FRIDAY SPORTS, APRIL 10, 2026
MITCHELL KERNELS
— Mitchell Kernels boys tennis team opened its season on Thursday defeating Huron 8–1 at Hitchcock Park. The Kernels dominated in both singles and doubles, with Matthew Mauszycki, Simon Wiese, Cooper Star, and Patrick Morgan each picking up two wins on the day. Mitchell controlled singles play, winning five of six matches. Mitchell returns to action Friday in Sioux Falls in a triangular against Rapid City Central and Rapid City Stevens.
— Mitchell baseball is scheduled to head to North Dakota this weekend for the Border Battles. Mitchell will face Shanley, N.D. on Friday at 5:45 pm, followed by Sheyenne, N.D. and Grand Forks on Saturday afternoon.
— Mitchell Kernels track and field is scheduled to compete in Huron on Friday at 2 pm.
— Mitchell Kernels softball is now scheduled to open the season on Monday at Sioux Falls Lincoln at 6 pm. The Kernels have had their first three games of the season postponed due to weather vs. Watertown, Pierre and Aberdeen Central.
DAKOTA WESLEYAN
— Dakota Wesleyan softball ran its winning streak to 10 straight games with a pair of win at Waldorf on Wednesday, 6-0 and 13-7. DWU improved to 28-11 on the season and 11-1 in the conference. The Tigers will be at Doane on Saturday for a 2 pm doubleheader. DWU hold a one game lead over Dordt for first place in the GPAC.
— Dakota Wesleyan baseball was swept by Briar Cliff on Wednesday in a doubleheader for the second time in three days, losing 11-10 and 12-7. Ean Laird hit three HR’s on the day for the Tigers, finishing 5-for-8 with 10 RBI’s. DWU hosts Dordt on Friday for a 2 pm doubleheader at Drake Field.
— Dakota Wesleyan golf will host the Dakota Wesleyan Invitational at Lakeview Golf Course starting on Sunday in Mitchell.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
— South Dakota State baseball will take on St. Thomas for a three-game weekend series in St. Paul starting with a Noon doubleheader on Friday.
— South Dakota State softball travels to Iowa City, Iowa, this weekend for a pair of games vs. Georgia Tech and Iowa starting on Saturday at 10 am.
SOUTH DAKOTA
— The University of South Dakota has extended women’s basketball head coach Carrie Eighmey’s contract through the 2030–31 season. The five-year deal comes after Eighmey led the Coyotes to a 26–10 season and a trip to the WNIT semifinals in just her second year. USD went 12–4 in Summit League play, finishing third in the conference, its best finish in four years. In two seasons, Eighmey is 37–30 overall and 17–15 in league play, highlighted by a 15-win improvement from her first year.
— USD softball will host North Dakota State for a three-game series starting on Friday at 3 pm.
MINNESOTA TWINS
— The Minnesota Twins completed the first four-game sweep in Major League Baseball this season with a 3-1 win over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday. Brooks Lee delivered the game-winning hit, a two-run single in the eighth inning. Rookie Mick Abel pitched six scoreless innings, and Josh Bell added three hits, including a home run. Minnesota improves to 7-6, while Detroit drops its eighth straight road game. The Twins start a three-game series at Toronto tonight at 6 pm.
GOLF
— Rory McIlroy is off to a strong start in his Masters title defense, tying for the first-round lead at Augusta National after shooting a 5-under-par 67 on Thursday. He shares the top spot with Sam Burns, who also shot a 5-under. McIlroy overcame a shaky start, hitting just five fairways, but caught fire down the stretch with key birdies on the back nine, including a run of three straight from holes 13 through 15. Burns took advantage of the par-5 holes, including an eagle on the second, to post his career-best Masters opening round. McIlroy is trying to become just the fourth player in history to win back-to-back Masters titles.
WORLD CUP
— FIFA has introduced new, even more expensive ticket tiers for this summer’s World Cup, with some seats now topping $4,100 for the U.S. opener. The new pricing raises premium seats well above previously listed top prices, including more than $3,300 for Canada’s opening match. The tournament, running June 11th through July 19th across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, is already drawing criticism over rising costs. FIFA also recently increased the price of the World Cup final to nearly $11,000, and as of now, no tickets appear available for that match.
COLLEGE BASKETBAL
— The Big Ten Conference is set to earn nearly $70 million from its teams’ performances in this year’s NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments. The conference led all others in payouts, fueled by national titles from Michigan men’s basketball and UCLA women’s basketball, plus a Final Four run by Illinois. In total, Big Ten teams earned about $63 million from the men’s tournament and over $6 million from the women’s side. The Southeastern Conference ranked second at roughly $56 million. NCAA tournament payouts are based on appearances and advancement, with units paid out to conferences over multiple years.
NFL
— The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the National Football League over potential anticompetitive practices tied to how games are distributed to viewers. Officials say the probe is focused on consumer costs and whether the league’s media deals create a fair marketplace, as more games shift to streaming platforms. The NFL says most of its games remain available on free broadcast TV and defended its distribution model as fan-friendly. The review follows concerns from lawmakers who questioned whether the league’s current media strategy still qualifies for antitrust protections under federal law. The investigation comes amid growing scrutiny over the rising cost of watching live sports.
NHL
— Alex Ovechkin says he’s waiting until the end of the Washington Capitals’ season to decide whether to retire or return for a 22nd NHL season. The 40-year-old Ovechkin has scored 928 regular-season goals and 1,000 total NHL goals including playoffs. Ovechkin also holds records for career power-play goals (331), game-winning goals (141), and shots (7,091). Washington’s home finale against the Penguins is sold out, with tickets far above face value, and the team will visit Columbus in what could be his final North American game.
ATHLETICS
— Global revenues for women’s sports are projected to surpass $3 billion in 2026, up from $2.4 billion last year, according to a report released Wednesday. The report said international women’s sports revenues have grown 340% over the past four years, fueling investment in leagues, media, and sponsorships while raising expectations among fans, athletes, and business partners. Soccer and basketball are expected to generate the largest share of revenue, each accounting for roughly 35% of the total. North America accounted for 53% of global revenues in 2025, followed by Europe at 16%.
MLB
— Major League Baseball’s average salary rose 3.4% on opening day to a record $5.3 million and the New York Mets topped spending at the season’s start for the fourth straight year. Mets outfielder Juan Soto is the highest-paid player for the second consecutive season at $61 million and was followed by New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger at $42 million. Philadelphia pitcher Zack Wheeler and Mets third baseman Bo Bichette tied for third at $42 million. Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was fifth at $40.2 million, just ahead of Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge at $40 million. The Mets’ payroll of $352 million was just below the record $355 million they set in 2023. The Mets’ total is more than five times that of Cleveland, the lowest-spending team at $62 million.
— The Oakland Athletics beat the New York Yankees 1-0 as Jeffrey Springs carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and combined with two relievers on a one-hitter. He allowed just one hit over seven scoreless innings. The game’s only run came in the seventh, when Tyler Soderstrom drove in Max Muncy. The Yankees managed just one hit and have scored only two runs over their last 17 innings.
— Xander Bogaerts hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 12th inning as the San Diego Padres snapped the Colorado Rockies’ four-game winning streak with a 7-3 victory. Kay, who pitched the last two seasons in Japan, walked three but struck out six as the White Sox snapped a 14-game losing streak at Kauffman Stadium.
— Anthony Kay allowed three hits in 5 2/3 innings to pick up his first major league victory since July 2021 as the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 2-0.
— Edaurdo Rodriguez threw six innings, allowing just one run as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the New York Mets 7-1. Mets rookie Nolan McLean allowed two runs on three hits with eight strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.
— The Miami Marlins beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-1. Owen Caissie led the Marlins with three hits and three RBIs, including a two-run double. Max Meyer earned the win, allowing one run over six innings for his first victory since May of last year after returning from hip surgery.
NBA
— The Philadelphia 76ers say Joel Embiid underwent an appendectomy in Houston on Thursday after being diagnosed with appendicitis overnight, leaving his availability for the postseason in doubt. Embiid felt ill in the early morning hours before tests confirmed the condition and led to surgery while the 76ers were playing the Houston Rockets. Embiid’s status is now uncertain heading into the play-in tournament.
— Josh Hart scored 15 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, while Jalen Brunson had 25 points and 10 assists as the New York Knicks stayed alive in the race for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 112-106 victory over the Boston Celtics. Boston’s Jayson Tatum finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in his first game back on the Madison Square Garden court where he ruptured his Achilles tendon in last season’s playoffs. The Knicks pulled within two games of the Celtics for second place with two games to play.
— LeBron James had 26 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors 119-103.
— Kevin Durant scored 29 points as the Houston Rockets extended their winning streak to eight games with a 113-102 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
— The Toronto Raptors beat the Miami Heat 128-114 to move closer to clinching a playoff berth. Brandon Ingram scored a season-high 38 points to lead Toronto as the Raptors moved into fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Miami lost its 10th game in 13 tries, despite 24 points and 11 rebounds from Bam Adebayo.
— The Chicago Bulls defeated the Washington Wizards 119-108. Leonard Miller led Chicago with a career-high 26 points and 11 rebounds, while Tre Jones scored 31 points and Collin Sexton added 27 as the Bulls. The Wizards have now lost 24 of their last 25 games.
— The Indiana Pacers defeated the Brooklyn Nets 123-94. Obi Toppin led Indiana with 26 points and nine rebounds, while seven Pacers players finished in double figures.