Sports

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti credited the “magical” Santiago Bernabéu stadium for motivating his team to the Champions League final on Wednesday, after the Spanish side scored two late goals to beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in the semifinal second leg. With the scores level at 2-2 after the first

KCNC By Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — Denver Nuggets star center Nikola Jokić was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player on Wednesday, marking the third time he has been awarded the honor in four seasons. The 29-year-old Serbian averaged 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game this season – all in the top

By Jacob Lev and Homero De la Fuente, CNN (CNN) — The National Basketball Association has suspended Milwaukee Bucks guard Patrick Beverley for four games without pay after throwing a basketball twice at spectators and an “inappropriate” interaction with a reporter after a playoff game last week, the league announced Thursday. Beverley called his actions “inexcusable” after

By Ben Morse, CNN (CNN) — A jury has awarded $9 million in damages to a tennis player after a court ruled that the United States Tennis Association (USTA) failed to protect her from being sexually assaulted by a coach. Kylie McKenzie, a 25-year-old American tennis player, filed her lawsuit in March 2022 in the US District Court in Orlando,

By Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — Denver Nuggets star center Nikola Jokić was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player on Wednesday, marking the third time he has been awarded the honor in four seasons. The 29-year-old Serbian averaged 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game this season – all in the top 10

By Steve Almasy and Cheri Mossburg, CNN (CNN) — The former interpreter and longtime friend of MLB megastar Shohei Ohtani has agreed to plead guilty to illegally transferring almost $17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player’s bank account, according to a news release from the US Department of Justice. Ippei Mizuhara will plead guilty to

By Jill Martin and George Ramsay, CNN (CNN) — Following an investigation of a racist slur directed at the Utah women’s basketball team in Idaho ahead of the NCAA tournament, the Coeur d’Alene prosecutor’s office opted not to file charges related to the incident. Chief deputy city attorney Ryan Hunter said in a written decision,

By George Ramsay, CNN (CNN) — Diego Maradona’s Golden Ball trophy from the 1986 World Cup, which had gone missing in contested circumstances for decades, has reappeared and is anticipated to sell for millions of dollars at auction next month. The trophy, presented to the best player at each World Cup, will be sold by

By Sam Joseph, CNN (CNN) — The Boston Celtics continued to put on a show in the NBA Playoffs, dominating the Cleveland Cavaliers 120-95 in Game 1 of their second-round series. Star wing Jaylen Brown scored 32 points in front of the home crowd at the TD Garden as the No. 1 seed Celtics showed

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Borussia Dortmund continued its “incredible” run in this season’s Champions League, reaching the final after stunning Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the semifinal second leg on Tuesday. The German side took a 1-0 advantage from the first leg into the match at the Parc des Princes and somewhat rode its

By George Ramsay, CNN (CNN) — Scroll through the athlete profiles on the USA Cycling website and you’ll find someone whose favorite movie is listed as “Interstellar” – Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed sci-fi adventure released in 2014. “I love realistic space movies … I’m definitely a nerd,” reads Chris Birch’s answer on her profile page. That

By Heather Chen and Andrew McNicol, CNN (CNN) — A star player for Malaysia’s soccer team is in “critical but stable condition” after an acid attack that left him with fourth-degree burns, officials said late Tuesday. Malaysian soccer officials said Faisal Halim’s movement and speech had been affected and he would require more surgery. On May

By Thomas Schlachter, CNN (CNN) — Denver Nuggets star point guard Jamal Murray has come under criticism after he was spotted throwing a heat pack onto the court during the reigning champions’ 106-80 playoff loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday. While on the bench toward the end of the second quarter, Murray could be

By Matias Grez, CNN (CNN) — The Minnesota Timberwolves opened up a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals thanks to a stunning 106-80 blowout in Game 2 on Monday. The defending champion Nuggets had no answer for the electric Minnesota duo of Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns, who

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Manchester United’s season reached a new low on Monday after being thrashed 4-0 by Crystal Palace in the Premier League, a result which heaped more pressure on a club in crisis. The scoreline could have been more emphatic had United’s opponent been more clinical, but the defeat was still

By George Ramsay, CNN (CNN) — Brittney Griner feared that her plane would be shot down after she was released from detention in Russia, the WNBA star said in a new interview with The Cut. Speaking with former US soccer icon Megan Rapinoe in an interview published in The Cut on Monday, Griner recalled the

By Kevin Dotson, CNN (CNN) — Weightlifter Oleksandr Pielieshenko, who competed for Ukraine at the 2016 Rio Olympics, has died while fighting in his country’s war with Russia, according to statements from the Ukraine Olympic Committee and the Ukraine Weightlifting Federation posted Monday. “On May 5, an honored master of sports of Ukraine Oleksandr Pielieshenko

By Kevin Dotson and Steve Almasy, CNN (CNN) — San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama is the NBA’s Rookie of the Year, the first player from France to ever win the honor. The 7-foot, 4-inch, 20-year-old was a unanimous selection for the award, topping Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Brandon Miller

By Matias Grez, CNN (CNN) — The Cleveland Cavaliers fought back from an 18-point first-half deficit to beat the Orlando Magic 106-94 in a thrilling Game 7 and book a spot in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. After training 49-31 towards the end of the second quarter, Cleveland’s fightback in the second half

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — German team Bayer Leverkusen extended its miraculous unbeaten run to 48 games on Sunday after thrashing Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 in the Bundesliga. Unlike many matches this season, Leverkusen never trailed and had five different scorers – Granit Xhaka, Patrik Schick, Exequiel Palacios, Jeremie Frimpong and Victor Okoh Boniface –

By Thomas Schlachter, CNN (CNN) — Capping off a weekend of photo finishes, Kyle Larson won NASCAR’s AdventHealth 400 by a staggering 0.001 seconds in Kansas on Sunday. Unlike the Kentucky Derby won by Mystik Dan on Saturday, not even the naked eye could separate who finished first out of Larson and eventual second-place finisher

By Ben Morse and Thomas Schlachter, CNN (CNN) — Lando Norris won the first race of his Formula One career, storming to victory at the Miami Grand Prix on Sunday in front of a crowd flooded with celebrities. The McLaren driver began the race fifth on the grid, but after claiming the lead, took advantage

By Issy Ronald, CNN (CNN) — Jude Bellingham celebrated winning his first ever La Liga title with his mother, posting a picture on Instagram of the two hugging with the legendary Santiago Bernabéu Stadium stretching out behind them. Such an unassuming image is befitting of how the 20-year-old presents himself to the world, how he

By Issy Ronald, CNN (CNN) — Real Madrid sealed a record-extending 36th La Liga title on Saturday after rival Barcelona suffered a second-half collapse against Girona, succumbing to a 4-2 defeat which ensured that Los Blancos cannot be overtaken at the top of the table. Real had secured a 3-0 victory over Cádiz earlier in

By Aimee Lewis, CNN (CNN) — Luis Suárez scored a hat trick for Inter Miami on Saturday, but it is not that impressive feat which is the focus of attention. Instead, it is once again Lionel Messi dominating headlines courtesy of a performance which almost defied belief. In a 6-2 victory over the New York

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — No one dares speak louder than a whisper as nearly 1,000 people respectfully take their seats inside the dimly lit Crucible Theatre. There is a sense of nervous excitement as those lucky enough to get their hands on a ticket cram into this historic venue in the heart of

By Issy Ronald, CNN (CNN) — English teenager Kris Kim stunned the golfing world on his PGA Tour debut, as he became the youngest player to make the cut on tour in nine years – and the youngest ever at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, surpassing the record previously set by Jordan Spieth in 2010.

By Issy Ronald, CNN (CNN) — Star quarterback Aaron Rodgers is expected to participate in the New York Jets’ offseason training activities (OTAs) later this month without “any restrictions,” his franchise’s coach Robert Saleh said on Friday, per the NFL website. The four-time MVP ruptured his left Achilles tendon just four snaps into his Jets

By Homero De la Fuente and Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Mystik Dan has won the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby in a dramatic photo finish at Churchill Downs on Saturday in Louisville. Mystik Dan edged out Sierra Leone and Forever Young in a rare three-horse photo finish to capture the first leg of

By Matias Grez, CNN (CNN) — Umberto Motto had always dreamed of playing for Torino FC. He had dreamed of pulling on the team’s maroon shirt in front of thousands of adoring fans. And he had dreamed of hearing his name announced as he made his way onto the pitch at the Stadio Filadelfia. A

By Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — The Los Angeles Lakers have fired head coach Darvin Ham, the team announced Friday. The 50-year-old Ham compiled a 90-74 record in two seasons at the helm, including leading the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals last season. On Monday, Los Angeles was eliminated from the NBA playoffs in

By Wayne Sterling, CNN (CNN) — Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will not face charges after being accused by a woman of sexual assault for an alleged 2017 incident, a Dallas police spokesperson told CNN on Friday. “An investigation was conducted, and the case is closed,” the police statement reads. “Detectives determined there was insufficient evidence an

By Leah Asmelash, CNN (CNN) — Ticket sales for the Chicago Sky have jumped. Celebrities are wearing Indiana Fever jerseys. Google searches for the league are higher than ever. Everyone is talking about the WNBA. And the hype is real. Spearheaded by the star power of Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and other top college players,

By George Ramsay, CNN (CNN) — US steeplechase athlete Emma Coburn said that her “dream” of competing at this year’s Paris Olympics is over after she broke her ankle while competing in Shanghai last month. Coburn, a bronze medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, landed heavily during a water jump in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at

By Jack Bantock, CNN (CNN) — Tiger Woods will tee up at the US Open for the 23rd time after accepting a special exemption to play the 124th edition of the major on Thursday. The 48-year-old did not meet the criteria to automatically make the 156-player field set to compete at Pinehurst Resort and Country

By Homero De la Fuente and Ben Morse, CNN (CNN) — The excitement to watch Caitlin Clark play in the WNBA has been palpable. And tonight, that moment finally came. The 22-year-old, who was selected earlier this month as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever, scored a

By Radina Gigova and Svitlana Vlasova, CNN (CNN) — Ukrainian athletes have been urged by the country’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) to avoid contact with Russians and Belarusians during the 2024 Olympics in Paris so that possible “provocative actions” can be prevented. The recommendations include refraining from “direct contact with representatives of the aggressor countries, which could

By Ben Morse, CNN (CNN) — Jalen Brunson scored 41 points to help his New York Knicks beat the Philadelphia 76ers 118-115 in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday and clinch a 4-2 best-of-seven victory. Brunson had 14 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter while also adding 12 assists in

By Thomas Schlachter, CNN (CNN) — In August 2019, Saul Malek realized he’d hit rock bottom. His girlfriend had broken up with him, friendships had gone south, and he had money problems. “I noticed all my memories were really gambling related,” Malek explains to CNN Sport. “If I went out with my girlfriend and some

By Amy Woodyatt and Ben Morse, CNN (CNN) — Boxer Ryan Garcia says he has never taken steroids after ESPN reported he twice tested positive for the performance enhancing drug ostarine – the day before and day of his victory over Devin Haney last month. “Big lies, I beat his ass,” Garcia said in an

By Sam Joseph, CNN (CNN) — After the Philadelphia 76ers’ Wells Fargo Center was overrun with New York Knicks fans last week, the team’s ownership has taken action to guarantee it doesn’t happen again. Sixers managing partners Josh Harris and David Blitzer, along with limited partner David Adelman and Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, have purchased

By Don Riddell and Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Beekeeper Matt Hilton said the last few days have been “crazy” after becoming the latest star of Major League Baseball. Hilton became the hero on Tuesday after he was called out to deal with a swarm of bees that was delaying the Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — As the swell begins to form and the crest starts soaring into the sky, surfer Sebastian Steudtner puts one hand back to feel the wall of energy rumbling behind him. In just a matter of seconds, the giant wave starts to violently explode onto the shoreline, sending the 38-year-old

By Wayne Sterling and George Ramsay, CNN (CNN) — Brittney Griner has detailed the mental anguish she suffered during her time in Russian detention, saying in a new interview on ABC’s “20/20” that she considered taking her own life on multiple occasions. The WNBA star spent almost 300 days in custody in Russia having been

By Ben Morse, CNN (CNN) — Jadon Sancho rediscovered some of his magic as he helped Borussia Dortmund to a 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of its Champions League semifinal clash on Wednesday. Sancho, who returned to Dortmund on loan in January after an unsuccessful big-money move to Manchester United, was

By Jonny Velasquez and Gonzalo Alvarado, CNN (CNN) — Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez has made fighting on Cinco de Mayo weekend – which celebrates Mexico’s victory over France in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862 – a habit. This year, the undisputed super middleweight champion faces fellow Mexican Jaime Munguía on May 4 in Las Vegas,

By Ben Morse, CNN (CNN) — The sight of Tiger Woods wearing a red top and black trousers as he strode down the 18th fairway with throngs of adoring spectators following close behind is the stuff of sporting folklore. The color combination was Woods’ go-to outfit for the fourth and final day of a tournament,

By Sammy Mncwabe, CNN (CNN) — Red Bull’s pioneering engineer and Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey is set to leave the outfit in the first quarter of 2025, the team announced in a statement on Wednesday. Newey, who is widely regarded as the greatest designer in the sport’s history, joined Red Bull in 2006 and his championship-winning car designs have to date delivered seven

By Amy Woodyatt, CNN (CNN) — Major League Baseball fans had an unexpected buzz on Tuesday after a swarm of bees delayed the Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers game for around two hours. Just five minutes before the game was about to start, the swarm took up residency in the netting behind home plate

By Matias Grez, CNN (CNN) — Tyrese Maxey stunned Madison Square Garden into near silence on Tuesday as he led the Philadelphia 76ers to an improbable late comeback against the New York Knicks in Game 5. With the 76ers trailing by six points and seemingly waving their season goodbye, Maxey scored seven points in the

By George Ramsay, CNN (CNN) — Rafael Nadal had an “emotional day” playing what was likely to be his final professional match in the Spanish capital, losing 7-5 6-4 against Czech Republic’s Jiří Lehečka at the Madrid Open. The 22-time grand slam singles champion is looking to rediscover his form after a spate of injury

By Ben Church, CNN (CNN) — Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti says the Santiago Bernabéu stadium could hold the secret to reaching the Champions League final this season, after Los Blancos drew 2-2 against Bayern Munich in the semifinal first leg on Tuesday. The result in Germany means the tie is perfectly poised going into

By Amy Woodyatt, CNN (CNN) — Weeks after being taken hostage by captors from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, American climber Beth Rodden was back home – but plagued by nightmares of her ordeal. Then 20, and one of the most revered climbers of her generation, Rodden was kidnapped at gunpoint alongside her then boyfriend,

By Sam Joseph, CNN (CNN) — After being dispatched in five games by the reigning champion Denver Nuggets, LeBron James spoke to the media about what’s next for the Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar. Denver clinched a 4-1 series victory on Monday to send the Purple and Gold packing from the postseason for the second year

By George Ramsay, CNN (CNN) — Rafael Nadal admitted that his level is “more unpredictable” than it used to be as he continued his winning run at the Madrid Open with a hard-fought victory against Argentine Pedro Cachín. Nadal, who has battled with injuries this year, defeated Cachín 6-1 6-7(5-7) 6-3 in three hours and

By Homero De la Fuente and Matias Grez, CNN (CNN) — Jamal Murray knocked down the go-ahead jumper with 3.6 seconds left in Game 5 to lift the Denver Nuggets to a series-clinching 108-106 victory over LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night. Murray’s game winner was his second of the series

By George Ramsay, CNN (CNN) — A step onto the podium. A medal draped over your head and a flag raised in your honor. Music. Tears of joy and relief as years of hard work come to fruition. Receiving a first Olympic medal is supposed to be a momentous and exhilarating occasion for every athlete

By Ben Morse, CNN (CNN) — Francis Ngannou’s 15-month-old son Kobe has died, the MMA fighter and boxer posted on Monday. “Too soon to leave but yet he’s gone,” Ngannou wrote on Instagram. “My little boy, my mate, my partner Kobe was full of life and joy. Now, he’s laying without life. I shouted his name over

By Kevin Dotson, CNN (CNN) — The US Soccer Federation and the Mexican Football Federation have withdrawn their joint bid to host the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the two organizations announced on Monday. The federations said they will instead focus on a bid for the 2031 edition of the tournament with a “call for equal

KTRK By Amy Simonson and Paradise Afshar, CNN (CNN) — Tank Dell, a wide receiver for the NFL’s Houston Texans, was wounded Sunday in a shooting in Sanford, Florida, that injured 10 people. Dell, 24, is in good spirits after he sustained a minor wound in the shooting, the team said in a statement posted

By Kevin Dotson, CNN (CNN) — Three-time Super Bowl champion and four-time All-Pro Travis Kelce has signed a record contract for NFL tight ends, according to his representatives. “Back at it again, baby!” Kelce, an 11-year veteran, exclaimed in a video posted by the team on X, formerly Twitter. “Feels good to be in KC,”

By George Ramsay and Al Goodman, CNN (CNN) — England international rugby player Billy Vunipola has been fined and handed a suspended four-month prison sentence after resisting arrest at a nightclub in Mallorca, a Spanish court said on Monday. In a statement, the Balearic Islands Superior Court of Justice said that Vunipola must pay a fine

By Ben Morse, CNN (CNN) — Mike Tyson is clearly taking his fight with Jake Paul seriously as he detailed elements of his training regime, which he says includes not smoking marijuana as well as abstaining from sex. Tyson, 57, will return to the ring to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on

By Homero De la Fuente, CNN (CNN) — Three-time WNBA champion Candace Parker announced her retirement in a post on social media Sunday. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 WNBA draft played 16 seasons in the league with the Los Angeles Sparks, Chicago Sky and the Las Vegas Aces. “I promised I’d never

By Amy Simonson and Paradise Afshar, CNN (CNN) — Tank Dell, a wide receiver for the NFL’s Houston Texans, was wounded Sunday in a shooting in Sanford, Florida, that injured 10 people. Dell, 24, is in good spirits after he sustained a minor wound in the shooting, the team said in a statement posted on

By Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — Major League Baseball (MLB) plans to modify its uniforms ahead of the 2025 season following complaints from players and fans, according to ESPN. Per a memo, sent to players by the MLB Players Association (MLBPA) on Sunday and obtained by ESPN, the league’s planned modifications include “a return to

By Ben Morse, CNN (CNN) — The transition from rugby to football has proven tough in the past. Jarryd Hayne and Christian Wade both left rugby near the peak of their powers to try their hand on the football gridiron, with both failing to make it long term. Former Welsh international Louis Rees-Zammit will try

By Issy Ronald, CNN (CNN) — Soccer is becoming firmly entrenched in mainstream pop culture with hit television shows like “Ted Lasso” and “Welcome to Wrexham,” the documentary series detailing Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s ownership of the Welsh soccer club, introducing the sport to new audiences in the US and abroad – as Chris Ewing is

By Jacob Lev, CNN (CNN) — Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch was helped off the court after a mid-game collision with point guard Mike Conley during the team’s game against the Suns in Phoenix on Sunday. Finch suffered a rupture to his right patellar tendon – which connects the kneecap to the shinbone, a