South Carolina has work to do, UConn is back as a title contender and Texas might be the hottest team of all

Cesar Hernandez, a staff soccer writer for ESPN.com, reports that Spain and Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos will make his Liga MX debut for Monterrey, wearing the captain's armband in his first match since May. Manager Martin Demichelis confirmed Ramos will start and praised his skills and leadership qualities. Ramos, Monterrey's key winter signing, will wear the No. 93 jersey and expressed excitement for the upcoming challenge, as Monterrey looks ahead to the 2025 Club...

NASCAR's top three national series will be in action at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday, with the Truck and Xfinity Series racing for the second time in the 2025 season. Cup qualifying will take place at 11 a.m. ET, with Kyle Busch returning to the truck series to defend his title. The Xfinity race, starting at 5 p.m., will feature Georgia native Austin Hill looking to repeat his success from last year's races at his...

The UK Athletics Indoor Championships in Birmingham were delayed by one hour after the Utilita Arena was evacuated due to a fire, with smoke seen coming from the venue. Olympic stars Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Georgia Hunter Bell are among the competitors, with Johnson-Thompson participating in the 60m hurdles and shot put events, and Hunter Bell defending her British indoor 1500m title. The delay means streaming of the event will start at 12:20 GMT, as spectators...

Inter Miami's 2024 season ended with playoff elimination, but optimism was high after winning the Supporters' Shield and extending contracts for Messi and Suárez. Head coach Tata Martino's sudden resignation led to Javier Mascherano's appointment as the new coach, chosen for his previous discussions with the club's co-owner and his connection with Messi. Mascherano's quick hiring process included input from Messi, marking the first time the superstar has been explicitly involved in front office decisions....

In a crucial match, Manchester City, without injured striker Erling Haaland, will face league leaders Liverpool, who have seen a dip in form recently. Despite Haaland's absence, City has added reinforcements like Omar Marmoush, aiming to narrow the gap with Liverpool. Liverpool, led by Mohamed Salah, is facing defensive challenges after conceding five goals in three matches, but manager Arne Slot is prepared for a tough battle against an improved City side. Full Article

Kristen Shilton provides grades for Canada and the United States in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, highlighting the importance of depth players and the strong performances of goaltenders Jordan Binnington and Connor Hellebuyck. The intense championship game, decided in overtime by Connor McDavid, showcased the finesse of the American team led by standout players Jake Guentzel and Jaccob Slavin. Sidney Crosby emerges as a player to watch for Canada in the buildup to the 2026...