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Deadspin | Capitals fighting for playoff life in rematch with Penguins Apr 11, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates an empty net goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins with right wing Tom Wilson (43) during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images The Washington Capitals kept their slight playoff hopes alive Saturday with a road win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Now, the Capitals need another victory against the Penguins, this time at home on Sunday afternoon, to stay in the race. With 91 points and a 41-30-9 record, the Capitals are three points behind the third-place Philadelphia Flyers in the Metropolitan Division. A regulation loss to the Penguins (41-23-16, 98 points) would end the Capitals’ chances, as would a Flyers win Monday night over the Carolina Hurricanes. “We just have to get two points tomorrow,” Alex Ovechkin said after a 6-3 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday, when he scored his team-leading 32nd goal of the season. “We’re still in. So it’s a good thing.” Washington, however, could be without center Pierre-Luc Dubois, who left Saturday’s game with 13:58 remaining in the second period when he suffered an upper-body injury crashing into the boards after assisting on the first of Ryan Leonard’s two goals. Capitals coach Spencer Carbery told reporters after the game that he would learn more on the 27-year-old’s condition later Saturday and have an update before the game. Dubois already has missed 52 games this season, with most of those due to an abdominal injury he suffered against the New York Islanders on Oct. 31. In 22 games since his return on Feb. 5, Dubois has 18 points (five goals, 13 assists). Pittsburgh’s postseason spot already is clinched, and as the second-place team in the Metropolitan Division, the Penguins will have home-ice advantage over the Flyers, Capitals, Islanders or Columbus Blue Jackets — all of whom are fighting for the Eastern Conference’s final open playoff spot. The home loss to the Capitals on Saturday snapped a three-game winning streak for the Penguins, who did not play several key veterans in the game, including four of the team’s top five scorers: Sidney Crosby, Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin. Defenseman Kris Letang also sat out. It’s uncertain if any of those players will return to the ice before the regular season ends. “It’s a quick turnaround,” Penguins coach Dan Muse said after Saturday’s loss. “Feels like we’ve had a lot of these here recently. … It’s going to be important for us to regroup, be able to look at some things so we can do it better.” Anthony Mantha did play Saturday and recorded his team-leading 31st goal. Should the Capitals win and the Flyers lose to Carolina either in regulation or overtime, Washington would need to win Tuesday night at Columbus. The Capitals will remain alive as long as Philadelphia, which hosts Montreal on Tuesday, does not collect two points out of its final two games. Should the Capitals and Flyers tie in the standings, Washington would advance to the playoffs because it owns the regulation-wins tiebreaker over Philadelphia (35 to 26). Sunday will start a two-game road trip for the Penguins, who will finish their season Tuesday at St. Louis. Sunday’s game also could be the final home game for Ovechkin. The NHL’s all-time-leading goal scorer, 40, is a free agent once the season ends. However, Ovechkin has not made a decision on coming back for a 22nd season. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Capitals #fighting #playoff #life #rematch #Penguins

Deadspin | Capitals fighting for playoff life in rematch with Penguins
Deadspin | Capitals fighting for playoff life in rematch with Penguins Apr 11, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates an empty net goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins with right wing Tom Wilson (43) during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images The Washington Capitals kept their slight playoff hopes alive Saturday with a road win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Now, the Capitals need another victory against the Penguins, this time at home on Sunday afternoon, to stay in the race. With 91 points and a 41-30-9 record, the Capitals are three points behind the third-place Philadelphia Flyers in the Metropolitan Division. A regulation loss to the Penguins (41-23-16, 98 points) would end the Capitals’ chances, as would a Flyers win Monday night over the Carolina Hurricanes. “We just have to get two points tomorrow,” Alex Ovechkin said after a 6-3 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday, when he scored his team-leading 32nd goal of the season. “We’re still in. So it’s a good thing.” Washington, however, could be without center Pierre-Luc Dubois, who left Saturday’s game with 13:58 remaining in the second period when he suffered an upper-body injury crashing into the boards after assisting on the first of Ryan Leonard’s two goals. Capitals coach Spencer Carbery told reporters after the game that he would learn more on the 27-year-old’s condition later Saturday and have an update before the game. Dubois already has missed 52 games this season, with most of those due to an abdominal injury he suffered against the New York Islanders on Oct. 31. In 22 games since his return on Feb. 5, Dubois has 18 points (five goals, 13 assists). Pittsburgh’s postseason spot already is clinched, and as the second-place team in the Metropolitan Division, the Penguins will have home-ice advantage over the Flyers, Capitals, Islanders or Columbus Blue Jackets — all of whom are fighting for the Eastern Conference’s final open playoff spot. The home loss to the Capitals on Saturday snapped a three-game winning streak for the Penguins, who did not play several key veterans in the game, including four of the team’s top five scorers: Sidney Crosby, Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin. Defenseman Kris Letang also sat out. It’s uncertain if any of those players will return to the ice before the regular season ends. “It’s a quick turnaround,” Penguins coach Dan Muse said after Saturday’s loss. “Feels like we’ve had a lot of these here recently. … It’s going to be important for us to regroup, be able to look at some things so we can do it better.” Anthony Mantha did play Saturday and recorded his team-leading 31st goal. Should the Capitals win and the Flyers lose to Carolina either in regulation or overtime, Washington would need to win Tuesday night at Columbus. The Capitals will remain alive as long as Philadelphia, which hosts Montreal on Tuesday, does not collect two points out of its final two games. Should the Capitals and Flyers tie in the standings, Washington would advance to the playoffs because it owns the regulation-wins tiebreaker over Philadelphia (35 to 26). Sunday will start a two-game road trip for the Penguins, who will finish their season Tuesday at St. Louis. Sunday’s game also could be the final home game for Ovechkin. The NHL’s all-time-leading goal scorer, 40, is a free agent once the season ends. However, Ovechkin has not made a decision on coming back for a 22nd season. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Capitals #fighting #playoff #life #rematch #PenguinsApr 11, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates an empty net goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins with right wing Tom Wilson (43) during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images

The Washington Capitals kept their slight playoff hopes alive Saturday with a road win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Now, the Capitals need another victory against the Penguins, this time at home on Sunday afternoon, to stay in the race.

With 91 points and a 41-30-9 record, the Capitals are three points behind the third-place Philadelphia Flyers in the Metropolitan Division. A regulation loss to the Penguins (41-23-16, 98 points) would end the Capitals’ chances, as would a Flyers win Monday night over the Carolina Hurricanes.

“We just have to get two points tomorrow,” Alex Ovechkin said after a 6-3 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday, when he scored his team-leading 32nd goal of the season. “We’re still in. So it’s a good thing.”

Washington, however, could be without center Pierre-Luc Dubois, who left Saturday’s game with 13:58 remaining in the second period when he suffered an upper-body injury crashing into the boards after assisting on the first of Ryan Leonard’s two goals.

Capitals coach Spencer Carbery told reporters after the game that he would learn more on the 27-year-old’s condition later Saturday and have an update before the game.

Dubois already has missed 52 games this season, with most of those due to an abdominal injury he suffered against the New York Islanders on Oct. 31. In 22 games since his return on Feb. 5, Dubois has 18 points (five goals, 13 assists).

Pittsburgh’s postseason spot already is clinched, and as the second-place team in the Metropolitan Division, the Penguins will have home-ice advantage over the Flyers, Capitals, Islanders or Columbus Blue Jackets — all of whom are fighting for the Eastern Conference’s final open playoff spot.


The home loss to the Capitals on Saturday snapped a three-game winning streak for the Penguins, who did not play several key veterans in the game, including four of the team’s top five scorers: Sidney Crosby, Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin. Defenseman Kris Letang also sat out.

It’s uncertain if any of those players will return to the ice before the regular season ends.

“It’s a quick turnaround,” Penguins coach Dan Muse said after Saturday’s loss. “Feels like we’ve had a lot of these here recently. … It’s going to be important for us to regroup, be able to look at some things so we can do it better.”

Anthony Mantha did play Saturday and recorded his team-leading 31st goal.

Should the Capitals win and the Flyers lose to Carolina either in regulation or overtime, Washington would need to win Tuesday night at Columbus. The Capitals will remain alive as long as Philadelphia, which hosts Montreal on Tuesday, does not collect two points out of its final two games.

Should the Capitals and Flyers tie in the standings, Washington would advance to the playoffs because it owns the regulation-wins tiebreaker over Philadelphia (35 to 26).

Sunday will start a two-game road trip for the Penguins, who will finish their season Tuesday at St. Louis.

Sunday’s game also could be the final home game for Ovechkin. The NHL’s all-time-leading goal scorer, 40, is a free agent once the season ends. However, Ovechkin has not made a decision on coming back for a 22nd season.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Capitals #fighting #playoff #life #rematch #Penguins

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Apr 11, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates an empty net goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins with right wing Tom Wilson (43) during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images

The Washington Capitals kept their slight playoff hopes alive Saturday with a road win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Now, the Capitals need another victory against the Penguins, this time at home on Sunday afternoon, to stay in the race.

With 91 points and a 41-30-9 record, the Capitals are three points behind the third-place Philadelphia Flyers in the Metropolitan Division. A regulation loss to the Penguins (41-23-16, 98 points) would end the Capitals’ chances, as would a Flyers win Monday night over the Carolina Hurricanes.

“We just have to get two points tomorrow,” Alex Ovechkin said after a 6-3 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday, when he scored his team-leading 32nd goal of the season. “We’re still in. So it’s a good thing.”

Washington, however, could be without center Pierre-Luc Dubois, who left Saturday’s game with 13:58 remaining in the second period when he suffered an upper-body injury crashing into the boards after assisting on the first of Ryan Leonard’s two goals.

Capitals coach Spencer Carbery told reporters after the game that he would learn more on the 27-year-old’s condition later Saturday and have an update before the game.

Dubois already has missed 52 games this season, with most of those due to an abdominal injury he suffered against the New York Islanders on Oct. 31. In 22 games since his return on Feb. 5, Dubois has 18 points (five goals, 13 assists).

Pittsburgh’s postseason spot already is clinched, and as the second-place team in the Metropolitan Division, the Penguins will have home-ice advantage over the Flyers, Capitals, Islanders or Columbus Blue Jackets — all of whom are fighting for the Eastern Conference’s final open playoff spot.

The home loss to the Capitals on Saturday snapped a three-game winning streak for the Penguins, who did not play several key veterans in the game, including four of the team’s top five scorers: Sidney Crosby, Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin. Defenseman Kris Letang also sat out.

It’s uncertain if any of those players will return to the ice before the regular season ends.

“It’s a quick turnaround,” Penguins coach Dan Muse said after Saturday’s loss. “Feels like we’ve had a lot of these here recently. … It’s going to be important for us to regroup, be able to look at some things so we can do it better.”

Anthony Mantha did play Saturday and recorded his team-leading 31st goal.

Should the Capitals win and the Flyers lose to Carolina either in regulation or overtime, Washington would need to win Tuesday night at Columbus. The Capitals will remain alive as long as Philadelphia, which hosts Montreal on Tuesday, does not collect two points out of its final two games.

Should the Capitals and Flyers tie in the standings, Washington would advance to the playoffs because it owns the regulation-wins tiebreaker over Philadelphia (35 to 26).

Sunday will start a two-game road trip for the Penguins, who will finish their season Tuesday at St. Louis.

Sunday’s game also could be the final home game for Ovechkin. The NHL’s all-time-leading goal scorer, 40, is a free agent once the season ends. However, Ovechkin has not made a decision on coming back for a 22nd season.

–Field Level Media

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FIDE Candidates 2026 Open Section: Sindarov plays a quick draw with Nakamura to extends lead in standings <div id="content-body-70854208" itemprop="articleBody"><p>It was in stark contrast to his fifth-round outing, when Hikaru Nakamura took over an hour for a single move, as his Round 12 clash against Open section leader Javokhir Sindarov (nine points) ended in a draw in under 45 minutes on Sunday.</p><p>Sindarov opened with 1. d4, and the game soon transitioned into a Catalan-style setup with g3 and Bg2. Nakamura chose a solid theoretical line, conceding central space but gaining the bishop pair.</p><p>Between moves nine and 26, the players exchanged queens and most of the minor pieces. By move 26 (Rd1 Rxd1), the position had been stripped of its major attacking potential. Sindarov held a slightly better king position, but Nakamura’s bishops provided sufficient compensation.</p><p>With little scope for progress, both players shuffled their pieces before agreeing to a draw.</p><p><b><i>More to follow…</i></b></p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 12, 2026</p></div> #FIDE #Candidates #Open #Section #Sindarov #plays #quick #draw #Nakamura #extends #lead #standings

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Deadspin | Knicks finish sweep of Cavs, make first NBA Finals since 1999 May 25, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) shoots while defended by Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) in the third quarter during game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images CLEVELAND — Karl-Anthony Towns scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as the New York Knicks advanced to the NBA Finals with a 130-93 rout of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals Monday night. The Knicks, who will play in the championship series for the first time since 1999, extended their franchise playoff-record winning streak to 11 games — matching the third-longest run in a single postseason in league history. OG Anunoby had 17 points and Landry Shamet scored 16 off the bench on 4-for-4 3-point shooting for New York, which built a 29-point lead in the second quarter and went up 123-78 in the fourth. Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges finished with 15 points apiece, and Josh Hart added six points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Donovan Mitchell logged 31 points and Evan Mobley posted 15 points and seven rebounds for Cleveland, which reached the East finals for the first time since 2018. James Harden had 12 points and five turnovers while missing all six of his 3-point tries. The Knicks’ Mike Brown is off to the NBA Finals for the second time as a head coach, having led the Cavaliers to their first East crown in 2007. The 37-point defeat was the Cavaliers’ largest ever in a playoff home game. New York dominated the rebounding battle 60-33 with backup center Mitchell Robinson grabbing 10 boards in 18 minutes. New York delivered the knockout blow early with a 20-0 run over a span of 5:52 from late in the first quarter into the second. A dunk by Towns punctuated the surge, making the score 50-26. The Knicks eventually built a 61-32 lead on Shamet’s third 3-pointer of the half. Mitchell scored 10 points and Mobley had seven in the first six minutes, putting the Cavaliers up 17-14. A 9-0 run then put New York on top for good. Robinson entered for New York and made an impact with six points and four rebounds, sparking a 24-9 run to end the quarter. Cleveland backup point guard Dennis Schroder was a late scratch with an illness. Among the Knicks’ celebrity fans seated courtside were comedian Tracy Morgan, filmmaker Spike Lee and actor Timothee Chalamet. –Brian Dulik, Field Level Media #Deadspin #Knicks #finish #sweep #Cavs #NBA #FinalsMay 25, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) shoots while defended by Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) in the third quarter during game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

CLEVELAND — Karl-Anthony Towns scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as the New York Knicks advanced to the NBA Finals with a 130-93 rout of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals Monday night.

The Knicks, who will play in the championship series for the first time since 1999, extended their franchise playoff-record winning streak to 11 games — matching the third-longest run in a single postseason in league history.

OG Anunoby had 17 points and Landry Shamet scored 16 off the bench on 4-for-4 3-point shooting for New York, which built a 29-point lead in the second quarter and went up 123-78 in the fourth. Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges finished with 15 points apiece, and Josh Hart added six points, 11 rebounds and six assists.

Donovan Mitchell logged 31 points and Evan Mobley posted 15 points and seven rebounds for Cleveland, which reached the East finals for the first time since 2018. James Harden had 12 points and five turnovers while missing all six of his 3-point tries.

The Knicks’ Mike Brown is off to the NBA Finals for the second time as a head coach, having led the Cavaliers to their first East crown in 2007.

The 37-point defeat was the Cavaliers’ largest ever in a playoff home game.


New York dominated the rebounding battle 60-33 with backup center Mitchell Robinson grabbing 10 boards in 18 minutes.

New York delivered the knockout blow early with a 20-0 run over a span of 5:52 from late in the first quarter into the second. A dunk by Towns punctuated the surge, making the score 50-26.

The Knicks eventually built a 61-32 lead on Shamet’s third 3-pointer of the half.

Mitchell scored 10 points and Mobley had seven in the first six minutes, putting the Cavaliers up 17-14. A 9-0 run then put New York on top for good. Robinson entered for New York and made an impact with six points and four rebounds, sparking a 24-9 run to end the quarter.

Cleveland backup point guard Dennis Schroder was a late scratch with an illness.

Among the Knicks’ celebrity fans seated courtside were comedian Tracy Morgan, filmmaker Spike Lee and actor Timothee Chalamet.

–Brian Dulik, Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Knicks #finish #sweep #Cavs #NBA #Finals">Deadspin | Knicks finish sweep of Cavs, make first NBA Finals since 1999 May 25, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) shoots while defended by Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) in the third quarter during game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images CLEVELAND — Karl-Anthony Towns scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as the New York Knicks advanced to the NBA Finals with a 130-93 rout of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals Monday night. The Knicks, who will play in the championship series for the first time since 1999, extended their franchise playoff-record winning streak to 11 games — matching the third-longest run in a single postseason in league history. OG Anunoby had 17 points and Landry Shamet scored 16 off the bench on 4-for-4 3-point shooting for New York, which built a 29-point lead in the second quarter and went up 123-78 in the fourth. Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges finished with 15 points apiece, and Josh Hart added six points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Donovan Mitchell logged 31 points and Evan Mobley posted 15 points and seven rebounds for Cleveland, which reached the East finals for the first time since 2018. James Harden had 12 points and five turnovers while missing all six of his 3-point tries. The Knicks’ Mike Brown is off to the NBA Finals for the second time as a head coach, having led the Cavaliers to their first East crown in 2007. The 37-point defeat was the Cavaliers’ largest ever in a playoff home game. New York dominated the rebounding battle 60-33 with backup center Mitchell Robinson grabbing 10 boards in 18 minutes. New York delivered the knockout blow early with a 20-0 run over a span of 5:52 from late in the first quarter into the second. A dunk by Towns punctuated the surge, making the score 50-26. The Knicks eventually built a 61-32 lead on Shamet’s third 3-pointer of the half. Mitchell scored 10 points and Mobley had seven in the first six minutes, putting the Cavaliers up 17-14. A 9-0 run then put New York on top for good. Robinson entered for New York and made an impact with six points and four rebounds, sparking a 24-9 run to end the quarter. Cleveland backup point guard Dennis Schroder was a late scratch with an illness. Among the Knicks’ celebrity fans seated courtside were comedian Tracy Morgan, filmmaker Spike Lee and actor Timothee Chalamet. –Brian Dulik, Field Level Media #Deadspin #Knicks #finish #sweep #Cavs #NBA #Finals

Carla Leite called for the iso.

Dribbling out the clock, the 5’9 guard shooed away her teammates with confidence. The only thing standing between the 22-year-old and the Barclays Center basket?

Stewart is an elite defender — one of the WNBA’s most consistent. She’s also 6’4. But that didn’t matter. Leite, a 17.3% career three-point shooter in the WNBA, pulled up for three.

Leite smiled, knowing she had just iced the game. Thanks to her big triple, the Portland Fire led the New York Liberty by 6 points with 14.4 seconds to spare. Liberty guard Marine Johannes responded with a three-pointer of her own, but the game was out of reach.

The pull-up three was Leite’s second consecutive clutch basket in the final seconds of Monday night’s 81-74 Fire win over the Liberty. Twenty-five seconds earlier, Leite drove to the basket to give the Fire a 5-point lead with 40 seconds to play.

And, Monday wasn’t the first time she took over in the clutch, either.

Two weeks earlier, when the Fire pulled out the franchise’s first-ever win, Leite also stepped up down the stretch against the Liberty. She drove to the basket with 27.1 seconds to play, tying up the game against New York. A Sarah Ashlee Barker game-winner ended up securing that May 12th win.

Leite is having a strong all-around season. On Monday, she scored a team-high 18 points on 8-14 shooting; the Fire outscored the Liberty by 8 points in her 22 minutes on the floor.

Leite’s points, rebounds, and assists per game have all more than doubled; she averaged 7.2 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 2 assists per game, and has seen those numbers rise to 15 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game this season. Her efficiency has also risen; she averaged 38.7% in her rookie campaign and is shooting 5% better this year in Portland.

The Fire are 3-2 in the five games the sophomore guard has played.

Leite is far from the only reason why the Fire, one of two 2026 expansion teams, have begun the season 4-3. Bridget Carleton, the No. 1 overall pick in the expansion draft, is averaging 16.5 points per game, 10 more than she averaged last year as a role player on the Minnesota Lynx. Emily Engslter, Megan Gustafson, Nyadiew Puoch, and Luisa Geiselsoder have all been key contributors.

And, Ashlee Barker, who is averaging 10.3 points off the bench, has also been a monster in the clutch. In addition to her game-winner earlier in the month, Barker completed an and-one driving layup in the final minute of a crunch-time victory over the Connecticut Sun. In Monday’s win over the Liberty, she hit a go-ahead corner three to give the Fire a one-point edge with just under four minutes to spare. The Fire never trailed again.

But, Leite — left unprotected by the Golden State Valkyries after her rookie season — has been the primary scoring option in the clutch.

And, on Monday, she did it again.

#WNBA #clutchtime #superstar">The WNBA has a new clutch-time superstar Carla Leite called for the iso.Dribbling out the clock, the 5’9 guard shooed away her teammates with confidence. The only thing standing between the 22-year-old and the Barclays Center basket?Stewart is an elite defender — one of the WNBA’s most consistent. She’s also 6’4. But that didn’t matter. Leite, a 17.3% career three-point shooter in the WNBA, pulled up for three.Leite smiled, knowing she had just iced the game. Thanks to her big triple, the Portland Fire led the New York Liberty by 6 points with 14.4 seconds to spare. Liberty guard Marine Johannes responded with a three-pointer of her own, but the game was out of reach.The pull-up three was Leite’s second consecutive clutch basket in the final seconds of Monday night’s 81-74 Fire win over the Liberty. Twenty-five seconds earlier, Leite drove to the basket to give the Fire a 5-point lead with 40 seconds to play.And, Monday wasn’t the first time she took over in the clutch, either.Two weeks earlier, when the Fire pulled out the franchise’s first-ever win, Leite also stepped up down the stretch against the Liberty. She drove to the basket with 27.1 seconds to play, tying up the game against New York. A Sarah Ashlee Barker game-winner ended up securing that May 12th win.Leite is having a strong all-around season. On Monday, she scored a team-high 18 points on 8-14 shooting; the Fire outscored the Liberty by 8 points in her 22 minutes on the floor.Leite’s points, rebounds, and assists per game have all more than doubled; she averaged 7.2 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 2 assists per game, and has seen those numbers rise to 15 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game this season. Her efficiency has also risen; she averaged 38.7% in her rookie campaign and is shooting 5% better this year in Portland.The Fire are 3-2 in the five games the sophomore guard has played.Leite is far from the only reason why the Fire, one of two 2026 expansion teams, have begun the season 4-3. Bridget Carleton, the No. 1 overall pick in the expansion draft, is averaging 16.5 points per game, 10 more than she averaged last year as a role player on the Minnesota Lynx. Emily Engslter, Megan Gustafson, Nyadiew Puoch, and Luisa Geiselsoder have all been key contributors.And, Ashlee Barker, who is averaging 10.3 points off the bench, has also been a monster in the clutch. In addition to her game-winner earlier in the month, Barker completed an and-one driving layup in the final minute of a crunch-time victory over the Connecticut Sun. In Monday’s win over the Liberty, she hit a go-ahead corner three to give the Fire a one-point edge with just under four minutes to spare. The Fire never trailed again.But, Leite — left unprotected by the Golden State Valkyries after her rookie season — has been the primary scoring option in the clutch.And, on Monday, she did it again. #WNBA #clutchtime #superstar

Colombia on Monday announced its 26-member squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026 with former Real Madrid star James Rodriguez making the cut for the tournament.

Bayern Munich forward Luis Diaz will headline Nestor Lorenzo’s side as it vies to clinch its first World Cup title. Defender Jhon Duran, who plays for Saudi side Al Nassr, was among the notable absentees.

Colombia did not qualify for the World Cup Finals in 2022 and was knocked out in the Round of 16 by England on penalties in 2018. It’s best finish came in the 2014 edition when it reached the quarterfinals and lost to Brazil.

In 2026, it has been pitted in Group K where it will face title contender Portugal, Uzbekistan, and DR Congo.

COLOMBIA FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 FULL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: C. Vargas, A. Montero, D. Ospina

Defenders: D. Sánchez, J. Lucumí, Y. Mina, W. Ditta, D. Muñoz, S. Arias, J. Mojica, D. Machado

Midfielders: J. Lerma, J. Portilla, R. Ríos, K. Castaño, G. Puerta, J. Arias, J. Carrascal, J. F. Quintero, J. Rodríguez

Forwards: L. Díaz, J. Campaz, A. Gómez, L. Suárez, J. Córdoba, J. Hernández

Published on May 25, 2026

#Colombia #announces #squad #FIFA #World #Cup #Full #list #players #confirmed">Colombia announces squad for FIFA World Cup 2026 — Full list of players confirmed Colombia on Monday announced its 26-member squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026 with former Real Madrid star James Rodriguez making the cut for the tournament.Bayern Munich forward Luis Diaz will headline Nestor Lorenzo’s side as it vies to clinch its first World Cup title. Defender Jhon Duran, who plays for Saudi side Al Nassr, was among the notable absentees.Colombia did not qualify for the World Cup Finals in 2022 and was knocked out in the Round of 16 by England on penalties in 2018. It’s best finish came in the 2014 edition when it reached the quarterfinals and lost to Brazil.In 2026, it has been pitted in Group K where it will face title contender Portugal, Uzbekistan, and DR Congo. COLOMBIA FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 FULL SQUAD Goalkeepers: C. Vargas, A. Montero, D. Ospina Defenders: D. Sánchez, J. Lucumí, Y. Mina, W. Ditta, D. Muñoz, S. Arias, J. Mojica, D. Machado Midfielders: J. Lerma, J. Portilla, R. Ríos, K. Castaño, G. Puerta, J. Arias, J. Carrascal, J. F. Quintero, J. Rodríguez Forwards: L. Díaz, J. Campaz, A. Gómez, L. Suárez, J. Córdoba, J. Hernández Published on May 25, 2026 #Colombia #announces #squad #FIFA #World #Cup #Full #list #players #confirmed

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