The WNBA announced it will expand its regular-season schedule in 2027, increasing from 44 games to 50.

The league has lengthened its schedule several times in recent years. In 2025, the regular season grew by four games, from 40 to 44. In 2023, it expanded from 36 games to 40.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, teams played 34 games. When the league began in 1997, the schedule was 28 games.

RELATED STORY | WNBA players approve landmark 7-year collective bargaining deal

The move comes as the league continues to broaden its footprint. This year, the WNBA added its 15th franchise, the Toronto Tempo. Over the next four years, teams will debut in Detroit, Cleveland and Philadelphia.

The WNBA schedule still trails the NBAs, which features 82 games.

League officials say the increase responds to growing fan demand. WNBA attendance has nearly doubled over the past three years.

Demand for the WNBA has never been greater, and expanding to a 50-game regular season reflects the extraordinary momentum we are seeing across the league, Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. This move reflects our commitment to growing the game and creating more opportunities for fans to watch the best players in the world and experience the extraordinary talent and competition that define the WNBA.

RELATED STORY | WNBA approves expansion teams in Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia

The additional games could benefit league markets, with each team gaining three more home games per year.

The league said further details on implementing the 50-game schedule will be released later.

Major League Baseball has warned players about writing on their uniforms after San Francisco starter Landen Roupp and two other pitchers added Bible verses to their Pride Night caps last week.

Roupp started the 5-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Friday night with "Gen 9:12-16" written on his cap. A portion of the Bible verse overlapped the rainbow SF logo players wore for Pride Night. San Francisco relievers JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker also added Bible verses to their caps.

Another Giants pitcher, left-hander Sam Hentges, wore the team's standard black cap with the orange logo instead of the Pride Night version.

RELATED STORY | The history behind the ubiquitous Pride flag

MLB issued a warning about future violations of the league's uniform policy.

"The writing on the cap violates our rules and consistent with normal practice we have warned the players about future violations," MLB said in its original statement.

The league issued another statement Tuesday to elaborate.

"To be clear, this routine verbal warning not to wear the hat in future games is not disciplinary and had absolutely nothing to do with the content of the message," MLB said.

"We respect players' right to free expression. However, writing of any kind, with any message, is prohibited per Major League Baseball's Uniform Regulations which provides in part that, '(a) Player may not write, attach, affix, embroider or otherwise display nicknames or messages on apparel or playing equipment'. We have given the same warning numerous times in the past to players for messages such as 'Dad', 'Happy Mother's Day, I Love Mom,' and names of family members."

ICYMI | Two-thirds of US adults comfortable with brands participating in Pride parades

MLB teams sometimes host Pride Nights during the regular season to support their LGBTQ+ fans. The league has been a leader among the four major U.S. pro sports in hosting Pride Nights, in part because its regular season overlaps with Pride Month in June. Many adopt rainbow-colored uniforms patches or logos, set up special signage around ballparks and invite guests including community leaders and drag performers.

The portion of the Genesis verse cited by Roupp on his hat included God's promise to never again send a worldwide flood and the rainbow in the sky is the sign of that covenant.

"That's just kind of something I believe in, and I stand firm in that, and I'm thankful we live in a country where, you know, we have the freedom to believe what we want and express what we want," Roupp told reporters.

Giants manager Tony Vitello told reporters nothing was discussed with the pitchers before the game. Vitello said it was "just kind of a general knowledge" that players "have the freedom to do what they think is best."

The Colorado Springs Switchbacks fell short against Sacramento Republic FC 1-0 on Saturday at Weidner Field.

The Switchbacks applied consistent pressure and controlled large stretches of possession. In the first half, Colorado Springs had 86.3% passing accuracy, produced 11 touches in Sacramento Republic FC's box and had five shot attempts.

In the 66', Sacramento Republic FC defender Jack Gurr placed a shot in the top right corner of the net for the only goal of the game.

I think we had a good game, we had some good chances, but we need to be able to move the ball accurately and be more disciplined, said Switchbacks forward Sadam Masereka.

In the match, the Switchbacks finished with 68% possession, won five of seven tackles and had 40 final third entries.

Possession is fantastic, but you gotta have to do something with it," said Switchbacks Head Coach Alan McCann. "Possession doesnt win you a game, doesnt guarantee you win a game. Its moments in the box, its box actions.

The Switchbacks will hit the road to take on FC Tulsa on Saturday, with kickoff happening at 6:30 p.m. Click here for information on how to watch the match.

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A new hockey team is coming to Pueblo!

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) announced that the Chippewa Steel will be relocating to the Steel City, playing games at the Pueblo Ice Arena, which is located near on North Grand Avenue.

The NAHL is forming a new mountain division that will feature five teams from Colorado, Montana, Utah and Idaho that have been moved up from the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC).

Other teams in the new division include the following:

The newly created Mountain Division is one of five divisions across the league, and the recently added teams will join a roster of 33 other teams across the nation.

The Chippewa Steel will be replacing the Pubelo Bulls, who competed as part of the NCDC.

Multiple tiers ahead of the NCDC, the NAHL is a Tier II junior hockey league sanctioned by USA Hockey. The league consistently ranks as the second strongest junior league in the United States.

News5's Dante Williams spoke with Chippewa Steel General Manager Vinny Bohn, and he says he and the Pueblo Bulls Head Coach Chris Wilhite were in direct communication about relocating to Pueblo.

Kind of happened organically between Chris and I," said Bohn. "I picked up the phone and instead of tracking hockey, it turned into a business call, which I think was the first time in our friendship. It was like 'hey, if this is a possibility, what do you guys think?'"

Bohn says the Steel and the Bulls organizations will now operate under one umbrella. He says both coaching staffs will be kept, and they'll all work together to produce the best product and help players move on to the next level.

We're in this together. Our goal is, I think everybody's goal, when it comes to the rink, is to win a championship and bring it to the City of Pueblo, said Bohn.

As for the players, everyone will have a chance to make the team. The Steel will host tryouts in Michigan from June 25 through the 28.

From there, we will bring the best players to Pueblo, and once the preseason and the season starts going, that's when we will make the determination of who makes the final cut, said Bohn.

The team is set to arrive in Pueblo in late August to start practicing. The season will begin in September.

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DENVER (AP) New Nashville front-office executive Chris MacFarland didn't take long to strike a deal with his former team in trading for Colorado forward Ross Colton on Tuesday.

MacFarland, who recently left his role as Avalanche GM to become the president of hockey operations/general manager of the Predators, acquired the veteran center along with goaltender Isak Posch. Colorado receives goalie Magnus Chrona and a pair of third-round picks (2026, '27).

"We are very excited to add Ross Colton to our forward mix, MacFarland said in a statement. Ross is a versatile, two-way winger who will add sandpaper and grit into our middle six group.

Colton is coming off a season with Colorado in which he had nine goals and 15 assists over 73 games. He was third among Avalanche players with 159 hits. Colton and the Avalanche made it to the Western Conference Final before being swept by Vegas.

It was MacFarland who helped orchestrate the trade that brought the 29-year-old Colton to Colorado on June 28, 2023, through a deal with Tampa Bay. Soon after, Colton was signed to a four-year contract.

The trade gives more draft capital to Joe Sakic, who's stepping back into the role of GM in the wake of MacFarland's departure. Sakic, who's also the president of hockey operations, was in that position when the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2022.

Chrona joins a team that features a goaltending tandem of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood. The pair won the William M. Jennings Trophy, which went to the goalies who played at least 25 games for the team that allowed the least amount of goals in the regular season.

Last season, the 25-year-old Chrona was 9-11-3 with a 2.94 goals-against average for the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League. Chrona remains familiar with the area having suited up at the University of Denver from 2019-23. He was part of the Pioneers when they won the national championship in 2021-22.

Posch spent time with the Colorado Eagles in each of the last two seasons. The Swedish native was named to the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic for the Pacific Division.

He is a big goalie who will add to our already impressive depth at this position, MacFarland said.

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AP Sports Writer Teresa M. Walker contributed.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby will not play for Texas Tech this fall and instead plans to enter the NFL supplemental draft, ending an unprecedented legal fight over the college eligibility of a player who had acknowledged betting on college and pro sports, including some wagers on his own team while at Indiana four years ago.

Cody Campbell, the billionaire booster who is chairman of the Texas Tech regents, wrote in an open letter Monday night that Sorsby will not be part of the team.

This decision was made with Brendan and his family and is purely an output of practical analysis of the situation, Campbell wrote. Brendan and Texas Tech stand on very solid and legitimate legal ground, but he faces a June 22nd deadline to be eligible to enter the NFLs supplemental draft, and there is no practical way to resolve all the various pending legal disputes and ensure his eligibility prior to this date. This is the only viable and fair path for Brendan and his future, as well as for his teammates, and our university.

That came exactly one week before the deadline for Sorsby to apply for the supplemental draft.

It was also one week after Sorsby was granted a temporary injunction against the NCAA, an order that sent shockwaves through college sports because one of the NCAAs foundational rules, and one found in many professional sports as well, is the ability to ban players for gambling especially those wagering on games involving their own team.

All the legal wrangling had raised the stakes in the fight over whether Sorsby could play and who would decide that.

Sorsby's decision came on the same day the NCAA and Big 12 Conference had filings in separate courts challenging a temporary injunction that had cleared the way for the 22-year-old quarterback to play despite being declared ineligible after he admitted making thousands of bets worth at least $90,000 while in college. Those included at least 40 bets on Indiana while he was a freshman there in 2022, though none on the game in which he played for the Hoosiers that season.

Sorsby didn't play a down for the defending Big 12 champion Red Raiders. He transferred to Texas Tech in January for a reported multimillion-dollar deal after playing the past two seasons at Cincinnati, another Big 12 school. The Texas native was at Indiana in 2022 and 2023.

Campbell, while not revealing any figures, said Texas Tech will not seek the return of any payments already made to Sorsby through his NIL agreements with the university.

RELATED STORY | NCAA accuses DraftKings of trademark infringement in March Madness marketing

Sorsby, not Texas Tech, filed the suit against the NCAA that resulted in the injunction. But school officials repeatedly said that for his mental health and well-being he would be better off on the team.

I am grateful for the support from my family, my Tech coaching staff, teammates, the community, and so many others who have encouraged me to address and learn more about this important issue, Sorsby wrote in a social media post Monday night. As my journey continues, I remain fully committed to and focused on being the best I can be, both on and off the field.

Court testimony revealed Sorsby has a diagnosed addiction and anxiety-driven compulsion. He recently completed a monthlong stay in a residential treatment program in Arizona that he entered after Texas Tech was notified in April about an NCAA investigation into his gambling activity.

I pray that he can stay on his path to recovery, Campbell wrote. Texas Tech will continue to provide the support and recovery resources Brendan requires on this journey.

Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec and athletic director Kirby Hocutt echoed that in a joint statement.

When Brendans lawsuit resulted in the granting of a temporary injunction, we found ourselves in a difficult situation. With his health and wellness as our top priority, we supported him in spite of very different perspectives and opinions. Our position was challenged by many but our support for him never changed," they wrote.

The ruling last week by Judge Ken Curry prevented the NCAA from being able to block the QB's eligibility for what would have been his final college season. Tech is among the favorites to win the Big 12 and return to the College Football Playoff for a second consecutive season.

Its been a challenging week for both our Conference and the college athletics landscape," Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark said in a statement Tuesday. "The Big 12 looks forward to moving ahead as 16 (schools) strong. We wish Brendan Sorsby success in his future endeavors.

The NCAA's appeal

In documents filed Monday with the Court of Appeals for the Seventh District of Texas at Amarillo, the NCAA had asked for an emergency motion to stay the June 8 injunction. The NCAA also asked for a resolution of the case before the start of Texas Tech's season. The trial was scheduled for February, well after the season ends.

Attorneys for the NCAA wrote that the trial courts temporary injunction "undermines the integrity of college sports, rewrites member-adopted rules of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, immunizes Brendan Sorsby from discipline for admitted and serial violations of NCAA anti-gambling rules, incentivizes a run on courthouses across the country to challenge even the most obvious and straightforward student-athlete eligibility decisions and demolishes the status quo.

Big 12 goes to federal court

The Big 12, meanwhile, filed a complaint in U.S. District Court in Dallas seeking a court order backing its ability to use its bylaws for possible sanctions against Texas Tech if Sorsby had played this season. Last week, the Texas attorney generals office warned the league of potential legal action from Texas Tech for any such sanctions.

RELATED STORY | 6 players accused of throwing games, gambling ties lose NCAA eligibility

The Big 12 filing names Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee in the U.S. Senate race this fall, as well as Texas Tech leadership, including its president, chancellor and athletic director. It accused them of trying to prevent the Big 12 from exercising its own rules the school itself agreed to long ago. Sorsby wasnt named as a defendant.

An athlete with an extensive, documented history of wagering on intercollegiate athletic contests especially his own teams games presents a reputational and integrity risk to the conference and its championship competition that the conference has both the right and the responsibility to address, attorneys for the Big 12 wrote. The conference is not required to accept that risk on behalf of its 15 other member Institutions, their student-athletes, their fans and its commercial partners. And no government official has the power to compel it to do so.

That came before a meeting Monday of the Big 12 board of directors, which is made up of presidents and chancellors from the leagues 16 schools.

In a statement by the board after that meeting, the Big 12 said it was committed to protecting the competitive integrity of conference competition and that, "Universities should not field players who have bet on their own teams games in college athletics.

Big 12 athletic directors in a conference call with Yormark last week expressed opposition to Sorsby playing for the Red Raiders this season, and some even suggested maybe not playing Texas Tech if he had.

Serena Williams will return to Grand Slam competition later this month, teaming with her sister Venus Williams in doubles at Wimbledon. They gained a tournament entry as wild cards.

The sisters last played doubles together at the 2022 U.S. Open, where they lost in the opening round. Serena returned to competitive tennis earlier this month at the HSBC Championships, winning her first match with partner Victoria Mboko.

RELATED STORY | Serena Williams makes winning return to professional tennis

Mboko was forced to withdraw from singles play during the tournament because of an injury.

Serena and Venus last teamed up at Wimbledon in 2016, when they won the doubles title. Together, they have claimed 14 Grand Slam doubles championships and three Olympic gold medals, making them among the most successful doubles teams in tennis history.

Although Serena, 44, has played little competitive tennis since announcing her retirement in 2022, Venus, 45, has remained active on the WTA Tour. She last competed at the Mutua Madrid Open in late April in both singles and doubles. Venus last appeared at Wimbledon in 2023, while Serenas most recent appearance was in 2022.

RELATED STORY | Mirra Andreeva, 19, wins French Open to become youngest champion since 1992

CHICAGO (AP) Pete Crow-Armstrong became the first major league player to hit for the cycle this season as the Chicago Cubs rallied for a 5-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Monday night.

Chicago trailed 4-3 in the ninth inning before Pedro Ramrez hit an RBI single off Seth Halvorsen with the bases loaded and nobody out. Matt Shaw then walked on five pitches to force home the winning run.

Cole Carrigg's three-run homer off Caleb Thielbar in the eighth, his third home run in seven big league games, gave the Rockies a 4-2 lead. Crow-Armstrong's sacrifice fly in the bottom half pulled Chicago within one.

Crow-Armstrong extended his on-base streak to 19 games with his second leadoff home run in three games, a 434-foot shot center field off Michael Lorenzen.

Crow-Armstrong led off the third with a triple to center. He doubled in the fifth and singled leading off the seventh for the 13th cycle in Cubs history and second since 1993.

A triple short of a cycle on Saturday, Crow-Armstrong joined Hack Wilson (1930) as the only Cubs center fielders to hit for the cycle since 1901.

Crow-Armstrong finished 4 for 4 with two RBIs but only scored once as the Cubs went 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position until the ninth. He was picked off first base by Brennan Bernardino after his single.

Daniel Palencia (2-1) pitched a scoreless ninth for the Cubs (38-35).

Juan Mejia (1-6) took the loss for the Rockies (27-46).

Chicago starter Shota Imanaga allowed one run over 5 2/3 innings. He was lifted with two on before reliever Phil Maton walked Carrigg to force home Colrado's first run.

With the score tied 1-all in the sixth, Shaw tripled into the right-field corner to score Moises Ballesteros from first.

Ramrez entered as a pinch hitter in the eighth.

Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (2-2, 5.20 ERA) starts Tuesday against Cubs RHP Edward Cabrera (4-3, 4.86).

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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DENVER (AP) Nobody has lived on the edge of the risk-reward nature of sports more than Deion Sanders over the years.

One place the Colorado coach wont go gambling on the college game, the likes of which has generated a scandal inside the very conference his team resides. Wagering has jumped to the forefront of college football as Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby won a court order early last week that restored his eligibility and set aside a ban by the NCAA for betting on pro and college sports. Colorado plays Big 12 rival Texas Tech on Oct. 3 as part of homecoming festivities.

Somebodys gambling on a sport theyre playing? You dont think somethings wrong with that? Sanders said in a recent interview with The Associated Press and before the latest court ruling with Sorsby. Just say that to yourself: This guy on my team is gambling on the sport, in the competition, that were about to go out there and have. Somethings wrong that.

Sanders has plenty of thoughts on refining the game in this day and age of the volatile transfer portal and lucrative name, image and likeness deals. His takes include a salary cap in an effort to even the NIL playing field, hiring a retired coach as commissioner (a Nick Saban type ), instituting some sort of an age limit, expand the College Football Playoff to 24 teams and, of course, a hard pass when it comes to betting (he's talked to his squad about this topic).

The game is still the game, Sanders said. The game is just positioned differently. Moneys involved, and any time moneys involved people tend to migrate to what they think they can get out of it, instead of what they could put into it and thats unfortunate.

A year ago, Sanders was going through treatment for bladder cancer, which included having a section of his intestine reconstructed to function as a bladder. This being Mens Health Month, he's working with Depend underwear to encourage regular checkups (and launching a program titled Depend Wake Up Calls that allows consumers to receive video messages from Sanders through June).

Earlier this spring, Sanders stepped away from the team for a few days as he dealt with blood clots. But he said he's feeling great. I've got my old swagger back.

Along with it, a new outlook, which includes actually taking vacation time. Sanders recently partnered on a beachfront property in St. Croix with his son, Shedeur, who's entering his second season as a quarterback with the Cleveland Browns.

I never wouldve done that, because I dont go anywhere, the 58-year-old Sanders said. I'm stepping out, just living life.

Sanders missed football camps last summer in Boulder as he went through cancer treatments. The Buffaloes finished with a 3-9 mark a year after making a bowl game behind Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.

This offseason, a more hands-on version of Deion Sanders.

I have everybody in that locker room because we said we want them, he said. Because I sat there and watched tape on them and said, Thats who I want, thats what I want. Lets go get them.

Sanders found it funny that his heavy reliance on the transfer portal once drew so many raised eyebrows.

Now, everybodys doing the same thing that I did, he said. But it was crazy back then, right?

He's seen and heard the plans from conferences and the legislation proposals from lawmakers on how to adapt college football in this new landscape. Its a lot to untangle, which is why he advocates for an authoritative figure to help oversee the sport.

A guy like Coach Saban and some of the other coaches that have walked away from the game not because they cant coach anymore but because they were fed up with how things are operating, he said.

Sanders also would be in favor of implementing a salary cap (see: NFL).

So you can really have a consistency with the game, Sanders said. The thing about the pro game, everybody gets to spend the same amount of money. Its who is crafty in regard to business. College football isn't like that. You may have a team that's spent $40 million playing against a team who spent $10 million. You darn well know the outcome in that game.

That leads him to his next point a potential age cap.

You cant have a 30-year-old man playing against a 21-year old man and think its fair, he said. Should be a transfer rule as well. Youre teaching kids not to fight through adversity when you're having kids able to transfer two or three or four times.

As for NIL, he momentarily pondered if anything might have been different for him had a similar system been in place when he was at Florida State.

It probably wouldnt have (changed), said Sanders, a college and pro football hall of famer. I've had a pretty good run. Im still running, too still high stepping. Im probably in the third quarter of this game (of life) and were winning. Were up by about 21. Im loving life.

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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

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So much for a supersized World Cup diluting the quality of soccer's biggest tournament.

Tiny Cape Verde, making its debut at the World Cup, pulled off a stunning upset to shut out heavily favored Spain in a 0-0 draw on Monday.

"This means everything for our country," said Cape Verde coach Pedro Leito Brito. "We have always said that we wanted everybody to see our country, our team and we have shown organization and braveness and this is proof of what our country is about resilience and to try to overcome hardships."

RELATED STORY | World Cup referee Omar Artan will receive full fee from FIFA despite being denied entry to the US

European champion Spain is one of the favorites to win the tournament and was -1200 to beat Cape Verde in its opening game. But it could not find a way past a 40-year-old goalkeeper and a stubborn defense that had an answer to everything Spain's superstars threw at them.

Not even sensational teenager Lamine Yamal, who came in off the bench in the second half, could turn a game that ended with wild and emotional celebrations from Cape Verde players and fans inside the stadium.

"A dream" was how Cape Verde defender Steven Moreira described it.

Veteran goalkeeper Vozinha broke down in tears after the final whistle following his impressive performance to keep Spain at bay.

He was the player of the match, pulling off a string of saves at the end of the first half to deny Ferran Torres, Pedri and Aymeric Laporte.

The closest Spain came to finding a breakthrough was when Torres struck the bar shortly before halftime.

"We should have won today's match with everything that happened, with all the favorable situations we created, but we lacked freshness and a clinical edge," said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, who had warned before the match that Cape Verde could be one of the surprise teams of the World Cup.

Spain could have been the victim of an even bigger upset when Diney Borges had a late chance to win the game, but saw his header saved by Spain keeper Unai Simon.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Mexico kicks off the 2026 World Cup with a 2-0 win over South Africa

Cape Verde's performance rebuked some of the criticisms that the expansion of the World Cup from 32 teams to 48 would weaken the tournament.

A group of islands with around half a million inhabitants is the third smallest nation to qualify for the tournament. And even against a Spain team that is filled with superstar players, Cape Verde proved its worth on soccer's biggest stage.

"All of us, we are happy because we work a lot to be here. We deserve to be here," said Vozinha.

The 2010 champion Spain is aiming to win the World Cup for a second time, but a disappointing start echoes its performances in recent tournaments when it has failed to advance beyond the round of 16 in each of the last three editions.

"What doubts do you think my team is going to have? Zero doubts," said De la Fuente. "We know how difficult this competition is. The idea we need to follow is what took us here and what made us European champions."

Spain plays Saudi Arabia on Sunday and Cape Verde faces Uruguay.

The Pueblo Punishers' inaugural season came to an end Saturday night, but not before giving fans plenty to be excited about.

The Punishers finished second in the National Arena League with a 7-3 record and earned a playoff berth in their first season. They hosted the Salina Liberty in the semifinals at the Southwest Motors Event Center.

The Liberty led in the first half, but the Punishers fought back from a two-score deficit to make it a close game. Pueblo ultimately fell on a free-play Hail Mary, sending the Liberty to the championship.

Watch the highlights from the previous game in the video player below.

Despite the loss, the Punishers' first season is considered a success, with anticipation already building for next season.

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DENVER Weather in the Mile High can change quickly, from snow to hail to sunshine, and the Colorado Rockies grounds crew always keeps a close eye on Mother Nature.

Since 1994, Mark Razum has worked at Coors Field, but his roots started back in Ohio where he worked for the Cleveland Guardians before managing spring training for the Oakland Athletics. Coming to Colorado, he would realized the humidity difference compared to the East Coast, along with the constantly changing weather.

"Well, the one thing for sure, Arizona was kind of pretty much a normal temperature all the time, same with Oakland. But you come to Colorado it's just different almost every day, every week, which makes it a challenge. It makes it exciting," Razum said.

The grounds crew is made up of four full-time and 11 part-time employees. To ensure the field is game-day ready for the Rockies, the team will come out around eight hours ahead of opening pitch to start mowing, watering, and caring for the grass.

"We want to try to [make] everything the same for the guys every day and that's why we mow every day," explained Razum. "We want the same mowing height for the players. We'll try to keep the same conditions of the infield dirt and so forth the same. It's just that challenge of of trying to get that consistency, whether it's 90 or 40 degrees those kind of things. We're always trying to make it right for the players to to be comfortable out."

During these hot days when the sun is in full force, Razum said the key is not overwatering the grounds. He explained the grass grows on peat moss in the soil, so it will retain nutrients and moisture and not dry out quickly.

Another grounds crew member, Hung Huynh, has noticed the weather whiplash this year, but knows that is just part of the job here in Colorado.

"The beginning of the season, we had that snowstorm that came, so we had to plow snow, shovel it off, and then we had some rain in May," said Huynh. "Honestly, if anything, it hasn't been much of a challenge, it's been the crazy weather that's been the hardest part. Other than that everything has been running smoothly here at the ballpark."

For this hardworking crew, their love for baseball and the Rockies makes every weather challenge one worth stepping up to the plate for.

"I knew I wanted to be in sports and I knew I loved the Rockies, so I knew being a part of the game the best way for me was to be a part of the ground crew," Huynh said.

Carolina spent the first part of the Stanley Cup Final surviving, finding ways to overcome deficits and play a high-scoring game that didn't fit the Hurricanes' typical style.

But when it came down to doing what it takes to win the Cup, the Hurricanes' defense put its stamp on this series, shutting down the Vegas Golden Knights and not letting up.

The Hurricanes held Vegas to five total goals in Games 4 and 5 and used a suffocating defense in a 3-0 shutout Sunday night in Game 6 to win their first championship in 20 years.

Thats a lot of years, said Carolina center Jordan Staal, who received the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Its amazing. This is something Ive been going after ever since we got the first one. You want to win it again and again and again. "

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Brandon Bussi, whose entrance late in Game 3 helped turn around the series, had his first career playoff shutout in stopping 22 shots. Jackson Blake had a goal and assist, and Taylor Hall scored just 3:47 into the game to set the tone. Nikolaj Ehlers added an empty-netter.

Your mind wanders the last couple of days and wonder what it may be like out here (on ice after winning) and its better than I could have expected," Hall said.

The Golden Knights struggled badly to muster any kind of offense in Game 6 and went 18:37 between shots on goal in the second and third periods. Playing in their third Cup final, this is the first time they have been shut out.

This final game was what many observers expected the series to be like between the defensive-minded teams, but each side watched leads of two-plus goals disappear in the first three games.

Now, the Cup belongs to the Hurricanes, led by coach Rod Brind'Amour, who also captained Carolina to its 2006 title.

It's just as awesome, Brind'Amour said. But as a player, it was a little different. I worked and dreamt of winning the Cup my whole life, so that was like a piano came off my back. This time around, I wanted it for the group."

This was the first game of the series that Vegas goalie Carter Hart didn't allow four goals in a game. He finished with 20 saves.

The Hurricanes began to assume control of the series after falling behind by the score of 4-0 in Game 3. They came back to force overtime, and though the Canes lost, they outplayed the Golden Knights from there on out.

Reflecting the do-or-die situation for the Golden Knights, they made several lineup changes, with Brett Howden replacing the injured William Karlsson at second-line center. Mitch Marner could have moved there, but remained at right wing.

Original Golden Knight Reilly Smith made his Cup final debut at third-line right wing, and Braeden Bowman made his playoff debut at fourth-line right wing. Kaedan Korczak replaced Dylan Coghlan on the third defensive pairing.

This is tough to be on this side of it, Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb said. But on the other side, these chances dont come around very often. So it stings."

This title is a testament to Carolinas resilience as a franchise that kept coming close to winning the Eastern Conference, but couldnt quite get through until now.

BrindAmour made sure the Hurricanes kept getting back up after losing in the conference final twice in the past three years and three times in their current eight-year playoff run. The talent was clearly there, but there was always a stumbling block.

Not anymore.

After dispatching Montreal in five games to make the final, the Hurricanes then faced perennial power Vegas and took care of business there, too. Now, BrindAmour will get his name on the Cup for the second time.

So will 37-year-old Staal, who also won the title in 2009 with Pittsburgh. He planted himself in front of Hart and dared the Golden Knights to knock him out of the way. Staal scored in each of the first five Cup final games, the first time that has happened.

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The Hurricanes got off to a fast start with a goal just 25 seconds into Game 1, only to lose 5-4 on a late goal from Tomas Hertl. And the Golden Knights were on the verge of taking complete control as minutes ticked down in Game 2 while holding a 2-0 lead and appearing as if they would take a two-game advantage back home.

Then, it all changed. Carolina showed a fight that not only brought the Hurricanes back into the series by rallying to win 4-3 in overtime on Seth Jarvis one-timer, but would serve as their signature throughout the series.

That was especially true the following game when the Golden Knights took a 4-0 lead into the third period and the Canes seemed to have no answers. BrindAmour even appeared to wave the white flag by removing goalie Frederik Andersen and replacing him with Bussi.

But the Hurricanes werent simply trying to get to Game 4. They sent a message, going on a remarkable rally to force overtime. Though Carolina lost, it was an inflection point, with Bussi backstopping a team that was only growing stronger. Carolina then went on to win the next two games and moved within a victory of the championship.

The Hurricanes got it done against the Golden Knights team that was on a heater after John Tortorella replaced Bruce Cassidy with eight games left in the regular season. Vegas then went from third in the Pacific Division to first, knocked off Utah and Anaheim in six games apiece in the playoffs and shockingly swept Presidents Trophy-winning Colorado to win the West.

I am very proud to be a part of this organization, very proud to lead this team, very proud to play with every single guy that steps into our locker room, Vegas captain Mark Stone said. This feeling sucks. I never want to have it again."

The Somali referee who was denied entry to the United States for the World Cup will still be paid his full tournament fee.

A person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press that Omar Artan will still be entitled to payment despite not officiating any games at the near six-week long event. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

They said the fee would be determined after the tournament concludes next month.

Artan is one of soccer's top officials and was named Africa's best male referee in 2025. But the Somali national was denied entry after arriving at Miami International Airport from Istanbul last week.

RELATED STORY | Visa denials, high ticket prices, Ebola shadow 2026 World Cup

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Artan was inadmissible due to vetting concerns.

He had originally been issued a visa to travel to the U.S., according to the Somalia Embassy in Kenya, which processed it, and was due to meet up with other World Cup referees at their training base in Miami.

FIFA said it was not involved in the immigration processes and that the host government ultimately determines who is granted entry. As a result it said Artan would not be able to train and officiate at the World Cup.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | The US is hosting the World Cup, but nearly half of Americans dont care

The 34-year-old Artan was given a hero's welcome when he returned to Somalia earlier this week and vowed to attend the next edition of the World Cup mainly staged in Morocco, Portugal and Spain - in 2030. He was also appointed to officiate one of European soccer's showcase games, the UEFA Super Cup in August.

Football is made to connect people and UEFA wants to show its respect to Omar and his outstanding officiating skills, UEFA president Aleksander eferin said in a statement.

Jubilant Knicks fans flooded the streets of New York Saturday night, crowding into intersections and climbing light poles and buses, to celebrate the teams first NBA championship win in more than 50 years.

As of early Sunday, multiple arrests had been made, the NYPD said, noting details on the number of people detained and the possible charges they face would be released later.

For the fans gathered at a packed watch party outside Madison Square Garden, it was a night of raw emotion, CNNs Shimon Prokupecz said.

As the Knicks closed out the win, the celebration broke loose with fans high-fiving as chants rose up around them, Prokupecz said.

Im a wreck right now I knew we would do it, one fan told CNN in the moments after the final buzzer.

The game was played in Texas but Knicks fans gathered at watch parties across the city to witness the team battle back in the fourth quarter to take the title.

Traffic on the streets around the Garden came to a standstill after the game as the NYPD maintained a heavy presence.

The largely peaceful celebration radiated out into the streets around the Garden, with some fans climbing on street signs and jumping on top of vehicles. In Times Square, chants of Lets go Knicks filled the air.

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As celebrations stretched into the night, some in the crowd set off fireworks in Times Square, according to video from Freedom News TV obtained by CNN. Near Madison Square Garden, police officers repeatedly ordered crowds to back up as they detained people and worked to clear the streets.

Elsewhere in Times Square, officers moved in after a crowd began damaging a parked school bus, tearing off part of its hood, CNNs Mark Morales reported. The bus was also seen being rocked back and forth by people in the crowd.

On Sixth Avenue, tensions escalated around 2 a.m. after multiple police cars were damaged and their windshields shattered. Bottles and coolers were thrown toward officers as more police moved in, Prokupecz reported.

Later, after a small trash fire was set, mounted officers formed a line to push people out of the street as crowd-control units gathered behind them, with the horses fitted in protective eye gear.

Knicks owner James Dolan earlier urged fans to not to get too rowdy. We want everybody tonight in New York, be safe, okay? Celebrate, but be safe, he said at a news conference after the game.

A victory parade will be held Thursday, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced.

The celebration will mark the first ticker-tape parade in Knicks history and honor a team that delivered an NBA championship to a city that has waited generations for this moment, the city said in a news release.

Electricity in the air

Before Saturday nights game, New York was already acting like a city possessed, with the signs of anticipation and excitement impossible to miss.

Metal barricades surrounded Madison Square Garden and police checkpoints were up around Penn Station as city officials scrambled to prevent a repeat of Wednesday nights chaos, when dozens of fans were taken into custody after the Knicks historic comeback.

With the World Cup unfolding just across the Hudson, and a sold-out 5 Seconds of Summer concert inside Madison Square Garden, New Yorks streets were a swirl of colors and loyalties, as supporters of Brazil and Morocco mingled with Knicks faithful in a rare collision of two of the worlds biggest sporting obsessions and everything else a Saturday night brings to the city.

Thousands of sports fans flooded into the area near Madison Square Garden early, turning one of the most heavily trafficked areas into a bustling sea of yellow, red, orange and blue as they raced to clinch the best seats inside a barricaded area for Saturdays watch party.

Soccer fans on their way to the first World Cup game in New Jersey moved through the crowds dressed in their jerseys, as others donned their Knicks gear and posed in front of the basketball mecca.

The countdown to bedlam

When the Knicks win, the city transforms.

Car horns become percussion instruments and fire escapes become grandstands. Empire State of Mind, New York, New York and Juicy pour from speakers and open apartment windows and entire subway cars, and even the most nonchalant of New Yorkers, erupt into chants.

Ecstasy quickly gave way to chaos after Game 4 Wednesday night. Thousands of fans flooded the streets surrounding Madison Square Garden, some climbing traffic lights, scaffolding and construction cranes, others jumping on moving vehicles. Videos showed fans standing atop taxis, hanging from structures and surging through intersections.

The NYPD said 56 people were taken into custody following Game 4, including 15 arrests. Ten officers were injured. Police say fans shut down traffic, attempted to overturn a taxi, ignited fireworks in dense crowds, damaged multiple NYPD vehicles, threw bottles and other objects, engaged in fights and climbed onto buildings, light poles and construction equipment.

Crowds around the Garden swelled past 10,000 people Wednesday night. The scenes echoed earlier playoff celebrations, including a massive watch-party gathering of roughly 7,000 people in Bryant Park during Game 2 that turned violent and destructive, according to a law enforcement official.

On Monday night, a 39-year-old man wearing a Spurs jersey was stomped and punched after Game 3 while walking down West 47th Street, about 15 blocks from the arena. The man was jeered and then attacked by people trying to rip off the jersey, video shows. After trying to defend himself and push people away, the man was taken to the ground from behind and kicked before his cellphone was stolen, according to the NYPD. The victim was hospitalized in stable condition.

Madison Square Garden canceled its official Game 4 watch party amid a public dispute with city officials over security restrictions. The move came after MSG executives sharply criticized the NYPD and Mayor Mamdani over the citys security plan, which included a large perimeter and additional crowd-control measures surrounding the arena.

Dolan argued the restrictions were designed around stopping people from celebrating around Madison Square Garden and said the arena would not install outdoor screens for Game 4 as a result. Mamdani fired back at Dolan on X before Wednesdays game, saying, MSG requested a permit for a watch party for 500-999 fans. We approved that permit for 999 fans.

The NYPD said the day after the game that violent behavior occurred again after Game 4, saying it demonstrates exactly why the department increased its presence around Madison Square Garden.

The inclusion of nordic combined, and for the first time, women's nordic combined in the 2030 Winter Olympics will be decided on later this month.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will meet in Lausanne, Switzerland June 22-25. During that time, they are expected to decide whether womens nordic combined will be added to the 2030 Olympic Winter Games Program and if the sport will be included at all.

The sport is a mix of ski jumping and cross country skiing. 21-year-old Alexa Brabec is a top nordic combined athlete from Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She says while it was exciting to watch male nordic combined athletes during the most recent Winter Olympics, she wants women to be able to compete as well.

Of course its disappointing watching and having to sit on the sidelines knowing that we are training and doing everything the same as the men and just dont have that opportunity to compete," Alexa said.

Alexa's mother, Jill Brabec, is president of Nordic Combined USA. She says the IOC initially argued that the competition level of women's nordic combined was not adequate. She is hopeful the committee will come to "the right decision."

If you look at the top 10 women, they are from seven different countries," Jill said. "That means we have a broad participation of countries and we have a high level of competition, those are the two key things that the IOC has been looking for.

Currently, nordic combined is the only Winter Olympic sport without a women's discipline.

meghan.glova@koaa.com

Meghan Glova KOAA

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Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden was arrested Saturday morning in Texas, according to a court document.

Around 3:40 a.m., Harden was arrested in Harris County, Texas, for "unlawfully, intentionally and knowingly" carrying a handgun while in his vehicle, the document stated.

Harden did not have the gun in its holster, and it was in plain view, according to the document.

He has been charged with a misdemeanor and has since been released on bond.

RELATED STORY | From 29 down to one win away: Knicks deliver Finals masterpiece in epic comeback

As part of his bond conditions, Harden may not possess any firearms, ammunition or other weapons; he also may not possess or use alcohol or drugs, and he must submit to random urinalysis.

Harden's arraignment has been scheduled for June 22.

The arrest came just weeks after the Cavs' season ended in a loss to the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals.

The guard was traded to the Cavs in early February from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Darius Garland and a second-round pick.

This article was produced by Maya Morita for the Scripps News Group station in Cleveland.

Former Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Raiders running back Greg Pruitt was rescued by Cleveland firefighters Friday after the 74-year-old attempted to drive through several feet of water that flooded a street following a water main break.

Pruitt said he didnt realize the water was as deep as it was until it began filling the cab of his Nissan pickup.

He said he climbed out of his sunroof to safety.

We could hear him because he was blowing the horn, said Monte Madden, whose family owns a truck wash and auto recycling business nearby.

Madden and his uncle pulled Pruitts truck out of the water.

He said hes fed up with the flooding on a low-lying section and avenue that passes underneath a train bridge.

We have to rescue people out of our own neighborhood, said Madden.

Madden said street flooding when it rains has been an ongoing problem for years, but seems to be getting worse.

Signs warn drivers that the road may flood, but he said many either dont see the signs or ignore them.

Now hes worried that if someone doesnt do something to alleviate the lakes that form on the secluded section of street, the consequences will be deadly.

My worry is that someone may be in a smaller car, said Madden, and come through here and not make it.

One by one, the burly mixed martial arts fighters made their entrance past the solemn, hulking marble statue of America's 16th president and jogged down the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to roars from thousands of fans drawn to the unusual sporting weekend marking the nation's 250th anniversary and President Donald Trump's 80th birthday.

The news conference Friday night featured the fighters who are preparing to face off Sunday in the Octagon built outside the White House. But it was also a chance to see the UFC fans who have thronged to Washington and endured lightning, humidity and bugs for the spectacle.

Tracy Philbeck and his son Levi drove from Charlotte, North Carolina, with a group of friends to support their favorite fighter, American Justin Gaethje, in the upcoming lightweight title bout against Georgian Ilia Topuria.

"You will hear an eagle screaming when Justin Gaethje wins, the elder Philbeck chuckled.

RELATED STORY | DOJ cites 1800s White House baseball games in lawsuit trying to stop UFC event

David Halstead journeyed from Albany, in Western Australia, to watch the sport he has loved for a decade. Halstead said Trump, who regularly attends the fights, put UFC on the map."

The UFC has said it spent $60 million on this weekend's festivities, and Republican president has billed it as the greatest show on earth.

Not everyone agrees.

The Public Integrity Project described the event as a private, commercial, corrupt use of our most sacred national monuments for private gain in a lawsuit the watchdog group filed to try to stop it from happening on federal land. A federal judge ruled on Friday that the White House was allowed to go ahead.

Only about 1 in 10 U.S. adults consider themselves mixed martial arts fans, according to Ipsos Sports polling conducted in February and March. That polling suggests MMA fans skew male and nonwhite. They are more likely to identify as Republicans than Democrats.

One misconception is that everyone who watches UFC is a Trump supporter, but thats not the case," said Ricardo Rodriguez, 24, explaining he loves the physicality of the sport. People also expect a knock out every time," he said.

Ellie Louizes, who practices Muay Thai, or Thai kickboxing, and jujitsu martial arts, drove from Daytona Beach, Florida, with her boyfriend, Jacob Purvis.

RELATED STORY | White House tests lights and stage equipment ahead of UFC fight on the lawn this Sunday

Female fans of MMA are the minority. But Louizes said she knows a lot of women who get into watching the sport through their male partners. She said female fighters are often way more aggressive than the men.

Fans brushed off the criticism about White House as host

The fans at the Lincoln Memorial brushed off criticism about the bouts being held at the White House.

Holding fights at the People's House, Tracy Philbeck said, "goes back to the days of Teddy Roosevelt.

Roosevelt regularly held sparring sessions at the White House, though they were not formal public prizefights. He was an enthusiastic amateur boxer who had boxed at Harvard and continued the sport throughout much of his life.

Boxing fans also make up a large part of the UFC's fan base.

At a UFC-sponsored community event this week at the District of Columbia's Midtown Youth Academy, the boxing gym's executive director was helping out with a visit from UFC fighter Randy Brown, who sparred with more than dozen local teenagers and preteens.

Gloria Lee said meeting the fighter was a big deal for kids at her gym. It's just been a thrilling week, and I was about to fall out when he came in the door! she said.

Asked about her personal UFC fandom, Lee said she had not watched it much. But by the end of Brown's visit, she got into the ring with the professional fighter and threw some slugs of her own.

Folarin Balogun fired his second goal into the top far corner of Paraguays net and then led his American teammates to the corner of their home stadium, reveling in the frenzy created by their historic first half at their World Cup opener.

The worlds biggest soccer tournament finally returned to the U.S. on Friday night after a generation of anticipation.

RELATED STORY | Mexico kicks off the 2026 World Cup with a 2-0 win over South Africa

With this phenomenal match, the Americans also look like they've arrived.

Balogun scored twice in the Americans' three-goal barrage before halftime, and the U.S. opened its first home World Cup in 32 years with its biggest win in the tournament, a dynamic 4-1 victory over Paraguay.

Christian Pulisic had an assist in a stellar first-half playmaking performance for the Americans, who enthralled their Southern California fans with an aggressive attack while streaking to a 3-0 lead the team's largest in any World Cup game.

It meant everything for us, Pulisic said. A half like that, for it to go as it did, and have the fans excited about our performance, it felt amazing.

Gio Reyna ripped another goal in the dying moments of second-half injury time, giving the Americans four goals in a World Cup match for the first time in their tournament history dating to 1930.

This production, this confidence, this dominance it was nothing like the vast majority of the Americans' previous performances on the international stage over the years and decades.

They've won exactly one knockout-round game in the World Cup. They've almost always struggled to score in the biggest events, most recently managing only three goals combined in their four matches at the Qatar World Cup in 2022.

RELATED STORY | The US is hosting the World Cup, but nearly half of Americans dont care

In this pressure-packed home opener, the Americans were a team transformed while playing in coach Mauricio Pochettinos more creative system in front of a passionate, star-studded Los Angeles crowd of 70,492. Led by the elite talent and coach-inspired fearlessness of Balogun, Pulisic and Weston McKennie up front, the U.S. finally had its breakthrough performance at SoFi Stadium.

Its difficult to compare with the past, said Pochettino, who took over in late 2024. I dont know what happened in the past. I think we need to talk about today, because it was a great match. It was amazing for our fans to see, to watch this type of game, and today, I am so proud and we are so proud. I think we are winning a lot of fans, adding fans for the sport here in America.

Not everything went perfectly: Pulisic was replaced by Sebastian Berhalter at halftime for precautionary reasons. Pochettino said Pulisic was kicked in the back of his left calf during a training session this week, and felt some subsequent tightness during the match.

Staying positive, Pulisic said. I dont think its anything.

Maurcio scored in the second half for Paraguay, but La Albirroja fell too far behind early in their first World Cup match in 16 years.

The U.S. won this match very clearly and fairly, Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro said through an interpreter. They dominated tactically, technically and physically as well. ... This team is a complex challenge because they have answers to everything you throw at them.

After the U.S. went ahead on an early own-goal created by Pulisic's playmaking, Balogun scored in the 31st minute and again in the fifth minute of first-half injury time.

The New York-born, London-raised striker made his World Cup debut with the first multigoal performance from a U.S. player in the tournament since 1930. Balogun chose to represent the U.S. three years ago instead of staying in the English system, where he likely would have struggled to make the Three Lions' roster and the 24-year-old Monaco professional has swiftly provided the top-level striker play historically lacking on U.S. rosters.

Poch has said many times, Why not us? Balogun said. We have to believe. You cant do anything if you dont believe in yourself.

Pulisic created the first two U.S. goals with exceptional runs down the left side. In the seventh minute, the AC Milan standout cleverly split two defenders and passed to McKennie, whose centering touch hit Paraguay midfielder Damin Bobadillas outstretched foot and went in, setting off pandemonium in the stands.

The Americans gradually amplified their attack centered around Pulisics runs and three minutes after an apparent goal from Balogun was erased by an offside call, Pulisic again drove the left side and got a deflected pass to the trailing Balogun, who banged it home.

Malik Tillman then made a perfectly weighted pass in injury time to Balogun, who sidled through the Paraguay defense and beautifully found the top shelf.

The Americans were less cohesive without Pulisic in the second half, but Reyna still added the finishing touch by gliding into the box and toe-flicking home his first World Cup goal. The moment was sweet for Reyna, who barely played at the Qatar World Cup amid a messy family dispute with former U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter.

Dozens of American celebrities and cultural icons turned out for the match 10 miles south of Hollywood, including Tom Cruise, George Lucas, Bill Gates, Halle Berry, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

The United States men's national soccer team's (USMNT) trip to a World Cup championship started Friday night, and News5 caught up with fans in Colorado Springs.

USMNT got the win Friday night in dominating fashion against Paraguay by the final score of 4-1.

News5 went to Jack Quinn's in Downtown Colorado Springs as fans watched the win. We spoke with one person about his expectations for USMNT.

"I am hoping they get past the group stage, they have the talent to do that," said Mahesh Patel. "Hopefully they get to the quarter finals, that would be a success for them if they do that."

USMNT will take on Australia next Friday in Seattle.

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The Pueblo Punishers finished their inaugural National Arena League (NAL) regular season with a 7-3 record, earning the second seed in the playoffs. The team will face the Salina Liberty in the semifinals Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at the Southwest Motors Event Center.

In February, a group of players came together, none of them knowing the person to their left or their right. They all arrived with one goal in mind, winning the NAL championship, and now, they are on the doorstep of accomplishing that.

The Punishers have been one of the highest-scoring teams in the league, with an average win margin of 28 points. All three of their losses this season came by one or two possessions.

The team has performed at a high level from start to finish, but co-head coach Clinton Solomon says they still have not reached their full potential.

"We done played 10 games, and we still haven't reached our high point. We are hoping to come in these last two games, and we hope we put it all together," said Solomon.

In the short history of the NAL, a handful of teams have won the championship in their first season. Since day one, the Punishers have believed they could be the next team to do so.

"That was the goal from the start. First day, we came in to camp here, the coach was saying we have the guys to do it. We just got to come put in the work and do what we got to do," said linebacker Noa Purcell.

"I've been to the semifinals twice in my career, haven't made it to the finals yet, so for me, it's really personal because we are right there. I believe that this is the team to do it. Being a first year team, people count us out a lot, but we've proven time and time again that we belong here," said offensive lineman Tyrell Thompson.

"It's three seasons. It's a preseason, regular season, and you got the playoffs. We in the playoffs now, it's the third season, so we ready to go," said Solomon.

The Punishers' mindset heading into the week is simple, this is championship week, because without a win Saturday, the team does not advance to the championship game.

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KOAA News5 is the proud southern Colorado home of the Colorado Springs Switchbacks!

We will stream all non-nationally exclusive Switchbacks FC matches on our mobile app, connected TV apps, and website so that Southern Coloradans can enjoy them.

On Saturday, the Colorado Springs Switchbacks will play against the Sacramento Republic FC at Weidner Field. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. For tickets, click here.

It is also Mustache Night at Weidner Field. During Saturday's match, the Switchbacks will be raising awareness of men's mental health. Fans will get a free mustache prop before the match begins.

Currently, in the Group B USL Rankings, the Switchbacks are in eighth place with 13 points (3-4-3). Sacramento Republic FC sits in ninth place with the same amount of points, but are a spot behind the Switchbacks because they have scored less goals on the season.

Watch live below, or use these instructions.

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The Seattle Seahawks team and staff received their Super Bowl rings Thursday night, the largest Super Bowl championship rings ever made.

The design is inspired by the Seahawks' home stadium, the franchise and the team's fans. The ring features Lumen Field arches that pop out to reveal the words "World Champions."

The top displays the Seahawks logo and two Lombardi Trophies, a nod to the franchise's two championships, set in blue sapphires. The top of the ring can be fully removed from the base to be worn as a pendant, while the ring's interior features an authentic piece of football from the season.

RELATED STORY | Mexico kicks off the 2026 World Cup with a 2-0 win over South Africa

The ring is surrounded by 50 diamonds to commemorate the franchise's 50th season and the Super LX logo on both sides.

One side of the ring has the player's last name, number and the letters "MOB," which is short for the "Mission Over Bulls**t" mantra the team adopted in 2025. The other side of the ring reads "12 AS ONE" above a Seattle skyline.

"17 WINS" is engraved on the inside of the ring to represent the win total for the season, postseason included, while the bottom of the ring features 12 feathers to honor the 12s.

The rings were designed by Jason of Beverly Hills.

The Seahawks beat the Patriots 29 to 13 in February during Super Bowl LX, hosted in San Francisco.

A federal judge on Friday refused to block a scheduled UFC event at the White House.

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta denied a request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction that sought to halt UFC Freedom 250, an event planned for the South Lawn on Sunday.

RELATED STORY | DOJ cites 1800s White House baseball games in lawsuit trying to stop UFC event

The lawsuit argued the event would improperly commercialize public spaces, damage historic landmarks and create aesthetic harms for visitors. Plaintiffs also contended the administration should have obtained congressional approval before constructing a massive stage structure on White House grounds.

Mehta ruled the plaintiffs had not demonstrated they would suffer irreparable harm. The judge noted organizers have spent nearly a year planning the event and that UFC and affiliated organizations have invested more than $60 million in preparations.

RELATED STORY | 'Maybe we'll never, ever take it down': Trump says UFC structure on White House lawn could stay up permanently

The Justice Department had urged the court to reject the request, arguing the White House has a long history of hosting public events, from presidential Easter Egg Rolls to sporting competitions and concerts.

A White House spokesperson called the lawsuit "untimely" and "frivolous."

The White House is thankful for this correct decision and looks forward to hosting this once-in-a-lifetime celebration on the South Lawn," spokesperson Davis Ingle said.

The attorney representing the plaintiffs said that while they are disappointed with the decision, they will respect it.

This isnt a case about a sporting event, its about corruption, as a handful of people and companies stand to profit from our public monuments," Brendan Ballou said.

Sunday's event will stream on Paramount+ and feature seven fights, including an interim light heavyweight title bout and a lightweight championship fight.

Denver Broncos' outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper was booked into jail again Thursday night after being arrested last week on domestic violence and criminal mischief charges.

We are disappointed to learn of Jonathon Coopers arrest on Thursday and continue to review this matter, the Denver Broncos told Denver7 Friday morning.

Thursday night, Cooper was arrested for violation of the protection order put in place following his last arrest, the public information officer for the 23

Judicial District Tom Mustin said.

According to last week's arrest affidavit, Cooper got into a fight with his girlfriend who he's been in an off-and-on again relationship with for about four years. Cooper's girlfriend was inside his apartment confronting him of cheating allegations, the affidavit reads.

Both of them were arrested on misdemeanor charges of domestic violence and criminal mischief. Cooper was brought to jail, and the girlfriend was transported to Anschutz Hospital for a forensic nurse exam.

Cooper appeared from the Douglas County jail Friday morning for his court appearance with his attorney Harvey Steinberg. The district attorney's office asked the judge for a full no-contact order and that Cooper relinquish firearms.

Attorney Ron Gainor was also in Douglas County court to represent Cooper's girlfriend.

"We are obviously concerned about the contact that happened yesterday that was extensive," Gainor said.

A $5,000 PR bond was issued for Cooper, and no GPS monitoring was ordered as originally requested by Gainor. Cooper's next court appearance was scheduled for July 14 at 9 a.m.

Head coach Sean Payton spearheaded the Denver Broncos' return to relevance and is now set to steer the team through the rest of this decade after signing a new five-year contract Thursday.

Payton's new deal replaces one that ran through 2027 and coincides with the extension recently signed by general manager George Paton. Both deals run through 2030.

Sean Payton has led an impressive turnaround over the past three seasons, instilling a winning culture with high expectations, said team owner and CEO Greg Penner in a statement. I appreciate the close partnership he shares with George Paton along with the alignment and stability across our football operations. We're thrilled for Sean to continue leading our team as head coach, building on our progress during such an exciting time for the Broncos.

Payton, who is 62 years old, said he's pleased his contract runs concurrently with his GM's.

It makes all the sense in the world. I'm super appreciative of that opportunity, said Payton.

Asked how much longer he aspired to coach, Payton said, I haven't given a lot of thought to the endgame. I've got a lot of juice left and enjoy what we're doing.

Payton said he's been spoiled by getting to serve as head coach for both the Saints, with whom he won a Super Bowl, and the Broncos. Tom Benson and subsequently his wife, Gayle Benson, owned the Saints during Paytons tenure as head coach in New Orleans and Mickey Loomis was general manager and executive vice president of football operations.

To go 2-for-2 with that is hard in our league, said Payton. So, I'm thankful they want me back and I'll do everything I can to continue to keep winning.

That includes handing off play-calling duties to new offensive coordinator Davis Webb this season. Webb had served as quarterbacks coach since Payton's arrival in 2023.

I think it helps a lot, just his experience with the system, with Bo (Nix), with the current players," said Payton. He's not coming in new, learning it all. He's doing well, the process is going well."

Webb, who's only a few years removed from his quarterback playing career, was interviewed for head coaching vacancies during the last cycle but said he's glad he stuck around for this promotion.

I love it here, said Webb. "I love the staff we have here. I love the players we have here. I love the ownership we have here. I love the front office, and there was no doubt in my mind I wanted to be here.

Webb said the biggest draw to staying in Denver was continuing to work with Payton, whom he's watched build the offense, the culture and the game plans.

This is a fun offense to be a part of and the most attractive thing is leaning on Sean, being in game plan meetings with him, using his experience," said Webb. ... I'm very blessed to be here with a gold jacket head coach, a great young quarterback and learn from those guys every single day."

All-Pro defensive lineman Zach Allen said Payton's extension is welcome news.

What he's done here has been incredible, said Allen. You know, a lot of us here signed extensions and a big reason why was because of him and so it's fully deserved and we're really happy for him.

Payton is 33-21 including playoffs in three seasons in Denver. Overall, he has a career regular-season record of 184-108 and a 10-10 mark in the playoffs. His 184 victories are second most to Kansas City coach Andy Reid's 279 among active NFL head coaches.

Payton was 8-9 in his first season in Denver, then went 10-7 and ended the franchises eight-year playoff drought in 2024, losing to the Bills in the divisional round.

The Broncos went 14-3 last season, earned the AFC's top seed and secured their first playoff victory since winning Super Bowl 50 when they beat Buffalo.

But Nix broke his right ankle late in overtime and watched as backup Jarrett Stidham replaced him in the AFC championship, which Denver lost to New England.

Nix recently had a second procedure on his right ankle and is slated to participate in the Broncos' mandatory minicamp next week after doing light work the last two weeks.

Payton bristled when asked about Nix's mobility maybe being affected by the ankle operations.

Listen, he's going to be like completely clean mobility-wise, said Payton. He's out here like today going through two-minute reps, walkthrough reps. I mean, he's young and one of his great assets is his ability to avoid sacks and escape from the pocket and I don't think you'll see that hindered at all.

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Two players on the Colorado Springs Switchbacks have been selected to represent Haiti at the World Cup!

Defender Duke Lacroix was originally selected to represent Haiti when their squad was announced in May.

On Thursday, Switchbacks defender Garven Metusala was called up to the World Cup squad.

Haiti will be playing in Group C at the World Cup. Their match schedule for the group stage is below:

Saturday's game will be played in Boston. Haiti will face Brazil in Philadelphia before they travel to Atlanta for their match against Morocco.

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Julin Quiones and Ral Jimnez helped Mexico make an exuberant start to the World Cup on Thursday, scoring a goal each in a 2-0 win over South Africa in the opening match of the tournament.

With a capacity crowd of 80,824 watching at the iconic Azteca Stadium, co-host Mexico started the largest World Cup tournament in history by getting goals in each half while three red cards were shown two for South Africa and one for Mexico.

RELATED STORY | Mexico opens 2026 World Cup against South Africa in historic first match

Quiones, who was the top scorer in the Saudi league this season, gave Mexico the lead in the ninth minute. Jimnez added the second goal on a header in 66th.

South Africa players Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were both given red cards, forcing the team to finish the match with only nine players. Mexico defender Csar Montes was then given a red card in injury time.

With his 46th international goal, and his first in three World Cups, Jimnez tied Jared Borgetti for second place for the Mexican national team. He is six goals shy of leader Javier "Chicharito" Hernndez.

Quiones, a 29-year-old forward who was born in Colombia, was one of six starting players who made their World Cup debut for El Tri.

RELATED STORY | AI and drones deployed to help protect World Cup players, fans across the US

Mexico, coming of a first-round exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, has three points in Group A and will next play South Korea next Thursday in Guadalajara.

South Africa will play the Czech Republic on the same day in Atlanta.

This year's World Cup has 48 teams, the most in history. It is being held in Mexico, Canada and the United States.

For the first time in 30 years, the World Cup is back in the United States, bringing with it unprecedented security risks on the ground and in the air.

Eleven cities in the U.S. will host games over the course of the event. In the New York area, the games are coinciding with other major events, including the NBA Finals and, soon, America's 250th anniversary.

"Any one of those on their own would be a big deal in New York City," said Jessica S. Tisch, commissioner of the New York City Police Department. "All of them taken together are unprecedented and are going to place unusual and I would say historic demands on the New York City Police Department."

RELATED STORY | Visa denials, high ticket prices, Ebola shadow 2026 World Cup

To secure the biggest World Cup in history, officials are deploying AI-enabled cameras, giant X-ray trucks and hunter drones.

"We have spent a tremendous amount of ability and money to be able to be very offensive with drones. But on the counter-drone measures, everybody's a little behind," said Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

To protect against drone threats, the Federal Aviation Administration is restricting airspace around and above stadiums, where there will be a zero-tolerance policy for drones. Law enforcement will have the authority to disable or shoot them down if necessary.

RELATED STORY | Somali referee denied US entry, wont officiate at World Cup

A coalition of federal agencies, state and local law enforcement agencies, and private security firms will work together to protect the games, teams and dignitaries.

The first World Cup games kick off on Thursday, but they will take place in Mexico, which his hosting games along with the U.S. and Canada.

The first game in the U.S. is scheduled for Friday, when the United States Men's National Team takes on Paraguay.

Despite the U.S. hosting this years World Cup, many Americans arent that interested in the worlds best coming stateside.

In a poll of registered voters by Emerson College, 22% said they are very interested and 33% said they are somewhat interested. Forty-five percent said they have no interest.

RELATED STORY | Mexico opens 2026 World Cup against South Africa in historic first match

Interest varied sharply by age. Just 10% of those 70 and older said they are very interested, compared with 43% of those ages 30-39 and 33% of those 18-29. Six in 10 people 70 and older said they have no interest, compared with two in 10 people ages 18-29.

The poll also found a racial divide. White Americans were twice as likely to express no interest in the World Cup compared with Hispanic and Black Americans. Hispanic and Latino respondents were three times more likely than white respondents to say they will closely follow the tournament.

The U.S. is jointly hosting the expanded World Cup with Canada and Mexico. Play begins Thursday afternoon with Mexico facing South Africa. The U.S. plays its opener Friday.

RELATED STORY | $20 million in fake goods from Hong Kong seized ahead of World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off Thursday in Mexico City, with one of the three host nations, Mexico, facing South Africa at Estadio Azteca at 3 p.m. Eastern in the tournament's opening match.

Mexico is now the first country in FIFA history to host the men's World Cup three times, having previously done so in 1970 and 1986. This year's tournament is the largest in FIFA history, featuring more teams, more players, and more games than any previous edition.

RELATED STORY | Visa denials, high ticket prices, Ebola shadow 2026 World Cup

Billions of global viewers are expected to tune in over the course of the next five weeks, and the event is projected to generate billions of dollars for the Mexican economy through tourism, hospitality, and merchandise sales. Vendors throughout Mexico City's city center are selling FIFA World Cup merchandise ahead of the opening match.

Significant infrastructure investment preceded the tournament. Mexico City upgraded its airport, road system, and Estadio Azteca itself, expanding the stadium's seating capacity to 87,500. Every seat is sold for Thursday's opening match. Stadium upgrades also included improvements to turf airflow and drainage upgrades that may prove critical, as heavy rain is forecast throughout the day in Mexico City.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino addressed controversy surrounding the tournament at a press conference Wednesday night, pushing back on criticism over visa denials that have prevented some fans and officials from attending matches in the United States.

"FIFA isn't the king of the world," Infantino said, adding that individual countries ultimately decide who crosses their borders.

A Somali referee was denied a U.S. visa, with U.S. officials citing a suspected association with individuals connected to terrorist organizations. An Iraqi striker also spent several hours being questioned by customs enforcement. Infantino urged fans to have confidence that FIFA is working on the issues behind the scenes.

RELATED STORY | Andrew Giuliani-led task force readies for 'zero-fail' World Cup mission

Infantino also addressed ticket prices, which have reached into the tens of thousands of dollars for some matches. He described the prices as a reflection of demand for this year's tournament. One couple paid $7,000 for two tickets to Thursday's opening match in Mexico City seats in the upper sections of the stadium.

For fans unable to secure tickets, Mexico City has set up a large fan zone where 50,000 people will be admitted to watch the opening match on one of the largest LED screens in the world a screen large enough to be visible from aircraft approaching the city.

Performances are scheduled throughout the day at the fan zone.

President Donald Trump's planned UFC fight on the White House's South Lawn has required a monumental effort from more than seven federal agencies, hundreds of staff working onsite daily and at least $60 million, according to a legal filing that offers a glimpse into the preparations.

The event is part of the 250th anniversary of America's founding, and is scheduled for the weekend with the main attraction seven mixed martial arts matches on Sunday.

That is, if a judge doesn't halt the proceedings, which is sought by two Virginia residents in a federal lawsuit against the National Park Service, which oversees the South Lawn.

The agency filed a rebuff of the request Tuesday in court, and, in it, laid out the operations for the event.

"Well over $60 million and tens of thousands of hours of labor have been expended," the document read, adding that the money came from the UFC and groups affiliated with it.

RELATED STORY | DOJ cites 1800s White House baseball games in lawsuit trying to stop UFC event

The Octagon

It's the eight-sided cage that surrounds the sometimes bloodied combatants and sits at the center of the constructed arena on the South Lawn.

The arena is expected to hold 4,000 spectators, with another 120,000 visitors who swung tickets from an online lottery anticipated to watch from the nearby Ellipse.

The installation began May 20, and the Secret Service worked with the UFC to screen between 20 and 30 trucks of equipment as well as between "700 and 900" staff that came in daily for the installation.

The document did not specify the extent of government resources spent on the project, but said seven agencies, including Homeland Security and the Federal Aviation Administration, have "allocated significant resources and manpower."

The schedule

It'll kick off Saturday with a ceremonial weigh-in at the Ellipse, followed by a concert by country musicians The Zac Brown Band.

A UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest will be ongoing through the weekend, with "interactive experiences," live shows, celebrity appearances, "exclusive on-stage moments," meet and greets, live music and interviews with the athletes.

Sunday night is when the seven bouts kick off. At the close, Trump is scheduled to fly to France for the G7 summit.

Disassembly of the installations will begin the next day, and they are expected to be entirely removed by June 23.

The athletes' Epsom salt baths

There are 14 athletes competing, and their training is rigorous.

Preparations start months in advance, working toward more intense weight cutting and diet alteration in the final week that can include fasting, extreme sauna use and hot Epsom salt baths.

They could be shaving as many as 20 pounds before weigh-ins, which are designed to keep the competition fair between similarly weighted combatants.

Lawsuit calls it 'corrupt'

It was filed Saturday by the Public Integrity Project on behalf of the two Virginia residents and argues that Trump's authorization of the event violated National Park Service regulations prohibiting sporting events on federal parklands.

One of the attorneys, Brendan Ballou, characterized it as a "corrupt use of our most sacred national monuments for private gain."

The National Park Service pushed back on that claim, but also detailed the event's preparations to make a point.

"All these hopes could be dashed at the very last moment," it read, "by the whim of two people who believe they have superior taste and want to spoil the event for everyone else."

DENVER (AP) Sterlin Thompson hit a pinch single off Daniel Palencias 100-mph fastball in the ninth inning to give the Colorado Rockies a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night.

It was the seventh career RBI for Thompson, the 24-year-old rookie from nearby Longmont.

Thompsons single to right field with runners on first and third and no outs came after Ian Happ hit a 424-foot solo home run off Antonio Senzatela in the top of the ninth to tie it. It was Happs team-leading 15th homer of the season.

TJ Rumfield hit his eighth homer of the season for Colorado, a two-run shot to right field for a 2-1 lead in the eighth. Rumfield had just one home run in his previous 22 games.

After blowing the save opportunity, Senzatela (6-0) picked up the win. Palencia (1-1) took the loss.

Chicagos Pete Crow-Armstrong tripled in the fourth inning and scored. The hit extended Crow-Armstrongs on-base streak to 14 games, a stretch during which he is batting .356.

The Cubs have lost 22 of their past 29 games after starting the season 27-12.

Starter Michael Lorenzen had his best outing of the season for Colorado, giving up just two hits, one earned run and a season-high seven strikeouts in five innings. In his previous four starts, the veteran right-hander had allowed 22 earned runs across 15 2/3 innings.

Shota Imanaga threw five scoreless innings for the Cubs, allowing only two hits and striking out seven.

Cubs RHP Edward Cabrera (3-3, 4.99 ERA) was set to face RHP Ryan Feltner (2-1, 4.22) on Thursday in the series finale.

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A record-breaking comeback, capped off by what could go down as a legendary play.

The long road back to the top of the NBA is almost complete for the New York Knicks, and the step they took Wednesday night was unforgettable.

The Knicks came from 29 points down and moved to the brink of their first championship since 1973 by beating the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 in Game 4 of the finals on OG Anunoby's tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining.

That has to be the most iconic shot in the history of New York basketball, Knicks coach Mike Brown said.

It's certainly high on the list as high as Anunoby leaped when Jalen Brunson's long 3-point shot bounced off the front of the rim, with his right hand stretching high to softly flick it in.

RELATED STORY | Excitement builds in New York as Knicks take 2-0 lead into Game 3 of NBA Finals

Right hand from God, Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns said.

The Knicks, who have just two titles in their 80-year history and hadn't even been to the NBA Finals since 1999, have a 3-1 lead and three chances to win the best-of-seven series starting with Game 5 on Saturday night in San Antonio.

It looked impossible early, when the Spurs rolled to a 27-point halftime lead. But Brunson helped bring the Knicks back with 36 points and Anunoby finished with 33.

The Knicks weathered a playoff storm

No team had come from more than 24 points down in a finals game, when Boston did it against the Lakers in 2008, since the NBA began keeping detailed play-by-play for all four quarters in 1997. The Spurs led 81-52 in the third quarter.

Were a resilient group. Weve been through a lot, Anunoby said. Weve come back plenty of times when were behind. Just staying with it, weathering the storm, not being too down or angry or frustrated.

The only bigger comeback on record in any playoff game was 31 points by the Los Angeles Clippers against Golden State in Game 2 of a first-round series in 2019.

You look at it when youre down 29 of, OK, lets get it to 20. Theres three minutes left in the third quarter, were down 18, youre thinking, 'Lets get it to 10, forward Josh Hart said.

In the fourth quarter, youre like, this is winning time. Anything can happen.

And it did.

The Spurs started out awesome but then were awful

The Knicks had their 13-game winning streak snapped in Game 3 and seemed headed for a second straight defeat throughout the first half, when Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs opened the biggest halftime lead by a visiting team in the finals.

RELATED STORY | President Trump confirms NBA Finals appearance, shrugs off $8,000 ticket prices

But the young Spurs, who made 11 of their first 16 3-pointers, went cold in the second half, going 3 for 17 behind the arc as the Knicks outscored them 58-30.

We got on our heels we missed some shots, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. Its disappointing, to say the least.

Delirious fans inside Madison Square Garden sang along to Journey's Dont Stop Believin a few minutes after watching something that seemed almost impossible.

Wembanyama had 24 points and 13 rebounds but shot just 9 for 25 from the field.

Road teams had won the first three games, only the second time that had happened in the finals. San Antonio was well on its way to making it 4 for 4.

Knicks scrap watch party and fans have nothing to cheer early

President Donald Trump wasnt at this game Taylor Swift was but the same restrictions remained around Madison Square Garden as when he attended Game 3. That angered the Knicks, who decided not to go forward with plans to hold an outdoor watch party outside the arena.

Inside the building in the first half, there wasnt much for the hosts to be happy about, either.

But the Knicks gave themselves a chance by limiting the Spurs to 14 points on 4-for-20 shooting in the third quarter, using a 13-0 run to get back in it and cutting it to 90-75 heading to the fourth.

These Knicks, who erased a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter against Cleveland in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, just dont quit. Even when the comeback seemed for naught when Stephon Castle was fouled after the Knicks had taken the lead and made two free throws to put San Antonio back ahead with 30 seconds left, the Knicks had one more rally in them.

Dylan Harper scored 21 points and De'Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell each had 18 for the Spurs, who will try to regroup and send the series back to New York for Game 6 next Tuesday. Only one team Cleveland in 2016 has recovered from a 3-1 deficit in the finals.

I think it began before (the fourth quarter), Wembanyama said of the Spurs' collapse. I cant really explain it right now. I dont know. ... We clearly werent the most hungry in the second half.

Fans booed Wembanyama when he came on to the floor to warm up about an hour before the game and the Knicks tried to get rough with him, with Mitchell Robinson called for a flagrant foul for hitting him above the shoulders and Jose Alvarado reviewed for one after going below the belt.

Wembanyama who was also called for a flagrant stood up OK against the Knicks but will regret the two free throws he missed with 1:47 left and San Antonio leading 104-103.

The Spurs broke to a 12-2 lead, giving them a double-digit advantage in the first quarter of all four games. They kept pouring it on and led 41-22 after one, then extended it to 57-32 when Julian Champagnies 3-pointer made them 11 for 16 behind the arc.

Mike Bolland has never called himself unable.

The 61-year-old man made history decades ago as the first person with limb loss to bowl on the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) tour. Now, after more than 30 years away from professional competition, he is training to do it again.

Bolland was born without his right hand. He said in the 1970s, when he was 8 years old, he raised that arm during casting for the movie,

He showed filmmakers his limb difference and landed the role.

That was just the beginning of a life defined by breaking barriers.

Over the years, Bolland has served on the boards of multiple disability advocacy organizations, survived cancer, became a motivational speaker, a one-time comedian, and launched the

podcast, which is more than 200 episodes in and dedicated to the limb loss and disability communities.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Serena Williams makes winning return to professional tennis

His return to competitive bowling was sparked by volunteer work at a bowling alley with Arizona Disabled Sports. When fellow bowlers took notice of his skill, he came clean about his history.

"They were like, 'I think you've done this before,' then I came clean a little bit and said I was the first person with limb loss to bowl on the PBA tour," said Bolland.

Recently, he put out a video explaining his return to professional bowling.

He describes himself as a "practice-aholic" these days, working toward a 60-plus PBA event in Ohio in early July. He says he always wanted to compete again after beating cancer, but helping others bowl pushed him toward one more professional run.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Melinda French Gates donates $215 million to improve women's health worldwide

"What I'm really looking to do is prove that it's not about age, it's not about what you start with, what you work with to start with. Continue to set goals for yourself and continue to not limit yourself. That will make me feel better," added Bolland.

The Department of Justice has responded to a lawsuit seeking to block a UFC event scheduled to take place this weekend on White House grounds.

In a court filing, the Justice Department argued there is historical precedent for hosting major public events at the White House. Attorneys pointed to President Andrew Johnson, who hosted baseball events on the South Lawn in the 1800s.

The filing also cited more recent examples, including President George W. Bush's T-ball events, President Barack Obama's White House concerts and former President Joe Biden's installation of an ice-skating rink on the White House grounds.

RELATED STORY | 'Maybe we'll never, ever take it down': Trump says UFC structure on White House lawn could stay up permanently

The Justice Department also noted the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, which has been held since the 19th century.

The two plaintiffs behind the lawsuit argue they are suffering aesthetic injuries because of the large structure being erected for the UFC event.

They contend the construction is visually harmful and argue the administration should have obtained congressional approval before moving forward.

The Justice Department pushed back on those claims, writing that the plaintiffs allege aesthetic injuries even though the event will take place over a single weekend and last only a matter of hours.

"It is not as though these events are taking place outside on plaintiffs' doorstep," the filing states.

The plaintiffs also argue the event is "deeply corrupt," alleging President Donald Trump and his allies stand to profit from it.

"It's all about the private enrichment. At other events, you don't have tickets being sold for $1 to $1.5 million a pop. You don't have exclusive streaming rights by a company allied to the president. You don't have the president buying stock in the company organizing the private event," attorney Brendan Ballou said.

It is unclear whether the judge will side with the plaintiffs. A decision is expected soon, as the event is scheduled to take place on Sunday.

The 2026 World Cup kicks off Thursday, and Mexico has the honor of playing the tournament's very first match. Mexico faces South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, opening group play and it is a rematch.

The two teams played the first game of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Thursday will mark the eighth time Mexico has opened a World Cup, more than any other nation.

In Mexico City, things are already ramping up for Thursday's kickoff. People in the city are absolutely ecstatic. Workers have been told not to come into the office and classes have been canceled. The government says the moves are about traffic control, but they also give residents the opportunity to watch Thursday's game.

Estadio Azteca has an 80,000-person capacity and is completely sold out.

The match kicks off what is the biggest tournament in FIFA history the World Cup of more. More teams than ever before. More games than ever before. More host cities and more host countries than ever before.

RELATED STORY | Somali referee denied US entry, wont officiate at World Cup

48 national teams have qualified for this World Cup, up from 32. Many teams have never played in a World Cup before, including Uzbekistan, Jordan, Cabo Verde, and Curaao. Teams that haven't qualified in decades, like Scotland and Iraq, are also back. Those countries have massive fan bases, and their return is driving global excitement heading into the five-to-six week tournament.

There are also significant issues outside the pitch heading into this World Cup.

Tickets have been a major problem for the average soccer fan. Prices range from hundreds of dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, putting this World Cup out of reach for many fans.

Visa issues have also been a central concern, particularly for the Iran team. The players have received their visas, but state media is reporting that at least 15 senior staff members of the national team have not. The team is now basing itself across the U.S. border in Tijuana, Mexico, rather than in Arizona, where they were originally planning to stay.

RELATED STORY | Andrew Giuliani-led task force readies for 'zero-fail' World Cup mission

Iran is not the only team affected. An assistant coach from South Africa was initially denied a visa. A Somali FIFA referee will not be allowed into the United States. And a large number of fans have been caught up in U.S. travel ban restrictions.

Ebola is also a concern. The DRC team has had to clear several hurdles to participate in the tournament, as many cases are currently in the DRC. Health officials do not believe the tournament will become a super-spreading event.

Despite the challenges, excitement for the tournament remains high as Thursday's kickoff approaches.

DENVER (AP) Hunter Goodman hit a two-run homer in the first inning to spark the offense and the Colorado Rockies broke a four-game skid with a 7-3 win over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night.

The All-Star catcher has five homers in June. Ezequiel Tovar also homered for Colorado, while Edouard Julien drove in three runs.

Outfielder Cole Carrigg had a memorable major league debut as he hit a triple down the line in right. After sliding into third, he got up and celebrated with a little dance. Carrigg finished 1 for 3 with a walk.

It was the 25th win of the season for the Rockies. Last season, when they made a run at the worst record in big league history, they didn't win game No. 25 until July 22.

Tomoyuki Sugano (6-4) pitched into the sixth before running out of steam. He allowed three runs while striking out three.

Alex Bregman went 2 for 3 with an RBI on a sacrifice fly after shouldering the blame Sunday for Chicago's offensive woes. Michael Busch added a solo homer as the Cubs lost for the 21st time in 28 games.

Colin Rea (5-4) had a rough outing in giving up a season-high seven runs over 4 2/3 innings. Entering the game, the right-hander had allowed three runs or less in 14 of his last 19 starts dating to last August.

The crowd at Coors Field had a sea of vocal Cubs fans in attendance.

You absolutely notice it, manager Warren Schaeffer said. Its loud for the other team in our own ballpark. How much is that on us? I would say all of it is on us.

The Cubs are scheduled to throw lefty Shota Imanaga (4-6, 4.74) on Wednesday, while the Rockies go with righty Michael Lorenzen (2-8, 8.01).

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DENVER (AP) Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog was presented with not one, but two awards on Tuesday, earning the Mark Messier Leadership honor and the Masterton Memorial Trophy.

The 33-year-old forward from Sweden becomes the first player to win both in the same season. It's been a long road back to the rink for Landeskog in his return from a serious knee injury.

The Masterton Trophy is awarded to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

The Messier Award goes to the player who demonstrates great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice, during the regular season and who plays a leading role in his community growing the game of hockey."

Landeskog celebrated the awards with his wife and young kids. His wife helped keep him winning the Masterton under wraps until the trophy was brought out in a video posted by the NHL.

Landeskogs knee issues began after a skate blade cut his right knee during the 2020 playoffs in the Edmonton bubble. He worked his way through it and helped the Avalanche to a Stanley Cup title in 2022.

The Cup clincher, though, was his last game for quite a stretch. After missing a full season, Landeskog underwent cartilage replacement surgery on May 10, 2023.

He made it back last season for Game 3 of the playoffs against Dallas, which was his first NHL contest in 1,032 days.

This season, he had 14 goals and 21 assists over 60 regular-season games. Colorado went 45-7-8 with him in the lineup and 10-9-3 when he was out.

He added six goals and five assists in the playoffs before the Avalanche were swept in the Western Conference Final by Vegas.

Landeskog remains active in the community, too, taking part in Kroenke Sports and Entertainments (KSE) Charity Brunch and leading the teams annual hospital visit. He also hosts several local foundations through the team's Community Ticket Pride program.

His recovery from his knee injury was covered in a six-part documentary series titled A Clean Sheet.

The Masterton Trophy, which is presented by the NHL Writers Association, was first awarded in 1967-68. The Mark Messier Leadership Award made its debut in 2006-07.

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As the Pikes Peak Apex Mountain Bike Race approaches, News 5 sponsored racer Seth Carlson shows his skill catching air off a ridge in Ute Valley Park.

"I know I'm not going to win this race on the downhill, but I'll definitely win it on the uphill," Carlson said.

To be clear, Carlson will be in the pack on the downhill. He also knows the uphill is where he can lead.

"I'm just really good at climbing," Carlson said.

Hear more from Seth Carlson in the video player below

The unassuming 18-year-old who just graduated lets his riding do the talking. He raced a year ago at the Apex and did well.

"I mean last year I got 5th overall and I was able to podium the second day," Carlson said.

Leading up to the race, he is spending a lot of time with young supporters who also look up to him. Seth coaches at summer camps for the Colorado Springs non-profit Kids on Bikes.

"They know I race, they can definitely tell. I definitely think it helps give them a little bit of confidence knowing their coach has an idea of what they're doing," Carlson said.

Before coaching, he was one of the Kids on Bikes kids himself. His experience makes way for a mentor connection with kids, figuring out their cycling skills.

"It helps that I can show them what a racer's mindset looks like and how to apply that to normal everyday riding," Carlson said.

There is a mind shift from everyday to race day at the Apex.

"It's one day, only one day to prove yourself. So, I'm hoping I can just go out there and really see what I can do," Carlson said.

Talking strategy, Carlson says this year's race has to be approached differently. Last year it was about pacing himself over three days of racing. This year it is all-in for one day.

Carlson is racing in the Mountain Bike Marathon, a 35-mile race in and around North Cheyenne Caon.

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Young athletes took the field at John Venezia Community Park for the second annual Girls Pro Flag Football Camp.

The three-day event connects girls ages 9 to 18 with professional female players from Colorado, who serve as coaches and mentors.

Organizers say the goal is to empower the next generation of athletes, giving them opportunities many of the pros didn't have growing up.

For the coaches, the camp was a chance to share their passion for the sport.

Charitta "Smash" Watson, a coach at the camp, said the experience of mentoring young players is something she values deeply.

"One thing that I could say that I thrive on the most is being able to give that knowledge that we weren't presented with when I was a kid. So seeing their eyes, seeing them light up, seeing them just like, hey coach, tell me more, tell me more."

Watson said shaping the next generation of flag football players carries its own reward.

"The molding part and getting these young minds ready for flag football, women's flag football, that is just an amazing thing."

The camp runs through June 10th. Scholarships are available to ensure everyone gets a chance to play.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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