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A playoff series needs more than just star power to become must-watch TV. That’s the code that the Round 1 series between the Indiana Fever and the Las Vegas Aces cracked, finding compelling moments during each showdown. The matchup seemingly already had both history and fan interest on its side, and that combination paid off […] The post Indiana Fever vs. Aces Emerges on Top as First Round of WNBA Playoffs Achieves Historic Viewership Record appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Notre Dame ran through North Carolina for 475 yards, including 241 on the ground, and held the ball for more than 37 minutes. As if Bill Belichick needed another problem, Isaiah Johnson went down too. That left UNC asking younger linemen to clean up a mess against an Irish offense that was already doing pretty […] The post Bill Belichick Announces Damage Control Plans Owing to Major UNC Concerns After Notre Dame Loss appeared first on EssentiallySports.

A chippy and at times ugly friendly nonetheless gave Mauricio Pochettino’s side four wins out of four, with another young player making the difference. Before 1878, a referee trying to get players’ attention was left to waive a white handkerchief in the air. It was an imperfect practice, asking an infractor to be self-aware enough to look for a doffed doily after hard contact. The game forever changed when Joseph Hudson, a Birmingham-bred tool maker who founded Acme Whistles, showed up to an FA Cup match in 1878 with his signature product in tow.On Tuesday, nearly 150 years after Hudson’s innovation, referee Steven Madrigal paid the architect a hearty tribute. Continue reading...

The Charlotte Hornets have progressed in contract talks with Brandon Miller, and he’s expected to reach terms on a new deal worth more than $200 million, according to ClutchPoints insider Brett Siegel. The timing comes with a very different Hornets roster than the one Miller entered as a rookie, after Charlotte traded away both LaMelo […] The post Brandon Miller Set for Eye-Watering Extension With Hornets Following LaMelo Ball Exit appeared first on EssentiallySports.

Harry Kane celebrated his record-equalling 125th cap with two goals at WembleySome slapstick shenanigans on ITV as the Wembley water sprinklers turn on Ian Wright, Roy Keane and Mark Pougatch as Wright is mid-soliloquy in praise of Jude Bellingham. It’s not quite up there with your Harry Redknapp and Martin Keown touchline classics, but mildly entertaining nonetheless. Wright doesn’t look particularly amused, and tries to style it out by joking about all his wasted prep for the Bellingham bit, though his light-coloured suit now has moist patches, and one suspects he’s more concerned about the spatter than his patter. Keane remains admirably unperturbed, though you’d still pay cash money to witness any back-and-forth that may occur with the Wembley groundsman later on.There’s a better-than-evens chance of England effectively qualifying for March’s quarter-finals tonight. Should they – as expected – beat Czechia, and should Spain – as expected – see off Croatia, England would find themselves comfortably in second spot on nine points, with the Croats in third on three. That wouldn’t put the Three Lions officially over the line, but Croatia would then only be able to at best tie England on points by the end of the group phase in November; in that scenario, it’d then go to the head-to-head, and the only way Croatia could win that is if they’d beaten England by an eight-goal margin at Wembley. Fair play if all this comes to pass. Continue reading...

Scotland and Croatia both led but lost at home as Slovenia and Spain came from behind to winPeeeep! The first games have kicked off! They seem to be running a bit behind schedule in Scotland, mind.Before kick-off, a presentation for Andy Robertson on the occasion of his 100th cap, with Steve Clarke, Alex McLeish and Gordon Strachan on hand to give him a framed shirt. Continue reading...

It was a night that belonged to Harry Kane. Yet another one. It began with him being shown a replay of his first England goal during a pre-match interview with ITV – the header against Lithuania in 2015, just 79 seconds after he came on as a substitute for his debut. It ended with him reflecting on two more in what was a supremely comfortable Nations League victory over Czechia. Some things never change.It remains a numbers game for Kane. They are getting bigger and ever more impressive. On the occasion of his 125th cap, the one that took him level with Peter Shilton at the top of the all-time England list, he moved to an astonishing 91 goals. Nobody will be surprised if he reaches the century. The only question appears to be when. Continue reading...

The nature of this Scotland defeat felt far more significant than the fact it arrived at all. Sébastien Pocognoli is already in tricky territory, just four games into his tenure as Scotland head coach. Slovenia comprehensively outplayed the fragile hosts at Hampden Park, which leaves Pocognoli staring at a third-placed finish in a soft Nations League section. Brave new dawn or beginning of an error?Scotland were defensively disorganised. Their attacking play was timid. Long before full time, the 39-year-old Belgian had the look of a coach throwing darts blindly at a board. And missing. Wastefulness from Slovenia prevented Scottish embarrassment. Continue reading...