Sports
Erling Haaland steps up late to get Norway past Ivory Coast
June 30, 2026; Arlington, Texas, U.S.; Norway’s Erling Haaland in action with Ivory Coast’s Guela Doue. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Erling Haaland scored in the closing minutes to lift Norway to a dramatic 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast in a World Cup round of 32 match Tuesday afternoon in Arlington, Texas.
Haaland, who scored in his third consecutive World Cup match, was held to one shot on goal and three total shots before his breakthrough goal in the 86th minute which was set up on a platter by a pass across the 6-yard box by Patrick Berg.
The deciding goal, which gave Norway their first ever World Cup knockout round win, was the 60th in 53 international appearances for the Manchester City forward. It also moved Haaland alone into second place on the Golden Boot leaderboard, one behind Argentina’s Lionel Messi.
The Vikings will face Brazil in the round of 16 on Sunday at East Rutherford, N.J.
Ivory Coast, making their first World Cup appearance since 2014, came up short in the country’s first-ever knockout stage match.
Antonio Nusa opened the scoring with a 39th minute goal for Norway. Amad Diallo equalized for Ivory Coast in the 74th minute.
Norway didn’t record its first shot on target until the 36th minute. Just a few minutes later, Nusa gave the Vikings a lead with a spectacular curling strike into the upper-corner of the net just inside the far post from the corner of the 18-yard box.
After the sides were level at six shots apiece in the first half, Ivory Coast had more of the ball and more chances in the second half, possessing an 8-3 edge in shots. They didn’t break through, though, until Diallo found the net.
Diallo, subbed on in the 60th minute, had a goal-line block and the equalizing goal in his first 15 minutes on the pitch.
Torbjorn Heggem nearly doubled Norway’s lead on their first second-half shot in the 66th minute. Heggem ran into the box and rocketed a corner kick towards the net, but it was knocked off the goal line by Diallo to keep the game 1-0.
Diallo then capped off a give-and-go build-up with a run into the 6-yard box that he finished with a lofted ball off an assist from Nicolas Pepe.
Les Elephants had multiple chances for a stoppage-time equalizer, most notably on a powerful free kick from close range by Diallo, which Orjan Nyland denied with a diving save.
Nyland finished with four saves. Ivory Coast keeper Yahia Fofana had just one save on three shots on target.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Thunder deal Luguentz Dort to Hawks in 3-team trade
May 26, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) shoots during the third quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in game five of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images The Atlanta Hawks acquired 2025 All-Defensive wing Luguentz Dort from the Oklahoma City Thunder and Ryan Nembhard from the Dallas Mavericks in a three-team deal on Sunday.
The Hawks sent former No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher and a protected future second-round draft pick to the Mavericks, with two more future second-rounders going to the Thunder. Dallas is shipping one second-rounder to Oklahoma City.
While Dort has been a mainstay in Oklahoma City’s starting lineup for years, the move completed a necessary stretch of offseason deals for the Thunder. They acquired seven second-round picks while going under the second apron with their trades of Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins.
Oklahoma City picked up Dort’s $17.7 million team option, acquired three future assets and created a $17 million trade exception. Dort is now in position to sign a long-term contract in Atlanta that was infeasible with the Thunder.
Dort, 27, joins a young Hawks team led by Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker that won more playoff games against the NBA champion New York Knicks than any other opponent. Atlanta also freed up $40-plus million in cap space next summer.
Dort, who finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2024-25, averaged 8.3 points and 3.6 rebounds in 69 games last season. He averaged 11.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in seven seasons with the Thunder.
In his second NBA season, the 21-year-old Risacher averaged 9.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in 67 games. However, he received just 23 minutes during the playoffs. The forward finished second to the Spurs’ Stephon Castle in the NBA’s 2025 Rookie of the Year voting.
Nembhard, 23, played in 60 games for the Mavericks as a rookie guard last season. The undrafted free agent made 27 starts and averaged 6.6 points, 5.3 assists and 2.2 rebounds.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Lakers sign developing forward Ziaire Willaims
Mar 31, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Ziaire Williams (1) controls the ball against Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel (7) during the third quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Lakers announced the signing of five-year veteran forward Ziaire Williams on Sunday.
Terms were not released, but multiple outlets reported on Monday that the deal was for one year at a $3 million salary.
The 6-foot-9 Williams is reuniting with Bronny James, who he played alongside at California high school Sierra Canyon. The Lancaster, Calif. native earned McDonald’s All-America honors and was a consensus five-star recruit in the 2020 class.
The No. 10 overall pick in the 2021 draft out of Stanford by the Memphis Grizzlies, Williams is a career 8.7 points-per-game scorer, though he averaged a career high 10.2 points last season for the Nets, his second season in Brooklyn after three seasons in Memphis.
He reached career highs in games played and starts (63/45), points (632), field goals made (214), 3-point field goals made (103), rebounds (287), assists (84) and blocked shots (28) during his first season in Brooklyn.
Williams, 24, converted 85% (119 of 140) of his free throw attempts in 2025-26 and is an 82.4% career shooter from the stripe.
–Field Level Media
Sports
DeWanna Bonner helps Mercury halt losing streak, avenge loss to Sun
Jul 19, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Mercury forward-guard DeWanna Bonner (24) drives against Connecticut Sun center Olivia Nelson-Ododa (10) in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images DeWanna Bonner scored a game-high 21 points and the host Phoenix Mercury ended a five-game losing streak with a 72-63 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Sunday.
The win avenged a 96-83 loss to the visiting Sun on Friday. But on Sunday, Phoenix led for nearly the entire game and used a fourth quarter run to pull away.
Phoenix (9-18) had a balanced performance, led by Bonner’s 21 points on 7-for-13 shooting. Kahleah Copper added 18 points and made all eight of her free throws. Monique Akoa Makani tallied 11 points and grabbed six rebounds. Alyssa Thomas added seven points and dished out 11 assists.
Connecticut pulled to within 63-62 on a Charlisse Walker-Leger 3-point play with 4:42 to play, but Phoenix responded with a 9-1 run to finish the game, with Bonner and Copper scoring eight of the pivotal points. Copper’s backdoor layup and pair of free throws most on the next two possessions immediately stemmed the tide.
Phoenix led, 18-12, after the first quarter as Bonner and Akoa Makani each scored six points.
They took control after trailing 27-26 as Leger-Walker scored a lay-up for the Sun with 4:24 left in the first half. The Mercury went on a 17-6 run to end the first half, with Bonner contributing a 3-point shot and an old-fashioned 3-point play to the run.
Phoenix led, 43-33, at the half and 54-49 after three quarters.
The Mercury won despite shooting just 2-for-15 (13.3%) from 3-point range and being outrebounded, 43-39.
Connecticut (7-19) saw a two-game winning streak end. Veteran center Brittney Griner scored 19 points for the Sun, shooting 7-for-12 from the field while pulling five rebounds. Olivia Nelson-Ododa’s double-double helped Connecticut stay close, as she tallied 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting while grabbing 12 rebounds.
Leila Lacan scored a career-best 26 points on Friday but scored just seven points on 2-for-9 shooting on Sunday while committing nine turnovers.
Connecticut shot 37.9% (22-for-58) overall and committed 21 turnovers in the loss. The 21 turnovers led to 22 Mercury points.
Bonner Leads Mercury to Revenge Win over Sun to Halt Losing Streak
–Field Level Media
Thunder deal Luguentz Dort to Hawks in 3-team trade
Lakers sign developing forward Ziaire Willaims
