Zakai Zeigler drops bid to play 5th college season, but his lawsuit against NCAA will continue
Last month, a judge denied Zeigler's request for a preliminary injunction that would allow him to return to the Volunteers. He appealed that ruling, but his attorneys voluntarily withdrew the appeal on Tuesday.
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Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sophie Cunningham's Twerk Goes Viral After Fever's Historic Commissioner's Cup Victory
The Indiana Fever just made franchise history, but all eyes were on Sophie Cunningham's postgame celebration. After the Fever's stunning 74–59 win over the Minnesota Lynx in the 2025 Commissioner's Cup final, Fever reserve guard Sophie Cunningham decided to cap the night with some dance-floor flair. As her teammates rejoiced on the court and posed with the hardware, Cunningham turned her back to the camera, dropped low, and gave the lockeroom and Instagram Live a twerk, a brief but instantly viral moment that ignited a social media firestorm. Some fans were all for it. Others, not so much. Indiana's win was dominant and, more importantly, gritty. With All-Star point guard Caitlin Clark sitting out her third straight game due to a groin ailment, the Fever trailed by 13 early in the second quarter. Instead of collapsing, they flipped the switch. The Fever closed the first half on a merciless 18–0 run, turning a 27–14 deficit into a 32–27 lead at halftime and silencing the Minnesota home fans. From there, it was the Fever's game. The Fever's lead grew to 14 in the third quarter, and Minnesota was able to get no closer than six points of catching up again. Indiana's defense stifled the Lynx, holding them to 34.9% shooting and forcing 16 turnovers. Seasoned Indiana forward Natasha Howard was the unanimous Cup final MVP with 16 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and two steals. All-Star center Aliyah Boston was similarly effective at 12 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists. Cunningham started hot off the bench to provide a clutch jolt: 13 points, seven rebounds, and three threes. But for many fans watching the game or catching the highlights online, the storyline pivoted from gritty defense to cheeky dancing. Sophie Cunningham's postgame twerk didn't last more than a few seconds, but it was long enough for the internet to divide into camps. On X (formerly Twitter), one fan gushed, 'Sophie so cute.' Another simply wrote, 'Sophie Cunningham. That's the tweet.' And of course, someone threw their support behind her completely: 'My fav WNBA player.' Yet the celebration had its fair share of detractors and skeptics. One unimpressed viewer wrote: 'ZERO motion back there. Embarrassing for an athlete.' Another took issue with the entire concept: 'Why is this the go-to for so many women? I don't get it. No matter what happens they have to do this dumb shit.' Another tweet, dripping with sarcasm, read: 'Was the twerking in the room with us..' Still, others were more playful: 'That little thing moving.' And of course, no social media moment is complete without someone shooting their shot: 'I would treat her so well man.' But the sentiment that seemed to dominate the viral moment? 'Sophie for the culture!' Though the Commissioner's Cup is technically a midseason competition and doesn't affect regular-season standings, the win and the $500,000 prize pool that came with it signal a culture shift for Indiana. The Fever are no longer the rebuilding team anchored solely by Caitlin Clark's spotlight. They are a As for Sophie Cunningham, the 28-year-old Missouri alum might not have led the team in scoring, but she certainly led the postgame conversation. The seven-year WNBA veteran has always brought energy and edge to the court, and now, apparently, to the dance floor too. Head coach Stephanie White was all business postgame. 'We have a resilient group,' White told reporters. 'They're tough – mentally, pull for one another… It's nice to take a trophy home, but this isn't the ultimate goal. It's a goal. And we've got to continue to get better.' The Fever turn their attention back to the regular season now. They begin a five-game home stand on Thursday by hosting the Las Vegas Aces at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Attendance will be watched closely, both for the game itself and the postgame celebration. Sophie Cunningham's twerking viral moment may have divided folks, but here's something that's not debatable: in a league still fighting for relevance in the mainstream, she made sure the Fever's win was not overlooked. And in 2025, half the game at times. The post Sophie Cunningham's Twerk Goes Viral After Fever's Historic Commissioner's Cup Victory appeared first on Where Is The Buzz | Breaking News, Entertainment, Exclusive Interviews & More.
CNN
25 minutes ago
- CNN
Wimbledon champion probably ‘playing wide receiver on an NFL team' amid US men's grand slam drought
There was once a time when American men dominated the tennis world at Wimbledon. The likes of Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Stan Smith and Arthur Ashe saw widespread success in the 70s and 80s, before Pete Sampras simply dominated the 90s at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. When Sampras won his final Wimbledon title in 2000, the realistic expectation was that it wouldn't be too long before another American man replicated the achievement. In reality, though, it would be the last title for a very long time. It is now 25 years and counting since an American man has lifted the Wimbledon trophy above his head. Since then, the competition has been hogged by arguably the greatest tennis players in history, with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray winning every title between 2003 and 2023. Andy Roddick came closest to breaking the streak in 2009, but the American eventually lost a memorable five-set final against Federer. Big serving John Isner then reached the semifinals in 2018 before losing a marathon match against eventual runner-up Kevin Anderson. No American man has really been able to get close since. It's quite the statistic for one of the biggest countries on the planet, with such a deep history in the sport. It also stands in stark contrast to both the women's game and the doubles tournaments in which the US has continued to find success. But tennis journalist Matt Futterman says he is not surprised by the lack of success in the men's ranks, given the quality they've had to compete against over the last two decades. 'It doesn't surprise me because those handful of guys have just been so much better than everybody else,' Futterman, who works for The Athletic, told CNN Sports ahead of this year's Wimbledon. 'It's just this era, you have to be a unicorn to win a grand slam title these days. If you had asked me 25 years ago, 'Would it be 25 years before another American man won Wimbledon?' I would have said that's crazy, but the way it's gone down, it doesn't surprise me all that much.' Now, as players start another Wimbledon campaign, the landscape of men's tennis looks very different. Murray, Federer and Nadal have all since retired and Djokovic has shown signs that his powers may be on the decline. In their absence, Italian Jannik Sinner and Spain's Carlos Alcaraz have stepped up to fill the void, kicking off what looks to be an exciting rivalry for the future. Already, though, the duo appears to be head and shoulders above the best US men's players who haven't jumped off like many hoped they would have. World No. 5 Taylor Fritz is currently the highest ranked men's player from the US, with Ben Shelton ranked No. 10. Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul both currently sit just outside the Top 10 but none of the above have ever won a grand slam title. In fact, no American man has claimed a singles major honor across any of the four grand slams since Andy Roddick won the US Open in 2003. Wimbledon, being played on grass, also poses another problem for some of the current crop. Tiafoe and Shelton, for example, have never made it past the fourth round. Paul, meanwhile, reached the quarterfinals last year and Fritz has reached the same round twice. Fritz, in particular, perhaps should have done better with both of his opportunities in 2022 and 2024, and recently said he feels Wimbledon is his best chance at a grand slam title. His recent performances on grass this season go some way to backing up his claim. 'This is a huge week for me with the recent results on grass so I was thinking about that during this match,' he said after winning his first round match Tuesday. 'I really didn't want to go out in the first round.' Unless something miraculous happens this year, though, the 25-year streak looks set to continue with Alcaraz the stand out favorite for the men's title, despite a tough five-set test in the first round in the form of Fabio Fognini. The Spaniard is coming off the back of victory at Roland Garros and at Queen's Club and his game is arguably best suited to the grass court game. 'I don't think any of them (US men's players) have more than a 2% chance of winning the tournament,' Futterman said. 'They would all have to play a level that they've just never shown before.' The question, then, naturally turns to why the US hasn't yet been able to develop a men's player capable of competing for a Wimbledon title in recent years. The answer, in truth, is multifaceted. First, modern day tennis is now played by hundreds of nations around the world, with facilities more readily available for upcoming stars no matter where they were born – many top international players, for example, train in the United States from an early age. In the past, tennis was a more closed shop, allowing the likes of the US to dominate for so long. For Futterman, there is also the fact that men's tennis in the US has to compete with so many other sports. 'There's probably a men's grand slam champion playing wide receiver on an NFL team right now,' he says, metaphorically. 'You know, Steph Curry is probably a grand slam champion. LeBron James probably would have been a grand slam champion. If you put a racket in those guys' hands when they were five years old, you never know. 'There's a lot of sports in America that take great athletes off the tennis court.' After 25 years without success, every man representing the US at Wimbledon this year will hope they can be the one who snaps the unwanted record. While Futterman says there isn't a huge amount of pressure back home – with the nation content with how well the women's players like Serena Williams, Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff and Madison Keys have done in recent years – the men believe now is the time to get back on top. 'I mean, we've been peaking. It's just a matter of doing it,' Tiafoe told reporters after his first round win on Monday. 'Me and Taylor (Fritz), we played in the semis of a slam last year. Ben (Shelton) made semis of slams. Tommy (Paul) has made semis of slams. Fritz made a final I think. It's just a matter of getting it done. 'I really feel like if we continue to put ourselves in those positions, we're going to get it done. I really feel like I can. It's a matter of putting it together. 'But I think we're definitely peaking. I think now it's just about trying to finish.' This year's tournament has got off to a good start for the US men. Tiafoe made light work of his first round opponent, beating Elmer Møller in straight sets on Monday. Paul then followed suit on Tuesday, breezing past British hope Johannus Monday without dropping a set. Meanwhile, Fritz came through a brutal five-set thriller against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, in a game that spanned two days. The match was suspended by organizers on Monday due to the tournament's strict nighttime curfew, with the deciding set being played out Tuesday. Fritz survived Perricard's incredible serve – the Frenchman recorded Wimbledon's fastest ever on Monday (153 mph or 246 kph) – to book his place in the next round. Elsewhere, Shelton faced a resilient Alex Bolt in his first round match on Tuesday, with the American winning in straight sets 6-4, 7-6(1), 7-6(4).
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Damian Lillard 'Blindsided' By Bucks Decision
Damian Lillard 'Blindsided' By Bucks Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Milwaukee Bucks continue their roster overhaul. They signed Myles Turner to replace Brook Lopez, and they've also signed veteran SG Gary Harris. Advertisement However, that might not be enough to make up for what they've lost, as they've also chosen to waive-and-stretch Damian Lillard. Lillard, who's currently out with an Achilles injury, will now become a free agent for the first time in his career, and he will now be able to take as much time as he needs to get back on the court. Apr 22, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) dribbles the ball while Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) defends during game two of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Nevertheless, it seems like he wasn't aware of the Bucks' decision to cut him loose. According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the Bucks didn't inform Lillard that he was going to be waived, and he found out on social media just like everybody else: "He was surprised..[The Bucks] did not tell Dame that this was coming...I was told that Dame found out about his situation just like everybody else found out," Haynes reported. Lillard's pairing with Giannis Antetokounmpo didn't live up to expectations, and the Bucks have struggled to get back to championship contention. Advertisement There were rumors about a potential trade involving the former Portland Trail Blazers star, but his Achilles injury may have taken a big toll on his market value. Lillard initially wanted to be traded to the Miami Heat, and he admitted that his first months in Milwaukee and away from his family were tough. Now, the Heat might circle back on him and bring him in free agency, even if he's not able to suit up at all next season. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
