Browsing: high

Yahooâ€s High Score format changes how we view fantasy basketball sleepers. Since only your best game of the week counts, consistency matters less, and upside matters more. You’re required to start at least three frontcourt players in your lineup. Rebounds (1 point) aren’t as valuable in High Score, but there’s no shortage of versatile forwards and centers who will run your numbers up.

[High Score is a new way to play Fantasy Basketball on Yahoo with simple rosters and scoring. Create or join a league]

Below are five sleeper frontcourt players outside the top 100 in ADP who could become difference-makers in High Score.

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Dereck Lively, Dallas Mavericks

Current ADP: 119.0

High Score Impact

Lively quietly ranked in the top 25 among frontcourt players in fantasy points per minute (FPPM) last season, posting an impressive 1.19 fantasy points per minute (FPPM) in High Score. He also receives a short-term boost with Daniel Gafford missing 2-3 weeks due to an ankle sprain. Lively has a double-double with multiple-stock upside, and at 119, that’s well worth the price.

Standard Points Outlook

At 1.15 FPPM in standard points leagues, he provides solid frontcourt depth as you’re nearing the back end of drafts. The minutes will be there initially, so he’ll get plenty of rebounds and blocks to be fantasy relevant in this format.

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Category League Fit

Lively helps anchor FG percentage while generating blocks and boards. Apparently, he’s been working on his 3-ball, too, so pencil in another category that’ll boost his value. Even if he doesn’t take a step forward as a scorer, he’s healthy with his role well-defined as a rim protector who holds down the paint.

Tari Eason, Houston Rockets

Current ADP: 123.0

High Score Impact

Eason finished in the 91st percentile (1.17) in fantasy points per minute among players who played a minimum of 500 minutes last season. Even in a bench role, he provides starter-level production. Like Lively, Eason’s value went up due to injury. Dorian Finney-Smith is still recovering from ankle surgery and will likely miss opening night. Eason’s disruptive defense (97 steals, 50 blocks in 57 games) translates perfectly to this format.

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Standard Points Outlook

Finney-Smith’s injury gives me more confidence in targeting Eason in all formats. He’ll have moments of playing 28-30 minutes where he’ll go off in points, rebounds and especially in stocks. He averaged 28 fantasy points per game in standard leagues last year, so 30 per game is very attainable.

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Category League Fit

His value is best suited for 9-cat because his stocks and versatility shine through. Whether starting or coming off the bench, he’s a top-100 player in both fantasy and real life.

Santi Aldama, Memphis Grizzlies

Current ADP: 115.0

High Score Impact

Aldama produced a respectable 1.11 High Score FPPM last season, showing his ability to chip in across the board. While not a flashy player, he can shoot, is a decent rebounder and is a low-key good at passing. Aldama had 15 games with five or more assists last year. The injuries to Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brandon Clarke opened up a huge chance for Aldama to produce right away and fantasy managers should draft him.

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Standard Points Outlook

At 1.06 FPPM, heâ€s more than serviceable with an increased role to start the season. Aldama has a 40-50 point boom potential (he fell within that range 10 times last year).

Category League Fit

Aldama posted career highs in six of nine categories last year, was rewarded with a new contract and will get a ton of minutes due to injuries in the Grizzlies frontcourt. I’d draft him well ahead of his ADP.

Ace Bailey, Utah Jazz

Current ADP: 135.0

High Score Impact

I’m probably early on Bailey. However, his style of play screams boom-or-bust, which aligns with High Score’s brand. He gets buckets and can step into being the second option offensively. He rebounds decently well and his athleticism should net some stocks. He’s a guy I’ll draft to fill out my depth with upside.

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Standard Points Outlook

Most young, high volatility scorers perform better in points leagues. Bailey’s no different. Not having to worry about efficiency is a nice bonus when drafting rookies.

Category League Fit

I’m not as high on Bailey in 9-cat because he profiles as a player who will be too inconsistent to rely on if building a balanced squad.

Other frontcourt sleeper options:

• Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies (ADP 140.6)

• Jay Huff, Indiana Pacers (ADP 139.0)

• Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors (ADP: 130.0)

• Neemias Queta, Boston Celtics (ADP:140.8)

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Yahooâ€s High Score format changes how we view fantasy basketball sleepers. Since only your best game of the week counts, consistency matters less, and upside matters more. Guards who can spike in assists (2 points each) and steals (3 points each) with turnovers not being a factor gain significant value compared to standard points or category leagues.

[High Score is a new way to play Fantasy Basketball on Yahoo with simple rosters and scoring. Create or join a league]

Below are five sleeper guards outside the top 100 in ADP who could become difference-makers in High Score.

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Kevin Porter Jr., Milwaukee Bucks

Current ADP: 121

High Score Impact

KPJ thrives in volatility, which is exactly what High Score rewards. Last season, he averaged 1.24 fantasy points per minute (FPPM) in High Score compared to 1.10 in standard points leagues. That’s a meaningful 13% value boost thanks to his assists, defense and the absence of turnovers. Playing 30+ minutes per game, Porter has a 40-50 fantasy-point ceiling in a given week, with a safe 30+ floor, making him a steal late in drafts.

Standard Points Outlook

I’m bullish on KPJ in standard points leagues because when he starts, he puts up numbers. In 150 career starts, KPJ averaged 17.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. The turnovers (-1 in standard points leagues) may suppress his value on occasion, but he’s an easy candidate to outperform his ADP and ball out across formats.

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Category League Fit

Porter is a strong add for points, assists and steals in punt-turnover or guard-heavy builds. He remains streaky in percentages, but the cross-category production plus high minutes and usage make him a prime late-round target.

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Reed Sheppard, Houston Rockets

Current ADP: 124

High Score Impact

As a rookie, Sheppard was quietly efficient, posting 0.94 fantasy points per minute (FPPM) in High Score versus 0.85 in standard points leagues in just 12.6 minutes per game. With Fred VanVleet sidelined for the season, Sheppard’s role is expected to expand to 30 minutes per game; that would amount to nearly 30 fantasy points (FPTS) per contest in High Score. His defensive instincts, combined with the increased playmaking opportunities, make him a perfect fit for the format. Just be patient if the heavy minutes don’t come right away.

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Standard Points Outlook

There were a few instances where Sheppard showed glimpses of being a potential third or fourth scoring option for the Rockets. Still, at 0.85 FPPM, heâ€s more of a deep-league, late-round stash unless he gets a significant bump in shot volume — which initially, may be hard to come by.

Category League Fit

His mix of assists, stocks and efficiency without turnovers makes him a value buy for 9-cat builds, especially for managers punting points.

Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons

Current ADP: 116

High Score Impact

A broken fibula ended Ivey’s third-year breakout campaign. However, he’s back and at a depressed value that fantasy managers should act on. He averaged 1.12 FPPM in High Score last season, compared to 0.98 in standard points leagues, demonstrating how his assists and defensive flashes enhance his scoring under this metric. With 30-point scoring upside coupled with his ascension as a playmaker, he’s going to do well in this format.

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Standard Points Outlook

Ivey was on pace to have a career year before suffering a season-ending injury. He increased his scoring, rebounding and assist rate and now that he’s fully healthy, he’ll comfortably average over 30 FPPG for a burgeoning Pistons squad.

Category League Fit

Zero qualms with taking Ivey in category leagues. There is some room for improvement with his FT percentage, efficiency and turnovers, but his usage will be over 25% and he’ll be a positive asset for scoring, 3s, assists and rebounds at his position.

Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs

Current ADP: 128.5

High Score Impact

The NBA’s reigning Rookie of the Year posted a strong 1.13 High Score FPPM vs. 1.00 in standard points leagues across 81 games last season. His production (14.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.1 APG, 0.9 SPG) fits High Score perfectly, as defensive contributions and secondary playmaking can fuel his game even on average scoring nights. De’Aaron Fox (hamstring) won’t be ready for the start of the regular season, leaving Castle with a sizable opportunity to do work once the season tips off.

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Standard Points Outlook

Castle has a more muted impact in standard points leagues since heâ€s not a high-volume scorer, but nearly 1.0 FPPM makes him a viable late-round option in deep leagues.

Category League Fit

I don’t love Castle’s category profile because of his inefficiencies from the field and charity stripe, plus a low volume of 3s. If you need steals and assists in the short term, he’ll be an asset as long as Fox is in street clothes.

Isaiah Collier, Utah Jazz

Current ADP: 136.1

High Score Impact

Collierâ€s rookie year efficiency makes him one of the most intriguing second-year guards in High Score. At 1.08 FPPM, his facilitating (446 assists in 71 games) and defensive upside (66 steals) give him a well-rounded profile that benefits directly from the weighted scoring in High Score. With more experience and potentially more minutes, Collier could push toward 30 FPTS per game in Year 2, making him a strong upside pick outside the top 120.

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Standard Points Outlook

At 0.87 FPPM, Collier was less efficient in standard formats. His main drawback in fantasy is his inefficiency, which doesn’t significantly impact most point-scoring formats. With low-end double-double potential in points and assists, I’d be targeting Collier in all points leagues.

Category League Fit

Collier, like many young point guards, struggles with turnovers and efficiency. His 3-ball is also a work in progress. That said, he is an inexpensive source of assists who could finish in the top 10 in the league in that category. He also offers some value in steals and rebounding at his position. He’s undervalued in the market and can fit in a few different roster builds.

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Other High Score sleeper guards

• Kyshawn George – G/F, Washington Wizards

• Dennis Schröder, Sacramento Kings

• Ayo Dosunmu, Chicago Bulls

• Nickeil Alexander-Walker – G/F, Atlanta Hawks

• Davion Mitchell, Miami Heat

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Golf instruction is ever-evolving, but the best advice stands the test of time. In GOLF.com’s new series, Timeless Tips, we’re highlighting some of the greatest advice teachers and players have dispensed in the pages of GOLF Magazine. Today, we look back at our July 1992 issue where Fred Couples shared his secrets for hitting a high, soft pitch shot.

Shots around the green are always easier when you’ve got plenty of room to work with. Unfortunately, you won’t always be afforded that luxury. Sometimes, you have no choice but to try to loft the ball high and land it soft.

This is a shot that’s thrilling to try, but difficult to execute. If you don’t quite clip it right, you’ll dump it short or blade it over the green. The contact has to be close to perfect if you want the ball to settle near the hole.

These shots look quite easy when the pros try them, but for weekend warriors, the shot is anything but simple. Luckily for you, learning how to hit the high-lofted pitch is easier than you may think.

Back in the July 1992 issue of GOLF Magazine, Dick Harmon explained Fred Couples‘ secrets for easily executing the shot, which you can read below.

How to hit a high-lofted pitch

There’s no denying the wedge’s role in Fred Couples’ fantastic year. So far: A wedge to two feet turns up the heat on Davis Love III on the first hole of the L.A. Open playoff; a wedge to within a foot of the hole forces a playoff with Corey Pavin at the Nestle; a wedge stops three inches from the cup on the third hole in the final round at Augusta, jump-starting a sluggish round into a victorious one.

Fred’s wedge play is unique (and brilliant) because unlike some pros, who hit low, spinning shots that skip once on the green, then scoot backward, Fred launches his ball high into the air with less backspin. The ball floats upward, then drops nearly straight down, stopping almost immediately. Fred never has to factor “action” into his distance equation: He throws the ball right at the pin, knowing it’s going to stay there.

You may not have problems spinning your wedge shots back from the pin, but chances are you’ve had a few roll farther forward than you planned. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that the ball is going to stop where it lands?

GOLF Magazine

The key to a high-flying, soft-landing wedge is something golfers have traditionally been told to avoid: a loop. Look at the sequence of Couples’ swing above. Standing with his feet pointed left of the target, Couples brings the club back outside the target line, as if he were planning to cut across the ball. Then, in an effortless, almost lazy motion, the club drops to the inside and swings from inside-to-out relative to his feet, but square to the target. The result is a shallow angle of attack and a clubface that is laid back slightly, adding loft.

You might notice that Couples’ swing with a wedge looks no different than his swing with any other club. He takes the club outside the line with everything from sand wedge to driver, then drops it inside as he makes his powerful move down and through the ball. Taking it back outside the line for full shots is a move I’d recommend only for the good player, who has the ability to reroute the club to the inside coming down. Keep your loop limited to the wedge if you have any doubts. That’s where it’s easiest to pull off, and where it will do you the most good.

Start with your feet pointed 20 to 30 degrees left of the target and the ball off your left heel. Be sure, as always, to coil your upper body as your arms swing the club outside the line to the top. Then let your arms drop to the inside. Gravity takes over from here, pulling the club into the ball. Don’t force it: You should have a feeling of slipping the club under — rather than crunching down upon — the ball.

Slipping the club under the ball is easiest from a fluffy lie, so stay in the light rough until you feel comfortable with the move. Once you have it down, try it from a tighter fairway lie.

Why it works

Most golfers hit their wedge shots with a steep up-and-down swing. The descending blow, made with the blade square, creates a “pinching” impact that can create unpredictable action when the ball hits the green.

Fred’s wedge shot also begins with an upright backswing, but the “loop” at the top brings the club sweeping through impact on an inside-to-out path. The face is more laid-back, adding loft without the pinching action that imparts extra backspin. The result is a high shot that stops quickly after landing.

Welcome back to our offseason scouting series for the 2026 draft class. In this series, weâ€ll be examining some of the top players in the class by getting into the weeds with video, data and reporting as we prepare for the 2026 spring season. You can find all of our previous offseason scouting installments here. Today, weâ€re taking a look at Texas high school shortstop Grady Emerson.

Emerson is the top-ranked high school player in the 2026 class and No. 2 overall, behind only UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky. He has a lengthy track record of high-level performance with Argyle (Texas) High, but transferred to Fort Worth Christian High in North Richland Hills, Texas, for his senior season. This summer, Emerson became the first USA Baseball player to play for two 18U national teams and two 15U national teams. He helped lead the 2025 18U national team to a gold medal as the teamâ€s leadoff hitter and starting third baseman. Originally a TCU commit, Emerson flipped to a Texas commitment in November 2024.Â

Body & Swing

Listed at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, Emerson is a lean and projectable lefthanded hitter. He has some present strength in his lower half, but looks like a player who is going to add plenty of good mass in the coming years. Heâ€s a high-waisted player with a narrow frame, and he doesnâ€t seem likely to add the sort of strength that would eventually force him off an up-the-middle position.Â

Emerson has an extremely balanced and repeatable swing. He has a slight crouch and a slightly open setup with his feet, and he features very little movement with his hands in his pre-pitch load and during the swing itself. Emerson starts his hands around his back shoulder and takes a simple, small leg kick to get started with his lower half. His hands make a bit of a down and back move in his load before firing the barrel through the zone with a slightly uphill path.

In two-strike counts, Emerson gets marginally wider and deeper into his lower half, but his swing is remarkably consistent from pitch to pitch and when looking at BP or game film. His head is incredibly steady throughout the swing, showing no up-or-down movement that would otherwise disrupt his timing or vision. He consistently finishes his swing in control with good balance.Â

Overall, Emersonâ€s swing is direct and repeatable with no wasted movement. He looks like a natural hitter.Â

Approach & Contact

Emerson amplifies his smooth hitting mechanics with strong swing decisions and above-average hand-eye coordination.

He recognizes pitches out of the hand at a high level and understands the strike zone. Emerson has consistently walked more than heâ€s struck out throughout his career, and heâ€s confident spitting on pitches just off the plate. He rarely swings and misses and has shown an impressive ability to barrel the baseball in any quadrant of the zone. He uses the entire field and is both capable and willing to hit the ball where itâ€s pitched.Â

In 297 plate appearances logged by Synergy Sports, Emerson has managed an 18% miss rate and 18% chase rate. When looking at only 2025 logged events, it’s a 23% miss rate and 17% chase rate.Â

Like most high school hitters, Emerson will need more reps against consistent 90+ mph velocity. His miss rate jumps against pitches in this category, and in a 106-pitch 2025 sample, he slashed .207/.324/.276 with a 27% miss rate against those pitches. However, at the 2025 Area Code Games—not accounted for in this sample—Emerson looked entirely unfazed against mid-90s velocity.Â

Emerson has traditionally been a patient and selective hitter who gets on base at a high clip. With the 2025 18U National team, he hit .346/.526/.423 with a team-high eight walks and four strikeouts.Â

Power

While Emersonâ€s pure hitting ability stands out more than his raw power, he has made strides in this department in recent years.Â

Almost all of the power Emerson does show comes to the pull side. He will flash solid pullside power in batting practice, and he also finished second in the 2025 high school home run derby. In games, however, heâ€s more of a gap-to-gap hitter who will collect more doubles than home runs.

Overall, this is the piece of Emersonâ€s game that requires the most projection. He should be able to grow into at least average in-game power production—roughly 19-22 home runs over the course of a full pro season—thanks to his physical projection, bat speed and feel for the barrel.Â

Speed

Emerson is a solid runner, but not a burner. Heâ€s been a plus runner at times, and when underway, he can turn in impressive run times. At Perfect Gameâ€s National showcase, his 60-yard dash was good for 23rd among 226 total runners.

Throughout the summer, many of Emerson’s in-game home-to-first times clocked around the 4.20-4.25 second range, which are average to fringe-average run times for a lefthanded hitter. Occasionally, he’ll take a few steps to get going out of the box.Â

Fielding

Emerson has experience all over the infield, but heâ€ll begin his career as a shortstop and should have the tools to stick there and be a good defender. Heâ€s an instinctive shortstop with soft, reliable hands and the ability to make impact plays going to both his left and right.

Emerson’s internal clock is advanced. He understands when he has time to set and fully load up for throws and when he needs to get rid of the ball quickly. His exchange is quick and deft, and his footwork around the field is rock solid. He takes good angles to the baseball on slow-rollers and has also done a nice job positioning himself effectively to make plays while ranging to his arm side deep in the 5-6 hole.

Emerson is not the flashiest defender youâ€ll see at the position, but heâ€s extremely reliable and does have the sort of athleticism that allows him to make an occasional highlight-reel play while diving on a ball up the middle.Â

Arm

Emersonâ€s arm looks like a clear plus tool.

His ability to generate velocity on throws across the infield from a spot deep in the hole is advanced for his age and level. He gets great carry on his throws when he needs to and has the requisite arm strength to make throws from any position on the infield. At third base, heâ€s made a number of impressive throws while working away from the first base bag to his arm side.

Emerson seems equally comfortable throwing while on the run for slow rollers or while ranging up the middle from the shortstop position. He can throw from multiple arm slots when necessary and is adept at throwing accurately while on the run or after making a spin on a challenging ball that pulls him far towards his glove side.

In Summary

Emersonâ€s pure hitting ability drives his profile. He possesses one of the most impressive hit tools in the 2026 class, and it gives him a chance to be a legitimate plus hitter. But heâ€s also an advanced, instinctive and well-rounded player without many clear holes in his game.

The largest disagreements about Emerson could revolve around his power projection and questions about how much impact heâ€ll get to at physical maturity.

Still, itâ€s hard to not see a hitter who will be able to provide batting average and on-base value while sticking at shortstop. Next in an impressive line of recent Dallas-area prep shortstops that includes Bobby Witt Jr. (2019, 2nd), Jordan Lawlar (2021, 6th) and Jett Williams (2022, 14th), Emerson should go in a similar overall range on draft day next summer.

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September 29, 2025 | Paul Stimpson

England finished the team event at the European Under-13 Championships in Sweden inside the top 20 as they ended their campaign with two victories.

In the bracket for 19th to 22nd positions, England first overcame Luxembourg 3-2. Sinan Surensoy & Amber Lemmon combined to win the opening doubles, but Assil Sarri was defeated in three deuce games by Nora Cattazzo.

Dimitar Dimitrov restored Englandâ€s advantage by beating Mattis Goedert in four, but they were again pegged back as Kinda Mostafa edged out Lemmon 11-7 in the fifth. It was left to Surensoy to seal the win by beating Noah Valente in three, pulling away after taking the first 14-12.

Dimitar Dimitrov with coach Charlotte Carey

England then faced Moldova for 19th position and had to come from 2-0 down to win 3-2 after Dimitrov & Lemmon lost the doubles in four and Sarri lost a close match in the fifth to Maria Coroliuc.

Surensoy started the comeback with a 3-2 win over Mikita Martinov – 11-5 in the fifth – and Lemmon levelled up by beating Andreea Prohorovici in three.

Dimitrov lost his first game 14-16 against Nicolae Bucur but battled back to win three tight games to seal a 3-1 (14-16, 13-11, 11-9, 12-10) scoreline and complete Englandâ€s victory.

Dimitrov, seeded ninth, was also Englandâ€s best performer in the singles events, reaching the last 16, though he had to battle back from 2-0 down to beat Julian Dedeken of Belgium in the group stage.

He went on to win his last-32 match before going out to sixth seed Joel Isaksson of host nation Sweden, who won 3-1 (12-14, 12-10, 11-5, 13-11).

Surensoy reached the knockout stage as group runner-up – and he went toe-to-toe with fourth seed Filip Nagy in his final group match, eventually losing 3-1 (7-11, 12-14, 10-12, 12-10). He was drawn against Mihai Iordan of Romania, the 10th seed, in the round of 64 and went out in four games.

In the Girls†Singles, neither Sarri nor Lemmon could qualify for the main draw, though Sarri picked up a good win over the higher-ranked Kleio Madesi of Greece.

Both went on to reach the second round of the consolation event, where they exited the competition, Lemmon in a 3-2 (11-13, 11-2, 9-11, 14-12, 13-11) battle against Maria Coroliuc of Romania.

In the Mixed Doubles, Dimitrov & Lemmon reached the round of 32, where they fell to 10th seeds Simon Clin & Lisa Zhao of France. Surensoy & Sarri went out in the round of 64 to the 20th-ranked pair from Slovakia.

England squad, from left: Dimitar Dimitrov, Sinan Surensoy, Assil Sarri, Amber Lemmon

Results

Mixed Team
Positions 19-22
England 3 Luxembourg 2
Sinan Surensoy & Amber Lemmon bt Noah Valente & Kinda Mostafa 3-1 (7-11, 11-9, 17-15, 11-1)
Nora Cattazzo bt Assil Sarri 3-0 (12-10, 12-10, 14-12)
Dimitar Dimitrov bt Mattis Goedert 3-1 (11-8, 11-8, 7-11, 11-4)
Mostafa bt Lemmon 3-2 (13-11, 5-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-7)
Surensoy bt Valente 3-0 (14-12, 11-6, 11-7)

Positions 19-20
England 3 Moldova 2
Nicolae Bucur & Andreea Prohorovici bt Dimitrov & Lemmon 3-1 (8-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-8)
Maria Coroliuc bt Sarri 3-2 (12-10, 5-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-7)
Surensoy bt Nikita Martinov 3-2 (9-11, 11-6, 11-3, 7-11, 11-5)
Lemmon bt Prohorovici 3-0 (11-9, 11-7, 11-6)
Dimitrov bt Bucur 3-1 (14-16, 13-11, 11-9, 12-10)

Boys†Singles
Group 4
Sinan Surensoy bt Tomas Matsuka (CZE) 3-2 (11-4, 10-12, 7-11, 11-7, 11-9)
Surensoy bt Ivan Smiljanic (CRO) 3-1 (15-17, 11-3, 11-9, 13-11)
Filip Nagy (SVK) bt Surensoy 3-1 (11-7, 14-12, 10-12, 12-10)

Group 9
Dimitar Dimitrov bt Richard Feber (CZE) 3-0 (11-8, 14-12, 11-8)
Dimitrov bt Juraj De Miguel (SVK) 3-0 (16-14, 11-9, 12-10)
Dimitrov bt Julian Dedeken (BEL) 3-2 (5-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-6)

Round of 64
Mihai Iordan (ROU) bt Surensoy 3-1 (6-11, 11-3, 12-10, 11-8)

Round of 32
Dimitrov bt Ignacy Slawinski (POL) 3-1 (11-7, 15-17, 11-8, 12-10)

Round of 16
Joel Isaksson (SWE) bt Dimitrov 3-1 (12-14, 12-10, 11-5, 13-11)

Girls†Singles
Group 11
Lotta Rothfuss (GER) bt Amber Lemmon 3-0 (11-4, 11-7, 11-5)
Kinda Mostafa (LUX) bt Lemmon 3-1 (5-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-6)
Belinay Davus (TUR) bt Lemmon 3-0 (11-5, 11-3, 11-8)

Group 8
Bianca Toma (ROU) bt Assil Sarri 3-0 (11-9, 11-6, 12-10)
Sarri bt Kleio Madesi (GRE) 3-1 (11-3, 14-12, 9-11, 11-8)
Ela Su Yonter (TUR) bt Sarri 3-0 (11-5, 11-6, 11-3)

Girls†Singles Consolation
Round of 64
Lemmon bt Helena Kamaradova 3-0 (11-6, 11-5, 11-7)

Round of 32
Maria Coroliuc (ROU) bt Lemmon 3-2 (11-13, 11-2, 9-11, 14-12, 13-11)
Elpida Tasiou (GRE) bt Sarri 3-0 (11-7, 11-8, 11-6)

Mixed Doubles
Round of 64
Juraj De Miguel & Vivien Murkova (SVK) bt Sinan Surensoy & Assil Sarri 3-1 (11-9, 11-13, 11-7, 11-5)
Dimitrov & Lemmon bt Marat Fjodorov & Arina Sokolova (EST) 3-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-4)

Round of 32
Simon Clin & Lisa Zhao (FRA) bt Dimitrov & Lemmon 3-0 (11-4, 11-5, 11-6)

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Quite incredibly, this managed to be an even uglier day for the United States of America off the golf course than it was on it. Never in his wildest of dreams could Luke Donald have imagined this scenario for his imperious European team. They will head into the final day of the Ryder Cup leading 11½–4½ and requiring a mere two and a half more points from 12 singles contests for retention. The fat lady is gargling.

There will be analysis – and plenty of it – about American capitulation under the erratic leadership of Keegan Bradley but the scale of what they have run into must also be recognised. Tommy Fleetwood has won within half a point of the US tally on his own. Perhaps Bradley should deploy pairs of golfers again for day three. The Europeans have already made history, courtesy of their largest ever pre-singles lead.

Europe have therefore enjoyed the last laugh over American galleries who have let themselves and this sport down. Thuggish, moronic and personal insults towards Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry especially dominated Saturday at Bethpage Black. Yet as Europe led their hosts the merriest of dances, thousands of punters streamed towards the exit gates. Resale prices for Sunday tickets, which were $750 (£560) to begin with, have crashed online.

“The job is never done till it’s done,†said a typically pragmatic Donald. “So I’m not going to sit here and be complacent. I know how strong the US are. They will have plenty of fight in them, they had plenty of fight today. Our guys had a lot, too, though.â€

An example of how one-sided this Ryder Cup has become can be taken from the clock. When JJ Spaun and Xander Schauffele defeated Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka at 6.20pm, it was the first US point on the board since 10.38am. In between times, McIlroy had backed off a birdie attempt on the 6th green with the utterance: “I am not going to putt until they shut up.â€

Shane Lowry reacts to the crowd as Rory McIlroy looks to putt on the 6th. Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images

Security, lots of it, followed McIlroy and Lowry over the back nine of a successful fourball clash with Justin Thomas and Cameron Young. While Thomas did his best to quieten hecklers at times, he also whipped up the audience. Lowry was held back by his caddie at one stage, with scores of offensive punters removed from the crowd. Whether reflective of a wider society or simply a New York Ryder Cup, this was a dismal scene.

McIlroy turned into politician mode when asked to assess what he was subjected to. “When you play an away Ryder Cup, it’s really, really challenging,†said the Masters champion. “It’s not for me to say. People can be their own judge of whether they took it too far or not. I’m just proud of us for being able to win today with what we had to go through.â€

Quick GuideRyder Cup singles pairings and timingsShow

12.02 EDT/17.02 BST Cameron Young v Justin Rose
12.13 EDT/17.13 BST Justin Thomas v Tommy Fleetwood
12.24 EDT/17.24 BST Bryson DeChambeau v Matt Fitzpatrick
12.35 EDT/17.35 BST Scottie Scheffler v Rory McIlroy
12.46 EDT/17.46 BST Patrick Cantlay v Ludvig Ã…berg
12.57 EDT/17.57 BST Xander Schauffele v Jon Rahm
13.08 EDT/18.08 BST JJ Spaun v Sepp Straka
13.19 EDT/18.19 BST Russell Henley v Shane Lowry
13.30 EDT/18.30 BST Ben Griffin v Rasmus Højgaard
13.41 EDT/18.41 BST Collin Morikawa v Tyrrell Hatton
13.52 EDT/18.52 BST Sam Burns v Robert MacIntyre
14.03 EDT/19.03 BST Harris English v Viktor Hovland

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There was even a rumpus inside the ropes. Justin Rose not unreasonably felt Bryson DeChambeau and his caddie were fiddling about on his line as he waited to putt on the 15th. The Englishman’s request for the American duo to move brought a furious reaction. The matter rumbled on to the walk to the 16th tee, where DeChambeau had a pop at Fleetwood. The intervention of Fleetwood’s caddie Ian Finnis – all 6ft 7in of him – prompted DeChambeau to beat a hasty retreat. “I was waiting to putt, the boys were obviously working on their read,†Rose explained. “Obviously they going through a lot of calculations and bits and pieces.

“I waited a few seconds and then I felt like they came up again. I questioned whether … I was like: ‘It’s my putt, right?’ Or however I said it. Maybe I didn’t say it as politely as I could have said it in the moment but by no means was there any disrespect or anything like that. Obviously it was taken the wrong way.â€

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The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend’s action

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Rose and Fleetwood defeated DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler 3&2. This has been an utterly miserable Ryder Cup for Scheffler. On Saturday morning, the world No 1 played with Russell Henley, losing by a hole to Robert MacIntyre and Viktor Hovland. Rahm had combined with Tyrrell Hatton again for foursomes success over Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay. McIlroy and Fleetwood eased to a win against Harris English and Collin Morikawa in the same section.

The final match of the day was in the balance playing the final hole. Sam Burns and Cantlay held out hope of at least half a point from Hatton and Fitzpatrick. Europe had other ideas, both golfers hitting approaches to tap-in range. Fitzpatrick’s effort from a fairway bunker was special and a fitting denouement for those in maroon shirts. Europe took both sessions 3-1.

The Bethpage Black scoreboard spells out the scale of Europe’s lead. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA

Hovland was due to partner Fitzpatrick in the afternoon before a late switch. The Norwegian has been troubled recently by a neck injury, which flared up during his foursomes match. Should Hovland be unable to play in the singles, the US would also remove a player, with both sides taking half a point. This would clearly edge Europe even closer to victory. Neither Donald nor Hovland will want such a situation to play out. Nonetheless, given the lack of sportsmanship afforded to them from the galleries here, the Europeans do not owe this event anything. They also, it must be noted, need no help.

In sliding over 6-6¾ on her first go before the downpour began, Nicola Olyslagers earned a WC outdoor gold to hang besides her pair from indoor World Championships. (TAKASHI ITO/AGENCE SHOT)

AFTER TRIUMPHING AT the last two World Indoor Championships, and getting silver at the last two Olympic Games, Australiaâ€s Nicola Olyslagers finally acquired an outdoor global title.

Her first-time clearance at 6-6¾ (2.00) proved to be enough for gold in a competition abbreviated by a downpour of near-biblical proportions.

Six women went over 6-5½ (1.97) but the rain started to fall during the second attempts at that height. Then the heavens opened almost immediately after Olyslagers — the first jumper in the rotation for the extended 16-women field — extended her unblemished record with a clearance at 6-6¾ (2.00).

Four of the next five remaining jumped and failed in the rapidly deteriorating conditions before the officials called a halt to proceedings and a 40-minute hiatus ensued.

After the restart, nobody could clear the bar until, with the very last attempt at the height, Polandâ€s Maria Å»odzik miraculously went over to add 2cm to her PR.

A further 20-minute break ensued before the competition continued at 6-7½ (2.02) but neither Olyslagers — who only went very close with her second attempt — Å»odzik nor Ukraineâ€s â€24 Olympic champion and WR-holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh could navigate that height. Mahuchikh had passed up to the height after one failure at the previous bar.

Mahuchikh and Serbiaâ€s World U20 champion Angelina Topić, whose father and coach Dragutin was 4th at both the â€96 Olympics and â€99 WC, shared the bronze, with both women flawless up to 6-5½ (1.97).

Notably, 3 out of the 4 medalists — Å»odzik being the exception — took 6 jumps or less, a manifestation of the rain-truncated contest. The sight of Mahuchikh squeezing water out of her braids after each of her failures at 6-7½ provided additional evidence of the weatherâ€s extremity.

“It wasnâ€t a holiday out there,†understated Olyslagers. “I think this season I have had many hard competitions but the whole year has still been really great. I realized I had to stop holding onto my goals really tightly and be spontaneous, take risks, and really move by faith and not sight.â€

Olyslagers†Tokyo victory took her â€25 record to 9 wins from 12 meets including a world-leading 6-8¼ (2.04) to win the DL Final in Zürich. Among these victories, one was a tie for the top spot — at the Lausanne DL, another rain-soaked affair.

Sadly, there were no U.S. representatives in the final. Vashti Cunningham (the bronze medalist in â€19), Emma Gates and Sanaa Barnes were eliminated in the Q round.

WOMENâ€S HIGH JUMP RESULTS

FINAL (September 21)

1. Nicola Olyslagers (Aus) 6-6¾ (2.00);

2. Maria Żodzik (Pol) 6-6¾ (2.00) PR;

=3. Yaroslava Mahuchikh (Ukr) 6-5½ (1.97);

=3. Angelina Topić (Ser) 6-5½ (1.97);

=5. Yuliya Levchenko (Ukr) 6-5½ (1.97);

=5. Eleanor Patterson (Aus) 6-5½ (1.97);

=7. Christina Honsel (Ger) 6-4 (1.93);

=7. Morgan Lake (GB) 6-4 (1.93);

9. Elena Kulichenko (Cyp) 6-4 (1.93);

10. Merel Maes (Bel) 6-4 (1.93);

11. Imke Onnen (Ger) 6-4 (1.93);

=12. Fatoumata Balley (Gui) 6-2 (1.88);

=12. Michaela Hrubá (CzR) (Gui) 6-2 (1.88);

=12. Marija Vuković (Mont) 6-2 (1.88);

15. Rose Yeboah (Gha) 6-2 (1.88);

… nh—Elisabeth Pihela (Est).

6-2
6-4
6-5½
6-6¾
6-7½

Olyslagers
p
o
o
o
xxx

Mahuchikh
p
o
o
xp
xx

Patterson
o
o
xo
xxx
—

Honsel
o
o
xxx
—
—

Topic
o
o
o
xxx
—

Kulichenko
o
xo
xxx
—
—

Pihela
xxx
—
—
—
—

Lake
o
o
xxx
—
—

Hruba
o
xxx
—
—
—

Balley
o
xxx
—
—
—

Onnen
xo
xxo
xxx
—
—

Yeboah
xo
xxx
—
—
—

Levchenko
o
o
xo
xxx
—

Maes
o
xxo
xxx
—
—

Vukovic
o
xxx
—
—
—

Zodzik
xo
o
o
xxo
xxx

1.88
1.93
1.97
2.00
2.02

QUALIFYING (September 18; auto-qualifier 6-5½/1.97)

Qualifiers: Pihela, Kulichenko, Onnen, Balley & Maes cleared 6-2/1.88; all other finalists cleared 6-3½/1.92;

Non-Qualifiers: [6-2/1.88]—Lilianna Bátori (Hun),Dacsy A. Brisón (Cub), Vashti Cunningham (US), Emma Gates (US), Engla Nilsson (Swe), Kateryna Tabashnyk (Ukr), Nagisa Takahashi (Jpn) =PR, Emily Whelan (Aus);

[6-0/1.83]—Lia Apostolovski (Slo), Sanaa Barnes (US), Tatiána Goúsin (Gre), Idea Pieroni (Ita), Asia Tavernini (Ita);

… nh—Lamara Distin (Jam), Ellen Ekholm (Swe), Styliana Ioannidou (Cyp), Ella Junnila (Fin), Buse Savaşkan (Tur), Hellen Tenorio (Col), Britt Weerman (Neth).

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It’s been a steep learning curve for Mets owner Steve Cohen, just as it is for most successful businessmen who buy professional sports franchises.

Since purchasing the team from Fred Wilpon in late 2020, Cohen has tried to buy his way to a World Series title, spending $1.57 billion on players, as accounted for by Major League Baseball‘s luxury-tax system. That’s on top of the $2.4 billion he paid for the franchise.

What does he have to show for it? Mostly a bunch of early postseason exits, and a team this year spending the final days of the season trying to make the playoffs after frittering away a big lead to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Even after a furious comeback to win 9-7 in Chicago last night, they’re11 games behind the NL East-winning Phillies and only a game up on the Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks for the final NL Wild Card spot. Both the Reds and Diamondbacks own the head-to-head tie breakers over the Mets.

Last season, the Mets lost in six games to the eventual World Series-winning Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. And they had to survive a three-way tiebreaker on the last day of the regular season to clinch an NL Wild Card spot to get that far.

That’s not a huge return on investment, particularly this season.

“This [year] has been a grind for this entire group,” David Stearns, the club’s president of baseball operations, said last week at a press conference in New York.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way, but the second half of this season has echoes of the Mets’ “worst team money could buy” squad of 1992. On June 12, the Mets had the best record in MLB at 45-24 with a 5.5 game lead over the Phillies. It has been all downhill ever since.

“When you’re sitting where we were in mid-June, we would not have expected to be in this spot, no question about it,” Stearns said, stating the obvious. “We’ll have time to evaluate and diagnose and do all of that stuff [after it’s all over].”

To be sure, the Mets could recapture come of last year’s magic and still make the playoffs. But that was the antithesis of this season when they went 19-9 from Aug. 28, 2024, on to barely clinch a Wild Card spot. This year, they are 7-12 in September, losing eight in a row at one point and haven’t shown much of a pulse.

Put it all in the pot.

Cohen’s record of sustaining his managers and baseball ops leaders is a lot like firing hedge fund personnel who do not perform. No matter what it costs him, he could bring in a whole new crew.

He’s had four heads of baseball ops and three on-field managers in the five seasons he’s owned the team, which may indicate trouble for Stearns and manager Carlos Mendoza. Billy Eppler lasted three seasons as general manager. The veteran Buck Showalter was fired after the Mets hosted and lost a three-game Wild Card Series to the San Diego Padres in 2022 and failed to make the playoffs in 2023.

Mendoza, who’s overseen a club playing 35-52 ball since its June apex, has to be on very thin ice. Stearns built a team that has hit the fifth-most homers in the league at 215 but has a 17th-ranked pitching staff with a 3.99 ERA. He, too, has to be accountable.

Milwaukee, which spent about $200 million less than the Mets second-ranked payroll of $340.6 million, has a pitching staff with the second-best ERA in baseball at 3.61. The Brewers have won 15 more games than the Mets and have the best record in MLB.

Cohen has certainly thrown money at it. Under his watch, the Mets’ payroll has ranked fourth, first, first, second and second. Last offseason he outbid the New York Yankees, signing Juan Soto to a 15-year, $765 million contract that will take him through 2040 when he’s 40 years old.

After a slow start adjusting to a new team, Soto has had another MVP-caliber season with 42 homers, 104 RBIs, a .931 OPS, a 163 OPS+ and a WAR of 6.3, the last number in the Shohei Ohtani range. He swiped his 36th bag on Tuesday night—an improbable feat for a not-so-fleet-footed player.

But when the Mets broke spring training at Port St. Lucie, Fla., this past March, their five projected starters—Clay Holmes, Tylor Megill, David Peterson, Griffin Canning and Kodai Senga—were earning a combined $38.7 million this season. That’s $12.3 million less than the $51 million paid to Soto alone.

That worked fine into June until pitchers started to go down, but now only Holmes and Peterson are still healthy. The Mets are using young starters Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong to carry them down the stretch.

The Mets didn’t retool their rotation in the offseason after losing Luis Severino and Jose Quintana from last year’s team. They added free agent Holmes, the Yankees closer, and converted him to a starter. Sean Manaea opened the season on the injured list because of a right oblique strain sustained in camp and didn’t return until July 13. He failed to replicate last year’s 12-win season and has won only two games.

Even with that predicament, the Mets didn’t add any starting pitching at the July 31 trade deadline. They did add to the bullpen, acquiring relievers Ryan Helsely, Taylor Rogers and Gregory Soto. But that hasn’t staunched a meltdown of late and 27 blown saves. Helsley, the former St. Louis Cardinals All-Star closer, has been awful with an 8.47 ERA in 20 appearances. Should Stearns have been even more proactive?

“If I knew how our season was going to play out? Absolutely,” Stearns said.

Those are the decisions Stearns is paid to make. As Cohen continues to navigate his own learning curve, you can bet the owner is evaluating.

Watch this space.

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WrestleMania 42 is heading back to Las Vegas in 2026 for the second year in a row, and while the return to Allegiant Stadium might excite fans, the updated ticket prices could stop many from walking through the doors.

PWInsider has confirmed the full two-day pricing breakdown, and although itâ€s not the rumored $70,000 for front-row packages, the official numbers are still jaw-dropping.

Section A1 on the floor is priced at $8,998, while Section B on the floor will set fans back $3,868. For those looking at lower-level seating, Section R101 costs $2,200.75. Even the 100 level ranges between $1,495 and $1,174.80.

The 200 level is similarly expensive, falling between $1,303.54 and $1,174.80. Surprisingly, even upper-tier sections like the 300 and 400 levels come with hefty price tags, landing at $1,174.80 and $854.15 respectively. All of these are before Ticketmaster and handling fees.

This confirms WWEâ€s continued strategy of premium pricing for its flagship event. While it doesnâ€t quite match the previously reported $70,000 for the Ringside Row 1 package that circulated earlier, it still marks a significant jump in cost compared to WrestleMania 41. That show saw front-row seats at $50,000 and second- or third-row tickets ranging from $30,000 to $35,000 per person.

Last year, Randy Orton commented on the pricing for WrestleMania 41 and called it embarrassing. With prices climbing even higher for WrestleMania 42, itâ€s clear WWE is targeting an ultra-premium experience—but it may come at the cost of pushing out their most loyal fans.

WrestleMania might still deliver unforgettable moments, but with costs soaring this high, the only question is whether enough fans will be able—or willing—to pay for them.

Do you think WWEâ€s pricing strategy is fair, or has it gone too far? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.

September 22, 2025 11:36 am

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Nicola Olyslagers overcame two rain delays to deliver Australiaâ€s first gold medal of the world championships on the final evening, being first to clear 2m to win on a countback over Polandâ€s Maria Zodzik and cement her place at the summit of high jump.

But on an extraordinary and at times farcical evening in Tokyo, the menâ€s discus was stopped due to the incessant rain that left the circle slippery, and then restarted after the final track event. The saga stretched proceedings late into the night and prompted a desperate attempt by officials to use dozens of towels to keep the circle, the discus and the athletes†shoes as dry as possible.

Only at the very end of the session, past 11pm on a Sunday night in Tokyo with the stadium near empty, did the rain cease. Two late throws flipped the placings and shunted Australiaâ€s Matt Denny off the podium, as Swedenâ€s Daniel StÃ¥hl – who had been dancing under an umbrella at the start of the evening – claimed the gold medal with a throw of 70.47m.

Denny described the conditions as the worst heâ€s competed in, and he shed tears in a moment with his wife in the stands afterwards, dismayed and frustrated at how the competition played out. “It was just really hard, really emotional and disappointing,†said the Paris bronze medallist, who slipped and fell during the competition. “I didnâ€t get a concussion, I didnâ€t break any bones and I didnâ€t tear anything, so Iâ€m good for next season so thatâ€s the main thing, and that was the first thing that my wife said to me.â€

The high jump also fell victim to the stormy weather, and forced Olyslagers into a long wait after her 2m clearance. “Even if [I was] waiting and out there in the rain, I have such a joy because I know these moments are forever,†she said. “The gold medal was the added bonus, but being out there and enjoying it, Iâ€ll never forget what I just experienced.â€

Having won the world indoor and Diamond League titles already in 2025, Olyslagers entered the competition as favourite and quickly moved to 2m without a miss, as the rain and wet mat made jumping difficult. Only Żodzik was able to challenge her after the second rain delay with her own clearance of 2m, but neither was successful at 2.02m.

Olyslagers†countrywoman Eleanor Patterson finished fifth, having cleared 197cm, the same as joint bronze medallists Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Angelina Topic, but the Australian found herself off the podium on a countback.

Matt Denny finished fourth in a discus throw final hit by bad weather. Photograph: Ashley Landis/AP

Olyslagers said her medal was the result of her preparation, and throughout the evening she leaned on her strong Christian faith. “Of course the raindrops started sideways underneath our towels and then we had to go [under cover], but again, I was just spending time with Jesus out there and I was like, I could be here for hours, the stadium can shut down, Iâ€m in my happy place right now.â€

Earlier, Jess Hull was within two tenths of another national record in the 800m final but finished in eighth position behind Kenyan winner Lilian Odira, unable to make up ground on a pack that started swiftly. She was happy to repeat a similar time from Fridayâ€s semi-final and was in awe of her rivals in her first taste of a major global final in the two-lapper. “We [Hull and her coach] thought I would get a big piece of some carnage if they had gone out that hard, but every woman [brought] it,†she said. “I think Iâ€ve got to get faster in that first 400 because once they were gone tonight, they were gone.â€

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Ky Robinson recorded an outstanding fourth in the 5000m final behind American winner Cole Hocker. It was Australiaâ€s second best result in the event at a world championship, after Craig Mottramâ€s bronze in 2005. “Instantly, over the line, itâ€s just sheer joy, sheer happiness,†Robinson said. “A minute later, the ‘what ifs†start kicking in, and itâ€s like, ‘man, Iâ€m one spot off a medalâ€, what if I found a little bit more? But thatâ€s hindsight. I feel like in the race, I was giving my all a kilometre in, and I was just hoping that I could hang on for as long as possible.â€

Australiaâ€s menâ€s 4x100m group failed to finish after a botched change between Calab Law and Rohan Browning, heaping more misery on the relay program. Saturdayâ€s heats saw the menâ€s 4x400m team disqualified for a changeover area breach and the womenâ€s 4x100m dropped the baton.

The World Championships end with Australia 15th on the medal tally with one gold and three bronze. The USA finished on top with 16 golds among 26 medals, ahead of Kenya and Canada.

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