Sports
Louisville outlasts Alabama, advances to Sweet 16
Louisville Cardinals forward Elif Istanbulluoglu (11) gestures as the Cards get the ball on a turnover against Alabama during the 2026 NCAA Women’s March Madness Second Round basketball at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Kentucky. March 23, 2026. Elif Istanbulluoglu and Tajianna Roberts had 18 points apiece and third-seeded Louisville survived sixth-seeded Alabama for a 69-68 win to advance to the Sweet 16 from Regional 3 in Louisville on Monday.
Trailing by four, Alabama’s Karly Weathers scored with 9.4 seconds left and Louisville’s Imari Berry made both free throws before Weathers hit another 3 to make it 69-68 with four seconds on the clock. But after Reyna Scott missed two fouls shots, Alabama didn’t have time to advance the ball for the potential game-winner.
Istanbulluoglu got the second of two free throws to go down with 2:52 to play and Louisville (29-7) corralled Essence Cody’s missed layup a minute later to send Mackenly Randolph to the line. She made a pair to extend the lead to 65-61, then Roberts’ steal of a Cody pass led to a Louisville timeout.
Scott’s clutch running floater from the left elbow to beat the shot clock and add to Alabama’s deficit with one minute to go gave Louisville breathing room.
Weathers had 11 of her 13 points in the fourth quarter. She canned a pair of 3s to put the Crimson Tide (24-11) in front 59-57 as part of an 11-4 run earlier in the quarter. Istanbulluoglu answered with a 3 off of an offensive rebound and Louisville snuck back in front by one as the clock ticked under the 5-minute mark.
Alabama’s Diana Collins made 4 of 5 from 3-point range and the Crimson Tide shot 46.2% (12 of 26) from 3 but only 45.6% overall (26 of 57).
Ace Austin led Alabama with 17 points. She hit her fifth 3 to keep Alabama in striking distance, 52-49, with 1:22 left in the third.
Istanbulluoglu, who also had 11 rebounds, drilled a long 3 and Roberts hit another on the next possession midway through the third quarter to put Louisville up 50-46. It was Louisville’s largest lead of the game at that point since 13-6 in the first.
Louisville survived woeful 7-of-26 shooting from long range with 14 offensive rebounds and 24 points in the pant. Alabama was outrebounded 41-24.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Joao Fonseca rallies to shock Novak Djokovic at French Open
Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – May 29, 2026 Brazil’s Joao Fonseca celebrates winning his third round match against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane Chaos continued to reign at the French Open on Friday, with No. 3 seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia squandering a two-set lead and exiting with a 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 loss to Brazil’s Joao Fonseca in a third-round match in Paris.
Fonseca was staring down a loss when trailing 15-40 on his serve down 4-3 in the fourth set. However, he used two of his 11 break-point saves in 16 opportunities to rally, winning the final three games to force a fifth set.
Djokovic then took a 3-1 lead in the final set before he was immediately broken back. Fonseca came away with the decisive break at 5-5 and served out the match with a deuce game to complete the comeback in a match that came seven minutes short of five hours.
With the victory, Fonseca is through to the fourth round of a major for the first time off his second career top-10 win.
“I actually didn’t (believe I could win),” Fonseca in his on-court interview. I just played, I just enjoyed being on court. What a pleasure it was and what an idol we have. It’s a pleasure just stepping on the court against him. It’s my first time stepping on court against him, so just thanking him and I’m just very happy.”
It’s just the second time that Djokovic, who has won three of his record 24 Grand Slams at the French Open, has blown a two-set lead, previously doing so at the 2010 French Open against Jurgen Melzer.
With his exit, three of the top five seeds have been eliminated before the Round of 16. There will also now be a guaranteed first-time Grand Slam champion at Roland Garros, with each of the three competitors who have won a major (Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Stan Wawrinka) eliminated.
Djokovic was not the only top-10 seed knocked out on Friday. No. 8 Alex de Minaur of Australia saw his fast start quickly fade in a 0-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 loss to 26th-seeded Czech Jakub Mensik.
After Mensik had no winners and 11 unforced errors in the first set, he converted 7 of 14 break-point chances over the final three sets. De Minaur, on the other hand, had 15 winners to 36 unforced errors after his dominant first set.
Additionally, No. 13 seed Russian Karen Khachanov took a marathon 7-5, 5-7, 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-2 loss to Dutch lucky loser Jesper de Jong, who had 61 winners and 41 unforced errors to secure his first-ever win over a top-15 opponent.
Another Russian, 11th-seeded Andrey Rublev, did not have the same trouble on Friday, sweeping Portugal’s Nuno Borges 7-5, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2) to coast into the fourth round.
Fonseca wasn’t the only 19-year-old to reach the fourth round during the day’s action. Spanish teen Rafael Jodar, the No. 27 seed, outlasted American Alex Michelsen 7-6 (2), 6-7 (5), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 to reach his first fourth round at a major.
“I’m super happy to be in the fourth round here at Roland Garros, it’s a dream come true,” Jodar said after his four-plus hour victory. “I had to fight a lot today. It was a really tough match. Alex played great the whole match, so I want to congratulate him and wish him the best for the rest of the season.”
Pablo Carrena Busta of Spain also reached the Round of 16 with a 7-6 (0), 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 triumph over Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante.
Two matches are ongoing: No. 15 Casper Ruud of Norway is playing No. 24 Tommy Paul for the right to face Fonseca for a spot in the quarterfinals. Ruud lost in the French Open title match in both 2022 and 2023.
Also, No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany is meeting Quentin Halys of France. Zverev lost in the 2024 final at Roland Garros.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Magic pick Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney as next head coach
May 12, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs assistant head coach Sean Sweeney observes the second half of play during game five of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images San Antonio Spurs associate head coach Sean Sweeney is set to become head coach of the Magic, edging out two veteran finalists to replace Jamahl Mosley in Orlando.
According to multiple reports, Sweeney and the Magic are in agreement on the deal, which will be finalized as soon as San Antonio’s season ends. The Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder square off Saturday in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals.
Mosley was fired by the Magic after Orlando blew a 3-1 series lead in the first round of the 2026 playoffs to the Detroit Pistons. He landed on his feet and was hired as head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans.
Former University of Florida, Thunder and Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan and Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy, also a former NBA head coach, were also finalists. But Orlando went with Sweeney after he reportedly “wowed” the team’s brass in a meeting Wednesday in San Antonio.
Sweeney, 41, was Jason Kidd’s top assistant coach in Dallas and helped the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals in 2024. He jumped to San Antonio prior to this season to work for Mitch Johnson after being a finalist for the head coaching jobs with the Hornets, Pistons and Suns.
In his only season with San Antonio, Sweeney was primarily responsible for the Spurs’ defense. He has been an assistant coach and worked with a plethora of prominent All-Star-level talents such as Victor Wembanyama (Spurs), Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Mosley spent five seasons as head coach in Orlando and accumulated a record of 189-221. Orlando won 41 or more games each of the past three seasons.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Giants' Abdul Carter: 'No beef' with Jaxson Dart over President Trump intro
Apr 25, 2025; East Rutherford, NJ, US; New York Giants first round draft picks, Abdul Carter and Jaxson Dart pose for photos prior to the start of the press conference. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Salus-Imagn Images Giants edge rusher Abdul Carter officially cleared the air Friday about his since-deleted tweet criticizing New York quarterback Jaxson Dart for introducing President Donald Trump at a political event earlier this month.
Talking after Friday’s OTA practice, Carter wasn’t apologetic for what he said. However, he made it clear it hasn’t affected his relationship with Dart.
“First off, I’m going to say that some things are bigger than football, and this is one of those things. Jaxson is one of our leaders. He’s the face of our franchise. He not only represents himself and what he does, but he represents all of us, and that goes for anybody who wears a Giants uniform,” Carter said.
“But if he chooses to align himself with a man like President Trump, it’s my responsibility based on what I believe and what I stand on to not only show my teammates that I’m against that, but to show the world.
“That doesn’t mean that we have to spread hate. It doesn’t mean that me and Jaxson hate each other or we have beef. I sit next to Jaxson every day, every team meeting. We’re close. We talk. As long as we make sure we’ve got the same goal as a team and our goals align, which they do, I feel like that’s all that matters. I just want to move past this.”
Dart introduced Trump last week at festivities supporting the campaign of Rep. Mike Lawler, who represents New York’s Hudson Valley in Congress and is running for a third term.
Dart’s presence and on-the-mic role at the rally sparked a reaction from Carter, the third overall draft pick in 2025 – the same year in which the Giants selected Dart with the 25th pick.
“Thought this (s-) was AI,” Carter wrote in a since-deleted post on X that showed the video featuring Dart’s introduction of the president. “What we doing, man?”
Dart, who also talked to the media on Friday, opened with a statement which shared his side of the story.
“This was a unique opportunity, being asked and given the opportunity to introduce the President of the United States,” Dart said. “My thinking was pretty simple, in the fact of, I’ve always loved this country. I have extended family members who have fought in wars. I have two uncles who have retired from the Air Force Academy and served themselves. And I even have a great-grandfather who served as the Secretary of the Treasury at some point.
“The president position has always been a position that I have a lot of respect in, regardless of political affiliation, regardless of political party. My intentions were just that.”
Dart added that some productive conversations amongst Giants players have come out of this situation.
“We have a real brotherhood. We’ve had a lot of honest conversations with each other, as a team, and I’d like to keep those things private between me and my teammates.”
Carter, who was seen embracing Dart during Friday’s workout, made it clear he isn’t looking for Dart to apologize.
“I don’t want him to say he’s sorry. Stand on what you believe in,” Carter said. “But it can’t be a problem when I stand on what I believe in. That’s all that matters to me. As long as we have that understanding, it’s all good.”
Backup quarterback Jameis Winston, a 12-year NFL veteran, shared his veteran perspective as for how valuable it can be for two guys entering their second seasons to come out the other side of something like this.
“I think these two young guys being resilient and showing that uncomfortable situations and coming to a, not a compromise, but coming to a position of strength, of authority, of the impact that they have, that we have as athletes with this platform to the world, is so good for them to experience,” Winston said.
“Because guys, they were drafted together. You don’t have a tighter bond than that. They sit next to each other in the team meeting room. That’s what we see in this world. Sometimes we try to normalize just opinions, people’s opinions. Everybody wants to jump on, oh, he said this, she did that, but we don’t normalize togetherness. We don’t normalize perspective. Everyone has that.”
–Field Level Media
