SPORTS

Milano Cortina 2026's Winter Olympics opening ceremony unfolded Friday as a bold, geographically ambitious spectacle titled "Armonia" (Harmony), weaving live performances across San Siro Stadium, Cortina d'Ampezzo and beyond into a narrative celebrating Italy's dual urban-mountain soul.

Alysa Liu stands as one of figure skating's most remarkable stories — a prodigy turned retiree turned world champion. Here are 10 essential facts about the 20-year-old American sensation eyeing Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic gold.

The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics burst into action Thursday with early competitions across Italy's stunning mountain venues, setting the stage for Friday's grand opening ceremony that will officially launch 19 days of global athletic drama.

Roger Craig, the San Francisco 49ers' versatile running back who became the first player in NFL history to rush and receive for 1,000 yards in a single season, has been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2026.

Luka Dončić, the NBA's leading scorer, limped off the court late in the first half of the Los Angeles Lakers' matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night and was ruled out for the remainder of the game with left leg soreness.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough has won the 2025 Pepsi Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of the Year Award, a fan-voted prize recognizing his standout debut season that included franchise records and a surprising playoff push for the Who Dat Nation.

Julian Phillips is on the move again. The Minnesota Timberwolves have acquired the 22-year-old forward from the Chicago Bulls as part of a blockbuster trade that also sends guard Ayo Dosunmu to Minnesota while Chicago receives rookie guard Rob Dillingham, forward Leonard Miller and four second-round draft picks.

Luke Kennard is headed to Hollywood. The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired the veteran guard from the Atlanta Hawks in a deal that sends point guard Gabe Vincent and a future second‑round pick to Atlanta, giving LeBron James and Luka Dončić another high‑level floor spacer for their playoff push.

The Chicago Bulls have acquired rookie guard Rob Dillingham from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a multi-player trade that signals a fresh direction for both franchises ahead of the stretch run.

Scottie Scheffler is the dominant force in men's golf right now, and his rise has been one of the most remarkable stories in modern sports. Here are 10 essential things you need to know about the world No. 1.

At 22 years old, Eileen Gu has already lived several lifetimes in the spotlight. The Chinese-American freestyle skier, who captivated the world during the 2022 Beijing Olympics, continues to dominate headlines in 2026 as both an athlete and a cultural force.

At only 20 years old, Sara Bejlek has already established herself as one of the most promising young talents on the WTA Tour.

Instagram remains the undisputed king of social media for soccer stars. With over 2.5 billion monthly active users worldwide, the platform has become the primary stage where athletes showcase their lives, brands, endorsements, and football highlights.

The 2026 NBA trade deadline delivered fireworks on February 5, with a flurry of blockbuster deals reshaping contenders and rebuilding squads alike.

At just 23 years old, Clara Tauson has already established herself as one of the most explosive and consistent young forces on the WTA Tour.

The Charlotte Hornets pulled off one of the most surprising deals of the 2026 NBA trade deadline on Thursday, Feb. 5, acquiring guards Coby White and Mike Conley from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for guard Tre Mann, forward Josh Green, center Nick Richards, a 2027 first-round pick (top-10 protected), and two second-round picks, league sources confirmed to The Associated Press.

Jeff Stoutland, the architect of one of the most dominant and technically proficient offensive lines in modern NFL history, announced his retirement on Feb. 5, 2026, ending a 14-year tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles that transformed the unit into a perennial gold standard and earned him widespread acclaim as one of the greatest position coaches of all time.

The Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics executed one of the most stunning trades of the 2026 NBA deadline on Feb. 5, sending 23-year-old forward Jonathan Kuminga to Boston in exchange for 30-year-old big man Kristaps Porzingis, sources confirmed to ESPN and The Athletic late Wednesday.

Gavin McKenna, the 18-year-old Penn State freshman widely projected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, faces felony aggravated assault and three additional charges stemming from an alleged altercation in downtown State College on Jan. 31, 2026, according to court documents and police statements.

The Pokémon Company International dropped a cryptic teaser Tuesday for a highly anticipated 30th anniversary video set to debut during Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8, 2026, igniting fan frenzy and signaling the start of a yearlong global celebration for the franchise that has captivated billions since its 1996 launch.

The Dallas Mavericks agreed to trade 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, in an eight-player blockbuster that ends Davis' brief and injury-plagued tenure in Dallas just 367 days after he arrived as the centerpiece of the stunning Luka Dončić deal.

Australia has produced some of the world's most dominant and inspirational athletes across cricket, tennis, swimming, athletics and more.

A basketball is more than a ball: it is ambition in motion, spinning, snapping off hardwood, arching through a hoop with purpose. Yet for decades, backyard basketball for many players around the world meant makeshift goals: a hoop scavenged from a garage sale, a rim mounted on a garage door, or an imported set that promised play but delivered disappointment.

It's been confirmed that Steve Smith wasn't picked for the upcoming T20 World Cup, and many fans and industry experts find this perplexing.

Before the stadiums, before the technology, before the headlines about a $250 million vision, there was a man who was forced to quietly dismantle everything he thought he knew about success. Dmitry Saksonov's evolution into a global sports innovator did not begin with a grand idea.

They were freed in exchange for Israeli hostages held in Gaza, but instead of going home, 154 Palestinian ex-prisoners were exiled to Egypt, where they are confined to a hotel and kept under tight surveillance.

Adidas posts record third-quarter revenue of €6.63 billion, driven by brand momentum and successful tariff mitigation. The German sportswear giant raises its 2025 earnings forecast to €2 billion, signaling strong recovery after the Yeezy disruption and robust global sales performance.

Thieves wielding power tools robbed the Louvre on Sunday, taking some of France's priceless crown jewels in a brazen, seven-minute heist carried out in broad daylight, officials and sources said.

Gunshots rang out in a Mexico City warehouse as Leopoldo Cerdeira emptied a cartridge into a car door propped up on a stand.