SPORTS

ATLANTA — Shaquille O'Neal, the four-time NBA champion and one of basketball's most iconic dunkers, announced Monday he is launching Dunkman, the world's first professional dunking league, aiming to elevate slam-dunking from an annual All-Star sideshow into a full-fledged competitive sport with real stakes, live events and a $500,000 grand prize for the champion.

NEW DELHI — Veteran Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar etched his name deeper into cricket history on April 5, 2026, becoming the first fast bowler — and only the second overall — to reach 200 wickets in the Indian Premier League when he dismissed Chennai Super Kings batter Ayush Mhatre during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's clash with CSK in Bengaluru.

Soccer has delivered countless memorable moments on the pitch, but some players are remembered as much for their names as for their skills. From Premier League champions to cult heroes across Europe and beyond, certain surnames and full names have sparked endless jokes, memes and commentary gold over the decades.

Sha'Carri Richardson, the flamboyant American sprinter known for her blazing speed and unapologetic style, made history Monday by becoming just the third woman to win the prestigious Stawell Gift 120-meter handicap race from scratch.

LISBON, Portugal — Cristiano Ronaldo's recent hamstring injury has sparked debate over whether the 41-year-old superstar can deliver peak performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, though Portugal coach Roberto Martinez and club updates suggest the setback poses minimal long-term threat to the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's participation or output.

Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry is expected to make his long-awaited return from a nagging right knee injury when the team hosts the Houston Rockets on Sunday, April 6, 2026, ending a 27-game absence that has tested the franchise's playoff hopes and forced the 38-year-old point guard to confront a "new normal" with his body.

Nikola Jokic remains the superior all-around force when measured against Victor Wembanyama in the 2025-26 season, posting elite triple-double production and unmatched offensive orchestration, yet the 22-year-old Spurs sensation has emerged as the league's most disruptive defensive presence and a rapidly ascending star who many believe will eventually surpass the three-time MVP.

LONDON — Chelsea cruised into the Emirates FA Cup semi-finals with a ruthless 7-0 demolition of League One side Port Vale at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, easing the pressure on manager Liam Rosenior after a difficult week for the Club World Cup champions.

MANCHESTER, England — Erling Haaland scored a clinical hat-trick as Manchester City thrashed Liverpool 4-0 in the FA Cup quarter-finals Saturday, booking a record-extending eighth successive appearance in the semi-finals at Wembley.

Deontay Wilder outlasted a relentless Derek Chisora in a brutal, back-and-forth heavyweight scrap Saturday night at The O2 Arena, winning by split decision in what many believe was the final fight of the 41-year-old "Warrior's" career.

Jo Adell delivered one of the most spectacular defensive performances in recent MLB history Saturday night, robbing the Seattle Mariners of three potential home runs to preserve a 1-0 victory for the Los Angeles Angels.

RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazilian soccer star Neymar Jr. faces a potential lengthy suspension and widespread backlash after making a sexist remark about referee Sávio Pereira Sampaio following Santos' 2-0 victory over Remo in the Brazilian league on Saturday, April 3, 2026.

MIAMI — As the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, soccer legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo stand on the brink of what is widely expected to be their last dance on the global stage, with both players eyeing participation in a record sixth tournament despite advanced ages and fitness questions.

SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama is off the injury report and expected to play Saturday against the Denver Nuggets after sitting out Thursday's victory over the Los Angeles Clippers due to right ankle injury management, the team confirmed.

LOS ANGELES — Luka Doncic will miss the remainder of the Los Angeles Lakers' regular season with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, the team announced Friday, leaving his status for the upcoming playoffs uncertain and raising questions about whether the superstar guard could be sidelined for a significant portion of the postseason.

Belgium — As the peloton rolls out from Antwerp on Sunday, April 5, 2026, cycling fans worldwide are gearing up for the 110th edition of the Tour of Flanders, known locally as the Ronde van Vlaanderen or simply "De Ronde."

Thousands of runners, joggers and walkers in everything from Easter bunny suits to formal attire laced up Saturday for the 48th LCMC Health Crescent City Classic, the "original party race" that transformed a simple 10K into one of America's most festive road events.

Maria Guardiola, the eldest daughter of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, has stepped into the spotlight in recent years as a fashion influencer while maintaining a close bond with her famous father, most recently captured in an emotional embrace on the Wembley pitch after City's Carabao Cup final victory in March 2026.

With the quarter-finals of the 2025-26 Emirates FA Cup underway this weekend, Arsenal have edged ahead as the leading contenders to lift the famous trophy at Wembley on May 16, though Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool remain firmly in the mix in what promises to be one of the most competitive knockout stages in recent years.

At just 19 years old, Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg has already etched his name into NBA history with a career-high 51-point explosion on April 3, 2026, becoming the first teenager ever to score 50 or more points in a game.

Randy Orton kicked off Friday Night SmackDown with a heated confrontation involving Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, while new United States Champion Sami Zayn defended his title against Carmelo Hayes in a fast-paced rematch as the blue brand built momentum toward WrestleMania on the April 3, 2026 episode from the Enterprise Center.

Cooper Flagg erupted for a career-high 51 points Friday night, becoming the first teenager in NBA history to score 50 or more points in a game as the Dallas Mavericks fell to the Orlando Magic 138-127 at American Airlines Center.

Luka Doncic's bid for the 2025-26 NBA Most Valuable Player award appears effectively over after the Los Angeles Lakers star suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain Thursday night, an injury that will sideline him for the remainder of the regular season and leave him one game short of the league's 65-game eligibility threshold.

The NBA has launched an investigation into the Milwaukee Bucks for their handling of superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo's injury status and potential violations of the league's player participation policy, after the two-time MVP publicly stated he is healthy and wants to play while the team continues to hold him out.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 NBA regular season after an MRI on Friday confirmed a Grade 2 strain in his left hamstring, the team announced.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 NBA regular season after an MRI on Friday confirmed a Grade 2 strain in his left hamstring, the team announced.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler enters the 2026 Masters Tournament as the clear betting favorite to claim his third green jacket in five years, with early odds listing him between +400 and +550 across major sportsbooks just days before the first round at Augusta National.

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández has been dropped from the squad for the club's next two matches after comments he made during the international break in which he expressed a desire to live in Madrid, fueling speculation about a potential move to Real Madrid. Head coach Liam Rosenior confirmed the sanction Friday

As the 2025-26 NBA regular season enters its final stretch with the playoffs set to begin in mid-April, injuries continue to shape the landscape for many of the league's biggest stars and contending teams.