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Today — 19 May 2025Latest Sports News Today on Fox News

Indy 500 champions hit with disastrous penalties before upcoming race

Indy 500 champions Josef Newgarden and Will Power were hit with a major penalty less than a week before the green flag drops for the race.

The Team Penske drivers will be forced to start in the rear of the field over modified attenuators, the IndyCar Series announced on Monday. The team strategists for both drivers were suspended for the race.

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"The integrity of the Indianapolis 500 is paramount, and this violation of the INDYCAR rule against modification to this part and using it ‘as supplied’ is clear," IndyCar President J. Douglas Boles said in a statement. "The penalty should be more than simply starting where the cars might have qualified anyway, if given the opportunity. The cars belong in the field as two of the fastest 33; however, starting on the tail of the field is the appropriate penalty in this instance."

IndyCar said Newgarden and Power will forfeit qualification points, and they were fined $100,000.

"The positive momentum around the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the Indianapolis 500 has been on a steep crescendo over the last several months, and we want it to be clear that our intent is to maintain that momentum and discourage teams from putting INDYCAR in positions where it calls into the integrity of our officiating and the levelness of the playing field," Boles added.

ROOKIE INDY 500 DRIVER ROBERT SHWARTZMAN CELEBRATES HISTORIC POLE WIN

"As we look to the remainder of the week and the race this weekend, we will do everything we can to make it clear that this is not only the best racing on the planet but racing where the best win under completely fair conditions."

IndyCar said an illegal filling was found in the seams of the attenuator, according to FOX Sports.

Team Penske President Tim Cindric said Sunday the modification was performed to make the vehicles sleek and not to give it an advantage.

"In our eyes, it’s not a performance advantage but at the end of the day, if they don’t like the seam being filled, they don’t like the seam being filled," Cindric said via FOX Sports. "You’ve got to do what the inspection process is and conform to that."

Newgarden won the Indy 500 in 2023 and 2024. Power won the race in 2018.

Each driver will now have to pull off stunning racing to get to the front and possibly win the race.

The Indy 500 will be broadcast May 25 on FOX with pre-coverage starting at 10 a.m. ET. It will also be available to stream live on FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports app.

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Scottie Scheffler suffers trophy mishap after winning PGA Championship

Scottie Scheffler was pumped after securing the first PGA Championship of his career.

Scheffler threw down his hat onto the green at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina, as he celebrated winning the major tournament with an 11-under par. He went over to his family and hugged his wife, son and parents as they congratulated him.

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The adrenaline must have carried over to the Wanamaker Trophy celebration. Scheffler lifted the piece of hardware a little too awkwardly, and the lid of the trophy fell from the top and hit the ground.

He laughed it off, as did the rest of the fans who watched the ceremony occur.

Collin Morikawa had the same blunder when he won the PGA Championship in 2020.

RORY MCILROY EVADES MEDIA AT PGA CHAMPIONSHIP AMID GOLF CLUB CONTROVERSY

"They told me it’s heavy. They didn’t tell me the lid comes off," the golfer said Wednesday before the tournament began, via Golf.com. "But it is way heavier than you expect. And then they tell you to lift it over your head."

Scheffler shot a final-round 71 to secure the third major victory of his career.

He had a rough first few holes and allowed Jon Rahm to get into contention. However, he locked in while Rahm fell off the pace on the back nine.

"This back nine will be one that I remember for a long time," Scheffler said. "It was a grind out there. I think at one point on the front I maybe had a four- or five-shot lead, and making the turn, I think I was tied for the lead.

"So to step up when I needed to the most, I’ll remember that for a while."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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ESPN star suggests Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese incident became talking point for more than racial reasons

ESPN star Stephen A. Smith weighed in on Monday about why Catilin Clark’s hard foul on Angel Reese became a major story of the sports weekend.

Clark’s foul under the basket came after Reese pushed off of an Indiana Fever player to secure an offensive rebound. Clark fouled the Chicago Sky forward in order to prevent an easy two points. Reese let Clark have an earful over the foul. 

Clark’s personal foul was upgraded to a flagrant foul.

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The two WNBA stars downplayed the foul in their postgame press conferences, but it still became a hot topic of debate because of the history the two young athletes have.

"First Take" host Molly Qerim asked bluntly whether the story of Clark and Reese becoming "trending news" was because it was women being physical with each other or was it because it involved a Black and a White player.

"It’s not about Black and White – it’s about that White player and that Black player," Smith said of Clark and Reese. "Why? Because of the history they had before they came to the WNBA. If Angel Reese was never in Caitlin Clark’s face taunting her the way that she did, mimicking what Caitlin Clark was doing to numerous opponents in route to the Final Four and then LSU and Angel Reese busted their you know what at that particular moment in time and Angel Reese was in her face chirping at her the way that she did, it would have never gotten to this point.

"I have never deemed that to be a bad thing. I love that kind of confrontation. I love that kind of heat. But there are White folks in America had a problem with Angel Reese coming at ‘The Chosen One,’ Caitlin Clark, that way. And because of that, they’ve acted with a level of vitriol. How do we know that? Because Angel Reese came back to college following year and one of the things that reduced her to tears was the vitriol that she was receiving from around the country because were hating on her because of her elevated popularity and the fact that she had gone at Caitlin Clark that way.

DAVE PORTNOY SLAMS WNBA AS LEAGUE INVESTIGATES 'HATEFUL COMMENTS' TOWARD ANGEL REESE

"Now, we come to the WNBA. No fault of Caitlin’s at all. But in the end, because of her greatness and because people were resistant to accepting the way I have articulated on many occasions, you have people using that as an excuse to throw vitriol at other people. In the end, here’s what I say, that’s what’s contributed to Angel Reese becoming a household name, along with the fact that she’s a rebounding demon … but that’s elevated her level of popularity."

Smith pointed to the rivalry Larry Bird and Earvin "Magic" Johnson had in the NBA. It started at the college level and blossomed into the NBA.

He drew a comparative racial line between the NBA greats and young WNBA stars.

"What I would say all of y’all is this … no matter how great Michael Jordan was obviously, it started with Bird vs. Magic. Yeah, you can talk about Showtime vs. Boston, but that White superstar losing in that national championship game to that dude called Magic at Michigan State when (Bird) was at Indiana State and him coming into the NBA," he said. "They constantly made the Finals, and they owned most of the 80s in terms of the two teams, respectively. The bottom line is, it contributed to elevate the popularity. 

"So, Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark, embrace this. It’s OK, because all y’all doing is competing."

Indiana won the first of five games against Chicago. Clark had a triple-double and Reese had a double-double.

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Tyra Mae Steele, Jasper Troy win 'WWE LFG' competition; duo puts NXT roster on notice

Pro wrestlers Tyra Mae Steele and Jasper Troy won the "WWE Legends and Future Greats" (LFG) competition on Sunday night to earn WWE NXT contracts.

Steele got her spot over Zena Sterling, and Troy earned his over Shiloh Hill to move up to the next level of competition. Both competitors will join the NXT brand and become the next duo to make an impact on the developmental brand.

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"I’m super excited," Steele told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. "I’m more patient. I just know in due time, everything is going to take place and when it rains it pours. So, I am excited to just see what the future holds and how the WWE Universe is gonna take my energy and all that I have to offer."

Troy expressed that he was more anxious to get into the ring and mix it up.

"I’m just more ready to see how the story unfolds. To me, it’s like expecting a movie to come out," he explained. "I’m just waiting to play my role in that film and see myself on the screen. But the funnest part for me has just been the work that we’ve been putting in since winning. Being more behind the scenes again, and I think it was just fun and go back to a feeling of trying to make it out of the bottom again. 

"Because, you know, after the winning the show, I was on this big high. I felt like, ‘Wow, everything’s about to start changing rapidly. But everything just slowed down for a couple of months. I was just like, this is another test, this is another trial that I have to get through. The moment I come out it’s like a new debut and new beginning. The next chapter is very exciting to me."

Steele, whose real name is Tamyra Mensah-Stock, comes in with an audience a bit more familiar with her.

She is a world champion freestyle wrestler who won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. She also won two gold medals at the World Championships, one gold medal at the Pan American Games, three gold medals at the Pan American Championships and three gold medals at the Golden Grand Prix Ivan Yaryigin.

She put the NXT locker room on notice as her debut looms.

WWE STAR ZELINA VEGA RECALLS WRESTLING IN NJ, MAKING HISTORY AS US CHAMP AND TOUTS SUMMERSLAM

"My hard work is different than dang-near everybody. I am an Olympic gold medalist, not a lot of people can say that," she said. "That is a standard that not a lot of people can accomplish. It is an Olympic standard. To everyone that is going to be seeing me coming into the roster, they need to know, they need to understand that Tyra Mae Steele is going to be coming to this roster with an Olympic standard.

"And I am going to be flattening everyone who will be standing in my way. This is a standard that not a lot of people can live up to. And I see some people slacking – that just makes me hungry."

Steele said she keeps hearing that the NXT women’s division is "the hottest roster that there is" and vowed to make sure it stays that way.

"When I step into the building, when I step into the ring with anybody, they’re going to go, ‘Oh, my gosh, she wasn’t kidding about that Olympic standard,’" she said. "They’re gonna feel it, and they’re gonna love it and they’re gonna appreciate it. And if they don’t appreciate it, they’re dang sure going to respect it."

Troy, whose real name is Antoine Frazer, joined WWE as a recruit nearly three years ago. He played college football at Northern Iowa, Kansas and Rhode Island.

He praised the talent on the men’s roster for when he first entered the company.

"When I came in, the locker room wasn’t that much different, but there was a noticeable amount of talent," he told Fox News Digital. "And when I looked up, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, like, where do I fit in?’ When Bron Breakker was here regularly, Carmelo Hayes, Ilja Dragunov, that locker room was tough. Even Grayson Waller, I mean … they were the ones leading the charge.

"They would out-perform each other. It was almost like they were competing to see who’s gonna have the best performance of the night. Every coconut (show type) I went to I saw at least five or six main-event matches that could have been promoted."

He added that he is bringing the "same mentality."

"I’m ready to compete," Troy said. "I’m ready to move. I’m ready to shuffle the deck of players myself. I’m not coming in to participate or just tribute. I’m coming in to contribute. I’m coming in to be a factor in this. They gotta handle whatever they gotta handle."

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IndyCar driver Robert Shwartzman talks racing to IndyCar pole, dishes on driving at 230 mph

IndyCar rookie Robert Shwartzman earned the pole position for the Indianapolis 500 with the quickest lap around the track on Sunday afternoon.

It was Shwartzman’s first time on an oval track. He appeared on "Fox & Friends" on Monday morning, just hours after attaining the top spot in "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." 

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"Honestly, I still can’t believe it. It’s a new day and I still feel like it’s a dream. I’ve been dreaming about it for a long time and, yesterday, everything was just going so well, the car felt amazing," he said. "I was going full out. And when I saw myself in P1, I was just like, ‘Wow, this is unbelievable.’

"The reaction of fans and people here in the U.S. is unbelievable. I think it’s the most memorable and best emotional part my entire career."

Shwartzman was traveling at speeds of up to 230 mph and somehow was able to maintain control for the blazing-fast laps. Some other drivers traveling at similar speeds suffered devastating crashes going at a similar rate.

2025 INDY 500 ODDS: ROOKIE ROBERT SHWARTZMAN SURGES AFTER SECURING POLE

The 25-year-old Russian Israeli driver was able to stay in control, maintain his focus and become the first rookie to win the pole since 1983.

"It’s really, really fast," he said. "But as a racing driver, you are training yourself to have a proper vision. You have to see the road really far because the speed is so quick. Plus, when you’re going into the corners at that speed, anything could happen.

"As we’ve seen, there was some incidents from other guys. It hurts quite a lot. … It’s so stressful. Mentally, I was so tired afterward because it’s four laps, and it seems quite short, but no. You’re going so fast there. You have to keep every second under control."

Shwartzman said he will try to stay cool, calm and collected in order to win the race.

"I’ll do my best as I did in qualifying, and we’ll see where we’re gonna be at. I don’t want to put any huge expectations. I just want to enjoy it. I want a fast car and battle with the top guys."

The Indy 500 will be broadcast May 25 on FOX with pre-coverage starting at 10 a.m. ET. It will also be available to stream live on FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports app.

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Son of John Elway's late agent remembers dad in heart-wrenching post

The son of John Elway’s late agent, Jeff Sperbeck, paid tribute to his father in a heart-wrenching Instagram post on Sunday.

Jackson Sperbeck put together a slideshow of photos, remembering the times he spent with his father before his tragic passing late last month. The photos ranged from the time Jackson was a child to his older years.

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"Your footsteps gave me direction. I’ll walk the rest with purpose," he captioned the collage. "I love you dad."

Jeff Sperbeck, 62, died from injuries sustained in a golf-cart crash in California. The Riverside County Coroner’s Office ruled that his death was accidental due to blunt head trauma.

"The Cause of Death is 'Blunt Head Trauma,' and the Manner of Death is ‘Accident,’ and the Mode of Death (How the injury occurred) is ‘Passenger fell from golf cart.’" the coroner's bureau said in the statement obtained by Fox News Digital earlier this month.

AARON RODGERS COULD ULTIMATELY LAND IN 'PERFECT PLACE' WITH STEELERS, AUTHOR SAYS

The statement added that the injury occurred when the "passenger fell from" the golf cart.

Elway released a statement on his longtime agent’s death.

"I am absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the passing of my close friend, business partner and agent Jeff Sperbeck," Elway said in a statement, via ESPN. 

"There are no words to truly express the profound sadness I feel with the sudden loss of someone who has meant so much to me.

"My heart and deepest sympathies go out to Jeff’s wife, Cori; his children Carly, Sam and Jackson; and everyone who knew and loved him. Jeff will be deeply missed for the loyalty, wisdom, friendship and love he brought into my life and the lives of so many others."

Fox News’ Chantz Martin contributed to this report.

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US women's rugby star sent off for 'deliberate and dangerous' head stamp of Australian opponent

American Olympic rugby star Alev Kelter will face a judicial hearing and potentially lengthy suspension after being sent off in a women’s rugby test on Saturday for stamping on the head of an opponent.

 Team USA was playing against Australia, who went on to celebrate a 27-19 victory in Saturday's contest.

Upon a video review, referees issued a red card around the 79th minute of action in the Pacific Four Series test. Officials determined Kelter forcefully stamped on the head of Australian center Georgie Friedrichs.

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Microphones picked up a referee saying, "Twelve, blue (Kelter), is going to receive a permanent red card because this is thuggery, it is deliberate and it is very dangerous foul play.

"She’s clearly stamped on the head of the Australian player. That’s reckless, that’s dangerous and she’s going off."

US RUGBY SEVENS STAR ILONA MAHER ADMITS BRONZE MEDAL IS 'WEARING A LITTLE BIT'

Friedrichs appeared to avoid any major injuries in the incident. Team USA coach Sione Fukofuka later apologized to the Australian players.

Foul play in rugby that involves contact with the head is treated with extreme seriousness. Rugby, like many contact sports, has changed its rules in an effort to limit the danger of concussion and other head injuries.

Kelter is a three-time US Olympic representative in rugby sevens and won a bronze medal in Paris last year. She previously played ice hockey and soccer for the University of Wisconsin.

In rugby, judicial hearings over foul play usually take place within 48 hours of a match.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Dave Portnoy slams WNBA as league investigates 'hateful comments' toward Angel Reese

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy pushed back on allegations that "hateful comments" were reportedly made toward Angel Reese during the Chicago Sky’s game against the Indiana Fever.

The WNBA launched an investigation on Sunday. The remarks were allegedly made toward the second-year Sky star during Saturday’s matchup, according to The Associated Press. The league said it "strongly condemns racism, hate and discrimination in all forms."

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No specifics were presented, and Portnoy cast doubt on whether the comments happened and speculated that internet trolls could have been behind it. Portnoy was at the game at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse and sat courtside in a Caitlin Clark jersey.

Portnoy said in a video posted to his X account that the only "hate" he saw came from Reese against Clark after the Fever star hit Reese with a hard foul in the third quarter. Reese let Clark know emphatically that she did not like it. Clark was given a flagrant foul but said there was "no malicious intent" behind it.

"Listen, I was at the game. If there was somebody being racist or saying s---, obviously boot ’em. Never let them back," Portnoy said. "I would be stunned beyond belief if that was the case. … The crowd at the Fever game? Little girls, families, ladies, nice crowd. Were we mad when Angel Reese attacked Cailtin Clark for no reason? Yeah. Did we boo her? Yeah. Is it sports? Yeah.

"For the WNBA, and now the Indiana Fever, to issue statements, ‘We’re investigating,’ unless something so preposterous happened that nobody in the stadium saw — there’s not an ounce of proof, there’s not a video of it, there’s not camera phone of it — unless something happened, which I know it didn’t. For them to acknowledge this and, again, kind of paint Indiana Fever fans, like, by just saying ‘We’re investigating the hate’ … even though it’s 100% false, by acknowledging ‘We don’t condone hate,’ and not seeing that this was an internet rumor founded of complete bulls---, you’re lending credence to this."

ANGEL REESE 'HATES' CAITLIN CLARK, FORMER NFL STAR SAYS AFTER TEMPERS FLARE IN WNBA MATCHUP

Portnoy added that the crowd was good and that Reese "deserved" to at least be booed but had a message for the WNBA.

"Angel Reese deserved to get her a-- booed when she attacked Caitlin on a normal foul," he said. "Other than that, what are you talking about? The WNBA, talk about killing the golden goose. Like, you guys are lucky you have Caitlin Clark. You are lucky you have the Indiana Fever. It makes the league relevant. All you do is s--- on ‘em. 

"And for the Fever, by the way, to even put out that statement, I’ll eat my words if you find one iota, or if there’s even one person who is doing something. Being in that crowd, seeing that crowd, being at the game, zero point zero, zero, zero, zero, zero chance there’s any truth to this. And you add validity when you acknowledge the statement, ‘We don’t condone hate.’ There was no hate. The only hate was coming from Angel Reese attacking Caitlin Clark."

The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) released a statement on the issue as well.

"The WNBPA is aware of reports of hateful comments at yesterday’s game in Indianapolis and supports the WNBA’s current investigation into this matter. Such behavior is unacceptable in our sport," the statement said. "Under the WNBA’s ‘No Space for Hate’ policy, we trust the league to thoroughly investigate and take swift, appropriate action to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all."

The Fever acknowledged the investigation was taking place, as did the Sky.

"We will do everything in our power to protect Chicago Sky players, and we encourage the league to continue taking meaningful steps to create a safe environment for all WNBA players," Sky CEO Adam Fox said.

The Sky and Fever have four more matchups on the docket this season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Brad Marchand makes NHL history as Panthers' Stanley Cup title defense stays alive

The Florida Panthers bashed the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals and moved on to the conference finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Panthers scored three goals in the first period and three more in the second in the 6-1 win. Florida had six different goal scorers – Seth Jones, Anton Lundell, Jonah Gadjovich, Eetu Luostarinen, Sam Reinhart and Brad Marchand.

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Marchand scored in the latter stages of the game, capping off his history-making effort.

In the win over the Maple Leafs, the NHL said Marchand became the first player to win five winner-take-all games against the same team. Marchand was with the Boston Bruins when the team won four Game 7s against Toronto. Florida’s win was his fifth.

"I grew up a Leafs fan, and I enjoy playing against the Leafs," Marchand said after the game. "I enjoy interacting with fans. It’s fun. I don’t take myself too seriously. I love getting made fun of, and I love making fun of people. If you can’t take it, then so be it. I’m going to enjoy the moments that I have.

2025 NHL STANLEY CUP, POSTSEASON ODDS: OILERS FAVORED, STARS SECOND

"When I come in here and I get booed, I’m good. I’m going to show it. I’m going to enjoy that."

Florida acquired the veteran from the Bruins at the trade deadline, and it was for the extra push when it came to the postseason.

Panthers head coach Paul Maurice also kept his Game 7 winning streak alive. He is 6-0 in Game 7s as a head coach.

"Game 7s are for the players," Maurice said. "It doesn’t matter how your hands feel. It doesn’t matter how your body feels. It doesn’t matter how well you execute. If it’s how comfortable you are in hard situations, then you have a chance."

The Panthers are the defending Stanley Cup champions and will take on the Carolina Hurricanes in the conference finals.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Rookie Indy 500 driver Robert Shwartzman celebrates historic pole win

A rookie driver celebrated an unlikely pole victory for the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. 

While Team Penske was disqualified before the final two rounds of qualifying, Robert Shwartzman won the pole.

The 25-year-old was driving for PREMA Racing and became the first Indy 500 rookie to qualify for the pole since 1983. Shwartzman, who has dual nationality in Israel and Russia, initially raced under the Russian flag. He currently competes under the Israeli flag, which makes the Tel Aviv native the first driver from Israel to make "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."

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Until Shwartzman's win, Teo Fabi was the last rookie to qualify for the Indy 500 pole. Coincidentally, he was an Italian — just like Prema, which was also founded in 1983. Prema is established in Europe and races in the Formula 2 series. It made its IndyCar debut this season.

Prema is the first team making its debut in the Indy 500 to land on the pole since Mayer Motor Racing put Tom Sneva there in 1984.

KYLE LARSON SHRUGS OFF FRIDAY CRASH, QUALIFIES 21ST FOR INDY 500

The event also marked Shwartzman's racing debut on an oval. He said the victory felt like a dream.

"Honestly it feels like I'm dreaming. I just had it in my dreams when I was going how would it feel to do such a good job in quali," he said. "It's the Indy 500. It's the main race of the year. Honestly it feels unbelievable."

Shwartzman had been pursuing a career in Formula 1 and was part of the Ferrari development program as well as its reserve driver from 2021 until the end of last season. Prema then nabbed him for its two-car team.

The pole was first wide open for the taking when Team Penske was disqualified from qualifying for an illegal modification on the cars of two-time defending Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden and Will Power. Then, Scott McLaughlin destroyed his car in a Sunday morning crash during practice.

The three Penske drivers all started on the front row last year, but will be 10th, 11th and 12th in the fourth row together next weekend. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Yesterday — 18 May 2025Latest Sports News Today on Fox News

Rory McIlroy evades media at PGA Championship amid golf club controversy

Rory McIlroy completed his career Grand Slam last month. The reigning Masters champion recently arrived in Charlotte for the second major of the 2025 season, the PGA Championship. 

McIlroy ended the tournament in a three-way tie for 47th place, finishing the major at 3-over. Sunday, the final day of the tournament, also marked McIlroy's fourth consecutive day of declining to speak with members of the media assembled at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte. 

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Speculation swirled that the Northern Irishman avoided making any public statements to the press in light of the situation with his driver leading up to the tournament. The United States Golf Association (USGA) ruled that McIlroy's driver was non-conforming. The ruling forced McIlroy to make a switch.

McIlroy's name was linked to the failed the test and eventually became public knowledge, likely via a leak. USGA policy prevents the organization from disclosing the name of any player who receives a failed test.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER WINS FIRST CAREER PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

McIlroy was ultimately just one of multiple competitors who was forced to make an equipment change for the PGA Championship.

Xander Schauffele, who won last year's PGA Championship, hinted that Scottie Scheffler also had to make a change.

"I think Scott is winning the tournament, and I think he switched to his backup, too," Schauffele told Golfweek. "See, you don't even know, because he's so good. We can deal with it because the (equipment) reps are so good now."

Scheffler and McIlroy are endorsed by TaylorMade. As of Sunday evening, the brand had not released a public statement about the golfer's drivers. 

Schauffele said that testing every competitor's clubs helps "protect the integrity of the field."

"I think they should test everyone's driver," he said. "It's not right to just test 50 guys. It just doesn't make sense if you're in it for the spirit (of the game). The whole point is to protect the integrity of the field. If you don't test everyone across the board, I don't think you're protecting the whole field."

Amid the controversy, the PGA of America released a statement.

"We can confirm that the USGA was invited to do club testing at the PGA Championship, at the PGA of America's request," the statement read in part. "That testing program is consistent with the same level of support that the USGA provides to the PGA Tour and other championships, as part of their regular programs for driver testing. The standard process is for about a third of the field to be randomly tested under the program. That was the case at Quail Hollow this week. Finding driver heads that have crept over the line of conformance is not an unusual occurrence, especially for clubs that are hit thousands of times over a long period of time."

Scheffler went on to win the PGA Championship on Sunday to earn the third major victory of his career.

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Thunder thrash Nuggets in decisive Game 7, advance to Western Conference Finals

The Thunder's pursuit of its first-ever NBA championship since the franchise moved to Oklahoma City remains alive. 

While the franchise did reach the mountaintop when the team called Seattle home in 1979, the team has yet to win a title since settling in OKC. Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the team with 35 points as OKC steamrolled the Denver Nuggets in Sunday's Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

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The 125-93 victory punched the Thunder's ticket to the Western Conference Finals. OKC will meet the Minnesota Timberwolves in the conference finals, which begins on Tuesday.

TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET CELEBRATES WITH FANS IN NYC STREETS AFTER KNICKS ADVANCE TO EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

Elswehere, the New York Knicks will face off against the Indiana Pacers in the NBA's other conference finals. The Knicks haven’t won an NBA championship since 1973. The Pacers won their most recent title that year — in the ABA.

When Commissioner Adam Silver hands one of those teams the Larry O’Brien Trophy next month, it’ll mark a league first — seven championship franchises in a seven-year span.

There hasn’t been a back-to-back NBA champion since the Golden State Warriors won in 2017 and 2018. From there, the list of champions goes like this: Toronto in 2019, the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, Milwaukee in 2021, Golden State in 2022, Denver in 2023 and Boston last season.

It’s the longest such run of different champions in NBA history; Major League Baseball, the NHL and the NFL have all had longer ones, and not too long ago, either.

Despite dealing with what ESPN reported as a "Grade 2 hamstring strain," Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon played on Sunday. He finished the loss with 8 points during his 25 minutes on the court.

While the season is over for 26 of the NBA's 30 clubs, the fun is just starting for the last four teams standing.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Angel City's Savy King released from hospital 9 days after her on-field collapse

Angel City defender Savy King has been released from the hospital, just more than a week after she collapsed on the field during a match and needed surgery to treat a heart abnormality.

King posted a photo of herself in the hospital holding a heart-shaped pillow and giving a thumbs up on social media Sunday.

"I’m still finding the words to express just how much your love and support have meant to me over these past few days. What I do know is that I wouldn’t be getting through this without my incredible family by my side, my amazing teammates who have shown up for me and prayed for me, the fans, the entire soccer community, and the outstanding medical team here at ACFC who saved my life and cared for me every step of the way," she wrote on the post. "I know God’s got me and I’m looking forward to recovering and getting back out on the field!"

Angel City issued a statement that said King had been released from the hospital the day before.

King, 20, collapsed during the second half in a National Women's Soccer League match between Angel City and the visiting Utah Royal on May 9.

She was treated on the field for more than 10 minutes before she was taken by ambulance to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Once there, doctors discovered a heart abnormality and she underwent surgery on Tuesday. Her prognosis was good, the team said.

Players and fans alike were shaken by the incident, but the match continued, a move that was widely criticized. The league later said it was reviewing its policies.

The NWSL Players Association was among those that said the match should not have continued.

"These moments demand humanity, sound judgment, and restraint. Any medical emergency that requires the administration of life-saving care should bring play to an end. The match should not have continued," the NWSLPA said.

On Friday, a league statement expressed regret for allowing the match to continue.

"The health and well being of the entire NWSL community remains our top priority, and in any similar situation going forward the game should and would be abandoned," said the statement.

Angel City visited Bay FC in a match on Saturday night, the team's first since King's collapse. Before kickoff at San Jose's PayPal Park, both teams wore shirts with ‘SK3’ printed on the front as a tribute to King. Angel City captain Sarah Gorden also held up King’s jersey during the team photo.

NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman spoke to reporters at halftime.

"All we could do is learn from the experience and conclude that in a future situation, we will ensure that our policies and protocols do not allow the game to continue," she said in her first comments about King's collapse.

King was the second-overall pick in the 2024 NWSL draft by expansion Bay FC and played 18 games for the club. She was traded to Angel City in February and had started in eight games for the team this season.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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IndyCar driver Scott McLaughlin slams into the wall, car flips in the air during harrowing practice crash

Scott McLaughlin had a harrowing practice experience at the Indy 500 on Sunday. His car went airborne after it slammed into the wall on the track just ahead of Pole Day qualifying.

Video showed the car sliding and spinning across the track after the hard collision with the wall before finally coming to a stop. McLaughlin is not the first driver to flip over.

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In the past few days, at least two others have also experienced frightening airborne moments.

Kyffin Simpson flipped over during Fast Friday, with Colton Herta went airborne during Saturday's qualifying.

2025 INDY 500 ODDS: KYLE LARSON DROPS ON BOARD AFTER QUALIFYING 21ST

McLaughlin was able to emerge from the wreckage and appeared to avoid any major injuries.

Mclaughlin received a medical evaluation. Shortly after he was released from a care center, he said he was "fine." He also offered an apology to Team Penske.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Mclaughlin said. "I'm just really, really sorry for everyone at Team Penske, the guys on the #3 car and everyone who builds these fantastic cars. It (the car) was talking to me and I sort of felt it and I probably should have backed out.  But you try to complete a run to see what it feels like. Was it (worth) the risk? Probably wasn't. Incredibly sad. That's basically what it felt like. You just try and brace yourself, and I was just hoping I didn't go into the catch-fence. Very grateful to IndyCar, the safety, my team, the SAFER Barriers and everything like that, because it kept me safe."

Shortly before the crash, McLaughlin managed to propel to the top of the charts in Fast 12 practice. The disastrous moment happened during Turn 2 on Sunday.

The left-rear wheel suffered visible, severe damage immediately upon impact. The racing line next to the Turn 2 exit was left with a noticeable gouge. There was a stoppage in action and crews were deployed to make repairs.

The SAFER Barrier also suffered considerable damage.

McLaughlin, last year's Indy 500 pole-sitter, will not participate in Fast 12 qualifying. Therefore, McLaughlin's official starting position on the Indy 500 grid will be No. 12.

The Indy 500 will be broadcast May 25 on FOX with pre-coverage starting at 10 a.m. ET. It will also be available to stream live on FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports app.

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Scottie Scheffler wins first career PGA Championship

For the first time in his career, Scottie Scheffler was able to hoist the Wanamaker Trophy.

Scheffler survived a fourth-round charge from Jon Rahm and kept golfers J.T. Poston and Bryson DeChambeau at enough distance to win the PGA Championship on Sunday. Scheffler previously had four top-five finishes at the golf major and missed the cut entirely in 2022.

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After the chaos that occurred at last year’s PGA Championship, which featured him getting arrested and booked into jail, Scheffler was able to pull out the incredible victory. He finished 11-under par.

Scheffler started the tournament five strokes behind Colombian Jhonattan Vegas and three strokes behind Ryan Gerard. But he played strong in the second round, shooting a 68. 

The third round was where he started to take control. While a bunch of the top golf stars in the event fell to the wayside, Scheffler had an eagle on 14 and seven birdies. He shot a 65, and it was enough to push him to the top of the leaderboard.

"I’m so proud of you," his wife, Meredith, told her husband as he came over to greet her.

He maintained the dominant pace through the fourth round.

MAX HOMA LAUNCHES CLUB IN DISGUST AFTER ERRANT SHOT AT PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

Scheffler had four birdies in the day and overcame three bogeys on the front nine to win the tournament. He had birdies on 2, 10, 14 and 15.

Rahm closed in on Scheffler early in the final round. He shot a 67 in the third round and had three birdies through the first 11 holes. But the birdie on 11 was the last of his day.

He was wide on a par attempt on the 16th role. It would have kept him to within two strokes of Scheffler down the stretch. But the bogey extended Scheffler’s lead late in the tournament,

The Spaniard had a tougher time on 17, double-bogeying the hole and dropping even further behind Scheffler.

DeChambeau, Harris English and Davis Riley all finished tied for second with 6-under par. DeChambeau finished second at the PGA Championship last year as well.

Poston ended up tied for fifth with Vegas and Taylor Pendrith.

Xander Schauffele, last year’s winner, was tied for 28th.

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Aaron Rodgers could ultimately land in 'perfect place' with Steelers, author says

The New York Jets split with Aaron Rodgers became official in February. The breakup came nearly two years after the four-time NFL MVP's high-profile arrival in New Jersey.

In the months since, Rodgers has reportedly drawn interest from the Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers and other teams. In March, the Vikings announced they would move past their discussions with the free-agent quarterback. 

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Rodgers recently visited the Steelers' facilities, and multiple outlets reported he met with the team's coaching staff. But, Rodgers has still yet to decide if he will continue his NFL career in 2025 or step away from the game all together.

STEELERS' COURTSHIP OF AARON RODGERS IS MORE 'COMPLEX' THAN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, PART-OWNER SAYS

As the clock continues to tick, Ian O'Conner — who interviewed Rodgers and hundreds of others as he gathered research to compose the quarterback's biography — offered a prediction on where the star signal caller will ultimately end up. 

"I just think verbally, behind the scenes, not that he guaranteed it, but he’s told [the Steelers], ‘Listen, I’m gonna play for you. I just don’t want to go there and then miss part of mandatory minicamp because of my personal issues. I’m pretty sure they’re gonna be solved by the end of May, at least in my satisfaction where I can give you my all.’ So that’s where I think he is," O’Connor said during a recent appearance on 93.7 The Fan.

The Steelers' mandatory minicamp runs from June 10 through 12. 

O'Conner went on to describe the Steelers as the "perfect place" for Rodgers to bring his storied career to a close.

"He knows it was an embarrassment in New York largely, and he’s the face of that embarrassment," O’Connor said. "Whether that’s fair or not, that’s the case. It may be me as an optimist, but I think this is gonna work out. Do I think the Steelers will win the Super Bowl next year? No. But if you told me 11-6 with at least one playoff victory . . . I think that’s realistic."

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Bill Belichick reveals he spent $5,000 on milk to keep Tom Brady, Antonio Brown relationship going

Bill Belichick pulled back the curtain on how he was able to keep the relationship between quarterback Tom Brady and wide receiver Antonio Brown in a good place while he was the head coach of the New England Patriots.

The Patriots signed the wide receiver toward the beginning of the 2019 season following his abrupt departure from the Las Vegas Raiders. He ended up playing one game for New England and had four catches for 56 yards and a touchdown. Even as he was a one-hit wonder in Foxborough, Brady and Brown cultivated a relationship that lasted into their Tampa Bay Buccaneers years.

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Belichick, now head football coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, opened up on "The Pivot" podcast about the secret ingredient to keeping their relationship afloat — $5,000 milk. Host Ryan Clark pointed to a chapter in Belichick’s book, "The Art of Winning: Lessons from My Life in Football," about star players.

"One of the funniest stories in the book is the Antonio Brown story. He was only with the Patriots for 11 days," Belichick said. "And, Tom’s very nutrition-oriented. Antonio wanted to… Tom had Antonio come and stay at his house, wanted to embrace him, bring him onto the team and so forth.

EX-NFL STAR RIPS CALEB WILLIAMS' 'LEVEL OF ENTITLEMENT' OVER ALLEGED BEARS DRAFT-DODGE ATTEMPT

"Antonio ordered this special milk for Brady, it cost $5,000. To make a long story short, it kinda got mixed up and ended up in the mailroom for too long, and the milk went bad."

Belichick said the Patriots staff got $5,000 worth of milk to give Brown a helping hand.

"So, now we turn in this expense report — $5,000 worth of milk. Sometimes, you’ve just got to do the right thing, and I didn’t want to ruin the relationship between Brown and Brady on this spoiled milk," he said.

While Brown’s time with the Patriots didn’t last long, he and Brady did go on to win a Super Bowl while they were with the Buccaneers during the 2020 season.

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WNBA investigates 'hateful comments' reportedly directed toward Angel Reese during Sky-Fever game

The WNBA on Sunday said it launched an investigation into reports of "hateful comments" that took place during the Indiana Fever’s blowout win over the Chicago Sky on Saturday.

The comments were reportedly directed at Angel Reese by fans during the game.

The league didn’t get into specifics of what allegedly occurred during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

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"The WNBA strongly condemns racism, hate, and discrimination in all forms — they have no place in our league or in society. We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter," the league said in a statement.

The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) also released a statement.

"The WNBPA is aware of reports of hateful comments at yesterday’s game in Indianapolis and supports the WNBA’s current investigation into this matter," the union said. "Such behavior is unacceptable for our sport.

"Under the WNBA’s ‘No Space for Hate’ policy, we trust the league to thoroughly investigate and take swift, appropriate action to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all."

ANGEL REESE 'HATES' CAITLIN CLARK,' FORMER NFL STAR SAYS AFTER TEMPERS FLARE IN WNBA MATCHUP

Pacers Sports & Entertainment CEO Mel Raines issued a statement on the matter.

"We are aware of the allegations of inappropriate fan conduct during yesterday’s game and we are working closely with the WNBA to complete their investigation," Raines said. "We stand firm in our commitment to providing a safe environment for all WNBA players."

The WNBA launched its "No Space for Hate" campaign before the 2025 season tipped off. The campaign will include the use of AI social media monitoring tools that will help the league enforce a revised code of conduct. 

"As part of the comprehensive plan, the WNBA is rolling out an AI-powered technology solution to monitor social media activity, in partnership with players and teams, to help protect the community from online hate speech and harassment," it said.

A revised WNBA fan code of conduct includes regulations for fans on social media, and threats of sanctioning those fans from official content if they are violated. The new policy lists racist, homophobic, sexist, sexual, threatening or libelous content as "subject to blocking or deletion." 

"Repeat violations of these guidelines may result in the violator no longer being able to follow our news, comment on our posts or send us messages," the policy reads. "Additionally, any direct threats to players, referees or other league and team personnel may be referred to law enforcement and may result in the violator being banned from all WNBA arenas and events."

The Fever-Sky game featured a heated moment between Fever star Caitlin Clark and Reese in the third quarter. Clark fouled Reese hard, sparking an outburst from the Sky forward, but cooler heads prevailed.

Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.

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WNBA launches investigation into 'hateful comments' made during Fever-Sky game

The WNBA on Sunday said it launched an investigation into reports of "hateful comments" that took place during the Indiana Fever’s blowout win over the Chicago Sky on Saturday.

The league didn’t get into specifics of what allegedly occurred during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"The WNBA strongly condemns racism, hate, and discrimination in all forms — they have no place in our league or in society. We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter," the league said in a statement.

The Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) also released a statement.

"The WNBPA is aware of reports of hateful comments at yesterday’s game in Indianapolis and supports the WNBA’s current investigation into this matter," the union said. "Such behavior is unacceptable for our sport.

"Under the WNBA’s ‘No Space for Hate’ policy, we trust the league to thoroughly investigate and take swift, appropriate action to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all."

ANGEL REESE 'HATES' CAITLIN CLARK,' FORMER NFL STAR SAYS AFTER TEMPERS FLARE IN WNBA MATCHUP

The WNBA launched its "No Space for Hate" campaign before the 2025 season tipped off. The campaign will include the use of AI social media monitoring tools that will help the league enforce a revised code of conduct. 

"As part of the comprehensive plan, the WNBA is rolling out an AI-powered technology solution to monitor social media activity, in partnership with players and teams, to help protect the community from online hate speech and harassment," it said.

A revised WNBA fan code of conduct includes regulations for fans on social media, and threats of sanctioning those fans from official content if they are violated. The new policy lists racist, homophobic, sexist, sexual, threatening or libelous content as "subject to blocking or deletion." 

"Repeat violations of these guidelines may result in the violator no longer being able to follow our news, comment on our posts or send us messages," the policy reads. "Additionally, any direct threats to players, referees or other league and team personnel may be referred to law enforcement and may result in the violator being banned from all WNBA arenas and events."

The Fever-Sky game featured a heated moment between Fever star Caitlin Clark and the Sky's Angel Reese in the third quarter. Clark fouled Reese hard, sparking an outburst from the Sky forward, but cooler heads prevailed.

Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.

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Max Homa launches club in disgust after errant shot at PGA Championship

Max Homa’s up-and-down PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina, continued in the final round of the major golf tournament on Sunday.

Homa lined up on the fairway for his third shot on the third hole. He missed the green on the stroke and threw his club down the fairway in disgust.

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He finished the hole with a double bogey.

Six holes later, he would double bogey again, as his hopes of pulling off a miracle final round to get back into contention for the lead faded quickly. Through the first 12 holes, he had three bogeys and three birdies to go along with the double bogeys.

Homa was 4-over par through 12 holes and was 4-over par for the tournament. He started the PGA Championship with a 73 and made the cut thanks to an outstanding 64 in the second round.

JON RAHM, BACK IN MIX, IS 'HUNGRY' FOR 1ST MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP SINCE JOINING LIV GOLF

On Saturday, Homa fell off the pace with a 76. He had four bogeys, a double bogey and a birdie.

Homa’s best finish at the PGA Championship came in 2022, when he was tied for 13th. He has six career victories on the PGA Tour.

Scottie Scheffler was at the top of the leaderboard to start the day. He tees off at 2:40 p.m. ET with Alex Noren. Davis Riley and J.T. Poston were set to tee off at 2:30 p.m. Noren trailed Scheffler by three strokes.

Scheffler has never won a PGA Championship.

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