U.S. second lady Usha Vance has been selected to lead the presidential delegation to Italy for the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games, the Office of President Donald Trump announced Thursday.
Vance will lead the delegation to Turin, Italy, the host city for this year's Games. The opening ceremony is scheduled for Friday.
Usha is a lawyer married to Vice President JD Vance since 2014. They have three children.
Usha sat next to former high school volleyball player Payton McNabb during Trump's address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night. McNabb told Fox News Digital she was "heartbroken" when she learned Trump's executive order on transgender athletes' participation in women’s and girls sports was not codified into law by the Senate.
"Last night, just overall, the Democrat Party was so disrespectful," McNabb said in reference to members of the party who were wearing pink during the joint session of Congress.
"And they didn't stand up for any of the guests. They didn't stand up for DJ Daniel, who is the young boy who survived brain cancer. They didn't stand up for Laken Riley's family, whose daughter literally suffered a traumatic death that should have never happened. And every other guest that was there had some sort of powerful story, and they didn't clap for any of that."
"So, it was heartbreaking, and honestly I wish I could say I was surprised, but I'm not," she concluded.
Other members of the presidential delegation, according to The White House, are:
Shawn Crowley, Chargé d’Affaires a.i., U.S. Embassy to Italy and San Marino; T.H. Trent Michael Morse, deputy assistant to the president and deputy director of presidential personnel; Riley M. Barnes, senior bureau official of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, U.S. Department of State; Douglass Benning, consul general, U.S. Consulate Milan, Italy; Rachel Campos-Duffy, "Fox & Friends Weekend" host and wife of U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy; Boris Epshteyn, senior counsel and senior advisor to President Donald Trump; and Richard Walters, partner at FGS Global.
California residents and schools have faced recurring instances of transgender athletes competing in girls sports over the last several months, prompting national scrutiny; disruption to academics, athletics and family life; and even lawsuits.
On Thursday, some of those affected California residents watched Gov. Gavin Newsom admit on his new podcast that he believes transgender athletes competing in girls sports is "unfair" yet justify allowing it to happen.
"It’s deeply unfair," Newsom said of transgender athletes competing with girls. "There's also a humility and a grace. … These poor people are more likely to commit suicide, have anxiety and depression. And the way that people talk down to vulnerable communities is an issue that I have a hard time with as well.
"So, both things I can hold in my hand. How can we address this issue with the kind of decency that I think, you know, is inherent in you but not always expressed on the issue?"
Fox News Digital reached out to schools and families affected by California's trans athlete inclusion policies over the last year for their thoughts on Newsom's recent comments.
Stone Ridge Christian School in Merced, California, had its girls volleyball team forfeit a playoff game to San Francisco Waldorf in the fall due to the presence of a transgender athlete on Waldorf's team. It was a decision that ended Stone Ridge Christian's season because Newsom's policies forced the girls volleyball team into a situation where it would have to refuse to play to avoid compromising religious beliefs.
"What’s really unfair is Gov. Newsom letting males compete in women’s sports despite admitting that it is unfair. While it is common sense for men and women to compete on their own teams, this is especially concerning as a religious school," Stone Ridge Christian School Campus Administrator Julie Fagundes told Fox News Digital.
At Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, California, a situation involving a trans athlete on the girls' cross-country team prompted national scrutiny, a lawsuit by two girls on the team and several students being punished for wearing "Save Girls Sports" T-shirts in protest.
Cynthia Slavin, the mother of one of the girls who filed a lawsuit against the Riverside Unified School District, told Fox News Digital she believes Newsom is "marginalizing" young biological females with his stance.
"I’m thankful Gavin Newsom said having boys in girls sports is unfair. I’m thankful he too has empathy for all people, but that just is not enough. What’s truly unfair is that he has the power to do something about this issue but doesn't. Talk is cheap. Take action, do something," Slavin said.
"By him not taking action or trying to come up with a plan, he is adding to the division and tension in our state. He is adding to the stress and mental issues for not only the 'marginalized' group but for my daughter Kaitlyn and all the other girls who are not OK with biological boys invading their spaces. He is helping biological girls become the new marginalized group."
The neighboring Jurupa Unified School District (JUPD) has been dealing with a recent national controversy involving a trans track and field athlete at Jurupa Valley High School (JUVHS) who has dominated female opponents by staggering margins in the triple jump this season.
Jaspriya Singh, a former JUVHS athlete and sister to a current athlete on the girls cross-country team, laments the situation Newsom has allowed.
"My sister has trained tirelessly in track and field, dedicating countless hours to improving her performance. When she's forced to compete against biological males, it creates an unfair playing field that undermines her hard work and opportunities. Female athletes deserve to compete in a space that protects fairness and integrity," Singh told Fox News Digital.
"This isn't just about sports. It's about ensuring girls have the same chances to excel and achieve their dreams without an unfair disadvantage. That's why it's so important to fight for policies that keep women's sports truly for women."
A JUPD teacher told Fox News Digital on the condition of anonymity that Newsom is not being genuine in his latest comments.
"As a teacher in Southern California, I don’t believe or trust Gavin Newsom’s sudden change of stance on transgender athletes in girls sports," the teacher said.
"For years, he has championed policies that force schools to comply with inclusion rules, disregarding the concerns of female athletes, parents and educators. Now, in a conversation with Charlie Kirk, he’s claiming to see the unfairness in this?
"It’s hard to take seriously when his policies still allow and enforce the very thing he’s now questioning. If he truly cared about fairness in sports, he would take real action, not just shift his rhetoric when it’s politically convenient."
Former JUPD teacher Jessica Tapia, who claims she was fired by the district for her stance on the issue, says the issue is driving good teachers from California schools.
"Still, to this day, it's hard for me to wrap my mind around what happened to me. We are losing good teachers because of how detrimental gender ideology is, the very teachers who are fighting for truth and the true protection of students," Tapia told Fox News Digital.
Chino Valley Unified School District board President Sonja Shaw told Fox News Digital her district has dealt with multiple reported incidents of biological males using girls locker rooms, calling Newsom "weak" for allowing it.
"You've seen it. You obviously know about it, and you haven't done anything, and it takes a Charlie Kirk with you to admit it? That's not what leaders do," Shaw said.
"Right now we have a lot of confusion. We have parents thinking their girls are safe until their daughters are met by a boy on the field, in the swimming pool or even in the locker rooms and restroom. So, to sit back and say its unfair but not put any teeth into it, I think is weak. It shows who he is and continues to be."
Amber French, a Division I Swimmer at California Baptist University, has witnessed multiple incidents of transgender athletes competing against young women in her state and is calling on Newsom to take action about it.
"Every year we have another male playing in female sports and taking away our opportunities. Notice it’s never the other way around. Gavin Newsom acknowledges unfairness yet has done nothing to protect female athletes in California," French told Fox News Digital.
"It’s time Gov. Newsom actually does something about the unfairness he acknowledges. The same decency he advocates for should be applied one hundred-fold to women, protecting their locker rooms and opportunities."
The state has so far refused to comply with President Donald Trump's executive order to keep biological males out of girls sports since it was signed Feb. 5, risking a potential loss of federal education funding.
The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education for potential Title IX violations related to the issue.
"The CIF provides students with the opportunity to belong, connect and compete in education-based experiences in compliance with California law [Education Code section 221.5. (f)] which permits students to participate in school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, consistent with the student’s gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the student’s records," a CIF statement said at the time.
Fox News Digital reached out to the CIF for its reaction to Newsom’s latest comments.
The report also stated that he will make fewer other appearances, which will give him more rein on his own podcast. There, he further dives into other topics, including plenty of politics.
Smith has been a regular on NBA programming with the network, but The Athletic says that will no longer be the case.
The 57-year-old has also hinted at a political run. In an appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" on Wednesday, the sports journalist initially claimed that he "doesn't want" the position, but he then made a comment that seemed to strongly hint at the possibility of a presidential run.
"And I’m saying, ‘Wait a minute now. I don’t want to do this.’ But the fact that they’re talking about me this way, I must say, I approve this message," he said.
The "I approve this message" comment clearly didn't get by Fallon, who exclaimed, "Oh, my God!" in response.
Smith was critical of former President Joe Biden but voiced support for former Vice President Kamala Harris during the election cycle. A critic of President Donald Trump, he has regularly criticized the Democratic Party and their messaging ahead of the election as well as after Trump won.
The roughly $20 million annual salary is a huge raise for Smith, who had been making $12 million per year, per The Athletic.
Smith previously wrote for the New York Daily News and The Philadelphia Inquirer, and even did local radio in both New York and Los Angeles for ESPN.
Cutting costs was a theme for the Jacksonville Jaguars Thursday, and Pro Bowl tight end Evan Engram became a cap casualty, according to multiple reports.
Earlier in the day, Christian Kirk, the veteran wide receiver who was going to be released anyway, was traded to the Houston Texans in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick, according to The Athletic.
Kirk carried the team’s heftiest cap hit at $24.1 million, and the team is scheduled to save just over $10 million by getting him off the books, according to Over The Cap.
Engram was the second-biggest cap hit for Jacksonville for the 2025 season at $19.49 million, per Over the Cap. By releasing him, the Jags are absorbing $13.5 million in dead cap money and saving just under $6 million.
Jacksonville’s new GM, James Gladstone, who was hired Feb. 21, is showcasing his immediate plan to create cap space for free agent moves, while keeping his 2025 NFL Draft class in mind.
The move for Kirk makes sense considering the Jags still have wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr., Gabe Davis and Parker Washington. Kirk, a seven-year veteran, also has an injury history.
However, Engram had a breakout season in 2023, his second Pro Bowl year, with 114 catches for 963 yards and four touchdowns.
But Engram also dealt with injuries in 2024, tearing a labrum that required mid-December surgery. He also sat out Weeks 2-5 with a hamstring injury, limiting him to nine games.
Engram finished the year with 47 receptions for 365 yards and one touchdown.
The 30-year-old was a first-round pick by the New York Giants in 2017 out of Ole Miss, and he had an up-and-down career in five seasons before signing with the Jaguars.
Now a free agent, Engram will be searching for a tight end-needy squad — the Los Angeles Chargers, Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos could be looking in that department — while the Jaguars will head into next season with Brenton Strange, Shawn Bowman and Patrick Murtagh on the depth chart.
Nike debuted its first Super Bowl commercial in 27 years last month, and while a star-studded female lineup of athletes was involved, the ad received criticism for the company’s stance on supporting transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.
Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu, JuJu Watkins, Sha’Carri Richardson, Jordan Chiles and other stars from various sports were in the one-minute ad that had different language with the same theme.
The slogans included "You can’t flex, so flex," "You can’t fill a stadium, so fill that stadium," "You can’t be emotional, so be emotional" and "You can’t win, so win."
XX-XY Athletics, the athletic brand whose goal is to support female athletes by defending safety and fairness in women’s sports and keeping biological males out of women’s and girls sports, released a video of several athletes reacting to Nike’s ad.
Powerlifter April Hutchinson, who was suspended from the Canadian Powerlifting Union for two years for speaking out against a trans athlete entering competitions in women’s categories, took exception to the part of Nike’s ad about flexing.
"I’ve never been told that I can’t flex or can’t do this or that," Hutchinson said.
University of Nevada women’s volleyball captain Sia Liilii, who, among many teammates, fought against her school’s decision to play against trans athlete Blaire Fleming and the San Jose State Spartans last season, felt Nike was missing the mark.
"That Nike ad kinda represented old feminism. I don’t think anyone is telling women in sports they can’t champion their sport," Liilii explained.
"Fake feminism," "pretending to care about women" and "Nike is ignoring the real problem" were lines used by other athletes in the video.
The "real problem" is the main point of what XX-XY Athletics was getting across in its video response to Nike.
"Women can flex, be confident, be emotional, fill stadiums. And win. But what can’t they do? Speak. On one subject in particular: protecting women’s sports," an XX-XY Athletics press release said.
"’Just Do It’ – that’s your slogan, isn’t it Nike? Just do it. Stand up for women. It’s the easiest thing in the world to do," sports civil rights advocate Riley Gaines said, ending the video.
When the Nike ad came out, Jennifer Sey, a former U.S. gymnast and founder/CEO of XX-XY Athletics, quickly called out Nike on X.
"You’re so full of it. The only thing female athletes are told they can’t do is stand up for the integrity of their sports, for keeping men out of women’s sports. Literally, that’s the only thing," Sey wrote in response to the commercial on X.
Michele Tafoya, the veteran sports broadcaster and journalist, also took exception to it.
"Nike is too late to this party. And they’re stuck in stereotypical language from about 25 years ago," Tafoya wrote, later adding, "What a waste of ad dollars."
President Donald Trump fulfilled his campaign promise of protecting women’s sports, signing the "No Men in Women’s Sports" executive order Feb. 5. While some states complied and the NCAA revised its own trans athlete policy, states like Minnesota have rejected changes to their policies.
The Cincinnati Bengals arguably missed the playoffs last season because of their defense, but it does not seem like the front office sees any urgency to fix it.
Reports say the team has given Trey Hendrickson, who led the NFL in sacks last season, permission to seek a trade.
The 30-year-old recorded a career-high 17½ sacks during the 2024 season, but the Bengals have made it clear that, despite their defensive woes, they want to keep receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, both of whom figure to be expensive.
Director of player personnel Duke Tobin said at the NFL Scouting Combine that Chase, who recorded a receiving triple crown last season, "is going to end up being the No. 1 paid non-quarterback in the league."
Higgins, meanwhile, was given the Bengals' franchise tag, and the two sides are working toward a long-term deal.
Joe Burrow was in the MVP conversation, leading the NFL with 4,918 yards passing and 43 touchdowns. He finished fourth in the MVP vote, and 2,619 of those passing yards were distributed to Chase and Higgins. It could have been more had Higgins not missed five games.
The Hendrickson news comes after Sam Hubbard retired earlier this week at the age of 29.
Hendrickson turned 30 in December, has been with Cincinnati since 2021 and has been an absolute steal for them. He spent his first four seasons with the New Orleans Saints but failed to put up numbers until his final season there, recording a career-high at the time of 13½ sacks after just 6½ in his first three NFL seasons.
Since the Bengals acquired him, he's posted at least 14 sacks in three of his four seasons. He's also made the Pro Bowl each season as a Bengal.
Hendrickson has a cap hit of nearly $19 million, and the Bengals would save about $16 million with a trade or release, which figures to go toward their receivers.
Hendrickson will become a free agent after the 2025 season.
U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., repeated the unsubstantiated argument that the Defending Women and Girls in Sports Act would have "unleashed" sexual predators on girls in the U.S.
Jeffries first made this argument the day the House voted on the bill Jan. 14, joining other prominent Democratic representatives, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. The argument prompted harsh backlash among some registered Democratic voters and was not repeated leading up to the Senate's vote of the bill Monday.
But Jeffries raised the argument again when asked about California Gov. Gavin Newsom's recent comments about transgender athletes in girls sports being "unfair."
"I haven't seen [Newsom's] comments. What Democrats opposed was unleashing sexual predators on girls throughout the United States of America," Jeffries told reporters Thursday.
When Jeffries and other House Democrats pushed the argument in January, it was not rooted in any language within the bill. Republicans insisted no genital inspection would ever be necessary and that proof of birth gender could simply be determined with a birth certificate.
The bill ended up passing in the House by a vote of 218-206. Two Democratic representatives, Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez, both of Texas, voted in favor of it despite Jeffries and others labeling the bill "The House Republican Child Predator Empowerment Act."
When the bill reached the Senate earlier this week, not a single Democrat voted in favor of it, and with 45 votes against it, were able to filibuster the bill despite 51 Republicans voting for it.
Multiple Democratic senators spoke about why they did not vote for the bill, Fox News Digital previously reported, offering a variety of reasons. However, almost none of them reiterated the argument that the bill would empower sexual predators to give genital examinations to young girls.
Those who expressed similar concerns were Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev,, and Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. in a statement to Fox News Digital.
"This blanket legislation would allow anyone to subject girls to invasive physical exams just because of the way they look. That is incredible government overreach and is putting young women at increased risk for abuse and harassment – something I’ve spent my career fighting against," Cortez Masto said in a statement.
Durbin added, "It’s that personal, it’s that important, and [because of Republicans], we’re going to vote to give someone unspecified the right to physically inspect a girl or a young woman if the other opposing team accuses them of being transgender. My goodness."
Shortly after the vote in the House in January, some Democratic voters left the party in response to the child predator argument by Jeffries.
Prominent Rutgers law professor Gary Francione and some of his Democratic peers in the field of education and law were among those who left the party..
"That just made me very upset because it screamed out lack of integrity, lack of honesty," Francione told Fox News Digital. "This is the way you fight battles? By trying to insult other people who oppose you and disagree with you and insinuate that they're child molesters or pedophiles? It seems to me you've lost the game. … I don't know how they're ever going to come back from this.
"I can say confidently of the people I know who are Democrats who I've spoken to, the vast majority of them are very unhappy about all of this stuff and feel that the party has lost its way. I know a couple who said they are going to [leave the party]."
President Donald Trump signed an executive order to ban trans athletes from women's and girls sports and vowed to withdraw federal funding from any state that doesn't comply. California, Minnesota, Massachusetts and Maine are already under investigation for not complying with it.
Trump reaffirmed his intent to punish states that continue to allow trans athletes to compete with girls during Tuesday night's address to a joint session of Congress.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted Trump "won't back down" as he goes after these states.
"The president has made a commitment to ensure that states are being held accountable if they continue to allow men in women's sports, which he believes is an egregious violation of taxpayer dollars. And, so, that fight continues, and the president won't back down," Leavitt said.
"This is a commonsense policy. Eighty percent of the American people, including more than 60% of Democrats, do not want men in women's sports."
California Gov. Gavin Newsom came under fire Thursday over comments he made about transgender inclusion in women’s and girls sports on the debut episode of his podcast.
Newsom was asked by guest Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative who founded Turning Point USA, about the issue on the "This is Gavin Newsom" podcast.
"The young man who's about to win the state championship in the long jump in female sports, that shouldn't happen," Kirk said. "You, as the governor, should step out and say no. Would you do something like that? Would you say no men in female sports?"
"I think it’s an issue of fairness. I completely agree with you on that. It is an issue of fairness — it’s deeply unfair," Newsom told Kirk. "I am not wrestling with the fairness issue. I totally agree with you."
Kirk further pressed Newsom on whether he would condemn the recent victory of a transgender track athlete with a more than 40-foot jump at Jurupa Valley High School in Southern California. Newsom didn't directly address the win but said "it's a fairness issue."
"So, that's easy to call out the unfairness of that," he said. "There's also a humility and a grace. … These poor people are more likely to commit suicide, have anxiety and depression. And the way that people talk down to vulnerable communities is an issue that I have a hard time with as well.
"So, both things I can hold in my hand. How can we address this issue with the kind of decency that I think, you know, is inherent in you but not always expressed on the issue?"
Newsom, who agreed the issue was something the Democratic Party gets "crushed on," faced criticism from conservatives and liberals for his comments.
While Newsom said he agreed with Kirk on there being a "fairness" issue when it came to trans inclusion in women’s sports, California has resisted President Donald Trump’s "No Men in Women’s Sports" executive order that bars biological males from girls and women’s sports.
The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) said last month it would continue to allow transgender athletes to compete in women’s and girls sports, citing state law.
"The CIF provides students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete in education-based experiences in compliance with California law [Education Code section 221.5. (f)] which permits students to participate in school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, consistent with the student’s gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the student’s records," a CIF statement said at the time.
Fox News Digital reacted out to the CIF for its reaction to Newsom’s latest comments.
Riley Gaines, the former NCAA athlete who hosts OutKick’s "Gaines for Girls" podcast and has championed fairness in women’s sports, was among the conservatives who spoke out.
Prominent LGBTQ advocates also took swipes at Newsom.
"Gavin Newsom knows that the trans youth in sports issue is a ridiculous, rightwing propaganda effort. He knows this is powered by anti-trans hatred, not reason," Charlotte Clymer wrote on X. "And yet, he still chose to endorse attacks on trans youth to bolster his national profile for a 2028 presidential run.
"He chose to treat trans youth as disposable bargaining chips in his effort to pander to anti-trans conservatives. He has decided that trans youth, one of the most vulnerable groups in the country, are fair game. And he did so in an interview with Charlie Kirk, who has spent his career dehumanizing trans people for sport. It is difficult to overstate how thoroughly cynical, self-serving, and cruel this is."
California Assemblymember Chris Ward and Sen. Caroline Menjivar also released a joint statement. They are the chair and vice chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus.
"Sometimes Gavin Newsom goes for the Profile in Courage, sometimes not. We woke up profoundly sickened and frustrated by these remarks," they said, via KCRA-TV. "All students deserve the academic and health benefits of sports activity, and until Donald Trump began obsessing about it, playing on a team consistent with one’s gender has not been a problem since the standard was passed in 2013."
Earlier this week, Senate Democrats blocked the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act from breaking a filibuster. The bill received 51 votes but needed 60 to clear a procedural hurdle.
Fox News' Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have reportedly made a trade with the Houston Texans, sending veteran wide receiver Christian Kirk to their AFC South rival.
Houston gets a 2026 seventh-round pick, which originally belonged to the Los Angeles Rams, in exchange for Kirk, according to The Athletic.
The trade comes one day after news broke that the Jaguars planned to release Kirk, who missed the final nine games of the 2024 season due to a broken collarbone.
That move would have saved Jacksonville $10.7 million against their salary cap, according to Spotrac. The trade does the same thing while adding a draft pick.
Kirk was going to have the team’s highest cap hit this season at $24.4 million while being paid a $15.5 million salary, according to Spotrac. But new general manager James Gladstone, who joined the new Jags regime Feb. 21 to be paired with head coach Liam Coen, is clearly showing he’s not afraid to make moves already, even with a divisional rival.
Kirk quickly developed a rapport with quarterback Trevor Lawrence after being signed to a four-year, $72 million deal in 2022, registering career highs in catches (84), yards (1,108) and touchdowns (eight) in that campaign.
However, an abdominal injury cost him five games in 2023, and his collarbone fracture limited him to eight games in the third year of his deal.
The emergence of rookie Brian Thomas Jr. as a clear top receiver to build the pass game around, as well as Parker Washington playing well out of the slot in Kirk’s absence, leaves the Jaguars in a good place despite a veteran of seven years moving to a different team.
For the Texans, Kirk’s addition makes sense considering Tank Dell, their speedy, young receiver, is likely to miss the entire 2025 season after tearing an ACL, MCL and LCL and dislocating his kneecap in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs in December.
Kirk could miss time due to his own recovery from his collarbone injury, but he isn’t expected to be out the entire 2025 campaign.
The Texans could still add to their pass game because Stefon Diggs, who built great chemistry with quarterback C.J. Stroud before an injury ended his season, is a free agent on the market this offseason.
Through seven seasons, four with the Arizona Cardinals, who took him 47th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, Kirk has 236 receptions for 2,902 yards and 17 receiving touchdowns in 56 career games.
With playoff races heating up in the NHL, we have a new "Save of the Year" leader in the clubhouse.
The Anaheim Ducks paid a visit to the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night, and despite a tough loss, fans were treated to quite a spectacular stop with the glove earlier in the game.
In the first period, Brock Boeser attempted to score off a pass from a teammate near the crease, and John Gibson got a good chunk of it.
However, the puck stayed in the air and appeared to be heading toward the back of the net.
So, Gibson did his best "Pistol Pete" impression and went behind-the-back with his glove to make the miraculous save.
The puck actually came out of the glove, but the refs blew it dead; and at the very least, the puck is better off in front of the net than in the back of it.
It wasn't all fun and games for Gibson, though, as he wound up leaving the game later on with a lower body injury.
Canucks winger Drew O’Connor crashed into him in the crease. Both players tumbled awkwardly into the net, with Gibson staying down on the ice for several minutes before getting up slowly and leaving the ice with help. O’Connor was given a goaltender interference penalty, and Lukas Dostal came on in relief of Gibson.
Gibson stopped 19 of the 21 shots he faced before leaving and Dostal made 14 saves. The Ducks trailed 3-1 early in the third period, but were unable to connect on a potential equalizer.
Anaheim was coming off an impressive 6-2 victory over the reigning Western Conference champions, but their playoff hopes took a hit with the loss. Vancouver, too, is fighting for a playoff spot, and earned the much-needed win.
Saquon Barkley's record-breaking contract with the Philadelphia Eagles has some fine print that Travis Kelce isn't glossing over.
During this week's episode of Kelce's podcast "New Heights" with his brother Jason, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end called out the Eagles for the many incentives included in Barkley's contract.
Barkley's two-year, $41.2 million deal, with a $20.6 million per year salary, made him the highest-paid running back in NFL history.
However, only $36 million of that deal is guaranteed, while Barkley can earn an additional $15 million if he fulfills certain incentives.
"Eww," Kelce said in response to the incentive aspect of Barkley's deal. "I don't like that one bit.... Does he have to get a 2,000-yard season every year?"
The incentive clauses in Barkley's new contract are unknown at this time. His previous contract, which he signed with the Eagles last offseason, included incentives for earning first-team All-Pro honors, rushing for at least 1,000 and then 1,500 yards, and victories in each round of the playoffs.
Barkley ended up cashing in on all of those, with 2,005 rushing yards on 345 carries with 13 rushing scores while catching 33 passes for 278 yards with two more touchdowns. He was then the centerpiece on their playoff run to Super Bowl LIX, where they beat Kelce's Chiefs.
And now, Kelce doesn't approve of the incentives in Barkley's deal, especially the ones that are based on team success, like playoff wins.
"So you have to rely on someone's vote to get your incentive?" Travis Kelce asked. "That's f---ed up."
Shohei Ohtani’s greatness can’t be overstated enough, but another all-time great hitter in baseball thinks the game is a bit easier for the Los Angeles Dodgers star compared to his time in MLB.
Barry Bonds, arguably the greatest hitter of all time, appeared on the "All The Smoke" podcast where he shared his belief that ballplayers have it easier in the batter’s box compared to his time in the league from 1986-2007.
"The game has just changed," Bonds said. "The game is way different than it was when I played. The same way Michael (Jordan) talks about it or anybody does. Ohtani is not gonna hit two home runs without seeing one go (by his ear) in my generation. I don't care what he does. He's not gonna steal two bases without someone decapitating his kneecap to slow him down. It's a different game back then."
Bonds has a point regarding intentional pitches thrown up and in on batters to give them a scare – the game has regressed in that aspect on the pitcher’s mound.
However, Bonds isn’t trying to take away what Ohtani has been able to accomplish since Ohtani came over to the States from Japan.
"The pitching and hitting have been outstanding for what he's done," Bonds said of Ohtani. "Baserunning. He's a complete player. There's no doubt about the type of player he is and what he's accomplished in his career."
But the point still stands in Bonds’ eyes: In a game where celebrating home runs is encouraged now instead of frowned upon, Ohtani doesn’t have to worry about retaliation – at least not like he would have in the past.
"They should be better than us hitting-wise, because they can hit a home run, throw their bat up in the air, run around, get a taco, come back down and have a limo drive them around," Bonds said, jokingly. "All these antics that we weren't allowed to do.
"If I did anything like that, I'm gonna see a star. I'm gonna see a hospital, but I ain't gonna see baseball that day."
Bonds, of course, is a polarizing former star within the game of baseball, owning the most home runs ever, breaking Hank Aaron’s record with his own 762 over his illustrious career.
Despite being considered arguably the greatest hitter of all time, Bonds remains out of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York due to being a central figure in MLB’s steroids scandal.
Bonds was indicted in 2007 on perjury charges as well as obstruction of justice for allegedly lying in front of a grand jury during the government’s investigation into BALCO, a main manufacturer of an undetectable steroid that was running rampant in the league.
The perjury charges were eventually dropped, but Bonds was convicted of obstruction of justice in 2011. He had to fight until he was exonerated on appeal in 2015.
During that time, Bonds’ 10 years of eligibility on the Hall of Fame ballot didn’t see voters giving him the 75% acceptance rate to be an inductee, some of which stating they wouldn’t vote for him due to the belief he used PEDs.
Ohtani was caught up in his own scandal this past offseason, though he was the victim rather than the culprit.
Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was found to be stealing millions from the Dodgers star’s bank account to cover gambling losses. Federal prosecutors asked for a 57-month prison sentence while also asking Mizuhara to pay $16.9 million of restitution to Ohtani and another $1.1 million to the IRS.
After Pat McAfee called Canada a "terrible" country for booing "The Star-Spangled Banner" ahead of a WWE event in Toronto, he got ugly messages in an Instagram direct message.
Elizabeth Irving performed the U.S. national anthem as a chorus of boos rained down at the Elimination Chamber. Irving also sings the national anthem ahead of Vancouver Canucks and Vancouver Whitecaps games.
McAfee loudly lambasted the Canadian fans, and the country as a whole, for the booing during the Peacock broadcast.
"It kind of sucks that it's in the terrible country of Canada that booed our national anthem to start this entire thing," McAfee shouted at the broadcast table. Boos had occurred in the country since the beginning of February in response to President Donald Trump's tariffs and "51st state" cracks.
McAfee defended his comments earlier this week, and it came at a cost on social media.
McAfee wound up sharing Instagram direct messages he got that called him "f---ing pathetic," a "p----," and wishing death upon himself and his daughter.
"i hope that little brat f---ing dies." one message said.
"if you want to s--- on free speech you better be ready to die," another wrote.
"Good morning beautiful people... Standard Wednesday over here… just some random wishing death upon me & my daughter... Hope you all have a great day," McAfee shared.
McAfee addressed some of the backlash he received earlier this week.
"I’m very proud and thankful that I’m from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States of America… Canadians have a lot of passion for their country and I understand it…You booed our country and I said you’re terrible.." McAfee wrote in a post.
After Canada defeated USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted to X, "You can't take our game – and you can't take our country."
NASCAR is accusing 23XI Racing of "willfully" violating antitrust laws, court documents show. The company is co-owned by six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan.
A contentious two-year negotiation period on new charter agreements led to the lawsuit. Charters are NASCAR's equivalent of a franchise model. Teams that have charters receive a minimum of 36 spots on every race weekend.
A 30-page lawsuit filed in the Western District of North Carolina argued that Jordan's entity, more specifically business manager Curtis Polk, circumvented antitrust laws by orchestrating anticompetitive collective conduct in connection with the most recent charter agreements. Polk is listed as a defendant in the filing.
Front Row Motorsports also declined to sign the new agreements, which were presented to the teams last September shortly before the start of NASCAR's playoffs. Restaurant entrepreneur Bob Jenkins owns Front Row Motorsports. In addition to Jordan, Polk and driver Denny Hamlin are co-owners of 23XI Racing.
The charters were fought for by the teams ahead of the 2016 season and have twice been extended. The latest extension is for seven years to match the current media rights deal. 23XI and Front Row refused to sign and sued, alleging that NASCAR and the France family, who own the stock car series, are a monopoly.
NASCAR was defeated in round one in court. The two teams have been recognized as chartered organizations for the 2025 season as the legal dispute winds through the courts. NASCAR has also appealed a decision to have the case dismissed.
"Today’s counterclaim by NASCAR is a meritless distraction and a desperate attempt to shift attention away from its own unlawful, monopolistic actions," attorney Jeffrey Kessler, who is representing 23XI and Front Row, said in a statement.
"NASCAR agreed to the joint negotiations that they now attack. When those joint negotiations failed, they used individual negotiations to impose their charter terms, which most of the teams decided they had no choice but to accept."
The counterclaim suggested that Polk was the ringleader in the fight against the current charter proposals. NASCAR attorney Christopher Yates told the Associated Press that Polk lacks a complete understanding of NASCAR's business model.
"Curtis Polk basically orchestrated and threatened a boycott of one of the qualifying races for a major event, and others did not go along with him," Yates said. "He got other teams to boycott a meeting that was required by the charter. When you have a threatened boycott of qualifying races that are covered by media, that’s not a good thing for other race teams, not a good thing when you are trying to collectively grow the sport."
The qualifying race in question was last year's pair of 150-mile duels that set the field for the Daytona 500.
"I don’t think Mr. Polk really understands the sport," Yates added. "I think he came into it, and his view is it should be much more like the NBA or other league sports. But it’s not. No motorsport is like that. He’s done a lot of things that might work in the NBA or might be OK in the NBA but just are not appropriate in NASCAR."
Meanwhile, Jordan has previously stated that he is suing NASCAR on behalf of all the teams so everyone can be on equal footing in terms of benefits as a participant in the top motorsports league in the U.S.
"It'll feel great because you worked your butt off to get back," Graham said about playing in the Super Bowl in the week prior. "I know the team worked their butt off to get here, and I want to be there for them."
Graham said before the season that this would be his final year, but has not publicly declared whether he will retire since the Super Bowl win.
Graham has played the most games of any player in Eagles history with 206, 13 more than Jason Kelce, who is second in franchise history with 193.
Graham was one of two position players, and four overall, left from the Eagles’ championship team in the 2017 season to play in their Super Bowl win against the Chiefs.
In the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots, Graham strip-sacked Tom Brady with 2:11 left in the fourth quarter to seal the 41-33 win for the Eagles.
In their 38-35 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl two years ago, Graham played 18 snaps without a tackle or sack.
Graham had 3.5 sacks in 20 tackles in 11 regular-season games last season.
The FBI added a former Olympian and a Canadian national to its list of top 10 most wanted fugitives on Thursday.
The U.S. State Department is offering a reward of up to $10 million for the capture of Ryan Wedding, 43. Wedding, who competed in a snowboarding event for Canada in the 2002 winter Olympics, is wanted for allegedly running "a transnational drug trafficking network."
FBI Los Angeles chief Akil Davis said in a press conference Thursday that Wedding's alleged trafficking ring "routinely shipped hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia, through Mexico and Southern California, to Canada and other locations in the United States, and for orchestrating multiple murders and an attempted murder in furtherance of these drug crimes."
"Wedding went from shredding powder on the slopes at the Olympics to distributing powder cocaine on the streets of U.S. cities and in his native Canada," Davis said in a statement.
"The alleged murders of his competitors make Wedding a very dangerous man, and his addition to the list of Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, coupled with a major reward offer by the State Department, will make the public our partner so that we can catch up with him before he puts anyone else in danger," he added.
Davis noted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved the $10 million reward for Wedding's capture. The FBI is also offering an additional $50,000 for information leading to his arrest.
Wedding was previously convicted in the U.S. of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and he was sentenced to prison in 2010, according to federal records.
The FBI says Wedding's aliases include "El Jefe," "Giant," "Public Enemy," "James Conrad King," and "Jesse King." They say he is roughly 6'3" and 240 pounds.
Federal authorities first issued an arrest warrant for Wedding in September of last year, but he has still not been apprehended.
Thursday's announcement comes just after the Justice Department announced the capture of one of Wedding's alleged accomplices, Andrew Clark, 34. Clark, a Canadian citizen who was living in Mexico, was arrested by Mexican authorities in October 2024 and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in U.S. District Court in Arizona.
The indictment says Wedding and his associates conspired to deliver shipments of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Los Angeles to Canada using long-haul semi-trucks.
Wedding is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; conspiracy to export cocaine; continuing criminal enterprise; murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise and drug crime; and attempt to commit murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise and drug crime.
Jordon Hudson, Bill Belichick’s girlfriend, praised President Donald Trump’s administration for renegotiating the Maine Sea Grant funding.
Hudson, 24, pleaded with Trump and the White House to reinstate the Maine Sea Grant after the program was "abruptly" cut on Saturday in a social media post.
Trump’s administration adhered to her pleas, and agreed to reinstate the Maine Sea Grant funding on Wednesday. Hudson took to social media to extend her gratitude to the Trump administration and Senator Susan Collins.
"It is with a full, full heart that I share that this most wonderful news with you all," Hudson wrote in her caption of her post that included her next to Collins.
"This effort could not have been achieved without (Senator Susan Collins) and her commitment to Maine’s fishing community. Senator Collins, on behalf of all fisherman of Maine, thank you for your continual support in preserving our heritage, tradition and economy."
Hudson began her post with "The Fisherman have been heard!" and used the hashtags #TrumpDOESLoveFisherman and #TrumpLovesFisherman to sign off her post.
Hudson spoke during the 50th Maine Fisherman’s Forum in Rockport, Maine on Saturday and talked about how the Maine Sea Grant funding’s being cut affected Maine’s fisherman.
"The news came like a tsunami to the Forum on Saturday that the federal funding program ‘Maine Sea Grant’ was abruptly cut. This program has been a pillar of support for marine research, sustainability, and economic growth for more than 50 years. The forum floors filled with tears and fears as if everyone were drowning, and we were," Hudson wrote in a separate post on Tuesday.
"The decision only amplified the uncertainty, anxiety and existential fears that already plague the fisherman of Maine."
Belichick was with Hudson in support, as she posted a picture of the couple in a private plane before she was set to speak at the forum.
The North Carolina Tar Heels head coach and Hudson were first publicly linked last year and have reportedly discussed marriage.
This upcoming football season will be Belichick’s first as a college football head coach. The 72-year-old parted ways with the New England Patriots after the 2023 season after an incredible run that included six Super Bowl victories.
John Cena’s heel turn at WWE’s Elimination Chamber transcended the world of sports entertainment.
Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe debated about the ordeal on ESPN while Jon Stewart brought it up on "The Daily Show." It was truly a moment no pro wrestling fan thought they would see – ever.
Cena even talked about the idea of turning heel in 2012 on Chris Van Vliet’s podcast last year. But the dramatic turn from being immensely loved by the fans to turning his back on everything his character stood for over several years never occurred – until Saturday.
The comparisons then trickled in. Which heel turn was bigger – Hulk Hogan being the third man in the New World Order and turning on World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1996 at Bash at the Beach or was it Cena?
Hogan weighed in during an interview with Justin Barrasso for his Substack "Undisputed."
"It’s one of the best heel turns I’ve seen in a long, long time," Hogan said. "All the major players were involved. I can’t say enough about The Rock, too – he was incredible. They did it right, I’ll tell you that."
Hogan added that. Cena’s now not doing the things he had been doing – essentially, shaking hands and kissing babies. He called it "bigger than a wrestling angle."
By the time Hogan decided to become the "bad guy" in pro wrestling, his gimmick of "Say your prayers and eat your vitamins" was said to have become stale. No pro wrestling fan at the time thought Hogan could align with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall, who had just joined WCW in the weeks prior from WWE – then known as the World Wrestling Federation.
The turn kicked-started the dominance of the New World Order faction. WCW defeated WWE in the ratings for 83 weeks before the other company eventually righted the ship and bought WCW.
Cena started his career wanting to make a good impression in the company’s "Ruthless Aggression" era and then transformed into a rapper who would dis crowds and drop freestyle rap tracks on his opponents.
He became one of the most popular wrestlers ever and even set a record for most Make-a-Wish Foundation wishes granted. He won the WWE Championship 13 times and the World Heavyweight Championship three times. One more title win will set a record.
It was what his farewell tour was going to be about when he announced his retirement last summer. He embarked on the journey at the Royal Rumble, only to be the final competitor eliminated.
The signs appeared to be there after that. He declared himself a competitor in the men’s Elimination Chamber match without earning the spot. He then aligned himself with The Rock, who initially asked Rhodes to become "his champion."
Cena’s final WWE run will now be on the other side of the aisle and will keep a hot storyline burning through the rest of the year.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services served a notice of violation to the state of Maine on Feb. 25, and declared the state violated Title IX by allowing trans athletes to compete in girls' sports.
According to the notice, obtained by Fox News Digital, the Maine Department of Education is violating Title IX by denying female student athletes "an equal opportunity" to participate in athletics "by allowing male athletes to compete against female athletes in current and future athletic events."
The notice also states if the violations are not corrected, a referral may be made to the Department of Justice.
The notice came amid a feud between President Donald Trump and Maine Gov. Janet Mills over the state's refusal to comply with the president's February executive order to keep biological males out of women's and girls' sports.
The state has been called "ground zero" in the national battle over banning and protecting trans inclusion in women's sports after state lawmaker Laurel Libby made a social media post pointing out a trans athlete who won a girls' pole vault competition in February.
"If Maine Democrats continue to double down on allowing biological males to participate in girls' sports, our students stand to lose hundreds of millions of dollars of federal funding. Gov. Mills and legislative Democrats have a renewed opportunity to do the right thing, to ensure restored funding and a fair and level playing field for Maine girls," Libby told Fox News Digital in response to the news of the determined violation.
"I appreciate the Trump administration's swift and decisive action, and will continue to stand firm with our shared mission of upholding the rights of Maine women and girls."
Libby's revelation of the trans athlete ignited national conversation and coverage of the state's policy on trans inclusion after Maine announced it would not comply with Trump's executive order.
Trump then vowed to cut funding to the state for refusing to follow his order during a gathering of governors at the White House.
One day later, Mills' office responded with a statement threatening legal action against the Trump administration if it did withhold federal funding from the state. Then, Trump and Mills verbally sparred in a widely publicized argument at the White House during a bipartisan meeting of governors.
Just hours after that interaction, the U.S. Department of Education announced it will be investigating the state for allowing trans athletes to compete in girls' sports and potential Title IX violations.
Police protection has since been assigned to the high school that is attended by the trans athlete who Libby identified in her Facebook post, amid concerns over safety.
The Maine House of Representatives voted to censure Libby on Feb. 25, the same day that the Health and Human Services Department found the state violated Title IX.
The controversy even incited a protest against Mills, called "the March Against Mills," which took place outside Maine's State House Saturday morning. Several female athletes took the microphone at the march to speak out against their Democratic governor.
In response, one day after that, pro-trans activists protested outside of Libby's home, in opposition to her beliefs about transgender athletes in women's and girls' sports.
Just eight protesters appeared outside Libby's home with signs reading "Shame on you Laurel 4 exploiting a child 4 your political gain" and "protect trans youth," according to The Maine Wire.
Trump re-affirmed his intent to punish states that continue to let trans athletes compete with girls during Tuesday night's joint address to Congress.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted Trump "won't back down" as he goes after these states.
"The president has made a commitment to ensure that states are being held accountable if they continue to allow men in women's sports, which he believes is an egregious violation of taxpayer dollars, and so that fight continues and the president won't back down," Leavitt said. "This is a commonsense policy, 80% of the American people, including more than 60% of Democrats, do not want men in women's sports."
Adam "Pacman" Jones revealed in a recent interview how he was able to beat NFL drug tests when he was playing in the league for the Cincinnati Bengals and other teams.
Jones admitted on Deion Sanders’ Tubi show, "We Got Time Today," that he "cheated" the league’s drug program. He said his way was "really good."
"People don’t know how smart I am, but like, I can say it now. I don’t play no more, but like, I’ve never used my p--- for a p--- test. Not one time. Not one time," he said.
Sanders said there was no way a player could get away with what Jones described.
"The reason it can’t because they go in there with you right now," the Colorado Buffaloes head coach said. "No, no. They go in there and watch you pull out."
Jones tried to go into explicit detail about how a player could get around the drug test, but he was shut down.
The former defensive back was the No. 6 overall pick of the 2005 draft. He played for the Bengals, Tennessee Titans, Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos from 2005 to 2018. He missed two full seasons of his career.
The NFL had a strict no-marijuana policy during those years, which has since been relaxed.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Champ Bailey told Fox News Digital in January that he used marijuana during his playing career and suggested that NFL players who were using cannabis knew when the tests occurred and stopped using the drug before they were tested.
"They were very strict back then, but I wouldn’t say in a way they wanted to catch you. Like, we knew when the tests were coming, so we always quit at a certain time, which… even at the time, you realize that was at a detriment to my recovery because the times we had to quit was in the offseason when they would have these yearly tests," he said.
"It’s one of those times where you’re working harder than you work during the season because you’re training to get back in shape, and those are the times you really want it. I could just remember guys always talking about what we had to quit when. Some guys would get tested earlier than others, so guys would get back on it and others were still waiting. It was a topic of conversation to figure out how to navigate that, but we all stuck together – the ones that were using – and we made sure that we all got through it.
"Some did pass, some did it. We’ve all had our experiences with the drug program in the league. But, for better or worse, it was a waste of time. When you look back on it, I think the league realized they wasted a lot of resources on something that could actually benefit us, and things have changed. Things have changed over time. And I’m proud to say that they give me the courage to really speak up more because they’re starting to turn the page on what it means to use cannabis."
