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The road to Oklahoma City for the Women's College World Series begins with teams nationwide finding out their starting place in the NCAA tournament at the selection show on Sunday.
Among the top teams looking for a high seed, the Texas Longhorns found out that their place in the NCAA tournament was with the aspirations to return to the Women's College World Series championship game for a second year in a row.
The Texas Longhorns will walk into the NCAA tournaments as the No. 6 seed overall and will get the opportunity to host the Austin regional at Red & Charline McCombs Field against the Michigan Wolverines, UCF Knights, and the Eastern Illinois Panthers. With a top-eight seed, the Longhorns will host their regional, and with a victory in the regional, will also host a super regional.
Texas earns a No. 6 seed following a 46-10 overall record, through their first season in the competitive SEC, which took seven out of the eight top seeds in the NCAA Tournament.
Looking to get back on track after a devastating loss to the No. 1 overall seed Texas A&M Aggies in the SEC tournament semifinal, the Longhorns begin their participation in the tournament, taking on the Eastern Illinois Panthers on May 16 at 4:30.
The Panthers finished their season with a 34-20 record and won their second Ohio Valley Conference championship in the past three years.
With the Wolverines and Knights beginning their participation in the regionals, they will take each other on earlier in the day on May 16 at 2:00.
The Wolverines will walk into Austin as back-to-back Big Ten champions after defeating the UCLA Bruins in a narrow 2-0 victory and with a record of 38-19.
Representing the Big 12, the Knights fell in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 tournament to eventual runners-up, the Arizona Wildcats. UCF will travel to Austin with a 33-22-1 record across their season.
Texas's road to OKC will not be easy with two conference champions in their regional, but with their strong bats and elite arms, the Longhorns will look for a good start to their participation in the NCAA Tournament.
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Kevin O'Connell bids farewell to Harrison Phillips, gives injury updates
Kevin O'Connell opened his press conference after Friday night's preseason finale in Tennessee by discussing the difficulty of trading away Harrison Phillips, a team captain who had started every single game for Minnesota over the past three seasons. "Did want to start out just talking about Harrison Phillips for a quick second," he said. "Obviously, a tough move to make considering just how impactful he's been to the Minnesota Vikings and our organization, on and off the field. First free agent we signed when Kwesi and I got here, and he was the first one we signed for a reason. The type of man he is, the type of teammate, the type of leader. "Moves like that are not made without a lot of thought. I got a chance to spend a lot of good time with Harrison, and I also had a chance to talk to (Aaron Glenn) and (Darren Mougey) in New York about the type of player they were getting. I know he'll have the same impact there, in a new regime there. As they build their culture up, Harrison Phillips will be great for it." The Vikings clearly felt Phillips was expendable due to the additions of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, as well as the progress shown by a wave of young defensive tackles on their roster. But to deal away an impact starter so close to the start of the season comes with some risk. Phillips' departure also creates a void of leadership, although O'Connell doesn't sound too concerned on that front. "The thing that you have to understand, in the (DT) room, acquiring veteran presences like JA and Grave, they've really been immediate impact players on and off the field," he said. "Guys that have sustained it and done it at a high level for a really long time. That doesn't go into the hard decision like that, as far as the leadership goes, but you do know that we've got some ascending players on our roster, offensively and defensively, that are ready to assume that void. We've gotta make sure we're on top of that because of his impact." Injury updates O'Connell also gave some updates on a few young players who got banged up in Friday's game. OLB Tyler Batty (right knee) will be evaluated via MRI. RB Zavier Scott (right ankle) had an early 23-yard run but then left the field limping on one of his next carries. DT Elijah Williams (right hamstring) is a candidate to make the roster in the wake of the Phillips trade, but he could also potentially begin the year on IR (designated to return) if he has a hamstring strain. All three of those players have impressed over the course of training camp. Roster cutdown day is Tuesday, which will mean lots of difficult choices for the Vikings as they go from 90 players down to 53. More Vikings coverage
Dallas Stars lock up one of the league's best players with massive extension today in hockey history
The Dallas Stars have had many defining moments in their history, but few symbolize loyalty and leadership like Mike Modano's contract extension in the early 2000s. On August 21, 2003, the Stars officially locked up their franchise icon with an extension that cemented his role as the face of hockey in Texas. The move wasn't just about keeping a superstar forward, it was about keeping the identity of the Stars firmly tied to one of the most respected players in the game. Mike Modano's extension showed his loyalty and lasting impact on the Dallas Stars At the time, speculation lingered about whether Modano might test the waters elsewhere. Instead, he reaffirmed his commitment to Dallas, the franchise that had drafted him first overall back in 1988 when they were still the Minnesota North Stars. "This team, this city, it means everything to me. Staying here was the only choice that felt right," Modano said during the press conference announcing the deal. Those words resonated with fans, as his decision represented stability during an era when star players often left in search of bigger contracts. The extension also ensured that Modano would continue climbing the NHL record books in a Stars uniform. He went on to become the all-time American-born leader in goals and points, a record that defined his Hall of Fame career. Looking back, the August 21 signing stands as a cornerstone moment in Dallas Stars history. I think it was one of the smartest moves the franchise ever made, keeping Modano in green not only secured wins on the ice but also preserved a legacy that still inspires players today.
Report reveals how hard Warriors tried to trade for LeBron James
The Golden State Warriors have been linked to LeBron James on occasion over the last 18 months, but their interest in trying to trade for the Los Angeles Lakers star may be stronger than has been previously reported. Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported this week that the Warriors would likely have some interest in James if the Lakers were ever to entertain a trade. To that end, the Warriors have called the Lakers on “multiple occasions” over the last 18 months to gauge the Lakers’ willingness to trade James. The report adds that there is a strong belief that James and Steph Curry very much enjoyed their time together as teammates during the 2024 Summer Olympics, which is one motivator for Golden State. The Lakers, of course, have not been willing to trade James, even though there were some hints of trouble between the two sides this summer. It is fair to question whether the Warriors would have the resources to pull off such a trade even if it were plausible. It is accurate that the Warriors are likely to be linked to James in any case where he is perceived to be available. Pairing him and Curry together would likely be a result of the Warriors trying to make one last run at a championship during the twilight of Curry’s career.
T.J. Watt addresses viral Instagram post that hinted new Steelers deal, ‘that was just…’
Pittsburgh Steelers star edge rusher T.J. Watt got rewarded handsomely in the offseason for being one of the best in the NFL at his position, and he had a few things to say about how the deal came about. The Steelers have made some big moves in the offseason, trading for Jalen Ramsey, signing Darius Slay, Aaron Rodgers, and DK Metcalf, alongside extending T.J. Watt. It capped off one of the most un-Steelers offseasons in years, and there is still more business to be done as Cam Heyward is holding in over his contract details. Watt signed a record three-year, $123 million extension, the highest deal for a non-quarterback, following months of tough negotiations between his agent and the Steelers. Many thought Watt’s Instagram post with Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Nick Herbig just hours before the deal was confirmed was a major hint of it being done. It turns out that wasn’t quite the case. T.J. Watt had no idea Steelers extension was done when he posted Instagram photo with Herbig Hours before T.J. Watt’s extension was confirmed, he posted a picture with Nick Herbig, and he had a sizeable grin of someone who’d just ended his holdout and earned a massive payday. That wasn’t the case. Asked if Herbig spilled the beans on the deal on Cam Heyward‘s podcast, Watt said: “You’re talking about the picture that we posted. No, that was literally just picture day at the gym! “I got home, and the deal, they called me, and the deal was done.” Herbig was then asked if he had done pushups before the picture, as he looked ‘jacked’. Aside from the comments that Watt looked remarkably bulkier than he did last year, they had mostly been about the star edge rusher signing a new deal or that they were training in Wisconsin. Herbig and Watt’s Alma Mater was Wisconsin, so some didn’t jump the gun, but the majority of fans went wild with speculation. The fact that his agent had sealed the deal with the Steelers a few hours later looked to have validated that speculation. Well, Watt has now dispelled that for good! Steelers have one of the most stacked edge rushing rooms in NFL after drafting Jack Sawyer The beauty of the NFL draft is that you are often left wondering how players fall to certain teams, like the Baltimore Ravens with Malaki Starks, bolstering an already incredibly defensive backs room. The same can be said for the Chiefs with Left Tackle Josh Simmons, who looks like a franchise LT already, and the Steelers with the Ohio State linebacker Jack Sawyer. Sawyer, a National Championship winner last season, fell to the fourth round, and conveniently into the arms of the Steelers, who already have an incredible pass-rushing unit. He joins Watt, Herbig, and ROLB Alex Highsmith in one of the most dangerous units in the league, which will be a prime test for the AFC North. Here’s what Watt said about Sawyer: “I just think it’s cool to see Jack pick our brains. We give him a hard time because now you can’t really haze rookies, so we’re trying to find ways to get under his skin. “It’s not very hard. But I think he’s going to be a good player for us. I think he’s a bigger body guy who can rush inside or outside, and you see his growth each and every day. It’s been pretty cool.” Baltimore, the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Cleveland Browns will have to face that unit at least twice this season!
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