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☆ US women's team to receive courage award for equal pay fight
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 28 (Reuters) - The U.S. women's national soccer team will receive the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at next month's ESPYs in recognition of their fight for equal pay with their male counterparts, ESPN said on Wednesday. In May 2022, the U.S. women's and men's soccer teams reached landmark collective bargaining agreements with the national governing body for the sport that will see players receive equal pay and prize money, including at World Cups. "It feels like this is a paradigm shift or a moment we'll look back to and say that nothing was ever the same after this Women's World Cup," U.S. forward Megan Rapinoe said on Tuesday. The ESPYs, which pay tribute to the top athletes and performances of the past year, are presented and televised by Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) sports network ESPN. Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Arthur Ashe, Courage, Megan Rapinoe, Frank Pingue, Toby Davis Organizations: ESPN, Courage, Black tennis, Walt Disney Co, Thomson Locations: U.S, Toronto

Russell Westbrook, who played for the Washington Wizards in the 2020-21 NBA season, reacts prior to playing against the Denver Nuggets at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., February 17, 2021. Qatar's sovereign wealth fund has offered to buy a minority stake in Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the Washington Wizards and other Washington, D.C., sports teams, the National Basketball Association said Thursday. The NBA is still reviewing the deal with the Qatar Investment Authority, league spokesperson Mike Bass said in a statement to CNBC. The NBA in November began to allow sovereign wealth funds and other institutional investors to buy noncontrolling stakes in the league's teams. In addition to the Wizards, Monumental owns the National Hockey League's Washington Capitals and the Women's National Basketball Association team, the Washington Mystics.

Persons: Russell Westbrook, Mike Bass, QIA, Bass Organizations: Washington Wizards, NBA, Denver Nuggets, Capital, Washington , D.C, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, D.C, National Basketball Association, Qatar Investment Authority, CNBC, Sportico, Wizards, Monumental, Hockey League's Washington Capitals, Women's National Basketball Association, Washington Mystics, NBA G League, NBC Sports Washington, Monumental Sports Locations: Washington ,, Washington, Monumental, Qatar

☆ Qatari fund buys passive stake in Wizards parent, Sportico reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Apr 7, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards center Jay Huff (34) dunks the ball against the Miami Heat in the fourth quarter at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports/File PhotoJune 22 (Reuters) - The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is buying a passive minority stake in Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the parent of the Washington Wizards and the Washington Capitals, Sportico reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. Monumental declined to comment, while QIA did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. The report comes weeks after another deal in the sporting world that involved a Middle Eastern country. Reporting by Granth Vanaik in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju SamuelOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jay Huff, Geoff Burke, Sportico, QIA, LIV, Granth, Maju Samuel Organizations: District of Columbia, Washington Wizards, Miami Heat, Capital, USA, Qatar Investment Authority, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Washington Capitals, Basketball Association's Washington Mystics, NBC Sports Washington, PGA, Thomson Locations: Washington, District, USA, Saudi, Bengaluru

BEIJING, June 15 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi delighted Argentina fans in Beijing when he scored the fastest goal of his international career, netting after 79 seconds as the world champions beat Australia 2-0 in a friendly at a raucous Workers' Stadium on Thursday. "We always enjoy being with the national team," Messi said. Messi has been the focus of attention ever since he landed in Beijing last week. The areas around the stadium and the hotel where Messi and his team mates have been staying have been awash with people wearing replica Argentina jerseys in recent days. Hundreds queued outside the hotel each day in the hope of catching a glimpse of Messi leaving for training.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Enzo Fernandez, Messi, Graham Arnold, I've, Rodrigo De Paul, Emiliano Martinez, Martin Pollard, Josh Arslan, Qiaoyi Li, Rohith Nair, Toby Davis Organizations: Argentina, Australia, Workers, Inter Miami, Messi, Argentine, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Beijing, American, Argentina, China, Australia, Argentine, Bengaluru

☆ Taylor and Conners to try and make it Canada Day at national championship
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Jun 10, 2023; Toronto, ON, CAN; Nick Taylor hits his tee shot at the 17th hole during the third round of the RBC Canadian Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY SportsTORONTO, June 10 (Reuters) - Perhaps no sporting event in Canada goes out of its way to tug at the heritage heartstrings more than the Canadian Open. But entering Sunday's final round there is plenty of Canadian content on the leaderboard with Nick Taylor and Corey Conners in position to make history. Six will start Sunday's final round two off the pace including Taylor, who rocketed into contention with a course record nine-under 63. "I would love to win the Canadian Open for the third time.

Persons: Nick Taylor, Dan Hamilton, Caesar, Bloody Mary, Pat Fletcher, Corey Conners, Taiwan's, Pan, Rory McIlroy, Taylor, Northern Ireland's McIlroy, LIV, McIlroy, I've, Steve Keating, Andrea Ricci Organizations: RBC Canadian, Sports TORONTO, Canadian, Oakdale Country, PGA, Thomson Locations: Toronto, Canada, Muskoka, Australia, Zimbabwe, Canadian, Saudi

☆ Messi in Beijing for friendly before move to Miami
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SHANGHAI, June 10 (Reuters) - Argentine superstar Lionel Messi arrived in Beijing on Saturday for a friendly match before leaving a storied European career to join Major League Soccer side Inter Miami as a free agent. Messi, who lifted the World Cup in Qatar in December and is widely considered to be one of the game's all-time greats, confirmed this week he will leave French champions Paris St Germain for the U.S. league. This is the Argentina captain's seventh visit to China and his first since 2017. Australia and Argentina last met at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in the round of 16, where Messi was among the scorers as his team won 2-1. Reporting by Reuters newsroom; Writing by Martin Pollard and Engen Tham; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Messi, Paris St Germain, Martin Pollard, Engen, William Mallard Organizations: Argentine, Major League Soccer, Inter Miami, Football, Weibo, Workers, Paris St, U.S ., men's, Reuters, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, Beijing, Thursday's Argentina, Australia, Qatar, Argentina, China

☆ MLB, WNBA and NWSL games postponed due to poor air quality in U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Jun 7, 2023; Bronx, New York, USA; Members of the Yankee Stadium grounds crew wait for word on the status of a game against the Chicago White Sox before the game was ultimately rescheduled due to poor air quality. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY SportsNEW YORK, June 7 (Reuters) - Poor air quality conditions forced the cancellation of Major League Baseball (MLB), National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) games on Wednesday, as smoke from Canadian wildfires drifted south. MLB postponed games in Philadelphia between the Detroit Tigers and the Phillies and in New York between the Chicago White Sox at the Yankees. "These postponements were determined following conversations throughout the day with medical and weather experts and all of the impacted Clubs regarding clearly hazardous air quality conditions in both cities," MLB said in a statement. A WNBA game in Brooklyn between the Minnesota Lynx and the New York Liberty, which was set to tip off at 7 p.m.

Persons: Brad Penner, Amy Tennery, Toby Davis Organizations: Yankee, Chicago White Sox, YORK, Major League Baseball, Women's Soccer League, National Basketball Association, U.S ., MLB, Detroit Tigers, Phillies, Yankees, Washington Nationals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Gotham FC, Orlando Pride, Aviation Administration, Newark Liberty International, WNBA, Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, Thomson Locations: Bronx , New York, USA, U.S, U.S . East Coast, Ohio, Kansas, Philadelphia, New York, Harrison , New Jersey, Brooklyn

☆ Messi to lead Argentina in friendly against Australia in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, May 22 (Reuters) - Argentina captain Lionel Messi will lead his side against Australia in a friendly in Beijing next month with his first visit to China in six years set to spark a mass scramble for tickets. The Argentina embassy in China said on Monday that the World Cup winners would play Australia on June 15, bringing Messi to the country for the first time since 2017. Messi has received a fervent welcome on each of his previous visits to China, which has a huge soccer fan base despite the struggles of the men's national team. Since his first China trip in 2005, Messi has played for Argentina or his former club Barcelona in friendlies. The Spanish side beat Beijing Guoan 3-0 in a friendly in 2010.

☆ Aces lose 2025 first-round pick, Hammon suspended for WNBA rule violations
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 16 (Reuters) - The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) stripped defending champions Las Vegas Aces of their 2025 first-round draft pick and suspended head coach Becky Hammon for two games without pay for violating league rules on Tuesday. Hammon, who took the reins last year after eight years as an assistant coach with the NBA's San Antonio Spurs, was found to have committed a "Respect in the Workplace" violation with comments regarding Hamby's recent pregnancy. The investigation, however, was not able to substantiate concerns over the Aces' conduct during the off-season. The Next reported in February that The Aces were under investigation by the WNBA for circumventing the salary cap. "The Aces failed to adhere to league rules and regulations and have been disciplined accordingly.

☆ Griner plays in WNBA for first time since Russia detention
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"I didn't think I would be sitting here. I didn't think I would be playing basketball this quickly," Griner told reporters after the Sparks handed them a 90-71 loss. Griner was greeted to roars of celebration at Phoenix's Footprint Center on Friday as she exited the tunnel and strode onto the court. "I didn't feel like I was gassed or dying," said Griner, who offered a withering self-appraisal of her defensive performance. The two-time WNBA scoring champion has been subject to enormous media interest since her return to the United States, using her super-sized platform to champion the cause of other Americans detained abroad.

☆ Toronto rolls out welcome mat for WNBA's first Canada game
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Frank Pingue | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

TORONTO, May 13 (Reuters) - The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) held a game in Canada for the first time on Saturday in what amounted to a celebration of women's basketball while perhaps planting the seeds for an expansion franchise. The sold-out pre-season game played at the home of the NBA's Toronto Raptors offered the latest sign that there is a growing appetite in Canada's biggest city and financial capital for professional women's basketball. The game aired live on three networks across Canada and the United States, featured an all-women, all-Canadian team for the broadcast and prompted the city to proclaim May 13 as "Welcome WNBA Day" to mark the occasion. "So Toronto is definitely on the list, but we'll continue to work on that through the season and hopefully have something to announce later." Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

REUTERS/Andrew KellyNEW YORK, May 1 (Reuters) - American basketball star Brittney Griner stepped onto the red carpet at the star-studded Met Gala on Monday, embracing a larger spotlight months after returning home from detention in a Russian penal colony. The twice Olympic champion has pledged to advocate for the release of other Americans detained abroad after she was freed from Russia in a high-profile prisoner exchange after nearly 10 months of detention. "I was able to come home," Griner told Vogue at the gala. "It is everything, to be here with my wife able to be here it means so much," Griner said. Twenty-times Grand Slam winner Roger Federer served as a co-chair of the event while China's twice Olympic champion freestyle skier Eileen Gu was also in attendance.

☆ Pro sports unions unite to discuss importance of mental health
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The NFL Players Association, National Basketball Players Association, National Hockey League Players' Association, MLB Players Association, MLS Players Association and Women's National Basketball Players Association will work together to raise awareness about the cause and invest resources to improve mental health for the pro athlete community. This is the first time the sports organizations have come together to promote mental health. The high stakes, busy lifestyles and pressures of professional sports have caused many athletes to reveal their own mental health struggles in recent years. As athletes from all levels have expressed their struggles, many of the leagues realized that mental health needs to be as much of a priority as physical health is. The sports leagues will also highlight inspirational stories from athletes and the various mental health efforts they are leading.

☆ Record-holder Shiffrin looks to break new ground in downhill
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Shiffrin surpassed Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark's record with an 87th World Cup win last month and then extended her haul to 88 titles as she etched her name in the pantheon of sporting greats. A slalom specialist by trade, having won 53 of her World Cup golds in the event compared to just three in the downhill - the 28-year-old wants to broaden her skillset. "I don't think I could ever switch from slalom to downhill. But I do feel like I want to branch more into exploring what my abilities are in downhill," said Shiffrin. So I feel, like, quite comfortable - slalom giant, slalom super-G - but downhill is a little bit of an unexplored world for me."

☆ Germany to face Ukraine in 1,000th international match
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 24 (Reuters) - Germany will play three friendly matches in June with their 1,000th international match set to be a charity game against Ukraine, the country's football association (DFB) said on Monday. Germany will play Ukraine on June 12 in Bremen, followed by a game against Poland in Warsaw on June 16 and finally against Colombia on June 20 in Gelsenkirchen. "The 1,000th international match for the Germany senior men's national team is a very special event. "That's why we are happy that we can play an international match with and for Ukraine on the occasion of our anniversary." Germany, who were knocked out of the World Cup in Qatar in the group stage, have never lost to Ukraine in eight matches.

☆ Russia's men's basketball team banned from Olympic pre-qualification
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 18 (Reuters) - Russia will remain banned from international basketball with its men's national team not being allowed to participate in this year's Pre-Olympic Qualification Tournaments, FIBA's Executive Committee announced on Tuesday. Russia who were 12th at the previous FIBA Men's World Cup in 2019, last qualified for the Olympics in 2012, winning bronze medal with a line-up that included former NBA player Andrei Kirilenko. "Following the IOC recommendations on the participation of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport in international competitions published on 28 March, the FIBA Executive Committee has decided to not allow the registration of the Russian men's national team," the governing body said in a statement. Bulgaria will replace the Russian team as the next highest ranked European squad. The event will be held from August 12 to 20, with the five winners earning spots in the FIBA Olympic Qualification Tournaments in 2024.

☆ Australia and New Zealand mark 100-day countdown to Women's World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"But this women's tournament is not just about football, it's about celebrating women's sports and women's empowerment all over the world." "Currently, only 40% of football facilities nationwide are classified as female-friendly," Football Australia said in a statement. 'UNITY BEAT'New Zealand is staging its third global sporting event in less than two years, having hosted the women's Rugby World Cup and women's Cricket World Cup last year. Rugby World Cup organisers hailed record crowds as New Zealand's Black Ferns swept to the title last November. According to a FIFA report, some 1.12 billion viewers tuned into the 2019 Women's World Cup in France where the U.S. won their fourth title and their second in succession.

☆ United States look for path forward without injured Swanson
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Apr 8, 2023; Austin, Texas, USA; U.S. Women's National Team forward Mallory Swanson (9) is escorted off field by medical personnel during the first half in a match against the Republic of Ireland Women's National Team at Q2 Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-USA TODAY SportsApril 10 (Reuters) - Striker Mallory Swanson is in a "good place" even though uncertainty surrounds her World Cup participation after she tore a patella tendon during Saturday's 2-0 win over Ireland, United States head coach Vlatko Andonovski said. You don't replace Mallory (Swanson) that easy. The United States called up Alyssa Thompson as Swanson's replacement after the 18-year-old made her senior national team debut in October. The United States play Ireland in St. Louis, Missouri, on Tuesday.

☆ Women's soccer expands into the Bay Area with a new team and record investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"Sixth Street has the incredible know-how, experience and bandwidth to devote to the league," NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman told CNBC. Waxman, a former Goldman Sachs executive, founded Sixth Street in 2009, and the firm currently has more than $65 billion in assets under management. This is the company's first foray into women's sports, following investments in Spanish soccer teams Real Madrid and FC Barcelona and the NBA's San Antonio Spurs. The four former national team players will be represented on the board and will work alongside Sixth Street in setting the team's strategic direction, he said. Sandberg will partner with the club to create leadership programs that empower women and girls in underserved Bay Area communities.

San Diego State will play UConn in the NCAA men's basketball national championship game on April 3. ETHow to watch the NCAA national championship game in the USYou can watch the NCAA men's basketball national championship game on CBS or Paramount Plus. If you don't already have access to CBS via antenna or cable TV, Paramount Plus is the cheapest way to watch the NCAA national championship game. How to watch the NCAA national championship game in CanadaThe NCAA men's national championship game will air on TSN networks in Canada; TSN offers monthly streaming passes for $20, four month passes for $49.96, and annual passes for $199.90. How to watch the NCAA national championship game in the UKIn the UK, you can watch the NCAA men's national championship game with ESPN Player, which costs £10 a month or £70 a year.

The women's national championship game is April 2, while the men's championship is April 3. CBS and Paramount Plus will air the men's Final Four; the women's Final Four is on ESPN and ESPN+. How to watch NCAA Final Four in the USThe men's March Madness 2023 tournament enters the Final Four round on April 1, and the championship game follows on April 3. How to watch NCAA Final Four in the UKIn the UK, you can watch the men's and women's Final Four with ESPN Player, which costs £10 a month or £70 a year. March Madness NCAA Final Four 2023 TV scheduleBrian Rothmuller /Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesMen's NCAA Final Four scheduleRound Date and time Channels/Service #5 San Diego State versus #9 Florida Atlantic April 1, 6:09 p.m.

☆ Former Canada Soccer head apologises to Sinclair, regrets incident
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 30 (Reuters) - Former Canada Soccer president Nick Bontis does not remember using insulting language towards Christine Sinclair when she brought the women's soccer team's concerns to him but has apologised for the incident, he said on Thursday. Sinclair, the world's all-time leading international goal scorer, appeared before a parliamentary committee three weeks ago to speak about pay equity, equal treatment and other issues surrounding Canada Soccer. "Few people have done more for soccer or women's sport in this country than Christine," said Bontis. "She has not only inspired millions of young soccer players around the world she inspired me. "Unlocking the full potential of players who want to follow in Christine's footsteps was a large part of why I got involved with Canada Soccer."

☆ Brittney Griner signs deal to return to Phoenix Mercury
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 21 (Reuters) - American Brittney Griner, who was released from a Russian penal colony last December as part of a prisoner swap, has signed a one-year contract to play for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, the team said on Tuesday. Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medallist and eight-time Women's National Basketball Association All-Star, was arrested in February 2022 at an airport outside Moscow for carrying vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage. She was subsequently convicted of drug smuggling and later transferred to one of Russia's most notorious penal colonies, where former inmates have described torture, harsh beatings and slave labor conditions. Griner was released last December in a prisoner swap with Russia in exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout, a deal that was arranged after months of talks during a time of high tension between the two countries after Russia's February invasion of Ukraine. Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Brittney Griner signs deal to return to Phoenix Mercury, media reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 18 (Reuters) - American Brittney Griner, who was released from a Russian penal colony last December as part of a prisoner swap, has signed a one-year contract to play for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, ESPN reported on Saturday. The Mercury, who open their 2023 WNBA season on May 19 at the Los Angeles Sparks, did not immediately respond when asked by Reuters to confirm the ESPN report. In her first public statement since her release, Griner said last December that she would advocate for Americans detained abroad and that she planned to return to her WNBA team. Griner last played for the Mercury in the 2021 WNBA season when she had one of the best years of her career and averaged 20.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists over 30 games. Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Former WNBA MVP Stewart headed to Liberty
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NEW YORK, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Twice WNBA champion and four-times All-Star Breanna Stewart is signing with the New York Liberty, the former first overall pick said on social media on Wednesday, in one of the most highly anticipated free agency moves. The announcement marks the end of an astonishingly prolific tenure with the Seattle Storm, where the lethal forward led the league in scoring last year and was twice named the WNBA Finals MVP. The Liberty are on the hunt for their first Women's National Basketball Association championship title after bouncing out of the playoffs in the first round the last two years. Last month they secured 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones in a trade with the Connecticut Sun. Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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