South Carolina's Staley says school is working to bring 3 former players home from Israel

South Carolina coachDawn Staley said on social mediaSaturday that the school is working to try and help a few former players return home from Israel where they are playing professionally.

Associated Press South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley argues a call during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Missouri in Columbia, S.C., Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, right, talks with a referee, left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Alabama, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt) South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley directs her team during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Mississippi State in Columbia, S.C., Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

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The trio of former Gamecocks — Tiffany Mitchell, Destiny Littleton and Mikiah Herbert Harrigan — as well as other former WNBA players are playing basketball in Israel, which along with the United States,launched a major attackon Iran on Saturday.

"Please pray for our @GamecockWBB @TiffMitch25 @2121Mikiah @dstnylttltn24 who are in a war zone in Israel," Staley said on X. "We are working a plan to get home. Let us pray for our loved ones to return home safely asap! Thank you in advance."

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Mitchell played last season in Seattle, while Harrigan was on the Phoenix Mercury. Other players in the Israeli league with WNBA ties include Victoria Vivians, Christyn Williams, Shyanne Sellers, Arella Guirantes and Evina Westbrook.

"It's 12:48 am and I'm going to attempt to get some sleep,"Littleton tweeted. "Prayers for safety for everyone impacted."

AP WNBA:https://apnews.com/hub/wnba

South Carolina's Staley says school is working to bring 3 former players home from Israel

South Carolina coachDawn Staley said on social mediaSaturday that the school is working to try and help a few former pla...
Zimbabwe wins toss and opts to bat against South Africa in Super 8 matchup at T20 World Cup

DELHI, India (AP) — Sikandar Raza won the toss and Zimbabwe opted to bat against South Africa in their final Super 8 game at the 2026T20 World Cupon Sunday.

Associated Press Zimbabwe supporters cheer with their national flag before the start of the T20 World Cup cricket match between South Africa and Zimbabwe in New Delhi, India, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup) T20 World Cup trophy is being displayed before the start of the cricket match between South Africa and Zimbabwe in New Delhi, India, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

South Africa and Zimbabwe T20 WCup Cricket

South Africa has already qualified for the semifinals from Group 1, while Zimbabwe has been knocked out after two successive losses.

Co-host and defending champion India will battle against the West Indies later on Sunday in Kolkata for the second semifinal spot from this group.

England and New Zealand have qualified for the semifinals from Group 2. Pakistan and co-hosts Sri Lanka were knocked out.

Zimbabwe has made one change to its line-up with wrist spinner Graeme Cremer coming back into the side for medium pacer Richard Ngarava.

South Africa, the only unbeaten team in the tournament, has opted to test its bench strength ahead of the semifinal and made three changes.

Pacers Kewna Maphaka and Anrich Nortje, along with all-rounder George Linde, get a game. Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj along with pacers Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada have been rested.

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The pitch at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi should aid batters and a high-scoring game could be in the offing.

Zimbabwe: Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brian Bennett, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (captain), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Clive Madande, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Graeme Cremer, Blessing Muzarabani

South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi

AP cricket:https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Zimbabwe wins toss and opts to bat against South Africa in Super 8 matchup at T20 World Cup

DELHI, India (AP) — Sikandar Raza won the toss and Zimbabwe opted to bat against South Africa in their final Super 8 gam...
Knight delivers joke during 'SNL' appearance featuring US men and women hockey gold medal winners

This time it was Hilary Knight's turn to provide a big laugh — with an assist from the "Saturday Night Live" writers — in the wake of a weeklong dust-up involving theUnited States women and men's Olympic gold medal-winning hockey teams.

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Knight, the U.S. women's captain, along with teammate Megan Keller and men's team brothers Jack and Quinn Hughes, made a surprise appearance during "Heated Rivalry" star Connor Storrie's opening monologue on "SNL" on Saturday night.

With the Hughes brothers already on stage alongside Storrie, Knight and Keller joined them to a loud and lengthy ovation. The four players wore USA jerseys with their gold medals draped from their necks.

Knight opened by saying: "It was going to be just us, but we thought we'd invite the guys, too."

The remark was a clear reference to a controversy that arose when the men received a congratulatory call from President Donald Trump following their2-1 overtime win against Canadaon Sunday at theMilan Cortina Games.

Addressing the team over a speakerphone, Trump invited the men to his State of the Union speech, before adding he'd have to also invite the women, too. The president later said if he didn't invite the women, he'd risk being impeached, which led to the players laughing at a comment many saw as sexist.

Knight on Wednesdayreferred to the joke as being "distasteful and unfortunate."

Many of the men, meantime, said they laughed while being caught up in the celebration. Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman acknowledged they "should have reacted differently" to Trump's remarks.

The U.S. women, who also beatCanada 2-1 in overtimethree days earlier, politelydeclined Trump's invitation due to travel plans. The players traveled commercially and returned to North America late Monday evening, well after the men, who traveled on a charter flight paid for by the NHL and NHL Players' Association.

Jack Hughes scored the overtime goal for the men.

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Keller scored the overtime goal for the women, with Knight tying the game in the final minutes of regulation.

Knight plays for the PWHL's Seattle Torrent, and made the trip to New York City a day after beingplaced on long-term injured reserve. Keller, who plays for Boston, scrambled to New York hours after playing in the Fleet's 3-2 shootout win at Ottawa earlier in the day.

Jack Hughes plays for the NHL New Jersey Devils, and Quinn for the Minnesota Wild.

Knight delivered another punchline after Quinn Hughes said the last time the men won gold was 46 years ago at the 1980 Lake Placid Games.

Knight followed by saying the women last won in 2018.

Laughing, Jack Hughes responded by saying, "nice burn," before turning to Storrie and saying: "These gold medals aren't just for us, they're for all hockey fans, yours' too."

When Storrie asked if he could try on one of the medals, all four players turned and said, "No."

"Heated Rivalry" has quickly become a hitfollowing its first season onHBO Max. Adapted from Rachel Reid's novel published in 2019, it features a plot revolving around a gay hockey romance in which two players from opposing teams carry out a secret, long-term relationship.

AP Olympic coverage:https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Knight delivers joke during 'SNL' appearance featuring US men and women hockey gold medal winners

This time it was Hilary Knight's turn to provide a big laugh — with an assist from the "Saturday Night Live...
Delroy Lindo addresses racial slur aimed at him and Michael B. Jordan

PASADENA, California −Delroy Lindoaddressed a recent controversial moment when he and his "Sinners" costarMichael B. Jordantook the stage at the 57thNAACP Image Awards, their first public appearance since a racial slur was hurled at them during theBAFTAs.

USA TODAY

At the British awards show on Feb. 22, Tourette's syndrome advocateJohn Davidsonhurled a racial slur while Lindo and Jordan, who are Black, were presenting an award for visual effects. Davidson has cited hisTourette's syndromeas the reason why he yelled the slur and condemned the racial slur he used.

The two "Sinner" actors returned to the spotlight at the NAACP awards on Feb 28 in Los Angeles County, where the talent behind the Oscar-nominated film was celebrated. While presenting best supporting actress in a movie alongside "Sinners" directorRyan Coogler, Lindo expressed gratitude.

"I'd just like to officially say, I appreciate, we appreciate all the support and love we have been shown in the aftermath of what happened last weekend. It means a lot to us," he said at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

Ryan Coogler and Delroy Lindo address the crowd at the 57th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Feb. 28, 2026, in Pasadena, California.

Lindo added that he felt honored to receive "incredible support" after the distressing incident at the U.K. ceremony, calling it "a classic case of something that could be very negative becoming very positive."

Jordan did not address the moment during the broadcast, though he and Lindo had an untelevised conversation shortly after Lindo's speech. During the exchange, Lindo, 73, playfully shoved Jordan, 39, who was seated in front of him.

The "Creed III" actor accepted the award for best actor in a movie, dedicated the win to his late"Black Panther" co-star Chadwick Boseman, and said, "I love being Black." Jordan later took the night's top prize, entertainer of the year, where he urged anyone hoping to find success to keep working hard, be a good person and "lead with love and kindness."

"The world needs more unity, more grace, more empathy," he said.

Michael B. Jordan accepts his entertainer of the year trophy at the 57th NAACP Image Awards.

Regina Hall, Deon Cole address BAFTAs incident at NAACP Image Awards

Host Deon Cole quipped about the controversy at the start of the broadcast, reminding everyone to remember Saturday was the last day of Black History Month.

"Lord, if there are any white men out there with Tourette's, I advise you to tell them to read the room tonight." Cole said.

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"One Battle After Another" actressRegina Hallcommemorated Jordan and Lindo while presenting the first award of the night. "I'd like to take a moment to thank the two kings who are in this audience and just send you so much love for your class."

<p style=The biggest names in Hollywood stepped out to honor Black excellence at the 57th NAACP Image Awards on Feb. 28, 2026. See the night's head-turning looks, starting with Halle Bailey.

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" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Kerry Washington

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See Halle Bailey, Kerry Washington arrive on NAACP Image Awards carpet

The biggest names in Hollywood stepped out to honor Black excellence at the57th NAACP Image Awardson Feb. 28, 2026. See the night's head-turning looks, starting with Halle Bailey.

Later, "Abbott Elementary" star and creatorQuinta Brunsongave a shout-out to the "Sinners" cast and crew during her acceptance speech, saying, "We see you" and "We're behind you."

John Davidson, BAFTAs and BBC apologize

Following the moment at the BAFTAs, Davidson said his use of the slur was a symptom of Tourette's with Coprolalia, which involves involuntary outbursts of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks, according to theTourette Association of America.

"I want to be really clear that the intent behind them is zero. What you're hearing is a symptom − not my character, not my thought, not my belief," he said in an email interviewVarietypublished on Feb. 24. "The most offensive word that I ticked at the ceremony is a word I would never use and would completely condemn if I did not have Tourette's."

John Davidson and Robert Aramayo, who plays Davidson in "I Swear," attend the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards Nominees' Party at the National Portrait Gallery on Feb. 21, 2026, in London.

Davidson, 54, was at the U.K. ceremony as executive producer and subject of a BAFTA-nominated film titled "I Swear," which chronicles his own experiences with the condition for nearly four decades.

BBC also faced backlash as the moment was not edited out of the broadcast, which aired with a two-hour delay and remained on the BBC's streaming service the morning after.

In an internal memo shared with USA TODAY on Feb. 25, BBC chief content officer Kate Phillips wrote, "I'm so sorry that a racial slur was not edited out of our broadcast. We understand how distressing this was." She added that a different racial slur was removed from the broadcast. "This one was aired in error and we would never have knowingly allowed this to be broadcast."

The BAFTAs also issued an apology for "putting our guests in a very difficult situation" in a lengthy statement published byThe Hollywood Reporter.

Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Delroy Lindo, Michael B. Jordan attend NAACP Image Awards after BAFTAs

Delroy Lindo addresses racial slur aimed at him and Michael B. Jordan

PASADENA, California −Delroy Lindoaddressed a recent controversial moment when he and his "Sinners" costarMich...

 

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