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Indy Ignite have existed for two seasons and have yet to fail to make the playoffs.
The Ignite became the first Major League Volleyball team to clinch their spot in the four-team field beginning May 7 by beating the San Diego Mojo in five sets — 25-20, 19-25, 22-25, 25-19, 15-9 — Thursday. Indy (17-4) will set its sights on winning the regular-season championship with a 1.5-game lead on the Dallas Pulse with seven matches to play.
San Diego (10-11) became the fourth team unable to overtake the Ignite by the first playoff tiebreaker — points earned in match results.

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🔥​ Thrashing in Caracas and unexpected slip-ups in the Copa Libertadores
On a day of contrasts, the Copa Libertadores once again showed us that names don’t win matches. 
The star of the matchday

The Venezuelan side made a statement by beating a historic club like Libertad 3-1. Universidad Central delivered the most complete performance of the matchday. What a Libertadores debut!
The surprise of the matchday

Rosario couldn’t take advantage of playing with one more man during the final 30 minutes of the match.

See the moment LeBron James and Bronny James sh

Michael Eaves and Andy North run through highli

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 05: Geraldo Perdomo #2 of the Arizona Diamondbacks hits an RBI sacrifice fly against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Chase Field on April 05, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Introduction
I struggle with failure. It’s one of many, many, many reasons I was never going to be a professional athlete – particularly a baseball player given the sport’s inherent propensity for failure.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Dylan Guenther scored his 39th goal of the season, Clayton Keller had three assists to reach 56 and the Utah Mammoth beat the Nashville Predators 4-1 on Thursday night for their fifth straight victory.
Utah (42-30-6), which has won seven of 10, can clinch the franchise’s first playoff berth in its second season if the Anaheim Ducks beat the San Jose Sharks later Thursday. The Mammoth sit in the first Western Conference wild card spot with 90 points and have a six-point lead over Nashville.

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NEW YORK — The Celtics fell to the Knicks 112-106 on Thursday from Madison Square Garden, failing to clinch the No. 2 seed for the East playoffs. The Knicks had just enough to win Thursday. The C’s fell to 54-26 on the season while the Knicks improved to 52-28. Boston was also without Jaylen Brown for Thursday’s loss.
Both teams were evenly matched through the first half with neither side able to build a huge lead. The Celtics struggled shooting 3-pointers to open the night, but they kept themselves in the game with second-chance points.

Celtics Star Jaylen Brown Finally Admits Hard Truth About NBA MVP Case originally appeared on NESN.
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With only a few games left in the 2025-26 NBA regular season, the NBA MVP race is all but settled.
Oklahoma City Thunder superstar and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the heavy favorite to win again, and rightfully so. The Thunder are the best team in the league and he’s their best player.

MACCABI TEL AVIV coach Oded Katash and his team
Hapoel Tel Aviv defeated Fenerbahce 95-80 as the Reds closed in on clinching a playoff spot with a record of 22-13. Meanwhile, a crucial contest awaits Maccabi as its aspirations are questioned.
Israeli teams in Euroleague action had mixed results this week as Hapoel Tel Aviv took a huge step toward not only securing a playoff spot but also to holding home-court advantage, while Maccabi Tel Aviv’s play-in aspirations were put into doubt.

#hockey #frozenfour #collegehockey #michigan #E

#ESPN #nhl #canadiens #hockey #goal

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Mike Brown proves Knicks made right choice moving on from Tom Thibodeau in win over Celtics originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The New York Knicks won their 52nd game of the 2025-26 season on Thursday night, defeating the Boston Celtics 112-106 at Madison Square Garden.

The No. 6 Florida State Seminoles lost a thrilling game against the No. 3 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Thursday, falling 4-3 in Game One of the series.
The Seminoles stormed out to an early 3-0 lead in the second inning after an RBI single by John Stuetzer and a two-run homer by Cal Fisher. The offense went ice cold after that and did not have another base runner until the seventh inning.
Despite their struggles at the plate, FSU’s pitching staff kept them in the game, and they had several chances to tie it up. Brayden Dowd hit a leadoff double in the eighth, but was stranded.

If there was any doubt that Elliot Cadeau wasn’t going to return to Michigan for another season, it was officially put to rest.
Shortly after ESPN reported Thursday that Cadeau has agreed to a new deal for the 2026-27 season, the point guard shared the news on Instagram with a short message: “(Let’s) do it again.”

Several Michigan basketball assistant coaches also reacted on social media, including Akeem Miskdeen, who wrote: “PG1 back! Lets gooooooo.

#ESPN #nba #basketball #celtics #knicks #jayson

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder James Tibbs III
The Boston Red Sox entered the 2025 Major League Baseball trade deadline looking to add more pitching.
Boston acquired Steven Matz from the St. Louis Cardinals to help out in the bullpen and landed Dustin May to help in the starting rotation. When it came to the May deal, the Red Sox rerouted outfield prospect James Tibbs III, who the club acquired from the San Francisco Giants in the Rafael Devers trade. At the time, the deal was a bit surprising. 
Less than a year later, it looks like an absolute miss.

NEW YORK — Nolan McLean pitched well enough to give the Mets a chance to win by shutting out the Arizona Diamondbacks for six innings Thursday night at Citi Field. But without him, the Mets fell apart.
The Diamondbacks scored seven runs over the seventh and eighth innings to beat the Mets, 7-1, and take the three-game series, 2-1. McLean took the loss when the two baserunners he allowed in the seventh inning came around to score. It’s the unfortunate part of being a starting pitcher, since typically six shutout innings is enough for a team to win.

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 09: Sam Burns of the United States looks on from the 18th green during the first round of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 09, 2026 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It is hard not to see green.
This was my thought two weeks ago when standing in a Raising Cane’s in Houston, Texas.

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NEW YORK (AP) — Obi Toppin had 26 points and nine rebounds and seven Indiana players scored in double figures as the Pacers snapped a three-game skid with a 123-94 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night.
The Pacers (19-61) won for the fifth time in 27 games. Indiana was without head coach Rick Carlisle, who missed the first of two games to attend his daughter’s spring formal. Lloyd Pierce handled the coaching duties.
Micah Potter had 18 points and 14 rebounds, Ethan Thompson added 15 points and Jarace Walker and Jay Huff each added 14.

Joel Embiid’s sudden absence Thursday wasn’t load management or another questionable scratch. It was appendicitis.
The Philadelphia 76ers confirmed their MVP center was undergoing an emergency appendectomy at a Houston hospital after waking up ill earlier in the day. 
What initially appeared to be a vague “illness” designation quickly escalated into a medical emergency.
“I feel like a real, real idiot,” admitted 97.5 The Fanatic host Jon Marks in a somber video posted on social media Thursday afternoon.
“I apologize.

Marcus Semien | (Photo: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)
It seemed like a solo home run might be enough. With Nolan McLean already having put up six zeroes, the Mets had a 1-0 lead as the seventh inning began thanks to a solo home run by Luis Robert Jr. in the bottom of the first.
McLean was dealing at the time, but he appeared to tire a bit in the top of the seventh. He issued a leadoff walk, got his eighth and final strikeout of the night, and gave up a single to put runners on first and second.

📹 Diniz’s Libertadores debut, Corinthians win in Argentina
In Argentina, Corinthians beat Platense 2-0 this Thursday (9) in the opening round of the 2026 Conmebol Libertadores.
The match not only marked Timão’s debut in the continental tournament, where they are looking to repeat the glory of 2012, but also the first game under head coach Fernando Diniz.

And before talking about the match itself, it is worth noting that Argentine Ramón Díaz, former Corinthians head coach, was at Estadio Ciudad de Vicente López to watch the game.

Mar 28, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar (80) makes a save on Detroit Red Wings left wing David Perron (57) in the second period at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Watch PHLY Flyers Postgame
The Philadelphia Flyers entered Thursday game in Detroit against the Red Wings with a two-point lead on the Columbus Blue Jackets and three up on the New York Islanders for the third seed in the Metropolitan Division playoff standings.

The wins keep coming for Eau Claire Curling Club’s Team Hebert.
A month after winning gold at the 2026 Junior World Curling Championships, Team Hebert claimed gold yet again, this time at the USA Curling Junior U20 National Championships on April 4 in Bismarck, North Dakota.
Team Hebert, made up of Caden Hebert, Jack Wendtland, Benji Paral and Jackson Bestland, took home the national crown for the second year in a row, defeating Team Grabow in the championship game 5-2.
With the win, Team Hebert will represent the U.S. at the 2027 World Junior Curling Championships.

Watch some of the best plays from Lauren Betts&

Draymond Green might be the NBA’s undisputed king of technicals, but former Laker Darius Bazley just reminded everyone there are levels to crashing out.
Bazley — a former first-round pick who skipped college for a $1 million New Balance internship — most recently found himself suiting up for the Ningbo Rockets in China. After a full-blown on-court meltdown during a blowout loss to the Shanghai Sharks, he’s now looking for his next gig.

Tennessee’s J.P. Estrella, a 6-foot-11 redshirt sophomore transfer, told ESPN he committed to Michigan, giving the Wolverines their first portal player since winning the national title Monday.

The Aces are finalizing an agreement for four-time All-Star guard Jackie Young to return to Las Vegas, sources told ESPN on Thursday.

Philadelphia star center Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with appendicitis and is undergoing surgery Thursday in Houston. It’s unclear when he’ll be able to return.

The Justice Department has begun an investigation into whether the NFL has violated anticompetitive practices with their television contracts that require consumers to pay subscription costs to watch some games, sources confirmed to ABC News.

Rory McIlroy did not, by his standards, play his best golf in the opening round yet still managed a 5-under 67, good for a share of the early lead with Sam Burns and his lowest opening round at the Masters since 2011.

LSU star Flau’jae Johnson joins Natalie E

The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays four games to three in the 2025 World Series, winning both games six and seven at Rogers Centre in Toronto in dramatic fashion. 
For the Blue Jays and their fans, it was a bitter pill to swallow, considering how many opportunities they had to win the series. In game six, for example, they had second and third with nobody out in the bottom of the ninth inning, down two. One hit, the score is tied. A home run, the series is over. Instead, Ernie Clement popped up on the first pitch and Andres Gimenez lined into a game-ending double play.

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said recently that the team will add competition at running back, which likely means a draft pick will be spent there this month.
But which prospects are the most likely to be Green Bay’s particular flavor?
After analyzing the production profiles the Packers have traditionally drafted in the last 20 years, let’s now look at the body types and athletic thresholds they usually look for.
By combining those two pieces of the prospect profile, the truest “Packers types” can be found.

Fresh off a national championship, Michigan is bringing back a key member of its starting lineup. Junior point guard Elliot Cadeau told ESPN’s Pete Thamel Thursday that he has agreed to a deal to return to the Wolverines’ roster for his senior year.
Cadeau was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player after dropping a game-high 19 points in Michigan’s championship win over UConn this week. The mark was his best performance of the NCAA tournament, as Cadeau stepped up to lead the Wolverines to victory.

Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images
Scottie Scheffler is off to a solid start at The Masters.
He caught fire from the jump to shoot three-under through two holes, but stalled out from there in difficult conditions. The world number one concluded Thursday’s play with an opening round of 70, five shots behind the leading Rory McIlroy.
Scheffler looked out of sorts in the build-up to The Masters, finishing outside of the top 20 in his last two events, and he hasn’t played since The Players. His poor performances have typically featured disastrous Thursdays, so this is a promising sign.

Daniel Rodriguez is focused on his UFC return after spending time in a Mexican jail.
According to an Instagram Reel by Rodriguez (20-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC), he has spent the past eight months jailed in Tijuana, Mexico, but is now a free man eager to return to his mixed martial arts career. In the video, the UFC-ranked No. 14 welterweight is shown working out inside a cell and hitting mitts in the hallway with a partner.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Justin Rose is back in contention at the Masters, one year after his playoff loss to Rory McIlroy.
Might be better off that he’s not back in the lead, too.
Rose has held at least a share of the first-round lead a record five times at Augusta National, including last year, but he’s never been able to carry it through the finish. So, Rose’s bogey-bogey conclusion to his opening round Thursday, which left the three-time runner-up with a 70 and three shots back of McIlroy and early leader Sam Burns, might not be the worst thing in the world.

Scottie Scheffler joins Michael Eaves on Sports

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 09: Luke Osburn #2, Ryan Botterill #21, Quinn Finley #19 and Oliver Tulk #55 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrate a goal by Botterill against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks in the first period of a semifinal game of the NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey championship at T-Mobile Arena on April 09, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What. A. Game.

AUGUSTA, Ga. ― Justin Rose wasn’t alone in struggling on the second nine during Thursday’s Round 1 of the 90th Masters Tournament, but he’s one of a handful of players in the field that remembers the last time this event was this tough.
With the lack of precipitation and temperatures rising throughout the weekend, the course is only going to get more challenging. Rose’s comparison went back to 2007.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Stop me if you’ve heard this before… Rory McIlroy leads the Masters. The defending champion joined Sam Burns atop the leaderboard after an opening-round 67 on Thursday. In his 18th appearance at Augusta National, this is only McIlroy’s second time shooting 67 or lower to start the tournament.
While the Northern Irishman is without doubt the favorite to win now, who else has a chance? Or, perhaps more interestingly, who doesn’t?
History suggests the list of potential champions is smaller than you might think.