National Sports
Canadian tennis star Félix Auger-Aliassime through to Dubai quarterfinals
By Canadian Press on February 25th, 2026
DUBAI — Top seed Félix Auger-Aliassime advanced to the quarterfinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships with a 6-4, 6-4 win over French qualifier Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Wednesday. Auger-Aliassime was out-aced 11-8 in the match between two of the game’s biggest servers. Mpetshi Perricard is second on the ATP Tour in average aces per match ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Vancouver Whitecaps ink reigning MLS defender of the year Blackmon to extension
By Canadian Press on February 25th, 2026
VANCOUVER — Major League Soccer’s reigning defender of the year is sticking with the Vancouver Whitecaps. The club announced Wednesday that it has signed centre back Tristan Blackmon to an extension through the 2029-30 season. Blackmon spent four seasons with Los Angeles FC before being dealt to the ‘Caps via Charlotte FC in the league’s ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Penguins captain Sidney Crosby placed on injured reserve after getting hurt at the Olympics
By Canadian Press on February 25th, 2026
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins will have to start their playoff push without Sidney Crosby. The club placed its longtime captain on injured reserve on Wednesday. The move comes after Crosby sustained a lower-body injury during the Olympic hockey tournament at the Milan Cortina Games. The 38-year-old Crosby went down in the second period ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!NWSL Atlanta expansion team announces 7-year front-of-kit sponsorship deal with Georgia-based Aflac
By Canadian Press on February 25th, 2026
ATLANTA (AP) — Aflac U.S. president Virgil Miller says his insurance company was a natural fit for a front-of-kit sponsorship deal with Atlanta’s new National Women’s Soccer League team, which will debut in 2028. Aflac’s agreement to have its Georgia-based company name on the front of the Atlanta players’ shirts was announced on Wednesday. The ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!The NFL combine is here, and there are plenty of intriguing names after Fernando Mendoza
By Canadian Press on February 25th, 2026
The NFL scouting combine is off and running again. There are 319 college prospects who were invited to attend the annual event, and the first on the clock will be defensive linemen and linebackers Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Three more days of measuring the speed, strength and agility of players will follow. ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!The surprising complexity behind the squeak of basketball shoes on hardwood floors
By Canadian Press on February 25th, 2026
NEW YORK (AP) — As he watched the Boston Celtics play from the stands of TD Garden, one noise kept catching Adel Djellouli’s ear. “This squeaking sound when players are sliding on the floor is omnipresent,” he said. “It’s always there, right?” Squeaky shoes are part of the symphony of a basketball game, when rubber ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!UEFA rejects Benfica’s appeal against Prestianni ban for alleged racism toward Vinícius Jr
By Canadian Press on February 25th, 2026
NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA has rejected Benfica’s last-minute appeal against the provisional suspension of Gianluca Prestianni, meaning he remains ruled out of the Champions League playoff second leg against Real Madrid on Wednesday. Prestianni was provisionally suspended on Monday for one match following accusations he racially abused Vinícius Júnior in the first leg last ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Virginia QB Chandler Morris files lawsuit against the NCAA seeking 7th year of eligibility
By Canadian Press on February 25th, 2026
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris continued his fight for a seventh season of eligibility by filing a lawsuit against the NCAA, his agent, Simon Pflum, confirmed Tuesday. The NCAA denied Morris’ medical redshirt waiver and appeal last month, and he is seeking a preliminary injunction in Charlottesville Circuit Court. Morris could be ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Penguins place Sidney Crosby on injured reserve after missing Olympic final
By Canadian Press on February 25th, 2026
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins placed Sidney Crosby on injured reserve Wednesday after the Canadian captain missed Sunday’s Olympic gold-medal game with a lower-body injury. Crosby sat out Canada’s 2-1 overtime loss to the United States in Milan, saying he couldn’t play “without compromising the team.” The 38-year-old was hurt in the quarterfinals when his ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!UEFA rejects Benfica’s appeal against Prestianni suspension for alleged racism against Vinícius Jr
By Canadian Press on February 25th, 2026
NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA has rejected Benfica’s last-minute appeal against the provisional suspension of Gianluca Prestianni, meaning he remains ruled out of the Champions League playoff second leg against Real Madrid on Wednesday. Prestianni was provisionally suspended on Monday for one match following accusations he racially abused Vinícius Júnior in the first leg last ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Verlander and Valdez will get final payments of $31 million deferred money from Tigers in 2039
By Canadian Press on February 25th, 2026
Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez will receive the final payments from their new contracts with the Detroit Tigers in 2039, with the team deferring $31 million of the $128 million it committed to the pitchers. Verlander’s $13 million, one-year deal will pay the 43-year-old right-hander $2 million this year. The $11 million in deferred money ... Read More »
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