Sports
Quinn Hughes unlikely to join Team USA for 4 Nations final
Jan 25, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) during a stop in play against the Washington Capitals in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images Charlie McAvoy is out with a shoulder infection and Quinn Hughes isn’t likely to be, also.
The Vancouver Canucks captain — sidelined with an oblique injury since Jan. 31 — practiced for the second straight day on Wednesday in Vancouver, but he will not join Team USA in Boston for the 4 Nations Face-Off final against Canada.
Hughes — one of six players initially named to the U.S. side in June — was held out of the Canucks’ final four games before the tournament and was eventually replaced by Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson. With six defenders still available to play on Thursday night, Hughes would be ineligible unless another blue-liner is injured.
“The rules are the rules. I can’t play unless anyone else gets injured, and I obviously don’t want to see anyone get injured,” Hughes said on Tuesday. “It’s been fun to watch. Hard for me to watch. I’m close with a lot of those USA guys and proud of how they’ve been playing. And the six (defensemen) that have been there, of course, I want them to play. They’ve gotten us to the point where we’re in a championship game now, and those guys also deserve to play.
“But in saying that, it’s obviously been hard for me. I’m a competitor, and I feel like I want to play and need to be there.”
After leading all NHL defensemen with 92 points (17 goals and 75 assists) last season, Hughes won the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defender and was poised to play a major role for Team USA during the 4 Nations Face-Off.
“Not to be dramatic, but it was extremely hard. I mean, it’s been something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time,” Hughes said.
The 25-year-old has kept up his scoring pace this season with 14 goals and 45 assists (59 points) in 47 games, helping the Canucks hold the Western Conference’s second wild-card berth.
The face of the franchise is expected to return to NHL action this weekend, according to Canucks assistant coach Adam Foote.
“Our therapists who work with him day to day probably report back to the doctor, and they walk through a protocol to protect him for the long run with the Canucks,” Foote said. “There’s a back-to-back (Saturday and Sunday) coming up for us as well, and we’re just going to do video tomorrow, have workout and not practice.
The hope is that Hughes will play Saturday in Las Vegas. Friday is a travel day, and Hughes sounded confident that he can compete.”
In the final game of the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Americans are seeking their second win over Canada after earning a 3-1 victory on Saturday during the preliminary round.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Right-handers for Giants, Brewers out to cap successful July with win
Jul 22, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp (65) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images A pair of young right-handers attempting to complete an unbeaten month of July will go head-to-head Tuesday night when Logan Henderson and the Milwaukee Brewers take on Landen Roupp and the host San Francisco Giants in the continuation of a three-game series.
The Giants opened the set with a 3-0 victory Monday, getting brilliant pitching from Tyler Mahle and a two-run homer from Grant McCray.
Roupp (7-8, 3.93 ERA) will attempt to successfully follow in Mahle’s footsteps as he looks to continue the form that led to a fast start this season before a two-month slump.
The 27-year-old began the season 5-1 through the end of April, but then started 11 consecutive losses, seven of which went on his record, in May and June.
The third-year major-leaguer has regained his winning form in July, however, going 2-0 with wins against the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners. He took a no-decision against the Kansas City Royals in a 5-4 win last Wednesday. He has allowed just three runs and nine hits in 21 innings.
Roupp’s earlier skid reached its greatest depth when he suffered through his worst outing of the season in a 16-2 loss at Milwaukee on June 1, charged with eight runs in four innings. The loss ran his career record against the Brewers to 0-2 with a 7.16 ERA in five games, including three starts.
Jackson Chourio’s two-run double and Brice Turang’s two-RBI triple, hit consecutively, were the big blows against Roupp in the earlier head-to-head in Milwaukee.
Henderson (4-1, 3.05) has had a similar month. Like Roupp, he is 2-0 with a no-decision in July. The Brewers have won all three Henderson starts, games against the St. Louis Cardinals, Miami Marlins and New York Mets.
In just his second major-league season, the 24-year-old Henderson went winless in his first three starts in 2026 before going unbeaten in his past five. He has allowed just six runs and 11 hits in 15 1/3 innings in July.
His July starts followed almost a six-week layoff due to back soreness. But he watched closely, especially the games of hard-throwing staff ace Jacob Misiorowski, who clearly inspires him.
“It never gets old, and he’s taking it up a notch every start,” Henderson told reporters recently. “I feel privileged to have a front-row seat every game.”
Henderson never has faced the Giants.
One player Henderson definitely won’t see will be Giants slugger Casey Schmitt, who strained his right knee rounding first base after a hit in the second inning of the opener and had to be removed from the game.
The Giants announced after the game that Schmitt, whose hit raised his average to .271, would undergo an MRI on Tuesday.
San Francisco manager Tony Vitello said after the game that he feared Schmitt could miss “significant” time.
“He’s a little bummed out. He loves to play every day,” Vitello told reporters after the win. “Scary moment for him. He was really struggling just to move around. Heart’s got to go out to him and you hope for the best.”
– Field Level Media
Sports
French legend Zinedine Zidane to coach national team
Jul 26, 2024; Paris, FRANCE; Zinedine Zidane during the Opening Ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games along the Seine River. Mandatory Credit: Andrew P. Scott-Imagn Images Zinedine Zidane, who led France to the 1998 World Cup championship, has been named the next coach of the French men’s national team.
He replaces Didier Deschamps, 57, who had been at the helm since 2012. Deschamps said in January 2025 that he intended to retire at the end of the 2026 World Cup, in which France lost 6-4 to England in the third-place match.
The deal with Zidane, announced Tuesday, is for four years, and he officially will begin his job on Aug. 1. His staff is expected to be revealed in September.
Zidane, 54, entered coaching after his playing days, and his Real Madrid teams won three consecutive Champions Leagues finals (2016-18) and two LaLiga titles.
He resigned from his job in Madrid five years ago and has not coached since, long projected as the successor to Deschamps.
“For me it’s a continuity, a dream,” Zidane said. “I had some offers during the five years I was away to take charge of a club but I turned them all down for the France team. It was the only thing I wanted to do.”
And Zidane said he is ready to get to work.
“I have so many emotions, I am ready for the challenge,” he said. “That’s what motivates me.
“Today I have the opportunity to be in charge of this team and I will give everything so that this team can win.”
Zidane will make his coaching debut with the national team on Sept. 25, when he leads France against Turkey in their first match of this UEFA Nations League schedule.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Luca Van Assche beats Alexander Blockx in Portugal for first title
Jul 31, 2024; Washington, DC, USA; Luca Van Assche (FRA) hits a forehand against Andrey Rublev (not pictured) on day five of the Mubadala Citi DC Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Luca Van Assche of France secured his first ATP title when he posted a 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 victory over Belgium’s Alexander Blockx on Sunday in the Estoril Open final in Portugal.
Van Assche, 22, converted 8 of 13 break points and overcame eight double faults to win in two hours and 24 minutes on the clay surface. He is the ATP’s 10th first-time winner this year.
Blockx, 21, had seven aces and seven double faults while playing in his first title match. He rallied from a 3-0 hole in the third set to tie it 5-5 before Van Assche closed it out by winning two straight games.
The championship match was the first between players born in 2004 or later.
–Field Level Media
