Sports
Report: Sue Bird to become managing director of USWNT
Aug 9, 2024; Paris, France; Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird watch a women’s basketball semifinal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images USA Basketball plans to name Sue Bird its managing director of the women’s national team for the 2028 Olympic cycle, The Athletic reported Tuesday.
Bird, 44, was a member of five Olympic gold medal-winning teams and four FIBA World Cup champions during her storied playing career, which came to an end in 2022. Now Bird will take on an integral role in preparing Team USA for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
As managing director, Bird’s role will be analogous to Grant Hill’s on the men’s side, per The Athletic. She will shoulder the responsibility for selecting the rosters and coaching staffs for both the Olympics and the World Cup, a departure from the tradition of using a selection committee.
Hill succeeded Hall of Fame executive Jerry Colangelo in the role in 2021. Bird, like Hill, comes with unimpeachable credentials as a winner at the college, professional and international levels.
Bird will work alongside Briana Weiss, who has been the director of the USA women’s national team since 2021.
Following the country’s narrow escape in the 2024 gold medal game against France, and with the retirement of Bird’s contemporary, Diana Taurasi, the program is potentially in a transitional period. Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and 2025 WNBA No. 1 draft pick Paige Bueckers could lead a youth movement for roster spots for the 2028 Olympics, and there was minor controversy when Clark was not chosen for the 2024 team.
Before the Olympics, the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup is scheduled for September 2026 in Germany.
USA Basketball has an announcement planned for Thursday in New York.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mayar Sherif wins Iasi title after Paula Badosa retires
May 28, 2026; Paris, France; Mayar Sherif of Egypt returns a shot during her match against Coco Gauff of the United States on day five at Stade Roland Garros. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images Egypt’s Mayar Sherif claimed her first title in nearly four years Monday after Spain’s Paula Badosa retired in the final of the Iasi Open in Romania.
In a match carried over from Sunday due to rain, Sherif was up 6-4, 4-0 when Badosa was forced to bow out due to injury after 72 minutes.
Sherif, 30, took control with a service break in the seventh game of the opening set and broke Badosa twice to open the second set.
Sherif claimed her first WTA Tour-level trophy since winning the Parma Open in Italy — also on clay — in October 2022.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Ex-Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell arrested in Canton, Ohio
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell from last January.
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Former Pittsburgh Steelers star running back Le’Veon Bell was arrested over the weekend in Canton, Ohio.
He still was being held Monday in the Stark County jail on a warrant out of Michigan over child support payments, according to multiple reports.
Bell’s attorney, Thomas Shaffer of Uniontown, Pa., told the Canton Repository that his client is “inaccurately” being charged based on the salary he received as an NFL player.
“Six months ago he cashed in an NFL pension to pay $50,000 in child support for that child. His guidelines are still inaccurately being deemed based on his NFL salary and his professional boxing career,” Shaffer said. “This is a revolving door because he pays a number that doesn’t reflect his true income. The issue will never end. The court needs to reflect his true income.”
Bell, 34, was arrested Saturday after an autograph-signing appearance at a mall in Jackson Township, Ohio.
A second-round draft pick by the Steelers out of Michigan State in 2013, Bell played five seasons with the Steelers before sitting out the 2018 season in a contract dispute. He continued his career with the New York Jets (2019-20), Kansas City Chiefs (2020), Baltimore Ravens (2021) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2021).
Bell made three Pro Bowls, earned two All-Pro first-team selections and produced three 1,000-yard seasons with the Steelers.
He retired with 9,843 yards from scrimmage (6,554 rushing and 3,289 receiving) and 51 touchdowns in 96 career games (81 starts).
After football, Bell went 2-1 as a professional boxer from 2022-24.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Athletics vs. Diamondbacks Predictions: Best Bets, Odds and Props for Monday
The Athletics (42-57) head to Chase Field in Phoenix to battle the Arizona Diamondbacks (51-48) in Game No. 100 for both teams.
The A’s were playing some good ball earlier in the season, but they’ve been in a nosedive for a while now, and the A’s currently sport a minus-114 run differential, worst among all teams in the majors. In fact, with the Kansas City Royals sitting at minus-99, the A’s are the only triple in triple digits in the category.
The A’s hit the road with a 22-27 mark on the road, and they’re just 18-24 in interleague play in 2026.
For the Diamondbacks, they’re just 12-15 in interleague play, but Arizona has a respectable 29-21 mark at home, while it took two of three games over the weekend against the St. Louis Cardinals, including wins in the past two.
While Arizona’s record against the AL leaves a lot to be desired, it will be facing LHP Jeffrey Springs (3-9, 6.08 ERA, 1.42 WHIP). That’s great news for the Diamondbacks, as they’re 15-7 against left-handed starting pitchers, the fewest losses in the majors. In fact, no other team has fewer than 10 losses vs. LHP.
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The Diamondbacks should be able to roll up some huge totals against Springs, who leads the majors with 26 homers allowed in just 97 ⅔ IP across his 19 starts. He also gets himself into a lot of trouble with 37 walks. Springs is a little better on the road, than at home, going 1-3 with a 5.19 ERA and 10 homers allowed in 43 ⅓ IP, but that’s not exactly encouraging.
Arizona counters with Canadian-born LHP Mitch Bratt (0-0, 6.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP). He’ll be making just his third Major League start, and it will be his first showing in front of the home fans. It’s set up to be a very good spot for him to make his home debut, but with a 23-year-old pitcher who doesn’t go deep into games, there is risk.
However, the A’s are 12-22 vs. LHP this season, so the rookie could look a lot better than he actually is.
We’re going to take the DIAMONDBACKS -1.5 (+124) on the run line at plus-money, although if you’re a bit on the conservative side, backing the Snakes (-163) as moderate favorites is perfectly OK.
In addition, we’re going to go OVER 9 (-122), as Springs should give up his fair share of runs, and Bratt might also give up a few. If Springs gets knocked around, there isn’t a lot of help behind him. The A’s rank dead-last in the majors in bullpen ERA (5.51). The Diamondbacks are middle of the road in bullpen ERA (3.95).
And, for an extra bonus, since Springs is so giving, let’s take KETEL MARTE – ANYTIME HOME RUN (+326) for the chance to go more than 3X. Marte is slashing .299/.346/.588 against lefties with seven homers in just 97 at-bats. Let’s roll it up!
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