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Sports

Closing Bell

Published

5 months ago

August 6, 2025

Your Sports Nation

TKO beats expectations with Q2 earnings…Roger Goodell: ESPN eyeing other uses for RedZone name…U.S. Soccer signs snack company Kellanova as 20th corporate partner.

TKO Group’s revenue for Q2, which ended June 30, was $1.308B and after costs that was stripped down to $273.1M in net income and $526.5M in adjusted EDBITA. Getty Images

TKO Group Holdings sold enough tickets, sponsorships and other items around its premier properties like UFC and WWE to beat analyst expectations for its second-quarter earnings. TKO recorded $1.17 in earnings per share, beating the mean of predictions from analysts covering the company at $1.05 EPS, according to CNBC Pro data. Revenue for Q2, which ended June 30, was $1.308B and after costs that was stripped down to $273.1M in net income and $526.5M in adjusted EDBITA. That resulted in an adjusted EBITDA margin of 40%, up 15 percentage points from 25% the prior comparable quarter. Now included in TKO’s results are the assets it acquired from Endeavor in February in IMG, PBR and On Location. The company also started recording costs from its move into boxing. Powering the results were revenue streams in media rights, ticket sales and sponsorships for the combat sports properties, along with incremental gains in adjusted EBITDA at IMG. Site fees were slightly down for the comparable quarter because Q2 ’24 included a massive fee from Saudi Arabia, but those still continued to be a good business for TKO. For example, during the latest quarter, UFC held its first event in Azerbaijan, a Fight Night in Baku, which paid a hefty site fee to land the card, and announced a relationship with Visit Qatar to take fights to Doha. Both UFC and WWE already host events in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, and TKO is getting site fees from some cities in North America as well. Among the events that took place during the quarter on the WWE side were WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium, which had more than 120,000 fans across two nights and broke a score of business records for the property, according to TKO. On the sponsorship front, Slim Jim renewing with WWE was among the wins during the quarter.TKO was able to reduce its operating expenses for the quarter, from $1.078B in Q2 last year to $940.1M this year. As a result, TKO is raising its full-year revenue outlook by $140M on the low end, from a goal of $4.490B in its most recent prior quarter to now saying it is targeting at least $4.630B. On the upper end, TKO has increased its revenue goal from $4.560B to $4.690B. After announcing WWE’s new relationship with ESPN this morning for premium live events, TKO is now focusing on finishing up its UFC media-rights deal and executing its capital return program in dividends and share repurchases, and further integration of its new businesses. It will have a large business around next year’s FIFA World Cup through On Location. Despite TKO and ESPN’s excitement about the new media-rights deal for WWE, the street didn’t appear to be quite as enthused. Heading into the close of trading today, TKO’s stock was down 4.6%, or $7.48, to $156.14 a share. It’s still up 9.4% for the year to date. Disney’s stock was also down 2.1% heading into the close.NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said as far as NFL RedZone, there will not “be any changes for our fans.” RedZone-asset RELATED STORIESNFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said ESPN has purchased the RedZone name, allowing the company to use it “for other sports, college football and other things,” which “could be an exciting thing for our fans.” Goodell said, “That is something that they now own and have the ability to do that.” He said as far as NFL RedZone, there will not “be any changes for our fans.” Goodell said the new ESPN/NFL deal is “going to be an unbelievable experience for our fans.” Goodell: “This is just going to make the experience for our fans even better as we evolve this relationship … when we see the innovation that ESPN always has and how we’ve grown together over the years and decades, this is really exciting.” Goodell said the NFL Draft — which ESPN also extended its rights to — has “become a staple of our off season, and frankly, one of the biggest sporting events in all of sports, and I think that’s grown in popularity in large part because of our partnership with ESPN.” He added the “continuing evolution of bringing our game to an international audience” is “really exciting, seeing more kids playing our game, both tackle and flag, and particularly young women playing flag.” Goodell also said NFL players being able to participate in the 2028 L.A. Games is “something that young women young men are looking forward to” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 8/6).

Disney CFO Hugh Johnston said from what he understands, conversations between ESPN and the NFL had “been ongoing for almost 10 years.” Johnston: “It’s been off and on for a long, long time. … From the NFL perspective, the belief that ESPN was really a good growth business, the timing just became right. As we know the NFL has been looking at options for the NFL Network and their media assets for a while. I think it finally was the moment where the there was an overlap enough in terms of their interest and our interest that we were able to bring it together” (“Squawk Box,” CNBC, 8/6).

U.S. Soccer has signed a multiyear sponsorship deal with food giant Kellanova, marking the conglomerate’s first corporate partnership for its entire portfolio of snack brands. The stable includes 16 brands, including Kellogg’s, Cheez-It, Pringles and Rice Krispies Treats. Financial terms of the deal, which U.S. Soccer negotiated directly with Kellanova, were not disclosed.

Kellanova joins U.S. Soccer as its 20th corporate sponsor ahead of next summer’s FIFA World Cup in North America and the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in L.A. The deal is the federation’s 12th since bringing its commercial rights in-house in 2023. U.S. Soccer earned $98.2M in commercial revenue during the 2024 fiscal year, a 61% increase from the prior year.

Kellanova’s brands will receive exposure in national advertising and across U.S. Soccer’s digital and social media platforms. The deal also includes retail activations, branded packaging, in-store displays and community events across the country.

The Athletic “swung to an adjusted operating profit” of $5.8M in the quarter as ad revenue “nearly doubled” to $14.1M. Getty Images

The Athletic’s revenue “increased by one-third” in Q2 to $54M. It “swung to an adjusted operating profit” of $5.8M in the quarter as ad revenue “nearly doubled” to $14.1M. The N.Y. Times, which owns The Athletic, said that it “ended the quarter with 11.3 million digital-only subscribers, of which more than six million were bundle and multiproduct subscribers.” The N.Y. Times “added about 230,000 digital-only subscribers” during Q2. Digital-subscription revenue “rose more than 15%” to $350M, while total subscription revenue “increased 9.6%” to $481.4M. Digital-advertising revenue “rose by nearly 19% in the second quarter,” and total advertising revenue “increased more than 12%” to $134M (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 8/6).

NEWTON, IOWA - JULY 13: #5: Pato O'Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet during the NTT INDYCAR Series Sukup Race Weekend Race 2 at Iowa Speedway on July 13, 2025 in Newton, Iowa. (Photo by Perry Nelson/Lumen via Getty Images) — The car in the Homeland Security account’s X post carried the No. 5, which since 2020 has been the one used by IndyCar’s lone Mexican driver, Pato O’Ward. Lumen via Getty Images

Penske Entertainment said that it was “caught off-guard by the use of an IndyCar chassis to help announce the Trump administration’s plan to put ICE detainees in a northern Indiana detention facility.” The official Homeland Security account yesterday posted on X what “appeared to have been an AI-generated image of a white present-day Indy car” with ICE branding “all across the livery.” The facility also was dubbed the “Speedway Slammer” in the post. Penske in a statement said they were “unaware of plans to incorporate our imagery as part of (the Aug. 5) announcement.” Penske added, “Consistent with our approach to public policy and political issues, we are communicating our preference that our IP not be utilized moving forward in relation to this matter.” The company “fell short of publicly demanding any sort of retraction or issuing a formal cease-and-desist order.” The car in the X post carried the No. 5, which since 2020 has been the one used by IndyCar’s lone Mexican driver, Pato O’Ward. It was not immediately clear whether the use of the No. 5 was “purposeful to point to O’Ward or if it was happenstance” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 8/6).

The Bally’s Corp. logo will be featured on the men’s first team shirts and across Nottingham Forest’s City Ground during the 2025-26 season. SOCIAL Nottingham Forest City Ground

Premier League club Nottingham Forest and Bally’s Corp. have agreed to a new deal that will see the company become the club’s new front-of-shirt sponsor. The Bally’s Corp. logo will be featured on the men’s first team shirts and across Nottingham Forest’s City Ground during the 2025-26 season. The partnership was driven by club owner Evangelos Marinakis and began yesterday, as the club hosted Serie A club ACF Fiorentina in a preseason match. The sponsorship deal comes as Bally’s continues to expand in the U.K. market (Nottingham Forest). Nottingham Forest had “hoped to secure a figure in the region of” almost US$13.4M for the new front-of-shirt sponsor deal and — while they would not confirm the overall value or whether that target had been met — the club is said to “be ‘very happy’ with the outcome” (THE ATHLETIC, 8/6).

The TUDN Radio network includes 45 affiliate stations across 32 U.S. markets. TUDN Radio

TelevisaUnivision’s network of Spanish-language sports radio stations will carry live audio coverage of South America’s top club soccer competitions, Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, under a sublicensing agreement with BeIN Sports. The pact runs through the end of the current competition cycle in 2026, when BeIN’s rights deal with CONMEBOL expires. BeIN will remain the TV home of the competitions in both English and Spanish until that point.

TUDN Radio’s coverage of the CONMEBOL club competitions begins with the Copa Libertadores Round of 16 on Aug. 12. The station group, which includes 45 affiliate stations across 32 U.S. markets, will produce its own audio broadcasts of top matches throughout the competitions. Audio will also be available to stream through TelevisaUnivision’s Uforia platform.

IMG manages the commercial, sponsorship and media rights for CONMEBOL’s club competitions and is expected to take the U.S. media rights for the next competition cycle to market sometime this year.

Speed Reads…

GK Elite extended its longstanding sponsorship of USA Gymnastics and will serve as the apparel partner for the national development and Xcel programs through 2029. Under the deal, GK will provide apparel for the national governing body’s five development programs and support several events at that level (Rachel Axon, SBJ).

The Bucks Health and Wellness Program launched a new, 4,000-square-foot clinic in Schiltz Park where patients receive free and personalized obesity management treatment, along with customized fitness and nutrition regimens (Milwaukee Bucks).

Stanley 1913 has signed golfer Collin Morikawa as a partner (Stanley 1913).

The Vancouver Whitecaps have officially signed former Bayern Munich MF Thomas Müller (Vancouver PROVINCE, 8/6).

Around the World….

Disney+ is “set to show” one LaLiga game per week in the UK and Ireland during the 2025-26 season. Sources said that the games shown “would be on Saturday evenings,” starting with Valencia hosting Real Sociedad on Aug. 16 (THE ATHLETIC, 8/6).

The British and Irish Lions final Test against the Wallabies at Accor Stadium last weekend “netted just over” AU$20M (US$13M) in ticket sales, making it the “biggest single-day gate in the ground’s history,” beating the previous record held by musician Taylor Swift from February 2024 (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 8/6).

Rugby authorities have “no immediate plans to follow” the NFL’s banning of smelling salts over concerns they may mask concussion symptoms. The issue is “likely to be considered by World Rugby’s advisory panel of concussion experts at their next scheduled meeting in September” (BBC.com, 8/6).

EFL club Sheffield Wednesday said that it is working to open the North Stand for Saturday’s season-opener against Stoke City on Aug. 16, but added contingency plans are being prepared in case it cannot open in time (Sheffield Wednesday FC).

Social Scoop….

#Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was asked by @SlaterNFL how he could have a deal with Micah Parsons without anything in writing:

“I bought the Cowboys with a handshake. It took about 30 seconds. I gave the number, shook hands, the details we worked out later.” pic.twitter.com/AujA4bj1wC

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 6, 2025

BREAKING: Outfielder Roman Anthony and the Boston Red Sox are finalizing an eight-year, $130 million contract extension, sources tell ESPN. The deal, which is pending a physical, includes a club option and will keep Anthony under team control through 2034.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 6, 2025

The NFL does. That’s my point.

Also, recall what I wrote about the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961.

If the schools can get college football added to this — something smart people are trying to do — they’d have the juice to make something like this happen. https://t.co/rGKUsUANkB

— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) August 6, 2025

Ross Bjork told @WOSUAllSides today that he expects Ohio State vs. Penn State to be a noon game.

“I think we know the Buckeyes drive Big Noon Kickoff. That’ll be a high-powered game. So I think we probably know what’s going to happen around game time for that one,” Bjork said.…

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) August 6, 2025

Daily Download….

Golfer Scottie Scheffler and NBC Sports’ Terry Gannon joined TODAY to discuss the 2025 FedEx Cup playoffs, with Scheffler also discussing his role in the “Happy Gilmore 2.”

Daily Digit….

$308M+ — Amount of money spent on sports and trading cards online in July, setting an industry record for the second consecutive month (CLLCT, 8/6)

Sports

Pitt volleyball | Panthers add Kentucky MB Jordyn Dailey

Published

3 minutes ago

January 1, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Pitt received a commitment from former Kentucky middle blocker/right-side hitter Jordyn Dailey.

Dailey is a redshirt sophomore and will have two years of eligibility. The 6-foot-2 North Carolina native racked up 188 kills, 116 blocks and 42 digs over the past two seasons. Dailey recorded 142 kills, 82 blocks and a .314 hitting percentage in 2024. Her numbers dipped to 46 kills, 34 blocks and a .211 hitting percentage in 2025.

Pitt lost middle blocker Ryla Jones to Penn State through the transfer portal.

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Kats sign six to 2026 roster

Published

19 minutes ago

January 1, 2026

Your Sports Nation

HUNTSVILLE – The Sam Houston volleyball program and head coach Brenda Gray announced the signing of six student-athletes to play for the Bearkats for the 2026 season.

The signing class consists of outside hitters Annika Brooks, Brenlin Garlitz, Justice Rachal, Kameron Rector, Lauren Pyle and Sarah Odell.

“All of these young ladies bring a passion and energy that Sam Houston Volleyball thrives upon,” head coach Brenda Gray said. “They all come with numerous accolades both on the court and in the classroom.”

Annika Brooks • 6-3 • RS • Halletsville, Texas • Sacred Heart Catholic School / Blinn College

Blinn College

– 2025 second team all-conference selection

Ovilla Christian School

– 2021 second team all-district selection as freshman

– 2022 first team all-district selection as a sophomore

– 2022 honorable mention all-area

– 2023 first team all-district selection as a junior

– 2023 TAPPS first team all-state selection

– 2023 honorable mention all-area selection

– 2023 TAPPS academic all-state selection

– 2024 first team all-district selection as a senior

– 2024 TAPPS first team all-state selection

– 2024 TAPPS academic all-state selection

Texas Tornadoes (Club)

– 17s bid to nationals

– 18s bid to nationals

Gray on Brooks …

“Annika brings size and a blocking presence to our game on the right side. We are so fortunate to have her join us this spring.”

Brenlin Garlitz • 5-10 • S • Waxahachie, Texas • Ovilla Christian School

Ovilla Christian School

– 2022 TAPPS second team all-district selection as freshman

– 2023 TAPPS first team all-state

– 2024 TAPPS first team all-state

– 2024 Ellis County All-Star Team

– 4-time state champion

Texas Advantage Volleyball (Club)

– NRG 15s bid to nationals

– NRG 16s bid to nationals

– TAV 18s Black: 5th at nationals

Gray on Garlitz …

“We are excited to bring in a dynamic setter to help run our floor. Brenlin runs a quick offense and brings a passion and love for the game that is undeniable.”

Justice Rachal • 5-8 • OH • Cypress, Texas • Bridgeland HS

Bridgeland HS

– 2-time first team all-district selection

– District Offensive Player of the Year

– AVCA Phenom Watch List

– 2-time academic all-district selection

– GHVCA postseason second team choice

– 2023 honorable mention all-district selection

TAV Houston (Club)

– GJNC 16U all-tournament team (Liberty)

– GJNC Third place 17 American

– GJNC 17U all-tournament team (American)

Gray on Rachal …

“Justice will be a crowd favorite from the start. She has a contagious energy and a vertical leap that will add to the excitement on the outside position.”

Kameron Rector • 5-11 • OH • Midlothian, Texas • Midlothian HS

Midlothian HS

– 2023 District Utility Player of the Year

– 2024 Academic All-District selection

– 2025 district MVP

Mad Frog (Club)

– Girls Junior National Championship

– All-Tournament team

– 16 & Under USA Tournament

Gray on Rector …

“Kameron is just so solid all around and will bring a defensive prowess and ball control that a team always needs to continue their success.”

Lauren Pyle • 5-8 • S • Longview, Texas • Hallsville HS / Tyler JC

Tyler JC

– 2025 Region XIV Setter of the Year

Hallsville HS

– 2021 first team all-district selection

– 2021 honorable mention all-state

– 2022 District Setter of the Year

– 2022 all-state selection

– 2023 District MVP

– 2023 All-East Texas Player of the Year

– 2023 all-state selection

– 2023 academic all-state selection

East Texas Alliance (Club)

– 17s bid to nationals

– Won Lonestar Classic

Gray on Pyle …

“It is good for us to get an experienced floor leader on the roster and we are excited to have her join us in the spring to begin running our offense and bring her expertise that she delivered in junior college”.

Sarah Odell • 5-11 • OH • Tomball, Texas • Tomball HS

Tomball HS

– 2023 first team all-District 15-6A selection

– 2024 and 2025 District 15-6A Outstanding Offensive Player of the Year

– 2024 and 2025 first team all-District 15-6A

– 2024 and 2025 academic all-District 15-6A

– Played club at North Houston Elite Volleyball

Gray on Odell …

“There is an explosiveness to the outside that is needed in this league, which Sarah immediately gives us as a complete, six-rotation player who will help balance our offense.”

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No. 2 Hawai‘i men’s volleyball hits the ground running ahead of 2026 opener

Published

2 hours ago

January 1, 2026

Your Sports Nation

If it were up to head coach Charlie Wade, the University of Hawai‘i men’s volleyball team would never start its season this early.

The Rainbow Warriors, who began their preseason practices on Sunday, will officially begin their 2026 campaign on Friday against the New Jersey Institute of Technology. First serve is set for 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center. Although the ‘Bows have routinely started their seasons on the first Friday of the year, that doesn’t mean Wade has to like it.

“I’ve advocated that the first match can’t be before (Martin Luther King Jr. Day),” Wade said on Monday. “Let them actually have a holiday and then come back and practice for a couple of weeks. But how it goes, everybody kind of ramps it up, practices for a few days and then starts playing.”

One of the few positives Wade sees in the compressed preseason schedule is the fact that the Rainbow Warriors are not in class yet, which allows them the time to focus on an intense schedule featuring two practices a day leading up to the opener.

Trips to the practice gym have been frequent in recent days. Inside of it is a collection of world-class athletes, a roster featuring players from seven different countries and four separate states. Although there’s only one senior among the 19 players, the Rainbow Warriors are a team with clear national championship expectations in 2026.

The Rainbow Warriors have played in four national championship matches under Wade, winning it all in 2021 and 2022. The ‘Bows went 27-6 in 2025 and were swept by UCLA in the national semifinals. In 2026, UH returns five of its seven starters in that semifinal match, not counting star opposite hitter Kristian Titriyski, who missed the last eight matches due to an ankle injury.

Despite its losses in personnel, the Rainbow Warriors have reloaded. After losing beloved assistant coach Milan Zarkovic to UCLA, Wade got Maui native and former Ball State head coach Donan Cruz to join the staff. Meanwhile, the void left by former starting libero ‘Eleu Choy will likely be filled by Canadian national teamer Quintin Greenidge, a newcomer in Mānoa who will have two years of college eligibility remaining.

When Grand Canyon University decided to immediately scrap its nationally ranked men’s volleyball program following the 2025 season to focus on other sports, the Rainbow Warriors were able to benefit by signing freshman All-American Trevell Jordan and former GCU commit Thatcher Fahlbusch. Jordan is competing for one of the two starting spots at middle blocker, along with Ofeck Hazan, Justin Todd, Alex Parks and 7-foot freshman Roman Payne.

“None of us saw it coming,” Jordan said of Grand Canyon punting on men’s volleyball. “The team and squad (at UH) has been really inviting. They’ve been working with me to get me more accommodated to here, as it’s a big move from where I originally was from.”

Jordan immediately became one of the most coveted players in the NCAA transfer portal upon entering. He was already familiar with a handful of players on the UH roster after playing with them on multiple United States national teams.

“He had offers to go to every top program in the country, and ironically, they were pushing him to make a fast decision, and they pushed him towards us,” Wade recalled. “I was the one saying, ‘Hey, I’m in for the long haul. I want you here. Take your time to figure it out.'”

Running the show for the Rainbow Warriors is Tread Rosenthal, the team’s 6-foot-11 setter who established himself as the team’s unquestioned leader as a sophomore in 2025.

“I think last year we showed that we had the potential to be the best team on any given night, but I think this year we need to be the best team every night no matter what,” Rosenthal said. “I think that just comes with working with together to get it more consistent.”

Added Wade: “It’s year three (for Rosenthal). It’s the payoff year, right? By the third year, you can see there’s just kind of a calm confidence to him that he’s kind of been there, done that. He clearly is the leader of the team. These are his guys. A lot of them are here because of him. Looking for even bigger and better things from him this year for sure.”

Hawai‘i will start off the year as the No. 2 team in the country following the release of the preseason AVCA poll, which had UCLA in the top spot. External expectations are high for the Rainbow Warriors, but internal expectations are higher.

“My freshman year, we didn’t go to the championship. My sophomore year, we lost in the the semis,” junior outside hitter Louis Sakanoko said. “We have to get the championship now. I feel like the whole team knows we could win the championship. We have the team for it, but now we need to be consistent enough to beat every single team every night. And we’re just really, really excited to prove that to everyone.

“We all want to win a national championship. That’s the goal. We won the Big West last year, that was wonderful for sure, but we want that big one.”

For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter.

Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.

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Blum outside hitter takes top honor on Texas 1A all-state volleyball team | Associated Press

Published

3 hours ago

January 1, 2026

Your Sports Nation

LONGVIEW, Texas (AP) — Blue Bell/Texas Sports Writers Association Class 1A all-state volleyball team, distributed by The Associated Press:

FIRST TEAM

Middle blockers: Landry Bennett, Blum, jr.; Rylee Sears, Water Valley, jr.; Addison Spaith, Neches, sr.

Outside hitters: Kinsley McPherson, Blum; McCaylen Woods, Water Valley, soph.; Haley Scott, Blum, jr.

Setter: Tallie Rufino, Blum, jr.

Libero/Defensive Specialist: Addie Koetting, Blum, sr.

Player of the year: Kinsley McPherson, Blum

Coach of the year: Lauren McPherson, Blum

SECOND TEAM

Middle blockers: Emerson Fite, Sulphur Bluff, sr.; Janaye Coston, Water Valley, jr.; Jessica Rohde, Round Top-Carmine, sr.

Outside hitters: Bree Dooley, Round Top-Carmine, soph.; Zaylee Peyton, Sulphur Bluff, sr.; Marae Pounds, Chester, sr.

Setter: Madi Collett, Sulphur Bluff, sr.

Libero/Defensive Specialist: Audrey Gatlin, Medina, sr.

THIRD TEAM

Middle blockers: Callie Weddle, Perrin Whitt, jr.; Caitlyn Battreal, Oglesby, jr.; Braylee Clark, Woodson, sr.

Outside hitters: Brenna Briles, Forestburg, jr; Emilee Silva, Aspermont, soph.; Crista Zirkel, Medina, jr.

Setter: Madison Markwardt, Round Top-Carmine, soph.

Libero/Defensive Specialist: Ana Servin, Sulphur Bluff, sr.

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Philippine Star – WELCOME TO UBE NATION! 💜 Professional…

Published

3 hours ago

January 1, 2026

Your Sports Nation

WELCOME TO UBE NATION!

Professional Volleyball League team Choco Mucho Flying Titans announced four addition to their team, Eya Laure, Jaila Atienza, Alina Bicar, and Caitlin Viray, for 2026 on Wednesday.

“The Choco Mucho Flying Titans welcome 4 new players to the team! They bring the grit, speed, and fire that will make every match unforgettable,” they wrote in their post.

This came after Royse Tubino, Bia General, Cherry Nunag, and Aduke Agunsanya ended their stint with the team. (Instagram/Choco Mucho Flying Titans)

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