Sports
Injunction clears Clemson WR Tristan Smith to play
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney with wide receiver Tristan Smith (3) before kickoff with Furman University at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, SC, Saturday, November 22, 2025. Clemson wide receiver Tristan Smith is on track to play this season after receiving a temporary injunction against the NCAA on Friday.
The 6-foot-5, 205-pound senior sued the NCAA in January after it declined his waiver for a fifth season of eligibility.
Judge Jessica A. Salvini of South Carolina’s 13th Judicial Circuit noted in her ruling that other former junior college players had been granted an additional year by the NCAA.
She pointed to wide receiver Malik Benson, who played two seasons of JUCO ball and received a fifth season for 2025 at Oregon.
“The only material distinction the Court can identify between Mr. Benson’s case, and the instant matter is that Mr. Smith’s final Division I season falls in 2025-26 rather than 2024-25,” Salvini wrote.
The NCAA had granted former JUCO players in the 2024-25 class a blanket extra year of eligibility after Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia won a lawsuit against the NCAA.
“Big win for our client,” Smith’s attorney, Darren Heitner, posted on X after Friday’s ruling. “… The NCAA’s arbitrary application of its Five-Year Rule didn’t hold up. Justice for Tristan!”
“The Marathon continues. I’m Back,” Smith posted on Instagram.
Smith played two seasons at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College in 2022 and 2023 and one season at FCS program Southeast Missouri State in 2024 before joining Clemson in 2025. He caught 24 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown in 13 games last season for the Tigers.
–Field Level Media
Sports
2 men charged following theft of England World Cup gear
June 9, 2026; Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, U.S.; England’s Jordan Henderson during training. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images Prosecutors in Jackson County, Mo., have charged two Texas men with one felony count each of receiving stolen property after the theft of equipment belonging to England’s national soccer team.
Charged were Mustafa Salik, 40, and Erfan Kamal, 36. The felony charge could result in a prison term of up to seven years if they are convicted.
Bond was set at $75,000. They remained held at the Jackson County Detention Center as of Sunday morning.
“Jackson County will not tolerate any criminal activity that targets World Cup visitors, including the international teams that have traveled here to compete,” Jackson County prosecutor Melesa Johnson said. “We thank the Kansas City Police Department and our on-call attorneys for their quick work in filing charges immediately.”
The men are alleged to have stolen about $18,000 worth of gear during the team’s relocation from a training site in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., to its World Cup base camp in Kansas City.
The items were not part of the essentials needed for game day. KCUR in Kansas City reported the stolen gear included signed jerseys, clothing, cleats and two stuffed animals — lions to refect the team’s name, Three Lions.
Much of the gear has been returned to England.
Ranked No. 4 in the world, England chose Kansas City for a base camp for its central U.S. location.
The Three Lions’ Group L opener is on Wednesday against Croatia in Arlington, Texas. England also will play Ghana on June 23 in Foxborough, Mass., and Panama on June 27 in East Rutherford, N.J.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Brooks Koepka (hand) WDs from RBC Canadian Open
Jun 13, 2026; Caledon, Ontario, CAN; Brooks Koepka hits his tee shot at the 17th hole during the third round of the RBC Canadian Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Brooks Koepka acknowledged an injury to his hand after he labored through a 2-over-par 72 on the third round at the RBC Canadian Open on Saturday.
On Sunday morning, Koepka officially withdrew from the tournament at Caledon, Ontario.
The five-time major champion admitted that he was struggling with the grip of his club ahead of the fourth round.
“Yeah, I don’t know what it is. I’m struggling to grip the club with my ring finger and pinkie finger, so can’t grip it,” Koepka said.
“So the club is kind of just, my fingers would come loose, it was kind of numb. I don’t know what the deal was but hopefully we’ll figure it out.”
He opened the tournament with rounds of 64 and 68.
Koepka, 36, was spotted receiving treatment on the 11th tee box at the TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) during the third round.
“Yeah, the whole warm-up, I felt fine, I was absolutely good,” he said. “Then got to the range and went to grip the club and I just couldn’t even grip it.
“So it lasted — it was all day. Felt better the last few holes. I don’t know if that’s just the meds kicked in or what it is. But hopefully we’ll figure it out now.”
Figuring it out is paramount given the U.S. Open is next week at Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, N.Y. He won the second of his two consecutive U.S. Open championships at Shinnecock Hills in 2018.
Koepka has been back on the PGA Tour since January after more than three years away with LIV Golf. He’s placed in the top 20 in six events this year but his next win would be his first in a standard PGA Tour event since the 2021 WM Phoenix Open.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Thunder's Nikola Topic (back) expected to be ready for 2026-27 season
Apr 12, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topic (44) drives around Phoenix Suns guard Jamaree Bouyea (17) during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nikola Topic is expected to be ready for the start of training camp after undergoing what the team called a minimally invasive lumbar microdiscectomy procedure.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the surgery repairs a bulging disk in the lower back. Dr. Andrew Dossett performed the procedure at the Carrell Clinic in Dallas with Thunder medical personnel on hand.
The Thunder selected the 6-foot-6 point guard with the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft out of Serbia, but he has had a difficult start to his career.
He missed his rookie season due to a pre-draft knee injury. In the preseason ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and underwent treatment.
Topic, 20, returned to play 10 games for the Thunder last season, averaging 5.2 points and 4.4 rebounds in 16.0 minutes per game. In limited opportunities, he shot 40.0% (9-for-15) from 3-point range.
He is not expected to play in the NBA summer league in July.
–Field Level Media
2 men charged following theft of England World Cup gear
Brooks Koepka (hand) WDs from RBC Canadian Open
