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CNN —Following the harassment of WNBA star Brittney Griner at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Phoenix Mercury’s leadership plans to make adjustments to prioritize players’ travel safety, head coach Vanessa Nygaard said Sunday. When asked if Griner was approved to charter flights and why she wasn’t chartering on Saturday, Nygaard said the team was following league-established rules and guidelines. Griner’s longtime teammate and WNBA star Diana Taurasi said that the harassment occurred during the team’s first public appearance since Griner’s release. Describing the incident as “unnerving,” Taurasi said the players’ safety comes first. “We implore the league and the teams not to wait another day to change the rule regarding travel.”

Persons: Brittney Griner, Vanessa Nygaard, Griner, ”, Viktor Bout –, Biden, ” Nygaard, Nygaard, Brianna Turner, “, Griner’s, Diana Taurasi, ” Taurasi Organizations: CNN, Fort Worth International, Phoenix, WNBA, “, “ League, Indiana Fever, Mercury, Basketball Players Locations: Dallas, Russia, of

CNN —A string of sports games and practices have been postponed as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to choke the Midwest, Northeast and Southeast parts of the United States. Around 75 million people are under air quality alerts as wildfire smoke shrouds major US cities, with Major League Baseball (MLB), the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) forced to postpone games due to concerns over dangerous air quality. Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies warms up at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday. Following consultation with the NWSL Medical and Operations staff, it was determined that the match could not be safely conducted based on the projected air quality index,” the NWSL said in a statement. Smoke from Canada’s fires has periodically affected the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic for more than a week, raising concerns over the harms of persistent poor air quality.

Persons: Zack Wheeler, Mitchell Leff Organizations: CNN, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Women’s Soccer League, MLB, Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, Citizens Bank, Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, Yankee, WNBA, New York Liberty, Minnesota Lynx, New York Racing Association, NWSL, Operations, Phillies, Tigers, Yankees, White Sox, Belmont Locations: Northeast, United States, Belmont, New York, New Jersey, Harrison, Canada, Alberta, Elmont , New York

☆ Phil Neville: David Beckham's Inter Miami 'part ways' with head coach
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Former Manchester United and England star Phil Neville has been sacked as head coach at David Beckham’s Inter Miami, the team announced on Thursday. Beckham, 48, is one of the co-owners of Inter Miami, alongside brothers Jorge and Jose Mas. “He and his family embraced Miami and he has devoted himself to the drive to bring success to the city and to our fans. “Phil has made a real contribution to the culture of our club with his qualities as a leader and knowledge as a coach. He guided Inter Miami to the MLS Cup playoffs in 2022 and, according to the club, he has helped progress several youth academy prospects’ careers.

Persons: Phil Neville, David Beckham’s, Neville, Beckham, Alex Ferguson, Jorge, Jose Mas, Phil, ” Beckham, “ Phil, Jim Rassol, Reuters “, ” Neville, “ I’m, ”, Jason Kreis, Javier Morales Organizations: CNN, Former Manchester United, David Beckham’s Inter Miami, United, English Premier League, Inter Miami, ” Inter Miami, New York Red Bulls, MLS, Eastern Conference, Miami, England women’s, Inter, FC Dallas, Reuters, Inter Miami CF, Club Locations: England, Beckham, Miami, New

CNN —At first glance, the idea of a former NFL legend and a former US Women’s National Team star wanting to bring “global eyeballs” to an English soccer club might seem an unusual ambition. Its inhabitants have also been hit particularly hard by the UK’s cost of living crisis, which hasn’t been lost on JJ Watt and his wife, Kealia. “Burnley is a special club. “All I want to do is help tell their story. “The success of the football club this year has given such a boost to Burnley and the surrounding area.

CNN —South Korean soccer star Son Jun-ho has been arrested in China for allegedly accepting bribes as Beijing clamps down on alleged corruption in the upper ranks of Chinese football. A South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday the ministry was aware of Son’s situation and that local Korean diplomatic missions were providing consular assistance. Wang said China would provide South Korean officials with the “necessary facilitation” to perform their consular duties. The Korea Football Association (KFA) said it had written to the Chinese Football Association and the Asian Football Confederation regarding the player on Tuesday but had not yet heard back. Vice President Kim Jeong-bae was checking on Son’s condition with the South Korean Foreign and Sports Ministries, a KFA official told CNN.

☆ JJ Watt does pub crawl ‘research’ after investing in Premier League-bound Burnley
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Just getting to know the supporters, I want to earn their trust by showing them how much we care and how passionate we are. “It’s research, I’m doing research – and lots of pints of Guinness along the way. The Royal Dyche took to Twitter to mark Watt’s visit, sharing an image of him behind the bar on Monday. Lovely gent, such a great reception in the pub from all us Claret fans,” the pub added. Kompany is best known for his exploits as the captain of Manchester City, with whom he won four Premier League titles.

☆ JJ Watt and Kealia Watt invest in Premier League-bound Burnley FC
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Matt Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —After retiring from professional football in the NFL earlier this year, JJ Watt is turning his hand to soccer as he and his wife Kealia announced their investment in English club Burnley FC on Monday. In a statement released by the club, JJ Watt said: “When you invest in a club that’s been around since 1882, you must have great respect for its history and tradition. Kompany is best known for his exploits as the captain of Manchester City, with whom he won four Premier League titles. Manager Vincent Kompany has guided Burnley back to the Premier League. Burnley’s chairman Alan Pace said of the Watts’ investment: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome JJ and Kealia into the Clarets family.

☆ Women’s soccer is having a moment — except in the boardroom
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Norway’s Karen Espelund was “appointed” not “elected” to the position due to her role as chair of the Women’s Football Committee, UEFA told CNN Sport over email. Norwegian Football Association President Lise Klaveness told CNN that the popularity of soccer isn't mirrored in female representation at UEFA. We tend to forget that because we compare it to the phenomenon of men’s football,” Klaveness says. The prize money for this year’s women’s World Cup, which kicks off on July 20, will increase by 300% to $150 million, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced last month. “They don’t really know: What are the differences between men’s and women’s football?

☆ The Premier League’s Fiercest Battle Is at the Bottom of the Standings
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Joshua Robinson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

In a single dizzying winter of soccer, U.S. men’s national team star Weston McKennie went from Italy to Qatar to figuring out life in a part of England known as West Yorkshire. McKennie had joined Leeds United on loan until the end of the season. And despite linking up with two other American players at the club, Brenden Aaronson and U.S. captain Tyler Adams, very little about the Premier League felt familiar.

☆ U.S. Soccer Report Finds Gio Reyna’s Parents Tried to Undermine Coach Gregg Berhalter
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Joshua Robinson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Gregg Berhalter was coach of the U.S. men’s team during the 2022 World Cup. An independent investigation commissioned by U.S. Soccer has found that the family of star men’s national team member Gio Reyna tried to dissuade the federation from renewing U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter in the job. The report, published Monday, examines the bizarre fallout from Berhalter’s decision to bench Gio Reyna, one of the team’s up and coming talents, at the 2022 World Cup. Reyna’s parents—the former U.S. men’s captain Claudio Reyna and former women’s national team player Danielle Egan—were upset about Gio’s lack of playing time in Qatar and resented Berhalter’s revelation after the tournament that the problem had been Gio’s attitude.

☆ China Stumbles in Pursuit of Xi Jinping’s Soccer Goals
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Chun Han Wong | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

HONG KONG—For years, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has pushed to transform his nation into a soccer powerhouse. That quest has become an own-goal, exposing the limits of his top-down control. China remains a perennial underachiever in the game some eight years into Mr. Xi’s soccer overhaul. Its men’s national team still languishes in the middle tier of international rankings, below the likes of Iceland, Iraq and Panama. Some top professional teams have slashed players’ wages or collapsed after they and their corporate owners lost revenues amid pandemic disruptions and a property-market slump.

☆ Rugby-England women's players to receive maternity cover
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Reuters Staff | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The issue of maternity leave for professional athletes has gradually come into sharper focus in recent years. In 2019, sportswear giant Nike introduced a new maternity policy for all its sponsored athletes, guaranteeing pay and bonuses for 18 months around pregnancy. World soccer governing body FIFA introduced 14 weeks of maternity leave in 2020, the same year that the Women’s National Basketball Association announced fully paid maternity leave as part of its collective bargaining agreement for the first time. Rugby Players’ Association general secretary Christian Day described the new policy as a “significant step forward” for the women’s game in England. “This new policy ensures that our women’s players will be better supported through parenthood when representing England,” Day said.

☆ Seattle Storm Share Sale Values Team at WNBA Record $151 Million
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Rachel Bachman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Seattle Storm have sold minority stakes in the team that value the Women’s National Basketball Association franchise at a record $151 million, the team’s owners said. The sale of stakes to 15 investors will help finance a $64 million, 50,000-square-foot practice facility and business office for the Storm, which is set to break ground this month, team owners Ginny Gilder and Lisa Brummel said.

☆ Draymond Green Sets Us Straight on the Real N.B.A.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( David Marchese | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +20 min

Mamadi Doumbouya for The New York Times Talk Draymond Green Sets Us Straight on the Real N.B.A. Celtics have a die-hard fan base that’s going to root hard for the Celtics. But when I’ve listened to it, it’s not as if you’re saying things that are all that far away from what pundits or analysts are saying. I don’t think it affected who I was, who I am, because my mom never allowed it to. So when I say what he said is irrelevant, I’m saying that from the standpoint of, Let me not deflect.

☆ The 20-Year-Old Star at the Center of the U.S. Soccer Scandal
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Joshua Robinson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The biggest surprise of the U.S. men’s national team’s campaign at the World Cup last November came a couple of hours before any American kicked a ball in the tournament. Coach Gregg Berhalter had published his first starting lineup in Qatar and one name wasn’t on it: Gio Reyna. Reyna was one of the most talented players at Berhalter’s disposal and already established with a major European club at Borussia Dortmund. So after he missed the Americans’ first World Cup match in eight years, a 1-1 draw with Wales, much of the conversation revolved around him. “I’m good to go.”

☆ U.S. Men’s Coach Gregg Berhalter Regrets Comments on Gio Reyna That Ignited Scandal
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Joshua Robinson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Gregg Berhalter had just returned from coaching the U.S. men’s national team in the World Cup last month, when he appeared at a conference in New York to talk about leadership lessons. Told that whatever he said would remain in the room, Berhalter spoke candidly about his team’s campaign. What he never expected was for his thinly veiled comments about Gio Reyna, the young American star he chose to bench due to poor attitude in practice, to turn into the strangest scandal in the recent history of the U.S. men’s national team.

☆ Allegation Against U.S. Men’s Soccer Coach Came From Mother of Benched Star
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Joshua Robinson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A 31-year-old abuse allegation against U.S. men’s national team coach Gregg Berhalter was made by Danielle Reyna, the mother of U.S. men’s soccer star Gio Reyna, after she and Gio’s father, Claudio, took issue with Berhalter’s public description of benching their son during the Qatar World Cup. Claudio and Danielle Reyna confirmed in separate statements on Wednesday that they had brought the allegation to the attention of U.S. Soccer, the sport’s national governing body. The allegations represent a confrontation between two families that had been friends for decades, dating back to the days when three of them were students at the University of North Carolina. News of the Reynas’ involvement was first reported by ESPN.

☆ Mortgage-Lending Billionaire Mat Ishbia Reaches Agreement to Buy Phoenix Suns and Mercury
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Robert O'Connell | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Mat Ishbia is finalizing an agreement to buy a majority stake in the Phoenix Suns and the Phoenix Mercury. Mortgage-lending billionaire Mat Ishbia is finalizing an agreement to buy a majority stake in the National Basketball Association’s Phoenix Suns and the Women’s National Basketball Association’s Phoenix Mercury , according to a person familiar with the matter, in deal that values the teams at $4 billion amid a rapidly rising market in sports team valuations. Ishbia would buy control of the teams from Robert Sarver, who put the teams on the market after being suspended by the NBA for violating workplace standards. The deal will be subject to the approval of the league’s board of governors in a 75% majority vote.

☆ Mortgage-Lending Billionaire Mat Ishbia to Buy Phoenix Suns and Mercury
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Robert O'Connell | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Mat Ishbia is finalizing an agreement to buy a majority stake in the Phoenix Suns and the Phoenix Mercury. A group led by mortgage-lending billionaire Mat Ishbia has agreed to buy a majority stake in the National Basketball Association’s Phoenix Suns and the Women’s National Basketball Association’s Phoenix Mercury, in a deal that values the teams at $4 billion amid a rapidly rising market in sports team valuations. Ishbia would buy control of the teams from Robert Sarver, who put the teams on the market after being suspended by the NBA for violating workplace standards. The deal will be subject to the approval of the league’s board of governors in a 75% majority vote.

☆ History-making Asian American soccer player describes his journey to self-acceptance
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Kimmy Yam | Kimmy Yam Is A Reporter For Nbc Asian America. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

The moment Team USA midfielder Kellyn Acosta’s feet touched the turf at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, he said he felt awash with gratitude. The label “Asian American” has been hard won. David S Bustamante / Getty Images“When you think about sports, and you think about my makeup, you think that’s the African American side of me that makes me excel. And he enjoyed the ride with the Asian American community on his mind. Kellyn Acosta during the World Cup Group match between the United States and Wales in Doha, Qatar, on Nov. 21.

☆ The US may have lost in the World Cup, but soccer is more popular than ever in America
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Harry Enten | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +36 min

The Atlas Lions made history as the first African team to reach a World Cup semifinal. They made history as the first all-female refereeing crew for a men's World Cup match. It was Morocco's first World Cup win since 1998 — and its third-ever at the tournament. Less spoken about is that they also rate better on television than the men do in the World Cup. We’ll just have to wait and see, though with the US, Canada and Mexico hosting the 2026 World Cup, soccer isn’t going away anytime soon.

CNN —The death of prominent journalist Grant Wahl at the World Cup in Qatar has led to an outpouring of shock and grief across the sports world, with NBA star LeBron James and tennis great Billie Jean King leading the tributes to the American. King said Wahl’s death was “heartbreaking.”“A talented journalist, Grant was an advocate for the LGBTQ community & a prominent voice for women’s soccer,” King tweeted Saturday. “I am so thankful for the support of my husband Grant Wahl’s soccer family and of so many friends who’ve reached out tonight. He added that he sought help at the medical clinic at the World Cup media center, believing he had bronchitis. Afterward, Wahl told CNN he “probably will” wear the shirt again.

☆ U.S. Soccer Believes That It Will Win—in 2026. There’s Work to Do.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Joshua Robinson | Andrew Beaton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

AL RAYYAN, Qatar—An hour after the U.S. men’s national team had been eliminated from the World Cup, a handful of players were still strolling around the field at Khalifa International Stadium. They walked around, barefoot on the grass, soaking in their final moments on soccer’s biggest stage before they began the four-year wait for another shot. U.S. captain Tyler Adams lingered for as long as he could before the grounds crew ushered him off. The Americans had lost 3-1 to a technically superior Netherlands side, but Adams was convinced that his team shouldn’t have been the one going home.

☆ U.S. Soccer Believes That It Will Win—In 2026. There’s Work to Do.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Joshua Robinson | Andrew Beaton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ USMNT’s youth and talent at Qatar 2022 bodes well for 2026 World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +31 min

The Netherlands knocked the USMNT out of the Qatar World Cup on Saturday. They made history Thursday as the first all-female refereeing crew for a men's World Cup match. Frappert became the first woman to referee a men's World Cup match. It was Morocco's first World Cup win since 1998 — and its third-ever at the tournament. Qatar is the first Islamic country to host a World Cup.

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