Connect with us

Sports

Mercury storm back from 13-point deficit to edge Valkyries

Golden State Valkyries guard Kaila Charles (6) tries to drive past Phoenix Mercury forward Valeriane Ayayi (11) at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on July 29, 2026.Golden State Valkyries guard Kaila Charles (6) tries to drive past Phoenix Mercury forward Valeriane Ayayi (11) at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on July 29, 2026.

Alyssa Thomas scored 15 of her season-high 25 points in the fourth quarter, Kahleah Copper scored 27 points before fouling out, and the host Phoenix Mercury overcame a 13-point second-half deficit to beat the Golden State Valkyries 91-89 on Wednesday.

DeWanna Bonner had 17 points and 10 rebounds, her second double-double of the season, and Thomas was just short of her second straight triple-double with nine rebounds and eight assists.

The Mercury (11-18), who trailed 71-62 early in the fourth quarter, have won three in a row in a belated playoff push after reaching the WNBA Finals last season.

Cecliia Zandalasini scored 16 points and had three 3-pointers, Veronica Burton scored 15 points and Janelle Salaun added 13 for the Valkyries (19-9), who entered the All-Star break having won 13 of 16 but have lost their last two.

The Valkyries won the first two of the three-game season series.

Golden State leading scorer Gabby Williams missed the game while “reconditioning,” the team said. She is averaging 14.8 points and 1.7 steals per game.

Kaila Charles had 10 points and 10 rebounds while starting in her place.

The Valkyries had 40 bench points, led by Salaun’s 13 and Laeticia Amihere’s 12.

Golden State led 71-62 early in the fourth quarter before Thomas keyed an 11-0 run for the Mercury’s first lead of the second half. Thomas had a 3-point play, Valeriane Ayayi hit a layup on a Thomas assist and Thomas followed with a layup for a 73-71 lead with 5:11 left.

The Valkyries rallied to tie the game at 82-82 on Kayla Thornton’s 3-pointer with 1:36 remaining before Bonner made two free throws with 1:27 left. Thornton was called for a foul while boxing out on Bonner’s second free throw, and Ayayi hit the ensuing free throw for an 85-82 lead.

Thomas’ shot made it 87-82 lead before Salaun made four of five free throws to close to 87-86 with 19.8 seconds left.

Bonner’s two free throws with 15.3 seconds remaining extended the lead to 89-86.and she made another 11.5 seconds after a Valkyries turnover.

Salaun made all three free throws after being fouled on a deep 3-pointer with 5.6 seconds left to make it 90-89. Bonner made one more free throw with 4.3 seconds left and the Valkyries could not control a final rebound.

Phoenix made 32 of 43 free-throw attempts. Bonner was 9 of 12 and Ayayi was 8 of 10. Golden State was 15 of 19.

–Field Level Media

source

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

Blue Jays top Nationals on solid pitching, timely hits

Jul 29, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage (39) throws to the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn ImagesJul 29, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage (39) throws to the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images

Right-hander Trey Yesavage pitched a strong 6 2/3 innings Wednesday afternoon and the visiting Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Washington Nationals 5-2.

Yesavage (5-5) allowed one run, three hits and three walks with four strikeouts in the rubber match of a three-game series. Right-hander Louis Varland allowed a walk and a single in two innings to earn his 23rd save.

Kazuma Okamoto had three hits with a two-run double for the Blue Jays, who completed a 3-3 road trip.

Center fielder Daulton Varsho made a leaping catch at the wall on a drive by Brady House in the bottom of the first.

Washington took a 1-0 lead in the fourth. CJ Abrams led off with a walk, advanced to third on two groundouts and trotted home when Jacob Young looped a double to left.

Washington starter Zack Littell allowed no runs, four hits and three walks with two strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.

Toronto tied the game in the sixth against right-hander Max Kranick. George Springer led off with a walk, took second on a groundout and scored on Ernie Clement’s double to left that a sliding left fielder Daylen Lile just failed to catch. The inning continued when Andres Gimenez was hit by a pitch. Right-hander Eddy Yean replaced Kranick and ended the threat.

Toronto took a 2-1 lead against right-hander Orlando Ribalto (0-2) in the seventh. Okamoto and Alejandro Kirk blooped singles to put runners at the corners with two outs. Okamoto scored when Varsho dribbled an infield hit to third.

The Blue Jays added three in the eighth against righty Paxton Schultz. Davis Schneider doubled with one out and took third on Yohendrick Pinango’s single. Pinch runner Myles Straw stole second and Okamoto flared a two-run double to center that deflected off the glove of a diving Young. Springer stroked an RBI single. Schultz was replaced by Trevor Williams, who returned from the injured list after missing a year with right elbow surgery.

James Wood doubled against Tyler Rogers in the home eighth and scored on Luis Garcia Jr.’s single. Pinch hitter Jose Tena walked. Varland replaced Rogers. Harry Ford walked with one out to load the bases before the inning ended on a strikeout and flyout.

Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did not play because of a tight hamstring.

–Field Level Media

source

Continue Reading

Sports

Chiefs: Eric Bieniemy's wife out of ICU, 'doing better'

Sep 19, 2021; Baltimore, Maryland, USA;  Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy  talks with players after the play during the first half against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn ImagesSep 19, 2021; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy talks with players after the play during the first half against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid had positive news Wednesday on the condition of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s wife, Mia, who was shot last weekend — allegedly by one of their sons.

“She’s doing better,” Reid said, “and great from where she was.”

Reid said Mia Bieniemy is out of the intensive care unit, where she was being treated for multiple gunshot wounds. Her husband is with her as she recovers from the shooting Sunday at their home in Ashburn, Va.

“She’s making progress,” Reid said, “so we’re happy about that.”

Eric and Mia’s son, Elijah Zion Bieniemy, 27, was arrested Monday on charges of malicious wounding, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and discharge of a firearm inside a dwelling, according to the Loudon County (Va.) Sheriff’s Office. Elijah Bieniemy is being held without bond.

Reid said there is no timeline for Eric Bieniemy to return to the team, which had their first full-squad workout of training camp on Wednesday as Missouri Western in St. Joseph, Mo. Pass game coordinator Joe Bleymaier, who has been with the Chiefs since 2016, is serving as acting offensive coordinator.

“Right now, it’s important that he takes care of business. And everybody knows that,” Reid said of Eric Bieniemy. “So everybody’s game is picked up (among coaches), and they’re working hard. Eric will be back soon enough to jump in there and do his thing. But he’s got to take care of that first.”

Bieniemy, 56, is in contact with coaches and kept up to speed on the team, including “tape he can watch,” Reid said, “in whatever spare time he’s got there.”

Reid noted that Mia is the primary caretaker to Bieniemy’s other son, Eric III, who has cerebral palsy.

“I just want to make sure (Mia) is taken care of, and Eric Jr., too,” Reid said. “And he’s got the other part of that that he’s got to sort out.”

Bieniemy rejoined Reid’s staff in January after previous stints with Kansas City as the running backs coach (2013-17) and offensive coordinator (2018-22). He helped the Chiefs win Super Bowls LIV and LVII.

He coached the Chicago Bears’ running backs in 2025 and previously served as the OC for UCLA (2024), the Washington Commanders (2023) and his alma mater Colorado (2011-12). He also was an NFL running back from 1991-99.

–Field Level Media

source

Continue Reading

Sports

Defending champ Aldrich Potgieter sad to see Rocket Classic's farewell

Jul 17, 2026; Southport, ENG; Aldrich Potgieter reacts to his eagle on the 17th green during the second round of The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Birkdale. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn ImagesJul 17, 2026; Southport, ENG; Aldrich Potgieter reacts to his eagle on the 17th green during the second round of The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Birkdale. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

This week on the PGA Tour feels like a juxtaposition of debuts and farewells, the new and the fading.

Days after 21-year-old Jackson Koivun won for the first time as a pro, the tour arrives at a tournament won last year by a 20-year-old in South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter. But this young talent won’t be coming to Detroit much longer.

While Detroit Golf Club will introduce its new $16 million renovation this week, Thursday will mark the start of the final edition of the Rocket Classic.

The tournament won’t be part of the 2027 season as the PGA Tour continues to reshape its schedule.

“I mean, it’s sad to see the tournament not being here next year,” Potgieter said. “I think having some of the golf course changes, it looking so good and playing so nicely … it’s kind of sad to not have it again.

“I’m happy they got a new nice golf course for the members out here to enjoy as well and I’m looking forward to see what it’s going to play like this year.”

Potgieter said he’ll cherish the memories of getting across the finish line for his first PGA Tour win last year, when he beat Chris Kirk and Max Greyserman in a playoff.

For the time being, the focus for players like Potgieter (No. 64) is to stay inside the top 70 of the FedEx Cup points standings. Only the Rocket Classic and the Wyndham Championship remain in the regular season before the top 70 players qualify for the first leg of the playoffs.

Koivun vaulted to exactly 70th place this past week when he beat Scottie Scheffler by three shots to win the 3M Open in Minnesota. The former No. 1 amateur in the world and Auburn star was making his third start since turning pro.

The job’s not finished, but Koivun is in prime position to qualify for the playoffs mere weeks into his pro career.

“Being 70 is great,” Koivun said. “It’s a good and bad spot, but it gives me an opportunity to go earn making the playoffs. Just to have that opportunity to even have a chance at that is just so awesome. Not really changing my game plan. If I can just go play eight solid rounds of golf, I hopefully can sneak into that top 70.”

Detroit Golf Club will play as a par-70 course after years as a par-72. Nos. 7 and 17 were transformed from par-5 holes to par-4s measuring 505 and 537 yards, respectively.

“Visually it’s far more dramatic than it was,” said Cameron Young, the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 3. “This is a very old-school golf course and felt very familiar to me to kind of Northeast golf. Everything’s kind of right in front of you. It’s flatter than at home in New York, but yeah, it’s always a place I really liked.

“… I think it’s going to be a bit more challenging. There’s some more fairway bunkers in play and with the greens being expanded, there’s going to be some more hole locations.”

Scheffler is taking the week off, but other notable names in the field include Russell Henley, Chris Gotterup, U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, Xander Schauffele, Si Woo Kim of South Korea, Hideki Matsuyama of Japan and Jordan Spieth. Brooks Koepka was in line to make his tournament debut but withdrew on Tuesday and is in danger of missing that top 70 in his first season back on tour from LIV Golf. He’s 84th.

“I feel very confident in my game,” Clark said. “You know, we’re coming into playoffs, last few events, so hopefully keep the momentum going and really put a nice cherry on top of an amazing season.”

–Field Level Media

source

Continue Reading