Inside the Orlando Magic’s Quest To Shock the NBA Against Detroit Pistons | Deadspin.com The underdog has universal appeal because it represents all of us.Undersized and beating the odds. The common citizen saving the world. The unassuming hero.A No. 8 seed taking down a No. 1 in a playoff series is long shot gold. Or at least it should be.The Orlando Magic are poised to join the underdog hall of fame this week in their first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons.At No. 8 and the lowest seed in the Eastern Conference, Orlando earned an official playoff spot only after a loss and then a victory in the play-in tournament. Now they have the top-seeded Pistons on the ropes with a 3-1 series lead.Just eight games over .500 in the regular season, the Magic can now boot a 60-win team from the playoff field.And yet the rags-to-riches tale does not seem to be captivating a nation like it should.Don’t expect anybody to crank up the “Hoosiers” clips before what could be a decisive Game 5 on Wednesday. This isn’t even “The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh.”Only six No. 8 seeds have ever won a first-round series against a No. 1 in NBA playoff history. Perhaps the most famous was in 1994 when the Denver Nuggets got past the Seattle SuperSonics in a best-of-five opening round.The sight of Nuggets center Dikembe Mutombo lying on the court and holding the basketball aloft — part laughter, part tears — is the picture of playoff upsets.In 1999, the New York Knicks under Jeff Van Gundy knocked off the Miami Heat in another five-game thriller.Other first-round conquerors, all in seven-game series, include the 2007 Golden State Warriors over the Dallas Mavericks; the 2011 Memphis Grizzlies over the San Antonio Spurs; the 2012 Philadelphia 76ers over the Chicago Bulls; the 2023 Heat over the Milwaukee Bucks.Perhaps it has happened too often to stir the senses.Or maybe it’s that the top seed in this case was sort of the underdog of the regular season that rose to new heights. The Pistons had just ended a five-season playoff drought last year when they were dumped in the first round.That 2025 playoff appearance came after they were a brutal 14-68 one season earlier. They had averaged just shy of 19 wins per season over the previous five campaigns.This Pistons-Magic series is void of a proper villain.In Orlando, though, there is nothing Mickey Mouse about it.The Magic have been eliminated in the first round the last six times they have made the playoffs. They have not won a series since making the Eastern Conference finals in 2010 under Stan Van Gundy.Orlando looked ready to turn a corner when Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs arrived before the 2021-22 season. They seemed well on their way when Paolo Banchero joined one season later.They added Desmond Bane this season in an eye-opening deal that cost four unprotected first-round draft picks and a 2029 draft pick swap. Bane ended up delivering 20.1 points per game in the regular season while providing veteran leadership. In the playoffs, he is scoring 19.0 points while shooting 44.1% from 3-point range.After Wagner missed 48 games during the regular season with an ankle injury, he has scored 16.8 points in the playoffs. Banchero has scored 21.0 points with 8.8 rebounds and 6.3 assists in the playoffs.If the Magic can get past the Pistons, they look like they also have a chance against the Cleveland Cavaliers or Toronto Raptors in the next round.If the Magic move deeper into the playoffs, maybe then they can move the masses then. It is a small world after all. #Orlando #Magics #Quest #Shock #NBA #Detroit #Pistons #Deadspin.com

Inside the Orlando Magic’s Quest To Shock the NBA Against Detroit Pistons | Deadspin.com

The underdog has universal appeal because it represents all of us.
Undersized and beating the odds. The common citizen saving the world. The unassuming hero.
A No. 8 seed taking down a No. 1 in a playoff series is long shot gold. Or at least it should be.
The Orlando Magic are poised to join the underdog hall of fame this week in their first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons.
At No. 8 and the lowest seed in the Eastern Conference, Orlando earned an official playoff spot only after a loss and then a victory in the play-in tournament. Now they have the top-seeded Pistons on the ropes with a 3-1 series lead.
Just eight games over .500 in the regular season, the Magic can now boot a 60-win team from the playoff field.
And yet the rags-to-riches tale does not seem to be captivating a nation like it should.
Don’t expect anybody to crank up the “Hoosiers” clips before what could be a decisive Game 5 on Wednesday. This isn’t even “The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh.”
Only six No. 8 seeds have ever won a first-round series against a No. 1 in NBA playoff history. Perhaps the most famous was in 1994 when the Denver Nuggets got past the Seattle SuperSonics in a best-of-five opening round.
The sight of Nuggets center Dikembe Mutombo lying on the court and holding the basketball aloft — part laughter, part tears — is the picture of playoff upsets.
In 1999, the New York Knicks under Jeff Van Gundy knocked off the Miami Heat in another five-game thriller.
Other first-round conquerors, all in seven-game series, include the 2007 Golden State Warriors over the Dallas Mavericks; the 2011 Memphis Grizzlies over the San Antonio Spurs; the 2012 Philadelphia 76ers over the Chicago Bulls; the 2023 Heat over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Perhaps it has happened too often to stir the senses.
Or maybe it’s that the top seed in this case was sort of the underdog of the regular season that rose to new heights. The Pistons had just ended a five-season playoff drought last year when they were dumped in the first round.
That 2025 playoff appearance came after they were a brutal 14-68 one season earlier. They had averaged just shy of 19 wins per season over the previous five campaigns.
This Pistons-Magic series is void of a proper villain.
In Orlando, though, there is nothing Mickey Mouse about it.
The Magic have been eliminated in the first round the last six times they have made the playoffs. They have not won a series since making the Eastern Conference finals in 2010 under Stan Van Gundy.
Orlando looked ready to turn a corner when Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs arrived before the 2021-22 season. They seemed well on their way when Paolo Banchero joined one season later.
They added Desmond Bane this season in an eye-opening deal that cost four unprotected first-round draft picks and a 2029 draft pick swap. Bane ended up delivering 20.1 points per game in the regular season while providing veteran leadership. In the playoffs, he is scoring 19.0 points while shooting 44.1% from 3-point range.
After Wagner missed 48 games during the regular season with an ankle injury, he has scored 16.8 points in the playoffs. Banchero has scored 21.0 points with 8.8 rebounds and 6.3 assists in the playoffs.
If the Magic can get past the Pistons, they look like they also have a chance against the Cleveland Cavaliers or Toronto Raptors in the next round.
If the Magic move deeper into the playoffs, maybe then they can move the masses then. It is a small world after all.

#Orlando #Magics #Quest #Shock #NBA #Detroit #Pistons #Deadspin.com

Sports news April 29, 2026

The underdog has universal appeal because it represents all of us.

Undersized and beating the odds. The common citizen saving the world. The unassuming hero.

A No. 8 seed taking down a No. 1 in a playoff series is long shot gold. Or at least it should be.

The Orlando Magic are poised to join the underdog hall of fame this week in their first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons.

At No. 8 and the lowest seed in the Eastern Conference, Orlando earned an official playoff spot only after a loss and then a victory in the play-in tournament. Now they have the top-seeded Pistons on the ropes with a 3-1 series lead.

Just eight games over .500 in the regular season, the Magic can now boot a 60-win team from the playoff field.

And yet the rags-to-riches tale does not seem to be captivating a nation like it should.

Don’t expect anybody to crank up the “Hoosiers” clips before what could be a decisive Game 5 on Wednesday. This isn’t even “The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh.”

Only six No. 8 seeds have ever won a first-round series against a No. 1 in NBA playoff history. Perhaps the most famous was in 1994 when the Denver Nuggets got past the Seattle SuperSonics in a best-of-five opening round.

The sight of Nuggets center Dikembe Mutombo lying on the court and holding the basketball aloft — part laughter, part tears — is the picture of playoff upsets.

In 1999, the New York Knicks under Jeff Van Gundy knocked off the Miami Heat in another five-game thriller.

Other first-round conquerors, all in seven-game series, include the 2007 Golden State Warriors over the Dallas Mavericks; the 2011 Memphis Grizzlies over the San Antonio Spurs; the 2012 Philadelphia 76ers over the Chicago Bulls; the 2023 Heat over the Milwaukee Bucks.

Perhaps it has happened too often to stir the senses.

Or maybe it’s that the top seed in this case was sort of the underdog of the regular season that rose to new heights. The Pistons had just ended a five-season playoff drought last year when they were dumped in the first round.

That 2025 playoff appearance came after they were a brutal 14-68 one season earlier. They had averaged just shy of 19 wins per season over the previous five campaigns.

This Pistons-Magic series is void of a proper villain.

In Orlando, though, there is nothing Mickey Mouse about it.

The Magic have been eliminated in the first round the last six times they have made the playoffs. They have not won a series since making the Eastern Conference finals in 2010 under Stan Van Gundy.

Orlando looked ready to turn a corner when Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs arrived before the 2021-22 season. They seemed well on their way when Paolo Banchero joined one season later.

They added Desmond Bane this season in an eye-opening deal that cost four unprotected first-round draft picks and a 2029 draft pick swap. Bane ended up delivering 20.1 points per game in the regular season while providing veteran leadership. In the playoffs, he is scoring 19.0 points while shooting 44.1% from 3-point range.

After Wagner missed 48 games during the regular season with an ankle injury, he has scored 16.8 points in the playoffs. Banchero has scored 21.0 points with 8.8 rebounds and 6.3 assists in the playoffs.

If the Magic can get past the Pistons, they look like they also have a chance against the Cleveland Cavaliers or Toronto Raptors in the next round.

If the Magic move deeper into the playoffs, maybe then they can move the masses then. It is a small world after all.

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#Orlando #Magics #Quest #Shock #NBA #Detroit #Pistons #Deadspin.com

FIFA opens talks on rule requiring clubs to field at least one homegrown young player during matches <div id="content-body-70920539" itemprop="articleBody">FIFA has opened talks on making it mandatory for all professional teams to field at least one homegrown young player throughout a match.The FIFA Council agreed late on Tuesday to work towards a formal plan within a year, following global consultation with stakeholders.The move is aimed at increasing playing opportunities for young players developed by clubs, especially at teams that usually rely on bought and imported talent.FIFA said it is targeting “a regulatory obligation that senior club teams are obliged to always have at least one homegrown player from the Under-20 or Under-21 category on the field of play.”Such a rule would be stricter than existing regulations in national and international club competitions, including the Champions League, which require a quota of homegrown and club-trained players in squad lists.ALSO READ:<a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/fifa-world-cup-2026-prize-money-boosted-full-details-of-amount-for-teams-in-wc/article70919243.ece" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> FIFA boosts cash payments for World Cup 2026</a>However, those rules do not make it compulsory for clubs to select such players in their starting line-ups or use them during matches.Champions League rules require each squad to reserve at least eight places for “locally trained players” in a maximum squad of 25.A locally trained player is defined by Champions League organiser UEFA as one developed by the club itself or by another club in the same country for at least three full seasons between the ages of 15 and 21.Published on Apr 29, 2026</div> #FIFA #opens #talks #rule #requiring #clubs #field #homegrown #young #player #matches

Deadspin | After erupting for 12 runs, Reds hope bats stay hot against Mets Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suárez (28) follows through on a grand slam in the second inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Mets at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Monday, June 15, 2026. The Cincinnati Reds broke out of their offensive slumber Monday night in a 12-0 rout of the visiting New York Mets. The hosts will look to continue that momentum Tuesday night in the second game of a three-game set. The Reds, who scored just seven runs in their three-game series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks last weekend, put up nine runs in the first two innings vs. New York, their biggest output over the first two innings all season. Cincinnati’s final tally matched the team’s second-highest run output of the season. It was only the third time all year that the Reds put up a double-figure run total. Eugenio Suarez was at the center of the explosion, hitting a two-run homer in the first inning and his ninth career grand slam in the second. “He’s done it before,” Reds manager Terry Francona said of Suarez’s two career 49-homer seasons, one of them last year. “When you’ve done it before, (you might wonder), ‘Do I have it, do I not have it?’ He’s done it, and normally when it warms up, the good hitters do, too.” The banged-up Mets rotation is looking for a boost from the return of Kodai Senga (0-4, 9.00 ERA) on Tuesday. The right-hander will come off the 15-day injured list for the start, having recovered from lumbar spine inflammation and a minor case of ulnar nerve irritation in his pitching arm. Senga last pitched for New York on April 26. He went 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA in four rehab appearances for three Mets minor league affiliates. Most recently, he pitched well for Double-A Binghamton on Thursday, throwing 75 pitches and striking out five over six innings of one-hit, one-run ball. “He’s ready to go,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He’s telling us that he feels 100%. He was on board with, ‘Hey, if you guys want me to go in the minor leagues and pitch again, I’ll do it. But I’m ready to compete at the big-league level.’ So for him to be very vocal about it, it’s a really good sign.” Senga had his best season with the Mets as a rookie in 2023, when he went 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA and made the National League All-Star team. New York’s already injury-plagued rotation took another hit Monday when scheduled starter Christian Scott was placed on the injured list with a right hip injury, though the team is hopeful it will be a brief stay on the shelf. Scott has pitched effectively this season, compiling a 2-0 record and a 3.10 ERA in nine starts. Tobias Myers took over as the Mets’ Monday starter and was shelled for seven runs on four hits while retiring just four batters. On Tuesday, the Reds will start Brady Singer (2-6, 5.61 ERA). The right-hander has experienced a rocky second season in the NL and is riding a personal five-decision losing skid after opening the season 2-1. However, Singer showed signs of stability in his latest outing, working six strong innings while giving up just two runs in a no-decision against the host San Diego Padres on Wednesday. “Brady has been battling through some mechanical adjustments, but we know the talent is there,” Francona said. “He threw the ball extremely well in his last outing, and we need him to build on that momentum.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #erupting #runs #Reds #hope #bats #stay #hot #Mets

#Deadspin #erupting #runs #Reds #hope #bats #stay #hot #Mets">

mwasimuddin125 0

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suárez (28) follows through on a grand slam in the second inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Mets at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Monday, June 15, 2026.

The Cincinnati Reds broke out of their offensive slumber Monday night in a 12-0 rout of the visiting New York Mets. The hosts will look to continue that momentum Tuesday night in the second game of a three-game set.

The Reds, who scored just seven runs in their three-game series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks last weekend, put up nine runs in the first two innings vs. New York, their biggest output over the first two innings all season. Cincinnati’s final tally matched the team’s second-highest run output of the season. It was only the third time all year that the Reds put up a double-figure run total.

Eugenio Suarez was at the center of the explosion, hitting a two-run homer in the first inning and his ninth career grand slam in the second.

“He’s done it before,” Reds manager Terry Francona said of Suarez’s two career 49-homer seasons, one of them last year. “When you’ve done it before, (you might wonder), ‘Do I have it, do I not have it?’ He’s done it, and normally when it warms up, the good hitters do, too.”

The banged-up Mets rotation is looking for a boost from the return of Kodai Senga (0-4, 9.00 ERA) on Tuesday. The right-hander will come off the 15-day injured list for the start, having recovered from lumbar spine inflammation and a minor case of ulnar nerve irritation in his pitching arm.

Senga last pitched for New York on April 26. He went 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA in four rehab appearances for three Mets minor league affiliates. Most recently, he pitched well for Double-A Binghamton on Thursday, throwing 75 pitches and striking out five over six innings of one-hit, one-run ball.

“He’s ready to go,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He’s telling us that he feels 100%. He was on board with, ‘Hey, if you guys want me to go in the minor leagues and pitch again, I’ll do it. But I’m ready to compete at the big-league level.’ So for him to be very vocal about it, it’s a really good sign.”

Senga had his best season with the Mets as a rookie in 2023, when he went 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA and made the National League All-Star team.

New York’s already injury-plagued rotation took another hit Monday when scheduled starter Christian Scott was placed on the injured list with a right hip injury, though the team is hopeful it will be a brief stay on the shelf. Scott has pitched effectively this season, compiling a 2-0 record and a 3.10 ERA in nine starts.

Tobias Myers took over as the Mets’ Monday starter and was shelled for seven runs on four hits while retiring just four batters.

On Tuesday, the Reds will start Brady Singer (2-6, 5.61 ERA). The right-hander has experienced a rocky second season in the NL and is riding a personal five-decision losing skid after opening the season 2-1.

However, Singer showed signs of stability in his latest outing, working six strong innings while giving up just two runs in a no-decision against the host San Diego Padres on Wednesday.

“Brady has been battling through some mechanical adjustments, but we know the talent is there,” Francona said. “He threw the ball extremely well in his last outing, and we need him to build on that momentum.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #erupting #runs #Reds #hope #bats #stay #hot #Mets">Deadspin | After erupting for 12 runs, Reds hope bats stay hot against Mets

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suárez (28) follows through on a grand slam in the second inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Mets at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Monday, June 15, 2026.

The Cincinnati Reds broke out of their offensive slumber Monday night in a 12-0 rout of the visiting New York Mets. The hosts will look to continue that momentum Tuesday night in the second game of a three-game set.

The Reds, who scored just seven runs in their three-game series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks last weekend, put up nine runs in the first two innings vs. New York, their biggest output over the first two innings all season. Cincinnati’s final tally matched the team’s second-highest run output of the season. It was only the third time all year that the Reds put up a double-figure run total.

Eugenio Suarez was at the center of the explosion, hitting a two-run homer in the first inning and his ninth career grand slam in the second.

“He’s done it before,” Reds manager Terry Francona said of Suarez’s two career 49-homer seasons, one of them last year. “When you’ve done it before, (you might wonder), ‘Do I have it, do I not have it?’ He’s done it, and normally when it warms up, the good hitters do, too.”

The banged-up Mets rotation is looking for a boost from the return of Kodai Senga (0-4, 9.00 ERA) on Tuesday. The right-hander will come off the 15-day injured list for the start, having recovered from lumbar spine inflammation and a minor case of ulnar nerve irritation in his pitching arm.

Senga last pitched for New York on April 26. He went 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA in four rehab appearances for three Mets minor league affiliates. Most recently, he pitched well for Double-A Binghamton on Thursday, throwing 75 pitches and striking out five over six innings of one-hit, one-run ball.

“He’s ready to go,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He’s telling us that he feels 100%. He was on board with, ‘Hey, if you guys want me to go in the minor leagues and pitch again, I’ll do it. But I’m ready to compete at the big-league level.’ So for him to be very vocal about it, it’s a really good sign.”

Senga had his best season with the Mets as a rookie in 2023, when he went 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA and made the National League All-Star team.

New York’s already injury-plagued rotation took another hit Monday when scheduled starter Christian Scott was placed on the injured list with a right hip injury, though the team is hopeful it will be a brief stay on the shelf. Scott has pitched effectively this season, compiling a 2-0 record and a 3.10 ERA in nine starts.

Tobias Myers took over as the Mets’ Monday starter and was shelled for seven runs on four hits while retiring just four batters.

On Tuesday, the Reds will start Brady Singer (2-6, 5.61 ERA). The right-hander has experienced a rocky second season in the NL and is riding a personal five-decision losing skid after opening the season 2-1.

However, Singer showed signs of stability in his latest outing, working six strong innings while giving up just two runs in a no-decision against the host San Diego Padres on Wednesday.

“Brady has been battling through some mechanical adjustments, but we know the talent is there,” Francona said. “He threw the ball extremely well in his last outing, and we need him to build on that momentum.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #erupting #runs #Reds #hope #bats #stay #hot #Mets

For a moment, it appeared that the New York Liberty might be the next WNBA team that boasted a great roster on paper, but with a roster that didn’t meaningfully translate to on-court success. The Liberty began the season with a 3-4 record, dropping two of their first three games against the Portland Fire, the league’s new expansion team.

While the roster wasn’t fully available — Sabrina Ionescu, Satou Sabally, and Leonie Fiebich all missed significant time — for a moment, the slew of offseason moves that initially appeared to catapult the Liberty into title favorites resulted in lackluster play.

But things have since dramatically changed. New York hasn’t lost a game since May 25th, rattling off seven straight wins. Some of those victories have come against bottom-feeders — they beat the Phoenix Mercury twice and Connecticut Sun once — but on Thursday, they put together perhaps their most impressive win of the season, a 14-point beatdown of the Atlanta Dream, who were 8-3 entering the game.

In that one, Breanna Stewart, who has been New York’s most consistent and available player, led the way with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Satou Sabally (19 points), Marine Johannes (17 points), Pauline Austier (16 points), and Jonquel Jones (16 points) were all major contributors.

Three days later, the Liberty put together a 22-point beatdown of the Washington Mystics, and Stewart recorded a career-high 7 blocks.

The Liberty are 7-0 with Fiebich in the lineup; the 26-year-old missed the start of the WNBA season as she finished her season with the Spanish club Valencia Basket. Fiebich is averaging 7 points and 2.9 rebounds per game but has a +8 +/- rating, the fifth-best in the WNBA. The Liberty now have the second-best plus-minus in the league (a +7), trailing only the Lynx (who have outscored opponents by an average of 11.7 points per game).

They’ve yet to face the two best teams in the league — the Minnesota Lynx and the Las Vegas Aces — but they’re right on track among the best teams in the league.

Stewart, who is 31, is having another MVP-caliber season. She’s averaging 19.9 points (the 6th-most in the league) and 9 rebounds (the 7th-most in the league), along with 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks. Alongside her, Jonquel Jones (13.8 points, 9.2 rebounds) has held down the frontcourt, while Marine Johannes (11.6 points, 3.2 assists) and Pauline Astier (11.3 points, 3.9 assists)

Satou Sabally, the Liberty’s biggest offseason acquisition, has averaged 10.1 points in just 16 minutes off the bench. Johannes (43.4%), Austier (45.8%), and Sabally (41.9%) have all been scorching-hot from three.

All of this success has come with Sabrina Ionescu, a franchise cornerstone, appearing in only two games thus far. Ionescu missed time to begin the season with an ankle/foot injury, and was later sidelined for seven games with back soreness.

Ionescu averaged 15.7 points per game last season, and should return to her All-Star caliber play again at some point this season.

For now, the Liberty already look like one of the best teams in the league, their sloppy start a distant memory.

#York #Liberty #completely #bounced">

The New York Liberty have completely bounced back For a moment, it appeared that the New York Liberty might be the next WNBA team that boasted a great roster on paper, but with a roster that didn’t meaningfully translate to on-court success. The Liberty began the season with a 3-4 record, dropping two of their first three games against the Portland Fire, the league’s new expansion team.While the roster wasn’t fully available — Sabrina Ionescu, Satou Sabally, and Leonie Fiebich all missed significant time — for a moment, the slew of offseason moves that initially appeared to catapult the Liberty into title favorites resulted in lackluster play.But things have since dramatically changed. New York hasn’t lost a game since May 25th, rattling off seven straight wins. Some of those victories have come against bottom-feeders — they beat the Phoenix Mercury twice and Connecticut Sun once — but on Thursday, they put together perhaps their most impressive win of the season, a 14-point beatdown of the Atlanta Dream, who were 8-3 entering the game.In that one, Breanna Stewart, who has been New York’s most consistent and available player, led the way with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Satou Sabally (19 points), Marine Johannes (17 points), Pauline Austier (16 points), and Jonquel Jones (16 points) were all major contributors.Three days later, the Liberty put together a 22-point beatdown of the Washington Mystics, and Stewart recorded a career-high 7 blocks.The Liberty are 7-0 with Fiebich in the lineup; the 26-year-old missed the start of the WNBA season as she finished her season with the Spanish club Valencia Basket. Fiebich is averaging 7 points and 2.9 rebounds per game but has a +8 +/- rating, the fifth-best in the WNBA. The Liberty now have the second-best plus-minus in the league (a +7), trailing only the Lynx (who have outscored opponents by an average of 11.7 points per game).They’ve yet to face the two best teams in the league — the Minnesota Lynx and the Las Vegas Aces — but they’re right on track among the best teams in the league.Stewart, who is 31, is having another MVP-caliber season. She’s averaging 19.9 points (the 6th-most in the league) and 9 rebounds (the 7th-most in the league), along with 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks. Alongside her, Jonquel Jones (13.8 points, 9.2 rebounds) has held down the frontcourt, while Marine Johannes (11.6 points, 3.2 assists) and Pauline Astier (11.3 points, 3.9 assists)Satou Sabally, the Liberty’s biggest offseason acquisition, has averaged 10.1 points in just 16 minutes off the bench. Johannes (43.4%), Austier (45.8%), and Sabally (41.9%) have all been scorching-hot from three.All of this success has come with Sabrina Ionescu, a franchise cornerstone, appearing in only two games thus far. Ionescu missed time to begin the season with an ankle/foot injury, and was later sidelined for seven games with back soreness.Ionescu averaged 15.7 points per game last season, and should return to her All-Star caliber play again at some point this season.For now, the Liberty already look like one of the best teams in the league, their sloppy start a distant memory. #York #Liberty #completely #bounced

mwasimuddin125 0

For a moment, it appeared that the New York Liberty might be the next WNBA team that boasted a great roster on paper, but with a roster that didn’t meaningfully translate to on-court success. The Liberty began the season with a 3-4 record, dropping two of their first three games against the Portland Fire, the league’s new expansion team.
While the roster wasn’t fully available — Sabrina Ionescu, Satou Sabally, and Leonie Fiebich all missed significant time — for a moment, the slew of offseason moves that initially appeared to catapult the Liberty into title favorites resulted in lackluster play.
But things have since dramatically changed. New York hasn’t lost a game since May 25th, rattling off seven straight wins. Some of those victories have come against bottom-feeders — they beat the Phoenix Mercury twice and Connecticut Sun once — but on Thursday, they put together perhaps their most impressive win of the season, a 14-point beatdown of the Atlanta Dream, who were 8-3 entering the game.
In that one, Breanna Stewart, who has been New York’s most consistent and available player, led the way with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Satou Sabally (19 points), Marine Johannes (17 points), Pauline Austier (16 points), and Jonquel Jones (16 points) were all major contributors.
Three days later, the Liberty put together a 22-point beatdown of the Washington Mystics, and Stewart recorded a career-high 7 blocks.
The Liberty are 7-0 with Fiebich in the lineup; the 26-year-old missed the start of the WNBA season as she finished her season with the Spanish club Valencia Basket. Fiebich is averaging 7 points and 2.9 rebounds per game but has a +8 +/- rating, the fifth-best in the WNBA. The Liberty now have the second-best plus-minus in the league (a +7), trailing only the Lynx (who have outscored opponents by an average of 11.7 points per game).
They’ve yet to face the two best teams in the league — the Minnesota Lynx and the Las Vegas Aces — but they’re right on track among the best teams in the league.
Stewart, who is 31, is having another MVP-caliber season. She’s averaging 19.9 points (the 6th-most in the league) and 9 rebounds (the 7th-most in the league), along with 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks. Alongside her, Jonquel Jones (13.8 points, 9.2 rebounds) has held down the frontcourt, while Marine Johannes (11.6 points, 3.2 assists) and Pauline Astier (11.3 points, 3.9 assists)
Satou Sabally, the Liberty’s biggest offseason acquisition, has averaged 10.1 points in just 16 minutes off the bench. Johannes (43.4%), Austier (45.8%), and Sabally (41.9%) have all been scorching-hot from three.
All of this success has come with Sabrina Ionescu, a franchise cornerstone, appearing in only two games thus far. Ionescu missed time to begin the season with an ankle/foot injury, and was later sidelined for seven games with back soreness.
Ionescu averaged 15.7 points per game last season, and should return to her All-Star caliber play again at some point this season.
For now, the Liberty already look like one of the best teams in the league, their sloppy start a distant memory.

#York #Liberty #completely #bounced">The New York Liberty have completely bounced back

Three days later, the Liberty put together a 22-point beatdown of the Washington Mystics, and Stewart recorded a career-high 7 blocks.

They’ve yet to face the two best teams in the league — the Minnesota Lynx and the Las Vegas Aces — but they’re right on track among the best teams in the league.

Ionescu averaged 15.7 points per game last season, and should return to her All-Star caliber play again at some point this season.

For now, the Liberty already look like one of the best teams in the league, their sloppy start a distant memory.

#York #Liberty #completely #bounced

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has said female athletes shall be ineligible to compete in any of its competitions from 2027 without undergoing the SRY (Sex-Determining Region Y) gene test.

In order to ensure fairness, World Athletics (WA) introduced the once-in-a-lifetime test for athletes wishing to compete in the female category at the Tokyo World Championships last year.

Starting with the Federation meet in Ranchi last month, the AFI also began testing female athletes in domestic competitions. The cost is borne by the AFI, and the test is done by a recognised lab.

READ: Indian Athletics Series-11: Sanjivani Jadhav edges Harmilan Bains to win women’s 5,000m

Ahead of the 65th National Inter-State meet in Bhubaneswar later this month, the AFI, through its latest circular, has asked female athletes to carry requisite documents, their passport and AFI UID card, for the test.

The AFI alerted the athletes about the consequences of skipping the test this year. “With effect from next year, no athlete shall be eligible to participate in any competition organised by the AFI without undergoing the SRY gene test,” said the circular.

It said the SRY gene test must be conducted only by MedGenome Labs Ltd., the laboratory accredited and authorised by the AFI, and an athlete must seek a letter from the AFI prior to the test.

Published on Jun 16, 2026

#AFI #SRY #gene #test #mandatory #women #athletes">

AFI to make SRY gene test mandatory for women athletes from 2027 The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has said female athletes shall be ineligible to compete in any of its competitions from 2027 without undergoing the SRY (Sex-Determining Region Y) gene test.In order to ensure fairness, World Athletics (WA) introduced the once-in-a-lifetime test for athletes wishing to compete in the female category at the Tokyo World Championships last year.Starting with the Federation meet in Ranchi last month, the AFI also began testing female athletes in domestic competitions. The cost is borne by the AFI, and the test is done by a recognised lab.READ: Indian Athletics Series-11: Sanjivani Jadhav edges Harmilan Bains to win women’s 5,000mAhead of the 65th National Inter-State meet in Bhubaneswar later this month, the AFI, through its latest circular, has asked female athletes to carry requisite documents, their passport and AFI UID card, for the test.The AFI alerted the athletes about the consequences of skipping the test this year. “With effect from next year, no athlete shall be eligible to participate in any competition organised by the AFI without undergoing the SRY gene test,” said the circular.It said the SRY gene test must be conducted only by MedGenome Labs Ltd., the laboratory accredited and authorised by the AFI, and an athlete must seek a letter from the AFI prior to the test.Published on Jun 16, 2026 #AFI #SRY #gene #test #mandatory #women #athletes

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The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has said female athletes shall be ineligible to compete in any of its competitions from 2027 without undergoing the SRY (Sex-Determining Region Y) gene test.
In order to ensure fairness, World Athletics (WA) introduced the once-in-a-lifetime test for athletes wishing to compete in the female category at the Tokyo World Championships last year.
Starting with the Federation meet in Ranchi last month, the AFI also began testing female athletes in domestic competitions. The cost is borne by the AFI, and the test is done by a recognised lab.
READ: Indian Athletics Series-11: Sanjivani Jadhav edges Harmilan Bains to win women’s 5,000m
Ahead of the 65th National Inter-State meet in Bhubaneswar later this month, the AFI, through its latest circular, has asked female athletes to carry requisite documents, their passport and AFI UID card, for the test.
The AFI alerted the athletes about the consequences of skipping the test this year. “With effect from next year, no athlete shall be eligible to participate in any competition organised by the AFI without undergoing the SRY gene test,” said the circular.
It said the SRY gene test must be conducted only by MedGenome Labs Ltd., the laboratory accredited and authorised by the AFI, and an athlete must seek a letter from the AFI prior to the test.
Published on Jun 16, 2026

#AFI #SRY #gene #test #mandatory #women #athletes">AFI to make SRY gene test mandatory for women athletes from 2027

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has said female athletes shall be ineligible to compete in any of its competitions from 2027 without undergoing the SRY (Sex-Determining Region Y) gene test.

In order to ensure fairness, World Athletics (WA) introduced the once-in-a-lifetime test for athletes wishing to compete in the female category at the Tokyo World Championships last year.

Starting with the Federation meet in Ranchi last month, the AFI also began testing female athletes in domestic competitions. The cost is borne by the AFI, and the test is done by a recognised lab.

READ: Indian Athletics Series-11: Sanjivani Jadhav edges Harmilan Bains to win women’s 5,000m

It said the SRY gene test must be conducted only by MedGenome Labs Ltd., the laboratory accredited and authorised by the AFI, and an athlete must seek a letter from the AFI prior to the test.

Published on Jun 16, 2026

#AFI #SRY #gene #test #mandatory #women #athletes

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