All articles tagged with #wild card
Boston capped a nine-game win streak with a 3-2, 10-inning comeback over the Mets, entering the All-Star break at 46-48 and just a half-game out of the wild-card spot with 68 games remaining, following a 9-0 road trip that opened the playoff path.
At 44, Serena Williams’ Wimbledon return ended with a three-set loss to 20-year-old Maya Joint in the first round, and she declined to speak to reporters after the match, issuing a written statement via organizers; the wildcard appearance drew discussion over media obligations, though many praised her competitive effort and reminders of her enduring fire to win.
Serena Williams said she wasn’t sure about playing Wimbledon singles and only decided to accept the last singles wild card a day before the deadline, after returning previously in doubles with Venus; she acknowledges nerves but views the opportunity as a potential career highlight and a chance to showcase her game at Wimbledon.
Serena Williams, 44, will start her Wimbledon comeback with a wildcard entry in singles, drawing 20-year-old Maya Joint in the first round—the American legend’s first Wimbledon singles match in nearly four years. Williams will also compete in doubles with sister Venus. Joint, ranked No. 53 and Wimbledon debutant last year, represents Australia through her father. If Williams advances, she could face top rivals in later rounds, continuing her historic comeback after last playing singles at the 2022 US Open.
Serena Williams has accepted a wild card into Wimbledon’s singles main draw, marking her first professional singles match since retiring after the 2022 U.S. Open; she will also play doubles with Venus as she attempts a high-profile comeback into a tougher, deeper field.
Serena Williams will compete in Wimbledon 2026 as the final ladies' singles wildcard, marking a high-profile comeback at age 44 after nearly four years away from tennis. She’ll also play doubles with Venus Williams, with first-round opponent to be revealed on Friday after the draws. Williams is a 23-time Grand Slam champion, including seven Wimbledon singles titles, and recently appeared in tune-ups in Berlin ahead of Wimbledon.
Serena Williams will play singles at Wimbledon 2026 after receiving a wild-card entry, marking a high-profile return to singles competition since the 2022 US Open. After rejoining the tour with doubles alongside Venus, she now faces the singles challenge on Centre Court, a milestone driven by her ongoing comeback and the chance for her kids to watch her play, with expectations high but the focus on competing and enjoying the moment.
Serena Williams will return to Wimbledon after four years to team with Venus Williams in the women’s doubles via a wild-card entry, reuniting their successful Wimbledon partnership; neither sister is planned for singles this year, though a singles wildcard remains unallocated. If the duo wins, they would set a record for the oldest combined age of a Grand Slam-winning team. The piece also notes Wimbledon’s relatively open wild-card approach and lists other current wild-card allocations for singles and doubles across both genders.
With less than seven days left in the 2025-26 regular season, seven playoff spots remain and two division titles are still up for grabs as East and West races tighten. Buffalo leads the Atlantic with Montreal and Tampa Bay close behind, while Carolina has clinched the Metropolitan Division; in the West, Colorado tops the Central and Edmonton and Vegas pace a razor-tight Pacific, with several teams still vying for wild-card spots.
Mike Tomlin closed out his 19-year Steelers tenure with a classy gesture, sharing a respectful mic’d moment with DeMeco Ryans before their wild-card loss and then a warm postgame handshake, as he announced he would be stepping down as Steelers coach.
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Tyrell Shavers tore his ACL during the team’s Wild Card win over the Jaguars and will miss the rest of the postseason, head coach Sean McDermott said. He returned to finish the game with one catch for 14 yards and more than half the snaps. In 2025 Shavers stepped into a larger role with 23 catches for 245 yards and a touchdown. Buffalo also announced that Gabe Davis tore his ACL in the same game. The Bills are exploring WR help, opening Curtis Samuel’s practice window while Mecole Hardman Jr. remains on the practice squad and Kristian Wilkerson and Stephen Gosnell are in the loop for depth.
The Steelers were eliminated from the playoffs with a 30-6 loss to the Texans in the Wild Card at Acrisure Stadium; Pittsburgh’s offense struggled on third down, failed to convert turnovers into points, and could not sustain drives, while Houston controlled the game with effective execution. Coach Mike Tomlin called the performance disappointing but credited Houston’s defense, and players like T.J. Watt spoke about missed opportunities and looking ahead to next season.
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle suffered a torn Achilles in their 23-19 wild-card win over the Philadelphia Eagles, exiting in the second quarter after his lone catch. With Kittle out, Jake Tonges became the starting tight end, while Demarcus Robinson and Christian McCaffrey led the receiving effort; the 49ers have battled injuries at multiple positions this season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers host the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card at Acrisure Stadium on Jan. 12, 2026 at 8:15 p.m. ET, with ABC/ESPN on TV and FOX/ESPN+ streaming; Houston brings a top-tier defense and strong turnover margin behind QB C.J. Stroud and WR Nico Collins, while Pittsburgh relies on a balanced offense and home-field edge as both teams pursue a playoff win.
Green Bay is reportedly set to extend head coach Matt LaFleur after a disappointing wild-card loss to the Chicago Bears. ESPN says Packers president Ed Policy is weighing the extension; LaFleur, 76-40-1 in seven seasons with a 3-6 playoff record, finishes the year 9-7-1. Jordan Love has backed keeping LaFleur, while external coaching chatter and GM Brian Gutekunst’s one-year status add to the off-season backdrop.