Sports
Ronald Araújo returns to Barcelona training after focusing on mental health
Barcelona defender Ronald Araújo returned to training on Monday one month after being granted time off to address his mental health.
Araújo, 26, has made 15 appearances for Barça this season but has not featured since November’s Champions League defeat to Chelsea when he was sent off.
After that game, the center back requested some time off to help him refocus and recover his form. The request was immediately accepted by the club.
During the past month, Araújo has spent time in Bethlehem and Jerusalem as part of a spiritual trip to reconnect with his faith. He then returned to his native Uruguay, where he trained alone over the Christmas period.
Araújo then flew back to Barcelona this past weekend and subsequently took part in Monday’s open training session at the Estadi Johan Cruyff as the LaLiga leaders got back to work after a week off.
Hansi Flick’s side is preparing for Saturday’s trip to local rivals Espanyol, who have won their past five league games, as football in Spain resumes after a short winter break.
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Araújo is expected to come into contention for that game, while Pedri and Dani Olmo are also pushing to be available after missing the win over Villarreal last time out.
Barça then turn their attention to the Spanish Supercopa, with a semifinal against Athletic Club in Saudi Arabia on Jan. 7 followed by a potential final against either Real Madrid or Atlético Madrid.
Sports
WNBA mock draft 2026: UConn’s Azzi Fudd is projected No. 1
In an ordinary year, most of the major moves in WNBA free agency likely would be made by now, and there would be more certainty around team needs. But things have been far from ordinary this entire offseason as the WNBA and the players’ association continue negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement.
Because of that, most players not under rookie contracts are free agents, plus there are two expansion teams that don’t have any players yet. So, much like our last mock draft in November, we are projecting draft selections without important context about the players they will be joining.
What we do have now that we didn’t then, though, is much of the season’s data on which to judge the current college seniors who are eligible for the draft. (We are not including any potential draft-eligible juniors in this mock).
The No. 1 pick in ESPN’s WNBA mock draft remains the same: UConn guard Azzi Fudd, who could be on her way to joining former Huskies teammate Paige Bueckers, the 2025 Rookie of the Year, with the Dallas Wings.
Champ Week and the NCAA tournament can have an impact on draft position, as we have seen players help their stock with March Madness success. So that’s something to watch between now and our next mock draft.


UConn | shooting guard | 5-foot-11 | senior
UConn is seeking the seventh perfect season in program history, and Fudd has much to do with why the 26-0 Huskies have been unbeatable so far. She is averaging 17.5 PPG and shooting 45.5% (76-of-167) from behind the arc. Fudd’s ability to stretch defenses will be of great value in the WNBA, and she is also a reliable defensive player. Plus, the UConn pedigree goes a long way in a league that has seen so many outstanding former Huskies.

Spain | center | 6-foot-4
Fam, who is averaging 9.5 points and 4.7 rebounds for Valencia in Spain, is just 19 with a ton of potential. And what better coach to work with than the most experienced one in the WNBA: Cheryl Reeve. Despite playing professionally overseas, Fam will have a learning curve in the WNBA. It’s uncertain when Lynx star forward Napheesa Collier, who had ankle surgery in January, will be back at full strength. Perhaps a young post player such as Fam might get more time right away for Minnesota.

TCU | point guard | 5-foot-10 | senior
Miles, the former Notre Dame standout playing at TCU for her senior season, leads the Horned Frogs in points (20.5), assists (6.6) and steals (1.9). She is also averaging 6.8 rebounds. She had one of her most impressive games Thursday, scoring a career-high 40 points and making 10 3-pointers as the Frogs beat Baylor. She could have gone to the WNBA in the 2025 draft but thought one more year of college would help her game and her confidence.

UCLA | center | 6-foot-7 | senior
Betts had some ups and downs in the early part of the season, but she has been consistent since then. She is averaging 16.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks for the Bruins, who are 24-1 and lead the Big Ten at 14-0. There will be a lot of discussion about how well true centers still fit in the WNBA, but there seem to be enough positives about Betts to make her one of the lottery picks.

LSU | shooting guard | 5-foot-10 | senior
Johnson’s scoring average is down from last season (13.8 PPG compared with 18.6), but a lot of that has to do with LSU having so much strong guard play and spreading around the offense. One key stat is up this season for Johnson: She is shooting a career-best 43.9% from behind the arc. Her energy and effectiveness on defense are big positives as well.
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Flau’jae Johnson discusses leadership style ahead of crunch matchup vs. South Carolina
Flau’jae Johnson discusses leadership style ahead of crunch matchup vs. LSU Flau’jae Johnson discusses her leadership and playing alongside MiLaysia Fulwiley before LSU’s showdown vs. South Carolina.

Ole Miss | small forward | 6-foot | senior
McMahon knows she will need to play more on the perimeter in the WNBA at her size and improve her 3-point shooting. That’s part of why she thought Ole Miss would be a good place to finish her college career after three seasons at Ohio State. McMahon spoke with Andscape’s Ari Chambers in January about better understanding her diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome and how it has affected her. She said that has helped her this season: She is averaging a career-high 19.9 PPG.
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Cotie McMahon drops in the smooth basket
Cotie McMahon drops in the smooth basket

France | small forward | 5-foot-11
Angloma, who plays for Basket Lattes Montpellier Agglomeration (BMLA) in France, currently is having a very good season, averaging 16.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists. She doesn’t turn 20 until June and likely can play at the small forward or shooting guard spots in the WNBA.

Spain | point guard | 5-foot-8
Martin, who just turned 20 last month, was part of the Spanish team that advanced to the EuroBasket championship game last summer. She is currently averaging 14.8 PPG and 4.6 APG for Perfumerias Avenida in Spain. In 2023, she was MVP of the FIBA Under-19 World Cup.

UCLA | shooting guard | 5-foot-11 | senior
Kneepkens is part of the UCLA guard attack that has kept the Bruins unbeatable in the Big Ten. She’s well-known for her long-range shooting, which she brought to UCLA this season from Utah. For her college career, Kneepkens has shot 43.7% from behind the arc. This season, she’s at 45.9%. Her scoring average of 13.1 PPG is down from a career-best of 19.3 last season, but she’s surrounded by a lot more talent now with the Big Ten-leading Bruins.

South Carolina | center | 6-foot-6 | senior
Okot didn’t start playing basketball until her midteens but has been a quick learner. After competing collegiately in her native Kenya, she was with Mississippi State last season, then transferred to South Carolina this season. There is a possibility the Gamecocks could petition to get her another season of college eligibility. But if she enters the draft this year, she has big potential, averaging 13.2 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 1.5 SPG and 1.5 BPG.
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Madina Okot goes coast to coast with a steal and layup
Madina Okot gets in the passing lane and scores a fast-break basket for the Gamecocks.

Duke | shooting guard | 6-foot | senior
Jackson has been a stalwart for Duke’s strong defense her entire career. And she is also a good 3-point shooter; she has made 212 treys for the Blue Devils, 50 this season. She also is averaging a career-best 4.6 assists as a senior.
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Ashlon Jackson sinks clutch triple for Duke
Ashlon Jackson is left wide open and drains a 3-pointer, extending Duke’s late lead over Louisville.

UCLA | point guard | 5-foot-11 | senior
Rice has saved her best for her final season with the Bruins. She is averaging 15.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals while shooting 50.8% from the field overall and 42.1% from 3-point range. All of those are career highs. She also is averaging 4.6 assists and knows how to make the big play when needed.

South Carolina | shooting guard | 5-foot-8 | senior
Latson wanted to play for a higher-profile program, so she left Florida State after averaging a Division I-leading 25.2 PPG last season. Her draft stock might have dropped a bit as her numbers have, plus she also has been dealing with a leg injury. Still, she is averaging 15.5 PPG and is one of those prospects who might go back up the draft board during the postseason.

TCU | small forward | 6-foot-3 | senior
A native of Oviedo, Spain, Suarez is at her third college program after playing two seasons at Tennessee and two at Cal. But the move to TCU for her last season might be what helps her draft stock the most, as she has become a better 3-point shooter (52-of-144, 36.1%) and more versatile scorer at her size. She turns 24 in May, so she is a little older than most draftees, but her college experience seems to have paid off.
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Marta Suarez sinks a 3 for TCU
Olivia Miles finds Marta Suarez, who sinks a 3-pointer for TCU.

UCLA | shooting guard | 6-foot-0 | senior
Jaquez is the fourth Bruin we have going in the first round. Plus, guard Charlisse Leger-Walker and forward Angela Dugali also are almost sure to be drafted from UCLA. Jaquez is averaging 14.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG and 2.0 APG. Like teammates Kneepkens and Rice, she is shooting better than 40% from 3-point range (43.4).
Sports
T20 World Cup: Pakistan lose Usman Khan, India remain in control – SUCH TV
Early wickets put Pakistan on the back foot as they begin their 176-run chase in the high-stakes ICC Men’s T20 World Cup encounter at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sunday.
Hardik Pandya provided India an early breakthrough by dismissing Sahibzada Farhan and bowled a tight maiden over to put Pakistan under immediate pressure.
Jasprit Bumrah followed up with a double strike, removing Saim Ayub and Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha in quick succession.
Pakistan’s top-order struggles continued as Axar Patel accounted for Babar Azam, who was dismissed for just five runs.
Earlier, Pakistan spinners held India in check, limiting them to 175/7.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha’s decision to field first did not prove beneficial for the Green Shirts as the Men in Blue accumulated 175/7 in their 20 overs.
India got off to a dismal start to their innings as Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha’s decision to open the attack gave them a massive breakthrough in the form of top-ranked T20I batter Abhishek Sharma, who fell for a four-ball duck.
Following the early stutter, opener Kishan forced an astounding recovery by putting together a one-sided second-wicket partnership with Tilak Varma.
The partnership frustrated Pakistan’s bowling unit and yielded 87 runs off 45 deliveries before Saim Ayub gave the Green Shirts a much-needed breakthrough by getting rid of set batter Kishan, who remained the top-scorer with a 40-ball 77, comprising 10 fours and three sixes.
Kishan’s dismissal forced the new pair of Varma and Suryakumar Yadav to rework the innings as they batted cautiously to add 38 runs for the third-wicket stand before Saim pulled things back by dismissing the left-handed batter and Hardik Pandya (zero) in successive deliveries.
Varma made a cautious 25 off 24 deliveries with the help of two fours and a six.
With the scoreboard reading 126/4 in 14.3 overs, Shivam Dube joined skipper Yadav in the middle, and the duo retained India’s momentum by knitting a 33-run stand, which culminated with the latter’s dismissal in the penultimate over off Usman Tariq.
The Indian captain remained a notable run-getter with a 29-ball 32, laced with three boundaries.
Dube followed suit and perished on the penultimate delivery of the innings after scoring 27 off 17 deliveries, hitting three fours and a six.
Saim Ayub was the standout bowler for Pakistan, taking three wickets for 25 runs in his four overs, while Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Tariq made one scalp apiece.
Sports
Cristiano Ronaldo goal tracker: Road to 1,000 career goals
Cristiano Ronaldo is chasing what no soccer player — despite Pelé and Romário claiming otherwise when adding in friendly matches — has ever officially achieved in competitive games: The ultimate milestone of 1,000 career goals. It’s the summit of statistical greatness, a record that would redefine the limits of individual excellence in the sport.
Throughout his career, the Portugal superstar has broken most of the records and won most of the trophies he could have won, but being able to officially score 1,000 goals will put him in a pantheon of his own among athletes.
Ronaldo is already the leading men’s international scorer with 143 goals from 225 games, while the rest of his domestic career total over his two-decade career have come in the club game for Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and now at Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr.
So, as he nears an extraordinary landmark, ESPN will track every goal on his journey toward 1,000 — one strike at a time — until he reaches the magic number.
Ronaldo’s goal tally:
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Games played: 1,306
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Goals: 962
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Ratio: 0.74 per game
Goal No. 962 | Feb. 14: Al Fateh 0-2 Al Nassr
Ronaldo missed Al Nassr’s last two Saudi Pro League games due to a short-lived dispute over the club’s transfer policy. However, he didn’t take long to let the club know what they missed, taking just 18 minutes to open the scoring by diverting Sadio Mane’s low cross into the far corner of the goal.
962 🐐 pic.twitter.com/Arqxay2GHq
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) February 14, 2026
Goal No. 961 | Jan. 30: Al Kholood 0-3 Al Nassr
Four wins in a row for Al Nassr and it’s another goal for Ronaldo — his 17th of the season — as he scored the opener in their 3-0 win over Al Kholood after combining well with João Félix with a tidy finish inside the box.
Goal No. 960 | Jan. 21: Damac FC 1-2 Al Nassr
40 goals to go! Ronaldo got his 960th career goal giving Al Nassr their second consecutive win of the season, with the Portuguese scoring the winning goal by drilling a shot into the bottom corner.
Goal No. 959 | Jan. 12: Al Hilal 3-1 Al Nassr
Ronaldo was on the scoresheet and opening the match up in this huge clash against Al Hilal. However, second place Al Nassr was unable to cut the cap as the league leaders scored three times in the second half to get all three points.
Goal No. 958 | Jan. 8: Al Nassr 1-2 Al Qadsiah
It’s a new year but it’s the same old Ronaldo as he scored his first goal of 2026, making it 24 straight calendar years with at least one goal, as he scored a penalty but was unable to help Al Nassr beat Al Qadsiah.
Goal No. 957 | Dec. 30: Al Ettifaq 2-2 Al Nassr
Ronaldo surely didn’t want to end the year without a goal, and he was able to do it — with the help of a deflection off compatriot João Félix — as Al Nassr ended 2025 by snatching a point.
The ball loves him so much ⚽️🐐 pic.twitter.com/U5Tfkmxqe3
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) December 30, 2025
Goal No. 956 | Dec. 27: Al Nassr 3-0 Al Okhdood
Another strike that was all about timing and positioning, Ronaldo guided home a low cross from the right at close range to double his side’s lead and help seal a 10th consecutive win for Al Nassr.
Goal No. 955 | Dec. 27: Al Nassr 3-0 Al Okhdood
You’d think a defender would know better than to let Ronaldo have a free run into the six-yard box at a corner, but that’s what he got to tap home a flick-on at the far post and open the scoring.
The 40 year old man in the right place, at the right time 😤 pic.twitter.com/rCXIgCDkbi
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) December 27, 2025
Goal No. 954 | Nov. 23: Al Nassr 4-1 Al Khaleej
As pretty as any of the 953 goals that came before it. The 40-year-old got on his bike to connect with a floated cross from the right flank and deliver an exquisite right-footed bicycle kick into the top corner.
CRISTIANO RONALDO DOS SANTOS AVIERO. 🐐. pic.twitter.com/tVIG5Vrxe1
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) November 23, 2025
It also just happened to be the last action of the game.
Goal No. 953 | Nov. 8: Neom SC 1-3 Al Nassr
A penalty in the 65th minute… but it was dispatched with calmness as CR7 did a little stutter-step, waited for the goalkeeper to dive to his right and then slotted it home down his left side.
It’s getting closer for @Cristiano Ronaldo 👀 🐐 pic.twitter.com/75YCKExKx9
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) November 8, 2025
That’s now a cool 100 goal involvements in the Saudi League in 85 matches.
Goals No. 951 & 952 | Nov. 1: Al Nassr 2-1 Al Fayha
Another game, another two goals for the Portugal legend.
Ronaldo was in fine form on Saturday as Al Nassr came back from a goal down to defeat Al Fayha at the King Fahd International Stadium.
After slipping behind early, the 40-year-old latched on to a through-ball from Kingsley Coman to restore parity for the hosts in the 37th minute. Ronaldo then kept his cool to slot home the winner from the penalty spot to ensure Al Nassr kept a flawless seven-in-seven record to start the Saudi Pro League season.
Goal No. 950 | Oct. 24: Al Hazem 0-2 Al Nassr
The 40-year-old was on the scoresheet as he, and compatriot João Félix, helped Al Nassr beat Al Hazem to continue their perfect start in the Saudi Pro League with six wins from their first six matches of the season.
The technique from @Cristiano 😮💨😮💨😮💨 pic.twitter.com/f3DGdgrTNz
— Roshn Saudi League (@SPL_EN) October 25, 2025
Following a great ball from teammate Wesley, Ronaldo was able to score with ease inside the box with a great strike and now needs just 50 goals to reach a four-digit total.
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