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Real Madrid take ultimate stand against racism under Alvaro Arbeloa -… — and more

Real Madrid take ultimate stand against racism under Alvaro Arbeloa - Yahoo Sports Canada

Real Madrid take ultimate stand against racism under Alvaro Arbeloa  Yahoo Sports Canada

Noah Sullivan injury update for Mississippi State baseball vs Delaware

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball starting first baseman/designated hitter Noah Sullivan missed a third straight game on Feb. 20 because of a back injury.

Coach Brian O'Connor said Sullivan is progressing well.

"Noah's doing great," O'Connor said. "He took batting practice today for the first time and felt really good. So just want to see how he gets up tomorrow morning and how he's moving around tomorrow.

"I would imagine that if there's not any lingering effects from taking a full BP today, I would imagine that he would be in there tomorrow."

The No. 6 Bulldogs (5-0) defeated Delaware 9-2 at Dudy Noble Field. Game 2 of the series is Feb. 21 (1 p.m., SEC Network+).

Sullivan was a preseason All-SEC first team selection after a breakout season with MSU in 2025 where he batted .345 with 15 home runs.

O'Connor said on Feb. 18, after the Alcorn State win, that Sullivan tweaked his back in practice on Feb. 16, but they did not believe his injury to be serious. Sullivan was not in uniform for the two midweek games but was against Delaware (1-4).

Meanwhile, Reed Stallman returned to the lineup after missing the last two games, starting at first base. He went 1-for-4 with a run, a walk and three strikeouts.

Noah Sullivan stats

Sullivan, who transferred before the 2025 season from USC Upstate, has only played in two games this season. He sat out the opener because of a one-game suspension after getting ejected from the 2025 Tallahassee Regional final against Florida State.

Sullivan is 2-for-5 this season with two runs, two walks and two hit by pitches.

Sullivan started seven games last season as a midweek starting pitcher but has not pitched this season.

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Noah Sullivan injury update for Mississippi State baseball vs Delaware

Live updates, scores, how to watch Nevada's Class 5A boys basketball state championship game between Coronado and Liberty

Live updates, scores, how to watch Nevada's Class 5A boys basketball state championship game between Coronado and Liberty originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

LAS VEGAS, Nevada, Feb. 20 — Nevada's NIAA Class 5A boys basketball state championship matchup is set with the Coronado [Henderson, NV] Cougars set to take on the Liberty [Henderson, NV] Patriots.

The two teams have met once this season already back on February 2. The Patriots won that contest, 63-59, on the way to fashioning a 16-8 record to date. The Cougars, meanwhile, are 23-5, and the game is expected to be another tight affair.

Both teams failed to advance past the quarterfinals in 2024-25, and Coronado will be seeking its first state championship in boys basketball since opening in 2001. Liberty opened two years later in 2003, and the Patriots were the 2021-22 Class 5A state champions.

The game is set for 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. PST local) at Valley High School in Las Vegas. The game will be streamed live on the NFHS Network.

STREAM:Watch Nevada's NIAA boys basketball playoffs on the NFHS Network

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Real Salt Lake ready for ‘first test’ of 2026 season in Vancouver

Real Salt Lake head coach Pablo Mastroeni calls out to his players during the first half of an MLS soccer match against FC Cincinnati held at America First Field in Sandy on Saturday, July 19, 2025.
Real Salt Lake head coach Pablo Mastroeni calls out to his players during the first half of an MLS soccer match against FC Cincinnati held at America First Field in Sandy on Saturday, July 19, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Real Salt Lake kicks off the 2026 regular season against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday.

Head coach Pablo Mastroeni told reporters this week that this season opener in Vancouver, which he described as “not an easy place to play,” will set the tone for the rest of the season.

“The thought is if we get a good result there, I think it springboards us into a good start to the season,” he said.

That’s because of what the team learned from last season, Mastroeni said.

“There’ll be challenges about that, but I feel like the experiences that we had last year should really present themselves heavily in the forefront as to how to manage games, what it takes to win and then just bringing in these new guys and being excited about what we can potentially be as a team.”

Defender Justen Glad feels that the team is ready for the regular season to begin, he told reporters.

“I think the team’s in a good spot. Every game is a test so that will be our first test, and we’re all looking forward to it,” he said.

Glad added that finishing preseason and “getting on to the real thing” is exciting for players.

“It’s what we wait for. It’s what we train for every week is to get to the actual games,” he said.

Real is coming off a 12-17-5 season. The club finished ninth in the Western conference and clinched a playoff spot, but it ultimately lost to the Portland Timbers in the Wild Card match.

Real Salt Lake has made the playoffs in 18 of the last 21 years, but president of soccer operations Jason Kreis has higher expectations for the club in 2026, he told the Deseret News in January.

“The success level has been good to get us to a place where we’re competing for a championship by making the playoffs. But we will push forward and make a clear objective that the team does better than just make the playoffs this year. We really think we ought to be making the next rounds,” he said.

How RSL hopes to improve in 2026

In 2025, Real scored 35 goals — its lowest season total since the shortened 2020 season’s 23 — a 44% decrease from the prior season’s 63.

Mastroeni is aware of the team’s need to increase that number this season, and as a result, the team has focused on playing more vertically.

“That doesn’t mean kicking the ball down the field,” he said. “It means having more runners that run beyond the ball so that when we do have the ball in the wide areas, we have more numbers in the box, and so that’s been a big focus in preseason.”

Mastroeni noted the three goals RSL scored in its preseason finale against LA Galaxy, a 3-3 draw.

“It’s starting to look really good, and (Zavier) Gozo playing in a relatively new position out wide as a wingback has scored the last couple games as well,” he said.

“He looks really bright, so I’m really optimistic about this group and what we’re going to be capable of doing this year.”

Mastroeni was later asked about how his young star Gozo can grow in his second season.

“I think it’s really about capitalizing on the chances in front of goal,” Mastroeni said. “I think he got himself into really good spots because of his speed, and now it’s about technique and timing to finish those chances. And like I said, the last two games, he’s notched goals. Really, really good goals.”

Mastroeni added: “I think this is a player that has a trajectory that is unbelievable, given where he started last year and where he’s at today and the level of confidence he’s playing with. I’m just so happy for him.”

Mastroeni also spoke about Diego Luna, who became a rising star with the national team last year, and where he can improve this season. One such area is Luna’s leadership.

“I think he realizes the impact of how he can impact the team, both with the ball but also emotionally, and we saw that this last weekend against L.A.,” Mastroeni said.

“He was really bright. He was really positive, and the guys really fed off his energy. And so, I think this year, it’s more of a continuing to progress, obviously from a football perspective, but also from a leadership perspective.”

Real Salt Lake plays Vancouver Whitecaps FC in its first game of the season Saturday at 5:30 p.m. MT.

In brief

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Iowa State basketball vs BYU player availability report The initial player availability report for the Feb. 21 Iowa State-BYU men's basketball game has been released.

Wrestling state: First round results, see which Indy-area wrestlers advanced The first round of the IHSAA boys wrestling state round took place Friday. Here are the results and which Indy-area wrestlers advanced.

Los Angeles Rams make major decision on their future On Friday, the Los Angeles Rams made an important promotion within their coaching staff for the upcoming NFL season.

Previewing No. 14 UVA basketball’s Saturday tilt with Miami UVA looks to distance itself from the Hurricanes in the ACC standings

Tennessee basketball injury update: J.P. Estrella questionable vs Vanderbilt Tennessee basketball forward J.P. Estrella is questionable to play against Vanderbilt with left foot soreness.

Suns' Haywood Highsmith looks to return from surgery this season The Phoenix Suns signed Haywood Highsmith as a free agent after the Brooklyn Nets waived him before the Feb. 5 trade deadline.