The Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings made sure that the late Johnny Gaudreau was well-remembered during Saturday’s NHL Stadium Series game at Ohio Stadium.

And continuing this season’s pattern, the Blue Jackets used the memory of Gaudreau to pull off another key win that helps them with their surprising run toward a possible playoff spot.

Columbus won 5-3 in their first outdoor appearance despite being outshot 46-21. Dmitri Voronkov and Mathieu Olivier scored 23 seconds apart in the second period to give the Blue Jackets a 3-1 lead. Justin Danforth then scored a little more than a minute after Detroit’s Alex DeBrincat had tied it 3-3 late in the third period with his second goal of the game.

The Blue Jackets moved past the Red Wings for sole possession of the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Few around the NHL had expected that type of performance from the Blue Jackets this season after Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed on Aug. 29 when they were hit by a car while riding their bikes in New Jersey.

A look at the tributes to the Gaudreau family during the game:

Blue Jackets, Red Wings pay tributes to Gaudreau family

NHL players always pick a team outfit theme to enter the stadium for outdoor games. This game was about the Gaudreaus.

The Gaudreau family, including Johnny’s widow Meredith, led Blue Jackets players toward the stadium complex. Players wore Avalon hoodies, sweatpants and a hat with three stars, just like ‘Johnny Hockey’ used to wear to the rink.

Detroit players wore various jerseys that the Gaudreaus had worn during their careers. They included Boston College, where both brothers played, and Team USA, which Johnny represented multiple times.

The Gaudreau family later led the Blue Jackets players onto the field.

During the game, a giant Gaudreau No. 13 banner was passed around the stadium by fans.

‘It’s just so cool to see everything Columbus has done and everything Detroit is doing in his honor,’ Meredith Gaudreau said during an interview with ESPN. ‘It’s really, really touching.’

There has been a season-long tribute to Johnny Gaudreau. The Blue Jackets keep his jersey in their dressing room, and so did Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Honorary captain and ‘Miracle on Ice’ hero Mike Eruzione wore the jersey on the ice before the championship game against Canada.

The Calgary Flames, who Gaudreau played for before he signed with Columbus, held a pregame ceremony in December.

The family’s father, Guy, has helped out at Philadelphia Flyers practices and was included in the USA’s 4 Nations team photo.

‘These moments help me,’ Meredith said. ‘It’s so nice to see. It’s nice to be a part of and have our whole family be a part of it.’

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Not only did John Cena punch his ticket to WrestleMania 41 Saturday night, he shocked the WWE community with his actions after the men’s Elimination Chamber match.

The Elimination Chamber 2025 took place in Canada as the final premium live event before WrestleMania takes place in seven weeks.

The night was highlighted by both Elimination Chamber matches and some shocking returns. In each contest, six contestants entered the punishing steel structure and whoever emerged victorious earned a main event match at WWE’s grand event in April.

Two other matches that took place on the show included the next chapter in the long history between Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens, as well as the return of WWE Hall of Famer and hometown hero Trish Stratus.

USA TODAY Sports has highlights and analysis from the Elimination Chamber event:

John Cena turns heel after winning Elimination Chamber

The Rock did not take kindly to Rhodes’ decision and gave a signal for Cena to backstab the current champion by attacking Cody Rhodes.

Travis Scott and The Rock joined in on the assault and left a bloodied Rhodes in the ring. With no immediate assistance available for Rhodes, announcer Michael Cole entered the ring to check on the champion after it was cleared by the trio.

Analysis: John Cena has been held in high regard by the WWE audience as a fan favorite for the majority of his career and a sudden switch now provides a new wrinkle in what is expected to be the final year of Cena’s career. Cena can surpass Ric Flair as the all-time winningest world champion with a title victory at WrestleMania.

Cody Rhodes arrives to confront John Cena after Elimination Chamber match

Rhodes came down to the ring after Cena’s victory to have a word with his WrestleMania opponent. Cena started talking with Rhodes and shook hands before rapper Travis Scott and The Rock appeared.

Both Scott and The Rock arrive in the ring to confront Rhodes and Cena.

The Rock had been awaiting a decision from Rhodes in recent weeks. Rhodes denies The Rock’s offer with some choice words that drew a huge reaction from the crowd (and Cena).

John Cena wins Men’s Elimination Chamber match

Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre will start the match. Damian Priest, John Cena, Logan Paul and CM Punk will wait inside their respective pods.

The winner of the match will position themselves to be the No. 1 contender for the Undisputed WWE Championship and be penciled in for the main event against Cody Rhodes.

McIntyre had the upper hand over Rollins in the match before the pod door opened for Priest to enter the match. Paul was next to join the match, leaving Cena and Punk in the pods.

Paul moved quickly to attack his opponents and made several pin attempts but was unable to get the first elimination of the match.

McIntyre became the first man eliminated shortly after attacking Cena, who had just entered the match, only to be caught from behind and eliminated by Priest.

McIntyre showed frustration and attacked Priest after his shocking elimination. Paul would take advantage of his fallen opponent and hit a frog splash from the top of the pod before securing the pinfall.

The field was down to three after Punk hit his finishing move to put down Paul and eliminate him.

Cena, Rollins and Punk took a moment to collect themselves while staring one another down from opposite corners of the ring.

Cena and Punk manage to work together by performing a ‘Hart Attack’ on Rollins to briefly take him out of the match. The two embrace with a quick hug in the ring before exchanging blows in the center of the ring.

Cena nearly eliminates Punk after an Attitude Adjustment but it wasn’t enough to put the former champion away. Rollins gets back on the offensive and tosses Cena into one of the chamber’s pods.

Punk was nearly eliminated again after Rollins powerbombs him into the turnbuckle and stomped his face into the mat.

Cena interjects himself back into the match and helps Punk eliminate Rollins. Cena and Punk remain the final two.

Rollins manages to stomp Punk’s face into the mat before he is forced to leave the ring. Cena applies his STF submission on Punk to win the match.

Cena is headed back to the WrestleMania main event.

Analysis: John Cena’s retirement tour continues with a spot in the main event of WrestleMania. He is slated to face Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship.

Punk has made it clear for years that his dream was to main event the company’s biggest event of the year. He fell short of that mission after Rollins got involved after his elimination. It would be safe to assume that Punk and Rollins will be added to the card in a match that’s been building up since Punk returned to the company in November 2023.

Drake in the crowd for Elimination Chamber

Canadian rapper Drake was in the crowd to watch WWE’s premium event in Toronto. Several members of the audience took photographs of Drake and shared them on social media.

Drake was sitting alongside fellow rapper Lil Yachty in the front row behind the announcer’s table.

Unsanctioned match: Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens

It was everything you would’ve expected from these two Canadian friends-turned-rivals. The match was not only unsanctioned but pure chaos with Kevin Owens getting the victory.

The match featured everything from steel chairs wrapped in barbed wire to tables and more. Zayn did have the upper hand at one point during the match and managed to drive Owens through two tables in short order.

Zayn needed medical attention after the match but despite officials coming down to the ring, Owens was ready to continue the assault on his opponent. That intuition was stopped when Randy Orton came out to confront Owens in the ring.

Orton was returning for the first time since being injured at the hands of Owens.

Analysis: It’s clear we will see Owens move forward with a feud with Orton that will likely culminate at WrestleMania in Las Vegas. It will likely make for one of the featured mid-card matches or may even start the show on one of the two nights. With both men already having a history with one another, it will be interesting to see what extremes these two are willing to go to get the victory over the other. It remains unclear how long Zayn could be out of action or what his involvement might be in the story between Orton and Owens.

Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus vs. Nia Jax and Candice LeRae

Stratton and Stratus were clearly feeling the energy of the WWE Hall of Famer performing in front of her home city, as she and Stratton quickly landed some strikes to get Jax out of the ring. It was a good start, but it was only a matter of time before Jax began to take control of the match, and she happened to do so on Stratus. 

Stratus was thrown around so easily in a manner that was rarely seen during her decorated career, and LeRae brought her own flair with some quick strikes that really rattled Stratus. After taking so many hits, Stratus got the tag in and the WWE Women’s Champion teed off on LeRae. 

Stratton even did damage on Jax, and Stratus was able to regain composure and did a stunning Stratusfaction off the top rope on Jax, proving she still has it. LeRae tried to break up the tag attempt, but Stratus moved out of the way and accidentally landed on her teammate. Stratus got the champion in, and she landed the Prettiest Moonsault Ever on Jax and got the pin.

Analysis: There wasn’t any way Stratus was going to lose in her return match at home, and she showed she definitely still has the skills that made her a pioneer in the women’s division. She took some shots from her opponents, but her offensive skill still remains, and she made sure to help her partner get over as she heads toward WrestleMania. The Stratusfaction on Jax was an impressive sequence from the veteran, and the champion getting the pin on Jax officially put the feud they’ve had to rest.

Stratton gets a feel-good victory and now turns her attention to Charlotte Flair, which has the potential to be a classic next month in Las Vegas.

Women’s Elimination Chamber match

Can’t spell WrestleMania without ‘EST.’

After that disturbing start with the attack on Naomi from Jade Cargill, Liv Morgan was relaxed in the ring until the next competitor came in: Bianca Belair. The former Women’s Tag Team Champion was clearly disturbed and Morgan capitalized on the vulnerable star. 

One by one, the competitors emerged from the pods until all of them were in the ring. The first legitimate attempt to eliminate someone came from Roxanne Perez on Bayley, someone she has been feuding with for weeks. She tried to get Bayley to submit only for the veteran to use the cage to her advantage to break out of it. Bayley was focused on Perez when Morgan sneaked up to hit the ObLivion on the “Role Model,” then got the pin for the elimination.

Morgan and Belair met on top of the pods. Belair used her hair to whip Morgan. It was a loud shot that knocked her down. The whip was so hard it left a mark on Morgan’s midsection.

The next sequence resulted in the elimination of Perez. She ran into a Code Breaker from Morgan that set up Alexa Bliss for a Twisted Bliss. She got the pin. The three remaining stars then entered a wild sequence of finisher attempts that ended with Morgan rolling up Bliss to leave two people in the ring. 

Morgan and Belair took turns brutalizing each other off the cage, and Belair went for the K.O.D. when it got countered by a Code Breaker. Morgan tried to turn it into an ObLivion but Belair caught it and made sure to land the K.O.D. this time. It was executed and Belair got the final pin to secure her spot at WrestleMania.

Afterward, Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky met Belair near the entrance, as one of the two women will be the one to face Belair in April.

Analysis: What a stunning, wild event that was. The brutal attack from Cargill to start not only stunned the crowd, but upped the intensity for the match. All the stars pretty much got their chance to shine in the match, with Bliss most notably showing off her star power. But from beginning to end, it was apparent it was going to come down to Morgan and Belair given their history.

Despite the emotional despair she was in, Belair not only was the winner but was the clear MVP of the match. She put on an incredible performance and added such a deep layer to the situation going on with her and Naomi. While she is going to WrestleMania 41 for a championship match, Belair still will have to deal with the ramifications from Cargill’s attack. It may even add another layer to what she’ll have to go through in order to get to that title match, but it’ll absolutely help the build of what will be a fantastic match next month, no matter if it’s Ripley or Sky she faces.

After she didn’t compete for any gold at WrestleMania 40, Belair is back to adding another accolade to her impress career.

Jade Cargill returns, attacks Naomi

Looks like we know who attacked Jade Cargill.

Just as the women’s chamber match was getting underway, Jade Cargill emerged for the first time since that mysterious attack weeks ago. It had been assumed Liv Morgan was behind it, but as Cargill got in the ring, she immediately attacked her friend Naomi, shocking the crowd with a ruthless assault.

It was a disturbing assault as Cargill threw around Naomi, banging her against the pods as her other friend Bianca Belair could only watch in agony. She pleaded for Cargill to stop but she didn’t until Naomi was out. Naomi was then ruled unable to compete and eliminated. It wasn’t confirmed, but it appears Naomi was − or at least Cargill thinks Naomi was − behind the attack. Morgan taunted Belair afterward, telling her ‘that’s what you get.’

Watch Elimination Chamber preshow

When is Elimination Chamber 2025?

Elimination Chamber is Saturday, March 1.

What time does Elimination Chamber 2025 start?

The 2025 Elimination Chamber starts at 7 p.m. ET. The preshow for the event begins at 5 p.m. ET.

Where is Elimination Chamber 2025?

Elimination Chamber 2025 will take place at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada.

How to watch Elimination Chamber 2025

The event can be streamed on Peacock, but you must have their premium or premium-plus subscription to watch. Internationally, it will be available on Netflix in most markets.

How to watch Elimination Chamber 2025 preshow

The preshow will be available to watch on Peacock, and on WWE’s social channels, including on YouTube.

Elimination Chamber 2025 match card

Matches not in order

Men’s Elimination Chamber match
Women’s Elimination Chamber match
Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus vs. Nia Jax and Candice LeRae
Unsanctioned match: Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens
Cody Rhodes makes his decision on The Rock’s offer

Jordan Mendoza’s Elimination Chamber predictions

Men’s Elimination Chamber match: A case could be made for nearly everyone in the match to win. While John Cena is the popular pick, CM Punk finally gets the WrestleMania main event and throws some more chaos in the Cody Rhodes-The Rock angle. Winner: CM Punk.
Women’s Elimination Chamber match: No one wants to see Rhea Ripley vs. Liv Morgan again, and Bianca Belair seems like a prime choice, but it feels like the wrench of the Jade Cargill mystery finally comes out and ruins her chance. I’m going with the dark horse in Alexa Bliss. She’s always been fantastic in the ring, and she brings her sinister side to thrust herself right into the title picture. Winner: Alexa Bliss.
Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus vs. Nia Jax and Candice LeRae: There just isn’t a way the hometown star loses. Stratton and Stratus get the victory, but it feels like a Charlotte appearance is due. Winner: Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus.
Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens: It’s gotten really dark between the longtime friends, and expect plenty of brutal spots between two with amazing in-ring chemistry. However, Owens snaps a cold streak to generate some momentum toward WrestleMania. Winner: Kevin Owens.

James H. Williams’ Elimination Chamber predictions

Men’s Elimination Chamber match: It might be time for Punk to finally get his WrestleMania match. Winner: CM Punk.
Women’s Elimination Chamber match: Bayley will be back on the WrestleMania main stage as the chamber winner. Bianca Belair would’ve been the pick to finally have a WrestleMania program with Rhea Ripley, but that might be on hold for another year. Winner: Bayley.
Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus vs. Nia Jax and Candice LeRae: Trish and Tiffany get the job done. It would be a nice win for Trish in front of the hometown crowd. Winner: Stratton and Stratus.
Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens: Kevin Owens is likely to be the aggressor and have his way against his former best friend. Winner: Kevin Owens.

How does the Elimination Chamber match work?

Introduced in 2002, the Elimination Chamber match puts six stars in an enclosed steel structure that surrounds the ring and the area right outside of it.

The match starts with two competitors, while the other four participants are locked in pods that are just outside of the ring. Every five minutes, a new competitor is randomly selected to be released from the pod and into the match. 

Since it’s an elimination match, competitors are only eliminated if they are pinned or submitted, as there are no disqualifications. Whoever is the last person remaining after everyone else has been eliminated at the end of the match is the winner. 

Saturday will be the 35th and 36th Elimination Chamber match in history. Since its inception, the match has been contested for a championship or a championship match at WrestleMania.

Men’s Elimination Chamber history

There have been 28 men’s Elimination Chamber matches, with current WWE chief content officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque having the most wins at four. Here are all the list of winners, and what they won the match for:

2002: Shawn Michaels for the World Heavyweight Championship
2003: Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship
2005: Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship
2006: John Cena for the WWE Championship
2006: Bobby Lashley for the ECW World Championship
2008: The Undertaker for a World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania 24
2008: Triple H for a WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 24
2009: Triple H for the WWE Championship
2009: Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship
2010: John Cena for the WWE Championship
2010: Chris Jericho for the World Heavyweight Championship
2011: Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship
2011: John Cena for a WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 27
2012: CM Punk for the WWE Championship
2012: Daniel Bryan for the World Heavyweight Championship
2013: Jack Swagger for a World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania 29
2014: Randy Orton for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
2015: The New Day for the WWE Tag Team Championship
2015: Ryback for the Intercontinental Championship
2017: Bray Wyatt for the WWE Championship
2018: Roman Reigns for a WWE Universal Championship match at WrestleMania 34
2019: Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship
2020: The Miz and John Morrison for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship
2021: Daniel Bryan for a WWE Universal Championship match
2021: Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship
2022: Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship
2023: Austin Theory for the United States Championship
2024: Drew McIntyre for a World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania 40

Women’s Elimination Chamber history

The women’s Elimination Chamber match was introduced in 2018 and there have been six matches. Here are all the list of winners, and what they won the match for:

2018: Alexa Bliss for the WWE Raw Women’s Championship
2019: Bayley and Sasha Banks for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
2020: Shayna Baszler for a WWE Raw Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania 36
2022: Bianca Belair for a WWE Raw Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania 38
2023: Asuka for a WWE Raw Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania 39
2024: Becky Lynch for a Women’s World Championship match at WrestleMania 40

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A ticket to a WWE championship match at WrestleMania 41 is up for grabs. Who will take it?

Elimination Chamber 2025 takes place Saturday night in Canada, the final premium live event before WrestleMania 41 takes place in seven weeks. The night is highlighted by the men’s and women’s Elimination Chamber matches. In each contest, six contestants will enter the punishing steel structure and whoever emerges victorious will be in the main event matches at WWE’s grand event in April.

Two other matches will take place, including the next chapter in the long history between Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens, as well as the return of WWE Hall of Famer and hometown hero Trish Stratus. But the big moment likely isn’t a match; after The Rock asked for Cody Rhodes’ soul as Undisputed WWE Champion, the ‘American Nightmare’ must make his decision with major WrestleMania implications at stake. When the smoke settles inside Rogers Centre, the WrestleMania 41 picture will be much clearer.

Follow USA TODAY Sports for all the highlights and analysis from Elimination Chamber:

John Cena turns heel after winning Elimination Chamber

The Rock did not take kindly to Rhodes’ decision and gave a signal for Cena to backstab the current champion by attacking Cody Rhodes.

Travis Scott and The Rock joined in on the assault and left a bloodied Rhodes in the ring. With no immediate assistance available for Rhodes, announcer Michael Cole entered the ring to check on the champion after it was cleared by the trio.

Analysis: John Cena has been held in wide regard by the WWE audience as a fan favorite for the majority of his career and a sudden switch now provides a new wrinkle in what is expected to be the final year of Cena’s career. Cena can surpass Ric Flair as the all-time winningest world champion with a title victory at WrestleMania.

Cody Rhodes arrives to confront John Cena after Elimination Chamber match

Rhodes came down to the ring after Cena’s victory to have a word with his WrestleMania opponent. Cena started talking with Rhodes and shook hands before rapper Travis Scott and The Rock appeared.

Both Scott and The Rock arrive in the ring to confront Rhodes and Cena.

The Rock had been awaiting a decision from Rhodes in recent weeks. Rhodes denies The Rock’s offer with some choice words that drew a huge reaction from the crowd (and Cena).

John Cena wins Men’s Elimination Chamber match

Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre will start the match. Damian Priest, John Cena, Logan Paul and CM Punk will wait inside their respective pods.

The winner of the match will position themselves to be the No. 1 contender for the Undisputed WWE Championship and be penciled in for the main event against Cody Rhodes.

McIntyre had the upper hand over Rollins in the match before the pod door opened for Priest to enter the match. Paul was next to join the match, leaving Cena and Punk in the pods.

Paul moved quickly to attack his opponents and made several pin attempts but was unable to get the first elimination of the match.

McIntyre became the first man eliminated shortly after attacking Cena, who had just entered the match, only to be caught from behind and eliminated by Priest.

McIntyre showed frustration and attacked Priest after his shocking elimination. Paul would take advantage of his fallen opponent and hit a frog splash from the top of the pod before securing the pinfall.

The field was down to three after Punk hit his finishing move to put down Paul and eliminate him.

Cena, Rollins and Punk took a moment to collect themselves while staring one another down from opposite corners of the ring.

Cena and Punk manage to work together by performing a ‘Hart Attack’ on Rollins to briefly take him out of the match. The two embrace with a quick hug in the ring before exchanging blows in the center of the ring.

Cena nearly eliminates Punk after an Attitude Adjustment but it wasn’t enough to put the former champion away. Rollins gets back on the offensive and tosses Cena into one of the chamber’s pods.

Punk was nearly eliminated again after Rollins powerbombs him into the turnbuckle and stomped his face into the mat.

Cena interjects himself back into the match and helps Punk eliminate Rollins. Cena and Punk remain the final two.

Rollins manages to stomp Punk’s face into the mat before he is forced to leave the ring. Cena applies his STF submission on Punk to win the match.

Cena is headed back to the WrestleMania main event.

Analysis: John Cena’s retirement tour continues with a spot in the main event of WrestleMania. He is slated to face Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship.

Punk has made it clear for years that his dream was to main event the company’s biggest event of the year. He fell short of that mission after Rollins got involved after his elimination. It would be safe to assume that Punk and Rollins will be added to the card in a match that’s been building up since Punk returned to the company in November 2023.

Drake in the crowd for Elimination Chamber

Canadian rapper Drake was in the crowd to watch WWE’s premium event in Toronto. Several members of the audience took photographs of Drake and shared them on social media.

Drake was sitting alongside fellow rapper Lil Yachty in the front row behind the announcer’s table.

Unsanctioned match: Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens

It was everything you would’ve expected from these two Canadian friends-turned-rivals. The match was not only unsanctioned but pure chaos with Kevin Owens getting the victory.

The match featured everything from steel chairs wrapped in barbed wire to tables and more. Zayn did have the upper hand at one point during the match and managed to drive Owens through two tables in short order.

Zayn needed medical attention after the match but despite officials coming down to the ring, Owens was ready to continue the assault on his opponent. That intuition was stopped when Randy Orton came out to confront Owens in the ring.

Orton was returning for the first time since being injured at the hands of Owens.

Analysis: It’s clear we will see Owens move forward with a feud with Orton that will likely culminate at WrestleMania in Las Vegas. It will likely make for one of the featured mid-card matches or may even start the show on one of the two nights. With both men already having a history with one another, it will be interesting to see what extremes these two are willing to go to get the victory over the other. It remains unclear how long Zayn could be out of action or what his involvement might be in the story between Orton and Owens.

Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus vs. Nia Jax and Candice LeRae

Stratton and Stratus were clearly feeling the energy of the WWE Hall of Famer performing in front of her home city, as she and Stratton quickly landed some strikes to get Jax out of the ring. It was a good start, but it was only a matter of time before Jax began to take control of the match, and she happened to do so on Stratus. 

Stratus was thrown around so easily in a manner that was rarely seen during her decorated career, and LeRae brought her own flair with some quick strikes that really rattled Stratus. After taking so many hits, Stratus got the tag in and the WWE Women’s Champion teed off on LeRae. 

Stratton even did damage on Jax, and Stratus was able to regain composure and did a stunning Stratusfaction off the top rope on Jax, proving she still has it. LeRae tried to break up the tag attempt, but Stratus moved out of the way and accidentally landed on her teammate. Stratus got the champion in, and she landed the Prettiest Moonsault Ever on Jax and got the pin.

Analysis: There wasn’t any way Stratus was going to lose in her return match at home, and she showed she definitely still has the skills that made her a pioneer in the women’s division. She took some shots from her opponents, but her offensive skill still remains, and she made sure to help her partner get over as she heads toward WrestleMania. The Stratusfaction on Jax was an impressive sequence from the veteran, and the champion getting the pin on Jax officially put the feud they’ve had to rest.

Stratton gets a feel-good victory and now turns her attention to Charlotte Flair, which has the potential to be a classic next month in Las Vegas.

Women’s Elimination Chamber match

Can’t spell WrestleMania without ‘EST.’

After that disturbing start with the attack on Naomi from Jade Cargill, Liv Morgan was relaxed in the ring until the next competitor came in: Bianca Belair. The former Women’s Tag Team Champion was clearly disturbed and Morgan capitalized on the vulnerable star. 

One by one, the competitors emerged from the pods until all of them were in the ring. The first legitimate attempt to eliminate someone came from Roxanne Perez on Bayley, someone she has been feuding with for weeks. She tried to get Bayley to submit only for the veteran to use the cage to her advantage to break out of it. Bayley was focused on Perez when Morgan sneaked up to hit the ObLivion on the “Role Model,” then got the pin for the elimination.

Morgan and Belair met on top of the pods. Belair used her hair to whip Morgan. It was a loud shot that knocked her down. The whip was so hard it left a mark on Morgan’s midsection.

The next sequence resulted in the elimination of Perez. She ran into a Code Breaker from Morgan that set up Alexa Bliss for a Twisted Bliss. She got the pin. The three remaining stars then entered a wild sequence of finisher attempts that ended with Morgan rolling up Bliss to leave two people in the ring. 

Morgan and Belair took turns brutalizing each other off the cage, and Belair went for the K.O.D. when it got countered by a Code Breaker. Morgan tried to turn it into an ObLivion but Belair caught it and made sure to land the K.O.D. this time. It was executed and Belair got the final pin to secure her spot at WrestleMania.

Afterward, Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky met Belair near the entrance, as one of the two women will be the one to face Belair in April.

Analysis: What a stunning, wild event that was. The brutal attack from Cargill to start not only stunned the crowd, but upped the intensity for the match. All the stars pretty much got their chance to shine in the match, with Bliss most notably showing off her star power. But from beginning to end, it was apparent it was going to come down to Morgan and Belair given their history.

Despite the emotional despair she was in, Belair not only was the winner but was the clear MVP of the match. She put on an incredible performance and added such a deep layer to the situation going on with her and Naomi. While she is going to WrestleMania 41 for a championship match, Belair still will have to deal with the ramifications from Cargill’s attack. It may even add another layer to what she’ll have to go through in order to get to that title match, but it’ll absolutely help the build of what will be a fantastic match next month, no matter if it’s Ripley or Sky she faces.

After she didn’t compete for any gold at WrestleMania 40, Belair is back to adding another accolade to her impress career.

Jade Cargill returns, attacks Naomi

Looks like we know who attacked Jade Cargill.

Just as the women’s chamber match was getting underway, Jade Cargill emerged for the first time since that mysterious attack weeks ago. It had been assumed Liv Morgan was behind it, but as Cargill got in the ring, she immediately attacked her friend Naomi, shocking the crowd with a ruthless assault.

It was a disturbing assault as Cargill threw around Naomi, banging her against the pods as her other friend Bianca Belair could only watch in agony. She pleaded for Cargill to stop but she didn’t until Naomi was out. Naomi was then ruled unable to compete and eliminated. It wasn’t confirmed, but it appears Naomi was − or at least Cargill thinks Naomi was − behind the attack. Morgan taunted Belair afterward, telling her ‘that’s what you get.’

Watch Elimination Chamber preshow

When is Elimination Chamber 2025?

Elimination Chamber is Saturday, March 1.

What time does Elimination Chamber 2025 start?

The 2025 Elimination Chamber starts at 7 p.m. ET. The preshow for the event begins at 5 p.m. ET.

Where is Elimination Chamber 2025?

Elimination Chamber 2025 will take place at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada.

How to watch Elimination Chamber 2025

The event can be streamed on Peacock, but you must have their premium or premium-plus subscription to watch. Internationally, it will be available on Netflix in most markets.

How to watch Elimination Chamber 2025 preshow

The preshow will be available to watch on Peacock, and on WWE’s social channels, including on YouTube.

Elimination Chamber 2025 match card

Matches not in order

Men’s Elimination Chamber match
Women’s Elimination Chamber match
Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus vs. Nia Jax and Candice LeRae
Unsanctioned match: Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens
Cody Rhodes makes his decision on The Rock’s offer

Jordan Mendoza’s Elimination Chamber predictions

Men’s Elimination Chamber match: A case could be made for nearly everyone in the match to win. While John Cena is the popular pick, CM Punk finally gets the WrestleMania main event and throws some more chaos in the Cody Rhodes-The Rock angle. Winner: CM Punk.
Women’s Elimination Chamber match: No one wants to see Rhea Ripley vs. Liv Morgan again, and Bianca Belair seems like a prime choice, but it feels like the wrench of the Jade Cargill mystery finally comes out and ruins her chance. I’m going with the dark horse in Alexa Bliss. She’s always been fantastic in the ring, and she brings her sinister side to thrust herself right into the title picture. Winner: Alexa Bliss.
Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus vs. Nia Jax and Candice LeRae: There just isn’t a way the hometown star loses. Stratton and Stratus get the victory, but it feels like a Charlotte appearance is due. Winner: Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus.
Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens: It’s gotten really dark between the longtime friends, and expect plenty of brutal spots between two with amazing in-ring chemistry. However, Owens snaps a cold streak to generate some momentum toward WrestleMania. Winner: Kevin Owens.

James H. Williams’ Elimination Chamber predictions

Men’s Elimination Chamber match: It might be time for Punk to finally get his WrestleMania match. Winner: CM Punk.
Women’s Elimination Chamber match: Bayley will be back on the WrestleMania main stage as the chamber winner. Bianca Belair would’ve been the pick to finally have a WrestleMania program with Rhea Ripley, but that might be on hold for another year. Winner: Bayley.
Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus vs. Nia Jax and Candice LeRae: Trish and Tiffany get the job done. It would be a nice win for Trish in front of the hometown crowd. Winner: Stratton and Stratus.
Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens: Kevin Owens is likely to be the aggressor and have his way against his former best friend. Winner: Kevin Owens.

How does the Elimination Chamber match work?

Introduced in 2002, the Elimination Chamber match puts six stars in an enclosed steel structure that surrounds the ring and the area right outside of it.

The match starts with two competitors, while the other four participants are locked in pods that are just outside of the ring. Every five minutes, a new competitor is randomly selected to be released from the pod and into the match. 

Since it’s an elimination match, competitors are only eliminated if they are pinned or submitted, as there are no disqualifications. Whoever is the last person remaining after everyone else has been eliminated at the end of the match is the winner. 

Saturday will be the 35th and 36th Elimination Chamber match in history. Since its inception, the match has been contested for a championship or a championship match at WrestleMania.

Men’s Elimination Chamber history

There have been 28 men’s Elimination Chamber matches, with current WWE chief content officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque having the most wins at four. Here are all the list of winners, and what they won the match for:

2002: Shawn Michaels for the World Heavyweight Championship
2003: Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship
2005: Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship
2006: John Cena for the WWE Championship
2006: Bobby Lashley for the ECW World Championship
2008: The Undertaker for a World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania 24
2008: Triple H for a WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 24
2009: Triple H for the WWE Championship
2009: Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship
2010: John Cena for the WWE Championship
2010: Chris Jericho for the World Heavyweight Championship
2011: Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship
2011: John Cena for a WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 27
2012: CM Punk for the WWE Championship
2012: Daniel Bryan for the World Heavyweight Championship
2013: Jack Swagger for a World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania 29
2014: Randy Orton for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
2015: The New Day for the WWE Tag Team Championship
2015: Ryback for the Intercontinental Championship
2017: Bray Wyatt for the WWE Championship
2018: Roman Reigns for a WWE Universal Championship match at WrestleMania 34
2019: Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship
2020: The Miz and John Morrison for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship
2021: Daniel Bryan for a WWE Universal Championship match
2021: Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship
2022: Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship
2023: Austin Theory for the United States Championship
2024: Drew McIntyre for a World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania 40

Women’s Elimination Chamber history

The women’s Elimination Chamber match was introduced in 2018 and there have been six matches. Here are all the list of winners, and what they won the match for:

2018: Alexa Bliss for the WWE Raw Women’s Championship
2019: Bayley and Sasha Banks for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
2020: Shayna Baszler for a WWE Raw Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania 36
2022: Bianca Belair for a WWE Raw Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania 38
2023: Asuka for a WWE Raw Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania 39
2024: Becky Lynch for a Women’s World Championship match at WrestleMania 40

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LOS ANGELES — The regular season in women’s college basketball is coming to a close, and the Big Ten regular season title will be decided Saturday in the crosstown showdown between No. 2 UCLA and No. 3 Southern California.

It will be the second meeting of the season between the two California schools that have been among the best in the country. In the first matchup on Feb. 13, USC star JuJu Watkins had an incredible performance to lead the Trojans past the Bruins and hand their rival their first loss of the season. Now, the second meeting takes place on UCLA’s home court and in the regular season finale for both sides. The winner of the contest will get the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten tournament next week as they each remain in the hunt for a top seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Follow USA TODAY Sports for updates and highlights from Pauley Pavilion:

UCLA vs. USC score

End of third quarter: USC 64, UCLA 51

The Big Ten regular season championship is 10 minutes away from being decided, and the Trojans are closing in on the title with a 13-point lead after three quarters.

UCLA came out of halftime and made it a close battle, closing the deficit to four points with three minutes left in the frame. That would be the last time the Bruins would score, with USC going on a 9-0 run to push the lead back to 13 points. Despite some uncharacteristic missed free throws, Watkins remains the leading scorer with 28 points.

USC pushes lead after UCLA run

The Bruins were able to cut the deficit to four points, but a 7-0 Trojan run has USC up by double-digits again in the final minute of the third quarter.

UCLA hanging around

The Bruins are showing some fight out of halftime. The offense has found some rhythm to make it a single-digit deficit halfway through the third quarter.

Kiki Rice and Londynn Jones have each score five points in the quarter. But on the other side, Kiki Iriafen has also added five points to keep the distance away from the Bruins.

Halftime: USC 46, UCLA 32

It’s another edition of the JuJu Watkins Show as she continues to torch her crosstown rival. The Trojans lead 46-32 at the break. Watkins made the first bucket of the night and she’s been scoring in flurries since. She has 23 points and she’s 4-of-7 from 3-point land.

Meanwhile, turnovers and defensive lapses are hurting UCLA. It has turned it over 11 times and its led to 17 points for the opponent. The other star, Lauren Betts, has been quiet so far. The Trojans have a near-perfect game plan for her in the post. She has nine rebounds, a game-high, but only four points. The Bruins haven’t led.

USC shot 18-for-38 (47.4%) and UCLA was 11-for-30 (36.7%) from the field in the first half.

Trojans extend lead

USC continues to hit shots and capitalize on UCLA mistakes, leading by 14 points with less than three minutes to go in the half. The Bruins have turned it over six times in the quarter and nine times overall, leading to 14 Trojan points.

USC gets hot again

Something about great starts to quarters for the Trojans, who have a double-digit lead again at 34-24 with five-and-a-half minutes to go in the second frame. USC has made four of its first seven attempts in the quarter. Guard Kennedy Smith is getting it going on offense. UCLA has turned it over three times in the quarter.

End of first quarter: USC 23, UCLA 20

It was a USC blitz to start the contest but the Bruins have clawed back and Pauley Pavilion is rocking. The Trojans lead by three at the end of the first 10 minutes.

Just like in the first matchup, JuJu Watkins started off hot, making five of her first six shot attempts and scoring 13 of the first 21 points for the Trojans. Defenders weren’t able to do much early on and it looked like it was going to be a long night for UCLA as USC led by as much as 11 points.

UCLA eventually started making shots and got itself back in the game. It also disrupted USC’s momentum and it drew fouls, primarily on Lauren Betts. USC starters Kiki Iriafen and Kennedy Smith had two fouls each in the first eight minutes and will now be in trouble for at least the remainder of the first half. The Bruins closed the quarter on an 8-2 run to cut the deficit.

USC starts with massive run

The Trojans have continued their momentum from the first meeting, on fire with a 13-2 lead in the first four-and-a-half minutes. JuJu Watkins got the first bucket of the night on a 3-point shot, signaling another big night from the star, and USC opened on a 9-0 run. Talia von Oelhoffen then got a 3-point shot and the foul to give her team an early double-digit lead. The Bruins missed their first eight shot attempts.

When is UCLA vs. USC women’s basketball game?

The game is scheduled for Saturday, March 1 at 9 p.m. ET.

How to watch UCLA vs. USC

Date: Saturday, March 1
Time: 9 p.m. ET
TV: Fox
Streaming options: Fox Sports Go app | Fubo (free trial)

Fox will nationally broadcast Saturday’s game between UCLA and USC. It can be streamed on the Fox Sports Go app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries Fox and offers a free trial to new subscribers.

What channel is UCLA vs. USC women’s basketball game on?

USC and UCLA’s matchup on Thursday will be broadcasted on Fox.

UCLA starting lineup

Kiki Rice, G
Londynn Jones, G
Gabriela Jaquez, F
Angela Dugalic, F
Lauren Betts, C

USC starting lineup

Kennedy Smith, G
JuJu Watkins, G
Talia von Oelhoffen, G
Rayah Marshall, F
Kiki Iriafen, F

UCLA vs. USC women’s basketball odds

Odds according to BetMGM.

Spread: UCLA (-4.5)
Moneyline: UCLA (-250); USC (+200)
Over/under: 140.5

UCLA resume

Record: 27-1
NET ranking: No. 5
Quad 1 record: 10-1
Quality wins: No. 6 South Carolina, No. 18 Baylor, No. 17 Maryland, No. 12 Ohio State, No. 22 Michigan State
Losses: No. 3 USC

USC resume

Record: 25-2
NET ranking: No. 6
Quad 1 record: 9-2
Quality wins: Mississippi, No. 5 Connecticut, No. 17 Maryland, No. 12 Ohio State, No. 2 UCLA, No. 22 Michigan State
Losses: No. 4 Notre Dame, Iowa

UCLA last five results

Thursday, Feb. 13: USC 71, UCLA 60
Sunday, Feb. 16: UCLA 75, Michigan State 69
Thursday, Feb. 20: UCLA 70, Illinois 55
Sunday, Feb. 23: UCLA 67, Iowa 65
Wednesday, Feb. 26: UCLA 91, Wisconsin 61

USC last five results

Saturday, Feb. 8: USC 84, Ohio State 63
Thursday, Feb. 13: USC 71, UCLA 60
Sunday, Feb. 16: USC 69, Washington 64
Wednesday, Feb. 19: USC 83, Michigan State 75
Sunday, Feb. 23: USC 76, Illinois 66

Keys to UCLA vs. USC

There’s more than just city bragging rights at stake when UCLA and Southern California meet again on Saturday.

The No. 2 Bruins and No. 3 Trojans had an epic first clash on Feb. 13, with JuJu Watkins delivering a signature performance as USC beat its rival in front of its home fans. The second game will take place at UCLA. Just like the first matchup at the Galen Center, an electric environment is expected; it will be a sell-out crowd at Pauley Pavilion.

UCLA and USC have had little trouble in their first season in the Big Ten. Saturday’s winner can cap off an incredible regular season with a championship and generate momentum as March Madness approaches. Each team has national championship aspirations and is in prime position to get a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament based on Thursday’s selection committee rankings.

‘It’s for all the marbles here,’ said USC forward Rayah Marshall.

– Read the keys and things to watch for the matchup here.

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

The NHL trade deadline is rapidly approaching.

So far, the NHL season had two blockbuster trades before the 4 Nations Face-Off break. Mikko Rantanen was dealt by the Colorado Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes and J.T. Miller was traded by the Vancouver Canucks to the New York Rangers.

Also this season, the Avalanche have changed up their goaltending, and the Dallas Stars acquired Mikael Granlund and Cody Ceci from the San Jose Sharks.

There was a spurt of trades on March 1. Other moves will be made in the coming days as teams beef up for the playoffs or move veterans for draft picks and prospects.

Here is analysis on the deals that have happened leading up to the NHL trade deadline at 3 p.m. ET on March 7.

March 1: Panthers acquire Seth Jones from Blackhawks

The Florida Panthers send goalie Spencer Knight and a conditional 2026 first-round pick (which could move to 2027) to the Chicago Blackhawks for defenseman Seth Jones and a 2026 fourth-round pick. The Blackhawks retain 25% of his salary. Jones’ recent comments expressing frustration with the team’s play essentially pushed the trade. The Panthers get a right-shot defenseman who plays big minutes after losing right-shot Brandon Montour to free agency last summer. Knight, who won’t be stuck behind Sergei Bobrovsky any more, gets a chance to prove he can become a No. 1 goalie. Knight and the first-rounder are a good return, considering trade demands usually put teams at a disadvantage.

TRADE GRADE: Who won Seth Jones trade?

March 1: Wild acquire Gustav Nyquist from Predators

The Minnesota Wild give up a 2026 second-round pick to the Nashville Predators, who retain 50% of pending unrestricted free agent Gustav Nyquist’s $3.185 million salary. Minnesota is in need of help at forward because of injuries to Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek. Though Nyquist has struggled along with the Predators this season, he had 75 points last season. This is the second time the Wild have made a deadline deal for Nyquist. They previously acquired him in 2023 and he had five points in three regular-season games plus five points in six playoff games. He signed with the Predators as a free agent in July 2023.

March 1: Avalanche acquire Ryan Lindgren from Rangers

The Colorado Avalanche acquired defenseman Ryan Lindgren from the New York Rangers in a five-player deal involving two draft picks. The Rangers retain 50% of Lindgren’s salary. He plays a top-four role, which Colorado has needed after trading Bowen Byram last season, and kills penalties. Lindgren, who had two recent two-assist games but often seems to get hurt, and forward Jimmy Vesey are pending unrestricted free agents, so the Rangers get something in return. Juuso Parssinen, 24, is a pending restricted free agent who played a depth role in Colorado. This is his second trade of the season. Calvin de Haan is a pending UFA with 676 games of regular season experience.

Feb. 24: Red Wings trade Ville Husso to Ducks

The Detroit Red Wings get goaltender Ville Husso’s $4.75 million cap hit off their books. Husso has played only nine games with the Red Wings and had spent much of the season in the American Hockey League. Detroit receives future considerations in the deal. The Anaheim Ducks sent Husso to the AHL’s San Diego Gulls, where goalie Calle Clang is out with an injury.

Feb. 1: Stars acquire Mikael Granlund, Cody Ceci from Sharks

The Dallas Stars give up a 2025 first-round pick and a conditional third-round pick for forward Mikael Granlund and defenseman Cody Ceci. Dallas was short on both positions because forwards Tyler Seguin and Mason Marchment are injured, as are defensemen Miro Heiskanen and Nils Lundqvist.

Granlund led the Sharks with 45 points in 52 games and will add to a solid forward group, especially with Marchment getting closer to returning. Ceci led San Jose in ice time and blocked shots. Both newcomers are pending unrestricted free agents. The conditional third-round pick will be a fourth-rounder if the Stars don’t reach the Stanley Cup Final.

Jan. 31: Rangers acquire J.T. Miller in deal with Canucks

The New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks, two teams in the midst of disappointing seasons, swung a big trade Friday night they hope will shake things up for the better.

Vancouver shipped center J.T. Miller along with Erik Brannstrom and Jackson Dorrington to the Rangers in exchange for Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini and a conditional first-round pick in the 2025 draft, the teams announced. The pick is top-13 protected, according to multiple reports.

The Canucks weren’t done dealing Friday, either, flipping that first-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a separate deal, along with Danton Heinen, Vincent Desharnais and Melvin Fernstrom. They got back Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor. – Jace Evans

ANALYSIS: Who won the trade?

Jan. 31: Flyers, Flames swap forwards in four-player trade

Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost went to Calgary and Andrei Kuzmenko, Jakob Pelletier, a 2025 second-round pick and a 2028 seventh-rounder went to Philadelphia. The deal was announced early Friday morning following the two teams’ games.

Farabee, a two-time 20-goal scorer, and Frost, who has hit double digits three times, can give the Flames scoring depth as the team tries to hold on to a playoff spot. Farabee is signed through 2027-28 and Frost is a pending restricted free agent.

Kuzmenko, a pending unrestricted free agent, wasn’t going to be re-signed in Calgary after the former 39-goal scorer (with Vancouver) had four goals this season. But it gives the Flyers a chance to see how he fares with Russian rookie Matvei Michkov, a fellow former Kontinental Hockey League player. Pelletier can fit in the Flyers’ bottom six forward group and kills penalties. He’ll be a restricted free agent.

Jan. 31: Golden Knights sign Brandon Saad for rest of the season

Not a trade, but the Vegas Golden Knights made an addition ahead of the deadline. They signed forward Brandon Saad (pro-rated $1.5 million) for the rest of the season after he was cut loose by the St. Louis Blues. The Blues had waived the two-time Stanley Cup winner, but the sides agreed to terminate the rest of his contract so he could become a free agent. Saad’s numbers (seven goals) have dropped off this season, but he scored 26 last season.

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. 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.

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. 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 Dec. 18 trades:

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

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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

Alabama made a mistake late, and Tennessee basketball capitalized.

With the top-10 matchup tied at 76 with under four seconds left, the Vols held the Crimson Tide to a five-second violation on Alabama’s inbounds play on what could have been a go-ahead score for Alabama. Instead, it opened the door for one final Tennessee possession before a potential overtime period.

And, as it turns out, overtime wasn’t needed.

Jahmai Mashack called game, taking the ball from across court before heaving a deep 3-pointer for the 79-76 win as time expired. Mashack was essential down the stretch, also tying the game at 76 after nailing a pair of free throws with 30 seconds left.

The Vols were led by guard Chaz Lanier, who scored 18 points and pulled Tennessee within two points on a tough and-one layup with 30 seconds left, although he missed the free throw. An Alabama foul on the ensuing play led to Mashack’s pair of free throw makes.

Alabama guard Mark Sears led all scorers with 24 points, shooting 7 of 16 from the field and 4 of 9 from 3-point range.

The win marks Tennessee’s fourth in a row, as the Vols handed the Crimson Tide their third of their last five games. Alabama’s loss also opens the door for Florida to potentially move to a tie for second in the SEC standings, should the Gators defeat Texas A&M on Saturday night.

The world will not stop if Lamont Roach Jr. beats Gervonta “Tank’’ Davis Saturday night and wins the WBA lightweight world title. After all, Roach is the WBA super featherweight world champion.

But with Davis, it’s less a question who will win the bout than in what round it will end. He is 30-0 with 28 knockouts and has stopped 20 of his past 21 opponents before the final bell.

“It actually feels like a home run,’ Davis, 30, said of the knockouts. “Like someone hits the bat on the target and it goes far. That’s how it feel when you hit someone on the button.’’

His victims include Ryan Garcia, Leo Santa Cruz, Jose Pedraza and, quite likely on Saturday night, Roach (25-1-1, 10 KOs).

But over his last eight fights, Davis either is letting opponents tire themselves out or having to work harder. He won seven of those fights by KO but none came sooner than the sixth round. During that stretch, Isaac Cruz took Davis the distance in a 12-round bout.

Davis said Roach, 29, will be the most skillful boxer he’s faced yet. But chances are Roach will finish where most of the others have – on the canvas.

USA TODAY Sports will have coverage of the main event and all the preliminary bouts. Follow along for the latest updates, results and highlights.

Watch Davis vs. Roach with Amazon Prime PPV

Yoenis Tellez vs. Julian Williams, super welterweight

Round 1: Julian Williams out quick behind the jab. Yoenis Tellez’s pink gloves waiting for action. There flies a jab from Tellez. More lefts follow as Tellez becomes and aggressor. But Williams scores with two hard rights and a left hook. Williams 10, Tellez 9.

Round 2: Williams opens with a couple of jabs and Tellez responds with heavy fire. Tellez stalking as Williams fires the jab, then combinations. Williams landing with more power. Tellez finishes strong, but too late. Williams 20, Tellez 18.

Round 3: Tellez comes out the aggressor. Williams still firing jabs to keep his opponent at bay. Tellez breaks through with effective body punches and a big uppercut. Williams urgently moves forward out of the corner and Tellez retreats. Tellez delivers with solid combination and Williams backpedals. He’s bleeding over the left eye as the round ends. Williams 29, Tellez 28.

Round 4: Tellez stalks again. Williams showing some effectiveness with the jab as Tellez needs time to find an opening.  Action has slowed. Now Tellez is using his jab to close the distance, and Williams responds with expert use of his jab and a couple of hard body shots. Tellez counters with an uppercut. Williams 38, Tellez 38. 

Round 5: Williams lands combinations, but it’s not enough to stop Tellez. The young Cuban keeps marching forward and the swelling on Williams’ face is evident. Tellez continues to pepper Williams’ face with jabs while unloading heavier punches when the opportunity presents itself. Tellez 48, Williams 47.

Round 6: Tellez pushing forward behind that jab and uncorks an overhand right. Lands two body shots and Williams looks non-threatening. Williams stands his ground, but his face is taking a beating. Another strong finish for Tellez. Tellez 58, Williams 56.

Round 7: Williams looks wary. Or is it weary? Maybe both. Tellez is 10 years younger and looks fresh. Williams lands a combination, but Tellez counters with a nasty left hook. The action is turning increasingly lopsided in favor of the pink-gloved Tellez. Tellez 68, Williams 65.

Round 8: Williams opens fast with a couple of jabs. He lands a good right, but Tellez looks unconcerned. They trade solid body shots. Tellez stalks again and drives a left into Williams’ midsection. Catches up to Williams and lands two flurries of punches. Tellez 78, Williams 74.  

Round 9: Williams fires a couple of hard jabs. Tellez responds with heavier punches. Williams looks content to stick-and-move-and-get-stuck-with-punches. Williams bleeding profusely under both eyes. He absorbs some big body punches before countering with solid punches. They’re trading jabs. Williams can use an ice facial. Tellez 88, Williams 83. 

Johan Gonzalez def. Jarrett Hurd by split decision

Hurd, the former unified super welterweight champion, announced his retirement moments after losing to Gonzalez in the 10-round middleweight bout.

Hurd held the IBO and IBF super welterweight titles in 2019, but did not turn back the clock against Gonzalez. He found himself under attack from the outset and looked mostly lackluster until the final rounds.

The judges scored it 96-94, 94-96, 98-92 in favor of Gonzalez, the 33-year-old from Venezuela who improved to 36-3.

Hurd, 34, started out his career 23-0. But it ends after he went 2-4-1 in his final seven fights.

David Whitmire def. Angel Munoz by unanimous decision

Whitmire, also known as “The Body Snatcher,’’ lived up to his nickname during the six-round welterweight bout.

Whitmire punished Munoz with body shots and did some meaningful headhunting, too.

Munoz managed to stay on his feet and connected with hooks, but he lacked the power to hurt Whitmire.

All three judges scored it 60-54 for Whitmire, 19, who improved to 9-0. Munoz, 22, dropped to 7-1. 

Deric Davis def. Jamal Johnson by TKO

Davis knocked Johnson down twice in the first round of their super lightweight bout for a TKO victory.

The first knockdown came on a body shot. Johnson’s mouthpiece went flying as he went tumbling to the canvas. The second knockdown came on a left hook that dropped Johnson and prompted the referee to call the fight with 1:04 left the first round.

Davis, 22, improved to 6-0 while recording his fifth first-round stoppage.

Johnson, who entered the ring wearing a black mask, fell to 2-1.

Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis vs. Lamont Roach time 

Prelimary fights begin at 6 p.m. ET with the main event card beginning at 8 p.m. ET. The Davis-Roach fight has an approximate ring walk of 11 p.m. ET.

Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis vs. Lamont Roach fight card

Main Card

WBA lightweight title fight: Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach
Super lightweight: Jose Valenzuela vs. Gary Antuanne Russell
WBC super lightweight title fight: Alberto Puello vs. Sandor Martin
Super welterweight: Yoenis Tellez vs. Julian Williams

Prelims

Middleweight: Jarrett Hurd vs. Johan Gonzalez
Super featherweight: Geo Lopez vs. Grimardi Machuca
Super welterweight: Cristian Cangelosi vs. Jarrod Tennant
Super welterweight: Dwyke Flemmings Jr. vs. Florent Dervis
Welterweight: David Whitmire vs. Angel Munoz
Super bantamweight: Alexis De la Cerda Landin vs. Sharone Carter
Super middleweight: Nasheed H. Smith vs. Tariq Green
Lightweight: Deric Davis vs. Oscar Eduardo Gonzalez Jr.

Where is the Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis vs. Lamont Roach fight? 

This WBA lightweight championship fight will get underway on Saturday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Davis vs. Roach card start time

Main card: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (Amazon Prime PPV)
Prelims: 6 p.m. ET/ 3 p.m. ET (Prime Video)

How to watch Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis vs. Lamont Roach fight 

Coverage starts at 8 p.m. ET for the main event card and will be available on Amazon Prime PPV. Preliminary bouts starting at 6 p.m. ET available on Prime video.

Watch Davis vs. Roach with Amazon Prime PPV

Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach fight odds

All available odds are for moneyline bets as of Friday, according to BetMGM. (Check for new odds before adding to file)

Main Card

WBA lightweight title fight: Gervonta Davis (-2000) vs. Lamont Roach (+750)
Super lightweight: Jose Valenzuela (-110) vs. Gary Antuanne Russell (-120)
WBC super lightweight title fight: Alberto Puello (-135) vs. Sandor Martin (+100)
Super welterweight: Yoenis Tellez (-1600) vs. Julian Williams (+650)

Prelims

Middleweight: Jarrett Hurd (-120) vs. Johan Gonzalez (-110)
Super featherweight: Geo Lopez vs. Grimardi Machuca
Super welterweight: Cristian Cangelosi vs. Jarrod Tennant
Super welterweight: Dwyke Flemmings Jr. vs. Florent Dervis
Welterweight: David Whitmire vs. Angel Munoz
Super bantamweight: Alexis De la Cerda Landin vs. Sharone Carter
Super middleweight: Nasheed H. Smith vs. Tariq Green
Lightweight: Deric Davis vs. Oscar Eduardo Gonzalez Jr.

Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach predictions

CBS Sports: Pick Gervonta Davis

Brent Brookhouse writes: ‘While Roach is right that the amateur fights between the two do provide some direct knowledge of being in the ring with the champ, it also overlooks that, even as teenagers, Davis was the better fighter. That hasn’t changed as the years have ticked by. Davis is too smart, too disciplined and too powerful for Roach. The challenger may win an early round or two given Davis’ tendency to start slowly while he scouts out his opponent and figures out where the openings are to hurt them. But once Davis gets rolling, it will likely be a matter of time before he lands some big shots to end things.’

Yahoo Sports: Davis KO

Darshan Desai writes: ‘I expect Roach to have success in the early rounds at long range and occasionally catch Davis in exchanges due to his reach advantage, similar to the success Rolando Romero had against Davis. But Roach leaves himself open to counters, and I expect Davis to capitalize devastatingly in the second half of the fight.’

Boxing Scene: Jim Lampley picks Davis

David Greisman writes, according to Lampley: ‘Even if Tank did not possess his shocking punching power, he would be an elite lightweight on the basis of his crafty boxing, southpaw style advantage, clever footwork and visible killer instinct,” Lampley said. “But it is pure power that really sets him apart. He doesn’t just beat his opponents. He annihilates them in breathtaking, often scary fashion.’

Boxing News: Oscar De La Hoya picks Davis

The site reported that Oscar De La Hoya said: ‘I think Lamont Roach is a terrific fighter, he might be a little over his head with Gervonta Davis. Gervonta Davis is, I mean, to say the least. He’s a beast. He really is. He’s (Gervonta Davis) a tremendous fighter. He’s a dedicated fighter when it comes to training and fighting and making sure that he’s in optimal conditions when he steps inside that squared circle. It’s gonna be a tough night for Roach, but you can never count him out.”

Has Tank Davis ever been knocked down?

Officially, Davis never has been knocked down. But that’s a matter of debate. In 2020, during the first round of his fight against Leo Santa Cruz, Davis ended up on the canvas. The referee did not rule it a knockdown – but judge for yourself.

What is not in dispute is the Davis’ highlight-reel KO that ended the fight in the sixth round.

Who is Tank Davis’ girlfriend Vanessa Posso?

Vanessa Posso, Davis’ girlfriend, is the mother of two of the boxer’s three children. She is a model with her own jewelry line called “Rich Girlz.’

Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach live stream

Coverage starts at 8 p.m. ET and will be available on Amazon Prime PPV with prelim fights available on Prime Video.

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LOS ANGELES — The regular season in women’s college basketball is coming to a close, and the Big Ten regular season title will be decided Saturday in the crosstown showdown between No. 2 UCLA and No. 3 Southern California.

It will be the second meeting of the season between the two California schools that have been among the best in the country. In the first matchup on Feb. 13, USC star JuJu Watkins had an incredible performance to lead the Trojans past the Bruins and hand their rival the first loss of the season. Now, the second meeting takes place on UCLA’s home court and in the regular season finale for both sides. The winner of the contest will get the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten tournament next week as they each remain in the hunt for a top seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Follow USA TODAY Sports for updates and highlights from Pauley Pavilion:

When is UCLA vs. USC women’s basketball game?

The game is scheduled for Saturday, March 1 at 9 p.m. ET.

How to watch UCLA vs. USC

Date: Saturday, March 1
Time: 9 p.m. ET
TV: Fox
Streaming options: Fox Sports Go app | Fubo (free trial)

Fox will nationally broadcast Saturday’s game between UCLA and USC. It can be streamed on the Fox Sports Go app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries Fox and offers a free trial to new subscribers.

What channel is UCLA vs. USC women’s basketball game on?

USC and UCLA’s matchup on Thursday will be broadcasted on Fox.

UCLA starting lineup

Kiki Rice, G
Londynn Jones, G
Gabriela Jaquez, F
Angela Dugalic, F
Lauren Betts, C

USC starting lineup

Kennedy Smith, G
JuJu Watkins, G
Talia von Oelhoffen, G
Rayah Marshall, F
Kiki Iriafen, F

UCLA vs. USC women’s basketball odds

Odds according to BetMGM.

Spread: UCLA (-4.5)
Moneyline: UCLA (-250); USC (+200)
Over/under: 140.5

UCLA resume

Record: 27-1
NET ranking: No. 5
Quad 1 record: 10-1
Quality wins: No. 6 South Carolina, No. 18 Baylor, No. 17 Maryland, No. 12 Ohio State, No. 22 Michigan State
Losses: No. 3 USC

USC resume

Record: 25-2
NET ranking: No. 6
Quad 1 record: 9-2
Quality wins: Mississippi, No. 5 Connecticut, No. 17 Maryland, No. 12 Ohio State, No. 2 UCLA, No. 22 Michigan State
Losses: No. 4 Notre Dame, Iowa

UCLA last five results

Thursday, Feb. 13: USC 71, UCLA 60
Sunday, Feb. 16: UCLA 75, Michigan State 69
Thursday, Feb. 20: UCLA 70, Illinois 55
Sunday, Feb. 23: UCLA 67, Iowa 65
Wednesday, Feb. 26: UCLA 91, Wisconsin 61

USC last five results

Saturday, Feb. 8: USC 84, Ohio State 63
Thursday, Feb. 13: USC 71, UCLA 60
Sunday, Feb. 16: USC 69, Washington 64
Wednesday, Feb. 19: USC 83, Michigan State 75
Sunday, Feb. 23: USC 76, Illinois 66

Keys to UCLA vs. USC

There’s more than just city bragging rights at stake when UCLA and Southern California meet again on Saturday.

The No. 2 Bruins and No. 3 Trojans had an epic first clash on Feb. 13, with JuJu Watkins delivering a signature performance as USC beat its rival in front of its home fans. The second game will take place at UCLA. Just like the first matchup at the Galen Center, an electric environment is expected; it will be a sell-out crowd at Pauley Pavilion.

UCLA and USC have had little trouble in their first season in the Big Ten. Saturday’s winner can cap off an incredible regular season with a championship and generate momentum as March Madness approaches. Each team has national championship aspirations and is in prime position to get a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament based on Thursday’s selection committee rankings.

‘It’s for all the marbles here,’ said USC forward Rayah Marshall.

– Read the keys and things to watch for the matchup here.

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