Category: Sports Fox

Plenty of people have botched the pronunciation of Seattle Seahawks star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s name, but the NFL invented a new way to fumble it. Smith-Njigba, who earned 2025 NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors, posted a video of his trophy for the award, which reads “2025 Defensive Player of the Year,” instead of “2025 Offensive Player of the Year.” “It’s getting disrespectful, guys,” Smith-Njigba said in a video he posted to his Instagram account about the trophy. NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy told The Athletic that Smith-Njigba will receive a new trophy following the error, and apologized on behalf of the league. “The league made the mistake. We sincerely apologize to Jaxon for the error and are in the process of creating and shipping him a new trophy,” McCarthy added in his comments to The Athletic. “Of course, like the teams he played against this year, we know how great an offensive player he is. We just had a problem spelling it.” When Smith-Njigba was named the winner of the award back in February, comedian Druski mispronounced his name at the NFL Honors. Druski said he attempted to apologize to Smith-Njigba after the mishap, but didn’t hear back from him. As for the year that the “2025 Offensive Player of the Year” is coming off, Smith-Njigba, a Pro Bowler in each of the last two seasons, totaled 119 receptions for an NFL-high 1,793 yards (15.1 yards per reception) and 10 touchdowns in the regular season, helping the receiver earn his first career All-Pro honor. Smith-Njigba’s 19 receptions were fourth in the sport, and his 10 receiving touchdowns were tied with Los Angeles Rams star wide receiver and fellow two-time Pro Bowler Puka Nacua for sixth. Smith-Njigba led the NFL with 1,378 yards when lined up as an outside receiver, according to Next Gen Stats. Then, in the postseason, he logged 17 receptions for 199 yards and two touchdowns, highlighted by a 153-yard performance against the Rams in the NFC Championship Game en route to Seattle’s Super Bowl LX triumph. In 2024, Smith-Njigba totaled 100 receptions for 1,130 yards (11.3 yards per reception) and six touchdowns. Smith-Njigba, who Seattle selected with the No. 20 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, has never missed a game in his three-year NFL career (2023-25). In March, he signed a four-year, $168.6 million extension, with the $42.15 million average annual value an NFL record for a wide receiver. As for Smith-Njigba’s franchise standing, his 119 receptions and 1,793 receiving yards in 2025 are each first in a single season in Seahawks history, with his 100 receptions in 2024 tied with wide receiver Tyler Lockett (2020) for second. Furthermore, Smith-Njigba already stands 10th in franchise history with 282 career receptions and 20 receiving touchdowns, while being 11th with 3,551 receiving yards.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has been sentenced to serve 30 days in jail after testing positive for marijuana in violation of the terms of his probation for his role in a crash that left multiple people injured on a Dallas highway two years ago. The Texas State Attorney’s Office said Tuesday that Rice was ordered to go to jail now as part of his original sentence for the third-degree felony of racing and causing bodily injury. Rice is set to be released on June 16, which is five days after Chiefs’ minicamp ends. The Chiefs declined to comment on the case. Rice, 26, pleaded guilty to two third-degree felony charges of collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury in the March 30, 2024, crash. As part of his sentencing, it was initially ruled that Rice would be able to serve his 30-day jail sentence at any point during his five years of probation. Rice was also required to pay the victims for their out-of-pocket medical expenses, which totaled about $115,000. Rice was driving a Lamborghini Urus SUV at 119 mph (191 kph) when he made “multiple aggressive maneuvers around traffic” and struck other vehicles, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors said that after the crash, Rice failed to check on the welfare of those in the other vehicles and fled on foot. Shortly after his sentencing, Rice apologized for his role in the crash, saying he had “a lot of sleepless nights thinking about the damages that my actions caused.” “I am profoundly sorry for the physical damages to person and property,” Rice added in the statement. “I fully apologize for the harm I caused to innocent drivers and their families.” A month after Rice’s sentencing, the NFL suspended him for six games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Rice had 53 receptions for 571 yards and five touchdowns in eight games last season before he was placed on injured reserve due to concussion-like symptoms. Rice tore his ACL the previous season, limiting him to only four games in 2024 after a breakout rookie campaign in 2023. News also broke on Tuesday of Rice’s recent surgery. Before serving his 30-day jail sentence for a probation violation, Rice underwent a clean-up surgery last week in Dallas to remove loose debris and inflammation from his right knee, ESPN reported. The procedure is expected to sideline Rice for the next two months. The Associated Press contributed to this report.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Welcome to The Greatest Spectacle In Racing. The Indianapolis 500 is set for Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. From “Back Home Again In Indiana” to “Taps” to “Drivers, Start Your Engines” to the green flag to the checkered flag to the milk in Victory Lane, there is no other prerace like it, there is no other race like it, there is no other victory celebration like it. The drivers of the INDYCAR Series work all year toward this race. Approximately 350,000 people — one person for approximately every 1,000 Americans — will attend. Several million will watch on television in the United States and around the world. Here’s what to know about the 2026 Indianapolis 500: What time will the race start? The green flag is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. ET. FOX coverage begins at 10 a.m. ET. How long is the race? It is 500 miles — 200 laps around the 2.5-mile oval. Unlike some other forms of racing, there is no overtime or provision for additional laps. An official race, if it rains or there are other factors for the race not to get to the finish, is 250 miles or beyond. Is it really an oval? It is a rectangular circuit. The frontstretch and backstretch are five-eighths of a mile each (1.25 miles total). The four turns are each a quarter mile (1 mile total). And the short chute between each turn one-eighth of a mile (0.25 mile total). The turns are banked 9 degrees, 12 minutes. The frontstretch and backstretch have no banking. The straightaways width is 50 feet; the turns width is 60 feet. Does IMS have lights? Not for the racing surface to be able to race at night. How many Indy 500s have there been? This is the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500. Who are the favorites? You have to start with polesitter Alex Palou. He is the defending winner of the race and a four-time INDYCAR champion driving for Chip Ganassi Racing. And then? Most every other driver in the field could conceivably win the race depending on strategy, when they choose to pit, when the cautions come out and if they have to save fuel to make it work. In the 109 races, 21 winners have come from the pole and 46 have come from the front row. That should be good news for Palou, ECR Racing’s Alexander Rossi and Team Penske’s David Malukas. Another 21 drivers have won from the second row. This year, that’s Felix Rosenqvist, Santino Ferrucci and Pato O’Ward. And nine have come from the third row. This year that’s Kyffin Simpson, Conor Daly and Scott McLaughlin. That leaves 33 winners (30 percent) who have won outside the third row. No driver who has started 18th, 23rd, 24th, 26th or 29th-33rd has ever won the race. Rossi and O’Ward do have to go to backup cars after a hard crash in practice Monday. They get to keep their starting positions. [WHO TO ROOT FOR: Guide To Choosing Your Favorite INDYCAR Driver] How many former winners are in the field? There are nine former winners in the field: –Helio Castroneves (2001, 2002, 2009, 2021)–Takuma Sato (2017, 2020)–Josef Newgarden (2023, 2024)–Scott Dixon (2008)–Ryan Hunter-Reay (2014)–Alexander Rossi (2016)–Will Power (2018)–Marcus Ericsson (2022)–Alex Palou (2025) Castroneves, to me and other reporters, on the Drive for 5: “Last year, when I finished the race, I tell you what — I was already thinking about. I was actually angry a little bit because it was a lot of small mistakes. And even with the small mistakes, we still finished in the top 10. And that’s where my frustration came in because the car was excellent, the setup was really good.” Is there anyone doing The Double? Yes. Katherine Legge will drive in the Indianapolis 500 for HMD Motorsports as part of an alliance with A.J. Foyt Racing. She will then travel to Charlotte and compete in the Coke 600 for Live Fast Motorsports. Legge has made eight Cup starts over the last two years. [WHO IS KATHERINE LEGGE? The Double Driver On Dogs & Being Fearless] “It is the opportunity of a lifetime,” Legge said in a virtual news conference last week. “I’ll be the sixth person to have ever [done] it, and that’s in the world, right? That’s really cool. So I’m excited.” Do any other drivers in the field have NASCAR national series experience? Yes. Conor Daly has three Cup starts, three O’Reilly Series starts and six truck starts. Santino Ferrucci has nine O’Reilly Series starts. Are there any former F1 racers in this event? Yes. There are five drivers who have competed in a Formula 1 race. –Takuma Sato raced from 2002-2008–Marcus Ericsson raced from 2014-2018–Romain Grosjean raced from 2012-2020.–Mick Schumacher competed from 2021-2022.–Alexander Rossi did five races in 2015. Speaking of Rossi, is he injured from his crash Monday? The team says he has minor injuries to a finger on his left hand and his right ankle, both of which needed outpatient procedures. They say he plans to participate in practice Friday and race in the Indianapolis 500. Are there any other drivers nursing injuries? It’s hard to know. Mick Schumacher has been nursing an injured wrist from an accident at the start of the season that will likely require offseason surgery. Who are the rookies in the race? There are four drivers who will start their first Indy 500: –Mick Schumacher, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing–Caio Collet, A.J. Foyt Racing–Dennis Hauger, Dale Coyne Racing–Jacob Abel, Abel Motorsports Schumacher, Collet and Hauger are full-time rookies in the series. Abel was a rookie last year but did not make the race. This will be his first start of the 2026 season. Mick Schumacher, that name sounds familiar? Mick Schumacher is the son of seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher, who had great success at Indianapolis — on the road course, where he won five Formula 1 races. Mick Schumacher is a rookie this year driving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. “I’m very much now looking forward to the race,” Schumacher said Tuesday in a virtual news conference. “I think that’s going to be the highlight of the year. It’s such a special event and such a special race, and I just can’t wait for everybody to be here.” Who are other big names in new places? Will Power, after 17 years at Penske, is now at Andretti Global, where he replaced Colton Herta. Power hasn’t had an easy transition as he sits 14th in the standings. He has speed but not the results. “This organization is great,” Power said in a news conference Monday. “The people are great. Obviously we’re working hard putting processes in place. I think we had really good handling cars here [in qualifying], but obviously there was a little bit of speed lacking. “But, honestly, I think our race cars are really good just with the work we’ve done in the short period we’ve had leading up to this. I’m definitely looking forward to the race.” His replacement at Penske, David Malukas, sits third in the standings and will start the race Sunday in the front row. “There was a lot of pressure going into preseason, not just even for this race, but also all the races,” Malukas said at his post-qualifying news conference. “It’s just been an incredible start. I’m just so thankful, so grateful. And every single day I show up to the track a little bit more confident, a little bit more happy to just to be here and be a part of this Team Penske family.” Speaking of Penske, where are the executives who were released last year? The three executives released after a technical violation was discovered in qualifying prior to the 2025 Indy 500 are all at Indianapolis hoping to win the race. –Former Penske INDYCAR President Tim Cindric is back at Team Penske, but only as a strategist for Scott McLaughlin. –Former Penske INDYCAR managing director Ron Ruzewski is now the team principal at Andretti Global. –Former Penske INDYCAR general manager Kyle Moyer is director of competition at Arrow McLaren and strategist for Christian Lundgaard, who won the Indy Grand Prix on the road course a couple weeks ago. Moyer said it is “odd” to be at Indy and not with Team Penske. Part of that is because he has been reunited with Tony Kanaan, who he had worked with at Andretti, and they are in the old Andretti shop. “I thought I would probably retire at Penske,” Moyer told me. “That didn’t happen. It was very, very nice that McLaren and TK and [McLaren CEO] Zak [Brown] gave me the offer for her to be able to run another professional team and be on top of the game. “I was hoping I could do another one of the bigger teams again and fortunate enough that it worked out here.” Ruziewski said being at the Indy 500 isn’t emotional because it is with a new team. “Independent of what group I’m working with, this place is — it’s an emotional place,” Ruzewski said during a news conference Monday. “Honestly, it’s why I do it. It’s why I’m in INDYCAR and not another series. “This place is special. It’s the greatest race in the world. I’ve been super fortunate to drink the milk seven times, and I only want to drink it the eighth time even worse.” What are these cars? These specifically-built cars, designed by Dallara, use twin-turbocharged, 2.2-liter, V-6 engines with hybrid technology. Chevrolet and Honda provide engines to teams. The cars weigh 1,635 pounds without driver or fuel. The cars are about 40 inches high with a wheelbase of 117.5-121.5 Inches. Firestone does the tires. The cars reach 240 mph in qualifying and will reach around 225 mph during the race. Why does the winner drink milk? The milk tradition goes back 90 years ago to 1936 when Louis Meyer, celebrating as the first driver ever to win three Indianapolis 500s, drank buttermilk in victory lane. [GOT MILK? Drivers’ Make Celebratory Milk Choice If They Win In 2026] Who will sing the national anthem? Jordin Sparks. She also sang the national anthem in 2015 and 2024. Singing “America The Beautiful” will be Indiana native Ephraim Owens. Who will give the command? There are two major commands for the Indianapolis 500. The first is “Drivers To Your Cars” — that will be done by Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark. The second is the command to start engines. That likely will be Roger Penske, owner of INDYCAR and IMS parent company Penske Corporation (and owner of Team Penske). Penske gave the command last year, and it traditionally has been someone from the track owner’s family. Who will drive the pace car? NCAA champion Indiana University football coach Curt Cignetti will drive the pace car prior to the opening lap of the race. Don’t know who he is? Google him. Who will wave the green flag? Actor Brendan Fraser, who was born in Indianapolis. Will Gronk be there? Of course. Rob Gronkowski will be the “grand marshal” of the Snake Pit. The Snake Pit? Yes, that is an area in Turn 3 where fans used to watch the race that IMS has now turned into a concert venue that has several acts before and during the first portion of the race. Expected to perform at the EDM festival are Crankdat, Wooli, it’s murph and Wax Motif before headliner Zedd takes the stage. Finally, what’s the weather forecast? The FOX Weather forecast, as of Tuesday morning, is for temperatures in the mid-70s and a 52 percent chance of rain.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Winning the Indianapolis 500 often takes the right mix of aggressiveness and patience. For those who keep trying to win the race, they learn with every run. So when someone asks who has the best chance to become a first-time winner, the first thought goes to those with experience. That had a big influence on this list of the 10 drivers most likely to win their first Indy 500 this weekend. There are only nine winners in the race and 24 drivers are looking for their first win. Long shots (in alphabetical order): Jacob Abel, Marcus Armstrong, Caio Collet, Louis Foster, Romain Grosjean, Jack Harvey, Dennis Hauger, Katherine Legge, Christian Rasmussen, Sting Ray Robb, Mick Schumacher, Nolan Siegel, Kyffin Simpson and Rinus VeeKay Here are the 10 drivers that I believe have a chance to get their first Indy 500 win, along with their odds. 10. Graham RahalRahal Letterman Lanigan Racing No. 15 Honda80/1 (bet $10 to win $810 total) Rahal has just three top 10s in 18 starts in this race and has led only eight laps in his last seven starts. But if things fall into his hands, he won’t necessarily fumble it. 9. Ed CarpenterECR No. 33 Chevrolet40/1 (bet $10 to win $410 total) This will be Carpenter’s 23rd start. He led 65 laps in 2018 when he won the pole for the third time in this race. He hasn’t finished better than 15th since 2021. But he knows how to handle the car well at max speed and shouldn’t let the pressure get to him. 8. Christian LundgaardArrow McLaren No. 7 Chevrolet40/1 (bet $10 to win $410 total) In one race with Arrow McLaren, Lundgaard started eighth and finished seventh. He has strong support and resources at Arrow McLaren and his nerves of steel will help if he finds himself near the front at the end. 7. Conor DalyDreyer & Reinbold Racing No. 23 Chevrolet15/2 (bet $10 to win $85 total) Daly has led laps in four of the last five Indy 500s with a best finish of sixth in 2022. The fact he hasn’t raced at all this year makes one wonder if he can go 200 laps without an error. He certainly could make it exciting. 6. Kyle KirkwoodAndretti Global No. 27 Honda30/1 (bet $10 to win $310 total) Kirkwood has one top-15 finish (a seventh in 2024) in his four career Indy 500 starts. He hasn’t been great at Indy but he does have six career victories and clearly knows how to win. 5. Felix RosenqvistMeyer Shank Racing No. 60 Honda12/1 (bet $10 to win $130 total) Rosenqvist has had incredible qualifying speed at Indy but that hasn’t translated into being in the mix deep into the race. He’s only been running at the finish once in the last three years. If he is near the front, he has a shot. 4. Santino FerrucciA.J. Foyt Racing No. 14 Chevrolet11/1 (bet $10 to win $120 total) The fact that Ferrucci has finished top 10 in all his Indy 500s shows he’s someone who can’t be counted out. And the fact that he’s been known to make a daring move can’t be overstated because daring moves can win the 500. 3. David MalukasTeam Penske No. 12 Chevrolet8/1 (bet $10 to win $90 total) He’s got the speed and he’s got the car. But he only has three Indy 500s worth of experience. And he’s never won an INDYCAR race. A first win at the 500 wouldn’t be unprecedented. 2. Scott McLaughlinTeam Penske No. 3 Chevrolet10/1 (bet $10 to win $90 total) McLaughlin has the experience of being on the pole at Indianapolis. He has the experience of leading 66 laps in 2024. He has won races in INDYCAR. He drives for Penske. What’s not to like? 1. Pato O’WardArrow McLaren No. 5 Chevrolet6/1 (bet $10 to win $70 total) Of all the drivers in the field who have come close and haven’t won it, O’Ward would be the one that most would point to as having the most heartbreak at Indy. He’s been passed in the final laps a couple of times and watched a potential victory slip away. If he wins, it would be no surprise. And it would be a heck of a celebration.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

With NFL offseason programs well underway, including OTAs for teams with new head coaches, several big-name players remain available in free agency. Where will they land? I take on the role of matchmaker, pairing 10 of the highest-profile names still on the market with teams that make the most sense. Alec Pierce has been elevated to the Colts’ WR1 slot, but they could still use more depth at wide receiver after trading Michael Pittman Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Colts GM Chris Ballard said in April that Pierce could miss three months following offseason ankle surgery. The second-best wide receiver on Indianapolis’ roster is currently Josh Downs, who had a career-low 566 receiving yards last season. Diggs had a comeback season last year with the New England Patriots, catching 85 passes for 1,013 yards. Yes, he’s 32 and has a lot of wear and tear, but he didn’t miss a game in 2025 and played in his first Super Bowl. While Myles Garrett broke the NFL’s single-season sack record last season (23.0), the Browns didn’t have another edge rusher who reached six. So there’s an opportunity to add more playmaking on what’s already a strong defense. The 30-year-old Bosa, a five-time Pro Bowler with the Chargers, had five sacks and a league-high five forced fumbles with the Buffalo Bills in 2025. The Seahawks shouldn’t rule out more depth at wide receiver. Given that he’ll have a full year with Seattle in 2026, midseason acquisition Rashid Shaheed should naturally step into the WR2 role alongside Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba. But Cooper Kupp is entering his age-33 season. New Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Fleury and the 30-year-old Samuel overlapped in San Francisco from 2019-24, including for Samuel’s first-team All-Pro season in 2021. At 35 years old, Wagner is well past his prime. But he remains a very cerebral and effective player in the run game, coming off his 10th straight season with at least 130 tackles. It’s why he makes sense as a top backup option for the 49ers, who have injury concerns at both inside linebacker positions — former All-Pro Fred Warner is coming off a season-ending ankle injury, and Dre Greenlaw has played in just 10 games over the past two seasons combined. Wagner’s longtime Seahawks teammate, KJ Wright, is also San Francisco’s linebackers coach. The Texans don’t have reliable pass-catching tight end behind starter Dalton Schultz, so that’s a void Smith can fill. Houston offensive coordinator Nick Caley was also Smith’s position coach with the Patriots from 2021-22. Hill’s status for 2026 remains unclear after dislocating his left knee and tearing multiple ligaments, including his ACL, last September. But after an unceremonious end to his Miami Dolphins’ tenure, a return to the Chiefs makes sense, health-enabling. He would provide much-needed veteran depth for a wide receiver room that’s seen uneven play since his departure from Kansas City in 2022. Following the draft, the Bears could still use more depth at edge rusher behind Montez Sweat. The 36-year-old Jordan, who had 10.5 sacks last season with the Saints, spent a decade with Chicago defensive coordinator Dennis Allen in New Orleans (2015-24). The Niners could use some insurance behind star edge rusher Nick Bosa (coming off a torn ACL), as their pass rush struggled in 2025 with Bosa missing 14 games. The 33-year-old Clowney, the first pick of the 2014 NFL Draft who’s now played for seven teams, has had at least 8.5 sacks in two of his past three seasons. With Aaron Rodgers returning to Pittsburgh, it’s not the worst idea for the Steelers to load up on bodyguards for the 42-year-old quarterback. Starting left tackle Broderick Jones is coming off a season-ending neck injury. The Steelers drafted former Arizona State offensive tackle Max Iheanachor in the first round, but it’s not uncommon for rookie offensive linemen to struggle. Decker, a longtime starter for the Detroit Lions, would give Pittsburgh veteran depth. [2026 NFL Free Agency Tracker] Bitonio’s former offensive line coach with the Browns, Bill Callahan, now has the same position with the Falcons, so Atlanta is a natural landing spot for him. The Falcons have starting guards in place with Chris Lindstrom and Matthew Bergeron, but offensive line depth is never a bad thing. Atlanta just saw Kaleb McGary, its starting right tackle from 2019-24, retire in April.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Speedway, Ind.) — Katherine Legge has been around long enough in racing that folks in motorsports know how to pronounce her last name. It’s “Leg.” Not “Leg-EEE.” They know how to pronounce her name because she has built a resume over the last 20 years, racing primarily in sports cars, along with 47 career INDYCAR starts. She also has dabbled in NASCAR, with 19 national series starts. She has been an Acura factory driver in sports cars (including four victories) and has run nearly three full INDYCAR seasons. She has a couple of Formula E starts as well. The 45-year-old native of England has built a reputation as a capable, versatile racer who doesn’t have much fear. It is what will allow her to hopefully become the sixth driver ever to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and Coke 600 this Sunday when — if it all works out — she’ll compete at both tracks in the same day. But who is Katherine Legge? What makes her like you and me and what makes her different? She sat down with me for a chat during the Indy 500 qualifying rain delay on Saturday. Who is Katherine Legge? Legge: Katherine is an English girl who has assimilated into the United States of America. A race-car driver, an adventure junkie, a foodie. And probably has a little bit of a screw loose and chases the highs of doing adventurous things. How would your friends describe you? My friends would describe me as having no filter, direct, fun, silly. I’m silly sometimes. Adventurous and particular about some things. And they’d probably say something about my dog, Barley. What type of dog? He’s a mutt. I’ve always taken her with me, but this year obviously I didn’t take her with me, and so now I miss her dearly. And Conor [Daly] has his new puppy in the RV lot, so I’m getting my animal fix … There’s a lot to be said for emotional support animals. I told [former. driver] Sarah [Fisher] the other day that she’s my emotional support teammate because I don’t have my puppy with me. But they make a big difference, even to my dad. My dad even said, “I miss Barley because it’s nice to be able to go back to the bus and then just walk her around for five minutes and decompress and relax, and she’s always happy to see you.” She doesn’t care where I qualify. What is the most adventurous thing you’ve done outside of racing? Outside of racing, I’ve done the usual crazy stuff. I would say inside of racing, you’ve got Pikes Peak, right? That’s pretty crazy. I’ve skydived, I’ve mountain biked down big hills. I’ve done an Ironman [triathlon]. I’ve traveled to really cool, interesting places. I try and do things that scare me or that make me feel alive. So I would say if anybody says, “Hey, what do you think about doing this?,” Then I would say, “I’m in.” Is there anything you’ve ever said no to? I don’t know that I would bungee jump because I’m scared of heights. Somebody would have to push me, and then I would want to do it. But that’s probably about it. As far as being a foodie, what food do you miss the most when you’re in the U.S.? England is not renowned for its cuisine. However, we have really good pies and things … like shepherd’s pie, sausage pie, sausage rolls, that kind of thing. But I really miss chocolate-covered pop-ups. Will Buxton always rails that U.S. chocolate is not chocolate? It’s not chocolate. But English chocolate is no longer chocolate, either, which is really disappointing. It has to be like back-in-the-day English chocolate. Sign me up. Most recently, you have been doing a lot of endurance racing. Are you a big fan of the 24-hour races and do you love getting in and out and getting an hour of sleep? Or is that difficult for you? I love endurance racing. I love sports-car racing in general. It adds another element, with having different teammates, different strategy, different planning. You get to drive really cool cars. I’m used to this sleep deprivation. I am a control freak, so I’m not used to going to sleep and letting the others take over without worrying about what they’re doing. I’ve got a radio, I can’t sleep. It’s a whole process. I feel most comfortable and confident, actually, with sports-car racing because it’s been the bread and butter of my career. I’ve spent a decade doing either prototypes or GT racing, and I’m pretty good at it. I would say I could jump in one of those cars tomorrow and feel right at home and know what I’m doing 99 percent of the time. Do you love racing because of the speed, because of the competition, because you love automobiles? What is it that brings you to this profession? I love racing because of racing. I am not a huge car nut. I can’t tell you what a car is just by the engine noise like a lot of these guys can. But I love racing for the competition. I love it for the speed and the adrenaline. I love it for the fact that you never reach the optimum. You’re always searching when getting out of the car where you’re saying, “Nobody else could have driven that car better than I did today, minimizing all the mistakes.” I love the challenge that it is mentally. I love the challenge that is with yourself. I love the engineering aspect. It’s all-encompassing. It takes over your life. Once you’ve been bitten by the racing bug, I think you’re bitten. I’ve driven everything in my career — electric cars, NASCAR, INDYCAR, sports cars, touring cars. I’ve done Pikes Peak. I’ve done so many different things that I just love the racing element of it. It makes you feel alive. I would think being a control freak in racing doesn’t exactly match because you have to rely on so many people and so many factors that are out of your control. No, it doesn’t. It doesn’t always serve me well. I want to know that I’m as prepared as I can be. And everything’s been thought of and organized. I’ll give you an example down to doing the double, and I’m [telling] Clint [my manager], “You’ve got the logistics, right? I don’t want to have to think about the logistics.” But I can’t help myself. So today I’m like looking at the schedule, and I’m like, “How do we do this, and how do we do that, and how do we do the other?” He’s like, “Katherine, you told me you’d let it be.” And I can’t. What do you hope is the legacy of this double? Honestly, I’m doing it because it’s a really cool thing to do, and it’s kind of like this old-school epic badge of honor that you get for doing both races in one day. I’m not doing it to leave a legacy. Because of e.l.f. [Cosmetics] and their partnership, I think it is a legacy in that it’s showing that there are not the perceived barriers that you think there are. And you can do anything that you put your mind to if you want it enough. It would be remiss of me to not take that responsibility seriously, but at the same time, that’s not why I set out to do it. I set out to do it because I love to race. I found a newfound love in NASCAR, and to get to do the Indy 500 again, it’s just a dream come true. So if I can tie all those things in and look back in 10 year and go, “Hey, I did that.” Not many people get the opportunity to be the sixth person in history. That’s really cool. Is there anything you feel that’s occurred in your life that drives your passion for this? I think racing was such an integral part of my life from age 9 [starting in go-karts] with my dad. It was every weekend. It was all I thought about. I sleep, I eat, I dream about racing, about having a better car. What would Roger Penske do? All the different elements. Once your life has become about that, I think it’s really hard to then think about what your life is without that in it. And I was actually having a deep, meaningful conversation with Sarah Fisher the other day, and I was like, people say, “Who is Katherine Legge?” And you want to say “race-car driver” because that’s who you are. And there should be more to you than that, right? You should have whoever you are outside of racing. But really racing and I are tied together at the hip. It’s just been my entire life. I’ve been very lucky. Did you ever think that you wouldn’t be a driver in racing — like if you want to be involved in racing, it’s not going to be behind the wall? I have thought about what I’ll do post-racing. I have two parallels, like trails of thought. One is I still want to be in racing, and I want to help other young female drivers, like [17-year-old prospect] Lanie Buice, for example, and be part of GM’s diversity projects and driving development. I think I would get the same kind of kicks from doing that as I do from driving. And then the other part of me thinks, will it be too painful not to drive because I want to drive so much that I should just get out of it all together? So many people have helped me, like Janet Guthrie, Lyn St. James, Sarah Fisher. You have the progression. I want to be part of the next generation coming up. Well, you could race Cars Tour and ARCA with Lanie, where she is racing now. Yeah. Trans Am [too]. Finally, you’ve driven in the Indy 500 before. Just what is it that makes that race special for you? You get asked as a driver — you get asked a lot — what it’s like to drive in the Indy 500. And it’s the hardest question to answer because unless you’ve been here and you’ve experienced it, it’s kind of indescribable. As you drive in, you get goosebumps. The energy of the crowd … it’s like the place has a personality of its own. And once you’re on the grid and you’re driving around, it’s not like any other race on the planet. It’s like all the history and stories of the ghosts and like the power of it. There are 110 years of history to this one. There are 110 years of history. It’s so immense. It gets under your bones.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Portugal has never won a World Cup. For a country that has produced so much football talent, that fact has always stung. They’ve reached the semifinals, won a European Championship, and sent some of the most gifted players of their generation to every major tournament. But the one thing that would complete the story has always been just out of reach. This summer, under manager Roberto Martínez and with Cristiano Ronaldo in tow, they may finally have the squad to change that. Here are my takeaways: 1. This One Is For Diogo Before anything else, this has to be said. Diogo Jota died on July 3, 2025, alongside his younger brother Andre Silva in a car accident in Spain. He was 11 days married, had three young children, and had just helped Portugal win the Nations League. He was one of the most beloved figures in Portuguese football. Every player in that squad announcement this morning knows what this tournament means in the context of what happened last July. Ruben Neves, one of Jota’s closest friends and a pallbearer at his funeral, wrote: “When I go to the national team, you’ll still be by my side at the dinner table, on the bus, on the plane.” Portugal will carry his memory to every game. 2. Ronaldo Is Here. But Bruno Fernandes Is The Story. For Cristiano Ronaldo, this will be his sixth World Cup. That would be a men’s World Cup record only matched should Argentina’s Lionel Messi also play this summer. Unlike Messi, Ronaldo still needs to win this tournament. At 41, Ronaldo has scored 28 goals for Al Nassr this season and will look to add to his all-time men’s national team records in appearances (226) and goals (143). But while Ronaldo remains the face of this Portugal team, Bruno Fernandes is arguably the most important player. At 31, the Manchester United star finished the 2025-26 Premier League season as the league’s best chance creator by a considerable margin. When Portugal needs someone to unlock a defense or take responsibility in a tough moment, it falls to Bruno now. The sooner the wider football world accepts this transition, the better they’ll understand how this team actually works. 3. The Midfield Is the Best In The Tournament. Yes, The Whole Tournament. Make your case for Spain. Make your case for France. I’ll hear you out, sure. But Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha and João Neves (21 years old and already looking like he’s been doing this for a decade) form a midfield trio as good as any team in North America will field this summer. The PSG pair of Vitinha and Neves have already won a Champions League trophy together. Vitinha controls tempo the way very few midfielders in world football can. Neves presses, intercepts and covers more ground than seems physically possible. Bruno operates just ahead of them as the creative force that ties it all together. If Portugal goes deep into this tournament, and they should, this engine room will be the reason why. 4. The Attack Is Glittering And Unresolved Here is Portugal’s one tension, and it’s worth being honest about it. On paper, the attacking options are fantastic: Ronaldo, Rafael Leão, Pedro Neto, João Félix, Bernardo Silva, Gonçalo Ramos, Francisco Conceição. The question Martínez may have to resolve is whether to reduce Ronaldo’s role to impact substitute if he is to get the best from the rest of his attack. That is not a slight on Ronaldo. It is simply the reality of managing a 41-year-old across a five-week tournament. In Portugal, the national sentiment seems split on whether Ronaldo should start or be an impact sub. Get it wrong and Portugal will have wasted the best midfield in the tournament. At that point, no amount of Ronaldo romance will save the narrative.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Brazil hasn’t won a World Cup since 2002. That’s hardly a fun fact, that’s a giant wound for this proud footballing nation. They’re the five-time world champions who have spent the last 24 years arriving at tournaments as contenders and leaving with disappointment. Something had to change, and that something is Carlo Ancelotti, a man who has won everything in club football (as both a manager and player) and whose resting face has never once suggested he’s worried about anything. As the first non-Brazilian in charge of the Seleção, the Italian-born Ancelotti will expect this 26-man squad to finally break that title drought. Here are my takeaways: 1. Neymar + 25 = Sixth Star? When Ancelotti announced Neymar had made the Seleção during Monday’s glitzy event in Rio de Janeiro, he received more applause than any other player. Neymar hasn’t played for Brazil since October 2023. He tore his ACL against Uruguay, had surgery, experienced complications, returned to Santos, and has been the biggest topic of conversation in the Brazilian media in the months leading up to this roster decision. He is, after all, a living legend. So here he is. Six goals and four assists in 2026 with Santos. Casemiro and Raphinha – even his Argentina rival and former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi – all publicly lobbied for him to be on the team. Ancelotti himself acknowledged that Neymar is much loved, not just by the players but by the public. The logic for bringing him onto the squad feels more emotional than anything else. But tournament football isn’t just about logic. Even though he is in the twilight of his career, Neymar is the greatest Brazilian footballer produced in the last 15 years. Ancelotti has made his decision. This is Neymar’s last World Cup. The only question is whether he’s coming for a cameo appearance or as a protagonist. 2. Ancelotti Finally Gives Brazil Permission To Defend Brazil’s defensive record in the last four World Cups has been a big issue. That should no longer be a problem. Gabriel Magalhães and Marquinhos are one of the best center back pairings in international football. Gabriel has been the best defender in the Premier League this season with Arsenal, while Paris Saint-Germain stalwart Marquinhos spent a decade being one of the most reliable on the planet at his position. These names aren’t as exciting as goalscorers like Vinícius Jr. or Raphinha. They don’t go viral for “Jogo Bonito”. But you know what they do? They win headers. They read passing lanes and anticipate movements. The Gabriel and Marquinhos duo will be as important as anyone else on the team. If an injury occurs, and considering Real Madrid’s Éder Militão will already miss the tournament, the very capable Bremer from Juventus can step in without a significant drop in quality. A solid defense in turn helps the attack. When Vini Jr. and Raphinha get to play with a lead, it fundamentally changes the way they operate. Suddenly, there’s space for them in behind to make runs and take on a stretched defense that’s forced to attack. Ancelotti, who built his Real Madrid dynasty on balance, knows this better than anyone. He’ll be a pragmatist for Brazil in a positive sense. 3. Vinícius Jr. Is Carrying The Weight Of 215 Million People The players who were children when O Fenômeno Ronaldo scored twice in the 2002 World Cup final are now adults who have spent their entire lives waiting for that euphoria to return. Vinicius’ club season with Real Madrid was fine, but certainly not his best. What Brazil needs is the version of Vinícius who nearly won the Ballon d’Or and makes dribbling through defenses seem like a mix of sorcery and ballet. That version exists, we’ve seen it. The question is whether this historic moment inspires him to perform at his best. The great ones have risen to the pressure. Ronaldo in 2002. Zidane in 1998. Messi eventually found a way with Argentina in 2022 (though it took him the scenic route to get there). Vinícius doesn’t have forever. He has this summer. The good news is Vini Jr. has previously thrived under Ancelotti at Real Madrid. There is precedent here for a way to find his best form at the world’s most important football tournament. 4. Don’t Sleep On The Midfield Everyone will have their eyes on Vini Jr., Neymar and Raphinha. That’s understandable. But the engine that actually determines how far Brazil go is the midfield, and it is significantly better than anyone outside Brazil is giving it credit for. Bruno Guimarães has been one of the best midfielders in the Premier League for two seasons running. He intercepts, recycles, presses relentlessly. He’s the kind of player you only notice when he’s not there. Then there’s the technically gifted Luis Paquetá who is back at Flamengo and in great form. He’s a player who can dribble, pass and has that Brazilian flair that makes the game look so easy. Finally, there’s Casemiro. Written off by some after a difficult spell at Manchester United, he still reads the game very well and has the tactical know-how for this system. Ancelotti knows him better than most, and has given him the confidence to anchor the midfield once again. Tournament football is won and lost in midfield. Brazil’s happens to be world-class.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

In a game that turned into a shootout against the Orlando Storm, Dallas quarterback Austin Reed found himself in a scramble drill with his team trailing 17-10. Rolling to his right, tight end Seth Green broke off his route and got vertical in a hurry. Reed spotted Green open and delivered a gorgeous pass that became Green’s first receiving touchdown of the season during FOX Sports’ “Hats Off to Heroes” UFL game. Green made the catch in front of U.S. Army service members, including his father, Colonel Bryan Green, who was on the sideline to witness the touchdown. “He’s a hero, whether it’s in the Army or at home,” Seth Green told FOX Sports’ Jenny Taft. “Whether he’s taking care of us, leading us, leading the house, there’s never a question of how much love he has for his boys. That’s just a blessing.” Moments like that are what make the United Football League special. With that, here are my latest UFL Power Rankings: Week 8 result: Lost to Orlando, 31-24 Current odds to win 2026 title: +4500 The Renegades now have the dubious distinction of being ranked both No. 1 and last in the UFL Power Rankings this season after a fifth straight loss. It’s hard to believe this team once looked like the class of the UFL, and now they might miss the playoffs entirely. Week 8 result: Lost to Birmingham, 14-3Current odds to win 2026 title: +30000 The Aviators had two chances late to claw their way back into contention, but the league’s top rushing team could not pick up a tough yard when it needed one against what has become the hottest team in the UFL. The Aviators face the Stallions next and need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Week 8 result: Defeated St. Louis, 23-16Current odds to win 2026 title: +7500 The Gamblers might have found their form at just the right time, picking up a win over one of the league’s top teams. All is not lost for Kevin Sumlin’s squad, and two more wins could be enough to secure one of the UFL’s three remaining playoff spots. Week 8 result: Defeated DC, 33-30Current odds to win 2026 title: +800 The Kings earned a statement win over the defending UFL champions. While they don’t control their own destiny, they still have an excellent chance to secure a playoff spot with two more wins. If they can pull that off, they’ll enter the postseason on a four-game winning streak and with enough momentum to become a trendy pick to win the UFL title. Week 8 result: Defeated Columbus, 14-3Current odds to win 2026 title: +900 No team has benefited more from a change at quarterback this season than Birmingham, which has won three straight and now controls its own destiny in the UFL playoff race. The Stallions also own the tiebreaker over the Kings, meaning they’ll clinch a playoff spot if they win out. Week 8 result: Lost to Louisville, 33-30Current odds to win 2026 title: +170 The Defenders are one of two teams with some breathing room in the playoff race with two games remaining — though it’s not much. If DC drops one of its final two games and the Kings win out, the Defenders could miss the playoffs because Louisville owns the head-to-head tiebreaker. Week 8 result: Lost to Houston, 23-16Current odds to win 2026 title: +300 The loss was St. Louis’ first at home and came at a particularly inopportune time. Like the Defenders, the Battlehawks missed a chance to clinch a playoff berth and now must play their best football over the final two weeks of the season to secure their postseason place. A win next week would allow St. Louis to breathe a little easier. Week 8 result: Defeated Dallas, 31-24Current odds to win 2026 title: +250 The Storm were the only team with a chance to clinch a playoff spot in Week 8 that came away with a win. For Anthony Becht, it marks a third consecutive trip to the professional spring football postseason. Only former Stallions coach Skip Holtz has made more consecutive postseason appearances in pro spring football with four.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Here’s what’s happening this week Inside The Garage: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Speedway, Ind.) — Alex Palou doesn’t have any photos in his motorhome here on the speedway grounds that would remind him that he won the 2025 Indianapolis 500. No big pictures of him lifting the Borg-Warner Trophy. He doesn’t need the reminders or the motivation. His image is all around this place as the defending winner. And as a four-time INDYCAR Series champion. He’s expected to vie for the win next Sunday, and he did nothing to suppress those expectations as he won the pole in dramatic fashion, saving his best laps for his final run. Palou said the pole means something but not everything. “It’s not as important as it seems,” he told me about an hour after winning the pole on Sunday night. “It’s huge that we got the pole, and it feels like a race win. “But I think even without the pole there’s as high of chances. … Having a great view heading into Turn 1 on Sunday doesn’t guarantee us anything.” Winning the 500 last year was the last big INDYCAR trophy he had not earned, as he already had three INDYCAR titles. He added a fourth by the end of last season. Now that he’s got an Indy 500 trophy under his belt, does the Chip Ganassi Racing driver feel less pressure? Well, that’s complicated. “It’s tough to describe,” Palou said. “I don’t feel more pressure, but I don’t feel less pressure than I’ve ever felt before. I feel like I’m just happier than before. I think maybe I have a bit more experience, which doesn’t really mean much. “But at the end of the day, Chip pays us to win — and to win today, not last year. We need to do it all over again.” He also believes winning in 2026 could be harder than 2025. “The field is very, very tight,” Palou said. “We’ve seen 10-15 cars that are capable of running in traffic, depending on the session and being able to overtake. There’s very, very fast cars. “I don’t think we have the best. I don’t think we have the bad one. We have a really good race car.” Palou’s life certainly has changed since his win a year ago. He said he got recognized in an airport in Houston, an area where INDYCAR doesn’t race. He took the Borg-Warner Trophy to his home country of Spain. “It’s so many [appearances] that it’s only about the 500, which is super cool,” he told me and other reporters last month. “I realized when I won, it’s not like [others] …  It keeps on growing. It’s like it never stops.” Palou hopes to get to do more this year. But he does get one perk from winning the pole. The great view going into Turn 1. “As a driver, you love that view. Not only Turn 1, but starting the race here with all the fans, you can feel the energy going. But on top of that, if you are leading, the feeling is the best ever,” Palou said. “I can’t wait for Sunday to go on throttle to see if we can keep up with everybody, if we can stay up front all day and fight for the race at the end.” Most people don’t believe it’s an “if.” It’s a “when.” And if Palou can win again, he’ll cherish the win and look forward to photos with his 29-month-old daughter, Lucia. Last year, some of the most heartwarming photos were of his daughter appearing to refuse to kiss the bricks. Those are the photos Palou wants that maybe could make his way into his motorhome one day. “Those pictures are the best thing that we have. We have it all over the house with her kissing the bricks, or trying to kiss the bricks.” Palou said. “If we can ever get to do that again to see the evolution of her but also to see our smiles and how happy we are, that would be incredible.” To The Rear: Tech Failures Upend 500 Lineup A.J. Foyt Racing’s Caio Collet (10th) and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing’s Jack Harvey (24th) had their qualifying times disallowed and will start the Indianapolis 500 in the 32nd (Collet) and 33rd (Harvey) spots. They both had unapproved hardware that mounted the Dallara-provided energy management system unit. They also will lose their spot in line for pit selection for the 500. INDYCAR Changes Policy INDYCAR has changed its policy for throwing caution flags on road courses where it has tried to refrain from throwing full-course cautions in the middle of a pit cycle. When they followed that policy at the Indianapolis Grand Prix earlier this month, it led to a dangerous situation with a stalled Alexander Rossi on the track. He eventually got out of his car, necessitating the full-course caution. INDYCAR President Doug Boles met with the Independent Officiating Board and they announced a change in policy a couple days later. “Safety has to be the most important thing we do,” Boles told me last week. “I struggled with the length of time there for that [full-course] yellow.” In The News — The Indianapolis 500 is sold out of old grandstand seats and infield tickets. — The NASCAR Hall of Fame vote is Tuesday, where a panel will select the three members of the 2027 class. There will be two inductees selected from the 10 candidates on the modern era ballot and one from the five candidates on the pioneer ballot. — Hyak Motorsports announced that Ricky Stenhouse Jr. had signed a multiyear contract extension to remain with the team. — INDYCAR has set the date for the Arlington Grand Prix next year — March 19-21. Rough Day Social Spotlight They Said It “There’s no other track like this on our schedule.” — Denny Hamlin on Dover after winning All-Star Race​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports