A supporter of Argentina’s national team holds up a photograph of Diego Maradona following Argentina’s victory over England in a World Cup semifinal match on Wednesday, July 16, 2026, in Rosario, Argentina, the birthplace of soccer legend Lionel Messi. Messi assisted on both of Argentina’s late goals in a 2-1 win. (Sebastián López Brach/The New York Times) By TARIQ PANJA On the face of it, the mission was clear: Win two games, a World Cup semifinal and final. Since England’s

Former major leaguer Mark Reynolds when he played for the Baltimore Orioles (2011 and 2012). The league record for strikeouts in a season, 223, set by Reynolds in 2009 when he was with the Arizona Diamondbacks, still stands. (Wikimedia Commons/Keith Allison; httpscreativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en) By SAM BLUM / THE ATHLETIC Anger and frustration seemed to emanate from Mark Reynolds every time he was asked about his strikeout total during the 2009 season. He had s

Back-to-back baskets in the paint by Thomas Robinson (36) put the Leones of Ponce ahead for good with less than a minute to play in their Conference B semifinal game against the Atléticos of San Germán on Tuesday night. Ponce outlasts San Germán, Santurce rallies to beat Caguas in OT By THE STAR STAFF The Leones of Ponce and the Cangrejeros of Santurce both notched road victories on Tuesday night in the National Superior Basketball (BSN by its initials in Spanish) league semi

Jassel Pérez had 20 points and seven rebounds to lead the Vaqueros of Bayamón over the Gigantes of Carolina 101-78 in Game 3 of their National Superior Basketball league semifinal series on Monday night. (Alexa Alejandro) By THE STAR STAFF The Vaqueros of Bayamón used a dominant second half to defeat the Gigantes of Carolina 101-78 in Game 3 of the National Superior Basketball (BSN by its initials) Conference A semifinals at Rubén Rodríguez Coliseum in Bayamón on Monday night

Hailey Guerrero and the Valencianas of Juncos will be seeking the second title in the franchise’s history when they take on the Prodigiosas of Sabana Grande in the Women’s Premier Softball League Crown Series. Game 1 is Thursday night in Juncos. By THE STAR STAFF The 2026 Women’s Premier Softball League (LPSF by its initials in Spanish) Crown Series will begin this Thursday when the Valencianas of Juncos host the Prodigiosas of Sabana Grande. The first game of the best-of-sev

Volunteers carry the flags of Norway and England off the pitch after the pre-match ceremony of the World Cup soccer match between England and Norway in Miami Gardens, Fla., July 11, 2026. (Scott McIntyre/The New York Times) By PATRICIA MAZZEI A little more than five hours before kickoff at the World Cup quarterfinal between Norway and England on Saturday, the crew in charge of the pre-match ceremony at the Hard Rock Stadium near Miami faced an unexpected problem. The England

Argentina fans celebrate at Lidia and Luis Peve’s home in Provo, Utah, as Lionel Messi scores a second goal in a World Cup match on June 22, 2026. (Loren Elliott/The New York Times) By TARIQ PANJA Lionel Messi is perhaps the biggest draw in all of sports right now. With him playing in what is almost certainly his final World Cup, each game could be the last on the most vaunted of stages for the 39-year-old Argentine captain. But in Argentina’s quarterfinal victory over Switze

Jezreel de Jesús again led the Leones of Ponce with 31 points and six rebounds. By THE STAR STAFF The Cangrejeros of Santurce and the Leones of Ponce both earned double-digit victories on Sunday in the National Superior Basketball (BSN by its initials in Spanish) league semifinals. The Cangrejeros defeated the Criollos of Caguas 98-77 at Roberto Clemente Coliseum in Hato Rey, tying the Group A series at 1-1. After the first quarter ended tied at 22, the home team prevailed in

Chris McCullough, right, had a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds in his debut to help the Vaqueros of Bayamón beat the Capitanes of Arecibo 83-79 on Saturday to even their National Superior Basketball Conference B semifinal series at a game apiece. By THE STAR STAFF The Santeros of Aguada and the Vaqueros of Bayamón were winners on Saturday night in a pair of National Superior Basketball (BSN by its initials in Spanish) postseason semifinal games. At Ismael “Chaval

Leanne Matthews went 4-for-4 with two home runs, four RBIs and two runs scored as the Valencianos of Juncos beat the Leonas of Ponce 7-0 to advance to the Women’s Premier Softball League Crown Series. By THE STAR STAFF The Valencianas of Juncos and the Prodigiosas of Sabana Grande both earned victories on Saturday to qualify for the 2026 Crown Series of the Women’s Premier Softball League. Juncos eliminated the Leonas of Ponce with a 7-0 win at Toño Feliciano Park in Ponce, c