Soccer's all-time top scorer, Sinclair, says she's retiring
Christine Sinclair, the top goal-scorer in international soccer, has announced she will retire from the Canadian national team at the end of this season.
Sinclair, 40, cryptically announced her decision Thursday night on Instagram with a video that showed a pair of cleats swinging in the breeze while hung on a goal, but the post included no text.
On Friday, the long-time Canada captain added a poignant letter to her 16-year-old self on social media: “You are a national team player now; you are exactly where you belong. Trust yourself,” she wrote.
“Here I am preparing to tie the bow on an unbelievable international career shared with so many incredible teammates, coaches, support staff, fans and of course family. We are not here without them,” she said, signing off with her nickname, Sinc. “Here I am in the 90th minute of our journey.”
Sinclair has scored 190 international goals, most among both men and women, since she made her national team debut in 2000. She has played in 327 games for Canada. Cristiano Ronaldo, the top scorer among men, has 127 goals.
Sinclair is among just five players to appear in six Women's World Cups, and one of just three players to score in five. But a title in soccer's biggest tournament eluded her — at this summer's World Cup, Canada did not advance out of the group stage. She has won a pair of Olympic bronze medals and won Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games. She scored the game winner over Brazil for the bronze medal at the 2016 Brazil Olympics.
• Angel City fell 1–0 to OL Reign in a quarterfinal in Seattle and was eliminated from the NWSL playoffs. Veronica Latsko had the game-winning goal in the 87th minute. Meghan Rapinoe sent a long cross from the left wing into the 6-yard box. Forward Latsko made a well-timed run and beat both her markers to put a header on target, which goalie Angelina Anderson dived for but couldn't stop.
Aussie McKeown sets world mark in 50 back
Australian Kaylee McKeown underlined her dominance in backstroke events by setting a world record in the 50-meter event at a World Cup meet in Budapest. McKeown timed 26.86 seconds to beat the previous mark of 26.98 set by Liu Xiang of China in 2018.
QB Watson expected to start for Browns
Deshaun Watson fired passes with his usual velocity during his second straight practice, and he is expected to start when the Cleveland Browns visit the Colts on Sunday. He has missed two games with a strained right shoulder.
• Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields is not expected to need surgery for his dislocated right thumb, coach Matt Eberflus said. As expected, Fields was ruled out for Sunday's game against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders. Tyson Bagent will start for Chicago.
Michigan bans staffer in signal-stealing case
No. 2 Michigan announced it has suspended a low-level football program employee a day after disclosing it is under NCAA investigation for allegedly stealing the play-calling signals used by Wolverines opponents.
Athletic director Warde Manuel issued a one-sentence statement saying that analytics assistant Connor Stalions had been suspended with pay pending the conclusion of the NCAA investigation.
The Wolverines (7-0), who started their season with coach Jim Harbaugh serving a university-imposed three-game suspension for a still unresolved NCAA infractions case, play at Michigan State today. Harbaugh denied any knowledge or involvement in plotting to steal signs.
“I do not have any knowledge or information regarding the University of Michigan football program illegally stealing signals, nor have I directed any staff member or others to participate in an off-campus scouting assignment,” Harbaugh said. “I have no awareness of anyone on our staff having done that or having directed that action.”
Hossler leads by shot at Zozo Championship
Beau Hossler shot a 5-under 65 to grab a oneshot lead after the second round of the Zozo Championship, beating wind gusts that reached 37 mph and drying conditions at the Narashino Country Club on the outskirts of Tokyo.
Hossler, a Mission Viejo native looking for his first PGA Tour victory, surprised the rest of the 78-player, nocut field in which only 13 broke par. Half did so in Thursday's opening round.
Hossler was one stroke ahead of fellow American Justin Suh, who shot a 4-under 66, and two in front of Japanese Satoshi Kodaira, who shot 68.
• Minjee Lee shot a 3-under 69 and take a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the LPGA South Korea tournament in Seoul. Lee had a two-round total of 11-under 133.
• Defending champion Adrián Otaegui was in a three-way tie for the halfway lead at the Andalucia Masters after shooting 3-under 69 in the second round in San Roque, Spain. The Spaniard is level with Louis de Jager of South Africa (67) and Jeong weon Ko of France (68) at 9-under 135 going into the weekend.
Hornets' Miller named in wrongful death suit
The mother of a woman killed near the University of Alabama filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court against Charlotte Hornets rookie Brandon Miller and two other men.
Decarla Raietta Heard filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama Western Division against Miller, former Crimson Tide player Darius Miles and another man, Michael Davis. Heard's daughter, Jamea Jonae Harris, 23, was shot and killed early in the morning on Jan. 15.
Both Miles and Davis are charged with capital murder while Miller was described as a cooperating witness. The former Alabama AllAmerican selected No. 2 in the draft was not charged with a crime.
• Andre Iguodala, 39, a four-time champion with the Golden State Warriors during a 19-year NBA career, retired.
American Malinin leads at Skate America
American figure skater Ilia Malinin began his Grand Prix season in a familiar place, at the top of the standings at Skate America.
The 18-year-old from Virginia began the defense of his title with a brilliant short program to put a huge gap between himself and the field. Malinin scored 104.06 points in Allen, Texas. Kevin Aymoz of France was second with 97.34 points.