Sports
Wave feel at home on the road, tackle Louisville to end season
Nov 3, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; San Diego Wave FC forward Jaedyn Shaw (11) and Racing Louisville FC forward Janine Beckie (16) battle for control of the ball during the second half at Lynn Family Stadium. Mandatory Credit: EM Dash-Imagn Images A pair of first-half goals pushed the San Diego Wave over Racing Louisville 3-1 on Sunday to end the NWSL regular season.
In what was scheduled as a home game for the Wave (6-13-7, 25 points), field conditions changed the venue to Louisville but San Diego still played like it had home-field advantage.
Jaedyn Shaw, Maria Sanchez and Savannah McCaskill found the back of the net for the Wave, while Bethany Balcer replied for Louisville (7-12-7, 28 points).
Louisville goalkeeper Katie Lund made an outstanding kick save from close range in the second minute that earned San Diego a corner. On the set piece, Shaw received the short corner and sent a cross towards goal. The ball went past everyone, including Lund, and into the corner of the net to put the Wave up 1-0.
Then, in the 22nd minute, San Diego won a free kick a yard outside of the penalty area and Sanchez stepped up to take the kick. Sanchez sent a low curling shot around the Louisville wall, off the inside of the left post and across the goal line for a 2-0 lead.
In the 58th minute, Louisville had a chance nullified by an early whistle. After San Diego passed back to keeper Kailen Sheridan, Janine Beckie was recovering from a previous play and intercepted the pass. The referee blew a whistle for an incorrect offside call, and right after that Beckie was knocked over by Sheridan. With the early whistle, no VAR could fix the play and Beckie received a yellow for dissent when arguing with the official.
Louisville would still cut the deficit to one 10 minutes later, when Balcer took a rebound off a Sheridan save and buried it in the net.
The comeback was short-lived, as second-half substitute McCaskill put her head on the end of a cross from very close range, securing the victory in the final match of San Diego’s season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Napheesa Collier, Lynx have sights set on slumping Tempo
Jul 22, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) shoot the ball against Seattle Storm center Awa Fam (11) during the second half at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images What does one give the team that owns the WNBA’s best record coming out of the All-Star break?
Perhaps getting its best player back at 100% health for the season’s remainder.
That’s the spot the Minnesota Lynx are happy to occupy as they resume play Tuesday night against the Toronto Tempo in Minneapolis.
Napheesa Collier, who missed the season’s first 27 games after undergoing surgery on both ankles in the offseason, returned to action in an 86-76 win at Seattle on July 22. As 24 points and 10 rebounds indicate, it didn’t take long for Collier to find something approaching her top form.
“It’s kind of fitting that No. 24 scored 24 points in her return,” coach Cheryl Reeve said. “I liked that a lot.”
Reeve also has to like the fact that opponents like Toronto really face a problem defensively. Do they try to double Collier inside and risk getting strafed by All-Stars Kayla McBride and Olivia Miles on the perimeter, or do they play it straight and perhaps allow Collier to run wild in the lane?
While Minnesota (22-6) appears fully stocked for success, the Tempo (10-16) limp into this one after dropping seven of the last eight. That includes a 109-83 defeat on July 20 against Las Vegas in their last game.
Injuries have affected the expansion team greatly, but so has lousy defense. Toronto has permitted an average of 94.9 ppg in that eight-game span, giving up 100 points three times. The Tempo rank in the league’s bottom half in steals and blocks, an indication that they struggle on the perimeter and in rim protection.
Brittney Sykes (20.1 ppg) and Kiki Rice (12.7 ppg) have combined to miss 27 games. Rice (left ankle) is on track to return sooner than Sykes (left plantar fasciitis) after participating in practice on Sunday.
“She’s worked really hard, so (I’m) excited,” Tempo coach Sandy Brondello said. “If we can get her back, that’d be awesome.”
Marina Mabrey (21.0 ppg) represented Toronto well at Saturday night’s All-Star Game, scoring 23 first-half points and hitting five 3-pointers in the first quarter.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cubs designate RHP Jameson Taillon for assignment
Jul 26, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon (50) delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The Chicago Cubs designated veteran right-handed starting pitcher Jameson Taillon for assignment on Monday.
The Cubs selected the contract of right-hander Andrew Wantz from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move.
Taillon, 34, was in the final season of a four-year, $68 million contract with Chicago. He pitched well over the first three seasons, and he made a pair of starts for the Cubs in the 2025 postseason, posting a 2.25 ERA over eight innings without a decision.
But in 2026, Taillon was 2-6 with a career-worst 5.92 ERA through 15 starts. He led the National League with 25 home runs allowed and had already issued as many walks (27) as he did all of last season.
Taillon pitched Sunday and received the loss in an 8-7 defeat against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He allowed seven runs on six hits over four innings, with three home runs. He had not earned a win since April 29, and the Cubs were 1-7 in his past eight starts.
For his career, Taillon is 84-66 with a 3.99 ERA in 239 games (238 starts) for the Pirates (2016-19), New York Yankees (2021-22) and Cubs (2023-26).
Wantz, 30, has appeared in 92 major league games for the Los Angeles Angels (2021-24) and Tampa Bay Rays (2026). He made one relief appearance for Tampa Bay and was dinged for five runs on two hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings. He was granted free agency on June 3 and signed with Chicago three days later.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cardinals trade RHP Scott Blewett to Athletics for cash considerations
Jul 5, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Scott Blewett (67) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images The Athletics acquired well-traveled right-hander Scott Blewett from the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday for cash considerations.
The Cardinals designated Blewett, 30, for assignment after he appeared in one game for the team this season. He allowed one hit and two walks with two strikeouts in two innings in a 5-1 loss at the Los Angeles Angels last Tuesday.
Blewett is a career 4-1 with a 4.10 ERA, 34 walks and 63 strikeouts in 74 2/3 innings over 44 games (two starts) in parts of five seasons for the Kansas City Royals (2020-21), Minnesota Twins (2024-25), Baltimore Orioles (2025), Atlanta Braves (2025) and Cardinals.
Kansas City selected Blewett in the second round of the 2014 MLB Draft.
–Field Level Media
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