Forward Trinity Rodman has agreed to a three-year contract to remain with the Washington Spirit, ending months of speculation about the Olympic gold medalist’s future in the National Women’s Soccer League.

“I think I’ve always had a vision and an idea of what I wanted my legacy to be,” Rodman said at an event announcing her new deal on Thursday in Los Angeles. “We’re doing that and I’m so grateful for that.”

The speculation over Rodman’s future with the Spirit spurred criticism of the NWSL salary cap and whether it hampered the league from attracting and maintaining top players.

Rodman, 23, became a free agent at the end of last season after five years with the Spirit. One of the biggest stars in the NWSL, keeping her in the league was considered vitally important as other U.S. national team stars, including Naomi Girma and Alyssa Thompson, opted to play in Europe.

Rodman, who won a gold medal with the United States at the Paris Olympics, has been drawn interest from European teams that don’t have a salary cap.

The Spirit and Rodman struck a multi-year deal that both parties maintained was in compliance with the salary cap, but it was rejected by the league because it went against the spirit of the rules.

The National Women’s Soccer League Players Association filed a grievance claiming that the NWSL’s rejection of the contract violated Rodman’s free agency rights and violated the collective bargaining agreement.

To address the salary cap issue, the NWSL in late December adopted a “High Impact Player” mechanism that allowed teams to spend up to $1 million over the cap to sign players that meet certain criteria. Those included metrics like national team minutes, inclusion among the 30 candidates for the Ballon d’Or or player rankings by outlets like the Guardian or ESPN.

The NWSLPA filed a grievance over the rule, claiming it violated the collective bargaining agreement and federal labor law because player compensation must be negotiated. The NWSLPA maintains the league had no authority to “unilaterally create a new pay structure.”

The NWSL’s salary cap is $3.5 million for each team for the 2026 season, although it will increase each year until it hits $5.1 million in 2030.

Rodman is currently with the national team in their annual January training camp in Carson, California. The team plays a match there against Paraguay on Saturday and then plays Chile on Tuesday in Santa Barbara.

Rodman has 47 appearances and 11 goals with the national team, more than any other player on the latest roster. She played in one U.S. match last year, a 2-0 victory over Brazil in April, because of injuries.

___

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

Stanford Cardinal men’s basketball will have to endure the remainder of their season without their senior second-leading scorer Chisom Okpara.

The school announced that Okpara suffered a lower extremity injury during the 70-55 loss to Virginia on Jan. 10 and will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season.

The senior forward averaged 13.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 17 games.

Okpara posted a statement to his Instagram account that led with a Bible verse from Proverbs.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart,” Okpara’s post read.

As his post continued, he said that his surgery went “smoothly” and he’s focused on a full recovery.

“During our game against UVA on Jan. 10th, I sustained a significant patellar tendon tear. I’m happy to report that surgery yesterday went smoothly and I am focused on a full recovery,” Okpara wrote.

He added: “I’m stepping away from the court for now to prioritize my health. While this isn’t how I envisioned the season playing out, I am eternally grateful to Coach Smith and the entire coaching staff for their mentorship over the last two seasons. To my teammates, I’m rooting for you all the way to the top! Huge thanks to Dr. Marc Safran, the Stanford Medicine team and my family for their unwavering support. The future is bright. Glory to God! Go Cardinal!”

Stanford has an overall record of 14-5 and are .500 in ACC games at 3-3. They’ve got two wins over ranked opponents, North Carolina and Louisville.

Their next game is 5 p.m. PT (8 p.m. ET) Saturday against Cal at Maples Pavilion in Stanford.

More NCAAM: Stanford beats No. 13 Louisville, gets first ranked win in Kyle Smith era

Olympic champion hurdler Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone announced Thursday she is pregnant.

In an Instagram post, she said “made a human with my favorite human,” next to a picture of husband Andre Levrone Jr.

McLaughlin-Levrone won the last two Olympic titles in the 400-meter hurdles, setting world records both times. It currently stands at 50.37 seconds. Last year, she moved to the 400 flat and won world championships in 47.78 seconds, becoming the first woman to crack 48 in the full-lap race since 1985.

The even-numbered year between Summer Olympics is usually considered a light year in track and field. If McLaughlin-Levrone sits out 2026, she would miss the debut of the World Athletics Ultimate Championships, which will feature the sport’s top athletes and offer $150,000 first prizes.

___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

One Major Red Flag in the Astros’ Projected 2026 Rotation

By now, Astros fans have likely seen the wave of national articles and social media posts projecting Houston’s starting rotation for the 2026 season. Most of the attention has understandably centered on Lance McCullers Jr. and his prominent inclusion in many of those forecasts. But beyond the familiar names, there’s a far more concerning trend hiding in plain sight.

Every projected Astros starter being discussed is right-handed.

Call me crazy, but running out a rotation made up entirely of right-handed pitchers on a daily basis doesn’t feel like a formula for sustained success. Yes, the organization is expected to move on from left-hander Framber Valdez, but if Colton Gordon is truly the only left-handed starting option currently in the system, that signals there is still significant work ahead for Dana Brown and the Astros’ front office.

Whether that solution comes as part of a larger trade perhaps clearing the current infield logjam while adding young pitching talent, or through a more targeted deal specifically aimed at addressing this imbalance, it’s hard to believe the Astros are comfortable entering spring training with such a glaring lack of left-handed starters. At least one, if not multiple, southpaws should be on their radar before camp opens.

That’s not to say the projected rotation lacks quality. In fact, there’s plenty to like from top to bottom. Hunter Brown has firmly established himself as the ace and anchor of the staff, and there’s little reason to believe his trajectory is anything but upward. Replacing Framber Valdez with Tatsuya Imai was a savvy move by the front office, providing a strong presence near the top of the rotation.

Christian Javier and Spencer Arrighetti are expected to factor into the top five, while newcomers Mike Burrows and Ryan Weiss bring intriguing upside as potential contributors. McCullers, entering the final year of his contract, will be given every opportunity to earn a rotation spot. Should he fall short, veteran arms such as Jason Alexander and J.P. France could pitch their way into consideration. Even young prospects like A.J. Blubaugh will be given a legitimate chance to prove they belong among the club’s top six starters.

The Astros have already indicated that early-season scheduling, injury management, and workload concerns will lead them to deploy a six-man rotation. That makes the lack of left-handed balance even more noticeable. As things currently stand, Colton Gordon appears to be the lone left-handed starter with a chance to be utilized when the team breaks camp. Whether he secures a permanent spot in the rotation or not is going to be determined by how he pitches this spring along with injuries and potential additions to the club.

For that reason alone, expect Dana Brown to remain active and creative in the coming months. Adding at least one left-handed starter before Opening Day feels less like a luxury and more like a necessity.

One way or another, the Astros’ 2026 rotation will change between now and Opening Day. The question isn’t if Dana Brown adds a left-handed arm, it’s who? how? and how soon?

The Cleveland Cavaliers have won four out of their last six and have a good chance of extending that to five out of their last seven as they host the Sacramento Kings on Friday.

The Kings are one of the most aimless teams in the league, and also one of the worst. Their starting lineup featuring Russell Westbrook, Zach LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan would’ve been potent a decade ago. It isn’t in 2026. Domantas Sabonis only being available for 14 games this season has made matters worse.

This should be a good opportunity for the Cavs to build some momentum before taking on the Orlando Magic in back-to-back games.

Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (25-20) vs. Sacramento Kings (12-33)

Where: Rocket Arena – Cleveland, OH

When: Fri., Jan. 23 at 7:30 PM

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio, FanDuel Sports Network App, NBA League Pass

Point spread: Not yet set

Cavs injury report: Darius Garland – OUT (toe), Sam Merrill – OUT (hand), Max Strus – OUT (foot), Chris Livingston – OUT (G League), Luke Travers – OUT (G League)

Kings injury report: Keegan Murray – OUT (ankle), Daeqwon Plowden – OUT (G League), Isaiah Stevens – OUT (G League)

Cavs expectedstarting lineup: Donovan Mitchell, Jaylon Tyson, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Kings expected starting lineup: Russell Westbrook, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis, Maxime Raynaud

Previous matchup: The Kings swept the season series last season. They defeated the Cavs 120-113 most recently on April 6.

Here’s a look at both teams’ impact stats via Cleaning the Glass.

While this move will be overshadowed by the MacKenzie Gore trade, Paul Toboni made another waiver claim. This time he picked up Gus Varland from the Diamondbacks. He is the older brother of Blue Jays reliever Louis Varland and has some similarities. To make room on the 40-man roster the Nationals DFA’d Riley Adams.

While Varland did not pitch in the MLB in 2025 and had an injury riddled season, he has MLB experience. He had a really strong season in 2024, posting a 3.42 ERA in 26.1 innings with 27 strikeouts. If he can get back to that form in 2026, he can be a nice piece for the Nats bullpen.

At just 29 years old, Varland still has time on his side as well. Varland has an exciting fastball/slider combination that can get big league outs. His fastball sat at 95 MPH in 2024, but it has a ton of carry at the top of the zone. The heater is comfortably his best pitch and he throws it over 55% of the time. Varland’s primary secondary pitch is a high-80’s slider, but he also mixes in a changeup.

He is an interesting piece to add to a wide open mix in the Nats bullpen. With Varland and Paxton Schultz in the fold, Paul Toboni has created some more bullpen depth. The high leverage spots are a concern, but it feels like the bullpen has more capable bodies now.

On the other side of the coin, the Nats DFA’d Riley Adams, who has been with the team for a while. Adams was part of a deal that sent Brad Hand to the Blue Jays. While he has not been great, getting a big leaguer for Hand is a win. In his time with the Nats, Adams posted a .640 OPS.

Adams has some eye-popping tools, most notably his elite bat speed. His 78.3 MPH average swing speed is one of the best marks in the sport. He also has an absolute cannon of an arm. However, he was just unable to fully put things together.

Adams will turn 30 this year, so time is not really on his side anymore. He is also out of options, so it feels unlikely that he gets claimed. Given some of the tools, I would not be shocked if he got claimed though.

Obviously, this move will be overshadowed by the Gore trade, but it could be a decent pickup for the bullpen. Paul Toboni is making his mark on this roster, there is no denying that.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Jesse Minter is heading back to Baltimore, this time as the Ravens’ next head coach.

The club hired the Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator on Thursday. Minter replaces John Harbaugh, who was fired earlier this month after 18 years when the Ravens failed to make the playoffs.

Minter spent four seasons on Harbaugh’s staff from 2017-20, working his way up to become the defensive backs coach during his final season before taking the defensive coordinator job at Vanderbilt.

The 42-year-old Minter was one of the hottest names on the market. He interviewed virtually with several teams — including the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are also looking for a coach after Mike Tomlin stepped down last week — before landing in Baltimore, where his job will be to help two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson take the next step in a career that’s been consistently snakebit in the postseason.

“This is an organization whose values, culture and tradition of excellence reflect everything I believe about the game of football and how it should be played,” Minter said in a statement.

Minter has been with the Chargers for two seasons after two years as defensive coordinator at the University of Michigan. Minter’s partnership with both Harbaughs helped him build a resume that made him the right fit to replace John Harbaugh and become the fourth head coach in Baltimore’s 31-year history.

“Jesse is a strong leader who possesses a brilliant football mind and a spirit that will resonate with our players and fanbase alike,” Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said in a statement. “Jesse comes from a football family, with success at every level of the sport, and we are confident that he is the right coach to lead the Ravens forward.”

The Bolts were fifth in the league in total defense this season, allowing 285.2 yards per game. They allowed a league-low 17.7 points per game in 2024. The Wolverines led the nation in total defense in 2023 en route to winning the College Football Playoff national championship.

Minter also spent four seasons at Baltimore (2017-20), rising from a defensive assistant to defensive backs coach his final year. He also interviewed for the head coach openings in Atlanta and Miami earlier this week. Las Vegas, Pittsburgh and Tennessee have also requested interviews.

The Ravens endured a tumultuous 2025 season marked by a 1-5 start and major injuries, from Jackson to defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike. Baltimore recovered to head into a Week 18 showdown with Pittsburgh for the AFC North title.

Rookie kicker Tyler Loop’s potential game-winning field goal on the final play sailed wide right, handing the division crown to the Steelers.

Harbaugh, the NFL’s second-longest tenured head coach, was out of a job days later. Harbaugh didn’t stay out of work long. He was hired to the same position by the New York Giants last week.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/nfl

A trade in the NBA, perhaps more so than the trades in any other major professional sports league based in North America, can only be examined through the prism of what each organization wanted to accomplish in the transaction. The goals of a contender trying to add another piece for its postseason run are different than a struggling team in the midst of a rebuild. Those opposing missions will define the 2026 NBA trade deadline.

The names of the players and their stats often take a backseat to salary cap ramifications, with contracts that have gone sour and draft assets discussed as much by front offices as the potential stars that could be changing teams. But the rumors leading into the Feb. 5 deadline have fueled conversation throughout the league during the first half of the 2025-26 season, and now we’re approaching their end point.

The Atlanta Hawks already traded Trae Young to the Washington Wizards. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been the subject of trade speculation since before the Milwaukee Bucks season even began. Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies also could be headed for divorce after multiple reports suggested the team is listening to offers for the point guard for the first time.

They may be the biggest stars on the move, but they aren’t alone. A bevy of well-known players have been mentioned as possible trade candidates in recent weeks. Where they wind up after Feb. 5, if they stay put or get dealt elsewhere, is likely to shake up the NBA playoff race.

Here’s a breakdown of the top candidates potentially available at the 2026 NBA trade deadline and how they rank:

NBA ROOKIE RANKINGS: Kon Knueppel moves past Cooper Flagg

Ranking 2026 NBA trade candidates

Other players to monitor: Ochai Agbaji, Jose Alvarado, Lonzo Ball, Nic Claxton, DeMar DeRozan, Ayo Dosunmu, Keon Ellis, Daniel Gafford, Jerami Grant, De’Andre Hunter, Tyus Jones, Kyle Kuzma, Zach LaVine, Khris Middleton, Malik Monk, Jusuf Nurkic, Immanuel Quickley, Chris Paul, Jakob Poeltl, Bobby Portis, Collin Sexton, Dennis Schroder, Anfernee Simons, Jeremy Sochan, Nikola Vucevic, Guerschon Yabusele

10. Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers

Mathurin is a restricted free agent after this season after failing to agree to an extension with the Pacers this past offseason and the team could use him to deal for a frontcourt piece to help offset the loss of Myles Turner. Mathurin has been out with a thumb injury in January, but is nearing a return to action. He’s averaging career highs in points (17.8), rebounds (5.5) and assists (2.2) this season.

9. Kristaps Porzingis, Atlanta Hawks

The veteran center could follow Young out of Atlanta ahead of the deadline with an expiring contract and $30 million salary that could help the Hawks improve their roster around Jalen Johnson with the right deal. But Porzingis has appeared in just 17 games this season, including just five since Thanksgiving, due to illness and a recent Achilles injury.

8. Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors

It seemed a near-certainty Kuminga would be dealt to a team in search of help on the wing before the deadline after he fell out of Golden State coach Steve Kerr’s rotation and demanded a trade. But the season-ended injury suffered by Jimmy Butler earlier this week could change the Warriors’ strategy with Kuminga, who signed a two-year, $48.5-million contract in October 2025 that includes a team option for next season. Kuminga returned to the lineup for the first time in more than a month on Jan. 20 and finished with 20 points and five rebounds. General Manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. insinuated earlier this week, when asked about Kuminga’s trade demand by reporters, that there wasn’t much demand for Kuminga on the trade market.

7. R.J. Barrett, Toronto Raptors

The Raptors are reportedly looking to upgrade their roster after a strong start to the 2025-26 season and their No. 3 overall pick from the 2019 NBA Draft could be the piece Toronto is willing to part with to find another player to team with Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram. Jakob Poeltl and Ochai Agbaji have also been mentioned as possible trade chips.

6. Coby White, Chicago Bulls

The Bulls risk losing White for nothing if they don’t trade him at the deadline since he’ll be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. He’s one of eight unrestricted free agents on Chicago’s roster, with center Nikola Vucevic and guard Ayo Dosunmu among the prime candidates who could also be traded in the coming weeks. White is averaging 18.5 points and 4.6 assists while shooting a career-best 45.9% from the field.

5. Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings

Sabonis just returned from a knee injury and the Kings appear ready to move on from most of the veterans on their roster, including Zach Lavine and DeMar DeRozan. Sabonis is more intriguing because he’s younger and more accomplished, but with more term left on his contract and serious defensive limitations that have muted his effectiveness. Sabonis is just a year removed from consecutive all-NBA nods and he averaged more than 19 points, nearly 14 rebounds and more than 7 assists per game over the past two seasons.

4. Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn Nets

Porter has turned into a potential trade deadline asset after taking on a leading role and producing a career year in Brooklyn following an offseason trade from the Nuggets. Porter’s combination of size and shooting would help any contender, much like he did as a role player in Denver during its 2023 NBA title run. He’s averaging 25.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists while shooting better than 39% from 3-point range.

3. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies made clear a couple weeks they were willing to listen to trade offers for Morant after he had been the subject of speculation throughout the first couple months of the NBA season. Morant indicated publicly last week he wants to remain in Memphis, though his departure remains a distinct possibility. Morant’s durability concerns, declining production and significant contract could limit the list of suitors and keep Memphis from moving on from him midseason. But his recent return from injury demonstrated that, when properly motivated, the 26-year-old can still impact NBA games in a major way. If Morant is gone from the Grizzlies, teammate Jaren Jackson Jr. could also become available.

2. Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks

Trading Davis got even more complicated for the Mavericks after he recently suffered a hand injury that will sideline him for six weeks. The bright side is Davis will avoid injury and could be available by the postseason for a contender willing to trade for him. His lengthy injury history and contract, with two years and more than $120 million remaining after this season, will limit his suitors. But Davis remains a two-way force inside when healthy and could alter the postseason picture if he’s on the move.

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

It’s getting really awkward in Milwaukee, with a breakup between the Bucks and their star seemingly inevitable even if neither side wants to be the one to say it out loud. The Bucks are struggling, Antetokounmpo is frustrated and the team is reportedly looking to add help at the trade deadline in hopes of convincing him to stay. He has one year left on his contract after this season, so waiting to make a trade until the offseason is an option. But if Antetokounmpo decides he wants out of Milwaukee over the next few weeks, teams will be lining up to try to acquire him.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA trade deadline power rankings 2026: Ranking best players available