AC Milan jeered off the field after shock home loss to Udinese

MILAN (AP) — After falling out of the Serie A title race, AC Milan is looking nervously at the teams behind it following a shock 3-0 loss at home to Udinese on Saturday.

Milan was loudly jeered off the field after its third defeat in four matches.

The Rossoneri were not only nine points below league leader Inter Milan but just six points above Juventus and Roma, in fifth and sixth, in the fight for Champions League qualifying places.

All of the teams around Milan in the table were still to play this weekend and Juventus could close the gap with a win at Atalanta later Saturday.

Nicolò Zaniolo starred for Udinese at San Siro. He counterattacked from deep inside his own half and rode a couple of challenges before spreading it to the right for Arthur Atta, whose cross was deflected in by Davide Bartesaghi — going down as an own goal by the young Milan defender.

Zaniolo also set up Udinese’s second in the 37th minute with a sensational cross from the right for Jurgen Ekkelenkamp’s header.

Moments earlier, Keinan Davis had an effort pushed onto the crossbar by Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan and Bartesaghi had to clear an attempt off the line on the stroke of halftime.

The boos had already started by then and Milan was also roasted by its supporters at the break.

The Rossoneri’s hopes of clawing something from the match all but evaporated in the 71st when Atta netted Udinese’s third, feinting to shoot into the far corner before slotting into the bottom left.

Cagliari took a crucial step toward avoiding relegation by beating fellow struggler Cremonese 1-0.

Cagliari’s first win since January lifted the Sardinian team six points above Cremonese and the relegation zone.

Sebastiano Esposito scored his third goal in four matches in the 63rd minute, heading in a cross from Zé Pedro, who had only just come off the bench.

Hellas Verona remained nine points from safety after losing at mid-table Torino 2-1.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

AC Milan's Adrien Rabiot, left, and Udinese's Nicolo Zaniolo fight for the ball during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Udinese, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

AC Milan players stand dejected after conceiding a goal during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Udinese, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

AC Milan's head coach Massimiliano Allegri reacts during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Udinese, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Torino's Giovanni Simeone, third from left, scores his side's opening goal during a Serie A soccer match between Torino and Hellas Verona, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse)

Torino's Giovanni Simeone, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during a Serie A soccer match between Torino and Hellas Verona, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse)

Cagliari's Sebastiano Esposito, center, scores during the Serie A soccer match between Cagliari and Cremonese, in Cagliari, Italy, Saturday April 11, 2026. (Gianluca Zuddas/LaPresse via AP)

Cagliari's Sebastiano Esposito celebrates after scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Cagliari and Cremonese, in Cagliari, Italy, Saturday April 11, 2026. (Gianluca Zuddas/LaPresse via AP)

Skylar Diggins is headed to Chicago while Satou Sabally is coming to New York as WNBA free agents can officially sign Saturday.

Diggins spent the past two seasons with the Seattle Storm before coming to the Sky — a move announced on social media. The seven-time All-Star gives the team another veteran guard and brings her closer to where she grew up in South Bend, Indiana. She averaged 15.5 points and 6.0 assists last season.

Sabally's move to New York was confirmed by her agent Zack Miller. She joins an already stacked roster as Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu already said they'll be back in New York. Sabally also looked at coming to the Liberty last season when she was also a free agent before landing with the Phoenix Mercruy. Sabally averaged 16.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists to earn a All-Star spot — her third.

She raised her game in the postseason, averaging 19 points and seven rebounds before suffering a concussion in Game 3 of the series against Las Vegas that caused her to miss the final game of the series.

While Diggins and Sabally are changing teams, Dearica Hamby is staying in Los Angeles. She announced on social media that she was returning to the Los Angeles Sparks. The three-time All-Star will be part of a talented group that includes newly signed Nneka Ogwumike, Kelsey Plum and Cameron Brink.

Other moves announced Saturday:

The expansion Tempo signed Brittney Sykes to partner with Marina Mabrey in the backcourt. She averaged 14.1 points, 4.0 assists and 3.2 rebounds last season while playing for Washington and Seattle last season.

“Brittney is an elite competitor who impacts winning on both ends of the floor,” Tempo general manager Monica Wright Rogers said. “Her defensive versatility, toughness and leadership set a standard, and adding a player of her caliber and All-Star experience is a significant step as we continue to build our roster.”

Diggins wasn’t the only player that the Sky signed on the first day of free agency. Chicago is bringing back forward Azura Stevens, who helped the franchise win a title in 2021.

“I’m truly excited to be coming home to join the Chicago Sky,” Stevens said. “This city means everything to me. The culture, the people, the passion for the game. To have the opportunity to come back to Chicago is amazing. I’m ready to get to work, embrace the moment, and give everything I have. Let’s work.”

Stevens played the past three years with the Sparks, finishing second in Most Improved Player voting last season. She averaged 12.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks.

“We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to bring back Azurá, a pivotal part of our championship team,” Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca said. “Stevens brings a versatile element to our frontcourt as a shooter and shot blocker that we’re confident will pair nicely with the players we have under contract.”

The Sky also acquired guard Jacy Sheldon from the Washington Mystics. In exchange, the Mystics receive Chicago’s 2028 first-round pick.

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

FILE - Phoenix Mercury forward Satou Sabally (0) looks to pass against the Minnesota Lynx during the first half of Game 2 of a WNBA basketball playoff semifinals series Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn, File)

FILE - Seattle Storm guard Skylar Diggins moves the ball against New York Liberty during a WNBA basketball game Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)