Sports
No. 7 Michigan State's focus on Rutgers, not No. 3 Michigan
Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr., left, slaps hands with Coen Carr, right, after Carr’s dunk against Northwestern during the second half on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. Tuesday might be the ultimate trap game for No. 7 Michigan State.
Winners of six in a row, Michigan State (18-2, 8-1) heads into a Big Ten contest against Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J., knowing that a showdown with archrival and No. 3 Michigan is looming at home on Friday.
So before the Spartans worry about Michigan, they want to make sure they are fully focused on Rutgers, especially with the schedule about to get harder with upcoming games against Michigan, at Minnesota, against No. 9 Illinois and at Wisconsin.
“It gets tougher now,” Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo said. “We’re going to play a lot of the top three teams, four teams. We’re going to play them. We’ve still got a lot, a lot of basketball left. But it’s good to go into Rutgers, go on the road again, feeling good. I don’t feel cocky.
“I think our players, with the maturity of those four guys (Jeremy Fears, Coen Carr, Jaxon Kohler, Carson Cooper) and the age of the coach, I think we’re all a little more mature than I was years ago. So I’m approaching it in a sound way and hopefully it will continue to grow.”
All four of those players have a scoring average in double digits. Fears leads in scoring (13.4) and assists (8.9) per game.
Michigan State enters Tuesday tied with Michigan and Illinois for second in the Big Ten, a game behind league-leading Nebraska.
“I personally like being the hunted because that means you’re somebody,” Izzo said. “You should be, if you’re at Michigan State, always hunted. But we’ve got a kind of funny team. It’s not one that is as imposing as some that I’ve had, which is almost more rewarding in a lot of ways and I think our fans kind of appreciate who we are.”
The next challenge for Michigan State is a Rutgers team (9-11, 2-7) that has had a rough go of it in Big Ten play.
Rutgers has lost three in a row, the latest being an 82-59 home defeat to Indiana on Friday.
“It doesn’t get any easier with Michigan State coming to town,” Scarlet Knights head coach Steve Pikiell said.
The biggest challenge for Rutgers might be rebounding. Michigan State holds a 13.3 rebounding margin, while Rutgers has a rebounding margin of -0.6. Rutgers also has been a poor defensive team, allowing 74.5 points per game.
“Those have been our Achilles heels all year,” Pikiell said. “I know we have 10 new guys, but we’ve shown signs of improvement. (Thursday’s bad practice) set the tone for (Friday), and we can’t let that happen again. This is the toughest league in the country. You get knocked down, but you have to get back up, and these guys will.”
Tariq Francis leads the Scarlet Knights with a 15.9 scoring average.
This will be the teams’ first of two meetings this season. The rematch will be held in East Lansing on March 5.
Michigan State won the only meeting last season 81-74 at Madison Square Garden. The Spartans have won three of the last four matchups, but have lost to Rutgers the last two times they’ve played in Piscataway.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Lynx coach: Napheesa Collier on minutes restriction in debut
Jul 3, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) warms up before a game against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images Minnesota Lynx star forward Napheesa Collier will be on a minutes restriction when she makes her debut Wednesday against the host Seattle Storm, head coach Cheryl Reeve said.
Collier, 29, was the Most Valuable Player runner-up in consecutive seasons and the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year. She hasn’t played since Sept. 27, 2025, when she tore ligaments in her left ankle during a playoff loss to Phoenix.
She had surgery on both her ankles during the offseason.
Reeve addressed the tentative plan involving Collier on Wednesday.
“I’m going to be mindful of how many minutes she plays, but she hates the idea of a minutes restriction, so just don’t tell her,” Reeve told reporters.
“… We still have a couple more steps to go before we see the Phee we know her to be.”
The Lynx have gotten along splendidly despite her absence. The league leaders at 21-6, Minnesota has thrived thanks to rookie guard Olivia Miles (19.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists per game) and Kayla McBride (18.1 ppg, 39.4% from 3-point range).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Lynx easing in Napheesa Collier for season debut vs. Storm
Jul 20, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles (5) dribbles the ball while guarded by Seattle Storm guard Natisha Hiedeman (2) during the first half at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images For the second time this week, the Minnesota Lynx will face the Storm in Seattle on Wednesday in the final game for both teams before the WNBA’s All-Star break.
The Lynx (21-6) defeated the Storm (6-22) on Monday night behind a herculean effort from rookie point guard Olivia Miles. The No. 2 overall draft pick tallied 32 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in the 105-102 victory. Miles became just the fifth player in WNBA history to record such a stat line in a game and joined Candace Parker as the only rookie to do it.
On the season, Miles is averaging 19.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game while shooting 50.1% from the floor. She ranks eighth in the league in scoring and seventh in assists.
The Lynx also have enjoyed recent standout performances from veteran guard Kayla McBride, who was named WNBA Player of the Week after averaging 27 points per game over her last three outings, all wins for Minnesota.
The Lynx have needed great scoring performances from Miles and McBride because, while they’ve won six straight games, they’ve allowed 90 points or more in three of their last four.
“It’s special when you can walk away with a win and be like, ‘We have so many things to get better at,'” Miles said.
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve added: “Our three perimeter players have been special all season. Right now, we’re needing them to have these prolific efforts in order for us to win a game because our defense is nowhere to be found.”
Help is on the way. Napheesa Collier, the two-time MVP runner-up and 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, will be on a minutes restriction when she makes her season debut on Wednesday, per Reeve. Collier had offseason surgery on both her ankles after tearing ligaments in her left ankle during a playoff game last September.
“I’m going to be mindful of how many minutes she plays, but she hates the idea of a minutes restriction, so just don’t tell her,” Reeve told reporters.
“… We still have a couple more steps to go before we see the Phee we know her to be.”
The Storm are riding a five-game losing streak and have lost seven of their last eight games.
Still, their young core of Dominique Malonga, Awa Fam and Flau’jae Johnson — all first-round picks over the last two drafts — have continued to shine. Johnson had 26 points against the Lynx on Monday, while Malonga is averaging 16.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.
“Actually, our youth is our strength. We have a lot of energy, and we never stop,” Malonga recently told Slam Magazine. “I really can’t wait to keep developing this chemistry with the two of them because I think that’s a real big three right there.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
MLS to investigate Inter Miami over Casemiro signing
June 29, 2026; Houston, Texas, U.S.; Brazil’s Casemiro celebrates after the match. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Major League Soccer has announced a review into a tampering allegation against Inter Miami in the signing of Brazilian superstar midfielder Casemiro on Wednesday.
“The league is gathering all relevant information and will refrain from further comment until the review is complete,” MLS said in a statement.
Casemiro, 34, is under contract through 2027 with an option until June 2029 following five years with Premier League side Manchester United. Inter Miami acquired his discovery priority from the Los Angeles Galaxy.
“While Inter Miami CF and the LA Galaxy have reached a settlement for the discovery priority to sign Casemiro, the terms will be released upon conclusion of the tampering investigation,” MLS said in a statement.
Casemiro just helped Brazil reach the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, increasing his career totals to 91 caps and 10 goals with the national team. It was his third World Cup.
“What motivates me the most, and I think this is true for every player, is winning and continuing to grow. The project the club presented to me, along with the effort everyone made to bring me here, means a lot to me,” Casemiro said.
“I’m incredibly grateful, and I can’t wait to get started so I can repay that trust — not only during the 90 minutes on matchday, but every day in training as well. All I can say is thank you, and I’ll give everything I have to return the affection and confidence the club has shown me.”
Casemiro has recorded 73 goals and 61 assists in 663 club appearances with Brazil’s Sao Paulo, Spain’s Real Madrid, Portugal’s Porto and Manchester United. His 21 club trophies include five UEFA Champions League titles and three La Liga crowns with Real Madrid from 2013-22.
“Casemiro’s arrival reflects the vision and ambition that define Inter Miami,” said managing owner Jorge Mas. “We never settle. We’re always looking to grow, improve, and raise our standards every season. We’ve built a global club with the vision of becoming not only the best club in the United States, but also a benchmark globally.
“Casemiro embodies everything this club stands for: leadership, a winning mentality, and an extraordinary track record at the highest level of the game,” Mas added. “After achieving virtually everything there is to achieve in fútbol, his decision to join Inter Miami shows that he shares our ambition and our commitment to the highest standards as we continue building for the future. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the Inter Miami family.”
Casemiro now joins forces with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, his former rivals at FC Barcelona.
“I’m very proud to welcome Casemiro and his family to Inter Miami,” said co-owner David Beckham. “He is a person and a player that I have admired for a long time. He is a winner who has achieved so much in the game, and after such an incredible career with Real Madrid and Manchester United, I’m delighted that he’s decided to make Miami his next home.”
Defending MLS Cup champion Inter Miami (15-9-2, 31 points) are in second place in the Eastern Conference as they return from the World Cup break to host the Chicago Fire on Wednesday night.
–Field Level Media
Lynx coach: Napheesa Collier on minutes restriction in debut
Lynx easing in Napheesa Collier for season debut vs. Storm
