Donald Trump said on Aug. 5 that he might call in National Guard troops and other members of the U.S. military to assist with security efforts at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Trump’s comments came after he signed an executive order to create a White House task force that will handle an assortment of issues surrounding the Games, which will be the first on U.S. soil since 2002. It’s been less than two months since he deployed thousands of troops to the Los Angeles area to suppress protests and protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during raids.

‘We’ll do anything necessary to keep the Olympics safe − including using our National Guard, or military,’ Trump said. ‘I will use the National Guard or military − this is going to be so safe − if we have to.’

The Olympics task force, which he will chair, will coordinate security and transportation efforts across various arms of the federal government, while also working to ‘streamline visa processing and credentialing for foreign athletes, coaches, officials, and media,’ according to a fact sheet distributed by the White House. Those types of coordination efforts are common ahead of the Olympics and typically spearheaded by the federal government of the host nation.

Trump was joined at the ceremony by several other members of the task force, including Vice President J.D. Vance, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr. Former Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin and Paralympic swimmer Brad Snyder were also on hand for the signing.

Casey Wasserman, the chairperson of the 2028 Los Angeles organizing committee, praised Trump’s longstanding support for the Games, dating back to the bid process during Trump’s first term in office. He said the organization’s Games plan was ‘near final’ and said the White House task force will simply help elevate those plans.

‘In just 1,074 days − yes we’re counting, sir − the eyes of the world will be on this country,’ Wasserman said. ‘… These will be truly America’s Games.’

Wasserman also gifted Trump a set of original Olympic medals from the last Summer Games to be held in Los Angeles, in 1984.

It is unclear how closely the task force will work with state entities and officials in California, such as Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Both are Democrats and have clashed with Trump over domestic policy issues in the heavily-Democratic state, including the Trump administration’s attempts to enforce immigration law. Trump criticized Bass, in particular, during his remarks to reporters after signing the executive order.

‘LA’s a little bit different place than it was when selected, but we’re going to bring it back stronger than ever,’ Trump added. ‘I spoke to Casey about that. He said nope, we’re going to make it better than ever. It’s going to be something that makes it even more important as an Olympic Games.

‘It was an interesting conversation we had, as the fires were raging (during protests in the city). Is that right? And I appreciated that very much.’

Trump also used Tuesday’s executive order news conference as an opportunity to praise the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee for its recent move to prevent transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports.

When asked about the possible participation of transgender women at the 2028 Olympics, Trump said there ‘is going to be a very strong form of (gender) testing’ for competing athletes − though that would likely be in violation of LA28’s host contract with the International Olympic Committee, unless the IOC approves or implements such testing independently.

Trump was also asked about the chance that transgender women athletes could face criminal charges. He said he would defer such matters to Bondi.

The creation of the Olympics task force comes about five months after Trump created a similar task force to handle issues surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup for men’s soccer. The president appointed Andrew Giuliani, the son of his close ally Rudy Giuliani, as executive director of that group.

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on social media @tomschad.bsky.social.

Former NFL player LeShon Johnson was convicted on six felony counts related to dogfighting.
Authorities seized 190 dogs from Johnson, the largest seizure from a single person in a federal dogfighting case.
Johnson faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.

A former NFL player was convicted last week by a federal jury of six counts related to dogfighting, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

LeShon Johnson was convicted by a federal jury in Oklahoma on six felony counts of violating the federal Animal Welfare Act’s prohibitions against possessing, selling, transporting and delivering animals to be used in fighting ventures.

Johnson, 53, was ordered to surrender 190 dogs, which is the largest number ever of animals seized from a single person in a federal dog fighting case. The United States Marshals Service is caring for the dogs that were seized.

Johnson was previously convicted of dog fighting in 2004, when more than 200 dogs were seized and nearly two dozen people were convicted. Johnson received a five-year deferred sentence in that case.

‘Dog fighting is a vicious and cruel crime that has no place in a civilized society,’ U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma said in a statement. ‘I commend the hard work of our law enforcement partners in investigating this case and holding the defendant accountable for his crimes.’

Johnson faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on each count, and will be sentenced at a later date. Johnson was originally charged with multiple felonies, according to an indictment filed in January, and obtained by USA TODAY Sports, including 19 counts of possession of a dog for use in an animal fighting venture, and one count of transporting and delivering of a dog for dogfighting purposes.

According to an unsealed indictment, Johnson was in control of Mal Kant Kennels in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and Krazy Side Kennels in Haskell, Oklahoma, where Johnson bred and trafficked ‘champion’ and ‘grand champion’ fighting dogs and their offspring for dogfighting.

Johnson was a third-round pick in the 1994 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. He also played for the Arizona Cardinals and the New York Giants during his career, which ended in 1999.

They say it over and over. The game is all about the quarterback. 

Those who have experience at the most important position on the field, college football coaches insist, win big games.

Unless, apparently, you’re a blue blood program. 

So while you stare at the first US LBM Coaches Poll of the 2025 college football season, don’t ignore the glaring reality staring back. 

Five of the top eight teams have first-time starters at the most important position on the field.

“The quarterback is critical to everything you do,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. “There’s no getting around it.”

It is here where we introduced Texas, Ohio State, Georgia, Notre Dame, and Alabama. All among the top 10 in the Coaches Poll, and all preseason favorites to reach the College Football Playoff — and possibly much more. 

All with first-time, full-time starters.

If you think the CFP selection committee has problems ranking teams, the 67 coaches shouldn’t get pass on criticism, either. There’s a whole lot of funky in the first Coaches Poll, beginning at the top with teams ranked on reputation.

Not their critical quarterback component.

The quarterbacks at those five blue bloods – teams with a combined 119-23 record over the last two seasons – have combined to throw 262 career passes. 

Arch Manning of Texas has never started an SEC road game, and his only SEC start came last season against tomato can Mississippi State.

Gunner Stockton of Georgia has never started an SEC game.

CJ Carr of Notre Dame, Julian Sayin of Ohio State and Ty Simpson of Alabama have never started a game.

Think about this: college football coaches have essentially told you they believe in a group of quarterbacks who, on average, have 50 career throws each. 

Maybe this isn’t the layup everyone thinks it is. Maybe we’re on the verge of a wild ride through the 2025 season, where the unknown unfolds into the unthinkable. 

Especially considering there’s much more to this quarterback story than just first-time, full-time starters. 

After back-to-back national titles in 2021-22, Georgia missed the CFP in 2023 and last year sustained an ugly loss in the quarterfinals — and suddenly looks vulnerable. 

Ohio State is completely rebuilt on both sides of the ball (only nine starters return), and all Sayin has to do is defend a national title. And beat Michigan for the first time since 2019.

Simpson begins his fourth season at Alabama, a program that owned the four-team CFP under former coach Nick Saban — but couldn’t make the first 12-team field in 2024. Simpson is merely carrying that weight, OK?

Then there’s Carr, a talented redshirt freshman who was given the keys to a championship-level team after Irish coach Marcus Freeman declined to add an experienced quarterback from the transfer portal — and go all-in with the unknown. 

“I feel like the experience from last year is invaluable,” Stockton said.

That “experience” consisted of the second half of the SEC championship game victory over Texas, and the CFP quarterfinal loss to Notre Dame.

Manning’s experience is a home game against the worst team in the SEC, and a home game against lightweight Louisiana-Monroe.

Simpson’s most extended time on the field was two years ago in a tight win over South Florida, when he replaced starter Tyler Buchner and was essentially the best of two bad options. 

Carr and Sayin will take their first legitimate college football snaps in the season opener, both in monster non-conference games. Notre Dame plays at Miami, and Ohio State plays host to Texas.

“You want command of the offense,’ said Ohio State coach Ryan Day, who insists Sayin is still competing with junior Lincoln Kienholz – who has also never started a game – for the starting job. “When you stand in there as a quarterback, you want everyone to believe in you. You want them to follow your command.”

That’s all it takes? 

This will be a cakewalk.

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.

The 2025 WNBA trade deadline is quickly approaching, and there are several players to monitor as movement heats up before the deadline on Thursday, Aug. 7.

Only a couple of players have moved so far with DiJonai Carrington, last year’s Most Improved Player, going to the 2024 WNBA runner-up Minnesota Lynx and 2025 All-Star Brittney Sykes to the Seattle Storm. 

Here are a few players that could move and here’s a round up of the 2025 WNBA trade deadline deals so far:

Aug. 5: Seattle Storm trade for Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes

Storm get:

G Brittney Sykes

Mystics get:

F Alysha Clark
G Zia Cooke (has since been waived)
2026 first-round draft pick

Sykes is averaging 15.4 points, 4.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 31.8% from beyond the arc. The 5-foot-9 guard received her first All-Star selection this season and has four WNBA all-defensive team selections during her nine-year career, which also includes stints with the Atlanta Dream and Los Angeles Sparks. She signed with the Mystics as a free agent ahead of the 2023 season. Read more about the trade here.

Storm grade: A

Adding Sykes to Seattle does a few things. It gives the Storm a versatile defender who plays larger than they are, plus a player who can create for themselves and others. Sykes will all but certainly be inserted into the starting rotation, and that should be a very nice one-two punch with Wheeler. Additionally, Seattle now has fewer excuses not to succeed.

Mystics grade: A+

Heading into next season, the Mystics now have three first-round picks. That’s not including the other selections they have in the 2026 WNBA draft. Essentially, Washington would have plenty of options to choose from, including TCU guard Olivia Miles, UCLA Bruins center Lauren Betts and UConn Huskies guard Azzi Fudd.

Aug. 3: Minnesota Lynx trade for Dallas Wings guard DiJonai Carrington

Lynx get:

G DiJonai Carrington

Wings get:

F Diamond Miller
G Karlie Samuelson (has since been waived)
2027 second-round draft pick

It is the second trade in a matter of months for Carrington, who was traded to the Wings from the Connecticut Sun back in February. The former second-round pick out of Baylor is averaging 10.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists this season. Read more about the trade here.

Lynx grade: B

Bringing in Carrington does a few things for Reeve’s squad. First, it adds valuable guard and wing depth. Carrington is more comfortable as a wing, but could take over point guard duties if necessary. She can even start if they need her to, which is huge. With that in mind, veteran Kayla McBride has to be jumping for joy right now. Carrington will fit nicely as depth behind her, and because she’s an excellent defender, it takes a lot more pressure off McBride to have to be everything all at once.

Wings grade: B

Guard Diamond Miller now has a new place to get more minutes and should thrive with the Wings. Veteran Karlie Samuelson is out for the season with an injury, but once healthy, there’s a chance she could add quality minutes, too. Also, future draft stock never hurts. The Wings are somewhat leaning into a soft rebuild and should continue making moves for the future.

When is the trade deadline?

The 2025 WNBA trade deadline is at 3 p.m. ET Thursday, Aug. 7. After that, teams cannot make trades for the remainder of the season. 

Why aren’t many trades made in the WNBA?

The trade deadline in the WNBA is not traditionally as busy as those in the NFL, NBA or MLB. The WNBA’s hard salary cap ($1,507,100 per team) has no flexibility, meaning a team can’t go over. That means team have to be able to make the money work in any trade dollar for dollar.

Even with addition of the Golden State Valkyries, there are only 13 teams with 12 players each in the league. With fewer players, there are fewer trades.

Claressa Shields vs. Laila Ali.

The fight isn’t even official. In fact, it may never materialize.

But that didn’t keep five experts from responding when asked who would win the fight between the 30-year-old Shields and the 47-year-old Ali.

Both would climb into the ring with unblemished records. Shields is 17-0 with three knockouts and Ali was 24-0 with 21 knockouts when she retired in 2007.

‘Honestly, a fight with me and Laila Ali would be one of the biggest fights in women’s boxing,’’ Shields told USA TODAY Sports last month. “I think we should do it for the culture. We should do it for the boxing culture. We should do it for so many to prove who is the best.”

Laila Ali vs Claressa Shields predictions

Christy Martin: Picks Laila Ali

Was knocked out by Ali in the fourth round of their fight in 2003. Elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2020. A biopic on Martin, starring Sydney Sweeney, is scheduled to be screened in September at the Toronto International Film Festival.

“Laila’s going to be too big, too strong, too smart,’’ Martin said. “She’s going to use her jab to set her right hand up and push Claressa back. And Shields can’t fight going backwards.

“I think that since Laila’s been probably relaxing and resting (during retirement), her body’s recovered from any damage that she had during her career. I think she’ll come back strong. She’s still under 50 and Laila’s not going to come back unless she’s 100% confident and ready to come back. And if she’s 100% ready and confident, she wins.’’

Kathy Duva: Picks Claressa Shields

A boxing promoter who is the CEO of Main Events. Elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2019.

“Laila did a lot for women’s boxing,’’ Duva said. “She’s an icon. But in her prime, in my opinion, she simply wasn’t as good as Shields is now. So now she’s 47 and hasn’t fought in 18 years.

“Her advantage is taller than Shields, and that’s about it. Tall isn’t much of an advantage if your opponent knows how to neutralize it. And Shields does. Add in Laila’s age and inactivity. The fight is great marketing. And I hope both women make lots of money. But it is based purely on wishful thinking and is not remotely competitive.’’

Mary Jo Sanders: Favors Shields

A retired boxer who won world titles in four divisions between 2005 and 2007. Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in June.

“Their styles are very different,’’ Sanders said. “I mean, Claressa’s a brawler and Laila is more of a boxer. I do want (Shields) to finesse more because I feel like Laila has those straighter punches that could get into Clarissa’s wider haymakers and coming in with aggression.

“But one punch, I’ve seen these girls take one punch from Claressa. They’re like, ‘Oh, she is a beast. She is strong. She’s a fricking Clydesdale.’

“But if Laila can finesse her and get her flustered and off her game, then she’s got those straight punches. So if Claressa can prepare for that and her team knows that, then it’ll be wonderful.’’

Gloria Thornton-Peak: Picks Shields

In 2012, became the first woman coach on the U.S. Olympic boxing team and worked with Shields. She also trained retired champion boxers Andre Ward and Jermain Taylor.

She noted the age difference between Shields and Ali.

“Carissa has power, she has speed,’’ Thornton-Peak said. “She comes at you hard and fast, and if you are not used to having those kind of punches come at you, you are going to easily be overwhelmed by it.

“I think in order to beat her, you got to be able to match that output that she has of throwing punches, and you also need to have some of the power she has.

“I think (Shields’) chances are very good because so far I have not seen anybody who could really match that output she has and throwing those fast flurry punches, that pressure. I haven’t seen anybody really be able to handle that.’’

Johnny “Yahya” McClain III: Picks Ali

Laila Ali’s ex-husband. Was involved in training and promoting Ali between 1999 and 2005. A retired boxer who was 25-9-2 before he retired in 2010.

“The facts are the facts,’’ he said. “Laila Ali is a completely seasoned animal when it comes to fighting. Laila does not play. She hits really hard for real. Claressa has three knockouts. Laila, out of her 24 fights only allowed three people not to get knocked out. Laila hits for real, and Clarissa doesn’t.

“Laila Ali is way, way more skilled than Claressa. She comes from the science of boxing. And what did her dad use? The jab. Claressa don’t have no jab, and Clarissa got to try to come inside. Laila going to hit her with the jab all day long. Laila has fast hands, and Claressa don’t have no power. The only thing that Claressa has is her youth going forward with Laiyla.

“But if Laila’s going to fight her, Laila’s going to be ready for her.’’

The Minnesota Vikings are set to begin the 2025 NFL season without one of their top two wide receivers.

The NFL announced Tuesday it had suspended Jordan Addison for the first three games of the season for violating the league’s Substances of Abuse Policy. The suspension stems from a 2024 incident during which Addison was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Addison’s absence will create a temporary void in Minnesota’s receiving corps opposite Justin Jefferson. Here’s a look at the most likely candidates from the Vikings’ wide receiver depth chart that could fill that hole.

Who is Jordan Addison’s backup?

Addison missed two games during the 2024 NFL season in Weeks 2 and 3 while dealing with an ankle injury. In those contests, Nailor played 104 of a possible 117 snaps while logging a combined six catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns.

Logging similar production would give Nailor flex appeal across fantasy football formats. That said, it’s worth wondering whether his ceiling will be capped if the Vikings try to ease first-year starter J.J. McCarthy into action as part of a run-heavy offense.

Vikings WR depth chart

The Vikings haven’t released an unofficial depth chart ahead of their Week 1 preseason matchup with the Houston Texans. That said, their top three receivers are holdovers from the previous season, so the battle for roles and reps is likely to occur behind them.

Below is a look at the top-five projected receivers on Minnesota’s depth chart.

Justin Jefferson*
Jordan Addison*
Jalen Nailor*
Rondale Moore
Tai Felton

* Denotes starter.

Among the backups, Moore would figure to have the best chance to step into a larger role in Addison’s absence. The 25-year-old missed the entire 2024 NFL season due to a knee injury but logged a career-best 530 scrimmage yards during the 2023 season.

Felton – a 6-2, third-round rookie out of Maryland – could also see more playing time if the Vikings want a wide-out with more size than the 5-7 Moore.

The Vikings carried six receivers into Week 1 last season, so Addison’s suspension could allow another two of the team’s depth receivers to make the roster. In addition to the six listed above, Minnesota has practice squad holdovers Lucky Jackson, Jeshaun Jones and Thayer Thomas on its 90-man roster along with newcomers Silas Bolden, Dontae Fleming, Tim Jones, Robert Lewis and Myles Price.

The Indiana Fever tied their longest winning streak since 2015 following the team’s fifth consecutive victory on Sunday, Aug. 3. If the Fever want to extend their streak, however, they will have to go through a Los Angeles Sparks team that has got the best of them so far this season.

The Fever (17-12) will be without Caitlin Clark as the team travels to Los Angeles for Tuesday’s matchup against the Sparks, marking the eighth consecutive Clark has missed with a right groin injury.

Despite Clark’s extended absence, the Fever have rattled off five consecutive wins, most recently a 78-74 road win over the Seattle Storm. The feat is extra impressive considering the Fever are in midst of a daunting stretch of five games in nine days. Fever head coach Stephanie White credited the Fever’s depth and resilience for ‘finding ways to win.’

‘We certainly play a little differently without Caitlin (Clark) on the floor,’ White said on Sunday. ‘But the confidence that each one of these women has gotten in the ability to make plays in big moments, the depth that we have … makes us more balanced on the offensive end.’

The Sparks (12-15) have their own momentum heading into Tuesday’s contest. Los Angeles has won four of its last five games, including a thrilling 108-106 double-overtime road win over the Storm, where four of the Sparks five starters scored 20 or more points.

The Sparks lead the regular-season series against the Fever, 2-0. Los Angeles beat the Fever 85-75 in Indiana on June 26 and defeated the Fever 89-87 in Indiana on July 5. Clark was not in the lineup for either matchup.

Here’s what to know about Tuesday’s game between the Fever and Sparks.

What time is Indiana Fever vs. Los Angeles Sparks?

The Los Angeles Sparks will host the Indiana Fever at 10 p.m. ET (7 PT) on Tuesday, Aug. 5 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The game will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network.

How to watch Indiana Fever vs. Los Angeles Sparks: TV, stream

Time: 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT)
Location: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)
TV channel: CBS Sports Network
Streaming: Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)

Watch Fever vs. Sparks on Fubo

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