Mexico captain Edson Alvarez has been ruled out of the remainder of Copa America with a hamstring injury. Alvarez, 26, said in a video posted on social media that he will remain with the Mexico squad for the remainder of their tournament to offer his support. Mexico said Alvarez’s injury was confirmed after tests in L.A. on Tuesday but did not provide an estimate on how long he faces on the sidelines, adding that the “recovery time will depend on the evolution of the player”. “Unfortunately, my participation in Copa America has come to an end,” Alvarez said. “I have no words — the truth is that it is a hard blow for me because I had that dream as much as my team-mates have it but sometimes these things happen in football and I will have to learn and grow from all this. “But I wanted to let you know that I have made the decision to stay with the team until the end, to support and encourage them, as I always have done. Now it will be my turn off the field. It will also help my rehabilitation and return as soon as possible.” Alvarez was forced to come off just 30 minutes into Mexico’s opening game of the tournament against Jamaica after pulling up while attempting to stop a counterattack. GO DEEPERMexico 1-0 Jamaica takeaways: Alvarez's agony, Arteaga strikes Medical staff tended to him on the field before the visibly distraught midfielder was helped from the pitch and consoled by team-mates. In Alvarez’s absence, Gerardo Arteaga’s second-half strike secured a 1-0 victory. Alvarez was appointed as Mexico captain ahead of the Copa America, after stalwarts Guillermo Ochoa and Andres Guardado were left out of Jaime Lozano’s youthful squad for the tournament. The midfielder has 80 caps for Mexico since making his debut in 2017, scoring five goals. GO DEEPEREdson Alvarez the 'Machin' - 'Mexico's most important player' Alvarez joined Premier League side West Ham United from Ajax for £34.4million ($44.1m) last summer. He impressed in his first season in English football, making 42 appearances in all competitions for the east London side. Mexico are back in action on Wednesday when they face Venezuela at SoFi Stadium. They close out the group stage against Ecuador at the University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Lionel Messi will “see how it goes” after a physical meeting with Chile at Copa America saw him undergo treatment on an apparent injury. The Argentina captain, 37, was looked at by training staff in the first half of his side’s 1-0 win at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey after a heavy challenge from Chile defender Gabriel Suazo. A member of the team’s medical personnel worked on Messi’s upper right leg on the sideline before he returned to the field of play after a short delay. He appeared to do his own share of stretches before exploding into life with a long-range shot that clipped the post as Argentina searched for an opening goal in what proved to be a challenging game. Messi completed 90 minutes but revealed after the match he had been harbouring concerns from the start. “I felt some discomfort in my right hamstring at the beginning of the game,” he told reporters. “It was tight. It wasn’t as loose as it should’ve been. But I was able to finish the game. We’ll see how it goes.” He also revealed he has been dealing with a sore throat and fever in recent days. Argentina questioned Chile’s physical tactics at half-time (Rob Carr/Getty Images Messi missed six games for Inter Miami during this Major League Soccer season due to muscle injuries with manager Tata Martino limiting the minutes of his star player where able to. When Argentina traveled for a pair of friendlies in the U.S. earlier this year, Messi was a notable absence. Head coach Lionel Scaloni had earlier played down concerns over his captain although admitted he hadn’t yet spoke to him. “I didn’t speak with him after the game,” he said. “He ended up playing through. “You saw he had the 50-meter sprint there with Angel (Di Maria) and Lautaro (Martinez), and it’s the last image I have (in my head). I can’t say more because I haven’t seen him.” Argentina — top of Group A and already qualified for the quarterfinals — are next in action against Peru in Miami on Saturday. GO DEEPERChile 0-1 Argentina: Takeaways as Argentina wins it late (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

SAN DIEGO — A night after the San Diego Padres’ Jurickson Profar delivered a walk-off hit and attracted the ire of the Washington Nationals as he celebrated near the visiting dugout, tempers flared Tuesday between the teams in a benches-clearing incident that preceded more dramatics — including another big hit by Profar. Profar’s sixth-inning grand slam propelled the Padres to a 9-7 victory at Petco Park and continued a storybook season for the 31-year-old, but what happened near the start of the game equally galvanized a club that has stayed afloat despite several key injuries. “What we’ve been dealing with for the last couple weeks leading up to this point, I think this team is more united than ever,” San Diego third baseman Manny Machado said. Benches cleared between the Nationals and Padres in the first inning after words were exchanged between Manny Machado, Jurickson Profar and Keibert Ruiz Profar was then hit by the next pitch and Mike Shildt was ejected pic.twitter.com/rfWzV2UKXQ — Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) June 26, 2024 In the bottom of the first, Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz confronted Profar and put a hand on his shoulder just before the Padres left fielder’s plate appearance. Machado, who was on deck, got in between the two players and put a hand on Ruiz’s shoulder, whereupon both benches and bullpens cleared. Some jostling and more jawing ensued, although no punches were thrown. “I took exception (to being touched on the shoulder),” Profar said. “You can talk, but you can’t touch. But at the same time, I’m in a situation that I got to be smart, and I don’t want to get suspended or thrown out of the game. It wouldn’t be good for my team. We lost Fernando (Tatis Jr.), so I can’t get thrown out.” With order briefly restored, home-plate umpire Brian Walsh issued warnings to both clubs. MacKenzie Gore then hit Profar in the back foot with a first-pitch fastball but was not ejected. Padres manager Mike Shildt stormed onto the field and was promptly ejected by third-base umpire Adam Hamari. “I do think there was zero intent (to hit Profar),” Shildt said. “(Whether) it was, it wasn’t, right after it happened, he hit the same guy it happened to with 98. We got to make a better decision than that.” The early-game action continued to escalate. Moments after Shildt retreated to the clubhouse, Gore’s first pitch to Machado arrived over the plate, and the infielder launched it for a two-run homer to left. Profar gestured to the crowd as he took his time circling the bases in front of Machado. “I think getting the crowd on our side was the biggest accomplishment there,” Machado said. “So I was glad to hit one out of the park for our fans.” The scene recalled the bottom of the 10th in Monday’s series opener. With San Diego trailing by a run and down to its final out, Washington intentionally walked Luis Arraez to load the bases and bring Profar to the plate. Profar, who later said he felt “disrespected” by the move, was further irritated when he went to the ground to avoid a high-and-tight fastball from reliever Hunter Harvey. Profar subsequently drove a two-run single to right-center and gestured demonstratively as his teammates mobbed him not far from the Nationals’ dugout. Profar said afterward, and reiterated Tuesday, that he had been directing his celebration toward the crowd. Still, his actions drew long looks from some Nationals players as they lingered in the dugout. “(Ruiz) didn’t like the celebration yesterday,” Profar said after Tuesday’s game. “They told me he was one of them talking on the top step. And then (Ildemaro) Vargas, I think, and then (Jesse) Winker. But I had no idea (at the time).” Less than 24 hours later, the dramatics resumed. Two innings after the benches cleared and Machado homered, the Nationals took the lead with a four-run frame that was punctuated by a Winker home run. The Padres retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run single by Donovan Solano. In the bottom of the sixth, the Padres loaded the bases with no outs, forcing the Nationals bullpen to pitch to Arraez. Arraez grounded into a force out at home, bringing Profar to the plate. Swinging on a 2-0 count, Profar pulled a drive just inside the right-field foul pole as Petco Park again erupted in celebration. “Baseball gods, man,” said Machado, who voiced his belief that a potential feud between the teams was “squashed” in the first inning. “I mean, look at the baseball gods, how it turns out. You know, keep doing it. Every time they poke that bear, that bear comes in swinging. So keep poking him all you want because he carries us big-time when they do.” Jurickson Profar sends San Diego into a frenzy with a grand slam! 😎 pic.twitter.com/SfSNykyTZW — MLB (@MLB) June 26, 2024 Profar, who re-signed with the Padres in February for a guaranteed mere $1 million, is leading the National League in on-base percentage and second in batting average. His grand slam was his 11th home run of the season and supplied a necessary cushion before the Padres held on for a second consecutive victory over the Nationals. “This guy loves to win,” Machado said of Profar. “He wants to win. He hates to lose. That’s another thing: He hates to lose. So he brings that edge to this team.” “The numbers are huge,” Shildt said. “We’re at where we’re at because of that, but we’re also in a good place overall with a lot of obstacles like most teams have … because of the way he (provides) residual value and how he brings people along with him from a competitive spirit, from his preparation.” Profar, for his part, said he did not care about any extracurriculars from the last two games. “I like to play baseball,” he said. “That’s me. I don’t care about that stuff. Yesterday after that celebration, they told me that there were players upset. I didn’t even know about that. But it is what it is. Who cares. “We’ve been playing really good baseball, man, and every win matters. Every win matters. … We’re gonna come tomorrow and try to win again.” (Photo of an umpire restraining Manny Machado and Jurickson Profar after words were exchanged with Keibert Ruiz: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)

NEW YORK — With less than a second to play in the fourth quarter and the result of Tuesday’s Commissioner’s Cup final all but officially decided, Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams began walking around the UBS Arena floor flashing the money sign. Her teammate, guard Kayla McBride, was at the free throw line about to put the final two points on the Lynx’s 94-89 win over the New York Liberty. The result, as Williams’ gesture alluded, not only marked the organization’s first-ever Commissioner’s Cup championship but also came with a significant payday for the franchise’s players. With a $500,000 payout to the winning team, each player’s bonus for winning the cup (around $40,000) is significantly more than winning the WNBA Finals (around $11,000). Presenting sponsor Coinbase has committed another $120,000 in cryptocurrency with $5,000 guaranteed for each player participating in the final, and there is a significant charity component, too. Five Minnesota players scored in double figures, but it was guard Bridget Carleton who played her best game of the season. She scored 23 points on 8-of-10 shooting and added five assists. Forward Napheesa Collier had 21 points and six rebounds and took home MVP honors. Make that 23 points for Bridget Carleton as she nails her 6th triple, potentially putting the dagger in tonight's matchup 🗣️ 📺 Lynx-Liberty on Prime | WNBA Commissioner's Cup presented by @coinbase pic.twitter.com/weImLXtjD5 — WNBA (@WNBA) June 26, 2024 Collier was among the Lynx bigs who limited Liberty center Jonquel Jones to a season-low three points. Cecilia Zandalasini scored 15 points off the bench, as well. The road win sent a clear message to the rest of the WNBA, and those who follow it: “You gotta talk about us now. You got no choice,” Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said. Added Collier: “It means a lot. I think it’s just a testament to where we’re at this season. This is the best group. The way that we’re jelling. Our personalities just mesh so well.” The Phee-Nom handled business on the court, earning MVP honors 👏 Napheesa Collier poured in 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists to lead the Lynx to victory for the CUP 🏆#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/6RetkM07F6 — WNBA (@WNBA) June 26, 2024 2023 WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart led New York with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while guard Sabrina Ionescu scored 23 points and had 10 assists. Tuesday marked a disappointing result for the Liberty, who were looking to repeat as Commissioner’s Cup champions and playing in front of a decisively pro-Liberty crowd, though not at Barclays Center much to their frustration pregame. The two teams will meet next Thursday in a regular-season game in Brooklyn, giving the Liberty a chance to avenge Tuesday’s defeat. But even a win next week would do little to dampen the significance of Tuesday’s result. Lynx establish themselves as legitimate WNBA Finals contender  Before tipoff, Reeve recognized the significance of even appearing in the Commissioner Cup final. “I think as an organization, this is where we want to be, competing for championships of every kind during the season,” she said. In recent seasons, Reeve said she has had to convince her teams sometimes that they could compete against some of the WNBA’s top competition, but this year’s group has had a self-belief from the beginning of the year. Though Tuesday’s win doesn’t count in the official standings, the Lynx entered the game 13-3, tied for the second-most wins of any team. Tuesday’s victory serves as a statement of what Minnesota is and could be. Despite some first-half defensive struggles, the Lynx received offensive contributions from both starters and key reserves. They fought off New York runs in the fourth quarter and showed why they have the best record in the west to this point. “We answered every run, on the road,” Reeve said. “And that tells you everything about our basketball team and how they feel about each other, their belief in one another. This is my favorite part, this team, they correct things in the the timeout before I get there as the timeout is going on. Their communication is next level.” In each of the last two years, at least one of the teams in the Commissioner’s Cup final has played in that fall’s WNBA Finals. Minnesota is hoping to continue that trend. “If we continue to improve and keep on this trajectory, they need to understand that there’s a great chance we could be in the WNBA Finals,” Reeve said before the game. Minnesota’s defense struggles from 3, stifles Jones All season, the Lynx have clamped down on opposing shooters. Entering Tuesday’s final, Minnesota’s 90.6 defensive rating was not only the best mark in the WNBA this season, but the league’s best mark since 2007. The Lynx also led the WNBA in 3-point defense, allowing opponents to shoot only 27.1 percent from the field. New York, however, was able to both space the floor and take advantage of open opportunities, especially in the first half. The Liberty shot 57.1 percent from 3-point range in the first quarter and shot 53.3 percent by halftime. Their 50 first-half points were also the most points the Lynx had given up in an opening 20 minutes this year. Even still, Minnesota trailed by only 3 points at halftime. The Lynx’s defense stiffened in the second half, allowing only 10 points in the third quarter. And throughout the fourth, Minnesota fought off multiple New York pushes. The key to it all was how they defended Jones. In her last seven games entering Tuesday night, Jones averaged 20.6 points and 8.7 rebounds on 65.6 percent shooting from the field. She attempted only three shots and didn’t score until the 1:21 mark of the fourth quarter. The Lynx fronted her throughout its win, making entry passes difficult. It was another stellar defensive performance on the MVP candidate — Minnesota limited Jones to only four points in its 17-point win over New York on May 25. Turnovers plague Liberty, especially in second half Ionescu continued her hot scoring stretch, shooting 10 of 21 from the field. But she also recorded seven turnovers with three of them coming in the fourth quarter. One of them came on the Liberty’s ensuing offensive possession after Stewart had sliced the Lynx’s lead to one with 6:56 to play. “I personally turned the ball over too much,” Ionescu said. “I think I was sped up as well.” New York finished with 21 turnovers, resulting in 27 points from Minnesota. The Lynx, meanwhile, had only 11 turnovers, resulting in nine Liberty points. “We’re our own worst enemy,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said. “We’re still right there. It’s a great learning experience. We rebounded well, but the turnovers were just an Achilles heel tonight.” Tuesday marked Courtney Vandersloot’s first game since June 4, and she played 13 minutes off the bench in the defeat. How New York re-integrates her into the lineup remains another question, especially after another strong performance from Kayla Thornton. Required reading WNBA power rankings: Chelsea Gray’s return propels defending champion Aces (Photo of Napheesa Collier: Wendell Cruz / USA Today)

Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history, slammed the World Anti-Doping Agency and said athletes have lost faith in the organization’s enforcement of its policies following the Chinese doping scandal. “It can’t reasonably be a coincidence that (WADA) has yet again succumbed to the pressures of international sport,” Phelps told the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation on Tuesday. “Close friends were potentially impacted by (WADA’s) failure to follow its own rules in investigating the nearly two dozen positive tests on Chinese swimmers. Many of them will live with the ‘what ifs’ for the rest of their lives.” Phelps and fellow Olympic swimmer Allison Schmitt testified before the committee following allegations that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned substance seven months before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and were never punished. Phelps medaled a record 28 times in five Games, including 23 gold medals. Schmitt, a four-time gold medalist, was a member of the U.S. 4×200-meter freestyle relay team that finished second to China in Tokyo. “We raced hard. We trained hard. We followed every protocol. We respected their performance and accepted our defeat,” Schmitt said. “But now, learning that the Chinese relay consisted of athletes who had not served a suspension, I look back with doubt. We may never know the truth, and that may haunt many of us for years.” Eleven of the 23 swimmers who tested positive in 2021 are going to compete in the Paris Olympics next month. WADA’s handling of China’s case is under independent review. Phelps said WADA “fell short” and urged Congress to pressure the agency to enforce its policies equally. “As athletes, our faith can no longer be blindly placed in the World Anti-Doping Agency, an organization that continues to prove that it is either incapable or unwilling to enforce its policies consistently around the world,” Phelps said. WADA president Witold Bańka was invited to Tuesday’s hearing but declined to attend. On April 20, reporting from The New York Times and German broadcaster ARD revealed the swimmers tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ), a prescription heart drug that can enhance performance by increasing blood flow to the heart. The swimmers were allowed to compete in the Olympics after WADA accepted China’s findings that suggested the Chinese swimmers unwittingly ingested the substance from food they ate at a hotel in Shijiazhuang, in the country’s Hebei Province. GO DEEPERChinese doping scandal roils Olympic swimming: The latest, and what it means for Paris Chinese investigators did not say how the banned substance got into the hotel’s kitchen. Two months after the swimmers tested positive, investigators reported finding trace amounts of the substance in spice containers, sink drains and extractor vents in the hotel’s kitchen, an explanation that many anti-doping experts question. Questions remain regarding how Chinese authorities handled the samples, which were supposed to be immediately sent to an accredited laboratory that would analyze findings and report them to WADA and World Aquatics, the sport’s international governing body. The results were not reported to the tracking site until two months after the samples were taken. But in the lead-up to Tokyo, there were no suspensions and no public disclosures. WADA didn’t stop any of the swimmers who tested positive from competing in an Olympic qualifying event and ultimately the Olympic Games. The day of the Times’ report, WADA released a lengthy statement defending its decision to accept the conclusions made by the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) — that the swimmers had tested positive in early 2021 for TMZ after inadvertently being exposed to the substance through contamination. The statement emphasized their review process and said that an on-the-ground inquiry was not possible due to COVID-19 restrictions. The United States is the primary funder of WADA, contributing over $3 million of taxpayer money this past year alone. U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart testified Tuesday and called on the U.S. to condition its future WADA funding on reforms at the agency. Required reading Chinese doping scandal roils Olympic swimming: The latest, and what it means for Paris (Photo of Michael Phelps during Tuesday’s testimony: Nathan Howard / Getty Images)

The Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks agreed to a trade that will send former All-Defense member and 20-point scorer Mikal Bridges across the East River, league sources confirmed to The Athletic on Tuesday. The Knicks will send a package that includes Bojan Bogdanović, four unprotected first-round picks, a 2025 protected first-rounder that belongs to the Milwaukee Bucks, a 2028 first-round pick swap and a 2026 second-round pick, sources confirmed to The Athletic. ESPN was first to report the news. In return, New York finally lands the previously faceless star it’s prepared for since the current administration took over in 2020. Bridges will join a group that has championship ambitions, one that finished this past season with 50 wins, a No. 2 seed and a playoff run that ended one victory short of the Eastern Conference finals. Not only that, he will reconnect Jalen Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart as the fourth member of ‘Nova Knicks,’ the quartet of former Villanova stars that has made its way to Madison Square Garden. GO DEEPERGrading the Mikal Bridges trade: Knicks, Nets, Rockets all win? When team president Leon Rose took over the Knicks four years ago, this was the goal: Hold onto the franchise’s first-round picks, acquire ones from other teams and stockpile tradeable contracts all while improving year over year. Trading for Bridges is the final result. He will slide into a starting lineup that is uncertain for next season. The Knicks reigning first unit included Brunson, DiVincenzo, OG Anunoby, Julius Randle and Isaiah Hartensten — but Hartenstein and Anunoby will both become unrestricted free agents on June 30. For now, their futures are uncertain. Others are locked up on the Knicks, too. Hart and Miles McBride begin the first seasons of three-year contract extensions in 2024-25. Mitchell Robinson has a couple of years remaining on his deal, as does Bridges, who the Knicks will pay $23.3 million this season and $24.9 million in the one after that. Bridges adds a two-way presence to a two-way team. He was a deserving All-Defense member in 2022 when he was a highly efficient role player who helped the Phoenix Suns to 64 wins. He developed as an individual scorer in Brooklyn, where he carried a heavier burden after arriving as a centerpiece of the Kevin Durant trade. With the Knicks, his role projects to be somewhere between the spot-up shooter and cutter he was in Phoenix and the first option he became on the other side of the bridge. For more NBA trade news and rumors, follow The Athletic’s live blog. Brunson is coming off a season during which he finished fourth in the league in scoring and sixth in MVP voting. Randle is a two-time All-NBA player. Anunoby, if he returns, will take up shots, though he’s hardly a ball-dominant player. He and Bridges would make up one of the NBA’s scariest defensive wing combinations. Bridges averaged 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists on 44-37-81 shooting this past season in Brooklyn. For the Nets, the deal represents a change in direction. They had swatted away offers for Bridges ever since acquiring him. Following a 50-loss season, they turn to a rebuild that includes a haul of draft picks. The four unprotected first-rounders the Knicks owe the Nets are in 2025, 2027, 2029 and 2031. Brooklyn also owns three unprotected first-round selections belonging to the Phoenix Suns, another belonging to the Dallas Mavericks, a protected 2027 one from the Philadelphia 76ers and a 2028 first-round swap with the Suns. The Bridges trade snaps a 41-year streak. The Knicks and Nets last made a trade with one another in 1983. Required reading Mikal Bridges trade grades: Did Knicks, Nets and Rockets all win? Knicks’ NBA Draft: An Eastern Conference executive evaluates seven prospects Mikal Bridges envisioned his rise far before trade to Nets — it just took a little longer Team USA tour may be the height of Mikal Bridges’ hoops life. And he’s done a lot (Photo: Nathaniel S. Butler / NBAE via Getty Images)

The NCAA Division I Council voted Tuesday to remove cannabinoids from the banned drug class for NCAA championships and postseason football, effective immediately. It’s a major change to a rule that has had high-profile consequences over the past decade. While schools have their own drug testing policies and standards for most of the season, the NCAA controls drug testing in the postseason and historically has had much stiffer penalties than the schools. “The NCAA drug testing program is intended to focus on integrity of competition, and cannabis products do not provide a competitive advantage,” Council chair and Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman said. “The council’s focus is on policies centered on student-athlete health and well-being rather than punishment for cannabis use.” In 2014, Michigan basketball star forward Mitch McGary learned he would be suspended for the entire 2014-15 season due to a positive marijuana test during the 2014 NCAA Tournament. As a result, McGary declared for the NBA Draft and was selected at No. 21 by the Oklahoma City Thunder. The NCAA later that year lessened the penalty for a positive marijuana test to half of a season. In 2019, the NCAA raised the THC threshold for the rule, but three Oklahoma football players were suspended for six games due to positive marijuana tests before the Peach Bowl CFP semifinal game. Those suspensions carried over into the 2020 season. This NCAA change comes as recreational marijuana continues to be legalized across the country and is legal in 24 states. The NBA removed marijuana from the league’s drug-testing program in 2023 as part of a new collective bargaining agreement. Schools will continue to have individual drug tests and policies. Required reading How the House v. NCAA settlement could reshape college sports: What you need to know What to know about House v. NCAA settlement and a historic day for college sports (Photo: Isaiah Vazquez / NCAA Photos via Getty Images)