At first, Legette was trying to coach his friend out of the predicament, but when that didn’t work, he jumped on to do things himself. Legette didn’t hesitate a bit when he saw the situation getting even more sticky.
However, the video clip ends with Legette and his friend trying together to pull the blue ATV out of the mud without showing the end result.
Legette’s wilderness adventures have been on full display since the South Carolina product entered the NFL as the Panthers’ first-round selection last season. He went viral for numerous reasons, including his thick Southern accent that fans adore.
He’s also been seen riding horses on his farm, especially "Dolla Bill," which he gives a nod to with his touchdown celebration that mimics riding a horse.
Legette had some great moments for the Panthers last season with 497 yards on 49 receptions and four touchdowns in his rookie year.
He hopes to build off his rookie campaign with a Panthers team that added to its wide receivers room in the first round again, this time nabbing Tetairoa McMillan out of Arizona with the eighth overall pick in April.
The University of Pennsylvania agreed to a resolution with President Donald Trump's administration to keep males out of women's sports and apologize to every woman swimmer who was affected by the presence of trans athlete Lia Thomas in the 2021-22 season.
However, a lawsuit against the university by three former women's swimmers over their experience in sharing a team with Thomas is still active.
Former UPenn swimmers Grace Estabrook, Margot Kaczorowski and Ellen Holmquist filed their lawsuit against the university, Harvard University, the NCAA and the Ivy League back on Feb. 5. The suit alleges university officials led them to feel their concerns over being teammates with Thomas were rooted in a "psychological problem," and that by allowing Thomas to compete, the institutions "injured them and violated federal law."
The activist group funding the lawsuit, the Independent Council on Women's Sports (ICONS), released a statement on Tuesday addressing UPenn's resolution.
"In less than three weeks, lawyers for the University of Pennsylvania will appear in federal district court in Boston, Massachusetts. They have informed the court that they will argue the university did not violate Title IX by allowing Lia Thomas to compete on the women’s swim team," the statement claimed.
"Will UPenn now admit to the federal judge—just as they did to the Trump Administration today—that they violated Title IX? Or will they continue fighting against accountability and against UPenn’s female swimmers in court?"
Meanwhile, Former UPenn swimmer Paula Scanlan, who is not part of the lawsuit but was one of the first of Thomas' teammates to speak out against the situation, shared the email she received from the university apologizing.
ICONS added in its statement that Tuesday's announcement should serve as a warning to other institutions.
"We, along with the female athletes we represent, are grateful to the Trump Administration and the Department of Education for their commitment to restoring justice in women’s sports. Today’s announcement, concerning one of the most notorious violations of Title IX, sends a clear message to all educational institutions: denying women equal opportunities and the right to privacy is unequivocally wrong," the statement continued.
"ICONS remains dedicated to holding organizations like the NCAA, the Ivy League, and the University of Pennsylvania accountable, ensuring that legal precedents are set so such violations can never happen again."
Fox News Digital has reached out to UPenn for a response to the ICONS statement.
Thomas, a biological male, previously competed for the UPenn men's swimming team from 2017-20 under the name Will Thomas. According to the lawsuit, Thomas was introduced by women's swimming head coach Mike Schnur to the women's swimmers during a team meeting in Fall 2019 as their incoming teammate.
Each of the three plaintiffs claims the experience left them "repeatedly emotionally traumatized."
The plaintiffs allege that the university administrators pushed pro-trans ideology onto them throughout the process of accepting Thomas on the team and in their locker room. The former swimmers say that they were led to feel their concerns over being teammates with Thomas were rooted in a "psychological problem."
"The UPenn administrators told the women that if anyone was struggling with accepting Thomas’s participation on the UPenn Women’s team, they should seek counseling and support from CAPS and the LBGTQ center," the lawsuit alleges.
"The administrators also invited the women to a talk titled, ‘Trans 101.’ Thus, the women were led to understand that UPenn’s position was that if a woman on the team had any problem with a trans-identifying male being on her team that woman had a psychological problem and needed counseling."
The plaintiffs also allege that the administrators warned them against speaking out against the situation publicly.
"The UPenn administrators went on to tell the women that if the women spoke publicly about their concerns about Thomas’ participation on the Women’s Team, the reputation of those complaining about Thomas being on the team would be tainted with transphobia for the rest of their lives and they would probably never be able to get a job,’" the lawsuit alleges.
The three female swimmers allege that they were made to believe they would be removed from the team if they tried to protest Thomas' participation ahead of the 2022 Ivy League championships.
"UPenn swim team members were told by Coach Schnur and UPenn administrators that UPenn administrators coordinated closely with the NCAA and the Ivy League to ensure that Thomas would be eligible for the 2021-2022 women’s swimming season," the suit alleged.
"These statements about close coordination between UPenn, the Ivy League and the NCAA regarding Thomas’ eligibility led the UPenn Women’s Team members to understand the resisting or protesting the participation of Thomas on the team or his presence in the locker room would be futile and could result in the women being removed from the team or from UPenn."
The lawsuit alleges that coaches and UPenn administrators told the women's swimmers not to talk about Thomas' situation. Schnur allegedly told the women's swimmers that Thomas wouldn't be sharing a locker room with them when they asked after the initial introduction.
But that allegedly changed later.
Thomas officially began to practice and compete with the women's swimmers in Fall 2021.
And that was when the female swimmers say they discovered that Schnur's alleged claim Thomas wouldn't share a locker room was not true.
"When UPenn’s women’s swimmers returned to school in the fall of 2021 they were shocked to discover that Thomas was being allowed to use the women’s locker room at UPenn and would be allowed to use the women’s locker room at swim meets," the lawsuit alleges.
"Margot [Kaczorowski] only learned that Thomas had been authorized by UPenn to use the women’s locker room when [Kaczorowski] walked in the women’s locker room to find Thomas in front of her changing his clothing."
Per the suit, Kaczorowski confronted Schnur in tears about her shock of discovering Thomas would now share a locker room with her. She alleges the coach responded by saying, "I know it’s wrong, but there’s nothing I can do."
"Coach Schnur told the Plaintiffs he would be fired by UPenn if he did not allow Thomas to use the women’s locker room and compete on the women’s swim team," the lawsuit alleges.
In December 2021, another team meeting was held to discuss Thomas' presence on the team and the media attention it garnered, per the court documents. The female swimmers allege they were told that Thomas would continue to be on their team and that "Lia swimming is a non-negotiable."
UPenn addressed the resolution with Trump's administration in a statement on Tuesday.
"The Department of Education OCR investigated the participation of one transgender athlete on the women’s swimming team three years ago, during the 2021 – 2022 swim season. At that time, Penn was in compliance with NCAA eligibility rules and Title IX as then interpreted," the statement read.
"Penn has always followed – and continues to follow – Title IX and the applicable policy of the NCAA regarding transgender athletes. NCAA eligibility rules changed in February 2025 with Executive Orders 14168 and 14201 and Penn will continue to adhere to these new rules.
"Penn has never maintained a policy of its own regarding the participation of transgender athletes in intercollegiate sports. Nor do we maintain our own policies related to other NCAA rules. We adhere to NCAA and Ivy League rules that are designed to ensure fair and transparent athletic competitions for all schools and participants."
Waller is coming out of retirement to play for the Miami Dolphins, who made a trade with the New York Giants to get him in the building before training camp, according to multiple reports Tuesday.
The Giants held Waller’s rights after he announced his retirement after one season in New York in 2023. They received a 2026 sixth-round pick for Waller and a conditional 2027 seventh-round selection in the NFL Draft, according to ESPN.
Waller's return from retirement happened one day after the Dolphins sent their Pro Bowl tight end from 2024, Jonnu Smith, to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a deal involving Jalen Ramsey and Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Waller figures to be the starter, though he’ll have to compete with Julian Hill and Pharaoh Brown for that role in training camp.
People close to Waller said he "missed football," according to ESPN, and he wanted to get back into the game if a team wanted him.
The 32-year-old was one of the best tight ends in the NFL with 2,341 receiving yards on 197 receptions with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2019 and 2020 combined. He had 12 touchdowns during that span.
The Raiders gave Waller a three-year extension worth $51 million, but he was traded to the Giants after the 2022 season.
Things didn’t pan out in New York, where he caught 52 passes for 552 yards with just one touchdown in a lost 2023 campaign for Big Blue.
Waller eventually announced he was retiring after a health scare in November 2023.
In a YouTube video, Waller revealed he struggled to breathe and spent 3½ days in a hospital unable to stand up, use the bathroom or even feed himself. While he didn’t disclose the diagnosis doctors gave him for those ailments, he said the "very scary situation" changed his mindset, and he decided to retire with a focus on his music career.
Waller has also been very public about his battles with addiction, most notably, a 2017 overdose that turned his life around for the better. He has since used his own experience with addiction and rehabilitation to help others.
With the Dolphins, Waller hopes to be a force on offense. He will be teaming up with Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and other electric players on that side of the ball.
Waller will also reunite with his former Raiders tight ends coach, Frank Smith, who worked with him from 2018-20.
Boxing legend Mike Tyson doesn't just like cannabis. He needs it.
"Some of us can’t live, can’t function without it," Tyson told Fox News Digital, adding that he is "100%" one of those people. He believes he would likely be in prison and "less successful as a human being" if he never discovered the plant.
Cannabis played heavily into Tyson's fight with YouTuber Jake Paul. Tyson says he was heavily under the influence of marijuana when he agreed to the match.
When asked if he would have agreed to fight Paul if he was sober, Tyson said "I don't really believe so, no."
The day of the match, Tyson said he used marijuana "not long before" the fight started.
"Yeah, I can't stop. … I don't think I was high. I was very relaxed and cool," Tyson said of his state of mind before the fight. "It put me at an advantage."
After losing to Paul in eight rounds, Tyson immediately used marijuana again.
"I said I needed a joint right away. As soon as it ended, I needed a joint. Let’s get out of here," Tyson said. "It was like I was dreaming. It was like a dream. It was beautiful. It felt like I won the fight."
When asked if he will fight again, Tyson said, "It depends on if cannabis ever becomes legal or not and rescheduled."
By "rescheduled," Tyson means he wants to see the plant officially reclassified by the government from a category that is defined by high potential for abuse with no accepted medical use to a category of moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence.
It is one of the three points Tyson advocated in a recent letter to President Donald Trump's White House that he wrote in conjunction with other superstar athletes and entertainers, like Kevin Durant and Allen Iverson.
Tyson, Durant and the others are pushing for reform and are putting their faith in Trump. Joe Biden, and previously Barack Obama, did not achieve major federal reform for cannabis or significant clemency for those incarcerated for non-violent cannabis crimes during their respective terms.
"It was a letdown, but you have to respect they were in power. You have to respect that," Tyson said. "We have a different president now, so we're talking to him. So, it seems to be a lot different talking to President Trump than with the other guy. And, like I said before, that's their agenda. This is our agenda right here."
Tyson added he believes the rescheduling of marijuana is the top priority in his federal reform goals. On top of that, he and his supporters want to see mass clemency for nonviolent marijuana offenders.
Tyson said seeing people going to jail for these offenses was an unfortunate memory of his childhood.
"I always knew that. I always knew that I am friends with those people, people come from my community," Tyson said. He recalled one member of his community he watched go to jail when he was a kid and who wasn't released until Tyson became an established fighter.
A recent study by researchers at UC San Francisco determined that eating edible cannabis, such as gummies, has the same cardiovascular risk as smoking marijuana for long-term users. The risk stems from reduced blood vessel function, according to the study, published in JAMA Cardiology May 28.
Tyson admitted to first using the drug before he was 10 years old. Now, he believes the minimum age for a cannabis user should be 21.
For Tyson, the plant became a key component in achieving success as a boxer. He claims it made him a better athlete as a fighter, and he often used it after fights to recover.
Other than the Paul fight, Tyson says there was only one other time when he used cannabis just before a fight. It was against Andrew Golota in 2000, a fight Tyson won by technical knockout.
"Very relaxing, very calm, very — I don’t know — just very free," Tyson said of the experience winning that fight under the influence of cannabis.
Tyson added the plant helped him avoid other drugs, like cocaine and alcohol.
"It makes you health conscious," Tyson said.
However, when the plant was illegal and criminalized throughout parts of the U.S., Tyson said he would get sick from using cannabis he bought off the street that was laced with chemicals. He says it happened multiple times.
"It wasn't good. It felt like my throat was going to explode," Tyson said.
Preventing the spread of marijuana laced with chemicals is one of the driving factors behind Tyson's push for federal reform. He believes the industry must be legitimized to snuff out the black market marijuana trade.
The final point he made in his letter to Trump was to put an end to banking practices that restrict the financial management for cannabis businesses.
"They're going to do it anyway, legal or illegal, so let's make it safe. Get all the bad actors out of the picture," Tyson said.
Tyson isn't embarking on his mission alone. He, Durant and Iverson were joined in the letter by former boxer Roy Jones Jr., former Dallas Cowboys star Dez Bryant, former NFL star Antonio Brown and former NFL player and prominent cannabis advocate Ricky Williams.
They were also joined by music producer Weldon Angelos, who was sentenced to 55 years in prison in November 2004 for marijuana charges. Angelos was released in 2016 and pardoned by Trump in December 2020. The letter also criticized former President Joe Biden for a lack of action on addressing marijuana-related incarceration.
"We want [Trump] to follow through on his campaign promises," Angelos said.
"I think a lot of athletes use cannabis for medicinal purposes. That's why so many athletes are on the letter that we organized, because cannabis has helped him. Just look at Mike Tyson. … Cannabis has helped him tremendously. So, cannabis is a medicine, People need to have access to it."
One of the most anticipated college football offseason programs is the Manning Passing Academy, which brings together some of the nation's top quarterbacks and others to compete, learn and prepare for the upcoming season.
Of course, the camp had a Manning participating instead of teaching, as Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning garnered tons of attention from virtually everyone in-person and looking on at home.
Arch will be leading the Longhorns this season after spending two years as Quinn Ewers' backup in Austin, and if he has the Heisman-level season some predict for him, perhaps he will make the leap to the NFL after his junior year.
Despite not even being in the league yet, comparisons to his Super Bowl-champion uncles, Peyton and Eli Manning, have already begun.
Peyton made an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," where he explained his excitement for his nephew this season. However, he knows Arch, his brother and Arch's father Cooper, and others have already prepared the Texas signal caller for what's to come.
"You know Pat, Eli and I are his uncles," Peyton said to McAfee. "We try to be there as a resource for him, but Cooper has done a great job with Arch, and they’ve handled all the different things that have kind of come their way in the right way. I’m excited to watch Arch play. He’s been very patient. I thought he threw the ball really well at the camp."
It wasn't just Arch that turned heads at the Manning Passing Academy, though.
"[Arch] and [LSU QB] Garrett Nussmeier, in kind of our three throwing exhibitions, really threw the ball well. All the quarterbacks threw it well. It’s impressive. They make throws that I wouldn’t even think about making. I mean, Arch made a throw the other day — I had to hit the cutoff man to get the ball to the actual receiver. Nussmeier, LaNorris [Sellers] from South Carolina, it’s impressive all the way around."
While there has been a spotlight on Arch since he chose the Longhorns out of high school, it's been rather dim because he's had to wait his turn behind Ewers, who stayed last season to help lead Texas to the College Football Playoff.
But two years learning head coach Steve Sarkisian's offensive scheme is something the Indianapolis Colts legend believes did his nephew good.
"But, look, he’s been patient," Peyton explained. "It’s been well-documented, he’s been there two years. I’m such a believer in mastering the system that you’re in. When you have new coordinators every single year in the NFL and college, that’s just frustrating to me. I was lucky. … The fact that Sarkisian calls the plays and Arch has been there for two years already and is going to know the system, that’s going to be a huge advantage for him.
"I’m looking forward to seeing him get out on the field. He’s worked real hard. I love seeing him go to that camp for his teammates. That’s being a good teammate. That’s being a good wingman. I’m excited to get down there and watch a few games in Austin."
One of the main things football fans point out when comparing Arch to his NFL-star uncles is the fact that he can really hit the ground running, making defenders miss when he tucks and heads outside the pocket.
As Peyton pointed out, Cooper was a wide receiver, so his wheels must come from his father.
What's also moved on to the next generation is the "swagger" he thinks Cooper passed down to Arch.
"The moxy, that was his dad," Peyton said. "Cooper was a cocky wide receiver that was open every time in the huddle. I think about sophomore year in high school, I was the quarterback, and Cooper was a senior. I think I completed 120 passes that year, and I think 90 of them to my brother. He would’ve liked all 120. He did not care about his teammates or friends. I think that little swagger comes from his dad, and that’s good to see.
"But Arch has to be his own person, and he can move. My dad’s sort of speed, sort of skipped a generation, skipped me and Eli. Arch has that, which helps him. But I still think with all quarterbacks, we’ve gotta be able to throw from the pocket first, throw on time and not take a lot of hits. That’s what we talked about with all of them."
Arch will be tested right away as the Longhorns’ starter, as Texas will travel to Ohio State to face the reigning national champions on Aug. 30.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is likely still basking in the glory of winning his first NBA championship, but the Oklahoma City Thunder star now has another reason to smile.
Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder reached an agreement on a four-year super maximum contract extension, ESPN reported Tuesday.
The four-year deal reportedly has a total value of $285 million and contractually ties the reigning league MVP to the Thunder through the 2030-31 season. The extension will also pay Gilgeous-Alexander the highest annual salary any NBA player has ever received.
Before the Thunder captured the coveted Larry O'Brien Trophy by defeating the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals, only two players in league history had previously won league MVP and Finals MVP trophies in the same season.
Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Larry Bird, Shaquille O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and five other NBA greats form the exclusive club Gilgeous-Alexander recently joined.
Gilgeous-Alexander spent his rookie season with the Los Angeles Clippers and has been with the Thunder ever since.
The Thunder capitalized on the haul of draft picks the franchise accumulated in a trade that sent Paul George to Los Angeles in exchange for Gilgeous-Alexander. Jalen Williams was one of the players Oklahoma City drafted due to the blockbuster transaction.
In addition to the NBA MVP and Finals MVP, Gilgeous-Alexander won the league's scoring title to complete the triple crown.
The 2025 NBA Finals victory is the Thunder's first title in Oklahoma City. The franchise won the 1979 NBA title when it was known as the Seattle SuperSonics. The team moved to Oklahoma City in 2008.
Less than one month ago, Coco Gauff was on top of the tennis world as the French Open champion. Now, she's at the bottom.
The 21-year-old tennis phenom dropped her first round of the Wimbledon Championships on Tuesday in straight sets to Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine, 7-6 (7-3), 6-1.
Yastremska was ranked as high as 21st in the world back in January 2020, but entered Tuesday's contest at No. 46. Her best finish in a Grand Slam was her 2024 Australian Open semifinal.
Gauff, ranked No. 2 in the world, had a total of 29 unforced errors and nine double-faults. Meanwhile, Yastremska said she was "on fire" throughout the day.
The grass-court tournament has proved to be her least-successful major. It’s the only Slam where Gauff hasn’t made at least the semifinals. She has yet to get past the fourth round and now has been sent home in the first round twice in the past three years.
The transition from clay to grass has proven tough for most players, and the last woman to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same season was Serena Williams a decade ago.
Still, since the Open era began in 1968, only Justine Henin in 2005 and Francesca Schiavone in 2010 went from holding the trophy in Paris to exiting immediately in London.
Yastremska now owns an 11-11 first-round record in Grand Slams. Gauff, by contrast, was 20-3 at that stage, including a loss to Sofia Kenin at Wimbledon in 2023.
Yastremska's deepest run at Wimbledon was making the fourth round in 2019, although she did get to the final of the junior event in 2016. She recently reached her first tournament final on grass, at a smaller event in Nottingham, which she said gave her confidence heading to the All England Club.
"I love playing on grass. I feel that this year we are kind of friends," Yastremska said with a laugh. "I hope the road will continue for me here."
Caitlin Clark’s All-Star voting among WNBA players, who ranked her ninth-best among guards in the league, had social media in a frenzy wondering how that could be the case.
One of those who voiced their opinion was Michele Tafoya, the ex-NFL reporter, who believes Clark’s peers are "jealous" of her.
Tafoya made an appearance on OutKick’s "Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich," where she furthered her thoughts on the matter.
"I thought we were turning a corner here, Dan," she said to Dakich. "I thought we saw her teammates having her back. I thought we were maybe settling down with this obsession of Caitlin Clark.
"It really feels almost like a hatred toward her, but it’s clearly a jealousy. She’s got that great State Farm commercial where everything’s better from the logo – terrific ad, very smart. So, America loves her, the fans clearly love her, the media likes her. But the players can’t stand her."
Clark, a WNBA All-Star Game captain along with the Minnesota Lynx's Napheesa Collier, finished first in fan voting and fourth in media voting among guards.
But Tafoya, like many others, couldn’t believe Clark was so far down the list. Some believe it could be because she’s struggled in recent games with her jumpshot, while others spoke about her playing just nine of the Fever’s 16 games so far this season due to injuries.
Tafoya didn't want to hear it.
"Ninth-best guard in the league? Don’t try to give me the excuses of, ‘Well, she’s been struggling lately,’ or, ‘She missed some games with injury.’ Come on, this is insanity and I think it’s an activist vote by the women of the WNBA, who simply cannot stand her success. It’s so dumb and it’s so childish," she said.
Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings rookie and first overall pick in this year’s WNBA Draft, was ranked the top guard from three phases of voting: fans, media and players. She was second in fan rank, fifth in media and fourth among players.
The Atlanta Dream’s Allisha Gray, one of the WNBA All-Star starters, finished first in media rank and player rank, while players like Seattle’s Skylar Diggins, New York’s Sabrina Ionescu and Natasha Cloud, Washington’s Brittney Sykes and more finished above Clark in terms of player rank.
Clark is averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists, five rebounds and 1.6 steals over 33.3 minutes per game this season. Only the Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas – who could be among the 12 All-Star Game reserves, which will be selected by the league’s head coaches and announced this Sunday – has more assists per game (9.3), and she’s touched the hardwood in 12 contests this season.
Clark also received 1,293,526 votes from the fans.
While Clark has been integral in the rise of the WNBA’s popularity since breaking rookie and league records last season with the Fever, there have been many contentious moments with game opponents.
This season, a physical altercation broke out against the Connecticut Sun, during which Clark was hit in the face and shoved to the ground during a play. Later in the game, Clark’s teammate, Sophie Cunningham, retaliated against Sun guard Jacy Sheldon in another scuffle that led to ejections.
And, of course, Clark was the center of national sports conversation after instances against the Sun, Chicago Sky and others.
The WNBA announced Monday it is expanding to 18 teams by the end of 2030, with franchises headed to Philadelphia, Detroit and Cincinnati.
It is continued growth for the league, which has the Golden State Valkyries, its 13th team, playing in its inaugural season. Toronto and Portland are due to get teams next season.
Despite more opportunities, one WNBA star isn't exactly thrilled with the move.
Sophie Cunningham, a teammate of Caitlin Clark's on the Indiana Fever, praised the league for its efforts, saying, "You want to listen to your players, too," while doubting players will be excited to be in the Midwest.
"Like, where do they want to play? Where are they going to get excited to play and draw fans? I think Miami would have been a great one. Everyone loves Florida. Nashville is an amazing city. Kansas City — amazing opportunity. There’s a huge arena downtown that no one's using," Cunningham added Tuesday afternoon. "I'm not so sure what the thought process is there.
"At the end of the day, you don't want to expand our league too fast. We don't want teams to totally dominate and some that aren't. It's a hard situation, but, man, I don’t know how excited people are to be going to Detroit or [Cleveland]."
Each city Cunningham mentioned submitted a bid for expansion.
This will mark the second time the WNBA will be in Detroit. The Shock won three WNBA titles before relocating to Tulsa in 2010. They then moved to Dallas to become the Wings.
Cleveland will begin play in 2028, Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia the season after, assuming they get approval from the NBA and WNBA Board of Governors.
"The demand for women’s basketball has never been higher, and we are thrilled to welcome Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia to the WNBA family," WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. "This historic expansion is a powerful reflection of our league’s extraordinary momentum, the depth of talent across the game and the surging demand for investment in women’s professional basketball."
Other cities to submit expansion bids were St. Louis, Austin, Denver, Charlotte and Houston, the latter of which had the Comets, which won the first four WNBA championships.
"There are a variety of cities that obviously bid, and one of those I wanted to shout out — because they have such a strong history in this league and their great ownership group — is Houston," Engelbert said. "The Houston Comets were just an amazing one, the first four inaugural championships in the WNBA. So, I would say that’s the one, obviously, we have our eye on. (Owner) Tilman (Fertitta) has been a great supporter of the WNBA, and we’ll stay tuned on that."
The Indiana Fever will be without guard Caitlin Clark for the third straight game after announcing that the 2025 All-Star Game captain will remain sidelined with a groin injury from the Commissioner’s Cup Championship game against the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday night.
The Fever announced Clark’s absence in a status report before the game, which will not count towards the team’s regular season standings.
It comes a day after Clark told reporters following a practice session that she was feeling optimistic about her health.
"I feel good. I’m going to be day-to-day from here on out, and I’m doing everything I can to put myself in position to play the next game every single time — that’s always my goal, is to be available for the next game," Clark said Monday.
"I’m doing everything I can with the medical staff to be able to get my body right to be able to do that. But, yeah, I feel good and just going day-by-day."
Tuesday’s absence marks her third in a row and eighth overall this season. The reigning WNBA Rookie of the year had previously missed five straight with a quad injury. It also comes amid a shooting slump for the two-time WNBA All-Star and ahead of Tuesday’s matchup against the league-leading Lynx.
Head coach Stephanie White said Monday that Clark was limited in practice to "a lot of non-contact shooting" drills.
"We’re just trying to progress slowly, making sure that we don’t have any setbacks. So, mostly offensive, non-contact work."
Clark is averaging 18.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game this season.
The Lynx will host the Fever with the hopes of taking home the title again after winning the trophy last season. Minnesota currently leads the WNBA with a 14-2 record.
FIRST ON FOX: The U.S. Department of Education announced Tuesday that the University of Pennsylvania has agreed to a resolution with President Donald Trump's administration to keep biological male trans athletes out of women's sports, in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.
The department previously launched an investigation into UPenn on Feb. 6 for Title IX violations that occurred in the swimming program. Trans athlete Lia Thomas competed for the women's team in the 2021-22 season, after previously competing for the men's team.
"Today, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) announced the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) has entered into a Resolution Agreement to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX)," the statement read.
Per the DOE's announcement, under UPenn's new agreement the following actions will be taken:
UPenn also released a statement acknowledging the agreement, and suggested changes to its swimming records will be made.
"Yesterday, Penn and the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) resolved a February 2025 investigation into Penn's compliance with Title IX for women’s athletics. This is a complex issue, and I am pleased that we were able to reach a resolution through the standard OCR process for concluding Title IX investigations," the statement said.
"While Penn’s policies during the 2021-2022 swim season were in accordance with NCAA eligibility rules at the time, we acknowledge that some student-athletes were disadvantaged by these rules. We recognize this and will apologize to those who experienced a competitive disadvantage or experienced anxiety because of the policies in effect at the time.
"We will review and update the Penn women’s swimming records set during that season to indicate who would now hold the records under current eligibility guidelines."
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon credited Trump for the resolution.
"Thanks to the leadership of President Trump, UPenn has agreed both to apologize for its past Title IX violations and to ensure that women’s sports are protected at the University for future generations of female athletes," McMahon said in a statement.
"Today is a great victory for women and girls not only at the University of Pennsylvania, but all across our nation. The Department commends UPenn for rectifying its past harms against women and girls, and we will continue to fight relentlessly to restore Title IX’s proper application and enforce it to the fullest extent of the law."
Former UPenn women's swimmer Paula Scanlan, who was the first of Thomas' teammates on the women's team to speak out against the school for allowing the situation to play out, told Fox News Digital that she is "grateful."
"I am deeply grateful to the Trump administration for standing firm in protecting women and girls and restoring our rightful accolades," Scanlan said.
"It is because of their strong leadership that my alma mater now knows it has no choice but to begin the process of reforming its policies to uphold women’s rights. Today marks a momentous step toward repairing the past mistreatment of female athletes and forging a future where sex discrimination no longer limits girls’ potential."
Scanlan isn't the only one of Thomas' former teammates to speak out anymore.
Three other former UPenn swimmers filed a lawsuit against the university on Feb. 5, the same day Trump signed the "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order.
The lawsuit sought to have Thomas' accolades withdrawn and redistributed to the women's swimmers who competed against the athlete, and it alleges university administrators suggested any female swimmer opposed to Thomas competing with them had a "psychological problem" and were referred to the school's LGBTQ center.
Trump's administration later froze $175 million in funding for the school on March 20. Then, on April 28, the Education Department's Office of Civil Rights announced its investigation concluded that UPenn did violate Title IX in its handling of the Thomas situation.
The Thomas saga at the 2022 NCAA championships is largely considered a cultural turning point in the national debate over transgender athletes in women's sports. Back then, current prominent conservative activist Riley Gaines was just a dental student who had to settle for a tie with Thomas in one of the NCAA championship events.
Since then, Gaines has taken the lead on an entire political platform focused on combating male inclusion in women's and girls' sports, stemming from her experience competing against Thomas in 2022.
Gaines previously told Fox News Digital that she would send a "thank-you" note to "people like" Thomas for bringing attention to the issue back then, as she believes it influenced the 2024 election.
"I think we should send a thank-you note to people like Will Thomas, I really do, signed and sealed by me. I will sign the thank-you note, I will write it, because I believe he handed us the election," Gaines said.
"There was a lot that was wrong with Joe Biden, his administration and the Democratic Party as a whole outside of the sports stuff … but this was the perfect visual. It's like the South Park episode. … It painted the picture that many of us were concerned about for a while, but made it a reality."
A national exit poll conducted by the Concerned Women for America legislative action committee found that 70% of moderate voters saw the issue of "Donald Trump’s opposition to transgender boys and men playing girls' and women’s sports and of transgender boys and men using girls' and women’s bathrooms" as important to them. Additionally, 6% said it was the most important issue of all, while 44% said it was "very important."
Fox News Digital reached out to UPenn and Thomas' listed representative for comment.
Debra Wright, the wife of a soccer team executive in England, was tragically killed in Spain over the weekend after a reported collision involving a jet ski and speedboat, the team announced in a statement Monday.
Ashton Town Football Club, which plays in Division One North of the North West Counties League, released a statement on social media confirming the death of 47-year-old Wright, the wife of team chairman Chris Wright.
"It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that on behalf of Ashton Town FC we announce the tragic death of Debra Wright, wife of Chris our Chairman who was tragically killed whilst on holiday in Spain on Saturday evening," a statement on X said.
"Our family are in mourning at this sad time and we ask for time for Chris and his family and everyone and the club to be able to start to come to terms with this tragedy. RIP Debra, fly high sweetheart."
Wright was aboard a jet ski being ridden by a friend near Playa de Los Toros, in Manilva, Malaga, at around 7 p.m. when the watercraft was struck by a speed boat, The Times reported, citing local law enforcement.
Investigators told the outlet the driver of the speedboat allegedly had a "low" test reading for alcohol and that the individual had been detained on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter. According to The Times, the person was released.
Tributes for Debra Wright poured in on social media.
The team announced Monday that its match against Burscough was postponed "as a mark of respect" for the Wright family.
"Our thoughts and love are with everyone who knew and cherished her," the team said.
The Milwaukee Bucks front office has been tasked with retooling the roster amid uncertainty about the future of franchise player Giannis Antetokounmpo.
ESPN reported, citing sources, that the Bucks decided to waive star guard Damian Lillard. Lillard is still owed $113 million and those payments are expected to be stretched over the next five years, per the report.
Lillard's 2024-25 season in Milwaukee was cut short due to a torn Achilles tendon.
Lillard underwent a procedure to address his injury in May. He is expected to continue his rehabilitation in Portland, where he spent the first 11 seasons of his NBA career.
Meanwhile, the Bucks acquired center Myles Turner from the Indiana Pacers. Turner and the Bucks reached an agreement on a four-year deal worth $107 million, according to ESPN.
Turner spent a decade in Indiana, but the NBA's two-time blocks leader seemed to be at an impasse with his state of affairs in Indianapolis.
Since the Pacers and Turner's representatives were unable to come to an agreement on a new deal, it opened the door for the Bucks to land their new center.
Turner is one of just three NBA players who have recorded 700 3-pointers and 1,400 blocks.
Brook Lopez was the Bucks' primary center the last several seasons, but he recently left in favor of a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The reshaping of the roster continued on Tuesday as the team signed Gary Harris to a two-year contract, per reports. Harris started his NBA career with the Denver Nuggets, before spending the last few years with the Orlando Magic.
After a long run with the Portland Trail Blazers, Lillard was included in a blockbuster three-team deal during the 2023 campaign that resulted in him leaving the Western Conference and landing in Milwaukee.
Lillard is a nine-time NBA All-Star. The Pacers eliminated the Bucks in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale came to the defense of Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark after her WNBA peers voted her as the ninth-best All-Star guard.
Clark’s ranking was a shock to many across the social media landscape. She was named one of the captains for the All-Star Game and received more than 1.2 million fan votes. The WNBA determined All-Star starters based on fan rank, media rank and player rank. The total weighted score helped determine the starters.
The second-year guard was ranked ninth among her fellow All-Stars,
"It is ABSURD the way that a # of players in the @WNBA have treated @CaitlinClark22! So sad but I bet they love the CHARTER FLIGHTS -the increase in SALARIES - the CROWDS -the TV Ratings since she arrived from @IowaWBB. No doubt she is THE BEST - thing to happen to the WNBA," he wrote on X.
He was far from the only one who voiced his opinion on the issue.
One potential reason why Clark’s peers ranked her so low among guards is due to playing only nine of the Fever’s 16 games this season. Clark has been dealing with injuries in her sophomore season, which continues now as she’s missed the last two games.
Clark had been struggling lately as well, going just 13-of-47 from three-point territory in her last three games.
Still, Clark is averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists, five rebounds and 1.6 steals over 33.3 minutes per game this season. Only the Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas – who could be among the 12 All-Star Game reserves, which will be selected by the league’s head coaches and announced this Sunday – has more assists per game (9.3), and she’s touched the hardwood in 12 contests this season.
While Clark has been integral in the rise of the WNBA’s popularity since breaking rookie and league records last season with the Fever, there have been many contentious moments with opponents. All the incidents became the talk of the sports world for a few days.
But Clark and Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier will be the ones drafting players to their All-Star squads, and now they know who will be starting with them at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Clark’s Fever home, on July 19.
Fox News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report.
At least that’s what Hall of Famer Goldberg declared as he re-entered the professional wrestling world for one final match. He has had his sights set on "The Ring General" since their interaction at Bad Blood last year. Goldberg will look to avenge some of the comments Gunther made about him and his family at "Saturday Night’s Main Event" on July 12.
Gunther told Fox News Digital he was looking forward to the opportunity, even as Goldberg has threatened to "beat the f---" out of him.
"That is the intensity you expect from Bill Goldberg, that is what he is known for," Gunther said. "He is not somebody that beats around the bush or tells a lengthy story about all the intricate details of why he acts the way he acts. He is straight to the point and that is what made him stand out throughout his whole career.
"He is 58 years old now, but I can tell everyone when he is in the ring with me, like in front of me, this man is a very intimidating personality, very tall person, still in fantastic shape, so yeah, I am ready for it, and I am ready to face it. It is going to be very interesting how it plays out in the ring."
Gunther teased Goldberg in recent weeks about defeating him in three minutes – something Goldberg was famous for during the dominant days of his reign in World Championship Wrestling.
However, whether it’s three minutes, 30 minutes or three seconds, Gunther just wants to walk out of Atlanta as the victor.
"We shall see. At the end of the day, especially when it is for the title, a win is a win. But I am not too concerned about that," Gunther told Fox News Digital. But it's always been me playing with all the synonymous things or terms out there with Bill Goldberg and that is what made him stand out.
"An absolute killer his whole career. He was not known for long classic matches. He is known for being a killer, finished off everyone in a very short time, and he was very successful with it. So let's see it is going to be interesting what he wants to do, what his strategy is for everything, is he going to try to play a bit slower or try to stick to what he always did, so it is going to be interesting to see."
With Seth Rollins as the holder of the Money in the Bank contract, which guarantees him a title shot at any place or any time, Gunther’s second World Heavyweight Championship reign may not be for long.
However, Gunther made clear his mind is on Goldberg going into the premium live event later this month.
Fox News' Connor McGahan contributed to this report.
The sport of golf is one of the most competitive fields any athlete could break into.
Only a handful of golfers make it to the PGA or LPGA Tours. Some get stuck in the Korn Ferry Tour or Epson Tour, while others head for green pastures with LIV Golf.
Golfers like Tisha Alyn have found a different way to make an impact on the sport – becoming one of the most-followed influencers in the sport. Alyn boasts more than 1.3 million followers on TikTok and another 519,000 followers on Instagram – numbers that rival the likes of Paige Spiranac, Grace Charis and others.
Alyn took up the sport when she was 3 years old and began competing when she was 7. She’s been across the entire country from junior golf to NCAA Division 1 with Cal State Fullerton – and it has never been about anything else.
"Golf was always my main path," Alyn told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. "I used to be a competitive dancer as well, and for anyone who follows me or knows anything about me I’ll showcase some fun dance trends and whatnot, but besides that, golf was always my main focus.
"For those who aren’t that familiar with golf, it really takes all of you. It is a lengthy sport that takes time in your day, and it is one of those sports, because it is low impact, you can do it and do it for so long. So my parents their goal for me was to always compete at a high level, play at a high level, achieve a scholarship, so golf was always it for me."
Alyn said she played professionally from 2015 to 2018 but gaining funding to be able to continue to play at a high level took its toll. She said she made a larger focus on growing her social media right around the time platforms like Instagram reached its peak.
She said she hoped she could use social media to earn sponsorships and other paid opportunities.
"As I was going on my professional golf career, it grew in tandem with social media at the same time. Come 2018, when I stopped, I was going through injuries, I was going through a lot of personal things," she said, "I thought, ‘I think it is time to put the bag down, stop playing professionally and pursue social media,’ because I see something really big here, and I always was pretty good at finding trends and seeing what is going to be that it factor.
"And I knew at the time even though there wasn’t that influencer or personality, like we didn’t have words for it, but I knew social media was here to stay. You know, looking at where we are now, it is basically the tried and true. It's where you go for any and all things media. So, I like to say I chose the right path after putting the bag down."
Pursuing a career with a social media mindset is completely different from making one.
A lot of time is spent creating and producing content and keeping a positive mindset is something that anyone who is extremely online is. With all the positives that come with a successful entrepreneurial career, so comes the backlash anyone would face on social media.
Alyn, much like Spiranac, gets her share of social media scoundrels in her mentions. She told Fox News Digital that the key for her was to stay focused on her goals.
"Staying focused on your own path and your own career I think is everything, and I am someone who is pretty feisty compared to my friends and peers around me, so I am not afraid to put up a fight or say what I feel when people especially come at me," she said. "I know I don’t have it the worst among other people in my world. I'm good friends with Paige, and she really deals with it and I always tell her every time I see her you have the thickest skin … We don’t wake up with a following right.
"So, as you grow in it, you grow that thick skin with it. I can't imagine for those who have been one hit wonders how that must be for them to suddenly be criticize in front of the world, but for me, I just grown to wipe it off, you know dust it off the shoulder, because a lot of times they just want your attention. I think the comments that do hurt the most when they don’t just attack me but they attack the people I love around me, and I think that is when it is kind of the most hurtful. But, you know, it is just kind of how that saying goes – those that throw hate at you are just envious and that is kind of how I feel, and they also give engagement, like if you want to comment thanks your growing, your growing my post, my profile, what have you, your feeding into the algorithm thank you for that."
LPGA Tour legend Annika Sorenstam expressed support for golf influencers in their efforts to grow the game, lauding the ability of influencers to "bring a different view or perspective into the sport" in an interview with Fox News Digital.
"I mean that to me means the world," Alyn said in response. "I have been able to work with Annika a few times so we do have a type of working relationship there but to get that affirmation from someone who is quite literally a legend in the game I think means everything.
"There is still a lot of, you know, beliefs on influencers and personalities being in the space, but I think that for those who do it right, I want to say that I believe I do it the right way, to try to inspire and grow the game. I think that is here to stay, and I think Annika see’s that, and she is utilizing social media. She is trying to grow on her platform as well, so it just means the world."
Fox News' Connor McGahan contributed to this report.
Los Angeles Sparks star Cameron Brink touted her looks in yet another magazine shoot in May.
This time, it was for "Players," which did a photoshoot of Brink smoking a cigarette in an open jacket without an undershirt.
"It did throw me off when those proofs came back. I did think you had a cigarette in your mouth," Brink's mother, Shelly, admitted on Brink's latest edition of her podcast.
But then, Shelly was hit with a shock – Brink admitted that she was "walking around naked" during the shoot.
"There was only gays and girls in the room – I think," Brink said. "It wasn't an issue."
Brink has been through many photoshoots, including for Sports Illustrated, and said she is "usually pretty open" when it comes to the magazines' ideas.
"I feel like I trust the creatives in the room," she said. "If they have a vision, I like the artistry of it all. I liked shooting stuff like that. I think it’s fun."
Brink's mother then commended her daughter for being comfortable in her own skin, which Brink said comes naturally as an athlete.
"We just walk around the locker room naked. I feel like as an athlete, you’re just comfortable."
Brink said she also pranked her mother into thinking she would be shown fully naked for the shoot.
"I was like, ‘um, what do you mean naked? Like body image naked? Are you covered?’" Shelly said, adding that would be "too much" for her to handle.
But not to worry.
Brink said there was "no way" she would appear "fully" naked.
Brink has yet to play this year after suffering a torn ACL in just her 15th WNBA game last year. She was the second overall pick, behind only Caitlin Clark.
American tennis pro Jessica Pegula suffered a stunning and early exit from Wimbledon in the first round on Tuesday when she was defeated in under an hour by 116th-ranked Italian, Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
Cocciaretto, 24, managed to pull off her first-ever top five win at Wimbledon with ease, defeating Pegula in straight sets 6-2, 6-3.
"To play here in such an unbelievable stadium and such an unbelievable tournament, it’s a dream come true for me. I was so pumped to play Wimbledon this year," Cocciaretto said during her on-court interview following the match.
"I played a really great champion. She’s an unbelievable player, she’s a great example for us."
Pegula's loss comes just days after she defeated Iga Swiatek in straight sets on grass to win the Bad Homburg Open in Germany. Unlike in her match against the five-time Grand Slam champion, Pegula struggled against Cocciaretto’s aggressive play, hitting only five winners and making 24 unforced errors.
"For this to happen today, it’s disappointing. I don’t know how else to put it," she said after the match. "I’m upset that I wasn’t able to turn anything around. But at the same time, I do feel like she played kind of insane. Hats off to her. Kudos to her for playing at a high level that I couldn’t match it today."
Pegula’s bad luck in the first round, which saw six of her first seven appearances at majors result in a first-round loss, came to an end in 2020, when she last lost to top-ranked women’s pro Aryna Sabalenka at the French Open.
Tuesday’s match was reminiscent of those early struggles.
"This is definitely probably the worst result I’ve had all year," Pegula said.
Stanley Cup champion Alex Pietrangelo is likely to be off of the ice for the foreseeable future as he gets set for bilateral femur reconstruction, the Vegas Golden Knights announced on Monday.
The team said there was no guarantee that the reconstruction efforts would be a success.
"Alex has our organization’s full support in prioritizing his long-term health and quality of life," Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said in a statement. "Alex is dealing with hips that would require bilateral femur reconstruction, with no guarantee of success. Throughout the season, the steps that Alex needed to take to be able to play and practice began to grow and take a significant toll on his body."
McCrimmon said the team had hoped that treatment and rest during the 4 Nations Face-Off break would have been enough to get him back on the ice.
"… But instead, what we found were diminished positive results and a process that is no longer sustainable moving forward. Alex has given everything to the game and to the Golden Knights and has played through significant challenges in the pursuit of trying to win another Stanley Cup in Vegas.
"He is one of the most respected players in the league, not only for his elite talent but for his character, leadership, competitiveness, and professionalism. Today’s decision is a difficult one for both Alex and the Golden Knights, but it is being made for the right reasons – so that Alex can be the family man we all know him to be."
Pietrangelo signed a seven-year contract with the Golden Knights in October 2020 and helped the team to a Stanley Cup title in 2023 – the second one of his career as he already held the Cup with the St. Louis Blues.
However, injuries have taken a toll on his body.
"The past few years have been very challenging on my physical well-being, and I am in a difficult position with my overall playing health," he said. "After exploring options with doctors as well as my family, it’s been advised to remove the intensity of hockey to see if my body can improve so that I can return to a normal quality of life.
"This decision has been difficult to come to terms with after the last 17 years of competition and the camaraderie with my teammates and coaches. The likelihood is low that my body will recover to the standard required to play, but I know this is the right decision for me and my family."
Pietrangelo, 35, has recorded 637 points in 1,087 games in his 17-year NHL career. He’s scored 148 goals and recorded 489 assists.
Social media were on fire when it was revealed that Caitlin Clark received the ninth-most votes among other WNBA All-Stars for the top guard.
There are three voting groups for the WNBA All-Star process: fan rank, media rank and player rank for the guards and frontcourt players. While Clark was first in fan votes (receiving over 1 million and crushing her own record from last year), and third among the media, her fellow WNBA players ranked her ninth among the guards.
Clark finished second among all players largely because fan votes accounted for 50% of the votes to determine starters - Dallas Wings rookie and No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers took the top spot.
Clark has been injured and has struggled lately, going just 13-of-47 from three-point territory in her last three games and missing six of the Indiana Fever's 16 games this season.
However, lots of social media users said it was more evidence of jealousy of the NCAA's all-time leading scorer.
"They guard her like she’s prime [Michael] Jordan, celebrate trying to hurt her and downplay her impact any chance they can… The W is so full of ELITE LEVEL haters and they just don’t even hide it anymore," Barstool's Kayce Smith wrote on social media.
"She’s easily the best player in the league. These girls are laughable," another wrote.
"What a funny league filled with petty and jealous women. They hate her but she’s single-handedly the reason they are all making more money. A simple thank you would probably be a good start. What a clown show this league is," added another.
Robert Griffin III, who noted that the votes were averaged, said, "so that means some players purposely voted her out of the top 15 for her to land at #9," and told the players to "stop hating."
"When Jordan, LeBron [James], Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Usain Bolt, Tom Brady and [Lionel] Messi came on the scene, everyone didn’t like them but they recognized their greatness and respected it while competing their butt off to stop them. They didn’t vote them low on purpose," Griffin III wrote in an extensive post.
"To vote her 9th when she gets full court pressed, body slammed and excessively fouled by every team she faces? That’s not 9th best guard treatment… That’s the clearest sign of hate for Caitlin Clark there could be… Players are supposed to get it right more than the fans and the media because they know what it takes and what it looks like.. Some WNBA players are letting their jealously of Caitlin Clark get in the way of greatness for the entire WNBA. The only question I have is why. Can we have an honest conversation about it? Why do you think some players don’t respect, hate or are jealous of Caitlin Clark after all she has said to support them?"
One social media user posted a comparison of Clark's stats to Natasha Cloud's, who was ranked fourth among her peers.
Clark is averaging 18.2 points, 8.9 assists, five rebounds and 1.6 steals over 33.3 minutes per game this season. Only the Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas has more assists per game (9.3), and she’s touched the hardwood in 12 contests this season.
