Baltimore Orioles prospect Luis Guevara has died following a June 15 jet ski accident in Florida, the team announced.

Guevara, 19, was an infielder with the Orioles’ team in the Florida Complex League. The club postponed its games the two days following the incident.

Guevara was involved in a head-on crash between two jet skis on Sunday off Lido Key near the Orioles’ spring home in Sarasota, Florida. Four people were involved in the crash, with two being sent to the hospital, according to the Baltimore Sun. At least one other Orioles prospect was part of the collision, the Sun reported.

“Luis was a beloved member of our organization, and we are devastated following his tragic passing,” Orioles general manager Mike Elias said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and teammates, and we ask for their continued privacy during this difficult time.”

An international free agent from Venezuela, Guevara was signed by the Orioles in January 2023. After playing two years in the Dominican Summer League, he appeared in 24 games at Class A Delmarva and two games at Class AA Chesapeake this season. He had just begun a stint in the Florida Complex League last week.

Things got chippy in the Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun game, and Caitlin Clark was shoved down on the court.

It had been brewing throughout the Tuesday, June 17 matchup at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, as Clark had exchanged words with Connecticut players in a few instances. Late in the third quarter, Clark was dribbling around the perimeter with Sun guard Jacy Sheldon guarding her. Sheldon made incidental contact with Clark’s face, which frustrated the Fever star.

A foul was called and Clark shoved Sheldon as she confronted her. But right afterward, Sun forward Marina Mabrey jumped in and pushed Clark down on the floor. Fever and Sun players then got tangled up before the situation got de-escalated.

The officials reviewed the play and ruled a flagrant foul on Sheldon, and double technical fouls on Clark and Connecticut center Tina Charles. Mabrey was charged with a technical foul, which confused the broadcast crew as they believed Mabrey would be ejected for the incident. The crowd also booed the decision.

Clark shot three free throws as a result and made all three attempts.

Later in the game, Clark made a 3-pointers and had some words for Sheldon and the rest of the Connecticut bench.

Late scuffle happens with Sophie Cunningham, Jacy Sheldon

The tension continued into the final minute of the contest. Sheldon made a steal and was driving on a fastbreak with Fever guard Sophie Cunningham defending her. As Sheldon went for the layup, Cunningham wrapped her arms around her in a hard foul. Sheldon and teammate Lindsay Allen immediately confronted Cunningham as both teams got in the mix-up and words were exchanged.

The play went under review and Cunningham, Sheldon and Allen were ejected from the game before it ended in an 88-71 Indiana win.

This story has been updated with new information to include the late fourth-quarter interaction between the Sun and Fever.

The Florida Panthers needed 30 years to win their first Stanley Cup championship.

Now the word ‘dynasty’ can be tossed around them as they picked up their second consecutive title in their third consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Final.

They beat the Edmonton Oilers for the second year in a row and did it in six games, compared with seven games last season, this time with a 5-1 victory on June 17.

Sam Reinhart, who scored the Cup-clinching goal in 2024, had four goals as Florida got to celebrate again on home ice.

Matthew Tkachuk, who rehabbed from a torn adductor muscle suffered at the 4 Nations Face-Off to make it back for the playoffs, got this year’s Cup clincher. Sergei Bobrovsky made 28 saves, allowing only a goal late in the third period.

The Panthers started every playoff series on the road, but they got through the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes and Edmonton Oilers. Edmonton’s loss extended Canada’s Stanley Cup drought to 32 seasons.

‘This is harder than the last time,’ Sam Bennett, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP, told TNT. ‘We just put in so much work. I’m just so proud of this group. There’s honestly 25 MVPs on this team. It’s the best feeling in the world.’

The Panthers were too banged up in the 2023 final and fell to the Vegas Golden Knights. They were healthier last season in taking a 3-0 series lead before finishing off the Oilers in Game 7. And they were deeper this season with their offseason signings and their trades for Brad Marchand and Seth Jones.

They were methodical, scoring first in the last five games and outscoring the Oilers 9-0 in the first period over the last four games.

They were opportunistic in Game 6. Reinhart got his first goal off a turnover and his second (Florida’s second) after goalie Stuart Skinner misplayed the puck. Reinhart added two empty-netters to become the first player since Wayne Gretzky (1985) to score seven goals in the final.

The Panthers have a busy offseason ahead because Bennett (15 goals), Marchand (six goals in the final), Aaron Ekblad and others are among their pending unrestricted free agents. But for now, they’re the team to beat.

Highlights from Game 6 between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers:

Panthers vs. Oilers highlights

Stanley Cup presented

Showing how close the team is, Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov picks up the Stanley Cup and brings over to the rest of the team so they can touch it. Then he goes for a skate and starts a series of handoffs to first-time winners. Nate Schmidt, who was bought out by Winnipeg and signed as a free agent, was first. He hands it Seth Jones and it continues through the first-timers. Then it goes to first-time Panthers (and second-time winner) Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett.

‘These guys love each other. That’s the best I can come up,’ coach Paul Maurice told TNT. ‘It’s the truth. The way they treat each other and care about each other, that’s their energy source and it’s the most powerful energy source.’

Sam Bennett wins Conn Smythe Trophy

He scored a league-leading 15 goals during the playoffs to win the trophy for playoff MVP. Five of those were during the Stanley Cup Final. He set a record with 13 road goals. He joins Zach Hyman (16), Alex Ovechkin (15) and Sidney Crosby (15) as active players to score 15 playoff goals.

Game recap

Final score: Panthers 5, Oilers 1

A dominant effort by the Panthers as they win four of their last five games to pick up their second consecutive Stanley Cup title.

Evander Kane gets misconduct

He chops Matthew Tkachuk.

Score update: Panthers 5, Oilers 1

Vasily Podkolzin ends Sergei Bobrovsky’s shutout bid, knocking in a rebound.

Score update: Panthers 5, Oilers 0

Sam Reinhart is on fire. He scores an empty-netter for his fourth goal of the game.

Stuart Skinner back on bench

Edmonton has an extra skater.

Score update: Panthers 4, Oilers 0

The Oilers pull goalie Stuart Skinner for an extra skater and Reinhart completes the hat trick with an empty-netter. That’s the first postseason hat trick by the Panthers.. There’s 6:34 left in regulation.

Midway through the third period

Fans have been chanting, ‘We want the Cup.’ Sergei Bobrovsky stops Jake Walman to keep it 3-0.

Third period underway

Panthers 20 minutes away from a Cup title.

End second: Panthers 3, Oilers 0

The Panthers added to their lead in that period because goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was solid and Edmonton goaltender Stuart Skinner made a gaffe. With the Panthers cycling the puck in the Edmonton zone, Skinner looked out of position as a Carter Verhaeghe shot bounced of him. Seconds later, it was in the net. Sam Reinhart got his second goal of the game. He scored the Cup-clinching goal last season. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl played about nine minutes each in that period. Edmonton led 10-9 in shots.

Score update: Panthers 3, Oilers 0

Panthers pin the Oilers in their zone and Stuart Skinner lets a long shot from Carter Verhaeghe bounce off him. Aleksander Barkov picks up the rebound and feeds Sam Reinhart for his second goal of the game. Bad play there by Skinner.

Midway through second period

Oilers are pressing for their first goal, but Sergei Bobrovsky is equal. Shots are 8-6 Edmonton so far in the period.

Oilers lines

Edmonton keeping Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together. Coach Kris Knoblauch is switching up the third forward.

Oilers chance

Connor McDavid works the puck to Corey Perry down low but it’s slightly out of his reach and his shot hits the side of the net.

Second period underway

2-0 Panthers. Getting the next goal seems critical for Edmonton.

End first: Panthers 2, Oilers 0

This is a repeat of previous games. The Panthers survive an early Edmonton push then score a couple goals, this time by Sam Reinhart and Matthew Tkachuk. Reinhart has goals in his last four games and Tkachuk has three goals and three assists. Florida has outscored the Oilers 9-0 in the first period in the last four games. Shots are 10-9 Oilers

Score update: Panthers 2, Oilers 0

Eetu Luostrainen patiently holds onto the puck and feeds Matthew Tkachuk as he comes into the zone from the bench. He skates in and beats Stuart Skinner at 19:13.

Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl together

Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch already puts his stars together.

Panthers, Oilers penalties

Sam Bennett and Evander Kane go off, so it’s 4-on-4. As expected, the Oilers get the better chances, but it’s full strength now.

Score update: Panthers 1, Oilers 0

Turnover by Evan Bouchard leads to a Sam Reinhart goal at 4:36. Slick stickhandling by Reinhart to get around Mattias Ekholm, whose initial pass had handcuffed Bouchard. Panthers have scored first for five games in a row.

Oilers controlling early

Edmonton needed a good start. It’s leading 4-0 in shots three minutes in.

Oilers throwing around the body

Corey Perry and Leon Draisaitl have big hits, knocking over Brad Marchand and Niko Mikkola, respectively.

Game 6 underway

Oilers’ Connor McDavid line vs. Panthers’ Aleksander Barkov line.

When is Stanley Cup Final Game 6? Panthers vs. Oilers game time

The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers will face off Tuesday, June 17, at 8 p.m. ET at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.

What TV channel is Panthers vs. Oilers Game 6 on?

TNT and truTV are broadcasting Game 6 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final. Kenny Albert will provide play-by-play, while Eddie Olczyk, Brian Boucher, Darren Pang and Jackie Redmond will provide analysis and reporting.

Stream the 2025 Stanley Cup Final on Sling

How to watch Panthers vs. Oilers Game 6

Date: Tuersday, June 17
Location: Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: TNT, truTV
Streaming: Max, Sling TV

Where to stream Stanley Cup Finals

Streaming is available on Max and Sling TV.

Projected starting lines

The NHL roster report says the Oilers are starting the Connor McDavid line (Corey Perry is back on the line). Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who missed the morning skate, is starting. The Panthers are countering with the Aleksander Barkov line with Gustav Forsling and Aaron Ekblad on defense.

Florida Panthers projected lines

Edmonton Oilers projected lines

Goaltending matchup

Panthers’ Sergei Bobrovsky (15-7, 2.26 goals-against average, .912 save percentage) vs. Oilers’ Stuart Skinner (7-6, 2.99, .891)

Florida Panthers’ leading scorers

The Panthers have 11 players with double-digit points, led by Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk (22 each), followed by Brad Marchand, Carter Verhaeghe and Aleksander Barkov (20 each). Bennett leads the playoffs with 15 goals.

Edmonton Oilers’ leading scorers

The Oilers have the top three scorers in the series: Forwards Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid are tied with a league-best 33 points, followed by defenseman Evan Bouchard (23). Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has 20 points and Draisaitl has a team-best 11 goals.

Stanley Cup is in the building

If the Panthers clinch tonight, the Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup will be presented. If the Oilers win, the teams and trophy will head to Edmonton, Alberta, for Game 7 on Friday, June 20. Here’s what to know about the Stanley Cup.

Oilers lineup changes

In addition to Stuart Skinner returning to the net, defenseman John Klingberg is back in the lineup after missing two games. Troy Stecher will come out. Forward Kasperi Kapanen will return after sitting out Game 5, with Viktor Arvidsson coming out.

Why Stuart Skinner is playing Game 6

Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch is giving Stuart Skinner the start in Game 6 with the season on the line after having Calvin Pickard start the previous game.

‘Stu’s been in a lot of high-pressure games. He’s played really well,’ Knoblauch said. ‘You look at the amount of elimination games he’s played — I think there’s six last year — and every single game that he played in were really solid if not spectacular performances.’

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins injury update

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins missed the morning skate, but the Oilers are expecting that he will play.

How Florida Panthers can win Game 6

Repeat Game 5 performance: The Panthers put on a defensive gem in Game 5, holding the high-flying Oilers to three shots in the first period and 21 shots overall. The Oilers didn’t score in the 5-2 Panthers win until the third period when they were down 3-0.

Get the early lead: They’ve outscored the Oilers 7-0 in the first period over the last three games. It didn’t help them in Game 4 as Edmonton staged a major rally. But it’s easier for the Panthers to play their style when they have the lead.

Take advantage of the last line change: The Panthers are best when rolling lines. But they should try to get center Aleksander Barkov and defenseman Gustav Forsling out against Connor McDavid when possible, especially when the Oilers use McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together.

How Edmonton Oilers can win Game 6

Remember last year: The Oilers, who fell behind 3-0 in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, dug down and won three consecutive games before losing in Game 7. They only have to win two in a row this year for their first title since 1990. They have it in them.

Stay out of the penalty box: The Oilers were short-handed four times in the first period of Game 3 and three times in the first period of Game 4. They gave up a combined three power-play goals. They were more disciplined in Game 5.

Key an eye on Brad Marchand: The 37-year-old has been spectacular in the Panthers’ wins. He had two breakaway goals in Game 2, including in overtime. He scored 56 seconds into Game 3. He scored twice in Game 5, splitting the Oilers defense off a faceoff win at center ice for his first goal. He scored his second goal after a high-skilled move around defenseman Jake Walman.

Stanley Cup finalists named to Olympic teams

The 12 countries in the 2026 Winter Classic named their first six players on June 16..

Five players are playing key roles in the Stanley Cup Final – Edmonton’s Connor McDavid (Canada) and Leon Draisaitl (Germany), plus Florida’s Aleksander Barkov (Finland), Matthew Tkachuk (USA) and Sam Reinhart (Canada).

2025 Stanley Cup Finals schedule

Panthers lead seies 3-2

All times Eastern; (x-if necessary)

Game 1: Oilers 4, Panthers 3 (OT) | Story
Game 2:  Panthers 5, Oilers 4 (2OT) | Story
Game 3: Panthers 6, Oilers 1 | Story
Game 4: Oilers 5, Panthers 4 (OT) | Story
Game 5: Panthers 5, Oilers 2 | Story
Game 6: Tuesday, June 17, Edmonton at Florida | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV
x-Game 7: Friday, June 20, Florida at Edmonton | 8 p.m. | TNT, truTV

Stanley Cup Final Game 6 odds: Panthers vs. Oilers betting lines

Spread: Panthers by 1.5
Moneyline: Panthers -160; Oilers +135
Over/Under: 6.5

Odds to win 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Final

Oilers +280
Panthers -350

The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports’ newsletter.

OMAHA, NE ― The semifinals of the 2025 Men’s College World Series get underway Wednesday, June 18.

Coastal Carolina will take on Louisville (2 p.m. ET) and LSU will face Arkansas (7 p.m. ET) at Charles Schwab Field to close out the double-elimination bracket. The Chanticleers and Tigers need just one win, while the Cardinals and Razorbacks need to win twice.

On Day 5, Louisville defeated Oregon State, 7-6, and Arkansas defeated UCLA, 7-3.

The two bracket winners will face off in a best-of-three championship series for the national title.

Here are our predictions:

Louisville vs Coastal Carolina prediction

Coastal Carolina 4, Louisville 2 — Coastal Carolina hasn’t hit a single home run in Omaha, the only team still left to say so. But the Chanticleers have won with pitching and defense, and they’re set up to be able to return Riley Eikhoff for the semifinals after a short start in Game 1. Louisville has had several incredible comebacks in Omaha, but the Cardinals are low on reliable pitching and its defense has left a bit to be desired.

Arkansas vs LSU prediction

Arkansas 7, LSU 5 ― Arkansas will have its back against the wall playing its third straight elimination game. But LSU will likely be without Kade Anderson, Anthony Eyanson and Casan Evans for this game after a rain delay forced the Tigers to pull Eyanson early from his start. The Razorbacks have more to play for in this one and their offense finally started to come alive against UCLA.

Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.

Coastal Carolina’s pitching staff, ranked second nationally in ERA, is a key factor in its success.
Most of Coastal Carolina’s pitchers are homegrown talents who have shown significant improvement this season.
The team’s new pitching coach, Matt Williams, and catcher Caden Bodine have played crucial roles in the pitching staff’s development.

OMAHA, NE ― Jacob Morrison walked off the mound at Charles Schwab Field to a rousing standing ovation.

The Coastal Carolina starting pitcher had just finished pitching 7⅔ scoreless innings. He didn’t walk anyone and struck out seven. Four outs from the bullpen later, the Chanticleers had clinched their spot in the College World Series semifinals, where they will take on Louisville on June 18 needing one win to play for a championship.

Morrison, the Sun Belt pitcher of the year, has a perfect 12-0 record this season with a 2.08 ERA. But Coastal Carolina coach Kevin Schnall didn’t choose him to start him in its CWS opener − the Chanticleers didn’t need to.

Instead, Schnall went with a combination of Riley Eikhoff, who is 6-2 with a 2.98 ERA, and Cameron Flukey, who is 7-1 with a 3.29 ERA. Coastal Carolina won that game against Arizona.

Armed with a pitching staff that ranks second nationally in ERA, the Chanticleers are now in the driver’s seat to advance to the College World Series finals for the first time since their 2016 national title run.

‘I think we can continue to be the best pitching staff in Omaha,’ Eikhoff told USA TODAY Sports after the win over Oregon State.

Perhaps even more impressive than Coastal Carolina’s pitching success is how it happened. There aren’t any big-name transfers among the group. Nine of the Chanticleers’ 10 most used pitchers began their college careers with Coastal; the one who didn’t, closer Ryan Lynch, started at a junior college. The group is also relatively young, including two freshmen and three sophomores.

The 2024 Chanticleers were in their final season under longtime coach Gary Gilmore. They were one of the last four teams to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. When Schnall, who was assistant under Gilmore since 2016, took over before this season, the team was picked to finish fourth in the Sun Belt.

A big reason why Coastal Carolina exceeded those expectations − winning the Sun Belt regular season and tournament titles and riding a 25-game win streak − was across-the-board improvement of the Chanticleers’ returning pitchers. Many of those arms credit the success to the hire of pitching coach Matt Williams, who spent the 2024 season at South Carolina, as well as to the impact of catcher Caden Bodine, who is considered one of the top defensive catchers in the country.

‘Pounding the zone has been a huge part,’ Lynch said. ‘All of our starters are very efficient. Get early strikes, pound the zone, try to limit walks, then just having our defense behind us. … And then having (Bodine) behind the plate, just him getting pitches that would be off the plate or low that he’s getting strikes for us.’

Coastal Carolina’s 8% walk rate is the lowest among teams in Omaha and fifth-lowest of all Division I teams in 2025. But while low walk rates are often associated with a lack of high-octane stuff, that’s not the case for the Chanticleers, either. Morrison, whose fastball touches 95 mph at 6-foot-8, was ranked the No. 181 MLB draft prospect for 2025 by MLB Pipeline. Flukey, whose velocity has been up to 98 mph, is considered a top-three rounds prospect for the 2026 draft. Lefty reliever Dominick Carbone has a nasty slider.

For Morrison, a big part of his development was working through Tommy John surgery rehab. He had a 6.55 ERA in 13 starts as a freshman in 2023 but missed the entire 2024 season with injury.

‘I’ve always been a big strike thrower,’ Morrison said in the press conference after the Oregon State game. ‘My freshman year, I threw a ton of strikes but I had a hard time keeping the ball out of the middle of the plate. That was a big thing, not only in my rehab last year, but even in freshman year development, throwing pitches where I want.’

Flukey, a sophomore who had a 5.73 ERA in 19 appearances as a freshman, credits his improvement to putting more trust in his stuff and becoming more willing to attack within the strike zone. This season, he has a 3.29 ERA and cut his walk rate from 10.9% to 5.7%.

Eikhoff, a fifth-year, had an ERA above 4.43 in each of his first three seasons, but in 2025 he has a 2.98 ERA. He was the one Schnall trusted with the ball in the opening game.

Part of Williams’ impact has been the confidence he’s instilled in the pitching staff. He came in during the fall and gave each pitcher a goal to work towards. From there, the pitchers went to work to build one of the country’s best pitching staffs − one good enough to win a national championship.

‘Coach Williams has a lot of credit to (our success), I think,’ Flukey said. ‘But also, as a family, we’ve all kind of pushed each other and made sure everyone’s on their stuff, but Williams has been the start of that, and then we all kind of took a leadership role.’

Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.

Zelina Vega is a big believer in manifestation. Yet not even she could believe her biggest career achievement thus far. 

After her in-ring WWE career started in 2018, Vega finally captured a singles title, winning the Women’s United States Championship by dethroning the inaugural winner Chelsea Green. 

It came at a coincidental time. Exactly one week before she won the title, she told USA TODAY Sports at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony red carpet she hoped the championship was in her future. In a way, manifesting it would happen.

But when Vega landed the Code Red on Green and got the pin to put the gold in her hands, it was a gratifying moment she didn’t expect as she looked at what was finally in her possession.

“It’s as much a shock to you guys as it was to me,” Vega told USA TODAY Sports. “I just realized that as I looked at (the title), I was like, ‘Oh (expletive), this is real.’ That’s when I grabbed my face. That’s when I realized it was real.” 

Long desired by fans, the introduction of the Women’s United States and Intercontinental Championship in November 2024 meant more female stars could finally chase and obtain gold. Mid-card runs expand the possibilities available on the roster.

That made for the perfect opportunity for Vega, who for so long had fallen short of being a singles champion. She has some notable achievements, like the inaugural Queen of the Ring and a Women’s Tag Team Champion in 2021, but like all wrestlers, the goal is to obtain solo gold.

Not only had it been years since she grasped a major accolade, Vega came close to finally doing it several times, only to fall short.

“If I’m being honest, it was very deflating each and every single time for me, too,” she said. “But I think I always got something out of each title opportunity that I got.”

She found plenty of silver linings with the championship losses. She lost to Asuka twice in September 2020, but felt like it showed management she’s capable of performing in the spotlight. Despite losing to Rhea Ripley at Backlash 2023, she “won so much more” being able to perform in Puerto Rico as a proud Boricua. In July 2023, Vega felt rejuvenated when she battled Liv Morgan.

While there was something positive to take in each loss, Vega knew the clock was ticking on fans sticking with her. With consistent losing, the crowd loses interest and eventually moves on.

But after years of just missing out, all the shortcomings, Vega finally did it — and validated herself as someone not to overlook.

“When it happened, the crowd erupted because they’re like, ‘Oh my god, we weren’t expecting this either,’” she said. “It’s nice to prove people wrong.”

Silencing the doubters is how Vega plans to carry her title reign. She has a tough act to follow in Green, who turned the inaugural run into comedy gold with the presidential-style reign and the “Secret Hervice” in Piper Niven and Alba Fyre serving as her security.   

Vega applauded Green’s work because “she’s always able to take something and run with it,” and when it comes to continuing to bring prestige to one of the newer titles on the roster, she wants to showcase that underdog mentality she’s always had. Similar to how Rey Mysterio did with his World Heavyweight Championship run in 2006.

“When it comes to what I want to put onto this title, it is it does not matter how big, how small you are. Ultimately, it’s what you have in your heart,” Vega said.

Zelina Vega honors dad with title

Not only did she prove people wrong, but the title victory meant she could have a full circle moment. Less than a week after the win, Vega went to New York City, where she brought the championship to her dad’s memorial. Michael Angel Trinidad was one of the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and his name is on the National September 11 Memorial.

It was an emotional moment as Vega FaceTimed her mom. Both cried, knowing Vega’s father played a major role in her decision to get into wrestling. She noted her father is “always my why” to push through all obstacles, and when she put the title along her dad’s name, she was able to take it all in.

“It felt nice to just finally exhale,” Vega said. “The only times I’ve really ever done that was at Backlash (2023), winning (the title) and then at the memorial. 

“It was nice to feel like I actually accomplished part of the promise that I made so long ago,” she added.

Reuniting with husband Aleister Black in WWE

It’s a great time in Vega’s household; not only is she champion, but her husband, Aleister Black, just made his return to WWE after he left the company in 2021 and went to All Elite Wrestling. Coincidentally, Black’s return to WWE came the same night his wife won the title.

Vega said the championship match wasn’t even the top priority that day, with her focus mostly on making sure her husband was good. It wasn’t all worries though.

“I was kind of just wowed by the fact that I was even seeing him at work again. I looked like a little school girl. I was smiling all day long,” Vega said. 

It made for an even sweeter celebration. When she got backstage from her win, Black was there to greet her and soak it in. Then right afterward, Black was next to get in the ring to have his moment.

She said her and Black have been waiting for so long to work together, and now they get to be on the road together and have plenty of nostalgia kicks. She’s gone from having this crush on Black when they were both in NXT to now full blown husband and wife. She’s a champion, and her husband is back.

After years of hoping dedication would eventually pay off, just about everything seems to be going Vega’s way.

“You have dreams like that,” Vega said. “But this time I didn’t actually wake up.”

The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports’ newsletter.

Connor McDavid helped Canada win the 4 Nations Face-Off, but he and his Edmonton Oilers teammates weren’t able to end Canada’s decades-long Stanley Cup drought after back-to-back years losing in the final to the Florida Panthers.

They fell in six games this year after losing in seven games in 2024. The last Canadian team to win the Cup was the 1993 Montreal Canadiens.

‘We lost to a really good team,’ McDavid told reporters after the Game 6 loss. ‘Nobody quit, nobody threw in the towel in, they’re a really good team. They’re Stanley Cup champions back to back for a reason.’

The Oilers went into the final at a disadvantage because Zach Hyman had season-ending surgery. They had trouble handling the Panthers’ forechecking and generating offense.

‘We kept trying the same thing over and over again and banging our heads against the wall,’ McDavid said.

Edmonton won the opener and staged a major rally in Game 4 to tie the final at 2-2, then lost the next two games and the series.

‘We kept saying we wanted to try to win a 2-1 game and never found a way to do that obviously,’ McDavid said. ‘They got great players. How many guys had 20-plus points in the postseason? They’re as deep as they come.’

Goalie Stuart Skinner said the Panthers’ consistency is what won the series.

‘We need to learn from this right now,’ said Skinner, who was in net for Game 6 after backup Calvin Pickard started in Game 5. ‘Letting it happen two times in a row is devastating.’

The Oilers started strong in Game 6 but couldn’t dent Sergei Bobrovsky. The Panthers took advantage of two mistakes to head to the first intermission with a 2-0 lead. They outscored Edmonton by a total of 9-0 in the first period over the past four games, leaving the Oilers chasing in every game.

Sam Reinhart (four goals) added to the Game 6 lead after a Skinner mistake when a ‘nothing shot’ by Carter Verhaeghe went off him and the Panthers quickly converted the rebound.

‘He shot it at the blocker side, which was smart. I put it in a spot where I thought it was going to be OK,’ Skinner said. ‘Obviously, it wasn’t for a second and he (Aleksander Barkov) just shot it on the backside and Reinhart was in a good spot.’

The Oilers lost McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to injuries down the stretch and didn’t have Evander Kane until the postseason. As a result, they started every series except the final on the road. They trailed the Los Angeles Kings 2-0 in the first round but rallied to beat them, the Vegas Golden Knights and the Dallas Stars before falling in the final.

‘There’s no silver lining to this,’ Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. ‘It’s heart-wrenching. It’s very difficult to handle right now. … It hurts right now and I don’t think it’s going to let up for a while.’