Sports
Morocco ends historic Canadian run; advances to World Cup quarters
July 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, U.S.; Morocco’s Azzedine Ounahi celebrates scoring their first goal. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images Azzedine Ounahi’s second-half brace helped Morocco overcome a tepid start for a 3-0 victory over Canada in Houston on Saturday to advance to the quarterfinals for a second straight World Cup.
Morocco, unbeaten in 34 matches, plays June 9 in Boston against the winner of the France-Paraguay match from later Saturday.
Ounahi gave Morocco the lead in the 50th minute and added another in the 82nd minute on a breakout before Soufiane Rahimi scored against a pressing Canada in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
Canada’s dream run ended after failing to take advantage of early domination. They had never before this year advanced out of the group stage, but did so and won their first knockout match, 1-0 against South Africa in the round of 32.
Morocco is No. 6 in the FIFA world rankings; Canada 30th.
There were four yellow cards apiece and Canada had 24 fouls to 14 for Morocco.
After a listless first half, Morocco stunned Canada with a goal from nowhere on only their second shot of the match.
Achraf Hakimi lined up for a free kick to the right of the goal after a yellow card, the seventh of the match, to Canada’s Luc de Fougerolles for a sloppy foul on Soufiane Rahimi.
Hakimi put the ball on the ground to Ounahi on the edge of the box and he one-timed a shot to the right corner with the Canadians caught a step behind.
In the 77th minute, Canada’s Jonathan David sent a free kick from outside the box over the bar and a minute later, teammate Tajon Buchanan’s long strike forced a diving stop at the left post by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
That proved crucial when Ounahi took a layoff pass from Brahim Diaz to make it 2-0.
Morocco suffered a major blow in the 22nd minute when leading scorer Ismael Saibari had to leave with a possible hamstring injury. The 25-year-old attacking midfielder scored in all three group matches and on Wednesday it was announced he was joining Germany’s Bayern Munich from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven.
Canada looked nothing like a nervous team in their first round of 16 going against a 2022 World Cup semifinalist.
As is the style of American-born coach Jesse Marsch, the Canadians were on the attack from the start. Within five minutes, Bounou made a close-range save on David and followed soon after with a punch of a Stephen Eustaquio corner, but he made his best stop in the 12th after Canada’s pressure resulted in a giveaway.
Tani Oluwaseyi got the ball at the top of the box, made a sharp turn then fired a low shot that required Bounou to make the save with his outstretched left leg.
By the hydration break, Canada had all four shots, two on target, in the match.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Paige Bueckers on a scoring binge as Wings visit Tempo
Jul 2, 2026; Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) reacts after her basket and foul by the Connecticut Sun in the second half at PeoplesBank Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images Paige Bueckers figures to play a key role again Sunday against when the Dallas Wings look for a 2-0 start to their four-game road trip in a visit to the Toronto Tempo.
Bueckers scored 25 points for the third consecutive game on Thursday when the Wings (12-8) opened the trip with an 86-83 victory over the Connecticut Sun. She added seven rebounds and seven assists, while scoring 11 of her points in the fourth quarter as Dallas overcame an 11-point deficit with 7:11 to play.
“She does things every single day that now you’re not surprised by anymore,” Wings coach Jose Fernandez said. “She’s just different. She’s such a competitor and a winner, and she just refuses to lose. Certain guys don’t want the ball in their hands at the end, don’t want to take the big shot, and she never shies away from the big moment.”
Jessica Shepard added 14 points for Dallas and reserve Alanna Smith scored 11 for Dallas, which had lost its previous two games.
Before Bueckers’ streak of three 25-point games, she scored 27 against the Seattle Storm in a 112-110 overtime win on June 22.
After visiting the New York Liberty on Tuesday, the Wings will end their road swing Friday against the Tempo at Montreal.
The Tempo (9-10) have been idle since an 89-80 home loss to the Phoenix Mercury on June 27.
The Tempo were without Marina Mabrey in the loss because of neck spasms. In Toronto’s previous game, she tied a WNBA record with 53 points in a 125-97 home victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on June 25.
“I didn’t know until right before the game,” Tempo coach Sandy Brondello said of Mabrey’s injury. “She warmed up … and then they ruled her out. That was hard, because you can’t really plan, you’re planning on the fly, and rotations change a little bit.”
Mabrey has been listed as day-to-day. She was at practice on Friday and appears set to play on Sunday.
In Mabrey’s absence, Nyara Sabally led Toronto with 14 points against Phoenix. Reserve Tima Pouye added 13 points. Kia Nurse replaced Mabrey at guard and scored 12. Isabelle Harrison had 12 points and seven rebounds while Julie Allemand had 11 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.
“Julie is such a great playmaking guard, and she wants to create if you can set really good screens,” Brondello said. “She’s a pass-first point guard. I mean, who wouldn’t want to play with someone like that?”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braxton Ashcraft solid in Pirates' 7-1 win against Nationals
Jul 4, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin (6) celebrates scoring a run with third baseman Nick Gonzales (3) against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images Brandon Lowe and Henry Davis each drove in two runs and Braxton Ashcraft struck out seven in a solid start as the Pittsburgh Pirates earned a 7-1 road win over the Washington Nationals on Saturday.
Ashcraft (9-3) allowed one run on six hits with two walks in 5 2/3 innings. Bryan Reynolds, Ryan O’Hearn and Nick Gonzales each had two hits for the Pirates.
James Wood hit his 23rd home run of the season and Daylen Lile had two hits for the Nationals.
Pittsburgh racked up five hits to open a 5-1 lead in the second. Gonzales singled, Jake Mangum was hit by a pitch and Tyler Callihan reached on a bunt single.
Nationals starter Carson Palmquist (0-1) was relieved by Zack Littell, who surrendered Davis’ RBI infield single, scoring Gonzales. Konnor Griffin struck out swinging, but Lowe’s two-run single scored Callihan and Mangum and advanced Davis to second. After Reynolds fouled out to third, Esmerlyn Valdez’s blooper to right drove in Davis.
Earlier, Griffin opened the game by poking a single into right field. He stole second base, and after Lowe struck out swinging, advanced to third on Reynolds’ infield single.
Palmquist struck out Valdez, but Pittsburgh took a 1-0 lead on a double steal as Reynolds swiped second and Griffin slid home safely ahead of the throw from Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams.
Wood evened the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first when he drove a first-pitch fastball 428 feet to right for a homer.
Riley Cornelio relieved Littell in the eighth and Pittsburgh extended its lead to 7-1. Reynolds reached on a dribbler down the first-base line. Valdez struck out looking and O’Hearn singled to right. With runners on first and third, Gonzales laced an RBI single to left. Mangum reached on a fielder’s choice that forced out Gonzales at second, but Callihan walked to load the bases. Davis coaxed a walk to drive in another run.
Palmquist allowed four runs on four hits with no walks and three strikeouts in one inning.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Joey Chestnut wins Nathan's hot dog contest for 18th time
Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating champion Joey Chestnut’s belt before the Lugnuts game against the TinCaps on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, at Jackson Field in Lansing. The G.O.A.T. remains the top dog when it comes to devouring frankfurters on the Fourth of July.
Joey Chestnut won his 18th Nathan’s Famous hot dog-eating contest on Saturday in Coney Island, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Chestnut, 42, consumed 66 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. He holds the event record with 76 in 2021.
He ate 15 more than runner-up Patrick Bertoletti on Saturday.
“I knew I was going to be able to get the win,” Chestnut said afterwards “I’ve got so much room left.”
Miki Sudo, 40, won the women’s contest for the 12th time by downing 38.75 hot dogs.
Nathan’s Famous has been hosting the annual Independence Day contest since 1972.
–Field Level Media
Paige Bueckers on a scoring binge as Wings visit Tempo
Braxton Ashcraft solid in Pirates' 7-1 win against Nationals
