Ben Foster has signed a new one-year contract at Wrexham, the team announced on Friday.

The former Manchester United and England goalkeeper played a pivotal role in the latter stages of Wrexham's 2022-23 National League title-winning campaign and will now extend his stay at the club until the end of the 2023-24 season.

- When does the summer transfer window open and close?

"At the end of last season it was obvious that I enjoyed being at the club," Foster said in a statement. "I loved being part of the team and everything that Wrexham stands for.

"The fans took to me so warmly, Phil Parkinson is brilliant, Steve Parkin is top class, I love Aidan Davison to bits, and the Co-Chairmen are out of this world.

"I'd decided before the end of last season I wanted to do it, because it feels like home. I've never joined a football club and felt at ease so quickly."

The 40-year-old came out of retirement to join the Hollywood-owned club in March after injuries to Mark Howard and Rob Lainton left the team in need of a new goalkeeper.

Foster quickly became a crucial figure for his new side and dramatically saved a 97th-minute penalty against promotion rivals Notts County to put Wrexham on course for the title.

The goalkeeper will now extend his playing career with Wrexham as the club returns to the English Football League for the first time since 2008.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- THE TEARS and hugs and group photos were taking so long that the grounds crew couldn't wait any longer. So they got to work, digging up the chalk lines with shovels and sweeping confetti into a pile with rakes. Then they ran over the collection of crimson and white and gold paper with a Billy Goat lawn mower, shredding it and shredding it and shredding it until it was indistinguishable from the dirt.

Backpack blowers wheezed in the background as the Oklahoma Sooners lingered in the outfield, their families and friends joining in on the celebration that so many of them had become accustomed to by now.

Three championships in three years. Six championships in 10 seasons. Seven championships in total.

Jayda Coleman, a junior who has known nothing but national titles, understood the drill when Jordy Bahl struck out the final batter and Oklahoma beat Florida State, 3-1, to win the championship series. She raced from her spot in center field to join the dog pile that seemed to form in the blink of an eye between the pitcher's mound and home plate.

It was fun, Coleman said later, watching the newcomers figure out where to be and how to behave.

"Just to see the joy of the transfers and the freshmen, for them, that's what I love," she said.

For the players on the field, this didn't feel stale or expected or ... unfair.

Their dominance might irk others, particularly the way they hoard talent. There's a phrase for it internally: Oklahoma fatigue. They could sense it building with each passing win, an NCAA-record 53 and counting.

The additions of Alex Storako, Haley Lee, Cydney Sanders and Alynah Torres this past offseason -- all either all-conference or All-American picks at their previous schools -- prompted superteam comparisons and made their critics that much more vocal.

Sooners coach Patty Gasso heard the breathless questions from reporters and fans: Why do you need that?

Well, she explained during an interview earlier this year, it's simple. She had scholarships available, she said, and why would she go after the second-best player? "That makes no sense," she said. "I go after the best as long as they fit."

Parity isn't her concern.

"Is that good for the game?" Gasso asked. "It's good for job security. It's kind of like UConn women's basketball and winning the championship how many years in a row? And people are like, 'This is boring' or 'This is not good for the women's game to have an elite team.' But it's our job, and I think for sport connoisseurs, they want to see what greatness looks like."

This is the story of how greatness happens -- the players who are drawn to it and the coach who has built a program that has the rest of softball competing for second place.

STORAKO CRIED AS she embraced pitching coach Jennifer Rocha.

"Thank you so much," she said.

A moment later, she and fifth-year senior shortstop Grace Lyons locked eyes, held hands and, jumping up and down, screamed in unison, "We did it! We did it!"

Around and around Storako went, grinning as she wore a championship T-shirt and hat that a year ago felt unattainable.

And to think, she wasn't sure what to expect when she decided to transfer from Michigan last May. Honestly, she said, she feared no one would call. But six minutes after she entered the portal, her phone rang and showed an Oklahoma City area code. Then Gasso introduced herself.

The pause that ensued might have lasted only a few seconds, but it felt like a lifetime. Storako whispered to her sister and roommate who it was.

The days that followed were some of the most stressful of her life, she said, because she was still torn about leaving Michigan. She loved the school and the community and the life she'd built there. But she was losing the spark she used to feel for softball -- the sense that she was growing and building toward something. She felt that she'd maxed out and, on top of that, she felt the weight of having to carry the team.

"The pressure to perform -- every pitch, day in and day out -- it takes a different kind of wear-and-tear on you, mentally and physically," Storako said.

So rather than hang up her cleats -- which she said she considered doing -- Storako opted for a fresh start elsewhere. And before her official visit to Oklahoma was over, she knew it was home. She immediately called Florida, Florida State and Alabama and canceled her visits. At the Oklahoma City airport, she posted on social media that she'd committed to OU.

That's when the backlash began.

Storako, the former Big Ten Player of the Year, said she was "greatly criticized" for joining the defending champs.

"I was called 'Kevin Durant,'" she said, referencing the star NBA forward and the criticism he received when he went to the Golden State Warriors in search of his first championship. "I was questioned whether I was getting an under-the-table NIL deal, which I think is unfortunate because these people asking that don't know my personality and the way I grew up and play the game.

"I wasn't a big recruit coming out of high school. I worked hard to get where I am."

Lee could relate. Not only did she hear the criticism from fans, leading her to shut off all her social media notifications, she heard it from coaches as well. Like the one coach who told her, "You'll just be another number on their roster." Or the other coach who said, "The program's already built. You don't want to just jump on the train."

It's as if everyone assumed the transition would be easy -- that Lee wasn't stepping far outside her comfort zone, that she wasn't going to be battling for a spot in the starting lineup, that she wasn't going to feel the pressure to live up to expectations. If all went well, Lee would be replacing Jocelyn Alo, the 2022 Player of the Year and the NCAA career home run leader, as the designated player.

"OU works hard, and works differently than a lot of schools," Lee said. "So if I was willing to grind, put in the sweat and tears that it takes, then this was a spot for me.

"And I've enjoyed every moment of it since."

Storako's joy for the game was back when she started the decisive game of the championship series Thursday. She screamed in celebration and danced between innings.

She didn't have to do it all herself. In the bottom of the fourth, she cheered on Coleman when she leapt at the center field wall and yanked back a would-be three-run homer. Coleman shouted to Storako: "I got you!"

When Storako gave up a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth, her teammates picked her up the very next inning as Sanders and Lyons hit back-to-back solo home runs to take the lead.

Forget getting her 18th win of the season. She got the thing she'd been chasing all along: A championship ring.

"There are a lot of dreams that came true tonight," Gasso said. "Alex Storako is definitely one of them."

GASSO SAT AT the far side of the podium during Thursday night's postgame news conference and turned to the seats Coleman, Bahl and Tiare Jennings had recently vacated.

"Looking at all these guys coming back, they're the future," she said.

Then she paused, as if trying to will herself from the inevitable work that awaits tomorrow.

"I don't even want to think about it right now because the grind will start again," she said.

Make no mistake, though, Gasso enjoys every bit of it.

"I've been doing this here for 29 years," she said. "It's not a job. It's life."

A similar scene played out last year when Gasso said she was "swallowed up" by the emotion of the moment -- the team and family photos, the parade of thank-yous and congratulations.

She sighed and explained how, "you just kind of get stuck with that."

There was frustration in her voice because she was ready for everyone to get the celebration out of their system. She needed them to move on to the question that had been gnawing at her for weeks: How do I keep this going?

To compete at Oklahoma's level, there's no choice but to think that way. Consider Alabama football coach Nick Saban and how he once complained that playing for a championship -- and winning -- cost him a week in recruiting.

"You high-five, you hug and then you move," Gasso said. "You just move." Remember, Alo was on her way out the door a year ago. So were All-Big 12 pitcher Hope Trautwein and four other seniors.

Gasso had already signed a freshman class that included Extra Innings' No. 1-ranked prospect, Kierston Deal. But how long would it take for the newcomers to acclimate? To avoid any chance of a dip, Gasso needed the kind of ready-made talent only the transfer portal could offer.

That process began before the WCWS started. And it continued with her making calls to Storako and other targets between games at the WCWS.

Gasso said it's a common misconception that the coaches pick whichever player they want, wait until the season ends and scoop them up like a cheeseburger at a takeout counter. They can't wait and risk that player going elsewhere. Nor can they jump the gun and take a player without doing their due diligence, studying video and calling trusted sources to get a sense of whether they're a good cultural fit.

Gasso estimated they walk away from 30% of prospects because they spot a red flag in the evaluation process. The balance of team chemistry and talent is that important, she said, because it's the newcomers who have to fit into Oklahoma, not the other way around. Storako might have been Michigan's ace, but she had to be OK with being the No. 2 or No. 3 starter. Torres was a star shortstop for Arizona State, but Gasso needed her in right field.

Depth is everything. Gasso's goal is to have two quality athletes at each position, but this season was different. During fall intrasquad scrimmages, Gasso said, "It felt like two top-10 teams playing against each other."

Then, early in the season, Gasso said she did something new: She called timeout and substituted essentially the entire defense. "And it was kind of prideful to see -- the depth and hard work -- that I didn't feel uncomfortable doing it," she said.

It was also pragmatic because she needed everyone engaged in order to get back to the championship series. She needed Sophia Nugent to come off the bench and deliver a pinch-hit RBI against Clemson. She needed Sanders to weather an early-season slump, be OK not starting a few games and bounce back during the NCAA tournament to drive in seven runs.

It's a unique challenge managing such a deep roster -- one that other coaches surely envy -- but it's a challenge, nonetheless.

"I need to keep these young players learning the game, playing the game, feeling the game -- at an elite level," Gasso said. "I'm trying to keep feeding them because I need them. They're my future."

And the future is bright.

In November, Oklahoma signed what Gasso called a "monumental" class that featured the country's third-, fourth- and sixth-ranked recruits.

Lyons, Storako and Lee have played their final games, but who knows what star is waiting in the portal to replace them?

She can hear the groans about fairness now, even as she tries not to think about next season.

"Everybody's out to get us," Gasso said from that far end of the podium. "They want to bring down the Evil Empire."

IN 2016, WHEN UConn was dominating women's basketball to the tune of 72 straight wins and three straight national championships, Huskies coach Geno Auriemma had an answer for critics who said they were ruining the game.

"When Tiger [Woods] was winning every major, nobody said he was bad for golf," he said. "Actually he did a lot for golf. He made everybody have to be a better golfer."

The growth of college softball in recent years -- 24 schools averaged more than 1,000 fans per game last season, up six from five years earlier, and 1.74 million people tuned in to watch the WCWS final last year, roughly 150,000 more than the men's final -- suggests that what the Sooners have accomplished is good for the sport. But parity is a legitimate concern when Oklahoma is winning 28 games by mercy rule and has a run differential of +442.

"It's always healthy to have several teams with a shot to be the top program," Baylor coach Glenn Moore said. "And they've really separated themselves. Everybody else, I'll tell you, is playing for No. 2."

And that's coming from the only coach to beat Oklahoma during the regular season -- a 4-3 win in February.

Two months later, the Bears were swept in a three-game series by the Sooners with a combined score of 13-0.

"Patty has just figured out how to do it," Moore said. "There's something to be said about staying on top because everybody is shooting for you and saying things that will hurt your recruiting, and she continues to bring in those magnificent, All-American type players."

It's hard enough to overcome the pipeline Gasso and her staff have established with certain travel ball programs. But throw in their use of the transfer portal and it's borderline insurmountable.

Liberty coach Dot Richardson said she's fine with players transferring when they aren't seeing the field enough at their current school. But what she sees now is starters who are going into the portal and saying, "I just hope I get picked up by Oklahoma."

"I look at some of their pitchers who are threes or fours and go, 'If you were here, we would go to the World Series this year,'" Richardson said. "They can pick and choose and say, 'This is the best one.' And then they'll get her."

It happened last season when Oklahoma brought in Trautwein from North Texas. Storako said Trautwein was a model for her decision to leave Michigan.

With a new head coach, the Wolverines missed the NCAA tournament for first time since 1994.

"Everybody wants close games, the excitement of the College World Series," Gasso said. "They want extra innings, they want that, 'Oh, I'm on the edge of my seat' thing. And I'm like, 'Well, that's great, but I'm not here for your enjoyment.'

"Our goal, like any other team's goal, is to win."

Richardson helped UCLA take home the first of seven championships from 1982 to 1992. And she saw how that dynasty eventually fizzled out. She saw it happen again at Arizona and again at Florida.

"Someone will throw the queen off the throne," Richardson said. "It's going to happen. So will her run take her to eight, 10, 12 championships? I don't know."

Moore believes, "Rome will fall ... eventually."

"Honestly it only takes a few mistakes in recruiting to take them off that pedestal," he said. "There's a lot of programs out there investing a ton. So two years from now it could look completely different."

As for next season, don't bet against the Sooners.

Oklahoma is at 53 wins and counting, three championships and counting.

On and on it goes.

"Momentum," former Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver once said, "is the next day's starting pitcher."

But when that pitcher next season is Bahl or Nicole May or Deal -- and the second baseman is Jennings and the center fielder is Coleman -- it's hard to imagine the freight train that is Oklahoma slowing down.

Players and coaches didn't seem to be in a hurry to return to Norman on Thursday night, but the team buses exited the stadium and left something important behind: the national championship trophy.

A staff member who drove separately was able to grab it for safekeeping, but maybe he could have left it behind and picked it up, same time next year.

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Carter Verhaeghe scored 4:27 into overtime and the Florida Panthers pulled off some more postseason dramatics to beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday night.

Matthew Tkachuk tied the score with 2:13 left in the third period for the Panthers, who got the franchise's first title-series game win in seven tries. Florida had to fend off a power play to start overtime, and Verhaeghe got the winner from the slot to get the Panthers within 2-1 in the series.

Game 4 is Saturday night.

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 25 shots for Florida. Adin Hill made 20 saves for Vegas but got beat on the only shot that came his way in overtime.

Brandon Montour also scored for Florida, which pulled Bobrovsky down 2-1 late in the third for the extra attacker and Tkachuk -- who left for parts of the first and second periods after taking a big hit -- made that move pay off.

His goal breathed life into nervous fans in the building. But the Panthers were furious -- and replays showed they had a case -- when Gustav Forsling was sent to the box with 11.2 seconds remaining for tripping. Florida survived that scare, and a few minutes later, had life in the series again.

The odds are still long, but the Panthers at least have a bit more statistical hope now. Of the previous 55 teams to trail 2-1 at this point of the Stanley Cup Final, 11 have rallied to hoist the trophy.

It's improbable, sure. So are the Panthers, who were the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, were down 3-1 to Boston in Round 1, were 133 seconds away from trailing this series 3-0 -- and now have tons of reasons for optimism.

Jonathan Marchessault and Mark Stone each had power-play goals for Vegas.

Marchessault's goal was his 13th in his past 13 playoff games, his fourth of this series and his third with a man advantage.

As if all that wasn't enough, there was a little history in there as well. Vegas joined the 1980 New York Islanders as the only team with at least two power-play goals in three consecutive games in the Cup final. And Marchessault became the third player in the past 35 years to score in each of the first three games of a title series -- joining Steve Yzerman in 1997 with Detroit and Jake Guentzel with Pittsburgh in 2017.

But it wasn't enough to give Vegas a 3-0 lead in the series.

So we've got a series after all.

A change of scenery and return home helped the Florida Panthers recapture their mojo as the No. 8 seed in the East got on the board with a 3-2 overtime win to pull within 2-1 of the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final.

Florida's Matthew Tkachuk scored with 2:13 remaining in regulation to force overtime, then Carter Verhaeghe struck at 4:27 of the extra period to win it.

What did we learn in Game 3? What can the Panthers take forward to tighten things even further and how can the Golden Knights strengthen their position?

ESPN reporters Kristen Shilton, Ryan S. Clark, Greg Wyshynski and Emily Kaplan check in with their takeaways from Game 3:

Help from the back end

Florida absolutely needed its defense to start contributing offensively. Brandon Montour got things rolling with a quick strike in Game 3. Vegas had three goals from its blueliners going into the night while the Panthers had zero (and, well, the whole team had only four total). Montour delivered five goals in Florida's come-from-behind first-round series win over Boston, but hadn't lit the lamp since Game 1 of the second round against Toronto.

Montour said Wednesday he felt the chances were coming and would multiply from there when they did. The new dad made good on his word with the opening salvo in Game 3. It was what the Panthers needed on all fronts -- their back end getting involved upfront, Montour appearing on the score sheet after a 10-game pointless drought and Florida grabbing an early lead. -- Shilton

Bob is just fine

If there was a question mark about goaltending entering Game 3 -- after Sergei Bobrovsky was pulled in Game 2, following his fourth goal allowed and eighth in the young series -- Panthers coach Paul Maurice didn't want to hear it. Maurice accused reporters of inventing stories because they had too much time on their hands with an additional off-day as the series shifted to Florida. He also reminded the media that 48 hours prior, many were wondering if it was possible to split the Conn Smythe -- for playoff MVP -- between Bobrovsky and Matthew Tkachuk.

So no, the Panthers weren't turning away from the guy who got them to this point, the highest-paid goalie in the league. Bobrovsky rewarded that faith with an overall sound performance. He made some especially strong saves to keep the score at 1-1 in the second period. Florida wasn't going to get a better performance from backup Alex Lyon, who hadn't started a game since April 21 in the first round against Boston. -- Kaplan

Marchessault marches on

It's generally at least a little funny when the "Vegas franchise record!" tag gets thrown around because, you know, the Golden Knights have existed for only six years. Nevertheless, Jonathan Marchessault continuing his incredible postseason with a franchise-record eight-game postseason point streak is impressive. Marchessault assisted on Mark Stone's power-play goal in the first, and added to his success with a second-period score, his 13th of the playoffs. That made him the third player in the past 35 years to score in each of the first three games of a Cup Final (along with Steve Yzerman and Jake Guentzel).

Marchessault appears to have caught the hockey world by surprise with his playoff prowess and being able to etch a permanent mark on the books is a worthy reward for the forward's efforts. There's no doubt that Marchessault's production will continue to be a significant factor in the Golden Knights' success as the series carries on. -- Shilton

A Conn-vincing argument

Call him Conn-athan Marchessault. The Vegas forward finished Game 3 with the team lead in goals and points. Mark Stone's 4-on-3 power-play goal came on a Marchessault pass from the blue line. Marchessault's second-period power-play tally gave the Golden Knights the lead. It was his ninth goal on the road in the playoffs and the fifth straight road game in which he tallied a goal. The sportsbooks have made him the wagering favorite for the Conn Smythe and for good reason: The Vegas forward went from two points in his first seven playoff games to becoming the pacesetter for a team two wins away from the Stanley Cup. -- Wyshynski

Vegas' super power ...

Vegas' consistency on special teams has been a game-changer in this series. The Golden Knights had two power-play opportunities in the first period alone and Mark Stone capitalized on a 4-on-3 chance late in the frame to deflate what had been a pretty solid start all around for Florida.

Vegas had been on its heels for plenty of the first period as Florida made it difficult for the Golden Knights to even complete a breakout pass. But what has separated Vegas from the Panthers -- and may well continue to do so -- is making the most of what's given to them. The Knights' red-hot power play is a great example of how quickly a momentum shift can happen when the stakes are this high. -- Shilton

... and Florida's prolonged outage

Three shots on goal. That's all the Panthers' power play was able to muster in their first three chances in Game 3. For all the items that have proved to be an issue for the Panthers in the Cup Final, a lack of power-play production has been chief among them. A lack of shots compounds how the man-advantage went from a plus on Florida's road to the finals only to become a serious issue in the bid to win the first title in franchise history.

The Panthers were 0-for-3 going into the third period. In total? The Panthers are 0-for-10 on the power play in the series. That's a jarring revelation for a team that finished with the No. 10 power play in the regular season and had a 27.9% postseason success rate coming into the series.

Another statistic that amplifies the Panthers' struggles: The Golden Knights were 14th out of the 16 teams that reached the postseason on the penalty kill with a 63% success rate before facing the Panthers. -- Clark

Tough enough

The parallels between Jack Eichel and Matthew Tkachuk have been well-documented in this series. Two U.S.-born superstars, acquired from the teams that originally drafted them, who had transformative effects on the Golden Knights and Panthers, respectively. They're scoring leaders for their teams, they play with swagger. Two sides of the same coin.

That extends to the physical punishment they've taken in the series. Recall in Game 2 when Eichel attempted to skate up ice with the puck and ended up getting obliterated by Tkachuk on a check. Eichel skated off to the concern of fans and teammates. But he returned the following period and assisted on a goal.

Just 5:54 into the first period of Game 3, Tkachuk received a pass in his own zone near the blue line. As he turned up ice, a streaking Keegan Kolesar put his shoulder into Tkachuk, knocking the Panthers star to the ice. When Tkachuk returned to the Panthers bench, he was looked at by a team trainer. He returned for a shift during a Panthers power play, but then left the ice and the bench for the rest of the period. He didn't come out for the start of the second period, but eventually returned and skated regular shifts, while enduring punishment from Knights defenders.

In both cases, the toughness of these two pacesetting superstars was Cup-worthy. -- Wyshynski

Sizing things up

Given what Marchessault is doing and the fact that the NHL draft is later this month, this seems like a good time to reignite the conversation around size. Watching a 5-foot-9 man on skates fly around and terrorize a team that used to employ him makes for interesting theater. But it also raises a question about the importance of size.

Look at this year's Cup Final. Elite Prospects lists the Golden Knights as the NHL's fifth-tallest team while the Panthers rank 29th. They're evidence that teams can have contrasting size yet still be in a position to compete for the championship.

Now consider this year's top prospects. Connor Bedard, the presumed No. 1 pick, stands about 5-10. Matvei Michkov, who is expected to be a top-three pick, also is listed at 5-10. Will Smith, who has a chance to be a top-five pick, is just under 6 feet. Those three along with Ryan Leonard, Gabriel Perreault, Brayden Yager, Zach Benson and Oliver Moore are all examples of top forwards in this year's draft class who have been listed at 5-11 or shorter. -- Clark

TORONTO -- Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass said Thursday he doesn't believe an anti-LGBTQIA+ social media post he shared last month was hateful.

The right-handed reliever also said he is "working hard" to educate himself, including meeting with the executive director of activist group Pride Toronto.

Bass is scheduled to catch the ceremonial first pitch from Toronto LGBTQIA+ activist leZlie Lee Kam before Friday's game against Minnesota as the Blue Jays begin their fourth annual Pride Weekend celebration.

Bass apologized before a May 30 game against Milwaukee, one day after sharing a post on his Instagram stories calling for anti-LGBTQIA+ boycotts of Target and Bud Light over support they showed for the LGBTQIA+ community. Both companies are dealing with fallout from those campaigns, which have included hostile and homophobic criticisms and calls from LGBTQIA+ activists not to cave to anti-LGBTQIA+ groups.

Bass has been booed by Toronto fans in his two home appearances since the apology.

"I totally get that," Bass said. "I just want them to know that I'm working hard on myself, a lot of self-reflection."

However, Bass later said he didn't believe the post, which described the sale of LGBTQIA+ merchandise as "evil" and "demonic," should be considered hateful.

"I do not," Bass said. "That's why I posted it originally. When I look back at it, I can see how people would view it that way and that's why I was apologetic."

Bass said he chose to delete the post because "it was the right thing to do," and because he didn't want it to be a distraction to the team.

"But I stand by my personal beliefs," Bass said, "and everyone is entitled to their personal beliefs, right? Also, I mean no harm towards any groups of people."

"My focus from the get-go should have been doing my job and being accepting of everyone's decisions and views in life," Bass added. "Through this process, I've learned that. Moving forward, I will definitely know better than to post my personal beliefs on my social media platforms."

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins addressed the subject for the first time Thursday, shortly before Bass spoke.

While acknowledging that he was "personally hurt" by Bass' post, Atkins said he accepted the apology the pitcher offered to him and manager John Schneider last month.

"I felt his apology and his accountability to be authentic or we would be talking about a different outcome, quite frankly,″ Atkins said. "That was absolutely necessary for us to be together with how strongly we feel about the progress that has been made by the Toronto Blue Jays in this community."

"It needs to continue," Atkins added. "I don't think you can ever do enough. We'll stay true to that commitment to make this environment as inclusive as we possibly can."

Workers were hanging rainbow flags inside Rogers Centre after Thursday's win over Houston, preparing the stadium for Friday's celebrations.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Bucks forward Khris Middleton had a surgical procedure on his right knee after Milwaukee was upset in the first round by the eventual Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat, sources confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.

Middleton, 31, dealt throughout the season with issues with his right knee, which he injured last season during the Bucks' first-round playoff victory over the Chicago Bulls. The injury caused Middleton to miss all of Milwaukee's seven-game loss to the Boston Celtics during the 2022 Eastern Conference semifinals. He then played only 33 regular-season games this season because of a combination of issues, including the right knee and recovery from the left wrist surgery he had last offseason.

The three-time All-Star averaged 15.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists during the regular season, before jumping up to 23.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.2 assists during Milwaukee's five-game upset loss to Miami in the first round of the playoffs. Middleton also shot 46% from the field and 40% from 3-point range on over six attempts per game against the Heat.

Middleton can opt into a $40.3 million player option for the 2023-24 season or become an unrestricted free agent if he chooses to opt out. Assuming he declines his option, Middleton and Bucks center Brook Lopez will be two of the most talented and intriguing free agents on the market this summer.

After losing to Miami in the first round, Milwaukee fired coach Mike Budenholzer, replacing him with former Toronto Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin. The Bucks also can offer superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo an extension in September, as he enters the offseason with two guaranteed years left on his contract.

Middleton's surgery was first reported by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma's historic run through the softball season culminated with a 3-1 win over Florida State and a third straight national championship on Thursday night.

It was the Sooners' NCAA-record 53rd consecutive victory. They became the first team to win back-to-back-to-back titles since UCLA in 1990.

"Right now what you feel from us is freedom. Because it was absolutely suffocating as we were going along, and the expectations were overwhelming," Sooners coach Patty Gasso told ESPN. "But they handled it like champions, and that's why we're here right now."

After falling behind 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Oklahoma's prolific offense answered with back-to-back home runs off ACC Pitcher of the Year Kathryn Sandercock to start the fifth.

It was the first multiple-home run game for Sandercock since Feb. 19.

Oklahoma All-American pitcher Jordy Bahl then came out of the bullpen in relief of Alex Storako, who gave up one earned run and three hits in four innings, improving to 18-0. Bahl pitched three scoreless innings, securing her fourth save of the season.

Bahl, who is one of five First Team All-Americans on her team, scored two runs as a pinch runner during the Women's College World Series.

She also threw 24 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings during the WCWS, which is the third most all-time behind Oklahoma State's Amy Day (27 2/3 in 1994) and UCLA's Lisa Fernandez (26 in 1992).

This is the Sooners' sixth championship in the last 10 years and seventh overall. Only UCLA (12) and Arizona (8) have more championships.

The last time the Sooners lost was 109 days ago on Feb. 19. During their 53-game winning streak, they rattled off 23 wins vs. ranked opponents and posted an overall run differential of +371. This season, they set a program record with 35 shutouts, and never trailed by more than 3 runs at any point.

Oklahoma stated its case as the most complete team of all-time, leading the country in fielding percentage, batting average, home runs and earned run average. Four batters hit over .400. Three pitchers had an ERA of less than 1.00.

Oklahoma and coach Patty Gasso, who is responsible for all seven championships, will look to win four straight next year.

But it will have to do so without redshirt seniors Storako, Haley Lee and Grace Lyons.

The Sooners return all five All-Americans, however, in Bahl, center fielder Jayda Coleman, second baseman Tiara Jennings, third baseman Alyssa Brito and catcher Kinzie Hansen.

Florida State, which won the ACC, finishes the season with 58 wins - the most since the 2018 season when the Seminoles won the national championship.

Oklahoma Sooners softball made history on Thursday night, defeating Florida State 3-1 in the Women's College World Series Championship Series.

The win clinched the Sooners' seventh national title, concluding a dominant 61-1 regular season and extending a NCAA Division I softball-record 53-game winning streak. The triumph also extended a remarkable run of dominance by Oklahoma softball over the last several years. The Sooners have now won the last three Division I national titles, part of a larger run of five championships in seven seasons.

In NCAA history, Oklahoma joins elite company. Just 27 Division I teams have gone-back-to-back-to-back in their respective sport since 2000. Here are some of the other teams that have accomplished the feat over the last two decades and change.

Women's basketball

UConn (2013-2016)

Under the leadership of Geno Auriemma, UConn women's basketball dominated much of the 2000s and 2010s, with perhaps the Huskies' most dominant stretch coming in the form of their only four-peat. Playing a central role in the feat was current New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart, who enrolled as a freshman heading into the 2013 season. Stewart would go on to win four consecutive Final Four Most Outstanding Player awards, three Naismith Player of the Year awards, and two Wooden awards. Included in UConn's run of four championships was two undefeated campaigns, 2014 and 2016.

Other three-peats: UConn (2002-2004)

Football

North Dakota State (2011-2015)

A consistent FCS powerhouse, North Dakota State football is one of just two programs (more on the other later) to appear on this list twice. The Bison were perhaps at the peak of their dominance in the early 2010s. Losing just four games in a five year stretch of championship seasons, North Dakota State's average margin of victory across their five postseason runs was 20.25 points. The Bison's excellence started on the sidelines - with eventual FBS head coaches Craig Bohl (Wyoming) and Chris Klieman (Kansas State) leading the way.

Other three-peats: North Dakota State (2017-2019), Appalachian State (2005-2007)

Men's gymnastics

Stanford (2019-Present)

Aside from Oklahoma softball, Stanford men's gymnastics has the only other active streak of three or more titles. Stanford has thrice beaten Oklahoma on the mat in their four-season, five-year stretch (there was not a 2020 champion due to the COVID-19 pandemic), with the Sooners themselves preceding Stanford's run with a four-peat of titles from 2015 to 2018. Remarkably, 2012 was the last time Division I men's gymnastics had a national champion that wasn't part of a streak of at least two consecutive victories.

Other three-peats: Oklahoma (2015-2018)

Women's hockey

Minnesota-Duluth (2001-2003)

The first Division I three-peat to occur entirely within the 21stt century, Minnesota-Duluth's title run came in the first three NCAA women's hockey national championship games. After triumphing over St. Lawrence and Brown in 2001and 2002, the Bulldogs' most dramatic title was their third. Playing on home ice, it would take two overtime periods to separate the Bulldogs and Harvard. Future Finnish international Nora Tallus scored the winner to complete the three-peat. Among the stars for Minnesota-Duluth during their run was Jenny Schmidgall-Potter, a four time All-American winner and the all-time leading scorer in Bulldogs history.

Women's lacrosse

Northwestern (2005-2009)

Northwestern fans are no stranger to women's lacrosse success, with the Wildcats capturing the 2023 national title just a month ago. Northwestern's greatest stretch of success, however, was a dominant run from 2005-09. Under the leadership of coach Kelly Amonte Hiller, who was hired in 2002, the Wildcats enjoyed a rapid rise to the top of the women's lacrosse world. During the run, the Wildcats, lost just three games in the five year stretch. Hannah Nielsen led the way on the field, capturing two Tewaaraton awards and graduating as Northwestern's all-time and single-season leader in both assists and points.

Men's soccer

Stanford (2015-2017)

One of just six teams in NCAA Division I history to win consecutive men's soccer titles, Stanford accomplished the feat with a three-peat from 2015-2017. The run of success had a number of common threads linking the seasons. MLS talent led the lines - most notably including a Hermann trophy-winning season from Seattle Sounders staple Jordan Morris in 2015 and a combined 48 goals across the three-year stretch by future Portland Timber Foster Langdorf and current Houston Dynamo forward Corey Baird. The defense was rock solid, with the Cardinal never allowing more than 15 goals per year. Perhaps the biggest constant of all was a flair for the dramatic, with seven of the team's 15 postseason victories in the span coming in either overtime or on penalties.

Men's tennis

Virginia (2015-2017)

NCAA Division I tennis has frequently been dominated by a trio of California schools. USC, Stanford, and UCLA account for 68% of the sport's national titles in the NCAA era. But in the last decade, Virginia has exploded onto the scene as a powerhouse in its own right. Claiming their first title in 2013, the Cavaliers ripped off three consecutive championships from 2015 to 2017, beating Oklahoma twice and North Carolina once. Virginia will have a chance to repeat the achievement next spring, having taken home both the 2022 and 2023 national titles.

Other three-peats: USC (2009-2012)

Women's tennis

Stanford (2004-2006)

No other school has come close to matching Stanford's prowess in women's tennis, with the Cardinal boasting a Division I-high 20 titles. The next closest team has just seven. Stanford has had several stretches of dominance across the sport's 40-plus years of NCAA sanctioning (including a run of six consecutive titles in the late 1980s and early 1990s), but it's most recent streak came in the form of a three-peat in the early 2000s. The Cardinal haven't slowed since, capturing five more titles since the end of said run.

Women's volleyball

Penn State (2007-2010)

The Nittany Lions ruled the collegiate volleyball world for a four-year stretch, breaking several records in the process. The 2008 Penn State season, in particular, was one of the best in NCAA volleyball history. That team didn't just go 38-0 - they didn't lose a single individual set all regular season either. They finished the year 114-2 in individual sets. Not to be outdone, the 2009 squad went undefeated en route to the title as well. In 2010, Penn State faced a steeper climb than prior years. Their 109-match win streak was snapped in nonconference play against Stanford. They lost more than three times in conference play for the first time since 2002. But the Lions rallied come tournament time, losing just one set in postseason play en route to a fourth consecutive national title, concluding NCAA Division I volleyball's only four-peat.

Men's water polo

USC (2008-2013)

Of all these programs, USC water polo boasts the longest streak of titles. The men's water polo Division I national championship has been passed around the state of California since its advent as an NCAA title sport in 1969. All seven of the teams that can boast men's water polo titles hail from the Golden State. While USC may not have the most total titles - an honor belonging to defending champion Cal - they do have the most dominant stretch of any one program. Following back-to-back title game losses at the hands of the Golden Bears in 2006 and 2007, the Trojans ripped off six consecutive titles, with championship game wins over four different schools (Stanford, UCLA, Cal, and Pacific).

TORONTO -- Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez left the 3-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays after one at-bat Thursday night because of discomfort in his right oblique.

Alvarez grounded out to first base in the first inning and was replaced at DH by Corey Julks when his turn came up again in the third.

Alvarez came in batting .274 with 17 home runs and 55 RBIs in 56 games.

The AL Rookie of the Year in 2019, Alvarez was an All-Star for the first time last season, when he hit .206 with a career-high 37 home runs and 97 RBIs.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.