Sports
Galaxy in need of 3 points vs. Whitecaps
Apr 26, 2026; Carson, California, USA; LA Galaxy midfielder Marco Reus (18) reacts after scoring a goal during the second half against Real Salt Lake at Dignity Health Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images While there’s a lot of time left in the MLS season, it’s also true that every result you book now means one less you need in October.
That’s why the Los Angeles Galaxy could use three points from Saturday night’s fixture with the Vancouver Whitecaps in Carson, Calif.
While Vancouver (8-1-0, 24 points) leads the league in goal differential and has more points than any team except San Jose, LA (3-4-3, 12 points) currently sits at 10th in the West standings. That would leave it out of the postseason if it started Saturday.
The two pieces of good news are that the postseason doesn’t start for nearly six months, and that the Galaxy are coming off a 2-1 win April 26 against Real Salt Lake. Marco Reus delivered both goals, including a penalty kick in the 85th minute to snap a 1-1 tie.
Reus, who helped take up the offensive slack left by injured striker Joao Klauss (foot), thinks Los Angeles learned a lesson.
“You don’t have to play nice to win games,” he said. “Sometimes, you have to play dirty to win games. It doesn’t matter if we’re defending or playing forward.”
While Los Angeles searches for consistency, the Whitecaps aim to keep their considerable off-field distractions off the field. The Athletic reported Friday morning that an investor group led by 30-year-old Grant Gustavson has made an offer to buy the team with the intention of moving it to Las Vegas.
The franchise has been up for sale since December 2024. The league said the team’s lease with BC Place, whose primary tenant is the CFL’s B.C. Lions, is untenable. The city has a site in mind for a soccer-specific stadium but lacks a bridge deal to get past this year, much less build the facility.
Despite that as the backdrop, Vancouver has steamrolled nearly everyone. It’s coming off a 3-1 home win April 25 against Colorado behind a brace from Brian White, whose eight goals trail only Petar Musa (Dallas) and Sam Surridge (Nashville).
“We believe in each other. We believe in the staff,” midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Courage transfer M Manaka Matsukubo to Chelsea
May 8, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; North Carolina Courage midfielder Manaka Matsukubo (34) controls the ball against the Orlando Pride in the second half at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images The North Carolina Courage transferred 2025 NWSL Midfielder of the Year Manaka Matsukubo to Chelsea FC on Friday.
The 21-year-old Japan international signed a five-year contract with the English club, which competes in the Women’s Super League.
“I’m so excited to be joining Chelsea, a club with a lot of history,” Matsukubo said in a Chelsea press release. “As a small child, I followed Chelsea because it is a club everyone in the world knows about.
“The club has a strong history of winning trophies and has done so well at the top of the game, so I couldn’t pass up this opportunity, and I want to help continue this club’s tradition of winning trophies for years to come.”
Matsukubo joined the Courage on loan in 2023. She tallied 19 goals and 10 assists in 58 matches with North Carolina, including 11 goals last season and five goals through nine matches in 2026.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Yankees place Carlos Rodon on IL, reinstate Trent Grisham, Ryan McMahon
Jun 23, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17) takes the ball to relieve pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) in the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images The New York Yankees returned center fielder Trent Grisham and third baseman Ryan McMahon to their active roster prior to Friday’s home game against the Minnesota Twins.
To make room for them on the 26-man roster, left-handed starting pitcher Carlos Rodon was placed on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation and utility man Oswaldo Cabrera was sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Grisham, 29, has not played since June 12 due to a hamstring strain and was on the 10-day IL. The Yankees’ frequent leadoff hitter has posted a .232/.341/.406 slash line with eight home runs, 35 RBIs and six stolen bases in 66 games this season.
McMahon, 31, has not been in the Yankees’ lineup since June 21 due to ear and throat issues and was on the 10-day IL. An All-Star in 2024 with the Colorado Rockies, McMahon has delivered a .210 batting average, eight homers and 23 RBIs in 69 games this year.
Rodon, a three-time All-Star including in 2025, hits the injured list after one of his best starts of the year. The 33-year-old surrendered one hit and no earned runs over five innings on Sunday at Boston. In nine starts this season, Rodon has fashioned a 4-2 record and 3.30 ERA with 52 strikeouts and 26 walks over 46 1/3 innings. He began the season on the IL following offseason elbow surgery and later injured his hamstring in March before making his season debut on May 10.
He was slated to start Saturday against the Twins.
Cabrera, 27, appeared in three games while McMahon was sidelined. He went 0-for-9 with two sacrifice bunts in his 11 plate appearances.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Williams sisters to play doubles Saturday at Wimbledon
Jul 6, 2015; London, United Kingdom; Serena Williams (USA) and Venus Williams (USA) hug at the net after their match on day seven of The Championships Wimbledon at the AELTC. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images Serena and Venus Williams will play their Wimbledon first-round doubles match on Saturday after organizers gave Serena time to recover from a knee injury.
The sisters, who won the grass-court Grand Slam doubles title six times (most recently in 2016), take on Argentina’s Solana Sierra and Colombia’s Camila Osorio at the All England Club.
Playing her first singles match in nearly four years on Tuesday, the 44-year-old Serena tweaked her knee in the first set of a 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 loss to Australia’s Maya Joint.
Tournament director Jamie Baker told the Associated Press the first-round doubles match was pushed back to give Serena “as much time” as possible to recover. All other first-round matches in the Ladies’ Doubles draw were contested Thursday and Friday.
“We want her to play if she … possibly can,” Baker said Friday.
Venus, 46, and Serena last played doubles at the 2022 U.S. Open, losing in the first round to Linda Noskova and Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic.
The winner of Saturday’s match will face ninth-seeded Ellen Perez of Australia and Demi Schuurs of the Netherlands in the second round.
–Field Level Media
Courage transfer M Manaka Matsukubo to Chelsea
Yankees place Carlos Rodon on IL, reinstate Trent Grisham, Ryan McMahon
