Sports
U.S. men’s hockey team visits White House; five players skip event
President Donald Trump speaks to a crowd of soldiers on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, at Fort Bragg. Twenty of the 25 members of the U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team visited President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday afternoon as they continued to celebrate their first gold medal since 1980.
The five players who did not attend were Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jake Guentzel, Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe, Colorado Avalanche forward Brock Nelson and Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger.
Photos and video posted by White House communications adviser Margo Martin showed the players posing wearing their medals and posing with Trump around the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.
Later, they were scheduled to attend Trump’s State of the Union address to Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters that they were finding a way to “squeeze in” the team into Trump’s speech.
The players’ NHL franchises were working to arrange travel from Washington to rejoin their teams, with many back in action Wednesday night following the three-week Olympic break.
On a phone call to congratulate the men’s victory in Milan, Trump was heard joking that he would be impeached if he didn’t also invite the women’s team, which also beat Canada in overtime to win gold, to visit the White House.
The women’s team later declined an invitation from the White House, citing the academic and professional commitments of most of their athletes.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: LIV Golf settles $1M trademark lawsuit
Apr 6, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; The LIV Golf logo is on display along the 10th hole during the second round of LIV Golf Miami golf tournament at Trump National Doral. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images The LIV has agreed to pay $1 million to Stinger Golf to settle a trademark infringement lawsuit with the Ohio-based golf tee manufacturer.
The Stinger Golf Club, one of LIV’s original four-man teams when the league debuted in 2022, rebranded to Southern Guards GC in January ahead of the tumultuous 2026 LIV campaign.
That change did not precede Stinger Golf’s move to sue LIV for $100 million in June 2025.
The company ended up accepting $1 million from LIV, per a July 6 filing in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
“Obviously $1 million doesn’t represent all the damages that our client suffered,” Brian Barakat, a partner at Barakat + Bossa, the firm that represented Stinger Golf, told Front Office Sports.
“It’s a settlement. Settlements are necessarily a compromise. What LIV did in this circumstance was pretty gross. We know that they knew long before they set up the Stinger Golf Club team that they were aware of our trademark, and they just decided that they didn’t care.”
The rebranded Southern Guards GC consists of South African players Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace and Dean Burmeister.
Stinger Golf, which sells its tees in golf retail locations throughout the U.S. as well as online, was motivated to accept the compromise due to concern over LIV entering bankruptcy proceedings.
“They bowed to the realities of this situation and made a compromise that made business sense for them,” Barakat said. “We were very confident to go to trial. It wasn’t a compromise based on any fear of loss in the case. It was a compromise based on what we viewed as an imminent bankruptcy.”
LIV, World Wide Golf Brands, a former apparel partner of LIV, and the Stinger GC golf team were listed as defendants in the case. Only LIV will be making payments to the company.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Roughriders mourning Jayden Dalke entering game vs. Elks
Jun 11, 2023; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Elks running back Kevin Brown (4) avoids a tackle by Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back Jayden Dalke (38) during the second half at Commonwealth Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images If Thursday night’s home game with the Edmonton Elks has taken a back seat for the Saskatchewan Roughriders since late Saturday night, it’s understandable.
Jayden Dalke, a linebacker in his fifth year with the team, died after an auto accident at age 30. His car was driving the wrong way on a highway between Lumsden, Sask., and Regina when it hit another vehicle, whose driver also perished.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police reported that cannabis and alcohol were found inside Dalke’s vehicle. It’s also been revealed that Dalke stopped for gas in Lumsden and left without paying.
Saskatchewan canceled practice Sunday and briefly considered postponing the game but opted to play. The Roughriders were off last week after routing Hamilton 38-7 on July 12 to improve to 4-1.
How are players trying to focus on a game days after losing a team captain?
“Just be where your feet are,” said quarterback Trevor Harris. “You know, two things can be true at once. You can be focused on a goal that Dalke would want us to be focused on. And we can also mourn his loss.”
While Saskatchewan ping-pongs between readying for a game and mourning the loss of a teammate, Edmonton (5-1) makes the trip as the West leader. The Elks are coming off a 19-17 home win on Friday night over the BC Lions.
Defense was the primary reason for the result as Edmonton intercepted four passes from backup quarterback Chase Brice and converted those into 16 points. The Elks have pilfered 10 passes in the last three games and lead the league with 59 points off turnovers.
“It definitely feels good to get our offense back the ball and see those guys work because that’s a high powered offense,” said defensive back Kenneth Logan Jr. “Any chance we can get our hands on the ball and create a turnover, and create a spark for our team, that’s what we’re willing to do.”
If recent form holds, expect a close game. Last year’s season series saw the teams split two games with Saskatchewan winning 21-18 at home and Edmonton prevailing 27-25 in the Alberta rematch.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Liberty make clutch shots, rally past Sky in wild finish
Jul 22, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones (35) grabs a rebound in the second quarter against the Chicago Sky at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Jonquel Jones sank one of two free throws with 3.4 seconds left as the New York Liberty made a dramatic fourth-quarter rally to edge the Chicago Sky 95-94 on Wednesday night in Brooklyn.
Jones’ free throw capped a wild final minute for the Liberty (15-12), who trailed the Sky by eight with 58 seconds left. Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu made a long three with 56 seconds left, then another with 27 seconds to go to make it a two-point game, 93-91.
After Ionescu’s second three, teammate Breanna Stewart was called for a foul on Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot, but Vandersloot made only one of two free throws with 26 seconds to go in regulation. Ionescu then drove to the basket, scored and was fouled with 15 seconds to play. She made her free throw to tie the game at 94.
Chicago had time to set up and Vandersloot fired a pass to Kamilla Cardoso inside, but Cardoso’s layup rolled off and Cardoso was whistled for a foul grabbing at Jones for the rebound.
The Sky (9-18) have now lost their last two games in the final seconds after losing to the host Atlanta Dream on Jordin Canada’s buzzer-beating layup on Sunday. Chicago led by as many as 12 points on Wednesday.
Ionescu finished with a team-high 29 points and made five threes. Jones, hampered with foul trouble most of the night, finished with 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Stewart totaled 20 points and nine boards.
Sky rookie Sydney Taylor was magnificent in the loss, finishing with a career-high 31. Vandersloot added 14 and Cardoso 10.
In the first half, the Liberty achieved the unusual circumstance of leading after the first bucket of the half, and leading after the last, but with Chicago ahead the whole way in between.
After the Liberty took a 2-0 lead, Chicago seized control and led 12-5 after a long three by Taylor with 7:23 remaining in the quarter. Chicago carried a 32-26 advantage after one.
The Sky went on a 6-0 run midway through the second quarter with Azura Stevens converting a pair of free throws for a 46-39 lead with 2:54 left, matching the biggest lead of the first half.
With Jones on the bench with three fouls, things looked bad for the Liberty, but they dominated the last three minutes of the half. Han Xu, Jones’ replacement, scored inside, then Stewart put back her own miss.
Rebekah Gardner scored on a putback with 52 seconds left to pull the Liberty to 46-45, then Ionescu drained a long three to give New York a 48-46 halftime lead.
–Field Level Media
