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
Heat check: Dad tells Tim Hardaway Jr. retired No. 10 off limits in Miami
Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) did not receive permission from his father, Tim Hardaway Sr., to wear No. 10 with the Miami Heat. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Tim Hardaway Sr. plans to keep his No. 10 jersey with the Heat retired, safely in the rafters in Miami, even if his son asks to borrow it.
The Heat agreed to a contract with unrestricted free agent Tim Hardaway Jr., who previously wore those digits with Denver, Dallas and Atlanta.
“My legacy is my legacy, and he’s doing it his way. Even though he likes to wear 10, he loves to wear 10, but that is not coming down from the rafters,” Tim Hardaway Sr. said in a radio interview with WQAM 104.3 in Miami.
The Heat retired Hardaway Sr.’s No. 10 in 2009. The Hall of Fame point guard played five-plus seasons (1996-2001) in Miami and was an All-NBA selection three of those campaigns.
Hardaway Jr. was blocked from wearing the already-retired No. 10 jersey in stints with Detroit (Dennis Rodman) and New York (Clyde Frazier).
The Heat are rebuilding their roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was acquired in a deal from the Bucks that will become official next week. Antetokounmpo’s preferred jersey No. 34 is available in Miami, where 32 (Shaquille O’Neal) and 33 (Alonzo Mourning) are off the books.
Hardaway Jr., 34, agreed to a one-year deal worth $6.5 million, according to multiple reports.
The Heat also retired numbers worn by Chris Bosh (1), Dwyane Wade (3), Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino (13), NBA great Michael Jordan (23) and Udonis Haslem (40).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Wild re-sign F Nick Foligno, 38, for his 20th NHL season
Mar 19, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Nick Foligno (71) skates to the bench against the Chicago Blackhawks in the third period at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images The Minnesota Wild are bringing back veteran forward Nick Foligno on a one-year, $900,000 contract to play his 20th NHL season in 2026-27, the team announced Thursday.
The Wild acquired the former Chicago and Columbus captain from the Blackhawks on March 6 in exchange for future considerations.
Foligno, who turns 39 in October, tallied a combined 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in 54 games with the Wild and Blackhawks in 2025-26.
He has 612 points (251 goals, 361 assists) and 1,024 penalty minutes in 1,287 games with the Ottawa Senators (2007-12), Blue Jackets (2012-21), Toronto Maple Leafs (2021), Boston Bruins (2021-23) and Blackhawks.
Foligno was an All-Star in 2014-15 and won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy and the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award in 2016-17. Ottawa drafted the Buffalo native in the first round (28th overall) in 2006.
Foligno’s younger brother, Marcus, has been a forward with the Wild since the 2017-18 season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Wild acquiring Blake Coleman, Olli Maatta from Flames
Apr 7, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Calgary Flames left wing Blake Coleman (20) looks on during the first period against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images The Minnesota Wild are acquiring forward Blake Coleman and defenseman Olli Maatta from the Calgary Flames in exchange for blueliner Jake Middleton, multiple media outlets reported on Thursday.
ESPN reported that the Flames will retain 50% of Coleman’s $4.9 million cap hit on his contract that is set to expire next summer. The Athletic said Calgary will also receive three Minnesota draft picks in the deal, including a second-round selection in 2029.
Coleman, 34, recorded 35 points (20 goals, 15 assists) in 69 games last season with the Flames. He is entering the final season of a six-year, $29.4 million contract.
A two-time Stanley Cup champion with Tampa Bay, Coleman has totaled 325 points (170 goals, 155 assists) in 693 career games with the New Jersey Devils, Lightning and Flames.
Maatta, 31, had 15 points (two goals, 13 assists) in 43 games last season, split between the Utah Mammoth and the Flames. A two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Maatta has 210 points (44 goals, 166 assists) in 804 career games with six teams.
Middleton, 30, totaled 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) in 75 games last season. He has 94 points (24 goals, 70 assists) in 381 career games with the San Jose Sharks and Wild.
–Field Level Media
Heat check: Dad tells Tim Hardaway Jr. retired No. 10 off limits in Miami
Wild re-sign F Nick Foligno, 38, for his 20th NHL season
