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  • Heat takes a toll as Philly events for nation’s 250th ramp up; mayors march in Old City; Queen Latifah concert canceled

    Heat takes a toll as Philly events for nation’s 250th ramp up; mayors march in Old City; Queen Latifah concert canceled

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 10:37pm

    John Adams wanted ‘pomp and parade’ to mark July 2. For the 250th, Philly tried, despite the heat.

    Participants gather to create the Living Liberty Bell, gathering 250 people to form the shape of the famous bell on Independence Mall (with the backdrop of Independence Hall) adorned in red, white, and blue, at Independence Hall, July 2, 2026.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    As the mercury climbed above 100 degrees in the Philadelphia region two days before the nation’s 250th birthday, it was, it seemed, too hot for liberty as originally planned.

    Thursday marked the start of the Red White & Blue To-Do — Philadelphia’s third-annual celebration of the day the Second Continental Congress voted to adopt a resolution of independence here on July 2, 1776. Though many events honoring that anniversary were planned, several highly anticipated gatherings were canceled or postponed due to the heat.

    And yet, despite the oppressive temperatures on a particularly toasty July day in the cradle of the nation’s founding, the celebration started early Thursday.

    At 7 a.m., some 250 revelers, clad in red, white, and blue clothing, gathered at Independence Mall to make a living Liberty Bell — a representation of a symbol that has defined Philadelphia for centuries, and a touchstone for Americans nationwide. The human formation even captured the bell’s signature crack through an outline of participants wearing blue.

    John Adams wanted ‘pomp and parade’ to mark July 2. For the 250th, Philly tried, despite the heat.

    — Nick Vadala, Stephanie Farr, Dana Munro

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 7:51pm

    Drone show still set for 10 p.m. tonight over National Constitution Center

    While other events have been canceled because of the heat, the Independence Illumination Drone Show is still scheduled for 10 p.m. Thursday over the National Constitution Center and is viewable from Independence Mall.

    — Robert Moran

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 7:25pm

    Photos: Union Pacific’s legendary ‘Big Boy’ locomotive heading to Philly

    Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 will arrive in Philadelphia on Saturday in time for Fourth of July celebrations, completing its journey from the West Coast. The legendary locomotive has drawn thousands of spectators as it has traveled across Pennsylvania.

    The Big Boy is headed to Intrepid Avenue and League Island Boulevard at the Navy Yard, where the Port of Philadelphia will host a public viewing from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and again on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. before heading west. Admission is free.

    Earlier on Thursday, over-heated train fans gathered near Reading to see Big Boy required medical attention because of the scorching temperatures.

    “Preliminary estimates indicate that more than 100 patients required medical evaluation and care throughout the incident,” the Blandon Fire Department, one of the numerous responding agencies, posted on Facebook.

    No serious injuries were reported.

    — Robert Moran

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 6:13pm

    Philly ties a record with high of 103

    The official high reached 103 Thursday in Philly, tying a record perhaps fittingly set in 1901 when the nation was marking its 125th birthday, halfway to the Semiquincentennial.

    The bar is a shade higher Friday when the record is 104, and Saturday’s would be 103, both set during a sizzling heat wave in 1966.

    Relief-bearing showers are unlikely Friday, said Patrick O’Hara, meteorologist with the National Weather Service Office in Mount Holly, N.J.

    However, the 50-50 chance remains for Saturday night, coinciding with the climax of the city’s Welcome America celebration on a World Cup game.

    Severe storms are possible, the federal Storm Prediction Center says.

    Sunday, the highs might not get past 90, or the low 80s on Monday.

    — Anthony R. Wood

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 5:48pm

    Salute to Service, featuring Queen Latifah, has been canceled because of extreme heat

    A man working the event (right) tells folks that the Wawa Welcome America’s Salute to Service featuring the United States Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus on Independence Mall with superstar Queen Latifah has been cancelled because of the excessive heat on Thursday, July 2, 2026.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    The Wawa Welcome America Salute to Service concert has been canceled because of the extreme heat, organizers announced via social media just after 5 p.m. Thursday.

    The concert was to feature Queen Latifah and the United States Army Field Band & Soldiers’ Chorus performing at Independence National Historical Park. It was intended to be a “rousing performance honoring our soldiers and veterans,” according to a description of the event online.

    It was set to begin at 8 p.m., but is now among a list of several other events that have been canceled or rescheduled due to the heat blanketing the Philadelphia region. Temperatures topped 100 degrees in the city Thursday afternoon, and the heat is expected to continue into Friday.

    Sign announcing the cancellation of Thursday night’s Salute to Service concert featuring Queen Latifah and the U.S. Army field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus at Independence National Historical Park due to a declared heat emergency with 100-plus temperatures.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    — Nick Vadala

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 5:14pm

    Artists perform music, poetry at historic locations across Old City

    More than two dozen Philadelphia artists filled 11 historic spaces across Old City Thursday afternoon with music, poetry, and powerful vibes as part of WXPN Welcomes the Red, White & Blue To-Do Music Series.

    The audience seats, however, were not all filled as crowds remained light and foot traffic across the historic district was much sparser than an average Thursday.

    Legendary Philly poet and recording artist Ursula Rucker performed with Miles Orion on guitar at the Arch Street Meetinghouse for a crowd of about a dozen people. She gave moving renditions of her poems — like “Philadelphia Child” and “Fear or Freedom” — and ended her set on “L.O.V.E.”

    “Love soft, love hard, just love,” she said, encouraging the small crowd to repeat one of the most powerful words in the English language with her – love.

    Over at Mother Bethel AME Church, 21 members of the Mass choir accompanied by an organist and drummer performed gospel music for a crowd of about just as many spectators. The floorboards of the church’s social hall vibrated, hands clapped, and feet tapped as the choir beautifully performed songs like “Battlefield” and “Yes, God is real.”

    “They just about blew the roof off!” said Dolly Marshall, who frequents the church.

    Marshall, a historic preservation specialist for the city of Camden, is a “Bicentennial baby” who’s celebrating both the country’s birth and her own milestone birthday this year. She’s also a descendent of James Forten, who was a Revolutionary Philadelphia sailmaker, abolitionist, and Black patriot.

    “I wanted to be a part of the festivities today. Seeing people come together, we should carry this spirit all year long. You’ve seen the evidence with FIFA and the World Cup too, people coming together from different denominations and different cultures. That’s the beauty of celebrations like these,” she said. “Of course, this coincides with other things that are going on in the country, some that aren’t so pleasant. We’re divided in many ways, so these times also shed light on the work that still needs to be done.”

    Rev. Carolyn C. Cavaness, pastor of Mother Bethel AME, said she wanted to open the church’s doors for the Red, White & Blue To-Do because it sits on the oldest parcel of land continuously owned by African-Americans in the country, dating back to 1791.

    “I’ve been reflecting, here we’re celebrating the birthday of America but there are people who are not invited to the party. There are people who are still left out. So how do we, in this generation, show that all men and women are created equal?” she said. “And not only in word and ideal but in deed and thought and how we legislate and how we live and embrace each other.”

    Mother Bethel AME Mass choir performing as part of @wxpnfm.bsky.social Red, White & Blue music series in Philly today.

    — Stephanie Farr (@farfarraway.bsky.social) 2026-07-02T18:27:27.324Z

    — Stephanie Farr

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 5:10pm

    At Independence Hall, Hakeem Jeffries said it was important to speak about the history of slavery in America

    House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington in May.J. Scott Applewhite

    During his speech Thursday afternoon at Independence Hall, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries underscored the country’s history of slavery that coexisted during the nation’s founding. He also emphasized that Americans have no king and should never obey one. He said it was important to speak to those themes to remind people of the founders’ ideals.

    “The Declaration of Independence was pretty clear as a defiant document in breaking away from King George III and establishing a country where there would be representative democracy based on the consent of the government, where there are no subjects, only citizens,” he said.

    The city of Philadelphia and President Donald Trump’s administration have been embroiled in a battle over language that references George Washington, who enslaved people as the country gained its independence.

    Jeffries said he has not had a chance to see the updated language yet.

    “But I think it’s important for us to embrace the fact that America was not born as a perfect country, but the framers and the founders of our great republic were able to set us on a path toward always marching to a more perfect union,” he said.

    Only a few Republicans, including U.S. Reps. Glenn Thompson and Rob Aderholt, attended Thursday’s session. No members of Republican leadership in Congress attended.

    “Speaker Johnson, I didn’t get an opportunity to talk about why he wasn’t present here today, but I’m thankful that I was here, and it’s a very special day that I will,” he said, referring to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.).

    Thompson, a Republican who represents Pennsylvania, said he was proud to attend Thursday’s event: “Oh, who would not want to be a part of celebrating the actual 250th anniversary of our independence?”

    Several speeches during the special Congressional session emphasized the need for Congress to remain an independent branch and exercise its authority to check power on the executive. To Thompson, the remarks seemed ”a little political,” he said, “but it is an excellent observation, whenever we don’t have a king, we can thank George Washington for that.”

    The 250th anniversary gathering of Congress at Independence Hall touches on divided times, uneven history

    — Michelle Baruchman

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 5:01pm

    Philly performances by Jill Scott, The Roots will be featured on CBS primetime special July 4th

    Fil photo of Jill Scott performing at The Met on March 16, 2023.Charles Fox / Staff Photographer

    CBS will highlight performances in Philadelphia by Jill Scott and The Roots during a three-hour “primetime” televised special July 4th, the network announced Thursday.

    CBS will broadcast from 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday The Great American Block Party 250 from 8 to 11 p.m. hosted from the nation’s capital by CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil and Entertainment Tonight co-host Nischelle Turner, the network said.

    The special, which will be streamed on Paramount+ and CBS News 24/7, will feature musical performance from across the country, “grill sessions” with Washington chef Rock Harper, and a big fireworks show.

    The performances by Jill Scott and The Roots are part of the scheduled One Philly Unity Concert for America in Philadelphia.

    The Philly concert also will be aired by NBC10.

    — Robert Moran

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 3:37pm

    Members of Congress gather at Independence Hall

    Jarquiza Ayers, on the staff of U.S. Rep. Watson Coleman, uses a handheld fan to cool off U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, seated In Congress Hall at Independence Hall on Thursday before some 30-40 members of the House of Representatives gathered for a ceremonial event to mark the 250th anniversary of the day the Second Continental Congress voted for independence.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    Members of the U.S. Congress lined up Thursday to enter Independence Hall in Philadelphia, the site where, 250 years ago, the Second Continental Congress gathered to declare independence from Great Britain. Rep. Glenn Thompson (R., Pa.) opened the ceremonial event, saying “the origins of our republic trace back to Pennsylvania.”

    In speeches, Gov. Josh Shapiro and Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries reminded attendees of the history of the founders’ goals that America has no king, and that what would become the legislative branch is separate from the executive and acts as a check on power.

    Members of both parties attended, wearing suits and waving fans — a sign of the 100-degree heat outside the Hall in Philadelphia.

    Rep. Brendan Boyle, a Democrat whose district includes Independence Hall, had worked for two years to convene a special Congressional ceremonial event to mark the 250th anniversary of the vote to declare independence.

    He motioned to pass into the Congressional record that reads: “The members of Congress present on this day come together in the spirit of unity and celebration … to reflect on the best of our nation’s founding ideals.”

    About 30 members of Congress attended the special meeting.

    Following a benediction from Rep. Robert Menendez (D., N.J.), the special session adjourned.

    — Michelle Baruchman

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 1:59pm

    Extreme heat leads to canceled and postponed July 4 plans across South Jersey

    Countless parades, fireworks, drone shows, and more are scheduled for this weekend to celebrate the Fourth of July and the nation’s 250th birthday across South Jersey, but extreme heat is complicating plans.

    With temperatures forecast to exceed 100 degrees through Independence Day, some South Jersey towns are taking steps to keep residents out of the heat — even if it means canceling their annual holiday events.

    Others that haven’t taken any major steps yet are advising residents to stay hydrated and out of the direct sunlight as much as possible over the weekend.

    Here are some South Jersey towns that have announced changes to their Fourth of July celebrations.

    — Lacey Latch

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 1:46pm

    Essentials carted in ahead of ceremonial Congressional event

    The seal of the U.S. House of Representatives waits outside Independence Hall Thursday, July 2, before some 30 to 40 members of Congress gather for a ceremonial event to mark the 250th anniversary of the day the Second Continental Congress voted for independence.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    — Tom Gralish

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 1:42pm

    Philly temperature hits 100

    Visitors to the Liberty Bell, in Philadelphia, July 2, 2026.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    For the 63rd time in records dating to 1874, the temperature reached 100 degrees on Thursday afternoon, officially in Philadelphia, and the heat index jumped to 109 at 1 p.m.

    The forecast high, 103, would match a record for a July 2, set back in 1901 when the nation was marking its 125th birthday,

    While summers have become warmer in Philadelphia, 100-degree readings have been relatively scarce this century.

    On average, temperatures of 100 or higher have occurred every four years in Philly, but when it reached 100 last summer, that was the first time in 13 years, the longest 100-less stretch on record.

    It had reached 100 in three consecutive summers ending in 2012, and five consecutive years ending in 1955.

    Things may change tomorrow; it might get a little warmer.

    Missing January yet?

    — Anthony R. Wood

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 1:38pm

    More than 100 mayors learn about historical significance of July 2nd, 1776, at Museum of the American Revolution

    Mayor Cherelle L. Parker interacts with visiting mayors on July 2.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    More than 100 mayors, some with families in tow, gathered in a small auditorium in the Museum of the American Revolution and learned about the historical significance of this day 250 years ago.

    On July 2, 1776, 12 of the 13 colonies voted in favor of independence from Great Britain, explained Tom Cochran, U.S. Conference of Mayors CEO and executive director. Only New York cast a no vote until a few days later, when it got on board as well.

    “We talk about the Declaration, we talk about the Constitution, it was on that day, July 2nd … that we broke,” Cochran said.

    He put the work that political leaders executed on that day two and a half centuries ago in terms the modern-day U.S. mayors would understand.

    The resolution the officials voted on in 1776 “didn’t have 35 whereas clauses,” Cochran explained, as are common in modern-day resolutions reviewed in local government chambers. This resolution, he explained, only had one clause.

    “Resolved, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states,” Cochran said, quoting the resolution.

    It was only in coming together and sharing ideas that the representatives from across the colonies accomplished an extraordinary thing. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker urged the mayors at the symposium to do the same at this meeting.

    “May today’s conversations strengthen old friendships, spark new ideas, and renew our shared commitment to public service,” Parker said. “Welcome to Philadelphia, everyone. Let’s roll up our sleeves and continue the hard work together.”

    — Dana Munro

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 1:29pm

    Floats, dance, and a lot of sun: Pomp & Parade winds through historic district

    A member of Gente de Venezuela Philly marches through Independence Mall during the Red, White, & Blue To-Do Pomp & Parade event on Thursday, July 2, 2026, in Philadelphia.Aidan Gallo / Staff Photographer

    Performers from neighborhoods across Philadelphia and nations around the world weren’t slowed down by oppressive temperatures Thursday as they marched, stepped, and danced their way down Independence Mall in the Red, White & Blue To-Do Pomp & Parade.

    The extreme heat did seem to have an effect on attendance, though. Crowds were relatively light along the parade route this year, particularly in areas without shade, of which there are many along the mall.

    The parade featured cultural groups like Gente de Venezuela Philly, whose members waved Venezuelan and American flags; Banda Escolar de Guayanilla, a marching band from Puerto Rico; the Indiana County Fife & Drum Corps, who brought the history in tricorn hats, and the West Powelton Steppers & Drum Squad, who brought the beat in the heat.

    Participants pulled wagons featuring small floats of Independence Hall, the LOVE sculpture, and the Liberty Bell, and a historical interpreter portraying John Adams brought up the rear of the procession.

    Despite its name, the parade was a living illustration that this country’s true colors aren’t just red, white, and blue — this nation is a diverse tapestry of vibrant, beautiful hues.

    Pastor Funmi Obilana of RCCG Church in West Philly stopped to watch the parade with two other members of her congregation on their way to the President’s House Site. The three women were doing a walking tour of their own city Thursday, stopping at places where their ancestors were once enslaved in advance of Independence Day.

    “We are here to pray for this city and this nation,” Obilana said. “Two-hundred-and-fifty years is a big number and it should be a new beginning, not only for Philadelphia, but for the nation.”

    Christian Greene, 14, and fellow members of the Indiana County Fife and Drum Corps, a music group for 6th-12th grade students in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, wait for their bus back home after the parade ends in front of the YO statue on Thursday, July 2, 2026, in Philadelphia.Aidan Gallo / Staff Photographer

    Lori Morgan and her three daughters traveled from Seattle to celebrate the Red, White & Blue To-Do in Philly before heading to Boston for July 4th.

    “We knew we wanted to do something historic for the 250th so we thought ‘Let’s go to Philadelphia on July 2, since this is where it all happened,” she said.

    The family toured Independence Hall Wednesday, and Morgan said it gave them a new perspective on the days and people that led to the founding of our nation.

    “We really thought about how when they did the Declaration it was a hot summer and this weather is helping us empathize with what they went through. It was difficult for them with the heat and tempers and they had to pull it together,” Morgan said. “I just think about those men and they all had different ideas, just like we do today, but they knew they couldn’t fail and they had to come together, and they did.”

    Dance4Life from Claymont, Del, in Philly’s Red, White & Blue To-Do parade today

    — Stephanie Farr (@farfarraway.bsky.social) 2026-07-02T17:35:33.413Z

    Behind Independence Hall Thursday, where the shade was plentiful, National Park Service rangers, colonial reenactors, and independent guides led several large groups on tours and gave information talks.

    Lines for both Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell snaked down the sides of their respective buildings. Directly in front of Independence Hall on the mall, FOX Sports appeared to be setting up a large broadcast booth that an employee said will be used for coverage of the July 4th World Cup game in the city.

    Philadelphians also got their side hustle on around the mall, selling everything from 250th flags to homemade buttons that read “Make America humane again” and “Deport ICE.”

    — Stephanie Farr

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 12:29pm

    What state candidates for governor are doing on Independence Day

    (use as desired) Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro shakes hand of Stacy Garrity, 78th State Treasurer, Forum Auditorium, Harrisburg, PA, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. Day of her swearing in.Alejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer

    Treasurer Stacy Garrity, the Republican candidate for Pennsylvania governor, will be spending her July Fourth marching in the Susquehanna County parade Saturday, a spokesperson told The Philadelphia Inquirer.

    It’s one of many events planned throughout the commonwealth to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary of its founding.

    Her Democratic opponent, Gov. Josh Shapiro, meanwhile, will appear from sunup to sundown at events throughout the city — as well as frequent television hits.

    Shapiro has repeatedly raised concern that President Donald Trump has led the nation astray from its founders’ design and initially announced that Pennsylvania would not take part in Trump’s Great American State Fair, before Pennsylvania’s U.S. senators, Republican Dave McCormick and Democrat John Fetterman, made a push to fill the state’s empty exhibit. Garrity, in a statement, said Shapiro is the “only career politician who has politicized America 250.”

    — Michelle Baruchman

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 11:48am

    📷 Images of the nation’s 250th birthday

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 11:42am

    Watch artists prepare floats for Philadelphia’s Salute to Independence Parade

    — Lauren Schneiderman

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 11:32am

    March featuring mayors from across the country heads through Historic District

    Mayor Cherelle L. Parker leads bipartisan mayors from communities across the nation in a Historic March of America’s Mayors through the birthplace of American democracy, and past Independence Hall, in Philadelphia, July 2, 2026.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    In the sweltering shadeless heat of Independence Mall, more than 100 mayors from small towns and big cities across the country disembarked from coach buses donning large white sashes reading “mayor” and styling various patriotic yet professional sundresses and suits.

    After a quick photo opp, the crowd of local leaders made its way down Market Street and turned at Sixth Street at the President’s House.

    “Hit the music!” someone from the group joked.

    Despite no accompaniment, scorching temperatures, and differing political alignments, the mayors quickly befriended one another, many bonding over a shared connection of a city or state.

    “There’s so many Michigan mayors here,” one said. “It’s great to be in the city of brotherly love,” someone else from the group shouted to the spectators.

    Visitors along the mall, some beating the heat with portable fans or umbrellas for shade, waved and welcomed them while one man followed them juggling.

    Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker led the charge from the President’s House site to Independence Hall to a collective sigh of relief when the sweat-laden group entered the Museum of the American Revolution for a symposium.

    “At a time when too much in our country pulls people apart, mayors have a different responsibility starting with bringing people together,” Parker said. “We share the same mission to serve our people, solve problems and strengthen the communities we are privileged to lead. We fully believe there is no better place for that reminder than Philadelphia because this city tells America’s whole story, no matter how imperfect it may be.”

    — Dana Munro

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 10:12am

    Strong storms are possible Saturday night

    The National Weather Service sees a 50-50 chance of thunderstorms Saturday night, and some of them may become quite strong.

    On Thursday, the federal Severe Storm Prediction Center, in Norman, Okla., increased the probability of severe storms — those with wind gusts up to 60 mph — to 15%.

    Forecasters warned that predicting the timing, location, and ferocity of storms would be impossible two days out.

    On average, thunderstorms occur every five days in July in Philadelphia, the peak month of the year.

    — Anthony R. Wood

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 10:11am

    Advocates to host Black Independence Day gathering on Independence Mall on July 4

    Avenging The Ancestors Coalition, the advocacy group that pushed to create and maintain the President’s House exhibit memorializing the nine people enslaved by George Washington in his Philadelphia home, will host a Black Independence Day gathering on Independence Mall on July 4.

    The event on the nation’s 250th birthday comes as the walls of President’s House remain mostly bare following President Donald Trump’s abrupt removal of the exhibit’s interpretive panels in January. A Philadelphia-based federal appeals court gave the National Park Service a green light to install its own proposed panels. But the future of the site remains in limbo because of litigation out of Boston.

    The event is slated to include reflections on freedom and independence, and an update on the legal battle surrounding the slavery memorial, and a call to action.

    As the country celebrates the Founding Fathers’ “righteous battle” against tyranny, it’s important to also acknowledge slavery, said Michael Coard, a coalition founding member.

    “You can’t truly love something unless you truly know it,” Coard said. “Until Americans acknowledge and address that bad and especially that ugly, they will never know, and therefore can never love, America.”

    The group will meet at the grassy area adjacent to the memorial, which is on the corner of Sixth and Market Streets, at 1 p.m. Saturday.

    Philadelphia’s historic sites draw tourists from around the world. They’re getting an incomplete version of the President’s House.

    — Abraham Gutman

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 9:59am

    Philadelphia shipwrights handbuilt a replica of the boat Washington used to cross the Delaware. It’s on display now.

    The team at the Seaport Boat Shop at Independence Seaport Museum has built a full-scale replica of the Durham boat — the model of boat George Washington used to cross the Delaware with his Patriot troops on Christmas in 1776.

    The boat got its name because it was used to transport iron from Durham Ironworks in Bucks County to Philadelphia. It is on display in Washington Crossing Historic Park.

    Philadelphia shipwrights handbuilt a replica of the boat Washington used to cross the Delaware. Yes, you can climb on it.

    — Morgan Ritter, Lauren Schneiderman

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 9:26am

    Living Liberty Bell takes shape on Liberty Mall

    Two hundred and fifty participants gather to create the Living Liberty Bell to form the shape of the famous bell on Independence Mall adorned in red, white, and blue, at Independence Hall.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    Kicking off Red, White & Blue To-Do at 7 a.m. Thursday, 250 people gathered at Liberty Mall to make a “living Liberty Bell.”

    (Left to right) McKenzie Kerry, Kate Dimmett, and Reagan Earlywine, stand with other participants who gathered to create the Living Liberty Bell.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    Participants wore red, white, and blue (naturally) and included Tess Ferm, Miss America’s Teen from South Carolina, and former city representative Sheila Hess.

    Participants gather to create the Living Liberty Bell.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

    The human formation even captured the bell’s signature crack through an outline of participants wearing blue.

    A little later and just down the road, bells rang out at the Betsy Ross House and the official flags rose to signal the beginning of a day’s worth of festivities.

    — Emily Bloch

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 8:04am

    Thursday events include a parade, concert, and drone show

    Locals and tourists alike are set to brave 100-degree-plus temperatures to attend the Red, White & Blue To-Do — Philadelphia’s third-annual celebration of the day the Second Continental Congress voted here on July 2, 1776, to adopt a resolution of independence from Great Britain — all day Thursday.

    Founding Father John Adams believed July 2 would be celebrated for generations to come with “Pomp and Parade,” but July 4, when Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, got all of the glory and became the day we mark the founding of our country.

    Adams’ prognostication in a letter to his wife, Abigail, didn’t come to fruition until 2024, when the Philadelphia Historic District Partners — a coalition of more than 30 institutions, museums, and attractions — heeded his call and created a packed day of festivities across Old City in advance of this year’s Semiquincentennial.

    Thursday’s events begin at 7 a.m. with 250 people forming the outline of a “Living Liberty Bell” on Independence Mall and will conclude at 10 p.m. with the “Independence Illumination Drone Show” over the mall.

    Highlights include the Red, White & Blue To-Do Pomp & Parade, which begins at 11 a.m. at the National Constitution Center and passes by Independence Hall, and the 8 p.m. Wawa Welcome America Salute to Service concert with Queen Latifah and the United States Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus.

    In between, attendees can stop in and cool off at attractions across the city that will host events, like colonial chocolate making at the Betsy Ross House and a scavenger hunt at the Independence Seaport Museum. From 2 to 5 p.m., more than two dozen Philadelphia musicians will perform at 11 locations across the city as part of WXPN Welcomes the Red, White & Blue To-Do Music Series.

    Here’s the full Red, White & Blue To-Do schedule

    — Stephanie Farr

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 7:40am

    Congress to mark 250th anniversary of vote for independence

    Historic Interpreter, Lane Norris, as Alexander Hamilton, outside Independence Hall earlier this month.Alejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer

    Members of Congress will gather Thursday at Independence Hall for a ceremonial event to mark the 250th anniversary of the day the Second Continental Congress voted for independence.

    U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, a Philadelphia Democrat whose district includes the historic site, had worked for years to set up a joint session of Congress — an extremely rare occurrence outside Washington, D.C., since 1800 — on the anniversary.

    Thursday’s event will not be a formal joint session. But members of both parties will come together in Congress Hall, the room where the legislative branch convened before relocating to Washington.

    First, they’ll proceed into the room with lawmakers from the original 13 states entering first, Boyle said in an interview with the Washington-based streaming network 535. Lawmakers will also tour the Liberty Bell and the time capsule set to be buried on July 4, Boyle said.

    “It’s no secret that our politics are more polarized today than at any moment in our lifetime. The way the House has been operating in recent years completely reflects that,” Boyle told The Inquirer in a recent interview. “So for us as members of Congress from both parties to come together, put partisanship aside and focus on national unity, I think that’s something that is incredibly positive.”

    Organizers are not publicly releasing details about the Congressional gathering, like timing or who’s expected to attend, citing security concerns.

    — Sam Janesch

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 7:35am

    Lightning injuries are rare, but an expert says the Parkway is an especially risky venue on July 4

    In the grand casino of the atmosphere, scheduling outdoor events on July Fourth in the Philly region is almost always going to be a rolling of the bones.

    And on the day Philadelphia and the rest of the national are holding a mass 250th birthday party, the odds may be dicier than usual, with thunderstorms and accompanying lightning possible Saturday afternoon and night, forecasters say.

    July happens to be the peak month for lightning-bearing thunderstorms in Philadelphia, occurring every five days on average, and who doesn’t want to be outside on the Fourth?

    As if record-challenging heat and an atmosphere that feels like syrup weren’t enough.

    Lightning injuries and fatalities are rare — on average in the last decade, 20 people have been killed annually by lightning in the United States, according to the National Weather Service. But among outdoor events with large crowds across the country, Philly’s July Fourth concert would be among the riskiest for lightning, according to Stephen Strader, disaster specialist at Villanova University.

    “It’s way up there, a lot higher than I thought it was,” he said.

    Lightning injuries are rare, but an expert says the Parkway is an especially risky venue on July 4

    — Anthony R. Wood

    // Timestamp 07/02/26 7:30am

    Mayor Parker defends decision to host July 4th Parkway concert despite dangerous heat and high price tag

    Mayor of Philadelphia Cherelle Parker speaks during a news conference about the July 4 concert.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Mayor Cherelle L. Parker on Wednesday defended the city’s upcoming July Fourth concert, a seven-hour outdoor spectacle featuring performances from Christina Aguilera, Jill Scott and The Roots, amid concerns over the nearly 100-degree forecast and revelations that the event will cost taxpayers millions more than in years past.

    The city has dealt with high temperatures before and has battle-tested personnel and protocols prepared for the evening, Parker told reporters at a news conference in front of the stage at the foot of the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps.

    She also addressed the detractors head on.

    “I do not apologize to anyone about making sure that the city of Philadelphia, as the sixth largest city in the nation, the birthplace of democracy, we were going to have a celebration that is fitting to and for our historical significance and prominence,” Parker said. “One that could be seen, respected and honored not just in our city and commonwealth and nation but in the world.”

    Parker described the concert as the largest July Fourth concert in the city’s history. For an occasion as momentous as the nation’s 250th anniversary in the city that bills itself the birthplace of America, Parker said Philadelphia must rise to the occasion and prove it can achieve ambitious undertakings.

    Parker said her administration scaled up the experience including moving the stage back to accommodate an estimated 300,000 concertgoers, and made the stage larger.

    “We won’t get a second chance to do this over again, Philadelphia,” Parker said. “We only turn 250 years old once in a lifetime.”

    Mayor Parker defends decision to host July 4th Parkway concert despite dangerous heat and high price tag

    — Dana Munro, Anna Orso

    // LiveBlog Name: 250th in Philly

    // RelatedLink Text: Reenactors prepare URL: https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/a/historical-reenactors-philadelphia-america-250-preparation-20260629.html

    // RelatedLink Text: Trump impact URL: https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/donald-trump-250-anniversary-polarization-20260629.html

    // RelatedLink Text: Suburban events URL: https://www.inquirer.com/politics/nation/america-250-events-philadelphia-suburbs-history-20260628.html

    // RelatedLink Text: Concert guide URL: https://www.inquirer.com/arts/philadelphia-july-4-concert-fireworks-guide-schedule-lineup-meek-mill-christina-aguilera-20260701.html

  • NBA free agency: Sixers make blockbuster trade to acquire Jaylen Brown, send Paul George to Celtics

    NBA free agency: Sixers make blockbuster trade to acquire Jaylen Brown, send Paul George to Celtics

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 8:37pm

    The Sixers transformed themselves with Jaylen Brown trade

    Paul George and Jaylen Brown faced off in the first round of the NBA playoffs.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    The 76ers did the unthinkable on Wednesday. They did it to such an extent that it still isn’t thinkable. In fact, it’s barely believable.

    Not only did the Sixers come from out of nowhere to stun the NBA by acquiring Celtics superstar Jaylen Brown, and not only did they do it for a criminally cheap price, they also somehow managed to ship out the remaining two years and $120 million remaining on Paul George’s contract.

    And, just like that, a new window of title contention has arrived.

    That’s the most important takeaway for Sixers fans. Brown is a player who transforms the Sixers in both the short and long term. The 2024 NBA Finals MVP and a sixth-place finisher in regular season voting this year, the longtime Celtics wing is basically the exact player you would create in a lab if you were dreaming up the prefect star to maximize a team with Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe in the backcourt.

    The Sixers just turned Paul George into Jaylen Brown and transformed themselves for an unbelievable price

    — David Murphy

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 8:10pm

    Fans react to Sixers’ trade for Jaylen Brown

    Jaylen Brown (left) and Tyrese Maxey are new teammates.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    The 76ers coming back to beat the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs after being down three games to one seemed like the most exciting thing that would happen between the teams this year.

    Until Wednesday.

    The Sixers traded Paul George, two first-round draft picks, and two second-rounders to the Boston Celtics for Jaylen Brown on Day 2 of free agency, and social media has a lot to say.

    Here is how fans, experts, players, and even some sportsbooks are reacting to the trade:

    Early reactions to the Jaylen Brown-Paul George trade: ‘The East offseason is crazy’

    — Mia Messina

    // Pinned

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 6:22pm

    Sixers make blockbuster trade for Jaylen Brown; Paul George to Celtics

    Sixers fans are familiar with Jaylen Brown as a foe. Now he’s headed to Philly.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    The 76ers have officially entered the summer of blockbuster trades.

    They agreed to acquire All-NBA wing Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics on Wednesday evening in exchange for Paul George, two first-round draft picks, and two second-round draft picks, The Inquirer confirmed Wednesday evening.

    From the Sixers’ perspective, it is a stunning move for new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey to pull off in his first offseason. George’s max contract — still with two years and more than $110 million remaining — was considered difficult to trade given his age and injury history.

    But the Celtics clearly were motivated to move Brown, who finished sixth in last season’s voting for NBA Most Valuable Player and had spent his entire 10-year career with the franchise. Boston reportedly offered Brown to the Milwaukee Bucks in a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, before the Bucks instead sent Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat.

    So the Sixers have swapped out one three-star roster construction for another, linking Brown with All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey and former MVP Joel Embiid. Brown has three years and approximately $183 million remaining on his supermax contract.

    Brown is a five-time All-Star and 2024 Finals MVP, creating an excellent wing tandem with Jayson Tatum that propelled Boston to the 2024 championship. This past season, he became the bona fide No. 1 offensive option while Tatum recovered from Achilles surgery, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists to spearhead the Celtics’ surprise 56-win season to finish in second place in the Eastern Conference.

    Source: Jaylen Brown traded to the 76ers for Paul George and four picks

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 3:31pm

    Andre Drummond opens up about free agency and his worth

    Center Andre Drummond spent the past two seasons with the Sixers.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Andre Drummond has a “weird pit in [his] stomach.”

    The veteran center also is “not willing to play for less than [his] worth.”

    Drummond, who spent the past two seasons with the Sixers, turned to YouTube to express his thoughts about his unrestricted free agency in a video posted Wednesday afternoon. The video appears to have been deleted in the hours after it was posted to the site.

    “I’m playing for my worth,” said Drummond, a former All-Star who is about to enter his 15th NBA season, “and my worth compared to what the NBA thinks, is always different. It gets a little nerve-wracking at times. … I love playing in the Association. It’s a dream come true for me. But I’m also not willing to play for less than my worth.

    “I did that once, and then I got labeled as one of those guys. And I think it really killed my value in the NBA. Because I’m still moving like I’m in my mid-20s. I still have a lot left in the tank, and I’m adding new parts of my game, too.

    “And I think by taking that pay cut and accepting what was given to me at the time, I feel like I’ve been climbing out of a hole for the past like four or five years. It’s been hard, bro.”

    Drummond is likely referencing when he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers off the buyout market in 2021, then inked a veteran minimum contract with the Sixers for the following season. After that, he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets as part of the Ben Simmons-James Harden blockbuster, played two seasons with the Chicago Bulls (average salary: $3.4 million), and returned to the Sixers as a free agent on a two-year, $10 million deal during the 2024 offseason.

    Those moves came after Drummond played parts of his first eight seasons with the Detroit Pistons, where he became arguably the game’s most dominant rebounder, before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers just before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the 2019-20 season.

    After the Sixers agreed on Wednesday morning to sign Ariel Hukporti to a one year, $3.4 million contract, a source confirmed to The Inquirer, it appears unlikely that Drummond returns to Philly. Drummond averaged 6.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 63 regular-season games in 2025-26, while navigating a fluctuating role depending on Joel Embiid’s health and Adem Bona’s reliability.

    In Wednesday’s video, Drummond referenced showcasing “a new part of my game” — aka becoming a legitimate corner three-point threat — as a reason “why I should stay around.”

    “Every trade deadline and every free agency since the day I got traded from Detroit [in 2020],” Drummond said, “I always get, like, worried around this time. Because, in this job, you never know when it’s just the end.”

    Hence, the pit in Drummond’s stomach. In the past, he has been publicly open about mental health struggles, including tattooing “DON’T QUIT” in block letters on his wrist before the start of last season. In Wednesday’s video he took accountability for career missteps, but added that, after his stint with the Bulls, “I was like, ‘Damn, I think I might just have to shut this [expletive] down, bro.”

    “I don’t know if I can keep playing like this,” he thought to himself at the time. “It’s not fun, I’m not enjoying basketball right now, because I feel like I’m playing in vain. … This is my livelihood. This is what represents my worth in this league.”

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 2:53pm

    Report: Kelly Oubre Jr. lands with Indiana Pacers

    Kelly Oubre Jr. will not return to the 76ers, instead agreeing to a two-year contract worth “nearly” $17 million with the Indiana Pacers, ESPN reported Wednesday afternoon.

    Oubre’s departure became more plausible when the Sixers agreed to sign forward Dean Wade, who now is projected to slide into a starting spot, to a four-year, $39 million contract late Tuesday, The Inquirer confirmed.

    Oubre rebuilt his NBA career in three seasons with the Sixers. He was a starter who impacted both ends of the floor, while averaging 14.1 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 50 games in 2025-26. The 6-foot-8 wing used his athleticism in a more controlled way on offense, shot a career-best 36% from three-point range last season, and had the willingness to take on challenging perimeter defensive assignments.

    Oubre’s choice occurred after he also reportedly planned to meet with at least the Sixers, Lakers, Pacers, and Portland Trail Blazers. The Sixers had Oubre’s full Bird rights, which permit teams to re-sign their own free agents even if they are over the salary cap.

    Though Oubre said “I love it here” in Philly during his end-of-season news conference last month, his length and positional archetype are typically valued league-wide. Oubre also said he hopes he “did myself a good service” by putting a concerted effort into a more efficient playing style.

    “I learned so much,” Oubre said of his time with the Sixers. “The game of basketball has reinvented itself to me through different lenses and different eyes throughout my tenure here, and I’m forever appreciative for the opportunity to play for this city.

    “Obviously I don’t like how [the season] ended. I always say I like to finish what I start, and this is a bit sour for me. But at the end of the day, it’s already written.”

    Yet the 30-year-old also has previous experience with the harsh realities of free agency. He reminded during his end-of-season news conference that, after averaging 20.3 points per game with the Charlotte Hornets in 2022-23, he “still found myself barely getting any contracts” until the Sixers signed him to a veteran’s minimum deal that September.

    Oubre’s departure comes after the Sixers also lost sixth man Quentin Grimes, who reportedly agreed to a four-year, $60 million deal with the Lakers Wednesday afternoon. Backup center Andre Drummond, reserve forward Trendon Watford, and veteran guard Kyle Lowry (who is expected to retire) are the Sixers’ other unrestricted free agents and remain uncommitted to returning to Philly or signing with a new team.

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 1:56pm

    Dean Wade brings stellar defense to Sixers

    New Sixers forward Dean Wade guards Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes during Game 5 of their first-round series.David Dermer

    In Cleveland, Dean Wade was best known for his defense.

    A versatile forward, Wade was tasked with defending the one through the five with the Cavaliers. During the playoffs, Cleveland dominated defensively with Wade on the court, outscoring opponents by 16.2 points per 100 possessions. Additionally, against driving ball-handlers, it is hard to find better defenders in the association. Just four players gave up less points per drive than Wade last season.

    Wade’s defensive prowess was most noticeable against the Raptors in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, where he was the primary defender on Brandon Ingram. Through the first four games of the series, Wade held the Raptors leading scorer to 3 of 14 from the floor.

    “As much as y’all talk about us three — me, [Harden] and Evan [Mobley] — Dean Wade deserves a bunch of credit tonight,” Donovan Mitchell told the Athletic after the Cavaliers 115-105 Game 2 victory versus Toronto. “On both ends of the floor. He’s rolling. He’s screening. He’s defending. He’s doing everything. I know he only had three points, but his impact is extremely high outside of just the scoring.”

    Mitchell was not the only teammate to take note of Wade’s pestering defense. Former Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson nicknamed Wade the “White Blanket” as he could cover anyone.

    “For me, it’s easy,” Wade told Cleveland.com in January. “ I just get out of their way and let them do their thing. I’m out there focusing on defense, trying to bring some energy, bring an edge, fly around and make the extra effort. Evan [Mobley] and [Jarrett Allen] make it stupid easy to be a good defender.”

    — Conor Smith

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 10:07am

    Sixers to sign former Knicks center Ariel Hukporti

    The Sixers are signing former New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti (right).Yuki Iwamura

    The Sixers have agreed to sign Ariel Hukporti to a one-year, $3.4 million contract, The Inquirer confirmed Wednesday morning.

    The move gives the Sixers a new option at backup center behind Joel Embiid, the former NBA Most Valuable Player who has struggled with numerous health issues in recent seasons. Veteran Andre Drummond, now an unrestricted free agent, and Adem Bona, whose $2.3 million salary for 2026-27 becomes fully guaranteed July 7, saw their roles fluctuate last season.

    Hukporti, an athletic 7-footer, played his first two NBA seasons with the New York Knicks, averaging 2.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 9.2 minutes across 54 regular-season games in 2025-26. He only logged spot minutes during the Knicks’ playoff run to the championship, primarily when big men Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson got in foul trouble.

    Sixers agreeing to one-year, $3.4 million deal with former Knicks big Ariel Hukporti

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 12:11pm

    Report: Quentin Grimes headed to the Lakers

    Quentin Grimes will not return to the 76ers, instead agreeing to a four-year, $60 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, ESPN reported Wednesday afternoon.

    Grimes’ departure is not a surprise after the Sixers agreed to sign forward Dean Wade to a four year, $39 million contract late Tuesday, a league source confirmed to The Inquirer. Reports surfaced earlier Tuesday that the Lakers were targeting Grimes, who will reunite with former Dallas Mavericks teammate Luka Doncic. It is also a significant raise for Grimes, who played last season on his $8.7 million qualifying offer after a messy restricted free agency.

    Grimes was primarily the Sixers’ sixth man during a 2025-26 season he described multiple times as “solid.”

    The 26-year-old was part of a terrific three-guard lineup, and reignited his aggressive scoring ability when All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey missed three weeks in March with a finger injury. But Grimes shot a career-low 33.4% from three-point range, while also averaging 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 29.4 minutes in 75 games. And other than an excellent Game 5 performance on both ends of the Sixers’ first-round upset of the Boston Celtics, he was not good enough during the playoffs for a Sixers second unit that desperately needed scoring production.

    When asked shortly after last month’s season-ending Game 4 loss to the New York Knicks about how he viewed his free agency and ideal basketball setup, Grimes was not exactly forthcoming.

    “I haven’t even really thought about that, honestly,” Grimes said. “… [I’m] talking to my agents and everything, we’ll kind of figure out what’s the best situation moving forward.”

    After joining the Sixers at the 2025 trade deadline, Grimes became a go-to scorer for an injured team that had shifted to “tank” mode to increase odds of landing a high draft pick. He averaged 21.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals in 28 games with the Sixers that season, including a 46-point outburst at his hometown Houston Rockets.

    Grimes then entered restricted free agency, which turned into a months-long saga. He skipped the Sixers’ training camp and preseason games in Abu Dhabi and eventually signed his one-year qualifying offer to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Grimes then parted ways with agent David Bauman and is now represented by Creative Arts Agency.

    Grimes’ departure suggests that the Sixers will immediately lean on rookie-to-be Labaron Philon Jr., the Alabama guard they selected 22nd overall in last week’s draft to link with the dynamic Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, who finished third on an excellent NBA Rookie of the Year ballot last season. The Sixers also lost sharpshooting guard Jared McCain in a controversial trade at the February deadline.

    Quentin Grimes joins Lakers on $60 million deal, bringing Sixers contract saga to an end

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 12:03pm

    Sixers’ salary cap situation and how Oubre can still fit

    Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    The Sixers have two free-agency additions, with forward Dean Wade agreeing to a four-year, $39 million contract late Tuesday and Ariel Hukporti agreeing to a one-year, $3.4 million deal Wednesday morning.

    So where does that leave the Sixers financially, after entering free agency with three max contracts on their books and 13 roster spots now accounted for?

    Using a portion of the nontaxpayer midlevel exception on Wade hard-capped the Sixers at the first apron ($209 million). Hukporti’s deal also came out of the midlevel exception, leaving the Sixers with $2.6 million to spend on an outside player. They also still have the $5.5 million biannual exception.

    What does that all mean for Kelly Oubre Jr.’s chances to return to Philly? Because the Sixers have his full Bird rights, which permit teams to re-sign their own free agents even if they are already over the salary cap, Oubre’s hypothetical contract would be separate from either of those exceptions.

    If Oubre opts to sign elsewhere – or the Sixers choose not to bring him back – they could instead sign a player to a minimum contract and likely stay under (or close to) the luxury tax line ($201 million). That has proven important to owner Josh Harris, prompting trades to “duck” the tax at the deadline in recent years (see: McCain, Jared).

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 11:46am

    Two more centers go off the board

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 11:39am

    Free agency grades: Mixed marks for Dean Wade signing

    The Sixers are signing Dean Wade (center) to a four-year deal.David Dermer

    NBA free agency opened at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, and within hours, the 76ers had made their first move, signing Dean Wade to a four-year, $39 million deal.

    This was the first free agency move under the Sixers new president of basketball operations, Mike Gansey, who was previously the general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers, where Wade spent the first seven years of his career.

    Outside of his familiarity with Gansey, Wade’s 6-foot-9 frame and his versatility on the court have led many to predict he could be a good fit in Philly, but his age along with the four-year deal has garnered some criticism.

    Here’s how experts are grading the move …

    ESPN: B+

    Wade’s ability to guard perimeter players and his 37% three-point accuracy make him the exact type of player the Sixers have been searching for for years, ESPN said.

    “The 76ers have plenty of guards and centers but a dearth of wing connectors between them” Zach Kram wrote. “Other than Paul George — a big swing on a maximum contract at forward — they’ve cycled through various options who haven’t quite panned out.”

    “Philadelphia doesn’t get a full ‘A’ grade here because a four-year contract is a bit rich for a player who will celebrate his 30th birthday in November and already has an extensive injury history. Wade has played between 44 and 59 games in each of the past five seasons — which is a concern, given Philadelphia’s rough injury track record.”

    The Athletic: C+

    The Athletic was a little more critical of the signing, with the same concerns over the four-year commitment, but a lot more pause on Wade’s assets.

    “I’ve never fully understood the Wade obsession within the Cavaliers,” Zach Harper wrote. “He’s about a league-average 3-point shooter (36.7 percent). I’m not convinced he’s some great defensive option. He competes on that end but doesn’t have definite matchups you feel great about. He’s never played more than 63 games in a season. He’s never made more than 80 3-pointers in a season. He’s a solid role player, and he could land nicely with Philadelphia. Committing four years is a lot, though.”

    Bleacher Report: C

    Wade’s age and consistency again posed a concern, this time for the Bleacher Report NBA staff, who gave the signing one of the lowest grades among all free-agency signings so far.

    “Dean Wade has started a lot of games for the Cleveland Cavaliers over the years, but he turns 30 in November, has a career average of 5.3 points and has a barely-above-average three-point percentage,” the Bleacher Report NBA Staff wrote. “In theory, a good floor spacer with size can open up a lot of possibilities for a rotation, but Wade’s not consistent enough to really bend defenses. And while he’s generally been a pretty good positional defender, it’s going to be tougher for him to keep up with NBA scorers as he ages into his 30s.”

    The only signing graded lower by Bleacher Report was Zach Collins’ two-year $17 million extension with the Chicago Bulls which received a C-.

    — Mia Messina

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 10:10am

    John Collins to sign with Pistons

    John Collins, who was previously linked to the 76ers, has agreed to a three-year, $51 million deal with the Detroit Pistons, a rising power in the Eastern Conference that also plans to retain Roman Catholic alum Jalen Duren.

    The Sixers nabbed Dean Wade, who will play on a four-year, $39 million deal, for a role similar to what Collins will play for the Pistons as a guy expected to slot in at power forward and providing defense and spacing.

    Collins has been a more productive offensive player, however, hence the $17 million salary. He previously played for the Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz and Atlanta Hawks and has career averages of 15.7 points and 7.7 rebounds.

    — DeAntae Prince

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 9:36am

    Murphy: Dean Wade is a great fit for the Sixers

    While many will focus on Sixers president Mike Gansey’s personal connection to new forward Dean Wade, the 29-year-old is a player who would have made a lot of sense on virtually any incarnation of the Sixers in the post-Ben-Simmons era. The rare stretch four who adds big value on defense, Wade developed from an undrafted free agent to a critical playoff rotation piece in Cleveland by excelling at a lot of the dirty work that exceeds the capabilities and/or willingness of many 6-foot-9 shooters. This postseason, the Cavaliers outscored opponents by a net of 16.2 points per 100 possessions when Wade was on the court versus off it. That’s impressive stuff.

    The benefit to the Sixers will be similar to what it was throughout his seven years in Cleveland. Wade can play small alongside a couple of bigs the way he did with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. He can play a power four alongside a trio of guards, as he sometimes did with James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, and Sam Merrill. He could even give Nick Nurse an option as a small-ball five, though a lot depends on the other pieces the Sixers will presumably add this offseason.

    Wade is hardly a prolific scorer. Among players who have averaged 20 minutes per game in 200+ games over the last four seasons, only Nicolas Batum has scored fewer than Wade’s 5.4 points per game. But he is an effective enough shooter — .375 on about six three-point attempts over 100 possessions this postseason — to create space for others on the offensive end.

    That’s all that’s needed for a team with a couple of ball-dominant scorers in the backcourt. That’s who the Cavs have been in the Donovan Mitchell era, whether paired with Darius Garland or James Harden. It’s who the Sixers figure to be with VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey.

    Dean Wade makes a ton of sense for the Sixers

    — David Murphy

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 9:06am

    Backup center options for the Sixers include some familiar faces

    Guerschon Yabusele (left) spent the 2024-25 season with the Sixers. Could he return?Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    A quiet start to the Sixers’ free agency finally turned newsworthy after 10 p.m., when The Inquirer confirmed that forward Dean Wade had agreed to a four-year, $39 million contract.

    Other than looming decisions on starting forward Kelly Oubre Jr. and sixth man Quentin Grimes, backup center is now the Sixers’ biggest positional priority. Who could be gettable with the Sixers’ remaining salary? Here’s a rundown:

    Guerschon Yabusele

    A rare feel-good story during the Sixers’ disastrous 2024-25 season, Yabusele parlayed his NBA comeback into a pay raise with the Knicks. To say things did not work out in New York is an understatement, and he was traded at the deadline to the Chicago Bulls. Could he successfully slide back into a complementary role with the Sixers? Or will his performance two seasons ago go down as a career anomaly on a bad team?

    Marvin Bagley III

    Bagley’s career has fallen far below original expectations as a former No. 2 overall draft pick. But he is coming off a productive season for the Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks, averaging 10.5 points per game. His career average of 6.5 rebounds — including 2.3 on the offensive end — in 22 minutes is also a sound number. His brother, Marcus, played 10 games for the Sixers and for the G League’s Delaware Blue Coats during the 2024-25 season.

    Nikola Vucevic

    The veteran was once a two-time All-Star, but his decline was glaring during the Sixers’ upset of the Boston Celtics including getting benched in Game 7. He is floor-spacer with skill, but is a liability on the defensive end. He averaged 15.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in a 2025-26 season split between the Bulls and Celtics.

    Andre Drummond

    Could the Sixers run it back with Drummond — again? The veteran professionally handled a fluctuating role in 2025-26, averaging 6.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 63 regular-season games. He is still a stout rebounder and big-bodied presence, though not the most mobile on defense. His corner three-point shooting has elevated from fun novelty to legitimate offensive weapon. It is possible, though, that Drummond desires a playing destination where his role is more defined and consistent.

    Other options: Nick Richards, Kelly Olynyk, Mo Wagner, Bismack Biyombo, Moussa Cisse, Drew Eubanks, Jaxson Hayes, Ariel Hukporti, Maxi Kleber, Kevon Looney, Xavier Tillman

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 8:58am

    How Wade signing impacts Oubre, Grimes, and the Sixers cap space

    Sixers guard Kelly Oubre Jr., with teammate guard Quentin Grimes against the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday, February 22, 2025 in Philadelphia.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Dean Wade’s addition makes it less likely that the Sixers will be able to bring back starting forward Kelly Oubre Jr., and sixth man Quentin Grimes, who also entered unrestricted free agency. Yahoo! reported Tuesday night that Oubre planned to meet with at least the Sixers, Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana Pacers, and Portland Trail Blazers.

    The Sixers have between $5 and $6 million remaining of the mid-level exception to use on an outside free agent. They are $16.6 million total under the first apron.

    Andre Drummond, Trendon Watford, and Kyle Lowry (who is expected to retire) are the other free agents for a Sixers team with limited financial flexibility. All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey ($40.8 million), former MVP Joel Embiid ($57.7 million), and former perennial All-Star Paul George ($54.1 million) all remain on max contracts, accounting for the vast majority of the nearly $165 million salary cap.

    That top-heavy roster requires shrewd complementary moves, in addition to hoping Embiid and George can be healthier in 2026-27. Backup center becomes the positional priority as free agency continues. Rebounding and shooting will always be welcomed skills for a team that has struggled in both areas.

    Dean Wade joining Sixers turns quiet first night of free agency into a Mike Gansey reunion

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 8:51am

    Day 1 recap: Stars move early, but Sixers strike late

    Kawhi Leonard, left, was traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Toronto Raptors.Mark J. Terrill

    Stars have been on the move this summer and that theme continued on the first day of NBA free agency.

    After Giannis Antetokounmpo, LaMelo Ball and Ja Morant were all traded to new teams, the early free-agency fireworks on Tuesday centered on Kawhi Leonard’s return to the Toronto Raptors via trade and LeBron James’ decision to part ways with the Los Angeles Lakers, as reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.

    James’ decision slowed the NBA’s usual flurry of free-agent deals down to a trickle as teams and players waited to see where he would decide to play his 24th NBA season.

    For a moment, that appeared to include the Sixers, who were linked to Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade and still need to make decisions on Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre Jr. It looked like both of those moves could be on hold as the Cavs are reportedly one of the teams on James’ list.

    But around 10:30 p.m., Mike Gansey struck his first deal and landed Wade on a four-year, $39 million deal, reuniting him with one of his success stories from Cleveland.

    Elsewhere, former Roman Catholic star Jalen Duren appears set to return to the Detroit Pistons on a lucrative deal, ESPN’s Marc Spears reported. And Delaware native Bones Hyland stayed in Minnesota on a one-year, minimum deal, according to The Athletic.

    A few potential Sixers targets also came off the board, according to ESPN. Robert Williams III agreed to a three-year, $44 million deal with Portland Trail Blazers. Sharpshooter Tim Hardaway Jr. also joined Antetokounmpo in Miami on a one-year, $6.5 million deal.

    — DeAntae Prince

    Sixers add Dean Wade from the Cavs

    Forward Dean Wade (left) agreed to a four-year deal with the Sixers.Sue Ogrocki

    Mike Gansey’s first free-agency move as the 76ers’ president of basketball operations was adding a player with whom he is quite familiar.

    Late Tuesday night, Dean Wade has agreed to a four-year, $39 million contract, a league source confirmed to The Inquirer. The deal comes out of the nontaxpayer mid-level exception, and will hard cap the Sixers at the first apron.

    Wade was one of Gansey’s success stories in his previous job as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ general manager. The 29-year-old Wade evolved from undrafted player to rotation forward, and last season averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 22.3 minutes across 59 games. His 6-foot-9, 230-pound frame allows for defensive versatility, and he is a career 36.7% three-point shooter.

    Dean Wade joining Sixers turns quiet first night of free agency into a Mike Gansey reunion

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 8:44am

  • NHL free agency news: Flyers extend Dan Vladař and Tyson Foerster, add depth forwards; big names on the move

    NHL free agency news: Flyers extend Dan Vladař and Tyson Foerster, add depth forwards; big names on the move

    • What you should know
    • NHL free agency officially opened at noon on Wednesday, meaning the Flyers could begin signing free agents from other teams. Here’s everything you need to know.
    • The Flyers quickly inked goalie Dan Vladař to a longterm extension, worth $27.5 million over five years.
    • Tyson Foerster signed a massive eight-year extension with the Flyers at an average annual value of $7.1 million.
    • They also agreed to a two-year deal with Noel Acciari, who is expected to be their fourth-line center.
    • Before those deals, the Flyers had about $32.7 million in cap space, a number that will drop to around $17 million if the team re-signs Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale as expected.
    • Defenseman John Carlson and center Dylan Larkin remain among the list of top trade targets for the Flyers.

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 5:47pm

    Zach Werenski staying in Columbus despite trade speculation

    The Flyers won’t be landing Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    After weeks of speculation and a vetoed trade to Dallas, Zach Werenski is staying in Columbus after all.

    The Blue Jackets and Werenski released statements Wednesday saying that Werenski wants to stay in Columbus and maintains his desire to win there. The statement including the following:

    “The past two seasons have been very challenging ones, but also ones of growth for our team. Our goals from ownership on down and Zach’s goals are the same … to win a Stanley Cup. Our city and our fans deserve nothing less and we are all on the same page working towards that end. Zach has been a very important part of this organization and our community for a long time, and we couldn’t be happier that he will continue to be moving forward.”

    Werenski, who won the Norris Trophy last season as the league’s best defenseman, echoed similar sentiments.

    “[President of hockey operations Don Waddell] and I have had very open and honest dialogue since the season ended” his statement said. “Ideally, this wouldn’t have become such a public thing but that is the world we live in now and everything got blown out of proportion in my opinion. I want to win and I want to do that in Columbus.

    “As I’ve thought about things and discussed everything with my wife and family, we want to be in Columbus. It has been my home for the past 10 years and I have always been proud to be a Blue Jacket. We have the best fans in the NHL. I love my teammates and coaches and I’m looking forward to doing everything I can to get us back in the playoffs to compete for a Stanley Cup. Don and I are completely aligned on that and are excited about what’s to come with our team.”

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 5:24pm

    Senators sign two more Phantoms players

    After signing former Flyers goalie Sam Ersson earlier on Wednesday, the Ottawa Senators have signed two former Flyers farmhands in defenseman Christian Kyrou and center Philip Tomasino.

    Kyrou and Tomasino were both in-season additions for the Phantoms and both put up strong numbers in the AHL. The Flyers did not qualify either player by Monday’s deadline.

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 4:59pm

    Flyers add more AHL depth with Jack Studnicka and Cam Dineen

    In addition to Zach Aston-Reese and Danila Klimovich, the Flyers announced they have signed AHLers Jack Studnicka and Cam Dineen as they look to fill out their roster in Lehigh Valley.

    Studnicka, 27, has bounced back and forth between the NHL and AHL with Boston, Vancouver, San Jose, and last year in Florida. He had 30 points for the Charlotte Checkers last year in 41 games and was held pointless in 19 games with the Panthers. The forward has just 16 points in 126 NHL games but has been a productive American leaguer throughout his career.

    The last name Dineen may ring a bell in Philly, but Cam is not related to former Flyers captain Kevin Dineen or Kevin’s father, and former Flyers coach, Bill Dineen. The younger Dineen is 28-year-old defenseman and a native of Toms River, N.J. A former third-round pick, he has played almost 400 games in the AHL.

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 4:09pm

    Flyers make Grundström deal official

    Source: Flyers to bring back forward Carl Grundström on a one-year deal

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 4:06pm

    Reports: Darnell Nurse headed to San Jose

    After weeks of twists and turns, the Darnell Nurse saga has come to a conclusion that will not see him follow in his uncle Donovan McNabb’s footsteps in Philly.

    Nurse, who beat the Oilers to the punch by demanding a trade this summer, is headed to San Jose in a trade that will see defensive defenseman Shakir Mukhamadullin go the other way. In the end, the Oilers, somewhat miraculously, did not have to retain any of Nurse’s $9.25 million salary.

    The Inquirer reported a few weeks back that there was mutual interest between Nurse and the Flyers, but only if the Oilers retained some of Nurse’s salary. In the end, the Oilers found a dance party and the Flyers rightfully walked away from the negotiating table for the 31-year-old blueliner.

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 3:56pm

    Former Flyer Andrei Kuzmenko signs with Pens

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 3:33pm

    Darnell Nurse could expand his trade list

    Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse (left) already had the Flyers on his shortlist.John Locher

    The Flyers have been confirmed as one of three teams rugged defenseman Darnell Nurse would be willing to accept a trade to. But that list could soon grow. With Edmonton yet to find a deal, Sportsnet reports that Nurse could add teams to his list, with San Jose mentioned by Elliotte Friedman.

    One potential hang-up with Nurse is salary retention, as the Flyers likely would want Edmonton to pay at least 25-30% of Nurse’s $9.25 million cap hit. That would bring Nurse down to a much more manageable $6.5-7 million player, and make him a more attractive proposition as a second-pair guy. The Flyers also could be waiting things out on the blue line, as they are reportedly still in the mix for Zach Werenski and John Carlsson, and also have a decision to make with Rasmus Ristolainen.

    Nurse, 31, is a left-shot who brings toughness and shot suppression to a team’s back end. He also happens to be the nephew of former Eagles QB Donovan McNabb.

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 3:23pm

    Flyers add more depth with forward Zach Aston-Reese

    The Flyers continued to add organizational depth Wednesday with the signing of NHL veteran Zach Aston-Reese. Aston-Reese’s deal is a two-year one-way/two-way deal, which will see the NHL vet make $850,000 this season.

    Best known for his time with the Penguins, the veteran forward has compiled 49 goals and 102 points in 416 career NHL games. The 31-year-old split last season between the Columbus Blue Jackets and their AHL team in Cleveland, tallying five points in 27 NHL games and another 16 points in 27 AHL contests. Aston-Reese, who can play center or wing. will be expected to compete for an NHL spot in training camp, but seems more likely to be ticketed for an AHL job.

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 3:19pm

    Blackhawks give Bowen Byram highest AAV for a defenseman ever

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 2:37pm

    Toronto reportedly lands Sergei Bobrovsky

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 2:35pm

    Former Flyer Scott Laughton reportedly returning to Kings

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 2:33pm

    Phantoms’ point leader Lane Pederson heads to L.A.

    Flyers farmhand Lane Pederson has found a new home in Los Angeles.

    Pederson, who had 23 goals and 48 points to lead the Lehigh Valley Phantoms last season, got into five games with the Flyers last season. The first year of Pederson’s deal has a two-way option, but it converts to a one-way in Year 2.

    // Pinned

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 2:23pm

    Flyers lock down Tyson Foerster with eight-year extension

    Flyers right wing Tyson Foerster isn’t going anywhere for a long time.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    It’s been a rollercoaster start to his career, but Tyson Foerster’s feet are firmly planted in Philly.

    On Wednesday, the 24-year-old winger inked an eight-year extension with an average annual value of $7.1 million. According to league sources, it has limited trade protection in Years 3-8, but it does not feature a no-move clause. The contract will start after next season, when Foerster was scheduled to become a restricted free agent.

    “We’re excited to have Tyson be a key part of our long-term future,” general manager Danny Brière said in the team’s press release. “He has established himself as an important piece of the foundation we’re building here. Since coming up through our system, he’s continued to improve and develop every step of the way into a consistent offensive contributor while also being a trusted and reliable 200-foot player.

    “We have a great deal of confidence in him and believe he’ll play a significant role as we continue building toward a successful team for years to come.”

    The Flyers now have Foerster, Travis Konecny, Travis Sanheim, Owen Tippett, Sean Couturier, Cam York, and Christian Dvorak inked to long-term deals. Goalie Dan Vladař signed a five-year extension that will begin after next season on Wednesday, and restricted free agents Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale are expected to be locked down in the coming days.

    Flyers sign winger Tyson Foerster to massive eight-year extension

    — Jackie Spiegel

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 2:04pm

    Klimovich signing one-year, two-way deal

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 1:54pm

    Former Flyer Luke Schenn going back to Toronto

    Former Flyer Luke Schenn is on the move again, as the rugged defenseman is signing with the Vancouver Canucks.

    Schenn, 36, played in Philadelphia from 2012-16. The well-traveled defenseman, who has played for 10 NHL teams, will return to Vancouver for the second time.

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 1:38pm

    Stuart Skinner heading to Winnipeg

    The Winnipeg Jets have signed former Edmonton Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Stuart Skinner to a two-year contract.

    The move could spell the end for four-time Vezina Trophy winner and U.S. Olympic hero Connor Hellebuyck in Winnipeg. Rumors have been swirling that Hellebuyck wants out and that Buffalo and Carolina could be potential landing spots.

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 1:32pm

    Flyers reportedly adding winger Danila Klimovich

    The Fourth Period reports the Flyers are signing winger Danila Klimovich.

    Klimovich, 23, is probably an organizational depth move, as he seems likely to begin the season the Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League. The former second-round pick has spent the past five seasons in the Vancouver Canucks organization, playing with AHL affiliate, Abbotsford.

    The Belarusian forward had 18 goals and 34 points last season in the AHL, a year after he scored 25 times and helped Abbotsford win the Calder Cup. Klimovich’s time in Vancouver would have overlapped with Flyers coach Rick Tocchet and assistant Yogi Svejkovský.

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 1:23pm

    Report: Flyers to sign center Noel Acciari

    Flyers center Trevor Zegras and Penguins center Noel Acciari tangle during a game in October.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    The Flyers look to have found their new fourth-line center, as Sportsnet reports they have agreed to a two-year contract with Noel Acciari that carries a $2.8 million cap hit.

    Acciari, 34, had 13 goals, 25 points, and an impressive plus-14 rating in 67 games this season for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He had one assist in six playoff games against the Flyers, winning 61% of his faceoffs. Known for his face-off ability, nastiness, and penalty killing, Acciari will likely take the spot vacated by Luke Glendening.

    In 585 career games with the Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Penguins, Acciari has 81 goals and 144 points.

    He was a teammate of Owen Tippett’s in Florida and worked with Todd Reirden in Pittsburgh for one season

    He was a member of the Bruins’ 2019 Stanley Cup Final team, chipping in with four points in 19 games.

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 1:08pm

    Noah Juulsen heads to Colorado

    Defenseman Noah Juulsen, who along with Emil Andrae spent most of last season swapping in and out on the third pair, is headed to Colorado. Jackie Spiegel previously reported that he wouldn’t return to the Flyers, but it appears he’s found a landing spot.

    — Matt Mullin

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 1:02pm

    Two potential Flyers targets go off the board

    Fourth-line tough guy Jeffrey Viel looks to be heading to Tampa Bay, reports Dave Pagnotta of the Fourth Period.

    He was a name The Inquirer considered as a Garnet Hathaway replacement.

    — Gustav Elvin

    Ross Johnston, another depth forward, also inked a deal elsewhere Wednesday, signing a three-year contract with the Blues.

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 12:42pm

    Reports: Flyers in the mix for Hurricanes’ John Carlson

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 12:41pm

    Sam Ersson inks new deal

    Former Flyers goalie Sam Ersson signed with Ottawa Wednesday.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Former Flyers goalie Sam Ersson, who was traded twice this offseason, can finally unpack his bags.

    Ersson has signed a two-year, $2.2 million contract with the Ottawa Senators, according to Sportsnet. The 26-year-old is expected to back up fellow Swede Linus Ullmark in Ottawa. The Flyers traded Ersson last month alongside Emil Andrae to Toronto in a deal to acquire Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit. The restricted free agent’s negotiating rights were then traded to Ottawa on June 26 for a fifth-round pick.

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 12:38pm

    A look at what else is happening around the NHL

    The New Jersey Devils re-signed center Nico Hischier to a huge five-year deal.George Walker IV

    In addition to long-term deals for Dan Vladař and Tyson Foerster, contracts and extensions are rolling in across the league. Here’s a look at what has happened so far:

    • Former Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas is reportedly signing a six-year contract with the Florida Panthers with an average annual value of $1.5 million. Gudas, whose rights were acquired from Anaheim this week, is the latest veteran Panther to receive one of those stretched out contracts.
    • The Panthers also have locked up middle-six winger Eetu Luostarinen to an eight-year, $40 million extension ($5 million AAV).
    • Buffalo has reportedly signed newly-acquired smooth-skating defenseman Olen Zellweger to a three-year, $9 million deal ($3 million AAV). The restricted free agent was someone we mentioned as a potential fit for the Flyers entering the summer.
    • Montreal locks up budding superstar Ivan Demidov to an eight-year contract with an AAV of $9.125 million.
    • New Jersey has locked in captain Nico Hischier to a massive five-year contract. The Swiss international, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2017 Nolan Patrick draft, is one of the league’s top defensive forwards and now will make $11.7 million-a-year beginning in the 2027-27 season.
    • Los Angeles has been busy as they have reportedly agreed to deals with veteran forwards Erik Haula (two-year, $3.6 million) and Mats Zuccarello (one-year, $1 million).

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 12:08pm

    Flyers, Dan Vladař agree to contract extension

    Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar parlayed his career best season into a longterm deal.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Last July 1, the Flyers surprised many by signing Dan Vladař to a two-year, $6.7 million contract. Vladař then went out and surprised many with his play.

    One year later, Vladař is sticking around for the foreseeable future. According to a league source, he is signing a five-year, $27.5 million contract extension with an annual average value of $5.5 million. The contract comes with a no-trade clause for the first two years, followed by a no-movement clause for the remaining three years, with it dwindling from 15 teams to five. Vladař’s contract won’t kick in until the 2027-28 season and will take him through his age 34 season.

    The writing had been on the wall for some time that this was happening. Asked about the rumors of an extension, Vladař joked at his end-of-season availability that, while he would accept the phone call for the extension, “If you can ask the same question to Danny Brière, I’m going to be watching. So we’ll see what he says.”

    Two days later, the general manager was quick to respond, saying, “I heard his answer. Maybe we wait, and I’ll talk to you guys [off camera] about that.” The extension could not be signed until July 1.

    Source: Flyers sign goalie Dan Vladař to a five-year, $27.5 million extension

    — Jackie Spiegel

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 11:57am

    What to expect from Flyers on Day 1

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 11:53am

    A Claude Giroux reunion in Philly?

    Ottawa Senators right winger Claude Giroux (center), defenseman Thomas Chabot (right), and right wing Drake Batherson (left) celebrate a goal.Frank Gunn

    With Mavrik Bourque off the board, could the Flyers pivot to a familiar face?

    Pierre LeBrun reports that the Flyers have interest in bringing back former captain Claude Giroux.

    Giroux, 38, has played the last four seasons for the hometown Ottawa Senators. The Flyers traded Giroux in March of 2022 for a package that included Owen Tippett and a first-round pick.

    Giroux, who ranks second in career games (1,000) and points (900) in Flyers history, is still an effective top-six player. Last season, he had 14 goals and 49 points, including 13 points on the power play. While he’s mostly played wing in Ottawa, he’s also still one of the league’s top face-off men (63% last season on almost 800 draws). He also has a strong personal connection to Philadelphia and general manager Danny Brière.

    Stay tuned …

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 10:55am

    Report: Mavrik Bourque heading to Nashville

    The Flyers were reportedly in the mix for Dallas Stars forward Mavrik Bourque but ultimately lost out to the Nashville Predators. The Preds paid a modest price of second- and third-round picks for the 24-year-old Bourque, who had 20 goals last season. They also took on the final year of defenseman Ilya Lyubuskin’s deal in the trade, which was reportedly a deal-breaker for the Flyers. The Preds will now need to extend Bourque who is a restricted free agent.

    For a player of Bourque’s age and upside, one year of eating $3.25 million owed to Lyubushkin doesn’t seem like the end of the world. We’ll see where the Flyers go from here in search of a center.

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 9:47am

    Mavrik Bourque trade rumors heating up

    Stars forward Mavrik Bourque could be on the move as Dallas looks to clear cap space.LM Otero

    Dallas’ Mavrik Bourque has been viewed by many around the league as a prime offer-sheet target given Dallas is big-game hunting and has limited cap flexibility.

    The threat of that could also lead to a trade, something we suggested in our recent Flyers target list. It sounds like that could be the case, as the Fourth Period is reporting there is some traction on a Bourque trade.

    Bourque, who has played mostly wing in the NHL but is a natural center, is coming off a 20-goal season and is a restricted free agent. At 24, and with runway to grow, we wouldn’t be surprised to see the Flyers get involved here.

    12 players the Flyers could target to upgrade their roster via trade, free agency, or an offer sheet

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 9:40am

    Are the Flyers in on Zach Werenski?

    Columbus Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski (right) is one of the big fish. Can Danny Brière reel him in?Matt Slocum

    Amid a wild offseason marked by trade demands and the dawning of the player empowerment era in the NHL, Norris Trophy-winner Zach Werenski is viewed by many as the ultimate prize.

    You can count the Flyers among that group, as according to multiple reports, Danny Brière and Co. are serious about getting involved in the sweepstakes for Columbus’ wantaway defenseman. It’s hard to blame them, as Werenski has averaged 23 goals and 82 points over the past two seasons, ranking in the top three among defensemen in both categories.

    The big questions with Werenski are would he entertain a move to Philly and whether the Flyers could pull off a deal without including Porter Martone or Matvei Michkov? The first question seems to be the sticking point, as Werenski, who has a no-move clause, turned down a move to Dallas on Tuesday and seems to be zeroing in on a few specific Eastern Conference destinations, including Tampa Bay and Toronto.

    Werenski’s landing spot, even if it isn’t Philadelphia, could have a major impact on the Flyers. The gold medalist ending up in Tampa Bay would eliminate another landing spot for top free-agent defenseman John Carlson and potential increase the Flyers’ chances there. Carolina currently has Carlson’s negotiating rights, but after 12 p.m., the 36-year-old power-play quarterback is free to negotiate with other teams.

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 8:43am

    Longterm Dan Vladař extension expected once free agency opens

    Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar had a career year last season.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    All signs are pointing to Dan Vladař signing a five-year extension with an AAV of $5.5 million once deals can officially be announced at noon.

    The Czech goalie, who signed a two-year, $6.7 million deal with the Flyers last summer, is coming off a season where he went 29-14-7, with a 2.42 goals-against average and .906 save percentage. It was the lowest GAA of his career and tied his career-best save percentage, although he played in 22 more games than in any prior season.

    He was even better in the postseason with a 2.18 GAA, .922 save percentage, and two shutouts after not posting one in the regular season.

    — Jackie Spiegel

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 8:36am

    These are the Flyers’ top options via free agency or trade

    Dallas Stars center Mavrik Bourque could be an offer sheet option for Philly.Abbie Parr

    John Carlson, on a big-money, short-term deal, would make a lot of sense for the Flyers to help with the power play. But do the Flyers make sense for him? He’ll turn 37 during the season, and time is ticking on his chances of winning another Stanley Cup.

    Rumors are percolating that the Flyers could add Noel Acciari to the roster. A 5-foot-11 center who just played against the Flyers in the playoffs with the Penguins — he had one assist in the six games — the Rhode Island native would slot onto the fourth line and be a key piece in the faceoff dot as a coveted right-shot, as well as on the penalty kill. Fellow bottom-six center Teddy Blueger is also another name to keep an eye on, as he played for coach Rick Tocchet in Vancouver.

    What about offer sheets/trade targets?

    As previously mentioned, the Flyers and Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse have a mutual interest in one another, with the Flyers, alongside Pittsburgh and Boston, on his short list of teams. He previously requested a trade and would need to waive his no-movement clause to approve any trade destination.

    The Flyers are obviously interested in Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Zach Werenski from the Columbus Blue Jackets and All-Star center Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings. Like Nurse, they would need to approve any trade. And they surely wouldn’t mind adding one of Shane Pinto or Dylan Cozens, two young centers from the Ottawa Senators, to the mix if either was made available via trade.

    Now, who doesn’t love an offer sheet? Would the Flyers be willing to partake in the one thing that gets everyone going? To be determined, but if they do, center Mavrik Bourque, 24, might be an attainable target given Dallas’ cap crunch.

    12 players the Flyers could target to upgrade their roster via trade, free agency, or an offer sheet

    — Jackie Spiegel

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 8:28am

    How much salary cap space do the Flyers have?

    Philadelphia Flyers general manager Danny Briere should have some money to spend, even after he re-signs Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    According to Puckpedia, as of Wednesday, the Flyers have just over $32.68 million of cap space before signing their four restricted free agents. The expectation is that Hunter McDonald will be in the minors to start the year, and Nikita Grebenkin, who was skating on Tuesday at development camp, is working his way back from an injury.

    Not counting Grebenkin’s deal, the expected cap space to sign Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale should come in at an approximate annual average value of $15 million combined. That leaves about $17 million, and then subtract $3-4 million to cover Grebenkin and McDonald. So there is some room left to add pieces to the lineup.

    — Jackie Spiegel

    Flyers free agents include Trevor Zegras and Jamie Drysdale

    Center Trevor Zegras and defenseman Jamie Drysdale are both restricted free agents, and the Flyers have extended qualifying offers to both.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    According to a league source on Tuesday, the Flyers have agreed to sign pending unrestricted free agent forward Carl Grundström to a one-year, $1 million contract. It comes one day after they handed out qualifying offers to four players and released six more to unrestricted free-agent status.

    Here is a breakdown of who the Flyers need to and could re-sign from the system.

    • NHL unrestricted free agents: forwards Rodrigo Ābols and Luke Glendening; defenseman Noah Juulsen
    • NHL restricted free agents: forwards Nikita Grebenkin and Trevor Zegras; defenseman Jamie Drysdale
    • AHL restricted free agents: defenseman Hunter McDonald
    • AHL unrestricted free agents: forwards Karsen Dorwart, Oscar Eklind, Brett Harrison, Boris Katchouk, Lane Pederson, Anthony Richard, Tucker Robertson, and Philip Tomasino; defensemen Adam Ginning, Maxence Guenette, Artem Guryev, and Christian Kyrou

    Dorwart, Harrison, Robertson, Tomasino, Guryev, and Kyrou were not given qualifying offers on Monday. They could all be signed to a new deal or an AHL-only deal to stay with the club. Garrett Wilson is listed as an unrestricted free agent on Puckpedia, but he is signed to an AHL contract for next season.

    A league source has told The Inquirer that Juulsen will not be re-signed.

    — Jackie Spiegel

    // Timestamp 07/01/26 8:22am

  • NBA free agency news: Sixers add Dean Wade, making Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes returns less likely

    NBA free agency news: Sixers add Dean Wade, making Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes returns less likely

    • What you should know
    • NBA free agency had its soft launch Tuesday evening, as teams were allowed to begin negotiating with other teams’ players beginning at 6 p.m.
    • The Sixers agreed to a four-year, $39 million deal with Cavaliers forward Dean Wade, one of Mike Gansey’s succeess stories in Cleveland.
    • The Sixers didn’t have much money to spend entering the day, as Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George account for nearly $155 million of the projected $165 million salary cap. Here’s a breakdown of some options.
    • The Sixers picked up the team options for Dominick Barlow and Dalen Terry on Monday, but not Trendon Watford.
    • Elsewhere in the NBA, LeBron James informed the Lakers he will play for a different team next season. And Kawhi Leonard was traded to the Raptors.

    // Timestamp 06/30/26 11:11pm

    Source: Sixers, Dean Wade agree to four-year deal

    The Sixers are signing Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade.Sue Ogrocki

    Mike Gansey’s first free-agency move as the 76ers’ president of basketball operations is adding a player with whom he is quite familiar.

    Dean Wade has agreed to a four-year, $39 million contract with the Sixers, a league source confirmed to The Inquirer late Tuesday. The deal comes out of the nontaxpayer mid-level exception.

    Wade was one of Gansey’s success stories in his previous job as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ general manager. Wade evolved from undrafted player to rotation forward, and last season averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 22.3 minutes across 59 games. His 6-foot-9, 230-pound frame allows for defensive versatility, and he is a career 36.7% three-point shooter.

    Unsurprisingly, multiple reports surfaced over the weekend that the Sixers were among the teams interested in Wade.

    Wade’s addition makes it less likely that the Sixers will be able to bring back starting forward Kelly Oubre Jr. and sixth man Quentin Grimes, who also have entered unrestricted free agency. Andre Drummond, Trendon Watford, and Kyle Lowry are the other free agents for a Sixers team with limited financial resournces because Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Paul George all remain on max contracts.

    Wade joins first-round draft pick Labaron Philon Jr., as the Sixers’ additions so far this offseason. They also picked up the team options in Dominck Barlow and Dalen Terry’s contracts for the 2026-27 season.

    Source: Sixers add Dean Wade on first night of free agency

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 06/30/26 10:04pm

    Sixers get tough draw in NBA Cup group

    // Timestamp 06/30/26 8:01pm

    The Jalen Duren saga takes another turn

    Jalen Duren is from Delaware County and went to Roman Catholic.Duane Burleson

    After a few days of reports pointing otherwise, it seems Pistons center and former Roman Catholic star Jalen Duren could be staying put in Detroit.

    On Tuesday, ESPN’s Marc J. Spears reported that the Pistons have offered the most “lucrative contract possible for their All-Star restricted free agent,” adding that the team will match any other team’s offer.

    The news comes a day after NBA insider Chris Haynes reported Duren was set to meet with the Sacramento Kings at the start of free agency. Haynes added that Duren’s camp and the Pistons were a “sizable distance apart” in contract negotiations, and Duren was hoping to depart Detroit in a sign and trade.

    This past season, the Delco native was an All-NBA Third Team selection, averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds. Duren, 24, helped spearhead the Pistons’ defensive effort, which catapulted the team to the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed. However, Duren struggled to produce in the playoffs as the Pistons fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round.

    Because of Duren’s All-NBA selection, he is eligible for a five-year supermax contract worth up to $287 million.

    — Conor Smith

    // Timestamp 06/30/26 7:43pm

    Are the Sixers waiting on a LeBron decision?

    A potential LeBron James return to Cleveland could have a ripple effect on the Sixers.Mark J. Terrill

    Could LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers be indirectly holding up the Sixers’ potential free agency moves?

    After James told the Los Angeles Lakers earlier Tuesday that he intended to sign with a new team, he naturally became attached to another reunion with his hometown Cavaliers. Cleveland also is reportedly aiming to work on a new multi-year deal with James Harden, whom they traded for at the February deadline.

    All of that would require clearing cap space to add James. To do this, The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer reported earlier Tuesday that the Cavaliers were exploring options to trade Max Strus and Dennis Schroder.

    How does this potentially connect to the Sixers? One of Philly’s reported free-agency targets is Dean Wade, whom new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey helped uncover as an undrafted player who became a key rotation piece for the Cavaliers. If a James deal with Cleveland does not pan out — or even if it did — re-signing Wade could be part of Cleveland’s Plan B with that cleared-out space.

    Where Wade lands, in turn, could impact the likelihood that the Sixers pursue bringing back Kelly Oubre Jr. and/or Quentin Grimes.

    The slow start to free agency — other than the massive Kawhi Leonard trade, of course — is an indication that James’ decision could be putting multiple teams’ plans in a holding pattern, which then halts the domino effect across the league.

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 06/30/26 7:07pm

    NBA Cup championship heads to Hinkle Fieldhouse

    The NBA Cup championship will head to a more intimate venue for the 2026-27 season.

    Previously held in Las Vegas, it will be held in Hinkle Fieldhouse on Butler’s campus in Indianapolis, which holds only 9,100 spectators.

    Called Indiana’s Basketball Cathedral, the arena was constructed in 1928 and has hosted the Butler basketball and volleyball programs for nine decades.

    The New York Knicks are the reigning champions of the NBA Cup, where they defeated the San Antonio Spurs. That matchup was recreated in the NBA Finals — with the same result.

    — DeAntae Prince

    // Timestamp 06/30/26 6:40pm

    Tim Hardaway Jr. to join Giannis in Miami

    Sharpshooter Tim Hardaway, who Gina Mizel identified as a possible target for the Sixers, is taking his talents to South Beach, according to multiple reports.

    — Matt Mullin

    // Timestamp 06/30/26 6:38pm

    Bones Hyland returning to Timberwolves

    Timberwolves guard Bones Hyland is staying in Minnesota.Doug McSchooler

    Delaware native Bones Hyland, a potential option for the Sixers, was one of the first signees of free agency, inking a one-year, veteran-minimum deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

    Hyland agreed to return next season after reinventing himself as part of a stacked backcourt with Anthony Edwards and Ayo Dosunmu. LaMelo Ball was also added to that group in a trade that sent Naz Reid and picks to the Charlotte Hornets.

    After a few tough seasons with the Denver Nuggets, he averaged 8.5 points and 2.6 assists in Minnesota. He also shot 38.8% from three.

    — DeAntae Prince

    // Timestamp 06/30/26 6:28pm

    Former Sixer DeAndre Jordan headed to New Orleans

    // Timestamp 06/30/26 6:02pm

    NBA sets new salary cap just under $165 million

    // Timestamp 06/30/26 5:33pm

    Get ready for the 6 p.m. frenzy. Will the Sixers be involved?

    Sixers President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey greets reporters as he sits down to speak about the Sixers first round draft pick, Labaron Philon Jr., from the teams practice facility in Camden, N.J. on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Though we are about 30 minutes from the official opening of free agency, agreed-upon deals between players and their current teams have been trickling in for the past few days. Teams can begin negotiating with their own free agents when the season ends, aka once the New York Knicks won Game 5 of the NBA Finals to clinch the title.

    None of that news has involved the Sixers, who have five free agents in Kelly Oubre Jr., Quentin Grimes, Andre Drummond, Trendon Watford, and Kyle Lowry.

    That is not entirely surprising, given the Sixers have limited financial flexibility. The front office must weigh how much it would cost to bring Oubre and/or Grimes back vs. outside players it could get on a midlevel exception. And depending on how all the dominoes fall, the Sixers could have the non-taxpayer midlevel exemption of about $15 million (plus the $5.5 biannual exception), or the taxpayer midlevel of about $6.1 million.

    The Sixers did pick up the team options for Dominick Barlow and Dalen Terry, and declined Watford’s team option, by Monday’s deadline.

    Will the typical flurry of reported moves right at 6 p.m. include the Sixers? Stay tuned.

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 06/30/26 4:24pm

    It looks like Trendon Watford ‘Ain’t Coming Back’ to Sixers

    Did Trendon Watford hint that he does not plan to return to the Sixers?

    Though the Sixers on Monday afternoon declined the forward’s $2.8 million team option for 2026-27, that did not prevent him from coming back on a new one-year or longer-term deal.

    But after news broke of the Sixers’ decision, Watford posted to his Instagram story. The photo inside a UCLA gym — where several NBA players train and play pickup games during the offseason — was nothing out of the ordinary. But his song choice was Future’s “Ain’t Coming Back.”

    A screenshot of Trendon Watford’s Instagram story suggesting he’s moving on from the Sixers after they declined his team option.@trendonw / Instagram

    It all could be a massive coincidence. But now, Watford is set to hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent Tuesday evening, after averaging 6.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 53 games last season.

    It is well known that Watford has been one of All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey’s close friends since they were teenagers. But he also became a lively presence throughout the Sixers’ locker room. During the playoffs, he was the unofficial DJ who set the mood with his playlist before games.

    That was most apparent before the Sixers’ Game 7 upset at the Boston Celtics. Before shootaround, he coaxed strength and conditioning coach Emily Zaler (who typically sets the tunes for that morning session) to put on Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.” And as the pregame locker-room period open to the media wound down that evening, teammate Justin Edwards eagerly asked Watford, “Where’s the music?!”

    “Not the time,” Watford said, waiting for reporters to leave. “Gotta keep the routine.”

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 06/30/26 4:09pm

    What Kawhi Leonard’s reported return to Toronto means for the Sixers

    Most Sixers fans would rather forget Kawhi Leonard’s time with the Toronto Raptors, especially the 2019 playoffs. YONG KIM / Staff Photographer

    If the Kawhi Leonard trade from the Los Angeles Clippers to Toronto Raptors crosses the finish line — and it reportedly has — that is good news for the Sixers. Not necessarily in the short term, given that could catapult the Raptors into the upper tier of the Eastern Conference.

    But if the Clippers go into a full rebuild, the 2028 unprotected first-round pick and 2029 pick swap that the Sixers acquired in the 2023 James Harden blockbuster will become much more valuable.

    Even before this potential Leonard deal, the Clippers were trending in this direction. They traded Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers and standout center Ivica Zubac to the Indiana Pacers at the deadline. They also have lost Norman Powell and, of course, Paul George in recent years.

    Consider that consolation for Sixers fans who may already be having four-bounce flashbacks to the last time Leonard was a Raptor.

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 06/30/26 3:34pm

    LeBron fans are already turning on the Lakers

    LeBron James’ decision to leave the Lakers will have ripple effects that shudder throughout the league for years to come.

    One immediate impact in Los Angeles will be the loss off LeBron fans who have already started to share their disenchantment with the franchise.

    One fan called Luka Doncic a “fraud” for deciding to sit out of the Lakers’ postseason series with a hamstring injury. Another shared social media posts of LeBron taking off a Lakers jersey with the caption, “Ight, Lakers fans. It’s been real. WE OUT.”

    The latter chorus was a common refrain as many fans followed James as he played for the Cavaliers and Heat and intend to do the same when he leaves the Lakers.

    Ironically, the late Kobe Bryant was the only other player to earn that status, bringing fans from all over the country to the Lakers’ fan base.

    We’ll soon see where the LeBron contingent lands.

    — DeAntae Prince

    // Timestamp 06/30/26 2:46pm

    Remembering the time the Sixers had a chance to land LeBron

    LeBron James embraces Ben Simmons before the start of a 2019 game between the Sixers and Lakers.HEATHER KHALIFA / Staff Photographer

    For the first time since the 2018 offseason, LeBron James is on the move, after informing the Lakers he won’t return and will look to play his 24th NBA season elsewhere.

    The last time James was seeking a new team, the four-time MVP gave Philadelphia a look.

    Although many considered James to Los Angeles to be a done deal at the time, he did consider joining the 76ers in 2018. In an interview with ESPN’s Rachel Nichols after signing with the Lakers, James mentioned that he chose the Lakers over the likes of the Sixers and the Houston Rockets — two teams that boasted more talent than LA at the time — to help cement his legacy as a great.

    “I definitely thought long and hard about the possibilities of lining up alongside Ben [Simmons] and [Joel] Embiid, or lining up alongside [James] Harden and Chris [Paul],” James told ESPN in 2018. “I felt like at this point in my career, the ultimate for me — just like when I went to Miami, everyone kind of looks at me joining a super team.

    “I like the challenge of being able to help a team get to some places they haven’t been in a while, and obviously the Lakers haven’t made the playoffs in a few years,” he added.

    Representatives from the 76ers did meet with James’ camp but James did not attend the meeting. The meeting was led by then-Sixers head coach Brett Brown, who was also serving as the team’s interim president following the resignation of Bryan Colangelo.

    Leading up to free agency, Philadelphia made an all-out push for James with Embiid taking to social media to pitch his team to James. The then-24-year-old center wrote on Twitter (now X), “Trust The Process!!!! Find a new slant @KingJames.”

    Meanwhile, Philadelphia-based company Power Home Remodeling purchased three billboards outside of Cleveland to court James, who played for the Cavaliers at the time. Two of the billboards read “Philly Wants Lebron” and “Complete The Process” — referring to the Sixers’ motto spearheaded by former president Sam Hinkie. The third billboard featured LeBron’s number 23 on the court alongside the numbers of the Sixers’ starting lineup.

    The rumor mill around James joining the Sixers mainly revolved around his well-known relationship with Simmons, who was known to workout with James on occasion. Both former first overall picks, the two shared an agency in Klutch Sports — founded by James’ longtime friend and agent Rich Paul. Coming out of the draft and early in his career, Simmons, a 6-foot-10 point guard, also received a hefty comparison to James because of his playmaking ability and size.

    While James landing with the 76ers this time around is almost certainly not happening, Simmons recently displayed interest in returning to Philadelphia in an interview with Men’s Health.

    — Conor Smith

    // Timestamp 06/30/26 1:55pm

    Lakers thank LeBron as he leaves L.A.

    // Timestamp 06/30/26 1:07pm

    Where will LeBron land in free agency?

    LeBron James is leaving the Lakers.Mark J. Terrill

    LeBron James informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he will not re-sign with the team after 8 seasons and one title in Tinseltown.

    So where could he land? A number of suitors have emerged through various reports, including the two franchises with which he spent the first 15 seasons of his career.

    According to NBA Insiders Chris Haynes (NBA on Prime), Jake Fischer (SteinLine), and Brian Windhorst (ESPN), the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors could all be in play.

    Windhorst previously discussed rumors of the move for a Big 4 in Golden State — a pairing of James, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Washington Wizards forward Anthony Davis — as a “leverage play” for James and Davis to gain better standing with their current teams, but has since reversed course.

    “I think the focus right now is can they get LeBron James away from the Los Angeles Lakers? That’s something they’re going to try to get done, today,” he said on ESPN’s Get Up.

    James’ son, Bronny, appears set to stay with the Lakers. His contract with the team became fully guaranteed on Monday. He will play out the remaining year of his deal at $2.3 million.

    — DeAntae Prince

    // Timestamp 06/30/26 12:54pm

    Backup center market drying up early

    Sixers center Joel Embiid (right) drives to the basket against New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    We are still hours away from free agency officially opening, and the backup center market is already shrinking.

    Robert Williams and Jock Landale earlier Tuesday reportedly agreed to terms to return to their respective teams, the Portland Trail Blazers and Atlanta Hawks. Landale’s deal is for one year and $14 million and Williams’ is for three years and $44 million, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

    So who else could still be in play for the Sixers?

    • Mitchell Robinson, an elite rebounder and rim protector, is perhaps the sexiest name, given his role on the NBA champion New York Knicks.
    • Sandro Mamukelashvili, coming off a strong season for the upstart Toronto Raptors, is a sneaky option.
    • Veteran Nikola Vucevic was once an All-Star, but his decline was glaring during the Sixers’ upset of the Boston Celtics.
    • Marvin Bagley, the former second overall draft pick who was productive for the Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks, is a solid rebounder (and his brother, Marcus, was a Delaware Blue Coat and on two 10-day contracts with the Sixers).

    And, of course, there is Andre Drummond, whose role fluctuated last season with the Sixers.

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 06/30/26 12:17pm

    John Collins and more frontcourt options for the Sixers

    Los Angeles Clippers forward John Collins is an option for the Sixers.Bailey Hillesheim

    As the Sixers search for ways to bolster their roster, keep an eye on these six players as options at forward and center …

    John Collins

    Collins could slide into a starting forward spot if Oubre leaves. The sensational athlete has become an improved shooter since getting off the perpetual trade block with the Atlanta Hawks, connecting on 40.6% of his three-point attempts last season with the Los Angeles Clippers.

    Rui Hachimura

    The 6-foot-8, 230-pound Hachimura boasts a more traditional power forward frame and versatile skill on both ends of the floor. He shot 44.3% on 3.9 long-range attempts per game last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, while averaging 11.5 points and 3.3 rebounds. The Lakers reportedly committed to signing Austin Reaves to a max contract, and must make a free-agency decision on all-time great LeBron James.

    Robert Williams III

    Another supreme athlete who can rebound (7 per game last season) and finish lobs. But the 28-year-old now has a lengthy injury history with the Celtics and Portland Trail Blazers, which might be a risky investment for a center to play behind Embiid.

    [Update: Williams is returning to the Blazers on a three-year deal worth $44 million.]

    Marvin Bagley III

    Bagley’s career has fallen far below original expectations as a former No. 2 overall draft pick. Yet he is coming off a productive season for the Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks, averaging 10.5 points per game. His career average of 6.5 rebounds — including 2.3 on the offensive end — in 22 minutes is also a sound number.

    His brother, Marcus, played 10 games for the Sixers and also played for the G League’s Delaware Blue Coats during the 2024-25 season.

    Jock Landale

    A floor-spacing big man with defensive versatility, Landale was an impactful trade-deadline pickup for the streaking Hawks until an ankle sprain prematurely ended his season. He averaged 5.7 rebounds in 22.1 minutes with the Memphis Grizzlies and Hawks last season.

    [Update: Landale is returning to the Hawks on a one-year, $14 million deal.]

    Mitchell Robinson

    The competition could be steep for the newly crowned NBA champion — including from the Knicks. Robinson is a fantastic rim protector and rebounder, especially on the offensive end (4.2 per game last season). The knocks on him are his injury history and poor shooting, prompting the Hack-A-Mitch strategy for opposing teams.

    Other options: Sandro Mamukelashvili, Nikola Vučević, Mo Wagner, Jaxson Hayes, Kelly Olynyk, Nick Richards

    Sixers free-agency primer: Players who could depart, possible outside targets, and more

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 06/30/26 12:07pm

    LeBron James is leaving the Lakers

    // Timestamp 06/30/26 11:56am

    What kind of contracts can the Sixers actually sign?

    Sixers managing partner Josh Harris and HBSE president of sports Bob Myers meet with the media.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    This is tricky to determine right now, because it could be dependent on if Kelly Oubre Jr., and/or Quentin Grimes returns.

    If both players depart, the Sixers are likely to have the non-taxpayer midlevel exception (approximately $15 million) and the biannual exception ($5.5 million). If they re-sign one or both players, they likely will only have the $6.1 taxpayer midlevel exception.

    For what it’s worth, earlier this month Bob Myers specifically referenced the non-taxpayer midlevel exception as a free-agency tool, suggesting the Sixers are using that as a starting point and will weigh the players they could sign on that deal vs. the return of Oubre or Grimes. And if the Sixers cross into the “apron” penalties, it will limit their ability to make in-season trades because of new collective bargaining agreement rules.

    The Sixers will also have veteran minimum contracts to fill out their 15-man roster.

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 06/30/26 11:48am

    Cash-strapped Sixers taking it one move at a time

    New Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey is looking to improve his roster with little money to spend.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    If the Sixers are going to improve, it’s going to need to be on the margins.

    That is the reality facing new 76ers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, whom Myers led the search to hire, and the remaining front office as NBA free agency begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday. All-NBA third-team guard Tyrese Maxey ($41 million), along with former perennial All-Stars Joel Embiid ($59.5 million) and Paul George ($54.1 million), remain on max contracts accounting for nearly $155 million of the projected $165 million salary cap. And the latter two players are considered difficult to trade because of their age and recent injury history.

    So the Sixers must again hope for better health with that top-heavy roster during the 2026-27 season, which could turn that flash from the playoff upset of the Boston Celtics into more consistency. Yet that postseason run, which ended in being swept by the eventual NBA champion New York Knicks, also exposed that the Sixers must bolster their depth, requiring shrewd around-the-edges moves with limited financial flexibility.

    The Sixers already have begun to build their roster by drafting Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr., in a potential first-round steal, and picked up the team options for Dominick Barlow ($3.4 million) and Dalen Terry ($2.6 million, nonguaranteed until Jan. 10) on Monday. They will aim to address positional needs at wing and in the frontcourt, as well as with shooting and rebounding.

    “You can make a great [draft] pick, [or] you can sign a minimum player that really moves things further,” Myers said. “ … You can have minimum players that really do a great job for your team. You can have a $4 million [player]. It doesn’t have to be the big-spending guys. You get 5%, 10% 15% better, it makes a big difference.”

    — Gina Mizell

    These five Sixers are headed for free agency (or retirement)

    Sixers wing Kelly Oubre Jr. is one of the team’s five unrestricted free agents.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    The Sixers don’t have much money to spend in free agency this offseason, and what little they do have could be used to re-sign some of their own players who are about to hit the open market when the negotiating period begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Here’s a look at the members of last year’s Sixers squad who will be unrestricted free agents …

    • Kelly Oubre Jr. — Oubre, 30, averaged 14.1 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 50 games last season and shot a career-best 36% from three-point range. The 6-foot-8 starting forward spent the last three seasons with the Sixers, and made $8.3 million in 2025-26.
    • Quentin Grimes — Grimes, the Sixers’ sixth man for most of last season, averaged 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, all down from his breakout season in 2024-25 after the Sixers shifted into tank mode. The 26-year-old, who struggled to find a match last free agency period before returning to the Sixers, shot a career-low 33.4% from three-point range.
    • Andre Drummond — The 32-year-old center made $5 million while taking on an odd role most of last season: starting in place of Joel Embiid when the former MVP was injured, but falling out of the rotation entirely when Embiid was healthy. Drummond, one of the games best rebounders, averaged 6.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 63 regular-season games.
    • Trendon Watford — Watford, who has been a close friend of Tyrese Maxey’s since they were teenagers, averaged 6.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 53 games last season, but injuries played a role. The Sixers declined Watford’s $2.8 million team option for next season on Monday.
    • Kyle Lowry — The former Cardinal Dougherty and Villanova star is expected to retire after 20 NBA seasons. Following the 2024-25 season, Lowry, a North Philly native, said he wanted to play one more year.

    — Matt Mullin

    // Timestamp 06/30/26 11:31am

  • Flyers NHL draft updates: Philly picks giant Russian defenseman after trading down; latest moves and rumors; a new alternate logo?

    Flyers NHL draft updates: Philly picks giant Russian defenseman after trading down; latest moves and rumors; a new alternate logo?

    // Pinned

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 10:46pm

    New Flyer Maksim Sokolovskii is a big guy who’s mean on the ice

    Maksim Sokolovskii meets with the media remotely at the Flyers’ 2026 NHL draft party in Atlantic City Friday.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    The Inquirer’s Jackie Spiegel predicted the Flyers’ first-round pick of Maksim Sokolovskii, a year after she called Shane Vansaghi to the Flyers in Round 2.

    From her final mock draft on Friday morning:

    “Meet Sokolovskii, who checks several boxes for the Flyers’ usual modus operandi at the draft and is the targeted pick for several outlets and insiders.

    …

    After spending the 2024-25 season with the Atlantic Coast Academy, Sokolovskii played this past season for London of the Ontario Hockey League. Yes, that London, where Denver Barkey and Oliver Bonk won a Memorial Cup one June ago. That London where team president Keith Jones has a connection with Mark and Dale Hunter. The Flyers like the system and how they prepare players. Could this be a match just for that reason?

    And then there’s the height. And Sokolovskii is, to put it mildly, a big boy at 6-foot-7¼, 240 pounds. The Flyers like tall dudes, drafting 6-5 Jack Nesbitt, Carter Amico, Luke Vlooswyk, and Matthew Gard all last year. Since Flahr took over, 31 of 50 players are over 6-feet, and 17 of those were taken with Brière as GM.

    The biggest difference compared to several previous prospects is that Sokolovskii is a pretty good skater for a guy his size.

    “He’s 6-foot-8, and he skates like he’s 5-foot-8,” Mike Taylor, the owner and one of Sokolovskii’s coaches at Atlantic Coast Academy, told The Inquirer recently. “… He came here, and I had a skating coach once a month come up and do power skating with our guys, and he does it like with UMass Amherst, and all these other schools. And he saw him skate, and he’s like, ‘Oh my God.’ He couldn’t believe how good his edge work was, and stuff, for being the size that he is.”

    Considered a mean guy with some bite on the ice, Sokolovskii likes to be physical, throw the body around, and play tough. Although Taylor says there is an offensive dimension to his game — as seen from his numbers at Atlantic Coast — he is considered a shutdown defender.

    Flyers draft towering defenseman Maksim Sokolovskii after trading back in Round 1

    — Jackie Spiegel

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 11:06pm

    Every pick from the first round of the 2026 NHL draft

    Penn State star Gavin McKenna was taken by the Maple Leafs with the No. 1 pick.Joe Camporeale, Joe Camporeale-I
    1. Toronto Maple Leafs: Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State 
    2. San Jose Sharks: Ivar Stenberg, LW, Sweden
    3. Vancouver Canucks: Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL)
    4. Buffalo Sabres: Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert (WHL)
    5. New York Rangers: Alberts Smits, D, Finland
    6. Calgary Flames: Carson Carels, D, Prince George (WHL)
    7. Seattle Kraken: Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
    8. Winnipeg Jets: Viggo Björck, C, Sweden
    9. San Jose Sharks: Keaton Verhoeff, D, North Dakota
    10. Nashville Predators: Wyatt Cullen, RW, USA U-18
    11. St Louis Blues: Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University
    12. New Jersey Devils: Alexander Command, C, Orebro (U20 Nationell)
    13. New York Islanders: Malte Gustafsson, D, Sweden
    14. Columbus Blue Jays: Oscar Hemming, LW, Boston College
    15. Anaheim Ducks: Nikita Klepov, RW, Saginaw (OHL)
    16. St. Louis Blues: Maddox Dagenais, C, Quebec (QMJHL)
    17. Utah Mammoth: Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor (OHL)
    18. Washington Capitals: Oliver Suvanto, C, Finland
    19. Los Angeles Kings: Elton Hermansson, RW, Sweden
    20. Buffalo Sabres: Ilia Morozov, C, Miami (Ohio)
    21. San Jose Sharks: Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver (WHL)
    22. Pittsburgh Penguins: Liam Ruck, RW, Medicine Hat (WHL)
    23. Detroit Red Wings: JP Hurlbert, LW, Kamloops (WHL)
    24. Vancouver Canucks: Adam Novotný, LW, Peterborough (OHL)
    25. Ottawa Senators: Jonas Lagerber Hoen, RW, Sweden
    26. Montreal Canadiens: Gleb Pugachyov, RW, Russia
    27. Philadelphia Flyers: Maksim Sokolovskii, D, London (OHL)
    28. Anaheim Ducks: Marcus Nordmark, LW, Sweden
    29. Las Vegas Golden Knights: Juho Piiparinen, D, Finland
    30. Calgary Flames: Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown (USHL)
    31. Nashville Predators: Thomas Bleyl, D, Moncton (QMJHL)
    32. Ottawa Senators: Jaxon Cover, LW, London (OHL)

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 10:33pm

    Flyers take defenseman Maksim Sokolovskii with No. 27 pick

    The Flyers selected Maksim Sokolovskii after trading back to the No. 27 overall pick in the first round of the NHL draft.

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 9:56pm

    Flyers should have some good options at No. 27

    A couple of good options should be there at No. 27 when the Flyers now pick.

    The list of prospects could include Maksim Sokolovskii, Brooks Rogowski, Jack Hextall, Ryder Cali, Tommy Bleyl, and maybe the first goalie off the board, Tobias Trejbal.

    I wouldn’t sleep on Casey Mutryn or William Håkansson, either.

    — Jackie Spiegel

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 9:48pm

    Flyers trade down

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 9:43pm

    Flyers on the clock

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 9:33pm

    Best players still available

    Here’s Jackie Spiegel’s list of the best players available in the draft as the Flyer’s No. 21 pick approaches:

    1. Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver (WHL)
    2. Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown (USHL)
    3. Tommy Bleyl, D, Moncton (QMJHL)
    4. J.P. Hurlbert, RW, Kamloops (WHL)

    — Jackie Spiegel

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 9:26pm

    Danny Brière finishes 7th for GM of the year

    Flyers GM Danny Brière finishes 7th for general manager of the year. He got one first-place vote.

    — Jackie Spiegel

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 8:55pm

    Mason McTavish traded to St. Louis

    Ducks center Mason McTavish has been traded to the St. Louis Blues, using their No. 15 and No. 29 overall picks.

    McTavish was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, and signed a 6-year extension worth $7 million annually ahead of the 2025-26 season, but he fell out of favor in Anaheim with the emergence of Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlsson.

    McTavish had been linked with the Flyers over the past two summers given his pedigree, the team’s need at center, his north-south game, and the team’s well-documented trade history with the Anaheim Ducks.

    — Gabriela Carroll, Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 8:39pm

    Top remaining center prospects for Flyers

    Swedish center Alexander Command, who at one stage was probably someone the Flyers thought they had a shot at but had been rising, goes at No. 12.

    With Tynan Lawrence and Command gone, Oliver Suvanto, Ilia Morozov, Jack Hextall, and Brooks Rogowski make up the next group of centers if the Flyers choose to go that route.

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 8:38pm

    Wyatt Cullen’s father, a three-time Stanley Cup champ, had him in skates early

    Wyatt Cullen, the son of three-time Stanley Cup champion Matt Cullen, is headed to Nashville Predators with the No. 10 pick.

    At the NHL combine earlier this month, Cullen told The Inquirer his father had him in skates when he was just “two years old.”

    “Growing up, I’ve just always loved the game,” Cullen said.

    “[Sidney] Crosby and my dad were pretty good friends, so he’d be over at our house sometimes [to] play mini-sticks.”

    Who won mini-sticks?

    “He did.”

    — Jackie Spiegel

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 8:24pm

    Top defensive prospects off the board

    Keaton Verhoeff is heading to San Jose. Craig Lassig

    With Keaton Verhoeff off the board at No. 9 to San Jose, that closes the book on the top tier of defensive prospects in a draft class heralded for its blueliners.

    Expect a run of forwards to come now with Malte Gustafsson and Ryan Lin highlighting the next tier of defensemen. As Jackie Spiegel noted earlier, Tommy Bleyl, Maksim Sokolovskii, and Xavier Villeneuve are among the defensemen the Flyers could consider at No. 21.

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 7:51pm

    First major upset of the draft

    The first major surprise of the draft came at No. 4 as the Buffalo Sabres selected defenseman Daxon Rudolph from the Prince Albert Raiders.

    Rudolph, who was projected to be a top-10 pick, was expected to go behind the likes of fellow defensemen Chase Reid, Alberts Šmits, and Carson Carels.

    The Sabres have pulled off several shockers this week with the Bowen Byram trade and now the selection of Rudolph.

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 7:35pm

    Pavel Dorofeyev reportedly heading to the Rangers

    Pavel Dorofeyev is headed to the Rangers. Ian Maule

    The New York Rangers are making a big addition on the wing, reportedly acquiring Pavel Dorofeyev from Vegas for the No. 26 pick, the No. 92 pick and a conditional 2028 first-round pick (condition on the pick is top-10 protected).

    Dorofeyev is a restricted free agent who scored 37 goals this past season, and 35 the season prior, plus 12 goals in Vegas’ Stanley Cup Finals run. Dorofeyev is a restricted free agent, joining the Rangers after they finished last in the Metropolitan Division in 2025-26.

    Vegas is reportedly one of the teams on Red Wings center Dylan Larkin’s no trade list. Could they be compiling assets to make a run at the Olympic gold medalist? Or even for Stars winger Jason Robertson? The Stars wouldn’t – would they?

    — Gabriela Carroll

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 7:34pm

    Another big trade sends JJ Peterka to the Bruins

    Utah Mammoth right winger JJ Peterka is heading to Boston. Melissa Majchrzak

    The Boston Bruins are acquiring forward JJ Peterka from the Utah Mammoth for two first-round picks, including the No. 23 pick in the 2026 draft.

    Peterka, 24, managed 25 goals this past season for the Mammoth but his first season in Utah went anything but smoothly. The fit never quite worked out and now Boston will take a chance on the German who has a longstanding connection with Bruins coach Marco Sturm.

    Peterka’s best season came in 2024-25 when he notched 27 goals and 68 points in 77 games for the Sabres. He is signed for four more seasons at a cap hit of $7.7 million.

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 7:19pm

    Penn State star Gavin McKenna taken by Maple Leafs with No. 1 pick

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 7:10pm

    Another potential power play QB off the board for the Flyers

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 6:30pm

    Blue Jackets reportedly taking calls on Zach Werenski. Could the Flyers be interested?

    Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski could be on the move. Danny Wild, Imagn Images

    The Flyers have said they want to become a destination for top players and believe that Rick Tocchet can help in that aim.

    Well, another one seems destined to soon hit the market, as the Columbus Blue Jackets are fielding trade calls on Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski, according to Pierre LeBrun.

    The report comes after recent rumblings suggested that Werenski, who turns 29 next month, was growing unhappy in Columbus and was not keen to extend with the Blue Jackets when his contract expires in two seasons.

    The Flyers will assuredly check in on Werenski, as he is exactly the type of offensive difference-maker they’ve long lacked on the blue line. Werenski has averaged 23 goals, 82 points, and 23 power-play points over the past two seasons and is universally considered one of the best three defensemen in the NHL. Center and a bona fide No. 1 power-play QB are the Flyers’ two biggest needs, and Werenski would certainly check the second box and then some.

    The two big questions are would Werenski be open to Philadelphia – he has a full no-move clause and would need to approve any potential destination – and do the Flyers have the pieces to acquire him? Only Werenski knows the answer to the first question, while the Quinn Hughes trade would be a comparable trade to get a sense of Werenski’s value. In that deal, Minnesota traded the equivalent of four first-round picks with Zeev Buium, Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren, and a first-round pick going to Vancouver for fellow Norris winner Hughes.

    The Flyers to this point have said they are unwilling to move Porter Martone and Matvei Michkov, but this is the type of player that would likely require one to go the other way. Danny Brière’s plan all along was to go “big-game hunting” this offseason, let’s see if the Flyers’ GM gets aggresive here.

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 6:17pm

    Could the Flyers actually target someone under six feet tall?

    Tommy Bleyl (right) is coming off an impressive first season in the QMJHL where he was named the top defensive rookie.DanielStLouis

    The Flyers have prioritized size when drafting – and not drafting – defenseman the past few seasons, but with the 21st pick, and a couple of interesting undersized defensive prospects in that range, could they be more apt to consider someone under six foot this year?

    While GM Danny Brière and assistant GM Brent Flahr tried to pour cold water on that idea at their recent pre-draft news conference, could the trade of Emil Andrae have changed things slightly. The Flyers don’t have a truly dynamic offensive defensemen in the system, and Ryan Lin, Tommy Bleyl, and Xavier Villeneuve, while all under six feet, would all fit the bill in some regard.

    Jackie Spiegel took a deeper look at the three polarizing defenseman and whether the Flyers could break their mold and target a future potential QB for their power play on Friday night.

    Flyers draft: Tommy Bleyl, Ryan Lin, and Xavier Villeneuve are smaller defensemen. Will they get passed over by Philly?

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 5:17pm

    Did the Flyers just tease a new alternate logo?

    While fans have been rapidly refreshing X with the NHL hot stove on fire and the clock ticking closer to the NHL draft on Friday night, the Flyers might have teased something.

    At around 2 p.m., the team posted a picture of the team’s draft headquarters in Atlantic City with the following caption:”Ready for action in AC.”

    On the floor in the middle of the room was a black Liberty Bell outline in highlighter orange trim. Could this be a new alternate logo for the team’s City Connect jerseys? Hmm …

    Let’s hope.

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 4:44pm

    Sabres acquire Zellweger

    The Flyers are looking for a power-play quarterback, and with very few available as unrestricted free agents beyond 36-year-old John Carlson, they may need to get creative to find one.

    Two days after Bowen Byram was traded from Buffalo to Chicago, another young defenseman came off the board with the Sabres acquiring Olen Zellweger, seemingly as Byram’s replacement, for a second-round pick and forward prospect Anton Wahlberg. The dynamic 22-year-old defenseman is a restricted free agent and will need a new contract from Buffalo.

    Known for his effortless skating and silky puck skills, the 5-foot-10, 193-pound Zellweger had seven goals and 22 points last season and has PP1 upside. With Byram and Zellweger off the board, the Flyers will have to look elsewhere if they want to add to their blue line this summer.

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 4:16pm

    Likely No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna on what he learned at Penn State

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 3:35pm

    Watch our Gameday Central draft preview

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 1:59pm

    Maple Leafs deal Sam Ersson to Senators

    Goaltender Samuel Ersson is with his third team in the last two weeks.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Sam Ersson is on the move again.

    Ten days after being traded alongside defenseman Emil Andrae to the Toronto Maple Leafs for goaltender Joseph Woll and depth blueliner Simon Benoit, the former Flyers goaltender’s rights were traded across Ontario to Ottawa on Friday.

    The Leafs recouped a fifth-round pick for Ersson’s rights, while Ottawa will now likely qualify the restricted free agent goaltender. His minimum qualifying offer is $1.6 million.

    Ersson, 26, amassed a 65-50-17 record and .884 save percentage in four up-and-down seasons in Philadelphia. Last year, he posted 14-11-5 record with a .870 SV%, but he was excellent after the Olympic break with a .912 save percentage in nine games. In Ottawa, he could form an all-Swedish tandem with Linus Ullmark.

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 1:51pm

    Jackie Spiegel’s final mock draft

    Maksim Sokolovskii (center) tied forward Brooks Rogowski for the tallest players measured at this year’s combine.Courtesy of London Knights

    Who the Flyers will actually select in the first round is now just hours away from being revealed.

    Philly picks at No. 21, so there is a lot of intrigue to see who they can get that deep in the draft. And that’s the crux and the reasoning behind why, in the fourth and final draft for The Inquirer, we have the Flyers picking a fourth different player.

    First round: Maksim Sokolovskii, LHD, London (OHL)

    Meet Sokolovskii, who checks several boxes for the Flyers’ usual modus operandi at the draft and is the targeted pick for several outlets and insiders.

    For background, since assistant general manager Brent Flahr took over, he has drafted 50 players, with general manager Danny Brière by his side for 26 of those.

    The position Flahr has drafted the most across his tenure is defense, at 15, and he did mention during his sit-down in Buffalo that the Flyers need defensive depth. He added during his pre-draft presser last week that the Flyers could use some more depth down the left side in particular — he did add “not necessarily being the first round” — and Sokolovskii is a left-handed defenseman.

    And then there’s the height. And Sokolovskii is, to put it mildly, a big boy at 6-foot-7¼, 240 pounds. The Flyers like tall dudes, drafting 6-5 Jack Nesbitt, Carter Amico, Luke Vlooswyk, and Matthew Gard all last year. Since Flahr took over, 31 of 50 players are over 6-feet, and 17 of those were taken with Brière as GM.

    The biggest difference compared to several previous prospects is that Sokolovskii is a pretty good skater for a guy his size and isn’t the big project that other draft picks have been.

    Click here for a more in-depth breakdown of Sokolovskii and a look ahead at who the Flyers might take on Day 2.

    Flyers mock draft 4.0: How things are shaping up heading into tonight’s first round

    — Jackie Spiegel

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 1:36pm

    Will Flyers join Rangers and Blues in Mason McTavish sweepstakes?

    Anaheim Ducks center Mason McTavish is reportedly available this summer.Katie Chin

    It’s no secret that Danny Brière and the Flyers are poking around the trade market for a top-six center. One name that has come up quite a bit over the past two seasons is Anaheim’s Mason McTavish. The 23-year-old center, who was the No. 3 pick in the 2021 draft, has fallen out of favor in Anaheim is reportedly available this summer.

    The latest update from Pierre LeBrun is that Anaheim has offers on the table from the New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues for the player but that there is still time for another team to get involved.

    The appeal with McTavish is obvious: He’s a young player with draft pedigree who two seasons ago tallied 22 goals and 52 points on a bad Ducks team. He’s the exact type of reclamation project the Flyers have been attracted to in recent years — Jamie Drysdale, Trevor Zegras, David Jiříček. He’s also a rugged player who gets to the hard areas and can help a power play as a net-front presence and as a goal scorer. The Flyers and Ducks have also done two recent deals with one another which adds further smoke here.

    The question is after slumping to 17 goals and 41 points and being a healthy scratch in the playoffs this season, is McTavish someone you want to commit to for the next five seasons at $7 million per? He’s also been a defensive liability as a pro and is not the most fleet of foot — two things that could sway the Flyers in a different direction.

    We’ll keep an eye on this one but for now it looks like McTavish won’t be the answer for the Flyers down the middle.

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 12:15pm

    Nine players the Flyers could target in the first round

    Could the Flyers take Maddox Dagenais, a potent right winger, in the first-round?Jonathan Roy

    The first round of the 2026 NHL draft is just hours away, and the Flyers are scheduled to pick at No. 21.

    Who will be there, before general manager Danny Brière’s turn to face the camera and announce the pick, is anyone’s guess. With the expectation that prospects like Wyatt Cullen, Ryan Lin, and Alexander Command — who really does scream Flyer more than anyone on this list — will be long gone, here are nine players (in alphabetical order) the team could take in the first round.

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 11:54am

    Will Jordan Spence extension impact Ristolainen?

    Senators defenseman Jordan Spence (right) is reportedly returning to Ottawa on a four-year deal. Spencer Colby

    One of the top restricted free agent defenseman is off the board as Jordan Spence is closing in on a four-year, $20 million contract extension with the Ottawa Senators, according to multiple reports.

    Spence, 25, had 31 points last season and had been mentioned in some recent trade chatter. The undersized blueliner’s extension likely doesn’t take Ottawa out of the Rasmus Ristolainen sweepstakes, as Spence is a very different defenseman to the Flyers’ bruiser.

    Ottawa, who are lucky to get bigger on the blue line are one of the teams that have been linked to Ristolainen in recent weeks. Ristolainen, 31, is entering the final year of his current contract and is likely not part of the Flyers’ long-term future. With prices high, the Flyers could opt to cash in on the rugged defenseman now, especially given Ristolainen’s extensive injury history.

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 11:22am

    South Jersey native Tony DeAngelo re-signs with Isles

    Former Flyers defenseman and Sewell native Tony DeAngelo is staying in the Metropolitan Division. Sportsnet reported Friday that DeAngelo will sign a two-year contract to remain a New York Islander.

    The offensive defenseman, who played the 2022-23 season for his hometown Flyers, tallied five goals and 35 points in 76 games last season for the Islanders. DeAngelo, 30, had 11 goals, 42 points, and a minus-27 rating in his lone season in Philadelphia before being bought out a season before his contract expired following a clash with former coach John Tortorella.

    — Gustav Elvin

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 10:09am

    Mock draft roundup: Lots of options for the Flyers

    Ilia Morozov could be an option in the first round.Liv Kakabeeke/Miami Athletics

    The Flyers have the 21st overall pick in the NHL draft — they also have three more picks on Day 2 — but there doesn’t seem to be any kind of consensus on who Danny Brière and Co. will select Friday night. Here’s a roundup of who some experts think the Flyers will take …

    The Inquirer: Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown (USHL) — In our first mock draft, published before the NHL scouting combine, this spot belonged to defenseman Tommy Bleyl. In our second, published post combine, it was center Alexander Command. — Jackie Spiegel

    [Note: In Jackie’s final mock draft, which published after this post went live, she has the Flyers taking defenseman Maksim Sokolovskii]

    The Athletic: Ilia Morozov, C, Miami (NCAA) — Philadelphia continues to build out its center depth with a potential middle-six pivot in Morozov. Lawrence and Hextall are also possibilities. — Corey Pronman

    ESPN: Maksim Sokolovskii, D, London (OHL) — The Flyers have not been shy about drafting a certain type of player — especially given coach Rick Tocchet’s influence on the organization. [Porter] Martone, Jack Nesbitt, Jack Murtagh and Shane Vansaghi are massive players with a physical edge. … The 6-7 Sokolovskii seems like the prototypical Philadelphia Flyer. He’s enormous, skates well, has a mile-long mean streak and is widely considered the hardest hitter in the draft class. All of that screams Tocchet type. — Rachel Kryshak

    NHL.com: Maksim Sokolovskii, D, London (OHL) — Sokolovskii checks a lot of boxes for the Flyers. At 6-7, 240, he was the biggest player measured at the NHL Scouting Combine, and he’s a left-handed shot, an area where Philadelphia is thin among its prospects. He also comes from a London program the Flyers have trusted for player development in the past, including defenseman Oliver Bonk and forward Denver Barkey. — Adam Kimelman

    NHL.com: Thomas Bleyl, D, Moncton (QMJHL) — If Bleyl (5-11, 170) is here, it makes sense for the Flyers to grab him to replenish their defensemen prospect pool. The 18-year-old is a dynamic puck-moving defenseman who emerged as one of the draft’s pleasant surprises thanks to his offensive production and elite skating ability. A natural power-play quarterback, he makes plays consistently while still holding his own defensively. — Mike G. Morreale

    Bleacher Report: Mathis Preston, RW, Vancouver Giants (WHL) — On our draft board, we have Mathis Preston ranked as a high second-rounder. But draft boards and mock drafts are not the same thing, and it’s believable that a team will choose to select him in the first round. Last go-round, we tried the Vancouver Canucks out as a fit; for this one, we thought the Philadelphia Flyers were an interesting landing spot. He brings incredible speed, he’s a later birthday, and his passing and handling are top-notch. — Hannah Stuart

    — Matt Mullin

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 7:55am

    2026 NHL Draft: How to watch and stream

    Porter Martone (left) was one of two first-round picks for the Flyers in the 2025 draft. The team only has one this year.Damian Dovarganes / AP

    The 2026 NHL draft officially starts at 7 p.m., but the Flyers won’t be on the clock for a lottery pick.

    The first round of the draft will air live on ESPN, hosted by John Buccigross alongside analyst Kevin Weekes, NHL insider Emily Kaplan, and Draft and hockey analytics expert Meghan Chayka. ESPN will also

    The second round begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday on the NHL Network, and the draft will end with the seventh round that same evening.

    When do the Flyers pick?

    After winning a playoff series over Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2026 postseason, the team’s first since 2019-20, the Flyers will pick at No. 21 overall during Friday’s first round.

    The Flyers will also have three picks on Saturday: in the second round (53rd overall), fifth round (136th overall) and seventh round (213th overall).

    Flyers draft primer: Everything you need to know about the 2026 draft, from draft order to top prospects

    — Gabriela Carroll

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 7:45am

    Who will the Flyers draft with the No. 21 pick?

    Alexander Command’s coach with Örebro HK U20 called him a game-breaker.Courtesy of Örebro HK U20/Erik Widlund

    Flyers beat writer Jackie Spiegel’s No. 1 choice for the No. 21 pick tonight, if he’s available, is 18-year-old Alexander Command, a center for Örebro HK of the Swedish Hockey League.

    “Like Shane Vansaghi last year, he oozes Flyer, and he feels a connection to the team and the fan base,” Spiegel said in a Reddit AMA Thursday.

    Unfortunately, Spiegel expects Command to be “long gone” when the Flyers pick. In her most recent mock draft, published last week, Spiegel had the Flyers taking center Jack Hextall, a distant cousin of former Flyers goalie and general manager Ron Hextall.

    “This Hextall is a 6-foot-½ inch, 195-pound right-shot centerman who is projected to play a middle-six role,” Spiegel wrote, adding the “Flyers love picking centers in the first round.”

    Other candidates at center include Ilia Morozov and Maddox Dagenais. Defenseman Tommy Bleyl is another possibility.

    FloHockey draft and prospect analyst Chris Peters is also high on Command, praising his “physicality” and his “doggedness in pursuit of the puck.”

    “Just the absolute annoyingness of just getting under your skin, and I think that there’s a lot to like about that player,” Peters said of Command on Flyers Gameday Central. “The comp that I had for him was Brayden Schenn and I think he probably has a higher motor, even there. Brayden Schenn was physical and mean, and he could score, and that’s what I think Command can do, too.”

    Flyers draft: Alexander Command feels a connection with Philly. But will he be there at No. 21 on draft day?

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 7:40am

    Flyers land more draft picks by trading veteran forward Garnet Hathaway

    Garnet Hathaway was part of a formidable fourth line in the playoffs for the Flyers.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    The Flyers are making a few changes on the fourth line.

    The team announced Thursday that Garnet Hathaway has been traded to the Florida Panthers along with a 2026 sixth-round pick for a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft and a 2027 fourth-rounder. The Flyers now own four picks in this weekend’s NHL draft: 21, 53 (second round), 136 (fifth round), and 213 (seventh round).

    Signed as a free agent in 2023, the 34-year-old winger played three seasons in Philadelphia and put up three points in 66 games last season, down from his 21 points in 2024-25 and 17 in 2023-24. Alongside Sean Couturier and Luke Glendening, he was part of a formidable fourth line in the playoffs, scoring one goal and recording one assist in eight games while asserting himself physically.

    A Maine native who graduated from Brown, the undrafted Hathaway ranked fourth in hits in the NHL across his three seasons in Philly. The past two seasons, for every hit the Flyers recorded, Hathaway and his wife, Lindsay, pledged to donate to local first responders with a match from Flyers Charities through Hits for Hath’s Heroes. Following the 2024-25 season, the Hathaways donated $30,000 to the Families Behind the Badge Children’s Foundation, a Conshohocken-based nonprofit.

    Hathaway has one year left on his two-year extension signed last July 1, which is worth $2.4 million annually. A team source has confirmed to The Inquirer that the Flyers will retain 50% of Hathaway’s salary, leaving a cap charge of $1.2 million on the books for 2026-27.

    The trade is the latest tweak to the roster. Last week, they acquired defenseman Simon Benoît and goalie Joseph Woll from the Toronto Maple Leafs for goalie Sam Ersson, defenseman Emil Andrae, and a third-round 2026 draft pick.

    Flyers trade veteran forward Garnet Hathaway to Panthers for draft picks

    — Gabriela Carroll

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 7:35am

    Could the Flyers trade away or acquire more picks?

    Flyers general manager Danny Brière (right) and assistant general manager Brent Flahr speak to reporters ahead of the 2026 NHL draft.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Maybe?

    In a news conference earlier this month, Flyers general manager Danny Brière did say he was OK with having only four picks now in the upcoming draft — one each in the first, second, sixth, and seventh rounds — and he did call the first- and second-round picks “the key.” But he also said everything is on the table.

    “We’ve drafted so much the last few years [so] it might not be quite a bad thing to not have as many this year,” he said. “But, if I had the choice, yeah, I would rather have more picks.”

    Fair, because who doesn’t want to keep stocking the cupboard? But what if it meant trading a first-rounder for a young player who could fit into the lineup today?

    “Yeah, we’re getting closer to that. I don’t know that we’re quite there yet, but we’re certainly willing to listen on different ideas,” he said. “I’m not too keen on trading future first-round picks, because you never know where it can go, and we’re not at [where] Colorado or Carolina [are] at this point, where you know we’re going to be finishing [high] and picking late first [round]. I don’t think we’re quite there yet.”

    The NHL draft is next for the Flyers. Here’s what Danny Brière and Brent Flahr said about their strategy.

    — Jackie Spiegel

    2026 first round NHL Draft order

    The 2026 Draft is taking place at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y. Joshua Bessex
    1. Toronto Maple Leafs
    2. San Jose Sharks
    3. Vancouver Canucks
    4. Buffalo Sabres
    5. New York Rangers
    6. Calgary Flames
    7. Seattle Kraken
    8. Winnipeg Jets
    9. San Jose Sharks
    10. Nashville Predators
    11. St. Louis Blues
    12. New Jersey Devils
    13. New York Islanders
    14. Columbus Blue Jackets
    15. St. Louis Blues
    16. St. Louis Blues
    17. Los Angeles Kings
    18. Washington Capitals
    19. Utah Mammoth
    20. Buffalo Sabres
    21. Philadelphia Flyers
    22. Pittsburgh Penguins
    23. Boston Bruins
    24. Vancouver Canucks
    25. Ottawa Senators
    26. New York Rangers
    27. San Jose Sharks
    28. Montreal Canadiens
    29. St. Louis Blues
    30. Calgary Flames
    31. Carolina Hurricanes
    32. Ottawa Senators

    — Gabriela Carroll

    // Timestamp 06/26/26 7:30am

  • NBA draft news: Sixers take Labaron Philon, tells fans ‘they’re getting a dog’; Giannis trade gives Embiid new title

    NBA draft news: Sixers take Labaron Philon, tells fans ‘they’re getting a dog’; Giannis trade gives Embiid new title

    // Pinned

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 10:36pm

    Sixers take Labaron Philon Jr. from Alabama with the No. 22 pick

    Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. is heading to Philly.Vasha Hunt

    NEW YORK – The 76ers have selected Alabama guard Labaron Philon with the 22nd overall pick in Tuesday’s NBA draft.

    This is the first draft pick for new Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, who was hired earlier this month to replace Daryl Morey. And they use it on a player that could be one of the draft’s biggest sleepers.

    Philon declared for the draft after his freshman season last year, but returned to college to use the feedback he received from teams to become a player who shot 39.9% from three-point range and averaged five assists per game. He also upped his scoring average to 22 points per game and is regarded as a strong defensive player.

    In a draft analyst panel Monday afternoon, ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Jay Bilas, and Fran Fraschilla all said he could be one of the more impactful players selected later in the first round.

    “He could end up being the best point guard in this draft,” Fraschilla said.

    With the pick, the Sixers will continue to lean on young (and smaller-statured) guards. The 6-foot-4, 185-pound Philon adds to a backcourt already featuring All-NBA third-teamer Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, who finished third in the NBA Rookie of the Year voting after going third overall last year.

    Philon joins a Sixers team in an interesting spot under Gansey, who ran the draft in his previous job as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ general manager. He also kept intact the bulk of the Sixers’ front office that has made strong selections in recent drafts, including Tyrese Maxey at 21 in 2020 and Edgecombe third overall last year.

    The Sixers finished seventh in the Eastern Conference standings during the regular season. They then rallied from down three games to one to beat the Boston Celtics in the playoffs’ first round, before getting swept by the eventual NBA-champion New York Knicks.

    They boast a dynamic young backcourt in All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, who finished third on a terrific Rookie of the Year ballot. Former perennial All-Stars Joel Embiid and Paul George are still effective – even fantastic – when available, but have struggled mightily to stay on the floor in recent seasons due to injury or, in George’s case, a 50-game suspension for violating the league’s anti-drug policy.

    The Sixers acquired the 22nd pick in the controversial Jared McCain trade at the February deadline. As of Tuesday night, they do not have a selection in Wednesday’s second round.

    Philon selection will help dictate how the Sixers approach free agency. Starting wing Kelly Oubre Jr., sixth man Quentin Grimes, and reserve big man Andre Drummond are all unrestricted free agents. And the Sixers have limited financial flexibility with Maxey, Embiid, and George still on max contracts for multiple seasons.

    Sixers select Alabama guard Labaron Philon with the 22nd overall pick

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 11:28pm

    2026 NBA draft picks

    Prospective draftees pose for a group photo with Adam Silver at the NBA draft.Yuki Iwamura

    Here’s a rundown of who’s been taken in the 2026 NBA draft so far:

    1. Washington Wizards: AJ Dybantsa, forward, BYU
    2. Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson, guard, Kansas
    3. Memphis Grizzlies: Cameron Boozer, forward, Duke
    4. Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson, forward, North Carolina
    5. Los Angeles Clippers: Keaton Wagler, guard, Illinois
    6. Brooklyn Nets: Mikel Brown Jr., guard, Louisville
    7. Sacramento Kings: Darius Acuff Jr., guard, Arkansas
    8. Atlanta Hawks: Kingston Flemings, guard, Houston
    9. Dallas Mavericks: Morez Johnson Jr., forward, Michigan
    10. Milwaukee Bucks: Brayden Burries, guard, Arizona
    11. Golden State Warriors: Yaxel Lendeborg, forward, Michigan
    12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Aday Mara, center, Michigan
    13. Milwaukee Bucks (via Heat): Nate Ament, forward, Tennessee
    14. Charlotte Hornets: Hannes Steinbach, forward, Washington
    15. Chicago Bulls: Dailyn Swain, forward, Texas
    16. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Bucks): Bennett Stirtz, guard, Iowa
    17. Detroit Pistons (via Bucks and Thunder): Ebuka Okorie, guard, Stanford
    18. Charlotte Hornets: Christian Anderson Jr., guard, Texas Tech
    19. Toronto Raptors: Allen Graves, florida, Santa Clara
    20. San Antonio Spurs: Jayden Quaintance, forward, Kentucky
    21. Memphis Grizzlies (via Pistons): Karim López, forward, Mexico
    22. Philadelphis 76ers: Labaron Philon Jr., guard, Alabama
    23. Atlanta Hawks: Zuby Ejiofor, forward, St. John’s
    24. Los Angeles Lakers (via Knicks): Cameron Carr, guard, Baylor
    25. New York Knicks (via Lakers): Sergio De Larrea, forward, Spain
    26. San Antonio Spurs (via Nuggets): Tarris Reed Jr., center, Connecticut
    27. Boston Celtics: Chris Cenac Jr., forward, Houston
    28. Brooklyn Nets (via Pistons and Timberwolves): Joshua Hefferson, forward, Iowa State
    29. Sacramento Kings (via Cavaliers): Alex Karaban, forward, Connecticut
    30. Phoenix Suns (via Mavericks): Koa Peat, forward, Arizona

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 11:25pm

    New Sixers draft pick Labaron Philon ready to get ‘a Philly cheesesteak’

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 10:51pm

    Labaron Philon tells Sixers fans ‘you’re getting a dog’

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 10:16pm

    Could Houston star drop to the Sixers?

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 10:02pm

    Bennett Stirtz joining Jared McCain, not replacing him in Philly

    Bennett Stirtz is heading to Oklahoma City. Jeffrey Becker, Jeffrey Becker-I

    At media availability for the 2026 NBA Draft, The Inquirer talked to Bennett Stirtz about potentially joining the 76ers and replacing what the franchise lost when it traded Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

    Well, he’ll join him instead of replacing him. Stirtz was selected at No. 16 by the Memphis Grizzlies and will be traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a pick swap. That will make him a teammate of McCain in a backcourt full of talent with MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Alex Caruso, Lu Dort and former Sixer Isaiah Joe.

    While Stirtz was excited about the idea of providing space on the court for Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, he’ll surely excited to land at No. 16 and join a franchise one season removed from winning the NBA title.

    It’s been quite the journey for Stirtz so it’s no surprise that his move to the Thunder came with an additional move. He started his career at Division II Northwest Missouri State before standout seasons with Drake and Iowa cemented his status as an NBA draft pick.

    — DeAntae Prince

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 10:00pm

    Another Memphis trade

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 9:55pm

    First trade of the first round

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 9:47pm

    A good break for the Sixers

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 9:20pm

    Pennsauken product Yaxel Lendeborg heading to the Warriors

    Yaxel Lendeborg was selected with the No. 11 pick by the Golden State Warriors.Adam Hunger

    Yaxel Lendeborg went from playing one varsity season at Pennsauken High School to an NBA draftee.

    The 23-year-old forward, who starred at Michigan this past season, was picked No. 11 overall by the Golden State Warriors in the first round Tuesday night.

    Lendeborg had an untraditional path to the draft.

    He thought his basketball career was over, until an opportunity arose — thanks to his mother Yissel — at the junior college level with Arizona Western College.

    He spent three seasons at Arizona Western, where he emerged as a star in his third year, averaging 17.2 points and 13 rebounds. In 2023, he transferred to Alabama-Birmingham and played two seasons with the Blazers.

    In his final season, he averaged 17.7 points and 11.4 rebounds. He also named the American Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year and an all-conference selection twice.

    The 6-foot-9 Lendeborg graduated from UAB in 2025 and entered the transfer portal for his final year of of eligibility, which brought him to Michigan, where he won Big Ten Player of the Year and an NCAA title.

    He also averaged 15.1 points and 6.8 rebounds in 40 games for the Wolverines under Dusty May, who recently took the head coaching job with the Dallas Mavericks.

    Yaxel Lendeborg’s untraditional path to becoming an NBA draft pick was fueled by his mother

    — Isabella DiAmore

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 9:12pm

    A Michigan reunion in Dallas

    Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr. is heading to Dallas to play for his former coach, Dusty May. Michael Conroy

    The Dusty May move from Michigan to Dallas has made its first imprint on the 2026 NBA Draft.

    The Mavericks elected to select Morez Johnson Jr. after he averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists for the 2026 National Champions.

    Morez Jr., was asked multiple times at Monday’s draft availability if he was aware of his coach’s move and consistently said he was surprised and didn’t have any inside information.

    Previously slotted around No. 15 in the draft, he interviewed and worked out well and moved up draft boards in recent weeks. And, of course, no one had more of a window into Morez’s skills than May.

    That Michigan squad has drawn comparisons to the ‘Nova Knicks, who entered the NBA in droves after playing for head coach Jay Wright and recently reconnected with the New York Knicks to win the 2026 NBA title.

    — DeAntae Prince

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 8:58pm

    The Darius Acuff Jr.-Allen Iverson connection

    Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. has drawn on-court comparisons to Hall of Famer Allen Iverson. Michael Woods

    Another Philly connection comes off the board at No. 7 as Darius Acuff Jr., goes to the Sacramento Kings.

    Acuff Jr., won MVP at the Allen Iverson Roundball Classic in 2025 and signed a Reebok deal during his lone season at Arkansas, taking pictures with Iverson to celebrate the moment.

    He’s receive on-court comparisons to Iverson as well because of his explosiveness in the paint and ability to finish around the rim. Both were also extremely productive in their brief college careers, as Acuff averaged 23.5 points and 6.4 assists as he led his team to the Sweet 16.

    Acuff said Iverson told him to play every game like his last and it appears like he plans to make good on that.

    — DeAntae Prince

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 8:33pm

    No surprises early in the NBA draft

    The early picks of the 2026 NBA Draft went exactly as expected with AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer and Celeb Wilson occupying the top four spots.

    And from there we will have an entirely open night before the Sixers finally make the first selection of the Mike Gansey era at No. 22.

    There are a lot of options available for them, with holes on the perimeter and in the paint. The Sixers need shooting and rebounding so they will wait as names fly off the board and try to pick the best player available.

    They could also make a move and try to move up the board to land a forward to complete their starting lineup or a shooter off the bench. Another approach is to find a big to take the backup spot behind Joel Embiid, who played only 38 games this past season and missed portions of the postseason.

    — DeAntae Prince

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 8:22pm

    A Philly connection to top pick AJ Dybantsa

    AJ Dybantsa is headed to Washington as the No. 1 pick. Rob Gray

    A Philly connection to top overall pick AJ Dybantsa: He played at BYU for former Sixers assistant coach Kevin Young.

    At last year’s NCAA Tournament in Newark, Young called that stretch “the most important time of my life as a young coach.”

    Young had been in the running for multiple NBA head-coaching jobs in recent years, before opting to take the job at BYU backed by lucrative NIL money and the resources to build a pro-style program. Last season, Young coached Egor Demin, who then was drafted eighth overall by the Brooklyn Nets.

    Read more about Young’s tenure with the Sixers (and Delaware 87ers!) and its impact here:

    BYU’s Kevin Young calls Sixers tenure ‘the most important time of my life as a young coach.’ Here’s why.

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 8:17pm

    Jazz take Darryn Peterson from Kansas with No. 2 pick

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 8:09pm

    Wizards take BYU’s AJ Dybantsa with No. 1 pick

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 8:04pm

    A first look at the 2026 NBA draft class

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 7:40pm

    Adam Silver bullish on new anti-tanking rules that begin next season

    NBA Commissioner Adam Silver ahead of the 2026 NBA draft speaks with Michael Rubin (left) and the Knicks’ Jose Alvarado. Yuki Iwamura

    Appearing on ESPN less than an hour before the start of the 2026 NBA draft, Commissioner Adam Silver appeared bullish on new rules intended to prevent teams from tanking for a better shot at the No. 1 pick.

    “We will not be returning to a system where there’s an incentive to be bad,” Silver told ESPN’s Malika Andrews. “I think it just caught up with us over the years. It was a practice by a very few teams over time.”

    Silver didn’t mention the Sixers, who famously tanked for three straight seasons in the mid-2010s. Several teams were accused of tanking this season heading into a draft filled with a talented group of prospects, including the Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies, and Washington Wizards, who landed the No. 1 pick.

    The new “3-2-1 Lottery” rules, which will be implemented next season, expand the lottery to 16 teams but flatten the odds. The three worst teams will be “draft relegated” and their odds of winning the lottery will actually decrease.

    Had those rules been in place this season, it would’ve been harder for the Wizards, Jazz, and Grizzlies to land top lottery picks.

    Silver said the new rules offer “an actual incentive not to be really bad,” and will be in effect for at least the next three seasons.

    “In essence, it’s grandfathered,” Silver said. “We all agree it would give us an opportunity to assess how this is working, and also look at some other approaches.”

    NBA’s revised draft lottery could be huge for the Sixers … in a strange, unadvisable way

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 5:04pm

    Prospects begin arriving ahead of 2026 NBA draft

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 3:43pm

    New Blazers coach is the father of a Phillies prospect

    Happy belated Father’s Day, Micah Nori.

    On Tuesday, the Portland Trail Blazers announced that Micah Nori will become the franchise’s next head coach. Micah is the father of Phillies outfield prospect Dante Nori, a 2024 first-round pick.

    Nori previously served as the lead assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves, supporting the development of star shooting guard Anthony Edwards. Notably, with head coach Chris Finch sidelined with a ruptured patellar tendon during the 2024 playoffs, Micah took over a majority of the game-day operations that postseason. The Timberwolves would go on to make the Western Conference final.

    Just over a month after the Timberwolves fell to the Dallas Mavericks in that series, Nori was beside his son as Dante was drafted to the Phillies with the 27th pick. Dante, selected out of Northville (Mich.) High School, was just 19 at the time.

    Earlier this week, prior to the Blazers announcement, Dante appeared on The Show before The Show, Minor League Baseball’s official podcast. On the podcast, he talked about the various NBA players he grew up around due to his father’s profession. When Nori coached for the Toronto Raptors, Dante got to hang out with Vince Carter. Then, when his father was hired by the Kings, he learned from DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins.

    More recently, he has taken inspiration from Anthony Edwards’ work ethic.

    “I mean, [Edwards is] a freak,” Dante said. “The most explosive athlete I’ve ever seen in my entire life. You see the way he takes care of his business. …

    “When I go [to the Timberwolves practice facility], I’m always in there [at] like 5:00 a.m. lifting before they get in because I’m on their time. As soon as I’m done, [Edwards] is one of the first ones in. No matter what level you’re at, the work, he never stops. He always wants more.”

    Nori inherits a Blazers team that finished 42-40 and is headlined by 25-year-old All-Star forward Deni Avdija and returning star Damiam Lillard. Portland found themselves in need of a coach after interim Tiago Splitter was hired by the Chicago Bulls. Last season, Splitter was elevated to lead the franchise after then-coach Chauncey Billups was arrested by the FBI following an investigation into illegal sports betting and rigged poker games.

    Meanwhile, across the country, Dante is 52 games into his season with the double-A Reading Fightin Phil. Dante is batting .245 and has registered 53 total hits and 20 RBI.

    Micah Nori, father of Phillies prospect Dante Nori, hired as Trail Blazers coach

    — Conor Smith

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 3:02pm

    A Jared McCain replacement in the first round?

    Duke guard Isaiah Evans shoots over Siena guard Gavin Doty during the first round of the NCAA Tournament.Brynn Anderson

    NEW YORK – One of the prospects who visited the Sixers last week was Isaiah Evans, a sharpshooting wing from Duke.

    Sound familiar?

    It would be some strange symmetry if the pick the Sixers acquired in the controversial Jared McCain deadline trade was used on Evans. But Evans shot 36.1% on 100 three-point attempts last season, and excelled at on-the-move looks. That would boost a Sixers team that struggled from beyond the arc last season, ranking in the NBA’s bottom third in attempts and makes.

    Evans was a complementary player on two star-studded Duke teams, first with Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel and then with Cameron Boozer. He believes that college environment will ease his transition to the NBA because, he said, “minutes are tight, so you’ve got to scratch and claw for everything.”

    “The bar was really high for competitiveness and how to think [about] the game,” Evans added.

    Evans, who has a wiry 6-foot-6, 180-pound frame, likely will need to develop defensively and as a playmaker at the next level. But he has a bona fide skill that some draft evaluators also compare to Isaiah Joe, the former Sixers’ second-round pick who has since carved out a rotation role for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

    Can’t make this stuff up.

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 1:18pm

    Sixers could find rebounding help in first round

    Washington forward Hannes Steinbach could be an option for the Sixers if they look add rebounding help.Jason Redmond

    The 76ers found a few gems at the forward position when they signed Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker to two-way deals and locked them in with standard contracts.

    That said, the Sixers could still use top-end talent at the position. While Barlow and Walker filled a void, more help is needed for a Sixers team that struggled to rebound all season.

    That became even more of an issue in the playoffs, where the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks dominated the boards. The Sixers also often opted for four-out lineup with Joel Embiid accompanied by Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre, and Paul George.

    This is a deep draft with a number of players at the forward position who could help the Sixers if they fall to No. 22 — or if new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey values the position enough to move up. Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr., Washington’s Hannes Steinbach, Santa Clara’s Allen Graves, and Arizona’s Koa Peat are all players could potentially land within the Sixers’ range in the draft.

    Steinbach believes he could be an option to play forward and fill in when Embiid goes to the bench or misses games, the latter of which has also become an important spot with the limitations of Adem Bona and Andre Drummond, who is set to enter free agency.

    “Me being able to play the four and the five and multiple positions definitely allows me to fit in with many teams,” Steinbach said. “It’s important to have a big that puts pressure on the rim and outside and being able to stretch the floor.”

    Steinbach could be gone as soon as pick No. 14, but he has credentials to match this description. The Washington big man averaged 18.5 points and 11.8 rebounds, and knocked down 34% of his threes at 6-foot-10.

    — DeAntae Prince

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 12:35pm

    Joel Embiid earns a new title after Giannis trade

    Sixers center Joel Embiid has been with the Sixers since 2014.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    With Giannis Antetokounmpo heading to Miami, Joel Embiid has a new title.

    The Sixers center, who was drafted by the franchise in 2014, is now the longest tenured player with a single team in the Eastern Conference. Antetokounmpo, the previous title holder, was selected by the Bucks a year prior. Just two players have been with a team longer than Embiid in the entire NBA: Stephen Curry (2009) and Draymond Green (2012) of the Golden State Warriors.

    Led by Embiid, the Sixers have made the playoffs in eight of the last nine seasons. However, come playoff time, Embiid has been repeatedly sidelined by injuries. This year, after returning from an appendectomy to help defeat the Boston Celtics in seven games, Embiid missed Game 2 of the Sixers’ second-round series against the New York Knicks. The Sixers went on to lose the series in four.

    During his introductory press conference on June 8, new Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey was asked if the franchise was committed to sticking with Embiid long-term under his leadership.

    “Obviously we have Joel,” Gansey responded. “I’ve had a lot of good conversations with him so far. Excited to meet with him this week. But with him and the roster we have, that’s who we have. We got to get those guys on the floor. We got to create an identity and just get them to play basketball.”

    “Paul [George] and Joel can still play at a high level,” Gansey added later. “We were 24-14 when Joel played and obviously in the playoffs, coming back from Boston.”

    — Conor Smith

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 12:05pm

    Allen Graves is an ‘analytics darling’ and a Renaissance man

    Santa Clara’s Allen Graves (right) battles for a loose ball with Kentucky’s Mouhamed Dioubate (left).Ali Overstreet

    NEW YORK — Allen Graves chuckled when asked about the “analytics darling” descriptor that is consistently attached to him in draft scouting reports.

    “I’ll take the title,” Graves said during Monday’s media availability. “I love it. … That’s just how I played my whole life. I pride myself on playing basketball, and if it shows up analytically, I guess that’s what it does.

    “But I’m definitely grateful to have it, because it’s gotten me this far and I know how big of an impact it’s had on NBA scouts.

    So impactful that the 6-foot-9, 225-pound Graves is one of this draft class’ more fascinating prospects — on and off the floor.

    He reshirted his 2024-25 season at Santa Clara and did not start this past season. Yet he has become a rapid riser up draft boards because of his efficiency, basketball IQ, and old-school style that could make him a complementary fit on playoff teams deeper in the first round. He averaged 11.8 points on 51.2% shooting, and added 6.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

    Graves said Monday that natural feel for the game comes from his older brother, Marshall, who played at LSU, and sister, Amoura, who played at Auburn. Allen recalled tagging along to LSU practices, which at the time featured future NBA Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid.

    “My brother and I, we butted heads a lot,” Graves said, “because he’d come home and make me do LSU’s boot camp [workouts] and everything. But [those] definitely prepared me for who I am today and prepared me for my game today.”

    Graves also has eclectic non-basketball interests. He has a collection of around 30 backpacks with cartoon designs, ranging from Anime to Rugrats. He grew up fixing cars with his father, also named Marshall, at the family automotive shop in Ponchatoula, La. His current project? A 1994 Ford F150 he has named Gloria.

    “Fixed her up,” Graves said. “ … Trying to get her back running and in perfect condition.”

    And perhaps Graves’ ability to process quickly showed up in a game an unnamed NBA team asked him to play during his interview circuit at last month’s combine in Chicago. He said it involved taking one or two sugar packets out of a group, and whoever was left with the last one was the loser.

    “I figured out the person that goes first wins every time,” Graves said. “So I told them that.”

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 11:31am

    Will the next Allen Iverson be drafted tonight?

    Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. has been compared to Allen Iverson.Amanda Loman

    While the 76ers won’t be selecting in the lottery this year, there is a Philly connection at the top of the draft.

    Arkansas star Darius Acuff Jr., who is expected to be a top-10 pick, has been linked to Allen Iverson, drawing on-court comparisons to the Hall of Famer after winning MVP at the Allen Iverson Roundball Classic and putting together a stellar freshman season. He also sports braids like Iverson famously has for the better part of 30 years and signed a deal with Reebok before finishing his one season in college.

    And while Acuff doesn’t speak to Iverson often, he did receive valuable advice from the Sixers legend.

    “The first time I ever met him he just told me play every game like it’s your last,” Acuff said. “I definitely take that with me. It’s great to see him. He always shows love to everybody, not just me.”

    He must’ve took that to heart. Acuff did just that as he averaged 23.5 points, 6.4 assists and 3.1 rebounds for Arkansas as he carried them to an appearance in the Sweet 16. And he did that with a little bit of Iverson in his game.

    Asked what he took most from the legendary guard, Acuff said, “I like his midrange scoring, the way he can touch the paint and how he can do different things once he gets two feet in the paint. So just taking different floaters, different fadeaways from him for sure.

    — DeAntae Prince

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 10:57am

    Sixers could add another explosive perimeter player in Dailyn Swain

    Texas wing Dailyn Swain could be a fit for the Sixers at No. 22.Craig Mitchelldyer

    NEW YORK — Could the Sixers use the draft to continue adding to an explosive young perimeter group already spearheaded by Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe?

    Dailyn Swain would fit the bill, and is projected to the Sixers at No. 22 in ESPN’s most recent mock draft released Tuesday morning. The 6-foot-6, 211-pound attacking wing from Texas averaged 17.3 points on 54% shooting — primarily as an isolation scorer and finisher — along with 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists. Swain also has flashed the defensive playmaking that could excel in Sixers coach Nick Nurse’s aggressive scheme.

    Swain, who turns 21 next month, also would provide some insurance if the Sixers lose starter Kelly Oubre Jr. or sixth man Quentin Grimes in free agency, which begins June 30.

    The biggest question surrounding Swain is his shooting, though that did improve during his college career that began at Xavier before following coach Sean Miller to Texas. Swain shot 34.4% on 93 attempts last season, but still has a slower release. Swain said Monday that, during workouts, he has aimed to prove he can shoot efficiently while tired after a long segment.

    “It’s just confidence and shooting it the same every time,” Swain said from Monday’s media availability.

    Swain had an in-person workout with the Sixers last week, posting a photo on his Instagram of the Philly skyline. He added he has tried to demonstrate his vocal leadership and competitiveness by being “the loudest guy” in those sessions.

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 10:29am

    Could the ‘Michigan Mavs’ be the next ‘Nova Knicks?

    Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) gives a high-five to Wolverines coach Dusty May, who is now the coach of the Dallas Mavericks.Yuki Iwamura

    NEW YORK – After the ‘Nova Knicks won the NBA title, could the “Michigan Mavs” be next?

    That was a popular topic during Monday’s draft prospect media session, which occurred just after news broke that Michigan coach Dusty May had been hired by the Dallas Mavericks.

    After leading the Wolverines to the national championship in March, Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson, and Aday Mara are all projected to go in Tuesday’s first round. When asked about following in the footsteps of former Villanova standouts Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart — who ended the Knicks’ 53-year title drought less than two weeks ago — Lendeborg grinned and laughed.

    “If we all get to go to the Mavs and we get to do that,” he said through the chuckles, “we’re definitely going to turn the city up, just like they did here. I would love to do that.”

    The Mavericks entered Tuesday with the ninth overall pick. Lendeborg joked that he planned to tell May that “he better pick me up. If he doesn’t, I’m going to be mad. I might block him.” Then Lendeborg’s tone turned sincere, saying “it would be amazing being able to stick with [May].”

    “[The Mavericks are] getting an awesome guy,” Lendeborg said. “A guy who cares about everybody else’s issues rather than themselves, in a way. Just super genuine, super humble, and a hardworking guy. He loves the game. He loves what he does, and I feel like he’s going to be a great team connector

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 10:07am

    Will ‘role player’ Zuby Ejiofor be available for the Sixers at 22?

    St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino speaks with forward Zuby Ejiofor during the first half in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.Mark J. Terrill

    NEW YORK — During a Monday gathering of basketball experts that also included ESPN’s Jay Bilas and Bobby Marks, Fran Fraschilla also was asked about St. John’s big man Zuby Ejiofor, who reportedly worked out for the Sixers last week. Fraschilla, a longtime coach, said Ejiofor has “all the attributes you want from a role player.”

    “There’s only 25 stars in the league, and there’s 425 role players,” Fraschilla said. “And he’s the epitome of a guy that will defend, rebound, catch lobs, maybe make a jump shot here and there. But [he’s] a great teammate.

    “I expect that there’s a possibility he could sneak into the end of the first round because he’s going to go to a playoff team more than likely there, where he fits the culture … When you get a kid from Rick Pitino’s program, you’re not worried about how hard he’s gonna work.”

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 9:50am

    Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz thinks he’s the sharpshooter the Sixers need

    Iowa guard Bennett Stirtz (left) shoots during a game between against Rutgers.Nick Rohlman

    The 76ers’ season ended with a four-game sweep against the eventual champion New York Knicks.

    After the two teams had battled in a first-round series two years earlier, the expectation was that the Sixers would give the Knicks a tough test just like the Atlanta Hawks had in this year’s postseason.

    Not quite. The Sixers looked like they gave all they had to comeback from a 3-1 deficit against the Boston Celtics, and the most obvious sign of that came at the three-point line.

    The Sixers shot 31.3% for the series while New York knocked down a blistering 44.8% from deep. And the Sixers’ principal players — Tyrese Maxey (15.8%), VJ Edgecombe (26.1%), and Joel Embiid (25%) — struggled to find their legs. Only Kelly Oubre Jr., and Paul George consistently hit open looks.

    Players in this year’s draft were at home watching the postseason and gathering where they might fit with NBA teams. And Iowa sharpshooter Bennett Stirtz saw a clear need for the Sixers, one previously filled by Jared McCain before he was traded at the previous deadline.

    “With that series, kind of release pressure off Tyrese and VJ because I can play off the ball, I can play on the ball,” Stirtz said. “I create space out there on the floor. I just think every team needs another ballhandler and shooter.”

    The interest is mutual as the Sixers interviewed Stirtz twice during the draft process. The Sixers pick at No. 22, however, and there’s a chance he could go sooner after averaging 19.8 points and shooting 35.8% from three in one season at Iowa. Prior to that, he similar success at Drake after transferring up from Division II Northwest Missouri State.

    — DeAntae Prince

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 9:23am

    Two sleeper options for Sixers in Round 1

    Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. could be the “best point guard in the draft” according to Fran Fraschilla.John Raoux

    NEW YORK – Who are some sleeper prospects who could be in the range for the Sixers to draft at 22?

    That topic was posed to a panel of basketball experts — ESPN’s Jay Bilas and Bobby Marks, and Fran Fraschilla — on Monday afternoon at the Lotte New York Palace hotel.

    Marks, the former general manager of the New Jersey Nets, first mentioned Alabama guard Labaron Philon. Marks said he appreciated that, after declaring for last year’s draft, Philon returned to college to use the feedback he had received from teams to become a player who shot 39.9% from three-point range and averaged five assists per game. Bilas and Fraschilla agreed with that choice, but noted Philon may still go off the board in the lottery.

    “He could end up being the best point guard in this draft,” Fraschilla said of Philon.

    Fraschilla also highlighted Baylor’s Cam Carr, whom he called “maybe the best athlete in the draft.” Bilas mentioned Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz’s shooting and ability to play in the pick and roll, comparing him to former Sixer Kyle Korver. NBC play-by-play broadcaster John Fanta, who hosted the panel, mentioned Houston big man Chris Cenac Jr., saying, “If he’s still there, man, snatch him. Upside is there.”

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 8:01am

    Sixers 2026 NBA mock draft roundup

    Houston center Chris Cenac Jr.Michael Wyke

    Chris Cenac Jr., center, Houston (The Athletic)

    “Cenac has been an exceptionally difficult prospect to find a home for. The consensus seems to be that he’s going to go somewhere in the top 20, and he was among the second batch of players invited to the green room. However, the feedback I get from teams is that he’s more like a late first-rounder. He’s seen as a high-upside swing for teams that can afford to be patient and wait for him to improve his feel for the game.

    The 76ers need another big, and Cenac could potentially slide to the four at times if his feel for the game improves. But he is more of a project than some of the other players the 76ers could take. This is a very difficult team to mock right now, as sources around the league are still trying to figure out what new head of basketball operations Mike Gansey’s type will be.

    Bleacher Report and CBS Sports also mocked Cenac landing in Philly.”

    Stanford guard Ebuka Okorie.Tony Avelar

    Ebuka Okorie, point guard, Stanford (ESPN)

    “Okorie has put himself firmly in the first round after going through a wide range of workouts, drawing looks as high as the teens and earning a green room invitation. Some teams love his elusiveness off the dribble and scoring ability, but there are concerns about his size. Whether he can jump Christian Anderson, Labaron Philon Jr. or Bennett Stirtz in the point guard hierarchy remains to be seen, but he’s in the conversation.

    The 76ers brought in a range of candidates for this pick last week and can go best-available at this spot in new president Mike Gansey’s first draft at the helm. Finding an immediate contributor at this spot would be a win, with much of Philadelphia’s salary structure tied up in Joel Embiid and Paul George, and cultivating depth behind them is likely a priority.”

    Arizona forward Koa Peat.David Zalubowski

    Koa Peat, forward, Arizona (The Ringer)

    “The Sixers are in the unique situation of having a dominant center who likes to score near the rim sometimes and doesn’t have an appetite for the grittier work in the paint. So I get the sense that they are looking for a convergence of exceptional physicality, the ability to create offense in the paint and near the rim, and skill and versatility at the 4. Luckily, there are a number of candidates who can help them with that at this stage of the draft. Peat has an unusual cross section of lateral quickness and brute strength on the defensive end, and he’s also a pretty terrific passer once he’s caught the ball on the move inside the arc. “

    North Carolina center Henri VeesaarChris Seward

    Henri Veesaar, center, North Carolina (Yahoo! Sports)

    “Finding a center to play behind Joel Embiid needs to be prioritized. Embiid simply cannot be trusted to stay on the floor. Veesaar is an agile big with real shooting touch, connective playmaking, and baseline big skills with the ability to set screens and catch lobs. He also offers rim protection and is a locked-in help defender. He could even play next to Embiid. In all three of his collegiate seasons, he made a massive leap in production each year. The Sixers would need that ascent to continue.”

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 7:55am

    What can the Sixers expect with the No. 22 draft pick?

    Sixers star Tyrese Maxey was selected with the No. 21 pick in the 2020 NBA draft.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Tyrese Maxey is a prime example of the caliber of player a team could snag in the early 20s of the NBA draft.

    But Jameer Nelson, the 76ers’ newly promoted executive vice president of basketball operations, also was quick to note that Maxey is the exception, not the rule.

    “We got lucky with the person,” Nelson recently said of Maxey, the All-NBA point guard whom the Sixers drafted 21st in 2020. “We got lucky with the player.”

    The Sixers are in a similar spot this year, holding the No. 22 overall pick entering Tuesday’s first round. It has been a sped-up process for new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, who was formally introduced last week after spearheading the draft in his previous job as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ general manager.

    To further illustrate the uncertainty that comes with selecting at this point in the draft, here’s a look back at pick Nos. 21 through 23 the last five years. It offers a collection of success stories, and players who have since fallen out of the league.

    What can the Sixers expect with the No. 22 draft pick? Past drafts illustrate the unpredictability.

    — Gina Mizell

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 7:50am

    Giannis Antetokounmpo trade details

    Giannis Antetokounmpo is headed to Miami.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Giannis Antetokounmpo wants more championships. So do the Miami Heat.

    Their interests are officially aligned — and the Heat finally have another superstar.

    Ending a marathon watch for the next great Miami get, the Heat landed Antetokounmpo — a two-time NBA MVP and 10-time All-Star — from the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night in exchange for a massive haul of players and draft picks.

    The terms, according to a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the move had yet to receive the required league approval: Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis are heading to Miami for Wisconsin native Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware and Kasparas Jakucionis.

    Milwaukee also gets the No. 13 selection that will be made in Tuesday night’s NBA draft, along with a first-round pick swap in 2030, first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and a second-rounder in 2033, the person said.

    Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee to the 2021 NBA title, was on the NBA’s 75th anniversary list of its greatest players ever, is a nine-time All-NBA selection and is coming off an injury-shortened season in which he averaged 27.6 points per game.

    — Associated Press

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 7:47am

    2026 NBA Draft: Start time, channel, how to watch and stream

    Kevin Negandhi, a Phoenixville native, is back covering the NBA draft.ESPN Images

    The NBA draft begins Wednesday, and for the third straight year it will be divided over two days.

    The first round of the draft begins tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern, while the second round will take place on Thursday beginning at 8 p.m.

    For the sixth straight year, fans will have their choice of watching the first round of draft on two different networks — ABC and ESPN.

    Phoenixville native and Temple alumnus Kevin Negandhi is back to host ABC’s coverage alongside Jay Williams, Richard Jefferson, and TNT analyst Kenny Smith,

    Over on ESPN, Malika Andrews will host alongside analysts Jay Bilas, Tim Legler, Andraya Carter, and front office insider Bobby Marks. The broadcast will also feature news-breaker Shams Charania and King of Prussia native Lisa Salters reporting from the Barclay Center.

    One name not mentioned in ESPN’s coverage plans? First Take host and former Inquirer columnist Stephen A. Smith, who was part of the network’s ABC broadcast with Negandhi last year.

    Here’s everything you need to know to watch or stream the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft:

    • When: Tuesday, June 23
    • Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn
    • Time: 8 p.m. Eastern
    • TV: ABC, ESPN
    • Streaming: ESPN+

    — Rob Tornoe

    2026 NBA draft: First-round draft order

    The Sixers enter Tuesday with the No. 22 pick in Tuesday night’s NBA draft, but no second-round pick.

    The Washington Wizards have the No. 1 pick, and they’re expected to take either BYU forward AJ Dybantsa or Kansas guard Darryn Peterson.

    The last time the Wizards has the top pick was 2010, when they took Kentucky’s John Wall, whose career was slowed by a series of injuries.

    As for the No. 13 pick, it belongs to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, but it will need to be made by the Miami Heat because the deal won’t be official until early July after the start of a new cap year. Ah, the NBA.

    1. Washington Wizards
    2. Utah Jazz
    3. Memphis Grizzlies
    4. Chicago Bulls
    5. LA Clippers (via IND)
    6. Brooklyn Nets
    7. Sacramento Kings
    8. Atlanta Hawks (via NO)
    9. Dallas Mavericks
    10. Milwaukee Bucks
    11. Golden State Warriors
    12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAC)
    13. Milwaukee Bucks (via MIA)
    14. Charlotte Hornets
    15. Chicago Bulls (via POR)
    16. Memphis Grizzlies (via PHX)
    17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via PHL)
    18. Charlotte Hornets (via ORL)
    19. Toronto Raptors
    20. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL)
    21. Detroit Pistons (via MIN)
    22. Philadelphia 76ers (via HOU)
    23. Atlanta Hawks (via CLE)
    24. New York Knicks
    25. Los Angeles Lakers
    26. Denver Nugets
    27. Boston Celtics
    28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via DET)
    29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via SA)
    30. Dallas Mavericks (via OKC)

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 06/23/26 7:45am

  • World Cup in Philly: More rain expected as fans leave following France win; fan fest shut down at Fairmount Park; latest forecast

    World Cup in Philly: More rain expected as fans leave following France win; fan fest shut down at Fairmount Park; latest forecast

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 8:48pm

    France tops Iraq 3-0 in weather-delayed World Cup match

    Kylian Mbappé scored two goals in France’s win.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Kylian Mbappé scored two goals and reigning Ballon D’or winner Ousmane Dembele fueled a 3-0 win against Iraq inside Philadelphia Stadium, with Dembele’s goal and Mbappé’s second both arriving after a near one hour, 30 minute rain delay at Philadelphia Stadium.

    The goals for Mbappe were his fourth and fifth of the tournament and the 16th of his World Cup career. He trails only Lionel Messi, who has 18 World Cup goals, after scoring two earlier today in Argentina’s win against Austria in Group J.

    With the win, France secured its place in the knockout round, but have yet to win Group I outright with Norway on their heels. At the time of this report, the Norwegians were up 1-0 against Senegal.

    As for the Iraqis, its World Cup hasn’t yet come to a close but they’d need to win their final match against Senegal on Friday (3 p.m., FS1) and hope for the misfortune of teams in other groups to work in their favor.

    France will also play its final match on Friday against Norway (3 p.m., Fox29) with a chance to win Group I outright.

    — Kerith Gabriel

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 8:40pm

    Ex-Villanova star Collin Gillespie gets airtime on Fox

    Ex-Villanova star Collin Gillespie get a few seconds of airtime during Fox’s broadcast of Monday’s World Cup match between France and Iraq, though fans watching at home might have been scratching their heads.

    The broadcast didn’t identify Gillespie, a Philly native who just signed a four-year, $48 million contract extension with the Phoenix Suns.

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 8:11pm

    Mbappé scores second goal, extending France’s lead

    Make that two goals for Kylian Mbappé.

    The French star scored his second goal of the night shortly after play resumed, but it was largely due to a terrible mistake made by Iraq’s goalkeeper.

    Mbappé is now tied for No. 2 all time in men’s World Cup goal-scoring with Germany’s Miroslav Klose. Lionel Messi, who scored two more goals today, remains No. 1.

    — Rob Tornoe, Jonathan Tannenwald

    // Pinned

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 8:05pm

    Thunderstorm threat subsides, but more rain expected for Philly

    Fans seek shelter from the rain at Lincoln Financial Field.Kerith Gabriel / Staff

    The severe thunderstorms storms have backed off in the immediately Philadelphia area, but soaking rains are expected to continue through the night, and perhaps Tuesday.

    The National Weather Service has posted several flash-flood warnings, as near to the stadium as Center City.

    — Anthony R. Wood

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 7:42pm

    How a French broadcaster has ridden out the storm

    IRVINE, Calif. – I am sitting in my hotel room here, where it is definitely not thunderstorming, but I’ve been waiting out the delay in France-Iraq like everyone else.

    As it happens, an old friend of mine is in Philadelphia today to do one of the many radio broadcasts back to France of the game.

    Julien Froment is the director of the sports department at Radio France, one of that country’s biggest broadcasters, and his team is perched in the outside media seats in the upper deck.

    Or at least they’re supposed to be. When the worst of the storms hit, they had to evacuate the stands for a while along with all the fans who did. But they couldn’t take all their broadcasting equipment with them, and I can tell you from enough experience doing radio work that it’s expensive – and hard-to-find – stuff.

    FIFA kindly provided plastic covers to all the TV and radio networks in the open seats. But Julien and his crew went a step further. The technician, Virginie Lorda, brought a folded tarp, some rope to tie it down with, and a roll of duct tape. When they all had to go back on air before the rain had fully stopped, they started broadcasting from under the tarp.

    As Julien wrote on Instagram, MacGyver would be proud.

    — Jonathan Tannenwald

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 8:02pm

    France-Iraq World Cup game resumes after lengthy storm delay

    A man looks to the skies during the rain delay between France and Iraq.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    After a lengthy weather delay, tonight’s World Cup match between France and Iraq resumed at 8 p.m.

    There will be no hydration break during the second half, according to a FIFA spokesperson.

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 7:10pm

    Ex-Eagles wide receiver stops by to speak to U.S. team

    Antonio Freeman stops by #USMNT practice and meets the press:

    — Jonathan Tannenwald (@jtannenwald.bsky.social) 2026-06-22T19:25:26.778Z

    Alex Freeman’s fast rise with the U.S. team has no bigger fan than his father, former Eagles and Green Bay Packers wide receiver Antonio Freeman. When Alex scored the game’s second goal against Australia, he achieved the rare feat of scoring a World Cup goal in a stadium where his father scored two touchdowns 30 years earlier.

    Antonio stopped by Monday’s practice to talk with the media and share his joy.

    “I’m sure Alex has heard enough from other people about my success and my moments,” he said. “I don’t really talk about those moments too much. But it was definitely a full circle moment. to just have a father and son combination in any sport have an impact on a game in the same stadium, same state, it’s pretty amazing.”

    He called it “a credit to all the work that Alex has put in, the commitment that he’s made. This is his ride, and I’m just happy to be his biggest supporter.”

    And what was the father’s message to his son after the game?

    “He just continued to amaze me, and that’s all it is,” he said. “When I see him, it’s like, ‘Yeah, boy, that’s what I’m talking about!’ — That’s our little thing. But just keep working, Alex, keep being you. People love who you are, don’t change, just keep working hard.”

    He also praised soccer’s growth in the United States, saying this World Cup “has really heightened the awareness in the U.S., and people from all walks of life are getting involved, rallying behind the [U.S.] team.”

    The next big question for the USMNT: Managing yellow cards in the World Cup group stage finale

    — Jonathan Tannenwald

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 7:03pm

    ‘It’s only water’

    A fan services official speaks to a French fan during a weather delay at Lincoln Financial Field.Kerith Gabriel /

    Loud cheers erupted twice from the steamy main concourse level of Philadelphia Stadium after it was announced that fans were able to return to their seats. A band of sunlight crept through and hit sections 118-121.

    It looked like the game was set to return. However, public address announcer Kevin Casey notified fans that the match was still suspended, cheers changed to groans, but in true Philly fashion, people still milled to their seats.

    During the downpour, a fan services official in section 106 was overheard saying, “these people paid good money for their seat, I can’t be the one to tell them to get up if they don’t want to, and if they want to get loud with me, that’s what Apex [stadium security services] is for.

    When asked if he’d call Apex, he responded:

    “For what? It’s only water.”

    — Kerith Gabriel

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 6:45pm

    Philly World Cup match remains suspended

    France forward Kylian Mbappé walks off the field during a thunderstorm delay. The game remains suspended. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Monday’s World Cup match between France and Iraq remains delayed as severe storms linger in and around Philadelphia.

    “FIFA will follow the safety protocols established by the local authorities in the region, and will resume the match as soon as it’s safe to do so,” a FIFA spokesperson said. “The safety and security of all individuals is FIFA’s priority.”

    It is unclear when the game will resume. Some fans have trickled back to their seats, even as they’re being told to seek shelter. Parts of the stadium remain empty as FIFA assess the situation.

    Fans try to stay dry as storms pass over Lincoln Financial Field.Kerith Gabriel / Staff

    — Rob Tornoe, Kerith Gabriel

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 5:55pm

    Fans evacuated from stands at Linc as thunderstorms move through

    A fan heads for shelter as rain falls at Lincoln Financial Field.Elizabeth Robinson / Staff Photographe

    Fans at Lincoln Financial Field are being evacuated out of the stands and being told to seek shelter as severe thunderstorms move through the region.

    “People at the Philadelphia Stadium should seek safe shelter immediately!” the National Weather Service warned in a advisory.

    The game is currently at halftime, with France up on Iraq 1-0. The start of the second half will be delayed at least 15 minutes.

    Another lightning strike or serious weather concern would restart that clock for another 30 minutes.

    Fans squeeze into the concourse at Lincoln Financial Field after being forced to seek cover.Kerith Gabriel

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 5:46pm

    Rain coming down in Philly as France and Iraq play on

    Fans poncho up as rain begins to fall at Lincoln Financial Field as France plays Iraq.Rob Tornoe / staff

    It’s pouring in South Philadelphia as severe storms move through the region.

    FIFA will only pause play if there is a lightning strike within eight miles of the stadium. If that happens, the match will remain paused for 30 minutes, with any subsequent lightning strikes resetting the clock.

    A storm warning is in effect until 6:15 p.m. if it rains like it did out in Valley forge way, this could turn into a swim meet.

    For now, they play on.

    — Rob Tornoe, Anthony R. Wood

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 5:34pm

    Philly ‘might be the Frenchest city in the U.S.’

    France fans cheer in the stands at the Linc during Monday night’s match against Iraq.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    For the most part, French fans in Philadelphia for Monday’s game seemed to agree.

    “The architecture looks quite French,” said French fan Tao Taumas, pointing to City Hall on Monday. “Yes, a lot, and we are living in Montreal now, and it looks exactly like the French part of Montreal.”

    Vincent Magardeau, who traveled to Philadelphia with Taumas, did not fully agree with his friend’s conclusion.

    “I’m pretty surprised that you say that,” Magardeau said after being informed of Philadelphia’s similarities to Paris. “But now that you say it, you can see the architecture here and there, but I wouldn’t say that this is the most French city that I could see.”

    Gabriel Sabinaud, who “never heard about anything in Philadelphia,” arrived in the city early Monday morning after staying in New York City. A local informed Sabinaud to try a soft pretzel before he leaves, so he headed to the Philly Pretzel Factory near City Hall before the game. Sabinaud, although having limited time to explore, definitely saw the similarities between the two cities.

    “The east side of the U.S. is definitely more European than the west side,” Sabinaud said. “I’ve been to San Francisco as well, not European. No, it’s not. So [Philadelphia] is definitely more European and Parisian at some points. You’ve got tiny streets with lots of people making noise with their cars. Very similar, more similar to Paris than the west side.”

    Many French fans explored Center City before taking the Broad Street Line to South Philadelphia for the game. For a moment, before it began to rain heavily, “Les Bleus” had taken over downtown.

    “You can see the vibe of French people here,” Taumas said. “With the World Cup, I would say it’s a French city, because everyone is wearing French jerseys, so you might be the Frenchest city in the U.S.”

    Philly has been called the ‘Paris of America.’ Here’s what French fans in town for the World Cup think.

    — Conor Smith

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 5:19pm

    Iraqi social media star serves dolma outside the Linc

    Fawzi Bedaweed serves dolma from his native Iraq outside Lincoln Financial Field Monday.Rob Tornoe / staff

    Fawzi Bedaweed, an Iraqi native from Zakho, traveled to Philadelphia by way of Texas to watch his beloved “Lions of Mesopotamia” take on France.

    A budding social media star, Bedaweed has built up a loyal following on social media sharing Iraqi culture during the World Cup. In Philadelphia, that took the form of handing out authentic Iraqi food like dolma to fans outside Lincoln Financial Field.

    “We’re going to win! Iraq!” Bedaweed chanted, dancing on the sidewalk.

    While France were clear favorites heading into the game, a strong contingent of Iraqi fans filled the southern stands behind the net at the stadium.

    Iraqi fans cheers in the stands at the Linc. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 5:16pm

    Mbappé scores to give France 1-0 lead

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 5:10pm

    France vs. Iraq underway in South Philly

    The Iraqi and French flags on full display as their national anthems play ahead of their World Cup match at Lincoln Financial Field.Rob Tornoe / staff

    France vs. Iraq is underway at a full-rebranded Lincoln Financial Field, even as the threat of severe thunderstorms loom.

    King of Prussia, West Chester, and Phoenixville are under a tornado warning until 5:30 p.m., and storms are currently heading towards Philadelphia.

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 4:30pm

    Where’s the party?

    It could just be the time of day, or that fact that it’s a 5 p.m. match on a Monday, but the revelry, excitement, and energy that transpired on SEPTA’s Broad Street Line an hour before kickoff compared to Friday’s match between Brazil-Haiti has fallen off.

    That’s not to say there won’t be a significant crowd in-stadium, but traveling the express subway down was not the method of choice at this hour.

    The subway line was packed heading to the match after the City Hall stop on Friday at 8 p.m., a little less than hour before the game started. Let’s just say it was a vibe.

    Fans pack the Broad Street Line ahead of the World Cup game between Brazil and Haiti on Friday, June 19, 2026.Kerith Gabriel / Staff

    On the way in to France-Iraq one hour before kickoff after City Hall? Not so much.

    Fans ride the Broad Street Line ahead of the World Cup game between Iraq and France on Monday, June 22, 2026.Kerith Gabriel / Staff

    — Kerith Gabriel

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 4:15pm

    Ponchos for sale as storms forecast for World Cup match in Philly

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 4:11pm

    Philly will see France’s biggest stars in the starting lineup

    Whenever the France-Iraq game kicks off, Philly fans will get to see some of soccer’s biggest stars on the field.

    Les Bleus will have Kylian Mbappé, Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise as the front four in their attack, as fearsome a quarter as there is anywhere in the world’s game.

    It’s a little bit of lineup rotation from the group that started France’s entertaining 3-1 win over Senegal in the Meadowlands on Tuesday, as Barcola comes in for Désiré Doué — another of the world’s brightest young talents.

    Mbappé scored two brilliant goals in that game, playing his own role in the chase for the all-time World Cup scoring record. He now has 14, four behind Lionel Messi’s new record of 18. Messi scored twice in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria Monday, after having scored a hat trick in the reigning champions’ 3-0 win over Algeria.

    Germany’s Miroslav Klose was the previous men’s World Cup record holder with 16. The overall World Cup record belong to Brazilian women’s legend Marta with 17, until Messi passed that mark Monday.

    Iraq’s lineup includes a player from MLS, Nashville SC’s Ahmed Qasem, on the left flank in midfield. There will also be a familiar face from the league in the center circle, as veteran Canadian referee Drew Fischer takes charge of the whistle.

    At least so far, FIFA has not delayed the kickoff time from the scheduled 5 p.m.

    France and Iraq's starters are out.

    Mbappé, Dembélé, Barcola and Olise all line up for France.

    Nashville SC's Ahmed Qasem goes for Iraq.

    Another familiar face from MLS, Canada's Drew Fischer, is the referee.

    Start lists and FIFA's projected formations:

    www.inquirer.com/soccer/live/…

    — Jonathan Tannenwald (@jtannenwald.bsky.social) 2026-06-22T19:46:27.137Z

    — Jonathan Tannenwald

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 3:55pm

    Fans ready for today’s Philly match: ‘I just enjoy that vibe’

    The FIFA Fan Festival is shut down for the day, but the pre-match party is rolling on across the city.

    Mahir Sanori and Gene Lazarraga staked out their spot across from the bar at Lion Sports Bar in Chinatown by 3:20 p.m., more than an hour before France and Iraq’s scheduled kick-off time.

    Sanori and Lazarraga have no connection to France, aside from Lazarraga’s French classes at Delran High School in Burlington County, but the former high school classmates chose to cheer on Les Bleus.

    “We were both free this day, so [we said], ‘let’s just do it,’” Sanori said.

    Lazarraga was wearing a Nike-branded navy blue French kit, while Sanori sported a white T-shirt colored in with fabric marker to make the French tricolor.

    The pair also picked up some France face stickers and a French flag at Walmart, the latter of which was draped over Sanori’s shoulders.

    Sanori and Lazarraga arrived just after Lion Sports Bar finished hosting a group of French supporters for some pre-match festivities, but both said they appreciated the influx of global culture brought to the region by the beautiful game.

    “Seeing all these different groups of people come together, that’s kind of a rare sight in America,” Lazarraga said. “Especially with the sports here, people just go at each others’ throats. But, different countries [are] coming together, everyone’s just having a fun time. I just enjoy that vibe. That’s why we’re here right now.”

    — Owen Hewitt

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 3:20pm

    Christian Pulisic returns to USMNT training

    Christian Pulisic is on the field and wrap-free at #USMNT training:

    — Jonathan Tannenwald (@jtannenwald.bsky.social) 2026-06-22T18:39:27.664Z

    IRVINE, Calif. – Star playmaker Christian Pulisic was back on the field in practice for the U.S. men’s soccer team on Monday, taking part for the first time since before the tournament opener against Paraguay.

    That was a good sign as the Hershey native recovers from the calf injury that kept him out of the second group stage contest against Australia. But it’s just one step, and practice was open to the media for the first 15 minutes. So we don’t know what happened after that.

    Since the United States has already clinched first place, there isn’t much reason to play Pulisic in Thursday’s group finale against Turkey (10 p.m., Fox29, Telemundo 62). There also isn’t much reason to play the players on yellow cards — defenders Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson, midfielder Tyler Adams, and striker Folarin Balogun — since a booking in that game would get them suspended from the round of 32.

    Still, it was a good sign to see Pulisic making progress.

    The other injury news is that midfielder Cristian Roldan is day to day with a muscle strain. If he can’t play against Turkey, that will leave the United States shallow. Balogun also got a lighter day of practice, with a U.S. Soccer spokesperson saying: “Extra recovery. No issues.”

    — Jonathan Tannenwald

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 2:29pm

    Opening gate time delayed at Philadelphia Stadium ahead of Iraq-France game

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 2:17pm

    Philly fan festival is closed the rest of the day

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 2:02pm

    Fan fest at Lemon Hill shuts down due to weather

    Stormy weather shut down the World Cup fan festival on Lemon Hill during the afternoon on Monday, June 22, 2026.Owen Hewitt / Staff

    The broadcast screens at the FIFA Fan Festival went from showing the Argentina-Austria match to an orange screen with a warning that thunderstorms were approaching the area around 1:40 p.m.

    Minutes later, the orange warning switched to a red warning, indicating that “a thunderstorm with lightning is approaching the park.”

    Festival organizers said the grounds could re-open if the storm passes through the area quickly. The festival asked fans to pay attention to its social media feeds for further updates on Monday’s schedule.

    Organizers would not make an official commitment on whether the grounds would open again, but a member of the festival staff was informing food vendors that they were to shut down for the day as fans were exiting the grounds.

    France and Iraq will have to contend with forecast thunderstorms when they kick off at Lincoln Financial Field at 5 p.m.

    — Owen Hewitt

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 1:41pm

    ‘This is Philly, man’: Gov. Josh Shapiro hits Fan Fest

    Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro poses with volunteers at FIFA Fan Fest at Fairmount Park in Philadelphia Monday.Owen Hewitt / Staff

    Gov. Josh Shapiro became the latest elected official to visit the FIFA Fan Festival when he stopped by Lemon Hill Park on Monday afternoon, ahead of France and Iraq’s meeting in Philadelphia this evening.

    Shapiro, sporting a navy blue U.S. Soccer polo, walked the festival grounds before kick-off of Monday’s first match, between defending champion Argentina and Austria.

    “What a unique event and historic moment for our city at this historic juncture of 250 years,” Shapiro said. “To be able to be together and just celebrate one another, celebrate this great sport and enjoy yourself… I think the world needs some more togetherness, needs some more cheer, and this is a great opportunity for that.”

    He was greeted by lines of volunteers as he entered the festival, then followed in Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s footsteps by customizing a charm bracelet at the Bank of America tent — Shapiro chose charms that read 250.

    In a brief news conference in front of the festival stage, Shapiro hailed Philadelphia’s Fan Festival as the best “in the country.”

    “This is Philly, man,” Shapiro said. “We know how to do big things. It’s extraordinary to see people come out happy and joyful, cheering for their team. Unlike a typical Philly sports event, our fans aren’t cheering against others. There’s just happiness and joy … I’m glad that Philly is a welcoming city and welcoming people from all across the world to be here.”

    Shapiro stopped to chat with dozens of attendees inside Visit PA’s booth and play a large arcade-style video game with a young fan in a Paris Saint-Germain kit. He asked French fans in line if Argentina’s Lionel Messi or France’s Kylian Mbappé was the better player, and stopped with an Argentina fan to recount Messi’s performance in Argentina’s win over Algeria.

    One of the people Shapiro introduced himself to was 18-year-old Esra Asfaw, who had a French flag draped over his shoulders. Asfaw, a George Mason student originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, said he did not know who Shapiro was when the governor introduced himself.

    “I was so surprised,” Asfaw said.

    Asfaw traveled up from Virginia to Philadelphia to see Les Bleus face Iraq. He paid $1,089 on the resale market for his 200-level seats. Asfaw said he is not worried about France’s chances against Iraq, but instead about the weather, as looming thunderstorms in the evening could impact the match.

    “Maybe the match might get delayed,” Asfaw said. “That’s the only thing I’m worried about. If it rains and they play, then that’s enough for me.”

    — Owen Hewitt

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 1:36pm

    ‘Let’s go dancing in the rain’

    That’s the front page headline today in L’Équipe, France’s national sports newspaper and one of the most influential sports outlets in Europe.

    Whether or not they read The Inquirer (we hope they do!), the word is out that thunderstorms are on the way to South Philadelphia, and are expected to hit the stadium around the time that France and Iraq are on the field (5 p.m., Fox29, Telemundo 62).

    The paper’s coverage setting the stage for the game includes some teaching of Philadelphia lore. And of course, it’s Rocky-themed, since Iraq’s challenge is a classic World Cup underdog story.

    The front page of @lequipe-actu.bsky.social today:

    "Let's go dancing in the rain."

    — Jonathan Tannenwald (@jtannenwald.bsky.social) 2026-06-22T16:36:22.096Z

    “It’s the kind of moment that makes you want to strike up a fanfare, to sound the trumpets and the Rocky theme, to be ready to go up the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps four by four, before a run along the waterfront, a spar with a hunk of meat in a cold room, or a World Cup game at ‘the Linc,’ the Eagles’ stadium,” lead soccer reporter Vincent Duluc writes. “It’s been 50 years since visitors to Philly have raised their arms at the top of these steps, jumping in place. But it’s also a moment to remember that this piece of popular culture celebrates an unexpected hero – and that the France team that’s getting ready to face Iraq in Philadelphia feels more like Apollo Creed than Rocky Balboa.”

    Elsewhere in the paper, there’s a little feature on the history of Lincoln Financial Field — Philadelphia Stadium during the World Cup — and its place in the city’s culture.

    “Here, the Eagles aren’t just a NFL team, they’re a local religion,” reporter Hugo Guillemet writes. “Their logo is omnipresent on the streets, in shop windows, and in the bars of South Philly. Their hymn, ‘Fly, Eagles, Fly,’ is a popular chant on game days, and when it resonates in the stadium, the stands shake.”

    As for social media, if you want a fun French perspective, check out Radio France’s sports reporter Julien Froment. He’s been posting lots of videos on his X and Instagram accounts as he travels around town. Here’s one from the France fans’ pep rally on the Art Museum steps yesterday.

    — Jonathan Tannenwald

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 12:53pm

    The escape Philly didn’t know it needed

    Brazilian fans cheers before their country’s match against Haiti in Philadelphia Friday night. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    France, a favorite by many to win the whole tournament, will take on Iraq in the second game of Group I tonight, but if it’s anything like the previous two matches, the game itself will once again not be the story.

    Because for the past two games, the attraction has been that of the fans, and the unbridled passion people have for not just a team and its players, but the nation so many have bought jerseys for, the emblem they proudly wear above their heart, or in the middle of their chest.

    This spectacle of what will result in 104 matches of underdogs becoming story lines, a U.S. men’s national team exercising the type of dominance very few expected, has also seen Philly lead the way on the main stage, creating lasting memories for thousands of fans who have flocked to the city, all while becoming lore, in the process.

    Soccer in its purest form has provided an escape for a nation that desperately needed one. And what it’s also proved in the process is that people of different races, colors, and creeds don’t hate each other as much as their social media algorithms might suggest.

    Proof was on display right here in Philly in the form of fans who packed the stands over the last two matches.

    Fans like Maxence Jeanty, a 41-year-old Haitian native living in Chicago who traveled to Philly from the Windy City, dressed in a suit depicting liberator Jean-Jacques Dessalines, a key figure of the Haitian Revolution.

    Maxence Jeanty, 41, a fan from Chicago.Kerith Gabriel / Staff

    “When I was growing up in Haiti as a kid, I watched the World Cup, and I’ll never forget watching the 1994 World Cup,” Jeanty said. “It’s been so long that my people haven’t made it to the World Cup that the choice was to choose either Brazil or Argentina [as the nation to support]. But now, we’re stepping on the field as equals, and no matter what happens, we’re stepping on the field as equals. The pride that brings to me and to every Haitian fan here, man, that’s indescribable.”

    The joy the World Cup has brought to Philadelphia feels like the escape we didn’t know we needed

    — Kerith Gabriel

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 11:27am

    ‘Paris of America’ ready to host French fans

    Benjamin Franklin Parkway is one example of urban planners borrowing from the French. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Some have called Philadelphia the “Paris of America.” Really.

    It might be hard for locals to wrap their heads around the title, but there is some truth to the comparison — mostly due to the cities’ similarities in architecture. With France in town to take on Iraq in the World Cup Monday night, here’s a look at some of Philadelphia’s Parisian connections.

    The Benjamin Franklin Parkway is the most glaring example of Philadelphia borrowing from the French. Finished in 1929, the parkway was designed primarily by two Frenchman, architect Paul Philippe Cret and city-planner Jacques Gréber. Their inspiration? Paris’ Champs-Élysées, a similarly grand avenue that stretches throughout the city. The two also both boast similar end points. The Champs-Élysées concludes with the grand Arc de Triomphe while Philadelphians can spot the Philadelphia Museum of Art from the parkway’s start at City Hall.

    French fans just need to know not to dress the Rocky Statue atop of art museums steps.

    Shortly after the conclusion of World War I, but before the signing of The Treaty of Versailles, Gréber displayed hope that the construction of the parkway would bring in tourists just as the Champs-Élysées does.

    “I am glad to say that, if by this work the city of Paris may be enabled to bring its sister in America the inspiration of what makes Paris so attractive to visitors,” Gerbner said in 1918. “It will be the first opportunity of Paris to pay a little of the great debt of thankfulness for what Philadelphia and its citizens have done for France during the last three years.”

    Meanwhile, Cret was also the mind behind the Benjamin Franklin bridge and a redesign of Rittenhouse Square, which also get Parisian comparisons. City Hall also looks like it could have been picked up in Paris and plopped down in Philadelphia as it was built in the French Second Empire style.

    — Conor Smith

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 10:24am

    World Cup teams that have qualified for the next round and been eliminated

    The U.S. is already in the Round of 32 and have won two group stage games for the first time since 1930. Manu Fernandez

    Heading into Monday’s World Cup matches, three teams have already punched their ticket to the next round of the tournament.

    Among them is the United States, which have won two games in the World Cup group stage for the first time since 1930. The U.S. has one more group stage match – against Turkey Thursday night – and will play in the Round of 32 on July 1 in San Francisco Stadium at 8 p.m. Philly time.

    Here’s a rundown of all the World Cup teams that have qualified for the next round, and those that have already been eliminated from contention:

    Qualified for Round of 32

    • Mexico (Group A, 2-0-0)
    • U.S. (Group D, 2-0-0)
    • Germany (Group E, 2-0-0)

    Eliminated

    • Haiti (Group C, 0-0-2)
    • Turkey (Group D, 0-0-2)
    • Tunisia (Group F, 0-0-2)

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 10:06am

    Thunderstorms in Philly could interrupt tonight’s World Cup match

    Scattered severe thunderstorms could move through the region tonight.Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

    Thunderstorms are expected to make their way through the Philadelphia region later this evening, potentially interrupting tonight’s World Cup match between France and Iraq.

    The strongest of the storms are forecast to move in beginning around 4 p.m., bringing with them heavy rain, wind gusts approaching 60 mph, and the potential for an isolated tornado.

    “Storms will certainly have lightning with them,” said Zack Cooper, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Mt. Holly station.

    An inch or two of rain could fall in and around the city, Cooper said, but depending on the storm’s severity that could all come in an hour or less, leading to flash flooding. Philadelphia and the surrounding region are currently under a flood watch.

    FIFA will pause play if there is a lightning strike within eight miles of the stadium. The match will remain paused for 30 minutes, with any subsequent lightning strikes resetting the clock.

    The FIFA Fan Fest at Lemon Hill Park in Fairmount would also be forced to close if lightning is detected within an eight-mile radius. Fans would need to exit the grounds and move to a safe location, FIFA said in a statement, and could re-enter after 30 minutes if no additional lightning is detected.

    The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., which issues severe storm watches, listed a 2% chance of tornadoes, and an “isolated” twister can’t be ruled out, said Nick Guzzo, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Mount Holly.

    Thunderstorms could interrupt Philly’s France-Iraq World Cup match. Here’s the latest forecast and FIFA’s rules.

    — Anthony R. Wood, Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 8:42am

    Four Frenchmen skipped work to go to the World Cup in Philly

    Fans react during France’s opening match against Senegal on June 16. Some of those fans have taken up residence in Philadelphia ahead of Monday’s match against Iraq.Hiroko Masuike

    Eight years ago, when FIFA announced that the World Cup would be coming to the United States in 2026, a student in France felt a rush of excitement. He and his friends had been watching the international soccer tournament on television since they were kids.

    They’d never seen it in person. The last time their native country hosted the competition was in 1998, before all four Frenchmen were born. In the years since, they’d tried to make it to a game, but to no avail.

    Russia hosted in 2018, but the four friends were unable to get visas. Qatar hosted in 2022, but this time, they were attending different colleges, which made traveling logistically complicated. So, they looked ahead to 2026 and started saving money.

    One man picked up extra work shifts at his Parisian brasserie. Another taught English lessons on the side. All four made a conscious effort to cut back on drinking and eating out.

    There was one problem. The men worked in upscale restaurants, and summers were extremely busy. The Parisians knew that they wouldn’t be able to get a few days off, let alone a few weeks.

    In the spirit of Ferris Bueller, the 20-something-year-olds decided to tell a white lie. And now, three years and $12,000 in savings later, they are in Philadelphia, enjoying everything it has to offer (unbeknownst to their employers).

    “Momo,” the Parisian waiter who organized this trip, participated on the condition that he and his friends’ last names would be omitted (out of fear of losing their jobs).

    Four Frenchmen skipped work to go to the World Cup in Philly. They’re already planning to return for an Eagles game

    — Alex Coffey

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 8:40am

    Iraq fans try to Rocky jinx France

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 8:35am

    Everything you need to know about the World Cup in Philly

    Philadelphia’s third World Cup game is Monday night.
    Philly World Cup: Schedule, transportation, storylines, controversies, and everything you need to know

    — Matt Mullin

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 8:30am

    Today’s World Cup TV schedule

    Four World Cup games will take place Monday.Jonathan Tannenwald

    Here is today’s schedule of World Cup games and their Philadelphia start time:

    • Argentina vs. Austria: 1 p.m., Arlington, Tx. (1 p.m., Fox)
    • France vs. Iraq: 5 p.m., Philadelphia (5 p.m., Fox)
    • Norway vs. Senegal: 8 p.m., East Rutherford, N.J. (8 p.m., Fox)
    • Jordan vs. Algeria: 11 p.m., Santa Clara, Calif. (11 p.m., FS1)

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 8:25am

    France vs. Iraq: How to watch and stream

    Fox’s top soccer broadcasting team, John Strong (left) and Stuart Holden will call France-Iraq in Philly.Fox Sports

    The third of six World Cup matches will take place Monday night in Philadelphia, with France taking on Iraq (5 p.m., Fox) in Group I action.

    Here what you need to know to watch or stream the game:

    France vs. Iraq

    • Time: 5 p.m. Philly time
    • Location: Philadelphia Stadium (Lincoln Financial Field)
    • TV: Fox (John Strong, Stu Holden, Geoff Shreeves)
    • Spanish: Telemundo (José Luis López Salido, Jorge Calvo)
    • Streaming: Tubi, Fox One

    — Rob Tornoe

    Philadelphia 2026 World Cup schedule

    Fans navigate the stairs in the upper concourse of Lincoln Financial Field, rebranded as Philadelphia Stadium.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    Philadelphia has hosted two World Cup matches so far – Ivory Coast’s upset of Ecuador, and Brazil’s blowout of Haiti.

    Philadelphia Stadium, as it’s called during the tournament, will host four more World Cup games, including a Round of 16 matchup on July 4.

    Unfortunately, Philly won’t host the U.S., which clinched a first-place finish in the group stage. They needed to finish in third place to even have a chance of winding up the the Linc.

    Here’s Philly’s remaining World Cup schedule:

    • France vs. Iraq: Monday, June 22, 5 p.m. (Fox)
    • Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast: Thursday, June 25, 4 p.m. (FS1)
    • Croatia vs. Ghana: Saturday, June 27, 5 p.m. (FS1)
    • Round of 16: Saturday, July 4, 5 p.m. (FOX)

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 06/22/26 8:30am

  • World Cup in Philly: Brazil in complete control at the Linc; U.S. beats Australia, moves on to knockout round

    World Cup in Philly: Brazil in complete control at the Linc; U.S. beats Australia, moves on to knockout round

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 10:38pm

    Haiti first team eliminated from World Cup after losing to Brazil

    Brazil’s Vinícius Júnior celebrates after scoring the third goal against Haiti Friday night. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Vinícius Júnior scored and assisted on one of Matheus Cunha’s two goals as five-time champion Brazil eliminated Haiti from the World Cup with a 3-0 victory on Friday night.

    Haiti, the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation that qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974, became the first team guaranteed not to reach the knockout round. Meanwhile, the Seleção got the decisive performance they needed.

    Cunha, the Manchester United standout, got the start and showed with every surf-and-slide goal celebration why he should have been in the starting lineup in Brazil’s listless 1-1 draw against Morocco. Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti made the surprising decision in the opener to instead insert Cunha as a late substitute.

    Cunha thrilled the Brazilian fans who made up the bulk of the 68,324 spectators at Lincoln Financial Field when he tapped in a rebound for his first career World Cup goal. He then sent a left-footed strike into the upper left corner for a 2-0 lead in the first half against the overmatched Haitians.

    Brazil forward Raphinha, who was subbed out with an injury in the first half, had an early goal disallowed on an offside call that only temporarily muted the yellow-clad Seleção fans in an otherwise festive atmosphere at the home of the two-time Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles — whose cheerleaders did their part to rally the crowd.

    Cunha added to the frivolity in Philadelphia, home to nearly 6,000 Brazilian immigrants, when he flashed his familiar surfing celebration.

    — Associated Press

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 10:14pm

    A full house in South Philly

    It’s a full house at the Philly World Cup. We’re like the dang Tanner Family up in here.

    — Stephanie Farr (@farfarraway.bsky.social) 2026-06-20T02:14:29.454Z

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 9:55pm

    Philly once again looks great in World Cup spotlight

    It looks phenomenal again. Especially the Haiti fan turnout.

    — Jonathan Tannenwald (@jtannenwald.bsky.social) 2026-06-20T00:30:47.328Z

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 9:35pm

    Fans doing the wave at the Linc

    Fans at the World Cup are riding the waves and doing the wave – three times around Philadelphia Stadium. My favorite part was the fan who kept yelling “It’s coming! It’s coming!”

    — Stephanie Farr (@farfarraway.bsky.social) 2026-06-20T01:30:57.383Z

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 9:27pm

    Photos: Strong Brazilian vibes in South Philly

    Brazil fans Miguel Sosa and his son, Enzo, of Nebraska, attend Friday’s match against Haiti at the Linc. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
    A happy Brazilian fan with a unique hat watches Brazil’s dominance in South Philly. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
    A Brazil fan waves his national flag during Brazil vs. Haiti. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
    Fans navigate the stairs in the upper concourse of the Linc, which has been rebranded Philadelphia Stadium. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 9:21pm

    Brazil in control in South Philly

    Of note on Vinícius Júnior’s goal for Brazil: that is his second goal in 12 months at that same end of the stadium. He scored there for Real Madrid last summer.

    And here’s how the goal sounded on Telemundo. Luis Omar Tapia’s call is superb.

    — Jonathan Tannenwald

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 9:10pm

    Brazil is flying after scoring second goal against Haiti

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 8:58pm

    Brazil scores first, takes lead on Haiti in South Philly

    // Pinned

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 5:06pm

    U.S. advances in World Cup after defeating Australia 2-0

    SEATTLE — It turned out that the U.S. men’s soccer team didn’t need Christian Pulisic to beat Australia, and make history in doing so.

    With the star playmaker unable to shake off a calf injury, the Americans used two first-half tallies and a raucous atmosphere in Seattle to earn a 2-0 win, before a packed-to-the-roof crowd of 66,925.

    The win clinched qualification for the knockout rounds, and marked the first time since 1930 that the U.S. men’s program has won two games in a World Cup group stage.

    The statisticians at TruMedia noted this marked the first time in World Cup history that one team benefited from own goals in consecutive games, following the opening tally of the U.S.’ win over Paraguay.

    The USMNT clinches advancing in the World Cup with a 2-0 win over Australia

    — Jonathan Tannenwald

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 8:46pm

    Brazil nearly takes early lead on Haiti, but offside flag was up

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 8:30pm

    Brazil vs. Haiti underway in South Philly

    Fans sing the national anthems of Haiti and Brazil at Philadelphia Stadium as the World Cup gets underway.

    National anthem of Haiti inside Philadelphia Stadium for the World
    Cup. 1/2

    — Stephanie Farr (@farfarraway.bsky.social) 2026-06-20T00:40:58.949Z

    National anthem of Brazil 2/2

    — Stephanie Farr (@farfarraway.bsky.social) 2026-06-20T00:43:15.131Z

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 8:33pm

    Party still going on in Seattle after U.S. win

    Three hours after the final whistle, the party in Seattle is still going strong.

    With a Mariners game to come in a few hours.

    #USMNT

    — Jonathan Tannenwald (@jtannenwald.bsky.social) 2026-06-20T00:08:17.685Z

    SEATTLE — I’ve just left the stadium here, three hours after the U.S. game ended, and all the sports bars across the street on Occidental Avenue are still packed.

    The sun is shining, the temperature is in the 70s, there’s a breeze off the water, and it looks like the citywide party will keep going for a good while.

    You can bet they’ll be watching Brazil-Haiti on the TVs here. And they’ll be watching the Mariners too, since they have a home game against the Red Sox in two hours. T-Mobile Park is a block south of Lumen Field, so there’s a mix of soccer and baseball fans around.

    “2-0 today!” I heard someone shout.

    — Jonathan Tannenwald

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 8:16pm

    ‘It is a dream come true’: Haiti fans seize the moment in Philly

    Haiti fans celebrate before Friday night’s match against Brazil at at Lincoln Financial Field.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Marie Alexis danced jubilantly in the stands at Lincoln Financial Field as team Haiti took the field for a pre-game warm up.

    “We’re at the World Cup!” she kept yelling.

    A native of Haiti now living in Rahway, N.J., Alexis began to cry as she talked about Haiti being in the World Cup for the first time in 50 years.

    “It is a dream come true, my country is on the world stage and it’s so positive,” she said. “I am ecstatic! This is wonderful! It’s life-changing.”

    — Stephanie Farr

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 7:09pm

    Welcoming fans to ‘FIFA-delphia’

    Emily Vanim of Pottstown welcomes fans to “FIFA-delphia” ahead of Friday night’s matchup betwen Brazil and Haiti.Stephanie Farr / Staff

    Emily Vanim of Pottstown had one of the best FIFA volunteer jobs – sitting in a lifeguard chair with a megaphone welcoming fans to “FIFA-delphia” and answering all their questions.

    “Never give a teacher a megaphone,” she said.

    The sixth grade teacher said she’s met the best people as a FIFA volunteer.

    “We’re friends for life and we’re having an awesome time,” she said. “It’s surreal and the fans are outstanding.”

    — Stephanie Farr

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 6:24pm

    Brazil fans tries to use Rocky curse against Argentina

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 5:13pm

    Things got chippy between U.S. and Australia

    Things got chippy towards the end of the U.S. men’s national team second group match against Australia, but it was forward Florian Balogun who kept composure in the face of a second yellow card.

    Going in for a challenge in the 88th minute, Balogun and Australian defender Harry Souttar got tangled in the air and found Souttar with his arm wrapped around the neck of Balogun on the way down. Instead of reacting to the bait, Balogun who picked up a yellow card earlier in the match was smart to walk away.

    It led commentator Stu Holden to say: “The Australians have come here to have a rugby match, but to have restraint in these moments, to not swing an arm and punch back. Souttar is trying to get under his skin.

    It kicked off a string of chippy plays down the stretch, but in the end, the U.S. men picked up their second win in this World Cup, securing a berth into the knockout round of 32.

    Depending on the result of tonight’s match between Turkey and Paraguay (11 p.m., FS1), should that game end in a draw, the U.S. will win Group D outright.

    — Kerith Gabriel

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 4:54pm

    A lot of love in Philly as Brazil and Haiti fans get together

    Bob Travers, 78, of Southhampton, was among tailgaters accepting high-fives at Lot L outside Philadelphia Stadium.

    Travers wore a Brasil jersey and a hat that said “Dysfunctional Veteran.” This was his second World Cup, having gone to one in 1994. This one was better already though, he said, because he was accompanied by his sons and grandson.

    “I love it,” he said “The atmosphere is fantastic!”

    Perhaps the only time fans of opposing teams have gotten along while tailgating at the Linc, aka Philadelphia Stadium for the World Cup. The vibes are immaculate.

    — Stephanie Farr (@farfarraway.bsky.social) 2026-06-19T20:30:07.976Z

    Philly love between Haiti and Brazil fans

    — Stephanie Farr (@farfarraway.bsky.social) 2026-06-19T19:37:15.937Z

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 4:21pm

    How bad was it for Australia? They made three subs at halftime.

    Australia’s Paul Okon-Engstler reacts after a collision with a U.S. player. Lindsey Wasson

    SEATTLE – You know a first half went badly for a team when it makes three substitutions at halftime.

    That’s what Australia did, with the biggest one being Nestory Irankunda replacing Mohamed Touré up front. Why Iranknunda didn’t start, as one of the Socceroos’ rising stars, was a big question among the Australian media before kickoff.

    The other moves were Jason Geria replacing the yellow-carded Cameron Burgess on the back line, and Connor Metcalfe replacing Nishan Velupillay in midfield.

    — Jonathan Tannenwald

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 3:48pm

    The U.S. leads 2-0, but with controversy

    Alex Freeman doubled the U.S. lead in the 43rd minute off a free kick play. But it wasn’t surprising the offside flag was up initially, and by the rules it could have stayed that way.

    When Sergiño Dest took the initial shot that deflected up in the air, Folarin Balogun and Weston McKennie were clearly offside, while Freeman was not. And when the ball came down, Balogun was right next to Freeman, in close range to the goalkeeper.

    Though Balogun didn’t touch the ball, his presence there could be called interfering with the goalkeeper, and that’s grounds for keeping the flag up. But the video review crew decided that Balogun didn’t interfere enough, so they let the goal stand.

    Double celebration for Alex Freeman’s goal to put the U.S. up 2-0 before the half — once before the VAR, and once after

    — Owen Hewitt (@oyounothing.bsky.social) 2026-06-19T19:48:11.884Z

    — Jonathan Tannenwald

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 3:35pm

    ‘It’s such a dream’: Brazil fans take over Stateside Live!

    Brazil fans at Stateside Live! in Philadelphia hours before their country takes on Haiti.Stephanie Farr / Staff

    Stateside Live! turned into Brasil Live! Friday as a sea of fans descended on the stadium bar complex prior to their team’s World Cup game against Haiti at nearby Philadelphia Stadium.

    By 3 p.m., the entire complex was a sea of yellow-and-green, dotted with islands of Haiti fans (and a few team USA fans) in red, white, and blue.

    Belange Pierre, 54, of Ottawa, Canada, waved a Haitian flag outside the gates. He drove to Philly with four friends to catch his team’s first World Cup game in 50 years. They were confident they’d be driving back to Canada with a win under their belts after the game.

    “Allons-y!” the group shouted, which is French for “Let’s go!”

    Andre Magalhaes and his wife, Kelly Bennett, traveled from Orlando to watch Friday’s Brazil-Haiti game.Stephanie Farr / Staff

    Andre Magalhaes, 47, a native of Brazil now living in Orlando, was counting down the hours until his first World Cup game at Stateside Live! Friday.

    “It’s a child’s dream come true,” he said of attending his first World Cup match. “I’ve waited for this moment my entire life to be here.”

    Magalhaes wore a leather cangaceiro, a traditional hat from Northeast Brazil. His wife, Kelly Bennett, 44, wore a team Brasil shirt a U.S. flag as a cape.

    “We’re going to watch the game here then I’m going to fold up the flag and I’m going into the stadium and root for Brazil,” she said.

    The couple, who are only in town for the three days, said they loved Philly’s sports complex.

    “You have all three stadiums and public transit right here!” Bennett said. “It’s such a dream, especially coming from Orlando.”

    — Stephanie Farr

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 3:21pm

    Fans celebrate in Philly as U.S. takes early lead

    The crowd at the Fan Festival goes wild as the U.S. goes up, 1-0, on an Australian own goal.

    — Owen Hewitt (@oyounothing.bsky.social) 2026-06-19T19:14:09.204Z

    The U.S. has a 1-0 lead after an Australian own goal, and the pro-U.S. crowd at the Fan Festival is loving it.

    The crowd erupted in cheers as Cameron Burgess knocked the ball into the back of his own net in the 11th minute.

    Chants of “U-S-A” followed the manic celebration. The American supporters are riding high so far. Will it stay that way?

    — Owen Hewitt

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 3:12pm

    U.S. scores first, takes early lead on Australia

    SEATTLE – It didn’t take long for the United States’ shift to a two-striker front line to pay off.

    Folarin Balogun’s hot form continued just 11 minutes in, as he forced an own goal off Cameron Burgess to put the Americans ahead. Antonee Robinson sprung Balogun down the left flank, and he sprinted almost all the way to the end line, then laid a pass into the middle for Ricardo Pepi and Sergiño Dest’s late runs.

    But the ball hit Australian centerback Cameron Burgess near the six-yard box instead, and pinged right into the net.

    The crowd was thrilled, and the hosts were off and running again.

    — Jonathan Tannenwald

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 3:06pm

    It’s amazingly loud in Seattle

    Lumen Field, known as Seattle Stadium during the World Cup, ahead of U.S. vs. Australia Friday.Jonathan Tannenwald / Staff

    SEATTLE – Like most NFL stadiums, Seattle’s press box is glass-enclosed, though it least it has some small windows that open to pick up a bit of the atmosphere.

    But I wanted the real thing for a moment. So I snuck outside to the seating bowl for the players’ walkout and the national anthems.

    Both sets of fans belted out their national anthems, with the Star-Spangled Banner ringing around the entire stadium. You could probably hear it up the street at the ferry terminal.

    Media aren’t allowed to take videos inside the stadium unless they’re rightsholders, a FIFA rule I’ve lived with at every World Cup I’ve covered. But we can take photos, so here’s mine of what it looked like.

    — Jonathan Tannenwald

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 2:58pm

    At Fan Fest, Mayor Parker thrilled to share ‘Philly-ness with the world’

    Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker at the opening of the FIFA Fan Festival in Fairmount Park Friday.Owen Hewitt / Staff

    Mayor Cherelle L. Parker helped open the gates of the FIFA Fan Festival ahead of the U.S.’s clash with Australia at 3 p.m.

    Parker stepped out into the crowd waiting at the festival’s main gate and posed for photos with fans waiting in line, including one with a group of traveling Scottish supporters.

    Before the gates opened, Parker said she was appreciative that fans are showing up to the city and the festival “authentically, as themselves.”

    “We are a global culture, and we are one people,” Parker said. “What makes America and the world so amazing, is that all of us, no matter the fabric, no matter the patchwork in our quilt, we make up a global humanity, and an American community that’s representative of everyone. I’m excited about it all.”

    After greeting the line of fans waiting to get into the festival on Sedgley Drive, Parker walked into the festival to greet a few vendors. She stopped at the Bank of America tent to make a bracelet – she chose a black band with all the Philly-specific charms and a World Cup trophy charm – then stopped into the FIFA store on the festival grounds.

    With the help of a few store associates, Parker picked out some kits and World Cup merch, including both Brazil jerseys, a seafoam France away jersey, a yellow Curaçao jersey, two World Cup logo shirts and a stripes U.S. jersey.

    Parker said she’s enjoyed seeing soccer fans out and about in the city – especially Brazilian fans, whose team will take the field against Haiti at Lincoln Financial Field at 8:30 p.m.

    “We were on the parkway, and Brazil was turning it out and up,” Parker said. “Everywhere we’ve been, they’re like, ‘Philadelphia is beautiful, the experience is great.’ You can be a visitor one time, but they’ll feel Philadelphia.

    “You have to feel the energy here. We are not like any other city in the nation. There is something special about Philadelphia, and being able to share that Philly-ness with the world is something really exciting.”

    — Owen Hewitt

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 2:36pm

    Check out The Inquirer’s all-new pop-up soccer show!

    Ahead of today’s pivotal World Cup matches, get up to speed on all things soccer with the Inquirer’s Soccer Extra, our pop-up soccer show during the matches here in Philly, featuring writer Jonathan Tannenwald and host Lisa Carlin.

    Catch the show Thursdays at 11 a.m., until the final match at Philadelphia Stadium (aka the Linc) through July 4. In their second episode, the duo take a look at this first week of World Cup action and look ahead to Philly’s upcoming matches in Brazil-Haiti tonight and France-Iraq on Monday.

    — Inquirer sports staff

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 2:35pm

    Like Philly, Seattle putting the ‘city’ in ‘World Cup host city’

    Seattle Stadium, usually called Lumen Field, as fans arrive for the World Cup match between the U.S. and Australia Friday.Jonathan Tannenwald

    SEATTLE – You might not think that Philadelphia and Seattle have much in common, thousands of miles apart and with different cultural vibes. But during this World Cup, it feels like they have a lot in common.

    It’s not just that the U.S.-Australia and Brazil-Haiti games are on the same day, which has put the two cities at the top of the World Cup’s headlines. It’s that they’re true cities, the kind where you can feel the energy of a big event just by being there.

    That’s how a World Cup is supposed to be, and has been at all the other ones I’ve been to. The sights and sounds of big fan gatherings are as important as the games themselves.

    Philadelphia has seen that a few times now, from the Club World Cup last summer to the masses of Ecuador and Brazil fans in recent days. Soccer brings people together from all over the place like nothing else, even in a city where other sports are more important.

    Another thing you can tell out here is how different things are from the first U.S. game in suburban Los Angeles. The stadium is exceptional and the atmosphere was great, but there just wasn’t the same kind of buzz beyond the game because L.A. isn’t the same kind of city.

    Fans at Pioneer Square in Seattle.Jonathan Tannenwald

    The downtown doesn’t matter as much, and everything else is way too sprawling – and that’s before getting to the U.S. camp being over an hour south in Orange County. You’re never going to have the same kind of buzz when everything around is highways and shopping centers.

    In Philadelphia, you can walk anywhere in Center City, then take a quick subway ride to the game. Here, you can walk from the waterfront to the stadium, and there’s a light rail line across town too.

    I made that walk this morning, and saw thousands of fans going in both directions. A “Men in Blazers” live show on one of the piers drew a huge crowd that filled the plaza and the sidewalks beyond it.

    The big crowd here isn’t just wearing red, white, and blue. There are plenty of Australia backers too, all in their traditional green and gold. You’ll see them behind one end zone, behind the team’s bench, and in a few sections of the upper deck.

    I unexpectedly walked through their fan march on the way to the stadium. Everyone was in good spirits, including the U.S. fans at bars nearby who responded with lighthearted boos and “USA!” chants.

    One Socceroos fan carried the amusing sign you see above. A bunning snag is Australia’s similar culinary tradition, a grilled sausage in a folded piece of white bread topped with grilled onions, then ketchup and/or mustard.

    The #Socceroos faithful have arrived too:

    — Jonathan Tannenwald (@jtannenwald.bsky.social) 2026-06-19T17:19:09.888Z

    — Jonathan Tannenwald

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 2:07pm

    Christian Pulisic won’t play vs. Australia

    SEATTLE – Christian Pulisic will not play in the U.S.-Australia game, as he hasn’t recovered enough from his calf injury to make the squad.

    “Christian is not available,” U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino told Fox Sports’ broadcast moments before FIFA published the teams’ starting lineups. “Let’s hope that as soon as possible he can be ready to be selected again, and to be part of the team. Now we need to be focused on our team, and the players that are going to play. We have ahead very important game – Australia is going to be really tough.”

    Pochettino said Pulisic trained Friday morning and “the feelings are good” on the star playmaker’s overall recovery.

    “A little bit sad,” Pochettino admitted. “He wanted to participate today. But it’s still [too] early.”

    Ricardo Pepi comes into the U.S. lineup, and that means a tactical shift with two strikers on the field. My guess is the Americans will line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation that looks like this:

    Australia has all of its players healthy. The Socceroos’ starting lineup is headlined by rising star striker Nestory Irankunda and 6-foot-6 centerback Harry Souttar. There’s also a familiar face from MLS in New York City FC midfielder Aiden O’Neill.

    The #USMNT starting lineup with Christian Pulisic out – Ricardo Pepi comes in to throw two strikers at Australia.

    I am guessing it will look like this formation-wise…

    Pepi Balogun

    McKennie

    A. Robinson Adams Tillman Dest

    Ream Richards Freeman

    Freese

    — Jonathan Tannenwald (@jtannenwald.bsky.social) 2026-06-19T17:39:17.800Z

    — Jonathan Tannenwald

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 1:52pm

    Fans from all over gather for entrance into the FIFA Fan Festival

    Fans wait to enter FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill in East Fairmount Park Friday.Owen Hewitt / Staff

    The gates of the FIFA Fan Festival don’t open to visitors until 2 p.m., but a line has already started to form at the main gate.

    Gus Sanchez said he and his family had been in line since about noon after biking over from Northeast Philly.

    Sanchez said he wanted to watch the U.S. men’s team take on Australia with a crowd, leading him to come over to the Fan Festival.

    “It’s something I can’t explain,” Sanchez, 53, said. “Seeing people from different countries getting together, having fun, enjoying the game.”

    The crowd is full of U.S. kits, but other nations are represented, too. Kits from Haiti and Brazil, which will face off tonight at Lincoln Financial Stadium, can be spotted in the line, as well as fans from Scotland.

    Alex Nelson said he traveled from Prestwick to the U.S. to soak in the environment of the World Cup.

    He traveled from Boston, where the Scots played Haiti on Saturday, to Philadelphia to take in Scotland-Morocco at the Fan Festival.

    Nelson, sporting a tartan kilt, said he’s loved his time in Philly so far.

    “Very clean city,” Nelson said. “Everybody has been so helpful. Everybody’s mixed in —the Brazilians, the Moroccans, U.S.A., all mixed. That’s what it’s all about.”

    — Owen Hewitt

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 10:44am

    Brazil fans bring the party to Philly’s Rocky steps

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 9:36am

    Photos: Brazil fans take over Philly

    Brazil fans play a little soccer as they rally at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Thursday. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
    Thousands of Brazil fans swarmed the streets ahead of their team’s matchup against Haiti in Philly. Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
    Brazil’s Lucas Paquetá poses for a photo with fans outside the Sofitel Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
    Brazil soccer fans wait outside of the Sofitel Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square to greet the players. Aidan T. Gallo / Staff Photographer
    A Brazil soccer fan cheers outside the Sofitel Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square. Aidan T. Gallo / Staff Photographer
    Brazil fans are hoping for the team’s first 2026 World Cup win in Philly. Aidan T. Gallo / Staff Photographer

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 8:09am

    Everything you need to know about the World Cup in Philly

    Philadelphia’s second World Cup game is Sunday night.
    Philly World Cup: Schedule, transportation, storylines, controversies, and everything you need to know

    — Matt Mullin

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 8:05am

    Today’s World Cup TV schedule

    Four World Cup games will take place Friday.Jonathan Tannenwald

    Here is today’s schedule of World Cup games and their Philadelphia start time:

    • U.S. vs. Australia: 3 p.m., Seattle, Group D (Fox, Telemundo)
    • Scotland vs. Morocco: 6 p.m., Boston, Group C (Fox, Telemundo)
    • Brazil vs. Haiti: 8:30 p.m., Philadelphia, Group C (Fox, Telemundo)
    • Turkey vs. Paraguay: 11 p.m. Saturday, San Francisco, Group D (FS1, Telemundo)

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 8:03am

    Brazil fans work to avoid Rocky curse again of Philly game

    Brazil fans guard the Rocky statue at the Philadelphia Museum of Art to prevent being jinxed.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    International soccer supporters, be warned — clothe the Rocky statue at your own risk.

    The fans of the Ecuadorian national team learned Sunday what many NFL fans already know about draping their colors over the statue of Rocky on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum.

    Ecuadorian supporters fitted Rocky with a yellow La Tri kit, then saw their team concede a 90th-minute winner in its FIFA World Cup group-stage opener against Ivory Coast on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field (aka Philadelphia Stadium).

    The effects of the “Rocky curse” are well-documented when it comes to football, but it was relatively untested on the beautiful game. Ecuador lost, 1-0, to the Ivorian side, which entered the tournament ranked 10 spots behind La Tri in the FIFA World Ranking.

    With Brazil coming to Philly for a Group C match against Haiti on Friday (8:30 p.m., Fox29), Movimento Verde Amarelo, Brazil’s main supporters’ group, went to great lengths to ensure the yellow and green of the Canarinho stayed off the Rocky statue.

    The Rocky statue was roped off with a four-post retractable nylon stanchion, with four members of MVA, sunglasses on and earpiece in, standing at attention at each corner as Brazilian fans gathered for a rally in front of the Art Museum.

    The bodyguards discouraged fans from draping any Brazilian garb on the statue, holding signs that read:

    “Operation Rocky Protectors — Attention: it is forbidden to put Brazilian colors on the statue.”

    Matheus Henrique, 30, was one of the MVA members protecting the statue. Henrique, a native of Belém, Brazil, moved to Los Angeles a decade ago for college.

    Henrique is friends with the person who helped organize Brazil’s takeover of the steps and responded when a call went out for volunteers to guard the statue.

    “It’s a superstition, we heard,” Henrique said. “We’re enjoying the event as well.”

    Rocky curse? Brazil supporters aren’t taking any chances ahead of World Cup clash with Haiti.

    — Owen Hewitt

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 8:00am

    Christian Pulisic’s status a mystery ahead of USMNT-Australia

    Christian Pulisic during a United States men’s national soccer team in Seattle Thursday.Jonathan Tannenwald

    There was no surprise news about Christian Pulisic from U.S. men’s soccer team manager Mauricio Pochettino in his news conference before Friday’s game against Australia (3 p.m., Fox29, Telemundo 62). Pochettino did not rule the star playmaker in or out, and that was not surprising.

    “As you know, he was training in an individual way the whole week,” Pochettino said. “But like always, I think tonight, the day before the game, we have a meeting with our medical area, and we will assess the whole group, the players, and tomorrow we will communicate all the things that we can agree tonight.”

    Pulisic was seen briefly at the start of Thursday’s practice, then headed off to work on his own. When he arrived, he wasn’t wearing the sleeve over his injured left calf that he sported on Wednesday. But after a few minutes, he sat down on a bench by the sideline and put it on.

    “He is evolving, he is much better from [last] Friday,” Pochettino said. “I think at the moment we’ll see. … He’s doing a massive effort trying to be ready.”

    The manager also praised Pulisic for being “strong and with a great mentality” as the Hershey native works to be ready for kickoff.

    Asked who might play if Pulisic can’t go, Pochettino didn’t answer. This was no surprise either.

    “I will tell tomorrow if that is the situation,” he said. “At the moment, we are evaluating all the possibilities just in case, and then we will decide when we have the confirmation in one or another direction tonight.”

    Mauricio Pochettino keeps Christian Pulisic’s status a mystery ahead of USMNT-Australia

    — Jonathan Tannenwald

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 7:57am

    Brazil vs. Haiti: How to watch and stream

    Former U.S. men’s star Landon Donovan will be on the call for Brazil vs. Haiti in Philly Friday night.Katharine Lotze

    The second of six World Cup matches will take place Friday night in Philadelphia, with Brazil taking on Haiti (8:30 p.m., Fox) in Group C action.

    Calling the game on Fox tonight will be veteran soccer announcer Ian Darke, joined by former U.S. men’s national great Landon Donovan. Natalie Gedra will handle reporting at Philadelphia Stadium, otherwise known as Lincoln Financial Field.

    Brazil vs Haiti

    • Time: 8:30 p.m. Philly time
    • Location: Philadelphia Stadium (Lincoln Financial Field)
    • TV: Fox (Ian Darke, Landon Donovan)
    • Spanish: Telemundo (Luis Omar Tapia, Diego Balado)
    • Streaming: Tubi, Fox One

    — Rob Tornoe

    Philadelphia 2026 World Cup schedule

    Philly hosted its first-ever men’s World Cup match last week, with Ivory Coast topping Ecuador.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Philadelphia was the star during its first 2026 World Cup match, which featured an Ivory Coast upset in front of a re-branding Lincoln Financal Field filled with Ecuador fans.

    Philadelphia Stadium, as it’s called during the tournament, will host five more World Cup games, including a Round of 16 matchup on July 4.

    It’s highly unlikely the U.S. will end up in Philly for that game, but it’s not impossible. Here’s what would need to happen.

    Here’s Philly’s remaining World Cup schedule:

    • Brazil vs. Haiti: Friday, June 19, 9 p.m. (Fox)
    • France vs. Iraq: Monday, June 22, 5 p.m. (Fox)
    • Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast: Thursday, June 25, 4 p.m. (FS1)
    • Croatia vs. Ghana: Saturday, June 27, 5 p.m. (FS1)
    • Round of 16: Saturday, July 4, 5 p.m. (FOX)

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 06/19/26 7:55am

  • World Cup in Philly: Ivory Coast defeats Ecuador; fans report issues with resale tickets; city looks great in the spotlight

    World Cup in Philly: Ivory Coast defeats Ecuador; fans report issues with resale tickets; city looks great in the spotlight

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 10:15pm

    Philadelphia was the star in its World Cup debut

    Ecuadorian fans react at a missed scoring chance against Ivory Coast during Sunday’s World Cup match. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    It took 96 years, but the most sacred version of the beautiful game came to Philadelphia.

    Both the city and the match met the moment.

    Extra public transportation, hydration stations, and modest traffic framed an evening of graceful and powerful football, the kind every other nation reveres except ours.

    Amid the spectacle of team jerseys, flags, and team benches covered by vibrant roofs identifying the sides in national colors, the grass was the star. The stadium’s normal turf is a ragged Bermuda thatched with 5% plastic to withstand the cleated NFL rhinoceroses who usually play there.

    For the World Cup, it was transformed into a flawless pitch, golf-course quality ryegrass and bluegrass, the sort of surface you could imagine Jason Kelce lying on his back and making snow angels.

    Viewed through an international lens, even a soccer game this insignificant still was the most significant sporting event in the history of the city. A town that has seen two World Series titles and a Stanley Cup won within its borders has never hosted anything that riveted folks on six of the continents.

    What comes close? Maybe Rocky Marciano, when he knocked out Jersey Joe Walcott in 1952, and won the heavyweight championship. Maybe not.

    Philadelphia was the star in its World Cup debut

    — Marcus Hayes

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 10:10pm

    Long wait at NRG Station following Philly World Cup match

    Soccer fans wait to enter NRG Station outside Lincoln Financial Field following Sunday night’s World Cup match.Michelle

    Hundreds of soccer fans waited outside NRG station, a bottleneck at the turnstiles not appearing to break apart anytime soon. Fans chatted in Spanish, sat on plantersm and leaned against yellow gates waiting for entry into the train station.

    A SEPTA worker who asked not to be identify said there were already almost 1,500 fans in the platform, so people had to weight until it clears out.

    Meanwhile, Ubers to City Hall were ranging between $70 to $78 a ride. On a normal night, they’d run about $15.

    — Dana Munro, Michelle Myers

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 9:45pm

    Fans hurry to their cars, trains, and buses as storms move into Philly

    Fans wait outside SEPTA’s NRG Station near the stadium following Ivory Coast’s victory over Ecuador Sunday night.Michelle Myers

    Fans hustle to their cars in South Philly as lighting can be seen in the distance.

    For subway riders trying to move closer to the station, the wait might be lengthy, as hundreds of of Ecuadorian fans await by the doors for their turn to get it.

    The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Philadelphia and the surrounding counties Sunday evening that will remain in effect until 1 a.m. Monday morning.

    Along with lightning and rain, forecasters say wind guts up to 60 miles per hour are possible, as is quarter-sized hail and potentially a tornado.

    Over at FIFA’s Fan Festival at Lemon Hill in Fairmount Park,, crowds walked along Girard Avenue and Kelly Drive up to Fairmount to access rideshare pickup zones and the Philly PHLASH.

    Crowds are funneled to these roads to stay on main thoroughfares, where many impromptu street vendors awaited to sell water and snacks and merchandise. Ice cream trucks also took this as a hint to set up shop.

    At Pennsylvania and Fairmount, SEPTA had additional 32 and 48 Busses waiting as additional transportation and were waiting to fill up in order to take the maximum amount of passengers. A total of 4 buses were at the intersection waiting to take passengers at one point.

    Police were stationed at various exits and intersections near the festival.

    — Michelle Myers, Rob Tornoe, Henry Savage

    // Pinned

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 9:15pm

    Ivory Coast defeats Ecuador in first-ever Philly World Cup match

    Ivory Coast’s Amad Diallo is congratulated by teammates after scoring the lone goal in a 1-0 victory over Ecuador Sunday in Philly.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    Amad Diallo will go down in the annals of Philadelphia sports history as the first goalscorer in a World Cup hosted in the City of Brotherly Love. More importantly, his first-time shot in the 90th minute sealed three points in Ivory Coast’s Group E opener against Ecuador on a beautiful night for soccer inside Lincoln Financial Field.

    He broke the hearts of a pro-Ecuadorian crowd of 68,274 who sang, cheered and for some even cried to take part in a game that is arguably the biggest sporting event the venue has ever held.

    Next up for Ivory Coast, a trip to Toronto to face Germany on Saturday (4 p.m., Fox29), before making their return to Philadelphia to take on World Cup first-timers Curacao on June 25 (4 p.m., FS1).

    Ecuador is also back in action this Saturday against Curacao in Kansas City (8 p.m., FS1)

    — Kerith Gabriel

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 9:12pm

    Ivory Coast fans go wild

    Thousands of cheering fans bathed in stadium lights at Lincoln Financial Field could been seen through a gap between stadium walls from across the street at Stateside Live!

    Inside the food court a sea of yellow shirts populated the tables and bars. As Ivory Coast scored, a small but rowdy crew cheered loudly, pumped fists in the air and slapped each other as Ecuador fans sighed.

    “Ivory Coast! Ivory Coast! Ivory Coast!” the crew chanted inside, through the doors and out on the patio. They passed two people dressed in green and orange, the two groups screamed excitedly at each other, and the original chanters went on their way through the patio.

    Fans also celebrated Ivory Coast’s 1-0 victory outside FIFA’s Fan Festival at Lemon Hill in Fairmount Park.

    With the final whistle, thousands of people – some cheering after an Ivory Coast win, others with their heads hung low after the Ecuadorian loss – walked in calm crowds to the exit.

    Within half an hour, crowds walked back to their cars, rideshare pickup zones, and SEPTA and PHLASH bus stops with no issue.

    As opposing teams fans walked by each other they shook hands, laughed, and went about their night. Just an hour before, Lemon Hill was shaking with horns blasting and fans screaming.

    Now the neighborhood is returning to a calm quiet, before the party eventually picks up again during the next World Cup match.

    — Dana Munro, Henry Savage

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 8:57pm

    Ivory Coast scores, takes 1-0 lead on Ecuador

    A resounding “No” echoed through the stadium as Ecuadorian fans covered their faces in disbelieve as Ivory Coast took a 1-0 lead in their World Cup matchup in South Philly.

    Ivory Coast fans, scattered across the stadium amid a sea of yellow, screamied with emotion after Amad Diallo’s strike.

    — Michelle Myers

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 8:53pm

    Good sportsmanship in Philly during tense game

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 8:38pm

    Ecuador and Ivory Coast remain scoreless, but fans remain confident

    Ahmadou Dia holds the Ivory Coast flag above him at FIFA Fan Festival on Sunday, June 14, 2026.Henry Savage

    With the score still 0-0, Ecuador and Ivory Coast fans at FIFA Fan Festival were just as confident as they started the match.

    “The first half was 50-50 in terms of possession. It was a great first half,” said Ivory Coast-born Philadelphian Ahmadou Dia. “But the second half, we will for sure beat them.”

    At halftime, crowds at Fan Festival flocked to the bathrooms, food vendors, and interactive exhibits to pass the time as DJs on the main stage kept the remaining crowd jumping.

    Martin Alfaro, who has Honduran heritage, said he’s cheering for Ecuador, as Honduras doesn’t usually qualify for the World Cup. While Ecuador didn’t seal the deal in the first half, he’s optimistic they’ll score in the second. But, if they do, he’s preparing for the entire Ecuadorian fan section to “lose their minds.”

    “I love that it’s 0-0 still, and I think, we’re hoping for a goal, but I’m afraid that if Ecuador does score, everyone’s going to lose their minds celebrating,” Alfaro said.

    — Henry Savage

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 8:22pm

    Ecuador fans also flood famed German beer hall in Philly

    Soccer fans watch Ecuador take on the Ivory Coast at Brauhaus Schmitz on South Street Sunday.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    With the score still zero-zero the Caddick family eagerly watched the screen and rang red, black and yellow cowbells at Brauhaus Schmitz on South Street when Ecuador closed in on the net.

    Karina Caddick, a 56-year-old Horsham resident, was born in Ecuador, just outside Guayaquil, a port city and the country’s largest metropolis. She moved when she was only one year old, but her family instilled in her the importance of soccer to the national culture.

    To watch her native country’s team compete on her home country’s soil is quite special, she said.

    “It’s unbelievable that we’re able to watch here,” Caddick said. “To be in Philadelphia and see all the yellow shirts, it’s incredible.”

    Seeing all the Ecuador fans on the train into the city on Sunday and exploring the tourist attractions around Center City and Old City was especially inspiring, she said.

    “It’s cool. It’s like what are the odds that Ecuador is playing in the city that we live,” said 23-year-old Kayla Caddick, a recent Temple graduate and Old City resident.

    Not everyone gets the hype.

    “Why does everyone like soccer so much,” one young man asked his friend as he walked down South Street outside Brauhaus.

    For those with familial attachments to one of the participating countries outside the U.S., the answer is obvious.

    “Soccer is everything to Ecuador. It is the main sport. It’s their spirit. It’s what calls them,” said Karina Caddick.

    — Maggie Prosser

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 8:00pm

    At the World Cup, picking $20 beer over $20 chicken tenders

    The price of concessions at Lincoln Financial Field for Sunday’s World Cup match.Michelle My

    With fries and beer in the $20 range, fans are having to pick between eating or drinking at the stadium.

    For Ecuadorian resident Sebastian Muller, 49, the idea of spending $19.49 on chicken tenders feels ridiculous, and paying almost $7 for a water that will cost him less than a dollar back home, even more.

    Beer on the other hand, he couldn’t do without.

    He put aside his hunger and bought a $20.85 craft beer.

    “Prices are really high, but I still had to buy the beer,” Muller said. “It’s tradition, you can’t watch a match without the beer.”

    The sentiment resonated with Jared Chiliquinga, 31, and his brother Rommel, 41.

    They came from New Jersey and are used to the MetLife Stadium food prices, they said.

    “I usually pay $10 for a can,” Jared said. “But what we can’t watch the game without beer, even if we have to pay more than $50 for two cans,” Rommel added.

    The siblings opted for no water or food so they don’t miss out on the beer.

    Cynthia Argueta, 29, was not into following their steps, but also didn’t want to give up on the beer.

    The New Jersey resident spent nearly $40 to buy herself a hot dog, a bottle of water, and a beer.

    “The hot dog tastes very basic,” Argueta said. “but I am starving so I have to eat, and they don’t let you bring water so I have to buy it here.”

    — Michelle Myers

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 7:54pm

    Philadelphia finally gets its big World Cup moment, and looks amazing

    Soccer fans cheer at Lincoln Financial Field with the Philly skyline in the background. Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    IRVINE, Calif. – As the minutes ticked down toward kickoff, I was sitting in my hotel room while on the road covering the U.S. team. Then a moment came that I’ve been waiting years to see.

    For a few seconds, the broadcast showed a drone shot from above the south stands, with a view stretching past Citizens Bank Park and on to the Center City skyline.

    Philadelphia, you look amazing.

    Soccer fans cheer during the national anthems before the World Cup match between Ecuador and Ivory Coast.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    I still remember the day 15 years ago when FIFA punched the U.S. in the gut and gave the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. Though it didn’t take long to learn how much alleged bribery and corruption there was, that specific moment is still vivid in my mind, especially for those of us who’d gathered at Tir na Nóg in Center City to watch the announcement.

    It would be another eight years before the combined bid of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico finally prevailed to bring the 2026 tournament here, in 2018. And Philadelphia wasn’t picked as a host city until four years after that, in 2022.

    Now, another four years later still, the culmination has finally arrived.

    Ecuador takes the field ahead of their World Cup match against Ivory Coast in Philadelphia. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    I know not everything has gone perfectly, including the last few days for residents around the Fan Fest site. But I could tell in recent months that on the whole, the city was really embracing this moment on the global stage that’s unlike any there’s been before.

    I could tell that despite all the challenges posed by brutal visa rules for visitors and exorbitant ticket prices for everyone, Philadelphians were ready to open their arms and welcome the world to town.

    Now the world is finally here, and the party is only just beginning.

    — Jonathan Tannenwald

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 7:32pm

    ‘When we say sea of yellow, we mean it’

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 7:20pm

    In Philly, a last minute referee substutition

    Referee Francois Letexier gives Ivory Coast’s Seko Fofana (6) a yellow card during Sunday’s game against Ecuador. Matt Rourke

    The referee for this game, François Letexier of France, is one of the sport’s top officials. He has done lots of big games in his career, including in the French league, the Champions League, the Olympics, last year’s Club World Cup, and the 2024 European Champions League final.

    But he wasn’t supposed to be doing this game.

    It was originally signed to England’s Michael Oliver, who would also know plenty of Ecuador and Ivory Coast’s players from his years in the Premier League. But FIFA announced on Friday that Oliver is injured.

    The announcement said it’s a minor injury, and Oliver won’t be sidelined for long. But it’s still a reminder that the referee has to run just as much in the heat and humidity as the players do.

    Letexier has a notable side job away from soccer: he’s a court officer in the French city of Rennes, where he lives. (Maybe he’ll find South Philadelphia a little familiar in a certain way.)

    FIFA selected 52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video officials from around the world for this World Cup. Eight are from the U.S., with Philadelphia’s Kathryn Nesbitt among the assistants.

    And as you may have heard, Somalia’s Omar Artan had to withdraw from the tournament after the U.S. government barred him from entering the country. Though FIFA notably did not reassign him to games in Canada or Mexico, it announced Sunday that he’ll get his full tournament pay.

    — Jonathan Tannenwald

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 7:17pm

    At the FIFA Fan Festival, an Ecuadorian singer and good vibes

    Ecuadorian fans watch Sunday night’s World Cup match at the FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill Park.Henry Savage / Staff

    Ecuadorian singer Johann Vera commanded center stage at FIFA Fan Festival on Sunday, performing directly before the 7 p.m. kick off between Ecuador and Côte d’Ivoire at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia.

    In Lemon Hill, Vera roared to the crowd, “¿Listos?” and received resounding cheers of joy in return from the crowd. Fans blared horns across the sea of thousands of yellow jerseys, showing an exceptional turnout for Ecuadorian fans. Small pockets of bright orange jerseys signaling Côte d’Ivoire fans made their presence known among the crowd.

    “I thought there were more Ivorians in Philadelphia but I guess not,” said Swann Nemin, a Temple University student from Côte d’Ivoire, visiting Fan Festival with her two Ivorian friends Ornella Kouame and Naïke M. and their friend, Phoebe Mattes, who they joke isn’t from Côte d’Ivoire but is “Ivorian by preference.”

    The World Cup brought the friend group together to dance and celebrate in a festival of people from all over the world. “I feel like it’s not only people from Ecuador but also people from South America that are cheering for Ecuador, in the same way that people from all over Africa are repping Côte d’Ivoire,” Nemin said.

    “We’re just really happy to be out here celebrating,” Kouame said. “Even if we don’t win, honestly, we’re just here to dance.”

    Aleyda Alvarado, a Fishtown resident originally from Mexico, said that while Mexico isn’t playing tonight and she admits she isn’t the biggest soccer fan, the World Cup gets her and her friends out to celebrate the heart of soccer.

    “Everyone is here from different countries, but during the World Cup, we’re all just fans,” Alvarado said before kick-off. “That’s how soccer bring people together, and what makes me love it.”

    — Henry Savage

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 7:14pm

    Jay-Z in Philly to watch Ecuador vs. Ivory Coast

    Jay-Z at the temporarily-renamed Philadelphia Stadium Sunday. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 7:13pm

    Ecuador fans take over the Linc

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 7:11pm

    Ecuador fans flood SEPTA station: ‘Vamos, vamos ecuatorianos’

    After the 5 p.m. SEPTA Orange Line express was taken out of service at Race-Vine because a door wouldn’t close, the 5:15 local train was inundated with Ecuador enthusiasts when it hit the City Hall.

    The cars were full to bursting by the time they hit Walnut-Locust, yellow jerseys shoulder to shoulder and chest to chest, men and women alike. As the train pulled out a song arose, full throat and deafening in the hot, cramped subway car:

    “¡Vamos, vamos ecuatorianos, esta noche tenemos que ganar!”

    Or:

    “Let’s go, let’s go Ecuadorians, tonight we have to win!”

    As the throng exited up the stairs of NRG Station, their hearts and voices swelled again.

    — Marcus Hayes

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 6:52pm

    Giant Lincoln Financial Field signs on stadium’s roof also covered

    Here’s what those signs on the roof normally look like:

    A view of the Lincoln Financial Field logo on the stadium’s roof.Courtesy Philadelphia Eagles
    Lincoln Financial Field will look almost unrecognizable during the World Cup

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 6:35pm

    At the Linc, issues with expensive tickets purchased on resale websites

    Jayden Quezada, 17, and his parents came to Philadelphia from Bensalem hoping for an Ecuadorian victory. But they were turned away at the door.

    “They said there were problems with our tickets because they weren’t on the FIFA app,” Quezada said. “We have been trying to fix it for the last four hours.”

    Last night, the trio spend $4,350 to get three tickets through the TickPick app. But, by the time they arrived to the stadium at 1 p.m., the tickets were yet to be transferred to their FIFA app.

    As his mom passed on the phone, trying to reach a TickPick representative, Quezada fears his parents won’t be able to see their national team.

    “They have been the biggest fans since before I was born and they don’t get to go back often because of work,” Quezada said. “We are probably going to try to get a refund but missing the game would be really sad because we were looking forward to feeling the Ecuadorian pride.”

    The Quezada’s weren’t the only ones struggling. In a line of over 50 people, fans waited for help with their failed tickets.

    Spanish speakers Monica Rojas, 22, and her friend Jose Avil, were concussed on what to do after the ticket office explained the problem with their ticket in English.

    The pair drove two hours from New York, after buying a pair of tickets on Stubhub for $2,000 including parking.

    After a FIFA volunteer interpreter intervine, the pair found out their tickets had been refunded, despite having a fifa confirmation email.

    “I don’t know what we are doing to do,” Avil said. “It feels defeating, now all we have is the tickets and the desire to watch them.”

    — Michelle Myers

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 5:57pm

    Ecuador fans are taking over the stadium

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 5:00pm

    ‘I’m actually an Eagles fan’: World Cup fans hit the tailgating lots in Philly

    Three months from now, the South Philadelphia Sports Complex will be covered in Eagles green as fans hit the tailgating lots to prepare for their home opener in September. But, for now, the lots surrounding the temporarily renamed Philadelphia Stadium were engulfed with fans from Ecuador getting ready for Philly’s first World Cup match.

    Although the environment looked a little different from Philly’s typical football Sundays, the tailgating culture was still alive and well on a more international level.

    “I’m actually an Eagles fan,” said 18-year-old Ecuador native Natalia Vegas. “I’ve been here a couple times to watch the football games. I’ve tailgated once. It’s also crazy. Everybody is so prideful to be Eagles fans. So it’s kind of the same thing, being prideful as an Ecuador fan.”

    With Ecuador facing off against the Ivory Coast for the first of six matches in Philly, both international and local soccer fans came in hordes to witness the historic sporting event making its way to the city.

    “It’s been amazing,” said Ivory Coast native Abdoul Ouattra. “Everybody has been really nice to me. I’ve seen a bunch of Ecuadorians. I thought I was going to be intimidated but they were quite welcoming and said whatever happens, we’re friends. So, I love that.”

    — Ariel Simpson

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 4:54pm

    ‘We have to follow the team to every game’

    There is no length Ecuadorian native Pacho Flores wouldn’t go for his national team.

    Despite living in New York City, Flores, 62, and his family of eight paid $650 dollars each to watch “La tri” play in Philly.

    “It’s the most beautiful thing in the world,” Flores said. “We have to follow the team to every game. It’s a blessing to have them play so close.”

    Despite the 90 degree weather, Flores and his son, Alex, danced wearing a thickly knit Diablo Uma masks — an indigenous protective spiritual figure from the highlands of Ecuador— to represent his native town of Cañar.

    “It’s not that hot inside the mask, and it’s worth it because we have to win, at least 3 to 0,” Alex said wiping sweat of his for head. “Either way, we will still live the team,” Flores added.

    No matter the score, the family won’t have too much time to celebrate. They leave New York City tomorrow morning to pack for the next Ecuadorian game in Kansas City Saturday against Curaçao.

    — Michelle Myers

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 3:50pm

    Ecuador fans get traditional at Stateside Live

    Out front of Stateside Live, a group of Ecuador fans dressed in regional traditional clothing held their own mini flash mob ahead of the first World Cup match in Philly.

    Among the dancers was 22-year-old Juliana Padilla, who stepped in last minute to join the flash mob from New York. After days of practicing, Padilla was excited to finally show off Ecuador’s culture ahead of the team’s World Cup match.

    “We wanted to represent Latin America,” Padilla said. “We’re wearing the regional, traditional gear. We wanted to bring it to the people here to feel connected with their roots.”

    — Ariel Simpson

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 3:19pm

    Fans begin making their way to the stadium

    Four hours ahead of tonight’s Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador match at a rebranded Linc, Ecuadorian fans arrive at NRG station chanting: “Let’s go Ecuadorians for we must win tonight.”

    — Michelle Myers

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 7:35pm

    Thunderstorms in Philly could interrupt tonight’s World Cup match

    Ecuadorian fans flood Lincoln Financial Field Sunday night for the city’s first-ever World Cup match. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    Severe thunderstorms could make their way through the Philadelphia region later this evening, potentially catching the tail end of tonight’s World Cup match between Ivory Coast and Ecuador.

    The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Philadelphia and the surrounding counties Sunday evening that will remain in effect until 1 a.m. Monday morning.

    The most organized swath of thunderstorms are expected to move through the area between 9 p.m. and midnight, potentially bringing severe gusty winds and heavy rain, according to Jessica Storm, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Mt. Holly office.

    A tornado is also possible, as it isolated hail up to the size of a quarter.

    FIFA will pause play if there is a lightning strike within eight miles of the stadium. The match will remain paused for 30 minutes, with any subsequent lightning strikes resetting the clock.

    The FIFA Fan Fest at Lemon Hill Park in Fairmount would also be forced to close if lightning is detected within an eight-mile radius. Fans would need to exit the grounds and move to a safe location, FIFA said in a statement, and could re-enter after 30 minutes if no additional lightning is detected.

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 2:37pm

    How Australia blew the U.S. group wide open

    IRVINE, Calif. — Since the game ended at 2 in the morning Philadelphia time, you might have been asleep when Australia’s win over Turkey ended.

    Then again, if you’re enough of a soccer diehard, you might well have stayed up to be sure you watched all four of Saturday’s games live.

    Regardless, the Socceroos’ 2-0 upset in Vancouver blows the United States’ group wide open. Now those two teams have three points each, with the U.S. in first place on goal difference by +3 to +2. (That’s what made Gio Reyna’s late strike in the 4-1 win over Paraguay actually important, not just a cherry on top.)

    It also makes Friday’s U.S.-Australia game in Seattle an even bigger deal than it already was. American fans have been waiting ever since the draw to watch their team in one of the nation’s best soccer cities, and now the game has huge stakes.

    The winner will be in the driver’s seat to take first place. And if the U.S. prevails, it will only need a draw against Turkey in the June 25 finale back in Los Angeles to win the group.

    — Jonathan Tannenwald

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 1:49pm

    An all-time World Cup underdog moment

    Curacao players celebrate after scoring during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Germany and Curacao in Houston, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Eric Gay / AP

    If you just saw Curaçao score a tying goal against Germany, you need to understand just how wild it was.

    The island nation, a former Netherlands territory, is the smallest country ever to qualify for a World Cup by both population (just over 150,000 people) and land mass (171 square miles).

    Germany, by contrast, is a four-time World Cup champion and three-time European champion.

    Curaçao’s squad is built mainly of players in global diasporas who have family roots on the island. None of the 26 men play in the world’s five best domestic leagues: the top divisions in England, Spain, Germany, Italy, and France. They pulled off an upset in qualifying too, with a scoreless tie at Jamaica (including Union goalkeeper Andre Blake) on the last day that clinched their World Cup ticket.

    Germany, by contrast, has 25 of its 26 players in those circuits — and the other one plays for a bit team in Turkey after many years in the League and Bundesliga.

    As I was writing this post, watching the game on TV while on the road covering the U.S. team, Germany just retook the lead. But I promise, those big sections of Blue Sharks fans at the stadium in Houston are having the time of their lives. And everyone around North and Central America who appreciates Curaçao’s underdog story is rooting for them.

    Meet the ‘Blue Wave’ that will carry Curaçao’s all-time World Cup underdog story to Philly

    — Jonathan Tannenwald

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 1:26pm

    What to know if you’re going to the FIFA Fan Festival

    Soccer fans gather to watch Mexico play South Africa on a giant screen during the opening day of the FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill on Thursday, June 11, 2026, in Philadelphia.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    A crowd packed with thousands of cheering fans, the 60-foot-wide screen playing the latest fiery matchup, and dozens upon dozens of food vendors await the FIFA Fan Festival, the cheapest and most immersive way to enjoy the 2026 World Cup in Philadelphia.

    The Fan Festival is open daily to 15,000 fans, for free, to roam the million square feet of festival grounds that have transformed quaint Lemon Hill into an almost unrecognizable extravaganza of global soccer.

    The main spectacle is the 60-foot screen that takes over the main stage in Lemon Hill, where the majority of fans will congregate to watch the match. But, throughout the festival are multiple smaller screens playing the game, so fans don’t miss a moment when they roam for food, fun, or the bathroom.

    “Even if you’re not a soccer fan, you can still come out and have a great time,” said Michael DelBene, executive producer of FIFA Fan Festival for Philadelphia Soccer 2026. “You can come and listen to music or eat delicious food, or shop.”

    The festival is intended for fans of all ages and promises to be kid and family friendly.

    Here’s what you need to know before you go, including how to register (it’s free but you still must register for entry). Once inside, here’s what else you can expect, from food and like music to amenities and accessibility.

    — Henry Savage, Isabel Maney

    Here’s what’s inside the FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill Park

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 11:45am

    An active Union player finally played in a World Cup game

    Scotland’s Lawrence Shankland (20), and Haiti’s Danley Jean Jacques (17) battle for the ball during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Haiti and Scotland in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)Martin Meissner

    Halfway through the Union’s 17th season, midfielder Danley Jean Jacques became the first active player from the club to play in a World Cup.

    Jean Jacques started for Haiti on Saturday night against Scotland in Foxborough, Mass., in what was also Haiti’s first men’s World Cup game since 1974 and Scotland’s first since 1998.

    Haiti lost the game, 1-0, but played well, outshooting Scotland 15-9 and holding a majority of the possession. Jean Jacques was often at the center of the action, with four tackles, two clearances, one interception, eight duels won in 12 contested, and 44-of-53 passing.

    The 26-year-old from the small coastal town of Petit-Goâve is in his third season with the Union. He has been a regular with Les Grenadiers since 2023, earning his 31st cap for the country in this game.

    Jean Jacques is the third active Union player to be on a World Cup team. The first was right back Olivier Mbaizo, who made Cameroon’s squad four years ago but did not play.

    While he can now claim the title as the first, the Union have been close before, and Jean Jacques was nearly beat by one of his current teammates.

    A history of Philadelphia and the Union at the World Cup

    — Jonathan Tannenwald

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 10:24am

    The World Cup team calling the Philly area home

    Members of the Ivory Coast national football team react while watching the Sixers Stixers drum line perform following their practice at Subaru Park in Chester, Pa. on Friday, June 12, 2026Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    The waterfronts of Chester and Wilmington are roughly 5,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean from Abidjan, the Ivory Coast’s largest city. But, for at least three weeks during the FIFA World Cup, the Ivorian men’s national team will call the banks of the Delaware River home.

    Les Éléphants hosted an open training session at Subaru Park on Friday evening, two days before they begins their World Cup campaign with a match against Ecuador at Philadelphia Stadium (aka Lincoln Financial Field) on Sunday (7 p.m., FS1).

    Ivory Coast is the only nation scheduled to play at the Linc twice during the World Cup’s group stage, and it is the only team that will stay and train in the Delaware Valley during the tournament.

    The team has set up its base camp at Hotel Du Pont in Wilmington and will train at Subaru Park in Chester.

    Ivory Coast’s open training session Friday evening was the second free event it has staged for the Philadelphia community. Les Éléphants beat Union II, 2-0, in a tuneup friendly on Monday that was open to the public.

    As Philly prepares for its World Cup kickoff, Ivory Coast hosted an open training

    — Owen Hewitt

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 10:12am

    Ecuador fans take over the Art Museum steps before World Cup kickoff

    Ecuadorian soccer fans show support for their national team ahead of Sunday’s game against Ivory Coast.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    After decades living in New Jersey, Ecuadorian native Magaly Moreira, 60, said she had never seen such a display of her country’s people.

    “It fills me with happiness, pride, and so much joy,” Moreira said, Ecuadorian flags painted on her face. “It’s our opportunity for us and the players to represent Ecuador.”

    She was one of thousands of Ecuadorians attending “El banderazo Ecuatoriano” outside the Art Museum. An event organized by group +593 (the country’s international calling code) that made fans put aside the traditional “Ecuadorian hour” to show up more than on time to support their team.

    “Ecuador, Ecuador, Ecuador, vamos Ecuador,” resounded through the Rocky steps as the fans chanted, many sporting the Ecuadorian soccer jersey.

    Defeating the heat, a crowd of all ages — from newborns to seniors — cheered and danced to the traditional highland dance “Zapateando Juyayay,” showcasing pride for their country, waving flags, and hugging each other with hope.

    With a broken leg and dragging a wheelchair, Darío Galarza and his friend Marco Gallardo flew in from Ecuador two days ago to support their home team. They did not expect to see such an outpouring for their national team.

    “The U.S. is accessible for us because we share the same currency and it isn’t far, but we didn’t expect to see so many people,” Gallardo said.

    For Galarza, skipping the World Cup wasn’t an option. After undergoing surgery for his leg last month, he made it a point to be as recovered as possible to fly to Philadelphia.

    “I guess it’s true, you will always find an Ecuadorian in every corner of the world,” Galarza said. “At least I knew it was going to be me because I wasn’t missing this for the world.”

    As a man inside a guinea pig costume began a conga line around the Rocky statue, 77-year-old Ecuadorian Francisco Castellanos couldn’t help but reflect on the wonder of seeing so many Ecuadorians together and the weight of representation.

    “There are so many of us here that now we must win,” Castellanos said. “Whatever it takes,” he added, as the crowd erupted chanting the Ecuadorian national anthem.

    Fans celebrate ahead of the first Wold Cup match in Philly

    — Michelle Myers

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 9:55am

    Everything you need to know about the World Cup in Philly

    The first World Cup game in Philadelphia is Sunday night.

    Nine nations will compete in five group stage matches over the next two weeks, plus two more in a knockout game on July 4. Here’s what you need to know about those countries — and what those fans need to know about Philly …

    Philly World Cup: Schedule, transportation, storylines, controversies, and everything you need to know

    — Matt Mullin

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 9:26am

    Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador: Start time, TV details

    Former Union announcer JP Dellacamera will call Philadelphia’s first World Cup game.Fox Sports

    The first of six World Cup matches will take place Sunday night in Philadelphia, with Ivory Coast taking on Ecuador (7 pm., FS1) in Group E action.

    Group E also includes Germany, which most experts predict will make it out of the group stage. So tonight’s match could be an early look at who finishes in second place (no offense to Curacao, the smallest country to ever qualify for the World Cup, edging out Iceland).

    It seems like Ivory Coast will be the natural team for fans in the Delaware Valley to root for, outside the U.S. It’s the only country scheduled to play two matches in Philadelphia (they’ll take on Curacao on June 25), has made Hotel Du Pont in Wilmington it’s home away from home, and is training at Subaru Park in Chester.

    Calling the game on FS1 tonight is JP Dellacamera, the TV voice of the Philadelphia Union until 2022, when MLS moved their games onto Apple TV. Alongside Dellacamera will be former U.S. women’s national team midfielder and one-time Philadelphia Independence fan favorite Lori Lindsey.

    Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador

    • Time: 7 p.m. Philly time
    • Location: Philadelphia Stadium (Lincoln Financial Field)
    • TV: FS1 (JP Dellacamera, Lori Lindsey)
    • Spanish: Telemundo
    • Streaming: Tubi, Fox One

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 9:22am

    Philadelphia 2026 World Cup schedule

    Lincoln Financial Field has been transformed into “Philadelphia Stadium” for the World Cup.Kerith Gabriel

    Philly will host at least nine teams and six World Cup games, beginning with Sunday’s match between Ivory Coast and Ecuador.

    It’s highly unlikely the U.S. will end up in Philly during the Round of 16 on July 4, but it’s not impossible. Here’s what would need to happen.

    Here’s Philly’s full World Cup schedule:

    • Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador: Sunday, June 14, 7 p.m. (FS1)
    • Brazil vs. Haiti: Friday, June 19, 9 p.m. (Fox)
    • France vs. Iraq: Monday, June 22, 5 p.m. (Fox)
    • Curacao vs. Ivory Coast: Thursday, June 25, 4 p.m. (FS1)
    • Croatia vs. Ghana: Saturday, June 27, 5 p.m. (FS1)
    • Round of 16: Saturday, July 4, 5 p.m. (FOX)

    — Rob Tornoe

    Today’s World Cup TV schedule

    Four World Cup games will take place Sunday.Jonathan Tannenwald

    Here is today’s schedule of World Cup games and their Philadelphia start time:

    • Germany vs. Curaçao: 1 p.m., Houston, Group E (Fox, Telemundo)
    • Netherlands vs. Japan: 4 p.m., Arlington, Tx., Group F (Fox, Telemundo)
    • Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador: 7 p.m., Philadelphia, Group E (FS1, Telemundo)
    • Sweden vs. Tunisa: 10 p.m., Guadalupe, Mexico, Group F (FS1, Telemundo)

    — Rob Tornoe

    // Timestamp 06/14/26 9:01am