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  • Monday Morning Lights: Why Serra, Folsom schedule heavyweights in September

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    Welcome back to Monday Morning Lights, our weekly feature that sheds more light on the high school football weekend and peeks ahead to the new week. If you haven’t already, please subscribe. Your contributions keep us going.

    No matter what happens, Serra and Folsom know that most seasons, they will be in position to compete for section championships at the end of the year.

    Which is why both teams go out of their way to schedule exceptionally tough nonleague opponents in September.

    This year, Sacramento area power Folsom visited another top team from its area (Grant), bussed to San Mateo to play Serra on Saturday and will fly to Southern California this week to face Mission Viejo.

    Serra opened with Folsom and will also take on De La Salle in San Mateo this Saturday. The Padres will finish their nonleague schedule with a trip to face Southern Section powerhouse St. John Bosco.

    After beating Serra 56-42, Folsom coach Paul Doherty admitted that earning Northern California’s berth in the CIF Open Division state championship game is the Bulldogs’ goal this season.

    Testing themselves – and winning – against the best teams in the state is an important part of making that a reality.

    “Every time you go through it, you’re like, ‘This is a bad idea,’” Doherty said. “Tough schedule, that’s the only way to do it. We’ve won four section (championships) in a row. We were in four NorCals in a row. We’ve won two of them, and we lost two by a total of four points. If we’re going to get better, we have to schedule and we have to plan. That’s the DNA or the blueprint of what we’re trying to do.”

    Doherty noted that the programs in SoCal especially are “better than ours,” and playing them gives Folsom something to aspire to moving forward.

    Serra, meanwhile, is trying to recapture the form that powered the Padres to a 25-0 record against NorCal foes in 2022 and 2023. That stretch came during a run in which the San Mateo school represented Northern California in the Open state title game three consecutive seasons.

    Serra’s strong showing against Folsom on Saturday could be the first sign that the Padres are on their way back to being a top NorCal contender.

    “There’s a Nelson Mandela quote that says, ‘I either win or I learn,’” Walsh said. “I want to know what we got and what we don’t have. I’m not trying to stack up wins around here. What we’re trying to do is be WCAL champions and CCS champions. And my philosophy has always been to schedule the best, be a part of the best. Challenge yourself against the best coaches and players, and then you know exactly where you are.”

    — Christian Babcock

    RIORDAN: FAMILY BUSINESS

    Early in the first quarter, Riordan quarterback Mike Mitchell Jr. scanned the field for openings in McClymonds’ defense. After going through his reads, Mitchell locked in on a target he is very familiar with. 

    Younger brother Maxwell, a sophomore receiver, found the soft spot in the defense on a crossing route, pulled in the pass, and ran in for a 27-yard touchdown. 

    It was a play that the two had informally rehearsed in the backyard for years, and drilled on the practice field all summer. 

    “It was unreal,” Max Mitchell told the Bay Area News Group. “We did that every day in the summer, so the work definitely paid off.”

    – Joseph Dycus

    ACALANES: NEW POSITION … SORT OF 

    After Grant Ricker grabbed three interceptions in Acalanes’ emotional 33-12 victory, he noted that it was his first start ever at defensive back. He had started at receiver last season for Acalanes’ North Coast Section Division III championship team. 

    “I have to thank my coaches for teaching me on the fly,” Ricker said. 

    According to teammate Deonte Littlejohn, that isn’t quite true. 

    “Actually, Ricker played DB freshman year … and he wasn’t the best,” Littlejohn said. “He had a complete turnaround, and now he’s a dog out there. Playing receiver just helps him track that ball down.”

    – Joseph Dycus

    DE LA SALLE: JEFFERSON CAN SCOOT

    Jaden Jefferson is a fast runner.

    De La Salle’s two-way speedster reset the state record in the 100-meter dash last spring, clocking a time of 10.01 seconds at the CIF state meet in Clovis.

    But his time caused some controversy.

    It was widely speculated by those including Arcadia Invitational meet director Rich Gonzalez that the record-breaking time resulted in part because, he suspected, the starter fired the gun too far from the electronic timing sensor, causing a clock delay.

    But CIF stood by its time, and so is Jefferson.

    “CIF, they confirmed it, they said they had two clocks running,” Jefferson said. “So I’m not really arguing with the people who don’t believe it. I know what I ran, and I came back a second day to run another time. They said they had two clocks running, and they approved it. So I’m not sure what the other people are talking about.”

    De La Salle football coach Justin Alumbaugh isn’t too concerned, either. He knows what Jefferson’s wheels do for his team.

    “I think he could have broken 10,” Alumbaugh said. “He slowed up at the end. What I know is he was moving. And football-wise, he passes the eye test for speed. You’ll see him out there. He can scoot. No matter what the exact time is, that dude can run. You get under a 10.3, you’re scooting pretty well.”

    — Christian Babcock

    NORCAL COMMIT FROM FLORIDA ENJOYS TIME IN GOLDEN STATE

    Lakeland-Florida running back and Sacramento State commit Ja’darious Dobie got a little taste of the Cali life when the Dreadnaughts played De La Salle on Friday.

    Though Lakeland didn’t get the results it wanted, Dobie said he enjoyed his time in NorCal.

    “It was beautiful weather out here and it’s just beautiful scenery,” Dobie said. “I wish we could have come out here and dominated better, but at least we lost in Cali. So it feels good to be home.”

    Dobie picked Sacramento State over FBS schools Wake Forest, UNLV, Pittsburgh and Georgia Tech. New Sacramento State coach Brennan Marion is a former Bay Area resident, coaching at St. Patrick-St. Vincent in Vallejo, and playing at Foothill and De Anza colleges in the South Bay.

    – Nathan Canilao

    MENLO SCHOOL: OPENER SHARED CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

    It’s not every year you see a California high school team play a season opener against a squad from New Mexico.

    Menlo School welcomed Hózhó Academy, a charter school from Gallup, N.M., on Saturday in Atherton. The unusual matchup brought together two small schools with a number of differences but similar values.

    Hózhó Academy is located on the edge of the Navajo Nation in New Mexico, a Native American reservation home to the Diné people. Most of the Hózhó Academy players had not traveled off the reservation before coming to the Bay Area this weekend.

    “Coach (Todd) Smith and I really clicked when we talked about our coaching philosophies and the bigger picture of helping shape good, young men,” Hózhó Academy coach Cyle Balok said in a release. “We thought this game could be a special opportunity for both of our teams to meet and use the game as a bridge between two vastly different parts of the country.”

    Hózhó Academy traveled to Atherton by bus and made the trip thanks to fundraising from local businesses near Gallup. The two teams shared a pregame dinner Friday, and Menlo hopes the connections they make through the game last beyond Week 1.

    “We come from very different parts of the country,” said Smith, Menlo’s head coach. “But we started this friendship and knew this could be much more than a regular game.”

    — Christian Babcock

    PEEK AHEAD TO WEEK 2

    Friday

    Campolindo (1-0) at Northgate (1-0), 7 p.m.: Campo was in midseason form last week at Granada. 

    Los Gatos (0-1) at Liberty (1-0), 7 p.m.: Los Gatos will try to tighten its defense before the long trip to Brentwood. 

    Menlo-Atherton (0-1) at Acalanes (1-0), 7 p.m.: Acalanes aiming to beat CCS school for second week in a row.

    St. Francis (0-1) at McClymonds (0-1), 7 p.m.:  Tough trip for St. Francis as Lancers try to bounce back from loss to Cathedral Catholic.

    San Jose (1-0) vs. Lincoln-San Jose (1-0) at San Jose City College, 7 p.m.: Will Lincoln’s dominance continue in Big Bone game? 

    Windsor (1-0) at Hayward (1-0), 7 p.m.: Both teams had impressive season-opening wins.

    Saturday

    De La Salle (1-0) at Serra (0-1), 2 p.m.: DLS remembers its last visit to Serra, a 28-0 loss two seasons ago.

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    Christian Babcock, Nathan Canilao, Joseph Dycus

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  • Clock issues can’t stop Valkyries in win over Caitlin Clark-less Fever

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    SAN FRANCISCO — Chase Center turned into a glorified night club on Sunday night. 

    After electrical issues caused multiple shot clocks to malfunction, and choppy officiating gave way to numerous review stoppages, the fan cam inside the arena was put to work. 

    The basketball game almost seemed like background noise as fans were asked to dance to a mix of Bay Area classics and new age pop music with each game stoppage. Both the Valkyries and the visiting Indiana Fever were both visibly frustrated by the start-stop nature of Sunday’s game that took two hours and 38 minutes to complete.

    But what mattered most is that the Valkyries gave the sold out crowd of 18,064 something to dance for after the game ended.

    Golden State Valkyries’ Iliana Rupert (12) scores a 3-point basket against Indiana Fever’s Aerial Powers (23) in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 

    The Valkyries won their third straight game, beating the injury-plagued Indiana Fever 75-63 behind a hot shooting start. The 158-minute game was the longest contest that ended in regulation since the Chicago Sky played the Dallas Wings in a two-hour, 41-minute game on Aug. 6, 2023, per Elias Sports Bureau. Sunday’s game had five clock stoppages in the first half. 

    The Valkyries attributed the clock malfunctions to a power outage that occurred at Chase Center on Sunday morning. 

    Iliana Rupert posted a career-high 21 points and hit 5-of-8 shots from the 3-point line. Rookie Janelle Salaün had 10 points, four rebounds and two assists. Veronica Burton finished with eight points, 13 assists and seven rebounds.

    “I think it was the first time in all of our lives that we had so much stuff (go on), but it’s not stuff that you can control,” Rupert said after the game. “We really just tried to stay together.  The fans obviously helped a lot because you can lose energy really quickly, and they were pushing us.”

    A broken shot clock above a basket during the Golden State Valkyries game against the Indiana Fever in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    A broken shot clock above a basket during the Golden State Valkyries game against the Indiana Fever in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 

    The Fever were without superstar Caitlin Clark, who missed her 18th straight game with a left groin injury. Former Valkyries guard Aerial Powers scored 17 points off the bench and Kelsey Mitchell had 14 points in the loss. 

    The Valkyries held the Fever’s other star, Aliyah Boston, to just four points.

    “We really tried to be physical with her and try to make the night hard,” Rupert said. “I think we did that really well. So yeah, I’m happy of the work because it was really a team effort to stop her.”

    After two different clock stoppages forced a 25-minute delay in the first quarter, the Valkyries went on a run. Golden State hit seven of its eight 3-pointers and took a 25-14 lead after the first 10 minutes. 

    More stoppages allowed Indiana to get back within striking distance, but Golden State kept the high-paced offense at bay. 

    The Valkyries led by as much as 20 in the first half behind a 75% shooting quarter from beyond the arc. Rupert and Salaün accounted for 21 of the Valkyries’ 44 first-half points, and the home team led 44-32 after two quarters. 

    With all the stoppages, the first half lasted a whopping 92 minutes but Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said the breaks in action helped the Valkyries regroup. 

    Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase (35) talks to Golden State Valkyries' Temi Fagbenle (14) during their game against the Indiana Fever in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase (35) talks to Golden State Valkyries’ Temi Fagbenle (14) during their game against the Indiana Fever in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 

    “We did get to talk about defensively, continuing to focus on our game plan and our execution in terms of the defense and what was hurting us,” Nakase said. “We just tried to make it an advantage as best we can.”

    Indiana made headway in the third quarter, cutting the Valkyries’ lead to seven going into the final 10 minutes. 

    Powers cut the Golden State advantage to just five with a layup at the 7:37 mark of the fourth quarter, giving the Fever a much-needed momentum swing.

    But just as Indiana was on the verge of cutting the lead to a single possession, Powers fouled Clark’s former Iowa teammate Kate Martin on a 3-pointer right in front of Indiana’s bench and the second-year guard swished the shot to erupt the Chase Center crowd.

    Golden State Valkyries' Kate Martin (20) heads to the basket against Indiana Fever's Lexie Hull (10) in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
    Golden State Valkyries’ Kate Martin (20) heads to the basket against Indiana Fever’s Lexie Hull (10) in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 

    Martin finished with 10 points.

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Golden State Valkyries’ Iliana Rupert (12) celebrates her 3-point basket against the Indiana Fever in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

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Nathan Canilao

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  • Who could SF Giants call up when rosters expand in September?

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    SAN FRANCISCO —It wasn’t too long ago that manager Bob Melvin, having been swept by the Padres at home in mid-August, mentioned the idea of giving his regulars some days off and getting looks at younger players. With the Giants in the midst of a six-game winning streak, those plans are likely on hold.

    On Sept. 1, the Giants’ brass will have to decide which two players they select from Triple-A Sacramento to join the big-league roster as rosters expand from 26 to 28. With San Francisco still mathematically alive, president of baseball operations Buster Posey and company may find themselves leaning towards players more equipped to win now.

    Here’s a look at the most compelling candidates to be called up when the rosters expand:

    (All stats are entering Friday)

    Marco Luciano

    The Giants have had plenty of opportunities to call up Marco Luciano over the last couple months, especially after having the 23-year-old transition from infield to outfield in the offseason. With less than 30 games remaining, Luciano is still waiting for his first opportunity to play in the majors this season.

    Luciano hasn’t exactly dominated with Sacramento, but he’s hit well enough at times to warrant a look with San Francisco.

    Overall, Luciano has an .801 OPS with 22 homers and has been nine percent better than league average, by weighted runs created plus (wRC+). Since July, specifically, Luciano is hitting .250/.409/.569 with 10 homers and, by wRC+, has been 49 percent better than league average.

    Luciano would’ve likely had a more compelling case to be called up if Luis Matos was struggling, but Matos is 13-for-30 (.433) with three homers and seven RBIs since being recalled from Sacramento.

    Jesus Rodriguez

    The Giants received four prospects from the New York Yankees in exchange for Camilo Doval, the most intriguing of the bunch being catcher Jesus Rodriguez.

    Rodriguez didn’t have many opportunities to catch during his time in the Yankees’ system due to the franchise’s plethora of catching prospects, but he hit well enough that he played around the diamond so the Yankees could get his bat in the lineup. A lifetime .306 hitter in the minors, Rodriguez has also spent time at first base, second base, third base and left field.

    Rodriguez is hitting .317/.417/.415 with one homer and eight RBIs over his last 10 games, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Giants keep Rodriguez in Triple-A so he can continue getting reps at catcher.

    Hayden Birdsong

    For months, Hayden Birdsong appeared to have made significant strides with his control. He didn’t walk a single batter during spring training, then continued to minimize walks for roughly the first three months of the season. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Birdsong lost his command and ended up back in Triple-A.

    Birdsong’s issues with command have persisted with Sacramento. He appeared to make strides by only walking four batters over 12 1/3 innings during his first three starts with the River Cats. By contrast, during his last three starts Birdsong has walked 12 batters over 12 innings.

    JT Brubaker

    The Giants signed JT Brubaker to a minor-league deal in mid-August after he was released by the Yankees, and it’s not an outlandish proposition that Brubaker makes a start or two for San Francisco in September.

    Brubaker, 31, has pitched in four major-league seasons, missing all of ’23 due to Tommy John surgery and spending all of ’24 in the Yankees’ minor-league system. He’s made a pair of starts for Sacramento after being used solely as a reliever for the Yankees, allowing two runs over nine innings in those two outings.

    Blade Tidwell

    Tidwell was part of the return from the New York Mets in exchange for Tyler Rogers, the others being right-handed José Buttó and outfielder Drew Gilbert. If not for an injury, Tidwell likely would’ve already made his Giants debut.

    The 24-year-old right-hander posted a 1.69 ERA in his first three starts with Sacramento, striking out 23 batters over 16 innings, but experienced shoulder discomfort during a bullpen session following his start on Aug. 15.

    President of baseball operations Buster Posey said on KNBR that Tidwell is “moving in the right direction” and working on a throwing progression.

    “He’s obviously a guy we’re excited about, but we want to make sure that he’s, from a health standpoint, in a good place and doesn’t rush back,” Posey said. “It’s a big arm and somebody that we’re excited to continue to watch as he progresses. All signs seem positive there.”

    Tidwell features a deep arsenal of pitching, the core four being his four-seam fastball, sinker, sweeper and slider. Along with those offerings, Tidwell has also flashed a changeup and cutter.

    Bryce Eldridge

    There’s been no shortage of fans clamoring for top prospect Bryce Eldridge to make his major-league debut. Those voices continue to grow louder every time Eldridge homers.

    The only voice that matters, though, is Posey’s and he has repeatedly thrown cold water on the possibility of Eldridge making his debut this season.

    “I’d say most likely not,” Posey said on KNBR’s The Murph and Marcus Show. “I feel like I’ve said it 100 times, but Bryce is still 20. He’s still getting his reps as a first baseman. He’s getting his reps as a hitter. Like everybody else, (you) watch the amount of power that Bryce has. It’s hard not to get excited about.

    “Talking to Bryce a little bit back in spring training and then listening to how our minor-league staff talks about him, we know that he wants to be a complete player and he’s working on that.”

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    Justice delos Santos

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  • East Palo Alto housekeeper who fainted when arrested by ICE discharged from Stanford hospital

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    The East Palo Alto housekeeper with a chronic health condition who fainted while being arrested by ICE agents early this week has been discharged from Stanford Medical Center to a federal detention facility in Bakersfield, U.S. Rep. Sam Liccardo said Saturday.

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had been posted at her hospital room since she was arrested with an expired visa Monday, and prohibited her family from visiting most of the week, even forbidding flowers with a notecard from her father. The agency did not respond to a request for comment Saturday morning, or earlier inquiries during the week.

     

    Aleyda “Yeny” Rodriguez, in a photo from her family’s gofundme page, remains at Stanford Medical Center with ICE posted outside her door after being arrested in East Palo Alto with an expired visa. (Courtesy of Rodriguez family) 

    Aleyda “Yeny” Rodriguez, 47, has a blood disorder exacerbated by stress that causes her to faint, her family has said. They declined to comment Saturday.

    Stanford wouldn’t disclose Rodriguez’s health condition when she was discharged, but said in a statement that “throughout the patient’s stay at Stanford Health Care, our clinicians provided all necessary care.”

    Liccardo, a Democrat who represents much of Santa Clara and parts of San Mateo county and was participating in a Half Moon Bay beach cleanup Saturday, said he has been in touch with federal officials about her case. They told him that Rodriguez will have access to her phone Saturday to contact family.

    “Yeny’s arrest, which may have been perfectly legal under existing laws, exemplifies the devastation and trauma that this deeply misguided and cruel immigration policy is wreaking throughout our country,” Liccardo said in an interview Saturday. “We need to persuade more Americans and the other half of Congress of the extraordinarily important role that  millions of our neighbors like her play in our families and our communities.”

    Rodriguez was arrested Monday morning while dropping off her husband at her brother’s East Palo Alto house to start his day as a gardener. Her husband, Oscar Flores, managed to run to a neighbor’s house, where ICE agents stopped their pursuit because without a warrant they are prohibited from stepping onto private property, immigration lawyers say. Their nephew, Dario Jasso, had been arrested earlier that morning while getting into his vehicle to head to his construction job.

    Jasso, 29, had contacted his family earlier this week to say he was being held at the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center, where his aunt now is being held. Flores videotaped the arrest of his wife, who was heard screaming while agents handcuffed her behind her back while on her knees. She fainted on the way to the ICE van, while her husband yelled in Spanish, “she’s sick! If she dies it’s your fault.”

    Flores is in hiding, but told the Mercury News earlier this week that he and his wife had 10-year tourist visas that expired two years ago. They had no other criminal record, he said, not even a speeding ticket.

    “I certainly heard that the target of her arrest was somebody else in the family,” Liccardo said, “and so we’re still trying to understand this and get more information.”

    Rodriguez’s father, Armando Rodriguez Garcia, had told the Mercury News that he traveled from Mexico to California on a tourist visa several weeks ago intending to take his daughter back to Mexico with him because she was “tired here.” He said he hoped he could take her home instead of having her experience the stresses of ICE custody, which were life threatening. The trauma of the arrest itself, he said, led to her weeklong hospital stay.

    The Trump Administration had once said its priority was arresting immigrants with criminal records, but has since expanded its operations over the past several months, hiring scores of agents to arrest those with expired visas. Federal agents only need probable cause to believe someone is in the U.S. illegally to make an arrest on public property.

    Liccardo said that he said he and fellow Democrats are working with organizations “to see how we can start to rally employers in red states and red districts as we start to see the impacts of these immigration policies on our agricultural industry, on health care, on elder care, on tech, construction and many industries where we know immigrants are critical to the substance of our economy.”

    He added that they are “working to essentially find allies who can communicate with Republicans who suffer from wobbly knees, if they can stiffen their spines.”

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    Julia Prodis Sulek

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  • SF Giants’ Rodríguez recommended to undergo Tommy John surgery

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    SAN FRANCISCO — Randy Rodríguez will have a choice to make in the coming days, but all signs point to one option.

    Rodríguez has been recommended to undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow by multiple doctors — Giants’ head team orthopedist Dr. Ken Akizuki and Dr. Keith Meister — the Giants announced on Friday.

    The 25-year-old All-Star, who has a 1.78 ERA with 67 strikeouts over 50 2/3 innings, will decide his course of action over the weekend. If Rodríguez opts for surgery, the procedure won’t just end the remainder of this season, but will likely sideline him for all of next season.

    “From spring training last year to where he is right now, it’s pretty extreme,” said manager Bob Melvin. “Credit to him. Hard work, perseverance, good stuff, finding mechanics that work for him. For a while there, probably the most important role we had as a guy that came in and had to get the big outs. Disappointing, obviously — for him, for us. There’s a timetable in that if he does do it. I’m sure he’ll be healthy and ready to go after that.”

    The Giants have exercised caution with Rodríguez, who missed about six weeks last season due to right elbow inflammation. Rodríguez has only pitched on back-to-back days six times this season, the last instance being on July 26 and July 27 against the New York Mets. Despite those best efforts, Rodríguez still appears to be headed under the knife.

    With Rodríguez likely missing all of next season — the timetable to return is roughly 12 to 18 months — the Giants’ brass will be tasked with bolstering their bullpen in the offseason.

    San Francisco’s bullpen enters Friday with the second-best ERA in the majors (3.22), but that unit looks significantly different now compared to the beginning of the season.

    Along with Rodríguez, left-hander Erik Miller is currently recovering from a left elbow sprain and could be done for the season following a setback in his recover. At the trade deadline, the Giants traded Tyler Rogers to the New York Mets and Camilo Doval to the New York Yankees. Still, the Giants have a foundation in the bullpen upon which they can build.

    Ryan Walker lost the closer role to Doval in late May following extended struggles but has been effective since the demotion. With the help of a mechanical tweak, Walker is posting a 1.77 ERA with 23 strikeouts over 20 1/3 innings since July. Now, Walker will return to the closer role for the foreseeable future.

    “It sucks,” Walker said of Rodríguez’s injury on Wednesday. “You never want to see guys go down like that. … He’s good mentally, doing whatever he needs to do to get that resolved. What’s great about our ‘pen is that we’ve got everybody’s backs. We’ll fill the void right now and we’ll get the job done.”

    Right-hander José Buttó will likely have more opportunities in higher leverage roles as well. Buttó, acquired from the Mets as part of the Rogers trade, owns a 2.38 ERA and 2.24 FIP over 11 1/3 innings since joining the Giants. Notably, Buttó has gone from having a 12.2 percent career walk rate with the Mets to 7.1 percent with the Giants.

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    Justice delos Santos

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  • Man seriously injured in stabbing at Redwood City Caltrain station

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    REDWOOD CITY – A man suffered serious injuries in a stabbing Wednesday afternoon at the Redwood City Caltrain station, authorities said.

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    Jason Green

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  • San Mateo County claims State of California owes it and its 20 cities $38 million after ‘raid’

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    San Mateo County in a lawsuit filed this week claims the State of California “shorted” it and its 20 cities $38 million in funds distributed annually under a decades-old deal involving vehicle-license fees that is now enshrined in law.

    California’s unprecedented “raid” on the funding stream deprived San Mateo County and cities from East Palo Alto to Daly City of “critical” funds for serving residents, while giving a “windfall” to the state, the lawsuit filed Monday in San Francisco County Superior Court claimed.

    The lawsuit accuses California of breaking a legal requirement to provide the funding, and seeks a court order mandating payment of the $38 million, plus unspecified damages.

    Named as defendants are the State of California along with state Finance Department Director Joe Stephenshaw and State Controller Malia Cohen. A spokesperson for the Finance Department said the department had not seen the lawsuit yet and couldn’t comment on it.

    “Once we receive it and review it we will obviously have a filing with the court in response,” said department spokesman H.D. Palmer.

    State Controller’s office spokesman Bismarck Obando said none of the lawsuit’s allegations “pertain to the State Controller in her official capacity.”

    Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office did not immediately respond to questions about the lawsuit.

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    Ethan Baron

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  • Verlander notches second win of season as SF Giants beat Cubs

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    SAN FRANCISCO — Justin Verlander needed about four months to record his first win as a Giant. He only needed a fraction of the time to earn his second.

    Verlander totaled the 264th win of his career as the Giants beat the Chicago Cubs 5-2 on Tuesday night at Oracle Park, allowing two runs over six innings with five strikeouts. It didn’t just mark Verlander’s second win of the year but his first-ever win at Oracle Park — a win he wishes he recorded 13 years ago when the Giants and Tigers met in the World Series.

    “No offense, but I wish I had one in 2012,” Verlander laughed.

    With his strikeout of former teammate Kyle Tucker in the top of the first inning, Verlander passed Walter Johnson for ninth on the all-time strikeout list. Verlander is now 15 strikeouts away from passing Gaylord Perry (3,534) for eighth on the all-time list.

    “I try to do a better job at being a little more present,” Verlander said. “The last few years especially, coming back from Tommy John (surgery), it’s been an emphasis of mine to pay attention a little bit more to things and be present, not only on the field but off the field with my family.

    “You can get so stuck in the mindset of grinding. This year’s been so tough for that. It’s been really hard for me to not crawl into my little shell. My family helps me a lot off the field, and here, we have a great group of guys. They’ve helped a lot. Just relishing the positive.”

    Verlander generated five whiffs with his slider, which had a noticeably lower velocity compared to his season average. Against the Cubs, Verlander’s slider clocked in at 85.6 mph. On the year, by contrast, his average slider has been 87.6 mph.

    “I changed the grip a little bit. I’ve been all over the place with my slider,” Verlander said. “I’ve tried to throw it harder, tried to throw it softer. I think right now, I feel like I’ve found a good, healthy place for it. I’ve liked the results with it. I’m getting a lot more chase, and it seems to be looking more like my fastball coming out of my hand.”

    The Giants not only scored enough runs to get Verlander a win, but they did so against their kryptonite: a left-handed pitcher.

    Entering play, San Francisco ranked last in the majors in batting average (.209), on-base percentage (.275) and slugging percentage (.340) against lefties. Chapman and Wilmer Flores both homered off the Cubs’ left-hander Matthew Boyd while Heliot Ramos and Rafael Devers chipped in an RBI apiece.

    “We’ve been a little bit better,” Melvin said. “Early in the season it was really bad. We don’t think about it as much now. … Tonight, drew three walks, some homers. Flo’s homer helped quite a bit early on, too, and just kind of relieves that ‘here we go again’ type feeling that maybe we had against lefties earlier.”

    It was difficult to ignore that “here we go again” type feeling when Verlander walked off the mound with the Giants leading 3-2 going into the bottom of the sixth.

    On six occasions this season, Verlander ended up with a no decision despite being in line for a win. Most recently, Verlander pitched seven shutout innings against the Tampa Bay Rays but didn’t have a win to show for the effort. On this night, the bullpen and the offense both ensured Verlander left Oracle Park with a win in hand.

    Following Verlander’s departure, Chapman hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth that extended San Francisco’s lead to 5-2 and gave the Randy Rodríguez-less bullpen some much-needed breathing room. From there, Joey Lucchesi, José Buttó and Ryan Walker finished the job.

    Lucchesi retired all four batters that he faced, striking out a pair in the process. Buttó handled his only two batters as well, setting up Walker to close the door in the ninth.

    Walker allowed a one-out single to Dansby Swanson in the top of the ninth, but that would be the extent of Chicago’s offense for the rest of the night as the crossfiring right-hander finished the game without much drama.

    “It’s not like it doesn’t cross your mind sometimes, but this game kind of had a good feel to it,” Melvin said. “Once we scored in the sixth, we felt like we were in a pretty good spot with who was available and just kind of how we were playing the game.”

    Added Chapman: “Unfortunately, we haven’t gotten him more wins, but I think he’s pitched well enough to deserve some more. He’s been pitching well. I feel like he’s strung together some really quality starts, so I was glad we were able to get him the win today.”

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    Justice delos Santos

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  • Kaila Charles finds redemption with Valkyries in career night vs. Wings

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    Twice this year, the Dallas Wings told Kaila Charles she wasn’t good enough to keep a roster spot. 

    Her WNBA journey looked about finished for the 2025 season until the Valkyries gave her an opportunity just after the All-Star break after a plethora of injuries left the expansion team shorthanded. Now, the Valkyries can’t imagine a rotation without her. 

    Following three hardship contracts, the Valkyries guaranteed the 27-year-old shooting guard’s contract for the rest of the season. 

    On Sunday, she had her best game of the season as she locked up former teammate and rookie of the year candidate Paige Bueckers while tying a career-high 16 points in a 90-81 win over the Wings. 

    “I think it was a full circle moment,” Charles said after Sunday’s win. “I started the season here, and to be cut was sad, but it also gave me the opportunity to get film and get picked up by the (Valkyries). So even though it didn’t work out here like I wanted to, it gave me another opportunity where I fit in a little bit more.

    “So it just shows that everything happens for a reason, and I’m really glad that I was able to win with my team and do well and help them.”

    Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) loses control of the ball against Golden State Valkyries guard Kaila Charles during the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero) 

    When the Valkyries first signed Charles on Aug. 1, the former University of Maryland standout was tasked with learning a new system and teammates on a team that’s in the midst of trying to make a playoff push. 

    On the morning she joined the team, Charles boarded a plane to Chicago and had a few hours to learn the Valkyries’ playbook before a 7 p.m. tipoff against the Sky. The Valkyries coaching staff quickly briefed Charles before the game and the shooting guard was immediately in the rotation that night. 

    That night against, Charles played 17 minutes, scored five points, grabbed five rebounds and closed the fourth quarter in her first game with the team. 

    “Sometimes it’s on the fly,” assistant coach Landon Tatum told this news organization in a recent interview about how they fit players like Charles into their rotation the day of a game. “We know this person can do this really well. So, let’s see if this works. I wouldn’t necessarily say we know ahead of time going into games this is going to for sure work, but I think because we do a solid job of knowing what players do well, we can kind of plug and play specific people with certain people.” 

    Since then, Charles has been a rotation regular. She’s played in every game and been a valuable piece off the bench for Nakase as a defensive stopper and consistent catch-and-shoot player. 

    In her first start with the Valkyries on Sunday, Charles was tasked with guarding Bueckers, who came into the game with a streak of 30 consecutive double-digit scoring games. 

    Charles shadowed Bueckers for every minute she was in the game. Her active hands bothered the rookie star and her quick feet kept Bueckers away from the basket. 

    Charles held Bueckers scoreless in the first half and eventually limited her to just nine points on 3-of-12 shooting. 

    “Credit to Kaila for coming and doing what she does,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said. “Locking people up, and also on the offensive end, just being confident in her shot making. She makes quick decisions, taking it hard to the basket. Credit to Kaila because she’s really only had two practices with us.”

    With the injuries the Valkyries have, Charles’ role will only get larger in the coming weeks as the Valkyries try to secure a playoff spot. 

    Golden State is currently in eighth place with a half-game lead over the ninth-place Los Angeles Sparks for the final playoff spot. The Valkyries are also a half game behind the sixth-place Indiana Fever and seventh-place Seattle Storm with matchups against both franchises in the coming weeks. 

    The battle to make the playoffs makes Charles’ presence, and her ability to step in when her team needs her most, all the more valuable.  

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    Nathan Canilao

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  • Heliot Ramos comes up clutch in ninth inning as SF Giants rally against Brewers

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    On the fourth pitch of his at-bat, with the bases loaded, down to the team’s final out and facing one of the most fearsome closers in the game in Trevor Megill, Giants slugger Heliot Ramos did exactly what he needed to do with a 100-mile-per-hour fastball on Sunday.

    The 25-year-old laced a single to center, driving in his 54th and 55th runs of the season and giving San Francisco a lead it would not relinquish in a 4-3 come-from-behind victory in Milwaukee to clinch the three-game weekend series.

    San Francisco improved to 63-68, while Milwaukee fell to 81-50. The Giants are 6.5 games behind the Mets for the National League’s third and final wild-card spot.

    Ramos’ big at-bat capped off an inning that saw Matt Chapman lead off with a double to center off Megill. Then Wilmer Flores struck out after a nine-pitch at-bat and was followed by the red-hot Luis Matos, who singled to put runners on the corners with one out.

    Rafael Devers, pinch-hitting for catcher Andrew Knizner, was then blown away on a 101 mph four-seam fastball.

    But the Giants were not dead yet. Jung Hoo Lee drew a five-pitch walk to set the stage for Ramos. The 2024 All-Star outfielder came up big, and Ryan Walker closed out the game.

    “We continue to try and make the adjustment to try and win every game, and today was the greatest example for me,” shortstop and former Brewer Willy Adames told NBC Sports Bay Area’s postgame crew. “We came back against one of the best closers in the game right now and we got the win and the series victory. We’re going back home with a happy flight and hopefully we can continue the momentum now at home.”

    The Giants also had a chance to take the lead in the eighth when they had runners on first and second with one out. Dominic Smith struck out and Casey Schmitt — coming off a four-RBI game — popped up to first as San Francisco came up empty.

    Robbie Ray made his 27th start of the season for San Francisco in a topsy-turvy game, while Milwaukee right-hander Chad Patrick made his 21st start this year. 

    Matos provided Ray with a 2-0 lead in the second inning when he smoked Patrick’s 88 mph cutter some 391 feet over the wall for his seventh home run of the season. The shot produced by an uppercut swing was another great at-bat in a series full of them for Matos. The 23-year-old right-handed slugger went 2 for 4 with two RBIs, marking his fourth consecutive game with two hits.

    “We’ve seen him do this before, and it was time to let him get up here and let him do his thing,” Giants manager Bob Melvin told reporters. “So far, so good.”

    After Matos figured out Patrick in the second, Milwaukee’s Brandon Lockridge turned a Ray slider into an RBI in the bottom of the inning when he poked the ball through the left side of the infield to cut the Giants’ lead to 2-1. 

    In the third inning, Christian Yelich drove a ground ball into right field to tie the game at 2-2. In the fifth, Caleb Durbin belted his eighth home run of the season to give Milwaukee a one-run lead. 

    Ray lasted five innings while walking four, allowing six hits and three earned runs on 80 pitches — only 47 of his pitches were strikes. The veteran also failed to strike out a single batter, the first time that has happened this season. 

    The Brewers paid tribute to the late and legendary broadcaster Bob Uecker, who died in January, by wearing jerseys adorned with the name “Ueck” on the back in lieu of their own last names. Adames, the former Brewer, wore special cleats to honor the man.

    “It was very special, and very emotional,” Adames said. “I’m so happy we were here for this weekend.” 

    The Giants’ series win was their first since Aug. 4-6, when they took two of three from the Pirates in Pittsburgh.

    San Francisco will enjoy a day off before starting a six-game homestand against the Cubs at Oracle Park on Tuesday (6:45 p.m., NBC Sports Bay Area). Justin Verlander (1-10) is expected to start for the Giants, while Chicago has not named a starter. 

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    Joseph Dycus

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  • Casey Schmitt’s big day in Milwaukee helps SF Giants snap four-game losing streak

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    Facing one of the top pitchers in the majors, the Giants proved that sometimes, patience can be the solution to a problem in their 7-1 victory over the Brewers.

    For five scoreless innings on Saturday evening, San Francisco flailed against Freddy Peralta (15-5), the National League’s leader in wins. 

    The 29-year-old was a bit erratic but still effective. He issued four walks but also allowed only two hits and struck out six, keeping pace with Logan Webb in a classic pitcher’s duel.

    But with the Giants’ bats struggling against Peralta, Brewers manager Pat Murphy gave the Giants a major break by yanking his ace after 96 pitches. 

    With Grant Andersen on the mound and facing a 1-0 deficit, the Giants (62-68) took advantage of some hittable pitches – and a handful of errors – to jump all over Milwaukee (81-49). Casey Schmitt, starting at second, drove in four runs. 

    Willy Adames, who received another standing ovation before his first at-bat in his old stomping grounds, got on first to lead off the sixth inning after Andruw Monasterio committed an error. 

    Following Dominic Smith’s single, Schmitt tied the game with a double to left. 

    Then the red-hot Luis Matos got on base thanks to another error by corner infielder Anthony Seigler, allowing Smith and Schmitt to score and give the Giants a 3-1 lead. Matos had two hits and now has six overall in three games since being called up from Sacramento. 

    Schmitt padded the lead with a three-run 382-foot homer to center in the seventh, his ninth long ball of the season, and Patrick Bailey got his second hit of the night to give the Giants a 7-1 lead. 

    One of San Francisco’s top bats participated in the offensive explosion. After being on the injured list for the past 10 days with right-hand inflammation, Matt Chapman was back starting at third base and drew two walks.

    “He’s the leader … having him back there on the field just makes us that much better,” Schmitt said on the NBC broadcast.

    With their aces on the mound, runs were hard to come by for each team early on. Caleb Durbin doubled in Milwaukee teammate Jake Bauers in the second inning to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead. 

    It was not until Peralta was pulled after five innings that the San Francisco offense found its footing against the top team in the National League. 

    That put Webb in line to get the win after he threw six innings and allowed five hits and had six strikeouts. He improved to 12-9 on the season. 

    If the Giants can knock off the Brewers on Sunday, they will win a series for the first time since Aug. 6 against the Pirates. Robbie Ray is expected to pitch for San Francisco. 

    Fitzgerald sent down

    To make room for Chapman, the Giants sent Tyler Fitzgerald back down to Sacramento. He was just 2 of 19 at the plate since being recalled from Triple-A on Aug. 12 while splitting time between his natural second base position and right field. 

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    Joseph Dycus

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  • Injuries continue to pile up for Valkyries in painful loss to Mercury

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    Healthy players and wins are becoming harder and harder to come by for the Valkyries as the season enters its final phase. 

    Golden State dropped its third consecutive game when the visiting team fell to Phoenix 81-72 on Friday night. 

    Veteran guard Tiffany Hayes, who made her return after resting against Phoenix in the Bay Area on Tuesday, left the game with an injury with 7:17 to go in the third quarter. 

    Hayes collided with Mercury guard Kahleah Copper after she closed out on a pass intended for Copper. Hayes crumped to the ground and later went back to the locker room. 

    Rookie guard Carla Leite also injured her ankle in the same quarter, and although she attempted to play through it, eventually was pulled with 8:20 in the fourth quarter.

    Coach Natalie Nakase said both were in good spirits after the game.

    “She was smiling, and I’ll have to wait to see from our medical staff what the situation is,” Nakase said of Hayes, adding about Leite. “She something was sore with her foot, but she said she’s good.”

    With their veteran leader knocked out, the Valkyries tumbled back to .500 with an 18-18 record and into the last playoff spot as the No. 8 seed after losing the rematch to the Mercury, who beat Golden State in the Bay Area on Tuesday. 

    The Valkyries kept it close for a while, though. Golden State trailed 41-31 at halftime, and a burst in the third cut the deficit to 50-47 with a little over four minutes remaining in the quarter. 

    One of the few bright spots for the Valkyries was rookie wing Janelle Salaun, who was asked to take on more of a scoring role with Cecilia Zandalasini staying at home while nursing a calf injury. 

    Salaun scored 15 on a variety of drives, contested finishes and some soft mid-range jumpers. Coming off a 24-point, 14-assist masterclass on Tuesday, Veronica Burton put up a solid 11 points and eight assists for the Valkyries.

    Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas stuffed the stat sheet with an 13-point, 12-rebound, 16-assist effort, her sixth triple-double of the season. 

    “We need to be better on defense,” Salaun said. “Sometimes, we make shots, sometimes we do not. But I think we need to be more connected on defense.”

    Golden State will play at Dallas on Sunday. ”

    Makoa Akani gets the last laugh

    After being the topic of much conversation following her soccer-esque foul on Veronica Burton, the rookie out of France showed that she was more than just a defender against Golden State.

    She made 6 of 9 shots and scored 18 points, 11 in the second quarter, spacing the floor for her more-decorated teammates in Thomas and Co. One of her fastbreak layups with two minutes remaining on the third quarter clock pushed the Phoenix lead to 62-49 and forced Nakase to call timeout. 

    As a team, the Mercury peppered the Valkyries from the perimeter and made 14 of 32 from 3-point land, compared to just 8 of 31 for Golden State.

    Long-range ineptitude, fastbreak success

    The Valkyries shot 3 of 15 from the 3-point line in the first half, forcing up shots due to their inability to break down the compact Suns defense. Instead of continuing to throw up bricks from long range, Nakase’s Valkyries appeared to place an emphasis on pushing the pace. 

    Though the team only had 14 fastbreak points according to the official box score, Golden State’s willingness to run and play in semi-transition allowed the visitors to create open looks. Salaun broke free for a couple of fastbreak layups, as did Hayes in the second quarter after a Mercury turnover. 

    Rupert returns

    Both Hayes (rest) and Rupert (concussion) were back in the starting lineup after missing Tuesday’s game at Chase Center.

    Though shutting down Thomas is impossible – after all, Thomas put up a triple double – Rupert still had her moments against the MVP candidate. 

    The center pulled off a nice block on a Thomas fastbreak midway through the second quarter, and a few minutes later, forced a miss with a vertical contest. She ended the game with nine points, five rebounds and two blocks. 

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    Joseph Dycus

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  • High school football 2025 preview: PAL De Anza Division

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    As part of our high school football coverage to get you ready for the 2025 season, we are rolling out previews of all leagues in our coverage area.

    Today’s focus:

    PENINSULA ATHLETIC LEAGUE DE ANZA DIVISION

    (Predicted order of finish)

    No. 1 THE KING’S ACADEMY

    Coach: Dante Perez 

    2024 record: 5-6

    What to expect: The Knights suffered a blow when highly-regarded receiver Kyle Welch transferred to Riordan. But there is sufficient talent on hand to make another run at the De Anza title, one they shared with Capuchino last season. In fact, even without Welch the wide receiver position is one of the team’s strengths. Perez identified three other wideouts, all juniors, among his top players: Jaiden Flores, a 6-3, 210-pounder; Adrian Barnett, a starter on the TKA basketball team that went to the state finals; and Aaron Duncan, whom Perez characterizes as a fast and skillful athlete. The team’s top overall returning player is LB Justin Turner, who was in on a staggering 186 tackles last year, 97 solo. Three-year starter Nathaniel Vargas is the top returning lineman. Sophomore Ricky Gutierrez is slated to start at quarterback. “Our strength is in our team unity,” Perez said. “We have playmakers who can impact the game in different ways, and the players trust each other to get the job done.”

    Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. Aptos, 7 p.m. 

    No. 2 BURLINGAME

    Coach: John Philipopoulos 

    2024 record: 8-5

    What to expect: RB/FS Hayden Haba will be a primary ball carrier in Burlingame’s Wing-T offense and, in the words of Philipopoulos, “as good as any safety in our league.” Qasim Abutair will also get carries at running back and start at cornerback. Nick Armstrong, both a run and pass threat, will take over at quarterback. He will throw to his brother, Will Armstrong, who will pair with Abutair as the starting cornerbacks. ILB Ravi Krishnan, a team captain along with Haba, is the leader of the defense along with DE Quincy Yu. “We have a great mix of returning starters or contributors from the previous season (including 3 of 4 starters on our DL) combined with a strong group of players coming up from the JV,” Philipopoulos said  “We expect to be in a lot of very close games against good teams and having enough depth while staying healthy will be critical.”

    Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. Half Moon Bay, 7 p.m. 

    No. 3 CAPUCHINO

    Coach: Jay Oca 

    2024 record: 8-3

    What to expect: The Mustangs tied TKA for the division title a year ago in their first year after moving up to the De Anza from the PAL Ocean. “We lost a lot but have a lot of guys waiting in the wings ready to step up,” Oca said. There is certainly some size on hand in Lealofi Tofaeono (6-1, 320). DE Rome Iosia has an offer from Portland State. Oca says RB/LB Melo Villareal will be an impact player. Returnee Kevin Hernandez is competing with sophomore Logan Arceo for the quarterback job.  

    Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. Sequoia, 7 p.m.

    No. 4 MOUNTAIN VIEW

    Coach: Rick Esparza

    2024 record: 2-8

    What to expect: Ishan Devarapalli returns at quarterback. He threw for 1,403 yards and eight touchdowns last season as a sophomore. Braden Greene, “pound for pound the strongest player on the team,” is the top returning running back. He led the team in receptions a year ago with 35. RB/LB Sam Ford will also be called on in the ground game. TE/LB Brigham Robinson is a three-year varsity performer and team leader. WR/DB Micah Perkins provides speed and athleticism. Three-year starter Erick Brito and Evan Luedke are the team’s top linemen. “We’ve had a strong offseason with regard to our physical preparation and a good group of leaders on this team that look to carry that momentum throughout the season,” Esparza said. 

    Season opener:  Aug. 29 at Palo Alto, 7 p.m.

    No. 5 SAN MATEO

    Coach: Jeff Scheller 

    2024 record: 8-3

    What to expect: The Bearcats moved up after finishing in a tie for first place last season in the PAL Ocean. Yianni Fitzgerald, a standout at linebacker a year ago, will attempt to replace his brother, Emmanuel Fitzgerald, who rushed for more than 2,500 yards the last two seasons, as a primary ball carrier in San Mateo’s triple option offense. He will share carries with Jovani Hernandez. A third Fitzgerald brother, Lukas, takes over at quarterback. Tyce Copus is a returning starter at slotback and all-league defensive back. “One of the smartest DBs in the league, always in the right position,” Scheller said. Roman Toki will also line up in the slot and play linebacker on defense. WR/FS Hamilton Pitney, the strong safety a year ago now at free safety, is another two-way starter. Logan Jandu is the top returning lineman.

    Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. Los Altos, 7 p.m.

    No. 6 CARLMONT

    Coach: Eric Rado

    2024 record: 6-4

    What to expect: The Scots are moving up after tying for third place in the PAL Ocean. Going into preseason practice Brody Zirelli and Adam Hyman were competing for the start at quarterback. Zirelli threw for 35 touchdowns on the JV team. Whichever player gets the nod will have WRs Lucas Robertson and Maximus Senechal as receiving targets. Both will also see time in the secondary on defense. There’s experience and depth on the line with center Hayden Tonga-Ma’ake, the anchor of the offensive line, Paul Taumalolo and guard Dante Navarra among the team’s top returning players.

    Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. Lincoln-San Francisco, 7 p.m.

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    Glenn Reeves

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  • Shorthanded Valkyries run out of gas against star-studded Mercury

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    SAN FRANCISCO – A chaotic pregame frenzy that saw two regular Valkyries starters listed as last-second scratches predated a chaotic barnburner against the high-powered Mercury.

    Golden State, with only eight players available, lost to Phoenix 98-91 at Chase Center in the third matchup between the teams jockeying for playoff positioning. The Mercury, seeded fourth, have now won all three games against the seventh-seeded Valkyries.

    Veronica Burton continued to stuff the stat sheet at point guard, putting up an efficient 24 points and 14 assists, while surprise starter Kate Martin put in 14 points. Janelle Salaun scored 13 and Carla Leite threw in 15.

    “I’m really impressed with our ability to step up,” Burton said. “So, testament to everyone just stepping up, testament to Kate (Martin) being ready when her number is called, getting thrown into the starting lineup.”

    Kahleah Copper led the Mercury with 25 points, while Satou Sabally put up 17 points and triple-double machine Alyssa Thomas had 13 points, eight assists and nine rebounds.

    Phoenix’s Satou Sabally (0) and Golden State Valkyries’ Veronica Burton (22) talk one another after their WNBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, May 19, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 

    Golden State led 73-68 after three quarters, but the loaded Mercury were too much for the home team in the fourth. Phoenix outscored the Valkyries 30-16 over the last 10 minutes.

    But the drama began long before tipoff.

    Only a few hours after coach Natalie Nakase called Tuesday’s matchup a must-win, veteran guard Tiffany Hayes was held out for rest purposes.

    Hot-shooting forward Cecilia Zandalasini went through warmups, but was replaced in the starting lineup by Kate Martin and did not appear on the bench.

    “They both warmed up pre-game and they didn’t feel 100% healthy,” coach Natalie Nakase said. “You know my motto, right? If they’re not 100% and they don’t feel right, it’s not time to play.”

    The Italian perimeter player was ruled out with a left calf strain midway through the first quarter. Centers Monique Billings (left ankle sprain) and Iliana Rupert (concussion) were already unavailable for the team fighting for postseason seeding.

    Golden State led 31-28 at halftime, and 59-47 at halftime in front of the team’s 17th consecutive sellout in San Francisco.

    The Valkyries are now seventh in the playoff standings with eight games left. Golden State (18-17) will have two days to rest up before it hits the road and plays a rematch with the Mercury in Phoenix.

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    Joseph Dycus

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  • South Bay venues wind down summer by showcasing local culinary talent

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    It might feel like autumn is approaching at lightning speed, but some local culinary events should help ease into September.

    Taste of Los Gatos, on Saturday, Sept 6, noon-5 p.m., showcases bites from local restaurants, eateries and coffee shops such as Chez Phillipe, First Born, Gardino’s, Parkside, Los Gatos Roasting Company, Manresa Bread, We Olive and Wine Bar 107. Visit nearly 20 wineries tucked into retailers around town and sip on the latest from local wineries like 3P, Cooper Garrod, David Bruce, Gali Vineyards, Mount Eden and more while you shop. Tickets are $80.12  for food only and $101.22 for both food and libations at https://bit.ly/45lQnUm.

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    Laura Ness, Correspondent

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  • Preseason all-Bay Area News Group high school football 2025: Kickers/punters

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    As part of our high school football coverage to get you ready for the 2025 season, we are rolling out all-Bay Area News Group preseason recognition.

    Today’s position:

    KICKERS/PUNTERS

    Nathan Bearrows, Pioneer, 6-1, 170, senior

    Three-sport athlete also plays soccer and lacrosse. Holds multiple offers from smaller schools. Rated a four-star punter and 3.5-star kicker by ProKicker.com. Averaged 32 yards per punt with a long of 64, landing two inside the 20-yard line. Went 3 for 6 on field goals with a long of 30 yards.

    Zach Brien, Bishop O’Dowd, 6-2, 175, junior

    Five-star prospect finished first at the Chris Sailer Kicking NorCal training camp. Was 5 of 8 on field-goal attempts and 31 of 36 on PAT tries last season for O’Dowd.

    Braden Clark, Branham, 5-9, 135, senior

    Kicks, punts and also took a handoff for Branham last season. Has consistent 40-yard punt range with three-plus-second hangtime and 45-plus-yard field-goal range.

    Brady Emry, Clayton Valley, 5-9, 170, senior

    Four-star punter/kicker hybrid is committed to Minot State, a Division II school in North Dakota. Returning all-Diablo Athletic League honorable mention punter. Punted 27 times last season, averaging 33.8 yards per punt, landing seven punts inside the 20-yard line and hitting a long punt of 52 yards. 

    Nathan Fox, Sacred Heart Prep, 6-0, 155, senior

    Plays soccer and football at SHP. PAL special teams player of the year and all-BANG honorable mention as a sophomore. Made 34 of 36 PAT and 5 of 9 field-goal attempts last season. Also contributes at defensive back.

    Chase Graff, Archbishop Mitty, 5-11, 200, senior

    Versatile player who was named all-WCAL honorable mention at both kicker and offensive line. Also plays defensive end. Has 60-yard range on field goals. 

    Aidan James, Heritage, 5-5, 135, senior

    Returning all-BANG honorable mention. Hit two field goals in a narrow loss to Antioch last season. Converted 37 of 37 PAT and 5 of 5 on field-goal tries last season. Also plays soccer for Heritage.

    Ben Kerrigan, Monte Vista, 5-11, 155, junior

    A 4.5-star kicker and punter has 50-plus-yard field goal range and 40-plus-yard punt range as well as 70-yard kickoff range. Finished top four at The Punt Factory last man standing competition this August. 

    Saul Marks, Serra, 6-0, 160, senior

    Five-star kicker and punter is the No. 1 prospect in California and No. 10 in the United States, according to Kohl’s Kicking. Holds offers from Idaho and Idaho State. Has 70-plus-yard range on kickoffs and 60-yard range on field goals.

    Sebastian Miles, San Ramon Valley, 5-10, 180, senior

    Five-star punter by Chris Sailer Kicking is committed to Northern Arizona. Has 60-plus yard range. Attended Chris Sailer Top 12 camp.

    Ricky Miramontes, Milpitas, 6-3, 220, senior

    Strong-legged specialist averaged 57.4 yards per kickoff last season. Converted a 46-field goal last year and has range up to 60 yards this year. Also punts for Milpitas.

    Anthony Perez, Menlo-Atherton, 6-0, 230, senior

    Returning all-BANG honorable mention. Named first-team all-PAL Bay as a punter last season.

     

    Saxton Sinatra, Silver Creek, 5-9, 166, sophomore

    Three-star kicker and four-star punter is a developing prospect who was named to the 2024 Sports Illustrated all-freshman team. Has 50-plus-yard range on placekicks. 

    Zach Tabibian, Campolindo, 5-10, 180, senior

    A 4.5-star kicker and punter who has 60-plus-yard field-goal range and 70-plus kickoff range. Converted a 61-yard field goal at an MIT camp this summer and also knocked a 74-yard kickoff through the uprights during a practice session. 

    Justin Uribarri, De La Salle, 5-9, 180, senior

    A 4.5-star kicker and punter by Chris Sailer Kicking. Has 50-plus-yard range on placekicks, 40-plus on punts and 70-plus on kickoffs. 

    WHO IS ELIGIBLE

    Those eligible for all-BANG honors come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The news organization’s high school sports staff chooses the players.

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    Christian Babcock

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  • What to know: The Scott Peterson murder case timeline

    What to know: The Scott Peterson murder case timeline

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    Convicted killer Scott Peterson is making another bid to get a whole new trial — this time, with new lawyers who say they plan to present critical, previously-overlooked evidence.

    It’s the latest bend in the road for Peterson’s long journey through the justice system, which started more than twenty years ago. In 2004, a jury convicted him of killing his wife and their unborn son, and several months later, a judge sentenced him to death. Here’s what’s happened so far in the case that had the world’s attention focused on a courtroom in Redwood City — starting back where it all began, almost 100 miles away in Modesto.

    December 2002: Laci Peterson is reported missing

    Laci Peterson was reported missing on Christmas Eve, 2002. She was eight months pregnant with a baby boy. She and Scott had planned to name their son Connor.

    Scott Peterson said everything seemed fine when he left their house that morning. Prosecutors say he told a neighbor he was going to play golf. But that’s not where he went. Instead, he drove to the Berkeley Marina, almost 90 miles away, where he later told police he went fishing in a little aluminum boat he’d recently purchased — one his family never even knew he had.

    The search for Laci began. But a month later, the story took an unexpected turn.

    January 2003: Amber Frey speaks out

    “Scott told me he was not married,” she said to a room full of journalists. “We did have a romantic relationship.”

    The woman speaking was Amber Frey, a massage therapist living in Fresno, who’d said she’d been quite in love with her new boyfriend Scott Peterson before finding out he was actually married and expecting a baby.

    Prosecutors say Peterson told Frey he’d “lost” his wife, and would be spending his first Christmas alone — even though, at the time of that conversation, Laci was still very much alive.

    March 2003: Police rule it a homicide

    By March, police had classified the missing persons case of Laci Peterson as a homicide investigation, and began executing search warrants on the Petersons’ property. Scott Peterson, still front and center in the effort to bring Laci home, began to feel growing pressure from the public and the media.

    April 2003: Bodies found in the Bay

    “The body is an adult female,” a police spokesman told reporters in a late night press conference.

    It was at Richmond’s Point Isabel, just a few miles from where Scott Peterson went fishing, that the bodies of Laci and her unborn son had washed ashore. The two bodies were found separately, a mile apart, in gruesome condition.

    April 2003: Peterson arrested

    After identifying the bodies, police went looking for Scott Peterson. They found him near San Diego, with bleached hair and a goatee, carrying a huge pile of cash. Police took him into custody, and drove with him for ten hours back to Modesto, where he was booked into jail.

    At his arraignment, Peterson pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder, and then hired Mark Geragos, a defense lawyer with a long list of celebrity clients.

    January 2004: Change of venue

    Even before a jury was selected, the case had already gotten so much attention that a judge in Stanislaus County ruled Peterson couldn’t get a fair trial in his hometown. There was nonstop national news coverage, primetime TV specials, and even a made-for-TV movie.

    The judge ordered the case moved to San Mateo County, where Peterson would stand trial at the courthouse in Redwood City.

    February 2004: Lifetime movie

    In February, a feature-length movie, “The Perfect Husband: The Laci Peterson Story” made its debut on Lifetime TV. It was a ripped-from-the-headlines crime film starring Dean Cain as Scott Peterson. The film re-enacted press conferences and recorded phone calls word-for-word, and featured “missing” posters with Laci’s real photo on them.

    June 2004: Trial begins

    For five months, Scott Peterson’s murder trial played out to a packed courtroom.

    Over the course of the trial, two jurors were thrown out for misconduct, and a third left over arguments in the jury room. One of the replacement jurors was Richelle Nice, who became known as the Strawberry Shortcake juror for her crimson-dyed hair and accompanying pink outfits.

    November 2004: Peterson is found guilty

    On November 12, the verdict was read in court. The jury found Peterson guilty of first-degree murder in the death of his wife Laci, and second-degree murder in the death of his baby son, Connor.

    March 2005: Sentenced to death

    In March, by the jury’s unanimous recommendation, Peterson was sentenced to death — even though police never found a crime scene or a murder weapon. He was sent to San Quentin, where his story could’ve ended on California’s infamous death row. But it didn’t. 

    Instead, 16 years later, Peterson was brought back to that very same courthouse in Redwood City.

    December 2021: Moved off death row

    The California Supreme Court agreed to hear Peterson’s appeal, and decided that the judge in his murder trial had overstepped his authority by excluding jurors who said they were against to the death penalty. The high court ruled that the judge had no right to pre-screen jurors in that way.

    In the midst of the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, Peterson was brought into court wearing a turquoise N95 mask and a red jail uniform, with his hands shackled to his waist. No longer condemned to death by execution, he appeared calm and in good spirits as he was re-sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

    December 2022: Appeal for a new trial

    A year later, Peterson’s next appeal centered around the Strawberry Shortcake juror, Richelle Nice — who it turns out wasn’t fully honest in jury selection.

    On a questionnaire for prospective jurors, Nice didn’t disclose that she’d recently filed a restraining order against someone who threatened her while she was pregnant — a fact that could have disqualified her from serving on the jury.

    A judge heard the case, but ruled that Nice’s failure to disclose her ongoing legal matter wasn’t enough to get Peterson a new trial.

    March 2024: New evidence?

    That brings us back to the present day, when a 51-year-old Scott Peterson, with long hair pulled back in a ponytail, appeared remotely before a judge in Redwood City from a room inside Mule Creek State Prison, outside Sacramento.

    “Good morning, Mr. Peterson, can you both see and hear the proceeding, sir?” asked Judge Elizabeth Hill.

    “Yes, Your Honor, I can, thank you,” Peterson replied.

    Along with some of the same prosecutors who tried his original case, there were new lawyers in the courtroom for this hearing. Peterson’s new defense team comes from the Los Angeles Innocence Project, a two-year-old nonprofit that’s independent from the national Innocence Project, and works with the forensic science institute at Cal State L.A.

    “We are eager to get our investigation underway,” said Paula Mitchell, the L.A. Innocence Project’s director, speaking to Judge Hill from the defense table.

    Peterson’s new lawyers are hoping to re-try his case by finding new evidence — especially DNA evidence from challenging samples for which the technology to obtain an accurate DNA sequence has improved since Peterson’s original conviction.

    They asked Judge Hill for access to perform DNA testing on material from a burned-out van with what appeared to be a bloody mattress inside, found after a burglary near the Petersons’ house. They also asked to test numerous items of clothing and debris that surfaced along with the bodies.

    “The defense was entitled to this at the time of trial,” Mitchell argued in court.

    But so far, the only new DNA test the court has agreed to allow is a single piece of duct tape that was found on Laci Peterson’s pants during the autopsy.

    All this time, Scott Peterson has maintained he’s innocent. But this latest effort could be his last chance to show there’s reasonable doubt about whether he’s guilty.

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    Jonathan Bloom

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