Sports
NHL stars arrive in Milan for first Olympics since 2014
Flagbearer Nino Niederreiter of Switzerland leads their contingent in the athletes parade during the opening ceremony on Friday in Milan. MILAN, Italy — The NHL’s biggest stars began their long-awaited return to the Olympic stage on Friday, as players battled exhaustion to join their national teams at the Milan Cortina Games five days before their competition begins.
The National Hockey League began its Olympic break on Friday, freeing up dozens of players to fly into Milan as it allows its athletes to compete at the Games for the first time in 12 years.
“Of course, I’m jet lagged,” said Czech goalie Lukas Dostal, who was the first NHL player to practice at Santagiulia Arena after arriving in Milan on Thursday night.
“I didn’t have much time to see around because I got here last night so I just went to my room, got some dinner, slept, and just got here,” said the Anaheim Ducks goaltender, who got a head-start after his team played its final game on Tuesday night.
A representative for the Swiss team said six of its players were arriving on Friday, including three from the New Jersey Devils who played on Thursday night.
Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak (Czech Republic), Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (Germany) and Winnipeg Jets winger Nino Niederreiter (Switzerland) each served as flag-bearers for their respective countries during Friday’s opening ceremony.
Dostal said he had planned to skip the opening ceremony in favor of rest but had a change of heart.
“I woke up and I’m like, ‘Hey, it’s one-of-a-kind experience’,” he told reporters.
‘DIFFERENT LEVEL’
Other players will have more of a buffer between the bruising NHL schedule and their Olympic campaign. The United States team, which is comprised entirely of NHL players, will wait to host its first practice in Milan on Sunday.
Canada, meanwhile, have already felt the wear-and-tear of the NHL season, having replaced two injured players in their roster this week.
The roughly 150 NHL players expected to compete in Milan will bring a megawatt spotlight to their sport and promise a true “best-on-best” tournament, after two Olympic cycles with players from outside the top-flight North American league.
“It’s good that I know how it is to play against them,” said Czech winger Dominik Kubalik, an NHL alum who competed in 2018 and plays in the Swiss National League. “It’s going to be a different level.”
One glaring omission from the world’s best is the NHL’s top Russian stars, such as all-time goal-scoring leader Alex Ovechkin, who are banned from competing at Milano Cortina as part of sanctions imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
–Reuters, special to Field Level Media
Sports
UCLA's Lauren Betts among 15 to attend WNBA draft
UCLA Bruins players Lauren Betts, from left, and Kiki Rice celebrate with teammates their 79-51 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks to claim the NCAA women’s basketball national championship at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 5, 2026. National champion center Lauren Betts and four of her UCLA teammates are among the 15 prospects who will attend Monday’s 2026 WNBA Draft in New York City.
Bets will be joined by Bruins forward Angela Dugalic and guards Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jaquez and Gianna Kneepkens.
UCLA defeated South Carolina 79-51 on Sunday to win the Women’s NCAA Tournament for the first time.
The other prospects who will be in attendance are forward Nell Angloma (France), center Awa Fam Thiam (Spain), guard Azzi Fudd (UConn), guard Flau’jae Johnson (LSU), guard Raven Johnson (South Carolina), guard Ta’Niya Latson (South Carolina), forward Cotie McMahon (Ole Miss), guard Olivia Mils (TCU), center Madina Okot (South Carolina/Kenya) and forward Marta Suarez (TCU/Spain).
Monday’s draft will be carried live on ESPN starting at 7 p.m. ET.
The Dallas Wings hold the top pick in the draft, followed by the Minnesota Lynx at No. 2 and the Seattle Storm at No. 3. The Washington Mystics have the fourth selection, and the Chicago Sky have the fifth. The expansion Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire will select sixth and seventh, respectively.
–Field Level Media
Sports
76ers C Joel Embiid (appendicitis) out vs. Rockets
Apr 3, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) controls the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will undergo surgery on Thursday afternoon in Houston, the team announced.
Embiid initially was ruled out for the game against the Rockets on Thursday night due to an illness.
The eighth-place 76ers (43-36) remain in a tight battle with several teams in the Eastern Conference, attempting to avoid the postseason play-in tournament. They are one full game in back of the sixth-place Toronto Raptors (44-35) with three games to play.
Embiid, 32, is averaging 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds in 38 games (all starts) this season.
The 2022-23 MVP and a seven-time All-Star, Embiid is averaging 27.6 points and 10.8 rebounds in 490 career games (all starts) since being selected by Philadelphia with the third overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft.
–Field Level Media
Sports
NBA clears Kings, says coach made mistake vs. Warriors
Apr 5, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings head coach Doug Christie yells during the second quarter against the LA Clippers at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images The NBA announced Thursday that Sacramento Kings head coach Doug Christie made an honest mistake in his team’s loss to the Golden State Warriors.
The league was investigating Christie after he instructed forward Doug McDermott to intentionally foul Warriors guard Seth Curry with his team leading by one with 3:15 remaining in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s game.
“The league’s investigation determined that Christie mistakenly believed that the Warriors were not in the penalty and therefore instructed his team to foul in an attempt to stop the clock and utilize one of the team’s remaining timeouts,” the NBA’s statement said. “The investigation found that Christie made no intentional effort to give the Warriors a shooting foul, or to cause the Kings to lose the game.”
Curry made one of two free throws to tie the game at 101-101. The Kings (21-59) went on to lose the game, 110-105.
–Field Level Media
UCLA's Lauren Betts among 15 to attend WNBA draft
76ers C Joel Embiid (appendicitis) out vs. Rockets
