USWNT star Alyssa Thompson 'crying and emotional' after hair pull vs. Arsenal

Alyssa Thompson was "crying and emotional" after getting her hair pulled in Chelsea's match against Arsenal on Wednesday, according to Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor.

Chelsea was ahead 1-0 on the night but needed another goal at Stamford Bridge, trailing 3-2 on aggregate as the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg entered its final minutes.

Deep into stoppage time, Thompson burst past Arsenal's Katie McCabe, who tugged the American winger down by her hair.

Referee Frida Mia Klarlundto opted not to punish McCabe and VAR did not review the incident. That led to a furious reaction from Bompastor, who was given a red card amid her angry protest.

"For me, it is clearly a red card for the Arsenal player. She's pulling Alyssa Thompson's hair,"Bompastor told the BBCafter the game.

"If the VAR is not able to check that situation, I don't know why we have the VAR. I'm the one getting a red card when I think the Arsenal player should be the one getting a red card."

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Defending champion Arsenal hung on to beat Chelsea 3-2 on aggregate and advance to the semifinal.

Thompson was "crying and emotional" after the game, Bompastor added.

"She's trying her best on the pitch in both games and it is not good enough — when you are playing football and someone pulls your hair, it's bad," Bompastor said.

Shortly after the game ended, McCabe posted on Instagram: "I just want to clarify that I was genuinely reaching for the shirt. I wouldn't ever want to pull someone's hair. Full respect to Thompson."

Incredibly, Wednesday was not the first time this season that Thompson has been the victim of a hair pull.

West Hamdefender Inès Belloumou was shown a red cardin a September match for pulling Thompson's hair. It was the U.S. women's national team winger's first start for Chelsea.

March 21: The North Carolina Courage's Riley Jackson (right) fights for the ball against Gotham FC's Esther González (9) and Jessica Carter (27) during the first half at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The match ended in a 0-0 draw.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> March 21: Houston Dash midfielder Kiki Van Zanten (12) controls the ball as Boston Legacy FC defender Jorelyn Carabalí (16) defends during the first half at Shell Energy Stadium. Houston won the game, 3-0.

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NWSL action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Katie McCabe hair pull on Chelsea star Alyssa Thompson not punished

byAlex Forten

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April 02, 2026

USWNT star Alyssa Thompson 'crying and emotional' after hair pull vs. Arsenal

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Iowa State star Audi Crooks enters transfer portal

Iowa State star Audi Crooks, the nation's second-leading scorer in 2025-26, is entering the transfer portal.

The 6-foot-3 center, who has one year of eligibility remaining, announced her plans Thursday on Instagram.

"Thank you all for embracing me and showing up to Hilton every single game day," Crooks, an Iowa native, wrote in a post directed to Cyclone Nation. "I've met so many of you out in the community, and I will cherish all of the genuine connections that I've built during my time at Iowa State.

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"I still believe the grass is greener where you water it, and I've done that here. It's why I want you to hear from me directly that I have decided to enter the portal and explore what it means to take root again in new ground."

Crooks averaged 25.8 points on 64.9% shooting along with 7.7 rebounds in 31 starts this season for the Cyclones, who finished 22-10. Iowa State lost to Syracuse in the first round of the Women's NCAA Tournament despite 37 points from Crooks.

Crooks was a second-team All-American in 2025-26 and a three-time All-Big 12 first-team selection at Iowa State, where she averaged 22.8 points and 7.7 boards in 99 games (95 starts).

--Field Level Media

byAlex Forten

in

April 02, 2026

Iowa State star Audi Crooks enters transfer portal

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Chuck Norris’ Family Slams ‘Untrue’ AI Misinformation Regarding His Death

Chuck Norris' family is pushing back against a wave of viral misinformation, calling out false AI-generated posts that spread misleading claims about his death and personal life across social media platforms.

Chuck Norris' family denounces misleading AI-generated posts regarding his death

In a public statement shared online, Norris' family made it clear that several circulating posts about the actor's death are completely inaccurate. They said they are aware of AI-generated videos and messages discussing "the circumstances of his passing, his health history, and who was present," and stressed that "these claims are entirely untrue."

The statement also addressed how some of these posts go beyond basic misinformation. According to the family, the content includes made-up medical details and incorrect stories about relationships within the family.

They urged fans to rely only on official updates, adding, "We kindly ask that you do not believe or share any information unless it comes directly from the Norris family or an official family representative (viaComplex)."

Whileconfirming his passing earlier, the family chose to keep specific details private. They shared that Norris was surrounded by loved ones and at peace but avoided going into further explanation. It was also confirmed that he had been hospitalized before hisdeath, though no additional information was provided about that period.

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Norris built a long and successful career that made him a global name. He rose to fame through martial arts and action films, including his appearance alongside Bruce Lee in The Way of the Dragon. Later, he became a household name on television with Walker, Texas Ranger, where he played a tough, no-nonsense lawman.

In addition, social media is filled with hilarious and over-the-top memes featuring Norris. In the 2000s, the martial arts icon also saw a surprising resurgence in popularity thanks to viral "Chuck Norris facts," which turned him into an internet legend. The jokes exaggerated his strength and toughness, introducing him to a younger audience.

Now, as tributes continue, his family is focused on setting the record straight. They ask to ignore the noise online and respect verified information.

Originally reported by Rishabh Shandilya onMandatory.

The postChuck Norris' Family Slams 'Untrue' AI Misinformation Regarding His Deathappeared first onReality Tea.

byAlex Forten

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April 02, 2026

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Is Iran war really ‘America First,’ Iranian president asks in letter to US public

Iran's president has written an open letter to America asking whether the Trump administration'swarwith his country is putting "America First."

"Exactly which of the American people's interests are truly being served by this war?," Masoud Pezeshkianwrote in the letter, addressed "to the people of the United States of America" and posted on X late Wednesday local time, hours before US President Donald Trump gave his first national address on the Iran war.

"Is 'America First' truly among the priorities of the US government today?" Pezeshkian asked.

He claimed that Iran has "never, in its modern history, chosen the path of aggression, expansion, colonialism, or domination, and never initiated any war" and that the perception of his country being a threat is "the product of political and economic whims of the powerful."

He asserted Tehran's actions – which have included daily drone and missile strikes that have hit civilian and military infrastructure across the Gulf – have been "legitimate self-defense."

It was not clear whether other elements of Iran's leadership were involved in drafting the letter. The highest authority in the Islamic Republic, supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, has not been seen or heard in public since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran more than a month ago.

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Pezeshkian went on to imply a distinction between the US government and its people, saying his country has been misunderstood and that "Iranian people harbour no enmity towards other nations, including the people of America, Europe, or neighboring countries."

"This is a deeply rooted principle in Iranian culture and collective consciousness–not a temporary political stance," he said.

In his national address after the letter was posted, Trump called the Iranian leadership "the most violent and thuggish regime on Earth" and said if the country acquired a nuclear weapon, it would become "an intolerable threat."

Trump said that the Iran war is "nearing completion" with most of Iran's military capabilities decimated.

Meanwhile, in his letter, Pezeshkian warned the world is at a crossroad.

"Continuing along the path of confrontation is more costly and futile than ever before," he said.

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April 02, 2026

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Magnitude 4.6 earthquake rattles California's Bay Area

Amagnitude 4.6 earthquake struck the Bay Area of Californiaearly Thursday morning, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The earthquake was centered in Boulder Creek, California, a town in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and struck at 1:41 a.m. local time at a depth of 10.9 km (6.8 miles). Residents in the area reported light to moderate shaking, according to the USGS, with residents as far north as Berkeley and San Francisco and as far south as Soledad reporting feeling shaking as well.

Originally reported as a magnitude 5.1 earthquake, it has since been revised down to a 4.6.According to the San Francisco Chronicle, various faults run through the Santa Cruz area and it was not immediately clear which fault triggered the quake.

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No injuries or deaths have been reported from the earthquake, however the USGS says there is about a 56% chance of a magnitude 3.0 or higher aftershock happening within the next seven days, and about a 12% chance that aftershock is magnitude 4.0 or higher.

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X@GabeHauarior email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Earthquake hits near San Francisco Thursday morning

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Magnitude 4.6 earthquake rattles California's Bay Area

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Grammy-winning rapper J. Cole to play basketball in China

J. Cole is trading the mic for the hardwood again. The Grammy-winning, multi-platinum rapper, born Jermaine Cole, has signed to play in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), ESPNreported.

Cole will suit up for the Nanjing Monkey Kings in Jiangsu, China, though the number of games he has committed to remains unclear. It is not his first foray into professional basketball.

In 2021, he played for the Rwanda Patriots in the Basketball Africa League, recording 5 points, 3 assists, and 5 rebounds across three games. He also suited up for the Canadian Elite Basketball League in 2022, averaging 2.4 points and 0.6 rebounds per game.

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Off the court, Cole is riding the momentum of his latest album, "The Fall-Off," released in February 2026. He is set to embark on a sweeping 73-show tour beginning July 11 in his home state of North Carolina.

More:NBA's hottest, coldest teams: Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs are on fire

Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets' Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.

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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Rapper J. Cole to play basketball in China ahead of world tour

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Trump says it's 'not possible' for the U.S. to pay for Medicaid, Medicare and daycare: 'We’re fighting wars'

President Donald Trump on Wednesday said it's "not possible" for the federal government to fund Medicare, Medicaid and child care costs, arguing that it should be up to the states to "take care" of those programs while the federal government focuses on military spending.

The president's remarks were delivered to attendees at a private Easter luncheon at the White House, where Trump also accused Democratic-led states of fraud.

He went on to say that he told Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought, "don't send any money for daycare, because the United States can't take care of daycare. That has to be up to a state. We can't take care of daycare. We're a big country. We have 50 states. We have all these other people. We're fighting wars. We can't take care of daycare. You got to let a state take care of daycare, and they should pay for it too."

Later in his remarks, the president added that states would have to raise their taxes to pay for child care costs and that the federal government, "could lower our taxes a little bit to them to make up" for it.

"It's not possible for us to take care of daycare, Medicaid, Medicare, all these individual things," Trump said. "They can do it on a state basis. You can't do it on a federal. We have to take care of one thing: military protection. We have to guard the country."

The Easter luncheon where the president made these remarks was not open to the press, but the White House posted the video of Trump's remarks on their YouTube page — as they usually do with open press events — and then deleted it. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the video.

The federal government currently provides states with funds to subsidize child care for low-income families through programs like Child Care and Development Block Grants and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Democrats have long sought to pass federal laws that would further subsidize the cost of child care for families with young children.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass.,introduced legislation last yearthat would expand early education access and cap child care costs for families at seven percent of their household income.

Some Democrats quickly seized on Trump's comments Wednesday, comparing the cost of childcare to the cost of the ongoing U.S. military operation in Iran,which topped $11.3 billionin its first six days last month.

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"Trump says we can pay for war in Iran but can't afford childcare. Mr. President, the billions you wasted in Iran could pay for $10 day childcare for every American family with childcare workers paid $25 an hour," Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif.,wrote in a poston X.

"For the cost of 3 weeks of this war, we could provide vision, hearing, and dental coverage to every senior on Medicare for a year. It is possible. Trump just doesn't care to do it," Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J.,wrote on X.

Members of the Trump administration, including the president, have for months accused states that receive federal grants for childcare of perpetrating fraud, with little evidence. In January, the Health and Human Services Departmenteven froze access to childcare and family assistance fundsfor five states led by Democrats: California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York.

In December, the Trump administrationtargeted Minnesotain particular after accusations from conservative influencers that child care centers in the state were fraudulent went viral.

A later review by the state's Department of Children, Youth, and Families found that the daycare centers at the heart of the viral attackswere operating normally.

On Wednesday, Trump again accused Democratic states of fraud, telling attendees at the Easter luncheon, "in Minnesota, in Los Angeles, they have thousands of [daycare centers]."

Trump claimed the locations "have more daycare centers than they have children.' They literally, so they have thousands. So we go and we send inspectors out. Of the 700 that they looked at, approximately, in Minnesota, there were not one that was a daycare center."

He also accused Republican-led states of perpetrating fraud and "thievery," saying that they have to "compete" with Democratic-led states.

"It's many states, probably Republican states too, because they're going to see it, and they're not as — we're not as thievery, but, you know, they don't believe in thievery — but when they see the Democrats doing it, and then they have to compete with it. So I can't imagine they're not doing it. I just can't imagine," Trump said.

The president has appointed Vice President JD Vance as a key player in his mission to root out fraud. Last week, Vance convenedthe first meetingof the administration's new anti-fraud task force. And on Wednesday, the vice presidentswore in Colin McDonaldto be the Assistant Attorney General for National Fraud Enforcement.

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