Manchester United sack Michael Carrick after 1 league win in 10, and move to buy US coach Mauricio Pochettino out of his contract for about $10m

The stories

36 on this beat today.

Every story told the same way: what happened, who is involved, why it matters, how it works, the truth and the good news.

1. 01

   Manchester United sack Michael Carrick after 1 league win in 10, and move to buy US coach Mauricio Pochettino out of his contract for about $10m

   $10 million

   fee fixed in Pochettino's US contract that United must pay to take him

   his assistants could cost about $2 million more [1]

   1 in 10

   Premier League games won by United this season

   the club is 18th, in the relegation places [2]

   3

   seasons in a row United have sacked a coach mid-season

   Erik ten Hag in 2024 and Ruben Amorim in January went before Carrick [1]

   What happened

   • Manchester United sacked their head coach, Michael Carrick, on Thursday. [1]
   • United are 18th in the Premier League, with a single win in their first 10 games. [2]
   • The club is set to hire Mauricio Pochettino, the coach of the US men's national team. [3]
   • United must pay about $10 million to free him from a US contract that runs to 2030. [3]
   • This season United have won 3 of their 15 games in all competitions. [1]
   • In October they lost 4-1 to Como in the Champions League, then 3-0 at home to Bournemouth. [1]
   • After that, Carrick was given 3 more games: a 2-0 loss, a 3-2 win and a 4-4 draw. [3]
   • Captain Bruno Fernandes appeared to question his tactics, and defender Lisandro Martinez criticised the club's signings. [5]
   • The Glazer family, United's main owners, then signed off the sacking at a board meeting. [3]
   • Gary Neville, a former United defender, called the club's handling of it classless. [4]
   • United must pay a fee fixed in that contract, about $10 million. [3] His assistants could cost about $2 million more. [1]
   • Carrick and his staff could also be owed more than $5 million. [6]
   • Pochettino is still expected to coach the US against Haiti on 14 and 17 November. [2]
   • He is expected to start at United on 18 or 19 November. [8]
   • US Soccer's chief executive, JT Batson, said in April: "We're ready when anything happens." [9]
   • Many fans want Pep Guardiola, the former Manchester City coach, who has no job now. [9]
   • Guardiola turned down Italy's national team this summer, the Guardian notes. [9]

   Pochettino's fee$10 million

   His assistants$2 million

   Owed to Carrick's staff$5 million

   Who is involved

   Carrick, 45, is a former United midfielder. [4] He took over as a stand-in coach in January. [1]

   United's two top executives, Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox, met Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco on Wednesday. [1]

   Jim Ratcliffe, a British billionaire, bought into United in 2024. [6] He now owns 29.4% and runs its football side. [7]

   Pochettino has coached Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, and took the US job in 2024. [2]

   • Michael Carrick a former United midfielder who became their coach in January; sacked on Thursday
   • Mauricio Pochettino an Argentine coach of the US men's team since 2024; United's choice to replace Carrick
   • Carrick, 45 former United midfielder
   • Bruno Fernandes questioned the tactics
   • Lisandro Martinez criticised the signings
   • Omar Berrada chief executive
   • Jason Wilcox director of football
   • Pep Guardiola out of work, ex-Manchester City
   • Jim Ratcliffe a British billionaire who owns 29.4% of United and runs its football side; signed off the change
   • US Soccer the body that runs US football; now needs a new national coach

   How it unfolded

   He won 12 of the last 17 games of last season, and United finished third. [1]

   That run earned him a two-year contract in May. [1]

   In August he signed a new US contract that runs to the 2030 World Cup. [2]

   United are more than $1 billion in debt and have lost money 7 seasons running. [6]

   Much of that debt came from the Glazers' 2005 takeover, paid for with about $1.1 billion of borrowing. [6]

   Ratcliffe has cut 322 jobs since he bought in, nearly 30% of the staff. [6]

   1. January stand-in coach
   2. May two-year contract
   3. November sacked
   4. August new US contract
   5. 2030 World Cup, end of deal
   6. 14 Nov US v Haiti, Miami
   7. 17 Nov US v Haiti, Cincinnati
   8. 18-19 Nov Pochettino expected to start at United [8]
   9. 21 Nov league returns
   10. 2005 the Glazers buy United with about $1.1 billion of borrowing [6]
   11. 2013 Ferguson retires
   12. January Carrick takes over as stand-in coach [1]
   13. May Carrick gets a two-year contract after finishing third [1]
   14. August Pochettino signs a new US deal to 2030 [2]
   15. Thursday United sack Carrick and contact US Soccer [1]

   Why it matters

   US Soccer now needs a new coach to lead its team towards the 2030 World Cup. [9]

   United have now sacked a coach midway through each of the last 3 seasons. [1]

   Whoever takes over will be United's eighth permanent coach since Alex Ferguson retired. [7] Ferguson left in 2013. [6]

   How it works

   Money experts call it a leveraged buyout: buying a company with money borrowed against that company.

   United pay tens of millions a year in interest, money that rivals can spend on wages and transfers. [6]

   Seen it before

   Buy a games console on a loan, and part of each month's pocket money goes on the loan.

   The truth

   • What is really going on Manchester United are sacking a coach mid-season for the third season running, and will pay about $10 million to take the US national coach. [1][3]That price was fixed in the contract Pochettino signed in August, so US Soccer gets money but loses the coach it had signed to 2030. [2]
   • Why it works on people A loved former player being sacked makes the story about Carrick, when the decisions were taken by executives and owners in Monaco and at a board meeting.
   • ESPN says United are close to a deal. [1] The Guardian says only the final details remain. [3]
   • Who gains US Soccer — It collects about $10 million fixed in Pochettino's contract, money it can put towards hiring a successor. [61]
   • Who pays Manchester United's budget — It pays about $12 million for Pochettino and his staff and more than $5 million to Carrick's, on top of yearly interest. [6]
   • Nobody knows yet

     Whether Pochettino has signed with United.

     ESPN says United are close to a deal and the Guardian says final details remain; no club has announced it. [1][3]

   • Nobody knows yet

     Who will coach the US next.

     US Soccer has named nobody, and the Guardian finds no clear choice among the names fans want. [9]

   • Nobody knows yet

     What Carrick and his staff will actually be paid to leave.

     Front Office Sports gives only an estimate of more than $5 million, and United have published no figure. [6]

   What comes next

   The Premier League returns on 21 November. [2] United's first game back is away at Liverpool. [3]

1. 02

   Palace sack Sage; Frank in talks

   What happened

   • Crystal Palace sacked their manager, Pierre Sage, on Thursday after 16 games in charge. [10]
   • Palace are bottom of the Premier League, with 2 wins in 10 and the most goals let in, 24. [10]
   • Thomas Frank, who has coached Brentford and Tottenham, is in advanced talks to replace him. [10]

   Who is involved

   Sage, 47, is French and led Lens to second place in France's top league. [10]

   • Pierre Sage, 47 ex-Lens coach
   • Thomas Frank ex-Brentford and Tottenham coach

   How it unfolded

   He signed a 3-year contract in June, after Oliver Glasner had won Palace's first FA Cup. [10]

   1. June Sage signs for 3 years
   2. November Sage sacked

   Why it matters

   Palace have begun work on a £200m new stand, and cannot afford to go down, the Guardian says. [19]

   How it works

   Sociologists who study jobs say a chain of moves stops when a post is filled from outside.

   Frank has no club now, so hiring him leaves no other team without a coach. [20]

   Seen it before

   When a supply teacher with no class covers yours, no other class loses its teacher.

   Why one sacking in England empties a job in America

   When Manchester United sacked their coach, the man they chose left a job of his own, so US Soccer now needs a coach too.

   The twist

   When a club fires one coach, the people who end up looking for a coach are often far away and did nothing wrong. US Soccer signed Pochettino to 2030 in August, and now must start again because United lost games in England.

   The picture

   Unitedsack Carrick

   ↓→

   Pochettinomoves to United

   ↓→

   US Soccerneeds a coach

   Step by step

   1. 1 A club sacks its coach
   2. 2 It hires a coach who already has a job
   3. 3 That coach's old employer now has an empty post
   4. 4 It hires someone from another post, and the chain goes on
   5. 5 The chain stops when a post is filled by someone with no job

   The same force, elsewhere today

   Where this chain is also running, in today's other stories.

   • Palace sack Sage; Frank in talks

     Palace's empty job goes to Thomas Frank, who has no club, so the chain stops at once and no other team loses a coach.

   • Wake Forest and UCLA lock in coaches

     Both schools are paying their coaches more now, so a bigger school's empty job cannot pull them out and start a chain on their campus.

   • Racing Bulls keep Lindblad and Lawson

     Red Bull kept both drivers, so no seat opened and Nikola Tsolov, who would have filled it, waits as the reserve.

   Where you've seen this

   Church ministers

   the first study of these chains followed one minister moving church, which emptied a pulpit someone else then filled

   Buying a house

   one family moves up, and the house they leave is bought by a family moving from a smaller one

   Hermit crabs

   when one crab moves into a bigger shell, the next crab takes the shell it left

   The catch

   The chain is short when the job goes to someone out of work, as Palace's did, so one sacking does not always move many people.

   And the whole of it

   Carrick, Pochettino, US Soccer and the coach it hires next are all in one chain, and each sees only the link beside them. A fan watching United lose to Bournemouth was watching the start of a search that ends in a US federation office.

   The truth

   • Palace have not confirmed Frank, and said only that an update would come in due course. [10]
   • Who gains Thomas Frank — Out of work since Tottenham, he is in talks for the Palace job that Sage's sacking opened. [20]

1. 03

   Wake Forest and UCLA lock in coaches

   What happened

   • Wake Forest gave its football coach, Jake Dickert, a new long-term contract, turning away interest from bigger jobs. [12]
   • Wake Forest are 8-1 this season and ranked 13th. [12]
   • UCLA is working to extend Bob Chesney's contract too, CBS Sports reports. [21]
   • UCLA has talked with Chesney for at least a month, and both sides expect a deal soon. [21]

   Who is involved

   • Jake Dickert Wake Forest, signed
   • Bob Chesney UCLA, in talks

   How it unfolded

   Dickert is 17-5 at Wake Forest. [12] His 9 first-season wins were the most by any new coach there. [12]

   Why it matters

   Chesney is near the top of other schools' hiring lists. [21]

   How it works

   Economists call it a retention payment: paying to keep someone before rivals can bid for them.

   Dickert's deal raises his staff and player pay pools, so other offers have more to beat. [12]

   Seen it before

   A shop raises a good worker's pay before a rival shop can tempt her away.

   Both schools are paying their coaches more now, so a bigger school's empty job cannot pull them out and start a chain on their campus.

   The idea, in story 02: Why one sacking in England empties a job in America →

   The truth

   • Who gains Jake Dickert's staff and players — His new contract raises the pay pools for his staff and roster. [12]
2. 04

   Cummins rejects Khawaja; Warner hits back

   What happened

   • Pat Cummins, Australia's Test captain, called Usman Khawaja's ball-tampering claims complete and utter nonsense. [22]
   • Cummins said he did not know sandpaper was being taken onto the field. [23]
   • He answered questions for 68 minutes in Sydney, and said he would not sue. [23]
   • Within 3 hours, Warner said Khawaja's book is the truth and Cummins threw him under the bus. [24]

   How it unfolded

   Khawaja, a former Australia batter, wrote in his new book that the whole team knew about the 2018 plan. [23]

   In 2018, Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were punished for using sandpaper on the ball. [23]

   Why it matters

   Australia's captain and its banned former vice-captain now disagree in public about what the team knew. [22]

   The truth

   • Cricket Australia's 2018 inquiry was short, the Guardian notes, and it punished only 3 players. [22]
   • Nobody knows yet

     Who else in Australia's 2018 team knew about the sandpaper.

     Khawaja says everyone knew, Cummins says he did not, and Cricket Australia's 2018 inquiry was short. [23][22]

3. 05

   Formula 1 teams worth $4.55bn each

   What happened

   • The average Formula 1 team is now worth $4.55 billion, up 33% in a year, Sportico calculates. [14]
   • Ferrari leads at $8.2 billion, then Mercedes at $7.75 billion and McLaren at $6.3 billion. [14]

   Who is involved

   Sportico, a sports business news site, values teams from its own sums and interviews with team owners and bankers. [14]

   How it unfolded

   The 11 teams are worth about $50 billion together. [14] The average is up 197% since 2023. [14]

   Why it matters

   Only 11 teams may race, so the price of getting in keeps climbing, Sportico says. [14]

   How it works

   Economists call this scarcity: when the number of places is fixed, more buyers can only push the price up.

   Cadillac, the newest team, paid a $450 million fee to the other teams just to join. [14]

   Seen it before

   When a small concert sells out, each extra fan who wants a ticket pushes the price higher.

   The truth

   • These are estimates: only 1 big stake changed hands in the past year, Sportico says. [14]
   • Who gains Formula 1 team owners — Only 11 places exist, and Cadillac paid a $450 million fee, shared among the other teams, to join. [14]

   What comes next

   Stakes in Cadillac and Alpine may be sold soon, and Cadillac's owner wants at least $3 billion. [14]

4. 06

   Norway bars Russian athletes

   What happened

   • Norway's government will refuse entry to Russian and Belarusian professional athletes while the war in Ukraine goes on. [16]
   • Finland announced a similar ban a few hours earlier. [16]
   • The ban also covers coaches and other support staff. [16]

   Who is involved

   • Norway refuses entry
   • Russian athletes barred

   How it unfolded

   Norway said sports bodies had relaxed their rules, so more Russians could have come to compete. [16]

   1. Earlier Finland bans Russian athletes
   2. Hours later Norway follows

   Why it matters

   Norway said Russian elite sport has close ties to the Russian state. [16]

   How it works

   Political scientists call it sovereignty: a government has the final say over who crosses its border.

   A sports federation can let Russians compete, but Norway's police and immigration officers decide who enters. [16]

   Seen it before

   A visiting team may be invited to a match, but the house owner still decides who comes through the door.

   The truth

   • Who pays Russian and Belarusian athletes — They will be refused entry to Norway for competitions, even where their sport's federation has let them back. [16]

   What comes next

   The ban will start shortly, Norway's government said, without giving a date. [16]

5. 07

   Crow-Armstrong and Alvarez win MVP

   What happened

   • Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs won the National League's MVP award, for its best player, unanimously. [25]
   • He beat Shohei Ohtani, a four-time winner who was the favourite before the season. [25]
   • Crow-Armstrong hit 45 home runs and stole 41 bases. [25] He is only the 7th player with 40 of each in a season. [25]
   • Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros won the American League award, also unanimously. [26]
   • Voters, 2 from each of 15 local writers' groups, hand in ballots before the playoffs begin. [25]

   Who is involved

   • Pete Crow-Armstrong Chicago Cubs, NL MVP
   • Yordan Alvarez Houston Astros, AL MVP

   How it unfolded

   In 2025 injuries held Alvarez to 48 games; this year he played 158. [26]

   Why it matters

   Crow-Armstrong is the first Cubs player to win since Sammy Sosa in 1998. [25]

   How it works

   Baseball analysts use WAR, wins above replacement: the wins a player adds compared with a cheap stand-in.

   Crow-Armstrong led the major leagues with 9.8 WAR; Ohtani's batting was worth 3.2. [25]

   Seen it before

   In a school team, the best player is the one the team would miss most if a spare came in.

   Good news

   • Yordan Alvarez played only 48 games in 2025 because of injuries. This year he played 158 and was voted the American League's best player by every voter.
6. 08

   Kane breaks England's caps record

   What happened

   • Harry Kane played his 126th game for England, the most by any England man. [27]
   • He passed Peter Shilton, who had held the record, and was given gifts by Shilton and Prince William. [27]
   • Kane scored the winning penalty as England beat Croatia 2-1 in the Nations League. [27]

   Who is involved

   • Harry Kane new record
   • Peter Shilton old record

   How it unfolded

   England beat Croatia 7-0 away last month, so this game was much closer. [27]

   1. October Croatia 0-7 England
   2. November England 2-1 Croatia

   Why it matters

   Kane is now both England's most-capped man and its record goalscorer. [28]

   What comes next

   England's next game is against Spain, the Guardian says. [27]

7. 09

   Henley trade collapses after medical

   What happened

   • The Denver Broncos called off a trade for Daiyan Henley, a Los Angeles Chargers linebacker, after a medical check. [29]
   • The deal was agreed before the 10 November trade deadline, if Henley passed a physical. [29]
   • The price was a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick, used to choose new players. [29]
   • Denver had worries about his knee, ESPN reported. [29]
   • Denver then offered a lower price, the Chargers refused, and the trade died. [30]

   Who is involved

   • Broncos offered less
   • Chargers refused

   Why it matters

   Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers coach, called it a loophole "the league should really look into". [29]

   How it works

   Economists call it a hold-up: once one side is stuck, the other can push for a better price.

   The check came after the deadline, when the Chargers could no longer offer Henley to another team. [29]

   Seen it before

   It is like agreeing to buy a friend's bike, then offering less once the shop has shut.

   The truth

   • The Chargers say they shared Henley's health record. [30] Denver did not say why the deal ended. [29]
   • Who pays The Chargers — The trade died after the deadline, so they cannot now trade Henley to anyone else this season. [29]
   • Nobody knows yet

     What Denver's medical check on Daiyan Henley found.

     Reports say his knee, but the Chargers would not confirm it and the Broncos gave no reason. [30][29]

8. 10

   Police will not charge Swans players

   What happened

   • Victoria Police will not charge 4 Sydney Swans players over an alleged sexual assault at a Melbourne hotel. [31]
   • Police said there was insufficient evidence, after almost 3 months of scrutiny. [32]
   • The players have always denied any criminal wrongdoing. [32]

   Who is involved

   The players are Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, James Jordon and Nick Blakey, who now plays for North Melbourne. [31]

   How it unfolded

   The Swans suspended them and a fifth player in August for drinking and bringing women back to the hotel. [31]

   Why it matters

   One of the women is devastated by the decision, the Guardian reports. [31]

   How it works

   Lawyers say a criminal charge needs much stronger proof than a civil claim for damages.

   So a civil case is still going on, which is why police will say no more. [32]

   Seen it before

   A teacher may still give a detention for something the head could not prove enough to expel for.

   The truth

   • Nobody knows yet

     Whether the AFL will punish the four Swans players again.

     The league says it may act if new evidence comes out, and a civil case is still going on. [33][32]

   What comes next

   The AFL, the league, says it may still act if new evidence comes out. [33]

9. 11

   10 arrested after fighters' hotel brawl

   What happened

   • Abu Dhabi police arrested 10 people after a fight between 2 groups in a hotel lobby. [34]
   • Video appears to show Usman Nurmagomedov, a Russian fighter, slapping Merab Dvalishvili from behind. [35]
   • Police said 8 were held for fighting and 2 for filming it, and all went to prosecutors. [34]

   Who is involved

   Dvalishvili is a former UFC champion. [34]

   • Usman Nurmagomedov Russian fighter
   • Merab Dvalishvili former UFC champion

   How it unfolded

   The 2 camps had clashed before, at an event in July. [35]

   Why it matters

   Both men's camps are due at a wrestling event in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. [34]

   How it works

   Lawyers call it a public-order offence: the state can act on a public fight even if nobody complains.

   Dvalishvili did not press charges; police acted because the fight was in public and filmed. [34]

   Seen it before

   A teacher stops a playground fight even when neither pupil tells on the other.

   The truth

   • Police did not name those arrested, so it is not clear if either fighter was held. [34]
   • Nobody knows yet

     Whether either fighter was among the 10 arrested in Abu Dhabi.

     Police have not named those held. [34]

10. 12

    UK Sport's new body starts a row

    What happened

    • UK Sport, which hands public money to Britain's Olympic sports, has set up a new body called Sport Org. [36]
    • UK Sport wants it to take over GB Snowsport's elite programme and £12.5m of lottery money. [36]
    • One observer called the fight between the 2 bodies an all-out war. [36]
    • Sally Munday, UK Sport's chief executive, said moving every sport into Sport Org was far from the truth. [36]

    Who is involved

    Sport Org grew out of British Curling, and now runs curling, squash and para table tennis programmes. [36]

    • Sally Munday UK Sport chief executive

    How it unfolded

    GB Snowsport won 2 of Team GB's 5 golds at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. [36]

    Why it matters

    Several sport leaders told the Guardian they fear being taken over next, and would not give their names. [36]

    How it works

    Political scientists call it the power of the purse: whoever pays out the money can set the terms.

    One chief executive said UK Sport can pull the financial trigger, so sports must be careful. [36]

    Seen it before

    A club that pays for your boots gets a big say in which team you play for.

    The truth

    • Sport Org's chief executive job was never advertised, and its board was not rebuilt. [36]
    • Nobody knows yet

      How many sports UK Sport plans to move into Sport Org.

      UK Sport says not most of them, but sport leaders told the Guardian the meeting raised more questions than it answered. [36]

11. 13

    Colorado's new tax hits star players

    What happened

    • Colorado voters approved a new income tax that charges 8.4% on income over $1 million, from January. [17]
    • It replaces a flat 4.4% rate for everyone. [17] Voters backed it by about 51.6% to 48.4%. [17]
    • About 100 players on Colorado's pro teams will likely earn $1 million or more in 2027. [17]

    Why it matters

    Sportico estimates Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets star, would pay about $2.5 million more a year. [17]

    How it works

    Economists call this a progressive tax: the rate rises as income rises.

    Only income above $1 million is taxed at 8.4%, so the rise falls on the best-paid players. [17]

    Seen it before

    A school trip that charges more to families who earn more works the same way.

    The truth

    • Who pays Colorado's best-paid players — Income over $1 million is taxed at 8.4% instead of 4.4%; Sportico estimates Nikola Jokic pays about $2.5 million more. [17]
12. 14

    College sports bill's last push

    What happened

    • Backers of the Protect College Sports Act are making a last push to pass it in the US House. [37]
    • The bill must reach President Trump by January, when a new US Congress sits, or it starts again. [37]
    • Democrats won the midterms and are less keen to hand Trump a win, FOS reports. [37]
    • Byron Donalds, a Florida Republican, said of it: "I hate that bill." [37]

    Who is involved

    • Democrats less keen
    • Trump wants the bill

    How it unfolded

    It won strong support from both parties in the US Senate in September. [37]

    1. Now lame-duck session
    2. January new Congress, bill dies

    Why it matters

    Its backers say it would protect weaker schools and women's and Olympic sports. [37]

    How it works

    Political scientists call it a lame-duck session: the weeks when members who are leaving still vote.

    Members who lost their seats still vote until January, but leaders are expected to struggle to bring them back. [37]

    Seen it before

    It is like finishing a group project in the last week of term, when half the group has left.

13. 15

    Texas A&M still hides its $515m deal

    What happened

    • Texas A&M University still has not released its $515 million media rights deal with Playfly Sports. [38]
    • The school's records office says it is waiting for a ruling on an earlier request first. [38]
    • The ruling said the school missed the deadline to argue for keeping them secret. [38]

    Who is involved

    The 15-year deal covers the school's multimedia rights and was called the richest of its kind in college sport. [38]

    How it unfolded

    In August, the Texas Attorney General's office told it to release most of those records. [38]

    1. Earlier deal announced
    2. August release ordered
    3. Now still not released

    Why it matters

    The school says the deal guarantees it $34 million a year. [38]

    How it works

    Lawyers call this freedom of information: public bodies must hand over records unless a legal exception applies.

    Texas A&M missed the deadline to claim an exception, the ruling said, yet still holds the deal back. [38]

    The truth

    • The person who made the earlier request says they still have not been given the papers. [38]
    • Without the contract, the terms for cutting or ending the payments remain unknown, Sportico says. [38]
    • Nobody knows yet

      What Texas A&M's $515 million deal says about cutting the payments.

      The school has not released the contract, despite an August ruling to release most of it. [38]

14. 16

    Cunningham scores 52, loses the ball 0 times

    What happened

    • Cade Cunningham scored 52 points with 11 assists as the Detroit Pistons beat the Washington Wizards 144-140 after 2 overtimes. [39]
    • He did not lose the ball once all night. [39]
    • The Associated Press says no player since at least 1978 had 50 points and 10 assists without a turnover. [39]

    How it unfolded

    His old best was 46 points, also against the Wizards, in November 2025. [40]

    Why it matters

    The Wizards had 3 players score 30 or more, for the first time since 1969. [39]

    How it works

    Basketball analysts judge a passer by assists against turnovers: chances made for team-mates against balls lost.

    Cunningham made 11 assists and gave the ball away 0 times. [39]

    Seen it before

    A good pass in a school match helps little if you then lose the ball to the other side.

    The truth

    • Sporting News calls it a first in NBA history. [40] The AP says only that it is a first since 1978. [39]
15. 17

    Smart banned 3 games for a punch

    What happened

    • The NBA suspended Marcus Smart of the Houston Rockets for 3 games for punching an opponent. [41]
    • Smart hit Charles Bassey of the Golden State Warriors in the face on Wednesday night. [41]
    • He was sent off, and Houston still won 115-108. [41]
    • Bassey called the punch "fake toughness". [41]

    Who is involved

    • Marcus Smart Houston Rockets
    • Charles Bassey Golden State Warriors

    How it unfolded

    Houston's coach said Smart's hurt elbow got bent in a tangle, and the 2 then exchanged words. [41]

    Why it matters

    Houston now play 3 games without one of their guards. [41]

16. 18

    NFL audiences near a record

    What happened

    • NFL games average 18.3 million US viewers through 9 weeks, up 2%. [42]
    • That is the second-highest average on record at this point of a season. [42]
    • ESPN's Monday games average 19 million, up 24%; Amazon's Thursday games average 17.2 million, up 13%. [42]
    • The NFL has had the 49 most-watched US TV shows since the season began. [42]

    How it unfolded

    Last season's audience was the highest in 36 years, so this season had a lot to beat. [42]

    Why it matters

    ESPN shows its first Super Bowl in February, and its Monday games lead into it. [42]

    How it works

    Media economists say a league can sell each time slot to a different buyer.

    The NFL sells its Monday games to ESPN and its Thursday games to Amazon. [42]

17. 19

    Hamilton speaks out after Rafah visit

    What happened

    • Lewis Hamilton, a 7-time F1 champion, visited Egypt's Rafah crossing into Gaza this week. [43]
    • He said Israel must let aid trucks into Gaza. [43]
    • He wrote on Instagram that "Israel's genocide in Gaza is appalling". [43]
    • Israel strongly denies genocide and says its campaign targets Hamas fighters. [43]

    Who is involved

    • Hamilton says genocide
    • Israel denies it

    How it unfolded

    Aid reaching Gaza is still far below the agreed minimum of 600 trucks a day, the Guardian reports. [43]

    Why it matters

    Hamilton drives for Ferrari, and F1 races in Qatar on 29 November. [43]

18. 20

    Husky Stadium sold for $70m

    What happened

    • The University of Washington's Husky Stadium will become Columbia Bank Stadium from 2027. [15]
    • The 10-year deal is reported to be worth $70 million. [15]
    • It is believed to be the richest sponsorship of its kind, and the school's regents approved it Thursday. [15]

    How it unfolded

    Washington's team has lost several home games there this season, SI notes. [15]

    Why it matters

    College teams now pay players large sums, so schools are hunting for new money. [15]

    How it works

    Marketers call it naming rights: a company pays to put its name on a place many people see.

    Washington's athletic director, Pat Chun, called the name "the most visible expression of the relationship". [15]

    Seen it before

    A sports club prints a sponsor's name on its shirts for the same reason.

19. 21

    Developers pitch $10bn Bears stadium

    What happened

    • Developers Capri Investment Group and GRIT Chicago proposed a $10 billion project built around a Chicago Bears stadium. [44]
    • The Bears did not ask for it; several developers have sent such plans in recent weeks. [44]
    • The site is the old Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago. [44]

    Who is involved

    • The Bears said no
    • The NFL said no

    How it unfolded

    The Bears and the NFL already rejected that site as too narrow, with railway lines through it. [44]

    The Bears want tax certainty, and have focused on their own land in Arlington Heights, a suburb. [44]

    Why it matters

    Developers are betting a bill will pass, which would make a stadium possible somewhere in Illinois. [44]

    What comes next

    Illinois lawmakers meet from 17 November, and Governor JB Pritzker plans to advance a Bears bill then. [44]

20. 22

    New York bill targets face scans

    What happened

    • A New York City council bill would make arenas ask fans' consent before scanning and storing their faces. [18]
    • Shahana Hanif's bill has 28 co-sponsors, a majority of the 51-member council. [18]
    • Mayor Zohran Mamdani supports it. [18] Hanif called MSG's response "ridiculous". [18]

    Who is involved

    Madison Square Garden, home of the Knicks, has defended using face recognition. [18]

    • Madison Square Garden home of the Knicks

    How it unfolded

    In 2023, New York's attorney general criticised it for using the scans to remove lawyers from games. [18]

    Why it matters

    The bill would cover shops and other venues too, not just the Garden. [18]

    How it works

    Privacy lawyers call a face scan biometric data: unlike a password, you cannot change your face if it leaks.

    So the bill asks for consent before the scan is kept, at arenas, stadiums and shops. [18]

    Seen it before

    It is like needing your permission before anyone keeps a copy of your fingerprint.

21. 23

    Softball league recognises players' union

    What happened

    • The Athletes Unlimited Softball League recognised its players' union on Thursday. [45]

    Who is involved

    The league began touring in 2025 and moved to 6 cities in 2026. [45]

    How it unfolded

    Players first asked on 13 October, and the league waited more than a month. [45]

    1. 13 Oct players ask for a union
    2. Thursday league says yes

    Why it matters

    The league and union announced the agreement in a joint statement. [45]

    How it works

    Labour economists call it collective bargaining: workers agree terms together instead of one by one.

    The union says it will bargain for player rights and benefits as the league grows. [45]

    Seen it before

    A class asking together for a later deadline gets further than one pupil asking alone.

    The truth

    • Who gains Softball players in the AUSL — With their union recognised, they can bargain for one contract covering all of them. [45]

    Good news

    • The players now have a union the league recognises, and talks on their first contract can begin. [45]

    What comes next

    The 2 sides will now negotiate the league's first collective bargaining agreement. [45]

22. 24

    England 91 for 8 in Perth

    What happened

    • England were 91 for 8 after 27 overs in their first one-day match against Australia in Perth. [46]
    • Mahli Beardman, a fast bowler playing his first one-day international, took 5 wickets. [47]
    • England had lost 8 wickets for 65 runs inside 19 overs. [47]
    • Australia's captain, Mitchell Marsh, chose to bowl first after winning the toss. [48]

    Who is involved

    • Mahli Beardman 5 wickets on debut

    How it unfolded

    Australia rested Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood after their tour of South Africa. [48]

    England won only 1 of 4 games in a recent series in Pakistan. [48]

    Why it matters

    Two matches of the series remain after this one, The Age says. [47]

23. 25

    Pegula into WTA Finals semis; Gauff out

    What happened

    • Jessica Pegula saved a match point and beat Linda Noskova to reach the WTA Finals semi-finals. [49]
    • Her win knocked out Coco Gauff, because 3 players finished level on 2 wins each. [49]

    Who is involved

    The WTA Finals is the women's tour's season-ending championship. [49]

    • Jessica Pegula through
    • Linda Noskova beaten

    How it unfolded

    The event moved from Riyadh to Indian Wells because of the US-Israeli war on Iran. [49]

    Why it matters

    Gauff, the American star, goes home without reaching the last 4. [49]

    How it works

    Tournament makers use a tie-breaker: a second count that separates players level on wins.

    Noskova won 5 sets and lost 2, Pegula 5 and 3, and Gauff 4 and 3. [49]

    Seen it before

    Two teams level on points at sports day are split by how many goals they scored.

    What comes next

    Pegula plays Mirra Andreeva, a Russian teenager, in Saturday's semi-final. [49]

24. 26

    Italy hand Zidane his first defeat

    What happened

    • Italy beat France 3-1 in Milan, Zinedine Zidane's first defeat as France coach. [50]
    • Pio Esposito, an Inter Milan striker, scored twice. [50]
    • Italy's goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, passed the ball straight to Michael Olise, who scored first for France. [50]
    • Olise now has 5 goals in 5 Nations League games. [50]

    Who is involved

    • Pio Esposito scored twice

    How it unfolded

    France were without Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, both injured. [50]

    Why it matters

    Italy now top their Nations League group on 10 points, level with France. [50]

    Italy are placed first on their head-to-head record against France. [50]

25. 27

    Arsenal hold Barcelona at Camp Nou

    What happened

    • Arsenal drew 1-1 with Barcelona at the Camp Nou in the Women's Champions League on Thursday. [51]
    • Frida Maanum scored for Arsenal, and Caroline Graham Hansen equalised for Barcelona. [51]
    • Barcelona, the European champions, have won 9 and drawn 2 at that stadium, counting this game. [51]

    Who is involved

    • Frida Maanum Arsenal
    • Caroline Graham Hansen Barcelona

    How it unfolded

    Arsenal beat Barcelona in the 2025 final in Lisbon. [51]

    Why it matters

    Arsenal's coach, Renee Slegers, said there was a lot in the performance to build on. [51]

26. 28

    McIlroy starts well in Dubai

    What happened

    • Rory McIlroy shot 69, 3 under par, on day 1 of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. [52]
    • He is 2 shots behind the leader, Joost Luiten. [52]

    Who is involved

    The event ends the Race to Dubai, the European tour's season-long ranking. [52]

    How it unfolded

    Eugenio Chacarra, who leads the ranking, shot 72, 3 shots behind McIlroy. [52]

    Why it matters

    A win would give McIlroy a record-equalling 8th title, and his 5th in a row. [52]

27. 29

    PT Usha back in the IOA race

    What happened

    • PT Usha has re-entered the race to stay president of the Indian Olympic Association. [53]
    • She filed her nomination through India's ice hockey association. [53]

    How it unfolded

    She had looked out of the race after losing a vote for athletes' seats on the body. [53]

    Four former athletes, including Anju Bobby George, won those seats instead. [53]

    The campaign against her grew while she was in Dakar for the Youth Olympic Games, the Times of India reports. [54]

    Why it matters

    Usha has written to the International Olympic Committee about how that vote was run. [53]

    The truth

    • The vote led to claims of interference by parts of India's sports administration. [53]
28. 30

    Columbia coach returns; ex-players object

    What happened

    • Columbia University's women's basketball coach, Megan Griffith, returned on Thursday from a 3-game suspension. [11]
    • 15 former players now ask the school for further action. [11]
    • They describe "a culture of emotional and psychological abuse" and spoke anonymously, fearing retaliation. [11]

    Who is involved

    Griffith said she takes complete responsibility, including "the times my conduct fell short". [11]

    How it unfolded

    The ban followed an outside review, after a former player complained in September. [11]

    Why it matters

    The team's current captains say every player fully supports her. [11]

    The truth

    • Several former players say investigators never spoke to them during the review. [11]
29. 31

    Racing Bulls keep Lindblad and Lawson

    What happened

    • Red Bull will keep Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson as its Racing Bulls drivers in 2027. [55]
    • Tsolov will be the reserve driver for both teams next season. [55]

    Who is involved

    Racing Bulls is Red Bull's second Formula 1 team, used to find drivers for the main team. [55]

    • Arvid Lindblad stays
    • Liam Lawson stays

    How it unfolded

    Red Bull had thought about promoting Nikola Tsolov, a Bulgarian in Formula 2, instead of Lawson. [55]

    Lawson, 24, was dropped from Red Bull in 2025 after just 2 races. [55]

    Why it matters

    BBC Sport says keeping both breaks Red Bull's habit of quickly dropping drivers who struggle. [55]

    How it works

    Statisticians warn that a small sample can mislead: a few results say little about real skill.

    Red Bull dropped Lawson after 2 races. [55] He looked much more convincing when brought back for 3 this year. [55]

    Seen it before

    Judging a new classmate after their first two days is the same mistake.

    Red Bull kept both drivers, so no seat opened and Nikola Tsolov, who would have filled it, waits as the reserve.

    The idea, in story 02: Why one sacking in England empties a job in America →

    Good news

    • Liam Lawson was dropped by Red Bull after 2 races in 2025. He has now been kept for a second full season at Racing Bulls.
30. 32

    Dan Hicks, NBC's voice of golf, dies

    What happened

    • Dan Hicks, NBC's lead voice for golf and Olympic swimming, died at 64 after a sudden illness. [56]
    • He called 27 of Tiger Woods' tournament wins, including 3 US Opens. [56]
    • He had been due to call Notre Dame's college football game on Saturday. [57]

    Who is involved

    His wife, the ESPN broadcaster Hannah Storm, announced his death. [56]

    • Hannah Storm ESPN broadcaster, his wife

    How it unfolded

    He called the US relay comeback at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, part of Michael Phelps' 8 golds. [57]

    Why it matters

    He spent 35 years at NBC, where he was the lead announcer for golf. [56]

31. 33

    Judge Richard Posner dies at 87

    What happened

    • Richard Posner, a US appeals judge whose rulings shaped sports business, died on Tuesday at 87. [58]
    • He was known for judging cases by their real effects on people and markets. [58]
    • In 1999 he ruled that "competition is not a tort", a tort being a wrong you can sue for. [58]

    Who is involved

    He sat on the US Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit from 1981 to 2017. [58]

    • Speakers of Sport lost Rodriguez
    • ProServ won him

    How it unfolded

    One sports agency had sued another for luring away the baseball star Ivan Rodriguez. [58]

    1. 1981 joins the appeals court
    2. 2017 retires

    Why it matters

    Sportico says several of his opinions shaped how the sports industry works. [58]

    How it works

    Legal scholars call his school law and economics: judging a rule by what it does, not only its wording.

    Agencies poaching clients is just competition, he ruled, so one could not sue the other for it. [58]

    Seen it before

    A shop cannot sue the shop next door for selling better sweets.

32. 34

    Anderson, 44, joins Surrey

    What happened

    • Jimmy Anderson, 44, who first played for England in 2002, signed a 1-year contract with Surrey. [59]
    • Surrey could fit his wages inside their £3.2m salary cap. [59]

    How it unfolded

    Lancashire, his county for 25 years, released him last month. [59]

    He took 50 wickets at an average of 17.68 in the second division last season. [59]

    1. 25 years at Lancashire
    2. October released
    3. November joins Surrey

    Why it matters

    Surrey have 9 players on England contracts, 5 of them seam bowlers, so they need cover. [59]

    Surrey finished 7th this season, after 3 titles in a row and a second place before that. [59]

33. 35

    Oregon State keeps its star duo

    What happened

    • Oregon State's quarterback Braden Atkinson has agreed to stay in 2027, ESPN first reported. [13]
    • He leads the country in passing yards, with 3,169. [13]
    • The first $24 million came from the Wayne and Gladys Valley Foundation. [13]

    How it unfolded

    His receiver, Jesse Legree, leads in receiving yards, with 1,209, and agreed to stay in October. [13]

    In May, the school started a 3-year, $48 million drive to raise money it can share with players. [13]

    Why it matters

    Oregon State had faced doubts that it could raise enough money to keep and attract top players. [13]

34. 36

    Scotland plan a Boston friendly

    What happened

    • Scotland's football association is in talks to play a friendly in Boston every 2 years. [60]
    • Paul Feeney, a state senator, said the summer was more than just a football match. [60]

    How it unfolded

    Scotland played 2 World Cup games in the Boston area in the summer. [60]

    An estimated 25,000 Scotland fans stayed in and around Boston. [60]

    Why it matters

    Massachusetts has passed a bill to build ties with Scotland. [60]

    Good news

    • About 25,000 Scotland fans spent the World Cup in Boston. The state of Massachusetts has since passed a bill to build ties with Scotland, and a Boston match every 2 years is being planned.

    What comes next

    More talks with state senators are due before Scotland play North Macedonia on Friday. [60]