Sports
NWSL roundup: Gotham FC score four 2nd-half goals to power past Bay FC
Oct 5, 2024; Harrison, New Jersey, USA; NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Esther Gonzalez (9) celebrates with midfielder Jenna Nighswonger (2) and midfielder Emily Sonnett (6) following a second half goal against Bay FC at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images Led by two goals from Esther Gonzalez scored in the span of three minutes, Gotham FC beat Bay FC 5-1 on Saturday night in Harrison, N.J.
With the victory, Gotham (14-4-5, 47 points) extended its unbeaten streak to four matches and held its spot in third place in the NWSL table. Bay FC (9-13-1, 28 points) has lost two of its last three games but still holds on to the eighth and final playoff bid.
Gotham struck first with a goal from Jenna Nighswonger on a penalty in the ninth minute, then Asisat Oshoala scored the equalizer for Bay FC in the 18th minute. Rose Lavelle broke the tie in the 70th minute, then Gonzalez found the back of the net in the 72nd and 74th minutes. CeCe Kizer added another score for good measure for Gotham in the 84th minute.
In all, Gotham got off 21 shots and put nine of them on frame.
Gonzalez also provided the assist on Lavelle’s goal. She has six goals and four assists on the season now.
NC Courage 2, San Diego Wave FC 1
Aline Gomes and Manaka Matsukubo scored as the Courage won at home over the Wave in Cary, N.C., to clinch a spot in the NWSL playoffs.
The goal for Gomes — a 19-year-old rookie from Brazil — was the first of her NWSL career, as she cleaned up an attempt from Matsukubo with a right-footed shot from close range to give the Courage (12-9-2, 38 points) an early lead. After Matsukubo’s goal just before halftime, Hanna Lundkvist netted a late goal for San Diego (5-11-7, 22 points) in the 84th minute.
Courage defender Kaleigh Kurtz sealed the win in the waning moments of the match with a crucial and timely goal-line clearance. More than 8,400 fans attended the match at WakeMed Soccer Park, making it the fourth-highest attended match in Courage history.
Kansas City Current 2, Racing Louisville FC 0
Temwa Chawinga extended her lead in the Golden Boot race by scoring her 18th goal of the season as the Current won and kept a clean sheet in Louisville.
It marked the first win for the Current (13-3-7, 46 points) in Louisville (6-10-7, 25 points).
Chawinga scored almost immediately, weaving through the Louisville defense in the second minute after receiving a pass from Debinha then striking the back of the net from inside the penalty area. Chawinga needs just one more goal to take ownership of the NWSL’s single-season scoring record, which she currently shares with former Chicago striker Sam Kerr.
Vanessa DiBernardo put the game on ice for the Current in the 86th minute, scoring off a stunning right-footed free kick from just outside the penalty area.
Royals 2, Thorns 1
Utah topped host Portland behind goals from Hannah Betfort and Mina Tanaka to win back-to-back matches for just the second time this season.
On a counterattack in the 47th minute, Betfort received the ball in the final third and sliced between two defenders before chipping it over goalkeeper Shelby Hogan to open the scoring for the Royals (6-14-3, 21 points). Tanaka then found the back of the net in the 50th minute, driving home a rebound of a blocked free kick.
Portland (8-11-4, 28 points) got a goal back in the 53rd minute when Olivia Moultrie scored on a penalty kick. At 19 years, 18 days old, she is the youngest player in the history of the NWSL to score a PK, according to OptaJack.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Lucas Herbert wins LIV Golf United Kingdom with record-setting score
Jul 17, 2026; Southport, ENG; Lucas Herbert lines up a putt on the 18th green during the second round of The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Birkdale. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Lucas Herbert wasn’t about to be denied the LIV Golf United Kingdom championship on Sunday.
Entering the final round at 20-under with a three-stroke lead over Bryson DeChambeau, the Australian holed 10 birdies for a final-round 62 and a 30-under-par 258 for the four-day event. That gave him a six-stroke victory over England’s Tyrrell Hatton, who turned in a 63.
DeChambeau closed with a 68 to finish 21-under par and in third place at JCB Golf & Country Club in Rocester, England.
Herbert’s dominance this week — his 62 was preceded by rounds of 61, 66 and 69 — led Rippers GC to a 52-under finish, four strokes ahead of captain Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII.
The 30-under finish by Herbert marked the lowest in LIV history. This was his second individual victory of the season — he also won LIV Golf Virginia in May — and he also set the league record for most birdies in a tournament with 30. His combination of 32 birdies and eagles in a tournament also broke a LIV record.
Herbert said confidence in his game grew after his strong finish at the Open Championship last week at Royal Birkdale, where he finished four shots behind winner Ryan Fox and tied for sixth.
“Just wanted to really carry that into this week the best I could,” Herbert said. “I think I got out of my own way the first two rounds and I started thinking about it yesterday. It was just good to play like that today when I was being pushed by two of the best players in the world.”
Hatton pushed as hard as he could with nine birdies, but it wasn’t enough given Herbert’s unprecedented four rounds.
“Obviously Lucas played amazing today, Hatton said. “I wanted to get off to a fast start, which is what I did, but unfortunately Lucas did as well. Yeah, I’m very proud of how I played. It would have been amazing to win in front of home fans, but I tried my best. But actually Lucas was incredible this week.”
Herbert said he did a good job at something else — hiding his nerves.
“I was definitely feeling it out there. I can only do what I can do,” Herbert said. “I was able to take care of what I needed to do today pretty well to get me over the line. I knew it wasn’t going to be a day where even par, 1-under, was going to get it done for me. I knew I had to go out there and get it. Just kept pushing myself the whole way, and here we are.”
Australian Cameron Smith shot a 69 on Sunday to finish in fourth at 17-under. Mexico’s Abraham Ancer (71) and Caleb Surratt (67) shared fifth at 14-under.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tadej Pogacar rides away with record-tying fifth Tour de France title
Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia celebrates winning his fifth Tour de France on Sunday in Paris. With a record-tying fifth Tour de France title already in hand, Tadej Pogacar did his best to put on another show on Sunday before relenting near the finish of the shortened final stage in Paris.
The cycling star from Slovenia was overtaken on the final straightaway of Stage 21, but still won the overall title in a time of 73 hours, 56 minutes, 26 seconds over the three-week event. He finished 6:26 ahead of Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel.
Pogacar’s UAE Team Emirates teammate Isaac del Toro of Mexico finished third overall, which also clinched the title for top rider 25-years-old and under.
Mathieu van der Poel of Belgium won the final stage in a sprint to the finish line along Paris’ Champs-Elysees.
Pogacar and van der Poel were locked in a duel on the final circuit before van der Poel used his famed sprinter’s speed to pull away. It was a 1-2 finish for the Alpecin-Premier Tech team with Jasper Philipsen of Belgium coming in second. Mads Pedersen of Denmark, and the Lidl-Trek team, finished third.
Stage 21 was adjusted this year to include the hilly Montmartre circuit, which has gained popularity since being used during the 2024 Paris Olympics. The route was adjusted further Saturday when it was reduced to 88.7 kilometers due to wildfires outside of Paris.
Richard Carapaz of Ecuador won the overall title for top climber while wearing the polka-dot jersey while Pedersen clinched the sprinter’s title in the green jersey. Lidl-Trek, which includes Quinn Simmons of the United States, won the team title.
Simmons, the reigning United States road race champion, was awarded “Best Teammate” for the second consecutive year.
Pogacar ended up in 30th on the final stage, but the overall title had long been in hand as he won the Tour de France for the third consecutive year. He also won titles in 2020 and 2021.
“It’s an incredible day and an incredible atmosphere,” Pogacar said. “I’m happy that it’s over and we won for a fifth time.”
Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark are the only riders to win the Tour de France since 2000. Vingegaard was forced to abandon this year’s race on Stage 15 when he crashed in a turn and came away with a right arm injury. Vingegaard was second overall when he crashed.
Miguel Indurain of Spain was the last to win five Tour de France titles, clinching the last of those in 1995. Bernard Hinault of France, Eddy Merckx of Belgium and Jacques Anquetil of France also won five titles.
“Every victory is really special and seven Tours already, seven times on the podium, with five wins, it’s something that you wouldn’t even write in a storybook,” Pogacar said. “It’s unbelievable for me.”
Pogacar stamped himself as one of the top road racers of all-time by winning Stages 3, 6, 10, 14 and 19 this year. The five wins this year give him 26 Tour de France stage wins.
“It’s a lot of factors,” Pogacar said when asked how he was able to secure title No. 5. “You enjoy what you’re doing, and you have the people around you that you trust and they help you. They’re there for you when you’re at your lowest and you can be yourself and chase your dreams.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mario Hezonja back in NBA, signs deal with Cavs
Aug 11, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) and Portland Trail Blazers forward Mario Hezonja (44) battle for the ball during the second half of a NBA game at The Field House. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-Imagn Images Mario Hezonja is returning to the NBA for the first time since 2020 after signing a one-year deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers, ESPN reported Sunday.
The deal for the Croatia native, who was the fifth overall selection in the 2015 draft, is reportedly worth $2.8 million.
Hezonja, 31, has spent the last six years in the EuroLeague and the last four at Real Madrid where he blossomed. Hezonja helped Real Madrid clinch the EuroLeague championship in 2023 and was named the MVP of Liga ACB for the 2025-26 season when he averaged 17.5 points and 4.9 rebounds.
The Golden State Warriors also pursued the former lottery pick, according to the report. The Cavaliers came out ahead in the end as they look to improve on a run where they made it to the Eastern Conference finals last season. It was their first conference final since 2018.
Hezonja last played in the NBA during the 2019-2020 season with the Portland Trailblazers and also spent time with the Orlando Magic (2015-18) and New York Knicks (2018-19) in five seasons. In 330 career games (69 starts) Hezonja averaged 6.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists, while shooting 41.7% from the field and 31.9% from 3-point range.
–Field Level Media
