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The Chicago Bears have paid their quarterback. No, not Caleb Williams.

Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent and the Bears agreed to terms Wednesday on a two-year, $10 million extension through the 2027 season, according to reports. Bagent was due to enter the final year of his contract in 2025 and was eligible to sign an extension before playing his third season as a former undrafted free agent.

Bagent’s new deal, which could be worth up to $16 million with incentives, will kick in after the coming year, keeping him in Chicago through the 2027 season.

Williams, the former No. 1 overall pick, will play his second season this year. He won’t be eligible to sign an extension until early 2027, after his third season ends.

Tyson Bagent stats, history

The Bears originally signed Bagent after the 2023 NFL Draft.

The West Virginia native set multiple Division II college football records during his career at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, including most career passing yards (17,034) and most career touchdown passes (159). He won the Harlon Hill Trophy – the Division II version of the Heisman Trophy – in 2021.

Bagent was coming off of the stronger of his two preseason outings prior to getting his extension. He completed 13 of his 22 pass attempts for 196 yards and a touchdown in the Bears’ win over the Buffalo Bills.

Through two seasons as the Bears’ backup, Bagent has played in nine games and started four of them – all four of which came in 2023. He has a career completion rate of 66.2% with 870 career passing yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions.

Bagent recently received glowing praise from the Bears’ current regime: head coach Ben Johnson – ‘He’s been phenomenal … He’s smart as a whip.’ – and general manager Ryan Poles – ‘There isn’t a harder worker on this football team than Tyson Bagent.’ Perhaps his looming extension should’ve been obvious.

But Bagent’s new deal with the Bears is something of an outlier in the landscape of NFL backups. Here’s why:

Why Tyson Bagent’s contract extension is strange

For starters, Bagent’s two-year, $10 million deal makes him one of the highest-paid backup quarterbacks in the NFL.

He’s tied for the seventh-highest-paid by average annual value (AAV), to be exact – Anthony Richardson Sr. (still on rookie deal), Marcus Mariota, Jacoby Brissett, Zach Wilson, Jarrett Stidham, Tyrod Taylor are the only ones ahead of him.

Houston Texans backup Davis Mills’ one-year, $5 million deal matches Bagent’s.

Overall, Bagent’s extension’s AAV makes him the 39th-highest-paid quarterback overall in the league. He’s actually set to make more money than Cleveland Browns veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, who the team just named as its Week 1 starter earlier this week, and Denver Broncos starter Bo Nix (though Nix is on his rookie deal).

While the value alone on Bagent’s new contract is a (literal) big deal, there’s one other oddity about the Bears’ move.

Bagent is one of only two current backup quarterbacks – backup, in this case, meaning No. 2 on the depth chart – in the NFL to receive an extension before the final season of his previous contract. Almost every other No. 2 quarterback in the league was either a pending free agent or an unrestricted free agent when they signed their current deal.

Outside of Bagent, Mills is the only other current backup quarterback to receive an extension before his previous contract was up. Mills’ deal with Houston was only for one year and worth $5 million, making Bagent the only current backup quarterback to sign a multi-year extension before his current contract ended.

The Bears clearly like having Bagent around, and they showed it by making a unique personnel decision Wednesday.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark is working her way back from a right groin injury that has sidelined her for 13 consecutive games, but it was revealed Wednesday she suffered another injury during her recovery.

Clark, who last suited up for the Fever on July 15, suffered a mild bone bruise in her left ankle during an individual workout session in Phoenix on Aug. 7, according to The Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network. Clark tweaked her ankle the same day the team lost guards Sydney Colson (left ACL tear) and Aari McDonald (broken right foot) to season-ending injuries in the Fever’s 95-60 loss to the Mercury. Ten days later, the Fever also lost guard Sophie Cunningham (MCL tear) for the season on Aug. 17, further depleting the team’s backcourt.

There’s no timeline for Clark’s return. Fieldhouse Files was the first to report the news of Clark’s ankle injury.

On Wednesday, head coach Stephanie White confirmed Clark has not returned to practice, which would mark a crucial step in her ramp-up process. ‘Until (Clark) can get into practice and until you guys see her in practice, we’re really status quo,’ White said.

‘You never wanna see injuries happen, first and foremost,’ White added, referring to Cunningham. ‘You hate it when it’s anyone, let alone the third season-ending injury that we’ve seen this year. But like I told our team … yes, we’ve been dealt a crappy hand, but we have to play it.’

Clark, who previously missed time with a left quad and a left groin injury, has been sidelined 22 of the Fever’s 35 games this season. Indiana is 8-5 with Clark in the lineup and 11-11 without her on the floor.

The 2024 Rookie of the Year is averaging 16.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and a career-high 8.8 assists in 13 games this season. Her assists average is the second-highest in the league, behind Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas (9.0).

Caitlin Clark injury timeline

  • May 24: Clark suffered a left quad injury during the Fever’s 90-88 loss to the New York Liberty, where she recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists. Clark couldn’t pinpoint the specific play that caused her injury, but noted that it happened early in the contest. Clark said, ‘Adrenaline covers up a lot of stuff when you’re in the heat of battle. After the game, I had some pain, and then we got an MRI, and that kind of gave me the result that I didn’t want to see.’ She missed the Fever’s next five games.
  • June 14: Clark returned to Indiana’s lineup in the Fever’s 102-88 win over the Liberty and dropped 32 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in her first game back. 
  • June 24: Clark suffered a left groin injury in the Fever’s 94-86 win over the Seattle Storm, which resulted in Clark missing the team’s next four games. Fever coach Stephanie White said she learned of Clark’s groin injury the following night after Clark alerted team trainers of discomfort.
  • July 1: Clark was ruled out of the Fever’s 2025 Commissioner’s Cup win over the Minnesota Lynx in Minneapolis. That didn’t stop Clark from rightfully celebrating the team’s hardware.
  • July 9: Clark returned to the Fever’s lineup in the Fever’s 80-61 loss to the Golden State Valkyries. Clark was limited to 10 points, shooting 4 of 12 from the field and 2 of 5 from the 3-point line, in addition to six assists, five rebounds and four turnovers. Following the blowout loss, Clark said it was ‘going to take me a second to get my wind back. … Just trying to get my legs under me.’
  • July 15: Clark suffered a right groin injury in the final minute of the Fever’s 85-77 victory over the Sun at TD Garden in Boston. White later confirmed Clark ‘felt a little something in her groin.’ This marked the last game for which Clark suited up.
  • July 18: Clark announced that she would sit out the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis, where she was named a team captain. Clark was also set to participate in the 3-point contest. She said, ‘I am incredibly sad and disappointed to say I can’t participate … I have to rest my body.’
  • July 24: The Fever said Clark’s medical evaluations confirmed there’s ‘no additional injuries or damage,’ but the team said it will be cautious with Clark’s rehab and recovery.
  • August 7: Clark reportedly suffered a mild bone bruise in her ankle while during an individual workout session in Phoenix on Aug. 7, according to The Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network.
  • August 8: During an appearance on Sue Bird’s podcast, ‘Bird’s Eye View,’ Clark spoke about the frustrations of her injury-filled season: “It’s not like I have a training camp to build up to play in my first game again. It’s like no, you’re tossed into Game 30 — like, ‘Go try to play well.’ It’s hard, it really is.”
  • August 10: Fever coach Stephanie White said Clark has progressed in her recovery and has started running full court again, but Clark hasn’t returned to practice just yet: an important step in her ramp-up. ‘She’s been able to get a little bit more in her full-court running with all of her body weight… She’s been able to do a little more on the court in terms of how she moves, but not into practice yet,’ White said.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fastDownload for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Jake Paul has announced his next fight, a potentially massive bout against reigning WBA lightweight champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis.

Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) is reuniting with Netflix, which exclusively streamed his unanimous decision win over Mike Tyson last year, for a fight against Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs) in Atlanta, Georgia. Davis will be the most prominent active fighter to step into the ring against Paul, a former YouTuber who has moved into the fight game. Previously, Paul had taken on MMA specialists, other social media influencers, and less-accomplished boxers.

‘Gervonta who has been disrespecting my name for too long,’ wrote Paul on X in a post announcing the bout. ‘Yes, he’s [one] of the top pound-for-pound boxers in the world, but my motto is anyone, anytime, anyplace, against all odds. And I like my odds.’

This wasn’t seen as the likely next fight for Davis, whose last bout was a majority draw with Lamont Roach Jr. in March. That contest was marred by an apparent refereeing error that absolved Davis of a knockdown despite the Baltimore native taking a knee after being hit. Observers largely expected the undefeated Davis — who as recently as February was listed on Ring Magazine’s top 10 pound-for-pound list — to line up a rematch for his next fight.

Instead, both fighters will be hoping for the kind of audience Paul’s bout with Tyson drew. Along with a clear age difference between Davis and the 58-year-old ‘Iron Mike,’ there’s one other crucial factor: Paul has fought in higher weight classes, while Davis has spent his career as a super featherweight or lightweight fighter.

Here’s everything to know about the Paul-Davis fight, including date, time, location, and picks:

When is Jake Paul vs. Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis fight?

On Wednesday, Jake Paul announced a mega-fight against Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis scheduled for Friday, November 14, 2025.

Jake Paul vs. Tank Davis fight odds

With the fight between Jake Paul and Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis only being announced on Wednesday, odds are not available from U.S.-based oddsmakers. Most likely, the specifics of the bout — including length, ring size, gloves, and any weight restrictions for two very different fighters — will need to be confirmed before odds are set.

However, Jake Paul was a -600 favorite in his last fight, a unanimous decision win over Julio César Chávez Jr. back in June. Davis, meanwhile, was a heavy favorite in his last match, with odds ranging between -1600 and -1800, depending on the source, in what ultimately ended in a majority draw against Lamont Roach Jr. in March.

Where is Jake Paul vs. Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis fight?

The Jake Paul-Tank Davis fight is set for State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

The 26-year-old venue is the home of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, but has never hosted a major boxing event. The stadium’s seating capacity has changed based on various renovations over the years, with a building record of 20,425 on hand to watch the Hawks defeat the Boston Celtics during the 2008 NBA playoffs.

Jake Paul vs. Tank Davis fight card

No fight card has been announced for the bout between Jake Paul and Tank Davis. Details on that front are set to emerge in the coming weeks.

Jake Paul height and weight

Jake Paul is 6-foot-1, and the former YouTuber weighed in at 200 pounds for his last fight, a fairly straightforward decision over Julio César Chávez Jr.

Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis height and weight

Before Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis’ last fight, a controversial draw with Lamont Roach Jr., the WBA lightweight world champion was announced as standing at 5 feet, 5.5 inches, and weighed in at 133.8 pounds.

How old is Jake Paul?

Jake Paul is 28 years old.

How old is Tank Davis?

Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis is currently 30 years old, but if his fight with Jake Paul goes off as scheduled, he will be 31 by the opening bell.

Jake Paul vs. Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis Netflix details

One detail that is 100% clear is that the fight will be streamed exclusively on Netflix, with the platform saying the event will be available with any subscription plan.

A standard subscription with ads is currently listed at $7.99 per month on Netflix’s site, while an ad-free 4K/HDR plan runs $24.99 per month.

Jake Paul vs. Tank Davis fight predictions

Josh Peter, USA TODAY Sports: Paul by decision

Jake Paul vs. Tank Davis is bound to end with boos. An exhibition would take away the thrill of watching Davis hunt for a knockout, and he’s not the kind of flashy boxer who can entertain without his KO power. Jake Paul to win by decision.

Ryan Garcia: Paul to win

On his X account, Garcia — who lost to Davis via 7th-round KO in 2023 — wrote that ‘if the fight does happen I’d bet on the heavyweight.’

How to watch Jake Paul vs. Tank Davis: Time, how to stream Netflix fight

  • Date: Friday, November 14
  • Time: A time for the fight has not yet been announced.
  • Location: State Farm Arena (Atlanta, Georgia)
  • TV channel: None
  • Streaming: Netflix
This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Practice ended early Wednesday for one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson exited today’s training camp practice early, per The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec. Jackson reportedly went with strength and conditioning coach Scott Elliott as well as team doctors to address a potential injury after getting knocked down making a throw.

A team spokesman later confirmed that Jackson got his foot stepped on and is fine, per Zrebiec.

The two-time NFL MVP has not attempted a pass in any of the Ravens’ preseason games so far. Baltimore will wrap up its preseason slate Saturday afternoon against the Washington Commanders.

Ravens QB depth chart

Baltimore’s backups behind Jackson have split time in the preseason in wins against the Colts and Cowboys. Here’s how the depth chart looks ahead of the preseason finale:

  • Lamar Jackson
  • Cooper Rush
  • Devin Leary

This file will be updated with more information when available.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced a transformation of the agency Wednesday that will cut the ‘bloated’ ODNI by more than 40% by the end of the year and save taxpayers more than $700 million annually, all while executing its core national security and intelligence mission ‘in the most agile, effective, and efficient way.’

Gabbard, on Wednesday, announced what she described as a ‘long-overdue’ transformation, that will refocus ODNI and eliminate offices that were involved in the politicization of intelligence. 

‘Over the last 20 years, ODNI has become bloated and inefficient, and the intelligence community is rife with abuse of power, unauthorized leaks of classified intelligence, and politicized weaponization of intelligence,’ Gabbard said. ‘ODNI and the IC must make serious changes to fulfill its responsibility to the American people and the U.S. Constitution by focusing on our core mission: find the truth and provide objective, unbiased, timely intelligence to the President and policymakers. Ending the weaponization of intelligence and holding bad actors accountable are essential to begin to earn the American people’s trust which has long been eroded.’

Gabbard said that ‘under President Trump’s leadership, ODNI 2.0 is the start of a new era focused on serving our country, fulfilling our core national security mission with excellence, always grounded in the U.S. Constitution, and ensuring the safety, security, and freedom of the American people.’ 

ODNI was first created after the 9/11 terror attacks and exposed systemic failures across the intelligence community. ODNI’s purpose was to integrate intelligence from and provide oversight over all intelligence community elements in order to ensure the intelligence provided to the president and policymakers was ‘timely, accurate, and apolitical.’

‘Unfortunately, two decades later, ODNI has fallen short in fulfilling its mandate,’ an ODNI spokesperson said.

ODNI 2.0 is set to eliminate ‘redundant missions, functions and personnel,’ and is set to make ‘critical investments’ in areas that support Trump’s national intelligence priorities.

ODNI officials said that ODNI 2.0 will focus on rebuilding trust, exposing politicization and weaponization of intelligence, holding bad actors accountable, saving American tax dollars, and focusing on their ‘core mission,’ which is to protect ‘the safety, security, and freedom of the American people.’

As part of the effort, Gabbard is closing ODNI’s Reston Campus and moving the National Intelligence Council to the main ODNI campus, which will ensure the all essential intelligence functions are kept ‘under one roof,’ which officials say will ‘enable savings,’ and will ensure ‘greater efficiency and oversight, and integration across the ODNI and IC.’

Gabbard is also leading intelligence community-wide reforms for ‘efficient and effective operations.’ Gabbard is expected to issue guidance to create a streamlined contracting authority for companies that pursue emerging technologies, and that are already approved for business with the IC to provide services quickly.

Tulsi Gabbard sounds alarm on Obama-era cabal

Gabbard is also leading an IC-wide effort to ‘rebalance and optimize’ its civilian and contractor workforce to ‘reduce bloat, increase analytic capability, remove stovepipes, eradicate politicization and analytic bias, accelerate information sharing, and increase efficiency to ensure mission success,’ officials said.

Meanwhile, Gabbard has also ended non-merit-based recruitment of intelligence community professionals.

As for ODNI components, the National Counterterrorism Center is building capability to increase two-way information sharing between federal, state, and local law enforcement to secure borders and communities.

As for the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, Gabbard is calling for a renewed focus on security clearance reform, deterring counterintelligence threats, and oversight of investigations and probes of unauthorized leaks of classified information.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

A Russian drone may have crashed in a field in Poland, a move the country’s deputy prime minister called a ‘provocation,’ as the United States and European leaders continue to push Moscow to end its war in Ukraine. 

The drone hit a cornfield in the village of Osiny in the eastern Lublin province, about 62 miles from Poland’s border with Ukraine, Reuters reported. 

Deputy Prime Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, who also serves as defense minister, said Wednesday’s incident was similar to cases in which Russian drones flew into Lithuania and Romania, and could be linked to efforts to end the war in Ukraine, according to the outlet. 

‘Once again, we are dealing with a provocation by the Russian Federation, with a Russian drone. We are dealing with it in a crucial moment, when discussions about peace (in Ukraine) are underway,’ Kosiniak-Kamysz told journalists.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pawel Wronski told Reuters that some experts have suggested a Russian version of the Shahed drone developed by Iran was involved in the latest incident.

Polish Gen. Dariusz Malinowski said the drone had a Chinese engine and appeared to be a decoy that was designed to self-destruct.

The blast shattered windows in several homes, but nobody was injured, the Polish PAP news agency reported.

Police recovered burnt metal and plastic debris at the site.

‘I was sitting in my room at night, around midnight, maybe, and I heard something just bang,’ local resident Pawel Sudowski told local news website Lukow.tv. ‘It exploded so loudly that the whole house simply shook.’

On X, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said his ministry would issue a protest against the airspace violation, without naming the perpetrator. 

‘Another violation of our airspace from the East confirms that Poland’s most important mission towards NATO is the defence (sic) of our own territory,’ he wrote. 

The incident came as the Trump administration continues to broker talks between Russia and Ukraine to end the bloody three-year conflict. On Monday, Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and a group of European leaders at the White House.

On Friday he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

It took all of two days for the fallout from the Tennessee Titans’ Monday practice scuffle to blow over.

Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward was all jokes when speaking to reporters Wednesday about his incident with defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons at practice on Monday.

‘Did I learn anything from it? Jeff’s strong as (expletive),’ Ward said. ‘I think it was what we needed though. We love competing, especially me and Jeff.

‘I’m excited to have that man as my teammate. I can’t wait to see what he do on Sundays – I already know what he about, but I get to see the real thing coming soon.’

The ‘conflict’ – if it can be called that anymore – started Monday when Ward threw a touchdown pass near the end of practice before hitting his signature, ‘Zombieland’ celebration in Simmons’ face. He shoved Simmons, Simmons shoved back, and the offensive line rushed to Ward’s defense.

Nick Suss of the Tennesseean (part of the USA TODAY Network) reported that the scrum lasted ‘about 15-20 seconds. Then play resumed.’

‘That’s me and Jeff’s relationship,’ Ward said Wednesday. ‘I wake up, I get here, he damn near the first one I’m ready to talk (expletive) to.’

And Ward fully expects Simmons to give that smack-talk back, saying the defensive tackle is one of the first to do so every day at practice.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

HURRICANE MILLS, TN — Forty-two teenage boys with helmets and colorful uniforms pushed their dirt bikes to the starting line.

They were among about 1,000 riders, who must be at least 4 years old to race. The site is Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, about 70 miles west of Nashville and home to the most prestigious event in amateur motocross — the Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship.

On the opening day of racing for the 44-year-old annual event held July 28-Aug. 2 event, the teens revved the engines of 250cc motorcycles built to soar off jumps and tear around the 1.1-mile dirt track. It’s regarded among the safer tracks in amateur motocross despite three riders having died since 2008 from injuries suffered while racing.

The field was full again this year, organizers said, as were 42 gates with riders baking under the sun before the first 250 B race of the week.

Organizers resisted calls to leave one gate empty in honor of Aidan Zingg, a 16-year-old rising star who died June 28 during a mid-race crash in Mammoth Lakes, California. Zingg won the Supermini 2 national championship last year and would have graduated to 250 B this year.

‘Nope, that’s not how it works here,’ said Tim Cotter, Director of MX Sports, which runs the event. ‘The next guy up, he goes in the gate.’

The official tribute for Zingg was a hype video made by Kawasaki, which sponsored Zingg, and played during an opening ceremony the night before practice runs began.

A Celebration of Life for Zingg was held Monday, Aug. 18 near his family’s home in Hemet, California. The event at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch was a chance to understand the impact of his death.

Chris Wood, the father of a 15-year-old phenom, said he felt compelled to talk to his son Carson after Zingg’s fatal crash.

‘I told him, you have an option to quit, this is your decision,’ Chris Wood told USA TODAY Sports. ‘He’s risking his life every time he rides that dirt bike. So there has to be a point where it has to be his choice and not mom and dad’s anymore.’

The waiting was over for the 250 B class.

The gates dropped. The bikes launched. The riders burst off the line.

Carson Wood was among them.

Can’t afford to lose

Some riders wore decals that included Zingg’s initials and his riding number, 39. Others mentioned him in post-victory speeches.

‘It definitely hits your mind like, man, do you really want to do this? Is it worth it?’ Carson Wood told USA TODAY Sports. ‘But once you get this far into the sport, it’s really hard to just turn back around and just quit that easily.’

Zingg won his first AMA national championship last year, which helped him secure a two-year sponsorship deal with Kawasaki. Deals like that can keep dreams alive for kids, who may otherwise be priced out of racing. Race bikes can easily exceed $10,000, gear costs about $1,000 and the high-octane race fuel is more than $20 per gallon. Not to mention the transportation costs of getting to the races.

‘It’s a super expensive sport,’ Zingg’s father, Bob, told USA TODAY Sports.

Carson Wood’s parents, Chris and Jaclin, said funding their son’s motocross career led to their electricity and phones being shut down, one of their cars being repossessed and other bills going unpaid.

‘Yeah,’ Chris Wood said. ‘Scary.’

When Carson Wood got old enough to collect bonuses by winning races, his parents recalled, he began to say, ‘I can’t afford to lose.’

‘There was definitely some pressure, because anytime I won that’s how food gets on the table and that’s how rent gets paid and stuff like that,’ Carson Wood said. ‘So if I didn’t win, that really hurt us a lot, so I had no choice but to win.’

At Loretta Lynn’s, Carson Wood won one of his six races, broke a middle finger and sounded as determined as ever to keep help paying the family’s bills. He could turn pro as early as next year.

‘Yeah, this sport’s definitely risky,’ he said. ‘Your life’s on the line every time you put your leg over that bike, and there’s really not much you can do besides just train and stay smart.’

Too much power

Zingg’s death did not stem from high speed. The crash took place on a turn. But nonetheless, it spurred talk of safety concerns and injury prevention measures that include the development of an airbag vest.

Zingg’s mother, Shari, said he died from cardiac tamponade, which can be caused by blunt trauma. Zingg’s autopsy report is not complete, according to the Mono County Sheriff’s Office that serves Mammoth Lakes and is handling the autopsy.

The discussion of safety in motorcross largely has focused on bigger and faster bikes increasingly being raced by younger riders.

Zingg was riding a 250. The fastest dirt bike is 450, which can reach speeds upward of 80 mph.

The matter surfaced at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch when the event organizers met with representatives from nine motorcycle manufacturers: Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, Cobra, KRM, Gasgas, Husqvarna and Triumph. They discussed a litany of issues, and nothing seemed to unify the group like discussion of the 450.

‘I hate that bike,’ someone said among the crowded room. ‘I think it has too much power.’

When the meeting ended, the group seemed to be in agreement: No rider under 18 should be allowed to race on the 450.

Later, Mike Burkeen, Deputy Director of Racing for the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) – which sanctions the event at Loretta Lynn’s – said the sentiment in the meeting would not necessarily lead to change. Not before a long process, at least.

The idea must be submitted to a 30-person committee, which makes proposals, posts them online for public comment, then debates and votes, according to Burkeen, who added, ‘If they vote yes on something, it comes back to my staff and my boss.’

Part of the process will assess how the rule change will financially impact manufacturers.

‘I think that that’s always going to be part of it,’ Burkeen said, noting there are lot of riders under 18 riding the 450.

FIRST BROKEN BONE

Zingg began riding dirt bikes with his father when he was about 5. Which, by some standards, made him a later starter.

The youngest class of riders at Loretta Lynn’s is 4 to 6. They ride tyke-sized bikes that travel up to 30 mph.

Bretton Gonzales, 8, of Northern California looked like a comparative veteran. He sported a mullet and had a hand-painted red, white and blue helmet that Evel Knievel would have worn with pride.

‘It’s just fun,’ Gonzales said when asked why he rides.

Never mind that this year he broke his right arm in a motocross accident.

‘First broken bone,’ said Gonzales’ father, Brandon. ‘He was riding his bike with his cast on all the time.’

Meredith Lloyd of Bethesda, Maryland, stood near her 6-year-old daughter, Codie Mae Lloyd, who started racing at 4, according to her mother.

‘In the RV before we head out, we cover her in prayer,’ Meredith Lloyd said, adding her husband raced ATVs and she comes from a racing family. “As soon as she could walk she started on a little bicycle, and no fear.’

Brothers Tripp Roberts, 6, and Cody Roberts, 8, of Dallas were with their mother, Suzanne, a nurse practitioner whose husband rode motocross. She watched as Tripp prepared to race.

‘Since I work in health care, I might be either the best Moto mom or the worst one,’ Suzanne Roberts said with a smile. ‘My kids always laugh and say, unless it’s broken, don’t go to mom. Because I don’t have very much sympathy for them. They know if you’re hurt you can come to mom, and if you’re not hurt, get back up.

‘We want to instill in them perseverance and that’s the best thing about the Moto community.’

She said Cody broke his femur two years ago.

‘We didn’t know if he wanted to ride again,’ Suzanne Roberts said. ‘He asked to get on the bike and said, ‘I got to do it.’ That was great to see him overcome that fear.’

‘Unfortunately, it’s part of the sport’

Chris Canning, a 31-year-old rider from Connecticut, entered the trailer that serves as the headquarters at Loretta Lynn’s with braces on both of his wrists and an unsteady gait.

He joined the event’s top officials, who tracked him down after seeing video online of Canning hitting a tree on a jump and plummeting to the ground. The organizers said they wanted understand what happened and ended up adjusting the track to avoid the risk of another accident on that jump.

According to Canning, his injuries included: broken ribs, a broken scapula, contusions on his right lung and blood in his lungs.

‘This ain’t going to stop me,’ Canning told USA TODAY Sports.

He didn’t hold the track or the sport responsible for his latest crash. He and the officials agreed that a bump developed on the track during a day of racing, leading to the wreck. The track would be adjusted, and Canning would heal – again.

‘Last year, I was off the whole year because I blew this wrist apart,’ he said. ‘Unfortunately, it’s part of the sport.’

Despite the broken wrists, Canning said he drove himself to a nearby hospital because he was worried about chest injuries. There are also medical services on site.

During one 15-minute period at Loretta Lynn’s, three riders who had fallen during the same race were brought to the tented center. One wore an oxygen mask and complained about having trouble swallowing. Another had broken a foot. A third looked dazed sitting in an ice bath. All three riders were treated successfully, said Carole Dempsay, a paramedic helping run the operation.

She also said they treated 40 fractures during the six-day event. That included Carson Wood breaking a middle finger but still winning his last race.

‘We had a relatively safe week at the ranch,’ said Cotter of MX Sports. ‘By weekend we only transported two athletes to the hospital. And as of Monday morning, no one was in the hospital. With over 30,000 laps, we believe that is a successful event.’

And, as Cotter said before the event began, ‘Motorsports is inherently dangerous. We can’t make it safe. If it was safe, it’d be like shuffleboard.’

(This story was updated to change a video.)

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Most of the NHL’s top unrestricted free agents found homes early in July.

But there is still plenty of action to track during the NHL offseason. There are trades to be made and restricted free agents to re-sign. Salary arbitration hearings were scheduled from July 20 to Aug. 4, although players and teams settled beforehand in all 11 cases.

Also, players whose contracts run out after the 2025-26 season are eligible to sign contract extensions at any time.

Here is a look at the latest signings, trades and other news that have happened since the initial surge of movement in late June and early July:

Aug. 20: Victor Olofsson signs with Avalanche

Olofsson signed a one-year deal with Colorado worth $1.575 million, according to puckpedia.com. He played last season with the Vegas Golden Knights and had three 20-goal seasons with the Buffalo Sabres. The winger will provide secondary scoring after the Avalanche traded Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood this summer.

Also: Utah Mammoth goaltender Connor Ingram was cleared by the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program to return to the NHL. He went into the program in March.

Aug. 19: Milan Lucic signs tryout agreement with Blues

Lucic, 37, will try an NHL comeback, coming to St. Louis’ training camp on a professional tryout agreement. He last played in October 2023 and entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. He has been cleared by the program, the Blues said. During his prime, Lucic was a key power forward and won a Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011. His numbers had dropped off in recent seasons.

Aug. 18: Hudson Fasching signs with Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets added forward depth by signing Hudson Fasching to a one-year deal. It’s a two-way contract, meaning he’d make less if sent to the American Hockey League. Fasching, 30, played for the New York Islanders the past three seasons and has 40 points in 175 career NHL games with three teams.

Also: The Colorado Avalanche signed University of New Hampshire defenseman Alex Gagne to a two-year, entry-level contract. The 6-foot-5, 225-pounder was team captain last season, had a career-best 17 points and led the Wildcats with 62 blocked shots.

Aug. 15: Travis Hamonic signs with Red Wings

Hamonic is getting a one year deal at $1 million. The veteran depth addition likely will play in the bottom defense pairing. He ranked second on the Ottawa Senators last season in blocked shots per 60 minutes and also killed penalties. Detroit will be his fifth NHL team. Hamonic, who turns 35 on Aug. 16, has 53 goals and 242 points in 900 career games.

Aug. 10: Jack Johnson signs tryout agreement with Wild

The 38-year-old defenseman will go to camp as a tryout in a bid for a 20th NHL season. He played 41 games last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Wild might be without defenseman Jonas Brodin at the beginning of the season, according to the Athletic.

Also: The Kraken agreed to terms with defenseman Ryker Evans for two years at a $2.05 million average. He ranked fourth among Seattle blueliners with 25 points and was first with 123 hits.

Aug. 9: Nathan Bastian signs with Stars

He’ll get a one-year, $775,000 contract and add depth to the forward group. Bastian had played all but 12 games of his NHL career with the New Jersey Devils and ranked third among New Jersey regulars last season with 12.83 hits per 60 minutes. He has career totals of 33 goals, 68 points and 190 penalty minutes in 276 regular season games between the Devils and Seattle Kraken.

Aug. 8: Two-time Stanley Cup winner Kyle Clifford retires

Cllifford, who won Stanley Cup titles in 2012 and 2014 with the Los Angeles Kings, is retiring after 13 NHL seasons. The NHL Players’ Association said he would move into a player development role with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Clifford had two stints with the Leafs and finished his playing career in the organization with the American Hockey League’s Marlies. He also played for the St. Louis Blues and finished with 66 goals, 144 points and 905 penalty minutes in 753 NHL games.

Aug. 8: Avalanche re-sign Joel Kiviranta

Kiviranta is sticking around for a third season in Colorado by signing a one-year deal. Terms weren’t released. The bottom-six forward had 16 goals last season.

Aug. 2: Nick Robertson settles before arbitration hearing

All 11 players who filed for salary arbitration settled their cases before their hearings, with the Maple Leafs and Robertson the last to do so. Here are the new contracts the players agreed to, listed alphabetically.

  • Morgan Barron (Winnipeg Jets): Two years, $3.7 million.
  • Lukas Dostal (Anaheim Ducks): Five years, $32.5 million.
  • Drew Helleson (Anaheim Ducks): Two years, $2.2 million.
  • Kaapo Kakko (Seattle Kraken). Three years, $13.575 million.
  • Nick Robertson (Toronto Maple Leafs). One year, $1.825 million.
  • Dylan Samberg (Winnipeg Jets): Three years, $15.75 million.
  • Arvid Soderblom (Chicago Blackhawks): Two years, $5.5 million.
  • Jayden Struble (Montreal Canadiens): Two years, $2.825 million.
  • Conor Timmins (Buffalo Sabres): Two years, $4.4 million.
  • Maxim Tsyplakov (New York Islanders): Two years, $4.5 million.
  • Gabriel Vilardi (Winnipeg Jets): Six years, $45 million.

July 31: Sabres’ Devon Levi re-signs for two years

He’ll average $812,500 in the deal and is the final restricted free agent who needed to re-sign. He has had back-to-back solid seasons in the American Hockey League. With the Buffalo Sabres signing Alex Lyon this summer, Levi is expected to spend more time in the AHL for now.

July 28: Nicklas Backstrom signs deal in Sweden

The former Capitals star, 37, is returning to hockey by signing a deal to play for Brynas for the first time since 2006-07. He had played 1,105 NHL games in between, recording 1,033 points. But he had missed all of last season and most of 2023-24 while recovering from 2022 hip surgery.

July 17: Maple Leafs acquire Dakota Joshua from Canucks

Vancouver receives a 2028 fourth-round pick. Joshua will likely slot in the Maple Leafs’ bottom six forwards. He had a career-best 18 goals and 32 points in 2023-24 but missed the beginning of last season after having surgery for testicular cancer. He finished with 14 points in 57 games. He originally was drafted by the Maple Leafs but never played for them.

July 17: Blue Jackets’ Yegor Chinakhov requests trade

Yegor Chinakhov, a former first-round draft pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets, has asked for a trade.

The agent for Chinakhov posted on X, formerly Twitter, about the trade request.

“I had some misunderstandings with the coach during the season,” read the post quoting Chinakhov. “Now I would be glad to have a trade. I would like to move to a different location. Will I return to Russia? As long as I can play in the NHL, I will keep developing here.”

Chinakhov, who was selected with the No. 21 overall selection in 2020, missed nearly half of last season with a back injury, an issue that also sidelined him for the final 17 games in the previous season. – Joey Kaufman, Columbus Dispatch

July 15: Sabres re-sign Bowen Byram for two years

The defenseman will average $6.25 million in the deal. He was considered a candidate for an offer sheet but the Sabres reportedly filed for arbitration to prevent that. He ranked third among Sabres defensemen in average ice time and third with 38 points. The cap hit makes him the third highest paid defenseman on the team behind Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power.

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The WNBA continues to skyrocket. Young stars are taking the league by storm, drawing new fans. Even when players like Indiana’s Caitlin Clark miss time due to injury, their impact on the league is substantial.

Throw in the addition of expansion teams like the Golden State Valkyries and the addition of Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029) and Philadelphia (2030), and the excitement for the future is off the charts.

However, as great as the future will be and the regular season has been, nothing compares to the hype the WNBA playoffs bring. Eight teams, one goal, and for the first time in WNBA history, the Finals have been expanded to a best-of-seven format.

With the changes in format, the inclusion of the Valkyries in their inaugural season, and sure-fire favorites like the Minnesota Lynx, the WNBA playoffs offer more this year than ever before. The WNBA released their postseason schedule on Wednesday.

2025 WNBA playoff schedule

The WNBA playoffs will begin at 1 p.m. ET on September 14, with Game 7 of the WNBA Finals set for 8 p.m. ET on October 17. Of course, the Finals could end before depending on how many games of the best-of-seven series wind up being necessary.

All games will be broadcast on either ABC, ESPN or ESPN2.

The regular season concludes on September 9.

2025 WNBA ratings

Viewership on ABC increased by 13% between 2024 and 2025, averaging 1.4 million viewers. That makes 2025 the biggest season in WNBA history in terms of viewership. Sports Business Journal also reports that, despite more than two weeks to go until the end of the season, the WNBA has already broken the all-time attendance record set previously in 2002.

The league has already accumulated more than 2.5 million fans at its games and is expected to approach three million by season’s end.

In 2024, Sports Business Journal also reported viewership with girls age 18-34 had increased by an astonishing 54 points. A large proportion of that viewership increase has been attributed to the recent increase in interest for college basketball as well.

The Wall Street Journal’s Rachel Bachman said the ‘influx of college fans is contributing to another big shift in WNBA viewership.’ Given how big the rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese was when the two played at Iowa and LSU respectively, it only makes sense that several fans would continue watching it unfold at the professional level.

Throw in Connecticut’s Paige Bueckers, and it’s no wonder the league has grown tremendously since the three of them entered.

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