Author: PlayActionNews

Luke Littler starred in a statement 10-2 victory over Ryan Searle in the first round of the World Matchplay 2025 at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens.On his debut in 2024, Littler lost to eventual finalist Michael van Gerwen in the first round but this time, the reigning World Champion meant business as he booked a contest against Jermaine Wattimena in the second round in rapid time. Posting a near 109 average, the title favourite got off to an almighty start as he whitewashed Searle in the opening session for a 5-0 lead, with three breaks of throw, a fantastic 126 checkout, and…

Luke Littler admitted he had been putting in the hours practising ahead of his sensational 10-2 opening round win over Ryan Searle at the World Matchplay 2025.Littler lost to Michael van Gerwen on his Blackpool debut in 2024 but his showing against ‘Heavy Metal’ was simply spectacular. He had a near 109 average, 126 checkout, and 5-0 whitewash in the first session, sending out a statement. The reigning world champion is renowned for his lack of practice on the board outside of tournaments, often not throwing darts in between being on the stage.However, Littler said that he has been practising…

Eric WoodyardJul 20, 2025, 12:50 PM ETCloseEric Woodyard covers the Detroit Lions for ESPN. He joined ESPN in September 2019 as an NBA reporter dedicated to the Midwest region before switching to his current role in April 2021. The Flint, Mich. native is a graduate of Western Michigan University and has authored/co-authored three books: “Wasted,” “Ethan’s Talent Search” and “All In: The Kelvin Torbert Story”. He is a proud parent of one son, Ethan.ALLEN PARK, Mich. — David Montgomery says the Detroit Lions are “tired of being close” to winning a Super Bowl, and he declared the 2025 season as…

Even with some injuries mounting, England can still apply the pressure against Italy. However, those injuries give Italy a greater shot at getting at least one tally of their own. Jul 20, 2025 • 15:19 ET • 4 min read Photo By – Imagn Images. England’s Alessia Russo during Euro 2025 action. The first leg of the UEFA Women’s Euros semi-finals takes place this Tuesday with England and Italy meeting to find out who’ll play in the showpiece game against either Germany or Spain, who play on Wednesday. England have earned a reputation for being one of the best teams…

Brett OkamotoJul 13, 2025, 12:44 AM ETCloseBrett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: “Chuck and Tito,” which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare…

Ryan O’HanlonJul 18, 2025, 07:00 AM ETCloseRyan O’Hanlon is a staff writer for ESPN.com. He’s also the author of “Net Gains: Inside the Beautiful Game’s Analytics Revolution.”So, uh, 2025, huh?If we put the U.S. men’s national team on the same August-to-July calendar as club teams, it’s been an incredibly disappointing year for the Americans.It started out great! After flaming out of the Copa América, the USMNT got rid of the coach most of the fans didn’t want and replaced him with, theoretically, one of the best coaches in the world. Mauricio Pochettino is the kind of coach USMNT supporters have…

LOS ANGELES — For the Los Angeles Dodgers, panic amid a miserable stretch of baseball found a visual when Freddie Freeman walked toward the home dugout in clear discomfort rather than toward first base after getting hit by a pitch.Freeman, who took an 88 mph Jose Quintana sinker to his left hand and wrist area in the sixth inning of Sunday’s Dodgers loss, moved slowly and gritted his teeth when manager Dave Roberts approached and kept slowly walking down the tunnel to the clubhouse with assistant athletic director Yosuke “Possum” Nakajima walking alongside him.The Dodgers quickly announced that Freeman had…

Getty Images NBA veteran Marcus Smart agreed to a contract buyout with the Washington Wizards and plans to sign a two-year, $11 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers after clearing waivers, according to ESPN. The 31-year-old, who played in just 54 combined games over the past two seasons due to injuries, brings a strong defensive presence to the Lakers. In a corresponding move, ESPN reported that the Lakers waived guard Shake Milton, whose $3 million contract for 2025-26 would have become fully-guaranteed on Sunday. Smart, the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year and three-time All-Defensive First Team honoree, has a player option to…

Nick ParkinsonJul 19, 2025, 06:28 PM ETCloseReports on boxing for ESPN.com and has been covering British boxing for over 25 years.LONDON — With his magnificent Round 5 demolition of Daniel Dubois on Saturday, Oleksandr Usyk provided more convincing evidence why he should be considered the best heavyweight since Lennox Lewis.The left hook that left Dubois (22-3, 21 KOs) in a crumpled heap in front of 90,000 at Wembley Stadium was a thing of beauty, which fittingly sealed Usyk’s second reign as undisputed world heavyweight champion. Usyk also dropped Dubois to the canvas earlier in Round 5 with a right hand…

As drafters, we expect our first couple of picks to be automatic, players who will sit atop any roster at the end of the season. Their contribution should be impactful, one that can be counted on every time they take the football field. Of course, it wouldn’t be fantasy football without an early-round player getting injured during the preseason or the first couple of weeks of the regular season, sending them to the sidelines for a significant amount of games, or even ending their entire season before it even began.AdvertisementSadly, those premature injuries are an inevitable part of the game,…