Sports
2025 MLS playoffs conference finals preview: Can Müller lead the Caps to MLS Cup?
Now that the Philadelphia Union, FC Cincinnati, LAFC and Minnesota United FC are splitting time between the couch and the golf course, MLS is down to its final four.
Inter Miami CF are peaking at the right time, New York City FC caused another upset, the Vancouver Whitecaps won a star-studded shootout, while San Diego FC‘s magical inaugural season continued. That sets up this year’s conference finals: Miami vs. NYCFC, and San Diego vs. Vancouver.
So how will Saturday’s matchups go down? ESPN asked Lizzy Becherano and Jon Arnold to assess the postseason forms of our final four, and asked them — along with the rest of our U.S. soccer staff — to predict who will move on to MLS Cup.
Eastern Conference
3. Inter Miami vs. 5. New York City FC
Saturday, 6 p.m. ET
Star attraction: One hates to sound repetitive, but Lionel Messi will continue to be the star attraction for as long as he’s in MLS. He continues to prove his worth with every passing game, scoring one goal and three assists against FC Cincinnati to stand as the most important player for Miami on the pitch. He’s contributed to 76% of Inter Miami’s goals in the past seven games. In other words, Messi has either scored or assisted on 19 of the team’s past 25 goals.
Messi alone can work through any defender, but more recently he has proven his ability to make those around him better in the final third. The 38-year-old recently set up Mateo Silvetti and Tadeo Allende on multiple occasions, using his capacity of reading the field to coax the best out of his teammates.
X-factor: Internal sirens went off when Luis Suárez received a one-game suspension for the decisive final game of the Round 1 series against Nashville SC. Head coach Javier Mascherano opted to include Silvetti in the lineup to cover, trusting the 19-year-old Argentina youth international who only boasted five appearances since arriving in August.
That gamble paid off against Nashville, and again against Cincinnati.
Silvetti recorded a goal and an assist to stand as an integral part of the team’s attacking efforts, utilizing his speed and precision to propel Inter Miami to victory. Even more impressive, Silvetti found a way to quickly establish a connection with Messi on the field to ensure both players shine in the final third. If Silvetti can respond to Messi’s long passes into the area and vision of the game, there’s no stopping Inter.
Tactical wrinkle: The result will depend on how Mascherano lines up Inter Miami. It’s difficult to believe that the coach will make changes to a team he said performed “almost perfectly” in the games against Cincinnati and Nashville, but the situation may change if Suárez is in the picture.
Mascherano insisted that he chose to not include the Uruguayan veteran in his last XI because Cincinnati’s characteristics felt like a job more suited to Silvetti and Allende, but will NYCFC be a different story? Although Inter Miami look unstoppable at the moment with Messi performing his magic, Silvetti and Allende finding the back of the net with precision and ease, Suárez offers a different set of qualities that Mascherano may want to use. New York City must plan and prepare for two vastly different scenarios. — Becherano
Predictions
It’s difficult to imagine NYCFC disrupting the rhythm that Inter Miami have built up in the past two games. With Messi playing at this level, and those around him reaching maximum potential at this stage of the season, Miami is poised to win the Eastern Conference at Chase Stadium. — Becherano
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FC Cincinnati vs. Inter Miami CF – Game Highlights
FC Cincinnati vs. Inter Miami CF – Game Highlights
Messi stole the show in Cincinnati, and from here on out, the Herons will be doing it in front of their home crowd. But it wasn’t just Messi that caught my eye in the conference semifinal. Silvetti validated Mascherano’s decision to put him in the XI, and Sergio Busquets turned back the clock to fluster Evander. He can do the same against a depleted NYCFC attack. — Arnold
The 2025 MLS Cup now looks to be Miami’s to lose. The Herons just have too much firepower for an NYCFC side that, while it managed to survive against Philadelphia, is just missing too many weapons to prevail against Miami. NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese will have to stand on his head for the Pigeons to have any hope. — Jeff Carlisle
There’s even more of a reason that NYCFC can’t win this one, right? For a limited roster that narrowly held onto a strained 1-0 victory over Philly in the last round, and needed Freese to make some huge saves in net, their odds are stacked even higher against Messi and friends. Lightning can’t strike the same spot twice, but we’ll see. — Cesar Hernandez
Freese will have his hands full with Messi & Co., and barring an absolute Hall of Fame-worthy performance, the Pigeons will be lucky to keep this scoreline respectable. After what we saw from the Herons against Cincinnati, it feels like nothing can stop Inter Miami from reaching this year’s final. — Megan Swanick
I’m not sure we’ve ever seen an MLS team hit a level as high as the one Inter Miami have hit in this year’s postseason. The secret sauce? Whether fueled by last season’s playoff embarrassment or by Mascherano’s coaching, Miami has finally put together a string of excellent defensive performances to pair with a best-in-class attack. Messi and friends will take care of business against New York City. — Joseph Lowery
Western Conference
1. San Diego FC vs. 2. Vancouver Whitecaps
Saturday, 9 p.m. ET
Star attraction: Leave it to a Bavarian to operate with quiet efficiency. While Thomas Müller‘s summer arrival made headlines, he has perhaps received less attention than Son Heung-Min, the LAFC star the Caps dispatched in a thrilling Western Conference semifinal last weekend. Part of that is the counting stats. Müller’s numbers aren’t bad, with nine goals and four assists between MLS play and Canadian Championship. Other big names have racked up larger numbers, especially in the playoffs, where Müller has just a goal so far this campaign, but the influence he has had has been on full display.
No player won more duels than Müller’s 14 in that throwdown with LAFC, he created a chance, forced Hugo Lloris into a save and also contributed by getting back on the defensive end. He can still contribute with goals or assists, but he’ll certainly have an impact on Saturday’s semifinal.
X-factor: San Diego fans were thrilled to welcome Hirving Lozano onto the field in the second half of the conference semifinal, a 1-0 win over Minnesota United. The Mexico winger played just one match in the November international window, having come out of El Tri‘s draw with Uruguay because of a hamstring issue. So, any minutes the team got from Lozano would be good minutes, but it has become increasingly common to see Lozano come off the bench.
Part of that is down to what Amahl Pellegrino has done in his stead, but it also came after Lozano was left off the squad for disciplinary reasons earlier this fall. That is in the past, but as the margins get tighter and tighter, these are the games in which San Diego may need to rely on its $10 million man and get attacking contributions that go beyond simply being happy he’s with the squad and fit for a few minutes.
With his speed, ability on the ball and the strong chemistry he forged with Anders Dreyer throughout the season, Lozano can be a player who changes the game — whether he does it from the opening whistle or is a super-sub the Whitecaps are terrified to see.
Tactical wrinkle: The Vancouver Whitecaps made it to the Concacaf Champions Cup final with a next-man-up mentality, and they’ll have to do the same to reach MLS Cup. Triston Blackmon saw a red card against LAFC, and manager Jesper Sørensen said Tuesday the club won’t bother appealing either yellow card the center back was issued. It’s a blow to lose him, but since he just returned from injury, the Caps have experience playing without him.
But the LAFC game also was costly for one of the players used to overcome his absence, with Belal Halbouni suffering a knee injury and having to abandon the field. That means Sørensen will likely need to move Mathías Laborda from left back to the middle to pair with Ralph Priso — himself a converted midfielder. That means a big responsibility for Joedrick Pupe or Tate Johnson at left back against Lozano, Dryer and/or Pellegrino. — Arnold
Predictions
Both clubs are having magical seasons, but one has to end. The multi-pronged San Diego attack, freed from the frustration of playing Minnesota United and against a Whitecaps team without Blackmon, will convert more of their opportunities and put the expansion team into the final. — Arnold
San Diego has certainly impressed throughout the regular season and playoffs, but experience may prove to be the decisive factor for the Western Conference final. It’ll be a tight match, but ultimately Vancouver’s players will better know how to maneuver the pressure and stakes of the final. — Becherano
There’s so much to like about the collective of both teams. In the playoffs for San Diego and Vancouver, we’ve also seen plenty of examples of the non-star players willing to step up just as much, if not more so, than the marquee names. The difference here will be minimal, but I’m going with the in-form Sebastian Berhalter as the game changer that will uplift the Whitecaps. — Hernandez
Blackmon’s suspension looms large over this matchup. If the Whitecaps defender was eligible, Vancouver would have a decent chance of coming out on top. But with Dreyer in top form, a home crowd behind them and Vancouver dinged up in other ways, San Diego will reach an MLS Cup final in its inaugural season. — Carlisle
Asking for a better, tighter matchup in the Western Conference final would be downright greedy. These are two excellent teams, with San Diego only getting my nod due to homefield advantage and the fact that the Caps will, once again, be playing without Blackmon after his sending off in the last round. The hosts will enjoy space to attack into and find themselves in MLS Cup. — Lowery
After battling past LAFC in the most entertaining test of the postseason, it feels like Vancouver is ready to cash in on being one of the most entertaining, dominant teams all year. Dreyer won’t be easy to stop, and San Diego can be compelling, but Vancouver has a certain aura about it now. — Swanick
Sports
Diego Pavia accepts Ravens rookie minicamp invite after making unfortunate NFL Draft history: reports
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Diego Pavia, the polarizing former Vanderbilt quarterback who was runner-up in Heisman voting last season, has reportedly found a home in the NFL after going undrafted this weekend.
Pavia accepted an invitation to the Baltimore Ravens’ rookie minicamp on a tryout basis, per multiple reports. He doesn’t have a spot on the roster yet, but it’s a start as he looks to crack into the NFL with Baltimore.
Of course, Lamar Jackson, the two-time MVP quarterback, is cemented as the team’s starting quarterback, but perhaps Pavia can stand out enough in rookie minicamp to earn an invitation to training camp this summer.
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Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia throws a pass against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first quarter during the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on Dec. 31, 2025. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)
Pavia was not expecting to be undrafted this weekend, but he became the first Heisman Trophy finalist since 2014 to not hear his name called through the seven rounds in Pittsburgh.
Pavia won the SEC Offensive Player of the Year and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award for best upperclassman quarterback after throwing for 3,539 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, both of which single-season school records, to give the Commodores its first-ever 10-win season.
Vanderbilt just missed out on the College Football Playoff after finishing 10-3.
POLARIZING COLLEGE FOOTBALL STAR, HEISMAN TROPHY FINALIST GOES UNDRAFTED
Pavia ultimately finished second in Heisman voting to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza – the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft by the Las Vegas Raiders. So, what ultimately led to Pavia not getting drafted?
While his personality may have factored in, Pavia’s official height at the NFL Scouting Combine turned some heads. Vanderbilt had him listed at 6-foot, but he was measured at 5-foot-9 7/8, which would make him the shortest quarterback in the NFL if he were to step foot on the gridiron today. The average height is 6-foot-2 for an NFL quarterback.
However, those shorter than the average have seen success, including Minnesota Vikings newest member, Kyler Murray, who went first overall to the Arizona Cardinals in 2019 coming out of Oklahoma. He’s listed at 5-foot-10.
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia celebrates after the team’s win against Kentucky at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Nov. 22, 2025. (Mark Zaleski/The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Pavia barked back at critics during the Senior Bowl in January regarding his height.
“Yeah, my size has been doubted my whole life,” he said at the time, via AL.com. “I feel like the only thing the NFL cares about is can you win, and I view myself as a winner. I’ve been fortunate with all these great teams that I’ve had — we’ve never had a losing season. So that’s something to look forward to, I hope, for the rest of my career, that’s how it’s going to be.
“I feel like God has blessed me in so many ways to be a connector, and I feel like that’s one of my superpowers that I’ve got — I can connect. We unite, and then once you unite, you want to play for one another, and once you give 120% effort, there’s no one that can stop your team.”
Pavia’s personality, viewed by some as more cocky than confident, may have played a factor as well. After finishing runner-up to Mendoza in Heisman voting, Pavia was spotted at a New York City nightclub next to a sign that read, “F— Indiana.” Then, he posted on social media a photo with friends and a caption that read, “F— ALL THE VOTERS, BUT…FAMILY FOR LIFE.”
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia throws a football during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., on Feb. 28, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
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Pavia later apologized for his decision to post that on his socials.
No matter the case, Pavia has a shot now with the Ravens and new head coach Jesse Minter, as he aims to show enough to join the quarterbacks group in training camp. Other than Jackson, the Ravens have Tyler “Snoop” Huntley on the roster to start the season.
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Trevor Bauer, the former Cy Young Award winner and MLB All-Star, tossed a no-hitter for the independent Long Island Ducks in a 13-0 win over the Lancaster Stormers on Sunday afternoon at Penn Medicine Park in Pennsylvania.
It was just Bauer’s second start in the United States since 2021, and he faced just one batter over the minimum in a scheduled seven-inning game of a doubleheader against the Stormers.
Bauer threw 84 pitches, striking out seven hitters and walking just one to lose out on the perfect game.
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Trevor Bauer smiles after pitching no-hitter for Long Island Ducks on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Jordan McGregor)
But Bauer unleashed a roar on the mound after a called strike three to notch the third no-hitter in Ducks history.
Combined with his first outing for the Ducks on April 21, Bauer has a strong 1.64 ERA to start the season in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB), which is a “Professional Partner League” of MLB.
Fans might have been supporting the opposing Stormers, but they understood what was at stake as Bauer was mowing down hitters throughout his start. They were even heard chanting his name at one point, hoping he could keep his hitless streak alive.
After the game, Bauer returned the favor for those at the Pennsylvania ballpark, signing autographs and taking pictures with fans after entering his name into the Ducks’ record books.
TREVOR BAUER SIGNS WITH PRO BASEBALL TEAM IN UNITED STATES AMID MLB RETURN HOPES
“I’m looking forward to competing in front of U.S. fans again this season,” said Bauer when he signed with the Ducks earlier this month. “The Ducks have had some incredible players come through their organization, and I’m excited to be part of that tradition.”
Ex-MLB stars like Dontrelle Willis, Daniel Murphy, Rich Hill and Eric Gagne have played for the Ducks in the past. New York Mets legends Gary Carter and Bud Harrelson both managed the team, with the latter also being a part-owner.
Bauer’s first start for the Ducks impressed an AL team scout in attendance, saying he was pretty impressed by Bauer’s arsenal on the bump.
“He showed flashes of the guy he used to be and a guy who can help a club,” the scout told the New York Post. “He went out and handled himself well. He showed flashes of the breaking ball he had in the past. Certainly the velocity is not what it once was, but it’s still solid, mostly 92-94. He didn’t throw the ball particularly well on the inside part of the plate with his fastball, but I think it was a really good first outing. You’d expected him to get sharper and probably tick up in velocity.
Trevor Bauer and catcher high-five after finish inning for Long Island Ducks in no-hit bid on Sunday April 26, 2026. (Jordan McGregor)
“You’re talking about a guy who was at the top of the game. Is he back there? No, but he looked like a guy who could go out and compete.”
Bauer pitched in Japan in both 2023 and 2025, while a stint in Mexico came in 2024. He pitched to a 2.59 ERA and 9.2 K/9 in Japan in 2023, and in Mexico, those numbers improved to 2.48 and 13.0. Last year in Japan, though, his ERA shot up to 4.41, and he struck out just 8.2 batters per nine innings.
This June will mark five years since Bauer, as the reigning Cy Young Award winner, last appeared in an MLB game. On June 28 of that year, he tossed six innings of two-run ball while striking out eight batters, recording the win.
Two days later, Bauer was hit with sexual assault allegations, which eventually led to a 324-game suspension (the equivalent of two seasons). It was eventually reduced to 184 games for violating the league’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.
Bauer has maintained his innocence, settling with one accuser while another is facing 16 years in prison after being charged with fraud for faking a pregnancy and asking Bauer for money for an abortion.
Trevor Bauer pitches for Long Island Ducks during no-hitter on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Jordan McGregor)
Bauer and Lindsey Hill, who accused the pitcher of beating and sexually abusing her in 2021, settled their case in late 2023. Bauer revealed texts from Hill, who said that Bauer would be her “next victim,” among other damning messages. Hill has since said that MLB has more evidence of Bauer’s alleged misconduct.
Last June, Hill was ordered to pay Bauer more than $300,000 for violating settlement terms. Hill breached their settlement agreement with each other by discussing Bauer on podcasts and in public appearances, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Nearly two years ago, Bauer said he “may have no other choice” but to sue Major League Baseball “if I continue being kept out” of the league. Bauer has said he’d “play for the league minimum,” but he has yet to sign with an MLB team.
“Anyone that’s willing to sit down with me and listen: I’d like to play the second half of my career in a better way than I played the first half,” Bauer told Fox News Digital in January 2024. “I’d like to be an example that you can make mistakes, recognize them, adjust and then be better in the future. I think that’s something us as humans have to do and should be doing constantly.”
Long Island Ducks pitcher Trevor Bauer throws against the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip, N.Y., on April 21, 2026. (Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM/Getty Images)
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Bauer has since called out MLB after Pete Rose and other deceased former players were taken off the league’s permanently ineligible list.
“So, since Pete is welcome back now, does that go for everyone who has been blackballed?” Bauer asked on X. “Or do you actually have to be guilty of something to qualify for that?”
Bauer was performing well for the Dodgers at the time of the allegations, pitching to a 2.59 ERA.
Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.
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Kai Trump reveals ‘scary’ medical moment during her trip to Masters Tournament at Augusta National
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Kai Trump, the granddaughter of President Donald Trump, revealed a “scary” medical moment that occurred while she was attending the Masters Tournament earlier this month in a new vlog.
The future University of Miami golfer traveled to Augusta National Golf Club to take in the first major of the year, but the trip to Georgia hit a speed bump after she had an allergic reaction to a hand soap she used on her face.
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Amateur Kai Trump of the United States plays her shot from the 16th tee during the first round of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Fla., on Nov. 13, 2025. (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
“I was using hand soap on my face, when I was at Augusta, to wash off my makeup and I started getting these bumps on my neck,” she said in the vlog.
The 18-year-old had to get medical attention, ultimately receiving a steroid shot to counteract the allergic reaction.
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU HITS GOLF BALLS ON WHITE HOUSE SOUTH LAWN DURING VISIT WITH TRUMP
“Now, I don’t have a rash anymore, but I had an allergic reaction to the hand soap on my face,” she said.
“I have very sensitive skin. It was so, so scary.”
Amateur golfer Kai Trump looks on from the 11th tee before The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida, on Nov. 12, 2025. (Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
Once the rash was put to rest, Kai appeared to enjoy her weekend at Augusta. She posed for a photo she shared on Instagram with Bryson DeChambeau, a supporter of her grandfather and fellow YouTuber, and his caddie, Greg Bodine.
It wasn’t the best week for DeChambeau, though, as he missed the cut at Augusta National after shooting 6-over in his first two days of the tournament.
In the end, Rory McIlroy, who finally completed the career Grand Slam last year at the Masters, retained the green jacket with a second-straight win. He finished one shot ahead of Scottie Scheffler, who finished 11-under for the week after going 4-under in his final round on Sunday.
Kai Trump poses for a photo with Bryson DeChambeau during the 2026 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on April 9, 2026. (Instagram/@KAITRUMPGOLFER)
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Russell Henley, Cam Young, Tyrell Hatton and Justin Rose, who lost to McIlroy in a playoff at last year’s Masters, all finished tied for third place at 10-under.
Kai is currently scheduled to enroll at the University of Miami later this fall, where she intends to play for the women’s golf team. She is a high school senior at The Benjamin School in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.. She discussed her upcoming senior prom in her latest vlog.
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