Sports
Heavy favorite Argentina 'not surprised' to face Cape Verde in round of 32
June 29, 2026; Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.; Argentina’s Lionel Messi during training. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images Argentina will be heavy favorites when they face World Cup debutants Cape Verde in their round of 32 match on Friday in Miami Gardens, Fla.
But Argentine boss Lionel Scaloni says meeting their African foes at this stage, instead of Uruguay or Saudi Arabia as some predicted, is far from a shock.
“We’ve already watched them, not just because we are playing against them, but because we were analyzing potential opponents (earlier on),” Scaloni said via an interpreter. “And then they qualified. And we are not surprised, to be honest.
“They are a good team, and they are not here by chance. We must respect them, and that’s what we will do.”
So far, La Albiceleste have done pretty well at that, defeating all three of their group opponents by multiple goals. And at age 39, Lionel Messi is having arguably the best individual World Cup of his storied career.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner already has six goals, tied with France’s Kylian Mbappe for the tournament lead, and he’s currently the World Cup leader with 19 all-time, having passed Germany’s Miroslav Klose with his brace against Austria. Mbappe is right on Messi’s heels with 18 all-time.
If there was any temptation to overlook an unfancied opponent like Cape Verde — the smallest nation by population ever to reach the knockout phase — it is tempered by the knowledge that one bad performance could mean the end of Messi’s World Cup career.
“We have no idea about how many matches we might have to play,” said Messi’s international and Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul. “It’s not good to think this way. For me, the main thing is to enjoy Leo Messi every single day, just as every Argentinian citizen.
“Of course, we always value those things more that we don’t have anymore. That’s part of life. But we are all enjoying having him around. And of course, we need to always remember our main goal is tomorrow’s match.”
Cape Verde drew all three of their group matches, including an attention-grabbing defensive performance in a 0-0 tie with tournament favorites Spain and a 2-2 result against Uruguay, another South American power.
Those showings have endeared the island nation off Africa’s Atlantic coast to the world, and they’ve reinforced the confidence of their manager — who goes by the singular name Bubista — in his tactical approach against more heralded opponents.
“We, as a team, have our own strategy, not only against Messi, but the whole team,” Bubista said through an interpreter. “We know they are the current world champions, one of the best teams in the tournament. And we will play against the whole team. We know Messi is one of the best players in the world. But we will play organized and against the whole team.”
Veteran fullback Stopira says his team’s business remains unfinished. It’s a group that does not want to be broken up by the force of a tournament-ending defeat.
“We are always united as a team,” Stopira said via an interpreter. “We play with each other in the dressing room, and we are very united as we always have been. And today even more, because we are getting closer to the most important match in our history.
“So we are being responsible and also trying to enjoy the match. We did not reach the stage by chance. It was our own merit. And we want to show the world our qualities, our values. And there’s a lot of quality in Cape Verdean football.”
–Ian Nicholas Quillen, Field Level Media
Sports
Jaylen Brown: Both 'excited and disappointed' by trade
Apr 30, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) dribbles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Jaylen Brown said goodbye to Boston on Thursday, admitting he was “still processing how this all went down,” a day after being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Brown, linked all offseason to a possible trade to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo, had his best pro season in 2025-26 as he led the team with Jayson Tatum out due to an injury until his return on March 6.
Once Antetokounmpo was dealt to the Miami Heat, the Celtics engaged in trade talks with other teams.
Brown, 29, said he was invested in the Celtics and the city of Boston.
“I’m excited and disappointed at the same time. I earned my respect from this city,” he wrote in his statement. “I never asked for shortcuts or special treatment. I simply showed up every day, put my head down, and accepted every challenge.
“The relationships I built here, the battles we fought together, the championship we brought to this city, and the connection I shared with the fans, I’ll carry on with me.”
The Celtics finished last season with a 56-26 record, four games behind the Detroit Pistons and a favorite to play for the NBA title. Instead, they were sent home in the first round of the playoffs, losing to the 76ers in seven games.
Trading Brown for Antetokounmpo potentially could have given the Celtics the piece they needed to win a championships. Fans and analysts have been highly critical of the Wednesday trade, which sends Brown to Philadelphia for 36-year-old Paul George, two first-round picks (2028, which could be a swap that is more favorable for Boston, and an unprotected 2031 pick) and two second-round picks (2028 and 2030) to Boston for Brown.
George has suffered several injuries since the 2018-19 season, when he played in 77 games, and has been limited to 56 games or fewer in six of his seven seasons since then. He played 74 games in 2023-24. In his two seasons with the 76ers, George appeared in 78 total games.
Brown finished sixth in NBA MVP voting in 2026 after averaging a career-high 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. He is a five-time All-Star.
“Saying goodbye isn’t easy when you’ve invested your heart into something,” Brown said. “I’m big on respect and actions speak louder than words. To the people of Boston, thank you. To the community I built here I love you.”
Brown said he is ready to embrace his new team.
“I’m excited for what’s ahead and grateful for the opportunity to join Philadelphia. Every city has its own identity, its own passion, and its own expectation. I respect that, and I’m looking forward to earning that respect the only way I know how … through the work.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Revitalized Sabrina Ionescu leads Liberty vs. league-best Lynx
Jun 28, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) dribbles against Golden State Valkyries guard-forward Kaila Charles (6) in the fourth quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images Sabrina Ionescu appears to be back, which is great news for her New York Liberty.
The Liberty (12-8), who are set to play host to the Minnesota Lynx (15-4) on Friday night, are coming off a win over the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup championship game.
Ionescu, a four-time All-Star, entered this week averaging just 9.5 points in eight games of a season in which she has been slowed first by a foot injury and then back pain. However, Ionescu scored a season-high 26 points against the Aces, making 5 of 13 shots from 3-point range.
“I always have belief in myself,” Ionescu said. “An injury is not going to diminish my understanding of who I am.”
One of the keys for Ionescu in the Cup final was that she attacked the rim more, which opened up her 3-point game.
If Ionescu is truly back, New York’s starting lineup — which has been in flux all year due to a variety of injuries — has been solidified. The other components are Cup final MVP Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Leonie Fiebich and rookie point guard Pauline Astier.
Meanwhile, Minnesota has a rookie point guard of its own, Olivia Miles, who averages 18.7 points, 5.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals. Miles, 23, has been so good that she is a near-lock for Rookie of the Year and a strong contender for league MVP.
On the other end of the experience scale is Lynx veteran Natasha Howard, 34. Howard is having a career year, shooting 61.1% from the floor, which leads the league (minimum seven shots per game). Howard also averages 17.7 points and a career-high 8.2 rebounds.
Those two players are a big reason why the Lynx have the best record in the WNBA. That top spot in the standings is shocking considering that Lynx star Napheesa Collier has missed the whole season following surgery on both of her ankles.
Collier, who finished second in MVP voting last year, returned to practice on Wednesday, although there is no target date for her to get back to playing games.
“We’re not at the end yet,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said of the comebacks of Collier and Dorka Juhasz (foot). “There’s more work to do.”
Reeve was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame last Saturday.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Chase Burns, hard-hitting Reds get past Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers
Jul 2, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart (27) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images An expected elite pitching duel turned out to be a rout as Sal Stewart, Jose Trevino and T.J. Friedl homered to lead the Cincinnati Reds past Jacob Misiorowski and the host Milwaukee Brewers 7-2 on Thursday.
Chase Burns bested Misiorowski for the Reds, who snapped a four-game losing streak and averted a series sweep by salvaging the fourth contest. Trevino was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and Friedl 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Garrett Mitchell homered for the Brewers, who had their three-game winning streak snapped.
Burns (10-1), who won his ninth consecutive decision, gave up two runs and four hits in six innings with two walks and four strikeouts.
Misiorowski (9-4) allowed five runs (one earned) on five hits in five innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out 10 to push his major league-leading total to 156.
Cincinnati solved Misiorowski early as Stewart’s one-out home run in the first gave the Reds a 1-0 lead.
He caught up with Misiorowski’s 102 mph four-seam fastball and drove it to the opposite field — with an exit velocity of 102.7 mph — an estimated 402 feet over the right-center-field fence. It was Stewart’s 17th homer.
Misiorowski struck out the other three batters in the inning.
Trevino’s three-run homer with two outs highlighted a four-run fourth to give the Reds a 5-0 lead. Noelvi Marte’s RBI single had made it 2-0 before Trevino lofted Misiorowski’s 3-2 cutter down the left field line and just over the fence for his first home run.
None of the runs were earned because first baseman Jake Bauers’ error allowed leadoff man JJ Bleday to reach base.
Mitchell’s homer leading off the fifth put Milwaukee on the board. He took Burns’ 0-1 four-seam fastball to the opposite field, down the line in left, for his seventh home run.
Brice Turang’s run-scoring double in the sixth made it 5-2.
Friedl’s third home run off Grant Anderson with two away in the seventh extended Cincinnati’s lead to 6-2. Friedl added an RBI single in the eighth.
–Field Level Media
Jaylen Brown: Both 'excited and disappointed' by trade
Revitalized Sabrina Ionescu leads Liberty vs. league-best Lynx
