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Saturday, February 7, 2026

Jokic's triple-double powers Nuggets past Bulls 136-120 as Denver ends 3-game skid

February 07, 2026
Jokic's triple-double powers Nuggets past Bulls 136-120 as Denver ends 3-game skid

CHICAGO (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 22 points, 17 assists and 14 rebounds for his second triple-double in as many games, Jamal Murray had 28 points and 11 assists and the Denver Nuggets ended a three-game skid with a 136-120 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night.

It was Jokic's 19th triple-double of the season. Tim Hardaway Jr. added 23 points for the Nuggets, who capped a three-game road trip with a win after losing at Detroit and New York.

Matas Buzelis scored 21 points and Collin Sexton added 17 for the Bulls, who have lost four straight.

The Bulls led 104-97 after closing the third period on a 16-2 run, but Denver started the final quarter on a 20-2 spurt to take the lead for good. Jokic and Julian Strawther capped the run with consecutive 3-pointers.

Chicago went the first six minutes of the fourth before making its first field goal and finished the final period 5 for 17 from the floor.

Jokic had nine points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in 17 first-half minutes, but the Bulls led 65-59 at the intermission.

Nuggets: Host Cleveland on Monday night.

Bulls: Visit Brooklyn on Monday night.

AP NBA:https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

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WNBA makes housing and facilities concessions in latest CBA proposal

February 07, 2026
WNBA makes housing and facilities concessions in latest CBA proposal

The WNBA made concessions in two areas in its latest collective bargaining agreement proposal, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA Today Sports. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they're not authorized to speak publicly about ongoing negotiations.

Coming off a three-hour meeting on Monday in New York, the WNBA promised it would have a counter to the proposal the players' union submitted six weeks ago. That offercame on Friday evening.

In the Friday proposal, the WNBA made a concession on team-provided housing, the person with knowledge of the situation said. In the revised agreement, one bedroom apartments will be available for players making the minimum salary. The two developmental players on each roster would be provided with studio apartments.

The players' union also voiced setting a standard for team facilities that would be codified in the new CBA, the person with knowledge of the situation said.

Game 2: The Las Vegas Aces' Jewell Loyd (24) and A'ja Wilson (22) celebrate after scoring against the Phoenix Mercury. Game 2: The Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson (22) shoots the ball against the Phoenix Mercury's Alyssa Thomas. Game 2: The Phoenix Mercury's Kahleah Copper (2) drives the ball past Las Vegas Aces guards Jackie Young (0) and Dana Evans (11). Game 2: Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) drives the ball against Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally. Game 2: Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25) shoots a layup against Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22). <p style=Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) celebrates with teammates after the Aces defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 89-86, at Michelob Ultra Arena.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Game 1: Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces battles for the ball with Alyssa Thomas #25 and Kahleah Copper #2 of the Phoenix Mercury.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Game 1: Chelsea Gray (12) and A'ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces grab a rebound past DeWanna Bonner (14) and Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Jackie Young of the Las Vegas Aces.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) looks to tip a loose ball away from Phoenix Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb (33).

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Game 1: Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith (3) shoots against Phoenix Mercury forward Natasha Mack (4).

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Game 1: A'ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates after making a basket against the Phoenix Mercury.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Game 1: Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Megan Gustafson (17) of the Las Vegas Aces.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Game 1: Satou Sabally (0) of the Phoenix Mercury looks to shoot the ball against NaLyssa Smith (3) of the Las Vegas Aces.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Game 1: NaLyssa Smith (3) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts during the third quarter.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Game 1: Chelsea Gray (12) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts against the Phoenix Mercury during the fourth quarter.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury drives to the basket against Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Game 1: Alyssa Thomas (25) of the Phoenix Mercury shoots the ball against Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) dribbles against Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2).

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Game 1: Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) drives against Phoenix Mercury guard Kahleah Copper (2).

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Game 1: Kahleah Copper (2) of the Phoenix Mercury celebrates after her 3-point basket.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Game 1: Head coach Nate Tibbetts of the Phoenix Mercury looks on during the first quarter.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Game 1: Maddy Westbeld of the Chicago Sky (left) and Rae Burrell of the Los Angeles Sparks look on.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Game 1: Jackie Young (0) of the Las Vegas Aces reacts in front of Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Game 1: Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon looks on.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Game 1: Dana Evans of the Las Vegas Aces, shoots the ball between Monique Akoa Makani and Natasha Mack of the Phoenix Mercury.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Game 1: A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces drives to the basket against Alyssa Thomas of the Phoenix Mercury.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Game 1: Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury grabs a rebound against the Las Vegas Aces.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Game 1: Chelsea Gray of the Las Vegas Aces shoots the ball against Monique Akoa Makani of the Phoenix Mercury.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Game 1: A'ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces grabs a rebound against Kahleah Copper of the Phoenix Mercury.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

The best photos as Aces, Mercury meet in 2025 WNBA Finals

Nothing has changed in terms of revenue sharing or player salaries. The WNBA is offering more than 70% of league and team net revenue. The players' union has asked for 30% of gross revenue. The salary cap would be $5.65 million per year, rising with league revenues.

The WNBA offer continues to include a maximum $1 million base salary, with a projected revenue-sharing component that raises players' max total earnings to more than $1.3 million in 2026. The league's maximum salary would grow to nearly $2 million over the life of the agreement, which would end in 2031. The minimum salary would be more than $250,000 and average salary more than $530,000.

The players' union plans to meet with leadership to review and assess the league's counterproposal, a person with knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports.

Theregular-season is supposed to tipoff May 8. But before that can happen the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire will have an expansion draft. Free agency and the WNBA draft also need to take place.

WNBA playersauthorized the union executive committee to "call a strike when necessary"in December.

"Having the strike on the table is something that we're very much aware of, but there's so many more conversations that have to happen," Ogwumike told the AP on Friday. "You know, we're not just going to say, 'Hey, today's the day (we'll strike).' You know, I think that's what we're demonstrating right now is negotiating in good faith."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:WNBA makes housing and facilities concessions in latest CBA proposal

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Elvis Smylie soars to Riyadh title in LIV debut

February 07, 2026
Elvis Smylie soars to Riyadh title in LIV debut

Elvis Smylie will be hard-pressed to outdo his LIV Golf debut.

The 23-year-old lefty from Australia outdueled Jon Rahm to capture the $30 million LIV Golf Riyadh title on Saturday at Riyadh Golf Club in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Smylie, who had not won outside of his home country, tapped in a 3-foot par putt under the lights to close LIV's first 72-hole tournament at 24-under-par 264.

"I wanted to come out here and make a statement," Smylie said. "I wanted to prove that I'm one of the best out here. And I feel like I've done that and it's only up from here."

Smylie, who entered the final round tied for the lead with Peter Uihlein, fired an 8-under 64 to edge Rahm by 1 shot. The Spaniard delivered the round of the tournament - a 63 - to push Smylie to the limit as he closed with four straight birdies.

"I think four rounds is better golf and better for the players who are playing good golf that week," Rahm said. "It also gives you more time for a comeback, but if you're playing good, it gives you more time to get a lead."

Uihlein wrapped his tournament with a 5 under 67 to claim third place by himself. Belgium's Thomas Pieters (65), Spain's David Puig (65) and Mexico's Abraham Ancer (66) shared fourth at 268.

Not only did Smylie collect his first LIV title, he and his three teammates from Australia claimed the team title as well. Smylie, captain Cameron Smith, Lucas Herbert and Marc Leishman finished at 69 under to give Ripper GC a 3-shot win over Torque GC.

--Field Level Media

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Australia's opposition coalition reunites after split over hate laws

February 07, 2026
Australia's opposition coalition reunites after split over hate laws

SYDNEY, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Australia's conservative opposition coalition reunited on Sunday after the junior partner ​National Party severed ties last month with the ‌Liberal Party over its decision to back government hate speech ‌laws drafted in the wake of the Bondi massacre.

Reuters

"The coalition is back together and looking to the future, not to the past," Liberal Party leader Sussan Ley ⁠said alongside National ‌Party leader David Littleproud in a media conference televised from Canberra.

The coalition split, the ‍second in less than a year, was triggered after Australia's parliament passed the centre-left Labor government's anti-hate laws in ​the wake of the mass shooting that killed ‌15 in December. The laws were backed by the Liberal Party but opposed by some National Party senators.

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"It's been disappointing, we've got to where we are but it was over a substantive issue," Littleproud said.

Under ⁠the long-standing partnership, the Nationals ​broadly represent the interests of ​rural communities and the Liberals city seats.

The coalition has come under recent pressure from populist Senator ‍Pauline Hanson's ⁠anti-immigration One Nation party, which has surged in polling, while the Liberal Party lost a swath ⁠of seats at last year's federal election, won by Labor ‌in a landslide.

(Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; ‌Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)

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Gabbard rejects claims she withheld whistleblower complaint from Congress

February 07, 2026
Gabbard rejects claims she withheld whistleblower complaint from Congress

WASHINGTON, Feb 7 (Reuters) - U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Saturday disputed claims by lawmakers that she sought to block Congress from accessing a ​whistleblower complaint, saying she took "immediate action" once notified of the need to provide ‌security guidance for its release.

Reuters

A top-secret complaint filed with the intelligence community's inspector general last May by an ‌anonymous government official alleged that the U.S. spy chief's office sought to prevent the routine dissemination of certain classified intelligence for political reasons.

Gabbard was appointed to her post by Republican President Donald Trump last year.

A November letter from Andrew Bakaj, the whistleblower's lawyer, to Gabbard's office, which ⁠was also shared with the ‌House of Representatives and Senate intelligence committees, alleged that Gabbard had hindered the dissemination of the May complaint to lawmakers by failing to provide ‍necessary security guidance on how to handle it.

Democrats such as Senator Mark Warner, the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, have said that Gabbard's agency, the Office of the Director of National ​Intelligence, was required under law to relay the May complaint to Congress within 21 ‌days rather than waiting until February.

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In a social media post on Saturday, Gabbard accused Democrats of spreading a "blatant lie."

Successive inspectors general spanning the presidencies of Trump and his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden did not find the complaint to be credible, Gabbard wrote on X. The 21-day requirement "only applies when a complaint is determined by the Inspector General to be both urgent ⁠AND apparently credible," Gabbard wrote.

Reuters could not verify the ​contents of the original complaint. The Guardian newspaper and ​the New York Times have reported that it was related to the handling of an intelligence intercept related to someone close to Trump.

Gabbard also wrote ‍that she previously had ⁠not been informed by the inspector generals that the whistleblower had "chosen to send the complaint to Congress, which would require me to issue security instructions." Gabbard wrote ⁠that once made aware of the need to provide security guidance to share the complaint with lawmakers on ‌December 4, she took "immediate action" to do so.

(Reporting by Michael Martina in ‌Washington; Editing by Sergio Non and Will Dunham)

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Israel says Netanyahu will meet with Trump on Wednesday about Iran talks

February 07, 2026
Israel says Netanyahu will meet with Trump on Wednesday about Iran talks

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday aboutAmerican talks with Iran, his office said Saturday, while Iran's foreign minister threatened U.S. military bases in the region a day after the discussions.

"The prime minister believes that all negotiations must include limiting the ballistic missiles, and ending support for the Iranian axis," Netanyahu's office said in a brief statement, referring to Tehran's support for militant groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Palestinian territories. Trump and Netanyahu last met in December.

There was no immediate White House comment.

The U.S. and theIslamic Republic of Iranheld indirect talks on Friday in Oman that appeared to return to the starting point on how to approach discussions over Tehran's nuclear program.

Trump called the talks "very good" and said more were planned for early next week. Washington was represented by Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to use force to compel Iran to reach a deal on its nuclear program after sending the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and other warships to the region amid Tehran'scrackdown on nationwide proteststhat killed thousands.

Gulf Arab nations fear an attack could spark a regional war, with memories fresh of the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June.

For the first time in negotiations with Iran, the U.S. on Friday brought its top military commander in the Middle East to the table. U.S. Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, head of the military's Central Command, then visited the USS Abraham Lincoln on Saturday with Witkoff and Kushner, the command said in a statement.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told journalists Friday that "nuclear talks and the resolution of the main issues must take place in a calm atmosphere, without tension and without threats." He said that diplomats would return to their capitals, signaling that this round of negotiations was over.

On Saturday, Araghchi told the Al Jazeera satellite news network that if the U.S. attacks Iran, his country doesn't have the ability to strike the U.S. "and therefore has to attack or retaliate against U.S. bases in the region."

He said there is "very, very deep distrust" after what happened during the previous talks, when theU.S. bombed Iranian nuclear sitesduring last year's Israel-Iran war.

Araghchi also said the "missile issue" and other defense matters are "in no way negotiable, neither now nor at any time in the future."

Tehran has maintained that these talks will be only on its nuclear program.

However, Al Jazeera reported that diplomats from Egypt, Turkey and Qatar offered Iran a proposal in which Tehran would halt enrichment for three years, send its highly enriched uranium out of the country and pledge to "not initiate the use of ballistic missiles."

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that the talks needed to include all those issues.

Israel, a close U.S. ally, believes Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapon and wants its program scrapped, though Iran has insisted that its atomic plans are for peaceful purposes. Israel also wants a halt to Iran's ballistic missile program and its support for militant groups in the region.

Araghchi, speaking at a forum in Qatar on Saturday, accused Israel of destabilizing the region, saying that it "breaches sovereignties, it assassinates official dignitaries, it conducts terrorist operations, it expands its reach in multiple theaters." He criticized Israel's treatment of Palestinians and called for "comprehensive and targeted sanctions against Israel, including an immediate arms embargo."

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Ohio State isn't just a football powerhouse. It's also fueling Olympic hockey.

February 07, 2026
Leila Register / NBC News; Getty Images

MILAN — The women's hockey competition atthe Olympicshas an influence you might not have expected.

Ohio State.

Perhaps you know the Buckeyes best as a football powerhouse. Yet with 12 current or former Buckeyes playing for five different countries at the Milan Cortina Olympics, "it's a women's ice hockey school, for sure," said Joy Dunne, an Ohio State junior who scored for the U.S. on Thursday in its 5-1 win against Czechia.

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Since Nadine Muzerall became the school's coach in 2016, the university has developed from a hockey also-ran into the NCAA champion in both 2022 and 2024. The team also appeared in the 2023 and 2025 title games. This season, it's ranked second nationally.

Five players from this season's team are now foes. Three current Buckeyes play for Sweden alone. Trash talk has been kept to a minimum, said Hilda Svensson, a Swedish forward who has become one of the NCAA's top scorers in her freshman year at Ohio State.

"We have been pretty nice to each other so far," she said, "but I think if we play against them, we're going to be a little bit more mean, maybe. And especially maybe against Joy."

The U.S. and Sweden aren't scheduled to face each other in the preliminary round, meaning any meeting between the squads would come in the knockout round. That possibility was discussed immediately after the tournament's draw was announced, Dunne said.

"Me and the Swedish girls really want to play each other because one's a big chirper and I think it'd be fun," Dunne told NBC News. "We battle a lot in practices, so it would just be nice to actually do it against each other in a game."

Dunne and the U.S. faced off against a current Buckeye teammate Saturday, when the U.S. played its second preliminary game against Finland. Its roster includes Sanni Vanhanen, a freshman forward at Ohio State who was part of Finland's 2022 bronze medal-winning team at the Beijing Olympics.

Muzerall's allegiances might lean toward her native Canada, where she has coached within the national team's developmental system. But holding ties to five teams makes rooting interests more difficult.

"You feel like a parent, an immense amount of pride," Muzeralltold reporters in Ohiothis week. "So, it's going to be tough to choose who I'm cheering for."

Ohio State's outsize presence at these Olympics should be seen as a credit to Muzerall's coaching, Dunne said. But the school is just one example of collegiate hockey's role as a de facto feeder system for national teams. Of the 230 total women's hockey players taking part in these Games, 122 have NCAA experience,according tothe governing body, including 40 active college players.

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association, a hockey-only conference that includes Ohio State, has the most representation among conferences, with 54 athletes.

Dunne isn't even the first member of her family to represent both Ohio State and the U.S. Her older sister, Jincy, was part of the U.S. hockey team that won a silver medal at the 2022 Olympics.

This is the first Winter Olympics since the creation of the Professional Women's Hockey League, and with 61 PWHL players heading to Italy to represent their countries, the league opted to take a three-week break from competition.

The NCAA season, however, did not pause.

"A part of me actually wants to fly over there and just go," Muzerall said.

Instead, the Buckeyes will play four games between Thursday's opening of the preliminary round and the Feb. 19 gold-medal game. Svensson said she was watching from afar as the Buckeyes try to compensate for their Olympic-sized roster hole.

"I'm so impressed how they did their last game against Duluth," Svensson said. "I hope they can just keep going and win against Wisconsin this weekend."

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