Author

admin

Browsing

Moore was asked following New Orleans’ 17-all tie with the Jacksonville Jaguars whether he planned to announce the team’s Week 1 starter ahead of preseason Week 3. His response?

‘We’ll see,’ Moore replied. ‘Obviously, I got first sight here, but film will be an important aspect of this thing, and we’ll just see how everything progresses leading into this week.’

The Saints currently have three quarterbacks on their roster: Spencer Rattler, Tyler Shough and Jake Haener. Moore has spoken well of all three throughout the offseason and praised them after Sunday’s game.

‘All these QBs aren’t making this easy,’ Moore said of New Orleans’ quarterback battle. ‘They’re all doing a really good job and they’re all having their days and they’re taking advantage of their opportunities. So, you know, it’s an evaluation and we’ll take it where it needs to go.’

That said, the Saints appear to be choosing between Rattler and Shough two for the starting job. Haener was the third quarterback off the bench in the team’s preseason opener before failing to play against the Jaguars.

Shough outperformed Rattler in preseason Week 1, completing 15 of 22 passes for 165 yards, one touchdown and one interception in New Orleans’ 27-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The tables turned against the Jaguars, when Rattler completed 18 of 24 passes for 199 yards, one touchdown and one interception while throwing the game-tying touchdown to Dante Pettis with 20 seconds left in regulation.

As such, Moore has not yet made up his mind about who will start in Week 1. Still, he told reporters he doesn’t necessarily view that as a bad thing.

‘Sooner is always better, but these guys are competing and they’re giving us everything that we can ask,’ Moore said of the Saints’ quarterback competition. ‘So, we’ll continue to evaluate.’

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

All-Star catcher Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners took on the New York Mets in the Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, Aug. 17.

Raleigh had a custom chest protector made for the game, featuring pictures of all of his teammates during their respective times playing at the youth baseball level.

The custom gear falls in line with the theme at the game’s location.

Many are in Williamsport for the Little League World Series baseball tournament that began earlier in the week.

The Little League Classic has become an annual event played in Williamsport, in conjunction with the Little League World Series. Many of the Little League participants and their respective families can attend the game.

The game is played at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field, which is the second-oldest minor league ballpark. The ballpark opened in 1926.

Raleigh didn’t have the opportunity to play in the Little League World Series, making his first appearance in Williamsport on Sunday night.

Raleigh told MLB Network that he looked forward to the opportunity to talk with the Little League players and learn more about them and offer any advice.

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

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

The NASCAR Cup Series playoff field is nearly set with just one race remaining in the 2025 regular season.

Austin Dillon became the 14th driver to clinch a berth in the playoffs and earned a measure of redemption with his victory under the lights at Richmond Raceway on Aug. 16. Including Dillon, 14 drivers have earned wins this season, leaving just two spots remaining in the 16-driver playoff field.

The series now heads to its most famous venue, Daytona International Speedway, for its regular-season finale. The Daytona summer race has produced its share of surprises in recent years, with a number of first-time winners that shook up the playoff field. That includes Erik Jones in 2018, Justin Haley in 2019 and Harrison Burton in 2024, who each celebrated their first NASCAR Cup Series wins at the legendary track.

For winless drivers this season, Daytona serves as the ultimate wild card, providing hope that even someone ranked well back in the standings can claim victory and a berth in the playoffs. And should a previously winless driver take the checkered flag in primetime on Aug. 23, that would leave just one spot available to the top-ranked driver without a victory this season.

Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing and Alex Bowman of Hendrick Motorsports are ranked 15th and 16th, respectively, in the driver standings and would be the final two drivers to make the 10-race playoffs if no new winner emerges. The other side of the 16-driver cut line features two RFK Racing drivers and a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion: No. 17-ranked Chris Buescher, No. 18 Ryan Preece and No. 19 Kyle Busch, the 2015 and 2019 champion and now Dillon’s teammate at Richard Childress Racing.

Here’s a look at the top 20 drivers in the standings following Saturday night’s race at Richmond ranked by playoff seeding as of now:

NASCAR driver standings — Projected 2025 playoffs

A look at the top 20 drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series standings, ranked by projected playoff seeding with one race remaining in the regular season.

Includes rank, driver, wins (playoff points in parentheses), regular-season points, and points above or below 16-driver cut line, where applicable:

  1. Denny Hamlin ….. 4 (24) ….. 766
  2. Shane Van Gisbergen ….. 4 (22) ….. 464
  3. Kyle Larson ….. 3 (23) ….. 759
  4. Christopher Bell ….. 3 (17) ….. 748
  5. William Byron ….. 2 (17) ….. 839
  6. Chase Elliott ….. 1 (6) ….. 771
  7. Ryan Blaney ….. 1 (11) ….. 756
  8. Chase Briscoe ….. 1 (7) ….. 698
  9. Bubba Wallace ….. 1 (8) ….. 639
  10. Joey Logano ….. 1 (7) ….. 616
  11. Ross Chastain ….. 1 (6) ….. 589
  12. Austin Cindric ….. 1 (8) ….. 543
  13. Josh Berry ….. 1 (6) ….. 476
  14. Austin Dillon ….. 1 (5) ….. 460
  15. Tyler Reddick ….. 0 (2) ….. 714 ….. +89
  16. Alex Bowman ….. 0 (0) ….. 685 ….. +60
  17. Chris Buescher ….. 0 (-3) ….. 625 ….. -60
  18. Ryan Preece ….. 0 (2) ….. 591 ….. -94
  19. Kyle Busch ….. 0 (0) ….. 537 ….. -148
  20. Ty Gibbs ….. 0 (0) ….. 512 ….. -173

Next NASCAR Cup Series race

Daytona International Speedway will host the final regular-season race on Saturday, Aug. 23 before the 10-race NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begin.

At Daytona International Speedway

  • Race: Coke Zero Sugar 400
  • Date: Saturday, Aug. 23
  • Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
  • TV channel: NBC
  • Streaming: HBO Max and Fubo

Watch NASCAR Cup Series races on Fubo

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (August 15) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ethereum and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$116,999, a 0.8 percent decline in 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$116,956, while its highest was US$118,192.

Bitcoin price performance, August 15, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

Bitcoin surged to a new all-time high of US$124,533 on Thursday (August 14), driven by increased institutional interest and expectations that the US Federal Reserve will cut interest rates.

However, the rally was short-lived, as the price fell as low as US$117,263 early on Friday.

The decline was attributed to hotter-than-expected US producer price index data for July, which dampened investor optimism about a rate reduction. Additionally, comments from US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent revealed that the country holds less Bitcoin in reserve than previously thought, further unsettling the market.

Ethereum (ETH) experienced one of its most successful weeks of the year, with on-chain data further underscoring this bullish trend. Daily active addresses, stablecoin transfer volume and daily transactions all reached record highs this week. Additionally, decentralized exchange volume hit its highest point since 2022.

As of Friday’s close, ETH was priced at US$4,391.13, a 3.3 percent decline over 24 hours. Its lowest valuation on Friday was US$4,381.31, and its highest was US$4,614.81.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) was priced at US$184.03, down by 4.8 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$183.837, while its highest valuation was US$193.02.
  • XRP was trading for US$3.07, down 0.3 percent in the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$3.01, and its highest was US$3.11.
  • Sui (SUI) was trading at US$3.66, down by 2.4 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$3.63, while its highest was US$3.85.
  • Cardano (ADA) was trading at US$0.93, up 0.3 percent over 24 hours. Its lowest valuation of the day was US$0.9186, while its highest was US$0.9526.

Today’s crypto news to know

Ethereum ETF inflows hit nearly US$3 billion for the week

Ethereum-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have seen an unprecedented surge in investor demand, attracting almost US$3 billion in net inflows over the past week. According to SoSoValue data, this amount is more than five times the US$562 million that flowed into Bitcoin ETFs during the same period.

The spike coincides with a rapid increase in Ethereum holdings by crypto treasury firms — their exposure has climbed from US$600 million to US$11 billion in just six weeks. It also follows the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) approval of in-kind creations and redemptions for spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. The change makes the funds more cost efficient and attractive to institutional investors.

ETF Store President Nate Geraci said in a post on X that three of the four largest single-day inflows for Ethereum ETFs since their inception occurred this week alone. Prices for the cryptocurrency have rallied nearly 19 percent over the past seven days, coming within reach of their 2021 all-time high of US$4,878.

Galaxy Digital secures US$1.4 billion loan for AI data center

Galaxy Digital (NASDAQ:GLXY) has secured a US$1.4 billion term loan facility to accelerate the development of its Helios artificial intelligence (AI) data center campus in Texas.

The loan, announced on Friday, will cover approximately 80 percent of the construction costs for the project’s first phase, with Galaxy Digital contributing US$350 million in equity. According to an SEC filing, the loan is secured by all assets of Galaxy Helios I, a subsidiary of Galaxy Digital, and is set to mature on August 15, 2028.

The capital infusion will fund the expansion of the Helios AI datacenter, enabling it to deliver power for AI workloads under a long-term agreement with GPU cloud provider CoreWeave (NASDAQ:CRWV), commencing in early 2026.

Galaxy Digital also announced the expansion of a power capacity deal with CoreWeave to 800 megawatts for AI and high-performance computing operations at its Helios campus, projecting over US$1 billion in annual revenue from this deal, or US$15 billion over 15 years. The Helios data center is expected to reach a 3.5 gigawatt capacity when fully developed, with 2.7 gigawatts available for other clients after the CoreWeave agreement.

DOJ seizes over US$2.8 million in crypto from alleged ransomware operator

On Thursday, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the seizure of over US$2.8 million in cryptocurrency, as well as cash and other assets, as part of a criminal case against an alleged ransomware operator.

Ianis Aleksandrovich Antropenko, the alleged operator, faces charges of conspiring to commit computer fraud and abuse, as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering.

On Thursday, the DOJ unsealed six warrants, authorizing the seizure of US$2.8 million in cryptocurrency from a wallet controlled by Antropenko, along with US$70,000 in cash and a luxury vehicle.

According to the notice, these assets are believed to be the proceeds of ransomware activity, or involved in laundering those proceeds. The laundered assets were disguised through various methods, including the use of ChipMixer, a cryptocurrency mixing service that was shut down in a coordinated international operation in 2023.

Antropenko also laundered cryptocurrency by converting it to cash and making structured cash deposits.

Saylor bets on US$100 billion ‘Bitcoin credit’

Michael Saylor, executive chairman of Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR), is pursuing a high-risk plan to finance further Bitcoin purchases through perpetual preferred stock offerings.

The new securities — nicknamed “Stretch” — do not mature, lack voting rights and can skip dividends under certain conditions, giving the issuer flexibility while raising investor concerns about risk.

This marks a departure from the company’s earlier reliance on common stock sales and convertible bonds to fund what is now a US$75 billion Bitcoin treasury. Saylor aims to retire billions in outstanding debt and replace it with preferred equity, which he says could theoretically scale to US$100 billion or more in capital raised.

The model hinges on investor appetite for yield backed indirectly by Bitcoin’s performance, while avoiding the dilution impact of issuing more common stock.

Federal Reserve Board to sunset crypto supervision program

In a notice on Friday, the US Federal Reserve Board said it will sunset a program created in August 2023 to supervise certain activities related to crypto assets and distributed ledger technology.

The Fed said it will return to monitoring activity through the normal supervisory process.

“Since the Board started its program to supervise certain crypto and fintech activities in banks, the Board has strengthened its understanding of those activities, related risks, and bank risk management practices,” it said.

“As a result, the Board is integrating that knowledge and the supervision of those activities back into the standard supervisory process and is rescinding its 2023 supervisory letter creating the program.”

Hong Kong SFC rolls out stricter rules for licensed crypto platforms

Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has introduced new custody rules for licensed virtual asset trading platforms, setting stricter benchmarks for how client assets must be stored and secured.

The updated framework includes specific requirements for cold wallet usage, senior management accountability and real-time cyber threat monitoring, alongside rules for using third-party wallet providers.

These measures follow an SFC review earlier this year that identified security and operational gaps among some licensed exchanges. The regulator says the changes are part of its ASPIRe strategy, a five point plan to address liquidity fragmentation, regulatory arbitrage and volatility, while expanding regulated product offerings.

The policy also aims to position Hong Kong as a safer, more structured alternative to other Asian crypto hubs, notably Singapore, which has imposed tighter limits on retail trading.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Tech stocks led Wall Street to a second consecutive week of gains as a series of data releases reignited optimism about a September interest rate cut from the US Federal Reserve.

A strong consumer price index report was the catalyst, renewing anticipation that the Fed will lower rates when it meets next month. While Thursday’s (August 14) less optimistic producer price index report caused a momentary pause, the tech sector’s resilience — or defiance — mitigated losses and kept momentum alive.

Here’s a look at the key moments that shaped the tech sector this week.

1. US government strikes controversial Big Tech deal

On Monday (August 11), the Washington Post reported on a deal between the US government and tech giants NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) (NASDAQ:AMD). It stipulates that the tech companies must surrender 15 percent of revenue from Chinese sales of NVIDIA’s H20 chips and AMD’s MI308 chips.

Anonymous sources told the news outlet that this condition was imposed as a prerequisite for granting the companies export licenses to sell their products in China. The move that has prompted legal concerns among trade experts who say the fee could be construed as an unconstitutional trade tax.

“To call this unusual or unprecedented would be a staggering understatement,” Stephen Olson, a former US trade negotiator, told Bloomberg. “What we are seeing is in effect the monetization of US trade policy in which US companies must pay the US government for permission to export.”

AMD, NVIDIA and Intel performance, August 12 to 15, 2025.

Chart via Google Finance.

Meanwhile, shares of Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) rose as much as 4.6 percent on Tuesday (August 12) following a ‘candid and constructive’ meeting between CEO Lip-Bu Tan and US President Donald Trump on Monday.

The meeting came after Trump called for Tan’s removal last week.

According to a separate Bloomberg article, the US government is considering taking a stake in the chipmaker to help it establish a planned factory hub in Ohio; the company once promised it would be the world’s largest chipmaking facility. Tan has not confirmed or denied the report, but discussions are said to be ongoing. Sources told Bloomberg the government is considering using funds from the Biden administration’s Chips Act to fund the stake.

2. Amazon to expand grocery delivery services

Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) shares rose as much as 1.3 percent on Wednesday (August 13) after the commerce company announced plans to significantly expand its grocery services.

On Wednesday, the company said its same-day delivery service will now include fresh groceries, including produce, meat and dairy, in over 1,000 cities, with plans to expand into more than 2,300 by the end of the year.

The service is included in Amazon Prime memberships for orders over US$25. Smaller orders and orders from non-members will require fees of US$2.99 and US$12.99, respectively.

3. CoreWeave shares drop after mixed earnings report

Artificial intelligence (AI) data center operator CoreWeave (NASDAQ:CRWV) reported mixed Q2 results on Tuesday, with revenue more than doubling year-on-year to US$1.2 billion, beating estimates of US$1.08 billion, and a revenue backlog of US$30.1 billion. However, the growth came at a high cost. The company reported a record US$2.9 billion in capital expenditures for the quarter, and operating expenses jumped by 276 percent to US$1.19 billion.

CoreWeave performance, August 12 to 15, 2025.

Chart via Google Finance.

The company also reported losses of US$291 million, larger than the US$190.6 million analysts had estimated.

Shares of CoreWeave opened more than 10 percent lower on Wednesday and declined throughout the week, closing at US$99.97 on Friday (August 15) compared to Monday’s opening price of US$134.80.

4. Perplexity bids on Chrome, prepares for fresh funding round

AI startup Perplexity made a US$34.5 billion bid for Google’s (NASDAQ:GOOGL) web browser, Chrome, in a move to secure its future in the AI search market. Perplexity told the Wall Street Journal that the unsolicited offer would be funded with the help of outside investors. The company’s advance comes as Google faces a potential divestiture following an antitrust trial that found it had illegally monopolized online search and search advertising.

OpenAI has also expressed interest in acquiring Chrome.

On Thursday, Business Insider reported that Perplexity is preparing for another round of funding, which would mark its sixth fundraiser in 18 months. The company is reportedly seeking a post-money valuation of US$20 billion. This comes barely one month after the startup achieved a US$18 billion valuation.

The rapid succession of these events underscores the intense, high-stakes competition among AI startups to secure foundational assets and challenge established tech giants.

Canadian AI startup Cohere secured US$500 million in fresh funding on Thursday from a group of investors that included NVIDIA and AMD, bringing its valuation to US$6.8 billion. The company also onboarded former executives from Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER) and Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META).

5. Apple plans product expansion

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) shares climbed as high as 1.7 percent on Wednesday after Bloomberg reported on the company’s planned expansion into robotics, home security and smart displays.

The new products are aimed at strengthening Apple’s product ecosystem, which has paled in comparison to offerings from tech rivals like Amazon and Meta.

Apple performance, August 12 to 15, 2025.

Chart via Google Finance.

Some of the new devices slated for future release include a tabletop virtual companion robot, a long-planned advanced Siri model with a visual personality, a smart speaker with display capabilities and home security cameras.

Apple finished the week at US$231.59, a 1.7 percent gain from Monday.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

The past 15 years have been a transformative time for the college football postseason. A sport that had a single championship game between two teams as recently as 12 years ago now has a 12-team playoff that appears destined to expand in the coming years.

If the Big Ten has its way, the group of teams competing for a national championship would be quite large — to put it mildly.

The league, one of the two most powerful and influential conferences in college athletics, has floated the idea of a 24- or 28-team playoff, according to a report on Saturday, Aug. 16 from ESPN. NBC Sports, which confirmed the Big Ten’s potential plan, reported that it would be a 28-team event.

The idea, according to both outlets, is in the “very early stages.” Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti ran the idea by the conference earlier this week and it has started to be shared by others, according to ESPN.

Big Ten’s College Football Playoff proposal

Under the proposal, conference championship games would be scrapped, and there would be a sizable chunk of automatic bids awarded to each of the Power Four conferences. In a 28-team model, according to ESPN, the Big Ten and SEC would each receive seven bids to the playoff, while the ACC and Big 12 would each get five. That would leave two spots for the non-power conferences, plus two at-large selections. The field would be seeded by the College Football Playoff committee, which would also be tasked with picking the at-large inclusions.

In that format, there would be 20 on-campus games. In the inaugural 12-team playoff last year, there were four on-campus games in the first round, a popular feature for fans across the country who enjoyed seeing postseason games inside storied venues at the home campuses of Notre Dame, Ohio State, Texas and Penn State.

Big Ten College Football Playoff reactions

Playoff expansion proposals are generally poorly received from fans who often enjoy things the way they are, but even by that standard, the Big Ten’s idea was incredibly unpopular. Shortly after ESPN and NBC’s reports, fans and media members flooded social media to pan the suggestion:

A primary argument against a 24- or 28-team playoff would be the diminished importance of the regular season, with teams able to lose as many as four or five games and still be alive in the hunt for a national championship. Based on conference standings from the 2024 season, a 28-team playoff would have included 8-5 Iowa, 9-4 LSU, 9-4 Alabama, 8-5 Baylor, 9-4 Colorado and 9-4 Louisville.

As recently as 1997, college football had no postseason beyond bowl games, with human polls determining the national champions. The 2014 season marked the arrival of the first College Football Playoff, a four-team tournament that replaced the widely panned Bowl Championship Series.

After 10 years of the playoff being a four-team event, it tripled to 12 teams last season, with Ohio State, the playoff’s No. 8 seed, winning the national title.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Lionel Messi’s right hamstring may not be 100%. But he’s still able to deliver highlight moments and give the impression he’s fully healthy.

Messi made his injury return, scoring a game-deciding goal in the 84th minute, Jordi Alba (43’) and Luis Suarez (89’) also scored goals, and Inter Miami beat the defending MLS Cup champion L.A. Galaxy 3-1 at Chase Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 16.

It appeared to be a laborious return to action for the Argentine World Cup champion, playing in his first match since suffering a right hamstring injury on Aug. 2.

Despite his highlight goal and a stellar heel assist to Suarez to cap his return, there were several instances where Messi was seen bent over, trying to stretch his hamstring during stoppages in play.

Messi waited by the closest part of the pitch near the locker room area and walked immediately inside the stadium corridor when the match concluded.

“He clearly wasn’t 100% comfortable,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said of Messi after the match. “Now, the reality is that as the minutes went by, he loosened up a little bit more. We’ll have to see how he ended up in terms of fatigue.”

The Galaxy match served as a barometer for Messi’s health before Inter Miami plays in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals against Tigres UANL, set for 8 p.m. ET on Aug. 20. Inter Miami’s next match in the MLS regular season is Aug. 23 on the road against D.C. United.

Messi entered Saturday’s match at halftime, walking onto the pitch and adjusting the captain’s armband around his left bicep as the second half began. He already caused a ruckus in the stadium, warming up before the first half ended.

Within two minutes, Messi fired his first shot in the 46th minute, which soared over the net. Ten minutes later, Messi sent a shot that was much closer to the net, barely above it.

Joseph Paintsil tied the match, 1-1, for the Galaxy in the 59th minute, setting the stage for Messi to decide the game in the final 10 minutes.

Messi finished the match, jogging close to full speed before providing a shifty finish around a defender to help Inter Miami secure the victory.

Messi became the second-fastest player in MLS history to reach 40 career goals, doing so in 44 league matches. Josef Martínez, the 2018 MLS MVP with Atlanta United who played alongside Messi on Inter Miami in 2023, did so in 42 matches.

“At the end of the day, he’s been out for two weeks with an injury. It was something very, very minor, and the three training sessions we had were good,” Mascherano said of Messi. “And I’ll say it again, the important thing is that he finished the game. I saw him get better as the minutes went by, but in the end, we’ll have to see how he is (Sunday), how he feels when he wakes up, and take it day by day.”

Messi’s injury caused him to miss two matches: Inter Miami advanced to the Leagues Cup knockout stage with a 3-1 win against Pumas on Aug. 6, then lost 4-1 to Orlando City in a regular-season match on Aug. 10. 

Mascherano said Messi wanted to play on the road in Orlando, but it was “impossible.”

Messi’s health will continue to be the focus for Inter Miami in the next week.

“You have understand why Leo is Leo, because he always wants to be on the pitch. He’s happy there,” Mascherano said. “Sometimes we try to explain to him to go slowly, but in the end when he feels good, he knows himself like no one (else). We tried to give him some minutes to start to find a good feeling for the next games.”

Watch MLS games all season long on Apple TV

Inter Miami vs. LA Galaxy highlights

Inter Miami 3, LA Galaxy 1: Luis Suarez scores goal

Inter Miami 2, LA Galaxy 1: Messi scores goal in return

Inter Miami 1, LA Galaxy 1: Joseph Paintsil scores goal

Joseph Paintsil has scored for the Galaxy, finishing past Inter Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari in the 59th minute.

Inter Miami 1, LA Galaxy 0: Messi fires shot, nearly scores

Messi fired a shot over the net in the 56th minute, barely missing over the net. After the play, Messi and Jordi Alba each exchanged thumbs up to each other for the pass he was unable to finish.

Inter Miami 1, LA Galaxy 0: Messi enters match in second half

When the second half began, Messi walked immediately onto the pitch with the captain’s armband around his left bicep. He was immediately substituted into the match after halftime. It didn’t take him long to fire his first shot, soaring a left boot over the net in the 46th minute.

Inter Miami 1, LA Galaxy 0: Messi begins warming up before halftime

The crowd inside Chase Stadium erupted when Messi and Rodrigo De Paul, the Argentine World Cup champions, came off the bench to begin stretching just before halftime. Expect to see them both in the second half, with Messi making his return from injury.

Inter Miami 1, LA Galaxy 0: Jordi Alba scores goal

As Lionel Messi came off the bench to begin warming up, two of his former FC Barcelona running mates secured a lead right before halftime. Sergio Busquets found Jordi Alba in space, and Alba provided the finish in the 43rd minute.

Inter Miami starting lineup vs. LA Galaxy

LA Galaxy lineup vs. Inter Miami

Is Messi playing tonight?

Yes, Messi is expected to play. He is a substitute for Inter Miami against the Galaxy.

What time is Inter Miami vs. LA Galaxy match?

The match begins at 7:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. in Argentina)

How to watch Inter Miami vs. LA Galaxy match?

The match is available to live stream on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV and on Apple TV+.

Inter Miami vs. LA Galaxy betting odds

Here are the betting odds, according to BETMGM.

  • Inter Miami: -220
  • Tie: +380
  • Away: +475
  • Over/under: 3.5 goals

Messi, Inter Miami upcoming schedule

  • Aug. 20: Inter Miami vs. Tigres UANL (Leagues Cup quarterfinals) 
  • Aug. 23: D.C. United vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS regular season)
  • Aug. 26 or 27: Leagues Cup semifinals (if applicable)
  • Aug. 30: Inter Miami vs. Chicago Fire, 7:30 p.m. ET (MLS regular season)
  • Aug. 31: Leagues Cup final and third-place match (if applicable)
This post appeared first on USA TODAY

  • Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart played one quarter against the Jets in his second preseason game.
  • Dart’s performance improved from his preseason debut against the Bills.

Another week and another game of action for New York Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.

The first-round pick got a full quarter of work in against the New York Jets Saturday night at MetLife Stadium. He got his first taste of NFL action against the Buffalo Bills in the Giants’ preseason opener Aug. 9.

New York traded up into the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft to select Dart. His first live snaps as an NFL quarterback were promising against the Bills; New York scored points on three of the four drives he led with a touchdown and two field goals.

Dart ended up 12 of 19 passing for 154 yards and a touchdown in the Giants’ 34-25 win.

Giants starter Russell Wilson played the first four drives of the game, the final culminating in an interception to Jets cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers. At the 5:56 mark of the second quarter, Dart came in for Wilson. Here’s how fared:

Jaxson Dart stats today

Dart played better statistically against the Jets than he did a week prior against the Bills. The Giants scored two touchdowns over his three drives before Jameis Winston entered the game with 3:04 left in the third quarter.

Here’s how the box score looked for Dart:

  • Completions/Attempts: 14/16
  • Passing yards: 137
  • Passing touchdowns: 1
  • Interceptions: 0
  • Fumbles (lost): 0
  • Rushing yards: 5
  • Rushing touchdowns: 1
  • Sacks: 1 (no yards lost)

Dart connected with tight end Greg Dulcich for his first touchdown of the night.

He called his own number for his second touchdown with a quarterback sneak on second-and-goal.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

The 2025 Little League Baseball World Series continued into the weekend as the pressure began to mount in the double-elimination tournament in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

All eight teams that took the field on Saturday had already suffered one loss but four will continue their journey after earning a victory.

Mexico produced a late rally to outscore Puerto Rico 11-5 and move on in the International bracket. Gregorio Madrid produced seven RBIs and scored two runs in a winning effort.

Australia is also moving on after a 5-3 victory over Czechia in the International bracket.

Illinois earned a victory over Pennsylvania in the final game of the evening, advancing in the United States bracket. Massachusetts also advanced in the tournament after a 7-3 victory against Texas.

Little League World Series Day 4 schedule and results

Saturday, Aug. 16

All times Eastern

  • Game 13 (International): Australia 5, Czechia 3
  • Game 14 (U.S.): Massachusetts 7, Texas 3,
  • Game 15 (International): Mexico 11, Puerto Rico 5
  • Game 16 (U.S.): Illinois 3, Pennsylvania 3

Final: Illinois 3, Pennsylvania 2

Brody Herold and Illinois are moving on. Herold led the way for Illinois, pitching six innings and contributing on offense with a run batted in.

Final: Mexico 11, Puerto Rico 5

Mexico is moving in the International bracket. Mexico’s Gregorio Madrid went 2-for-3 with seven runs batted in and two runs scored.

Illinois takes early lead

Illinois took a 3-0 lead over Pennsylvania in the bottom of the second inning.

Mexico, Puerto Rico tied

Gregorio Madrid hit a grand slam for Mexico in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game with Puerto Rico at 4.

Iker Castaneda adds to the lead with a two-run home run in the inning. Mexico has rallied back to take a 6-4 lead.

Pennsylvania and Illinois set to begin

The United States bracket elimination game is set to begin shortly.

Puerto Rico jumps ahead of Mexico

Puerto Rico scores a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead. Elias Martinez had a chance to make a catch in left field to end the inning, but dropped the ball.

Azariel Alvarado Medina hits a two-run home run during the next at-bat. It’s the first home run for Puerto Rico in the Little League World Series since 2018, according to ESPN’s Eduardo Perez.

Puerto Rico leads Mexico 4-0 at the top of the fourth inning.

Alvarado Medina doesn’t spend much time celebrating after going back onto the mound as the starting pitcher. He’s allowed three hits and a strikeout in three innings as a pitcher. He has walked four batters in the game.

Mexico loads the bases

Mexico appeared to have scored the first run of the game to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, but a challenge reversed the call after showing that Puerto Rico’s catcher had tagged the runner before reaching home plate.

Puerto Rico produced two more quick outs to get out of the inning while leaving three of Mexico’s runners stranded on base.

The game remains scoreless.

Mexico vs. Puerto Rico is underway

The third game of the day, the Mexico vs. Puerto Rico elimination game, has begun.

Final: Massachusetts 7, Texas 2

Sam Trotta went 2-for-2 with two RBIs in the victory for Massachusetts. Caden McCarthy contributed to the offense with a run scored and two RBIs after going 2-for-2 at the plate.

Massachusetts explodes on offense

Massachusetts doesn’t let off the gas in the bottom of the third inning, adding an additional two runs. Massachusetts leads 7-2 against Texas.

Massachusetts piles on the runs

Massachusetts increased their lead to 5-2 against Texas after a strong second inning in the second elimination game on Day 4.

Final: Australia 5, Czechia 3

Australia secured a 5-3 victory over Czechia in the elimination game, ending Czechia’s hopes of advancing in the Little League World Series.

Massachuetts battles back

Massachusetts quickly responded to errors made by Texas, as well as a hit by Sam Trotta that reached the back of the wall. Texas managed to secure an out at home plate to prevent another run. Massachusetts currently leads 3-2 in the elimination game.

Texas claims the early lead

Texas jumps ahead early, scoring two runs in the first inning. Texas leads 2-0 against Massachusetts in the elimination game.

Texas vs. Massachusetts is underway

The second game of the day, Texas vs. Massachusetts, is underway on ESPN, while Czechia vs. Australia has been moved to ESPN2.

Czechia vs. Australia expected to begin at 4:29 p.m. ET

Czechia and Australia will resume their match at 4:29 p.m. ET following a weather delay that interrupted Day 4 action.

Czechia vs. Australia in a weather delay

Despite a sunny Saturday, a lightning strike has forced the game to go into a weather delay.

Australia’s big second inning

Australia loaded the bases with Monica Arcuri at bat. She was then walked, adding another run to the scoreboard for her team. Czechia made a pitching change, bringing in Mikulas Binek, who took some time to warm up and allowed an additional run due to another walk. As a result, Australia leads 5-1 heading into the third inning.

Czechia quickly responds

Czechia capitalized on an error to score a run in the second inning. Australia leads 3-1 as the elimination game enters the bottom of the second inning.

Australia gets on the board

Australia takes an early lead in the bottom of the first inning, scoring three runs in the day’s opening game. Australia leads 3-0 heading into the top of the second inning.

Czechia vs. Australia is underway

The first game of Day 4 is underway as Czechia is looking for their second win ever at the Little League World Series while taking on Australia at Volunteer Stadium.

What time is the Little League World Series today?

The first game on Saturday, Aug. 16 starts at 1 p.m. ET with the final game starting at 7 p.m. ET. All games take place in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in either Howard J. Lamade Stadium or Little League Volunteer Stadium.

Little League World Series 2025: TV, time and how to watch

The Little League World Series began Wednesday, Aug. 13 and concludes on Sunday, Aug. 24. Games will be presented across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+. Viewers can also watch with Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users.

  • Times: Coverage begins at 1 p.m. ET
  • TV: ESPN
  • Streaming: ESPN+ (international games), Fubo

Watch 2025 Little League World Series on Fubo

Little League World Series Day 3 results

Friday, Aug. 15

  • Game 9 (International): Venezuela 4, Canada 0
  • Game 10 (U.S.): Nevada (Mountain) 5, Washington (Northwest) 3
  • Game 11 (International): Aruba (Caribbean) 8, Panama 2
  • Game 12 (U.S.): Connecticut (Metro) 5, Hawaii (West) 1

Little League World Series Day 2 results

Thursday, Aug. 14

  • Game 5 (International): Japan 12, Czechia (Europe-Africa) 0
  • Game 6 (U.S.): South Carolina (Southeast) 13, Massachusetts (New England) 0
  • Game 7 (International): Chinese Taipei (Asia-Pacific) 3, Mexico 0
  • Game 8: (U.S.): South Dakota (Midwest) 2, Pennsylvania (Mid-Atlantic) 0

Little League World Series Day 1 results

Wednesday, Aug. 13

  • Game 1 (International): Venezuela 5 (Latin America), Puerto Rico 0
  • Game 2 (U.S.): Nevada (Mountain) 16, Illinois 1 (Great Lakes)
  • Game 3 (International): Panama 7, Australia 2
  • Game 4 (U.S.): Connecticut (Metro), Texas (Southwest) 0
This post appeared first on USA TODAY

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Playboy plans to relocate its global headquarters from Los Angeles to Miami Beach and open a Playboy club there.

The Miami Beach headquarters at the top of a luxury office building will include studios to support Playboy’s “growing creator network” and the club will have a restaurant as well as a members-only section inspired by the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles, the company said Thursday in a statement.

“Miami Beach is among the most dynamic and culturally influential cities in the country, making it the ideal home for Playboy’s next chapter,” Ben Kohn, CEO of Playboy Inc., said in the statement.

The first Playboy Magazine was published in 1953, featuring Marilyn Monroe on the cover and in a “Sweetheart of the Month” color nude photo inside.

The first Playboy Club opened in 1960 in Chicago, which was the headquarters of the company at the time, and the company opened up clubs around the world.

In 2020, Playboy ceased publishing its monthly print magazine, sticking instead with online content.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS