DC United hires 2nd female GM in MLS history
WASHINGTON » Lucy Rushton was hired by D.C. United as their general manager, making her the second woman in Major League Soccer history to hold that job.
The team also announced Wednesday that Dave Kasper is being promoted to president of soccer operations and sporting director. Kasper joined D.C. United in 2002 and became the club’s general manager in 2007.
In addition to being the new GM, Rushton holds the title of head of technical recruitment and analysis.
Djokovic, Nadal advance
MONACO » Returning from a long break, both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal opened their clay-court seasons with victories at the Monte Carlo Masters.
Djokovic produced a clinical 6-4, 6-2 win over up-and-coming Jannik Sinner before Nadal — an 11-time champion at the Country Club — defeated Federico Delbonis 6-1, 6-2.
Both Nadal and Djokovic took some time off after the Australian Open, where Djokovic claimed a record-extending ninth title in February.
U.S. players appeal decision
SAN FRANCISCO » Players on the U.S. women’s national soccer team have asked a federal appeals court to overturn a lower court decision throwing out their lawsuit seeking equal pay to the men’s team.
Players led by Alex Morgan asked the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reinstate the part of their suit that U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner threw
out last May when he granted a partial summary judgment to the U.S. Soccer Federation.
“For each win, loss and tie that women players secure, they are paid less than men who play the same sport and who do the same work; that is gender discrimination,” players’ spokeswoman Molly Levinson said in a statement. “A pervasive atmosphere of sexism drove this pay discrimination.”
Stringer signs extension
PISCATAWAY, N.J. » Hall of Fame women’s basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer has agreed to a five-year contract extension that will keep her at Rutgers through the 2025-26 season.
The New Jersey-based Big Ten Conference university announced the deal after it was approved by the school’s board of governors.
Stringer, 73, has led the Scarlet Knights to a top-three finish in the conference in two of the past three seasons, and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
Sources: NCAA dumps transfer rule
Starting next season, major college football and basketball players will be permitted to transfer one time before graduating without being required to sit out a year of competition.
The NCAA Division I Council voted to changed the longstanding rule that has often deterred players in high-profile sports from switching schools, two people with knowledge of the council’s decision told The Associated Press.
The people spoke on condition of anonymity because two-day meeting was still in session and the council’s decisions would not become official until it ends Thursday.
Shields’ MMA debut on June 10
LOS ANGELES » Two-time Olympic boxing gold medalist Claressa Shields has a date and an opponent for her mixed martial arts debut with the Professional Fighters League.
Shields will fight Brittney Elkin on June 10, the promotion told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The bout in Atlantic City, New Jersey, will be the beginning of Shields’ daunting quest to add MMA titles to her boxing success, which includes professional world titles in three weight classes.
Shields announced her decision to take up MMA late last year, telling the AP she was determined to claim championship belts in both combat sports.