Sauce Gardner made a promise to his mother before he became a first-round NFL draft pick

LaMelo Ball went through his first NBA practice in more than seven months on Tuesday, returning to the floor with a new look

Lucy Staniforth says her recall to the England squad after being a standby player ahead of the World Cup is something she feels she earned. The 30-year-old, who had been set to go on holiday with her mother to Ibiza, changed that plan when she was called up by Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman in late June to replace Jess Park on a standby list also featuring Maya Le Tissier. Staniforth was subsequently involved in preparations at home and then in Australia before parting ways with the squad as the tournament – in which Wiegman’s European champions went on to finish runners-up – got under way. The Aston Villa midfielder, capped 17 times, most recently in October 2021, is back in the fold at the first opportunity since the World Cup, for the upcoming Nations League matches against Scotland and Netherlands. She said: “I think from January, moving to Villa (after leaving Manchester United), it sort of put me back in the frame of England. “It was always on my radar, something I wanted to get back into, and it felt like there was sort of unfinished business with the team. “I really want to contribute and not just be here for the ride. So it was really pleasing to hear from Sarina and know I was called up to this camp. “I felt like I’d earned it, and it’s a really satisfying feeling to know you’ve put in that hard work and obviously made an impact in the pre camps before the World Cup. And it just feels like I’m in the right place, this is where I should be.” Staniforth says the standby stint left her with “fire in my belly”. “I wouldn’t call it bittersweet,” she said. “It was such a wonderful camp. It was a real privilege to be part of that whole experience. I think me and Maya certainly enjoyed ourselves and we brought lots of good stuff to the camp too. “But when we had to say goodbye, it was a bit like ‘the dream’s over now’. You always kind of had in the back of your head ‘maybe, maybe there’s a chance’. “It’s probably my favourite camp I’ve ever been on, strange as that is because obviously it was stopped shorter than I would have liked. “I came away and had such good feelings and no regrets. It left me in a really good mental place to go ‘OK, there’s still so much I want to achieve, there’s so much I want to do with England, and with Aston Villa.’ I just had so much hunger and fire in my belly.” Asked if the experience had given her an extra push in pre-season, Staniforth said: “Oh yeah – I’ve been trying so hard! I felt like I'd earned it, and it's a really satisfying feeling to know you've put in that hard work and obviously made an impact in the pre camps before the World Cup Lucy Staniforth “I have felt every rep, every run we’ve done. It’s been a really hard pre-season, probably the hardest I’ve done. I’ve really enjoyed the pain and the struggle! “I kind of just had a little word with myself in the gym and was like ‘right – you’ve got time now, let’s go for it, let’s really push.’ “I just thought to myself ‘come on, let’s get down and work really hard’, and I’m really glad I’ve done that because now I’m here, I feel really good, really fit and I’m really looking forward to the England games.” England face Scotland at the Stadium of Light on Friday, and ex-Sunderland player Staniforth feels it would be “pretty cool” to be involved again at a ground where she played in an FA Cup semi-final win over Chelsea in 2009. She added: “I have really fond memories of living and playing in the north east. I’m so excited to get back up there and whatever happens on Friday is just a bonus.” Staniforth was “really proud” of her team-mates for their efforts at the World Cup – and regarding her mother, she said: “She went on holiday on her own and had an amazing time, so I was really happy for her. It’s the first holiday, first flight, everything, that she’d done on her own, so I was like ‘well done Mum!'” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Steve McNamara enjoying ‘excitement’ of three-way battle to top Super League David Raya backed himself to be number one at Arsenal Jason Roy rejects England call as Tom Kohler-Cadmore added to squad

As the James Harden saga continues toward the opening days of the season, it seems like the Clippers rejected a Terrence Mann-centered deal for the former MVP

Josh Lowe hit a three-run homer and a walk-off single that capped a two-run ninth inning, lifting Tampa Bay over the Toronto Blue Jays 7-6 after the Rays wasted a five-run lead

Payton Sandfort scored 21 points and five other Iowa players reached double figures as the Hawkeyes beat North Dakota 110-68 in a season-opening matchup

New Zealand head coach Ian Foster lauded a "statement" win after his All Blacks trounced Italy 96-17 to reignite their...

Ary Borges stole the headlines on day five of the Women’s World Cup as her hat-trick helped Brazil thrash tournament debutants Panama 4-0 in Adelaide. There were also plenty of goals in Melbourne where Germany brushed aside Morocco 6-0, with captain Alexandra Popp bagging a brace, while Italy left it late to beat Argentina 1-0. Here, the PA news agency takes a look at all of Monday’s action. Borges powers Brazil Brazil’s opening match of the tournament was all about Borges, who scored the tournament’s first hat-trick and set up Bia Zaneratto for the other in a one-sided match in Group F. The winger had a first-half brace, both headers from Debinha’s crosses, before her neat backheel laid on the third of the match for Zaneratto just three minutes into the second half. Borges then headed in Brazil’s fourth 20 minutes from time to put her side in a strong position in the group after France’s draw with Jamaica. Germany lay down a marker Germany, the world’s number two side, immediately set out their stall in Melbourne with a dominant performance against Morocco. Captain Popp, who missed the Euro 2022 final against England with an injury picked up in the warm-up, found the net with two clinical headers inside the opening 45 minutes. Klara Buhl then added a third early in the second half before Morocco crumbled, both Hanane Ait el Haj and Yasmin Mrabet putting through their own net. Substitute Lea Schuller then added a sixth late on after Germany had struck the frame of the goal twice and had another ruled out for offside. Italy snatch late victory Cristiana Girelli came off the bench to make the difference for Italy as her 87th-minute goal secured a 1-0 win over Argentina. Italy had been grown frustrated against a stubborn display from their opponents, with goals from Arianna Caruso and Valentina Giacinti ruled out for offside. Girelli came on to replace 16-year-old midfielder Giulio Dragoni, who justified her selection with a composed display in midfield. Post of the Day Quote of the day Cristiana is a leader, a captain of this group. She is always there and we know what she can give. We are very happy. We know how important it is to start such a tournament well Italy manager Milena Bertolini on match-winner Girelli Up next Group H: Colombia v South Korea (3am Tuesday, Allianz Stadium, Sydney)Group A: New Zealand v Philippines (630am Tuesday, Wellington Regional Stadium)Group A: Switzerland v Norway (9am Tuesday, FMG Stadium Waikato)all times BST Read More Rachel Daly frustrated to start England’s opening World Cup game on the bench On This Day in 2014: Steven Gerrard retires from England duty England blind footballer targeting Paris 2024 alongside educational ambitions Sarina Wiegman ‘grateful’ for Women’s World Cup growth 35 years after experiment A closer look at the key numbers ahead of the Women’s World Cup Henry Searle stays on course in bid to emulate Stanley Matthews at Wimbledon

Everton stunned Brighton with a 5-1 win on the south coast that moved the Toffees out of the relegation zone on a day that left Southampton in deep trouble and edged Leicester closer to the drop. Just three matches, all with big implications at the bottom, produced 21 goals as sorry Leicester went down 5-3 at Fulham, dropping into the relegation zone along with Leeds as Nottingham Forest climbed out with a 4-3 win over basement boys Southampton. The biggest smiles were on Everton faces as fans celebrated only their second league away win of the season, and one of the more unlikely results of the campaign, as they took out some of their considerable frustrations on Europe-chasing Brighton. A quick break saw Abdoulaye Doucoure poke Everton in front after just 34 seconds, and the Mali midfielder made it 2-0 just before the break as he met Dwight McNeil’s cross with a stunning strike. Alex Iwobi was trying to set up Doucoure for a hat-trick six minutes later but when he over-hit his pass, McNeil picked up the loose ball and struck a cross which went in off Jason Steele for an own goal. Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi made four changes at the break and his side were much improved, but Everton hit them on the break in the 76th minute when McNeil rounded Steele, celebrating the fourth goal before he even applied the finish. Although Alexis Mac Allister got one back soon after, finally beating the superb Jordan Pickford, there would be no denying Everton a huge win as McNeil added an emphatic strike in stoppage time. That puts the Toffees 17th, two points clear of the bottom three but still one behind Forest, who took a step away from the trapdoor by pushing Southampton all but through it. Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice in four minutes midway through the first half to put Forest in control, first sweeping home Brennan Johnson’s low cross, then rifling in a volley when Southampton failed to clear. The visitors were back in it soon after when Carlos Alcaraz slotted home but the two-goal Forest lead was restored from the penalty spot by Morgan Gibbs-White after Ainsley Maitland-Niles caught Johnson. Lyanco’s 51st minute header restored Southampton belief and the visitors were on top until Forest broke away with 17 minutes left and Danilo lifted the ball over Alex McCarthy. James Ward-Prowse converted a stoppage-time penalty but there was no avoiding a defeat that leaves the Saints eight points adrift with three to play. The goal rush had started earlier in the day at Craven Cottage, where Fulham tore into Leicester to end their three-game unbeaten run and leave them second from bottom. Leicester, who started the day outside the relegation zone on goal difference alone, were ripped apart in the first half as Willian, Carlos Vinicius and Tom Cairney gave Fulham a commanding 3-0 lead before the break. Cairney then got his second early in the second half before Leicester finally woke up, too late to change the outcome. Harvey Barnes pulled one back but Willian’s second made it 5-1 before Barnes scored again and James Maddison added a late penalty to at least limit the damage to Leicester’s goal difference. Read More Everton have never doubted themselves in battle against relegation says Sean Dyche Dwight McNeil’s brace boosts Everton’s chances of Premier League survival Roberto De Zerbi believes Brighton deserve a European place Ruben Neves: It would need a catastrophe for Wolves to go down now James Tarkowski: I don’t regret joining Everton Erik ten Hag a big fan of David Moyes ahead of United’s trip to West Ham

Defender Yeimar Andrade gave Seattle a first-half lead, but his own-goal early in the second half helped Minnesota United gain a 1-1 draw with the Sounders

New Zealand romped to a 41-12 win over Argentina in Mendoza on Saturday as the All Blacks got their Rugby Championship campaign...

Joe Rogan spoke about Virat Kohli, an Indian cricketer who has more followers than LeBron James and Conor McGregor combined