The Los Angeles Lakers, despite boasting LeBron James’s brilliance, fell short in the 2025 postseason. They were eliminated in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves (4-1), ending their title hopes prematurely.

James put up stellar numbers, averaging 25.4 points and 9.0 rebounds, but even his efforts couldn’t save the Lakers from an early playoff exit. However, while the dust has settled on the Lakers’ campaign, James is now trending for his connection to another sport entirely.

LeBron James Congratulated the Liverpool FC Team

It has been recently revealed that James shared a heartfelt message with Liverpool FC players after their recent Premier League win.

“I want to say congratulations to the champions, once again bringing home another trophy. You know it is always special to do it with a group of guys that you love. Shout out to the captains, Virgil and Mo, salute to you. Continue to lead, continue to strive for greatness, and always know YNWA. So go, Reds. Love you guys,” was the message from James.

LeBron James with a message to the Liverpool squad:

“I want to say congratulations to the champions, once again bringing home another trophy. You know it is always special to do it with a group of guys that you love. Shout out to the captains, Virgil and Mo, salute to you.… pic.twitter.com/RitOu5YG5R

— DaveOCKOP (@DaveOCKOP) May 29, 2025

The club clinched their second Premier League crown in stunning fashion on April 27 defeating Tottenham Hotspur (5–1) at Anfield with four matches still left to play. It marked a dominant season for the Reds who put together a memorable campaign that ended in silverware.

Though the title was technically secured weeks earlier, the official crowning moment came on May 25. In front of a roaring Anfield crowd, Liverpool wrapped up their league campaign with a 1–1 draw against Crystal Palace.

Once the match was over everyone on the team received their Premier League medals and celebrated by lifting the trophy for their outstanding teamwork all season.

Following the on-field festivities, Liverpool’s squad gathered for an end-of-season party at the elegant Municipal Hotel in the city center. It was there, during the celebrations, that they were surprised with a video message from none other than James himself.

But what’s the link between an NBA icon and one of England’s biggest soccer clubs?

James has been part of the Liverpool family for over a decade. In April 2011, he purchased a 2% stake in the club for $6.5 million (approximately £4.7 million) alongside his longtime business partner Maverick Carter.

Though his direct share in Liverpool was later converted into a 1% stake in Fenway Sports Group (FSG)—the parent company that owns Liverpool—his passion for the team has never waned.

The King’s basketball season may be over, but his global influence continues to make waves—this time in a sport played with feet, not hands.

New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel acknowledged he was aware of the viral video of wide receiver Stefon Diggs going around.

It’s a video of Diggs on a boat with multiple women that has been circulating online. Diggs can be heard asking the women, “What’s my name?” They then call him “daddy” before he passes what looks like a small ziplock bag to one of the women with unknown contents.

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When speaking with media members on Wednesday, Vrabel said that he wanted players to make good decisions on and off the field.

“Obviously, we want to make great decisions on and off the field, and we’re hoping that with our time here on the field today, and when you don’t have a script and we’re on the call periods, that we’re making great decisions,” said Vrabel. “So the message will be the same for all of the players. Try to make great decisions. Any conversations that I’ve had with Stefon will remain between him and I.”

The Patriots signed Diggs to a three-year, $69 million contract in the offseason. He is currently rehabbing from the torn ACL injury he suffered with the Houston Texans last season.

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The four-time Pro Bowl receiver turns 32 years old this year, but the Patriots remain hopeful that he will serve as a top receiving option for second-year quarterback Drake Maye. Before the injury, Diggs had six consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons.

Vrabel added that Diggs is not in attendance for Wednesday’s OTA practice.

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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Mike Vrabel’s stern message to players after viral Stefon Diggs video

Viral breakdancer Raygun has opened up on difficulties she experienced off the back of failing to score a single point at the Olympics in Paris.

The 36-year-old, real name Rachael Gunn, became one of the biggest talking points at the 2024 Olympics for all the wrong reasons.

The showpiece marked the debut of ‘breaking’ – a breakdancing event which was already taken off the agenda for the next Olympics in Los Angeles.

Raygun was the representative for Australia and qualified after winning the 2023 Oceania Breaking Championships.

However, she failed to register a point in any of her heats, having scored a zero from the judges for every single one of her performances.

Her unique routine which included moves such as hopping like a kangaroo, sprinkling and doing an impression of a snake on the floor, led to widespread negative comments and abuse online.

The mocking got to Gunn, a lecturer at Macquarie University, and she said she was left “pretty devastated” as she called for people to “stop harassing” members of her family and friends.

Raygun received plenty of backlash for her showing at the 2024 Olympics. Image: Getty

The vitriol, which included a petition which called for her to apologise, took its toll on Gunn’s mental health and she opened up about struggles with anxiety before and after the Olympics and “barely” leaving the house off the back of the scolding she was subjected to.

Raygun has had to change previous routine after Olympics backlash

Feeling “paralysed” and “panicky” if her husband Sammy Free was not with her, Gunn was unable to find it within her to practice on the street as she used to but is slowly building up her confidence again.

“I used to practise on the street four nights a week, I still haven’t got the confidence to do that but I am able to break at home with Sammy and a friend and build from there,” she said in an open chat with the Herald Sun.

“Now I’m actually starting to enjoy it again and it’s nice to be able to dance with no pressure and work on some moves.”

Gunn also admitted to having “a good cry probably every couple of weeks” and still has “bad days” – though she has found that knitting, a social media cleanse and appointments with a psychologist has helped her.

Though she received such nasty remarks, Raygun was tipped to appear on a reality TV show, as well as bagging lucrative brand deals – and did tease some exciting news.

She revealed, “I’m working on some stuff behind the scenes … you certainly haven’t seen the last of me.”

Floyd Mayweather Jr. retired in 2017 after an incredible 50 pro fights and 15 world titles across five different weight classes. But following his pugilistic success, the athlete and entrepreneur now likes to put his money where his mouth is when it comes to making new champions.

To that end, one of the greatest boxers of all time sat down with M&F to impart three pieces of advice that helped him navigate the rigors of the ring and explain the mindset that went into his supplement line, “One of One.”

The 1996 Olympic bronze medalist built a lasting legacy as one of the most diligent defensive boxers in history, but he also had a knack for knockouts and earned 27 crushing KOs in the course of his 50 successful professional fights. The boxer’s punching accuracy was statistically unmatched according to CompuBox, and as one of the top earners in all of sports, “Money” Mayweather’s purse reportedly hit a quarter of a billion dollars (against Manny Pacquiao), making him a king of pay-per-view. too But what now excites Mayweather more than money is the chance to create new champions.

To that end, prospects like the undefeated Curmel Moton and Gervonta “The Tank” Davis have gained wisdom under the mentorship of Mayweather, and thanks to a master class from the man himself, you can too — and his words of wisdom count for any sporting goal.

1. Discipline Beats Motivation

“Discipline beats motivation every time,” says Mayweather of getting through those days where you would rather do anything else than train. “Show up, even on the days you don’t feel like it,” he enthuses. And, when those goals seem somewhat out of reach, the boxing great has further advice. “Progress isn’t about going viral,” Mayweather tells M&F. “It’s about getting better, little by little… every day. That’s what greatness is built on.”

2. Focus on Performance and Recovery

“For me, the focus was always on performance and recovery,” reflects the former world champion who always had a huge target on his back. “I looked for ways to fuel my body naturally through hydration, amino acids, and nutrients that kept my energy high and my body resilient.”

Mayweather has once again put his money where his mouth is here, launching his own supplement brand. “Now with One of One, we’ve built products that reflect that same mindset,” he explains. “Everything is designed to support endurance, recovery, and total body wellness—what every athlete needs. Whether you’re in the ring or simply on the grind every day. I trained harder than anyone, and I didn’t take chances with anything that wasn’t proven, so I created something that lives up to those same standards: clean, powerful, and built for results. There are a lot of products out there, but too many cut corners or hide behind hype. I built One of One to deliver real performance: science-backed formulas, top-tier ingredients, and no BS. It’s a full system for athletes who want to work, recover, and win.”

3. Fitness and Longevity Go Hand in Hand

With an unbeaten pro career that spanned from 1996 and 2017, Mayweather came to understand that being the best meant staying ready rather than rushing his prep. It’s a lesson he retains even in retirement. “I still train like a champion—every day,” he says. “Mornings usually start with cardio: running, jump rope, sometimes a swim in the pool. Later in the day I’ll focus on strength and boxing. I don’t need to lift heavy, but I do a lot of high reps, core work, and drills that keep me sharp. Fitness and longevity go hand in hand and I train to stay ready not just physically but mentally, too. It’s part of who I am.

“Stay focused on your goals, be smart about your recovery, and pay attention to what you put in your body,” sums up the boxing sensation. Now you can take that advice to the bank.

To follow Floyd Mayweather on Instagram, click here. 

For more information on One of One, click here. 

Two transgender netball players have been banned from competing in Australia’s Riddell District Football Netball League after video footage emerged showing one player knocking an opponent to the ground.

The incident involved Melton Central player Manawa Aranui sending a member of the Romsey team crashing to the court during play.

Melton Central player Manawa Aranui sent a teenage opponent tumbling to the floor

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Following the complaints, Victoria’s Riddell District Football Netball League announced that both transgender Melton Central teammates were excluded from competition for the remainder of the 2025 season.

Melton South Netball Club had threatened to boycott matches against Melton Central due to safety concerns.

Manawa Aranui used to play men’s netball at an elite level

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Despite these previous bans, Aranui continued to play for Melton Central. She was recently named best on court in a Division 1 grand final.

Melton South’s netball coordinator Melissa Dawson told News Corp reporters she would support her players if they chose to forfeit games over safety concerns.

“One of the players is six foot something – it’s ridiculous,” she said. “Netball Victoria needs to put the safety of biological females first.”

Netball Victoria allows non-binary and transgender players to register and play in female competitions based on self-identified gender, not legal sex. This contrasts sharply with protections for women’s sport in the UK.

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