Sports

WNBA player Sophie Cunningham isn't backing down from her comments on trans athletes in women's sports ... and she doesn't think her stance is all that controversial.

The Indiana Fever guard shared her opinion on the polarizing topic in an interview with ESPN this week ... where she claimed she felt a duty to "protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn't have to go against biological men."

Cunningham was asked to expand on the quote when meeting with the media on Wednesday ... and she made it clear that's how she feels.

LeBron James is apparently keeping his own family in the dark when it comes to his next move ... either that, or Bronny James deserves a Son of the Year award for not spilling the beans.

The Los Angeles Lakers guard and the King's oldest kid/former teammate was asked about his pops' free agency process in a recent video ... after streamer Biggy22x initially prompted the 21-year-old to share some motivation to the youth.

His message was nice and all, but what everyone REALLY wants is an update on his dad ... and the internet personality asked Bronny straight-up if LeBron was going to the Golden State Warriors.

Bruce Buffer has announced some of the biggest events on the planet -- from The White House to the World Cup (and that's just this summer) -- but there’s still one missing from his résumé.

The legendary "Veteran Voice of the Octagon" stopped by TMZ on Wednesday ... and told Michael Babcock the one gig he's still dying to land.

"I think the bucket list now is, I've had the Super Bowl commercial. I did the Budweiser Super Bowl commercial. I did Super Bowl week introducing the 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs a couple years ago in Vegas at the big event they had at Allegiant [Stadium], but I haven't been on the field for the Super Bowl yet."

Ryan Clark is pushing back on the idea he wasn't forced off the air after learning ESPN had fired him ... saying he asked if he should be done for the day and was flatly told, "Yes."

The former NFL star clarified Wednesday how his final "NFL Live" appearance ended while quoting a TMZ Sports post about his abrupt exit, writing ... "I wasn’t forced? 'I ask, should I be done now?' The answer was 'yes.'"

As we reported ... Clark learned during a commercial break Monday that he was part of a mass layoff at ESPN -- and he never returned to the broadcast.

LeBron James won't have to sacrifice golf if he ends up in Cleveland or Philadelphia ... 'cause some local companies tell TMZ Sports they'll roll out the red carpet for the King if he ends up on the Cavs or Sixers!!

James has spoken at length about catching the golf bug over the past year ... and last week, he even addressed whether it would factor into his free agency decision.

Ultimately, he explained basketball is still the main focus ... and if he ends up in a cold city, he'll find a simulator to work on his swing in the winter months.

Ex-UFC star Rampage Jackson went back into fighter mode during a tense altercation on Tuesday ... when he punched a streamer in the face for allegedly touching his privates.

The shocking moment went down during Jackson's "TaKO Tuesday" party ... which was streamed live on his Kick account.

At one point in the night, he crossed paths with a guy named SweaterGxd. During the interaction, Jackson accused the internet personality of grabbing his junk ... and responded by hitting him in the face twice.

The Miami Heat set social media ablaze when its official YouTube page shared a link to a future LeBron James introductory press conference ... but the team insists the post was only made in preparation for a potential return -- not a leaked announcement.

The video was added to the Heat's socials on Tuesday ... and fans actually joined the live stream to comment their excitement over the 41-year-old King's apparent return.

Just one big issue -- James, a four-time NBA champion, has not revealed his next move ... and his agent, Rich Paul, said earlier in the day even he was in the dark on what his client intends to do (if anyone really believes that).

Tom Brady has folks puzzled over his "beef" with Logan Paul ... but one quarterback from his era tells TMZ Sports he's all in on TB12 settling things in the WWE squared circle.

We caught up with Drew Brees out in NYC on Tuesday ... and asked for his thoughts on a potential wrestling showdown between the GOAT and the Maverick.

"They should!" Brees told us. "They should schedule that."

Bud Light didn't find anything humorous in Dustin Poirier's arrest last month ... 'cause the fighter just revealed the beer giant wasted no time firing him from his lucrative sponsorship deal after the incident.

"They terminated my contract immediately. It's all good, man. I don't need that f****** poison in my life," Poirier told Ariel Helwani during an interview on Tuesday.

"It sucks that my family is missing out on the money I had left on the deal with them, which was a few hundred thousand dollars, but also if I'm representing something I'm not gonna be taking part in, promoting stuff, it is what it is."

Tyrese Haliburton and Jade Jones are married ... 'cause the couple announced they sealed the deal at the courthouse on Tuesday!!

The Indiana Pacers superstar and former Iowa State cheerleader tied the knot at the Indianapolis Marriage License Office just over a week before their Aug. 1 ceremony ... and they had plenty of witnesses.

"It’s (courthouse) official 🍾💍," Jones said on Tuesday ... showing off a cute white dress and a bouquet of flowers as they posed in front of the building.

Everyone's favorite World Cup superstar is celebrating his 26th trip around the sun ... and Erling Haaland says he's feeling a ton of love on his birthday -- 'cause his life has changed forever!!

The Norwegian striker hopped on a yacht with his girlfriend, Isabel Haugseng Johansen, and friends this week ... and it was all in honor of the birthday boy.

There was plenty of good food, vibes, and some golf ... and Haaland even rocked a viking hat at one point. They then wound up at a day club, where the athlete was spotted jamming out at the DJ booth.

Ryan Clark getting sent packing from ESPN isn't sitting well with the network's biggest star -- Stephen A. Smith voiced his frustrations over the move in a lengthy video on Tuesday ... saying his now-former colleague is the best in the business.

"I'm gonna miss him," SAS said. "I am not happy about this decision one bit. The bosses know I'm not happy about this decision. I've made that very, very clear."

The "First Take" host acknowledged it's part of the business ... and it's something he's experienced several times at ESPN, but this one is different due to his personal connection to Clark.

Cam Newton is out at the World Wide Leader ... the latest casualty in a round of cuts that claimed the jobs of some of the most prominent figures in sports media.

The former NFL MVP was laid off this week, according to TMZ Sports' sources ... a surprising move from the powers that be in Bristol.

Newton was only with ESPN for a few years -- he signed on in late 2024 -- but found success opposite Stephen A. Smith during the NFL season, where he was SAS' main debate partner on "First Take."

Newton was elevated into the premiere spot after Shannon Sharpe parted ways with ESPN last year.

Ryan Clark is sending some words of encouragement to all his coworkers getting axed from ESPN ... saying he hopes they all land on their feet -- while admitting he knows exactly what they're going through.

The former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back and ex-ESPN talent went to X to share his kind message on Tuesday ... saying, "Sending prayers and love to all those laid off today by ESPN."

"So many of you have poured your life into that company, & I know how you’re feeling right now. My hope is as this door closes another opens for you all. God bless!"

It's no secret Aaron Rodgers has been on the outs with his family for many years ... but all that's come to an end now because they just reunited ... for the most part.

That's right ... On Monday, the Pittsburgh Steelers star quarterback posted a series of Instagram photos showing Aaron bonding with his mom, Darla, his dad, Ed, and his brother, Luke. But his other brother, Jordan, was MIA, so it's unclear where that relationship stands.

In the caption, Aaron wrote, "Another bonding week #fam."

Ryan Clark was doing his job when he found out he no longer had one -- the NFL player-turned-ESPN analyst disappeared from "NFL Live" mid-show after a report was published stating he was impacted by a round of layoffs at the network.

The Athletic dropped the news on Monday, stating the former Steelers defensive back was being let go ... but there was one problem -- the network wasn't planning to break it to Clark himself until Tuesday morning.

With the cat out of the bag and Clark's phone likely blowing up over the development, producers elected for a lengthy commercial break.