CNN – Sports

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Newton Square, Pennsylvania (CNN) — Somewhere around the 16th tee, just as Aldrich Potgieter was about to take a cut, a man in the gallery asked a pertinent question: “Is there anyone in this group worth watching?” At the time, Potgieter, at 5-under, was atop the leaderboard at the PGA Championship.

By Hannah Keyser, CNN New York (CNN) — Before hiring a manager for his mid-market franchise, a general manager and five other team stakeholders sat in a room with a whiteboard to brainstorm what they believed to be the attributes of a championship skipper. The last manager had been fired at the end of a

By Thomas Schlachter, CNN (CNN) — They say three things are certain in life. Scottie Scheffler being among the frontrunners at a major championship is definitely one of them. With favorites falling to the wayside all over the undulating greens at Aronimink Golf Club, the ever-unflappable Scheffler sits atop the leaderboard after the opening day’s

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Newtown Square, Pennsylvania (CNN) — After signing his scorecard to make official a round of golf he’d largely like to forget, Bryson DeChambeau cut through the player’s parking lot and kept going, directly to the driving range. He plopped two buckets next to him and started swinging, stopping only to either

By Karina Tsui, CNN (CNN) — Shakira, Madonna and K-pop superstars BTS will headline the first-ever World Cup final halftime show, FIFA announced in an Instagram post on Thursday. The World Cup Final is set for July 19 at New Jersey’s Metlife Stadium and is expected to draw millions of viewers worldwide on top of

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — It’s been a week to remember for Real Madrid, but for all the wrong reasons. From player fights to bizarre news conferences, arguably the world’s biggest soccer team has been buffeted from one attention-grabbing revelation to another. So what is happening at the club? And what can we expect

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Newtown Square, Pennsylvania (CNN) — Not since the littlest piggy cried “wee, wee, wee all the way home” will a pinky toe face so much scrutiny. Less than 48 hours before his assigned tee time to start the PGA Championship, Rory McIlroy stood on the side of the fairway at No.

By Patrick Snell, CNN Newtown Square, Pennsylvania (CNN) — With the PGA Championship taking place just a few miles outside of the City of Brotherly Love this week, it’s certainly appropriate that two English siblings find themselves in contention for a major title. Last month, Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick teamed up to share an emotional

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — University of Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy is in stable condition after being shot early Sunday morning in Mississippi, the school’s football team announced Monday morning. “Ahmad underwent surgery Sunday in Mississippi and is in stable condition,” the statement read. “Ahmad is deeply loved by his teammates, coaches, friends,

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — It was over four minutes of pure, unadulterated cinema. A total of 266 seconds that put soccer fans across the world through the entire spectrum of emotions. If you missed it live, you’ve likely seen the fallout debated across your social media platforms over the last 24 hours. We

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — It’s now just one month until the first game of this summer’s FIFA World Cup kicks off, and there is plenty to talk about already. From diplomatic tensions to ticket pricing and travel costs, the tournament has been creating headlines before a ball has even been kicked, and that

By Associated Press (AP) — Bobby Cox, the folksy manager of the Atlanta Braves whose teams ruled the National League during the 1990s and gave the city its first major title as well as World Series trips that fell short, has died. He was 84. Cox died in Marietta, Georgia, according to the Atlanta Braves.

By Dana O’Neil, CNN (CNN) — Back before they had a name, before a generation crowned such things as “vision boards” and started talking about “manifesting” their dreams, Cherie DeVaux wrote down her goals and pinned the notes to her bedroom walls. Sports, grades, life – whatever it was that the self-described Type A personality

By Hannah Keyser, CNN Pittsburgh (CNN) — Pittsburgh baseball first broke Don Kelly’s heart in the early ‘90s. And those were in the good years. Born months after the team’s last World Series win in 1979, Kelly was 10, 11, and 12 years old when the Pirates won three consecutive division titles, only to fall

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — In the moments before the Kentucky Derby began, two incredible women – one stepping off the grandest stage in horse racing and another about to step onto it – strode together to Churchill Downs’ paddock. Donna Brothers, a former jockey with 1,130 career wins, was working her final race

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Louisville, Kentucky (CNN) — Conveniently plopped just across the street from the backside stable gate of Churchill Downs, Wagner’s Pharmacy has served horsemen since 1922 – back when Leo Wagner let them buy their food and cigarettes on credit. It is, to this day, exactly as it should be – serviceable

CNN By Glen Levy, Elizabeth Pérez, CNN Miami, Florida (CNN) — For Kimi Antonelli, time is of the essence. The Italian driver, who competes in Formula One for Mercedes – replacing no less a legend than Lewis Hamilton at the Silver Arrows – is still just 19 years old, but he isn’t biding his time,

By Glen Levy, Elizabeth Pérez, CNN Miami, Florida (CNN) — For Kimi Antonelli, time is of the essence. The Italian driver, who competes in Formula One for Mercedes – replacing no less a legend than Lewis Hamilton at the Silver Arrows – is still just 19 years old, but he isn’t biding his time, fully

CNN By Max Feliu, CNN (CNN) — For nearly five years, dozens of Afghanistan’s women soccer players have lived in exile — scattered across Australia, the United States and Europe — unable to officially represent their country’s national team. A landmark amendment to the regulations of soccer’s worldwide governing body is set to change that.

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Louisville, Kentucky (CNN) — In 2004, an old fraternity brother gave Ken McPeek a call, looking for a favor. Bruce Casella went to Eastern Kentucky, a few minutes’ ride from McPeek’s University of Kentucky but they both were Sigma Alpha Epsilon brothers with a shared affinity for horse racing. McPeek came

By Amanda Davies, Ben Church, Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — LIV Golf will look to restructure and seek new investment after its Saudi backers are pulling funding from the league at the end of the season, a senior source familiar with the situation told CNN Sports. On Thursday, LIV made it official, announcing a new

By Max Feliu, CNN (CNN) — For nearly five years, dozens of Afghanistan’s women soccer players have lived in exile — scattered across Australia, the United States and Europe — unable to officially represent their country’s national team. A landmark amendment to the regulations of soccer’s worldwide governing body is set to change that. The

CNN By Aleks Klosok, Amanda Davies, CNN Madrid, Spain (CNN) — 50-50. With just over two years to go, a coinflip is the chance Simone Biles has put on competing at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The most decorated gymnast of all-time has previously stated she’ll be at the Games in “some capacity.”

By Aleks Klosok, Amanda Davies, CNN Madrid, Spain (CNN) — 50-50. With just over two years to go, a coinflip is the chance Simone Biles has put on competing at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The most decorated gymnast of all-time has previously stated she’ll be at the Games in “some capacity.” Now

By Associated Press (AP) — The NCAA is still deliberating expanding March Madness on both the men’s and women’s sides to 76 teams for next season — a much-expected development that’s been in the works for years. The NCAA released a brief statement Tuesday in the wake of an ESPN report that cited unnamed sources

By Kevin Dotson, CNN (CNN) — LIV Golf aims to postpone its event scheduled for this summer in New Orleans, according to a statement from Louisiana government officials, who say the breakaway league has expressed a desire to reschedule the event for later this year. The announcement from Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry and Economic Development

By Sophie Tanno, CNN (CNN) — Kenyan runner Sabastian Sawe made history by becoming the first athlete to run a marathon in under two hours in a competitive race to win the London Marathon. Sawe broke the world record to complete the London Marathon in 1:59:30. His time shatters the previous world record, held by

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Louisville, Kentucky (CNN) — Minutes after his beloved St. John’s basketball team lost to Duke in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, a dejected Mike Repole stood in the Capital One Arena stands in his Red Storm jacket and shrugged. Smiling morosely, he said to CNN Sports, “At least we

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Even as one of the best athletes in the world, Hellen Obiri says she’ll still be nervous lining up at the start of this weekend’s London Marathon. It’s incredible, though, that the Kenyan would have any doubts at all. After all, the 36-year-old is a double world champion in

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — If you and three friends wanted to go watch the World Cup final in person this year, you’re in luck. Four tickets, all sitting together, have been made available behind one of the goals at MetLife Stadium for July 19. But if that sounds too good to be true?

By Jonathan Hawkins, CNN (CNN) — At 29 years old with three world titles and millions of followers on social media, you could forgive most sports stars for easing back a little and enjoying their success. Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, however, is not interested in resting on any laurels. Instead, this year the former World Superbike star

By Aleks Klosok, Amanda Davies, CNN Geneva, Switzerland (CNN) — Formula One has, in the year of 2026, perhaps never been as unpredictable and unexpected as demonstrated by the opening scenes of the still nascent season. Three races in, there’ve been unforeseen winners, unpredicted changes to the schedule and the unanticipated reality of regulation changes

By Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — Fernando Mendoza has had a remarkable last 12 months and the 22-year-old added another milestone on Thursday to his constantly growing resume: Becoming the top selection in the NFL draft. The Las Vegas Raiders selected the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback with the first overall pick The 22-year-old, who was watching

By Kyle Feldscher, Jill Martin, Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — The New England Patriots are backing head coach Mike Vrabel after a second report in the New York Post raised questions about the reigning coach of the year’s relationship with a former reporter from The Athletic. Vrabel has been under the microscope in recent weeks

By Sebastian Shukla, Claudia Otto, CNN Berlin, Germany (CNN) — Marie-Louise Eta received a typical German welcome at Union Berlin’s Stadion An der Altern Försterei on Saturday. “Fußballgöttin!” (“football goddess”) they bellowed in deafening unison. Eta, 34, was named interim manager of the Bundesliga club last week after the sacking of the under-performing Steffan Baumgart.

CNN By Ben Church, Amanda Davies, Aleks Klosok, CNN (CNN) — It was a big night for tennis as both Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka won individual awards at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid on Monday. Alcaraz, who was sporting a brace on his wrist, opened up about his brilliant 2025 season, as

By Ben Church, Amanda Davies, Aleks Klosok, CNN (CNN) — It was a big night for tennis as both Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka won individual awards at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid on Monday. Alcaraz, who was sporting a brace on his wrist, opened up about his brilliant 2025 season, as well

CNN By Aleks Klosok, Amanda Davies, CNN Geneva, Switzerland (CNN) — Sprinting legend Usain Bolt has told CNN Sports he hopes teenage phenom Gout Gout “finds the right people” to have around him as the 18-year-old continues his meteoric rise in the world of track and field. The Australian has set the sport alight with

By Aleks Klosok, Amanda Davies, CNN Geneva, Switzerland (CNN) — Sprinting legend Usain Bolt has told CNN Sports he hopes teenage phenom Gout Gout “finds the right people” to have around him as the 18-year-old continues his meteoric rise in the world of track and field. The Australian has set the sport alight with a

By Emile Nuh, CNN (CNN) — The NBA regular season is in the rearview, the playoff bracket is set, and for the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, the journey back to the mountaintop really begins. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will understandably command much of the spotlight. The reigning NBA MVP – who is the frontrunner for the

By Aleks Klosok, Amanda Davies, CNN Geneva, Switzerland (CNN) — Eileen Gu is never one to shirk a challenge. From exploring the boundaries of quantum physics as a Stanford undergrad to becoming one of the world’s highest-earning female athletes, her potential on and off the slope is seemingly limitless. Now, as the most decorated athlete

By Dana O’Neil, CNN (CNN) — The Villanova and Notre Dame men’s and women’s basketball teams will be taking a Roman holiday next season. In a nod to the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope and a Villanova graduate, the two Catholic universities will officially announce today a doubleheader to be played

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Standing alone in a Swedish laundromat, Alfie Whiteman set a 10-second timer on his camera and pondered what to do next. For much of his life as a professional soccer player, there was always someone to make decisions for him – what to eat, where to go and what

By The Associated Press (AP) — FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Wednesday that Iran will participate in the World Cup “for sure” despite its war with the United States. Speaking at CNBC’s Invest in America Forum, Infantino said it is important that Iran participates in the World Cup even though its participation has been in

By Kyle Feldscher, David Close, CNN (CNN) — LIV Golf – the sport’s controversial breakaway league – is denying any changes to its operation after multiple reports suggested the future of the organization is in doubt. “LIV Golf’s funding and operations are continuing as planned,” a source with knowledge of the situation told CNN Sports

By Wayne Sterling, CNN (CNN) — Monday night in New York didn’t feel like a standard draft; it felt like a launchpad. The 2026 WNBA draft class descended on The Shed at Hudson Yards into a transformed financial landscape, powered by the landmark seven-year labor deal struck just last month. For the second consecutive year,

By Kyle Feldscher, Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — Rory McIlroy held off a crowded field, his own erratic play and the weight of history to win the 2026 Masters, becoming only the fourth player in history to win two straight green jackets. With his victory, McIlroy joins Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as

By Don Riddell, CNN Augusta, Georgia (CNN) — There’s no such thing as a sure thing at the Masters – just ask Rory McIlroy. In 2011, his 4-stroke lead imploded during an excruciating final round that scarred him until he finally won the tournament in 2025. On Saturday, his record-breaking six-stroke advantage completely evaporated. The

By Don Riddell, CNN Augusta, Georgia (CNN) — At the Masters this week, a thought stuck in the minds of the patrons: Surely, it’s Justin time. On a golf course where every hole is named after a flower, only one player bears the name of one, and none has been as close to full bloom

By Associated Press Miami (CNN) — Terry Rozier, who is facing federal charges related to a gambling operation, was waived by the Miami Heat on Friday in an expected and procedural move that allows the team to sign another player to its roster before the postseason. Rozier was with the Heat for one game this

By Don Riddell, CNN Augusta, Georgia (CNN) — It took some time, but Rory McIlroy realized there are more mountains left to conquer. “Honestly, I felt like the career grand slam was my destination, and I got there, and then I realized it wasn’t the destination,” he told CNN Sports on Tuesday. “You think every

By Don Riddell, CNN Augusta, Georgia (CNN) — As you’d expect, much of the conversation around this week’s Masters revolves around the golfers competing at Augusta National for the famed green jacket. But just beneath the surface lies a somber discussion about the most famous man in the sport, who is a long way from

By Don Riddell, CNN Augusta National (CNN) — Gary Woodland is back at Augusta for the first time since 2024 and he is highly emotional. He also thinks that somebody might try to kill him. Woodland suffers from severe anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, having endured a series of personal trials and tragedies, including a

CNN By Don Riddell, CNN Augusta, Georgia (CNN) — As you’d expect, much of the conversation around this week’s Masters revolves around the golfers competing at Augusta National for the famed green jacket. But just beneath the surface lies a somber discussion about the most famous man in the sport, who is a long way

By Don Riddell, CNN (CNN) — Jack Nicklaus says that he gets chills when he drives up Magnolia Lane at the Augusta National Golf Club, and I know exactly how he feels about the hallowed grounds where The Masters is played every April. Like most of the visitors to Augusta, I’m here for the golf,

By Leah Asmelash, CNN (CNN) — When King Bacot took the floor in the starting lineup for Petersburg High School in the Virginia state championship game, it was in front of a sellout crowd and his coaches sported matching burgundy suits. King was already used to a big-time basketball atmosphere. He has multiple recruiting offers

CNN By Don Riddell, CNN Augusta, Georgia (CNN) — Rory McIlroy is one of only six golfers ever to have won all four majors and achieved the career grand slam, but even he will experience a few nerves when he pulls up a chair at the champions dinner at the Augusta National clubhouse on Tuesday

By Don Riddell, CNN Augusta, Georgia (CNN) — Rory McIlroy is one of only six golfers ever to have won all four majors and achieved the career grand slam, but even he will experience a few nerves when he pulls up a chair at the champions dinner at the Augusta National clubhouse on Tuesday night.

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Indianapolis (CNN) — The one-man tour began just above the 3-point line, not far from where the ladder stood beneath the recently cut nets. Elliot Cadeau brought his favorite new bauble, the brown-wood 2026 NCAA basketball national championship trophy, over to where his mother, Michelle, and older brother and doppelganger Justin

By Jill Martin, CNN (CNN) — One of the biggest names in the WNBA is changing teams. The Chicago Sky traded Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream, both teams announced Monday. The Dream acquired Reese, a two-time WNBA All-Star, in exchange for Atlanta’s first-round picks in 2027 and 2028. The Dream also receives the right

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Indianapolis (CNN) — A new CNN FlashDoc “Money Madness: College Basketball at a Crossroads” examines how betting culture, wealth-creating NIL deals, and fixers preying on the vulnerable have led to a perfect storm. Stream the special now on the CNN app. In 1999, a Boston Southie with daddy issues fueling an

By Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — A new CNN FlashDoc “Money Madness: College Basketball at a Crossroads” examines how betting culture, wealth-creating NIL deals, and fixers preying on the vulnerable have led to a perfect storm. Stream the special now on the CNN app. UCLA put on a masterclass performance to down South Carolina 79-51

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Indianapolis (CNN) — So, this is the clearest way to explain what Michigan did to Arizona in a national semifinal billed as a battle between two heavyweights: Yaxel Lendeborg played the second half after spraining his MCL and rolling his ankle. Yet, upon draining a 3-pointer at the 16:27 mark, the

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Indianapolis (CNN) — A new CNN FlashDoc “Money Madness: College Basketball at a Crossroads” examines how betting culture, wealth-creating NIL deals, and fixers preying on the vulnerable have led to a perfect storm. Stream the special now on the CNN app. Minutes after UConn gutted out its 71-62 national semifinal win

By Wayne Sterling, Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — UConn women’s basketball head coach Geno Auriemma on Saturday issued an apology and taken full responsibility for his conduct during the closing moments of the Huskies’ season-ending loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks on Friday night. “There’s no excuse for how I handled the end of the

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Indianapolis (CNN) — As their lives have darted and stretched in different directions, Tommy Lloyd, Mark Few and Dan Monson have tried to keep the Wednesday night of the Final Four sacrosanct, a standing date to reconnect. The three have been intertwined since 1999, back when Monson left his job as

By Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — South Carolina and UCLA will face off for the women’s basketball national championship on Sunday after their victories in the Final Four. Here is what to know from Friday’s madness: South Carolina shocks UConn South Carolina came into Friday’s game in a position they don’t usually find themselves in:

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN Indianapolis (CNN) — A new CNN FlashDoc “Money Madness: College Basketball at a Crossroads” examines how betting culture, wealth-creating NIL deals, and fixers preying on the vulnerable have led to a perfect storm. Stream the special now on the CNN app. The hour will premiere Sunday, April 5 at 8 p.m.

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Indianapolis (CNN) — The homemade picture hangs in Camryn Crocker’s Illinois basketball office. “Dad, you’re a slam dunk,’’ it reads, next to an imprint of Sienna Bobbie Crocker’s tiny little hand. Nurses in the neonatal intensive care unit at the Carle Foundation Hospital in Champaign, Illinois, made it for Crocker, the

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Indianapolis (CNN) — Asked if he recalled that he once suggested a young Alex Karaban might “turn his socks yellow” upon entering his first college basketball game, Dan Hurley did not pause. “Did I say he’d poop his pants, too?” Hurley said. This as he zipped through the hallways of Capital

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — The NFL is coming back to Topps as both the league and the iconic company look to capitalize on the trading card boom. The league, Topps’ owner Fanatics Collectibles and the NFL Players Association announced on Thursday that the league is once again making Topps its exclusive trading card

By Dana O’Neil, CNN (CNN) — Marcus Domask was not good enough and no one could convince Brad Underwood otherwise. As he watched the Southern Illinois would-be transfer on film, Underwood repeatedly told his staff no, as a power forward, Domask was simply not a Big Ten player. Until, that is, one of his assistants

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — He may be a four-time world champion and one of the faces of Formula 1, but Max Verstappen is not having a good time in the sport he once loved. For a while now, the Dutchman has seemed unsettled and unhappy with the direction F1 is heading, so much

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Washington, DC (CNN) — He launched his shot, fittingly, just to the right of the two Ss that finish the words “Madness” on the half-court logo. Because where else would an Indiana kid, born to hoop but stuck in a beyond-the-arc hole for 39 minutes and 59 seconds, find basketball immortality

By Kevin Dotson, Wayne Sterling, Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — The men’s Final Four is set and it’s going to be a doozy. Michigan and UConn earned their way into the tournament’s final weekend, joining Illinois and Arizona. The first tickets were punched to the women’s Final Four as well on Sunday as UConn and

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Washington, DC (CNN) — Back when he first came to town – back when some of his Big East peers derided his school as the Northwestern of the conference and questioned why Dave Gavitt even let them in – Jim Calhoun tried to solve UConn’s identity crisis one misinformed person at

By Wayne Sterling, Jacob Lev, Kevin Dotson, CNN (CNN) — Two spots remain in the men’s Final Four after dominant wins on Saturday by Illinois and Arizona, who are heading to the NCAA tournament’s final weekend for the first time since the early part of this century. The Illini and Wildcats both faced tough challenges

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Washington, DC (CNN) — Caleb Foster came zipping into the postgame press conference on his Knee Rover, the handy scooter that’s been his speed demon ride for the past two-plus weeks. His entire right foot encased in ice, Foster bunny-hopped onto the dais, hobbling from ice foot to sneakered foot, to

WPTV, CNN By Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — Tiger Woods is in jail Friday after being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek. Woods was driving a Land Rover and clipped a pickup truck pulling a small trailer, Budensiek told reporters. The collision caused Woods’ Land Rover

By Jacob Lev, Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — Tiger Woods was arrested Friday on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to Martin County, Florida, Sheriff John Budensiek. Woods was driving a Land Rover and clipped a pickup truck pulling a small trailer, Budensiek told reporters. The collision caused Woods’ Land Rover to roll onto

By Jacob Lev, Kevin Dotson, CNN (CNN) — Both NCAA tournaments are in full swing on Friday as Sweet 16 action heats up, with the men’s bracket finishing up the round with four games and the women’s tourney showcasing four games as well. Here’s a look at who triumphed so far on Friday and moved

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Washington, DC (CNN) — Each morning, Yissel Raposo woke up early to make sure her three daughters had what they needed to get out the door – breakfast, belongings, school supplies. Then she packed her son, Yaxel Lendeborg, in the car and drove him through the-not-so-nice downtown part of Camden, New

By Gawon Bae, CNN Seoul, South Korea (CNN) — Choi Ga-on walks in very quietly with a faint smile, seemingly camera-shy. But just a month ago, this teenage South Korean snowboarder stunned the world when she made an incredible comeback from injury to complete her final halfpipe run at the Winter Olympics, clinching the gold

By Kyle Feldscher, Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — For the last few days, the fans of 16 men’s college basketball teams haven’t been able to get one thought out of their heads: Two more wins until the Final Four. For four teams – Iowa, Illinois, Purdue and Arizona – that number is down to just

By Dana O’Neil, CNN (CNN) — Trying to understand Brad Underwood is not exactly solving the riddle of the sphinx. A knee-bending acolyte of the “Our Fathers of the Unflinching” Church built by Bob Huggins, Underwood is a disciplined, taciturn, hard-nosed coach who long has preferred his players who are molded in his own likeness.

By Emile Nuh, CNN (CNN) — Denmark’s national soccer team takes on North Macedonia in Copenhagen on Thursday, aiming to move within one game of qualification for this summer’s FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. But given the US’ status as a co-host and American President Donald Trump throwing the idea

By Andy Scholes, CNN (CNN) — A fresh lineup of food across Major League Baseball stadiums is rolling out for a fresh new season. Levy Restaurants brought several of its newest creations directly to CNN Sports, and I got to try them. For Levy CEO Andy Lansing, this is the moment they build toward all

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — Watch “Homecoming: The Tokyo Series,” which will begin streaming on the CNN app at 9 a.m. ET on Friday. Subscribe to All Access here. Baseball in Japan, according to Yasuko Tanahara, starts and ends with a bow. It’s meant as a measure of respect – to your teammates, to

By Kyle Feldscher, Jacob Lev, Kevin Dotson, CNN (CNN) — Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened. And wait another year for it to happen again. The first weekend of March Madness is in the books and it lived up to expectations. A couple of iconic buzzer-beaters, upsets, top teams being put on

By Dana O’Neil, CNN Buffalo, New York (CNN) — It looked like something out of a Harlem Globetrotters routine, a fake-out so complete that it drew equal parts awe and chuckles from Michigan pep band members who were watching. Standing on the baseline, the ball raised above his head, Aday Mara made like he was

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — The chaos of the opening round of the men’s NCAA tournament is behind us and spots in the Sweet 16 are starting to be booked. The women’s NCAA tournament is still rolling strong in the opening round after a slate of games that went heavily in favor of the

By Kyle Feldscher, Kevin Dotson, Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — The second full day of the men’s NCAA tournament was pretty chalky and the upsets were limited, in contrast to the chaos that was the opening day of the round of 64. But the day may have had the most iconic game of the tournament

CNN By Don Riddell, CNN (CNN) — Shiva Amini says that the lives of Iranian athletes can change with the snap of a finger. Amini was a soccer player on Iran’s national futsal team until 2017, when she was pictured casually playing soccer with some male friends in Switzerland – a crime, she was told

By Dana O’Neil, CNN East Lansing, Michigan (CNN) — Seconds after getting crossed up by Jase Richardson during an October 2024 practice, Jeremy Fears, Jr. responded by dishing a hard foul to the then-freshman Michigan State guard. Watching at the half-court line, Tom Izzo lost his marbles. Spewing invectives at Fears, he pointed to the

By Kyle Feldscher, Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — The first day of the men’s NCAA Tournament is over and boy did it deliver. A few upsets, a top seed being pushed to its limits by a 16-seed and a few other close games marked a fantastic opening day of the Big Dance. The night ended

CNN By Aleks Klosok, Amanda Davies, CNN (CNN) — Iranian-born judoka Saeid Mollaei believes members of Iran’s women’s soccer team could be killed or put in prison when they return home after declining to sing the country’s national anthem at the Women’s Asian Cup in Australia. As an athlete who faced a similar decision in

By Aleks Klosok, Amanda Davies, CNN (CNN) — Iranian-born judoka Saeid Mollaei believes members of Iran’s women’s soccer team could be killed or put in prison when they return home after declining to sing the country’s national anthem at the Women’s Asian Cup in Australia. As an athlete who faced a similar decision in 2019

By Kyle Feldscher, CNN (CNN) — Venezuela held off a star-powered Team USA offense to win the nation’s first World Baseball Classic on Tuesday to end a thrilling edition of the international baseball showcase with a worthy final. The Venezuelan win represents a moment of catharsis for a nation that has been racked by political

By Hannah Keyser, CNN (CNN) — Team Italy pitcher Dylan DeLucia threw four shutout innings in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game against Puerto Rico – purportedly the first baseball game to be broadcast on national Italian television. When he was done, the prospect in the Cleveland Guardians system who hails from Florida had an