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Napheesa Collier could miss beginning of WNBA season

Napheesa Collier could miss beginning of WNBA season

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Napheesa Collier’s 2025 WNBA season ended in heartbreak when she was injured and could not finish the Minnesota Lynx’s second-round playoff series. That was back in October, and Collier’s goal was to heal in time for the Unrivaled season, which starts on Jan. 5. Unfortunately, it was announced in the early hours of the new year that it will not be happening.

Per a statement from Unrivaled, Collier will be undergoing surgery on both of her ankles. It has been recommended to her to do so, and it is the best chance for her to feel her best in the long term. That means, though, that she will be out for 4-6 months to recover.

This prognosis means that she will be out for the entirety of Unrivaled’s second season. Last season, Collier led her Lunar Owls to a semi-finals berth, won the league’s MVP award, and also won the mid-season 1-on-1 tournament. She was undoubtedly the most dominant player in the league. As a co-founder, Collier was also responsible for many of the perks and amenities that Unrivaled was praised for, working to create a great experience for herself and her peers.

With a prognosis of 4-6 months, this also means that Collier could miss the beginning of the WNBA season. Training camp begins in April (unless that changes with the new CBA), and the season starts in May — Collier will need to be on the lower end of that recovery timeline to make it for the beginning of the Lynx’s season.

The only way Collier avoids missing significant time to start the season is if the season is the WNBA season gets pushed. Which, with the way CBA negotiations are going, seems like a possibility.

On Dec. 31, Alexa Phillipou reported that the players and the WNBA are still very far apart on negotiations. Not just on salary, but on several other key details as well.

With Jan. 9 now just over a week away, we are getting into territory where the sides may start to talk about a work stoppage as well. The WNBPA has already voted to authorize a strike, if it comes to that as well. Either way, going beyond the Jan. 9 deadline almost guarantees that the WNBA season will be pushed (if not rushed).

In that case, Napheesa might get a little bit of extra time to recover. Either way, missing the Unrivaled season is going to have a huge impact on the Lunar Owls and the entire league as well. The league just lost their MVP, and the 1-on-1 tournament seems to have opened up for new contenders as well.

For Collier, sights must be set ahead to first get a new CBA signed, then healing up for the WNBA season, and then staying healthy long enough to help Team USA at the Women’s World Cup in Germany this fall.

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Deadspin | Tommy Fleetwood chasing hometown heroics at The Open Jul 13, 2026; Southport, England; Tommy Fleetwood speaks with the media during a practice round day for The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Birkdale. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Tommy Fleetwood hopes home-field advantage will lead the two-time Grand Slam runner-up to his first major title this week at The Open Championship. The 35-year-old Englishman grew up down the road from Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, site of the final major on this season’s PGA Tour calendar. “It’s obviously very, very special. I think for anybody that was lucky enough to grow up in the town of Southport. It’s such a golfing town, and The Open at Birkdale holds such a special place in the area,” Fleetwood said at Monday’s pre-tournament press conference. “Yeah, it’s a dream just to be competing in an Open here, so I feel very, very lucky. Still have lots of memories from the 2017 Open here. Yeah, just excited for the opportunity to play in front of everybody. It’s very rare to have an opportunity to play a tournament, let alone The Open, in the town where you grew up in front of fans that were all there to support you. Very excited.” Fleetwood enters the 154th Open ranked No. 9 in the world. He has finished in the top five in all four Grand Slams in his career, including second place at the 2018 U.S. Open and the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, where Irishman Shane Lowry ran away to win by six strokes. This year, Fleetwood finished T11 at the U.S. Open, T33 at the Masters and missed the cut at the PGA Championship. He also has two other top-10 efforts in The Open Championship: T4 in 2022 and T10 in 2023. Fleetwood is not only trying to become the first Englishman to win The Open since Nick Faldo in 1992, but he also aims to improve on his T27 finish from the last time it was held at Royal Birkdale in 2017. Fleetwood was asked about the pressure of expectations on his shoulders this week. “I think what you do have to deal with is how much you want it and your own expectations, but I think at the same time, I’m no different to any other person in terms of every single person that is playing in The Open dreams of winning in The Open and wants to win it,” he said. “There’s really nothing different to anybody else in that sense. I just think I am the lucky one that gets to have home support and use that as like really, really positive fuel. “I think the first time I played here in 2017, I obviously had a bad first round (76). I think my round on Friday (69) was one of the best rounds I ever played to make the cut, and Saturday (66) was a great experience.” Fleetwood admitted sneaking onto the course “once or twice” as a kid. “Birkdale was always kind of hallowed turf for people that lived in Southport, and I definitely didn’t get to play here as much as I would like to,” he said. If it’s considered hallowed ground now, imagine what it will be like if a hometown hero hoists the Claret Jug on Sunday. “Dreams do come true, we watch it all the time, but you’ll never find out if yours will unless you chase it,” Fleetwood said. “Mine might come true; it might not. I think I’ve done a lot in my career so far, but yeah, there’s still plenty more to go.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Tommy #Fleetwood #chasing #hometown #heroics #OpenJul 13, 2026; Southport, England; Tommy Fleetwood speaks with the media during a practice round day for The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Birkdale. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Tommy Fleetwood hopes home-field advantage will lead the two-time Grand Slam runner-up to his first major title this week at The Open Championship.

The 35-year-old Englishman grew up down the road from Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, site of the final major on this season’s PGA Tour calendar.

“It’s obviously very, very special. I think for anybody that was lucky enough to grow up in the town of Southport. It’s such a golfing town, and The Open at Birkdale holds such a special place in the area,” Fleetwood said at Monday’s pre-tournament press conference.

“Yeah, it’s a dream just to be competing in an Open here, so I feel very, very lucky. Still have lots of memories from the 2017 Open here. Yeah, just excited for the opportunity to play in front of everybody. It’s very rare to have an opportunity to play a tournament, let alone The Open, in the town where you grew up in front of fans that were all there to support you. Very excited.”

Fleetwood enters the 154th Open ranked No. 9 in the world. He has finished in the top five in all four Grand Slams in his career, including second place at the 2018 U.S. Open and the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, where Irishman Shane Lowry ran away to win by six strokes.

This year, Fleetwood finished T11 at the U.S. Open, T33 at the Masters and missed the cut at the PGA Championship. He also has two other top-10 efforts in The Open Championship: T4 in 2022 and T10 in 2023.

Fleetwood is not only trying to become the first Englishman to win The Open since Nick Faldo in 1992, but he also aims to improve on his T27 finish from the last time it was held at Royal Birkdale in 2017.


Fleetwood was asked about the pressure of expectations on his shoulders this week.

“I think what you do have to deal with is how much you want it and your own expectations, but I think at the same time, I’m no different to any other person in terms of every single person that is playing in The Open dreams of winning in The Open and wants to win it,” he said.

“There’s really nothing different to anybody else in that sense. I just think I am the lucky one that gets to have home support and use that as like really, really positive fuel.

“I think the first time I played here in 2017, I obviously had a bad first round (76). I think my round on Friday (69) was one of the best rounds I ever played to make the cut, and Saturday (66) was a great experience.”

Fleetwood admitted sneaking onto the course “once or twice” as a kid.

“Birkdale was always kind of hallowed turf for people that lived in Southport, and I definitely didn’t get to play here as much as I would like to,” he said.

If it’s considered hallowed ground now, imagine what it will be like if a hometown hero hoists the Claret Jug on Sunday.

“Dreams do come true, we watch it all the time, but you’ll never find out if yours will unless you chase it,” Fleetwood said. “Mine might come true; it might not. I think I’ve done a lot in my career so far, but yeah, there’s still plenty more to go.”


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Tommy #Fleetwood #chasing #hometown #heroics #Open">Deadspin | Tommy Fleetwood chasing hometown heroics at The Open Jul 13, 2026; Southport, England; Tommy Fleetwood speaks with the media during a practice round day for The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Birkdale. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Tommy Fleetwood hopes home-field advantage will lead the two-time Grand Slam runner-up to his first major title this week at The Open Championship. The 35-year-old Englishman grew up down the road from Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, site of the final major on this season’s PGA Tour calendar. “It’s obviously very, very special. I think for anybody that was lucky enough to grow up in the town of Southport. It’s such a golfing town, and The Open at Birkdale holds such a special place in the area,” Fleetwood said at Monday’s pre-tournament press conference. “Yeah, it’s a dream just to be competing in an Open here, so I feel very, very lucky. Still have lots of memories from the 2017 Open here. Yeah, just excited for the opportunity to play in front of everybody. It’s very rare to have an opportunity to play a tournament, let alone The Open, in the town where you grew up in front of fans that were all there to support you. Very excited.” Fleetwood enters the 154th Open ranked No. 9 in the world. He has finished in the top five in all four Grand Slams in his career, including second place at the 2018 U.S. Open and the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, where Irishman Shane Lowry ran away to win by six strokes. This year, Fleetwood finished T11 at the U.S. Open, T33 at the Masters and missed the cut at the PGA Championship. He also has two other top-10 efforts in The Open Championship: T4 in 2022 and T10 in 2023. Fleetwood is not only trying to become the first Englishman to win The Open since Nick Faldo in 1992, but he also aims to improve on his T27 finish from the last time it was held at Royal Birkdale in 2017. Fleetwood was asked about the pressure of expectations on his shoulders this week. “I think what you do have to deal with is how much you want it and your own expectations, but I think at the same time, I’m no different to any other person in terms of every single person that is playing in The Open dreams of winning in The Open and wants to win it,” he said. “There’s really nothing different to anybody else in that sense. I just think I am the lucky one that gets to have home support and use that as like really, really positive fuel. “I think the first time I played here in 2017, I obviously had a bad first round (76). I think my round on Friday (69) was one of the best rounds I ever played to make the cut, and Saturday (66) was a great experience.” Fleetwood admitted sneaking onto the course “once or twice” as a kid. “Birkdale was always kind of hallowed turf for people that lived in Southport, and I definitely didn’t get to play here as much as I would like to,” he said. If it’s considered hallowed ground now, imagine what it will be like if a hometown hero hoists the Claret Jug on Sunday. “Dreams do come true, we watch it all the time, but you’ll never find out if yours will unless you chase it,” Fleetwood said. “Mine might come true; it might not. I think I’ve done a lot in my career so far, but yeah, there’s still plenty more to go.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Tommy #Fleetwood #chasing #hometown #heroics #Open

Police said on Monday they are investigating the death of South Africa FIFA World Cup player Jayden Adams, after his body was discovered this weekend at a property in the city of Cape Town.

The 25-year-old Adams died two weeks after helping South Africa reach the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time.

Authorities have not released a cause of death.

“Cape Town central police registered an inquest for investigation following the discovery of the body of a 25-year-old male on Saturday,” police said in a statement sent to The Associated Press. “Circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation.”

Police said the body was discovered at a property in the Cape Town neighborhood of Schotsche Kloof at around 11 a.m. on Saturday, but gave no more details.

Adams’ father, Juanito Adams, told South African TV news station eNCA on Sunday that the family was waiting for the results of an autopsy and had not yet made any funeral plans.

“As you all know, it was an untimely death. The family is struggling to process it,” Juanito Adams said. “It won’t be easy to carry on. People say it will become easier, but it won’t. You just learn to live with it.”

Adams played in all three of South Africa’s group games as it produced its best performance at the World Cup. He did not feature in the 0-1 loss to Canada in the round of 32 on June 28.

South Africa Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie said Adams had played in his team’s group game against Czech Republic hours after learning that his grandmother had died. McKenzie asked the public and media to “exercise restraint and compassion” and not speculate on the cause of Adams’ death while authorities conduct an investigation.

There were moments of silence and tributes for Adams at the England vs. Norway and Argentina vs. Switzerland World Cup quarterfinal games on Saturday.

Published on Jul 13, 2026

#South #Africa #footballer #Jayden #Adams #death #investigated #police">South Africa footballer Jayden Adams’ death to be investigated by police Police said on Monday they are investigating the death of South Africa FIFA World Cup player Jayden Adams, after his body was discovered this weekend at a property in the city of Cape Town.The 25-year-old Adams died two weeks after helping South Africa reach the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time.Authorities have not released a cause of death.“Cape Town central police registered an inquest for investigation following the discovery of the body of a 25-year-old male on Saturday,” police said in a statement sent to The Associated Press. “Circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation.”Police said the body was discovered at a property in the Cape Town neighborhood of Schotsche Kloof at around 11 a.m. on Saturday, but gave no more details.Adams’ father, Juanito Adams, told South African TV news station eNCA on Sunday that the family was waiting for the results of an autopsy and had not yet made any funeral plans.“As you all know, it was an untimely death. The family is struggling to process it,” Juanito Adams said. “It won’t be easy to carry on. People say it will become easier, but it won’t. You just learn to live with it.”Adams played in all three of South Africa’s group games as it produced its best performance at the World Cup. He did not feature in the 0-1 loss to Canada in the round of 32 on June 28.South Africa Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie said Adams had played in his team’s group game against Czech Republic hours after learning that his grandmother had died. McKenzie asked the public and media to “exercise restraint and compassion” and not speculate on the cause of Adams’ death while authorities conduct an investigation.There were moments of silence and tributes for Adams at the England vs. Norway and Argentina vs. Switzerland World Cup quarterfinal games on Saturday.Published on Jul 13, 2026 #South #Africa #footballer #Jayden #Adams #death #investigated #police

Deadspin | Reds place LHP Nick Lodolo (finger blister) on 15-day injured list Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo (40) pitches in the second inning between the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Saturday, July 11, 2026. The Cincinnati Reds placed starting pitcher Nick Lodolo on the 15-day injured list on Sunday because of a blister on his left index finger. In a corresponding move, the Reds recalled rookie right-hander Chase Petty from Triple-A Louisville. Finger blisters have been an issue for Lodolo, who exited Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the visiting Chicago Cubs after allowing Carson Kelly’s leadoff homer in the sixth inning. Lodolo, 28, was making his 12th start since beginning the season on the injured list after a blister on the same finger developed on March 22. The left-hander allowed two runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts in five-plus innings on Saturday. Lodolo said he felt something while warming up for the sixth but didn’t see anything on the finger until after Kelly’s blast. Lodolo is 3-2 this season with a 4.60 ERA, 27 walks and 50 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings over the 12 starts. For his career, Lodolo is 27-24 with one save, a 4.13 ERA, 144 walks and 506 strikeouts in 472 1/3 innings over 88 regular-season games (87 starts) since 2022. He also went on the injured list because of blisters in 2024 and 2025 and missed time while a minor leaguer in 2021. Cincinnati selected Lodolo in the first round (seventh overall) in the 2019 MLB Draft out of TCU. Lodolo is looking for answers on how to prevent blisters in the future, and is considering changing the grip on his breaking ball. Reds manager Terry Francona said the club is discussing ideas with him. “Nick even mentioned it last night talking to him. Saying that, you really got to think it through,” Francona said. “Because for me to sit here in my chair and say, ‘Well, just move your finger over to the side.’ “The kid’s been pitching like this his whole life. I agree the blister is not good. If you hurt your shoulder (changing grips), there’s got to be some pulling back on the reins a little bit and not jumping in until you know something can really help.” Petty, 23, is 1-2 with one save, a 4.38 ERA, seven walks and 11 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings over 11 games (two starts) for Cincinnati this season. Minnesota drafted Petty in the first round (26th overall) in 2021. The Twins traded him to the Reds in March 2022 for right-hander Sonny Gray and minor league pitcher Francis Peguero. Petty is a career 1-5 with one save, a 7.34 ERA, 15 walks and 18 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings over 14 games (four starts) since making his major league debut in 2025. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Reds #place #LHP #Nick #Lodolo #finger #blister #15day #injured #listCincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo (40) pitches in the second inning between the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Saturday, July 11, 2026.

The Cincinnati Reds placed starting pitcher Nick Lodolo on the 15-day injured list on Sunday because of a blister on his left index finger.

In a corresponding move, the Reds recalled rookie right-hander Chase Petty from Triple-A Louisville.

Finger blisters have been an issue for Lodolo, who exited Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the visiting Chicago Cubs after allowing Carson Kelly’s leadoff homer in the sixth inning. Lodolo, 28, was making his 12th start since beginning the season on the injured list after a blister on the same finger developed on March 22.

The left-hander allowed two runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts in five-plus innings on Saturday. Lodolo said he felt something while warming up for the sixth but didn’t see anything on the finger until after Kelly’s blast.

Lodolo is 3-2 this season with a 4.60 ERA, 27 walks and 50 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings over the 12 starts.

For his career, Lodolo is 27-24 with one save, a 4.13 ERA, 144 walks and 506 strikeouts in 472 1/3 innings over 88 regular-season games (87 starts) since 2022.


He also went on the injured list because of blisters in 2024 and 2025 and missed time while a minor leaguer in 2021. Cincinnati selected Lodolo in the first round (seventh overall) in the 2019 MLB Draft out of TCU.

Lodolo is looking for answers on how to prevent blisters in the future, and is considering changing the grip on his breaking ball. Reds manager Terry Francona said the club is discussing ideas with him.

“Nick even mentioned it last night talking to him. Saying that, you really got to think it through,” Francona said. “Because for me to sit here in my chair and say, ‘Well, just move your finger over to the side.’

“The kid’s been pitching like this his whole life. I agree the blister is not good. If you hurt your shoulder (changing grips), there’s got to be some pulling back on the reins a little bit and not jumping in until you know something can really help.”

Petty, 23, is 1-2 with one save, a 4.38 ERA, seven walks and 11 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings over 11 games (two starts) for Cincinnati this season.

Minnesota drafted Petty in the first round (26th overall) in 2021. The Twins traded him to the Reds in March 2022 for right-hander Sonny Gray and minor league pitcher Francis Peguero.

Petty is a career 1-5 with one save, a 7.34 ERA, 15 walks and 18 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings over 14 games (four starts) since making his major league debut in 2025.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Reds #place #LHP #Nick #Lodolo #finger #blister #15day #injured #list">Deadspin | Reds place LHP Nick Lodolo (finger blister) on 15-day injured list Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo (40) pitches in the second inning between the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Saturday, July 11, 2026. The Cincinnati Reds placed starting pitcher Nick Lodolo on the 15-day injured list on Sunday because of a blister on his left index finger. In a corresponding move, the Reds recalled rookie right-hander Chase Petty from Triple-A Louisville. Finger blisters have been an issue for Lodolo, who exited Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the visiting Chicago Cubs after allowing Carson Kelly’s leadoff homer in the sixth inning. Lodolo, 28, was making his 12th start since beginning the season on the injured list after a blister on the same finger developed on March 22. The left-hander allowed two runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts in five-plus innings on Saturday. Lodolo said he felt something while warming up for the sixth but didn’t see anything on the finger until after Kelly’s blast. Lodolo is 3-2 this season with a 4.60 ERA, 27 walks and 50 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings over the 12 starts. For his career, Lodolo is 27-24 with one save, a 4.13 ERA, 144 walks and 506 strikeouts in 472 1/3 innings over 88 regular-season games (87 starts) since 2022. He also went on the injured list because of blisters in 2024 and 2025 and missed time while a minor leaguer in 2021. Cincinnati selected Lodolo in the first round (seventh overall) in the 2019 MLB Draft out of TCU. Lodolo is looking for answers on how to prevent blisters in the future, and is considering changing the grip on his breaking ball. Reds manager Terry Francona said the club is discussing ideas with him. “Nick even mentioned it last night talking to him. Saying that, you really got to think it through,” Francona said. “Because for me to sit here in my chair and say, ‘Well, just move your finger over to the side.’ “The kid’s been pitching like this his whole life. I agree the blister is not good. If you hurt your shoulder (changing grips), there’s got to be some pulling back on the reins a little bit and not jumping in until you know something can really help.” Petty, 23, is 1-2 with one save, a 4.38 ERA, seven walks and 11 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings over 11 games (two starts) for Cincinnati this season. Minnesota drafted Petty in the first round (26th overall) in 2021. The Twins traded him to the Reds in March 2022 for right-hander Sonny Gray and minor league pitcher Francis Peguero. Petty is a career 1-5 with one save, a 7.34 ERA, 15 walks and 18 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings over 14 games (four starts) since making his major league debut in 2025. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Reds #place #LHP #Nick #Lodolo #finger #blister #15day #injured #list

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