Connect with us

Sports

NWSL Power Rankings: Marta’s Orlando Pride in nine-game rut

Published

on

NWSL Power Rankings: Marta’s Orlando Pride in nine-game rut


It’s Monday, and another round of NWSL action is in the books, which means it’s time for ESPN’s Power Rankings.

Who’s climbing the table? Who’s in free fall? Our writers studied the action from across Matchday 21 to come up with this week’s order of all 14 teams in the league. Let’s dive in.


Previous ranking: 1
Next match: Friday Sept. 26 vs. Chicago Stars, 8 p.m. ET

This is Kansas City’s season, and we’re just living in it. After beating Seattle 2-0 on Saturday, the Current are the fastest-ever team to collect the NWSL Shield based on the number of games left to play. Fittingly, Temwa Chawinga celebrated her birthday by scoring her 13th goal of the season in the win, bringing her level with Esther González at the top of the scoring charts once again. Vlatko Andonovski’s side now have 17 wins, two draws and two losses from 21 games played, and show no signs of slowing down ahead of the postseason.

Previous ranking: 2
Next match: Sunday Sept. 28 vs. Houston Dash, 1 p.m. ET

Playing on a rare Thursday night without midfielder Hal Hershfelt (who was serving a red card suspension), the Spirit traded goals with Angel City and walked away with a 2-2 draw in California. Trinity Rodman broke through first, following up her own blocked penalty for her third goal in three games. Croix Bethune followed in the second half to clinch a point after the Spirit had fallen behind, as both players hit a hot stride of form ahead of the postseason after working back from injuries earlier in the year. The Spirit are now undefeated in nine-straight NWSL games, though six of those games have been draws.

Previous ranking: 3
Next match: Friday Sept. 26 vs. Portland Thorns, 8 p.m. ET

After scoring her first goal of the season two weeks ago, Rose Lavelle got back on the scoresheet in Gotham’s 1-1 draw in California Sunday evening. That’s two goals in 11 games played for the United States midfielder who was sidelined with injury earlier in the year. After three straight games on the road (including the Concacaf W Champions Cup midweek) Gotham heads home to face Portland next, as they prepare to finish off their season against a string of playoff contenders.

play

1:16

Bay FC vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC – Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Bay FC vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC, 09/22/2025

Previous ranking: 4
Next match: Friday Sept. 26 vs. Orlando Pride, 10.30 p.m. ET

They outproduced the hosts, especially early in the game, but failed to get more than a point in Portland as Mackenzie Arnold‘s six saves limited their attack. After suffering three defeats in four games, a 1-1 draw against Portland in Oregon isn’t the worst result for San Diego. But they haven’t won a game since Aug. 16, and every point counts as only five points separate them from teams outside the playoff positions. The Wave play the also-struggling (even more so) Orlando Pride next weekend, who’ve gone nine games since their last victory.

Previous ranking: 7
Next match: Friday Sept. 26 vs. Gotham FC, 8 p.m. ET

Reyna Reyes scored her third goal of the year in the 86th minute to steal a point at home against San Diego. They struggled to get shots off early, with Olivia Moultrie‘s 33rd minute free kick their first clocked shot, though they did get three on target by the end of the game. At the other end, Matildas keeper Arnold made six saves and was key to keeping San Diego to one goal before Reyes’ late equalizer. After Saturday’s 1-1 draw, the fourth-place Thorns finished the weekend still even on points and resting just above San Diego in the table.

Previous ranking: 8
Next match: Sunday Sept. 28 vs. Washington Spirit, 1 p.m. ET

Yazmeen Ryan‘s team-leading fourth goal of the season came in the 28th minute against Chicago and was enough to seal a 1-0 victory in Texas. One week after losing to the Utah Royals, they’re back in the win column and sitting just below the playoff positions, but they’ve got a tough test next weekend against the Washington Spirit.

Previous ranking: 5
Next match: Friday Sept. 26 vs. San Diego Wave, 10.30 p.m. ET

Orlando Pride have stretched their winless rut to a calamitous nine straight games after losing 1-0 to the North Carolina Courage on Friday. The defeat arrived in the 89th minute, as the Courage pounced on a rebound in front of goal. The Pride are still in the playoff positions but are desperate for a win as they sink down to seventh place after holding second earlier in the season.

play

1:16

Orlando Pride vs. North Carolina Courage – Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Orlando Pride vs. North Carolina Courage, 09/20/2025

Previous ranking: 6
Next match: Saturday Sept. 27 vs. Angel City FC, 7.30 p.m. ET

With five games to go, Louisville’s form has hit a lull. After losing to Seattle in their rescheduled match from last weekend, they lost 3-2 to Utah this weekend, marking their third loss in three games amid a four-game winless run. With time dwindling, they seem remarkably on track for a fifth-straight ninth-place finish, potentially carrying forward a curse of finishing each season just short of the playoffs. Their postseason hopes are far from over, but they’ve got pivotal tests before them, with Angel City waiting first next weekend.

Previous ranking: 10
Next match: Sunday Sept. 28 vs. Seattle Reign, 8 p.m. ET

North Carolina has had hard times this season. They recently went on a six-game winless run, sacked their coach, and lost Jaedyn Shaw to Gotham. But they beat the reigning champs 1-0 on Friday with a goal from 20-year-old Japanese midfielder Shinomi Koyama (her first for the team) to mark two wins in two games, finishing the weekend just inside the playoff positions.

Previous ranking: 9
Next match: Sunday Sept. 28 vs. NC Courage, 8 p.m. ET

Earlier in the week, Seattle beat Racing Louisville 1-0 in their rescheduled match thanks to a 90th minute goal from Jess Fishlock. But they fell 2-0 to Kansas City on the weekend (despite a six-save performance from Claudia Dickey). Losing to Kansas City is understandable — the Shield winners have only lost twice this season and clinched the Shield in record-time with Saturday’s victory against the Reign. Seattle are still in a respectable sixth place as they prepare for eighth-place North Carolina next weekend.

Previous ranking: 11
Next match: Saturday Sept. 27 vs. Racing Louisville, 7.30 p.m. ET

After falling behind early thanks to Rodman’s rebound goal, Angel City fought back to briefly lead 2-1, before settling for a 2-2 draw in California. Gisele Thompson set up Evelyn Shores for the first, marking her team-leading fifth assist of the season. Thompson’s six goal contributions are second only to her sister, who recently signed for Chelsea, and team top-scorer Riley Tiernan. ACFC goalkeeper Angelina Anderson was also immense in the draw, making eight saves to stymie the Spirit advance. They finished the weekend in 11th place and will need to battle to break into the playoffs (there’s a four-point gap between them and eighth-place North Carolina), but postseason possibility remains intact.

Previous ranking: 12
Next match: Saturday Sept. 27 vs. Bay FC, 10 p.m. ET

After spending most of the season at the bottom of the table, Utah beat Racing Louisville 3-2 to finish the weekend ahead of the Chicago Stars in 13th place. Their momentum is more impressive than their ranking: with the victory, the Royals are six games undefeated with three wins and three draws, including three victories from their last four games.

play

1:18

Utah Royals vs. Racing Louisville FC – Game Highlights

Watch the Game Highlights from Utah Royals vs. Racing Louisville FC, 09/20/2025

Previous ranking: 13
Next match: Saturday Sept. 27 vs. Utah Royals, 10 p.m. ET

They still haven’t won a game since June 7 (four draws, six defeats in that run). But Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Gotham was a respectable result, as Racheal Kundananji‘s fourth goal of the season and second in as many games brought them back from behind in California.

Previous ranking: 14
Next match: Friday Sept. 26 vs. KC Current, 8 p.m. ET

Alyssa Naeher can be trusted to unfurl memorable penalty heroics, and she did just that against Houston as she denied Dash forward Ryan from the spot as part of a five-save performance in Texas. Unfortunately, Naeher’s steady hands weren’t enough to collect any points in a 1-0 defeat to the Dash.



Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

Former Cowboys player Trysten Hill appears to grin after arrest tied to alleged assault of pregnant woman

Published

on

Former Cowboys player Trysten Hill appears to grin after arrest tied to alleged assault of pregnant woman


NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Former NFL defensive tackle Trysten Hill was booked into a Texas jail last week on multiple charges relating to an alleged assault of a pregnant woman.

Ellis County Sheriff’s Office jail records list “assault of a pregnant person” and “interfering with an emergency request for assistance.” 

FOX 4 in Dallas obtained the records, which also showed Hill was arrested March 26.

Hill was booked and held on a $3,500 bond connected to two bond-forfeiture warrants from a 2025 criminal investigation, the sheriff’s office said.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Trysten Hill  of the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium Oct. 20, 2019, in Arlington, Texas. (Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Hill appeared to grin in his booking photo.

The identity of the alleged victim and any relationship to Hill were not disclosed. Fox News Digital contacted the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, but a request for comment was not immediately returned.

WNBA PLAYER ‘WILLING TO TESTIFY’ AGAINST EX-BOYFRIEND JAMES PEARCE JR AFTER ALLEGED DOMESTIC DISPUTE

After his three-year career at Central Florida, the Cowboys selected Hill in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He appeared in 25 regular-season games with the Cowboys, recording 39 combined tackles over four seasons.

Trysten Hill looks on during a Dallas Cowboys game

Trysten Hill of the Dallas Cowboys at SoFi Stadium Oct. 9, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Hill joined the Arizona Cardinals midway through the 2022 season, recording five solo tackles and one sack in six games. He signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2023 but was released before the regular season kicked off.

Trysten Hill reacts during a game

New England Patriots defensive tackle Trysten Hill reacts against the Carolina Panthers during the first half at Gillette Stadium Aug. 8, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (Eric Canha/USA Today Sports)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The New England Patriots signed Hill to their practice squad later in 2023.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.





Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Bill Self announces return to Kansas sideline, set for 24th season despite health issues

Published

on

Bill Self announces return to Kansas sideline, set for 24th season despite health issues


NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

He mulled retirement, but Bill Self won’t be ending his college coaching career just yet. 

Self announced he will be returning to the Kansas Jayhawks’ sideline for the 2026-27 season.

“With renewed clarity and the ongoing support from our administration, I remain focused and committed to Kansas basketball competing for a national championship,” Self’s statement said. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks walks across the court before a game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at United Supermarkets Arena Feb. 2, 2026, in Lubbock, Texas. (John E. Moore III/Getty Images)

“I look forward to seeing and hearing the best fans in college basketball next season at Allen Fieldhouse.”

Self made the decision after consulting with his family, especially considering his health issues in recent seasons. 

UCONN MEN’S BASKETBALL HOPING FOR CHAMPIONSHIP TRANSFER MAGIC ONCE AGAIN

Self has dealt with chest tightness and balance concerns, which resulted in a hospitalization in 2013, forcing him to miss the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments. He had two stents placed for treatment of blocked arteries. 

In July 2025, Self was admitted to a hospital after feeling ill. He was reportedly experiencing “concerning symptoms,” leading to another surgery to have stents inserted. He was later released from a hospital and coached the Jayhawks this year. 

Self did miss a game in January against Colorado, when he was taken to a hospital as a precaution, the school noted at the time. 

Bill Self looks on court

Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks watches his team play against the Houston Cougars in the second half during the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament at T-Mobile Center March 13, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

The Jayhawks fell to St. John’s in the NCAA Tournament, which led reporters to naturally wonder what Self had in mind about his future. 

“I’ll get back and visit with the family,” Self said, via ESPN. “I’ve had, obviously, some issues off the court health-wise. And that will be discussed. But I love what I do. I want to feel good while I’m doing it, though.”

Self has been a college basketball head coach since the 1993-94 season, starting his tenure with Oral Roberts. After stops at Tulsa and Illinois, Self joined Kansas for the 2003-04 season, and he hasn’t left since. 

Self has won two national championships in his 23 seasons with the Jayhawks, his most recent coming in 2022. Kansas has also reached the Final Four four times under his leadership. 

Bill Self calls out a play on the sideline

Kansas head coach Bill Self reacts as the team plays California Baptist during the first half in the first round of the NCAA Tournament March 20, 2026, in San Diego.  (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

In 815 games, Self owns a 648-167 record with Kansas. He also has 855 wins as a head coach in his 33-year career, which includes 27 NCAA Tournament appearances. 

With the NCAA transfer portal opening April 7, Self will be right back to work building another Kansas roster he hopes to get deeper in March Madness next season. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.





Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Men’s March Madness 2026: Ranking the final four teams

Published

on

Men’s March Madness 2026: Ranking the final four teams


The four teams left standing were all viewed as fringe men’s national title contenders before the season — but only if everything came together. There were no guarantees. Only UConn was ranked in the top four of the AP preseason poll. Michigan was seventh, Arizona 13th and Illinois 17th.

Yet, they’re all on their way to Indianapolis because they proved they were the best in a particular category during their NCAA tournament runs.

If this were an awards show, Arizona would win the honor of most balanced team. The Wildcats are top 10 in offensive and defensive efficiency. In Saturday’s Elite Eight win over Purdue, eight Wildcats scored.

Michigan would win the award for best defense. Led by a frontcourt featuring three 6-foot-9 standouts and a 7-3 center, the Wolverines are first in adjusted defensive efficiency. In Sunday’s Elite Eight win over Tennessee, they outscored the Vols by 23 points in the last 10 minutes of the first half.

Illinois would take the best offensive engine award. The Illini have been No. 1 in adjusted offensive efficiency for the bulk of the season. They’ve made 59% of their shots inside the arc since March 1.

Connecticut would earn the best coach honor. At one point in the first half of Illinois’ Elite Eight win over Duke on Sunday, Dan Hurley’s Huskies had missed 13 of 15 shots. Yet, they clawed back in the second, giving Hurley a chance to make history as the first coach since John Wooden to win three national titles in four years.

Every team that reached the final weekend of the season had to fight to get there. There is no debate about that. They’re all deserving of this shot at history.

All times Eastern

1. Michigan Wolverines
Original seed: No. 1 (Midwest)
Tournament results: Def. No. 16 Howard 101-80 (first round); def. No. 9 Saint Louis 95-72 (round of 32); def. No. 4 Alabama 90-77 (Sweet 16); def. No. 6 Tennessee 95-62 (Elite Eight)

The Wolverines believe they can be the best team in program history, but they’ll have to win Saturday against Arizona to have an argument, because they have some serious competition:

  • At the top of the list is the 1988-89 team that won the school’s only national championship. That group was led by future NBA all-star Glen Rice.

  • Then there’s the 1964-65 team, which lost in the national title game. That team had Cazzie Russell, widely viewed as the greatest player in school history.

  • The 1975-76 squad had All-American Rickey Green and three other future NBA players when it lost in the national title game.

  • And, of course, there are the Fab Five teams that reached the national championship games in 1992 and 1993. Those two groups had three future NBA standouts — Chris Webber, Juwan Howard and Jalen Rose — leading the way.

  • Trey Burke was the national player of the year when he led Michigan to the national title game in 2013.

But this 2026 group has Yaxel Lendeborg, who finished with 27 points and seven rebounds in Sunday’s Elite Eight win over Tennessee and is one of three NBA prospects on the roster. These Wolverines have the talent to win it all.

Dusty May might also be putting together the greatest coaching effort in school history. Those other iconic Michigan teams had the luxury of time to build those rosters. May didn’t even know, last March, who would be playing for him this season — four of his starters were at other schools at the time. But in less than a year, his team is in the Final Four. So, yes, this team is making a case to be one of the greatest Michigan teams, and May, who’s also in the Final Four for the second time in four years after leading Florida Atlantic there in 2023, could one day be considered one of Michigan’s greatest coaches.

Up next: vs. Arizona (Saturday, following Illinois-UConn, TBS/truTV/HBO Max)


play

0:20

Brayden Burries’ hustle play punctuates Arizona’s Elite Eight win

Brayden Burries dives on the floor and gets the ball to Ivan Kharchenkov for a layup to help send the Wildcats to the Final Four.

2. Arizona Wildcats
Original seed: No. 1 (West)
Tournament results: Def. No. 16 Long Island 92-58 (first round); def. No. 9 Utah State 78-66 (round of 32); def. No. 4 Arkansas 109-88 (Sweet 16); def. No. 2 Purdue 79-64 (Elite Eight)

It might be best to discuss Arizona’s dominance under coach Tommy Lloyd, whose performance this season won’t quiet the North Carolina coaching rumors, by looking at what he left behind at Gonzaga..

Lloyd was Mark Few’s top assistant when the Zags went to the Final Four in 2021. They had not only turned Gonzaga into a respected powerhouse but had made the Bulldogs the West Coast’s preeminent program. Lloyd has now snatched that title from his former mentor, with these Wildcats.

Over the past five years, Few has won 143 games. In that same span, Arizona has won 148 — and counting — under Lloyd.

How has he done it? It hasn’t been with 3-point shooting: Only 26.4% of the team’s field goal attempts this season have been from deep — 363rd out of 365 teams. Lloyd is old-school. He has assembled a team that’s full of talent, including projected first-round draft picks Motiejus Krivas, Brayden Burries and Koa Peat. He has the Big 12 Player of the Year, Jaden Bradley. He also has a supporting cast no other team remaining in this tournament can match.

Lloyd’s philosophy is simple. The Wildcats play great defense. They entered Sunday ranked first in adjusted defensive efficiency, and they dare opponents to outhustle them. Lloyd believes his top eight guys are better than the top eight players of any opponent, no matter the style they play. That’s how he believes his team can win. And so far, he has been right.

Up next: vs. Michigan (Saturday, following Illinois-UConn, TBS/truTV/HBO Max)


3. UConn Huskies
Original seed: No. 2 (East)
Tournament results: Def. No. 15 Furman 82-71 (first round); def. No. 7 UCLA 73-57 (round of 32); def. No. 3 Michigan State 67-63 (Sweet 16); def. No. 1 Duke 73-72 (Elite Eight)

Huskies coach Dan Hurley might build a statue of Alex Karaban — who hit a 3-pointer that cut UConn’s lead to one, then made the assist to Braylon Mullins on the winning 3 in Sunday’s Elite Eight victory over Duke — if the school doesn’t do it. Karaban guarded Cameron Boozer throughout Sunday’s game, and Tarris Reed Jr. dominated in the paint as a Huskies squad that was down as many as 19 points came back in the last seconds.

It’s no secret that Hurley doesn’t have a roster that can match the talent of the other teams in the field. Michigan has three projected first-round picks, and they’re all giants. Arizona has more depth than anyone and also three projected first-round picks. Illinois’ smallest starter is 6-2 Kylan Boswell, while 6-5 guard Keaton Wagler might be the best remaining player in the field.

Although Hurley turned to the transfer portal the past two years to build his rosters, he has a continuity that’s rare at this stage. Three Huskies starters have played at least two years in Hurley’s system. Illinois is the only other team in the Final Four that can make the same claim. The difference is that no other team in Indianapolis has a player with Karaban’s experience of winning at the highest level (he’s a holdover from the UConn squads that won back-to-back national titles in 2023 and 2024). Against Duke on Sunday, the Huskies might not have been the more talented group, but their experience gave them an edge against a squad full of freshmen that seemed to crumble when it squandered a big lead.

Karaban, who averaged 22 points in his first three NCAA tournament games, wasn’t great in the Elite Eight. But he didn’t have to be. His contribution was the calm that comes from playing in a bunch of games like this one. In Indianapolis, he’ll be in a league of his own.

Up next: vs. Illinois (Saturday, 6:09 p.m., TBS/truTV/HBO Max)


play

0:18

Andrej Stojakovic’s late and-1 helps send Illinois to Final Four

Andrej Stojakovic drives to the paint and scores the and-1 bucket as Illinois beats Iowa to reach its first Final Four in 21 years.

4. Illinois Fighting Illini
Original seed: No. 3 (South)
Tournament results: Def. No. 14 Penn 105-70 (first round); def. No. 11 VCU 76-55 (round of 32); def. No. 2 Houston 65-55 (Sweet 16); def. No. 9 Iowa 71-59 (Elite Eight)

Illinois coach Brad Underwood’s roster features players from five different countries: Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece and the United States. The international flavor has been all the buzz this season, along with Underwood’s discovery of freshman Keaton Wagler, who didn’t get a scholarship offer from his home-state school Kansas but is now pushing for a top-10 spot in the 2026 NBA draft after a surprising season. Tomislav Ivisic is a 7-foot-1 force in the paint. Andrej Stojakovic is a two-way threat who helped corral Iowa star Bennett Stirtz in Saturday’s Elite Eight win. David Mirkovic is a 6-9 forward who shot 40% from 3 in league play.

You’d think Underwood’s success with international players would encourage the notion that any coach can go to Europe and recruit elite talent. Right?

Wrong. Coaches can’t just walk into a gym in Europe full of elite players and recruit them. Mining the international landscape for talent is laborious. And it’s only half the battle because Underwood’s real strength isn’t his knack for identifying international stars. Rather, it’s his ability to know where those players fit in his system. He has built a group that has possessed the best offense in America for most of this season and has also played top-25 defense for the past month. Illinois’ wins over Houston and Iowa in the second weekend of the NCAA tournament were a byproduct of the size the Illini use to protect the rim, as well as the pressure they have applied to opposing backcourts.

Illinois is a selfless team full of players who fulfill their roles and were put in the right positions by Underwood. He knows himself, and he knows his system. Above all, he knows which players he needs for it to all work.

Up next: vs. UConn (Saturday, 6:09 p.m., TBS/truTV/HBO Max)



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending