Sports
UCLA two-sport star Megan Grant breaks 31-year-old NCAA softball record
Jun 1, 2025; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; UCLA Bruins utility Megan Grant (43) rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run tying the game in the seventh inning against the Tennessee Lady Volunteers during the NCAA Softball Women’s College World Series at Devon Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images UCLA senior Megan Grant set the NCAA Division I softball home run record on Saturday with her 38th long ball of the 2026 season.
Grant was also a member of UCLA’s 2026 NCAA basketball championship team.
In the third inning of Saturday’s game against Nebraska, Grant hit a blast to deep left-center field to pass the previous record of 37, set in 1995 by Arizona’s Laura Espinoza. Grant set the record in 55 games, 17 fewer than Espinoza.
“Records are made to be broken,” Mike Candrea, who coached Espinoza at Arizona, told The Athletic. “It’s a pretty phenomenal record to be able to break, so tip my hat off.”
Nebraska defeated UCLA on Saturday, 7-2, to claim the Big Ten title.
On Friday against Wisconsin, in the semifinals of the Big Ten conference tournament, the Bruins reached 181 homers on the season, eclipsing the previous record of 161 that had stood since 2021.
Grant boosted that number to 182 with her record shot on Saturday.
“When I first came into college, I wanted to put myself in the books as one of the best, and I didn’t really know how to at the time, but throughout my career, just more and more has gone on, and to be able to do that, it’s just, it’s surreal,” Grant told reporters. “I am just so grateful for the opportunity I was blessed with, and just to follow the people that were before me. It’s just honor.”
Grant tied UCLA’s single-season record holder, Stacey Nuveman, with her 31st homer during a doubleheader against Cal on April 18 and surpassed her on April 24 against Washington.
Grant and Nuveman are the only Bruins to hit at least 80 career homers. Nuveman, whose career ended in 2002, is the program’s all-time leader with 90. Grant has 85.
Grant joins senior teammate Jordan Woolery (33 homers) as the first teammates in NCAA softball history to each hit 30-plus home runs in the same season.
The NCAA Division I Selection Show is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, when UCLA (47-8) will find out its postseason seeding. The Bruins are seeking their first Women’s College World Series title since 2019 and their 13th in NCAA history.
Grant, Woolery and Taylor Tinsley all intend to continue their softball careers in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League this summer.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Astros claim OF Rhylan Thomas off waiver from Mariners
May 2, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners right fielder Rhylan Thomas (31) runs to third base during the fifth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images The Houston Astros claimed outfielder Rhylan Thomas off waivers from the Seattle Mariners.
In a corresponding move, right-hander Hunter Bown was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL.
Thomas was an 11th-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft by the New York Mets. He was traded to the Mariners in 2024 in exchange for veteran right-hander Ryne Stanek.
In 2025, Thomas appeared in three major league games for the Mariners, going 1-8 with a double, two RBIs and a walk.
This season, the 26-year-old recorded two home runs, nine RBIs, six stolen bases and a .260/.313/.328 batting line across 31 games for Triple-A Tacoma.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Sorana Cirstea upsets Aryna Sabalenka in Rome for first victory over No. 1
Mar 8, 2026; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Sorana Cirstea (ROU) during her third round match against Linda Noskova (CZE) in the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Sorana Cirstea has announced she will retire after the season but the 36-year-old Romanian sure isn’t just cruising through tournaments in the meantime.
Cirstea defeated a world No. 1 for the first time since turning professional in 2006 when she rallied for a 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday in an Italian Open third-round match in Rome.
“I’m very, very happy,” Cirstea said. “Aryna is an amazing player. I thought I played really well today. I’m working really, really hard. It’s nice to have this result as payoff.”
Cirstea’s previous highest-ranked victory was also over Sabalenka, when the latter was No. 2 in the world in 2023. That upset came in the Miami Open quarterfinals.
Cirstea won her fourth career title earlier this year when she prevailed in a tournament in Romania. She isn’t playing like someone winding down her career as she improved her record to 25-7 this season.
But she said her stellar play hasn’t led her to question the retirement decision.
“Maybe if I win the tournament, I promise I’ll think about it,” Cirstea said with a smile.
Sabalenka sailed through the opening set before the tide turned.
She was dealing with pain in her lower back and even used a medical timeout while losing 4-3 in the final set.
“Felt like my body was limiting me from performing on the highest level,” Sabalenka said. “She stepped in and played incredible tennis. Didn’t really give me much opportunities. … But I guess we never lose, we only learn, so it’s OK.
“Probably it’s my lower back, connected to the hip, which is limiting me from the full rotation.”
While Sabalenka turns her focus to mending her body, Cirstea moves on to face No. 13 seed Linda Noskova of Czechia. Noskova sailed to a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova on Saturday.
In another upset, No. 21 Elise Mertens of Belgium took over No. 9 Jasmine Paolini of Italy 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3. Mertens had a 3-0 edge in aces and converted 5 of 8 break points.
No. 3 Coco Gauff recovered from a slow start to post a 5-7, 6-0, 6-4 victory over Argentina’s Solana Sierra. No. 8 Mirra Andreeva of Russia fought off Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic for a 6-1, 4-6, 6-0 win.
Also, Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia rallied for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Zheng Qinwen of China.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Knicks F OG Anunoby upgraded to questionable for Game 4
May 6, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby (8) falls to the court after missing a shot against the Philadelphia 76ers during game five of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (hamstring) has been upgraded to questionable for Sunday’s Game 4 against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 28-year-old wing has been vital to New York’s playoff success, averaging 21.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.1 blocks per game, while shooting 53.8 percent from beyond the arc.
Anunoby posted 24 points and four steals for the Knicks in Game 2 vs. Philadelphia but suffered a right hamstring strain.
The injury forced him to sit out of Game 3. Nevertheless, the Knicks continued to roll, defeating the Sixers 108-94, led by a 33-point, nine-assist performance from Jalen Brunson.
The Knicks lead the series 3-0 and will look to close out the series on Sunday in Philadelphia.
–Field Level Media
Astros claim OF Rhylan Thomas off waiver from Mariners
Sorana Cirstea upsets Aryna Sabalenka in Rome for first victory over No. 1
