All articles tagged with #contenders
With one week until the trade deadline, CBS Sports' MLB Power Rankings place the Dodgers and Brewers atop a surprisingly large pool of contenders, as teams across the league weigh how much future value to mortgage for a shot at the playoffs amid an expanded postseason. From Astros and Twins to Padres and Marlins, many clubs sit just out of the final spots, fueling a hectic, rumor-filled scramble before the deadline.
After one round of matches in the expanded 48-team World Cup, the field has been re-ranked from top to bottom, moving France to No. 1 while keeping Brazil, England, Argentina, and the United States in the contenders tier. The article divides teams into tiers from 'happy to be here' to 'dark horses,' highlighting pivotal results (USA’s 4-1 win, Portugal’s draw, Ecuador’s drop, Morocco and Japan showing form) and noting that the majority of third-place teams remain in contention, keeping the knockout picture highly fluid ahead of the next gamedays.
An analyst divides the league into eight tiers after a flurry of deals, with Tier 1 led by the Rams, Seahawks, and Broncos as clear front-runners; Tier 2 features true title contenders like the Patriots, Bills, Ravens, and Eagles but with questions; Tier 3 includes Bengals, Texans, Bears, and Jaguars; Tier 4 contains dangerous teams Chiefs, Packers, Lions, and 49ers; Tier 5 flags the Chargers and Cowboys on the playoff bubble; Tier 6 covers Steelers, Colts, Giants, and Commanders needing health and luck; Tier 7 adds Saints and Titans as fringe playoff hopefuls; Tier 8 lists the Raiders, Jets, Dolphins, Browns, and Cardinals as likely eyeing 2027 draft position.
An NBA analyst argues the next American-born MVP is likely years away, noting the last American MVP was James Harden in 2018 and that recent winners have been foreign-born or not top-10 draftees. With Victor Wembanyama rising, the piece surveys current and future American contenders—Edwards, Ball, Cunningham, Tatum—and newer prospects like Cooper Flagg and Cameron Boozer, plus longer-shot teens, ranking Boozer as the top bet to become the next American MVP, followed by Flagg, Cunningham, Edwards, Holmgren, Ball, and Darryn Peterson. It also mentions the 65-game eligibility rule that could extend Wembanyama’s own MVP chances.
IndieWire surveys the Cannes 2026 Palme d’Or field, naming Pawlikowski’s Fatherland, Hamaguchi’s All of a Sudden, Fukada’s Nagi Notes, Bourgeois-Tacquet’s A Woman’s Life, and Salvadori’s The Electric Kiss as early bets, while Farhadi’s Parallel Tales earns polarized notices; the festival opened with The Electric Kiss, several titles have drawn strong reactions or standing ovations (including two Japanese entries), and 18 competition titles remain to be evaluated by a jury led by Park Chan-wook, whose varied tastes could shift the odds. Buzzier Un Certain Regard titles Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma and Club Kid are not in competition yet, underscoring how unpredictable the race remains.
An expert-led PGA Championship 2026 Big Board at Aronimink centers world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler as the favorite to defend his title, but faces a star-studded field led by Cameron Young, Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick, Jon Rahm (LIV), Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau and more. The piece frames majors as a test of elite form and notes Kerry Haigh’s course setups tend to identify the week’s winner, keeping Scheffler in the mix but far from a certainty.
Aronimink Golf Club outside Philadelphia hosts the 108th PGA Championship for the first time since 1962, a layout with more than 170 bunkers, heavy fairway slopes and large greens that test elite ball-striking. The field is star-heavy and largely chalk-driven, with Rory McIlroy returning from the Masters, Scottie Scheffler chasing more majors, and a deep list of contenders including Cameron Young, Matt Fitzpatrick, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and others, along with LIV-linked players and veteran challengers. Expect a week that favors precision and approach play, while still leaving room for surprises, with the action kicking off Thursday at 6:45 a.m. ET.
A preview of Preakness Week 2026 highlights seven graded stakes shaping the field, with Incredibolt entering to boost the lineup to 14 and Silent Tactic withdrawing due to a hoof problem; the piece tracks contender movement and prep notes ahead of Monday’s draw, as Pimlico’s redevelopment continues.
April's end reveals which clubs are real contenders: Dodgers and Braves sit near the top, while Padres and Pirates have surged and the Reds are waking up offensively. The Phillies slump persists, and teams like Mets, Red Sox and Angels show flashes amid ongoing injury and pitching-depth concerns, signaling a wide-open battle in both leagues.
Post free agency, the piece highlights five remaining fits (Bobby Wagner to the Buccaneers, Tyreek Hill to the Chiefs, Joey Bosa to the 49ers, Kirk Cousins to the Raiders, Jauan Jennings to the Bills) with Aaron Rodgers noted as a not-ranked Steelers possibility, then provides a pre-draft look at five teams likely to contend for a Super Bowl in 2026 (Bills, Chiefs, Broncos, Rams, 49ers) and five teams likely aiming for the 2027 draft (Raiders, Browns, Jets, Cardinals, Dolphins), underscoring how rosters and the draft will shape near-term success and long-term outlooks.
A post-free agency NFL power rankings piece places Seattle atop the board, highlighting smart veteran signings and scheme-fit moves over splashy deals as the key to sustaining success, and evaluates how early offseason moves across the league—such as those by the Rams, Broncos, 49ers, Chiefs, Bills, and Commanders—could reshape the contenders landscape for 2026.
With under two months left in the regular season, NBA.com highlights six teams—Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Oklahoma City Thunder, and San Antonio Spurs—as the contenders for the league’s best, each with distinct strengths and drawbacks: Celtics benefit from Jaylen Brown’s breakout and strong coaching while awaiting Jayson Tatum’s return; Cavaliers rely on Donovan Mitchell with Harden’s addition to unlock Mobley/Allen; Nuggets boast a high ceiling despite injuries and defensive concerns; Pistons feature Cade Cunningham in MVP-territory and a stingy defense; Thunder stay deep and balanced with Shai leading; Spurs ride Victor Wembanyama and a versatile supporting cast. No obvious frontrunner yet as the stretch run unfolds.
An SB Nation piece ranks nine teams with a realistic shot at the 2026 NBA Finals, led by the Oklahoma City Thunder (even with Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander sidelined by an abdominal issue); following them are the Denver Nuggets, whose health remains a concern around Jokic, Murray and Gordon; third are the San Antonio Spurs buoyed by Victor Wembanyama’s impact and a strong defense; fourth the Detroit Pistons anchored by Cade Cunningham and a defensive identity but shooting gaps; fifth the New York Knicks, whose offense shines yet defense and health factor in; sixth the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Edwards and Gobert anchoring a solid defense; seventh the Boston Celtics, featuring Brown stepping up and a strong defensive foundation; eighth the Cleveland Cavaliers, which added James Harden to bolster playmaking at the deadline; ninth the Houston Rockets, a young, improving team with potential. The piece notes that playoff outcomes will hinge on health, depth, and timely performances as the race unfolds.
SB Nation ranks eight national championship contenders for the 2026 NCAA men’s tournament, with Michigan No. 1 ahead of Duke, Houston, Arizona, Purdue, Florida, Iowa State, and Illinois; the piece discusses how NIL and the transfer portal have reshaped rosters and profiles key players like Keaton Wagler (Illinois), Joshua Jefferson (Iowa State), Walter Clayton Jr. (Florida), Braden Smith (Purdue), Koa Peat and Brayden Burries (Arizona), Kingston Flemings (Houston), Cam Boozer (Duke), and Michigan’s transfer-led frontcourt and depth as it nears Selection Sunday.
The 2026 deadline underscored a money‑first approach under the NBA’s apron, with owners winning while fans lose as teams prioritized payroll flexibility over immediate upgrades. Notable moves included the Cavaliers acquiring Harden to boost title odds, the Clippers pivoting to youth and draft capital by swapping Harden and Zubac, the Bulls landing Vucevic to shore up the frontcourt, and Washington trading for Anthony Davis amid questions of fit and patience; Minnesota added Ayo Dosunmu at the cost of Rob Dillingham, OKC gaining draft leverage, Houston staying quiet, and Golden State strengthening its playoff push by moving Kuminga for Kristaps Porziņis. Giannis’s future remains unresolved.