A contract with a now-bankrupt company, Aspiration, allegedly allowed Leonard to be paid without performing any marketing work.
If found guilty by the NBA, the Clippers could face severe penalties, including millions in fines and the forfeiture of draft picks.
The Clippers have denied the allegations, stating that neither the team nor its owner engaged in any misconduct.

The NBA is opening an investigation into allegations that the Los Angeles Clippers reportedly facilitated a $28 million ‘no-show’ endorsement deal for star Kawhi Leonard with a now-bankrupt sustainability company, allegedly in an effort to circumvent the NBA salary cap.

“We are aware of this morning’s media report regarding the LA Clippers and are commencing an investigation,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said Wednesday, September 3 in a statement emailed to USA TODAY Sports.

Sports reporter Pablo Torre of “Pablo Torre Finds Out” hosted an episode of his show that published Wednesday, in which he outlined the allegations. At the center of is the now-bankrupt ‘green’ financial services company called Aspiration.

Torre uncovered thousands of pages of legal documents, including a contract signed by Leonard for $28 million over a four-year term to market and endorse Aspiration, which previously received a significant investment from Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.

In the contract, a clause states that KL2 Aspire LLC, a company run by Leonard, could “decline to proceed with any action desired by the Company,” which set up a structure for Leonard to potentially receive payments without performing any work. Another clause states that Leonard would receive payments only if he continued to be a player on the Clippers.

According to legal documents Torre uncovered, Leonard and his company are still listed as a creditor for an additional $7 million.

Torre also aired tape of a former high-ranking executive who worked in the finance department with Aspiration, who agreed to be part of an interview under the condition that they use a voice modifier.

“I didn’t so much as discover it as I was told about it,” the person said during the interview.

“… My reaction was: ‘What the (expletive). And I was told: ‘Oh, these are the major contracts and the major players you really need to be aware of.’ And we went through a litany of really, really top-tier contracts, ‘Oh, and then, by the way, we also have a marketing deal with Kawhi Leonard, a $28 million organic marketing sponsorship deal with Kawhi ’ and that if I had any questions about it, essentially don’t because it was to circumvent the salary cap, LOL. There was lots of LOL when things were shared.”

When asked if the person ever saw any proof of Leonard marketing or endorsing Aspiration in any way, the person responded: “Never, not once.”

In a social media post from Thursday, June 29, 2023, the Clippers honored Leonard for his birthday, with a branded message from Aspiration.

“For every comment/retweet, @Aspiration will plant one tree for Kawhi’s birthday!” the message reads.

The post also contained an image that featured Aspiration’s logo at the top.

If the NBA finds the Clippers guilty of wrongdoing in an attempt to circumvent the salary cap, the penalties could be steep.

According to Article XIII of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the league could “impose a fine of up to” $4.5 million for a first-time violation. A second violation could trigger a $5.5 million fine and forfeiture of a first-round draft pick.

Another section under the same article prohibits unauthorized agreements; a violation of that section could trigger a fine of up to $7.5 million, forfeiture of draft picks, the voiding of player contracts, a fine of up to $350,000 to the player, a prohibition of the player signing an additional contract with the violating team and a one-year suspension of “any Team personnel found to have willfully engaged in such violation.”

The Clippers did not respond to a request for comment, though they did issue a statement to Torre.

‘Neither Mr. Ballmer nor the Clippers circumvented the salary cap or engaged in any misconduct related to Aspiration,” that statement reads. “Any contrary assertion is provably false.’

The Dallas Cowboys traded star edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two future first-round picks.
Parsons signed a four-year, $186 million contract extension with the Packers, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
The Cowboys cited improving their run defense and Parsons’ contract demands as reasons for the trade.

With less than a week until the start of the 2025 NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys made the most surprising move of the offseason. The franchise traded away franchise edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers for draft picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark.

Green Bay made Parsons the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history when the trade was completed.

Dallas drafted Parsons in the first round, No. 12 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. He’s one of just two players from that draft class to make the Pro Bowl in each of the first four seasons of their career. The other is Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.

Since he entered the league, only four players have tallied more sacks than Parsons: Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, Trey Hendrickson and Nick Bosa. Three of those four players have won Defensive Player of the Year.

Parsons is entering his age-26 season and, barring injury, should have many more productive years ahead of him. He’s had at least 12 sacks in each of his first four years in the league. The Green Bay Packers have had three players reach 12 sacks in a season over the last decade: Za’Darius Smith in 2019 (13.5 sacks) and 2020 (12.5 sacks), and Preston Smith in 2019 (12.0 sacks).

Green Bay lacked production off the edge, and Parsons fills that need in a big way. Which begs the question: Why did Dallas make this trade? We’ll do our best to answer that here.

Why did the Cowboys trade Micah Parsons?

Cowboys general manager and owner Jerry Jones stated in a press conference after the trade that he believes the trade makes the team better overall.

‘Without being too broad, we did think it was in the best interest for our organization, not only in the future but right now, for this season,” Jones said. “We gained a Pro Bowl player in an area that we had big concerns in, on the inside of our defense.’

Those concerns included run defense.

“The facts are, specifically, we need to stop the run,’ Jones said. ‘We haven’t been able to stop the run in key times for several years… It was a prerequisite, and we only picked teams … that could pay Micah and had top (defensive) tackles.’

The Cowboys have used draft capital recently on pass rushers Marshawn Kneeland (2024 second-round pick) and Donovan Ezeiruaku (2025 second-round pick).

Jones also said the draft picks the team received for Parsons could be included in future moves.

“Nothing says we can’t use those picks to go get somebody right now,’ he said. ‘Don’t rule that out.”

Parsons and his representation seemed far away on contract specifics with Jones and the Cowboys. With big-money deals in the books for quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys likely weren’t reaching the numbers Green Bay offered.

Micah Parsons trade details

This deal involved just two players and two draft picks. Here’s the breakdown:

Dallas Cowboys receive:

Two future first-round draft picks
DT Kenny Clark

Green Bay Packers receive:

Edge Micah Parsons

Micah Parsons contract details

Parsons signed a four-year extension once the trade went through, which makes him the latest player to become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. Here’s a look at the details:

Length: Four years
Total value: $186 million
Guaranteed: $120 million
Average Annual Value (AAV): $46.5 million

This contract kicks in starting in the 2026 season. He now leads the league in total value, guaranteed money and AAV among non-quarterbacks.

In total value, he’s now ahead of Bosa who sits at $170 million. Watt is second to Parsons in AAV at $41 million and total guaranteed money at $108 million.

The 2025 NFL season features seven new head coaches, an indication of how quickly their jobs cycle.
Could this be the second year a coach working with the No. 1 overall draft pick finds himself in trouble?
Miami’s Mike McDaniel has reached the playoffs two of the past three seasons, but his owner has already suggested more is required.

The start of an NFL season is typically a time for peak optimism in many cities and for numerous fan bases – so often because there’s a sense of renewal sparked by new players, a clean record and maybe even a first-year head coach. Seven teams (Jets, Patriots, Jaguars, Raiders, Cowboys, Bears and Saints) have new faces under the big headset in 2025, a number that’s also highly indicative of how quickly this league chews up guys in that job on a year-by-year basis. (Eight coaching changes occurred in 2024.)

However while nobody’s taken a bad loss – yet – perhaps this is a year when more HCs can afford just a few of them. In addition to the seven taking their maiden voyages in new assignments, there’s a division full of stable coaching legends (AFC West), perennial division champs in Buffalo, Kansas City and Tampa Bay, and future Hall of Fame coaching institutions leading teams like the Ravens, Steelers, Chiefs and (probably) the Rams – and, yes, admittedly, there’s an Andy Reid throughline to all of those categories.

As Week 1 nears, we know the only constant in the NFL is change, but there do seem to be (relatively) fewer coaches potentially bound for the chopping block. The coming months will reveal whether that’s true or not, but here are five who embark on the upcoming campaign with at least some extra pressure and scrutiny on them while operating on a seat that’s at least a few degrees warmer than their peers’:

Brian Callahan, Tennessee Titans

Yes, it’s only his second season, but keep an eye on Nashville. Callahan, 41, is an intense, older school coach who isn’t afraid to light up his players – whether on the sideline or at the post-game podium. That can be an effective approach … but maybe less so and perhaps only temporarily with the current generation. And if you think he ought to enjoy a sense of security coming off a year when the Titans earned the No. 1 pick, just look at what happened in Chicago last year with Caleb Williams. If it doesn’t go well with Callahan and rookie Cam Ward, you can bet the quarterback isn’t the guy who’s going to get replaced. Lastly, don’t forget that Tennessee has a rookie general manager, Mike Borgonzi, who didn’t hire Callahan.

Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons

Like Callahan, he’s only going into his second season with his current team, so it’s not like Morris is necessarily trying to keep the wolves at bay … yet. The worry more so here for Morris might be guilt by association with fifth-year GM Terry Fontenot, who hired him. The Falcons haven’t made the playoffs nor had a winning record since 2017 – and they don’t exactly play in a murderers’ row of a division. And yet Fontenot followed his highly unorthodox 2024 offseason − he signed free agent QB Kirk Cousins to a nine-figure contract and then drafted current QB1 Michael Penix Jr. in the first round − by mortgaging the future during this year’s draft, when he took a pair of pass rushers (Jalon Walker and James Pearce) in Round 1. Signals clearly sent that Atlanta expects to win now, and Morris needs to deliver, fairly or not, because another seven- or eight-win output isn’t likely to guarantee this regime anything.

Brian Daboll, New York Giants

The league’s Coach of the Year in 2022, when he made Daniel Jones look like a star while leading the G-Men to the playoffs, Daboll has been something of a victim of his own success and circumstances – namely departed Jones’ regression and injuries along with questionable roster management under GM Joe Schoen. Coming off a 3-14 season, which included a Week 17 defeat of the Colts that ultimately cost the Giants the No. 1 pick of the 2025 draft, Daboll entered this offseason on a very toasty chair – after all, who rallies their team to defeat a playoff hopeful in Week 17, right? (Honestly, kudos, Coach.) Yet the vibes seem awfully good right now around a team that was dominant in the preseason and seems to have as good a young core as any organization given the presence of potential superstars such as WR Malik Nabers, rookie LB Abdul Carter and, most importantly, first-round QB Jaxson Dart. The question now becomes how much more patience owner John Mara can muster with his team facing the league’s hardest statistical schedule (.574 collective winning percentage by opponents in 2024). If Daboll and Schoen receive the leeway to bring Dart along slowly and endure what’s likely to be another bumpy ride in 2025 but with Big Bluer skies likely ahead, this team could be ready to take off in 2026. If not?

Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts

After receiving deserved credit for unlocking Jalen Hurts on the Eagles’ run to Super Bowl 57 in 2022, Steichen, whether it’s a fair assessment or not, hasn’t been able to get QB Anthony Richardson on a similar track since both arrived in Indy in 2023. The recent decision to pivot to Jones as the starter is suggestive of how sideways things have gone with talented-but-raw Richardson. Make no mistake, the Colts haven’t been terrible under Steichen, but .500 (17-17) is only going to cut it for so long. And for a franchise nearly seven years removed from its most recent playoff win, courtesy of Andrew Luck, and operating at least under something of a new ownership vision following the offseason death of Jim Irsay, it’s fair to wonder how much more grace Steichen, Jones, Richardson and GM Chris Ballard enjoy here entering a season with decidedly low expectations outside of this locker room’s.

Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins

His redemption story following personal trials and tribulations as he climbed the coaching ladder, quirky personality and ability to generate some serious offense produced ample good feels during his first three seasons in South Florida, the first two ending in postseason berths. And yet the Fins are fast approaching the 25th anniversary of their most recent playoff win, and have too often come up small in big spots under McDaniel. Throw in a widespread perception that this team is soft and that McDaniel doesn’t hold his players sufficiently accountable, and you start to see what seems to be the writing on the wall. Owner Stephen Ross certainly left his mark on it in January, when he issued McDaniel and GM Chris Grier the dreaded vote of confidence wrapped around an unmistakable message, saying in a statement that read in part: “(C)ontinuity in leadership is not to be confused with an acceptance that status quo is good enough. We will take a hard look at where we have fallen short and make the necessary changes to deliver our ultimate goal of building and sustaining a winning team that competes for championships.”

South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers and LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier are ranked as the top two prospects after Week 1.
Texas quarterback Arch Manning had a disappointing start to his season in a loss to Ohio State.
The weekly rankings consider raw statistics, advanced metrics, and game film to evaluate the passers.

College football is in full swing as the calendar turns to September. Fans got a treat to start the season with three games between top-10 ranked teams in Week 1: Texas-Ohio State, LSU-Clemson and Notre Dame-Miami.

Two of those three matchups included quarterbacks that NFL fans will want to know about come draft season. Unlike the 2025 NFL Draft class, there are a handful of draft-eligible quarterbacks who have a good chance at making it in the first round.

The biggest name of all is Arch Manning, the nephew of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning and Super Bowl champion Eli Manning. His Texas Longhorns fell on the road to the Ohio State Buckeyes in Week 1 in the opening game of his first season as a starter.

Behind him are names to know in the context of both the College Football Playoff (CFP) and the NFL Draft. LSU, Clemson, Penn State and Texas are all likely to be in contention for CFP berths behind quarterbacks with first-round talent.

We’ll be taking stock of these passers weekly throughout the college football season and ranking the top eight after the latest week with two more designated as the next up. We’ll be using raw statistics, advanced metrics from Pro Football Focus (PFF) and game film to generate these rankings.

Here’s how things shape up after Week 1:

2026 NFL Draft QB prospect rankings

1. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

Week 1 vs. Virginia Tech: 12-19 (63.2%) passing, 209 yards, one touchdown; 12 carries, 55 yards, one touchdown

Sellers moves into the top spot after a solid season opener against one of the toughest defenses in the ACC. Virginia Tech gave No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward some trouble last season and was the only defense to force him to throw multiple interceptions all season.

Sellers didn’t put on a show but made a few plays that will have NFL scouts excited about him in the top 10 of next year’s draft. He shrugged off multiple tacklers and tight-roped his way down the sideline for a key fourth-quarter third-down conversion.

Sellers’ athleticism is no surprise at this point of his career. That’s been one of his calling cards as a 6-foot-3, 240-pound former soccer player. But he made a few throws to show he’s not a purely running quarterback at this stage of his development.

Sellers’ physical tools will make him a first-round pick barring serious injury. How high he goes will come down to how he performs as a passer in the next few months.

2. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

Week 1 at Clemson: 28-38 (73.6%) passing, 232 yards, one touchdown; five carries, 12 yards

LSU is 1-0 to start a season for the first time since 2019, thanks in no small part to Nussmeier. He entered the season as a likely first-round pick because of his arm talent, anticipation and pocket presence. A matchup on the road against No. 4 Clemson was a tough early-season test for the son of New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier.

Clemson boasts NFL talent on the defensive line (Peter Woods, T.J. Parker) and the secondary (Avieon Terrell). Nussmeier played up to the competition and got the ball out quickly against Clemson’s rushers with an average time to throw of 2.09 seconds, per PFF.

Yes, LSU’s staff schemed up a quick passing game with an average depth of target of 4.4 yards (for comparison Sellers’ was 7.9) but he still showed the type of command and pre-snap acumen NFL teams are looking for.

His touchdown pass to Trey’Dez Green to put LSU up for good was one of his best throws all game.

3. Arch Manning, Texas

Week 1 at Ohio State: 17-30 (56.7%), 170 yards, one touchdown, one interception; nine carries, 39 yards

You’ve likely heard all about Manning’s struggles in Week 1 against defending champion Ohio State. His first attempt of the day was disappointing: a play-action rollout to his right in a zone-beating route concept. His pass fell far short of an open DeAndre Moore Jr. for what would’ve been an easy first down.

There’d be more of that throughout the game with multiple throws that fell short of the target or sailed over a receiver.

The Buckeyes brought a solid plan on defense to the season opener and have one of the top prospects in the entire 2026 class in safety Caleb Downs. But Manning made mistakes in some key moments, like this interception in the third quarter:

The sky certainly is not falling. Manning will be a top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft if he declares and has plenty of time to grow as one of the most-hyped starters in recent college football history. His talent is undeniable, even in a disappointing loss like this on the road.

4. Drew Allar, Penn State

Week 1 vs. Nevada: 22-26 (84.6%) passing, 217 yards, one touchdown; five carries, 31 yards

Allar and the Nittany Lions built a 27-3 lead by halftime and cruised to a 46-11 win at home against Nevada. He didn’t have nearly the test of the top three passers on this ranking. That’ll come later in the season.

Still, Allar made some highlight throws you’d like to see against a lesser opponent at home. His touchdown strike to Kyron Hudson late in the first half looks very similar to the kinds of throws he’ll be expected to make in the NFL.

Allar’s physical tools are outstanding and he’s shown steady growth as a passer since Penn State made a change at offensive coordinator. He likely would’ve been a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and he’ll reinforce that status as the season goes on. Penn State looks to be in contention in the playoffs, so the stage is set for Allar to thrive.

5. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

Week 1 vs. Old Dominion: 18-31 (54.5%) passing, 193 yards; five carries, 39 yards, one touchdown

Mendoza transferred from Cal to Indiana this season on the heels of the Hoosiers’ first CFP appearance. He was the lone passer not to throw a touchdown of the top five in these rankings but that isn’t entirely his fault.

Arguably his best throw of the game against Old Dominion fell incomplete on what would’ve certainly been a touchdown late in the second quarter.

He played with solid timing but lacked the types of plays we’d hoped to see against a team that’s not on par with the Big Ten’s best. Mendoza acknowledged that he didn’t play well in the opener and has a chance to right that in Week 2 at home against Kennesaw State.

With his size (6-foot-5, 225 pounds), arm talent and mobility, there are tools and lots of good tape to make him a worthy first-rounder. He just needs to show up bigger in these moments.

6. Cade Klubnik, Clemson

Week 1 vs. LSU: 19-38 (50%) passing, 231 yards, one interception; seven rushes, 22 yards

Like Manning, Klubnik’s first throw of Week 1 didn’t set the tone well for the rest of the day. A quick drop from shotgun on an in-breaking route from the slot wobbled well out of reach of both wide receiver Antonio Williams and his nearest defender.

It took until Klubnik’s fifth dropback for him to complete his first pass. The LSU defense got after him in a big way – his 18 pressures were more than any of the passers in the top five of these rankings. His interception came on an unblocked pressure on his right in what appeared to be a miscommunication by the offensive line.

On the plus side, Klubnik’s dual-threat ability was on display throughout the game. He didn’t hesitate to use his legs to gain extra yards if pressure got to him and that resulted in some key first downs. There are positives to Klubnik’s game but this was a shaky start to the season.

7. Sam Leavitt, Arizona State

Week 1 vs. Northern Arizona: 24-38 (63.2%) passing, 257 yards, two touchdowns, one interception; five carries, 94 yards, two touchdowns

Arizona State made a run to the CFP in 2024 with an offense focused on running back Cam Skattebo. With Skattebo on to the NFL, Leavitt’s expected to take on a bigger role this season – his second as a starter – and he delivered in the opening game.

His arm talent is undeniable and he has a solid frame at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds. His scrambling ability can make a difference and he made plays with his feet against Northern Arizona, including an impressive 52-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

Leavitt should have a good connection with Jordyn Tyson, one of the best draft-eligible wide receivers in the country. That’ll give him a foundation to showcase his talent every week.

8. John Mateer, Oklahoma

Week 1 vs. Illinois State: 30-37 (81.1%) passing, 392 yards, three touchdowns, one interception; six carries, 28 yards, one touchdown

If you’re looking for the ideal start to the season, Mateer’s got you covered. The transfer from Washington State set a school record for most yards in an Oklahoma debut and set a career-high for passing yards as well.

A significant caveat, similar to Allar’s evaluation, is that this occurred against non-conference competition in Illinois State. Some of the throws he made in small windows against zone coverage may not be there later in the season.

Still, he made plays on seam routes and showcased his arm talent with multiple deep shots. It took until the final minute of the first quarter for Mateer to find the end zone on a touchdown run but he made plays throughout the day.

This week’s game against Michigan will be very telling, as it represents a level of competition that should test the transfer quarterback.

Next two up: Miller Moss, Louisville; Taylen Green, Arkansas

NEW YORK – Iga Swiatek knew that it wouldn’t be an easy matchup this time around against Amanda Anisimova.

The last time these two met was at the Wimbledon finals in July, where it took Swiatek just 57 minutes to beat Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 for her sixth Grand Slam title.

That double bagel in a Grand Slam women’s singles final was a rarity and the first since the 1988 French Open, when Steffi Graf beat Natasha Zvereva in just 32 minutes.

But the results were much different this time, as Anisimova exacted revenge from that thumping to upset the No. 2 seed Swiatek and 2022 US Open champion, with a 6-4, 6-3 quarterfinal win at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Anisimova, the No. 8 seed, certainly got off to a better start in the US Open quarterfinals, finally securing her first point in the two matchups in the first set’s second game, and used her forehand effectively to keep Swiatek on the run. She also played a much cleaner first set than at Wimbledon, when she had three double faults and 12 unforced errors. She cut the errors in half and broke Swiatek, taking the first set when her forehand return went wide, leading to loud applause from the sellout crowd.

Anisimova, one of two Americans left in the singles draw, will face the winner of Naomi Osaka and Karolína Muchová on Thursday night for a spot in the finals.

‘The first day I got here, I was like, okay, let’s try to make it through one round. This has been such a dream,’ Anisimova said after the match. ‘To come back from Wimbledon like that, is really special to me. I feel like I worked so hard so try to turn around from that. And today proved everything for me. I can do it, so this is really special.’

It has been quite a turnaround for the 24-year-old Anisimova, who took a hiatus from the sport in 2023 and returned to Wimbledon the following year, ranked 189th in the world. But after making the Wimbledon finals, while beating No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals of that Grand Slam, she will rise to a career-high No. 5 in the next WTA rankings following her victory over Swiatek.

Anisimova dominates second set

Iga Swiatek goes down!

After a humiliating defeat their last time on the court together, American Anisimova has overcome her previous demons, taking down the U.S. Open’s No. 2 seed in back-to-back sets: 6-4, 6-3.

The second set was partciularly impressive. After Swiatek took the first two games, Anisimova won six of the next seven to emerge victorious. Anisimova’s win advances her to the semifinals, where she’ll play the winner of Naomi Osaka and Karolina Muchova.

Swiatek’s 2-0 lead ousted quickly in second set

With her back against the wall, the tournament’s No. 2 seed Swiatek came out swinging to stay alive, winning each of the first two games against Anisimova in the second set.

Americans were glad to see Anisimova bounce back though, winning the third and fourth games without much of a sweat to tie things back up.

The longer this match goes, the more opportunities Swiatek will have to take advantage of her opponent’s mistakes. So, Anisimova’s best chance to win may be right now.

Anisimova wins first set

After failing to win a single game in their last matchup, Anisimova proved that she was out for blood in the first set. Though it was back and forth at first, with each player tied at four games apiece to start, Anisimova won each of the final two games, coming back to do so in both, and win 6-4.

Anisimova needs just one more set now to avenge her previous loss.

Swiatek wins first game, Anisimova breaks streak right after

Well, Anisimova will have to wait to break her 13-game loss streak to Swiatek. It was back-and-forth to start, with both players reaching 30-30 to begin the match, but Swiatek would eventually pull it out.

Thankfully, Anisimova would retaliate immediately, dominating the next game, going up 40-0 before Swiatek would win a single rally. Anisimova would win the game on her third break point opportunity.

When is Amanda Anisimova vs. Iga Swiatek match?

No. 8 seed Amanda Anisimova will play No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek in a women’s quarterfinal on Wednesday. The match at Arthur Ashe Stadium will start after the completion of the men’s quarterfinal between No. 8 Alex de Minaur and No. 25 Felix Auger-Aliassime.

“At this stage of the game you’re going to play a really tough opponent, regardless,’ Anisimova said after defeating Beatriz Haddad Maia on Monday. ‘So, to be able to have a rematch, to face her again and give myself another chance, I’m really, really happy about that.’

How to watch Amanda Anisimova vs. Iga Swiatek

When: Approximately 3:10 p.m. ET
Where: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (Flushing Meadows, New York)
TV: ESPN, Tennis Channel
Streaming: ESPN+, Fubo

Amanda Anisimova vs. Iga Swiatek head-to-head record

Amanda Anisimova and Iga Swiatek have only met once in their professional careers.

Swiatek blanked Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in this year’s Wimbledon final.

Watch Anisimova vs. Swiatek live on Fubo

The Houston Astros have found themselves in the midst of another controversy. But there’s no stolen signals this time. Rather, miscommunication about signals might have been the cause.

During a game on Tuesday, Sept. 2, Astros’ left-hander Framber Valdez allegedly intentionally threw an uncalled pitch at catcher Cesar Salazar, which wound up pelting Salazar in the chest.

The miscommunication in question came after Salazar asked Valdez to step off the mound after the pair could not agree on a pitch to throw to Trent Grisham. Valdez did not step off though, and Grisham wound up hitting a grand slam to give the New York Yankees a 6-0 lead. Just two pitches after the home run, Valdez pegged his catcher.

Although both Salazar and Valdez told reporters that the incident was unintentional after the game, Salazar’s reaction to the errant pitch had many fans believing it was foul play on Valdez’s end. After taking a 93 mph sinker to the chest, Salazar looked back at Valdez with disapproving eyes, while Valdez stared him down with little emotion.

Here’s what we know about the incident:

Valdez’s agent defends him

On Wednesday morning, Framber Valdez’s agent, Ulises Cabrera, told the Houston Chronicle that any assumption that Valdez hit Salazar on purpose was ‘preposterous’ and ‘a complete lack of respect for who he is as a person.’

‘There’s no questioning what Framber is and what he represents to the team and his thought process on the team,’ Cabrera added. ‘The idea that he’s intentionally trying to injure one of his teammates is preposterous. Anything to the contrary is just completely misguided and it’s not right.’

Did Valdez apologize to Salazar?

Following the game on Tuesday, Valdez told reporters that he had apologized to Salazar after the mix-up, claiming it was merely a result of him getting ‘crossed up.’

Astros’ executives give their thoughts

On Wednesday morning, Astros GM Dana Brown took to the radio waves to clear the air, claiming that it likely came as a result of frustration after Valdez gave up the grand slam to Grisham. Brown claimed, ‘Sometimes you get so angry you can’t see straight. And he crossed him up. They had a conversation after the game, and they squashed it.’

Team manager Joe Espada also gave his thoughts, claiming that most of the assumptions regarding the incident are merely false speculations. He said, ‘A lot of that stuff is not true. But I understand the environment and what comes with it. I appreciate if we could just get past this and go back to just baseball.’

When do the Astros play next?

The Astros continue their series with the Yankees on Wednesday night, with first pitch scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET. The Astros (76-63) are currently in position to reach the MLB playoffs, sitting three games ahead of the Seattle Mariners for first place in the AL West.

‘Speak Now’ if you’ve heard this before, but the ‘1989’-born, ‘Fearless’ singer-songwriter with a ‘Reputation’ for wearing ‘Red’ could be adding a new chapter to her ‘Folklore’ and another major event in her ‘Life of a Showgirl.’

In a Wednesday appearance on the ‘Today’ show, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he wasn’t ready to announce the performer for Super Bowl 60’s halftime show just yet. But he also said it is a ‘maybe’ that Taylor Swift could be the headliner next February.

‘We would always love to have Taylor play,’ Goodell said. ‘She is a special, special talent. And obviously she would be welcome at any time.’

When asked if there was a deal in the works to make Swift this upcoming year’s halftime performer, Goodell said, ‘I can’t tell you anything about that. It’s a ‘maybe.”

Swift’s close ties to the NFL date back to September 2023, when she began dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Her association with the Chiefs – and the league, in general – skyrocketed the popularity of Kelce’s team and the NFL among a female demographic.

Chiefs principal owner Clark Hunt recently told ESPN’s ‘Pat McAfee Show’ that women make up 57% of the Chiefs’ fanbase now. And according to analysis from marketing firm Apex Marketing as of February, Swift’s association with the NFL has been worth almost $1 billion in publicity, a number that has undoubtedly only grown in the months since.

Last month, Kelce and Swift announced their engagement via an Instagram post. In fewer than two weeks, the post has garnered over 36 million likes, which ranks ninth all-time among most-liked Instagram posts in history.

The two made their first public appearance since their engagement announcement at the University of Cincinnati’s game against the University of Nebraska at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City last week.

When does the NFL announce its Super Bowl halftime show performer?

There is not a set date or deadline for when the league must announce who is performing at its annual Super Bowl halftime show.

However, over the last four years, the announcement has always come during the month of September, with last year’s announcement by Kendrick Lamar being the earliest of the bunch on Sept. 8.

Here’s when the NFL has announced its last four Super Bowl halftime show performers:

Kendrick Lamar: Sept. 8, 2024
Usher: Sept. 24, 2023
Rihanna: Sept. 25, 2022
Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar: Sept. 30, 2021

When is the Super Bowl?

Super Bowl 60 is scheduled for Feb. 8, 2026. It will take place at Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, in Santa Clara, California.

Has Taylor Swift ever performed at the Super Bowl?

No, Swift has never performed at the Super Bowl, neither as a headliner nor a guest performer.

The road to the 2026 World Cup is a long one, and no fewer than 50 nations play qualifiers on Thursday, Sept. 4 as teams across the globe vie for one of the 48 bids to next year’s tournament.

For soccer fans, there’s a possible run of 15 straight hours of play available to watch. The slate of World Cup qualifiers will kick off in Africa, with Chad hosting Ghana at 9 a.m. ET, and the latest qualifying match of the day (Guatemala vs. El Salvador) won’t kick off until 10 p.m. ET.

The most pressure-packed game might come in South America, where Colombia and Bolivia face off in Barranquilla. Neither team has clinched a berth, and with two rounds left to play, a draw would eliminate the visitors. Meanwhile, Colombia has far loftier expectations than scraping by, and one more stumble would put them into a potential must-win next week at Venezuela.

Elsewhere, some of Europe’s biggest powers will be in action. Germany will face a potentially tricky trip to Slovakia, while Spain will head to Sofia to take on Bulgaria. The Netherlands, who have 10 goals for and none conceded after two matches, will host Poland in what could be one of their more difficult matches in Group G.

Here is a full list of every 2026 World Cup qualifier for Thursday, including start times and options to catch select games:

World Cup qualifiers today: Times, schedule, how to watch

All times Eastern.

Confederation of African Football

Group A: Guinea-Bissau vs. Sierra Leone – 12 p.m.
Group D: Angola vs. Libya – 12 p.m.
Group D: Mauritius vs. Cape Verde – 12 p.m.
Group D: Cameroon vs. Eswatini – 3 p.m.
Group G: Algeria vs. Botswana – 3 p.m.
Group H: São Tomé and Príncipe vs. Equatorial Guinea – 12 p.m.
Group H: Tunisia vs. Liberia – 3 p.m.
Group I: Chad vs. Ghana – 9 a.m.
Group I: Madagascar vs. Central African Republic – 12 p.m.
Group I: Mali vs. Comoros – 3 p.m.

Watch Thursday’s CAF World Cup qualifiers on ESPN+

Concacaf (North and Central America, and the Caribbean)

Group A: Suriname vs. Panama – 5:30 p.m.
Group A: Guatemala vs. El Salvador – 10 p.m.

Watch Concacaf World Cup qualifying on Fubo (free trial)

CONMEBOL (South America)

Matchday 17: Uruguay vs. Peru – 7:30 p.m.
Matchday 17: Colombia vs. Bolivia – 7:30 p.m.
Matchday 17: Paraguay vs. Ecuador – 7:30 p.m.
Matchday 17: Argentina vs. Venezuela – 7:30 p.m.
Matchday 17: Brazil vs. Chile – 8:30 p.m.

UEFA (Europe)

Group A: Luxembourg vs. Northern Ireland – 2:45 p.m.
Group A: Slovakia vs. Germany – 2:45 p.m.
Group E: Georgia vs. Turkey – 12 p.m.
Group E: Bulgaria vs. Spain – 2:45 p.m.
Group G: Lithuania vs. Malta – 12 p.m.
Group G: Netherlands vs. Poland – 2:45 p.m.
Group J: Kazakhstan vs. Wales – 10 a.m.
Group J: Liechtenstein vs. Belgium – 2:45 p.m.

Watch Thursday’s UEFA World Cup qualifying games on Fubo (free trial)