Sports
Stanford star G Ebuka Okorie enters NBA draft
Mar 10, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Stanford Cardinal guard Ebuka Okorie (1) on the court in the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images Stanford star guard Ebuka Okorie said Thursday that he is declaring for the NBA draft after leading the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring as a freshman.
Okorie was overlooked by top-flight programs during the recruiting process but was a big hit with the Cardinal. He ranked eighth nationally with a 23.2 scoring average to go with 3.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals and was earned honorable mention All-America status.
“A year ago you guys took a chance on a kid from New Hampshire with zero high major offers, welcoming me with open arms and allowing me to be the best version of myself on and off the court,” Okorie said on Instagram. “… I’m truly blessed and humbled with this opportunity, and I’m thankful to Stanford for helping me chase my dreams.”
Okorie scored 719 points this season, third most in Stanford history. He finished behind Chasson Randle (724 in 2014-15) and leader Adam Keefe (734 in 1991-92).
Okorie recorded eight 30-point outings, surpassing the mark of Duke’s Marvin Bagley III (seven in 2017-18) for ACC freshmen.
Okorie, who shot 46.5% from the field, is rated as a first-round pick with a possibility of moving into the lottery.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Athletics' Jeffrey Springs dominates Yanks in 1-hit shutout
Apr 9, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Athletics pitcher Jeffrey Springs (59) pitches against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images Jeffrey Springs allowed one hit in seven outstanding innings to lead to the visiting Athletics to a 1-0 victory over the New York Yankees on Thursday afternoon.
Springs (2-0) took a no-hit bid into the seventh before Ben Rice cleanly singled to right field following a one-out walk to Giancarlo Stanton. The veteran left-hander allowed only Rice’s hit, struck out six and walked two.
Springs threw 60 of 93 pitches for strikes and only allowed four baserunners. He struck out Aaron Judge on a called third strike to end the third with two on and retired Austin Wells on a fly ball with two on to end the seventh.
The A’s won their first series over the Yankees in New York since getting a three-game sweep April 19-21, 2016. The A’s did not score until Max Muncy tripled and trotted home on a single by Tyler Soderstrom off New York starter Ryan Weathers (0-1).
The A’s won for the fifth time in eight games after dropping their first four contests and finished with eight hits.
After Springs finished, right-hander Justin Sterner retired Judge on a groundout with a runner on first to end the eighth. Left-hander Hogan Harris struck out Rice to cap a perfect ninth and notched his first save.
The A’s earned the win after losing right fielder Brent Rooker to right flank discomfort on a swing in the opening inning.
The Yankees were held to one hit for the first time since Aug. 15, 2023, at Atlanta. The A’s allowed one hit for the first time since April 11, 2024, at Texas when JP Sears lost a no-hit bid in the seventh.
Weathers allowed one run on seven hits in a season-high seven innings. The left-hander struck out seven, walked none and threw a career-high 101 pitches.
The Yankees lost for the third time in four games and had three at-bats with a runner in scoring position. New York has not scored since taking a two-run lead on Luis Severino in the first inning of Wednesday’s 3-2 loss.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Austrian teen Lilli Tagger stuns No. 3 Liudmila Samsonova in Linz
Lilli Tagger celebrates winning her first-round match over Varvara Gracheva of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., Thursday, March 5, 2026. Tagger, just 18-years-old, marked her first-ever WTA 1000 event win. Local wild-card competitor Lilli Tagger pulled off a 6-2, 7-6 (11) defeat of No. 3 Liudmila Samsonova of Russia on Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz in Linz, Austria.
Tagger, who turned 18 in February, converted three of five break-point opportunities while winning 22 of 32 second-return points (69%). She staved off four set points in her final service game of the second set before clinching after a marathon second-set tiebreaker to reach her first clay-court semifinal on the WTA Tour.
Next up for Tagger is fellow Austrian Anastasia Potapova, who blew past Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch for a 6-2, 6-1 victory in 91 minutes, converting seven of her 14 break-point opportunities.
No. 2 Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia was also ousted from the tournament in the second round, thrashed by unseeded Czech competitor Karolina Pliskova 6-1, 6-3 in 60 minutes.
Croatia’s Donna Vekic also advanced to the quarterfinals via walkover as Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina was forced to withdraw due to illness. She’ll face Pliskova for a semifinal on the side of the bracket which has no seeded players left after Thursday’s two upsets.
–Field Level Media
Sports
New York City FC's Drew Baiera (ACL) to undergo surgery
Mar 22, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC defender Drew Baiera (38) looks on during the second half against the Inter Miami at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Smith-Imagn Images New York City FC defender Drew Baiera will undergo surgery to repair a ruptured ACL in his left knee, the team said Thursday.
Baiera played in 21 minutes over three matches for NYCFC and didn’t dent the scoresheet.
Per NYCFC.network, Baiera sustained the injury during his recent stint with the U.S. youth national team.
The 19-year-old will begin rehab immediately after the surgery.
New York City FC visit the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday.
–Field Level Media
Athletics' Jeffrey Springs dominates Yanks in 1-hit shutout
Austrian teen Lilli Tagger stuns No. 3 Liudmila Samsonova in Linz
