Sports
Takeaways from Team USA’s Olympic hockey win vs. Slovakia
Team USA needed overtime to defeat Sweden in the quarterfinal round of the 2026 Olympic men’s hockey tournament.
Friday’s game in the semifinal round was not nearly as stressful for viewers.
The Americans scored early and often, and closed out a 6-2 win over Slovakia to earn a spot in the gold medal game, where the team will face Canada on Sunday (8:10 a.m. ET).
How did the U.S. put together such a dominant performance? Who were the key players in the contest? And what does it all mean as we look ahead to the final showdown against the U.S.’s primary hockey rival?
Takeaway 1: The U.S. attack is back
This was by far the best Team USA has looked in the tournament, particularly on the offensive side. The Americans didn’t have the same spark in their quarterfinals matchup against Sweden, where they managed just one goal in regulation while several of their top forwards were stymied. It took an overtime marker from defenseman Quinn Hughes to put them through to the semis, after all.
The U.S. made up for lost time against Slovakia. Dylan Larkin (the other scorer in the quarterfinal victory), Tage Thompson, Jack Hughes (twice), Jack Eichel and Brady Tkachuk (on a breakaway, no less) all contributed goals in the rout, and it felt like there was more cohesion up front than we’ve seen so far from this group.
A FILTHY move by Brady Tkachuk to extend the lead. pic.twitter.com/CIrgDfTFR6
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 20, 2026
It’s not unusual for a team to take time developing chemistry when thrown together for a short period. We’re seeing that evolution in real time from the USA, and the team has picked the perfect moment to crescendo.
Takeaway 2: Discipline — with a capital D — matters
The Americans had little trouble scoring goals Friday. But they could stand to be smarter when it comes to giving up opportunities for goals against.
The U.S. committed four penalties in just over 25 minutes of game action, and they were indefensible at that. (Think too many errant sticks.) Charlie McAvoy took two on his own, and skaters like him (or Auston Matthews, another top player getting the gate) are meant to be creating momentum for their squad, not taking it away.
Yes, the Americans’ penalty kill came through — repeatedly — and overall did a good job limiting Slovakia’s shot opportunities; the Slovaks didn’t help themselves either with a baffling lack of net presence in front of Connor Hellebuyck.
However, coughing up so many power-play chances is high-risk territory, and if the U.S. hopes to achieve its ultimate goal in Sunday’s gold medal clash, discipline will be paramount. The Canadians own one of the deadliest power plays in the tournament with talent to spare finding twine.
Slovakia managed just 23 shots on the U.S. netminder, and he had the luxury of a cushy lead on the board for most of the night. However, aside from a misplay behind the net ahead of Juraj Slavkovsky’s goal, Hellebuyck was rock solid (again) for the U.S. and should give the team every confidence going into the projected goalie matchup with Jordan Binnington for gold.
However, Hellebuyck might have more to prove than Binnington. He has been maligned for poor playoff performances in the NHL, and despite earning regular-season accolades (including a Hart Trophy last season as league MVP), Hellebuyck hasn’t had that signature victory at the highest level of his sport that truly sets apart top-tier goaltenders.
This is his opportunity to silence those doubters and show he can close the door against the game’s best competition, when stakes are at their absolute highest.

Player of the game: Jack Hughes, F
This was the Jack Hughes performance we’ve been waiting for in Milan. It’s not that Hughes was invisible by any means before this semifinal. It’s just that he hadn’t looked like that truly dominant offensive threat he has shown to be in the past.
His first goal — deking his way through Slovakia’s defense — was highlight-reel worthy and an injection of confidence for the U.S. amid a slew of penalty troubles. And the second Hughes goal was opportunistic — right player, right place, right time.
Jack Hughes said “ANOTHA ONE”. pic.twitter.com/GG2bK1YPlj
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 20, 2026
Hughes has been playing in a fourth-line role for a stacked U.S. team, and that’s not a place he’s used to being in the NHL. Hughes embraced what chance he had, though, and is finally making the most of it. Perhaps Hughes was inspired by brother Quinn’s heroics in the quarters, sending some added competitive fire into his skates. Whatever inspired Hughes, it was what the U.S. needed from one of its most talented shooters.
Big question for the gold medal game
How will the U.S. contain Canada’s top skaters?
There are looming personnel questions for both teams going into Sunday’s final. Will Sidney Crosby be available for Canada after he missed Friday’s semifinal with an injury? And will the U.S. have Thompson available following his departure against Slovakia with what were deemed “precautionary reasons,” possibly stemming from a blocked shot off his foot in the second?
However the lineups shake out, the U.S. will have its hands full with the team standing between it and gold. This is familiar territory of course, given that Canada and the U.S. battled it out in the 4 Nations Face-Off final one year ago. The U.S. was on the losing end of that effort. Most of their roster experienced that disappointment; now is when we’ll find out if they learned anything from it.
Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and newcomer Macklin Celebrini have piloted Canada’s offense to, if not new heights, a predictably high level. Can the U.S. harness all its firepower at once to flip the 4 Nations script, and match what the U.S. women were able to do in denying Canada hockey gold?
Overall team grade: A-
The penalties may not have cost Team USA, but if we’re looking at ways to improve, staying out of the box would be a significant one.
The goal on Hellebuyck by Slavkovsky notwithstanding (his misplay on that and the general defensive zone disarray was striking), it was a fairly clean game overall by the Americans. Their scoring depth came through, star players created chances and Hellebuyck was excellent when called upon.
The U.S. has been building momentum through the tournament, and that’s continuing right on into Sunday’s clash.
Sports
NCAA to discuss five-year eligibility proposal, reports say
An NCAA panel is scheduled to discuss potential changes to eligibility rules that would incorporate age into the process, two people with knowledge of the situation said Wednesday.
The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the NCAA hasn’t publicly discussed the proposal. They said the matter was scheduled to be reviewed and discussed by the Division I cabinet next week, but not voted on for implementation.
The proposal was also reported by multiple outlets. An NCAA spokesman did not immediately return a message left by AP.
The proposal, which mirrors language written into the executive order issued by President Donald Trump last week, would give athletes five years of eligibility with the clock starting at the earliest of two dates: either when they turn 19 or graduate high school. There would be limited exceptions but they would not involve injuries, which has been a common reason for players to ask for extra eligibility.
Still unknown is whether the rule would shield the NCAA from lawsuits over eligibility. Dozens of players have sued for extra years, claiming injuries and other circumstances made them candidates for extra eligibility. The NCAA is seeking a limited antitrust exemption from Congress to prevent these lawsuits.
Speaking at the Final Four over the weekend, NCAA President Charlie Baker said Trump wanted to figure out a way to “get something on the books that works and represents what most people are looking for at this point, which is a much simpler eligibility process, which we’ve been talking to our committees about.”
Sports
Jimmy Kimmel tells UCLA women’s basketball team to give Trump fake national championship trophy
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UCLA’s national champion women’s basketball team was given an eyebrow-raising political quest by late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel.
During a group interview on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on Tuesday, a discussion with Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jaquez, Angela Dugalić and coach Cori Close turned political.
After Kimmel pointed out that former President Barack Obama made a social media post congratulating the team on their championship win, the host asked if President Donald Trump had reached out yet.
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The UCLA Bruins women’s basketball team is honored at center court during a game between the Lakers and Oklahoma Thunder at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on April 7, 2026. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
The players answered “no” in response to Kimmel’s Trump question.
But then Kimmel steered the conversation deeper into an anti-Trump routine.
“I’m sure you know he’s busy. Um he’s in two weeks you’ll hear from him,” Kimmel said. “In the event that you do get invited to the White House and you decide to go to the White House, I have something for you.”
Kimmel then pulled out a silver trophy that hardly resembled the NCAA championship trophy that sat on his desk.
“What I want you to do is bring this fake trophy we’ve made to the White House. He’s not going to know. But when you bring a trophy, he sometimes takes it and keeps it for himself. So, this is for you guys to take to the White House. And then you can say, ‘President Trump, we want you to have this.’ And he’ll be so happy. You’ll probably get an endowment and you’ll be able to keep the real one,” Kimmel said.
BASKETBALL LEGEND CANDACE PARKER TAKES AIM AT GENO AURIEMMA AFTER DAWN STALEY CONFRONTATION

Head coach Cori Close of the UCLA Bruins watches during the first quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the NCAA women’s basketball national championship at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 5, 2026. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Close laughed at Kimmel’s joke, while the players lightly clapped their hands, exchanging light laughs.
Meanwhile, social media users criticized Kimmel for turning the sports interview into a Trump-focused rant.
“Even celebrating their championship he has to make it about himself and his hatred for Trump. What an a—hole,” one X user wrote.
One X user mocked Kimmel, writing, “What will he do when Trump is out of office? Is the show cooked?”
Another X user wrote, “This is funny, but I dislike that he used them to smite the frump.”
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UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) reacts while holding up the UCLA bracket sticker after UCLA defeats Oklahoma State in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Los Angeles. (Jessie Alcheh/AP)
UCLA won its first women’s basketball national championship in program history this past weekend, defeating the South Carolina Gamecocks, the team led by Dawn Staley that had reached the national title game three consecutive seasons and won it in 2024, in dominant fashion, 79-51.
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Sports
Notre Dame on ‘revenge tour’ after ’25 CFP snub, says CB Moore
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore said the Irish are on a “revenge tour” after being excluded from the College Football Playoff last fall, and players aren’t shying away from talking about the importance of their Nov. 7 home game against Miami as part of it.
Moore said last year’s 27-24 season-opening loss to Miami used to keep him awake at night, but so did the Week 3 loss to Texas A&M — an 0-2 start that ultimately kept the Irish out of the CFP.
“We’re on a revenge tour now,” Moore said. “We got to get back. We got to make it right from last year.”
Quarterback CJ Carr, who is entering his second season as the full-time starter, conceded it’s “impossible” not to think about facing the Canes at home this year.
“Watching that tape, it was probably the worst first half of football our offense played all year, and to be in that game in the end and the second half we put together was special,” he said. “It’s hard to watch. … There was some resilience shown in that game that’s going to help us this year. We’re excited for them to come into town and see what this team’s got.”
When told of his players’ candor during an interview in his office on Tuesday morning, coach Marcus Freeman smirked.
“We spend too much time daydreaming about Miami, we’re going to lose to Wisconsin,” he said of Notre Dame’s Sept. 6 season opener. “You’ve got to focus on the task right at hand. That’s no different than saying, can we go back to the national championship? If we want to focus on the national championship, we’re going to lose the opportunity we have right here. It’s my job to make sure I’m directing the focus where it needs to be. That’s an everyday message, an everyday reminder to struggle. Struggle has to be hard mentally and physically and to sacrifice and put Notre Dame in front of yourself.”
Moore said the defensive backs shouldered a lot of the blame for the loss to Canes, as Miami quarterback Carson Beck completing all but 10 passes (20 of 30) for 205 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
“That’s what used to keep me up at night,” Moore said, “just thinking about maybe one or two plays in that game that I could’ve made that would’ve changed the course of the season. That and the Texas A&M game, just as a DB room, we put that all on us.”
Following the loss to Miami, Moore said Freeman was blunt in his assessment of the secondary.
“He told us we was weak, we was soft,” Moore said, “all that type of stuff. It’s serious to him, too. That’s something he’s not used to seeing from us.”
This year, Notre Dame’s secondary should be one of its biggest assets on a defense that returns nine of its top 10 tacklers, including safety Adon Shuler (53) and Moore (31).
Senior linebacker Drayk Bowen, who was wearing pads on Tuesday morning’s practice for the first time this spring since his offseason hip surgery, said Freeman showed the team video of their reaction on Selection Day. The loss to Miami, though, wasn’t the only mistake over the past few years.
“… There’s always one little thing we didn’t do, maybe at the beginning of the season or the middle of the season,” he said. “There’s always something where we could have been better. Going through four years of it now … we understand everything from now until the time we either get voted in or don’t get voted in, everything’s important.”
In each of the past four seasons under Freeman, the Irish haven’t been able to finish September undefeated, losing at least one or two games each year. He said the team has to start faster, and that’s “not just a last year deal.”
“We’re going to play good teams early because of conferences, we have to get the teams that are willing to plays that in conferences early,” he said, “but it’s no excuse to not be as close to your best as possible. We’ve got to do a better job of making sure our teams is prepared in playing and executing in a better sense than what we’ve been in the past.”
Carr said the team continues to use last year as motivation but also has to move forward.
“You can sulk and you can blame and you can point the finger or you can say, ‘alright, we got punched in the face, we’ve got to get back up,'” Carr said. “We’ve got to go back to work. We’ve got a new team coming in. We’re going to be really good. We have draft picks all over the field. We have a chance to be really special.”
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