The USA Today Briefing: Essential News, Expert Analysis

The United States Women's National Team (USWNT) is playing the first of two friendly matches against China today at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota. Head coach Emma Hayes is using this match as an opportunity to evaluate newer players and solidify her core group in preparation for next year's Women's World Cup qualifying. Their opponent, 17th-ranked China, is a historically tough competitor and the second-most-frequent opponent for the USWNT, with this being their 61st meeting. The game offers a significant test for players aiming to prove their value on the international stage. United States Starting XI: (Lineup to be announced) China Starting XI: Pan Hongyan, Wang Linlin, Wu Haiyan, Chen Qiaozhu, Li Mengwen, Wang Yanwen, Liu Jing, Zhang Xin, Wang Shuang, Shao Ziqin, Jin Kun. The match will be televised in English on TBS and in Spanish on Universo. Streaming is available on Max and Peacock, with a free trial option on FuboTV. 

 Get ready for a clash of MLS titans as Lionel Messi and Inter Miami host the formidable Columbus Crew in a highly anticipated regular-season matchup! This Saturday, May 31, the Chase Stadium will be buzzing with excitement as two of the league's most intriguing teams go head-to-head. Inter Miami enters this fixture with renewed confidence after a recent surge in form, spearheaded by none other than their iconic captain, Lionel Messi. Messi continues to defy expectations, providing crucial goals and assists that ignite Miami's attack. Alongside him, the Herons boast a dynamic squad capable of thrilling football, though their defense has shown moments of vulnerability this season. The visiting Columbus Crew , under the astute guidance of Wilfried Nancy, arrive as a well-drilled and resilient unit. While they've had a run of draws recently, the Crew are known for their methodical approach and ability to compete with the best. Their previous encounter earlier this year saw M...

  The dream is now a dazzling reality! Senny Mayulu has just delivered the final, emphatic blow, scoring PSG's fifth goal in the Champions League final! The roar from the Munich Football Arena confirms it: this match is decisively over. Mayulu's strike is the exclamation point on an absolutely dominant performance by Paris Saint-Germain, a true masterclass that will be remembered for years to come. The European crown belongs to Paris, and the celebrations are already underway for this historic triumph !

 Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has just etched his name into PSG folklore, scoring the fourth goal in a commanding performance at the Champions League final! The Munich Football Arena erupted as the Georgian sensation found the back of the net, extending Paris Saint-Germain's lead and pushing them ever closer to that elusive European crown. This goal underlines a dominant display by Luis Enrique's side, showcasing their attacking prowess and firm grip on the most prestigious trophy in club football. The dream is turning into reality for PSG fans!

  Désiré Doué goal , Vitinha assist  20' #UCLfinal #PsgInter Désiré Doué goal , Dembele assist  20' #UCLfinal #PsgInter Hakimi goal , Desire assist  12' #UCLfinal #PsgInter

Get ready for the ultimate European club football clash as Paris faces Inter in the UEFA Champions League final at the Munich Football Arena this Saturday, May 31st. This highly anticipated match pits the 2019/20 finalists, Paris, against three-time champions, Inter, for the coveted trophy. This historic final marks the first-ever Champions League meeting between these two clubs and only the second final featuring teams from France and Italy. Paris seeks to overcome their 2020 final loss to Bayern München, while Inter aims for their fourth title, having last lifted the trophy in 2010. Inter also looks to redeem themselves after their 2023 showpiece defeat to Manchester City. Paris endured a challenging initial league phase but found their stride with crucial wins and a dominant knockout play-off victory. They went on to eliminate tough opponents like Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Arsenal. Inter, on the other hand, displayed consistent form in the league phase, conceding only one goal. ...

  Severe thunderstorms impacted Central Florida on Saturday morning (May 31, 2025), leading to widespread rain and a ground stop at Orlando International Airport (MCO). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expected the ground stop to be lifted by 8 a.m.

 American qualifier Ethan Quinn, 21, is making waves at the French Open, aiming for his first Grand Slam second-week appearance. After a fortunate first-round comeback against a retiring Grigor Dimitrov—a player he admired as a child—Quinn has found new confidence. The former college standout, who won the 2023 NCAA Singles Championship, initially struggled with the transition to professional tennis. However, a crucial intervention from good friend and top player Tommy Paul, whose coach Brad Stine also coaches Quinn, helped him find his footing. Quinn credits Paul's advice, taken with a "grain of salt," as invaluable. This season marks a breakthrough for Quinn, highlighted by his first Masters 1000 win in Madrid and now a career-best third-round appearance at a Grand Slam, achieved by winning a grueling five-set match against Alexander Shevchenko. He also gained valuable experience pushing Carlos Alcaraz in Barcelona, meticulously studying film from that match to improve...

  The Sporting News is tracking results and brackets from the 2025 French Open men's and women's singles.  2025 French Open Men's Second Round Match        Match                                                          Result 65 Jannik Sinner (1) def. Richard Gasquet (W) 6-3 6-0 6-4 66 Jiri Lehecka def. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (26) 6-3 3-6 6-1 6-2 67 Andrey Rublev (17) def. Adam Walton 7-6 (7-1) 6-1 7-6 (7-5) 68 Jaume Munar def. by Arthur Fils (14) 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 0-6 6-4 69 Alex de Minaur (9) def. by Alexander Bublik 2-6 2-6 6-4 6-3 6-2 70 Henrique Rocha (Q) def. Jakub Mensik (19) 2-6 1-6 6-4 6-3 6-3 71 Joao Fonseca def. Pierre-Hugues Herbert (W) 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 72 Gael Monfils def. by Jack Draper (5) 6-3 4-6 6-3 7-5 73 Alexander Zverev (3) def. Jesper de Jong 3-6 6-1 6-2 6-3 74 Flavio Coboll...

 A salmonella outbreak connected to a Florida-based cucumber producer has expanded significantly, with 45 individuals across 18 states now reporting illnesses, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed on Friday. Major retailers, including Target and Walmart, are among those that sold the contaminated produce and related ready-to-eat items, prompting urgent warnings for consumers to discard affected products. Target recently joined the growing list of retailers issuing alerts for recalled cucumbers and various ready-to-eat items containing them. The company released a list of affected products, which includes a Greek-style chicken salad from Boar's Head and several sushi varieties, such as Mai-brand maki rolls with tempura and California rolls. Last week, Walmart had already advised its customers to discard potentially tainted items, specifically mentioning its Marketside cucumber slices in the recall. Illnesses linked to this outbreak have been reported in Alabama, Cal...

  SAN FRANCISCO – A U.S. appeals court on Friday rejected the Trump administration's attempt to proceed with widespread layoffs of federal workers and a major restructuring of government agencies. This decision leaves a lower court's injunction, which had halted the extensive overhaul, firmly in place. The ruling by the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals means that, for the foreseeable future, the Trump administration cannot move forward with its plans to shed tens of thousands of federal jobs or close numerous government offices and programs. The appellate court's decision supports an earlier May 22 ruling by U.S. District Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco. Judge Illston had initially blocked large-scale layoffs across approximately 20 federal agencies, siding with a coalition of unions, nonprofits, and municipalities who argued that a president requires congressional authorization to restructure agencies in such a manner. In a 2-1 decision, a three-...

  WEST MIFFLIN, Pennsylvania – U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday his intention to significantly escalate tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, proposing an increase from the current 25% to 50%. This move, revealed during a rally in Pennsylvania, is set to intensify pressure on global steel producers and deepen ongoing trade disputes. "We are going to be imposing a 25% increase. We're going to bring it from 25% to 50% — the tariffs on steel into the United States of America, which will even further secure the steel industry in the United States," President Trump stated. He later confirmed on social media that the heightened tariffs would also apply to aluminum products and are expected to take effect next Wednesday, June 4. The announcement was strategically made just outside Pittsburgh, where President Trump also highlighted an agreement between Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel. He asserted that this $14.9 billion deal, alongside the tariff increase, aims to s...

On Friday, residents across several areas of Maryland and Virginia were alerted to significant weather threats as the National Weather Service (NWS) issued tornado warnings. Communities including Laurel, Silver Spring, and Baltimore were specifically highlighted, with the greater Washington, D.C. area also placed under a broader tornado watch. These alerts came as intense thunderstorms swept through the Mid-Atlantic region. The warnings were part of Tornado Watches 350 and 348, which remained in effect until midnight EDT. These watches encompassed a wide area including southeastern Howard County, eastern Montgomery County, Prince George's County, and northeastern King George County. Radar indications suggested potential tornadoes tracking northeastward at speeds of 10-20 mph. Cities such as Laurel, Clinton, and King George faced immediate risks, with authorities urging residents to seek immediate shelter due to the potential for flying debris, extensive tree damage, and possible ...

Loretta Swit, the celebrated Emmy Award-winning actress best known for her iconic portrayal of Maj. Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan, the formidable head nurse in the groundbreaking TV series "M.A.S.H.," has passed away at the age of 87. Publicist Harlan Boll confirmed that Swit died Friday at her residence in New York City, with natural causes cited as the likely reason. Swit, alongside co-star Alan Alda, was one of the longest-serving cast members on "M.A.S.H.," the acclaimed CBS show that ran for an impressive 11 years from 1972 to 1983. The series, inspired by Robert Altman's 1970 film and Richard Hooker's original novel, immersed viewers in the daily lives of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War. Its two-and-a-half-hour finale on February 28, 1983, garnered an astounding 100 million-plus viewers, setting a record as the most-watched episode of any scripted series in history. "M.A.S.H." earned widespread cri...

 In an exclusive interview with aif.ru's Olga Shablinskaya, Nastya Ovechkina, wife of hockey superstar Alex Ovechkin, shared insights into her husband's future plans, revealing that the family has recently returned to their native Russia. A key quote from her sit-down was initially circulated on X by @HockeyNewsHub . Nastya Ovechkina stated unequivocally that her husband, Alex Ovechkin, intends to fulfill the final year of his current NHL contract with the Washington Capitals next season before relocating permanently to Russia. "Alexander still has a contract for a year," Ovechkina remarked, as translated. "So we will play the next season, and then fly back to live in Moscow, to our homeland. We will stay in Russia, yes." This revelation follows closely on the heels of a minor stir caused by an email campaign from the Capitals’ corporate sales department, which was sent to certain season-ticket holders and mistakenly suggested that the 2025-26 season would b...

  49ers and Eagles Nearing Deal to Send Edge Rusher Bryce Huff to San Francisco Sources confirm that the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles are actively working to finalize a trade agreement that would send talented edge rusher Bryce Huff to the Bay Area in exchange for a mid-round draft pick. While the official processing of the trade is slated for after June 1, both franchises are committed to making this move happen, with Huff himself having already restructured his contract to facilitate the transaction. Upon joining the 49ers, Huff will be reunited with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, who previously served as his head coach during their time together with the New York Jets. This reunion is significant, as Huff enjoyed a career-best season under Saleh in 2023, recording an impressive 10 sacks and generating 68 pressures on just 312 pass-rush snaps. This performance marked the NFL's top pressure rate at 21.8%, according to Next Gen Stats. To enable this imminent...