Sports

An accurate toe poke by forward Adriana Leon coupled with a touch of fortune allowed Canada to secure a 2-1 victory against Ireland on Wednesday, their first of this year’s Women’s World Cup, in wet and windy conditions at Perth Oval in Perth, Australia. Fresh off a scoreless draw with Nigeria, Canada put themselves ahead

Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondentJul 26, 2023, 09:39 AM ET Close Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC. WELLINGTON, New Zealand — From the moment the draw for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup came out last October, there was one match among the group stage games that stood out:

Jul 25, 2023, 03:32 PM ET The Colorado Avalanche signed top prospect Nikolai Kovalenko to a two-year, entry-level contract Tuesday. Kovalenko, 23, is expected to continue to play for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the Kontinental Hockey League in the 2023-24 season. Last season with the Russian club, Kovalenko recorded career highs in goals (21), assists

Brian Windhorst, ESPN Senior WriterJul 24, 2023, 04:00 PM ET Close ESPN.com NBA writer since 2010 Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years Author of two books USA Basketball named 14 players to its Select Team on Monday, which will serve as the opponent for Team USA during its upcoming training camp for the FIBA World

Associated Press Jul 23, 2023, 06:58 PM ET LONG POND, Pa. — Denny Hamlin returned to Victory Lane on Sunday at Pocono Raceway a year after his first-place finish was thrown out, giving him a track-record seven wins and 50 overall in his Cup career. Hamlin also gave Toyota its 600th NASCAR victory. Hamlin passed

Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior WriterJul 23, 2023, 01:20 PM ET Close Senior college football writer Author of seven books on college football Graduate of the University of Georgia HOYLAKE, England — After American Brian Harman hit his opening tee shot of the final round of the 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club on

Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff WriterJul 23, 2023, 06:00 AM ET Close Rich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for

Jul 22, 2023, 09:06 AM ET WARSAW — Russian tennis player Vera Zvonareva was blocked on Friday from entering Poland for reasons of state security and public safety, the Polish interior ministry said on Saturday. The 38-year old, a bronze medalist at 2008 Olympics in Beijing, was on the list of players of the BNP

John Keim, ESPN Staff WriterJul 21, 2023, 06:45 PM ET Close John Keim covers the Washington Commanders for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2013 after a stint with the Washington Post. He started covering the team in 1994 for the Journal Newspapers and later for the Washington Examiner. He has authored/co-authored four books. You can

Associated Press Jul 21, 2023, 08:19 PM ET PALERMO, Sicily — Top-ranked Daria Kasatkina is out of the Palermo Open after losing to home favorite Jasmine Paolini in the quarterfinals on Friday. The fifth-seeded Paolini found herself 3-1 down in the deciding set and facing three break points but managed to rally and didn’t let

Alex Scarborough, ESPN Staff WriterJul 21, 2023, 01:03 PM ET Close Covers the SEC. Joined ESPN in 2012. Graduate of Auburn University. Georgia is the clear favorite to win the SEC once again according to the conference media poll, which was released Friday. The Bulldogs, who are coming off back-to-back national championships, received 62.2% of

Jul 21, 2023, 05:01 AM ET Netherlands have accused the Women’s World Cup of amateurish organisation as they complained about their training conditions in New Zealand, but they are still using the Bay Oval in Tauranga to prepare for their opening game on Sunday. Coach Andries Jonker told reporters he feared his players could be

Jul 21, 2023, 08:49 AM ET World Cup debutants Zambia have been dealt a heavy blow on the eve of their Group C opener against Japan on Saturday after key attacking midfielder Grace Chanda was ruled out of the tournament, team officials confirmed. It is a second major withdrawal for coach Bruce Mwape’s side after

Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie helped Nigeria secure a valuable 0-0 draw against Olympic champions Canada in their Women’s World Cup opener on Friday in a result leaving their group wide open. Nnadozie saved a penalty in the 50th minute at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, denying Christine Sinclair from the spot with a leap low to her left

Spain began their Women’s World Cup campaign in scintillating fashion by beating Costa Rica 3-0 in their Group C opener on Friday thanks to an own goal and first-half strikes from Aitana Bonmati and Esther Gonzalez at Wellington Regional Stadium.  The teams had played out a draw when they faced each other on their World Cup

Associated Press Jul 20, 2023, 02:55 PM ET MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Justin Haley will leave Kaulig Racing at the end of this season and has signed a multiyear deal to drive for Rick Ware Racing starting in 2024. Haley, 24, had his only Cup victory in July 2019 at Daytona, in just his third start.

Jul 20, 2023, 12:20 PM ET Journeyman forward Nate Thompson retired after 15 seasons with nine NHL teams. Thompson, 38, who last played for the Philadelphia Flyers in 2021-22, confirmed his decision via social media. “From the time I was four until 38 hockey has been my life and best friend. I’m beyond grateful and

Associated Press Jul 19, 2023, 09:39 AM ET BUDAPEST, Hungary — Chinese tennis player Zhang Shuai quit a match after her opponent rubbed out a ball mark with her foot following a disputed line call at the Budapest Grand Prix. The second-seeded Zhang retired from the match while trailing 6-5 in the first set against

Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Senior WriterJul 19, 2023, 07:06 PM ET Close College football reporter. Joined ESPN.com in 2008. Graduate of Northwestern University. Iowa defensive lineman Noah Shannon will not attend Big Ten media days next week because of his involvement in the NCAA investigation into sports gambling at the school. Senior linebacker Jay Higgins will

Heather Dinich, ESPN Senior WriterJul 19, 2023, 03:55 PM ET Close College football reporter Joined ESPN.com in 2007 Graduate of Indiana University Colorado coach Deion Sanders will not attend Pac-12 media day because of a “routine, follow-up” procedure on his foot scheduled for Thursday. “Unfortunately, his recovery will preclude him from attending Pac-12 media day,