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NFL owners voted on Tuesday to allow players in the league to participate in the flag football competition at the upcoming 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The proposal said that no more than one player from each team could participate in the event – which is making its Olympic debut as a sport in the City of Angels – as well as providing support for those players involved, including injury protection and salary cap credit.

“It’s an incredible honor for any athlete to represent their country in the Olympics, which is the pinnacle of global sport,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “I know first-hand that the inclusion of flag football in the Olympics has sparked a tremendous amount of excitement among NFL players interested in the chance to compete for their country on the world stage. We are thrilled that they will now have that chance.”

In order to pass any motion, there needs to be a 75% majority in favor of the rule change among NFL owners, with 24 out of 32 votes needed.

The league will work with the players union, International Federation of American Football and relevant Olympic governing bodies on rules for the participation of NFL players.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson said he was lost for words after hearing the news that he could potentially have the chance to play in the Olympic Games.

“To think about the chances of playing in the Olympics and getting a gold medal is a dream,” Jefferson told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday alongside Goodell, Vikings linebacker Brian Asamoah II, NFL EVP of football operations Troy Vincent and EVP of club business and league events Peter O’Reilly.

“Just reverting back to being a kid and watching the track and field meets, watching basketball win the gold medal. That’s something that as a kid I always wanted to be a part of, but football wasn’t globally. So now that we’re expanding the game and we’re going more globally it’s pretty cool.”

The Vikings star added that being able to say you’re the best in the world is also an incentive behind playing in the 2028 Summer Olympics.

The Olympic flag football competition will consist of six men’s and six women’s teams with 10 players each. The game will be five-on-five with the rest of the players serving as substitutes.

“Players have expressed to us a great desire for the honor of competing in the Olympics, and we’re excited that our members will be able to represent their country on the highest international stage,” NFL Players Association executive director Lloyd Howell, Jr. said in a statement.

“We look forward to working with the league, IFAF, and Olympic authorities on the terms of their participation to ensure players who compete will do so with protections to their health, safety, and job.”

Since flag football was announced on the Olympic program, an increasing clamor has risen about letting NFL players take part.

NFL players have been seen competing in flag football events in recent years, with the Pro Bowl adding a flag football game to its schedule in 2023.

“The membership believes that participation by NFL players in flag football during the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California will support such growth and advance several league interests, including increasing fan and public interest in flag football, expanding the global reach of the NFL,” the proposal stated.

Flag football is a non-contact version of the traditional game. According to the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), it is played by more than 20 million people in more than 100 countries.

Instead of tackles, a player is stopped by removing one of the two flags attacked to the ball-carriers waist. Games are five-on-five, with no offensive or defensive lines, and teams able to field a 12-person squad to choose from.

“I warmly welcome the outcome of this vote, which promises to add another dimension to what is already shaping up to be a game-changing debut for flag football at the Olympic Games,” IFAF President Pierre Trochet said in a statement.

“The National Football League is home to the biggest stars in American football, who come from more and more countries, and now have the opportunity to shine on the greatest stage in world sport, showcasing everything that makes flag football a genuine worldwide phenomenon.”

Given the focus on speed and elusiveness to evade opposition trying to grab flags, NFL players such as Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson or Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley could make for valuable editions to Team USA’s squad.

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Angel Reese on Tuesday praised the WNBA for taking up an investigation into alleged abuse aimed at the Chicago Sky player and the way the league and her team have had her back.

The WNBA said it was investigating reports of abuse directed towards the second-year forward during Chicago’s loss to the Indiana Fever on Saturday.

“Obviously there’s no place in this league for that,” Reese said during media availability on Tuesday. “I think the WNBA and our team and our organization has done a great job supporting me.”

Reese said she has received support from many people across the league following the incident and during the process of the investigation.

“Obviously it’s tough, but I think I have a great support system. I’m loved by so many people and ,obviously, in the moment it is hard to hear, but my support system is great,” the 23-year-old added.

“I’ve gone through so many different things in the past couple of years in my life, but I think just having the support and this love, and being a part of an organization that really supports me and loves me is something I just couldn’t imagine not being a part of.”

Chicago Sky head coach Tyler Marsh gave credit to Reese with how she’s dealt with the process.

“She’s handled it great. I mean, for her, it’s about basketball, so I think that’s where her mind is at and for us we want to be as locked in as possible to our game plan and what we want to do moving forward into Thursday,” Marsh said.

“I mean, Angel’s a winner. Angel’s a competitor, and she wants to be there for her teammates and we’re certainly there for her as well.”

Marsh added that all those at the franchise will be behind the star second-year player.

“I think that we always want to be there to support each other no matter what we’re going through in our personal lives or professional lives. It’s the kind of environment that we want to create here. It’s who we want to be as individuals and who we want to be as teammates.”

The WNBA said after the alleged incident that it “strongly condemns racism, hate, and discrimination in all forms,” while the Fever said they are helping the league with the investigation.

Indiana’s star guard Caitlin Clark issued a similar message after a Fever practice on Monday.

“There’s no place for that in our game, there’s no place for that in society,” Clark, the 2024 Rookie of the Year, told reporters after practice on Monday.

“Certainly, we want every person who comes into our arena, whether player or fan, to have a great experience,” Clark added. “I appreciate the league doing that (the investigation). I appreciate that the Fever organization has been at the forefront of that since day one. The investigation we’ll leave up to them to find anything and take the proper action if so.”

The Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky will play each other three more times during the regular season.

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Shohei Ohtani hit his 17th home run of the season on Monday, keeping his spot atop the MLB for most this year, as the Los Angeles Dodgers fell to their fourth straight defeat.

The Japanese superstar blasted a 389-foot shot to left field in the bottom of the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but it was little too late for the reigning World Series champions.

Ohtani’s homer cut Arizona’s lead to 7-2 on the evening, but the D-Backs eventually prevailed 9-5.

The defeat is the Dodgers fourth in a row – three to their city rivals, the Angels, and one to Arizona – which has allowed the Philadelphia Phillies to overtake them at the top of the National League.

Despite their poor results, Ohtani has still routinely shown his excellence, with his 17th home run of the season the main positive on a disappointing evening in California.

The reigning NL MVP now has one more homer than Phillies left fielder Kyle Schwarber – who hit a massive, 466-foot shot in the ninth inning of Philadelphia’s 9-3 win over the Colorado Rockies on Monday – and two more than New York Yankees star Aaron Judge and the Seattle Mariners’ Cal Raleigh.

Ohtani also has 10 stolen bases so far this season, potentially putting him in-line to reach the historic 50-50 mark he reached last campaign.

On Monday night, Arizona’s Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Gabriel Moreno and Geraldo Perdomo each hit two-run home runs and right-handed pitcher Brandon Pfaadt gave up three runs and three hits over six innings to down the Dodgers.

The fans inside Dodgers Stadium booed when the D-Backs raced into a 7-0 lead before two home runs from Mookie Betts and Ohtani’s homer reduced the deficit, but it wasn’t enough for the Dodgers, who saw Arizona score two more runs in the eighth to put the game out of reach.

“It’s tough facing an All-Star lineup (in) almost back-to-back (starts),” Pfaadt said afterwards, per the MLB’s official website.

He added: “Credit to the offense for putting me in that position. Got out early and we were able to just attack the zone and up until the sixth inning. (Three) homers, but that’s OK, because we had the lead and we were just attacking guys.”

The Dodgers and Diamondbacks will play twice more over the coming days.