TMZ Sports - Page 4

Calling all you mighty Millennials, ballin' Boomers, groovy Gen X-ers, and everyone else ... We're tappin' y'all into Gen-Z's hottest stories of the week, packed with sexy stars and piping-hot news!

And to kick off Sunday's UFC Freedom 250, we've got your first look at the Octagon Girls!

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's moms were awfully chummy while supporting the superstar singer at the Songwriters Hall of Fame ... and fans are convinced there was some wedding chatter among the future in-laws.

Check out the video ... Andrea Swift and Donna Kelce were seen chopping it up Thursday night in New York City ... and they seem to be having a lovely time as TS prepared for her historic induction.

Travis made it just in time to the Marriott Marquis for Taylor's acceptance speech ... and sat down next to Taylor at a table with their moms.

Selena Gomez ain't playin' around when it comes to her friends ... clapping back at haters who thought she insulted Taylor Swift.

Here's the deal ... the "Bluest Flame" singer commented "lol" under an Instagram post showing Taylor celebrating the New York Knicks' comeback win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Taylor was snapped with her pals Alana and Este Haim as well as "Law & Order: SVU" actress Mariska Hargitay.

Internet trolls immediately thought Selena was shading Taylor ... but Selena cleared it all up with a post to her Instagram Story late Thursday evening, writing ... "Woke up and was sent so many texts. I would never insult my friends nor was it an insult."

We already have a submission for best fan of the FIFA World Cup ... 'cause this one fits the bill!!

The first day of the international soccer tournament kicked off on Thursday ... with Mexico and South Africa duking it out in Mexico City.

There were plenty of memorable moments from the 2-0 win for El Tri ... but one clip of an adorable duck supporting its favorite team is taking the cake.

Travis Kelce made it by the skin of his teeth to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in NYC on Thursday night just as his soon-to-be bride Taylor Swift was about to be inducted.

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end swooped into the event at the Marriott Marquis Hotel and sat down next to Taylor at a table with Taylor's mom, Andrea, and Travis' mom, Donna.

Check out the video ... Travis adjusts himself in his chair at the table next to Taylor, who has one arm around his body. Andrea then shares a sweet moment with Travis, reaching over and taking his hand in hers.

A clip of Taylor Swift talking to Jimmy Jam at Thursday's Songwriters Hall of Fame red carpet is going viral -- showing her telling the R&B legend she was having trouble holding a conversation with him -- but we're told the video doesn't tell the whole story.

Check out the short clip ... Taylor and Jimmy are chatting it up on the red carpet before Thursday night's ceremony kicked off at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in NYC.

Their back and forth seemed a bit awkward, and it didn't take long for Taylor to say ... "I feel like I'm no good at conversation right now."

Win or lose, Midtown Manhattan has been a madhouse after games this postseason ... and former New York Knicks player Quentin Richardson is calling on the passionate fanbase to take a chill pill and have some class.

The scenes outside Madison Square Garden have been pretty wild -- most fans hoot and holler and jump up and down in victory ... but after a Game 3 loss in the Finals, others chose to attack San Antonio Spurs supporters.

On Wednesday night, a riled-up Knicks fan tried to hit Victor Wembanyama with eggs ... and more than a dozen arrests were made for various crimes.

American wrestler Frankie Edgar was 28 years old when he became UFC lightweight champion back in 2010.

Frankie went up against B.J. Penn -- who notoriously displayed a more powerful build.

In addition to trumping B.J., Frankie's status is backed by beating elite fighters like Sean Sherk and Gray Maynard.

Nicole Kidman is well aware she was honored by Taylor Swift with fun shirts at the NBA Finals last night ... and she totally responded.

As you know ... TS along with pals and fellow musicians Este and Alana Haim showed their support for the Knicks at MSG with silly pun shirts ... including one that said, "Knickole Kidman."

The superstar actress shared a picture of the ladies on the jumbotron with the message ... "Right there with you girls!" NK also shared a video of the trio having a ball while singing "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun."

Taylor Swift just hit the red carpet for the Songwriters Hall of Fame looking absolutely dazzling ... and a far cry from her going bonkers last night at the Knicks game.

The superstar was in full control of the moment ... and gave the carpet cameras exactly what they wanted as she posed in a beautiful, form-fitting black dress featuring a floral pattern.

As you know ... TS was at Game 4 of the NBA Finals last night, courtside seats along with pals and fellow musicians and singers Alana and Este Haim ... going absolutely berserk during and after the game.

Kai Trump is in the clear after she was accused of editing out boos for a social post from an NBA Finals game where her grandfather, President Trump, got lit up with jeers during the national anthem.

It turns out ... the company that produced the video Kai shared actually edited out the boos and replaced them with cheers ... at least according to Page Six.

So Kai didn't do it ... someone else did.

Kai was blasted by haters online after they assumed she made the sound edit ... painting the embarrassing moment in a way better light than reality.

Naturally, there were plenty of the classic 'Simpsons' Boo-urns memes shared in response.

It's not just the fighters who are fired up for the UFC's Freedom 250 event -- the Octagon girls are, too -- and a special event requires a special outfit!

TMZ Sports talked to Chrissy Blair earlier this week, just after the 'fits were debuted on social media ... with the longtime Octagon girl revealing she actually helped with the looks.

"We were very much involved and I can't wait to see it come to life. And I think all the sequins and the materials like the velvet and the suede and all that, I think it's going to look really cool on camera at night, too."

A bunch of great fights aside, Freedom 250 celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States of America ... so the girls' outfits needed to be special, and patriotic, and that required a big-time designer.

"Marina is the designer. She's based in L.A. and her team is amazing. I don't know if I'm allowed to say that she's Carrie Underwood's designer, but she is. She did [UFC] Noche as well. They're incredible."

Chrissy says the process was anything but tedious -- it was great.

"I love it. I'm a girl, so I love dress up. And yeah, I just kind of felt like Barbie going in there, like Americana Barbie. So I'm like, this is great. We have boots that match the outfits and it's all custom. So what's not to love?"

Threads aside, Freedom 250 -- an event more than a year in the making and headlined by Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria -- goes down Sunday evening from the South Lawn of the White House ... and Chrissy is pumped.

"There's no way my wildest dreams I would have ever thought that one, I'd be working for the UFC for a decade and two, that I would ever get to work a fight at the White House. So it's only a once-in-a-career event, and I'm super excited!"

Phil Mickelson is no longer welcome at a fancy San Diego golf course after being accused of making unwanted contact with a female employee earlier this year.

The alleged incident, reported by Golf Digest, is said to have gone down earlier this year at the course's clubhouse.

The 6x Major champion is accused of approaching a female employee and making "nonconsensual and inappropriate physical contact with her."

Henry Ruggs isn't getting out of prison anytime in the near future -- the former Las Vegas Raiders star receiver was denied parole at a ruling on Thursday.

Ruggs is serving up to 10 years behind bars as a result of his November 2, 2021 accident ... when he sped at 156 MPH and crashed into 23-year-old Tina Tintor, killing the woman and her dog. Officials said his blood-alcohol concentration read at .16 within two hours after the tragedy.

Ruggs ultimately pleaded guilty to felony DUI causing death and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter and was handed the lengthy sentence in 2023.

Ruggs went before a parole board himself back in May ... and his attorney, David Chesnoff, praised how he had been using his time in prison by leading his fellow inmates in cardio classes and sharing his story.

Carmelo Anthony looks like he has a new lady in his life ... and she's the widow of a slain NFL star.

The retired NBA-star-turned-broadcaster appears alongside Racquel Smith in a series of photos and videos she just posted to Instagram... and it sure seems like they're way more than friends.

Racquel is the widow of slain New Orleans Saints star Will Smith, who was shot to death in 2016 during a road rage incident. Racquel was also wounded by gunfire. Smith's killer was convicted and is currently in prison.