FISU reinforces its commitment to the World University Sports Movement - FISU

The Los Angeles Lakers waived their 2024 first-round pick Dalton Knecht on Monday, the team announced. The Lakers had 16 players under contract and needed to cut down to 15 -- the most an NBA roster can carry -- by Monday's 5 p.m. ET deadline. Knecht was selected with the No. 17 pick in 2024 after a standout junior season at the University of Tennessee. The 6-foot-6 wing enjoyed a hot start to his pro career -- including one nine-game stretch from mid- to late November his rookie season when he averaged 18.9 points on 55.4% shooting (52.2% from 3), 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists -- but struggled to replicate that success since. In February 2025, the Lakers traded Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap to the Charlotte Hornets for center Mark Williams, but the trade was rescinded after Williams failed the physical exam. Knecht finished his rookie season averaging 9.1 points on 46.1% shooting (37.6% from 3) and 2.8 rebounds in 19.2 minutes across 78 games. In his second year, his playing time was cut to 10.2 minutes in 54 games and he averaged 4.2 points on 45.5% shooting (34.2% from 3) and 1.4 rebounds.

Forty-one matches, nearly four years and one Rugby World Cup triumph - but the Red Roses' unbeaten streak is over. It fell to the experienced Amy Cokayne to face the press this week after England lost their first match since 2022 against Canada. "You can't dwell on it," said the Sale hooker, who has 95 international caps. "We weren't a million miles away, so it's not like we have to completely throw the book out - nothing needs to massively change to the way we play. "As with every team in the women's game, the Red Roses have dominated Canada over recent years. Before this autumn, the two teams had met seven times this decade. England had won every match, with an average victory margin of nearly 22 points. But that rivalry is nowhere near as comfortable for the Red Roses now. After a 26-26 draw at Exeter's Sandy Park in September, Canada ended England's long unbeaten run with a 24-21 victory in Toronto on Friday. So how have Canada managed to close the gap on the world champions? And how will the Red Roses react to their first loss under head coach John Mitchell?

The 2026 Heritage Classic will be a sight to see.