U.S./World Sports category, Page 98
USWNT is poised to kick off the Women’s World Cup knowing a 3-peat will be toughVideo
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — For as long as she can remember, Sophia Smith has dreamt of playing for the U.S. in a World Cup. As a young girl growing up in northern Colorado, she planned for it, she practiced it, she even acted it out in her backyard. “We played...
Stewart Cink opens with 68 and thinks he can win British Open at age 50
HOYLAKE, England — Stewart Cink wouldn’t seem to have a lot going for him at this British Open, least of all the fact he turned 50 two months ago and is eligible for the PGA Tour Champions. Throw in the fact his flight from Atlanta was delayed by one day...
Hazing remains ingrained in team sports and experts say they see increase in sexualized attacks
Georgia coach Kirby Smart remembers having his head shaved when he was a freshman football player at his alma mater back in the mid-1990s and busing tables after team meals. Older players putting the newbies in their place by hazing remains ingrained in team sports at all levels in the...
Christo Lamprecht shines in front of mentor Louis Oosthuizen to lead the British Open as an amateur
HOYLAKE, England (AP) — Crouching over the ball with his legs wide apart, Christo Lamprecht — all 6-foot-8 of him — crunched his last drive of the day into the fairway and more than 350 yards. “Look at the size of him,” was one of the muffled remarks from outside...
New Zealand opens Women’s World Cup with a 1-0 upset over Norway on emotional 1st day
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — On a day that started with tragedy, the Football Ferns triumphed. Hannah Wilkinson scored to open the second half and New Zealand went on to upset Norway, 1-0, on Thursday for its first-ever win at the Women’s World Cup, hours after a shooting in downtown Auckland...
Fowler makes her Women’s World Cup debut on a significant night for the Australian and Irish teams
SYDNEY — So much was happening when Mary Fowler made her Women’s World Cup debut in Australia’s opening win over Ireland. It just happened to be in front of the biggest crowd ever to watch a women’s soccer match in Australia, a record 75,784. She just happened to be replacing...
Deadly shooting ahead of Women’s World Cup brings heightened security
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Security will be heightened ahead of Thursday night’s opening Women’s World Cup game after a gunman killed two people at a downtown construction site in Auckland, roughly 12 hours ahead of co-host New Zealand’s match against Norway. Norway’s team hotel was located within a short distance...
Women’s World Cup spotlight shines on Australia as co-host New Zealand seeks its own attention
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — In a country known more for its love of rugby than women’s soccer, New Zealand is aiming to win fans as well as matches. The Football Ferns kick off the Women’s World Cup on Thursday night with a Group A match against Norway. The Ferns got...
British Open goes from brown grass to green, but silver is color that matters
HOYLAKE, England — Scottie Scheffler’s first look at Royal Liverpool was courtesy of video. He watched replays of the last two British Opens on these links and saw what looked to be two courses: Tiger Woods won when the grass was brown in 2006, Rory McIlroy when it was green...
The Open Championship Tee Times
HOYLAKE, United Kingdom — Tee times for Thursday’s first round of The Open Championship at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club (all times GMT) 5:35 a.m. — Branden Grace, Richie Ramsay 5:46 a.m. — Russell Henley, Jazz Janewattananond, Graeme Robertson 5:57 a.m. — Byeong Hun An, Ryan Fox, Lucas Herbert 6:08...
Northwestern hazing scandal included multiple sports, men and women, according to attorneys
CHICAGO — Allegations of hazing in Northwestern’s athletic programs broadened Wednesday as attorneys said male and female athletes reported misconduct within two other sports and suggested sexual abuse and racial discrimination within the football program was so rampant that coaches knew it was happening. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump said...
San Diego State to remain in Mountain West, receive $6.6M initially withheld after decision to leaveVideo
LAS VEGAS — San Diego State not only remains in the Mountain West, the Aztecs are getting the money that was withheld after they initially informed the conference of their intention to leave. The Mountain West will provide the $6.6 million that was withheld, but San Diego State is responsible...
New par-3 17th hole attracting all the attention at British Open, could prove decisive on Sunday
HOYLAKE, England — The British Open is back at Royal Liverpool, a course more than a century old and filled with rich golf history. And the thing attracting everyone’s attention this year is a new par 3 created to add more drama. The challenging 17th hole was bulldozed into place,...
Rookie coach Zach Arnett will keep physicality, tenacity at Mississippi State
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Zach Arnett is not only the lone rookie among the SEC’s 14 coaches, he’s also the youngest at 36 along with being the first of Hispanic descent in the league’s history. He’s been around the league long enough to know Tuesday that he broke the standard set...
Rickie Fowler resumes quest for 1st major on British Open course he knows wellVideo
HOYLAKE, England — The British Open’s return to Royal Liverpool couldn’t come at a better time for Rickie Fowler. The American will get to resume his quest for a first major title with his game trending in the right direction and at a course where he has done well in...
Martin Truex Jr. ‘bad at making big decisions’ as he ponders NASCAR retirement
LOUDON, N.H. — With three wins, a lead in the points standings and a NASCAR championship push ahead, the good times are rolling again for Martin Truex Jr. So why quit now? Joe Gibbs asked himself the same question about Truex as the Hall of Fame owner tries to keep...
Ex-Ajax and Manchester United goalie Van der Sar leaves intensive care after bleed around his brain
AMSTERDAM — Former Netherlands goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has been released from an intensive care unit in a Dutch hospital and hopes to return home next week as he recovers from a bleed around the brain, he said Tuesday in an Instagram post. “I’m happy to share that I’m...
1st lawsuit filed against Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern leaders stemming from hazing scandal
A former Northwestern football player filed the first lawsuit against Pat Fitzgerald and members of the school’s leadership, seeking damages stemming from a hazing scandal that cost the former football coach his job. The player, identified in the lawsuit as John Doe, alleged Tuesday in the Cook County Court in...
Rory McIlroy is laying low ahead of the British Open as he tries to end his major drought
HOYLAKE, England — The most telling comment from Rory McIlroy about this British Open, and his hopes of ending an astonishing nine-year drought in the majors, is that he said nothing at all. For the second straight major, McIlroy removed himself from the lineup of pre-tournament news conferences, instead offering...
Lionel Messi takes to the practice field for 1st time since signing with Inter Miami
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Lionel Messi jogged a lap with his new teammates, took part in a warmup drill of players making short passes in a tight circle and before long tapped his left foot at a ball that wound up in the back of an open net. Inter Miami’s...
Women’s World Cup Guide: How to watch, schedule and betting favorites
The United States will play for an unprecedented three-peat at the Women’s World Cup. It won’t be easy for the No. 1 team in the world. Co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, the quadrennial tournament for international soccer’s most coveted trophy kicks off July 20 and features an expanded field...
Parity, bigger field could mean surprises at Women’s World Cup
There could be some surprises at the Women’s World Cup. Sure, the U.S. is still considered dominant, and those elite European teams have developed even more with the rise of competitive clubs. Then there’s Brazil, which always seems on the verge of a breakout. But an expanded field of 32...
NCAA to operate a 2nd women’s postseason tourney for teams that don’t make NCAA TournamentVideo
The NCAA announced Monday it is creating another women’s college basketball tournament that it will operate like the men’s NIT as a second option for 32 teams that do not make the NCAA Tournament. The Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament, which will be held this season, brings the men’s and women’s...
Cameron Smith returns claret jug ahead of the British Open and reflects on his long yearVideo
HOYLAKE, England — The chill Aussie vibe of Cameron Smith gave way to more emotion than he expected Monday while taking part in one of many royal and ancient traditions at the British Open. As the defending champion, he had to return the claret jug. “I was actually holding back...
Martin Truex Jr. wins at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for 1st time in 30 racesVideo
LOUDON, N.H. — Martin Truex Jr. had just chewed up the competition to win at the same New Hampshire track where his dad won a regional stock car series race in 1994 when he clutched a 22-pound live lobster given to the winner and chomped on a claw. “I’d …...
