Category: Sport

March 22, 2026, 6:40 p.m. ET

NHL reporter Jessi Pierce and her three children died in a house fire in Minnesota on Saturday, the league announced on its website Sunday.

Pierce, 37, has covered the Minnesota Wild as a correspondent for NHL.com for the past decade.

“The entire NHL.com team is devastated and heartbroken over the loss of Jessi and her children,” NHL.com vice president and editor-in-chief Bill Price said in a statement. “Jessi’s love for her family and hockey was evident in the energy and passion she brought to her work for us. She was a true joy to talk to and work with. She will be greatly missed.”

The NHL added in a statement: “The entire National Hockey League family extends our prayers and deepest condolences to the Pierce family on the passing of Jessi Pierce and her three young children. Jessi loved our game and was a valued member of the NHL.com team for a decade. We will miss her terribly.”

The NHL extends its condolences to the Pierce family. pic.twitter.com/SplpV6O5F7

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) March 22, 2026

Firefighters responded to a house fire in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, Saturday morning. Neighbors called 911 and reported seeing flames shooting through the roof. Firefighters found an adult, three children and a dog inside the home and all were dead, the White Bear Lake Fire Department said. The authority did not release the names of the victims in its statement on Saturday.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

“Our hearts hurt for those involved in this tragedy,” Fire Chief Greg Peterson said in the statement. “We ask for the opportunity to give our community the opportunity to come together and support one another during this difficult time.”

The Wild mourned their loss on social media Sunday.

“Jessi was a kind, compassionate person who cared deeply for her family and the people around her. During her time as a reporter for the Wild and the NHL, she served as an ambassador for the game of hockey,” the social media post read.

Minnesota is known as the “State of Hockey” and the Wild have had one of the largest fan bases since their founding in 2000. The North Stars had moved to Dallas in the early 1990s to become the Stars.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

The first round of March Madness was full of moments that lived up to the hype.

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A handful of programs made the most of their March Madness debuts or earned their first NCAA Tournament victories. Howard won its First Four game and stayed close to Michigan in the first half of their first-round matchup. Siena was close to angering Duke. High Point had bragging rights with its upset win over Wisconsin.

But as important as the results are, other highlights from the first round didn’t necessarily have an impact on the box score but still deserve recognition.

Here are our unusual and personality-based superlatives from the first round.

No. 12 High Point’s surprising 83-82 win over Wisconsin wouldn’t have happened without Johnston. The senior guard, who scored 14 points in 22 minutes of play, came up big with a finger roll in the final seconds to win the game for High Point.

FIRST 2-POINTER OF THE YEAR FOR CHASE JOHNSTON 😱

HIGH POINT TOURS!!! pic.twitter.com/N2ZWYSb9Dz

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 19, 2026

Why is this unique, you may ask?

The layup marked Johnston’s first 2-point field goal all season.

In Thursday’s game, Johnston had seven field goal attempts, six of them from long range. Of the seven attempts, he made five, four 3-pointers… and the layup.

During the regular season, Johnston made 143 field goals; 138 of them were 3-point shots, where he shot the ball quite efficiently with a hit rate of 49.3%.

The most likely person to go platinum in a post-game interview is Flynn Clayman

High Point picked up its first NCAA Tournament win in school history with a win over Wisconsin — and head coach Flynn Clayman had a lot to say in the immediate aftermath.

In a postgame interview, Clayman expressed confidence that mid-majors can compete with any Power 4 program.

“It looks pretty obvious to me that high majors have to play mid-majors during the season. They said we’re not playing nobody – we’ve played nobody now. Nobody would play us, just like nobody would play Miami (Ohio). But they have to play us in this tournament,” Clayman said.

Most committed to the starting five: Siena

Siena put pressure on Duke from the moment the ball was tipped. Heading into the first round, Indiana was the only major conference team the Saints played all season – they didn’t lead once in that game, according to ESPN Research. But Siena threw that out the window when it faced Duke.

The Blue Devils trailed Siena 43-32 at halftime, becoming the first No. 1 seed to trail by double digits at halftime in the men’s NCAA Tournament. But Siena didn’t make a single change in the entire first half.

Although Duke eventually outscored Siena 39-22 in the second half to escape the upset and claim a 71-65 victory, Siena kept the same five players on the field for almost the entire 40 minutes. The first change didn’t happen until there were 10 seconds left in the game.

Three Saints players finished in double figures, led by Gavin Doty with 21 points, followed by Francis Folefac with 18 points and Brendan Coyle with 12 points.

Most likely to spill the tea: Long Island University vs. Arizona

Widely known for its student section’s “Fins Up” movement, No. 16 seed Long Island University faced No. 1 seed Arizona on Friday. But it was about more than just advancing to the second round of the tournament – both teams shared a unique connection to a “form” of iced tea.

The Wildcats share the same name as Arizona, the New York-based beverage company known for its iced teas, juices and energy drinks. The Sharks, on the other hand, are associated with Long Island Iced Tea, an alcoholic beverage flavored with cola to mimic the appearance of iced tea.

During the “Battle of the Teas,” the Arizona beverage maker weighed in on the match on social media after the Wildcats jumped out to a quick 15-4 lead in the first half, writing, “Guys I think I’m winning.”

Guys, I think I win https://t.co/QNlnyv7kRr

– AriZona Iced Tea (@DrinkAriZona) March 20, 2026

Arizona ultimately defeated Long Island University 92-58, celebrating the win with a shot of “tea.”

There is no I in the team, but there is tea https://t.co/u0dTjGYIG2 pic.twitter.com/60euXCG6Am

– AriZona Iced Tea (@DrinkAriZona) March 20, 2026

Most likely to cause a surprise: North Carolina

North Carolina got off to a hot start against VCU, which might make it seem like the Tar Heels have the win in the bag.

Until North Carolina’s halftime tweet was posted.

currently up by 19. pic.twitter.com/8cKopjUFa1

— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) March 20, 2026

VCU’s Terrence Hill Jr. erupted in the second half, helping erase a 19-point halftime deficit and forcing overtime.

According to ESPN Research, Hill scored 17 points on 7 of 12 shooting in the final 15 minutes of play, compared to North Carolina’s 14 points as a team, helping secure VCU’s 82-78 upset victory over the Tar Heels.

The win also improved VCU to 2-4 in overtime men’s NCAA Tournament games and was its first such win since 2011, when it beat Florida State 72-71 in the Sweet 16.

Most sentimental bucket: Eddie Munyak

Entering the first round, Munyak, the Long Island guard, had spent just two minutes on the floor all season and only appeared at the end of the Sharks’ 83-61 win over Le Moyne in January.

In the final minute against Arizona, Munyak came into the ball game. With 53 seconds left, he caught the ball deep on the wing and made a contested 3-pointer. The ball hit the backboard and fell through the net, earning Munyak his first points of the entire 2025–26 season.

March 20, 2026, 4:10 a.m. ET

Chelsea could do it Enzo Fernandez Their highest-earning club amid interest from Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and others. In the meantime, Mohamed Salah He is still not sure whether he will join the Saudi Pro League this summer.

Stay with us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the world.

Home page of transfers | Winter qualities for men | Women’s grades

TRENDING RUMORS

Enzo Fernández is attracting interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

– Chelsea is ready for this Enzo Fernandez According to TEAMtalk, it is their highest-earning player to beat the interests of Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Manchester City. Chelsea have been aware of interest from top clubs for some time, with Madrid considering a transfer for Fernandez before he moved to Stamford Bridge from Benfica. PSG and Bayern are also long-term admirers and City are ready to enter the race to sign the 25-year-old if he shows his willingness to join another Premier League club. Fernandez would be attracted to the three European clubs but has no concerns about a move.

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– Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah has yet to make a decision on his future amid continued interest from the Saudi Pro League, The Daily Mail reports. The 33-year-old has been repeatedly linked with Saudi clubs in recent years and this summer would be Liverpool’s last chance to secure a transfer fee for the Egypt international before his contract expires in July 2027. However, Salah is not the only person at Liverpool that Saudi clubs have their eye on: Al Hilal is reportedly confident of winning over the sporting director Richard Hughes to join them.

– Manchester City are the frontrunners to sign the Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson ahead of Manchester United, as the BBC reports. Despite United’s well-known interest in Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, Crystal Palace Adam Wharton and Newcastle United Sandro TonaliMany at Old Trafford feel Anderson is the midfielder they should prioritize. The 23-year-old will cost at least £80 million and there is also competition from Bayern Munich, but United will not give up their interest.

– According to the report from Reuters, Manchester United and Real Madrid want Bruno GuimaraesThe Sun have now suggested that Newcastle may have to try to stop a mass exodus of their key players in the summer. Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and Real Madrid want midfielder Tonali, with Arsenal leading Liverpool in the race for the winger Anthony Gordon. There was also a lot of interest from City in a full-back Tino Livramento.

– Representatives from Arsenal and Chelsea were at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to watch Julian Alvarez according to TEAMtalk in Atlético Madrid’s 2-3 second leg defeat in the round of 16 of the Champions League. The 26-year-old scored Atlético’s first goal of the night and assisted on their second as the visitors progressed with a 7-5 aggregate win. Alvarez has already informed Atleti that he is open to a move and although Barcelona are still the Argentine star’s preferred option, uncertainty over Barça’s ability to complete a deal has made Arsenal and Chelsea viable alternatives.

OTHER RUMORS

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Is Fulham a good move for USMNT’s Ricardo Pepi?

Gab and Juls discuss the possible transfer of Ricardo Pepi to Fulham.

– Manchester City striker Erling Haaland would consider a move to Real Madrid if he were to leave the Etihad, while Barcelona cannot afford to sign him. (Football Insider)

– Manchester United will reject Barcelona’s attempted signing Marcus Rashford on another loan and demanding the £26m from the option in the forward’s original deal. (The mirror)

– Clubs from Brighton, Newcastle United, Chelsea and Saudi Arabia are interested in the Cologne winger El Mala saidalthough offers under 40 million euros are not taken into account at all. (Sky Sports Germany)

– Juventus are also looking at the goalkeepers, with their attention focused on that of Toulouse Guillaume staysFiorentina David de GeaTottenham Hotspur William Vicar and Aston Villas Emiliano Martinezduring Atalanta Marco Carnesecchi and Liverpool Alisson Becker are considered, but are less likely. (Tuttosport)

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– Inter Milan want Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper William Vicar but also inquire about Real Madrid Andriy Lunin. (La Gazzetta dello Sport)

– Atalanta will check whether the €26 million clause comes into force Yunus Musa‘s will be on loan from AC Milan at the end of the season, but it is very unlikely that this will be the case. (La Gazzetta dello Sport)

– Inter Milan want Roma midfielder Manu Kone but will have difficulty reaching its value of 40 million euros. (Calciomercato)

– Al-Qadsiah striker Mateo Retegui has spoken to AC Milan and Juventus about his return to Serie A. (Tuttosport)

– A Juventus scout will monitor Genoa’s game against Udinese Brooke Norton Cuffy. (Nicolo Schira)

– Juventus have apparently been busy as they have also made an approach for the Napoli left-back Leonardo Spinazzola. (Sky Sports Italy)

– Inter Milan will invoke their €23 million clause to re-sign the midfielder Aleksandar Stankovic from Club Brugge. (Corriere dello Sport)

– Leeds United are planning to sign the 16-year-old winger from Manchester United Silva Mexes. (Football Insider)

– Leeds United, Brentford and Crystal Palace all want the 23-year-old Midtjylland winger Aral Simsir. (TEAMtalk)

– Six Premier League clubs are interested in the Brighton goalkeeper Carl Rushworthwho impressed on loan at Coventry City. (talkSPORT)

• Beth LindopMarch 18, 2026, 8:52 p.m. ET

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  Based in Liverpool, Beth Lindop is ESPN’s Liverpool correspondent and also covers the WSL and UWCL.

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LIVERPOOL, England – It was less than two minutes at Anfield when Galatasaray’s Lucas Torreira found himself surrounded by three Liverpool players deep in his own half. By the four-minute mark, goalkeeper Ugurcan Çakir was pressured into denying a free kick straight out of play. After five minutes, the fans were on their feet and applauded Florian Wirtz for winning the throw-in near the halfway line.

Every moment seemed to be a sign of intent on Arne Slot’s part; a warning shot was fired to prepare their opponents for the difficult task ahead. As the Galatasaray players trudged through the tunnel during the final break – having lost the UEFA Champions League round of 16 4-0 that evening and 4-1 on aggregate – it looked as if they had got the message.

Meanwhile, those dressed in red enjoyed the applause of their enthusiastic audience. Captain Virgil van Dijk pumped his fist towards the Kop while Alisson Becker beamed as he hugged head coach Slot. The scenes were in stark contrast to the aftermath of Sunday’s dull 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur, after which Slot and his players were booed off the pitch after conceding another costly late goal. Just three days after that sobering low point, this felt like a momentous night.

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– Report: Salah’s game-winning goal helps Liverpool reach UCL quarter-finals

By dismantling the Turkish Super Lig champions, Slot’s team secured the club’s place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since the 2021/22 season, when Jürgen Klopp’s side narrowly lost to Real Madrid in the final.

More importantly, this was the night Anfield found its own voice and in doing so helped Liverpool find itself. In a season that largely oscillated between mediocrity and misery, no stone was left unturned to find out exactly what went wrong for the reigning Premier League champions.

The details of each tactical tweak were forensically analyzed, with changes in formation, personnel and even head coach suggested as possible solutions to address the Reds’ malaise. And yet on Wednesday evening it became clear that Liverpool are at their best when the shackles fall.

No matter who is in the dugout, Liverpool are at their most compelling when they are at their jugular and working in unison.

In Anfield’s eyes, there is no substitute for hard work, honest effort and the feeling that the collective is greater than the sum of its parts. Against Galatasaray, the synergy between the players on the pitch and those in the stands ensured that all of these goals were achieved with vigor.

Liverpool’s task ahead of the second leg was admittedly not as daunting as that faced by Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham, all of whom had to come from three goals down to reach the UCL last eight. Still, the Reds’ poor performance in the first leg in Istanbul last week, coupled with the apathy that reigned after Sunday’s Premier League setback, meant confidence was a precious commodity on Merseyside.

In Wednesday’s 4-0 debacle against Galatasaray, Liverpool looked like last season’s title-winning team. Liverpool FC via Getty Images

But after UEFA banned Galatasaray fans from entering for their misconduct during the playoffs against Juventus last month, the Anfield crowd relished the chance to take center stage.

And it was fitting that it was Dominik Szoboszlai, who implored fans to remain loyal to their team at the weekend, who gave Liverpool the lead within 25 minutes with a superb shot from the edge of the box. The goal – the product of a well-worked set piece – brings the Hungarian international to up to nine goals in the Champions League this season (five goals, four assists).

The only midfielder with more appearances in a single season in the competition for Liverpool is Steven Gerrard in the 2007/08 season (10 – six goals, four assists). Szoboszlai gave the hosts a chance to take the lead when he won a penalty just before half-time, but Mohamed Salah’s tame shot was confidently parried by Cakir.

Having faced so much adversity this season, it would have been easy for Liverpool to collapse before another stumbling block. But cheered on by a defiant home crowd, Slot’s team took to the pitch in the second half with renewed conviction.

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Salah was central to their exuberant performance, playing past Hugo Ekitike to score Liverpool’s second goal and later rounding off the scoring with a sublime curling effort that made him the first African player to score 50 goals in the Champions League. Ryan Gravenberch – who had just signed a new contract at Anfield – had been there to force the third goal.

In truth, Liverpool could – and perhaps should – have had more. They finished the evening with an xG of 5.6 and recorded 16 shots on goal. The last time they had more shots on goal in a game was against Watford in November 2016 (17 shots on goal in a 6-1 win).

Liverpool’s reward for such a fine performance is a meeting with defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals next month. In some circles, Luis Enrique’s side’s exit in the round of 16 last season is seen as the start of the Reds’ downturn in form. Slot hopes a showdown with the French champions this season will have the opposite effect.

“PSG have shown this season that they have not given in once and we showed tonight that we can still reach the level at which we played for large parts of last season,” the Dutchman said in his post-match press conference. “It gives us a lot of confidence that we can show this performance, but it is not the first one this season, especially in Europe. We have to try to find the consistency, although I can already disappoint people because it is hardly possible to copy this performance again. 5.0xG on a Champions League night, 0.18xG conceded, that will not be easy to copy.”

Of course, Slot is right when he urges caution. This season has been full of misjudgments for Liverpool and PSG will pose a much tougher challenge than Galatasaray.

But if they are able to play with the same commitment and intensity as Wednesday, Slot’s side will at least give themselves a chance of success. Liverpool’s recent win seemed to remind everyone associated with the club who they are.

Anfield must not let them be forgotten in the future either.

The UConn Huskies will enter women’s March Madness as favorites to win a record-tying 13th national championship. Geno Auriemma’s squad had -270 odds to win when the bracket was announced, the lowest odds for a pre-tournament favorite since 2018, which was also the last time UConn entered the Big Dance as the favorite.

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There’s a significant gap to the next team, the UCLA Bruins, who have +550 odds to win the NCAA Tournament. The SEC dominates the next four spots between Texas (+700), South Carolina (+800), LSU (16-1, opening 14-1) and Vanderbilt (50-1). Duke (75-1) and Michigan (80-1) round out the teams that are less than 100-1.

UConn, UCLA and South Carolina were crowd favorites throughout the season, collectively securing 57.4% of futures trading at BetMGM. These teams’ low odds throughout the season won’t cause much of a headache for sportsbooks, but BetMGM reports liabilities to Michigan and Vanderbilt.

Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, subject to change.

2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament odds

March 15, 2026, 2:00 p.m. ET

After an agonizingly long wait (which seemed even longer if you were an SEC bubble team), it’s finally mid-March and that means the NCAA Basketball Tournament is here. Led by No. 1 seeds Duke, Arizona, Michigan and Florida – as well as a cohort of the usual bluebloods, some new faces and a few potential Cinderella teams – there are plenty of ways for bettors to get in on the action.

It’s no surprise that several of the top seeds are the favorites to win the national title, with Duke the top contender at +330, while Michigan (+350), Arizona (+425), Florida (+700), Houston (+1000) and UConn (+1700) round out the betting favorites to win the overall.

Our college basketball betting analysts, researchers and editors reveal their favorite early bets since the bracket crashed, from first-round picks to some title game futures.

Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook. Odds were correct at time of publication and are subject to change.

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Kevin Pulsifer (researcher): North Carolina is not the same team that beat Duke earlier this season. Caleb Wilson’s injury has limited the Tar Heels’ ceiling, and now they face a VCU team that gets to the free throw line with a top-20 rate in the country, which could negate one of North Carolina’s defensive strengths if the referees call a close call (which often happens in the NCAA Tournament). UNC won a game on the road in the Dean Dome without Wilson against a hapless Syracuse team. Meanwhile, the Rams were tested in the non-conference schedule by taking NC State to the finish in Raleigh and defeating Virginia Tech by 18 points on a neutral site. VCU will have no fear here.

Mark Zinno (analyst): The committee loves to take advantage of the strengths of lower seeded teams and balance them with the weaknesses of higher seeded teams. That’s what you have here when High Point faces the Badgers. The Panthers are averaging over 90 points per game and Wisconsin’s defense leaves a lot to be desired. Wisconsin is a mediocre team in effective field goal shooting defense and 3-point shooting defense. High Point will cause all sorts of problems for the Badgers.

The Panthers have the longest winning streak in the country at 14 games. They play very quickly and their ball movement allows them to get inside and make easy shots. They also have an excellent perimeter defense that gives opponents a 31.9% shooting rate from three-pointers, and the Badgers rely heavily on three-pointers. High Point forces the fifth-most turnovers in the country and could frustrate Wisconsin’s shooters. If there’s a prototypical 5-12 surprise this year, this is it.

Keith Lipscomb (Editor): I like this matchup for Miami, even though the game will be played in St. Louis, just a two-hour drive from the Missouri campus. This is much less important in the tournament. The Hurricanes were strong on both ends of the court, especially on the glass, where I think Ernest Udeh Jr. and Malik Reneau will be too much for the Tigers. Miami has done well this season – a 10-5 road/neutral record, with losses coming to Florida, BYU, Virginia (twice) and Clemson. And Missouri has had problems on the road (5-9), including a 91-48 loss to Illinois in the building where this game will be played. I expect Canes coach Jai Lucas will have a plan to slow down the red-hot Mark Mitchell and challenge other Tigers to do damage.

Mackenzie Kraemer (researcher): One of my favorite trends in the NCAA Tournament lately has been going down with high totals, and there isn’t a higher total than Saint Louis-Georgia’s 171.5. In the last six tournaments, the number of unders in the first round is 30-12 when the total is at least 150. Both teams want to score and play fast, but over the last 10 games the Billikens have seen the second-largest decline in adjusted offensive efficiency. Over the same period, Georgia experienced the second largest decline in adjusted pace. Last year there were at least 172 points in only three NCAA games, so I’ll hold my nose and click on the following.

(2) UConn makes Elite Eight (+170)

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Zinno: The huskies are littered in my opinion. However, the selection committee gave them a good performance with a very positive draw. While the Furman Paladins are a troublesome team, they are a poor opponent against UConn’s defense, which has the size to not give up on the interior defender and the rebounding to not allow second chances for points.

In their second matchup, the Huskies may not even see No. 7 UCLA and instead get No. 10 UCF, as Mick Cronin’s Bruins have struggled on the East Coast in the Big Ten. UCF was mistreated by similar teams in Arizona, Houston and Iowa State; and UConn profiles like these squads.

If it’s No. 3 Michigan State in the Sweet 16, to me that’s a coin toss game where the Huskies’ perimeter defense shuts down the Spartans. I can imagine all the higher seeds in the bottom half of the East round losing their first round match, giving the Huskies an easier path. UConn has one of the better draws in the tournament and should win three straight here.

(3) Virginia makes it to the Elite Eight (+310)

Pulsifer: The Cavaliers just took Duke all the way, holding Cameron Boozer to 3 of 17 shooting in the ACC title game thanks to incredible post defense from Ugonna Onyenso and a nine-man rotation that features the bench as strong as the starters. Virginia is balanced inside and out, both offensively and defensively, and they have a favorable draw. In the second round, expect a struggling Tennessee team (or a losing SMU team that the Cavaliers have already beaten, or a Miami). [Ohio] team that is weak in the forecast metrics), then a possible Sweet 16 matchup against Iowa State, which actually suits UVA. Because of the massive home-field advantage in the regular season, the Cyclones tend to perform worse in March, and they struggle a lot at the free throw line. Iowa State also encourages teams to shoot three-pointers, which Virginia loves to do.

(7) Miami makes Sweet 16 (+400)

Lip comb: Why not build on the Canes’ first-round pick and roll (yes, intentional) to get through the first weekend? To do that, they have to take care of No. 2 seed Purdue, which is coming off a grueling Big Ten championship game. This is about value for me as I don’t think Miami is taken seriously enough. (It has the 25th shortest odds to win two games.) My biggest concern heading into the Purdue matchup is the Boilermakers’ perimeter ability (38%, top 20 in the nation). However, I think Miami can get what it wants on offense and give Purdue everything it can and more in what I expect will be a physical battle. This feels like a Tru Washington X Factor game outside the Miami bench.

(2) Purdue to the Final Four (+360)

Chandler: Purdue entered the season as the favorite to win the national championship, and after winning the Big Ten Championship, the Boilermakers still have the second-best odds of any two-seeded team to reach the Final Four. Although they rank just 36th in adjusted defensive efficiency — usually a warning sign for winning national championships — that shouldn’t stop them from being a strong contender in the West Region. Purdue has the best offense in the country. More importantly, it has a very smooth draw. Third-seeded Gonzaga and sixth-seeded BYU are without key players Braden Huff and Richie Saunders. Top-seeded Arizona has underperformed in the NCAA Tournament under Tommy Lloyd, and a Sweet 16 matchup against Wisconsin or Arkansas Razorbacks could eliminate the Wildcats. Purdue’s Braden Smith, Fletcher Loyer and Trey Kaufman-Renn are three of the most experienced players in this tournament, and they have enough skill and experience to reach the Final Four.

• Michael C. WrightMarch 14, 2026, 8:01 p.m. ET

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  • Joined ESPN in 2010
  • Bears previously reported for ESPN.com
  • Played college football at West Texas A&M

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SAN ANTONIO – Spurs star Victor Wembanyama returned from a one-game absence Saturday against the Charlotte Hornets and showed off his full arsenal of skills in leading San Antonio to a 115-102 victory, completing a six-game homestand at Frost Bank Center.

Wembanyama scored a game-high 32 points with 12 rebounds, eight assists, four blocks and two steals. This performance marked Wembanyama’s second career appearance with at least 30 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, multiple blocks and multiple steals, which tied him with George Gervin for the third-most such games in franchise history, according to ESPN Research. Wembanyama is behind Tim Duncan (9) and David Robinson (19).

“In general, it’s just progress,” Wembanyama said. “There were many aspects of the game where we dominated them and that showed in the fact that we won three out of four quarters.”

San Antonio improved to a league-best 17-2 record since Feb. 1, including a 5-1 mark in six games at home.

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“It was really good for us to experience these games and find out about other teams and ourselves,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “We’ve had to participate in a lot of different types of games, whether it’s being a little open or having to cover a lot of distance defensively, we’ve had to have some late-game physicality and execution and see how people protect us in different ways. Hopefully all of those experiences are lessons that we turn into knowledge and wisdom for the future.”

Wembanyama started the game brilliantly, scoring 11 points on 4 of 7 shooting in the first quarter, including 2 of 3 from 3-point range. He had a game-high 18 points at halftime.

In the third quarter, he showed off his game-making skills by hitting center Luke Kornet for two alley-ups. In the fourth quarter, Wembanyama threw an alley-oop to Stephon Castle, who intercepted it for a two-handed reverse dunk.

“It’s another weapon,” Wembanyama said of his style of play. “Most of the time I play by rolling the ball and not even touching it, using my positioning to get guys on offense with my gravity. But I can do that too.”

Spurs star Victor Wembanyama had 32 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, four blocks and two steals, helping San Antonio improve to 17-2 since Feb. 1. AP Photo/Eric Gay

Wembanyama was forced to miss Thursday’s loss to the Denver Nuggets because he suffered a sore right ankle during pregame warmups. But the organization was optimistic he would return for Saturday’s game against the Hornets.

Wembanyama can miss three more regular-season games before being ineligible for NBA awards.

“Victor has the longest history of things he wants to do that are probably important in the history of basketball,” Johnson said. “They’re all important to me, too. There’s a lot to it, and sometimes we have to make tough decisions. Because on that long list, there are still things that we prioritize and put at the top of the list. But this guy, I think, is going to challenge us as long as we’re all here to continue to live up to that desire and continue to cross things off that list.”

Spurs rookie guard Dylan Harper missed Saturday’s contest with a bruised right calf. Johnson said Harper is not feeling well, adding that there are “no long-term concerns” about the injury. Harper missed 10 games in November with a left calf strain.

Mar 12, 2026, 06:12 AM ET

Can you believe the NWSL is back this weekend already? It feels like we’ve barely had a break!

The busy offseason included Trinity Rodman and the Washington Spirit quite literally forcing the NWSL to change its rulebook so the star wouldn’t go overseas. Expansion sides Denver Summit FC and Boston Legacy FC geared up for their debuts.

The Summit have already announced they will set a new NWSL attendance record this season and signed U.S. women’s national team captain Lindsey Heaps, while the Legacy have, um, undone as much damage as they could from their initial launch.

We’ll cover all that and more — don’t worry. Megan Swanick, Joseph Lowery and Cesar Hernandez will be your guides with our annual all-team mega-preview. They’ve each predicted the end-of-the season standings from top to bottom, averaging their predictions together to produce one final, collective prediction. We’ve presented the league’s 16 teams below in the order of their predictions.

Here’s how they see the season playing out, with a rundown on what has changed for every team since Gotham FC lifted the championship trophy in November.

• Watch Gotham vs. Boston: Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET, live on ABC
• Stream NWSL matches live on ESPN+ all season (U.S.)
• NWSL ambition rankings: Which teams lead the way?

Last season’s finish: First place (21W, 3L, 2D), 65 points

Biggest offseason moves: The record-setting 2025 NWSL Shield winners have a new coach. After two successful years as head coach and sporting director, former USWNT manager Vlatko Andonovski is focused on being global sporting director. The Current named former USMNT player Chris Armas as his replacement.

Armas has plenty of managerial experience, but this will be his first managerial role in professional women’s soccer. That’s big news, but the Current made bigger moves in the midfield: 20-year-old defensive midfielder Claire Hutton joined Bay FC. And 2024 NWSL Rookie of the Year, Croix Bethune, is moving to the Midwest after a couple of successful years in Washington.

In addition to Hutton, KCC’s other big departures include Bia Zaneratto, Nichelle Prince and Hailie Mace.

Why they will finish first this season: The Current will miss players such as Zaneratto and Hutton. And yes, Chris Armas is new to the NWSL — not to mention women’s professional soccer, while questions over lingering injuries could impact their attacking line.

But the most consistently dominant team in the league has maintained enough of its core to continue its success. Bethune’s creativity as an attacking midfielder could take the league’s most dangerous attack to a terrifying new level.

Biggest question heading into the season: Will all their players be fit and ready to play?

Temwa Chawinga, the team and league’s top scorer, ended last season with an injury. Is she back ready to go? Bethune and Michelle Cooper were both left off the USWNT SheBelieves Cup roster because of return-from-injury fitness. When will they be fully fit? The overall health of key players — and Chawinga in particular — is the biggest question ahead of 2026. — Swanick

Last season’s finish: Second place (12W, 6L, 8D), 44 points

Biggest offseason moves: Haven’t you heard? Trinity Rodman is back. After a monthslong contract saga, Rodman became the highest-paid player in NWSL history.

Of course, Rodman’s return wasn’t the only headline for Washington this winter. With former Orlando Pride architect Haley Carter now in the door as the Spirit’s president of soccer operations, the Spirit splashed a nearly seven-figure fee to sign 18-year-old Paraguayan forward Claudia Martínez and traded attacking midfielder Croix Bethune to the Kansas City Current in exchange for cash. Washington fans certainly aren’t bored!

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Can Trinity Rodman overcome her previous injury problems in 2026?

The “Futbol Women’s” crew debate what needs to change in 2026 for Trinity Rodman.

Why they will finish second this season: Because there’s a boatload of talent in this team.

With Rodman back in the fold and likely to be healthier than last year, it’s extremely easy to believe that the Washington Spirit will have a sky-high ceiling in 2026. Even with Bethune gone, there’s no shortage of quality surrounding the U.S. star upfield between Gift Monday, Rosemonde Kouassi, Leicy Santos, Martinez and others still.

Add in an impressive spine featuring Hal Hershfelt, Tara Rudd and a group expected back from maternity leave, and you have a team that will be downright terrifying in every phase of play.

Biggest question heading into the season: How will Aubrey Kingsbury’s absence in goal impact things?

With Kingsbury expecting a baby in July, the Spirit will be without their longtime starter between the posts. How Sandy MacIver, a former No. 1 for Everton in the WSL who served as Kingsbury’s backup last year, performs as Washington’s new go-to goalkeeper is a major storyline to watch in 2026. — Lowery

Last season’s finish: Third place (11W, 8L, 7D), 40 points

Biggest offseason moves: Last week, Portland announced the hiring of Robert Vilahamn as their new coach. Recently with Women’s Super League side Tottenham Hotspur, Vilahamn guided the English club to their first-ever Women’s FA Cup final in 2024.

Also, although technically not an offseason move, the return of forward Sophia Wilson from maternity leave is worth highlighting. The Olympic gold medal winner and USWNT star returned to the field for Portland in a friendly on March 6.

Why they will finish third this season: The 20-year-old U.S. international Olivia Moultrie has yet to reach her lofty potential, Wilson could take some time to be 100% match fit, though is now at least back with the squad, and there’s also a handful of young promising players that should be able to maintain the club’s place in a playoff position.

We need to take any friendlies with a grain of salt — notably one at home against a non-NWSL opponent — but they did also brush aside Liga MX Femenil giants Monterrey 5-1 in Wilson’s return.

Biggest question heading into the season: Can Vilahamn find success from the start?

As opposed to a full preseason or let alone a full fortnight to prepare, the Swedish coach that has never managed in the NWSL will have an incredibly short window of time to get ready for the season. We also can’t ignore the fact that Vilahamn was dropped by Tottenham last June after narrowly avoiding relegation.

Vilahamn will also have to manage the absence of reliable midfielder Sam Coffey, who left for Manchester City in the offseason. Will Portland hit the ground running or stumble into 2026? — Hernandez

Last season’s finish: Eighth place (9W, 8L, 9D), 36 points

Biggest offseason moves: The reigning champions peaked at the right time late last season, with players such as Rose Lavelle healthy and Jaedyn Shaw moving seamlessly into the team.

While maintaining most of their trophy-winning roster, Gotham have made just a few tweaks in the offseason: Brazilian midfielder Gabi Portilho (who had six goal contributions in 17 games last season) signed for San Diego. In the other direction, they brought in veteran NWSL midfielder/forward Savannah McCaskill from San Diego.

Gotham FC were the surprise winner of the NWSL Championship after finishing the regular season in eighth place. John Hefti/Imagn Images

Why they will finish fourth this season: Gotham took time to hit their stride in 2025. Injuries limited playing time to key players, and pivotal additions such as Shaw had yet to arrive.

This season, center back Tierna Davidson is back and ready to play. Lavelle is healthy and matching career records for chances created at SheBelieves Cup. With a mostly-healthy squad ready to go, Gotham can achieve the consistency of results they achieved in 2024 and secure a top four finish.

Biggest question heading into the season: Will the team stay fit, and can Esther maintain her form? Players such as Davidson and Lavelle are healthy to start the season but have dealt with multiple injuries over the years. Their availability will have a huge impact on the season.

When it comes to scoring goals, Spanish striker Esther is a game changer. But she ended 2026 in a dry spell, scoring just one goal in their final eight games including the playoffs. With nine goals in 21 games last season, consistency from Esther could propel Gotham further up the table. — Swanick

Last season’s finish: Fourth place (11W, 8L, 7D), 40 points

Biggest offseason moves: In Emily Sams, Carson Pickett and Ally Brazier, three of Orlando’s 11 most used players from last season have departed the club. Sams, who played more than 2,000 minutes at center back in 2025, leaves the biggest hole.

Still, with rising talents such as central defender Zara Chavoshi and veterans such as new outside back signing Hailie Mace, the Pride still have plenty of talent even after seeing a trio of key players leave.

Why they will finish fifth this season: Coach Seb Hines has an awfully impressive squad at his disposal, doesn’t he?

We barely got a taste of what record-breaking signing Lizbeth Ovalle could do for Orlando after she signed last August, and there’s reason to expect the Mexican international attacker to shine after a full preseason.

There are questions about how a new-look backline will gel, of course, but the presence of a rock-solid midfield headlined by Haley McCutcheon and Angelina answers at least some of them. There’s talent aplenty in Orlando, and that’s before we even get to the headliner…

Biggest question heading into the season: Will Barbra Banda be back to her best?

It’s not an exaggeration to say that the entire finish of the NWSL’s 2025 season could’ve been very, very different if not for Banda’s abductor injury suffered in August. A virtually unstoppable force when healthy, the 25-year-old striker is one of the league’s best and most influential players.

If Banda is fully healthy and ready to go atop Orlando’s formation, the Pride will be in every trophy conversation this season. She’s just that impactful. — Lowery

Last season’s finish: Sixth place (10W, 9L, 7D), 37 points

Biggest offseason moves: San Diego acquired Brazilian international Ludmila in January from the Chicago Stars in exchange for $800,000 in transfer fee funds. After finding the back of the net 10 times in her previous NWSL season, the Wave are hoping to see a similar tally for 2026.

As for exits, eyebrows were raised after the club mutually agreed to part ways and terminate contracts with key names such as Delphine Cascarino and Kailen Sheridan.

Kenza Dali, left, returns this season, but Hanna Lundkvist, right, is among this offseason’s exits. Orlando Ramirez/NWSL via Getty Images

Why they will finish sixth this season: Kenza Dali (an NWSL Best XI second team inclusion from 2025) is still in the midfield picture, there’s plenty of upside from the roster’s young group of players (keep an eye on Kimmi Ascanio and Melanie Barcenas), and Ludmila should help cover some of the more noteworthy attacking issues seen last season.

Chelsea’s Catarina Macario is also reported to be closing in on a move to San Diego this summer as well.

Biggest question heading into the season: How much will San Diego miss Sheridan?

As not only a shot-stopper that would regularly put on a show with her saves but also a vocal captain, San Diego are now without one of the most significant figures in their short history as a club. Backup DiDi Haracic is now slated to be the starter but also had fairly average performances in her limited minutes in 2025.

If Haracic doesn’t work out, coach Jonas Eidevall might have to look toward one of the goalkeeping alternates that have zero NWSL appearances… — Hernandez

Last season’s finish: Ninth place (9W, 9L, 8D), 35 points

Biggest offseason moves: North Carolina’s most notable movement is the departure of longtime veteran midfielder Denise O’Sullivan, who played nine seasons with the club.

In the other direction, the addition of Canadian goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan could be a massive boost, providing a strong veteran voice in a changing squad. Swedish striker Evelyn Ijeh, who finished third in Serie A’s 2024-25 golden boot race, is another exciting addition from AC Milan. Notably, the Courage also have a new coach in Lebanese manager Mak Lind, and apparently, he’s “obsessed with scoring goals.”

Why they will finish seventh this season: With a new coach and veteran departures, there are significant unknowns for the Courage. But they’ve maintained a good portion of the roster. And after narrowly missing the playoffs in 2025 (they trailed eighth-place Gotham by one point), they’ve made tweaks at either of the field that can help secure a top-eight finish.

Biggest question heading into the season: Can they generate more in the final third? With 39 goals in 2025, the Courage were fairly clinical with the chances they had, but they didn’t create as many chances as they have in the past. A new striker could add a boost, Sheridan’s style playing out of the back, a shakeup in the midfield and a coach intent on scoring will need to pay dividends in the final third. — Swanick

Last season’s finish: Seventh place (10W, 9L, 7D), 37 points

Biggest offseason moves: Louisville made history with their first playoff appearance in 2025 but had a quiet offseason as it prepares to build on that success. Louisville signed former SEC Midfielder of the Year and First-Team All American Macey Hodge from Angel City, bringing her to Kentucky for her second NWSL season.

Louisville signed former Seattle backup goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska, also ready to spend her second NWSL season in Kentucky. In the other direction, Ary Borges left for Angel City and Janine Sonis signed for Denver Summit.

Why they will finish eight this season: After multiple years of falling just short of the playoffs, Racing earned a deserved playoff berth in 2025 and gave Washington Spirit a tough test in the postseason. With their crew intact and coach returning, their chemistry and confidence seems poised to deliver another postseason-worthy season.

Biggest question heading into the season: Will Racing level up defensively? Louisville is tough to play and knows how to grind out results. But Racing conceded more goals than any other playoff team in 2025. Only three teams across the league allowed more shots on target. Even a marginal improvement in those numbers could have a huge impact on their season. — Swanick

Last season’s finish: Fifth place (10W, 7L, 9D), 39 points

Biggest offseason moves: It has been a quiet winter for the Reign without much in the way of high-profile roster turnover. Club legend Lauren Barnes retired, while another icon in Jess Fishlock opted to return for her 14th year in Seattle. One of the only new arrivals is 19-year-old midfielder Sofia Cedeño, who has been called up by the U.S. U-20s while drawing interest from Panama’s senior team.

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Why they will finish ninth this season: Because the roster has stagnated.

Outside of Barnes, every 2025 regular is back. Could that be viewed as useful continuity? Sure. But as the league’s top teams keep pushing forward, Seattle is at risk of being left behind.

With Laura Harvey (and ChatGPT?) at the helm, Maddie Dahlien will have the chance to strike in transition from the wing while Jordyn Bugg anchors the backline. But without elite talent upfield, especially in the absence of Lynn Biyendolo who will begin the season on maternity leave, the ceiling is low.

Biggest question heading into the season: Will an attacker step up?

Defensively, there’s a world where the Reign are close to elite this year. Claudia Dickey is a top-tier goalkeeper, while Bugg, Madison Curry and Sofia Huerta paint the picture of a tight backline. But who’s doing damage at the other end?

Dahlien is dangerous on the left wing, but the 21-year-old doesn’t profile like a Best XI attacker. Jordyn Huitema isn’t a high-end starter. Emeri Adames is just 19, while Fishlock is another year older. Biyendolo is a question mark. To really compete, this team needs a star attacker to emerge. Will one? — Lowery

Last season’s finish: 13th place (4W, 14L, 8D), 20 points

Biggest offseason moves: Selected at the No.1 spot in ESPN’s NWSL U19 ranking from 2025, Claire Hutton has certainly turned some heads with her move.

Brought in at an eye-catching $1.1 million from the Kansas City Current, Hutton arrived to much fanfare to soccer fans in the Bay Area. The young midfielder, who has already sported the captain’s armband for the USWNT, will also bring some level-headed assuredness to the heart of the XI.

Why they will finish 10th this season: Bay should take some steps forward in the new year, but just how far is a mystery. Although 2025’s goal contributions leader Racheal Kundananji will continue to be a threat going forward, and now has winter striker addition Cristiana Girelli playing alongside her in the attack, Girelli might need time to adjust to the NWSL — which could also be said for new coach Emma Coates after joining the club in December.

All that said, Hutton’s addition might be the difference between narrowly making it or not into the playoffs.

Biggest question heading into the season: Will Girelli have enough time to make an impact?

There should be some optimism in 2026 with the Italian veteran goal scorer in the front line, especially after Bay finished last in total goals scored last season, but Girelli’s contract is only a loan through August.

Keeping in mind that the forward didn’t join her new club teammates until after World Cup qualifiers for Italy in early March, her stint with Bay might prove to be brief. — Hernandez

Last season’s finish: 11th place (7W, 13L, 6D), 27 points

Biggest offseason moves: Emily Sams and Ary Borges. When you allow 41 goals across 26 games in 2025, it makes sense to bring in someone like Sams to help support the backline. Traded over the winter for $650,000, the U.S. international will be expected to be a key figure in defense. Borges, a Brazilian international that recently played for Racing Louisville, is also set to be a difference-maker above Sams in the midfield.

Why they will finish 11th this season: With plenty of roster changes since last year, this still feels like a rebuild year for Angel City. Granted, the ceiling should be higher with the additions they’ve made and a full preseason under coach Alexander Straus, who joined the team midseason, but the starting XI and formation itself remain as a puzzle that will need to be sorted. Let’s also not forget that locker room leaders such as Ali Riley and Christen Press are no longer with the roster after retiring last season.

This could be a big year for Riley Tiernan, who showed well in her rookie season for Angel City last year. Harry How/NWSL via Getty Images

Biggest question heading into the season: Can Riley Tiernan carry the front line?

The 2025 Rookie of the Year finalist was excellent last season, providing eight goals in her debut campaign. If Tiernan can build off this tally, or if a promising attacker like the 19-year-old Kennedy Fuller improves her goal contributions total of seven from 2025, Angel City might be able to push for a playoff position. — Hernandez

Last season’s finish: N/A

Biggest offseason moves: There are few bigger names in this sport than Lindsey Heaps, who will spearhead Denver’s expansion campaign (once she arrives from Lyon in June, that is). In the meantime, head coach Nick Cushing has a talented backline at his disposal — see: Ayo Oke and Eva Gaetino, both young players capped by the U.S. at international level, along with Janine Sonis, Carson Pickett and Kaleigh Kurtz. Toss in German striker Melissa Kössler and creative rookie and U.S. youth international Yuna McCormack and there are more than a handful of exciting pieces on offer in Denver.

Why they will finish 12th this season: The true, honest answer to this prompt is: I have no idea where Denver Summit will finish.

Sure, they’ll struggle to push for the top five based on roster quality alone. But would it shock me if Kössler, Heaps and some of the youngsters quickly form a dynamic, effective team from top to bottom? No, not really. Would it surprise me if Heaps looked a step slower than we remember upon her debut at age 32 and the unknown quantities around her in the midfield and forward lines struggle? No, not really.

Most outcomes are on the table for Denver.

Biggest question heading into the season: Does a non-Heaps star emerge?

It’s safe to expect Denver to take some of the usual expansion lumps to start the year, especially without Heaps. But it will escape from the early season feeling out period with fewer bumps and bruises should a star emerge from the jump.

If one of the young players — I’ve got my eyes most closely on McCormack, rookie forward Olivia Thomas and even 24-year-old attacker Lourdes Bosch — starts to show out, Summit will become a team no one wants to face. — Lowery

Last season’s finish: N/A

Biggest offseason moves: The Legacy are making their NWSL debut with an exciting cadre of international players and a handful of NWSL veterans, including USWNT goalkeeper Casey Murphy, who signed for a reported $1.5 million. Led by former Benfica manager Filipa Patão, some notable international signings from abroad include Ugandan striker Fauzia Najjemba, Brazilian defender Andressa “Kaká” Ferreira, Danish midfielder Josefine Hasbo and El Tri Femenil defender Nicki Hernandez.

Adding more intraleague experience: Canadian internationals Nichelle Prince and Bianca St-Georges joined from Kansas City and Utah, respectively. Venezuelan international Bárbara Olivieri adds more NWSL experience, signing from Houston Dash.

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NWSL’s Boston Legacy signs GK Casey Murphy; deal worth $1.5M

NWSL’s Boston Legacy signs GK Casey Murphy; deal worth $1.5M

Why they will finish 13th this season: This team is full of talent. But many of them, including the manager, are brand new to NWSL. The Legacy’s long-term success seems likely. But it might take time to hit their potential, especially in their first season. Negotiating multiple home venues, both shared with other professional clubs, could further delay realizing their full potential.

Biggest question heading into the season: Will NWSL’s 15th team re-capture Boston’s preexisting fan base (pour one out for the Boston Breakers) and command substantial home crowds with their performances?

While the Legacy wait for Boston’s White Stadium to be ready in 2027, they’ll play their games at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, with a handful of games in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Whether that has any effect on building a passionate fan base or season-long attendance is yet to be seen. But it could have a big impact on the success of their campaign. — Swanick

Last season’s finish: 10th place (8W, 12L, 6D), 30 points

Biggest offseason moves: When it comes to senior additions, it has been an incredibly quiet offseason for the Dash. On the rookie front, though, Houston has been busy. Perhaps most notably, it added 2024 Mac Hermann winner Kate Faasse from the University of North Carolina. Don’t be surprised if the 21-year-old forward immediately slots into manager Fabrice Gautrat’s starting lineup.

Why they will finish 14th this season: Because the cons outweigh the pros.

Improvement for the Dash isn’t outside the realm of possibility given the rookie additions and the presence of a couple of fringe national teamers. But it seems an awful weighty thing to expect a group of first-year professionals to rescue the team that posted the third-worst xG differential in the league last year, as per American Soccer Analysis.

The attack outside of Yazmeen Ryan is a concern. At the other end, Jane Campbell has allowed more goals than expected each of the past two years, as per ASA. There are reasons to worry.

Biggest question heading into the season: Can Avery Patterson go supernova in the attack?

According to American Soccer Analysis’ goals added metric, only 10 players were more valuable last season than Patterson. The 23-year-old was a legitimate game changer from her outside back spot, notching five goal contributions while providing best-in-class dribbling and chance creation.

If Patterson continues to improve at the rate she has across her first two seasons in the NWSL, the Dash might just put together a dangerous attack after all. — Lowery

Last season’s finish: 14th place (3W, 12L, 11D), 20 points

Biggest offseason moves: Brazilian forward Ludmila scored 10 of the Stars 32 regular-season goals in 2025 but departed in the offseason for San Diego Wave in exchange for $800,000 in transfer fees.

In the other direction, the Stars signed Nigeria international Michelle Alozie from Houston Dash in exchange for $40,000 in allocation money.

Why they will finish 15th this season: For a team that finished 2025 in last place, the offseason wasn’t busy enough to quell fears of a repeat struggle. Ludmila’s departure is a massive blow; the Brazilian scored nearly a third of their goals in 2025.

Even with the return of Mallory Swanson, that leaves lingering questions in attack. Defensively, the Stars conceded more goals than anyone else in the league by a 12-goal margin. Sufficient defensive reinforcements haven’t arrived to stem that flow.

Biggest question heading into the season: Mallory Swanson. The star USWNT forward was on maternity leave in 2025 but is poised to return in 2026. Swanson’s return-to-play status is not yet confirmed, though coach Martin Sjögren confirmed the Stars expect her back in 2026. Swanson’s fitness to start the year, and her form throughout this season, has fate-shifting potential for last year’s basement dwellers. — Swanick

Last season’s finish: 12th place (6W, 13L, 7D), 25 points

Biggest offseason moves: It has been a largely quiet offseason for Utah, who didn’t add obvious, proven NWSL star power. Still, the Royals have had some intriguing pickups in Kiana Palacios, Club América’s club-record goal scorer, Kameron Simmonds, a Jamaican international defender out of Florida State University, and Narumi Miura, a starting-level midfielder by way of the Washington Spirit.

Why they will finish 16th this season: Simply put, it doesn’t look as if the squad at coach Jimmy Coenraets’ disposal has improved enough for the Royals to anything but fall in the standings.

Sure, Mandy McGlynn will bring solid shot-stopping behind back-to-back iron woman Kate Del Fava. But even leaving the door open for Palacios to be a transformative forward threat, this team lacks the genuine attacking difference-makers to spark belief. Compared to the league’s best — and even some of the rest — Utah will be operating at a talent deficit.

Biggest question heading into the season: Can the new signings hit the ground running?

Few teams in the NWSL need their newcomers to nail their NWSL introductions quite like Utah. If Simmonds is a much-needed upgrade on the outside, Dayana Pierre-Louis, a Haitian international acquired from France’s top flight this winter, and Miura boost the central midfield corps, and Palacios supercharges the attack, Utah will find themselves exceeding preseason expectations.

But that their biggest question relies on so many unknown quantities is a dangerous place to be. — Lowery

In zwei aufeinanderfolgenden Saisons trafen die Dallas Stars und die Edmonton Oilers im Finale der Western Conference aufeinander, wobei die Oilers beide Begegnungen gewannen.

Befinden sich diese Teams in der vorletzten Phase der Nachsaison erneut auf Kollisionskurs? Und wird das dritte Mal der Reiz für die Stars sein?

Tipps des Herausgebers

2 Verwandte

Bevor es zu weit geht, empfangen die Stars die Oilers zu einem Aufeinandertreffen am Donnerstagabend (20 Uhr ET, ESPN+/Hulu) – eines von 14 Spielen auf dem Spielplan! (Anscheinend sollten Sie mehrere Geräte mit Multiview betriebsbereit machen!)

Bisher waren die Stars das dominierende Team in diesem Duell und gewannen beide Spiele in der Saison 2025/26: einen 4:3-Shootout-Sieg in Dallas am 4. November und einen 8:3-Sieg in Edmonton am 25. November.

Die Teams sind jetzt offensichtlich unterschiedlich, und dies wird für beide eine ziemliche Prüfung sein, wenn die Nachsaison näher rückt.

Dallas ist das Team Nr. 2 in der Central Division und trifft derzeit in der ersten Runde auf die Minnesota Wild. Wenn Dallas diese Serie gewinnt, trifft es auf den Sieger der Colorado Avalanche vs. (wahrscheinlich) die zweite Wild Card.

Edmonton und die Vegas Golden Knights treffen derzeit in der Pacific Division aufeinander, und ein Sieg in dieser Serie beschert den Oilers einen Showdown gegen den Sieger der Anaheim Ducks gegen das andere Wildcard-Team.

Wenn beide Klubs siegen, ist es Stars-Oilers III, der den Titel des besten Vereins des Westens erringen muss. Derzeit prognostiziert Stathletes, dass die Avalanche die höchsten Chancen haben, das Finale der Western Conference zu erreichen (43,0 %), gefolgt von den Oilers (37,6 %), Wild (31,3 %), Golden Knights (23,0 %), Utah Mammoth (22,9 %) und den Stars (15,9 %).

Jedes Team hat weniger als 20 Spiele vor sich, bevor die Saison am 16. April zu Ende geht, und wir helfen Ihnen, jeden Tag hier auf der NHL-Playoff-Uhr den Überblick zu behalten. Auf der letzten Etappe werden wir Details zu allen Playoff-Rennen bekannt geben – zusammen mit den Teams, die um ihre Plätze in der NHL-Draft-Lotterie 2026 kämpfen.

Hinweis: Playoff-Chancen gibt es über Stathleten.

Springe weiter:
Aktuelle Playoff-Matches
Der Zeitplan für Donnerstag
Die Ergebnisse vom Mittwoch
Erweiterte Rangliste
Rennen um die Nummer 1

Aktuelle Playoff-Matches

Ostkonferenz

A1 Buffalo Sabres gegen WC1 Detroit Red Wings
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning gegen A3 Montreal Canadiens

M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Boston Bruins
M2 Pittsburgh Penguins gegen M3 New York Islanders

Westliche Konferenz

C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Seattle Kraken
C2 Dallas Stars gegen C3 Minnesota Wild

P1 Anaheim Ducks vs. WC1 Utah Mammoth
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Vegas Golden Knights

Die Spiele am Donnerstag

Hinweis: Alle Zeiten ET. Alle Spiele, die nicht auf TNT oder NHL Network ausgestrahlt werden, können auf ESPN+ gestreamt werden (es gelten lokale Sperrbeschränkungen).

Alles von ESPN. Alles an einem Ort.

Sehen Sie sich Ihre Lieblingsereignisse in der neu verbesserten ESPN-App an. Erfahren Sie mehr darüber, welcher Plan für Sie der richtige ist. Melden Sie sich jetzt an

San Jose Sharks bei Boston Bruins, 19 Uhr
Washington Capitals bei Buffalo Sabres, 19 Uhr
Anaheim Ducks bei Toronto Maple Leafs, 19 Uhr
Detroit Red Wings im Tampa Bay Lightning, 19 Uhr
Columbus Blue Jackets bei den Florida Panthers, 19 Uhr
Calgary Flames bei den New Jersey Devils, 19 Uhr
St. Louis Blues bei Carolina Hurricanes, 19 Uhr
Edmonton Oilers bei Dallas Stars, 20 Uhr (ESPN+/Hulu)
Philadelphia Flyers im Minnesota Wild, 20 Uhr
New York Rangers bei Winnipeg Jets, 20 Uhr
Chicago Blackhawks im Utah Mammoth, 21 Uhr
Nashville Predators bei Vancouver Canucks, 22 Uhr
Pittsburgh Penguins bei Vegas Golden Knights, 22 Uhr
Colorado Avalanche im Seattle Kraken, 22 Uhr

Die Anzeigetafel vom Mittwoch

Montreal Canadiens 3, Ottawa Senators 2
Philadelphia Flyers 4, Washington Capitals 1

Erweiterte Rangliste

Atlantische Division

Punkte: 86
Regulierung gewinnt: 34
Playoff-Platz: A1
Verbleibende Spiele: 17
Punktetempo: 108,5
Nächstes Spiel: vs. WSH (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 99,7 %
Tragische Zahl: N / A

Punkte: 82
Regulierung gewinnt: 30
Playoff-Platz: A2
Verbleibende Spiele: 19
Punktetempo: 106,7
Nächstes Spiel: vs. DET (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 99,8 %
Tragische Zahl: N / A

Punkte: 82
Regulierung gewinnt: 25
Playoff-Platz: A3
Verbleibende Spiele: 18
Punktetempo: 105.1
Nächstes Spiel: vs. SJ (Samstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 89,1 %
Tragische Zahl: N / A

Punkte: 79
Regulierung gewinnt: 25
Playoff-Platz: WC1
Verbleibende Spiele: 17
Punktetempo: 99,7
Nächstes Spiel: @ TB (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 43,6 %
Tragische Zahl: N / A

Punkte: 78
Regulierung gewinnt: 27
Playoff-Platz: WC2
Verbleibende Spiele: 18
Punktetempo: 99,9
Nächstes Spiel: vs. SJ (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 73,9 %
Tragische Zahl: N / A

Punkte: 73
Regulierung gewinnt: 26
Playoff-Platz: N / A
Verbleibende Spiele: 18
Punktetempo: 93,5
Nächstes Spiel: vs. ANA (Samstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 66 %
Tragische Zahl: 31

Punkte: 67
Regulierung gewinnt: 26
Playoff-Platz: N / A
Verbleibende Spiele: 18
Punktetempo: 85,8
Nächstes Spiel: vs. CBJ (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 1 %
Tragische Zahl: 25

Punkte: 65
Regulierung gewinnt: 19
Playoff-Platz: N / A
Verbleibende Spiele: 17
Punktetempo: 82
Nächstes Spiel: vs. ANA (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 0,1 %
Tragische Zahl: 21

Metro-Abteilung

Punkte: 88
Regulierung gewinnt: 30
Playoff-Platz: M1
Verbleibende Spiele: 18
Punktetempo: 112,8
Nächstes Spiel: vs. STL (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 99,9 %
Tragische Zahl: N / A

Punkte: 79
Regulierung gewinnt: 27
Playoff-Platz: M2
Verbleibende Spiele: 18
Punktetempo: 101.2
Nächstes Spiel: @ VGK (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 57,2 %
Tragische Zahl: N / A

Punkte: 79
Regulierung gewinnt: 23
Playoff-Platz: M3
Verbleibende Spiele: 17
Punktetempo: 99,7
Nächstes Spiel: vs. LA (Freitag)
Playoff-Chancen: 71,8 %
Tragische Zahl: N / A

Punkte: 76
Regulierung gewinnt: 23
Playoff-Platz: N / A
Verbleibende Spiele: 18
Punktetempo: 97,4
Nächstes Spiel: @ FLA (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 78,3 %
Tragische Zahl: 34

Punkte: 71
Regulierung gewinnt: 20
Playoff-Platz: N / A
Verbleibende Spiele: 18
Punktetempo: 91,0
Nächstes Spiel: @ MIN (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 3,4 %
Tragische Zahl: 29

Punkte: 71
Regulierung gewinnt: 27
Playoff-Platz: N / A
Verbleibende Spiele: 16
Punktetempo: 88,2
Nächstes Spiel: @ BUF (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 13,7 %
Tragische Zahl: 25

Punkte: 66
Regulierung gewinnt: 21
Playoff-Platz: N / A
Verbleibende Spiele: 18
Punktetempo: 84,6
Nächstes Spiel: vs. CGY (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 2,5 %
Tragische Zahl: 24

Punkte: 60
Regulierung gewinnt: 17
Playoff-Platz: N / A
Verbleibende Spiele: 18
Punktetempo: 76,9
Nächstes Spiel: @ WPG (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: ~0%
Tragische Zahl: 18

Zentralabteilung

Punkte: 95
Regulierung gewinnt: 38
Playoff-Platz: C1
Verbleibende Spiele: 19
Punktetempo: 123,7
Nächstes Spiel: @ SEA (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 99,9 %
Tragische Zahl: N / A

Punkte: 90
Regulierung gewinnt: 32
Playoff-Platz: C2
Verbleibende Spiele: 18
Punktetempo: 115.3
Nächstes Spiel: vs. EDM (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 99,9 %
Tragische Zahl: N / A

Punkte: 87
Regulierung gewinnt: 25
Playoff-Platz: C3
Verbleibende Spiele: 17
Punktetempo: 109,8
Nächstes Spiel: vs. PHI (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 99,9 %
Tragische Zahl: N / A

Punkte: 73
Regulierung gewinnt: 26
Playoff-Platz: WC1
Verbleibende Spiele: 17
Punktetempo: 92.1
Nächstes Spiel: vs. CHI (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 96,3 %
Tragische Zahl: N / A

Punkte: 66
Regulierung gewinnt: 22
Playoff-Platz: N / A
Verbleibende Spiele: 18
Punktetempo: 84,6
Nächstes Spiel: @ VAN (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 12,8 %
Tragische Zahl: 35

Punkte: 62
Regulierung gewinnt: 21
Playoff-Platz: N / A
Verbleibende Spiele: 19
Punktetempo: 80,7
Nächstes Spiel: vs. NYR (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 5,9 %
Tragische Zahl: 33

Punkte: 60
Regulierung gewinnt: 23
Playoff-Platz: N / A
Verbleibende Spiele: 18
Punktetempo: 76,9
Nächstes Spiel: @ CAR (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 0,9 %
Tragische Zahl: 29

Punkte: 59
Regulierung gewinnt: 18
Playoff-Platz: N / A
Verbleibende Spiele: 18
Punktetempo: 75,6
Nächstes Spiel: @ UTA (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 0,1 %
Tragische Zahl: 28

Pazifik-Division

Punkte: 75
Regulierung gewinnt: 21
Playoff-Platz: P1
Verbleibende Spiele: 18
Punktetempo: 96,1
Nächstes Spiel: @ TOR (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 99 %
Tragische Zahl: N / A

Punkte: 72
Regulierung gewinnt: 24
Playoff-Platz: P2
Verbleibende Spiele: 17
Punktetempo: 90,8
Nächstes Spiel: @ DAL (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 93,8 %
Tragische Zahl: N / A

Punkte: 72
Regulierung gewinnt: 21
Playoff-Platz: P3
Verbleibende Spiele: 17
Punktetempo: 90,8
Nächstes Spiel: vs. PIT (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 96 %
Tragische Zahl: N / A

Punkte: 67
Regulierung gewinnt: 23
Playoff-Platz: WC2
Verbleibende Spiele: 19
Punktetempo: 87,2
Nächstes Spiel: vs. COL (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 15 %
Tragische Zahl: N / A

Punkte: 67
Regulierung gewinnt: 16
Playoff-Platz: N / A
Verbleibende Spiele: 18
Punktetempo: 85,8
Nächstes Spiel: @ YOU (Freitag)
Playoff-Chancen: 19 %
Tragische Zahl: 36

Punkte: 66
Regulierung gewinnt: 18
Playoff-Platz: N / A
Verbleibende Spiele: 20
Punktetempo: 87,3
Nächstes Spiel: @ BOS (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 61,1 %
Tragische Zahl: 39

Punkte: 57
Regulierung gewinnt: 21
Playoff-Platz: N / A
Verbleibende Spiele: 18
Punktetempo: 73,0
Nächstes Spiel: @ NJ (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: 0,1 %
Tragische Zahl: 26

Punkte: 46
Regulierung gewinnt: 13
Playoff-Platz: N / A
Verbleibende Spiele: 18
Punktetempo: 58.9
Nächstes Spiel: vs. NSH (Donnerstag)
Playoff-Chancen: ~0%
Tragische Zahl: 15

Rennen um die Nummer 1

Die NHL verwendet eine Draft-Lotterie, um die Reihenfolge der ersten Runde zu bestimmen, sodass das Team, das auf dem letzten Platz landet, nicht garantiert die Nr. 1-Auswahl erhält. Ab 2021 kann ein Team um maximal 10 Plätze aufsteigen, wenn es im Lotto gewinnt, sodass nur 11 Teams für die Auslosung der Nummer 1 qualifiziert sind. Ausführliche Informationen zum Ablauf finden Sie hier. An der Spitze der Draft Boards für diesen Sommer steht Gavin McKenna, ein Stürmer von Penn State.

Punkte: 46
Regulierung gewinnt: 13

Punkte: 57
Regulierung gewinnt: 21

Punkte: 59
Regulierung gewinnt: 18

Punkte: 60
Regulierung gewinnt: 17

Punkte: 60
Regulierung gewinnt: 23

Punkte: 62
Regulierung gewinnt: 21

Punkte: 65
Regulierung gewinnt: 19

Punkte: 66
Regulierung gewinnt: 22

Punkte: 66
Regulierung gewinnt: 21

Punkte: 66
Regulierung gewinnt: 18

Punkte: 67
Regulierung gewinnt: 26

Punkte: 67
Regulierung gewinnt: 16

Punkte: 71
Regulierung gewinnt: 27

Punkte: 71
Regulierung gewinnt: 20

Punkte: 73
Regulierung gewinnt: 26

Punkte: 76
Regulierung gewinnt: 23

*Hinweis: Der Pick der Maple Leafs gehört den Bruins, es sei denn, er landet unter den ersten fünf.

• Jamison Hensley

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  Jamison Hensley

  ESPN Staff Writer

  Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.

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• Ryan McFadden

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  Ryan McFadden

  Ryan McFadden covers the Las Vegas Raiders for ESPN’s NFL Nation. Prior to ESPN, McFadden was a Denver Broncos beat reporter for the Denver Post. McFadden also wrote about the Baltimore Ravens and University of Maryland athletics for The Baltimore Sun.

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• Dan Graziano

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  Dan Graziano

  senior NFL national reporter

  Dan Graziano is a senior NFL national reporter for ESPN, covering the entire league and breaking news. Dan also contributes to Get Up, NFL Live, SportsCenter, ESPN Radio, Sunday NFL Countdown and Fantasy Football Now. He is a New Jersey native who joined ESPN in 2011, and he is also the author of two published novels.

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• Matt Miller

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  Matt Miller

  NFL draft analyst

  Matt Miller is an NFL draft analyst for ESPN, providing in-depth scouting on the nation’s top pro prospects. A Missouri native, Matt joined ESPN in 2021 and also contributes to SportsCenter, NFL Live and ESPN Radio. Prior to joining ESPN, Matt spent 11 years as a senior draft analyst at Bleacher Report.

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• Kevin Seifert

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  Kevin Seifert

  ESPN Staff Writer

  Kevin Seifert is a staff writer who covers the Minnesota Vikings and the NFL at ESPN. Kevin has covered the NFL for over 20 years, joining ESPN in 2008. He was previously a beat reporter for the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Washington Times. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia.

Multiple Authors

Mar 10, 2026, 09:00 PM ET

One of the NFL’s biggest blockbuster trades of the 2026 offseason has suddenly turned into one of the league’s biggest debacles.

The Las Vegas Raiders announced Tuesday night that the Baltimore Ravens backed out of a trade that would have sent five-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Maxx Crosby to Baltimore in exchange for two first-round picks. League sources told ESPN that the Ravens rescinded the deal because of medical concerns that arose during a physical (trades are contingent on players passing physicals). The specifics of the concerns are unknown.

The unraveling of this trade, which could have been made official Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, will cause ripple effects throughout the league. The Raiders have to decide whether to keep Crosby or try to trade him again. The Ravens have to determine whether they will pursue another free agent outside linebacker to upgrade their pass rush, which was one of their biggest priorities this offseason.

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It was only four days ago when the Ravens made the uncharacteristic move to acquire Crosby, giving up a first-round pick for the first time in the 31-year history of the franchise. It looked as if Baltimore had landed its most feared pass rusher since Terrell Suggs and Las Vegas had added two valuable draft picks to its rebuild — one that includes the No. 1 pick in April’s draft.

With free agency beginning Wednesday, the Ravens and Raiders have plenty of questions to answer going forward.

ESPN NFL Nation reporters Jamison Hensley, Ryan McFadden and Kevin Seifert, national NFL reporter Dan Graziano, NFL draft analyst Matt Miller and injury analyst Stephania Bell answer how and why Baltimore backed out of its trade for Crosby.

How exactly can a four-day-old trade just get canceled? What is the precedent for a deal of this magnitude being annulled?

The bottom line is that no trade, and no player transaction of any kind, is final until everyone involved passes a physical.

In the NFL, there is no uniform standard for evaluating the results of a physical. Each team’s decision-makers, in consultation with medical staff, use the information to make a projection about any potential health risks.

In almost every instance, the physical is a formality. But there is recent precedent for NFL teams canceling trades over health concerns.

It’s unclear if the Raiders can revive the trade with Baltimore in some form for Crosby. AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

One of the most notable cases occurred in 2011, when the Philadelphia Eagles voided a deal that would have brought them running back Jerome Harrison from the Detroit Lions in exchange for running back Ronnie Brown. While undergoing a physical in Philadelphia, Harrison was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The examination might have saved Harrison’s life, according to reports at the time.

Three other recent examples include:

– The Houston Texans backed out of a 2022 trade for Miami Dolphins tight end Adam Shaheen because of concerns about a preexisting knee injury.

– The Minnesota Vikings called off a trade in 2020 for Raiders defensive tackle P.J. Hall, who failed a physical.

– The Texans and Seattle Seahawks amended a 2017 trade that was going to include cornerback Jeremy Lane. When Lane failed his physical, the Seahawks added draft-pick compensation to complete a deal that brought them left tackle Duane Brown. — Seifert

Could Crosby still end up a Raven, but with different terms on the deal?

Anything is possible at this point, but the Ravens’ history says no. There have been three previous instances in which Baltimore has rescinded free agent deals because of issues with physicals — safety Brock Marion in 1997, wide receiver Ryan Grant in 2018 and defensive lineman Michael Brockers in 2020 — and the Ravens moved on from that player each time. This nullified trade is on a different level because Crosby was seen as the ultimate game-changer who could solve the Ravens’ pass-rush woes and help lead the team to the Super Bowl. But it’s difficult to believe the Ravens would still consider trading for Crosby if the risk — and trade compensation — was lower.

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The collapse of this trade continues a nightmarish start to free agency for Baltimore. Over the past two days, the Ravens watched nine of their free agents go elsewhere, including Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum to the Raiders. But Baltimore could balance out the massive loss with the addition of Crosby. Now, the Ravens have a huge void in their pass rush along with the holes at offensive line, tight end, cornerback, safety, wide receiver and punter. — Hensley

Could Crosby still be traded somewhere else?

It’s unclear if the Raiders can revive the trade with Baltimore in some form. The Dallas Cowboys, who offered a first- and second-round pick, are not expected to pursue a Crosby trade a second time, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Tuesday. “It’s hard to retrace” what has been done, including the Rashan Gary trade, a source said. Dallas is on the hook for Gary’s $19.5 million in 2026, along with several high salaries on offense. The source didn’t totally rule it out but acknowledged it would be a long shot.

A Raiders source expected the team to be open to potentially repackaging a Crosby trade, while noting it’s very early in the process and what has transpired is fresh.

When the dust settles, the Raiders should still have suitors. But the fallout of this situation might hurt the Raiders’ chances of getting two first-round picks for Crosby if they still plan to move on from him. — McFadden

Do the Raiders have any ability to contest the medical?

Not that I’m aware of. No trade can be official until 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, the start of the new league year. Until that time, any deal that has been agreed to can be backed out of by either party for any reason. In past years, we’ve seen players agree to deals in the negotiating window only to change their minds and back out before the start of the league year. That’s what the Ravens have done here, and it’s their right to do so.

Also, “the medical” is not a black-and-white concept here. It’s not as if there’s some central medical authority that makes judgments on the health of players and all 32 teams must abide by its findings. The Ravens drew a conclusion about what they saw on the physical that convinced them they didn’t want to do the deal. Another team could give him a physical and feel differently, and move ahead with a trade for Crosby.

He could be healthy enough to pass, for example, a Cowboys physical or a Chicago Bears physical or a Raiders physical — even though the Ravens deemed him insufficiently healthy to pass their own. — Graziano

Could Baltimore now pivot to free agent Trey Hendrickson? What are the Ravens’ options?

Signing Hendrickson is the best way for the Ravens to dig themselves out of this mess. Though Baltimore obviously coveted Crosby more, the Ravens can still come out with a dominant pass rusher such as Hendrickson without having to give up two first-round picks. Hendrickson, 31, is a couple of years older than Crosby, but he has more sack production. Since 2019, Hendrickson has totaled 79 sacks, which are 10 more than Crosby over that time.

The problem with the trade falling apart two days into free agency is many of the top pass rushers are no longer available. Jaelan Phillips agreed to a four-year, $120 million deal with the Carolina Panthers, Odafe Oweh reached a four-year, $120 million agreement with the Washington Commanders, Rashan Gary was traded from Green Bay to Dallas and Khalil Mack agreed to a one-year, $18 million deal to stay with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Other than Hendrickson, the top pass-rushers available are: Joey Bosa, K’Lavon Chaisson, AJ Epenesa, Cameron Jordan and Jadeveon Clowney. But none of these free agents come close to making the same impact as Crosby or Hendrickson. — Hensley

The Raiders just spent a lot of money in free agency! Can they even afford all of these players?

This is the big topic in the Raiders’ building now, as I understand it. They committed nearly $300 million to free agents on the first day of the negotiating window, partly with the understanding that they were going to save about $30 million in cap space with the Crosby trade. Depending on the structures of those deals, it’s possible they would have to wait until the Crosby situation is resolved before making some of them official. And if that’s the case, it’s also possible that other teams that were in on these players will be circling to see if they can snag them.

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If Tyler Linderbaum, Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker or Jalen Nailor is worried that the Raiders’ cap situation might delay a deal, any of them could decide to take a bird-in-the-hand deal from another interested team instead. This is hypothetical, but it’s realistic, and the uncertainty created by this Crosby news could have ripple effects. The Raiders went into this week with enough salary cap space to be very active and sign a lot of players, so it’s possible they can keep Crosby past 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday and still make all of these other deals official. (All teams must be cap-compliant by the start of the league year.)

But Crosby’s cap number is big enough that it will require further examination — and possibly alterations to the structures of some of these other deals. — Graziano

Crosby wasn’t happy with the Raiders sitting him late in the season all because of a knee injury. What was the extent of that ailment?

Crosby had surgery in early January that was meant to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported in December that Crosby underwent an additional MRI that revealed if the injury had persisted, then it could have presented long-term concerns if not addressed.

Crosby said on an episode of his podcast, “The Rush,” that aired in late January, that he was aware in September that offseason knee surgery was needed. During the 2025 regular season, he would occasionally sit out practice during the week because of issues with his knee, but it had not prevented him from playing in games. That’s part of the reason why Crosby was so frustrated that the Raiders decided to shut him down for the final two weeks of the season.

When the Raiders told Crosby that he would not play in their Week 17 game against the New York Giants, Crosby left the facility. He walked around on crutches for more than a month before posting a video on Feb. 27 playing basketball in his Las Vegas home. — McFadden

Crosby had surgery in early January that was meant to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Tim Warner/Getty Images

What could the Ravens do with their first-round pick now that they aren’t trading it? Can they find their pass rusher in the draft?

The No. 14 pick is a prime spot to add an edge rusher in the first round this year. The expectation is that both Ohio State’s Arvell Reese and Texas Tech’s David Bailey will be off the board by then, but the 30⅞-inch arm length for Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. is expected to drop him outside the top 10. That could be the best-case scenario for Baltimore. Bain plays with great power and leverage, and he had 9.5 sacks and 71 pressures last season.

If he’s off the board, the Ravens can always target a player who might need a little more time to develop, such as Auburn’s Keldric Faulk or a speed rusher such as Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell, to fill a need off the edge. — Miller

Can deals of this magnitude require a higher bar to be cleared for the physical to go through?

The bar is set internally by the organization, as every deal is a value proposition of risk versus reward.

When a unique, high-value talent is the potential acquisition, risk tolerance becomes a factor. Crosby’s hefty contract and two first-round picks make for a high price and the Ravens would merely be doing their due diligence in leaving no stone unturned during the screening process. Trade physicals are akin to NFL combine screenings, where any previous injuries — even if the player recovered to return to his previous level of play — might warrant further evaluation, including imaging.

The physical is conducted not only to evaluate the athlete at that moment in time, but also in consideration of his long-term playing health. Any concerns emanating from the physical are brought forward to the front office and ultimately factor into the team’s final decision regarding the trade.

Crosby was remarkably durable early on, playing in every game over his first five NFL seasons. In 2024, he suffered an ankle injury early in the season and played through it until Week 15 when he underwent season-ending surgery. The aforementioned knee injury cost him two games last season.

An in-person physical such as the one Crosby underwent in Baltimore would typically include a review of injury history (to have a dialogue between the team physician and the athlete about any relevant medical history) and a manual physical examination. A full physical would be expected, with extra attention to any documented areas of injury and surgery. Additional imaging or other testing could be ordered at the discretion of the team.

In Crosby’s case, of his two notable NFL orthopedic injuries, the ankle had already proved to be fully recovered to the point of successfully returning to play. Still, the ankle joint could be a focal point of examination to assess how well the joint had withstood another year of play.

But Crosby’s knee was a work in progress and in the very early stages of evaluation. To protect the healing tissue, meniscus repairs require a slower return to activity than meniscectomies, in which a damaged portion of the meniscus is simply removed. A full clearance for football activity following meniscus repair can take up to six months, as opposed to just a few weeks for a meniscus trim.

The other unknown part of this case is the health of the cartilage itself (cartilage lines the knee joint to protect the bone underneath). Part of the rationale for opting to repair a meniscus is to protect the long-term health of the knee. Whether there was any cartilage damage associated with the original meniscus injury or as a result of continued play has not been reported, but this would also be something the Ravens probably would take into consideration. Without knowing the specifics of what caused the Ravens to hit the pause button, it is impossible to say whether it would cause other teams to react similarly.

If Crosby’s recently surgically repaired knee is the concern, it could be that something as simple as the timing of this physical is partially to blame. At only two months removed from surgery, Crosby still has benchmarks to clear before being eligible to return to play. Even if he is fully on track with his rehabilitation, a team could still have concerns about his ability to return to his previous level of performance. Imaging can also be complicated at this stage as there might still be changes on the horizon as recovery continues. But a team can definitively evaluate only what is in front of them, and with a multiyear contract in play, the team might not be comfortable predicting longevity at this stage. — Bell