U.S. Olympic bobsled member Jasmine Jones is competing in her first-ever Olympics in Milan Cortina. 

As a mother of a five-year-old and Air Force servicemember, the pride of representing the U.S. has brought her game “to a different caliber.” 

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“I feel like being able to represent my country, as well as being an athlete for my country, it definitely brings a different meaning and a different caliber. I feel like there’s so few people who do both at the same time, and I’m honored to have this opportunity to represent both. I’m thankful for being an airman and representing my country in that aspect,” Jones told Fox News Digital. 

“It definitely ties it together and brings different meaning and how much more I have to give.”

Jones just barely missed out on qualifying for the 2022 Beijing Winter Games. So she joined the Air Force in April 2023, which allowed her to undergo a much more rigorous training routine, which she credits for her ability to qualify for this year’s games. 

“I’m just thankful to be an airman,” she said. “Going into the WCAT program, that allowed me to truly have my offseason training, allowed me to get to this point … having that offseason training to be able to focus truly and put in the work, that transpired with this moment.” 

Jones had her daughter in 2021 and was looking for stability as a means to achieve her goal of reaching the Olympics. The Air Force gave her that path.

ISRAELI BOBSLED CAPTAIN OPENS UP ON TEAM OVERCOMING BURGLARY AND VANDALISM TO MAKE HISTORY IN WINTER OLYMPICS

Olympian Jasmine Jones of Team United States poses for a photo on February 03, 2026 ahead of the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics.  (IOC via Getty Images)

“I wanted to do something that gives me more stability, there was a time when I was working my civilian job and trying to train at the same time, and it just wasn’t enough. I know I wanted to dedicate my time towards bobsled,” Jones said. 

“The biggest thing I’ve learned is being resilient, and I feel like that plays a part, where going into basic and you’re waking up early, you’re following orders, you’re getting that discipline needed and that goes into bobsled… so I feel like transitioning from basic training and having that discipline as well translates into just knowing exactly what I’m supposed to do.” 

Jones’ appreciation for representing the U.S. comes at a time when other American Olympians are being openly critical of their country in Italy. Team USA athletes Hunter Hess, Amber Glenn and Mikaela Shiffrin have all made statements criticizing the state of the U.S. while competing in Italy. 

But Jones now joins ice hockey player Brady Tkachuk in openly praising the U.S. and expressing honor and gratitude for representing it in Milan Cortina.

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Jones said she hasn’t looked at social media at all as of late, so is unaware of any criticism of her country by Team USA teammates. 

Team USA fans can send Jones and fellow airman Kelly Curtis, also currently competing in Italy, a personalized letter through a program involving partnership between Team USA and Sadboxx. 

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Which players are eligible to play college basketball came into clearer focus on Monday.

A Tuscaloosa circuit court judge denied Charles Bediako‘s motion for a preliminary injunction the same day the temporary retraining order that first allowed the former two-way NBA player — who played three seasons in the G League but never in an official NBA game — to play for Alabama was set to expire.

Bediako, who spent two seasons with the Tide between 2021 and 2023 before going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, averaged 21.6 minutes in the five games he played for Alabama between Jan. 24 and Feb. 7. The team went 3-2 over that stretch.

So what does the ruling mean for Alabama — and for future eligibility cases like Bediako’s? ESPN’s men’s college basketball reporters Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf answer the most pressing questions.

What could this mean for future instances of former NBA and G League players making their NCAA eligibility cases?

Borzello: The line in the sand has always been this: Once a player keeps his name in the NBA draft, he knowingly gives up his NCAA eligibility and is no longer able to play college basketball. That line was directly challenged in this case, and for now, the NCAA has prevailed.

The specifics of Bediako’s situation were different from that of Baylor’s James Nnaji. They were different from that of former G League players Thierry Darlan (Santa Clara) and Abdullah Ahmed (BYU). And they were different from that of former European professionals in the current college ranks. None of them had previously stepped foot on a college basketball court.

There is now precedent for future cases brought to court that aim to challenge the NCAA’s eligibility rules about former college players who have entered the NBA draft and/or signed two-way contracts with the league. And it won’t be long before we see it tested again, with former UCLA guard Amari Bailey — who left the Bruins in 2023 and played in 10 NBA games — exploring a return to college.

Medcalf: This decision creates different categories of players attempting to join the NCAA. As Jeff mentioned, the G League players who were cleared to play college basketball this season had not previously played college basketball. Nnaji hadn’t, either. The judge’s ruling, which could be challenged in a higher court, establishes that any player who plays in the NBA after playing college basketball is not allowed to return to college basketball.

The judge aligned himself with the NCAA in this decision, separating NBA participation after college as the ultimate disqualifier. It’s a major ruling in the NCAA’s favor, and if it holds, any G League, two-way or NBA player who fits that criteria will be denied.

What is Alabama’s outlook without Bediako?

Borzello: With Bediako in the fold, Alabama had close wins over Auburn and Texas A&M, a blowout victory over Missouri, and a pair of losses to Tennessee and Florida. He started two of the five games, averaging 10.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks overall.

Where his departure will be felt the most is from a depth perspective, as head coach Nate Oats has been dealing with a litany of injuries all season. He now has to turn to Noah Williamson as his primary big man off the bench. The former Bucknell transfer has struggled all season, hasn’t scored since Jan. 10 and didn’t play in either of the past two games. Starting center Aiden Sherrell, however, has an opportunity here: He has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign and was coincidentally playing the best basketball of his college career just before Bediako joined the program.

Medcalf: The Tide have the same issues they had before Bediako arrived: They’re not a great defensive team. During his first stint in Tuscaloosa, Bediako was a key player for one of the top defensive programs in America. Even though he averaged 1.4 blocks during his second-chance run, the Tide ranked 106th in adjusted defensive efficiency over that five-game stretch and allowed opponents to make 54.1% of their shots inside the arc — one of the worst marks in the country, per BartTorvik. And as Jeff said, their bigger concern without Bediako is simply the lack of players to put on the floor in a tough SEC.

Are Alabama’s three wins with Bediako at risk of being vacated?

Borzello: Vacating wins has long been a path of punishment from the NCAA, forcing programs that played players later ruled ineligible because of NCAA violations to erase those wins and records from the annals. In this case, though, it seems unlikely.

The temporary restraining order that allowed Bediako to play also stated that the NCAA is “restrained from threatening, imposing, attempting to impose, suggesting or implying any penalties or sanctions” against Bediako or Alabama. And even though the order is no longer viable, the NCAA would, in essence, be penalizing the Crimson Tide for what a judge ruled.

NCAA president Charlie Baker didn’t mention the idea of vacating wins in his brief statement in the wake of Monday’s ruling, but he did address it in an interview with Sports Illustrated last week. “For a lot of really good reasons, people who lose in court can’t turn around and punish the people who won,” Baker told SI.

How might the selection committee weigh Alabama’s run with Bediako differently than the rest of their schedule?

Borzello: The selection committee is likely to classify Bediako’s status like it does that of any other player who played only a portion of the season because of injuries, eligibility status, etc. When evaluating a team’s résumé, the committee puts its primary focus on how it performed with the group of players it will have during the NCAA tournament. For Alabama, that will be a team without Bediako. So yes, the wins over Auburn and Texas A&M count, and they will be on Alabama’s team sheet on Selection Sunday. But when the committee is comparing the Tide’s résumé to other squads’ during the seeding process, it will absolutely factor in that those wins came with a player no longer on the team.

Joe Lunardi: At the end of the day, the entire affair will end up overblown in terms of both on- and off-court impact. Bediako was a factor in his five games, yes, but he wasn’t Shaquille O’Neal. The Crimson Tide went 3-2, exactly what most projections had regardless. Bediako’s incremental contributions simply weren’t enough to affect Alabama’s overall numbers. Unless the team falls off a cliff, which no one expects, the committee needn’t spend much time on the topic. And, if they do collapse, the Tide’s issues will be much bigger than one player.

After an MLB offseason full of twists and turns, spring training is in the air.

The New York Mets capped an offseason overhaul with a trade for ace Freddy Peralta. The Baltimore Orioles brought slugger Pete Alonso to the American League East, and Alex Bregman left the division to join the Chicago Cubs. And the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers made the biggest splash when they inked No. 1 free agent Kyle Tucker to a four-year, $240 million deal.

Now, with pitchers and catchers reporting across Arizona and Florida this week, we’ll start seeing what those moves mean for the season ahead. We’ve asked our ESPN MLB experts to get us ready for spring training, with the stars and storylines they’re most excited to see as baseball returns for the 2026 season.

What is the one thing you are most excited about as spring training begins?

Buster Olney: Seeing how quickly some of the prospects will push decisions to get them to the big leagues. Kevin McGonigle — the Detroit Tigers‘ infielder who is compared to everyone from Dustin Pedroia to Alex Bregman — will be a factor in the big leagues this year … but when? Will Colt Emerson force his way onto the Seattle Mariners‘ roster in April, May — or sooner? And when does Konnor Griffin become a conversation in the Pittsburgh Pirates‘ camp? Nothing is more exciting in baseball than the hope these sorts of talents represent.

Alden Gonzalez: There is an energy around Dodgers camp that’s different. It has been like that since Shohei Ohtani showed up at Camelback Ranch for the first time three springs ago, and it keeps growing, intensifying with every star who’s added and every championship that’s won. This time, the overarching theme will be the Dodgers’ quest for a three-peat, amid the backdrop of a brewing labor fight that their spending has helped escalate. Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz are the newcomers, joining what was already one of the most star-laden rosters in baseball history.

Ohtani will be prepping for a full, no-restrictions two-way season; Roki Sasaki will be looking to establish himself in his second year; Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow will strive to prove that they can still perform like stars in the back halves of their careers; and young, ascendent players such as River Ryan, Emmet Sheehan, Ryan Ward and Josue De Paula, among many others, will dot the complex as fans visiting from all over the world look on. There will be no shortage of storylines. There will be no shortage of intrigue.

Jeff Passan: Pitchers used to show up at camps having not thrown for months and using the six weeks to build up their arm strength. Hitters would arrive with the belief that they’d find their swings after spending the offseason, you know, off. Today, the winter is a training ground, a time when players level up their games, and spring training reveals who took an out-of-view leap. There will be pitchers who added 2 mph to their fastballs or finally perfected a splitter. Hitters will have completely retooled their swings for maximum impact. It’s those sorts of changes that can make the difference between a team playing in October or not, and those first few weeks of spring training will reveal the winter winners.

Jesse Rogers: It’s not sexy, but seeing players use the automated ball-strike system (ABS) to make challenges will be interesting to watch. Umpires making those calls is what we’re used to. It’s what we know. Now, players can object to those calls through technology. With limited challenges per game, the strategy in using them will be fun to follow. It won’t matter so much in spring contests but watching it all unfold will be interesting.

Which player who changed teams this winter are you most interested in seeing in his new uniform?

Bradford Doolittle: I’ve never let go of the idea of Luis Robert Jr. returning to star-level production, and if that were to happen with the Mets, it would be a huge story. I don’t know that his inconsistent durability and production can be blamed on the shortcomings in the Chicago White Sox‘s organizational processes, but the White Sox were the only team he has played for. Thus, this is a true fresh start with new voices in his ear and a lot of pressure to play well sooner rather than later. I’m really interested in seeing if that puts a jolt in Robert. If not, I’d have to accept that his run as an elite player is over.

Jorge Castillo: Devin Williams‘ short stint with the New York Yankees was rocky. Now, he’s across town, tasked with replacing Edwin Díaz, a fan favorite and perhaps the best closer in baseball, as part of the Mets’ thorough overhaul. Williams’ underlying metrics suggested he was a victim of bad luck last season. He enjoyed dominant stretches and a strong finish. At the same time, he lost the closer job twice and was charged with at least one earned run in 17 of his 67 regular-season outings after giving up earned runs in 16 of his 148 appearances over his previous three seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, who led the Brewers’ front office when Williams became one of the sport’s best relievers, believes he’ll rebound, enough to give him a three-year, $51 million contract. The Mets wanted to pair Williams with Díaz, but Díaz chose the Dodgers. Now, the pressure is on Williams to rediscover his previous world-class form.

Gonzalez: Few players can impact a culture like Alex Bregman. That’s precisely why members of the Cubs were so excited to land him this offseason, one year after falling just short in their bid for the star third baseman. A member of the team’s front office called him “a transformative presence.” More tangibly, he also lengthens the lineup, prompting Matt Shaw to move into a utility role, where he should thrive. And with the Cubs replenishing their bullpen and adding a much-needed, potential front-line starter in Edward Cabrera this offseason, Bregman looks like the player who will put them over the top in the National League Central.

David Schoenfield: After winning 101 games with a young team in 2023, the Orioles were supposed to be in the midst of nothing but good times and pennant races. Instead, they slumped to 75-87 in 2025, leading to a much-needed makeover for 2026. Their big move was signing Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract after the Mets showed little interest in bringing him back. He could be the jolt a stagnant offense needs, bringing energy and emotion to a team that lacked that in 2025. But most importantly, he brings power: Nobody on the O’s hit more than 17 home runs last year, while Gunnar Henderson led the team with just 68 RBIs.

Who is one player from our top 100 prospects list you are most looking forward to seeing this spring?

Olney: The Mets’ Nolan McLean, who was seemingly the organization’s best pitcher when he stepped on the mound near the end of last season. His mound presence was remarkable — he always looked so calm — and his ability to spin the ball was stunning. Given his relatively recent transition from position player to pitcher, he is still presumably in the early stages of learning his craft, but he already looks like he has been around for a decade. And the Mets need him to be great again.

Castillo: George Lombard Jr. is just 20 years old and posted a .695 OPS in 108 Double-A games last season, but the expectations are — perhaps unfairly — high. That’s what happens when you’re the Yankees’ top prospect, and fans are clamoring for a replacement for Anthony Volpe at shortstop. Kiley McDaniel recently ranked Lombard as 20th on his top 100 prospects list, noting that his defense, baserunning and power are the foundation for a strong, every-day player with star potential. Whether he debuts this season will depend on his performance in the minors and the Yankees’ needs, but the franchise considers him a significant part of its future. When, exactly, is unclear.

Passan: Kevin McGonigle plays with an edge. He is Philly born and raised, and always happy to illustrate that in baseball, size — he’s 5-foot-10 — does not necessarily dictate quality. There is no better pure hitter in the minor leagues than the 21-year-old McGonigle, who has done nothing but rake since Detroit thieved him with the 37th pick in the 2023 draft. Neither spot on the left side of Detroit’s infield is locked down, leaving opportunity for McGonigle to come into camp and win a job. And while the AL rookie field is loaded, the Tigers have reason to break camp with McGonigle: If he books a full year of service time (172 days on the major league roster), they’ll be able to cash in with a prospect promotion incentive draft pick should he win Rookie of the Year or place in the top three in MVP voting during his first three seasons.

Schoenfield: All eyes will be on Konnor Griffin in Pirates camp, but keep Bubba Chandler in your peripheral vision. The top pitching prospect on Kiley McDaniel’s top 100, Kiley described him as a “right-handed Blake Snell.” A right-handed Blake Snell? I’m in. With a fastball that averaged 97.8 mph in the minors, Chandler made his MLB debut late in the season, finished with 31 innings, and pushed his heater up to 98.9 mph. Though his Triple-A numbers were mediocre (4.05 ERA, 4.8 walks per nine), he walked just four batters with 31 strikeouts in the majors, where he seemed more focused. He might be ready to dominate right now, offering a lethal one-two duo alongside Paul Skenes.

What is one position battle (or rotation battle) you’ll be watching closely over the next month?

Olney: It’ll be interesting to see what choices the Toronto Blue Jays ultimately make with their surplus of corner/DH candidates. George Springer was among the best offensive players in the AL last year, and Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes were such an important part of what the team accomplished in October. Toronto added corner infielder Kazuma Okamoto on a four-year, $60 million contract — and you assume he’s going to play, given that level of investment, and how Okamoto fits the Jays’ philosophy of putting the ball in play. Anthony Santander missed most of last year with injury, after signing a $92.5 million deal. If they are all healthy, who sits?

Doolittle: With an aging roster that looks similar to last season, center field is the one spot where the Phillies can get younger and more athletic. But that depends on whether Justin Crawford can nail down the starting spot during the spring. That’s apparently the plan, so he’ll get every opportunity to do so. I love players like Crawford, with a high-average, speed-based profile. But until you see that skill set translate against big league pitchers’ scorching stuff, you have to remain a little skeptical. A lot is riding on Crawford’s ability to seize that position and enter into the NL Rookie of the Year race down the line. It’s the Phillies’ best chance to differentiate themselves from last season. That quest begins this week.

Passan: When the Mariners moved Ben Williamson in the trade that got them Brendan Donovan, they set up a battle for their final infield spot between two left-handed-hitting former first-round picks: Cole Young (21st in 2022) and Colt Emerson (22nd in 2023). Emerson is the better prospect. He is also still 20 years old, with all of 27 plate appearances in Triple-A. Young, 22, didn’t hit much in his big league debut last year but was solid at second base. He could slot there, with the versatile Donovan at third, or Emerson could take the job and play either second or third, with Donovan moving to second in the latter case. Either way, Seattle’s cadre of young position-playing prospects is on the verge of making an impact on the big league roster. The team that just missed making the World Series last year is here to stay.

Schoenfield: The Mets will be interesting to watch. Can rookie Carson Benge win the starting job in left field? He’s the No. 15 prospect, but struggled in a late-season call-up to Triple-A (.178 in 24 games). Who wins a starting job between Brett Baty and Mark Vientos? Can Baty play left field if Benge has to return to the minors? And then, there is the starting rotation. If the Mets use a six-man rotation, is Kodai Senga healthy and back to his regular velocity to be part of that rotation? Can Jonah Tong make himself a factor with a big spring and join fellow rookie Nolan McLean in the rotation? Then, there’s center field. Is Luis Robert Jr. just a more expensive Tyrone Taylor or will he find his 2023 stroke again?

Which team are you far more interested in today than you were a year ago at this time?

Castillo: The Marlins bottomed out in 2024, losing 100 games with a last-place finish in the NL East after reaching the postseason in 2023. Skip Schumaker, the NL Manager of the Year in 2023, moved on after the season. Things were grim. External expectations were low going into last year. Then, the Marlins smashed them, finishing 79-83, third in the division. The Marlins do things differently under president of baseball operations Peter Bendix. For example, they have starters throw live bullpen sessions between starts, and manager Clayton McCullough called pitches from the dugout over the final week of the season. But the future is promising, with one of the best starting rotations in baseball — even after trading Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers — an exciting young core of position players and a farm system that ranks 10th in baseball, according to McDaniel. Signing Pete Fairbanks to close should help win games in 2026 — maybe enough to surpass expectations again and reach the playoffs.

Doolittle: The Pirates aren’t likely to make a Blue Jays-level leap this season, but they’ve done just enough that you can dream of a Paul Skenes playoff appearance in 2026. That wasn’t the case a year ago, when Pittsburgh’s lack of activity was a source of considerable frustration. The Bucs should stay aggressive in adding offense, which has improved, but remains far from elite. But whereas the fringe playoff hopefuls in the NL East and NL West are seemingly consigned to eyeing the sixth seed as their opening to the postseason, Pittsburgh has that opportunity and a non-trivial chance at hanging in the Central title race. If that were to happen and Pittsburgh were to host that 3-6 matchup in the wild-card round with Skenes and Bubba Chandler lined up … yes, that would be very interesting.

Gonzalez: The Orioles needed a big offseason, and Mike Elias, their maligned president of baseball operations, delivered it. Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward were added to the lineup, adding much-needed right-handed hitters to the top of the order. Ryan Helsley and Andrew Kittredge were brought in to deepen the bullpen. And Shane Baz came over via trade to help stabilize a needy rotation. Adding that group to an enthralling young core of Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday and Samuel Basallo, all of whom could take steps forward, gives the Orioles a legitimate chance to win a difficult AL East. But there’s a caveat here: The Orioles need to add another front-line starting pitcher, even more urgent now because Framber Valdez is off the table.

Rogers: Quick, which team hit as many home runs in the second half last year as the AL champion Blue Jays? The White Sox probably weren’t your first guess, but that’s the right answer. And that’s before they added Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami. He’s no sure thing, but he’ll be intriguing to watch. So will shortstop Colson Montgomery, who was shipped to the White Sox spring facility to fix his swing early last season. It worked. He came up and hit 21 home runs in just 71 games. Chicago might not win the AL Central, but the team could be sneaky good at the plate if it picks up where it left off in 2025.