Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham now gets to add "team owner" to his resume.
Cunningham has purchased a minority stake in MLB's Texas Rangers, as reported by ESPN's Shams Charania. It was not clear how big of a stake in the team Cunningham has bought.
Born and raised in Arlington, Texas – home of the Rangers franchise since it relocated from Washington in 1972 – Cunningham grew up rooting for Texas teams and even threw out the first pitch at a Rangers game on July 2, 2025. The Rangers have been owned and operated by Rangers Baseball Express since 2011, with Ray C. Davis serving as the team's chairman and majority owner.
Cunningham isn't the only active NBA player with a stake in a major sports team, with Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James owning a stake in Fenway Sports Group (owner of MLB's Boston Red Sox and the EPL's Liverpool FC) and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetoukounmpo owning a stake in MLB's Milwaukee Brewers.
Now in his fifth NBA season with the Pistons, Cunningham has made his second-straight All-Star Team and is looking to lead the first-place Pistons back to the NBA Finals for the first time since the 2004-05 season.
Sarai Linder struck in the fifth minute of added time as Wolfsburg rallied from two goals down at home to draw 2-2 with Juventus in the Women's Champions League playoffs on Thursday.
Manchester United took a big step toward the quarterfinals after a 3-0 win at Atletico Madrid.
If that tie looks all but decided, it remains in the balance for Wolfsburg and Juventus. Linder ensured it was all square ahead of next week’s second leg in Turin when firing an equalizer into the top corner from the edge of the area deep into added time.
“It feels like a win to get the draw in the last minute,” said Wolfsburg coach Stephan Lerch.
Juventus went 2-0 up just after the hour mark at the AOK Stadion. Ana Capeta opened the scoring in the sixth and Amalie Vangsgaard doubled the lead in the 61st.
But Wolfsburg rallied going into the final 10 minutes of regulation time.
Janina Minge sparked the fightback when converting from the penalty spot in the 82nd.
As the clock ticked down it looked like Juventus would hold a slender lead going into the second leg, until Linder struck.
“We were playing well but we didn’t really create many big chances. At the end, we deserved the draw and now next week it’s still open,” Wolfsburg's Lineth Beerensteyn said.
Man United in control
United takes a healthy lead back to Manchester after a dominant win in Spain.
It took just three minutes for Elisabeth Terland to give United the lead after collecting Melvine Malard's through ball and firing home.
Malard made it 2-0 in the 39th with a curling shot.
Malard then turned provider again for Julia Zigiotti Olme to convert with a powerful effort.
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 8: The sneakers worn by Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the New York Knicks on February 8, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
When Mark Stone was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, some Ottawa Senators fans consoled themselves with the thought that, had the Senators signed Stone to a long-term extension, the last few years of the contract might not look that good.
After all, he wasn't the game's finest skater to start with, so when age or injuries kicked in, he might lose a step that he didn't have to give.
Nearly seven years later, that theory isn’t holding up very well.
Steve Warne suggested on The Sens Nation Podcast that expensive trade deadline deals shouldn't be made unless a team has a realistic chance to win it all.
With 60 points in 41 games, Stone remains a top-20 NHL scorer. And on Thursday in Milan, skating for one of the most stacked Canadian rosters ever assembled, he was one of their better players. Stone was noticeable on almost every shift and scored in Canada’s 5-0 Olympic-opening win over Czechia.
He even broke out the classic goal-scoring face that Ottawa fans used to love.
Feb 12, 2026; Milan, Italy; Mark Stone of Canada celebrates scoring their second goal against Czechia in a men's ice hockey group A match during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
When it comes to how Ottawa management handled a star like Stone, combined with getting next to nothing for him in a trade, his story has to be near the top of the list of biggest blunders in team history.
Former Sens GM Pierre Dorion said the organization only realized days before the deadline that Stone likely wouldn’t re-sign.
But on that very same day, across town, owner Eugene Melnyk told CBC Ottawa something entirely different: this trade had been planned for some time as part of the rebuild.
Those two explanations never quite lined up then, and they don’t now.
Had Stone been given a long-term extension in his previous negotiation instead of a one-year deal, he would have offered an excellent veteran presence in the young Sens locker room.
Instead, they traded him, and Ottawa then spent years searching for exactly the kind of culture-setting, two-way star they had already developed and let go, one who might still be their best player today.
It's easy to imagine a parallel universe where Stone was Erik Karlsson's successor as captain, showing the ropes to young forwards like Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Drake Batherson, Shane Pinto, and others. Tkachuk's father, Keith, publicly pleaded with the Senators to re-sign Stone.
“I want that Mark Stone signed so badly," Keith Tkachuk told TSN 1200 radio. "He’s been so instrumental to Brady’s development both on and off the ice. The Senators have to figure out a way and get this done.”
But Keith, who'll be in the Hall of Fame someday, wasn't calling the shots. Dorion and Melnyk were, and then they compounded things by making an atrocious trade.
Stone was traded to Vegas with forward Tobias Lindberg for forward Oscar Lindberg, prospect Erik Brannstrom and a second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft (Egor Sokolov).
Because he was excited about Brannstrom, who didn't work out as a prospect at all, Dorion called it his proudest day as GM. But only one GM in the deal had the right to strut.
"You don't get players like (Mark Stone) very often," Vegas GM George McPhee told the media. "Players this good aren't available through trade very often. Usually, you draft a player like this, and you hang on to him, and he plays his whole career with you. So we knew that he was out there, that he was going to be available, and the issue was, what's it going to cost? And the price was right for us."
Ya think?
No one Vegas gave up panned out for the Senators, or even in the NHL, and all they have to show for the deal is Belleville's Jan Jenik, who doesn't really appear to be in the team's plans. Jenik was acquired from Arizona in a minor league swap for Sokolov.
Tkachuk, a rookie at the time, didn't hide his fondness for Stone on the day of the trade.
"He was a huge impact for me this year, both on and off the ice," Tkachuk told NHL.com. "I was lucky enough to play with him all year. He welcomed me into his home when he didn't have to, and he kind of took me under his wing, and it means so much to me. He didn't have to; it's just the type of guy he is."
Tkachuk and the young core were soon left to raise themselves, playing for a new rookie head coach in D.J. Smith, who, like the kids, was also trying to learn on the job.
Stone, who says he still spends his summers in Ottawa, remains tight with Tkachuk. Long after the trade, they were even in each other's wedding parties, so just imagine the bromance if they'd been on the same team for the past seven years.
What's frustrating for Sens fans is that Stone didn’t go on to become a great player in Vegas. He remained exactly what he'd already become in Ottawa: an elite two-way star and a leader most NHL management teams would happily build around.
At least with Stone starring for Canada in Milan for the next two weeks, Sens fans can enjoy a rare opportunity to cheer loudly once more for the one that got away.
Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published at The Hockey News-Ottawa. Read more Senators features and articles from THN Ottawa here:
Those were Kiké Hernández's own words when he broke the news on his Instagram Thursday morning that he was re-signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The defending back-to-back World Series champions also announced a one-year extension of third baseman Max Muncy's contract. As had been mostly expected all offseason, the two stalwart veterans are re-joining the Dodgers just ahead of spring training.
In a corresponding move, the Dodgers placed right-handed pitcher Evan Phillips on the 60-day injured list.
"[Three] in a row has a nice ring to it," Hernández said in his post, accompanied by a picture of him at the Dodgers' World Series parade from November.
According to multiple reports, Hernández's deal is for one-year, $4.5 million. The longtime fan favorite at Dodger Stadium underwent surgery on his left elbow over the offseason and is not expected to be ready for Opening Day, which is part of the reason he and the Dodgers waited until spring to get the contract done. That way, the club could place him on the 60-day IL and keep a 40-man roster spot open.
The 34-year-old utilityman's numbers during the regular season declined in 2025 -- his .621 OPS was a career-low -- but the legend of "October Kiké" once again rose to the occasion. Starting in 17 postseason games, Hernández put together multiple clutch performances, including back-to-back multi-hit games in the Wild Card and a crucial two-run double as the Dodgers rallied to beat the Philadelphia Phillies in game one of the NLDS.
But his biggest moment -- maybe of his career -- came in Game 6 of the World Series when Hernández possibly saved the Dodgers season when he turned a game-ending double play with the bases loaded on a running catch in left field that he immediately threw to Miguel Rojas at second base to force a game seven.
“October Kiké is something pretty special,” manager Dave Roberts said at the time. “And the track record speaks for itself. Throughout history, he's one of the best throughout history of the postseason.”
Max Muncy contract details
Muncy, the longest-tenured Dodger, is now guaranteed through his age-37 season after agreeing to a team-friendly extension. He's set to earn $7 million in 2027 with a $10 million option for 2028. Muncy has long been open about his desire to remain with the Dodgers -- who signed him to a Minor League deal in 2017 after he was designated for assignment by the Oakland Athletics and has since turned into a shining model of the Dodgers' player development -- for the rest of his career, and this deal seems like it could get him there.
Muncy has played in just 173 games over the last two seasons due to injuries. But like Hernández, he played his best ball in October. His best moment came in the ninth inning of game two of the NLDS when he and Mookie Betts ran the wheel play to perfection to get Nick Castellanos out at third base.
In game two of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers, Muncy took a fastball deep to straightaway center field for his 14th career postseason home run, breaking the Dodgers' franchise record. He would go on to hit two more in October, putting his mark at 16 for now.
"It means a lot to me," Muncy said in October. "The Dodgers are a franchise that has been around for a very, very long time. A lot of very successful players have played in this organization. And to be able to break that record is kind of huge for me."
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 06: Nick Castellanos #8 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on after hitting a two-RBI double against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning in game two of the National League Division Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 06, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Philadelphia Phillies have released outfielder Nick Castellanos, per multiple reports. Castellanos had one year left on the five year, $100 million deal he signed with the Phillies prior to 2022 season.
It had been a given that the Phillies were not going to open camp with Castellanos still on the team, and the only question was whether they could find someone to take Castellanos and pay a small portion of the $20 million he is owed in 2026, or if they’d end up simply cutting him. In his four seasons with the Phillies, Castellanos slashed .260/.306/.426 and put up a 1.3 bWAR.
We had previously talked about the possibility of the Rangers taking a look at Castellanos as a potential platoon DH when he hit the market. However, this piece in the Athletic by Matt Gelb, where Gelb says that “many teammates had come to resent Castellanos for his attitude” even before he sat in the dugout in a June game in Miami drinking a beer while displaying his displeasure at being lifted for defense late in the game. Gelb also paints a picture of a player who views himself as a star and is unhappy if he is not being treated like one, and not wanting to accept a part-time role.
So yeah, thinking that’s a no on Castellanos for the Rangers.
Some of you may have already seen the news. For the others, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.
Yesterday, we learned that Mike D’Antoni, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Kevin Johnson were named finalists for the 2026 Hall of Fame class. These nominations, and potentially their induction, carry real symbolic weight, rewarding years of effort, battles, and evolution. The Hall of Fame goes far beyond the North American hemisphere; it’s an indelible mark on the history of this sport, a game invented by James Naismith and carried across generations.
Former Phoenix Suns players Kevin Johnson, Amar'e Stoudemire and former head coach Mike D'Antoni are finalists for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026. #Suns
These three men, major figures in the history of Phoenix, the NBA, and basketball as a whole, could soon join a prestigious temple already home to several icons who passed through Arizona during their careers. From Jerry Colangelo to Steve Nash, from Charles Barkley to Jason Kidd, Connie Hawkins, Grant Hill, and of course, the great Paul Westphal. You can also add Vince Carter, Gail Goodrich, Dennis and Gus Johnson, or even Shaquille O’Neal. Brief stints for some, sure, but all of them are powerful names in the franchise’s story.
Architect of the Seven Seconds or Less era, Mike D’Antoni turned Phoenix into a basketball laboratory from 2003 to 2008. Under his guidance, the Suns posted an impressive 253–136 record (.65 win%), delivered a 62–20 masterpiece in 2005, and became the most feared offense in the league.
Coach of the Year that same season, he installed a style built on pace, spacing, and creativity, pushing Steve Nash to two MVPs and Amar’e Stoudemire to the peak of his powers. His time in Phoenix didn’t just shape a franchise. It reshaped the NBA. The true precursor of the modern game? It’s him.
1 Jour 1 Suns #4 : Mike D’Antoni 🕖🔥
Aujourd’hui nous allons nous attarder sur cette figure mythique des Suns et du coaching, célèbre pour avoir popularisé le “small ball” et le “7 seconds or less” au milieu des années 2000. pic.twitter.com/dnq1JrLJiT
Arriving in 2002, Amar’e Stoudemire immediately imposed himself as a phenomenon, winning Rookie of the Year with 13.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Under D’Antoni and alongside Nash, he became an offensive force of nature: 26.0 points per game in 2004–05, a legendary playoff series against the Spurs (37 points per game), and a constant presence among the league’s elite, collecting 6 All-Star selections, 5 All-NBA First and Second Team nods, and five top‑15 MVP finishes. STAT remains one of the most dominant big men of his era.
After Westphal and before Nash — then Booker — Phoenix belonged to Kevin Johnson.
An explosive playmaker and elite creator, he averaged 17.9 points and 9.1 assists for his career, with three seasons above the 20 and 10 mark. Before moving into politics, he closed his NBA chapter with three All-Star selections, five All-NBA teams, the 1989 Most Improved Player award, and a historic 1993 run that brought the Suns back to the NBA Finals for the first time in nearly 20 years. His partnership with Charles Barkley became iconic. KJ carried the franchise through the 90s, laying the foundation for everything that followed.
The Hall of Fame is the achievement of a lifetime. Everyone dreams of it, but very few ever imagine even being named a finalist, whether they built their careers in Europe, the NBA, or Latin America. This is a well‑deserved tribute for these three men. And while it may not be “historic” in itself, between the results, the quality of play, and this moment, the year 2026 has the potential to become one of the franchise’s defining periods, one that will be remembered.
The Hall of Fame class will be announced on Saturday, April 4.
TAMPA — It only took a day for the first injury concern of Yankees camp to pop up, even if they insist it is not much of a concern at all.
Cam Schlittler is dealing with mid-back inflammation that he is also feeling in his left lat, the right-hander said Thursday, though he described his level of concern as “zero” and claimed the Yankees are just being cautious by keeping him off the mound for a few days.
Last year’s breakout star indicated he has been dealing with the issue for a few weeks, but he will continue to throw on flat ground and hopes to get back on the mound for a bullpen session by next week.
“It’s just so insignificant,” Schlittler said at Steinbrenner Field. “It’s very minor. We’re just taking some precautions for a few days and that’s really it. … . I’ve been dealing with it for a little bit, so just want to make sure I’m on top of it and ready for Opening Day and that week in San [Francisco].”
Cam Schlittler throws during a workout on Feb. 12, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The Yankees are already set to open the season with Carlos Rodón, Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt on the injured list, and while they say they feel good about their starting depth, they can ill afford to lose Schlittler on top of all that.
There have been some examples in recent years of the Yankees initially downplaying an injury only for it to turn into something more serious, so while back inflammation sounds harmless enough in the middle of February, it will bear watching in the coming days as Schittler tries to return to building up for the regular season.
The 25-year-old, who posted a 2.96 ERA in 14 starts last season before dazzling against the Red Sox in the American League wild-card series, recently got tests done on his back that came back with “good news,” manager Aaron Boone said.
“Just want to make sure we don’t turn this into something else,” Boone said. “He’s felt a little tweak here and there, but has been doing his lives. He’s already done two [innings] in lives, so I don’t think it’ll slow him that much.”
Boone and Schlittler both said the righty was already ahead of other pitchers in his progression, having faced hitters multiple times.
If he is able to get back on the mound by next week and advance without issues, he still should have plenty of time to start the season on time.
“That setback, it’s really minor in terms of the longevity when you’re looking to throw a full season,” said Schlittler, who has been working out here for about a month. “There’s really no concern or worries when it comes to that stuff.”
The Yankees are banking on Schlittler being a staple in their rotation and building off what he did last year after being called up midseason to make his MLB debut as an injury replacement for Schmidt.
He delivered beyond expectations, after having started the year at Double-A, and punctuated his season mowing down the Red Sox with a memorable 12-strikeout gem in the playoffs.
“I feel like I found my identity a little bit those last three outings I had,” Schlittler said. “It took two months up there to really figure out how I need to pitch and all that. For me, it’s just the routine and making sure I’m taking care of myself on and off the field. Going out there with what I learned at the end of last season and really taking off.”
The potential of having Schlittler pitch a full season is part of the reason why the Yankees are so high on what their rotation could give them this year, especially once Rodón and Cole return.
Now they just need this “minor” back issue to remain minor so he can have the chance to deliver on that promise.
“I came in here last spring training kind of as a no one, prospect, whatever it was,” Schlittler said. “But I was really trying to learn things. Come in here, get my work in. It was more of an experience last year. Now I feel like being over here, I’ve earned that role and I’m going to go out there, I know exactly what I need to do. When these games come up, I’ll work on things and prepare for the season.”
Jeremy Sochan is leaving one NBA championship contender for another, hopeful he can provide a boost to his new team's postseason push
Sochan is expected to join the New York Knicks upon clearing waivers, according to multiple reports on Thursday, Feb. 12, after the San Antonio Spurs agreed to a contract buyout and parted ways with the No. 9 pick from the 2022 NBA Draft. The Spurs had been trying to trade him before the league's trade deadline last week.
Sochan had an expiring $7.1 million contract with San Antonio, but sought a bigger role after seeing his playing time drop significantly this season.
“We were all very aware of his desire to be in the rotation and given more of an opportunity, especially recently,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson told reporters, according to the San Antonio Express News. “We wanted to do right by him and make sure he had that opportunity before the year was over.”
ESPN reported Sochan picked the Knicks over nine other suiters, and his ballhandling and defensive capabilities will add another versatile option to the team's bench unit. The 6-foot-8 forward is expected to sign a league minimum deal for the rest of the season, according to multiple reports.
Sochan, 22, is averaging a career-low 4.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1 assist per game this season, but logged more than 11 points and 6 rebounds per contest the previous two years with San Antonio.
To the city of San Antonio... When I was drafted, I didn’t realize how quickly this would feel like home. I’ve moved around a lot throughout my life, and this is the longest I’ve been in the same place since I was 15 years old. Through the ups and downs, I learned a lot, kept… pic.twitter.com/DfToSiSqxn
The Knicks had their eyes on Jeremy Sochan before the trade deadline, to hear Knicks insider Ian Begley of SNY.tv tell it. New York toyed with the idea of a Guerschon Yabusele for Sochan trade, but realized that they could just get Sochan on the buyout market. Instead, New York wisely traded Yabusele to Chicago and then made a move to acquire Jose Alvarado.
Sochan, the No. 9 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, was part of the Spurs rotation alongside Victor Wembanyama for his first couple of seasons. However, the combination of his shot and playmaking not progressing as the Spurs hoped, plus San Antonio adding forward and wing depth — Harrison Barnes, Carter Bryant, Julian Champagnie, Kelly Olynyk, Dylan Harper — led to Sochan being squeezed out of coach Mitch Johnson's rotation.
Sochan is a solid defender, but he averaged just 4.1 points per game this season while shooting 25.7% from 3-point range. For his career, he averaged 10.4 points and 5.6 rebounds a game, shooting 28.8% from 3. Sochan will be behind OG Anunoby and Mohamed Diawara in the Knicks' power forward rotation, but he can provide depth and minutes.
Don't look now, but Nikola Jokic is back in the picture.
An afterthought in January when he missed 16 games with a left ankle sprain, the Serbian big man has risen to second on the NBA MVP Odds board thanks to an impressive seven-game stretch in which he has averaged 24.4 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 9.4 assists per game. His strong play has Denver back in the thick of the playoff hunt and has Jokic within striking distance of his fourth most valuable player trophy.
Jokic's reemergence has coincided with an injury to reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has seen his odds move from -380 to -200 while he deals with an abdominal strain that is likely to sideline him until February 20, at the earliest.
Let's take a look at the latest NBA MVP odds below.
🏀2026 NBA MVP odds
Team
Movement
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
-200
▼
Nikola Jokic
+300
▲
Cade Cunningham
+1400
--
Luka Doncic
+2000
▼
Victor Wembanyama
+3000
▲
Jaylen Brown
+5000
▲
Donovan Mitchell
+15000
▲
Anthony Edwards
+20000
▼
Jalen Brunson
+25000
▼
Tyrese Maxey
+50000
▼
Our friends at bet365 have boosted Nickola Jokic's NBA MVP odds from +300 to +325. Act now while the value lasts.
NBA MVP prediction
With voters increasingly sensitive to both team success and two-way impact, SGA has the cleanest path to an MVP narrative this season. He's the best player on a top-two team in the West, elite efficiency from all three levels, and offers real defensive bite at the point of attack. His game scales without drama—he can dominate in isolation or flow within movement-heavy actions, and he gets to the line a ton without forcing bad shots. If Oklahoma City’s depth keeps their net ratings gaudy when he sits, while his on/off still pops, he’ll own the “drives winning” storyline that tends to decide close MVP races.
Doncic will put up video-game numbers again, yet the bar for heliocentric guards keeps rising, and defensive skepticism plus any midseason usage management could ding his case.
By contrast, SGA’s steadiness, durability, and two-way credibility give him multiple avenues to “win” the discourse even if raw counting stats are a tick lower—especially if the Thunder post the league’s best record.
Pick: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Stake: 2 units
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs Nikola Jokic head-to-head
Player
PTS
REB
AST
STL
BLK
SGA
31.8
4.4
6.4
1.3
0.8
Jokic
28.7
12.3
10.7
1.4
0.8
It seems only fitting we have a two-horse race given Jokic's love for all things equine. Voters will have to ask themselves whether they prefer SGA's scoring and the Thunder's superior record or Jokic's overall brilliance and ability to stuff a box score.
📈 NBA odds over time
This year's MVP chase has been a heavyweight melee. Follow along all season as we update this graphic with contenders rising and falling.
The MVP award is one of the most prestigious honors in professional basketball—and one of the most debated. But how is the MVP actually chosen?
🗳️ MVP Voting Process
The MVP is determined by a panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters from the U.S. and Canada, as well as a fan vote that counts as one ballot. Each voter selects five players, ranked from first to fifth place. The point system is as follows:
1st place vote: 10 points
2nd place: 7 points
3rd place: 5 points
4th place: 3 points
5th place: 1 point
The player with the highest total point tally at the end of voting is crowned NBA MVP.
📊 What Do Voters Consider?
While there's no official checklist, MVP voters typically weigh several key factors:
Individual statistics: Points, assists, rebounds, efficiency, advanced metrics like PER or Win Shares
Team success: MVPs are rarely chosen from losing teams and Top 3 seeds are the norm
Narrative and storyline: Voters often reward players overcoming adversity or carrying a franchise
Consistency and availability: Games played, durability, and clutch performance matter
👀 Voter Biases and Trends
Some unofficial trends also influence MVP outcomes:
“Voter fatigue”: Players who've already won may need to outperform their own past seasons to win again
New blood bias: Voters sometimes prefer rising stars over repeat winners
Position favoritism: Guards and forwards tend to dominate MVP voting, although that trend has been changing in recent years
📜NBA MVP betting history
A quick look at recent NBA MVPs and their opening odds.
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina men’s basketball’s superstar freshman forward, broke his left hand in a loss at Miami on Tuesday and will be out for a yet-to-be-determined period of time, the university announced on Thursday, Feb. 12.
Wilson suffered the injury in the first half of the 75-66 loss. X-rays taken during the game came back negative, which prompted him to return to the contest, but additional imaging that was done after the No. 13 Tar Heels returned to Chapel Hill, North Carolina revealed a fracture.
“The evaluation process is ongoing to determine the timetable for Wilson’s return,” North Carolina said in a statement.
Wilson has been one of the brightest stars in what has been widely hailed as one of the best freshmen classes in the sport’s recent history. The 6-foot-10 Atlanta native is averaging 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game for North Carolina, which is 19-5 after a disappointing 2024-25 season in which it barely snuck into the NCAA Tournament field.
Wilson has been integral in that improvement. He has set North Carolina program records for scoring in double figures in each of his first 24 career games and for his 17 games with at least 20 points. He’s fourth in the ACC in scoring, third in rebounding and fifth in field goal percentage (at 57.8%).
The former five-star recruit is widely projected as one of the top five picks in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Three of North Carolina’s seven remaining regular-season games come against teams ranked in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll: No. 23 Louisville (on Feb. 23), No. 18 Clemson (March 3) and the rematch with No. 6 Duke (March 7), as well as a Feb. 17 game at an NC State team that’s receiving votes in the poll.
CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Philadelphia Phillies released outfielder Nick Castellanos on Thursday after the team was unable to make a deal to trade him. Castellanos then revealed he was benched last season after bringing beer into the dugout during a game.
The team wanted the situation resolved before its first full-squad workout at spring training, which is Monday.
Castellanos was benched last season after he made what Phillies manager Rob Thomson described as “ an inappropriate comment ” after he was pulled for a defensive replacement. Castellanos said in September that communication with Thomson had been “ questionable, at least in my experience.”
On Thursday, Castellanos posted a hand-written note on social media explaining an incident in Miami that preceded his benching. He said he brought beer into the dugout after being taken out of a game and complained to Thomson about team rules. He said teammates took the beer away before he drank any.
Afterward, he went into the office with Thomson and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.
“We aired out our differences and the conversation ended with me apologizing for letting my emotions get the best of me,” Castellanos said, adding that he was benched the next game as punishment.
Castellanos, who turns 34 on March 4, hit .250 with 17 homers and 72 RBIs in 147 games for the NL East champions last year. He was going into the final season of a $100 million, five-year contract, but Dombrowski said Monday the Phillies were talking to other teams about him.
Adolis García is expected to replace Castellanos in right field after he signed a $10 million, one-year contract with Philadelphia in December.
After Castellanos’ release was announced by the team, the veteran outfielder acknowledged bringing a beer into the dugout after being removed from a game in Miami last June.
That led to Castellanos being benched the following game by Phillies manager Rob Thomson, who said at the time the outfielder was being punished for an “inappropriate comment” in the dugout, something the 33-year-old Castellanos addressed Thursday.
He sectioned this part of the note, “Miami Incident.”
Nick Castellanos is pictured during the Phillies’ Aug. 15 game. Getty Images
“As a veteran of the game of baseball, there are rules, and I broke one in Miami,” Castellanos posted on Instagram. “After being taken out of a close ball game in front of my friends and family, I brought a presedente [sic] into the dugout. I then sat right next to Rob and let him know that too much slack in some areas and too tight of restrictions in others are not conducive to us winning. Shoutout to my teammates and Howie [Kendrick, assistant GM, who was in the dugout] for taking the beer out of my hands before I could take a sip. (I appreciate you guys).”
His benching made headlines at the time, in part, because Castellanos had a 236-game starting streak prior to the incident. He also grew up in the suburbs of Miami.
Castellanos, who has played 13 years in the majors, has one year and $20 million remaining on a five-year, $100 million deal he signed after coming off a career-best year in Cincinnati in 2021.
Castellanos also played parts of seven seasons with the Tigers.
His time with the Phillies didn’t go well, although he was an All-Star in 2023.
Castellanos’ production fell off sharply following that season and his departure from Philadelphia was almost a foregone conclusion, especially when the team signed Adolis Garcia this past offseason.
Team president Dave Dombrowski said of Castellanos during the offseason “sometimes a change of scenery can be beneficial for people.”
He was reportedly told not to report to spring training and there was no locker for him at the team’s spring training facility in Clearwater, Fla.
Wigglesworth worked with Russell on the Lions’ tour
‘He’s one of those guys whose talent speaks for itself’
The England defence coach Richard Wigglesworth has admitted it is pointless trying to come up with a plan to stop Finn Russell after getting a closeup view of Scotland’s star fly-half during last summer’s British & Irish Lions tour of Australia.
England head to Murrayfield on Saturday favourites to defend the Calcutta Cup on the back of 12 straight victories while Scotland are reeling after last Saturday’s shock defeat by Italy. England have not won at Murrayfield since 2020, however, and only once since 2016 with Russell proving their nemesis on several occasions.
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