Sports
Panthers acquire rights to Radko Gudas from Ducks for rights to A.J. Greer
Mar 12, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas (7) gets set for a face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images The Florida Panthers are trying to bring back a familiar piece to their blue line before free agency opens.
Florida acquired the negotiating rights to defenseman Radko Gudas from the Anaheim Ducks on Monday in exchange for the rights to forward A.J. Greer. Both players are pending unrestricted free agents, so the deal gives each team a brief window to negotiate a contract before the market opens on July 1.
Gudas, 36, spent three seasons with the Panthers from 2020-23 and helped Florida reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2023 before signing with Anaheim. He served as the Ducks’ captain for the past two seasons and was part of a group that helped Anaheim return to the playoffs for the first time since 2018.
“Radko Gudas captained our club with heart and soul over the last two seasons while making a great impact in our community,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said. “We offer our thanks and wish him great success going forward. We hope to sign A.J. to a contract and look forward to what he can bring to our club.”
Gudas had two goals and 11 assists in 56 regular-season games for Anaheim last season. He has 42 goals, 169 assists and 1,124 penalty minutes in 885 career NHL games with the Ducks, Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning (2012-2015), Philadelphia Flyers (2015-2019) and Washington Capitals (2019-2020).
Greer, 29, played the past two seasons with Florida and was part of the Panthers’ Stanley Cup-winning team in 2025. He set career highs last season with 17 goals, 15 assists and 32 points in 78 games. He gives Anaheim a chance to add a veteran forward with size and a physical edge if the sides can reach a deal.
For his career, Greer has notched 36 goals and 45 assists with 448 penalty minutes across 326 games.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Three Fever players named All-Star Game starters
Indiana Fever’s Aliyah Boston (7), Caitlin Clark (22) and Kelsey Mitchell (0) take a phot before the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Three Indiana Fever players were among the 10 starters announced Thursday for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game.
Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell will represent Indiana at the July 25 showcase in Chicago.
Guards Clark and Mitchell will be joined in the backcourt by the Dallas Wings’ Paige Bueckers and Minnesota Lynx rookie Olivia Miles.
Joining Boston in the frontcourt are four-time league MVP A’Ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces, Natasha Howard of the Lynx, Jessica Shepard of the Wings, Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty and Gabby Williams of the Golden State Valkyries.
Starters were selected by a mixture of fan, player and media votes. The fan vote ran from June 11-27 and counted for 50% and the media and player votes were 25% each.
Wilson and Stewart earned their eighth All-Star selections. It is the fourth for Mitchell and Boston and the third for Howard and Clark, who missed last year’s contest due to injury. Williams and Bueckers were honored for the second time while Miles and Shepard will make their All-Star debuts.
The league’s head coaches will vote for the All-Star reserves. The two head coaches for the All-Star Game will be determined by which two teams have the best records at the end of play on July 10.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Crew sign La Liga vet Brais Mendez as designated player
Sep 13, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; General view of a practice balls prior to the game between Philadelphia Union and Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images The Columbus Crew acquired Spanish midfielder Brais Mendez from La Liga side Real Sociedad on Thursday.
Mendez, 29, arrives as a designated player and will occupy an international roster slot. He is signed through 2028-29 with a club option for the 2029-30 season.
“We are excited to add Brais to our team and welcome him to Columbus. His high-level technical skill set and understanding of the game, displayed in one of the best leagues in the world, will have a positive impact on our roster,” said Crew general manager Issa Tall. “The addition of Brais gives our team another talented player for the short- and long-term, and we look forward to his arrival as we look to push during the second part of our season.”
Technical brilliance and game-breaking ability. Bienvenido al club, Brais Méndez ??
The Columbus Crew have acquired Brais Méndez as a Designated Player from La Liga’s Real Sociedad.
??: https://t.co/LMKoXqK2xu pic.twitter.com/iOXJTZPM65
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) July 2, 2026
Mendez joins MLS after a decade in the Spanish top flight with Celta Vigo (2017-22) and Real Sociedad (2022-26).
He tallied 33 goals and 24 assists in 166 matches with Real Sociedad, helping the club qualify for the UEFA Champions League after the 2022-23 season and win the Copa Del Rey title earlier this year.
Mendez contributed 22 goals and 18 assists in 166 matches with boyhood club Celta Vigo.
Columbus entered the FIFA World Cup break in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, two points below the playoff line. The Crew return to action at home against New York City FC on July 22.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Iga Swiatek coasts past Karolina Pliskova at Wimbledon
Jul 2, 2026; London, United Kingdom; Iga Swiatek (POL) reacts after winning a point against Karolina Pliskova (CZE) (not pictured) on day four of The Championships Wimbledon 2026 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Defending champion Iga Swiatek made short work of fellow former World No. 1 Karolina Pliskova during their second-round match at Wimbledon on Thursday.
The third-seeded Swiatek converted six of eight break points en route to a 6-1, 6-3 victory, dispatching the Czech native in 70 minutes. Swiatek, of Poland, improved to 4-0 against Pliskova.
Swiatek enjoyed a much easier time of it versus Pliskova after outlasting Taylor Townsend in three sets during the opening round.
“It was quite a lot,” Swiatek said of her 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 win over Townsend. “It seemed like the opening match, like everybody wanted to see it, as well. It was already a show, even though it was a first round only. It’s quite unusual.
“Today I felt like it was a normal day at the office. For sure it helped with the preparation and focus and everything.”
Swiatek advanced to face 29th-seeded Alexandra Eala of the Philippines, who rallied to a 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 win over Australian Maya Joint on Thursday.
“I think it’s going to be tough for me,” Eala said of facing Swiatek on Saturday for the third time in her career. “I’m going to try to make it tough for her, as well. It’s a different surface than we’ve played at before, so I think definitely there should be some different aspects to the last time.
“She’s won a Slam on grass. She’s won a Slam on clay. She’s won a slam on hard so I’m expecting a great challenge.”
Also on Thursday, sixth-seeded Amanda Anisimova and 12th-seeded Marta Kostyuk of the Ukraine needed three sets to thwart the respective upset bids of Sofia Kenin and Russia’s Anna Blinkova. Anisimova recorded a 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (3) win over Kenin, while Kostyuk rallied to a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3 victory over Blinkova.
Fifteenth-seeded Diana Shnaider wasn’t as fortunate in her match against fellow Russian Liudmila Samsonova. The latter posted a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 win over Shnaider.
Other seeded winners included No. 21 Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic, No. 23 Emma Navarro and No. 26 Madison Keys.
–Field Level Media
Three Fever players named All-Star Game starters
Crew sign La Liga vet Brais Mendez as designated player
