Sports
England calls up Ben White, passes over Trent Alexander-Arnold
Arsenal’s Ben White during the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City in London on March 22, 2026. England called up Arsenal right-back Ben White for upcoming friendlies following an injury suffered by Bayer Leverkusen center back Jarell Quansah.
Newcastle United’s Harvey Barnes has also been added to the 35-man squad with Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze injured. But it was White’s addition that drew the most attention, given that he has not featured for England since 2022 amid reports of a falling out with the former coaching staff.
White, 28, has four caps for England but none since leaving the team’s camp in Qatar after playing against Ivory Coast in March 2022. Personal reasons were cited at the time, but there were reports that White made himself unavailable during the remainder of Gareth Southgate’s tenure.
Barnes’ lone previous appearance with the senior team came in October 2020. He is Newcastle’s second-leading scorer with 14 goals across all competitions this season, and Scotland had been hoping to convince the winger to join its World Cup squad.
Thomas Tuchel, who took over as England manager in late 2024, chose to select White for matches against Uruguay on Friday and Japan next Tuesday despite him having started only five Premier League matches for Arsenal this season. Meanwhile, Real Madrid starting right back Trent Alexander-Arnold did not get the call.
Arnold-Alexander has played only once under Tuchel, who was asked if the omission from this squad makes it highly unlikely that Arnold-Alexander will make the World Cup squad.
“No. I know that it is a tough decision for Trent as it is for, I guess, for Ollie Watkins, at the moment, and for Luke Shaw,” Tuchel said. “These tough decisions come with the job.”
Tuchel, who is without injured starting right-back Reece James, noted the depth that England has at right fullback while adding that he feels comfortable with what players such as Watkins can provide to the club through previous tournaments and qualifiers.
“I know it’s a tough one, I know (Arnold-Alexander) is a big name,” Tuchel said. “I think that he’s a huge talent with a big career, but I feel like I know what Trent can give us and decided to still to stick to the players who were in camp with us.
“It is more the evidence that we have that we were good in September, October, November, than it has anything to do with what Trent cannot offer. I know very well what Trent can offer us. I played many times against him and suffered, and suffered when he played against us against my teams with Liverpool. So, I know very well about his strengths and what he can give.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Kansas coach Bill Self will take time to evaluate future
Mar 19, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Self speaks at a press conference ahead of the first round of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images Bill Self was noncommittal about his future as Kansas coach after the Jayhawks’ season-ending loss in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, saying he plans to meet with his family to discuss what comes next.
“I haven’t really gone through much on the court,” Self said after No. 4 seed Kansas fell to No. 5 seed St. John’s on a buzzer-beater in the second round. “I’ve gone through some stuff off the court. So I’ll get back and get with family and visit and see what’s going on.
“I love what I do. I need to be able to do it where I’m feeling good and healthy to do it fairly well. I’ll get back home, and it will all be discussed.”
Self’s comments indicate his decision will be made based more on his own health than the turbulent season his team just completed, which was marked throughout by instability around freshman phenom Darryn Peterson’s availability. Peterson, one of the frontrunners to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft this June, missed 11 games with multiple ailments, including quad and hamstring injuries, an issue that became a near-constant point of discussion.
Self’s own health issues first cropped up in 2023, when he was hospitalized with chest tightness and had two stents inserted to treat blocked arteries in his heart, causing him to miss the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments. He had another two stents inserted in July 2025.
In mid-January, he was taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital after he felt unwell and ultimately received IV fluids and did not travel with the team for a game at Colorado.
“I don’t know about completely,” Self said Sunday about his health, “but I’m feeling — I feel as good as I’ve felt in a long time. I’m not making any statements whatsoever.
“When you get to be doing it as long as I’ve done it, I look at it in five-year increments. Now I’m probably looking at it in more two-year increments, so to speak. So I try to focus on this season and try to get us to a second weekend, which we failed at. So I’ll go back now and break it down and see where that leads.”
Self, 63, has won two national championships (2008, 2022) and taken Kansas to four Final Fours since being hired in 2003, compiling a remarkable 648-167 (.795) record. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.
–Field Level Media
Sports
World No. 3 Iga Swiatek splits with coach after just 18 months
Jul 12, 2025; Wimbledon, United Kingdom; Iga Swiatek of Poland poses with the trophy after winning the women’s final match against Amanda Anisimova of the United States on day 13 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images World No. 3 Iga Swiatek has parted ways with coach Wim Fissette following last week’s abrupt second-round exit at the Miami Open.
The 24-year-old tennis star announced the split on social media Monday, ending their partnership after an 18-month tenure highlighted by her sixth Grand Slam title at Wimbledon last July.
Swiatek, who was eliminated by Polish compatriot (and World No. 50) Magda Linette in Miami last Thursday, said the rest of her team will remain in place. The loss snapped her streak of 73 consecutive opening-match wins.
“Sometimes life and sport bring moments like this,” Swiatek posted on Instagram, translated from Polish. “Miami was challenging for me. I feel disappointment, bitterness and responsibility for my performance on the court of course. I’ve also learned a lot of important lessons and I think that’s very human.
“That being said, after many months of working together with my coach Wim Fissette, I’ve decided to take a different path. It was an intense time full of challenges and many important experiences. I’m grateful for his support, experience, and everything we achieved together — including one of my biggest dreams in sport.”
Swiatek worked with former coach Tomasz Wiktorowski for three years before hiring Fissette in October 2024.
Fissette, 46, of Belgium, previously coached Kim Clijsters, Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka to Grand slam titles. He also worked with Simona Halep and Sabine Lisicki.
“We both wanted and worked for more but shared important moments and lessons,” Fissette posted on Instagram. “Iga, I now wish you good luck and success in what’s next. I’m sure you will have it.”
Swiatek has won 25 career WTA Tour titles. In addition to Wimbledon in 2025, her major championships include the 2022 U.S. Open and four wins at the French Open (2020, 2022-24).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Union Prez: WNBA players nearly unanimous yes on CBA
Sep 9, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike (3) shoots the ball against the Golden State Valkyries during the first half at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images The WNBA labor dispute moved one step closer to a final resolution with players voting to ratify the new collective bargaining agreement with the league, according to the players’ union president on ESPN’s “First Take” on Monday.
Women’s National Basketball Players Association president Nneka Ogwumike said the results of the ratification vote were a near-unanimous yes with 90% of players taking part in the voting.
The CBA will now go back to the league for its approval.
The league, in partnership with the Players Association, officially announced on Friday that a seven-year CBA had been agreed upon.
The agreement will run through the 2032 season.
The revenue-sharing deal will increase the average salary to $583,000 this season and the maximum salary to $1.4 million, while providing over $1 billion in salaries and benefits over the contract.
“This Collective Bargaining Agreement represents a defining moment in the WNBA’s 30-year history and all of women’s professional sports,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said Friday in a news release. “Since its inception, the WNBA has been shaped by extraordinary athletes who believed in the league’s future. The agreement is a testament to that belief and to the tremendous progress we have achieved together.”
The salary increases represent a significant jump for WNBA players. Team salary caps will be $7 million this season — a huge leap from $1.5 million in 2025 — and will be adjusted annually based on teams and league revenue growth.
The deal projects the maximum salary to reach $2.4 million by 2032, and the average salary to surpass $1 million by then.
The minimum salary this season will range from $270,000 to $300,000, depending on service time. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft will earn approximately $500,000.
“We’ve always believed that as this league grows, the players who power it must grow with it, and we’re proud to see that belief shared,” Ogwumike, the league MVP in 2016, said Friday. “We love this game enough to push for what it can become, not just for ourselves, but for those who built this league and those who will carry it forward.
“This agreement reflects that shared commitment, with players owning their value and future alongside a league growing stronger because of it.”
The players have been without a collective bargaining agreement since they opted out of their existing agreement in October 2024, a year before its Oct. 31, 2025, expiration.
All players on the WNBA championship team will receive $60,000 — the payout was $22,908 in 2025 — and the runner-ups will receive $20,000 (up from $8,521). The WNBA Finals MVP will get a $30,000 bonus (up from $5,000).
The season MVP will receive a $60,000 bonus, the Defensive Player of the Year will get $30,000 and the Rookie of the Year will receive $15,000.
The All-Star Game MVP will receive $20,000.
The length of the regular season will increase to 50 games in 2027 and 2028 and 52 from 2029-32.
The WNBA Draft is slated for April 13 with training camps opening six days later.
–Field Level Media
Kansas coach Bill Self will take time to evaluate future
World No. 3 Iga Swiatek splits with coach after just 18 months
