Sports
Emma Hayes’ USWNT vision for 2027 World Cup is becoming clear
The United States women’s national team’s 1-0 victory over Canada on Wednesday was not as dominant of a display as eight months ago, when the Americans ran their northern neighbors off the pitch in Washington, D.C. It was, however, an equally important benchmark for the Americans as they turn the corner toward the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Experimentation and inexperience have been the operative words for the USWNT over the past year as head coach Emma Hayes trotted out new players — 32 debuts awarded in her first 32 games in charge heading into this tournament. But Wednesday, and this SheBelieves Cup, have been about refinement — about depth and maturity developing before the world’s eyes.
“It was one of my favorite performances, because they’re growing up,” Hayes said of her team after Wednesday’s victory.
Forward Ally Sentnor scored the game’s lone goal 10 minutes into the second half on Wednesday, taking advantage of her start in the wide-open battle for the USWNT’s No. 9 role. She now has three goals in four games this calendar year.
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Sentnor was one of the USWNT’s starters with the most to prove on Wednesday in Columbus, Ohio, as Hayes aims to figure out who she can rely on as the 2027 World Cup creeps closer. She earned Hayes’ praise after the game for a wise performance.
Sentnor nearly scored in the first half on corner kick setup identical to the one that led to her goal. She also led the USWNT’s waves of successful high pressure that forced mistakes from Canada, and that pressure led to Sentnor creating a one-on-one opportunity moments before half-time.
She missed that shot at the near post, but Hayes’ noted the forward’s resolve in forgetting about the mistake and burying her goal shortly after halftime.
Gisele Thompson also started at fullback for the USWNT and was asked to frequently join the attack in another major cap early in the 20-year-old’s career. Thompson went the full 90 minutes for the second time in four days, which Hayes said was intentional because she told Thompson that she needs to be more durable to play regularly for the USWNT.
Thompson and Sentnor were two of four changes from the U.S. lineup that beat Canada 3-0 last July. Wednesday’s USWNT was imperfect, especially in the first half, when the Americans looked disconnected in the final third and failed to capitalize on the pressure that they successfully applied high up the field. There were errors in the back too early on, which allowed Canada to briefly build confidence.
There was a mature undertone to the USWNT’s win on Wednesday, however. Canada’s struggles to create opportunities aside, the USWNT had the mark of a team on a journey from what has felt like open tryouts to a more established group that is finding the best version of itself in a tournament setting.
Hayes offered a peek into this vision the day before the game, when she gushed about the progress of Emma Sears.
Sears was a second-round pick in the 2024 NWSL Draft by Racing Louisville FC who wasn’t on many radars to be a breakout professional, let alone international.
It was around the time of that Canada game last year that Hayes spoke about the progress that she needed to see from Sears. Ahead of Wednesday’s rematch against Canada, Hayes said she just told Sears this week that if the World Cup started today, she would be one of the first players off the bench.
Sears entered Wednesday’s match in the 69th minute and almost immediately progressed the ball from penalty box to penalty box to earn a corner kick. The question for Sears and several teammates is now less about whether they will make the roster and more about how much and in which scenarios they will play.
Sears, for example, now has 16 caps for the USWNT; Sentnor has 17 caps.
They, along with the likes of budding midfielder Claire Hutton — who started again on Wednesday, as she did against Canada in July — blended in well with the established players like midfielders Sam Coffey and Rose Lavelle, and defender Naomi Girma. Alyssa Thompson, one of the in-betweeners who isn’t new but isn’t a veteran, continued to be dynamic and dangerous on the wing.
Just like last July, Lavelle was electric in the middle of the park on Wednesday. She was such a menacing force that Canada coach Casey Stoney admitted Lavelle was the reason that Canada needed to change its shape to two holding midfielders.
Lavelle, whose international breakout came in the SheBelieves Cup nearly a decade ago, is now the 30-year-old veteran in the squad. She has had her best (and healthiest) year in recent memory since returning from ankle surgery last spring.
“Everybody respects Rose for so many reasons, and I love that she is leaning into being this [leader] too, because the team needs it,” Hayes said. “If you think about the players from Ally Sentnor to Gisele — even Alyssa, Claire Hutton — they are really progressing, their maturity is developing because of players like Rose ensuring that they feel the high challenge of the environment, but most importantly the high challenge of veteran leadership.”
Hayes might have rolled out her best available lineup on Wednesday, give or take a player. It was a mix of newly minted veterans and young players who are mostly now trying to prove that they can handle games like this — tournament soccer on short rest against a solid opponent.
The Americans comfortably saw out the 1-0 victory with no signs of panic or fatigue in sight. That resolve, as much as the victory or any set piece success, will have Hayes smiling her way to New Jersey for Saturday’s SheBelieves Cup finale against Colombia. It will also bring her one step closer to a clearer vision of what next year’s World Cup team might look like.
For years, Stephen A. Smith’s many football blunders have been easy enough to explain away.
He’s not an NFL guy (remember when he said the three key players for a game were three guys who weren’t playing in the game?)
Stephen A. Smith falsely claimed the Warriors haven’t made the playoffs since 2022, but Golden State reached the second round in both 2023 and 2025. (Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)
He’s definitely not a college football guy (remember when he called Jalen Milroe Jalen “Milroy” multiple times and then read the wrong stat line after a College Football Playoff game?).
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ESPN forces him into those conversations because First Take has to talk football, and Smith knows that football is the most popular sport in the country and he needs to be seen as an authority (even though he isn’t).
But Monday’s latest mistake is a lot tougher to excuse, because this time Smith wasn’t talking about the NFL or college football. He was talking about the Golden State Warriors, one of the defining NBA dynasties of the last decade.
In other words, he was talking about the sport and the league that’s supposed to be his bread and butter.
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While discussing whether Steve Kerr has coached his last game with Golden State, Smith confidently stated the Warriors “haven’t been back to the playoffs since that championship in 2022.”
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr looks on during a game against the Sacramento Kings. (Robert Edwards/Imagn Images)
That’s not even close to true. Not only did Golden State make the playoffs last season, but they also reached the postseason in 2023. Last year, the Warriors made the playoffs, beat the Rockets in seven games and advanced to the second round before losing to the Timberwolves. In 2023, they beat the Sacramento Kings in the first round and before losing to the Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals.
So, Smith wouldn’t even have been right if he said they haven’t won a playoff series since 2022. But he didn’t say that. He said they didn’t make the playoffs in any of the past four years, except they did it twice.
Yikes.
This is not an obscure piece of NBA trivia that Smith could be easily forgiven for not knowing. Perhaps he was too busy playing solitaire on his phone and just missed two of the past three NBA postseasons. That’s a tough look for the guy who fancies himself as the No. 1 NBA analyst in the country.
And it’s a terrible look for ESPN, as they keep selling Smith as one of the faces of their NBA coverage.
Stephen A. Smith made a brutal gaffe while talking Warriors playoff history
If Smith made this kind of mistake while talking about the NFL, nobody would be shocked. At this point, sports fans practically expect him to butcher football analysis. It’s almost endearing that a guy with the ego of Smith can be so consistently wrong while also delivering every “fact” with the utmost confidence. It’s part of the Stephen A. experience.
But this one hits differently because the NBA is where he’s supposed to at least know the basics. This is where Smith prides himself as being an authority figure.
Stephen A. Smith incorrectly stated the Golden State Warriors haven’t made the playoffs since their 2022 championship, despite the team reaching the postseason twice since then. (Candice Ward/Imagn Images)
And yet he couldn’t keep the recent playoff history of the Warriors straight. The team whose head coach is in the news every other week. The team that has won four championships since 2014. Arguably one of the most important franchises in the NBA over the past 15 years.
Yes, Golden State missed the playoffs in 2024 after getting bounced in the Play-In Tournament (although they won 46 games that season). And yes, it fell short again this season. But that’s a lot different from acting like Steve Kerr has spent four years wandering the basketball wilderness since winning that 2022 title.
He hasn’t. In fact, the team is 175-153 in the past four regular seasons.
The Warriors made the second round in 2023. They made the second round again in 2025.
Before burying Steve Kerr on national television, maybe Stephen A. Smith could take 10 seconds to confirm whether the Warriors were actually, you know, in the playoffs.
Sports
Greg Olsen on Travis Kelce returning to Chiefs for 14th season: ‘League is better off with him playing’
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Travis Kelce will enter year 14 in the NFL when he steps foot on the gridiron with his beloved Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1, which a close friend and fellow tight end said is a good thing for the league.
After recent seasons, the question of whether Kelce, a future Pro Football Hall of Famer, still wants to play football has come up. Each time, including this offseason, the 11-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro has answered the bell with a resounding yes.
Greg Olsen, whom Kelce works alongside with their Tight End University summit each offseason, spoke to the Chiefs star recently. He told Fox News Digital that he still sees that fire inside Kelce when he talked about strapping the pads on for 2026 – a season in which he will turn 37.
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Travis Kelce (87) of the Kansas City looks on during an NFL Football game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on Oct. 20, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
“I think just getting to know Travis and just how much he loves playing the game and how much he loves to compete and obviously the career that he’s had as far as first-ballot Hall of Famers – he’s as close to a lock as you’ll find – especially considering the tight end position takes some guys a little bit longer even though they’re super deserving. I think the league is great to have him,” Olsen said. “I think the Chiefs are smart to want him back.
“I got to spend some time with him a couple weeks ago, and he’s super excited for a fresh season, for the team, for himself.”
The Chiefs reached an acceptable deal with Kelce, whose contract was up after this past season. Now that he’s in place for 2026, as well as a reunion with Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator, the Chiefs are focused on the health of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who needed ACL surgery after injuring it during a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
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“It’s one of the best tight end-quarterback combinations of all time,” Olsen added, acknowledging one of the league’s best duos in recent memory. “So, I’m happy for [Kelce] just as a friend, as a fan of football.”
While it may be a nuisance for Kelce to continuously hear about retirement, Olsen also understands that Kelce has had the opportunity not many can say they do during a grueling football career – walking away on your own terms.
Olsen wants that for his friend in the end, whenever that may be.
“I’d love to see him go out when he wants to be done,” Olsen explained. “Very few guys are able to earn that right throughout their NFL career to say, ‘You know what? I’m done when I say I’m done.’ That’s not typically how it goes. Very few guys have that swan song, perfect ending, walking off under the confetti and the Super Bowl. That’s a dream scenario everyone hopes will be them.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) greets fans as he arrives prior to training camp at Missouri Western State University on July 28, 2023 in St. Joseph, Missouri. (Jay Biggerstaff/USA TODAY Sports)
“But if there is a guy who deserves his career to end the right way because of everything he’s stood for, everything he’s done, how hard he’s worked, the success he’s had, individually and collectively, Trav’s at the top of that list.”
Olsen, who serves as an NFL analyst for Fox Sports, is excited for the prospect of covering more games featuring Kelce and the Chiefs, as he wants to enjoy the remainder of his career.
And that’s a career defined by three Super Bowl titles, and more than enough accolades to end up with a bronze bust in Canton one day.
“I never thought I’d see a day where people started saying, ‘Is anyone better than Tony Gonzalez?’ Then, Gronk comes along and that conversation. When it’s all said and done, Travis might be at the top of that list, which 10 years ago sounded crazy that anyone would surpass some of those guys. His career is second to none, and the league is better off with him playing,” Olsen ended.
Broadcaster Greg Olsen looks on before the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, on Sept. 7, 2025. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
INSIDE THE FRONT OFFICE MIND
While Olsen enjoyed 14 years in the NFL, his next chapter of the game is providing keen analysis for FOX Sports broadcasts during the year.
To help him do that in the offseason while looking at the NFL Draft and free agency pickups by each franchise, Olsen has been using NFL IQ, the new interactive hub created by the league and Amazon Web Services powered by Amazon Quick.
Ahead of the draft, NFL IQ transformed raw data from the NFL Combine and team needs, free agency moves made and more for this hub that provides fans access to key insights and puts them in the shoes of front office decision makers. Whether it’s the casual fan or a top analyst like Olsen, NFL IQ is an easy-to-use way to deepen football knowledge, especially at a crucial roster-building time like the draft is.
“This is the most educated fan base in NFL history, and I think that’s a good thing,” Olsen said.
General shot of NFL IQ, the new interactive hub from the league and Amazon Web Services, powered by Amazon Quick. (NFL IQ)
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“Fans actually have a way to access the exact same data, the exact same information that the teams and everyone are using for their own interest, whether it’s something casual or for people who really want to dive into the nitty gritty.
“I think it’s a really fun set of tools for the wide array of people who touch the NFL space. I know firsthand as a fan, and now a professional in the industry, it’s a huge part of my interaction of the game.”
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Big East commissioner Val Ackerman will retire from her position this summer, the league announced on Monday.
Ackerman, 66, has been in charge of the league for the past 13 years, watching on as men’s and women’s basketball won a combined eight national championships during her tenure. She also oversaw the Big East’s transition during realignment.
“It’s been an extraordinary honor for me to serve as the Commissioner of one of the most prestigious and storied organizations in college sports,” Ackerman said. “I want to thank our Presidents for entrusting me with this one-of-a-kind leadership opportunity and for supporting the investments needed to maintain the Big East’s stature and meet our schools’ high competitive and academic standards.
“With our long-term business deals securely in place and knowing we have strong, focused leadership on our campuses, I am confident that the future of the conference, and Big East basketball in particular, is very bright, and I believe the time is right for me to hand off the baton.”
Ackerman, who was previously the founding president of the WNBA, the president of USA Basketball and the U.S. representative for men’s and women’s basketball on the central board of FIBA, took over as the Big East’s commissioner in the summer 2013. At the time, the league was in the midst of losing several of its marquee programs to other conferences at the height of realignment. Syracuse, Pitt, Notre Dame and Louisville left for the ACC; Rutgers went to the Big Ten; West Virginia left for the Big 12; and UConn, Cincinnati and South Florida opted for the AAC.
The remaining seven members — DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall and Villanova — formed the new Big East, with Butler, Creighton and Xavier joining to make it a 10-team league in March 2013. Ackerman then spearheaded negotiations to bring back UConn in the summer of 2020. The Huskies have won a combined three national championships between men’s and women’s basketball since returning to the Big East.
“Speaking on behalf of all the Big East Presidents, we announce Commissioner Val Ackerman’s retirement with a tinge of sadness and deep gratitude,” said St. John’s President Rev. Brian J. Shanley, chair of the Big East board of directors. “When we re-founded the Big East in 2013 as a basketball-centric conference, our first task was to find a commissioner who could provide the strategic vision needed to position us as a basketball peer with the power football conferences and compete with the country’s best. We found that visionary leader in Val Ackerman. Val has leveraged our partnerships with FOX Sports and Madison Square Garden to create a platform that has produced five basketball national champions (four men’s and one’s women’s) in the past decade, and she has built a strong foundation for future success. She leaves big shoes to fill.”
Ackerman received the John Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021.
A national search for Ackerman’s successor will begin immediately, the league said.
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