Sports
Lynx ignoring doubters, heading into matchup vs. Sky
May 12, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride (21) against the Phoenix Mercury at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams is aware of the doubters.
Yes, the Lynx lost a few key players to free agency and the WNBA expansion draft during the offseason. Yes, the Lynx have lost others to injuries to start the season.
No, Williams and the Lynx do not plan to go away quietly.
“We know what we’ve got,” Williams said. “We don’t worry about what those folks got to say. They’re just going to have to see what we do.”
Minnesota (2-1) will go for its third win in a row when it tips off against the Chicago Sky (2-1) on Sunday evening in Minneapolis.
The contest will mark the Lynx’s first home game since their season opener against the Atlanta Dream. They squandered a lead to lose that game 91-90, but they bounced back on the road with back-to-back four-point wins over the Phoenix Mercury and Dallas Wings.
Defense is the key to the team’s recent success, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said.
“We couldn’t have played any worse defensively in the first half (of our most recent game),” Reeve said. “We really committed at halftime to play like we know how to play. … We just stuck with it. That’s what I appreciate about this group.”
Chicago also is off to a good start this season.
The Sky started off with back-to-back wins over the expansion Portland Fire and the second-year Golden State Valkyries. They lost 91-83 to the Mercury in their most recent contest.
Rickea Jackson leads the Sky with 22 points per game to go along with 6.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.0 blocked shots per contest. She is in her first season with Chicago after spending the previous two seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks.
Sky coach Tyler Marsh said Jackon’s skill-set on offense was impossible to ignore. Jackson scored 29 points in her last game and tried to lead a second-half comeback.
“We were communicating with her to stick with it, we’re going to keep finding you the ball, because that’s what her ability commands,” Marsh said. “That’s who she is for us. We were able to get her some clean looks, and sometimes she was able to make things happen.”
Behind Jackson, Kamilla Cardoso ranks second on the Sky with 12.3 points and a team-high 9.7 rebounds per game. Skylar Diggins rounds out the top three scorers with 12.0 points per contest, but her status is uncertain after she was hit in the face against Phoenix and needed to leave the game.
Minnesota’s top scorer is rookie guard Olivia Miles, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft. The TCU product is averaging 16.3 points and 7.0 assists in her first three games.
Natasha Howard and Williams are tied for second with 15.3 points per game. Kayla McBride is not far behind with 15.0 points per game.
The Lynx will play their first game since losing rookie Emma Cechova to injury. Cechova injured her knee against Dallas, and subsequent tests showed that she suffered a torn ACL.
In three games, Cechova averaged 8.3 points and 3.7 rebounds.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Chelsea to hire Xabi Alonso as new head coach
[Subscription Customers Only] Jul 9, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso before a semifinal match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amanda Perobelli-Reuters via Imagn Images Chelsea is set to hire Xabi Alonso as their next head coach, according to multiple reports.
He is finalizing a four-year contract and was the club’s top target, per The Athletic.
Alonso was hired as the head coach of Real Madrid in 2025, but both sides mutually agreed to part ways in January. His overall record with the club was 24-6-4.
Liam Rosenior was Chelsea’s previous head coach. He was hired in January, but he was fired in April after a scoreless, five-game losing streak. Calum McFarlane has been serving as the club’s interim manager.
Chelsea lost in the FA Cup final on Saturday 1-0 to Manchester City. They hold a Premier League record of 13-13-10 with 49 points.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Yohendrick Pinango hits first career homer, Blue Jays outlast Tigers
May 16, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder Matt Vierling (8) is tagged out by Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Andres Gimenez (0) trying to steal second in the second inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Daulton Varsho’s RBI single in the 10th gave the visiting Toronto Blue Jays a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday afternoon.
Varsho’s one-out hit off Tyler Holton (0-2) knocked in the runner at second, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Yohendrick Pinango hit his first career homer for Toronto’s other run. Louis Varland (2-1) pitched two innings of scoreless relief for the victory. He gave up two hits and struck out two.
Matt Vierling homered for the lone Tigers run. Detroit has lost nine of its last 11 games.
Riley Greene had a ninth-inning single to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, the longest active streak in the majors.
Detroit starter Casey Mize tossed six scoreless innings in his return from the injured list. Mize held the Blue Jays to two hits with no walks and four strikeouts. He was sidelined since late April by an adductor strain.
Spencer Miles, the second pitcher used by the Blue Jays, did not allow a run in 3 2/3 innings. He gave up two hits and struck out five.
The Tigers loaded the bases in the third. Zach McKinstry led off with a single and advanced to third on Kevin McGonigle’s single. Dillon Dingler walked to load the bases, but pinch-hitter Gage Workman struck out, leaving the runners stranded.
Varsho had a one-out double in the fifth but Mize responded by retiring the next two batters with a strikeout and popout.
Vierling broke the deadlock with two out in the sixth. He took advantage of a hanging Braydon Fisher slider and pulled it over the left field fence for his third homer of the season.
Pinango tied it the next inning with his leadoff homer against Kyle Finnegan. Pinango jumped on the first pitch Finnegan threw and drove it over the right field wall.
The Tigers had runners at first and third with two out in the ninth. Varland then struck out Colt Keith to send the game into extra innings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Red Sox SS Trevor Story (sports hernia) lands on IL
May 4, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (10) hits a single in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images The Boston Red Sox placed shortstop Trevor Story on the 10-day injured list Saturday due to a sports hernia. It will be retroactive to May 15th.
The Red Sox recalled utility man Nick Sogard from Triple-A Worcester to fill Story’s roster spot.
Story, 33, reportedly been dealing with a minor groin strain for much of this season.
He is batting .206 with three homers and 19 RBIs in 41 games this season, while his six errors are tied for second most in the American League heading into play on Saturday.
Story is hitting .262 with 207 homers and 655 RBIs in 1,106 career games with the Colorado Rockies and Red Sox.
Sogard, 28, played in 61 games spread over the last two seasons with Boston.
He is batting .269 with five homers and 23 RBIs in 36 games this season with Worcester.
–Field Level Media
Reports: Chelsea to hire Xabi Alonso as new head coach
NYT Strands hints, answers for May 17, 2026
