ReportWire

Tag: with the

  • Red Bulls kick off Michael Bradley era with visit to Orlando

    [ad_1]

    (Photo credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

    Former MLS and U.S. men’s national team star Michael Bradley is returning home … in a sense.

    The central midfielder, who logged 151 appearances for the national team while playing nearly 500 matches in his professional career, was hired as the new coach of the New York Red Bulls in December.

    He will lead his new squad on Saturday evening as the 2026 MLS season kicks off with the Red Bulls visiting Orlando City.

    ‘I am excited for the opportunity to be head coach of the club that I started my professional career with and also in the state that I call home,’ Bradley said after he was hired.

    Bradley began his career with the MetroStars, the former nickname of New York’s first MLS club, after being selected 36th overall in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft.

    He made 30 appearances for his father, Bob, then the MetroStars’ head coach, before moving to Europe in 2006, starting with Dutch side Heerenveen. He also would suit up for Borussia Monchengladbach, Aston Villa, Chievo and Roma and enjoyed a standout 10-year stretch back in MLS with Toronto FC.

    He leads a Red Bulls contingent that failed to make the MLS Cup playoffs last season for the first time in 16 years, resulting in the ouster of coach Sandro Schwarz.

    The club added two wingers: Cade Cowell, who had 12 goals and five assists in three years with Chivas Guadalajara, and Jorge Ruvalcaba, who registered 16 goals and nine assists in 100 appearances with Pumas UNAM.

    They will join with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who finished second among MLS newcomers with 17 goals last season. His 22 total goal contributions tied for the club lead, as Emil Forsberg had 11 goals and 11 assists last season.

    Defender Justin Che and goalkeeper Ethan Horvath joined the Red Bulls from abroad.

    ‘The way Bradley’s started everything and the ideas he has, how we want to play football, straightforward, attacking, intensive, everyone embraced that quite fast, and I like that style of play,’ Choupo-Moting said.

    New York faces an Orlando side that also had a disappointing 2025 MLS campaign, finishing just ahead of the Red Bulls in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. The Lions were knocked out of the playoffs in the wild-card round, falling 3-1 to the Chicago Fire.

    Coach Oscar Pareja, now in his seventh season, acknowledged the club’s desire to improve its league standing.

    ‘All of the players came in a good state, and we are ready to push,’ Pareja said. ‘We want to win titles as we did in the past when we won the (2022 U.S. Open) Cup.’

    The Lions added Canadian national team goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau as part of a busy offseason that included the addition of Paraguayan midfielder Braian Ojeda.

    Orlando City did lose Alex Freeman, the 2025 MLS Young Player of the Year, to Villarreal.

    Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic combined for 28 goals and 20 assists last year for the Lions, who are looking to reach the playoffs for the seventh straight season.

    –Field Level Media

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Kings’ Zach LaVine set for season-ending hand surgery

    [ad_1]

    (Photo credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images)

    The Sacramento Kings, leading a tight race to finish with the worst record in the NBA, reportedly will be without their leading scorer for the rest of the season.

    Zach LaVine will have right hand surgery following this weekend’s All-Star break, veteran NBA writer Chris Haynes reported on Friday.

    LaVine missed the Kings’ past three games due to what was described as a tendon injury to his right pinkie.

    The 30-year-old veteran has appeared in 39 games (37 starts) for Sacramento this season, averaging 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists. All of those figures are his lowest in the past eight seasons.

    The Kings acquired LaVine from the Chicago Bulls as part of a three-team deal at the February 2025 trade deadline. Sacramento picked up three first-round picks and three second-rounders in that transaction, which saw De’Aaron Fox go from the Kings to the San Antonio Spurs.

    Over 12 NBA seasons, LaVine has averages of 20.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 693 games (602 starts) with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Chicago and Sacramento. He was an All-Star for the Bulls in 2020-21 and 2021-22.

    The Kings (12-44) are battling with the Washington Wizards (14-39), New Orleans Pelicans (15-41), Indiana Pacers (15-40), Brooklyn Nets (15-38) and Utah Jazz (18-37) at the bottom of the league standings. The Pacers and Jazz were fined by the NBA on Thursday for holding players out of games in an apparent attempt to tank.

    Teams reportedly are keen to be in the draft lottery this year with a highly rated class set to enter the NBA.

    Sacramento returns from the All-Star break on Thursday with a home game against the Orlando Magic.

    –Field Level Media

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Without Jaren Jackson Jr., Jazz take aim at Blazers

    [ad_1]

    (Photo credit: Peter Creveling-Imagn Images)

    Jaren Jackson Jr. was fitting in well and making a solid first impression with the Utah Jazz.

    On Thursday morning, however, the Jazz announced Jackson will undergo surgery on his left knee. Their announcement came nine days acquiring him in an eight-player trade with the Memphis Grizzlies.

    Without Jackson, the Jazz will look to put the pieces together on Thursday night when they battle the Portland Trail Blazers in Salt Lake City.

    The clash will be the final one before the All-Star break for both teams.

    Jackson scored 22 points in 25 minutes in his Utah debut on Saturday in a road loss against the Orlando Magic. Two nights later, he again had 22 points in 25 minutes as the Jazz notched a road victory over the Miami Heat.

    Jackson kept it going Wednesday with 23 points in 22 minutes as Utah walloped the visiting Sacramento Kings 121-93.

    ‘Credit to my teammates,’ Jackson said after the latest win. ‘It’s been a great week. It’s been crazy. They have made me feel welcome and comfortable. I’m glad to get a home game in. It was loud. It’s been great.’

    Jackson, a two-time All-Star, is averaging 19.5 points in 48 games, the first 45 coming for the Grizzlies.

    The Jazz acquired Jackson to team with Lauri Markkanen, a former All-Star who narrowly missed making the team this season. Markkanen is averaging a career-best 26.7 points in 41 games after scoring 19 against the Kings.

    ‘He can do everything on the court,’ Jackson said of Markkanen. ‘This fan base knows what he brings. I’m happy to be out there with him, and we’re going to keep doing it.’

    Utah has won back-to-back games for the first time since late December. The Jazz lost 12 of 14 games before the wins over Miami and Sacramento.

    The two victories came without standout guard Keyonte George (sprained right ankle), who has missed five of the past six games, the first three due to a sprained left ankle.

    Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers are completing a quick two-game road trip.

    Portland fell into 10th place in the Western Conference when it was blasted 133-109 by the Timberwolves on Wednesday in Minneapolis. Julius Randle had 41 points for Minnesota.

    Jrue Holiday led Portland with 23 points while All-Star Deni Avdija managed just 11 points on 3-of-14 shooting. He missed all seven shots from behind the arc.

    Avdija has struggled with lower back pain in recent weeks and is a candidate to be rested on the second end of the back-to-back.

    Portland’s Shaedon Sharpe (left calf strain) will likely miss his fourth straight game.

    Trail Blazers interim coach Tiago Splitter wasn’t pleased with the effort against Minnesota. Particularly disturbing was seeing his squad turn the ball over 26 times to match its season worst. The Timberwolves scored 43 points off the miscues.

    ‘Of course, not a great game. We couldn’t get our rhythm,’ Splitter said. ‘They did a tremendous job with their defense. We turned the ball over way too much. Can’t win a game like that.’

    Portland might fare better Thursday as it is 2-0 against the Jazz this season. The Trail Blazers recorded a 136-134 win on Oct. 29 in Salt Lake City, and Portland led by as many as 32 points during a 137-117 home win over the Jazz on Jan. 5.

    ‘We got to get better and we will,’ Splitter said. ‘I think it was an off-game for everyone (Wednesday).

    ‘We got to bounce back. We have another game (Thursday) night. We have to regroup and see who’s ready to play.’

    –Field Level Media

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Jalen Suggs stuffs stat sheet as Magic snip Nets

    [ad_1]

    (Photo credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images)

    Jalen Suggs registered his first triple-double as the Orlando Magic opened a four-game homestand with a 118-98 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night.

    Suggs, in his fifth year with the Magic, finished with 15 points, 11 assists, 11 rebounds, four blocks and three steals in just 29 minutes. He checked out with 7:51 remaining and his team up 22.

    Desmond Bane notched 23 points and Paolo Banchero added 22 for the Magic, who never trailed and led by as much as 26 while ending a two-game losing streak.

    Rookie Egor Demin made six 3-point attempts on the way to a career-high 26 points for the Nets, who dropped their ninth straight against Orlando. Nolan Traore matched his career high with 21 points.

    The Nets, who released former star Cam Thomas before the game but did not trade leading scorer Michael Porter Jr. before the deadline, have lost 10 of their last 11.

    Orlando jumped out to a 10-3 lead on Suggs’ fadeaway jumper with 9:00 left in the first quarter. Demin answered with five quick points for Brooklyn to keep it close.

    Brooklyn went more than five minutes bridging the first and second quarters without a field goal. The Magic capitalized with Bane scoring twice on drives to the basket to push the lead to 34-23. On the Nets’ next possession, Ziaire Williams was called for a technical foul when he slapped the basket stanchion in frustration after a no call on teammate Danny Wolf’s missed layup. Bane made the free throw with 8:33 left in the half.

    Orlando’s lead swelled as large as 21 points in the second quarter as the Nets were well on their way to shooting 34.1% for the half. Brooklyn went on a 9-2 run late to trim the lead to 56-40 at the break.

    Orlando’s lead remained steady in the third quarter. Suggs had a steal and a 360-degree dunk at the 9:17 mark to make it 67-48. Bane scored on a fast break to boost the lead to 88-65 just before the end of the third.

    With the Magic leading 104-79 with six minutes to go, Brooklyn put all five of its 2025 first-round picks — Dmin (No. 8 overall), Traore (No. 19), Drake Powell (No. 22), Ben Saraf (No. 26) and Wolf (No. 27) – on the floor together for the first time this season. They outscored the Magic 19-14 the rest of the way.

    –Field Level Media

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Seattle Reign sign 17-year-old GK Evan O’Steen

    [ad_1]

    (Photo credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images)

    Seventeen-year old Evan O’Steen has signed a one-year contract with Seattle Reign FC, the club announced on Friday. She became the youngest goalkeeper signee in the franchise’s history.

    O’Steen played in four games, starting twice for Florida State’s national championship team in the fall of 2025. The freshman logged 169 minutes, made two saves and didn’t allow a goal while combining on three shutouts.

    The Seminoles went on to win the 2025 national championship, their fifth title, all achieved since 2014. Five other Florida State players have been signed to professional contracts since they captured the championship in December.

    The native of Grapevine, Texas, trained with the Reign early in the 2025 campaign, along with Dallas Trinity FC of the Gainbridge Super League.

    ‘We’re pleased to welcome Evan O’Steen to Seattle,’ said Seattle Reign FC General Manager Lesle Gallimore. ‘Evan is an exceptional young talent who has already demonstrated composure and quality beyond her years. At Reign FC, we take pride in helping players develop and reach their potential, and we’re excited to be part of Evan’s journey as she continues to grow as both a goalkeeper and a professional.’

    Internationally, O’Steen has competed for the United States U-17 Women’s National Team and saw action in the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. She posted a shutout in the opening match against Ecuador.

    O’Steen also earned Golden Glove honors after recording four shutouts in the 2024 U-17 World Cup.

    ‘I’m honored to sign with Seattle Reign FC,’ said O’Steen. ‘Training with the club provided me with a clear sense of the standards and culture here, and I’m excited to continue learning and growing in this incredible environment.’

    O’Steen joins former Seminole goalkeeper Cassie Miller on the Reign, along with Claudia Dickey and Seattle native Neeku Purcell.

    The Reign gave up the fourth fewest goals (31) in the NWSL in 2025 with Dickey serving as the team’s No. 1 goalkeeper.

    –Field Level Media

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Jets Sign DE Paschal Ekeji to Practice Squad

    [ad_1]

    Green & White Place G Leander Wiegand on Practice Squad Injured Reserve

    Eric Allen

    The Jets have signed DEPaschal Ekejito the practice squad. The club also placed GLeander Wiegandon the P-squad injured reserve.

    Ekeji (6-4, 230), who holds citizenship in three nations, is a former rugby star who was one of 13 players from 12 countries selected as part the NFL IPP Program class. In the summer of 2022, he was one of 49 participants hailing from five countries Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the first NFL Africa Camp. Born in the Southern African country of Lesotho, Ekeji played rugby for Grey College in Bloemfontein and later attended Stellenbosch University in the Western Cape province of South Africa. He most recently played with the Sharks, a South African professional rugby team.

    After initially signing with the Jets in May, Wiegand (6-5, 291) was added to the practice squad in August. He played one season at Central Florida before returning to Germany in 2022 where he lined up for the Cologne Centurions. Wiegand then played offensive line for the Rhein Fire, earning first-team All-European League Football (ELF) honors on a championship team. At his pro day, Wiegand, who owns a wingspan of 80 inches, showcased his strength with 38 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • NBA roundup: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Hawks hold off Hornets

    [ad_1]

    (Photo credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)

    Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 23 points and came up with a crucial defensive play in the final seconds to help the Atlanta Hawks hold on for a 113-110 win over the visiting Charlotte Hornets on Sunday.

    Alexander-Walker put the Hawks ahead 111-110 with a layup at 1:42 and stripped Charlotte rookie Kon Knueppel of the ball with 6 seconds remaining to preserve the win. The Hornets’ Miles Bridges missed a last-second 3-pointer that would have tied the game.

    Alexander-Walker was one of four Atlanta players – all starters — with 20-plus points. Jalen Johnson scored 28 with 11 assists and eight rebounds, Dyson Daniels had 22 points and nine rebounds, and Onyeka Okongwu added 20 points and seven boards.

    Knueppel scored 28 points for the Hornets, including seven 3-point baskets. Collin Sexton added 22 points and Bridges scored 21.

    Heat 127, 76ers 117

    Norman Powell scored 32 points and Kel’el Ware registered 20 points and 16 rebounds to guide visiting Miami to a victory over Philadelphia.

    Bam Adebayo contributed 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Heat, while Davion Mitchell chipped in with eight points, 12 assists and eight rebounds. Jaime Jaquez Jr. led the Miami reserves with 22 points.

    Tyrese Maxey scored 27 points and Trendon Watford contributed 19 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the 76ers, who have alternated losses and wins in each of their last nine games. Andre Drummond pulled down 23 rebounds to go with 14 points. Center Joel Embiid (knee) continued to sit out, while Paul George (knee) scored 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting as he works his way back from offseason knee surgery.

    Raptors 119, Nets 109

    Immanuel Quickley made two 3-pointers in the final 3:17 as Toronto defeated visiting Brooklyn for its seventh straight win.

    Quickley scored eight of his 13 points in the fourth quarter. He was one of eight Raptors to reach double figures, with Scottie Barnes leading the group with 17. RJ Barrett scored 16 before limping to the dressing room with 7:13 left in the third quarter; he did not return with a right knee sprain.

    Reserve Tyrese Martin scored 26 points for the Nets, while Michael Porter Jr. had 25. Noah Clowney added 22 points, and Nic Claxton had 10 points and 11 rebounds. Brooklyn tied the game at 104 with 4:19 remaining before Quickley’s barrage dashed its hopes.

    Cavaliers 120, Clippers 105

    Donovan Mitchell collected 37 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and Evan Mobley scored 18 points as Cleveland pulled away for a victory over visiting Los Angeles.

    De’Andre Hunter added 17 points and Darius Garland had eight points and eight assists for the Cavaliers, who went 4-2 on their longest homestand of the season. Head coach Kenny Atkinson improved to 76-24 in his 100th game with the franchise.

    Ivica Zubac amassed a season-high 33 points and grabbed 18 rebounds to pace the Clippers, while Kawhi Leonard scored 20 in his first game since Nov. 3. James Harden had 19 points, but he missed all eight of his 3-point attempts. L.A. fell to 2-10 in November with the loss.

    Celtics 138, Magic 129

    Jaylen Brown collected 35 points and Boston avoided back-to-back home losses by beating short-handed Orlando.

    Boston received 23 points off the bench from Anfernee Simons and 19 from Payton Pritchard. Simons was 4 of 7 from 3-point territory. Brown and Pritchard each had eight assists.

    Jett Howard led the Magic with 30 points, seven rebounds and three assists off the bench. He scored 28 points in the second half, including 22 in the fourth quarter. Orlando received 18 points from both Jase Richardson and Desmond Bane. Franz Wagner added 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

    Thunder 122, Trail Blazers 95

    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 37 points to help Oklahoma City extend its winning streak to nine with a home victory over Portland.

    Gilgeous-Alexander also had seven assists and five rebounds while finishing 13 of 18 from the field and hitting all nine of his free throws. Ajay Mitchell complemented SGA’s brilliance with 20 points off the bench, and Isaiah Hartenstein grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds.

    Jerami Grant led the Blazers with 21 points. Deni Avdija missed 12 of 16 shots from the field and finished with 11 points as Portland failed to defeat the Thunder for the second time in two tries and suffered its fifth loss in six games.

    Suns 111, Spurs 102

    Dillon Brooks had 25 points and four of Phoenix’s 14 3-pointers, Devin Booker tallied 24 points and the host Suns extended their winning streak to three with a victory over San Antonio.

    Jordan Goodwin had his first double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds in his first start this season, and Mark Williams added 14 points and 11 rebounds for Phoenix, which has won 10 of 12.

    De’Aaron Fox scored 26 points, Devin Vassell had 17 and Julian Champagnie collected 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Spurs, who had a three-game winning streak broken. San Antonio had not lost since star Victor Wembanyama suffered a calf injury in a Nov. 14 loss to Golden State.

    Lakers 108, Jazz 106

    Luka Doncic scored 33 points while adding 11 rebounds and eight assists to lead Los Angeles past Utah in Salt Lake City.

    Austin Reaves tallied 22 points and 10 boards to help the Lakers notch their second consecutive win over the Jazz in a six-day span. LeBron James added 17 points and eight assists in his second game back from a sciatica injury. Rui Hachimura chipped in 13 points. Los Angeles outscored Utah 26-18 in fastbreak points.

    Keyonte George led the Jazz with 27 points and eight assists. Lauri Markkanen chipped in 20 points that included multiple baskets in the final minutes. Jusuf Nurkic added 11 points and 10 rebounds.

    –Field Level Media

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • NBA roundup: Spurs off to first 5-0 start in team history

    [ad_1]

    (Photo credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images)

    Victor Wembanyama posted 27 points, 18 rebounds, six assists and five blocks while leading the host San Antonio Spurs to a 107-101 victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday night.

    The Spurs, who have won five NBA titles, are off to a 5-0 start for the first time in franchise history. San Antonio also got 21 points, eight assists, six rebounds and four steals from Stephon Castle.

    Bam Adebayo scored a game-high 31 points and pulled down 10 rebounds while Andrew Wiggins added 24 points for the Heat, whose three-game winning streak ended.

    San Antonio, which entered the game with the best scoring defense in the NBA (104.5 points per game), won a battle against a Heat team that entered the day with the league’s No. 1 scoring offense (131.5).

    Bucks 120, Warriors 110

    Ryan Rollins scored a career-high 32 points and handed out eight assists, and seven other Bucks players reached double figures to lead Milwaukee to a victory over visiting Golden State without Giannis Antetokounmpo.

    Myles Turner delivered his best game as a Buck with 17 points and seven rebounds. Cole Anthony added 16 points despite fouling out with more than seven minutes remaining.

    Stephen Curry scored 27 points to lead the Warriors, with Jonathan Kuminga (24) and Jimmy Butler III (23) not far behind. Butler grabbed 11 boards.

    Thunder 127, Wizards 108

    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 31 points, seven assists and no turnovers, leading Oklahoma City to a home win over Washington.

    The defending NBA champion Thunder are 6-0 for the second consecutive season after starting their championship season with seven straight victories. Oklahoma City turned up the heat defensively from the start, scoring 26 points off 23 Wizards’ turnovers while the Thunder turned the ball over just six times.

    After missing the first four games due to an offseason thumb injury, Bilal Coulibaly made his season debut for the Wizards. Coulibaly scored 16 points and added eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 24 minutes.

    Magic 123, Hornets 107

    Franz Wagner scored 21 points while Paolo Banchero and Anthony Black each added 20 points as Orlando defeated Charlotte for its first road win of the season.

    The Magic, who snapped a four-game overall losing streak, shot 51.7% from the field and made 16 3-pointers. Tristan da Silva added 19 points off the bench.

    Collin Sexton led the Hornets with 19 points off the bench, while Ryan Kalkbrenner and LaMelo Ball each scored 17 points. Charlotte was coming off a 1-2 road trip.

    –Field Level Media

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Report: WNBA offers players extension in CBA discussions

    [ad_1]

    (Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)

    The WNBA is proposing a 30-day extension to players to continue collective bargaining negotiations, according to ESPN.

    The current CBA expires Friday.

    Negotiations were also extended during previous discussions in 2019, when both sides agreed to a 60-day extension before eventually signing a deal in January 2020.

    However, although players might be willing to extend negotiations and avoid a lockout ‘under the right circumstances,’ they feel ‘those circumstances do not yet exist,’ according to ESPN.

    Further, the senior adviser and legal counsel to the players’ association, Erin D. Drake, recently told the ‘No Offseason’ podcast that there won’t be an agreement by the Halloween deadline, criticizing the league for not matching the PA’s efforts.

    The WNBA, on the other hand, said it made a proposal Oct. 1, and that the PA responded Monday.

    Talks of a potential extension come amid rising tension between the two sides, with the main point of contention being a model for salaries and revenue distribution. The league has accused the players of not engaging ‘in any meaningful way’ on its proposals, while the PA has said the league has ‘retread a system that isn’t tied to any part of the business and intentionally undervalues the players.’

    WNBA players were also very critical of commissioner Cathy Engelbert this past season, with Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier calling the league’s leadership ‘the worst in the world’ during a scathing exit interview last month. She also criticized Engelbert’s lack of relationship with the players. Collier received support for her comments from WNBAPA president Nneka Ogwumike and Elizabeth Williams, a member of the union’s executive committee.

    A lockout could have an outsized impact on the league’s newest franchises, the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire. An expansion draft, including details such as rules and dates, will be on hold until the finalization of a new CBA.

    –Field Level Media

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Heat face Magic in opener following pair of 1st-round exits

    [ad_1]

    (Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

    Coming off first-round playoff exits, the Orlando Magic host the rival Miami Heat in Wednesday’s season opener.

    Last season, the Boston Celtics eliminated the seventh-seeded Magic in five games. The Heat won twice in the play-in tournament to become the first No. 10 seed in NBA history to advance, but the Cleveland Cavaliers swept them in the first round, punctuating the result with a 55-point blowout in Game 4.

    The Magic are considered a team on the rise in the Eastern Conference. They finished 41-41 and won a second straight Southeast Division title despite injuries to young stars Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs and brothers Franz and Moritz Wagner.

    Moritz Wagner is still out after tearing his ACL last December, but the rest of the Magic make a formidable nucleus. Orlando picked up new starting guard Desmond Bane in an offseason trade with the Memphis Grizzlies.

    ‘Our strength is our depth,’ Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. ‘Our guys are going to play to the level of fatigue and then we have the next group coming in ready to go. I think that’s what we hang our hats on — along with the defense, our depth will be a major strength for us.’

    Orlando had the best scoring defense in the NBA last season, conceding only 105.5 points per game, but struggled mightily from the perimeter. That’s where Bane comes in. He has been a 41% career shooter from beyond the arc with Memphis and averaged 19.2 points last season, as well as 6.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists.

    Miami will be without star guard Tyler Herro, who had foot surgery in mid-September, for an unspecified amount of time. The Heat brought in former Clippers guard Norman Powell to join the established core of Herro, Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wiggins.

    ‘Norman has played a lot of different roles with the teams he has played on and has always been efficient,’ Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. ‘But it always comes down to the right type of fit. You have to be like-minded in your approach in how you view the game and how you compete. He’s won a championship before (with the 2019 Toronto Raptors). He takes it very seriously and he has an edge to him, which we like.’

    One area Miami must focus on is holding onto leads. Last season’s Heat managed to lose 22 games after leading by double digits, including when they coughed up a 25-point lead to Orlando last December.

    That comeback matched the largest in Magic franchise history. Meanwhile, the Heat’s 37-45 final record tied for the worst mark of Spoelstra’s 17-year coaching tenure.

    The Heat and Magic are meeting to open a second straight season. Miami dropped last year’s opener by 19 points but rebounded to split the four-game season series.

    Miami is 20-17 all-time in season openers, while Orlando is 21-15.

    –Field Level Media

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Aces putting 12-game win streak on line vs. WNBA-leading Lynx

    [ad_1]

    (Photo credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images)

    The top two teams in the WNBA meet Thursday night with the Minnesota Lynx visiting the Las Vegas Aces.

    The Lynx (32-8) own the league’s best record, but the Aces (26-14) are the hottest team, riding a 12-game winning streak.

    Minnesota won the first three meetings vs. Las Vegas, including a 111-58 victory Aug. 2 in the most recent matchup. Kayla McBride poured in 24 points for Minnesota in that game.

    Las Vegas hasn’t lost since, tying the franchise record for longest winning streak. Three of the last six outcomes have come by double-figure margins.

    ‘This team is etching out their presence,’ Aces coach Becky Hammon said.

    Thursday night’s game features the two leading scorers in the WNBA.

    A’ja Wilson has reached the 30-point mark in six of the Aces’ last nine games. She also has led the team in rebounding 10 times during the winning streak.

    Most recently, the Aces swept three games on a road trip by winning at Washington, Chicago and Atlanta. Las Vegas is coming off a seven-day layoff.

    ‘That ability to kick it up an extra notch, we’ve really been able to do that on the defensive end, and it’s winning us games,’ Hammond said.

    Since losing three of five games, Minnesota has posted back-to-back victories with blowouts of Connecticut and Dallas. In Monday’s 96-71 domination of visiting Dallas, Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman became the fifth pair of teammates in WNBA history with 15 or more points and nine or more assists in a game.

    ‘I feel like me and Courtney are like a dynamic duo,’ said Hiedeman, whose 20 points and 10 assists resulted in her first double-double.

    Meanwhile, Lynx forward Napheesa Collier is averaging a league-leading 23.5 points per game — barely ahead of Wilson (23.4)

    Minnesota guard DiJonai Carrington played only 10 minutes against Dallas because of a shoulder ailment.

    ‘I know this is something she deals with,’ Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said.

    The Lynx have wrapped up the league’s best regular-season record, while the Aces are assured of a spot in the playoffs. But with two other teams with the same record as Las Vegas entering Wednesday, there’s still quite a bit at stake for the Aces in terms of postseason seeding.

    –Field Level Media

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Pride M Morgan Gautrat retires from NWSL, joins Newcastle

    [ad_1]

    (Photo credit: Russell Lansford-Imagn Images)

    Midfielder Morgan Gautrat announced her retirement from NWSL play on Monday, according to the league.

    The longtime U.S. Women’s National Team member will spend the rest of the 2025 season with Newcastle United on loan from the Orlando Pride.

    ‘I’m at a point in my career where I want to be a leader and want to be a part of making a mark and a legacy at a place like this at Newcastle to make history,’ Gautrat said, per ESPN.

    Gautrat, 32, helped Orlando win the NWSL Shield and league championship last season.

    ‘We understand and fully support Morgan’s decision as she moves into this next chapter,’ said Pride sporting director Haley Carter. ‘While we’re sad to see her go, we respect her choice to pursue opportunities that align with her personal goals and wish her and her family nothing but success in their future endeavors. Morgan will always be part of our family, and we’re grateful for everything she’s brought to our club.’

    Gautrat won World Cup championships with the USWNT in 2015 and 2019, earning the most recent of her 88 caps in 2022.

    She was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NWSL draft by the Houston Dash and has also played in the league with the Chicago Red Stars (2017-22) and Kansas City Current (2023). She played for France’s OL Lyonnes in 2018.

    ‘We are absolutely delighted to be adding a player of Morgan’s quality and experience to our squad,’ Newcastle manager Becky Langley said.

    ‘She has performed at the highest level for her whole career and brings with her a world class mentality having won some of the biggest trophies in the game for both club and country.

    ‘Morgan is a leader, and she will bring so much on and off the pitch for us. We are excited to start working with her.’

    –Field Level Media

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Cards give rookie P Michael McGreevy a chance to show his stuff vs. Pirates

    [ad_1]

    (Photo credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images)

    The St. Louis Cardinals are giving many young players an opportunity to advance themselves during this transition year, and rookie pitcher Michael McGreevy is taking full advantage.

    McGreevy (5-2, 4.26 ERA) is 3-0 with a 3.38 ERA in four August starts. The right-hander has worked six innings in each of those outings while meeting the quality start metric in three of them.

    He will try to build on that success when the Cardinals host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night to open a four-game series.

    McGreevy’s development is crucial for an organization that lost pitching prospects Tekoah Roby, Sem Robberse and Cooper Hjerpe to Tommy John surgery this year. Injuries also limited top prospect Tink Hence to 10 2/3 innings at Double-A Springfield this season. The organization’s 2024 Pitcher of the Year, Quinn Mathews, missed time with shoulder soreness.

    The Cardinals needed McGreevy to step up, and he did. He went 8-3 with a 3.72 ERA at Triple-A Memphis, then moved into the Cardinals rotation to replace Erick Fedde and make a smooth transition to the major leagues.

    ‘I’ve given you guys repetitive answers, but it’s sticking to that routine in the big leagues and learning how to be a big leaguer,’ said McGreevy, 25. ‘Facing big league teams in big league stadiums. Just feeling comfortable with yourself and let yourself know you can play up here and continue to execute when you can.’

    This will be his first career start against the Pirates. McGreevy earned a relief victory against them last season while holding them to two hits in three scoreless innings in a 10-5 game last Sept. 18.

    While the Cardinals have lost eight of their past 11 games to fade in the National League wild-card race, the Pirates roll into St. Louis with a four-game winning streak. They swept the Colorado Rockies at home by a combined score of 18-1 during their three-game weekend series.

    ‘It’s been a lot of contributions throughout on the pitching staff,’ Pirates manager Don Kelly said after his team’s 4-0 victory Sunday. ‘We’ve talked a lot about it. It’s a foundation for us — pitching and defense.’

    Pittsburgh will counter McGreevy with Johan Oviedo (1-0, 4.50 ERA), a right-hander who will make this third start of the season. Oviedo held the Toronto Blue Jays to one run on five hits in his most recent start, a 2-1 win on Wednesday.

    That was his first victory since Sept. 21, 2023. Oviedo missed the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, then suffered a severe lat strain that set him back this spring.

    ‘It feels amazing,’ Oviedo said. ‘I want to thank all the people who have been involved in the last year and a half. I just blessed and happy to be back. … It was a good welcome by everybody.’

    The key to his success against the Blue Jays, Oviedo said, was: ‘Don’t try to let my emotions control me today. Try to stick with the game plan and be positive and execute and focus on the next pitch.’

    Oviedo, who started his career with the Cardinals, is 1-3 with a 3.16 ERA in five career starts against his former team.

    –Field Level Media–Field Level Media

    [ad_2]

    Source link