A professional tennis player received a frightening message from a sports bettor who threatened to go after him if he didn’t win a recent match at the Thionville Open event on the ATP Challenger Tour.
Arthur Bouquier of France, the No. 219-ranked men’s player in the world, posted the message on his Instagram, which was originally in French.
After Tennis World translated the message, it revealed a deranged diatribe of how the bettor needed Bouquier to win a match against lower-ranked Florian Broska of France. If Bouquier failed to do so, the bettor said, "I will come after you."
"French tennis is so mediocre right now that French players stick to playing at home to avoid embarrassment abroad," the message said. "Let me remind you that you don’t achieve much when you leave France – it shows the limits of your tennis game.
"Anyway, today you’re playing against Florian Broska, ranked 522, who never wins in the first round. I just hope you make the effort to beat him in 2 sets because I have bet 2000 euros on you to win in 2 sets."
The thought of losing the hefty bet prompted the bettor to threaten Bouquier.
"I swear, if you lose, I will never forgive you," the message continued with a laughing emoji. "I will track you and your family down just to hurt you, even if it means going to prison. Might as well, because if I lose these 2000 euros, I’ll be on the streets, so my life won’t make sense anymore – I might as well spend my days in prison."
To make matters worse, the bettor claimed to be at the court where Bouquier was scheduled to play his match against Broska.
"I swear on my mother’s life that I will come for you. Right now, I am at the court in Thionville, where you’re playing exactly at 15:20.
"Be careful, and these are not empty threats. Good luck."
Bouquier tagged the ATP Tour, International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the Thionville tournament in his post to make them aware of the threats.
Bouquier won his match in two sets, 6-3, 6-4, to advance to the second round of the tournament, and there was no incident at Thionville.
Sports betting has prompted bettors to reach out to athletes via direct message on social media platforms and other methods to deliver threats.
Fellow French tennis star Caroline Garcia shared messages she was getting at the 2024 U.S. Open, saying "there’s hundreds" she’d gotten before the tournament.
"This are some of the messages I received lately after loosing some matches. Just a few of them. There’s hundreds," Garcia wrote on her social media platforms at the time, while sharing some messages in her X post she’d been getting. "And now, being 30 years old, although they still hurt, because at the end of the day, I’m just a normal girl working really hard and trying my best, I have tools and have done work to protect myself from this hate. But still, this is not ok.
"Social media platforms don’t prevent it, despite AI being in a very advanced position. Tournaments and the sport keep partnering with betting companies, which keep attracting new people to unhealthy betting. The days of cigarette brands sponsoring sports are long gone. Yet, here we are promoting betting companies, which actively destroy the life of some people.
"Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying they should be banned as people are free to do whatever they want with their money. But maybe we should not promote them. Also, if someone decided to say this things to me in public, he could have legal issues. So why online we are free to do anything? Shouldn’t we reconsider anonymity online?"
Andy Cohen, the talk show host best known as the face of Bravo TV's "Watch What Happens Live," got into a social media debate over trans inclusion in women's sports with Meghan McCain and former volleyball player Payton McNabb, who suffered brain damage when she was injured by a transgender opponent years ago.
Cohen started the debate when he responded a McCain post. She praised the 19-year-old McNabb as "incredibly smart, strong and brave," as Cohen suggested the teen was "villifying" transgender people.
"Surprised you’re buying into the vilification of the trans community given the real problems happening in this country, your previous ally-ship of the lgbtq community, and the fact that this non issue affects about four people in this country," Cohen wrote in a post.
McNabb then responded to Cohen's attack on McCain, calling his comments "factually wrong."
TUNE IN: LIVE COVERAGE OF TRUMP'S ADDRESS TO CONGRESS TUESDAY NIGHT ON FOX NEWS
"Andy, calling the protection of women’s sports a ‘non-issue’ that affects ‘four people’ is not just dismissive—it’s factually wrong. Hundreds of female athletes have lost podium spots, scholarships, and opportunities. My own injury was life-changing. And even if it were just one girl, that’s one too many. This is about fairness and safety, not ‘vilification,'" McNabb wrote.
Cohen then responded to McNabb, admitting that his original response was based on just one piece of data that was provided by NCAA president Charlie Baker in December.
"The NCAA President testified under oath that of over 500,000 student athletes, he is aware of fewer than 10 trans members. that’s where I got my information," Cohen wrote, referencing Baker's statistic that was provided at a congressional hearing on Dec. 17.
Cohen did not account for the athletes impacted at the high school level, or in other levels of competition. Cohen has not responded since that last post at the time of publication.
His exchange with McCain and McNabb quickly went viral on Tuesday evening, as many lined up to harshly criticize the Bravo personality for his criticisms on a post that was meant to celebrate the 19-year-old.
McCain responded, inviting Cohen for a more in-depth conversation on the issue while giving the host more clarity about McNabb's situation.
"Surprised you’re okay with violence against female athletes. Peyton suffered serious brain damage - just one story. You have my cell, always happy to talk privately or publicly on either of our shows because these conversations are reductive to hash out on social media," McCain wrote.
McNabb suffered significant and long-term physical and mental injuries in 2022 when she was spiked in the face by a transgender athlete who was able to compete on a girls’ team because of a policy put in place by North Carolina's high school athletic association.
McNabb was then unable to compete in her final volleyball season, and claimed her performance in softball was significantly hampered by her injuries.
McNabb will attend President Donald Trump's joint address on Tuesday night, just one day after Senate Democrats blocked a bill that would have prohibited trans athletes from competing in women's and girls' sports nationwide.
The Minnesota Vikings are opting against using their franchise tag on quarterback Sam Darnold, ESPN reported. NFL teams had until Tuesday to decide on placing a franchise tag on players.
Darnold will now be eligible to explore the free agent market when it opens March 12, the official start of the NFL's new league year. The move does not guarantee Darnold's departure because the Vikings have signaled an interest in potentially working toward an agreement on a long-term contract, according to reports.
There are several teams who will likely seek to add an experienced quarterback to their rosters during the free agency period, given that this year's quarterback draft market is widely considered thinner than the 2024 class.
The franchise tag is a lever a team can use each offseason to keep a key player on an expiring contract from leaving while buying time for further evaluation of a long-term deal. But that one-year arrangement comes at a steep fixed price based on the top salaries at a player's position.
For Darnold, that would’ve been between $35 million and $41 million for 2025, depending on the type of tag.
Darnold led Minnesota to an impressive 14-3 record last season, but the Vikings' brass is eyeing several spots on its roster for upgrades. The team's front office used a first-round pick on quarterback J.J. McCarthy in last year's NFL Draft.
Darnold delivered a strong performance in his first season in Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell's offense.
The Vikings have been busy weighing whether it's worth banking on continued progression by Darnold in a second season under O'Connell while McCarthy gets another to watch and learn after spending his rookie year on injured reserve while recovering from a torn meniscus in his right knee.
Although Darnold had a breakout regular season, his performance in the playoffs raised concerns. The Los Angeles Rams cruised to a 27-9 win in their postseason matchup with the Vikings. Darnold was sacked nine times and threw an interception in the game.
The Vikings would be in line for a compensatory draft pick in 2026 if Darnold were to sign elsewhere this year.
"I’ve had great dialogue with Sam from the time this season ended up until very recently, and I think my relationship with Sam has grown to a point where the respect level is sky-high," O’Connell said last week at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. "Sam is in a position where the NFL thinks he can play quarterback at a high level, so that’s a really good thing. And I feel very proud to be a part of helping him get to this point. We’ll see kind of where it goes from here."
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed an executive order Tuesday to prohibit transgender athletes from competing in women's college sports. He was joined by former San Jose State University volleyball player Elle Patterson, who claims she lost out on a scholarship to a trans athlete.
"Women’s sports create opportunities for young women to earn scholarships and develop leadership skills," Braun said. "Hoosiers overwhelmingly don’t want those opportunities destroyed by allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports, and today’s executive order will make sure of that."
The order states, "This executive order mandates that Indiana’s state educational institutions must comply with the 2020 Title IX Rule rather than the 2024 Biden Administration reinterpretation that extended protections based on self-reported, ever-changing new idea of ‘gender identity.’
"The order ensures that female athletes in college sports are not forced to compete against biological males, preserving the integrity of women’s athletics and protecting opportunities for women in female-only sports leagues."
Braun then signed another executive order that "rejects extreme gender ideology in favor of the scientific reality of biological sex" by reinforcing Indiana’s legal definitions for "sex," "gender," "women," "male," "citizen," "individual" and "person."
"Today’s executive order will end any confusion about our state’s policy on this issue so we can focus on my goal to secure freedom and opportunity for all Hoosiers," Braun said after signing the second order.
Braun honored Patterson during the signing. Patterson joined a lawsuit against SJSU and the Mountain West Conference in November with 10 other conference players and one former assistant coach over its handling of transgender player Blaire Fleming.
Patterson alleges the university did not fulfill previous verbal offers of a scholarship to her for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Patterson says she even paid full tuition to play in 2023 after being told she would get a scholarship for 2024. However, the program did not make good on that offer either, she alleges, while Fleming got a full scholarship.
"Ultimately, Patterson informed Associate Head Coach Batie-Smoose and Head Coach Todd Kress that she was financially unable to pay for full out-of-state tuition, room and board at SJSU again in 2024 and therefore would be unable to return to the SJSU Team without a scholarship," the documents state.
"Nevertheless, Todd Kress remained firm in his position that Patterson would not receive a scholarship to play on the SJSU Team in 2024, and that Fleming would receive a full scholarship to play on the SJSU Team."
Braun expressed sympathy for Patterson during his address Tuesday.
"It's just wrong, and leaders need to stand up for young women like Elle," Braun said. "We need to protect their physical safety and the great opportunities that come with that athletic excellence."
The order comes just one day after the U.S. Senate failed to pass the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. Despite getting 51 votes by the Republican majority, Democrats filibustered the bill with 45 votes against it.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order to prohibit transgender athletes from competing in women's sports Feb. 5. However, some Democrat-led states have so far refused to comply with the order.
Braun has taken steps to ensure that does not happen in his state, joining Idaho Gov. Brad Little, who signed a similar executive order in August.
Star New Jersey high school wrestler Anthony Knox has been charged with simple assault-purposely/knowingly causing bodily injury after allegedly participating in a brawl in the bleachers at a tournament last month, per the New York Post.
Knox and his father, Anthony Knox Sr., were detained after the brawl at Collingswood High School dissipated. Knox Jr. had already won his match for St. John Vianney High School, which checked another key box on his way to an expected fourth straight New Jersey title in his weight class.
Court documents obtained by The Post and videos on social media reveal a person alleged to be Knox Jr. sprinting up the bleachers to join the brawl at the high school.
"The defendant did enter the opposing team’s designated section of the gymnasium bleachers during the District 25 wrestling tournament, where he proceeded to punch [redacted] about the face and head repeatedly, which result in bruising and pain to the right temple area," the complaint document read.
Knox Jr. was disqualified by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) from participation in the tournament until Mercer County Superior Court Judge Patrick Bartels granted him a temporary restraining order from his ban, allowing him to compete in the Region 7 tournament.
Knox Jr. won his match and will compete for his fourth straight state title this weekend.
Knox Jr. issued a statement explaining why he joined the brawl, in which he said his father approached the opposing team to address alleged insults.
"During the finals matches, the atmosphere of the crowd became increasingly hostile toward me and my teammates because of our success," Knox Jr.’s statement read, which Bartels asked of him. "Insults were hurled at us. Apparently, my father approached the people hurling the insults and asked them to stop.
"In response, I saw these people lunge forward assaulting my father and he was pulled down and completely surrounded by unruly people. My immediate reaction was to run close to the section to aid in the protection and safety of my father and mother, who was with me. I dispute the NJSIAA’s adopted version of the facts."
The Knox family also participated in an interview with ABC7, where Knox Sr. said "racial slurs" were being said toward kids on the mats below.
"[I] saw a bunch of grown men yelling racial slurs at kids that I’ve been training since they were 6 years old, cursing at my son, cursing at my wife," said Knox Sr., a former MMA fighter.
"As a man, I walked over, walked up into the stands and asked the guy to stop. At that point, I was assaulted. Never threw a punch. Never hurt anybody. Never ran up there like a bat out of hell just throwing punches at people. None of that happened. I got pushed down the bleachers. I could have gotten seriously injured. Then I got surrounded by about 10 other families."
The NJSIAA’s initial response, after reviewing the video evidence online, was to disqualify Knox Jr., the top-ranked wrestler in the 126-pound weight class in the country, from the state tournament. Then, after Bartels’ decision on the matter, the governing body said it would appeal the court’s decision, which they "strongly disagree" with.
Knox Jr. is a Cornell commit who had a "tough conversation" with his future head coach, Mike Grey, about the situation that unfolded at Collingswood High School. Grey told NJ.com that Knox Jr.’s status with the university hasn’t been affected by the incident, and he plans to have him on his roster whenever he enrolls.
Knox Jr. defeated Lacey High School’s Aidan Flynn to win the Region 7 title in the 126-pound weight class, setting himself up for one more match that would make him the fifth wrestler in the state to ever win four straight New Jersey titles.
The University of California, Davis, has announced plans to convert its men's and women's locker rooms in its recreation centers into "universal" all-sex locker rooms. The decision has prompted outrage from women's rights activists.
The university announced the renovation project in February, claiming it was doing away with the old locker room format for the purpose of "inclusivity.
"We value inclusive, accessible environments that accommodate the diverse needs of our community. We are pleased to announce that we will be remodeling the current locker room facilities to implement universal locker rooms," the university said in its announcement.
"All campus recreation members can use our universal locker rooms, regardless of who they are or how they identify. These spaces are inclusive of members with disabilities and members of all gender identities."
News of this change spread Tuesday after two bills aimed at keeping transgender athletes out of women's and girls sports failed to pass Monday at the state and federal level.
California women's rights activist Beth Bourne posted on X about the universal locker rooms and the backlash from female students.
Women's tennis legend Martina Navratilova called the situation ‘beyond f----- up.’
"This is beyond f----- up! Be prepared to lose a lot of women to this insanity," Navratilova wrote.
Many other users expressed similar outrage with their own posts.
The university expects to spend $5 million on the renovations, and students will have until Wednesday to clear all of their belongings out of the current locker rooms. The renovated locker rooms won't reopen until September.
The university's announcement states that all toilets, changing rooms and cabanas are individual, private spaces with floor-to-ceiling locking doors, claiming it "offers more privacy for all members" compared to the current format.
Fox News Digital has reached out to UC Davis for comment.
On Tuesday, no Democrats in the U.S. Senate voted in favor of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act to break a filibuster.
Republicans needed 60 votes but only received 51. On the same day in Minnesota, House lawmakers there voted against the Preserving Girls’ Sports Act. All Democratic lawmakers in the state voted against the legislation.
Luka Dončić is focused on the Los Angeles Lakers, but he took time to help lift the spirits of a former Dallas Mavericks teammate who will miss the remainder of the season due to injury.
Veteran guard Kyrie Irving tore an ACL against the Sacramento Kings Monday night, ending his season prematurely and hurting the Mavericks’ playoff hopes.
Dončić posted on his Instagram story a picture of him and Irving embracing with the caption, "You will come back stronger mi hermano!"
Dončić calling Irving his brother in the post clearly shows they remain friends after the shocking blockbuster trade before the NBA deadline last month.
Dončić and Irving were a dynamic duo in the 2½ seasons they played together in Dallas, which included a run to the NBA Finals during the 2023-24 campaign.
Both guards averaged 40 minutes per night, while Doncic averaged 28.9 points per game to Irving’s 22.1 points.
They were opponents Feb. 25 for the first time since the trade, and Dončić had a triple-double — 19 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists — in the Lakers’ 109-99 victory.
Irving kept the Mavs in it with 35 points, but it wasn’t enough to get the win on the road.
The Mavericks and Lakers face each other again April 9, but it will be without Irving, who doesn't figure to return until some time during the 2025-26 season.
That game will mark Dončić's return to American Airlines Center, where fans held a public "funeral" to cope with the shock of his departure via trade.
Irving is a nine-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA honoree and an NBA champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.
In his 14th NBA season, Irving averaged 24.7 points, 4.6 assists and 4.8 rebounds over 50 games for the Mavericks this season.
Davante Adams and the New York Jets appear to be headed towards a divorce. On Tuesday, ESPN reported that the Jets plan to release the three-time All-Pro wide receiver.
News of the pending release of Adams comes just a few weeks after the team said they would part ways with veteran Aaron Rodgers. The four-time NFL MVP signal caller and the star wide receiver have maintained a close relationship since they competed alongside one another for eight seasons in Green Bay.
Adams started the 2024 season with the Las Vegas Raiders, but he reunited with Rodgers when he was traded to the Jets in October. Gang Green acquired Rodgers in a blockbuster trade two years ago, but the move did not pan out in the way the quarterback or the team likely hoped.
Moving on from Adams will give the Jets some salary cap relief. New York inherited Adams' contract when he was traded to the team, and his salary was due to account for an estimated $38.3 million on the cap in 2025.
Releasing the six-time Pro Bowl will clear up more than $29 million from the Jets' 2025 salary cap. New York will still have to account for a dead cap charge, albeit the negative charge pales in comparison to what the team would save in 2025.
Shortly after the season ended, Adams suggested his future with the Jets was tied to whether Rodgers returned. The Jets' previous regime brought in some players who played with Rodgers in the past. Before trading for Adams, Gang Green signed Allen Lazard in 2023.
The Jets relieved Robert Saleh of his head coaching duties in October following a 2–3 start to the season.
New York hired Aaron Glenn in January. Darren Mougey was also named the franchise's next general manager that month. Glenn and Mougey will continue to oversee an offseason that is expected to introduce sweeping changes to the Jets.
The Jets were 2-4 prior to Adams' arrival, but their record did not improve much once he joined the team. New York went 3-8 with Adams on the roster and finished with an overall record of 5-12. In 11 games with the Jets, Adams racked up 854 receiving yards.
Garrett Wilson would be the Jets' top receiver once Adams' exit becomes official. Wilson has finished each of his first three NFL seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards. He also hauled in a career-high 7 touchdown passes.
The Philadelphia Eagles cut one of their key veterans during their Super Bowl LIX run this past season, and his wife appears to be taking it hard.
Darius Slay, the six-time Pro Bowl cornerback, was released by the team as a cap casualty. The Eagles reportedly saved $4.3 million against their cap with the move.
Slay has spent the past five seasons leading an Eagles secondary that anchored the best pass defense in the NFL in 2024.
She also posted on her Instagram Story a picture of her celebrating Super Bowl LIX’s victory with her husband and the caption, "Philly," with heart-hands, broken heart, and teary-eyed emojis.
It’s been said many times, but the business of the game can be cruel. This is yet another example of a tough move having to be made.
Now, Darius Slay will be searching for his third NFL team after spending his first seven seasons with the Detroit Lions, where he earned three of his six Pro Bowls.
In 14 games last season, Slay had 13 passes defended, 49 tackles, one forced fumble, as well as a fumble recovery.
According to CBS Sports, Slay wants to play one more year, and that usually means going to a contender to vie for another Super Bowl ring.
As for teams that can provide that contender for Slay, a Lions reunion makes sense considering they could use help in the secondary. The Pittsburgh Steelers have also been a team suggested, as defensive coordinator Teryl Austin spent time with Slay in Detroit before this position.
Howie Roseman may have one of the most coveted jobs in sports, but he sure knows how to cater to the common man.
Roseman now has two Vince Lombardi trophies on his resume after his Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl last month to prevent the Kansas City Chiefs from winning a third straight.
Roseman won his first title as a general manager seven years ago, when the Birds put a dent in another dynasty, defeating Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, 41-33.
Surely, the first one was great, but it seems like Roseman thinks the second is a bit sweeter.
Roseman was asked what it was like to now win two Super Bowls, and he gave a pretty stout answer.
"The first one," he said before asking if Todd McShay's show was PG or PG-13, "it’s almost like the first time you have sex. You are so glad you had sex, it’s not even the quality of it. The second time, it’s like, ‘Wow, I can actually have fun and enjoy this.’"
Roseman, thankfully, didn't get too further into details. But in this young offseason, he has been putting in some time to really enjoy his work.
The Eagles plan to release James Bradberry and Darius Slay, but reports say reigning Offensive Player of the Year Saquon Barkley has agreed to a contract extension that makes him the highest-paid running back in NFL history.
In fairness to Roseman, the quality of his first Super Bowl title wasn't all that bad after Nick Foles became a Philadelphia hero with an electric performance.
However, it doesn't take much arguing to suggest this past season's core of Barkley, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert was better than LeGarrette Blount, Jay Ajayi, Nelson Agholor, Zach Ertz, Torrey Smith and Alshon Jeffery from the 2018 Super Bowl team.
No Senate Democrat on Monday voted in favor of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which would keep biological males from competing in women’s and girls’ sports.
A procedural vote took place on the Senate floor and Republicans needed at least 60 votes to break the filibuster. They received 51. Sens. Angus King, I-Maine, and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., voted with Democrats.
Four senators were absent – Democrats Elissa Slotkin, of Michigan, and Peter Welch, of Vermont, and Republicans Shelley Capito, of West Virginia, and Cynthia Lummis, of Wyoming.
Read below for the Democratic senators who decided to keep the bill from advancing.
Baldwin gave a statement to Fox News Digital on Tuesday.
"Simply put: it’s not the federal government’s place to tell state and local sports leagues across the country how to do their jobs," she said. "I for one trust our state and local leagues to craft thoughtful policy where parents and players can be involved in the discussion about what is best for our children without interference from the President or Congress."
Cortez Masto said in a statement she supported fairness in women’s sports but drew the line when it came to alleged "government overreach."
"I support fair play and safety and do not support transgender athletes competing in girls’ and women’s sports when it compromises those principles," she said in a statement. "I believe local schools, student athletes, coaches, and parents are much better equipped to implement fair, strong policies on this issue than politicians in Congress.
"This blanket legislation would allow anyone to subject girls to invasive physical exams just because of the way they look. That is incredible government overreach and is putting young women at increased risk for abuse and harassment – something I’ve spent my career fighting against."
Durbin expressed similar qualms as Cortez Masto.
"Put yourself in the shoes of these families for just a moment," Durbin said. "Imagine being the parent of a trans kid and telling your child they are not allowed to play on the same sports team as their friends at school because a politician said they couldn’t.
"It’s that personal, it’s that important, and [because of Republicans,] we’re going to vote to give someone unspecified the right to physically inspect a girl or a young woman if the other opposing team accuses them of being transgender. My goodness."
Durbin also pointed to NCAA president Charlie Baker's testimony to lawmakers when he said he believed there were fewer than 10 transgender athletes in collegiate athletics. The organization later changed its policy after President Trump's "No Men in Women's Sports" executive order.
Fetterman suggested in a post on X that he chose to be an ally to the "small" contingent of transgender athletes.
"The small handful of trans athletes in PA in a political maelstrom deserve an ally and I am one. Depersonalized as ‘they/them’ in a political ad, but are just schoolchildren. Empty show votes or cruelty on social media aren’t part of a thoughtful, dignified solution."
Gallego downplayed the issue for his constituents in his state.
"Look, if you’re running and you don’t have any other identity and you’re not known for fighting for people to have a decent living, to buy a home, to be able to bring the American dream to their families, these outside fringe issues are what is going to bring you down," he told NBC News.
"I’m not worried about that, because I communicate with my fellow Arizonans every day that I’m fighting for them to make sure that they get to live the American dream no matter what."
Hickenlooper told NBC News that Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., who introduced the bill, was "trying to churn the social wars about something that really doesn’t exist." He said Trump’s ad on trans athletes in women’s sports was only going to work once.
Kaine and Warner released a joint statement, saying Congress needed to focus on other things.
"Right now, Congress should be focused on passing bills that lower grocery prices, not ones that threaten to defund public schools and gut world-class American colleges and universities," they said. "But instead, Republicans are poised to eliminate the Department of Education, while at the same time trying to dictate how individual schools should run their sports programs and subjecting children to uncomfortable scrutiny, invasive questioning, and even harassment. We will be voting to prevent this bill from moving forward and to leave the decision of how to best integrate transgender students into sports in the hands of parents, educators and state athletic associations – not the federal government."
King said in a statement he understood concerns from students, parents and administrators about fairness and physicality differences but voted against the bill anyway.
"However, if one school in Maine decided to include a single trans student on one of their teams, schools across the entire state would lose access to critical funding which would be detrimental to all students, a result disproportionate to the impact of one transgender athlete at one school. While these are complex issues, considerations of fairness and safety in sports are made every day by parents, educators, and school administrators at the local level. We should keep it that way and allow local communities to decide what’s best for their districts and their students, and let states abide by the will of their citizens. In other words, I see this as a state’s rights issue which should not require a one-size-fits-all federal solution. Simply put, it is highly likely this legislation would hurt Maine and Maine students.
"Therefore, I am ultimately not comfortable conditioning all federal education funding on an issue that singles out such a small number of students nationwide – including here in Maine – and takes the decision-making power away from local communities.
"Finally, I find it odd that many of those supporting this legislation have exactly the opposite position when it comes to women’s reproductive choices – that that issue should be left to the states – while the question of transgender athletes requires a federal solution which overrides local control."
Peters told NBC News the issue didn’t appear to resonate with constituents in Michigan.
"This is not really an issue like in Michigan," he said. "People are going to realize that it’s really been an issue that Republicans have been trying to exploit."
Several Democratic senators didn’t release a statement or say why they voted the way they did.
Those lawmakers included Sens. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Chris Coons, D-Del., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Andy Kim, D-N.J., Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., Ed Markey, D-Mass., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Jack Reed, D-R.I., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Chris Van Hollen, D-M.d., Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore.
Fox News Digital reached out to those senators for comment.
The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act would require Title IX to treat gender as "recognized based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth" and would disallow any adjustment for it to apply to gender identity.
The Tuberville-backed bill had more than 40 co-sponsors in the Senate. It would also codify one of Trump's many recent executive orders, giving the policy better longevity.
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."
Meanwhile, a recent New York Times/Ipsos poll found that the vast majority of Americans, including 67% of Democrats, don't believe trans athletes should be able to compete in women's sports.
Fox News’ Jackson Thompson and Julia Johnson contributed to this report.
A Minnesota state representative insisted that a bill keeping trans athletes out of girls' and women's sports was "state-sanctioned genocide" during a hearing on Monday.
During arguments for the Preserve Women’s Sports Act in the Minnesota House of Representatives, Rep. Alicia Kozlowski, of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, made remarks that have since gone viral and incited backlash for her labeling of the bill as "genocide."
"Members, make no mistake that this is just another version of state-sanctioned bullying and genocide," Kozlowski said. "And I don't say that lightly."
Footage of Kozlowski's comments have spread across various social media platforms, prompting harsh responses.
One user on X directed critics to the representative's profile on the platform on Monday.
However, by Tuesday afternoon, Kozlowski's X account had been deactivated.
It is not even the first time in the last two weeks that a state Democrat lawmaker deactivated their X account after facing backlash for an aggressive push to protect trans inclusion in girls' sports.
Ryan Fecteau, the Maine House of Representatives' Democratic speaker, deleted his X account last Thursday, just days after censuring Republican Rep. Laurel Libby.
Libby was censured by the Democratic majority Tuesday evening for a recent social media post pointing out that a transgender high school athlete won a girls' competition. The censure resolution passed by a 75-70 vote and revoked Libby's speaking and voting privileges.
Meanwhile, Fecteau's Facebook and Bluesky accounts were flooded with angry comments from users who condemned the censure, and supported Libby.
And like Fecteau, Kozlowski has been bombarded with angry comments on her other social media accounts that are still active.
The most recent post on Kozlowski's Instagram account alone already has more comments than any other post on her profile.
"You should look up the word genocide and educate yourself before you use it lightly," one user wrote.
Another user commented, "Why do you hate girls having fair competition? Biological males 100% of the time will have an advantage… It's literally in their DNA, which can't be changed. You know own, science and all that."
Kozlowski was one of the 66 Democrats who voted against the bill, keeping it one vote shy of reaching the necessary 68-vote threshold for passage.
The act stated that "only female students may participate in an elementary or secondary school level athletic team or sport that an educational institution has restricted to women and girls."
"Female means a female as biologically determined by genetics and defined with respect to an individual’s reproductive system," the bill states.
In contrast with Kozlowski, many Republicans spoke in favor of the ball, citing the desire to protect women's spaces from biological males.
"We cannot allow our girls to be vulnerable to losing their spot on the team, being on the podium, or to injury by a male teammate or male competitor," said state Rep. Peggy Scott. "That is not safe and that is not fair to our girls."
Former Minnesota Vikings player Jack Brewer joined Riley Gaines at the Minnesota state Capitol on Monday to support the bill. Brewer told Fox News Digital last week that he believed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was "disgusting" for continuing to allow biological males in girls' sports in the state.
"It's absolutely disgusting, and it's why, when you see him and you see his mannerisms and the way he carries himself, you know this guy doesn't appeal to real men and boys who have battled it out on the gridiron, man. I have nothing in common with this guy," Brewer said.
"I think he's a disgrace to the football world to be honest."
The Minnesota State High School League is one of many state scholastic conferences that announced it would continue letting trans athletes participate in girls’ sports, defying President Donald Trump's recent executive order to prevent it.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, though, wrote a letter late last month warning of the consequences of not passing the "Preserving Girls’ Sports Act."
"The Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights has begun a Title IX investigation into the Minnesota State High School League," the letter from Bondi read. "If the Department of Education's investigation shows that relevant Minnesota entities are indeed denying girls an equal opportunity to participate in sports and athletic events by requiring them to compete against boys, the Department of Justice stands ready to take all appropriate action to enforce federal law."
Golf legend John Daly revealed his bladder cancer has been in remission for four years.
Daly, 58, talked about finding out he had cancer in a recent podcast appearance that aired last month.
"It was scary," Daly said during an appearance on the "Like a Farmer Podcast." "I was peeing blood, pukin' blood. ... I thought my back was killing me, and I didn't know. And I went in Little Rock, got a checkup and everything on my back and then, was it a neurologist? Doctor saw it and said, ‘You gotta come back.’
"I was fixin' to go to Hooters, get some wings in Little Rock, and he called and said, 'No, don't eat anything. Gotta get you back over here.' And I go, ‘Why?’ And [he said], 'Well, you have cancer. You have bladder cancer'. What else can happen, you know?"
Daly said as long as it’s him going through it and not his kids, he can deal with it.
"As long as it's me and not my kids, I can deal with it. So, I go back. They caught it in time. I've been in remission for the last four years, but I gotta get a checkup once a year now — thank God — and not two. Anyone who's got bladder cancer, that thing that goes in your pee-pee don't feel good," Daly said.
"Hey, I just deal with it. You just deal with it, and you try to work around all these injuries and everything, try and play the best you can."
As for his golf game, Daly admitted his health issues don’t allow him to play at the level he once did.
"I can't set goals for golf anymore. Fighting the bladder cancer and all that crap with all the surgeries, it's not an excuse. It's just nobody can play great when they're not healthy," Daly said.
"I get out there, and I do my best I can. But I still wanna play golf. I still wanna play on the Champions Tour. I just wanna compete better, and right now there's no way I can.
"But I'm gonna keep grinding it out 'cause you never know. That putter gets hot. … I don't care if you got one arm, one leg, that putter gets hot you can play some really good golf because we all hit it good."
In addition to his cancer being in remission, Daly revealed he underwent emergency surgery on his hand in January in a post to social media and said he would "be back playing in to time."
The golf icon hasn’t played on the PGA Champions Tour since October.
Daly played at the PGA Championship and The Open Championship last year but withdrew after the first round in both tournaments.
In his career, Daly has five PGA Tour victories, including two major championship wins.
Daly won the PGA Championship in 1991 and then the British Open in 1995. His last win on the PGA Tour was at the Buick Invitational in 2004.
Daly won the 2021 PNC Father-Son Championship with his son, John Daly II.
Daly has earned nearly $13 million in winnings in his career, according to the PGA Tour website.
Duke phenom Cooper Flagg got a standing ovation from the Cameron Indoor faithful on Monday night in what may have been his final home game in a Blue Devil uniform.
Last month, Flagg admitted that he "want[ed]" to come back" to Durham next season – but being the projected No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft doesn't exactly make that likely.
The "Cameron Crazies" know that fact, so as he was taken out of the game in the final minutes, they hit him with chants of "one more year."
Flagg said he "for sure" heard the chants, but was murky about his future with the team.
"I mean, I'm living in the present right now, living in the moment, taking it day by day," he said. "I don't know what the future holds."
"I mean, this is the best place in college basketball for sure," Flagg added. "I've loved every single minute of being here. I've loved everybody I've met, everybody I've been around for this whole year. It's been an amazing year."
When the time came for him to check out with 3:34 left, he slapped hands with teammates Sion James and Isaiah Evans, then started untucking his jersey as he made his way to the Duke bench. He greeted coach Jon Scheyer with a high-five and a hug, then made his way down the bench embracing coaches, staffers and teammates as the crowd began asking for an unlikely second act next season.
"The talent speaks for itself. Love coaching his talent," Scheyer said. "But I love coaching the person. He’s all about the right stuff."
Duke closes out its regular season on Saturday with a trip to Chapel Hill to revisit their rivalry with the University of North Carolina. After that, they're off to the ACC championship before going to the big dance.
If it was his final game at Duke, he gave the fans a nice parting gift, dropping 28 points, grabbing eight rebounds, and dishing out seven assists in their 93-60 win over Wake Forest.
Flagg, 18, has put up 19.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game and is shooting 49.7% from the floor and 38.3% from three-point land.
Saquon Barkley’s dream first season with the Philadelphia Eagles has even more rewards after helping them win Super Bowl LIX.
The Eagles have reportedly agreed to a two-year, $41.2 million extension with their star running back, making him the highest-paid player at his position in NFL history, per ESPN.
No running back has ever made at least $20 million per season.
The report also adds that the contract includes $36 million in guaranteed money as well as escalators of an additional $15 million.
This comes after Barkley signed a three-year deal reportedly worth more than $37.5 million this past offseason, joining the Eagles after six seasons with the New York Giants.
After watching Barkley enter elite NFL company with a 2,000-yard rushing season (2,005) on 345 carries with 13 rushing scores, Eagles GM Howie Roseman wasted no time keeping his top signee of last offseason in the building for more years to come.
Barkley also caught 33 passes for 278 yards with two more touchdowns, ultimately earning him Offensive Player of the Year honors at the end of the season. He was also named a First Team All-Pro on his way to helping the Eagles make a run in the postseason.
Throughout the season, Barkley discussed the dynamic of joining the Eagles, a team that was his rival when he was with the Giants. He also noted on multiple occasions that he wished to be a "Giant for life," but the front office never made him the right deal, leading to free agency in 2024.
As Barkley thrived with Philadelphia, including a game where he almost broke his career high at MetLife Stadium in his first meeting against the Giants, the media and fans alike leaned into the fact that New York was struggling mightily while a former face of their franchise was going to work with a divisional foe.
However, Barkley consistently took the high road, publicly maintaining his focus on the Eagles, and it clearly worked out in the long run.
Barkley proved to be the best running back in the league in terms of production last season, and his new team is compensating him as such for years to come.
As Democratic congresswomen are reportedly planning to wear pink to President Donald Trump's joint address Tuesday to protest in support of women's rights, one Republican senator is reminding them what their party voted against Monday.
Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, D-N.M., told Time on Tuesday that dozens of her Democrat colleagues will show up to Capitol Hill to wear pink for Trump's speech to "signal our protest of Trump's policies which are negatively impacting women and families."
"Pink is a color of power and protest," Fernández told the outlet. "It’s time to rev up the opposition and come at Trump loud and clear."
In response to this news, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, called out the party for its reported protest attire for women just one day after Senate Democrats voted unanimously against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.
"When you see Democrats wearing pink for the TV cameras tonight, remember that 45 of them voted for men to invade women’s sports just yesterday," Lee wrote in response to the Time article on X. "It’s all an act."
The bill failed to clear the key procedural hurdle by a vote of 51-45, along party lines. All Democratic senators voted against the motion to proceed, with the exceptions of Sens. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., and Peter Welch, D-V.t., who were absent.
So the bill was filibustered and is presumed dead, unless it is re-introduced at a later date.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., did not just vote against the bill, but she also made a mocking "thumbs down" gesture while she voted no.
Many Democrats have since faced a flury of online backlash for voting against the bill.
Meanwhile, Trump passed an executive order to keep trans athletes out of girls' and women's sports on Feb. 5, which has been widely praised by women's rights groups.
Amanda Serrano, whose fight against Katie Taylor at AT&T Stadium in November was one for the ages, has signed a lifetime agreement with Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions, the brand announced Tuesday.
The Serrano-Taylor bout, who headlined Madison Square Garden nearly three years ago, was the co-main event along with Paul's eight-round fight against Mike Tyson, who was having his first sanctioned fight in nearly 20 years.
"Signing this lifetime deal with MVP means I can continue fighting – not just in the ring, but for the next generation of women in combat sports," Serrano said in a statement.
"MVP has always been committed to elevating female fighters, from being the first women to headline Madison Square Garden to breaking viewership records for women's sports or making history with 12 three-minute rounds. Together, we’ve shown the world that women deserve equal pay, equal rounds, and equal respect. I’m proud to build my legacy with MVP and excited to stay on after I retire as a fighter to deepen MVP’s impact and help create even more opportunities for women in the sport."
"Amanda Serrano is the heart and soul of MVP. Her relentless drive, historic achievements, and passion for uplifting other fighters are everything we are looking for in both signees and as future decision makers alongside us at MVP," said Paul and co-founder Nakisa Bidarian. "Amanda has paved the way for female fighters worldwide, shattering glass ceilings and demanding equality at every step. We are so fortunate to have her as both a fighter and a trailblazer who will continue to shape the sport long after she retires from the ring. This lifetime agreement is a testament to our belief in Amanda, not just as an athlete but as a visionary leader who will help guide MVP’s future and inspire generations to come."
In an interview with Fox News Digital in February 2024, Serrano said joining Paul's brand was "the best decision I've made in boxing."
"It changed my life totally," she said at the time. "Jake brings eyes to the sport, and I was excited to be a part of it and be the first girl on his undercard. I had to make sure I had to go out there and prove I'm deserving of that position. Jake is just an amazing guy. Nakisa is an amazing guy. And they just want what's best for me.
"They've definitely added more zeroes to my bank account," she added with a laugh. "So I'm truly blessed for that."
Serrano lost to Taylor via a controversial unanimous decision; Taylor won in 2022 with split scorecards. Nonetheless, they garnered over 70 million viewers on Netflix, the most in women's boxing history. Two of Serrano's three losses have come from Taylor, who is 24-1 in her career.
Serrano was bloodied in the fight after an apparent headbutt from Taylor, which cost her a point in the eighth round.
The 36-year-old has 47 victories on her resume, 31 of them via knockout.
Chris Kluwe, a former NFL punter who was recently thrust into the national spotlight after he was arrested at a California city council meeting, voiced his support for lawmakers who blocked the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act from moving forward in the Senate.
Republican lawmakers failed to get the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster.
Not a single Senate Democrat voted in favor of the bill. Two Republicans and two Democrats were absent from the vote.
Kluwe, who played for the Minnesota Vikings his entire career, reacted in a post on BlueSky.
"I support and am happy the party came together to stop this," Kluwe wrote. "However, this is what they should be doing on EVERYTHING. I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it - we are in an existential crisis as a country. We’re either going to emerge as Americans, or as something else."
The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act would require Title IX to treat gender as "recognized based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth" and would disallow any adjustment for it to apply to gender identity.
The bill was introduced by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and has more than 40 co-sponsors in the Senate. It would also codify one of Trump's many recent executive orders, giving the policy better longevity.
President Donald Trump issued an executive order last month to prohibit biological males from competing in women's and girls sports. The order would withhold federal funding from states that continue to allow transgender inclusion in women's and girls sports.
Fox News’ Julia Johnson contributed to this report.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is calling on NBA officials to whistle traveling, one of the most basic rules violations in basketball, more often.
Kerr, 59, was assessed a technical foul during the third quarter of the Warriors' 119-101 win over the Charlotte Hornets Monday after what he thought was an obvious travel wasn’t called.
"I don’t understand why we are not teaching our officials to call travel in this league," Kerr told reporters after the game. "They do a great job and work their tails off and communicate well, but I see five or six travels a game that aren’t called.
"You know it's a problem when there are like a hundred fans in the stands and every coach on the sideline when I'm watching film and everyone is (signaling for a travel call). Everyone is seeing it, so we are clearly not teaching as a league our officials to look at the feet."
Kerr called out his own team, saying he saw the Warriors commit four traveling violations that were not called in their loss to the Philadelphia 76ers Saturday.
Kerr said a change regarding traveling violations needs to happen "for the good of the game."
"The entire game is based on footwork," Kerr said. "We need enforce traveling violations, and we are not doing it. And I don't understand why. ... These (officials) are awesome. They do a great job, and they have a million things to watch, but footwork is the entire basis of the game, and we need to call traveling. It will be a much better game if we clean it up."
The Warriors play the New York Knicks Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET, and Kerr will likely be monitoring traveling calls.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., made her position visibly clear on whether she believes women and girls should be protected from trans inclusion in sports.
Warren was seen giving an exaggerated thumbs down gesture while voting no on the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act Monday night.
Warren held her thumb down for several seconds in the face of the clerk tallying her vote. The clerk even had to tell Warren, "I got you," to assure her that her vote had been counted as the senator held her gesture for an exaggerated amount of time.
Footage of the senator's gesture prompted widespread backlash on social media, especially by women's rights activists.
Independent Council on Women's Sports co-founder Marshi Smith condemned Warren in a response on X.
"Hard to believe someone could hate little girls who just want a spot on the girls’ team and the girls’ podium this much," Smith wrote.
The British U.K.-based feminist YouTuber Kellie-Jay Keen questioned how anyone in the U.S. could vote for someone like Warren in an X response.
"Why would any woman in the USA continue to support these woman hating a--holes?" Keen wrote.
Feminist author Kara Dansky, a Democrat, replied to the clip by posting a long X response that included a note she wrote to Warren ahead of the 2020 election.
"The Democratic party is pushing the narrative that ‘transgender’ and ‘queer’ belong in the same category as gay rights, and that is problematic for several reasons: (1) it is not true, (2) it is bad for women and girls, and (3) it is likely to lead to a loss in 2020," Dansky posted.
Fox News Digital reached out to Warren's office for comment.
Warren has a history of support for trans inclusion in women's and girls' sports and even once called legislation to prevent it "cruel."
In February 2020, Warren condemned an Arizona state bill, the Save Women's Sports Act, that would have prevented biological males from competing in girls' sports.
"Trans athletes are not a threat," Warren wrote on X (then known as Twitter). "We need to protect trans kids – and all LGBTQ+ kids – and ensure they feel safe and welcomed at school. I urge the Arizona legislature to reject this cruel bill."
Now, Warren has helped prevent a bill that would offer female athletes the same protections on a national level.
Republicans needed 60 votes but only received 51. No Democrats sided with Republicans on the bill. Two Democrats were absent from the vote, as were two Republicans. The bill failed, 51-45.
During a recent interview on CNN's "The Arena with Kasie Hunt," Warren was asked why she thought Democrats lost to President Donald Trump in November, and if the party had moved too far to the left culturally. Warren's response indicated that she didn't believe that was the case.
"I think the problem is we didn't make clear what we fight for and really get out there and fight for it. Our job right now is pretty straightforward. Just tell the truth," Warren said.
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."
Meanwhile, a recent New York Times/Ipsos poll found that the vast majority of Americans, including 67% of Democrats, don't believe trans athletes should be able to compete in women's sports.
Last month, a Gallup poll also showed a 45% plurality of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents saying they wanted the party to become more moderate, an 11-point increase since the beginning of President Joe Biden’s term in 2021.
The Democratic Party has largely struggled since Trump’s election in 2024. In a Quinnipiac University survey conducted during Trump’s first week in office, only 31% of respondents had a favorable opinion of the Democratic Party.
Now, with Senate Democrats voting unanimously to block the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, many activists, including Riley Gaines, have vowed to help unseat the senators who prevented it from passing.
