The Blaze 59 for 0 (S Bryce 33*) beat Essex 211 (Smale 41, Prendergast 3-43) by 35 runs (DLS) Orla Prendergast led the wickets charge as The Blaze won a rain-affected encounter with Essex at Chelmsford to book a home semi-final at Trent Bridge on Wednesday.Prendergast took 3 for 43, including a momentum shifting double strike to help bowl out the hosts for 211. Her efforts were ably supported by Lucy Higham’s 2 for 33 and some outstanding out-fielding, typified by Kathryn’s Bryce’s run-out of Ariana Dowse.Six of Essex’s batters reached double figures, but only Sophia Smale (41) got beyond 40, Jo Gardner making a run-a-ball 36. The pair added 52 for the seventh wicket after the hosts collapsed from 104 for 2 to 133 for 6.Blaze openers Sarah Bryce (33 not out) and Georgie Boyce had knocked 59 off the target in 11.2 overs when the weather closed in.Dowse and skipper Grace Scrivens gave the hosts a a solid start, the former caressing one through the covers and driving another square for four. Scrivens reached 16 before mishitting a half-tracker from opposite number Kirstie Gordon to square leg and a brilliant pick up and throw from Katherine Bryce ran out Dowse for 20.The response to the double setback was good with Lissy Macleod (30) and Lancashire loanee Liberty Heap (33) targeting the straight boundaries in a stand of 59 at almost a run a ball. Essex looked poised to push on, but Heath’s demise, top edging a short one from Prendergast to midwicket sparked a mid-innings slump.Flo Miller was another Prendergast victim and when Higham sent Macleod packing courtesy of a stunning caught and bowled, three wickets had fallen for six runs in 16 balls.Higham then bowled Amara Carr with a beauty, before Smale and Gardner rallied the home side’s flagging effort, the latter striking the ball powerfully back past the bowler in the mid-on/mid-off arc.But before they could entertain hopes of a score of 250, Prendergast splayed Gardner’s stumps and thereafter only Smale who was last out held up The Blaze for long.The bad weather was closing in by the time The Blaze began their reply, Sarah Bryce and Georgie Boyce immediately showing aggressive intent. Bryce hit Gray for the only six of the match while Boyce three times struck the ball firmly to the fence along the floor.By the time rain drove the players from the field enough overs had been completed to constitute a match and The Blaze were a mile ahead on the DLS and looking forward to a semi-final.

“A couple of years ago we would have thrown the towel in pretty early. It shows the mindset of the group that we stay in the fight”

Vishal Dikshit01-Oct-20253:43

Australia’s batting depth comes to the fore

An opening World Cup game. Against the world champions. New Zealand trying to cross the 300 barrier for the first time while chasing. A deflating record of 15 consecutive ODI losses against Australia from the last eight years hanging over their head. And sapping heat and humidity at the end of the monsoon season in Indore that took a lot out of Sophie Devine, who had fielded for nearly 50 overs and bowled eight overs under the sun.If pressure could take different shapes and sizes, it did for the New Zealand captain in their opening World Cup clash against Australia, which resulted in an 89-run loss after she batted for over two-and-a-half hours for a fighting and valiant century, her ninth in the format. Soon after she wrung out the last drop of energy from her 36-year-old body after being on the field for 91.1 overs on an exacting evening, Devine said it was “probably the most demanding” game she played in her 19-year ODI career that will end with this World Cup.Related

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“I’ll just say come and feel my shirt, I think you’ll see how tough that was,” Devine said about her sweat-soaked jersey having walked in for the press conference only minutes after the match ended. “But I guess that’s the thing that I probably took strength from, is the work that the girls have done over the last six to 12 months, it’s been exactly for a knock like that, it’s the hard stuff that no one sees behind closed doors and every single one of this group has been slogging away, making sure that they’re fit and ready to be able to go out there and do a job like I was able to do today.”So I’m incredibly proud that, well I was probably a little bit slow towards the end getting a bit tired and things, but I know every one of our players wants to be there and wants to be contributing throughout the full 100 overs. So to answer your question, yeah, I think it probably was the most demanding; running around in the field, bowling, trying to keep the Aussies under 400. So yeah, I think both physically and mentally as well, it was pretty draining.”Devine had the arduous task of rescuing her team from the pits of 0 for 2 in the second over in a chase of 327, even if on a flat surface in what was the first women’s international in Indore. Devine first made sure she found her feet against the accurate bowling of the Australian attack that swung and turned the ball under the lights, and tried to ensure New Zealand had a somewhat gettable equation towards the end. Her steady half-century came off 69 balls before she raced from 50 to 100 in just 38 balls even as no other team-mate who batted lower than her crossed 30. When Brooke Halliday holed out for 28, New Zealand needed a stiff 200 runs from the last 20. Maddy Green lasted just 18 balls, and it was Devine’s rapid partnership of 54 in 35 balls for the sixth wicket that saw Isabella Gaze take the lead with six fours that saw New Zealand claw back in the game as some tense Australian faces started to appear on the field and in the dugout.They fell short by a distance in the end as Gaze and Devine were dismissed in the space of 13 balls and New Zealand lasted just two more runs after that.”Just happy with the fight this team showed, a couple of years ago we would have thrown the towel in pretty early,” Devine said at the presentation. “It shows the mindset of the group that we stay in the fight.”Sophie Devine’s knock of 111 went in vain•Getty ImagesNew Zealand would have thought earlier in the game they had a golden chance of downing the world champions early in the tournament when they had Australia on 128 for 5 in the 22nd over. But Ashleigh Gardner struck a counter-attacking 115 off just 83 balls to power Australia to their highest ODI score opposite New Zealand after turning the tables on them.”The fact that we got them in that position is really pleasing and really positive for us,” Devine said. “It is though, about finding ways that we can really put the foot on the throat and skittle them for 200-250 and that’s looking like a different game. I think that’s probably shown the most resilience from this White Ferns side, do you know what I mean? That despite being two down for nothing, we still keep coming out.”The fight and the resilience shown just to knuckle down rather than throw our wickets, it’s something I’m really proud of for this group and the way the likes of Izzy Gaze came out to bat, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, the way that people just keep going to their strengths and taking the game on, that’s something that I spoke at an earlier press conference, it’s about how we play this game. Yes, results are important and we want to win, but the way that we played tonight, it’s made me really proud and I certainly know that we can keep pushing the best teams in the world really hard. But also we can be at the business end of the tournament if we can make sure that we’re playing good cricket for longer periods of time.”New Zealand haven’t beaten Australia in an ODI for over eight years•Getty ImagesNew Zealand have five days to rest, assess and prepare in Indore before their next game against South Africa on October 6. They would perhaps want that their younger players step up too and not leave the heavy lifting for the seniors, as Devine, Lea Tahuhu (3 for 42) and Amelia Kerr (2 for 54 and 33) were their top performers against Australia.”I think to win a World Cup, it’s going to take 15 players, and at different stages it’s going to be different people,” Devine said about what she expected from the squad. “Expectations are there that everyone wants to be the one that stands up and takes responsibility, and today, you mentioned it, the experienced players are the ones, but I’ve got full faith that anyone in that 15 can go out and win a game for us. And to have that belief and confidence and trust in the group, I think that’s something that’s really special about this group, and I know that everyone feels that too, is that despite the loss today, we pushed the world champs pretty hard, and we got them nervous at different times there, which it doesn’t happen often.”So, absolutely, I know at different stages different people are going to stand up in this group, and it’s going to be their time, and that’s what we’ve spoken about – when it’s your day, you really be selfish, and you take control of it, and you be the one to get this team over the line.”

Pakistan captain says he has “no issues” with his fast bowlers wanting to make a mark on the game and on the opposition

Danyal Rasool27-Sep-20252:25

Mumtaz: Fakhar, Shaheen, Abrar key for chance of victory

There is no sign that Pakistan’s fast bowlers will rein in the aggression they put on display during the side’s most recent game against India last week. On the eve of the Asia Cup final, captain Salman Agha said he fully supported his team-mates’ right to impose themselves on both the game and the opposition so long as things don’t go too far.”If someone wants to be aggressive on the ground, then why not,” Agha said at a press conference. “If you deprive a fast bowler of their aggression, then what’s left? Every player knows how to deal with their emotions. I give players license to react the way they want at the ground. As long as they’re not disrespecting anyone and stay within the line, I have no issues with that.”That sets the stage for another charged-up India-Pakistan game – their third in as many weeks, this one for the title. After their last meeting on Sunday, Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan were pulled up for breaches of the ICC’s code of conduct. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav was similarly penalised for comments he made following the group game between the two teams.Related

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That day, India also refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts, either before or after the game, reflecting the state of affairs between two countries who were in military conflict earlier this year. Agha said he had “never before” known that to happen at a cricket match.”I’ve been playing cricket since 2007 professionally. I’ve never seen no handshakes between two teams. My dad is a huge fan of cricket and used to tell me about its history. He never told me about any game where there’s not been a handshake. I’ve heard it’s never happened before.”When India-Pakistan games took place in even more tense situations, handshakes always happened. Not to have handshakes is not good for cricket. If someone wants to be aggressive, whether they’re from my team or their team, I have no issues with that, but you should shake hands at the end of it.”As things stand, it is almost certain that there will be no handshakes before or after the final.India have, over the past fortnight, attempted to distance themselves from the idea that a game against Pakistan is any more significant than others. Agha’s outlook was different.”It would be wrong to say a Pakistan-India match doesn’t carry more pressure,” he said. “It’s the final. There’ll be a similar amount of pressure on both sides. The pressure of a final is different, of course.2:53

Chopra: Abhishek vs Shaheen could decide the game

“We can’t control what’s happened out of the ground. One of our philosophies is to not worry about what we can’t control. We are not focused on what people on the outside are saying. We’re here to win the Asia Cup and that’s our only focus.”Agha himself has had a near-negligible impact on the tournament. Thirty-one batters have scored more runs than him in the competition, with all of them getting those runs at more than a-run-a-ball. Agha’s strike rate, meanwhile, is 78.04.Agha admitted this tournament has been a struggle for him personally, even as he led his side to just their second Asia Cup final in 11 years. “My performance hasn’t been up to the level it should have been and I am working on that. In T20 cricket, strike rate is important, but at the end of the day, you have to see what the situation demands and the team needs. It’s not necessary to play with a strike rate of 150 if the pitch or the situation doesn’t demand it. You should play according to the situation.”Pakistan have gone with the same side over the past three games, not that there aren’t issues with the playing XI. Saim Ayub continues to search for form with the bat, having now scored four ducks in six games. The bowling, in general, has bailed out the batting, particularly when they’ve had to take first strike, which is all but one game this tournament.In just about each of those they produced below-par totals; the two lowest totals defended this edition have both been by Pakistan. Now they’re in the final and when it turns out this way, Pakistan fans start to talk about destiny. Agha too seems to have been made a believer. “Everyone knows we haven’t batted to our full abilities this tournament, but maybe we’re saving the best for the final,” he laughed.

MatériaMais Notícias

António Oliveira deixou o Cuiabá e já comandou o treino do Corinthians nesta sexta-feira (9), mas o o técnico português corre risco de não estrear domingo (11), contra a Portuguesa. O nome do treinador precisa sair no Boletim Informativo Diário (BID) da CBF até as 19h desta sexta para enfrentar a Lusa.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasNotíciasCorinthians não perde para a Portuguesa desde 2013Notícias11/02/2024CorinthiansCorinthians demite auxiliar um mês após contrataçãoCorinthians09/02/2024Seleção BrasileiraJoia do Corinthians salva no fim, Brasil vence a Venezuela e respira no Pré-OlímpicoSeleção Brasileira08/02/2024

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

O primeiro passo do Corinthians é negociar a multa rescisória de Mano Menezes, demitido após a derrota contra o Novorizontino. O clube e o staff do treinador divergem dos valores, mas há otimismo de ambas as partes para a resolução de um acordo parcelado. O treinador quer garantias que receberá o dinheiro.

Só assim o Timão poderá regularizar António Oliveira, segundo regulamento do Paulistão. Contudo, a diretoria alvinegra precisa efetuar o pagamento da multa do português ao Cuiabá. Segundo Cristiano Dresch, presidente do Dourado, o Corinthians ainda não depositou o montante, e a liberação da documentação só será feita após o pagamento.

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➡️ Veja os grupos e datas dos confrontos no Paulistão

– Em relação à multa, até agora não foi paga, ninguém entrou em contato conosco para pagar. Parece que estão tendo uma dificuldade gigante com o Mano Menezes em pagar a multa dele. Até agora não tivemos nenhum contato em relação ao pagamento da multa, só um contato do Corinthians informando que estavam negociando e tinham contratado o António. Não teve nenhuma negociação com o Cuiabá. A gente está aguardado o pagamento da multa, pois enquanto não for depositada, não vamos liberar o treinador. A multa é R$ 1.040.00,00. A multa era de R$ 5 milhões se ele não renovasse com o Cuiabá. O contrato venceu em 2023, nós renovamos no início de 2024 e caso ele não renovasse seria R$ 5 milhões. Depois que ele estava com contrato vigente, a multa foi reduzida – disse Cristiano Dresch.

Caso o Corinthians não resolva a situação até 19h desta sexta-feira (9), Danilo, do Sub-20, ou algum membro da comissão técnica de António Oliveira devem comandar a equipe no duelo decisivo contra a Portuguesa, pelo Paulistão.

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António OliveiraCorinthiansCuiabáMano Menezes

Kate Abdo and Co. can fly into the UK as Paramount Plus has reportedly won the rights to the Champions League from 2027 to 2031. The move signals the end of TNT Sports’ decade-long grip on Europe’s most prestigious club competition and marks a major expansion of the American-owned streaming giant into the UK market.

Paramount+ set to takeover UK

According to Paramount+ has committed a substantial financial package to secure the rights, outbidding powerful rivals and positioning itself as the next major player in European football coverage. The company delivered a “knockout” offer, believed to be significantly higher than the competition. The decision, which spans six seasons, aligns the UK broadcast strategy with Paramount’s operations in the United States, where its affiliate CBS Sports already hosts the Champions League with presenters like Abdo, Micah Richards, Thierry Henry, and Jamie Carragher. That star-studded team may now extend their presence to British screens as part of a seamless international expansion.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTNT Sports’ decade of Champions League coverage draws to a close

It is a major turning point for TNT Sports, formerly BT Sport, which first acquired the rights in 2013 through an enormous £897 million deal that prised them away from Sky Sports. The partnership began with the 2015–16 season and grew to include coverage of the Europa League and the UEFA Conference League. However, TNT saw its exclusivity diminish in 2022 when Amazon Prime entered the fray, picking up one game per week. Now, in just two years’ time, TNT’s association with UEFA club competitions will end completely. Despite this setback, the broadcaster still holds the rights to several domestic properties, including the Premier League until 2029 and a four-year FA Cup contract secured last year that guarantees extensive third-round coverage.

Although Paramount+ has emerged victorious in this bidding war, the development places yet another financial burden on viewers already juggling subscriptions to Sky Sports, TNT, Amazon, and DAZN. With the fragmentation of sports rights accelerating, British fans may soon find themselves paying more than ever to follow Europe’s top clubs. However, there is a silver lining as reports that Paramount intends to air a selection of matches for free through Channel 5, its UK terrestrial network. This strategy mirrors its approach in other territories and could soften the blow for supporters reluctant to pay for yet another streaming platform.

Streaming giants Netflix and Disney+ also tested the waters

Although Paramount came out on top, the race was far from one-sided. Both Netflix and Disney+ reportedly explored bids, especially after Netflix’s breakout success with the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing spectacle last year. That event drew an extraordinary audience of more than 100 million viewers, convincing the streaming pioneer to continue experimenting with live sports. Its latest splash, broadcasting Paul vs. Anthony Joshua this week, suggests Netflix’s ambition in the sports market remains strong, even if it fell short here. The scale of Paramount’s investment reflects the soaring value of Europe’s top football competitions. The current set of Champions League rights is estimated at close to £3 billion per season, highlighting just how fiercely broadcasters compete for a slice of the action. UEFA’s revamped tournament format, which launched in 2024, might be a factor in driving the value even higher.

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AFPWhat happens to the Super League?

While the broadcast landscape transforms, UEFA is simultaneously working through another massive development, which is a renewed proposal for a European Super League. According to a confidential eight-month negotiation process has been underway involving UEFA, A22 Sports Management (the Super League’s backers), and powerhouse clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid. The discussions aim to bring an end to years of conflict by reshaping the structure of elite European competitions in a way that satisfies all parties. The most groundbreaking element of the proposal may be its broadcasting model. The Super League concept introduces UNIFY, a global streaming service offering both free, ad-supported broadcasts and premium paid options. Designed to give worldwide supporters unrestricted access to every match, UNIFY marks a radical departure from the existing broadcasting service. 

With Paramount+ preparing its UK takeover and UEFA weighing fundamental structural changes to European football, the mid-2020s are shaping up to be an era of profound change. How these developments intersect, and whether the new Super League format might redefine the broadcasting landscape once again, remains an open question.

In the Premier League this season, Newcastle United have often looked lethargic, particularly on their travels, with the Toon sat in an unsatisfactory 14th spot in the gruelling division.

Eddie Howe will, of course, hope he can hang onto his job post for the time being based on his past successes, which include a triumphant EFL Cup success just last season.

While fans have criticised the current ongoings at St James’ Park, Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher has leapt to Howe’s defence over recent weeks, hailing the 47-year-old as “one of the greatest” managers the Tyneside club has ever had. True enough, but Newcastle are not doing well enough right now.

PIF have given the former Bournemouth boss huge financial backing PIF and results will need to turn around sharply, regardless of how fondly Howe has previously been held.

Ranking Newcastle's summer business of 2025

Newcastle edge into the top four when looking at the transfer spending of all 20 Premier League clubs this summer, with a whopping £250m spent, just eclipsing Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United.

A heavy wad of that money was splashed on landing Nick Woltemade at the £69m mark, which now comes in as being Newcastle’s most expensive incoming ever.

He has largely lived up to his standout transfer fee, too, minus a few no-show performances as of late, with Woltemade already up to six goals in all competitions.

While the towering German certainly ranks highly as far as 2025’s business is concerned, unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Yoane Wissa who must be ranked at the bottom of the pile.

Indeed, has seen more of the St James’ Park treatment room than the field of play since a £55m switch from Brentford was finalised.

Equally, Jacob Ramsey has seen more of the physio team and has not set the world alight on his arrival from Aston Villa, having left his boyhood employers behind for a hefty £43m. Still, having only been afforded one league start so far this season, plenty more will hopefully soon come from the promising Englishman.

Malick Thiaw, on the other hand, is Woltemade’s main rival for the title of being Newcastle’s best acquisition.

He hasn’t struggled one bit to make a spot in Howe’s first team his own, with the ex-AC Milan centre-back – who cost what now looks like a bargain £30m – already being hailed as the “future” of the Magpies by captain Bruno Guimaraes, having stood out in the Champions League against Athletic Club, winning all ten of his duels.

As is obvious from the above, though, it’s been very hit-and-miss on the transfer front by Howe and Co, with their biggest miss to date yet to be mentioned…

Newcastle must regret signing £100k-per-week flop

Howe will be relieved that the Woltemade deal has worked out for the most part, with the German’s arrival coinciding with Alexander Isak’s sour exit from St. James’ Park.

However, just because the 6-foot-6 menace has been banging the goals in, that doesn’t mean it’s been entirely rosy in the attacking quarters regarding new, high-profile signings, with Anthony Elanga already going down as a “massive overpay” according to analyst Raj Chohan.

Elanga would have been expected to set the place alight from minute one of his arrival, having been a real nuisance for Premier League defences to try and contain last season, with his blistering speed up top for Nottingham Forest, also matched by a devastating output of six goals and 12 assists from 43 total contests.

Therefore, with this “frightening” campaign under his belt – as he was once branded by the Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell – the expectation would have been that he would link up with the likes of Woltemade with confidence and swagger, with a £55m price-tag also next to his name.

Games played

17

Goals scored

0

Assists

1

Transfer fee

£55m

Wage per week

£100k-per-week

Transfer cost per appearance

£3.2m

Yet, it’s been anything but a smooth ride for the ex-Manchester United winger so far, with Elanga still stuck on zero goals and just one assist from 17 appearances on Tyneside.

When studying that £55m transfer fee further, that means Elanga has cost the Toon a hefty £3.2m per game so far, with virtually no end product to show for their rash spending.

That’s before you even consider his steep £100k-per-week salary which will cost the Magpies another £5.2m per calendar year.

Thiaw earns just £ 75k per week, on the contrary, while Woltemade at least warrants his higher £132.5k-per-week pay packet at the moment, with plenty of goals put away.

The powers that be at Newcastle will hope it’s just a slow start from Elanga, who is used to terrorising defences with his rapid pace, with Howe also hopeful that his low-on-confidence attacker picks up form soon to turn around his team’s overall lacklustre start.

PIF must cash in on Newcastle "legend" who is becoming the new Sissoko

This Newcastle star appears to have gone past his sell-by date.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Nov 12, 2025

Arsenal are flying high right now, but speculation remains rife ahead of the looming January transfer window.

Arsenal already backed Mikel Arteta with a near-£270 million spending spree in the summer, welcoming eight new faces as the north Londoners seek to end their 22-year wait for a Premier League title.

The investment from Andrea Berta and high-ranking Emirates Stadium officials has paid immediate dividends, with Arsenal sitting atop the Premier League with eight wins and just one loss — establishing themselves as clear title favourites.

Arsenal may have seen their defensive supremacy punctured by Sunderland, who ended their run of eight successive clean sheets in all competitions, but Arteta’s side remain four points clear, undefeated in 14 and the team to beat.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal’s water-tight defence and set-piece supremacy have been largely to thank for this, and their form is all the more impressive considering Arteta’s host of attacking players out injured right now.

Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Odegaard have all been sidelined recently, giving Arteta a real selection headache, but it is believed that the five are also racing to be fit for Arsenal’s looming North London derby against Tottenham.

Norway boss Stale Solbakken caused quite a stir this week when he said that Odegaard was still “some distance away” from an injury return, so it remains to be seen if he will be back in time to face Spurs, but Havertz and Madueke have impressed Arsenal staff with their rehabilitation.

Both men were deemed ahead of schedule in their recovery plans, so they could well return to the fold, with Gyokeres and Martinelli also vying for contention.

However, one player who’s been definitively ruled out is striker Gabriel Jesus.

The Brazilian hasn’t featured since rupturing his ACL during Arsenal’s FA Cup defeat to Man United in January, and despite returning to training recently, the seriousness of his injury means that Tottenham will come too soon for Jesus.

A return is expected before the end of the year though (Simon Collings), with Jesus now taking time out from his recovery to talk about his future at the club.

Gabriel Jesus makes January transfer statement and names desired next club

The 28-year-old has been regularly linked with a January exit following the arrival of Gyokeres, but Jesus told Revista Placar that there is no chance he’ll be leaving in the new year.

However, Jesus did confirm that he wants to return to Palmeiras after leaving Arsenal, and the club equally want him.

Arteta spoke about the forward’s imminent return recently, explaining how he can’t wait to have Arsenal’s ‘very unpredictable’ weapon back, so it appears Arsenal’s manager isn’t overly keen on a winter exit either.

With Arsenal competing on four fronts, it will be a major boost to have Jesus to call upon once again, as Arteta will need every possible advantage at his disposal.

Shohei Ohtani is man.

With the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves tied 5–5 in the bottom of the ninth, Ohtani smashed the first pitch he saw for a 399-foot walk-off home run to win the team's eighth game of the season.

It was fitting that Ohtani would win the game for the Dodgers on his own MVP bobblehead night. Fans lined up hours in advance of the game for a chance to take home one of his bobbleheads, and then the three-time MVP delivered exactly what those fans would've dreamt of seeing.

Dodger Stadium understandably went wild as Ohtani rounded the bases. His teammates drenched him when he got to home plate.

The Dodgers became the first reigning World Series champion in MLB history to start the season 8–0. And, of course, Dodgers fans can thank Ohtani for solidifying that piece of history.

Fans were already chanting "MVP" at Ohtani as he was doing his post-game interview on the field. Could he be a three-peat? There's a lot more baseball left to play this season, but doubt Ohtani at your own peril.

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jose Quintana joined some rare—and elite company—after earning the win in his debut for the Milwaukee Brewers at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz., on Friday.

Quintana, who tossed seven scoreless innings in the Brewers' 7-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, became just the 24th pitcher in MLB history to defeat all 30 current teams.

Here's a list of all 24 pitchers who have accomplished the feat, as well as the teams they played for when they joined the exclusive club.

Pitchers Who Have Defeated All 30 Teams

Pitcher

Team

Jose Quintana

Milwaukee Brewers

Lance Lynn

St. Louis Cardinals

Charlie Morton

Atlanta Braves

Justin Verlander

New York Mets

Gerrit Cole

Houston Astros

Zack Greinke

Houston Astros

Bartolo Colon

Minnesota Twins

Max Scherzer

Washington Nationals

John Lackey

Chicago Cubs

Tim Hudson

San Francisco Giants

Kyle Lohse

Milwaukee Brewers

Dan Haren

Washington Nationals

A.J. Burnett

Pittsburgh Pirates

Derek Lowe

Cleveland Guardians

Vicente Padilla

Los Angeles Dodgers

Javier Vazquez

New York Yankees

Barry Zito

San Francisco Giants

Randy Johnson

San Francisco Giants

Jamie Moyer

Philadelphia Phillies

Woody Williams

San Diego Padres

Curt Schilling

Boston Red Sox

Terry Mulholland

Minnesota Twins

Kevin Brown

New York Yankees

Al Leiter

New York Mets

Among active pitchers, Quintana joins future Hall of Famers Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, 2023 Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole and two-time All-Star Charlie Morton.

"To face all 30 teams and get a win against each team, that means a lot for me," Quintana told MLB.com about the feat. "Dreams come true, and I want to keep going."

Quintana, 36, has pitched for eight teams in 14 big-league seasons. He has compiled a 3.73 ERA and 1,729 strikeouts in 334 career starts.

Manchester United and Bayern Munich icon Bastian Schweinsteiger is getting divorced. Schweinsteiger and former tennis star Ana Ivanovic are all set to split after a nine-year marriage. The sporting power couple met in 2014 and started a romantic relationship, before tying the knot in 2016 in Venice. Schweinsteiger and Ivanovic reportedly broke up earlier this month due to 'irreconcilable differences'.

Sporting power couple broke up in July

Former Tennis star Ivanovic's lawyer and representative, Christian Schertz, has told BILD that the couple had decided to part ways back in July this year owing to "irreconcilable differences". Schertz was quoted as saying: "The fans understand and let them have their own space." 

In April, the reported that Schweinsteiger and Ivanovic were going through a tough time due to their contrasting lifestyles. While the ex-Bayern and Manchester United star had to travel a lot due to his commitments as a sports broadcaster and pundit, Ivanovic mostly stayed in her native Serbia and took care of their three children.

AdvertisementGetty Images EntertainmentIvanovic filed for divorce

According to (via ), Ivanovic formally filed for a divorce in November at the Munich District Court. She has also filed for child support in Palma de Mallorca, where she lives with their three sons, Luka, Leon, and Teo.

Ivanovic and Schweinsteiger started dating in 2014, when the midfielder was still playing for Bayern. A year later, he moved to England and joined the Red Devils. Ivanovic, who won the French Open in 2008, formally announced her retirement from professional Tennis in December 2016. In the same year, the couple got married in Venice in 2016.

Schweinsteiger's new girlfriend

Reports emerged in the German press in June this year that Schweinsteiger was spotted kissing his alleged new girlfriend. The individual was later identified as 'Silva' of Bulgarian nationality. The couple have reportedly been dating since 2024. German magazine earlier reported that Ivanovic was aware of the affair and was initially willing to forgive her husband for the sake of their family, but she cut ties after the former footballer told his partner that he wanted to 'live freely'.

Schweinsteiger and Ivanovic made a public appearance last in September 2024 during the Laver Cup, with the tournament hosted in Berlin. The pair then shared an Instagram post of themselves attending a Christmas market later that year. In 2025, the social media posts of the family started to decrease in number.

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AFPSchweinsteiger's professional career

The Germany legend, now 40, began his career at Bayern after graduating from the club's youth system in 2002 and spent 13 years in his homeland before heading to the English top-flight to join United. He later played for MLS side the Chicago Fire for two years before retiring from professional football in 2019. At Bayern, the midfielder won multiple Bundesliga titles and lifted the Champions League trophy. With United, he won the FA Cup in the 2015-16 campaign. He was also an integral part of the Germany side that won the World Cup in 2014.