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Putting De’Aaron Fox in a San Antonio Spurs uniform is tantalizing.

Pairing Fox with rising star Victor Wembanyama would accelerate the trajectory of Wembanyama as an offensive and defensive force and the Spurs’ championship aspirations.

Though the Spurs are Fox’s preferred destination in a trade, a person familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports getting him to San Antonio depends on more than Fox’s wish. The person requested anonymity so he could speak freely about Fox’s future.

The Sacramento Kings have a say in the deal and want the best value in return, including a point guard replacement for Fox, who is 27 and has one season and $37 million left on his contract after this season. Fox, who averages 25.2 points, 6.2 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals, will be a free agent in the summer of 2026.

Potential landings spots for De’Aaron Fox in a trade

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs want to maximize Wembanyama’s potential individually and for the franchise. Adding an All-Star caliber point guard in his prime would do that. The Spurs have first-round draft picks and players on the roster, such as Keldon Johnson and rookie Stephon Castle, that could make a trade palatable for the Kings.

Houston Rockets

The ascending Rockets would have to give up some of their young talent and first-round picks for Fox. Would Houston be willing to interrupt the good thing it has going with a major roster change?

Miami Heat

Fox is interested in playing elsewhere and so is Jimmy Butler. Simple enough, and it would take Miami time to convince Fox that that’s the place for him long term.

Orlando Magic

Fox, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner would form a nice trio. This trade would be a bit trickier given Orlando’s payroll and players who are untouchable in a trade unless the Magic were willing to part ways with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

Brooklyn Nets

Brooklyn has draft picks and are always on the lookout for the kind of the star-driven deal that can help it become a contender. Ben Simmons’ expiring deal is attractive.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers would love a point guard like Fox who can create for himself and others, and he would take pressure off LeBron James and Anthony Davis on both ends of the court. How willing the Kings are to trade Fox to a divisional foe and without a starting point guard coming back provide likely sticking points.

Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

The race to be one of the four No. 1 seeds in the NCAA men’s tournament is on.

As the majority of the teams are trying to do all they can to boost their resume just make the tournament field, there are a select few that are not only virtual locks to be part of March Madness, but also get selected one of the four top seeds in the field of 68.

Having the No. 1 designation next to your name doesn’t ensure a forthcoming national championship, but it does offer a great possibility. Not only does it offer a favorable path to the Final Four, but history is on its side; six of the past seven champions were No. 1 seeds.

Selection Sunday is still about seven weeks away − plenty of time for teams to strengthen or fall apart − but the picture of who will be the top seeds in each region is starting to become clear. Here’s a look at the current No. 1 seeds in the latest edition of USA TODAY Sports Bracketology, why they are there, what’s next for them and who else is in contention for the coveted spots.

Auburn

Record: 18-1. Quad 1 record: 11-1. NET Ranking: 1.

Why Auburn is here: When it comes to resumes, no one has as good of one as the Tigers. The 11 Quad 1 wins are the most in Division I, and they are the only team with fewer than two losses − and it was a quality defeat, against strong Duke team in Cameron Indoor Stadium. For as dominant as Auburn has been most of the season, it’s coming off a nail-biting week. It just avoided a last-second shot against Georgia and in one of the biggest matchups of the season, took down Tennessee in a hard-fought contest. While battered and bruised against the Volunteers, it got star center Johni Broome back to help nab another win against a top 10 team.

What’s next: Auburn will be on the road against teams in the bottom half of the SEC, with a trip to LSU on Wednesday and No. 23 Mississippi on Saturday.

Duke

Record: 17-2. Quad 1 record: 5-2. NET Ranking: 3.

Why Duke is here: Led by freshman phenom Cooper Flagg, the Blue Devils have been practically unstoppable for two months. Duke is on a 14-game win streak that includes a victory against Auburn in what is by far the best win any team has this season. It has been on an absolute tear in the ACC while a perfect conference record and has won its nine league games by an average of 21.2 points. The Blue Devils are coming off one of their closest wins in recent weeks, a 10-point victory over North Carolina State.

What’s next: A visit from the team down Tobacco Road with Duke renewing its rivalry with North Carolina on Saturday.

Iowa State

Record: 17-3. Quad 1 record: 6-3. NET Ranking: 6.

Why Iowa State is here: One of the most experienced teams in the country, Iowa State continues to build off the 29 wins it achieved last season and is gunning for the school’s first ever No. 1 seed. After narrowly losing to Auburn in a thriller at the Maui Invitational, the Cyclones rattled off 12 consecutive wins, five of which were Quad 1 games. However, T.J. Otzelberger’s club has been rattled in recent weeks and the No. 1 spot is a bit shakier than before. Iowa State fell at West Virginia earlier this month and lost Monday after Arizona forced overtime on a Caleb Love’s buzzer-beater from beyond halfcourt.

What’s next: The Cyclones return home to face Kansas State on Saturday before playing at No. 11 Kansas on Monday in the second meeting between the top 15 teams.

Alabama

Record: 17-3 Quad 1 record: 5-3. NET Ranking: 7.

Why Alabama is here: The second SEC team currently projected to be a No. 1 seed, Alabama is the only other team in the league besides Auburn with fewer than two conference losses. Nate Oats loves his fast-paced offense and the Crimson Tide are the highest-scoring team in the country. They’ve scored at least 90 points in four of the first seven SEC games. After a bad performance against Mississippi, Alabama has responded with a three-game win streak that includes a tough road win at Kentucky. Most recently, Alabama held off LSU at home.

What’s next: In the ‘easy’ part of its SEC schedule, Alabama will visit No. 13 Mississippi State on Wednesday and returns home to host Georgia on Saturday.

Just on the outside

Tennessee

Record: 17-4. Quad 1 record: 5-4. NET Ranking: 4

Why Tennessee is here: A team that didn’t have much trouble to start the season with a 14-0 record is starting to feel the effects of the tough SEC. The Volunteers have dropped back-to-back games at the hands of Auburn and Kentucky, and it has lost four of their last six. Still, Tennessee remains a contender for a top seed. It has an elite backcourt with Chaz Lanier and Zakai Zeigler − one of the top passers in the country. The defense is also among the elite, allowing only a third-best 59.3 points per game. Aside from the loss to Florida, the Volunteers have also come close in its defeats to Vanderbilt, Auburn and Kentucky.

What’s next: The Volunteers will attempt to get revenge on Florida when they host the Gators on Saturday in the fourth game against a top 15 team in a row.

Florida

Record: 18-2. Quad 1 record: 4-2. NET Ranking: 5.

Why Florida is here: Another SEC team that had an impressive win streak to start the season, Florida boasts an elite scoring offense that is aided by its ability to crash the boards for second-chance opportunities. After suffering its first loss of the season in a shootout against Kentucky to start January, the Gators bounced back by stomping over Tennessee to hand the Volunteers their first loss of the season. The Gators could very well be undefeated with their two losses by a combined seven points.

What’s next: Florida will go for the season sweep against Tennessee in a visit to Knoxville on Saturday.

Michigan State

Record: 18-2. Quad 1 record: 4-2. NET Ranking: 17.

Why Michigan State is here: Tom Izzo is having a resurgence in East Lansing with Michigan State off to one of its best starts in years; the Spartans are on a 13-game win streak, its longest since the 2018-19 season. It’s been a collection of players getting it done for Michigan State, with seven players averaging at least seven points, and they are among the top free-throw shooting teams. Michigan State went into Madison Square Garden to beat Rutgers on Saturday and Tuesday returned home to beat Minnesota.

What’s next: A trip to the Golden State with games against Southern California (Saturday) and UCLA (Tuesday).

Also contenders

Marquette, Houston and Purdue.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

A first-term House Democrat is attacking White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on X after she sought to clarify a White House memo rescinding an earlier policy statement on President Donald Trump’s federal funding order.

‘Karoline Leavitt is a Fake Christian, like so many in this Golden Calf administration,’ Rep. Dave Min, D-Calif., wrote on Wednesday.

It comes after the White House rescinded an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo that ordered the freeze of most federal grants and assistance, which was blocked by a federal judge on Tuesday.

Leavitt posted on X that it was just the memo that had been rescinded, and that Trump’s executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and other progressive spending priorities remained intact.

‘This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze. It is simply a rescission of the OMB memo. Why? To end any confusion created by the court’s injunction,’ she wrote.

‘The President’s EOs on federal funding remain in full force and effect, and will be rigorously implemented.’

Min’s comments were directed at Leavitt’s aforementioned post.

Earlier, the California Democrat criticized Leavitt’s comments at a White House press briefing in which she said, ‘DOGE and OMB also found that there was about to be 50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza. That is a preposterous waste of taxpayer dollars.’

Min mocked the senior Trump aide, claiming she was making those remarks ‘while wearing a giant cross to let everyone know how pious and moral she is, even as she is so comfortable stating a bald-faced lie to hundreds of millions of people.’

He told Fox News Digital in request for further comment, ‘As a person of faith, I find it appealing that this administration uses religion to advance an agenda while lying through their teeth about what they are doing, allowing children to go to bed hungry, depriving veterans of their earned healthcare, and slashing funding for the police and first responders.’

Fox News Digital reached out to Leavitt for comment.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

The Senate voted Wednesday to advance President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Interior Department — former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum — for a final confirmation vote. 

Burgum appeared before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in mid-January, where he told lawmakers that national security issues and the economy were his two top priorities for leading the agency. 

‘When energy production is restricted in America, it doesn’t reduce demand,’ Burgum said in his opening statement Jan. 16. ‘It just shifts production to countries like Russia and Iran, whose autocratic leaders not only don’t care at all about the environment, but they use their revenues from energy sales to fund wars against us and our allies.’ 

Democratic Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, questioned Burgum on whether he would seek to drill for oil in national parks if Trump asked him to.

‘As part of my sworn duty, I’ll follow the law and follow the Constitution. And so you can count on that,’ Burgum said. ‘And I have not heard of anything about President Trump wanting to do anything other than advancing energy production for the benefit of the American people.’

Additionally, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., questioned whether Burgum backed repealing credits for electric vehicles that may be in jeopardy under the Trump administration. 

‘I support economics and markets,’ Burgum said.

Burgum served as governor of North Dakota from 2016 to 2024. He also launched a presidential bid for the 2024 election in June 2023, where energy and natural resources served as key issues during his campaign. 

Burgum appeared during the first two Republican presidential debates, but didn’t qualify for the third and ended his campaign in December 2023. He then endorsed Trump for the GOP nomination a month later ahead of the Iowa caucuses. 

Aubrie Spady, Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

President Donald Trump is kicking off his second tour of duty in the White House in a stronger polling position than during the start of his first administration eight years ago, a new national poll indicates.

Forty-six percent of voters say they approve of the job the Republican president is doing so far, with 43% disapproving, according to a Quinnipiac University survey released on Wednesday.

The poll was conducted Jan. 23-27, during Trump’s first week back in the White House following his Jan. 20th inauguration.

The president’s approval rating is an improvement from Quinnipiac polling in late January 2017 – as Trump began his first term in office – when he stood at 36% approval and 44% disapproval.

The survey indicates a predictable huge partisan divide over the GOP president.

‘Republicans 86-4 percent approve of the job Trump is doing, while Democrats 86-8 percent disapprove,’ the poll’s release highlights. ‘Among independents, 41 percent approve, while 46 percent disapprove and 13 percent did not offer an opinion.’

While Trump’s first approval rating for his second term is a major improvement from his first term, his rating is below the standing of his predecessor, former President Biden, in the first Quinnipiac poll from his single term in office.

Biden stood at 49%-36% approval at the start of February 2021.

His approval rating hovered in the low to mid 50s during his first six months in the White House. But Biden’s numbers sank into negative territory in the late summer and autumn of 2021, in the wake of his much-criticized handling of the turbulent U.S. exit from Afghanistan, and amid soaring inflation and a surge of migrants crossing into the U.S. along the nation’s southern border with Mexico.

Biden’s approval ratings stayed underwater throughout the rest of his presidency.

Trump has kept up a frenetic pace during his first week and a half in office, with an avalanche of executive orders and actions. His moves not only fulfilled some of his major campaign trail promises, but also allowed the returning president to flex his executive muscles, quickly put his stamp on the federal government, and also settle some longstanding grievances.

‘In our first week in office, we set records, taking over 350 executive actions,’ Trump touted on Wednesday. ‘That’s not been done before, and it has reportedly been the single most effective opening week of any presidency in history.’

According to the new poll, six in ten approve of Trump’s order sending U.S. troops to the southern border to enhance security.

‘The huge deployment of boots on the ground is not to a dicey, far away war theater, but to the American border. And a majority of voters are just fine with that,’ Quinnipiac University polling analyst Tim Malloy said.

The poll indicates 44% support deporting all undocumented immigrants, while 39% back deporting only those convicted of violent crimes.

According to the survey, 57% disapprove of Trump’s pardoning or commuting the sentences of more than 1,500 people convicted in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters aiming to upend congressional certification of Biden’s 2020 election victory.

Meanwhile, by a two-to-one margin, those questioned gave a thumbs down to Biden’s issuing of preemptive pardons – in his final hours in office – for five members of his family who haven’t been charged with any crimes. Voters were divided on Biden’s preemptive pardons for politicians and government officials who Trump had targeted for retaliation.

The poll also indicates that 53% disapprove of Elon Musk – the world’s richest person – enjoying a prominent role in the new Trump administration, with 39% approving.

Democrats lost control of the White House and the Senate majority and failed to win back control of the House in November’s elections. And the new poll spells more trouble for them.

Only 31% of respondents had a favorable opinion of the Democratic Party, with 57% seeing the party in an unfavorable light.

‘This is the highest percentage of voters having an unfavorable opinion of the Democratic Party since the Quinnipiac University Poll began asking this question,’ the survey’s release noted. 

Meanwhile, the 43% of those questioned had a favorable view of the GOP, with 45% holding an unfavorable opinion, which was the highest favorable opinion for the Republican Party ever in Quinnipiac polling.

Quinnipiac questioned 1019 self-identified registered voters nationwide. The survey’s overall sampling error was plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

In this exclusive StockCharts video, Joe shares the details of his favorite MACD setup. Joe then covers NVDA, and cryptocurrencies, before covering which Quantum Computing stocks look the best right now, including IONQ and RGTI. Finally, he goes through the symbol requests that came through this week, including AAPL, COIN, and more.

This video was originally published on January 29, 2025. Click this link to watch on Joe’s dedicated page.

Archived videos from Joe are available at this link. Send symbol requests to stocktalk@stockcharts.com; you can also submit a request in the comments section below the video on YouTube. Symbol Requests can be sent in throughout the week prior to the next show.

Fewer than six weeks remain before the NHL trade deadline.

So far, there have been 18 trades (including a January blockbuster between the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes), four coaching changes, plus extensions signed by Igor Shesterkin, Jake Oettinger, Logan Thompson, Alexis Lafreniere, Linus Ullmark and others this season. Other top players also remain eligible for extensions, including Mitch Marner, John Tavares and Brock Boeser plus just-traded Mikko Rantanen.

There will be more trades as teams build toward a Stanley Cup run or make moves for their long-term future. The trade deadline is March 7.

Follow along here this season for signings, trades, transactions and other news from the NHL:

Jan. 29: Kraken waive goalie Philipp Grubauer

The Seattle Kraken placed former No. 1 goalie Philipp Grubauer on waivers and plan to send him to the American Hockey League if he clears. Grubauer, who was the team’s top goalie early in the franchise’s history, has been supplanted by Joey Daccord. Grubauer has lost six in a row for the second time this season and has a 3.83 goals-against average and .866 save percentage in 21 appearances. He’s signed through 2026-27 at a $5.9 million cap hit.

Jan. 29: Kings’ Drew Doughty to make season debut

The Los Angeles Kings get a key player back with defenseman Drew Doughty scheduled to make his season debut Wednesday night against the Florida Panthers. The 2016 Norris Trophy winner, who broke his ankle in the preseason, has had at least 50 points the past two seasons and Brandon Clarke is the only Kings defenseman close to that pace this season. Los Angeles’ power play has also dropped from 12th last season to 29th this season. Doughty’s return also puts him in the mix for a spot on Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off after the withdrawal of Alex Pietrangelo. Doughty won gold medals at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics and the 2016 World Cup.

Also: Philadelphia Flyers goalie Samuel Ersson will replace injured New Jersey Devils netminder Jacob Markstrom for Team Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off. … Devils coach Sheldon Keefe announced that captain Nico Hischier is week-to-week with an unspecified injury.

Jan. 28: Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov needs surgery for lower-body injury

Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov will have surgery for the lower-body injury that had kept him out of the lineup for 12 games after Christmas. General manager Bill Guerin said the surgery isn’t season-ending, but will keep him out the lineup for a minimum of four weeks. Kaprizov had 50 points in 34 games before the injury and two assists in three games after he returned but was ‘very uncomfortable,’ coach John Hynes said. The Wild went 7-5 without Kaprizov and are third in the Central Division.

‘It’s not the end of the world,’ Guerin said. ‘We’re going to keep playing and continue to get better. When Kirill’s healthy and all healed up, he’ll be back and we’ll be even better.’

Also: The St. Louis Blues placed forward Brandon Saad on waivers and will send him to the American Hockey League if he clears. Saad, 32, who had 26 goals last season, has seven in 43 games. He’s signed through next season at a $4.5 million cap hit.

Jan. 27: Capitals’ Logan Thompson gets six-year extension

Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson will average $5.85 million in the extension, up from his current $766,667 cap hit. Thompson has been one of the top stories and goaltenders this season. Acquired in the offseason, he has put together a 22-2-3 record, 2.09 goals-against average and .925 save percentage. He ranks second in the league in MoneyPuck’s goals saved above expected. Thompson, 27, mostly has split time with Charlie Lindgren (11-9-2), who’s a pending unrestricted free agent, and the pairing has helped lift the Capitals to the top record in the league. ‘With his size (6-4) and exceptional athleticism, we are confident that this signing will enhance one of the most critical positions on our team, especially as he enters the prime years of his career,’ Capitals general manager Chris Patrick said in a statement.

Jan. 27: Islanders acquire Scott Perunovich from Blues

The New York Islanders give up a conditional 2026 fifth-round pick for Scott Perunovich to address another injury on their blue line. The trade was announced after Ryan Pulock (upper body) was placed on the injured list. Perunovich had six points in 24 games with the St. Louis Blues this season. Last week, the Islanders signed free agent defenseman Tony DeAngelo for the remainder of the season because Noah Dobson is out with a lower-body injury.

Jan. 26: Rangers sign Will Borgen to five-year extension

New York Rangers defenseman Will Borgen, who was acquired in the Kaapo Kakko trade, will average $4.1 million in the deal, according to ESPN. Borgen has three points, 29 hits and 29 blocked shots since arriving in New York.

Also: The Vegas Golden Knights announced that defenseman Alex Pietrangelo was withdrawing from the 4 Nations Face-Off to ‘tend to an ailment and prepare for the remainder of the regular season with Vegas.’ Team Canada will need to announce a replacement before the Feb. 12-20 tournament.

Jan. 24: Mikko Rantanen traded in blockbuster deal

The Colorado Avalanche no longer have to worry whether they can fit pending free agent Mikko Rantanen in their salary structure. The two-time 100-point scorer was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for Martin Necas, Jack Drury, a 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-rounder. The Hurricanes also get Taylor Hall from the Chicago Blackhawks, who retained 50% of Rantanen’s salary.

The Avalanche pay MVP Nathan MacKinnon $12.6 million a year, and that was likely their top limit for Rantanen. Though Colorado loses a prolific scorer, Necas is the Hurricanes’ top scorer and is signed through next season. Drury is also signed through 2025-26 and will be a restricted free agent.

Last year, the Hurricanes were also aggressive before the deadline, but they lost in the second round and weren’t able to re-sign Jake Guentzel.

TRADE GRADES: Who won blockbuster deal?

Jan. 24: Devils’ Jacob Markstrom out with knee sprain

Jan. 17: Oilers sign John Klingberg for one year

The Edmonton Oilers added defensive depth by signing veteran John Klingberg for the remainder of the season. Terms weren’t disclosed.

Klingberg, 32, who had season-ending hip surgery in November 2023, is known for his puck-moving ability and work on the power play. He has 412 points in 633 games, plus 39 points in 63 playoff games.

The 2024 Stanley Cup finalists traded Cody Ceci and chose not to match an offer sheet to Philip Broberg during the offseason.

Jan. 15: Penguins place goalie Tristan Jarry on waivers

The Pittsburgh Penguins placed goalie Tristan Jarry on waivers after Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken in which he gave up three goals on 17 shots. A Kraken short-handed goal leaked through him in the first period, and Seattle scored twice in 50 seconds in the third period to overcome a 2-1 deficit.

The veteran two-time All-Star was sent to the American Hockey League in late October and recalled on Nov. 9. Jarry is in the second season of a five-year contract that carries a $5.375 million cap hit. He has a 3.32 goals-against average and .886 save percentage.

‘He’s continued to come in here, put the work in and that’s not been a question at all,’ general manager Kyle Dubas said. ‘That just hasn’t materialized the way we would like it to on the ice. At this level, you get to the point where you have to do what’s right … for him and for us.’

Jan. 14: Canadiens’ Emil Heineman out after accident

Montreal Canadiens forward Emil Heineman will be out three to four weeks after being hit while crossing a street in Utah. The team said the accident occurred Monday and Heineman suffered an upper-body injury. ‘He got hurt crossing a street yesterday,’ coach Martin St. Louis told reporters on Tuesday. ‘I don’t think it was at a high speed but enough to cause some damage. It’s unfortunate.’ The Canadiens are in Salt Lake City to play the Utah Hockey Club. Heineman, 23, has 17 points in 41 games this season. He ranks third among NHL rookies with 10 goals.

Jan. 10: Oilers’ Evander Kane has knee surgery

Evander Kane will need more time before he makes his season debut after he had knee surgery on Thursday. The Edmonton Oilers said Kane would need four to eight weeks of recovery time, which will pause his rehab from the abdominal surgery he had in September. Kane, 33, had 24 goals last season plus eight points in the Oilers’ run to the Stanley Cup Final. He was unable to play the final five games of that round because he had been slowed in the playoffs by a sports hernia. He has another year left on his contract at a $5.125 million cap hit.

Also: The Ottawa Senators signed forward Ridly Greig to a four-year, $13 million contract extension.

Jan. 6: Rangers claim Arthur Kaliyev off waivers from Kings

Arthur Kaliyev, 23, had two seasons of double-digit goals, though he dropped to seven goals last season. He has yet to play in the NHL this season because of injury but completed a five-game conditioning stint. The former second-round pick averages about 12 minutes a game. He’ll likely fill a bottom-six role after the Rangers’ earlier trade of Kaapo Kakko.

Jan. 5: Ducks re-sign Frank Vatrano for three years

The Anaheim Ducks are often sellers leading up to the trade deadline, but they lock in their third-leading scorer, Frank Vatrano, for three years. He would have drawn a lot of interest if the Ducks had made him available. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that the deal is worth $18 million but deferred money lowers the salary cap hit to $4.57 million. He scored 37 goals last season and has 20 points this season. He had a three-point night after the signing was announced.

Jan. 3: Bruins re-sign Mark Kastelic

The rugged forward’s deal averages $1.567 million a year. He was tied for the team lead with 76 penalty minutes and had 151 hits.

Dec. 28: Nashville Predators, Colorado Avalanche make trade

The Nashville Predators called up forward Vinnie Hinostroza, the American Hockey League’s leading scorer, then traded forward Juuso Parssinen to the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche also get a 2026 seventh-round pick and the Predators get back forward Ondrej Pavel and a 2027 third-round pick.

Hinostroza, a 374-game NHL veteran, signed a two-year deal with the Predators in the offseason but had spent the entire season in the AHL. So has Pavel. Parssinen had five points in 15 games with Nashville this season. The Predators and Avalanche swapped backup goaltenders earlier in the season.

Dec. 27: Avalanche give extension to Mackenzie Blackwood

The Colorado Avalanche gave goalie Mackenzie Blackwood a five-year extension 18 days after acquiring him in a trade. Terms weren’t disclosed, but reports said it was worth $5.25 million a year, up from the current cap hit of $2.35 million in his contract that expires this summer.

The Avalanche goaltending struggled at the beginning of the season, and Colorado traded Justus Annunen to the Nashville Predators for Scott Wedgewood on Nov. 30. The Avalanche shipped out Alexandar Georgiev to the San Jose Sharks on Dec. 9 for Blackwood.

Blackwood has gone 3-1 with a 2.03 goals-against average and .931 save percentage since arriving.

Dec. 26: Red Wings fire coach Derek Lalonde, hire Todd McLellan

The Detroit Red Wings fired coach Derek Lalonde on Thursday after two-plus seasons and brought in veteran Todd McLellan to try to turn around the season.

McLellan, 57, who won a Stanley Cup with the Red Wings as an assistant coach in 2008, was signed to a multi-year contract as the franchise’s 29th head coach. He has a 598-412-134 regular-season record over 16 seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks, making the playoffs nine times. He was with the Red Wings from 2005-08 and left after the championship season to join the Sharks.

Associate coach Bob Boughner also was fired, and Trent Yawney was hired as an assistant coach. The Red Wings had lost nine of their last 12 games to follow to seventh place in the Atlantic Division

Dec. 19: Bruins waive forward Tyler Johnson

The Boston Bruins placed forward Tyler Johnson on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating the one-year contract he signed in November. That would make him free to pursue opportunities with other teams. Johnson had two points in nine games this season and the move follows the Bruins claiming Oliver Wahlstrom off waivers.

Dec. 18: Rangers trade Kaapo Kakko to Kraken

The New York Rangers get back defenseman Will Borgen and 2025 third- and sixth-round picks in exchange for Kaapo Kakko, the No. 2 overall pick of 2019. The trade happened less than a day after Kakko complained about being a healthy scratch. ‘It’s just easy to take the young guy and put him out,’ he said Tuesday. ‘That’s how I feel.’

Kakko, 23, has never matched the expectation of being that high a pick, getting 40 points in his top season in 2022-23. He has 14 points this season and was named by Finland to the 4 Nations Face-Off.

The trade is the second recent shake-up move by the sliding Rangers, who dealt captain Jacob Trouba, a defenseman, to the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 6. Borgen, who was taken by the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft, had 20 or more points and averaged nearly 200 hits the past two seasons but has just two points and a minus-13 rating this season.

In other trades Wednesday:

The Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators swapped defensemen with Alexandre Carrier, 28, heading to Montreal in exchange for Justin Barron, 23. Carrier gives the Canadiens an experienced right-shot defenseman. He signed a three-year deal this offseason and the Predators save $2.6 million in cap space with the trade.

The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired defenseman P.O. Joseph from the St. Louis Blues for future considerations. Joseph will help the Penguins with defenseman Marcus Pettersson out with an injury. Joseph played his first four NHL seasons with Pittsburgh.

Dec. 18: Justin Schultz retires after 12 NHL seasons

Defenseman Justin Schultz, 34, who won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles with the Pittsburgh Penguins, announced his retirement after 12 seasons with four NHL teams. Originally drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in 2008, he couldn’t reach terms with that team and joined the Edmonton Oilers as a free agent in 2012, making the all-rookie team. Schultz was traded to the Penguins in 2016 and won championships that season and the following season. He played two seasons each with the Washington Capitals and Seattle Kraken, finishing his NHL career with 71 goals and 324 points in 745 games. Schultz signed to play in Switzerland this season but stepped down after eight games.

Dec. 14: Blues acquire Ducks’ Cam Fowler in trade

The St. Louis Blues give up minor league defenseman Jeremie Biakabutuka and a 2027 second-round pick to land defenseman Cam Fowler, 33, who spent his entire NHL career with the Anaheim Ducks. St. Louis also gets a 2027 fourth-round pick and the Ducks retain about 38.5% of Fowler’s remaining salary.

The Blues, who will be without Torey Krug (ankle) this season, get a veteran defenseman who averages more than 21 minutes a game in ice time. Fowler was moved eight days after the Ducks acquired defenseman Jacob Trouba in a trade.

“This was a difficult trade to make considering what Cam has meant to this organization,” general manager Pat Verbeek said. “He has been a valuable and respected member of our team for 15 seasons, representing the Ducks with ultimate class. … After meeting with Cam several times over the last few months, it became clear to both of us it may be time for a change.”

Also: The Boston Bruins claimed forward Oliver Wahlstrom off waivers from the New York Islanders. The Maine native had played for Boston College in 2018-19.

Dec. 13: Islanders waive Oliver Wahlstrom, Pierre Engvall

The New York Islanders have placed forwards Oliver Wahlstrom and Pierre Engvall on waivers, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports. The move happened after injured forwards Mat Barzal and Anthony Duclair returned to practice. Engvall, who signed a seven-year contract in 2023, passed through waivers earlier this season and played six games in the American Hockey League. He has six points in 20 games. Wahlstrom, a 2018 first-round pick, has four points in 27 games.

Also: The Minnesota Wild claimed defenseman Travis Dermott off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers. The Wild placed defenseman Jake Middleton on long-term injured reserve after he was hit in the hand by a shot on Thursday night. … The Vegas Golden Knights signed forward Keegan Kolesar to a three-year, $7.5 million contract extension.

Dec. 12: Canucks’ J.T. Miller returns from personal leave

Vancouver Canucks forward J.T. Miller said he was returning from his personal leave and played Thursday night against the Florida Panthers. The Canucks announced his leave of absence on Nov. 19. The team went 5-3-2 while he was away.

Miller, who has 16 points in 17 games this season and topped 100 last season, said he wouldn’t answer questions about why he was away from the team.

‘I’m excited to play,’ he said. ‘I want to play and obviously a fun game against the defending champions. Just happy to be around the guys and looking forward to tonight.’

Miller skated a little more than 14 minutes, had two assists and won 60% of his faceoffs.

While he was away, he was named to Team USA for February’s 4 Nations Face-Off.

Also: Anaheim Ducks forward Travis Zegras had surgery for torn meniscus in his right knee and is expected to miss six weeks. … The Utah Hockey Club claimed defenseman Dakota Mermis off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Dec. 10: Kevin Shattenkirk announces retirement

Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk announced his retirement on Tuesday after 14 NHL seasons with seven teams. He won a Stanley Cup in 2020 with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Drafted 14th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in 2007, he also played for the St. Louis Blues (five 40-point seasons), Washington Capitals, New York Rangers and Anaheim Ducks before joining the Boston Bruins in 2023-24 for what would be his final season.

Shattenkirk, 35, finishes with 103 goals, 381 assists and 484 points in 952 career games, plus 48 points in 91 playoff games. He scored in overtime during Game 4 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Final.

Dec. 9: Avalanche land Mackenzie Blackwood in goalie trade with Sharks

The Colorado Avalanche’s season-opening goaltending tandem of Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen is out after a subpar start. Now they’re running with Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood after separate trades with the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators, respectively.

The Blackwood trade is the latest one and includes forward Givani Smith and a draft pick going to Colorado, while forward Nikolai Kovalenko and two picks go to San Jose. Blackwood has a .904 save percentage to Georgiev’s .874, and he made 49 saves in his last game. Georgiev was pulled in his second-to-last start.

GOALIE SWAP: Full details of Avalanche-Sharks trade

Dec. 6: Rangers trade Jacob Trouba, extend Igor Shesterkin

The sliding New York Rangers dominated the news Friday by trading captain Jacob Trouba and giving Igor Shesterkin an eight-year extension that makes him the highest-paid NHL goalie.

The Rangers officially announced the extension on Saturday.

The Trouba trade happened first Friday with the Rangers getting back defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a 2025 fourth-round pick. But the biggest part is the Anaheim Ducks took on Trouba’s $8 million cap hit, giving the Rangers flexibility. Trouba, who has struggled this season and didn’t waive his no-trade clause this summer, adds a veteran presence to the young Ducks. He and new teammate Radko Gudas are two of the hardest hitters in the league.

Shesterkin will average $11.5 million in his new deal, according to reports, moving him past Carey Price ($10.5 million) as the top-paid goaltender. The Rangers rely heavily on Shesterkin, who faces a lot of high-danger shots.

Also: The Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens pulled off a minor trade. Forward Jacob Perreault, son of former NHL player Yanic Perreault, heads to Edmonton for defenseman Noel Hoefenmayer. … The Carolina Hurricanes placed forward Brendan Lemieux on unconditional waivers to terminate his contract. He requested the move so he can pursue another opportunity, general manager Eric Tulsky told the team’s website.

Dec. 5: Blackhawks fire coach Luke Richardson

The last-place Chicago Blackhawks fired coach Luke Richardson. Anders Sorensen, coach of the Blackhawks’ Rockford IceHogs team in the American Hockey League, was named interim head coach.

The move happened with generational player Connor Bedard going through a sophomore slump and unhappy with his production. He recently ended a 12-game goal drought and didn’t make the Canadian roster for this season’s 4 Nations Face-Off.

‘As we have begun to take steps forward in our rebuilding process, we felt that the results did not match our expectations for a higher level of execution this season and ultimately came to the decision that a change was necessary,’ general manager Kyle Davidson said in a statement about the coaching move.

Richardson leaves Chicago with a 57-118-15 record.

Dec. 4: Stars’ Tyler Seguin to have hip surgery, miss 4-6 months

The Dallas Stars announced that forward Tyler Seguin will have surgery on his left hip on Thursday and is expected to miss four to six months. That timeline would have him out of the lineup until near the end of the regular season or into the playoffs. Seguin, 32, had been having a strong season, ranking third on the team with 20 points in 19 games.

4 NATIONS FACE-OFF: Rosters announced

Nov. 30: Wild acquire defenseman David Jiricek from Blue Jackets

The Minnesota Wild acquired former first-round pick David Jiricek, 21, from the Columbus Blue Jackets for a package that includes 22-year-old defenseman Daemon Hunt and a package of draft picks including a top-five protected 2025 first-round pick. Jiricek, a 2022 sixth-overall pick who had been sent to American Hockey League, will report to the Wild’s AHL team. The other picks heading to Columbus: 2026 third- and fourth-rounders and a 2027 second-rounder. The Wild get a 2025 fifth-round pick.

Nov. 30: Predators, Avalanche swap goaltenders

The Colorado Avalanche acquired backup goalie Scott Wedgewood from the Nashville Predators for backup goalie Justus Annunen and a sixth-round pick. The Avalanche, who have the league’s third-worst team goals-against average, were expected to make some sort of goaltending move but not necessarily this one. Annunen, 24, has slightly better stats this season, but he’s a restricted free agent at the end of the season. Wedgewood, 32, who was signed in the offseason and played five games for the Predators, has another year left on his contract.

Also: The NHL fined Boston’s Nikita Zadorov and Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin $5,000 each for an exchange in Friday’s game. Zadorov poked Malkin with his stick from the bench, and the Penguins star responded with a slash toward the bench, hitting Mason Lohrei.

Nov. 25: Penguins acquire Philip Tomasino from Predators

Philip Tomasino (one point in 11 games) is the final year of his contract so the struggling Nashville Predators get something in return, a 2027 fourth-round pick. The equally struggling Pittsburgh Penguins get another person for their bottom six. The former first-round pick’s best season was 32 points as a rookie in 2021-22.

Nov. 24: Blues fire coach Drew Bannister, hire Jim Montgomery

In a surprising move, the St. Louis Blues on Sunday fired Drew Bannister after less than a year as coach, replacing him with former Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery.

The announcement from Blues president and general manager Doug Armstrong comes with the team losing 13 of its first 22 games this year. Bannister had taken over for Stanley Cup-winning coach Craig Berube last season and had his interim tag removed at the end of the season.

Montgomery, a former assistant to Berube, has an overall regular-season record of 180-84-33 as a head coach with Boston and Dallas. He was just let go by the Bruins last week after they lost 12 of their first 20 games. – Steve Gardner

Nov. 22: Golden Knights sign Brett Howden to five-year extension

Forward Brett Howden will average $2.5 million in the five-year contract extension. He plays in the Vegas Golden Knights’ bottom six and has eight goals this season.

After the Golden Knights lost free agents Jonathan Marchessault, Chandler Stephenson and others from their 2023 Stanley Cup title team this summer, they’ve been working to get extensions done early. Defensemen Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb signed recently. Goalie Adin Hill and Keegan Kolesar also are pending unrestricted free agents from that championship team.

Nov. 19: Canucks’ J.T. Miller out indefinitely for personal reasons

‘Right now, our sole focus is making sure that J.T. knows the entire organization is here to support him,’ general manager Patrik Allvin said. ‘Out of respect to J.T., we will have no further comment at this time.’

Miller ranks second on the Canucks and is their top-scoring forward with 16 points in 17 games. He scored 103 points last season.

Nov. 19: Boston Bruins fire coach Jim Montgomery

The Boston Bruins made Jim Montgomery the first coaching casualty of the 2024-25 NHL season, firing him less than two seasons after he was named coach of the year.

Associate coach Joe Sacco, a former Colorado Avalanche head coach, will take over behind the bench as the interim head coach.

The move came after a blowout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday. Montgomery, who was in the final year of his contract, was let go with the team sitting at 8-9-3 and sporting poor underlying numbers.

BRUINS: More details on coaching change

Nov. 18: Islanders’ Mike Reilly to have procedure on heart

General manager Lou Lamoriello told reporters that the pre-existing heart condition was discovered during routine testing for a concussion that had sidelined the defenseman since Nov. 1.

‘It’s probably a blessing in disguise of what transpired,’ Lamoriello said. ‘They detected this, something that you’re sometimes born with, but never knew.’

He said Reilly has been cleared from the concussion.

Nov. 15: Avalanche’s Valeri Nichushkin returns from suspension

Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin returned Friday night from his six-month suspension. He was suspended during the playoffs last May under Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. He also was in the program for about two months earlier in the 2023-24 season and missed part of the 2023 playoffs for personal reasons. Nichushkin is a key offensive contributor with 28 goals in 54 games last season. Injured forwards Jonathan Drouin and Miles Wood also returned Friday.

Also: The Vegas Golden Knights signed defenseman Brayden McNabb, the franchise leader in games played, to a three-year contract extension that averages $3.65 million a year.

OILERS: Connor McDavid is fourth fastest to reach 1,000 points

Nov. 13: Sabres claim goalie James Reimer off waivers

The Buffalo Sabres claimed goaltender James Reimer off waivers, bringing him back to where he signed a free agent contract in the summer. Reimer was claimed by the Anaheim Ducks off waivers earlier this season when the Sabres tried to send him to the American Hockey League. The Ducks put him on waivers after the return of injured goalie John Gibson. Reimer, on a one-year, $1 million contract, played two games in Anaheim with a 4.50 goals-against average. No. 1 Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was hurt in Monday’s loss but hasn’t been ruled out for Thursday’s game.

Also: Boston Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm will be out ‘weeks’ with a lower-body injury after blocking a shot, coach Jim Montgomery said.

Nov. 12: Capitals reacquire Lars Eller in trade with Penguins

Center Lars Eller, 35, is a familiar face for the Washington Capitals after playing in Washington from 2016-23 and winning a Stanley Cup there in 2018. He kills penalties and is strong in the faceoff circle. The Pittsburgh Penguins’ side of the trade might be more interesting. They get a 2027 third-round pick and a 2025 fifth-rounder, and this also could be an indication that the Penguins are shaking up the roster after a disappointing start. Eller’s trade will allow the team to give more ice time to younger players. He’s a pending unrestricted free agent.

Also: The Winnipeg Jets claimed goalie Kaapo Kahkonen off waivers from the Colorado Avalanche and loaned him to their American Hockey League affiliate. They had lost him on waivers to the Avalanche last month.

Nov. 11: Flames’ Anthony Mantha to have season-ending surgery

Also: The Colorado Avalanche placed goalie Kaapo Kahkonen on waivers. They had claimed him off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets last month.

Nov. 9: Penguins recall veteran goalie Tristan Jarry from minors

The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled two-time All-Star goalie Tristan Jarry from his conditioning stint in the American Hockey League. Jarry was loaned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Oct. 26 after recording a 5.37 goals-against average and .836 save percentage. His AHL numbers were 2.16, .926.

Also: The Philadelphia Flyers made rookie Matvei Michkov a healthy scratch for a second consecutive game.

Nov. 8: Kraken acquire Daniel Sprong from Canucks

The Seattle Kraken landed Daniel Sprong, one of their former players, in exchange for future considerations. The Kraken have struggled to score this season and Sprong had 21 goals for them two seasons ago. The forward has scored double-digit goals five times. He had one goal with Vancouver this season.

Oct. 30: Sharks acquire Timothy Liljegren from Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs get defenseman Matt Benning, a 2025 third-round pick and a 2026 sixth-rounder. Liljegren, 25, had been limited to one game in Toronto this season, and the Maple Leafs recently committed to blue-liner Jake McCabe with a five-year extension. But Liljegren should fit in well in San Jose, which is building around younger players. Benning, 30, and Liljegren are signed through 2025-26.

This is the second day with an NHL trade after none previously since the season opened in North America.

Oct. 29: Utah acquires defenseman Olli Maatta from Red Wings

The Utah Hockey Club gives up a third-round pick as it addresses a desperate need for a veteran defenseman. Sean Durzi and John Marino are out long-term after surgery. Utah has been leaking goals during a four-game losing streak, including blowing a 4-1 lead late in the third period against the previously winless San Jose Sharks. Maatta is solid defensively and has nearly 700 games of NHL experience.

Oct. 28: Maple Leafs sign Jake McCabe to five-year extension

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed defenseman Jake McCabe to a five-year extension with an annual average value of $4.51 million. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports there is some deferred money in the deal. McCabe, 31, had been acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in a February 2023 trade and ranks fourth on the team in average ice time this season. He has three assists in nine games and a team-best plus-6 rating.

Also: The New York Rangers recalled rugged forward Matt Rempe from the American Hockey League after he played two games there. The Rangers play the Washington Capitals on Tuesday in what has become a feisty rivalry.

Oct. 26: Penguins send goalie Tristan Jarry to minors

The Pittsburgh Penguins sent two-time All-Star goaltender Tristan Jarry to their American Hockey League affiliate on a conditioning loan after his early season struggles. He had been sent home from the Penguins’ road trip to work on his game after recording a 5.47 goals-against average and .836 save percentage in three games. He was pulled from his last start on Oct. 16 and gave up six goals in the opener.

Jarry is in the second season of a five-year contract that carries a $5.375 million cap hit. Rookie Joel Blomqvist has had the most starts in the Penguins net this season and Alex Nedeljkovic recently returned from an injury.

Also: The New York Islanders signed rugged forward Matt Martin for the rest of the season. He had been to camp on a tryout agreement after spending 13 of his 15 seasons with the Islanders.

Oct. 25: Rangers’ Alexis Lafreniere gets seven-year extension

The New York Rangers and Alexis Lafreniere have agreed to a seven-year extension as he builds on last season’s breakthrough. The 2020 No. 1 overall pick will average $7.45 million in the deal, according to lohud.com, part of the USA TODAY Network. That’s up from this year’s $2.325 million cap hit. Lafreniere, 23, broke through with 28 goals and 57 points last season and added eight goals and 14 points in the playoffs. He is averaging a point a game this season through seven games and scored his fourth goal of the season on Thursday. He is signed through 2031-32.

Oct. 24: Golden Knights’ Shea Theodore signs for seven years

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore will average $7.425 million in the extension, which kicks in next season and runs through 2031-32. Getting him signed now is important after the Golden Knights lost Jonathan Marchessault, Chandler Stephenson and others from their 2023 Stanley Cup team to free agency during the summer.

Theodore, 29, is the franchise’s top-scoring defenseman with 296 points and has opened this season with seven points in six games. Vegas’ top three defensemen (also Alex Pietrangelo and Noah Hanifin) are signed through at least 2026-27.

Oct. 22: Panthers give coach Paul Maurice contract extension

Maurice, who joined the Panthers in 2022-23, went to the Stanley Cup Final in his first season and won it last year. His 29 playoff wins are a franchise record.

He has 98 regular-season wins with Florida and his 873 career wins rank fourth all time in NHL history.

Also: The Blues signed forward Jake Neighbours to a two-year, $7.5 million contract extension.

Oct. 17: Stars’ Jake Oettinger signs eight-year contract extension

The Dallas Stars signed goalie Jake Oettinger to an eight-year, $66 million contract extension that kicks in next season. The $8.25 million cap hit matches the deals recently signed by the Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman and Senators’ Linus Ullmark.

Oettinger has led the Stars to the Western Conference final the past two seasons.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

NEW YORK – The U.S. Open will expand its main draw to 15 days, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) said on Wednesday, kicking off a day earlier than the usual Monday opener for the tournament’s first weekend start in the Open Era.

The schedule change will see the men’s and women’s singles first rounds play out over three days from Sunday, Aug. 24.

The added day will allow main draw access for another 70,000 attendees or more, after a third straight year of record-breaking attendance in 2024.

The Sunday opener will include six new ticketed sessions, with day and night sessions for the famed Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Major League Soccer and Apple are making a major push to reach more viewers in 2025.

Soccer fans with Comcast Xfinity and DirecTV can subscribe and watch MLS Season Pass through the TV providers, while T-Mobile users will be able to access MLS Season Pass for free, the league announced Wednesday.

MLS also will debut “Sunday Night Soccer” — a showcase to engage and retain soccer fans with the league’s most compelling game of the week.

MLS also has high hopes for “Onside: Major League Soccer” — an eight-part documentary series produced by Box 2 Box Films, the company behind Netflix’s popular “Formula 1: Drive to Survive” series. The new docuseries premiers Feb. 21.

The new initiatives increase opportunities for fans to watch MLS games during a pivotal push for the sport in the United States, which will co-host World Cup 2026 with Canada and Mexico.

“We’re always going to look for different ways to make this content more accessible to people,” Apple executive producer of live sports Royce Dickerson said during a press briefing on Wednesday.

“We just want to hit as many people as we possibly can, get it across as many devices and platforms as humanly possible. All we want to continue to do is push out the product as much as we can to as many people at any given moment.”

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will play New York City FC in the first match of the 2025 MLS season on Feb. 22 at 2:30 p.m. ET.

MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy will host the league’s newest team, San Diego FC, in the first “Sunday Night Soccer” game on Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. ET. This match will also be broadcast live at Times Square in New York City.

‘Sunday Night Soccer’ will include dedicated pre- and postgame shows, and be available for Apple TV+ subscribers. Jake Zivin, Taylor Twellman and Andrew Wiebe will call the Sunday games in English, while Sammy Sadovnik and Diego Valeri will lead the Spanish broadcasts.

Select preseason games also are available for free on MLS Season Pass and Apple TV+ before the season, including LAFC facing LIGA MX champions Club America on Feb. 11, and Inter Miami’s preseason finale against Orlando City on Feb. 14.

Xfinity customers can sign up for MLS Season Pass and access MLS games within the channel guide on X1, the Xfinity Stream app, the X1 Sports app and the Apple TV app. Xfinity subscribers will also have free access to “MLS 360” — the league’s version of NFL RedZone — throughout the season without a Season Pass subscription. Xfinity customers will get a free preview from Feb. 22 to March 2.

DirecTV customers will be able to subscribe to MLS Season Pass with matches available on channels 480-495, ensuring a similar experience to other sports leagues’ packages, with a free preview from Feb. 22 to March 1. The satellite provider will also continue to provide MLS Season Pass to over 300,000 commercial establishments, like bars and restaurants.

T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile customers can receive complimentary access to MLS Season Pass for the season, through the T-Mobile Tuesdays app starting Feb. 18.

The league also previously announced the ability to watch MLS games on Apple TV+ via Amazon Prime Video last October.

MLS Productions — the media and broadcast production arm of the league — is coming from its new space at WWE Studios in Stamford, Connecticut. The league also recently announced a renewed broadcast production relationship with IMG this week.

“We’ve seen growth in our audiences and growth in our subscriptions. We’re bullish on what we’re building,” MLS executive vice president of media Seth Bacon said.

“It’s how do you take something that’s performing really well, and make it perform even better. That’s what these new partnerships are all about.”

Customers can subscribe to MLS Season Pass for $14.99 per month during the season, or $99 for the full season, and Apple TV+ subscribers can sign up at a special price of $12.99 per month, or $79 per season. A subscription to MLS Season Pass for this season will be included with each full-season MLS club ticket account. Through Family Sharing, up to six family members can share the subscription using their own Apple ID and password.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

The Senate voted on Wednesday to confirm former Rep. Lee Zeldin to head the government’s leading agency on environmental rules and regulations.

President Donald Trump tapped Zeldin, who previously served as a congressman from New York’s 1st Congressional District from 2015 to 2023, to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under his administration. During his tenure in Congress, Zeldin, an Army Reserve lieutenant colonel, launched a campaign for governor in New York, when he trailed only five percentage points in the largely Democratic state.

Zeldin underwent a confirmation hearing earlier this month, when he was questioned on climate change by members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

In a 56 to 42 vote on Wednesday, the Senate confirmed Zeldin to head the EPA in a final floor vote on his nomination.

Zeldin will head the agency that surveys environmental issues, provides assistance to wide-ranging environmental projects, and establishes rules that align with the administration’s views on environmental protection and climate change. 

During his confirmation hearing, Zeldin pledged that if confirmed, he would ‘foster a collaborative culture within the agency, supporting career staff who have dedicated themselves to this mission. I strongly believe we have a moral responsibility to be good stewards of our environment for generations to come.’

The latest round of voting comes as Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., continues to advance the confirmation process to push through Trump’s Cabinet nominees.

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