Sports Desk

Lakers scoring phenom Luka Doncic missed his first game of the young season with back tightness, leaving a giant hole in their offense with the NBA’s leading scorer (36 points per game) sitting out.

Lakers defensive star Ziaire Williams also missed his first game with left foot soreness, leaving them even more depleted with two starters unable to play.

The Lakers added a lot of depth over the summer in case of injury situations and now it was going to be tested against the Clippers at Intuit Dome.

Collin Sexton is one of the players the Lakers acquired for a moment like Wednesday, and he delivered in a big way, coming off the bench to provide energy and effort in helping the Lakers take a 103-87 victory over the Clippers.

“Sometimes it’s hard to get his attention because he gets locked in, he gets in the zone,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said about Sexton. “I love the competitive fire.”

Sexton was at his best in the third quarter, scoring 11 of his 21 points, flexing and pounding his chest after a made basket. His play helped the Lakers open a 22-point lead they never lost.

He was four for five from the field in the third, six for 11 for the game. He was two for three from three-point range in the third, four for seven for the game. He also had four rebounds and two assists.

His intensity was on display during a moment when Sexton glared and snared at Clippers guard Cam Christie.

“Honestly, I would say when I step between those lines, it’s us against them,” Sexton said. “I’m going to do whatever my team needs for me. I feel like I turn into a different person when it’s time to go. And I think my teammates know that, so they try to talk to me a little bit, but they know I’m in the zone and ready to go to war. And that’s how I look at it. Whenever I step between those lines, it’s war time. So, that’s how I look at it, for sure.”

Quentin Grimes (23 points), Matisse Thybulle (15) and Austin Reaves (16 points) did their part to help the Lakers improve to 4-1.

Doncic and Williams played against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, but they couldn’t go in the back-to-back game.

“Both those guys woke up with some soreness and tightness today — tightness for Luka, soreness for Ziaire,” Redick said. “We have a tough stretch of games. Not a lot of time between [games so] just being overly cautious.”

The Lakers next play at the Golden State Warriors on Friday, their fourth game in six days.

Redick was asked if Doncic and Williams would be available for that game.

“That’s the hope,” he said.

Redick turned to Jarred Vanderbilt, who didn’t play in the first four games, and Jaden Hardy, who played in the first game of the season, to help the shorthanded Lakers in their time of need. Vanderbilt played 21 minutes and had seven rebounds. Hardy played nine minutes and had two points.

“Vando’s always going to play hard,” Redick said. “He’s always going to impact the game with just his effort, and I thought he did that tonight.

The Clippers, however, have their own injuries to worry about.

Clippers forward Rui Hachimura (left quad soreness) missed his first game of the season, joining Bradley Beal (right knee injury management), Brandon Ingram (right heel surgery), Jordan Miller (left rotator cuff surgery), Yanic Konan Niederhauser (right lisfranc surgery) and Max Strus (right plantar fascia partial tear) on the injury report.

The Lakers signed center Lawson Lovering to a two-way contract Wednesday and waived two-way forward AK Okereke.

So much has happened over the past seven days, including cupsets, the Ballon d’Or ceremony and a very strange player-of-the-match prize.

About 11% of quizzers got full marks in last week’s edition. Will you make the grade this week?

After more quizzes? Go to our dedicated Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes pages and sign up for notifications to get the latest quizzes sent straight to your device.

Oct. 28, 2026 11:14 PM PT

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS TENNIS

CITY SECTION PLAYOFFS
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
At Balboa Tennis Center
Finals

OPEN DIVISION
#1 Palisades 20, #2 Granada Hills 9.5

THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE
(Matches at 12:30 p.m. unless noted)
Quarterfinals

DIVISION I
#8 Eagle Rock at #1 GALA
#5 SOCES at #4 Chatsworth
#8 North Hollywood at #3 Venice
#10 L.A. Marshall at #2 El Camino Real

DIVISION II
#9 Fairfax at #1 Granada Hills Kennedy
#12 New West at #4 South East
#6 South Gate at #3 Wilmington Banning
#7 Downtown Magnets at #2 LACES

Note: Division I-II semifinals Monday, Nov. 2 at 12:30 p.m. at higher seeds; Division I-II finals Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 11 .a.m. at higher seeds.

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

CITY SECTION PLAYOFFS
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
Quarterfinals

OPEN DIVISION
#1 Venice d. #8 Eagle Rock, 25-22, 25-16, 26-24
#4 Taft d. #5 El Camino Real, 14-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-14
#3 Cleveland d. #6 Granada Hills, 25-12, 25-21, 25-19
#2 Palisades d. #7 Chatsworth, 25-22, 25-20, 25-14

Second Round

DIVISION III
#17 RFK Community d. #1 Franklin, 26-24, 25-19, 26-24
#9 Marquez d. #8 Animo De La Hoya, 21-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-6
#12 Harbor Teacher d. #5 Annenberg, 25-13, 25-11, 25-23
#4 Wilmington Banning d. #13 Port of L.A., 27-25, 25-22, 25-22
#19 Sun Valley Magnet at #3 Narbonne
#11 Larchmont Charter d. #6 Stern, 25-20, 25-22, 15-25, 25-20
#7 Math & Science College d. #10 Brio College Prep, 25-15, 25-16, 25-27, 25-16
#18 L.A. Wilson d. #2 Lake Balboa College Prep, 25-14, 21-25, 25-18, 26-24

DIVISION IV
#1 Santee d. #17 Los Angeles, 25-22, 29-27, 25-13
#8 Arleta d. Middle College, 25-12, 25-10, 25-20
#12 Fairfax d. #5 Bell, 25-23, 27-25, 25-16
#4 Community Charter d. #20 Downtown Magnets, 25-22, 21-25, 25-21, 25-16
#3 Huntington Park d. #14 Hollywood, 25-8, 25-17, 25-17
#11 Canoga Park d. #6 WISH Academy, 25-9, 25-20, 25-20
#7 Legacy d. #10 Monroe, 25-8, 24-26, 25-16, 25-17
#2 Garfield d. #15 Jefferson, 25-21, 18-25, 25-13, 25-22

DIVISION V
#1 Elizabeth d. #16 Orthopaedic, 25-6, 18-25, 25-20, 25-18
#8 San Fernando Arroyo d. #9 USC Hybrid, 3-0
#21 Discovery d. #5 Magnolia Science Academy, 25-12, 25-22, 25-20
#4 Animo Pat Brown d. #13 Camino Nuevo, 25-20, 25-18, 13-25, 28-26
#14 Smidt Tech d. #3 Burton, 3-0
#6 Angelou d. #11 Diego Rivera
#7 Lakeview Charter d. #10 Van Nuys, 25-19, 25-15, 19-25, 25-23
#15 Manual Arts d. #2 Stella, 25-14, 15-25, 25-16, 25-18

THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE
(Matches at 4 p.m. unless noted)
Quarterfinals

DIVISION I
#9 North Hollywood at #1 SOCES
#5 L.A. University at #4 San Pedro
#14 L.A. Marshall at #11 Lincoln
#7 Sun Valley Poly at #2 Granada Hills Kennedy

DIVISION II
#8 Carson at #1 South East
#13 Panorama at #5 Alliance Levine
#14 South Gate at #11 Maywood CES
#15 Reseda at #7 Verdugo Hills

FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
(Matches at 4 p.m. unless noted)
Quarterfinals

DIVISION III
#17 RFK Community at #9 Marquez
#12 Harbor Teacher at #4 Wilmington Banning
#11 Larchmont Charter vs. #19 Sun Valley Magnet / #3 Narbonne
#18 L.A. Wilson at #18 Math & Science College Prep

DIVISION IV
#8 Arleta at #1 Santee
#12 Fairfax at #4 Community Charter
#11 Canoga Park at #3 Huntington Park
#7 Legacy at #2 Garfield

DIVISION V
#8 San Fernando Arroyo at #1 Elizabeth
#21 Discovery at #4 Animo Pat Brown
#14 Smidt Tech at #6 Angelou
#15 Manual Arts at #7 Lakeview Charter

Note: Semifinals (all divisions) Tues., Nov. 3 at higher seeds; Finals (all divisions) Fri., Nov. 6 or Sat., Nov. 7 (times and sites TBD).

HIGH SCHOOL FLAG FOOTBALL

SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS
Third Round

OPEN DIVISION
Pool A
#1 JSerra 39, #8 Edison 7

Pool B
#2 Newport Harbor 14, #7 Westlake 7

Pool C
#6 Woodbridge 26, #3 Orange Lutheran 20 (OT)

Pool D
#5 Mater Dei at #4 Huntington Beach

Byes: #9 Lakewood St. Joseph; #10 Downey; #11 Dos Pueblos; #12 Sierra Canyon

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE
(Games at 5 p.m. unless noted)
Semifinals

OPEN DIVISION
#4 Huntington Beach at #1 JSerra (time TBA)
#6 Woodbridge at #2 Newport Harbor (time TBA)

DIVISION 1
El Toro at Oxnard, 2 p.m.
Palos Verdes at Corona del Mar

DIVISION 2
Segerstrom at Gahr, 6 p.m.
Chaminade at San Clemente

DIVISION 3
South Torrance at Quartz Hill
Valencia at California, 2 p.m.

DIVISION 4
Hemet at West Ranch
Santa Paula at Cerritos Valley Christian, 1 p.m.

DIVISION 5
Loma Linda Academy at Village Christian, Friday at 3 p.m.
Westridge at Peninsula, 2:30 p.m.

DIVISION 6
Heritage at Mountain View, 3 p.m.
St. Monica at St. Bonaventure, 12 p.m.

Note: Finals (all divisions) Saturday, Nov. 7 at Huntington Beach High.

One of the main reasons behind Estevao’s exile has been the form of Pedro Neto.

It was only a couple of months ago that Portugal international Neto looked destined to leave Chelsea, only two years after joining from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The 26-year-old was linked with a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, but he ultimately remained at Stamford Bridge.

That decision appears to have been influenced by Alonso, who has underlined his faith in Neto by handing him seven starts in eight Premier League matches this season.

His success out on the right – which also happens to be Estevao’s favoured position – has meant opportunities have been few and far between for the Brazilian.

He has primarily been deployed as a right-sided wing-back in Alonso’s 3-4-2-1 system, with his Premier League experience and greater defensive solidity compared to Estevao seemingly winning over the Spaniard.

After an impressive start to the campaign, in which he has scored four goals in 11 matches, Neto was rewarded with a new six-year deal at Stamford Bridge.

“He’s a player who is a little bit of a victim of the system,” former Reading midfielder Jobi McAnuff told Sky Sports.

“Alonso tends to play Neto in that hybrid wing-back role, expecting him to get high up the pitch as well. Maybe he doesn’t feel that suits Estevao, and I don’t feel it does either.”

One area that has not been a problem for the Blues this season is attack, with the forward positions firmly in the hands of Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer and Rogers, who has made a spectacular start to life at Stamford Bridge following his £117m move from Aston Villa.

Against Liverpool, though, Estevao couldn’t even get a look-in despite Chelsea being without the suspended Palmer and the injured Joao Pedro.

“How Estevao has not got on the pitch tonight, I do not know,” said former Crystal Palace forward Clinton Morrison.

“He must be thinking, ‘What do I have to do? We have injuries to two of the star players up front, and I’m still not getting on the pitch’.”

Estevao will be hoping he can follow in the footsteps of Neto and revive his Stamford Bridge career.

The pros and cons of a stuttering run-up are under debate after two crucial penalty misses in the Carabao Cup last 16.

Chelsea midfielder Valentin Barco missed the Blues’ fourth penalty in their entertaining shootout defeat by Liverpool when he hit the post after a stuttered run-up.

Xabi Alonso’s side would be in the EFL Cup quarter-finals had he scored, but they crashed out as defender Wesley Fofana sent one in sudden death high into the Kop at Anfield.

Barco’s miss came after Arsenal midfielder Bruno Guimaraes had his spot-kick saved after a similar ‘stutter’ run-up as the Gunners crashed out against League Two Fleetwood Town on Tuesday night.

Both were shown how to do it by Liverpool defender Joe Gomez – a player who has never scored a senior goal in 319 professional appearances – who rifled the winning penalty into the top corner after a simple run-up.

Players opt for the stutter in a bid to trick the goalkeeper into giving them a clue as to which way they will dive.

The problem is it can backfire spectacularly if the goalkeeper holds their nerve or – in Barco’s case – the taker fails to hit the target.

Former Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta told ITV: “Every player picks his style where he feels confident, and for Valentin Barco, I believe that is his way of shooting it. I don’t believe that was his first time, I hope not!”

The ‘stutter’ penalty became a theme of this year’s World Cup. There were 26 at the summer’s tournament but 11 were missed.

The stop-start run-up technique does not have a strict definition but a player is allowed, under Fifa rules, to stop or feint in the run-up as long as they don’t do it directly before kicking the ball.

Even Harry Kane tried it in the summer and missed. His stuttering run-up led to Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saving his penalty in England’s 4-2 win.

But because Livakovic came off his line early, Kane got a retake and smashed it home with a straightforward approach.

Arsenal and Brazil midfielder Guimaraes was one of those 11 to miss at the World Cup but did not change his approach at Fleetwood.

Some players have used it to their advantage. Brazil icon Pele was famous for it while Cristiano Ronaldo has used it with both success and failure.

Manchester United‘s Bruno Fernandes, former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Jorginho and Wolves striker Raul Jimenez are others who often use the ‘stutter’ style.

“I wouldn’t allow it if I was a manager,” former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy told TalkSport on Wednesday after Arsenal‘s defeat the night before.

“It is ridiculous, self-indulgence, a player trying to be the centre of attention.

“When they do the stutter they think the keeper might go, but they aren’t going that early, they aren’t being tricked any more. It is naive.”

But former Liverpool and Chelsea full-back Glen Johnson had a different view and pointed to the fact that Barco missed by mere inches.

“I like the technique,” he told ITV. “It gives the players a bit of time.

“W what confused me about that one [from Barco] is usually players are watching the keeper. He has moved, he has got it right and gone the right way but lifted it in the air for no reason.

“You have the whole goal to shoot at and that is the surprising part. He has already beaten the goalkeeper, he doesn’t have to hit it into the top corner.

“If he puts that ball three inches to the right you would say it is the best penalty you have seen.”

For the 15th time in the last 16 years, Palisades and Granada Hills met for the City Section Open Division girls’ tennis championship Wednesday afternoon.

For the second year in a row, Palisades came out on top, winning eight of nine doubles sets (each worth one and a half points) in the round-robin format on its way to a 20-9.5 victory at Balboa Sports Center in Encino.

It was the 31st City title for the top-seeded Dolphins (21-5), who clinched the championship when their No. 1 doubles team of Remy Trepanier and Penelope Mihal beat the Highlanders’ No. 3 duo of Nicole Khachatourians and Sammi Cho 6-1 to earn Palisades’ 15th point

“We lost our top seven players from last year but these girls worked hard and improved,” Palisades coach Robert Silvers said. “I’m really proud of them.”

Palisades and Granada Hills have combined to win the last 25 upper division crowns (14 by Palisades and 11 by Granada Hills) and since the debut of the Open Division in 2017, Palisades has won the four-team bracket seven times and Granada Hills three.

Mihal and Trepanier dropped only five games in three sets, the Dolphins’ No. 2 pair of Brienne Dominguez and Nina Arasteh swept 7-5, 6-4, 6-1 and the third tandem of McKenna Adham and Sonia Shirley sandwiched a pair of 6-4 wins around a 6-3 defeat to the Highlanders’ No.1 team of Iris Huang and Christina Surmabukian.

Granada Hills High’s No. 2 singles player Ayah Vilien hits a forehand return Wednesday at Balboa Sports Center.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

The schools split the 16 singles sets (each worth one point). The Dolphins’ No. 1 player Aila Monahan and No. 2 player Charlie Roberts each won three sets before being subbed out for the last round with a second straight title already secure.

Palisades ended Granada Hills’ three-peat bid with a 25-4.5 finals win last fall.

“We expect to play Pali in the finals every year and it’s always a good match,” Granada Hills coach Troy Aiken said.

Ernie Johnson, the bow-tie-wearing, peace-keeping host of “Inside the NBA,” is leaving the show after 37 years.

“It’s just time,” the 70-year-old broadcaster said in a video posted Wednesday on social media.

“So why now? Total honesty here. I’ve always prided myself on my preparation, the hours I put in every day getting ready for the next show. I’ve always loved that part of my job, but I’ve always vowed that if that ever became more of a challenge than it is a joy, then I’ll know it’s time to step away. And now, after 37 seasons, it’s time.”

“Inside the NBA” started on TNT in 1989, and Johnson became host the following season. Over the years, he was joined by analysts Kenny Smith (1998), Charles Barkley (2000) and Shaquille O’Neal (2011) in a lineup that has become beloved to generations of basketball fans — so much so that the show switched over to ESPN when TNT lost its NBA rights.

“Few people have shaped the way fans experience the NBA as profoundly as Ernie Johnson,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “His brilliance as a broadcaster is matched by his character, compassion and generosity, which have been evident throughout his 37 years as host of ‘Inside the NBA.’ We are grateful for Ernie’s extraordinary impact on our league and look forward to celebrating him during his final season.”

Johnson repeated his announcement to open the crew’s appearance on ESPN’s “NBA Tip-Off” on Wednesday, then asked a clearly emotional Barkley how he was doing.

“That was tough,” Barkley said. “We knew the day was coming — still tough. Been here for 26, 27 years, and it’s been an honor and a privilege to work with you all this time, and Kenny and Shaq and the amazing people behind the scenes. …

“It’s been an amazing journey. You’ve been our leader. Our unquestionable leader. The question I’m asked the most … is, is Ernie Johnson as good a person as he seems? And I say, man, he’s better than that. So I just want to say thank you. Thank you for being our leader for all these years. … All I can say, Ernie, is thank you.”

Smith gave Johnson a standing ovation, and O’Neal said Johnson was the reason he joined the crew.

“You are the controller of this thing people call the circus — the best circus in town, but without you, it’s going to be very, very difficult,” O’Neal said. “Chuck made a great point. All we can say is thank you, and we appreciate you. We’re gonna miss you, and we will see you around, but thanks for the great run.”

In a video posted on X, Golden State Warriors forward and frequent “Inside the NBA” guest Draymond Green perfectly summed up Johnson’s role on the show.

“He is the best point guard I’ve ever played with — that’s no disrespect to the great Steph Curry,” Green said in a video posted Wednesday on X. “Ernie Johnson on a set is as incredible as they come. He sees everything. He’s like, ‘Man, this guy hasn’t spoke for a while. Let me toss it to him. Man, this conversation is going off the rails a little bit’ — as it can on that show — ‘let me rein it back in.’ … This guy is amazing.”

Johnson also shared that he’s been dealing with “heart issues” for almost two years, including undergoing bypass surgery two months ago, and that it was a “contributing factor” in his decision.

“Still trying to get this thing to beat exactly the way it should, and we’re getting it,” Johnson said. “I mean, I feel great. So this isn’t a case where my doctor said you need to stop working. It’s nothing like that. But here’s the deal: Going through that has made me treasure even more every second with my amazing wife of 44 years, Cheryl Ann, and being Poppy to our five grandchildren. So I just want to slow down a bit, spend more time enjoying that.

“Just to be clear, I’m not retiring; just cutting back. I’ll still do March Madness and other projects for TNT and CBS, and I’ve just started a new production company called 32 Bowties, geared toward telling feel-good stories in sports. So this is by no means the end. It’s just a turning of the page.”

Manchester City won the WSL title impressively last season but externally, there was an expectation Chelsea would bounce back.

Bompastor was more cautious, insisting they were still transitioning after the departures of big-name players including Sam Kerr, Millie Bright and Guro Reiten.

She said: “You need to consider the fact that Chelsea had the same coach for 12 years. It takes a while for players to adjust to a new coach, a new way of playing and a philosophy.

“Even if you have really good players, it doesn’t just go like this. There are a lot of things we are doing behind the scenes for us to stay successful.

“I was lucky enough to come in when [Hayes] left the team in a really good place. But last season we had a year where a lot of important players left.”

But captain Erin Cuthbert said she was “not really” surprised at how good their level has been so far.

“We had a good time to build in pre-season and a good trip away. The quality was always there, we just weren’t clicking,” she added.

“Manchester City ran away with the league in the end, but we were there or thereabouts. I feel this time the team’s just gone up another level.”

As well as adapting more to Bompastor’s ways, and adding defensive solidity to a creative frontline, work has gone into improving the club’s culture.

Cuthbert said before Wednesday’s win there was “really good momentum and a good feeling” in the squad – so can they kick on now?

“For me, the mental aspects and cultural aspects are just as important,” admitted Bompastor.

“We probably needed to rebuild a little bit of that going into this new season. We reflected a lot on how we wanted to set up the process for that.

“Right now, we are in a good place. When you are able to get good results, it’s not only about the tactical aspects. It also has to be about mentality, culture and values.

“I think we have clarity on where we want to go as a team and how we want to get there, and that’s just as important.”

The Rams are suddenly paying special attention to special teams — and they are turning to former players for help.

On Wednesday, the Rams signed to the practice squad kicker Joshua Karty and long-snapper Jake McQuaide — both of whom played previously for the Rams — and linebacker Jon Rhattigan.

The moves came after the Rams gave up significant kick returns in their 35-21 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, the latest miscues in a season that has featured a seemingly nonstop array of special teams issues.

The Rams (3-4) play the winless Chargers (0-6) on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.

The Rams have already gone through three kickers this season. Harrison Mevis, who replaced Karty midway through the 2025 season, was released a few weeks ago and the Rams signed Blake Grupe. But in his first game against the Arizona Cardinals, Grupe suffered a knee injury making a tackle on a kick return. The Rams signed veteran Brandon McManus, who kicked five extra points against the Raiders.

“Thought McManus did a really good job last week,” coach Sean McVay said. “but we’re looking at just being able to add value to our specialists with the different situations that have occurred.”

Karty, 24, was a sixth-round draft pick by the Rams in 2024. He made 29 of 34 field-goal attempts as a rookie but struggled in 2025. The Philadelphia Eagles blocked two kicks — returning one for a touchdown on the final play — and Karty had made only 10 of 15 field-goal attempts before the Rams released him and signed Mevis. Karty was signed to the practice squad, but the Arizona Cardinals signed him to their roster and eventually released him.

Would McVay consider having two kickers on the 48-man game-day roster?

“You’ve gotta really ask yourself, ‘OK, does that really make sense? Does it fit?” McVay said, “And there’s a lot of layers to it, so I wouldn’t be ready to answer that question yet.”

McQuaide, 38, is a 15-year veteran who played his first 10 seasons with the Rams, most as part of a special teams triumvirate that included kicker Greg Zuerlein and punter Johnny Hekker. The Rams reacquired McQuaide midway through the 2025 season to replace Alex Ward.

The Rams signed McQuaide on Wednesday because long-snapper Joe Cardona suffered an ankle injury against the Raiders, McVay said.

“Good contingency plans if need be,” McVay said.

Rhattigan, 27, has played for Seattle, Arizona, Pittsburgh and Las Vegas, almost exclusively on special teams.

“We’re looking to just increase and just figure out ways to improve some of the areas that need to be improved upon,” McVay said, adding, “This is a case of, he’s had success, coached against him, and if need be, if you’re in a flex-up situation, he would be a guy that would be in consideration because of the value he provides special teams-wise.”

Etc.

The Rams will not start the clock this week on edge rusher Myles Garrett and tight end Terrance Ferguson to return from injured reserve, McVay said. Garrett is “making good progress” and his situation is a “week-to-week basis, McVay said. … Receiver Davante Adams is recovering from a procedure to address his injured hamstring and is “doing really well,” McVay said. Adams was initially projected to be sidelined for six to 10 weeks. “I think based on how everything went, on the shorter end is what is projected,” McVay said. … Cardona, center Coleman Shelton (hip) and tight end Colby Parkinson (rib) were not scheduled to practice Wednesday, McVay said.

Already accused by his wife of sexually assaulting her, Marcellus Wiley is the defendant in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging that he raped a 22-year-old USC student in 1999.

Wiley, a former NFL defensive end and longtime sports media personality, also has been accused by three women of sexual misconduct when he was a student at Columbia University in 1994 and by four additional women of similar criminal behavior from 1995 to 2009.

Those filings support a motion-seeking class-action status against Wiley and Columbia by one of the accusers, who filed her initial complaint in 2023 alleging that Wiley raped her in his Columbia dorm room in November 1994 after inviting her to study. She claimed university officials discouraged her from going to the police and handled the matter internally.

The filing Tuesday alleges that “Jane Doe” met Wiley in February 1999 and went on two dates with him. The lawsuit states that she told Wiley — who had just completed his third season with the Buffalo Bills — that she was sexually inexperienced and not interested in a romantic relationship. Nevertheless, she accompanied him to a L.A. nightclub and agreed to spend the night in his hotel room. Doe alleged that Wiley raped her after she fell asleep fully clothed.

“Jane told Wiley to stop and repeated ‘Please stop’ several times and told him, ‘You’re not listening to me,’” the lawsuit states.

While driving Doe to her dorm room, Wiley suggested that she be tested for a sexually transmitted disease because he “had the clap,” according to the filing. She claims they never spoke again.

Doe wrote that she filed a police report after a rape kit tested positive for Wiley’s semen. More than a month later she claims the district attorney’s office informed her that Wiley denied Doe’s allegations and that, “therefore, no charges would be filed.” Doe is suing Wiley for sexual battery, assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Wiley responded to the lawsuit by pointing to MenTooProject.org, a digital advocacy movement and platform he launched in August after the State of Florida declined to file charges against him following a July 4 domestic dispute with his estranged wife, Annemarie Wiley. She alleged that he poked her in the face and threatened to kill her in front of their 7-year-old daughter. Wiley denied the allegations.

The project, a spin-off of the #MenToo awareness campaign that gained widespread traction in India in 2019, invites men to “join us in the fight for truth, fairness, and justice,” Wiley wrote on the website. “My grandmother told me the truth always outruns a lie. She taught me not to chase the lie, just give the truth time to catch it.”

Wiley, 51, frequently addresses the allegations against him on his YouTube channel, “Dat Dude TV.”

“Pick a date, pick the encounter, pick the allegation. For every one of them, I either saw, communicated through email, text, phone, was invited by these individuals after these dates to engage, to be intimate, or all of the above, after the dates that are in question,” Wiley said in a May 2006 episode.

In a court filing two months later requesting a temporary restraining order, Annemarie Wiley accused him of raping her four separate times. The first alleged instance occurred in 2012 when they were dating and the other three allegedly took place in January 2026. Annemarie, a nurse anesthetist and former cast member of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” was granted the order as well as full custody of their children. She filed for divorce the same day.

In Sepember, a judge granted her request to extend the restraining order for three years. The July 4 episode that triggered the restraining order resulted in Wiley’s arrest, but a month later the Orange County State Attorney’s Office dropped criminal charges, stating that testimonial evidence lacked corroborating physical or other evidence required to pursue a conviction.

Wiley, who grew up in Compton and played 10 years in the NFL including three with the Chargers, defended himself publicly through a long social media post that read in part, “I owe it to my children to truthfully document what they and I have endured. To do that, I must address the lies Annemarie has told about me by telling the truth about her and our marriage.

“Over the years, I have compiled videos, photographs, text messages, emails, and other evidence that directly contradicts those baseless claims and provides a factual record of our family and the events leading to this unfortunate divorce,” he wrote.

Wiley has repeatedly lamented that the allegations, lawsuits and media reports could have a negative impact on his young son and two daughters. He pointed out on social media in May that three sexual assault claims were dismissed in New York County court in September 2025, while suggesting that his son, Marcellus Wiley Jr., could suffer from the allegations.

“To me, it’s about my son’s name, that he will one day Google and think this is about him, but he’s gonna know it’s about his dad,” he said on “Dat Dude TV” in May. “And how dare you stain the brain of my child.”

Former NBA player Malik Beasley has agreed to a plea deal months after initially pleading not guilty to federal charges tied to his alleged involvement in a gambling ring.

Beasley is expected to enter a guilty plea during a Dec. 9 hearing, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York confirmed in an email to The Times.

The NBA journeyman, who spent half of the 2022-2023 season with the Lakers, and several others were charged this summer with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bribery in sporting contests, honest services wire fraud conspiracy and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Beasley entered a not guilty plea to all charges on July 1.

It is not clear the charges to which Beasley will be entering a guilty plea.

Beasley has been accused of illegally manipulating his performance in NBA games to ensure gamblers won prop bets on at least four occasions while he was playing for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023-2024. According to the indictment, he and co-defendant Ed Davis, also a one-time Laker who was teammates with Beasley on the 2020-2021 Minnesota Timberwolves, conspired for Beasley to under- or overperform during certain games relative to specific statistics on which others involved in the scheme would place bets.

Beasley had previously borrowed money from Davis after accumulating millions of dollars in gambling losses. In exchange for fixing his performances, the indictment says, Beasley’s debts to Davis were “reduced or paid off.”

Also indicted were Paolo Zamorano, William Brown, Robert Gorodetsky and Ernesto Plascencia. All six defendants initially pleaded not guilty to all charges, but Brown has since pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and Gorodetsky and Plascencia also both scheduled for change of plea hearings in November.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Veteran Hollywood film producer Kathleen Kennedy will oversee the opening and closing ceremonies at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, the organizing committee said Wednesday, giving the executive behind the blockbuster Star Wars and Jurassic Park franchises a leading role in staging what has been billed as the biggest athletic event in modern history.

Kennedy will helm a team of producers designing the look and content of dual ceremonies that will kick off the Summer Olympics on July 14, 2028 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Exposition Park and SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. She also will lead the team designing the closing ceremony and both ceremonies for the Paralympics, which begin a month later.

“This appointment reinforces LA28’s commitment to harness the unparalleled creativity, cultural influence and storytelling power of the entertainment capital of the world,” an announcement from the Olympic organizers said. The result will be “ceremonies that are distinctly Los Angeles and leave a lasting impression on the global stage.”

At LA28, Kennedy will serve as head of ceremonies and content, a post that had been held by another big-name entertainment executive, Peter Rice.

Rice had a long career at 20th Century Fox, climbing the ranks to become president of 21st Century Fox in 2017. He recently was named chief content officer at Netflix. LA28 said in its announcement that Rice would remain on as an executive producer.

Kennedy ended a 14-year run as president of Lucasfilm in January, a changing of the guard at the Star Wars studio.

LA28 Chairman Casey Wasserman heralded Kennedy as a legend and “one of Hollywood’s all-time greats,” adding: “I can’t think of anyone better to conjure the magic of Hollywood than Kathleen.”

In her own statement, Kennedy said she and her husband and producing partner, Frank Marshall, had attended almost every Olympics since the Games last came to Los Angeles, in 1984. “Sport remains one of the great unifying experiences we share,” she said.

Among the films Kennedy helped produce were “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” She co-founded Amblin Entertainment with Steven Spielberg, and that company made hits like “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” and the “Back to the Future” trilogy.

The production company she founded with Marshall made “The Sixth Sense,” “Seabiscuit” and “Lincoln.”

Burkina Faso international Kabore spent last season on loan with Wrexham but made his move from Manchester City permanent in the summer.

He returned to the Racecourse Ground on the eve of the contest with Birmingham, signing a three-year deal with the north Wales side.

The 25-year-old has featured 10 times in the Championship so far this season.

O’Hare also put pen to paper on a three-year contract with Wrexham in the summer after opting to leave Sheffield United.

Wrexham – currently 17th in the second tier after 12 games – are understood to be actively improving measures at the club to avoid future issues.

They are thought to be hiring a club secretary in addition to improving administrative training.

A club official told BBC Sport Wales that the incidents involving Kabore and O’Hare were no fault of boss Phil Parkinson, the club’s coaching staff or new sporting director Steve Nickson – who was not officially appointed to his role until 7 September.

The Wrexham statement added: “The club is taking the appropriate steps to prevent such issues occurring in the future.”

Third Test, Cape Town (day two of five)

South Africa 329: Ackerman 95; Starc 6-72

Australia 330-4: Inglis 85*; Jansen 2-37

Australia lead by one run

Scorecard

Marnus Labuschagne has been front and centre for an era of Australian cricket.

Chirping, chewing and, with bat in hand, often appearing to idolise and mimic his team-mate Steve Smith.

Smith has been ruled out of the enthralling decisive Test against South Africa with a neck injury.

Without him, Australia wanted their number three to feast at last chance saloon, where he has been perched for an eternity, on day two in Cape Town.

The 32-year-old lasted five deliveries and did not score a run.

Labuschagne failed to scored a Test century for the 48th time in a row – a new record for the number of innings an Australian top order batter has waited to raise his bat at three figures.

“That will never be broken,” said former Australia quick Jason Gillespie on ABC.

“I say that because, respectfully, I don’t think anyone will be given that length of time again.”

There was a time when, from his insertion into the 2019 Ashes as a concussion substitute until the end of England’s next quest to win back the earn, Labuschagne averaged 65 in Test cricket.

Repeat that over a Test career and only Sir Donald Bradman’s mark of 99.94 would be ahead.

Instead, since his last Test century at Old Trafford in 2023, he averages 24.77.

Labuschagne may get one more chance in this Test, should Australia not progress from their position of 330-4, leading by one run, and dismiss South Africa before needing to pad up again.

Even that may not be enough.

“I just feel it is too far gone now,” Gillespie added. “It is a very big sample size. Australia are at a point where they need to look elsewhere.”

Labuschagne’s technique has been poured over again and again as his slump progressed.

In August, the great Ricky Ponting, one of his predecessors as Australia’s number three, called for the axe to fall.

“He can’t score off the back foot,” was Ponting’s cutting remark.

Having batted nicely in three or four innings in this series only to give it away after reaching 30, here he was stuck on the crease, playing back to a full ball and nicking spinner Simon Harmer to slip.

“That’s nerves and the pressure the selectors have put him under for an extended period of time,” said former Australia batter Simon Katich on SEN Radio.

“They put him in this position by not making the decision to give him a breather.”

It felt like all of Labuschagne’s issues collapsing into one.

How many rejection letters from the same high school does it take for a football coach to conclude the school doesn’t want to hire you?

Jose Razo, the head football coach at unbeaten Marshall High, applied for the Barristers’ head coaching position in 2019 and 2022, only to be turned down. You’d think that the Marshall grad had gotten the message that somebody didn’t think he could be head coach.

Instead of abandoning a program he had been with since playing linebacker at there since he was 15 years old, he decided to remain as an assistant coach.

“It was never personal for me,” he said. “It was, ‘I’m going to stay and help the kids.”’

When the job opened again in 2025 and Razo interviewed for a third time he told himself, “It’s now or never.”

Razo finally received an email informing him he was being promoted to head coach after 18 years serving as an assistant. Talk about being patient. Talk about having no ego. Talk about complete loyalty to a school.

“He stuck it out for the kids and the program,” said Eagle Rock coach Andy Moran, who coached Razo at Marshall in 2005 and 2006.

Incredibly, it’s Moran and Eagle Rock standing in the way on Friday night trying to prevent Marshall from going 10-0 in the regular season. Moran, who is a mentor for Razo, has never lost to Marshall since leaving in 2012.

Razo remembers asking Moran what he should do after being turned down twice. “They didn’t give it to you because they already have you,” Moran told him.

Said Razo: “I had to prove myself to them.”

Standout quarterback Nathaniel Cadet said every day Razo, 37, passes along insights and offers inspiration to players

“Coach Razo’s loyalty is unmatched,” he said. “He’s a great role model, and his commitment to the team makes players want to play under him. He’s a good father and brings his son to the games. He got a college education, and I believe he comes from a similar background to a lot of our players, so he sets a great example for us.”

Marshall is a school that attracts students from many little communities, but the football team’s success has brought everyone together to form a large community on Friday nights.

Razo deserves a standing ovation for his commitment to the school and his players. There’s not many coaches who would have stuck around when twice told “we’re going in a different direction.”

Rejection usually makes people angry and is motivation to run away.

Razo was different. He stayed, kept teaching and coaching, and waited for his alma mater to give him a chance to lead.

What a lesson of perseverance and patience to pass along to his players.

Marshall always had its coach nearby. Someone just needed to open their eyes. Thankfully, Razo put faith in himself that someone would recognize his talents.

Win or lose on Friday, Razo has proven he deserves to be a head coach.

Portland’s Robert Williams III scores in front of Laker Ziaire Williams at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday.

(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

One day after being retroactively fined for flopping on a play against Utah, forward Ziaire Williams was whistled for the violation again during the fourth quarter Tuesday.

Avdija drove on Williams with 3:38 remaining in the fourth quarter and bumped his left shoulder and arm into Williams’ body. Williams stumbled backward and circled both arms backward as Avdija kicked the ball out to Lillard for a three-pointer. Lillard nailed the shot from the wing and tacked on a technical free throw when play was stopped for Williams’ flopping call.

Williams’ violation was one of three called Tuesday by the crew led by Scott Foster. Portland’s Toumani Camara and Morant were also whistled for flops, and all of the calls came in the fourth quarter of a tight game that saw 52 total personal fouls and 71 free throws.

NBA officials have placed a larger emphasis on flopping this season, along with limiting use of off-arm force against defenders, reckless closeouts and time wasting on free throws. Flops are characterized by “exaggerated and theatrical” movements in an attempt to get a call, according to the NBA. Redick said he didn’t believe Williams’ movements rose to that level against Utah, at least.

With 4:44 left in the fourth quarter against Utah and the Lakers trailing by one, Utah’s Keyonte George switched onto Williams. The Jazz guard drove on Williams and was called for a push-off foul as Williams stumbled backward. It was only until the next day that Williams was fined $2,000 for a flop.

“That’s just the way his body naturally moves,” Redick said.

Williams said Tuesday he had not received feedback about the call he thought was a good defensive play against the Jazz.

“I’ll pay my fine,” Williams said before Tuesday’s game, “and if I got to flop again to get a win, then that’s what I’ll do.”

The Lakers turned the ball over on the next possession, but pieced together a 8-1 run during the fourth quarter to pull away for a thrilling nine-point win after trailing by 18 during the second quarter.

Despite Wrexham’s slow start to the campaign, they have the same number of points now as they did at the same stage last term.

Parkinson’s team are bidding to respond to last weekend’s 2-0 loss at Blackburn Rovers when they return to action against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Friday (20:00 GMT).

The Blades fixture comes almost exactly five years on from the day co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac attended their first Wrexham match.

The Hollywood pair watched on as Parkinson’s side – then in the National League – were beaten 3-2 at Maidenhead United in October 2021.

Having masterminded three promotions and the club’s highest-ever league finish since being appointed in the summer of 2021, Parkinson stated that Wrexham’s upcoming opponents serve as a reminder of the immense progress made during his tenure.

“I think this week alone, it’s Sheffield United, Middlesbrough and Wolves – what a week for everyone connected with the club to look forward to,” he added.

“Five years ago, when Rob and Ryan came to Maidenhead away, that was an eventful game to say the least.

“It was a great introduction for them into the world of the National League. Then they came up at the weekend [for a draw with Torquay], which was a fantastic occasion for them to be at the Racecourse.”

British light-welterweight Adam Azim is set to face Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela at London’s Copper Box on 4 December.

Azim last fought in May when he stopped Steve Claggett in three rounds at Wembley Arena live on BBC Two.

The 24-year-old is undefeated in 15 professional fights, winning 12 by stoppage, while Mexico’s Valenzuela holds a record of 32 wins, five losses and one draw.

BBC Sport understands the bout will serve as an IBF title eliminator, with the winner in line to challenge for the belt in early 2027.

Azim, who made his professional debut in 2020, has won each of his last six fights by knockout.

Valenzuela has lost two previous world title eliminator fights against Subriel Matias and Lindolfo Delgado in 2025.

The 32-year-old has earned 18 of his 32 wins by stoppage, including a knockout win in his last fight in May.

To stage the largest Olympics in history, LA28 is looking toward the cosmos for inspiration.

The committee in charge of bringing the Games back to L.A. for the first time in 44 years announced its slogan for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games on Wednesday, hoping to rally athletes, volunteers and fans behind a simple call: “Stars align.”

“‘Stars align’ is when preparation meets opportunity,” LA28 chief marketing officer Alex Merchán said. “So together that creates something extraordinary, and that’s what we seek to do here.”

The slogan that will set the stage for the next 21 months developed organically within the organizing committee over several years, Merchán said. Only during the past 12 or 13 months did the team really start imagining ways to bring the phrase to life.

“Stars align” is a nod to the “stars in motion” emblem for the 1984 Olympics. It takes inspiration from the 50 stars on the U.S. flag. It speaks to L.A.’s Hollywood reputation.

But it also captures how the largest sporting event in history came to L.A. By the time the Olympics open on July 14, 2028, it will have been 11 years since the city won the original bid. More than a decade of planning and a lifetime of training for competitors align during the once-in-a-generation sporting event.

“Athletes commit so much and dedicate so much and sacrifice so much to get [to the Games] that we ground the idea in that effort, in that alignment,” Merchán said. “Alignment is teamwork, coordination, hard work and commitment.”

Along with the International Olympic Committee’s official motto of “Faster, Higher, Stronger — Together,” each organizing committee uses a slogan to share its vision for the Games. The 1984 Games in L.A. pioneered the marketing tactic with “Play a Part in History.” Those Games then turned into the most financially successful in history, relying largely on private sponsorship to produce a $235 million profit that has sponsored youth sports in L.A. for decades. Now official slogans are as ubiquitous as the Olympic rings when walking around the Games.

LA28 looked at translations of the slogan in the next 14 most-popular languages within the Olympic and Paralympic movement, finding equivalent messages. Some were exact translations. Others needed a different collection of words. The message always stayed the same.

“The simple idea of stars and constellations have, in recorded history, been a part of every group around the world,” Merchán said. “Every country, every tribe if you will, have looked upon stars as something filled with optimism.”

The Games return to L.A. at a high point. The popular Paris Games, which used the motto “Games wide open” to set the tone for a resurgent post-pandemic movement, reinvigorated the Olympics with international broadcast records and 12 million tickets sold across the Olympics and Paralympics.

LA28 is on pace to exceed some of those marks. With more than 6 million Olympic tickets already sold, the private organizing committee will open first-come, first-served Olympic ticket sales next year. Tickets for the first Paralympics in L.A. will go on sale in 2027. The Olympic torch relay will begin in spring 2028, uniting all 50 states en route to the opening ceremony. Wednesday’s slogan is only the starting point of LA28’s constellation of events, Merchán said.

“If we get this right,” Merchán said, “we like to think that we can bring the world together and connect people under this banner.”

A look at four of this week’s top football games in the Southland:

FRIDAY

Garfield (8-1) vs. Roosevelt (1-8) at East L.A. College, 7:30 p.m.

It’s rivalry week highlighted by the East L.A. Classic that annually draws the most fans for a regular-season game in Los Angeles. Garfield is heavily favored, led by running back Ceasar Reyes, who has gone past 2,000 yards rushing this season. Roosevelt was shut out last week by Bell, so the Rough Riders will need to improve fast. The pick: Garfield.

St. John Bosco (6-2) vs. Mater Dei (6-2) at Santa Ana Stadium, 7 p.m.

Second place in the Trinity League is on the line, along with a top-four seeding in the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs. Both teams have rising running backs, with Maliq Allen for St. John Bosco and Asir Nembhard for Mater Dei. Let’s see which team can deny the big play. The pick: St. John Bosco.

San Juan Hills (8-1) at Mission Viejo (7-1), 7 p.m.

This is the Alpha League championship game. Mission Viejo’s powerful offensive line allows the Diablos the option to pass or run. San Juan Hills’ defense got a shutout over San Clemente last week. The pick: Mission Viejo.

Bishop Amat (8-1) at Sierra Canyon (9-0), 7 p.m.

Bishop Amat has already taken a big leap in the second season for coach Kory Minor. But beating Sierra Canyon on its home field will be tough. Sierra Canyon’s ability to run the ball with Jaxsen Stokes is key. The pick: Sierra Canyon.