Sports

2:28 PM ET The UFC is finalizing a welterweight matchup between Vicente Luque and Geoff Neal for Aug. 5, sources told ESPN Thursday. Contracts have not been signed but the bout has been verbally agreed to. The UFC has not announced an official location for the UFC Fight Night event on Aug. 6. Luque (21-8-1)

1:09 PM ET Naomi Osaka has left IMG to start her own agency, she told Sportico. Osaka’s sports agency, Evolve, will be stylized in all capital letters as EVOLVE. She is forming the agency with agent Stuart Duguid, who also is leaving IMG. Osaka’s contract with IMG expired at the end of last year and

8:29 AM ET Most of golf’s young superstars will be heading to Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, next week for the PGA Championship, the second major of the season. But all eyes will be on two aging former champions — Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods — and also on London. 2 Related On

7:50 AM ET Dmitry Bivol has officially entered the pound-for-pound conversation. Bivol scored a big upset on Saturday in Las Vegas, defeating former No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter Canelo Alvarez. He retained his WBA “super” light heavyweight world title and also earned a spot in ESPN’s top-10 list for the first time in his career. Alvarez

1:09 AM ET When the definitive history of the Process-Era Philadelphia 76ers is written someday, there will be many moments and decisions to revisit. Without the benefit of hindsight yet, it’s impossible to know which were the most consequential. But it’s impossible to watch what Jimmy Butler did to the Sixers Tuesday night in the

7:00 AM ET NFL experts We’re now over a week removed from the 2022 NFL draft, and rookie camps have just started to kick off. So it is a good time to ask our NFL expert panel to weigh in on some of the biggest lingering questions. That includes what our writers and analysts liked,

8:00 AM ET IT’S ROUND 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and the Boston Bruins are facing the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 2 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Tensions flare early, as Boston winger David Pastrnak collides with Carolina goalie Antti Raanta, knocking him out of the game with a bloody face. Scrums (and more) form

7:00 AM ET TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Representatives from all 32 NFL teams showed up for Alabama‘s pro day in late March to get a look at offensive tackle and future No. 7 overall pick Evan Neal and eight other players scheduled to participate. Jameson Williams, arguably the most explosive receiver in college football and the

7:41 PM ET Associated Press DARLINGTON, S.C. — Joey Logano bumped leader William Byron from behind on the next to last lap to win the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday. Logano, the pole-sitter, tracked Byron for about 25 laps until catching him and hitting him hard in the rear bumper turn three. Byron

4:44 PM ET CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs scratched starting pitcher Marcus Stroman for Sunday night’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, placing him on the injured list without a designation. That move is normally reserved for COVID-19 related issues. Stroman, 31, will be replaced by lefty Justin Steele who is 1-3 with a 5.50

7:08 PM ET ESPN News Services LOUISVILLE, Ky. — With favorite Epicenter and Zandon dueling in front, Rich Strike came charging up the rail in the closing strides for a stunning 80-1 upset in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. Jockey Sonny Leon guided Rich Strike from far back in the 20-horse field to beat 4-1

6:17 AM ET Rob DawsonCorrespondent Manchester City are weighing up a move for Paul Pogba when his contract at Manchester United expires in the summer, sources have told ESPN. Pogba will be available on a free transfer at the end of the season and although Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus are leading the chase for his

6:56 AM ET ESPN Betting Insiders The 148th running of the Kentucky Derby kicks off Triple Crown season. The race for the elusive crown begins this Saturday at Churchill Downs with Zandon as the 3-1 morning-line favorite. Our focus moves to pari-mutuel betting, which is different from the normal sports betting futures we are used

7:52 AM ET Eddie Alvarez looked like he was holding a golf ball in his mouth, and his right cheek was comically swollen. To compound matters, Alvarez’s left leg was barely mobile due to numerous hard kicks to it. In Detroit, the former UFC lightweight champion was embroiled in the third round of a back-and-forth

7:48 AM ET Mike CoppingerESPN LAS VEGAS — Canelo Alvarez stood in the center of the ring draped with four world titles. At long last, he was the undisputed super middleweight champion, accomplishing the goal he set out when he commenced his 168-pound campaign in December 2020. The 11th-round TKO victory over Caleb Plant in

2:22 PM ET Associated Press MADRID — Rafael Nadal got off to a good start in his return from injury, defeating Miomir Kecmanovic in two sets to reach the third round at the Madrid Open on Wednesday. Nadal showed few signs of rustiness in his 6-1, 7-6 (4) opening win at home. He cruised in

10:20 PM ET MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks was ejected less than three minutes into Tuesday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors for a flagrant foul 2 on Gary Payton II, marking the second straight game in this second-round series that a starter was ejected for a flagrant 2. Brooks was

6:49 AM ET ESPN Betting Insiders The PGA Tour heads to TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm in Potomac, Maryland, this week. Which players are the favorites this time around? Who offers good odds? And what props are worthwhile? Betting analysts Anita Marks and sports betting deputy editor David Bearman offer their tips to help you

7:00 AM ET Spring practice is over. The NFL draft has come and gone. College football is headed to its offseason, which once meant exactly that, though not anymore. Sunday was the deadline for entering the transfer portal and still being eligible for this upcoming season. More than 2,000 players entered the portal during the

7:00 AM ET The journey from the green room to the stage Thursday night in Las Vegas was a short one, lasting about one minute and 100 steps. It was enough time for NC State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu to reflect on the longer one he had just completed, from Pop Warner to three-star college