Sports

By Ben Church and Matt Foster, CNN The Carolina Panthers’ decision to overlook Steve Wilks and appoint someone else as their new head coach points to a “legitimate race problem in the NFL,” the former interim coach’s attorneys say. The NFL franchise announced Thursday that Frank Reich will take up the reins as the franchise’s

By Ben Morse and Al Goodman, CNN Vinícius Jr. scored against Atlético Madrid in Real Madrid’s 3-1 Copa del Rey quarterfinal victory on Thursday after an effigy of the star was hanged from a bridge in Madrid prior to the match. Álvaro Morata gave Atlético a first-half lead, but Rodrygo’s stunning equalizer sent the quarterfinal

By Ben Morse, CNN As British two-tone band The Specials once sang: “You’ve done too much, much too young.” That brings us to the ages — 27, 26, 24 and 23 — of the starting quarterbacks this weekend in the NFL conference championship round of the playoffs. There’s no 45-year-old Tom Brady. There’s no 39-year-old

By George Ramsay, CNN Azerbaijan’s tennis federation has called for Karen Khachanov to be sanctioned after the Russian player expressed support for the Armenian-majority population living in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region at the Australian Open. Khachanov, who has Armenian heritage, has written “Artsakh stay strong” on TV cameras after matches in Melbourne. Artsakh is the

CNN By Amanda Davies and Amy Woodyatt, CNN American skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin is having quite the 2023 — and it could get even better before the end of January. Earlier this week, the two-time Olympic gold medalist secured her 83rd World Cup win to break compatriot Lindsey Vonn’s record for the most wins in

By Zayn Nabbi and Angus Watson, CNN The Australian Open told CNN it has “briefed and reminded” players and their entourages about the tournament’s “policy regarding flags and symbols” on Thursday after video emerged on Wednesday of Novak Djokovic’s father, Srdjan, pictured at a demonstration with fans holding Russian flags, voicing his support for Russia.

By Amanda Davies and Amy Woodyatt, CNN American skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin is having quite the 2023 — and it could get even better before the end of January. Earlier this week, the two-time Olympic gold medalist secured her 83rd World Cup win to break compatriot Lindsey Vonn’s record for the most wins in women’s

By Ben Church, CNN Damian Lillard was locked in on Wednesday, exploding for a season-high 60 points on just 29 shot attempts and 10 free throws, to help the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Utah Jazz 134-124. Only two players in NBA history, Karl Malone and James Harden, have scored 60 points in a game

By Matias Grez, CNN Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka will face off in Saturday’s Australian Open final after both women came through their respective semifinals in straight sets. Rybakina powered her way past two-time champion Victoria Azarenka, winning 7-6 6-3 in just over an hour and 40 minutes, while Sabalenka ended the dream run of

By Alasdair Howorth, CNN It’s been a problem for the ages but Cameroonian soccer great Samuel Eto’o appears determined to stamp it out. Cameroon sealed its qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations’ Under-17s tournament with a 2-0 win against the Republic of Congo 2-0 on January 15, but the squad which won that

By Sammy Mngqosini A human rights group has accused motorsport’s governing body, the FIA, of “suppressing drivers’ freedom of speech,” following a ban on political statements ahead of the new Formula One season. On Tuesday, the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy (BIRD) questioned the governing body’s commitment to human rights in a letter addressed

By Matias Grez, CNN Novak Djokovic continued his scintillating form at the Australian Open, brushing aside world No. 6 Andrey Rublev in straight sets to reach the semifinals. It was yet another near-perfect display of tennis from the 35-year-old, as he continued his seemingly inevitable march towards a record-equaling 22nd grand slam with a 6-1