Category Sports News

The NFL’s free agency season is always busy, and this year, two quarterbacks won the Super Bowl.

Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers both had roles, which sparked weeks of rumors about their future careers.

Seattle, Wilson’s former team, has made the most significant moves as they attempt to usher in a new era.

In other sports, some teams have focused on rebuilding their offensive lines in preparation for the 2025 season, while stars like Ja’Marr Chase and Myles Garrett are staying put despite receiving lucrative extensions.

The Seahawks’ front office has now made some bold moves to officially end Pete Carroll’s 14-year coaching and rebuild the franchise under MacDonald.

Seattle signed the 27-year-old on a $150 million (£116. 5 million) deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, making him the NFL’s fourth highest-paid wide receiver.

Sam Darnold, 27, was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders for quarterback Geno Smith, 34, on a three-year, $ 100.5 million (£ 78 million) contract.

After JJ McCarthy, the first-round pick of the year, suffered a pre-season injury, Darnold was given the starting job at Minnesota.

Darnold made a great job of reviving his career, but McCarthy’s fitness was always a problem when he was back in top shape.

With McCarthy under a rookie contract, the Vikings have made significant investments in strengthening their offensive line.

Both Drake Maye and Caleb Williams, both second-year quarterbacks in need of greater protection, have done the same for the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears.

For instance, Wiliams was the draft’s top quarterback last year, but he was sacked 68 times, or 16 more than any other quarterback, in his rookie season.

The Cincinnati Bengals’ offence ended the season with a powerful performance, but they were too late to earn a play-off spot.

In the end, Ja’Marr Chase won the receiving triple crown while quarterback Joe Burrow led the league in passing yards and touchdown passes, leading the team in the receiving department.

In the off-season, the Bengals doubled down on their attacking identity and made the necessary contract decisions for Chase and fellow receiver Tee Higgins.

In addition to earning $115 million (£89 million), they also granted Chase the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history on a deal worth $161 million (£125 million).

Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett, both of whom are the NFL’s best pass rushers, received handsome rewards for their contributions.

Many players have left the San Francisco 49ers to make room for the salary cap, with the team preparing to offer quarterback Brock Purdy a long-term contract.

The 49ers’ championship window may have come to an end with Versatile receiver Deebo Samuel leaving and being traded to the Washington Commanders. So after losing in two of their previous six Super Bowls, the team could have lost.

After rebuilding their roster around Aaron Rodgers, the NFL’s four-time Most Valuable Player, the New York Jets were rumored to be contenders for the Super Bowl last year, but the gamble didn’t materialize.

The 41-year-old has been replaced by former Chicago and Pittsburgh quarterback Justin Fields and released receiver Davante Adams, who was traded by the Rams to replace Kupp.

Rodgers, who has spoken to the Giants, Steelers, and Vikings, is still deciding whether Russell Wilson will join the New York Giants or the New York Giants.

Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson will now face off in the starting lineup against the Indianapolis Colts.

After losing to teenage sensation Alexandra Eala in the semi-finals, world number one Aryna Sabalenka will face Jessica Pegula in the Miami Open final on Saturday.

Sabalenka, a 26-year-old Belarusian, won the tournament by storming past Jasmine Paolini, who is yet to lose a set.

Mirra Andreeva defeated Sabalenka earlier this month at Indian Wells, making it two finals in a row. Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, lost to Andreeva in the Indian Wells earlier this month.

Sabalenka, the top seed, dominated Italian Paolini on Thursday with powerful serves and punishing groundstrokes, having never before made it to the Miami showpiece.

In a victory that was only one hour and 13 minutes, Sabalenka barely put a foot wrong with her two mistimed overheads and an ambitious “tweener” shot that did not have enough power to trouble her opponent.

“I’m so happy that I had another chance, another final, and another chance to win,” Sabalenka said.

She is a fantastic player, so I knew I would work hard for every win.

Sabalenka reached her fourth final in 2025, defeating Andreeva at Indian Wells and American Madison Keys at the Australian Open in January.

On her way to the last four, Filipino Eala, who is ranked 140th in the world, defeated Jelena Ostapenko, Keys, and world number two Iga Swiatek, who had only won two WTA main draw titles before making it to Miami.

In a two-hour, 24 minute match, Pegula broke three records to win the second set, pushing the lowest-ranked semi-finalist in Miami Open history.

The stars must align, as they did this week, and I hope to be able to maintain that momentum. That’s my current goal, to maintain this momentum,” she said.

Due to his devotion to his beloved Latics, which spanned more than 40 years, Darren Orme was a well-known figure who cycled through the streets of his hometown as a “Mr. Wigan Athletic.”

He was almost always first on the supporters’ coach when they traveled to away games, and he enjoyed waiting until dawn for big events like the 2013 FA Cup final win over Manchester City at Wembley.

In response to the 54-year-old’s disappearance on March 5, there was a significant public outcry from supporters, the town, and its respective football and rugby league clubs.

Unfortunately, his body was discovered in the shadow of Brick Community Stadium, where he had always occupied the East Stand, two weeks later.

The Wigan community was able to demonstrate the powerful idea of football as an extension of family in a heartfelt and heartwarming way thanks to the story.

A minute’s applause will be held for this devoted supporter at Wigan Athletic’s home game against Barnsley on Saturday (15:00 GMT), and a scarf and a shirt with the words “Darren 1 of our own” will be embroidered on his seat.

A carpet of flowers has grown around the stadium’s statue of former Wigan chairman and owner Dave Whelan since the news of Darren’s passing, and a condolence book has been published.

The significance of a football club’s role in its community has been exposed in themidst of the sadness, and the town as a whole as a whole.

In the days following Darren’s disappearance, Mick Wimsey, the club’s travel and supporters club chairman, conducted a search for him while also taking early morning drives in an effort to find the friend who had followed Wigan Athletic with him for more than 40 years.

He told BBC Sport, “We live in a bad world.” However, it is amazing how much goodness has come out of this. We set up a search on the Sunday following his disappearance when there was no word on Darren for a few days.

Although I had more than 100 attendees, I was only anticipating a small number of people. From 10 am to 4 pm, all those people searched for Darren, and some went back after taking a break.

There were people who don’t even watch football on that Sunday morning who saw him leaving his bike for work and felt compelled to go find him. Although it was heartbreaking, there was also good in it.

He continued, “Football clubs are like your family. At Latics, he was a member of our family. You would never forget him once you first saw him. His smile was unwavering. Armani would profit from what Darren had if he could bottle it.

You observed him more frequently than your own family members. One of my closest friends was him. I’ve been a fan of Wigan for 46 seasons and the supporters’ club for 44. I’ve had a long friendship with Darren. When we were both about 14 years old, we met at a game against Walsall.

In the local paper, I was asked to dedicate a poem to him. I was merely pouring it out of me, and I was left with a face full of tears. Everyone adored Darren, but I never knew he was the worst person I’ve ever met.

The official Wigan Athletic Supporters Club paid emotional homage to “a recognisable and loved character” who “lived and breathed blue and white.” Before Saturday’s game, Darren’s family will receive a framed certificate as a posthumous tribute to the fan of the month award.

Posters were positioned in Wigan’s shop windows when he was reported missing, and Ryan Lowe, the new manager, made a public appeal. A banner was also displayed at Wigan’s training facility.

Over the past few years, Lactics has had its issues both on and off the pitch, according to Jamie Allen, Wigan’s head of media marketing and communications. Wigan Athletic has been experiencing a rollercoaster ride, but this demonstrated the club’s and town’s core values.

The outcome was “not the outcome everyone wanted,” and while devastating, it brought together a town and a sporting fan base at both Wigan Athletic and Wigan Warriors. When there is a need, the community and the clubs work together, just like families did here.

Although this is a very sad outcome, the positive aspects of what it says about our town, the people who live there, and how important a football club and its supporters can be, and of course, the rugby league club can be.

When Wigan host Barnsley on Saturday, Wigan fans will experience heartache, but Wimsey asserts that “football supporters are a community regardless of who you support.” Our biggest rivals, the Bolton Wanderers, were sending their sympathies and thoughts.

Of course, Wigan is not the first team or community to demonstrate that football has a life and an impact that lasts beyond 90 minutes.

Bradley Lowery, age 18, was only 18 months old when he was discovered to have neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer, and had become known to the entire football league.

The Sunderland fan gained international recognition after receiving 250, 000 Christmas cards from all over the world as “best mates” with his hero, striker Jermain Defoe.

At BBC Sports Personality of the Year, he met then-England manager Gareth Southgate and former-footballer Gary Lineker, and he won the match’s goal of the month award after taking a penalty before a Sunderland game against Chelsea.

In addition, Rangers captain James Tavernier, goalkeeper Jack Butland, and former Scotland international Robert Snodgrass all contributed to a fundraiser for a fan who was killed in Turkey after being hit by two cars while crossing a Turkish road before the Glasgow side’s Europa League clash with Fenerbahce earlier this month.

Another club that has experienced tragedy is Oxford United, where former winger Joey Beauchamp, regarded by many as their greatest player, committed suicide in February 2022.

His younger brother Luke has established a foundation in his name to support the families of those who struggle with mental illness and depression.

We want to feel connected to the club we love, along with the fans who share the experience, according to Paul Peros, chairman of OXVOX, the Independent Supporters Trust for Oxford United.

“In a slightly different way, it felt almost like a family to me when Joey passed away, because football is a family, especially at your own club,” he said.

You spend just as much time with your loved ones as you do with your typical dates. You form those bonds. The tragic story of the Wigan supporter demonstrates how football can reach communities far beyond the field.

“You might not know them, but you may have just seen them at away games or whatever. Like family members, you have shared experiences. They will bring up issues like the experiences, the non-league days, and the good and bad things right away as soon as you sit down.

Women’s Six Nations: Wales v England

Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 29 March Kick-off: 16:45 GMT

A record crowd awaits as Wales take on the might of England at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.

The Red Roses arrive in Cardiff as the number-one ranked team in the world, with last weekend’s victory over Italy their 21st successive Test win.

Under John Mitchell and new captain Zoe Aldcroft, they are going for their seventh consecutive Six Nations title and a fourth consecutive Grand Slam.

Very few teams have dominated their sport in such a way.

In contrast, Wales are looking to return to form which saw them rise to sixth in the world just a couple of years ago.

They have a new coach in Sean Lynn, and while he was a proven winner at Gloucester-Hartpury, patience is needed as this is only his second week in the job.

Still there were enough green shoots of promise in the opening-round loss to Scotland to suggest Wales are a team on the up.

But they will need every ounce of home support if they are going to challenge England and repeat the heroics of the class of 2015.

More than 20,000 tickets have already been sold for the game, a record for a Welsh women’s team event in Wales.

The previous best attendance was 10,592, when Wales hosted Italy in the 2024 Six Nations at the Principality Stadium.

But there is still a way to go to beat the record for a women’s sporting event in Wales.

Wales know they are in for a tough afternoon and have opted for experience in their pack.

Nineteen-year-olds Maisie Davies and Alaw Pyrs, who made their first starts against Scotland, make way for Gwenllian Pyrs and Gwen Crabb.

For Sale Sharks loose-head Pyrs, Scotland was a first outing since surgery in November, which included a disc replacement and disc fusion.

Other than that it is as you were for Lynn’s side.

There were some question-marks earlier in the week over the availability of Georgia Evans after the number eight was sent off in Edinburgh for two yellow card offences.

It might be quicker to just name the England players that have retained their place rather than the new faces coming in.

Mitchell has made no less than 13 changes to the starting XV.

Among them is the return of world player of the year Ellie Kildunne, who will run out in Cardiff for her 50th cap.

She is joined in the backline by Abby Dow and Jess Breach – a back three that scored a combined 18 tries in last year’s championship.

Cardiff-born Welsh speaker Meg Jones starts in the centre while Olympian Abi Burton is set to make her debut from the bench.

Aldcroft and number eight Maddie Feaunati are the two players who keep their shirts.

Wales head coach Sean Lynn: Defensively we have to be on point, mistakes are going to happen but it’s that fight I want to see from the girls.

When you’re growing up it’s all about Wales v England, and playing in the Principality with a record crowd it’s something we are really proud of.

We’re so excited and it’s what these girls deserve, playing at the Principality and having 18,000. I’m hoping we’re going to get to the 20,000 mark.

We’ve set out some small challenges for us, what we want to be getting out of it, I just want to make sure that we can put England in a tough place and see how they react. Sport is about pressure.

England flanker Sadia Kabeya: While it is an away game, there’s no added pressure for us. We know it’s going to be loud which just means we need to be even louder, it’s more of a reason for us to go out there and perform.

Going into any game we always try and focus on ourselves and see what we can do to improve our game.

BBC Radio Wales commentator Gareth Rhys Owen: Sport’s ultimate beauty is its ability to surprise us. And it’s in this context that any prediction ahead of this encounter must be framed. Theresa May was the Prime Minister when England last lost a Six Nations match and all indicators suggest they should win comfortably on Saturday.

Such is the depth of John Mitchell’s squad that he has the luxury of making 13 changes to a side who put 40 points on Italy, although most would suggest that this starting XV is an upgrade.

Head-to-head

Wales

England

Next: Barcelona? “Bring it on”.

Chelsea captain Millie Bright responded to their request to reach the Women’s Champions League for the third time in a row with the Spanish giants.

Chelsea blew away Manchester City in a ruthless display at Stamford Bridge to erase a first-leg deficit. Belief is prevalent in the squad, and it was abundant.

After coming out of the tie with a 2-0 lead, Sonia Bompastor’s side had to work, but they still managed to win.

“We never had any doubts. We were completely confident in ourselves. There were more goals than three, according to Bright.

We are incredibly motivated to return, they say. A true Chelsea performance, to be sure.

Barcelona has stopped Chelsea’s quest for European glory in previous years, but this year they have an additional incentive.

Chelsea are already in the Women’s League Cup, eight points clear of the top of the league, and they are also in the semi-finals of the Women’s FA Cup, which means they will need to win a quadruple.

Former Chelsea midfielder Karen Carney commented on TNT Sports, “The quadruple mentality is back on.”

You can’t stop them because they are a train, and they are not stopping. They will be “we want that quadruple and we are not going to stop.”

Bompastor claims she won’t allow herself to consider a four-trophy haul, but Chelsea has a lot of ambitions and their performance against City on Thursday lends itself to a challenge.

Bright told BBC Sport, “We had every reason to believe that we could turn things around.”

We knew we were only going to be ruthless because we were completely confident. A true Chelsea performance, to be sure. The supporters were incredible.

Everyone showing up and providing, according to the statement. “It’s all about the mentality, the belief, and everyone.”

With a strong first-half performance from Sandy Baltimore, Nathalie Bjorn, and Mayra Ramirez, Chelsea was far superior in every way.

They exerted a lot of pressure on City and came away with a decisive lead overall, but Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Ramirez missed more opportunities with Bjorn and Erin Cuthbert hitting the woodwork.

“This is the Chelsea that we know, and this is the Chelsea that does the work.” Eni Aluko, a former Blues striker, said, “It was about energy, hunger, and desire.”

The Champions League is the one that has failed them, according to the quadruple.

The players have worked hard for years to win the Champions League, even if they don’t do the quadruple.

Chelsea will have to defeat a Barca side in three of the previous four seasons in order for them to finally capture the Champions League.

On their way to bringing the trophy home, the Catalans defeated Chelsea 4-0 in the final of 2021 before winning the trophy with a 4-0 victory in the semi-finals of 2023 and 2024.

Bompastor’s painful experiences as Lyon manager and Barcelona will serve as additional motivation the following month.

Is this Chelsea’s year, though, after adding Naomi Girma and Keira Walsh to their squads?

Although, as you all know, Barcelona have a lot of experience and talent in the squad, Bompastor said, “We’ll do everything we can to make that happen.”

“Everything is possible in football.” We want to enjoy these two games first, because it wasn’t easy, but I’ll give it all the confidence we need.

Chelsea’s victory over City marked the conclusion of a thrilling four-game series that the two teams played in two weeks.