The Indiana Fever is back in the win column.

The Fever ended its two-game losing skid with a 80-70 win over the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis to move past Las Vegas and claim sixth place in the standings. The Fever did so without All-Star guard Caitlin Clark, who missed her third consecutive game with a right groin injury. The Fever lead the regular-season series, 2-1, and have defeated the Aces in back-to-back games for first time since 2015.

The Fever trailed by six points at halftime, but Indiana outscored Las Vegas, 45-29, in the second half. The Aces came within five points of the Fever with 1:33 remaining in the game, but Aari McDonald slammed the door shut with a 3-pointer to take an eight-point lead with 34.2 seconds left. The Fever credited their second half turnaround to a mid-game pep talk from head coach Stephanie White.

‘Coach told us at halftime that we were playing too soft. We let Las Vegas get whatever they wanted in the second quarter,’ said Natasha Howard, who finished with an 18-point, 13-rebound double-double. ‘When (White) told us that… we all locked in coming out in the second half.’

Kelsey Mitchell led the way with a game-high 21 points and four assists, while Aliyah Boston added a double-double with 13 points and 10 points. Four Fever starters finished with double-digit points. More importantly, Indiana’s defense held Las Vegas to only two 3-pointers the entire game, making a season low for the Aces.

USA TODAY Sports provided updates and highlights from the Aces-Fever game:

Fever vs. Aces highlights

End of Q3: Fever 62, Aces 56

Indiana outscored Las Vegas 27-15 in the third quarter to take a six-point lead into the fourth quarter.

Natasha Howard came alive in the third quarter, scoring 11 of her game-high 18 points in the period. She already has her sixth double-double of the season with 12 rebounds, including five offensive boards. Sophie Cunningham has added 13 points.

A’ja Wilson has a team-high 16 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals for Vegas. Jackie Young has added 15 points and two assists. However, the Aces haven’t been able to get going from long range. They are shooting 18.2% (2-of-11) from 3, compared to the Fever shooting a whopping 45% from 3 (9-of-20).

Halftime: Aces 41, Fever 35

Las Vegas has a 41-35 lead heading into halftime in a back-and-forth game so far. The Aces opened the second quarter against the Fever on a 8-0 run, which marked an 18-2 run going back to the first quarter. The Fever responded with an 8-0 run of their own, which was met by a 12-2 run by the Aces to close out the half.

Jackie Young led the way with a game-high 13 points. A’ja Wilson added 12 points and three rebounds. The Aces are shooting 44.1% from the field, but are struggling from beyond the arc (2-of-8).

The three ball, however, is keeping the Fever in striking distance. Indiana is 5-of-12 from three and is shooting 39.4% from the field, but the Fever must take better care of the ball (11 turnovers) and keep the Aces off the free throw line. The Fever had four free throw attempts in the first half, compared to 12 for the Aces.

Indiana’s apparent frustration with officiating boiled over in the second quarter when head coach Stephanie White was called for a technical foul with 5:53 remaining after Kelsey Mitchell fought through apparent contact on a layup attempt.

Natasha Howard, Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham each have seven points.

End of Q1: Fever 18, Aces 18

It’s a low-scoring affair between the Fever and Aces so far. The Fever led by as many as eight points in the first quarter, before the Aces closed the deficit and tied up the game, 18-18.

Jackie Young has a game-high six points for the Aces, followed by four points by A’ja Wilson.

The Fever have been frustrated early on by the whistle. The Aces had 11 free throw attempts in the first quarter, compared to two for the Fever. Aliyah Boston, who has four points, and Sophie Cunningham, who has five points, are both in foul trouble early with two fouls. Kelsey Mitchell added two points.

What time is Las Vegas Aces vs. Indiana Fever?

The Indiana Fever will host the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday, July 24 at 7 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Fans can watch the action on Prime Video.

How to watch Las Vegas Aces vs. Indiana Fever: TV, stream

Time: 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT)
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis)
Streaming: Prime Video
Local TV: WTHR Channel 13 (Indianapolis), Vegas 34 (Las Vegas).

The game will also be available to view on demand on WNBA League Pass after it concludes.

Stream Aces vs. Fever on Prime

Is Caitlin Clark playing today? Injury status vs. Aces

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has been ruled out of Thursday’s game against the Las Vegas Aces. Clark will miss her third consecutive game due to a right groin injury suffered in the Fever’s win over the Connecticut Sun on July 15. 

Thursday will mark the 12th regular-season game Clark has missed this season due to injury. There’s no timetable for her return.

Fever relaunch ‘Stranger Things’ special edition jersey

The Indiana Fever are donning alternate uniforms inspired by the Netflix series ‘Stranger Things.’

‘Stranger Things’ – which is set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana – will stream its final season on Netflix in three parts starting on Nov. 26. The jersey will also feature Demogorgon claw accents, and ‘011’ on the waistband, referencing the character, Eleven, portrayed by actress Millie Bobby Brown.

The Fever first wore the jersey with the ‘Stranger Things’ font in 2021 and has plans on wearing the jersey in home games on July 30 vs. the Phoenix Mercury, Aug. 9 vs. the Chicago Sky, Aug. 12 vs. the Dallas Wings, Aug. 26 vs. the Seattle Storm, and Sept. 9 against the Minnesota Lynx. — Scooby Axson

Indiana Fever starting lineup

Las Vegas Aces starting lineup

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After an offseason dominated by intrigue and previously unimaginable headlines, Bill Belichick is only about a month away from coaching his first football game at North Carolina.

Before he does that, though, the legendary NFL coach will get to take part in one of his favorite exercises — speaking in front of a group of hundreds of reporters.

Heading into his first season ever as a college football coach, Belichick will make his scheduled appearance at ACC media days in Charlotte on July 24, where he’ll discuss his Tar Heels team ahead of its highly anticipated September 1 season-opener against TCU.

Since North Carolina stunned much of the college football world by hiring Belichick last December, the six-time Super Bowl champion has been breathlessly discussed, though usually outside of the confines of football and his new job.

Belichick’s relationship with Jordon Hudson, his 24-year-old girlfriend, became a source of widespread public fascination that went beyond amusing social media posts of the couple wearing costumes or doing beach yoga. Hudson famously interjected during a CBS Sunday Morning interview in April when Belichick was asked how the two met, a moment that was captured on camera and set off a wave of reporting on Hudson, her role as Belichick’s manager and what impact, if any, it has had on the North Carolina program.

In Chapel Hill, he’ll look to inject life into a program that has often been described as a sleeping giant, but has routinely struggled to wake up. Though they’ve been a perennial bowl participant for the past 40 years, the Tar Heels haven’t won the ACC since 1980 and have won at least 10 games only once since 1998.

USA TODAY Sports will be providing live updates and highlights from Belichick’s interviews at ACC media days. Follow along here:

Bill Belichick ACC media days live updates

This section will be updated closer to the start of Belichick’s news conference

Bill Belichick non-committal on North Carolina QB battle

Arguably the most important position on the North Carolina roster is still a bit of a question mark heading into Bill Belichick’s first season at the helm.

The Tar Heels have six quarterbacks on their roster, but the battle for the starting spot is widely seen as coming down to Max Johnson, a Texas A&M transfer who was their starter last season before breaking his leg in the season-opener against Minnesota; Gio Lopez, a South Alabama transfer; and Bryce Baker, a freshman who was a four-star recruit and top-100 prospect nationally in the 2025 class.

Belichick said every quarterback will get an opportunity to win the job, with the final result of the competition coming down to their play on the field.

‘We’ll let the competition play out on the field,’ he said in an interview on SportsCenter. ‘I can’t control how players play. Never have and never will. Performance is up to the players and we’ll do the best we can to coach all of them.’

ACC media clears out after Bill Belichick news conference

Bill Belichick wasn’t the only person to leave the hotel ballroom in Charlotte once he was done with his news conference.

Most of the assembled media departed the room with him, with Belichick’s more intimate breakout session with reporters taking place shortly after he was done at the dais. By the time NC State coach Dave Doeren had his news conference, the room that Belichick had filled was largely empty, prompting Doeren to note that it had gotten a little sleepier in the room.

Bill Belichick breaks down difference between coaching NFL and college players

One of the biggest questions facing Belichick entering his first season at North Carolina is how the NFL lifer will adjust to coaching college football, particularly during a time of such profound change in the sport.

During an interview with SiriusXM Radio Thursday, Belichick detailed the differences between coaching at the college and professional level. He noted that college coaches have more time to train players and, because of larger rosters, get more practice reps. He believes college players are more eager and less stubborn than their NFL counterparts, though he added that someone like Tom Brady was always open to learning and soaking in new information.

“They don’t have as many bad habits,’ Belichick said. ‘They’re more anxious to learn fundamentally the right way, or at least the way we’re teaching them to do things. They really embrace it. That’s not always the case in the NFL. Sometimes it is. Sometimes it isn’t.”

Bill Belichick answers question about fullbacks

Over the course of his two decades with the New England Patriots, the famously terse Belichick developed a reputation for long-winded answers about football minutiae, particularly when it pertained to important-but-overlooked positions like long-snapper and punter.

Sure enough, one of the three questions he received during his news conference Thursday was about the evolution of the fullback position.

Bill Belichick details relationship with Dabo Swinney

Earlier on Thursday of ACC media days, Clemson’s Dabo Swinney discussed how much he has already learned from Bill Belichick in his brief time in the ACC.

The feeling is evidently mutual.

Belichick described Swinney as a ‘friend for a long time,’ noting that the two often interacted when Belichick was with the Patriots and was evaluating Clemson players he was interested in drafting.

‘I have so much respect for him,’ Belichick said.

Bill Belichick drawing huge crowds at ACC media days

Even for something as mundane as walking from one media hit to another inside the convention space of a Charlotte hotel, Bill Belichick has been attracting a crowd of reporters chronicling his every step — including when he’s coming out of the bathroom.

What time is Bill Belichick speaking at ACC media days?

Date: Thursday, July 24
Time: 2 p.m. ET

Belichick is scheduled to take the stage at ACC media days in Charlotte at 2 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 24.

What channel is ACC media days on today?

TV channel: ACC Network
Streaming: ESPN app | ESPN+ | Fubo (free trial)

Belichick’s news conference at ACC media days, as well as all coach and player news conferences at the event, will air on the ACC Network.

Streaming options include the ESPN app, which requires a valid cable login to access; ESPN+, ESPN’s subscription streaming service; and Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Will Jordon Hudson be at ACC media days?

It’s unclear whether Belichick’s girlfriend, who he described in his memoir as his “creative muse,” will be joining him in Charlotte for ACC media days.

At the very least, Belichick will be in Charlotte with four of his players — defensive backs Thaddeus Dixon and Will Hardy, quarterback Gio Lopez and wide receiver Jordan Shipp — all of whom will also be speaking with the assembled media.

ACC media days schedule today

With Belichick serving as the headliner — which is no small feat considering he’s speaking the same day as a two-time national championship head coach in Clemson’s Dabo Swinney — here’s a rundown of what teams will be sending out their coaches and players to meet with the media Thursday:

All times Eastern

Boston College: 10-10:30 a.m.
Virginia Tech: 11-11:30 a.m.
Clemson: 12-12:30 p.m.
Duke: 1-1:30 p.m.
North Carolina: 2-2:30 p.m.
NC State: 3-3:30 p.m.

UCLA football coach DeShaun Foster took center stage Thursday on the final day of Big Ten Media Days.

The second-year head coach was looking forward to a better result on the podium.

Foster made his Big Ten Media Days debut last year, but the moment did not go over well. He came across as nervous.

With a full season at the helm, Foster came across as well prepared and embraced how his performance at last year’s event turned into a lesson. The coach used part of his time during his opening remarks joking about his media day mishap the year prior and how it worked to the team’s benefit.

“That moment taught me a valuable lesson,” Foster said. “Authenticity resonates more deeply than perfection. Our players saw me being human and it brought us closer together.”

Foster and the team have spent the past year joking about the moment on stage. When the coach took to the field at the Wasserman Football Center for training camp, he was wearing a shirt that read ‘We’re in LA’ — a phrase he had said at 2024’s Media Days — and had a UCLA helmet logo that pinpointed Los Angeles in an outline of the state of California.

“Last year, I stood up here and reminded everyone that UCLA is in L.A., which, looking back, might have been the most obvious geography lesson in Big Ten history,” Foster said. “But we are in L.A. and we’re proud to be in L.A.

“And this year we are ready to show the Big Ten what L.A. football looks like when it’s firing on all cylinders.”

Foster shuffled his coaching staff but the program is aiming to keep up its momentum in recruiting and bringing in talent via the transfer portal.

The Bruins brought in 31 transfers, including 14 who had played high school football in the state of California, including quarterback Nico Iamaleava and his brother Madden.

The 31 transfers is the 10th-most in the FBS.

Reshaping UCLA’s culture

Foster used his first season to help reshape the UCLA football program into the way he wanted it — and remembered it.

Foster was elevated into the head coach role following Chip Kelly’s departure from Westwood to become Ohio State’s offensive coordinator.

The former All-American played for the Bruins from 1998 to 2001 and had two stints as an assistant at UCLA. Foster spent seven years as the Bruins’ running backs coach, originally hired by Jim Mora, before taking on the head coaching role in 2024.

With training camp starting next week, Foster is taking the Bruins off-campus to train for the upcoming season in Costa Mesa, California. With Kelly at the helm, UCLA held training camp at the football center on campus. Mora used to take the team to San Bernardino for training camp.

UCLA will use the team’s time off-site to switch the turf practice fields at the Wasserman Football Center to natural grass, which is what the Bruins play on at the Rose Bowl.

Why did Nico Iamaleava transfer to UCLA?

Former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava spoke to reporters for the first time since announcing his decision to commit to UCLA on April 20.

“I would say that my decision to leave (Tennessee) was extremely hard and one of the toughest decisions I had to make, but family was the biggest thing to me. A lot think about financial stuff, but it was never that. It was about being close to home with my family and playing at the highest level with my family’s support. With our Samoan culture, we are always together and that was a very important thing to me.”

Iamaleava played football at Warren High School in Downey, California, before spending the past two seasons with the Tennessee Volunteers. He’s expected to be the Bruins’ starting quarterback.

Iamaleava’s brother, Madden, also transferred to UCLA after spending spring camp with the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Madden Iamaleava had originally committed to UCLA in June 2024, but it was announced that he signed with the Razorbacks the day after the signing period started. Madden led Warren to an 11-2 record in games he started and an appearance in the CIF-SS Division 3 semifinals in 2023, his first year as a full-time starter.

Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham’s pockets are a little lighter after a social media video resulted in a fine.

On Wednesday, Cunningham revealed she was fined $500 by the WNBA over a TikTok video that seemingly criticized officiating, which has become a hot button issue in the league in recent weeks. In the video addressed to ‘some refs,’ Cunningham lip-synced Sabrina Carpenter’s new single ‘Manchild.’ She sang, ‘Stupid. Or is it… slow? Maybe it’s … useless?’ in the video, which has amassed more than 1.3 million views on TikTok as of Thursday.

Cunningham, 28, appeared to laugh off the fine, writing, ‘Idk why this is funny to me… like ok you got it bud! Cause there’s not more important things to be worried about with our league right now.’

USA TODAY Sports reached out to the WNBA, which declined to comment.

Cunningham is not the only WNBA player or coach to voice frustration this season over inconsistent calls and the physicality of the game.

Following the Fever’s 90-88 loss to the New York Liberty on May 24, head coach Stephanie White sounded off against ‘disappointing’ calls that didn’t ‘go both ways.’ White confirmed she was fined days later when asked about officiating again: ‘Do you want me to get fined again? Because I did just get fined.’

Similarly, Angel Reese said officiating ‘has to be fixed’ following the Chicago Sky’s 80-75 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on July 6, adding, ‘I don’t give a damn if I get fined.’ Reese continued her criticism on social media, resharing a photo of her being held in the paint and urging the WNBA to ‘DO BETTER.’

Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon said ‘officiating was awful’ after the Aces’ 70-68 loss to the Washington Mystics on July 10. Following the press conference, Hammon said, ‘Tell me how much my fine is.’

On July 14, Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase said she’s ‘begging for consistency” after her team lost to the Phoenix Mercury by one point after a foul was called in the final seconds of a tie game.

It’s not clear if Reese, Hammon and Nakase were fined for their comments. Unlike the NBA, the WNBA does not announce all fines levied against players or the amount docked for infractions.

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert addressed officiating concerns ahead of the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game and assured that the league will ‘definitely look at and evaluate’ officiating.

‘We hear the concerns. We take that input. Every play is reviewed. Spend hours and hours and hours,’ she said. ‘Consistency is important, I think. I think some people observe our game versus other basketball formats, there aren’t a ton of fouls called. I realize consistency is the name of the game. … There’s an independent evaluation of our officials. There are ramifications. So, it’s something we need to continue to work on.’

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It’s been nearly three decades since the beloved golfer/hockey player/’Price is Right’ host puncher Happy Gilmore graced the silver screen. The sequel is set to release tomorrow on Netflix, and it’s bound to have fans hooting, hollering, and most importantly, pointing at their monitors shouting ‘Oh hey! I know that person!’

Sandler’s films have become known for their cameos in recent years. He’s insisted that he prefers casting his friends and has even offered small roles in his projects to certain athletes if they achieve certain feats, as was the case with Baltimore Ravens’ running back Derrick Henry.

Given the original ‘Happy Gilmore’s’ impact on the golf community, it was reasonable to assume that several of golf’s biggest stars would clamor for an opportunity to appear in the sequel. And boy, did they.

Here are all of the golfers with cameos in ‘Happy Gilmore 2.’

Golfers with cameos in Happy Gilmore 2

Golfers John Daly, Scottie Scheffler, Will Zalatoris, Collin Morikawa, Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy, and Brooks Koepka all make appearances.

Furthermore, former professional golfer and social media personality Paige Spiranac makes an appearance as well.

Here is a list of golfers, via IMDB:

John Daly
Scottie Scheffler
Will Zalatoris
Collin Morikawa
Bryson DeChambeau
Justin Thomas
Rory McIlroy
Brooks Koepka
Keegan Bradley
Rickie Fowler
Jordan Spieth
Xander Schauffle
Corey Pavin

Sandler has said that there were no original plans for so many celebrity cameos, but as more stars came to film, more parts were written to fit them in.

‘I don’t know how it happened,’ said Sandler. ‘We wrote ’em, stuff. Everybody was kind enough to come. Everybody in it did a great job. Every day, someone cool would show up, and we’d hang out.’

What other athletes make appearances?

When does Happy Gilmore 2 release?

‘Happy Gilmore 2’ releases on Netflix Friday, July 25 at 3 a.m. ET.

The final mountain stage of the 2025 Tour de France will be almost 35 kilometers shorter than planned, event officials announced Thursday, July 24, after the discovery of a contagious outbreak in a herd of cattle along the original route from Albertville to La Plagne in the French Alps.

‘In light of the distress experienced by the affected farmers and in order to preserve the smooth running of the race, it has been decided, in agreement with the relevant authorities, to modify the route of Stage 19 (Albertville–La Plagne) and to avoid the ascent to the col des Saisies,’ Tour de France officials said in a statement.

The ceremonial start of the race still will occur in Albertville, but riders will quickly veer off course before rejoining the original route at what was supposed to be the 52.4-kilometer mark. The start time of Friday’s race has also been pushed back one hour to 8:30 a.m. ET.

Stage 19 is considered the best chance left for rivals to attempt to close the gap with defending Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar, who will enter Friday with a commanding 4-minute, 26-second lead over Jonas Vingegaard for the yellow jersey and overall lead. Pogačar finished in second place during Stage 18 through the French Alps, surging past Vingegaard in the final kilometer to widen his advantage.

A shortened course Friday will make passing Pogačar more unlikely. There are just three stages remaining in the 2025 Tour de France, with the final stage scheduled for Sunday, July 27 and ending in Paris at the Champs-Elysees. Pogačar is seeking his fourth overall Tour de France title.

WWE icon Hulk Hogan has died at the age of 71.

The news was first reported by TMZ on Thursday, July 24. WWE confirmed the news.

‘WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away,’ the company said in a statement. ‘One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.’

The Clearwater Police Department in Florida said in a statement it responded to a medical call at a residence on Clearwater Beach at 9:51 a.m. for a reported cardiac arrest. Fire and police personnel responded to the scene, and he was treated at the scene before he was taken to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

The death of Hogan, whose legal name is Terry Bollea, comes days after rumors circulated on social media about his health. Hogan’s close friend Jimmy Hart said on July 22 he was ‘doing phenomenal.’

Hogan was influential in the rise of wrestling worldwide and was WWE’s first major star. After a brief stint in WWE in the late 1970s, he re-joined the company in 1983 after Vince McMahon took ownership of the business. Then, ‘Hulkamania’ ran wild as he soon became the most popular star in the company, and arguably all of wrestling. His All-American persona along with his hero-like abilities made fans cheer for him, and he was one of the first wrestlers to have a larger-than-life feel. His entrance song ‘Real American’ became one of the first known wrestling songs.

Hogan’s popularity extended outside of wrestling, with him appearing on TV shows and movies.

As WWE’s became the dominant wrestling company, Hogan’s stardom only grew. He headlined the first nine editions of WrestleMania, with his most iconic moment coming at WrestleMania 3 in 1987. Defending the World Heavyweight Championship against longtime rival Andre the Giant, Hogan picked him up and delivered ‘the bodyslam heard around the world’ before he hit his iconic running leg drop finisher to defeat him in one of the most memorable wrestling matches of all-time.

Hogan made waves outside of WWE when he helped catapult World Championship Wrestling (WCW) to popularity, eventually competing with WWE. There, he was part of the famed New World Order that was among the greatest factions in wrestling history.

After WWE acquired WCW, Hogan returned to WWE and adopted the ‘Hollywood’ Hogan persona as a heel, which included a famous showdown with The Rock at WrestleMania 18 in 2002. Hogan later had stints in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, but returned to WWE on several occasions.

McMahon memoralized Hogan Thursday in a statement shared on social media.

‘The world lost a treasure today,’ McMahon said in the statement. ‘Hulk Hogan was the greatest WWE Superstar of ALL TIME, someone who was loved and admired around the world. … He gave everything he had to the audience whom he appreciated, respected and loved.’

Despite all the accomplishments in wrestling, Hogan was involved in several scandals in and out of the ring. He testified in the United States v. McMahon lawsuit in 1994 where he admitted he took steroids, but McMahon never distributed them. In 2015, he was caught on tape making racial comments that severely tarnished his popularity and legacy. WWE distanced itself from Hogan in the fallout, and but he eventually returned to making appearances with the company in 2018.

He made his last appearance for WWE in January at the Netflix debut of Monday Night Raw in Inglewood, California.

He was a six-time WWE Champion and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice, once in 2005 and in 2020 as part of the New World Order.

(This story will be updated with more information.)

Five former members of the 2018 Canadian world junior hockey team were found not guilty of sexual assault on Thursday, July 24, after a trial in London, Ontario, with a judge saying she didn’t find the complainant’s evidence ‘credible or reliable.’

“I cannot rely upon the evidence of (the accuser) and then considering the evidence in this trial as a whole, I conclude that the Crown cannot meet its onus on any of the counts before me,’ Justice Maria Carroccia said, per the Athletic.

Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote and Alex Formenton, who all played in the NHL, were charged with sexual assault. McLeod faced a second charge of being a party to the offense, and he was also acquitted of that charge. All had pleaded not guilty. Hart was the only defendant who testified.

Carroccia rendered the ruling on Thursday, spelling out her reasoning. Juries had been dismissed on two occasions, once after an early mistrial was declared in the eight-week trial, and it was decided that the judge would rule on the case.

The players were in London in June 2018 for a Hockey Canada gala honoring the gold medal-winning world junior championship team. The tournament is for under-20 players. Police say the alleged assaults took place in a hotel room after the defendants had met the woman, then 20, at a downtown bar.

“I shut down and let my body do what it needed to do to keep me safe,’ she told the court, per the network. ‘It felt like the safe thing to do was give them what they were wanting.’

But the judge said, ‘In this case, I have found actual consent not vitiated by fear,’ The Athletic reported.

Carroccia addressed consent videos that McLeod recorded with the woman. The judge said the woman ‘did not display any signs of intoxication’ in the videos and had ‘no difficulty speaking,’ per CBC. Carroccia said she believed the woman exaggerated her level of intoxication.

CBC also said the judge noted the woman talked in court about telling ‘her truth,’ not ‘the truth.’

Prosecutors have 30 days to file an appeal based on legal flaws in the judge’s ruling.

‘We will carefully review Justice Carroccia’s decision and as this case is still within the appeal period, we have no further comment to make about the decision at this time,’ prosecutor Meaghan Cunningham told reporters.

History of the investigation

The London police department’s initial investigation closed in February 2019 without any charges. It was reopened in July 2022, two months after TSN reported that May that Hockey Canada paid an undisclosed settlement to a woman who alleged in a $3.55 million lawsuit that she was sexually assaulted by eight players in a hotel room.

The players were charged in February 2024.

Detective Sgt. Katherine Dann of the police department’s Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Section said at the time that additional witnesses were spoken to and additional evidence was collected, starting in 2022.

‘I can confirm that some of this evidence was not available when the investigation concluded in 2019,’ she said in a news conference. ‘This is one investigation, not two. The evidence that was collected in 2018 and 2019 was used in combination with newly gathered evidence to form reasonable and probable grounds to charge these five individuals with sexual assault.’

Police chief Thai Truong put out a statement on Thursday commending ‘the outstanding courage and strength shown by (the woman) in coming forward and enduring this prolonged and difficult judicial process. We remain committed to ensuring that survivors of sexual violence feel supported and safe when interacting with the London Police Service, recognizing the distinct impact trauma can have.’

All but Formenton were with NHL teams at the time they were charged and took leaves of absences. Their teams cut them loose in June 2024 by not giving them qualifying offers, making them free agents.

McLeod, now 27, played for the New Jersey Devils, Hart, 26, for the Philadelphia Flyers, Dubé, 27, for the Calgary Flames and Foote, 26, played for three NHL teams, mostly recently the Devils. Formenton, 25, played for the Ottawa Senators until 2021-22.

What lawyers for Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, the woman said

David Humphrey, McLeod’s lawyer: “Justice Carroccia’s carefully reasoned decision represents a resounding vindication for Mr. McLeod and for his co-defendants. … The damage to Mr. McLeod’s reputation and his career has been significant. But today’s decision begins to restore what was very unfairly taken away from him.”

Megan Savard, Hart’s lawyer: “The Crown attorney did not have take this case to trial. Mr. Hart, in particular, had been willing to engage in a restorative justice process. He was willing to be publicly named and prepared to use his public platform to teach other athletes how to ensure that their sexual encounters are responsible and thoughtful.

“Instead of pursuing restorative justice, the Crown forced a distressful and unnecessary trial to the detriment of Mr. Hart, his co-defendants, the complainant and the Canadian public. Mr. Hart regrets that it took a public trial for the truth to come out, but he has learned from the experience and he’s committing to sharing what he learned with others in his personal circle and in his professional life.”

Karen Bellehumeur, the woman’s lawyer: “I am hopeful that the verdict today is not the end, and I know that (the woman) wants some good to come from this case. To those other brave souls who are willing to do whatever it takes to pursue justice, we hope you do not give up. In a country where only 6% of sexual assaults are reported to the police, courageous people like you are important. Without you, there is no criminal accountability at all. But the justice system must do better for you.”

The NFL’s annual offseason reality television show is following a contender in 2025.

For the first time, the ‘Hard Knocks’ sports documentary show will follow the Buffalo Bills. Last season was another success for the team as they won a fifth consecutive AFC East title and made it to the AFC championship game, while quarterback Josh Allen won NFL MVP honors.

The 2025 season marks the ninth under coach Sean McDermott and eighth with Allen under center. The duo has established the Bills as one of the top teams in the league and an annual AFC contender against the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens.

‘Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Buffalo Bills’ will follow the team from St. John Fisher University in Pittsford, New York, over five episodes, which will stream on HBO Max.

The new season premieres Tuesday, Aug. 5 at 9 p.m. ET. A team like this has plenty of intrigue as they’re preparing for another postseason run and a potential championship.

Here are five storylines we’re looking forward to following on Hard Knocks this season:

Will James Cook get an extension?

The Bills’ top running back isn’t holding out but has been outspoken about wanting to get an extension done. He tied for the league lead with 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024 and made his second consecutive Pro Bowl. He’s confident in what he’s shown on the field and spoke on Thursday, July 24 about the importance of being at camp.

‘It’s my job,’ Cook said. ‘I got to participate out here so I won’t get fined. And just come out here and show them I’m ready to go and earn what I got to go get.’

Cook was a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and will be the 18th-highest paid running back in the league in 2025 at $5.7 million, per Spotrac. That puts him behind the likes of Chuba Hubbard, Travis Etienne and Devin Singletary.

It’s currently not a contentious standoff between the two sides, but it’s one of the bigger storylines of the Bills’ offseason. We will hopefully get a closer look at negotiations thanks to Hard Knocks.

Keon Coleman in year two

The Bills’ top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft had a solid but unspectacular rookie season with 556 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 13 games. Compared to other top-50 wide receivers in the class, it was disappointing, especially compared to Los Angeles’ Ladd McConkey selected one pick later.

Coleman agrees.

‘You want to know exactly what I see?’ Coleman said when asked about reviewing his 2024 tape. ‘Man, that (expletive) trash. You got to be better, simple as that … call out everything you’re doing wrong to make it right.’

He’s outspoken and one of the funnier young players behind closed doors. During his combine interview with the Bills, Coleman said he likes to golf and go bowling when not playing football.

‘I’m Tiger ‘wish-he-could,’ I’m not Tiger Woods,’ he said as Bills officials laughed. ‘I wish I could putt and do all that … it might take me five (shots) just to putt it in but I’m going to go have fun. Like, you know, it’s controlled chaos.’

Coleman quotes alone should be must-watch TV.

Josh Allen, board game MVP

Allen became the first Bills player to earn NFL MVP honors since 1973. He’s had a busy offseason as well, marrying actress Hailee Steinfeld in a ceremony in Montecito, California.

Allen’s training camp performances will be closely tracked given the pressure on him and the team following a close loss to the Chiefs in last year’s AFC championship game. To clear his mind and provide another way to bond with teammates, Allen taught fellow players the popular board game ‘Settlers of Catan.’

He started playing during 2020 and is well-established as the top player on the Bills in the game.

‘I just hate when Josh wins, honestly,’ Bills tight end Dawson Knox told ESPN in 2024. ‘But no, it’s been fun. We’re definitely not teaming up against him, but we just, we hate when he wins. ‘

There’s a good chance ‘Settlers of Catan’ comes up at some point during training camp. Good luck to anyone trying to beat the MVP.

How are the Bills’ free agents fitting in?

Buffalo spent money in free agency to bolster both the offense and defense like a true Super Bowl contender. On offense, the biggest signing was wide receiver Joshua Palmer, with more depth pieces brought in among the pass catchers. The defense saw more big names like edge rusher Joey Bosa, cornerback Tre’Davious White, defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi and cornerback Dane Jackson.

That’s a lot of big names who could have important roles in 2025 for a team with aspirations of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in February 2026. How well and how quickly each of them get settled in with their respective units will be important to follow throughout this season of Hard Knocks.

How much will the rookie defensive linemen play?

Buffalo spent a lot of top draft capital on the defensive line in the 2025 NFL Draft, starting in the second round with defensive tackle T.J. Sanders. The Bills then selected athletic edge rusher Landon Jackson in Round 3 and massive defensive tackle Deone Walker in Round 4.

These players likely won’t have huge roles in 2025 but will be contributors on a rotational basis as they represent the potential future of the defensive line in Buffalo.

Jackson was an NFL combine darling for his athletic feats and could offer some splash plays in the offseason. Walker, at 6-foot-7 and 331 pounds, is one of the biggest players on the team in the mold of longtime Bills nosetackle DaQuan Jones. Walker and Jones’ interactions could be interesting to follow as Walker develops behind the 33-year-old veteran.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Thursday, July 24 that attempts to create a national standard for NCAA name, image and likeness programs.

The order is Trump’s latest entry into a debate that has embroiled the NCAA since NIL rules went into effect in 2021, ushering in a wild-west era of college sports that has come under increasing scrutiny by local and national legislators.

Broadly focused on efforts to “save college athletics,” a fact sheet sent out by the White House says the order also seeks to preserve and support ‘expansion of opportunities for scholarships and collegiate athletic competition in women’s and non-revenue sports.’ Most of the NIL money is given to athletes in football and men’s and women’s basketball.

The settlement in the long-running House v. NCAA case went into effect July 1 and allowed schools to directly pay college athletes through a revenue-sharing model.

Trump’s order says, in part, ‘it is the policy of the executive branch that third-party, pay-for-play payments to collegiate athletes are improper and should not be permitted by universities. This policy does not apply to compensation provided to an athlete for the fair market value that the athlete provides to a third party, such as for a brand endorsement.’

There has been considerable debate since the House legal settlement took effect about the role that collectives can have in providing NIL compensation for athletes, and how to assess those deals in terms of market value.

In May, Trump appeared poised to create a commission co-chaired by former Alabama coach Nick Saban and influential Texas Tech booster Cody Campbell with a directive to explore and address major issues facing college sports. But there have been no announcements regarding that directive.

This week, a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives aimed at restructuring rules around the administration of college athletics passed two committees and is expected to move to the House floor when the summer recess is over in September.

Speaking at a National Press Club event in Washington earlier the day, before the order was signed,  NCAA President Charlie Baker was asked about possible executive order on college sports. He said he was open to ideas, but “our focus needs to be on the legislative process.”

The leaders of three House committees issued a statement lauding the order, but indicating that they plan to move forward with the legislation. While Trump’s order directs various cabinet secretaries to work on various issues, the bill, for example, has antitrust-exemption language that specifically would allow the NCAA, and potentially the new College Sports Commission, to make operational rules affecting schools and athletes in areas that have come into legal dispute in recent years. That would include rules about transfers and the number of seasons for which athletes can compete.

“We thank President Trump for his commitment to supporting student-athletes and strengthening college athletics in the NIL era,’ read the statement from Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee; Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., who chairs the Education and Workforce Committee; and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, chair of the the Judiciary Committee. ‘The SCORE Act, led by our three committees, will complement the President’s executive order, and we look forward to working with all of our colleagues in Congress to build a stronger and more durable college sports environment.”

The order states that athletics departments with more than $125 million in revenue in 2024-25 ‘should provide more scholarship opportunities in non-revenue sports than during the 2024-2025 athletic season and should provide the maximum number of roster spots for non-revenue sports permitted under the applicable collegiate athletic rules.’

Departments with revenue of more than $50 million in 2024-25 should provide at least as many scholarships in non-revenue sports as they did in 2024-25 and should provide the maximum numnber of roster spots for non-revenue sports.

Departments with $50 million or less in 2024-25 ‘should not disproportionately reduce scholarship opportunities or roster spots for sports based on the revenue that the sport generates.’

Under the House settlement, the NCAA’s sport-by-sport scholarship limits were replaced by sport-by-sport roster limits. Many top-revenue schools have been planning to add scholarships in a variety of sports. They also have been dealing with the prospect of having to cut athletes because of the roster limits.

The order directs the Education Secretary, ‘in consultation with’ the Attorney General, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Federal Trade Commission chair to advance the order’s policies.

It also directs the Labor Secretary and the National Labor Relations Board to ‘determine and implement the appropriate measures with respect to clarifying the status of collegiate athletes’. The House bill would prevent college athletes from being employees of their school, conferences or athletic associations.

However, backers of the House bill already had been struggling to find support from Democrats, several of whom criticized the measure after it passed the two commitees on July 23. And that task didn’t get any easier on July 24, when Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., was involved in the re-introduction of two bills. Along with Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Mass., he announced a bill that would help athletes with NIL deals in a variety of ways, including making easier for foreign athletes to make NIL deals in the United States.

Later in the day — but before Trump’s order — Murphy unveiled an effort with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., that would make athletes school employees under the National Labor Relations Act and give them the right to organize and collectively bargain. That announcement carried a headline that began: ‘As Trump, Congressional Republicans Side With NCAA Bosses …’

Murphy’s announcement said this effort had the backing of eight House Democrats and multiple labor unions, including major pro sports players’ associations.

(This story was updated with new information.)