NBA All-Star 2025: Will the new format work? Breaking down the weekend’s big questions

The 2025 McDonald's All American girls' game features the top players in the senior class, with all 24 participants ranking in the top 32 of the current ESPNW 100. Stanford and Tennessee lead in college representation, with 18 programs in total represented on the floor. Key players include Nyla Brooks, Kaelyn Carroll, Jaida Civil, Aaliyah Crump, and Jaliya Davis, bringing diverse skills and strengths to their respective teams. Full Article

Man City striker Erling Haaland will need to see a specialist for an ankle injury suffered in the FA Cup win over Bournemouth, with a return anticipated before the end of the season and for the upcoming Club World Cup. Pep Guardiola will provide updates on Haaland's injury ahead of City's game against Leicester, where the forward was injured scoring City's equalizer in the victory over Bournemouth. The FIFA Club World Cup will take place...

Aaron Leanhardt, a former physics professor turned hitting coordinator for the New York Yankees, developed the concept of the bowling pin bat to increase contact and counter high strikeout rates in baseball. By redistributing weight towards the barrel, the innovative bat design optimizes bat speed and impact, leading to a record-breaking performance by the Yankees with 15 home runs in three games. Giancarlo Stanton, a key proponent of the bowling pin bat, showcased its effectiveness...

Your support allows The Independent to cover important stories like reproductive rights, climate change, and Big Tech, ensuring that facts are separated from messaging. The Grand Slam Track meet, organized by Michael Johnson, offers a $100,000 prize and features top athletes like Sydney McLaughlin and Kenny Bednarek. The event will take place in Kingston, Jamaica from April 4-6, with categories including Short Sprints, Long Sprints, and Short Hurdles, among others, and can be streamed on...

Alexa Philippou, a sports journalist covering women's college basketball and the WNBA, reports on USC's Sweet 16 win and star player JuJu Watkins' season-ending ACL injury. Watkins, a key player in revitalizing USC's program, will miss the Elite Eight matchup against UConn, drawing parallels to UConn's past injuries with star player Paige Bueckers. Both Auriemma and Bueckers have reached out to support Watkins, highlighting their shared resilience and determination in overcoming injuries to come back...

FIFA plans a one-game playoff between Club América and LAFC to replace León at the 2025 Club World Cup due to ownership conflict. A hearing at CAS on April 23 will determine the final decision, with LAFC stepping in as Concacaf Champions League runner-up and Club América as top-ranked team if León's appeal fails. The tournament is scheduled for June 14 to July 13 in the US, pending legal outcomes. Full Article