Oscar Maung-Haley

Rob Gronkowski praised Caitlin Clark for how she has handled intense media scrutiny and controversy during her third WNBA season, advising her to keep performing and silence her critics. Clark has said the attention is emotionally exhausting and distracts from basketball. Gronkowski also commended her Indiana Fever teammates for supporting her and argued that the WNBA should do more to protect her from excessive physical treatment as she develops into a leading face of the league.

Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 World Cup final, but celebrations were overshadowed when Donald Trump remained on the podium during the trophy presentation alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Trump, who attended no other matches in the tournament, called the event the greatest FIFA had ever staged and praised its organisation. His presence during the ceremony caused an awkward delay as Spain waited to lift the trophy.

A White House official, Andrew Giuliani, voiced support for England’s bid to win the World Cup, citing the appeal of a victory coinciding with the United States’ 250th anniversary. With the US team eliminated, he expressed confidence in England’s key players, particularly Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. Donald Trump, who is scheduled to participate in the trophy presentation, has previously praised Kane, who also recounted having played golf with the US president. England face Argentina in the semi-final before a potential final against Spain or France.

A Grand Slam-winning coach, Calvin Betton, criticised Wimbledon’s decision to grant Serena Williams a wildcard and place her on Centre Court for her singles comeback, arguing she is no longer a serious professional player and that the move is driven by promotion rather than competition. Betton warned this could set a precedent for tournaments to feature celebrities or retired stars and deemed it unfair to active top players like Elena Rybakina. Williams, 44, is returning after nearly four years without a singles match, having recently played doubles events in preparation.