Sports
Santa Clara eager to prevail in final WCC meeting with No. 12 Gonzaga
Jan 8, 2026; Spokane, Washington, USA; Santa Clara Broncos guard Sash Gavalyugov (2) shoots the ball against Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Graham Ike (15) in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images Santa Clara is enjoying a memorable season, but it can boost its success to another level when it hosts No. 12 Gonzaga on Saturday night in a battle for first place in the West Coast Conference.
The Broncos have won nine straight games since losing 89-77 to the Bulldogs on Jan. 8 in Spokane, Wash. This contest also marks the last regular-season battle between programs that have been in the same conference for the past 46 seasons and first met in 1959.
“We’ll keep it straightforward,” Santa Clara guard Sash Gavalyugov said. “It’s our last game against Gonzaga in the WCC, so we look to beat them for a goodbye. We look to be undefeated for the rest of the season.”
The Broncos (22-5, 13-1 WCC) stand a half-game ahead of the Bulldogs (24-2, 12-1) with Saint Mary’s (22-4, 11-2) looming close behind in third place.
Gonzaga coach Mark Few feels Santa Clara shouldn’t have any trouble being part of March Madness despite the school last qualifying in 1996.
“They’re an NCAA Tournament team,” Few said. “They pass the eye test.”
The Steve Nash-era Broncos went to the tournament three times in the 1990s and went 2-3, including the still-talked about upset of No. 2 seed Arizona in 1993.
Santa Clara is 13-0 at home entering the clash with Gonzaga, and coach Herb Sendek is doing his best to downplay the hype.
“It’s the next game on our schedule,” Sendek said after the Broncos’ 84-72 home win over Seattle University on Wednesday. “We don’t look at the name on the jersey or the tip time or the weather or whether it’s a holiday or any other thing that can enter someone’s mind.
“When it’s time to play, our conference schedule demands the best of us.”
Gavalyugov, a freshman, made five 3-pointers and scored 21 points against Seattle. He had scored in single digits seven straight times since his explosive 37-point outing against Loyola Marymount on Jan. 10.
One game ahead of his career-best outing, he had eight points on 2-of-7 shooting against Gonzaga. Bulldogs star Graham Ike scored 34 points on 13-of-17 shooting and collected 11 rebounds in the Gonzaga win.
“We guarded them really, really good and rebounded the ball well,” Few said of the contest that was tied at halftime and saw the Bulldogs lead by as many as 23 in the second half.
Ike has scored 30 or more in three of his past six appearances and has made 21 of 28 field-goal attempts over the past two games. He matched his career best of 35 points while making 13 of 18 shots in an 81-61 rout of Oregon State on Feb. 7, and he followed up with 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting in an 83-53 home shellacking of Washington State on Tuesday.
Freshman Davis Fogle added 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting off the bench vs. the Cougars and was lauded by Few for his defense. Fogle had a season-high three blocked shots and matched his high of three steals in 23 minutes.
“I think on the defensive end, the game’s slowed down a lot,” Fogle said. “… Still working on it every day in practice and taking all the advice I can from coaches.”
Despite the Broncos splitting the regular-season series with the Bulldogs the past two campaigns, this is another one of those WCC rivalries long owned by Gonzaga.
The Bulldogs had won 26 straight matchups and 35 of 36 prior to the recent splits.
Gonzaga has won 22 of the past 24 meetings at Santa Clara. The Broncos won in 2011 and 2024.
Gonzaga will move into the rebuilt Pac-12 next season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Atlanta United snaps losing streak with win over Toronto FC
Apr 25, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Atlanta United FC midfielder Luke Brennan (20) keeps th eball in play as Toronto FC midfielder Jose Cifuentes (8) defends during the first half at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images Alexey Miranchuk deposited a terrific free-kick goal, Tristan Muyumba powered in the eventual game-winner and visiting Atlanta United snapped a four-match losing streak with a 2-1 win over Toronto FC on Saturday afternoon.
In a game light on shots on target, goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos recorded one save for Atlanta (2-7-1, 7 points), which ended an 0-4-1 rut and won for the first time since March 14.
Emilio Aristizabal had his first MLS goal for Toronto FC (3-3-4, 13 points), but they could not equalize and lost for the first time since February 28, a seven-match span.
Atlanta’s Ajani Fortune drew a foul early in the second half to set up a close-range free kick that produced the opening goal. Miranchuk sent a left-footed shot over the Toronto wall and tucked it just under the crossbar in the top-left corner in the 48th minute.
It was the Russian’s team-high fifth goal of the season.
The Five Stripes’ second scoring sequence in the 67th minute was critical, as the two-goal cushion lasted only four minutes.
On the attack, Cooper Sanchez sent a ball ahead for former U.S. national Fafa Picault, who tapped a side-heel pass behind him for Muyumba. The defender uncorked a one-time shot past Toronto goalie Luka Gavran to make it 2-0.
Aristizabal answered by heading in a cross from Kobe Franklin to bring Toronto back within a goal.
Toronto FC fans thought the game was level when Jules-Anthony Vilsaint knocked in a loose ball in the 85th minute, but the flag went up for offsides.
The last play of the match was a Toronto corner kick, but Jonathan Osorio’s offering sailed long and out of bounds and the match reached full time. The Reds fell despite dominating possession (68.2%) and taking eight corner kicks.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Kentucky Derby favorite Renegade draws the dreaded rail
People show up for the first day of horse racing on opening day of the Spring Meet ahead of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.Apr. 25, 2026.
Early favorite Renegade was picked to start on the rail for the 152nd Kentucky Derby during the official draw on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Renegade, the Arkansas Derby winner owned by American billionaire Mike Repole, opened at 4-1 as the 20-horse field became official for the Run for the Roses on Saturday, May 2, in Louisville, Ky.
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has raced Renegade just twice as a 3-year-old, but he has come through both times. He came from well back to capture the Sam F. Davis Stakes on Feb. 7 at Tampa Bay Downs, then he pulled away to win the Arkansas Derby by four lengths on March 28 at Oaklawn Park.
Renegade’s jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr., has not won a Derby in nine tries, but he has raced to victory in two Belmont Stakes (2016, 2022).
Renegade’s assignment to the first gate will have it fighting against history along with the other 19 horses. Ferdinand, the Derby champion in 1986, was the last horse to win from the rail. Seven other horses have won from Gate No. 1, but most were long ago when Derby fields were smaller.
Commandment, which will start from the No. 6 gate, and Further Ado, which will come from the outside at No. 18, both opened at 6-1. They are trained by Brad Cox.
Bob Baffert, the legendary trainer who returned to the Kentucky Derby last May after serving a three-year suspension, has two horses in the field: Potente and Litmus Test
Here’s the entire field with their opening odds:
1) Renegade 4-1
2) Albus 30-1
3) Intrepido 50-1
4) Litmus Test 30-1
5) Right To Party 30-1
6) Commandment 6-1
7) Danon Bourbon 20-1
8) So Happy 15-1
9) The Puma 10-1
10) Wonder Dean 30-1
11) Incredibolt 20-1
12) Chief Wallabee 8-1
13) Silent Tactic 20-1
14) Potente 20-1
15) Emerging Market 15-1
16) Pavlovian 30-1
17) Six Speed 50-1
18) Further Ado 6-1
19) Golden Tempo 30-1
20) Fulleffort 20-1
–Field Level Media
Sports
Eagles draft North Dakota State QB Cole Payton
Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton (QB15) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Eagles selected quarterback North Dakota State Cole Payton in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Payton was selected with the 178th overall pick and was one of six quarterbacks selected in the first five rounds.
Payton established himself as a dynamic dual threat quarterback at North Dakota State. After four seasons as a seldom-used reserve, he took over as starting quarterback last season, throwing for 2,719 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions. On the ground, he rushed for 777 yards and 13 touchdowns.
As a backup, he was a two-time FCS champion (2021, 2024).
At the NFL combine, the 6-foot-3 left-hander ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash and posted a 40-inch vertical.
The 23-year-old will join a crowded Eagles’ quarterback room that includes Jalen Hurts, Tanner McKee, and Andy Dalton.
–Field Level Media
Hurdle hints and answers for April 26, 2026
Atlanta United snaps losing streak with win over Toronto FC
