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Deadspin | Iowa’s Tavion Banks declares for NBA draft, hopeful of return to Hawkeyes Mar 28, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Tavion Banks (6) shoots against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the South Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Iowa guard/forward Tavion Banks declared for the NBA draft on Wednesday and also said he is entering the transfer portal. Banks indicated that if he is granted a fifth season of eligibility, he would like to return to the Hawkeyes. “As I explore all options in continuing my basketball career, I am declaring for the NBA Draft, while also entering my name into the transfer portal in the event that a fifth year is granted,” Banks announced on social media. “If a fifth year becomes an option, I want to be a Hawkeye!” The 6-foot-7 Banks averaged 10.2 points and tied for the team lead of 4.6 rebounds per game for an Iowa squad that advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Illinois. In the second round, Banks scored a team-best 20 points to help the Hawkeyes post one of the more stunning wins of the tournament with a 73-72 victory over 2025 national champion Florida. Last season was Banks’ first at Iowa. He followed coach Ben McCollum from Drake. Banks averaged 10.1 points and 5.0 rebounds for the Bulldogs in 2024-25. Banks, who turned 23 on April 1, also played two seasons at Northwest Florida State, a junior college, before transferring to Drake. While Banks awaits a decision on whether he will receive another season of college eligibility, he is saluting the season he spent in Iowa City. “Competing as a Hawkeye this past season and helping lead this team to the Elite Eight was an amazing experience,” Banks said. “This was one of the best years of my life and it was everything I could have imagined. I want to thank my family, coaches, teammates and Hawkeye Nation for making this a memorable year in my basketball journey.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Iowas #Tavion #Banks #declares #NBA #draft #hopeful #return #Hawkeyes

Deadspin | Iowa’s Tavion Banks declares for NBA draft, hopeful of return to Hawkeyes
Deadspin | Iowa’s Tavion Banks declares for NBA draft, hopeful of return to Hawkeyes Mar 28, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Tavion Banks (6) shoots against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the South Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Iowa guard/forward Tavion Banks declared for the NBA draft on Wednesday and also said he is entering the transfer portal. Banks indicated that if he is granted a fifth season of eligibility, he would like to return to the Hawkeyes. “As I explore all options in continuing my basketball career, I am declaring for the NBA Draft, while also entering my name into the transfer portal in the event that a fifth year is granted,” Banks announced on social media. “If a fifth year becomes an option, I want to be a Hawkeye!” The 6-foot-7 Banks averaged 10.2 points and tied for the team lead of 4.6 rebounds per game for an Iowa squad that advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Illinois. In the second round, Banks scored a team-best 20 points to help the Hawkeyes post one of the more stunning wins of the tournament with a 73-72 victory over 2025 national champion Florida. Last season was Banks’ first at Iowa. He followed coach Ben McCollum from Drake. Banks averaged 10.1 points and 5.0 rebounds for the Bulldogs in 2024-25. Banks, who turned 23 on April 1, also played two seasons at Northwest Florida State, a junior college, before transferring to Drake. While Banks awaits a decision on whether he will receive another season of college eligibility, he is saluting the season he spent in Iowa City. “Competing as a Hawkeye this past season and helping lead this team to the Elite Eight was an amazing experience,” Banks said. “This was one of the best years of my life and it was everything I could have imagined. I want to thank my family, coaches, teammates and Hawkeye Nation for making this a memorable year in my basketball journey.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Iowas #Tavion #Banks #declares #NBA #draft #hopeful #return #HawkeyesMar 28, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Tavion Banks (6) shoots against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the South Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Iowa guard/forward Tavion Banks declared for the NBA draft on Wednesday and also said he is entering the transfer portal.

Banks indicated that if he is granted a fifth season of eligibility, he would like to return to the Hawkeyes.

“As I explore all options in continuing my basketball career, I am declaring for the NBA Draft, while also entering my name into the transfer portal in the event that a fifth year is granted,” Banks announced on social media. “If a fifth year becomes an option, I want to be a Hawkeye!”

The 6-foot-7 Banks averaged 10.2 points and tied for the team lead of 4.6 rebounds per game for an Iowa squad that advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Illinois. In the second round, Banks scored a team-best 20 points to help the Hawkeyes post one of the more stunning wins of the tournament with a 73-72 victory over 2025 national champion Florida.


Last season was Banks’ first at Iowa. He followed coach Ben McCollum from Drake. Banks averaged 10.1 points and 5.0 rebounds for the Bulldogs in 2024-25.

Banks, who turned 23 on April 1, also played two seasons at Northwest Florida State, a junior college, before transferring to Drake.

While Banks awaits a decision on whether he will receive another season of college eligibility, he is saluting the season he spent in Iowa City.

“Competing as a Hawkeye this past season and helping lead this team to the Elite Eight was an amazing experience,” Banks said. “This was one of the best years of my life and it was everything I could have imagined. I want to thank my family, coaches, teammates and Hawkeye Nation for making this a memorable year in my basketball journey.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Iowas #Tavion #Banks #declares #NBA #draft #hopeful #return #Hawkeyes

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Mar 28, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Tavion Banks (6) shoots against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the South Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Iowa guard/forward Tavion Banks declared for the NBA draft on Wednesday and also said he is entering the transfer portal.

Banks indicated that if he is granted a fifth season of eligibility, he would like to return to the Hawkeyes.

“As I explore all options in continuing my basketball career, I am declaring for the NBA Draft, while also entering my name into the transfer portal in the event that a fifth year is granted,” Banks announced on social media. “If a fifth year becomes an option, I want to be a Hawkeye!”

The 6-foot-7 Banks averaged 10.2 points and tied for the team lead of 4.6 rebounds per game for an Iowa squad that advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Illinois. In the second round, Banks scored a team-best 20 points to help the Hawkeyes post one of the more stunning wins of the tournament with a 73-72 victory over 2025 national champion Florida.

Last season was Banks’ first at Iowa. He followed coach Ben McCollum from Drake. Banks averaged 10.1 points and 5.0 rebounds for the Bulldogs in 2024-25.

Banks, who turned 23 on April 1, also played two seasons at Northwest Florida State, a junior college, before transferring to Drake.

While Banks awaits a decision on whether he will receive another season of college eligibility, he is saluting the season he spent in Iowa City.

“Competing as a Hawkeye this past season and helping lead this team to the Elite Eight was an amazing experience,” Banks said. “This was one of the best years of my life and it was everything I could have imagined. I want to thank my family, coaches, teammates and Hawkeye Nation for making this a memorable year in my basketball journey.”

–Field Level Media

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Deadspin | WTA roundup: Two-time Stuttgart champ Iga Swiatek into quarterfinals <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28542032.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28542032.jpg" alt="Tennis: Miami Open" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Mar 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Iga Swiatek (POL) hits a backhand against Magda Linette (POL) (not pictured) on day three of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>In her first match with new clay-court coach Francisco Roig, former World No. 1 Iga Swiatek cruised past Laura Siegemund of Germany 6-2, 6-3 on Wednesday at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany. </p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Swiatek, a two-time champion at Stuttgart who is seeded No. 3, failed to capitalize on an early break in the opening set, but rebounded by breaking Siegemund in the sixth and eighth games. In the second set, the six-time Grand Slam champion missed out on another early break but again broke her opponent in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead before closing out the match. Swiatek, who had a first-round bye, is on to the quarterfinals.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Qualifier Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey pulled off a sizable upset, taking down fifth-seeded Jasmine Paolini of Italy 6-2, 6-2 in a one-hour, 16-minute match. Sönmez landed 72% of her first serves and also won 62.5% percent of second-return points, while Paolini failed to convert her lone break-point opportunities and won just 41.8% of total points.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Fourth-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine was among the other winners, dominating Eva Lys of Germany 6-1, 6-0. Sixth-seeded Mirra Andreeva of Russia took down defending champion Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, American qualifier Alycia Parks defeated German wild card Noma Noha Akugue 6-4, 6-2, and Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic outlasted Zhang Shuai of China 5-7, 6-1, 6-4.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-5"> <p>Rouen Metropolitan Open</p> </section> <section id="section-6"> <p>Unseeded Katie Boulter of Great Britain pulled off an upset of No. 3 seed Jaqueline Cristian of Romania, winning 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-1 to advance to the quarterfinals at Rouen, France.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>Boulter, who has won just once on the WTA Tour, survived a tough first set that saw her take a 5-0 lead in the tiebreaker, only for Cristian to save five set points before Boulter prevailed. Cristian rebounded in the second set, but Boulter cruised in the third set, breaking Cristian twice en route to the win.</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>Top-seeded Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine dropped the opening set to unseeded American Caty McNally, then bounced back for a 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory to reach the quarterfinals. Kostyuk will face fifth-seeded American Ann Li, who notched a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 triumph over unseeded Kamilla Rakhimova of Uzbekistan. Unseeded Tatjana Maria of Germany upset No. 9 seed Elsa Jacquemot of France 6-4, 6-3. Other winners included No. 2 seed Sorana Cirstea of Romania, Anna Bondar of Hungary and Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #WTA #roundup #Twotime #Stuttgart #champ #Iga #Swiatek #quarterfinals

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San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama could barely remember the details of the late-game miscues that cost the Spurs in their agonizing 105-104 loss to the New York Knicks in game two of the NBA Finals on Friday.

The Spurs used a 14-0 scoring run to erase a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit and briefly took a one-point lead before it all fell apart.

Wembanyama keyed the comeback, but two crucial misses — including a potential game-game winner — and an inexplicable turnover with a pass into teammate Stephon Castle’s back doomed the Spurs’ rally bid.

“I’m still very blurry,” he said of the plays. “That’s the whole problem. I need to have more poise, more control over the game.”

The score was knotted at 104-104 with 9.5 seconds left when Wembanyama threw the pass that Castle never saw coming.

“I was looking at him when he first got the rebound,” he said. “I just started to take off to try to give him some space to dribble up the court. I didn’t see him throw it to me.”

San Antonio still had a chance to win it, but Wembanyama’s final jump shot bounced off the rim.

He said he got the shot he was looking for on the inbounds play but couldn’t get it to drop.

“Of course I liked the shot,” he said. “I feel like in this moment you need to shoot to score.”

And Castle said there was no other player the Spurs would want to see taking that shot than Wemby.

“He’s made that shot a thousand times,” Castle said. “He has a game-winner with that shot this year.”

The Spurs now need an unprecedented comeback as the series shifts to New York for games three and four. No NBA team has lost the first two games of the Finals on their home floor and come back to lift the trophy.

“We needed to win that game,” Wembanyama said. “This game was ours. But at this point it’s done. Am I going to regret it? Yes, of course. Am I going to use that to fuel me and to fuel us next game? Absolutely.”

Published on Jun 06, 2026

#NBA #Finals #Game #Victor #Wembanyama #seeks #clarity #heartbreaking #Spurs #loss">NBA Finals, Game 2 — Victor Wembanyama seeks clarity after heartbreaking Spurs loss San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama could barely remember the details of the late-game miscues that cost the Spurs in their agonizing 105-104 loss to the New York Knicks in game two of the NBA Finals on Friday.The Spurs used a 14-0 scoring run to erase a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit and briefly took a one-point lead before it all fell apart.Wembanyama keyed the comeback, but two crucial misses — including a potential game-game winner — and an inexplicable turnover with a pass into teammate Stephon Castle’s back doomed the Spurs’ rally bid.“I’m still very blurry,” he said of the plays. “That’s the whole problem. I need to have more poise, more control over the game.”The score was knotted at 104-104 with 9.5 seconds left when Wembanyama threw the pass that Castle never saw coming.“I was looking at him when he first got the rebound,” he said. “I just started to take off to try to give him some space to dribble up the court. I didn’t see him throw it to me.”San Antonio still had a chance to win it, but Wembanyama’s final jump shot bounced off the rim.He said he got the shot he was looking for on the inbounds play but couldn’t get it to drop.“Of course I liked the shot,” he said. “I feel like in this moment you need to shoot to score.”And Castle said there was no other player the Spurs would want to see taking that shot than Wemby.“He’s made that shot a thousand times,” Castle said. “He has a game-winner with that shot this year.”The Spurs now need an unprecedented comeback as the series shifts to New York for games three and four. No NBA team has lost the first two games of the Finals on their home floor and come back to lift the trophy.“We needed to win that game,” Wembanyama said. “This game was ours. But at this point it’s done. Am I going to regret it? Yes, of course. Am I going to use that to fuel me and to fuel us next game? Absolutely.”Published on Jun 06, 2026 #NBA #Finals #Game #Victor #Wembanyama #seeks #clarity #heartbreaking #Spurs #loss

Deadspin | Astros reinstate 2B Jose Altuve (left oblique strain) from IL Jun 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) warms up prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images The Houston Astros have reinstated All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve (left oblique strain) from the 10-day injured list and he is slated to bat fifth as the club opens a three-game home series vs. the Athletics on Friday. In a corresponding move, Houston optioned outfielder Zach Dezenzo to Triple-A Sugar Land. Altuve was placed on the IL on May 17 after taking an unorthodox swing the previous night against the Texas Rangers. Altuve, 36, was hitting .245 with four home runs and 12 RBIs through 42 games. The Astros are 9-8 in the 17 games that Altuve has missed. The nine-time All-Star is hitting well below his career average of .302. Earlier this year, he played in his 2,000th game with the Astros and is currently 72 hits shy of 2,500 in his 16-year career. Dezenzo, 26, was hitting .191 with one home run and two RBIs in 21 games in his third season with the Astros. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Astros #reinstate #Jose #Altuve #left #oblique #strainJun 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) warms up prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images

The Houston Astros have reinstated All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve (left oblique strain) from the 10-day injured list and he is slated to bat fifth as the club opens a three-game home series vs. the Athletics on Friday.

In a corresponding move, Houston optioned outfielder Zach Dezenzo to Triple-A Sugar Land.

Altuve was placed on the IL on May 17 after taking an unorthodox swing the previous night against the Texas Rangers.


Altuve, 36, was hitting .245 with four home runs and 12 RBIs through 42 games.

The Astros are 9-8 in the 17 games that Altuve has missed.

The nine-time All-Star is hitting well below his career average of .302. Earlier this year, he played in his 2,000th game with the Astros and is currently 72 hits shy of 2,500 in his 16-year career.

Dezenzo, 26, was hitting .191 with one home run and two RBIs in 21 games in his third season with the Astros.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Astros #reinstate #Jose #Altuve #left #oblique #strain">Deadspin | Astros reinstate 2B Jose Altuve (left oblique strain) from IL Jun 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) warms up prior to the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images The Houston Astros have reinstated All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve (left oblique strain) from the 10-day injured list and he is slated to bat fifth as the club opens a three-game home series vs. the Athletics on Friday. In a corresponding move, Houston optioned outfielder Zach Dezenzo to Triple-A Sugar Land. Altuve was placed on the IL on May 17 after taking an unorthodox swing the previous night against the Texas Rangers. Altuve, 36, was hitting .245 with four home runs and 12 RBIs through 42 games. The Astros are 9-8 in the 17 games that Altuve has missed. The nine-time All-Star is hitting well below his career average of .302. Earlier this year, he played in his 2,000th game with the Astros and is currently 72 hits shy of 2,500 in his 16-year career. Dezenzo, 26, was hitting .191 with one home run and two RBIs in 21 games in his third season with the Astros. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Astros #reinstate #Jose #Altuve #left #oblique #strain

North Carolina could not have asked for a better start to Game 1 of its Super Regional series against visiting Southern California. The Tar Heels loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning, and while Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Mason Edwards escaped that jam, he got into trouble again in the second, giving up a pair of runs. By the time the fourth inning arrived, UNC held a 4-1 lead, and Edwards — the leading strikeout artist in college baseball this season — had already been pulled.

But, as the saying goes, that is why they play nine innings.

The Trojans stormed back, thanks to a five-run sixth inning, to take Game 1 in Chapel Hill by a final score of 9-5 and move to within one win of a trip to Omaha for the Men’s College World Series.

USC trailed 6-1 in the top of the sixth, and was struggling to get anything going against UNC starting pitcher Ryan Lynch. But that is when the Trojans’ bats came alive. This single from Kevin Takeuchi brought home a run, closing UNC’s lead to 5-2 with nobody out in the sixth:

Lynch got the next two outs, but UNC called on reliever Walker McDuffie. He walked Andrew Lamb, who had hit a solo shot earlier in the game, to load the bases. That set the stage for Dean Carpentier to give USC their first lead of the afternoon:

The blast staked USC to a 6-5 lead, and the Trojans would not look back. USC added three more runs in the seventh, using a little safety squeeze to plate the third run of the inning:

But full credit should go to the USC bullpen. After Edwards exited the game, relievers Chase Herrell, Ben Cushnie, and Andrew Johnson combined for six innings of work, allowing just one earned run over that stretch. Herrell was credited with the win, going two innings while giving up just one run, while Johnson earned a save by pitching the final 3.2 innings and allowing just two hits, while striking out two.

These two teams will meet again tomorrow, with USC booking a spot in the Men’s College World Series with a victory. A UNC win would force a decisive Game 3 on Sunday.

#USC #storms #UNC #Game #Super #Regional">USC storms back against UNC to take Game 1 of their Super Regional North Carolina could not have asked for a better start to Game 1 of its Super Regional series against visiting Southern California. The Tar Heels loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning, and while Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Mason Edwards escaped that jam, he got into trouble again in the second, giving up a pair of runs. By the time the fourth inning arrived, UNC held a 4-1 lead, and Edwards — the leading strikeout artist in college baseball this season — had already been pulled.But, as the saying goes, that is why they play nine innings.The Trojans stormed back, thanks to a five-run sixth inning, to take Game 1 in Chapel Hill by a final score of 9-5 and move to within one win of a trip to Omaha for the Men’s College World Series.USC trailed 6-1 in the top of the sixth, and was struggling to get anything going against UNC starting pitcher Ryan Lynch. But that is when the Trojans’ bats came alive. This single from Kevin Takeuchi brought home a run, closing UNC’s lead to 5-2 with nobody out in the sixth:Lynch got the next two outs, but UNC called on reliever Walker McDuffie. He walked Andrew Lamb, who had hit a solo shot earlier in the game, to load the bases. That set the stage for Dean Carpentier to give USC their first lead of the afternoon:The blast staked USC to a 6-5 lead, and the Trojans would not look back. USC added three more runs in the seventh, using a little safety squeeze to plate the third run of the inning:But full credit should go to the USC bullpen. After Edwards exited the game, relievers Chase Herrell, Ben Cushnie, and Andrew Johnson combined for six innings of work, allowing just one earned run over that stretch. Herrell was credited with the win, going two innings while giving up just one run, while Johnson earned a save by pitching the final 3.2 innings and allowing just two hits, while striking out two.These two teams will meet again tomorrow, with USC booking a spot in the Men’s College World Series with a victory. A UNC win would force a decisive Game 3 on Sunday. #USC #storms #UNC #Game #Super #Regional

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