San Jose Sharks newest minted team captain Macklin Celebrini meets with the media on Fri Sep 25, 2026 at SAP Center in San Jose (San Jose Sharks X photo)
San Jose Sharks podcast Mary Lisa:
#1 Mary Lisa, just to get your thoughts on Macklin Celebrini being team captain and getting the sweater with the C on handed to him by former Shark Joe Thornton?
#2 Can Michael Misa build on his goal against Vegas on September 22 and continue to make an impression in the Sharks’ preseason lineup?
#3 Will Yaroslav Askarov get another opportunity to demonstrate that he can be a major factor in the Sharks’ goaltending competition?
#4 Can Filip Bystedt and Collin Graf provide enough offensive production to give San Jose an advantage against Vegas?
#5 What kind of impact will Dmitry Orlov and Nolan Allan have defensively as the Sharks work to limit the Golden Knights’ scoring chances?
#6 Can Ivar Stenberg follow up his assist in the September 22 meeting with another strong performance against Vegas?
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) is guarded by Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams (1). | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Golden State Valkyries podcast Michael Roberson:
#1 Can Gabby Williams continue her strong play against Dallas after averaging 22.3 points in the Valkyries’ three regular-season meetings with the Wings?
#2 How will Veronica Burton handle her matchup with Paige Bueckers, particularly after Burton averaged 16.3 points and 5.7 assists against Dallas during the regular season?
#3 Can Kayla Thornton make an impact on the boards and defensively against Dallas forward Jessica Shepard, who averaged 14.5 points, 11.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists during the 2026 regular season?
#4 Will Kiah Stokes be able to control the paint and protect the rim against the Wings’ frontcourt, especially given her 1.7 blocks-per-game average this season?
#5 Can Tiffany Hayes, Kaitlyn Chen and Janelle Salaün provide another strong contribution from the Valkyries’ bench, as they did when they combined for 37 reserve points against Dallas on June 17? G Golden State Valkyries.
San Jose Barrcuda vs Bakersfield Condors on Friday September 25th at Mechanics Bank Arena (via Condors)
By Madison Montez
SAN JOSE–The San Jose Barracuda got a pre season win on a shootout as they defeated the visiting Bakersfield Condors 2-1 in a shootout at Tech CU in San Jose on Saturday night.
The Barracuda cracked open the scoring in the second period when Tristan Sarsland scored his first of the pre-season. Carson Wetsch recorded the primary assist while Riley Bodnarchuk recorded the secondary assist.
Bakersfield tied it at 1-1 a piece just four minutes later. The Condors took advantage of a San Jose Cam Mitchell penalty and scored on the powerplay. Zach Bookman recorded the primary assist while Hunter Johannes recorded the secondary assist.
After a scoreless third period, still tied, the game went into overtime. Again, after a scoreless overtime period, the game went into a shootout. San Jose first sent out Michal Stinil who did not score. Bakersfield sent out Tucker Roberston who did not score. San Jose sent out Wade Murphy who did score. Bakersfield then sent out Simon Tassy and Daniel D’Amato who both did not score, giving San Jose the win.
After the first period, Bakersfield outshot San Jose eleven to one. After the second period, Bakersfield outshot San Jose again, this time eleven to ten. After the third period, each team had nine shots. Ultimately, Bakersfield outshot San Jose 34-21.
Both teams had good chances of having the man advantage. San Jose went 0-5 on the powerplay while Bakersfield went 1-3.
For San Jose, Matt Davis was the star winning goalie. Davis made 33 saves on 34 shots. For Bakersfield, Samuel Jonsson was the losing goalie after coming in for relief. Jonsson made 8 saves on 8 shots while the starting goalie, Nathaniel Day, made 12 saves on 13 shots.
THREE STARS OF THE GAME:
Matt Davis
Tristan Sarsland
Daniel D’Amato
The Barracuda will be back in action on Saturday September 26th where they will host the Bakersfield Condors for another preseason matchup.
Cal quarterback (#3) Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele hands off to running back (#24) Adam Mohammed in a NCAA conference football matchup against Clemson Tigers at the California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, CA on September 25th, 2026. (Photo credits to IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
By Michael Villanueva
BERKELEY – On Friday night at the foot of the Berkeley Hills, the California Golden Bears (2-2) once again hosted the Clemson Tigers (3-1) for an ACC conference football showdown. However, the Clemson Tigers got the win Friday night and are now on a three-game winning streak. The Golden Bears and Tigers last faced off in a historic Florida Citrus Bowl in 1992, where Cal defeated Clemson 37–13. After tonight, Cal will have played its only Friday night of the season this week against Clemson.
After defeating Syracuse on the road in Week 2 on September 12, the Bears are 1-0 in ACC play in 2026. Last weekend, the team defeated Wagner 49-7, the biggest margin of victory since a road win at Oregon State on October 20, 2018. In terms of passing defense efficiency, Cal is ranked 10th nationally and first in the ACC (95.31).
Tonight’s game against Cal was Clemson’s first visit to the West Coast since the ACC’s westward expansion. It will be Clemson’s fourth game in California history on Friday. Still, one of the program’s most memorable games was Clemson’s most recent one in California. Clemson won its third national championship on January 7, 2019, when it defeated Alabama 44-16 in Santa Clara.
In the first quarter, the Golden Bears defense came up big on a play on Clemson’s quarterback, Tait Reynolds. Reynolds would throw his first and only interception to California defensive back Isaiah Crosby. This interception would be the first for Crosby in his collegiate career. Then the Tigers would prevent the Bears offense from scoring after the interception. However, Clemson QB Reynolds would get sacked by Aiden Manutai and lose the ball during the tackle. Bears Kamar Mothudi would pick up the football and run it in for a 35-yard touchdown, putting California on the scoreboard first, 7-0.
Second quarter, it would be an electric and explosive quarter for Clemson. Tigers field goal kicker Nolan Hauser would make a 30-yard field goal attempt and get Clemson their first points of the night, 7-3. After that, Clemson’s offense would have a 17-play offensive possession that would end with the Tigers scoring and taking up much of the clock in the second quarter. Tigers running back Gideon Davidson would score his first touchdown on a 1-yard rush to the end zone, giving Clemson the lead, 10-7.
At halftime, Clemson would hold over the Golden Bears 10-7. California’s offense would put up just 46 rushing yards and 47 passing yards. California’s quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele would also get sacked twice in the first half. Clemson’s offense put up 109 rushing yards and 70 passing yards.
Going into the third quarter, California’s field goal kicker Chase Meyer would make a 30-yard field goal and give Cal three more points, tying the game 10-10. This scoring possession would be the only and last scoring possession for California. On a punt return for Clemson, Tigers’ Bryant Wesco Jr. would return a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown. This gave the Tigers back the lead and changed the score to 17-10. Bryant’s punt return would be the first one for Clemson in eight years.
Late in the fourth and final quarter of the game, the Tigers were still giving it to the Bears. Both of these teams would combine for one offensive touchdown. With three minutes left, Clemson’s running back, Gideon Davidson, rushes in a 75-yard rushing touchdown. Davidson’s second rushing touchdown of the night sealed the deal as Clemson gets the win over California, 24-10.
Against Wagner, Sagapolutele finished 27 of 33 throws for a career-high 413 yards and three touchdowns. Since Jack Plummer threw for 406 yards against USC on November 5, 2022, he is the first Cal signal-caller to throw for at least 400 yards in a game. After his performance, he was named a Manning Star of the Week. But in this game, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele ended up 16 for 29 for 119 yards and two interceptions for his fewest yards.
The California Golden Bears will hit the road to Sin City. The Bears will take on UNLV Rebels (1-2) in Las Vegas, Nevada, at Allegiant Stadium on October 3rd, 2026. The game will start at 12:30 p.m. and will be broadcast live on CBSSN. The last time the Bears and Rebels faced off was on December 18th, 2024, at the Art of Sport LA Bowl, Hosted By Gronk. The Rebels would get the win over the Bears, 24-13, and the all-time series is 1-1.
Jacob Lopez #57 of the Athletics pitches in the top of the first inning against the Houston Astros at Sutter Health Park on September 25, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory photo credit: Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The A’s and Astros were back in action on the final Friday night of the regular season at 6:40 p.m. PDT at Sutter Health Park. After the Astros’ win over the A’s on Thursday night, Houston was tied for the AL West lead with the Texas Rangers entering play on Friday and desperately needing a win.
The A’s continued to play spoiler in the American League on Friday as they defeated the Astros, 6-5.
Jacob Lopez took the ball for the A’s in his final start of the 2026 season. It was Lopez’s 27th appearance for the A’s and his 24th start of the 2026 season. Lopez pitched masterfully as he turned in one of his best starts of the year. Lopez went six innings of one-run baseball as he allowed only two hits and walked two while striking out four. The only real blemish for Lopez was a fourth-inning solo home run he gave up to Christian Walker. Otherwise, Lopez turned in an outing he would certainly be happy to end the season with.
In the seventh inning, the A’s went with right-hander Seth Johnson to be first out of the bullpen in relief of Lopez. Johnson pitched a solid inning, but he was bitten by the home run bug as he gave up a solo home run to Cam Smith with two outs. However, that was all he gave up in an otherwise clean inning in which he struck out one.
In the eighth inning, it was Geoff Hartlieb who came in for the A’s in hopes of keeping the game where it was. Hartlieb ran into trouble in the eighth as he gave up two hits to the first three batters he faced, followed by a walk. That was all Mark Kotsay needed to see as he went to his bullpen again with the bases loaded.
Luis Medina was next out of the A’s bullpen, hoping to come in and clean up Hartlieb’s mess. Medina couldn’t get that job done as he allowed all three of his inherited runners to score before getting out of the inning. So, Medina’s line looks okay, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. Medina went two-thirds of an inning and gave up one hit, one walk, and struck out one. No runs were charged to Medina. Hartlieb’s final line wasn’t so kind as he went one-third of an inning while allowing three runs on one hit, walking two and striking out one.
With the A’s lead down to one run, Mark Kotsay called on Hogan Harris for the save in the ninth inning. Harris gave up a one-out walk, but faced the minimum as he induced a double play and struck out the only other batter he faced. With the save, Harris recorded his 17th save of the season, which marked only the second time a left-handed pitcher has recorded 17 saves for the A’s.
On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s scored a total of six runs on eight hits while being gifted four free passes from the Astros’ pitching.
The A’s scored their first runs of the game in the sixth inning as pinch hitter Michael Stefanic came up big with a two-run single. The single drove in Jeff McNeil and Zack Gelof, who reached base prior, and gave the A’s their first lead of the ballgame.
Two batters later, it was Jonah Heim who added to the lead with an RBI single to left field. Heim’s single scored pinch runner Denzel Clarke and gave Heim his 43rd RBI of the year.
As the sixth inning continued, the A’s offense also continued to damage the Astros and their playoff chances. Henry Bolte laced a two-RBI triple to right field to pile on and give the A’s their fourth and fifth runs of the inning. It was the second triple of the year for Bolte and RBIs 37 and 38.
Lawrence Butler decided to get in on the action next as he drove in Henry Bolte from third on a fielder’s choice that Bolte beat out at the plate. It was the 62nd RBI of the year for Butler and the A’s sixth run of the inning.
The A’s and Astros will play game three of their four-game series on Saturday at 6:40 p.m. PDT. The A’s will send Jack Perkins (3-12, 5.90 ERA) to the mound to start the game as the Astros will counter with Hayden Wesneski (5-2, 3.50 ERA). The Astros and Rangers remain tied for the AL West crown with just two games remaining for both teams.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check. 🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah. 🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) smiles as he walks to the dugout after San Francisco Giants’ Shay Whitcomb struck out during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept 25. 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
By Ryan Hannagan
San Francisco – The Giants (65–95) took on the Dodgers (98-62) for game one of the final series of their 2026 season Friday night. A tale of two sides: the Dodgers, who have secured the postseason in search of a three-peat, and the Giants, who have been eliminated from playoff contention for the fifth consecutive season.
Giants rookie right-handed pitcher Yunior Marte took the mound. The 23-year-old was making only his third career Major League start, his second against the Dodgers. On the opposing side, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts went with two-time AL Cy Young award winner Tarik Skubal. Skubal pitched masterfully striking out ten hitters and throwing seven innings of shutout ball in the Dodgers 2-0 win.
The game lasted an hour and fifty-three minutes, which is the third-shortest MLB game of the season, due to it including a lot of defensive elements. Three outfield assists from the two teams in the first two innings kept the pace moving. Another major factor was the dominance of Skubal. Skubal threw seven scoreless on only 75 pitches (60 strikes). The Giants were only able to record three hits all night, all off Skubal, all singles.
Skubal came close to history in the bottom of the fifth, flirting with an immaculate inning after striking out the side on ten pitches. Given that the Dodgers are getting ready for the upcoming playoffs, it didn’t raise many eyebrows after Skubal was pulled following the seventh. Freshness and preparedness are priorities for pitching staffs in the postseason.
The two runs came both off solo shots. First, Teoscar Hernandez sent a no-doubter deep into the left field bleachers to lead off the second inning. Only two batters later, it was Andy Pages’ turn, sending a high-fly to left. No other offense came to be for either side.
As the orange and black’s season’s hour glass nears full, the Giants are looking to go into the offseason with a fresh start. No matter how many they win or lose of the remaining two, the Giants will have finished with their second-worst record over the last ten seasons, having only finished with fewer wins in 2017 (64-98).
Game two of the three game series is scheduled for Saturday. First pitch, 1:05 p.m. PDT.
Starting pitchers for Los Angeles LHP Blake Snell (4-1 ERA 1.86) for San Francisco LHP Matt Wilkinson (1-3 ERA 3.65).
Camilo Doval has returned to the San Francisco Giants on Thu Sep 24, 2026 after a hiatus with the New York Yankees (2025) and Pittsburgh Pirates (2026). San Francisco Chronicle file photo
San Francisco Giants podcast Lincoln Juarez:
#1 Camilo Doval who the Giants traded to the New York Yankees last season has returned to San Franisco after pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Doval was 3.79 with 14 walks in 19 innings in 20 outings Doval is under club control and is making $6.1 million for this season and is eligible for arbitration after this season. The Giants could offer Doval a contract in the winter.
#1 Can Drew Gilbert provide a spark for the Giants’ offense against the Dodgers?
#2 How will Yunior Marté handle the Dodgers’ lineup as the Giants’ scheduled starting pitcher?
#3 Can Christian Koss contribute offensively and defensively for San Francisco against Los Angeles?
#4 What kind of impact could Jonah Cox have for the Giants in this matchup?
#5 Can Andrew Knizner give the Giants an advantage behind the plate against the Dodgers?
Edmonton Oilers head coach Mike Babcock gives instructions during the morning skate during training camp at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Thu Sep 17, 2026 (AP News photo)
NHL podcast Len Shapiro:
#1 Len, talk about Edmonton Oilers head coach Mike Babcock who was just hired but had been accused of verbal attacks on some of his former players. ESPN studio analyst Mark Messier said that he heard from reputable people on the inside of the NHL that Babcock was abusive and Messier said some of the stories horrifying.
#2 Len, You might remember him George Gillet Jr the former majority owner of the Montreal Canadiens and part owner of Liverpool FC died at 87 years old. No cause of death was given. Gillett on Jan 31, 2001 bought a majority of the Habs and also bought the Belle Centre worth $275 million at the time. June 20, 2009 Gillet sold the team to the Molson family.
#3 ASU head coach Greg Powers answered questions for the first time since St Louis Blues prospect Matthew Mayich collapsed last month on Aug 20th during an off season workout. Powers said he’s the right guy for the job and on Sep 20th never addressed Mayich with the press. Mayich was reported to suffer from heat stroke that cut off oxygen to the brain and unlikely will not recover.
#4 The NHL board of governors said they will wait and see regarding finding two expansion teams.The NHL is considering adding a second NHL team in Dallas. Other options expanding to Houston and Austin.
#5 Lastly Len who do you like as the Stanley Cup contenders, the top challengers who you favor for a shot at going all the way and winning the Stanley Cup. Just an early preview for the 26-27 season.
San Jose Shark Ivar Stenberg tosses a puck into the stands at SAP Center in San Jose, Sept. 24, 2026. The Sharks completed their third preseason game against the Anaheim Ducks. (San Jose Sharks/X)
By Ryan Hannagan
SAN JOSE, Calif – The Sharks third game of the preseason on Thursday night was one for the record books. A 10-0 win over the Anaheim Ducks.
This is the first time they recorded ten goals in any game since March of 2002. Their first time in franchise history recording ten goals in a preseason game.
Prior to Thursday’s bout, the Sharks’ preseason record stood at 0-1-1. Head coach Ryan Warsofsky brought out a lineup of sure-thing roster players for the second-to-last game of the preseason, with a handful of guys still battling for a spot. The Sharks battling for a spot in the opening night roster consisted of Jimmy Huntington, Filip Bystedt, Nolan Allan and Eric Pohlkamp.
On the opposing end, Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville went for a roster consisting of a majority of rookies and players who spent last season in the AHL.
Optimism reeled through the grounds of SAP Center as the opening face-off had dropped – sitting a week from Opening Night, the promise of a new season lurked. The Sharks wasted no time getting their offense rolling, offseason addition Mason Marchment scored on a second-effort breakaway goal just under four minutes into the opening frame. Two minutes later, rookie Ivar Stenberg scored his first goal at SAP Center to quickly increase the lead to 2-0. The Sharks offense didn’t back away following a quick first two, forward Igor Chernysov scored the third tally of the period.
The ice was tilted, a less experienced Ducks squad tried everything they could to stop the bleeding. The men in teal weren’t content with three, as sophomore forward Michael Misa tallied the fourth, followed by Chernysov’s second of the period to give the Sharks a 5-0 cushion as the horn sounded to conclude the opening 20.
Come period two, the Sharks didn’t skip a beat. Two more goals made their lead even more mountable. 40 minutes had gone by, though the game was all but over.
As the third period rolled along a question loomed as to whether or not the Sharks were going to let up or not. Considering it was a preseason game, that was a valid thought. That didn’t end up being the case. Three more tallies in the third had the final score looking like a low-scoring football game, rather than an NHL game.
Ivar Stenberg only had suited up in one prior preseason game for the Sharks, though he made himself right at home with his first professional hat trick. In an unseen moment, a shoe rained from the crowd. Though there are no prior statistics for shoes being thrown on the ice during a hat trick, it is fair to believe that could be an SAP Center first. Some Sharks fans may remember the “Umbrella Trick” from years ago.
All but two skaters registered at least a point for the Sharks. Notables being Stenberg with three goals and an assist, Misa with a goal and three assists, and Chernysov with two goals and an assist. The wealth was shared tonight.
Only one game remains in the preseason for the Sharks, a road matchup in Vegas the coming Saturday. Puck drop, 7:00 p.m. PST.
Mason Barnett #63 of the Athletics pitches against the Houston Astros in the top of the second inning at Sutter Health Park on September 24, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory photo credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
By Jeremiah Salmonson
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The A’s welcomed the Houston Astros to Sacramento on Thursday for the first of a four-game series to wrap up the 2026 season. For the A’s, there’s very little to play for as they have been firmly out of the playoff picture for months. On the other hand, the Astros are fighting for their playoff lives as they must win the AL West to make it in, as they entered play a half-game back of the Texas Rangers on Thursday.
The A’s fell to the Astros in game one, 7-5.
Mason Barnett got the ball for the A’s on Thursday in what was his 20th appearance and sixth start for the club in 2026. Barnett held his own in the game and was able to provide some length for the A’s, but he didn’t pitch well enough to be in line for the win. The home run proved to be the main struggle for Barnett on Thursday, as he gave up a three-run home run in the second inning and a solo shot in the sixth. All in, Barnett tossed six innings of four-run, four-hit baseball while striking out eight (a career high) and walking two hitters.
First out of the bullpen for the A’s was Scott Blewett as he came in to pitch the seventh inning for Mark Kotsay in relief of Mason Barnett. Blewett struggled in his inning, giving up a home run and two other hits, but he managed to limit the damage and keep the Astros to just one run during his inning.
In the eighth inning, the A’s turned to Chris Roycroft to keep the game where it was as they trailed 5-4. Unfortunately for the A’s, Roycroft, like Barnett and Blewett before him, was also bitten by the home run bug. Roycroft gave up a solo home run but nothing more in his inning of work while also striking out two.
In the ninth inning, it was Elvis Alvarado for the second night in a row to finish things off for the A’s on the pitching side. Like all the A’s pitchers in the game, Elvis also gave up a home run. Alvarado started his appearance by giving up a solo home run, but was effective after as he didn’t give up anything else in his outing, other than one more inconsequential hit.
At the plate, the A’s picked up where they left off against the Angels early in the game. In total, the A’s had five runs, 11 hits and walked three times.
Jeff McNeil got the scoring going for the A’s in the third inning when he launched a game-tying three-run home run over the wall in right-center field. It was McNeil’s ninth home run of the season and RBIs 53, 54 and 55. The momentum-shifting home run left the bat at 98.4 MPH and landed 379 feet away in the visitors’ bullpen.
Keeping the party going, Zack Gelof decided to get in on the action as he launched a back-to-back home run with McNeil, which was the 21st of the season for him. Gelof’s home run left the bat at 101.8 MPH and came to rest 413 feet away in straightaway center field to give the A’s the 4-3 lead. It was Gelof’s 53rd RBI of the season.
The A’s didn’t score again until the eighth inning, but it was Gelof again for the A’s. Zack Gelof made it a 6-5 game and got the A’s to within one run as he sent his second home run of the game over the left-center-field wall. It was Gelof’s 22nd of the season and gave him his 54th RBI of the campaign.
That would be all the A’s could get on the offensive end as they fell to the Astros 7-5 on Thursday.
The A’s and Astros will play game two of the four-game series on Friday at 6:40 p.m. PDT. As of this writing, the Astros have not announced a starter while the A’s will go with Jacob Lopez (6-5, 5.68 ERA).
