THURSDAY SPORTS, APRIL 9, 2026
MITCHELL KERNELS
— Mitchell baseball is scheduled to head to North Dakota this weekend for the Border Battles with games on Friday and Saturday.
— Mitchell Kernels softball will have its game today vs. Aberdeen Central postponed due to weather. It’s the third straight game that the Kernels have had postponed to start the season. Mitchell is now scheduled to open the season on Monday at Sioux Falls Lincoln at 6 pm.
— Mitchell Kernels boys tennis will host Huron on Thursday at 1 pm at Hitchcock Park.
— Mitchell Kernels track and field is scheduled to compete in Huron on Friday at 2 pm.
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. Reigning GPAC Pitcher of the Week, Alison Ernsberger, threw seven shutout innings in game one, allowing just four hits with 14 strikeouts. In game two, Avery Perkins hit her second homerun of the season, finishing 2-for-4 with three RBI’s. 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.
— 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 will 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 lost at Minnesota 16-7 on Wednesday night in Minneapolis. SDSU took an early lead with six runs in the top of the second inning, before the Gophers scored four times in the fifth and five more times in the sixth inning. The Jacks dropped to 9-20 on the season. SDSU will take on St. Thomas for a three-game weekend series in St. Paul.
— 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
— USD softball had its game at Creighton on Tuesday postponed due to weather. The Coyotes will host North Dakota State for a three-game series starting on Friday at 3 pm.
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
— Watertown High School is set to hire Eric Denning as its new head boys basketball coach, pending school board approval. Denning brings nearly three decades of experience, compiling a 388–216 record with seven state tournament appearances. He previously coached at Mount Vernon/Plankinton and is currently a principal at Dell Rapids High School. He replaces longtime coach Pat McClemans, who is retiring after nearly 40 years. Watertown finished 18–6 this past season and placed fifth at the Class AA state tournament.
MINNESOTA TWINS
— Byron Buxton had three hits as the Minnesota Twins batted around in a six-run first inning against Framber Valdez before holding off the Detroit Tigers 8-6. Bailey Ober allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings to earn the victory. The Twins improve to .500 for the first time this season at 6-6. They go for the four game sweep of Detroit this afternoon at 12:40 pm at Target Field.
COLLEGE
— The NCAA is set to consider sweeping changes to college athlete eligibility rules that would base participation limits partly on age. The proposal, expected to be reviewed by the Division I Cabinet next week, would give athletes five years of eligibility beginning when they either turn 19 or graduate from high school, whichever comes first. The panel is not expected to vote on the measure at this stage. If adopted, the rule would simplify the current system but limit exceptions, including removing injury-based extensions that athletes have frequently used to seek additional eligibility.
— Michigan’s 69-63 victory over Connecticut in Monday’s NCAA men’s basketball championship averaged 18.3 million viewers across TBS, TNT, truTV and HBO Max, making it the most-watched men’s final since 2019. Overall, the 2026 tournament averaged 10.9 million viewers, the second-most watched March Madness since 1994 and up 7% from last year. The Final Four alone averaged 14.2 million, an 11% increase over 2024. The tournament also set viewership milestones in early rounds, posting the most-watched first round and most-viewed second round since 1993.
— UCLA’s 79-51 win over South Carolina for the women’s NCAA basketball championship on Sunday drew an average of 9.9 million viewers on ESPN and ABC, the third-highest audience for a women’s title game since 1996. The broadcast peaked at 10.7 million viewers, making it the most-watched sports event of the week and a 15% increase from last year’s championship. Friday night’s semifinals averaged 5.2 million viewers, ranking as the second-most watched since ESPN began televising the tournament. Overall, the 2026 NCAA women’s tournament averaged 1.3 million viewers across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2, up 5% from last year.
WNBA
— WNBA free agency opened Wednesday with teams placing franchise designations on several star players, including Sabrina Ionescu, Napheesa Collier and Kelsey Plum. The designation gives teams exclusive negotiating rights and guarantees a one-year deal worth up to $1.4 million under the league’s new supermax salary structure, a significant increase under the recently ratified collective bargaining agreement. The move comes as more than 80% of veteran players enter free agency after short-term deals expired, allowing them to take advantage of higher salaries under the new CBA. Teams are expected to operate under a salary cap of about $7 million. Negotiations run through Friday, with signings allowed to begin Saturday. Training camps open April 19, with preseason games starting April 25.
GOLF
— Prosecutors in Florida are seeking Tiger Woods’ prescription drug records following his recent DUI arrest, a week after his SUV crashed on Jupiter Island. County prosecutors said they plan to subpoena Lewis Pharmacy in Palm Beach for all prescriptions for Woods from January through March 2026. They are requesting details including fill dates, pill counts, dosages, and any instructions or warnings about driving while using the medications. Objections must be filed within 10 days. Woods, who pleaded not guilty to the DUI charge, was found with two pain pills in his pocket and showed signs of impairment after his vehicle clipped a trailer and rolled onto its side. He refused a urine test but showed no alcohol on a Breathalyzer. Authorities said he was traveling well above the 30-mph speed limit on the beachside residential road.
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
— The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin to a nine-year contract worth at least $140 million, a record deal for the franchise that could reach $150 million with incentives. The agreement comes less than a week after the 19-year-old made his major league debut, making it one of the fastest long-term commitments to a first-year player in club history. Griffin, selected ninth overall in the 2024 draft, advanced rapidly through the minor leagues, batting .333 with 21 home runs, 94 RBIs and 65 stolen bases before his call-up.
— Davey Lopes, a standout second baseman and one of baseball’s top base stealers during his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, has died at age 80. A four-time All-Star, Lopes spent 10 seasons with the Dodgers and was part of the club’s longtime infield alongside Steve Garvey, Bill Russell and Ron Cey. The group played together for more than eight consecutive seasons, including a World Series title in 1981. Lopes was one of the most efficient base stealers in MLB history, stealing 418 bases with the Dodgers and 557 overall. His 83% success rate on stolen base attempts remains a franchise record. He led the majors with 77 steals in 1975 and set a then-record with 28 consecutive successful steals.
— Davis Schneider scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error by Dodgers catcher Will Smith in the eighth inning, as the Toronto Blue Jays beat Los Angeles 4-3, ending a six-game losing streak and avoiding a three-game sweep. Shohei Ohtani allowed one run and four hits over six innings, while also extending his career-best on-base streak to 43 games, finishing 0-for-3 with a hit-by-pitch in the fifth.
— Hunter Goodman homered, and Michael Lorenzen allowed one run into the sixth inning as the Colorado Rockies routed the Houston Astros 9-1, completing a three-game sweep. The Rockies improved to 6-6 after starting last season 6-33.
— Angel Martinez hit a grand slam and recorded a career-high four hits, while rookie Chase DeLauter added a two-run double, leading the Cleveland Guardians to a 10-2 win over the Kansas City Royals.
— Brent Rooker hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly off David Bednar in the ninth inning as the Athletics rallied to beat the New York Yankees 3-2.
— Nico Hoerner hit a leadoff homer and then delivered an RBI double during a five-run fifth inning as the Chicago Cubs beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2. Michael Conforto had a two-run double for the Cubs, who took advantage of three Tampa Bay throwing errors in the fifth.
— Sonny Gray pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings as the Boston Red Sox shutout the Milwaukee Brewers 5-0, earning their first back-to-back wins of the season.
— Matt Olson homered to break a tie and Grant Holmes pitched into the seventh inning as the Atlanta Braves defeated the Los Angeles Angels 8-2. Olson’s two-run shot in the third inning put Atlanta ahead for good, and a throwing error later in the inning helped extend the lead to 5-2. Holmes allowed two runs over 6 2/3 innings, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the second inning.
— Rafael Devers homered and drove in four runs as the San Francisco Giants defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 5-0, completing a second straight shutout in the series.
— Corbin Carroll had three extra-base hits in his 500th career game to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 7-2 victory over the New York Mets. Carroll doubled twice and tripled, including a two-run double in a four-run second inning. He now has 44 triples since 2023, the most in the majors.
— MacKenzie Gore threw five innings, allowing just one hit while striking out nine, as the Texas Rangers shutout the Seattle Mariners 3-0 to complete a three-game series sweep.
— Jordan Walker homered for the third straight game and Michael McGreevy earned his first win of the season as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Washington Nationals 6-1. Alec Burleson drove in three runs with three hits, while McGreevy allowed one run on four hits over six innings, retiring the final 11 batters he faced.
— Nick Castellanos’ two-run double and Jake Cronenworth’s two-run homer led the San Diego Padres to an 8-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, completing a three-game sweep.
— Taylor Ward drove in two runs and scored another as the Baltimore Orioles beat the White Sox 5-3, extending their streak against Chicago to nine straight wins.
— Griffin Conine and Connor Norby homered to lead the Miami Marlins past the Cincinnati Reds 7-4.
NBA
— Paolo Banchero had 20 points and eight rebounds as the Orlando Magic beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 132-120. Terrence Shannon Jr. led the Timberwolves with a career-high 33 points. The Timberwolves, who have lost five of seven, played without Anthony Edwards and four players who started Tuesday night’s win at Indiana that clinched their Western Conference playoff spot. Minnesota will be at Houston on Friday at 8:30 pm.
— Chet Holmgren had 30 points and 14 rebounds, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 20 points and 11 assists as the Oklahoma City Thunder clinched the NBA’s best regular-season record with a 128-110 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. The Thunder (64-16), who will have homecourt advantage throughout the postseason in their title defense after holding off San Antonio (61-19), which is on an 18-2 run since February. Oklahoma City has won seven straight and 19 of 20 to earn the West’s No. 1 seed for the third straight season.
— Nikola Jokic had 14 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for his 34th triple-double of the season as Denver beat the Memphis Grizzlies 136-119 for the Nuggets’ 10th straight win. Denver increased its hold on the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference leading the Los Angeles Lakers by 1 ½ games with two games remaining in the regular season.
— De’Aaron Fox had 25 points as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 112-101. Portland (40-40) remains ninth in the West, 2 ½ games ahead of Golden State heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
— Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points, while Evan Mobley had 22 points and tied a career high with 19 rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Atlanta Hawks 122-116. James Harden added 21 points for the Cavaliers, who have won four straight and seven of eight. Cleveland can finish no lower than fourth place in the Eastern Conference and is ½ game behind New York for the third seed.
— Cade Cunningham had 13 points and 10 assists in his return from injury as the Detroit Pistons beat the Milwaukee Bucks 137-111 in their home finale. Cunningham hadn’t played since sustaining a collapsed lung on March 17.
— Devin Booker scored 37 points, while Dillon Brooks added 28 as the Phoenix Suns defeated the Dallas Mavericks 112-107.