The Cleveland Cavaliers, one of the heavy favorites in the Eastern Conference, will be without a key guard to start the 2025-26 NBA season.

The Cavaliers announced Tuesday, Aug. 26 that shooting guard Max Strus underwent surgery to repair a small fracture in his left foot that was the result of a recent offseason workout. He will miss three to four months.

The injury is a Jones fracture, which affects the fifth metatarsal, or a bone that connects the pinkie toe to the base of the foot.

The Cavaliers said that the surgery took place at Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics in Indianapolis.

With training camps set to open in late September, and with the Cavaliers playing their first game of the regular season Wednesday, Oct. 22, Strus is expected to miss at least the first month of the season.

Cleveland Cavaliers 2025-26 season outlook

Strus, 29, started 37 of the 50 games he played last season and averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game on 44.2% shooting from the floor and 38.6% shooting from beyond the arc.

Cleveland, which went 64-18 last year to claim the top seed in the East lost to the eventual conference champion Indiana Pacers in five games.

The Cavaliers are one of the deeper teams in the Eastern Conference, and last year’s mid-season trade acquisition, forward De’Andre Hunter, could fill in nicely for Strus.

In 27 games with Cleveland, Hunter averaged 14.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.

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The New Orleans Saints aren’t yet ready to turn to their highest-drafted quarterback in decades.

Spencer Rattler was selected Tuesday as the team’s starter for the regular-season opener against the Arizona Cardinals, first-year coach Kellen Moore announced, with the second-year signal-caller beating out rookie Tyler Shough for the role.

Rattler and Shough seemed to remain even with one another throughout most of the summer, with the two splitting first-team reps in training camp practices as Jake Haener, who was waived Tuesday, loomed as a wild card. Rattler started the preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers while Shough opened the second contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars, with each producing mixed results and faring better in work with backups. Rattler, however, earned the nod for the finale against the Denver Broncos.

‘He’s done an awesome job this offseason,’ Moore said in a news conference Tuesday while announcing Rattler as the starter. ‘He’s just been consistent. He’s made some really good decisions throughout this whole entire process, and his ability to make plays with his arm and feet have certainly shown up.

‘I’m really, really excited about Spencer. He’s earned this opportunity and going to do a tremendous job for us.’

Moore said after the second preseason game that he wanted to give the two passers as many reps as possible before making a decision given each one’s youth. But with Week 1 drawing near and New Orleans standing alone as the only team yet to make clear its starting quarterback, Moore opted for the more experienced presence behind center.

A fifth-round pick out of South Carolina in 2024, Rattler started six games for the Saints as a rookie while stepping in for injured veteran Derek Carr. Mounting offensive injuries, however, left Rattler with little support, especially in a receiving corps that was without starters Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed throughout most of the season. Rattler was at the helm when the Saints became the lone team in 2024 to be shut out in a 34-0 drumming by the Green Bay Packers in Week 17, and he finished the year with 1,317 passing yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions.

Yet while many presumed the starting job would belong to Shough once Carr retired this offseason in the wake of the fallout from his right shoulder injury, Rattler demonstrated enough to hold onto his position atop the depth chart – for now.

Shough, who was the No. 40 overall selection in April’s draft, became the Saints’ highest-selected quarterback since Archie Manning went No. 2 overall to the franchise in 1971. Set to turn 26 in September, he actually is exactly one year older than Rattler despite his delayed arrival to the NFL. His nomadic college career featured three years apiece at Oregon and Texas Tech, with injuries derailing each stint. In his final year after transferring to Louisville, however, the 6-5, 219-pound passer revived his career and re-emerged as a coveted prospect, eventually becoming the third quarterback selected in his class.

Shough, however, will begin his career in New Orleans on the bench, leaving No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward of the Tennessee Titans as the only rookie quarterback set to start in the NFL in Week 1.

‘I’m a big believer in the importance of developing quarterbacks – developing them the right way,’ Moore said. ‘There’s a process for both of the guys, giving them the space to develop. We think we have two guys who will have great careers for us.’

Coco Gauff has fired her primary coach, and that decision is about to come under scrutiny at the U.S. Open tennis tournament.

Her new coach, Gavin MacMillan, is a biomechanics specialist Gauff is hoping can help her fix ongoing struggles with her serve.

Seeded No. 3, Gauff will open singles play Tuesday, Aug. 26 against Ajla Tomljanovic, the unranked Australian, at a site where the American captured her first Grand Slam title. Gauff won the US Open in 2023. Last year, she lost in the Round of 16, but that early exit and service issues are no reason for doom and gloom.

She won the French Open in June by beating top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set final. And it’s worth mentioning that MacMillan, Gauff’s new coach, previously helped Sabalenka with her serve.

How to watch Coco Gauff at US Open Round 1

Match time: 7 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN

Streaming: ESPN+, Fubo

Opponent: Ajla Tomljanović of Australia. Gauff and Tomljanović have played only once, with Gauff winning that match at the Paris Olympics 6-3, 6-0.

Watch the US Open with ESPN+

Coco Gauff: What to know

Gauff, who won the US Open in 2023, is seeded third. She recently parted ways with her primary coach, Matt Daly, and hired biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan as she continues to struggle with her serve. Gauff and her first-round opponent, Ajla Tomljanović of Australia, have played only once, with Gauff winning that match at the Paris Olympics 6-3, 6-0.

Major League Baseball’s 2026 schedule features the earliest traditional Opening Day in history.

The league announced next year’s 162-game schedule and while the season officially begins on March 25 with the San Francisco Giants hosting the New York Yankees in primetime, baseball’s other 28 clubs start their campaigns on March 26. That’s a day earlier than the league’s previous earliest Opening Day (excluding special season-openers and international openers) of March 27.

The 2026 All-Star festivities will be held in Philadelphia in July, with the 96th edition of the Midsummer Classic scheduled for July 14 at Citizens Bank Park. Philadelphia is hosting the All-Star Game for the first time since 1996, back when the Phillies played at Veterans Stadium.

MLB also had to work around match days for the 2026 World Cup, scheduling a June doubleheader between the Mariners and Boston Red Sox to avoid a soccer game on Friday in Seattle. The schedule also includes built-in off days to accommodate matches in Arlington, Texas, Philadelphia and Kansas City.

The 2026 regular season comes to an end on Sunday, Sept. 27.

Here’s a look at some of the key dates on MLB’s 2026 schedule:

March 25: Yankees at Giants on Opening Night

Aaron Judge and the Yankees visit Oracle Park to officially start the 2026 regular season in a showdown between two of MLB’s marquee franchises. The rivalry dates back more than a century to the GIants’ days in New York, with the teams’ first matchup coming in the 1921 World Series. It’s the second time in four years that the teams are meeting in their season openers, further normalizing the interleague matchup that had never occurred in the regular season prior before 2002.

March 26: Opening Day proper

MLB’s other 28 teams begin their season on Thursday, March 26, the earliest traditional Opening Day in the history of baseball. Here’s a look at all the matchups

Red Sox at Reds
Pirates at Mets
Athletics at Blue Jays
Twins at Orioles
Rangers at Phillies
Royals at Braves
Rockies at Marlins
Angels at Astros
Nationals at Cubs
Rays at Cardinals
White Sox at Brewers
Diamondbacks at Dodgers
Tigers at Padres
Guardians at Mariners

April 15: Jackie Robinson Day

All 30 teams are in action on Jackie Robinson Day in 2026, with the epicenter of baseball’s annual celebration being a perfectly-timed Dodgers-Mets game in Los Angeles. MLB retired Robinson’s No. 42 in 1997, 50 years after he broke the color barrier and became the league’s first Black player. But on April 15, players around the league all wear the number.

June 8-10, June 10-12: Athletics in Las Vegas

Based in Sacramento until moving to Sin City in 2028, the Athletics will host two series at the minor league Las Vegas Ballpark in June, giving a preview to their future fans in Nevada.

July 13: Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park

The Phillies’ stadium is one of the most homer-happy parks in baseball, so expect some gaudy totals in the 2026 Derby. Will Bryce Harper participate? The two-time MVP last took part in 2018 at Nationals Park, winning the slugfest in front of his then-hometown fans in Washington.

July 14: MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia

The 96th edition of the Midsummer Classic is the first in Philadelphia since 1996 at Veterans Stadium. The American League has won 10 of the last 12 All-Star Games, but the Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber won the MVP award in the National League’s 2025 victory.

Sept. 27: Regular season ends

We won’t know for 13 months what’s at stake on the final day of the 2026 regular season, but playoff races have gone down to Game 162 in each of the past two seasons. MLB implemented its current expanded postseason in 2022, featuring three wild-card teams from each league.

It’s official: Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift are getting married.

The pop star shared the news Tuesday on Instagram, with a photo showing the Kansas City Chiefs tight end proposing to her.

‘Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,’ the caption of the post read.

Long live the Eras Tour with our enchanting book

Kelce and Swift have been romantically linked since 2023, when Kelce made overtures to the 14-time Grammy winner on his ‘New Heights’ podcast. They began dating shortly thereafter and Swift became a staple at Chiefs games.

Now, after two years, the two have decided they want their love story to continue forever and always.

Naturally, Kelce and Swift’s big news took the sports world by storm. Attention quickly shifted away from the NFL roster cuts and to the union between the four-time All-Pro first teamer and the world’s biggest pop star.

Below is a look at the most notable sports world reactions to the Kelce and Swift engagement.

‘Two of the most genuine people meet & fall in love. Just so happy for these two,’ Brittany Mahomes said on Instagram.

This story will be updated.

The Browns officially placed Watson on the PUP list on Tuesday, Aug. 26, because of an Achilles injury.
Watson initially tore his Achilles on Oct. 20. He ruptured it again during the offseason.
Watson is expected to miss a majority, if not all, of the 2025 season.

The Browns officially placed Watson on the PUP list on Tuesday, Aug. 26, because of an Achilles injury.

Watson initially tore his Achilles on Oct. 20. He ruptured it again during the offseason. He is expected to miss a majority, if not all, of the 2025 season.

Watson’s time in Cleveland has been a disappointment ever since the Browns traded for the quarterback and gave him a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract in 2022.

In Watson’s three seasons as a Browns starter, his numbers are down in every major quarterback statistical category compared to his four-year stint with the Houston Texans. He’s registered a 9-10 record behind center in Cleveland.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam called the Watson trade a ‘big swing-and-miss” at this year’s league annual meeting.

The Browns selected quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft. Both made Cleveland’s initial 53-man roster.

The Browns have announced veteran quarterback Joe Flacco as their Week 1 starter.

Colorado football coach Deion Sanders has named Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter as the team’s starting quarterback for the season opener Friday Aug. 29 against Georgia Tech.

After Sanders’ quarterback son Shedeur moved on to the NFL, the question was not just who would replace him at Colorado but how.

The obvious choice was Salter, who is a dual threat signal caller and led Liberty to a 13-1 season in 2023. He has one season of college eligibility left.

“He’s the guy at this point,” Sanders said at a news conference Tuesday.

The other top choice was Julian “JuJu” Lewis, a heralded freshman from Carrollton, Georgia. He’s only 17 year old and has four years of college playing time ahead of him, but there’s also the risk he could transfer out of Colorado if he doesn’t see playing time.

Might both of them share time at the position in the same game?

“We’re hoping that you see some JuJu periodically through the game as well,” Sanders said. “We would like get him some reps as well. But the game predicates that.”

Sanders said Salter’s “experience is vital.”

There was some mystery to the decision before Tuesday. Colorado offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said Monday that Colorado coaches have discussed the quarterback situation “at great length behind the scenes.”

“We’ll just let it reveal itself, and if there are any announcements, that’s certainly something Coach Prime will handle.’

Shurmur also praised Salter.

“He’s obviously a tremendous athlete that if the situation presents itself, can do some good things with his legs,” he said. “So I’m looking forward to putting him out there to see what he can do.”

Sanders said Tuesday he’s known Salter’s family for more than 10 years and coached his younger brother Kylan in youth football near Dallas. Kylan Salter is a sophomore linebacker at Colorado. Both are from Cedar Hill, Texas. Kaidon Salter joined Liberty after being dismissed from the team at Tennessee.

‘I’ve been checking this kid out since high school,’ Sanders said of Kaidon Salter.

Sanders added that he didn’t need to have a big talk with JuJu Lewis to explain the situation.

‘He knows where we stand,’ Sanders said.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

The U.S. men’s national team has Christian Pulisic back in the fold, with the forward on Mauricio Pochettino’s roster for September friendlies against South Korea and Japan.

Pochettino and U.S. Soccer announced a 22-player roster Tuesday, Aug. 26, with Pulisic being recalled. The AC Milan star had asked to take this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup off, citing the window as his last chance to rest before the 2026 World Cup. Pochettino granted the request, but chafed at an additional ask from Pulisic, who per the manager offered to play in two friendlies before the Gold Cup.

With new faces pushing their way into contention for a World Cup roster spot, the USMNT went to the final of the Gold Cup, falling 2-1 to Mexico. However, Pulisic’s request for time off set off numerous retired USMNT players-turned-pundits, who criticized the AC Milan star’s commitment to the program.

The ensuing war of words — eventually involving Pulisic’s father criticizing former U.S. great Landon Donovan and current USMNT winger Tim Weah calling the line of attack ‘evil’ — ended up being the biggest story of the summer.

Concerning the return of the team’s leading active scorer, Mauricio Pochettino said he ‘didn’t talk to Christian’ before formulating this roster.

‘I think it’s behind us, all that happened in the summer,’ Pochettino told reporters shortly after the roster was announced. ‘I think now, we need to look forward… The plan for Christian now is to see him in this camp, and of course hope that he arrives in a good condition.’

Pulisic is one of several high-profile returning players in the squad. Weah was obliged to play for his club side at the time, Juventus, during this summer’s Club World Cup, while starting defender Sergiño Dest has recently returned from a torn ACL suffered in April 2024. Weah has since moved to Olympique Marseille in the French top flight.

However, for some of the USMNT’s other established regulars, there were more surprises. Reiterating a longstanding theme in his tenure, Pochettino declared that ‘no one has a place for sure’ on his set-up, leaving out several big names who are seemingly healthy. Another Juventus player, Weston McKennie, is among them, as is midfielder Yunus Musah (who revealed on Tuesday that his request to skip the Gold Cup also came down to fatigue).

Midfielder Gio Reyna, defender Joe Scally, goalkeeper Matt Turner, and forward Haji Wright are other prominent absentees.

Pochettino has shown more of a preference for MLS players than some of his predecessors, with 10 of the 22 players named on Tuesday coming from the U.S. league.

‘I think it’s not necessary to move from MLS to Europe,’ explained the Argentina native. ‘Sometimes MLS, under my assessment, maybe is more competitive than some leagues in Europe.’

The USMNT is without at least five big names due to injury, including strikers Patrick Agyemang, Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi. One of its key players, Antonee Robinson, is also on that list, with the Fulham defender only just making his return from a knee issue in a 28-minute appearance Sunday against Manchester United. Playmaker Malik Tillman, who stood out at the Gold Cup, is also out with what Bayer Leverkusen boss Erik ten Hag last week called a ‘minor strain.’

Per U.S. Soccer, the final squad for these matches will include 23 players, with one final selection to be named at a later date. The players will arrive in New Jersey on Sunday, Aug. 31 to begin training ahead of friendly games against two of Asia’s premier national teams.

Here’s what to know about the USMNT roster to face South Korea and Japan:

USMNT roster for Korea, Japan games: Pulisic returns

Here is the 22-player USMNT roster assembled by head coach Mauricio Pochettino for the team’s upcoming matches against South Korea and Japan:

(All players listed with their club team, number of caps, and number of goals)

Goalkeepers (3): Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati, 0/0), Matt Freese (New York City FC, 7/0), Jonathan Klinsmann (Cesena, 0/0)
Defenders (8): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew, 10/1), Noahkai Banks (FC Augsburg, 0/0), Tristan Blackmon (Vancouver Whitecaps, 0/0), Sergiño Dest (PSV, 33/2), Alex Freeman (Orlando City, 7/0), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union, 1/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC, 74/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace, 31/3)
Midfielders (6): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth, 50/2), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps, 6/0), Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC, 31/1), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake, 12/3), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo, 11/2), Sean Zawadski (Columbus Crew, 1/0)
Forwards (5): Damion Downs (Southampton, 5/0), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan, 78/32), Josh Sargent (Norwich City, 28/5), Tim Weah (Marseille, 44/7), Alex Zendejas (Club América, 11/1)

Per U.S. Soccer, one more player will be added to the group at a later date.

How to watch USMNT September friendlies vs. South Korea and Japan

The USMNT will play two games during the upcoming FIFA international break. First up, the U.S. will host South Korea in Harrison, N.J. on Saturday, September 6, followed by a match against Japan three days later in Columbus, Ohio.

USMNT vs. South Korea: Time, TV, streaming

Date: Saturday, Sept. 6
Time: 5 p.m. ET
Location: Sports Illustrated Stadium (Harrison, N.J.)
TV channel: TNT (English), Telemundo, Universo (both Spanish)
Streaming: Max, Sling TV, Peacock

Watch USMNT vs. South Korea on Sling TV

USMNT vs. Japan: Time, TV, streaming

Date: Tuesday, Sept. 9
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Lower.com Field (Columbus, Ohio)
TV channel: TNT (English), Telemundo, Universo (both Spanish)
Streaming: Max, Sling TV, Peacock

Watch USMNT vs. Japan on Sling TV