Victor Wembanyama, a star player for the San Antonio Spurs, is featured on the standard edition cover of the upcoming NBA 2K27 video game. This marks a significant achievement for Wembanyama, who had a strong season leading the Spurs to the NBA Finals.
Key Facts
Victor Wembanyama is on the standard edition cover of NBA 2K27.
The deluxe edition cover features WNBA star Caitlin Clark, and the ultra edition features Derrick Rose.
Wembanyama averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game last season.
The NBA 2K27 game will be released globally on September 5, 2026.
Wembanyama helped lead the Spurs to the NBA Finals this past season.
This is the third time a Spurs player appears on a 2K cover and the first on a standard edition.
Fans can pre-order the game now with early access for deluxe and ultra editions.
Previous NBA 2K cover athletes have included well-known NBA stars like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
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Rangers manager Derek McInnes was handed a four-game touchline ban, with one game suspended, for calling a late Celtic penalty decision "disgusting." The penalty awarded to Celtic in a May game helped them narrowly miss out on the Scottish Premiership title. McInnes will miss Rangers' first three domestic matches of the new season.
Key Facts
Derek McInnes criticized a late penalty awarded to Celtic in May as "disgusting."
The penalty was for handball and was confirmed after a video review called VAR.
Celtic won that game 3-2 and finished one point behind Hearts in the league.
McInnes received a four-game ban from the touchline, with one game suspended.
He will miss Rangers’ first three domestic games of the 2023-24 season.
The ban does not apply to European matches, like the upcoming Europa League qualifier.
The Scottish FA also sanctioned Motherwell and former player Elliott Watt for social media posts criticizing the decision.
The referee received support from the Scottish FA, who said there was clear evidence for the penalty call.
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Chelsea signed Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for £117 million, making him the most expensive British footballer ever. To balance their spending, Chelsea are negotiating to loan Alejandro Garnacho to Aston Villa while continuing to buy and sell players to comply with financial rules.
Key Facts
Chelsea bought Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for £117 million.
Chelsea want to loan Alejandro Garnacho to Aston Villa as part of the deal.
Chelsea nearly reached their spending limit under UEFA financial rules and were fined £2.6 million.
Last season, Chelsea sold players worth about £300 million, a Premier League record.
Chelsea’s squad value is estimated at around £1.3 billion, making it one of the most valuable in Europe.
The club reported a loss of £262 million at the company level and £701 million at the parent company level.
Chelsea plan to sell more players to manage their finances and meet league rules.
Chelsea have 38 senior players currently and are looking at buying more defenders.
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Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare caused a training session to be cancelled after he refused to leave the field, wanting a transfer to Fiorentina. Wolves rejected Fiorentina's offer but accepted a bid from Turkish club Trabzonspor, and Arokodare will miss an upcoming friendly match as pre-season continues.
Key Facts
Tolu Arokodare, a 25-year-old Wolves striker, refused to leave the pitch during training, causing the session to be stopped.
Arokodare wants to move to Italian club Fiorentina, but Wolves rejected Fiorentina’s offer.
Wolves have accepted a transfer offer for Arokodare from Turkish club Trabzonspor.
Because of his actions, the new Wolves coach Cesar Peixoto ended the Monday training session early.
Arokodare will not play in Wolves’ next pre-season friendly against Maidenhead United.
Previously, Arokodare had a confrontation with teammate Mateus Mane in April and faced disciplinary action.
Arokodare joined Wolves last summer for £24 million but scored only three league goals as the team was relegated from the Premier League.
Cesar Peixoto recently became Wolves’ head coach and faces challenges managing the team during pre-season.
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Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto made a baserunning error at the end of a game that caused a double play and ended the inning. The mistake happened in the ninth inning with runners on second and third base, leading to the Phillies losing the chance to score.
Key Facts
The error occurred in the bottom of the ninth inning during a close game.
JT Realmuto was on second base when the play unfolded.
Justin Crawford was caught between third base and home plate, which complicated the play.
Realmuto first reached third base but then ran back towards second base.
He was tagged out between second and third base, ending the game.
Phillies manager Don Mattingly said he didn’t understand Realmuto’s decision during the play.
Realmuto admitted the mistake and said it was a bad baserunning play.
The Phillies were close in the standings, making every game important for their chance at the playoffs.
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Garrett Crochet, a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, says it will likely be impossible for him to return from his left shoulder injury before August 23. His contract includes a key date tied to injury time that could affect how long he stays with the team, but Crochet is okay with staying longer if needed.
Key Facts
Garrett Crochet has a left shoulder injury and has been on the injured list since April 29.
He believes he probably won’t return before August 23, 2024.
A clause in his contract says that if he spends 120 straight days on the injured list due to an arm problem, he cannot opt out after 2030.
Instead, this clause gives the Red Sox a $15 million option to keep him for the 2032 season.
If Crochet spends another month on the injured list, the team gains two extra years of control over his contract.
Crochet said he is fine with staying longer in Boston and supports the team’s plan.
He wants to return healthy and help the Red Sox during their winning streak.
The Red Sox were on a 14-game winning streak before their doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles.
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Belgian cyclist Jasper Philipsen won the 17th stage of the 2026 Tour de France in a sprint finish in the Alps. Tadej Pogacar remains the overall race leader despite some difficulties during the stage.
Key Facts
Jasper Philipsen won the 17th stage of the Tour de France on July 22, 2026.
The stage took place in the Alps and ended with a sprint among a small group of riders.
Philipsen was helped by his teammate Mathieu van der Poel in the final lead-up to the sprint.
Philipsen finished ahead of Mauro Schmid and Olav Kooij, who are also previous stage winners.
This was Philipsen’s 11th stage win in the Tour de France.
Philipsen earned 50 points for winning, moving him closer in the race for the green sprint points jersey.
Defending champion Tadej Pogacar finished safely but struggled during the stage.
Pogacar’s teammate Adam Yates had a stomach problem that affected his performance in the mountains.
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Liverpool Football Club’s owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), are considering selling about 30% of the club to a group of investors led by Amit Bhatia. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, may be part of this investment group, but neither Bhatia’s team nor FSG have confirmed this. Liverpool is financially strong, and this potential deal could value the club at around £4.5 billion.
Key Facts
British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia is leading a group interested in buying a minority stake in Liverpool FC.
Bhatia recently sold his stake in Queens Park Rangers to focus on Liverpool investment.
Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and one of the richest people in the world, has been mentioned as a possible investor but not confirmed.
FSG sold a small stake to another investor in 2023 to cover pandemic-related losses but is now financially strong with over £700 million in revenue.
Liverpool FC’s value could be about £4.5 billion if the deal goes ahead.
The club has seen major success and development since FSG bought it in 2010 for £300 million.
There are leadership changes at Liverpool, including a new head coach and management shifts.
Bezos has shown interest in sports teams before but has not yet made any major sports investments.
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Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers will face a tougher NFL schedule this season after winning their division last year. Young emphasized focusing on one game at a time and staying consistent as the team prepares for the challenges ahead.
Key Facts
The Panthers finished last season by winning the NFC South and reached the NFL Playoffs.
Their upcoming schedule includes games against tough teams like the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Denver Broncos.
Bryce Young is the 2023 No. 1 NFL draft pick and has played three years in the league.
Young stressed not looking ahead too far and focusing on each week’s game.
Last season, Young threw for 3,011 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
Carolina opened training camp recently at Bank of America Stadium.
The Panthers start their 2024 regular season against the Chicago Bears on September 13.
Sportsbooks have set the Panthers’ win total at 6.5 games this season.
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Kevin Durant, a Houston Rockets player, was seen working out with Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero before the NBA season. ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins criticized Durant for training with a player from another team instead of practicing with his own Rockets teammates.
Key Facts
Kevin Durant and Paolo Banchero appeared in a video working out together during the offseason.
The workout included dribble moves, driving to the basket, and jump shots.
Kendrick Perkins said Durant should focus on training with Rockets teammates like Jabari Smith and Alperen Sengun.
The Rockets finished last season with a 52-30 record and were fifth in the Western Conference.
Durant had injury issues during the playoffs, where the Lakers beat the Rockets in the first round.
There have been rumors about Durant using a secret social media account to criticize Rockets teammates and coach.
Durant joined the Rockets in a large, seven-team trade last July.
The Western Conference is very competitive, with teams like the Thunder, Spurs, and Timberwolves also strong.
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Spain’s player Gavi said he does not think Argentina’s Leandro Paredes should be suspended for his actions after the World Cup final match, where a fight broke out on the field. FIFA is investigating the incident, and some players and coaches might face suspensions or fines.
Key Facts
The fight happened after Spain won the World Cup final 1-0 against Argentina.
Leandro Paredes appeared to push Spain’s Eric Garcia by the throat during the confrontation.
Gavi, a Spain player, tried to stop the fight but was pushed to the ground by another Argentine player, Thiago Almada.
Initially, it was reported that Paredes was sent off the field, but FIFA confirmed no immediate disciplinary action was taken then.
FIFA has started a formal investigation to decide if anyone involved should be suspended or fined.
Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez was sent off during the final after receiving two yellow cards.
Gavi said that while the fight shows a bad image for children, some physical and aggressive behavior is part of football.
The Argentine Football Association may also be fined because of the incident.
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In an eastern India football tournament, winners receive khassi goats as prizes instead of typical trophies. This tradition supports local tribal customs and helps young players gain chances to become professional athletes.
Key Facts
The football tournament takes place in eastern India.
Winners are awarded khassi goats instead of trophies.
Khassi goats are a traditional prize linked to local tribal customs.
The tournament helps keep tribal traditions alive.
Many young players use the event as a way to move toward professional football careers.
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Southampton coach Tonda Eckert has been charged by the English Football Association (FA) for spying on training sessions of rival teams during the 2025-26 season. Southampton was punished by being kicked out of the Championship playoffs and losing points for the next season due to this misconduct.
Key Facts
Southampton admitted to spying on training sessions of Middlesbrough, Ipswich, and Oxford during the 2025-26 season.
The spying led to Southampton being removed from the Championship playoff final and receiving a four-point deduction for the 2026-27 season.
Middlesbrough replaced Southampton in the final but lost to Hull.
The financial loss for Southampton was large because promotion to the Premier League is worth about 200 million pounds ($267 million).
An independent commission said the spying was planned and approved by Eckert and senior staff.
The FA charged Eckert with three breaches of misconduct rules related to the spying.
Southampton said they will cooperate with the FA and continue to support Eckert and his staff.
Eckert admitted responsibility for the spying and has until next Tuesday to respond to the charges.
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Emily Scarratt, England's top points-scorer in rugby, has joined the England women's national rugby team (the Red Roses) coaching staff permanently. She previously coached the team temporarily during the 2026 Women's Six Nations and will now leave her coaching role at Loughborough Lightning to focus on England.
Key Facts
Emily Scarratt played for England in five Rugby World Cups.
She scored more points than any English rugby player, male or female.
Scarratt was interim attack and backs coach for England during the 2026 Women's Six Nations.
England won their eighth consecutive Women's Six Nations title in May 2026.
She has left Loughborough Lightning after eight years as a player and coach there.
She retired from playing after helping England win the Rugby World Cup in 2025.
Scarratt helped the England attack score 27 more points in the 2026 Six Nations compared to 2025.
Coach John Mitchell praised her impact on the team’s coaching environment.
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Phil Foden, a 26-year-old midfielder, has signed a new four-year contract with Manchester City that will keep him at the club until 2030. Foden has played his entire senior career at City, winning multiple titles, and expressed excitement about working again with the new head coach, Enzo Maresca.
Key Facts
Phil Foden’s previous contract was set to expire next summer, but he extended it to last until 2030.
Foden debuted for Manchester City at age 17 under coach Pep Guardiola.
He has played 369 games for City and won six Premier League titles, one Champions League, and two FA Cups.
Last season, Foden scored seven goals and provided five assists in 33 league matches.
Foden was left out of England’s World Cup squad in May after an inconsistent season.
New head coach Enzo Maresca previously worked as an assistant during City’s treble-winning 2022-23 season.
Foden described signing the new deal as very important and said he looks forward to working with Maresca again.
His role at Manchester City has changed recently, sometimes playing deeper, which affected his goal and assist numbers.
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Italy’s football federation has spoken with coach Pep Guardiola about potentially becoming the head coach of the Italian national team. They are willing to make special financial arrangements for him, but no decision has been made yet.
Key Facts
Italy’s football federation leader, Giovanni Malago, confirmed talks with Pep Guardiola for the national team coach job.
The federation said they could increase the salary budget specifically if Guardiola is hired.
Malago called this a special exception and said the talks were important to keep dialogue open.
Guardiola used to play in Italy for Brescia and AS Roma between 2001 and 2003.
Italy’s national team failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row in March.
Italy has won the World Cup four times in its history.
Guardiola left Manchester City after the last season, where he won many titles including six league championships and the Champions League.
Other candidates for the coaching job include Andrea Pirlo and Roberto Mancini, who previously coached Italy to a Euro 2020 win.
Italy’s next national team match is against Belgium on September 25 in the Nations League.
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Liverpool Football Club and Merseyside Police have taken action against illegal ticket selling by seizing over £1.2 million in assets and issuing more than 400 lifetime bans. The club also canceled thousands of suspicious ticket accounts and worked to ensure genuine fans could buy tickets fairly.
Key Facts
Liverpool and Merseyside Police seized over £1.2 million connected to illegal ticket sales.
Liverpool issued 432 lifetime bans and 115 indefinite suspensions for ticket touting.
Last season, Liverpool reviewed nearly 700,000 ticket registrations.
About 67,663 suspected fake accounts were blocked or canceled; 121,379 are under investigation.
Around 3,847 suspicious tickets were canceled and resold to genuine fans.
Matchday checks denied entry to about 300 suspicious accounts per home game.
The seized money was shared between Merseyside Police and the UK Home Office.
Liverpool shut down 145,000 ticket accounts over the previous two years to fight illegal ticket sales.
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Boxer Tyson Fury will fight Mariusz Wach in Pattaya, Thailand, in front of a small crowd of 1,500 people. Fury says he chose this event over a bigger, more profitable fight and is focused on his match, not on other fighters or championships.
Key Facts
Tyson Fury is a former heavyweight world champion with 35 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw.
Fury’s fight against Mariusz Wach will take place in Pattaya, Thailand, on Friday.
Only 1,500 fans will attend the fight, which Fury chose over a more profitable event elsewhere.
The fight will not be shown live on TV but featured in a Netflix documentary about Fury’s family.
Fury plans to have a big fight later this year against Anthony Joshua if Joshua wins his next match.
Wach has lost 7 of his last 10 fights but Fury says Wach is still a tough opponent.
Fury criticizes current heavyweight champions, saying they have not fought strong opponents like he has.
Ticket profits from the fight will go to a local charity supporting children and students with disabilities.
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Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert has been charged by the Football Association (FA) for misconduct related to spying on other football teams. This spying led to Southampton being removed from the Championship play-offs last May. Eckert and the club are cooperating with the investigation as Eckert prepares to respond to the charges.
Key Facts
Southampton spied on three clubs during the Championship season, which caused their removal from the play-offs.
The spying involved watching training sessions of Oxford United, Ipswich Town, and Middlesbrough.
The FA charged Eckert with three breaches of rule E3.1 for misconduct between December 2025 and May 2026.
An independent commission said the spying was planned and approved by Eckert.
Middlesbrough was reinstated to the play-off final after Southampton’s expulsion.
Eckert has apologized and accepted responsibility for his actions.
Southampton’s owner said he will not fire Eckert despite the incident.
The club is focused on preparing for the next season and aims to return to the Premier League.
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Pep Guardiola has had talks with the Italian Football Federation about becoming the coach of Italy's national soccer team. Italy has been looking for a new coach since Gennaro Gattuso resigned after the team failed to qualify for the World Cup.
Key Facts
Pep Guardiola left Manchester City in the summer after 10 years and many wins.
Italy has been without a head coach since April, after Gennaro Gattuso resigned.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has discussed making financial exceptions to hire Guardiola.
Other candidates for the job include Roberto Mancini and Andrea Pirlo.
Italy has mostly had Italian coaches, with very few exceptions in their history.
Guardiola speaks fluent Italian and played in Italy’s Serie A from 2001 to 2003.
Hiring Guardiola would be his first coaching job in Italy.
Guardiola said he was very tired after leaving Manchester City in May.
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