Sources: NBA lacks proof Ballmer paid via firms
The NBA discovered no evidence that Clippers owner Steve Ballmer used team sponsors to channel payments to Kawhi Leonard. The league's finding emerged from recent discussions between NBA officials and representatives from both sides.
Serena, Venus return to doubles, lose thriller
Serena and Venus Williams played their first doubles match together since the 2022 U.S. Open, losing 2-6, 6-1 (10-8) to Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns at the Cincinnati Open. The match ended in a tiebreaker at 10-8 in the final set.
Serena and Venus Williams lose first doubles match since 2022 U.S. Open
Serena and Venus Williams lost their doubles match at the Cincinnati Open against Marta Kostyuk and Peyton Stearns with a score of 6-2, 1-6, 1-0(8). This was Serena's first match on U.S. soil in nearly four years and her fourth match overall since returning to professional tennis in summer.
Arsenal primed for Premier League title defence as rivals face questions
Arsenal finished seven points ahead of Manchester City last season and will defend their Premier League title. The club aims to win consecutive English titles for the first time since the 1930s.
Jeanie Buss reportedly attempting to halt her siblings’ attempt to sell remaining stake in Lakers
Jeanie Buss is attempting to block her siblings' plan to sell the family's remaining 17.8% stake in the Lakers to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner through legal action. Her lawyer sought to halt the sale on legal grounds after the Buss family announced their intention to proceed with the transaction.
Premier League 2026-27 preview No 13: Leeds
Leeds finished 14th last season and reached an FA Cup semi-final under manager Daniel Farke. Guardian writers predict they will finish 12th in the 2026-27 season.
Fifa chief sacked after criticism of Infantino’s World Cup sell-off plan
Fifa's chief operating officer Kevin Lamour was fired after criticizing Gianni Infantino's plan to sell World Cup broadcasting rights to private investors through the FFE scheme. Lamour had accused Fifa's administration of being "deceived" and departed less than two years after joining from Uefa.
NBA blasts ESPN for ‘inaccuracies’ in report on Kawhi Leonard-Clippers investigation
The NBA disputed ESPN's report that an 11-month investigation found no proof of owner Steve Ballmer funneling money to Kawhi Leonard through team sponsorships to circumvent the salary cap. The NBA and Clippers have been negotiating a resolution to the investigation.
Todd Boehly and Mark Walter consider selling Chelsea shares to Clearlake Capital
Todd Boehly and Mark Walter are considering selling their approximately 13% stakes in Chelsea to Clearlake Capital. This transaction would increase Clearlake's ownership to 86% and give the private equity firm complete control of the club.
Premier League to allow audio of conversations between players and referees
The Premier League will broadcast audio of player-referee conversations during live matches for the first time this season through Sky Sports and TNT Sports. This expands the RefCam system, which uses head-mounted cameras that previously captured audio only for delayed broadcast several days after matches.
Enzo Maresca’s Manchester City opener was startlingly bad
Manchester City lost 3-0 to Arsenal in the Community Shield under new manager Enzo Maresca. The defeat raised concerns about City's defensive performance despite Maresca being Guardiola's former assistant and the match being only a pre-season fixture.
Geno Auriemma on UConn’s basketball dynasty: ‘We’ve tried for 40 years to empower women’
Geno Auriemma, UConn's basketball coach with 12 national titles, stated he will not retire in the foreseeable future. Auriemma declined to provide a specific timeline for his departure but emphasized his commitment to remaining with the program.
GB denied 2028 Olympics spot as USA and Canada win flag football world titles
The United States retained the men's flag football world championship title while Canada won the women's championship. Mexico's women and Canada's men qualified for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with Great Britain denied a spot.
Seminoles star Whaley, 22, wins U.S. Amateur title
A 22-year-old Florida State golfer won the U.S. Amateur championship on Sunday at Merion Golf Club in Pennsylvania. Jack Whaley defeated Jay Leng Jr. while wearing double gloves during rainy conditions.
‘That’s the standard’: Mikel Arteta hails Arsenal’s desire on blue day for Maresca
Arsenal defeated Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield, with Riccardo Calafiori scoring after 24 seconds, the fastest goal in the competition since 1968. Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard added goals as Arsenal demonstrated their hunger to defend their Premier League title under manager Mikel Arteta.
Tommy John, pitcher whose surgery changed baseball, dies at age of 83
A pioneering ligament-replacement surgery performed on pitcher Tommy John in 1974 became the standard treatment for arm injuries in baseball and beyond. John, a four-time All-Star who died at 83, was the first player to undergo the procedure that now bears his name.
Claressa Shields eyes Britain’s Price after stopping Kaye Scott to reclaim titles
Claressa Shields stopped Kaye Scott at 1:38 of the sixth round to reclaim the WBA and WBC middleweight titles after a 38-pound weight cut. Shields has identified Lauren Price as her preferred next opponent following the dominant victory in Atlanta.
Australia’s Lani Pallister topples 800m freestyle queen Katie Ledecky at Pan Pacs
Lani Pallister of Australia won the 800m freestyle at the Pan Pacific Championships with a time of 8:06.10, setting a new championship record. This victory ended Katie Ledecky's streak of 13 consecutive international gold medals in the 800m event.
Tears, Larry David quips and more: Standout moments from Naismith Hall of Fame speeches
Eight basketball figures were inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame on Saturday, including players Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne, the 1996 USA women's Olympic team, and coaches Mike D'Antoni and Mark Few. The inductees' speeches featured distinct personal stories reflecting their various roles in basketball history.
American Kate Douglass breaks 50m freestyle world record twice in one day
Kate Douglass broke the 50m freestyle world record twice in one day at the Pan Pacific Championships. She first clocked 23.49 seconds in the morning heats, then lowered it to 23.19 seconds in the evening final.
Cardinals rookie Joshua Báez makes MLB history with three homers in first three at-bats
A 23-year-old Cardinals rookie hit three home runs in his first three major league at-bats, including on the first pitch he saw. Joshua Báez drove in five runs during the 8-4 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Prichard Colón, boxer left with brain damage after 2015 fight, dies aged 33
Prichard Colón, a Puerto Rican boxer, died at age 33 from brain damage sustained during his only professional defeat in 2015. The WBC attributed his brain bleed to illegal blows to the back of his head during the fight that ended his 16-win record.
Liverpool owner FSG seals £1.65bn sale of 30% stake to consortium including Jeff Bezos
Fenway Sports Group sold a 30% stake in Liverpool to a consortium for £1.65 billion, valuing the club at £5.5 billion total. Amit Bhatia will become vice-chairman on an expanded board, with backing from the Mittal Family Trust, Bezos's K5 Sports fund, and Saverin's EE Capital.
Superb Summer McIntosh bounces back with 400m medley gold at Pan Pacs
Summer McIntosh of Canada won the 400m individual medley at the Pan Pacific Championships in championship-record time. Australia's women's 4x200 freestyle relay team won in 7 minutes 42.40 seconds, lowering the previous championship record of 7:44.12.
Swim hero Katie Ledecky extends 16-year winning streak in 1500m with Pan Pacs gold
Katie Ledecky won the 1500m freestyle at the Pan Pacific Championships in 15 minutes 36.09 seconds, extending her 16-year winning streak in the event. The race took place at an outdoor pool in Irvine, California, during the opening night of the competition.
Swiatek downs Svitolina to reach first WTA final of 2026
Iga Swiatek defeated Elina Svitolina 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 to advance to her first WTA final of 2026 in Toronto. The seventh-seeded Polish player improved her head-to-head record against Svitolina to 5-3.
Doué seals Super Cup glory for PSG after Madjo makes history for Aston Villa
PSG defeated Aston Villa 2-1 in the UEFA Super Cup, with Ousmane Doué scoring the winning goal at minute 62. Seventeen-year-old Brian Madjo became the competition's youngest scorer with Aston Villa's goal in the 45th minute.
Jack Draper: ‘When you reach rock bottom like that you can come back up again’
Jack Draper cried during a first-round match at the Canadian Open while losing to Térence Atmane, having struggled for 15 months with a bone bruise injury to his left arm. The former world No. 4 described reaching rock bottom emotionally after a year of unsuccessful attempts to return to consistent high-level competition.
Triple-double king Russell Westbrook calls time on 18-year NBA career
Russell Westbrook retired after 18 NBA seasons, holding the record for 209 triple-doubles. The 2017 MVP and two-time scoring champion spent his first 11 seasons with Oklahoma City Thunder.
Josh Kushner and Bob Iger reportedly buying Los Angeles Lakers for $12.5bn
Josh Kushner and Bob Iger are buying the Los Angeles Lakers for more than $12.5 billion, exceeding the $10 billion price Mark Walter paid last year. The deal represents a record valuation for an NBA team.