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Bernie Sanders crashes Schumer news conference, criticizes Democratic Party leadership

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., took over Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s post-election news conference Wednesday, knocking the Democratic Party for their lack of support in political races in New York and Maine.

‘Well, the party leadership did not support [mayoral candidate Zohran] Mamdani in New York,’ Sanders said in front of the Senate podium. ‘Party leadership is not supporting [Senate hopeful Graham] Platner in Maine. And I think he’s going to win… I think there is a growing understanding that leadership, and defending the status quo and the inequalities that exist in America, is not where the American people are.’

Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, won the mayoral race in New York City and Democrat Mikie Sherrill secured the New Jersey governorship.

California’s Proposition 50 was also passed after being placed on the ballot, and Democrats will maintain control of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court as Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht won their respective retention races.

Prior to Sanders’ outburst, Schumer, D-N.Y., spoke with reporters, bashing Republicans as the government shutdown stretches into its 36th day, making it the longest shutdown in U.S. history.

‘Last night, Republicans felt the political repercussions [of the Trump administration’s policies],’ Schumer said. ‘It should serve as nothing short of a five-alarm fire to the Republicans. Their high-cost house is burning, and they’ve only got themselves to blame. As loudly and clearly as could possibly be done, from one end of the country to the other, the American people said enough is enough.’

Schumer said he and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries demanded Wednesday morning President Donald Trump sit down with them to discuss healthcare issues.

‘Last night was a really good night for Democrats and our fight to lower costs, improve health care and reach a better future for our country,’ Schumer said. ‘But more importantly than that, last night was a great night for American families that are struggling now to make ends meet, because the election showed that Democrats’ control of the Senate is much closer than the people and the prognosticators realize. The more Republicans double down on raising costs and bowing down to Trump, the more their Senate majority is at risk.

‘… When Leader Jeffries and I met with Donald Trump in the White House a month or so back, we told him this was going to happen. We warned him that if he didn’t do something, working with us to address the health care needs of America, and instead insisting on no negotiation with Democrats, that was a recipe for disaster for the country, and it would come back to haunt them. Last night should make it clear to Republicans that they simply cannot continue to ignore not only us, but the American people, for the good of the whole country.’

Democratic leaders have been urging Republicans in both the House and Senate to confront the surge in health insurance premiums tied to the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies.

At the same time, funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has lapsed.

Though several stopgap measures have been proposed by Republicans, including a GOP-led bill blocked Tuesday, Congress has yet to reach an agreement.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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2026 Olympics U.S. men’s hockey team roster predictions

Countries’ hockey federations are expected to name their final players for the 2026 Olympics at the beginning of January.

That gives them about two months to make their final evaluations for the 25-person rosters as the NHL returns to the Olympics for the first time since 2014.

The USA won two silver medals (in 2002 and 2010) during the era of NHL participation from 1998 to 2014. The Americans haven’t won gold since 1980. They finished second at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February and won a gold medal at the 2025 world championships.

USA Hockey invited 44 players to its orientation camp, a mix of 4 Nations, world championships and other players.

Here’s who has been named to Team USA in the first six selections, plus predictions on who else might make the team:

First six selections

F Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights
F Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
F Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators
F Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers
D Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks
D Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins

Analysis: All played in the 4 Nations Face-Off, except for Hughes, who was injured at the time. Matthew Tkachuk and McAvoy couldn’t finish the tournament because of injuries. Both Tkachuk brothers are out now, but Brady (thumb surgery) could return in late November to mid-December. Matthew (hernia surgery) is expected back before the Olympics.

This is a very good start to the roster, considering the USA pushed Canada to overtime in the 4 Nations final. Matthews is a goal scorer, Eichel is among the scoring leaders this season, the Tkachuk brothers provide goals and grit, Hughes has won a Norris Trophy and McAvoy is a two-way defenseman.

Possible Team USA forwards

Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild
Cole Caufield, Montreal Canadiens
Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets
Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay Lightning
Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils
Clayton Keller, Utah Mammoth
Matthew Knies, Toronto Maple Leafs
Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings
J.T. Miller, New York Rangers
Tage Thompson, Buffalo Sabres

Analysis: All except Caufield, Keller, Knies and Thompson were at the 4 Nations, which carried 13 forwards. Chris Kreider, Brock Nelson and Vincent Trocheck (who has yet to play this season) would not make the cut this time.

Thompson has size and skill. Keller had 90 points last season and Knies and Caufield are off to strong starts this season. Thompson and Keller were on the world championships team. Connor, Larkin and Hughes are among the better U.S. players this season. Hughes and Caufield have 10 goals apiece. There is a lot of potential for offense here.

One question is whether to include Detroit’s Patrick Kane because of his Olympic experience in 2010 and 2014. He could return from an injury soon. Utah’s Logan Cooley, Buffalo’s Alex Tuch and Chicago’s Frank Nazar took part in orientation.

Possible Team USA defensemen

Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild
Adam Fox, New York Rangers
Noah Hanifin, Vegas Golden Knights
Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators
Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes
Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets

Analysis: This would be the same defensive lineup as in the 4 Nations with Quinn Hughes added. USA Hockey will have to monitor player injuries. Hanifin just returned from a long-term injury. Slavin has been limited to two games. Ryan McDonagh, Jackson Lacombe, Luke Hughes (brother of Quinn and Jack) and Stanley Cup champion Seth Jones were invited to camp. Rookie of the year Lane Hutson was not, but he’s off to a strong start.

Possible Team USA goaltenders

Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets
Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars
Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins

Hellebuyck, Oettinger and the Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman were the 4 Nations goalies. Hellebuyck, coming off a Hart Trophy/Vezina Trophy season, and Oettinger, who has been to the last three conference finals, are givens. Swayman went 7-0 at the world championships, but his NHL numbers aren’t as good this season as Vancouver’s Thatcher Demko or Kraken goalie Joey Daccord. Demko was hurt last season and wasn’t able to be in the mix for the 4 Nations. But Swayman could end up as the third goalie because of what he did at the worlds.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Tennis great Venus Williams plans to play in 2026

Williams, 45, will be a wild-card entry Jan. 5-11 in the ASB Classic in New Zealand. It will be her 33rd season of play in the WTA.

The tournament could be a primer for the Australian Open, which occurs in late January. Williams, who has won seven Grand Slam singles titles, advanced to the Australian Open title match twice but lost both matches. She last played in the tournament in 2021.

Williams’ professional career began in 1994 in Oakland, California. Her last singles tournament was the US Open in August. She lost in three sets to 11th-seeded Karolina Muchova in the first round.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Bills’ James Cook (foot/ankle) misses practice Wednesday

James Cook has been one of the NFL’s best running backs during the 2025 NFL season. Will the Buffalo Bills have him at their disposal against the Miami Dolphins in Week 10?

Cook was held out of the Bills’ first practice of the week on Nov. 5 because of an injury. Bills coach Sean McDermott did not provide a timeline for Cook’s return from the malady.

Cook is averaging an NFL-best 108.4 rushing yards per game this season and his 867 rushing yards are second-most in the league behind only Indianapolis Colts star Jonathan Taylor (895).

Here’s what to know about Cook’s injury and how Buffalo’s running back depth chart shakes out behind him.

James Cook injury update

McDermott announced Cook would be among the players not participating in practice as the veteran running back deals with a foot and ankle injury.

‘Came up during the game,’ McDermott told reporters of Cook’s injury ahead of practice on Nov. 5. ‘Just sore in the last couple of days.’

McDermott did not provide an update on the severity of Cook’s injury, nor whether it would put him in danger of missing Buffalo’s Week 10 game against the Miami Dolphins.

Who is James Cook’s backup?

The Bills list Ray Davis as the backup to Cook on their unofficial depth chart.

Davis was selected by the Bills in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Kentucky. The 25-year-old has totaled just 46 yards on 22 carries (2.1 yards per carry average) and 18 yards and a touchdown on three catches thus far in 2025 while playing 65 offensive snaps.

Davis totaled 442 yards and three touchdowns on 113 carries as a rookie. He also added 189 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 17 receptions.

Bills RB depth chart

The Bills currently have three running backs on their 53-man roster. Below is a look at the pecking order within the unit:

James Cook
Ray Davis
Ty Johnson

While Johnson is listed as the third-string running back on Buffalo’s depth chart, he has actually played far more offensive snaps (143) than Davis (65). That’s because Johnson has served as the Bills’ top receiving back, which has allowed him plenty of action on third downs and as a change-of-pace option.

Despite his larger snap share, Johnson has fewer carries (17) this season than Davis (22). Johnson has been more efficient than his counterpart, totaling 72 yards and a touchdown on his carries and adding four catches for 31 yards, so the 28-year-old veteran could have a significant role alongside Davis if Cook misses Week 10.

The Bills also have Frank Gore Jr. on the practice squad and could call up the 23-year-old for Sunday’s game if they need depth at running back.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Vance delivers post-election reality check, contends GOP must make life affordable or get walloped in 2026

Vice President JD Vance said that Republicans need to direct their focus to the ‘home front’ and work to make life more affordable for Americans, following the GOP losses in several key elections Tuesday.

Republicans’ ability to do so will be a key factor in how Americans show up and vote in the 2026 midterm races, according to Vance. 

‘I think it’s idiotic to overreact to a couple of elections in blue states, but a few thoughts,’ Vance said in a Wednesday social media post. 

‘We need to focus on the home front,’ Vance said. ‘The president has done a lot that has already paid off in lower interest rates and lower inflation, but we inherited a disaster from Joe Biden and Rome wasn’t built in a day. We’re going to keep on working to make a decent life affordable in this country, and that’s the metric by which we’ll ultimately be judged in 2026 and beyond.’

In October, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the consumer price index (CPI), used to assess how much goods like groceries or rent cost, increased 0.3% from August to September. Additionally, it increased to 3% on a year-over-year basis from 2.9% in August, marking the highest headline CPI reading since January when it also reached 3%.

Meanwhile, Republicans lost several high-profile races Tuesday — including gubernatorial races where former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger won the Virginia governor’s race over Republican challenger Winsome Earle-Sears, and New Jersey Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill won New Jersey’s governor’s race over Republican Jack Ciattarelli. 

Likewise, New York City elected democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani as mayor of the city, beating former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an Independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa. 

In all races, affordability and the economy were top priorities for voters, with Mamdani backing policies including rent freezes and city-run grocery stores to cut food prices.

For example, Fox News Voter Poll data found that New Jersey voters reported the state’s high taxes and the economy ranked as their top two issues. Additionally, the poll data found that half of voters in Virginia said that the economy was their top priority. 

Likewise, New York City voters ranked affordability at their top concerns, the Fox News Voter Poll data found. 

Ken Martin, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, said that the party can accommodate moderate Democrats like Sherrill and Spanberger, as well as progressives like Mamdani. While they don’t have to agree on everything, what they do agree on is trying to make life more affordable for Americans, he said. 

‘There’s a lot of different ideas on how to accomplish our goals, but we’re unified around those goals,’ Martin told Fox News Digital ahead of the elections. ‘We’re unified around making sure that people’s lives are more affordable and that we can create an economy that works for everyone in this country.’ 

According to President Donald Trump, the government shutdown that started Oct. 1 due to a lapse in funding was a culprit for GOP losses in Tuesday’s races. 

‘I think if you read the pollsters, the shutdown was a big factor,’ Trump said Wednesday during a breakfast meeting with Senate Republicans. ‘Negative for the Republicans, and that was a big factor.’ 

Fox News’ Eric Revell, Paul Steinhauser and Emma Colton contributed to this report.

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Senate Dems emboldened in shutdown strategy after election sweep

Senate Democrats are riding high after a wave of victories on Election Day and view Democratic candidates’ performances as an indicator that their shutdown strategy is working.

As the government shutdown officially entered record-breaking territory in its 36th day, Senate Democrats felt emboldened by the election results, and saw the blowout wins across the country as an indictment against President Donald Trump and Republicans, particularly on the matter of expiring Obamacare premium subsidies.

Still, some Senate Democrats are mulling an off-ramp from the shutdown and considering an offer from Republicans that would guarantee them a vote on the expiring subsidies in exchange for supporting the House-passed continuing resolution (CR).

But some warn that caving now for the promise of a vote would be the wrong move.

‘If they cave now and go forward with a meaningless vote, I think it will be a horrible policy decision, and I think politically, to the Democrats,’ Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said. ‘And you know, they’re going to come into the 2026 election. Some of you may have heard the expression, when we fight, we win. You ever hear that? Well, when you cave, you lose.’

Some Republicans fear that the election may have caused Senate Democrats to dig deeper into their position and remain united in their shutdown game plan.

President Donald Trump, during a breakfast at the White House with the Senate GOP Wednesday morning, contended that the ‘shutdown was a big factor, negative for the Republicans,’ on election night.

‘I think the Democrats, you know, may feel emboldened by it, but I think that people are going to get past election results fairly quickly and start remembering that they’ve just unilaterally decided to shut down the government,’ Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., told Fox News Digital. ‘So I think it could be maybe a weak bump, but at the end of the day, we’re going to get back to the reality that we’ve got to fund the government.’

Republicans are also not budging from their shutdown strategy as the closure drags on. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., offered Senate Democrats a vote on the expiring subsidies and wants to jump-start the government funding process by tying a small package of spending bills to the CR.

‘Can this be over now? Have the American people suffered enough or do the Democrats need more?’ Thune said on the Senate floor.

Despite his and the GOP’s offer, and Trump’s offer to meet with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., after the shutdown ended on the expiring subsidies, Senate Democrats do want more.

‘Republicans shouldn’t ignore us anymore for their own good and the country’s good,’ Schumer said on the Senate floor. ‘So this morning, Leader Jeffries and I once again demanded a meeting with the president. It’s time to sit down and negotiate with Democrats to bring this Republican shutdown to an end.’

Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., whose home state elected Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill in a blowout double-digit win over Republican Jack Ciattarelli, contended that Trump ‘certainly feels weaker.’

‘This was a resounding defeat for Donald Trump,’ Kim said. ‘He should have woke up this morning and just immediately said, ‘I — we need to negotiate. We need to find an end to this shutdown.’’

And Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., agreed with Sanders’ outlook that Democrats should dig in and not cave.

But whether it strengthened Senate Democrats’ hand in trying to get Trump to the negotiating table, he was skeptical.

‘If you’re dealing with rational actors, yes, are we dealing with rational actors? I have no idea,’ Gallego told Fox News Digital. ‘This is a man that’s going across the country and redistricting the hell out of the country, and amid this redistricting to help save him from potentially dealing with a Democratic-controlled Congress, and now he’s basically going to assure a Democratic Congress by screwing up the one thing that is entirely under his control, which is making sure these premiums don’t go up.’

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Trump admin ramps up Sudan peace effort as civil war leaves tens of thousands dead

President Donald Trump’s global roller coaster of peace moves — led by him and his team to end wars around the world — is now picking up speed in Sudan, where a 30-month war has left tens of thousands dead, and some 14 million displaced from their homes.

‘Ending wars is a priority for President Trump, and the United States remains focused on working with our partners and other stakeholders to resolve the crisis in Sudan,’ a State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Wednesday, adding, ‘Engagement with all relevant stakeholders is essential to achieving this goal. Given the immediate urgency of de-escalating the violence, we will continue to engage with the belligerents to end the conflict.’

Talks to end the fighting between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, led by Gen. Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo Musa, known as Hemedti, and the Khartoum government’s Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), under the control of Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, began during the Biden administration but failed to make headway. They have since gained momentum under President Trump, with the U.S. forming a so-called international Quad in September with Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Since the weekend, the pace of peace talks has become positively frenetic. The White House’s senior advisor for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, fresh from brokering a ceasefire in the 30-year war between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, held talks with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in Cairo on Sunday.

On Monday, Boulos met with the Arab League, with the League stating that Trump’s envoy had briefed them on U.S. efforts to ‘halt the war, expedite aid delivery, and initiate a political process.’

The Sudan Tribune then quoted Boulos as saying later on Monday, ‘Both parties have agreed in principle, and we have not recorded any initial objection from either side. We are now focusing on the fine details.’

But the two sides are still fighting. On Tuesday, Sudan’s Defense Minister Hassan Kabroun talked to the country’s state television network, following a government council meeting in Khartoum, saying, ‘We thank the Trump administration for its efforts and proposals to achieve peace,’ but added: ‘Preparations for the Sudanese people’s battle are ongoing. Our preparations for war are a legitimate national right.’

Also on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt weighed in, telling reporters, ‘The United States is actively engaged in efforts to bring about a peaceful resolution to the terrible conflict in Sudan. We remain committed to working with our international partners, including Quad members — Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE — as well as others to lead a negotiated peace process that addresses both the immediate humanitarian crisis and the longer-term political challenges.’

Leavitt continued, ‘I actually spoke with Secretary Rubio about this, this morning, as, of course, there’s been, you know, kind of an uptick in recent reporting on the matter. And he assured me that the administration is very much engaged. We’re in pretty frequent communication with those Arab partners that I just mentioned. And we want to see this conflict come to a peaceful end, just as we have with so many others. But it’s — the reality is — it’s a very complicated situation on the ground right now.’

Analysts say last week’s fall of the Sudanese city of El-Fasher, and with it the Darfur region to RSF fighters, effectively cutting the country in two, may have spurred all parties into action. ‘The RSF’s full control of the Darfur region could have dangerous and worrying consequences in the future in terms of partition,’ Boulos told Al Jazeera.

On Tuesday U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan. Speaking on the sidelines of a conference in Qatar, Guterres said the war was ‘spiraling out of control.’

‘The fall of El-Fasher to the RSF is a defining moment in Sudan’s brutal civil war’, Mariam Wahba, research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), told Fox News Digital. Wahba continued: ‘It marks the militia’s full control of the Darfur region and leaves Sudan effectively split in two.’

The human cost is staggering. On Monday, the U.N. reported that ‘over 21 million people across Sudan are facing high levels of acute food insecurity — the largest such crisis in the world.’ The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) found that famine is ongoing in the now-captured El-Fasher and in Kadugli, South Kordofan, with families trapped and surviving on leaves, animal feed and grass.

The Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab released satellite images taken over El-Fasher over the last week, stating Tuesday, ‘Evidence of body disposal activities include at least two earth disturbances consistent with mass graves at a mosque and the former Children’s Hospital; there is one new instance of removal of objects consistent with bodies. This activity appears consistent with RSF conducting cleanup of their alleged mass atrocities.’

Sources say intense negotiations led by the U.S. team are continuing. Details of what’s on offer have not been revealed, but it’s understood an agreement would start with a three-month humanitarian truce, to allow aid delivery in, followed by a permanent ceasefire and a civilian-led transition.

‘For Washington, the stakes in Sudan are rising by the day,’ the FDD’s Wahba told Fox News Digital, adding, ‘The more time the RSF has to cement its control over Darfur and push toward Khartoum again, the harder it will become to prevent the country’s permanent collapse. What happens next in Sudan will shape the balance of power across the Horn of Africa and signal to America’s adversaries whether the United States still has the will to confront instability before it spreads in this critical region of the world.’

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The transfer portal defines women’s basketball’s senior class

The transfer portal — adjusted by the NCAA in 2021 to allow for a one-time transfer without sitting out a season — has changed college sports in massive ways.

Look no further than this season’s women’s basketball senior class. Seventeen of the top 25 recruits in the Class of 2022 have transferred from the school in which they started their basketball career.

Lauren Betts, who played her first season at Stanford, leads the list. She has been highly successful since leaving the Cardinal for UCLA in 2023. The Bruins made it to the Final Four last season. Four players from the Class of 2022 play for UCLA. Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez have been there for four years while Betts and Timea Gardiner (Oregon State) transferred in.

UCLA also lost two players — forward Janiah Barker transferred to Tennessee and guard Londynn Jones to USC — after the 2025 season. The Bruins’ entire freshman class also entered the portal at the end of their Final Four season.

Three players out of the Class of 2022 are not playing basketball this season. Maya Nnajii, the No. 9 recruit, played at Arizona before quitting basketball to focus on becoming a doctor. Ashlyn Watkins, who played three seasons at South Carolina, is sitting out this season after an ACL tear in January. Ruby Whitehorn was dismissed from the Tennessee basketball team last week after two arrests in three months.

Here’s a look at the Class of 2022, how their careers have gone thus far and where they will playing this season:

1. Lauren Betts, C, UCLA

Played at Stanford for one season, transferred to UCLA

After playing less than 10 minutes a game her freshman season at Stanford, Betts entered the transfer portal and landed at UCLA. Betts averaged 20 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists in leading the Bruins to the Final Four last season. She was named Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-America. Betts returned for her senior season, in part, to play alongside her sister, Sienna. 

2. Kiki Rice, G, UCLA

Never transferred

Rice came to UCLA with a goal in mind. She wanted to help the Bruins make it to the Final Four for the first time. Rice, who averaged 12.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists, did that last season. She returns for her senior year in hopes of winning a national title.

3. Janiah Barker, F, Tennessee

Played at Texas A&M for two seasons, UCLA for one, transferred to Tennessee

Barker left Texas A&M after two seasons for UCLA because she wanted to win. She sacrificed a starting job and played nine minutes less per game but won Big Ten Sixth Person of the Year as a junior. ‘You have to accept the role for the sake of the team,’ Barker said. This season, she will bring the experience of advancing to the Final Four with the Bruins to the Lady Vols.

4. Ayanna Patterson, F, UConn

Never transferred

Patterson is listed as a redshirt sophomore even though she’s been in the UConn program since 2022. She played 30 games as freshman before back-to-back season-ending injuries. She missed the 2023-24 season after surgery on her left knee and 2024-25 after surgery to repair a dislocated left shoulder. When Patterson played vs. Boston College on Oct. 13, 933 days had passed since her last game action.

5. Ice Brady, F, UConn 

Never transferred

Brady missed her freshman season after suffering a dislocated patella in her right knee. She is listed as a redshirt junior for the Huskies. Brady told a local newspaper she knew she wanted to play at UConn when she was 10 years old. She signed with the Huskies as a sophomore in high school and pitched in 3.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 16 minutes a game during last season’s championship run.

6. Timea Gardiner, F, UCLA

Played at Oregon State for two seasons, transferred to UCLA

Gardiner was the highest-rated recruit in Oregon State history and averaged 10.7 points and 5.9 rebounds a game over two seasons. After the disintegration of the Pac-12 Conference, she was one of eight players from the Beavers’ Elite Eight team to enter the transfer portal after the 2023-24 season. Gardiner helped the Bruins to a Final Four appearance last season, averaging 7.6 points and 3.4 rebounds in just over 18 minutes a game.

7. Chance Gray, G, Ohio State

Played at Oregon for two seasons, transferred to Ohio State

Gray played at Oregon her first two seasons, averaging 13.9 points in 31 games during her sophomore year. She transferred to Ohio State, in part, because she grew up in the Cincinnati area and wanted to get closer to home. She averaged 12 points as a starter for the Buckeyes last season and led the team in 3-pointers with 70.

8. Aaliyah Gayles, G, Utah State

Played at USC for three seasons, transferred to Utah State

Gayles was shot multiple times at a house party in April 2022 and was unable to walk, let alone play basketball, when she signed her letter of intent to play at USC. She took 2022-23 as a redshirt year to rehab and recover. Gayles played in 22 games over two seasons for the Trojans, averaging five minutes off the bench. This spring she announced she would transfer to Utah State with two years of eligibility remaining.

9. Maya Nnajii, F, N/A

Played at Arizona for two seasons

Nnaji was the highest-rated recruit in Wildcat women’s basketball history. She decided to quit playing basketball during her sophomore season, stating on Instagram: “In light of recent events, it has become clear to me that I need to reprioritize my main goal and true life’s purpose: becoming a physician. With the support of my family and guidance from Above, I am stepping away from basketball to start a new chapter of my life.”

10. Raegan Beers, C, Oklahoma

Played at Oregon State for two seasons, transferred to Oklahoma

Beers was an all-Pac-12 selection for Oregon State after averaging 17.5 points and 10.6 rebounds as a sophomore. After the disintegration of the conference, she was one of eight players from the Beavers’ Elite Eight team to enter the transfer portal after the 2023-24 season. ‘I want to go to a place where I’m going to develop and be challenged,’ Beers said when she signed with Oklahoma. Beers helped the Sooners to a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament, averaging a team-high 17.3 points and 9.4 rebounds.

11. Justine Pissott, G, Vanderbilt

Played at Tennessee for one season, transferred to Vanderbilt

After averaging seven minutes a game in her freshman season with the Lady Vols, Pissott entered the transfer portal and landed at in-state rival Vanderbilt. She started 28 games in her sophomore season with the Commodores, averaging 6.8 points and 2.2 rebounds. Pissott came off the bench for head coach Shea Ralph last season.

12. Ashlyn Watkins, F, N/A

Played at South Carolina for three seasons

Watkins was averaging 7.2 points and 1.9 blocks in 19 minutes a game off the bench for South Carolina last season before tearing the ACL in her left knee on Jan. 5. Watkins announced in July she would not play for South Carolina during the 2025-26 season, and coach Dawn Staley confirmed that she’s not enrolled in school. Watkins has one season of eligibility remaining. ‘It’s pretty brave of her to do something like this, I think she’ll come back,’ Staley said ‘… as much as we can see her, we see her.’

13. Grace VanSlooten, F, Michigan State

Played at Oregon for two seasons, transferred to Michigan State 

VanSlooten started 62 of 63 games for Oregon in two seasons but entered the transfer portal in April 2024. Within a week, she visited and committed to the Spartans and moved closer to her Toledo, Ohio, home. VanSlooten averaged 15.5 points and 7.3 rebounds as a junior and was named second-team All-Big Ten.

14. Ta’Niya Latson, G, South Carolina

Played at Florida State for three seasons, transferred to South Carolina 

Latson averaged 25.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists as a junior at Florida State. The first-team All-ACC guard led the nation in scoring. Hoping to compete for a national championship, Latson entered the transfer portal and chose South Carolina without even visiting. “She just said this is where she wants to be,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley told Sports Illustrated. “It doesn’t happen like that very often — for us or anybody else. It happens that way for people who have clarity on what they want.”

15. Ruby Whitehorn, G, N/A

Played at Clemson for two seasons, transferred to Tennessee 

Whitehorn started 62 of 66 games at Clemson before entering the transfer portal after her sophomore season and signing with Tennessee in May 2024. She averaged 11.6 points, 4 rebounds and 1.7 assists last season. Whitehorn was suspended from the team on Aug. 8 following an arrest on two felony charges of aggravated burglary and domestic assault. Those charges were downgraded to misdemeanors — vandalism and aggravated criminal trespass — and she was reinstated Sept. 8. Whitehorn was charged with a misdemeanor for simple possession after a traffic stop on Oct. 30. She was dismissed from the Tennessee basketball team Nov. 2.

16. Ashlon Jackson, G, Duke

Never transferred

Jackson has started 70 games for the Blue Devils the past two seasons, averaging 29 minutes a game. She averaged 12.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists last season. Jackson led Duke with 87 3-pointers as it advanced to the Elite Eight in 2025. She has evolved as a player at Duke, scoring from all three levels and working to improve her rebounding and defense.

17. Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, F, Baylor

Never transferred

Littlepage-Buggs was named unanimous Big 12 Freshman of the Year in her first season at the school and has not looked back. She averaged a double-double last season, with 13.8 points and 10 rebounds a game. Littlepage-Buggs was named first-team All-Big 12 as the Bears were eliminated in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

18. Talaysia Cooper, G, Tennessee

Played at South Carolina for one season, transferred to Tennessee

After playing an average of just over eight minutes in 24 games for South Carolina her freshman year, Cooper transferred. But because she did it outside of the transfer window, she had to sit out a season when she arrived at Tennessee. Last season, her sophomore year of eligibility, she started 27 of 34 games and averaged 16.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.1 steals.

19. Gabriela Jaquez, G, UCLA

Never transferred

Jaquez started 33 of 36 games for the Bruins last season, averaging career-bests in both field goal (52%) and 3-point percentage (35%). She averaged 9.6 points and 5.3 rebounds a game. Jaquez finished the year with 34 turnovers, less than one per game. She has been named to the 2026 Cheryl Miller Award preseason top 20 watch list; the award is given to the top small forward in Division I college basketball.

20. Indya Nivar, G, North Carolina

Played for Stanford for one season, transferred to North Carolina

Nivar played in 35 games her freshman year for the Cardinal and averaged 3.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 12.6 minutes per game. She entered the transfer portal and returned to her home state of North Carolina. Nivar started 34 games for the Tar Heels last season, averaging 8.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals a game.

21. Paris Clark, G, Virginia

Played at Arizona for one season, transferred to Virginia 

Clark was injured early in her freshman season and averaged 3.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 13.2 minutes over 24 games for the Wildcats. She was one of six players to transfer away from Arizona in 2023. Clark landed at Virginia and has struggled with injuries, having undergone three surgeries during her career. She averaged 10.3 points and 1.9 steals last season. Virginia has not been to the NCAA tournament since 2018.

22. Londynn Jones, G, USC

Played at UCLA for three seasons, transferred to USC

Jones was an All-Big Ten honorable mention pick, averaging 8.5 points per game with a team-high 72 3-pointers, last season for the Bruins. After entering the portal in April, she joined crosstown rival USC. Jones started 60 games over two seasons at UCLA and is a 3-point threat with 206 in her career to date.

23. Cotie McMahon, F, Ole Miss

Played at Ohio State for three seasons, transferred to Ole Miss

McMahon was named first-team All-Big Ten as a sophomore and junior and started all 97 games in which she played for the Buckeyes. She averaged 16.5 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 44.4% last season. The Dayton, Ohio, native said of leaving the Buckeyes: ‘I felt confident in my decision, especially with the coaching staff that we have here. Speaking of (Ole Miss coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin), she made it very comfortable for me.’

24. Tonie Morgan, G, Kentucky

Played at Georgia Tech for three seasons, transferred to Kentucky

Morgan started 95 games for the Yellow Jackets and averaged 13.7 points, 5.6 assists and 4.5 rebounds last season while shooting 49% from the field. Projected to go in the top 10 of the WNBA draft, Morgan transferred to Kentucky because of coach Kenny Brooks’ ability to develop point guards, including Georgia Amoore. ‘I saw a vision, a vision (Brooks) had for me and this team. I knew that’s something that I wanted to be a part of, so I knew this was the place for me,’ Morgan said during the SEC media day. 

25. Kyla Oldacre, C, Texas

Played at Miami for two seasons, transferred to Texas

A 6-foot-6 center, Oldacre started 21 of 31 games her sophomore season for the Hurricanes and averaged 5.0 points and 4.4 rebounds. She improved her averages to 8.8 points and 5.9 rebounds as a junior for the Longhorns, who advanced to the Final Four. Oldacre had an ankle injury over the summer but has been cleared to play.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Sports

Inter Miami’s Luis Suárez suspended for Game 3 in MLS Cup playoffs

Inter Miami striker Luis Suárez has been suspended for the club’s pivotal Game 3 against Nashville SC in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 8.

Suárez was also issued an undisclosed fine after kicking Nashville’s Andy Najar in the 71st minute during an off-ball sequence in Game 2 at Nashville on Nov. 1.

While there was no foul or card issued on the play by a referee during the match, the MLS Disciplinary Committee determined Wednesday that Suarez should have issued a red card and ejection for the sequence.

Inter Miami defender Ian Fray was also fined for embellishing being kicked in the face by a Nashville player early in of Game 2.

Inter Miami and Nashville are tied 1-1 in their best-of-three series. Inter Miami won 3-1 in Game 1 at home on Oct. 24, while they fell 2-1 at Nashville in Game 2.

Game 3 begins at 8 p.m. ET at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium.

It’s the second time Suárez has been disciplined for an incident this season.

Suárez was suspended three games by MLS and issued a six-game ban by the Leagues Cup tournament committee after spitting on a Seattle Sounders staffer following the Leagues Cup final on Aug. 31.

Suárez, 38, has 17 goals and 17 assists in 48 matches across all competitions with Inter Miami in 2025.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Politics

House Dem crashes Mike Johnson press event as tensions erupt over shutdown

House GOP leaders’ daily government shutdown press conference briefly descended into chaos on Wednesday when a Democratic lawmaker interrupted the event.

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., a moderate Democrat, shared a heated exchange with Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., after crashing his remarks outside the U.S. Capitol while demanding he meet with her caucus to end the shutdown.

Johnson told her, ‘You should respect free speech,’ to which Houlahan responded, ‘You should respect free speech.’

‘I’m asking a question if you’re ready to have a conversation with the other side,’ Houlahan shouted from where reporters were gathered at the press conference. ‘You represent all of us. You are the speaker for all of us, sir.’

Johnson attempted to take a question from a reporter but told them, ‘I can’t hear you because we have someone who doesn’t respect the rights of their colleagues.’

Meanwhile, Houlahan kept shouting over the speaker even as he tried to call order.

‘You have an obligation not just to speak lies to the American people, you have an obligation to call the leadership of both parties and bring us together, and solve this problem together,’ she yelled.

House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain, R-Mich., erupted back, ‘You have an obligation!’

‘We did that before the shutdown began. I went to the White House. We went and sat in front of the Resolute Desk. We brought [House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.] in and we had a discussion,’ Johnson responded. 

‘The president said, ‘Please don’t shut the government down, it would all this pain to the American people.’ This has never happened before. It is a clean, non-partisan CR that every Democrat, including you, voted no on,’ he said.

Houlahan shot back, ‘You are absolutely misrepresenting history, sir, and you know that you are, and you’re dividing the American people unnecessarily.’

The two continued to speak over each other, with Johnson accusing Houlahan of having ‘regret’ for her vote.

‘No, sir, I do not regret anything. It’s important that we work together and that we unify,’ she responded.

Johnson said, ‘I appreciate your input. Now somebody give me a question that’s real.’

‘I appreciate you too,’ she finished.

Tensions are running high on Day 36 of the government shutdown, now the longest such standoff in U.S. history.

It was Johnson’s first shutdown press conference after Tuesday night’s sweeping victories for Democrats during elections in Virginia, New Jersey and New York City.

Republicans had anticipated Democrats’ resolve was weakening amid a lack of funding for food aid programs and paychecks for air traffic controllers, but Tuesday night’s wins appear to have emboldened some on the left as well.

The House passed a short-term federal funding bill on Sept. 19 aimed at giving lawmakers until Nov. 21 to strike a deal on fiscal year (FY) 2026 spending levels.

But at least some Democrats are needed to advance the legislation in the Senate, where it’s failed 14 times over the left’s demand that any funding deal be paired with an extension of COVID-19 pandemic-era Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of this year.

Republicans have contended that federal funding and healthcare are issues that must be considered separately.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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