Author: rb809rb

An adventurous and historic Week of Trades™️ saw plenty of big names change places. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Anthony Davis are in win-later homes; James Harden and Darius Garland were swapped for each other. Ivica Zubac, a season removed from playing at a fringe-All-NBA level, will eventually get to catch passes from Tyrese Haliburton.

There will be, and already has been, plenty of audio and virtual ink spilled on those moves, and rightfully so. With that in mind, and in the spirit of the week, I decided to do what many other teams did: pivot to something else.

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We’re here to take a look at some of the non-stars (or close) that saw their situations improve, and could prove to be important factors as we trek ahead to the playoffs.

Let’s dig in, shall we?

Ayo Dosunmu, Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves were largely discussed through the lens of the Giannis Antetokounmpo pursuit. They should now be discussed for their acquisition of former Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu.

The fifth-year guard is enjoying the best scoring season of his career, logging a career high in points off the strength of insane 3-point shooting (45.1% on 4.3 attempts). It serves as a necessary complement to his driving chops, a skill that has improved in half-court settings and really pops in transition.

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He should vibe nicely playing off the attention Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle command. His ability to get downhill, particularly in early-offense situations, should make life easier for those stars, allowing them to attack tilted defenses instead of always being tasked with the tilting.

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Dosunmu’s quickness and plus-wingspan (listed at 6-foot-10) allows him to hold his own defensively — and he’s shown flashes of being a real disruptive piece during his Chicago stint. It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Wolves dabble in three-guard lineups with him, Donte DiVincenzo and Edwards. A closing group with those three, Jaden McDaniels (having one heck of a year) and Rudy Gobert could be incredibly tough to deal with.

If there’s one thing I’m eyeing, it’s how teams will treat Dosunmu on the perimeter in games that matter. He’s enjoying a strong shooting season, but historically, his catch-and-shoot efficiency has been a roller coaster. Tied to that is the fact he’s largely been dared to knock down the triples he’s taken.

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Here’s Dosunmu’s catch-and-shoot history from beyond the arc, as well as average closest defender distance when taking those shots:

• 2021-22: 37.6% on 2.3 attempts, 8.5 feet away

• 2022-23: 30.8% on 2.3 attempts, 8.6 feet away

• 2023-24: 40.4% on 3.3 attempts, 8.8 feet away

• 2024-25: 34% on 3.5 attempts, 8.3 feet away

• 2025-26: 42.3% on 3.7 attempts, 8.0 feet away

If the efficiency goes backward, I’ll be curious to see how often the Wolves feel like they can close with him. That’s also a first-world problem; him helping to solidify the second unit — along with the likely return of Mike Conley — makes this enough of a win.

Kevin Huerter, Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons have been the best team in the East; quiet as kept, they’re only two games behind the Thunder for the league’s best record. A conversational point around the Pistons, aside from their goodness, has been their willingness to make a major swing ahead of the deadline. They had the salaries, pick control, and, despite their record, a pretty obvious flaw in their design (shooting) to justify a swing.

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They ultimately decided against pushing all of their chips to the center of the table, instead bringing Huerter into the mix.

I like it quite a bit.

While it’s fair to raise a brow at Huerter’s shooting — he’s converting a career-worst 31% of his 3s this year — he is a career 37% shooter from deep. I think he’ll enjoy playing off the gravity of Cade Cunningham whenever they share minutes together; that miiiight be a friendly context for him compared to playing alongside Josh Giddey.

Beyond the pure shooting ability, Huerter’s ability to move away from the ball should immediately make this group better. He’s a smart relocator off the ball, often finding pockets of space to make life easier for drivers or post kickouts. On top of that, pay attention to his work as a cutter. He’s converting a career-best 63% of his shots inside the arc for a reason; I think Jalen Duren in particular will enjoy the Huerter back cuts when teams try to deny him on handoffs.

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Huerter should also add value as a second-side option for handoffs or ball screens; he’s an underrated playmaker, especially when defenses are already tilted. And on a basic level, Huerter gives the Pistons more optionality, taking some pressure off Duncan Robinson to be the movement/off-ball threat.

Coby White, Charlotte Hornets

Welcome home, Coby White!

The Goldsboro, North Carolina, native and former Tar Heel joins a Hornets group currently riding an eight-game winning streak. Not only is that tied with the Knicks (more on them shortly) for the longest active streak in the league, it’s the first time this century that the Hornets have won eight (or more) games in a row.

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While it’s been a “down” year for White as he’s worked back from — and through — injuries, it’s worth noting that he was looking more like last year’s version of himself before this trade.

• 2024-25 season: 20.4 points (54/37/90), 4.5 assists in 33.1 minutes

• Last nine games: 20.3 points (44/40/86), 4.9 assists in 30.9 minutes

[NBA trade deadline winners and losers]

White brings a fun mix of pull-up shooting, drives (quietly logging the highest rim rate of his career), and off-ball prowess and secondary playmaking that the Hornets could use. He should slot in nicely in lineups next to LaMelo Ball. With the way the Hornets like to flow in the half-court, it’s easy to envision possessions where White initiates things, only for the ball to find its way into LaMelo’s hands against a shifting defense.

More pressing could be what happens when Ball isn’t on the floor. Of note, the Hornets’ offense falls off a cliff — from a would-be-league-best 124.3 offensive rating to a paltry 112.2 offensive rating — when Ball goes to the bench. White should help quite a bit with that issue.

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Jose Alvarado, New York Knicks

Speaking of homecomings, Alvarado making his way back to New York couldn’t have come at a better time. Deuce McBride, enjoying the best season of his career (12.9 points on 59.2 true shooting, 2.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists in 28 minutes), is expected to miss significant time with a core injury. I was already a fan of adding Alvarado to this mix; in light of McBride’s strategy, it’s clear the Knicks needed this acquisition.

To call Alvarado a spark plug or energy shifter would be an understatement. His ability to flip games on their head — more importantly, the way he flips those games — should be greatly appreciated in New York. He’s so annoying (complimentary) at the point of attack defensively. Famously, you may need eyes at the back of your head to locate him after receiving an inbound pass, lest you get your pocket picked for a quick bucket.

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Quietly, Alvarado has turned himself into a serviceable shooter (36.5% on 4.6 attempts from 3 over the past three seasons) who’s willing to take them off the bounce if defenders disrespect him. His speed allows him to bob-and-weave into tight spaces, forcing defenses into tough decisions and opening up passing windows. The injection of pace, energy and aggression should vibe nicely with the Knicks’ second unit.

I’ll leave you with this: Among the many variations of Pelicans teams we’ve seen across Alvarado’s tenure, it’s noteworthy that they won his minutes and were outscored without him.

Spencer Jones, Denver Nuggets

Jones wasn’t traded, but a money (and roster) move involving Hunter Tyson helped create a pathway for the Nuggets to convert Jones’ two-way deal into a standard contract.

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Jones has been tasked with defending multiple positions, knocking down shots, filling space as a cutter, connecting possessions as a passer or hand-off hub, and generating extra possessions on the offensive glass. Those responsibilities have felt more important in light of Aaron Gordon’s absence; they likely feel even more necessary considering Peyton Watson is expected to miss at least a month.

Luckily for the Nuggets, Jones has been up for the challenge to this point. Across 34 starts, Jones is averaging 7.5 points (64/41/61 splits), 3.9 rebounds (1.3 OREB), and 1 steal. He deserves a salute for his impact, and I’m sure he’ll enjoy the added layer of security.

Colorado Buffaloes football head coach Deion Sanders shot down any discussions that he has any plans to coach in the NFL. Last offseason, Sanders reportedly talked to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones about coaching the team before Dallas promoted offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to head coach.

A year later, his tone has changed.

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“Not whatsoever,” Sanders said on ESPN’s First Take. “What transpired with my son last year? Ain’t no way in the world.”

Sanders was referring to his youngest son, Shedeur Sanders, now a quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. Shedeur fell to the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft after playing for his father at both Colorado and Jackson State. Shilo Sanders, who also played for his father at Colorado, went undrafted and was cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the NFL preseason.

Shedeur was the second quarterback the Browns selected in 2025 and started the regular season behind former Browns quarterback Joe Flacco and fellow rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel.

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After Flacco was traded to the Bengals and Gabriel went down in Week 12 with a concussion, Shedeur finished the rest of the season as the starter. Shedeur finished his rookie season with a 3-4 record as the starter and threw for 1,400 yards, 7 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Sanders was also selected to the Pro Bowl as a replacement, becoming the first Browns QB to make the Pro Bowl since Derek Anderson in 2008.

Next season, Shedeur is expected to compete for the starting job with Gabriel and Deshaun Watson under new Browns head coach Todd Monken, who reportedly expressed interest in drafting him out of Colorado when he was the offensive coordinator of the Ravens.

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Deion Sanders also struggled in his first year at Colorado without his son at quarterback. The Buffaloes were 3-9 and played Kaidon Salter, Ryan Staub and Julian Lewis at quarterback last season.

Lewis is expected to come into next year as the starting quarterback. He finished the year with 589 yards, 4 touchdowns and no interceptions before he redshirted. Sanders is now 16-21 since taking over as the Colorado head coach in 2023.

MILAN — Less than 48 hours before she tries to achieve the unthinkable in Sunday’s Olympic women’s downhill competition, Lindsey Vonn made the mistake of combing through her mentions on social media.

The 41-year-old American took issue with critics who questioned the details of the torn ACL that she suffered exactly a week ago yet will not allow to derail her comeback.

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A supposed doctor of sports medicine baselessly speculated on Friday that Vonn’s injury wasn’t “a bread and butter, fresh ACL tear like everyone is thinking.” Vonn fired back, “lol thanks doc. My ACL was fully functioning until last Friday.”

“Just because it seems impossible to you doesn’t mean it’s not possible,” Vonn continued. “And yes, my ACL is 100% ruptured. Not 80% or 50%. It’s 100% gone.”

Further down Vonn’s timeline was a purported clinical pharmacist who alleged that Vonn was only able to ski because she’s “pumped up w anti inflammatory medications and pain meds” and “doesn’t value her long term health.” Vonn shot down that theory too, replying, “Actually have taken zero pain medications. Zero. Not even Tylenol. But thanks.”

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Vonn was poised to be one of the faces of the Milan Cortina Winter Games even before her ill-timed injury. The four-time overall World Cup champion and 2010 Olympic gold medalist unretired after almost six years away from the sport and dominated the downhill once more on a partially replaced right knee.

Had she not crashed during the final World Cup downhill before the Olympics, Vonn would have been a favorite to win the gold medal on Sunday. Now she’s trying to make a comeback within a comeback, to compete for a medal on one surgically repaired knee and one without the main stabilizing ligament.

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“You got this Lindsey!  Shock these haters!” a more supportive fan wrote to her Friday.

Responded Vonn, “Facts.”

The men’s downhill skiing competition at the 2026 Winter Games in Italy gets under way on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 5:30 a.m. ET, and you can watch all the action live on Peacock and USA. Among the Team USA competitors participating in the men’s downhill competition are Bryce Bennett, Kyle Negomir, Sam Morse, and Ryan Cochran-Siegle.

Here’s a complete schedule of all Team USA Alpine skiing events at this year’s games, along with a rundown of who is competing. While every race will stream on Peacock, some will also be broadcast on NBC and USA Network. (To see specific air times, check out the official NBC Olympics broadcast schedule and toggle your search to “TV Only.”) Here’s a rundown of how to watch every Alpine skiing event at the 2026 Winter Games.

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Want to learn even more about every event at this year’s Winter Games? Here’s a guide to everything you need to know about Milan Cortina 2026.

How to watch men’s downhill skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics

Date: Saturday, Feb. 7

Time: 5:30 a.m. ET

Location: Stelvio Ski Centre

TV channels: USA

Streaming: Peacock, DirecTV, and more

Where can I stream Alpine skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Where to watch men’s downhill skiing on TV

Team USA men’s downhill skiing coverage will air live on USA at 5:30 a.m. ET on Saturday. You can stream USA on DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV, and more. (NBC will only be airing select downhill skiing coverage live. For specific times on NBC, make sure to check out the official NBC Olympics broadcast schedule and toggle your search to “TV Only.”)

When pitchers and catchers begin reporting on Feb. 10, it will mark the official start of spring training and the unofficial end of the MLB offseason. That means that even though a few free agents remain unsigned, it’s time to grade the offseasons of every team in baseball, looking at which players they lost, which players they added and whether they got better heading into Opening Day 2026.

We begin with the National League East.

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More offseason grades: NL Central | NL West | AL East | AL Central | AL West

Philadelphia Phillies

Significant outgoing free agents: SP Ranger Suárez, OF Harrison Bader, OF Max Kepler, RP David Robertson, OF Nick Castellanos (released)

Major moves:

• Retained free agent DH Kyle Schwarber on a 5-year deal

• Retained free agent C J.T. Realmuto on a 3-year deal

• Signed OF Adolis García to a 1-year deal

• Signed RP Brad Keller to a 2-year deal

• Traded RP Matt Strahm to the Kansas City Royals for Jonathan Bowlan

• Signed RP Zach Pop to a 1-year deal

Offseason grade: C

Philadelphia’s offseason will likely be remembered, fairly or not, by the move it failed to make. Bo Bichette and the Phils were at the 1-yard line on a long-term deal when the Mets, jilted by Kyle Tucker, swooped in from the treetops to poach the free-agent infielder. Rarely does a baseball executive publicly express frustration over a missed target the way president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski did after losing out on Bichette, referring to the result as a “gut punch.”

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The Phillies didn’t enter the winter expecting to pursue Bichette, but when a contract standoff emerged with catcher J.T. Realmuto, the club saw an opportunity. So when all things Bichette fell to pieces, Dombrowski and Co. simply reverted to their original plan and paid Realmuto what he wanted. It was a sequence that concluded a reasonable and rational, if overly safe, offseason.

That’s by no means a knock on Schwarber, whose return to Philadelphia should have hoagie-mouthers climbing light poles. Reuniting with the stout slugger was priority No. 1, 2 and 3 for the club at winter’s outset. To get it done, the Phillies paid a hefty price — five years and $150 million is a sturdy sum for a 33-year-old DH — but Schwarber was simply too important to the entire operation, both between the lines and in the clubhouse.

Dombrowski’s decision to let Suárez waltz up to Boston was curious. The pudgy southpaw was a rotation stalwart the past few seasons and left a void on the staff that the Phillies have yet to fill externally. That route puts a world of pressure on (1) injured ace Zack Wheeler to return swiftly and effectively, (2) yet-to-debut top prospect Andrew Painter, who struggled in Triple-A last season and (3) back-end hurler Taijuan Walker. For all its offensive star power, this era of Phillies baseball has been made possible by impact starting pitching. Will the team have enough of it in 2026?

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With all due respect to García ($10 million is a lot for a bounce-back candidate) and Brad Keller (his arrival and Strahm’s departure effectively cancel each other out), the Phillies have clearly opted to stay the course. Handing top prospect Justin Crawford the every-day center-field job and jettisoning Nick Castellanos to Narnia qualify as something of a new path, for sure, but the 2026 Phillies are primed to look a lot like the 2022-25 Phillies.

New York Mets

Significant outgoing free agents: 1B Pete Alonso, RP Edwin Díaz

Major moves:

• Acquired SP Freddy Peralta and P Tobias Myers for two top-100 prospects

• Acquired 2B Marcus Semien from the Texas Rangers for OF Brandon Nimmo

• Signed IF Bo Bichette to a 3-year deal

• Acquired CF Luis Robert Jr. from the Chicago White Sox for UT Luisangel Acuña and a pitching prospect

• Signed IF Jorge Polanco to a 2-year deal

• Signed RP Devin Williams to a 3-year deal

• Signed RP Luke Weaver to a 2-year deal

• Traded UT Jeff McNeil to the Athletics for a pitching prospect

• Signed RP Luis García to a 1-year deal

Offseason grade: B+

*Exhale*

We could sit here and debate the merits of the Mets’ offseason until the sun explodes and our memories become memories. Undeniably, it was a dramatic, bold course of action by POBO David Stearns, who ripped up the club’s core in the wake of a historically calamitous 2025. Four cornerstones — Alonso, Díaz, McNeil, Nimmo — left via free agency or trade. While manager Carlos Mendoza survived the purge, most of his coaching staff was overhauled.

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But this is certainly not a rebuild, nor should it have been with Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor purring at their peaks. Instead, Stearns assembled a golden stopgap, a short-term solution that makes the Mets better in 2026 without sacrificing the future. Few of the players added this winter are under contract for the long haul. Most are on one- or two-year deals. Bichette, the flashiest new name, can opt-out next winter if he has a strong 2026. Peralta, the team’s new ace, will hit free agency after the season. It’s a strategy that allows New York to leave a handful of opportunities open for the slew of talented prospects funneling up from the farm.

Stearns was honest from the jump about wanting to improve his team’s run-prevention unit. Peralta will help that cause, as will Semien’s and Robert’s defensive chops in the middle of the diamond. Teaching Polanco and Bichette to play new positions won’t be a breeze, but both former shortstops are more than capable.

Díaz, who signed with those plucky Los Angeles Dodgers, was probably the one that got away, the only regret of an otherwise prudent offseason. The Mets should have matched what L.A. paid (3 years, $69 million). Díaz wasn’t blocking anybody else from pitching in the ninth, he’s still an elite closer, and his return would’ve been a reasonable bit of fan service.

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And besides, money to Steve Cohen is just a concept. But at least this Mets team should make the playoffs, right?

Miami Marlins

Significant outgoing free agents: None

Major moves:

• Traded SP Edward Cabrera to the Chicago Cubs for OF Owen Caissie and two prospects

• Traded SP Ryan Weathers to the New York Yankees for four prospects

• Signed RP Pete Fairbanks to a 1-year deal

• Signed UT Christopher Morel to a 1-year deal

• Traded CF Dane Myers to the Cincinnati Reds

• Acquired SP Bradley Blalock from the Colorado Rockies

• Acquired OF Esteury Ruiz from the Los Angeles Dodgers

Offseason grade: C-

The 2025 Marlins were much, much better than expected. But instead of amplifying that momentum with a flurry of offseason moves, the Fish spent this winter treading winter. Miami’s projected $69 million payroll is an utter embarrassment, the lowest in baseball. Of the $15 million the Marlins committed this winter, $13 million belongs to Pete Fairbanks, who will be dealt at the deadline if the Marlins are out of it. Of course, not every club needs to or can spend $60 million per year on Kyle Tucker, but Miami’s passivity in free agency was nonetheless disappointing.

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Trading away Cabrera and Weathers was rational, considering the organization’s surplus of highly regarded arms in the upper minors. But the returns on both were somewhat underwhelming. Caissie, the best player acquired this winter, is a boom-or-bust type with big whiff issues. Nobody else who was added this winter seems primed to help the club in the short term.

Somewhere, a timeline exists in which the Marlins acted aggressively this offseason to reinforce a compelling core of young pieces and enter 2026 as a cheeky wild-card pick. Unfortunately for the hardball lovers of South Florida, that’s not the reality we’re living in.

Atlanta Braves

Significant outgoing free agents: DH Marcell Ozuna, SP Charlie Morton

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Major moves:

• Retained free agent RP Raisel Iglesias on a 1-year deal

• Signed RP Robert Suarez to a 3-year deal

• Acquired UTIL Mauricio Dubón from the Houston Astros for SS Nick Allen

• Signed OF Mike Yastrzemski to a 2-year deal

• Signed SS Ha-Seong Kim to a 1-year deal

• Signed UTIL Jorge Mateo to a 1-year deal

• Signed RP Danny Young to a 1-year deal

Offseason grade: B-

Solid, if unspectacular. Reassuring, if uninspiring. Generally speaking, this was a good winter for the Atlanta Braves — that is, except for the $20 million Korean ice tumble.

None of Atlanta’s moves was a franchise-altering wowzer, but considered together, they represent a doubling down on the club’s current core. The Braves crashed and burned in 2025, in part because their stars underperformed and in part because the supporting cast didn’t rise to the occasion. So instead of shaking things up, POBO Alex Anthopoulos sought to enhance Atlanta’s secondary pieces.

Yastrzemski and Dubón will become valuable bench bats and occasional starters, the type of depth a competitive team like the Braves should have. Kim would’ve represented a nice upgrade at shortstop had the perils of winter not consumed him. Letting longtime DH Marcell Ozuna walk in free agency — Ozuna is still out there, but a reunion seems unlikely — will allow for greater roster flexibility. And unlike many MLB execs, Anthopoulos has always been willing to spend on relievers. Keeping Iglesias and snatching Suárez should help a bullpen that was bottom-10 in ERA last season, though committing to three years with the 34-year-old Suárez is definitely a gamble.

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In the end, none of these supplementary transactions will matter one iota if Atlanta’s franchise players don’t stay healthy and produce. The Braves will live and die on the exploits of Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, Spencer Strider, Chris Sale and Spencer Schwellenbach. Anthopoulos’ winter was a bet on that core bouncing back.

Washington Nationals

Significant outgoing free agents: 1B Josh Bell, IF Paul De Jong

Major moves:

• Traded SP MacKenzie Gore to the Texas Rangers for five prospects

• Acquired C Harry Ford from the Seattle Mariners

• Signed SP Foster Griffin to a 1-year deal

Offseason grade: B+

A new day has dawned in the district.

After 16 seasons with GM Mike Rizzo — the last few an aimless slog — the Nationals finally changed course and cleared house. In is former Red Sox exec Paul Toboni as president of baseball operations, whose hiring is more significant than any single transaction this club has made since the Juan Soto trade. Toboni, just 35 years old, spent most of the winter infusing the club’s baseball operations department with some much-needed youth.

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In the span of a few months, Toboni brought in 33-year-old Blake Butera as manager, 30-year-old Simon Mathews as pitching coach, 32-year-old Anirudh Kilambi as GM and 31-year-old Devin Pearson and 34-year-old Justin Horowitz as assistant GMs. It’s a bold direction, a fresh start and a fascinating science experiment about the limits of modern baseball thinking.

It’s also a sign that the Nationals don’t expect to compete for a World Series title in 2026, and their moves this winter told the same story. Dealing Gore, a flawed but effective pitcher two years from free agency, for a quintet of prospects does not scream “win-now.” And that was to be expected. Toboni inherited an operation well behind the times. Modernizing the club’s processes, principles and priorities is the right place to start, frustrating as it might be for Nats fans.

MILAN — A rousing Opening Ceremony that included everything from dancing musical notes to massive paint tubes to massive flying Olympic rings to Mariah Carey ended with a dramatic reveal as Italian legends Sofia Goggia, Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni — all Winter Olympic gold medalists — lit the two cauldrons that will burn for the length of the Games.

The first-of-its-kind Opening Ceremony, the “first widespread Olympic Games,” as a dramatic in-stadium narrator put it, took place in four separate locations — Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno and Predazzo — with simultaneous and complementary performances happening across Northern Italy. The Olympic cauldrons are located at the Arco della Pace in Milan and Piazza Dibona in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

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The opening quarter of the show paid tribute to Italy’s deep cultural heritage, from its history as a hub of art and music to Milan’s tradition of fashion. Two dancers rode into the stadium on giant floating rings; only after they rose a hundred feet in the air and leaped from the rings did their true purpose become clear: three other rings lit up and floated to the center of the arena, forming the five Olympic rings.

Throughout the night, the theme of Armonia — Italian for “harmony” — was obvious everywhere, from the blending of paints in the ceremony’s opening moments to the blending of songs Carey performed. She started singing “Nel blu, dipinto di blu,” better known as “Volare,” before segueing into her own “Nothing is Impossible.” (The harmony continued as five handlers worked in tandem to help Carey and her massive dress offstage; it took nearly a full minute for the entire entourage to slowly walk from the center of the field out of public view.)

Television moved seamlessly between the venues, though during the parade of nations in San Siro Stadium — home of soccer powers AC Milan and Inter Milan — it was obvious that the split format had its drawbacks. Many nations don’t have any representation at the ice events in Milan, so they were represented by only a single sign bearer walking across the spiral San Siro stage as a video screen showed images of the athletes parading in the mountain regions.

One nice touch for the athletes: Italian Olympic organizers provided chairs at one end of the field for the athletes to sit in and rest while the rest of their fellow Olympians marched in. Given that previous Olympics had forced athletes to stay on their feet for hours — not an ideal preparation for the most important athletic event of their lives — the seats were surely welcome.

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Italy, naturally, received the largest cheers of any nation. Fans in attendance also cheered loudly for Ukraine, with most other large nations — including Canada, France and the United States — drawing plenty of cheers. Charismatic athletes like Jamaica’s also won over the audiences in multiple venues.

After the usual speechmaking by Italian and Olympic officials, Andrea Bocelli delivered a masterful version of “Nessun Dorma,” Charlize Theron spoke on the theme of peace, and the cauldrons were lit. And with that, the San Siro Stadium lights came up.

Some events at the Winter Olympics have already begun, but the first medals will be draped around the necks of athletes starting Saturday. This year’s event promises to be a significant reset from the COVID-era Winter Games of Beijing 2022, with many more fans, family members, and carbs here and ready for the festivities.  

The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics are officially open with the conclusion of Friday’s Opening Ceremony.

This was a historic Opening Ceremony, where two Olympic cauldrons were used for the first time, with one located at the Arco della Pace in Milan, and the other at Piazza Dibona in Cortina d’Ampezzo. The two cauldrons are intended to represent “harmony between the two Host Cities and the territories of the distributed Games,” according to the official Olympics website.

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In addition to the traditional bearing of the flags for each nation represented in the Games and lighting of the cauldrons, there were plenty of grand performances featuring stars from all over the world. The star-studded lineup of vocalists was American singer Mariah Carey, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, singer-songwriter Laura Pausini, rapper Ghali, pianist Lang Lang, and opera singer Cecilia Bartoli. “The White Locus” actress Sabrina Impacciatore also stunned with a performance honoring the last 100 years of the Winter Olympics.

Basically, there was no shortage of entertainment amidst the calls for peace, unity, and tradition.

For those who missed it live, the Opening Ceremony will air again in primetime at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

Follow along with Yahoo Sports for the latest updates, highlights and more from the Opening Ceremony at the Milan Cortina Olympics:

Live coverage is over57 updates

• Fri, February 6, 2026 at 2:35 PM PST

  Yahoo Sports Staff

  A rousing Opening Ceremony that included everything from dancing musical notes to massive paint tubes to massive flying Olympic rings to Mariah Carey ended with a dramatic reveal as Italian legends Sofia Goggia, Alberto Tomba and Deborah Compagnoni lit the two torches that will burn for the length of the Winter Olympics.

  The first-of-its-kind Opening Ceremony — the “first widespread Olympic Games,” as a dramatic narrator put it — took place in four separate locations — Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno and Predazzo — with simultaneous and complementary performances happening across Northern Italy. The Olympic torches are located at the Arco della Pace in Milan and  Piazza Dibona in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

  The opening quarter of the show paid tribute to Italy’s deep cultural heritage, from its history as a hub of art and music to Milan’s tradition of fashion. Two dancers rode into the stadium on giant floating rings; only after they rose a hundred feet in the air and leaped from the rings did their true purpose become clear: three other rings lit up and floated to the center of the arena, forming the five Olympic rings.

  Read more on the Opening Ceremony from Yahoo Sports’ Jay Busbee in Milan.

• Fri, February 6, 2026 at 2:31 PM PST

  Yahoo Sports Staff

  

• Fri, February 6, 2026 at 2:29 PM PST

  Yahoo Sports Staff

  

  

• Fri, February 6, 2026 at 2:22 PM PST

  Yahoo Sports Staff
• Fri, February 6, 2026 at 2:20 PM PST

  Yahoo Sports Staff

  

• Fri, February 6, 2026 at 2:19 PM PST

  Yahoo Sports Staff

  Chinese pianist Lang Lang accompanies Italian opera singer Cecilia Bartoli in performing the Olympic anthem as the Olympic flag was officially raised:

  

  WHAT. A. VOICE.

• Fri, February 6, 2026 at 2:14 PM PST

  Yahoo Sports Staff

  

• Fri, February 6, 2026 at 2:11 PM PST

  Yahoo Sports Staff

  Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron is next to speak after a performance that ended with its participants taking the floor in the shape of a dove, delivering an impassioned call for peace:

  Athletes, spectators from every corner of the world, this is a message of peace by my beloved countryman, Nelson Mandela.

  “Peace is not just the absence of conflict; peace is the creation of an environment where all can flourish, regardless of race, colour, creed, religion, gender, class, caste, or any other social markers of difference.”

  Today, this message seems more relevant than ever. So let these Games be more than just sport. Let them be a reminder of our common humanity, our respect for one another and a resounding call for peace everywhere.

  

• Fri, February 6, 2026 at 2:00 PM PST

  Yahoo Sports Staff

  

  

  

  

  

• Fri, February 6, 2026 at 1:54 PM PST

  Yahoo Sports Staff
• Fri, February 6, 2026 at 1:49 PM PST

  Yahoo Sports Staff

  Next up is a speech from Kirsty Coventry, president of the International Olympic Committee:

  “Welcome to your games. This is your moment. I know what it feels like … that mix of excitement and nerves. Your whole life of hard work, of early mornings, long days, sacrifices, setbacks — it all comes down to this. I know that feeling when you realize, ‘This is it.’ Youve made it.”

  

• Fri, February 6, 2026 at 1:43 PM PST

  Yahoo Sports Staff

  Giovanni Malagò, president of the Milano Cortinal 2026 Organizing Committee, gave a speech during the Opening Ceremony that could send chills down the spin of any sports lover.

  “Dear athletes, you are drawn from different traditions, different cultures, different countries. And yet you are united by sport — a universal language.”

  

• Fri, February 6, 2026 at 1:37 PM PST

  Yahoo Sports Staff

  We know that Italian speakers can be a bit emphatic when it comes to hand gestures. For those unfamiliar, the Olympics put together a whole skit to help translate:
• Fri, February 6, 2026 at 1:34 PM PST

  Yahoo Sports Staff
• Fri, February 6, 2026 at 1:28 PM PST

  Yahoo Sports Staff
• Fri, February 6, 2026 at 1:26 PM PST

  Yahoo Sports Staff

  After the full parade of athletes made their way through, a video introduction set up “The White Lotus” star Sabrina Impacciatore for a grand entrance … which many on social media are flagging as potentially AI-generated content. 🤔
• Fri, February 6, 2026 at 1:17 PM PST

  Yahoo Sports Staff

  As the hosts of the Milan Cortina Olympics, Team Italy is the last to enter at the Opening Ceremony.
• Fri, February 6, 2026 at 1:10 PM PST

  Yahoo Sports Staff

  Team USA is led by flag bearers Erin Jackson (speed skating) and Frank Del Duca (bobsled).

  

• Fri, February 6, 2026 at 1:07 PM PST

  Yahoo Sports Staff
• Fri, February 6, 2026 at 1:02 PM PST

  Yahoo Sports Staff

It just wouldn’t be the Olympics without Pita Taufatofua, also known as the shirtless Tongan.

Taufatofua was announced as a flag bearer ahead of Friday’s Opening Ceremony for the Milan Cortina Olympics, and he appeared near the end of the night carrying the Olympic flag as a “messenger of peace,” alongside Tadatoshi Akiba, Rebeca Andrade, Maryam Bukar Hassan, Nicolo Govoni, Filippo Grandi, Eliud Kipchoge and Cindy Ngamba.

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One of a small group of athletes who have competed in both the Summer and Winter Olympics, Taufatofua first arrived on the scene during the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, wearing nothing but a taʻovala, a traditional Tongan dress made of a mat wrapped around the waist. Taufatofua was ultimately eliminated in the first round of the taekwondo competition.

At the 2018 Games in PyeongChang, Taufatofua was back, this time as a freestyle skier, and the freezing temperatures couldn’t keep him from wearing the taʻovala again. In the 15km freestyle ski race, he placed 114th out of 119.

Taufatofua made a third appearance in the 2020 Olympics, this time alongside Malia Paseka, a fellow taekwondo athlete.

While Taufatofua didn’t carry a flag for the 2022 or 2024 Olympics, he did take part in the torch relay for the Paris Games. Per his Instagram account, Taufatofua is a motivational speaker and author.

Another team is dealing with a potential norovirus outbreak at the 2026 Winter Olympics, following the outbreak on Finland team’s that has seen 14 players quarantined.

The Swiss women’s hockey team has placed itself in isolation after a player tested positive for norovirus following a group play game against the Czech Republic on Friday, the Swiss hockey federation announced.

The unidentified athlete has reportedly been housed in a single room since Monday and has been symptom-free since Friday morning. Per The Athletic, she did not play in the game against the Czechs, which the Swiss won 4-3.

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No other players have shown symptoms so far, per the federation. They still did not attend the Opening Ceremony on Friday.

The team’s decision to isolate was described as a precautionary measure, made in consultation with experts and its on-site medical team. Switzerland is scheduled to play its second match against Canada on Saturday at 9:10 a.m. local time, with a clash against Team USA following on Monday.

If Switzerland is forced to miss the Canada game, it will be a second straight game affected by norovirus for one of the two overwhelming tournament favorites. The Canadians were supposed to open the Olympics with a game against Finland, but that was postponed following the outbreak.

The 2026 Winter Olympics officially kicked off today with the Milan-Cortina Opening Ceremony. The theme for the start of the Winter Games was “Armonia,” or harmony in English. Nearly 3,000 athletes participated in parades, the passing of the Olympic flame, and lighting of not one but two Olympic cauldrons. Plus, performances from Italian artists, including Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini, and Ghali.

The Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony began at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Missed the live ceremony? Don’t worry, an enhanced primetime encore broadcast will re-air on NBC tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Here’s what else you need to know about watching the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony. Looking for how to watch the Winter Games? Yahoo Sports has you covered.

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How to watch the 2026 Olympics Opening Ceremony rebroadcast:

Date: Friday, Feb. 6, 2026

Time: 8 p.m. ET/PT

TV channel: NBC

Streaming: Peacock

When is the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony?

The Winter Olympics officially began with the Opening Ceremony on Feb. 6 (though some events started as early as Feb. 4). The Milan Cortina 2026 Games will run through Feb. 22.

Olympics Opening Ceremony start time:

The Opening Ceremony for the 2026 Winter Games will re-air in primetime on NBC tonight at 8 p.m.

2026 Olympics Opening Ceremony channel:

All of the 2026 Winter Olympics, including the Opening Ceremony, will air on NBC and stream live on Peacock.

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Tennis player and sportscaster Mary Carillo filled in for TODAY Show host Savannah Guthrie to help host NBC coverage, alongside NBC Sports legend Terry Gannon.

How to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony without cable:

How long was the Olympic Opening Ceremony?

The 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony ran about three hours.

Where are the Winter Olympics this year?

The 2026 Winter Olympics will be held in Northern Italy, primarily in Milan and also the Alpine mountain resort town of Cortina d’Ampezzo. The Opening Ceremony will primarily take place inside San Siro Stadium.

Winter Olympics time difference:

This year’s Olympic Games are in Italy, which is 6 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time. Meaning that some events will start bright and early for U.S. viewers, and live coverage will likely wrap up around 4 p.m. ET each day. NBC will have primetime replays of the biggest moments each night.

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2026 Winter Olympics TV/streaming schedule:

All times Eastern.

Friday, Feb. 6 – Opening ceremony

Curling (round robin) – 2:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Figure skating (team event short programs) – 6:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Snowboard slopestyle qualifications – 6:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Speedskating (early distances) – 8:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Opening ceremony – 2:00 p.m. (Peacock – Live)

Opening ceremony – 8:00 p.m. (NBC – Primetime)

Saturday, Feb. 7

Alpine skiing (men’s downhill) – 3:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Snowboard slopestyle finals – 6:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Speedskating medals – 7:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

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Figure skating (team free programs) – 8:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Hockey (group play begins) – 10:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Sunday, Feb. 8

Alpine skiing (women’s downhill) – 3:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Freestyle skiing moguls finals – 6:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Figure skating (pairs short program) – 8:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Luge (singles runs) – 9:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Hockey (group play) – 12:00 p.m. (Peacock – Live)

Monday, Feb. 9

Biathlon sprint – 5:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Speedskating medals – 7:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Figure skating (pairs free skate – medals) – 8:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Curling (round robin) – 9:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

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Skeleton (heat 1–2) – 11:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Tuesday, Feb. 10

Alpine skiing (giant slalom) – 4:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Snowboard halfpipe qualifications – 6:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Figure skating (men’s short program) – 8:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Curling (round robin) – 10:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Wednesday, Feb. 11

Nordic combined – 4:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Freestyle skiing aerials finals – 6:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Figure skating (men’s free skate – medals) – 8:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Speedskating medals – 11:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Thursday, Feb. 12

Alpine skiing (slalom) – 4:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

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Snowboard halfpipe finals – 6:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Figure skating (ice dance rhythm dance) – 8:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Curling (medal round qualifiers) – 10:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Friday, Feb. 13

Biathlon pursuit – 5:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Figure skating (ice dance free dance – medals) – 8:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Skeleton finals – 10:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Hockey (quarterfinals) – 12:00 p.m. (Peacock – Live)

Saturday, Feb. 14

Alpine skiing (tea.m. combined) – 4:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Cross-country skiing distance race – 6:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Figure skating (women’s short program) – 8:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

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Speedskating medals – 11:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Sunday, Feb. 15

Snowboard cross finals – 6:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Figure skating (women’s free skate – medals) – 8:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Luge relay – 11:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Hockey (semifinals) – 1:00 p.m. (Peacock – Live)

Monday, Feb. 16

Freestyle skiing dual moguls – 6:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Cross-country skiing team sprint – 8:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Curling (medal games) – 10:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Tuesday, Feb. 17

Biathlon relay – 5:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Speedskating team pursuit – 7:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Hockey (placement games) – 12:00 p.m. (Peacock – Live)

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Wednesday, Feb. 18

Alpine skiing (final technical events) – 4:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Freestyle skiing big air – 6:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Curling (gold medal match) – 9:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Thursday, Feb. 19

Cross-country skiing marathon – 6:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Snowboard parallel events – 8:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Hockey (bronze medal games) – 1:00 p.m. (Peacock – Live)

Friday, Feb. 20

Biathlon mass start – 6:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Speedskating final medals – 8:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Figure skating gala – 1:00 p.m. (Peacock – Live)

Saturday, Feb. 21

Men’s hockey gold medal game – 12:00 p.m. (Peacock – Live)

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Women’s hockey gold medal game – 3:00 p.m. (Peacock – Live)

Men’s hockey gold medal game – 8:00 p.m. (NBC – Primetime)

Sunday, Feb. 22 – Closing Ceremony

Cross-country skiing final event – 6:00 a.m. (Peacock – Live)

Closing Ceremony – 2:00 p.m. (Peacock – Live)

Closing Ceremony – 8:00 p.m. (NBC – Primetime)

More ways to watch the 2026 Winter Olympics on NBC: