Sports
Wisconsin works toward Big Ten triple bye at Oregon
Wisconsin guard Nick Boyd scores against Iowa forward Cam Manyawu during the second half on Sunday, Feb. 22 at the Kohl Center in Madison. Though Wisconsin fell out of the AP Top 25 this week, the Badgers still have an opportunity to grab a top-four seed in the Big Ten tournament that delivers a bye all the way to the March 13 quarterfinals in Chicago.
But to put sufficient pressure on the three teams one game ahead in the conference standings, the Badgers (19-8, 11-5) need to sweep their two-game trip to the Pacific Northwest that begins with Oregon (10-17, 3-13) on Wednesday night in Eugene, Ore.
Wisconsin has won four of its last six games, including an 84-71 win over Iowa at home on Sunday. The Badgers made 53.8% of their shots as fifth-year guard Nick Boyd nearly delivered his first triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
Boyd has scored in double figures every game he’s played this season and paces the Badgers with 20.6 points per game. John Blackwell (18.5 ppg) gives Wisconsin the highest-scoring backcourt in the Big Ten.
“He really puts a lot of pressure on the defense like he always has,” Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard said of Boyd. “He plays with emotion, plays with fire and he backs it up.”
Oregon, enduring its first losing season since Dana Altman came to town in 2010, still has some motivation. The Ducks are in a clump of five teams at the bottom of the Big Ten standings. If they can get out of the bottom four, then they would avoid having to play on the first day of the Big Ten tournament — which would require six wins in six days to collect their third straight NCAA Tournament bid.
Oregon has won two of its last three games, which includes a 71-70 upset of Southern California on Saturday in Los Angeles. Forward Kwame Evans Jr. (12.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg) has been the healthiest of the Ducks’ trio of top players and taken on a bigger role on offense. Now that center Nate Bittle (16.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg) is back from injury, the Ducks are more potent.
Bittle, who has averaged 17.8 points since returning to the lineup Feb. 7, sank the winning free throws at USC with 10 seconds left.
“Really proud of them,” Altman said on his postgame radio appearance. “A tough road win, but guys did a good job.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Azzi Fudd lone rookie to compete in WNBA 3-point contest
Jul 20, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd (35) warms up before the game against the New York Liberty at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images Rookie Azzi Fudd is accustomed to being in the national limelight after winning an NCAA championship with UConn in 2025 and being drafted No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings last April.
On Friday night in Chicago, Fudd will be back in the spotlight as one of six WNBA players participating in the 3-Point Contest during All-Star weekend festivities.
Also competing is Atlanta Dream star Rhyne Howard, who, like Fudd, was a rookie the first time she took part in 2022. Rounding out the field are Marina Mabrey of the Toronto Tempo, Bridget Carleton of the Portland Fire, Natisha Hiedeman of the Seattle Storm, and Janelle Salaun of the Golden State Valkyries.
Only Mabrey and Howard have competed in the past.
Defending champion Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty declined to take part.
The 3-point contest is a two-round event, with all six players getting their turn in the first round. The championship round will be the top two finishers only.
The contest is set to start at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, and it will be televised by ESPN. The All-Star Game will be played Saturday night at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Game time is 8:30 p.m.
–Field Level Media
Sports
A's place top pitcher J.T. Ginn (blister) on 15-day IL
Jul 18, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics starting pitcher J.T. Ginn (35) throws a pitch against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images The Athletics placed right-hander J.T. Ginn on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to a blister on his right middle finger.
The move is retroactive to Saturday for Ginn, who leads the team’s starters in wins (eight), ERA (3.46) and strikeouts (100) while making 22 appearances (19 starts) this season.
Ginn, 27, allowed just one hit and struck out seven batters over 6 1/3 scoreless innings in a 15-1 romp over the Washington Nationals in his last trip to the mound.
He is 13-14 with a 4.20 ERA in 53 career games (41 starts) with the Athletics.
Also on Wednesday, the A’s recalled right-hander Mason Barnett from Triple-A Las Vegas.
Barnett, 25, is 1-0 with two saves and a 4.64 ERA in 13 relief appearances with the Athletics this season. He is 3-1 with a 4.34 ERA in 10 games (all starts) with the Aviators.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jasper Philipsen wins Stage 17 of Tour de France
Premier Tech’s Jasper Philipsen reacts after winning stage 17 of the Tour de France. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/Pool Jasper Philipsen won his first Tour de France stage of 2026 and the 11th of his career on Wednesday to extend a win streak by Belgian riders.
Philipsen’s victory in Stage 17 from Chambery to Voiron followed countryman Remco Evenepoel’s back-to-back triumphs in Stages 15 and 16, the longest streak for Belgium since 1981.
Philipsen, 28, completed the flat 174.7-kilometer trek just ahead of Switzerland’s Mauro Schmid and the Netherlands’ Olav Kooij.
Four-time champion Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia maintained the overall leader’s yellow jersey. His lead over Evenepoel is 4 minutes and 32 seconds, with Mexico’s Isaac del Toro in third place.
Stage 18 on Thursday is a mountainous 185.2-kilometer journey from Voiron to Orcieres-Merlette. The 113th edition of the Tour de France concludes on Sunday in Paris.
–Field Level Media
Azzi Fudd lone rookie to compete in WNBA 3-point contest
A's place top pitcher J.T. Ginn (blister) on 15-day IL
