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USAID workers put on leave as Trump officials investigate resistance to aid pause

Dozens of senior officials in the U.S. agency that administers foreign aid were reportedly placed on leave Monday amid an investigation into alleged resistance to President Donald Trump’s orders.

At least 56 U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) officials were placed on administrative leave with full pay and benefits, Politico first reported. Several hundred contractors based in Washington and elsewhere were also laid off, a current and a former official told the Associated Press. 

These actions come after Secretary of State Marco Rubio, acting on Trump’s executive order, paused all U.S. foreign assistance funded by or through the State Department and USAID. The 90-day pause has halted thousands of U.S.-funded humanitarian, development and security programs worldwide and forced aid organizations to lay off hundreds of employees because they can’t make payroll.

According to the Associated Press, an internal USAID notice sent late Monday said new acting administrator Jason Gray had identified ‘several actions within USAID that appear to be designed to circumvent the President’s Executive Orders and the mandate from the American people.’

‘As a result, we have placed a number of USAID employees on administrative leave with full pay and benefits until further notice while we complete our analysis of these actions,’ Gray wrote.

The notice did not say which of the dozens of executive orders Trump has signed since taking office the USAID officials were accused of violating, according to the AP.

The White House and USAID did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Those placed on leave were career officials who had served in multiple administrations, including Trump’s, the former USAID official told the AP.

Before those officials were removed from the job Monday, they were scrambling to help U.S.-funded aid organizations cope with the new funding freeze and seek waivers to continue life-saving activities, from getting clean water to war-displaced people in Sudan to continuing to monitor for bird flu globally, the former official said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has specifically exempted only emergency food programs and military aid to Israel and Egypt from the freeze on foreign assistance.

Trump has criticized foreign aid and called for a review of U.S. aid programs to determine which put American interests first and which should be eliminated. 

The U.S. is the largest donor of aid globally. During fiscal year 2023, the U.S. dispersed $72 billion in assistance. It also provided 42% of all humanitarian aid tracked by the United Nations in 2024.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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FBI director nominee Kash Patel broke hostage rescue protocol: whistleblower

Senate Democrats have obtained a whistleblower report claiming that President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the FBI, Kash Patel, violated protocol during a hostage rescue mission in October 2020.

The whistleblower letter, obtained by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., claimed that Patel leaked news that two Americans and the remains of a third were being transferred to U.S. custody from Yemen, where they had been held hostage by Houthi rebels. The whistleblower claims Patel leaked news of the trade to the Wall Street Journal hours before the hostages were actually in U.S. custody, potentially endangering the deal.

The protocol of the multi-agency group in charge of the mission was to withhold information about hostage deals until the subjects were both in U.S. custody and their families had been notified, according to the whistleblower.

A transition official pushed back on the report in a statement to Fox News Digital on Tuesday, saying Patel has a ‘track record of success.’

‘Mr. Patel was a public defender, decorated prosecutor, and accomplished national security official that kept Americans safe,’ the official said. ‘He has a track record of success in every branch of government, from the court room to congressional hearing room to the situation room. There is no veracity to this anonymous source’s complaints about protocol.’  

In the October 2020 case, the deal went forward without any issues, with the two Americans and the remains of the third being transferred to U.S. custody. In exchange, the U.S. arranged for the release of some 200 Houthi fighters being held prisoner in Saudi Arabia.

Alexander Gray, who served as Chief of Staff for the White House National Security Council under Trump’s first administration, also called the allegations ‘simply absurd.’

Robert C. Obrien, who served as National Security Advisor from 2019 to 2021, argued that the whistleblower was jeopardizing decades of bipartisan work on hostage deals by coming forward.

Senate Democrats delivered the whistleblower letter on Monday morning to Acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Acting Treasury Secretary David Lebryk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CBS News reported.

The report comes just days before Patel is set to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee for an extensive confirmation hearing.

The Senate’s ‘advice and consent’ role allows the body to review the president’s appointments and provide oversight on key positions. The picks require a majority vote in the Senate with Republicans holding a 53-47 vote advantage over Democrats.

Patel has called for radical changes at the FBI and was a fierce and vocal critic of the bureau’s work as it investigated ties between Russia and Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

He held numerous national security roles during the first Trump administration and was the chief investigator in the congressional probe into alleged Trump-Russia collusion, uncovering government surveillance abuse that led to the appointment of two special counsels: one who determined that there had been no such collusion and another who determined the entire premise of the FBI’s original investigation was bogus.

Patel was an integral part of the creation of a memo released by then-Chair Devin Nunes in February 2018, which detailed the DOJ’s and FBI’s surveillance of former Trump campaign aide Carter Page under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

He’s been a loyal ally to Trump for years, finding common cause over their shared skepticism of government surveillance and the ‘deep state’ — a catchall used by Trump to refer to unelected members of government bureaucracy.

Fox News’ Michael Dorgan contributed to this report

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Trump admin to pause financial assistance programs: report

The White House has reportedly issued a memo that broadly suspends federal grants, loans and other financial assistance programs for executive departments pending an assessment of the funding. 

The Wall Street Journal first reported the memo, saying it was sent out by the Office of Management and Budget around 5 p.m. on Monday. 

The memo, which takes effect Tuesday at 5 p.m., said agencies ‘must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the Green New Deal,’ according to the Journal. 

The memo reportedly said the federal government spent more than $3 trillion on federal assistance, including grants and loans, in the 2024 fiscal year and that the pause allows ‘time to review agency programs and determine the best uses of the funding for those programs consistent with the law and the President’s priorities.’

Each agency must ‘complete a comprehensive analysis of all their Federal financial assistance programs to identify programs, projects and activities that may be implicated by any of the President’s executive orders,’ the memo continued, according to the Journal, adding that the pause must be applied ‘to the extent permissible under applicable law.’ 

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., condemned the memo, telling the Journal that pausing the funding puts ‘billions upon billions of community grants and financial support that help millions of people across the country’ at risk. 

‘It will mean missed payrolls and rent payments and everything in between: chaos for everything from universities to non-profit charities, state disaster assistance, local law enforcement, aid to the elderly, and food for those in need,’ Schumer said, adding that Congress approved the funding for the federal assistance programs.

The memo included a footnote that said Medicare, Social Security benefits and assistance provided directly to individuals were exempt from the pause, but its otherwise broad language caused confusion Monday night among some federal employees, as administrators requested advice from their internal counsel regarding which programs the pause applied to and how the departments should respond, one source told the Journal. 

The memo included a Feb. 10 deadline for agencies to submit a thorough summary of all paused programs, projects and activities to the Office of Management and Budget.

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Biden gave Americans the business. Trump is giving us businessmen 

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Amidst a presidential inauguration, the former presidents’ club had a historic shakeup in the new year. On January 9, the late Jimmy Carter, who set the record for the longest post-presidency in history, had a state funeral in Washington. Every living commander-in-chief attended. Eleven days later, the group assembled again for the inauguration. That day, Joe Biden became the newest, and oldest, member of the world’s most exclusive fraternity. But the climax was when President Donald Trump took the oath of office and was a former no more.

For those looking for a historical precedent for Trump’s second term, the obvious parallel is the comeback of President Grover Cleveland. Cleveland rose from mayor of Buffalo to commander in chief in three years. He’s the only other former president to serve two non-consecutive terms, from 1885 until 1889, and again from 1893 until 1897. 

It’s an easy comparison to make. Beyond the shared interruption to their tenures in the White House, both Trump and Cleveland are New Yorkers. Both took on their parties’ establishments and won, building new political coalitions in the process.  In their time, both of their parties disputed election results, the Democrats in 1876 and the Republicans in 2020. Neither man ever won the majority of the popular vote, though Trump won the plurality in 2024.

Both married women who were popular icons in their day – Cleveland entered office a bachelor, only to wed the beautiful Francis Folsom, age 21, shortly after her college graduation, and her likeness adorned products and advertisements throughout the country. Both returned to Washington pledging to clean up the town, be it ‘draining the swamp’ or, for Cleveland, literally tidying up the White House. When he and Francis flipped on the newly installed light switches in the Executive Mansion, they found that Benjamin Harrison had left it in a state of disrepair, with cobwebs, roaches and rats all around. 

But such comparisons only go so far. Where Cleveland was understated, Trump’s personality, from reality television to business to social media to the White House, is larger than life. Cleveland grew up the son of a poor rural preacher; Trump was a successful businessman in New York City. The Democratic Party moved away from Cleveland when it nominated the populist William Jennings Bryan, for whom Cleveland didn’t even vote. Trump has reshaped the Republican Party; his endorsement is coveted.  

And whereas Cleveland hadn’t initially planned on mounting a comeback – that was always Francis’s idea – shortly after he left office the first time, then-former president Trump clearly intended to run for his old office again, announced his third bid for the White House in 2022, was the clear GOP frontrunner from the beginning, and campaigned vigorously. 

Perhaps most importantly, Trump doesn’t think he’s the second coming of Cleveland’s second coming. Instead, he compares himself to Cleveland’s second successor, President William McKinley. During his inaugural address, Trump invoked McKinley repeatedly, promising to restore the 25th president’s name to the highest peak in North America.  

And the comparison goes beyond admiration – like McKinley and, unlike Cleveland, Trump favors tariffs. Trump and McKinley prioritized the strength of the dollar. They picked two of the youngest vice presidents in history, Theodore Roosevelt and JD Vance. And they both made territorial expansion a part of the national conversation, be it Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam then because of the Spanish-American War, or Greenland today.  

Trump takes aim at EU regulations, business hurdles:

McKinley even appointed a commission to explore building a canal between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. During the recent transition and after taking his oath of office, Trump brought trans-American canals back into vogue, with statements about revisiting the Panama Canal Treaties. 

But the truth is, for all the lessons of history, there has never been a president like Donald Trump. Nor a former president. That could change in the future, however. Trump’s comeback has redefined how leaders and former leaders think about the office they’ve held, and about what’s possible after. 

Trump enters office for the second time with ambitious policy goals. On everything from Russia’s war in Ukraine, to trade, to immigration, the first 100 hours, let alone 100 days of the administration promised activity across the board, and witnessed a series of wide-ranging executive orders. Some men who take up their old jobs again at age 78 might treat it as a sinecure. But Trump left sunny Mar-a-Lago with an agenda. Future former leaders will know that they don’t have to go quietly into that good night when their time in office is done, regardless of their political plans. 

The 47th president has learned lessons from his first term that he’s applying to his second, particularly when it comes to personnel. He’s elevated the C-suite, with multiple executives seated prominently at his inauguration and in prominent positions in his administration.  

Of course, previous presidents have called on business leaders before. McKinley himself relied on the advice of businessman Mark Hanna and industrial titans like John D. Rockefeller. Presidents have called on the financial sector to bail out the U.S. government twice, in 1893 and 1907. The tycoon Andrew Mellon’s leadership at the Treasury Department through three administrations, from 1921 through 1932, brought private-sector know-how to the heart of government.  

Presidents have had private-sector foes, as well, like Henry Luce in Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s case.  But Trump’s choice of multiple executives to head many of his most important agencies, his prioritization of business experience in his appointments, and the elevation of people like Elon Musk at DOGE combine historical precedents from multiple eras in American history into a new model. 

In a crowded media environment where it’s more difficult than ever to break through, Trump has shown how combining political prominence with celebrity status creates a platform like no other. As a candidate in 2016, Trump’s platform rivaled national political figures, though he’d never run for office before.  

McKinley even appointed a commission to explore building a canal between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. During the recent transition and after taking his oath of office, Trump brought trans-American canals back into vogue, with statements about revisiting the Panama Canal Treaties. 

Nine years later, he has the largest megaphone in the world, and he’s changed how politicians communicate. He brought decades of television and business experience, as well as his more recent status in politics, to new media, be it online outlets or podcasts, circumventing legacy institutions to communicate directly with voters. In the process, he put a presidential stamp of approval on outlets that most politicians ignored, but that have tremendous audiences. 

The founding fathers anticipated that former presidents would have roles to play in American life. In ‘Federalist 72,’ Alexander Hamilton asked, ‘Would it promote the peace of the community, or the stability of the government to have half a dozen men who had credit enough to be raised to the seat of the supreme magistracy, wandering among the people like discontented ghosts, and sighing for a place which they were destined never more to possess?’ 

President Donald Trump is no discontented ghost. He’s back in the White House. Future presidents and former presidents, regardless of party, will follow in his footsteps. And in both parts of their lives – in and out of power – they, like him, can change America.  

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Aaron Glenn’s message to Jets: ‘We’re built for this (expletive)’

Aaron Glenn knows what he’s getting himself into and he’s ready for it.

Glenn has worked through the ranks since his playing days, most recently serving as the Detroit Lions’ defensive coordinator. Head coach will be the third position Glenn’s had within the Jets organization – previously holding the title of player and scout.

His passion for the team shined through in the first press conference.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

‘Put your seatbelts on and get ready for the ride,’ Glenn said to the current group of players. ‘We’re the freaking New York Jets and we’re built for this (expletive).’

Despite owning the NFL’s longest playoff drought – now at 14 seasons and counting – that didn’t deter Glenn from taking on the challenge.

‘I want this job,’ Glenn said. I interviewed for a number of them, but I wanted this one.’

Glenn later told SNY that he was focused on bringing a Super Bowl to Detroit but set his sights on the Jets’ job right after the Lions’ division-round loss.

‘I didn’t want to leave the building without shaking Woody’s [Johnson] hand and make sure we had a contract,’ Glenn said. ‘Everything else was really out of it. It’s all about the Jets and it’s been that way from the beginning.’

It’s been a full circle moment for the new coach, who spent a lot of time reflecting on his journey and where it began.

‘This is where I started and you can’t write a better story than that,’ Glenn said. This was my start for a number of situations. As a player, as a scout and now as a head coach. And you can’t write that story no better than that. Hopefully this will be my last stop. That’s the way I’m looking at it.’

He promised to change the culture and discussed his experience building sustained winners. However, he told SNY something notable.

‘Rah rah speeches don’t change cultures,’ Glenn said. ‘People do. I experienced that with Bill Parcells. You bring the right people in with the right mentality and everybody has a shared vision, you’re going to win games.’

Former Jets coach Robert Saleh was known for taking the motivational speech approach, typically with his ‘all gas no brakes’ mantra.

It doesn’t appear that Glenn will take that approach.

For a team that changes coaches like they’re going out of style, the Jets will hope their former player can finally calm what has been a turbulent flight.

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Freshman GOP lawmaker rallies behind Trump’s rapid illegal immigration crackdown: ‘No time to waste’

GOP Rep. Abe Hamadeh is praising President Trump’s swift actions on illegal immigration in the first days of his presidency and told Fox News Digital that the president has ‘learned a lot from 2017’ and that he expects more of the same in the future.

‘President Trump campaigned on this and he’s delivering it for the American people,’ the freshman congressman told Fox News Digital in an interview. ‘If you look at the polling, even Democrats are in favor of deportations of illegal immigrants. So right now, he’s deporting the most dangerous illegal immigrants and you’re starting to see the raids and it’s quite a sight to see because for too long, the Biden administration, they prioritized illegal immigrants over American citizens.’

‘They treated American citizens as second-class citizens and President Trump is about America first. So these deportation raids, it’s happened so fast and that’s exactly his style of leadership. He knows he has no time to waste and delivering the results for the American people as they already voted for these policies back on November 5th. So far, so good.’

Hamadeh told Fox News Digital that Trump ‘learned a lot from 2017’ and this time around knows ‘exactly what to do’ to get his agenda accomplished. 

Republicans recently successfully pushed the Laken Riley Act through Congress, with 48 Democrat votes, which Hamadeh told Fox News Digital should have been a unanimous vote and doesn’t necessarily mean Democrats are embracing Trump’s agenda. 

‘It’s kind of funny because many of the Democrats actually voted against the Laken Riley Act when it was in Congress last session, but now they’re supporting it because they see electorally that it’s beneficial to them.’

‘So no we always have to be cognizant of that. A lot of these Democrats don’t have any principles that they’re standing on. They just saw that they got shellacked in the end in the election, November 5th. So they’re trying to moderate themselves or appear to be moderate. But honestly it should have gotten unanimous support.’

Hamadeh said Laken Riley’s murder at the hands of an illegal immigrant was a ‘tragedy’ that was ‘totally preventable’ by the Biden administration who ‘opened the floodgates to millions of illegal immigrants.’

Going forward, House Republicans will have to navigate a razor-thin majority in the House and be in lockstep in order to push through Trump’s agenda which Hamadeh said he is optimistic will happen. 

I see my colleagues all the time and everybody understands that President Trump delivered the victory for many of them and that’s what’s different about this time around versus 2017,’ Hamadeh explained. ‘Now, a lot of Republicans, you know, they’re on the same page, leadership’s on the same page. We’re all working together, no matter if you’re moderate, no matter if you’re MAGA, it’s a testament to see how Speaker Mike Johnson won his speakership on the first vote versus what happened two years ago, and it’s something to be seen. It’s really beautiful out here.’

Hamadeh continued, ‘It’s been a lot easier for me being a freshman congressman to see us all united, unlike how it used to be in the past. But these executive orders have been fantastic. Every Republican is all in favor of them. You know, I’m especially happy about the designation of the drug cartels as a foreign terrorist organization and Arizona is as well, because we understand we have to go to war against these cartels. So just seeing the action that President Trump is doing so fast and his team is doing so fast is a testament to his leadership style and something that Congress must emulate and must back him up.’

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Trump transportation secretary pick Sean Duffy to face Senate confirmation vote

The Senate is poised to vote on whether to confirm President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the Department of Transportation over the next four years.

Trump tapped Sean Duffy, a former congressman, a father of nine and a former Fox News host, to serve as secretary of transportation under his administration, calling him a ‘tremendous and well-liked public servant.’

Duffy underwent a grilling by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee this month, eventually advancing to a full Senate vote with unanimous, bipartisan support.

A cloture vote for Duffy’s confirmation was held Monday evening, which, upon its passing, meant the chamber would conclude its debate over his nomination and proceed to a final vote.

The Senate is scheduled to vote on whether to confirm Duffy on Tuesday afternoon.

If confirmed, Duffy will assume the position last held by former President Joe Biden’s transportation secretary, Pete Buttigieg.

Buttigieg faced criticism from both Democrats and Republicans for his handling of transportation issues over the years, such as waiting 10 days to address the 2023 Ohio train derailment and widespread calls to hold airlines accountable for flight delays.

As the new administration takes shape, lawmakers are making suggestions about what they would like to see in the new transportation head.

Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah called for the Trump administration to abolish the Transportation Security Administration. 

Additionally, during Duffy’s confirmation hearing, Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Ted Budd, R-N.C., highlighted the importance of making sure Hurricane Helene victims are ‘not forgotten’ after a stretch of a highway in North Carolina collapsed into the Pigeon River.

Tuesday’s vote comes as Senate Republicans have been working to confirm Trump’s Cabinet nominees, holding a rare vote on Saturday to push through Kristi Noem as secretary of Homeland Security.

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Republicans vie to replace Matt Gaetz in crowded 10-way special election primary

Weeks after the Republicans’ triumphant performances in the November elections, it is primary day once again in Northwest Florida.

Voters in Florida’s 1st Congressional District will select a GOP candidate on Tuesday, who will likely succeed former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., in the House of Representatives.

The district, which covers part of the Florida panhandle, is heavily Republican. President Donald Trump won the area in his last three elections, and Gaetz himself held the seat from January 2017 until he resigned late last year.

There are 10 Republicans running to replace Gaetz in the Tuesday primary.

They include Aaron Dimmock, whom ex-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., backed last year in a bid to force Gaetz out of office.

Gaetz had triggered the maneuver that eventually led to McCarthy’s ouster from power after less than a year as House speaker.

However, the favorite going into the race is likely Jimmy Patronis, who has been endorsed by Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

‘A fourth generation Floridian from the beautiful Panhandle, and owner of an iconic seafood restaurant, Jimmy has been a wonderful friend to me, and to MAGA,’ Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform earlier this month.

‘As your next Congressman, Jimmy will work tirelessly alongside of me to Grow our Economy, Secure our Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Secure our Border, Strengthen our Brave Military/Vets, Restore American Energy DOMINANCE, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.’

Tuesday is also bringing a special primary election for Florida’s 6th Congressional District to replace Trump’s new national security adviser, former Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla.

Both general elections, expected to be won by Republicans, will take place April 1.

Gaetz resigned from Congress abruptly last year after Trump tapped him to be his attorney general, though Gaetz eventually withdrew himself from consideration amid growing Republican opposition.

It also came as the House Ethics Committee had been preparing its report on allegations against Gaetz that included illicit drug use and sex with a minor, all of which he has denied.

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Unrivaled highlights: Lunar Owls, Laces remain undefeated

MEDLEY, Fla. — Two of the six Unrivaled teams have finished the first two weeks of the new women’s basketball league’s season with undefeated records.

The good news is fans won’t have to wait long to see them face each other.

The Lunar Owls and Laces, both 4-0, will meet in the second of two games Friday night in Unrivaled’s third week.

League co-founder Napheesa Collier had 19 points and 16 rebounds, while Allisha Gray added 19 points and the game-winning basket for the Lunar Owls in a 67-57 win over the Vinyl in the first of two games Monday.

Kayla McBride scored 31 points, including the game-winning basket, and Tiffany Hayes added 24 points to help the Laces remain undefeated with a 71-62 win over the Rose in the second game.

McBride is looking forward to facing two of her teammates from the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx — Collier and point guard Courtney Williams — on Friday night.

“It’s just an interesting dynamic because two of my teammates are on that team. My other teammates. They’re not my teammates right now. But looking forward to that, and hopefully just keep building on what we’re doing,” McBride said after the win.

The Unrivaled league continues to be a work in progress with players and coaches growing more familiar with the fast-paced, full-court and 3-on-3 format.

McBride said she felt like she played more than the 19 minutes she logged in Monday’s game, just from the back-and-forth nature of the 72-foot court (94 feet is standard regulation) and with two fewer players on the court.

“I think just taking two people off the court, you have every single person involved in every play,” Collier said after her game. “I think that’s a big difference.”

While the Lunar Owls and Laces are undefeated, the Vinyl team led by Rhyne Howard and Arike Ogunbawale fell to 2-2 after losing both games in Week 2.

The Phantom and the Rose were able to get their first wins of the season on Saturday night, but are 1-3. They’ll meet in the first game Friday before the Lunar Owls and Laces play.

The Mist, led by Unrivaled co-founder Breanna Stewart, are 0-4 after the first two weeks.

Check out these highlights from USA TODAY Sports on Monday night’s Unrivaled games:

Laces vs. Rose highlights

Lunar Owls vs. Vinyl highlights

Unrivaled final score: Laces 71, Rose 64

Kayla McBride scored 31 points, including the game-winning basket, and the Laces remain undefeated with a 71-62 win over the Rose on Monday night.

Tiffany Hayes added 24 points, while Kate Martin had seven points and six rebounds in the win.

But both players missed potential game-winning free throws, while McBride also missed a drive to the basket in the fourth quarter.

Still, the Laces were able to stay undefeated.

The Laces and Lunar Owls are the only 4-0 teams in Unrivaled after the first two weeks of action.

Brittney Sykes had 18 points, while Angle Reese had 17 points and seven rebounds for the Rose, who got their first win Friday, but fell to 1-3.

Unrivaled score: Laces 60, Rose 50 after third quarter

Target winning score: 71

Kayla McBride has 26 points, Tiffany Hayes has 20 points and nine rebounds, and the Laces lead the Rose 60-50 heading into the fourth quarter. The target winning score necessary to win is 71 points.

Angel Reese leads the Rose with 13 points and six rebounds, while Brittney Sykes has 12 points and Chelsea Gray has nine points.

Unrivaled halftime score: Laces 34, Rose 32 after second quarter

Tiffany Hayes and Kayla McBride each have 12 points, and the Laces hold a 34-32 lead over the Rose at the end of the first half.

Brittney Sykes leads the Rose with 10 points, while Angel Reese has eight points and six rebounds. Reese picked up two offensive fouls in the first 40 seconds of the second quarter on moving screen violations.

Unrivaled score: Rose 17, Laces 15 after first quarter

Tiffany Hayes, Kayla McBride and Stefanie Dolson have five points each, and the Laces lead 17-15 over the Rose after the first quarter.

Kate Martin nearly scored a game-tying bucket at the end of the first quarter buzzer for the Laces, but it did not count.

Five of the Rose’s six players scored in the first quarter with Chelsea Gray scoring five points. Angel Reese has four points and four rebounds.

Unrivaled final score: Lunar Owls 67, Vinyl 57

Napheesa Collier led the way with 19 points and 16 rebounds, Allisha Gray added 19 points and the game-winning basket for the Lunar Owls in a 67-57 win over the Vinyl in the first of two games Monday night.

Skylar Diggins-Smith also added 16 points for the Lunar Owls, who are 4-0 after the second weekend in Unrivaled.

Aliyah Boston and Jordin Canada each scored 14 points, while Arike Ogunbowale had 12 points for the Vinyl, who dropped both games in the second week after a 2-0 start.

Unrivaled score: Lunar Owls 55, Vinyl 44 after third quarter

Target winning score: 66

Napheesa Collier leads the way with 15 points and 15 rebounds, while Allisha Gray also has 15 points for the Lunar Owls, who need to reach 66 points to secure the victory and stay undefeated.

Aliyah Boston leads Vinyl with 14 points and nine rebounds.

Unrivaled halftime score: Lunar Owls 41, Vinyl 33 after second quarter

Napheesa Collier leads three Lunar Owls in double figures with 13 points and nine rebounds, and they have a 41-33 lead over the Vinyl at halftime.

Skylar Diggins-Smith has 12 points, while Allisha Gray has added 11 points for the Lunar Owls.

Aliyah Boston and Rae Burrell each have 10 points for the Vinyl after the first half.

Unrivaled score: Lunar Owls 19, Vinyl 14 after first quarter

Napheesa Collier is off to another fast start with seven points and six rebounds for the Lunar Owls, while Arike Ogunbowale has seven points and four rebounds for the Vinyl after the first quarter.

How to watch Unrivaled games Monday night on TV

Unrivaled is available on cable television on TNT in the United States, and TSN+ in Canada.

How to live stream Unrivaled games on Monday night

Unrivaled games are also available to live stream on Max, and internationally on YouTube.

Vinyl (2-1) vs. Lunar Owls (3-0) preview

Collier has been dominant, averaging 31.7 points with 11.7 rebounds through three Unrivaled games for the Lunar Owls, which stayed undefeated against Phantom on Saturday night.

Howard (21.0 points per game) and Dearica Hamby (19.0 ppg) are the third- and fourth-highest scorers in Unrivaled for the Vinyl, which lost its first game to the Laces on Friday night.

Rose (1-2) vs. Laces (3-0) preview

Kayla McBride, of the Laces, is Unrivaled’s second-leading scorer, averaging 23.7 points per game. Laces beat Vinyl on Friday night to stay undefeated.

Rose is led by Kahleah Copper, who has 18.7 points through the club’s first three games. Rose beat Mist on Friday night for its first win.

Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum trade adds intrigue to Unrivaled

One Unrivaled player will be playing for a new WNBA team next season after a blockbuster trade was reported late Sunday night.

The Seattle Storm have reached an agreement to trade Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces in a three-team deal that will send Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks, a person with knowledge of the trade confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.

Seattle will also acquire the No. 2 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft and 6-foot-7 center Li Yueru from the Sparks. Los Angeles also gets the No. 9 pick in 2025 from the Storm, while the Aces get the No. 13 pick in the 2025 draft from the Sparks, according to ESPN.

Loyd and Plum were teammates on the U.S. women’s basketball team that won the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Both are two-time WNBA champions.

Unrivaled second weekend results

Friday

  • Phantom 74, Mist 69: Brittney Griner, Satou Sabally each scored 29 points in the win.
  • Laces 83, Vinyl 79: Tiffany Hayes led the Laces with 26 points.

Saturday

  • Rose 71, Mist 66: Lexie Hull led the Rose with 19 points.
  • Lunar Owls 82, Phantom 58: Collier had 37 points and 18 rebounds in the win.

What is Unrivaled?

Six teams with 36 of the best women’s basketball players in the world, including Sabrina Ionescu and Brittney Griner, will compete in 3-on-3, full court games for the next nine weeks.

Where is Unrivaled playing games?

Games will be played at Wayfair Arena in Medley, Florida, which is in the Miami metropolitan area, about 7 miles from Miami International Airport.

Unrivaled team names and rosters

  • Laces: Stefanie Dolson, Tiffany Hayes, Natisha Hiedeman (relief player contract), Kate Martin, Kayla McBride, Alyssa Thomas, Jackie Young.
  • Lunar Owls: Shakira Austin, Napheesa Collier, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Allisha Gray, Courtney Williams, Cameron Brink (IR).
  • Mist: DiJonai Carrington, Aaliyah Edwards, Rickea Jackson, Jewell Loyd, NaLyssa Smith (relief player contract), Breanna Stewart, Courtney Vandersloot.
  • Phantom: Natasha Cloud, Brittney Griner, Sabrina Ionescu, Marina Mabrey, Satou Sabally, Katie Lou Samuelson.
  • Rose: Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Lexie Hull, Angel Reese, Azura Stevens, Brittney Sykes.
  • Vinyl: Aliyah Boston, Rae Burrell, Jordin Canada, Dearica Hamby, Rhyne Howard, Arike Ogunbowale.

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TGL highlights: Best moments from Tiger Woods vs. Rory McIlroy

Woods’ Jupiter Links Golf Club suffered a loss in their debut match of TGL golf, but the squad made good on their opportunity to bounce back Monday night, beating Rory McIlroy’s Boston Common Golf, 4-3.

McIlroy, teaming up with Adam Scott and Keegan Bradley, put the pressure on Jupiter Links all night. Scott drained a 30-foot putt on the penultimate hole to tie the match. Thankfully for Jupiter Links, Tom Kim was on the lineup Monday. He nearly drained a bunker shot on 15 that would have won the hole, doing just enough to keep things tied and bringing the event to overtime.

Kim led off the closest to the pin overtime and, apropos of the entire night, took the first point. A clutch Kevin Kisner shot later, and Jupiter Links had a win just two weeks after dropping their first match to Los Angeles Golf Club, 12-1.

Here are the best highlights and analysis from the match between Jupiter Links Golf Club and Boston Common Golf in Week 4 of TGL play:

Expert NFL playoff picks: Unique data and betting insights only at USA TODAY

Final: Jupiter Links wins 4-3 (overtime)

It a match that was heralded as Tiger vs. Rory, it all came down to 22-year-old Tom Kim, whose short game gave Jupiter Links what it needed to tie Boston Common, 3-3 in regulation.

Going into overtime, Kim again did enough to secure his side the first point. A nice Kevin Kisner shot from 37 yards out sealed this hard-fought victory.

Overtime: Jupiter Links wins on closest to the pin overtime

The teams get a crack at the hole 36 yards out with an alternate shot format. It’s a best-of-three overtime that goes quickly to Woods’ team.

Keegan Bradley was up first and left the ball 26 feet from the hole. Kim, who has been a star tonight, beats that mark and then some. After Kisner skirts the ball just past the hole, Jupiter Links wins the first two points and takes the match on this exciting night of TGL golf.

Hole 15: We are headed to overtime

Tom Kim has been lights out all day but left his second shot in the bunker. After Keegan Bradley misread his long putt, Kim had an opportunity out of the sand but left it well short. That’s when he nearly pulled a miracle on his fourth shot, leaving the ball just inches from the hole.

Bradley’s next putt was just off the hole, leaving us tied after 15. That means overtime for TGL. It will be a closest to the pin alternate shot.

Hole 14: We are tied again

Kevin Kisner pulled his tee shot just left, leaving him about 30 feet to the hole. Adam Scott needed a little more gas for his shot, leaving the ball 31-feet short of the hole.

With Jupiter Links up by one, Scott looked down at the massive putt and nailed it. With the pressure, 30 feet and dwindling shot clock, Kisner left the putt just wide. That gives the hole to Boston Common. We are tied 3-3 heading into a massive par 5.

Hole 13: Woods, McIlroy engage in short-game duel

After stellar tee shots from both golfers, Woods and McIlroy left their approach shots left of the green. Woods was a good distance off the green, while McIlroy was closer but in a bunker.

Woods would wind up with an 8-foot up-and-down putt, while McIlroy flew his bunker shot nine feet past the hole. McIlroy would go first, putting insane pressure on Woods, and the pressure doubled the moment Boston threw the hammer.

Woods was ready for the challenge though, quickly accepting the hammer. It was close. Woods’ putt circled around the hole, but Woods came up big, sinking the par putt and keeping his team out in front. It remains 3-2 Jupiter Links.

Hole 12: Tom Kim is remarkable

Kim has been the best golfer all night, and that didn’t stop on Hole 12. Kim left his tee shot mere feet away from the hole, the closest approach shot in TGL history.

Keegan Bradley needed to sink a 22-foot putt for the tie, but it pushed just right. For the first time in TGL history, Jupiter Links has a lead. It’s 3-2.

Hole 11: Kisner wins!

Through two matches, Kevin Kisner has been a bit of a laughingstock in TGL, but the tables turned on Adam Scott after he chunked his approach shot. Tiger Woods threw the hammer, trying to leap frog over Boston, but the hammer was denied, giving Jupiter only a single point.

Kisner comes up clutch, and we’re tied up once again. 2-2.

Hole 10: Charlie Woods helps Tiger, but it wasn’t enough

For the first hole of singles, Tiger Woods opted for a driver off the tee instead of playing it safe with a 5-wood. It turns out that advice came from Tiger’s son, Charlie. Woods smoked his first and second shots, leaving him in position for a long eagle putt.

Unfortunately for Woods, McIlroy was able to match those shots. Woods lasered his first putt far past the hole. McIlroy left his putt just right and picked it up for birdie. Woods needed to sink an 8.5-foot putt to tie the hole, but a shot clock violation, the first in TGL history, would render the putt void. It was an anticlimactic finish to the hole, but Boston Common retakes the lead. It’s 2-1.

In all fairness, Woods pulled the putt left anyway.

Hole 9: Boston Common birdie is matched by Jupiter Links

Keegan Bradley has not played particularly well all day, but that didn’t matter on Hole 9. Putting 11 feet from the hole, Bradley drilled the birdie putt to put pressure on Kim to keep it tied.

Kim, who has been undoubtedly the best golfer on either team so far, rose to the occasion, nailing an 8-foot putt for a birdie of their own. After zero birdies two weeks ago, Jupiter Links now has two birdies through the first nine holes, as this one is still tied at one apiece heading into singles.

Hole 8: No greens in regulation, doesn’t matter

Both teams had an opportunity to grab the lead, but both Keegan Bradley and Tom Kim sailed their approach shots. That led to rough shots back onto the green from McIlroy and Woods.

Yet somehow, miraculously even, Adam Scott was able to sink an 11-foot putt for par, prompting a hammer throw from Boston. Kevin Kisner needed to drill a 10-foot putt to keep it tied, and somehow, miraculously even, Kisner came up clutch. They may have each reached the green in three, but long par putts for both squads keep this matchup tied.

Hole 7: Woods’ tee shot nearly dooms Jupiter Links

After finally tying the contest up, Woods put Kevin Kisner in a tough situation immediately, shooting the ball over the green, forcing Kisner to shoot up a hill to get on the green. McIlroy, meanwhile, put the ball just 15 feet from the hole.

Despite an excellent second shot from Kisner, Adam Scott was able to put the second shot right next to the hole. Kim needed to sink a 9.5-foot putt to keep it tied. He drilled it.

Arguably the biggest putt of the night keeps it tied as we approach the Par 4 8th hole.

Hole 6: Boston bogeys, Jupiter scores

After an atrocious start to the hole, Jupiter was left with an 11-foot putt for birdie while Boston had already finished the hole at bogey. Although Kisner missed the putt, it was close enough for Boston to concede.

We’re tied once again, 1-1.

Hole 5: Hammer thrown yet again

Jupiter Links waited until Keegan Bradley missed his 23-foot birdie putt, but the moment that putt came to rest, the hammer came out and Tom Kim had an 18-foot putt to win the hole. He left it right.

McIlroy needed to sink a 5-foot putt to tie the hole, and he drilled it. The hammer has now changed hands four times, but the score remains 1-0 Boston Common.

Hole 4: Kisner hits his best TGL shot, Scott outshines him

After solid tee shots from both McIlroy and Woods, Kevin Kisner had the best shot of his TGL career, leaving Jupiter Links just a few feet short of the green on a Par 5. Kisner claimed he hit it fat, but it was undoubtedly the best shot he’s taken at TGL.

Then, Adam Scott came up for Boston Common and had to ruin the moment. He not only hit the green but left his teammates just 13 feet from the hole with an opportunity for the first eagle in TGL history. That didn’t come to be though. After the missed eagle attempt, Woods hit a medium distance putt for the first birdie in Jupiter Links history. Alas, it still was not enough to pull even with Boston Common.

Hole 3: Boston Common takes the lead

After Jupiter Links’ tee shot wound up in the bunker, it was up to Tiger Woods to get onto the green in two. He couldn’t. Woods chunked the ball, leaving it in the same place it started. Boston Common earned the easy win after that. For the first time tonight, there is a score.

1-0 Boston heading into hole 4.

Hole 2: Boston Common avoids penalty, stays tied

Jupiter Links wanted a penalty after Keegan Bradley hit a horrid second shot behind the digital spectators. Alas, no such penalty was added, and Boston Common still had the opportunity to win the hole after reaching the green in three.

Although Jupiter Links was not on the green at the time, they still felt confident to win the hole. They threw the hammer, but Kevin Kisner messed up his putt, forcing Tom Kim to sink a tough putt to put the pressure on Boston Common.

Keegan Bradly sunk a three foot, five inch putt to keep it knotted at 0-0.

Hole 1: McIlroy’s hammer backfires

After terrific opening drives from Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, subpar second shots gave Keegan Bradley and Tom Kim opportunities to set their captains up for pars.

Unfortunately, after Woods missed the par putt for Jupiter Links, McIlroy threw his hammer, doubling the point total for the hole and leaving McIlroy an opportunity to win the hole with a five-foot putt.

McIlroy lipped out though, giving the hammer to Woods and company as we head to Hole 2 still tied.

WATCH: Rory McIlroy walks out for TGL debut

If there was any time for TGL co-founder Rory McIlroy to make his debut, having it come against fellow co-founder Tiger Woods was certainly the correct play.

Two weeks after Tiger Woods made his first walkout to ‘Eye of the Tiger’, McIlroy and his team walked out to Dropkick Murphys’ hit song ‘I’m shipping up to Boston,’ a fitting tune for a Boston Common Golf team.

The tune certainly had fans getting in the mood for what should be an awesome showdown.

When is the TGL match between Tiger Woods’ and Rory McIlroy’s teams?

Tiger Woods and Jupiter Links Golf Club finally take on Rory McIlroy and Boston Common Golf in a much anticipated TGL match scheduled for Monday at 6:30 p.m. ET at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

How to watch the TGL match between Tiger Woods vs. Rory McIlroy

The TGL match between Tiger Woods’ Jupiter Links Golf Club and Rory McIlroy’s Boston Common Golf will be televised nationally on ESPN with streaming available on ESPN+.

Live streaming is also available on Fubo, which has a free trial.

Watch TGL action with a Fubo subscription

TGL: Jupiter Links GC vs. Boston Common Golf odds

Boston Common Golf are favorites to defeat Jupiter Links Golf Club, according to BetMGM.

Odds as of Monday, Jan. 27

  • Moneyline: Boston Common Golf (-225); Jupiter Links Golf Club (+175)

TGL odds tournament winner

Atlanta Drive GC and Los Angeles Golf Club are favored to win the inaugural season, according to the latest BetMGM odds.

  • Atlanta Drive GC (+300)
  • Los Angeles Golf Club (+300)
  • Boston Common Golf (+375)
  • The Bay Golf Club (+400)
  • Jupiter Links Golf Club (+750)
  • New York Golf Club (+1000)

TGL predictions: Los Angeles Golf Club vs. Jupiter Links Golf Club

ClutchPoints: Boston Common Golf 

Cameron Zunkel writes, ‘It is easy to fall in love with Tiger Woods. However, it is time to admit that he (is) not the same Tiger anymore. Kevin Kisner is also struggling big time. I do not think Tom Kim is enough to lift Jupiter Links GC to a win here. I will take Boston Common Golf to beat Jupiter Links GC.’

Covers: Boston Common Golf to lead after 9 holes

Neil Parker writes: ‘We’ve been lucky to pick off short numbers on the better team the past two weeks, and sportsbooks even had the wrong team pegged as the favorite in the season opener. That’s not the case for this matchup.

‘Boston is rightfully saddled with a sizable vig, and I have no problem recommending backing Rory and company at -188 through FanDuel or bet365 considering DraftKings and Caesars have the number at -230. Still, we’ve seen the better team pull away during the alternate-shot holes in three consecutive matches, and I expect Boston to do just that again.’

Sports Illustrated: 2 Units on Boston Common (based on -235 odds)

Iain MacMillan writes, ‘Kim, at his best, can hang with the likes of McIlroy, Keegan Bradley, and Adam Scott, but the South Korean is coming into this match finishing T65 at the Sony Open and missing the cut at the American Express. That’s a bad sign for his form and leaves Jupiter Links with little ability to hang with a far superior Boston Common squad.

‘I feel comfortable laying two units on Boston Common on Monday night.’

Boston Common Golf vs. Jupiter Links Golf Club: Who is playing in tonight’s TGL match?

Boston Common Golf will send out Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott and Keegan Bradley for tonight’s match. Jupiter Links Golf Club counters with Tiger Woods, Tom Kim and Kevin Kisner.

What is TGL?

TGL unofficially stands for TMRW Golf League, in reference to the company (TMRW Sports) that Woods, McIlroy and Mike McCarley started to get the league and several other projects off the ground

It is a new tech-infused golf league, partnering with the PGA Tour, that combines the latest in golf technology with in-person competition. TGL’s format is designed to, in Woods’ words, ‘bring a fresh, modern, and fast-paced twist to the game we all love so much.’

It will include a shot clock, timeouts, and both team and individual match play. The league will be comprised of six teams, with four players on each team for the inaugural 2025 season. — Steve Gardner

Is Tiger Woods playing TGL golf?

Woods and the Jupiter Links Club face Rory McIlroy and Boston Common Golf. This will be the second match for Woods’ team. Jupiter Links last played on Tuesday, Jan. 14 in a losing effort against Los Angeles Golf Club, 12-1.

Monday marks the debut match for McIlroy and company that send out the star golfer alongside teammates Adam Scott and Keegan Bradley.

TGL teams: Rosters for debut golf league

Here are the six teams and their players competing in the first season of TGL:

Atlanta Drive GC

  • Patrick Cantlay
  • Lucas Glover
  • Billy Horschel
  • Justin Thomas

Boston Common Golf

  • Keegan Bradley
  • Hideki Matsuyama
  • Rory McIlroy
  • Adam Scott

The Bay Golf Club

  • Ludvig Åberg
  • Wyndham Clark
  • Shane Lowry
  • Min Woo Lee

Jupiter Links Golf Club

  • Max Homa
  • Tom Kim
  • Kevin Kisner
  • Tiger Woods

Los Angeles Golf Club

  • Tommy Fleetwood
  • Collin Morikawa
  • Justin Rose
  • Sahith Theegala

New York Golf Club

  • Matt Fitzpatrick
  • Rickie Fowler
  • Xander Schauffele
  • Cameron Young

TGL format: Rules for the inaugural season

Each TGL match is a competitive showcase of skill and strategy, consisting of two intense sessions. The first session is a nine-hole, 3-on-3 alternate-shot format known as ‘triples.’ In the second session, golfers compete in singles, going head-to-head over six holes, with each player playing two holes. A shot clock set to 40 seconds adds to the pressure, as any shot clock violation incurs a one-stroke penalty.

Each hole is worth one point. If the teams are tied at the end of regulation, the match will proceed to overtime. During overtime, players compete head-to-head, and the team that lands their shot closest to the pin will be declared the winner. — Elizabeth Flores

TGL schedule, results

All Times Eastern

TGL regular season

Tuesday, Jan. 7

  • The Bay Golf Club def. New York Golf Club, 9-2

Tuesday, Jan. 14

  • Los Angeles Golf Club def. Jupiter Links Golf Club, 12-1

Tuesday, Jan. 21

  • Atlanta Drive GC def. New York Golf Club, 4-0

Monday, Jan. 27

  • Jupiter Links Golf Club vs. Boston Common Golf, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Tuesday, Feb. 4

  • Boston Common Golf vs. Los Angeles Golf Club, 9 p.m. (ESPN)

Monday, Feb. 17

  • Atlanta Drive GC vs. Los Angeles Golf Club, 1 p.m. (ESPN)
  • Atlanta Drive GC vs. The Bay Golf Club, 4 p.m. (ESPN)
  • The Bay Golf Club vs. Boston Common Golf, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

Tuesday, Feb. 18

  • Jupiter Links Golf Club vs. New York Golf Club, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Monday, Feb. 24

  • Los Angeles Golf Club vs. New York Golf Club, 5 p.m. (ESPN2)
  • Boston Common Golf vs Atlanta Drive GC, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)

Tuesday, Feb. 25

  • The Bay Golf Club vs. Jupiter Links Golf Club, 9 p.m. (ESPN)

Monday, March 3

  • The Bay Golf Club vs. Los Angeles Golf Club, 3 p.m. (ESPN2)
  • New York Golf Club vs. Boston Common Golf, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

Tuesday, March 4

  • Jupiter Links Golf Club vs. Atlanta Drive GC, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

TGL semifinals

∎ March 17-18

The top four teams in the SoFi Cup standings compete in the semifinals.

TGL championship

∎ March 24-25

The championship series will be a best-of-three matches.

TGL location

All TGL matches will be played at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. This venue, which spans 250,000 square feet, is a state-of-the-art technology center located on the campus of Palm Beach State College. The new facility can accommodate around 1,500 fans across three golf courses. — Elizabeth Flores

TGL golf ratings

‘(The TGL) has averaged 869,000 viewers through its first three weeks. That’s a 50 percent jump compared to the same time slot on ESPN in 2024, per Joe Pompliano. And as he points out, this stat is more impressive.’

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