Sports
Maryland readies for undefeated FCS foe Villanova
Sep 14, 2024; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. (9) talks with Terrapins head coach Michael Locksley (R) during a timeout against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Coming off its best half of the season, inconsistent Maryland hopes to build on the positive when it hosts Villanova on Saturday in College Park, Md.
The Terrapins (2-1) are flying high after rallying in the second half to hand old Atlantic Coast Conference rival Virginia its first loss, 27-13 on Saturday.
Maryland is prepared to meet a feisty Villanova (3-0), which is coming off an appearance in last year’s FCS quarterfinals.
“I don’t expect Villanova to come in here as an FCS team and be big eyed,” Maryland coach Mike Locksley said.
In Week 2, Maryland came under fire after it surrendered 10 points in the final five minutes of a 27-24 loss at home to underdog Michigan State.
The negative swirl followed the Terrapins to Charlottesville as they trailed 13-7 after an uninspired first half. But Maryland outscored Virginia 20-0 over the remainder of the game.
Billy Edwards Jr. threw for 263 yards and two touchdowns, including one to Kai Felton, who finished with nine receptions for 117 yards.
Maryland’s defense rose to the occasion behind Big Ten defensive player of the week Dante Trader Jr., who had 11 tackles and an interception. After halftime, the Cavaliers didn’t cross midfield until their final desperation drive died at the Terrapins’ 28.
“That was a tough, gritty win for us,” Locksley said. “We found out a lot about ourselves. We found out the importance of staying in the moment, not playing to a scoreboard.”
Villanova, which is coming off a 14-13 win over Towson, is energized by the chance to play at Maryland.
“It’s a bigger stage,” Villanova coach Matt Ferrante said. “A lot of our guys within our program, and all the teams in the (Coastal Athletic Association), think they can play on that bigger stage.”
Villanova has lost nine straight times to Maryland, with the most recent meeting coming in 2007.
The Wildcats have a ground-heavy attack with rushes (100) outnumbering passing attempts (70).
Three-year starting quarterback Connor Watkins “is the guy that makes their offense go,” Locksley said, mentioning Watkins’ ability to execute zone read plays and run-pass options. On the season, Watkins has thrown for 453 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.
Isaiah Ragland, who rushed for 141 yards and a touchdown against Towson, averages 7.3 yards per carry, while backup David Avit averages 6.0 yards per attempt for Villanova.
Avit’s brother, Ezekiel Avit, plays wideout for Maryland.
Maryland has won 14 straight non-conference games, which is the second-longest streak in the FBS, behind Georgia’s run of 24 in a row.
– 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
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Courage transfer M Manaka Matsukubo to Chelsea
