LONDON (AP) — An unseemly squabble involving six Chelsea gamers over who ought to take a penalty angered supervisor Mauricio Pochettino due to the message it despatched world wide about his squad’s habits.

“You can’t behave like children,” Pochettino mentioned in reference to a minute-long collection of weird confrontations within the second half of Chelsea’s 6-0 victory over Everton within the Premier League on Monday.

After Chelsea was awarded a spot kick within the 63rd with the staff main 4-0, Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson each tried to take the ball from Malo Gusto, who was holding it whereas Cole Palmer — the staff’s common penalty taker who had already scored a hat trick within the first half — was on the bottom having been fouled.

Madueke lunged to seize the ball off Gusto, after which argued with Jackson as they each walked over to the spot earlier than skilled Brazil defender Thiago Silva bought concerned and talked to them whereas placing his arms round their shoulders.

Conor Gallagher, Chelsea’s captain, then intervened to inform Madueke that Palmer must be taking the kick, just for Jackson to pile again in and attempt to snatch the ball off Palmer, who was about to put it on the spot.

After pushing away Jackson, Palmer ultimately took the penalty and scored his fourth purpose of the evening, making it 5-0.

“I’m so, so upset concerning the scenario,” Pochettino mentioned. “In each nation, persons are watching the sport and we can’t ship such a picture.

“I need to apologize to our followers. Self-discipline is crucial factor for the staff. It’s a collective sport. I’m not going to just accept such a habits. I’m going to be very robust. I promise it’s not going to occur once more.”

Pochettino mentioned it was a studying expertise for his younger squad.

“The self-discipline goes to be stronger,” he mentioned. “In the event that they behave like children, it’s not possible … it’s a disgrace, it’s an unacceptable factor. We don’t need to be speaking about this.”

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

CNN
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Chelsea supervisor Mauricio Pochettino stated it was a “unhappy scenario” seeing his gamers squabble over who was going to take a penalty throughout an in any other case spectacular 6-0 win in opposition to Everton.

Cole Palmer, who finally took the penalty and scored his fourth aim of Monday’s Premier League recreation, had gained the spot kick when the talk over who ought to take it ensued.

Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke each felt that they need to have duty, as did Palmer, Chelsea’s common penalty taker. As a quick tussle broke out between the trio, captain Conor Gallagher grabbed the ball from Madueke and handed it to Palmer.

The striker then calmly rolled the ball into the bottom-left nook to provide Chelsea a 5-0 lead at Stamford Bridge.

“For me, it’s a disgrace as a result of I believe we can’t behave on this means. I advised them that that is the final time that I settle for one of these conduct,” Pochettino advised Sky Sports activities in regards to the incident after the sport.

He added, “I made clear to them and now via you, to the followers and to everybody that Cole Palmer is the taker.

“After which if Palmer desires to provide the ball to a different he can, however not on this means. It’s a very, actually unhappy scenario what occurred and I gained’t settle for that to occur once more.”

The 21-year-old Palmer, now the Premier League’s joint-top scorer this season on 20 objectives, downplayed the problem.

“I’m the penalty taker and I wished to take it so in the long run I took it,” he advised Sky Sports activities. “However I believe we’re simply making an attempt to indicate that everybody desires to take duty and stuff like that.

“Possibly it was a bit excessive, the argument and stuff, however everybody simply desires to win [and] assist, it’s nothing main. We have been laughing and joking about it.”

The England worldwide scored an ideal hat-trick within the first half in opposition to Everton – his first from the sting of the realm along with his left foot, his second a close-range header, and his third an excellent right-footed lob from distance after a disastrous error from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

Jackson’s well-taken end simply earlier than the tip of the half gave Chelsea a commanding 4-0 lead earlier than Palmer’s penalty – his ninth from 9 makes an attempt this season – added gloss to an impressive particular person efficiency.

Late on within the one-sided contest, defender Alfie Gilchrist scored his first Chelsea aim to cap off an enormous win for the house aspect. Victory sees Chelsea keep ninth within the Premier League desk however inside three factors of Newcastle, Manchester United, and West Ham having performed fewer video games.

Everton, in the meantime, is simply two factors above the relegation zone because the membership feels the stress of two separate factors deductions this season for breaching monetary guidelines.

Subsequent up on Sunday is a vital recreation at house in opposition to Nottingham Forest, a spot under Everton within the Premier League, whereas Chelsea performs Manchester Metropolis within the FA Cup semifinals on Saturday.

At present’s Wordle reply is a phrase you doubtless know however maybe do not use typically. A few of its letters are fairly frequent, whereas others are rarer and is perhaps robust to guess.

Each day, we’ll submit hints after which the reply for the present day’s Wordle, simply in case you want it.

At present’s Wordle hints

Warning: Should you hold studying, you will see the Wordle reply for Tuesday April 16, puzzle #1032. That might be a devastating spoiler for some gamers. However in the event you simply want the reply — possibly you are in your final guess and simply do not need to see an 800-game streak go poof — hold studying.

Wordle trace No. 1: Vowel

There’s just one vowel in at present’s reply.

Wordle trace No. 2: Heart stage

The lone vowel sits proper in the course of at present’s reply.

Wordle trace No. 3: Pete and repeat

There aren’t any repeated letters in at present’s reply.

Wordle trace No. 4: First letter

The reply begins with the letter S.

Wordle trace No. 5: Which means

Should you play golf, you may use this phrase. It is also used steadily by butchers and in jail motion pictures.

TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER

Right here comes the spoiler: At present’s Wordle reply is SHANK.  It is a time period golfers use once they hit the ball with the acute heel of the membership (soccer gamers can shank a kick, too). It is also utilized in jail motion pictures to imply a do-it-yourself knife, or as a verb which means to stab somebody with that knife. Butchers use it for a sure lower of meat.

Yesterday’s Wordle reply

Yesterday’s Wordle reply, #1031, was EQUIP.

Previous Wordle solutions

April 11, No. 1027 LOUSE

April 12, No. 1028 WHINY

April 13, No. 1029 STEEL

April 14, No. 1030 BLIMP

On a regular basis Wordle ideas

I’ve written lots about Wordle — from protecting its 1,000th phrase to my checklist of the finest starter phrases to a useful two-step technique to controversial phrase adjustments. I’ve even rounded up what I discovered enjoying the hit on-line phrase puzzle for a full yr. So in the event you’re rethinking your want for the precise reply, you may attempt ideas from a type of tales.

Nonetheless want a starter phrase? One individual advised me they only go searching and select a five-letter object that they’ve noticed to make use of as their starter phrase — reminiscent of COUCH or CHAIR.  I have a tendency to stay to starter phrases which have the preferred letters utilized in English phrases. I like TRAIN as a starter, although I’ve a good friend who makes use of TRAIL. I’ve learn that individuals use the monetary time period ROATE, however I like to make use of phrases I truly know.

What’s Wordle?

Should you learn this far, you understand how to play. You could have six possibilities to guess a five-letter phrase, and the sport offers you suggestions as as to whether the letters you’ve got guessed are within the puzzle, and if they’re in the identical spot the place you guessed them to be. The Occasions purchased the sport from creator Josh Wardle for seven figures in 2022. Wardle famously created the sport for his companion, and allow them to slim down the 12,000 five-letter phrases within the English language to only 2,500, creating the database of solutions. It was handy of him to have a reputation that performs off “phrase” too.

A Occasions spokesperson advised me it lists the very first Wordle as showing on June 19, 2021, and the paper celebrated the sport’s 1,000th phrase on March 15. Spoiler: That 1,000th phrase was ERUPT. As in, Dad will ERUPT if the Wordle is so robust he loses his streak.

There are different enjoyable video games within the Occasions Video games secure. My newest habit is Connections, which I believe is trickier than Wordle. That is the sport the place you take a look at a grid of 16 phrases and attempt to put them into 4 teams of associated phrases. Generally the relationships between the phrases are fairly on the market — just like the time when it was 4 phrases that every one started with rock bands, reminiscent of RUSHMORE and JOURNEYMAN. (Connections bought just a little sassy on April Idiot’s Day with an all-emoji puzzle. Some players did NOT discover that humorous.)

Spelling Bee is a well-liked Occasions sport too. And there is a new sport that is nonetheless in beta, Strands, which I am making an attempt to grasp.

On the lookout for Monday’s Wordle hints, clues and reply? You will discover them right here:

MORE FROM FORBESRight this moment’s ‘Wordle’ #1031 Hints, Clues And Reply For Monday, April fifteenthBy Erik Kain

It’s Tuesday! It’s additionally my brother’s birthday so blissful birthday, oh brother of mine! Plenty of April birthdays. Then numerous June birthdays. I can’t imagine how shut we’re to summer time. Winter will quickly turn into a distant dream.

For now, let’s delight in spring’s heat embrace and do that Wordle!

How To Remedy Right this moment’s Wordle

The Trace: Stabby stab stab.

The Clue: Right this moment’s Wordle has way more consonants than vowels.

Okay, spoilers under!

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The Reply:

Wordle Evaluation

Daily I test Wordle Bot to see how I did. You’ll be able to test your Wordles with Wordle Bot proper right here.

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Right this moment’s Wordle wasn’t too troublesome, although I discovered myself on Guess #3 with a whole lot of very comparable phrases to select from. Issues began off swell with crate narrowing down my choices to simply 61 phrases. Wordle Bot didn’t like my second guess, boink, which solely slashed that quantity to five. I picked shank as a result of I figured it eradicated essentially the most phrases, and fortunate for me it was proper!

Aggressive Wordle Rating

I get 1 level for guessing in three however I tied the Bot so zero factors there. I’ll take a degree!

How To Play Aggressive Wordle

Guessing in 1 is price 3 factors; guessing in 2 is price 2 factors; guessing in 3 is price 1 level; guessing in 4 is price 0 factors; guessing in 5 is -1 factors; guessing in 6 is -2 factors and lacking the Wordle is -3 factors.

For those who beat your opponent you get 1 level. For those who tie, you get 0 factors. And in case you lose to your opponent, you get -1 level. Add it as much as get your rating. Hold a each day working rating or simply play for a brand new rating every day.

Right this moment’s Wordle Etymology

The phrase “shank” has its origins in Previous English, particularly from the phrase “sceanca” or “scanca”, which implies “leg” or “shin”. It’s associated to comparable phrases in different Germanic languages reminiscent of Dutch “schenkel” (that means “shin, leg”) and German “Schenkel” (additionally that means “leg”). These phrases doubtless stem from a Proto-Germanic root *skankon-.

The phrase “shank” has developed in fashionable English to refer not solely to part of the leg but in addition to any lengthy, slender a part of an object, just like the shank of a screw, which resembles a leg in form. Using “shank” within the sense of a do-it-yourself knife present in prisons (“to shank”, that means to stab with such a knife) is an extension of this, from the notion of the knife having an extended, skinny blade.

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You should definitely try my weblog for my each day Wordle and Strands guides in addition to all my different writing about TV exhibits, streaming guides, film critiques, online game protection and way more. Thanks for stopping by!

Sisay Lemma, of Ethiopia, set a blistering tempo and held on to win the Boston Marathon on Monday, operating alone via many of the course to complete in 2 hours, 6 minutes, 17 seconds — the tenth quickest time within the race’s 128-year historical past.

Lemma arrived in Boston with the quickest time within the subject, changing into simply the fourth particular person ever to interrupt 2 hours, 2 minutes when he received in Valencia final yr. And the 2021 London champion confirmed it on the course, separating himself from the pack in Ashland and opening a lead of greater than half of a mile.

Lemma ran the primary half in a single hour and 19 minutes — 99 seconds quicker than Geoffrey Mutai’s course file tempo in 2011, when he completed in 2 hours, 3 minutes and a couple of seconds — the quickest marathon in historical past to that time.

Lemma dropped to the pavement and rolled onto his again, smiling, after crossing the end line.

“I made a decision that I wished to start out quick early,” stated Lemma, whose victory in London in 2021 was his solely different main marathon victory. “I stored the tempo and I received.”

Fellow Ethiopian Mohamed Esa closed the hole via the previous couple of miles, ending second by 41 seconds; two-time defending champion Evans Chebet was third.

Hellen Obiri defended her title within the girls’s race, outsprinting fellow Kenyan Sharon Lokedi down Boylston Avenue to win by eight seconds. Obiri is the primary girl to win back-to-back Boston marathons since 2005. She completed Monday in 2 hours, 22 minutes and 37 seconds.

“Defending the title was not straightforward. Since Boston began, it’s solely six girls. So I stated, ’Can I be one among them?’ If you wish to be one among them, it’s a must to work further onerous,” she stated. “And I’m so joyful as a result of I’m now one among them. I’m now within the historical past books in Boston.”

The 34-year-old Obiri cut up from greater than a dozen runners within the second half of the race, then outfought a problem from Kenyan Sharon Lodeki over the ultimate three miles for the victory. It led a Kenyan sweep of the rostrum, with Lodeki crossing second in 2 hours, 22 minutes and 45 seconds. Two-time champion and 44-year-old Edna Kiplagat was third in 2 hours, 23 minutes and 21 seconds. Kiplagat completed thirtieth a yr in the past.

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Wheelchair division

Marcel Hug of Switzerland overcame a crash and captured his seventh males’s wheelchair Boston Marathon title, setting in a brand new course file Monday of 1 hour, quarter-hour, 33 seconds.

It bests his earlier course mark of 1 hour, 17 minutes and 6 seconds set final yr and was simply seven seconds from setting a brand new world file. It continues his streak of 11 consecutive main marathon titles.

American Daniel Romanchuk was second, with a time of 1 hour, 20 minutes and 37 seconds, adopted by Britain’s David Weir, ending in 1 hour, 22 minutes and 12 seconds. The 38-year-old Hug took benefit of temperatures within the mid-50s firstly of the race and was greater than 30 seconds forward of his fellow opponents by the midway mark.

Within the girls’s race, Britain’s Eden Rainbow-Cooper received her first Boston crown, crossing in 1 hour, 35 minutes and 11 seconds. She was adopted by Switzerland’s Manuela Schar in 1 hour, 36 minutes and 41 seconds and Australia’s Madison de Rozario, with a time of 1 hour, 39 minutes and 20 seconds.

It was Rainbow-Cooper’s first main win. The 22-year-old was seventh in Boston a yr in the past. Her earlier prime finishes in a significant was second in Tokyo this yr and second in Berlin in 2023.

Hug was cruising till he crashed whereas making the flip firstly of the Newton Hills part of the course, skidding and hitting a barrier at concerning the 18-mile mark. However he shortly recovered and maintained an almost four-minute lead over the sector.

“It was my fault,” Hug stated. “I had an excessive amount of weight, an excessive amount of stress from above to my steering, so I couldn’t steer.”

Hug and Rainbow-Cooper obtained $40,000 for the win and a bonus of $50,000 for setting the file. The Paris Paralympic marathon favourite, Hug will symbolize Switzerland in France this summer season.

Athletes from greater than 100 nations took on the 128th Boston Marathon in the present day. Whereas many of the practically 30,000 runners who cross the end line at Boylston received’t take residence any prizes, a choose few will develop into champions. Right here’s who received.

Are you aware somebody operating the 2024 Boston Marathon? Yow will discover their stats right here.

Need extra? Comply with reside updates from the course.

All occasions under are unofficial outcomes.

Males’s skilled division:

• Sisay Lemma, from Ethiopia, accomplished the race in 2:06:17.
• Mohamed Esa, from Ethiopia, accomplished in 2:06:58.
• Evans Chebet, from Kenya, accomplished the course in 2:07:22. He beforehand received the Boston Marathon in 2022 and 2023.

Ladies’s skilled division:

• Hellen Obiri, from Kenya, accomplished the race in 2:22:37. It is her second consecutive Boston Marathon win.
• Sharon Lokedi, from Kenya, accomplished in 2:22:45.
• Edna Kiplagat, from Kenya, accomplished in 2:23:21.

Males’s wheelchair division:

• Marcel Hug, from Switzerland, accomplished the race with what could possibly be confirmed as a brand new course report of 1:15:33. He has now received the Boston Marathon wheelchair division seven occasions.
• Daniel Romanchuk, from america, accomplished the race in 1:20:37.
• David Weir, from the UK, accomplished the race in 1:22:12.

Ladies’s wheelchair division:

• Eden Rainbow-Cooper, from the UK, accomplished the race in 1:35:11.
• Manuela Schär, from Switzerland, accomplished the race in 1:36:41.
• Madison de Rozario, from Australia, accomplished the race in 1:39:20.

Males’s handcycle division:

• Zachary Stinson, from america, accomplished in 1:04:46.
• John Masson, from america, accomplished in 1:09:33.
• Dustin Baker, from america, accomplished in 1:10:10.

Ladies’s handcycle division:

• Alicia Dana, from america, accomplished in 1:15:20.
• Edie Perkins, from america, accomplished in 1:33:57.
• Devann Murphy, from america, accomplished in 1:43:23.

Duo groups:

• Julien Pinsonneault and Might Lim, from Canada, accomplished with a time of two:54:43.
• Shaun Evans and Shamus Evans, from america, accomplished with a time of two:55:35.
• Jean-Phillippe Morand and Victor Morand, from Canada, accomplished with a time of three:06:02.

Para divisions

Males’s para T62/T64/T42/T44 (decrease limb impairment)

• Marko Cheseto Lemtukei, from america, accomplished with a time of two:46:45.
• Peter Keating, from america, accomplished with a time of three:23:31.
• Brian Reynolds, from america, accomplished with a time of three:28:41.

Ladies’s para T62/T64/T42/T44 (decrease limb impairment)

• Kelly Bruno, from america, accomplished with a time of three:31:30.
• Nicole Ver Kuilen, from america, accomplished with a time of 4:13:18.

Males’s para T61/T63/T43 (decrease limb impairment)

• Adam Popp, from america, accomplished with a time of three:11:56.

Ladies’s para T61/T63/T43 (decrease limb impairment)

• Tatsiana Khvitsko-Trimborn, from america, accomplished with a time of 4:00:04.
• Meghan Bradshaw, from america, accomplished with a time of 4:31:14.

Males’s para T45/T46 (higher limb impairment)

• Atsbha Gebremeskel, from Ethiopia, accomplished with a time of two:54:14.

Ladies’s para T45/T46 (higher limb impairment)

• Adrienne Keane, from america, accomplished with a time of 4:44:26.

Males’s para T35-T38 (coordination impairment)

• Joseph Drake, from america, accomplished with a time of 4:32:44.

Ladies’s para T35-T38 (coordination impairment)

• Cristina Burbach, from america, accomplished with a time of three:41:17.
• Sara Whittingham, from america, accomplished with a time of 4:23:05.
• Renee Trent, from america, accomplished with a time of 5:01:20.

Males’s para T20 (mental impairment)

• Thomas Cantara, from america, accomplished with a time of two:35:23.
• Andrew Bryant, from america, accomplished with a time of three:17:51.
• Timon Sideris, from Australia, accomplished with a time of three:24:37.

Males’s para T13 (imaginative and prescient impairment)

• Andrew Thorsen, from america, accomplished with a time of three:02:23.
• Jared Broughton, from Canada, accomplished with a time of three:25:16.
• Brett Sims, from america, accomplished with a time of three:52:12.

Ladies’s para T13 (imaginative and prescient impairment)

• Lisa Thompson, from america, accomplished with a time of 4:00:58.
• Jennifer Herring, from america, accomplished with a time of 4:26:50.
• Janet Cain, from america, accomplished with a time of 6:01:16.

Males’s para T11-T12 (imaginative and prescient impairment)

• Irwin Ramirez, from america, accomplished with a time of three:24:21.
• Eric Robust, from america, accomplished with a time of three:32:43.
• Marc Gibert accomplished with a time of three:49:22.

Ladies’s para T11-T12 (imaginative and prescient impairment)

• Joyce Cron, from america, accomplished with a time of 4:27:46.
• Livea Pereira, from Brazil, accomplished with a time of 4:29:30.
• Hannah Defelice, from america, accomplished with a time of 4:53:53.

NEW YORK — Caitlin Clark is formally a professional.

Clark, the record-breaking face of ladies’s school basketball, was chosen No. 1 general by the Indiana Fever within the 2024 WNBA draft Monday night time on the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

The draft was held with followers for the primary time for the reason that 2014-2016 iterations of the occasion. Tickets for 1,000 spectators bought out inside quarter-hour of occurring sale just a few months in the past.

Clark’s coronation was lengthy anticipated after she introduced in late February she was headed to the league as an alternative of utilizing her further yr of collegiate eligibility.

However that did not make the second any much less particular for Clark, her family members, her Iowa household and the ecstatic followers who packed Gainbridge Fieldhouse again in Indianapolis to see her maintain up a Fever jersey on the jumbotron.

“If you’re simply sitting at a desk ready on your identify to be known as, that actually permits the feelings to feed you,” Clark mentioned. “You are with your loved ones. Clearly, enjoying a basketball sport, I am not on the market with my household. So sharing that second with them and having fun with it, and those who have actually had my again and believed in me greater than anybody, is tremendous particular.”

The Los Angeles Sparks, rebuilding following the departure of Nneka Ogwumike in free company, chosen two gamers within the lottery: Stanford’s Cameron Brink at No. 2 and Tennessee’s Rickea Jackson at No. 4. Brink joins Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike because the third Stanford participant chosen within the high two of the WNBA draft and is this system’s fifteenth first-rounder.

“I really like that I get to remain on the West Coast, and I really like that they took an opportunity on me,” Brink mentioned. “I really feel like I am simply going to indicate that I can work actually laborious and assist them rather a lot. But in addition, I will be near household, which is absolutely essential for me.”

Jackson, who began her profession at Mississippi State, is Tennessee’s nineteenth first-round decide, the second most in WNBA draft historical past.

The Chicago Sky made a splash in deciding on South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso (No. 3) and LSU’s Angel Reese (No. 7), the 2024 and 2023 Last 4 Most Excellent Gamers, respectively. Cardoso helped the Gamecocks win their third nationwide championship to finish an undefeated season, then attended the group’s championship parade Sunday earlier than touring to New York.

“She’s an important participant, and I am an important participant,” Cardoso mentioned of Reese, somebody she performed in opposition to in highschool and in SEC play. “No person’s going to get no rebounds on us,” she added with fun.

In a brand new period with WNBA legend Teresa Weatherspoon on the helm, the Sky swapped picks with Minnesota on Sunday to draft seventh.

Reese’ 61 double-doubles over the previous two seasons had been essentially the most in Division I and second most in LSU historical past, behind solely Sylvia Fowles. Reese — who rose to superstardom in main the Tigers to their first nationwide championship in 2023 — is LSU’s highest decide since Fowles (No. 2 general in 2008).

“Understanding the conversations had been so good and [Weatherspoon] felt like a mom to me,” Reese mentioned. “Having the ability to be a Black lady and as a head coach, and all the pieces she’s completed on the NBA degree, I simply knew all the pieces they had been bringing to the desk. Jeff [Pagliocca], the GM, was superb, too, and participant growth is one thing that I used to be on the lookout for and so they regarded for in me. I am tremendous excited for this transfer, and I am simply wanting ahead to attending to Chicago.”

With the ladies’s school sport exploding in recognition as gamers corresponding to Clark and Reese grew to become family names, the arrival of the 2024 draft class is broadly regarded to be a possible watershed second for the WNBA.

“It is a generational class,” Jackson mentioned. “I really feel like this class is simply so totally different. I do know this class is totally different. … Girls’s basketball is on an uproar. Everyone is tuning in. … I am grateful to be part of this draft class. I really feel like we’re simply trending in the best course.”

Ohio State guard Jacy Sheldon went fifth to the Dallas Wings, and the Washington Mystics took UConn’s Aaliyah Edwards at No. 6. Edwards put up profession highs in each scoring (17.6 factors per sport) and rebounding (9.2) in 2023-24.

Minnesota drafted Alissa Pili of Utah eighth. Pili averaged 21.1 factors over the previous two seasons, which ranked fourth in Division I behind solely Clark (29.7), Ta’Niya Latson (21.3) and McKenna Hofschild (21.3).

The New York Liberty, who made the WNBA Finals final yr, chosen Marquesha Davis with the eleventh decide. Davis turns into simply the fourth Ole Miss participant to be chosen within the first spherical.

Three worldwide gamers had been additionally chosen within the first spherical: Carla Leite of France (No. 9 to Dallas), Leïla Lacan of France (No. 10 to the Connecticut Solar) and Nyadiew Puoch of Australia (No. 12 to the Atlanta Dream). It marks the fourth time three or extra worldwide gamers had been chosen within the first spherical of the WNBA draft (2021, 2001, 2000).

Clark, a 6-foot guard and West Des Moines, Iowa, native, enters the league on high of the world. A two-time nationwide participant of the yr, she ended her collegiate profession with 3,951 factors, essentially the most in males’s and girls’s Division I historical past, whereas propelling the Iowa Hawkeyes to back-to-back nationwide title sport appearances, their first in program historical past.

Her brand 3-pointers, highlight-reel assists and offensive firepower (she averaged 31.6 factors as a senior, and 28.4 factors for her profession) have drawn sellout crowds in Iowa Metropolis and on the highway, whereas shattering tv rankings throughout a mess of networks and streaming platforms alongside the best way.

She has her personal cereal field and State Farm commercials, and simply this previous weekend she appeared as herself on “Saturday Evening Dwell.” Now, her greatest problem, and largest alternative, awaits.

The Fever have not appeared within the playoffs since 2016, the legendary Tamika Catchings’ last season. However with Clark becoming a member of forces with final yr’s No. 1 general decide, Aliyah Boston, the pairing appears destined to vary the trajectory of the franchise — and probably the league — for the years to come back.

Winners of the 2012 WNBA title, Indiana has languished since Catchings’ retirement, sporting the worst profitable share within the league for the reason that begin of the 2017 season regardless of deciding on lottery picks in every of the previous seven drafts. 4 of these seven picks are now not with the group.

Indicators of progress emerged this previous season with Boston, the franchise’s first No. 1 decide, because the Fever received 13 video games, tied for essentially the most since Catchings’ retirement. With Clark now within the combine, snapping the longest energetic playoff drought appears effectively inside attain.

“That is positively our objective, is to get again to championship habits,” Clark mentioned, joking that though Indiana Hoosiers followers did not love her when she was at Iowa, she hopes to show them into Fever followers now. “I am very fortunate to be going there to a company that actually loves girls’s basketball. You see it right this moment, I believe that they had 17,000 tickets claimed to simply watch the draft. I believe that reveals the joy in Indianapolis. It is an important basketball metropolis.

“For myself, I am unable to think about a extra excellent match, a greater place for me to start out my skilled profession, a company that actually simply believes in girls’s basketball and needs to do all the pieces the best method. So I could not be extra excited to get there.”

Fever basic supervisor Lin Dunn shared Clark’s sentiment.

“It is an ideal match for us,” Dunn mentioned. “She’s from the Huge Ten, the Midwest — is there anywhere higher for her than Indianapolis, Indiana? I am unable to consider it.”

Dunn was requested concerning the franchise having back-to-back No. 1 picks, as was the case when she was basic supervisor of the Seattle Storm with Lauren Jackson (2001) and Sue Chook in (2002).

“Effectively, it would not occur fairly often. And so when it does occur — and you’ll look again traditionally — it normally implies that it results in championships,” Dunn mentioned. “I believe that is the start of us getting again on observe to win one other championship right here. Once we had been in a position to put Chook and Jackson collectively — an important level guard and an important submit participant — we had been in a position to take off in Seattle, and I believe that might occur right here if you put Clark with Boston.”

Clark, the one Division I girls’s participant with greater than 3,000 factors and 1,000 assists, may have two equally younger however elite submit targets in Boston, the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Yr, and NaLyssa Smith, a 2022 lottery decide. After Clark developed sturdy chemistry with Iowa submit gamers Monika Czinano and Hannah Stuelke, the connections she, Boston and Smith can kind in Indianapolis are tantalizing prospects for Fever followers.

“Going to a company that has, in my eyes, the most effective submit gamers in the whole world. My level guard eyes simply gentle up at that,” Clark mentioned of Boston. “My greatest job is I am simply feeding Aliyah the ball each single day. That is what I’ll do. I’ll be in there and be like, go make a layup. She’s going to make my life straightforward.”

Clark will even share the backcourt with two veteran guards in Kelsey Mitchell, No. 4 on the NCAA Division I all-time scoring listing and a high 3-point shooter within the league final season, in addition to returning level guard Erica Wheeler.

“I am 22 years previous, and I haven’t got all of the solutions on this planet,” Clark mentioned. “That is one thing new to me. It is a new problem. That is one thing I am excited for. However having these kind of individuals round me to lean on and ask questions, or when issues get laborious, to be there for me.”

Of the opposite prospects invited to the draft Monday: UConn’s Nika Muhl was taken with the second decide of the second spherical by the Storm; Ohio State’s Celeste Taylor is headed to Indiana after being chosen No. 15 general; Syracuse’s Dyaisha Truthful (No. 16) — who completed her collegiate profession third on the all-time Division I girls’s profession factors listing behind solely Clark and Kelsey Plum — and Virginia Tech’s Elizabeth Kitley (No. 24) had been chosen by the Las Vegas Aces; and UCLA’s Charisma Osborne was picked with the primary decide of the third spherical by the Phoenix Mercury.

Iowa’s Kate Martin, within the crowd to assist teammate Clark, was additionally chosen No. 18 general by the Aces.

ESPN’s Michael Voepel and ESPN Stats & Info contributed to this report.

NBA star Blake Griffin introduced his retirement on Tuesday.

Griffin, who spent his finest seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, introduced his retirement on Instagram within the humorous tone for which he’s identified.

“Right here comes the compulsory ‘I’m excited for my subsequent chapter’ half,” he wrote. “Simply kidding, I’m accomplished.”

A 14-year veteran, Griffin starred alongside Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan as a part of a Clippers core often known as “Lob Metropolis” on account of their acrobatics on the rim.

Griffin additionally performed for the Detroit Pistons, Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics.

For the latter a part of his profession, Griffin’s athleticism was restricted by accidents, however he stated he holds no regrets as he ends his profession.

“I’m grateful for each single second — not simply the great ones…,” he wrote. “The sport of basketball has given me a lot in life, and I wouldn’t change a factor.”

Six-time All-Star ahead Blake Griffin introduced his retirement from the NBA on Tuesday.

Griffin was chosen first total by the LA Clippers out of Oklahoma within the 2009 draft. His time in Los Angeles acquired off to a tough begin, as he broke the patella in his left knee through the preseason.

Griffin got here again the next season and received the 2010-11 Rookie of the Yr Award and made the primary of 5 straight All-Star appearances. He additionally received the Slam Dunk Contest that season after slamming over a parked automobile.

His high-flying highlights turned the calling card of the Clippers, who actually took off within the 2011-12 season with the addition of level guard Chris Paul.

The acquisition of Paul and his penchant for alley-oop passes to Griffin and middle DeAndre Jordan reworked the Clippers into Lob Metropolis, and ushered in probably the most profitable period in franchise historical past.

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“Blake was a giant a part of the turnaround right here,” stated Tyronn Lue, the present Clippers coach who was an assistant on the workers early in Griffin’s L.A. profession. “Blake was some of the dynamic gamers we have seen on this league for a very long time so far as athletic-wise. One factor he would not get credit score for is his passing means. He had an important profession.”

Playoff success eluded the Clippers, nevertheless, and Griffin was surprisingly traded to the Detroit Pistons through the 2018 season, simply months after signing a five-year, $171 million extension with the Clippers.

Griffin, 35, spent components of the following 4 seasons in Detroit earlier than being purchased out through the 2020-21 season and signing with the Brooklyn Nets. He performed final season for the Boston Celtics however averaged a career-low 4.1 factors, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists whereas showing in 41 video games in a principally reserve function.

Regardless of the ups and downs of his profession, Griffin repeatedly stated in his Instagram put up that he was grateful for his NBA life.

“All of those experiences made my 14 years within the league really unforgettable and I can not assist however to only really feel grateful,” Griffin stated.

Griffin’s finest season was the 2013-14 marketing campaign, when he averaged 24.1 factors, 9.5 rebounds and three.9 assists, and completed third in MVP voting behind Kevin Durant and LeBron James.

For his profession, Griffin averaged 19.0 factors, 8.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists. He was named second-team All-NBA thrice and third-team All-NBA twice.

Is Elon Musk the brand new Benjamin Franklin? Michael Douglas, who performs the latter within the new AppleTV+ collection Franklin, appears to imagine the 2 have extra in widespread than one would suppose.

The actor stopped by this morning’s episode of The View, the place he defined to the panel why he will get “Elon Musk vibes” from the Founding Father.

“The unpredictability and the brilliance. Frankly, he was sensible. There’s no getting round that — what he achieved,” Douglas mentioned. “However [Franklin] nonetheless had his peccadillos. He favored the women. Elon was identified for that. He was tight — he was a little bit tight.”

Douglas continued, “However Franklin represented — he was the start of the center class. His father was a candle maker and his complete model with that fur hat was all an act. So it was an exceptional determination. It has a variety of parallels to what’s occurring in the present day — most of which, actually, is how fragile our democracy is.”

The star first made the comparability between Franklin and Musk at a Tv Critics Affiliation (TCA) information convention again in February.

“[Franklin] was a little bit little bit of a philanderer; he favored to imbibe. He was a giant flirt. His thought of negotiating was a little bit little bit of a seduction … I felt Elon Musk comparisons,” he mentioned, per Fox Information. “A man who’s barely on the market, but in addition you had been conscious he was so vivid and so educated on so many issues. He was charming. He was taking prisoners.”

Elsewhere in his look on The View, Douglas revealed what he believed Franklin would suppose of the present political local weather — and the Republican nominee dealing with quite a few indictments, particularly.

“I believe he would have a tough time believing it,” he mentioned. “There was a time again then when being a politician was virtually just like the priesthood — it was one thing to sit up for. You had been a public servant.”

Douglas concluded, “Now, in politics, a big half — a minimum of in Washington — it’s often a stepping stone to your personal lobbying job. It’s a really, very irritating time. And I believe we’re all trying ahead to getting by this 12 months.”

The View airs on weekdays at 11/10c on ABC.