By Emma Johnson

The Dallas Wings are set to be the biggest wildcard of Monday night's WNBA Draft, possessing picks No. 3, 5, and 11 in the first round. After a busy offseason of trades and acquisitions, the Wings have significant control over a quarter of the first round, and CEO Greg Bibb is determined to make the most of it. While Bibb admits that the draft is an "inexact science," he believes accumulating picks rather than avoiding them is the way forward, even trade picks two years out. Bibb is looking for young talent to join the Wings' existing core in order to build success both now and in the future. However, the Wings are not alone in their quest for new talent, and some top prospects such as Aliyah Boston and Rhyne Howard have already drawn significant attention from other franchises. With the much-anticipated draft only hours away, the question remains: will the Wings' multiple picks translate into a major leap forward for the franchise, or will their position as top picks lead to more pressure than promise?

Myah Selland, a South Dakota State University forward, has just finished her college basketball career and is now hoping to move on to the professional level. She has her sights set on the WNBA Draft which will be held on April 10. Selland is hoping to become only the third Jackrabbit player drafted by the WNBA. Only Megan Vogel and Macy Miller have had this distinction before Selland. Although Selland did not land among the 36 players selected during Thursday night's WNBA Draft, she could still have a chance to hook up with a WNBA team as a free agent or play professional basketball overseas. An ESPN mock draft has predicted that Selland could go as the final pick to the Washington Mystics in the draft's third, and final, round, pick number 32. Though Selland won't be one of the first twelve choices, as fifteen were invited to New York, her versatility, consistency, and ability to perform well under pressure have certainly caught the eye of potential WNBA teams. Regardless of what happens, Selland remains optimistic and believes in the opportunities that lie ahead.

Leigha Brown, former Michigan guard, has been selected by the Atlanta Dream in the 15th overall pick of the second round of the WNBA Draft. Brown averaged 17.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game during her time with the Wolverines. She was also named an All-Big Ten first-team honoree and an AP All-American honorable mention. Brown will reunite with her former teammate, Naz Hillmon at the Atlanta Dream, who was also selected 15th overall by the team in the 2022 WNBA Draft. Brown's draft marks the second year in a row that a Michigan player was chosen by the Atlanta Dream with the same exact pick. Brown is now the fifth Michigan player to have reached over 1,000 points and 300 assists in the program's history, concluding her career with 1,188 points and 303 assists in the Wolverines' jersey. Although the Dream had a disappointing season last year, fans are optimistic that Brown and Hillmon could provide the team the spark it needs in the upcoming season.

Grace Berger, former Indiana women's basketball (IUWBB) player, was drafted by the Indiana Fever with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft. This makes her the first Hoosier ever to be selected in the first round. Berger, who grew up in Louisville, was present at the draft and shared a heartfelt embrace with her coach, Teri Moren, after the announcement. Berger spoke about being grateful and full of emotion, especially because the team that selected her was the Indiana Fever, a team she had been watching with her dad since she was a little girl. Moreover, Berger's selection marks the second year in a row that the Fever have picked an IUWBB player. Ali Patberg was drafted in 2022 as the third-round pick.

According to Seth Tow of IU Hoosiers, Berger finished her college career seventh on the program's all-time scoring list with 1,841 points, and she ranks second in assists with 573 assists. Her 118 career wins are the most in Indiana history. With Berger's excellent performance in her college years, the Indiana Fever is looking forward to having her on their roster for the upcoming season.

Stanford Women's Basketball stars Haley Jones and Ashten Prechtel will be entering the 2023 WNBA Draft, while Hannah Jump will continue representing the Cardinal for another season. Jones, a highly anticipated first-round pick, had an impressive college career, with numerous accolades, including being a three-time Cheryl Miller Award Finalist and a 2022 Pac-12 Player of the Year. Similarly, Prechtel accumulated accolades, including 2020 Sixth Player of the Year and two-time Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll. Jump, known for her craftiness at three, achieved the 2023 Pac-12 Scholar Athlete of the Year award. It's expected that these Stanford basketball stars will continue their successes in the future, whether in the WNBA or in their continued college career. Meanwhile, Belibi has retired from the sport.

Despite experiencing his worst game as a professional athlete, Buffalo Sabres' goaltender Devon Levi remained calm and collected, leaving fans and teammates in awe. The team's game against the Detroit Red Wings saw Levi giving up six goals out of 32 shots for a 0.813 save percentage. While some of these goals were against the league's best, Levi was not shaken by his poor performance. "At the end of the day, you're never gonna play a perfect game. It's the NHL, the best league in the world," Levi said. "You gotta love it. It's a little bit of adversity, it's not gonna kill you." Despite this setback, Levi maintained his composure and made sure his team prevailed by making the necessary saves which eventually led to Sabres' win in a shootout. Even more impressive is that the goaltender remained unfazed in the face of adversity, taking on and defeating Jonatan Berggren's breakaway attempt. With 2 wins and 1 loss in his three games as a pro so far, Levi's cool head and impressive performance are sure signs of his potential to go far in the NHL.

The Florida Panthers secured an important win on Tuesday night, beating the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 and moving into a tie with the New York Islanders for the top spot in the Eastern Conference wild-card standings. Matthew Tkachuk snapped a tie in the opening minute of the third period, putting the Panthers ahead for good. Aaron Ekblad also scored for Florida while Alex Lyon made 39 saves for his fourth straight win. Panthers have now won four consecutive victories, and their strong showing has helped them catch up in the playoff race. The Sabres, though still among the best offensive teams in the NHL, are currently five points out of the playoffs with two more games remaining. With this victory, the Panthers are now positioned one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with four games left for each team. The race for the playoffs with so few games left is heating up, and fans can expect to see a thrilling finish to the season.

Alex Lyon, third-string goalie for the Florida Panthers, may have just saved their season. With starting goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky out with an illness, Lyon has stepped up with a 4-0-0 record in the last four games. On Tuesday night, he made 39 saves in a 2-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, moving the Panthers into the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 87 points, tied with the New York Islanders but ahead on the tiebreaker, while the Pittsburgh Penguins sit just one point behind. With only four games left for each team, the race for the wild-card spots is incredibly tight.

This success is a welcome change for the Panthers, who had lost four games in a row before Lyon's winning streak. However, the team is not relaxing. Head coach Paul Maurice stated that the Eastern Conference wild-card race was "running neck-and-neck,” and the team still has work to do. With a talented roster that includes Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, and Carter Verhaeghe, the Panthers could be a formidable opponent in the playoffs, provided they continue to receive solid goaltending.

Hollywood actors and co-owners of Wrexham AFC, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, were awarded the Freedom of the Borough by Wrexham council on Sunday. In recognition of the football club's long and proud history and the impact the pair have had in promoting Wrexham across the world since they took over ownership of the club in 2021, councillors unanimously voted to confer the honour. Speaking during the behind-closed-doors ceremony at Wrexham civic hall, Reynolds expressed his gratitude and said, "What it's given Wales and the rest of the world is immeasurable… Our goal is now and has always been to uphold the values of the community and this club."

The Welcome to Wrexham documentary team were present at the event, and the pair were expected to attend the Wrexham vs. Notts County match that afternoon. Despite the 3-1 loss suffered by Wrexham at Halifax Town on Friday, fans remain hopeful that the team will earn promotion this season to add to the honour brought to them by two of Hollywood's biggest stars.

Macaulay Langstaff broke the National League record for goals in a single season as Wrexham beat Wealdstone 3-0. The match was also an opportunity for the team to remember late CEO Jason Turner, who passed away suddenly a week prior. An emotionally charged atmosphere brought a fast start for the Wrexham team, and Langstaff coolly slotted home his 41st goal of the season after the break, beating Ricky Miller's previous record of 40 goals. The team also set a new high for club points in a single campaign. Sam Austin scored the first goal, putting Wrexham ahead at half-time, and Frank Vincent sealed the victory by scoring the third goal. Langstaff leads the line as usual, with Cedwyn Scott returning to the bench. The win moved Wrexham up to the top of the National League, ahead of Notts County on goal difference, who will be their next opponent.

Former Manchester United and England goalkeeper, Ben Foster, recently came out of retirement to sign with Wrexham AFC until the end of the season. His reason for signing with the Welsh club is clear - it was the club that gave him his "springboard for the rest of his career." Foster originally arrived at The Racecourse in 2005 on a loan spell from Stoke City which included his starring role in the 2-0 LDV Vans Trophy final victory against Southend United at the Millennium Stadium. His performance caught the attention of then-Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who paid a fee of PS1m to bring him to the club. Wenger went on to become a full England international with eight caps, and played for several other clubs before announcing his retirement in September.

Foster's decision to sign with Wrexham AFC came after he turned down an offer from Saudi Arabian-backed Newcastle United. Despite the club being the world's richest, Foster did not want to leave his hometown for the club, stating that it would "kill" him, especially at his age and with everything else going on. Foster's decision to sign with Wrexham has impressed many, including the club's owners, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, who praised the goalkeeper's response to the news of his signing.

Wrexham AFC's unbeaten run in the league was brought to an end by a resilient Halifax Town side at The Shay, with a scoreline of 3-1. Elliot Lee's goal gave the Dragons the lead in the first half, but in the second half, the tide turned, and the home side capitalised. Milli Alli and Emmanuel Dieseruvwe scored twice to seal the deal for Halifax. Wrexham AFC's coach, Phil Parkinson, named the same team that won 5-1 against Oldham Athletic the week before. Despite the travelling support of approximately 4,500 Wrexham fans, they were unable to sustain the league unbeaten run they had been on, which had lasted 28 games. But the Dragons have bigger fish to fry as they face a crucial title matchup against rivals Notts County. Both teams are chasing promotion to League Two, and now the match takes on even more importance as it will influence the title race. Wrexham still have a game in hand as they approach the crucial clash.

SKIP STORY

When Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought Wrexham AFC in November 2020, few expected them to lead the low-ranking club to quick, dramatic success. Now, with the club at the top of the National League (England's fifth tier of soccer) and an automatic promotion to the Football League on the line, a different story could emerge. Wrexham currently sits second in the league, tied for points with Notts County, with a game in hand over their opponents, and could gain promotion to the fourth tier of English soccer with a win. As their project, which has included a reality TV series and leading a charity fundraising event, gains exposure and poses a challenge to the traditional British soccer hierarchy, it raises larger questions about the changing nature of sports entertainment. As the sports industry seeks to reshape itself to feed into wider entertainment trends, Reynolds and McElhenney's unique management approach could be a model for other organizations looking to broaden their appeal.

Maryland softball swept Rutgers in a doubleheader on Wednesday, leaving the Scarlet Knights with a 29-12 record overall and a 6-2 record in the Big Ten. In the first game, Maryland pitcher Courtney Wyche had yet to concede a hit, but in the final inning, she loaded the bases and ceded a run on the ensuing three at-bats. Maryland's pitching struggles continued in the second game, and Rutgers was only able to score two runs in their loss.

Rutgers will have to recover quickly as they face off against the University of Maryland again in a doubleheader this afternoon. Although both teams have similar offensive statistics, the Terrapins' strong pitchers, including Trinity Schlotterbeck and Wyche, could pose a significant challenge. The Knights will need to pitch carefully to Jaeda McFarland, who leads the Terrapins with a .396 batting average and 10 doubles. Grad student pitcher Jaden Vickers could lead Rutgers to a win, having allowed no runs and striking out nine batters over two games against Purdue last weekend.

Joey Logano secured his second NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career victory in the Weather Guard Truck Race on Dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway. Ty Majeski followed behind for a second-place finish, while William Byron, Matt Crafton and Grant Enfinger rounded out the top five. Logano, the reigning Cup Series champion secured the win amidst eleven cautions and four lead changes among three drivers. Despite starting from the 14th position, Byron managed to earn a top-five finish but lacked the speed necessary to work past Logano. The No. 51 team finished fourth in the standings of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, with 59 tallies behind the No. 98 team. The NASCAR Cup Series season will continue with the NOCO 400 at Martinsville Speedway on April 16. Live coverage will be broadcast by FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Five-time Masters champion Tiger Woods has withdrawn from the 2023 Masters due to a re-aggravated plantar fasciitis injury. After completing seven holes of his third round on Saturday, play was called off due to inclement weather with Woods at 6-over in the third round and 9-over for the tournament. Woods announced the news on Twitter, thanking fans and wishing players luck at the Augusta National tournament. This comes two years after Woods returned to golf following an accident in which he suffered a compound fracture in his leg and other injuries. He told reporters at the beginning of the tournament that he was in "constant" pain, sinking two consecutive double bogeys and appearing to limp in video footage of the tournament on Saturday. Woods had made the cut for the 23rd consecutive time, tying the record for the most made cuts of all time with Fred Couples and Gary Player. Play resumed on Sunday morning, and officials noted that the fourth and final round was set to begin Sunday afternoon. This withdrawal from 2023 could mark Woods' last appearance at Augusta National.

With the 2023 PGA Championship set to take place from May 18th to May 21st at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York, fans are buzzing with excitement to see who will emerge victorious. While any of the world's top golfers could potentially become a major champion, golf analysts have identified some of the most likely contenders for the Wanamaker Trophy. Three writers made predictions for all four majors, and selected five golfers each in a snake draft, with points on the line for wins and top finishes. Among their top picks were Scottie Scheffler, who won his first major at the 2022 Masters and placed T2 at the 2022 US Open, Jon Rahm, who has won five of his last nine tournaments and is one of the top golfers in the world, and Rory McIlroy, who has a history of success at Oak Hill and is seeking to end his long drought without a major title. Fans will have to keep an eye on these golfers, as well as other talented players like Justin Thomas, Tiger Woods, and Phil Mickelson, to see who will come out on top at the PGA Championship.

Geelong is facing legal action over allegations of serious sexual abuse in the early 1980s by a former under-19 player. The plaintiff, now an Indigenous Elder in his late 50s, claims to have been gang-raped by several older players while staying at the football house for country recruits known as Aberdeen House. Court documents allege that the club was liable for the acts of the three players who assaulted the plaintiff while he was vulnerable because of his age and displacement from home. The plaintiff is seeking a trial by jury on the grounds that the club breached its duty to look after his welfare, safety, and supervision while he was a minor at the football house. He left the sport shortly after the alleged assault. In response, Geelong issued a statement expressing its shock and regret for the incident, saying it was taking the matter very seriously and asking people to seek appropriate support. The club did not provide further comments until the legal proceedings are concluded.

The Anaheim Ducks are on a 10-game losing streak and will take on the Colorado Avalanche tonight in hopes of breaking their losing streak. The Ducks, sitting at 23-45-11, have struggled all season and have only managed to secure 57 points so far. The Avalanche, on the other hand, have already clinched a playoff berth and have tied for the top spot in the Central division with 102 points. Colorado is hoping to defend their title as the Stanley Cup champions following their impressive win last season. The two teams have split their two games this season with a score of 5-5 for each game. While the Avalanche have been hot recently, winning eight out of their last ten games, the Ducks are in need of a win, sitting third from the bottom in the NHL standings. The game tonight will kick off at 8:30 pm EDT in Anaheim, California.

The Minnesota Timberwolves clinched the eighth seed in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament after defeating the New Orleans Pelicans, but the game left them in chaos. Breakout forward Jaden McDaniels fractured his right hand after punching a wall in frustration, and center Rudy Gobert was suspended for a game after striking teammate Kyle Anderson in a huddle. The disagreement started with Anderson telling Gobert to block shots, and Gobert responding by telling him to grab a “bleeping” rebound. Anderson then told Gobert to, “Shut the f---- up, b----,” which incited Gobert to throw a punch at Anderson’s chest. After the incident, Gobert was sent home and later apologized for his actions. The Wolves are now weighing whether to keep Gobert off the trip to Los Angeles on Monday for the play-in game against the Lakers. This is a significant blow to the Timberwolves, who gave up four first-round picks for the three-time Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. Despite tempers flaring during the game, Anderson said, “We’ll move forward. We want to win games. It is what it is. We’ll keep it in house... I think our tempers just flared. That’s all. It is what it is. We’ll speak about it and move on. We’re grown men.”

Despite taking an early lead at the 2023 Masters with an outstanding six under par round of 66, Viktor Hovland's choice of attire was the subject of much discussion on social media. The Norwegian professional golfer wore a brightly colored shirt from J. Lindeberg that divided opinion among avid golf fans. Some praised the shirt's flamboyant design, while others criticized it for being an eyesore. Indeed, one Twitter user went so far as to suggest that Hovland's fellow competitor Tiger Woods should ask him to change his shirt before commencing play. Nevertheless, the clothing did not seem to affect Hovland's gameplay as he made eagle and three birdies in the first 11 holes, giving him a good chance of tying or beating the single-round record of 63.

Despite the teasing from some golf enthusiasts, Hovland seemed unfazed by the reaction to his clothing choice, and appeared to have a sense of humor, posting a photograph on Instagram where he switched his golf attire for a more casual outfit of shorts and t-shirt.