Sports
Newly ranked, No. 24 Vanderbilt takes aim at Oklahoma
Vanderbilt Commodores guard Jason Edwards (1) is led off the court after beating the Kentucky Wildcats at Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. Two teams looking to add to their NCAA Tournament resumes meet when No. 24 Vanderbilt visits Oklahoma for a Saturday afternoon Southeastern Conference clash in Norman, Okla.
Both squads play exciting brands of basketball and can get points from all over the floor.
The Commodores (16-4, 4-3 SEC) have four players averaging double-digit scoring: Jason Edwards (17.3), Devin McGlockton (10.9), AJ Hoggard (10.8) and Tyler Nickel (10.6).
The Sooners (15-5, 2-5) have three in Jalon Moore (18.2), Jeremiah Fears (15.9) and Duke Miles (10.6).
Edwards, Vanderbilt’s most dangerous player to defend, has hit double figures in all but one game, coming when he clearly wasn’t healthy in a Jan. 7 loss to Mississippi State. The cat-quick junior guard is equally adept at driving the lane for points or hitting 3-pointers (39.2 percent).
The Sooners have an alpha dog of their own in Fears, an NBA prospect who was held scoreless in 19 foul-plagued minutes in Tuesday’s 75-68 loss at No. 13 Texas A&M. Fears had scored 16, 16 and 20 points in his previous three games following a two-point effort on Jan. 11 at Georgia, which marked the first time he hadn’t scored in double figures.
Oklahoma coach Porter Moser spoke to the need for more scoring consistency after the loss to the Aggies, when Brycen Goodine scored 24 points and Moore added 22. No one else had more than five.
“Jalon and Brycen obviously (played well), but we needed some more scoring contributions from some guys,” Moser said.
As for Vanderbilt, Hoggard and McGlockton have been more steady than spectacular. Nickel, on the other hand, has recently flashed signs of being a go-to scorer, averaging 14.7 points over the last three games while hitting 12 of 22 shots from 3-point range.
The Commodores will play their first game as a ranked team since 2015. Vanderbilt should be fresh and healthy for this one after last playing a week ago in a 74-69 upset of then-No. 9 Kentucky, its second victory in eight days over a top-10 team (then-No. 6 Tennessee on Jan. 18).
Vanderbilt, which counts seven juniors or seniors in its nine-man rotation, showed its maturity in that game. The Commodores survived blowing a 13-point halftime lead to make multiple winning plays in the final minutes.
“Momentum was huge,” coach Mark Byington said. “Their fans are going crazy. Their guys were playing good basketball. And to be able to stop that, and to be able to figure out a way, it’s a lot of character. It really is.”
When Vanderbilt wins, it often relies on defense to create easy buckets in transition. It ranks 14th in the country at forcing turnovers on 22.4 percent of possessions, according to Ken Pomeroy. The Sooners cough it up 17.4 percent of the time (177th).
Oklahoma wins when it shoots well. The Sooners rank 40th in 3-point percentage (37.2) and 30th in 2-point percentage (56.6).
This marks the first time the teams have met with Oklahoma as part of the SEC.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves put closer Raisel Iglesias on IL, Robert Suarez to close
Apr 15, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Raisel Iglesias (26) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning at Truist Park. All players are wearing number 42 today in honor of Jackie Robinson. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images The Atlanta Braves placed closer Raisel Iglesias on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with discomfort in his right (throwing) shoulder.
Iglesias has said he’s felt the discomfort since sleeping on his shoulder wrong Friday night. But the Braves conducted an MRI that found no structural damage.
“There’s some inflammation there,” Braves manager Walt Weiss told reporters. “We feel like we’re getting out in front of this thing a little bit.”
Iglesias, 36, has amassed a 42-55 record, 258 saves and a 2.86 ERA in his 12 major league seasons, including four-plus years in Atlanta. He was off to a perfect start to the season, with five saves and no runs allowed over eight games (8 2/3 innings). He’s tossed 11 strikeouts to only one walk.
While Iglesias is sidelined, Robert Suarez will take over closing duties. Suarez led the National League with 40 saves while serving as the San Diego Padres’ closer last season; then he signed a three-year, $45 million deal to join the Braves and their bullpen.
The right-handed Suarez has gone 2-0 with one save and an 0.93 ERA for Atlanta in 10 appearances, used mostly as a setup man. He was an All-Star in 2024 and 2025 for the Padres.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Orlando City want attack to catch up to defense vs. Charlotte
Mar 14, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City midfielder Martin Ojeda (10) shoots on goal during the second half against the CF Montreal at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images Orlando City will be hoping for a much-needed attacking breakthrough on Wednesday night when they host a Charlotte FC side in search of a second consecutive away victory.
Orlando (1-6-1, 4 points) has been one of Major League Soccer’s most disappointing teams this season, costing former manager Oscar Pareja his job last month.
But there is some evidence that maybe the Lions have at least righted the ship defensively. After conceding 23 times in their first six games, interim manager Martin Perelman’s group has allowed only two goals in the last three fixtures across all competitions.
“I think we organize the team. It never is enough, always (important) to improve things,” Perelman said. “We are in that part. Last details. But yes, the structure is there. In the offensive side as well, we are working. Hopefully we can get the shape we want, that we are used to. Because in this club we have been scoring a lot for the last two years.”
So far, though, the attacking end remains pretty dire. After Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic combined for 28 MLS goals a season ago, they only have two apiece for a team with six goals total.
Pasalic also missed last week’s 1-0 home loss to Houston on Saturday night with a leg injury.
Charlotte (4-2-2, 14 points) makes the journey south following a 2-1 victory at New York City FC on Saturday, one that came despite holding a season-low 36% possession.
Defender Tim Ream exited that match at halftime and will miss roughly a week with an adductor strain, Charlotte manager Dean Smith said.
Idan Toklomati scored early in the second half and Kerwin Vargas added a goal late before NYCFC pulled one back in second-half stoppage time. And Charlotte created a similar number of chances to NYCFC despite having less of the ball.
Smith hopes the performance sets the tone for upcoming travels, with Charlotte to play its next three league games away after five of its first eight came at home.
“There’s not plenty of away games we’ve played so far, such is the fixture list,” Smith said. “We didn’t start on the road well, but we showed loads of characteristics that I liked on Saturday. And we need to continue to do that in the next three away games as well.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Union bring challenged offense north to face streaking Toronto FC
Apr 18, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto FC midfielder Malik Henry (78) attempts to control the ball against Austin FC during the second half at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images Toronto FC will aim to extend their unbeaten streak to seven matches when the Philadelphia Union visit on Wednesday.
Toronto (3-2-3, 12 points) is 3-0-3 in its last six outings. Wednesday marks the sixth date of Toronto FC’s nine-match homestand, and the club is unbeaten (4-0-8) in its last 12 home matches dating back to last season.
Despite the good results, midfielder Malik Henry felt his team left victories on the table.
“Some of the draws we’ve had, we feel like we definitely could have won those games, which makes it a bit more disappointing,” Henry told TFC Republic. “We just have to take the points and then continue to move forward with it.”
Walker Zimmerman is expected to be available Wednesday, in a boost to an injury-depleted back line. Zimmerman missed Toronto’s last two matches with a calf injury.
Toronto FC’s offense has been both varied and efficient. Eight Toronto players have at least one goal this season, and the team’s 51.5% accurate shooting percentage is the best in MLS.
The Union are at the other end of the attacking spectrum, with a 27.1% AS percentage that ranks second-last in the league.
Philadelphia (1-6-1, 4 points) has recorded only six goals in eight regular-season matches, ahead of only four-goal D.C. United in MLS.
The lack of offense contributed to the Union’s season-opening six-game losing streak, and goals remain at a premium even as Philadelphia has gone 1-0-1 in its last two matches. The Union outshot D.C. United 17-6 on Saturday and held D.C. without a shot on target, yet still had to settle for a 0-0 draw.
Philadelphia coach Bradley Carnell felt that returning to the striker pairing of Bruno Damiani and Ezekiel Alladoh can help unlock the Union’s offense.
“We have tried a lot of different combinations (at forward) and now we go back-to-back with the same,” Carnell said. “Every day we get together with Eze and Bruno working together, it’s … one day more advanced and developed.”
–Field Level Media
Braves put closer Raisel Iglesias on IL, Robert Suarez to close
Orlando City want attack to catch up to defense vs. Charlotte
