New Photo - Longtime Penguins defenseman Kris Letang out at least a month due to fractured foot

Longtime Penguins defenseman Kris Letang out at least a month due to fractured foot January 31, 2026 at 8:01 PM 0 Pittsburgh Penguins' Kris Letang acknowledges being named the games number one start after scoring the gaminwinning goal in the overtime period of an NHL hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) () PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang will miss at least four weeks with a fractured foot.

- - Longtime Penguins defenseman Kris Letang out at least a month due to fractured foot

January 31, 2026 at 8:01 PM

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Pittsburgh Penguins' Kris Letang acknowledges being named the games number one start after scoring the gamin-winning goal in the overtime period of an NHL hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) ()

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang will miss at least four weeks with a fractured foot.

The club announced the extent of the injury on Saturday before the surging Penguins faced the New York Rangers. Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse said Letang, who is in his 20th season, injured the foot during a 6-2 victory over Chicago on Thursday.

Letang's absence comes with the Penguins surging into the Olympic break. Pittsburgh is 6-0-2 in its last eight games to move into second place in the Metropolitan Division.

The 38-year-old Letang has three goals and 22 assists in 50 games this season for the Penguins. He is currently three points shy of 800 for his career.

Letang's injury comes at a potentially fortuitous time for Pittsburgh with the NHL set to take an extended break for the 2026 Winter Games in Milan Cortina, which start next week. The Penguins not participating in the Olympics will be off from Feb. 6 to Feb. 25.

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Longtime Penguins defenseman Kris Letang out at least a month due to fractured foot

Longtime Penguins defenseman Kris Letang out at least a month due to fractured foot January 31, 2026 at 8:01 PM 0 Pit...
New Photo - Ellen DeGeneres Celebrates Wife Portia de Rossi on Her 53rd Birthday: 'My Favorite Person'

Ellen DeGeneres Celebrates Wife Portia de Rossi on Her 53rd Birthday: 'My Favorite Person' Erin ClackFebruary 1, 2026 at 1:36 AM 0 Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi; Portia de Rossi Kelly Sullivan/Getty;Ellen DeGeneres /Instagram Ellen DeGeneres is celebrating her wife, Portia de Rossi, on her 53rd birthday To mark the occasion on Saturday, Jan. 31, the former talk show host shared a sweet tribute on Instagram DeGeneres and de Rossi have been married since 2008 Ellen DeGeneres is celebrating her wife Portia de Rossi's latest birthday. The Arrested Development alum turned 53 on Saturday, Jan.

- - Ellen DeGeneres Celebrates Wife Portia de Rossi on Her 53rd Birthday: 'My Favorite Person'

Erin ClackFebruary 1, 2026 at 1:36 AM

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Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi; Portia de Rossi

Kelly Sullivan/Getty;Ellen DeGeneres /Instagram

Ellen DeGeneres is celebrating her wife, Portia de Rossi, on her 53rd birthday

To mark the occasion on Saturday, Jan. 31, the former talk show host shared a sweet tribute on Instagram

DeGeneres and de Rossi have been married since 2008

Ellen DeGeneres is celebrating her wife Portia de Rossi's latest birthday.

The Arrested Development alum turned 53 on Saturday, Jan. 31, and DeGeneres, 68, marked the occasion by sharing a sweet tribute to the actress on Instagram.

"Happy birthday to my favorite person in the world," she wrote.

The simple message was accompanied by a photo of de Rossi holding a dog in her arms while standing outside in a garden. She's casually dressed in a light blue button-down shirt and jeans, paired with a brown belt.

View this post on Instagram

De Rossi's birthday comes just days after DeGeneres celebrated her own. The former talk show host turned 68 on Monday, Jan. 26, and commemorated the day by sharing a photo on Instagram of herself with her wife.

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DeGeneres can be seen embracing de Rossi from behind as the latter held a half-eaten chocolate chip cookie. Making a rare political statement, the Ellen star recognized that it was "a tough day to feel like celebrating a birthday."

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi

Ellen Degeneres/Instagram

"I'm holding space for what's happening in our world and holding close what I'm grateful for," she wrote in her caption. "Like my wife. And cookies."

Shortly before the birthday post, DeGeneres shared a video of Alex Pretti, the ICU nurse who was shot and killed by federal officers in Minneapolis on Jan. 24.

DeGeneres and de Rossi have been married since 2008. They renewed their vows in 2023 with a ceremony officiated by close friend Kris Jenner and featuring a performance by Brandi Carlile.

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi

Ellen DeGeneres/Instagram

De Rossi surprised DeGeneres with the vow renewal during her 50th birthday party. In a video later shared by DeGeneres on Instagram, the actress — who rewore her Zac Posen gown from the couple's 2008 wedding — can be seen walking up to DeGeneres in a crowd of guests and saying, "Surprise!"

"You don't have to say anything at all, but when I was thinking about what would make my birthday really special, apart from being with family and friends, it was reminding you that you're the most important thing in the world to me," the actress continued as the ceremony began.

In the caption of her Instagram post, DeGeneres called her wife "the greatest gift."

When the pair celebrated their milestone 15th wedding anniversary in August 2023, DeGeneres shared a photo of herself and de Rossi posing together on a yacht with the ocean as their backdrop.

"To my wife of 15 years," she wrote. "I fall more in love with you every day. My life is blessed because you're in it. Happy anniversary."

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Ellen DeGeneres Celebrates Wife Portia de Rossi on Her 53rd Birthday: 'My Favorite Person'

Ellen DeGeneres Celebrates Wife Portia de Rossi on Her 53rd Birthday: 'My Favorite Person' Erin ClackFebruary ...
New Photo - Local hero Vergara shines again as Napoli beats Fiorentina but injury crisis deepens

Local hero Vergara shines again as Napoli beats Fiorentina but injury crisis deepens DANIELLA MATAR February 1, 2026 at 12:42 AM 0 1 / 5Italy Serie A SoccerNapoli's Antonio Vergara celebrates after scoring during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Napoli and Fiorentina in Naples, Italy, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP) MILAN (AP) — Antonio Vergara gave Napoli supporters another reason to cheer amid a deepening injury crisis at the Serie A defending champion on Saturday.

- - Local hero Vergara shines again as Napoli beats Fiorentina but injury crisis deepens

DANIELLA MATAR February 1, 2026 at 12:42 AM

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1 / 5Italy Serie A SoccerNapoli's Antonio Vergara celebrates after scoring during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Napoli and Fiorentina in Naples, Italy, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)

MILAN (AP) — Antonio Vergara gave Napoli supporters another reason to cheer amid a deepening injury crisis at the Serie A defending champion on Saturday.

Vergara scored a wonder goal in the Champions League midweek and weighed in with a goal and an assist in Serie A to help Napoli beat Fiorentina 2-1.

That was Napoli's first win in four matches in all competitions, and cut the gap to Serie A leader Inter Milan to six points.

Inter was playing at Cremonese on Sunday.

Napoli was looking to rebound from being eliminated from the Champions League on Wednesday after a 3-2 loss to Chelsea.

Vergara scored his first goal for Napoli in that defeat and he added to that with his first Serie A goal on Saturday, in the 11th minute. Rasmus Højlund was blocked from collecting a long ball by Fiorentina defenders but that allowed Vergara to latch onto it and sprint clear before drilling into the bottom right corner.

The locally born midfielder leapt over the advertising hoardings and onto the track to celebrate with the fans.

Fiorentina came close to equalizing moments after the host should have doubled its lead but Roberto Piccoli headed a free kick off the post and, as the action continued, Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret pulled off an incredible save to parry Albert Guðmundsson's header at point-blank range.

However, also in that move, Giovanni Di Lorenzo landed awkwardly on his left knee, which appeared to buckle under him. The Napoli captain was clearly in agony and was taken off on a stretcher to an ambulance.

Napoli has struggled with injuries all season and the players sidelined include Kevin De Bruyne, Frank Anguissa, David Neres, Billy Gilmour, Matteo Politano and Amir Rrahmani.

Napoli doubled its lead at the start of the second half when Vergara picked out Miguel Gutiérrez on the right and he cut inside past Fiorentina defender Robin Gosens before curling into the far bottom corner.

Manor Solomon reduced the deficit in the 57th minute, tapping in the rebound after Meret parried Piccoli's attempt.

Fiorentina remained 18th in Serie A, one point from safety.

Berardi's back

Domenico Berardi had a great return to the starting lineup by scoring and forcing an own goal as Sassuolo won at Pisa 3-1. Berardi's first start since November followed a hamstring strain.

Sassulo climbed up to 11th while Pisa remained rooted to the bottom of the table, four points from safety.

Hellas Verona, in penultimate place, was playing at mid-table Cagliari later.

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Local hero Vergara shines again as Napoli beats Fiorentina but injury crisis deepens

Local hero Vergara shines again as Napoli beats Fiorentina but injury crisis deepens DANIELLA MATAR February 1, 202...
New Photo - Welling, Davidson lead No. 22 Clemson to a 63-52 victory, its 15th straight against Pittsburgh

Welling, Davidson lead No. 22 Clemson to a 6352 victory, its 15th straight against Pittsburgh February 1, 2026 at 12:41 AM 0 1 / 5Pittsburgh Clemson BasketballPittsburgh guard Brandin Cummings (3) drives on Clemson guard Ace Buckner (21) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser) CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Carter Welling and Nick Davidson scored 12 points each and No. 22 Clemson used a big firsthalf run to take control on the way to its 15th straight win over Pittsburgh, 6352, on Saturday.

- - Welling, Davidson lead No. 22 Clemson to a 63-52 victory, its 15th straight against Pittsburgh

February 1, 2026 at 12:41 AM

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1 / 5Pittsburgh Clemson BasketballPittsburgh guard Brandin Cummings (3) drives on Clemson guard Ace Buckner (21) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Carter Welling and Nick Davidson scored 12 points each and No. 22 Clemson used a big first-half run to take control on the way to its 15th straight win over Pittsburgh, 63-52, on Saturday.

Welling and Davidson combined for 17 second-half points for the Tigers (18-4, 8-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), who opened a 17-point lead at halftime and gave Clemson coach Brad Brownell his 200th home win over 16 seasons.

The Panthers (9-13, 2-7) used a 14-4 run at the start of the second half to get the lead into single digits. But RJ Godfrey had two inside baskets and Welling scored six straight points to restore Clemson's large lead.

Pitt has struggled during ACC play. It had hoped to carry momentum from an overtime win against Wake Forest earlier this week into Clemson.

But the Tigers' defense kicked in midway through the opening half as they went on a 26-9 run over a 13-minute span to take control. Efrem "Butta" Johnson had two of Clemson's five threes during that surge while the Panthers shot just shot 21% and were 2-of-18 from behind the arc the first 20 minutes.

Johnson's second 3-pointer put Clemson up 33-16 at the half.

Roman Siulepa land Damarco Minor ed Pittsburgh with 12 points apiece. The Panthers' leading scorer, Brandin Cummings, was held to points, 11 fewer than his average.

Godfrey finished with 10 points for the Tigers.

The game went on as scheduled despite a rare winter storm throughout the state of South Carolina that was expected to leave up to 8 inches of snow on campus.

Up next

Pitt: Goes to No. 17 Virginia on Tuesday night.

Clemson: Goes West to play Stanford on Wednesday night.

___

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Welling, Davidson lead No. 22 Clemson to a 63-52 victory, its 15th straight against Pittsburgh

Welling, Davidson lead No. 22 Clemson to a 6352 victory, its 15th straight against Pittsburgh February 1, 2026 at 12:41...
New Photo - How a trans woman's removal from a restroom tore the world of competitive pinball apart

How a trans woman's removal from a restroom tore the world of competitive pinball apart Jo YurcabaJanuary 31, 2026 at 5:30 PM 2 B. found acceptance through pinball, until an incident last fall left her panicked and shaken. (Caitlin Penna for NBC News) (Caitlin Penna for NBC News) WILMINGTON, N.C. — Some of the best women's pinball players in North Carolina had a dilemma: Though it was an honor to be among the 16 invited to compete for the state title in January and a shot at nationals, they wondered whether they should skip the tournament in protest.

- - How a trans woman's removal from a restroom tore the world of competitive pinball apart

Jo YurcabaJanuary 31, 2026 at 5:30 PM

2

B. found acceptance through pinball, until an incident last fall left her panicked and shaken. (Caitlin Penna for NBC News) (Caitlin Penna for NBC News)

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Some of the best women's pinball players in North Carolina had a dilemma: Though it was an honor to be among the 16 invited to compete for the state title in January and a shot at nationals, they wondered whether they should skip the tournament in protest.

Kat Lake considered declining to send a message of support to her fellow trans pinball players amid a painful rift. But Lake, one of the top women in the country, also didn't want to give up on years of hard work climbing the ranks.

She ultimately decided to go, and on an unusually cold and rainy Sunday this month, she drove to the Coastal Hemp Company, a joint hemp shop and arcade. She greeted her competitors with hugs.

"These are the people that got me into pinball, that helped me become who I am, and I don't want to throw any of that away," she said.

Kat Lake, 41, has five pinball machines in her home and loves teaching people about the game. (Caitlin Penna for NBC News) (Caitlin Penna for NBC News)

Pinball players liken it to a video game. The goal of "Deadpool," for example, is to defeat villains like Mystique and complete quests. (Caitlin Penna for NBC News) (Caitlin Penna for NBC News)

Competitive pinball is a surprisingly intense sport with an inclusive culture, a niche pursuit that has long been safe from the spotlight — and from national politics. Then, at a tournament in November, an arcade employee insisted that a transgender competitor couldn't use the women's bathroom. The incident — and how it was handled by the the sport's governing body, the International Flipper Pinball Association — tilted a friendly community into turmoil.

The all-male leaders of the IFPA say they received threatening messages. Players accused the organization of not doing enough to back trans competitors. The group's entire Women's Advisory Board resigned. Tournament directors and players across the country have boycotted IFPA events as a show of support for trans players.

The pinball blowup occurred at a moment when trans people face an increasingly hostile environment in the United States, particularly in sports. Twenty-nine states have laws or regulations prohibiting trans student-athletes in K-12 schools or colleges from competing on teams that align with their gender identities. The governing bodies for sports ranging from swimming and track to pursuits like chess and darts have banned trans women from women's events.

What makes this dispute unusual is that everyone, including the IFPA, agrees that trans women should be allowed to play. The division is over the aftermath of the bathroom incident and whether the trans people involved received enough support. It highlights the complexities that even the smallest and most inclusive sports organizations are struggling to navigate in a tense political climate.

'Shrinking safe spaces'

The trans woman barred from using the bathroom said pinball had, until that day, been her safe space. B., a computer programmer based in Raleigh, asked to go by an initial because not everyone in her life knows she's transgender, though her pinball community does.

B. said she started playing in a local pinball league just over a year ago, and she has come to love the sport. She likes the flow state she gets into. After she lands shots, she sometimes breaks into a celebratory dance.

She has also found acceptance through the hobby. B. said the first person she came out to in pinball was Joan McCool, 72, who has been playing pinball since 1975 and is affectionately known as "pinball mom." McCool was immediately supportive. B. also learned that there are many trans people competing in the sport.

Kaylee Campbell, 42, has been playing pinball competitively for more than a decade. (Caitlin Penna for NBC News) (Caitlin Penna for NBC News)

One of them is Kaylee Campbell. She came out as a trans woman in the fall of 2020 and asked the IFPA to change her name on official records. At that point, the IFPA didn't have a clear policy on trans players, but leaders were welcoming.

"It could sound silly to some people, but before transitioning, I was worried about my family, my job and then pinball — that was the order of fears of things that I may be losing by coming out publicly," Campbell said. "It makes me really proud that I'm putting things out there and being part of something that can be a safe space in a world with seemingly shrinking safe spaces."

After President Donald Trump returned to office last year and signed policies targeting transgender people, the IFPA said in a statement that its tournaments should be "free from homophobia, transphobia, and all other types of discrimination." By then, it had adopted a gender inclusion policy.

Finding out that her hobby was so trans-inclusive was "a breath of fresh air," B. said, which is what made the bathroom incident so jarring.

B. traveled to Grandy, a small, conservative coastal town, in early November. She planned to compete in the Outer Banks, or OBX, Fall Flippers Pinball Tournament. The tournament venue, Flippers Convenience & Arcade, boasts the most pinball machines in the state.

On Nov. 7, the first day of the tournament, B. said, she went to the bathroom about 10 minutes before the competition. As she washed her hands, a woman who manages the arcade came in and told her that it was against the law for her to be there and that the men's room was across the hall.

"I was just dumbstruck," B. said.

She left the bathroom and immediately told Samantha Bacon, a co-director of the tournament. Bacon, an aerospace engineer from Wake Forest, is also transgender and one of the top players in the country.

B., 35, likes playing older pinball games, which can require intricate shots. (Caitlin Penna for NBC News) (Caitlin Penna for NBC News)

Bacon began to panic. There were a lot of trans and gender-nonconforming queer players at the tournament who would need to use the restrooms, she said.

She confronted Becky Connell, the manager who had spoken to B. Connell, Bacon said, pulled out an iPad and showed her a recent North Carolina bill that she said prohibited trans women from using the women's restroom.

"She puts it in front of my face and says: 'This is the law. If it happens again, I'm calling the cops,'" Bacon said. Bacon looked up the bill and showed Connell that it hadn't been passed into law, but, she said, Connell insisted that she was the manager and that she would have anyone she thought was in the wrong restroom charged with trespassing.

In text messages with NBC News, Connell said she confronted a trans person in the bathroom and "politely told" them that "the men's restroom was next door." (Connell said the person she confronted was a different person, not B.; that player, who is nonbinary, told NBC News that Connell didn't speak to them in the bathroom.) Connell didn't respond to questions about the state bill and said she threatened to call the police only when some of the pinball players started harassing her, which the players denied. She said she later received an anonymous unsettling letter at her home.

The arcade's owner, David Shields, said in a text message that transgender participants have always been allowed to use the women's restroom since the arcade started hosting tournaments in 2012. He defended Connell, calling the November situation regrettable but "not intended to cause harm." The arcade is "committed to fostering a positive and respectful atmosphere for all," he said.

Bacon's next move on the afternoon of Nov. 7 was to message the IFPA's leadership. Josh Sharpe, the organization's president, told her she had the authority to shut the entire tournament down if necessary, because the event was in violation of its inclusion policy.

Samantha Bacon, 35, said she doesn't know how she'll move forward in pinball. "I'm still grieving," she said. (Caitlin Penna for NBC News) (Caitlin Penna for NBC News)

Bacon consulted Campbell, the tournament co-director, about whether to cancel.

"I was worried that they would just blame the trans people for getting the whole tournament canceled," Campbell said. She searched for an alternative solution.

News of the incident spread quickly, and about a dozen players, many of them trans, gathered outside the arcade, with most saying they didn't feel comfortable going in.

Kevin Stone, the main tournament director, told Campbell and Bacon that he didn't know what to do. Campbell suggested providing three additional hours of qualifying time to players who wanted to wait until Connell left. With that temporary solution, Bacon sent a message to IFPA leadership around 3 p.m. that said, "We got it sorted."

But the issue was far from sorted. Neither those organizing the tournament nor the IFPA initially understood the potential fallout. The fact that no one chose to cancel the tournament was part of what ultimately fractured the pinball community — which Bacon said she carries guilt about even though she feels it wasn't her fault.

Immediately after the bathroom confrontation, a friend guided B. to the arcade's back patio, where, she said, she had a panic attack and then went back to her hotel. She never returned to the arcade.

"Those first few days, it was a lot," B. said. "Being so new to being open about being trans, I think that was probably one of my first five times using a restroom labeled as women's. I've definitely, over the past few months, took a few steps back in how public about being trans I've been."

No one from IFPA leadership has reached out to her, B. said.

A painful divide

Once the IFPA's leaders fully understood what happened at the Outer Banks tournament, they agreed on the key issues: that trans women should feel safe at tournaments, including in women's restrooms, and that the bathroom incident violated the IFPA's inclusion policy, which meant the event should have been de-sanctioned, meaning the points players earned wouldn't count.

But it wasn't. The tournament continued, sanctioned, for the rest of the weekend, and that is where the fracture began. The IFPA's leadership, an all-volunteer group of men mostly responsible for developing algorithms to maintain the world pinball rankings, was suddenly thrust into an emotional debate. Many players, including trans players from North Carolina, expected the leaders to de-sanction the tournament to send a message that what happened wasn't acceptable. Some players took the IFPA's decision to mean that points were more important to leadership than trans players' inclusion and safety.

In the days afterward, Stone, the main tournament director at the event, apologized, saying he should have delayed the tournament until Connell left. He did not respond to requests for comment.

IFPA Director Adam Becker issued statements describing what happened as a leadership failure. He said Flippers Convenience & Arcade would be prohibited from hosting IFPA-sanctioned events for at least a year.

However, he said, the IFPA wouldn't de-sanction the event because it didn't want to set a precedent that it could retroactively revoke sanctioning "based on failures of the IFPA organization." The IFPA pointed to Bacon's "We got it sorted" message specifically. Bacon felt the leaders were blaming her, and she resigned from the IFPA's Women's Advisory Board.

"If you're going to throw me under the bus like that, I'm gone," she said.

The IFPA said in a statement that the organization regretted that its handling of the situation contributed to Bacon "feeling blamed or singled out."

Over the next week, the debate over whether the tournament should remain sanctioned went national, with more than 1,400 players signing a petition demanding that the organization reverse its decision. The four remaining members of the women's board voted to remove sanctioning, but Becker overruled them. As a result, they all resigned Nov. 19.

IFPA policy prohibits discrimination at tournaments that it sanctions. (Caitlin Penna for NBC News) (Caitlin Penna for NBC News)

An online chat for IFPA players became heated, and IFPA leaders said that's when they began to receive alarming messages, with one calling them "transphobic pieces of trash," according to screenshots shared with NBC News.

The incident has especially shaken the women's pinball community, which has grown since the IFPA began recognizing women's tournaments in 2022. Players said the women's-only matchups began in part because arcades and gaming culture can be misogynistic. Men are likelier to hover over players during a game, which can be distracting and intimidating, players said.

As anger at the IFPA grew, players began boycotting events and some tournament organizers began pulling out of the IFPA. One tournament director in Oregon said players there were discussing starting their own competition circuit.

In response to the backlash, the IFPA has rolled out a number of policy and staff changes. It created an email address that players and tournament directors can use to report incidents that threaten player safety. It alerts the entire IFPA leadership team, which the group recently expanded to include Campbell and another woman. The IFPA also published a new code of conduct and inclusion policy, which tournament directors have to acknowledge that they have read before they submit new events to the IFPA.

Sharpe, the IFPA's president and one of the top players in the world, said in a phone interview that one of the key lessons the organization learned was that simply having inclusion policies on a website wasn't sufficient.

"We learned that we do have to do more, providing the organizers of these events with clear, enforceable guidance on how they can respond to these situations when they occur," he said.

The IFPA said its failure to contact B. was another communication error.

Going forward, Sharpe said, his biggest message to trans players is that they belong and that they should expect to feel safe and respected at IFPA-sanctioned events.

'I'm still going to be here'

For B., rebuilding trust is a work in progress.

She sees the IFPA's new inclusion policy as a good step but wonders whether it will actually be followed.

"What happened at Flippers was covered by the policy that they had," she said.

A week after the incident in the Outer Banks, B. said, she was shocked to play the best pinball of her life, winning eight matches in a row over two tournaments and qualifying for the North Carolina women's state championship for the first time.

That's how she found herself at the Coastal Hemp Company for the women's state tournament in January, nervously preparing to play against friends and players she looked up to. As the owners fired up a countertop popcorn machine, a disco ball hanging from the ceiling cast hundreds of shimmering reflections across the room.

She didn't reach the final round, where Bacon faced Campbell, her longtime rival, and won, with Lake coming in third. But B. said she was glad she tried. Even though she has complicated feelings about competing, she refuses to stop playing.

"F--- them, I'm still going to be here," she said. "Pinball has been such an escape," she added. "I'm not giving that up."

B. loves the music in the '90s rafting-themed game "White Water," which becomes more frantic the longer someone plays. (Caitlin Penna for NBC News) (Caitlin Penna for NBC News)

IFPA President Josh Sharpe said what happened at the Outer Banks tournament does not define the community. "That incident is not the world of competitive pinball," he said. (Caitlin Penna for NBC News) (Caitlin Penna for NBC News)

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How a trans woman's removal from a restroom tore the world of competitive pinball apart

How a trans woman's removal from a restroom tore the world of competitive pinball apart Jo YurcabaJanuary 31, 20...
New Photo - Puerto Rico considers pulling out of WBC after insurance keeps stars off team

Puerto Rico considers pulling out of WBC after insurance keeps stars off team Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY January 31, 2026 at 10:21 PM 0 The World Baseball Classic will be without several of its top stars because they have been unable to acquire insurance coverage in case they are injured during the tournament. No team has been hit harder than Puerto Rico, which couldn't secure insurance coverage for several of its biggest names in Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, Jose Berrios and Emilio Pagan.

- - Puerto Rico considers pulling out of WBC after insurance keeps stars off team

Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY January 31, 2026 at 10:21 PM

0

The World Baseball Classic will be without several of its top stars because they have been unable to acquire insurance coverage in case they are injured during the tournament.

No team has been hit harder than Puerto Rico, which couldn't secure insurance coverage for several of its biggest names in Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, Jose Berrios and Emilio Pagan.

Puerto Rican officials are so frustrated that they have considered pulling out of the WBC, federation president José Quiles revealed.

The Major League Baseball Players Association said that Lindor is unable to play in the WBC because of an elbow procedure early in the offseason, although he will be fine to participate in spring training for the New York Mets.

"Francisco is obviously disappointed that he was be unable to participate," the MLBPA said in a statement. "However, because of WBC insurance constraints, he is ineligible to play in WBC games. He was participate fully in all spring training activities."

Francisco Lindor and Jose Altuve in 2025.

Houston Astros All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve was also denied insurance and won't be able to play for Venezuela in the WBC.

"Due to the criteria for WBC insurance coverage, Jose Altuve was looking forward to participating in the WBC and representing Venezuela, but unfortunately is not eligible to do so," the MLBPA said in a statement.

Venezuela will also be without Dodgers World Series hero Miguel Rojas, who announced on his Instagram account that he was also denied insurance.

"Today I am very sad," he wrote in Spanish. "A true shame I can't represent my country and put that flag on my chest."

$765,000,000: Juan Soto, New York Mets (2025-39)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/GIbQB9z class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$765,000,000: Juan Soto, New York Mets (2025-39)

">$765,000,000: Juan Soto, New York Mets (2025-39)

" src=https://ift.tt/GIbQB9z class=caas-img>$700,000,000: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-33)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/DJlExf7 class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$700,000,000: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-33)

">$700,000,000: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-33)

" src=https://ift.tt/DJlExf7 class=caas-img>$500,000,000: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Toronto Blue Jays (2026-39)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/AQXmgij class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$500,000,000: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Toronto Blue Jays (2026-39)

">$500,000,000: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Toronto Blue Jays (2026-39)

" src=https://ift.tt/AQXmgij class=caas-img>$426.5 million: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels (2019-2030)* includes extension

" data-src=https://ift.tt/EkvLUIH class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$426.5 million: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels (2019-2030)* includes extension

">$426.5 million: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels (2019-2030)* includes extension

" src=https://ift.tt/EkvLUIH class=caas-img>$365 million: Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers (2020-32)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/k9YL4hU class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$365 million: Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers (2020-32)

">$365 million: Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers (2020-32)

" src=https://ift.tt/k9YL4hU class=caas-img>$360 million: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees (2023-2031)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/ysVHTjh class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$360 million: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees (2023-2031)

">$360 million: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees (2023-2031)

" src=https://ift.tt/ysVHTjh class=caas-img>$350 million: Manny Machado, San Diego Padres (2023-33)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/azdmA9I class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$350 million: Manny Machado, San Diego Padres (2023-33)

">$350 million: Manny Machado, San Diego Padres (2023-33)

" src=https://ift.tt/azdmA9I class=caas-img>$341 million: Francisco Lindor, New York Mets (2022-31)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/vL8Ir4O class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$341 million: Francisco Lindor, New York Mets (2022-31)

">$341 million: Francisco Lindor, New York Mets (2022-31)

" src=https://ift.tt/vL8Ir4O class=caas-img>$340 million: Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres (2021-34)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/sLpeAgP class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$340 million: Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres (2021-34)

">$340 million: Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres (2021-34)

" src=https://ift.tt/sLpeAgP class=caas-img>$330,000,000: Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies (2019-31)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/DsRmXIY class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$330,000,000: Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies (2019-31)

">$330,000,000: Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies (2019-31)

" src=https://ift.tt/DsRmXIY class=caas-img>$325 million: Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins (2015-2027) – traded to New York Yankees in 2017

" data-src=https://ift.tt/uVztBJg class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$325 million: Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins (2015-2027) – traded to New York Yankees in 2017

">$325 million: Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins (2015-2027) – traded to New York Yankees in 2017

" src=https://ift.tt/uVztBJg class=caas-img>$325 million: Corey Seager, Texas Rangers (2022-31)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/6GebAci class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$325 million: Corey Seager, Texas Rangers (2022-31)

">$325 million: Corey Seager, Texas Rangers (2022-31)

" src=https://ift.tt/6GebAci class=caas-img>$325,000,000: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-35)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/xA1SmkV class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$325,000,000: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-35)

">$325,000,000: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-35)

" src=https://ift.tt/xA1SmkV class=caas-img>$313.5 million: Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox (2024-33) - traded to San Francisco Giants in 2025

" data-src=https://ift.tt/aJoSPrq class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$313.5 million: Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox (2024-33) - traded to San Francisco Giants in 2025

">$313.5 million: Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox (2024-33) - traded to San Francisco Giants in 2025

" src=https://ift.tt/aJoSPrq class=caas-img>$300 million: Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies (2023-33)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/zN4qAOC class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$300 million: Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies (2023-33)

">$300 million: Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies (2023-33)

" src=https://ift.tt/zN4qAOC class=caas-img>$292 million: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers (2014-2023)* includes extension

" data-src=https://ift.tt/7VMbeKa class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$292 million: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers (2014-2023)* includes extension

">$292 million: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers (2014-2023)* includes extension

" src=https://ift.tt/7VMbeKa class=caas-img>$288,777,777: Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals (2024-34)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/xM6AgLT class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$288,777,777: Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals (2024-34)

">$288,777,777: Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals (2024-34)

" src=https://ift.tt/xM6AgLT class=caas-img>$280 million: Xander Bogaerts, San Diego Padres (2023-33)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/CR4z93V class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$280 million: Xander Bogaerts, San Diego Padres (2023-33)

">$280 million: Xander Bogaerts, San Diego Padres (2023-33)

" src=https://ift.tt/CR4z93V class=caas-img>$275 million: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees (2008-2017)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/7pMou9J class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$275 million: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees (2008-2017)

">$275 million: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees (2008-2017)

" src=https://ift.tt/7pMou9J class=caas-img>$260 million: Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies (2019-26) - traded to St. Louis Cardinals in 2021, traded to Arizona Diamondbacks in 2026

" data-src=https://ift.tt/WFefry8 class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$260 million: Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies (2019-26) - traded to St. Louis Cardinals in 2021, traded to Arizona Diamondbacks in 2026

">$260 million: Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies (2019-26) - traded to St. Louis Cardinals in 2021, traded to Arizona Diamondbacks in 2026

" src=https://ift.tt/WFefry8 class=caas-img>$252,000,000: Alex Rodriguez, Texas Rangers (2001-10)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/og3adLB class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$252,000,000: Alex Rodriguez, Texas Rangers (2001-10)

">$252,000,000: Alex Rodriguez, Texas Rangers (2001-10)

" src=https://ift.tt/og3adLB class=caas-img>$245 million: Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals (2020-26)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/vj4KH19 class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$245 million: Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals (2020-26)

">$245 million: Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals (2020-26)

" src=https://ift.tt/vj4KH19 class=caas-img>$245 million: Anthony Rendon, Los Angeles Angels (2020-26)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/O9NCnwA class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$245 million: Anthony Rendon, Los Angeles Angels (2020-26)

">$245 million: Anthony Rendon, Los Angeles Angels (2020-26)

" src=https://ift.tt/O9NCnwA class=caas-img>$240,000,000: Kyle Tucker, Los Angeles Dodgers (2026-29)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/KCzFdpy class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$240,000,000: Kyle Tucker, Los Angeles Dodgers (2026-29)

">$240,000,000: Kyle Tucker, Los Angeles Dodgers (2026-29)

" src=https://ift.tt/KCzFdpy class=caas-img>$240 million: Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels (2012-2021)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/NwFELQt class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$240 million: Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels (2012-2021)

">$240 million: Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels (2012-2021)

" src=https://ift.tt/NwFELQt class=caas-img>$240 million: Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners (2014-2023) – traded to New York Mets in 2019

" data-src=https://ift.tt/atKCgez class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$240 million: Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners (2014-2023) – traded to New York Mets in 2019

">$240 million: Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners (2014-2023) – traded to New York Mets in 2019

" src=https://ift.tt/atKCgez class=caas-img>$225 million: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds (2012-2021)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/4N1fedI class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$225 million: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds (2012-2021)

">$225 million: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds (2012-2021)

" src=https://ift.tt/4N1fedI class=caas-img>

$217 million: David Price, Boston Red Sox (2016-2022) – traded to Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020

" data-src=https://ift.tt/YRBMVAq class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$217 million: David Price, Boston Red Sox (2016-2022) – traded to Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020

">$217 million: David Price, Boston Red Sox (2016-2022) – traded to Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020

" src=https://ift.tt/YRBMVAq class=caas-img>$215 million: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers (2014-2020)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/LYRK06S class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$215 million: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers (2014-2020)

">$215 million: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers (2014-2020)

" src=https://ift.tt/LYRK06S class=caas-img>$215 million: Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers (2020-28)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/8JcAwv0 class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$215 million: Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers (2020-28)

">$215 million: Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers (2020-28)

" src=https://ift.tt/8JcAwv0 class=caas-img>$214 million: Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers (2012-2020) – traded to Texas Rangers in 2013

" data-src=https://ift.tt/ThURI7t class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$214 million: Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers (2012-2020) – traded to Texas Rangers in 2013

">$214 million: Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers (2012-2020) – traded to Texas Rangers in 2013

" src=https://ift.tt/ThURI7t class=caas-img>$212 million: Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves (2023-32)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/aUqfb1E class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$212 million: Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves (2023-32)

">$212 million: Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves (2023-32)

" src=https://ift.tt/aUqfb1E class=caas-img>$210 million: Corbin Burnes, Arizona Diamondbacks (2025-30)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/QWJEMea class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$210 million: Corbin Burnes, Arizona Diamondbacks (2025-30)

">$210 million: Corbin Burnes, Arizona Diamondbacks (2025-30)

" src=https://ift.tt/QWJEMea class=caas-img>$210 million: Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals (2015-2021)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/sOzNxMb class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$210 million: Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals (2015-2021)

">$210 million: Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals (2015-2021)

" src=https://ift.tt/sOzNxMb class=caas-img>$209.3 million: Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners (2023-34)

" data-src=https://ift.tt/1Pa7hXL class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$209.3 million: Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners (2023-34)

">$209.3 million: Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners (2023-34)

" src=https://ift.tt/1Pa7hXL class=caas-img>$206.5 million: Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks (2016-2021) – traded to Houston Astros in 2019

" data-src=https://ift.tt/serto15 class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$206.5 million: Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks (2016-2021) – traded to Houston Astros in 2019

">$206.5 million: Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks (2016-2021) – traded to Houston Astros in 2019

" src=https://ift.tt/serto15 class=caas-img>

$200 million: Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins (2023-28) - traded to Houston Astros in 2025

" data-src=https://ift.tt/jsP2TFx class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="

$200 million: Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins (2023-28) - traded to Houston Astros in 2025

">$200 million: Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins (2023-28) - traded to Houston Astros in 2025

" src=https://ift.tt/jsP2TFx class=caas-img>

1 / 39MLB's $200+ million contracts

$765,000,000: Juan Soto, New York Mets (2025-39)

The inability to secure insurance kept three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw from participating in the WBC in 2023 because of his back issues. Now that he's retired, there's no need for insurance and he'll be on this year's USA team.

MLB requires all players on their 40-man roster to have an insurance policy that protects the team if a player sustains and injury during the WBC that requires them to miss games during the regular season. Most of the insurance issues are over a player's prior injury history.

Players like Edwin Diaz and Altuve who were injured in the 2023 WBC were covered by insurance policies, and were still paid, but not by the team.

Diaz missed the entire 2023 season when he suffered a complete patellar tendon tear in his right knee celebrating Puerto Rico's win over the Dominican Republic. Altuve suffered a broken right thumb when he was hit by a pitch from Team USA pitcher Daniel Bard. He missed the first 43 games of the 2023 season.

There have been no publicly known cases of any player this year who were prevented from joining Team USA because of an inability to acquire insurance.

Yet, perhaps no one in the tournament is taking a bigger financial risk than two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers. He's a free agent after the season and is expected to secure the largest contract by a pitcher in MLB history, perhaps exceeding $400 million.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Baseball Classic 2026 insurance won't let Francisco Lindor play

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Published: January 31, 2026 at 09:27PM on Source: RED MAG

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Puerto Rico considers pulling out of WBC after insurance keeps stars off team

Puerto Rico considers pulling out of WBC after insurance keeps stars off team Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY January 31, ...
New Photo - Giants co-owner Tisch says he never went to Epstein's island and regrets associating with him

Giants coowner Tisch says he never went to Epstein's island and regrets associating with him January 31, 2026 at 10:43 PM 0 1 / 3Giants Tisch EpsteinFILE New York Giants coowner Steve Tisch arrives for NFL owners meetings, in New York, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) NEW YORK (AP) — New York Giants coowner Steve Tisch said he knew Jeffrey Epstein but denied going to his island after his name was mentioned more than 400 times in files released Friday by the U.S. Justice Department.

- - Giants co-owner Tisch says he never went to Epstein's island and regrets associating with him

January 31, 2026 at 10:43 PM

0

1 / 3Giants Tisch EpsteinFILE - New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch arrives for NFL owners meetings, in New York, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch said he knew Jeffrey Epstein but denied going to his island after his name was mentioned more than 400 times in files released Friday by the U.S. Justice Department.

"We had a brief association where we exchanged emails about adult women, and in addition, we discussed movies, philanthropy and investments," Tisch said in a statement provided by the NFL team. "I did not take him up on any of his invitations and never went to his island. As we all know now, he was a terrible person and someone I deeply regret associating with."

According to emails that were among the 3 million pages of documents, Epstein connected Tisch to numerous women. Tisch, 76, was never charged with any crime connected to the investigation.

Tisch won an Academy Award in 1994 for producing "Forrest Gump" and is chairman and executive vice president of the Giants. He has been involved with the team since his father, Preston Tisch, bought 50% of it in 1991 from the Mara family.

The documents were disclosed under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the law enacted after months of public and political pressure that requires the government to open its files on the late financier and his confidant and onetime girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Epstein killed himself in a New York jail cell in August 2019, a month after being indicted on federal sex trafficking charges.

___

AP NFL: https://ift.tt/QoDqzP0

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Published: January 31, 2026 at 07:27PM on Source: RED MAG

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Giants co-owner Tisch says he never went to Epstein's island and regrets associating with him

Giants coowner Tisch says he never went to Epstein's island and regrets associating with him January 31, 2026 at...

 

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