Former NBA guard Ben McLemore was found guilty of rape by an Oregon jury Thursday. 

The jury in Clackamas County found McLemore, the 32-year-old ex-Portland Trail Blazers player, guilty of raping a woman in 2021 after an 11-day trial.

McLemore, who pleaded not guilty to all counts, was found guilty on one charge of first-degree rape, one charge of first-degree unlawful sexual penetration and one count of second-degree sexual abuse. 

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The jury also found him not guilty on an additional count of second-degree sexual abuse.

"We recognize there are those who fear individuals with celebrity status or a position of prominence can avoid prosecution. Not in Clackamas County," Clackamas County District Attorney John Wentworth said in a statement, according to ESPN. 

"This case demonstrates my office prosecutes criminal acts regardless of the offender's community status."

CLIPPERS' JAMES HARDEN FACES NEGLIGENCE ACCUSATION AMID SEXUAL ASSAULT LAWSUIT AGAINST NEPHEW

The incident occurred in Lake Oswego, Oregon, in October 2021, when McLemore was identified as a suspect by authorities after the woman’s complaint. 

In February 2024, a Clackamas County grand jury listened to evidence in the case, which included the woman’s testimony saying McLemore assaulted her. McLemore was arrested two months later by U.S. Marshals. 

During the trial, Scott Healy, a Clackamas County prosecutor, told the jury the woman passed out on a living room couch around 2 a.m. after drinking heavily. She regained partial consciousness the next morning, when McLemore sexually penetrated her with his fingers and then proceeded to have sex with her. 

McLemore’s team of attorneys disputed the claims, saying she initiated sexual contact and consented to it. The lawyers also claimed the woman was sober enough to consent to sexual contact. 

McLemore, a Kansas product, played nine seasons in the NBA, five with the Sacramento Kings, who took him seventh overall in the 2013 NBA Draft. 

He bounced around the league toward the end, playing for the Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and, finally, the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2021-22 season.

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Cleveland Guardians starter Luis Ortiz was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave hours before he was scheduled to take the mound against the Chicago Cubs Thursday, MLB announced. 

While MLB didn’t disclose the nature of its investigation, ESPN reported it was related to gambling. 

Two pitches thrown by Ortiz during a start are being scrutinized. 

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In June, betting integrity firm IC360 relayed the two pitches to sportsbooks, according to ESPN, and the first was on June 15 against the Seattle Mariners.

The firm flagged unusual betting action on the first pitch thrown by Ortiz in the bottom of the second inning to be a ball or hit batsman. Ortiz spiked a slider into the ground far away from the strike zone. 

Then, on June 27, more unusual betting action came in on a pitch from Ortiz in the top of the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals. Once again, the bets were on a ball or a hit batsman, and Ortiz proceeded to spike another pitch the catcher couldn’t handle. 

While instances like this happen to even the best of pitchers, the league is looking into the situation. 

The bets came in from Ohio, New York and New Jersey, according to ESPN. 

The non-disciplinary leave for Ortiz is scheduled to run through the MLB All-Star break, with games resuming for the second half July 18. 

The Guardians released a statement on the matter after MLB’s announcement. 

"The Guardians have been notified by Major League Baseball that Luis Ortiz has been placed on leave per an agreement with the Players Association due to an ongoing league investigation.

"The Guardians are not permitted to comment further at this time and will respect the league's confidential investigative process." 

Ortiz has pitched 16 times for the Guardians this season, recording a 4.36 ERA and 96 strikeouts. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The Supreme Court agreed to hear two cases involving transgender athletes in women's and girls sports Thursday and will make decisions on state laws that prevent biological males from competing on girls and women's sports teams.

The two cases, Little v. Hecox and State of West Virginia v. B.P.J., have been brought by former NCAA women athletes who have witnessed the fallout from biological males in women's sports. 

Former Idaho State University cross-country and track runner Madison Kenyon got involved in Little v. Hecox after having to compete against a trans athlete her freshman year in 2019. 

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"My coach sat us down in the room and told us that we would be competing against a male athlete at a specific meet and just let us know. And I remember sitting there and kind of like, looking around the room being like, 'Well, what do my teammates think about this? What do we do?’" Kenyon told Fox News Digital. 

"So, for us, it was not a matter of whether I'm going to compete or not. I'm going to put everything out there that I have and see what happens. And sure enough, this male athlete beat me, beat all my teammates and that continued to happen the entire season. So, that's when I said, 'This isn’t fair.'" 

SCOTUS RULES ON STATE BAN ON GENDER TRANSITION 'TREATMENTS' FOR MINORS IN LANDMARK CASE

The Little v. Hecox lawsuit was initially filed by Lindsay Hecox, a trans athlete at Boise State University who wanted to join the women's cross-country team. Hecox was joined by an anonymous cisgender female student, Jane Doe, who was concerned about the potential of being subjected to the sex dispute verification process. 

The U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho granted a preliminary injunction, blocking the law from being enforced because it found the plaintiffs were likely to succeed in proving the law unconstitutional. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the injunction, but now the Supreme Court will have an opportunity to intervene. 

Former Stetson University women's soccer player Lainey Armistead, who is involved in the State of West Virginia v. B.P.J., felt compelled to join a legal battle over the issue after being informed about it and a way to contribute to a lawsuit in the Mountain State. 

"I heard about the girls and women whose scholarships and opportunities and places on the podium were being taken from them, and I also heard that West Virginia decided to do something about that. And they created the Save Women's Sports Law, and I knew that I wanted to defend that, because, not only for myself, but also forward looking for future girls," 

The West Virginia v. B.P.J. lawsuit was brought against the state of West Virginia by a trans athlete, referred to as B.P.J., who was initially granted a preliminary injunction allowing the athlete to participate on the school's sports teams. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the law violated Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause. Now the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the state's appeal. 

Arimstead and Kenyon joined their respective lawsuits at a time when national momentum wasn't necessarily trending toward their cause as it does in 2025. But now their efforts have resulted in a chance to influence history on the issue with a pending Supreme Court decision.

The Supreme Court's decision in the cases could cast a sweeping precedent whether states have the right to ban trans athletes in women's sports. However, an attorney representing Armistead and Kenyon, John Bursch of Alliance of Defending Freedom, suggested the firm won't lean on the argument that trans athlete laws should be a states' rights issue.

He would argue the bigger picture issue.

"I don't think we need to do that," Bursch said of making the states' rights argument. "It's clearly the right result under Title IX, under the equal protection clause and under common sense, that men and women are different.

So far, 27 states in the U.S. already have laws in place to keep trans athletes out of girls sports, and President Donald Trump signed an executive order in February to apply the same mandate nationally. Bursch believes a Supreme Court decision could ensure his side of the debate maintains momentum.

"I think that this trend will continue to grow, and assuming the Supreme Court rules in favor of the states here, you'll see more states adopting these types of protections to keep women safe and level the playing field." 

No hearing dates have been set for the case, but Bursch expects the first hearing at some point in January. 

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California Attorney General Rob Bonta released a legal opinion Thursday that indicates daily online fantasy sports platforms in the state are now illegal.

Bonta's 33-page opinion states that fantasy sports platforms are illegal because they involve betting on sports. The seemingly only applies to daily fantasy sports, but not season-long fantasy sports leagues. 

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"Like traditional sports wagering, daily fantasy sports games enable participants to win or lose money based on the outcome of sporting events played by third-party athletes," the opinion says. 

"Just because the operator is not betting against the players does not mean that the players are not betting against each other."

JAGUARS SHOULD PUT TRAVIS HUNTER TO THE TEST AS HE CHASES 2-WAY DREAMS, SUPER BOWL CHAMP SAYS

Sports gambling has been illegal in California, but fantasy sports has been a legal gray area. But online fantasy sports platforms have operated in the state for more than a dozen years, and the product has generated billions of dollars in that time. 

In a 2022 state election, voters overwhelmingly rejected a measure to legalize online sports betting. Then in 2023, California GOP state lawmaker Scott Wilk sent a letter to the state's Department of Justice, requesting a legal opinion on daily fantasy sports. 

Now, that opinion has been released, and it could bring about disruption to the state's fantasy sports industry. 

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Famed Mexican boxer and criminal illegal immigrant Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Wednesday, just four days after fighting Jake Paul at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the arrest on Thursday, noting Chavez was being processed for "expedited removal from the United States."

Chavez was arrested in Los Angeles in January 2024 and later convicted of possession of an assault weapon, and manufacturing or importing a short-barreled rifle, according to the statement. He had a prior U.S. criminal conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol in 2012.

He also has an active arrest warrant in Mexico for his alleged involvement with the Sinaloa Cartel—trafficking firearms, ammunition and explosives, according to DHS officials.

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JAKE PAUL NOW ELIGIBLE FOR CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT AS HE OFFICIALLY ENTERS WBA CRUISERWEIGHT RANKINGS

While Chavez entered the U.S. legally in August 2023 on a B2 tourist visa, it expired in February 2024. 

In April 2024, he filed an application for Lawful Permanent Resident status. 

However, his application was based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen, who is connected to the Sinaloa Cartel through a prior relationship with the now-deceased son of the infamous cartel leader Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, according to the statement.

In December 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services made a referral to ICE that Chavez was considered "an egregious public safety threat." 

"However, an entry in a DHS law enforcement system under the Biden administration indicated Chavez was not an immigration enforcement priority," DHS wrote. 

DHS said Chavez reentered the country in January through the San Ysidro port of entry. But, after "multiple fraudulent statements on his application to become a Lawful Permanent Resident," he was deemed to be in the country illegally and removable on June 27.

"It is shocking the previous administration flagged this criminal illegal alien as a public safety threat, but chose to not prioritize his removal and let him leave and COME BACK into our country," Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin wrote in a statement. "Under President Trump, no one is above the law—including world-famous athletes."

"Our message to any cartel affiliates in the U.S. is clear: We will find you and you will face consequences," McLaughlin added. "The days of unchecked cartel violence are over."

Chavez's fight against Paul ended in defeat, with judges giving the Youtuber-turned-boxer a unanimous victory after 10 rounds. 

Chavez was a former WBC middleweight champion and the son of the boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez, who held five different world titles in four different weight classes. Paul's win on Saturday resulted in him getting ranked for the first time, coming in at No. 14 in the WBA cruiserweight rankings.

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Los Angeles Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw reached rarefied air on Wednesday night, becoming the 20th player ever to reach 3,000 strikeouts for his career. 

It was a suspenseful night at a sold-out Dodger Stadium considering Kershaw had just two strikeouts against the Chicago White Sox when he entered the sixth inning. He had 2,999 strikeouts, and had already gotten two outs in the frame with his pitch count reaching triple digits. 

But, on that 100th pitch, Kershaw got Vinny Capra to strike out and the crowd went ballistic. 

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Kershaw was able to savor the moment, as play stopped with a full standing ovation from both dugouts and the crowd to celebrate the occasion. 

"It’s a little bit harder when you’re trying to strike people out," Kershaw said after the 5-4 victory by Los Angeles, per ESPN. "I never really had to do that before."

CARDINALS' SONNY GRAY PITCHES COMPLETE GAME SHUTOUT IN DOMINANT WIN OVER GUARDIANS

The victory was also a come-from-behind effort, with Freddie Freeman delivering a walk-off single in the ninth inning when the Dodgers needed three runs to win. 

After the game, Kershaw was seen with a champagne flute in the clubhouse, where ESPN reported he told everyone that his accomplishment wouldn’t mean anything without them celebrating with him. 

In the hallowed 20-man group, Kershaw is only the fourth left-hander to have reached 3,000 strikeouts. He joins Randy Johnson, Steve Carlton and CC Sabathia on that list. 

Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are the only active pitchers with Kershaw to have accomplished the feat. 

Manager Dave Roberts made it a point to let Kershaw go as long as he could to make sure he accomplished his goal at home. 

"I was going to give him every opportunity to do it at home," Roberts said. 

It took him awhile – Kershaw said he "would’ve rather just gotten it done in the first" – but the satisfaction was clear on Kershaw’s face after Capra was set down on strikes. 

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Two years ago, Justin Thomas found himself struggling the most he ever had in his career.

He was just a few months removed from his second major victory – a PGA Championship title at Southern Hills. But in the 2023 season, he didn't even make the FedEx Cup Playoffs, cracking just four Top 10s in 21 events.

He missed the cut in all but one major that year – the one he didn't miss, the PGA Championship, he finished T65.

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He has since bounced back, finishing in 14th in the standings last year, and he enters this weekend in fifth, behind only Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Sepp Straka and Russell Henley.

Majors have still been a struggle. Ever since winning the PGA Championship, he has missed seven of 13 cuts, and his other finishes have been T37, T53, T65, T8, T31, and T36.

But Thomas took home the RBC Heritage in April, then followed up with a T2 finish at the Truist. He has five other top-10s to his season.

"I think there are a lot of different ways you can kind of go about it, especially if you're fortunate to have a long career in any sport. In golf, you have plenty of ups and downs, and it's kind of how you use them, right?" Thomas told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. 

"How you grow on the good years and how you also grow on the bad years and how you can learn from them. So, I feel like I try to use the good and the bad from all my years on Tour and obviously have more than of them than others in particular seasons. But yeah, I feel like I am working on the right stuff, and I like how the season's gone. I wish I would’ve played a little better in some of the majors earlier in the season, but you know have a big stretch here to capitalize on some big events."

GOLF INFLUENCER TISHA ALYN CARVES HER OWN PATH IN THE SPORT

Thomas, who founded his own WearSPF sunscreen, plans on being outside quite often for the remainder of the summer – even including the fall for some Ryder Cup action at Bethpage Black on Long Island. So, it seemed like a perfect time to collaborate on GarageBeer, owned by Travis and Jason Kelce (who just introduced BeerBed, which is exactly what it sounds like), to come out with a new sunscreen.

Thomas has also suffered from melanoma, so he takes his SPF-wearing very seriously.

"It’s such a unique opportunity, and I felt like being able to partner with them, being outdoors, spending my life on the golf course, we obviously have plenty of opportunities as well of being outdoors. Whether it is just hanging out or whatnot during off-weeks and having that opportunity, it's good to collaborate with brands and guys like them who I admire and respect them and every kind of persona and image they have. So, it's cool it was a great and easy opportunity for them and me to get to learn more about."

Thomas currently holds an automatic bid for the Ryder Cup – two years ago, he was on the outside looking in, but was selected by then-captain Zach Johnson. Before that, he also has one more major overseas and a shot at the $25 million FedEx Cup prize.

Sunscreened out, Thomas is fine-tuning the little things to get back to the top of his game.

"I'm doing a lot of things really well. It's not like I need to reinvent the wheel by any means, but I just feel like for me, if I could just drive the ball a little better, keep those bad days a little bit sharper and not let them get away from me, because I have a lot of belief and know that I can go low any given day. But it is just about keeping myself there and in contention. So just sharpening up a couple things here and there and try to have some fun."

Fox News' Connor McGahan contributed to this report.

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The latest episode of Travis and Jason Kelce’s "New Heights" podcast featured legendary actor Brad Pitt, who not only stars in the new "F1" movie but is also a die-hard Kansas City Chiefs fan. 

Well, that Chiefs fandom was on full display at the moment he had to tell the guys about as it involved another die-hard football fan, Bradley Cooper, who reps Jason’s Philadelphia Eagles. 

During his time on the podcast, he started to tell a story about how he was presenting the Outstanding Performer of the Year award to Cooper for his film ‘Maestro’ at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. 

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Pitt couldn’t help but take a dig at Cooper at the moment about his Eagles fandom in February 2024.  

"I’m friends with Bradley Cooper. He’s your prime Eagles fan," Pitt began his anecdote. "I’m not saying that I have the power to affect a game in any way. I don’t adhere to that kind of hubris, but I did say last year after the Eagles went out [of the playoffs], Chiefs were on their way to another [Super Bowl] victory, and he was getting the award for ‘Maestro’ – still probably one of the best movies of this decade. I was giving him this award. He's been nominated like 18 times for Oscars…It was at the Santa Barbara Film Award, and I closed with, ‘Listen, he’s been nominated [for the] 1900th time. If he doesn’t get it, it’s OK, he’s used to it. He’s a Philadelphia Eagles fan.’"

TRAVIS KELCE ADMITS RETURNING TO CHIEFS, NFL FOR 2025 SEASON 'WASN'T A VERY TOUGH DECISION'

Cooper’s reaction after Pitt said that went viral, as video caught him saying off-screen, "Man, that’s f---ed up."

But after beating the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX this year, Cooper has bragging rights over Pitt now. 

"We didn’t talk for two months. He gracefully let me hurt in my psyche," Pitt said when the Kelce brothers asked what happened following the 40-22 victory in New Orleans, where Cooper presented the NFC-champion Eagles coming out of the tunnel before the game.

Pitt, who was born in Oklahoma but grew up in Springfield, Missouri, discussed his Chiefs fandom a bit with the Kelce brothers, saying this last decade has been amazing for obvious reasons with his favorite team. 

"You feel this sense of pride instead of life’s always out against us," Pitt said. "So, it’s kind of extraordinary the way we live through our teams, you guys and what it means to us."

He also made sure to tell Travis to wear oven mitts until the season starts, to keep his hands warm for what he and the rest of Chiefs Kingdom hope is another run to the Super Bowl, this time for some redemption. 

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International Boxing Association (IBA) President Umar Kremlev is demanding that Algerian boxer Imane Khelif’s Olympic gold medal be stripped in an effort to achieve "transparency and openness."

Khelif won a gold medal in women’s boxing at the 2024 Paris Olympics under heavy scrutiny from the IBA, which was derecognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2023 amid concerns about the organization's governance, financial reliance on Russian state energy firm Gazprom and the integrity of the bouts.

Khelif was previously disqualified from the IBA for failing a gender eligibility test. Kremlev claimed at the time that unpublished DNA test results showed Khelif had XY chromosomes. 

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The IOC defended the results of the Paris Games, stating that Khelif and another boxer that faced gender eligibility concerns were the victims of a "sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA." Khelif has also publicly denied being transgender. 

In February, World Boxing was provisionally recognized by the IOC as the sport's governing body – a move that gave way to the organization later announcing a new gender eligibility policy that requires athletes to undergo mandatory sex testing. 

The policy change comes as the United States prepares to host the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. However, for Kremlev, the possibility of Khelif missing international competition is not enough. In an interview with The Sun, he called for the boxer’s gold medal to be revoked. 

NEW OLYMPICS CHIEF CALLS FOR 'PROTECTING' WOMEN'S CATEGORY AMID GLOBAL TRANS ATHLETE WAVE

"I truly believe that a medal should be truly deserved. We must protect athletes and give them the best conditions," he said.  "I am here for truth, transparency and openness. And now the truth has been revealed.

"There should be no unfair fights in boxing and the international federations should take care of their athletes."

Khelif did not compete in an international boxing tournament in the Netherlands last month after failing to register in time before the applications closed.

Kremlev’s comments follow a bold statement from new IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who said last month that there has been "overwhelming support" to protect women’s sports categories. 

"We understand that there'll be differences depending on the sport … but it was very clear from the members that we have to protect the female category, first and foremost to ensure fairness," Coventry said. 

"But we need to do that with a scientific approach and the inclusion of the international federations who have already done a lot of work in this area."

Fox News Digital’s Jackson Thompson contributed to this report. 

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Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave just hours before he was expected to take the mound against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, MLB announced. 

The nature of the league’s investigation was not immediately known. 

Ortiz, in his first season with the Guardians, will remain on paid leave through the end of the All-Star break due to an MLB investigation, the league said, adding that it will not comment further until their probe is complete. 

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The Guardians also released a statement following MLB’s announcement. 

"The Guardians have been notified by Major League Baseball that Luis Ortiz has been placed on leave per an agreement with the Players Association due to an ongoing league investigation.

"The Guardians are not permitted to comment further at this time, and will respect the league's confidential investigative process." 

DIAMONDBACKS BAN LOYAL SEASON-TICKET HOLDER AFTER REPEATED INTERFERENCE INCIDENTS

The 26-year-old right-handed pitcher was acquired by Cleveland in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates that also included Michael Kennedy and Josh Hartle in exchange for Spencer Horwitz. 

In 16 starts with the Guardians, Ortiz is 4-9 with a 4.36 ERA and 96 strikeouts. His losses are tied for the most in the American League currently. 

After getting scratched from Thursday’s lineup, Cleveland called up left-hander Joey Cantillo, who is 1-0 with one save and a 3.81 ERA in 21 appearances this season. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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The Supreme Court decided Thursday to review state bans on transgender athletes participating in public school sports.

Oral arguments will likely be heard later this fall regarding two cases in Idaho and West Virginia. Both cases are focused on state laws that prevent biological males from competing on girls’ and women's sports teams.

West Virginia, which enacted the "Save Women’s Sports Act" in 2021, is appealing a lower-court ruling that allowed transgender athlete Becky Pepper-Jackson to compete on the school’s cross-country and track teams. This past year, Pepper-Jackson qualified for the West Virginia girls high school state track meet, finishing third in the discus throw and eighth in the shot put in the Class AAA division. 

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The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Pepper-Jackson, who has been taking puberty-blocking medication, in an April 2024 ruling based on the Constitution's equal protection clause.

"It’s a great day, as female athletes in West Virginia will have their voices heard," West Virginia Attorney General John McCuskey said in a statement. "The people of West Virginia know that it’s unfair to let male athletes compete against women; that’s why we passed this commonsense law preserving women's sports for women."

"We are confident the Supreme Court will uphold the Save Women's Sports Act because it complies with the U.S. Constitution and complies with Title IX," McCuskey added. "And most importantly: it protects women and girls by ensuring the playing field is safe and fair."

Idaho, which became the first state in the country to ban transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports in 2020, asked the Supreme Court to hear its case involving Lindsay Hecox, a trans athlete wanting to compete on Boise State’s women’s track team. 

SCOTUS RULES ON STATE BAN ON GENDER TRANSITION 'TREATMENTS' FOR MINORS IN LANDMARK CASE

A 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel upheld an injunction blocking Idaho state law in 2023. 

"Idaho’s women and girls deserve an equal playing field," Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador said in a statement. "I am thrilled the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear our case. 

"For too long, activists have worked to sideline women and girls in their own sports. Men and women are biologically different, and we hope the court will allow states to end this injustice and ensure men no longer create a dangerous, unfair environment for women to showcase their incredible talent and pursue the equal opportunities they deserve."

Thursday’s news followed a major victory for the Trump administration’s battle to safeguard the protections of girls’ and women’s sports. The University of Pennsylvania agreed to adhere to the resolution agreement reached with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights after an investigation found that UPenn violated Title IX during the 2021-22 season because of the inclusion of transgender swimmer Lia Thomas. 

As part of the resolution, UPenn agreed to restore titles previously held by Thomas and issue an apology to female athletes impacted by the university’s policy, which the Education Department found had violated Title IX. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt has a list written on a whiteboard in his room. 

It's a list of quarterbacks, and no, it's not the ones he aspires to be. It's the quarterback he wishes to topple heading into his 2025 season. 

Leavitt wouldn't divulge the exact names on the list, but it's a tactic he's used for some time now to help give him that extra push of motivation whenever he needs it. 

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It's something Leavitt learned from his older brother, Dallin, who played six seasons in the NFL at safety. 

"I never had a list growing up," Leavitt told Fox News Digital. "There were always people ranked higher than me that I’d look at, but I guess my brother kinda told me at one point, ‘You gotta go chase somebody.’ For him, that worked out really well. He always chased this one player growing up that was always rated above him and stuff, and he’d play against them, he’d win, and he’s still rated above him. 

"Took a few years before I really cared about that because I just was so under-recruited growing up that I wasn’t even listed – wasn’t even in the top 25 or the top 50. So, it’s kinda hard to put names up."

TEXAS' STEVE SARKISIAN TEMPERS HOPES OF FUTURE 'UNDEFEATED CHAMPIONS' CONSIDERING MODERN COLLEGE LANDSCAPE

The list, now, is warranted for Leavitt, whose breakout season in his first year with the Sun Devils showed someone worthy of being in the conversation of the top college football quarterbacks heading into the 2025 campaign. 

Leavitt was overlooked coming out of high school despite being Oregon's Gatorade Football Player of the Year. He ended up enrolling at Michigan State, but only saw time in four games in 2023. He decided to transfer, joining head coach Kenny Dillingham's Big XII squad in Tempe. 

The move proved to be the best, as Leavitt helped lead Arizona State to the College Football Playoff after winning the Big XII Conference. Leavitt threw for 2,885 yards with 24 touchdowns to six interceptions, while also rushing for 443 yards and five scores. 

"Now I’m at this point where I’m around top-10 guys, I put those names up and it just gives me a little bit extra," he said. "When I need a little bit extra motivation to get up 30 minutes earlier, or go to bed earlier, do my last few stretches, or watch this little bit of tape when it’s like, ‘Ugh, I really don’t want to.’ That list gives you that last little kick."

While he can provide fuel when needed, Leavitt's drive doesn't need to revolve around reading other quarterbacks' names every day. 

In fact, despite all the good that came out of last year for Leavitt, he isn't satisfied at all with the results. 

"I didn’t play to the level I wanted to play at, and I left so much on the table I felt like," he said when asked how he's reflected on the 2024 season. "That just gives me the drive in the offseason to go do what I should do. And that’s how every player should feel – you should never feel satisfied with what you did. 

"I even look back to my senior year when we won the state title, it just never sat right with me. I don’t know, I just didn’t play to the level I wanted to play at, and I guess that perfection is what drives me and makes me who I am."

The Sun Devils now have a target on their backs as the reigning Big XII champions, so Leavitt and his Arizona State teammates head into the new year with high expectations. 

And that's perfectly fine for Leavitt, who has another word on his whiteboard next to the list of quarterbacks: Heisman. 

"I’d say a Heisman and national championship, that’s the end goal," he said. "But every single day it’s getting the team to get better. You gotta have these big goals for overall to chase something. But that doesn’t come without the day-to-day work, so it’s just getting better and outworking myself from last year. Outworking the team, out-studying myself, out-playing myself, so everything like that is the main goal day to day."

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The Indiana Fever, fresh off the Commissioner's Cup final victory, will be again without guard Caitlin Clark for Thursday night’s matchup against the Las Vegas Aces, as she remains sidelined for the fourth straight game with a lingering groin injury. 

The update comes just weeks before Clark is due to serve as a captain in the WNBA All-Star game. 

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, just a day after the Fever defeated the Minnesota Lynx to win the league’s in-season tournament, head coach Stephanie White spoke about Clark’s extended absence and the precautions the team is taking with her long-term health in mind. 

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"I don’t have anything in my head other than what I’m told. My goal has always been the same, I don’t want this to be something that lingers – that we come back too soon," White said. "We want to make sure that she is 100% ready to go and that we put her long-term health and wellness at the forefront."

White added that with just a handful of games left before the league heads into the All-Star break, the timing of Clark’s absence worked out well. She noted that Clark herself is eager to return. 

"She wants to play, and she’s working to play, and she has been working to play. I think after a few days, it’s like, ‘Okay, we’ve got a little bit of time,’ thinking – what, five games before All-Star break? We’ve got a little bit of time, so let’s just ease her mind, even though she’s ansty, and let’s do this the right way and make sure that we’re ready to go and 100% when she comes back." 

CAITLIN CLARK SAYS WNBA IS 'SICK' OVER FEVER'S COMMISSIONER'S CUP TITLE

Clark never missed a game during her college career at Iowa or during her first season in the WNBA when she earned the Rookie of the Year award. However, her sophomore season has been plagued with missed games. 

Four games into the 2025 season, Clark was sidelined for five games with a quad injury. She returned and played in five games where she seemingly fell into a shooting slump before missing another stretch of time with her current injury. 

Clark is averaging 18.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 8.9 assists this season. The All-Star game will be hosted by Indiana on July 19. 

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Liverpool FC player Diogo Jota and his brother died early Thursday in Spain after the Lamborghini they were traveling in crashed near the western city of Zamora, leaving the car in flames, police said. 

The death of the 28-year-old forward comes less than two months after he lifted the Premier League trophy in front of a raucous home crowd at Anfield in celebration of Liverpool’s title-winning season. In late June, Jota married Rute Cardoso, whom he had three children with -- the youngest born last year. 

"Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota," the team said in a statement Thursday. "Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss." 

"Doesn't make any sense," added global soccer star and Al-Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo in an Instagram post. "Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you were married. To your family, to your wife and children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world.  

DOZENS INJURED AFTER DRIVER PLOWS THROUGH CROWD OF LIVERPOOL SOCCER FANS DURING VICTORY PARADE 

The Spanish Civil Guard confirmed to The Associated Press that Jota and his brother were found dead after their car went off a road in an accident that happened early this morning.  Police were looking into the hypothesis that the accident happened because of a blown tire while they tried to overtake another vehicle.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation and police added that there were no other vehicles involved. Firefighters were called in as the fire from the Lamborghini spread into the nearby vegetation, authorities said. 

Jota also played for Portugal’s national team and helped it win the Nations League last month. His 25-year-old brother André Silva played with Portuguese club Penafiel in the lower divisions. 

Jota transferred to Liverpool from English club Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020, winning three major trophies with them and appearing in its Champions League final match with Real Madrid in 2022. 

Throughout his tenure at Liverpool, Jota scored 47 goals in 123 appearances. 

SOCCER UNITES IN SUPPORT FOR LIVERPOOL AFTER CAR PLOWS INTO TEAM’S CELEBRATION 

The Portuguese soccer federation released a statement lamenting the deaths. Federation president Pedro Proença said Portuguese soccer was "completely devastated." 

"More than a fantastic player, with almost 50 appearances for the national team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all his colleagues and opponents. He had a contagious joy and was a reference in his community," Proença said in the statement. 

Portugal’s Prime Minister Luís Montenegro commented on the "unexpected and tragic" deaths. He said Jota was "an athlete who greatly honored Portugal’s name." 

"I extend my deepest condolences to their family," he said. "It is a sad day for soccer and for national and international sports." 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

The United States men’s national soccer team turned a hot start on Wednesday night at Energizer Park and into victory over Guatemala to reach the Gold Cup final.

This win marks the 13th time the U.S. has reached the Gold Cup final, and they will face the winner of Mexico-Honduras to determine who wins it all on Sunday. 

After needing a penalty shootout to reach the semifinals, the USMNT hoped it didn’t need to go that far against Guatemala, and Diego Luna led the way to the 2-1 win. 

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It began in the fourth minute, when Luna was in the right place at the right time after a shot on net was saved. His one-two touch went right into the back of the net for the early lead. 

UNEXPECTED DRONE OPERATED BY UNIDENTIFIED PARTY SIGHTED NEAR USMNT TRAINING GROUNDS: REPORTS

But just a few minutes later, Luna really gave the USMNT some breathing room after a tremendous effort to extend the lead. 

Malik Tillman got the assist after Luna made one defender miss and launched a shot toward the left side of the net that got past the goalkeeper for a 2-0 lead. 

It was mostly silent as the first half ended and the second half minutes started to dwindle for Guatemala. However, a timely goal brought some momentum to their sideline. 

Olger Escobar got a ball past Matt Freese to make it a 2-1 game in the 80th minute. 

But the USMNT’s defense was stellar at the end of the match to make sure they came away victorious. 

The U.S. is hoping to win its eighth Gold Cup, while Mexico, if they defeat Honduras, would be looking to extend its title lead. They have nine all-time.

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MLB All-Star Game voting is complete, and starters have been announced for this year’s game in Atlanta. 

The two reigning MVP Award winners, Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, were named captains of the National and American Leagues, respectively, after winning the fan vote. 

But while these two and some others were expected choices by the fans, there are other well-deserved players entering the mix this year. 

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In the American League, the Detroit Tigers, who own the best record in MLB at 54-32 entering Wednesday, have three representatives in the starting lineup. Second baseman Gleyber Torres, a former teammate of Judge’s on the New York Yankees, has had a resurgence in his first year in the Motor City. 

Riley Greene joins Judge in the outfield with Javier Báez, who has been one of the best stories in MLB this season given his struggles since he joined the Tigers in 2022. He made his third career All-Star team, but he is considered an outfielder this time instead of a shortstop. 

DODGERS' SHOHEI OHTANI BLASTS HOMER IN WIN, ACHIEVES STATISTICAL FEAT UNSEEN SINCE WILLIE MAYS

Then, there’s Seattle Mariners slugging catcher Cal Raleigh getting the start behind the plate for the American League. He has 33 homers in 84 games, and his WAR of 5.6 is second only to Judge’s for the year. 

Not only is this his first All-Star selection as a starter, but Raleigh is the first Mariners catcher to be selected to start. 

Jacob Wilson’s meteoric rise for the Athletics earned him the starting shortstop job on July 15 at Triust Park in Atlanta. He has a .339 batting average entering Wednesday, second to Judge in the American League. The Orioles’ Ryan O’Hearn also earned his first-ever All-Star bid.

The remaining starters for the American League are the Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (first base) and the Cleveland Guardians’ Jose Ramirez (third base). 

For the National League, Chicago Cubs phenom center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong will get his first All-Star nod after he stole 25 bases and hit 21 homers before the break. 

And while it’s not his first All-Star appearance, it’s been a long time for New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor. He hasn’t played in the game since his time in Cleveland in 2019. 

The Dodgers also have multiple starters behind Ohtani, with Freddie Freeman playing first base and Will Smith catching. 

The remaining National League starters are the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte (2B), the San Diego Padres’ Manny Machado (3B), the Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. (OF) and the Cubs’ Kyle Tucker (OF).

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After the University of Pennsylvania agreed to erase all program records set by former transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, questions arose about how the NCAA will address Thomas' NCAA title. 

Thomas won the 500-yard freestyle at the 2022 NCAA championships with a time of 4:33.24. 

Thomas also finished in the top 10 in a number of other events, denying higher finishes to female competitors. While UPenn has wiped those records from its books, Thomas' finishes still stand nationally. 

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Former University of Kentucky swimmer and OutKick host Riley Gaines, who tied for fifth place against Thomas in that year's 200-yard freestyle, is leading a lawsuit against the NCAA for its policies that allowed Thomas to compete. One of the demands in Gaines' lawsuit is that the NCAA rescind all of Thomas' championship finishes. 

Fox News Digital has reached out to the NCAA inquiring if and when it plans to make any changes to Thomas' 2022 championship finishes but has not received a response.

Gaines sent a message to the NCAA about this issue during an interview on "Dont @ Me With Dan Dakich" Wednesday.

OREGON GIRLS OPEN UP ON ‘TRAUMATIC’ TRANS ATHLETE EXPERIENCES THAT PUSHED THEM TO FIGHT BACK

"While the Ivy League, the University of Pennsylvania will have to rescind his records from their account and their record boards, the NCAA, as I understand it, does not have to. So, we will see what the NCAA does," Gaines said. 

Gaines doesn't expect the NCAA will amend those records willingly. 

"These ‘leaders,’ if you will, have remained spineless and weak-kneed and morally bankrupt and just total cowards over the last three years," Gaines said. 

At an April 18 press conference, while discussing Maine's defiance on the issue, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted President Donald Trump's order and Title IX as federal law, noting that violators could be "prosecuted." 

Gaines previously told Fox News Digital she would support prosecution as a response to the issue. 

"I would love to see prosecution because I believe what is happening is criminal," Gaines said. "The way that we have been told that a man's feelings matter more than our physical safety, than our rights to participate, to call ourselves champions, I believe that is a criminal action. Therefore, I believe it is a criminal offense.

"Someone somewhere has to be made an example of, otherwise you will have the woman-hating Democratic Party continue with full steam ahead. … I believe university officials should be charged." 

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Maxwell Hairston's NFL dreams became a reality in April when the Buffalo Bills selected him out of Kentucky in the first round of the draft. 

But as Hairston prepares for his first NFL training camp, the Bills rookie defensive back faces serious legal concerns. Hairston is named in a lawsuit that accuses the 21-year-old of sexual misconduct when he was a student-athlete in 2021.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in federal court in Kentucky, according to The Associated Press.

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ESPN reported the accuser is an Ohio woman who also attended the University of Kentucky and lived in the same dorm as Hairston in 2021.

Fox News Digital was not immediately able to reach Hairston's representatives for comment.

BYU QUARTERBACK JAKE RETZLAFF SEES SEXUAL ASSAULT LAWSUIT DISMISSED IN COURT: REPORTS

In the lawsuit, the woman alleges Hairston entered her dorm room without being invited. The woman then expressed "her non-interest in engaging in sexual intercourse with him several times," according to the lawsuit. Hairston then allegedly "forcibly removed" her clothing and sexually assaulted her.

The Bills had no comment and referred to statements made by general manager Brandon Beane in April during the draft.

Beane said at the time the team had "fully investigated" a sexual assault allegation from 2021 involving Hairston, who he called "an impeccable kid."

"So, that’s unfortunate when things like that are attached to someone’s name. And, in this case, doesn't seem to be anything there," Beane said.

Hairston spent three seasons playing at Kentucky. He'll have a chance to win a starting job at cornerback this season.

The Bills have been off since completing their mandatory practices in mid-June and return later this month for the start of training camp.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Earlier this year, Max Homa said he had a "come-to-Jesus" moment when he decided to delete X, formerly Twitter.

The PGA star was once active on the app, but he said in March the platform is now "for the sick."

"I was sick. I’m just trying to get healthy now," Homa said at the time.

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Ahead of the John Deere Classic, Homa stood firm on his personal boycott of the "awful, awful place."

"The reason for that is just the vitriol you read online. It has become a safe haven for people who are, I think, angry at themselves. It is quite absurd how comfortable people feel writing awful things," Homa told reporters Wednesday.

"Twitter or X or whatever is an awful, awful place. It took me a while to catch onto how impactful that can be and how much of a waste of energy. I miss the connection with the fans, but nothing comes without so much hate and anger. There's a lot of love in there, too, but, unfortunately, it gets overwhelmed with one really bad one."

Homa hinted that the rise in gambling, which he said "seems fun as hell in golf," may be contributing to the online vitriol.

GOLF INFLUENCER TISHA ALYN CARVES HER OWN PATH IN THE SPORT

"People say some bad, bad things on the internet. You get people telling you you should die on the internet. It has nothing to do with not connecting. I’d love to keep connecting with people, but I try to do it in person a bit more because I have yet to meet somebody in person who has said anything even remotely mean.

"It’s a safe haven for a--holes, for lack of a better term."

Homa has struggled of late. He's missed seven cuts in 16 tournaments this year with just one top 25 finish, which came at the Masters. That was his first made cut since last year's Open Championship, but, since then, he has finished 70th, tied for 30th, tied for 60th, tied for 51st and tied for 54th with another pair of missed cuts. 

Last year, he was ranked 10th in the world. Last month, he was carrying his own bag for 36 holes of U.S. Open qualifying. He missed out on the tournament after a heartbreaking three-putt on his final hole, where two putts would have put him into the Oakmont tournament.

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SWIFT ACTION – As part of a resolution agreement reached with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights stemming from a probe into the inclusion of transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, the University of Pennsylvania will restore titles and records to those female athletes that were "misappropriated by male athletes allowed to compete in female categories."  Continue reading…

'NO REGRETS' – OutKick host Riley Gaines and ex-ESPN host Keith Olbermann clashed after the University of Pennsylvania revoked Lia Thomas' program records following a resolution agreement with the Education Department. Continue reading…

CHIMING IN – U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon weighed in on the resolution agreement that was reached between the department she currently leads and UPenn following an investigation into Title IX violations. Continue reading…

BANNED – An Arizona Diamondbacks season-ticket holder was barred from attending future games at Chase Field after the MLB club cited "multiple offenses" the fan committed during games, including interfering with a fly ball during a recent contest against the San Francisco Giants. Continue reading…

‘SICK' – Caitlin Clark had a strong reaction to her team, the Indiana Fever, winning the Commissioner's Cup. The Cup is the WNBA's in-season tournament. Continue reading…

HALFTIME HEARTBREAK – Red Panda, the beloved performer known for her incredible unicycle routine during halftime shows, was forced to exit Tuesday's WNBA Commissioner's Cup final in a wheelchair after falling onto the court. Continue reading…

SHOCKING UPSET – American tennis pro Jessica Pegula suffered a stunning and early exit from Wimbledon in the first round. The 116th-ranked Italian, Elisabetta Cocciaretto, defeated Pegula in less than an hour. Continue reading…

WATCH NOW – The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off a disappointing NBA playoff run. The 2025-26 season will mark Luka Doncic's first full season with the Lakers. FOX Sports' Jason McIntyre weighs in on Doncic taking charge of the franchise. Watch here …

FROM FOX SPORTS – The Bucks decided to waive star guard Damian Lillard. He is still owed $113 million and those payments are expected to be stretched over the next five years, per reports. Meanwhile, Myles Turner agreed to a four-year contract to join Milwaukee, according to The Associated Press. Continue reading…

FROM OUTKICK – MLB star pitcher Paul Skenes was spotted with the Pittsburgh Pirates grounds crew at PNC Park well before first pitch of Tuesday's matchup with the St. Louis Cardinals. Continue reading…

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