Sports Digest.

Masters Week Kicks Off as the NHL Playoff Race Heats Up

No Timberwolves, Wild, or other Minnesota team scores appeared in today's coverage, but the Wild's playoff fate is very much in the news. The **Minnesota Wild** are set to face the **Dallas Stars** in the first round ...

Minnesota Teams

No Timberwolves, Wild, or other Minnesota team scores appeared in today's coverage, but the Wild's playoff fate is very much in the news. The Minnesota Wild are set to face the Dallas Stars in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs — so if you're a Wild fan, start getting excited (or nervous). The Wild have earned their postseason spot; now comes the hard part.

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NFL

The big offseason story: Kirk Cousins is being unusually honest about his situation with the Las Vegas Raiders. The veteran quarterback said he only wants to play if he's truly the team's best option — and the Raiders are expected to draft a young QB named Fernando Mendoza. Translation: Cousins may be on his way out before the season even starts.

On a happier note, Sam Darnold — who just led the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl win — got married this week, with teammates Josh Allen and Christian McCaffrey in attendance. The NFL Draft is also two weeks away, so expect a lot of rumor and buzz in the coming days.

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NBA

Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-plus phenom for the San Antonio Spurs, left a game this week with a rib contusion (basically a bruised rib). The concern now is whether he'll play enough games to stay eligible for NBA MVP voting — there's a 65-game minimum. He's been one of the best players in the league this year, so this is worth watching.

Elsewhere, the Chicago Bulls are searching for a new General Manager and are reportedly trying to keep coach Billy Donovan in the process. Teams that are rebuilding — like the Bulls — are being ranked for their odds of making the playoffs next year, which tells you everything about where Chicago stands right now.

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MLB

Sad news to start: Davey Lopes, a beloved former Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman who was a four-time All-Star and part of one of the most famous infields in baseball history, passed away at age 80. He was known for his elite base-stealing and was a key part of the Dodgers' championship teams in the late '70s and '80s.

The regular season is about two weeks old, and ESPN's writers are already making bold early predictions — including a surprise NL East champion and a player you've probably never heard of hitting 50 home runs. It's early, but baseball is officially back in full swing.

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NHL

The Stanley Cup Playoffs picture is nearly set. On the Western side, it's Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild in the first round. In the East, the Washington Capitals are fighting for their playoff lives — they essentially need to win out to sneak in, and a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs has been described as must-win territory.

The power rankings have the Colorado Avalanche as the top team in the league heading into the final stretch, with the Carolina Hurricanes hot on their heels. It's shaping up to be a wide-open playoff.

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College Sports

Big celebration in Los Angeles: the UCLA women's basketball team held a victory rally at Pauley Pavilion after winning the NCAA championship. Star player Lauren Betts led the festivities — it's the program's first women's basketball title, so the campus was understandably going wild.

The NCAA is reportedly discussing a 5-year eligibility model that would factor in a player's age. This is a big deal in college sports, where transfer rules and eligibility have been a constant debate — it could reshape how long athletes stay in school programs.

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Other Sports

The Masters tees off this week at Augusta National in Augusta, Georgia — it's golf's most prestigious tournament and the first "major" of 2026. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is the favorite, with Jon Rahm surging up the odds board as the first round approaches. Sixteen players will be making their Masters debut, which is always a fun storyline to follow.

In soccer, Liverpool lost 2-0 to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League (Europe's top club competition) and are now on the verge of elimination. Coach Arne Slot has been criticized for a questionable tactical decision that may end Liverpool's European run early.

Sources

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