Wayne Gretzky began to follow Alex Ovechkin on Friday night amid his trek to surpassing The Great One as the NHL's all-time leading goalscorer – the trip was almost done in one day.
Needing three goals to surpass Gretzky, Ovechkin scored twice to tie, and tried his darnedest to get a hat trick.
Nonetheless, Gretzky had been the solo leader for over 31 years. But now he has company, and soon enough, he will be looking up for the first time in a while.
But Gretzky is more than at peace with his record being tied, and soon going down.
"That's OK… That's what the game's all about," Gretzky said to the Monumental Sports Network shortly after Ovechkin tied him.
"Alex has been great for the game, great for Washington, great for his home country. It's wonderful. I'm very proud of him, I'm proud of what I accomplished, and that's what makes our game so wonderful, is the great athletes we have, and more importantly, the good people that they are."
Gretzky became the NHL’s all-time goalscorer back on March 23, 1994, when he surpassed Gordie Howe with his 802nd career goal. He scored 92 more before hanging up the cleats in 1999 to bring his total to 894.
Ovechkin lit the lamp just four minutes into the game against the Chicago Blackhawks to inch as close as he could. Then, just over five minutes into the third period, the Capitals went on a power play, and Ovechkin took advantage, taking a pass and squeaking it past goalie Spencer Knight.
Ovechkin's next chance at the record will be on Sunday in New York against the Islanders, with the puck set to drop at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Ovechkin entered the game needing two to tie and three to become the new goals king – he lit the lamp just four minutes into the game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Just over five minutes into the third period, the Capitals went on the power play; an obvious on-ice scenario for Ovechkin, and he took advantage. He took a pass and squeaked it by Spencer Knight.
All the Capitals came onto the ice as Ovechkin got a loud, long ovation.
Gretzky was in the building to begin his trek of following Ovechkin along the way - but he won't be following for much longer. At the time of publishing, there were still over 13 minutes left in the game.
Ovechkin was drafted with the first overall pick to Washington in 2004, but because of the lockout, his debut was postponed a year.
Well, he’s made up for lost time. And this is not a sense of stat-compiling either, as Ovi looks to still be in his prime. In his 20th NHL season, the record-tying goal was Ovechkin’s 41st goal of the year, which ranks third in the NHL behind only Leon Draisaitl and William Nylander.
This is the 14th time Ovechkin has scored 40 goals in his career – had the league not locked out again in 2012-13, he’d probably have 15 such seasons (although, he did lead the league that year with 32 goals). He’s led the NHL in goals nine times.
What’s even more impressive is that Ovechkin missed nearly two months of this season with a broken leg.
Ovechkin looked to be slowing down just a tad last season, scoring "only" 31 goals in 79 games. But perhaps he got some juice, knowing he could break the record this season.
Oh, and while Ovechkin is breaking records, the Capitals are Stanley Cup contenders – their 105 points are the second-most in the NHL.
Even if you take away all of Gretzky's 894 goals, he still has the most points in NHL history.
Mookie Betts won his second World Series in October, but this weekend will mark his first time commemorating a World Series victory with President Donald Trump.
Betts won a title with the Boston Red Sox in 2018, the same year he was named American League MVP.
However, he opted to skip the team's celebration at the White House in 2019.
"This is not about me; I don’t want anything to be about me. This is about the Dodgers. Because these boys were there for me," Betts said, via the L.A. Times.
Betts said he regretted not making the trip in 2019, which manager Alex Cora and pitcher David Price also skipped, saying he felt he was a distraction.
"No matter what I say or what I do, people are gonna take it as political. But that’s definitely not what it is. This is about what the Dodgers were able to accomplish last year," he said.
Cora recently admitted he skipped out on meeting Trump because he wanted to prioritize his home country of Puerto Rico. When the Red Sox visited the White House in May 2019, Puerto Rico was still recovering from the destruction of Hurricane Maria in 2017, and Cora wasn't satisfied with the federal government's response.
Other Dodgers had been asked about their status for the trip, but Betts' decision was understandably top of mind.
"It is what it is. It comes with the territory, being Black in America in a situation like this. It’s a tough spot to be in," he said. "No matter what I choose, somebody is gonna be pissed. Somebody is gonna have their own opinion. But, again, this is not about me. This is not about politics. This is about the Dodgers. It’s about my loyalty to these boys, this clubhouse. And that’s all it is for me."
The Dodgers defeated Trump's hometown New York Yankees in five games last year.
The Philadelphia Eagles will visit the White House later this month, and the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers visited earlier this year.
New York Yankees fans were in unfamiliar territory when a superstar chose the crosstown rival Mets over their favorite team.
Juan Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million deal, the most lucrative in sports history, with the Mets this offseason after helping the Yankees to the World Series in his lone season with the club last year.
While some Yankees fans have favored Soto's departure because it allowed the team to bring on more players with the money it saved, plenty of fans are still upset about it.
During the Yankees' game Thursday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, fans randomly began chanting, "F--- Juan Soto."
The Mets have long been called the Yankees' little brother, but Michael Kay, the Yanks' play-by-play announcer, said the roles were reversed with those chants.
"We hear this silly banter back and forth about big brother, little brother. You know what that was yesterday, everybody? I hate to say it, and you’re not gonna like it. That was little brother nonsense," Kay said on his radio show Friday afternoon, which is broadcast on the Mets' flagship radio station.
"Why are you chanting about Juan Soto? Your team is winning. And that’s what you’re coming up with? You kind of should be a little bit embarrassed.
"Shame on all of you. Really, shame on all of you. It’s such an awful tiny look. … You are still big brother. The Mets haven’t won anything. They won a bidding war for Juan Soto. They haven’t won a championship since 1986," Kay added. "It’s been 39 years since they won a title, and you’re chanting ‘bleep Juan Soto?’ I don’t get it.
"Color me confused. I don’t get it, and it’s a bad look. It’s a bad, bad look. … I think it’s an awful, awful look by all of you. All of you! And I would have addressed it yesterday if I actually heard it through my headphones."
Soto made his home debut with the Mets Friday and went 1-for-4 with an RBI double. It's been a bit of a slower start for the outfielder, who's hitting .240 in his first seven games.
It's not uncommon for Yankees fans to also chant similarly against Jose Altuve, who has been public enemy No. 1 since the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal in 2017.
Altuve beat Aaron Judge, then a rookie, for the AL MVP, while the Astros beat the Yankees in the ALCS in seven games that year. Two years later, Altuve hit a walk-off homer against the Yanks to again win the pennant, but his hesitance to have his shirt taken off has led to unproven speculation he was wearing some sort of device during the at-bat.
Soto will return to the Bronx for a game between the Mets and Yankees May 16.
A transgender athlete took home first place in a varsity high jump competition at an Oregon high school meet Wednesday, roughly two years after finishing last while competing against junior varsity boys, according to a report.
Lia Rose, who reportedly used to compete as Zachary, won the high jump at the Portland Interscholastic League Varsity Relays with a height of 4 feet, 8 inches, beating the second-place finisher by two inches.
According to athletic.net, while competing against JV boys May 3, 2023, Zachary Rose finished 11th out of 11 competitors with a jump of 4 feet, 6 inches.
The winning height in that meet was another foot higher.
According to online records, Zachary Rose competed in the boys category in 2023. The following year, Lia Rose also competed in the same category. But this year, Lia Rose was listed as competing in the girls category.
In 2024, Lia mostly competed against JV boys, with a top finish of second place and a personal record of 5 feet even.
Zachary competed as a sophomore in track with a top finish of second in a JV 3,000-meter race, but there were only two competitors. Zachary lost by over a minute.
A spokesperson from Portland Public Schools was unable to confirm or deny that Lia and Zachary are the same person, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act "to protect student privacy."
Lia's victory comes roughly two weeks after Ada Gallagher, a trans track athlete in the Portland area, blew out the competition.
Gallagher, a state champion last year, finished at 57.62 in the 400 meters, with Franklin High School's Kinnaly Souphanthong coming in second at 1:05.72. Gallagher's teammate, Quinnan Schaefer, was behind Souphanthong at 1:07.13.
In the 200-meter race, Gallagher finished in first place at 25.76, followed by teammate Addyson Skyles at 27.31.
Both times for Gallagher were season bests.
Fox News' Scott Thompson contributed to this report.
Morant first made the gesture Monday against the Golden State Warriors, and reports said the NBA was investigating the incident, giving Morant and Buddy Hield a warning.
On Thursday night, Morant did it again, just five minutes into a game.
Considering Morant’s history with gun-related suspensions, the gesture blew up across the basketball world. He was suspended eight games in March 2023 after brandishing a handgun on social media at the strip club Shotgun Willie’s outside Denver.
Then Morant was suspended for the first 25 games of the 2023-24 season after he flashed a handgun again on a live social media video.
Ahead of the suspensions, Morant found himself in trouble on more than one occasion, including one incident in which he got into a fight with a 17-year-old during a pickup basketball game at Morant's home. A judge later ruled Morant acted in self-defense. Four days earlier, Morant allegedly "threatened" the head of security at a Memphis mall, and a member of Morant's group allegedly shoved the security official in the head.
Morant was also placed under the microscope after a January 2023 game in which an unidentified individual in the NBA star's vehicle was accused of shining a laser pointer at the Indiana Pacers' team bus. It happened after some members of Morant's entourage were involved in a confrontation with a group of people in the Pacers' traveling party.
Fox News' Scott Thompson and Chantz Martin contributed to this report.
Women's fencer Stephanie Turner spoke out against USA Fencing during an interview on Fox News Channel's "American Reports" on Thursday after a video of her kneeling to protest a trans opponent went viral.
"There's really no option to go around this when there are extremists who take on positions at the authoritative positions at [USA Fencing], so I have very little option but being forced to fence," Turner said.
Turner's decision to kneel and refuse to face trans competitor Redmond Sullivan at the Cherry Blossom Open last weekend resulted in Turner being dealt a black card – the most severe penalty, leading to expulsion from the tournament or event for serious rule infractions or unsportsmanlike behavior.
USA Fencing chair Damien Lehfeldt has made multiple pro-trans statements, including a blog post in August 2023, where he argued on behalf of trans inclusion in fencing.
"There is a possibility that transgender women have a physical advantage over their cisgender opponents after transitioning," Lehfeldt wrote. "There is also a possibility they do not. In Fencing, there is no data to support either viewpoint. Giving athletes a sense of belonging and a will to live is more powerful than medals and competitive glory.
"Transgender women are women and gender is not sex," he insisted, adding, "Transgender fencers deserve the right to compete with the gender they identify with."
USA Fencing first enacted its current trans-inclusion policy in 2023. It allows transgender athletes to compete in the women's category at both the junior and senior level after completing one calendar year of testosterone suppression treatment.
But the organization also employs a policy that gives preference when selecting host cities for national tournaments to states without laws that "harm members of LGBTQ communities."
In November 2023, the organization released a list of states that it intended to "avoid where possible" and the states that it flat out would not allow hosting of major events.
This past December, a nonprofit fencing organization, the Fair Fencing Organization, penned an open letter to USA Fencing Board Members urging the re-evaluation of its stance on several issues, including transgender inclusion.
Just days later, however, board members voted against several motions to approve an all-female task force to re-evaluate and revise the current transgender policy, in an 8-3 vote. Now, after siding against women fencers seeking protection from trans inclusion, USA Fencing finds itself plunged into a global controversy after Turner's viral protest.
On Thursday, the organization defended its current trans-inclusion policies in a public statement.
"USA Fencing remains committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful community for everyone in our sport. We believe in the principle of creating safe communities where all athletes, and community members, have a place," the statement read.
"While we understand there are a range of perspectives, USA Fencing will continue to engage in respectful, research-based dialogue and review as policy evolves in the Olympic and Paralympic movement as well as domestic law, hate speech of any kind is not acceptable—online or in person. Let's keep the conversation respectful and the strip welcoming to all."
The Dallas Cowboys have filled Cooper Rush’s vacancy this week with the addition of former New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III, but one Super Bowl champion believes Milton’s arrival in Dallas could spell trouble for Dak Prescott.
The Cowboys received Milton along with a seventh-round pick in exchange for a fifth-round pick in a trade with the Patriots on Wednesday. The move came after veteran backup Cooper Rush signed with the Baltimore Ravens in the offseason.
While Milton is expected to be a backup to Prescott, two-time Super Bowl champion LeSean McCoy said Thursday that the 25-year-old quarterback could edge out Prescott, depending on how he performs next season.
"If Dak Prescott has a postseason like he’s always had going into that next year, right? Dak, find a realtor," McCoy said on FOX Sports’ "The Facility."
"Because Joe Milton got talent, he can play … I’ve seen other quarterbacks get paid a lot of money, and they move on from them."
Drafted in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Milton spent his rookie season on New England's practice squad, playing behind rookie Drake Maye and backup Jacoby Brissett.
He made his pro debut with the Patriots in the final game of the season against the Buffalo Bills, where he had 241 passing yards and one touchdown, and rushed for another score on the ground to lead New England to victory.
The backup role has proven to be important in Dallas. Last season, Rush started eight games in place of an injured Prescott. He enters this season fresh off of signing a four-year, $240 million contract extension.
EXCLUSIVE: The U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday the creation of a Title IX special investigations team in conjunction with the Department of Education. The new initiative aims at addressing an "increasing volume" of Title IX cases, amid a flury of controversial incidents involving trans athletes in girls' and women's sports in recent years.
The DOJ provided an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital citing previous policies under the Joe Biden administration that enabled trans inclusion in women's and girls' sports for the situation the new investigations team will look to address.
"Women across America have spent the last four years disenfranchised by the Biden administration that allowed men to compete in girls’ sports - jeopardizing their safety, stealing their scholarships and stripping them of hard-earned awards," the statement read.
"This Task Force was created with the sole mission of going after bad actors who continue to endanger young women with woke gender ideology. It will leverage every legal resource available to ensure states and organizations follow Title IX to protect women’s civil rights and competitive sports."
The Biden administration took steps starting on day one of the former president's term to enable trans inclusion in women's and girls' sports.
On Biden's inauguration day in January 2021, Biden signed an executive order on "Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation."
The order included a section that said, "Children should be able to learn without worrying about whether they will be denied access to the restroom, the locker room, or school sports."
In March 2023, Democrats advocated for a transgender bill of rights, proposing a resolution "recognizing that it is the duty of the Federal Government to develop and implement a Transgender Bill of Rights." The resolution specifically called for federal law to ensure that biological men can "participate in sports on teams and in programs that best align with their gender identity; [and] use school facilities that best align with their gender identity."
In April 2023, Biden's Department of Education proposed a rule change that would have punished schools for preventing trans athletes from competing in women's sports.
The proposition was titled "Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance: Sex-Related Eligibility Criteria for Male and Female Athletic Teams."
The rule would have outlawed individual states from banning participation in single-sex sports by gender identity rather than just sex. There are 23 states in the U.S. that have legislation in place to restrict trans athletes from competing as females in public school sports.
In April 2024, Biden issued a sweeping Title IX rewrite that issued a ban on "sex" discrimination in schools based on gender identity, sexual orientation and "pregnancy or related conditions." The rule took effect on Aug. 1, and for the first time, the law stated that discrimination based on sex includes conduct related to a person’s gender identity.
It led to more than two dozen attorneys general suing over the rule, arguing it would conflict with some of their state laws that block transgender students from participating in women’s sports.
The Supreme Court struck down an emergency request by Biden to enforce the rewrite in states that defied the rewrite in August.
When the election came around in Novemeber, Biden's record on the issue may have backfired on his party because it lost the White House, Senate and House of Representatives.
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."
After President Donald Trump returned to office, he signed an executive order banning trans athletes in women's and girls sports on February 5. However, many Democrat-led states have refused to comply with the order despite most Democrats being opposed to trans inclusion.
A recent New York Times/Ipsos survey found that the vast majority of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, don't think transgender athletes should be permitted to compete in women's sports. Of the 2,128 people who participated, 79% said that biological males who identify as women should not be allowed to participate in women's sports.
Of the 1,025 people who identified as Democrats or leaning Democrat, 67% said that transgender athletes should not be allowed to compete with women.
Now, the DOE and DOJ are taking initiative to ensure that Trump's agenda to protect girls' and women's athletes is carried out, and that those who oppose it face consequences.
President Donald Trump has taken initiative in the reunification of golf by facilitating talks between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, and one of the sport's biggest stars thinks he’s the perfect guy for the job.
Two-time U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau spoke with "Fox & Friends" on Friday morning ahead of the LIV Golf tournament at Trump National Doral to discuss the ongoing negotiations between the two rival circuits and his relationship with the president.
"He loves golf, by the way. I think he’s such a great ambassador for the game of golf and for diplomacy, in general," DeChambeau lauded. "It’s been fun to play some golf with him, get to know him a little bit better, and just recognize that he’s just a normal person."
DeChambeau played a round of golf with Trump for charity on his popular YouTube channel over the summer and was invited on stage by the president during his victory speech to celebrate the election at Trump Headquarters in West Palm Beach in November.
On Thursday night, Trump departed for Florida, where he was scheduled to deliver a speech at a dinner with LIV players and others before this weekend’s tournament at one of his clubs. The dinner came after Trump announced widespread tariffs, but DeChambeau said the conversation had been light.
"Man, we were with Kid Rock and [Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis] and we just had a great dinner," he said of the evening. "We didn’t talk much about politics, we just enjoyed our time together. And we’re honestly really grateful that he's given us the golf course to play on, and super excited to be around him."
Trump hosted two meetings at the White House this year with PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, to help broker a deal between LIV and the Tour.
The PGA Tour, PIF and the DP World Tour signed a framework agreement in June 2023 with hopes of mending the rift, but the parties involved failed to come to any agreement before that deal expired at the end of the year. Trump is now working to facilitate negotiations with the two circuits in the new commercial PGA Tour Enterprises.
"Personally for me, there’s been nothing but positivity from this league," DeChambeau said of LIV. "What we’ve been able to do across the globe is quite inspiring for the younger generation of golf."
DeChambeau did not say when a deal might be reached, but he said he’s hopeful one is on the horizon.
"We are pushing the boundaries, for sure. I think it showed the PGA what potentials there are, and hopefully something can get done at some point and time."
The PGA Tour reportedly rejected PIF’s latest bid to invest in PGA Tour Enterprises. ESPN reported Friday, citing sources, that the tour had rejected the $1.5 billion investment bid.
The Cincinnati Reds' 1-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday was their third consecutive 1-0 loss, becoming the first MLB team in 65 years to achieve such a feat.
No MLB team has had three straight 1–0 defeats since the Philadelphia Phillies did so in May 1960.
Only six teams in league history have ever had three straight 1–0 defeats, and no team has ever had four such defeats in a row – at least for now.
Four of the six times it has occurred were over a century ago. The other teams to lose 1-0 in three consecutive games were the Brooklyn Superbas in 1908, the St. Louis Browns and Washington Senators in 1909, and the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1917.
In the Reds' loss on Thursday, Brewers starting pitcher Nestor Cortes threw six innings and yielded just one hit while he struck out six.
The Reds' starting pitcher, Nick Lodolo, was just as good as he pitched 6.2 shutout innings and gave up four hits while striking out four batters. The Reds had just two hits in the loss.
"It’s part of the game, you know?" Lodolo said. "I’ll be honest with you. Obviously, I want us to score, but I’m not really thinking about it. I’ve got to do my job at the end of the day, regardless. We’ll turn it around. I guarantee that."
The 1-0 defeat steak began on Tuesday against the Texas Rangers when Nathan Eovaldi threw a complete-game shutout. Jack Leiter and four Rangers’ relievers continued to keep the Reds’ offense off the score sheet on Wednesday.
The irony is, prior to the last three games of paltry offense, the Reds’ bats erupted on Monday as they won 14-3 over the Rangers. Since that offensive explosion, however, the Reds' bats have been dormant.
Cincinnati has a combined nine hits, three walks and 27 strikeouts during the skid.
"Nobody’s happy with what’s happened the last three games," Reds’ manager Terry Francona said postgame on Thursday. "We’ll figure It out together. I feel strongly about that."
The Reds (2-5) will look to plate a run and get a win when they play the Brewers (3-4) in the second game of a four-game series on Friday, at 8:10 p.m. ET.
The Arizona Cardinals made Trey McBride the highest-paid tight end in NFL history when they signed him to a contract extension on Friday.
McBride, 25, signed a four-year, $76 million contract extension, with $43 million guaranteed, per numerous reports.
Prior to McBride’s extension, Kansas City Chiefs’ star tight end Travis Kelce was the highest-paid tight end, as he is set to make $17.1 million in 2025. McBride’s new deal has an annual average value of $19 million.
The Cardinals selected McBride in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Colorado State. McBride’s role in the offense has grown every season.
As a rookie, McBride was the backup to starting tight end Zach Ertz and had 29 catches for 265 yards and a touchdown. However, an injury to Ertz in McBride’s second season opened the door to more playing time.
Ertz suffered a quad strain in Week 7, and McBride took over the starting role and never looked back. McBride finished his second season with 81 catches and 825 yards with three touchdowns and emerged as one of quarterback Kyler Murray’s favorite targets down the stretch.
McBride took another step last season, as he started 16 games and had 111 receptions for 1,146 yards and two touchdowns. His strong performance earned him a Pro Bowl selection.
McBride took to social media to express his joy at his new contract.
"MAANNN HOW WE FEELING ??? LETS GOOOOO!!!" McBride posted to X.
Murray also took to social media to congratulate McBride.
"Maaaaan! So happy for my dawg, worth every penny! More work to be done but a great day," Murray posted to X.
Phil Mickelson admitted Friday that the tensions between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf have not completely dissolved, despite ongoing negotiations between the two circuits.
However, the six-time major winner remained adamant that the rival golf league is not going anywhere because of what it offers to golf fans.
Ahead of the first tournament of the year on U.S. soil, Mickelson appeared on "Fox & Friends" Friday morning to discuss the stark differences between the two circuits and how LIV’s unique structure taps into a market the PGA Tour has previously been unable to.
"I wouldn’t say it's gone," Mickelson said of the tension. "We’re about growing the game globally, and the PGA Tour has always been about growing the game nationally. So if you look at it like that, there’s a lot of criticism that we take in the United States, but if you look globally the way LIV Golf is received, it’s incredible."
The Saudi-backed golf league launched in 2022 and was met with serious backlash after shaking up the golf world by drawing away many of the Tour’s biggest stars with lucrative signings.
The fractured relationship between the two circuits appeared to be on the mend after the PGA Tour, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) and the DP World Tour signed a framework agreement in June 2023. However, the parties involved failed to come to any agreement before that deal expired at the end of the year.
Since then, President Donald Trump has gotten involved with the goal of reuniting golf.
"There’s always a need for traditional golf and traditional competition and the historical events, but we are not appealing to the younger crowd, historically, until now," Mickelson added. "LIV is appealing to a younger crowd and making golf cool again and enjoyable to watch. And when you come out and watch, you have a much more relaxed feel and people are enjoying that vibe.
"There’s a need and demand for what LIV Golf provides."
Trump is working to facilitate negotiations with the PGA Tour and PIF in the new commercial PGA Tour Enterprises.
"Ultimately, hopefully, the two tours are going to merge. That’ll be good. I’m involved in that too," Trump said Thursday. "But hopefully we’re going to get the two tours to merge. You have the PGA Tour and the LIV Tour. And I think having them merge would be a great thing."
The PGA Tour reportedly rejected PIF’s latest bid to invest into PGA Tour Enterprises. ESPN reported Friday, citing sources, that the tour rejected the $1.5 billion investment bid.
Five weeks after Maine state representative Laurel Libby was censured for a social media post identifying a trans athlete, a free speech group has filed an amicus brief in support of her lawsuit to overturn the censure.
The free speech group FIRE, in its brief, argued against the basis of the censure, which was imposed by the Democrat majority and Maine House Speaker Ryan Fecteau.
"If political majorities can impose draconian sanctions on political minorities, then no viewpoint is safe. That’s no way to uphold America’s robust commitment to free and open political speech, and that’s why the First Amendment forbids officials from retaliating against dissenting views," FIRE supervising senior attorney JT Morris told Fox News Digital.
The basis of Libby's censure was that she made a post that identified a minor by name and photo when she called out a trans pole vaulter who won a girls' competition for Greely High School. However, the trans athlete had already been publicized in other local media prior to Libby's post.
The other media included a post on the Maine House Democrats’ website, the amicus brief alleges.
"I was duly elected by the people of my district to speak for them, to vote on their behalf, and to uphold the values and needs of my constituents. Yet, because of my protected speech outside the walls of the State House, the majority has taken the extraordinary step of denying me those core responsibilities. District 90 now stands voiceless on the House floor—unable to vote, unable to speak, and unable to be represented on matters ranging from an $11 billion state budget to local priorities impacting working families," Libby told Fox News Digital.
"The arguments presented by the defendants in court suggest that such silencing is beyond judicial review—that legislative immunity allows a majority to erase a district’s vote. That argument is not just wrong—it is dangerous. It flies in the face of Supreme Court precedent, the First and Fourteenth Amendments, and the very idea of equal representation under the law."
All of Maine's federal judges have recused themselves from the case.
The judges, John C. Nivison, John A. Woodcock, Lance E. Walker, Karen F. Wolf, Stacey D. Neumann and Nancy Torresen, signed recusal orders on Tuesday, shortly after the case was initially filed. No reason was provided for the judges' recusal. The case has since been referred to the District of Rhode Island, according to multiple reports.
Fecteau, who passed the censure, is the main defendant in the lawsuit, alongside House of Representatives clerk Robert Hunt. The Maine Attorney General’s Office will represent Fecteau.
Libby's lawsuit seeks to have her voting and speaking rights restored. Fecteau previously said Libby's rights would be restored after she apologizes, which she does not intend to do. Libby told Fox News Digital in a previous interview that she encourages Fecteau to restore her rights to avoid taking the case to court and costing taxpayers the price of any potential litigation.
Libby represents more than 9,000 constituents in Maine's House District 90, and six of them have signed on to the lawsuit as plaintiffs, because the censure has impeded her ability to help carry out other legislative actions to serve those constituents.
On March 20, Libby was permitted to speak and present 10 amendments during a vote of the state's bi-annual budget. One of those amendments was not related to the budget, but was a proposal to keep trans athletes out of girls' sports.
However, when Libby did speak to present her amendments, multiple Democrats protested, instigating a debate with Republican representatives. Ultimately, Libby's amendments were not even considered, and Democrats moved to have the amendments indefinitely postponed.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Wednesday a pause and an ongoing review of federal funding to Maine after the state refused to provide equal opportunities to women and girls in educational programs.
The state has refused to comply with President Donald Trump's February executive order to ban trans athletes from girls and women's sports, prompting immense federal pressure. Trump initially vowed to cut federal funding to the state if it refused to comply with the order during a Feb. 20 speech, days after Libby made her social media post.
More potential sanctions could be coming to the state in the next week.
The U.S. Department of Education sent a letter to the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) on Monday, advising a final deadline of April 11 to address the issue or risk a second referral to the Department of Justice. The Department of Health and Human Services referred Maine to the DOJ last week.
A survey by the American Parents Coalition found that out of about 600 registered Maine voters, 63% said school sports participation should be based on biological sex, and 66% agreed that it is "only fair to restrict women’s sports to biological women."
The poll also found that 60% of residents would support a ballot measure limiting participationinwomen’s and girls' sports tobiological females. This included 64% of independents and 66% of parents with kids under age 18.
Jameis Winston spent just one season with the Cleveland Browns, but the city and its fans seemed to have left a lasting mark on the NFL veteran.
In an open letter to fans, Winston penned a heartfelt goodbye to the organization on Thursday after signing with the New York Giants on a two-year, $8 million deal last month.
"I’m so happy and grateful for everything we experienced together this past year. From day one, you welcomed my family and me with open arms — and for that, I’m forever thankful," he wrote in a post on Instagram.
"To the Dawg Pound: you were electric. Snow or shine, highs or lows, your energy never wavered. You reminded us all what loyalty, passion, and community really look like. This year was one of growth, service, and adaptability — not just for me personally, but for my family as well. And Cleveland, you played a major role in that. The spirit of this city, the heart of its people, and the bond we’ve built will always be with us."
Winston joined the Browns to serve as a backup to Deshaun Watson after spending the previous four seasons with the New Orleans Saints. He took over as the starter following Watson’s season-ending injury, appearing in 12 games and starting in seven.
Winston recorded 2,121 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions and set a franchise record when he threw for 497 yards with four touchdowns in the Browns’ 41-32 loss against the Denver Broncos in Week 13.
"To the amazing men and women who make this city special: thank you. You’ve made a lasting impact on our lives, helping us rise to a greater calling — one rooted in unity, service, and love," his post continued. "Wishing you continued blessings, prosperity, and nothing but the best."
The Giants’ move to sign Winston was the organization’s first step in fixing a troubled quarterback room. Not long after, New York made a move on Russell Wilson, signing him on a one-year deal reportedly worth up to $21 million.
"I expect to be the starter and to be able to come here and rock and roll every day," Wilson said after the deal was official. "I think this team’s really looking for somebody to lead them in every way — in terms of the process, in the offseason, during the season, our habits and our thought process and how we create a great winning culture."
That being said, New York is not shutting the door on the quarterback problems just yet.
With the No. 3 pick in the draft later this month, the Giants are still expected to explore the possibility of drafting another quarterback that would solve their long-term issues.
"The face of a franchise is a quarterback," Giants head coach Brian Daboll said Tuesday at the annual NFL spring meetings. "It’s not an easy position to evaluate. It’s not an easy position to coach. It’s not an easy position to play. You do the best job you can to try to find the right one for your team."
USA Fencing has come under fire after a viral video of women's fencer Stephanie Turner kneeling in protest of a transgender opponent.
Prominent figures, including J. K. Rowling and Martina Navratilova, have weighed in on social media, alongside thousands of women's sports rights activists.
USA Fencing addressed the controversy with a public statement on Thursday, defending its trans-inclusion policies.
"USA Fencing remains committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful community for everyone in our sport. We believe in the principle of creating a safe communities where all athletes, and community members, have a place," the statement read.
"While we understand there are a range of perspectives, USA Fencing will continue to engage in respectful, research-based dialogue and review as policy evolves in the Olympic and Paralympic movement as well as domestic law, hate speech of any kind is not acceptable—online or in person. Let's keep the conversation respectful and the strip welcoming to all."
The organization first enacted its current trans-inclusion policy in 2023. It allows transgender athletes to compete in the women's category at both the junior and senior level after completing one calendar year of testosterone suppression treatment. Proof of compliant hormone therapy must be provided prior to competition, but the organization has taken even further steps to prioritize its trans competitors.
In November 2022, it announced a policy to give preference when selecting host cities for national tournaments to states without laws that "harm members of LGBTQ communities" and states that do not "have laws undermining the reproductive health of women." That policy went into effect in the 2023 season, the same year it changed its gender policy.
"We’ve heard from a number of members, including members of the Board and members of our elite athlete community, asking whether continuing to place events in areas with either anti-LGBTQ laws or anti-abortion laws aligns with our core values as an organization," said USA Fencing CEO Phill Andrews in the policy page. "After a robust discussion with our Board and our staff team, USA Fencing has moved to give preference to those states without these laws."
In November 2023, the organization released a list of states that it intended to "avoid where possible" and the states that it flat out would not allow hosting major events. The states on the "do not allow" list were Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.
The states on its "avoid where possible" list include Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Utah, West Virginia, Wyoming, Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia.
This combination of polices preceded an influx of biological male fencers competing in women's and girls' USA Fencing-sanctioned events over the last two years. Some of those competitors previously competed in the men's category. By September 2023, four biological male fencers, who previously competed in the men's category, achieved USA Fencing podium finishes in the women's category.
Turner told Fox News Digital the quantity of trans competitors is even higher than that.
"In fencing, personally, I see it quite often," Turner said. "I have witnessed transgender fencers in women's tournaments and girls tournaments in different age categories, specifically Y-14 (the youngest age group)."
The trans athlete Turner refused to compete against last weekend, Redmond Sullivan, competed in men's events up until June 2023, according to Sullivan's profile page on Fencing Tracker. The page shows no competitions for Sullivan from June 2023 until a return on Sept. 28, 2024 – the athlete's first competition in the women's category at an event in Newtown, Connecticut. Sullivan then went on to win two gold medals, one at the Connecticut Division Junior Olympic Qualifiers on Dec. 8 and one at the Connecticut Division Summer National Qualifiers on March 16.
This past December, a nonprofit fencing organization, the Fair Fencing Organization, penned an open letter to USA Fencing Board Members urging the re-evaluation of its stance on several issues, including transgender inclusion.
"Politics aside, it is a reasonable request to form a task force to do a deeper dive on this issue in fencing and create a safe space where the voices of all women are heard without ridicule and abuse," the letter said.
Just days later, however, board members voted against several motions to approve an all-female task force to re-evaluate and revise the current transgender policy, in an 8-3 vote. Now, after siding against women fencers seeking protection from trans inclusion, USA Fencing finds itself plunged into a global controversy after Turner's viral protest.
USA Fencing provided a statement to Fox News Digital addressing the incident.
"USA Fencing enacted our current transgender and nonbinary athlete policy in 2023. The policy was designed to expand access to the sport of fencing and create inclusive, safe spaces. The policy is based on the principle that everyone should have the ability to participate in sports and was based upon the research available of the day," the statement said.
"We respect the viewpoints on all sides and encourage our members to continue sharing them with us as the matter evolves. It's important for the fencing community to engage in this dialogue, but we expect this conversation to be conducted respectfully, whether at our tournaments or in online spaces. The way to progress is by respectful discussion based in evidence."
A USA Fencing spokesperson also told Fox News Digital Turner was not penalized for her stance against trans inclusion, but simply for refusing to fence.
"In the case of Stephanie Turner, her disqualification was not related to any personal statement but was merely the direct result of her decision to decline to fence an eligible opponent, which the FIE rules clearly prohibit," the spokesperson said.
"According to the FIE (International Fencing Federation) Technical Rules, specifically Article t.113, a fencer is not permitted to refuse to fence another properly entered fencer for any reason. Under these rules, such a refusal results in disqualification and the corresponding sanctions. This policy exists to maintain fair competition standards and preserve the sport’s integrity."
Anthony Greene has been almost everywhere as a professional wrestler.
He competed at WWE for its NXT and 205 Live brands. He was with All Elite Wrestling, performing mostly on "AEW Dark." He’s worked at New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah.
But when he makes his Major League Wrestling (MLW) debut on Saturday at Battle Riot VII, it will be a dream come true.
"I’m a huge wrestling nerd, always been," Greene explained to Fox News Digital. "And I remember buying on HighSpots.com the original MLW DVDs. I watched [Satoshi] Kojima win the title in the tournaments back in like 2002, Reloaded, WarGames, seeing Steve Corino with the Extreme Horsemen, and it’s always been a place that I’ve followed. It’s always been a place that I’ve followed.
"And when it came back in 2017, I was wrestling for five years at that point. I decided that was a place I wanted to wrestle, and it’s just never worked out. Either I wasn’t where I needed to be to get to that level of where MLW was, or when I was there, the schedule just never matched. And the perfect moment for me, Battle Riot – where the MLW World Championship is on the line – is when I finally get to make my debut. So, yeah, you can say I’m very excited."
MLW champion Matt Riddle will have to defend his title in the 40-man rumble match. It’s no easy task. Even for someone like Greene, who has been in a few rumble-style matches over the course of his career, is thinking realistically.
"One thing I am confident in is by the end of the night, MLW and the fans are going to know who Anthony Greene is and I will be back. That’s one thing I can promise," he said. "And best-case scenario, I walk out with the MLW World Heavyweight Championship."
Battle Riot VII takes place at Thunder Studios Arena in Long Beach, California. The sold-out show begins at 10 p.m. ET.
Former NFL player Clint Bruce, who decided to serve the U.S. by becoming a Navy SEAL after his football career, travels around the country sharing word of wisdom about leadership with athletes.
Bruce graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, where he earned Aloha Bowl MVP honors in 1996. He was inducted into the Navy/Marine Corps Stadium Hall of Fame in 2009.
Bruce went on to have stints in the league with the Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints. He is currently a successful motivational speaker. In an exclusive sit-down with Fox News Digital, Bruce shared what motivates him to help today's athletes in any way he can.
"I'm always going to go visit with athletes, because athletes … I think always have an extraordinary amount of pressure on them, always trying to prove someone right, prove somebody wrong," Bruce told Fox News Digital.
"And I just remember what it was like to be an athlete. I remember how meaningful it was for me when I had an opportunity to learn from people who have been from where I said I wanted to go."
Ohio State coach Ryan Day entered this past season under considerable pressure. The criticism of the coach ramped up after the Buckeyes once again failed to defeat their top rival, the Michigan Wolverines, in late November. Day ultimately sent a strong message to the doubters as he guided Ohio State to the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Bruce said he "could tell" how good the 2024 Buckeyes were going to be early on.
"That team … I think I can tell how good someone's going to be based on who asked the questions and what the questions are. And one of the things I always say is, if your best and your youngest are curious, [then] you're going to win, it's just a question of when," Bruce said.
"Curiosity is a catalyst. … So what was interesting about this team is who was curious and how curious they were. Their best players were asking the hardest questions, and they weren't [just] football questions."
Bruce said having the courage to ask questions was something he learned during his military service days.
"In the special operations community, when your senior enlisted [members] are curious [and they] start asking questions, everybody who is afraid to ask a question now has permission to ask it. On the battlefield, you don't want to learn out there … you want to learn before we go out there."
Bruce said he has been repeatedly asked by the players and coaches to return and speak to the team. Next week, he will deliver the keynote speech at the 2025 Ohio State coaches clinic, Day announced on Wednesday.
The clinic will also feature a wide receiver roundtable with Joey Galloway, Brian Hartline, Santonio Holmes and Carnell Tate. The event is scheduled for April 10-12.
During an appearance on the "The Triple Option" podcast last month, Day credited the Navy SEALs for providing the Buckeyes with some added motivation during their run to the national title.
"He's been really good for me in the process of understanding what it means to be a leader," Day said in reference to the mutual respect he shares with Bruce.
"The soldiers are doing all the fighting. It's your job as a head coach, leader and captain to look along the horizon and figure out what's coming next. There are so many parallels between the military and coaching. He and I would share a lot of conversations."
Day credited Bruce for delivering an "unbelievable talk" to the Buckeyes before their playoff semifinal game against the Texas Longhorns in January.
"We played down in Dallas, and just by chance, the fort he is stationed at was like five minutes from our hotel," Day said. "He just came over and gave our team an unbelievable talk. He talked about how when the SEALs go to a hot spot in Afghanistan or different places, they set up shop, take a few days to get regulated with the area, then they create a storm, wreck and then leave. That was what we were doing. It was really cool. I'm just trying to find as many people who are in the top 1% of the top 1% as possible and put them in my life as possible."
Last month, Day was rewarded with a contract extension that will tie him to the football program through the 2031 season. Day also became the second-highest-paid coach in college football, trailing only Georgia's Kirby Smart.
Since leaving the Navy, Bruce remains active with his company, HoldFast. The organization focuses on leadership and showcases transitioning veterans as speakers and professional executive coaches.
Los Angeles Angels reliever Ben Joyce is among those athletes sharing their Christian beliefs, and he shared with OutKick’s Trey Wallace how he loves seeing others displaying their faith throughout sports.
"Yeah, 100%. I think it’s been awesome," Joyce said.
In the NFL, Houston Texans’ C.J. Stroud and Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker are among many in the sport who have outwardly praised God. In the NBA, Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, Orlando Magic’s Jonathan Isaac and Denver Nuggets’ Michael Porter Jr. have all actively discussed their faith.
For Joyce and his Angels teammates, he said a healthy amount of praise comes between workouts, bullpen sessions and more that keeps him grounded.
"The guys I’ve shared a clubhouse with, they all feel the same way, and we’ve done things from Bible studies, to having chapel every Sunday," Joyce explained.
"I feel like that just makes the life that we live that much easier because I don’t think I can go through this life without having that foundation. You can get caught up in all the things in professional baseball, and it really just brings you back down to Earth and grounds me."
The 24-year-old flamethrower is enjoying a good start to the 2025 season, his third with the Angels, as he has 2.2 innings pitched over three games where he has not allowed an earned run.
As Joyce continues to make his mark on MLB, he continues to use his platform to share his beliefs while encouraging others to do the same.
"It’s awesome that people are being more open about it, and at the end of the day, God is great and everything that I do is to glorify Him. If I can have any type of platform to spread that, then that’s what I want to do."
A brawl involving players at a youth street hockey game in New Jersey took a turn for the worst after several adults got involved in an altercation of their own, leading to multiple charges, according to law enforcement.
During the Veterans Memorial Invitational Tournament in Egg Harbor Township, which is about eight miles outside Atlantic City, a fight broke out between players on the Maple Shade Cadet and Frenzy Cadet teams.
Video of the fight obtained by Fox News Digital shows the players shoving and throwing punches as game officials attempt to break it up. Chaos quickly ensues as players leave their respective benches.
Several adults also rush over to break up the fighting, but video surveillance soon shows those adults fighting with one another, with two wrestling to the ground.
Egg Harbor Township Police Department announced Thursday that three adults were charged in connection with the incident: Colleen Biddle, 41, of Philadelphia, Robert Schafer, 38, of Maple Shade, New Jersey, and Justin Pacheco, 38, of Philadelphia.
All three were charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct and were given summonses to appear in court.
The American Ball Hockey Alliance (ABHA) released a statement condemning the behavior.
"First and foremost, we want to emphasize that this type of behavior is NOT representative of normal street/dek hockey play, and violence is NEVER condoned in our sport. The ABHA maintains a strict code of conduct that all players, coaches, and organizations must adhere to, with severe penalties for those who engage in violent actions. Additionally, we take the role of spectators very seriously and impose appropriate sanctions for those whose behavior as fans is disruptive or inflammatory."
The ABHA added that the organization has launched its own internal investigation and will implement its own disciplinary actions. Both teams were suspended from the tournament and the coach of the Maple Shade Cadet team was suspended from the league.
"It is important to note that this incident was instigated by out-of-town teams and, as such, does not reflect the values or behavior of the host facility, Egg Harbor Township Street Hockey, their teams, or their families," their statement added.
