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Deontay Wilder beat Tyrrell Herndon by seventh-round TKO Friday night at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas, possibly breathing life back into Wilder’s boxing career.

The former heavyweight world champion had lost four of his past five fights – including three by knockout – before his successful return to the ring.

Wilder, 39, did not land the thunderbolt right hand for which he is known. But he hit Herndon hard enough to win the fight, which the referee waved off at 2:16 of Round 7. Wilder also showed versatility, using his jab, his left and the right. He scored knockdowns in Round 2 and Round 6, but neither were the result of the infamous right hand.

“I know I didn’t give everybody what they truly wanted to see, but we going to get better and better as we get going,’’ Wilder said during an in-ring interview on the BLK Prime livestream. “This is a new beginning for me, so we’re striving to be better and better each day to give people what they want.”

Wilder improved to 44-4-1. Herndon, a 37-year-old journeyman from San Antonio, dropped to 24-6.

Wilder won the WBC world heavyweight championship in 2015 and defended the title 10 times before losing it to Tyson Fury in 2020. Wilder was fighting for the first time since he got knocked out in the fifth round by Zhilei Zhang on June 1, 2024.

‘I laid off a long time getting myself back together, getting myself mentally, physically, emotionally back together,’ Wilder said. ‘It’s been a long road for me. Just glad to be back in the ring.’

Deontay Wilder vs. Tyrrell Herndon fight: Round-by-round analysis

Round 1

Buster Douglas, who shocked the world when he knocked out Mike Tyson in 1990, is in attendance. Tyrrell Herndon is hoping to borrow that “shock the world’’ script as his fight against Deontay Wilder begins. Wilder lets fly with a sharp left. Misses. They’re standing toe-to-toe before Herndon begins backpedaling, wisely. Wilder looks to be in terrific shape but so far is relying on the left jab. Herndon looks understandably cautious. Wilder stalking, but the right hand remains holstered. Now he lets a right go and misses. Herndon looks far more focused on avoiding the big punch than throwing one. Wilder returns to his jab but not showing ferocity. Wilder 10, Herndon 9.

Round 2

Wilder opens by flicking the left jab again. Herndon responds with his own jab and Wilder backs away. Then Wilder unloads a right that misses the mark. Wilder pawing now with the jab and backing away. He is not exuding the Wilder confidence. Throws another big right that Herndon dodges and he scurries away. Herndon has yet to throw a punch of consequence, but eats another jab. Oh, Wilder lands a left jab that knocks Herndon down! Herndon indicates it was a slip, and he’s quickly up and the fight resumes. Wilder 20, Herndon 17.

Round 3

Wilder firing the jab and looks more comfortable. Herndon looks stymied by Wilder’s significant reach advantage. He sidesteps another Wilder right without countering. His next impressive punch will be his first, as Wilder dominates the action here behind his jab. Misses with an uppercut and continues to stalk Herndon with the jab. Herndon lands a jab. Let’s document it before we forget it. He unloads with a right that’s way off the mark and the round ends. Wilder 30, Herndon 26.

Round 4

Wilder comes out aggressively, but he eats a left as he tries to position himself for … the KO punch? Wilder again working behind the left jab. Herndon lands a couple of effective lefts and this fight suddenly looks less one-sided. Herndon showing more confidence, at which point Wilder unloads his right and has Herndon escaping by bouncing off the ropes. Sloppy. Bell rings. Wilder 40, Herndon 35.

Round 5

Wilder throws a left and a right and is getting revved up. He tags Herndon with a right that backs up Herndon but won’t close Herndon’s eyes and end the fight. Herndon fighting back. Well, trying. Having trouble closing the distance between himself and Wilder. Wilder lands a nice left but can’t find his target with the right. Herndon lands a noteworthy right before the round ends with Herndon bleeding from the nose. Wilder 50, Herndon 44.

Round 6

Wilder delivers a hard left to the body, not unleashing rights. Herndon’s on the canvas, but this time it’s a slip. Wilder pounces, unleashing his left and right as Herndon ducks. Wilder throwing rights but struggling to hit the mark. Herndon smiling, then lowers his head and reaches for Wilder in hopes of holding on. Wilder unloading rights and down goes Herndon. As a result of letting his gloves hit the canvas. Herndon back up and the fight resumes. Wilder unloading again, drills Herndon and throws him to the canvas as the round ends. Wilder 60, Herndon 52.

Round 7

Wilder comes out behind that left jab. Throws a big right that misses. But he lands with a follow-up and scores with a left. Herndon, covering up, drops to his knee in a corner. Boos can be heard. Wilder moving forward, lands a big right and the referee stops the fight! It’s Wilder by TKO!

Deon Nicholson def. Devonte Williams

Most of the crowd had emptied the arena before this bizarre finish. Originally scheduled as the co-main event, the light heavyweight bout ended up serving as the final and most confounding fight of the night.

The BLK Prime broadcasters repeatedly suggested Williams was looking for a way out of the fight. Williams virtually confirmed it in the fourth round, when he took a knee after getting hit with a body shot, smiled, spit out his mouthguard and watched as the referee halted the fight.

It was hard to tell who was smiling more broadly – Nicholson, who improved to 22-1, or Williams, who dropped to 13-2 after appearing to let the bout end prematurely.

Deontay Wilder vs. Tyrrell Herndon: Time, PPV, streaming for fight

The highly anticipated bout between Deontay Wilder vs. Tyrrell Herndon will take place on Friday, June 27 and can be watched on BLK Prime pay-per-view.

Date: Friday, June 27, 2025
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Location: Wichita, Kansas
PPV: BLK Prime pay-per-view
Streaming: Fubo as a Pay-per-view

Deontay Wilder vs. Tyrrell Herndon main card, ring walk start times

Main card start time: 9 p.m. ET
Main event ring walks: 11 p.m. ET (approximate)

Nico Hernandez def. Robert Ledesma by TKO

Hernandez, a bronze medalist at the 2016 Olympics, put on a show. Fighting for the first time in two years, Hernandez, a native of Wichita, dominated Ledesma with power and flair.

Hernandez, 29, knocked down Ledesma with a body punch in the first round and did it a second time in the following round, at which point the ref waved off the fight.

Hernandez improved to 12-0.

Ledesma, a 37-year-old from San Antonio, hardly looked like Olympic medalist material while falling to 3-15-1.

Gustavo Trujillo def. Lateef Kayode by TKO

Trujillo pounded Kayode into submission in the sixth round of the heavyweight bout. It ended with Kayode’s corner calling to the ref to end the fight, with the referee officially halting it at 2:15 of the sixth round.

Trujillo, a 32-year-old Cuban, improved to 8-0.

Kayode looked stiff and awkward almost from the start of the bout. But while he continued to absorb punishment, he periodically fought back.

That finally ceased in the sixth round as Trujillo whaled away. Kayode, a 42-year-old from Nigeria, dropped to 22-6.

Aaron Casper def Jeff Page Jr. by unanimous decision

Do not judge a fighter by his record. At least not the 8-11-2 record that Casper brought into the fight.

Casper consistently landed a variety of head-snapping punches and won the six-round cruiserweight fight.

The judges scored it 59-55, 59-55, 58-56 in favor of Casper, a 36-year-old from Georgia.

Page entered with a record of 18-3, and Casper seemed to be only one of his issues. So was ring rust and fatigue while fighting pro for the first time in eight years.

Eric Valencia def. Willie Harris by TKO

It started oddly, with Harris taking a knee just a few seconds into the fight after taking a punch to the head.

The lightweight bout ended somewhat mysteriously, too, when Harris dropped to the canvas several seconds after getting hit by a body shot later in the first round. He wore a look of agony, indicated he couldn’t continue and the referee waved off the fight.

Valencia, 21, improved to 4-0. Harris, 20, dropped to 0-2.

John Cantrell def. Franklin Sparks by KO

The canvas is getting a workout at Charles Koch Arena. Cantrell floored Sparks with a knockout punch that left him slumped in the corner in the first round of their heavyweight fight.

Cantrell, a 35-year-old from Kansas, improved to 14-0. Sparks, a 40-year-old from Missouri, dropped to 4-5.

Cantrell’s first-round KO was the second straight on the card

Jorge Carlos def. Jay Krupp by KO

The 42-year-old Krupp returned to the ring for the first time in almost 10 years. For a chance to face undefeated, 19-year-old Carlos.

It’s no stretch to think Krupp will regret the decision.

Carlos knocked him out in the first round with a brutal body shot. Krupp already had gone down once from another left to the body. The KO shot left him wincing, gasping for air and clearly unable to continue the lightweight bout.

Kansas City’s Carlos improved to 10-0 and Florida’s Krupp fell to 18-11.

Marco Romero def. Andre Amaro by KO

Amaro took the fight on short notice. It ended on short notice, too.

The 43-year-old Amaro of Hawaii crumpled to the canvas in the first round of the super middleweight bout after getting clubbed by an overhand right from the 19-year-old Romero of Wichita.

With the knockout, Romero improved to 9-0 with eight KOs. Amaro dropped to 2-1.

Chauncey Wilson def. Joshua Richey by unanimous decision

Wilson celebrated his victory with a double backflip that was almost as entertaining as the four-round featherweight fight.

Showboating. Trash talking. Plenty of slugging, and a knockdown.

It was Wilson who knocked down Richey in the second round in the pro debut of both fighters who hail from Wichita, Kansas.

The judges scored it 40-35, 40-35 and 39-36 for the 33-year-old Wilson. Richey, 31, got no creativity points despite what appeared to be an attempt to throw a punch from behind his back during a clinch.

Kayla Williams def. Helen Lucero by unanimous decision

At 47, Helen Lucero of Denver stepped into the ring with an 0-4 record and a chance to end the skid against a fighter 15 years younger.

No luck.

Kayla Williams, a 32-year-old from Andover, Kansas, controlled the fight with her trusty right hand during the four-round lightweight fight. She improved to 2-1. Lucero never backed down but suffered her fifth straight loss by decision.

The judges scored the fight 40-39, 40-39 and 39-37 in favor of Williams

Noah Aldana def. General Lee by TKO

Aldana dropped Lee to the canvas with a straight right followed by a left in the third round of their lightweight fight.

With Lee bleeding from the mouth and wobbly as he reached his feet, the referee stopped the fight at 2:38 of the third round.

Aldana, a 22-year-old from Garden City, Kansas, improved to 4-0 with his fourth knockout.

Lee, a 33-year-old from Joplin, Missouri, was making his pro debut. 

Deontay Wilder vs. Tyrrell Herndon fight card

Deontay Wilder (43-4-1) vs. Tyrrell Herndon (24-5)
Deon Nicholson (21-1) vs. Devonte Williams (13-1)
Nico Hernandez (11-0) vs. Robert Ledesma (3-14-1)
Gustavo Trujillo (7-0) vs. Lateef Kayode (22-5)
Jeff Page Jr. (18-3) vs. Aaron Casper (8-11-2)
Jorge Carlos (9-0) vs. Jay Krupp (18-10)
John Cantrell (13-0) vs. Franklin Sparks (4-4)
Joshua Richey (debut) vs. Chancey Wilson (debut)
Eric Valencia (3-0) vs. Willie Harris (0-1)
Kayla Williams (1-1) vs. Helen Lucero (0-4)
Miguel Noah Aldana (3-0) vs. General Lee (debut)

Deontay Wilder vs. Tyrrell Herndon fight odds

All odds are for moneyline bets as of evening of Friday, June 27, according to BetMGM.

Deontay Wilder (-1600) vs. Tyrrell Herndon (+700)
Tie: (+2500)

Deontay Wilder vs. Tyrrell Herndon predictions

Sporting News: Wilder via KO

Daniel Yanofsky writes, ‘As we have seen through his career, Wilder can take damage. Recently, he hasn’t been able to take shots from the best boxing has to offer. However, he only needs one punch to take an opponent out.  If Wilder can’t get the win, it’s an indication of where he is in his career. He doesn’t need to be his best. The 39-year-old just needs to throw like a madman with everything to lose.  Don’t count out an upset, but if he still has that pop, Wilder should finish things off in the early rounds.’

CBS Sports: Deontay Wilder via KO1

Brent Brookhouse writes, ‘Wilder doesn’t need to be at his best to beat a fighter like Herndon, he just needs to throw punches. The biggest concerns for Wilder are that he didn’t throw nearly enough punches in his two most recent outings and that he has suffered some big knockdowns and knockouts over his past five fights. Those are probably concerns that come into play against a better opponent than Herndon.’

Deontay Wilder vs. Tyrrell Herndon price

The full card for the Deontay Wilder vs. Tyrrell Herndon will be shown on BLK Prime pay-per-view for $24.99.

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The NASCAR Cup Series rolls into the Atlanta area for a Saturday night race that will also serve as the debut of its inaugural In-Season Challenge.

The full field will race for the win at EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway) just as they normally would, but within the race, 32 drivers will compete in head-to-head matchups seeking to finish better than their opponent and advance to the next round.

The NASCAR In-Season Challenge will run for five races, culminating with the final on Sunday, July 27 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where two drivers will compete against each other for a $1 million prize. The single-elimination tournament, which is similar to March Madness or a tennis draw, will cut the field of competitors in half following each race leading up to the championship.

The 32 drivers were seeded based on their finishes at three previous races – at Michigan, Mexico City and Pocono – with Denny Hamlin earning the No. 1 seed, while his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe earned the No. 2 seed. But, drivers who did not qualify for the In-Season Challenge will still be racing on the track alongside tournament participants, and everyone will be seeking the ultimate prize: taking the checkered flag at the end of the night and celebrating in victory lane.

Who will come out on top? Here is all the information you need to get ready for the Quaker State 400 at EchoPark Speedway:

What time does the NASCAR Cup race at Atlanta start?

The Quaker State 400 is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 28, at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, Georgia.

What TV channel is the NASCAR Cup race at Atlanta on?

The Quaker State 400 will be broadcast on TNT, with an alternate telecast on truTV. A pre-race show on TNT will air at 6:30 p.m. ET, with a post-race show to follow the completion of the race.

Will there be a live stream of the NASCAR Cup race at Atlanta?

Yes. The Quaker State 400 can be live streamed on Max and Sling TV.

Stream the NASCAR race at Atlanta on Sling

How many laps is the NASCAR Cup race at Atlanta?

The Quaker State 400 is 260 laps around the 1.54-mile oval for a total of 400.4 miles. The race will feature three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 60 laps; Stage 2: 100 laps; Stage 3: 100 laps.

Who won the most recent NASCAR Cup races at Atlanta?

In the second race of the 2025 season on Feb. 23, Christopher Bell won in overtime, topping Carson Hocevar as the race ended under caution due to a crash on the final lap. Bell had started way back in 32nd place but found himself up front when the race restarted for a green-white-checkered finish. 

What is the lineup for the Quaker State 400 at Atlanta?

(Car number in parentheses)

(22) Joey Logano, Ford
(21) Josh Berry, Ford
(12) Ryan Blaney, Ford
(2) Austin Cindric, Ford
(60) Ryan Preece, Ford
(6) Brad Keselowski, Ford
(41) Cole Custer, Ford
(38) Zane Smith, Ford
(48) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet
(19) Chase Briscoe, Toyota
(5) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet
(3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet
(17) Chris Buescher, Ford
(10) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet
(9) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet
(54) Ty Gibbs, Toyota
(34) Todd Gilliland, Ford
(24) William Byron, Chevrolet
(42) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota
(35) Riley Herbst, Toyota
(16) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet
(7) Justin Haley, Chevrolet
(45) Tyler Reddick, Toyota
(23) Bubba Wallace, Toyota
(1) Corey LaJoie, Ford
(43) Erik Jones, Toyota
(4) Noah Gragson, Ford
(20) Christopher Bell, Toyota
(8) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet
(77) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet
(99) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet
(71) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet
(11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota
(1) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet
(88) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet
(87) Connor Zilisch, Chevrolet
(47) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet
(78) BJ McLeod, Chevrolet
(51) Cody Ware, Ford
(66) David Starr, Ford

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held his first official meeting in Washington, D.C., with the families of the hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza amid the terror group’s ongoing war with Israel.

Rubio reaffirmed the Trump administration’s commitment to securing the release of all 50 remaining hostages, according to a press release from The Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

The meeting featured Moshe Lavi, brother-in-law of hostage Omri Miran; Ilay David, brother of hostage Evyatar David; Tzur Goldin, brother of Lt. Hadar Goldin; and recently released hostage Iair Horn, whose brother Eitan Horn remains in captivity.

Rubio’s wife, Jeanette, and son, Anthony, were also at the meeting.

During the meeting, the secretary told the families that true victory in Gaza would only be realized when all the hostages returned home, according to the press release.

He also noted that the U.S. government has already demonstrated its ability to lead significant initiatives in the Middle East. He further argued that Israel has achieved victories in Iran and Lebanon and is capable of defeating Hamas.

The families stressed that this is a critical window of opportunity to bring the remaining hostages home in one comprehensive deal rather than phases or partial agreements as has been the case in Israel’s previous hostage deals with Hamas, the press release said.

They expressed trust in the Trump administration to act with urgency and determination to free the remaining people in Hamas’ captivity.

‘We’ve waited long enough,’ the families said. ‘It’s time to make brave decisions and bring all our loved ones back—all at once.’

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President Donald Trump delivered a resounding endorsement of NATO this week, marking a sharp turnaround in his years-long, often contentious relationship with the alliance.

Once known for blasting allies over defense spending and even threatening to pull out of NATO altogether, Trump now appears to have had a change of heart. 

‘I left here differently. I left here saying that these people really love their countries,’ Trump said after the 2025 NATO summit in The Hague.

The pivot comes as NATO nations more than doubled their collective defense spending target – raising the bar from 2% to 5% of GDP.

From Hostile Rhetoric to Royal Receptions

The president’s renewed embrace of the alliance follows years of friction, high-profile clashes with world leaders and controversial comments. Yet at this year’s summit, the tone was strikingly different.

Trump was welcomed by Dutch royals, praised by the NATO secretary-general – who even referred to him as ‘daddy’ – and returned home lauding European allies for their patriotism. ‘It’s not a rip-off, and we’re here to help them,’ Trump told reporters.

The transformation is as dramatic as it is unexpected.

The Iran Factor: Military Action with Global Impact

Trump arrived at the NATO summit on a high note, following U.S. strikes that crippled Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. According to American and allied intelligence sources, the operation set back Tehran’s nuclear ambitions by several years.

The strike was widely seen as both a show of strength and a strategic warning – not just to Iran but to NATO adversaries like Russia and China.

‘He really came in from this power move,’ said Giedrimas Jeglinskas, a former NATO official and current chairman of Lithuania’s national security committee.

‘Among some, definitely Eastern Europe, Central Europe, Nordic Europe, this attack, the use of those really sophisticated weapons and bombers, was the rebuilding of the deterrence narrative of the West, not just of America.’

Timeline: Trump’s Rocky Road with NATO

2016 Campaign Trail

Trump repeatedly called NATO ‘obsolete,’ questioning its relevance and slamming allies for failing to pay their ‘fair share.’

‘It’s costing us too much money… We’re paying disproportionately. It’s too much,’ he said in March 2016.

He criticized NATO for lacking focus on terrorism, later taking credit when it created a chief intelligence post.

February 2017 – Early Presidency

Trump softened his tone after becoming president. 

‘We strongly support NATO,’ he said after visiting Central Command. ‘We only ask that all members make their full and proper financial contribution.’

He continued to push for members to meet the 2% target by 2024.

2018 Brussels Summit

Trump privately threatened to pull the U.S. from NATO unless allies increased spending.

‘Now we are in World War III protecting a country that wasn’t paying its bills,’ he warned.

Despite the posturing, he called NATO a ‘fine-tuned machine’ after extracting new spending commitments. He also accused Germany of being a ‘captive of Russia’ over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

2019 London Summit

The drama continued, this time with French President Emmanuel Macron calling NATO ‘brain-dead.’ 

‘NATO serves a great purpose. I think that’s very insulting,’ Trump responded.

He also clashed with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau – calling him ‘two-faced’ after Trudeau was caught mocking Trump on camera.

2020 – Troop Withdrawal from Germany

Trump ordered 12,000 U.S. troops out of Germany, citing Berlin’s defense shortfalls.

February 2024 – Russia Controversy

Trump ignited backlash after suggesting he’d let Russia ‘do whatever the hell they want’ to NATO countries that failed to meet spending obligations.

The remark sparked urgent contingency talks among European leaders about the future of the alliance if the U.S. did not step up to its defense. 

June 2025: A Different Trump, a Different NATO

The 2025 summit in The Hague unfolded with surprising calm. Trump’s hosts rolled out the red carpet. ‘He’s the man of the hour and the most important man in the world,’ Jeglinskas said.

Jeglinskas credited Trump’s blunt diplomacy – however unorthodox – for helping drive real reform ‘He’s brought in tectonic change to the alliance’s capabilities by… being himself,’ he added. ‘It’s a gift for the alliance.’

Two Forces Behind NATO’s Revival: Russia and Trump

Experts agree NATO’s recent revitalization stems from two major catalysts: Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and Trump’s relentless pressure on allies to boost defense.

President Trump is riding high this week with two major foreign policy victories,’ said Matthew Kroenig, vice president at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center, referencing NATO and the recent U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear program. ‘It’s terrific. I hope he can keep it up.’

He added, ‘Every president since Eisenhower has complained that NATO allies aren’t doing their fair share.’

Now, Trump was the one who finally got them to listen, he said. 

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Center Naz Reid is expected to factor into the Minnesota Timberwolves’ long-term plans.

Reid intends to sign a new five-year deal worth $125 million and features a player option, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The 6-foot-9 center had another strong season coming off the bench as the primary backup behind Rudy Gobert. Reid also provides some versatility on the roster with the ability to play as a power forward.

Reid’s new extension will closely align with Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, who is under contract until the conclusion of the 2028-29 season.

Reid averaged a career-high 14.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 80 games, with 17 starts, shooting 38.9 percent from 3-point range this past season. He has averaged 11.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists through the first six years of his career.

Naz Reid’s contract history

Reid has been one of the best values in the NBA, finding an important role after going undrafted in 2019 following one season at LSU.

He has become a fan favorite and a primary option off the bench or a spot start when matchups dictate it.

Reid initially signed a two-way contract with the Timberwolves on July 5, 2019, as an undrafted free agent from LSU. His contract was converted from a two-way deal to a regular contract 13 days later. He had previously signed a contract extension in June 2023.

The 25-year-old signed a three-year, $41.9 million contract in 2023, and it immediately paid dividends as he won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award the following year.

He had one year left on that previous contract worth $15 million for the 2025-26 season.

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Matthew Schaefer is officially the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

The 17-year-old star was selected by the New York Islanders on June 27 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, despite missing half of last season due to a broken clavicle.

As Schaefer put on his Islanders uniform with the No. 25 on stage, he got emotional, kissing the jersey where a pink ribbon was placed, and pointing to the sky. Schaefer was likely paying homage to his mother, Jennifer, who died during the 2023-24 season.

Watch: Matthew Schaefer emotional after Islanders make him top pick

Schaefer was wearing a jacket with his mother’s picture inside when he arrived at the draft in Los Angeles. His mother, Jennifer, died following a two-year battle with breast cancer during the 2023-24 season. His billet mother, Emily Matson, and Erie Otters owner Jim Waters also died that same season. Schaefer played his junior hockey with Erie.

‘Thank you guys, I appreciate you taking a chance on me,’ Schaefer said to the Islanders’ decision makers following the selection on stage. ‘I promise I won’t disappoint, but especially want to say to my mom and the rest of my family and friends, ‘thanks for everything.”

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The NHL draft is entering its second day on June 28, and free agency is around the corner on July 1.

But there are also trades to be made as NHL teams acquire or move players to improve their immediate future or get their salary cap situation under control.

The latest big one was a trade on June 27 between the New York Islanders and Montreal Canadiens that also affected the first round of the draft. The Islanders sent defenseman Noah Dobson to the Canadiens for winger Emil Heineman and Montreal’s first two first-round picks (16th and 17th overall).

Trades will pick up with the draft continuing and free agency approaching. Tracking the latest NHL deals:

June 27: Hurricanes, Blackhawks trade picks

The Carolina Hurricanes trade No. 29 pick to the Chicago Blackhawks for No. 34 and 61, plus a fifth-round in 2027. The Blackhawks select Fargo forward Mason West.

June 27: Kings, Penguins trade draft picks

The Los Angeles Kings trade the No. 24 pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins for the 31st and 59th overall picks. The hometown Kings move down seven spots and pick up a late second-rounder. Pittsburgh uses the pick on University of Michigan winger Will Horcoff, son for former Oilers captain Shawn Horcoff.

June 27: Senators, Predators trade draft picks

The Ottawa Senators trade the No. 21 pick to the Nashville Predators for the 23rd and 67th overall picks. Ottawa moves down two spots and gets a third-rounder. Nashville uses the pick to draft Kitchener (Ontario) defenseman Cameron Reid.

June 27: Penguins, Flyers trade draft picks

The Pittsburgh Penguins trade pick No. 12 to the Philadelphia Flyers for picks No. 22 and 31. No back-to-back picks for the Penguins and the Flyers go from three first-rounders to two. The Flyers take Windsor (Ontario) center Jack Nesbitt with the pick.

June 27: Blue Jackets acquire Charlie Coyle, Miles Wood from Avalanche

The Avalanche get back 20-year-old forward Gavin Brindley, a third-round selection (77th overall) in the 2025 NHL Draft and a conditional 2027 second-rounder. This move helps the Blue Jackets’ depth. Wood has a lot of speed and kills penalties. Coyle, acquired by the Avalanche at the trade deadline, had 25 goals two seasons ago. The Avalanche clear cap space.

June 27: Canadiens acquire Noah Dobson from Islanders

Dobson, a restricted free agent, signed an eight-year, $76 million extension as part of the deal, according to Friedman. Dobson, a skilled offensive defenseman, had 70 points two seasons ago and joins a Montreal blue line that features rookie of the year Lane Hutson. Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche gets two picks in the middle of the first round. Could he use the 16th and 17th picks as part of a package to move up in the draft? He didn’t, drafting Victor Eklund and Kashawn Aitcheson. Heineman, whom the Islanders acquired from the Canadiens as part of the deal, is known for his speed and two-way ability.

June 26: Mammoth acquire JJ Peterka from Sabres

The Utah Mammoth will be aggressive this offseason as they head into their second season in Salt Lake City. Peterka is coming off a career-best 68 points and totaled 55 goals the past two seasons. The 23-year-old was a restricted free agent and signed a five-year deal with the Mammoth after the trade.

The Sabres, who need to adjust their roster to try to end a 14-season playoff drought, get back defenseman Michael Kesselring and forward Josh Doan. Kesselring, 25, had a career-best 29 points as he got more ice time because of injuries on the Utah blue line. Doan, 23, is the son of former Arizona Coyotes captain Shane Doan. He has another year left on his contract.

June 26: Panthers acquire Daniil Tarasov from the Blue Jackets

The Panthers give up a 2025 fifth-round pick for Tarasov, 26, a restricted free agent who became available with Jet Greaves emerging in Columbus. Current backup Vitek Vanecek is a pending unrestricted free agent. Tarasov has a career 3.44 goals-against average but those numbers should come down while playing behind a better Panthers defense. Sergei Bobrovsky will be 37 next season and has a year left on his contract. General Bill Zito potentially has found his future No. 1 goalie.

Also: The Seattle Kraken acquired two-way center Frederick Gaudreau from the Minnesota Wild for a 2025 fourth-round pick. … In a free agency move, the Dallas Stars re-signed captain Jamie Benn for one year at $1 million, plus an additional $3 million in potential performance bonuses

June 25: Oilers trade Evander Kane to Canucks

This was a salary cap move, saving more than $5 million with the Oilers needing to re-sign defenseman Evan Bouchard. The Oilers get back a fourth-round pick. Kane, a Vancouver native, adds help on the wing with the Canucks expected to lose Brock Boeser to free agency.

June 23: Flyers acquire Trevor Zegras from Ducks

Zegras wanted to play center and the Ducks didn’t have room for him there in their top six. The Flyers land a creative forward who has scored several lacrosse-style goals but also has dealt recently with injuries. The Ducks get back center Ryan Poehling, who wins faceoffs and kills penalties, two areas where Anaheim needed improvement. They also receive a 2025 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-rounder.

June 21: Blackhawks, Kraken make trade

The Chicago Blackhawks traded for left wing Andre Burakovsky, sending center Joe Veleno back to the Seattle Kraken. Burakovsky was available after the Kraken earlier acquired Mason Marchment. Burakovsky has struggled with injuries over the past two seasons but bounced back to play 79 games during the 2024-25 season, netting 10 goals and 27 assists with Seattle. Veleno scored 17 points this season between the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings. – Elizabeth Flores

June 19: Kraken acquire Mason Marchment from Stars

The Stars needed to clear out cap space after re-signing Matt Duchene so they traded 22-goal scorer Mason Marchment and his $4.5 million contract to the Seattle Kraken for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2025 fourth-rounder. In addition to his goals, he’s 6-foot-5 and throws hits.

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Senate Republicans unveiled their long-awaited version of President Donald Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill,’ but its survival is not guaranteed.

Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., revealed the stitched-together text of the colossal bill late Firday night.

The final product from the upper chamber is the culmination of a roughly month-long sprint to take the House GOP’s version of the bill and mold and change it. The colossal package includes separate pieces and parts from 10 Senate committees. With the introduction of the bill, a simple procedural hurdle must be passed in order to begin the countdown to final passage.

When that comes remains an open question. Senate Republicans left their daily lunch on Friday under the assumption that a vote could be teed up as early as noon on Saturday.

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., told Fox News Digital that he had ‘strongly encouraged’ Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., to put the bill on the floor for a vote Saturday afternoon. 

‘If you’re unhappy with that, you’re welcome to fill out a hurt feelings report, and we will review it carefully later,’ Kennedy said. ‘But in the meantime, it’s time to start voting.’

But Senate Republicans’ desire to impose their will on the package and make changes to already divisive policy tweaks in the House GOP’s offering could doom the bill and derail Thune’s ambitious timeline to get it on Trump’s desk by the July 4 deadline.

However, Thune has remained firm that lawmakers would stay on course and deliver the bill to Trump by Independence Day. 

When asked if he had the vote to move the package forward, Thune said ‘we’ll find out tomorrow.’

But it wasn’t just lawmakers who nearly derailed the bill. The Senate parliamentarian, the true final arbiter of the bill, ruled that numerous GOP-authored provisions did not pass muster with Senate rules.

Any item in the ‘big, beautiful bill’ must comport with the Byrd Rule, which governs the budget reconciliation process and allows for a party in power to ram legislation through the Senate while skirting the 60-vote filibuster threshold. 

That sent lawmakers back to the drawing board on a slew of policy tweaks, including the Senate’s changes to the Medicaid provider tax rate, cost-sharing for food benefits and others. 

Republican leaders, the White House and disparate factions within the Senate and House GOP have been meeting to find middle ground on other pain points, like tweaking the caps on state and local tax (SALT) deductions.

While the controversial Medicaid provider tax rate change remained largely the same, a $25 billion rural hospital stabilization fund was included in the bill to help attract possible holdouts that have raised concerns that the rate change would shutter rural hospitals throughout the country. 

On the SALT front, there appeared to be a breakthrough on Friday. A source told Fox News that the White House and House were on board with a new plan that would keep the $40,000 cap from the House’s bill and have it reduced back down to $10,000 after five years. 

But Senate Republicans are the ones that must accept it at this stage. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., has acted as the mediator in those negotiations, and said that he was unsure if any of his colleagues ‘love it.’ 

‘But I think, as I’ve said before, I want to make sure we have enough that people can vote for than to vote against,’ he said. 

Still, a laundry list of other pocket issues and concerns over just how deep spending cuts in the bill go have conservatives and moderates in the House GOP and Senate pounding their chests and vowing to vote against the bill.

Republican leaders remain adamant that they will finish the mammoth package and are gambling that some lawmakers standing against the bill will buckle under the pressure from the White House and the desire to leave Washington for a short break.

Once a motion to proceed is passed, which only requires a simple majority, then begins 20 hours of debate evenly divided between both sides of the aisle.

Democratic lawmakers are expected to spend the entirety of their 10 allotted hours, while Republicans will likely clock in well below their limit. From there starts the ‘vote-a-rama’ process, when lawmakers can submit a near-endless number of amendments to the bill. Democrats will likely try to extract as much pain as possible with messaging amendments that won’t actually pass but will add more and more time to the process.

Once that is complete, lawmakers will move to a final vote. If successful, the ‘big, beautiful bill’ will again make its way back to the House, where House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., will again have to corral dissidents to support the legislation. It barely advanced last month, squeaking by on a one-vote margin. 

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hammered on the importance of passing Trump’s bill on time. He met with Senate Republicans during their closed-door lunch and spread the message that advancing the colossal tax package would go a long way to giving businesses more certainty in the wake of the president’s tariffs. 

‘We need certainty,’ he said. ‘With so much uncertainty, and having the bill on the president’s desk by July 4 will give us great tax certainty, and I believe, accelerate the economy in the third quarter of the year.’ 

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New York Mets pitcher Griffin Canning was placed on the 60-day injury list on Friday and is expected to miss the rest of the 2025MLB season after rupturing his left Achilles tendon on Thursday, June 26.

Canning had surgery to repair the tendon and the recovery process may cause Canning to miss the 2026 season.

Canning is the third pitcher on the Mets’ Opening Day rotation to get hurt in the past two weeks. Kodai Senga was placed on the injured list after suffering a right hamstring strain on June 12, while Tylor Megill hasn’t pitched since June 14 because of a right elbow sprain. The Mets have gone just 4-10 since those injuries.

Meanwhile, left-hander Sean Manaea, who seemed close to returning from an oblique injury suffered in spring training, was diagnosed with a bone chip in his elbow after his most recent rehab appearance in Syracuse (AAA).

How did Griffin Canning’s injury occur?

Canning was injured while coming off the mound to field a ground ball during the 4-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.

Griffin Canning’s contract

The 29-year-old signed a one-year contract worth $4.25 million as a free agent during the offseason.

Griffin Canning’s stats

He was 7-3 with a 3.77 ERA in 16 starts this season.  Canning has pitched 76.1 innings this season.

He spent the first six years of his career with the Los Angeles Angels but did not play in 2022 due to injury. He went 25-34 in 94 starts for the Angels with a 4.78 ERA.

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The Utah Jazz expect rookie Ace Bailey to report to the team facility on Saturday, June 28, according to a report by ESPN.

The 6-foot-10 guard was a highly touted prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft and was eventually selected by Utah with No. 5 overall pick on June 25.

His pre-draft process had raised eyebrows across the league when he did not meet with teams for individual workouts.

Guard Walter Clayton Jr. (18th overall pick) and forward John Tonje (53rd overall pick) are also expected to be in Salt Lake City for the team’s introductory rookie press conference on Sunday, June 29, and at practice on Monday, June 30.

All three players are expected to participate for the Jazz during NBA Summer League.

Ace Bailey’s pre-draft process

Bailey was the only American player who hadn’t conducted a single visit prior to the draft to work out for an NBA team.

He drew attention after canceling a visit with the Philadelphia 76ers, who held the third overall pick in the draft. Bailey had reportedly declined invitations for a visit from the Jazz and the Charlotte Hornets, who had the fourth overall pick.

‘I’m glad it’s over,’ Bailey said about his process at the draft. ‘I’m ready to play some basketball now. It’s just been a great journey. Me working hard, pushing myself physically and mentally, just getting prepared for the next level.’

Omar Cooper, Bailey’s agent, had previously addressed the ongoing conversation about his client. 

“Every NBA team watched him work out in Chicago,” Cooper told ESPN. “He did 18 interviews. Everyone got his medical. They watched him run and jump. They got his measurements. They watched him shoot in drills.”

Cooper cited similar situations from the 2021 draft, including Davion Mitchell and Evan Mobley, and the lack of conversation that was had during their respective processes.

Ace Bailey’s college stats

Ace Bailey started all 30 games he played in his only season at Rutgers. The point guard averaged 17.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 33.3 minutes per game.

He was named to the All-Big Ten third team and the Big Ten All-Freshman team.

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