It’s officially Day 1 of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Games and there will be medals handed out. One has already been won, while there will be podium setups and anthems for winners of the women’s 20 km skiathlon, women’s 3000m speed skating, men’s big air snowboarding, and women’s normal hill ski jumping.
Lindsey Vonn continues her preparation for Sunday’s downhill, and the U.S. women’s hockey team looks to improve to 2-0 as they face Finland, which was affected by this week’s norovirus outbreak.
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Here are the top stories of the day so far:
1. Franjo von Allmen earns the first gold of the Milan Cortina Games
Kyle Neogmir was the top American, finishing 10th.
2. Lindsey Vonn ready to go for gold
Lindsey Vonn finished her second training run on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s downhill event, eight days after she ruptured her ACL. The 41-year-old skiing legend finished with a time of 1:38.28, two seconds faster than her Friday time. That put her third among skiers who finished before weather canceled the remainder of training. American Breezy Johnson posted the fastest time of the day.
3. Eileen Gu bounces back to qualify for women’s slopestyle final
The 22-year-old Gu was a silver medalist in the event at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and also took home gold in big air and halfpipe. She fell during her first qualifying run on Saturday and needed a strong showing in run No. 2 in order to finish within the top 12.
4. Switzerland vs. Canada in women’s hockey still on after positive norovirus test
The Swiss women’s hockey team has placed itself in isolation after a player tested positive for norovirus following a group play win over Czechia on Friday, the Swiss hockey federation announced.
The Swiss 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.
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Highlight of the morning
Franjo von Allman and his gold medal-winning run in the downhill:
The U.S mixed doubles curling pair of Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin will compete for a medal after winning their two round-robin matches on Sunday and advancing to the tournament semifinals for the first time in team history.
In the first, they defeated Estonia’s Marie Kaldvee and Harri Lill, 5-3. That put Team USA in position to clinch a trip to the playoff round, finishing among the top four teams in the field. But the duo still needed to either defeat Sweden on Sunday or Italy on Monday.
Facing Isabella and Rasmus Wranaa in Sunday’s second match, the U.S. fell into an early hole, losing the first end 3-0. Thiesse and Dropkin tied the match by taking the second end 3-0, but Sweden went back on top with a 1-0 win in the third end.
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Team USA gained the edge in the next two ends by a combined 4-0 advantage, presenting Sweden with a considerable uphill climb for the remaining three frames. However, the Wranaa duo rallied in the sixth and seventh ends with a combined 3-0 score to even the match at 7-7 going into the final frame.
In that eighth end, Dropkin executed a double takeout that clinched the frame and the match for him and Thiesse, making them the first U.S. team to play in the Olympics’ mixed doubles curling semifinals.
Korey Dropkin celebrates Team USA’s win with Cory Thiesse over Sweden to advanced to the semifinals in the mixed doubles curling competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
With their two wins, the U.S. has a 6-2 record in the round-robin portion of the tournament, second behind Great Britain’s 8-1 mark. Italy (5-3) and Sweden (5-4) are the other two teams advancing to the medal round.
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Great Britain came into Sunday’s session already clinching a trip to the playoffs with its 7-1 record, but added another win over Norway.
Thiesse and Dropkin brought a 4-0 record into Saturday’s play, yet were defeated by Great Britain and suffered an upset loss to South Korea. As a result, the U.S. needed two more wins to advance.
However, the U.S. fell behind Estonia early after losing the first end 1-0. They evened the match by prevailing 1-0 in the second end. That began a back-and-forth exchange which left Team USA at a 3-2 disadvantage going into the sixth end.
That sixth frame turned out to be the crucial one for Team USA. Thiesse had an opportunity to get three points, but her stone hit a guard and stopped just short of the house. That meant the U.S. would only finish the end with one point to tie the match at 3.
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But Thiesse and Dropkin finished their late surge by winning the next two sets. In the seventh, the U.S. prevailed when Kaldvee’s throw attempting to knock a stone out of the way sailed wide. And in the eighth, Team USA placed a stone just at the top of the button. Kaldvee tried again to knock the rock away, but her throw didn’t push it far enough.
Team USA’s final match of the round-robin session will be Monday versus Italy at 4:05 a.m. ET, but its place in the semifinals is already set. The medal round will begin later Monday at 12:05 p.m. ET with the matchups to be determined by final draw.
With the NBA trade deadline behind us, it feels like a good time to check back in on the Eastern Conference. To start the season, I had a sneaking feeling the East would be more fun than many expected. I think we can agree they have overdelivered on those expectations. The majority of these teams have played with fire and desire, a belief they are better than each other, jockeying back and forth all season long.
Which brings us to recent events where the top of the East faced off. The Detroit Pistons, standing alone at the top, beat the New York Knicks by 38 points at home on Friday. Those same Knicks took that, continued on the road and beat the Boston Celtics by 22 points on Sunday. If you look at the top-six teams in the East, each has won at least six of its last 10 games with five of them winning seven of their last 10.
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As we turn the corner and prepare for the upcoming sprint to the playoffs, as fun as the East has been, who is ready to truly take it?
Jalen Brunson and the Knicks have won nine of their last 10 games. (David Butler II-Imagn Images)
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / REUTERS)
The top of the East
The Pistons have turned their booming ascent to the top of the East into a steady metronome. It can almost feel like a broken record at this point, but the Pistons have continued to rely on their identity to stay at the top. It’s why they elected to build on the margins at the trade deadline instead of taking a big swing. It’s not just the consistent play of Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, it’s the fact that teams know what is coming and have to beat them.
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Detroit is going to get after you defensively with physicality, activity and pressure; anything you get will be earned. On the other end, the Pistons are going to attack the paint (second in the NBA in points in the paint with 56.9, second in paint touches per game with 27.4), forcing you to continue to guard. And the most impressive part has been their resilience. The Pistons have yet to lose more than two games in a row this season and, as teams have tried to trap Cunningham, have found different ways to respond.
The Knicks flipped a stretch of losing 9 out of 11 games into winning 9 of their next 10 games, the only loss coming to Detroit. A lot of that had to do with their overall self-awareness and understanding that to get to where they want to go, the defense had to play at a certain level. During this 10-game stretch (since Jan. 20), the Knicks have the No. 1 defensive rating in the NBA (100.8).
Simplifying their pick-and-roll defense to try to keep the ball in one direction has given them a boost — as will the addition of Jose Alvarado — but it’s been the commitment to activity and help defense that has allowed the trend to stick. Do the Knicks now have enough lineup versatility and defense behind Jalen Brunson to finally put all the pieces together?
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The Celtics have thrived by doing their best to control what they can control and avoid beating themselves. Jaylen Brown’s career year has played a large part in their consistency, but do not downplay the process. This is a team that leads the NBA with the fewest turnovers per game (12.1), working to limit mistakes. This is also a team that leads the NBA in opponent points per turnover (14.1), is fourth in opponent fast-break points (13.2) and second in opponent points in the paint (40.8) — which means whatever you thought would be easy does not exist. The Celtics compete on both ends, which has presented a tough formula to deal with on a nightly basis.
What does the addition of Nikola Vučević mean? Look at him as adding more to what the Celtics already do rather than purely elevating them. His ability to space speaks for itself, but it’s easy to forget he can screen, roll and post, too. That should be a useful weapon for the Celtics if teams want to try and switch against them. He can win matchups and be a focal point with second-unit lineups. While he may not be as much of a hub as he’s been in previous spots, his passing ability should fit in once the Celtics get teams in rotation.
The question is, will the defense hold up? The Celtics have the infrastructure with their personnel and scheme to protect the paint and rotate around Vučević if teams try to attack him 1v1. But they will have to find a comfort with his pick-and-roll coverage, at the level or in drop, as the Knicks had a good time poking at him with Brunson and Alvarado on Sunday.
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Here come the Cavs?
That brings me to the team that could and should shake things up the most in the East: the Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite high expectations before the season, the Cavs have survived a lot of injuries to find themselves as the No. 4 seed in the East with the addition of James Harden.
The key element in adding Harden next to the play of Donovan Mitchell is further unlocking Cleveland’s offense. Darius Garland is a tremendous talent, but being able to stagger two All-NBA talents will feel a little bit different to opposing defenses. This should unlock Jarrett Allen (and Evan Mobley upon return) as rollers, which should create advantage basketball for Cleveland.
Harden can start and end possessions, and his pace in pick-and-roll allows for a more natural short roll for Allen. The question is how many teams will switch against them, and is this the move to take them over the top?
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Best of the rest
The Toronto Raptors have consistently produced on both ends of the floor thanks to the play of Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram. How much does that mean this year for a playoff run? Can they find a way to make the top teams in the East pay on both ends?
The Philadelphia 76ers have played the long game, leaning on Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe as Joel Embiid comes along (and boy has he come along). Will that be enough to make them a team you don’t want to deal with in the postseason?
Playoff series tend to come down to matchups, and we are dealing with a whole lot of teams that believe they can beat each other. Sit back and watch how this comes to a crescendo down the stretch. The conference is wide open.
Kevin O’Connor is joined by Dane Moore to talk Timberwolves on today’s Kevin O’Connor Show. What’s behind the meltdown in Minnesota?
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Next, KOC is joined by Boston Celtics play-by-play announcer Drew Carter to talk all things Celtics—particularly what needs to be done to right the ship after trading for Nikola Vucevic at the trade deadline.
Then, KOC mulls over the question: is this year’s Charlotte Hornets team the new Indiana Pacers? What is the key to their newfound success?
Plus, KOC is joined by Swish Theory’s Matt Powers to chat Draft Class—which draft prospect has improved most in the new year? How does AJ Dybantsa bring BYU out of a 4-game losing streak? That and more on today’s show!
(0:14) Dane Moore talks Timberwolves (30:40) Drew Carter on Celtics (1:07:20) Are the Hornets this year’s Pacers? (1:13:21) Matt Powers joins KOC’s Draft Class
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – MAY 24: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves talks with Julius Randle #30 against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Target Center on May 24, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Can Seattle make another run at a Super Bowl? Yahoo Sports’ Andrew Siciliano talks about that possibility with former Seahawks RB and Super Bowl champion Robert Turbin on today’s episode. Later, Ben Fawkes joins the show to break down the big game from the New England Patriots’ side of the ball before closing the show out with their “One More Thing”.
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(1:30) – Robert Turbin on the Seahawks’ Super Bowl LX victory
(22:45) – Super Bowl LX reactions: What’s next for Patriots?
MILAN — A faulty medal podium is causing some unexpected headaches for skaters at the Winter Olympics. After the medal-winning teams from the United States, Japan and Italy ascended the on-ice podium to receive their medals in Sunday night’s team event, several skaters reported that the surface of the podium damaged their blades, necessitating varying degrees of repair and sharpening.
In most cases, skaters cover their blades right after coming off the ice, to prevent damage to the blades. But the positioning of the podium Sunday night required skaters to skate out to the podium and then immediately step onto the damaging surface.
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“We didn’t realize once we were on the podium that there was something weird about the surface of the podium,” said Italy’s Marco Fabbri, who won a bronze medal Sunday night. “There were some small stones, almost. We couldn’t feel it on the podium. But then as soon as we we stepped down (onto the ice) everyone was like, ‘I cannot move anymore, I cannot slide anymore.’ It was like the same feeling as having some glue under the blade. And so today we had to sharpen the blade. So it was a little bit stressful.”
The need for skaters’ blades to be precisely tuned is obvious; properly sharpened blades allow for the graceful turns, spins and jumps that characterize Olympic skating. Different skaters prefer different degrees of sharpness and feel depending on the preferred ratio of “bite” (that is, grip on the ice) to “glide” (speed on the ice). Any force that blunts the blade — like, say, an unexpectedly rough surface — risks damaging that delicate balance.
“If it’s a small nick, it’s not the biggest issue. A couple passes to sharpen it and the stone to tune it would take care of it,” says two-time Olympic gold medalist Nathan Chen. The key, though, is ensuring the skater’s comfort in the most crucial routines of their life: “I want to trust my blades are in tip-top shape. I want to be confident they’ll do exactly what I expect.”
The Milano Cortina Organizing Committee released the following statement on the podium matter to Yahoo Sports:
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“During the Figure Skating Team Event medal ceremony, the anti-slip surface of the podium caused some damage to the athletes’ skates. Milano Cortina 2026 is taking steps to replace the surface to prevent a reoccurrence.
“To minimize the impact of the damage to athletes’ preparations and in agreement with ISU, Milano Cortina 2026 has made a skate-sharpening service available and offered an additional training session to the impacted National Olympic Committees. We also understand that some NOCs have offered their services to the impacted athletes from other countries in a true example of the Olympic spirit.
“Milano Cortina 2026 apologizes for the inconvenience caused and reiterates its commitment to ensuring the best possible conditions for all athletes.”
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Amber Glenn’s coach, Damon Allen, told Yahoo Sports that her skates are ready to go:
MILAN — It didn’t matter that Abbey Murphy was in the corner with her back to teammate Hannah Bilka and a defender draped all over her.
The electric young American star still found a way to catch the Canadian defense by surprise and set up Bilka for the easiest goal she’ll ever score.
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“That was an incredible pass,” Bilka said. “She has eyes in the back of her head. I really don’t know how she saw me, but it was an insane play.”
Murphy’s slick no-look, behind-the-back pass was the highlight of the U.S. women’s hockey team’s statement-making 5-0 victory over Canada on Tuesday night. The Americans solidified themselves as unequivocal favorites at these Olympics by dominating a highly anticipated rivalry showdown that likely doubled as a preview of next week’s gold-medal match.
One of the biggest reasons that the U.S. won so convincingly was the performance of Murphy. The 23-year-old University of Minnesota forward assisted on three of the U.S.’s five goals, two of which were netted by Bilka. As usual, she also got under the skin of the Canadians and drew penalties that led to four American power plays.
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“She’s a special player,” said Kirsten Simms, who plays for the University of Wisconsin and faces Murphy a handful of times per year. “When she’s on your team, it’s a lot more fun.”
This isn’t the first time that Murphy has produced a viral moment with her uncanny awareness and passing ability. Check out this highlight-reel pass from last month that hockey analyst John Buccigross called “the greatest assist of all time.”
Murphy is the biggest X factor for a U.S. team with plenty of firepower. When she plays at this level, the Americans go from the best team in the world to practically unbeatable.
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“She’s such a high-IQ player, but she can also put the puck in the back of the net,” Bilka said. “She’s really a dual threat.”
We have an action-packed episode of The Big Number for you! First, Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine discuss the controversial way the Utah Jazz are utilizing Jaren Jackson Jr.
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Next, the duo dives into the league-wide tanking concerns and why it is a significant issue in light of the NBA gambling indictments. What solutions can the league establish? Later, Dan and Tom discuss the small numbers, including James Harden’s role in the Cavaliers’ success and why Donovan Mitchell is thriving with Harden.
Also, they break down how many teams will have salary cap space this summer, the number of trades the Bulls have made and whether the Bulls are a hopeless organization.
Plus, they discuss the suspensions following the Detroit Pistons-Charlotte Hornets fight earlier this week. What are the implications of the suspensions for the race in the East? Can the Pistons maintain their top spot?
All that and more on The Big Number! The Big
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Number: 00:00:28 The Little Numbers: 00:26:19 Pistons and Hornets Suspensions: 00:41:46
NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks during the pre-game press conference. Photo: Soeren Stache/dpa (Photo by Soeren Stache/picture alliance via Getty Images)
(Photo by Soeren Stache/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Max Muncy’s career with the Los Angeles Dodgers will continue for at least two more seasons.
The veteran infielder agreed to a one-year, $7 million extension for 2027, the team announced Thursday. The deal includes a $10 million club option for 2028 versus a $3 million buyout.
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Muncy, 35, was signed through the 2026 campaign, with the Dodgers picking up his $10 million club option. He was set to become a free agent after the season.
Last year, Muncy batted .243/.376/.470 with 19 home runs and 67 RBI. He was limited to 100 games (97 at third base) during the regular season due to a knee bone bruise and oblique injuries. In the postseason, he hit .214/.353/.411 with 11 walks, 3 homers and 3 RBI.
His biggest postseason home run was surely the one he hit in Game 7 of the World Series off Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Troy Yesavage that cut the Dodgers’ deficit to 4-3 in the eighth inning and began a comeback that eventually led to a 5-4 victory in 11 innings and the franchise’s second consecutive World Series championship.
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This season will be Muncy’s ninth with the Dodgers after he signed with them as a free agent prior to the 2018 season. He was a fifth-round draft selection by the Athletics in 2012 out of Baylor. During his career with the Dodgers, Muncy has slashed .232/.358/.485 with 135 doubles, 209 home runs, 575 walks and 587 RBI.
During DodgerFest on Jan. 31, Muncy spoke about becoming the Dodgers’ longest-tenured player with the retirement of Clayton Kershaw.
“For me, just my personal journey, it’s something I never would have dreamed of,” Muncy said, via The Athletic. “I was basically out of baseball for a little bit. And now here I am, the most-tenured player on the team. I never would have imagined that in my life. That’s for sure. It’s something I’m very blessed to have had. I don’t take it for granted. I try to enjoy every second I get here.”
Muncy’s home run total currently ranks seventh among the Dodgers’ all-time leaders, behind Steve Garvey’s 211. If he stays healthy, Muncy should pass Ron Cey (228) to move into fifth on the list. Overtaking Roy Campanella (242) for fourth or perhaps even Eric Karros for third (270) might be possible as well.
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Enrique Hernández re-signs with Dodgers
The Dodgers also announced the re-signing of utilityman Enrique Hernández on Thursday. The 13-year MLB veteran agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract, which will keep him with the team for a fourth consecutive season (and 10th overall with the Dodgers).
Hernández appeared in 92 games last season and was sidelined for seven weeks due to left elbow inflammation. He had surgery on the elbow in November, and recovery is expected to keep him out for Opening Day.
In nine seasons with the Dodgers, Hernández has a .236/.305/.403 slash line with 124 doubles, 95 homers and 320 RBI. More importantly, he has played multiple positions, including third base, left field, center field and first base. He has even pitched.
Tottenham have parted ways with Thomas Frank, and the big question is: was he really the problem? The boys dig into what’s actually happening at Spurs, whether the issues run deeper than the head coach, and which managers could realistically step in to fix things. Is this about tactics, recruitment, ownership — or something bigger?
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Then Austin FC striker Brandon Vazquez joins the show for an honest and revealing conversation. He opens up about recovering from his ACL injury, doing “quick maths” in his head about the World Cup timeline the moment he got hurt, and what it will take to fight his way back into the U.S. Men’s National Team picture. Vazquez also shares what it was really like playing in Liga MX — from nonstop media attention to the intensity of fan culture — and how it compares to MLS. Plus, we get the full origin story of his “Superman” goal celebration (yes, including the capes).
To close it out, the boys react to the 2026 MLS kit reveal and give their unfiltered best and worst picks. Which clubs nailed it? Which designs should’ve stayed in the concept phase? We’re handing out praise, roasting questionable choices, and ranking the fits you’ll be seeing all season long.
Timestamps:
(11:00) – Thomas Frank sacked! What is the issue at Tottenham?
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(20:00) – Discussing possible replacement for Tottenham
