LOUISVILLE, Ky. — He was 14 years old, sitting in the front seat of his GMC pickup truck, listening to the radio call of Bobby Ussery ride Proud Clarion to a 30-to-1 upset in the Kentucky Derby. 

It would be a nice, tidy story if Bill Mott could tell people now that when he started training horses, he would eventually do it for men who build airplanes and rule countries and that he’d get some who could bring him into the winner’s circle of the biggest race in the world. 

But that wouldn’t be true. Because from his tiny town in South Dakota, just across the Missouri River from the state capital Pierre, even bringing a horse to Churchill Downs — much less running in the Derby — would have felt much too big.

“I never even imagined that I would ever be here,” he said. ‘It was just a dream that was too far away. And to be up here thinking back at that, it’s like going to outer space.”

But to blast off into the atmosphere, you need a rocket ship. And on Saturday, Sovereignty turned on the afterburners in the stretch of the 151st Derby, passing race favorite Journalism and bending Mott’s time-space continuum in more than one way.

Because even though it wasn’t the first Derby win for a trainer who has been among the best in the sport for four decades, it almost felt like it.

In 2019, the Mott trainee Country House was named the Derby winner when the Kentucky racing stewards disqualified Maximum Security for drifting out at the top of the stretch and interfering with two other horses. 

Mott was, of course, happy to finally be a Derby winner. They lifted the trophy, got the garland of roses and celebrated into the night. But it was, admittedly, awkward if not downright bittersweet to get there that way.

Much, much better. 

“You have the joy of being here,” said Riley Mott, his 33-year-old son who is now a trainer with his own string of 40 horses. “But crossing the wire first is a different animal.” 

So is Sovereignty — and so is Mott. 

In a sport where the characters on the backstretch are famously good at overhype, misdirection and sometimes a little bit of chicanery, Mott is one trainer you’ll never hear a bad word about.

For more than 30 years in the national spotlight, beginning when he trained the great Cigar to a remarkable 16-race winning streak back in 1995 and 1996, Mott has been regarded as a consummate gentleman and a patient, old school horseman who never pushes them beyond their capabilities. 

It is, perhaps, why Mott actually hadn’t run many horses in the Derby — just eight prior to Country House — relative to the success he had in other big races. He might have been a little too patient, knowing just how little time you have to develop a horse to get them ready to run 1 1/4 miles on the first Saturday in May of their 3-year-old year. He wasn’t going to enter a horse just to be at the party. 

“To win these types of races, you can’t have many hiccups in your training schedule or the way the horse is doing,” Mott said. 

To underline that point, consider that Sovereignty is the first Derby winner for Godolphin, the international racing and breeding operation owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the head of the ruling family of Dubai. 

The Maktoums have almost certainly spent more money on horses than any human beings in the history of the world, and they have won pretty much every race around the world worth winning, from the Epsom Derby in England to the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe in France to the Japan Cup to the Melbourne Cup to the Breeders’ Cup Classic. 

But none of them had ever won the Kentucky Derby until Saturday, and it certainly wasn’t for lack of trying. That’s horse racing, though. Everything has to go right — not just on Saturday but for months leading up to the race. That’s why the little guys, relatively speaking, always have a chance on Derby Day. But this year, the biggest fish in the sport just happened to swallow them all. 

“It’s been a long time coming,” Michael Banahan, the director of American bloodstock for Godolphin, said. “Do we expect to win these type of races? No, you don’t. You just expect to have some nice horses that you can give them the opportunity, give them great trainers like we have. And if we get one good enough to win the Derby, fantastic. We certainly don’t think that just because we have some nice horses that we’re going to be able to get a seat at this table and be the winner of the race.” 

But there were some clues that maybe Sovereignty was different. 

Despite starting his career 0-for-2 at shorter distances last summer, it said a lot about what kind of talent Mott thought he had in his barn when he entered Sovereignty in the Street Sense, an important 2-year-old stakes race at Churchill last October.

Sovereignty won that race easily, coming from last place, showing that he enjoyed the Churchill surface and that he would thrive in longer races. Suddenly, the Derby was the obvious goal. But for the next four months, Sovereignty disappeared to the anonymity of Payson Park, a training center in Florida. He didn’t surface again until March 1 at the Fountain of Youth Stakes, when he once again made a sweeping wide move to win by a neck and establish himself as a legitimate contender. 

But it was such a big effort coming off a long layoff that Mott did not push the colt too hard to get ready for the Florida Derby four weeks later, knowing the more important goal was still ahead.

Still, Sovereignty finished a good second to Tappan Street, who had to scratch from the Kentucky Derby due to an injury. Mott still felt as if his horse was on track and improving. But the betting public wasn’t as enamored with that effort as Mott was and allowed Sovereignty to go off at 7-1 by post time, a bit higher than the 5-1 he was assigned on the morning line. 

And as jockey Junior Alvarado guided Sovereignty from the No. 18 post to a ground-saving position on the rail around the first turn, Mott felt good — especially when he saw fast early fractions on the front end that would favor horses coming from behind. 

But still, even though he would always be a Derby winner — and certainly didn’t need another to validate one of the greatest careers in the history of the sport — he didn’t quite know what it would feel like to watch his horse cross the finish line first.

Until it happened, much to the delight and surprise of that young man who started training horses in South Dakota at 14 and listened to the Derby on the radio of an old truck. 

“They’re all special, and I don’t want to take anything away from Country House’s effort because he actually ran a very good race on that day,” Mott said. “The stewards did the right thing. It was a no-brainer that they put us up.

‘But this is better.” 

Japan’s Naoya Inoue returns to America to take on challenger Ramon Cardenas in a junior featherweight fight for Top Rank Boxing in Las Vegas this weekend. It will be for Ionue’s undisputed junior featherweight championship.

Inoue has not fought in the States since 2021, when he defeated Michael Dasmariñas by knockout in the third round to retain the WBA (super bantamweight), IBF, and The Ring bantamweight titles.

Inoue’s last 24 fights were all championship fights, with the first coming in April 2014.

Cardenas has won 14 straight fights and has positioned himself for this fight, which will be his first world title shot. He is coming off a unanimous decision victory against Bryan Acosta on Feb. 25.

USA TODAY Sports will have the latest updates and results for the full card here:

Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas time 

The fight-fight main card is scheduled to start at 10 p.m. ET, with preliminary fights beginning at 6:15 p.m. ET.

Where is the Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas fight location?

The Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas fight takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

How to watch Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas fight 

The main event will air on ESPN and be streamed on ESPN+ and Disney+. Preliminary bouts can be streamed on ESPN+.

Watch Inoue vs. Cardenas with ESPN+

Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas card start time

Preliminary card: 6:15 p.m. ET / 3:15 p.m. PT (ESPN+)
Main card: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT (ESPN/ESPN+)

Winning the last three games of the regular-season under interim coach David Adelman, who took over for the fired Michael Malone, earned the Denver Nuggets the No. 1 seed and home-court advantage against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round.

That home-court advantage paid off in Game 7.

The Nuggets defeated the Clippers 120-101 in the series finale Saturday, using an impressive shooting display to dispatch the Clippers in a series where four games were decided by six points or fewer, including two two-point margins.

The Nuggets advance to the second round and a matchup against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Game 1 is Monday in Oklahoma City (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT).

The home team had won 112 of 151 Game 7s headed into Saturday’s finale. However, there has been a Game 7 road winner in the past eight NBA playoffs, including two Game 7 road winners in 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021.

With the home fans and the altitude on the Nuggets’ side, Denver pulled away from the Clippers in the third quarter, going on a 24-4 run to take an 82-54 lead on an Aaron Gordon dunk. The Nuggets outscored the Clippers 72-40 in the second and third quarters.

Nuggets MVP finalist Nikola Jokic had 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, Christian Braun scored 21 points and Gordon added 22. Russell Westbrook and Jamal Murray contributed 16 points apiece, and Michael Porter Jr. had 15 points.

The Clippers just didn’t have it. Through three quarters, Kawhi Leonard and Derrick Jones Jr. were the only Clippers who had scored at least 10 points, and James Harden finished with seven points on 2-for-8 shooting.

Poor shooting (47.6%), turnovers and bad transition defense contributed to the Clippers’ defeat.

Sovereignty reigns at the 2025 Kentucky Derby.

Sovereignty, with jockey Junior Alvarado aboard, emerged victorious in 2:02.31 during the first leg of horse racing’s 2025 Triple Crown over the 19-horse field, which galloped through thick mud at Churchill Downs after daylong showers. 

Sovereignty came out of the 18th gate and went off with the fourth-best odds at 7-1 as the race started. Journalism, which came in as the favorite at 3-1, placed second with Baeza (13-1 odds) rounding out the top three.

Bob Baffert, appearing in his first Kentucky Derby since 2021 due to suspension, fell short in his bid to become the winningest trainer in Kentucky Derby history as Citizen Bull placed 15th. Baffert’s six Kentucky Derby wins are tied with Ben Jones.

Sovereignty trainer Bill Mott’s lone Kentucky Derby win before Saturday came with an asterisk in 2019, when Country House crossed the line second but was declared the winner after the disqualification of Maximum Security.

Saturday Mott was asked about his second Derby winner.

‘This one got here the right way,’ Mott said. ‘I mean, he’s done well. He’s a great horse. He comes from a great organization.’

The Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown, will come May 17 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

Here is how the 2025 Kentucky Derby unfolded:

Kentucky Derby finish

Sovereignty
Journalism
Baeza
Final Gambit
Owen Almighty
Citizen Bull
Neoequos
American Promise
Admire Daytona
Luxor Cafe
Burnham Square
Flying Mohawk
East Avenue
Publisher
Tiztastic
Render Judgment
Coal Battle
Sandman
Chunk of Gold
Rodriguez — SCRATCHED
Grande — SCRATCHED

Kentucky Derby earnings for Top 5 finishers

First: Sovereignty, $3.1 million
Second: Journalism, $1 million
Third: Baeza, $500,000
Fourth: Final Gambit, $250,000
Fifth: Owen Almighty, $150,000

Kentucky Derby payouts

Sovereignty payout

Odds: 5/1

Win: $17.96
Place: $7.50
Show: $5.58

Journalism payout

Odds: 3/1

Place: $4.94
Show: $3.70

Baeza payout

Odds: 13/1

Show: $8.38

Kentucky Derby odds

Final odds, according to KentuckyDerby.com

No. 1: Citizen Bull | Odds: 13-1
No. 2: Neoequos | Odds: 42-1
No. 3: Final Gambit | Odds: 17-1
No. 4: Rodriguez | SCRATCHED
No. 5: American Promise | Odds: 12-1
No. 6: Admire Daytona | Odds: 42-1
No. 7: Luxor Cafe | Odds: 8-1
No. 8: Journalism | Odds: 3-1
No. 9: Burnham Square | Odds: 19-1
No. 10: Grande | SCRATCHED
No. 11: Flying Mohawk | Odds: 28-1
No. 12: East Avenue | Odds: 41-1
No. 13: Publisher | Odds: 33-1
No. 14: Tiztastic | Odds: 24-1
No. 15: Render Judgment | Odds: 20-1
No. 16: Coal Battle | Odds: 28-1
No. 17: Sandman | Odds: 5-1
No. 18: Sovereignty | Odds: 7-1
No. 19: Chunk of Gold | Odds: 29-1
No. 20: Owen Almighty | Odds: 40-1
No. 21:Baeza | Odds: 13-1

Sovereignty payout

Sovereignty nets $17.96 for win, $7.50 for place and $5.58 for show.

Sovereignty wins Kentucky Derby

Here’s how it looked down the stretch.

What to know about Godolphin Stables

A seven-time winner of the Eclipse Award for outstanding owner — including each of the past five years (2020-24) — Godolphin is annually among the most successful entities in the industry. Godolphin, which owns 2025 Derby entrants East Avenue and Sovereignty, has ranked among the top two in earnings in North America five straight seasons, placing first the last four (2021 through 2024). Coming into the Derby it was tracking as another banner campaign in 2025, as of April 28, Godolphin ranked first in earnings, with more than $3.9 million. Despite Godolphin’s global reach — it is run by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai as well as vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates — it has found Triple Crown triumphs hard to come by until Saturday. Before Sovereignty’s big win, it was 0-for-12 in Derby attempts. 

Simone Biles gives ‘Riders Up’ at Kentucky Derby

Olympian Simone Biles gave the ‘Riders Up’ call ahead of the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, a legendary command that informs jockeys to mount their horses. Biles donned a lavender ensemble from The Hat Girls, a three-time featured milliner of the Kentucky Derby. Biles paired her lavender strapless mini dress adorned with diamonds with a fascinator and matching eyeshadow.

Kentucky Derby undercard results

The 2025 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, arrived with 19 horses competing for the prestigious garland of roses, with Sovereignty taking the top prize. The day also saw a 14-race undercard lineup, headlined by the Kentucky Derby, completing the festivities.

Kentucky Derby start time

Post time for the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby is 7:02 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 3.

Kentucky Derby TV coverage

The Kentucky Derby will be broadcast live on NBC, with coverage starting at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Kentucky Derby live stream

For cord-cutters, the Kentucky Derby can be streamed on Peacock, with coverage starting at noon ET. You can also watch via Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users.

When is the 2025 Preakness Stakes?

Sovereignty may have a shot at glory. The journey may continue with the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, which will take place on Saturday, May 17, 2025. Coverage will start at 2 p.m. ET and will be covered across NBC and Peacock.

Kentucky Derby attendance

The official attendance inside Churchill Downs was announced as 147,406.

Watch the Kentucky Derby with Fubo

Race 11: Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic

Results from the 11th race at Churchill Downs on Saturday:

1st place: Spirit of St. Louis (Trainer: Chad Brown)
2nd place: Mercante
3rd place: Highway Robber

Kentucky Derby 2025 set to generate historic wagering numbers

TwinSpires, the event’s official betting partner, handled $20.9 million, up about $600,000 from last year. Wagering from all sources was $73.9 million, including $22.7 million (up 4% from 2024) bet on the day’s marquee race.

If Friday’s figures are any indication, today’s Kentucky Derby will also generate historic wagering numbers. — Payton Titus, Louisville Courier Journal

Race 10: Derby City Distaff

Results from the 10th race at Churchill Downs on Saturday:

1st place: Kopion (Trainer: Richard Mandella)
2nd place: Hope Road
3rd place: Ways and Means

Mike Tirico departs Kentucky Derby coverage feeling ‘under the weather’

‘Veteran sportscaster Mike Tirico is a late scratch at the 2025 Kentucky Derby.

Tirico, who has led NBC Sports’ Triple Crown coverage since 2017, was on the call Saturday for the network ahead of ‘The Run for the Roses’ on a rainy and cold day at Churchill Downs, but eagle-eyed viewers noticed that Tirico appeared to be less than 100%. It was later announced that Tirico had to step away from the Kentucky Derby coverage in Louisville shortly after 3 p.m. ET due to feeling ‘under the weather.’ – Cydney Henderson.

Ahmed Fareed gave an update on Tirico during NBC’s broadcast: ‘We want to tell you that he does have a nut allergy. He had a reaction earlier today. He is feeling fine now, but he’s just going to stay on the sideline. So Mike, I know you’re watching right now, hope you’re feeling better and get back to yourself here very soon.’

Read the story here.

Race 9: American Turf

Results from the ninth race at Churchill Downs on Saturday:

1st place: Zulu Kingdom (Trainer: Chad Brown)
2nd place: Test Score
3rd place: New Century

Race 8: Churchill Downs Stakes

Results from the eighth race at Churchill Downs on Saturday:

1st place: Mindframe (Trainer: Todd Pletcher)
2nd place: Banishing (dead heat with Nysos)
3rd place: Nysos (dead heart with Banishing)

Metallica’s James Hetfield visits Sandman at Kentucky Derby

James Hetfield, the frontman of Metallica, wishes Sandman well ahead of the Kentucky Derby.

Jayson Werth race horse leads to mohawk for lucky fan

‘Former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth is having a blast at the 2025 Kentucky Derby.

Werth’s horse, Flying Mohawk, will race in the 151st Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs on Saturday. Ahead of the race, Werth offered fans around the area a mohawk for a chance to earn tickets for the Derby.’ — Ehsan Kassim

Read more here.

Race 7: Twin Spires Turf Sprint

Results from the seventh race at Churchill Downs on Saturday:

1st place: Think Big (Trainer: Michael Stidham)
2nd place: Boss Sully
3rd place: Unconquerable Keen

Race 6: Pat Day Mile

Results from the sixth race at Churchill Downs on Saturday:

1st place: Macho Music (Trainer: Rohan Crichton)
2nd place: Madaket Road
3rd place: Gaming

Race 5: Longines Distaff Turf Mile

Results from the fifth race at Churchill Downs on Saturday:

1st place: Simply In Front (Trainer: Eddie Kenneally)
2nd place: Pin Up Betty
3rd place: Movin’ On Up

Race 4: Knicks Go Stakes

Results from the fourth race at Churchill Downs on Saturday:

1st place: Liberal Arts (Trainer: Brad H. Cox)
2nd place: Patriot Spirit
3rd place: Kupuna

Race 3: Allowance Race

Results from the third race at Churchill Downs on Saturday:

1st place: Goal Oriented (trainer: Bob Baffert)
2nd place: Hypnus
3rd place: Tiz Secure

Race 2: Allowance Optional Claiming

Results from the second race at Churchill Downs on Saturday:

1st place: Lemon Muffin (trainer: D Wayne Lukas)
2nd place: Generous Lover
3rd place: Tapit Quick

Race 1: Maiden Special Weight

Results of the first race at Churchill Downs on Saturday:

1st place: Fountain Lake (trainer: John Ortiz)
2nd place: Chillax
3rd place: Sansone

Where to watch the Kentucky Derby today

Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025
Time: 7:02 p.m. ET (race starts) | 2:30 p.m. ET (TV coverage) 
TV: NBC
Stream: Peacock, Fubo

Kentucky Derby weather in Louisville

There’ll be rain. Early arrivers are already sporting their ponchos. Churchill Downs doesn’t allow umbrellas.

But the good news (so far, at least) is that meteorologists expect it to be early. As of Saturday morning, National Weather Service in Louisville predicts a 100% chance of precipitation Saturday for the Kentucky Derby, with showers most likely to be prevalent before 5 p.m.

There’s still a chance of showers and a thunderstorm after 5 p.m. Expect conditions to remain mostly cloudy, with a high near 63 and a North wind 3 to 6 mph. — Chris Sims, Louisville Courier Journal

6 Kentucky Derby horses to bet on if it rains during Run for the Roses

If you’re sent scrambling for a poncho at Churchill Downs and need help adjusting your Derby bets, here are the contenders who have experience in the rain and its aftermath — presented in order of their numbers in the program, accompanied by their morning-line odds – Brooks Holton

Kentucky Derby 2025 purse

The winner of Derby 151 will take home a cash prize of $3.1 million, which was a record-breaking winner’s share this time last year when Mystik Dan won. The jockey of the winning horse will earn 10% of the first-place prize, which came out to be $310,000 last year.

Here’s a breakdown of what the purse for this year’s Kentucky Derby is:

1st place: $3.1 million
2nd place: $1 million
3rd place: $500,000
4th place: $250,000
5th place: $150,000

— John Leuzzi

Churchill Downs capacity

When it’s race day, Churchill Downs is one of the most packed venues in sports. The venue hosts around 165,000 people for the Kentucky Derby, a majority of which are in the grandstands of the race track.

Kentucky Derby ticket prices

For standing room only tickets and general admission, the prices start at $366, up more than $100 from the listed price at the end of April. Expect to shell out at least $135,000 for a private suite, with reserved seating going for at least $721, up from last year’s prices.

The Kentucky Derby offers what are called ‘Derby Experiences’ tickets, which include admission to the event and various accommodations through four different admission packages. — Scooby Axson

Kentucky Derby field: 19 horses will race after scratches

The 2025 Kentucky Derby field was narrowed to 19 horses after Grande was scratched on Friday because of a foot bruise. Veterinarians made the final decision to pull the horse. Grande is trained by Todd Pletcher and was to be ridden by John Velazquez. On Thursday, Rodriguez, one of two horses trained by Bob Baffert that was scheduled to race in the Derby, was also scratched with a foot bruise. Baffert still has one Kentucky Derby horse in 2-year-old champion Citizen Bull. Baeza, trained by John Shirreffs, joined the field in place of Rodriguez; there is no replacement for Grande. — Scooby Axson

Kentucky Derby 2024 winner

The Kentucky Derby 2024 winner was Mystik Dan, who had to edge out Sierra Leone and Forever Young in the final stretch at Churchill Downs for a historic photo finish ending. By winning last year’s derby, Mystik Dan earned a winning share of $3.1 million from the Kentucky Derby purse, a record-breaking figure. — John Leuzzi

Where is the Kentucky Derby held?

Churchill Downs is located in Louisville, Kentucky. It opened in 1875 and has hosted the Kentucky Derby ever since.

Kentucky Derby parade of roses

As the rain slowed into a steady drizzle over Churchill Downs, dozens gathered outside the main gates to watch the parade of roses. The Garland of Roses which will be donned on the winner of the Kentucky Derby were unloaded from a Kroger ice box truck and paraded through the Woodford Reserve Paddock Plaza. Race fans oh’d and ah’d as members of the military carried the bright red roses into the track. Along with the garland, dozens of bouquets of Kroger roses were carried into the track as well. — Louisville Courier Journal

How big is Churchill Downs?

Churchill Downs occupies 147 acres and it features a one-mile dirt, oval racetrack and a seven-furlong turf racecourse. It is also has barns behind the racetrack, which ‘house more than 1,400 horses each year,’ according to the facility.

Kentucky Derby winners since 2000

Here are the Kentucky Derby winners over the years, with the winning horse and the winning time in parentheses. Eventual Triple Crown winners are in bold.

2024 – Mystik Dan (2:03.34)
2023 – Mage (2:01.57)
2022 – Rich Strike (2:02.61)
2021 – Mandaloun (2:01.36)
2020 – Authentic (2:00.61)
2019 – Country House (2:03.93)
2018 – Justify (2:04:20)
2017 – Always Dreaming (2:03.59)
2016 – Nyquist (2:01.31)
2015 – American Pharoah (2:03.02)
2014 – California Chrome (2:03.66)
2013 – Orb (2:02.89)
2012 – I’ll Have Another (2:01.83)
2011 – Animal Kingdom (2:02.04)
2010 – Super Saver (2:04.45)
2009 – Mine That Bird (2:02.66)
2008 – Big Brown (2:01.82)
2007 – Street Sense (2:02.17)
2006 – Barbaro (2:01.36)
2005 – Giacomo (2:02.75)
2004 – Smarty Jones   (2:04.06)
2003 – Funny Cide (2:01.19)
2002 – War Emblem (2:01.13)
2001 – Monarchos (1:59.97)
2000 – Fusaichi Pegasus (2:01.00)

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The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Indiana Pacers will begin their Eastern Conference semifinals series on Sunday.

The Cavaliers return to the court for the first time since sweeping the Miami Heat with a Game 4 victory on April 28. The Cavaliers nearly won every game in the series by double-digits, except Game 2, which was decided by nine points.

The Pacers closed out their first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks after going into overtime in Game 5 on April 29.

The Cavaliers and the Pacers played a pair of games during the final week of the regular season, including the finale, which was decided in overtime.

What time is Cavaliers vs. Pacers?

Game 1 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Indiana Pacers will tip-off at 6 p.m. ET on May 4 at the Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.

How to watch Cavaliers vs. Pacers playoff game: TV, stream

Time: 6 p.m. ET
Location: Rocket Arena (Cleveland, Ohio)
TV: TNT
Stream: Sling TV

Cavaliers vs. Pacers NBA playoff schedule, results

(All times ET)

Game 1, Sun., May 4: at Cavaliers, 6 p.m., TNT/TruTV/Max
Game 2, Tues., May 6: at Cavaliers, TBA  
Game 3, Fri., May 9: at Pacers, TBA
Game 4, Sun., May 11: at Pacers, TBA
*-Game 5, Tues., May 13: at Cavaliers, TBA
*-Game 6, Thurs., May 15: at Pacers, TBA
*-Game 7, Sun., May 18: at Cavaliers, TBA

*if necessary

Naoya Inoue of Japan returns to America to take on challenger Ramon Cardenas in a junior featherweight fight for Top Rank Boxing in Las Vegas this weekend.

It will be for Ionue’s undisputed junior featherweight championship.

Inoue has not fought in the States since 2021, when he defeated Michael Dasmariñas by knockout in the third round to retain the WBA (super bantamweight), IBF, and The Ring bantamweight titles. He has a 29-0 record with 26 of his victories coming by knockout.

Inoue’s last 24 fights were all championship fights, with the first coming in April 2014.

Cardenas has won 14 straight fights and has positioned himself for this fight, which will be his first world title shot. He is coming off a unanimous decision victory against Bryan Acosta on Feb. 25.

Cardenas is currently 26-1 with 14 knockouts in his career.

It’ll be the first bout between the two competitors when they meet in the ring for a rare Sunday fight.

Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas predictions:

Sports Illustrated: Naoya Inoue by knockout

Apratim Banerjee writes, ‘Cardenas will look to establish his range and stay away from Inoue’s power early in the rounds. However, he might not be able to gain the respect to stop Inoue from eventually progressing. The Japanese superstar might look to go body-head and earn yet another spectacular finish.

‘Inoue should get the job done with a finish and that too around the halfway point of the fight.’

Sportskeeda: Naoya Inoue via late TKO

Ricardo Viagem writes, ‘(Cardenas will) survive the initial onslaught, but once the fight enters the second half, he’ll eventually crumble before a relentless Inoue, who has stopped his last 10 foes.’

CBS Sports: Naoya Inoue via KO5

Brent Brookhouse writes, ‘Let’s be honest, Inoue is a -10000 favorite. There’s not much doubt who is going to get the win on Sunday. Cardenas winning would upend the boxing world. The real problem for Cardenas is that he is not a big puncher. Beating Inoue would almost certainly require catching him clean with a big shot because Inoue is such a good boxer beyond his elite punching power.’

Forbes: Inoue wins by KO

Trent Reinsmith writes, ‘The betting pick is that Naoya Inoue will continue his run of winning fights via knockout.’

Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas odds

Odds according to BetMGM as of Sunday, May 4.

Naoya Inoue (c) -10000
Ramon Cardenas +1200

How to watch Inoue vs. Cardenas

The main card is scheduled to begin on Sunday at 10 p.m. ET. The event will air on ESPN and be streamed on ESPN+ and Disney+. The fight will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Heading into Saturday’s do-or-die game, the Dallas Stars’ secret weapon appeared to be coach Peter DeBoer’s 8-0 record in Game 7s.

He’s 9-0 now because of the Stars’ not-so-secret weapon. Mikko Rantanen stunningly turned the game around in the third period, erasing a 2-0 deficit with a tremendous skating display and three goals and an assist in a 4-2 victory against the Colorado Avalanche.

He did it against the team that shockingly traded him to Carolina earlier in the season. He ended up on the Stars after they made a trade deadline deal with the Hurricanes and gave him an eight-year extension. He had 101 points in 81 playoff games with the Avalanche, and that’s what the Stars were looking for when they made the move.

They got it. The Stars looked spent when they were held to 10 shots over the first two periods and Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon made it 2-0 just 31 seconds into the third period.

But Rantanen darted into the offensive zone and ripped a shot past Mackenzie Blackwood at 7:49. He tied the game on a power play after zipping behind the net and putting the puck out front, where it bounced off a defender’s skate. He picked up an assist on Wyatt Johnston’s go-ahead goal and completed the hat trick with an empty-net goal.

‘He was a motivated guy to make an impact in this series,’ DeBoer told reporters. ‘He just better and better.’

The Stars are heading to the second round, where they’ll face the Winnipeg Jets or St. Louis Blues, who have their own Game 7 Sunday night in Winnipeg.

Stars vs. Avalanche highlights

What’s next for the Stars?

They will either head to Winnipeg or host St. Louis, depending on what whether the Jets or Blues win Sunday night.

They went 1-3 against the Jets and 3-0 against the Blues during the regular season.

With their season extended, they might to be able to get back injured forward Jason Robertson, who’s day-to-day, and defenseman Miro Heiskanen.

What’s next for the Avalanche?

Their once-promising season is over after a first-round exit.

“They were missing their best D and maybe their best forward,’ MacKinnon told reporters. ‘We still couldn’t beat them so, yeah, I don’t know what we’re gonna do.”

The Avalanche will continue to be a threat with the core locked in long-term and Gabriel Landeskog back after a three-season injury absence. They’ll have to make some decisions on trade deadline acquisitions Brock Nelson and Ryan Lindgren, who are pending unrestricted free agents. Joel Kiviranta is also unrestricted.

What Mikko Rantanen said after game

Mikko Rantanen, who knocked his former team out of the playoffs, said it was emotional going through the handshake line after the 4-2 win.

‘They’re my brothers,’ he told ABC. ‘I still love every one of them. Obviously we were enemies in the series on the ice, but they’re my dear friends off the ice.’

End of game: Stars 4, Avalanche 2

The Dallas Stars are heading to the second round, thanks to Mikko Rantanen, who had three goals and an assist to help Dallas overcome a 2-0 deficit early in the third period. Stars coach Peter DeBoer now 9-0 in Game 7s.

Stars-Avalanche score: Mikko Rantanen hat trick

He gets an empty-netter for his third goal of the game. Four points in a period for the second game in a row. Stars 4, Avalanche 2

Less than a minute left

Makenzie Blackwood out for an extra skater.

Stars-Avalanche score: Wyatt Johnston puts Dallas ahead

Dallas doesn’t need long to connect on the power play. Matt Duchene makes a cross-crease pass to Wyatt Johnston for the go-ahead goal. Mikko Rantanen gets the secondary assist. Stars 3, Avalanche 2

Stars go on power play

Jack Drury called for holding with 4:13 lef.

Stars-Avalanche score: Mikko Rantanen ties it up

He skates hard around the net and puts the puck out front, where it bounces in off Avalanche defenseman Sam Girard’s skate. Another goal against his former team. There’s 6:14 left. Stars 2, Avalanche 2

Bad turn of events for Colorado

Cale Makar’s stick breaks and he ends up tripping Roope Hintz. Martin Necas appears to be hurt as he goes into the boards. It’s 4-on-4 play.

Avalanche go on power play

Matt Duchene is called for tripping.

Stars-Avalanche score: Mikko Rantanen gets Dallas on board

Former Avalanche star Rantanen skates into the zone, makes his way to the slot and rips a shot past Mackenzie Blackwood for Dallas’ first goal. Avalanche 2, Stars 1

Thomas Harley goes awkwardly into boards

The Stars’ top defenseman is slow getting up as he goes awkwardly into the boards. But he eventually skates off.

Stars-Avalanche score: Nathan MacKinnon doubles lead

Nathan MacKinnon jumps off the bench on a delayed penalty to Jamie Benn and repeats the move he made in the first period. This time, he beats Jake Oettinger, 31 seconds into the third period. It’s his seventh goal of the playoffs. Avalanche 2, Stars 0

Third period underway

Avalanche lead 1-0.

End of second period: Avalanche 1, Stars 0

Defenseman Josh Manson had one goal in the regular season and five in the playoffs heading into this postseason. But he jumped up in the play for a shorthanded goal that gave Colorado the lead. He had a empty-netter in Game 6. Shots are 14-10 Colorado.

Avalanche controlling play

Dallas had a 9-8 shot advantage, but now they trail 14-9. The Stars finally get one.

Stars-Avalanche score: Josh Manson gets shorthanded goal

Penalty killer Logan O’Connor pulls up and feeds a breaking Josh Manson for a shorthanded goal. That’s two goals in two games for the low-scoring defenseman. Then Colorado kills off the rest of the penalty. Avalanche 1, Stars 0

Stars go on power play

Dallas has been having more chances on the rush and when that happens, it could lead to a penalty. It does as Colorado’s Sam Malinski is called for interference.

Mackenzie Blackwood stops Mikael Granlund

Granlund gets the puck down low and skates around the crease to try to get Blackwood out of position, but the goalie stays with him and makes a leg save. Best scoring chance of the game so far.

Second period underway

Scoreless so far.

End of first period: Stars 0, Avalanche 0

The Avalanche got a couple good looks on an extended power play and the action was back and fourth, but not a lot of shots on net. Colorado holds a 5-4 lead. Some big hits. Dallas leads 14-10 in that category.

Avalanche going on power play

Jamie Benn heading to the penalty box. While teammate Wyatt Johnston puts on a skating display, Benn high-sticks Valeri Nichushkin, who’s down on the ice and needs repair work. Benn gets four minutes.

Nathan MacKinnon and Marin Necas get chances, but Dallas kills it off.

Stars go on power play

Parker Kelly is called for holding. Stars get one shot. Avalanche kill it off.

Game 7 underway

Gabriel Landeskog line vs. Roope Hintz line.

What time is Stars vs. Avalanche NHL playoff game?

Game 7 of the Avalanche-Star series is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET in Dallas.

How to watch Stars vs. Avalanche Game 7: TV, stream

Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: American Airlines Center (Dallas)
TV: ABC
Stream: Fubo, ESPN+

Goalies’ Game 7 records

Colorado’s Mackenzie Blackwood is in his first playoffs so this is his first Game 7. Dallas’ Jake Oettinger is 2-1 with a 1.54 goals-against average and .956 save percentage.

Jason Robertson, Miro Heiskanen injury update

Stars forward Jason Robertson and defenseman Miro Heiskanen haven’t played all series and have been ruled out in Game 7. Heiskanen has been out since before the 4 Nations Face-Off and had knee surgery. Robertson was hurt in the regular-season finale and is day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

What’s next for the winner?

The Game 7 winner will face either the Winnipeg Jets or St. Louis Blues in the second round. Those teams are playing Game 7 in Winnipeg on Sunday (7 p.m. ET, TBS). The Blues won Game 6 and Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck was pulled for the third time in three games in St. Louis.

Stars vs. Avalanche Game 7 predictions

Jason Anderson – Avalanche 5, Stars 2: Colorado has created more of the chances throughout the series, and that has to add up to something. Expect a close one that sees Cale Makar dominate, with the Avs finally sealing the series with a late empty-netter.

Mike Brehm – Avalanche 5, Stars 3: DeBoer can’t stay perfect forever, right? I had the Avalanche winning the Stanley Cup and I have faith they can pull this one off against a Stars team still missing Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen. Just make sure you don’t give up a goal in the first nine seconds this time.

Jace Evans – Avalanche 4, Stars 3: I picked Avalanche in seven before the series and I’m sticking with it. The Avs have, on balance, been the better team this series, holding a 22-17 advantage in goals and a 214-167(!) edge in shots.

Hurricanes sign Frederik Andersen to extension

The Carolina Hurricanes signed goaltender Frederik Andersen to a one-year, $2.75 million contract extension on Saturday. He can earn performance bonuses for playing 35-plus games ($250,000) and 40-plus games ($250,000). If the Hurricanes reach the conference finals next season with him playing at least half of the team’s playoff games, he’d earn another $250,000.

On Sunday, Caitlin Clark will be returning home.

The Indiana Fever superstar will once again take the court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa — where she shined for four years for the Hawkeyes and became the all-time Division I career scoring leader — when her team squares off against the Brazilian women’s basketball national team in a preseason game.

It will be Clark’s first game in the venue since a 64-54 win against West Virginia in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, a game in which Clark, the two-time national player of the year, scored 32 points.

Since then, Clark led Iowa to a second consecutive national championship game appearance, became the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft and enjoyed a stellar rookie campaign in which she averaged 19.2 points and a WNBA-best 8.4 assists per game on her way to earning first-team All-WNBA honors and winning the WNBA Rookie of the Year award.

Here’s how to watch the Indiana Fever vs. Brazil game today, including the start time, TV schedule and streaming information:

What channel is Indiana Fever vs. Brazil on today?

TV channel: ESPN
Livestream: ESPN app | ESPN+ | Fubo (free trial)

The Fever’s game against the Brazilian national team will air on ESPN.

Streaming options for the game includes the ESPN app, ESPN+ — ESPN’s subscription streaming service — and Fubo, the last of which offers a free trial for potential subscribers.

Watch Indiana Fever vs Brazil live with Fubo (free trial)

Indiana Fever vs. Brazil start time today

Date: Sunday, May 4
Start time: 4 p.m. ET
Location: Carver-Hawkeye Arena (Iowa City, Iowa)

The Fever and the Brazilian national team are scheduled to tip off at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 4 from Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, on the campus of the University of Iowa.

Indiana Fever vs. Brazil predictions, picks, odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM.

Spread: Fever (-34.5)
Over/under: 152.5 points

Prediction: Fever 109, Brazil 82

Clark and the improved roster around her will put on a show against a solid Brazilian national team, albeit one that doesn’t feature an active WNBA player.

Indiana Fever schedule 2025

Sunday’s game against Brazil is the second of three preseason games for the Fever, who will wrap up their preseason slate on Saturday, May 10 against the Atlanta Dream.

Below is a look at the Fever’s first five games of the 2025 WNBA regular season. To see Indiana’s full 2025 schedule, click here.

All times Eastern

Saturday, May 17: vs. Chicago Sky, 3 p.m.
Tuesday, May 20: vs. Atlanta Dream, 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 22: at Atlanta Dream, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 24: vs. New York Liberty, 1 p.m.
Wednesday, May 28: at Washington Mystics, 7:30 p.m.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

On a muddy track in a stirring down-the-stretch duel, Sovereignty ruled them all at the 151st Kentucky Derby.

You can own a piece of horse racing history with a commemorative page print from USA TODAY. It features SOVEREIGNTY as its big headline and a spectacular photograph of the mud-caked champion ridden by equally dirty jockey Junior Alvarado. It includes the order of finish for posterity.

Buy Kentucky Derby page print

The page prints are produced on high-quality, acid-free art paper and start at $15.25, plus shipping. Upgrade options include framed copies and background choices of canvas, acrylic, metal or wood through the USA TODAY Store.

As the leaders faded, Journalism took the lead off the final turn. Sovereignty chased him down and eventually won by 1½ lengths. Trained by Bill Mott, Sovereignty came out of the 18th gate at 7-1 odds, covered the 1¼ miles on a sloppy track in 2:02.31 and paid $17.96 on a $2 win wager. Journalism, the 3-1 favorite, placed second. Baez, at 13-1 odds, finished third.

The 151st Kentucky Derby long will be remembered. And this commemorative page print will look amazing hanging on a wall.

Buy Kentucky Derby page print

Contact Gene Myers at gmyers@gannett.com. Follow him on X @GeneMyers. After nearly a quarter-century as sports editor at the Detroit Free Press, Myers unretired to coordinate book and poster projects across the USA TODAY Network. His reading recommendation for this month: “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover book on the Florida Gators’ latest NCAA men’s basketball championship from The Gainesville Sun and USA TODAY. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com. Check out more books and page prints from the USA TODAY Network.

Local favorite and native Texan Scottie Scheffler takes a commanding eight-shot lead into the final round of the 2025 CJ Cup Byron Nelson.

The world’s No. 1-ranked player has dominated the tournament from the start, firing a 10-under 61 in the opening round and following it up with a 63 and a 66 to get to 23-under through 54 holes.

The last time a player led by that many shots entering the final round of a PGA Tour event: Rory McIlroy at the 2011 U.S. Open.

At the start of play Sunday, Scheffler’s closest challengers were Ricky Castillo, Adam Schenk and Erik van Rooyen at 15-under.

LEADERBOARD: Full tournament results from CJ Cup Byron Nelson

How to watch CJ Cup Byron Nelson

Live coverage of the final round of this year’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson tournament will be broadcast on the Golf Channel and CBS.

Sunday, May 4

TV: Golf Channel, CBS
Time: 1-3 p.m. ET (Golf Channel), 3-6 p.m. ET (CBS)
Streaming: Paramount+, ESPN+, Fubo

CJ Cup Byron Nelson prize money 2025: Winner payout, purse

This year’s total purse for the 2025 CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, is $9.9 million. Here’s the prize money breakdown:

1: $1.782 million
2: $1.079 million
3: $683,100
4: $485,100
5: $405,900
6: $358,875
7: $334,125
8: $309,375
9: $289,575
10: $269,775
11: $249,975
12: $230,175
13: $210,375
14: $190,575
15: $180,675
16: $170,775
17: $160,875
18: $150,975
19: $141,075
20: $131,175
21: $121,275
22: $111,375
23: $103,455
24: $95,535
25: $87,615
26: $79,695
27: $76,725
28: $73,755
29: $70,785
30: $67,815
31: $64,845
32: $61,875
33: $58,905
34: $56,430
35: $53,955
36: $51,480
37: $49,005
38: $47,025
39: $45,045
40: $43,065
41: $41,085
42: $39,105
43: $37,125
44: $35,145
45: $33,165
46: $31,185
47: $29,205
48: $27,621
49: $26,235
50: $25,443
51: $24,849
52: $24,255
53: $23,859
54: $23,463
55: $23,265
56: $23,067
57: $22,869
58: $22,671
59: $22,473
60: $22,275
61: $22,077
62: $21,879
63: $21,681
64: $21,483
65: $21,285
66: $21,087
67: $20,889
68: $20,691
69: $20,493
70: $20,295