Iowa State’s Audi Crooks is a velveteen unicorn – and March’s biggest matchup problem

Crooks is one of college basketball’s most fascinating stars, blending power and touch in a throwback game that could carry the Cyclones deep into MarchThe basketball gods really have a thing for Iowa. First came Caitlin Clark at the University of Iowa, a scoring sensation who dominated headlines and sparked cultural debates. Now, the state’s other major college program, Iowa State, has been blessed with Audi Crooks – a thunderclap in her own right.Where Clark dazzled the masses with moon ball shots and moxie off the dribble, Crooks is the kind of talent that makes other players of stature sit up and take notice, the junior center with a feel beyond her years. A 6ft 3in ballast in the paint, Crooks belongs to a protected class of hooper, the velveteen giant – post players who win with touch as much as brute force

Sydney Swans admit to altering Bondi attack tribute to omit mention of Jewish community

The Sydney Swans have again apologised for the club’s “error of judgment” that resulted in the Jewish community not being mentioned in the AFL’s opening round pre-match tribute to victims of the Bondi terror attack.In a statement on Monday, the club attempted to absolve the AFL of any blame after the league was referred to the royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion by Liberal senator James Paterson.Before the Swans’ season-opening game against Carlton at the SCG, Sydney’s chief executive, Matthew Pavlich, led a tribute to victims of the Bondi attack and first responders, some of whom joined the teams on the field.The club has now apologised multiple times, after journalist and former player Gerard Healy revealed Pavlich’s speech had been edited to remove references to the Jewish community.“There was no directive or instruction from the AFL to remove or change the reference to the Jewish Community in the script,” the club said in a statement

Cheltenham raised a cheer – but fatalities and fallouts tainted bounce-back festival

Attendance: up. British winners: up. Bookies’ profits: through the roof. Punters will wince at the last of those after a ferociously difficult four days at Cheltenham, with winners at 66-1, 50-1, 40-1 and 33-1 among the biggest skinners for the books. The Paddy Power client in Ireland who was paid €558,000 (£484,000) after putting Friday’s first six winners into a 50 cent each-way Lucky 63 would be a very worthy inductee into the Cheltenham Hall of Fame

Still crazy: chaotic Six Nations showed the timeless appeal of great sporting drama | Robert Kitson

L’Équipe’s front page headline summed it up perfectly. “So Crazy” did not just reflect Saturday night’s dizzying blur of a game in the Stade de France but pretty much the entire 2026 men’s Six Nations championship. Wales beat Italy who defeated Scotland who beat France who beat Ireland who beat England who, you’ve guessed it, beat Wales. Rugby, eh?And maybe that is the single biggest takeaway from the most extraordinary Six Nations of them all. Never mind the players and the coaches, spare a thought for all those distractedly pouring orange juice on their cereal as they vainly try to rationalise six weeks of madness

USA 2-1 Dominican Republic: World Baseball Classic semi-final – as it happened

You can read the full report from tonight’s game here:Post-gameWell that call was ridiculous. It should be runners at the corners with Tatis coming up, but instead it’s all over and I can’t wait to never see that happen again in a big game with the coming of ABS. Man, that is just one of the worst calls in a big spot I have ever seen. We’re talking Don Dekinger bad.But overall, it was a very well played, tight, exciting ballgame

Father and son amateur cricketers combine for mammoth partnership of 590

Darren Cheek will never forget the time he hit 184 against Morphettville Park in 1996 – not for the century, but for the joy of hearing his nine-year-old son Sam cheering excitedly for him from the sidelines.On Saturday in Adelaide, however, the father and son made a new memory as they combined for an opening partnership of 590, against the very same club.Darren, 63, and Sam, 38, were at the crease for the full 40 overs for the Coromandel Cricket Club in their Section 8 match at the Ascot Park primary school oval.Sam hit an unbeaten 402 off 137 balls including 42 sixes and 30 fours, while Darren scored 175 not out off 108 to make a rather impressive-looking scorecard.“We knew that we had to have a big win and we had to get a big percentage quotient on our ladder to get up into the final,” Darren said