Sports
Stanford continues ACC road slate against Pitt
Dec 21, 2024; San Jose, California, USA; Stanford Cardinal forward Maxime Raynaud (42) during the second half against the Oregon Ducks at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images Completing its first long trip as part of the no-longer-accurately-named Atlantic Coast Conference, Stanford will try to hand Pitt its first league loss on Saturday.
The Cardinal (9-4, 1-1) opened the new year with an 85-71 defeat at Clemson on Wednesday.
“The West to East thing wasn’t an issue,” Cardinal first-year coach Kyle Smith said after the loss. “I feel like it’s fun being in the ACC. It’s pretty cool. Now we have to go up to Pittsburgh and take that challenge on.”
The Cardinal, losers of two straight, are led by 7-foot-1 center Maxime Raynaud, who was the Pac-12’s Most Improved Player last season. He has put up even bigger numbers for the Cardinal this season with 11 double-doubles and a 20.8 points-per-game average. Duke transfer Jaylen Blakes is in the midst of a breakthrough season for Stanford, averaging 15.2 ppg.
The Panthers (11-2, 2-0) have won four straight by a combined 89 points and received 35 votes in the most recent AP poll. Pitt erased a 16-point deficit to Cal its last time out on Wednesday, getting 27 points from Jaland Lowe en route to an 86-74 win. Lowe is tied for 17th in the nation at 6.2 assists a game.
“I think Jaland is as good a guard as there is in college basketball,” Pitt coach Jeff Capel said. “With good players, you just want to put them in a position where they can make reads and make plays.”
Pitt was without leading scorer Ishmael Leggett against Cal. Capel said Leggett rolled his ankle in practice on Dec. 28 and his lateral movement wasn’t adequate to play. Leggett’s status for the Stanford game was unknown. The Panthers also play at No. 4 Duke on Tuesday.
Along with averaging 17.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, Leggett is shooting a career-high 51.3 percent from the floor and 32.7 percent from 3-point range.
Pitt was already without standout 6-foot-5 guard Damian Dunn, who dislocated his thumb in late November. However, Dunn is on track to return sometime this month, according to Capel.
Pitt is scoring 84.2 points a game, which ranks 32nd in the nation, and shooting 49 percent from the floor. Stanford is allowing 71.1 ppg.
Stanford and Pitt last met in 2013, with the Panthers winning 88-67 in New York.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Eagles assistant GM Alec Halaby steps down
Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; The Philadelphia Eagles logo is projected on the video board during the NFL Draft at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Philadelphia Eagles assistant general manager Alec Halaby stepped down from his post on Tuesday.
Halaby has spent 17 years in the organization, holding numerous roles before accepting the assistant general manager position in 2022. He played a role in the Eagles winning a pair of Super Bowl titles in 2018 and 2025.
“I am deeply grateful to the Eagles organization, especially (Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie) and (general manager Howie Roseman) for giving me a chance to work in the game I love,” Halaby said in a statement. “Jeffrey’s stewardship has created a first-class organization. Howie has been a mentor to me from Day One, for which I am greatly appreciative.
“It has been a rare privilege to contribute to building championship teams for the city of Philadelphia. The experience has been enriched by a set of special relationships with front office colleagues, coaches, and players. Football has been a core part of my life for as long as I can remember; that won’t change. Nevertheless, after 17 years in Philadelphia, I’ve decided to step away to start a new professional chapter. It has been a wonderful journey. Go Birds.”
The specific nature of Halaby’s “new professional chapter” was not immediately known.
“Alec has been a huge part of our success, and a close friend,” Roseman said. “Although I’m sad to see him leave the organization, I am excited to see what he does next. Whatever direction he decides to go, I have no doubt that he is going to have great success. On behalf of the entire organization, I wish him the absolute best.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
After managerial change, Phillies look to alter fortunes vs. Giants
Apr 8, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Adolis García (53) walks off the field after lining out to San Francisco Giants left fielder Harrison Bader (9) in the to pot the eighth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Justine Willard-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Phillies made news on Tuesday morning, hours before opening a three-game series against the visiting San Francisco Giants.
The Phillies fired manager Rob Thomson and named bench coach Don Mattingly as their interim skipper through the 2026 season.
USA Today reported Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora, fired Friday, was offered the job and declined, opting to spend time with his family.
The floundering Phillies (9-19) have lost 11 of their last 12 games and are tied with the New York Mets (9-19) for the worst record in the majors. Both were expected to compete for the National League East title this season.
The Phillies’ run differential (-54) is by far the worst in the sport, landing Thomson on the hot seat.
“Well, that’s natural, right?” Thomson said of his job security prior to Tuesday’s news. “It’s normal. And I’ve never worried about that in my entire career. … I don’t have time to think about it.”
The Phillies snapped a 10-game losing streak Saturday with an 8-5 extra-inning victory over the Atlanta Braves. But the momentum didn’t last long, as they fell behind early in Sunday’s 6-2 series-finale loss.
Aaron Nola allowed three runs in the first inning and three more in the second, and the Phillies’ bats managed only one hit (a single) in six innings against Chris Sale.
“It’s not like the record is going to change overnight,” said designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, whose two-run homer in the eighth accounted for the Phillies’ offense on the day. “It’s going to be a continuous grind, and we’re ready for that. We know that there’s a long road ahead.”
The Phillies’ attempted path to recovery will begin Tuesday with Jesus Luzardo (1-3, 6.91 ERA) on the mound. The left-hander has labored through the first month of the season, although he was able to limit the damage in his most recent outing.
Despite allowing five hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs last Tuesday, Luzardo gave up just one run in an eventual 7-4 defeat. Still, he expects more of himself after signing a five-year, $135 million contract extension in the offseason.
“It’s very frustrating,” Luzardo said. “As a whole, we don’t feel like we’re doing the job that we need to do. … I think there’s been times that a lot of us think that we can pick up the slack, me included.”
Luzardo, who is 2-1 with a 5.23 ERA in six career starts against San Francisco, will be facing a team that has turned things around following a slow start of its own.
The Giants have won seven of their last 10 games after beginning the season 6-12. They have won three series in a row — against the Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins.
In Sunday’s 6-3 triumph over Miami, San Francisco’s Casey Schmitt hit a go-ahead home run for the second straight game.
“That’s what we’re here for: to drive in runs and be productive,” said Giants third baseman Matt Chapman, who walked and scored in the decisive seventh inning. “But we are a team, and Casey’s hot right now.”
Landen Roupp allowed just two hits and three runs over 7 2/3 innings — a performance that Tyler Mahle (1-3, 5.26) would love to copy in Tuesday’s contest.
Mahle is coming off a sparkling effort in last Wednesday’s 3-0 win over the Dodgers, as he gave up just three hits and two walks over seven innings.
In four lifetime starts against Philadelphia, Mahle is 1-1 with a 2.41 ERA. He held the Phillies to three hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings April 8 in San Francisco, helping the Giants take two of three in that series.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Dash sign USL Super League MVP Emina Ekic
Aug 20, 2022; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Racing Louisville FC forward Emina Ekic (13) takes a shot against the OL Reign in the Women’s Cup championship match at Lynn Family Stadium. Mandatory Credit: EM Dash-Imagn Images The Houston Dash signed USL Super League Player of the Year Emina Ekic through the 2027 NWSL season.
The deal announced Tuesday with the 26-year-old midfielder includes a mutual option for 2028.
Ekic joins the Dash on a transfer from Lexington SC of the USL Super League.
She was named that league’s inaugural Player of the Year with the Spokane Zephyr in 2024-25 after tallying 10 goals and six assists.
The No. 5 overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft, Ekic began her professional career with Racing Louisville with 38 appearances from 2021-23.
–Field Level Media
Eagles assistant GM Alec Halaby steps down
After managerial change, Phillies look to alter fortunes vs. Giants
