Sports
Former South Carolina QB Stephen Garcia battling cancer
Former South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Stephen Garcia, pictured during the program’s 2012 pro day at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images Former South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia is starting chemotherapy to fight Stage 4 colorectal cancer, he said Thursday in a social media post.
A starter for the Gamecocks from 2008-11, the 38-year-old Garcia and his wife, Maria, revealed his medical team opted for the most aggressive form of treatment to combat the diagnosis.
“We have a great team of doctors and staff that’s confident we can beat this! It’s the only option,” Stephen Garcia said in a Facebook post. “We got this, and we appreciate you all.”
Garcia had a 20-14 record as South Carolina’s starting quarterback and appeared in 40 games with 47 touchdown passes and 7,597 passing yards in his career. He also rushed 329 times for 777 yards and 15 TDs and caught one touchdown pass.
Garcia led the Gamecocks to wins over No. 1-ranked Alabama and a sweep of rivals Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee for the first time in program history in 2010. South Carolina claimed the SEC East title and its only appearance in the league championship game. Garcia returned to lofty expectations as a senior.
But off-field issues that had led to multiple suspensions resurfaced in 2011. Garcia was dismissed from the program after five games for failure to comply with terms of his reinstatement from previous suspensions.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Penguins extend F Connor Dewar, D Ilya Solovyov
Apr 2, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Connor Dewar (19) warms up before a game against the before a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images The Pittsburgh Penguins signed forward Connor Dewar and defenseman Ilya Solovyov to contract extensions on Thursday.
Dewar agreed to a two-year, $4.5 million contract, while Solovyov reached a one-year deal worth $850,000.
Both players were scheduled to be unrestricted free agents on July 1.
Dewar, 26, recorded career highs in goals (14), assists (16), points (30) and rating (plus-16) in 78 games this season.
He has totaled 83 points (37 goals, 46 assists) in 316 career games with the Minnesota Wild, Toronto Maple Leafs and Penguins. He was selected by the Wild in the third round of the 2018 NHL Draft.
Solovyov, 25, had eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 30 games split between the Colorado Avalanche and Penguins. Pittsburgh acquired him on Jan. 20 in exchange for forward Valtteri Puustinen and a draft pick.
He has totaled 12 points (one goal, 11 assists) in 45 career games with the Calgary Flames, Avalanche and Penguins.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Amanda Anisimova WDs from Rome with wrist injury
Mar 20, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Amanda Anisimova (USA) hits a forehand against Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) (not pictured) on day four of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images World No. 6 Amanda Anisimova withdrew from the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Thursday with a left wrist injury.
The 24-year-old American was replaced in Rome by lucky loser Elena Gabriela Ruse of Romania for a second-round match against Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko.
Anisimova has yet to play in a clay-court event this season, having previously withdrawn from the Charleston Open and the Mutua Madrid Open.
The four-time WTA Tour title winner and two-time Grand Slam finalist has an 11-6 record in singles this season, having reached the Round of 16 at both Miami and Indian Wells in March.
–Field Level Media
Sports
LIV on? Cam Smith given 'every assurance' league will survive
Apr 10, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Cameron Smith tees off on the 18th hole during the second round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images Former World No. 2 Cameron Smith said he has been given “every assurance” that LIV Golf will continue beyond 2026 as the league works to secure new funding sources.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund announced last month that it will not continue its financial support of the league beyond this season. Smith signed with the breakaway league in 2022, receiving a contract reportedly worth $140 million.
He is also the captain of the all-Australian team Ripper GC. LIV Golf’s Adelaide event has been among the league’s most popular stops, and he told Australia’s 10 News that the goal is “definitely” to have the event return in 2027.
Smith, along with fellow LIV Golf stars Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, turned down an offer to return to the PGA Tour earlier this year, saying in January that “I am here to stay, I’m here to support LIV.”
LIV CEO Scott O’Neil has stated confidence the league will survive in a “multi-partner” format. Whether that comes to fruition and what impact it would have on the league’s makeup remains to be seen.
“Since joining LIV, I’ve learned to live with, you know, speculation,” Smith said, while laughing at the notion that he might retire if the league folded. “I’m 32, so I’ve got a while yet.”
Smith has struggled to maintain his form while playing for LIV. His missed cut at the Masters last month was his sixth consecutive at a major. Despite LIV golfers earning some world rankings points for the first time in 2026, Smith sits at No. 235, having posted only two top-10 finishes through the first six events of the season.
However, Smith said his competitive fire remains strong as he prepared for LIV Golf Virginia ahead of next week’s PGA Championship.
“I want to win tournaments, I want to win majors,” Smith said. “It’s been a while since I’ve been, you know, truly competitive at the top of the leaderboard. So, the fire is really burning at the moment.
“It feels like I’m getting a lot of confidence back out in the golf once again, which I’ve struggled with.”
–Field Level Media
Penguins extend F Connor Dewar, D Ilya Solovyov
Amanda Anisimova WDs from Rome with wrist injury
