Sports news summaries — Page 81
Essential facts and source links for recent sports stories.
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Ben Rice’s 40th and 41st homers power Yankees past Rays, 9-2
Ben Rice hit his 40th and 41st home runs Wednesday against Tampa Bay, powering the Yankees to a 9-2 win. He is the third Yankee to hit at least 40 homers within his first three major-league seasons; New York will meet Boston in a best-of-three Wild Card Series. -
Nancy Hogshead's WNBA eligibility petition draws over 21,000 sign-ups
Three-time Olympic swimming champion Nancy Hogshead has launched a Change.org petition asking the WNBA to define “woman” as a biological female, saying clear eligibility rules are needed for fair competition. It drew more than 21,000 sign-ups in just over a week. -
Astros-Rangers race could produce MLB’s first losing-record playoff team
The Houston Astros and Texas Rangers are battling for the AL West title, and the winner could reach the MLB playoffs with a losing record, as division winners get playoff berths. No losing-record team has qualified; the worst playoff record was the 2005 Padres’ 82-80. -
Kentucky meets South Alabama after 31-21 win over No. 9 Texas A&M
Kentucky hosts South Alabama at Kroger Field in Lexington on Sept. 26, with kickoff at 12:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network. The 2-1 Wildcats are coming off a 31-21 win over No. 9 Texas A&M; FanDuel lists them as 20.5-point favorites over the 2-1 Jaguars. -
Penguins’ data suggest Kindel’s line slot matters less than power-play role
A review of 2025-26 NHL even-strength ice time found Pittsburgh’s second and third forward trios averaged 13:43 and 12:18 per game. The writer says Ben Kindel’s development may depend more on power-play chances than whether he is listed on the third line. -
Dolphins’ 0-2 start tests Sieler’s patience as Robinson returns to practice
Miami’s loss at San Francisco left the Dolphins 0-2. Asked about the rebuild, Zach Sieler replied, “I have two kids, man. I’m doing all right.” Chop Robinson returned to practice Wednesday, advancing through concussion protocol; Caleb Douglas was sidelined. -
Trump expected at Tennessee-Texas game as stadium security tightens
University of Tennessee police say President Donald Trump is expected at Saturday’s Texas-Tennessee game at Neyland Stadium. Gates open at 9 a.m. ET, and fans are urged to arrive early amid enhanced screening and longer waits near kickoff. -
Till and Romero set to headline BKFC 94 in Manchester on Sept. 26
Former UFC contenders Darren Till and Yoel Romero are scheduled to headline BKFC 94 on Sept. 26 at Manchester’s AO Arena. Till is reportedly entering the bout with an unrepaired torn ACL, while published listings disagree on the fight’s weight limit. -
Peyton Manning will back nephew Arch against alma mater Tennessee
Peyton Manning says he’ll pull for nephew Arch when No. 1 Texas visits his alma mater, No. 14 Tennessee, on Saturday, despite his loyalty to the Volunteers. His father, Archie, made the same choice for Peyton when Tennessee played Ole Miss in 1996. -
Yankees’ $2.6 billion Apollo financing spotlights MLB’s equity-cap change
The Yankees announced a $2.6 billion Apollo financing agreement combining credit and equity; the Steinbrenner family retains control. It also highlights MLB’s recent loosening of the former 15% private-equity ownership cap, now closer to the NBA’s 20% limit. -
Jay Bilas recalls Chris Spatola’s selflessness after his death
Jay Bilas remembered Chris Spatola as a selfless friend and devoted father after Spatola died suddenly Monday. Bilas told WRAL that Spatola had exceptional character; Spatola and Jamie, daughter of former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, had three children. -
Rhyne Howard ties WNBA steals mark as Atlanta beats Liberty 83-65
Meghan L. Hall reported on X that Rhyne Howard tied the WNBA single-season record with 100 steals as the Atlanta Dream beat the New York Liberty 83-65 on Wednesday. The win clinched Atlanta the fourth playoff seed; its first-round opponent remains undetermined. -
Reports point to season-ending surgery for Giants QB Jaxson Dart
Reports linked in SB Nation’s Giants roundup say quarterback Jaxson Dart is expected to have season-ending surgery, with a six-month recovery. Coverage discusses Jameis Winston as his replacement and says the offense may change because he lacks Dart’s running ability. -
Maryland's ground game falters in 35-26 loss as run-blocking draws focus
Maryland rushed for 64 yards, including 48 by its running backs, in Saturday’s 35-26 loss to Virginia Tech. Coach Mike Locksley said Tuesday the offense must improve its run blocking; Iverson Howard and Harry Dalton III averaged 2.8 yards per carry. -
Kentucky commit Tristin Hughes expected to visit Louisville Saturday
Four-star safety Tristin Hughes, who committed to Kentucky in April after decommitting from Syracuse, is expected to visit Louisville from Saturday to Monday, Rivals' Allen Trieu reports. Hughes is also expected to visit Michigan in October. -
Three freshmen fuel No. 4 Maryland’s 1-0 win over then-No. 7 Wisconsin
Freshmen Said El Eyssami, Rodrigo Neri and Franklin Affanyi helped No. 4 Maryland beat then-No. 7 Wisconsin, 1-0. El Eyssami scored in the 49th minute, Neri took three shots, one on goal, and Affanyi played all 90 minutes in defense. -
The 0-2 Colts face a pivotal Week 3 home game against Houston
The Colts are 0-2 entering Week 3, and Sunday's home game against the 0-2 Texans is not technically a must-win. But the analysis says teams starting 0-3 have about a 2.5% chance of a postseason berth, making a win pivotal for Indianapolis. -
Aliyah Boston recalls the challenge of guarding China’s Zhang Ziyu
Indiana Fever center Aliyah Boston said guarding China’s Zhang Ziyu in Team USA’s 94-61 win in its World Cup opener left her feeling “small”; she described struggling to move Zhang in the post. Zhang came off the bench for 13 points, six rebounds and two blocks in 18 minutes. -
AEW All Out 2026 preview backs Ospreay to retain against Moxley
A preview of AEW All Out 2026 predicts champion Will Ospreay will retain the AEW World Championship against Jon Moxley. The card also features eight other title matches or No. 1 contender bouts, with the article forecasting winners across the lineup. -
Chargers lead NFL in yards allowed per rush after two games
After two games, the Los Angeles Chargers lead the NFL by allowing 2.75 yards per rush; excluding six opponent kneel-downs, the average rises to 3.03, still fourth-best. The analysis calls run defense their clearest on-paper edge against Buffalo. -
Ohio State-Illinois game puts the Illibuck turtle trophy up for grabs
Ohio State and Illinois will meet for a second straight season after an eight-year pause, with the Illibuck Trophy at stake Saturday. The winner takes a wooden turtle; an SB Nation writer says the tradition, dating to 1925, embodies college football’s campus rituals. -
Eight straight wins lift Maryland field hockey to No. 2
Maryland field hockey improved to 8-0 for the first time since 2018 and rose to No. 2 nationally, its highest ranking since September 2022. The Terps beat then-No. 4 Wake Forest 1-0 Sunday on Maci Bradford’s goal, marking the 12th 8-0 start in program history. -
Bengals eye 3-0 start by running well, pressuring Rodgers and feeding Chase
The Bengals visit the Steelers this week seeking a 3-0 start. The preview names three keys: establish the run to blunt Pittsburgh’s pass rush, pressure Aaron Rodgers to create turnover chances, and get Ja’Marr Chase involved early and often. -
Juventus reportedly work toward January deal for goalkeeper Lorenzo Palmisani
Juventus are reportedly laying the groundwork for a January signing of 22-year-old Frosinone goalkeeper Lorenzo Palmisani; no agreement is reported. One possible arrangement would be to sign him and loan him back to Frosinone for the rest of the season. -
Zach Eflin reaches 10 years of MLB service after Phillies stint
Former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zach Eflin has reached 10 years of MLB service time, a milestone the MLBPA says fewer than 10% of players achieve. Eflin spent his first seven major-league seasons in Philadelphia before later pitching for Tampa Bay and Baltimore. -
Clark’s 2024 ‘screamed at’ comment resurfaces after Fever exchange
Caitlin Clark’s heated exchange with Fever assistant Briann January during Indiana’s win over the Minnesota Lynx drew online backlash; in 2024, Clark said she probably wants to be screamed at and that leadership should be tailored to each person. -
Simmons says LeBron was headed to Cleveland before choosing 76ers
Bill Simmons said LeBron James was going to join the Cleveland Cavaliers before ultimately choosing the Philadelphia 76ers. On his podcast, Simmons said he did not know what changed and suggested James chose Philadelphia to pursue an NBA title.
