TMZ Sports - Page 15

Riley Gaines is weighing in on one of the most consequential Supreme Court cases in years ... and while the former college swimmer turned activist believes this is a big moment for girls' sports, she also says much more must be done!

"There were two landmark cases heard before the Supreme Court earlier this week. One out of Idaho, one out of West Virginia," 25-year-old Gaines told TMZ Sports.

"Basically, what the Supreme Court will soon rule on if it's constitutional for states to allow for women to have these protections. Not if states must pass some sort of fairness in women's sports bill, it's on if states even can protect women's sports."

Oral arguments -- when attorneys for both sides make their case publicly in front of the nine justices -- for the two cases, West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox, were heard on Tuesday ... in testimony that lasted nearly four hours.

Riley, who has dedicated her life to the cause, was in D.C. for the occasion ... but if you were expecting her to pop champagne over what looks like an eventual win for her side, that's not the case.

"Insane that, especially when you say it out loud, we're fighting for, as women, equality. It's like the bare minimum, and so it's being celebrated and applauded, and of course I recognize this as a step in the right direction, certainly. It's frustrating to me that this is something that even has to be heard before the highest court."

FYI, 27 states have laws either limiting or banning transgender girls from participating in girls athletics.

SCOTUS will decide if those laws are constitutional.

What does The Riley Gaines Show host (now available on FOX News platforms) ultimately expect from the court?

"I'm fairly certain that the ruling will be a favorable one," Gaines told us.

"Now what that breakdown looks like, I'd love to say it's 9-0, but of course that's entirely wishful thinking. I think it's likely, based off the oral arguments that I heard, it's likely to be 6-3. I think it has the potential to be 7-2."

An official decision is expected in several months.

TMZ Sports is going live from the newsroom to discuss the day's biggest stories ... but we don't just want folks to watch and enjoy the conversation, we want y'all to get involved!!

Hit the comment section as Babcock, Lucas, Luca, and the whole crew break down the most important topics of the day ... and we'll be interacting with viewers throughout the program between 1 and 2 PM PT.

YouTube, X, TikTok ... we're everywhere.

So tune in, make fun of us, share your two cents, sound off about your favorite team ... nothing is out of bounds.

Despite the Carolina Panthers jumping out to a 31-27 lead with just 2:39 left in an NFC Wild Card game ... L.A. Rams tight end Colby Parkinson says no one was sweating on their sidelines -- telling TMZ Sports they had "nothing but trust" in Matthew Stafford.

We chopped it up with Parkinson, who caught the game-winning pass from the league's MVP frontrunner on Saturday ... and he walked us through what he saw on the play.

"[The defender] was playing over the top, so I knew it was going to have to be a back shoulder throw, and Matthew placed it perfectly," he said. "Was able to kind of reach out and turn around and grab the ball. And obviously that starts with great protection and a great drive leading up to that point."

11:03 AM PT -- West's attorney, Brandon Sloane, tells TMZ Sports he's confident the details of the case will show there's much more to the story ... but the ex-NBAer is using the experience as a wake-up call to seek professional help.

The attorney says he is "proud of Delonte as he has used this process to seek out help and been released on bond to a treatment facility. We all look forward to his continued progress, and Delonte is particularly appreciative of the numerous thoughts and well wishes over the last several weeks."

Delonte West has found himself in trouble with the law again -- the former NBA star was arrested last month in Virginia after he allegedly robbed an individual -- TMZ Sports has learned.

Law enforcement tells us they received a call from a person who reported getting robbed and assaulted in the 5900 block of Richmond Highway in Belle Haven ... and claimed the culprit ran off on them.

When cops arrived on the scene, they learned the individual in question didn't get far. The caller pointed out the man across the street as the one they were looking for. It turned out to be West, whom officials in the area have unfortunately become familiar with over the years.

Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes is off, but that doesn't mean The Lioness' Octagon return has to be put on hold ... boxing star Amanda Serrano tells TMZ Sports she's ready to step in, and she's dead serious!

"I'm up for the challenge. I'm always up for the challenge," 37-year-old Serrano told Babcock about the prospects of fighting Nunes, a "great champion" and "great fighter."

What would Serrano say to the fans who will undoubtedly claim that while she's a beast in the squared circle, this is MMA, and Nunes is the G.O.A.T.?

Somebody really, really wants to see the CFP championship game in person next week -- as a single ticket to the matchup sold for a whopping $26,000!!!

SeatGeek tells TMZ Sports an unidentified individual dropped an eye-popping amount of dough on one seat to watch the Indiana Hoosiers and Miami Hurricanes battle for the College Football Playoff title at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19.

The seat comes with an incredible view, though ... according to the popular resale ticketing marketplace, the ticket is for row one in the 72 Club, giving the buyer extreme VIP vibes.

When it comes to the "lower" prices, the get-in is a little over $3K, and the average resale price is $5K.

Giants fans aren't the only ones excited about potentially landing John Harbaugh -- so is Nate Burleson, who tells TMZ Sports the move could transform both the New York franchise and Jaxson Dart.

The news about Harbaugh possibly joining Big Blue began on Wednesday ... after the former Ravens head coach had an in-person interview with the organization. Hours later, it was reported the two sides were close to an agreement.

Like Giants supporters, Burleson believes it would be a perfect match -- especially with a young, dynamic, dual-threat quarterback like Dart ... the kind of QB Harbaugh knows well.

Federal prosecutors say some college hoops games were straight-up rigged ... and they just dropped the hammer.

According to a bombshell indictment unsealed Thursday, 20 men have been charged in a jaw-dropping point-shaving and bribery scheme that allegedly corrupted at least 39 Division I players, 17 schools and nearly 30 rigged matchups over the last two seasons.

Prosecutors claim the operation was run by Shane Hennen and Marves Fairley -- two guys already deep in other federal gambling cases -- with help from former LSU and NBA player Antonio Blakeney.

Porsha Williams says Donna Kelce is a 'Real Housewives' stan ... telling Andy Cohen that Taylor Swift's future mother-in-law fangirled over her while on "The Traitors."

The reality TV star chatted with Andy on Wednesday's episode of "Watch What Happens Live" ... and, she says she loves the Kelce matriarch -- especially since she's such a big fan of the franchise.

Porsha says she was flattered Donna knew so much about her ... though it ultimately didn't save her in the end.

Kayla Harrison is breaking her silence after a serious neck injury made her pull out of her huge co-main event fight against Amanda Nunes at UFC 324 ... posting a video from her NYC hospital bed after undergoing surgery, fighting back tears, and declaring, "I'll be back soon."

Harrison shared the video with her followers on Thursday morning, and it's crystal clear how much of a toll the situation has taken on her ... torpedoing one of the most anticipated fights in the history of women's MMA.

"I'm sorry to Amanda," Kayla said. "I was really looking forward to it."

Luigi Mangione's cousin is heading to Brooklyn -- not for visitation at the Metropolitan Detention Center ... but to play professional soccer.

The USL's Brooklyn FC announced the interesting signing on Wednesday ... saying 24-year-old Peter Mangione is joining the squad.

The team said it witnessed Mangione build his resume at Penn State, where he scored 31 goals and became a two-time Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.

He also played a key role with the MLS Next Pro's FC Cincinnati 2 last year.

Tragedy in Brazil -- Arlindo de Souza, known for injecting mineral oil and alcohol into his arms to achieve his "Brazilian Popeye" look -- has died at 55.

Family members say the bodybuilder passed away Tuesday in Recife, in Brazil’s Pernambuco state, after suffering complications tied to renal failure, for which he had been hospitalized since December.

Denis Gomes de Luna, Arlindo’s nephew, said one of his kidneys shut down first, before the other failed around Christmas. Fluid then built up in his lungs, and he went into cardiac arrest before doctors could even begin haemodialysis -- an often life-saving treatment for kidney failure.

Nostalgia for 2016 is all over social media these days … but reminiscing on a decade ago might be awkward timing for Hailee Steinfeld!

An old photo of the “Sinners” star is making the rounds this week, and Bills Mafia is definitely doing a double-take at the dug-up tweet.

The throwback pic shows Hailee rocking a Broncos Starter jacket and hitting a full dab on the day Denver won Super Bowl 50 -- with the caption "HELL YEAH BRONCOS!!!!"

Fast-forward to now, and she’s married to superstar Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen, whose squad just so happens to be facing the Broncos in the NFL playoffs this weekend.

The alleged assault victim in the Antonio Pizzonia incident is sharing his side of the story … telling TMZ Sports he did no wrong.

Michael Kotowski -- who is listed as the alleged victim in the police report -- says he was "sucker punched" while supporting his competitive go-kart driver son, Nico, at the Speedsportz Racing Park in Texas for the 2026 Superkarts! USA Winter Series.

Kotowski says things got heated after a race involving Nico and Pizzonia’s son, Neto.

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt is lucky to be alive -- the NFL-er told police he was a passenger in a terrifying crash in November, when a vehicle flipped in the street after colliding with a parked car.

The moment was caught on surveillance footage, which showed a black Jeep -- registered to Taylor-Britt -- blowing through a red light around 3 AM on November 15.

The car rolled over and onto its roof ... and out of frame.

Just weeks after Greg Biffle, his family, and others were tragically killed in a North Carolina plane crash, burglars broke into his home -- and stole $30K in cash.

The Iredell County Sheriff's Office says deputies were dispatched to the Biffle residence around 6 PM on January 8 for a possible break-in.

They reported that a backpack and $30,000 in cash were missing from the home.

No arrests have been made in connection with the theft, and the investigation is still ongoing.