Sports
Fire aim to turn page in season opener vs. Crew
Jan 9, 2025; Miami Beach, Florida, USA; Chicago Fire FC head coach Gregg Berhalter fields questions during the Major League Soccer Media Day at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-Imagn Images Former U.S men’s national team coach Gregg Berhalter will lead his new side, the Chicago Fire, against the powerful Columbus Crew on Saturday night in a season-opening Eastern Conference match in Columbus, Ohio.
Berhalter got his coaching start at Columbus from 2013-18 and led the Crew to the MLS playoffs in four of those five seasons.
The Fire have nowhere to go but up after finishing last in the East last year, collecting the second-fewest points (30) in the league. Chicago has missed the postseason every year since a Round 1 loss in 2017 and has failed to make the playoffs in the 11 of the past 12 seasons.
“The starting point is, you know, to build a world-class organization — that’s what we’re focused on,” Berhalter said. “We want a team that really develops both players and staff members. We want to unite Chicago, we want Chicago behind us, we want to capture Chicago, and we want to win.”
Berhalter has been given plenty of funds to overhaul his new side.
Expect as many as six new starters for Chicago, which went the international route in adding winger Jonathan Bamba from the Ivory Coast, fullback Leonardo Barroso from Portugal, Mali international midfielder Rominigue Kouame, and winger Philip Zinckernagel from top Danish side Brugge.
Hugo Cuypers led the Fire with 10 goals in 31 appearances in 2024 and returns looking to help the team take the next step.
Columbus, meanwhile, finished second in the Eastern Conference last season but was dispatched in the first round of the MLS playoffs by the New York Red Bulls in two games. The Crew set club records for wins (19), points (66) and goal differential (plus-32).
Columbus’ Wilfried Nancy was voted coach of the year.
Just before training camp, the Crew sent superstar forward Cucho Hernandez to LaLiga’s Real Betis for a club-record transfer fee, which reportedly could reach $16 million. Also gone are veteran striker Christian Ramirez and forward Yaw Yeboah.
Columbus added versatile Finnish international midfielder Lassi Lappalainen, who played the past six seasons in Montreal.
Despite the departures, Nancy said he expects even more from his team this season.
“The plan hasn’t changed, to be honest with you,” he said. “We try to think ahead about what can happen. When we have a player leave, no matter what is the position, we try to anticipate it.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Ryan Weathers, Yankees stifle Phillies to extend strong stretch
Jul 25, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Ryan Weathers (40) throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Austin Wells and Jasson Dominguez homered and Ryan Weathers worked into the sixth as the visiting New York Yankees topped the Philadelphia Phillies 3-1 on Saturday.
Cody Bellinger knocked in the go-ahead run for New York, which has won five of its last six games. Weathers (4-7) allowed one run and six hits in 5 2/3 innings, walking one and striking out seven.
Philadelphia got two scoreless innings out of opener Tim Mayza before 32-year-old Brian Keller made his major league debut, allowing one run over three innings. In all, seven pitchers took the mound for the Phillies, who fell to 2-6 since the All-Star break.
Philadelphia opened the scoring with a first-inning run against Weathers. The left-hander hit leadoff hitter Trea Turner with a pitch and then allowed a double to Kyle Schwarber, setting the stage for Bryce Harper’s sacrifice fly.
Weathers rebounded to retire the next two batters with Schwarber on third.
Wells tied it with a two-out, opposite-field homer against Keller in the third.
The Phillies had two baserunners in both the third and fourth innings against Weathers. A double play derailed their third-inning rally, while Weathers struck out Derek Hill to conclude the fourth.
In the fifth, Weathers mowed down the top of the Philadelphia order, striking out Turner and Schwarber before Harper grounded out on the first pitch.
Kyle Backhus (1-1), called up earlier in the day from Triple-A Lehigh Valley,, relieved Keller to start the sixth. He walked Wells to open the frame, but then struck out two straight hitters before giving way to Seth Johnson. The right-hander allowed two consecutive singles, including Bellinger’s go-ahead hit to center.
Weathers and Angel Chivilli each gave up a single in the sixth, but Chivilli retired Bryson Stott with the tying run on third.
It did not stay a one-run game for long, however, as Dominguez launched a long homer against Jose Alvarado to open the seventh.
New York right-hander Paul Blackburn cruised through the seventh and eighth innings, and David Bednar came on for the ninth and worked a 1-2-3 inning for his 20th save.
–Field Level Media
Sports
WNBA announces launch of central replay booth
Jun 27, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Storm head coach Sonia Raman speaks to an official in the fourth quarter at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Richard Dizon-Imagn Images The WNBA announced on Saturday that it will launch a centralized replay center for the start of the 2027 season.
The league already uses replay, but shifting to a centralized system aims to speed up and enhance the review process.
A state-of-the-art replay center in Secaucus, N.J., has been used by the NBA since 2014. The WNBA will now use the same facility as its centralized hub for all reviewable game situations. The center will give on-court officials quick access to multiple camera angles and guidance from officials in New Jersey to make fast and accurate calls.
“As the WNBA continues its extraordinary growth, we’re committed to investing in every aspect of the game, including the technology and resources that support players, teams, and officials,” head of WNBA league operations Bethany Donaphin said. “Leveraging the NBA’s state-of-the-art replay center is an important step in the continued evolution of our game.
“It allows us to enhance the consistency and efficiency of replay reviews while embracing innovations that strengthen the competition and deliver the best possible experience for all our stakeholders.”
The league previously formed an officiating task force during the offseason to improve officiating, a move that has received more attention in recent weeks due to specific on-court incidents.
Perhaps most notoriously, Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas was handed a one-game suspension for “recklessly making contact with her fist to the throat area” of Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark during a game in June. No foul was called on the play, and Thomas and the Mercury were dissatisfied with the punishment process afterward, while the Fever were angry about the lack of a call.
Fever coach Stephanie White was upset after the contest that Thomas wasn’t called for a foul.
“You’ve got to call it,” White said at the time. “It’s absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful.”
Current officials are set to rotate as staff for the center.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Nikki Hiltz wins 4th straight 1500m title at USA Outdoor Championship
Jul 25, 2026; New York, NY, USA; Nikki Hiltz reacts after winning the women’s 1,500m in 4:06.92 during the USATF Championships at Icahn Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Nikki Hiltz won her fourth consecutive 1500-meter title in dramatic fashion at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships on Saturday in New York.
Hiltz, who has won the last four outdoor and last four indoor 1500m races at national meets, finished with a time of 4:06.92, finishing four hundredths ahead of Addy Wiley and six hundredths ahead of Emily Mackay in third place.
She’s just the second American runner this century to win four 1500m titles, joining Jenny Simpson, who did so from 2014-17.
“That was honestly, probably, I think out of all my titles, the hardest one,” Hiltz said, per NBC Sports. “I feel really, really, really happy with that one. It’s so hard to defend one. It’s hard to defend two. Now, going into this, I was the three-time defending champ. I think the weight just gets heavier and heavier and heavier. So I feel a lot of relief right now.”
The next hurdle for Hiltz, 31, will be attempting to reach her first international outdoor podium at September’s World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest. At World Indoors she was a silver medalist in 2024 and a bronze medalist earlier this year.
“I want to try to medal in Budapest,” Hiltz said. “After Pre, I think I was like, maybe I could win (World Ultimate). Maybe I could win a world championship, and I think I’ve never had that belief, like, ever.”
In the men’s 1500m, Nathan Green similarly completed an indoor/outdoor sweep at national events with a 3:50.27 finish, five hundredths ahead of Vincent Ciattei.
In the 400m, Chris Bailey, who won gold at the Paris Olympics in the 4X400m relay, won his first national championship after first-place finisher Justin Robinson was disqualified for stepping on one of his lane lines multiple times.
Bailey finished with a time of 44.39 seconds, just ahead of Khaleb McRae (44.41) and Demarius Smith (44.54).
In the women’s 400m, Aaliyah Butler also won her first national championship after winning gold in Paris two years ago in the 4X400, finishing as the wire-to-wire leader with a time of 49.93 seconds. Alexis Holmes (50.47) was in second while Samaria Butler (50.89) rounded out the podium.
Alia Armstrong followed up her 60m hurdles championship at the U.S. Indoor Championships with a 100m hurdles championship on Saturday, finishing with a season-best time of 12.38 seconds. Four hundredths behind in second was Alaysha Johnson (12.42), while 2024 Olympic long jump gold medalist Tara Davis-Woodhall, who last competed in hurdles five years ago, finished third at 12.57.
Nathan Mountain won his first U.S. title in the steeplechase with a time of 8:13.81. He beat Carson Williams by seven hundredths despite a stumble on his landing after clearing the barrier on the final lap. Duncan Hamilton (8:14.05) finished a close third.
In the women’s steeplechase, Lexy Halladay-Lowry repeated as the American champion in decidedly less dramatic fashion, winning by nearly five seconds with a time of 9:12.54. Gabbi Jennings (9:17.42) finished in second, just ahead of Madie Boreman (9:17.68).
In the field events, the men’s triple jump came down to a tiebreaker when Salif Mane and Russell Robinson tied for the best jump of the day at 16.66m. After Mane forced the tie on his final jump and won his second U.S. title in three years with the better second-best jump of 16.11m, edging out Robinson’s 16.02. James Carter Jr. (16.15) came in third.
Curtis Thompson delivered a season-best javelin throw of 87.59m on his sixth and final throw to comfortably win his sixth national title ahead of Jordan Davis (82.36m) and Marc Anthony Minichello (75.98).
Recent Air Force graduate Texas Tanner won the men’s discus throw title with his fourth throw which traveled 65.46m, edging out Reggie Jagers (64.00) and Mitchell Weber (63.84).
Sandi Morris won her sixth national pole vault championship with a season-best jump of 4.90m, while Chase Jackson was the wire-to-wire leader in women’s shotput, winning her fifth title with her best throw of 20.55m coming on her sixth and final throw.
The event is being held in New York for the first time since 1991 as it celebrates its 150th anniversary in the city where the inaugural edition was contested.
–Field Level Media
