Sports

Avalanche sign Cale Makar to 8-year, $163.2 million extension — largest contract in NHL history

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1 hour ago

August 28, 2026

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Cale Makar comes to a halt after passing the puck during a Colorado Avalanche game.

Cale Makar is already one of the most decorated players in Colorado franchise history. Ethan Miller / Getty Images

The Colorado Avalanche have signed star defenseman Cale Makar to an eight-year, $163.2 million contract extension, his agency announced on Friday.

The deal is the largest in NHL history, as is the $20.4 million average annual value.

The 27-year-old Makar, drafted No. 4 in 2017, is already one of the most decorated players in franchise history. Since debuting in the Stanley Cup playoffs and scoring in his first game, he has won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year, the Norris Trophy twice as the league’s top defenseman, a Stanley Cup championship and the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP. He has been a Norris finalist each of the past six seasons. Internationally, he was on Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off-winning team in 2025 and won silver at the 2026 Olympics.

Makar registered 20 goals and 79 points in 75 games last season, helping the Avalanche to the Presidents’ Trophy with the NHL’s best record. He dealt with an injury in the playoffs that kept him out of the first two games of the Western Conference final, which Colorado lost in four games to the Vegas Golden Knights. In 2024-25, he won the Norris and became the league’s first defenseman to score 30 goals in a season since Mike Green in 2008-09.

Arguably, Makar’s most impressive season came in 2021-22. He won the Norris with 28 goals and 86 points in 77 games, then had 29 points in 20 playoff games as Colorado captured the Stanley Cup.

“We’re lucky because we’re watching greatness,” then-teammate Erik Johnson said during that postseason run.

Makar is entering the final season of a six-year deal annually worth $9 million, after which his extension will kick in.

This story will be updated.

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How to watch Phillies vs. Angels: TV channel and streaming options for August 28

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3 minutes ago

August 28, 2026

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Aug. 28, 2026 Updated 6:20 pm EDT

The Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Angels clash on Friday at 9:38 p.m. ET, opening a three-game series at Angel Stadium. Andrew Painter (3-8, 6.04 ERA) will start for the Phillies, who are 74-60 this season and second in the NL East. Reid Detmers (4-8, 3.62 ERA) is the expected starter for the Angels, who are 52-82 and fifth in the AL West.

How to watch Philadelphia Phillies vs. Los Angeles Angels

Phillies vs. Angels odds

Favorite Moneyline: Phillies -128
Underdog Moneyline: Angels +105
Total: 8
Total Over Odds: +100
Total Under Odds: -120

Injury reports

Phillies

Rafael Marchan: 10 Day IL (Knee), Caleb Kilian: 15 Day IL (Oblique), Félix Reyes: 60 Day IL (Wrist), Johan Rojas: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Brad Keller: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Adolis Garcia: 60 Day IL (Lat), Tanner Banks: 60 Day IL (Forearm), Derek Hill: day-to-day (Neck)

Angels

Nolan Schanuel: 10 Day IL (Side), Gustavo Campero: 10 Day IL (Hamstring), Samy Natera Jr.: 15 Day IL (Back), Shaun Anderson: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Sam Bachman: 15 Day IL (Forearm), Jack Kochanowicz: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Yoan Moncada: 60 Day IL (Knee), Robert Stephenson: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Anthony Rendón: 60 Day IL (Hip), Sebastian Rivero: 60 Day IL (Hand), Wade Meckler: 7 Day IL (Head)

Stats to know

Philadelphia’s Bryce Harper has hit 27 home runs this season, which ranks 17th in MLB. He has also tallied 77 RBIs and has scored 84 runs. In 571 plate appearances, he has recorded a .267 BA, .385 OBP and .507 SLG with a 16.5% walk rate and a 20.7% strikeout rate. He has been effective on the base paths, recording seven steals on 12 attempts.
In 553 plate appearances, Luis Arraez has slashed .318/.351/.437 this season. He has hit six long balls and driven in 54 runs with a strikeout rate of 4.3% and a walk rate of 4.9%. He has 10 stolen bases on 10 attempts. He has come around to score 63 times.
Los Angeles’ Mike Trout is slashing .241/.382/.434 this season with 20 home runs, 47 RBIs and an OPS of .816. He has a 25.3% strikeout rate and a 17.3% walk rate in 513 plate appearances, and he has scored 73 total runs. Trout has recorded 11 steals on 11 attempts.
In 581 plate appearances, Zach Neto has posted a 30.5% strikeout rate and a 9% walk rate while slashing .237/.317/.432 with 22 home runs, 64 RBIs and 83 runs scored. He has stolen 18 bases on 29 attempts.

This watch guide was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.

Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.

Photo: Jamie Squire, Ishika Samant, Scott Taetsch, Alika Jenner / Getty Images

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How to watch Mystics vs. Sparks: TV channel and streaming options for August 28

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8 minutes ago

August 28, 2026

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Aug. 28, 2026 Updated 5:51 pm EDT

The Washington Mystics (24-15) will try to extend a three-game road win streak when they square off against the Los Angeles Sparks (13-25) on Friday, August 28, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena. The game airs at 10 p.m. ET on ION.

How to watch Washington Mystics vs. Los Angeles Sparks

Washington vs. Los Angeles odds

Spread: Washington -5.5 (-110), Los Angeles +5.5 (-110)
Favorite Moneyline: Washington -222
Underdog Moneyline: Los Angeles +180
Total: 167.5
Total Over Odds: -110
Total Under Odds: -110

Injury reports

Mystics

No injuries listed

Sparks

Emma Cannon: Probable (Knee)

Stats to know

The Mystics score 9.7 fewer points per game (82.8) than the Sparks give up (92.5).
Los Angeles puts up only 4.4 more points per game (87.3) than Washington gives up to opponents (82.9).
Shakira Austin posts 16.8 points, 2.5 assists and 9.4 rebounds per game.
Nneka Ogwumike averages 16.8 points, 2.9 assists and 8.9 boards per contest.

This watch guide was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.

Photo: Julio Aguilar, Ethan Miller, Steph Chambers / Getty Images

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Derek McInnes backs himself to deliver Rangers success after ‘tough start’

Published

16 minutes ago

August 28, 2026

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Twelve players have been recruited already and McInnes hopes to sign “a couple more” and expects “one or two” to leave before the closure of the transfer window next week.

“We’re not quite there,” McInnes said.

“We’ve obviously missed big Youssef [Chermiti, who is injured], the type of striker to go and stretch teams.

“I don’t expect us to be perfect at this stage. It’s not been the start we wanted, I’m not the first Rangers manager to get off to a tough start but we are determined to follow this job through and it’s the end that counts and I still believe we’re going to be a success here.”

After Thursday’s match, McInnes lamented his side’s struggle to be either possession-based, counter attacking or direct.

“My teams have always had some sort of identity,” explained the former Aberdeen, Hearts, Kilmarnock and St Johnstone manager.

“I want us to try and be a team that puts more stress on teams defensively and I don’t think that we are at the minute.

“We’ve got good ball players and I think we just need to relax a wee bit more in possession and be comfortable with what we’re try to do. It’s not as if we’re not capable of being that but I do think with an extra one or two additions, it will help us become something.

“I want us to be able to be a team that goes full press but when you go full press and you’re aggressive, you’ve got to be really aggressive with that and you’ve got to pick up second balls and win duels and turn the ball over and really impose yourself on the game.

“There’s talented players here. You don’t get in the door at Rangers unless you’re a talented player.”