Sports
Falcons fly through group stage at CDL Major 3
A custom gaming keyboard backlit with red LED lights waits for tactile input before Manual took on Boone County in a Rocket League match, which was streamed on YouTube on Thursday, March 5, 2020. The Riyadh Falcons were the lone team to complete a pair of 3-0 sweeps on Friday as the Call of Duty League Stage 3 Major got underway in Atlanta.
OpTic Texas, the Toronto KOI and the Los Angeles Thieves also won both of their matches to emerge as group champions.
The other playoff berths went to the Miami Heretics, the Paris Gentle Mates, G2 Minnesota and FaZe Vegas.
All 12 CDL teams began play along with four outside qualifiers in the double-elimination opening round, split into four groups. Matches are all best-of-five until the best-of-seven grand final on Sunday. The championship team will receive $150,000 and 100 CDL points.
In Group D on Friday, Riyadh downed Cloud9 New York 250-184 on Colossus Hardpoint, 6-3 on Raid Search and Destroy and 4-3 on Exposure Overload.
Vegas, a 3-1 winner over ROC Esports, subsequently fell to the Falcons 250-222 on Colossus Hardpoint, 6-1 on Den Search and Destroy and 4-3 on Exposure Overload.
New York downed ROC Esports 3-0 in an elimination match before Vegas swept Cloud9 3-0 in the decider match.
In Group A, OpTic opened with a 3-0 victory over OMiT, and G2 Minnesota topped the Vancouver Surge 3-1. Texas beat Minnesota 3-1 in the winners match. OMiT trounced Vancouver in the elimination match before falling 3-0 to G2 in the decider match.
To open Group B play, Toronto took down Huntsmen 3-0 and Miami beat the Carolina Royal Ravens 3-0. The KOI then defeated the Heretics 3-1. The Royal Ravens got past Huntsmen 3-2 in the elimination match but fell 3-1 to the Heretics in the decider match.
Group C action began with the Thieves defeating Project Notorious 3-1 and the Boston Breach besting Paris 3-1. Los Angeles trounced Boston 3-0 in the winners match. Paris edged Project Notorious 3-2 in the elimination match and dumped the Breach 3-1 in the decider match.
The Saturday first-round playoff schedule:
–OpTic Texas vs. Miami Heretics
–Riyadh Falcons vs. Paris Gentle Mates
–Toronto KOI vs. G2 Minnesota
–Los Angeles Thieves vs. FaZe Vegas
The winners-bracket second round and losers-bracket first and second rounds also will be contested on Saturday.
Call of Duty League Stage 3 Major final group-stage results
Group A
1. OpTic Texas, 2-0
2. G2 Minnesota, 2-1
3. OMiT, 1-2
4. Vancouver Surge, 0-2
Group B
1. Toronto KOI, 2-0
2. Miami Heretics, 2-1
3. Carolina Royal Ravens, 1-2
4. Huntsmen, 0-2
Group C
1. Los Angeles Thieves, 2-0
2. Paris Gentle Mates, 2-1
3. Boston Breach, 1-2
4. Project Notorious, 0-2
Group D
1. Riyadh Falcons, 2-0
2. FaZe Vegas, 2-1
3. Cloud9 New York, 1-2
4. ROC Esports, 0-2
Call of Duty League Stage 3 Major prize pool, with money winnings and CDL points
1. $150,000, 100
2. $90,000, 75
3. $50,000, 60
4. $30,000, 45
5-6. $15,000, 30
7-8. $7,500, 15
9-12. no money, no points — OMiT, Carolina Royal Ravens, Boston Breach, Cloud9 New York
13-16. no money, no points — Vancouver Surge, Huntsmen,
Project Notorious, ROC Esports
–Field Level Media
Sports
NHL docks Golden Knights 2026 draft pick for media policy violations
May 1, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Vegas Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella addresses the media after game six of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Utah Mammoth at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images The NHL reacted swiftly and harshly to the Vegas Golden Knights’ “flagrant violations of 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs media regulations,” announcing on Friday that the franchise will forfeit a second-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Head Coach John Tortorella did not meet with the media as prescribed by league policy after his squad eliminated the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6 of their Western Conference semifinal series in Anaheim on Thursday night.
Moreover, the locker room remained closed to media.
In addition, Tortorella, who took over head coaching duties from Bruce Cassidy on March 29, has been fined $100,000.
“The Golden Knights are aware of today’s announcement from the NHL regarding the postgame media availability following Game 6 in Anaheim,” the team said on social media. “The organization will have no further comment.”
The NHL imposed these penalties after previous warnings to the Golden Knights regarding its media regulations and other associated policies. Vegas may appeal these penalties to the Commissioner’s Office in person next week in New York.
The Golden Knights will take on the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Finals, beginning in Denver on Wednesday.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Wrexham parting ways with Jay Rodriguez, Andy Cannon
Wrexham’s Andy Cannon and fellow midfielder Sebastian Revan (53) walk off the field after the match against Chelsea at Levi’s Stadium. Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images Wrexham announced that striker Jay Rodriguez and midfielder Andy Cannon will not be re-signed after their contracts expire this summer.
“They are released with the club’s sincere thanks for their efforts and contributions during their time at the football club,” the team said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Wrexham will pick up the option on Aaron James, keeping the defender under contract until the summer of 2027. James has one goal in nine appearance for the Red Dragons. The club also extended the contracts of fellow homegrown players midfielder Alex Moore and forward Rio Owen.
Rodriguez and Cannon will join Reuben Egan, Callum Edwards, Tom Kelly and Max Purvis as players who will part ways with the Red Dragons. None of the four have made a first-team appearance for Wrexham.
Rodriguez, who will turn 37 in July, scored two goals in 17 League One games after arriving from Burnley in 2025, helping Wrexham earn their third consecutive promotion. However, he made only seven appearances — all as a substitute — after missing the early part of this season with an ankle injury.
Cannon, 30, has not played for Wrexham since suffering a knee injury in February 2025, playing 17 times on loan for Burton Albion since returning in November. He scored 10 goals in 86 games across all competitions for Wrexham since joining the Red Dragons from Hull City in December 2022.
Six players were made offers to become first-year professionals with Wrexham: Sammy Chesworth, Tommy Clayton, George Cruise, Dafydd Edwards, Oliver McTweed and Joe Rees.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rain wipes out Indy 500 practice, threatens qualifying
Fans move through the rain Friday, May 15, 2026, before Fast Friday practice ahead of the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Intermittent rain forced the cancellation of morning practices and threatened Saturday’s Indianapolis 500 qualifying session at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The IndyCar Series canceled the full-field practice session scheduled for 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. ET.
Time trials for the May 24 race were scheduled from 11 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. ET on the 2.5-mile oval.
Cars continued to move through the pre-race inspection line in the rain Saturday morning, according to local reports.
Scattered showers and storms are expected throughout the day and into the early evening hours.
If all 33 drivers are unable to complete one qualifying run on Saturday, the whole process would be pushed back to Sunday.
“That would make for a long and busy day, considering one full round of qualifying runs takes roughly 3 hours, followed by three knockout rounds to determine the starting grid,” the Indianapolis Star reported.
The 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. ET on May 24. Spain’s Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing is the defending champion.
–Field Level Media
NHL docks Golden Knights 2026 draft pick for media policy violations
Wrexham parting ways with Jay Rodriguez, Andy Cannon
