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☆ 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

☆ Billionaire Marc Lasry, who sold his stake in the Milwaukee Bucks, says the next "big opportunity" is in women's sports
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Michelle Abrego | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The former co-owner of the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks is raising money for a sports fund. Lasry said he would like to go out and buy basketball teams in Africa and potentially Asia. "Women's soccer should go from $50 million to $500 million in the next 10 years," he said. This year, the famed distressed-debt investor agreed to sell his 25% stake in the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team. Lasry also said he would like to go out and buy basketball teams in Africa and potentially Asia.

Persons: Marc Lasry, Lasry, Aurelien Meunier, Getty Organizations: Milwaukee Bucks, Billionaire, Capital, Bloomberg Invest, National Women's Soccer League, Milwaukee Bucks basketball, National Basketball Association Locations: Africa, Asia

☆ NWSL's new Bay FC hope to ride World Cup wave of excitement
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Nathan Frandino | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SAN FRANCISCO, June 3 (Reuters) - The founders behind the new National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) expansion team in California's San Francisco Bay Area believe this year's Women's World Cup will only add to their momentum as they kick off their inaugural season next year. Some of us are going to be calling the World Cup, so to see Bay FC involved in the World Cup and vice versa, it's only going to help build the momentum." Chastain's role at the World Cup is among the most iconic for the U.S. She scored the deciding penalty in 1999, sealing the win against China at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena. Chastain said that holding onto the World Cup excitement this year and bringing it to their games next year will be about making fans feel valued as part of the team. Roughly a third of the U.S.-based league's players are expected to feature, NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said this week.

Persons: Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton, Aly Wagner, Osborne, it's, Chastain, " Chastain, Jessica Berman, Sheryl Sandberg, Tom Bernthal, Rory Carroll, Daniel Wallis Organizations: FRANCISCO, National Women's Soccer League, California's San Francisco Bay Area, FC, U.S, China, Rose, Energy, Thomson Locations: California's San Francisco Bay, U.S, San Francisco, Pasadena, Australia, New Zealand, Los Angeles

☆ Now that DeSantis has made attacking 'woke' his signature move, Trump says he doesn't like the word because 'half the people' who use it 'can't even define it'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Donald Trump says he doesn't like the word "woke," despite using it many times in the past. Ron DeSantis appears to love using the word, boasting that "Florida is wear woke goes to die." "I don't like the term 'woke' because I hear 'woke woke woke' — you know it's like just a term they use, half the people can't even define it, they don't know what it is," Trump said. Trump has used the word "woke" countless times over the years in speeches, official statements, and online posts. Taryn Fenske, communications director for DeSantis, said woke was a "slang term for activism … progressive activism" as well as a belief in systemic injustices, Florida Politics reported.

Persons: Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, —, Trump, wokeness, Taryn Fenske, DeSantis, Ryan Newman Organizations: Service, Florida Gov, Kids, Employees, Florida Politics Locations: Florida, Urbandale , Iowa

☆ MLS awards expansion team to San Diego
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 18 (Reuters) - Major League Soccer (MLS) awarded its 30th team to San Diego on Thursday, with the club set to make their debut in 2025 under the ownership of entrepreneur and investor Mohamed Mansour. The team will share the new, 35,000-seat Snapdragon Stadium with an existing women's team, San Diego Wave of the National Women's Soccer League. "Sycuan has deep roots to the San Diego community," said Sycuan Tribal Chairman Cody Martinez. "Our MLS team will provide us with a great opportunity to bring together many different segments of the community." Adding some star power to the ownership ranks is the San Diego Padres six-time All-Star Manny Machado.

☆ Arsenal's Wienroither latest to suffer ACL injury in women's game
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, May 4 (Reuters) - Arsenal's Austria defender Laura Wienroither is the latest player in the women's game to rupture an anterior cruciate ligament after the club confirmed her injury on Thursday. Wienroither, 24, sustained the injury in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final defeat by Wolfsburg on Monday. She is the fourth Arsenal player to rupture an ACL this season after England captain Leah Williamson, England forward Beth Mead and Netherlands striker Vivianne Miedema. Studies have found women in sports that involve sudden deceleration or changing direction such as soccer are up to six times more likely to suffer an ACL injury than men. The prevalence of injuries in women's soccer in recent times has led to calls for better research.

☆ J.J. Watt invests in English soccer club Burnley
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Feb 9, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, US; Former football player J.J. Watt poses for a photo on the red carpet before the NFL Honors award show at Symphony Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY SportsMay 1 (Reuters) - Former NFL player J.J. Watt and his wife, former U.S. international soccer player Kealia Watt, announced on Monday that they are investing in the English soccer club Burnley FC. Watt, three-times Defensive Player of the Year in the National Football League, announced his retirement in December. Kealia Watt formerly played for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League and is currently a free agent. Burnley are owned by Burnley FC Holdings Limited, with Calder Vale Holdings holding 83.97% of the company and individual shareholders holding the remaining shares.

☆ Williams, Mewis hoping to play their way into US World Cup squad
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Apr 19, 2023; Harrison, New Jersey, USA; -New Jersey/New York Gotham FC forward Lynn Williams (10) celebrates her goal against the Washington Spirit during the second half at Red Bull Arena. "But he’s watching all the time - World Cup or not. "Being the best Lynn Williams I can possibly be will hopefully help me get on that team." The defending World Cup champions wrapped up their April camp with wins over Ireland in a pair of friendlies, with Mewis getting minutes off the bench while Williams did not feature. "What’s most important for me is to just try to be consistent and try to play the way I know how to play.

☆ US finding it tough to fill Swanson's shoes 100 days before World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Apr 11, 2023; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; U.S. Womens National Team goalkeeper Casey Murphy (18) makes a save against the Republic of Ireland Womens National Team during the first half at CITYPARK. / Jeff Curry-USA TODAY SportsApril 11 (Reuters) - The United States were no closer to filling the void left by injured striker Mallory Swanson on Tuesday, securing an uneasy 1-0 victory against Ireland in a friendly just 100 days before the Women's World Cup. "The team was built - or was going to build - around Mal and Soph and their attacking power. Andonovski told reporters he gave as many players as possible the chance to stake a claim before he names his World Cup squad. Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ NZ women swap white shorts for blue over period anxieties
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 4 (Reuters) - The New Zealand women's soccer team will swap their home kit's white shorts for teal blue to ease players' period anxieties, the country's football association (NZF) said on Monday. "The absence of white shorts now is fantastic for women with any kind of period anxiety," New Zealand striker Hannah Wilkinson said. In the end it just helps us focus more on performance and shows a recognition and appreciation of women's health." NZF's decision follows similar moves by the England women's team, clubs including Manchester City and the Ireland women's rugby team. "As an organisation, New Zealand Football wholeheartedly supports the shift away from white shorts for our women's international players," chief executive Andrew Pragnell said.

☆ 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.

☆ 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."

☆ A lot of money is on the line for women's pro soccer in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Restore faith in women's soccer and grow the business. The league averaged 37 sponsorship deals per team, which is more than any other women's sport, according to sports data and intelligence platform Sponsor United. Women's pro soccer valuations are also soaring. NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman speaks during the 2023 NWSL Draft at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on January 12, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Culture changeOL Reign forward Megan Rapinoe (15) scores on a penalty kick during the second half of the National Womens Soccer League game between NJ/NY Gotham FC and OL Reign on September 21, 2022 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey.

☆ World sport leaders champion women on IWD
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Lori Ewing | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MANCHESTER, England, March 8 (Reuters) - FIFA General Secretary Fatma Samoura applauded the eight nations who are debuting at the Women's World Cup in celebration of International Women's Day on Wednesday, urging the players to take pride in their ability to inspire. Women they identify with, excelling on the pitch," Samoura said in a statement. "This will encourage a generation of young girls and women to aim high, to aim big. The ITF launched the Men as Allies programme, an element of the ITF Advantage All gender equality strategy. Sebastian Coe championed female leadership in a Twitter video, saying having women in positions of influence makes for a better organisation.

☆ For women's sports, the media buys are becoming a big deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( Kaitlin Balasaygun | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A recent Ally Financial ad buy with Disney 's ESPN focused on women's sports may be the biggest deal yet — in importance as much as the dollars attached. The one-year, multimillion-dollar deal requires 90% of its investment to be put to women's sports, through expanding game highlights, branded content and features across ESPN. "It is rare that brands buy media deals, or buy sponsorship deals, where they are as skewed toward women's sports as this one," she said. The bank is the first-ever title sponsor for both the ACC Women's Basketball Tournament and the ACC Women's Soccer Championship, and will also be the exclusive presenting sponsor for the 2023 ACC Women's Lacrosse Championship. A big money year for women's sports in 2022Ally's deal with Disney follows a successful year for women's sports on the media front, with sponsorship deals growing 20% year-over-year, according to sports and entertainment intelligence platform SponsorUnited.

☆ Spirit sign 15-year-old Ricketts, youngest-ever contracted in NWSL
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 3 (Reuters) - Washington Spirit have signed 15-year-old Chloe Ricketts on a three-year deal, making the midfielder the youngest-ever player to have a National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) contract. "The vision and infrastructure of our club make this signing possible, and we are look forward to Chloe developing and becoming an important player and teammate for our team." Ricketts will continue her education virtually, as the Spirit look to bounce back from a disappointing 2022 that saw them finish 11th in the top-flight U.S. women's league. "The opportunity to join the Washington Spirit on a professional contract is a dream come true," said Ricketts. Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ FIFA appointment of supermodel Lima 'baffling' - ex-Council member Dodd
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 2 (Reuters) - FIFA's appointment of supermodel Adriana Lima as its global fan ambassador in a Women's World Cup year is "baffling" and sends the wrong message to players and fans, former FIFA Council member Moya Dodd said. "I asked whether the FIFA ambassador will be delivering messages on body image, wellbeing and healthy eating. A prominent women's soccer advocate, Dodd represented Australia 24 times from 1986-95 and played in FIFA's women's invitational tournament in 1988, three years before the inaugural Women's World Cup. "In a FIFA World Cup year, that's the message that should be ringing loud and true around the world. This month, Dodd criticised FIFA for a lack of understanding of the women's game amid reports that Saudi Arabia's tourism authority would sponsor the July 20-Aug. 20 World Cup.

☆ In soccer, player revolts plunge Women's World Cup buildup into turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Player protests and high-level resignations are dominating headlines amid a growing sense of reckoning in women's soccer less than five months before the World Cup kicks off. Canada's women's team have vowed to boycott a pre-World Cup camp next month over equal pay and support, while Le Graet faced allegations of harassment. A government ministry audit concluded the 81-year-old Le Graet did not have the "necessary legitimacy" for the position. Neither Bontis nor Le Graet, however, are leaving the game. Bontis was named CONCACAF Council vice-president (North America) on Saturday, while Le Graet, who has denied all accusations, has reportedly been pegged to lead FIFA's Paris office.

☆ Player revolts plunge Women's World Cup buildup into turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Lori Ewing | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Canada's women's team have vowed to boycott a pre-World Cup camp next month over equal pay and support, while Le Graet faced allegations of harassment. A government ministry audit concluded the 81-year-old Le Graet did not have the "necessary legitimacy" for the position. Canada are the reigning Olympic women's champions, while France topped their group in World Cup qualifying. Forward Janine Beckie, who was in Qatar for last year's men's World Cup as part of Canada's broadcast crew, saw the "disgusting" discrepancy between the two programmes. (This story has been corrected to change the World Cup start date in paragraph 6)Reporting by Lori Ewing Editing by Toby DavisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Purple protest as Canada players take pay dispute to the pitch
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Members of Canada's National Women's soccer team wear protest t-shirts before their match against the U.S. at the SheBelieves Cup women's soccer tournament in Orlando, Florida, U.S., February 16, 2023. The team's protest is the latest escalation in their dispute with Canada Soccer over pay equity issues. "Tonight, our players will be wearing purple as a symbol of protest," said the Canadian Players Association in a statement. The Canadians wore the purple t-shirts during warmups at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida before changing into their traditional red kit but wearing purple tape on their wrists. The Olympic champions had boycotted training last Saturday while demanding immediate changes but reversed course later that day as Canada Soccer called their strike unlawful and threatened legal action.

☆ Patrick Mahomes' wife Brittany Mahomes has built her own sports empire as a professional soccer player, part owner of a women's soccer team, and a fitness guru
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Kelly Mclaughlin | Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | Meredith Cash | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is celebrating his latest win with his wife Brittany. The Kansas City Chiefs selected Patrick in the first round of the NFL Draft in April 2017. Her team won its league in September 2017, according to her Instagram, and by October 2017 she was in Kansas City. I think the people are what we love the most about Kansas City," Mahomes said. He took the Chiefs to their second-consecutive Super Bowl in February 2021, though the team lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

☆ Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes' wife Brittany Mahomes has built her own sports empire as a professional soccer player, part owner of a women's soccer team, and a fitness guru
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Kelly Mclaughlin | Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is celebrating his latest win with his wife Brittany. The Kansas City Chiefs selected Patrick in the first round of the NFL Draft in April 2017. She also became a part owner of Kansas City's women's soccer team when the National Women's Soccer League expanded to the city in 2020. I think the people are what we love the most about Kansas City," Mahomes said. On Sunday, Mahomes led the Chiefs to victory against the Bengals to secure a slot in the 2023 Super Bowl.

☆ Top DAZN exec reveals how the streamer is gearing up to super-serve fans in 2023, moving beyond boxing, and betting big on women's sports
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

We've also invested heavily in women's boxing. You are starting to see real, meaningful growth in women's sport now and that comes in different forms. The professionalism of the production in women's sport, we've been central to driving that forward. In the US, boxing fans in this country are disproportionately Hispanic relative to the wider population. The real business for us is the ongoing monthly subscription relationship that we have with boxing fans in this country, or soccer fans in Germany or Italy, and baseball fans in Japan.

☆ NWSL bans four coaches, fines teams after misconduct inquiry
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 9 (Reuters) - The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) has handed lifetime bans to four former coaches and fined the Chicago Red Stars and Portland Thorns $1.5 million and $1 million respectively, part of sweeping sanctions from a misconduct inquiry. An independent investigator brought in by U.S. Soccer found last year that abuse and misconduct "had become systemic" in the NWSL. Former North Carolina Courage coach Paul Riley, Racing Louisville coach Christy Holly, Chicago Red Stars coach Rory Dames and Washington Spirit coach Richie Burke will each be subject to "permanent exclusion" from the league. Arnim Whisler, who owns the Red Stars, and Thorns owner Merritt Paulson have agreed to sell their teams. The NWSL is compelling the owners of both teams to hire sporting staff that is "completely distinct" from their respective men's teams.

☆ Thorns' Smith voted U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 6 (Reuters) - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) MVP Sophia Smith was voted the 2022 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year, the sport's governing body said on Friday, after scoring 11 goals for the national team last year. The 22-year-old forward helped the Portland Thorns to their third NWSL final and scored three braces in international matches. Smith is widely expected to feature in the upcoming World Cup, where the Americans will battle for an unprecedented third successive title. "She is a special player with special qualities, but the best thing is that has the humbleness, work ethic and drive to keep developing all aspects of her game," said U.S. women's national team coach Vlatko Andonovski. Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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