May 20, 2026 4:37 am
NEW YORK (AP) — James Harden’s struggles to defend Jalen Brunson down the stretch stuck out as a big factor in the Cleveland Cavaliers blowing a 22-point fourth-quarter lead and losing Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals in overtime. Brunson scored on several possessions in a row off the dribble with Harden guarding him. Coach Kenny Atkinson said he trusts Harden and never considered sitting the 11-time NBA All-Star on defense. Harden also struggled with the ball in his hands, shooting 5 of 16 overall and 1 of 3 from 3-point range and turning the ball over six times.
May 19, 2026 12:01 am
Five of the six softball teams in action Tuesday advanced to semifinals later in the week. Bentworth, Chartiers-Houston, Carmichaels, Jeff-Morgan and West Greene advanced to Thursday’s next round, Bentworth & Chartiers-Houston also clinched state playoff berths. On the baseball diamonds, Canon-McMillan made quick work of Seneca Valley while Fort Cherry beat California for the third time in two weeks, both winners moving to Wednesday semifinals. McGuffey softball and both Greene County baseball teams were eliminated Monday.
Charleroi rallied before Avonworth walked off with the win in the 3A baseball quarterfinals. In softball Tuesday, Hempfield scored three times in the first, twice in the second, then added eight more in the fourth on the way to a run-rule win over Canon-McMillan. Charleroi baseball has a quarterfinal match-up Tuesday with Avonworth. Canon-McMillan softball moves to the semifinals with a game against #1 Hempfield. We’ll have both games for you on the WJPA Sports Network and we’re also producing the NFHS Video for both games (subscription required under WPIAL agreements) Watch/Listen Here
Tuesday, May 19–Softball Semifinals — WPIAL Softball Brackets
6A #1 Hempfield > #4 Canon-McMillan, 13-0 (5 inn.) Watch/Listen Here
Tuesday, May 19–Baseball Quarterfinals — WPIAL Baseball Brackets
3A #1 Avonworth > #9 Charleroi, 7-6 Watch/Listen Here
Monday, May 18–Softball Quarterfinals — WPIAL Softball Brackets
2A #2 Chartiers-Houston > #7 Riverside, 4-0 Watch/Listen Here
2A #3 Bentworth > #6 Shenango, 6-1
1A #2 Carmichaels > #7 Sewickley Academy, 1-0
1A #3 West Greene > #6 South Side Area 15-1 (5)
1A #5 Jeff-Morgan > #4 Serra Catholic, 2-1
3A #4 Ellwood City > #5 McGuffey, 3-0
Monday, May 18–Baseball Quarterfinals — WPIAL Baseball Brackets
6A #2 Canon-McMillan > #7 Seneca Valley, 16-1 (4) Watch/Listen Here
2A #1 Fort Cherry > #8 California, 11-7 Watch/Listen Here
1A #2 Greensburg Central Catholic > #7 Jeff-Morgan, 4-1
1A #1 Eden Christian > #8 Carmichaels, 12-2 (5)
May 19, 2026 4:31 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Aaron Rodgers didn’t waste time getting back to work with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The four-time MVP quarterback was on the field for voluntary organized team activities just minutes after signing a one-year deal to return for a 22nd season. The signing reunites Rodgers with first-year Pittsburgh coach Mike McCarthy. The two previously worked together in Green Bay, where they won a Super Bowl against Pittsburgh in the 2010 season. Last season, the 42-year-old quarterback led Pittsburgh to an AFC North title, throwing 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
May 19, 2026 4:35 am
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Alex Newhook scored his second Game 7-winning goal of the postseason, this time 11:22 into overtime in the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Monday night. Newhook drove up the left wing and as he approached the circle snapped a shot through a screen that beat goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen inside the far post. Newhook also scored the decisive goal in Game 7 of Montreal’s first-round series win over Tampa Bay. Phillip Danault and Zachary Bolduc also scored for the Canadiens and Jakub Dobes finished with 37 saves. Rasmus Dahlin forced overtime by tying the game 6:27 into the third period. Jordan Greenway also scored. Luukkonen finished with 22 saves.
May 19, 2026 4:33 am
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 41 points and 24 rebounds, Dylan Harper finished with 24 points and a team playoff-record seven steals, and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-115 in a double-overtime classic to open the Western Conference finals. Wembanyama sealed it with a pair of dunks in the final minute, one of them leading to a three-point play as the Spurs stole home-court advantage and beat the Thunder for the fifth time in six meetings this season. Alex Caruso scored 31 points, the second-highest scoring game of his career, for the Thunder. Oklahoma City’s nine-game playoff winning streak dating to Game 7 of last season’s Finals was snapped.
May 18, 2026 4:31 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Zack Wheeler pitched seven sparkling innings, Bryce Harper hit a home run off ace Paul Skenes and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-0 for a three-game sweep that moved them over .500 for the first time since early April. Philadelphia (24-23) has won seven of eight and improved to 15-4 since Don Mattingly replaced Rob Thomson as manager on April 28. The Phillies had not been over .500 since they were 6-5 before an April 8 loss. Wheeler gave up four hits while striking out eight and walking one. His ERA is 1.99 in six starts since beginning the season on the injured list
May 18, 2026 4:34 am
DETROIT (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 26 points, Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill each added 23 and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Detroit Pistons 125-94 on Sunday night in Game 7 to advance to the Eastern Conference finals. The fourth-seeded Cavaliers ousted the East’s top seed and will face the third-seeded New York Knicks. Game 1 of that series tips off Tuesday in New York. Evan Mobley had 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 2018 and the ninth time in team history.
May 18, 2026 4:29 am
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. (AP) — Aaron Rai has become the first English-born player in more than a century to capture the PGA Championship. Rai, who dreamed of being a Formula 1 driver until he turned to golf, was three shots behind and approaching the turn at Aronimink Golf Club when he delivered a performance worthy of a major champion. He made a 40-foot eagle putt on the par-5 ninth during a stretch when he one-putted seven straight greens. Then he holed a birdie putt of some 70 feet across the 17th green for the clincher. The 31-year-old Rai is the first player of Indian heritage to win a major. He closed with a 5-under 65.
May 17, 2026 6:26 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Cristopher Sánchez struck out a career-high 13 while picking up the second shutout of his career as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-0 to reach .500 for the first time since mid-April. Sánchez, the National League Cy Young Award runner-up a year ago, allowed five hits and didn’t issue a walk while extending his scoreless streak to 29 2/3 innings. Philadelphia (23-23) improved to 14-4 since Don Mattingly replaced Rob Thomson as manager and made bench coach Dusty Wathan a winner during his managerial debut. Wathan filled in while Mattingly attended a son’s college graduation.
May 17, 2026 6:16 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Aaron Rodgers is running it back with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Two people with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press that the four-time NFL MVP agreed to a one-year deal to return to Pittsburgh on Saturday. The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. The 42-year-old Rodgers guided Pittsburgh to an AFC North title last year, throwing for 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Now he’s back for his 22nd and perhaps final season. Rodgers reunites with former Packers coach Mike McCarthy, hired to lead the Steelers in January after Mike Tomlin stepped down.
