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Sri Lanka’s final group match at the Women’s World Cup against Pakistan was abandoned after 4.2 overs as rain again disrupted proceedings in Colombo.

Pakistan had reached 18 without loss when the players were forced off the field in a game that had already been reduced to 34 overs per side.

This was a familiar story in the Sri Lankan capital, where persistent downpours have wreaked havoc during the World Cup with five games ending in no result.

The match was a dead rubber as India secured the final place in the semi-finals with a win over New Zealand on Thursday, eliminating both Sri Lanka and the beaten White Ferns, while Pakistan were already certain to be out.

Seven of the 11 matches staged in Colombo were affected by rain, with former England spinner Alex Hartley saying earlier in the tournament that the conditions had “ruined” the World Cup.

October marks the height of the monsoon season on the island, with up to 370mm of rainfall typically expected in the month.

Five of Sri Lanka’s group games were held at the R Premadasa Stadium, the scene for Friday’s latest disappointment.

Pakistan played all their fixtures at the venue because of their nation’s political situation with neighbours India, who are hosting the majority of the tournament.

Sri Lanka finished the tournament with one win from seven games while Pakistan wrapped up their campaign without a victory.

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Former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers is leaving his role as an ESPN basketball analyst to become president of sports for Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, giving the championship executive the ability to work across many of the world’s top leagues.

Myers will work in a full-time role with the goal of maximizing opportunities and bolstering processes for a Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) portfolio that include the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA, the New Jersey Devils of the NHL, Crystal Palace F.C. of the English Premier League, and an investment in NASCAR team Joe Gibbs Racing.

Myers also will continue to support Josh Harris, the managing partner of the Washington Commanders, after he helped assemble the framework of the leadership team that has guided the NFL franchise back to prominence.

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There will be no changes to the reporting structures of the HBSE teams — the presidents of basketball and hockey Operations will continue to report to their respective team ownership.

Myers’ arrival — and his reputation as a respected and powerful figure in the industry — strengthens HBSE’s executive ranks, as he will work strategically with ownership and the senior leadership groups at each team. He will remain based in California, but travel regularly to HBSE/Commanders properties and events.

“Our goal has been to hire, grow, and retain the best and brightest executives in the world and we are a stronger, more dynamic organization with the addition of Bob Myers,” Harris and David Blitzer said. “His experience as an architect of championship teams will complement our existing leadership structure, while also allowing HBSE to maximize opportunities across our portfolio. We’re excited to have Bob continue his storied career here at HBSE.”

This was the type of multi-property, global sports opportunity that Myers was looking for in the next chapter of his career.

Bob Myers helped build the Warriors teams that won four NBA titles and served as an analyst at ESPN after stepping down from his role at Golden State in 2023. John Hefti-Imagn Images

Myers spent the first 14 years of his career as a sports agent before transitioning to a front office role with the Warriors in 2011. Over the course of his 12 years with Golden State, Myers rose to the ranks of president and GM, building rosters that won NBA titles in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022 while earning NBA Executive of the Year awards in 2015 and 2017.

In 2024, Myers served as an advisor to Harris in the buildout of the organizational infrastructure of the Commanders, including the hirings of GM Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn.

Myers also began working as a basketball analyst for ESPN after stepping down from his role with the Warriors in 2023, and was on the network’s pre- and post-game basketball shows.

“I have been fortunate to know Josh and David for a long time, and I’ve always greatly admired them and respected how they’ve built such an impressive global sports portfolio,” Myers said. “This role was intriguing because it provides the opportunity to work with some of the industry’s most talented leaders and executives across the world’s biggest sports leagues.

“By leveraging HBSE’s global presence in sports, we can create competitive advantages for our athletes and teams that enhance our ability to win. This is the type of challenge and opportunity I was looking for, and I’m grateful to Josh and David for the chance to be a part of HBSE.”

Myers added: “I also want to thank Bob Iger, Jimmy Pitaro, and my colleagues at ESPN for an incredible experience during my time there and for their support as I pursue the next chapter of my career.”

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Everybody knew entering the season the top end of the Central Division was loaded. A few games into the schedule, though, itâ€s hard to spot a soft touch anywhere in the group.

Alternatively, it also feels like you canâ€t swing a Sherwood without whacking one of the numerous superstars or burgeoning superstars in the division.

The Colorado Avalanche won 3-1 in Buffalo on a holiday Monday and donâ€t have a 60-minute loss in four outings this season. The Winnipeg Jets do have one ‘L,†but are also now 2-1-0 after a Monday victory on Long Island. The Dallas Stars, meanwhile, account for the only blemishes on both Winnipegâ€s and Coloradoâ€s records, as the Stars are 2-0-0 with road wins over their chief division rivals.

Minnesota and St. Louis — the fourth and fifth teams the Central sent to the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs last spring — both also got victories on Monday and have decent 2-1-0 starts going.

Those squads being good is nothing new. Itâ€s at the bottom of the division, though, where things might be tightening up. The Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators not only finished in the Centralâ€s basement last season, they had the second- and third-worst goal differentials in the entire league (Chicago was No. 31 at minus-70 and Nashville was only slightly better, at minus-60).

Nashville spoiled Ottawaâ€s home opener on Monday with a 4-1 win and the Preds, who certainly had some bounce-back potential after last seasonâ€s miserable showing, are off to a 2-0-1 start. Meanwhile, in Mondayâ€s only all-Central affair, the young Blackhawks topped Utah 3-1. The victory marked Chicagoâ€s first ‘W†of the season, but all three losses were by just a single goal. As for Utah, the Mammoth have played only Central rivals this year — all as the visitor — and have a respectable 1-2-0 mark with a tight 2-1 loss in Colorado and a 3-2 OTW in Nashville in the mix.

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Now glance at the top of the NHL scoring charts and ask yourself if anything but the Central could be called the leagueâ€s “Group of Death.” Coloradoâ€s Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas lead the way with eight points, followed closely by the seven both Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy of the Wild have in one fewer contest. Right behind Minnyâ€s guys sits Mark Scheifele, whoâ€s just over here putting up 3-3-6 in three outings on his way to another boring point-per-game year as a six-foot-three centre. Scheifeleâ€s runningmate in Winnipeg, of course, is Kyle Connor, who has five points in three outings.

Truly, MacKinnon-Necas, Kaprizov-Boldy and Scheifele-Connor probably represent three of the best, what, half-dozen duos in the NHL? And we havenâ€t even mentioned the reigning league MVP and back-to-back Vezina winner, Connor Hellebuyck, or last yearâ€s top defenceman, superfreak Cale Makar.

Last season, the best team after Februaryâ€s 4 Nations Face-Off was the Blues and their top centre, Robert Thomas, was the most productive player in the league to close out the year. On Monday, St. Louis freshman Jimmy Snuggerud popped his first two goals of the year to give himself three points on the season.

One of the biggest off-season trades involved Utah acquiring young sniper JJ Peterka from Buffalo and heâ€s already on the board with a goal against the Blackhawks, the first of many heâ€s going to net for the Mammoth. In Minnesota, Zeev Buium (more on him in a minute) is showing why he was such a heralded prospect, just as his fellow Wild defenceman Brock Faber was a very short time ago.

There may still be a long road back to contention in Chicago, but weâ€re seeing early good signs from Connor Bedard, who has two goals, and a fantastic start for sophomore Frank Nazar, who has five points in as many outings with the Hawks.

With young studs and established megastars alike, the Central could be at the centre of NHL conversations for a long time to come.

• Itâ€s impossible not to be struck by the start Matthew Schaefer has had to his NHL career. The 2025 first-overall pick has picked up a point in each of his first three games, giving him a 1-2-3 line in his earliest days as an Islander. Perhaps more impressively, the defenceman who turned 18 barely a month ago is leading the team in ice time per game with an average of 23:18. In fact, Schaefer played over 26 minutes both on Saturday versus the Caps and Monday versus the Jets, and thatâ€s despite neither game going past three periods.

As it happens, Schaefer isnâ€t the only rookie teenager looking like he belongs in the worldâ€s best league right now. Beckett Senneke, the third-overall selection in 2024, scored for the second time in as many games on Saturday during Anaheimâ€s wild 7-6 overtime win in San Jose. The 19-year-old has been skating as a winger on the top line with Mason McTavish and Cutter Gauthier. A late bloomer in major junior, the six-foot-three Sennecke has good size and loads of skill.

Meanwhile, Zeev Buium has been living up to the hype early on in Minnesota. The 19-year-old defenceman who dazzled in the NCAA the past couple years had three points in two weekend games, netting his first NHL goal and assist in a 7-4 loss to Columbus on Saturday, before tacking on another helper in Mondayâ€s 4-3 shootout victory over the Kings.

• Though he had a career-best 31-goal season last season, Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko closed the schedule by going nine games without a goal as Columbus made a push for the playoffs that ultimately came up short. Well, Marchenko isnâ€t fooling around to start this season, netting a hat trick on Saturday in Minnesota, before chipping in another tally during Mondayâ€s 3-2 loss versus the Devils.Â

With four goals in the bank already, itâ€s easy to wonder if this talented 25-year-old can push up toward 40 this year in Ohio.

Red and white power rankings

1. Edmonton Oilers (1-0-1)The Oilers get a tough test right out of the gate with seven of their next eight games on the road, beginning Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden versus the Rangers.

2. Winnipeg Jets (2-1-0)It was nice to see Jonathan Toews pick up his first point as a Jet — and first in the NHL since April 13, 2023 — with an assist on Nino Niederreiterâ€s PPG on Long Island during a 5-2 triumph over the Isles.

3. Montreal Canadiens (2-1-0)ÂThe season began with an extension for Lane Hutson looking light a real long shot. Now, the Canadiens will play their home-opener Tuesday night knowing the dynamic, second-year defenceman will be in their midst — at a friendly $8.85-million cap hit — for the next decade after he inked an eight-year contract on Monday.Â

4. Toronto Maple Leafs (1-2-0)Now that Easton Cowan has debuted in the NHL, it looks like the young man might get a good run beside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies on the top line.

5. Ottawa Senators (1-2-0)ÂThereâ€s obvious concern over the health of Brady Tkachuk after the Ottawa captain left Mondayâ€s home opener following a cross-check from behind at the hands of Preds captain Roman Josi.Â

6. Vancouver Canucks (1-2-0)ÂThings only get tougher for the Canucks from here, with a five-game roadie beginning Thursday in Dallas.Â

7. Calgary Flames (1-2-0)ÂIt came in a loss, but Matt Coronatoâ€s two-goal game in Calgaryâ€s home opener on Saturday was a good sign the third-year NHLer is ready to build on last yearâ€s 24-goal showing.Â

• The NHLâ€s Board of Governors meet Tuesday in New York.

On the ice, Nikita Kucherov could hit a lofty benchmark with a big night in D.C. The Bolts scoring whiz needs four points to hit 1,000 for his spectacular career. After that, heâ€ll be only 137 behind Steven Stamkos for the all-time franchise lead.

Could you imagine if Alex Ovechkin potted goal No. 900 — heâ€s three shy — on the same night his countryman hit 1,000 points?

• Two teams — the Sabres and Islanders — have played three games this season without earning a single point. Buffalo will try to change that on Wednesday when it hosts old friend Dylan Cozens and the Senators, while New York will try to get the better of the Oilers the next night on Long Island.

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UAE will face Qatar on October 14, 2025, needing only a draw to secure direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup/ Image: X With a dramatic win over Oman, the UAE take a vital step toward a long-awaited return to the FIFA World Cup. The result not only cements their position at the top of Group A but also sets up a high-stakes face-off against Qatar, with direct qualification within reach.

UAE beat Oman in World Cup qualifier: How the match unfolded

The UAE national football team staged a resilient 2–1 comeback victory over Oman on Saturday at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, in their opening match of the fourth round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Oman opened the scoring in the 12th minute after sustained early pressure. Forward Issam Al Subhi unleashed a shot that deflected off UAE defender Kwame Atun, wrong-footing goalkeeper Khalid Eisa and handing Oman the lead via an own goal. Oman controlled possession through much of the first half, applying pressing tactics that limited the UAE’s movement and creativity. The Emirati side struggled to find rhythm, with their attacking attempts disrupted by injuries and tight Omani defense. A pivotal moment came in the 32nd minute when UAE’s key winger Yahya Al Ghassani was forced off with an injury following a promising run. Head coach Cosmin Olăroiu brought on Ali Saleh as his replacement. Despite intermittent flashes of individual brilliance from Nicolas Giménez and Fabio Lima, the UAE went into halftime trailing 1–0. Defensive gaps and miscommunication marked their first-half display, while Oman maintained momentum through sharp midfield control and quick transitions.

Tactical shifts and substitutions spark a turnaround

The second half saw a strategic overhaul from coach Cosmin Olăroiu, who introduced three key substitutes — Harib Abdalla, Caio Canedo, and Yahya Nader. The changes had an immediate impact, increasing attacking urgency and opening up the flanks. In the 72nd minute, UAE appeared to have won a penalty when Ali Saleh was brought down in the box. However, following a VAR review, the decision was overturned, and play resumed without the spot kick. Undeterred, the UAE continued to press. Persistence finally paid off in the 76th minute. Ali Saleh delivered a perfectly measured cross into the box, where Marcos (or Milos) Miloni rose to head in the equalizer, breaking Omanâ€s resistance and bringing the game level. Just seven minutes later, the comeback was completed. Caio Lucas received the ball outside the penalty area and fired a thunderous long-range shot into the bottom corner in the 83rd minute. The goal, showcasing calm precision under pressure, became an instant viral hit on social media, capturing the joy of both players and fans. The final minutes saw Oman push forward in search of an equalizer, but UAE goalkeeper Khalid Eisa stepped up, making two critical saves to preserve the lead. His composure in the closing moments sealed the win and solidified his role in the team’s hard-fought victory.

Group A standings and what comes next

This result places the UAE at the top of Group A in the AFC Asian playoff qualifiers with three points. Oman and Qatar, who played out a goalless draw in their opening match, each hold one point. The stakes remain high. The UAE will face hosts Qatar in their next match on Tuesday, October 14. A draw would be enough to secure direct qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a historic milestone that would mark the UAEâ€s first return to footballâ€s grandest stage since 1990. For Oman, the road is now more complex. With only one point from two games, their path likely leads to the intercontinental playoff, unless results elsewhere swing heavily in their favor.

‘A Nationâ€s Dream’ rekindled after 35 years

The UAEâ€s only World Cup appearance came in 1990, during the tournament held in Italy. Since then, qualification has remained elusive. Under the leadership of Romanian coach Cosmin Olăroiu, appointed earlier in 2025, the team has demonstrated new tactical cohesion and resilience. Olăroiu has managed to maintain an unbeaten streak so far, blending experienced internationals with younger talents like Harib Abdalla and Yahya Al Ghassani. Support for the team is swelling. Thousands of UAE fans made the trip to Doha, turning the stadium into a sea of white shirts and flags. After the wign, prominent voices, including Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the UAE President, congratulated the team online. “Congratulations to our national team on their well-deserved victory, and hard luck to our Omani brothers†team,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). The viral video of Caio Lucas†goal, now circulating widely across social platforms, has become emblematic of the UAEâ€s campaign: focused, spirited, and ambitious. With one final step remaining, the UAE are within touching distance of rewriting history. All eyes now turn to Tuesday, as they prepare to face Qatar, and potentially seal their ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

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SHANGHAI — Arpichaya Yubol shot a bogey-free 8-under 64 Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the LPGA’s Shanghai tournament.

The Thai player, whose career-best round is a 61, had four birdies on each of the front and back nines on the Qizhong Garden Golf Club.

Minjee Lee, who won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in June for her third major title, was in a group of five, a stroke behind. Jenny Shin, Jenny Bae, Jeeno Thitikul and Ina Yoon also shot 65s.

Lee said she navigated the difficult bumpy greens at Qizhong the best she could with her broomstick-style putter. Most of the greens are brown and patchy due to the extreme heat and humidity of Shanghai.

“I feel like with how the greens are, the conditions, I managed pretty well to make, what, seven birdies, so it was nice day for me,†the Australian said.

Ashleigh Buhai, the 2022 AIG Women’s Open champion, shot 68. Defending champion Ruoning Yin had a 71.

The Shanghai event is the first of five tournaments in Asia. There’s two weeks in South Korea, including the International Crown team event, and other tournaments in Malaysia and Japan.

Last week, Youmin Hwang extended the incredible streak on the LPGA of having different winners at each of the 25 official tournaments this year. Hwang was the sixth player from South Korea to win on the LPGA this year.

Sep 30, 2025, 05:41 PM ET

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A group led by Florida-based real estate developer Patrick Zalupski closed on its purchase of the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, finalizing the sale of the team from former owner Stuart Sternberg.

Major League Baseball owners unanimously approved the transaction last week. The price was not disclosed.

“It’s an incredible honor to become the stewards of the Tampa Bay Rays, a franchise with a proud history and a bright future,” Zalupski said in a statement. “We’re all energized by the responsibility to serve Rays fans everywhere and this great game. … We will work hard to earn the respect and confidence of our fans and new MLB partners, and we are excited about the upcoming challenge to deliver a world-class experience on and off the field.”

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Zalupski’s group, which also includes Bill Cosgrove and Ken Babby, is expected to restart the search for a new ballpark. The Rays in March withdrew from a $1.3 billion project to construct a new ballpark adjacent to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, citing a hurricane and delays that likely drove up the proposal’s cost.

Zalupski, CEO of Jacksonville-based Dream Finders Homes Inc., will be the team’s control person and a co-chair along with Cosgrove, CEO of Union Home Mortgage in Ohio.

Babby, CEO of Fast Forward Sports Group, will be CEO. Fast Forward owns the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, a Miami Marlins’ affiliate, and the Double-A Akron RubberDucks, a Cleveland Guardians farm team.

Erik Neander, in his 19th season with the Rays, will remain as president of baseball operations.

Tampa Bay said the new ownership group includes Dan Doyle Jr., Doug Hertz, Matt Silverman, Robert Skinner, Will Weatherford, and Rick Workman, who will be part of an executive advisory board that will include Fred Ridley as an independent member. Silverman has been with the Rays for 22 years, including 17 as team president.

“Major League Baseball is pleased to welcome Patrick and his partners to the ownership ranks,” commissioner Rob Manfred said. “Their collective experience and passion for the game will serve the Rays well as they enter this exciting new chapter.”

Sternberg took control of the team from founding owner Vince Naimoli in November 2005 and rebranded it the Rays from the Devil Rays after the 2007 season. The Rays won AL East titles in 2008, 2010, 2020 and 2021 and twice reached the World Series, losing to Philadelphia in 2008 and to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020.

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BROSSARD, Que. — And then there were five.

That was how many players were left in the race for the last two forward spots on the Montreal Canadiens after a series of cuts came over the weekend. And based on what coach Martin St. Louis said after Mondayâ€s spirited practice, it would seem all of them have a chance of playing for this team at one point another this season.

“The way weâ€re going to start Oct. 8, thatâ€s just one day, one game,†St. Louis said. “I donâ€t know how long itâ€s going to stay like that.â€

Itâ€s something for Oliver Kapanen, Owen Beck, Florian Xhekaj, Joe Veleno and Samuel Blais to all keep in mind as this week plays itself out and the Canadiens reduce their roster size from 29 to 23.

Frankly, itâ€s what every player still in the mix — and even some of the ones who were already demoted to Laval — should keep in mind.

If the reality things could change quickly wasnâ€t a present thought for some of the more established Canadiens players on Sunday, it had to have been one ahead of Mondayâ€s practice.

Thatâ€s when St. Louis mixed up two of his lines in a way that ultimately changed the pecking order of his forwards.

Before Monday, Patrik Laine and Kirby Dach were on the second line with Ivan Demidov.

But with Demidov shifted to a line with Kapanen and Alex Newhook for Mondayâ€s practice, it sure felt like Laine and Dach were skating on a third that was completed by Zachary Bolduc.

St. Louis was pressed on the way he saw it. He was asked in a variety of ways why he was making the change.

But all the coach said was that it was something he wanted to test out.

St. Louis then said: “You think I have all the answers?â€

Itâ€s only normal that, 11 days from the start of the season, heâ€s still searching for some.

St. Louis has two locked lines — Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky on one, and Jake Evans, Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher on the other — and heâ€d probably like to have a third one by now.

But St. Louis also must like that the competition for the job on his last one remains extremely tight, and that there are so many players still in that competition.

“I know I have options,†he said. “I feel Iâ€m equipped with more options than Iâ€ve ever had in the past, which is a good problem to have. So, weâ€re trying stuff.â€

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What St. Louis is trying currently gives Kapanen a narrow edge in the race.

The 64th pick in the 2022 draft started with one. Heâ€s been on an NHL line since Day 1 of camp, and, after a strong performance next to Newhook and Bolduc in Saturdayâ€s 4-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, an opportunity to show what he can do next with Demidov in place of Bolduc could cement his place on the opening-night roster.

The experience Kapanen gained over his 21 NHL games (regular season and post-season combined) coupled with his ability to play both centre and wing put him in pole position.

Other elements have helped keep him in that position.

“Kappy plays a very mature game,†St. Louis said. “Heâ€s got an NHL computer, and I find heâ€s taken a step physically compared to last year.â€

Now, the 22-year-old Finn must take another step to stay ahead of the players nipping at his heels.

The player who appears closest behind Kapanen is Beck, who has 13 games of NHL experience and a much better understanding of what he must do to make an impact at this level.

The 21-year-old took many strides in his first year of professional hockey, accumulating 15 goals and 44 points in 64 games with the Laval Rocket and displaying a versatility that makes him a contender to start with the Canadiens.

Beck, who was chosen 33rd overall in 2022, can also play centre and wing. And like Kapanen, his right-handedness is a complement to Newhook, whoâ€s a lefty.

What could help distinguish Beck, though, is his willingness to physically engage a bit more than Kapanen typically does.

“I think itâ€s huge for me,†he said after Mondayâ€s practice. “I think I can bring a little bit of everything to a game and taking it one step further is that physicality. I donâ€t shy away from it.

“But I also donâ€t want it to compromise anything, so Iâ€m really just trying to pick my spots but make sure itâ€s known I can play that style of game.â€

The 21-year-old put up 175 penalty minutes in his first season in Laval.

Xhekaj also scored 24 goals with the Rocket, and then he came to Canadiens training camp intent on making his NHL debut in October.

Some people might be surprised heâ€s still around, but he certainly isnâ€t.

“People can think whatever they want,†Xhekaj said. “I like being in the underdog spot, so yeah, just excited to be here and Iâ€m going to prove myself every day.â€

We donâ€t expect him to ever give up the fight.

Neither will Blais or Veleno, who have nearly 600 games of NHL experience between them and are battling, at worst, to be the 13th forward when camp breaks.

Theyâ€ve been around long enough to know whatever gets decided isnâ€t necessarily permanent.

“Itâ€s going to go on for a couple more weeks, months,†Veleno said. “In this league, it kind of never really ends, so youâ€ve just got to have the mindset every day to put your best foot forward and keep working every day. Anything can happen.â€

And, with two games left on the Canadiens†exhibition schedule, anything might.

Weâ€ll see if St. Louis has other line tweaks planned, and weâ€ll see who seizes the final two forward spots on the roster.

Whomever does will be looking over their shoulders every day, though, because so many candidates have proven their viability.

As St. Louis said, the Canadiens are much deeper than theyâ€ve been in his time as coach.

That depth also ensures the battle for hierarchy in the middle of the lineup will also be an ongoing one throughout the season.

Players better be ready and willing to fight every day.

“The camp is going to be over and itâ€s going to be like itâ€s a finish line, and itâ€s not,†said St. Louis. “Itâ€s not a finish line. The finish line always moves, so can you keep sprinting not knowing how long the distance is?â€

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Sep 22, 2025, 04:55 PM ET

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball owners voted unanimously Monday to approve the sale of the Tampa Bay Rays to group headed by real estate developer Patrick Zalupski, allowing the transfer from Stu Sternberg’s group to close.

The Rays said on Sept. 17 they expected the sale to close within two weeks.

Sternberg took control of the team from founding owner Vince Naimoli in November 2005 and rebranded it the Rays from the Devil Rays after the 2007 season. The Rays won AL East titles in 2008, 2010, 2020 and 2021, and twice reached the World Series, losing to Philadelphia in 2008 and to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020.

The Rays in March withdrew from a $1.3 billion project to construct a new ballpark adjacent to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, citing a hurricane and delays that likely drove up the proposal’s cost. The team said in June it had started talks about a potential sale.

Because of damage to Tropicana Field caused by Hurricane Milton last October, the Rays played home games this season across the bay at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the spring training home of the New York Yankees. The Rays went 41-40 for their ninth straight winning record at home.

Playing home games in an open-air ballpark for the first time, the Rays experienced 17 rains delays over 16 games for a total of 17 hours, 47 minutes.

Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said last week that he expects under Zalupski the Rays will start a new search for a new ballpark site in the Tampa and St. Petersburg area. Under Sternberg, the Rays announced plans for and then failed to move ahead with proposed ballparks at the Al Lang Stadium site in St. Petersburg (2007), Ybor City in Tampa (2018) and the site adjacent to the Trop in downtown St. Petersburg (2023 ).

Tampa Bay started this season with an $81.9 million payroll, ahead of only the Athletics and Miami.

Playing at a 10,046-capacity ballpark, Tampa Bay had 61 sellouts and drew 786,750, down from 1,337,739 in 2024, when they were 28th among the 30 teams and ahead of only Miami and Oakland.

Tampa Bay is currently 29th in home attendance this year, ahead of only the Athletics, who are playing home games at a minor league ballpark in West Sacramento, California, while a new stadium expected to open in 2028 is built in Las Vegas. The Rays have completed their home schedule while the A’s have drawn 711,609 with six home games left.

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The Tampa Bay Rays have a new owner.

Per The Athletic’s Melissa Lockard and Evan Drelich, MLB owners unanimously approved the sale of the team to a Patrick Zalupski-led ownership group, and the sale is expected to be finalized later this week.

In July, Rays owner Stu Stenberg agreed to sell the team in principle to Zalupski, a Jacksonville-based developer, for nearly $1.7 billion.

Drellich reported in March that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred was pressuring Stenberg to sell the team after he struggled to secure a new stadium. Stenberg responded to that pressure by saying that “the team is not for sale.”

Ultimately, Stenberg agreed to give up his majority ownership stake in the Rays.

Stenberg purchased the team in 2004 for $200 million, and while he’ll no longer be the majority owner, he and his partners will remain minority owners, according to Lockard and Drellich, retaining a 10 percent share of the team. Lockard and Drellich noted that Stenberg and his group “are expected to fully divest their investment in the club in the coming years.”

The Rays found some success under Stenberg’s ownership, reaching the World Series in 2008 and 2020, but never established themselves as a perennial contender. Tampa Bay is fully in rebuilding mode now, sitting at 76-80 on the season.

The Rays have played their home games during the 2025 campaign at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the spring training stadium of the New York Yankees, due to damage to their own stadium during Hurricane Milton last year.

The team was supposed to get a new $1.3 billion stadium in St. Petersburg, but did not move forward with those plans after the hurricane. Lockard and Drellich noted that Zalupski’s group will continue to try to find a new stadium, but will return to Tropicana Field in 2026.

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Sri Lanka has beaten Afghanistan in their final group game of the Asia Cup 2025. And with this win, they…