The NFL season is back, and clean uniforms are arriving with it.
In the first game of the 2025 NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles are keeping it traditional. Dallas is donning its white uniforms, and Philadelphia is rocking midnight green threads with white pants as it begins its Super Bowl-defending quest.
It’s a similar pattern for the league’s first Brazil game, with a powder blue jersey, gold pant combination from the Los Angeles Chargers, while the Kansas City Chiefs are sticking to their classic look.
Uniform heat increases Sunday as New Orleans is debuting its “Gameday Gold” look against the Arizona Cardinals. It’s the first time since 2002 that the Saints are wearing gold on the field. The latest design is a modernized version of the original. New Orleans is also painting its end zones gold for the occasion.
🧊 BRITCHES REPORT 🧊: The @Titans will be decked out in all white – white jerseys, white britches and all white socks – in Sunday’s season opener at the @Broncos. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/rkzeF2Z73n
Jeremy Fowler is a senior national NFL writer for ESPN, covering the entire league including breaking news. Jeremy also contributes to SportsCenter both as a studio analyst and a sideline reporter covering for NFL games. He is an Orlando, Florida native who joined ESPN in 2014 after covering college football for CBSSports.com.
Dan Graziano is a senior NFL national reporter for ESPN, covering the entire league and breaking news. Dan also contributes to Get Up, NFL Live, SportsCenter, ESPN Radio, Sunday NFL Countdown and Fantasy Football Now. He is a New Jersey native who joined ESPN in 2011, and he is also the author of two published novels.
Sep 4, 2025, 06:10 AM ET
Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season is finally here, and league insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano are breaking down the biggest questions, latest news and notable buzz heading into the season opener.
The top story of the past week was the Cowboys trading star edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Packers last Thursday. Now that the dust has settled a bit, where does that leave Dallas? Jeremy and Dan checked in with sources around the league.
But they have more ahead of Week 1. Our insiders also made picks for under-the-radar teams that could make the playoffs, predicted which players could break out in Week 1, pointed out coaching situations that need fast starts and even gave some fantasy football advice based on what they are hearing. It’s all here, as Dan and Jeremy answer big questions and empty their reporting notebooks with the latest heading into Week 1.
What are people in the league saying about the ceiling for this Parsons-less Dallas team in 2025?
Graziano: I think the offense is expected to be good as long as quarterback Dak Prescott stays healthy. The addition of wide receiver George Pickens makes the Cowboys potentially explosive in the passing game, and while their running back room might be uninspiring, they’ll run effectively if the offensive line performs.
There’s obviously curiosity about whether the Cowboys can generate a consistent pass rush post-Parsons, but Dallas coaches would point out that they had already begun building their defense without him in training camp, as he didn’t participate. The Cowboys believe their defense is in a good place in terms of learning the scheme. There’s skepticism around the league, but I don’t think anyone is writing them off completely. When Prescott has been healthy, they’ve generally been a playoff team.
Fowler: People inside the league are not as down on Dallas as fans and media seem to be right now. The loss of Parsons hurts, but the Cowboys have been a sneaky good drafting team over the past decade and have three former Day 2 edge rusher picks — Sam Williams, Marshawn Kneeland and Donovan Ezeiruaku — ready to go. The roster has talent. And the Pickens addition received attention around the league. Evaluators know how good he can be in 2025 in a contract year with a proven quarterback. Despite all that, Philadelphia and Washington are considered a cut above in the division, which seems right.
Graziano: And that’s fair. But it has been 21 years since a team repeated as NFC East champion, so that takes Philly out of the mix! And if Washington takes a step back, who knows? This could be one of those NFC East seasons where you don’t need 12 or 13 wins to take the title, which sets up well for the Cowboys.
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2:16
Why Stephen A. is still baffled Jerry Jones let Micah Parsons leave
Stephen A. Smith details why the Micah Parsons trade was an egregious deal.
Who’s your pick for an under-the-radar team that will make the playoffs?
Fowler:New England Patriots. Mike Vrabel’s presence has already paid off. Quarterback Drake Maye is poised for a Year 2 jump. The defensive tackle duo of Christian Barmore and Milton Williams has a chance to be special. Two of their AFC East rivals (Dolphins and Jets) appear to be in transition. Running back TreVeyon Henderson has the explosiveness to break off big runs. And Josh McDaniels is a proven playcaller.
Offensive line and wide receiver remain concerns, but New England has made efforts to address both spots. The Patriots haven’t produced a 1,000-yard receiver since Julian Edelman in 2019. For this to work, someone — paging Stefon Diggs — needs to break that streak. A wild-card spot feels attainable.
Graziano:Arizona Cardinals. The NFC West teams could finish the season in any order and it wouldn’t surprise me. Arizona is in Year 3 with Jonathan Gannon as head coach and Drew Petzing as offensive coordinator, and the fact that they didn’t change any offensive personnel in the offseason indicates they believe they’re on track there. Quarterback Kyler Murray is another year removed from his knee injury and has one more offseason working in Petzing’s system. So if it doesn’t hum this season, you must wonder how long ownership will stick with the plan.
Defensively, they made some aggressive additions, signing away edge rusher Josh Sweat from the Super Bowl champs, using a second-round pick on cornerback Will Johnson (who slipped in the draft because of injury concerns) and bringing back the ageless Calais Campbell. It’s time for Arizona to show it can move beyond being a team that hovers around .500 and fades in December.
Which player is going to come out of nowhere in Week 1 — and make an impact all season?
Graziano: It could be Jaguars running back Bhayshul Tuten. I don’t know how the Jaguars’ running back room will shake out, and I’m not sure they do yet, either. Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby are the incumbents, but the Jags drafted Tuten in the fourth round and LeQuint Allen Jr., who profiles as a third-down back, in the seventh. The veterans might get the first shot, but the new front office and coaching staff drafted Tuten and Allen and have plans for them.
Tuten is the most explosive of the group — a “home run hitter” in the Jaguars’ eyes. If he’s able to pick up the offense and acclimate to the NFL quickly, that explosiveness could lead to greater opportunities sooner rather than later.
Fowler: Great pick. I’ll go with 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall. The 49ers’ receiver room has been decimated by injury, with Brandon Aiyuk still recovering from last season’s knee injury and Jauan Jennings (calf) potentially needing time to ramp up after recently returning to the lineup. And word out of San Francisco is that Pearsall is poised for a Year 2 jump. The 49ers have been a top-five passing offense during Brock Purdy‘s two full seasons as starting quarterback, so chances at chunk yardage will be there. Kyle Shanahan will make it so.
Another player to watch is rookie Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt. He might be Washington’s RB4 right now, but every time I asked somebody there about their backfield plans, Croskey-Merritt was mentioned early and often. The Commanders are very high on him.
Graziano: I’m also curious to see what the Browns have planned for third-round rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. A ludicrously productive tight end in college, Fannin was used in a variety of ways at Bowling Green and the Browns say they believe they can deploy him all over the formation. He’s likely to team with David Njoku in the two-tight-end formations coach Kevin Stefanski loves to use. Fannin probably will stay on the field if he shows he can handle blocking responsibilities. And if he can consistently get open, that probably will earn him more targets from Joe Flacco or whomever else ends up playing QB for the Browns this season.
Fowler: Here’s a deep-cut sleeper for you … Cardinals edge rusher Jordan Burch. His name came up a few times when I’ve asked scouts for Rookie of the Year candidates, so don’t be surprised if the third-round pick makes an early impact. Arizona has some sneaky-good talent, so it’s up to some of the recent draft picks to flash greatness.
Which head coach most needs a strong start in September?
Fowler: The Giants’ Brian Daboll. Any coach with a 19-33-1 record through three seasons could use early momentum. Ownership has been patient with the Giants’ rebuild, and this was Daboll’s first offseason with a high-pedigree rookie quarterback to develop. The early returns on Jaxson Dart are very good, so I’m not labeling September some sort of win-this-month-or-else scenario.
But the schedule is tough. The first four opponents — Commanders, Cowboys, Chiefs and Chargers — won a combined 45 games last season. Setting a tone against that gauntlet would be useful. The Giants’ roster has improved, and the team has a defensive line good enough to dictate terms of victory.
Graziano: Hot-seat talk in early September is dicey, so I’ll start with the disclaimer that I have no inside information to make me think these guys are in any immediate trouble. But given the Bengals’ aspirations and their history of poor September starts under Zac Taylor, he could use a strong start if only for his own sanity.
Fowler: For sure, a fast start would take the pressure off in Cincy. I’d also argue that Colts coach Shane Steichen fits the mold. Picking Daniel Jones over Anthony Richardson Sr. at quarterback was a bold move, considering the franchise’s investment in Richardson as the No. 4 pick in 2023. But Steichen believes Jones gives the Colts the best chance to win. Proving that to be correct early would ease tension.
Graziano: One more. This team gives coaches a lot of runway, but the Cowboys’ hiring of Brian Schottenheimer was widely criticized outside of the building. It was well-received inside the building, where Schottenheimer is well-liked and respected. People are excited to see him get his chance. But to the extent that the Cowboys care about outside opinions, a Thursday night upset in Philadelphia and a fast start would go a long way toward making the Schottenheimer move look good.
What is one thing you heard this preseason that could help fantasy managers win their leagues?
Graziano: I’m drafting Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka everywhere I can. The Bucs loved him before picking in the first round in April, and they’ve grown to covet him even more since. They believe he can play any of the wide receiver positions in their offense, which is a good thing because Chris Godwin Jr. still isn’t back from last year’s gruesome season-ending injury and Jalen McMillan is out for a while because of a neck injury.
Expect the Bucs to use Egbuka in the slot and on the outside as needed. Given how mature and polished a player they already believe him to be, he could get a ton of targets in one of the league’s top offenses and hold onto a starting role even when Tampa’s receiver corps is back to full strength.
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1:13
Will Emeka Egbuka be a top-25 fantasy WR this season?
Daniel Dopp breaks down Emeka Egbuka’s chances of becoming a top-25 fantasy WR.
Fowler: Rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden should get a lot of targets, too. The Packers’ first-round pick has greatly impressed coaches so far. “Phenomenal,” one Packers source told me of Golden’s presence. “Makes a wow play every day.” Golden is listed as a starter already and the Packers aren’t hiding their affection for him. It’s not like one of those situations where you hear, “Oh, he’s a rookie, he’s coming along.” It’s, “No, this guy can play.” The Packers will utilize two-tight-end sets often and Romeo Doubs is still a prime option, but Golden’s talent looks undeniable.
Also, Panthers receiver Xavier Legette, a first-rounder from 2024, will be a factor in Carolina. Teammate Jaycee Horn told me Legette reminds him of A.J. Brown with his combination of physicality and speed.
What else are you hearing this week?
Graziano’s notes:
Based on everything I’ve been told this week, I would be shocked if Parsons doesn’t play in some fashion for the Packers against the Lions on Sunday. It’s too soon for Parsons to know the entire defense, and he probably isn’t in football shape yet since he didn’t practice in training camp. But the Packers should be able to draw up a play package that maximizes Parsons’ impact as an edge rusher in key situations, then continue ramping him up during the early weeks of the season.
The Chiefs are very excited by how rookie left tackle Josh Simmons has performed this summer. One person I spoke to mentioned Simmons’ ability to recover mid-play when he’s beaten off the snap. Coaches say he doesn’t make the same mistake twice, and though some growing pains should be expected, the Chiefs have a high degree of trust in their first-round pick’s ability to protect Patrick Mahomes‘ blind side. With 2024 second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia moving inside to left guard, the Chiefs consider themselves more solid on the offensive line than they were last season, when they ended up having to play veteran guard Joe Thuney at left tackle during the postseason and were exposed against the Eagles in the Super Bowl.
One unresolved under-the-radar contract situation to watch is that of Steelers veteran defensive lineman Cameron Heyward. Heyward adjusted his contract last year, and as a result his 2025 salary of $13.25 million is about half of what the top defensive tackles in the league earn. He has been practicing but also made it clear he wants a raise. This could get resolved before Sunday’s opener, and the relationship between the team and their 14-year veteran mainstay is strong enough that it’s hard to imagine him sitting out the game. But as with any player, his leverage only increases if he forces the team to confront life without him — especially with rookie first-rounder Derrick Harmon set to sit out Sunday’s game because of an injury. The Steelers probably could resolve this by adding some cash and reachable incentives. Until then, it’s worth keeping an eye on.
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1:05
J.J. Watt to McAfee: Anticipation is building around Steelers
J.J. Watt tells Pat McAfee there’s growing anticipation around the Steelers’ offense and Aaron Rodgers.
If both offensive coordinators have their way, the Steelers-Jets game could be over in less than 2½ hours. Both teams want to run the ball and keep the other team’s offense off the field. The Steelers are putting an offense together around a young line and a 41-year-old quarterback in Aaron Rodgers who signed in June. It could take some time for it to come together. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith probably will design a conservative game plan against the tough Jets defense to put Rodgers in do-no-harm situations in an attempt to steal a road win.
As for the Jets, my understanding is that the offense plans to employ a run-heavy, keep-away style leaning on running backs Breece Hall, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, along with quarterback Justin Fields‘ running ability. The Jets hope to get early leads and lean on their strengths. At some point, Fields will have to make plays from the pocket in big third-down spots. If his ability to do that surpasses expectations, the Jets could maybe expand their offense from there. But in the meantime, expect them to run, run and run some more.
We mentioned above that the Cardinals’ offense remains mostly intact from what it was entering last season. The one new guy is right guard Isaiah Adams, who started the final five games of last season. But there was one key departure that people around the league noticed — offensive line coach Klayton Adams, who was hired as the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator. Adams had a significant role in the design and implementation of the Cardinals’ run game the past two seasons; only the Ravens and Eagles have rushed for more yards in that span than Arizona. It also thinks highly of new offensive line coach Justin Frye, who held the same role for Ohio State last season, but this is Frye’s first NFL job after 18 years as a college assistant. The Cardinals did retain assistant offensive line coach Chris Cook, who came in with Gannon and Petzing in 2023, so there’s some continuity. But working with Jeff Saturday for the past half-decade or so has drilled into my mind the importance of the offensive line coach, so I have half an eye on this situation.
With no sense of when Joe Mixonmight return from his injury, the Texans are piecing things together at running back. They kept five backs — Nick Chubb, Dameon Pierce, Dare Ogunbowale, British Brooks and fourth-round rookie Woody Marks. Chubb seems to be the starter for now, but he hasn’t shown the same explosiveness post-injury that he had earlier in his career, which could open the door for Pierce or Marks to take on a larger role. It’ll be interesting to see how many of these guys are active on game days, since Brooks and Pierce are too valuable on special teams to be inactive. But until someone steps up and shows more than they have so far, expect the Texans to use the run game to set up a passing game they believe will be more dynamic in C.J. Stroud‘s third year than it was in a disappointing 2024 that led to the firing of offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.
Fowler’s notes:
Week 1 can create urgency for contract extensions that teams or players slow-played over the past four months. That happened in Tampa Bay on Tuesday, when the Bucs reached agreement on a four-year, $90 million extension with right tackle Luke Goedeke. The Bucs identified Goedeke as a player they’d like to keep long term, and a recent comp — the Packers’ Zach Tom at four years, $88 million — informed the right tackle market. With Goedeke extended, here are a handful of candidates I’m keeping my eye on: Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, Cowboys guard Tyler Smith, Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor, Rams safety Quentin Lake and Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers.
Hutchinson will capitalize on the ballooning pass-rush market, and the Lions have begun discussions with him. Dallas wants to allocate some of the money saved by the Parsons trade for Smith, arguably the league’s best guard. Taylor and Lake are ascending defensive backs their teams value beyond this season. There’s a chance Las Vegas and Meyers, the Raiders’ de facto No. 1 receiver coming off a 1,000-yard season despite uneven quarterback play, could come to an agreement despite Meyers recently asking for a trade. And while cornerback Trent McDuffie and the Chiefs won’t reach a new deal by Week 1, via our Nate Taylor, McDuffie is the type of cornerstone player Kansas City would like to keep. This one has challenges — McDuffie is considered small as an outside corner — but many league evaluators consider him a top-five cornerback, and players of that caliber usually get paid.
The Anthony Richardson situation is one I will watch closely throughout the season. Richardson’s agent, Deiric Jackson — who publicly questioned trust in the Colts to our Stephen Holder after Richardson lost the QB battle to Jones — met in person last week with Colts general manager Chris Ballard to clear the air. Jackson called the meeting “very constructive,” and just a chance for sides to “let feelings be known.” Though a trade was not requested, the topic was broached in this meeting. Ballard reinforced that Indy has no plans to trade Richardson and still believes in the quarterback.
Richardson isn’t making any waves — he will remain professional, backing up Jones and maintaining his readiness. But part of his camp’s frustration is that all parties acknowledge patience would be required when Richardson was drafted. He entered the league with one year as a full-time high school starter and one year as a starter at Florida. He has admitted publicly that his leadership and maturity were not up to par in 2024, which contributed to his in-season benching. But despite that, Richardson is 8-7 as an NFL starter, including two fourth-quarter comebacks late last season. He also worked on improving his regimen, leadership, mechanics, diet and ability to layer short-to-intermediate throws, resulting in improvement in camp that ultimately wasn’t enough to win the job. But the Colts know Richardson has a chance to play this season. This situation feels far from settled — and raises questions about how franchises fail young quarterbacks along the way.
A few notes from the Parsons fallout. One team that inquired about Parsons’ availability but ultimately didn’t pursue aggressively was Carolina. The Panthers made a call but did not formally offer a trade package to Dallas. Carolina would have made sense because the Cowboys were looking for a premier defensive tackle, which Carolina has in Derrick Brown. … In our reporting, multiple team execs believed that Parsons was intrigued by several teams in the process, including the Ravens and Chiefs. This was moot — the Cowboys were focused on getting the best deal they could. And the Chiefs were never in it. But it’s noteworthy nonetheless. … Also, don’t be surprised if Green Bay eventually moves former first-round pick Lukas Van Ness inside in certain packages as Parsons gets acclimated. Van Ness’ frame (6-foot-5, 272 pounds) gives him some positional flexibility.
Chargers running back Najee Harris (eye) has jumped right back into the fray upon returning from his injury. He has practiced fully since returning to the lineup and was cleared for contact this past Friday. The Chargers have been pleased with his progress and the Chiefs have prepared with the assumption Harris will be in the lineup Friday. Rookie Omarion Hampton has impressed this camp, and I’m expecting enough carries to go around for both in Greg Roman’s offense.
As far as the Chiefs, don’t be surprised if familiar faces Isiah Pacheco and JuJu Smith-Schuster are factors in Brazil. Pacheco looks healthy and is running hard. And with Rashee Ricesuspended for six games, the Chiefs trust Smith-Schuster in their three-receiver sets. Not sure how many targets he’ll get, but he’ll be a factor. And Mahomes looks ready to fire off some explosive plays. He is coming off one of his better camps, playing “fast, fun and free” as one team source said, and getting back to creatively trying difficult plays that only he can make. Perhaps that’s an experimental practice thing, but Kansas City believes Mahomes is close to hitting those explosive plays on a regular basis again.
Now that we’re past the preseason, watch for the Bears to flash some creativity to maximize quarterback Caleb Williams. My sense from people in Chicago is that while head coach Ben Johnson would coach Williams relentlessly on the basics throughout camp, they would eventually play to Williams’ strengths, utilizing his mobility and off-platform throwing as an off-script playmaker. Bears fans could see more of that in the regular season.
Expect the Bengals’ offense to be ultra-aggressive to start Sunday’s game against the Browns. Despite a maligned defense, Taylor has challenged his offense to get off to faster starts so that the defense can aggressively pursue the quarterback while holding a lead. Quarterback Joe Burrow has taken to that sentiment, setting the tone with one of his best — and healthiest — training camps. Cincinnati also believes its defense will be better than fans and media do. The Bengals have worked on shoring up tackling issues and playing more as a unit.
NEW YORK — NEW YORK (AP) — Coco Gauff was surprised at how much tinier the replica trophy she got to keep after winning this year’s French Open was than the trophy she posed with on court at Roland-Garros for all the world to see. She even did a TikTok about the discrepancy, drawing more than 2 million views.
Why was Gauff so taken aback by what she called the “ miniature version ”?
“I honestly did not know the size it was going to be. … I know you never really take the original, but when I won the U.S. Open, they gave me the same size (trophy), with my name engraved on it,” Gauff told The Associated Press. “So I just assumed that Roland Garros would be the same.”
Actually, it turns out Gauff’s 2023 championship at the U.S. Open marked the first time the women’s singles winner in New York was given a silver cup significantly larger than the one that is used in the postmatch ceremony. Her replica hardware is 19 1/2 inches tall, the same as both the original and keepsake men’s trophies — and 7 1/2 inches bigger than the original women’s trophy.
That one, like the original men’s, is displayed during the tournament in a locked glass box near where players enter the event’s main arena and will be briefly handed to, then taken away from, whoever wins the women’s final in Arthur Ashe Stadium this Saturday.
From 1987, when the tradition of providing keepsakes at Flushing Meadows began, until two years ago, the female champion took home a 12-inch-tall copy. But the U.S. Tennis Association asked Tiffany & Co. to create replicas for the women to match the size of what the men are allowed to keep. That change coincided with the 50th anniversary of the tournament’s 1973 move to pay equal prize money to women and men at then-player Billie Jean King’s urging.
“Equality is in our DNA here at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Everything we do, we’re very intentional about equality … and we wanted to do the same as it relates to the champion’s trophies,” U.S. Open tournament director Stacey Allaster said in an interview.
“We had a very robust conversation: Should we recreate a new women’s singles champion’s trophy? In the end, we made the decision to stay with history and to not change the trophy itself, but to ensure that the replica trophy was of the same size as the men’s,” said Allaster, who is the chief executive of professional tennis at the USTA. “Trophies are so iconic to the history of this championships, and we just didn’t feel it was the right thing to move away from that history, but … (we wanted) to be able to award the singles champions the same sizes.”
King wasn’t aware of the switch until the AP asked her about it.
“I did not know they did that. It’s fantastic. It’s equal,” King said. “It sends very positive messaging that we matter just as much. Our trophy’s just as big.”
STRAFFAN, Ireland — Rory McIlroy bogeyed two of his last three holes and faded to a 1-under 71 in the first round of the Irish Open on Thursday in his latest homecoming.
The world No. 2, who attracted the biggest galleries of the day at The K Club, was looking to sharpen up his game a few weeks out from the Ryder Cup in Bethpage Black, where the Northern Irishman is expected to be Europe’s key player once again.
McIlroy said he was encouraged at how he played — he birdied four of his first nine holes after starting at No. 10 — and performed “better than what the score reflects.” His finish hurt him most, missing the green at Nos. 7 and 8 and failing to get up and down for par.
“Game feels pretty good,” McIlroy said, adding: “Just a matter of being more efficient with the scoring.”
McIlroy, who was in Northern Ireland in July for the British Open at Royal Portrush, was five strokes off the clubhouse lead held by Nacho Elvira, whose 66 was bogey-free and contained birdies in four of his last six holes.
The Spaniard was one shot ahead of Bernd Wiesberger, Daniel Brown and Adrien Saddier.
Ireland’s Shane Lowry, another member of Europe’s Ryder Cup team, was playing in front of his home crowd and birdied three of his last six holes to shoot 69.
An unbeaten domestic season and a treble was quite the first year in English football for Sonia Bompastor, but one the eve of the new campaign, she’s not ready for Chelsea’s domestic dominance to end just yet.
Bompastor stepped into Emma Hayes’ shoes at Chelsea effortlessly last season, delivering a sixth successive Women’s Super League title to west London. The Blues added FA Cup and League Cup glory to the title and they also became the first team in the WSL’s 22-game era to go a whole campaign without defeat.
However, for Bompastor, whose side open their title defence against Man City live on Sky Sports on Friday, it’s in the past now as she looks to build on the foundations of last season’s success.
Live WSL
Friday 5th September 6:30pm
“I had, and we had as a club, an incredible summer,” Bompastor told Sky Sports. “It was a really good time to reflect, and it was extremely important for us to do that as a club.
“In terms of results, we were really happy with that first season. It’s important for us to realise that it wasn’t an easy one because the club was in a transitional moment, and being able to win a treble, winning all the domestic trophies, was a great achievement.
“But now we are back to a new season. Everything is new again and we need to compete against good teams in the most competitive league, and we are ready for that.”
Bompastor in ‘better place’ with Chelsea this year
Image: Bompastor believes she is in a better position heading into her second season in charge at Chelsea
This time last year, there was a perception that Chelsea’s dominance could be under threat.
Bompastor was new in the job after replacing the iconic Hayes, who had overseen five successive WSL titles, but the former Lyon boss hit the ground running as they went on to add a sixth, and in a warning to Chelsea’s rivals this year, she feels she’s in a much better position to implement her style further this season.
“I’m in a much better place from last season,” she said.
“I remember the media day from last year and I didn’t know anyone. I was new for everyone, and everyone was new for me and for that reason, I feel more comfortable now and I know more about the club, the league and the competition. In that aspect, I am in a better place.
“In terms of the team, last season was about making sure the players understood our game model, our gameplans on game day, and now I feel like we can go further in terms of details on the way we want to play.
Image: Chelsea Women celebrate winning the WSL title with a trophy lift at Stamford Bridge
“We want to perform, but we also want to keep the same mentality,” she added.
“The mentality is really special in this club. We have this winning mentality and that is what made the difference last season between us and the other clubs. I want to make sure we carry on from that and that we are in a better place.
“It won’t be easy, and I know that. When you come in as a new manager into your first season in a new league, everything is new. People are probably not expecting you to do too well and perform in the job as I did, and as we did in the team and the club, but now it is not a surprise anymore.
“Everyone wants to fight and compete against Chelsea, and we need to ready mentally and physically, and tactically and technically to compete.”
Bompastor ready for more competition
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Speaking on Pitch to Pod, Jordan Nobbs and Nikita Parris discuss who they think can stop Chelsea winning their seventh Women’s Super League title in a row.
After Chelsea’s FA Cup final win against Man Utd back in May, Bompastor called on the other teams in the WSL to invest over the summer, saying: “come with us.”
She insists that Chelsea need competition to find their absolute best and with women’s football reaching new milestones this summer, such as the first million-pound player with Arsenal, who are expected to be Chelsea’s closest challengers, signing Olivia Smith from Liverpool, the competition is set to grow this season.
And Bompastor is not standing still with Chelsea as she looks to evolve her side this season and avoid complacency.
“It’s important for us to evolve,” she said. “I have always been a manager where I try to innovate a little bit.
“I don’t want the players to be in the comfort zone and the best way to do that is to innovate as a staff.
“We have made some changes to the staff where we have bought in some more knowledge, and it means we are in a better situation to support the players and help them be the best versions of themselves.
“From that, we have been able to make some changes for the players and also in the way we want to work off the pitch with something like video feedback. We are trying to do things a bit differently and I am trying to challenge my players in training, in video sessions and also on game day.
Image: Bompastor and Millie Bright celebrate Chelsea’s FA Cup success
“I want to make sure no one is in the comfort zone because that is something that can bring problems.”
When asked about what she wants to improve this season, Bompastor added: “We want to keep our winning mentality.
“From the beginning of the season, I want to compete in every competition we are in. I am happy to assume that responsibility because the club is ambitious, I am ambitious, and my players are ambitious.
“It won’t be easy but this season we need to make sure we are in a better place in terms of performances. We need to improve our performances from last season.
“It does take time for a manager to implement their game model and to make sure all the players understand it. It’s the most difficult thing to implement as a manager. But the players are keen to listen to what we are trying to implement, and they want to be brave on the pitch. This is the mentality I want from them.
“When I talk about having more consistency, it is about our performances and making sure we win the games, which was part of our DNA last season, but also making sure we dominate a bit more in possession and out of possession.”
Bompastor: You can pick up a lot of things from watching Euros
Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor on keeping a close eye on the Euros:
“The Euros was an interesting time for me as a manager.
“You can pick up on a lot of things that are happening in the women’s game. It’s the highest level of the game in Europe, so it is always good to see how the national teams are playing and seeing what they are trying to do.
“I was happy to see England win the tournament. I would have liked to have seen France go further, having six players in the England squad, I was so pleased for them. They deserved it. The resilience they showed in the tournament was phenomenal.
“For the country, to have back-to-back wins, that is really positive and hopefully we see it have a good impact on the WSL this season.”
‘New signings have added energy’
Image: Australia international defender Ellie Carpenter poses for a photo (credit: Chelsea FC)
Another part of that evolution and battle against complacency is the new faces added to the Chelsea squad this summer.
The Blues have refreshed their goalkeeping department with Livia Peng and Becky Spencer joining as competition and cover for England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton. Champions League-winning defender Ellie Carpenter and young forward Mara Alber have also boosted Bompastor’s squad ahead of the new campaign.
“I am really pleased with the new additions,” Bompastor said.
Image: Chelsea are looking to win a seventh straight WSL title
“If you want to maintain your competitiveness and you want to stay competitive in this league, you need to make sure you have depth and also quality and talent to make the difference in the bigger games.
“We are in a good place, and I am happy where the squad is.
“The signings have brought a new energy into the team and that’s important. It’s great for me to have very talented players but also good personalities, and this Chelsea squad is really special in my mind in that aspect.
“My players are great people as well as players, and that is something I really value.”
Image: WSL on Sky Sports
Chelsea’s winning mentality will certainly be tested in the WSL season opener on Friday.
It’s a mouth-watering start to the season against Man City at Stamford Bridge, but it’s one Bompastor, who expects the WSL to be even more competitive this season, and her side are ready to embrace.
“It’s a challenge to start with Manchester City,” she said.
“However, as competitive people, starting at home at Stamford Bridge with our fans, to play a big game against City, that’s what we want.
“Through the summer, clubs have been investing money in their squads and in their facilities and infrastructure for the women’s team.
“That’s really great because it will bring the competition higher. If you want to be the best version of yourself, you need to have that healthy competition.
“It will be even more difficult to win this season because of that, but here at Chelsea, we are ready to compete.”
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Welcome to the new Sky Sports WSL YouTube channel, home of everything WSL, with match highlights, live matches, exclusive interviews and your chance to see the stars of the game in ways you’ve never seen before.
Sky Sports will be embarking on a new five-year partnership with the WSL, showing 90 per cent of all Women’s Super League matches from the 2025/26 season. Sky Sports will show 118 live games, including 78 exclusively
From this season, most Women’s Super League matches will kick-off at 12pm on Sundays – subject to stadium availability – giving fans a regular and accessible viewing window.
Sky Sports will broadcast matches concurrently across channels, including Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports+ and the Sky Sports app, offering greater choice and visibility.
CHICAGO — Angel Reese aired her frustrations with the Chicago Sky as the franchise finishes another losing season.
The two-time WNBA All-Star told the Chicago Tribune that she “might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me” if the team doesn’t improve its outlook.
“I am very vocal about what we need and what I want,” she said. “I’d like to be here for my career, but if things don’t pan out, obviously I might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me. But while I am here, I’m going to try to stay open-minded about what I have here and maximize that as much as I can.”
Chicago improved to 10-30 after routing Connecticut on Wednesday night. Reese had 18 points and 13 rebounds. The franchise is 3-15 since the All-Star Break, but Reese missed a lot of those games with a back issue.
“I’m not settling for the same … we did this year,” the young star told the paper. “We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That’s a non-negotiable for me. I’m willing and wanting to play with the best. And however I can help to get the best here, that’s what I’m going to do this offseason.
“So it’s going to be very, very important this offseason to make sure we attract the best of the best because we can’t settle for what we have this year.”
Reese, who was the No. 7 pick in the WNBA draft last season, is averaging 14.6 points and and a league-best 12.6 rebounds. She has at least one more season on her rookie contract.
Reese walked back her comments after Wednesday night’s win and said she had already apologized to the team.
“I probably am frustrated with myself right now,” she said. “I think the language was taken out of context and I really didn’t intentionally mean to put down my teammates because they’ve been through this with me throughout the whole year.”
Reese said she has to learn from the situation.
“I just have to be better with my language because I know it’s not the message it’s the messenger and understanding what I say can be taken any kind of way so I just have to really be better and grow from this,” she said.
Reese told the paper that she wanted coach Tyler Marsh to coach players harder and didn’t think the team’s current roster was good enough to win championships. She also was called out injured point guard Courtney Vandersloot, who is sidelined with an ACL injury. Vandersloot was a big part of the franchise’s only championship in 2021.
“We can’t rely on Courtney to come back at the age that she’s at,” Reese said. “I know she’ll be a great asset for us, but we can’t rely on that. We need someone probably a little younger with some experience, somebody who’s been playing the game and is willing to compete for a championship and has done it before.”
Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) is a senior writer for ESPN Digital and Print, focusing on the NBA. He has covered the Lakers, the Celtics and previously worked for The Boston Globe and Los Angeles Times.
The LA Clippers and team owner Steve Ballmer reportedly have been accused of circumventing the NBA’s salary cap by paying $28 million to Kawhi Leonard for a “no-show job.”
Pablo Torre, a podcaster and former ESPN contributor, reported Wednesday that the Clippers paid Leonard through a now-bankrupt company owned by Ballmer.
NBA spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement later Wednesday that the league was “aware of this morning’s media report regarding the LA Clippers and [is] commencing an investigation.”
In the latest episode of his “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast, Torre cited a trove of internal documents from the company Aspiration, which Ballmer partially funded with a $50 million investment through his personal LLC on Sept. 14, 2021.
Later that month, on Sept. 27, 2021, the Clippers announced a $300 million partnership with the now-bankrupt Aspiration, including sponsorship in the team’s new arena and on the team’s jersey patch.
According to Torre, Leonard agreed to a four-year, $28 million endorsement deal in April 2022 through his LLC, KL2 Aspire. The endorsement deal came nine months after Leonard signed a four-year, $176.3 million contract to remain with the Clippers — the maximum allowed at the time under the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement.
A clause in one of the documents purportedly obtained by Torre states that the deal between Aspiration and KL2 Aspire would be voided if Leonard left the Clippers. According to Torre, Leonard also could “decline to proceed with any action desired” by Aspiration and continue to be paid.
An unnamed employee who purportedly worked for Aspiration told Torre that the payment to Leonard “was to circumvent the salary cap.”
“Neither Mr. Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the salary cap or engaged in any misconduct related to Aspiration,” the Clippers said. “Any contrary assertion is provably false: The team ended its relationship with Aspiration years ago, during the 2022-23 season, when Aspiration defaulted on its obligations. Neither the Clippers nor Mr. Ballmer was aware of any improper activity by Aspiration or its co-founder until after the government instituted its investigation. The team and Mr. Ballmer stand ready to assist law enforcement in any way they can.”
Aspiration filed for bankruptcy in March 2025. The company is under federal investigation for fraud, and Aspiration co-founder Joe Sanberg, 46, pled guilty to two counts of wire fraud in late August to defrauding investors and lenders of more than $248 million.
Under the circumvention rules of the NBA’s 2023 collective bargaining agreement, teams can be punished for circumventing the league’s salary cap. Penalties can include fines up to $7.5 million, direct forfeiture of draft picks, voiding any player contract and a suspension — up to a year — for any team personnel found to have engaged in such a violation.
The Clippers, in a second statement later Wednesday that reiterated many of the same points, said, “The notion that Steve invested in Aspiration in order to funnel money to Kawhi Leonard is absurd.”
“… There is nothing unusual or untoward about team sponsors doing endorsement deals with players on the same team. Neither Steve nor the Clippers organization had any oversight of Kawhi’s independent endorsement agreement with Aspiration. To say otherwise is flat-out wrong,” the team said.
“The Clippers take NBA compliance extremely seriously, fully respect the league’s rules, and welcome its investigation related to Aspiration.”
In 2000, it was discovered that the Minnesota Timberwolves engaged in an illegal secret agreement with Joe Smith by allegedly promising to pay him a future multimillion-dollar deal if he signed with the team on a shorter contract for less money.
The NBA penalized the Timberwolves by removing five first-round draft picks, fining the team $3.5 million and banning head coach Kevin McHale and owner Glen Taylor for a season, along with voiding the contracts for Smith.
The NBA fined the Clippers $50,000 in May 2019 for violating tampering rules after then-Clippers head coach Doc Rivers made public remarks comparing Leonard, who was then with the Toronto Raptors, to Michael Jordan.
The NBA investigated the Clippers after allegations emerged that Leonard and his camp, led by his uncle Dennis Robertson, made improper requests of teams during his free agency in the summer of 2019. Such requests, The Athletic reported at the time, included part ownership of the team, access to a private plane, a house and guaranteed off-court endorsement money.
The NBA again fined the Clippers $50,000 in November 2019 for comments that Rivers made that “were inconsistent” with Leonard’s health.
The NBA investigated allegations involving the Clippers’ free agent pursuit of Leonard following a December 2020 lawsuit filed by a man named Johnny Wilkes, who alleged that he helped the Clippers acquire Leonard in exchange for a $2.5 million payment from Clippers consultant Jerry West. The Clippers denied the allegations, and the lawsuit was dismissed. No penalty was issued by the league.
Leonard, 34, most recently signed a three-year, $153 million deal in January 2024 to remain under contract with the Clippers through the 2026-27 season.
The Clippers also are fighting a 2024 lawsuit by former strength and conditioning coach Randy Shelton, who sued the team and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, alleging wrongful termination in part for raising concerns about the management of Leonard’s health and injuries.
Mike Reiss is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the New England Patriots. Reiss has covered the Patriots since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2009. In 2019, he was named Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — One month after unveiling a bronze statue of former quarterback Tom Brady outside Gillette Stadium, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft shared his hope that it will have company in the future in the form of a Bill Belichick statue.
“When that great 20-year era ended, it was always my intention to commission a statue for both Tommy and Bill when their respective careers were over, playing and coaching,” Kraft told WBZ-TV in an interview. “When Bill’s coaching career ends, we look forward to sitting down with him and having a statue made to be right next to Tommy.”
Brady and Belichick helped the Patriots win six Super Bowl championships before Brady departed New England as a free agent after the 2019 season, and Belichick’s 24-year tenure as head coach ended after the 2023 season.
Kraft and Belichick announced their split on Jan. 11, 2024, while standing together at Gillette Stadium, but beneath the surface, there were strained relations that later came to the forefront.
Belichick was painted in an unflattering light in the Patriots documentary “The Dynasty.” Last week, in an interview with The Boston Globe prior to his coaching debut at the University of North Carolina, Belichick spoke of how it was easier there to create a shared vision and said, “There’s no owner, there’s no owner’s son.”
Kraft’s remarks about a future statue for Belichick come four days before his team opens the 2025 season at home against the Las Vegas Raiders, which will be the first game under new coach Mike Vrabel.
Vrabel played for the Patriots from 2001 to 2008 and was part of three Super Bowl championship teams.
Marcel Louis-Jacques joined ESPN in 2019 as a beat reporter covering the Buffalo Bills, before switching to the Miami Dolphins in 2021. The former Carolina Panthers beat writer for the Charlotte Observer won the APSE award for breaking news and the South Carolina Press Association award for enterprise writing in 2018.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Any concerns about Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill‘s relationship off the field can officially be put to bed, according to the Miami Dolphins quarterback.
Tagovailoa said Wednesday that he and wide receiver Hill are “good” as the team prepares for its season opener Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.
Earlier this summer, Tagovailoa told reporters that Hill had to rebuild his teammates’ trust in him after suggesting he wanted a trade at the end of the 2024 season. On Wednesday, however, Tagovailoa said his comments were overblown.
“I think people might’ve blown it out of proportion,” he said. “I mean, we’ve worked on it, and I think that conversation is dead now. I think once people see Tyreek score on Sunday, everyone will forget about that. So, we’re in a good spot and we’ve been in a good spot for some time as well, so I’m really happy with that.”
Hill pulled himself from Miami’s regular-season finale in January and hinted at a trade request to media in the locker room after the game. No request ever came, according to Dolphins general manager Chris Grier, and Hill walked back his comments and apologized in February.
During the Dolphins’ first week of training camp, Tagovailoa said that “everybody makes mistakes” and insisted on cutting Hill “some grace,” but added that Hill’s comments weren’t easily ignored.
“When you say something like that, you don’t just come back from that with, ‘Hey, my bad.’ You got to work that relationship up; you’ve got to build everything back up again,” Tagovailoa said in July. “He’s working on himself; he’s working on the things that he says he wants to get better with and do better on. So that’s the first step to me, and so I commend him for doing that.”
The 2024 season was frustrating for both players; Hill recorded his fewest receiving yards since 2019, and Tagovailoa missed a career-high six games. The tandem didn’t share the field much this offseason as Hill worked his way back from offseason wrist surgery and missed the final three weeks of offseason practice in August with an oblique injury.
Hill returned to practice last week, however, and was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice with oblique and calf injuries. Barring any setbacks, he is expected to play Sunday against Indianapolis.
Speaking after practice Wednesday, he agreed with Tagovailoa that their relationship concerns were overblown, saying he still considers him a brother.
“At the end of the day, me and Tua know exactly where we stand at,” Hill said. “He knows and I know that we both have a brother for the rest of our life. We going to continue to build each and every day. … Brothers fight all the time. I fight with my brothers, we go at it all the time — but at the end of the day, we know what the main goal is. We still a family.”
Hill added that he’s focused on doing the small things that help the team win — showing up on time, being the last one out the building and working hard.
He wasn’t voted a captain for the 2025 season, but he said that won’t stop him from leading by example.
“At the end of the day, I feel like it’s about the team, and I don’t need a title to be able to lead,” Hill said. “I’m going to continue to push the standard that Coach and these guys are pushing in the locker room. And I’ve always been a guy that led by example. So the captain thing is great, but like I said, I’m going to continue to do the small things — which is work hard, show up to practice every day, bust my tail for this team and try to win games.”
Alaina Getzenberg covers the Buffalo Bills for ESPN. She joined ESPN in 2021. Alaina was previously a beat reporter for the Charlotte Observer and has also worked for CBS Sports and the Dallas Morning News. She is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Josh Allen won a bit of a big award this offseason, becoming NFL MVP for the first time in his career. But he says he thinks another member of his family should be considered for an award of her own.
In an interview that appeared on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” on Tuesday night, Allen discussed his wife, actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld’s, performance in the movie, “Sinners.” The Buffalo Bills quarterback — a noted movie buff — gave the movie an A-plus grade.
“Because it combines a lot of different aspects of life,” Allen said. “My wife absolutely kills it, and hopefully, award season coming around, people make the right decision.”
Allen said in the interview with NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt that he cried at the end of the movie at its premiere.
“I was just so proud of her,” Allen said with a bright smile on his face. “I get emotional thinking about it, but it was a pretty cool experience.”
“I’m just there trying to support her, in whatever way that I can,” Allen said. “And that was her moment, and I’m so glad she got to shine.”
“Sinners” starred Michael B. Jordan and grossed over $300 million worldwide.
Steinfeld and Allen were married May 31 after announcing their engagement last November.
Tory Barron is a Bristol-based writer and editor for ESPN.com. After retiring from playing lacrosse at UConn, the DC native decided to try her hand at writing about people playing sports.
Are you ready for it? If NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s comments during his appearance Wednesday on the “Today” show are any indication, there’s a real possibility of Taylor Swift headlining the Super Bowl LX halftime show.
“We would always love to have Taylor play. She is a special, special talent, and obviously she would be welcome at any time,” Goodell said, when asked if Swift was invited to play the Super Bowl.
“Is it in the works?” “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie asked.
“I can’t tell you anything about it,” Goodell replied.
“Is it a maybe?” Guthrie followed up.
“It’s a maybe,” he hedged.
Despite Goodell’s noncommittal response, Swifties have been speculating for months that the stars (read: numbers) are aligning for the pop superstar — who is newly engaged to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce — to take center stage in Santa Clara, California.
Levi’s Stadium serves as the home to the San Francisco 49ers, and four plus nine equals Swift’s lucky No. 13.
If that isn’t enough evidence, consider that she now owns the rights to her first six albums, and the “soda wars” (Pepsi became the main sponsor of the halftime show in 2013, the same year Swift signed a deal with Coca-Cola) became a thing of the past when Apple Music took over the official sponsorship role in 2023.
There’s also the business of Swift’s upcoming 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” which will be released Oct. 3. That’s after the eligibility deadline for the 68th Grammy Awards, so she may be inclined to put on a show of her own in early February.
It would be a full circle moment for the singer, who performed the national anthem at the Detroit Lions’ Thanksgiving Day game back in 2006 and at the 2010 NFL kickoff concert in New Orleans.
Swift also teased “ME!” at the 2019 NFL draft and debuted the trailer for her album “Midnight” during the third quarter of the New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals‘ 2022 showdown.
SAO PAULO — Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris, who missed all of training camp because of an eye injury sustained in a fireworks mishap, is expected to start in Friday’s season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, coach Jim Harbaugh said Wednesday.
Harris was listed as having fully participated in practice.
“He says he’s ready, and he looks ready to go,” Harbaugh said. “Really hard to predict play counts. He’s going to play football and have at it. That’s the mindset.”
Harris was on the field with his teammates Wednesday for a light on-field work session just hours after the team arrived in São Paulo. In front of hundreds of reporters, Harris once again wore a helmet with a tinted visor, which he has done whenever he has practiced in front of the public this summer.
Harris said Monday that he didn’t care what people think he might be doing based on the perception that he could be wearing shades to hide what he calls a “superficial” injury. He has participated in just six practices with the Chargers.
“I’m ramping up to it, just trying to get back in that football shape,” Harris said Monday. “But I am feeling good, though, and we’ll just see where it leads.”
Amanda Anisimova, of the United States, reacts after scoring a point against Iga Swiatek, of Poland, during the quarterfinal round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
LOS ANGELES — The NBA said Wednesday that it will investigate if a $28 million endorsement contract between Kawhi Leonard and a California-based sustainability services company allowed the Los Angeles Clippers to circumvent league salary cap rules, following a report by journalist Pablo Torre.
The probe will focus on ties between Leonard, the Clippers and a company called Aspiration Fund Adviser, LLC, which filed for bankruptcy this year. It listed several creditors at that time, among them the Clippers (who were owed about $30 million) and a company called KL2 Aspire LLC that was owed $7 million.
Leonard is listed as the manager of that company in California filings. KL is his initials, and 2 is his jersey number. Emails sent to his listed representatives seeking comment Wednesday were not immediately returned.
“We are aware of this morning’s media report regarding the LA Clippers and are commencing an investigation,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said Wednesday.
The Clippers denied that any league rules were broken. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer made a $50 million investment in Aspiration, and the company and the team announced a $300 million partnership in September 2021. That was about a month after Leonard signed a four-year, $176 million extension with the Clippers.
“Neither Mr. Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the salary cap or engaged in any misconduct related to Aspiration,” the Clippers said in a statement released to several media outlets, including The Associated Press. “Any contrary assertion is provably false: The team ended its relationship with Aspiration years ago, during the 2022-23 season, when Aspiration defaulted on its obligations.”
Aspiration’s co-founder, Joseph Sanberg, agreed to plead guilty last month after facing federal charges of wire fraud. Prosecutors said he defrauded investors and lenders out of $248 million, adding that “Aspiration’s financial statements were inaccurate and reflected much higher revenue than the company in fact received.”
Torre, in his reporting, obtained a copy of the endorsement agreement between Aspiration and KL2 Aspire, one that called for Leonard to be paid $7 million annually for four years. Given that timetable, Leonard still would have been owed the final $7 million at the time of Aspiration’s bankruptcy filing.
There is no evidence that Leonard did anything to publicly endorse Aspiration.
“Neither the Clippers nor Mr. Ballmer was aware of any improper activity by Aspiration or its co-founder until after the government instituted its investigation,” the Clippers said. “The team and Mr. Ballmer stand ready to assist law enforcement in any way they can.”
The league — which previously looked into claims that Leonard’s representatives asked for certain things that would be considered cap circumventions when he was a free agent several years ago — can issue stiff penalties if cap rules are found to have been broken by a team, including a fine of up to $7.5 million, the voiding of contracts and the forfeiture of future draft picks.
Todd Archer is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Dallas Cowboys. Archer has covered the NFL since 1997 and Dallas since 2003. He joined ESPN in 2010.
FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys have signed running back Hunter Luepke to a two-year extension worth up to $7.5 million, a source told ESPN.
The deal, according to the source, includes a little more than $5 million guaranteed.
Luepke is the third Cowboy to sign an extension since the start of training camp, joining tight end Jake Ferguson (four years, $52 million) and cornerback DaRon Bland (four years, $92 million), and he might not be the last.
The Cowboys also are in discussions with Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith regarding an extension that could make him the league’s highest-paid interior offensive lineman. Smith is under contract through next season, with the Cowboys picking up his $21.3 million fifth-year option as a 2022 first-round pick.
Asked Tuesday about the talks, Smith said, “Obviously everything will happen in due time. I think the most important thing for us is just focusing on [Thursday night’s season opener vs. the Eagles].”
Luepke was set to be a restricted free agent after the season. He signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2023 out of North Dakota State.
In two seasons, Luepke has 18 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown and 15 catches for 129 yards, but his value is in his versatility.
In addition to playing fullback, he can line up as a tailback and tight end. He is also a core special teamer.
“Hunter Luepke is a total stud,” Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said in camp.
The tantalising prospect of Taylor Swift performing at the Super Bowl half-time show in February is a ‘maybe’, according to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
The pop music superstar announcent her engagement to Kanas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in August, and is often seen at Chiefs games since she and Kelce started dating in 2023 – including each of their appearances in the last two Super Bowls.
Could she again be in attendance for Super Bowl LX – to be held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on February 8 – but this time as the half-time headliner?
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The F1 grid reacts to the news of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement
“We would always love to have Taylor play,” Goodell told NBC’s Today show, on the prospect of the 14-time Grammy winner performing at the Super Bowl.
“She is a special, special talent, and obviously she would be welcome at any time.”
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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes says Taylor Swift being at NFL games has been ‘awesome’ and will benefit the game by bringing people from different backgrounds together
When pressed further on the matter, Goodell said: “I can’t tell you anything about it,” before adding, “It’s a maybe.”
Rapper Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl half-time show last February drew in 133.5 million viewers, which made it the most-watched in the event’s history.
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A look at the best of the off-field action from Super Bowl LIX
Previous acts also include big names such as Beyonce, Prince, Madonna, Lady Gaga and the Rolling Stones.
Adding Swift’s name to that list would represent a massive coup for the NFL, given her global fan base, while the Super Bowl show could present the perfect opportunity for the 35-year-old to promote her 12th studio album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl’, which is set to be be released on October 3.
Sky Sports has announced a new three-year deal with the NFL, extending its long-standing partnership with the league to over 30 years and cementing its position as the home of the NFL in the UK & Ireland.
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The NFL is returning to Sky Sports! Set to show more games in a new three-year deal, Sunday just became your favourite day once again!
Fans can once again look forward to the best games every week on Sky, with the broadcaster having the first-pick exclusive game on Sunday at 6pm live on Sky Sports NFL and the first pick for the Sunday 9pm game.
There will also be more choice as a second game at 6pm and up to an additional two games at 9pm will also be shown live on Sky Sports concurrently.
NFL RedZone will also continue to be shown live on Sky every Sunday, alongside every Thursday Night, Sunday Night and Monday Night Football, Thanksgiving games, the Playoffs and the Super Bowl.
Watch the 2025 NFL season live on Sky Sports, including every London and European game as well as every minute of the playoffs and Super Bowl LX; Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW.
NEW YORK — Within hours of Carlos Alcaraz arriving on site to the US Open Aug. 25, and long before he had even taken the court for his first-round match, he had become the day’s biggest storyline.
“I mean, it’s definitely terrible,” Frances Tiafoe, a two-time US Open semifinalist, said after his match with a laugh before adding a caveat. “He’s my guy though.”
Over the next 48 hours, it felt like every player on tour — from Naomi Osaka to Alexander Zverev to Emma Raducanu to Sinner himself — was asked about, and had an opinion on, Alcaraz’s hair. Each comment seemingly made the internet rounds, and Alcaraz responded to all of it with his signature good-natured humor, blaming his younger brother for the look.
Now, more than a week later, Alcaraz’s hair has already started to grow back, and he has since booked his ticket to the semifinals following a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 victory over No. 20 seed Jiri Lehecka on Tuesday. And while the questions about his cut have seemed to fade, the incident remains a fascinating reminder of just how beloved he is. While some players are always more popular or approachable than others in the locker room, very few players of Alcaraz’s caliber, at this stage in his career, typically hold that distinction.
It begs the question: How can Alcaraz, a five-time major champion and current world No. 2, be so feared on the tennis court for his blistering athleticism, relentless grit and powerful forehand — but be so well-liked by his opponents off of it?
“It’s so tough to pull off that balance,” Sam Querrey, the former Wimbledon semifinalist-turned-analyst and podcaster, told ESPN this week. “Not many superstars can pull it off. When he walks around the player lounge, you can poke fun of him, and he’s just so cool with everybody. [Roger] Federer and [Rafael] Nadal had that a little bit, but Carlos seems to have more of that [quality].
“He’s a worldwide superstar, but there are parts of him that are just the everyday guy, and people gravitate to that.”
TENNIS, AT ITS CORE, is a deeply individual sport.
On the court, players are alone. While their coaches and support teams are seated nearby, and can give occasional guidance, it ultimately comes down to the player to problem-solve and find a way to win on their own.
Away from competition, players are on the road for most of the year, traveling from hotel room to hotel room and tournament to tournament. It can be an isolating experience, and players often spend most of their time with their respective teams. Many top players over the years have said they find it too difficult to be close with their peers.
“It’s tough to have really good friends on the tour,” five-time major champion Maria Sharapovasaid in 2011. “I find it difficult to be having dinner with someone one night and then having to play them two days later, because it is at the end of the day an individual sport and we are all very competitive … You know we are not on a team and as far as really close friends go, I have my family who come with me on the road. I don’t hang around in the locker room — it’s my least favorite place in the world.”
While things have changed in recent years — US Open breakout star Taylor Townsend credited the pandemic for shifting locker room dynamics in an interview with ESPN in 2024 — and Querrey insists the men’s locker room has always been a friendlier place, Alcaraz seems to relish being around his peers in a way that perhaps other superstars don’t.
At the start of the tournament, a picture circulated of Alcaraz and Sinner together at Osteria Delbianco, an Italian restaurant in Midtown Manhattan. While Alcaraz later explained it was just a coincidence they were both there, what made it remarkable was that it was believable that they were there together. The same likely wouldn’t have been the case for Sharapova and say, Serena Williams, or Federer and Nadal in the early years of their rivalry.
Before he retired in 2022, Querrey, 37, spent a lot of his career around the Big Three of Nadal, Federer and Novak Djokovic. According to him, Federer “couldn’t have been nicer” if approached, and even was “fine with it” if made fun of, but wasn’t quite as naturally chummy with everyone overall. Nadal was also gracious with his peers, but the language barrier could make it challenging. As Alcaraz has made a deliberate effort to improve his fluency in English, it has allowed him to more seamlessly interact with a larger group of players and those around the tour.
“Carlos speaks better English than Rafa does,” Querrey said. “Therefore, I think he gets sarcasm, humor, things like that in a way that was harder with Rafa. It’s helped him become more of a global star but also allows fellow players and fans to approach him more casually.”
Querrey added that on his “Nothing Major” podcast, which he co-hosts with fellow retired American players John Isner, Steve Johnson and Jack Sock, they were recently talking about whether Alcaraz was able to always fly private at this point in his career. Without missing a beat, Alcaraz quickly commented on the clip on social media — spelling errors included — to say he flew commercial and shared his route from Madrid to Cincinnati. When Alcaraz saw Querrey a day or two later, he good-naturedly came up to him and reiterated that he had, in fact, had to make a connecting flight in Philadelphia to get to the Cincinnati Open.
At that tournament, Townsend, the world No. 1 in doubles, asked Alcaraz — who went on to win the title — to take a picture with her young son. He didn’t hesitate and engaged in a conversation.
“He was so nice,” Townsend recollected about the encounter. “I forgot he’s not No. 1 [and] I was like, ‘Carlos is No. 1 too.’ A.J. goes, ‘You’re No. 1? Just like my mom.’ Carlos was like, ‘I’m kind of close.’ He played it off.”
Facundo Bagnis, a career journeyman who lost in the first round of qualifying at the US Open, called Alcaraz, “an even better person” than tennis player in an interview with the ATP, and shared a story about asking Alcaraz to help him make a birthday video for a friend.
“He could have told me no, ignored me or told me what day to do it on,” Bagnis said. “But he responded by asking me when I had time so we could do it. I thought that was really something. He was doing me a favor and ended up considering my availability. It’s amazing that someone so important and so good is still so friendly [and] well-mannered.”
Even when players lose to Alcaraz, they often still sing his praises and share their well wishes. Shortly after Alcaraz defeated Tiafoe in the US Open semifinals in 2022, Tiafoe sought him out in the locker room, as later shown on Netflix’s “Break Point” docuseries.
“Go win this thing,” Tiafoe said before giving him a hug.
Alcaraz reminded Tiafoe that he was “amazing” as he started to walk away. “Don’t forget it.”
SHORTLY AFTER HER RETIREMENT from the sport, American Shelby Rogers, a two-time major quarterfinalist and former world No. 30, openly wondered in an ESPN interview if her trademark friendly demeanor had actually been a hindrance on the court.
“There’s definitely a part of me that was like, ‘Oh, maybe if I was tougher and didn’t have that nicest-girl-on-tour reputation, maybe I would have won more matches,’” Rogers said, before deciding she had no regrets and was proud that she had remained her authentic self.
But that has not been a problem for Alcaraz. Not at the US Open, nor anywhere throughout his career. He has won 22 ATP titles and Tuesday marked his 268th victory on tour.
Alcaraz can, and usually does, beat anyone, on any given day — typically with a wide smile on his face. While certainly not requiring the same level of focus as the main draw, Alcaraz was seen eagerly chatting with Jessica Pegula, an opponent in the mixed doubles draw, just moments before they were to walk out on court for their first-round match.
It’s his enthusiasm and enjoyment that seems to endear him to fans, and perhaps even be central to what he has been able to achieve.
“I think the fun for Alcaraz is a major part of his success,” said Mary Joe Fernandez, former world No. 4 and current ESPN analyst, before the start of the tournament. “The way that he can smile, not just when he wins a point, but when the other opponent plays a great point, he’s able to clap, [and] enjoy the moment as well.
“I believe in Cincinnati there was a big point where his coach told him, ‘Smile, have fun.’ It relaxes him. I think you see the joy that he takes from all the possibilities he has in his game. He has so much creativity, so much variety.”
But even in defeat, he remains gracious, and that’s something his peers appreciate as well. After falling to Sinner in four sets during the Wimbledon final in July — his first loss with a Slam title on the line — Alcaraz sat in his chair with a smile on his face and applauded as Sinner went to celebrate with his team in his box. Moments later, Alcaraz congratulated Sinner during his on-court interview and said he was “just really happy” for his rival — and for the “really good relationship” the two had off the court. He then thanked him for making him a better player.
Sinner responded by thanking Alcaraz for being “the player you are” and for their “amazing relationship.”
Throughout his run thus far in New York, Alcaraz has been dominant, and was the only man to reach the quarterfinals without dropping a set. On Tuesday, he reached the ninth major semifinal of his career — joining just Nadal, Boris Becker, Mats Wilander and Björn Borg to achieve that milestone before his 23rd birthday.
Alcaraz currently has the second-best odds, only slightly behind Sinner, of winning the US Open, according to ESPN Bet. He will next play the winner of Tuesday night’s clash between Djokovic and Taylor Fritz in a semifinal on Friday. While his sights are most certainly on securing his sixth major title, and second in New York, Querrey doesn’t think any outcome would dramatically alter much for Alcaraz.
He believes Alcaraz will likely remain the same energetic and playful guy almost everyone on tour has come to love.
“More importantly than anything, he’s just a good human,” Querrey said. “I think it’s just in his DNA, it’s who he is. I think it’s also in part because of the phenomenal people around him as well, his parents, his agents, [his coach] Juan Carlos Ferrero, that encourage this.
“I know that if I was walking down the hallway with my son and we saw him and asked for a picture, he would 100% do it, and then spend a couple of minutes with him too. Who knows, maybe that will change once he’s won 15 majors and the pressure is different, but I think he will still be the same guy. He just seems like he wakes up every day and loves life, and that energy is just contagious.”
LONDON — Players at the Women’s Rugby World Cup are more than happy to proudly call their teammates their sisters.
Time together often rivals time with their actual families. Long before they lace up their boots and play, the players spent hours and hours together in the gym, in training, and in hotels and buses.
But among the sisterhood there are some bonafide sisters sprinkled among the 16 teams in England, and here’s some of their stories:
The Bremners grew up on a farm in a town of 200. They were unflashy, reliable, tough, and each other’s biggest supporter.
Alana, younger than Chelsea by nearly two years at 28, started rugby like many women do, in a mixed team as a kid. Her determination was obvious. First-class debut at 17, Canterbury player of the year at 18, captain at 23.
Alana persuaded Chelsea, at 21, to switch from netball to rugby. Chelsea found her niche. The lock didn’t lose in her first 43 games for Canterbury and first 15 tests for New Zealand.
Chelsea was picked first for the Black Ferns in 2020. Her first opponent was a Barbarians side captained by Alana. They didn’t tackle each other.
They played the entire 2022 World Cup final win over England at Eden Park. They’re at their second World Cup and locked together against Spain on the opening weekend.
“Sometimes we underestimate how cool this situation is; to be in it at the same time,” Alana told Rugby Pass.
The Feleus were born in France but grew up on the French island of Futuna, between Fiji and Samoa. Their father, a sports teacher, coached them. In 1993, Manaé played with France men’s international Yoram Moefana in an under-11 tournament on Wallis; she was the scrumhalf, he was the flyhalf. They won.
“One day (at age 7) I tried it out and it just clicked,” Téani told the Six Nations website. “I was free to express myself however I wanted to in rugby. I had more fun. I let off more steam. As soon as I started rugby, I knew it was the sport I wanted to do. I was in it to have fun.”
These days a lock, Manaé debuted for Les Bleues in 2020 and rose to captain in 2023. She was nominated this year for the best Six Nations player.
Téani, three years younger at 22, plays with Manaé at Grenoble Amazones and moved from France’s sevens to 15s in 2024. They both played against Italy on the World Cup’s opening weekend.
Also known as Bella and Ella, the Manusina’s youngest players and first twins turn 21 this Sunday. Christabelle is a flanker and Demielle is a lock/flanker. Both played in Samoa’s World Cup pool games against Australia and England.
They may have been destined to play for Samoa. Their father, Setu Tuilaepa, represented Samoa in 15s and sevens and was their first coach. Their mother, Beth Onesemo, managed their youth teams and was a Rugby Samoa board member.
Their first big splash was in rugby league, representing New Zealand last year on Australia’s Gold Coast in a championship for rising women’s talent. Before then, they admitted to googling the rules of rugby league on the car drive to their first game.
Back in rugby union, they made their test debuts in June against Tonga. One of their older sisters, Rialani, debuted for Manusina later that month against Australia A.
“Growing up, playing rugby, the resources we had were limited,” Christabelle told ABC Australia. “We didn’t get to go to the gym, we just had to train with what we had. Looking how far we’ve come, (we’re) just grateful to be where we are and what we’ve become.”
Keilamarita and Risaleaana, better known as Risi, are daughters of a Samoan mother, Lealofi, and New Zealand Maori father, Kevin. They moved as kids from Australia to New Zealand.
Risi earned her first-class debut and first national contract at 17, and two years later in 2019 she began playing sevens for New Zealand. She won Olympic gold in Tokyo and Paris. She made her 15s test debut in May at scrumhalf.
Keilamarita, four years older at 29, committed to Samoa early to try and qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Her rugby road hasn’t been as prominent as Risi’s but she answered another call by Samoa in 15s and the outside center played the first two test matches of her career in this World Cup against Australia and England.
After facing Australia in Manchester, Keilamarita made the two-hour drive to York the next day to watch Risi’s own World Cup debut against Spain. Keilamarita celebrated the occasion by giving her little sister an ula lole — a Samoan necklace of candies — a Maori flag, and a big hug.
Elliann inspired little sister Rhea to follow in her footsteps. Rhea, younger by 2 1/2 years, has tailed her big sister’s career all the way to the World Cup via their local Dunfermline club, Stirling County, Edinburgh University, Bristol Bears, and Scotland.
“Elliann has been a real role model for me,” Rhea told GH Media. “To share this journey with her has been incredible.”
Elliann, 24, debuted for Scotland in 2022 and went to that year’s World Cup. But the tighthead prop’s biggest step was going to Bristol the following summer. Training with England prop Sarah Bern, England training squad prop Simi Pam and Wales loosehead prop Gwenllian Pyrs elevated her game.
After 12 tests off the bench, Elliann got her first start in her 13th against Fiji last September. Ever since she’s made the No. 3 jersey hers, including in both World Cup wins against Wales — opposing Pyrs — and Fiji.
Rhea, a scrumhalf, has been in Scotland camps for three years and finally made her test bow last March. Her second cap was last Saturday against Fiji. On Sunday she turned 22.
Faitala was shocked when Manu’a phoned three weeks ago to say she’d been selected for the Wallaroos. Just a week after Faitala was named in the World Cup squad, injury ruled out Charlotte Caslick and Manu’a, uncapped and 18, was brought in.
Manu’a told Faitala first. They’re not just sisters but best friends who lift each other and ground each other. They’ve shared the same rugby path for years, starting with impromptu dad-supervised games with their brothers in a park near their old Penrith home.
“When someone cried we went home,” Faitala said.
They play for the ACT Brumbies, Faitala at flyhalf, Manu’a in the centers.
Faitala was the Wallaroos rookie of the year in 2023 and, at 20, already has 23 caps. Manu’a waits for her first test cap.
“It’s a different kind of responsibility now that I’m here and I am the older one and I do have more experience,” Faitala told the Rugby Australia website. “Just guiding her to be her own self and not to be my shadow is something that I truly strive to push her to be and, honestly, I think she’s kind of taking more of the light now in training.”
What makes the head-shaking feat of two sets of sisters in one squad even more amazing is that they all come from the same club.
Nant Conwy lies in a valley on the edge of Eryri National Park, Wales’ mountain region in the north. The club was formed only in 1980. All four women started in mixed teams and moved into girls’ sides at age 12.
“(The club) have always been so supportive of us, they’ve been a massive part of all four of our journeys,” Nel said.
Loosehead prop Gwenllian was the senior among them; she’s appearing at her third World Cup at 27. Sister Alaw, a 19-year-old lock, joined her as a Wales international last September.
Nel, a wing/fullback, was picked by Wales in 2023. She’s 20, two years older than Branwen, who captained Wales in the Under-20 Six Nations this year. The back-rower received her first senior cap off the bench last Saturday against Canada.
“Words can’t even describe how proud I am,” Nel said. “I’ve watched her work so hard, coming back from an ACL injury not too long ago. She fully deserves to be here.”
Fiji can also boast two sets of sisters, but not from the same club.
Keleni Marawa and Karalaini Naisewa are props from Lautoka, while Setaita and Adi Salaseini ‘Sala’ Railumu are a scrumhalf and flanker from Suva’s Seahawks.
Naisewa came off the bench last weekend and burrowed under some Scots for Fijiana’s third try in a loss in Manchester. Setaita Railumu started against Canada and Scotland. But her younger sister Sala and Marawa, who played at the 2022 World Cup, are waiting for their first World Cup appearances in England.
“It has been a tough journey through the difficulties you face from home and the struggles during trainings,” Marawa told Fiji Rugby, “but having my sister with me keeps me moving forward despite all the hardships.”
Naisewa agreed: “Having her by my side is what keeps me motivated and the strength to go on.”
