ducks.
The trade was to acquire rights to John Carlson.
John Carlson is a defenseman in hockey.
Carlson is an unrestricted free agent.
Being an unrestricted free agent means he can choose to sign with any team.
The trade took place on a Saturday.
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The Buffalo Bills announced they will not include former player O.J. Simpson among the team's honored legends at their new stadium. This decision means Simpson will not be officially recognized in the team's hall of fame or similar honors.
Key Facts
The Buffalo Bills made an announcement about honoring team legends.
O.J. Simpson, a former player for the Bills, will not be honored.
The decision relates to the new Bills stadium.
Simpson played as a running back for the Buffalo Bills.
The team is excluding Simpson from official recognition among its top players.
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The Atlanta Dream lost a close basketball game to the Golden State Valkyries, 78-75. After the game, Dream coach Karl Smesko said that Angel Reese, a key player, is not getting fair treatment from the referees, especially regarding foul calls.
Key Facts
The Atlanta Dream lost to the Golden State Valkyries by a score of 78-75.
Five players from the Valkyries scored 10 or more points each.
Angel Reese of the Dream scored 15 points, had 12 rebounds, and made six steals, but almost fouled out.
Coach Karl Smesko criticized referees for not giving Reese and his team fair calls.
Reese and Caitlin Clark are tied for most technical fouls in the league, partly due to frustrations with refereeing.
A recent controversial WNBA incident involved Alyssa Thomas pushing Caitlin Clark, resulting in a one-game suspension for Thomas.
The Dream had more free-throw attempts than the Valkyries in the game.
Both teams had a similar number of fouls called during the game (22 for Valkyries, 21 for Dream).
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Wyndham Clark won his second U.S. Open golf title despite facing loud and harsh reactions from fans during the tournament. Former champion Matt Fitzpatrick said the way fans treated Clark was unfair, even though Clark had made a mistake the previous year.
Key Facts
Wyndham Clark won his second U.S. Open title recently.
Fans reacted very strongly and negatively toward Clark, similar to how they might treat a visiting player.
Matt Fitzpatrick, a former U.S. Open winner who played with Clark, noticed the intense negative crowd behavior.
Fitzpatrick does not excuse Clark’s previous outburst at last year’s U.S. Open.
Fitzpatrick thought the criticism of Clark would fade after a few months but it continued.
Fitzpatrick described the constant fan criticism of Clark as unfair.
Both Fitzpatrick and Clark are performing well at the Travelers Championship.
The article mentions other golf news, including Tiger Woods’ recent public appearance and changes in the PGA Tour.
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Norway chose to bench their star player Erling Haaland and several other key players in a recent match against France, which they lost 4-1. The Norway coach, Stale Solbakken, explained this decision was to help players recover before their next game in the tournament.
Key Facts
Norway played France in a soccer match on Friday afternoon.
Erling Haaland, a top goal scorer, did not play and was on the bench.
Norway also rested about 10 first-team players in this match.
Norway lost the game 4-1 and finished second in their group.
Coach Stale Solbakken said players were tired after a recent game against Senegal.
The team decided to rest key players to prepare for the Round of 32 match.
Norway will play Ivory Coast next in the Round of 32.
If they win, Norway could face Brazil or Japan in the following round.
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Iran’s national soccer team drew 1-1 with Egypt in a World Cup match, but a last-minute goal by Iran was disallowed for offside. The team’s coach described the team as unlucky and said they faced challenges like travel and visa restrictions during the tournament.
Key Facts
Iran played a World Cup match against Egypt that ended in a 1-1 draw.
Iran’s Shoja Khalilzadeh scored a goal in the 93rd minute that was ruled offside by a small margin.
The team’s coach, Amir Ghalenoei, called the team “unlucky” and said they felt “oppressed” due to off-field challenges.
Iran had to move their base camp from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, during the tournament.
Visa restrictions prevented some team staff from traveling to the tournament.
Iran was waiting to see if they would advance as one of the best third-placed teams in the World Cup groups.
The coach accepted the offside decision was correct but expressed frustration about bad luck.
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